//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3: Time has been Added 
// Story: Arsenal of Harmony 
// by Midnight Rambler 
//------------------------------//

Clockhoof fumbled with her keys. It took four tries, and perhaps a minute of absent-minded staring at the small bits of metal in her hoof, before she finally got the right one. It really was too early in the morning.

Once she was satisfied that her front door was properly locked, she turned and stepped out onto the pavement. A cool breeze washed over her; although the weather had picked up considerably over the past few weeks, it could still be quite chilly at this time of day. Her breath made little clouds of steam in the twilight.

For a brief moment, she thought about taking the omnibus to work, but she quickly decided against it. The next one wouldn't get here for a good ten minutes; she'd be late for her shift. She grinned. A Railway Company pony was never late.

So she walked on at a brisk trot. Low-rise flat blocks lined the street on both sides. They could shine with pleasant reds and browns in full daylight, but right now they looked like the drab chunks of brick they were. Even the trees, which had been regaining their leaves and their colour, looked grey.

Early morning, Clockhoof thought, was the most honest time of day.

Her route took her across Eastgate Market. Later in the day, it would be bustling with ponies: merchants, shoppers, university students sipping overpriced coffee in hopes of looking "trendy", and increasingly, tourists. Eastgate didn't draw huge crowds like Harmony Plaza or Sun Square – and thank Celestia for that – but it was being advertised more and more as an "authentic Canterlot experience," whatever that meant.

Now, however, there were at most three or four other ponies on the large sett-paved square. Even the morning rush had yet to arrive. A baker was preparing to open shop; Clockhoof greeted him with an absent-minded nod, but he was too engrossed in his work to notice.

At the far end of the square was a familiar newsagent's stand. Clockhoof levitated out her pocket watch as she trotted towards it. Yes, I suppose I've got time for a visit to Chipper.

'Morning, Chip,' she said when she'd reached the counter.

Chipper had his back to her. His wings twitched at the greeting, and he quickly turned around. 'Ah, if it isn't our loyal stationmaster!' he said. 'Always in here like clockwork.'

Clockhoof yawned. 'It's too early in the morning for puns,' she mumbled. 'How do you manage to be so cheerful at this ungoddessly hour?'

'I've got caffeine in my bloodstream instead of haemoglobin,' he said with a grin. 'But don't tell anypony else, it's a secret.'

That got a smirk out of her. 'Speaking of caffeine, ever thought about selling coffee? You'd make a killing off of me alone.'

'I keep telling ya, I'm too clumsy for that. I'd constantly be spilling it all over my precious papers!'

Clockhoof chuckled. 'Fair point. Guess I'll have to do with those, then,' she said. 'The Canterlot Citizen, please. Oh, and have you got the new Equestrian Observer yet?'

Chipper nodded. 'The April issue came in yesterday. Slow day ahead, huh?'

'By the looks of it.'

'Well, this should keep you entertained,' Chipper said. He rummaged around for a copy of the magazine, and presented it to her.  'Look, they've got a special on railway history!'

There was a familiar painting on the cover. Burly stallions carried sleepers and giant hammers, while a locomotive poured out black smoke in the background. A caption in boldface read:


FORGING A NATION


The Roots of Our Railways


Clockhoof smiled. 'Well, that'll definitely give me some historical perspective. What about the Citizen? Let me guess: Ponyville.'

'Ponyville.' Chipper nodded. 'Bloody mess it is. Things seem to be looking up though – if I'm to believe this article, it'll all be over in a jiffy!' He tapped his hoof on the wooden counter. 'But I won't spoil too much of it for ya. You'll want plenty of material to get through your slow day, after all.' He winked at her.

'Right you are. And speaking of my working day, I really have to get going. Being on time is practically part of the Oath for us railway ponies.' She levitated her purse out from her saddlebags.

'Right, the Citizen and the Observer, that'll be five bits and sixpence.' He slid the paper and the magazine towards her across the counter.

She floated the coins over to him, and her purchases into her own saddlebags. 'Thanks, Chipper. Have a good day.'

Chipper raised a hoof to his temple in salute. 'Same to you, Miss Clockhoof. Do come in again tomorrow!'

'Will do!' she called back over her withers as she trotted away.

After three more streets, she reached the station. It was an unassuming red-brick building, wide but low, overlooking a plaza slightly smaller than Eastgate Market. The gaudy bronze plate over the main entrance, which proclaimed loudly that this was CANTERLOT CENTRAL STATION, always seemed a bit out of place to her.

Her bosses felt differently. For them, the relatively modest station of Equestria's capital and largest city was proof that the railways were terribly underappreciated. They could be a bit pushy about their attempts to increase that appreciation. I'd bet my horn we generously sponsored that Observer special.

Clockhoof didn't mind the size of her workplace. It was big enough for what it needed to contain: her office, the ticket counter, a few small waiting rooms and the buffet. Any expansion would be quite pointless.

She got out her keyring, unlocked the heavy wooden doors and stepped inside. She chuckled. At least this time, I got the right key on the first try. 

She walked down the hallway, her hoofbeats echoing on the cold stone floor. Everything was quiet and closed, and would remain so for another hour. Through the windows of the buffet, she could see the dark silhouettes of chairs set upside-down on their tables.

When she reached her office, she let herself in and flicked on the light. On the far wall, a large map of Equestria sprang to life, little red dots indicating which stations were operative right now. The more remote stations weren't yet lit, and they didn't need to be, but some of the larger cities were already active.

Clockhoof took off her saddlebags and sat down at the wide desk that occupied much of the room. With a crude slog of her hoof, she threw the knife switch in front of her. After a moment's hesitation, a red light flickered to life in the middle of the map. She nodded to herself: the first job of the day was done. Half past five sharp, and Canterlot Central Station was officially open for business.

What's next? After some leafing through the documents on her desk, she pulled out the day's schedule and studied it for a moment. Right, I'll ring up the switchyard about the Coltventry Cannonball in... let's say twenty minutes.

There was plenty of time for a couple of Citizen articles, then. She levitated the paper out of her saddlebags and onto her desk, and started to read:


PONYVILLE ABOUT TO BE RETAKEN?


Forcefield structurally weakened – Gen. Strongblood: 'The final push'






Luna paced up and down her audience chamber in Canterlot Castle.

She was rather fond of the room, with its checkered floor, its array of comfortable furniture, and its ornate fireplace. The four large windows offered beautiful views of the city and the Canterhorn. What mattered most to her, though, was the room's size. The other rooms in her private quarters weren't small by any measure, but only the audience chamber provided the kind of space she needed when she had something to think about – such as now.

She walked over to the small cast-iron table in the corner. There was a jumble of small papers on it. She sighed. She'd written an elaborate letter to Celestia as soon as the news about Ponyville had reached her ears, but all she had received in response were telegrams.

On most of them, the seal of the Crown took up more space than the actual message.

With another sigh, she levitated the first telegram from the table, and reread it for what felt like the thousandth time.

DEAR SISTER STOP ACKNOWLEDGED STOP MEETING SULTAN NOW STOP WILL REPLY LATER STOP

That in itself had been perfectly excusable; of course the negotiations in Saddle-Arabia were important, and the news had simply arrived at an inconvenient time. However, after that first message, Luna had expected a letter, or at least a longer telegram. Instead, Celestia's "later reply" had been:

DEAR SISTER STOP ALICORN AMULET WORRISOME STOP PROCEED WITH CAUTION STOP

'Proceed with caution' was Celestia's standard formula applied to everything and anything Luna tried by herself, it seemed.

The other telegrams weren't much better: terse messages of acknowledgement in reply to Luna's faithful updates on the Ponyville crisis. Celestia barely even bothered to share how the apparently intensive negotiations were going.

Luna turned away from the table with a frustrated snort. She stomped back to the centre of the room, her horseshoes thumping loudly on the checkered hardwood, and resumed her pacing.

A knock on the heavy doors stopped her in her tracks. 'Yes?'

The doors opened ever so slightly, and a nervous head peeked through the gap. 'There's a telegram for you, Your Highness.'

Luna struggled for a moment to keep her head upright. 'I don't want to hear it,' she said wearily. 'Not yet, anyway. Please do come in.'

The servant closed the door behind him, slowly and carefully, and stepped into the room.

Luna got a good look at him. He was a young earthpony stallion, whose brown coat almost blended with the sleek grey liveries of the castle staff. 'You haven't been in our service for very long, have you, my little pony?'

She rarely addressed her subjects that way – she found the phrase a bit tacky – but you always had to coddle the new ones a bit.

'No, Your Highness,' the young servant replied. 'A– a month.'

'So I see.' She ransacked about for his name. 'Copper Key, was it?'

He nodded. 'Yes, Your Highness.'

Luna slowly walked over to one of the windows. 'Tell me, Copper Key, do you have any siblings?'

'I have a brother, Your Highness.' After a moment's hesitation, he added: 'He's in the Royal Guard.'

Luna turned to face him again, smiling warmly. 'So, service to the Crown runs in the family. I appreciate that,' she said. 'Does he have a remote posting?'

Another nod. 'Appleloosa, Your Highness.'

'Ah yes, the Desert Garrison.' The Guard maintained a presence in the western deserts, in case tensions with the buffalo ever came to a head again. Celestia hadn't wanted to send any troops there, confident that ponies and buffalo would be able to reconcile their differences peacefully, but Luna had insisted. Those few platoons of stallions in their sand-swept barracks – a place that had almost felt like a colonial outpost the one time she had visited – represented one of the rare sisterly disagreements that had been resolved in her favour.

She pondered this for a silent moment, then looked back at Copper Key. Enough with the introspection; you have a kingdom to run. 'All right, then,' she said. 'Let's hear what precious little my sister has to say this time.'

He coughed softly. 'Begging your pardon, Your Highness, but this telegram isn't from your sister. It's from General Strongblood.'

Luna's ears perked up. 'Oh?' She looked at the small piece of paper he offered to her, and levitated it before her eyes.

AT YOUR SERVICE YOUR HIGHNESS STOP FORCEFIELD DOWN STOP PONYVILLE AND TRIXIE IN OUR HOOF STOP AWAITING YOUR ARRIVAL STOP

A victorious grin spread across her face. 'This is most excellent news!' she said. 'Prepare my flight barding. I want to be in the air within fifteen minutes!'

'At once, Your Highness.' Copper Key bowed and hastily left.

When the doors closed behind him, Luna allowed herself a small, silent moment of triumph. As little as the matter seemed to interest Celestia, when she returned from her diplomatic adventure all of Equestria would be safe and free – including Ponyville.





Black Tail felt contented. For once, a mission had gone according to plan.

He stood with the other soldiers in a giant double row that lined Ponyville's main street and its town square. Civilians crowded behind the armoured ranks. Trixie was chained down on a makeshift scaffold in the middle of the square; a complicated array of blocking devices covered her horn. Everything waited for Princess Luna.

'All in a day's work, eh?' Heavy Tread said beside him.

Black Tail nodded. 'Mhm. Didn't think it would go so smoothly.'

'Well, when fate deals you a good hoof, best to enjoy it. I mean, look at how happy the townsponies are!' Heavy Tread made a wide gesture with his foreleg.

'Yeah, they're certainly grateful to their heroic liberators.' Black Tail smirked. 'I've overheard plenty of how exactly my soldiers plan to cash in those karma chips...'

'Tell me about it. Mine have been talking about practically nothing else all day. Well, they're welcome to try their luck at the victory party tonight.' Heavy Tread shot him a grin. 'What about you, old charmer? Plan on throwing out a few lines yourself?'

Looking through the crowds, Black Tail did see a few mares he wouldn't mind getting more intimately acquainted with – but he didn't have the confidence, or even the drive, to really try. 'Nah, I'm good,' he said. 'I'll be at a corner table, getting quietly hammered. You're welcome to join me.'

'Noble.' Heavy Tread nodded. 'Of course, a good officer lets his soldiers have the first pick of the spoi–'

Black Tail kicked him in the cannon before he could finish the terrible frat-colt joke. 'Oh, can it. We're not in the Tribal Ages anymore.' Still, they both kept giggling for far longer than could be healthy.

'Snrk... Hehe... Hey, look!' Heavy Tread poked Black Tail with a hoof, then pointed up.

There was no herald, no fanfare, no dazzling display of magical fireworks. Just a dark speck in the sky that rapidly grew bigger. A reverent hush fell over the crowd.

'Atten-TION!' Silver Derby boomed. With a quick rattle of barding, every Guard stallion in Ponyville tensed into posture.

Luna came streaking out of the sky at an improbably sharp angle. She flared her massive wings to brake, then came in for a landing so perfect it would have made an Air Guard drill sergeant cry tears of joy, all four hooves touching down at the same millisecond.

She hadn't landed far from where Black Tail was standing. It was the first time he saw the Princess of the Night from up close.

He was looking at power. Luna was clad in jet-black barding polished to a fine sheen. Her mouth was a grim line of determination; her eyes dared anypony to come between her and her prey. Here was a mare who had faced down Discord, Tirek, Sombra and her own demons. A mare who was thousands of years old, and still looked as flawless as the moon that rose at her command. A mare who had led Equestrian soldiers into battle before the Royal Guard even existed.

Luna, Princess of the Night, Sovereign Diarch, Supreme Guardian of Harmony... goddess of war. Fear and awe fought for control in Black Tail's heart. He struggled against the near-instinctive urge to drop to his knees. From the slight tremble going through the ranks, he could tell he wasn't the only one.

Luna looked around her, taking a moment to admire the spectacle of discipline presented by the soldiers to either side. Then, with a slight nod of appreciation, she stepped forward – slowly, methodically, heading towards her target in a straight line.

She didn't say a word as she advanced on the helpless Trixie. Speeches, however tempting, were for later. First she had to get the job done.

The spell she had prepared for dealing with the Alicorn Amulet's magic lock was a crude thing. She would simply pump the Amulet full of magical energy until it burst. It was a bit like swatting a fly with a sledgehammer, and no less effective.

There was a real chance it would kill Trixie. Luna didn't care. Trixie had hurt her subjects, and was about to feel what that meant.

As Luna approached the scaffold, Trixie's appearance reminded her most of a bratty teenager who needed a lesson. The shimmering red eyes showed no fear; rather, there was a kind of suicidal defiance, as if the power trip still wasn't over. Luna knew all too well that without the Amulet's influence, the same mare would be a cowering wreck before her.

She lit up her horn.

For a brief moment, the red glow in Trixie's eyes flickered, and Luna thought she saw a glimpse of the real pony inside – a glimpse of the guilt, shame, and terror that pony was feeling. Doubt welled up in her heart, but she quickly crushed it under the iron hoof of duty and experience. This wouldn't be the worst thing she'd done for Equestria, far from it. She closed her eyes and started the spell.

Black Tail watched his Princess with fascination. As her horn flared, there was a chorus of clipped grunts from the unicorn soldiers. The magic sense of unicorns was common knowledge: if a strong enough spell was cast nearby, they could feel a slight tingle in their horns. Looking at the deep blue arc of pure energy flowing from Luna's horn, he imagined that his unicorn colleagues were feeling a lot more than a slight tingle right now.

Luna continued her spell, but something looked a little off. She tensed up ever so slightly, and seemed to be digging in her hooves. Black Tail frowned. Whispers of worry rose up from the crowd, breaking the reverent silence.

What is this?! Luna could hardly believe it. She had already sent much more energy into the Amulet than she had expected it to withstand, and yet there was barely a dent in the cursed thing. She opened her eyes, clenched her teeth, and increased the power on her spell.

The whispers swelled to a nervous murmur. Sweat ran down Luna's flanks, and violent sparks came from her horn, disrupting the smooth, steady flow of magic. Okay, that's definitely not a good sign, Black Tail thought.

Luna pushed and strained against the Amulet's resistance. There was still no hint that it was about to break under the pressure. How could this be? Was the Amulet really that much stronger than she remembered?

There was no way back now. She turned the power on her spell to the highest level she could muster, wringing every last drop of strength from her body. Ah! Finally, she felt the first cracks. She'd just have to keep going –

for Equestria –

just a little more –

you are the Princess of the Night –

almost there –

you have won harder battles –

just one final push...

The deep blue arc from Luna's horn sparked, flickered, and died.

'Hahahaha HA HA HA!'

First there was only laughter.

Then a blinding flash of white light.

Then everypony was thrown off their hooves.

'Waaugh!' Black Tail screamed as he flew through the air. With a dry thud, he landed in the dirt of the street.

It took him a few seconds to regain consciousness – for a certain value of "conscious". The flash of light had died, and his eyes were starting to work again. He saw chaos. Panicked ponies – soldiers? civilians? – were running around everywhere. He heard screams, the crackling of fires, and still that Celestia-damned laughter.

His officer training kicked in. Before everything else, get your unit back together. 'B Company, to me!' he shouted at the top of his lungs. 'To me!'

Then, with great effort, he rose to his hooves. Dizziness and headache battered his senses. He tried putting more weight on each of his legs – a quick check for damage. Ow, ow, ow and ow. Well, nothing's broken, at least. 'B Company, 55th! To me!'

Flashblade came up beside him and saluted. 'Here I am, sir. Can't speak for the rest of the platoon, though.'

Black Tail nodded. 'Well, try to change that – Hey! Bold Move! Over here!'

Bold Move hurried over. 'It's a disaster out there, sir! Trixie's broken free, and –'

In a blur of grey, a stallion jumped at them. Flashblade quickly slammed into the attacker, and knocked him out with a vicious blow of his hoof.

'What the hell?!' Black Tail shouted. 'Are the civilians attacking us now?'

'That's what I was about to say,' Bold Move said. 'Trixie's little militia is also running wild.'

Black Tail groaned. 'So we've not only got to deal with whatever took out Princess Luna, but also with that swarm of pests?'

'Looks like it,' Flashblade grunted.

'Swell. All right, you guys find your platoons, I'll go look for Snakedrop and High Spirit.' With another cry of 'B Company, to me!' Black Tail gallopped off.

He'd barely gone twenty paces when he stopped at the sight of Princess Luna. She lay on her side in the middle of the main street – right where she had landed so gracefully only minutes ago. Three soldiers had rushed to her side and were trying, somewhat awkwardly, to help her up.

Luna started to move with their fumbling hooves. Black Tail breathed a sigh of relief. At least she's conscious. He was about to head back into the chaos of the town square when General Strongblood came gallopping up. 'Don't just stand there, help the Princess!' Strongblood snapped at him, then skidded to a halt by Luna's side. 'Princess Luna! Your Highness! Are you all right?'

Black Tail hastily followed the general to Luna, who was now on her hooves – more or less. When she opened her eyes, he froze at the fury and determination in her gaze.

'General Strongblood,' she panted, her voice sending a chill down Black Tail's spine. 'Give me one company. I'll stall them. The rest of you, get to Headless Horse Pass and hold. Call in as many reinforcements as you need. Collapse the tunnels if you have to. Just don't –' she paused to catch her breath '– just don't let them get over the mountains. Go!'

Headless Horse Pass? Black Tail thought. That means giving up... everything from here to Fillydelphia. He saw the same doubts in Strongblood's eyes, but nopony dared question a direct order from a Princess – especially not at a time like this. 'Yes, Your Highness!' Strongblood cried, then turned to Black Tail. 'Lieutenant! Name and unit?'

Black Tail snapped into a salute. 'Black Tail, B Company, 55th Earthpony, sir!'

'How many of your company have you fou– look out!' Strongblood leapt to avoid a brick that came flying at them. It landed at their hooves with a heavy thud.

'Um, well, about half, sir. I think,' Black Tail stammered, his heart racing in his chest. 'I was just looking for the rest, a-and –'

'It'll have to do,' Strongblood grunted. 'You are now under the direct command of Her Highness, Princess Luna. Report to her!'

Black Tail gulped. 'Y-yes, sir.'

Strongblood nodded, then gallopped off. '55TH B, TO PRINCESS LUNA!' he bellowed. 'EVERYPONY ELSE, RETREAT!'

Why me, Black Tail thought.

He turned to Princess Luna. She towered over him like a dragon. 'Your Highness?' he began, hesitantly. He saluted. 'Lieutenant Black Tail, B Company, 55th Earthpony Regiment. We're at your command.'

'Excellent,' Luna said. 'You and your stallions keep those traitors busy, and get the civilians out of the square. Steer clear of Trixie – I'll deal with her.' She gave him a morbid grin. 'Let's dance, Lieutenant.'

Dance... Black Tail felt his spirits being strangely lifted by Luna's words. He snapped into another salute. 'Yes, Your Highness!' he said resolutely. It's not the kind of dancing I expected to be doing today, but it'll have to do.

Luna watched the young lieutenant run off, shouting hasty commands left and right. His unit made a valiant effort to regroup amidst all the havoc. All around her, the rest of the taskforce had broken into a disorganised retreat.

It was up to her to buy them time. With a grunt, she charged forward.

Trixie wasn't hard to find. She was the source of the chaos, the eye of the storm. She was still on the wooden scaffold, but instead of quietly awaiting her fate, she now claimed the little platform as her throne, her pedestal, her stage.

Yes, "stage" is the appropriate word, Luna thought as she observed her foe. Trixie was causing destruction left and right – lighting fires, tearing pieces off buildings, raising up rocks from the ground – but a great deal of her magical energy was spent on pure show. A colourful fireworks display filled the sky, dominated by the sinister red of the Amulet. It served its purpose well enough; shock and awe could be a very effective tactic.

Enough analysis, time for action. Luna charged up her horn and loosed a bolt of magic at Trixie. It sailed home and knocked Trixie off her perch.

This gave Luna pause. With the amount of raw power Trixie was wielding, she could easily have sensed and blocked that shot in time. Apparently, she'd been to engrossed in her show to pay attention.

She wasn't anymore, though. An angry cry and a flash of red eyes confirmed Luna had Trixie's undivided attention now. Well, that's one part of the job done, Luna noted with satisfaction.

There wasn't much time to take pride in her accomplishment, as the flurry of magical attacks that had been tearing through Ponyville would now be directed squarely at her. She prepared a quick shield spell and braced herself for Trixie's first shot – but when it came, it still took her by surprise with its sheer intensity.

I do love a challenge. Luna jumped into the air. As soon as her hooves had left the ground, she fired a second shot, lighter but faster than the first. It wouldn't be fast enough to surprise Trixie – not this time – but it would keep up the pressure.

Left. Right. Block. Fire. Since her return, Luna's reflexes hadn't been put to the test like this. Jump. Fire. Deflect. The raw thrill of combat pushed back the frustration over her failure. Counterspell. Shield. Fi–

'Urgh!' A heavy wooden beam knocked Luna's legs from under her. Against an enemy whose fighting style was so purely magical, she'd focused her senses on the magical domain, and neglected the kinetic – and now Trixie had broken pattern.

She quickly rose to her hooves, scolding herself for her novice mistake. Then, with a low growl, she charged. A continuous torrent of fire shot out of her horn.

She was almost upon Trixie when a jolt of telekinetic force stopped her in her tracks.

Any other unicorn would have been a pile of ash after that barrage – but the Amulet had protected Trixie even against this. 'Why, Your Highness!' she sneered. 'Thank you so much for the power-up!'

'Clearly, I have made a mistake,' Luna panted. 'Allow me to RECTIFY!' She threw her head forward and fired another blast.

She was bluffing and she knew it. Trixie teleported away before the blast could connect, and within a split second Luna sensed Trixie's next shot coming from behind. She had her shield up just in time, but her magical stamina would run out all too soon if this battle went on for much longer.

Then she remembered the wooden beam, and an idea occurred to her. She leapt, and in the blink of an eye she had pinned Trixie to the ground, pressing two steel-shod hooves into her throat.

Trixie was stunned into inaction for a second, then started frantically trying to squirm free. 'What are you – get off!'

'Gladly,' Luna said with a predatory grin. She lifted one hoof – only to deliver a crushing hook to Trixie's face.

It wasn't a very dignified form of combat, but it was all too effective. The supercharged Amulet might have given Trixie the magical advantage, but no mortal pony could hope to match a Princess in raw physical power.

She struck again before Trixie could recover. A decidedly asymmetrical exchange of kicks and punches followed, until Trixie charged up her horn. 'Rrrrrgh! Enough of this!' she grunted, and lifted Luna several dozen metres into the air.

With another grin, Luna spread her wings. 'Taking things to the air now, are we?' she called. 'Yet another area where I have the advantage!' Her eyes locked onto Trixie, and she zoomed down like a harpy.

She kicked up clouds of dust with her landing. She heard coughing from Trixie, who had rolled to dodge just in time. Then two red eyes lit up in the haze. 'I thought I said enough!'

Two hundred metres away, Black Tail was running around, frantically trying to get as many civilians as far away from the fighting as possible. B Company was being impressively organised given the circumstances; several squads were herding ponies into outward streets, while others dealt with the haphazard attacks from Trixie's militia.

He didn't feel he could take much personal credit for this level of coordination, though. He was in a daze, barking orders left and right without really being conscious of what he was doing. Were they good decisions? Bad ones? Was he missing a dozen obvious problems that would bite him in the flank at the worst possible moment? He didn't know.

Then again, maybe that was the dance.

He was shaken out of his trance when a figure clamped onto his chestplate. Instincts fired, and he was about to bash a hoof into the pony's skull when they cried, 'Help me!'

Okay. Not an attacker. A civilian. Great job, Black Tail, almost assaulting the ponies you're here to save.

He awkwardly pushed the stallion away. 'Sir, you've got to get away from here, it's –'

'My daughter!' the stallion panted. 'She's up there. Please, you've got to...' He trailed off as he ran out of breath, and just raised a weak hoof instead.

Black Tail followed his hoof. He was pointing at the upper floor of a heavily damaged shop, its front window shattered, its walls cracked. If the filly inside was crying, he couldn't hear it over the noise of combat. The ominous creaks the building gave could be heard loud and clear, though.

It looked like it could collapse any moment. No part of Black Tail wanted to go in there. But he was a Guard, sworn to protect the ponies of Equestria, and here was a citizen – a foal, even – in immediate danger. Would he shy away from his duty? Was he a coward?

For a second he just stared at the dangerously unstable building, frozen in place as instinct and training fought for control in his brain. Then he remembered where he was and what he was doing there, and he shook his head. Idiot. You can't go in there, you're in charge. You've got to stay out here and coordinate.

It was the sensible and responsible thing to do – but it still felt like the worst cop-out of his life.

He pushed the self-doubt as far to the back of his mind as he could, and quickly scanned for someone else he could send in his place. 'Corporal First Watch!' he shouted.

First Watch rushed over and saluted. 'Sir?'

'There's a foal trapped upstairs in there. Try and get her out safely, but... don't do anything stupid.'

'Yessir!' First Watch didn't think twice and ran inside. It made Black Tail feel even more inadequate.

With a sigh, he turned back to the trembling stallion in front of him. 'We'll do what we can to get your daughter to safety. Now, though, you really have to get out of he–'

'Sir!' First Watch cried from inside the shop. 'You'll want to see this!'

'What is it?' Black Tail rushed inside, his earlier apprehension forgotten. When he saw what First Watch meant, he stopped dead in his tracks.

On the shop floor, in a shower of blood and glass, lay the lifeless body of Lieutenant-Colonel Silver Derby.

'Sweet merciful Celestia...' Black Tail slowly approached the body and knelt beside it. He started the routine checks, his hooves moving automatically to the practised patterns, even though he knew what the outcome was going to be. No pulse, no breath, nothing. That booming voice would never ring out over the barracks courtyard again.

Crying from upstairs snapped him out of his daze, and he remembered his training. Save the living first; the dead can wait. He rose to his hooves, and gave a resigned nod. 'Try and save that filly, Corporal.'

'Sir.'

Then, with a quick prayer for Silver Derby's soul, Black Tail ran back out into the storm.





It was clear to Twilight that something had gone very, very wrong.

She and Zecora were watching the disaster unfold from atop Timberwolf Hill. When Princess Luna had arrived, Twilight had been overjoyed, certain that everything would be fixed quickly; Zecora had practically had to pull her back by her tail to keep her from running back into Ponyville already. Now, the Royal Guard was in full retreat, explosions sounded across town, and Luna's magical aura, though still clearly perceptible, was being overpowered by another aura that felt awfully like Trixie's. 

Twilight turned to Zecora, a helpless look in her eyes. 'I just don't understand,' she said lamely. 'What could have happened?'

Zecora said nothing, staring at the chaos in front of them.

Then she spoke. 'O morbid hour of fateful day, when victory is swept away! Freedom suffers a defeat where Crown and Guard are in retreat!' She turned to Twilight, with a grave look. 'To return home would not be wise with Trixie's banners on the rise. My humble hut in darkest wood – many a storm it has withstood – will give you shelter, food and store, until your home is yours once more.'

'Th-thank you, Zecora,' Twilight stammered. 'That's –' She was cut off by another explosion.

Zecora laid a solemn hoof on her shoulder. 'A town under a curse so grave will need a champion, strong and brave. One trained to best her foes in fight, or sneak in silence through the night. You will train for many days, till you are versed in ancient ways. With patience and with strenght of will, you'll learn a zebra warrior's skill.'

Then she turned away, walking back towards the forest with slow, ponderous steps.

Twilight was left on the hilltop, staring blankly ahead, trying in vain to process everything that was happening. Trixie had defeated Luna somehow, Ponyville was still not free, and she would be staying with Zecora for a long time yet.

She tried to shake her head clear of the thoughts that had barely begun to sink in, then scurried after Zecora.





The Tankard was one of the largest pubs in Coltventry. In the bluish-grey mists of cigarette smoke, burly stallions slapped each other on the withers and roared with laughter between gulps of watery beer. Mares were a minority; the younger among them made a game of delivering the harshest put-down to any colt who got too cozy. Somewhere in a corner, a rusty jukebox belted out even rustier hits, but it was mostly drowned out by the din.

Emerald Hooves shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He loved going down to the Tankard to have a few beers with his friends, but something about the place always made him feel not quite at home. Probably just the noise, he thought, and forced himself to assume a more relaxed posture.

To his right, Flameheart was staring off into space like she usually did. To his left, Thistle Bloom and Trimmermane were discussing some boring detail of city-hall politics.

'I'm telling you, mon ami,' Trimmermane said, 'no mayor of this city has stepped down in a hundred years! Certainly not over something so trivial.'

'Well, she might not have much choice,' Thistle Bloom replied. 'I've seen the budget sheets. The royal inspectors have never been known for their forgiving nature.' He took a casual sip of his beer. 'And cut out the random Gryphonian phrases. I refuse to believe you're that drunk already.'

A bright red silhouette came through the mists, effortlessly carrying five large specimens of the pub's namesake.

'There we go!' Dawn Cross put the glasses on the table with a loud clatter. She plopped down in her own seat; the chair creaked ominously under the exaggerated gesture, but it held for now. 'We've got a lot of these to get through tonight, so drink up, colts!'

Flameheart gave a small cough. 'I can't help but feel excluded by your choice of words.'

Dawn laughed. 'Aw, girl, you're so quiet I forget you're there sometimes!' She jabbed Flameheart in the side. 'Speaking of quiet, you haven't said a lot tonight either, Emerald. What's going on in that head of yours?'

'I've been thinking about what's happening in the East,' Emerald said. 'You know, Ponyville. This Trixie might have potential.'

'Potential?' Thistle Bloom raised an eyebrow. 'Last I heard, she was about to get squashed between two Royal Guard regiments.'

'I know, I know,' Emerald said. 'But still, she's a rebel against the Crown! That hasn't happened in, what, forty years? Not counting Nightmare Moon, of course.'

'No, that was more of a Crown internal dispute,' Trimmermane chimed in.

Dawn finished a large gulp and put her glass down with a bang. 'Would make things a lot easier, though, if the two of 'em just killed each other.'

There was an awkward silence. None of them wanted the Princesses dead, per se – or at least Emerald hoped they didn't – but Dawn was never one to mince words.

Against habit, Flameheart broke the silence. 'Well, there is the whole eternal-night thing.' They shared a chuckle at that.

Trimmermane cleared his throat. 'Anyway: Trixie. Even if she might have more staying power than you give her credit for –' he looked at Thistle Bloom '– we still have to ask what her intentions are. If she has despotic ambitions of her own, she won't be much of an ally to our cause...'

'And let's be honest, we don't have a clue what the situation is over there,' Dawn said. 'All that stuff about how they're gonna crush her... Anything we hear through the papers is what the Guard wants us to hear. They might be feedin' us propaganda bullshit for all we know.'

'All right, all right, maybe I was too quick to dismiss her,' Thistle Bloom said hastily. Then, regaining his composure: 'So we have two questions on the table, then. One, is she up to any good, and two, does she stand a chance. If the answer to both is "yes", we should contact her.'

That got Emerald's attention. 'Why both? If she's fighting the good fight, shouldn't we try to contact her anyway, regardless of her chances?'

Dawn sighed. 'Emerald, she's on the other side of the country, surrounded by the Guard. And I'm not sure if you noticed, but we don't exactly have an Equestria-wide revolutionary underground up and running just yet. What are you gonna do, send her a postcard?'

'Well, I thought, some moral support would be –' Emerald sputtered.

'"Moral support" would involve a lot of hassle for us. Wasted effort, if she's about to get squashed anyway,' Dawn grunted.

Emerald gave an annoyed sigh. 'Oh all right!'

Before he could think of anything else to say on the matter, Thistle Bloom spoke up. 'Hmm? What's that?' He turned towards the door. There was a commotion of some sort there: ponies were crowding around, rising from their seats, and the noise of conversation suddenly sounded more agitated. All across the room, more and more heads were turning in that direction.

'I'll go and see what's up,' Trimmermane said. He got up and stomped off, shoving his way through the forming crowd.

When he got back, not two minutes later, his eyes were wide. 'Trixie – she's won!' he stammered. 'She has beaten back the Royal Guard from Ponyville! Rumour has it that she even bested Princess Luna herself!'

Several jaws dropped around the table.

'Well, this is getting interesting,' Flameheart mused.





In the end, all Luna had been able to do was to cover the retreat of the brave stallions that had fought beside her. Trottawa and Dragon Springs had fallen the next day, their tiny garrisons overwhelmed by Trixie's magically boosted soldiers. Two companies were still resisting fiercely in Fillydelphia, but it would only be a matter of time before they succumbed as well.
 
She looked out over Canterlot from the Castle's Grand Balcony. At least she had kept this place safe: the defence at Headless Horse Pass held, for now. She sighed. Ordering the Guard to retreat to there had been a painful decision, but it had been her only choice. If Trixie got through the pass, she would have a clear path into the Equestrian heartland. Nothing would be able to stop her from marching her troops into Manehattan – or right up to the foot of the Canterhorn.
 
Luna grit her teeth in frustration. She had failed.

But there was also somepony who had failed her – and now, that pony was coming home.
 
Celestia had sent a herald ahead to announce her return. He and several of his colleagues were now standing to either side of Luna, trumpets in their hooves, ready to play a fanfare when Celestia appeared. But by the gods, would there be words afterwards! Luna mulled over the many sharp, thorny pieces of her mind she was going to give Celestia.
 
After a few minutes, Celestia's silhouette became visible in the sky. The first trumpet notes rang out. Luna cleared her throat and scraped the ground with her front hooves. For the time being, she would have to hold back; it wouldn't do to let the full extent of her anger show in front of their subjects.
 
'Welcome home, dear sister,' she said icily as the music faded and Celestia landed on the balcony. 'We have much to discuss.'
 
'I should think so,' Celestia replied with almost as much ice in her tone.
 
Luna raised an eyebrow, but quickly regained her composure. 'Would you join me in the throne room, then?'
 
Celestia's gaze hardened. She only nodded in return.
 
Neither Princess said a word as they marched through the castle in perfect lockstep. In every hallway they passed through, guards and servants froze in place or scrambled away before their iron hoofbeats.
 
The throne room was an imposing chamber. It was as high as three or four ordinary rooms, with the deeds of Equestria's great heroes depicted in its giant stained-glass windows. Two mighty thrones stood on a slightly raised platform at the end. The marble floor in front of those thrones could easily hold three hundred ponies, but right now, the Princesses were alone. Luna could speak freely, and the gods knew she would.
 
Celestia was quicker, however. 'Luna,' she said once the massive doors closed behind them, 'explain yourself.'

Luna cocked her head, caught off-guard. 'Excuse me? I shouldn't think there is much to explain. I told you all about the problem with the Alicorn Amulet. Not that it seemed to interest you very much.' She snorted.

'Yes, I am aware of the situation.' Celestia waved a dismissive hoof. 'The Alicorn Amulet resurfaced, and it found a very susceptible victim – one who now controls much of eastern Equestria. What I would like to know is why you felt the need to help her along.' Her eyes locked onto Luna's.

Luna instantly tensed up. Suddenly, she felt very keenly that she was the younger sister. 'W-what?' she stammered.

Celestia gave an annoyed sigh. 'Drop the charade, Luna. Your "accident" may have fooled the Royal Guard and the press, but I am not so easily deceived.' 

There was a moment of deathly silence as Luna let the full weight of the accusation sink in.

'You dare?' she finally said, her voice low and trembling. She spread her wings and reared up as high as she could, then brought her front hooves down with a violent crack. 'You dare to accuse me of treason?! Here, in this room? Now, on this day? I have been fighting for our ponies, sister! You may have not noticed because you were too busy talking –'

'And that was a mistake, I see now.' Celestia's voice rose, and she started to pace back and forth, her eyes never leaving Luna. 'What can I expect the next time I leave the country, Luna? The third coming of Discord? A conveniently timed reappearance of Sombra, perhaps?'

'Preposterous!' Luna was approaching Royal Canterlot Voice. 'Since my return I have always stayed true to the oaths that bind us! But this – this madness –' she stomped a hoof on the polished marble '– is giving me cause to wonder why!'

Celestia froze. She gave Luna a piercing stare; Luna responded with one of her own. 'Is that a threat?'

Luna straightened her posture. 'Call it a friendly reminder,' she scoffed. 'A reminder that I do not like to be called a traitor, especially when the accusation is utterly baseless.'

Celestia snorted. 'Luna, do you honestly expect me to believe that this was a mistake?'

Of course it was a mistake, you blind paranoid foa– oh.

She had walked into the trap; there was no choice but to spring it, now. '...Yes,' she forced out through clenched teeth. It took an effort of will to look Celestia in the eye throughout.

'Hmm.' Celestia turned her back on Luna and slowly walked deeper into the immense room. 'That's interesting to hear, from a mare who is always insisting on her own competence, always demanding greater responsibilities.'

Don't turn your back on me! Luna wanted to shout. Have you not insulted me enough? But the words died in her throat when she saw where Celestia was heading.

It was the window depicting her return – the defeat of Nightmare Moon.

Could it be...? No. The mere suggestion that her time under the Nightmare still played a role, somehow, felt like the greatest betrayal on Celestia's part.

Celestia stopped, seeming to ponder the window for a moment. 'Luna, I'm very disappointed in you,' she said levelly.

Very disappointed in...? 'Have you forgotten whom you are talking to?!' Luna shouted. She strode over to Celestia, the marble almost cracking under the fury of her hoofbeats. 'I am your sister and your equal, not your student!'

'Then bring her back!' Celestia snapped. With a long, drawn-out sigh, she lowered her head. 'I– I'm sorry. I just don't know if I can trust you anymore,' she said quietly.

She looked at Luna.

Those eyes. Always those eyes.

Luna saw the concern in those eyes, the gentleness, the sympathy.

She saw the condescension, the infinite self-assuredness, the patronising arrogance that seemed determined to keep her a child forever.

She leapt.

'TRUST?!' she boomed. She was facing Celestia directly now, wings open, hooves spread, eyes on fire. 'You are bold indeed to talk about trust, you who ask so much of it for yourself!' Memories raced through her mind, fusing into an endless chorus of trust me, little sister. 'I didn't go after Discord when he broke free! I was out of Canterlot when the changeling horde attacked! I didn't lift a hoof to protect the Crystal Empire when it returned! All because I – trusted – you!' She gave three sharp taps on Celestia's criniere. 'And each time, it was blind luck that saved us! You are not what you presume to be, Celestia. You are not all-knowing, you are not above me, and you are not worthy of my trust when this is how you reward it!'

Celestia stomped a hoof on the marble with a thunderous crack. 'Enough,' she commanded. 'You dare to talk about rewards? I forgave you. I took you in after your return, I restored you as a Princess of the Realm, I let you rule by my side. I put up with your every whim and folly, every wild affection, every rough edge. I ignored everything that screamed at me you were no longer fit to rule, all because I thought you deserved a chance.' Her voice trembled, but she went on undeterred. 'I have showered you with rewards, Luna – and a single glance to the East shows the full extent of your ingratitude!'

For a moment, there was no sound except for the two sisters' fuming breaths. Then a bitter laugh escaped from Luna's throat. 'I suppose I should be thanking you on my knees, then. How magnanimous of you to grant me what is mine by birthright.'

She reared up on her hind legs again, and spread her forelegs wide. 'Very well! If my place in this realm is yours to give, then it is also yours to take away. Go ahead! Send me back to my prison in the sky! I do not doubt you WANT to!' Her front hooves crashed down. Tears streamed over her face, and sparks began to form along her horn.

'Luna, don't –' Celestia said, suddenly alarmed.

'NO! No pony commands me!' Luna screamed. 'I am not a student or a foal, Celestia! I am not one of your little ponies!'

Without another word, the Princess of the Night stormed off.

She didn't hear the great doors of the throne room as they slammed shut behind her. She didn't hear her own hoofbeats as she half-gallopped, half-flew through the hallways. She didn't hear the confused shouts from every corner she turned. All she heard were those four damnable words, repeated over and over again.

Trust me, little sister.