> To The End
>  by Zubric
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> From the Start Finale (Bad End)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Twilight reached her house’s gate, and rang the bell. As usual Sedula answered.  However, as soon as Twilight started to walk on the stone path to the house, Sedula said.

“Miss Twilight, Her Majesty Princess Celestia is waiting in the house for you. She didn't tell us why. She says it’s a private affair between  you and her.”

At the mention of Celestia’s name, Twilight felt a knot creating itself in her troath.

“P-Princess Celestia? Here?” She asked, and the valet nodded.

“O-okay… calm Twilight, calm. There is nothing to be worried about, everything will be just fine.” Twilight said to herself, regaining some of her composure.

“Why does Celestia wants to see me in my house?” She thought as she stepped in the entrance hall. “For officialize that the end of my punishment is over, okay, but why is she being secretive about it?”

As she thought that, Twilight walked upstairs to the dining-living room and there she saw  Princess Celestia sitting on one of the yellow couches and sipping a cup of a hot drink.

Twilight looked nervous at the complete and utter composure of her teacher sipping the tea

“Hello Twilight, did you enjoy your last day of Kindergarten?” Celestia asked with a motherly and yet unsettling tone, one that increased Twilight’s uneasiness.

“W-well… yes…” she said nervous “It was a lot of fun…”

“Really?” Princess Celestia said “And did you had fun during other days too?”

Twilight looked at the ground, unsure on what to answer to her mentor, about her days passed during the punishment.

“Aehm… well…” Twilight felt sure enough that Princess Celestia was going to punish her even more, if she said that her days in Kindergarten were not fun. Also because it was an half lie. “It was pleasurable all around…”

Celestia grin grew slightly as she nodded. 

“I see, anything fun you wish to share with me?” She asked like a mother after her child had arrive home from school. ‘Don’t be shy, I want to know.”  However, Twilight still felt overwhelmed.

“Well…”

Princess Celestia chuckled, as her horn  was engulfed in a light amber aura.

“Maybe you need to relax a bit…”

Twilight’s mind rushed with images of her painful past, and she winced at them. However, despite the horrible images, Twilight felt calmed down. For a moment she notice Tia horn glow 

“W-wait what are you doing?”

“Just a medical spell to help ease stressed ponies.” Celestia said “Please do sit down.” Her voice felt more motherly as time passed on.

“M-medical spell?” Twilight complained, as she sat down without realizing she had done so..

 “Now, Twilight, tell me everything about what happened these last days at the Kindy…” She said, as she  poured some of the tea into the flower cup and set it down in front of Twilight.  

She took the cup in her magic shakely.  “Well… It…” She thought for a moment “Was nice to make new friends.”

“Tell me more about them.” Princess Celestia said smirking a bit more, as she intensified the magic.

Twilight shook her head again, yet still oblivious to what Celestia was doing. Taking a few sips of her tea she replied. “Well, there is Lex Populi, which considers me her…” Twilight felt a fit of migraine 

Celestia eased back on the spell just a tad. “Her what Twilight?”

“My little sistah.” Twilight quickly put her hooves in front of her mouth  “Uh, Celestia my mouth feews a bit numb, wat was in da tea?”

“Nothing,” Celestia said while rolling her eyes innocently. “What were you saying about her being your little sister?” She asked to keep momentum.

Twilight blinked a few times, her eyes getting slightly duller. “Well she wooks up to me like a big sistah and I kind of like playing with hew. She had nice friends too. Told them stories about us.”

Twilight cringed slightly at her mispronunciations, as Princess Celestia increased the strength of her magic. The effects slowly making her forget what she was worrying about.

“That’s wonderful dear, please tell me more.” Celestia praised “I love hear my little filly talking.”

Twilight felt suddenly torn apart from the inside, unsure of what was actually going on. Celestia was being so open to her talking about Kindergarten and less about the actual punishment, making something feel fishy  in Celestia’s actions and words. And yet, Twilight didn’t feel the strength to fight her.

“They threw me party fow last day.” She replied grinning., as part of her mind slowly realized that Celestia was regressing her.  “Can I go use potty?” She asked all of sudden. 

she answered quickly. “Yes. But first…” Princess Celestia let a bolt of orange magic hit Twilight’s forehead, causing Twilight’s ears to produce steam and causing Twilight to collapse down like a ragdoll.

Night Light suddenly came in hearing the sudden commotion.  “What is…” As soon as he saw the sight of Celestia picking up a drooling Twilight, Night Light’s demeanor turned into rage.

“Princess Celestia! You daughter of a mangy dog drowned in a flaming tar pit! What have you done to my daugher?” He demanded, his muscles tightened with each breath he took.

“Was just going to take her as my own daughter, nothing, really.” She said.

He stood his ground unwavering, panting heavily. “I won’t allow this, first my wife goes loopy, corrupting my daugher and now you! No more!”  His shouted his voice booming through the house.

“How?” Celestia said, as she prepared herself to teleport away 

He snorts a few times like an angry bull. “I have my ways. You think you can just take her away and do whatever in tartarus you want, but you cant.  You’re just as liable for the law as the average citizen! If my words will come out, the Nobles will throw you out, and install the Noble Republic that every member of the higher class has  oh-so-much sriven for! I will have my offspring back, Celestia, and I will not let myself be stopped by your goons! I have said it! I have said it!”

Celestia quickly vanished with a flash of light teleporting back to the castle.  Suddenly, as if the moon had landed on her head, she came to the realization of the impact of her actions.  She stared at the drooling Twilight on her back for a brief moment.

She thought about the Elements, about Spike, and the consequences of turning Twilight into a foal mentally were grave, to say the least.

She had a plan to replace the  Element of Magic, but it was a longshot at best and a heavy tribute against her at worst.  Celestia would have to tread lightly from now on but at least she had her wish of having her own filly.

But was it worth it?

Then Princess Celestia briefly wept.
> It all started one boring afternoon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Princess Cadence stood by the large glass window of her study, over-watching her subjects as they went about their everyday activities.  She took a slow sip of her tea, letting out a heavily bored filled sigh.

    The usual morning court session had involved little more than ponies giving out bureaucratics documents and tax forms, most of which wasn't all that taxing to handle.  Thus with such a light work loud, Cadence barely felt exhausted.  In fact, she felt that she almost didn't need to be there during the day.
    She took another long sip from her berry tea.  “You know, I thought that absolute rulership was more exciting than… well, this.” Cadence thought, “I mean, sure, feudal vassals and whiny nobles may be annoying, but , hey, at least they are fun every once in a while.”  It wasn’t that she felt un-important, quite the opposite in fact.  She was crucial for Equestria’s stability and harmony.  It was just monotony of day to day work was staring to get to her.  The festivals were fun whenever they occurred, so that was a plus at least.

    As she poured another cup from the silver teapot, she took a gander over at the photo albums on the far table.  She walked over to the table and picked up the album in her hooves feeling the rough texture of the paper cover.  The old leather binding held several pages of memories together, preserved in time and nostalgia.  This album in particular was Cadence personal voyage through time, she had made it herself and filled it ever since she was a young filly.

    The paper gives off a light crinkle as she gently flips through the pages.  She stopped as she came across a certain set of photo's of strong nostalgia to her.  Before her were withered photos of her teenage years.  She glanced at one in particular of her escorting a filly Twilight Sparkle, to the winter fair.  She smiled seeing another about the time they went to the zoo, a happy image of Twilight grinning her face painted like a cute tiger.
“Aw good times… I do wish I could relive them…” Cadence said with a sigh “Sadly, I don’t think that Princess Celestia will let me have her now.”

    She walked back to the window watching a few guards patrol the gardens out the south window, pondering for a brief second.  She imagined Shining in diapers but shook her head quickly banishing the thought.  Shining was still after all this time peeved about the whole ordeal and asking him to try acting like a foal would just make things worse.  She was brought out of her thoughts as a knock was heard. Cadence quickly put down her tea cup and turned to face the door. “It’s open, come in.”

    The door creaked open, revealing a light blue earth pony in a red outfit.  “Your Empress, Princess Celestia desires your presence.” he gives the usual salute.
    Cadence nodded quickly following the messenger pony out the door.  “Ah, thank you, I shall go see her at once.”  She said before mumbling under her breath.  “I got nothing else to do at the moment anyway.”

    Her hooves echoed down the hall as she made her way towards the throne room.  Turning a corner, she saw Shining talking to a few new stallion recruits, recognizable by their light leather armour.  Attempting to keep a royal composure, she inflated her chest a bit, still let out a little smile leak out as she approach them.

    “Afternoon Shining doing a fine job I see.”  The recruits gave a quick salute holding it as Shining replied.

    "Quite just teaching these newbies the ropes is all, nothing special." He says in a casual tone, they were married after all a little slack in protocol was okay.

    Cadence gave a light nod back at her husband "As you were." She said before trotting off soon reaching the throne room.  The room had been decorated with all types of plants.  The splendor of crystals had soon died on her after a few months, and was thankful she could at least see some nature around her.

    Upon Seeing Celestia, Cadence smiled.  “Auntie you wanted to see me?”  She asked ignoring the regal greetings since they were alone.  Even the usual guards that were stationed here had left.

    “Yes Cadence, my dear.  I have a task for you.”  She replied.

    “What it is?”  Cadence voice dripped with eagerness yet still a professional tone.

    “You see,” Celestia smile grew a little bigger, “my duty as Head Diplomat of Equestria asks me to leave for Saddle Arabia.  I’ve estimated that I will be away for a week and, well, you can guess who I can’t bring with me.” She said with a hint of regret with her last few words.

    Cadence’s eyes widened and shined lightly.  “Twilight?”

    Princess Celestia nodded, making a gesture towards the main hallway.  Cadence turned as she heard hoof steps, and soon Twilight come into view. Twilight was wearing a light pink diaper on her rump.  Her steps were uncoordinated and quick like a foal's, her pace only quickening once she spotted Cadence.

“Caddy!” She exclaimed running towards Cadence.

Cadence opened her forehooves for a hug, as the filly waddled up. “Hello Twilight!”

    Celestia chuckled, coming up as the two hugged ruffling Twilight’s mane and getting the adult filly's attention.  “Now, Twily, Auntie Celestia will be away for a while, so Cadence will be looking after you. Be a nice filly while I am away!”

Twilight let out a small giggle. “Okay Tia, Caddy fun.” she nuzzle against Cadence ‘s neck warmly.

A grin spread across Cadence's face. “You bet, it’ll be lots of fun, just like the old days.”

Twilight tilted her head. “Owd days?”

Not wanting to confused the filly mind in Twilight, Cadence quickly moved on.  “Oh, nothing Twily, It is just a saying.” Cadence hugged the adult filly again, as Celestia set down the diaper bag with the needed supplies.

“Well now that this is settled, I shall depart.” Celestia declared joining the group hug, before quickly trotting out of the room.

Left alone, Twilight looked up at Cadence.  “Wat now, Caddy?”

Cadence took a quick look at the clock. “Lunch time.” she said simply.  “I hope Shining can join us.”

The two head down the corridor and into the private dining area.  A grey pegasus stood ready to take orders as they entered.

“Afternoon, Empress.” he greeted, bowing down, before handling the paper menu to Cadence, and give a look to Twilight.  “And who is this guest of yours, Your Excellence?”

“This is Twilight, she just going to be staying with me for the week.” She said sitting Twilight on one of the chairs.

“Most peculiar, I have to say. It’s unusual to see disadvantaged ponies begin invited by a royalty to dine with them, but I guess that your magnanimity and generosity has no limits.”

‘“Wat he says? Twilight asked while looking at a Cadence.

Cadence scrunched her face a bit at the pegasus remark.  He was one of the newer staff member hired from Manehatton so his attitude wasn't all that unexpected. “Actually, she isn’t ‘disadvantaged’, as you call it.  You see, she just...has the mind of a filly.”

The pegasus’ eyes widened.  “I am most sorry.  I meant no harm in my words forgive me.”

“It is no problem at all I understand the confusion.” Cadence said giving a quick look at the menu “Let’s see, iceberg salad..” she rolled her eyes.  Some of the puns around her were funny just after the hundredth time they lost their originality.  “Then there is… tomato soup and frozen yoghurt.” She mumbled more and soon looked up. “Yes salad and tomato soup, also bring in some ice cream for Twilight, soft please.”

“I’ll let the chef know right away.”  He replied writing the order down, and quickly heading out towards the kitchens.

Cadence watched Twilight play with the cutlery, floating away the knife just in case.  After a while, Shining opened the door and cringed.
    
“Cadence, why is my unfortunate sister dining with us today?" He asked apparently having yet to be informed about Celestia visit.
    
Cadence saw the sad expression on Shining face. “Celestia needed me to foalsit her for the week while she is in Saddle Arabia dear.”
 
“Saddle Arabia!” Shining Armour spit aside. “That place is inhabited by nothing but a horde of flank-sellers.  It’s no wonder that Celestia tries to forget about her error by getting there for…”
“Shining!”  Cadence glared raising her tone.  “I won’t tolerate such vulgar racism, nor such slander!” she said.

Shining teeth tighten in his jaw   ‘First of all, the ‘flank sellers’ part is true, no matter how many times you tell me otherwise.  Second, are you really thinking that Princess Celestia actually wanted to go on, and turn my smart and powerful sister into what she feared the most? That she actually wanted to give independence to the Duchy of Manehattan only for have an Element Bearer and keep Twilight at the same time?  How can you think that her guilty could not turn into lustfulness?”  He said, as he turned around to leave.
    
Twilight, sensing his brother’s anger, started to tear up. “No fight!”
   
“You will tell me so when you will be my sister again, Dusky.” Shining Armour blurted out.
    Cadence frowned.  “Come back here, and have something to eat.” She said a bit loud not wanting this perfectly good time together to be ruined.
   
“No madam!”  Shining said stomping out and shutting the door behind him with a slam.
  
  “Brudda hate me?” Twilight teared up starting to sob.
    
Cadence took a few disappointed breaths before walking over to Twilight and hugging her for comfort.  “Shhh, he’s just angry is all.”  She said convinced to have a talk with Shining later about this.
   
Meanwhile, the servant had returned with Cadence's order along with the soft ice cream and a fruit bowl.  After seeing down the meals, he turned and left leaving the room silent for a while as Twilight sniffled, hugging Cadence closer.
   
“Come on now Twilight, it’s time to eat.” she said, as she cut the fruit into smaller bits, but Twilight of course reached for the ice-cream first.
   
“No Twilight, that’s for dessert.”  She scolds floating away the bowl out of twilight reach.  
   
Twilight pouts “But want nooow!”
   
Cadence snickers a bit reminded back to the old times. ‘Now Twilight, you need to eat your meal first.  You’ll enjoy your sweets much more if you do.”
  
  “No wait, want now!” Twilight flailed her hooves at the bowl that was kept out of her reach.
    
“No Twilight, you will get it after dinner, am I clear?”  Cadence said sternly and slowly.
 
“But...okay.” Twilight make a pouty face and put her hooves down.

Soon her plate was set in front of her, microscopical portions awaiting to be consumed in a few mouthfuls.  Cadence happily watched as Twilight dove in happily.

    As she ate dinner, she kept thinking over Shining’s past aggressions towards Celestia and the realization that Twilight arrival had only manage to reheat the boiling pot.

    “I have to end this problem somehow.  I can’t separate Twilight and Shining Armour for an entire week, nor I can keep him from thinking about staging a coup with the nobles to overthrow Celestia. Hopefully I am wrong, thought with all the vitriol that Night Light is spitting and how Shining Armour has been contacting more and more often, that maybe true.”

    ”Caddy, what is probwem?”  Twilight asked, likely confused by Cadence’s odd composure and mumblings.
    “Nothing Twilight, just something on my mind is all.  It’s a bit complicated.”  She said idly chewing on a leaf.  Naturally, Twilight went back to eating without any further thought.
 
  	  After dinner Twilight looked out the window, where a few birds were flying by.  “Look, birdy!” She said pointing up at the skylight.
  
Cadence peered up at the window seeing the few birds roasting nearby.  Her smile grew a bit as s watched the birds groom each other.
    	
“Oh I see, do you want to go for a walk after lunch, Twilight?”  She asked needing some fresh air herself, after Shining’s outburst.
   
Twilight nodded gleefully “Park!”  She hopped in her seat, clapping while making tweeting noises.
 
“But finish your food first!”  Cadence said, pointing to Twilight plate with half her meal stil lto be eaten.  Twilight sighed, and went back to eating.
---------
    A cool breeze blew through the park as they strolled along the path by the lake.  A few families were out enjoying the day, thus causing a few momentary stares from the passersby.

    “Nice day, isn’t it?” Cadence thought taking a moment to look at the sky.  Though to be fair weather here was always stable, so no need for pegasus weather patrols anyway.  Meanwhile, Twilight had run off to a nearby playground, and was attempting to join the actual little fillies.
   
A few of them backed up from her, scared of a big pony suddenly running up to them, while others went near her, fascinated by Twilight’s behaviour and look.
   
Not wanting to risk anything, Cadence walked closer to Twilight, and eavesdropped on the conversation going on.
   
“Mama, why dat grown-up is acting… wike this?”
    
“You wook funny.”

“Why she in diaper?”

Twilight, without any a care in the world, simply joined the most curious fillies nearby, and rolled the colourful ball amongst the group smiling wide with child innocence.

Cadence gulps as she is approached by a few of the crystal ponies wanting answers.

“Who is that and why is she behaving in such a way?”
   
“What kind of pony is that mare?”
    
“Why an Empress like you is looking at that…. that... “
    
Cadence gulped softly, unsure how to answer them without causing more waves in the unsettled waters.  
  
“Aehm… well…see, she is Twilight Sparkle, Celestia’s ‘special foal,’ I’m, sure that you have heard about it…”  A few droplets of sweat fell down her forehead.
    
“I read something like that in the newspaper.”  One unicorn commented staring more as Twilight played tag. “But I don’t think she is what you are talking about.  That mare is but a filly.”
    
“Indeed,” Another pony of the crowd commented.
    
“I actually think that she is the ‘special foal’ of Princess Celestia, and that you two are mistaken.  I heard she got disowned by her own house.”
    
Cadence kept trying to keep her Regal composure, taking a few uneasy breaths to steady her heart beat. How did Celestia handle this for so long was unfathomable.  “Yes, she is, and…”
    
“And? What happened?  Was she lobotomized?”
   
Her legs shook ever so slightly.  “N-no it was just uh well…”  She took a quick look back towards Twilight, who was still playing with some fillies.  

Cadence sighed as she kept observing, the last thing she wanted was more fighting around the adult filly.  “Celestia just wanted a foal, so she helped Twilight have a new foalhood… even if she was little reluctant.”
    
As the crowd talked amongst themselves she tried to sneak away.  Her sweating was more noticeable now, her makeup smearing a bit.  She hadn’t been this nervous ever since her first job interview.
    
Deciding it was enough, Cadence poked Twilight’s back.  “Sorry, Twily, but we have to go now.” She said as calm as she could manage, though still urgent-sounding in her tone.
    
“But why?”
    
The crowd start to stare back towards them.
    
“Because It’s nap time.”  She said. “Can’t have a tired filly now can I?”  She nudged twilight along gently.
    
“I no tired!”  Twilight whined, moving a little with each nudge against her crinkly flank.  Her whining only causing more attention to be drawn towards them.
    
“Just come along please.”  Cadence says a little more desperately using a bit of magic to move Twilight along.
    
“But wanna play!” Twilight whined louder.
    
“You can play later,” She said, as the stares kept increasing. “I’ll make you a treat when we get back to the castle.” She added hoping to calm the filly.
    
Twilight drags her hooves in the pavement. “No! Awso, why is evewpony wooking? DId I do something?”
    
“No, it’s nothing to do with you Twily, I’ll explain later.” Cadence said entered into the main hall of the castle, the crowds dispersing upon being directed away by the guards.  She breathed a sigh of relief as the doors shut.  At least the castle staff were not going to be so nosey as her subjects.
    
For a moment, Cadence spotted Shining watching from the balcny above.  He said nothing as he stared at his sister a look of dread in his eyes.  Before Cadence could call out to him, he ran off.
    
Cadence was about to pursue but was reminded of her task at hand as Twilight’s legs started to tremble.  “Caddy, I need potty.”

    
She quickly sprang into action.  “Okay this way Twily.”  She led the way to the nearest bathroom.  As they walk Twilight kept trembling.  As they reached the bathroom door however, she realized it was locked.  She turned around and saw Twilight’s diaper had expanded and had yellowed.  Twilight cheeks were blush red.  “Oh, that’s a pity, you were so close.” She said, stroking Twilight mane.
    
“Sorry” Twilight says looking down at her hooves, ear drooping.
    
“It’s okay, you’re just learning after all.” Cadence patted the wet diaper and lead Twilight up a set of stairs to her bedroom.  The sagging diaper dangled like a pendulum with each step.  Unzipping the diaper bag, Cadence pulled out the needed supplies, and, surprisingly Smarty Pants.
    
“Oh I remember her.”  She chuckled setting the doll down.  She rolled out the sun print change mat and gestured to Twilight. “Lay down Twilight.”
    
Twilight complied, a light squish heard as she grabbing Smarty Pants into her forehooves hugging it lovingly.

Cadence with delicate precision swiftly removed the old diaper and disposed of it.  Twilight giggle as she wiped her rump and between her legs.  Unfolding the new, pink-ish diaper, she set under the filly's behind and gave it a hefty snow of powder.
    
“There, all done.” Cadence said while taping it up.  She admired the little enchant as her cutie mark is printed onto the diaper itself.  “Daww that’s so cute.”
   
Twilight remained laying on the mat reaching out for a hug which Cadence happily obliged. “Explain now?’ she asked innocently.
    
Cadence remembering her little promise of a treat, decided to use it to distracted Twilight.  “Oh, does little twily want to help Caddy make smores?”
    
“Goodey.”  Twilight cheered clapping her hooves happily, her little mind forgetting the past question quite quickly.
    
Relieved, Cadence leads Twilight to the vacant castle kitchen and began to float out the ingredients needed to make the treats.  As she did her smile only grew wider, the past memories of doing this with Twilight when she actually was a filly gave a nostalgic delight to the situation.
    
Twilight eyes sparkled as she watched Cadence set the supplies down.  She climbed onto a nearby chair bouncing in her seat. “wanna help!"
    
“You will silly, just need to get the gram crackers.”  Cadence explored about the many glass cupboards and soon found her prize.  With a quick flurry of magic the box was set on the counter.  Breaking the pieces of chocolate into strips, she looks back at the happy filly.  “Okay first you put down these pieces and then the marshmallow on top.”
    
Twilight at first did what any filly would do picking up a strip only to plonk it into her mouth and devour it. “Mmm tasty.”
    
The grown mare chuckled, she should have seen that coming. “Those are for the s'mores, not your tummy.  Well… not yet anyway.”  After helping Twilight stack the chocolate and marshmallows to make four of the delicious treats, Cadence set the tray in the oven and turned it on “Now we just wait for them to melt.”
   
Twilight jumped in place giddly ‘Yay nummies!” She sat down eyeing the window of the oven, though she soon got bored when nothing happened right away.
    
“Boooowiiingggg,” Twilight lamented, as she looked around her.
    
“Be patient, Twily,” Cadence said while petting her mane “s’mores take time to be done.”
    
Twilight huffed a bit. “But want now!” She said rather impatiently.  Lucky Cadence knew how to handle fillies who couldn't bother to wait.
    
“Let’s play a quick game while we wait, shall we?”  Cadence said tickling Twilight belly.  “How about a quick game of guess the animal?”
    
Twilight giggled.  “Otay.”  She turns to face Cadence “Uh is it tall?”
    
Cadence shook her head "Nope it's small."
    
Twilight happily played the guessing game, making several guesses and slowly piecing together Cadence's animal.  After a few more questions Twilight was getting close.
    
“Is it a birdy?”
    
“Yes, it’s a bird.”  Cadence giggled and let out owl noise, already knowing the s'mores were ready by now.
    
“Oh owl!” Twilight claps gleefully.
    
Cadence nods “Good job Twily such a smart filly.” She praised moving back towards the stove. “I think our snacks are ready.”
    
“Yay!”  Twilight exclaimed, as she attempted to open the oven with her hooves.  Cadence stops her turning off the oven.
    
“No Twily you could hurt yourself, let Caddy handle the dangerous stuff.”
    
Twilight backed up a bit. “Otay.”
    
Hot air spewed out like a volcano as Cadence opened the oven door. Using her magic she pulled out the cookie sheet and set it on top closing the door swiftly.  Before Cadence could cool it with a quick spell, Twilight touched one, the hot melted chocolate sticking to her hoof
    
Twilight ate a whole s’more in one bite without even chewing. The next second the predictable happened, as the heat caught up with her excitement, and made her gag a little in slight pain.  “Aaa hurt.”

    	Cadence quickly ran to the sink hastily filling a glass of water and running back to Twilight. “Oh, you should have waited for me to cool it first Twily.”
    
Twilight wimpers her tongue hung out like a dog's.  She took the glass and chugged down the water thoroughly calming her burning mouth.
    “Better now?”  Cadence asked calmly.

   
“Betterah,” Twilight said, before taking yet another s’more.
    
Candace used the quick spell to cool it down, before giving it to Twilight, who devoured the moursal.
    
“Mmm yummy.” Twilight cooed.
    
After eating her own treats she wipes Twilights face “Come along silly filly let’s go play with some dolls back in my room.”  Twilight cheers happily follow\ing behind, noisily speaking out the alphabet.




---------
“But Caddy…” Twilight whined holding a plush of her brother in her forehooves and Smarty Pants in the other.
    
“Now Twily, it’s nap time, you need your rest.”  Cadence said, as she tried to move Twilight with her magic.
    
Twilight flailed around and shrieked. “No wanna! Wanna play more!”
    	
“Twily, please, listen to me.” Cadence begs. “You have to rest, or else you won’t have energy for playing later!”  She lay Twilight into her bed.
    	
Twilight struggled eventually slowed as she looked into Cadence’s eyes.  “Read me story?” She asked obviously stalling for time.
    
“No.” Cadence said bluntly, putting Smarty Pants back in Twilight forehooves pulling the sheets up over her body.
    
Twilight’s eyes watered a little, but, thanks to the preventive measures of Cadence, she did not manage to flair her hooves around and mess up the bed. Cadence started to sing an old lullaby her mother had taught her long ago.  Its soothing notes like a dance of love and friendship.  The heavenly tones started to lul Twilight into sleep, her eyes slowly closing as she let out a yawn.  Cadence kept up her song until she was sure Twilight was fully asleep.
    
Taking one last look at the asleep filly, Cadence closed the door of and headed down the hall. She took a few moments to sniff the flowers along the walls before hearing the clatter of hooves coming down the stairs at the end of the corridor.  
    
Shining Armour soon came into view, out of his uniform and looking a bit frazzled. “Cadence, we need to talk,” He said, “I just can’t accept this anymore.”
    
Cadence shuffled her hoooves as she took an educated guess. “Is this about your attitude over the last few months dear?”

  	“You of all ponies know why I’m upset!”  He jutted his hoof against her chest.  His eyes were a bit red looking like he had been crying a bit. “Princess Celestia turned my little sister into a parody of what she was before.”  He took a breath, clearly fighting back the urge to burst out.
    
“I know dear, but she still your sister.  You can’t just abandon her, she needs you.” Cadence put a hoof on his shoulder.
    
“Then what can I do?  Try to make Celestia a foal like Twilight? Do you even realize how difficult it would be for Princess Luna to stop a noble republic to be born out of the ashes?”  He threw his hooves in the air red in the face. “My sister is gone all thanks to her, I can’t believe you're actually happy about this!”
    
Cadence took a few steps back for her own safety.  I n truth, she had been just as shocked by Celestia actions as Shining had been, however she had tried to at least move on from that shock and go with the flow.  “Well, you can try to accept…”

“Accept what?!”  Shining shouted, “I can’t do that, it would be like for you going out and making a couple break up!”  He snorted, taking a few breaths, his bottled emotions starting to show the more he ranted.
    
“Well she still family to you, she has feeling of you being her brother, and nothing really changed.”  Cadence countered.
    
“Yes, something drastically changed!  She is a grown mare having a filly’s mind, looking up at a brother that has the right mind and body!  She might as well be true flesh and blood of Celestia now.”
    
Cadence stood still for a moment unsure of how to answer Shinings distressed state.  She slowly approached him latching on into a comforting hug.  For several moment the two remained silent none speaking a word as they hugged.
    
“I guess Twilight staying here brought up some memories, didn’t it.”
    
Shining Armour sighed.  “Yes, it did.”
    
Cadence gently stroked her husband's back. “I just don’t want Twilight to feel like she was completely abandoned.”
    
“I just want my true sister back so badly, find a solution to all of this…” He said.
    
“I’m sorry this is effecting you so much, just please all I’m asking is for you to try.”  Cadence kept up the petting of his mane hearing him sniffle a little. “Shhh, everything will be okay.”
    
Shining let go of the hug shaking his head. “N-no it’s not.”  He sniffled stuttering, “Not until my sister is back to normal! Cadence, fetch me the spell books, I need to do my duty as Twilight’s older brother!”  He turned and started bolting down the hall.
    
“Shiny, you don’t have that much power!” Cadence called out following behind to try and rationalize with him.
    
“I don't care, I'm not letting such details stop me from trying!” He shouted, as he ran towards the palace’s library
    
“Shiny, don’t!” Cadence pleads.  
   
Being a stallion, Shining was able to have quite the lead in the chase.  “I won’t let you or anypony stop me.” Shining was so focused on his target that he failed to notice the pony coming around the bend.  He tried to stop but it was too late as the ponies collided.
    
Shining Armour fell forward hitting his chin on the cold marble floor, while Twilight, namely the second pony, fell belly-up, and started to cry for the pain.
    Cadence gasped running up to Twilight helping her up.  “Oh dear, are you okay?”
    
Shining, who had still yet to recover fully groaned. “I’m fine too, thanks for asking.”  He then turned to see whom he had run into and, suddenly, his rage iced over like a cold winter, and his eyes started to show a bit of sadness.
    
Cadence pets Twilight’s back to calm her down.  ”Shh, why were you in the hall, sweetie?”  She asked motherly.
    
“Bad dweam. Scawy munstah chasing me with book, shouting ‘Back in powah, stoopid fiwwy! Back into powah, fow you awe not one!’”
    
Cadence kept hugging Twilight close to her chest, not saying a word for a time.  She gave another worried look up at Shining who stood there like a statue, seeming lost in thought.
    
“Twilight, are you okay?”  Shining asked his voice sounding conflicted… almost split in several directions.
    
Twilight sniffled and glanced over towards him nodding gently in reply.
    
Shining Armour sighed.  “I’d wish you hurt your head and had let that ‘monster’ take you over…” the stallion said, gaining the glare of Cadence.
    
Cadence frowned, as if to tell him enough was enough. She didn’t want things to escalate like he did back during dinner. Twilight teared up reaching out for a hug.
    
Shining gazed into Twilight’s innocent eyes, the quivering spheres threatening to steal his soul if he looked away for even a second.  His stance started to break, the realization hitting him like a cannonball.
    
“I feel sorry for you.”  He said with a sigh. “But I can’t hold a grudge forever. It wasn’t your fault you are like this.  You didn’t choose to be this way.”  He soon had Twilight in a big hug, quiet for a brief moment as he stroked Twilight mane, before murmuring.  “Rest assured, you will not be abandoned by me ever again, not if I can help it.”
    
“BBBFF?” Twilight asked, a little happier now.
    With those words, Shining smiled letting out a small chuckle. “Yes...your brother is here now…”
    
Cadence breathed a sigh of relief, soon joining in the group hug feeling so glad that Twilight wasn’t going to end up all alone. Sure, the issue of NIghtlight was still there, but, hey, she could not ask everything from life. All she had to do was ride the waves and hope for the best.







> Memories of the Past.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The morning sun glittered through the window of Cadence and Shining’s bed chamber. A soothing breeze fluttered the curtains about like wisps. Yesterday’s foal sitting had been a lot more tiring than Cadence had imagined but was so worth it for Shining to be on her side, or, rather, supporting Twilight like her brother again.
 
Cadence opened her eyes smiling at her husband warmly before letting out a cute yawn. "Good morning, dear." She said hugging him closer.
 
“Morning Sweetie.” He kissed her on the lips, snuggling lovingly as he moved his hoof along her silky wings.
 
“Feeling better today?” Cadence kissed back.
 
He nodded gently. “Yeah, much better. Still going to try and turn her back though.”
 
Before the two could cuddle more, there was a knock on the door and the whiny voice of Twilight beyond it.
 
“Caddy wake up!” she cried out, knocking rapidly on the door, to much of their annoyance.
 
With a soft groan, Cadence rolled out of bed, heading to the door. She yawned, opening it and looking at the filly.
 
“Yes Twilight, what is it?” She asked tiredly, though she guessed she just wanted a diaper change.
 
“I need diapee change,” she said, pointing at her obviously bulging diaper, with a little frown.
 
Cadence worked up a smile and exited the room, since she had left the bag in the guest room across the hall where twilight was sleeping. “Okay, let’s get this done.”
 
Twilight follows behind quickly as she points to the diaper bag.  Cadence pulls out the supplies and the mat once more happy that Twilight laid down on it quickly. It did not take long to do the change Twilight, as a new white diaper was taped on her rump.
 
After the series of the usual morning rituals, the three ponies headed out towards the dinner hall.  Shining who had stopped by a calendar noticed the date, one that would normally be just any other day for any other pony.
 
But for Shining, today was different.
 
“Today… on a cold morning of winter, a week before Carnival... I lost you,” he said, as he bowed his head “I swear I won't stop trying to get you back.”
 
Cadence turned around noticing Shining starring the calendar, and hearing his mumblings.
 
“Sweetie, are you coming?”
 
“Yes, my dear,” shining sighed fixing his mane a bit in the mirror adjacent. “Just give me a minute.”  He watched as Cadence nudged Twilight to continue walking, and Twilight obeying to the command. Soon they were out of sight.
 
 Last night had been a revelation to him.
 
“So much time hating and not enough focused on my own life... not that I had neglected it at all, considered how much I worked. I can cast a shield spell, for crying out loud, a mental reversal should be simple enough in theory, but, apparently, Princess Celestia has more knowledge about counter-offensive magic than me.”
 
Shining after several more long moments of rambles made his to the dinner hall. Twilight had already been seated next to Cadence, a cute baby blue bib tied on her neck.  With a smile on his face, he took a seat on the other side of his sister awaiting the morning meal to be made.
 
“So, did you sleep well Twilight?” He put his hoof over her shoulder.
 
Twilight turned as she played around with the bib. “Yes, I did. Had dweam about big twin.”
 
Cadence tilted her head a bit at the statement though let Shining ask the questions.
 
“Twin? What do you mean Twi?” Shining tickled Twilight tummy a bit.
 
Twilight giggled lightly. “She was big, weawing doctah coat. She tawk about bwain and doors and poke me with a cold round thing. It tickled. Den towd me to ‘see fwiends’ and ‘use deiw hewp.’ Dunno wat means.”
 
Cadence blinked a bit and looked over at Shining who had the same puzzled expression, but, at the same time, they both understood the actual meaning… to some degree.
 
“There is hope…” Shining murmured
 
Cadence nodded a bit in reply, as the bowls of oatmeal were wheeled into the hall. “I think I know what she should do today.”
 

--------

“Three tickets to Ponyville please.” Cadence said handing thirty bits to the teller. The train’s bells ring outside as the teller gave her the tickets.  She had insisted on paying for a private car but didn’t want any guards, unlike how the usual escort procedures said to do.  To be frank, they were rather unnecessary most of the time, she could handle herself just fine in a shuffle.
 
With a quick twist of her side, she adjusted her saddlebag, her cutie mark emblazoned on the side.  Taking the tickets in her magic, she walked back to Shining and Twilight who were both happily eating a vanilla ice cream, Shining slowly and orderly, Twilight messily and rapidly.
 
“Okay, I’ve got the tickets and supplies, we need to get going.” Cadence said, while waving a hoof towards the platform, thusly casually greeting her subjects.  Twilight hopped up, nuzzled Cadence and followed.  Once onboard of the train, the three get settled, Cadence pulling out a few puzzles to occupy Twilight’s time.
 
She leans on her husband's neck and whispered into his ear “Shining we should talk in private.”
                    
Without hesitation, Shining nodded leaving her sis to work on the puzzle as they went into the small side sleeping car adjacent.  He sat on the bed, the springs bouncing him a bit. “You think there is hope in saving my sister.”
 
“That is the hope of this entire trip, Shining.” She replied taking a seat next to him. “If she could remember you as her brother, even after all this time, then I can prove that Celestia never erased her memory, but just suppressed it.”
 
Shining kissed her before replying. “I know I already said I’m sorry, but I’d just like to say it again. Though, why are we talking in private?”
 
Cadence shrugged.  “I thought that Twilight could overhear, get confused, and ask more questions. “
 
Shining looked out the window at the passing scenery “Yeah, hopefully seeing past friends will help in the recovery.”
 
“That is also my hope,” Cadence said, leaving the room silent for a few minutes.
 
“Do we go back to Twilight now?” Shining asked for break the ice.
 
“Yes, that would be better,” Cadence said, as she rose up from the bed “Elysium knows what she did while we were somewhere else…”
 



The train came to a halt, The whistle blaring as it pulled into the station around noon.
The platform was near vacant as they exited the train. Cadence had tried to send a letter to Spike in advance to notice them of their visit, but, naturally, since Spike had lost his prerogative as post burped, Cadence had to send it via telegraph. Cadence still hoped that they could read it in time for her coming.
 
Shining took a breath of the fresh air as he stretched out his muscles. Taking a gander down the street, he saw the spotless white unicorn mare walking towards the station. Spike rode on her back, a right once reserved for Twilight herself.  Rarity trotted up with her usual grace up to the group. Her saddle bag, oddly enough, had a noticeable small in-built saddle
                    
 
“Ah Princess Cadence, Shining Armour, What a pleasant surprise to see you here,” Rarity said with a bow, before noticing that Twilight was also with them, at which point she let out a cringed face, before grinning in a clearly awkward way.
 
Twilight was oblivious taking the grin as just what, in her limited mind, looked like a happy gesture. Her eyes moved towards Rarity’s back, at which point she smiled.
 
“Rarara.” She said, pointing to Rarity and smiling widely at her.
 
Rarity’s head cocked and her pupils shrunk to microscopic size.
 
“Y-yes… it’s me, Rarity, Twilight. I… didn’t expect an answer, or actual recognition, from you.”
 
Then Rarity looked confused at Cadence, while Twilight happily smiled at Rarity with a puffed out chest.
 
“What happened to her, after our first meeting here in this quaint town?”
 
“First meeting?” Cadence asked “Didn’t you meet only at my wedding?”
 
“To be truthful…” Rarity started to tell her tale.
 

//---//  

“Rarity, what has gotten in you? You are in such a hurry, that you couldn’t let me eat?” Applejack asked being hastily escorted by her unicorn friend.
 
“Spike told me to fetch the others, since it is something very important, and I just happen to be the closest pony he found.” She replied. “He seemed quite distraught about whatever it was, but he talked very fast about it, so I didn’t get the details.”
 
“Okay I'm moving, just stop draggin’ me around like if I was a plow!” Applejack said, dragging her hooves along, creating a very visible trench on the mud.
 
Rarity blinked, stopping what she was doing and turned back to look. “Oh sorry I just worry about Spike a lot more since Twilight been gone.”
 
Applejack nodded “Yeah he has been spending a lot of time with ya.” She adjusted her hat “Did you get the others yet?”
 
Rarity nodded. “Oh no need to worry I sent Dash out to get them, now come along, we must get to the library as soon as we can!”

---------

 
Princess Celestia stood tall standing in the center of the library, her mane still blowing, even without any trace of wind around. The expression on her face almost told the whole situation without a single word.  The usual posture she held in public looked slightly shaky.
 
It didn’t take long for them to notice Twilight’s posture and current state, since she drooled quite profusely from the side of her mouth, and was staring into the empty space.
 
“What happened to her?” Spike asked again, his entire body shaking like a leaf.
 
“Yeah, what happened to her, princess?” Rainbow Dash asked, while looking at her purple friend sideways with a frown. “She seems… retarded.”
 
“Was there an accident?” Pinkie asked approaching Twilight slowly, her usual grin faltering with each second she stared at her absent-minded friend.
 
Celestia darted her eyes about for a second before replying. “Yes she was attempting a mental enhancement spell and…” Celestia gulped “it backfired.”

“Mental enhancement? She’s already smart! Why would she even do something like that?” Applejack asked suspicious, narrowing her eyes.
 
Celestia’s hooves shuffle a bit as the gang all look towards her, minus one dragon who kept watching Twilight his own posture crumbling with each passing second.
 
“She… she wanted to impress her classmates.” Princess Celestia said quickly.
 
“They were Kindergarteners. It wouldn't have taken a spell to impress them!” Dash protested. “No offense, princess, but I think you're hiding something.”
 
“I also do,” Rarity said “I, and my companions, would like an actual explanation of what truly happened to our friend. It is in our interest, both as her friends and as Bearers.” Rarity looked in Princess Celestia’s eyes “Tell us.”
 
Celestia looked away. There was silence for a long time, interrupted only by light crinkles from the diaper that Twilight now wore.  
 
Then there was a sniffle and another, and finally, Celestia violently turned around and spoke up.
 
“She is regressed! She thinks, speaks and acts like a one year and half old! She cannot recognize herself in a mirror! She can’t write, read or anything of such magnitude! She is just a filly now!” She tears up a bit “I did it okay!”
 
The group gasped and suddenly as if a cannon had gone off, things got out of hoof.
 
Applejack was the first to speak gesturing a hoof. “Why did you do it!? You have taken our friend away like that, without even warning us!”
 
Fluttershy was already sobbing loudly, loud moans accompanying each sighs, and tears streaming down her eyes like a spring waterfall.
 
Rainbow Dash, after letting out a couple of snort, flew up face to face with Celestia and screamed.  “You did it! You just did it! Get out of this place now, or else I will tear you apart, limb by limb!”
 
Applejack yanked Dash back out of fear of retaliation. The tension in the room kept building like a boiling pot as time went on.
 
“I just...well…” Celestia quivered a bit in hooves. They honestly had never seen Celestia so terrified like that time.
 
Pinkie only smiled, seemingly oblivious to the situation happening around her.
 
“Get out!” Dash yelled, being held only by her earth pony friend, who just happened to be strong enough to avoid problems.
 
While the rest seemed to focus their anger and sorrow on the princess Spike’s only goal was on Twilight.  He approached her slowly reaching out a claw. “T-twilight?”
 
All he got in response were a curious stare from Twilight.
 
Spike wavered, at the blank, empty eyes.  The situation crushed his soul as he realized the new reality. Within seconds, Spike’s eyes watered, as he ran away.  “No! No, please no! Not this!”
 
Rarity turned immediately focusing all her attention on her dragon friend as she gave chase after him. “Spike wait!”
 

\\--\\

 
“And that is how our first meeting with her went,” Rarity said, before letting out a sigh. “it was quite distressing on an emotional level. But I’m happy that Twilight has slowly regained some of her brain.”
 
Twilight squared Rarity with wide eyes, frowning a bit, unable to remember that moment.
 
Shining waved at Spike happy to see him as well.  The purple dragon looked over at Twilight, his face changing to fit his likely mixed emotions inside him.
 
“Is… is she okay now?” He asked with a voice that mixed fearfulness, hope, and curiosity all at the same time. Then he climbed off Rarity’s back and approached.
 
Shining nodded at Spike’s question. “She seems to be recovering from whatever Celestia did to her.” He petted Twilight mane gently.
 
Spike looked into Twilight eyes and, within an eyelid bat, he was hugging her tightly, and Twilight instinctively hugs back murmuring “Spike.”
 
“Do you remember me now?” He asked with hopeful smile.
 
Shining watched Twilight thinking about it for a few seconds.
 
He was smiling. “Just concentrate Twily, you can do it.” He said into her ear.
 
Twilight kept hugging Spike “Umm, wedding?”
 
Shining nodded ever so slightly, even if he wasn’t waiting for that response.
 
“Yes, he was there, but also…”
 
Shining moved his left hoof in cue, and so did Cadence, while Spike crossed his fingers, hope in his eyes
                    
“Fwiend!” she said, hugging him again and thusly causing him to drop his finger crossing.
 
“Not what I was wishing for,” he said a bit flustered “but close enough for now.”

“No, it is not enough,” Shining murmured annoyed, before going up to Twilight and shaking her lightly “Come on, Twily, remember!”


Cadence quickly made Shining stop shaking Twilight
 
“Calm down it might take some time.” She said, before looking at Twilight’s startled expression. “I know you and everyone else wants her back, but being aggressive won’t help.”
 
Shining let go of her sister standing up to his usual stance, “I’m just determined, sorry.” He said, before joining the small gang.
 
Spike hugged Twilight again, before going back to Rarity and climbing back on. The group starts moving down the street all wanting to grab something to eat.
 
“Just keep Twilight away from Velvet.” He warns.
 
“Why exactly? Isn’t she already seeing her like a filly?” Shining Armour asked.
 
“She’s nuts!” Spike declared throwing his arms up.
 
Rarity turned to look back at him with a scolding look “Now, Spike we talked about this.”
 
“I know, I know, but still...”
 
Shining scanned about the street, cautious as a jittery mouse ran after crumbs. “Wait, what about my mother? Don’t tell me she got worse!”
 
Rarity scratched the back of her head, and tried to spoke up, but she was interrupted by the sound of squeaking wheels getting nearby.  An oversized foal carriage came around the corner, being pulled by a well-dressed white and purple mare that Shining immediately recognized as Velvet.
 
Without even thinking about it, he took a defensive position with his horn and body, and his wife and sister behind him like if he was protecting a scared child. Admittedly, it was a rather amusing sight to behold.
 
His eyes focusing on the odd sight of the pink earth pony in the clearly oversized carriage. Pinkie was fully dressed like a foal including booties, a light blue bonnet and a white pacifier strapped around her neck. To top it off, she wore a light yellow sundress that stopped just short of the diaper.
 
Pinkie, from her carriage, waved at the group, and Velvet sing-sang.  “Oh, hello there Shiny! Enjoying your time with your love birdie Caddy?”
 
Shining noticed Cadence’s light blush as he looked back at her, before facing back to her insane mother.   “Yes we just came for a visit. So, no, no mind games with us!” He does his best to hide Twilight, although the little filly’s mind wasn’t interested in playing hide and seek.
 
“Pink Pink!” Twilight cheered coming out from behind the two. She ran up to the carriage, bouncing in her step, unlike her usual walking pose, a waddle.
 
Shining cringed, fearing the worst, as Velvet moved out from behind the carriage and up to the filly, so he rushed up behind her just to be sure.
 
Velvet gave wide happy smile before she spoke.  “Oh, my dear Twilight is here as well!” Velvet said cooing, while her mentally regressed daughter went towards her. “Come on, give mommy a hug!”
 
“Yes, mommy!” Twilight said as she jumped onto Velvet hugging her.  Shining resisted the temptation to rip the two away but kept at bay for now.
 
While the two hugged, Cadence glanced at Pinkie once more.
 
“Well... uh... you’re looking cute.” She said, scratching her ear while doing so. Pinkie’s reply was fast.
 
“Well, thank you,” she said with a giggle “I’ve gotten used to it.” She grinned as she looked at Twilight “Hard to do parties though.”
 
“I see,” Cadence said “thought… what happened to Velvet exactly? Why is she still like this?”
 
“Well, with Twilight ‘gone,’ she has fallen into despair and kind of saw me as a one year old foal.” Her face took on a light shade of blush. “Not so bad, at least she’s not babying the whole town, and I am happy with this treatment.”
 
After a short look back at Velvet tickling Twilight, she giggled as well. “I’m still town’s number one party pony, just a diapered one, hehe…”
 
“I see.” Cadence said, while Shining Armour tried to separate Velvet from Twilight.
 
“Okay, time to get moving.” He said quickly, staring cautiously at Velvet.
 
“Oh, do you mind if walk with you?” Velvet asked as her aura grabbed the handlebar of the carriage.
 
“Yes, a lot, mother,” Shining said scornful “keep away from me.”
 
“No need to be rude Shiny, didn’t Caddy teach you any manners?” She mothered, only adding more fuel to the fire.
 
Shining got Twilight back over to Cadence and pointed a hoof towards the library.  
 
“Let’s go before she tries something!” He hushed into Cadence’s ear.
 
Cadence shrugged and the group started moving again. Twilight waved at Pinkie as they leave, the happy huge filly giggling when Pinkie made a silly face back. The group broke off, as Rarity and Spike headed to the Sugarcube Corner.
 
“Alright,” Shining said, while he quickly recalled the trip’s path in his mind “next stop, the Golden Oaks Library, now Estive Residence of Duchess Sunset of Manehattan.”
 
“Why do you want to see her, dear?” Cadence asked while petting Twilight’s mane on the walk.
                    
“She lives in the same building where my sister used to live before the punishment,” He replied. “and she might know more about how to speed up Twilight’s recovery. before the week is up and Celestia keeps ruining her.”
 
“Oh, alright,” Cadence said “Just don’t do anything… crazy.”
 
Shining scoffed “Bah, enough crazies in our family tree as is.”
 
As soon as he said that, Shining raised his head, and saw the tree-library covered in
bronze and brass in front of him, making it look like an imposing and strong structure.
 
After knocking the now-huge and decorated door with a nearby small hammer, Shining
and Cadence with Twilight in tow waited for a response from inside.
 
A raspy voice rang out from beyond the door asking.  “State your identity, whoever you are!”
 
“I’m Emperor Shining Armour, Baron of Athina and Duke of Flowerence,” Shining said “We came to visit the Duchess.”
 
There was a quick green aura passing over Shining’s body, before the door could be heard squeaking.
 
“Very well. You come most carefully upon Duchess Shimmer’s hour of leisure.” The door opened revealing a tall stallion in leather guard attire. He waves his hoof towards the stairs.
 
The three wasted no time waiting, and ran into the big hall with the floor made of marble and the walls covered in amber.
 
“She should be upstairs,” Shining quickly ascended the stairs, his hooves echoing through the large hall, along with the much lighter steps of Cadence and Twilight.
 
After a rather short walk up the stairs, Shinning was greeted by the sight of a narrow corridor and a red wooden door with granite caryatids as support at the end of it. He had to admit, for a simple library, Sunset sure hadn’t wasted any expense on making it look fanciful.
 
Shining stood upright regaining his guard composure and knocked with a firm clack. It only took a few moments for a response to be heard from the other side.
 
“Who is requesting my attention?” Sunset's voice rang proudly.
 
“Emperor Shining Armour and Empress Cadence, we just want to have a meeting with you, Grace.”
 
The door opened revealing the study beyond a fire roasting in the cobblestone fireplace.  Sunset sitting at her desk, an assortment of papers stacked about, along with scrolls and other objects of varying purpose. She stood up and adjusted the sun-shaped pin in her mane, before trotting out from behind and into the center of the room accepting the hoof shake Shining offered a few seconds later.
 
“It is a great pleasure to see you again, Shining Armour, how long has it been?” She greeted while looking away.
 
Shining took a moment to look back at Cadence and his sister still standing in the doorway gesturing them inside. “I do believe the last we saw each other was during my wedding.”
 
She nodded in reply.   “I can recall that is correct.” Her eyes moved beyond the stallion noticing the other two guests, one in particular attracting her attention. “Oh, hello again, Lost Student.” She waved at the diapered mare.
 
Twilight stood beside Cadence, idly smiling at Sunset, with her filly-like innocence. “Hi, new nice mare!”
 
“Her name is Sunset Shimmer, Twily.” Shining reminded her.
 
Twilight let out a small giggle, clearly finding something amusing. “Shimmy shake.”
 
Shining’s face turned red, while Cadence hurried and put a hoof over Twilight’s mouth, smiling awkwardly.
 
“Sorry, Your Grace, she is still trying to understand.”
 
“It is fine,” Sunset said “I’ve heard worse directed to me. Also, it is kind of amusing, if I have to be perfectly honest.”   Sunset walked back to her chair and sat down. “So, what do you wish from me?”
 
Shining, of course was the first speak up.  “Well we were wondering if you had any more knowledge on memory spells, since you have access to the Royal Archives and similar.”
 
Sunset ear twitched lightly at the mention of the archives. “I see this has something to do with Celestia, doesn’t it?”  She asked dryly.
 
Both the adult ponies nodded, while Twilight went on to toy around with a wooden globe nearby.
 
Sunset Shimmer sighed and looked outside the window. “I will do it… eventually. But it will take a bit.”
 
Shining approached the desk a slight frown on his face, putting his hoof on the wooden surface. “We only have a week, we can’t wait.”
 
Sunset hadn’t even flinched at the somewhat aggressive stand Shining was taking. She looked towards Twilight, as she fiddled with the pin in her mane, and looked briefly at the full sun decoration at the base of the globe.
 
The symbol brought back memories to Sunset…
 

//---//  

 
Sunset was standing in front of the statue where ages ago served as entrance point in the human world, which she visited out of a desire of power.
 
However, she had quickly found out that no power waited for her there. So, when she had received a letter written in the unmistakable calligraphy of Princess Celestia, she jumped at the opportunity. After all, an amnesty, even with undisclosed reasons, was an amnesty, and Sunset wasn’t going to lose that opportunity.
 
So she had set her journey from the boarding house to the statue just in front of Canterlot High School, and waited.
 
And waited…And waited…And waited for hours on end.
 
“Ugh,” Sunset thought, as she noticed the sun setting on the horizon “when this portal is going to activate?”
 
As soon as she said that, she noticed a leaf flying towards the portal… and vanishing.
 
‘Finally.” She walked effortlessly through the shimmer silver wall, and felt the ever-so-missed feeling of magic ravaging her body like ocean waves. Few seconds later, Sunset felt pushed forward, and so she prepared her hooves for the landing on the hard stone floor.
 
And, as she had predicted she absorbed the impact, then looked up, and saw Princess Celestia standing there with a frown and a lowered face. For a moment, she had thought this was a trap, and that she was still waiting to reap her head
 
“So, Princess Celestia,” She asked with cocksureness, moments later of odd quiet. “Have you finally decided to forgive me?”
 
“Yes… for the greater good of the realm.” Celestia said with a sigh, “My new personal student has…”
 
“Left for better life options? Sunset said with a snicker.
 
“Not exactly.” Her hooves shuffled on the floor. “I… I… gave her said option.”
 
“So... she failed you, and you thought I could do better?” She asked with a hint of snark.
 
“Well… yes… since she can’t kind of do anything as she is now…”
 
Sunset ears perked up “Wait...is she dead!” She asked, jumping to worst-case scenario immediately, and causing Celestia to reply quickly.
 
“Nonono, that didn’t happen, she has simply returned to a…” Celestia gulped, “Simpler state.”
 
“What do you mean by a ‘simpler state’? Did she get turned into a foal?”
 
Celestia blinked surprised at the quick guess.  “Yes, terrible accident, quite... tragic.”
 
Sunset nodded “Very well, if that is so, I shall be your student once again. After all, I’ve been far from my brothers for too long, and the effect of not seeing familiar faces has worn me. But I will serve you under several conditions…”
 
“What are those?” Celestia asked with a hint of pleading in her voice.
 
“A duchy grant,” Sunset said with a grin, “full regalia, and ability to have it as hereditary title.”
 
Celestia gulped a bit, but looked desperate. this only made Sunset grin grow ever so slightly.  “Well...” Celestia said, clearly attempting to cut her losses “Is the Duchy of Appaloosa enough?”
 
Sunset shook her head.  “Give me the best you have. Flowerence… Manehattan… Romea… Fillydelphia…”

\\--\\

Sunset Shimmer as brought out of her trance by a loud thump upon her desk causing several bobbles to rattle from the impact. She gulped as she looked right into Shining’s stare.
 
“Well?”  Shining asked again. “Will you help or not?” He kept up his stance, staring deep enough to pierce her very soul. A growing sense of urgency could be seen in his expression with every second he didn’t receive an answer from the mare.
 
“I… I will.” Sunset said with clear reluctance. “I will do as fast as I can, but I cannot guarantee anything.”
 
Shining loosened his stance ever so slightly, as he put his hoof back on the floor. He nodded at her answer satisfied enough yet still uneasy feeling Sunset was just going to stale to keep her all so prodigious position.  Despite this he trusted her to do the right thing, in the end, anything was fine for get her sister back.   “Thank you, Sunset this means a lot more than you would guess at first glance.”
 
Sunset rose from her chair once more going over to Twilight and gently petting the mare’s mane.  “I understand clearly Shining. You just want your sister back, and enjoy what family you still have. Must be a shame to have both your parents be…how do I put it lightly?”
 
“Without the light of reason?” Cadence pipes up.
 
Sunset nodded and kept petting “I guess that is as close assessment as any.”
 
Twilight enjoyed the petting. She looked... joyful for some reason, but at this point it was unsure what she was so happy about.  Could have easily been the fact that she had found a new friend. Worst case scenario, it was just gas.
 
After a quick chat, Shining and Sunset headed down to the library floor to do some research, while Cadence kept Twilight occupied with a makeover.
 
“So anything you can suggest?” He asked.  After a quick walk down the stairs, he watches Sunset flip through pages of several books at once.
 
“I’m looking for Mind Keys Spells, for such things aren’t uncommon, but are very hard to cast. They are supposed to be reserved for Princess Celestia and Interrogators, but I rule over there, so...” She stated as she set a few books back in a steady progression. Her eyes never seemed to leave a page for more than a second, skipping from point to point like fireflies. “Let’s just say I acquired a few things I shouldn't really have my hooves on.”
 
Shining nodded not really interested in the point of her having access to restricted materials. After all, she was trustworthy enough not to do something stupid or reckless. He felt like some lab assistant, in just sitting there idly.  As much as he wanted to help in the search, he really didn’t know anything about this library.
 
After half an hour of painstakingly peeking at every tome she could possible glue her eyes too, Sunset sighed wiping her brow. “Alright, I think I have an idea but it will take a couple of days to piece it all together.”
 
Suddenly her stomach gave out an audible rumble, and she blushed a bit.
 
“Hehe time for lunch I take it?” Shining teased getting up off his chair.
 
“Technically, yes,” she said “but I am willing to keep going for quite a while. If that pleases you, leave. I will inform you as soon as I have something.”
 
Cadence and Twilight came down together both smiling. Twilight had her mane styled in cute bun, just like her sister-in-law used to have in her teenage years.  
 
“We are closer to the solution now. The Duchess Sunset will give us what we need to fix Twilight in two days.” A small grin came to Shining face as he waved at the descending mares.
 
“Really?” Cadence said, before turning to Twilight “That is really nice to hear!”
 
Twilight remained silent, as she hummed something that sounded like a song about siblinghood and how it benefited her.
 
Shining turned back to Sunset for a moment adjusting his mane. “Sunset, would you care to join us for lunch at Sugarcube Corner?”
 
Sunset, rubbed of her chin for a few seconds, before she shrugged. “Sure thing, an hour or two isn’t going to slow my progresses that much.”
 
With a quick nod to the guard the group head out into the street.  Along the way, Twilight scanned her surrounding, eying anything that caught her eye or seemed to spark something inside her.
 
Shining smile was now glued to his face at all the good things happening in this little amount of time.
 
“Everything is going so well, what could go wrong now?” He thought, before quickly correcting himself “Actually, scratch that. It tends to attract bad luck.”
 
Twilight froze at the door of the cafe looking upwards the building. Her eyes scanning it delicately and with the same child-like wonder as they did at the right time of life. Shining really wished he could see inside Twilight’s mind.
 
Pinkie waddled up to the counter putting her hooves on the counter, seemingly no one minding Pinkie attire much. Although all she had on for the moment was a silly flower yellow bonnet.  “Hey again.” She greeted, looking about cautiously. “Here for lunch?”
 
“Yes.” Shining stated dryly, as he gestured to Cadence and Twilight to take a seat “What kind of foods do you serve, baked goods aside?”
 
“Oh, buns, sandwiches, that kind of stuff,” she said. “Wanna take a seat, before I take your order?”
 
Shining and the rest took a seat at the far end of the main room. Pinkie gave Twilight a colouring booklet usually reserved for actual foals and a few crayons before getting the menus for the three adults.
 
Shining took a quick look at the room, before letting out a sigh of relief at the absence of Velvet and the presence of a couple of lone ponies instead.  He watched Twilight idly colour in Luna’s flank with green making him chuckle a bit.
 
“Hehe, that’s the wrong colour, sis.”
 
Twilight giggled, looking at the cheesecake ad on the little pamphlet. “Green cheese moon.”
 
Shining shrugged, before smirking patting Twilight head. “You have the strangest imagination at times.”
 
As soon as he said that, Pinkie returned with a notepad and a pen. “So, are you ready to order?” She asked adjusting her bonnet a bit.
 
Sunset, who had been idly polishing her nails while waiting, looked up. “I’ll have a coffee and two waffles, please. Extra strawberries, if that is possible.”
 
“Mushroom salad for me.” Candace replied “Oh what should we get Twilight?”
 
Twilight suddenly points to Sunset making the mare jump a bit. “Pancake.”
 
“Well guess that answers it.” Cadence chuckled as Pinkie wrote it down.
 
Shining looked up from his menu looking puzzled. “I know what I want, just one question first,” His eyes scanned the room again, still not convinced the coast was clear. “Is Velvet around?”
 
Pinkie nodded making Shining cringe a bit. “She just upstairs taking care of Pumpkin and Pound Cake.” She said “Only time I can seem to get privacy.” She added light heartedly.
 
Shining was still tense but eased enough to enjoy his time here with Cadence. Taking one more look towards the door, he saw the other Elements Bearers walking in all looking rather cheery.  Rarity seemed to be talking with Applejack as they came in.
 
“Well, why didn’t ya’ tell me they were visiting sooner, Rarity?”
 
“I just wasn’t sure how you would react is all.  You do have a tendency to overreact.”
 
“This is coming from the drama queen.” Applejack quips before spotting the group in question. With a quick trot over to the table, she smiled.
 
“Good day y’all!” Applejack said, while Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash followed, their eyes all focusing on their friend drawing the green-coated Luna.
 
“Good day, Applejack,” Sunset shimmer said “I see that everypony else is also here!”
 
“Yeah, we all met up at mah farm for quick drink before coming over here.” Applejack replied once more staring at Twilight. “How is she?”
 
“A bit broken still,” Shining quickly said. “But she’s recovering a little.” He gave a nudge to Twilight to get her attention ay from her crafts.
 
Twilight blinked as she noticed all the stares, before springing towards them hastily climbing over Shining to reach them.
 
“Jacky! Dashy! Flut-flut!” She said happily, while the ones mentioned stared, unsure on what to do, aside from wave awkwardly.  She hugged Fluttershy first, sniffing her usual flowery scent.
 
Fluttershy froze for a second due to her timid nature. “Oh, h-hey Twilight I see you are doing well.”
 
Twilight hugged a bit stronger, causing Fluttershy’s eyes to bug out, and for Applejack to intervene in separating the two.
 
“She’s still as dumb as a box of ripe apples, though!” Applejack said, before Twilight turned to hug her as a result.
 
“She isn’t stupid. I mean, remember the wedding?” Pinkie blurts from behind scaring the group half to death, how they didn’t hear her crinkles was a mystery.
 
Rarity was the first to turn around, holding her hoof to her chest. “Pinkie, how many times do we have to tell you not to sneak up on us like that?”
 
Pinkie let out a small giggle. “Oh, I’m surprised you didn’t hear the diaper crinkling or something.” She set the orders down on the table with the slightest of ease.
 
“What was about the wedding?” Shining asked, waving a Pinkie again as he let Twilight get back into her seat to eat.
 
“Oh, don’t you remember? Twilight recognized Chrysalis disguised like Cadence because the first taped the diaper the wrong way and did not know where to apply the powder.”
 
Twilight and Shining both chuckled, as Applejack tilted her head.
 
“Yeah, but that was still foal stuff, it didn’t mean she was smart.”
 
“True. But she still made the connection, between a stranger in disguise and Cadence unable to do things that she had taken for granted.” Shining pointed out, causing Cadence to blush slightly. Meanwhile, Twilight undid her hug and commented.
 
“Big black horsebug was meanie.” She stuck out her tongue rather comically. Twilight picks up the fork with her magic, apparently subconsciously, and then she clapped. “Oh lookie!” The fork kept hovering there as she stared at her floating fork with wonder.
 
Rarity smiled at the sight a smile of delight on her face. “Has she used magic since her change?” She asked surprised.
 
“Actually… yes. In fact, she has thrown my Chancellor out of a window by accident,” Shining grinned awkwardly. “The poor guy refused to stay around her ever since.”
 
A few more lines of dialogue were exchanged between the gang as they ate. Suddenly, in a moment of silence, Rarity blurted out.
 
“I hope Spike is doing fine, while with my sister’s friends. I mean, between his hot headedness and my sister’s impulsive nature, the result could be messy.”
 
“Oh you worry too much about Spike sometimes Rarity.” Dash ate her salad as she commented rolling her eyes.
 
“Well, somepony has to look after Spikey Wikey. I didn’t see anyone else volunteering. at the time” Rarity replied twiddling her fork about.
 
“Oh.” Rainbow Dash stated, as she took out some bits. ”Well I should be going, promised Scootaloo I’d watch her do some tricks in a bit.”
 
Rarity waved goodbye as Dash flew towards the door “Say hello to Spike for me.” She mothered just as her friend zipped out leaving her usual trail of rainbow behind.
 

---------

 
“Well that was certainly a productive visit.” Shining said as three waited at the train platform for the train to arrive.  Time after lunch had been relaxed overall even manage to work in a walk through the park.  Twilight seemed happier which in turn made Shining happy as well.
 
“It was very nice outing indeed, and I’m happy we can restore Twilight soon, even if it means conspiring behind Aunt Celestia’s back.” The last part of her sentence made her nervous a bit.
 
“It is hardly conspiring against Celestia, dear, it getting back what she stole from us. Totally different thing altogether.”
 
“I’m still not sure about that, but okay.” Cadence replied still a bit uneasy watching Twilight play with a Daring Do doll they got her from the toy store.
 
Shining on the other hoof seemed rather confident in his actions. “I know what I'm doing is right. It’s how it should be. I just want my sister back. We are so close no turning back now.”
 
Cadence put a hoof on his shoulder “I know, and I do too, just nervous of what Celestia might think of us doing this and all.”
 
Shining rolled his eyes. “She may be royalty but Luna, she just stood by while all that happened.” He points to Twilight. “I don't know why she didn’t do anything about Celestia actions, it’s like she just put it aside for the sake of being sisters.”
 
They made their way onto the train and take their seats, Twilight sitting next to Cadence while Shining once more looked out the window.
 
The ride was scheduled to go through Canterlot and then roundabout to the empire. The trip to Canterlot took around two hours. Suddenly there was a harsh rattling as the train came to a halt near the station.  A voice rang over the intercom.
 
“What do you mean ‘the axis is broken?”
 
	

> Civil Unease
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Once the group had left the train, they head into the shining capitol. The streets were alive with activity as usual and from the looks of it, some sort of festival was being set up.
 
“Well that was unexpected.” Cadence inquired giving friendly waves to anypony that bowed or said hello.
 
“True, but, hey it wasn’t like we were on a schedule, so that matters very little.” Shining said, as he took a long look at the castle in the distant, hearing the light crinkles of Twilight in the background. Once at the station’s train platform, he stopped at the local news paper stand unfolding the article, and scanning the contents taking a seat on one of the many cushioned benches.
 
“So dear what shall we do, while the train gets fixed?” Cadence said while adjusting her little tiara, as she spoke, trying to keep an image of decency.
 
Shining turned to her wife, as he distractedly took out a few bits from under his mane and gave them to the newspaper vendor, before putting the paper flat enough to talk to her and read at the same time, thusly giving them both equal attention. “I do not know, my dear, maybe we can use our Royal Discount for the Opera, or...’

Shining was cut off by Twilight injecting herself between the two. “Wat ‘bout me?”  
 
Cadence silently scolded Twilight with a frown for interrupting. Shining moved his hoof along the paper glancing up at Twilight. “Sis, were talking, just wait for a moment please.”
 
Twilight’s ears dropped as she sat her padded bottom on the red cushioned seat. “Sorry.” Her temporary sadness was broken, as she spotted a blue jay nesting nearby, thing that brought her to walk just under the nest on one of the bars forming the station’s roof.
 
Shining chuckled at the sight, finding it rather cute. “Well, since we have Twilight along, maybe we shall visit the gardens, I hear your favorite flowers are in bloom this time of year…”
 
He stops mid sentence, his focus now solely on the words printed before him.  His eyes widen, as the words sank into his mind like a spear.
 
-- New Political Taunt from Mr. Night Light: “Princess Celestia: a Sybaritic Ruler, or a Just Leader?"--
 
“What is it, Shiny?” Cadence asked no doubt a little worried about Shining’s expression.
 
He immediately held up the paper so her wife could get a good look. “My dad is.” Upon the sheet was an image of Night Light standing on a raised platform, his hoof stretched out, his mouth open declaring something, while, behind him, on a drape, there was the symbol of the fig made by a minotaur hand.
 
Shining, read the first words of the article for get an idea.
 
“Yet another outrage from Mr. Night Light, former notary, and now major member of the Noble-Republican group. His stunt has caused a little unrest in the park where the meeting was held…”
 
 He scowled a bit. “I wonder why.” He said dryly, while sharing the newspaper to Cadence.
 
“A later statement from Princess Luna stated that the issue would be looked into and be considered for further review.”
 
Cadence blinked ever so slightly as she scanned the article for herself. “I knew he had issues with Velvet and Celestia's violations but this...is he insane?”
 
“He is,” Shining Armour confirmed “I’ve met with him many times. Every time I did, his grief turned into insanity bit by bit. The one time I visited, he even told me I was the only one he had left as family.  He won’t even hesitate to call me out for mentioning Twilight. Of course things are different now.”  He looked towards Twilight, who was still idly watching the birds, lost in her idyllic and fake own little world.
 
“We should go visit him.”  Shining said as she got Twilight attention, and Shining soon noticed that she been so entranced in her bird watching, she hadn’t notice she had to pee, by the fact she was slightly squishing when she got up.
 
Cadence smiled as she pats the diaper lightly. “Come on Twily, time to get you clean and nice.”
 
Twilight lightly blushed and followed Cadence to the station’s washroom giggling a bit. “oopsy.”
 
Shining sat on the bench, waiting for them to return, while scanning the paper more. “Next stop, my father’s.”
 

---------

 
Shining Armour and Cadence, along with their filly-minded companion, had walked for good ten minutes, before reaching Shining’s old house and current residence of his father. The place had since been build like a fortress, high brick walls surrounding the main compound and two statues of unicorn guards put at the entrance. Upon their armour, there were emblems of different Noble houses that were famous for their treachery towards Celestia but beloved by the populace.
 
“The Ideogram of ‘Great Baron’ for House Lipan, a crown of spines for House Desiderius, the Blue Rooster and the Red Viper for House de Poitou…” Shining Armour murmured, as he saw each house’s emblems
 
“What’s wrong Shining?” Cadence asked not very accustom to Canterlot social structure, much less its history, even if she had been there for a long while.
 
The group stopped at the closed gates of the fortress.  Shining turning to face his wife, a look of concern plastered on his face. “Listen, I doubt that he will accept you in my house,” He said looking at two statues, before ringing the bell. “I think it would be best if you stayed out here with Twilight.”
 
Cadence pet Twilight mane gently and nodded. “Very well Shining, but may I ask what you are going to talk to him about?”
 
“Just try to talk him out of it before things go too far.”
Soon, from a window above, an old stallion peeks out, before coming back in. Then Sedula Serva walked fast to the gate, and moved away a bolt, allowing Shining to enter. Then the gate closed with a loud rattle, as he kept walking up the path towards his father's abode. His heart raced faster, keeping the idly passed up the path and up to the door, where Sedula let the door open, allowing Shining to enter in the house.
 
In the house, there was the sound of idle chatter going on from the large living room area. All of it sounding civil, if not just stiff and stitched together. As he walked towards the sound of chatter, a stallion with long mane and spiky beard came down from the stairs wearing a striped green and white elegant shirt.
 
Shining recognized him as his father.
 
“Welcome back to our house, son,” he said, walking up to him “Do you want to join me, in my plotting forget our revenge upon Celestia, the Solarite?”
 
Shining stood as proud as much he could manage, trying to not look like he was secretly wanting to just bolt out of there.  “Well somewhat,” He explained. “I just don’t want things getting out of hand is all. That and I have good news.”
 
“What is that? Openings?” Night Light said, gesturing his son to follow him as he ascended the stairs toward his study.  “Did my not wife die from a heart attack?”
 
Shining looked at the family photo’s lining the wall as he followed. “Well Twilight…”
 
Night Light stopped in his tracks, looking back with eyes showing raging hope. “What about her?”
 
“She… she…”
 
“Speak up, boy! what is it?”
 
“S-she’s recovering. We have a plan to bring her back...”
 
“Recovering how?” He said, jumping at Shining and grabbing him by the chest “Tell me! Is it draining all Celestia's humors, and force that wreck that is a parody of my daughter to drink them until she is restored?”
 
Shining gulped slightly before he spoke. “W-well actually we found out, with the help of Duchess Sunset, that her memory was just suppressed, and that…”
 
“WHICH memories?! Memories of that unproductive time that cost me bits upon bits upon bits, or the one of when I actually gained them through interviews and writings of her deeds?”
 
“Her old life back, yes...C-could you back up you are scaring me a bit.”
 
“Scaring you? SCARING YOU?” He shouted very loudly, shaking Shining in his hooves like if he was a cloth doll, frothing from his mouth “I sent a man to the best Military Academy in Equestria, and they spat out a sissy? Or did you forget about your training, pansy?”
 
Shining just stood there, unable to respond to his father’s nonsensical rage, and just stood there, terrified of something worse.
 
“Father, please I’m genuinely concerned for your well being.” Shining said, managing not to stutter despite his body quivering.
 
“Oh, really?” His father said “Well, if you were, you would have eaten Celestia's heart with a spoon! You would have skinned that parody of my wife and stitched it into a blanket!”
 
Shining suddenly found himself pushed down the stairs and into the dining room, where the nobles were talking. Amidst the crowd, Shining could see Upper Crust, Fancy Pants, Jet Set, Dusk Shadow, and, to one’s surprise, Prince Blueblood.
 
“See Shining I have supporters, even they could agree to have a new government free from Royal rule. We’re not rushing head long into this either, oh no, we have a plan!” He said, showing Shining the papers scattered on the desk. “We are doing this by force, and there is no way that Celestia can beat us!”
 
Shining just looked around the crowd. “What about Luna?”
 
“What about her?” Night Light inquired. “I have no quarrel with her.”
 
“She works with Celestia to help run the kingdom too you know.”
 
“She will be dealt accordingly, maybe given a position as Permanent Elector, maybe just sent away.”
 
“Are you insane, you would cause a civil war over what she did to Twilight, you really have lost your marbles?” Shining pulls away from his father.
 
“Cause a civil war?” Night Light said with a chuckle, “There can’t be a civil war, if there is nobody on the other side!”
 
“What do you mean?”
 
“The nobles, in front of my success, will rush behind my tail, looking for a position in the Equestria I will make!” He said boastfully, followed by the cheers of the nobles.
 
“You can’t just kick the princess out of the castle, it’s their home practically.”

“So you’re on her side!” Night Light muscles’ tensed as he collapsed, a few nobles flinching about. “You have fallen! My own son brainwashed, I’m truly alone in this fight!”
 
Shining could see a few doubtful faces amongst the room, as he slowly backed himself up towards the door. “I won’t help you, if that’s what you mean.”
 
Shining somehow knew he was going to regret those words but at this point, it was clear his father was lost in his own little world that dangerously intersected with the real one, similar to how Velvet insanity had taken her over.
 
“Get out of my house!” Night Light jabbed a hoof at the door, glaring with fires of Taurus itself.
 
Shining, having lost any hope of connecting to his father made his way to the door. “Twilight will be better soon, father, I hope we can come to visit.”  With that, he shut the door behind him, heading back towards the gate, where Twilight and Cadence were waiting.
 
Twilight tilts her head once she saw her brother. Even in her current mind set, she could see something wasn’t right.  “Wat wrong?”
 
Cadence gave a similar look as they begin to walk down the street. “Yes Shining, what happened?”
 
“My father ranted about his plans to overthrow the current regime by the power of Noble Revolt,” he said panting. “He has lost it. There no getting to him now, I don’t think there is any way to stop it either.”
 
HIs wife looked onwards very conflicted. “That’s terrible will Aunt Celestia be okay.”
 
“Well he has nothing against Luna so I know she will be fine, I don’t think that Princess Celestia will have a good time, though.”  He fights back a smirk thinking about what is to come when Twilight get her memories back.
 
“Now let’s get back to the station,” he said. “Maybe the train is repaired by now.”
 

---------

“Welcome back, Twilight!” Pinkie blew a joy buzzer smiling. She set up a whole party as usual with all the needed parts for Sunset plan to work.  The rest of the Elements were already settled into drinking and eating snacks, as Twilight had waddled in.
 
“Hi Piggy.” She said making honking sounds, much to Pinkie amusement, who snorted back.
 
Meanwhile on the other side of the room Sunset, Shining, and Cadence sat down on the couch discussing things and the current situation.
 
“Yes, I have been aware of the mounting pressure in Canterlot news travels rather fast. Although we aren’t here to talk about that now are we?”
 
Shining snickered a bit before nodding. “So you have the spell to undo Celestia brainwashing sorted out.”  It was the day before Celestia was due to return from her vacation, a Friday to be exact. Everything around seemed happier, brighter and full of joy.
 
And soon, it was going to get even more so…

> The Restoration
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The group had all gathered around in the main room of the library.  The clock ticked by, as everypony watched Sunset flip to the correct page of her book.
 
“So, Duchess Sunset,” Shining Armour asked, “Did you have the spell book already here?”
 
Sunset nodded setting said leather book down on the table.  “Well, had to do some digging in the lowest parts of my Library, but I did manage to find all the necessary elements for this to work.  No pun intended of course.”  She added with a light smirk.
 
The element of harmony all gave a little chuckle before Sunset continued.
 
“Princess Celestia’s spell seems tougher than I first thought.  We’ll have to go bit deeper than just a simple ‘fire&forget’ spell.”
 
“What do you mean deeper?”  Cadence asked, her hooves idly hitting the floor.
 
“We will have to enter her mind per say.  Help her come out of the shell that formed around her adult mind.  Happy thoughts and memories are the key.”
 
Applejack assuming this would be an easy task was the first to rise.  “Great, what do we do first?”
 
Sunset gestured to the corner of the room, where a blackboard with large circle drawn in chalk had been placed.  Similar concentric circles lined the inner ring, creating a very delicate pattern.  She gestured the group over to it as she explained.  “The spell requires us to stand in this pattern, so that our energies are focus on Twilight.  It’s rather lengthy explanation, so, to make a long story short, we are all needed.”  She said before glancing at Spike who was holding the spell book in his claws.  “As for you Spike, we need you to act as protection.”
 
The dragon in return tilted his head.  “Protection?  I thought I’d be part of this circle thing.”
 
Pinkie looks about nervously before Sunset spoke again.  “Well we need you to make sure the spell isn’t interrupted.”
 
‘That and Velvet might come and check up on me.”  Pinkie said before glancing at the door again.  “I had to sneak out just to make to this party.  I don’t know how long the extra guests at the daycare will hold her out of here.”
 
Spike cringed, twiddling his fingers.  “V-velvet.”
 
Rarity came up to him, putting a hoof on his shoulder.  “I”m sure our brave Spikey can keep us safe from that abomination.”
 
Shining gently positioned Twilight into the center of the ring of ponies .Twilight looked at her friends as she sat there, grinning emptily.  Her blue party dress fitting well over her diapered rump... not that she would need a diaper after this was done.
 
Pinkie pouted for a second as everypony got into position, a puppy dog expression on her face.  “Aww, do we have to?”
 
Everybody turned to look at her before focusing on the task at hand.  Rarity looked over at Pinkie shaking her head.  “Pinkie for the last time, no matter how happy she looks, it is not her.”
 
Sunset and the other unicorns position themselves in a parallel like fashion as the others filled in the gaps.
 
“Now, when I give the signal, Shining, Cadence and Rarity, will cast the spell in unison, the rest will happen on its own.  Just remember, happy thoughts of Twilight, and desires of her return.”  Sunset instructed.
 
Sunset took one last look at the page before facing back at Twilight idle grin.  Everyone looked a little on edge as her horn started to illuminate.  White magic swirled about before enveloping Twilight’s head and horn, the unicorn froze in place as if time had stood still.  Next came Rarity’s, Shining, and Cadence horns all lighting up in sequence, each colour blending into the aura of the other ponies.  A majestic rainbow of light sparkled around in the circle, the energy flowing back towards Sunset before pulsing into Twilights forehead.
 
All of a sudden, there was a multicolored flash, and a tunnel of light appeared in Sunset’s vision.  She spiraled downwards into a pit of blackness, and endless drop that had no bottom.  After what felt like eternity of waiting, her hooves landed on solid ground.
 
A soft breeze blew about, sand between her hooves, long dead trees and bushes swayed as well creating a very unnerving feeling.  Despite the area around her, there was no blistering heat or dry air.
 
“So, this is how a regressed mind looks...”  Sunset Shimmer murmured momentary forgetting the task at hand before turning to face the others.  They stumbled about for a few moments, the non-unicorns more so due to lack of experience with such intense mental strain.
 
Dash was the first to recover fully looking about the sand dunes.  “Where are we?”
 
Rarity dragged some sand along the cracked earth before speaking shackley.  “This is Twilight’s mind, and it seems this is the state Celestia left her.”
 
Dash facehoofed before looking around spreading her wings to take to the skies.
 
“Wow, hold up there partner, we stick together!”  Applejack said stopping Dash from getting airborne.
 
Dash simply rolled her eyes, letting out a sigh.  ‘Relax, I was just going to do some aerial recon.”  She said, no doubt using all those fancy words she found in a Wonderbolts manual.  “Oh well, I will look from the ground.”
 
The group make their way up a sand dune soon getting an overview of the surrounding terrain.
 
A small village stood in the distance.  A pyramid-temple not unlike ones found in the ruins of the tropical part of Equestria stood tall and proud in the center.  The outer walls of the villager were built much like a fort, large logs forming a barrier with catwalks along the top most edge.
 
“I spot something looking like a farm over there.”  Applejack suddenly pointed eastwards towards a barnyard and a military camp.  “There are some ponies there too!”
 
“Hey, is it me or do those guards on patrol down there on the walls look like hostile natives from the Daring Do books.”  Dash inquired, her eyebrow raised.
 
“Yeah they kind of do now that ya mention it.”  Applejack rubbed her chin.
 
Shining had stayed near his wife this entire time, taking a look over the land for himself.  ‘We should proceed with caution.  We don’t know how they will react to newcomers.”
 
Sunset rubs her chin again seeming lost in her own thoughts.  “Oh, yes true.”
 
Rarity had apparently noticed the hesitance in Sunset voice now moving over to her side.  “Is something wrong dear?”
 
“I’m just at a bit of a loss here is all.”  Sunset replied glancing towards the village with puzzlement.  “Everything here is an abstraction, things that symbolize parts of Twilight, like personality, desires and the like.”  She paused, now having the full attention of the group.  “In fact you all know Twilight better than I do, so I’m more lost than anyone here”
 
Rarity nodded.  “Well that may be true, but you are the only one able to understanding the signs here.”
 
Sunset kept rubbing her chin looking worried.  “I may have capacity, but I can’t say anything for sure.  Unless I have some support from you.  We all have to work together, piece together this puzzle carefully.”
 
Pinkie looked over innocently.  “I love puzzles, this should be fun.”
 
Dash raised an eyebrow again.  “Pinkie this isn’t a game, it’s our friend’s life at stake here.”
 
“Yeah I know, but no reason to not be a downer about it.  Beside it not like if we die, we all fall over dead right?”
 
The group remained silent for a minute, all a bit startled by what Pinkie had blurted out.  None of them had really considered what this link into Twilight mind could do to their own bodies.
 
Shining grew impatient and started walking.  “Well enough talking let’s get going before night somehow falls.”
 
As they group walk along the dirt path Fluttershy's whimpers are heard faintly.  “W-why would Twilight mind be like t-this...  I-I thought s-s-she was remembering-g things?”
 
“It will be okay Fluttershy, we will get through this.”  Dash comforted her yellow friend, the sound of the group hoof steps being the only sound to be heard.
 
The group passed through a dead wheat field, before approaching an old looking farm house.  One of the ponies that had been toiling at the earth with a hoe looked up from under his helmet.  The light brown bearded unicorn wore a simple breastplate and a morion, and was resting on a halberd.
 
“I’ve never seen such healthy ponies around here for years,” he said in a raspy voice.  “Who are you exactly?  What are you bringing to me and my company?”
 
Sunset shimmer inflated her chest a bit.  “We are Twilight’s friends,” she said, while the others came around.  “We want to restore her to her former glory.”
 
The stallion spat on the ground, before looking up to Sunset again.  “Gardeners that want to go to war!  This dominates every other event that has happened to me!”
 
“Gardener?”  Applejack tilted her head towards Sunset.
 
“I think that Twilight, in this context, is the earth in this plane.”  Sunset whispered.
 
“But I think that the Captain and Former King will integrate you in our company,” the stallion said “After all, there has been a shortage of new meat over here, and we are getting smaller week by week.”
 
Then the stallion took the halberd in his magic, before going on his fours.  “Follow me before the patrols come around.”
 
The group nodded at each other, before following the stallion.
 
“I hope we will see some action,” Dash murmured to Fluttershy, to which Fluttershy let out a small squeak.
 
“So what do you think they meant by former King?”  Cadence asked as they walked down the hill into a valley.
 
“Well obviously they are referring to old Twilight.”  Shining replied confident.
 
Sunset agreed with a simple nod taking a gander at the rather simple housing around, as they are guided down another hill slope to a few tents arrange in a circle.  One tent stood out taller than the rest, made distinct by the lavender and white banner flying on the top and Twilight’s cutie mark was emblazoned upon it.  Upon approach of the camp they noticed that most of the army were greyed out and colourless: the ponies almost looked generic, as if cut from the same cloth nothing truly standing out amongst the sea of grey, brown, black, white and ochre.
 
The pony escort saluted before calling out to one of the guards.  “Tell the Captain we have volunteers.”  The guard replied by turning around, heading towards the decorated tent.
 
Sunset took a moment to look about the camp noticing that the soldiers, when they weren’t completely without armour and weapons, they used all the same weapon according to their race.  Specifically, all pegasi had a saber and a flintlock pistol and wore only a puffed out dress, while the unicorns had both a halberd and an arquebuse and wore a breastplate.
 
Pinkie’s hair looked more deflated.  “Where is the entire colour?  The happiness… anything fun?”
 
A loud scream came from far away, causing Pinkie and the others to turn around and look towards the village in the distance.
 
“Happiness and prosperity died a long time ago,” a nearby soldier said.  “Ever since our band was formed from the remnants of the army after the assault on the city, the priest has never stopped his barbaric sacrifices of ponies to his goddess.  With nobody stopping him, everypony lost the will to smile.”
 
“See?  That’s what you were supporting all along, when you wanted Twilight to stay like that,” Rarity whispered in Pinkie’s ear, causing the latter to start to sob.
 
“No, she looked so happy, this can’t be what her head is like.  It just can’t.”  Pinkie fell to the ground covering her face with her hooves.
 
“Such is the situation,” a nearby soldier said, while looking at the reflection off his saber.
 
Sunset glared at Rarity, as if to say, “Not helping.”
 
She pets Pinkie’s mane trying to cheer her up before speaking.  “This is her adult mind oppressed and enslaved, so to speak.  All of it is forced on her, now do you see why we want her back.  The one you saw was not her.”
 
Pinkie sniffled and looked up, taking a long glance about her.  “I-I I’m sorry.”
 
Applejack helped Pinkie to her hooves comforting her more.  “It’s okay, Pinkie we forgive you.  Now perk up we got a job to do.”
 
While the group had been talking amongst themselves, an important figure suddenly stepped out of the tent in metal armour.  Her coat was faded, but colour still remained noticeable.  Upon closer inspection, it did in fact look just like Twilight.  The Twilight look alike got their attention with a loud cough.
 
“Welcome to my camp, oh volunteers,” she said her voice confident and strong.  “I hope that, with new hooves, we can get back my kingdom.”
 
“Twilight!”  The group said in perfect unison.
 
The figure recoiled.  “Why are you calling me like the land I step upon?”
 
Cadence took a step forward.  “Sorry, you just look very familiar, that’s all.”  She stretched out a hoof for a shake.
 
The unicorn figure stood there, a scowl l upon her face.  “That still doesn’t answer my question.  I must say I never seen a creature with both wings and a horn before.  Well, aside from that barbaric idol that the accursed Smarty Pants worships…”  She spat on the ground, disgust in her voice.
 
“Well…”  Cadence said, before realizing that reveal her parentage was risky there “I am just a freak accident.”
 
“I would have taken you for a god that has come to smite the unholy with your own hoof,” She said slowly reaching for the sword on her holster.
 
At the sound of those words, Sunset stepped up towards the Captain.  “We may not be gods...” she gestured towards the village, then took a hooffull of dust, and started to give it the shape of a pony.  The shape warped slowly turning into clay and, finally to flesh, metal and wood.  “But we are near to that.”
 
The Captain, just like everybody else there, looked in stupor and wonder to Sunset’s doing.  Meanwhile, the generated pony walked away.
 
“I do not know what powers you, oh foreigner,” Captain Twilight said, “but I'm sure that I will be able to win this war with your power.” then she pointed at the land outside the camp “Now go, and make more.  Many more.”
 
Twilight pulled back from her holder and suddenly draws her sword and shouted to the whole camp.  “With such power, we shall have no problem crushing the tyrant Smarty!  Our time is at hoof!”  Her sword floated in front of her in her in the bright purple aura from her horn.
 
The camp erupted in a roaring cheer, while Sunset's group looked confused at the happenings.
 
“How did you do that?”  Shining asked, to which Sunset answered.  “My research allowed me to discover many tricks.  One such ability is being able to create things inside a mind.”  She then gave a slight smirk “Besides, our magic combined is keeping us in this state, so I can use more power.”
 
“Oh.” they said before watching the camp get armed and ready for battle.
 
“I have to create soldiers now,” Sunset said, as she took some dust, and started to shape it in a pegasi warrior.
 
While Sunset made the new army, the others look a bit more, sometimes watching the Captain go about her tasks in the camp before the battle.
 
“She even acts like Twilight, she has even the mania for checklists.”  Dash commented.
 
“That is her, the old part that never truly went away.  It’s been fighting it’s way to the surface ever since a year ago I suspect, and with Celestia so far away, the lack of proximity must have provided a sort of opening.”  Sunset theorized, while she shaped another unicorn soldier.
 
“So, how did you figure out how to fix all of this?”  Shining asked now wearing a suit of armour and keeping a halberd on his shoulder.
 
“I hypothesize if we take down Smarty Pants, Twilight's mind will be restored.”  Sunset said, as she finished the soldier.
 
“Huh, Smarty Pants?  That was Twilight’s old doll.  She has had that thing since she was a child.  Do you think that it’s Celestia’s symbol of control, given the circumstances?’  Shining asked.
 
“Mostly likely, but we should be careful... who knows what safeguards were put in place.”
 
“Didn’t you say Celestia was on her way back from her vacation today?”  Applejack inquired, as she put on a caged roundhead helmet.
 
“Well, yes, that’s why we were doing this whole thing now before she got back.”  Rarity asked.
 
“But, if proximity is what fuels the spell, then…”  Shining gulped.
 
“Please tell me this spell isn’t in real time!”  Cadence asked, wings flaring about, as she took a bag labeled with a red cross.
 
The world seemed to stop around Sunset, as they all stared at her.  She looked at the sky surely and, while still shaping, she said.  “Well, yes, but it took me longer to get this spell ready, and I’d be damned if I don’t use it fully.  It was either this, or give up.  So we will have to deal with whatever comes.”  Sunset quickly created one last soldier before stepping back.
 
The Captain eyed her handy work, and then looked at the pike and short formation that formed outside the camp.  “Very good, we should begin the assault at once, not time to spare.”
 
Applejack stopped her in her tracks.  “Wow, wait up shouldn't we be making a plan?”

“  I’ve waited long enough, we go now.”  She gestures to nearby trumpeters, which plays three notes, causing the troops start to march.  Applejack kept watching as she stood by the rest of her friends.
 
“I don’t like the sound of that, it just doesn't feel right.  It isn’t usual for Twi to just go in full steam ahead without some sort of plan.”
 
“I’m sure she knows what she’s doing,” Shining said, “If my studies of tactics don’t fail me, she is facing a loose spear infantry charge with pike and shot and superior numbers.  With a little bit of organization, which she surely has, this battle should be a cakewalk”
 
“Mmm cake.”  Pinkie blurted out giggling “Sorry I’m hungry had to miss breakfast to get to you guys.”  She had somehow been able to bring her party cannon with her.  Pinkie logic or dream realm, nobody was quite sure.
 
“It’s fine Pinkie but I doubt confetti is going to help.”  Dash commented flying above to get an aerial view.
 
However, she was quickly pulled back by Rarity.  “Don’t, I don’t want to experiment what happens if you die here due to a javelin.”
 
“Die!  I-I don’t know...  I’m not really a fighter.”  Upon hearing Rarity's remark, Fluttershy's hooves began shaking while following the group.
 
“Just stick with me, and I’ll keep you safe.”  Shining and Sunset said, one with a reassuring smile, the other with martial sureness.  The group keep marching down the dirt path towards the wooden walls of the village in the distance.
 
The army stopped at a reasonable distance from the walls, and the soldiers immediately scrambled for take their positions in the line, be it in a block of pikes or of harquebusiers, and while each Pegasi unit guarded each village’s gate.
 
Then the Captain walked outside the unit’s protection with two trumpeters.  “Oh despicable mingy dogs that defend this town, despair, for I am the end of your days!”
 
The bulges called loudly,
 
The ground rumbled slightly as tension kept building.  Everypony's hearts was racing, as something like a stampede is heard rapidly approaching.  Tiny pebbles quaked beneath the element’s hooves, uneasing Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie.
 
Then, all of sudden, the gates busted open, freeing the howling horde of native soldiers and guard-dolls, like locusts launching themselves on crops.
 
“See?”  Shining said “No order.”  As he said that, he levitated his harquebusier and put it on the wooden support, ready to fire.
 
Not that it reassured Fluttershy, whom was hiding behind Cadence’s back, nor it calmed down the arduous spirits of applejack and Rainbow Dash, who, after drawing their swords, defending the other less brave of the bunch.
 
“Let them come!”  The Captain shouted, her sword held high in front of her face.  The sand army stood on either side, acting as the major driving force acting as defence for the Element barriers.
 
Then, once the horde had moved a fair bit closer to the army, the Captain lowered her sword.  “First Volley, fire!”
 
The bulges called again, and, soon, there was a mighty and deafening thunder, followed by a wall of white smoke that, when it started to dissolve, showed piles upon piles of dead or agonizing spear and mace users.  However, the doll-guards, aside from some burning marks visible even from distance, kept charging at the arquebusiers block, followed by the survivors of the first volley.
 
Nopony in their life had seen such carnage.  Even if it seems the enemies didn’t bleed, it was still a frightening sight to behold.
 
“Stay behind me Fluttershy!”  Cadence yelled.  The latter was firing of small volleys of magic at the targets she could hit, though it was a lousy and non-lethal shot.  It took all her strength to stop her knees from shaking.
 
Meanwhile, Rarity and Sunset were reloading their weapons, while Dash had joined the pegasi cuirassiers in their charge at the javelin-throwers on the walls of the village.  Dash manages to dodge the incoming fire, her agility given by constant dedication to sports more than a match for such sloppy tosses.
 
Soon the Captain shouted again.  “Second Volley, fire!”
 
There was yet another thunder of arquebuse fire and yet another smoke screen, leaving even more soldiers dead on the battlefield.  But the guards looking like dolls still charged.  The javelin throwers had been defeated and thrown off the walls, thusly allowing advancement in a later time.
 
As Sunset opened yet another sack of gunpowder for the gun, she noticed that tufts of grass had appeared all around the battlefield, and that the dry bushes looked a little more alive.
 
“Mmm...” she said, as she mindlessly reloaded her weapon.  “Interesting.”
 
Soon the Captain requested another volley, causing even more casualties in the enemy’s lines, before she shouted.  The enemy seemed endless in numbers, due to the doll creatures getting back on their hooves like the undead.
 
“Halberds high!  The impact is coming!”
 
The soldiers that were previously using the firearms retreated in the backlines, while the ones already armed with the halberds walked forward and formed a wall.  Soon many of the doll soldiers had become impaled, but they keep flailing about screaming a yelling nonsense.
 
“The dolls... they don’t die!”  One soldier calls out.
 
Cadence, Fluttershy and Rarity had retreated back towards the rest of the group, as the other ponies manage to hold the line.  As the situation remained stalling, Sunset suddenly looked up, seeing Pinkie dancing on the soldier’s heads and bouncing towards the doll enemies
 
“What in tarnation is she doing?”  Applejack yelled, watching her pink friend’s giggling expression.
 
“I have no idea, but she is insane!”  Cadence shouted.
 
Pinkie jumping onto one of the armed dolls, bopping its nose… and causing it to crumble into dust, too much of the group’s and the first line’s surprise.  Pinkie kept giggling “Neat.” she bopped another and then another, each one crumbling.
 
“What going on?’  Dash asked as she flew back to the group.
 
Sunset eyes widened in revelation.  “It’s us, remember what I said about happy thoughts and memories?”
 
“Yeah, but why does it matter now?”  Dash said, as Pinkie kept slaughtering the dolls single-hoofedly.
 
“They can keep on fighting forever, so it up to us to save Twilight.  So, we fight foalish fake happiness with adult joyful thoughts.”  Sunset said looking at the group, determination in her eyes.  Then she started to make her way through the orderly lines of halberdiers, reaching the frontlines, where Pinkie was making a death dance made of nose bops and head-jumping on the guard-dolls
 
Sunset charged thinking back to when she had received Manehattan’s duchy granted to her.  She hugged the closest doll-guard, thinking of how joyous it had been to be granted worthy title and position.  The doll quickly crumbled into dust.  She was surprised when other dolls soon jumped at her like dogs.
 
“Oh well,” She said, hugging the closest one, while keeping her cool “It is pretty easy at least.”
 
All of sudden, she saw Pinkie dropping and bopping the incoming soldiers to death.
 
Applejack started to hug as well, remembering the Winter Wrap Up and Twilight’s shenanigans.  A smile came to her face as she did so, destroying the enemies she hugged
 
The Captain nearly stood there watching the side in the courtyard baffled.  “How is this possible?  Enemies don’t die from shows of affection like this!”  It was very subtle but her coat had regained a bit of its original colour.  “But let’s not waste time.  Into the city!” she shouted, to which the soldiers cheered and, with surprising order, they ran into the gates left open by their now disaggregated or dead enemies.  Despite the corpses, the battlefield actually got a less apocalyptic look, now it had high grass back, and now that the trees and shrubs were green again, with the sky turning from overcast to light blue.
 



 
The group, after a long journey in the half-pillaged city, they finally reached the main town square.  What they saw was… confusing.  In front of the group was a large playground full of swings, a merry go around and monkey bars.
In the center, the aforementioned pyramid-temple stood there menacingly, a golden statue of Celestia herself, wings spread out wide, the pose very similar to one used during the Summer Sun Celebration, towering over a carved stone altar.  Also, the steps had traces of dried-up blood, and suspicious skulls lied at the base of the pyramid.
 
A high pitched voice rang around from the top of the pyramid playset, her hair fell ragged over her mismatched eyes, her left hood covered in blood.  She stood atop the battlements looking down at them.
 
 “So?  This is where is all ends?  Couldn't leave well enough alone could you?”  She adjust the plumed headdress her head as she spoke.
 
“Enough talk!”  Dash leapt into action, changing into the air at the rag doll.  Smarty reacted, lifting her hoof up waving it in an arch in rapid succession, sending out a wave of energy that sent the pegasus flying back and toppling to the ground.  Dash eyes spun as she got back to her hooves groaning a bit, but still functional.
 
“The fact that I have no army doesn’t mean I can’t…”  She stopped speaking mid-sentence, when a single, thunderous roar, ripped apart the tower Smarty had been standing on.  The rag doll jumped off, and landed in front of the golden statue of Celestia her tower crumbling into a small dust pile.
 
“Silence!”  The Captain blared as the rest of the group gathered nearby.  “It’s over Smarty, doesn't matter how much power you have.”
 
Smarty started to cackle menacingly as she got her hooves standing tall on her hind legs.  “The goddess is coming.”
 
The captain drew her sword with rapid speed.  Smarty Pants eyes widened as the sword slashed across his neck beheading her.  The stuffed doll’s head rolled on the ground.  However, the accursed thing kept cackling, as the ground started to shake.
 
“What’s going on?”  Pinkie asked glancing at the Captain.  The rest of the group back up a bit along with her.  Suddenly, the wings on Celestia’s metal frame started moving.  The large royal hooves broke free from the platform they were welded upon crashing down upon the dirt below.
 
“I am the Angry Alicorn Goddess of Infancy!  Fear Me!”  It roared, shaking the landscape.
 
“I think we have a problem, the closer Celestia get to Equestria, the stronger this enchants is going to get.  Whatever we do we have to do it fast.”
 
The Captain jumped forwards with her sword in full swing.  Upon contact with the hoof, her sword snapped like it was mere glass.  Before she could react, the Alicorn’s mighty hooves swung upwards, battling the unicorn away.
 
‘Twilight!”  Pinkie shouted as the group all ran up to the Captain when she landed in the sandbox.
 
“How can we save her against that thing?”  Applejack helped Twilight get up hearing Celestia roar once more.
 
The rest gathered around in a defensive pose around her.  Even Fluttershy raised her head to defend her friend.  Celestia seems to stare them down being more intimidating than a threat.
 
Pinkie stared back, now on Applejack’s right side.  “You think you can scare us to leave... then you got another thing coming.”
 
Rarity took her place next to her pink friend the rest following to stand in defensive line.  “We are her real friends.  You're nothing but a plague to be cured!”
 
The Captain looked at the ponies defending her from the beast, before them a strange light running around their backs.  Shining had turned to face her, offering a hoof.
 
“We need all of us, grab my hoof, now!”
 
The Captain grabbed it without thinking about it too much.  The same energy flowed about her body, as the group all held hooves and rose above the ground.  Each of them started to glow a different colour as air began to move around them.
 
The Celestia-like beast roared, raising up to smash the ground and the ponies standing on it with its forehooves.  Its forehooves hit from above only to hit a previously-invisible energy barrier moments later.  The lights grew ever brighter, as the ponies inside the bubble stood their ground.  The land around became ever greener, full of new life and meaning.
 
“We will not fall, we will not cede, we will not retreat,” the Captain said “We will march forward in time, until either our body will breathe its last breath in glory, or Time itself will end!”  The lights expanded in vibrant colours, each pony as bright as the stars.  
 
“Begone demon!  Let the Invincible Light of Reason purge you out!”
 
All in one, the ponies raised their hooves into the air in a brilliant show of light.  The Celestia statue started to crack, and warp onto itself, its metal shattering.  The world around was engulfed into light, destroying any semblance of what was there previously, restored to its former glory.  The mud houses had been replaced with Art Noveau-styled palaces, and the castle playset returned to be a proper star-shaped fort, with Twilight's heraldic banner flying at each tip of the fort.

---------

 
The spell dropped, everypony falling to their knees feeling exhausted.  Moments passed, silence lingering the room before a voice was heard groaning.
 
“Ugh, my head.”

> Return from the depths
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Silence loomed about the room as Twilight rose to her hooves. She rubbed the base of her horn, before abruptly shaking her head and gasping. “Alive!” She shouted with joy, “Alive at long last!”

Everyone ran up combining into one large group hug, Twilight was soon nuzzled from all around.  A large  content smile worked its way onto her face. 

Without hesitation, Twilight ripped the diaper off her flank proceeding to beat it with her hoof, as if killing a stubborn rodent. “Never again.”  As she peered down at the now mangled garment, she took note of unconscious Velvet on the floor and the ever so slightly dented frying pan nearby.  “What did I miss?”

Before anyone could respond, Spike rushed up lightly hugging Twilight’s leg. “I’m so happy you’re back,” He put his face in her fur and sniffled with tears of joy.

Twilight nuzzled Spike back, hugging him close. “It’s okay Spike, i’’m here now shhh and I won’t ever leave again.”

Shining, in the meantime had approached his knocked out mother, lightly tapping his hoof against her side. “Damn, she’s knocked out cold. You got one powerful swing Spike.”

Cadence quickly gets some rope, and comes over. “We better tie her up, better safe than sorry.”

He looked back over at Cadence with a slight head tilt. “Come now, there are five magically-capable beings in this room. Cadence, i’m pretty sure we can handle her is she wakes up.”

Twilight looked up from her comforting of Spike as she heard the conversation. “I say tie her up anyway, she is a danger to everybody.”

“No she is not.” Pinkie interjects. “Well I mean, mostly crazy, but not dangerous. Plus she makes lot of ponies happy and relaxed with the business.”

Twilight cringed. “Well, that may be the case, but I won’t have the risk of being diapered in my sleep or some other nonsense with her in walking distance. She is off to the Asylum now.”

Pinkie gulps a bit coming in front of Twilight pleading. “I promise I’ll keep her under control, just please, don’t send her to an Asylum.”

The rest continued to stare idly watching the two argue.

Twilight stomped her hoof letting out snort. “No!  I’m sorry Pinkie if you like her as your mother figure, but I won't stand her being anywhere near me.” She took a glance at her mother before looking back at her friend. “Shining, fetch me the nearest representative of a mental hospital.”

“Twilight please, just reconsider,” Pinkie makes her puppy face at Twilight. Twilight however seemed unaffected, her face as hard as stone as she peer with anger at the unconscious mare.

Cadance quickly came up to Twilight reaching out her hoof. “Maybe it best for you to…”

Twilight hestily slap the hoof away glaring. “Don’t tell me to calm down! I have every right to be furious.  Being used, manipulated, given no choice at all until I was nothing but a drooling foal! She gone too far this time.”

Pinkie took the momentary distraction as an opportunity and sheepishly open the front door. She put Velvet on her back before making a hasty exit. No one seemed to notice this as all their focus was on Twilight’s rage.

Shining stood up and nodded at Twilight words. “It’s true, what she did was wrong. My father’s plan might be the best solution at this point. But at least talk with Luna first Twilight.”

“Princess Luna! “ She scoffed. “She didn’t do squat when ‘that’ happened to me. As far as I can remember, she just stood there, not even a retort or yelling at Celestia, or anything! Hell she gave me a bath at one point.”

“The fact remains that she is not your enemy here.” Shining added desperately trying to calm her down. “I’m sure she had the best intentions.”

“Best intention are nothing in this case!” Twilight hastily started towards the door fury in her eyes.

Applejack stopped Twilight in her tracks standing firmly in the doorway. “Hold on there, we just got ya back, we’re not leaving your side for a good while.”  The rest nod in agreement. “We stick together for this, you got that.”

Twilight took a look at her friends before signing. ‘You’re right, I need to think this through first.”

Spike jumped onto Twilight’s back, hugging her neck again. After a few minutes of this, the familiar embrace calmed Twilight  down enough to think straight.  “Spike, take a letter. Now.” Her voice rang with sternly yet not harshly.

The dragon grinned giddily, hopped off and running to fetch the needed supplies. Even if he couldn't send it by fire anymore, he was still her assistant, and with skill not dulled by time he soon returned.  “Ready,” his claw twitched intently against the parchment.

“Now, despite my fury, I must take this still as formally as possible.  The stability of Equestria is at stake after all.”

“I could help with that,” Sunset commented quickly.

“Dear Nightlight nobel of the house of..., no that’s too formal.” Twilight rubs her chin. “Maybe…” She second guessed her wording a few times before finally deciding on how to word it. Spike got to work writing as neatly as he could.

“Dearest Father Night Light. 

I am, after around a year of imprisonment in my own body, I can finally speak to you as the daughter you remembered. I will not waste many details on how I managed to do so, to be summarized,  ‘Friendship and Tactics are Magic.’ However, the next part may entice you. I am interested in damaging Celestia… make her pay for what she has done to me, maybe even create a Republic. Shining has informed me of his visit he had with you and I agree with your decision.  I do however wish to discuss further action face to face, as this is a delicate matter that must not be rushed

We shall meet at our old house, and plot day and night until a solution is reached.

Signed, your daught Twilight Sparkle.

Spike rolled it up and handed it back to Twilight. “Can we go out for icecream?” He asked hugging once more.

Twilight chuckled, her anger melting into sour joy. “Yes Spike, we can do that. Infact let us all go out for treats I need to say thanks to all of you.”


---------


The next day, Twilight along with her brother and friends, had arrived in Canterlot. Their goal was clear.  No doubt Celestia had already learned that her foal was no longer hers.  Although that fact had yet to be confirmed since her escort had yet to leave Canterlot since she arrived yesterday. Thier first destination was the castle, the guards at the front showed no resistance as they let the mass of ponies head inside.

As they approach the throne room, Luna was by the doors to meet with them. She held her regal posture although her face told her true state of mind. “Twilight Sparkle, I see you have returned to yourself.”

Twilight in return was at least polite enough to bow before speaking. “Yes I am, not that you showed any concern over my previous state in the past.”

“You are mistaken Twilight, I have always kept an eye on you.” She replied. Her voice sounded shaky as if second guessing herself.

Twilight blinked confused taking a breath. “As far as I remember you just let Celestia foal me for the whole time.”

“Yes, but you forget We have ability to enter dreams. We have been the one protecting your soul from withering away.”

Twilight hoof stab towards Luna dangerously looking like it would have been a punch. “Lies! you may have offered me restoration when I was under Velvet, but after that?” Twilight roared, “but where were you, when I was drooling, and talking like something I was not?”

Princess Luna was taken aback by the statement. Her ears dropped to her sides  “We… did not understand at first.” Her hoof scuffles along the tiled floor. “With my sister always so close to you, any attempt to subvert her magic would have surely caused backlash.”

“So you were scared?” Twilight asked still glaring yet somewhat understand in her tone of voice.





Luna slammed her forehooves down onto the tiled floor, the impact enough to shatter it. “You know nothing of what you speak of!” Luna yelled, her booming voice getting the attention of a few guards nearby and no doubt Celestia from inside the throne room.

Applejack quickly pulled Twilight back hastily. “I’m sure she didn’t mean it princess, she just a little worked up about Celestia is all.”  

Twilight had only been shaken by the boom in Luna’s voice and action for a moment before regaining her composure.  She had to remain steadfast, she couldn’t back down, not now of all times.  “Princess Luna, I know the struggles that would have happened, had you done the right thing, instead of rolling your hooves idly: I was going to be saved, you were going to replace your sister, and everybody was going to live happily ever after.”





Princess Luna grinded her teeth in rage.  “You know nothing of how deep those emotional scars have sank into my own being. How dare you call me a coward! I could have done nothing and let your soul rot away but I didn’t. “

“At least my friends tried and succeeded in saving me.”

“If it wasn’t for us, there would have been nothing to save, how hard is that for you to understand? Are you ungrateful or just thick headed?”

“You sure didn’t show yourself, then! Sunset spent a week to find the counterspell, you had a whole year to do something! I cannot believe that you had not enough time for, you know, bring me back from the lost.”

Before Luna could retort any further, the throne room doors open with the shimmer of Celestia’s magic.  The sun princess stood there for several moments, eyes glancing between Luna and Twilight.  Her expressions kept shifting as she noted the other elements crowded around.

“I assume you heard every word?” Twilight asked after a brief pause.

“Yes, I did,” Princess Celestia said almost spitefully. “I’d never thought I would hear such words coming from you, Twilight Sparkle, my Personal Student.”

“No,” Twilight retorted “You saw me as your little foal all along, and you stopped in front of any moral barrier for get me regressed. Not destroying my independence, not forcing adulthood on a colt, not my father’s refusal.  I’m not your student any longer, that ‘relationship’ was shattered long ago.”

“We should go talk…” She abruptly cut off by Twilight again.

“Oh no, none of that talk in private nonsense. I’m making my statement right here, right now. Mark my words, Celestia, for your time as a ruler will soon be over.”

Celestia looked down at the ground, something clearly breaking her. Her once royal stature broke as the next words trickled out of her mouth. ‘I know.” 

“Is that really all you have to say Celestia, after everything that you did to me?” Twilight asked somehow wanting more then that.

Celestia lifted her stature back to normal, her eyes showing a mix of emotions from regret to understanding. “There is nothing more that can be said Twilight Sparkle. I know there is no way to repair the damage that has been done and I accept that future that is to come with humility.”

“Good to know you have come to your senses.” Twilight stood proud turning back to Luna. “I’m still sour at you,” She took another breath, “I’m sorry about calling you a coward I was just caught up in my own rage.”

Luna breathed heavily before calming herself. “I accept the apologies, in a way you were right but there is still much you do not understand about me.” Luna put a hoof on Celestia’s shoulder glancing into her sisters defeated eyes. Without even a word spoken the two alicorns turned and walked away down the hall heads held high.

The elements all stood in place for a time, a bit in shock at how easy things had gone over giving the circumstances. Even a few guards as arrived to inspect the commotion idly stood and observed the princesses leave.

Rainbow watched the two alicorn trot down the hall. “So, is that it?”

Pinkie nodded happily. “It would appear so. So who is up for a smoothy to celebrate?”  The group all let out a small chuckle, feeling great weights lifted off their shoulders. Without any delay, the ponies headed out together to enjoy the day.


---------



Five months later



A large crowd had formed around the opening of the castle. A gloryous platform had been assembled to conclude the assemblage of the New Equestria’s Republic. Luna and Celestia sat on the left side of the stage, adorned in their usual royal attire. They were not being shunned, nor hated upon, nearly there to do their duty in the new government.





“We are here,” The speaker concluded, as she read the announcement to the excited audience under the balcony “For announce our first leadered appointed by the will of the best of our society, and not ruling by a decision of ponies long deceased.”





The speaker pointed at the door of the balcony. “ Gonfaloniere Blueblood, come forward, and meet your people.”





Blueblood exited from behind the door frame adorned in Equestrian colours, namely blue and pink. He wasn’t allowed to wear his houses symbols, but he still wore his little, triskelion-shaped, pendant regardless.  The crowd clapped, as he approached the podium accepting the hoof-shakes from both Luna and Celestia, as a sign of peaceful transition.





Much to everyone's surprise, Blueblood, despite his snobbish attitude was a decent politician who could get stuff done. Celestia jaw had nearly dropped to the floor when she saw how well he was handling things. Once hoof shakes were done he stood up proud to make his speech. Everything would be different, after today, and there was no going back now.




The two royal sisters turn to look back at the castle as the speech progressed. They still were allowed to live inside its walls, still having servants to tend to their needs. The only thing that had changed for them would be that they would more or less be figure heads, and while not directly controlling day to day goings on they were still seen as important.  No matter what flak Celestia would get, Luna would always be there for her.

As for Twilight, She had taken up a teaching job in Ponyville. Her studying resumed and her knowledge of the magic of friendship grew ever stronger along the way, never forgetting that it was her friends that had pulled her out of the dark and into the light.

Pinkie kept up the Forever Foals business despite the lack of Velvet being there. She loved doing her duty to make everypony happy. She of course kept her foolishness to a minimum around Twilight, afterall she didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.  Although she did manage to rope Rarity into a few sessions when she got really stressed.

Eventually  everything went back to normal, or as normal as it could be. It’s just like the old phrase goes; The more things change, the more they stay the same.


--The End--