//------------------------------// // The Old Familiar // Story: Nightmares Yet to Come // by Detectivefish //------------------------------// Trixie stared down at the substance in front of her. It had been half an hour since she’d opened her eyes to find she was in fact not dead, and that the thing with the ludicrously theme-coloured ponies had not been the result of one experimental Berry Punch drink too many after all. Half an hour, and a lot had happened. Princess Luna had taken her and Twilight Sparkle to Trixie’s residency, then set up what Trixie felt was not undeserving of the title of base camp. Her residency was, as she knew from experience, big enough to fit a small Ponyville party inside, but even then fitting Her Highness, Trixie, Twilight Sparkle and several members of the Royal Guard standing around still made it a bit tight, especially since the Royal Guard were near-uniformly big and unmoving. It also made getting about the small building more than a bit difficult. Princess Luna had insisted on their arrival that they had to drink some hot chocolate she had mixed up, and Trixie was certain it wasn’t due to some strange urge her highness had just woken up with that night, or any motherly nature. She would have suggested something stronger, but apparently between breaking in and dragging Trixie outside, her attackers had seen fit to raid her supply of drinks. Meanwhile, since waking up, Twilight Sparkle had just quietly remained sitting in the corner of the room, eyes occasionally glancing toward the nearest bookcase. Guards flitted in and out of the room, reporting security checks not just to Princess Luna, but to her Captain of the Guard, Shining Armor, son of Night Light and Twilight Velvet, and not incidentally Twilight Sparkle’s brother. Trixie already knew him, and while she liked to think that the events of the Grand Galloping Gala had at least cleared the air between them, she was still pretty sure he didn’t like her very much. Needless to say, Shining Armor’s presence made conversation difficult, either with Sparkle or with Luna. So Trixie stared at her drink, almost hoping it would suddenly come to life and attack her. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to drink it, per se, it was just… she didn’t want to drink it. It was just chocolate powder and milk. How was she supposed to drink that? It needed something more, something else. Chili powder was always nice. The problem was Shining Armor was standing between her and the small kitchen her residency came with. Well, he was sort of in-between. He was standing in the general direction of the kitchen. Trixie could certainly say with confidence he was standing, and presumably at attention, if his steely gaze was any indication. Slowly, she decided to risk moving in the direction of Princess Luna, who was staring at a piece of paper, as several more hovered around her, held in her magic. Trixie coughed slightly. Luna’s gaze darted over toward her, and Trixie suddenly felt very small. “Are you alright, Trixie?” Her Highness asked. Trixie hated that. She really hated it, the way her mentor and kind-of sort-of mother-figure could see through her and figure out her state in an instant. Of course, sometimes it was reassuring. “I’m…” she started, before realising she had no idea where that sentence was going. She stared down at the hot chocolate, and a question occurred to her. “Why is he here, exactly?” she asked. Shining Armor’s face was like that of marble. Unlike most of the royal guard his armour seemed to lack the traditional enchantments that made every guard look nigh-identical, meaning his bright white coat and blue mane stood out in more ways than one, so the comparison to a statue, Trixie felt, was fitting. Princess Luna adjusted the glasses she had on, the glasses that she stated helped her concentrate, and gave Trixie a level stare, before glancing at what from her point of view would be the back of Shining Armor’s helmet. “He is here,” she said calmly, but with a hint of exasperation, “because the captain of my guard believes the current climate is too dangerous for me to travel unattended. And he has remained stubbornly insistent on this matter.” Well, Trixie almost said, it wasn’t a surprise, especially given what had happened at Tambelon, not to mention that time almost a year ago when Luna had travelled to Ponyville alone. Almost said, because she made sure her mouth never treacherously made her say that, which would have forced Trixie to throw herself from the nearest cliff, or tall building. “I see,” she said, as diplomatically as she could possibly manage. Silence reasserted its near-total influence over the room, and her highness went back to examining reports. Then it occurred to Trixie. She hadn’t asked about what’d happened. She hadn’t asked Twilight. That was odd. Then she heard the noise coming from the kitchen. Princess Luna looked up again, and removed her glasses. “Ah.” She stated to nopony, “the tea is done.” Trixie blinked. Admittedly, her highness announcing that tea was ready was not the absolutely strangest thing she’d ever heard (much to her regret), but it was definitely a bizarre thing to hear, as her highness calmly made her way through to the kitchen. Trixie looked over to Twilight Sparkle, who had an equally confused expression. “Uh,” Trixie tried to say, “what’s the tea for?” She winced at the sheer inanity of what she’d said, as Princess Luna calmly poured the tea out into a single cup. “The tea,” Princess Luna said, as her horn lit up, the saucer and cup glowing slightly as her magic was cast on it, “is because, for one thing it is incredibly calming. And the other is that I decided it was best to summon an expert on magic after what happened, and if I understand the pony I sent to retrieve him, he should be here any moment now, and probably half-asleep. Hence, this tea here, which shall with any luck restore or revive him to fully functioning condition.” Trixie blinked, and guessing neither Twilight Sparkle or her brother would be much assistance, decided to ask again. Her keenly honed senses detected a sinking feeling. “So, who did you get? And who is it that’s getting him?” As if to answer, there was a sudden, brief bright flash of light, a loud noise, and suddenly two more ponies were present in Trixie’s official residency, one stallion and one mare. She recognised both. The first, the stallion, was easy enough to recognise, with his blue fur, and silver hair, and slate grey eyes, which in sheer defiance of his occupation did not twinkle at all, or glimmer, or show any signs of hidden cunning and middle-aged secrecy. Trixie felt this was in some way an act of treachery for the pony’s job. He was, after all, Spell Nexus, perpetually middle-aged headteacher of her majesty’s school for gifted unicorns, and all he was doing at the moment was looking around in a mild daze. Though given the pony he was with, Trixie wasn’t absolutely surprised. When one thought of a Princess’s secretary or aide or seneschal or chief of staff or whatever the term was for them, not counting those who worked for the notoriously unusual Princess Cadenza of Cavallia, one would usually think of stern, reproachable types, usually lacking in humour or basic decency, with all the empathy of a wet chip, and the emotional range of a stone. Their coats were usually grey, or greying, or an extremely dull purple, and their manes done up in a bun, which would also be grey. Their cutie mark was usually a checklist, or a piece of paper, and they carried themselves with the countenance of somepony who felt that the world just wasn’t organised properly, and it was entirely the fault of whoever was foolish enough to look into their eyes, which naturally would be grey, and lifeless. They’d also probably be the sort of pony who was just born old, because who had time to be young and vibrant when serious things needed doing? The pony next to him, the one who had teleported herself and Spell Nexus didn’t meet these expectations. Well, not all of them. She had dark blue fur, and a dark blue mane, which hung loose around her neck. Her eyes were a completely ordinary orange, which also did not glow or shine with any usual light. She had a cutie mark of a full moon, which was a pale blue colour. She was around Trixie’s age (ish, Trixie presumed. She definitely looked about the same age). She stared at the world with the air of somepony who was… if Trixie had to say it, cautiously examining it, although there was the occasional air of disappointment with whatever they saw. In terms of build, she looked about the same size as Trixie, just a tiny shade taller, but her build was more athletic. Now that she thought about it, it reminded Trixie greatly of Applejack. Or vice versa. That, Trixie found herself thinking, might have explained one or two things she’d thought over the ages. In terms of her behaviour, however, Trixie had to give up. She didn’t understand the pony in front of her. She was a walking gift to headaches everywhere. She was called Midnight. Just Midnight, as she’d insisted when they’d first met. “Your highness,” the mare said, calmly, “Professor Spell Nexus, as you requested.” “Professor,” Princess Luna said, “I do apologise if Midnight was brusque in her behaviour fetching you, but I’m afraid this couldn’t wait.” “Oh, no,” the stallion said, not exactly calmly, “no need to apologise, your highness. I am only too happy to render what assistance I can.” His smile faltered momentarily, “Even if I am not certain what it is I am here for.” Princess Luna nodded. “Very good, professor, but first…” she levitated the cup of tea over towards the pony. He smiled, and his horn glowed, gently wrapping it in his magic. As it came nearer, he sniffed, and smiled warmly. “My favourite,” he noted. “But how did-” he stopped, and evidently decided not to bother asking, before taking a sip. Professor Spell Nexus’ love of tea was known. Specifically, the variety known as earl grey. “Now then,” Princess Luna said, before being interrupted by a cough from Midnight. She stopped and stared at the mare. Her horn was glowing, due to something being held within the unicorn’s magic. “Your highness,” the mare said, “I was tasked with delivering this message.” It was a roll of paper, which was presently hanging a short distance from her highness’ face. Princess Luna stared at it, then to Midnight. “It is from the manager of the Canterlot Opera House, your highness,” the mare stated, with no emotional inflection whatsoever, “he was insistent I deliver it to you personally. I apologise for the mild damage it has suffered. The staff were inconsolable over what happened.” “Canterlot Opera House? What happened?” Trixie asked. The mare’s ears twitched, and she turned to look at Trixie with a very noticeable air of resignation. Probably. “Lulamoon.” the mare said. Trixie resisted the urge to correct her. After several years of hearing ponies singing a certain nursery rhyme whenever her name was mentioned, she wasn’t fond of her second name, to say the least. Midnight, as Trixie knew from experience, was incapable of calling her by anything else but her second name. Even after several attempts at correcting her, some of them more forceful than had perhaps been truly necessary. “The Canterlot Opera House,” Shining Armor stated, “was the sight of a fire, earlier this evening, prior to our learning of the incident involving Twilight Sparkle and yourself, Representative.” “That is an understatement,” Midnight cut in, “the building itself is irreparably damaged due to the arson.” “Arson?” Twilight Sparkle cut in. There was the most curious thing Trixie had ever seen on Midnight’s face just then, almost a hint of emotion, as she looked in the general direction of Twilight Sparkle. “I thought the police hadn’t reached a conclusion yet?” Shining Armor asked. “With all respect to the efforts of her majesty’s constabulary, no mere accidental act of combustion could destroy the Canterlot Opera House so precisely and efficiently as to render it beyond restoration, as the building staff so eloquently informed me,” the mare stated, before adding “I am highly inclined to agree with them.” There was a hum from Princess Luna, as she gently folded the parchment up. There was a noticeably upset look on her face. No wonder, really. Princess Luna was well known for her love of the arts. She looked over towards Midnight, nodded slightly, then turned to Spell Nexus, who had finished his tea. “Anyway,” she stopped, trying to reign in the obvious tone of sadness in her voice, “Professor. Earlier this evening my student, Trixie Lulamoon, along with Twilight Sparkle was abducted from their residencies in this town by a group of ponies for purposes we have not determined at this time. Fortunately, as you can see they weren’t injured, but I would like your help in assessing whether they retain any lingering magical maladies.” Spell Nexus blinked, taking another sip of his tea as he did so, before responding. “I see,” he said. “But surely you do not need me for this.” Princess Luna paused, “with all respect for you and your skills, Professor Nexus, I do not. But I do require a second opinion from a reputable source.” A dark look began to spread across the Princess’ face. “If I am right, then the magic used on them is a kind I have not seen for an age. And I sincerely hope to be proven wrong.” Spell Nexus nodded. If he was upset or offended or flattered by Princess Luna’s prior statement, he didn’t let it show. “Of course, Your Highness.” He set his tea down and smiled a genial smile. “Shall we get started?” “Indeed,” Princess Luna returned the smile. “I believe we shall start with Twilight Sparkle.” She motioned with one of her wings toward Twilight. “Shall we?” “So, Twilight,” The professor said as they walked out of view, to one of the adjacent rooms “How have you been since graduation?” “Well, I’m currently serving a five-year sentence for misuse of magic and escaping from the law.” “Oh, yes. That’s right...” After her highness and the professor began their… whatever it was, this left Trixie and Midnight together, alone, since Shining Armor had apparently decided to follow her highness into the other room. “So…” Trixie finally said once the silence became unbearable, “Midnight… how long’s it been?” Midnight gave her a dispassionate Look, before turning back toward some paperwork she’d been perusing through. Occasionally a sheet would vanish in a flash of light. Teleportation magic, similar to the means Trixie used to contact the princess. Similar, but not the same, since that magic wasn’t powered by Trixie’s own reserves, especially since Trixie and teleportation had turned out to be a bad mix on several occasions, despite Trixie’s best efforts. “Two years, nine months, fourteen days and an odd number of hours.” Trixie tried to smile her most charming smile. “Really? ‘an odd number of hours.’ That’s imprecise for you.” “That is the amount of time that has passed since we last communicated. Since we last were in any vicinity to one another, it is eleven months, five days, eight hours and thirty-seven minutes.” Trixie tried to recall what she’d been doing eleven months ago, which given the sheer wealth of exploits she and her friends had gotten up to was proving a blank. A big fat b- And then it hit her. Just after Corona had returned, the thing at Canterlot Castle she and the other Element bearers had been summoned to. Had Midnight been present? She couldn’t honestly remember, but the weeks after Corona’s return had been hectic and blurry, so she wasn’t surprised a few extremely minor details would be left out here and there. “Hey, yeah. That big thing in Canterlot.” She tried to dial her grin down from smugness to something more like pride, or hoped the dark blue mare wouldn’t notice or care. “Guess you probably heard I’m the bearer of the Element of Magic. Oh, and I got a knighthood” she added, as casually as she could manage. Midnight’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. After a few seconds more of silence, Trixie felt the need to something more. “And on top of all that, I finally got a position in the Night Court, right here in Ponyville.” A few seconds after she realised what her mouth had said, she resisted the incredibly great urge to hit herself on the head. “Well, I’m a Representative, at least.” “I am aware of that,” Midnight stated, “I am the one who sent the form letter noting your financial arrangements.” Trixie blinked. Memories darted back all those months, trying to scrounge out details that her brain would not supply, maybe because of everything else that had happened on that day alone, which did tend to blot out inconsequential details like whose signature was on what piece of paper that she hadn’t bothered to read. That and the drinking she’d done that night, which even by her standards had been over-doing it (as the massive headache the next day had proven), and made recalling a lot of things from that day profoundly difficult. That, and Corona’s return, which tended to blot out pretty much everything else. So Trixie decided to take Midnight at her word. “Thought I recognised that signature,” she lied. If Midnight noticed this, she gave no indication, and simply went back to her paperwork. Not wanting her suddenly good feelings at recalling how far she’d gone to evaporate, Trixie decided to continue onward. “So… how’s things with you?” she tried to fight down a wince at that one. “It has been unnaturally quiet over the last eleven months” the mare noted. Trixie blinked. “Hey,” she declared, “what’s that supposed to mean?” “Simply an observation,” the mare said. “Since the reappearance of the former Princess Celestia, the average background noise of Canterlot has dropped by a considerable amount. The city’s population has decreased by point seven percent, and as a side note, my staff has become increasingly overworked due to a number of their fellows being among those who chose to relocate.” “Your staff?” Trixie asked, before her brain added some of the words that followed together. “Hold on, you got promoted?” “Indeed,” Midnight said, “Several times, as a matter of fact. Among my many functions I am now her highness’ majordomo pro tempore.” Trixie blinked again. “Wait. Majordomo? I thought Princess Luna didn’t have one of those anymore, since t-“ “Since the incident regarding Quick Fix, some several hundred years ago, as Princess Cadenza is quite keen on regaling others with at diplomatic functions. I am aware of that fact, Lulamoon, as her highness Princess Luna did mention it as a factor in her ambivalence towards my instatement in the position no less than twenty-five times.” Trixie just nodded. Considering the “incident” so-called had been a simple attempt to make a point about her highness’ sleeping habits and the design of the royal castle gone horribly wrong, with some of the diplomatic damage still being felt even in the modern day, it was kind of completely understandable why exactly Princess Luna felt twitchy about having a majordomo, especially when they tended to have the equivalent power and rank of a Vicereine, only they were outside the Night Court’s influence. “How the hay did you, of all ponies, get that job?” she asked incredulously. “It is quite simple,” Midnight stated, “I didn’t want it.” “Huh?” “I did not want it,” she repeated. “Which her highness apparently felt made me far more trustworthy than any other applicant.” There was a pause before the mare added, “It is also highly probable that her highness feels that my increased workload shall keep me from disrupting any more diplomatic functions.” “You didn’t wear anything gold to a gala again, did you?” Trixie asked, thinking back to an incident some time before when Midnight had done exactly that (and more beside, but wearing gold for some reason stood large in Trixie’s memories). After all, the Grand Galloping Gala was a celebration of the Night Court, and so anyone wearing anything that reminded anyone even slightly of Mad Queen Corona was greatly shunned, far beyond anyone who did something that mad at the best of times. There was an instant where something approaching a Look flashed across the dark mare’s face, before she responded. “No. This was several orders of magnitude beyond a fashion faux pas. It is entirely conceivable I damaged relations with the Griffon nations extensively.” Trixie stared blankly, and had she not been sitting down, would have at that moment chosen to sit down. “What did you do?” she asked in shock. “I simply asked the ambassador his opinion on the Griffon embassy being a popular choice of banishment.” Not entirely to her surprise, Trixie found her hoof was already halfway towards her face. Slowly, she set it back down again. “You did what now?” “It is curious,” the mare said, as she analysed a piece of paper, “but from his reaction you would think nopony had ever pointed this fact out to the Griffons, who have historically displayed great pride in their nation and would naturally take offence at their being used as a metaphorical disposal unit from the unwanted detritus of pony politics.” Trixie stared at Midnight’s expression, hoping any moment that she would suddenly claim to be joking. In hindsight she would admit that wasn’t ever going to happen. Midnight just continued examining the paperwork in front of her. Yes, Equestria did tend to send ponies to the griffons, and their scraps of a nation. But it was what had been done for decades, centuries even. The griffons surely had to have recognised what was happening there. Surely. And surely Midnight couldn’t be just sitting there, acting like what she’d done was absolutely nothing at all. If Trixie had been about to add anything else, it was forestalled by the reappearance of Her Highness, and Sparkle, who was looking none the worse for wear after her examination. “Trixie?” Princess Luna called out. Slowly, the mare walked towards her mentor, and teacher, all thoughts of politics removed from her mind. Left alone with Shining Armor, and the odd mare, Twilight Sparkle sat. By technicality alone, the Princess hadn’t actually said whether she was to leave or not, and she was wondering if it would have been better to do so. This might have had something to do with the imposing form of her big brother standing nearby, gaze focused intently. Every now and then, the mare would levitate something toward her brother, who would examine it, occasionally jot something down with a quill Twilight hadn’t noticed him acquiring, then send it back to the mare. Now and then a member of her highnesses’ guard would enter the residency and present a report to Shining, before leaving just as quickly as they came. All of this passed in absolute silence. Occasionally Twilight would look towards Shining Armor, who either didn’t notice or just didn’t return the look. It was upsetting, but she expected it all the same. He was a guard after all. She knew that. He was doing his job. After several incredibly awkward moments, she looked towards the dark blue mare, almost surrounded by a deluge of paperwork. Since arriving in Ponyville (again), she had managed to interact with other ponies, mainly Lulamoon and those who visited the library she stayed in, but so far the times where she’d done so on her own terms had been far and few between, what with being under house-arrest. Admittedly, the mare did not look interested in her, nor did she look very sociable, but she was by her own admission hardly one to judge on that account. She had been wondering how often ponies had tried to engage in social interaction with her in the past, only to be stymied by her distant nature. And if it didn’t work, it was still the acquisition of useful information. She approached the mare, and coughed gently. The mare went right on with examining what she was looking at. Twilight coughed again. After a long period of time, the mare raised an eyebrow, and glanced for the merest microsecond in Twilight Sparkle’s direction. “Yes?” Twilight grinned eagerly. “Hi,” she said, “I’m Twilight Spa-” “I am aware of who you are.” The mare stated, her horn glowing for another instant, as the paper vanished in a teleportation flare. Twilight Sparkle faltered. Of course the mare knew who she was, she was the daughter of a Viceroy, and she’d just been in a large trial for misuse of magic, one Princess Luna herself had personally taken interest in. She was probably known all over Equestria. “Right,” she said. “So, I didn’t catch your name.” “It is Midnight.” the mare stated. “Midnight…?” Twilight asked, hoping the mare would understand she was asking for the mare’s second name. Another side-glance. The mare probably understood her meaning. “Just Midnight.” She said. Twilight nodded, looking at the paperwork, then back to the mare. Perhaps to engage discourse with her required finding a subject she was interested in. “Anything… interesting?” she asked. Midnight turned to look at Twilight, and there was sudden feeling of chill along Twilight’s back. “I am currently engaged in directing the day-to-day affairs of several aspects of this nation’s government on behalf of Her Majesty, not to mention dictating the actions of the staff of Castle Canterlot itself. This is a difficult task, requiring a great detail of my not inconsiderable attention, without distraction from somepony else. Put simply: Leave me be.” And with one last venomous glare, the mare turned back to her work. Slowly, and feeling not a little bit disenchanted, she walked back toward the other side of the room, and sat down again. Apparently Shining Armor did notice this, and walked over towards Twilight. “Hey,” he said gently. Twilight looked up at him (which was a given when he was taller than her anyway), and saw that particular goofy, toothy smile of his. “What’s the matter?” he asked. Twilight, despite everything that had happened, found herself smiling at the sight of her brother’s smile. “Nothing,” she said. Shining stared at her, then to the small dervish of paper that was surrounding Miss Midnight. A light of understanding lit up in his eyes. “Ah.” She looked back up, Shining’s smile was now far less toothy. “Don’t take it too hard. Midnight’s not exactly a pony pony.” He stopped, and a curious expression danced across his face. “Okay, I’ll be honest, she’s not a pony pony. But she’s alright, when you get to know her.” Twilight stared quizzically at her brother. “Really?” “Yeah.” “And do you know her?” “Any day now.” He said, before grinning slightly. “I do hope you are aware,” came a voice from the other side of the room, “I can in fact hear you.” “Hey,” Shining Armor smiled, “Does that mean you’re talking to me again?” “Certainly not. I am still very much incensed with you, Captain.” Shining’s smile faded, as the mare went back to her paperwork. Twilight just looked at Shining, then to the mare, then back to Shining, then back to the mare. “What was that all about?” she asked. Shining Armor just shook his head. “It’s a thing.” He said quickly. “So,” Shining Armor spoke up, before Twilight could ask anything else, “how come those nutjobs managed to get the drop on you, anyway?” Twilight shuffled awkwardly. “They didn’t, actually.” One of Shining Armor’s eyebrows raised. “They didn’t?” “I was asleep when they broke in.” “Asleep?” He repeated. A concerned look overcame her big brother’s face. “Are you sure?” He made of show of pondering this for a moment. “Hmm… my little sister, asleep? Now something about that just doesn’t sound right.” Twilight bopped him with a hoof. “I might have been overworking myself. It’s lucky you’ve never seen the library here. It’s so disorganised it makes your room look like… well, like my room!” “My room’s not that bad,” Shining said, with a mock air of defensiveness. “It was pretty bad the last time I checked. Or have you tidied it up since you got a special somepony?” “I don’t have a special somepony,” Shining Armor said, far too quickly for his own good. Though the practically luminescent blush that came with his statement did not help. Twilight Sparkle grinned with a malicious glint that only a little sibling could provide. “I’m sure I recall mom and dad saying something about you having a marefriend in Cavallia.” At that point, Shining Armor, a pony who had managed to remain stoic in the face of an enraged Corona, broke down into nervous coughs and mutters. Then, before Twilight could torment her brother any further, Princess Luna, Trixie and Professor Nexus reappeared. Trixie looked mildly uneasy, which was absolutely nothing compared to the expression sported by Princess Luna, stone-like, but to Twilight, though she did not rate herself an expert on her highness’ mood, there was also a visible strain of concern. “Well,” Professor Nexus declared to the room, “I’d say that’s a clean bill of health for Dame Lulamoon and Miss Sparkle, some dietary issues aside, of course.” Her Highness, apparently having noticed this, nodded. “Indeed. You two have been partially drained of some of your magic, but it is nothing you will not recover from with sufficient time and rest, and provided you avoid any strenuous activity.” “No lifting several dictionaries at once, then,” Twilight Sparkle said weakly, a small uncertain smile on her lips. A few seconds later, and she was finding the floor much more interesting than meeting anyone else’s gaze. “Well,” Princess Luna finally said, “unless there has been any dramatic development on whoever it was that abducted you, it seems there is nothing left f-” There was a sudden knocking at the door, provoking a startled yelp from Twilight. Slowly, the door opened and a guard entered, stopping when he saw Princess Luna. “Ah, your highness,” he faltered. “Lieutenant,” Princess Luna said, “Is there something the matter?” “No, your highness,” he said, before coughing, and desperately scraping together what willpower he could find, and straightening himself up to boot, “one of the patrols in the Everfree found something, ma’am.” “What?” Princess Luna asked. “A filly, your highness.” Two guards walked into the residence, one’s horn alight. Floating behind that one was in fact a small filly, wrapped in the glow of the guard’s magic. It didn’t fail anyone’s notice that the second pony was walking with a slight limp, for whatever reason. It probably had something to do with the way the filly was thrashing inside the magic, trying to wrench her way free. The filly was placed amongst the group of ponies, her aggression forgotten the minute she touched the ground, and as she saw the ponies staring at her. Trixie, for her part, stared at the pony that was staring back at everyone else. Her expression matched that of Twilight Sparkle and Princess Luna’s exactly. For the filly staring at her was, age and lack of a Cutie Mark aside, an exact duplicate of a pony who had once managed to fight both Princess Luna and a Cor- … a Celestia of an alternate universe, and win. A pony who had tried to kill her, and Twilight Sparkle, and their counterparts from a bizarre alternate universe. A pony who had died screaming her desire to kill them until her last breath. “Antithesis.”