//------------------------------// // Episode 3: The Gentle Art Of Making Enemies // Story: Pony la Pony: Shattered Lives // by Flash Notion //------------------------------// My name is Mi Amore Cadenza. I am an alicorn princess of Equestria. But I am not its ruler. My mother, the Queen, controls the land with an iron hoof. My father, however... he was not King. He was not even a prince. He was a servant of the Queen's will, forced to do her bidding. I was the only one he could confide in. He told me often about how he wished things could have been different. For him. For my mother. For me. One day, he took me into his workshop under the palace. Never before had I been allowed inside; I was thrilled to lay eyes on the mysteries it contained. At first I was disappointed. The space behind the sealed doors was nothing like the cluttered menagerie I had imagined. Tools were placed neatly onto a pegboard above a workbench. Fastidiously cleaned and oiled machines hummed in the corners, out of the way. Ores, fabrics, and gemstones were organized by material, cross-referenced by color, and reverse indexed by size. But my father led me past all of that, to the center of the room, where a metal cabinet stood on a dais. He brought me closer until I could see through the glass doors. My breath caught in my throat. That dress was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. It was slim, form fitting, made of fabric as black as the void. The light of the room seemed drawn into it. But the cloth was covered in gemstones- blue, purple-gray, silver. It was a wonder beyond anything I could imagine. Here was a work that rivaled the stars in the sky- no, that took those stars and made them its own. Even the stars in my eyes belonged to it, for surely nothing else could ever compare. My father looked down at me with equal parts pride and worry. “Its name is Tantabus,” he told me, “The Nightmare of Pleasure.” He rested a hoof on my mane. Undeterred, I shook him off and ran up the dais steps. I wanted to get closer. I needed to. It was not simply my own desire- I could feel the hunger of the dress. It yearned for me to wear it. “When the time is right, it will be yours,” my father said, though he sounded regretful. “Your mother wants you to wear it on your wedding day.” I dared to bring up a hoof, resting it on the glass. I stared, entranced by the light shimmering off of it. After a moment, I realized the dress was staring back. The cold gaze seemed equally entranced by the filly on the other side of the doors. Though I have not laid eyes on the Tantabus since that day, I know it is there, waiting. The dress belongs only to me. Wedding be damned; I am the only one with the strength to claim it. It is mine whenever I choose. Princess Cadenza raised herself from her throne and crossed to the tower windows. Her hooves clicked loudly on the tile. Outside, the day was sunny and bright. The students of Canterlot High wandered corridors and pathways between classes. A few occupied the inner courtyard, eating their midday meals. Cadenza focused on only one. She wore a white sequinned dress over her purple fur, and chatted with a gray pegasus. She seemed not to have a care in the world. Cadenza snorted, and slammed a hoof down hard enough to crack the floor. “I'm not a filly anymore,” she snarled, before turning her back on the day. “This is the right time!” Pony la Pony Chapter 3: The Will To Succeed “The Equestrian Civil War drew to a close after the Changeling invasion in mid-fourth century PCAL. The final battle was a decisive victory for the descendants of Clover the Clever; the other progeny of the Founding Six met their demise shortly after. The Unicorn Council was able to maintain relative peace for a short time. However, they were soon disbanded by Queen Parabola, who claimed a direct bloodline to Clover. Following her ascension, all rebellion ceased. Parabola's dynasty is still alive and thriving, as our Queen could attest. Now if you'll look here...” Twilight Sparkle sat in the back of the class, torn between taking detailed notes, and thinking about Miss Swahli. Not the way the colts around her did; about their talk yesterday. Her teacher had asked her to fight and beat Lightning Dust of the Cloud Busting Team, and Twilight had. Miss Swahli had promised answers. And yet, nothing. So Twilight sat in the back row, glaring at her teacher. Miss Swahli droned on about Queen Parabola's hierarchy and the line of succession, drawing several diagrams to better illustrate the point. As usual, she kept her back to the students. Most of them were sleeping anyways. But the habit served an additional purpose today. It hid from Twilight her teacher's knowing smile. Twilight nervously ducked into a doorway. Had she spotted her? An alicorn- a bright purple one in a white dress- was hard to miss. Still, she'd been doing her best to follow Miss Swahli through the halls. Twilight wanted to talk to her without other students around to interrupt. She breathed a sigh of relief when her teacher ducked into a corridor Twilight knew to be a dead end. The alicorn trotted past a couple making out against the lockers- You know, there are rooms for that!- and looked around the corner. To her surprise, the darkened hallway was empty. “Where the hay did she go?” Twilight muttered. A rustling sound caught her attention. “Oh Twiiiiii-light!” She turned just in time for Derpy to tackle her in a flying hug, sending the both of them tumbling to the floor. “Ow!” Twilight yelled. In the back of her mind, she heard Cell muttering sleepily. She could've worn it sounded like, 'Keep it down!' Twilight grunted as she struggled to get out from under her friend's weight. “Derpyyyy- ungh!” The pegasus giggled, her legs tangled with Twilight's. Soon enough they were muzzle to muzzle in the most awkward hug of Twilight's life. “Happy?” the alicorn deadpanned. “Your nose is cold,” Derpy noticed. Another twist had the pair fly apart, Twilight rolling into the lockers. She lay there with the curve of her back in the corner of the floor. Derpy hopped to her hooves almost immediately. “Wow! That was fun, huh Twilight?” Twilight opened her mouth for a scathing reply, only for a scroll to unroll down her body and over her face. It seemed to be stuck to her left hoof. “'Twilight, my acolyte',” Derpy read. Her hoof pressed against the parchment, and Twilight could feel her tracing each line. “'You cannot quicken the hourglass. We will have to meet post-class. You know the place. This time, I shan't slam the door in your face.' Then there's a couple swirly letters.” Derpy pulled the scroll off Twilight's face and looked at her with concern. “Are you all right? What's this note about? Are you going to fight again?” Twilight shook herself and stood up, shaking a crack out of her neck. Then she turned her attention to the mysterious scroll. She neglected to answer Derpy's questions right away. “Did you see where this came from?” Derpy shook her head no. Twilight frowned and studied it from every angle. The parchment was of a kind not used by her or Derpy; the ink smelled fresh. It was written in iambic metrum, which was a good clue to the writer's identity. The 'swirly letters' Derpy spoke of were a cursive 'Z' and 'S', further cementing that notion. Finally, Twilight spotted what she was actually looking for: the method of delivery. “Cell,” she whispered, calling on the Element's power. Twilight sensed its impatience and desire to rest, but a poke in the crystals that served as its eye persuaded Cell to let Twilight use magic. She peeled the sticky substance from the paper and wrinkled her nose. That had been on her hoof. “Chewing gum? Really?” Twilight muttered. She threw the wad into a trash bin. Derpy watched it sail past, then tilted her head quizzically. “You stepped on it?” “Mmm-hmm.” Twilight held the parchment up to the nearest light to see if there might be a hidden message, but she spotted nothing. “She must've written it while I was following her. She knew exactly what she was doing. Clever,” Twilight admitted. She wound up the scroll and tucked it into her bag. “Aren't you going to answer it?” Derpy asked as Twilight started to walk away. “I'll be answering it,” Twilight assured her friend. “But in the meantime, we're supposed to be going over applicable trigonometry this afternoon. I'd hate to miss that.” Besides, Twilight thought to herself, it only said after class. It didn't specify which class. By the time Twilight knocked on the door to Miss Swahli's house that afternoon, she was a bundle of nervous energy. Cell was no help; the glittering thing was in dress mode, taking an extended nap. Her teacher, on the other hoof, appeared calm as ever. She brought Twilight inside, where a fresh pot of tea waited. “Please, sit; drink; relax for a time. I find this blend sublime.” Twilight took her up on that suggestion, though it wasn't exactly relaxing. She fidgeted and couldn't get comfortable. After a solid minute, Twilight gave up and cut to the chase. “Why don't we start with why you and the princess both call Cell an 'Element'.” Miss Swahli chuckled. “So eager to learn, yet so far from truth. Patience. No need to be uncouth.” She sipped her own cup. “Perhaps my name will ease your mind; I am Zecora, and...” Here she hesitated. “I am last of my kind.” Twilight stared. Sure, she had suspected, but... well, Zecora had been right yesterday. Facts and ideas were two totally different things. “You're a zebra?” she asked dumbly. “Where are your stripes?” “Hidden, as they usually will be. The price I pay for staying free.” Zecora stirred her tea sadly. “But no matter; what is it you wish to garner- about your most magnificent armor?” “Uh- right.” Twilight struggled to get back on topic. “I already know that it requires my magic to work, and that wearing it in its active form allows me to cast magic easier. What I don't know is why that's the case. Why can't I use my magic here? And also-” Twilight remembered her earlier question- “Why does everypony keep calling it an Element?” “Your first question is of greatest import. Do you remember my teachings of Sombra's Court?” Twilight rolled her eyes. “I have an exceptional memory. Most days I can tell you what my mom was wearing on my fifth birthday. But I don't need hyperthymesia to remember what we went over in class yesterday.” Zecora hummed, as if she were displeased with Twilight's attitude. “Sombra's final curse forever changed this nation. It gave life to ponies' magic; a source of endless frustration.” “Living magic?” Twilight couldn't imagine. In fact, just thinking about it gave her a splitting headache. “You never mentioned that in class.” “A point on which Cadenza and I can agree- these ponies prefer to forget their history.” Zecora poured herself another cup as she spoke. “But the royal family wants this secret kept suppressed. Their power comes from the mage armors; if ponies realized... well, you could guess.” “Rebellion,” Twilight summed up. Zecora nodded. “Okay... but then how do you know- oh.” Twilight put two and two together at last. “You're some kind of spy!” Her wings flared outward in excitement. “You're trying to get close to the princess, and- uh...” Twilight faltered. “Are you planning on- ulp- on... making her... dead?” Zecora chuckled at that. “Assassination is not my forte. I watch, I listen, I teach; so another may save the day.” She pointed across the tea-table. “Me?” Twilight frowned. “You- true.” Zecora reached into a pouch on the side of her chair, and brought out a hoof-ful of green, glowing powder. She tossed it down, and Twilight almost choked on the gas that exploded outward. Then she gasped when she saw the images that started to swirl inside. Herself, confronting Princess Cadenza. “Your armor gives you the power- to make your enemies quake and cower,” Zecora's voice echoed in the room. “Crystals contain magic, force it to obey ponies' will. Going against one-stones, two-stones, three-stones, would get most killed. Yet you're still combative. So,” she spoke slowly, “How is it you live?” The question had the air of one which Twilight was supposed to know the answer to. So she thought. Hard. It seemed that the images in the green fog were helping her; they formed six shining jewels. First one, then a pair, then a trio. Then it changed back to her own aegis. “My armor... its made entirely out of crystal. And since it uses my magic to even wake up- it probably has more magic than any other armor!” Twilight frowned. “Calling it an Element must be comparing to the original Elements of Harmony. The original enchanted crystals.” “It is something along that line,” Zecora agreed. She stepped back into view and waved one hoof through the fog. “Your outfit is truly divine.” A stylized image of Princess Celestia wafted before them. Twilight couldn't help the emotion that welled up inside her. It had been a long and difficult month. To be separated from her mentor, so soon after failing her... And then to find out that in this world, the true princess was gone. The only image Twilight had even seen of her was Cell's form, and that was hardly an accurate representation. But it made Twilight think- “Cell said she was made by Celestia. At first, I thought she meant the Celestia I know. But it was probably this world's Princess, wasn't it?” Zecora nodded. “The princess crafted the Element to aid in her stead, and warned us she would soon be dead. We have long waited for a champion to rise. Someone to don the armor; to be the royals' demise.” “Oh.” Twilight breathed, trying to hold in her panic. That was a lot of pressure to put on one pony. She and her friends had saved Equestria before, but they'd done it together. The one time Twilight had been given a solo quest, she'd failed. She had failed to recover the Crystal Heart and save an Empire. Her draconic assistant had been the one to do that. Nevermind praises of humility and reason. That hadn't been her quest. “I'm not sure I'm the pony for the job,” Twilight admitted. “Why do you think I gave you that test?” Zecora smiled warmly. “To show you, you rise above the rest.” Twilight was marginally reassured by the zebra's words. At the very least, she caught her breath. “I suppose,” she said finally. Twilight looked down and noticed that the teapot was empty and cold. She looked up, and saw that the sun was about to touch the horizon. “It's late. Thank you, though. This was... enlightening.” Twilight trotted over to the door. She paused, one hoof on the handle. “I hope you're right about me,” she said. “I don't know if I can do this alone.” Zecora gave her one last bit of encouragement as she gathered the tea set. “I have no doubts with the strength you've shown. But remember, you're never truly alone.” Night had fallen on Canterlot High. But within the bowels of the school, ponies still worked. Inside a glass walled chamber- which in turn was suspended above a deep mine shaft- half a dozen ponies in hazard suits and face masks stood over a table. An earth pony with caramel fur was restrained upon it; he struggled, but could not budge the heavy straps. “Please, let me go!” he called out, prompting one of the ponies to shove a gag in his mouth. Electrodes taped to his skin led to a variety of monitoring devices. In an adjacent chamber, two ponies watched. One was a white unicorn in a gorgeous blue dress; the other, a pegasus with butter fur and long pink locks. Both wore identically blank expressions. Both had reservations about what they were witnessing, which they chose to keep to themselves for the time being. The unicorn watched the members of her Crafts Club lay out the pieces of metal necessary for the procedure. At last, she activated an intercom and gave them the order they were waiting for. “We will now begin the assembly of a five-stone mage armor.” Each pony picked up a piece of metal. This was it. The last chance to stop, before it was too late. “Commence the fitting,” she said, swallowing her doubts. The crafts ponies worked quickly and efficiently. They pulled the armor together with metallic thread, snipping and trimming as needed; one pony was quick to grind away any splinters or sharp edges with a rotary tool. They were quiet. There was no idle chatter. Only the occasional warning or passing of information. “Attaching the pauldrons.” “Careful- the seam of the faulds is still sharp.” “Altering cuisse length. Ready for inlay.” A catwalk extended from the edge of the shaft to the suspended chamber. A nervous looking stallion trotted across with a small container. He placed it inside an antechamber, which was then sealed and sanitized, before a pony on the inside brought the box forward. The unicorn watched all this with increasing nervousness. “The shards were personally chosen as the most magically pure in our inventory,” she whispered to her companion. The only acknowledgment she received was a flicker of eye movement. Most of the crafts ponies stepped back, allowing those with a jeweler's expertise to work. Five shards of crystal were lifted from the package. Five shards of crystal were placed onto the armor's cuirass. They clicked into place. The jewelers let out a collective sigh of relief. They had done it, and nothing- BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! “Magical Activation confirmed!” one of their fellows shouted as the instruments exploded. “Tighten the clamps!” somepony shouted desperately. “Too late!” The shouts dissolved into screams of terror as the armor shimmered with power. Its magic swelled the brown-furred stallion to gargantuan size; he filled the room, a beast of pain and rage. The creature bellowed, and tore into the club members. Blood sprayed onto the glass walls as he pulled one apart with his teeth. The unicorn overseer paled, though it was hard to tell. Nevertheless, she switched the intercom frequency and screeched with relative calm, “Security!” Already, the view of the inside was obscured by gore and smoke from damaged equipment. Members of the Disciplinary Committee, ready and waiting, ran to surround the shaft. The catwalk was extended once more, and they all readied their weapons: repeating crossbows filled with armor-piercing tranquilizer darts. Two of the one-stones made their way across the bridge to the chamber entrance. After a moment, they wrenched the door open and sprayed the interior with every bolt they had. A keening wail cut through the fog. The ponies stood there for a moment, but nothing else happened. One of the responders, an orange pegasus with a blue mane, smiled. “I think we got it!” Quite suddenly, a giant hoof shot out of the room and shoved him off the catwalk. The guard tried to open his wings, but his sideways momentum slammed him into the side of the shaft. He cried out in pain as he fell the rest of the way towards what would surely be a gruesome demise. The rest of the squad ignored their companion's fate and focused on retreating away from the roaring monstrous pony. He pulled himself through the open door and onto the catwalk, which bent under his weight. That didn't stop the thing from charging across. His wild eyes locked onto a window in one wall; behind it, he could see a white unicorn with a purple mane. All his anger focused onto that target. “Fire all!” the guard leader shouted. The ponies unleashed an onslaught of needles that would have incapacitated an army, but the beast wasn't affected in the slightest. One dart even stabbed into his eye, but he didn't stop. Galloping now, the hulking stallion slammed his way through the barricade. The unicorn lowered her stance. She didn't want to fight, but what choice was there? And then, her companion was suddenly there, on the other side of the glass, hovering between the monster-pony and the unicorn. The pegasus locked eyes with the creature. She didn't flinch- she stared. Power flowed from her sea-blue eyes, seeping into the mind of the beast. He stumbled, faltered, as a foreign will overrode his own. The pegasus' eyes began to water as she invaded his mind. “That. Isn't. Very. NICE!” she said forcefully. Locating the link between the pony and the uniform, she reached out, and severed it with her mind. The creature stopped in mid-stride. And the armor exploded off its body, metal sheets falling to the floor in a deafening cacophony. The pegasus settled onto the ground as well. She walked over and patted the stallion's shoulder. He wasn't yet unconscious, but she fixed that with a quick press to the nerves under his jaw. He passed out with a relieved sigh. The sound was echoed by the unicorn as she made her way out of the chamber. “Thank you for handling that, Fluttershy Darling,” she said. Fluttershy's mane fell over one eye. “Oh, it was no problem. Really, the pony who chose him deserves all the credit. They chose somepony with an extraordinarily weak mind.” “I'm not sure that was a compliment, but I accept it anyway.” She huffed. “A tragic waste of gemstones though. Only five though,” the unicorn paused. “How in Equestria can someone wear an Element, when they're made entirely out of gemstones? Why, with that much power, they should be killed almost instantly!” “Princess Cadenza seemed so sure that Twilight's armor was an Element. She was really worked up about it. But maybe she's wrong?” “Unlikely. Ooh!” The unicorn plucked a piece of metal from the wreckage, a still intact jewel glittering in the setting. “Thank goodness I can salvage something. Now, don't you worry, dear. Element or no, Princess Cadenza will do what is necessary. It's not like she's going to fly off and do something completely rash.” Cadenza's dragon was not happy with her. “Don't you think this is a bit, I dunno, rash?” he asked. She looked across the deck of the airship. “Perhaps. But I need an advantage in the coming battle. Besides,” she smiled humorlessly. “I cannot be denied my birthright.” They continued north for a while longer. Their destination slowly grew on the horizon, until the city filled their vision. The entire kingdom was a shining jewel; the Crystal Empire. It was from here that the Queen ruled. It was from here that order and law flowed across Equestria. The skyline was dominated by the Crystal Palace. A truly gigantic spire of dark onyx and quartz, it had stood in the north for time immemorial. Its dark towers, twisting shards, and weightless arches made it a beautiful testament to pony ingenuity. But a blanket of oppression shrouded it; a feeling of ominousness that crept into the heart of everypony near. Their transport slowly came to moor against Cadenza's childhood home. She and her dragon stepped from the ship to the main balcony with practiced ease, shaking weariness out of unsteady limbs. Cadenza made certain her Chimera Blade was sheathed at her side. She wore a simple frock, light blue with darker trim. Even so, Cadenza thought she looked rather resplendent as she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the crystals. The servants of the royal family were lined up, having been notified of the approaching vessel. “Welcome home, Princess!” they said in unison. They certainly seemed to think nothing was amiss. Good. Perhaps this would be easier than she thought. Rather than take the stairs up to her bed chambers- her usual action upon returning home- Cadenza trotted down. Before long she reached the ground floor, where the citizens would enter to tour the public areas. She did not stop there. She had a moment of worry when a guard glanced her way, but he did not move from his post. Respect for the chain of command, and fear of the royal family, kept him in place. Cadenza slipped into the stairwell that led to the secret levels. Here were places that no ponies from the outside would ever see. Vast dungeons filled with torture chambers. Artifacts and relics locked away by Sombra himself. Laboratories studying everything from pony anatomy to inter-dimensional theory. Every chamber was guarded. Each required multiple layers of security to enter. Each was active in some way. But Cadenza was not here for them. She made her way to the sole room in the entire castle that went unused. The one room she was not supposed to enter, though she alone could. This room was different. It had four guards, not two. An enchanted orb hovered next to the door. An inscription, written in the ancient tongue, encircled the portal. Cadenza read it out loud as she approached. “From one to another, another to one: a mark of one's destiny singled out alone, fulfilled!” It was her father's creed, taken from the pages of an ancient journal. The carved words began to glow, much to the guards' surprise. The hovering orb zipped past them and halted in front of Cadenza. She did not stop, forcing it to drift with her. The orb emitted a blue light which scanned her eyes; the orb briefly glowed green before returning to its original place. The guards jumped as the door to the workshop opened. Even so, they stood shoulder to shoulder as Cadenza approached. The bravest of them spoke. “P-please, your highness! We have our orders. Even you're not-” “Stand aside,” she cut him off. “We can't!” “It is a royal command.” “The Queen's orders-” “The Queen is not here!” Cadenza shook her head at the outburst and sighed. “I do not have time to argue with the likes of you.” Carelessly, she brought out her sheathed sword. Faster than they could react, the guards received blows that left them writhing on the ground in pain, all four. She stepped over them. “Watch the door,” she told her dragon. Cadenza approached the central dais cautiously. The cabinet was still there, just as she remembered. For a moment, she was a filly again, all of five years old. She could feel her father's spirit beside her, and fought the urge to look up at his smiling face. The overhead lights flickered, breaking the spell. They had not been changed in many years. A fine layer of dust coated the room. And her father was not there. Steeling her resolve, Cadenza marched forward and placed her horn into the cabinet's lock. Crystals inside detected her unique magical signature, and the doors hissed open. A layer of plastic kept their contents from the world. Behind the plastic lay the familiar outfit. Cadenza watched as its sapphire eyes opened, slits of black onyx for pupils. The dress seemed slow, lazy. Tired. Whatever magical charge had kept it active for more than a decade was wearing thin. Still, it oozed raw power. Cadenza felt a chill when those eyes latched onto her face. It knew her. She could feel it. “I have come for you,” she breathed, “Tantabus!” “Uh, princess?” Her dragon called out to her. She turned and saw him being held at spear point by a second contingent of guards; there must have been a silent alarm of some kind. They were too late, but Cadenza was interested in how they might attempt to interfere. “Excuse me, excuse me,” a higher pitched voice cut through. “I'll just need a moment, excuse me. Don't worry- I got this!” Finally, a mare shoved her way between the guards. She was wisp-thin, with fur the color of fresh cut oak wood, and a mane that seemed dipped in shades of autumn. She trotted forward and said, with a wide smile, “Princess! We're delighted you could join us tonight! But um- what ever are you doing up there?” “Gloriosa Daisy,” Cadenza smirked. “I am fulfilling my destiny!” She reached upward and grabbed hold of the plastic in her hoof. “Wait!” Gloriosa shouted. Cadenza ignored her and ripped the plastic down. She reached back up for the dress. Gloriosa winced. “No! Spike,” she pleaded desperately, “You have to stop her!” The dragon snorted. “I tried. She's not going to change her mind.” Gloriosa stamped a hoof. As a regular earth pony, it was more petulant than effective. “Princess, your mother left me in charge of her estate. I cannot allow you to-” “Cannot allow?” Cadenza turned her head to glare over her shoulder. Every syllable she spoke was barbed with righteous anger. “Who is it you think you are ordering around?” Cadenza spread her wings, and a brilliant glow enveloped the chamber. Gloriosa and the others shielded their eyes. Cadenza shook herself free of the loose frock. It spilled to the ground with ease, just as intended, and she kicked it down the steps. Gloriosa stood, gaping. Cadenza was pleased with her reaction. “All mortals desire to see their goddess change,” she tossed out. “But they should not look upon her form while she does.” Gloriosa recoiled. “P-princess! You're not really going to try the dress on?” “Try it on?” Cadenza laughed. “I intend to do so much more than that.” She reached upward and tore the bindings holding the Tantabus in the wardrobe. In her hooves, it felt softer than the finest imported silk. “Please! If you put that on, you might not survive!” Cadenza smirked. “Calm. All magic is meant to be used.” She cradled the drowsing fabric with one foreleg, and reached for her blade. Cadenza brought the sword up until its hilt formed a bridge between her horn and the dress, a conduit of metal and crystal. Sleepy eyes blinked at her, like a child. “My magic is yours to take, Tantabus,” Cadenza intoned. “Write in it our covenant. Our fates shall be entwined until my enemies are dust beneath my hooves, or we are torn apart by death...” Sparks of blue energy crackled along the hilt, drawn from Cadenza's horn and into the Tantabus. It awoke. The Tantabus' eyes snapped wide. It launched itself through the air, wrapping around Cadenza's body, stretching to coat every inch of her lithe and beautiful form in dark crystal. She sucked air through her teeth, her skin burning, fur and feathers feeling like they were melting. Cadenza silently wrenched her jaw apart, in spite of the stones flowing over her face. “Princess!” they all shouted, even her dragon. Spike tensed, ready to charge to his mistress' side. “Not one step!” she screamed. She bent over, wings flared, legs shaking. “Not one word! Ask not the Breezy how the Griffon soars- you ponies aspire to nothing more than the shallow thoughts of commoners! But my will is absolute. My destiny; my legacy; my ambition- will not be denied!” Supernal lightning lanced outward, wreathing Cadenza in light. For a brief moment, she fell to her knees and choked back a scream. But as the glow intensified, she stood once again. Spike turned away, and saw Gloriosa do the same. No pony could look at the magical geyser now building in the center of the room. Pulses of light would have burned their eyes from their heads. “A- an armor... no matter how powerful... Is simply a tool!” Cadenza forced out. She could feel it now; the raw power that cycled through her- through them. She straightened and shook her wings. Crystal shards splayed from their ends, even as energy crackled all around her. A sphere of magic, sealing her from the world. “And this tool,” she gritted her teeth, “Will bow to my will! Errraaaaaaaaaarrrrgh!” Rage and pain boiled over; Cadenza's eyes glowed white as lances of energy gouged the floor and walls, before finally coming together in a pure magical beam that ripped the ceiling away, and showered the ponies in stars... “Well?” Cheerilee asked. “What do you think?” Twilight felt tears welling up as she took in the room. Though still small, it had been cleared out and cleaned up. The rickety table on which she placed her Element had been replaced with a proper hanging rack, one that looked brand new. A proper bed had been forced into one corner. “Thank you,” Twilight whispered. “'S the least we could do,” Big Mac said. “You savin' our youngin's an' all.” “She saved Derpy,” Dinky huffed. “I can look after myself. Ow!” The filly backed off after getting cuffed by her older sister. “Don't listen to her, Twilight!” Derpy gave a wide smile, then wrapped a wing around the alicorn. “We're happy to have you.” “All right, everypony,” Cheerilee butted in. “Why don't you get ready for bed? See if we can't save on the power bill this month.” They all saluted and began scrambling to change into pajamas- or to strip, whichever they were more comfortable with- and other nightly duties. Cheerilee smiled warmly. Twilight watched the insanity without comment. After the sort of friends she'd had back home, it didn't faze her at all. “You really didn't have to do all this,” she told Cheerilee. The mare turned with a stern look on her face. It was the sort of expression that had made her such an effective teacher. “Now, none of that. You might be an alicorn with super-powerful magic and armor. But you're still a young mare who needs a roof over her head and food in her belly. What sort of mother would I be if I turned you out?” “But... I'm not your foal.” Of course not,” Cheerilee agreed, “But I can't turn away a pony in need. Do you know why they fired me from the school?” Twilight thought back. “You said they downsized your job.” “Well, yes.” Cheerilee paused as the light in the other room finally went out, plunging them into darkness. She closed the door and turned on the lamp in Twilight's new room. “But the reason they picked me instead of some other teacher, was because I couldn't stand by and let them hurt the little ponies I loved to teach. I couldn't stand the Disciplinary Committee hauling away some poor filly or colt who made a simple mistake, and beating them into submission. And when I got it in me to stand up to them, well, they wouldn't allow me to interfere with how the school is run.” “I'm sorry,” Twilight said automatically. “Don't be!” Cheerilee laughed. “Now I get to dote on my children every day, and if something goes wrong I can stand up for them.” Twilight opened her mouth to tell her what a bad idea that would be, but Cheerilee just held up a hoof. “I know, I know. I'd probably get myself hurt. But that's another reason for me to help you out- you help keep my daughters safe.” “Well...” “It takes a lot of courage to stand up to those Elite ponies, all by yourself.” “I suppose.” Twilight wasn't sure what else to say. Though, after she spoke, the room seemed to grow colder. Her dress suddenly felt heavier, like Cell was trying to turn back into crystal. She sat down on the bed, which prompted Cheerilee to sit next to her. “Is it easier for you, being an alicorn?” Cheerilee asked after a moment. Twilight shrugged. “I've been meaning to ask you about that. How did you-” “How did I become an alicorn?” Twilight was glad for the shift in topic. Here was something she could speak about, something she understood. “It was a reward for finishing an old spell, one no pony else had been able to.” Twilight remembered her coronation, so full of pride and hope, and love for her friends. She remembered it like it had happened yesterday, though it had been moons. One full month of that time had been spent here, in this world, searching for her crown. “My teacher sent me the spell, hoping I'd be able to create new magic.” “Your teacher?” Cheerilee sounded confused. “Sorry,” Twilight said, “But it's a bit complicated; I can't explain any more than that.” “That's fine. It's just that the only alicorns I know of are Princess Cadenza and her mother- I was curious.” They sat there for yet another minute, trying to avoid anything too awkward. Twilight was nevertheless glad when Cheerilee got to her hooves. “Well, good night, Twilight. Tomorrow will probably be an interesting day for you.” “Yeah. Good night, Miss Cheerilee.” The mare opened the door a crack and slid out backwards. Once she was gone, Twilight took off her dress and put it on the hanger. Cell's eye was closed; it looked like a plain old outfit. Not magical at all. Twilight sighed and wished, for the umpteenth time, that the real Celestia were here. She wanted somepony to talk to, somepony to guide her. Not this... simulacrum. And apparently, Cell wasn't even from her world. Her armor was from this cursed place. “Psst! Twilight!” Twilight heard Derpy whispering. She got up and opened the door, allowing the pegasus to flop inside. Derpy smiled. “Mind if I sleep in here with you?” “Uh...” Derpy apparently took that as consent. “Great!” She got up, pulled her sleeping mat into the other corner, and flattened it out. “So what were you and my mom talking about?” “Oh, nothing important.” Twilight feigned a yawn. “I'm tired now, so-” “Oh, sure.” Derpy cocked her head to the side, which almost made her eyes level. “Hang on- d'you hear that?” Twilight listened for a moment, but the only sound that came to her was lumber-mill snores of the rest of the family. “I don't hear anything,” she said. Derpy got up, shaking hay off her flank, and put her head to the wall. “It's coming from over here.” Twilight could only stare as the pegasus bobbed her head around, walking first to the left, then the right. Finally, she came to a stop right beside Cell's hanger. “Come over here, listen!” Rolling her eyes, Twilight got up and crossed the room. It was only a couple of steps, and the faster she got it over with the faster Derpy would let her sleep. She leaned in. “I don't hear any-” Bump bump. Twilight's eyes widened. No way. “Derpy,” she said slowly, “What exactly have you been hearing?” “Its like a drumbeat, but really slow. Always the same two beats.” Bump bump. “That's not a drumbeat...” Twilight frowned. “It's a heartbeat.” “Really?” Derpy stared at Cell. “That's so cool! Your armor has a heart. It beats for you!” “It's strange,” Twilight countered. “Rocks, even magic ones, aren't supposed to have heartbeats.” “Well, yours is super-duper ultra special, then, isn't it?” Derpy smiled, mystery solved, and trotted back to her sleeping mat. The pegasus yawned and fell onto the hay without another thought, leaving Twilight alone with her 'special' outfit. Hesitantly, she brought up a hoof and touched the center of the fabric. Bump bump. Twilight yanked her hoof back, having felt the pulse in the cloth. Cell's eye opened, glancing over Twilight. It seemed different- the glint in the amethyst was sharper. Twilight felt a trill of fear, but it wasn't her own. She was startled, not afraid. Her own heart began to beat a little faster. Bump bump. Twilight jumped backwards into her new bed, away from the Element. She wasn't particularly tired, but right then she wanted nothing more than to go to sleep and forget what just happened. Twilight yawned. Her body creaked in every joint as she forced herself to walk across the courtyard. Being a young mare, getting up and going to school, couldn't be all that different from being an old mare, she decided. Twilight yawned again. It didn't help that, after her and Derpy's... talk, sleep had not come easily. Her eyes still had grit in the corners. “Are you all right?” Derpy dropped in altitude so she was hovering right next to Twilight. “You're not looking so good.” “Couldn't sleep,” Twilight confessed. “And I have this feeling- something really bad is about to happen.” “Oh yeah, me too! Though, I get that feeling most every day. So it's probably nothing.” “TWILIGHT SPARKLE!” Twilight flinched. Lights around the courtyard snapped on, even though the sun was up, and she was blinded for a second. When the spots faded from her eyes, Twilight was mildly surprised to see rows and rows of banners decorating the courtyard. Each bore the symbol of the school; each was accompanied by a one-stone pony. Between the banners and the front doors, the Elite Four stood and watched. Twilight forced her eyes upwards, towards the tallest tower. It was there that the brightest light of all shone. The pony causing it stood out as a black silhouette amid the gleam. “Mi Amore Cadenza,” Twilight hissed. Then she winced; the light was giving her a bit of a headache. It seemed the other alicorn heard her, even at a distance. Or perhaps she saw Twilight's mouth move and was smart enough to understand. “Perhaps we can skip the name calling today; I'm eager to move forward.” “With what? Is there something you want to tell me?” Twilight's hoof drifted up towards her saddlebag. “Something about my Element of Harmony?” “So you admit to its nature.” “The more specific I am, the less you can feed me horse-apples about it. So. Is that what this is about?” Cadenza narrowed her eyes. “No.” She stepped forward, her rear hoof slamming down on the ledge with a resounding Clack! Cadenza launched herself over the edge, flapping gently, gliding towards the ground. “We were supposed to, and I quote, 'finish this', the last time we saw one another. But you ran away.” Now Twilight did pull out her sword. She could see where this was heading, plain as day. But there was something that made her very nervous, something that she just couldn't figure out. Something about Cadenza... “Derpy,” Twilight warned, “you should leave.” “That's a good idea,” her pegasus friend whimpered. “Afterwards, would you prefer cremation or burial?” “I'm not going to die, now just go!” Derpy zipped off, blending into the crowd almost instantly. Twilight turned her attention back to the princess, who was just touching down. Twilight now realized what was different: Cadenza's outfit. She'd changed from her pure white school uniform to something else. A dress of black, silver, and blue, dark as the night sky. The form-fitting cloth glittered in the light, but it was strange. It almost looked as though the light were being absorbed instead of reflected. Silver bands of jewelry shone on her upper forelegs. “I suppose now's a good a time as any,” Twilight said nervously. “Why can't you just tell me what I want to know?” Cadenza placed a hoof on the hilt of her sheathed sword. “Because you have not yet earned that honor. You have stuck your muzzle where it doesn't belong, Twilight Sparkle. You have upset the delicate order of my world. And you have taken that which does not belong to you.” Cadenza bent her head away, graceful as a swan. “I cannot sit idly by as you force your way to your goal. I will stand in opposition to your foalish ways. If you proceed, I have no choice; you will be my first sacrifice to Tantabus.” Twilight blinked. “I can't stop now. I'm sorry about all this, but- wait, Tantabus?” She frowned. “Nightmare? How can I be sacrificed to a nightmare?” “I'll show you,” Cadenza whispered. She angled her head further down, touching her horn to the jewelry. Twilight had just enough time to see the triplicate of moonstones glitter with magical energy, and think, Oh, ponyfeathers. Cadenza raised her eyes to stare directly at Twilight, ignoring the pain searing through her. This was her power, her will. A spiral of darkness blossomed from her horn, wrapping down and around Cadenza's body. A sphere of shadows wreathed her. It ignited from within, turning into a ball of flame, and then into a twisted maw with more teeth than a manticore. The jaws opened wider than any mouth should and swallowed Cadenza whole, only to be restrained in gleaming leashes of blue magic. The shadow bound itself to Cadenza's fur and flesh, covering her from horn to haunches. It bled away to reveal gleaming armor of dark crystal; obsidian shards formed a second skin throughout; sapphires created the recognizable shapes of helmet, greaves, sabatons, and the like. Lapis-lazuli painted stars down her back and wings; those appendages were extended by sharpened crystal feathers. Over Cadenza's shoulders, two enormous pauldrons domed upward into spikes. Their crystals parted to reveal eyes of turquoise, slits of onyx for pupils. “Lunar magic, subjugate!” Cadenza declared. “Element: Tantabus!” In one effusion of light and energy, she claimed her true weapon; her birthright; her past, and her future. The one-stones watching were no less surprised than Twilight, but they were far more enthusiastic about the development. Applause burst from the audience. A few even hoisted their banners and began chanting. “Can-ter-lot! Ca-den-za!” “I thought mine was the only one!” Twilight murmured. Cold dread seeped into her fur. She hadn't been able to keep up with the princess before; what was she supposed to do now? “Breathtaking, isn't it?” Cadenza closed her eyes in bliss. “Tantabus is indeed your worst nightmare; choose your next actions very carefully, Twilight Sparkle.” All eyes in the courtyard and beyond were fixed on Twilight. In her classroom, Zecora nervously twisted one golden hoop she wore on her leg. “Too soon,” she muttered. “She is not yet ready. Twilight; you need to keep your mind steady!” Twilight slowly breathed out. She needed to know what Cadenza knew; the only way Cadenza would tell her is if she defeated her in battle; there was no way for Twilight to avoid the confrontation. “Okay Cell,” she said quietly, “It's time.” Twilight brushed her horn against her bracelet, feeling the incredible suction of magic. Stars sparkled around her, and the dress melted into its armor form. Twilight couldn't help but feel a bit of envy; Cadenza's armor was much sleeker and nicer. Still, she felt the familiar rush of power and cockiness. Maybe we can do this after all. To Twilight's surprise, crudely painted sheets were raised above the crowd, reading 'Go Twilight!' It seemed she had attracted a few admirers. The no-stones whooped loudly, Derpy loudest of all. “We believe in you, Twilight!” The alicorns glared across the field. Twilight felt the cold returning, but this time she realized where it was coming from. It was Cell. Her armor was freezing. “What's wrong? she whispered to it. It's that armor, Cell shuddered. It has this aura- I can feel its anger, its hunger. It feels... familiar. It makes me afraid. “Could you feel it last night?” Twilight remembered her dress suddenly turning cold in the middle of her conversation. Yes. It's that powerful. “Great pep talk,” Twilight grumbled. She brought her sword up and began marching towards Cadenza. The princess frowned and matched her, step for step, bringing the Chimera Blade to bear. Their eyes remained locked together, never wavering, never blinking. Still yards apart in the center of the yard, a fountain of stars erupted between them. Waves of force exploded from the pair, sending spectators flying. The Elite Four braced themselves, and were still sent skidding away. “What happened?” Fluttershy gasped. Shining Armor looked outward with the eye of a trained soldier. “They're both so strong willed, their conflicting magics created a concussive blast!” he said, awestruck. Twilight allowed herself a brief moment to marvel at the unprecedented phenomenon. “I can't wait to write the research paper on this when I get home!” She angled her sword higher. “Let's see what an Element can really do!” Twilight charged, her hooves scarcely touching the ground. Almost immediately she realized something was wrong; she was moving far slower than she had yesterday. The world sped past, but it did not blur. Cadenza's frown became deeper still, and she slashed the air contemptuously. A wave of blue force slammed into Twilight. By a miracle, her blade was angled enough to cleave the energy, which was all that kept her from being sliced in two. The blast was still enough to slice open her cheek, and shred the banners behind her. Twilight fell back, keeping her blade up to block. “What's happening?” she hissed at Cell. Her armor seemed to shrug. I thought you were going to make that speed spell permanent? Twilight clapped a hoof to her face, keeping her sword between her and Cadenza. “I forgot,” she admitted. “But I had a lot on my mind yesterday.” Well, if you don't want to end up as a stain on the wall, I'd suggest casting it again. “Right, right.” Twilight breathed out, trying to relax her limbs into automatic response, so she could concentrate on the spell. “Accelero Expony Duplexus!” she murmured, and an ethereal glow spread across her. The familiar tingling told her it had worked. Twilight blocked one more swing from Cadenza, who had begun to look bored, and then tumble-rolled to the left. She attempted a thrust of her own, but Cadenza saw her coming. Twilight was now faster, but she lacked any true combat training. The princess parried Twilight's strike easily, then spun and unleashed an overhead slash. Twilight blocked it, but the force staggered her. It seemed Cadenza had the advantage of strength. The meeting of metals shook the entire mountain. Cadenza's eyes narrowed. “Impressive,” she whispered. For a moment Twilight thought it was a compliment, but then the princess grinned wildly. “More than I ever dreamed!” She twisted her sword and pushed Twilight down even further, until the younger alicorn's hooves began to dig grooves into the solid earth. A moment more and the pressure became to much; the ground cracked apart and cratered beneath Twilight. She had to use both forehooves to keep her muzzle from being sliced off. “Magnificent!” Cadenza breathed. With tremendous effort, Twilight turned the blow sideways. The Chimera Blade swung down and embedded itself in the gravel, and Twilight fell away. She got up before the dust could settle and galloped away. Cadenza yanked her sword free, rounding to find her opponent gone. Twilight was already at the base of the school building. Rather than stop and be cornered, she leaped up and began to run along the wall itself. Cadenza snarled and took to the sky. Her razor wings sliced the air easily. Hardly winded, the princess pointed her sword at the building, lining it up with her horn. “Evomo!” A lance of blue light slammed into the wall ahead of Twilight; concrete and rebar exploded outward. Twilight jumped over the hole, but Cadenza fired off the spell again, and again, turning the facade of her school into a vertical obstacle course. “Even with all this power in your hooves, all you can do is run!” she sneered. Twilight didn't bother to respond. On the wall, she was like a shark. If she stopped moving she'd fall, and it was becoming harder and harder to keep moving. Desperately, she spread her wings to help her glide over one hole. “Impellus!” The spell hit Twilight like a punch from the gods; in essence, that's what it was. The simple strike spell wouldn't even need to be spoken by most unicorns, under normal circumstances. Twilight chose to focus on the academic properties of what just happened, because if she didn't the pain would have overwhelmed her. She was knocked through the side of the school and into a relatively intact classroom, which didn't stay that way. Twilight's sudden arrival overturned tables and desks. She hit the far wall and kept going, leaving a silhouette in the bricks. Across the hall, and into the lockers, which buckled behind her. At last, Twilight fell to the floor. “Ouch,” she murmured. “Okay, I could use some help about now.” I was starting to think you'd never ask, Cell said. Block left! Twilight lifted her sword just in time to slice through a chunk of wall. She looked back and saw Cadenza leap from the ground to the destroyed classroom. The princess swung her own blade, sending desks flying towards Twilight. She jumped to the side, avoiding three, then jerked backwards so another didn't take her head off. A fifth piece of furniture spiraled towards Twilight, and she grabbed it in a telekinetic lock. With a twist of her neck, Twilight sent it back towards Cadenza. Disappointingly, Cadenza obliterated it with another Impellus. Twilight groaned. Now what? Try the trophy case, Cell suggested. Twilight looked over and saw, indeed, there was a glass cabinet nearby with a host of metal cups inside. A couple bore the names Bulk Biceps and Lightning Dust. “Perfect!” Twilight pulled the trophies out individually, then launched them all at Cadenza from different directions. Cadenza dodged and weaved, parried and blasted, but couldn't avoid all of the awards. She received a 'Best Young Author' plaque to the face, and a golden 'Achievements in Sewing' needle right to the plot. Cadenza reared back and whinnied in pain and rage. The princess' eyes glowed white, and she smashed her hooves into the tiles. “ENOUGH!” she roared, then faltered as Twilight unleashed her final projectile: the cabinet itself. Two hundred pounds of antique wood and glass slammed into the pink alicorn. “Who's running now!” Twilight panted, a bit drained from the effort of moving that many objects. “You should be!” Cadenza burst out of the wreckage with nary a scratch, and tossed off another magical strike. Twilight was blasted backwards down the hall, and Cadenza flew after her. Without giving Twilight time to pause, she brought her sword to bear. “You come to my school, attack my cohorts and I, and expect me to hand over vital information? You are nothing, a mere foal toying with something beyond her understanding!” Twilight did her best to keep up with the assault, but it wasn't going well. Cell kept trying to warn her, but she was too slow still; Cell said On your right as a gouge was sliced into Twilight's right side; a call to Jump! came as her legs were swept from under her. Desperately, Twilight hooked a chair with her sword and tossed it at Cadenza, who wasn't even fazed. The younger alicorn huffed. “I might not know everything about Elements or school politics or whatever goals you have, princess, but I'd say I understand plenty! I understand that ponies like you aren't happy without somepony else to tear down. You hurt other ponies just to make yourself feel better about whatever lousy pit you've made of your life!” Cadenza slapped Twilight across the muzzle, and they both tumbled into the floor. Cadenza rolled and came up on her hooves. “My life is a pinnacle that everypony in this world should strive to achieve! My actions are not those of some schoolyard bully; I take pride in knowing that everything I do, I do for Equestria's future.” She drew back, gathering energy in a sphere of magic on her horn. “I wear this Element so no pony can take that future from me!” Cadenza's spell detonated with the force of a small earthquake. Confined in the school hallway, it blew that entire section of the building into a smoldering ruin. Twilight hurtled through the super-heated air, only stopping when she dug a ten foot trench through the debris with her body. She lay there as flames began to lick the stones. The sprinklers were gone. The little water that trickled through the burst pipes caused more damage than it fixed. For a moment, Twilight lay in her crater and watched the clouds drift across the sky. They had passed through to the inner courtyard now, so it was a much different view. She sucked air through her teeth, trying hard to ignored the stabbing pains in her everywhere. Bone ground against bone as Twilight fought her way back to her hooves. She didn't quite make it; Twilight leaned against her sword, barely off the ground. We're hurt pretty bad, Cell summarized. If you cast another spell in this condition, you will lose consciousness. “Options?” Twilight asked. Give up? “Not an option.” Cadenza hopped down from the exploded hall; she stalked across the grass and dirt as if she were in no hurry get there. Twilight's fuzzy vision, and the heat of the flames, made the air shimmer. For just a moment, Cadenza in her armor looked like another pony. One right out of history- one Twilight had seen before. Twilight shook her head. “Cell, you have to do something!” she pleaded. “We can't lose this fight!” Twilight broke out shivering as the temperature of her armor plummeted. What would you have me do? Cell demanded angrily. I've done all I can at this point; you take my control of magic, and I take your energy to stay awake. “Hardly seems fair! I'm the one doing all the fighting, flying around and casting spells. You sit there sucking out energy and distracting me!” It's been give and take with us, but that isn't how this is supposed to be. We're supposed to act as one, sharing our power and thoughts. I can't sustain this relationship on my own! Twilight was about to yell, “What relationship!” when the shadow fell over her. Cadenza was done savoring the moment. She slammed the flat of her blade into Twilight's chest, breaking the already cracked ribs. Twilight was flung over the destroyed walls of the building and into the front courtyard, where she plowed another trench identical to the one she was just in. Twilight came to rest in the exact center of the yard. “No more,” she whispered. At the same time, Cell groaned, I'm finished. Twilight opened her eyes and saw that she was once again wearing nothing but a sparkling dress. Her armor was gone. “Cell... why?” No answer was whispered in her ear. Through the haze of pain, Twilight saw Cadenza gliding towards her. The princess landed only a few feet away, folded her razor wings, and marched up to Twilight. She wrapped her magic around Twilight's throat and lifted. As Twilight gagged, she placed the tip of her sword in front of Twilight's trachea. “Your Element may have left you conscious,” Cadenza mused, “But in a dormant Element, you may as well be completely alone.” Twilight forced herself to talk, though it was just adding more pain. “And who... are you... to talk?” Cadenza relaxed the grip slightly. “You're fighting... all alone, too! You don't have any friends. You have servants.” Twilight thought it was a good argument, but Cadenza merely shrugged. “Friends are for those too weak-willed to support themselves. For those who cannot take fate into their hooves and forge a new path. I am not them; I have no need of friends. The strong have followers, and mine will sacrifice their very lives to see my cause succeed! If it means fulfilling my destiny...” Cadenza drew back her Chimera Blade. “I will cast aside all who dare call me friend.” Zecora was out of breath. She'd been running through classrooms and hallways and holes in the walls just to keep up with the battle. Her disguise was actually coming undone; sweat was screwing up the dye in her fur, and her dress was torn apart. Her mane was standing up partially. At first, it seemed like a inconvenience; what if somepony spotted her? But now, Twilight was in trouble. Her Element had failed and Princess Cadenza was about to murder her in front of the entire school. Zecora could not allow that to happen. If she had to intervene, it was better for her to do it sans disguise. Zecora touched her golden bracelet, drawing strength from the solid metal. “I must get her away from that warmonger,” the zebra muttered. “Hold on, Twilight; a couple moments longer.” Twilight stared at the tip of Cadenza's sword, poised to strike at her heart. There was no doubt in Twilight's mind that the blow would kill her. The Chimera Blade would slice through Cell, through muscle and bone. She would die in this strange world, having never set eyes on the other half of her own sword. Waters of sorrow threatened to cut off her breath even more than Cadenza's magic, but Twilight forced them down. If she was going to die, she'd do it with her head high. Of course, not everyone was so accepting of her defeat. “Stop!” Derpy shouted. She dropped down between Cadenza and Twilight, actually putting her own body in front of the deadly blade. Not that it would have mattered; one unprotected pegasus wouldn't have slowed it at all. But the sudden appearance of another pony startled Cadenza enough for her to drop Twilight. Twilight hit the rocky ground hard. It was almost enough to jar her sword from her grasp, but she kept a death grip on it. She would not lose both halves. Derpy lowered herself further, always keeping her body between the alicorns. “You're wrong,” she said to the princess, which made Twilight worry. If Derpy pushed too far, Cadenza would simply kill them both. Luckily, she still seemed more perplexed than annoyed. “About what?” “About friends!” Derpy stamped her hoof. “Friends are for ponies who aren't too proud to admit they need help. They're for ponies who know they aren't perfect, who want to be more than what they are! I'm Twilight's friend,” the pegasus said valiantly. “She's not perfect; she always starting fights and she doesn't seem to think she deserves friends. But I'm her friend anyway. "And even if I weren't,” Derpy added, “She's got another friend. She's got her Element! You wouldn't think it 'cause it's just clothes, but her Element has a heart! She talks to it and she named it. Cell's heart beats for Twilight! So how can Cell be any less Twilight's friend than I am? Get up Twilight!” Derpy turned around to face her. “Get up, and stand with your friends, just like we stand with you!” Cadenza's eyes grew steadily colder as she listened to Derpy talk. Before long, they were emanating cold as if it were Dark Magic; her eyes gained flecks of blue in the irises. Her pupils began to lengthen vertically, looking more and more like the eyes of her Tantabus. Twilight watched as Cadenza's anger grew, and felt like joining her. The Magic of Friendship did not exist in this world. That had been proven to her over and over again. The only way to solve this was with the power of violence and force. It could be both, a voice whispered. Twilight couldn't tell if it were Cell, speaking with one last bit of energy, or her own thoughts. You could still be... friends. Something kept Twilight's frustration from rising. Derpy's words resonated within her. It seemed as though some part of her was being shored up. Like she were a bridge, and new pylons had been sunk to support her. “Twilight,” Derpy said pointedly. She held out a hoof. “We're your friends.” Twilight slowly raised her hoof. She was hurting. Bad. She was probably about to die. But Derpy was her friend. And if she were going to die... she'd rather die with her friends, facing danger head on. Derpy grabbed hold of Twilight and pulled her up, until the alicorn was almost standing. Her right hoof still held her sword. “Let's get this over with,” Twilight grit out. Cadenza snorted. “I've had enough of this nonsense!” She brought up her sword. Twilight tracked the blade, solar light refracting off of it. She felt a tickle in the back of her mind. “Friend or no friend- your time is over, Twilight Sparkle!” CLANG. Cadenza's eyes widened, the blue vanishing in an instant. Twilight smiled. Their blades locked, silver against gold, dark and light. “H-how?” the princess gasped. “What she said- it isn't nonsense.” Twilight pushed herself fully upright, ignoring the pain and standing on her own hooves. The crystals of her dress began to glow. “It isn't nonsense at all!” Twilight shoved Derpy to the side as hard as she could, away from the epicenter. Do it, now! Cell shouted, and this time there was no doubting it was the armor's voice. Twilight's smile grew. “What are friends for?” And she slammed the bracelet on her left hoof against her horn. Twilight opened glowing white eyes, even as tendrils of light sprouted from her horn. They became a web of power, wrapping over and around her until Twilight was surrounded by an orb of magical energy. And yet, she was part of it, too. They were connected. “I get it now,” she whispered. “Cell... you're not a tool, or a weapon. You're not some inanimate object.” The sphere brightened, and from its glow Twilight could see a fiery form emerge- a white pony, galloping towards her, with flares of solar energy in her hooves. The pony, almost twice as tall as Twilight, cantered to a halt only a few feet away. Their amethyst eyes locked. “You're not Celestia. You're not my teacher. So I pushed you away. I wanted her, not you.” Cell held out a hoof, and smiled warmly. Twilight smiled in return. She grasped Cell's hoof in her own. “But I need you, not her. And you need me.” Cell's fiery form dissolved into a shower of stars, flowing forward over Twilight. She gasped as the power rose inside her, burning. Twilight could feel her bones knitting together, her wounds healing. Her entire body became a sheet of roiling energy. “Together we are stronger than we could ever be apart. As long as we trust one another, and believe in one another, we can do anything. Because you and I... we're friends!” Indeed we are. Cell's voice echoed through her mind. Waves of magical fire retreated up Twilight's body, leaving behind gleaming armor. Smooth diamond formed a skintight layer; rainbows of quartz flowed down her back and wings. Crystals grew like new primary feathers on her wings. Corundum and topaz built into proper sabatons, faulds, vambraces, and the like. On her head, shards of those same crystals built into a crown, befitting a Princess of Equestria. A golden cuirass grew over the diamond on Twilight's chest. A pair of rondel plates sprouted from the armor; the right flowed with colors across the spectrum, just like her wings; the other held an amethyst eye filled with untold wisdom, and a powerful resolve. “Solar Magic, Harmonize!” they roared together. “Element: Celestia!” A wave of power rippled outward from Twilight and Cell; the students still watching were pushed back by a force greater than the tides of the sea. Even the Elite Four were tossed aside. In the school above, Zecora relaxed and smiled. It seemed she'd underestimated her new student. Twilight breathed in, strangely calm. She could feel the magical energy surging around her. This was a power she hadn't known since she was a foal- the entire world at her mercy, one thought, one spell the only thing between the universe and chaos. On her own, Twilight doubted she could control it. But she wasn't alone. The highlight in Twilight's mane began to glow bright pink; the undersides of her wings followed suit. With a single flap, she sent them hurtling forward at Cadenza, far faster than they'd ever moved before. Twilight had enough presence of mind to realize the Speed Spell was still in effect, but even still. She was faster than Lightning Dust, faster than just about anypony in this or any world. Cadenza managed to block, but now she was on the defensive. Twilight took a moment to enjoy the emotions on Cadenza's face. To see the princess go from arrogant, to upset, to worried, to near panic as she fought to keep up with Twilight. The blows forced them backwards across the yard. “This is incredible!” Twilight gushed. “Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?” Well, you had a lot on your mind yesterday. Twilight laughed as she heard her own words parroted. “You need my magic just to stay awake. The more I pushed you away,” she realized, “The more magic you must've needed to stay. That's why I kept passing out!” Exactly! Cell manipulated the magical energy in Twilight's hoof, bringing their sword up in time to parry Cadenza's desperate counter-thrust. The magic we just shared is more than enough. Especially because we are sharing it now. Truly, we have become one! “Then let's end this!” Twilight adjust her stance, pushing strength over speed, wearing the other alicorn down. Strike after strike forced Cadenza into a crouch. Twilight raised her blade. “Augetur! Fiducia Nectimus!” Twilight's sword seemed to unfold, the fabric of reality cracking around it. The hilt lengthened until it was big enough for Twilight to hold in both hooves; the filigree blade grew like time-lapsed vines. In an instant, Twilight held a sword large enough to make Shining Armor feel inadequate. Nicely done, Cell admired. Quickly; the trigger phrase! Twilight smiled; she had the perfect one ready. “Bearer's Blade!” she shouted, “Friendship... Is... Magic!” Stars glittered the length of the blade. Twilight swung with all her might, unleashing a final burst of magical energy directly at the weakened Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Princess Cadenza watched with wide eyes as her opponent rose again. Stronger, faster, possibly better than her. Cadenza fought with everything she had, feeling the dark flame at her heart grow smaller and smaller with every passing second. Finally, Twilight preformed a feat of magic the likes of which Cadenza had never thought possible: she enlarged her sword, and placed a binding charm with a trigger phrase on it at the same time! Nothing like that had been done since ancient times. Cadenza felt her knees buckle, and she collapsed onto the ground. That was the only thing that saved her life. The blast of magical energy sliced past, splitting the hairs in Cadenza's mane. It slammed into the wall behind her and carved a trench across its entire length, an arching groove a foot deep in reinforced stone. Twilight stood stock-still, blade still extended, smile frozen on her face. The students in the crowd looked between panic and joy. The entire school held its breath. Clack! The soft tap of Cadenza's sabaton on the ground echoed across the courtyard. Cadenza reached out and grabbed her Chimera Blade. She got to her hooves. And she grinned at Twilight. “Now things are getting interesting,” the princess hissed. The black flame swelled once more, and her eyes flashed cold blue, though she could not see it. Cadenza launched herself with the force of a rocket, ground rippling behind her. She and Twilight crossed blades once more, the force of the blow shattering the air between them. But Twilight danced away nimbly. She didn't bother swinging her gigantic blade again, merely twirling her whole body. It became a shield, a weapon, whatever Twilight needed it to be. A crater of devastation spread outward as the ponies' clashed again and again. Finally, Chimera Blade and Bearer's Blade locked, sparking against one another. Twilight glared across the 'X' of metal. “We're getting nowhere, Mi Amore!” she shouted. “Just tell me who has my Element!” Cadenza snarled. “And if I did? Then what would you do?” Twilight looked startled, as if she hadn't thought that far ahead. But then she cocked her head, listening to a voice Cadenza could not hear. Twilight smiled. “I'd find that pony, and do the same thing I'm doing to you, until they give me back my Element!” With exuberance born of inexperience, Twilight shifted her grip and threw her hoof at Cadenza's muzzle. The force shook loose her teeth and cracked the wall behind her. But Cadenza used it. She pivoted in midair and bucked Twilight in the chest, her kick knocking the wind from the younger pony and creating a crater across the courtyard. “Your vision is weak,” she spat. “My goals are beyond what your limited mind could fathom!” Twilight snorted in exasperation. “I'm getting tired of you insulting me like that!” She reset her grip on the blade, and flew forward, swinging hard. “My resolve has not begun to be tested!” Cadenza roared. She pushed off the ground, meeting the strike halfway. The two armored alicorns collided in midair, sword against sword. Magic imploded; the entire courtyard was drawn towards the point of contact like a black hole. Masonry ripped itself from the walls and buildings. Ponies outside found themselves lifted from where they cowered. A moment later the suction reversed, and everything was blown out with a force twice as great as before. Every window was shattered; debris hurtled out over the city for blocks. The Elite Four cowered inside one of Shining Armor's shields. The dust settled slowly. Cadenza and Twilight still hovered in the air, Element to Element, Blade to Blade. Their nigh-identical eyes stared across razors of precious metal. Slowly, Twilight's wings folded. She fell out of the sky, hitting the ground surprisingly soft. The princess glided down in front of her. She smiled a predator's smile at her defeated opponent. Twilight felt frustration rise like bile in her throat, just as burning. She'd mastered her Element, empowered her sword, and utilized magic in a way this world hadn't seen for ages. She'd fought with every fiber of her being, as hard as she could... but it hadn't been enough. Cadenza had won. We are not dead yet, Cell told her. “No...” she whispered. Cadenza raised an eyebrow. Twilight looked up, the entire fight flashing behind her eyes. She knew what she had to do. “I'm going to take it all away.” “All of what?” Cadenza placed her sword point under Twilight's chin. She was very interested in her foe's last words. “Everything you've been talking about. Your followers, your fate, your destiny- I'm going to take it all away. And you'll know exactly what I'm doing.” Twilight smiled smugly. “By the time I'm done, you'll be begging to tell me what I want to know! Trust me,” she added, “If there's one thing I understand, it's a pony with an obsession.” Cadenza stared down the length of her blade for a long moment. Then she raised it... Only to reverse it, and place it back into it's scabbard. With a flap of her wings, Cadenza soared over to the front entrance of what had been the school, and stood at the top of the steps. “It won't be easy,” she smirked. “All of Canterlot High is my kingdom.” She clacked her sabaton down. On the steps below her, the Elite Four lined up; below them, an assortment of students in two-stone mage armors emerged from the crowd. They all stood tall and proud, glaring at Twilight. “It will amuse me to see you try and spite my destiny. You think you can topple an empire alone?” Cadenza laughed mirthlessly. “Now that is something I would like to see.” Her eyes flashed blue once more. “After today, every student in this school will be your enemy. Just try and defeat them all.” Twilight struggled to her hooves. The assembly in front of her could shake the foundations of the world, change time and space, make gods tremble in their palaces. “I'll do it,” Twilight promised defiantly. Cadenza gave a real smile. “If you do, Tantabus and I will face you again. I look forward to that day.” “And when we win? You'll tell me everything I want to know.” “Of course. You have my word.” Cadenza turned and stalked into what was left of the building, taking with her much of the light that had filled the courtyard during the fight. Twilight let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, and relaxed ever so slightly. She spotted Derpy among the crowd, and touched a hoof to her chest, just under Cell's eye. “It'll be sooner than you think, Mi Amore,” she whispered. “Because I'm not alone. I'll never be alone again.” The gemstones warmed under her hoof, ready for anything. Zecora slipped out of the wrecked school quietly. What she had seen... It was incredible. Twilight was already far stronger than she could have hoped. The two alicorns had been almost a perfect match. She could only imagine the sheer ferocity of a battle after Twilight had defeated an entire school's worth of magical armors. But there was one thing that had her concerned. Cadenza's Element was obviously a source of Dark Magic; the sort of thing that could warp a pony's mind until it was unrecognizable. Already she seemed to be acting differently from how Zecora expected. Twilight had used psychology of course, but for Cadenza to be manipulated so easily, for her to make that ultimatum... it was almost as though she wanted Twilight to get stronger. “Curious, very curious,” Zecora muttered. “I can only hope Twilight is victorious.”