Bright and early the next day, Twilight inspected and calibrated the mana batteries that had been installed overnight. Within each, a glowing ball of magical energy drawn from the environment sat within a crystal lattice arranged in a dodecahedron. Satisfied, Twilight cast a spell which linked the batteries to the portal device. The portal gave off a faint buzz, the entry manifold a cloudy gray.
Twilight lighted her horn and infused a burst of energy into the system to jump-start it. The portal soon came up to a more healthy hum, and the mirrored surface returned. She heard hoof-falls behind her and turned to greet them. "Good morning, Star Singer."
"Good morning, Princess," said Star Singer as she approached.
"Please, just call me Twilight."
Star looked around. "Where's Starlight?"
"She's at the palace," said Twilight. "Celestia summoned Derpy to an audience, and she's going to be freed from the spell suppressing her memories so Starlight can find out more about what happened."
Star lowered her gaze. "I don't envy either Derpy or Starlight."
"Celestia said she asked Derpy to bring along a good friend for emotional support." Twilight gestured to the apparatus with a wing. "I just finished hooking up the portal to a steadier energy source."
Star stepped up to it. "Sunset showed me her portal once. Her setup was more elaborate than this."
"I'm not surprised, especially since I'm having to reverse-engineer everything she did. That's why I'm really hoping you can help us."
"I'll do my best." Star Singer turned towards Twilight. "I don't know portal mechanics, but I do know Sunset very well. I know her style and her techniques."
"I have to admit, I'm very curious about something," said Twilight.
Star nodded. "I can guess. What were my fake memories like?"
"If you don't want to discuss it, I'll understand."
She waved a fore-hoof. "No, it's fine. I went from having who I thought was a good friend to being a near-recluse, the crazy mare with the insane ideas she was too afraid to discuss with anypony else. After that, I quietly obsessed over it for years, culminating in a near mental breakdown when Nightmare Moon appeared, then complete embarrassment when the crisis was over almost as soon as it had started. So much for my dire predictions of a dark age."
"I'm truly sorry you had to go through that," Twilight said in a soft voice.
"I feel worse for my niece, Moon Dancer. I think she picked up her bookish recluse persona from me."
Twilight averted her eyes for a moment. "Um, well, it was more complicated than that, I think."
Star smiled. "I'm just happy you helped her in the end."
"So I take it you didn't consider that the Elements of Harmony were real?"
"In my manufactured reality, I never discovered them," said Star Singer. "In my real memories, Sunset investigated but dismissed them as old relics that weren't relevant anymore."
"That explains something I saw on some scrolls containing power equations that she left for me in her shrine."
Star's eyes widened. "She actually left that for you?"
"You've seen them?"
"Yes! And it was after she scanned Discord that she dismissed the Elements of Harmony as an unreliable solution. She said Equestria shouldn't have to rely on a fantastic magical device for its safety." Star paused and waved a hoof at the portal. "So, uh, where were we with this?"
Twilight turned to the portal. "We've all but confirmed that Sunset has anchored the portal somewhere so she can keep an eye on it. The question is, how to bypass that? How can we re-anchor it someplace else?"
Star trotted up to the mirrored surface, staring at her own reflection for a moment. "What you need to know is that Sunset was big on subtlety. She never, ever brute-forced anything."
Twilight stood alongside Star. "That makes sense, considering her initial breakthrough. You can't work with ultra-dense plasma by simply channeling massive amounts of raw energy. It's not sustainable."
Star's gaze became distant, and she lightly touched the surface of the portal with a fore-hoof. "Twilight, she did things with magic that left my jaw on the floor," she said in a hushed and almost reverent voice as she watched the ripples spread from her touch. "I think I idolized her."
"That's not hard to do," Twilight said.
Star lowered her hoof and watched the surface grow steady. She turned towards Twilight. "Maybe she didn't go about it the right way, but she had the right idea: to find a way to protect ponykind into the foreseeable future. My idea. I don't think it was necessarily wrong, I just didn't have the whole picture. Neither did she."
"I'm sorry, I'd love to discuss it further, but we really need to get back to this."
Star nodded. "Of course, my apologies." She took a deep breath. "All right. She likely has some sort of defense against the portal being opened easily. Given her propensities, you can be sure it's designed to throw your own magic back at you."
"Yes, of course," said Twilight. "That explains what happened to Starlight. The more she tried to steady the portal, the more unstable it got."
"Exactly."
"Oh, no! Have we already warned her?"
Star looked thoughtful. "Maybe not. It's been twenty years, after all. She probably thinks Equestria is either in a dark age or teetering on the brink of one. With luck, she thinks it was a random energy surge."
Twilight looked thoughtful. "Maybe a brute-force approach is what we need to take. It's hard to be both subtle and powerful with magic at the same time. Her defenses may be elaborate and tricky, but they might ultimately be delicate. A single, powerful surge might overcome them. Previously I was wary about doing that, but that was before you said Sunset would want to return. It would be in her best interests not to let the portal collapse."
"But would that allow you to re-anchor it?" asked Star.
Twilight paused. "Unfortunately, no. All I can really do is get the portal open enough to go through. I don't see a way to re-anchor it unless I'm actually there, but maybe I don't need to. I was worried about arriving in a public area. I doubt very much she anchored it out in the open where anypony could see it."
"That's all well and good, Twilight," said Star. "But another thing I can say about Sunset is that she's thorough. She leaves nothing to chance. She'll have some sort of backup. Sure, you can get there, but something will stop you from getting much further. Then she can send you packing back to Equestria."
"But you've helped paint a picture of a mare nowhere near as bad as other ponies believe," said Twilight. "Would she be so quick to send back her own beloved niece without at least giving her a chance to explain herself? Maybe I can convince her she's wrong when I'm living proof that Equestria is alive and well!"
Star Singer frowned. "You don't seem to understand how single-minded Sunset can get when she's convinced she has a solution at hoof. She'll grill you for every bit of information on how all those dark forces were defeated."
"Then I'll describe it in as much detail as she wants," said Twilight.
"Right. So you'll tell her that the magical MacGuffins of Harmony--"
"They are not MacGuffins!" Twilight protested.
"Twilight, please, humor me, I'm explaining Sunset's perspective," said Star. "As I was saying, you tell her they're real. Oh, wait, no, we had to give them back to the Tree of Harmony -- to fix something a supposedly reformed Discord did and conveniently forgot to tell us about -- and all we got was a mystery box nopony knew how to open until absolutely everything was almost lost to a dark force that had been defeated in the past! Oh, and now we're all intimately linked to this Magic of Harmony so we don't even have a MacGuffin we can hand off to somepony after we're dead. Who knows what mysterious form these relics will deign to take then? Hey, but don't worry, Sunset, we got everything under control!"
Twilight was silent for a long moment before she said in a soft voice, "Your knowledge of everything that's happened with the Elements of Harmony is ... impressive."
Star sighed. "Old habits die hard. I wanted to know everything I could about how these threats I had seen had been handled. My point is, she doesn't believe in anything other than the inherent magical power of ponykind."
"But she left those scrolls for me--"
"Yes, I know," said Star. "But likely only to keep open the possibility that you would find a way to hold off those dark forces until Sunset accomplished her goal. If you told her that you instead used what she considered an unreliable magical relic, she'll be disappointed in you."
Twilight frowned. "I refuse to believe Aunt Sunset would hurt me."
Star rolled her eyes. "You're not getting it! Sunset doesn't have to hurt you to stop you! She would never be angry with you, she would just think you misguided. She'll send you back to Equestria and lock you out of ever getting back to that world for your own good."
Twilight sighed. "In that case, I'm open to suggestions as to what to do."
Star Singer turned towards the portal and stared at her reflection again. "Send me."
"Er, what?"
"Send me through the portal. Let me be the first pony she sees."
Twilight hesitated. "I'm not sure about this."
"Twilight, all this is my fault. I've spent the last few years thinking I was a great failure, the pony with the useless cutie mark. I want a chance to do something to fix this."
"I don't mean to downplay your contribution, but what can you do once you're there?"
Star started to pace. "I can gain her confidence. She was disappointed when I wouldn't go with her through the portal, but it didn't shatter our friendship. We still shared the same goal. I can find a way to maybe disarm whatever defenses she's got at her end to let you through. Then you'd have more time to make her see reason."
Twilight trotted up to her. "If Sunset is as powerful as I remember her, that's a tall order even for the most skilled unicorn."
"I know," said Star in a low voice. "But maybe I don't need to be powerful. Maybe I just need to be her friend."
Twilight glanced at the portal. "I'll have to think about this. I want to talk to Starlight first."
Derpy fluttered her wings nervously and scraped a fore-hoof against the floor as she stood in one of Celestia's private reception chambers. She swallowed hard as she looked around, shaking her head suddenly when her eyes threatened to unalign. "I-I didn't think they'd take us here," she said in a quavering voice. "I hope I'm not in trouble."
"Now, now, my dear, chin up!" said Doctor Whooves with a smile. "The fact that you're not in the formal court bodes well, I would think."
"But why summon me? I'm a nopony."
"Nonsense!" Whooves declared. "Did you or did you not just receive an award for a perfect on-time record for delivering the mail?"
Derpy slowly smiled. "Yes, I did. Pinkie Pie is planning to throw me a party to celebrate."
"There, you see? For all you know, the Princess wishes to acknowledge your accomplishment." He turned his head at approaching hoof-falls. "Ah, we're about to find out."
Derpy's eyes widened as she beheld Celestia entering the room. When one eye began to drift, Derpy shook her head again to fix it and dropped into a bow when her companion did the same.
Celestia trotted over to a pillow and sat down. "Please rise, my ponies."
Both ponies rose. Whooves' eyebrows rose slightly when he saw Starlight Glimmer enter the room and stand near Celestia.
Celestia gave them a troubled look before taking a deep breath and levitating one of her journals before her. "I am sorry for the abruptness of this summons, but it is a matter of utmost importance."
Derpy swallowed. "Am I in trouble, Princess?"
"It is I who fear I will be in trouble with you."
Derpy exchanged a confused look with Whooves.
Celestia set the book before her and opened it. "I cannot mince words. Derpy Hooves, you have been living a life that has been partially a lie, and it is my fault."
"I don't understand."
"If I may, Princess," said Doctor Whooves. "Would this by any chance have to do with her original parents? She had informed me of their tragic loss."
"Something like that," said Celestia. Her horn started to glow. "I am about to break a spell that has been upon you since you were a foal, Derpy. This may come as something of a shock."
Her horn blazed, and a tendril of inky black writhed out of the book. Starlight looked on with shimmering eyes as Celestia lowered her head. She pulled the struggling tendril into it, forcing it to wrap around her horn. She jerked her head up, the tendril snapping in two. The intact segment withdrew, and the book slammed shut. The cut piece dissipated.
Derpy's mouth fell open, and her pupils shrank to pinpricks. She fell heavily to her haunches, her ears drooping. "Wh-what ... how ... oh, dear ... oh, dear." Her eyes glistened. "I r-remember them."
Whooves draped a fore-leg around her. "What is it? Who do you remember?"
Derpy sniffled as a tear splashed to the floor. "My parents ... my real parents."
Starlight swallowed. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea."
"I strongly disagree," said Whooves as he drew Derpy close. "She deserves to remember who sired her, even if they are lost to us."
"But they're not lost!" Derpy wailed.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I was t-taken from them when I was just a chick!"
"When you ... er ... I don't quite understand. Did you say chick?"
Derpy wiped his eyes with the back of a fore-hoof. She tried to talk, but all she could do was whimper.
"I know what happened," said Starlight. "Derpy was taken from her parents when she was young. Her griffon parents."
Whooves' eyes widened. "Griffon? Had she been adopted by--"
"I was a griffon!" Derpy cried.
Whooves' mouth dropped open. "What??"
"A unicorn named Sunset Shimmer invented a permanent transformation spell," said Starlight. "She experimented with it on a griffon and ... turned her into a pegasus. Derpy was that griffon, but her memory of it was suppressed until now."
Derpy took a deep breath. "I ... i-it's not like I had a terrible life," she said in a quavering voice. "I love my adopted parents. But ... I don't know, I--" She shook her head suddenly. "Sunset gave me this stupid wandering eye. She said it was a mistake. She said she felt bad about it. She promised to fix it, but then she disappeared."
"Great whickering stallions," Whooves said in a hushed voice.
Celestia let out a deep sigh. "Derpy Hooves, I wish to offer my sincerest apologies. This should never have happened, and I should not have made you forget."
Derpy shook her head and sniffled. "I don't want to blame anypony. I-I remember now, you tried to change me back! You were so upset when you couldn't. I should've been the one crying, but you were instead. I felt bad for you, Princess."
Celestia's eyes shimmered. "You truly have a huge heart, Derpy Hooves."
Doctor Whooves smiled. "I've certainly thought so."
Derpy managed a faint smile.
"I'm sorry if this is going to be painful for you," said Celestia. "But Starlight wishes to know about your time with Sunset and what happened."
Derpy nodded. "I'll try."
"I do hope it is to prevent this pony from doing something so abominable ever again!" Whooves declared.
"We're hoping so, yeah," said Starlight.
"Sunset was never mean to me," said Derpy. "She treated me very well. When I got sick, she cared for me."
"Sick?" said Starlight. "With what?"
"She gave me a long, complicated name for it," said Derpy. "I don't quite remember what it was. She said griffons sometimes get it, but it's never fatal. But it does make you feel really lousy."
"And you started changing into a pony while you were sick?"
"Oh, no, not then."
Starlight hesitated. "Wait, what?"
"That didn't start happening until about a week later," said Derpy. "I was really scared when it first started happening, but she tried to keep me calm. It must've worked, because I stopped getting so upset. Once I was a pony, it just seemed natural."
"But still!" said Doctor Whooves. "To not only rip you from your family but from your original body!"
Derpy shrugged. "I've been a pony much longer than a griffon. Other than the eye problem, it's been a decent life. I've got lots of friends, and I finally have a job I'm good at." She sighed. "I do miss my parents, though."
"And you're sure that it was a week between sickness and transformation?" Starlight asked.
Derpy nodded. "I'm pretty sure, yeah."
"Did you see anything unusual around her house?" Starlight asked. "Anything that drew your attention?"
"She showed me a shiny statue of a griffon once. Oh, and when I was sick, she put a sparkly, glowy, crystally thing in my room. It was so very pretty. It helped take my mind off the illness."
Doctor Whooves stepped forward. "What does it all mean, Miss Glimmer?"
"I'm not sure yet," said Starlight. "I'm still trying to piece this together."
"The statue of the griffon was likely her device," said Celestia. "The one she intended to give to the griffons."
"Yeah, that's what I'm thinking, too," said Starlight. "Derpy, is there anything else you remember after you were changed into a pony?"
"Just that Sunset played with me a lot," said Derpy. "Wow, I don't think any foal my age had that many toys and games!" Her ears drooped. "She ... she acted like she loved me. Maybe she did. Maybe this is weird, but I kinda miss her. She was really happy when I got my cutie mark. She disappeared soon after that."
"Perhaps she did treat you well, my dear," said Whooves. "But I find it revolting that she simply abandoned you."
Derpy lowered her gaze. "Maybe it was better that I was made to forget."
"Derpy Hooves, I feel I must ask this," said Celestia. "Do you wish to be reunited with your real parents?"
Derpy slowly looked up. "I suppose I should, if only so they stop worrying about me. I don't want to think about how frantic they got when I was missing."
"If it helps any, they were included in the spell that suppressed your memories," said Celestia. "They were spared the grief."
Derpy swallowed. "Then I-I'm not sure what would be best."
Doctor Whooves tightened his foreleg around her briefly. "Perhaps some time to think this over would be good, Princess."
"I understand," said Celestia. "We do need to be discreet about this, however."
"Rainbow Dash is close friends with a griffon," said Starlight. "Maybe she can help?"
"An excellent idea, Starlight. I will see about speaking with her on the matter."
Starlight nodded. She cast a forlorn look at Derpy before trotting up to her. "I'm really sorry I had to dredge this up."
Derpy shook her head and wiped her eyes with the back of a hoof. "My mother -- my pony mother -- always said that the truth hurts more when it's delayed. I guess it really is better that I know." She looked up at Celestia. "Please, don't feel bad about this, Princess. I don't believe you were trying to be mean by blocking my memories."
"It is Sunset Shimmer who is ultimately at fault," Whooves declared.
"I'm not really all that mad at her," said Derpy. "It's not going to put things back the way they were."
Celestia stood. "You have shown a greater sense of understanding in the face of this than I could have ever hoped for."
"Should I tell my adopted parents about this? I'm not sure what I should do."
Doctor Whooves smiled. "I will help you as much as I can."
Derpy looked at him and slowly smiled. "Thanks. You're a really great friend."
Starlight smiled faintly and turned away. "I better get back to Twilight and see how she's doing."
Starlight was intercepted by Twilight before reaching the portal, and they spoke within Twilight's room at her parents' residence. Starlight raised an eyebrow when Twilight relayed her discussion with Star Singer. "Oh, right. Star Singer, the pony who was directly responsible for Sunset's beliefs, wants to be the first pony through the portal. Sure, that's not suspicious at all."
"You're not the only pony who's unsure of whether she can be trusted or not," said Twilight in a low voice as she paced. "This is not going at all how I had hoped."
"Face it, Twilight, she can tell you anything she wants, and we have no way of knowing whether it's true or not."
"But a lot of what she did say does make a certain amount of sense," said Twilight. "We can pretty much accept as true that Sunset didn't trust things like the Elements of Harmony. What we know of her research bears that out."
"I think you're over-analyzing it. It boils down this: you're an alicorn, Sunset isn't. You can dish it out better than she can."
"She can still have the upper hoof," Twilight declared. "She knows that world far better than we do and has had twenty years to prepare. She could hold me off indefinitely."
"Are you serious?" said Starlight. "How can a single unicorn hold out against an alicorn?"
"You mean like a unicorn once did repeatedly against an alicorn chasing her through a time portal?"
"When did that ever ... um ..." Starlight frowned. "Fine. Point taken."
Twilight stopped pacing and turned to face Starlight. "There's another thing to consider. She's had twenty-one years to further her magical power and knowledge. We already know from past explorations of that world that magic exists and works perfectly well for ponies."
"All right, let me lay out one more possibility," said Starlight. "How about you and all your friends go through together? Then you can let loose your Rainbow Power on her flank. One problem solved."
"The Magic of Harmony is intimately tied to the Tree of Harmony," said Twilight. "Which in turn is tied to Equestria. I'm not sure it would even work in another world. Or the effects might be wildly different and uncontrollable. It's too much of an unknown variable to trust." She took a step closer to Starlight. "I really feel the best approach is a peaceful one. I tried the brute force approach with you and failed. Only once I started to talk to you and make you realize your mistake did you stop."
Starlight's gaze softened. "Getting spooked by that wasteland timeline kinda helped, too."
Twilight smiled. "Which is why I want you along as well. You've been there. You can help convince her. But we need her confidence first, especially if she knows about Star Singer's predictions of you."
Starlight's eyebrows rose. "Predictions of me?"
"You were, um, included in her visions of dark forces."
Starlight rolled her eyes. "Great. I don't know whether to be flattered or insulted."
Twilight looked thoughtful. "I have an idea. What if I talk to Moon Dancer? I can have Celestia free her from the spell as well and hear what her impressions of her aunt are. Maybe that will gain us more insight as to whether we can trust Star Singer or not."
"If Star Singer didn't pull the same trick that Sunset did in hiding what she really believed from everypony," said Starlight.
"I know, that's a distinct possibility. All right, how about a fail-safe then: we equip Star Singer with a Farhearing Stone so we can hear her conversation with Aunt Sunset."
"Would that work through the portal?"
"Once Star Singer goes through, I can keep it propped open enough for the energy to be transmitted back."
Starlight narrowed her eyes. "And if Sunset senses we're eavesdropping and cuts off communication?"
"I'm not going to hide the fact that we're listening in," said Twilight. "I want to be as open with Aunt Sunset as possible. But if that doesn't work, then we switch to the backup plan. We both go through and fight her, if we can."
Starlight considered. "I don't like it, but I don't have a better idea."
"I'll send off a letter to Celestia shortly about Moon Dancer and prepare the proper spell for the Farhearing Stone," said Twilight. "So what did you find out concerning Derpy?"
Starlight summarized what happened in Celestia's chamber.
Twilight lowered her gaze. "Poor Derpy. I had a feeling this would be hard on her."
"But it does mean we have yet another mystery on our hooves," said Starlight. "It's clear that there was a delay between the infection and the transformation."
"Which, on one hoof, makes sense," said Twilight. "Nopony would think anything of the initial infection. Just another common disease making the rounds. They might not even associate the infection with the transformation at first, ensuring that it had a chance to spread."
"All well and good, but you see the problem."
Twilight lifted her head and nodded. "Where did all the magic go before it was used for the transformation?"
"Well, the spell structure itself can be stored indefinitely, right?" said Starlight.
"Yes, since it simply controls how the undifferentiated thaumic energy is changed into the specific form of magic needed. But that happens when the spell is actually cast, which has to be at the time of infection. It can't be after the virus is defeated."
"Time delay?" Starlight suggested. "Like that writing in your journal?"
"You can only time-delay the actual start of the effect," said Twilight. "In this case, the transformation. The energy for it still had to be created when the spell is cast, so it had to be stored somehow until it was needed."
"I don't want to delay getting through that portal," said Starlight. "I'll keep working on this puzzle while you make preparations."
"I agree, we have to get to that world. Maybe if we can convince Aunt Sunset of her mistake, we won't need to figure this out ourselves."
Moon Dancer's eyes went distant for a few moments before her pupils shrank slightly, and her lips parted. She blinked rapidly and swallowed.
"Are you all right?" asked Twilight.
"Just give me a moment," Moon Dancer said in a soft voice. They sat in her home, as Twilight had preferred not to subject her friend to all the pomp and circumstance of the palace. She had Celestia time her removal of the spell while Twilight was visiting.
"I'm sorry if there's anything traumatic that you just remembered."
"Well, not really, it's more that ..." Moon Dancer trailed off and stared at Twilight. "What exactly just happened?"
"It's what I tried to explain to you earlier," said Twilight. "You and a lot of other ponies have been under a memory suppression spell for twenty-one years."
"There's got to be a story behind that."
"There is, but it's a long one, and I don't have time to tell you all the details. I promise I'll fill you in later. So what exactly changed in your memories?"
"Mostly stuff about my Auntie Star," said Moon Dancer. "Which explains the odd way she was acting yesterday. Was the spell broken for her as well?"
"Yes," said Twilight. "We had to access her memories of my aunt, Sunset Shimmer."
Moon Dancer's eyes widened. "Oh, goodness, the last thing I can now remember from that time was my family hearing she had passed away unexpectedly. I'm so sorry, Twilight. I know my condolences are twenty years late, but--"
Twilight smiled. "It's all right. Thank you. What do you remember of your aunt and mine?"
"Well, let me start with Auntie Star," said Moon Dancer. "Now I remember her as being a little more outgoing. She visited my family and spent time with me more often. I also remember her speaking highly of Sunset." She paused. "Actually, more like gushing about her. Auntie was really impressed with Sunset's magical prowess." Moon Dancer grinned and glanced at Twilight. "Guess it runs in the family."
Twilight blushed faintly. "Did your aunt ever mention anything about her interests?"
"Not a whole lot, actually," said Moon Dancer. "She wasn't very big on details. She did mention something about her cutie mark. I had asked her about it, and she gave me a vague answer about it having to do with the future."
"What about your aunt's demeanor?" Twilight asked.
"I have to admit, Twilight, it seemed like she fared better in my suppressed memories. She actually had a friend who was bringing her out of her shell. In what I guess were my fake memories, she was a near recluse, and after college it just got worse."
"She was worried that maybe you had emulated her," said Twilight softly.
"Maybe I did," said Moon Dancer in a subdued voice. "It's hard to tell how it would've turned out differently. In any case, Auntie Star didn't really start to come around until shortly after you moved to Ponyville."
"Do you know anything of Star Singer's relationship with Sunset?" asked Twilight.
"I know that Sunset was over for dinner a few times, but the very last time, she was all stiff and formal, and Auntie Star was really quiet. I think maybe they had a falling-out." Moon Dancer's gaze became distant. "I remember something else. My mother -- Auntie Star's sister -- was worried about her and pressed her pretty hard about what had happened, and my aunt said the strangest thing. She said 'we're both trying to save Equestria, we just can't agree on how to go about doing it'."
Twilight's eyes widened. "Did anypony ask her to clarify at all?"
"I don't know. I was, um, eavesdropping. I don't think I was supposed to hear that. I dashed away before I could be discovered." Moon Dancer paused. "It wasn't long after that when we heard Sunset had died, but I never saw my aunt's reaction to it."
Twilight considered. "Moon Dancer, how would you describe your aunt as you recall in your real memories now?"
Moon Dancer gave Twilight a wary look. "Is my aunt in some sort of trouble?"
"No, not at all," said Twilight. "But she needs to help me with something very important that requires placing a huge amount of trust in her. Where I hardly know her, I need to be sure."
Moon Dancer nodded. "Well, even when she was more outgoing, she did tend to keep a lot of details about her life to herself."
"So she was being secretive?" Twilight asked.
"Not really. More like she was worried. Even when she was in a more upbeat mood, there was always that worry lingering in the background." Moon Dancer paused and turned her head towards Twilight. "That's all I really know."
Twilight nodded and hopped off the sofa. "Thank you, I really appreciate you talking to me, and I'm glad you're taking this well."
Moon Dancer smiled wanly. "It is a little disturbing to have had my memories suppressed all this time, but I'm absolutely fascinated by how the spell might have worked."
Twilight smiled. "In that respect, you haven't changed a bit."
"Can you tell me something?" said Moon Dancer in a softer voice. "Do you have any idea what my aunt meant by what she said about saving Equestria? Was it just hyperbole, or did she really mean it?"
"In a way, she was sincere in what she said," Twilight said. "It was just that neither of them quite understood the whole picture. I promise to fill you in later."
Moon Dancer nodded. "I just hope Auntie Star comes through this okay."
"I hope we all do," said Twilight in a soft voice.
Twilight stood before the portal, her horn glowing as she did some final calibrations. Spike stood beside her with a scroll and quill, occasionally taking down notes that Twilight dictated. Starlight glanced towards the door as they awaited Star Singer's arrival. "I still don't like this, Twilight," said Starlight. "You really didn't learn much from Moon Dancer at all."
"I know," said Twilight as she stepped over to the left pillar. She adjusted the alignment of one of the crystals. "Which is why I'm hedging my bets."
"In what way?"
Twilight paused to calibrate the flow of energy from one of the mana batteries. "There might be a way to break the anchor at the other end of the portal from here."
Starlight stared. "And you didn't tell me this before now because??"
Twilight turned towards her. "Because I wasn't sure I could do it until just a short while ago, and even then it's going to be a gamble. I've figured out how the anchor can be broken, but not how to re-anchor it somewhere else."
Starlight stepped closer. "So what's your idea?"
"If we feel that Aunt Sunset won't listen to reason -- or that Star Singer is going to betray us somehow -- we can break the anchor, let the end of the portal drift away far enough, and then we go through before Aunt Sunset has a chance to gain control of it again."
Starlight raised an eyebrow. "And what's to stop us from landing in the middle of town square?"
Spike stepped forward and held up the scroll. "Twilight took more measurements of the magic leaking through the portal. She thinks it's anchored in the middle of a small town. Maybe not much bigger than Ponyville."
"Which means it won't take much drift to place the other end outside of town," said Twilight.
"Um, okay, but what's to stop us from ending up underwater or imbedded in solid rock?" Starlight asked.
"I believe Aunt Sunset built in some safety features into the portal. The other endpoint should follow the contour of the land." Twilight paused before adding, "Theoretically."
Starlight frowned. "Well, that just inspires as much confidence as having Star Singer go through first."
"Shh!" Twilight hissed as hoofsteps approached.
They both turned as Star Singer stepped into the room. "So, um, are we ready to do this?" she said in a slightly quavering voice.
"You sound a little nervous," said Starlight, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"I'm about to be hurtled into another universe," Star deadpanned. "You tell me how I'm supposed to stay absolutely calm."
"Spike, if you would?" asked Twilight softly. Spike saluted and headed away. Twilight trotted over to Star Singer. "It should be perfectly safe. I trust my knowledge of the portal that far."
"That's not what I'm really worried about," said Star. "I'm more concerned that we're all wrong about Sunset, and that her personality has changed since we knew her. I could be trapped in that universe with no way back."
"I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that doesn't happen." Twilight paused when Spike came running up, holding two amulets in his claws, both with round blue stones in the center. She levitated one towards Star. "Here."
Star gave it a wary glance before taking it in her own magic. "A Farhearing Stone?"
Twilight levitated hers around her own neck. "So we can hear what's being said."
Star glanced from Starlight to Twilight. "You don't trust me."
"Um, it's not really that," said Twilight. "We just want to know what's happening."
Star frowned and held up a fore-hoof. "Save it." She levitated the amulet around her neck. "If I were in your position, I'd probably do the same thing."
"Glad we understand each other, then," Starlight said.
Twilight frowned. "Starlight, please."
"No, it's fine, Twilight," said Star Singer. "I'd just as soon we clear the air around here. You want to know if my beliefs will affect me once I'm with my friend again. Do I still believe that ponykind needs to be stronger so it doesn't have to rely on magical artifacts for its survival? Absolutely. Do I believe her solution is the way? Absolutely not. I'm convinced that if she had stayed here instead of heading off to some other world, we could've figured out a solution together, or we could have understood the Magic of Harmony better." She paused and added in a lower voice. "I still believe that, and I still want the chance to do it. I want her back here, where she belongs."
"All right," said Twilight. "Starlight, I'll need your help."
Starlight headed to the right pillar. "Same as before?"
Twilight took position before the left pillar. "Yes, but this time, don't go for finesse. Push hard until the portal opens. Star Singer, please take position before the entrance. Don't advance until I tell you."
Star took a deep breath and trotted over. "All right. Ready as I'll ever be."
Twilight nodded to Starlight. They lowered their heads as one, and a second later, bright beams of magic shot from their horns into the base of the pillars.
The hum of the device rose to floor-shaking levels as the surface rippled. Sparks flickered along the length of the pillars as Twilight shouted adjustments to Starlight. Soon the discharges calmed, and the ripples collapsed on themselves and raced into the distance, a long, dark tunnel extending as far as the eye could see. The hum settled to a lower, slightly pulsing rhythm.
"We're through!" Twilight cried. "It's open, we can stop!"
Starlight ceased her energy infusion at the same time her partner did. She panted lightly as she took a step back.
Star Singer stared, her eyes widening. "That looks like a long way to go."
"It's not, actually," said Twilight. "It will be more or less instantaneous. Please, step through."
Star nodded, swallowed, and lifted a fore-hoof. She uttered a small gasp as her hoof went through the plane. She hesitated, then surged forward. When the last of her had passed through, her form seemed to freeze for a moment before abruptly racing off into the impossible distance.
Before Star Singer could take a single breath, her hooves found purchase on a floor harder than the one she left. She blinked rapidly, trying to take in surroundings lighted only by the open portal behind her and a distant glow. Her eyes widened as she realized she was in a room with smooth, stony floor and walls, and her heart skipped a beat when she thought she was in some sort of dungeon. Then she saw the high window on one wall and the daylight beyond it. She lifted her eyes to the wooden beams that ran overhead and saw a staircase leading up.
"A basement?" Star murmured.
Her ears swivelled as she heard a sound halfway between soft crackling and bubbling that was oddly familiar. Her gaze fell upon a crystal apparatus against one wall that looked very much like an analysis device she once used back in college in one of her biology courses.
She looked towards the stairs. They looked a bit steep for her hooves, but she supposed she could climb them if she were careful. Yet no sooner had she taken a single step when magic sparkled and rippled before her as a shield sprang up, surrounding her and the runic circle she only then noticed had been drawn upon the floor.
Star Singer raised a hoof and poked her prison. The magic rippled from her touch, but otherwise it might as well have been made of solid stone. Her Farhearing Stone glowed, and Twilight's slightly staticky voice said, "What's going on? We sensed a magic surge at this end."
"Just the backup plan I told you about," said Star. She lighted her horn. "It's a shield, and just as I suspected, it's feeding off my own magic to maintain itself."
"Don't fight it!" Twilight said.
The glow of Star's horn faded. "I'm not intending to."
"So what's she supposed to do?" came Starlight's voice.
"I'm supposed to wait," said Star. "I doubt it will be long before Sunset comes to--"
A flash of light filled the basement, and a yellow and red unicorn stood several pony-lengths away.
"--investigate."
Star Singer paused as her gaze fell upon the unicorn whose eyes had widened and mouth had dropped open. Her heart lurched as memories now raced in her mind, fond remembrances clashing hard with resentment, and neither gaining the upper hoof.
She finally took a deep breath to compose herself and said, "Hello, Sunset. Long time, no see."