Chapter 29
The thunder of Lapis' tirade barely stirred the foundations of Canterlot. The rumbling was readily dismissed by the soldiers as either distant thunder or soldiers/artillery moving into position. The local populous also thought the tremors to be military related. Stores remained closed, classes were cancelled. Everypony simply informed that despite the weather, this would not be a good day to be outside. The sound was not lost on Celestia and Luna; they looked to each other knowingly.
"It will be today," Luna whispered to her sister. "Please instruct the Elements to be ready."
Celestia nodded. "Summon the Phalanx, I expect much from this battle."
Luna launched out a window to the Phalanx quarters as Celestia walked quietly back to the rooms she had allotted for Twilight's friends. She did not look forward to whatever was to happen. What little Luna could remember, what little Shining Armor recalled about Lapis sounded like its own nightmare. She shivered at the thought of Lapis on their doorstep in such a mood. She also worried for Twilight, but deep down knew that the newest princess would fight with everything she had to free herself from Lapis' grasp.
The rest of the Elements chose to use one of the unused meeting halls to wait for further orders. Each one already had their necklaces on, mostly at Rainbow Dash's insistence. Applejack thought they would at least see what the kidnapper wanted, knowing that they needed Twilight for the Rainbow of Harmony to actually work. Pinkie distracted herself by trying to put the crown on Spike, who complained back that the only magic he knew was getting messages to and from Princess Celestia.
"Maybe you could poof out purple flames, that would get a message to Twilight! Tell her we all said 'hi' and that we're-" she froze as the rumble touched off her Pinkie sense. She staggered, hair poofing flat then poofy, forelimbs trembling and tail whirling about. "OH! Princess Celestia is having company today. Maybe it'll be Twilight!"
"One could only hope," Celestia's gentle voice and magic opened the door to their area. "This will be the day we will know Twilight's fate. He is coming."
"Who's 'he'?" Rainbow Dash half-demanded, her mind briefly recalling the gold alicorn in the Atrium.
"'He', Rainbow Dash, is Twilight's captor. We are unsure of who will be attending him, but we are readying for anything."
Pinkie bounced up with Twilight's crown. "Are you sure you couldn't wear this crown, Princess Celestia?? Then we could just hit him with a RAINBOW TO THE FACE and invite him in for cake and ice cream!"
"It is not my element to wield, anymore," the Sun Princess reaffirmed. "As far as we are aware, Twilight is alive. The question will be if she is with him."
"Oh, he wouldn't do that!" Pinkie giggled. "He left her in the dungeon to despair and cry but she'll make a Daring Do escape!! She'll run and fly and hide from everypony looking for her! She might even beat him here...." she looked back at her tail, which didn't move. "But that part I'm not sure yet."
"You don't think he'll just come to talk.....?" Fluttershy asked carefully.
"Sadly, he will not. I don't believe he took our response to his threats very well."
"We could have Cadance fly out and talk to him! She has a really really cool love-love spell, that might keep him from wanting to fight! Then I'll teach him how to sing happy songs, and we can all celebrate him being here!"
"Pinkie, it won't be that simple," Rarity chided. "A shame, male alicorns sound absolutely dashing."
"But he doesn't Dash, that's Rainbow Dash's job."
"Not like that, Pinkie!" Rainbow protested before facehoofing.
"He doesn't dash - he looooooooms and he glowers like a gargoyle who's stuck to a wall or a ledge. If I had to sit in the same place for a longlonglonglongloooooooooong time I wouldn't be happy either!"
"All I can confirm is that he will be here today. And he will not be happy to be here. I know that your Elements may protect you, but without Twilight we cannot -"
"RAINBOW TO THE FACE~!!!" Pinkie growled, pawing at the air with her forelimbs.
"Until we have Twilight back, please keep safe. The Elements may be our only hope should the soldiers yield to whatever he brings."
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Thunder Arrow and Flank Attack barked out orders to each unit of soldiers. The Solars had to cover as much of the castle as possible, until the Phalanx were fully mobilized. Flank Attack wasn't figuring them into his own strategy, recalling the stories that Silver Bardiche had told him about what happened at the Millenial. Earth ponies would be stationed all through the castle, unicorns interspersed. All pegasi in the air if possible, including one circling the mountain peak just in case.
"Face this as though the Changelings are returning!" Flank Attack announced. "Give no ground, show NO weakness!"
"Every eye in the sky is one more eye than before!" Thunder Arrow added authoritatively. "Report the instant you see something, no matter how trivial!"
The two captains turned to salute Shining Armor as he joined them for the last round of strategy. The white unicorn seemed unkempt and distracted as he looked over the map of the castle and exteriors, not asking any questions. His mind was still racing about his little sister; no matter how powerful she was, he knew she was in trouble and he couldn't do anything other than plan.
"EYES FRONT, SHINING ARMOR!" Flank Attack bellowed in his best Silver Bardiche voice. "You're needed here."
"Sorry, I'm - "
"We're all here for the same reason," Thunder Arrow affirmed. "We're fighting for your sister's honor, right?"
"We're fighting for Twily's - Princess Twilight's - my sister's LIFE!"
"Easy, easy. This time everypony's here. You fought him before, you know what to expect."
"One on one, we fought. You fought one of his pegasi, and it took three ponies to do in Silver Bardiche."
"This time we have a couple of hundred soldiers backing us up. As well as Princess Celestia, Princess Luna - "
"And the Phalanx," Flank Attack grumbled.
"I already mentioned them -"
"You said 'soldiers'....."
Thunder Arrow smirked. "Anyway, you and your wife fought off the changelings and fought Sombra. However, we had to set up a non-thrown room for Princess Cadance."
Flank Attack rolled his eyes at the awful pun as the already stressed unicorn responded. "Non-throne room?? She's a PRINCESS, she -"
The pegasus laughed as it dawned on Shining Armor. "That's not funny!" the unicorn protested.
"Cadance is safe, and she can take care of herself. We need to take care of the rest of the place. Now get your horn in the game here." Flank Attack stomped the map with a hoof, glaring at the still-smirking Thunder Arrow.
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Lapis' expression could not darken further as each pegasus returned with no sign of the departed prisoner. His glare unsettled Slurry, calmed Cloud Slayer, silenced Silver Shimmer. Hatchet finally galloped in from suiting up, ears still stinging from "Boss"'s anger. He slid up to the alicorn and knelt, wings splayed in tacit apology.
He felt a hoof simply stand on the wing. "This morning is your final mistake," Umbral snarled. The hoof moved away, allowing the poor pegasus to stand.
"We all know where she is going! We have a speed advantage! She cannot fly, and her magic should not be restored enough to teleport! Regardless, all casters with their horns forward in case she does try!" He turned to Ichor. "You will bring your ranks from the very ground to scare the Solars. They may not affect the Phalanx."
"There are other 'effects' for those soldiers in place," the pony lich whispered. Sweet Pea flopped around on his back trying to cheer.
"Once I see Gallant Lionheart, that will be set in motion. I have outlined this plan to everypony numerous times. They are expecting us. They are NOT expecting much."
"We got this, boss!" Dustmite shouted. "Between the bone guards and big brother here-" the colt-sized zebra tapped Sandstone's armor - "They can't stop us!"
"The various magics will also cause confusion," Night Ash continued. "Wind, air, sand, weather and undead. A lot all at once for a kingdom that has had few such invasions."
"The Changeling invasion made sure they strengthened their numbers and discipline. That will NOT be enough." Lapis boarded his chariot, Desert Sun at his side. "I ask one last time, that you are all working with me on this venture?" Not one pony spoke for a moment. The alicorn nodded. "To Canterlot, then! Pegasi, increase the tailwind! Night Ash, assist if you can! Morning Star, Desert Sun - keep serching for our misplaced prisoner. Dustmite, prepare your brother for this combat."
A round of salutes, and everypony assembled to the chariots.
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Twilight bounced with the mail cart as it landed on the outskirts of Appleloosa. She sat in there for a moment, getting her own eyes uncrossed from the bumpy ride and her mind spinning over the upcoming events.
"You okay Twilight Sparkle?" Derpy asked, maybe a little too loud, as she poked her head into the cart.
"I'm ... I'll be fine," the princess managed. She sat up in the cart and handed over the makeshift coupon. "Tell the pink pony that works there I sent you."
"It says muffins!!" Derpy crowed as Twilight slipped away for the next leg of her journey.
She had to be on the next train to Canterlot, and even that might not be fast enough. The roar of Lapis' vitriol still chilled her, knowing that his wrath would soon rain on the castle and kingdom that was once her home. She wanted to teleport right then and there, but she was still too weak and too far away. At least some miles covered by the train would put her in a safe range. She would focus on Princess Celestia; that, she knew, was the safest place in Canterlot, by her side.
She calmed a moment before attempting another low-level spell, the disguise spell she had used at the Armoring Ceremony. She couldn't be seen by the pony populous just yet. The ruckus of the sight of her might even be loud enough to catch the blind zebra's ears, so she would have to hide in plain sight. Her magic cast low, hiding the ragged wings and recoloring the purple hide to a more off-white, her violet eyes a sunset orange. With no mirror handy, she hoped her "Morning Voice" guise would cover her enough until she could get closer to Canterlot. Not having any saddlebags or information with her, she wasn't even sure she could get on the train heading north. This would be her fastest option for the moment; she could run, but they could fly. She could teleport, but they might sense her. One deep breath, and she rounded a corner to approach the train station.
She heard a great deal of excited conversation as travelers boarding the Appleloosa train exchanged stories of seeing bat-winged ponies in the skies to the south. One apparently had flown low over Appleloosa before looping back into the valley. Too close for Twilight's comfort; she decided not to listen as she approached the ticket window.
"One ticket to Canterlot, please," she requested.
"Travel's pretty restricted into Canterlot right now, miss....."
"Morning Voice, from the Fillydelphia Recorder. I was hoping to go to Canterlot to find out what's going on. My story about the cactus farming here will have to wait."
"A Reporter? Why didn't you say so? I'll see what I can arrange for you."
Twilight visibly relaxed. She expected a lot more questions.
"Morning Voice?" the teller returned to the window. "Next train leaves in thirty minutes, full. You'll have to see if we have a cancellation."
"This could be a major Equestrian matter!"
"We've got time. Hopefully a seat will open up. I'll let you know right away."
Twilight slumped to the bench, almost in defeat. Lapis and company could cover a lot of sky in thirty minutes, and she wasn't confident teleporting that far. A glance south confirmed her fears: a roiling black cloud erupted from the valley and drifted northeast. Even the teller noticed it.
"Might have to move up the timetable to beat that storm," he thought out loud. It was everything Twilight had not to turn to him and explain everything - but how would a reporter know what she knew? Would dropping the disguise make this faster? Would waiting for the train make things worse? Hearing nothing further from the teller, she impatiently flopped on the bench to wait.
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Gallant Lionheart suited up quickly, well aware that Luna would arrive to give him his formal orders. He planned on having the Phalanx pegasi covering similar ground, Shadow Tracker (the only other Phalanx unicorn) should be outside, and the earth ponies near the gates. He guessed that Master Lapis had the ability and range to pull all of them "Over", but he wanted all of them visible.
"TO ARMS, GALLANT LIONHEART!!" Luna's voice announced to him as she flew through the window. "AWAKEN THEM AND PREPARE!"
He knelt to her. "Your voice summons them all, Princess Luna. The pony who does not answer will answer to me."
"Tis the day you prove yourself as a guardcaptain once more. I still hear rumblings from other ponies about you. I expect a great deal from you today."
"I will not disappoint."
"See that you don't - there are others who could be in your position. Prove them wrong as well." She launched out the window without another word.
Lionheart's ear turned back to the nearby barracks, where he heard the soldiers suiting up. "Today, we prove a lot of ponies wrong."
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Twilight remained flopped on the bench near the teller's window, mind racing. Somehow she was teleported from what little normal life she had left to be fed to rabid Phalanx soldiers, scolded by another alicorn, and mocked by other ponies. Her magic had been almost completely wiped from her system; it was everything she had to not drop her disguise to see if her cutie mark was intact. She had survived the escape and one interrogation, but now she shouldn't just be sitting on a bench! Images of Canterlot in flames and the spires crumbling flooded her mind; she shivered at the thoughts, and heard within it a triumphant Lapis condemning Equestria to Eternal Night in Luna's name.
"Morning Voice?"
Twilight remained lost in the waking nightmare before she was reminded of her disguise.
"Morning Voice? Moving the train departure up a few minutes, I think we can squeeze you in."
She clambered off the bench and hurried to the window. "Please, this is VERY important."
"A couple of travelers said they can take the next train. They remembered you walking around at the Armoring ceremonies interviewing dignitaries, so they figured you were going there to talk to the Princesses?"
"Yes!" She said too abruptly. "Yes, this is all related. Please, even half a seat on the train is better than no seat at all."
"They look forward to the finished article when it hits the Recorder."
"I'll see that they get copies. Who gave up their seats?"
"Baltimare Mayor Silver Viceroy and his current consort, Velvet Cheesecake."
Twilight cringed inwardly, but realized that this was her chance. She guessed that Silver Viceroy saw Morning Voice talking to various rulers at the ceremonies. She could almost hear his proud admittance that his Generosity is as strong as the Element itself. Any seat in a brewing storm! "They will have a copy of the entire story. It might not be out for a few days, of course....."
"Of course," the teller cheerily replied. "He was interested in an interview at some point."
"I will certainly be in touch to arrange that," "Morning Voice" forced as much gratitude as she could before magicking up the ticket and galloping on board. She noted to herself that she would definitely arrange that interview......
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Luna made one final stop before she returned to her sister. She heard the sound of someone cooking in one of the empty meeting rooms and instantly knew the answer. "DISCORD, THY ANTICS ARE ILL-TIMED!"
She entered the room to find the draconoequus lounging on the meeting table, holding a frying pan over a green fire. "Antics? Somepony said 'scramble' so it made me hungry." He tilted the pan enough to see a jumbled mess of his miniatures being cooked over the open flame. "There, I've scrambled my troops..."
Luna remained unamused. "You shall remain away from the war that is about to erupt here. Do not interfere with our interactions with Lapis and his forces."
"Would *I* do that?" came his innocent response. The frying pan erupted with popcorn. "I'll be happy to watch, family chaos is great chaos."
"Lapis is angry enough from the past within the family. Your presence will only make things - "
"Worse? or Better?" Two winged sticks of butter appeared over his popcorn, melting from the ambient heat. "Worry not, dear Luna, I have no interest in interfering in a family matter. Though I would certainly help you sedate that sad little creature. A wedgie through his armor, wet willies to his exposed ears - "
"Will only make things more difficult!"
Discord chuckled. "A sense of humor is a terrible thing to waste, dear Luna. Your taciturn brother is right, wait until the little one trips over his own hooves."
"This situation is more than family, and this is not the same alicorn that you tricked in his naiivete."
"'Tricked'? You WOUND me!" A stray popcorn kernel lodged in one eye. "I saw what he wanted and was willing to give it to him. If he wanted something else, I would give him that, and so on. Stodgy old Cephalopod was simply jealous that I couldn't please him."
"Regardless, your interference is NOT welcome."
"I'll busy myself, then," Discord casually waved her off. "I'm going to need MORE popcorn!"
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The clanging and rattling of armor as the Solars and Phalanx assembled rang even over the sound of Iron Forge's hoof-hammer. Soldiers galloping or flying to post, orders shouted across the courtyards, the sound of preparation. Forge paused in his work only briefly to look outside, confused as the first soldier flying by a Phalanx guard. A split-second acknowledgement satisfied the armorer; they knew who gave them their barding, with the blessings of the Princesses. He looked back to his work and thought of all those bracing for whatever was heading this way. The winds had indeed shifted, blowing strongest from the northeast. To an earth pony, that was never a good sign. Between the change of seasons and the war preparations, this was not the day to be teaching or forging. No time for fine-tuning of current armors or replacing pieces damaged as the battles wore on. He wasn't going to wait for Flank Attack's order.
"Finish what you're working on, then to shelters!" he boomed over the din. "This area will be secured by the guards."
The startled apprentices hastened on each piece as Forge himself pried his heavy tool from his hoof. He would stay till all the apprentices - his and Golden Silver's alike - were safely out of this area. He recalled the informal assembly of Solars for the Royal Wedding, and guessed many of them remembered it too well. This time, the soot-black earth pony thought, Canterlot would be ready. He and his crew made these soldiers ready. Once the apprentices were away, then HE could prepare.
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"Morning Voice" paced through the rail car, stopping every few steps to look out the window at the oncoming storm. Many of the passengers had been watching the clouds almost closing in, pushing hard to the northeast. Conversation in the train remained hushed, as words such as "shadow storms" and "Early winter" and the occasional grumbling complaint to be sent to Cloudsdale only added to her worry. She wanted to stop and tell everypony on that train it wasn't a natural storm! It wasn't a scheduled storm, at least not on Canterlot's or Cloudsdale's schedules! She couldn't see anypony within the clouds, but knew that Lapis was in there... someplace. The northeast winds pushed at the train, wobbling it on the tracks. Morning Voice stumbled; some passengers steadied in their seats, one pegasus foal airborne.
"We need everypony to remain in their seats," a conductor announced. "We're not going to be able to beat that storm, it's only picked up since we left Appleloosa."
She returned to her seat, eyes locked on the black clouds that continued to spread. She could only guess the train's speed, which had slowed because of the gusting winds, coupled with the storm pushing harder northeast only compounded her frustration. Her nervous energy wanted her back on the floor, but the conductor scolded her with a single gaze. Looking back at the storm, it was less than an hour from Canterlot. Her travel math was not adding up.
She had to get off the train.
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Morning Star closed her eyes to take in the winds as they closed on Canterlot. The tailwinds continued to increase.... perhaps in Master Lapis' anticipation? Or was it part of the pegasi duties? It didn't matter; she could see the castle in the distance.
The castle she left behind. Then again, it was the castle that left her behind. Princess Celestia would not be able to ignore their arrival or her own abilities. Canterlot would not be able to ignore a storm that covered half a horizon, an eruption of skeleton ponies, weather and fire outside of their control. She would assist in the blanket of darkness to cover Canterlot to ensure the Phalanx were activated. If Princess Celestia dissipated the darkness, they could easily try again. And if somehow "Princess" Twilight made it back to Canterlot, it would be too late. She will have achieved a magical feat that Twilight wouldn't understand if it was shown to her. She will have proven to Celestia and Luna that she was an exceptional student more than prepared to be a princess.
She would save Aurora from the obscurity of the "exclusive school" that was for "Twilight, then everypony else." She would remain at Lapis' side throughout, as Celestia and Luna finally learned the error of ignoring talent. Canterlot would have a new ruler, one who would restore history and rebalance the scales of power.
And she would be a part of it. Twilight would be underhoof when she is found, and the wings would be Morning Star's to wear.
She glanced to the other passengers in the chariot. Lapis continued his stoic stare toward the castle, Desert Sun fidgeting beside him. Was she nervous? Excited? Maybe a little scared that a lich pony rode with them, the little zombie filly babbling joyously at what was to come.
This would be the day they changed Equestria, and this is where they started.
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Fire Ruby stirred from a good night's sleep, curious to the lack of work noise in the camp. Usually the racket of the earliest shifts would rouse her, and she would assemble breakfast to pass out to Snowcatcher and company. Shaking off her blankets took an extra moment; Snowcatcher would have come for her if she wasn't up by a certain time, and she knew she was late. She peered out of her tent first to see the earth ponies in some sort of conference, Siren Song presiding.
"Snowcatcher is feeling a little under the weather today," she announced. "She will be resting in her tent so please do not disturb her. Duties will be redistributed as needed; the pegasi and unicorns have been dismissed for the time being. I am thankful that we have a larger complement of earth ponies to continue the work that Snowcatcher slowed with her protocols and the others slowed in questioning our work."
Fire Ruby emerged from her tent to join up with the rest. "You're late," another green pony scolded.
"I'm usually awake earlier, especially when there's more work going on."
"Do not mind her, Sonja," Siren then turned to the red earth pony. "Your duties will remain unchanged. Errands and such, of course."
Fire Ruby did a quick head count. "I'll need to go into the empire for more coffee, cocoa and donuts."
"Of course," Siren approved. "But do hurry back since breakfast is late."
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"Storm blowing in from the southwest. It's a big one!"
"That's what we're preparing for!" Luna called back to the soldier. She wanted to look out the windows or stand on the balcony to watch the storm roll in, but she could already see it in her mind. She had seen it before, in a dream.... or a nightmare not of her choosing. She looked to her sister, who continued to hide her worry for the other Elements and the soldiers about to enter this battle.
The Grand Hall doors opened, and Shining Armor galloped up to the princesses. "Anything? Any word, any sense at all about Twily?"
Luna lowered her head. "We have sensed nothing of her. We cannot tell if she is with them or not, and even then her magic may be blocked."
"Blocked....." Shining repeated, "or worse." He glanced up to his own horn, at one time neutralized with black crystals. He shivered at the memory, steeling at all the "throw your wife at it" jokes he'd heard since. "That storm outside, is that him?"
Celestia nodded. "You are well aware of the placement of Solars and Phalanx for this battle."
"Lapis lacks in number and experience, but he would not approach this lightly," Luna continued.
"He was 'ready' for us three years ago," Shining growled. "We were lucky to get out of that one mostly unscathed. This time we're ready.... right?"
"Luna and I are ready. The soldiers are ready. We can have the Elements readied-"
"Can they do anything without Twily?"
"In using the Elements, no. But they all have a little combat experience, they fought the changelings hoof-to-hoof."
The reassurances only made Shining Armor pace faster. "Wearing a trench in the floor of the Great Hall will not start this war any faster."
"I'm not worried about the battle!" he insisted. "The one time Twily's in trouble and I can't help her? How many times has she saved me? Saved you? Saved Equestria???"
"We're not helpless, Shining Armor..... and if there was more we could do, we would have done so by now."
"It's not like I can use my magic to teleport her back to Canterlot!" His horn sparked with frustration, crackling with the emotional rollercoaster he'd been on since he left the Crystal Empire. He looked helplessly to the sisters, who could only offer empathy in their eyes.
The sparks from his horn seemed to appear again behind him, growing steadily in size. He wheeled as the flickering purple energy even brought the guards to attention. Celestia's eyes widened at the sphere as it grew, shimmering in paler and paler purples and small arcs of lightning. This was not magic of her brother or any of his horde; she recognized the signature immediately, as the flash of the teleportation field revealed a very tired, ragged alicorn in its center.
"Further.... than... I thought....." she exhaled before falling against her brother.
"TWILY~!!" Shining tried to steady her with his own magic as Celestia and Luna hurried to help. She wobbled a bit more before sinking again to her knees, breath ragged from the exertion of the spell.
"He's .... still... coming..." she panted. "Don't... .give... in to ... him....."
Shining Armor looked his poor sister over a few times. Her coat was dirty, even slightly damp from the dark confines she had been locked away. He puzzled each bluish streak on her body, even on her horn. Bruises? Lacerations? They weren't like any injury he'd seen before. He gawped at her wings; bare limbs on her back, plucked clean and stained with more of the blue slashes. Her mane flopped every which way, her tail no better. All four of her ankles smoothed from her incarceration, slight burns where they bit away at her legs. The vibrant violet muted under the matting, and traces of her ribs could be seen between. Her eyes still could not focus, and her breathing ragged from the magical exertion. He couldn't even guess how far she teleported, and even then she was doing so almost blind.
"He'll know you teleported here?" Luna queried. "This was an understandable risk."
Celestia sent the guards for the rest of the Elements. Twilight finally looked up at her brother. "Shining....?"
"Your horn.... your ribs... your WINGS!" The unicorn protested. "What did that monster do to you?"
"This is not the brother we knew," Celestia explained as she settled to healing Twilight. "Torture isn't something we'd expect."
"Not him, really," Twilight managed as the spell washed over her. "His minions. Strife....."
"STRIFE~!??" Shining exclaimed, "He's still involved??"
"He had anti-magic shackles," Twilight looked to her now-healed hooves. "And a weapon that destroys magic. He mentioned 'Spellbreak'....."
"Spellbreak still exists?" Luna blinked in surprise. "We've not heard any activity in centuries. This would explain some of the troubles we've had with Strife in the recent past."
"They were a small group of earth ponies from the far north who condemned magic in all its forms," Celestia continued. "The 'anti-magic' they wielded DOES occur naturally, and they harvested it in an uprising against the unicorns and pegasi. A contingent of them organized in an attempt to bring down Unicornia, and nearly succeeded. Many ponies were lost that day."
"Brother is taking an enormous risk, asking assistance from this coven of anti-magicians...."
"Is there a counter to their anti-magic, Princess Luna?"
"There was no need when the last team was chased into the valleys south of the San Palomino desert and the Macintosh hills."
"We're getting off-topic. What can you tells us of Lapis' other complement?"
"Phalanx. Spellcasters. A pony lich........."
"Necromancy," Luna whispered. "Were it his creation, we should be cautious. Otherwise, we are indeed facing an unknown."
"But another magic lost to legend and history," Celestia added with her own concern. "Did you see this creature yourself?"
"Your brother 'introduced' me. A unicorn lich, with an earth pony zombie. Apparently they were found in a mine near his headquarters."
"So not of his creation," Luna affirmed.
"There were also enchanted necklaces....."
Celestia nodded. "We were aware of the necklaces, they were crafted in the Crystal Empire. They're likely enchanted."
Twilight nodded. "But this isn't just about..... me," She looked to her restored wing in mixed relief and worry. "He's angry. VERY angry. He thinks that Princess Luna was imprisoned after she returned home and we dispelled Nightmare Moon. He thinks that Cepheid is still in the dungeon. He doesn't comprehend why Discord is free and he repeatedly told me that I shouldn't have these." she folded her wings tightly to her sides, almost wishing them to melt into her back.
"Sister, why would he still be this angry?"
"I don't know, Luna. I can only speculate - the gates to this castle are always open, he was free to return any time he wished. I never sent soldiers after him because of this very notion. I had dropped hints over the centuries to let him know he was welcome to come home and we could speak of that night....."
"'Dropped hints'?" Twilight seemed genuinely confused.
"It would take too long to explain."
"Sister, let me bring Twilight Sparkle to my quarters before the battles begin. Something CAN explain this a great deal faster."
"Go - but come back quickly, her friends have missed Twilight."
The two teleported away. "Why are they going to her room?" Shining Armor queried.
"Twilight needs to know something about Lapis that you might recall when he invaded three years ago. This will give her more answers and questions. But it's information she must know before he arrives."
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