Twilight Sparkle
'Everypony is counting on me to lead and protect them. It's my duty. They support me and expect me to lead and protect them in return for their service.' I idly looked at my reflection. I could still see the furious alicorn I had seen looking back at me in the morning if I tried hard enough. I would also have sworn that my coat was a shade darker than normal, but nopony had said anything, and that wasn't physically possible. It had to have been in my mind, which made sense.
I dropped my gaze to my reflection's chest, then brought a hoof up and nudged my regalia. The Element of Magic sat in the slot for my crystal, rather than the crystal I was used to using. That one had been drained during my battle. 'I'm going to have to recharge it. Is that even going to be worth it? It took me weeks to charge before, and now that I have more alicorn magic, it won't take as long to refill it. How am I supposed to store a meaningful amount of my magic inside it? I used it all in that battle.'
'I need to improve it or... something...' I blinked and shook my head, then sighed, knowing it was just another item I needed to add to my list and take care of. 'I'm going to have to schedule some time to relax with the girls.' After a couple seconds, a grimace pulled at my lips. 'But I don't have time for that, and I won't for a while.' I glanced down at the floor, then looked over my hoof. I slowly slid my other hoof back down to the floor and glanced at it. 'After this war ends, I'm going to make time for them. I have to. But... I'm... maybe I shouldn't.' I slowly sat down on my haunches, then lifted my gaze back up to the reflection of my face.
The alicorn looking back at me looked dejected and pained. Her lips twisted downward and quivered, while her eyes looked empty. The sight made me shiver. I closed my eyes and sucked in a deep breath. I held it for several seconds before slowly exhaling. 'Even though I'm... even though what I've done, they still support me... Girls, I don't think I will ever understand that, but, thank you. Thank you so much! I couldn't do this without your support...'
I swallowed, then licked my lips and slowly pushed myself back up. It continued to surprise me that it was so easy to adjust to my new body. I had expected to be tripping all over myself until I got used to my new height, but it felt natural like I hadn't changed at all. I could still feel the changes, but they felt familiar. Becoming an alicorn and gaining wings, however, had not been natural. It wasn't an easy adjustment. I could look back on it now, though, and smile. Every time I crashed, my friends were right there beside me to help pick me up. Literally.
My lips twitched upward. I held them there for a second and looked at my reflection. I smiled a little more, then turned away from my reflection. I slowly strode over to the door, then opened it with my magic. I peeked outside of my room and looked left. The soldier standing guard stood up straighter but otherwise ignored me. I glanced right. Rainbow Dash shifted her weight under my gaze, then glanced at me before immediately looking away. My smile wavered. 'Why is she so nervous?' I frowned, then shook my head. 'It's probably nothing.' I told myself. "I'm ready to leave," I said.
She shifted her weight again, then nodded and sucked in a deep breath. She turned around to face me. I offered her a smile, then stepped back into my room. Rainbow shuffled in through the opened door, then I closed it behind her. She hastily took her position at my right side, then stood there, almost stoicly. 'Spitfire told me to keep an eye on her to make sure she's doing okay...' I frowned at the memory. 'You've been through a lot too, haven't you? You were there when I almost died, that... had to have been hard.' "Are you okay, Rainbow?"
Rainbow's head spun around toward me. "Y-yeah!" she stuttered. I frowned and squinted at her. She winced slightly, whether because she realized she stuttered or because of my gaze I wasn't sure. "Of course I'm fine! Why... wouldn't I be?"
I grimaced and looked straight ahead. I let my eyes wander over the crystalline wall for a few seconds, then glanced down at the floor. "If you ever need to talk, I'll listen," I said in a soft, calm voice. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Rainbow's expression falter, but when I turned my head to look, she had regained her composure. "You... may be my personal guard, the pony tasked with... protecting me, Rainbow, but... I'm still..." I trailed off absently. 'I'm... she's...' It was strange, it hadn't really hit me until then, but I wasn't just her friend, I was her princess too, and she wasn't just my friend, either, she was my personal guard. Part of her duty would be to sacrifice herself to save my life. The room's temperature felt like it dropped several degrees. I swallowed and shook my head. 'You're still my friend foremost, Rainbow.' "It may be your duty to protect me, but it is still my duty to protect you and everypony else, Rainbow. And, most importantly, we're friends." I shifted my weight and turned to face her.
Her eyes glanced up at me, then almost immediately she broke contact and looked down at my chest. "You almost died, Princess," she said, her voice coming out monotonous.
I took a deep breath, then sat down on my haunches. 'She is hurting.' "Do you want to talk about it?"
She snorted, then smiled and looked away from me. "I'm a Wonderbolt for pony's sake! I'm supposed to be better than this!" she shouted. A second passed, and her expression fell. I thought I saw her shudder. "But... this... this is... hard. This isn't... cool or awesome, this is just..." she trailed off, shaking her head. She closed her eyes, then turned back to look at me. Even when I was sitting down on my haunches, she had to look up at me slightly. It made me miss back when I wasn't quite so tall. "You almost died because of me! I couldn't protect you! I-I... I failed!" I could almost see her whole body tensing up. Her wings shook slightly, even as she held them close to her sides and pressed up against her armor.
I let the silence following her words linger for several seconds, letting them sink in before I spoke, "You did not fail, Rainbow," I said in a calm, collected voice. I raised my eyebrows, "If anything, I failed you." Rainbow opened her mouth, then closed it, bewilderment taking hold of her expression before fading as soon as it appeared. "You, Rainbow, saved my life. I would have died if it weren't for you," I said, forcing back a shiver as a tingling sensation crawled up my spine. "I failed to pay attention to my surroundings. I wasn't there to protect you and the rest of my team." I paused and swallowed. "And... I wasn't there to protect you when you were captured."
"You... rescued me, though," she attempted to argue, though it came out weak.
I offered her a smile. "And you rescued me. Rainbow, if this is too much for you, I can find somepony else to-"
"N-no! I..." Rainbow shook her head vigorously. "I'm supposed to protect you, it's why you even let me in. I want to help you, I want to protect you!" Her resolve seemed to shatter. She slowly sat down on her haunches. "And... I can't even do that..." she mumbled, then closed her eyes and sighed. "You know my dream was to join the Wonderbolts and to fly with them... I... I didn't... want this." She clenched her eyes shut tighter, then opened them. "No, It's my job to protect you. I'm not going to let you down again," she said, her voice filled with determination.
I could almost see passed it. Even with her outward appearance of resolving, I wondered if it wasn't just a mask. If she wasn't trying to hide how she actually felt. 'Spitfire, you might be right. This is hard for her. I... need to keep her close and make sure she's actually okay.' I slowly stood back up. "I'm... going to have to fight more, if I'm going to win. I... have to. Otherwise, more ponies... more of my own ponies, will die," I said. I found my gaze drawn to the floor. I clicked my tongue against my teeth. "And... their deaths would be on my hooves," I added. I forced myself to remain in check as I looked back up and turned to face her. Her expression was unreadable. "I'm going to have to fight Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. I might have to kill them."
"Twilight," Rainbow said hesitantly, breaking rank.
I shook my head and took a deep breath. I stood up straighter and lit my horn. "I've never teleported this far," I admitted, casting a sideways glance at Rainbow. "I know where we're teleporting, though, so it's not dangerous," I added, alleviating some of the fear on her face.
"Are you sure you can teleport that far?" she asked, slightly skeptically.
I nodded. "I could have done it with my crystal before, but it would have taken a lot out of me or the crystal, but probably both. Now, I'm going to use the Element of Magic to power the spell. It would be very draining on my magic to power it myself. As it is, I might be a little..." I trailed off, squinting as I searched for the best way to describe it, "out of it, once we arrive."
She squinted at me and her brow creased. "What... is that supposed to mean?"
"I'll probably still be tired," I said simply, shrugging. I lit my horn and closed my eyes, preparing the teleportation spell and tapping into the Element of Magic. Through my eyelids, I could see a faint, warm pink glow emanating from the Element of Magic. I smiled as the magic surged through me and awaited my command, although I missed using it in conjunction with the rest of the Elements of Harmony. It didn't feel right, it almost felt like I was betraying my friends.
"Wait! How tired?" Rainbow asked.
"I've never used this much magic to teleport that far. It won't exactly be a drain on my magic, but channeling that much magic..." I answered, then cast the spell.
I exhaled as soon as the spell finished. I opened my eyes to witness a brilliant flash of light pink light, emanating from my horn. I clenched my eyes shut as my sight was overwhelmed. A second later, the rest of my senses caught up. My legs and forelegs felt weak. My hind legs shook a little. I felt physically drained. My mind recoiled as the toll of channeling that much magic set in. 'A nap sounds nice right now,' I mused. I let my head hang down a little bit.
"Tw-Princess, are you okay?" Rainbow's voice asked from beside me, her voice filled with uncertainty and concern.
I hesitantly nodded, then took a deep breath. I grunted a little, then stood back up to my full height. I cautiously opened my eyes.
"Princess Twilight Sparkle? Are you alright!?" another voice called.
"Just... give me a minute. I've never teleported that far before," I answered, turning toward the source of the sound. I squinted at the crystal pony. His crystalline coat almost shimmered and I would have sworn I could have seen the wall through him, but I blinked and the wall was hidden. He wore silver-gray armor which protected his body and legs, but the front of his neck was left unprotected, revealing his dull lavender coat, despite his almost sparkling crystalline appearance. His eyes were a deep, brilliant sapphire color. I studied him for several seconds as he drew closer. He was an averagely sized stallion, and my new stature put him to shame. His eyes held concern, but something else. 'Eagerness? Excitement?' I wondered. I glanced down at his shoulders and caught sight of his dual insignias indicating his rank. "General?" I asked aloud, half musing to myself.
The stallion fell into a deep bow, bending his right arm back and stretching his left out as far as he could. His arms clicked against the crystal floor, and his muzzle as almost pressed into the floor. "General Sapphire, at your service, my liege!"
Several seconds passed while I watched him. Eventually, I noticed that he wasn't alone. There were several additional soldiers in the room, along with another stallion with the insignias indicating the rank of general. One of the ponies wore no armor. All of them were facing me and had fallen into the same deep bow as General Sapphire. I shifted my weight and ruffled my wings. "U-um... R-right. Um... Please rise," I stuttered out, internally wincing as my composure slipped. I recognized a hint of heat building in my cheeks from the embarrassment, and I tried to force it down before anypony could see.
The ponies in the room slowly rose from the bow. General Sapphire stood up rigidly, then with practiced grace, raised his right hoof up to salute me. "Princess Twilight Sparkle," he acknowledged. "It is an honor to meet you in person. When we received word from Spitfire that you would be coming personally to visit, we were taken by surprise. It is rather short notice, but we are eager to begin."
I nodded slowly. I glanced to my right and looked at Rainbow Dash. "This is Captain Rainbow Dash. She's a Wonderbolt and my personal guard," I said, turning back to General Sapphire.
"General," Rainbow acknowledged.
"Captain," General Sapphire acknowledged. He studied Rainbow for a few seconds, then he glanced toward the throne. There was a certain eager glee in his eyes. I followed his gaze and noticed that the other general and the pony without armor were approaching. I smiled a little at them. Both of them fell into deep bows as they neared me, then slowly rose up.
"Princess Twilight Sparkle, it is an honor to personally meet you. The Crystal Empire owes you a debt we can never repay for your role in saving us from King Sombra," the unarmored stallion spoke. "I am Mayor Lattice, and I pledge my fealty to you, Princess. The Crystal Empire shall follow you until the end of time." There was a certain finality in his voice that made me shiver.
"General Quartz at your service, Princess," the other general acknowledged, lifting his right hoof up to his head to salute.
I returned his salute. "My brother spoke a lot about you. You're a good stallion," I said, smiling.
General Quartz's expression remained stoic. "I... cannot agree with Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadance's decisions to fight against you, their own family, but I do still consider them friends. My allegiance lays solely with you, my liege," he said. As he finished, he fell into another deep bow. "It is an honor to have you here today, Princess." He slowly rose up from his bow. "The army of the Crystal Empire awaits your orders, Princess!" he practically shouted.
I nodded. "Thank you, General. If you could schedule a briefing soon, I would appreciate it. We need to discuss some things."
He fell into another bow. "Of course, my Princess. I will schedule a briefing immediately and we can begin as soon as you are ready." He slowly rose from his bow, then calmly strode off, making his way out of the Throne Room.
I watched him leave for a few seconds, then turned my gaze to the Throne Room itself. It had been a while since I had been there, but the same pale blue and white crystal made up the bulk of the room. The room felt calming, inviting, and welcoming. Turning my gaze back to the throne, I couldn't help but notice just how empty it looked. I pushed the thought aside and glanced out of the balcony walls. It was strange, in a way. The Throne Room should have been more secure, since the balcony left the room easily attacked from aerial forces, however in a way it made sense- you could easily look over a large section of the Crystal Empire capital city from the balcony.
"The throne is yours, Princess," Mayor Lattice said. It almost sounded like he wanted me to take it.
I turned to him, then took a deep breath and nodded. "The throne formerly held by my sister-in-law, and then King Sombra before her..." I trailed off, gulping a little at the reminder of King Sombra. I shook my head and slowly exhaled. I took a step forward, then fell into a casual saunter toward the Throne. As I walked passed the guards stationed beside crystal pillars, every one of them fell into a deep, reverential bow. I did my best to ignore it, but it wasn't easy.
I came to a stop when I reached the stairs at the base of the throne. I couldn't help but notice the absence of a second throne that would have been my brother's. I stood there for several seconds, just eyeing the lightly colored crystal throne. 'The Crystal Empire is mine... they pledged their allegiance to me. In exchange, they expect me to lead and protect them... That's hundreds of thousands more lives resting in my hooves.'
I closed my eyes, then opened them and slowly ascended the stairs. As I reached the top, I slowly lifted a hoof, then placed it on one of the throne's armrests. The crystal was cool to the touch, yet somehow exhilarating and welcoming. I slid my hoof across the smooth surface, then pulled my hoof back and set it down on the floor. I hopped up into the throne, then turned around and sat down. The cold crystal quickly warmed under my touch.
I felt a sudden giddiness wash over me as I looked down the long Throne Room and glanced at the crystal doors at the end. The guards which had been bowing slowly rose back up to standing positions. They stood with pride. I glanced to my right and looked over Rainbow. She looked so out of place, being so much brighter and unique than most of the ponies present. She also looked a little uncomfortable, standing beside the throne.
I looked away from her and looked down at the throne. 'My new throne,' I mused. I licked my lips, then slid a forehoof over the crystal. The warmth was pleasant. I looked up from the throne and my gaze fell on Mayor Lattice and General Sapphire. I took a deep breath, then stood up and hopped off the throne. Rainbow was at my side in an instant. I leisurely strode down the stairs.
"There is something I think you will want to see, Princess," General Sapphire said. He stood up straighter as I looked at him.
I nodded. "Alright, General. Lead the way," I said in a calm, kind voice.
He saluted, then turned to his left. He walked around the stairs to the throne then started toward the balcony. I had seen the Crystal Empire before, so my curiosity was piqued at what he would want to show me. I started off after him, Rainbow staying close beside me. He slowed as he approached the archways to the balcony, then he came to a stop. He fell into a bow as I passed him, then stood back up and calmly strode out onto the balcony.
Just as I had remembered, the balcony was spacious enough to be considered enormous. From the archway, I could see the tops of the farthest buildings from the palace, and I could see the rolling grasslands stretching beyond it. I slowly walked out over toward the edge of the balcony. As I grew closer to the half-wall, I could see more of the Crystal Empire, and like before, it was just as breathtaking. It might have been more breathtaking now, though, because it was mine.
I slowed as what looked like a solid gray mass had replaced the pristine streets closest to the palace. For a moment, I was concerned, but then I realized that they were ponies. Ponies wearing monotonous gray armor. I came to a stop. 'How... many are there?' I wondered. My legs shook slightly as I started back toward the edge of the balcony. The closer I neared the edge, the more gray I could see. I came to a stop, then propped myself up and peeked over the half-wall. The sea of gray, armor-clad ponies below took my breath away. There had to have been thousands of soldiers far below the palace on the ground, filling the streets. 'No, tens of thousands...' "Is... that the entire army of the Crystal Empire?" I asked aloud, taken aback.
I heard hoofsteps approaching from my left. "No, Princess. It is only half. The other half are deployed elsewhere."
I slowly nodded, then stepped back from the edge and turned around. Even Rainbow gawked at the sight. I smiled and stifled a snicker, but it still broke her trance. She looked over at me and shifted her weight. "That... that's a lot of ponies," she said, her voice sounding almost awed.
More hoofsteps filled the air. I looked away from Rainbow and watched Mayor Lattice calmly walk over to me. "You should address them, Princess."
'M-me? He wants me to address...' I closed my eyes and suppressed a groan. 'Relax, they are your ponies now. Addressing ponies, soldiers, isn't something I'm unfamiliar with. But... that is a lot of ponies...' I mulled over the idea. I looked back at the sea of gray, then faced Mayor Lattice and nodded. "I'll address them, but not from here. I'm going down to the base of the palace."
He nodded. "If you can amplify your voice, both are practical, however, down there, more of them may be able to see you if you fly in the air above them."
I nodded and smiled, then spread out my wings. "Maybe I'll fly down there, too." I glanced at Rainbow.
"As you wish, Princess," Mayor Lattice said.
I flapped my wings, then hovered for a second. Rainbow joined me in the air. "I'll be back," I said, then I rolled around in the air and propelled myself forward with a mighty flap of my wings.
I couldn't make out my shadow passing over the soldiers below. From the height we were, they looked almost like ants. I closed my eyes and let myself just enjoy the moment. The air flowing around me, the wind between my wings and feathers, and the warmth of the sun against my back and spread wings. The gentle breeze carried me aloft, letting me relax and stop flapping my wings for a short while. I banked to my left and started a slow, leisurely descent.
I opened my eyes, then sighed calmly. One by one, the soldiers noticed my presence above them and looked upward. I put on a smile as we neared the ground. I bled my speed, then landed almost center underneath the Crystal Palace. I frowned. The Crystal Heart looked inert. Nopony else seemed to notice or care. I grimaced briefly, then remembered why I was there.
I quickly put on a smile, then turned around. Like a wave, the soldiers all fell into the same deep bows that I had encountered since my arrival. I hesitated a couple seconds for everypony to bow, then flew back up into the air and hovered there. I tried to make sure that everypony could see me, then I lit my horn and cast a spell so that hopefully, everypony would be able to hear me.
"...And of course, last but not least, the Royal Chambers," Mayor Lattice said as he came to a stop.
The crystal door was rather unassuming, but it was at the end of a long hallway. There was an emblem of an alicorn with a crown toward the top of the door. 'How many ponies have called this room their own?' I wondered.
I took a deep breath, then lit my horn. I pushed the door inward, then stepped into the room first. Rainbow Dash and Mayor Lattice followed after me. The room was large and spacious, befitting a queen and king. Looking straight forward, there was a door which led to another balcony. Along the right side of the room, there was another door which led to the actual bedroom, while the left side was barren.
The sight made me feel a little pain in my chest. The room was so barren, everything that my brother and sister-in-law had was nowhere in sight. The room was a blank slate, just waiting to be decorated by whoever would assume the role to decorate it. I looked over at Mayor Lattice questioningly. "Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadance withdrew their items before leaving, and what remained was put into storage. New furnishings are awaiting your approval, Princess. The bed is new as well," he said, motioning toward the lone door on the right side of the room.
I slowly turned away from him and walked toward the door, then pushed it open with my magic. I swallowed and shifted my weight. The bed was large, easily large enough for both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna to use it at the same time. The bedsheets were a brilliant shade of crimson, and there were curtains which could be pulled around to allow for further privacy. To the right of the bed, there was a night stand, and to the left, there was a large, ornate dresser. The dresser looked like it was made of pale blue crystal, and had gold along its edges.
Along the wall to the bed's right was another door. I slowly walked over to it to find a bathroom, along with a spacious closet. I walked back out into the bedroom after a moment's inspection. I eyed the bed, then made my way over to it. I hesitantly touched it with my hoof, and I felt like my hoof melted at the touch. The sheet was unbelievably soft and inviting. 'Satin,' I wondered. I pushed the thought aside, then turned to Mayor Lattice. "Thank you, Mayor. If you could give me a few minutes, I would appreciate it. Thank you for the tour. Please inform me when General Quartz is ready for the briefing."
"Of course, Princess," Mayor Lattice said gracefully as he fell into another bow. He rose with the same grace, then hastily retreated from the bedroom, then out of the chambers entirely. He shut the door behind him.
I took a deep breath, then turned around. I jumped up onto the bed, then moaned as the soft fabric caressed my body. I pressed my muzzle into it and sighed.
I heard Rainbow walk around to the side of the bed. "You alright, Princess?" she asked.
I pulled my muzzle out from the bedsheets, then turned to her and nodded. "Yeah, I think I am. It's just... overwhelming."
Rainbow shifted her weight. "I thought your speech was good."
I snorted. "I didn't have any time to prepare one. I wasn't expecting to give a speech today. I figured I'd have time to prepare one once I got here," I said warily.
Rainbow shrugged. "It wasn't bad."
"Thanks," I replied. I crawled up onto the bed, then rolled over onto my back and laid my head on a pillow and looked up at the ceiling. "I know that they changed the bed out, but I can't help but feel like Princess Cadance would have picked this bed out." I paused and pursed my lips. "Especially for me if she thought that..." I trailed off, ruffling my wings, not wanting to finish the sentence. I frowned as another thought mixed in with the prior one. 'I... could probably do that, couldn't I? But... that's... ugh! That's wrong and just...'
I violently shook the thought from my head, then sat up. "This bed feels amazing," I said aloud. I glanced over at Rainbow. "You should feel it."
Rainbow shifted her weight. "It's your bed, Princess, I'm sure it's... nice."
I rolled my eyes. "Well, suit yourself then," I said, watching Rainbow closely. She averted her gaze from me, then hastily reached out and pressed the bed with her hoof. "You can't really feel it with armor on," I said dryly.
Rainbow squinted at you. "I'm supposed to be wearing this! I'm supposed to protect you, how am I supposed to do that if I don't at least have armor!?"
"You're one of, if not the, fastest pony alive, Rainbow," I replied with a smile. "Besides, I don't think I have to worry about anything bad happening while we're here. It's... nice, it's peaceful." I paused and cocked my head to the side, "And, well, you know, there's a whole army here loyal to me," I added in a dry tone, looking at Rainbow blankly.
Rainbow groaned, then took off her boot from her right hoof. "Fine," she said. She reached out and pressed her hoof against the bedsheets. "Wow, that is soft," she admitted. She hastily put her boot back on.
I looked away from her and stared up at the ceiling again. "I have the feeling that... things like this aren't going to be common anymore." I frowned. "Having free time to spend with you and the girls," I clarified. "I... rule the Crystal Empire now, too. I had a lot to take care of before, and now I'll have even more. And... with the war going on, that'll take a lot more of my attention now that I have to protect two separated areas. And eventually, coordinate an attack. And, eventually... hopefully... I'll defeat Princess Celestia and Princess Luna."
"Sounds like you've got a lot on your mind," Rainbow said warily.
I snorted and giggled a little. "You have no idea," I replied. "I killed thousands of ponies with a single spell. I'm a monster, but... if I didn't, how many more would have died? My own ponies would have suffered if I didn't act. I'm supposed to protect them. And what if I can't protect them? Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are both so much stronger than me. I'm not sure if my magic surge even put me on par with them, and look at what I managed to do. Imagine what they can do because they always have that power or more than that power. What if I can't protect you or the rest of my friends? What if I had killed you or the rest of my strike team with that spell? What if I lose myself because of this war? I've already used dark magic on ponies... What... what if I die?" I asked. I swallowed and let my head roll over so I could look at Rainbow. She had her jaw clenched, and she offered no answers. "I could have died. I would have died if you didn't save me, or if I hadn't been an alicorn. I almost died. I was unconscious for over a month and a half. If Princess Celestia had found out, then... it would have been over. My hopes of saving and protecting Equestria would have been destroyed. I would be in chains or worse..."
"Would... she really do that to you, Twilight?" Rainbow asked at length.
I sighed. "I don't know. And, that may be the scariest part. I don't have all the answers. I used to think that Princess Celestia did have all the answers, but she doesn't either. We're both... just ponies, even if we are alicorns." I shook my head. "And, on top of all of this, I have to stay strong, I have to protect and lead my ponies. I have to inspire them. I can't take time for myself because they all need me."
"Hey, you're the princess, you can do whatever you want!" Rainbow said enthusiastically.
I grimaced. "Yes, that's true, but that doesn't mean it's right. I could just take a day or a week to myself, but how would my ponies view that? What would it cost us? If I do manage to win, then I might be able to pull that sort of thing off since there won't be the pressing matter of a war, but... there's still so much to do." I took a deep breath, then held it for a few seconds. I put my hoof on my chest, then exhaled, sighing.
There was a knock on the door. I rolled my head over to face the door. "Enter," I called. A second later, I heard a door opened. A few seconds later, the door to the bedroom opened and Mayor Lattice smiled at me.
"Princess, General Quartz is ready," he said.
I nodded. "Thank you, I will be there shortly."
"Of course, Princess," he replied, then bowed his head and turned to leave.
Three ponies, including myself, sat around a large conference table. Rainbow Dash stood to my right. I was used to having a dozen ponies in a briefing, compared to just two generals. It was strange with how empty the room felt. There were a few soldiers stationed around the room, but they served more of a support role from what I could tell, rather than actually being involved in the briefing. I took a deep breath, then exhaled calmly as both generals looked at me expectantly. "General Quartz, please start. What do I need to know?"
General Quartz saluted me, then turned to one of the soldiers against the wall opposite him. He nodded, and the soldier hastily walked over, then unfolded a map which took up the bulk of the table. Three more soldiers hastily made their way around setting up familiar pieces. After half a minute, the map was completed with all of the familiar troop positions. "The combined forces of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna outnumber our combined forces, however, the battle-hardened veteran forces of the Crystal Empire were around during the reign of King Sombra. While there have been developments made since then, our forces still have superior experience which we can put to use in battle. Both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have been fighting for a while now, and they're both exhausting their soldiers and resources fighting one another. The Crystal Empire, though formerly sided with Princess Celestia, managed to hold back on expending its resources. Any attack against either princess's forces will draw a swift counterattack from one or both princesses. Our combined forces are divided between the Crystal Empire and Southern Equestria, but both forces are self-sustaining, giving us an advantage of having two independent, competent military forces."
Crystal ponies' resilience put earth ponies' resilience to shame, but I didn't think he even paused to breathe. I blinked, then swallowed and licked my lips. "Any attack we make needs to be directed on Princess Celestia. We need to capture Canterlot."
"The attack would have to be swift. If our forces got bogged down, we could suffer a crushing defeat and possibly lose the war if Princess Celestia's forces are unable to hold back Princess Luna," General Sapphire said.
"Any push into Princess Celestia's domain would signal the beginning of the end of the war. Our combined forces are enough that we should be able to defeat one of the princesses, and Princess Celestia is a better target than Princess Luna. There are risks associated with that, however. The moment we invade, Princess Celestia's forces will mobilize to counterattack and stop our push, and there is the threat that Princess Celestia herself could take to the field," General Quartz replied.
I nodded. "Right now I don't think I can defeat Princess Celestia on my own, but I'm going to make preparations for the battle and my victory," I replied. Both generals nodded.
"We believe that the best move we can make is a pincer strike sweeping down Equestria's Eastern coast. We take Manehatton, Fillydelphia, and Los Pegasus in a single strike, effectively crippling Princess Celestia's manufacturing capabilities. She won't be able to field the weapons she has started to bring out, according to our intelligence," General Quartz said.
I nodded slowly and looked over the map. "You would have to cut across northern Equestria. Your supply lines would be vulnerable. My forces would have to defeat Prince Shining Armor's force here," I pointed at the corresponding piece close to my own territory in Equestria, "before we could move to push up. Unless we get bogged down in a battle, we should be able to meet up and resupply your forces if your supply lines are cut off."
"It could leave the Crystal Empire vulnerable, and the Griffons wouldn't be too pleased about a troop movement along their border," General Sapphire commented. "But we don't expect any problems to arise from them."
I grimaced. "The Griffons have been experiencing their own instability since this war started, but they haven't shown much interest in getting involved outside of putting more troops on the border, specifically the Crystal Empire's border," I noted.
"After we regroup, our best option will be to push straight for Canterlot. Princess Celestia's forces, with any luck, will be too busy fighting Princess Luna to stop us. But if our attack fails, then Princess Celestia will likely suffer a complete military loss- at the hooves of Princess Luna. If she surrenders to Princess Luna, the war is lost. We can't match their combined forces as of now," said General Quartz.
I frowned. "Is Princess Celestia really that close to suffering a total military collapse?" I asked hesitantly, bewildered at the possibility.
General Quartz nodded. "Princess Luna has systematically defeated Princess Celestia at nearly every turn. Every major battle Princess Celestia has fought, she has lost. Equestria was not prepared for this. The ponies support Princess Celestia, but the military is demoralized by her, while Princess Luna is more capable of rallying and commanding her troops. Her soldiers know she is capable of protecting Equestria, but the average pony is still cautious about her, despite welcoming her back to Equestria."
"We have to reach Canterlot before Princess Luna. You have to successfully defeat Princess Celestia and claim the Equestrian throne if you want to win this war, Princess. If Princess Celestia surrenders her forces to you, then the war is over and you have won. If she surrenders her forces to Princess Luna, then the war is over and you have lost," General Sapphire said.
I sat back in the chair and cautiously nibbled on my lips. "So, our objectives are as follows. Prepare for one swift strike into Equestria, capture the Eastern coast of Equestria, including the strategic targets of Manehatton, Fillydelphia, and Los Pegasus, then regroup and push to Canterlot before Princess Luna reaches Canterlot." I swallowed then met each general's gaze in turn. "What kind of timetable are we looking at?"
General Quartz sat up straighter. "The Crystal Empire awaits only your command. While you were unavailable, we made preparations for this plan. We only need you to sign off on it and you to prepare your forces in Equestria."
I looked at him and nodded. In the pit of my stomach, I felt uneasy. 'This... this is really happening, isn't it?' It was unsettling. "I'll make preparations as soon as I return..." I said absently. I shook my head. "Now that we've gone over that... I would like to see all pertinent information on the Crystal Empire in regards to its ability to wage and sustain war, and anything of interest that I should be made aware of."
One of the soldiers walked over to me, then set down a thick manila folder in front of me. I looked up and nodded at him. He saluted, then returned to his position without so much as a word. I lit my horn and opened the folder. I skimmed the first page, detailing the support I had among the population and the military. It brought a smile to my face and banished my earlier unease.
"Princess, something else you should be made aware of," General Quartz spoke up.
I looked up from the stack of papers. "After we were informed of what had happened to you, we decided to retaliate. We toned down the Crystal Heart's aura to only encompass the Crystal Empire."
I frowned. "And... what... does that mean, exactly?" I asked cautiously. 'The Crystal Heart radiates feelings of the Crystal Empire across Equestria... If the Crystal Empire citizens were happy, then shutting it off...' my thought wandered on and I grimaced.
"We have reports that there are increased civil unrest among Princess Celestia's cities, while Princess Luna's cities are still affected, but to a lesser degree," General Quartz answered. I didn't try to mask my scowl at hearing that, they were actively doing something to damage Equestria and hurt ponies- ponies who would be my ponies in the near future. "Princess, it is an advantage we cannot ignore."
I looked away from him and idly looked over the paper before me. 'He's right. It may be the wrong choice and it is hurting Equestria, but it helps me. If they're having to deal with civil unrest, that weakens them, putting myself in a better position than they are... Assuming it's not affecting my own citizens.' I frowned. 'I'll have to check to make sure it's not adversely affecting my ponies...' I slowly nodded. "I will take it into consideration..." I said relentingly.
General Sapphire cleared his throat and lifted his head up a little. I glanced over at him. "General Spitfire informed us that you have been experimenting with crystals and magic, Princess," he said thoughtfully. "While you're here, you may wish to consult the Crystal Empire Archives on such matters. King Sombra made a massive research endeavor into Crystal technology." I perked up at that. I rubbed my hooves together in anticipation. Both generals frowned at me. I cleared my throat and shifted my weight while setting my hooves back down on the table. After a second, General Sapphire continued, "Most of it was for nefarious ends, however, there should be a trove of information available for you."
"Thank you, I will have to look into it," I replied calmly, keeping myself in check.
"Princess, if I may speak freely?" General Sapphire asked.
I looked at him and nodded. "Of course, General. Any and all pertinent comments, even if it's just voicing a concern, are welcome."
He sat up a little straighter and hesitantly nodded. He shifted his weight, then opened his mouth. He hesitated, then glanced down at the table. After a couple of seconds, he inhaled, then turned so that his body was facing me. "You said that you don't think that you can defeat Princess Celestia in battle right now." He paused and glanced at General Quartz, who sat up straighter and put on a stoic expression. He turned back to me and looked at me expectantly.
I pursed my lips, then leaned back in my chair and sighed. "I'm working on figuring that out..."
"We will stand by you, no matter what, Princess," General Sapphire affirmed, putting out his chest in a show of strength.
I nodded at him. "I appreciate that." I looked down at the table and scrutinized the troop positions. "We're going to be busy in the coming months, aren't we?" I asked, looking back up at both generals. "We have a war to plan, preparations to make, battles to fight and win." 'Hard decisions to make...' I added in my mind. 'And most of those hard decisions fall on me.' I shivered. "Is there anything else we need to discuss right now?" I asked. "If it can wait until tomorrow, I would like to retire for now. It was a little draining teleporting from Ponyville to the Crystal Empire for the first time."
"Of course, Princess. Most matters have been discussed, all that really remains are the details and the information you requested about the Crystal Empire. We can discuss both at a later date after you have rested from your journey," General Quartz answered.
I nodded my thanks. "If... anypony needs me, I will be..." I paused, mulling over the word in its current context. "In my chambers," I finally added. 'Which were at one point my brother and sister-in-law's chambers...'
The thought was a bit uncomfortable and disturbing.
I took a deep breath, then turned to my right and hopped out of my chair. As soon as I stood up, I heard the other chairs drag across the floor, then I heard two ponies hop off. I turned to glance at them and found both generals sharply saluting me. I stood up straighter, then nodded. Both of them quickly fell into a more relaxed stance, then bowed their heads to me. I turned away from them, then made my way toward the door. Behind me, the only sound of movement came from Rainbow Dash, who hastily followed off after me, walking to my left.
I lit my horn to open the door with my magic, but as I approached, the two guards stationed at the door rigidly opened it for me. I paused for a second, then continued out of the room and into the hallway. I glanced to my left, then right, then I started walking down the hall to my right.
Rainbow's hoofsteps increased in pace as I strode along. 'She has trouble keeping up with my new gait because of my stature...' I felt a grimace tug at my lips and forced it away. I slowed my pace so Rainbow could more easily keep up.
As soon as both Rainbow and I had walked into my chambers, the two crystal ponies standing guard shut the door. I slumped down a little, then looked around the barren room. 'I guess it makes sense that I have this, but I...' the thought trailed off as I came to a realization, "After this war is over, if I win, I'm going to have three castles, aren't I?" I asked aloud absently. "My castle in Ponyville, the Crystal Palace, and then Canterlot Castle..." I said warily. 'I'll probably have to rule from Canterlot. Maybe not, but it would make the most sense since Canterlot is the capital of Equestria, and it would be centered rather well. However, Ponyville is still my home...' I grimaced.
I blinked, then looked over at Rainbow. She looked at me blankly and remained quiet. I pursed my lips and turned my attention back to the room. It was so barren and empty, and it would likely stay that way, although I knew that they would maintain and keep the room cleaned for me. 'It's kind of a waste of space, I should... use it for something. I guess I can just use it whenever I'm in the Crystal Empire, though. That's what it's for, after all,' I mused.
"Um..." I turned my attention over to Rainbow. "What now, Princess?" she asked unsurely.
'Good question. It's not that late, but it's not exactly early, either.' As if answering my question, my stomach shifted, then gurgled, breaking the silence with a dull rumbling. I smiled sheepishly. "I guess I'm going to get some dinner," I answered. I started to turn around to face the door but paused. "You should join me. It's been a while since we've really... done anything like that," as I spoke, I felt a little guilty about it. "Besides, you're probably hungry by now, too."
"Well, yeah, but I'm supposed to protect you," Rainbow said.
I frowned, then turned back around to face Rainbow. "Yes, but you have to eat too," I countered.
She shifted her weight on her hooves and looked away from my gaze. My brow creased downward before I pushed the concern away. "You don't know anypony here. I don't trust them," Rainbow said flatly.
'She doesn't trust them?' I wondered, confused and unsure of why she wouldn't trust them since they had been nothing but nice and respectful since our arrival. "Rainbow, they're not going to attack me. You've seen how they've been treating me."
Rainbow turned her head away from me, then slowly looked around the room before turning back to me and meeting my gaze. For a second, I could see concern and something else in her gaze, then it disappeared. "I don't trust them to protect you," she said, then took a deep breath. "I'm your personal guard, I'm supposed to protect you," she said more firmly.
"You're eating with me and that's that," I said flatly. She winced, and I would have sworn she shifted her weight away from me. I blinked, then squinted at her, but it was gone.
"Y-yes, Princess," she acknowledged.
I grimaced, then sighed and hung my head. "Please drop that for the rest of the evening. I have a lot on my mind. I kind of just want to forget it all right now." I shook my head and then lifted it back up. "I wish the rest of the girls were here," I said longingly. "It's been too long since we've just hung out." 'Although, maybe it's for the best that they're not here. They know what I did, I told them...'
The thought was condemning. I felt like I betrayed them and everything we were supposed to stand for.
'No, don't think like that,' I told myself. 'They support you. You had no choice, your life was on the line, Rainbow's life was on the line, the ponies in your team were at risk, and how many of your own ponies would have died if you didn't act?'
"Okay, if that's what you want, Twilight," Rainbow said, breaking me from my thoughts. I smiled at her and nodded.
"I guess I should go place an order and see if there are any spare tabels and chairs I can have brought to my chambers," I said aloud, turning back toward the door. I frowned. "You still haven't been asigned a room to stay in tonight either..."
"I can just pull an all-nighter and stand guard outside," Rainbow said hastily.
"Don't be silly, Rainbow. You need sleep. Staying awake that long won't do you any favors tomorrow, and I don't want you to have to deal with that," I replied. "Besides, I'm sure there's a room close by if you really feel the need to stay close by in case something happens, which I'm sure nothing will."
"Twilight, please. I don't... I can't let anything like... that, happen to you again," Rainbow said.
I stood still and remained silent. 'Maybe that affected you worse than what I thought... Maybe I need to order you to take a break. No, I can't do that, you wouldn't let me, would you? You wanted to help me, and you are, but.... this isn't what I wanted. I wanted you to be safe, and... I should have thought that through better. I could reassign you to a safer job but you would figure out what I was doing, wouldn't you?' There was no good answer, other than to keep her close and to stay out of danger. But if I stayed out of danger, how many more ponies' lives were I risking? "I can have a bed brought in here, if you'd feel better, but you are sleeping," I said. I lifted my hoof up, then stamped it down on the floor, trying to convey a sense of finality, hoping it would be enough.
"Fine," she relented.
I glanced back at her and smiled brightly, then opened the door with my magic.
Princess Luna
My job as the protector of ponies' dreams had become much, much more difficult ever since the war started. Many of the ponies who fought in the battles were haunted by nightmares, and even more innocent ponies who had never been anywhere near the field of battle were suffering from the same nightmares, though much less detailed. What struck me as most off, however, was that so many ponies had been having nightmares about me. It was disconcerting and it drew my ire at my sister for whatever role she played in bringing about those nightmares.
As of lately, the dreams had been worse, and the number of nightmares were staggering. No longer did I have the time to stay and talk to ponies, instead, I was forced to simply cast a spell to banish their nightmares and replace them with sweet dreams. I hoped they knew what I was doing, but somehow I had the suspicion that my work would go unnoticed or underappreciated.
I gracefully swept my wings downward, then flowed forward amidst the dream plane. Countless thousands of dreams bobbed passed and around me, some of ponies I was familiar with, and some of ponies who I did not know. I felt a certain pull, then turned to my left. Looking passed the field of dreams in my immediate vicinity, innumerable orbs representing the dreams of ponies sleeping blurred together.
One stood out. 'Twilight?' I could not resist smiling as her familiarity dawned on me, but then I felt a cold chill crawling down my spine. I closed my eyes, then willed myself forward. Even with my eyes closed, I could see the dreams surrounding me blur by, their distinct lights becoming inpeneratrable walls, then it all stopped.
I opened my eyes and gazed straight ahead. A light pink orb hovered just in front of my muzzle, it looked so innocent, young, and pure, and yet the terror I felt coming off in waved from the nightmare made my fur stand on end. I took a deep breath and steeled my resolve, then flared my wings outward and touched my horn to the orb.
Chaos and disorientating were the only words I could immediately use to describe the nightmare. A second passed, and more became clear. Rows of pale gray tents stretched on as far as I could see, and the grass had been worn down to dirt. Cold rain fell from dark clouds high above, and the air held a malignant chill. Sharp cracks punctured the air, bolts of light which I recognized as magic flashed left and right. Shouts of orders blurred together into a haze. Soldiers ran forth, clad in the armor of the Royal Guard, paying no heed to my presence.
I watched with a mixture of dread and pity as some of them ran to their deaths, their armor melting under the violent assault of spells, while others ran forth firing spells of their own in retaliation. I followed the spells with my gaze. On the receiving end of the assault were seven ponies, two of whom I immediately recognized, and all of them save for one were pegasi. Upon this revelation, I realized that every bolt of magic coming from the group was soley from Twilight.
I met Twilight's gaze and my heart fell, she did not notice my presence, she was too consumed by the nightmare. I knew that I should intervene, and I would, when the time was right.
The pegasi surrounding Twilight, save for Rainbow Dash, charged at the soldiers attacking them. They lashed out with their hooves in an almost bloodthirsty manner, yet none of them spilled blood because every soldier felled by them was left with a broken neck. The only pony spilling blood was Twilight, and looking down, the earth had taken on a noticeble red tint.
Yet no matter how many soldiers fell, more kept coming to take their places. The soldiers started to regroup as Twilight grew weary from the battle, then one by one, Twilight's pegasi were brought down to the ground, unmoving, by spells. Every time a spell punctured one of her pegasi's armor, Twilight recoiled as if physically struck. Looking back into her eyes, I say nothing but pain and despair.
With Rainbow and Twilight the only ponies left, the soldiers turned their attention to Twilight. Spells shot toward Twilight, but she was frozen in place, petrified by the sight of her fallen comrades. I found my mouth dry as I forced myself to continue to watch. It hurt, knowing that my friend was having this nightmare, but I needed to know more before I could intervene.
A rainbow-blur darted out in front of the path of the spells. Twilight's eyes went wide before she disappeared behind a wall of blue and blinding light as spells hit their mark. The rainbow blur continued onward, falling forward to the ground. A soft groan filled the air, muting the sounds of spells. Twilight leapt forward, grabbing ahold of Rainbow and clenching her eyes shut, then she screamed.
Her horn glowed violently, and a wave of magic exploded out from her horn in slow motion. Bolts of magic disappeared, dull gray fabric was burnt to a crisp, and ponies were consumed by the spell in an instant, leaving nothing but smoldering metal behind. An almost electric feeling washed over me as the spell surged passed my location.
Silence filled the air. I turned around to survey the damage. Charred tents continued on as far as I could see, and there were no bodies, not even of the pegasi accompanying Twilight. I turned back to face Twilight, my heart filled with sorrow at the sight of her crouched over the lifeless corpse of her friend, crimson coating her once pristene coat and armor. Her cried pierced the air. As if completing the picture, the rain intensified while the cold bit into my bones.
A sound came from my left. Heavy hoofsteps pounding against the earth. I scowled as the stallion walked into my sight. General Hoof was capable of getting results, but he was always too eager. I turned back to Twilight, she had not noticed his presence. Looking back at General Hoof, he smiled maliciously, then strode over to Twilight, only coming to a stop a hair's length from her.
In one swift move, he reared up onto his hind lengs, then pulled his arms back. He lurched at Twilight, swinging his hooves in toward her body. The sound of metal being punctured echoed through the air, then Twilight let out a short, sharp scream as she was thrown over. General Hoof continued through the attack, pinning Twilight to the ground, her wings flailing about helplessly. Twilight's face contorted in pain as General Hoof jerked back from Twilight, two blades attached to his hooves sliding out of Twilight's body were covered in red that not even the rain could wash away.
He grunted, then stepped around and primed his right hoof to strike again, then he lunged at her neck.
I closed my eyes and lit my horn. In an instance, the cold air was banished and replaced by a pleasant warmth. The rain was replaced by a gentle Summer's breeze. The dark, foreboding clouds were replaced by a clear blue sky where the sun was brightly shining. Dirt and charred tents were replaced by a grassy meadow, and armor was replaced by flowers.
A soft, hollow sob broke through the stillness. "L-Luna?" Twilight called, her voice unsteady. I opened my eyes to see her shaking, tears still lingering in her eyes, and her gaze was directed at me.
I nodded, then calmly strode over to her. She swallowed and scurried to her hooves, then immediately shied back from me and lit her horn. I paused and stood still. "Twilight, I will not hurt you here. It would be an abuse of my duty and you are my friend, to say nothing of how wrong that would be. Hurting you here would be something Nightmare Moon would have done, not I," I said in a calm, collected manner.
Twilight's gaze faltered. The glow surrounding her horn faded and she collapsed onto her haunches, closing her eyes and hanging her head.
I cautiously started toward her again at a slower pace. She made no attempt to flee as I neared. I stood over her for what felt like a couple of seconds, then I walked around beside her and sat down. I turned my head to face her and watched as a sob shook her entire body. I unfurled my wing, then laid it around her back and coaxed her against my side. There was so much I wanted to say and ask, but she came first. For her, I would wait as long as she needed to break the silence.
After a while, she took a deep breath and lifted her head up. "Maybe... Maybe this is exactly what I need," she mused, then snorted and shook her head. She slowly lowered her head once more, though not to the same degree as before. The silence that lingered was almost palpable. She turned to me and looked at me thoughtfully, but her expression was also heavy. "Do you know what I did?"
"I am aware that you leveled General Hoof's main camp," I answered calmly.
She looked away from me, then turned her head back straight forward. "I..." she hesitated, and I could see her biting her lip. "I killed thousands of ponies," she said, followed by a lengthy pause. "With one. Single. Spell," she added, turning back toward me. "And... it was just a spell I made on the fly, while dying." She opened her mouth, then looked down at my body and licked her lips. "I almost died. I could have died. Do you know how close I came to dying?"
I frowned. "I do not," I answered, disconcerted about her revelation.
"General Hoof stabbed me in the neck twice. I nearly bled out. I was saved by a surge of alicorn magic." She paused and tilted her head to the side. "That's what I used to wipe out the came." She looked back forward. "It's a miracle I didn't hurt any of my own ponies with that spell," she whispered. "I was almost dead when I cast that spell..."
"You would not have cast it if it would have harmed your friends. You underestimate yourself. Even in that state, or perhaps because of that state, I do not believe you could have used such a spell if it would have hurt your friends," I replied.
She blinked, then looked up at me. "I've killed thousands. I'm... a monster. How many families did I break apart? How many foals did I take away from their parents? How many parents did I take away from their foals? How many more deaths will be on my hooves?" she asked, almost pleadingly.
I slowly looked away from her, gazing off into the distance. "I cannot answer that, Twilight, and you know that." I could almost hear her swallowing, and out of the corner of my eye, I watched her as she looked off in the distance like me. "You killed them to protect your friends, did you not?" I asked.
She glanced down at her hooves, then looked back up and hastily nodded. "I did it to protect my ponies," she answered, a bit of a scowl crossing her lips.
"Then you know the burden than my sister and I both have shared," I replied solemnly.
"But... what if I can't protect them?" she asked, turning back to me.
I turned my head to face her and offered her a weak smile. "You will do your best to protect them. Maybe you will not succeed at protecting them, but you know that even my sister and I do not wish harm on you or your friends. I do not wish harm on anypony, and I hate this war." I grimaced. "It is a necessary evil, however."
"What about me, if I lose? What will you do to me?" she asked, fear creeping into her voice.
"Twilight, I do not wish to harm you. I will fight you if necessary, but I will not hurt you. I would gladly accept you by my side if you so choose to help me..." I trailed off sighing. "If you do continue to resist, even then, I do not wish to hurt you. I would hope that we would come to an understanding before that, since it would mean that more ponies would die needlessly."
Twilight winced and closed her eyes. "I've used dark magic on ponies," she whispered.
I nodded slowly. "So you have told me before," I replied cautiously.
"I killed a defenseless mare who was under the effects of a mind control spell... I needed to find out where Celestia was holding Rainbow, and... I couldn't let her live," she added.
I took a deep breath and pulled her against my side with my wing. I remained silent. I would not chastize her for it, even if I knew that it was a dangerous, slippery slope. I knew her, and I knew that she would not go too far as well as I knew she would not kill without a just reason. I felt weary and my heart was heavy at knowing just how much of her innocence had been lost since the start of the war. And because I knew her, I knew how much this must have weighed on her mind.
"I... told my friends about this. It hurt," she said. "I was afraid that they would hate me. They don't, but... how can they look at me the same? How can they just... brush aside what I've done and stick with me!?"
"They are your friends," I answered. "There are friends who will stick closer to you than your own family. Your brother and sister-in-law are perfect examples of that."
She pulled back from me a little, but made no attempt to argue against it. "I think... I'm worried about Rainbow Dash. She saved my life, she carried me back after I almost died. I would have died if it weren't for her. That had to have left a scar on her. This... this whole war has to have left a scar on her. She was captured by Celestia..." Twilight said. "I shouldn't have let her join me. I shouldn't have made her my personal guard. I shouldn't have brought her with me!"
"You would have died in that battle if not for her, correct?" I asked.
Twilight hesitated, then nodded. "Yes."
"So, you would have rather died than scar your friend," I stated.
She slowly nodded. "Yes," she answered, only reaffirming what I already knew.
"She knew the risks when she joined you," I replied.
"But did she actually think about it and realize it?" Twilight asked. "I don't think she did, Luna. I'm worried about how much this is going to affect her. She didn't want to sleep tonight since I'm in the Crystal Empire. She wanted to stand guard all night long. She didn't trust them to protect me. She feels like she failed me, even though I told her she didn't. I'm worried."
"Do you plan to do something about it?" I asked.
She sighed and slumped down a little. "I know that I should do something about it. I kow that I need to do something to keep her out of harm's way and to make sure that she's safe, but... I can't. I want to order her to not do her job of protecting me, but that defeats the purpose..." She lifted a hoof and pressed it against her temple, then slowly rubbed.
"There are no easy answers in war, Twilight. But you are her princess. You can order her to put her life above your life, but as her job is to protect you, should something happen to you, she may resent you or herself. I believe that you are right to be concerned about her, however. I have seen her nightmares about that day. She fears that she will make a mistake and it will cost your life. She is afriad that she will fail and you will die." I grimaced at the memories. "It would be the safest option to assign her to a different duty, or perhaps to have her elsewhere should you go into combat once more. I do not believe you will have anything to worry about within your own territory, save for fighting a battle."
Twilight sat up straighter, then rose to her hooves and stepped out from under my wing. I held it open for a second, then folded my wing back against my side. "Thank you for the talk, Luna, but... I'm sure there are other ponies who need your help just as much as I do, if not more than I do."
"You are my friend," I said, offering her a gentle smile, even if she couldn't see it. "But I do have a question I would like to ask you." Twilight slowy turned around to face me, then nodded hesitantly. I frowned. "Why were you blocking me from your dreams? I know that we may not see eye to eye on some issues, but I would never hurt you here nor use it for my own gain."
Twilight averted her gaze from me. "I was afraid," she answered.
I remained silent for several seconds, hoping she would elaborate further, but she chose not to. 'Very well, Twilight, I shall not push that further.' "If you do not block me again, I will ensure that you no longer have nightmares." She didn't react. "I shall leave you be for tonight, then. I shall intervene should you have any further nightmares, but I do not believe you will." I stood up and flared my wings, then lit my horn.