Twilight’s wings whipped against her, bruising her sides as she could start to see Canterlot at the crest of the next hill. The peak of the castle had just begun to rise like the sun in the distance. Sweat trickled down Twilight’s brow, dripping into her eyes as she flew. Luna’s alright. She can handle this. It’s her sister. And Celestia’s too strong to be possessed like this. Everything’ll be okay. Panic had struck the small princess. Too many what ifs existed. What if she’d lost Luna? What if Celestia was gone forever? What if she was the only princess left? Twilight shook the thoughts from her head. They distracted her too much, and caused emotions to surface that she didn’t have time to deal with right now. She blinked out her tears, and sniffled. The important thing right now, was to get to Canterlot. That was it.
“Twilight! Slow down” Fluttershy’s voice called from behind. “You’re losing the others!”
Glancing back, Twilight saw her friend was right. She’d been flying breakneck speed this entire time. Her gold tiara even begged for relief as it danced about her head, almost ready to teeter off. Quickly slowing to an almost stop, Twilight steadied her element of magic and waited for the others. Rainbow Dash of course had broken the sound barrier long ago and was probably already there. “I know it’s a long way to go, but we have to get there as soon as we can. Princess Luna needs us . . . and so does Princess Celestia” Twilight explained, the last part coming out in a whisper.
As Rarity caught up, she gasped for breath, “You are right Twilight, but we just can’t keep up with you like that.”
Taking her hat off, Applejack brushed the sweat from her face. “If the train could’ve taken us all the way, then we wouldn’t even be in this mess.”
“It would’ve been faster,” Twilight explained, “but the soldiers wanted to avoid further damage or . . . causalities.”
“Oh my,” Fluttershy gasped, “has any-pony died from D-Daybreaker?”
Twilight glared at her friend, not appreciating the use of the name, “No. No pony has died yet. And no pony is going to die. We’re going to stop her and save Princess Celestia.”
“Of course we are,” Rarity reassured, “That’s why we have the elements. Everything’s going to be fine.”
“Well let’s get going then!” Applejack said, “We’re all caught up, and I hate the idea of ole Dashie beating me at anything.”
Twilight nodded and took back to the air, feeling a bit more confident knowing her friends were behind her.
The gang, minus Spike, who Twilight had insisted on staying behind, quickly entered into Canterlot. Even on the outskirts of the city, damage could already be seen. Smoke pillared from the heart of the city. The occasional gusts of wind were evidence enough that Rainbow Dash had already started helping the soldiers.
“Come on girls!” Twilight exclaimed, motioning for them to follow. She led them on into the city, galloping to the heart of Canterlot. Twilight gulped anxiously, as the further in they travelled, the more damage Canterlot sustained. Buildings that were sliced like butter, swayed in the wind. Soldiers worked to pull ponies out of collapsing houses. Rainbow Dash busied herself with rescuing ponies unfortunate enough to be trapped in the few homes that had caught fire.
“What happened here?” Pinkie Pie couldn’t help but ask. Her usual bright, and chirpy voice had died down to a whisper.
“We have to find Luna” Twilight said, ignoring Pinkie’s question. Her body trembled at the notion that they could already be too late.
Approaching a nearby guard, Twilight asked, “Excuse me, but where is Princess Luna and Princess Celestia?”
The guard turned to her, and almost jumped in surprise. “P-Princess Twilight!” He stammered, “I-I don’t know. Princess Luna was fighting with all her strength against . . . D-Daybreaker I think she called herself, but Daybreaker left. We don’t know where she went.”
“And Princess Luna?”
The guard turned and pointed at the castle. “Last we saw the princess was in there. But the castle has taken a lot of damage, and we’ve been so focused on civilians, we haven’t been able to get inside it yet.”
“You haven’t attempted to rescue a Princess of Equestria . . . who could be hurt or worse?” Twilight asked exasperated. Before the guard could even respond, Twilight turned to her friends, “Come on girls! We’re rescuing Princess Luna!”
“W-Wait Princess Twilight, the castle is too dangerous to just . . .”
Twilight ignored the guard and hurried on towards the castle, stopping once she’d reached it. A couple of towers lay scattered across castle grounds and gardens. Whole walls ripped from the foundation left gaping holes in the structure. Through those holes, Twilight could even see collapsed floors, small embers, and even hear the occasional sound of a wall collapsing from within. Dust and rubble shrouded the once mighty castle from the rays of the afternoon sun.
She has to be in here. She just has to. Twilight assured herself, starting to pant as fear crept into her head. She hesitated to take another step towards the castle, unsure of what lay ahead. But Celestia . . . That’s right. Celestia was still out there, and needed their help. Pushing forward, Twilight rushed the castle with her friends.
The five of them entered the castle, rushing into the entrance hall. The stairs leading up to the second floor had broken away. Only slivers of them remained. The once vibrant red carpet that had welcomed many a guest, now a faded brown from rubble and dust. It lay ripped, and scattered in several pieces along the hall.
“Where do we go?” Fluttershy asked.
“Should we split up?” Applejack added.
Twilight considered the possibility. It’s true they’d cover more ground, but at the same time, the castle may no longer be structurally sound. If something were to happen . . . “No, we better stick together. We don’t know what kind of shape this place is in.”
Still, the question of which way was a valid one. Twilight glanced up to the second floor. On one hoof, they could search top to bottom; specifically, in that order. The problem though would quickly come in traversing the damage. “Let’s start with ground floor. If we have to, we can work our way to the upper floors.” As Twilight spoke, some of the ceiling gave way, and the girls had to split in order to avoid being crushed to death. “Let’s hope we don’t have to.” Twilight finished.
The girls started down the long hall of the lower east wing of the castle. Twilight figured the easiest solution was to hit the rooms, one by one. The notion sounded far more daunting than it actually was. Many of the rooms on the first floor were wide, and open. Mainly for festivities and political ambassador visits, the first floor was really meant to hold as many ponies and critters as possible. To Twilight’s knowledge, there were only a hoof-full of smaller rooms on the first floor. The kitchen, a couple of staffing offices, and was the laundry room on the first floor? She wasn’t sure. Some of the rooms were much less known to her than others.
“What happens if Princess Luna isn’t here?” Pinkie Pie’s voice suddenly rang out amidst the heavy silence that had fallen amongst the group.
“What do mean ‘not here’?” Twilight said.
A bit befuddled, Pinkie trotted alongside Twilight and looked at her sideways, “you know, not here . . . as in, somewhere else.”
“It is possible she’s not here Twilight,” Applejack spoke up, “What if she’s still fighting Daybreaker or . . . something’s happened to her.”
It was a very real possibility. She’d been trying to avoid thinking about the possibility in fear of losing herself. Twilight turned to Applejack and the others, and noticed the looks on their faces. She watched Fluttershy stare off to the side absentmindedly, trying to suppress her worry, Rarity who stood behind AJ and Pinkie Pie, afraid to speak. They were terrified. This kind of damage hadn’t been seen since Tirek maybe. “Then,” Twilight began, her voice faltering, “. . . we deal with it when it comes. But we can’t jump to conclusions yet, we still have to find her.”
“But what about Daybreaker?” Fluttershy finally spoke up.
Twilight hated the name, hated that they’d have to refer to Princess Celestia as such. “There was a book that she was after.” Twilight explained, “if it’s as powerful as what I suspect, then she’s probably searching for it now. That’s why we have to work fast.” Twilight explained, shuddering a bit, “Let’s find Luna, find the book, and stop Daybreaker before any-pony else gets hurt.”
The others nodded as Twilight turned and approached the doors leading up to one of the ballrooms. She suddenly felt Applejack pressing against her, letting her know she wasn’t alone. Twilight looked over to her friend and smiled in appreciation. Her eyes misted over from just holding everything back. Applejack nodded in understanding, “Together Twilight,” she whispered.
Throwing open the doors, the five of them rushed into the ballroom, but stopped. A giant hole, like a crater, split the room in half. The girls could look up through the second floor and see sky. Below, laid the remains of whatever room had been directly under them.
“Look!” Rarity called out.
She pointed down in a corner. Bruised and curled up was a motionless alicorn.
“Princess Luna!” Twilight cried out and flew down with Fluttershy into the room. There was not a movement from the princess, not even a twitch. Twilight pressed her hooves against the princess’ side, shaking her. Pulling away, Twilight felt her hooves warm and moist with Luna’s blood. Looking up to the helpless three who couldn’t get down, she shouted, “Get Rainbow Dash! Now! We have to get her out of here!”
Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie all disappeared in a flash. Twilight turned to Fluttershy who hovered shakenly over the princess. “Fluttershy. Fluttershy!”
Fluttershy suddenly woke up out of her trance. She pulled her eyes off Luna and looked at Twilight, tears streaming down her face. “y-yesss?”
“I need you to fetch some carpet, preferably some long clean strips. We’re going to make some tourniquets for Luna and if you can find enough, we’ll use it to lift her out of this hole.”
Fluttershy nodded and rushed out of the hole.
All alone with Luna, Twilight lean in and used her magic to listen to the princess’ heart. She released a loud sigh of relief when she found that Luna was still alive. Using her magic, Twilight tried to heal what she could for Luna. She wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about healing spells, at least ones as complex as what was needed. The spells though, must have been enough, for after a few moments, Luna opened her eyes.
“T-Twilight?” She asked, her voice soft, and weak.
“It’s me.” Twilight confirmed, “Are you alright?”
Luna coughed as she tried to sit up, but Twilight just held her down. “Not so fast. You’re hurt too badly to be moving.”
“D-Daybreaker . . . where is she?” Luna asked. “Where’s my sister?”
“We . . . we don’t know. By the time my friends and I got here, she was already gone.”
Luna again attempted to sit up. “Then . . . we have to hurry . . . She’ll be coming back.” Her body quaked in pain and again Luna slumped to the floor, panting for breath. “You have to get to the book before she does.”
“We will Princess Luna. We have to get you out of here first.”
Determined not to show weakness, Luna attempted to sit up for a third time. When Twilight tried to hold her down, Luna batted away her hooves. Taking in a deep breath, and feeling her ribs cracking, she grit her teeth and swallowed the pain. Sitting up, Princess Luna winced as shockwaves coursed through her body. But she bore with it. “Daybreaker,” she said, now in a proper position to speak, “. . . she doesn’t have full control of Celestia. They are still fighting for control.”
“Don’t worry Princess Luna. We have the Elements of Harmony. Once we get you out, we’re going after her.”
Luna smiled at Twilight as she nodded her head. Before she could say anything, voices from above could be heard. When the two glanced up, Rainbow Dash was already bolting down into the hole. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity had returned. Fluttershy had found plenty of carpet for bandaging up Luna and getting her out.
Twilight turned back to Luna and said, “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”
Twilight stepped out of the castle and into the afternoon sun with her friends. She, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack helped support Luna. The princess, frail from her injuries, had insisted on walking out of the castle. She groaned in pain with each step, and required the assistance from the girls just to stand, but she would not be dragged out on a stretcher, not in Equestria’s time of need. She’d see this through to the end, even to the death if need-be.
When the girls had cleared the castle, soldiers rushed over to them and grabbed onto Luna. At this point she again refused. Allowing Twilight and her friends to assist her was one matter, but soldiers who she needed to be a beacon for, no. They would see her stand firm. “As you were colts. I can stand on my own.” Luna said, and the soldiers glanced at each other worriedly. Even Twilight opened her mouth to speak, but Luna interrupted, “Thank you all for the support, but we have too much work to do to be pampering me.”
Turning to the castle, Luna surveyed over the damage. Her heart broke as she gazed upon the ruins. “When I returned from being Nightmare Moon, this castle was the safest place to me. This was home. Now look at it.” She said, growing angry at herself, “just look at it.” She said again.
“Luna,” Twilight eventually said, unable to contain herself any longer, “You’re hurt. Seriously hurt. If you don’t get some help . . . we can’t afford to lose another princess.”
“There is no time.” Luna insisted, “Twilight, you and your friends have to leave in search of Daybreaker. And you must do it now. If we don’t get to that book before she does, who knows what will become of Equestria.”
“But we don’t even know where to look . . .” Twilight said, feeling her friends stepping up behind her.
As if on cue, a voice from behind the soldiers called out, “I can help you with that!”
When the ponies turned, they found some-pony pushing past the soldiers, forcing her way through and into the small opening. Pushing her glasses up on her nose, Moon Dancer smiled weakly as she waved at them.
Within seconds, Twilight had rushed her old friend and embraced her. “Moon Dancer! You’re okay!” She said, overcome with emotion.
“I’m fine. They were in the middle of evacuating me when I saw you emerge with Princess Luna.” She explained.
“Time is of the essence young Moon Dancer.” Luna said, “If there is something you know which can help us find my sister, we need to hear it.”
Moon Dancer looked around, seeing every-pony waiting anxiously for her to respond. Even some of the nearby soldiers had perked up their ears for a listen. Moon Dancer wasted no time. “The book Daybreaker is searching for is a collection of powerful spells gathered from all corners of Equestria. The contents were compiled by King Sombra himself during his rule in the Crystal Empire.”
Eager to get moving, Twilight asked, “Where is it?”
“That’s the interesting part. King Sombra knew his book would be destroyed if ever it fell into the wrong hooves . . .or in this case, the right hooves. So, he devised a scheme that would make the book impossible for any-pony to find. He designed it to vanish into a secret location after each use. That way it would never be found on him should he be captured. King Sombra used a summoning spell to bring the book into his hooves for whenever he needed it.”
“Excellent.” Luna said, happy that things could end quickly. She’d destroy the book, and that dark energy possessing her sister, so that it could never again hurt another pony. “What is the spell?” Luna asked.
“Unfortunately, the spell was lost long ago.” Moon Dancer said, and watched as the others dismayed at her words. “But I do know where the book vanishes to. It hides itself in the Castle of the Two Sisters. King Sombra knew Princess Luna and Celestia would never search their own castle for his book, so he chose to hide it there.”
Luna stood dumbfounded, still processing all of the information that had just been presented. She’d spent plenty of time growing up in the old castle’s library. Was it in front of her eyes even then?
Luna ignored the pain that again tremored through her body as her mind became focused on the task at hand. They knew where the book was. Destroy it, and take back Celestia. Luna breathed in deep. Daybreaker almost certainly knew this same information as well.
“Thank you so much Moon Dancer!” Twilight exclaimed, hugging her friend again. Then turning to the rest of her friends, she said, “Come on girls! Let’s get that book!”
“Alright!” Rainbow Dash shouted excitedly.
The others hoorayed and cheered and Moon Dancer quickly added, “I’m going with you Twilight.” And before any-pony could protest, she quickly added, “You’ll want some-pony who’s as good with libraries as I am. The faster we find that book, the better, right?”
Luna watched as Twilight reluctantly agreed. “I’m going too.” She said, approaching the girls, wincing with every step. Luna couldn’t let the girls go alone. She wouldn’t. After what Daybreaker did to her, these girls wouldn’t stand a chance. She had to protect them.
“No.” Twilight said. “You stay here. You’re hurt. Let us handle this.”
“Twilight, I . . .” Luna began.
“Don’t worry. We’ll be fine.” Twilight reassured her. “Besides, if Daybreaker does come this way, the soldiers need a princess to lead them into battle, to help protect Canterlot. We don’t know where she is or what she is doing. We have to cover all our bases.”
Twilight was right. Luna couldn’t argue. “Alright,” she said, “I’ll stay. But you must go. Now. Every second we stand here talking, Daybreaker gets closer to conquering Equestria.”
Twilight nodded and with a call to her friends, the gang of now seven ponies galloped hard out of Canterlot. Luna watched them until they were all out of sight. Then, turning to the soldiers who’d been watching her conversation, she stood up straight, ignoring the searing pain in her limbs, the pain that cracked her bones, and ate away at her legs. Luna stared into their eyes, and allowed one tear to drop from her face for her sister, for everything she’d let happen. “Soldiers! Prepare a defense around Canterlot. And get those civilians out of here! Now!” She ordered.
Landing in the darkest portions of the Hayseed Swamps, Daybreaker ruffled her nose at the repugnant odor that stretched out around her. The dreary swamp moistened her feathers, seeped into her coat of fur as she trudged through the swamp’s murky depths. It wasn’t that she wanted to be here, no. If it were up to the elegant princess, and future ruler of Equestria, she’d have this hell-hole swallowed in fire, and burned anew. But alas, there was one here who’s help she required.
The presence of Celestia’s consciousness suddenly strengthened with such veracity that Daybreaker stumbled over a dead log, crawling with termites, beetles, and roaches. In anger of their destroyed home, the nuances swarmed over Daybreaker, until she was forced to torch them into the earth.
“You cannot stop this Celestia.” Daybreaker whispered to herself. With both her conscious and that of Celestia’s vying for control, their thoughts and emotions frequently intermingled. It was almost certain that the pathetic princess knew of her plan. “I will have what is mine.” Daybreaker hissed, stepping towards a dank, almost rustic cave that had uprooted itself in the swamp.
The mossy green water that oozed from this cave somehow spilled into the sky, giving everything the light touched an emerald glaze. As Daybreaker stepped up to the entrance, she could feel seaweed and grass clinging to her hooves, a most unpleasant and unbefitting sensation for Equestria’s greatest leader.
Upon entering the cave, darkness quickly surrounded Daybreaker. The light from her horn was all that dared enter the black stone. A dozen pairs of eyes opened up in the dark, tracking her every move. She did not fear them. She came to speak with them, persuade them if she must, to join her. For Daybreaker knew that Twilight and the others would go after that silly book. No matter. She had only a temporary interest in it, then they could have it for all she cared. As long as she could forever silence Celestia and have full control of this body, she cared not of what those fools did. But, the Elements of Harmony were a threat; one that Daybreaker hated to admit and one that she’d need help in dealing with.
A voice from deep within the cave growled at Daybreaker and spoke, “One who willingly wades through my swamp is either stupid or crazy. Tell me my prey, which are you?”
Daybreaker smiled at the voice. This was why she came. This was the reason that she put herself through such wretched conditions. Releasing a short laugh, Daybreaker answered, “Under normal circumstances, I’d consider myself both crazy and stupid for setting hoof in such filth.” The cave came to life with growls and hisses. The eyes that watched her glared menacingly down at her frame. The light from her horn only managed to grab glimpses of the creatures moving about the dark. “However,” she continued, “these are far from normal circumstances.”
Stepping deeper into the cave, to where she could no longer see the glinting light of its entrance, Daybreaker said with great confidence, “Do the names Twilight Sparkle and Princess Celestia mean anything to you?”
At the mention of those names, the sound of buzzing wings filled the cave, echoing all around Daybreaker. She could feel the changelings taunting her, surrounding her. Then, a new pair of eyes shone through the blackness. Seductive, light phthalo green eyes stared back and the queen’s voice rose above the rest. “You come into my cave, and speak the names of my enemies; ponies that have nearly destroyed all of us changelings. Who are you? If I dare say, you have a striking resemblance to that of Princess Celestia.”
“Very good observation. That is because I am possessing her body. I am Daybreaker, and I aim to rule all of Equestria, and rid it of those who would stand in my way.” Daybreaker waited for response to her announcement, but when she received none, she continued, “How would you like to help me in my quest, and crush Twilight Sparkle?”
Chrysalis’ voice quaked at the mention of Twilight Sparkle. “I’ve suffered terrible losses at the hooves of Twilight and her friends. I’ve lost nearly all of my changelings to them.”
“I know.” Daybreaker said, having been fully aware of what has happened to the changelings over the past number of years. “Yes, I am quite familiar with what the princesses of Equestria have done to you.” Having come prepared, Daybreaker pulled out a rotten acorn, much like the seed from which Chrysalis herself was born. Setting it down on a small stone in front of her, she continued, “But, I can help you get your army back, and not just that, but an army a thousand times greater than what you had before.”
Intrigued, Chrysalis stepped forward, but only a few paces; enough so that her shadow stood out from her minions, “What did you have in mind?”
Thrilled with the queen’s interest, Daybreaker stepped further into the cave and extinguished her horn, so that the darkness enshrouded her. “A new Equestria, one in which you and I reign supreme; while the princesses and all they hold dear lay crushed and broken beneath our hooves.”
Silence fell between the two as Daybreaker waited for a response. She stood patiently, feeling the changelings grow closer to her. Daybreaker winced as Celestia attempted a brunt force attack on her, causing a searing migraine. She groaned in pain, and lifted her head up, frustrated at the queen’s silence. “Answer me, Chrysalis.”
Again silence. Daybreaker thought that maybe she was rejected, that this had all been a vast waste of time. Foolish of me to trust a changeling with anything. She thought to herself. But then, she heard a new sound rising from Chrysalis and her changelings. It was the sound of laughter. Daybreaker opened her mouth in a toothy smile. She knew Queen Chrysalis’ answer even before it was uttered.
“We’re in.”