Twilight stood rooted in place as Hermaeus Mora materialized above her friends. She had left that modified Black Book in the crystal caves beneath Canterlot with the desperate hope her friends would find it and use it to come see her. Hermaeus Mora had said that when she accepted the Thu'um, he would have a task for her after Chrysalis and her Changeling hord was vanquished, meaning an indefinite return to Apocrypha.
She had accepted without hesitation, for her friends.
She had not been able to bear the thought of not seeing them at least one more time during her self imposed imprisonment in Apocrypha, so she decided to leave that book as a means for them to come here to perform a rescue attempt she knew that they would be determined to try. Hermaeus Mora had backed her plan fully, which surprised her, she thought he wouldn't be against the idea of so many non-intellectual ponies invading Apocrypha. Now she had a feeling she had been to eager too trust her theory that he simply did not care if they came.
Her original plan was to talk them out of trying to liberate her and to just stay and visit, but when Princess Celestia had said she knew that she could not leave but that her friends had come up with an alternative, she had an inclination that Hermaeus Mora knew something she didn't.
"Lord Hermaeus Mora," said Celestia, "Please forgive our intrusion on your realm."
"I have known about your planned endeavor for some time, Princess..." said Hermaeus Mora, his voice echoing through Apocrypha. "Even before...you finalized it."
"What do you mean?" asked Rarity as she stepped up to stand directly beneath one of Hermaeus Mora's eyes, but then bowed low in respect. "If you don't mind me asking, sir?"
"What is going on?" asked Twilight with confusion, walking up to her assembled friends standing beneath the Daedric Prince of knowledge. "Why are you all not demanding he release me?"
"Because your warning finally sunk in, Twilight," said Spike as he waddled up to Twilight and put a claw on her withers. "You warned us back in Canterlot that this guy is not someone we want to trifle with."
"And besides, you Pinkie Promised him you would help with something," said Pinkie, somehow looking serious and excited at the same time. "And we wouldn't be good friends if we tried to force you to break a Pinkie promise."
"Hermaeus Mora hasn't actually done anything to warrant a violent response from Equestria either," said Luna, her attention on one of the waving tendrils before them. "So far he has kept to his word, his minions have only been exploring our libraries and other such locations of knowledge."
"I...I don't understand..." said Twilight, facing all of them with a perplexed look. "Haven't you come to rescue me?"
"Not in the way that you think, darling," said Rarity, coming up and taking Twilight by the hoof, gazing into her face with a sad smile. "We have something different in mind."
"It is true...my champion," said Hermaeus Mora, everyone looking up at his alien form. "Your companions have come here with an unexpectedly well thought-out objective."
"How do you know what we were planning?" asked Applejack, "We barely decided on it a couple of hours ago."
"Because...I am Hermaeus Mora," he said smugly.
"How does that explain anything," said Rainbow, fluttering up to the nearest portal and crossed her hooves, a half lidded look of annoyance crossing her features.
All present could swear they saw his many eyes roll with annoyance.
"I am the Daedric Prince of knowledge, time and fate," explained Hermaeus Mora in a more neutral tone. "My sphere..."
Everyone but Twilight gave a confused look, Hermaeus Mora rolling his eyes again, "My special talent...my...Cutie Mark, you would say...is divining past and future events through observation of your realms stars."
"Lord Hermaeus," said Fluttershy, surprising everypony by actually hovering up to one of Hermaeus Mora's tentacle vortexes. "Does that mean that you can see into the future?"
"Correct, mortal..." answered Hermaeus Mora, his voice somewhat gentle so it did not scare Fluttershy like it had before. "...but not in any way you could understand...and until that wretched queen unintentionally released my influence...my ability to do so in your realm was very limited."
"Then you do know why we have come," said Celestia, no doubt in her voice.
"Indeed...but you can explain yourselves," said Hermaeus Mora, smug intrigue in his slippery voice "I wish for my champion to hear it from you."
Twilight watched with worry and horror as the Princesses and her brother separated from her friends, moving to stand at the sidelines.
"You have the floor, young ones," said Luna, wearing a supportive smile.
"Yes, this is your task to fulfill," said Celestia, winking to the girls and Spike as she sat between her sister and Cadance.
The group of five ponies and one dragon huddled together under Hermaeus Mora's multiple vortexes, the ponies lowering themselves onto their chest in a respectful bow, Spike doing the same by bending down on one knee.
"Lord Hermaeus Mora," said Rarity, standing up straight while the rest of them stayed kneeling. They had all agreed that she should be the one to speak to Hermaeus Mora, having the most regal voice of all of them, and being the most experienced smooth talker. "My name is Rarity, and this is Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Spike," Rarity gestured to each of them as she spoke.
"As you most already know, we are Twilight's closest and most devoted friends," continued Rarity, wiping her tearing eyes with a handkerchief she conjured with her magic. "...and you must also already know how badly we failed her."
"Rarity, don't do this to yourself," said Twilight, approaching her friends with a worried look. "What happened was beyond your control..."
"No Twilight," said Applejack, still kneeling before Hermaeus Mora. "Not all of it."
"We could have chosen to believe you," said Fluttershy, looking up to Twilight, for she was the one closest to her when she approached. "You came to all of us for help, but we turned you away. We were so caught up in the wedding that we couldn't see what was happening around us."
"That isn't even the worst of it," said Rainbow, also looking up at Twilight. "Not a month before the wedding, another disaster was caused by our negligence."
"Yes, you were so stressed out about your self-imposed deadline for friendship lessons, you went all banana cream pie crazy and caused all of Ponyville to wage war over a doll," said Pinkie, looking up with a slightly deflating mane. "...and if we had payed more attention to you then, the whole disaster could have been avoided."
In the now proclaimed fifteen years Twilight had been in Apocrypha, she had pretty much forgotten about those instances, and the bitter feelings they had once sparked. After a while, all that mattered to her was stopping Chrysalis. Even now Twilight felt no grudge against any of them as they brought up the few times that they fell up short regarding her.
"We failed her then, but we will not fail her now," said Rarity before Hermaeus Mora, her bowing friends behind her. "Which is why me and the others beseech you, Lord Hermaeus Mora, allow the others and I to remain here with her for the duration of whatever duties you have tasked her with."
"What!?" Twilight shouted in surprise, her heart thundering in her chest.
"Twilight and the rest of us are a team," said Spike, looking up at Hermaeus Mora with a determined grin. "You can't have one of us without the rest."
There was a chorus of agreememts from the others.
"Girls! You can't be serious," said Twilight frantically, her mane poking out in random directions. "Apocrypha is no place for you."
"Let us decide that, sugar cube," said Applejack, standing up and taking her hat off before Twilight. "You spent some fifteen years to you here, learning new magic that you could use to defend us from a foe we were too blind to see."
"Not only did you kick serious tail with it," started Rainbow, also standing up and approaching Twilight. "You also went through unimaginable things to insure we were safe."
"Yes," said Fluttershy, now near Twilight. "...and when that awful Chrysalis gained the upper hoof and was going to start her wretched victory with me, you managed to turn the tide, causing great harm to yourself in the process."
"Ooohh, I can't imagine how much that must have hurt," said Pinkie, shivering with the rest of the group as they remembered Twilight’s mutilated form when she released herself from the Changeling goo using Spike's dragon fire.
"I agree," said Rarity, her sad blue eyes locked on her fellow unicorn. "That is why we all agreed that if we could not free you from this place, we would join you here."
Spike patted the stunned Twilight on the back, "We'll keep you company while all this blows over."
Twilight stood before them all, gratitude and happiness flooding her soul. In all the time she had known these fillies, she never once would have believed they would go so far for her. Her sharp mind could see the quick, but uneasy look they all threw to their surroundings, even Rainbow Dash could not suppress all the worry born of the appearance of Apocrypha. Despite all of that, they all declared they were willing to stay here with her.
Unfortunately, she knew that it was impossible.
"Girls...I don't know what to say..." moaned Twilight, tears falling from her eyes. But she shook her head to rid herself of them. "But you can't do this, it is impossible."
"Hey, 'Impossible' is my middle name,"said Rainbow, some of her ego surfacing. "Rainbow Impossible Dash!"
"You don't understand," said Twilight frantically, growing worried. "It is physically impossible for you to do this."
"A little late for that, don't you think," said Pinkie, rolling around Twilight on her hooves. "We're standing right here."
"Remember what Hermaeus Mora had to do to Cadance while he kept her here?" Said Twilight, slightly impatient. "He had to keep her under an enchanted sleep, or she would have lost her mind. And that is because Apocrypha has adverse effects on anypony who enters that is not intellectual."
"You sayin we're stupid?" asked Applejack, raising an eyebrow.
"You're missing the point," said Twilight desperately. "If you all linger in Apocrypha for too long you'll lose your mind, only those with the greatest of minds can withstand the effects."
"Yes, we understand, my student," said Celestia as she approached Hermaeus Mora.
Celestia looked up at the weaving tendrils above, a look of determination on her face. Twilight grew a panicked look and moved to intervene, but one of Hermaeus Mora's eyes looked at her, stopping her in her tracks. It was only a second, but Twilight could tell Hermaeus was warning her not to get involved with what was about to happen.
With all her loved ones present and Hermaeus Mora, a creature that Twilight still knew was a bad idea to anger, hovering just overhead, Twilight reluctantly silenced herself, but sighed a little when her friends pulled her into another group hug.
"Hermaeus Mora," began Celestia, lowering her head to expose the back of her head in a sign of submission. "We have come to your realm, Apocrypha, to reunite Twilight with her friends while she toils on whatever task you seek of her. We do remember what Twilight told us about this place and the effects it can have on all but a set type of minds, which is why I have come here to beg your assistance."
"What is it you propose I do Celestia?"
"Apocrypha is your realm, is it not?" asked Luna, walking up to stand beside her sister, though not taking the same pose. "You said it yourself, you command every aspect of it."
"Yes...It is...I did...and I do."
Luna felt her temper flare at the simplicity of his responses. He had said he already divined their purpose for coming here, why was he forcing them to move forward like this? One glance at the terrified Twilight embraced by her friends stayed the irritated remark that was at the back of her throat.
"Then we humbly ask you," said Celestia, slight desperation entering her voice. "Use that influence to protect Twilight’s friends while they keep her company here."
Twilight was about to give a warning to them for making such a request of a Daedric Prince, but Hermaeus Mora beat her to the response.
"Raise your head, Princess," said the mass of tendrils, one would think a hint of embarrassment was hidden in his cold voice. "It is unbefitting of you."
Celestia raised her head, a little embarrassed at her own display.
Luna arched an eyebrow at her sister before looking up to Hermaeus again. "Will you help us or not?"
There was a short pause.
"Pretty please," said Pinkie among the group hug, her eyes large and moist. "We really want to stay here and keep our dear friend company, but without going all loco in the cocoa."
Twilight looked at them all in shock, but also with split feelings. Studying under Hermaeus Mora had been an unimaginable experience for the scholarly side of her, but during that time she had never felt so alone. And she could not deny that the thought of her friends actually joining her here tempted her.
She knew it could not be.
"It is...most embarrassing for me to admit, but the the effects my realm has on the minds of most mortals is not something I can control."
Everyone gave him a varying reaction, confusion, disappointment, anger, and Twilight shed a tear that was equal parts relief and regret.
"The effect of Apocrypha has nothing to do with my influence over it," explained Hermaeus Mora, "It is due to how fragile mortal minds can be."
"Are you kidding me?" asked Rainbow Dash, flying up to where she actually had her face in one of Hermaeus Mora's eyes "Big bad Diddic Prince, or whatever you are, who can suck the brains out of a super powerful changeling queen, just take control of the sun and moon, and can project a freaky magic scream that calms every single pony in Equestria, and the one thing we need you to do is the one thing you can't do?"
"Some things are even beyond the abilities of a Daedric Prince, mortal."
Rainbow Dash just harrumphed and lowered herself back into the group hug around Twilight along with the rest of her let down friends. Twilight just sunk into it, willing to enjoy this while she could. She had known that it was impossible from the start, Hermaeus Mora having explained to her the rules of Apocrypha some time ago.
"However," said Hermaeus Mora, gaining everypony's attention again. "There may be another way around it."
Twilight's jaw dropped as conflicting thoughts bombarded her again.
"But you just said you have no control over what happens to the minds of those who enter this place," said Shining Armour, saying his first words in a while.
"I don't," continued Hermaeus, his voice telling everyone that he knew something that they didn't. "You do."
Another vortex of black tentacles materialized before anyone could question, this one only a few feet away from them, five familiar necklaces and a tiara gripped in its six tendrils.
"Wait, how did you...?" Celestia gasped, only to facehoof. " Why do I even bother with that ridiculous vault?"
"The Elements of Harmony?" inquired Fluttershy, the group hug breaking up, everypony approaching the magic jewelry. "What have they got to do with this?"
"These objects...are most intriguing. They have a connection to you six in a manner I have never come across before, and if I have predicted properly, that magic could deter Apocrypha's effects on you."
"So if we all wear our elements, we can stay here?" asked Rarity hopefully.
"Correct."
"No," shouted Twilight, everyone looking to her as she shook her head in aggravation. "Even if this works, and you can remain here with me, I can't let you. What about your homes, your responsibilities, your families?" She cast Shining Armour and Cadence a look, "And if you all stay here with me, who will plan their wedding?"
"Twily," said Shining Armour, walking up to his sister with a sad look. "Did you honestly think we would have our wedding without you?"
Twilight could only stare up at him in confusion,"But I..."
"You were right..." said Cadance, walking up next to her fiance. "...about everything and if it had not been for you, there would not even be a chance for another wedding."
"What I said to you that day was wrong, Twily," admitted Shining Armour, "I should have listened, but instead I failed to see the danger that was coming. And I failed as your BBBFF."
"But Chrysalis..." Twilight began to say, but Applejack cut her off.
"Had nothing to do with what your brother said back then, Twi," said the apple farmer. " She did not place him under a brainwashing until after she imprisoned you."
"Isn't that right dear?" said Cadance, poking Shining with a wing.
"Yes," said Shining Armour shamefully, "Chrysalis had nothing to do with it."
Twilight felt a weight fall into her stomach, despite all that had happened, she had held a small hope that Shining Armour had been so nasty to her because of Chrysalis.
"As for our families and responsibilities back home?" asked Fluttershy, Rarity walking up next to her and giving her a wink.
"We have already taken care of that, darling," said Rarity with a smile.
---
"Youngin! What are you jabbering about?" Asked Granny Smith from her porch rocker, Apple Bloom and Big Mac standing in the doorway to the Apple family house. "What do ya mean, ya gotta leave?"
"It's something I just gotta do, Granny," replied Applejack, placing her stetson on her head.
"But what about the farm, Applejack?" asked Apple Bloom, distress in her eyes. "How are we gonna keep things going without you?"
"If it hadn't been for Twilight there wouldn't be a farm anymore," said Applejack, wiping away some tear's that began to form as she thought of her friend. "She risked everything to save us, save all of Equestria. I can't let her face whatever endeavor she is up against now alone. Not this time."
"This time?" asked Granny, arching an eyebrow.
Applejack tilted her head down in shame as she addressed her grandma, "She came to me for help, and I turned her away."
Apple Bloom, Big Mac, and Granny Smith gave her a startled look.
"Why in tarnation would you do that?" asked Granny Smith, a scolding look in her eyes.
"It was kinda an accident," explained Applejack, her look of shame deepening. "Twilight knew something was wrong up in Canterlot, but me and everypony else were to caught up in the wedding to see it."
"Fiddlesticks," said Granny Smith, getting up from her chair and straddling up to her granddaughter as fast as she could and poking her in the chest. "Girl, you are an Apple, and nothing, I repeat, nothing, is more is more important to an Apple than family! And that little mulberry pony is just as much family to you as the rest of us."
"Yep," said Big Mac.
"And a fancy spancy wedding is no excuse," continued Granny.
"Nope," said Big Mac
"That's right," said Apple Bloom, bouncing up and down with a scowl on her little filly face. "When me, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were abducted by those monsters, she stepped in and saved us."
"And that's another reason why I owe her," said Applejack, finally dropping her look of shame and replacing it with a look of determination.
"Then move your caboose," said Granny Smith, twirling her surprised granddaughter around and giving her a firm swat on her rump. "And don't come back till you have that sweet little filly in tow."
"Oh, I wouldn't have it any other way," said Applejack, starting her trek down the dirt road that led to Ponyville, turning around to wave at her family. "I'll be back as soon as possible."
"Don't you hurry none youngin," replied Granny, "This old gal still has some fire in her furnace, I can step in while you are away."
"We all will," said Apple Bloom, waving to her departing sister. "We can watch the farm while you're gone."
"Yep," said Big Mac as Applejack disappeared over the hill.
---
"Thanks for agreeing to fill in for me at Sugarcube Corner, Maud," said Pinkie Pie, hugging her two tone gray sister from behind.
"It's no problem, Pinkie Pie," said Maud, adjusting the settings of the oven in front of them. "I needed something to do while my Rocktoret studies are on hold anyway."
"How did that happen anyway?" Asked Pinkie, "Did your professor go on vacation?"
"Not really," answered Maud in her drawl, colorless voice. "The day Hermaeus Mora appeared in the sky, he passed out and hasn't woken up yet. They had to close my school entirely because he's also the Dean."
"Aw, how sad," said Pinkie with a droopy face." Hermaeus Mora sure was different looking, but I didn't think he was drop down in fright terrifying."
"I thought he was strange too," said Maud, turning from the oven to face Pinkie. "Is what the Princesses said true, is he really from another dimension?"
"Yes indeedily, and he saved us all from that meanie pants Chrysalis," answered Pinkie with a grin.
"How interesting," said Maud, her face as neutral as always, "I wonder if his dimension has different rocks then ours."
The oven dinged.
"Cake is done," drawled Maud, putting an oven mitt in her mouth, opening the oven and ducking in.
"Are you sure you don't want me to show you some pointers?" Asked Pinkie worriedly. "No offence, but rock study and baking are waaay different..."
Pinkie dropped her jaw when Maud pulled her head out of the oven, a fully frosted eight layered cake in her mouth. It was dark pink with fluffy white frosting around the rims of the layers, bright red Cherry's decorating the white. Pinkie watched as her sister place the huge pastry on the kitchen counter, reaching into a drawer to pull out a cake knife.
"Wow... just wow, Maud," gasped Pinkie, walking closer to admire the cake masterpiece. "You really are best at everything."
"I can't take credit for this," said Maud, pulling out a small rock from her gray dress and stroking it. "I only followed Bolder's instructions."
"Bolder knows how to bake?" Asked Pinkie.
"The University sent me to a volcanic island to study igneous rocks last month," explained Maud, "I thought it was to dangerous for Boulder, so I sent him to cooking school till I returned. He graduated at the top of his class."
"Wow Boulder," said Pinkie, looking at the motionless rock on Maud's hoof. "Every year you get more amazing."
"I just hope he's just as good at babysitting," the Pie sisters turned around to see Cup and Carrot Cake walk into the kitchen, Pound and Pumpkin Cake on their backs.
"Pinkie, Applejack is waiting for you outside," said Cup.
"Then I guess it's time for me to skedaddle," said Pinkie hugging everypony and heading to the door.
"Do you really need to do this, sweetie?" asked Cup Cake worriedly.
"I have to, Mrs. Cake," said Pinkie, giving her employer a sad look. "Wherever Twilight is, she will need smile's, and I intend to bring whole barrel fulls."
"We're going to miss you," said Carrot Cake sadly.
"I know, but I'll be back," said Pinkie, "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my..."
Cup and Carrot jumped back when Pinkie was stopped from sticking her hoof in her eye by a black tendril.
"What you do that for, Hermmy?" Asked Pinkie as the tendril vanished.
Her interrupted Pinkie promise notwithstanding, Pinkie resumed her departure.
"PINKIE!"
"PIE!"
Pinkie turned around to see Pound and Pumpkin bouncing up and down on their parents back.
"Oh, I'm sorry you two," said Pinkie, nuzzling the foals. "I don't wanna leave you, but Twilight needs me more."
"They will be fine, deary," said Cup, "You had better get going before it gets too hard."
With slight tears, Pinkie left Sugarcube Corner.
And the Cake Twins burst into tears.
Their parents tried to calm them, but they were inconsolable.
Until Maud produced a large, transparent crystal from her dress and held it up above them, the ceiling lights beams flowing into it and casting the room in color. The Cake Twins stopped crying, staring as the multiple colors danced over them from the pretty crystal. Maud gave Mr and Mrs. Cake a small smile.
---
"Do you really need to go, Rarity?" asked Sweetie Belle, as her and Rarity walked to their parents house.
"Yes Sweetie, I must," said Rarity, looking down at her little sister with a sad smile. "I owe Twilight, especially regarding you."
Sweetie trembled as she remembered the scenario were Twilight saved her and her fellow Crusaders from the changelings.
"And besides, would you not do the same for Apple Bloom, or Scootaloo?" asked Rarity.
Sweetie thought about it for a minute, then nodded her head, "Yes, I would do anything for my friends."
Their parents place came into view next to the lake, mom and dad waving from the door.
"I will be back, I promise," said Rarity, hugging her sister.
"Are you sure you don't want me to look after your business while you're gone?" asked Sweetie.
Rarity cringed internally at the thought. She would rather temporarily close Carousel Boutique then let Sweetie do anything with it. She didn't have time to hire a substitute, but that was alright.
If Twilight had not done what she did, there wouldn't be a Carousel Boutique anymore.
"Thanks, but you have your own role to play in this, Sweetie," replied Rarity, her sister giving her a confused look. "Applejack and Rainbow Dash are coming too, which means Apple Bloom and Scootaloo will be without their own sisters too. Do you know what that means?"
"It means we will all need each other more than ever," replied Sweetie with revelation.
"Correct," said Rarity proudly, "Just like you will need them to get you through my absence, they will equally rely on you for the same."
"And I won't let them down," said Sweetie, rushing off to the their parents house. "I'm going to get settled in, then the three of us will get through this together."
Rarity smiled as she watched her sister, praying that she learned from this in the way she should have in the first place.
---
Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Scootaloo stood outside Fluttershy's cottage, Owlowiscious, Gummy, Opal, Winnona, Tank, and Angel before them.
"Can I rely on you to be in charge while I am gone, Angel?" Asked Fluttershy.
The white rabbit put on an army helmet with five vertical stars on it and gave a salute.
"I knew I could count on you," said Fluttershy, hugging the bunny, much to his displeasure. "Now," she said to all the pets. "Dr. Fauna will be looking after you all while you are staying at my cottage, but when she is not around, Angel is in charge, got that."
Winona barked in understanding. She had decided to join them, even though she didn't need a sitter like the other pets. They would need her chipper personality.
"Good, now make yourself at home," said Fluttershy, opening her door and letting them all in.
"Glad that is taken care of," said Rainbow, "We had better get going."
So the three of them headed to Ponyville.
"What do you suppose this adventure of yours will be like?" asked Scootaloo as she walked by them.
"No idea," said Rainbow as she took to the air, "But can we count on you to hold down the fort while we are gone, squirt?"
"Most definitely," said Scootaloo eagerly. "You can count on me and my friends to watch Ponyville."
"Speaking of your friends, you will be there for them, right?" asked Fluttershy, "They might be without their sisters for some time."
"You better believe it," said Scootaloo, looking to Rainbow Dash with admiration. "I'll be loyal to them to a fault."
"That's the spirit," said Rainbow Dash, giving Scootaloo a noogie as the entered Ponyville, Pinkie, Rarity, Applejack, and Spike waiting for them.
"We had best head out," said Fluttershy.
"Alright," said Rainbow, looking to Scootaloo. "Watched things for us, small fry, and take care of your friends."
"You can count on me."
---
"But girls..." Twilight began, but the Element of Magic landed on her head, the other Elements clasping to their respective bearers wrapped in a blue aura.
"Sorry darling, but you can't change our minds," said Rarity, fixing the Element of Generosity to her neck. "We are staying."
"But if the Elements are here how will Equestria defend itself?" asked Twilight, trying to come up with something.
"We could not use them anyway, Twi," said Applejack, "Not without you."
"If anything should threaten Equestria while all of you are here, me and my sister will deal with it," said Celestia with determination, Luna nodding.
"But what about Spike?" asked Twilight desperately. "He doesn't have an Element."
"He was raised by you, my champion," Hermaeus Mora explained, "Because of that...he was immune to Apocrypha from the start."
Twilight flashed Hermaeus Mora an annoyed look. But she didn't have time to answer on it, for a light humming sound filled the air. Twilight looked to her friend's and what she saw made her gasp in fright.
"What is it, sugarcube?" Asked Applejack, following Twilight's line of sight to her flank.
The rest didn't he same, and they all gasped. As the humming continued, their Cutie Marks shrank, stopping when they were one-ten their original sizes. Then black tendrils materialized on their flanks, twisting as they gripped the Cutie Mark above them.
Hermaeus Mora's eye opened inside the imprinted mass of tentacles.
"It would seem..." started Hermaeus Mora, amusement in his voice. "Apocrypha itself, has accepted this proposal."
"Aw ya," said Rainbow, twirling to admire her mark. "Awesome!"
"The black clashes with my coat," complained Rarity.
Fluttershy turned away from her mark and covered her eyes with her wing's, peaking but covering again as she saw the eye on her flank.
"I hope this doesn't give Apple Bloom any ideas," said Applejack worriedly as she stared at the tendrils gripping her Apple's.
"Now I can throw an 'Our Cutie Marks Match' party. Oh, what should I give out for party favors?" Pinkie eyed Hermaeus Mora's tentacles. "Hey Hermy, could I have some of your arms?"
Hermaeus Mora just blinked.
"Looks like it's finalized, my student," said Celestia, walking up and looking down at Twilight with a loving smile on her face.
Twilight gave in, releasing a pent up sigh. She had never anticipated this, and a lot of things told her it was a bad idea. But her heart pined for her friends
She just smiled.
"Thank you," she moaned.
"I wish I could stay as well, but the other Princesses and I have other obligations," said Celestia, Luna and Cadance nodding.
"I have my responsibilities too," said Shining Armour.
"Aren't you forgetting something, Celestia?"
Hermaeus Mora's words jogged Celestia's memory, reminding her why she had come her herself. In a flash of magic, she summoned the pamphlet Raven had given her, and approached the tendrils again.
"Hermaeus Mora, I am sure you are aware of what has happened in Equestria after you appeared," she said.
"I am aware, and I also know what troubles you," replied Hermaeus Mora,"But why don't you ask your student, she could tell you what you want to know, and you can trust her."
"What is he talking about, Princess?" asked Twilight worriedly. "What is happening in Equestria?"
She levitated the stacked papers before Twilight, the drawing of the new Cutie Mark being the first. "This mark appeared on the flanks of four children that attend my school, all of them of the Triple C."
"The Cutie Case Class?" Said Twilight, looking at the symbol in horror. "This symbol?"
"Correct, Twilight, can you tell us what it means?" Asked Celestia almost desperately.
"Yes," said Twilight worriedly, "This is the arcane symbol for Conjuration. It is of the realm of Mundus."
"Nirn?" inquired Rarity, "Never heard of it."
"Not surprising," said Twilight, casting Hermaeus Mora a look. "Nirn is where the Daedric Princes hail from."
All of them gasped.
"Was this your doing, Hermaeus?" Asked Twilight irritably.
"Not intentionally," admitted the Daedra, "When I finally infiltrated your realm, some of the magic of my own must have slipped through."
"But why these kids?" Asked Celestia.
"Cutie Marks are tied to your destiny...against all odds, these children were destined to use conjuration spells, and my arrival provided them with the final step they would need to achieve their destiny."
"A DAEDRA?" shouted Twilight as she saw the photo of the filly playing with the bipedal creature.
"Do you know what that thing is Twilight?"asked Celestia.
"It's called a daedra," explained Twilight, everyone giving her their attention. "It is a creature from Oblivion, the realm of the Daedric Princes."
"So this thing is an associate of Hermaeus Mora?" asked Luna.
"Yes and no," answered Twilight, "Like you Alicorns rule over us normal ponies, the Daedric Princes rule over the Daedra. The Daedric Princes are the strongest of the Daedra."
"How many Daedric Princes are there?" asked Shining, everyone looking at Twilight.
"I have not completed my research yet, but I believe there to be sixteen?"
"Will we have to worry about them, like Hermaeus Mora?" asked Luna.
"Only I have a presence in your world, my kin have no inclinations to your existence."
"And what about the children? Should we worry about them?" Asked Cadance.
"Conjuration is just like any other magic skill, and the children have exquisite mastery over it. You have nothing to worry about."
Celestia decided that was good enough.
"I wonder how they can summon Clockwork Variants?" Inquired Twilight, studying the picture of the children riding the reptilian creature.
"A what?" asked Fluttershy, looking at the pictures.
"This is a Clockwork Variant," explained Twilight, showing them the picture. "A creature from the Clockwork City. Nobody has been able to summon them since the orchestrator of the Clockwork City died... centuries ago."
"If that's true, than how?" asked Celestia.
"It proves my theory, you ponies have an aptitude for magic greater than any other species I have encountered."
"Sister," said Luna, "I believe we have idled here long enough."
"Yes," said Celestia sadly turning to Twilight and her friends,"It is time we return."
"Must you?" asked Twilight, hugging her teacher.
"We have accomplished what we came to do," said Celestia, "We have checked on your well being, and addressed the issue with the children, now we need to go back to Equestria."
Everyone turned as the ground rose up in the middle of the roof, revealing a giant gazebo that housed a huge black book.
"The way is open," said Hermaeus Mora right before he vanished.
It was hard for Twilight, but she waved as Shining Armour and the Princesses used the book to return home. After another group hug, Twilight led her friends to the courters Hermaeus Mora provided her, all wanting to stay with her. It was going to be like a long slumber party.
"Twilight," said Cadance gently before she herself left, crouching a little in front of the purple unicorn.
Twilight smiled and did the same.
"Sunshine sunshine, ladybug's awake. Clap your hooves and do a little shake.
With their old ritual complete, Cadance left with her aunt's and her fiance.
"So Twilight," said Spike as he walked into the dark structure they stood upon, "What exactly does Hermaeus Mora need you to do?"
Everypony looked at her expectantly...
"Let me tell you all about the Ideal Masters," started Twilight.
---
Deep in the cave beneath Canterlot, the pudle of ink beneath the once again empty book stand frothed. It increased to a boiling, churning and churning, then the surface broke. Three black orbs surrounded by a red aura rolled on the floor of the cave, doing so weakly at first, then began gathering speed.
They rolled off to parts unknown.