//------------------------------//
// Chapter 12- Prophecy and Investigation 
// Story: Only the Broken, Only the Cursed (please read blog post) 
// by DougtheLoremaster 
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Before ten seconds had passed, three doors opened, and through them stepped four interesting creatures. Three were unicorns, one was a Pegasus. The Pegasus was what caught Twilight’s attention the most; a filly dressed in heavy iron armor and hovering effortlessly with a massive battle-ax draped over her shoulder. 
The unicorns were quite peculiar as well; one wore no armor whatsoever and instead had a cloak, and a magician’s hat. A light-blue mare that Twilight felt she knew from somewhere but couldn’t place exactly where. 
Next to her, stood the lilac-colored mare with a violet mane, having a long seafoam green stripe, that emerged from within the same room. Her barrel was covered with a strange covering of splotched green, black, and brown; around her swirled five daggers, alternating positions now and then. On her flank was the image of a falling star.
The third Unicorn was silent and stood without a tremor. Around her barrel, she wore a strip of strange cylindrical objects which Twilight could only assume went to the strange object hovering beside her. It was long and seemed somewhat hollow, Twilight couldn’t understand what it was; it was something she had never seen before. On the mare’s head was a strange-looking pair of goggles, covering just one of her eyes. Twilight noticed her orange-yellow fur, and the luxurious orange, red and yellow mane, and tail. Twilight also saw that her uncovered eye had an aqua-colored iris. 
Though she didn’t know them, Twilight could feel something tell her that she would not want to fight them. Surprisingly, no emotion other than excitement flowed from the strange four, and it became evident when the armored filly started to chat casually with the orange Unicorn; in a relatively soft and sweet voice. Almost sickeningly sweet.
“You need a better weapon, Sunset.”
“Heh, you say that now, Cozy, but ol’ Celly here has never failed to hit her mark. Besides, yours is only good for butchering the meal.”
The armored Pegasus shot back.
“At least mine doesn’t leave lead in the meat!”
Across from them, The pale-blue Unicorn stamped her hoof causing silence to fall.
“The great and powerful Trrr-ixie, will remind you to stay silent in the presence of Captain Dash. Now shush, so we can hear our target! Trixie is very hungry.”
The one beside her grinned, revealing the same crimson-stained fangs that Dash possessed. Looking from one to the other, Twilight felt strange magic flowing from each one’s weapon. Was she going crazy or were they calling out to her? She felt them beckoning her, whispering to her in her mind. Come to us little Nightmare, we can smell your blood. Let us rip you, let us tear you, let us kill y-
Twilight’s eyes flew open as she bumped into something hard; blinking she discovered Applejack’s forehoof directly in front of her. Unbeknownst to Twilight, she had begun inching towards the weapons, and Applejack had quickly stepped over her to block the path, preventing her from going near them. It had been such a quick movement, that none other in the hall noticed; nopony that is except one.
The one calling herself Trixie turned to stare directly at Twilight. Her eyes watched the filly with curiosity, as a bunch of images flashed through her mind, within an instant.

***

Applejack stood with her hat in her hoof, while around her stood Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy. All five were smiling lovingly at a tiny purple Unicorn filly, who had tears in her eyes.
“Ya aren’t alone Sugarcube. Yer part of our family now.”
Rainbow Dash nudged her playfully.
“Guess I got a new little sister now.”
Fluttershy gave the filly a warm hug, chiding her niece in the process.
“Oh Rainbow, s-stop teasing her. Welcome to our family Twilight.”
Pinkie Pie laughed; her mane and tail fluffy, once more.
“Enough sappiness. It’s time to party! Come, little sis, let’s have a party!”

***

The young filly, stood in a snow-covered valley in front of Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie; all wore their scars proudly as they smiled warmly at a group of doppelgangers across from them. Before the young filly stood a full-grown version of her and behind that mare, stood the same five only they possessed no scars.
The little filly addressed the elder version of herself in a chipper voice.
“My name is Twilight ‘Luna’ Sparkle. And these…
Gesturing behind her the little filly proudly stated.
“Are my step-mom, Applejack, two aunts, Rarity and Fluttershy, and my two sisters, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie! So uh, who’re you?”
A gasp of surprise went up from the doppelgangers as the mare hesitantly introduced herself.
“Uh...My name is Twilight Sparkle, and, and these are…
Gesturing to the ones behind her.
“My best friends; Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie.”
“Wait what?!”

***

Time seemed to have passed and now the family of now five sat around a table, encompassed by glowering candlelight. The stone around the five seemed worn, the walls destroyed. A horrible fate seemed to have befallen the massive stone castle they once called home. All around, vast amounts of corpses lay, and an icy wind swirled in the darkness of night. The five seemed downtrodden.
“Twilight, Dah-ling, take your hooves off the table. I won’t ask again.”
The little purple Unicorn lowered her hooves off the table with a sheepish grin as Fluttershy giggled and Rainbow Dash snickered. 
“Sorry Aunt Rarity.”
The alabaster unicorn of Generosity sighed as she stitched furiously at a doll that resembled Applejack. 
“It’s fine, sweetie. Do it again and I break your hooves.”
Twilight smiled.
“Yes Ma’am.”
Rarity muttered to herself, a slight smirk on her face, while she relentlessly stitched the doll.
“That’s a good girl. Now eat your meat. We might not get a chance to eat like this for a while. That flesh is a blessing and It’s getting cold, child.”

	***

“You listen here, Twilight; they are gone. And we are next. The time for tears is over. They will kill all of us if you don’t focus. Embrace your inner rage! Force it to work for you!”
Trixie stood beside the filly, dressed in combat fatigues. Pointing a hoof at a group of Cultists, Trixie shouted at her.
“Now do it again!”
A roar erupted from within the filly as she transformed into a fully grown Alicorn mare, and fire erupted forth. Her eyes weren’t clouded by anger, they were clear and bright, with tears welling in the corners.
Trixie nodded in approval.
“Good. Remember what your family did for you. Remember who it was that took them from you. And let them have it! Unleash your rage!”
Twilight grinned and bared her fangs, the agony of her heart clearly written in her tear-soaked eyes as she roared an acknowledgment.
“You got it, Captain!”

***

The icy winds of the Wendigos circled around a small group standing before two black Alicorns. One large purple Alicorn stood, next to a purple Unicorn, wings flared, glaring at both black Alicorns; her fangs bared in rage. 
Both opposing Alicorns wore regal attire; one of golden armor, the other of silver.  Beside them lay the still forms of Trixie, Starlight, Cozy Glow, and Sunset Shimmer; all were fully dressed in shredded and burnished combat armor and all boasted horrifying wounds, seemingly ripped open with a can-opener. 
The purple Alicorn’s horn glowed with necrotic magic. In the air floated Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Applejack; though they seemed strangely different than the ones Trixie recognized. They boasted no scars, no wounds. And there they were helpless and bound.
“This ends now, Celestia. I won’t let you take them, too. I don’t care if you and I are related, I don’t care that your blood flows through my veins. They’re her real family. They’re all she has left! And you will not take them from her!”
The purple alicorn stepped forward and-

***

Trixie blinked and found herself staring at the little filly, once more, who was now examining the back of Applejack’s foreleg. The Unicorn beside Trixie gently nudged her again and whispered to her; while Rainbow Dash explained to the group what they needed to do.
“Trix, what is it? Did you see something again?”
Trixie turned to look at the lilac Unicorn, her eyes creased in confusion. The visions were nothing new. Trixie was known for being deadly in combat like the others in her squad, but what made her particularly dangerous wasn’t her magical prowess or weaponry finesse, like them. She wore no armor and carried no weapon because she didn’t need it. Why carry arms when you can foresee your opponent's every move?
Trixie had quickly ascended to second in command of Rainbow’s unit, using such premonitions to overcome and overwhelm all in her way. What confused her at that moment, however, was the visions she had just witnessed weren’t mere seconds or minutes into the future like they normally were. What was it she had seen? A vision of the distant future? Or perhaps a warning?
She silently stared at the mare beside her. What should she say? She had foreseen her squad’s demise but also a destined fight for something much larger. If she told her now, they could avoid it, possibly, but would doing so alter the outcome? Trixie reflected on how her arrogance had already cost her in the past. 

***


 “You’ve failed.”
No! No! This can’t be I...You’ve failed. You’ve failed. No, I just need to try again I- You’ve failed. I- I failed!
The color drained from Trixie’s face as the Alicorn stared down at her. Falling to her haunches she began to sob, all the light gone from her eyes. She heard the voice of Celestia in her mind.
“Every life plays their part, and yours ended long ago. Open your eyes to the truth, see what will be. And where you truly are.”
Trixie was unable to think clearly focused only on her failure to hatch the egg.
“I failed. I failed. I failed.”
Shaking her head in disappointment at the reaction, the Princess turned to the testers to give her judgment.
“Move this failure back to class ‘D’ where she belongs.”

***

It was that day after they dragged her away, Trixie found herself in this strange world. It was that day, Trixie’s old life ended and she was reborn. That was the day the visions started. Trixie thought about what she had seen. Two Twilights...Two worlds, perhaps? What was the connection? Whatever it was, it could potentially change the world. It wasn’t her place to tell, Trixie decided. It was devastating seeing her possible fate, but this was bigger than her or her squad’s fate. What will be, will be. 
 Sighing and rolling her eyes, Trixie addressed the mare in a whispered tone.
“Nothing to worry about Starlight, Trixie was just admiring how cute the little filly is, is all. Was wondering what it would be like to have one of our own.”
Trixie winced as her partner of several years nudged her energetically.
“Finally come around, huh?”
Sighing, Trixie thought about what she had seen, and a smile appeared on her muzzle. For many that smile had caused many to meet a grisly end in the past 8 years; the crimson stains on the fangs within her maw a testament to her ruthlessness. To Starlight, that smile just meant her marefriend was excited and she too grinned, baring a similar fang-filled smile. 

***

The legendary A squad was known by another name, throughout their world, and many others: The Four Horsemares of the Apocalypse. Each displaying horrific power, granted to them by the Nightmares; each had served the bloodline for countless eons, that is except Trixie. 
Upon arriving in this world on that day, 8 years ago, Trixie had found herself up against the former bearer of Death. With her visions to aid her, she quickly overwhelmed her adversary and took their place among the four, sanctioned by none other than Celestia herself and gifted with a truly chilling power: the ability to cause a creature to die at her whim. On that day she began her life anew, in a world where the dead roamed as free as the living would.

***

What will be will be, we all have a part to play, after all. Perhaps living in the moment wouldn’t be so bad. Besides, a foal of our own might not be so bad.
“Perhaps Trixie has, let’s discuss it after dinner, alright?”

***

Twilight stood in place, perplexed. Before her were Applejack’s hooves, blocking her, but it was more than that. Even when she stepped to the side to go around, Applejack seemed to shift her position to maintain the barricade. After a few unsuccessful attempts, it dawned on Twilight, Applejack wanted her to stay put. And so she sat on her haunches, unsure of what to do next.
Like fillies are wont to do, Twilight grew antsy and began to examine her surroundings, when something caught her eye. She blinked as she stared at the back of Applejack’s forelegs; there along the entire length on the left one, was a strange seam of what looked like stitching. Intrigued by this discovery, the curious filly traced the stitching with her eyes. 
The scene became far more curious, as the stitching seemed to go from her hoof to where her foreleg connected to the barrel. More than that, it seemed to encompass the joint, itself. Twilight cocked her head in confusion. Why would she have such a wound? Was her leg hacked off or...Twilight blinked in surprise. While in her thoughts she glanced at the right foreleg and discovered the exact same seam of stitchwork running up it.
Pondering what exactly this meant, she turned to look behind her, and sure enough, there on the two hind legs of the Earthpony, were the same seams. It seemed rather unthinkable, for a pony to survive such wounds, and out of a hunch, she glanced up. The underside of Applejack’s barrel was covered in many scars and stitched areas. That’s not what shocked her the most, however. The barrel wasn’t moving and for that to happen, it could mean only one thing: Applejack wasn’t breathing.
How is that possib- wait, what did she say just a few minutes ago? Twilight sat there and time itself seemed to stop as her mind brought everything she knew together. Just a few minutes ago, Applejack had started telling her about -an Apple farmer and how she died to save her little sister. The story- the story had been about her and another called Applebloom. Was she telling me- Is Applejack dead? 
Twilight paused to consider that conclusion. It didn’t make sense, well not entirely. Surely there was something she didn’t understand, a puzzle piece she didn’t grasp. After all, if Applejack was dead how was she able to walk, talk, and bleed? Surely, no blood would flow throughout a corpse, even if it were animated. No, there had to be more to it. That’s when it clicked.
Her mother had taught her to analyze every possible angle of creatures she may face. From the hairs on their manes to the pounding of their heart and the pulse of blood rushing through their veins. And that was what was missing: Twilight couldn’t hear either from within Applejack’s barrel.
If that was truly the case, then that just gave the young Unicorn a bigger question: what exactly was dripping from the Earthpony’s gruesome wound, if it wasn’t blood? Twilight glanced at the puddle of dark crimson beside her and took a deep breath, before reaching out her hoof. It was nothing new to her; touching another’s blood. 
It was wet, but shimmered, in a weird, if not magical way. She raised her hoof to her muzzle and sniffed it; there was no acrid scent that should be wafting from it, no scent at all actually. Cautiously, she closed her eyes, stuck out her tongue, and licked it. At once, Twilight's eyes flew open wide. She had her answer.