//------------------------------//
// CH 39.4 Noble Guide's Silver Lining 
// Story: Twilight's Nightmare 
// by Nightsclaw 
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Noble guide fraught his body. It felt like his very flesh was rebelling. His muscles were trying to slip free from his bones as his skin crawled and bit at him. Every step, every motion was agony, yet he could not let even the slightest hint of his discount show. 

Celestia had kept them laying on the ground for hours perfectly still unable to move. Well he could have moved anytime he wished, but he dared not, Even the slightest twitch and it would have risked everything. Celestia finding out he was unaffected by her mind control would have signed his death warrant. He would be dead before he could blink.

The fools from RGIS were buzzing around asking everypony questions and examining everything in minute detail. Each answer he was forced to give them tore at his throat. He wanted to scream, to storm off but that would be out of character. All he would need would be a moment alone, and the agony could be gone. Somepony would notice if he acted out of character.

Celestia had been utterly ruthless concocting a fictional series of events. By her own hoof and magic, she made them, in effect, reality. The quiet tune she hummed as she mercilessly inflicted more harm and destruction was unnerving. It was as if the lives of the ponies were just some painting she was adding the finishing touches to. 

The sizzle of burning flesh and crunching of a fracturing horn as she added to the authenticity had made Noble Guide want to flee. Celestia had coldly regarded her work as the beautiful features of one mare were marred by her magic. She was just one poor soul that was just too close to where Gilded Star had launched his supposed attack. Celestia’s vandalism of the flesh of her subjects was masterful, as terrible as the injuries looked, there was nothing that could not be healed given enough time and money. 

His eyes went to Gilded Star, chained, bound and with his horn little more than a burnt stump. He ranted and raved all wail proclaiming Sombra’s return. If it were not for the fact Noble guide knew Gilded Star was not a cultist, he would have been utterly convinced. How many conspiracies in years past had just been Celestia cleaning house of those she no longer needed? 

Celestia had filled everypony’s heads with completely fabricated memories of the events. Twilight being found innocent of all charges, the fictitious proof Little Star was a real flesh and blood pony and not a construct. The final masterful stroke was to have Gilded Star attempt to sacrifice himself to fuel an attack at the Noble Court. An attack which Twilight blocked. That final touch turned Twilight form the enraged attacker, to the hero that saved all the nobles. As far as everypony else knew Twilight had saved them, she was the hero once again. 

Well played, Celestia. Even though you don’t know I am here, you have undermined many of my plans today.

This whole situation had escalated into something he could never have expected. He knew Celestia used mind magic, but he never even considered she could be so brutally pragmatic. 

Gilded Star was a fool, but a useful one. Noble himself had carefully worked on and guided him into making his accusations against Twilight. He just had never expected Twilight to virtually ignite with burning rage. What happened to the cool, collected, self-assured mare he had exchanged words and spells with. What had changed since the Temple of the Hidden Path?

Twilight proved to be a master blood mage. Celestia, her mentor, was the supreme authority on mind magic. Luna fell to corrupting dark magic, becoming Nightmare Moon. Did every Alicorn have a specialisation in a branch of forbidden magic? He considered that for a moment. What would Cadance’s be?

The agent questioning him finally left, accosting another traumatised noble. Noble Guide eyes looked out the window gazing at the horizon. He could not see it yet but he knew a storm was on its way. Even with how much he hurt this situation had a silver lining  With everything that happens here, all the princesses would be distracted. He fought back a smile. Knowing the suffering that would befall the princess soon made his current pain a little more tolerable.