Two Days Prior
Twilight knew what she had to do. As quick as a flash, the plan was in her hooves. No more will magic harm the lives of the innocent. No more will magic control the very life of creatures on Equus. No more will families be the target of the pain that she herself has suffered for years. And, most of all, she will finally find peace in this world of greed.
Twilight would be very much aware of the circumstances were she to carry out her plan. Psera would no longer be her home. Nowhere would be her home. But . . . was Psera truly her home? Her life before Psera seemed so simple. Living a lie was so pure, no matter how disrespectful. It wasn't as bad as it was before.
If she didn't find out the truth, would she still be flying through the cold skies of Psera, looking down at all of her failures? At the crash site of the CPC Disaster? The fall of the castle? The destruction of her life? The death of her husband, the glares of her subjects? Twilight was always the strong one. But the battering ram slamming into her life would forever be in motion shall the material they used to make it still exist.
Magic.
Small tears pricked at the corners of Twilight's eyes, blowing off into the wind and falling peacefully to the ground below. Oh, how she missed her life. Did she even really have one? Always studying magic, the cause of deaths in this world.
It wasn't long before she landed elegantly at the gates of Safe Haven. They were opened and she was let in. She walked past the bowing of ponies with her eyes closed. She couldn't look at these Pserateps. Not the same. For on their sides lie the very weapons she created, powered by magic and meant to bring death.
Twilight pushed her way into Safe Haven and walked straight for the elevator. She pressed for up and let out a deep breath for the ascension. She opened her eyes and locked them straight on an image of herself. Standing before Psera with her wings spread wide in a form of protection. A sad sigh escaped her mouth. Why couldn't life just be like that?
The elevator opened. Twilight walked out and strode straight for her office, slamming the door behind her. The papers on her desk were tossed carelessly to the side. She pulled up her screen and immediately began tapping, delving deep into her own files. It's been years since she accessed them. Remotely, nonetheless. Hopefully, they were still there.
Yes! All of it was still in the system. All of her research, findings, and theories. Still here, as if time never existed. But she wasn't here for all of it. She was searching for only one.
Deep within her files, further than what anyone could ever imagine was her number one project. As far back as Equestria and further still, before she even met Madun, before she ever thought about having a foal...
"So, you're actually going to do it." Twilight glanced up and glared at what was definitely her mind playing games on her. Empress Arcadia, smiling at her from the couch. "I was certain that you would try to control the magic, per the wiser choice. I didn't think you would wipe it out entirely."
Twilight continued her research. "Were you in my hooves you would do the same."
Empress Arcadia scoffed and sarcastically replied, "And betray the very country I brought to life? I'd never." She jumped off the couch and approached the desk. "I know I am known to tick the hands of time, but you, my friend, have flown right off the clock."
"With good reason," Twilight added. She looked back down to her work and began writing out what lied before her in great detail. Nothing was overlooked, all was put down on paper. "With magic comes great pain and sorrow."
"Ah, but so does love and peace."
"Does it? Or is all that an illusion as well? Because the last I checked, peace breeds pain and suffering. Enemies look for the root for sovereignty of a country or chain of command diving into peace, and do you know what they find? Magic. The center of a peaceful land, and they take lives just to take control of it. Because magic controls all."
Twilight rose from her seat and glared at herself. "Without magic, they'll have nothing. We'll all just be normal ponies, just like the very beginning."
"You're turning into her, you know." Empress Arcadia slowly began to fade away, disappearing from Twilight's mind. But her neutral expression stayed the same. "Don't let it happen."
"I am my own pony," Arcadia promised. "And I have been in control for decades."
If a response lied on the tip of Empress Arcadia's tongue, it faded from her mouth as quick as she disappeared from Twilight's mind. She no longer needed that in her life. Twilight's plan was perfect, and it would work. Because not a single living being on this planet was strong enough to stop her.
No. Impossible. She wouldn't. Molten knew Twilight has been struggling ever since the loss of Madun and Fresh Dawn. Narmeelah, she's been struggling since Maheera Dark. But would she even be able to wipe out magic as said? Is that even possible?
After Queen Arcadia left the Royal Suite, Odega quickly teleported to Her Majesty Molten Ice and Gardeen, babbling at the mouth about how Queen Arcadia swore revenge upon magic itself. Not countries, not ponies, but magic as a whole.
Gardeen never allowed her eyes to leave Odega whilst she recalled her tale. At the end of it, once Queen Arcadia walked out into the castle, she couldn't listen to anymore.
Without moving her eyes away from the pony of flames, Gardeen slowly shook her head. "No," she denied. "No, she wouldn't do that. Magic is her life. Magic is what created her."
"Not anymore. Now, magic is just in the way. She blames magic for taking away peace. She blames wars, fights, pain and suffering all on magic. She blames magic for Madun and Dawn's deaths. Her resolution? Destroy it. We have to stop her before it's too late. Because we all know she will figure out a way to do so."
They turned their attention over the mezzanine of the castle to the hoofsteps leaving for the entrance of the castle. to Queen Arcadia leaving the building. The door was opened, but she didn't leave just yet. She turned her gaze over her back to stare up at the mezzanine. Molten could see it in her eyes, the flickers of anger that were slowly turning into an inferno. Molten knew that look. She had the same in her eyes when she first went to war with the Zebras.
Queen Arcadia walked out the building, leaving Molten, Gardeen, and Odega alone. Gardeen and Molten shared a look with each other.
"I'm sorry, Gardeen," she said. "I know Queen Arcadia has been like a mother to you. But if she has made a threat to the safety of other creatures unprovoked, by law Psera is required to investigate. I will have to bring this up with the Senate Board."
The Senate Board would definitely take immediate action. Especially considering Queen Arcadia's rather uncouth moves towards both the Zebras, Equestria, and all the members of IHT. There would be no way to tell what would happen should Queen Arcadia find herself convicted.
Before Gardeen could say anything, Molten jumped over the mezzanine and landed gracefully on the floor. She had a task to complete, and she couldn't do it sitting here. Oh how she would hate to give this command, but if Queen Arcadia was serious about this, then everyone on this planet, in this world were in serious danger.
It took two days, but here the plan lied in Arcadia's hooves. On paper, it was merely a threat. A dream with little to no merit behind her. But all it would take to be a reality was a single step. After working for Psera and performing her soulless task as Queen of Psera, she would go back to her office and work on her project.
But the Crown . . . They knew. She could feel it when she turned in their direction. Staring at her every time she passed. Her presence wasn't new. Everyone knew she was around. This place was for her. This was her home. But they knew she was planning something dangerous these last two days. They could feel it, and not just the crown. The eeriness of Safe Haven seemed to be fogged over by a sense of dread so thick that even the guards were anxious. Security was upgraded, just to be safe.
No matter. For it would all be for naught. The Pserateps depended less so on magic. For when Twilight reaped this world of its magic, Psera would be fine. The Obelisks will go down and a majority of their Aquata's battery supplies will be emptied, but for what it was worth, Psera already had a life that belonged to them before Queen Arcadia dipped her hoof into their lives. They will survive without magic. As will all other nations.
Before Twilight could stash away her papers, the door was knocked upon. "Queen Arcadia, this is the Elite Royal Guard. We're coming in."
Queen Arcadia lit her horn and teleported her documents to a safe area before the door was opened. Five Elite Royal Guards strode into the room with more waiting outside in the hall. Three searched her workspace while two flanked the desk.
Alarmed, Queen Arcadia stood from her seat and asked, "What is going on here?"
Their Commanding Officer, a mare at her deskside said, "The Senate Board has given us a command to bring you to Founder's Circle for an emergency discussion. We are in a Priority State."
Well this escalated rather quickly. A priority state, they say? So, she had no choice. They weren't going to let her slip through. Well, it didn't matter. There was no stopping this. It was happening.
Queen Arcadia stepped out from behind her desk with two of the guards on her wings, as close as they could get without stepping on her feathers. Not too close where she could hit them, but just enough to keep her in their sights, and in their sights she was.
More guards stood by in the hall, watching her every step in silence. The Crown, although far away were present watching her take her steps to the elevator. Her nieces and brother-in-law, staring either accusingly or confusedly. Her surrogate daughter trying to avert her gaze. She knew.
The elevator ride to the first floor was cramped. With five Pserateps in one elevator, one of them the biggest of the group, it was certainly going to be a tight squeeze. But they made it work. The staff of Safe Haven watched her leave and walk outside into the winter sun. More military awaited her. A hovering ring of Force Guard kept her in their sights while she moved, destination for a chariot designed for containment. Nothing she made certainly, but it would definitely come from her mind.
Before she could step inside, a guard walked forward with a containment ring for her horn. "I'm going to have to ask you to put this on, Queen Arcadia."
Fine. They were useless anyway. She was the creator of them. She levitated the ring up into the air and let it hover directly over her horn before relinquishing her control. It fell on, swirled, and locked into place, attempting to keep her immeasurable amount of magic down.
The door was opened. She was guided inside and locked in before they took off. Wow, really? How nice and appropriate. She could see the Guards keeping an eye on her while she rode through the skies of Psera. They were aware of the threat she supposedly made upon the rest of the world: destroy the magic. With or without Psera's authorization.
A presence. Twilight sighed through her nose and said, "Odega."
Odega materialized into sight before speaking. "Yes, I told them. I told you I would."
"And I knew you would. Regardless, this must happen. Whether the rest of you agree or not." She turned her head and glared at Odega. "I will barrel through all of you to do this. Through the Legends of Psera who do not agree, through the very military I helped breed."
"You'll willingly commit treason then."
"Call it what you must..." Twilight turned her gaze back to the front of the chariot when they finally landed in Cop. "But it will be done for the good of us."
"You sound insane, Arcadia." Odega turned her body to face the angered Queen. "You must stop this now, or you will be deemed no longer able to fulfill your duties as Queen as Psera."
Finally, something they could talk about. "I no longer wish to be Queen." Arcadia raised her hoof to silence Odega before she could start. "All my life I've been nothing but a warrior, fighting in a war for magic. I've been defending the good of it, keeping it from being corrupted, stolen, and misused. I've sacrificed my time, nearly my life, and now my family."
"Arcadia, your family was killed because the Zebras wanted revenge."
"No, Odega. They were after my daughter because she is made of Dark Magic."
The truth has been revealed. Something that took Odega's breath away. "What?"
"When I was shot in Eventa, Dawn almost died. But I used dark magic to keep her alive. My only daughter, my firstborn, she wasn't going to die that day. But the spell never cut when I dropped into a coma. What you saw when my baby was alive was Dawn. But she is made of magic. She wasn't supposed to be, but she was. The Zebras attacked Psera to get to Dawn because of some prophecy about her being the sign of the end times. The end times . . . is Narmeelah's return."
"You told me that Narmeelah was dead," Odega spat out. "You told me she was gone."
Twilight whipped her head to face her with fury in her eyes. "And she is," she replied. Her gaze focused forward once more. "I think. She's supposed to be. Regardless, they thought that getting rid of Dawn would help keep Narmeelah at bay. They used magic to attack the castle. They used magic to kill my civilians. They used magic to throw my filly over the edge of a promontory. Magic is what took them away, and I could do nothing to stop it. No one could. Now, here I am, strategizing a war against the zebras when the real enemy has been here all along. Magic."
"What about your magic? What then; what about all of the magical spells and tools that you have created?"
"They will no longer work." Twilight could hear the flashing of cameras outside. The breaking news reporters standing outside the gates of Founder's Circle while she rode inside of them. Gaze steeled and mind set.
Odega disappeared once more, leaving Twilight to face her fate alone. No doubt to round up the legends. She knew there was no way Psera could stop her, that a fight would break out and Arcadia's power would come out on top at every hit.
The chariot parked and the door for the chariot was opened. A full contingent of Guards tasked with keeping an eye on her littered the grounds. A sea of gray with violet in the middle, outlining a path to the doors of Founder's Circle.
"This way please." The guard raised their wing in the direction of the facility. Twilight followed it out of respect and care. She strode past all of them and into the building, down the escalator and into the tightly packed senate hall.
The clamour of discussion quickly ceased upon her appearance. The Queen of Psera. No eye left her movements for too long. The crown upon her head reflected their stares, moving past with her motions only to be replaced with another before finally settling on the speakers.
She stood before them at the podium. "I was summoned here by a priority," she said. "Why?"
Judge Berry cleared his throat. "Good day, Queen Arcadia. We have called you here to do a fact check. We are very much aware of your strange and erratic behavior these last few months warranted by the deaths of your husband and daughter. We have called you here to determine whether you are still fit to be Queen of Psera."
"A whistleblower," Judge Mahtoo said. "Has notified The Crown that you've made a threat against magic as a whole. Is this true?"
Twilight didn't miss a beat. "It is very true."
The judges and other representatives murmured briefly before moving forward.
Judge Sunlight spoke her piece. "Queen Arcadia Nova, you have made a threat that is not only capable of harming those upon Psera, but as well as our potential friends overseas and across the globe. Do you realize this?"
"I do."
"Then care to share your reasoning behind this threat."
Twilight swallowed and explained, "Magic is the root cause of not only Psera's attacks, but as well as Equestria's, The Badlands, Mount Aris, so many that I can't even name. It is the most beautiful thing, but also the most dangerous tool. I cannot let that happen."
"Queen Arcadia, as ruler of Psera, you swore upon the tome to put Psera first and foremost. This threat endangers Psera. You have provided us with so much technology powered by magic that would be rendered useless, harming our national security and homes. As of this moment we are restricting your use of magic and military powers, as well as sitting Queen of Psera."
Oh how funny. A smirk played at Queen Arcadia's lips before a full on grin.
"And may I ask what is so humorous?" Judge Berry asked accusingly.
"How you think you can restrict a pony who has already give up their seat of power. I no longer wish to be Queen of Psera. I, Queen Twilight 'Arcadia Nova' Sparkle, Saviour of Psera, hereby step down, relinquish my throne to the people, and give up my crown."
Loud mutterings while Twilight reached up, plucked her crown off her head, and gently set it on the podium.
"I will be leaving Psera," she continued. "To finish this final task, with, or without, your approval. This is an action that must be done for a better, more peaceful future. A future free of magic-influenced attacks, threats, and takeovers. Where families, ponies, and creatures of all kinds can find peace."
"Queen Arcadia," Judge Berry told her. "We cannot let you leave. You have created this world we now live in. The threat you have made affects us here In Psera. We will be keeping an eye on you back in Safe Haven. You have made an international threat for which we are responsible to maintain."
"Well..." Twilight turned around from the podium and began her ascent back up to the guarded doors. "You are always welcome to try and prevent me from leaving. I am the only one stopping you."
"Guards, could you please restrain Arcadia Nova?"
The fifteen Guards in the hall protecting the exits rushed from their posts to the main entrance where Twilight was headed. Before they could inch ever closer, Twilight raised her wings and thrust them out. Feathers, illuminated with her limitless magic brightened the room. Makeshift horns. She no longer needed the one on her head.
Immediately, thin beams of violet magic shot from them and into all of the Guards. They were thrown back and pinned to the wall, restricting movement.
Twilight peered back over her shoulder at the Pserateps inching away from her in a panic. "Of course..." The containment ring settled upon her horn pathetically shattered, dropping to the floor in pieces. "You'd have to find a way to stop me first."
The Pserateps in the room screamed and scrambled as fast as they could for the nearest exit. Papers were thrown to the side, doors were kicked open, and out into the halls they rushed.
And the chaos begins. Twilight ignited her horn and conjured a portal she stepped into, coming out the other side in her full combat gear. Her armor, shining in the winter sun, helmet protecting her head and horn, and scabbard on her waist a gift from her late husband, a victim of magic. She'll avenge them all.
She stepped out into the courtyard of Founder's Circle. The soldiers barely had any time to react before she threw her head back and flared open her wings. A violet wave carried with it the sound of an ancient gong signalling her presence. All of them were blown either off their hooves or out of the air.
Captain Gliding Sword was amongst those guards. From speaking with a fellow combatant, she was suddenly propelled through the sky and slammed straight into a storefront. Glass shattered, screams hit her ears. Disbelieving citizens nearby either ran for their lives or took to the air away from the angered goddess.
So, it is true, Captain Sword thought. Quite the call to action. Like a bomb went off, Queen Arcadia exploded onto the scene. Literally punching a hole through their defenses and back out into the air. Like a horn, the calls came through on Gliding's Comm Block.
"Stars above, we need assistance at Founders' Circle now!"
"Give her all you got!"
"Evacuate for three kilometers! All citizens inside! Take cover!"
Gliding pulled herself together and adjusted her helmet before pulling herself back out into the street where she lied before. The sound of magic flying through the air and the shattering of glass and stone greeted her, attracting her attention from the street back to the sun setting behind Founder's Circle. Magic was flying for Arcadia Nova. But as expected, she was ready for them. She was the goddess of magic. Using the very element on her was a mistake.
The beams were amplified and reflected, slamming into structures and surfaces as small explosives that forced both the Force Guard and Elite Royal Guard to take cover. Gliding was forced to jump back into the building and covered her head.
"Fall back, fall back!" The Comm Blocks screamed.
"We're taking too much fire!"
"She's taking off!"
Gliding stuck her head back outside to watch and report. A loud boom sounded off. With a roar, Twilight Arcadia Nova Sparkle took off into the sky with Aerial Guards on her tail, firing shot after shot after their target. It was good to know their training took them far. But not far enough for her. She teleported back down to behind them and fired her own shots with her horn.
"Where's the target?!"
Gliding immediately called up, "Tanya One-Three-Seven, she's behind you!!"
Too late. Twilight used her lasso to snatch at the ankle of one of the Pserateps and pull them back down. She placed her hooves on their body and used them as leverage to bounce from Pseratep to Pseratep. A mere jostle was enough to send them careening off course, and off course they did. In spirals, in loops, and back to the ground they flew while Queen Arcadia sped as fast as she could for the Eastern Coast.
Over Lavender she went. With a single strike of her horn, all power to their systems were knocked offline. Comm Blocks were down with a single message heading for the fleet off the coast of Psera. Don't let her pass. The same fleet she dispatched to the coast would be the same fleet to fire on her.
She passed over Merōl with her eyes on the coastline. Twilight could feel the wind in her mane, taste the salt of the sea, and most of all, experience the disappointment of what used to be her subjects. There was no turning back. This had to be done, for she no longer had anything else.
They spotted her, the fleet at sea sworn to protect the very land she attacked. Their weapons trained on her. A laser passed across her vision, locking her to the cannons on the Aquatas.
Twilight swooped low, so close her feathers touched the ocean surface. Here they come with their weapons and firepower. All soldiers were coming to the back of the Aquatas and firing at her. Small spits of water pelted at the waves around her, hitting the shield she conjured. With a strong flap, she bounced off the waves with her front hooves raised.
Two large tendrils of water lifted from the water and flew alongside her. Heading for the Aquata in the middle. Target acquired. She threw her hooves forward, destination for Aquata zero-two-nine. They criss-crossed and slammed straight into the back of the Aquata before smashing out through its sides. They sewn themselves through the rest of the line before diving back into the water. Good. She flapped her hooves like her wings, triggering the effect.
The waves danced and kicked harrowingly, lifting the Aquatas with frightening intensity and crashing them back into the water, throwing off its occupants' balance and throwing whatever they had aiming for her into the air harmlessly. The Aquatas smashed and bashed into each other while she flew over, leaving them behind. Now all she had to worry about was hiding out where they couldn't find her.
Well hiding was out of the picture. But she could always keep them back. Twilight stopped flying and landed on the waves once she was a good distance away. She faced the destruction she left behind. The Aquatas remained on the seas, creaking and tilting. She would no longer be welcome back on Psera. She had nothing with them now.
Very well.
Twilight's eyes glowed a bright violet. She tilted her head back, flared her wings, and released a beam of magic of immeasurable proportions into the air. It reached the atmosphere and exploded into expanding clouds of thunder and purple lightning. On and on it grew until the sun disappeared for Psera. All on their continent couldn't pull their eyes away.
Her Majesty Molten Ice could see Twilight's brewing insanity from the protection of Safe Haven. She, and Gardeen, protected under her wing.
It seems she'll have to step into the shoes as acting queen.
"Someone get me Secretary Manny and my generals," Her Majesty ordered. Any soldier nearby ran to fulfill her stern request.
"And get me a meeting with Equestria and IHT!" She narrowed her eyes at the violet clouds and flashing lightning dropping shadows onto their land. "The true enemy has finally showed her face."