//------------------------------//
// 2M2M II 
// Story: Book 1 - The Behemoth came to Canterlot 
// by Equimorto 
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Twilight walked through the mostly empty streets of the Crystal Empire, more to recollect her thoughts than to actually check on anything. Everything had already been checked throughly many times, and everyone knew she was only taking that walk to have some time alone with herself. Not completely alone, a few of Sunburst's featureless soldiers could be seen around town, but if Rarity could manage being alone with the fake ponies she modelled her clothes on then she could do the same with those. Even if the way they stood around motionless or moved mechanically when they did brought unpleasant memories to mind.
It was because of her mental wanderings through the events of her recent past and recent future, and her troubled emotional state, that she didn't immediately notice the pony. It was because of how no one was supposed to be there that she got suddenly very curious, and somewhat worried. They were sitting on a chair, at a table outside a closed building that appeared to be a restaurant of some kind, inside a portico. Between the gloomy sky and the roof above them, Twilight couldn't really get a good look at them. She approached. But before she could speak, she recognised them.
He seemed to notice her too, and turned his head back, smiling. "This place usually serves some really good ice-cream, you know?" he said. "I was looking forward to it, but I guess the place is closed. I'll have to wait on that then."
Twilight took a step closer. "What are you doing here?"
"I told you. I wanted some ice-cream," the Charioteer said, suddenly holding an ice-cream cone in one of his hooves. "Aside from that, not much, really. I'm just watching. I do a lot of it. I suppose I'm a little ahead of schedule though."
Twilight took another step forward. "What do you want? What are you planning?"
"When have I ever actually answered your questions in a satisfying manner, Twilight?" He chuckled. "I won't be interfering tomorrow, if that's what you're worried about. Nothing of what happens here concerns me. I'll stick to my schedule, whether you win or you lose." He took a lick from his ice-cream cone. "I'm sorry if that sounds kind of cold, but I do want you to understand there's really nothing personal I have against any of you. My purpose just happens to conflict with your desire to keep on existing." He sighed. "You know, I consider myself quite the mediocrely great actor. But if I'm allowed to break my script for a moment, I wish to say that am sorry about what happened with those two. It wasn't your fault."
It was Twilight's turn to chuckle. It was bitter, and it sounded a bit like crying. "You're one to talk. It was just Nightmare Moon following her nature, wasn't it?"
"I suppose there is some irony in it." The Charioteer licked his ice-cream again. "Like I've told you before, every world has its abomination, as you've come to call them. You won't be able to ignore that fact much longer. Unless you merely lose, of course." He smiled. "But that's not what you want to do, is it?"
He turned away from Twilight again. She started at him for a bit, quiet, watching him occasionally take another lick. Then she began to walk away.