The Queen of the Dark Ch. I

by Forcalor

Step 7 — "...the Little Sparkles in the Dark" — Princess Twilight Sparkle — Day 1, late evening

The Dark receded, and all flames in the hall of the Royal Library took on the natural color.

Front doors slammed shut, and Twilight exhaled with a hitch, a little whine on her lips. The world still felt wanting to treacherously spin at every movement, and the desire to find a place to sit down was overwhelming. Yet, she could be much more useful on her hooves, so she sobered up and began to push through a worried and disorderly herd of noble ponies and other guests, who still couldn't get that everything irrevocably changed, and still were gawking and trying to gather themselves after a recent sporadic battle.

Luckily, her pale and bloodied visage was enough for them to try and get out of the way without any extra nudges. Twilight stepped back to Rainbow Dash, who was dragged aside and now was being cared for by friends. The alicorn Princess did all she could in her weakened state, and now her heart ached, as she looked at the unsightly sight of burnt flesh and broken bone. "By Celestia's mercy," she pleaded, "please, be alright."

"It's fine," Dash mustered an optimistic grin, and her charred stump on her left side slightly wagged, "Wings grow back, right?"

Applejack began to utter, wearing a painful and serious expression: "Dash, ah' think t'would be better to—"

"Everything is possible with magic," Twilight said, placing a firm hoof on Applejack's shoulder. The farmer reluctantly closed up her open mouth.

"You really can regrow it?" Rarity, all pale, got distracted from her somber thoughts for a moment. "Or maybe, what, are we talking about a prosthetic?"

"Make it a cool one!" Dash immediately demanded.

Twilight giggled, furtively wiping a tear from the corner of an eye. "I've heard for a fact that there are pegasi who use prosthetics! We just have to get you the best one, a magical one, after all this mess."

Dash sighed, slowly closing her eyes. "Yeah, that would be just... awesome..." She kept grinning through the pain. "Y'know... It turns out, there actually was some prank in Canterlot, right, girls?..."

"Y-yeah." Applejack sighed, lowering her head with a small smile.

Worrying, Twilight shifted forward, but Rarity gently patted her on the shoulder. "I think she's fine, darling. She will pull through. Well, of course, we could need a professional to look after her, mind you..."

Twilight helplessly glanced around the hall. There really wasn't anyone around who could provide substantial aid with wounds that severe. Her eyes searched until she noticed several distraught and weeping ponies who gathered around lifeless bodies. She gulped, quickly averting her eyes, not willing to watch that in detail, compelled by harrowing expectation that she would recognize the deceased, and this time something will break in her permanently.

Instead, she looked at a heap of changeling corpses, a few dozen of them, all unceremoniously tossed at the corner. Some of the Royal Guard still were busy finishing off the stragglers, pinning them down with spears, treating them like oversized insects they are. Wincing from one especially brutal motion, Twilight felt very uneasy. Somehow.. somehow, it felt like such a waste to her, as if these could become someone better...

She frowned, drawing her eyes to the floor, trying to suppress the strange sensation. It's not like she held out for little monsters some kind of sympathy, but...

The deaths overall, that's what was getting to her, this complete and irreversible diminish of someone's potential. It all was so unnecessary. So wasteful.

So wrong.

Not to say about the wedding itself... That Chrysalis... No, Twilight wasn't the one to stand up in pose and exclaim 'Chrysalis will pay!'. She just got very, very sad.

Because they all very, very tried to make it all work.

And all that effort was gone now, not unlike all the love that was going into that creature's maw, it did fuel something scornful...

Why do such creatures like Chrysalis, who are just bent on destroying everything good, even exist? What's with this desire to erode happiness and hope in the world? Is it just because they can do so? One couldn't help but wonder how such malice was born in creatures like her...

Spike placed his little clawed hand on her side, trying to make her feel better. Twilight sighed and offered back a cheerless, but grateful smile. "We'll be fine," she promised with a strained voice.

"I know I'll be," grinned baby dragon, trying to look brave, "But Twi, if you need a shoulder to cry on and let it all out, I'm here. We all are."

Twilight curtly nodded, feeling a tingly sensation down her nose, like she was ready to surrender to the urge to do exactly that at any second now. Here in Canterlot it still felt very un-Princesslike, so she suppressed herself. Maybe will do it later. Definitely.

Her eyes traced aside, noticing the approaching Shining Armor. He wordlessly offered her a quick hug, then nodded in greeting to her friends.

"How are you holding out here?" he asked her, got bottled water from aside, then handkerchief—he apparently had plenty of these on his person. Before Twilight had a chance to respond, he already was wiping the dried blood from her muzzle. Twilight, somehow, had forgotten about that completely.

She grunted, slightly blushing and checking if someone is looking. "Fine, I suppose. Thanks. How's Mom and Dad?"

Shining was unfamiliarly collected and serious. Well, he was a warrior and a good-hearted pony, after all. A Prince, to hoof. "Little shaken," he slightly nudged her, "Dad said that if you will be wed someday and changelings still show up, it would be official: all alicorn Princesses are fated to have it like that."

Twilight snorted, and smiled, feeling a little bit better. "I'll double-check if my spouse is Chrysalis, I guess. Do you think we might need a magical detector trained on her or something?"

"Uh-huh. Make that a chastity belt," he faked a smile. Nonetheless, Twilight knew what he was doing and felt gratitude.
He continued with the same breath: "Come, I need to whisk you away to others. We have to decide what to do next."

"Right."

Twilight stood up and hesitated a bit, glancing apprehensively back at Spike and the girls. Fluttershy looked at her reassuringly, and Applejack gestured with foreleg: "We are alright, don't worry your head with us. She's alright too," she nodded at lying Dash, who fell into an uneasy sleep, "Go, Princess."

There was a commotion between the gathered nobility. Twilight not needed to train her ear that much to recognize what the fuss is about—indignation, uncertainty, and all that. As she and Shining were making their way around, she noticed her sister-in-law right in the middle of it, and turned to the brother with worry: "Will Cadance be okay? Those ponies look like they will just tear her apart."

"She had worse," Shining replied confidently.

They reached Stygian and Magnus, the latter already came to after a direct strike from Chrysalis and was sulkily treating a wound on the shoulder of his friend. Twilight offered her sympathy: "How did you got hurt, Stygian?"

Magnus, busy with bandages, replied instead: "Apparently he was just standing there and completely ignoring changelings, right until one burrowed gums-deep into him."

"Aye," Stygian mustered. His eyes were sullen, with dark circles around. "I was afraid. I've frozen up."

"Afraid?" Twilight's wings barely twitched. "Of the changelings?"

"Of the Dark," whispered Stygian on the edge of his breath, and then smiled sheepishly. His direct gaze was slightly unnerving. "Your Highness, can you feel the smell?"

"The smell?" Twilight parroted again, involuntarily rubbing her nose.

"Yes, that sweet smell... I just can't get rid of it..."

Twilight tilted her head, blinking. Before she could go on with questioning though, another voice thundered, stealing the attention of everyone in the room.

Cadance had enough. She gracefully leaped on the back of the bench, spreading her wings for balance. Her horn shone with brilliant light, as her aura grabbed a bloodied sword from Prince Blueblood (still knocked out), and she caught it with a loud neigh on her lips.

She reared up, the sword lifted high to the ceiling, and danced on her elongated legs. Her unfamiliar stern gaze washed everyone from high above.

Twilight stole a look at Shining, who was filled with utter pride adulation.

"My fellow ponies! You have suffered at the hooves of the changelings, and their depravity and wickedness have reached new heights. But do not fret! We have been through a horrific attack, and we saw it through undeterred! We will remedy this day yet! We will weather this storm and emerge stronger for it!
"I know what Celestia, blessed be her sun-like heart, would want us to do: to face the evil that has befallen us with strength and determination, and not shrink from danger, but rather stand tall and resolute in the defense of our way of life! Let no one doubt that we yet will have our revenge on the Queen for her vicious attack!"

Pinkie, who was right in the thick of it, giggled, hugging her huge party cannon, which was still smoking from overuse, "Yep, don't let some creepy poxy phony ponies get you down!"

Well, at least someone among her closest friends didn't have any qualms against death and killing. On second thought, her weapon must've been loaded with confetti. Though, it still was a cannon...

Cadance nodded, and continued more normally, "So calm yourselves, for everyone's sake. You are in safety for now, and I will guarantee personally that no more harm will come to pass to any of you." She lowered the sword; her leg must've been already getting tired. "We will devise a plan and we will see you all escorted to your homes. Equestria will prevail!"

Not that frightened canterlotian aristocrats were particularly impressed by the rousing speech and vague promises, but it seemed like their concerns were lowered for now. One clear voice got through their murmur, "What about our fallen? Will we just leave them here?"

"Of course not. We will figure something out, right now. That is all, we will move out soon and orderly!" calmed them Cadance, jumped down, and confidently walked through the dispersing crowd back to Twilight and others.

Their small group positioned itself at the bookshelf along the wall, right underneath burned tapestry of Diarchy. Twilight glanced around in discontent and picked up one of the books lying around, torn from the shelves. She gently tucked it back into its place. Of course, with the whole catastrophe going on, no one even thought about reading something. Chrysalis managed to spoil everything even in this detail.

By Celestia, that vile Changeling Queen...

Cadance queried in a casual tone, "Well, what should we do?" Her horn shimmered, as she tried to pull away the sheath for the sword from Blueblood.

"My men are already busy looking for stretchers for severely wounded." Magnus' eyes wandered somewhere in Dash's direction. "I'm afraid we will be forced to manage to carry most with magic and on our backs, but after all, leave killed where they lie. Such are conditions of war."

"Yes. Exactly my thoughts," Shining Armor shared grimly. "It all leads to war, and we need to be ready to act accordingly."

Twilight made a light gasp. "W-what? Are you serious? With Chrysalis?"

"She took the throne by force, Twiley. She is controlling Celestia, obviously. By the looks of it, the whole city is under siege right now. What else we can expect?"

"Her powers will not wane while she keeps feeding on Celestia," suddenly huffed Starswirl, and Twilight jumped, looking back at the old mage who appeared at her side. Somehow he managed to sneak up on her once again, what's up with that?
"Most likely she will do it until our Princess is drained completely."

Cadance slowly shook her head, horrified. "How grim..." She frowned. "I... I can't even imagine, what debauchery she must be enduring... what if it is already too late?"

"I know little of the creature, but I am in no doubt she would try to savor the captive for as long as possible," said Starswirl almost impassively, but Twilight knew that these words must be spoken. "So there is some hope for her yet."

Cadance sighed and nodded. "This blight, named Chrysalis... It must be eradicated. There is no other way going forward. That is why..." She shot a glance at Shining, wanting his approval. "That is why I agree, we must be ready to war. We must gather forces in Crystal Empire, and be ready for the worst, to take time to gather intelligence, to consider our next move. Too many lives are at stake. It is not only Celestia, it is the whole realm. She would've understood."

Twilight was slowly blinking, hardly believing what she heard. Cadance was talking like Celestia had already gone... But what about her speech before the crowd? "You considering fighting against Equestria? Aren't you a Princess of Equestria yourself?" she asked directly, her brows shot up.

"Yes, I am," Cadance grabbed Shining's hoof, looking resolute. "That is why I must fight for it. We are alicorns, Twilight, you must understand. We have a duty."

"But I am an alicorn of Friendship! And you of Love, I..." Twilight's breath hitched. She expected that Cadance would be more peaceful and try to search for some other solution, but really, was her former foalsitter ever like that? Twilight honestly couldn't remember.

When it mattered, Cadance was always a fighter... What other solution there might be other than to fight, anyway?

"Ancient treaties," Starswirl uttered, deep in thought. "They are still in Royal Palace. If we somehow get our hooves on them, we can try and summon other races for our aid, as we did during our war with King Sombra. Of course, the nation of griffins vastly diminished since then, and dragons' society changed as well, but..."

"I doubt those treaties would help us," interjected Stygian. "We should send messengers anyway, mind you, to other cities and realms. We must warn as many as we can."

Cadance nodded in accordance. "Yes, and if we retreat now, Chrysalis surely will become arrogant and complacent, like the beast she is. It will be her downfall," her eyes lit up. "She will never expect how the whole world will come crashing down on her!"

Twilight still was shocked. "You talked about giving up Celestia... And now, you want to give up Canterlot as well!? You just can't be serious..." She gasped. "And Ponyville!? It is right next to Canterlot, after all..."

"Charging right into the thick of it is probably what the Queen and her Hive are expecting from us," Stygian gave Twilight an apologetic look. "Changelings are schemers, so there must be at least a few traps already laid, ready to be sprung."

"But every second we wait, the Queen will only become even stronger than before!" Twilight tried to appeal to reason.

"Twiley," her brother walked up to her, and placed a hoof on her shoulder. "We will try to move away as many ponies as we can right now, that is a given. But without at least some reconnaissance, or pulling up forces, without finding means to fight the Queen, what would you expect us to do? We are lucky she didn't unleash all her power on us already. She must consider us too beneath her... That is our chance to prove her wrong, to live and not perish, in the name of all ponies who expect us to lead them. It's kind of how it works, you understand?"

"Well... Y-yes." Twilight nodded. "Y-you're r-right. We need to regroup and gather forces. You need to. We, I... I see you all of one mind about it, right?"

Cadance sighed. "It pains me just as much as you, believe me."

Twilight quickly glanced back at her friends, who all were grouped up in another part of the room, and were observing their hushed and animated discussion. "And what should we do?" she queried. "We do not have the Elements..."

Starswirl began to speak solemnly, raising his head highly, "Since the Elements are unavailable, it seems it is time for the Pillars to pick up the pieces. Just like in times of old, we were always a backbone on which the fate of the world could fall, and current times will be no exception. I will send missives to all my allies, we will gather up, join forces with you, and strike back."

Magnus was silent all this time, listening to this. He stirred, shared a look with Stygian, and then turned to the old mage, "Let me be clear, old chum. If need be, you wish to stand against Equestria?" He looked at others. "You all are?"

"I wish to stand against the Dark, against the discrepancy, as well as this creature which called herself the Queen," Starswirl corrected patiently.

"Yes." The knight nodded. "I understand, old friend, but it all means the same thing right now. I need to inform you all: I won't pick up my shield against Equestria and its people, however misguided they might be. Not until the Princess of the Sun orders so Herself."

There was an uneasy silence.

Eventually, Starswirl broke it, and his voice was filled with tension, "So that is your value of friendship? Loyalty?"

"I am bound by vows of chivalry to Lady Celestia and Her word," Magnus hung his head solemnly. "Her word is the law to me. Not self-elected Queen's, only Princess's. Until I hear from Her and know Her standing, do not count on my aid.
"Not to say," he uttered under his breath, "to run like that would be dishonorable."

Twilight felt warmth in her chest.

Starswirl's glare was piercing. "You had allegiance to Pillars of Old Equestria long before getting a knighthood."

"Starswirl, with all due respect, do you really want to go there?" Magnus frowned. "Do you really want to make me choose between my vows? That is childish."

Old mage harrumphed, raising his head. Twilight was appalled when she saw sheer contempt on his muzzle. "Your duty is to the world, to everything that is Light! Are you really so servile so you would stand aside and do nothing, while evil prevails!?"

"I won't do nothing," Magnus growled. "As soon as we finish with these talks, I'll go out there and save as many lives as I can, so you'd better cut it short, old friend. I've spoken my piece."

Stygian nudged forward and spoke, drawing attention to himself. "Starswirl, aren't Pillars already finished with their duty? When enough is enough? Rockhoof and Meadowbrook both got families, Mistmane... for Celestia's sake, Starswirl, she just might be too frail for another war."

"You aren't the one to talk about denying heroes their purpose," Starswirl stared at the unicorn. "By stars above, why are you always so utterly useless, Stygian!? And you call yourself a tactician!?"

Twilight couldn't remain silent at this point. "Starswirl, but wasn't it you who tried to calm everypony?"

Distraught, Stygian shook his head, looking at the ground. "No, no, he is right, I... I should've been more observant. I-I have a great responsibility..."

Starswirl's eyes remained glued to Stygian. "Elevated commoner." He grimaced in disdain. "You had a great position, a great role to play to assist heroes in their endeavor, but you can't do even a fraction of what you had been intended for! What, are you still trying to impede us!?"

Twilight fell unease. She never was exactly nosy about their history, but she didn't like how Starswirl spoke of Stygian as if he was some sort of a tool. It didn't settle with her right at all. "Mistakes happen..." she smiled sheepishly, but Magnus stepped forward.

His ringing voice filled the room. "Look, old chum, first of all Stygian is our friend, and he doesn't deserve that. And you know that we are all of the same rank here, we all want to protect Equestria. It's not like in the days of old, don't you understand? There are no sirens, no Lord Tirek, we just can't partake in some quest, and everything will be resolved!" The knight snorted and violently stomped down. "I hoped we all were in accord on that, but I'll say it out loud. We have new heroes right now, and if they can't take charge, well then—it's war. So be it. And I might be on the other side. You might not like it, but you know how duty weighs just as well as I do."

Twilight quickly glanced back at the girls, at wounded Rainbow Dash. She realized that the conversation was drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Little alicorn sighed, trying to calm her madly beating heart.

"Have you no shame? What use of friendship, if you yourself were first to abandon our cause?" Starswirl almost spat in his beard, and Twilight thought that the old wizard might've been hurt by what had occurred. She felt a cold lump in her stomach. How easy it was sometimes to forget, that these ponies of legends are just like all the others...

Just like themselves. She imagined how she is having a similar talk with someone in her group. Could it be possible for them to be driven apart like that too? Not because of some dispute or anything of the sort, but because of duties? Admittedly, Twilight never thought like that about what she is doing...

Magnus had similar thoughts about Starswirl, it seemed. He frowned. "Do not twist it like that. This is beneath us!"

Twilight again glanced to onlookers, and took the word, before someone else did and tensions had a chance to begin rising again. "Everyone, calm down, please! It is time we accept our differences and move on! Conflict is what the Darkness wants, conflict is what it needs, it's where it thrives!"

"And what would you know about it?" Starswirl stared at her suspiciously.

Suddenly everyone turned to her, curious for an answer. Twilight blushed but stood strong. Her voice become smaller, as she became mindful about being heard by others. "I... I might've slipped for a bit in the Dark before. I'm sorry," she quickly added, like it was merely a blunder.

"What did you say?" Shining gasped. "Twiley, not you!?"

"I-It was back when Crystal Empire returned in the North. I saw how Celestia used a dark spell when she was showing me about negative emotions, and later I happened to be in need to replicate it by myself. But it is alright!" she tried to rectify again. "It was a one-time occurrence! I just needed to learn..."

"You mean to say, you learned a spell of dark magic just by observing it in a single instance?" Stygian sounded perplexed and amazed at the same time.

"Y-yeah..."

Shining and Cadance shared confused looks, but Starswirl, now thoughtfully stroking his beard, just sighed. "Yes, it is... alright. Yes, it is fine. It is one thing to let the Dark into your soul and learn from it, after all..." He looked at Stygian with a hard-to-read expression. "To embrace it is a completely different story."

"But Master Starswirl, with all due respect, here's the thing." Twilight raised her voice. "The Dark is a part of everyone's souls. We all have urges, and they are part of us, are they not? The Darkness is just as important as-" Her voice fell off, as she looked at others. "-w-what I mean to tell, is... It isn't something inherently bad..."

Magnus narrowed his eyes. "Your Highness, I believe you haven't seen what the Darkness can truly do to a pony. We fought against it a millennium ago and we saw how it consumed our friend and many others. We saw monstrosities, not unlike the one that feasted on Celestia, maybe even worse. Don't you dare to talk about it like that! The Dark is the bane of all that is life! It is the void!"

"Maybe it all varies in matters of using a measured scientific approach," mumbled Twilight, furrowing brow.

"Nay, you can only think that you can use the Darkness." Stygian shook his head solemnly. "In the end, it is you who is used."

"Everyone of ye, do not torment yourselves over the Dark! It is still manageable," a sudden voice called to them.

The Princess of the Night looked miserable. Her sullen muzzle looked slightly off, her coat was covered in old stains and cuts, her royal peytral bore a deep and wide jagged gash, and her tiara was missing. On the neck there was a poorly treated bite mark of something monstrous and poisonous, still seeping with pus. She smelled foul. After great exertion she suffered, she noticeably hobbled. Pale somber green eyes had glowed dimly, but determined.

No one was helping her, as ponies around were just gawking, giving her distance. Twilight thought to herself that the Princess wouldn't accept their help anyway.

She looked truly regal.

Stygian bowed to her, with trembling Twilight following. She felt great shame before Luna—Chrysalis tricked them, after all... Twilight still couldn't believe that the Changeling Queen was right here, and she was ready to eat up her every vile world.

Magnus, Shining, and Cadance repeated the gesture of reverence. The feeling of guilt must've been shared by all.

"You are one to talk," Starswirl grumbled, but then sighed, resigned, and bowed as well. "Princess Luna. Your Majesty. My apologies for this outburst."

"'Tis fine. We have great pressing matters to attend to," Luna replied ruefully.

Her voice, her manner of speech, it all warmed Twilight's heart. It now seemed so obvious who was fake and who is the real deal... After they finished bowing, Twilight just walked up to the Princess of the Night and promptly gave her a good hug.

Luna stiffened, not knowing how to react. But then, she slowly embraced the little alicorn with wings. Her eyes became wet, but she blinked it off. "'Tis good to be back." She smiled. "Sadly, I might not be of much use right now."

"How long had you been captive?" Cadance asked compassionately.

"It would be the sixth moon tonight." Luna averted her eyes. "I have underestimated that vile creature."

"We all did." Twilight gulped, breaking the hug.

"Celestia felt too untouchable to even consider this can happen." Cadance glanced at floor, as if she was complicit. "You too, dear aunt, but, I suppose, what's done is done."

"Truer words were never spoken," grumped Starswirl. "But how did the creature managed to contain you, Princess?"

"A dome-barrier, which prevented all other magic from passing." Luna frowned. "Sixty-five hooves in diameter, roughly fifteen at the highest spot. Never had I seen anything like it in design, and I did study it well. It leeched out of casters their life essence, and changelings swapped each other with zeal, so I could not weaken it. They could even force others' to pour their strength into it..." She gave a pained look.

"Were you tortured?" Cadance asked, pale.

"Not me, fell beasts were interested in me only when there was a need to announce a nightfall. They went after others, so I had to keep a constant vigil for their sake."

So she hadn't even slept. "You weren't alone?" Twilight frowned, trying to imagine it all.

"I was not." Luna shifted eyes and cleared her throat. "'Tis hardly matters, as I broke out on my own, and only the Queen could truly force me to obey. I endured the night and played possum until consternation prevailed over darkspawns' common sense and they brought their defenses low enough for me to strike."

"Trickery always was one of your strongest suits, Your Majesty," noticed Starswirl and the Lunar Princess winced, glaring at him. "I thought you'll be complimented. What else you can tell us about that barrier?"

Luna wordlessly ignited her horn, and a set of runes appeared in the air. Despite all her interest in the conversation, Twilight's attention immediately switched, and she lifted her hoof to her mouth, pondering. They seemed abyssinian in origin, dating back to a few hundred years ago when one of the old Storm Kings ruled over the land in question. Being a derivative from a few ancient dialects at once, those runes were an exemplar of an unholy amalgamation of artisanal type of magic, made possible only through sheer experimentation with arcane without natural affinity to it, like ponies for example obviously possessed. Storm Kings were always peculiar in their treatment of magic and technology, and Twilight longed and at the same time genuinely feared to discover, to what heights they might've climbed since then.

Starswirl retraced symbols into a notebook and huffed. "I recognize these occult molochian drawings. Seems like time wasn't merciful to them—someone had butchered them thoroughly."

"It must've been designed not by Chrysalis, and to contain Celestia, long ago," Twilight pointed out. "As far as I can tell it's from another realm, yes?"

Shining shrugged. "Well, Chrysalis did roam the world for hundreds of years, so who can tell what connections she have?"

"We could've told, if foreign relationships of Equestria with anyone except the other pony nations weren't as good as non-existent," Twilight lamented.

"So it could be a ploy by one of our neighbors?" Cadance pondered, her grim eyes reflecting her ominous thoughts. "Could it be that someone tried to weaken Equestria this way? For all we know, our borders might be under invasion right now, while we still sitting around."

Shining smiled calmly to his wife. "Y'know, you kind of too eager to find more enemies here. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, dove. One menace and world-ending threat at a time, okay?"

Twilight took a moment to observe the situation in the room. It looked like things had considerably calmed down, but the impression of calm before the storm still lingered. In anticipation when they'd be allowed to leave this bleak place, ponies gathered into small groups. Without a chandelier, there was barely any light, and ponies seemed afraid of drawing attention with any. Signs of the recent battle were everywhere, and befallen darkness outside the building was pregnant with cold and rain.

Is this the world that the Changeling Queen would've wanted for them, where on still warm remains of the feast, dark buzzing monsters hunt and gorge upon everyone's emotion of love? Twilight sighed, distraught by how fast everything can be changed.

Stygian was sitting on a bench nearby, his forehead heavy with sweat. The young alicorn took a step closer, but Magnus' voice distracted her.

The knight was walking to them from the entrance, several guards in tow. "Gentlecolts, ladies, we have reinforcements. These ponies saw Princess Celestia, and she seemed to be fine, making her way on hoof towards the Royal Palace. Her main concern was that of citizens, as usual. I have to leave your company and help mount a defense of our beloved city before it is too late, so out of courtesy and our shared friendship, I will try and overlook talks of possible treason against Equestria." Magnus smiled somberly. "It’s been an honour."

"Why, old friend," Starswirl replied dryly. "Honour was all ours."

"Take care, Commander." in contrast, Luna seemed a bit more warm. "Providence be willing, We will once again join thy in battle soon enough."

"Stygian?" Magnus turned to the gloomy unicorn. "I might need your expertise here."

"I am still weathered somewhat..." Srygian's crooked smile was guilt-ridden. "Besides, I might be more of use in Crystal Empire." His eyes darted between Starswirl and the knight.

Magnus sighed. Then he moved closer and curtly placed a hoof on Stygian's shoulder. It seemed like he wanted to say something else, but eventually, he just nodded and turned to Shining. "I will leave a few soldiers, but considering all your prowess, I don't suppose regular changelings are much of a threat here. They seem to avoid Royal Library as of now, anyway."

"We might always need an extra few good ponies. Good hunting," answered Shining and shared salutes with the soldier.

The knight left, and Twilight took a deep breath. There were still some unresolved questions...

"We should return to the topic at hoof, while we still have time." She turned to Cadance and Shining. "Why won't you use again that love magic barrier spell, that repelled all changelings from Canterlot?"

Shining shifted his eyes uneasily, while Cadance explained, "It was a one-time occurrence. However we tried to replicate that, it just doesn't want to work anymore... I believe, it was something similar to what occurred with Celestia and that... creature."

"So, viewing from the matters of magical binds, they really are married, aren't they?..." Starswirl looked down, contemplating something.

Twilight felt coldness in her stomach. The silence lapsed for a few seconds, as they all let that thought sink in.

Suddenly, Shining slammed down his hoof in a bout of anger. "By Tartarus be damned that vile monster!" He bellowed and leaned into Cadance's calming embrace.

"What do we do?" Twilight tried to stay calm too, glancing between Cadance and Starswirl. "How would we... divorce them?"

"In more usual circumstances I would've said that we need to make them break their vows." Starswirl sighed, stroking his beard. "But I don't think that any vows were uttered before the altar, so that verbal component can be discarded. One exception in such an equation is that line from Celestia about protecting and cherishing Equestria and ponies. But, I don't see that creature adhering to it anyway, and I doubt it ever will."

"I would... say that power of love... is very potent... If it is utilized correctly... " Cadance stumbled with her words with a pained expression on her muzzle, as if advocating against the love was going against her very nature. "If we need to counteract it somehow, we should be ready to go for extreme measures..."

Starswirl nodded grimly. "Evidently, love power has enough potential for that monster to be on par with alicorns: with Luna herself, and from what I gather, even Celestia. It is the first time I am witnessing something like that in person."

"Well..." Twilight shifted in place uneasily, remembering how Celestia tried to protect them in the past. "In raw power, they just might be equal now, yes..." A sudden idea came to her mind. "Is it possible that Chrysalis somehow stole the fate that was meant for Luna?"

Princess of the Night made a few rapid blinks, taken aback by this suggestion. Starswirl rubbed his chin, pondering.

Luna spoke her mind in an especially weak and raspy voice, "'Tis doubtful 'twould be the case..." There was a faint blush on her cheeks. "Possibility that Sister can have feelings of such caliber for me... And it is... meant to be... It is... It is news to Us."

Old mage humphed. It looked like he considered the idea seriously. "And I'd say, a very astute observation, Twilight. I will look into the Compendium of Equestrian Laws when I get the chance. Maybe the answer lies there, in the customs of ancient royal weddings."

Shining raised his ears, curious. "You weren't there when it was written?"

"Sadly," replied Starswirl, "It was even before my time, and most of what was written in the tome is supposed to be obsolete anyway. Where did you got it from, Twilight?"

"Forbidden section," replied the alicorn simply, like it was a given. "It is here underground, in the Royal Library. For the time being, we can use it as a shelter for ponies."

Cadance nodded. "I know of it, but they certainly would be safer outside of the city walls."

Starswirl pursed his lips in contemplation, and then unexpectedly uttered, "There's something else to consider. We to evaluate the possibility that Celestia might become the Dark Queen as well."

"What!?" Twilight nervously smiled, looking at other ponies around. "She, corrupted? This is just absurd!"

No one was sharing the smile.

Starswirl looked at her seriously and his grumpy voice sounded severe, "Well then, Element of Magic, can you absolve us of the possibility that this will happen? Can you stand tall and say that this is not possible?"

An uneasy silence fell on them once again. Shining and Cadance listened closely.

Not hearing an answer, Starswirl continued, "Only yesterday we did not even consider that she can fall, and now she was compromised—as it turns out, for days. And I haven't seen her in any rush to confront the creature, to which she is now wedded. Evidence is building up in support of the theory, don't you agree?"

Twilight regained her composure. "This is not who Celestia is, Starswirl! It's just not!"

"The Dark is very vile and insidious... Thou must understand... There is enough for even a small crevice for it to begin to seep in..." Luna uttered with a strain, and tightened her muscles. "Celestia bathes in the Darkness right now. She slept with it. She might look and act the same, but..." Luna exhaled, trembling, full of cold sweat. "'Twould be truly disastrous."

"It would be like cutting open a pristine-looking fruit and seeing already spoiled insides," said Starswirl grimly. "It is something that you can't notice until it is too late."

"How can you talk like that!" Twilight raised her voice at both lunar goddess and ancient mage, her ears fuming from sudden anger. "How can you even think like that!? Are you right in your head!? She is Celestia! Luna, she is your sister, she loves you!"

Princess Luna lowered her head in deep shame, but Starswirl just humphed, stroking his beard. "You refer to the same love that condemned us to all to this." He shook his head slowly. "Girl, we need to be prepared for the worst. There is too much at stake."

"Well, you weren't prepared for the worst, Starswirl!" Twilight hissed, and rose her head high. "I will not—I won't listen to this slander of Celestia behind her back! I thought you would know her better than that!"

She turned, walking away in anger, but not before she heard how Starswirl sighed wearily, "Oh, our young Princess..."

As she took a few dozen steps, Twilight caught herself on a thought that she doesn't know what she is doing, and huffed, pressing her temple against the wall nearby.

Their fears were valid, and she was angry because she was afraid too.

But even then—she was also angry at herself.

She bit inside her cheek, looking at nervous ponies all around. What is she even doing right now? She stepped from the wall, feeling how she is trembling. Step, another step. Her eyes were searching.

"Hey.. Dad. Mom."

As she approached them, she gave quick hugs to Night Light and Twilight Velvet, as other ponies were giving them space. Just like Shining said, they both were looking a little shaken, but none worse for wear. Twilight was genuinely elated.

"How are you holding up, dear?" Velvet was attentive and dear to heart, which after recent speeches felt very refreshing.

"Oh, you know," Twilight smiled awkwardly, "Trying to keep it cool. You both seem to be finer than me and I'm supposed to be a responsible one!"

"Now, now, that sounded almost offensive!" returned smile Night, and they all echoed a chuckle.

"Ah," Velvet looked aside, "You know, with everything considered, you seem to be hosting the most memorable celebrations in all of Canterlot."

"Mom!" Twilight laughed.

"One could think, it was your special talent all along," Night hugged his wife, looking at Twilight warmly.

"Well, it could be just because you are both present!"

"I wish!" Velvet smiled widely, "Then Canterlot could've been such a lively place! But no, to be honest, it always comes in motion only when you're around."

"Now you're just making me blush."

"We had whole seventeen years to figure it out, kiddo," Night sighed, "You'd better believe years of experience."

Velvet added: "So you know, even with all these world-ending threats, we are very happy to see you each time. We only wish that you'd come more often."

"Maybe it's you who should come to Ponyville more than once a year, folks," Twilight felt a bit shy.
She sighed, lowering her eyes. She needed to lay bare what was weighing her down.
"Look, I need to do something reckless... And I don't know... Don't know if I should. Do you know what I mean?"

Her father became a bit more serious.
"Y'know, for us you aren't some Celestia's star pupil, or newest alicorn, or anything of the kind. You're just you, and as far as I can tell, you almost always tried to do whatever you want and achieve what you set your mind to. Be it a banishing of ancient evil, or for example, building a ladder out of appliances to reach cookie jar, when you was four."

"This time," Twilight profoundly flapped her wings, "I'll come prepared! And it wasn't my fault that I dropped it and shattered it. I know you're still holding a grudge, Mom."

"It was a present from your great-grandmother," grumbled Velvet, "Of course, I'd remember that."

"Anyway," Twilight frowned a bit, trying to keep herself collected, "I... I guess, I just want you to promise me you'll be okay. And, listen, I..."

Her parents regarded it with all seriousness, watching her and not interrupting.

"I... Feel like it's all happened because of me," Twilight glanced over a shoulder for a second, and nervously shifted in place, "Last time, when... Cadance occurred... I've learned that I should've trusted my instincts. And I... Maybe I just was afraid to again begin fussing over seemingly nothing, I dunno. In short, I didn't listen. I think all signs were there, and I..."

"Oh..." Velvet rubbed her chin, pondering.

"Look at her, taking on herself all weight of the world," Night Light smiled proudly, "Our daughter..."

Twilight felt a bit flustered. She lowered her head.
"I know that I am too hard on myself right now. But here is also another thing, I -" Twilight quickly wiped a tear, "- don't want anything of this. I don't want anyone to live in pain and fear, I don't want you to live like that, guys. This is what scares me the most, that..." Her breath hitched, "That you will get hurt."

The black bolt of lightning, sent by the Queen, still lingered in her mind. She still could hear how Rainbow Dash screamed, could recall the dread that engulfed her. Twilight trembled. And all that happened before, that... that shift in reality, when something broke...

And fighting after...

That all was...

It wasn't right. Not with so much death and suffering.

Velvet hugged her tight, and Twilight returned the hug,

"I don't want her terror to continue," Twilight almost whined, feeling powerless regarding how utterly unjust it all was.
Why do such creatures even exist? Who gave them the right to exist? How dare they?
"I... Someone... I need to stop the Queen. You understand me, right?" She whispered, "I have to save Celestia... I have to try. Please, tell me that I'm not mad."

Night Light made a long sigh, and his muzzle fell.
"What of your friends?" He asked gently, "They can help, right?"

"I don't know... No... No, I don't think so. I will not let them get hurt again," she winced, thinking of Dash's terrible wounds, "They don't know, and they shouldn't, or they will stop me. I will protect them, and you. Everyone. Even Spike, please watch after him if I won't make it."

"Nonsense. You will make it," uttered Night Light, and Twilight smiled thankfully, even if it was just a platitude.

"Twilight, my little girl," Velvet pulled back from the hug, her face wet, "I know that this is banality, but listen. Instincts are fine, I won't argue. But you have something even better, a great, great heart, and a brilliant mind. Listen to them too. And I know that you love Celestia very dearly. Let no one stand between you and those who you love... Maybe it's only you who is actually doing what is right."

"Nurtured heart," remembered Twilight one particular talk with Celestia, and felt a little better, a little more confident now.
"I hope so," she said softly, nuzzling into her mother, "I very hope so."

"Just be careful, alright?"

"Alright... Love you both."

Luna was lying on the floor, breathing heavily, in cold sweat. She must've overexerted herself, spent the last vestiges of her strength to just stand and talk to them before.

Twilight's eyes went over the combination of runes that composed the teleportation circle. Their arcane nature was not unlike coordinates on a topographic map, just with an added dimension of magic, so it was not hard to deduce that the destination location was somewhere in Canterlot nearby, and then pinpoint Starswirl's Tower. It was so easy, a filly could do it.

Earlier, when everyone was ready to leave for the city gates, Luna collapsed right in the middle of the room, and now Starswirl was hurriedly working on his spell. Most of the ponies gave him some space or already began to walk out of the building, but Fluttershy was a complete exception even among those who remained.

Twilight marveled how pegasus was lying here with Luna, submerging her little yellow body with spread wings in the flowing dark mane, littered with sparkling stars. It was somehow enchanting. Her hooves were hugging Luna's neck gently, avoiding bringing to the alicorn more discomfort, and her mouth was lowered to drooped down equine ear.

Fluttershy was whispering something. Her calm and warm presence was soothing for Luna, just as well as for others in the room. Lunar goddess' breath was slow and steady, and she no longer whimpered in some strange nightmare that claimed her. That allowed Starswirl to begin tracing his runes. It was pretty much the only reason he didn't shoo away pegasus girl, and it was a perfect distraction for Twilight to leave.

But Twilight stood still nonetheless. Her friends were nearby, as well as Shining and Cadance. Princess of Love's eyes were open wide, trembling, and full of tears.

Applejack mused, looking at the mage, "So ah' reckon, you won't be coming back, Starswirl?"

"Someone still needs to look after Princess Luna, and nurture her back to health, even if her failure at her duties might be the actual cause of all this," Starswirl suddenly responded harshly, with palpable dissatisfaction.

Twilight felt like she got splashed with cold water, she even recoiled. Is he serious right now? What's with this disparaging? Twilight glared at him, struggling with a desire to remind him that no one was expecting changelings, and that included himself. She relented, took a deep sigh, collected her thoughts, and uttered: "Just make extra sure she is alright, Master Starswirl."

"Alicorns are becoming especially valued," Starswirl's concentrated voice was grim, "So I would ask you to take care of yourself as well. I'm sure you will manage. The same goes for you, Princess Cadance," The mage stopped working on the teleportation circle for a moment, and turned to face them: "Though, Twilight, I would strongly advise you to come with me to the Tower. This way, we might figure out faster how to counter occurred calamity."

Twilight closed her eyes, seriously considering the option, listening to her senses. There was a merit to the idea, of course, as well as there was a beckoning before, a calling to the White Tree in the Tower. This beckoning was gone now, just as all sensation of wonder that she already associated with that mysterious place. Just puffed away, as if there was none in the first place. So she shook her head vigorously, without hesitation: "No, sorry, I have to protect my family and friends," her eyes traced to Dash, who was still sleeping through it all, "Maybe you can take Rainbow Dash with you? She will be safer there. You can help her too, right?"

Starswirl humphed, not even looking, and returned to his task: "I have to refuse. You must understand, my hooves will be busy as it is."

"Well then," Twilight gritted her teeth, "See you around. No longer stalling."

They all looked in silence at how the old mage finished his conjuration and raised his horn. Fluttershy stood up, lightly caressing hoof over Luna's cheek. She joined the others, and Rarity leaned to her, asking: "What do you think? How is she?"

"Hm?" Fluttershy flinched, as if she didn't expect the question, and then smiled adorably, if a bit bashfully: "She's good."

"Twilight, how do you feel?" asked Fluttershy.

Young alicorn snapped back into reality from her cheerless thoughts. It was a fine question and one that she didn't know how to answer correctly. How does she feel, wading through all this dark greyish bleakness outside, amid heavy rain and lightning strikes above?

Cadance unraveled her magic barrier and rose the horn high, protecting their group of would-be wedding guests, so they slowly crawled forward, sometimes increasing in numbers when guards could find survivors and other stragglers from the attack. Scared ponies weren't that talkative, just happy for the warmth their group could provide. Sometimes they were hurting. Armor-clad unicorns were launching a detection spell on each one of them, but so far changelings didn't try to invade at all.

They didn't even try to disguise themselves. Twilight saw them above, illuminated by the pink glow of the magic. Some of the nasty little creatures were perched on the edges of roofs, following and crawling on walls, sometimes flying through the thunderstorm. Was hunger driving them to divert their attention like that, or maybe they were just attracted by the light?
Twilight was slowly pulling back from the group, but Fluttershy still tried to be nearby, and it made it harder to teleport away unnoticed. Also, Twilight was already having second thoughts. She told herself that she will go and fight when their group reaches the medical center, as, after some consideration, Cadance was leading ponies there to try and find shelter and care. Personally Twilight would've cram them into Starswirl's Tower. Seemed like the most protected place around, after Royal Palace, or guards' barracks.

But alas.

"I'm fine," Twilight answered blankly, looking at all chaos around after the recent fighting. Ruined awnings, broken windows, and scorched walls after hits of stray magic, dropped food, and personal items. Bodies, mostly changelings ones. They tried to take ponies on as a swarm.

The populace of Canterlot was mostly on the streets at this late hour, as celebrations were still going strong. Those who tried to run into buildings only got themselves more isolated. They didn't have a plan of how to act on such an invasion—the only instance of direct attack in the past hundreds of years was a previous one, and Chrysalis overtook Canterlot's defenses with even more ease back then.

This time there was more fighting involved. Commander Magnus stayed true to his word and alerted the Royal Guard regiment, Twilight could tell. Good for them, she guessed.

Actions and reactions, forces colliding... Here on the street, boiling with rushing water, it all felt fueled by some sort of tenacious primal darkness.

"Look at me," again there was Fluttershy's voice, and Twilight did so reluctantly.

Her smile was just like in Ponyville.

Twilight blinked, astonished. It was a small and bashful smile, distinct and precious, warming the heart. Come to think of it, Fluttershy was very close to nature too, wasn't she? Twilight felt the urge to protect this kind pegasus from encroaching misery and pain. She chuckled, wearily. "I..." her voice suddenly became hoarse, and she cleared her throat: "Can you watch after Dash, please?"

Fluttershy nodded, still wearing the same smile. She tilted preciously her head, closing her eyes for a few seconds, "Is everything alright, Twilight?"

"Y-yeah, I just... I need to go, Fluttershy."

"After Celestia?"

Twilight was silent for a few seconds, and then puffed her cheeks, slowly exhaling, "What, it's so obvious?"

"I wouldn't say so," Fluttershy replied somewhat evasively, glancing at ponies who were still walking forward and not looking back, "I had a hunch. It all must be very hard on you."

"You understand why I need to do it?" Twilight felt greatly relieved, and in a spur of the moment, stepped closer to Fluttershy and leaned into her. She buried her face into yellow warm fur, hugging her friend, and feeling how something finally breaks inside—but in a good way. Twilight shuddered with the whole body, and began to cry, bawling her eyes out. A pleasant, familiar smell filled her nostrils, and Twilight clenched her teeth, feeling like a completely miserable wreck.

But she needed this, even if there wasn't much time, even if it could stall someone. It was hard to describe how utterly alone she felt before that, with her resolution to take this task on her own... Twilight let herself succumb to sensation fully. To pour herself into Fluttershy's coat. She felt her gentle caress on the head.

"Twiley? How are you?" she heard the brother's voice, as he and Spike were both approaching from the main group. Yeah, she managed to draw more attention than need be...

It meant that she has to act now.

"She is just afraid," Fluttershy explained in a quiet voice, which filled Twilight with gratitude. With effort, little alicorn pulled back, still sobbing. She looked at the wet stains left on Fluttershy's shoulder, and sighed, turning to others.

She ignited her horn, placing hooves firmly, looking with reddened eyes at both of her brothers. Shining's brows shot up, and Spike, catching on, lunged at her with a little outstretched hand.

"Twi, wait!"

"I'm sorry." Not this time.

They all disappeared.

Sitting on a rooftop, she cried some more, holding her own against the elements and rushing water, boiling under the heavy rain. Dread settled in despite all, but now there was warmth as well, a definitive understanding that she is not alone.

"I am never alone."

Friendship, a cause to fight for... Good cause, but still, it didn't deny the fear of death... The power of the Queen was overwhelming, rivaling that of the goddess. Would be foolish not to acknowledge that once again: everyone during those talks in Royal Library was right.

The thing is, she knew that she was right as well. Certainty and determination were brewing inside of her. Twilight just needed to swallow down anxiety, to face it all through.
But each time she placed her hoof down, ready to ignite her horn and teleport closer to the looming Royal Palace, she felt herself being stopped and in need to reassess the situation. Is she missing something? Anything?

It was difficult like never before. Yes, on the surface, it's just like another challenge, and she could try to consider it like that. Like a task! Just distance yourself and take it on, push through, and get into the moment like an observer and participant at the same time. Twilight loved the feel of it, the sensation of adventure, of solving the puzzle.
This time, though, after everything that had occurred, she felt herself stranger than ever. Villains never had gone so far before, did it mean that she needs to go just as far to match them? Not to say, this whole wedding...

Maybe it was a good opportunity to try and unleash the Sword. Twilight thought about it several times already, realizing that she would look just comical with it in the hoof. Whomever the thing was intended for, even if it was intended for any pony, it definitely wasn't her. Not to say that she couldn't properly study it yet, let alone wield it.

There was a motion in the corner of her eye. Twilight immediately cast aside her morose musings and sprung, igniting the horn. She was expecting changelings but instead saw a wendigo.

It was a creature in a lean and vague horse shape, drawn to come out of hiding by conflict and struggle. More of a spirit than a physical being, it was floating gracefully and slowly through the air, chilling everything around it to ice and covering the ground with rime. Its nonexistent flowing ethereal mane was filled with shattered dreams, and its head, shaped in a skull-like misty form, turned toward a little alicorn. She looked deep into its eyesockets, filled with white.

An imperious and distant presence. A harbinger of death, but hope and renewal as well. 

Somehow it was beautiful, even more than it was dreadful. Its frost breathed on Twilight, covering her, and she trembled in awe. Why she ever thought about these beings as something to be feared was beyond her at the moment.

As the winter spirit continued to float towards her, Twilight felt calm. Entranced, she breathed in, feeling how the otherworldly creature is passing over her, continuing to some unknown destination. Involuntarily, the alicorn closed her eyes, paying extra attention to her senses.

She stood like that for some time, listening to the rain around, and looking deeply into the vortex of darkness. There was nothing in it.

Fear... is natural.

It's okay.

Everyone fears.

She opened her eyes and blinked a few times, then looked around. The wendigo was roaming seemingly without any course, and Twilight did not let her attention linger on it. Instead, she watched flying dark shapes in the distance, barely lit by the illumination of the city. Little changelings still were going on with their little hunt, right...

Why not begin with them?

Twilight looked down at herself and noticed that she still wearing the bloodied dress from the wedding reception. One of Rarity's designs... Oh, she must've been so distraught by all that occurred. Twilight felt uneasy, she should've been more out there for her friends. But—oh well, it would be something to look for after all of this is over.
She clumsily got out of the dress and searched for a place to hang it. It would be a pity to just throw it away. Eventually, she lowered in with an aura on someone's windowsill and giggled to herself. She hoped that some little girl lived there and it would be an unexpected present, though blood could be off-putting if so.

But it would be fixable. Anyway...

She felt better.

Twilight looked at the darkened Royal Palace, which silhouette loomed over the Canterlot against the mountainside.

Somewhere there was Princess Celestia, alone and tormented.

Forsaken by everyone.

"Please, wait a bit longer for me, Princess," she whispered, and her eyes traced to the School for the Gifted Unicorns, nestled between all the towers. She leaped and stretched her wings open wide in fast flight, as the little sparkles in the dark were guiding her forward. Her horn flared up.

"Just a little bit longer. I will come soon."

Compared to both others, Pharynx-843 was one of the 'elites'—a changeling who actually got some 'military' training. In practice, it meant that he lived at least a decade, picked up some skills during his infiltrations, and could be appointed as a leader during pony hunts. Why, he even could keep some love for himself, and it was the most precious moments in his life. There was literally nothing better than to walk around and feel hopes and dreams, as well as someone's affections and desires, slowly digest inside of yourself, and become one with your essence. Every bit made a changeling slightly stronger and wiser.

Now, there was a delicate balance of not becoming too wise, as the Queen could notice your growth. It rarely ended as anything good for a changeling. They were her playthings to torment, they weren't supposed to have... ambitions.

It was a grim but fair truth of his life. She was his mother, the law, and his life, and he was happy to serve, or she could... made him whole with her again, and sometime later, another Pharynx would've needed to appear. Actually, there were quite a few Pharynx's around already. Their dark mistress worked hard to expand the Hive in preparation for the overtaking of Equestria.

Some say, she disappeared in the nursing hives for months and then crawled out as a mere imitation of her former self, a torn-apart ghost with pale green eyes. She restored to dark glory only after devouring a fermented pony, who was sleeping in the cocoon for too long.

For ponies, it might've looked strange, but a changeling can't fathom how it can be strange. Do ponies question how the Sun and Moon actually travel around in the sky, where the wind comes from, or numerous other big and little things? Well, of course, some smart-brains do question it, but most don't. So a changeling didn't question everything around it either. It existed. It wanted. It hunted. It died, and then it was reborn again.

Life was pretty easy. If anything, ponies got duped, with their complicated... everything.

Though for Pharynx it wasn't so easy, to be honest, as he was burdened. This night was a mess, the whole attack felt slapped together haphazardly and unplanned. He wasn't in any position to object but was allowed to be quietly distraught. Still, during the raid he was forced to split from the main forces, and now was tracking the running unicorn. At his side, there were two: Gaster-6130, spawned only two weeks ago, and Femur-778, headstrong but still inexperienced fighting-type.

He needed to babysit these grubs. He dealt with similar tasks before, but tonight Pharynx wanted glory, he wanted to struggle, to be in the thick of things and test himself against the best of the best that ponies can muster. So, understandably, the changeling wasn't being in high spirits.

In front of them, the screaming pony ran into some classroom, effectively cornering herself, and all three leaped afterward in well-coordinated motion. They began slowly approaching her, hissing and dripping saliva on the ground, ready to perform a pincer attack—until Pharynx noticed that Gaster is acting weird. He was nervously shifting and wasn't hissing like the others.

"Hold," ordered Pharynx, and sat down on the ground, "Gaster, do you have something to tell us?"

"I don't mean to be an ass," Gaster sighed, sitting as well, "But it's just my first time, y'know? I'm nervous, is it okay?"

Femor snorted and looked at the ceiling disparagingly, waiting until they finish.

Pharynx thought a bit about what to say. "Absolutely. I'll tell you about my first time later, you wouldn't believe how hard I've botched it. Just follow my lead on this one, and it'll be fine."

"I have a question too. Aren't we supposed to cocoon them for later use or something?" Femur licked his lips, now looking at panicking pony, and then stared at the leader with the hope of denial.

"No, that's what the foraging team does. We are the warrior group, of the fighter strain," Pharynx proclaimed proudly, "Our purpose is to grab all love we can get, and then use it to terrorize and subdue even more ponies."

"And how do we do that?" Gaster asked, scratching behind his ear with a hind leg.

"Haven't you heard the mistress? Be menacing. She was very direct: be menacing. Hiss, and growl, and threaten to bite."

"Bite!? I do not know where that pony had been before, why would I want to bite that?"

Pharynx gave out a long and heavy sigh, all the while screaming pony was continuing to gallop around the small room, trying to find the way outside, stumbling and tripping over tables and benches with all lack of equine grace she could muster. Eventually, she ran over to the window, barred by someone with planks, and began bucking it madly.

"Alright, look. There are many ways to suck a pony,-"

"Don't say it like that!"

"Gross!"

"-just think about them like living breathing snacks, or whatever, you know? Like the mistress says: they are beneath us, they might be as well just like colorful marshmallows."

"Well, I've never heard how the Queen said that," Gaster uttered, deep in thought, "And I never saw her, actually. Come to think of it, I never saw marshmallows either. What do they look like?"

"I guess, something like that?" Femur replied, pointing a questioning hoof at the pony, who got tired of bucking already. Trembling, she tucked into a corner, desperately grabbing a stool for self-defense.

"'Member those mushy cave mushrooms? It is kind of like that, but sweeter," Pharynx tried to explain to the best of his abilities, "And it's not 'they', those are ponies' food. Look, that is completely not the point here. We need to scare them and then drain, it's simple."

Gaster gave the pony an inquisitive look and then happily turned to Pharynx, "Looks very scared. Now to draining, yes?"

"Correct," Pharynx thought a bit, "Go on ahead. You are new to this, so you need some practice."

"Uh... What if I am too afraid of that?"

"Of what?" Pharynx was the epitome of patience.

"Of that pony. Just look at it, isn't it kind of crazy?" Gaster admitted with shallow breath.

"Aren't you hungry?"

Gaster went for a brief soul-searching, and made a long embarrassed sigh: "Ye-e-e-eah-h... I am actually very hungry..."

"If he doesn't want to do it, I will go first," Femur stepped forward and then began trotting confidently toward the unicorn.

She swang with the stool, smacked it wickedly on Femur's muzzle, and broke her weapon of choice to pieces.

Pharynx winced. It looked quite painful.

Femur stumbled back, then plunked down on his behind with a bewildered glare. "That's not very nice, lady," he hissed and spat out a tooth, "Aren't you ponies supposed to be nice!?"

"Yeah," Gaster sighed wistfully, yet again, "When I turn into a pony, I always feel so nice, and cozy, and—"

"She is getting away, you fools!"

The unicorn made a desperate attempt to flee, but Gaster was on her in seconds. They fell to the floor, fervently struggling, knocking over a desk nearby. He was hissing, trying to overpower, snapping his jaw. The pony wept in fear, and shrieked for help, kicking fruitlessly with her legs and holding the changeling at a hoof's length. Her horn was deliciously flaring white, as she tried to protect herself, but couldn't conjure a single offensive spell.

Femur gathered his bearings and jumped to help, intending to hold the unicorn's lower legs and bite her there.

Pharynx slowly began to walk around, observing, feeling pride over their success. Every time he wondered, if that is what the mistress feels when they accomplish something...

Suddenly there was a snap in the air nearby. Pharynx turned, seeing an unfamiliar pony, then a blur of strong violet color. The unfathomable force launched him in the air and pressed with other changelings, which were equally bewildered.

Pharynx had seen his share of battles before, but this pony was unlike anything that he ever experienced, drawing her horn with frightening finesse and speed.

"Unfair!" Femur groaned.

The weird pony with both horn and wings—yeah, just like changelings'—weaved its magic, and in a blink of an eye Pharynx realized that he and others are falling somewhere in the river. He almost instantly submerged in water and began to violently work with his legs, reaching the surface.

The stream was fairly strong, but he managed it, and looked around. Moon was shining on an unfamiliar forest landscape, presumably far away from Canterlot, as the city and its memorable mountain weren't seen behind the trees. There were other changelings on the shores, at least a few dozen, cluelessly wandering and helping others to get from the water.

"I can't swim!" cried pitifully Gaster, almost surrendering to the stream.

Pharynx cursed under his breath and began to try and save the underling. The mistress would be furious when she finds out... If she finds out... If she cares.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"That's enough, Starflower."

Twilight attempted to move away, but Starflower intended to kiss all over her hooves. The encounter scared the living daylights out of her, but all that Twilight felt right now was sorrow and mild annoyance.
Luckily, after almost a whole minute, she relented enough so Twilight could step aside. Alicorn ignited her horn, thinking of her next move.

"Your Highness! Wait a second!" all covered in dust, Starflower stood on her hooves, "I-I need to talk to you, it's urgent!"

"If you are worried about others, I believe you were the last one," grumbled Twilight, "Royal Guards helped me secure the school, and luckily changelings only tried to herd you together, mostly. Some foals were bitten, of course..."

"No! Wait, well yes, I was worried, but, look..."
Starflower took a breath and then uttered, goggling at her:
"Princess Twilight Sparkle, I believe you are the only one who can save the world."

That was unexpected. Twilight couldn't help but chuckled over the pretentiousness.

"Uh-huh," she said and scratched her temple with a hoof.

"No, seriously. Can you walk with me to my study? It'll only take a few minutes."

Twilight was somewhat curious now what else can the night throw at her, so she shrugged and followed the unicorn. A little distraction could be worth it.

They made their way through several dimly lit corridors and ascended a staircase. Twilight noticed how happy Starflower felt around her. Unicorn was beaming each time their eyes crossed, and yet, there were some awkward undertones, and each time there was some sound in the dark, Starflower was stopping in her tracks with and waited for Twilight to come along.

Almost amusing, really.

Huge raindrops were beating into the window glasses. The wind was roaring. The cavernous darkness above unraveled cataclysmic floodwaters and was trying to eat the city whole.

"We are here," sighed Starflower, fiddling with the keys and then trotting into the room.

The board inside was filled with different formulas, and on the ground, there were discarded boxes of quick noodles (ugh, city food, Twilight almost forgot about those existing), as well as empty coffee paper cups. The magical Princess of Friendship hummed, thinking about what position Starflower holds around here. Was she, like, a Starswirl's intern and a young aspiring teacher in the school at the same time? One could only wonder how many bits she makes per year.
Still, Twilight felt jealous.

"Were you cooped up here for the whole past day?" she tried to sound normal, masking a wow, how lucky are you tone behind a little contempt. She failed badly.

Luckily, Starflower didn't pay attention at all. "Oh? Yes, but look at this." She grabbed a ruler and pointed at lines on a board. "Do you see this equation? I made a request to nab some equipment from Tower to test it thoroughly, but then, you know, those changelings and all that happened, so I believe that we need to work with what we got now."

"Hmm." Twilight pursed her lips, taking her time and following the calculations. There wasn't anything groundbreaking, but Starflower apparently took their talk to the heart. Board was smeared in traces of wiped chalk and contained many corrections and few mistakes, but ultimately, it was all about magical potency and the practical effect of energy application. "Yes, magical energy does constantly convert, we established that. As with any other energy, it cannot be neither created, nor destroyed. And I see you derived the Trot-Baltzponn constant thoroughly in each simulated instance, good job."

"No, what I meant to... look, it might be just a speculation, but in the last few years the general output of magic did increased dramatically, did it not? I wouldn't even figure it out without our talk, but there is a steady slow increment recently... Do you see those results? Here I lifted data based on research from one hundred years ago, here are only five years, here is recent... I would've liked to test it with your assistance, but I don't think we have the opportunity..."

Twilight hung her head, thinking. Somehow it was hard to wrap thoughts around it and think of specifics, but her fellow researcher was right. Everything definitely seemed to slowly become more magical. "We defined the world as something that is in a constant state of transience..." she began pondering, her eyes darting. Can it be tied to broken Elements?

"Yes. While I've worked on matters of transition of magical energy," kept talking Starflower. "I've figured out that exertion of it leads only to the appearance of even more available magic, to an overall increase of potency. Magic isn't static, it permeates and penetrates through everything, and it has the capability to be an infinite resource. So it is a perpetual cycle, see? We keep producing energy, taking it, producing even more, and It is as if the energy doesn't really go anywhere, it only disperses. Technically, it is the same principle as with entropy that you mentioned yesterday."

"So entropy... but... b-but it means that Harmony is something that directly opposes entropy? This magical entropy? Not the other way around?" Twilight suddenly began to shake. "I thought of it only as a concept, but if we can consider Friendship as an immutable axiom on which we can build theories and allow the creation of new, then entropy... Oh, no, it can't be! It should be given the same treatment of consideration, is it not? W-wont Magic of Friendship will be increasing the entropy too? Will anything but direct harmonical—"

Starflower was looking with big frightened eyes.

That one thousand years of relative peace they had between the banishment of Luna and her recent return—was it all a continuous state to force the entropy die down to more manageable levels? But the entropy can only increase... Uncertainty and chaos can only increase... Deterioration can only increase...

There is something else to consider, though. Starswirl said that the world is a tree, or something, and what does a tree do? Through the energy of the Sun, the energy that gives life, it converts carbon dioxide to produce oxygen—everyone knows that, well, at least every scholar worth their salt, in their world of magical ponies. It would deem reasonable that this tree, this hypothetical World Tree if you will, does a similar function?

Is it possible that their entire existence to keep Harmony is exactly to keep solving this problem of pervasive magical entropy?

Does Celestia know about any of this? If so, then how much? Considering that everything is magic, how about the thought that beings who devour magic in some ways perform as an in-built coolant system?

And what about the most powerful magic users around, what about Celestia and Luna, anyway? As alicorns are known to be very powerful magical beings, it is possible that the sheer presence of these beings could be contributing to the overall magical entropy. If this theory is true, would the will of the world demand them to go away at some point, or diminish their presence somehow else? You certainly shouldn't have that many alicorns around in the world like this.

But wait. Twilight is an alicorn too, she remembered. Element of Magic...

It's all just speculation... Twilight tried to calm herself. She realized that she was just sitting with opened mouth before Starflower, and promptly snapped her jaw shut.

"Starflower," she whimpered, "it is terrible. I don't know what to say. We need to... We need to... We might need to look into this deeper."

"We have to. At some point in time, if it keeps going the same way, the world will be oversaturated with magic of all kinds." Starflower fervently nodded. "When it comes to a boiling point—"

"It will collapse." Twilight finished in a whisper, and picked up, "Yes... Sure... Maybe it will happen only in a few years, maybe in a few hundred, but who knows? It all will become more complex, until disorder will become an absolute order, and new variables would just stop appearing... Look, until we know for sure that this theory is correct, magic needs to be managed with care. Maybe your project, concerning the transformation of magical matter, will even help somehow." She imagined a scenario in which all magic in the world must be suppressed, and a shiver went down her spine. Is something like that truly can happen?
Twilight felt cold sweat on her forehead, and chuckled in disbelief of her thoughts.
"Yes, it must be fixable," she said resolutely. "Go to Starswirl with it. All of it. We will have to push our heads together and figure something out."

"Are you mad? No way I'm staying in the city." Starflower nervously tittered. "I will leave a copy of my research and will find him after it all cools down, but I'm not some kind of insane magic user like you two, for good or ill of it."

"Starflower—"

"Don't even start, Princess! I've told you, isn't that enough?"

Twilight sighed and smiled. "I meant to say, 'be safe'. I understand."

She didn't really know why she came here. Just to look at it, maybe.

Now, as the dark of night and the rain had befallen on Canterlot, the Tower looked imposing and alien. It was twisted like a branch that was protruding from the side of a supporting platform of the city, giving an impression that it was being slapped on haphazardly, without consideration of how it would fit into the overall aesthetic.

Like a parasite, or simply something too 'new' and unusual, if it made any sense.

The direct teleportation inside did not work, she tried it already out of curiosity. With her foreleg raised, she lingered before the door, knowing that if she will knock than someone will answer. After a little while of standing like that, she leaned with her forehead against it, and heaved a deep sigh.

Even if no one will answer, she could replicate the teleportation circle from the Library with ease... but what's the point?

No, there was nothing to be gained there. In all that vast, lofty Tower, with all its halls, crooks, and crannies, there literally was nothing that wasn't already unknown or unreachable to her to some degree.

All those artifacts, and histories, and secrets, all dirty little stories from ancient times... To lean into them would be knowledgable and reasonable, and for sure there was some 'smart' explanation of everything magical, of everything that had occurred, based on facts and traditional logic... Twilight already imagined Starswirl, who was humphing and nodding his head, looking at some complex and detailed schematic of mechanics for transcendental conjunctions, and the absurdity of the scene made her giggle.

Worse of all, he could calm down her again. Twilight didn't want to be calmed down. His authoritative and cutting voice sometimes made her feel all kinds of servile feelings that she simply didn't need right now. She was worried that if he says again to not worry about the future, she will do exactly that, and will mirror this wise, weighted, and thoughtful approach, which just smelled like something antique by itself.

Yes, this whole place, the whole Canterlot even, it just gave off the impression of something very old... How could she never notice that, enchanted by its beauty?

Starswirl hardly could help her. Not to say that every wasted second meant that Celestia suffered more and more. Twilight remembered about all that, sharply exhaled, and stepped back. It came to her mind that it might be the first time in her life when she makes a conscious choice against books, and she laughed loudly.

"Seems like even books and infinite knowledge aren't as important as certain someponies."

It was all about the momentum now. She needed to preserve it...

Actually, many things were about momentum, about rhythm, occurrence, causality, and sensation. Twilight remembered Zecora who was in tune with nature—literally—and wished that she would've been nearby instead of that old mage who was too list in the feelings of self-worth and was measuring everything through the lens of it.

No, the heart must be humble. It doesn't deny any self-esteem, but only makes you see things clearer and without bias.

Twilight lowered her magic shield, and lifted her little lavender muzzle to the ongoing rain, smiling. She instantly got soaking wet, and then shook up with her whole body, laughing. It didn't help of course! But it felt good! Helped her feel!

Then, she took a moment to recall her recent findings, now without a grim context.

Everything grows stronger, more pronounced, more beautiful, and more complex with every second of living, and everything around her brimmed with new possibilities.

Everything is Magic.

Everything.

Everything!

So, she was literally breathing magic. It was such a peculiar and sudden realization, that Twilight forgot how to breathe.

And then, she took the sweetest and longest breath of her life.

The darkness was suffocating, sure, but now, she could breathe in it, she knew how to breathe in it. She understood that she can take as much magic as she would want, and it will help her in her endeavor. The option was always there, but Twilight simply never could realize it... Though, 'realize' might be an incorrect operative word here. Twilight couldn't 'see' it before. She couldn't 'feel' it before, in a way that only 'she' could see it or 'feel', as it was something directly related to her... specialties.

"Yes," she grinned wide, staring at the Royal Palace, and then took a step in its direction. "I am free. I am still afraid, but it is alright. The future is unknown and dark, but it is alright. Magic is here. Magic is me."

In her soul, the fire was blazing.

The world is quite simple. You make an action, you see a reaction, reactions, unending chaining reactions, sequences and consequences...

And actions were happening all the time, all the time was happening all the time. Twilight saw it all around. All magic... Living, breathing magic...

To describe it, Starswirl would've said 'there are rules'. Zecora would've said 'there's rhyme'.

But Twilight? She just hummed a song now, energetic and washing away the morose trepidation, and was raising up a brilliantly flashing horn with a huge grin on her face.

The changelings were roaming the main square in front of the Royal Palace, waiting for an army that never came. The regiment of the Royal Guard was busy liberating the city one building at a time, so the changelings grouped near the fortified position, a main royal building, intended as the last line of defense for the city's protectors. Except, as far as Twilight could see, they didn't try to go into the Palace. Instead, they were mostly patrolling the territory,

It was a bit funny, a few years ago at the first invasion she would've been hopeless against such a number of little beasts, as they captured her and the girls right somewhere at the same spot. But now? Oh, how the tables have turned.

She shifted in anticipation, feeling how the smile is widening on her muzzle. Yes, she could've just sneaked past all those clueless monstrosities, but if there was an opportunity to thin out this dark herd, she needed to use it. She cast a final look over them, took a step forward, and spread her wings. There was a desire to say something suitably pompous, like Celestia, Luna, or Cadance would've, but she didn't come up with anything and just screamed at the top of her lungs, lifting the invisibility spell:
"Hey, you!"

And teleported to them with ease, before they could figure out what is going on. Teleportation was just as easy for her as taking a step, flicking a tail, or blinking her eyes. After all, Everything is Magic.

"I have never considered the possibility that an entity could literally be its own magic, a concept I find incredibly intriguing. This theory suggests that an entity's inherent existence could be a source of its magical power, which would imply that this entity has a unique affinity for magic and is able to harness its own energy to produce magical effects."
Stomp of the hoof, and gravitation changed under the few dozen on the left. They were completely helpless, buzzing their wings and craning their necks, trying to figure out what's happening. Step, teleportation, turn, a group is running at her. Little spell, and the ground underneath them transformed into ice. Twilight giggled, and caught one under her leg, as they rolled and tumbled about around her. She wanted a little experimentation on the field.
"This is a worrisome hypothesis and one that warrants further investigation. If this is true, then it raises the possibility that entities such as alicorns, which are traditionally considered to be exceptionally powerful magic users, may in fact be infused with magic and thus have a unique ability to manipulate it. This would suggest that the very existence of an entity may have a profound impact on the overall magical entropy of the universe, which is a fascinating concept to consider."
There was a certain method, process, and rhythm. Steps and spins, twirls and leaps. Pulling, lifting, taking, using. She ignited the horn, lightly touched the specimen, and watched how it transformed into potted sunflower. At the same time, another changeling tried to leap at her from a flank, so Twilight teleported a hundred meters deeper into the square, then, as startled beasts started to turn to her, teleported to one of the buildings. She kept the sunflower with her, tugging on magical strings and looking at how it transformed into a little toy cart, then into a musical box, then into a doll, and finally into a little adorable bulldog puppy. Scared, the puppy began barking, and Twilight released it from her aura, laughing. The specimen dashed away immediately.

So, that's the fabled magic of chaos? A bit unusual. It tasted like raspberry ice cream and crunched just like universal laws under her hoof, in other words, an unhealthy, calorie-rich dish. But enticing!

Twilight reared, and leaned into an arch, modulating the next surge of magic and spreading into a vast and long cone of energy. Surrounding changelings tried to cover themselves with little magic shields, showing some skill. How pitiful they are! She made one-third of them teleport away, the second-third fall asleep, and the last-third blew up in pinkish smoke. It was a bit overkill though, but Twilight giggled nonetheless.
"Furthermore, if this concept is indeed accurate, then it may provide a new perspective in the study and understanding of the magic that permeates the world. It would suggest that an entity's individual nature and inherent qualities may be directly related to the magic that surrounds them, making the individual a unique source of magic and potentially providing a deeper understanding of the nature of this force."
Meanwhile, those changelings, which were launched in the air without an effect of gravitational pull, already reached a suitable enough height. Twilight flapped her wings, teleported next to them, grabbed them with aura and somewhat clumsily turned with them in the air. She never practiced it before, but it was forgivable for the first time. She condensed the whole group and positioned them against the blackened stormy sky, where, for a few moments, clouds dispersed and the Moon showed itself. It looked like the beasts realized what was going on and began to struggle and scream, but Twilight pulled them all closer, quickly calculated trajectory, and launched them like from a giant magical slingshot.
"This may also provide insight into the way a particular individual or entity interacts with and uses magic, creating a more comprehensive understanding of the specific properties and qualities of magic and how those properties affect or are influenced by individual beings and entities."
Then there were little twinkles on the Moon, as changelings successfully completed their first moonlanding in history. Presumably.
"It was mentioned earlier that magic is a universally constant force that permeates throughout the universe. However, it is also stated that the availability of magic is not static and that it seems to be growing. This would suggest that magic is a dynamic and variable force, which can fluctuate and change over time based on a variety of factors. This would also suggest that magic is not a finite resource, in contrast to what has been observed with other natural forces."
Twilight flapped wings and dodged several more, leaned down and outstretched hooves to the ground, and fell on it with a shockwave of magical force, throwing enemies around aside. She began to feel a bit of exertion. There were considerably fewer changelings around, and the fire was still going strong inside of her, but she might've needed to finish them without any delay. Her attention was drawn to a group, charging at her from the gates of the Royal Palace. These changelings were clad in blackened armor and wielding curved swords, as well as carrying shields—another elite-types, just like that one she battled in school.
"It is also suggested that the existence of alicorns could be a contributing factor to the overall magical entropy of the universe. As alicorns are known as very powerful magical beings, it is possible that the sheer presence Oh no—
She readied a special spell for them, when all of a sudden, a pain in the ankle startled her and made her look underneath. A song on her lips died out. One of the little bastards managed to crawl up to her somehow and bit into the leg.

"Let go of me!" Twilight cried, bucking it into the head, but it just reached upward and grasped her tail and flank, dragging her down. The indignity! Twilight fell, whinnied, feeling how her magical trance is breaking apart, and everything suddenly became real, too real...

In a flash, steel run through the nape of the changeling, and it gave out an agonizing hiss of death. Twilight blinked and smiled. Shining Armor. Her brother emerged from somewhere, his horn ignited, a sword in his hoof, and a strange contraption mounted on the other one. He lifted it, it clicked, and the explosion tossed most of the armored changelings in different directions. The remaining ones jumped to the sides, flying and beginning to spread out.

"Shiney, what are you doing here?" She cried happily, grabbing his hoof and getting up, "Are you crazy!?"

"Are you?" He smiled.

"I am magic!" She proclaimed proudly.

They continued battling together. Shining was working with his sword, hacking and skewering little monsters, and Twilight was moving with him almost intuitively, no longer holding back her raw magical prowess. A barrage of her spells was not too complicated in design, but it was enough to cover her brother and let him cover her. Feeling extra vengeful, Twilight let a purplish bolt of lightning out and sniped one of the enemy soldiers who tried to fly away. That's for Dash.

Steel clashed, Shining was spinning among enemies, and Twilight launched another shockwave and slammed them into the nearby wall. They both pressed their backs, watching with ignited horns how even more changelings ran at them from the streets. There was even that bulldog puppy, charging in the first row.

"Go, go!" Shining cried. The way to the Royal Palace was clear.

They galloped, teleporting forward haphazardly, making their way through the palace gardens and then up the long white staircase to the main hall. The doors were wide open. Twilight ran into the coldness and calmness of the building, surprised by the echo of her own hooves, and how peaceful it all seemed from inside.

Shining was right behind her. He slammed the front doors shut before the flying horde, reached for the deadbolt, and secured the door. They both proceeded to run up another staircase and took a turn to the large hallway that led deeper, to the Throne Room. There was another lockable door. Latch slid, securing it as well.

Heavily breathing in the darkness, Twilight was startled by a loud thud. The changelings tried to kick in the front door. There was a sound of breaking glass...

"Go, Twiley," uttered Shining grimly, licking his lips and brandishing the sword, dark from the changeling's blood.

"But you..." she began, and in the hornlight, saw how brother flashed a confident smile.

"Just go, I know what I'm doing. I'll be fine! Go and tear that Queen a new one!"

"Right!"

She turned and ran down the hallway, trying not to think too hard about it, to not let trepidation settle in. Soon, the darkness around became even richer, and she heard only her own trembling breath. Just a few turns and a few passageways, and she will reach her destination. She knew these corridors since she was a filly... But where is everyone? Where's Celestia?
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From somewhere up ahead came a beautiful song.