It was dark when Twilight landed outside the modest stone building that hid the laboratory. The moon was rising over the treetops, and the last of the sun's golden rays had just faded. Stars were just beginning to dot the skies, scattered and infinite. The various creatures that roamed the night were awakening, signalling the beginning of their reign with various cries, howls, chirps and croaks. Twilight took a moment to pause and look to the sky. She had always been partial to the night, even long before she knew of Nightmare Moon and Princess Luna. It was peaceful and quiet, a nice time to sit next to an open window, studying, with the cool night breeze tousling her mane. She looked to the moon, not even trying to count the amount of times the pale glow had guided her back upstairs and down hallways to her bed.
Shaking her head to bring her thoughts back to the present, Twilight went through the door ahead, then through the hidden door inside. The staircase was dark, but Twilight was able to cast a small glow to guide her way. Reaching the bottom, Twilight paused for a moment in confusion. The glow from her horn was meager, but even in the faint glow she could see the room beyond seemed empty, a concerning sight. The various tables and their mounds of instruments and gadgets were gone, replaced by shadows and a blank stone floor. Twilight looked around wildly, searching for Axion, or any hint to her whereabouts.
"Axion?"
Twilight heard only her own echo, bouncing around the cavernous room. Twilight was not one to be afraid of the darkness, but a vacant room fifty yards long and thirty yards wide that had been filled not a week previous was definitely eerie. She was about to turn around and go back to the room above and search for a note or other clue, when a reply drifted from the darkness.
"Twilight. Welcome back."
The words were undoubtedly Axion's, but they were low, halfway between a purr and a growl. Twilight had to suppress the chills that ran wild up and down her spine, and cast her glow a little brighter, pushing the shadows back a little further. However, she could still see nothing.
"Come here, darling. I desire to speak to you."
A faint red glow appeared in the very back of the room, far beyond the range of Twilight's enchanted light. The red glow wasn't quite bright enough to light up any of the source, though Twilight thought she could nearly make out Axion's outline. Summoning her courage a little, Twilight began to move toward the light. Her hoofsteps clicked faintly on the floor as she walked to the light, summoned by the ghostly beacon. When she was no more than a few paces away, the red glow flared momentarily, and two torches lit on either side, revealing Axion with the Amaranth on a silver chain around her neck, and sitting comfortably in a large chair, nearly a throne in it's size and luxury.
"Good evening, Twilight."
"Axion. What's going on? Where did all our equipment go?"
"I put it away. We have no more need of it. The Amaranth is ready."
"Ready for what?"
"To bring the world into the light, to show the civilizations that everything they know is now outdated. Ready to lead."
"But... That's not what we were creating it for."
"What we were going to use it for, then? What is the point of creating such a magnificent and awesome artifact if not to use it? What good would it accomplish locked in a lab, running experiments on for eternity? No, I plan on using it to show the world true power."
"What are you talking about? What kind of power?"
"My power. From this throne, I will seek to unite all the warring factions under a single banner, our banner, and lead them into a new age of peace, enlightenment, and wisdom!"
The Amaranth flared again, and torches lined on either side of the massive room flared into life, the dancing flames revealing the length of the walls to be draped in curtains. The curtains were white, and in the center was a black six pointed star inside a black circle.
"This shall be our symbol as we sweep aside all the petty quarrels that plague this world, uniting all under the sun to single great empire that shall last the ages and be unmatched in it's glory!"
"What about the systems we have now? They're imperfect, but they have performed well for thousands of years already! What would be so much better about this new system? And who would lead it? We already have two Princesses, who have led us successfully since time immemorial!"
"That is the flaw. The Princesses have done well, but they cannot lead with a single mind, with a single incorruptible purpose. Neither can the griffon's monarchy, or the Diamond Dog's pitiful attempt at democracy. No, this shall be a single empire, with a single Empress, and be more effective than any system before! Monoliths will be raised in our honor! As for who would lead, who else but I? I have the Amaranth, a stone of unparalleled power. Who could contest my rule, especially with you by my side?"
Twilight was stunned for a moment, trying to comprehend what she had just been told.
"By your side......?"
"Yes. You could work as my second in command and my heir, next to the Princesses, who would retain most of their present duties. We would be unquestionable in our might."
"The Princesses would never allow such an outrageous idea! What if the ponies of Equestria don't like it? It would be cruel and immoral to force them to accept your rule!"
"Morality means little in the scope of scientific and cultural progress. What matters is the ambition and the will to drag the world kicking and screaming into the light of a new day and show it, willing or not, the possibility that new day holds. I seek to end the wars, the hostilities, the injustice and the imbalance of the world, and bring about harmony and cooperation amongst all races! As one of the Elements of Harmony, can you not appreciate that?"
"What I can appreciate is the madness of this! You have no right to force this upon the world!"
"Right!? I have every right!"
The torches all flared brighter, and the flames turned a wicked shade of red, matching the glow of the Amaranth as Axion stood on her throne, raising her hooves to indicate the banners on the wall.
"I have the power, the vision, and most importantly the WILL to show this world what can be achieved if gathered under a single standard! No more quarrels over territory or resources, as all shall be shared by all! No more armies would be needed, no more raids in the dead of winter for supplies! All shall benefit from this, and that is more important than what a few old fashioned fools desire!"
"You're insane! Give me the Amaranth!"
Twilight's horn glowed as she crouched. Axion laughed, an evil and wicked laugh, and fixed Twilight with an amused gaze, as a cat would stare down a mouse trapped in a corner.
"And who will make me? You? Twilight, I offer you a place I will not offer to any other. By my side, at the head of the greatest empire ever seen. Would you turn that down for some misplaced sense of morality? Please, rethink your decision."
The torches along the walls extinguished, casting the majority of the room into darkness once more. The torches beside Axion were the only light left, casting flickering shadows around the two mares.
"Axion, you underestimate the ponies of Equestria, and the Princesses. They will raise armies against you, and you are only one misguided mare with a stone. You cannot hope to turn them away or change their minds. Your empire would be fraught with rebellion."
"I would seek not to change their minds. I will kill all who oppose me."
"You can't!"
"I can and I will! I think it is you who underestimate me, and the Amaranth! I told you, it was fully functional, and far more powerful than we first thought. With it, I can raise mountains, drain oceans, and sweep aside armies like so many leaves in the wind! I am more powerful than even the Princesses, pretentious as they are!"
"No! We will stop you!"
"I challenge you to try."
Twilight's only answer was to summon a spear made from pure magic and cast it at Axion, aiming to cut the chain holding the Amaranth around her neck. However, it never reached it's destination, halting in midair, frozen in a red haze. It didn't bounce off a magical shield, nor dissipate; it simply stopped. Twilight gaped at this supposedly impossible spectacle, unsure of what was happening. Axion provided an explanation.
"Yes, Twilight, I am even strong enough to directly manipulate magic cast by others. You cannot harm me. Now, I will offer once and only once more! Join me, or you shall be the first to experience the Amaranth's true power!"
"Never!"
Axion seemed to grow angry for the first time in their conversation. A red glow surrounded her, and she hovered above the throne, her face an ugly and contorted mask of rage.
"After all I gave you, you still refuse! I am why you are where you are today! I gave you this lab to work in, I gave you bits to indulge your silly pastimes, I gave you wings! I GAVE YOU THOSE WINGS THAT YOU SO COVET! I gave you the impossible, and so I shall take it back!"
The purple spear that Twilight had thrown turned red, and began to rotate to face her. When it was pointed straight at her, the Amaranth flashed again and the spear sped towards Twilight. It seemed to be aimed at her head, but at the last second it veered to the side, passing over her shoulder and striking the middle joint of her left wing instead. Pain lashed Twilight and she collapsed on the floor, and half of her wing fell to the floor beside her. Another red flash came from Axion, and another spear flew towards Twilight, striking her right wing. Blood splashed across the floor, and began to pool around Twilight as she lay on the floor, crying out at the pain coursing through her.
"How does it feel, Twilight? How does it feel to have something torn from you? How does it feel to be betrayed!?"
"Why? Why are you doing this?"
Twilight gasped and blinked away tears as she spoke, but she didn't really care what Axion's answer was. What she truly wanted was time, enough time to cast a communication spell to Luna, and hopefully get a warning out before it was too late. Surely enough, Axion felt compelled to speak more, giving Twilight the time she needed.
"Why? I do as I please! I need not answer why! I trusted you, Twilight! We have been colleagues, friends, for a year, and yet you throw it all in my face when you perceive my intentions are anything less than pure and noble!"
Twilight grunted, and released her spell. Almost immediately, she felt a very faint connection.
Luna?
Twilight!? What is wrong? I can sense your pain!
It's Axion. She has the Amaranth, and she's gone mad. She intends to take over Equestria, and possibly everything beyond! She.... She cut off my wings. We're in the lab, and I'm losing blood fast. Please, warn Celestia and stop Axion! Take the Amaranth, and she will be powerless.
I'm coming!
No! Get Celestia! Together, you can surely bring her down!
Luna never answered, but she didn't end the connection. Twilight felt a shiver, and realized that Luna had teleported. Over the connection, Twilight could faintly sense her yelling.
"Black Berets, awaken! Your commander is injured and in danger! Come! Focus your magic on me, we will have to-"
The rest of the words were lost as Axion threw another magical spear at Twilight, and sliced off the remainder of her right wing, leaving a small bloody stump, followed quickly by another to her left wing. Twilight cried out again, and she felt Luna react over their connection.
Twilight!
Twilight couldn't answer, as red magic had seeped from the Amaranth and enveloped her shoulders, pulling at what was left of her wings, ripping out every last magically implanted cell, snapping tendons, and tearing flesh. Twilight screamed through the pain, and felt like she was going to black out. She managed to retain just enough consciousness to feel the connection with Luna, who was now teleporting in jumps towards the lab with the Black Berets. They were coming fast and would be there in minutes, but Twilight feared they would be too long. Already, she could feel darkness creeping around the edges of her mind.
Twilight! Stay with me! We're nearly there!
Luna......
Stay awake! Talk to me!
I can't.... It hurts......
Twilight lost her concentration again as a fresh wave of pain reverberated from her shoulders, wracking her body and causing her to writhe on the cold floor, splashing in the widening pool of blood. The darkness seeped further into her mind.
She's...... My wings.....
Focus! Help is on the way!
Luna......
Talk to me! Tell me about our first kiss!
Twilight rolled on the floor as Axion hovered over her, the Amaranth glowing, and the red magic shredding her back and shoulders.
Twilight! Tell me! Where were we?
We were on the balcony...
What were we drinking?
It was..... Tea......
What did I say?
"Aaaaaaahhhhhh!"
"This could have been avoided if you had simply joined me! This pain would need never have happened!"
What did I say!?
You told me..... That I was beautiful.....
And then?
I said.... You-
The rest of Twilight's sentence was lost as excruciating pain ripped through her, bodily lifting her from the floor and slamming her back to the apathetic floor. The pool of blood was now nearly as large as Twilight was, and she could only stare in dull fascination as it reached her nostrils, bubbling slightly as she breathed.
Twilight! We're seconds away! Stay awake!
Twilight could barely keep her eyes open as the red magic finally finished destroying her back, and left. She barely saw Axion float back to the floor, walking up to Twilight, stopping just short of the slowly growing puddle of blood.
Luna......
STAY AWAKE!
It took nearly all of Twilight's fading energy to form thoughts or words. She was barely aware of Axion staring down at her, or the cruel words that fell upon her ears.
"This is regrettable, however, it needed to be done. I cannot allow rebels. I will reign a peaceful empire, and steps will have to be taken to ensure its security."
Twilight! We're close! Just stay awake!
I.............
Don't close your eyes!
Twilight felt the connection getting stronger as Luna got closer, but her mind was so far into the darkness that it meant nearly nothing to her. The world around her was quickly turning black. Twilight tried to look around, to move her eyes, but her entire body seemed to have gone numb. After what seemed like an eternity, or maybe no time at all, the sensations that used to be pain coming from Twilight’s shoulders seemed to grow faint. Twilight would have wondered at this, were she in any shape to think about such things. Instead, she watched the dozens of bubbles that appeared in the blood around her mouth and nose each time she exhaled. With every breath, the group seemed to get a little smaller. When the group had shrank to only a dozen or so tiny, shiny, defiant orbs, Twilight thought she heard a voice. It didn’t sound like Axion’s, nor Luna’s, but Twilight was pretty sure it was a voice.
"Twilight! You're safe, the Black Berets are here. We can heal you!"
Twilight tried to speak, but couldn't get her mouth to move. Instead she sent her thoughts to Luna, who was somewhere close.
It hurts.............
Twilight! I’m right beside you. Speak to me!
Lu........
Stay with me! We can heal you!
Luna........
Twilight felt her eyes closing, slowly drifting close no matter how much she tried to keep them open, the motivation for which she couldn't remember. The numb oblivion seemed so inviting to her tortured and weary mind.
So.......... Tired.....
You can sleep soon! Just stay awake for now!
Luna....... I...........
Twilight, save your strength! You'll be alright!
Twilight felt an odd sensation in her back, as hundreds of tiny insects were crawling on her skin.
We're trying to stop the bleeding. Just stay awake! Talk to me!
I............
Talk to me! Please, just talk to me!
Twilight's eyes finally closed all the way, and she felt the last vestiges of consciousness fading away, as did Luna.
TWILIGHT!
Luna....... I ..........
Stay with me! Please! You can make it through this!
Luna........ I love.........