//------------------------------// // 32: From Midnight Unto Dawn // Story: Death of a Queen, V2. // by Arkane12 //------------------------------// Twilight approached the new edge of Canterlot. She stood only a few feet from the castle’s golden gates. Despite knowing the real Canterlot still stood strong, Twilight couldn’t help but feel her stomach toss and turn as she gazed out over the destruction of her hometown.  “Told you I’d take care of that stupid giant,” Chrysalis glided down to land at Twilight’s side.  “That was your plan?” Twilight asked, staring unblinkingly at the smoldering ruins below. Chrysalis grinned. “Impressed?”  “A bit.” Twilight finally managed to pull her eyes off the scene before her. “But I’m mostly just more terrified now.”  “Didn’t I tell you that I’d prove who’s the scarier monster?” Chrysalis asked, flashing her fangs with a mad smile.  “It’s still Tirek. Apparently, his magic was strong enough to tear down Canterlot.”  Chrysalis scoffed. “You’re saying that just to annoy me, aren’t you?”  “The important part is that Tirek is gone.” Stone-faced, Twilight turned to the castle gates. “But we’re far from finished here. We've still got to deal with the Nightmare. Are you ready?”  “No.”  “No?” Twilight stopped in front of the gate. “What do you mean no?”  “My magic is about at it’s limit, Twilight. I don’t have much left in me.”  Biting her lip, Twilight pushed the golden bars, swinging the gate open with a rusty creak. “Then we stick to the plan. Stay out of sight. Wait for me to get his attention. Then you focus on freeing Luna. Got it?”  Chrysalis cocked her brow.“You’re banking a lot on Luna? You sure she’ll deliver?”  “She’s the only one that can beat the Nightmare. We have to save her at all costs.” Twilight struggled to swallow with her dry throat. “If she can’t . . . then we lose. It’s as simple as that.”  “I see.” Plates clicked into place as Chrysalis stretched her neck. “Then let’s make this count.” Twilight spread her wings, ready to take off, but Chrysalis stopped her. “Twilight . . .” The alicorn turned over her shoulder. “Be careful.”  Twilight broke out into a half-smile.  “Look,” Chrysalis sneered. “If you don’t make it out of this alive, then I don’t get my favor. So try not to die. For my sake.”  “Of course. You make sure you get out in one piece, too.”  Chrysalis covered her eyes as Twilight’s wings lifted her into the air, kicking up a cloud of dust in her wake. With a heavy sigh, Chrysalis followed.  As Twilight spiraled up around the tower, she started to see her breath. The night air had only grown colder since her departure. With a muttered spell, she spread her magic across her wings, shearing off the thin layer of frost from them. Her feathers shimmered as the magic soaked in. Twilight rocketed past the top level of the tower, stopping only when just out of the Nightmare’s range.  “Hey!” she shouted. Her voice carried well over the open air. The Nightmare turned, spotting her where she hovered. Luna tried to turn, but the rattling chains kept her pinned down.  “Still alive, are you? You’ve become quite the nuisance. ” the Nightmare called out. The cacophony of voices fell out of sync momentarily. “Good. Glad I’ve finally got your attention.” At this distance, Twilight doubted he could see her smile. At the edge of the tower, unnoticed by her enemies, Chrysalis flickered through the dark and got into position.  “It’s a shame it had to come to this, Twilight. Nightmare Moon would have been my queen, but you would have made a wonderful general.” The Nightmare stepped forward. His shadowy horn burned with black fire. A beam of magic tore past Twilight, singeing a patch of fur on her cheek. Several more blasts flew past, but their target was already gone in a sparkle of violet light.  Twilight countered with a magical assault of her own, raining down a shower of glittering magical bolts. Less than half hit the Nightmare, punching thin holes through his unflinching form. Twilight kept her eyes closed, feeling the magic in the air rather than watching it fly towards her. The few bolts that caught her dissipated harmlessly against a sudden shield.  At the tower’s edge, Chrysalis scrambled up the stone. She lifted her head just high enough to glimpse the Nightmare. His back faced her as he slung spells up into the sky. Luna lay feet away, bound in chains.  With a deep breath, Chrysalis pulled herself up. She kept low to the ground, stalking forward silently toward the bound princess. In a single fluid movement, Chrysalis swept forward, covering Luna’s mouth to keep her silent.  “Say a word, and we’re both dead,” Chrysalis whispered.  Luna nodded. Chrysalis poured magic into her hoof. Three claws formed of emerald flame extended from her. Taking a moment to wind up, Chrysalis brought her blades down hard, shattering a few chain links.  She reared for another strike, but was stopped when a black crystal sprouted out from Luna’s shadow, impaling Chrysalis’ leg mid-strike. She screamed as a second protruded from her own shadow, piercing through her wounded leg far enough for the point to stick out from her knee.  “You two don’t seem to understand . . .” The Nightmare announced. “This is my realm. I see everything here. He punctuated his words with two more crystals, through Chrysalis’ front shoulder and one leaving a nasty scratch on her neck.  “Chrysalis!”  Twilight threw up her shield and flew forward. The Nightmare’s shots hammered the shield, but she blew past him. Her horn glowed, stretching out like a blade. She cleaved the Nightmare in two, but she didn’t stop there. A series of quick cuts freed Chrysalis from the trap. The building shook as the tendrils from before returned. They rained down on the battlefield. Twilight cut a path through the dark vines, raining inky blood across her and Chrysalis as they retreated into the sky. “You alright?” Twilight asked.  “Great,” Chrysalis muttered. She pulled the bloody crystal from her shoulder with her teeth. “But that’s our plan out the window. Any other ideas?”  “We stick to the plan. One runs distraction, the other tries to free Luna.” “Why do your plans keep involving me getting hurt?” Chrysalis whined.  But Twilight was already back in the air. She circled clockwise around the tower. Every few feet, her horn ignited, leaving a levitating orb of energy in her wake. Cold dark limbs swatted at her, but she weaved through unscathed. They weren’t moving as quickly as before.  As the last ball of energy spawned into the night sky, Twilight activated her spell with a flick of her horn. In unison, each orb erupted into a scattershot of magical energy. Dozens of bolts peppered the tower. The Nightmare pulled his dark threads in close. They curled over the tower like a shield, but were promptly shredded by Twilight’s onslaught. Chrysalis swooped down. She didn’t slow down as she breezed past Luna, snipping another chain before retreating back to safety.  Each new dark limb that arose was burned away with Twilight’s magic. And each break in the Nightmare’s defense allowed Chrysalis to bring them one step closer to freeing Luna.  When only a few chains remained, the Nightmare growled.  “That’s enough!” he roared. His horn pointed skyward. Twilight froze as the air filled with enough magic energy to overwhelm her senses and send her reeling. A shield wrapped around Luna. More alarmingly, Twilight watched the horizon vanish.  It took a moment for her to understand what was happening. The magic in the air seemed to be tearing the very world apart. The ground crumbled away into a bottomless abyss. The stars in the sky flickered and died. Shadows rushed forward from every direction like tidal waves, crashing down on the remains of Canterlot with enough force to melt the world into ash.  “What is he doing?” Chrysalis asked, appearing at Twilight’s flank.  “I don’t know. But he’s gathering a lot of magic. We need to get Luna out now.”  “Twilight, wait!”  Chrysalis’ words fell on deaf ears. Twilight dove forward. Purple flames licked up her horn as she closed in on the Nightmare’s shield. Another crystal burst from the stone, aimed for Twilight’s head. She pulled up just enough to avoid the point, but crashed against the side. She landed on her hooves with enough force to split the stone beneath her. But she didn’t stay down long. She launched herself back into the air as another cluster of crystalline spikes erupted.  “This has been fun . . .” The Nightmare’s voice split the night. It seemed to bore right into Twilight’s brain, blurring her sight and ringing her ears. “But I’m done bothering with such insects.”  The energy flooding the air drifted inward, centered on the Nightmare. Each pulse dragged Twilight and Chrysalis in like a riptide. Twilight tried to batter the Nightmare with spells. Shots made purely of desperation, as useless as ever.  “I’d say it’s been a pleasure, Princess. But I at least owe you honesty.” He had to scream to be heard over the roar of the wind. Energy gathered at the tip of his horn, forming a small vortex above his head. Even the few shafts of moonlight left curled around it.  With a laugh that echoed endlessly into the void, the Nightmare unleashed his spell. A small black bead shot forward like a bullet. The recoil blasted the Nightmare back to the edge of the arena. The tower shook under the force.  Twilight snapped back to her senses as a hoof dug into her ribs. Chrysalis kicked her out of the way, simultaneously pushing herself back. The bead whorled past them, nearly knocking them both out of the sky with its shockwave.  “Thanks,” Twilight gasped.  “Don’t thank me yet.”  Chrysalis nodded toward the bullet they’d just dodged. Twilight’s eyes went wide as she watched it curl around in a wide arc back at her. She tried to move out of the way again, but the bead shifted its trajectory back on course. With her options running low, Twilight fled. Her form was a blur as she moved through the night. She poured more magic into her wings, increasing her speed even further. But no matter how far she went or how hard she dodged, the spell stayed on her tail as it inched closer to her.  “That takes care of Twilight. Now, you and I have some unfinished business, Changeling.” The Nightmare returned to the center of his stage. “I offered you mercy. I offered you a way out. And you spat upon my kindness. You would have made a fine dog. But instead, you will die a mutt.”  “Greater beasts than you have tried,” Chrysalis spat.  Her eyes flicked toward Twilight. She didn’t have long before the spell caught up. And Chrysalis herself wasn’t really in a better place. She didn’t like the plan that came to mind, but she couldn’t think of anything better.  Chrysalis bolted after Twilight. The alicorn had reached the edge of the world and circled back, narrowly avoiding the ball of energy. It passed by still close enough to tear a generous chunk out of her flank. Focused completely on dodging, she didn’t notice Chrysalis about to meet her head on.  Until they collided.  Twilight’s gaze snapped toward Chrysalis as the changeling’s legs pressed up against her chest. The bruise burned, but fell low on Twilight’s list of priorities. The two of them came to a dead stop. Twilight could feel the spell’s imminent impact. Time crawled to a standstill. With Chrysalis’ hoof pressed against her. She tried to shake her head, but Chrysalis only closed her eyes. Twilight saw her lips move in response, but couldn’t hear a word. Instead, she could only read Chrysalis’ smiling lips.  Make. It. Count. The world went silent as dread wrapped an icy claw around Twilight’s heart.  Chrysalis pushed Twilight away with as much force as she could muster. Not enough to hurt, but enough to keep her from intervening.  As Twilight fell, she could only watch as Chrysalis leaned her head back. Her chest swelled with a deep, calming breath. The black bead tried to turn toward Twilight, but it was too close.  Emerald energy glowed in Chrysalis’ eyes as the spell found its mark against her chest. The bead shattered instantly. The resulting blast consumed Chrysalis’ body completely.  Twilight didn’t have time to mourn. She barely had a moment to brace as the blast’s shockwave washed over her. Even from here, she could feel her fur igniting under the heat. The force rippled through her body, bringing with a tide of red-hot pain.  Her vision faded in and out. She could feel the wind around her as she fell. Crashing through the ceiling of the Canterlot Castle, Twilight fell like a comet, leaving a crater in the center of the Great Hall as she landed mere inches from Celestia’s empty throne.  Twilight could feel something pooling beneath her. It was warm. It felt nice against the increasingly cold numbness that infected her body. As her eyelids grew heavy, she could only stare at the stained-glass windows. The colorful depictions of her and her friends were the last thing she saw as she slipped into the darkness.  They would love to hear about this dream just as soon as she woke up.  Twilight stood in the doorway, watching. Celestia lay in the room before her, her nose in a book. She had her reading glasses on the bridge of her nose. A sight that always made Twilight smile.  “Aunt Celestia!”  That familiar sound sunk a blade into Twilight’s heart. An alicorn filly galloped past, crashing into Celestia’s plush fur as though she were a snow bank.  “Evenfall?” Celestia asked as the small ball curled up beneath her wing. She put the book aside, setting her glasses atop it before giving her full attention to the filly. “Is something the matter?”  “It was an accident, Auntie. I didn’t mean to do it.”  “Why don’t you sit down and tell Aunt Celestia what happened.”  “You’ll be mad at me.”  “Of course I won’t be.”  “I can tell you,” Twilight said.  In a single surreal moment, Twilight heard her own voice speaking. But it wasn’t coming from her. She turned around to see herself walking in through the doorway. Her older self. Back when she was Evenfall’s mother.  Twilight’s elder form strode past, oblivious to the younger observer.  “Twilight, what is this about?” Celestia asked. At her mother’s call, Evenfall burrowed deeper beneath Celestia’s wing until she was completely hidden.  “I got a call from Starlight at the school. Evenfall sent a colt to the nurse’s office.”  Twilight searched her memories. She didn’t remember this part of the dream. But she must have lived through it. Her head spun as she watched her older self settle beside Celestia. She pulled Evenfall free with her magic and tucked her under her own violet wing.  Seeing herself as a mature alicorn alongside Celestia brought a warm, fuzzy feeling to Twilight’s chest. She wondered if she would ever live to see it herself.  “She did what?” Celestia asked, eyes wide.  “Evenfall. Would you care to explain to Aunt Celestia what happened?”  “Alright, Mommy.” Evenfall poked her head out from her mother’s embrace. “I really am sorry. I didn’t mean to do it.”  “I know, Sweetie.” Twilight smiled at her daughter, but showed sadness in her eyes. “You’re not in trouble, Evenfall. But there are some things you need to know. I think it’s time Celestia and I explained some things to you.”  Celestia’s face lit up with realization.  “Okay.” Evenfall sniffled. “Some of the other foals were playing ball. They always play with the same rules. One team of unicorns, one team of pegasi.”  Another wave of tears rolled down the filly’s cheeks. Twilight wiped them away with the tip of her wing.  Evenfall continued. “And one of them knocked the ball away. And I caught it. I asked them if I could play, too. I wanted to make friends.” The story paused shortly for Twilight to provide her daughter with a tissue. “They told me that I wasn’t allowed to play. I didn’t fit on either team.”  “Is this the first time you’ve had this issue?” Celestia asked.  “No. They pick on me a lot. They call me a freak.”  Both Twilights huffed in unison.  “What? That’s ridiculous. I should go over there right now and have a talk with Starlight,” Twilight fumed.  “No, Mommy. If you tell on them, then everyone will know I had something to do with it. It would just make things worse.”  “What did you do when he said this to you?” Celestia wondered.  “I . . .” Evenfall studied her hoof. “I threw the ball back at him. I didn’t mean to throw it that hard . . . I just felt so upset.”  “She sent the colt home with an injured leg. They think it might be broken,” Twilight explained. Evenfall whimpered under her.  “I see.” Celestia gazed down at her niece, who refused to meet her look.  “I’m sorry. It was an accident.”  Celestia wrapped a foreleg over Evenfall and ruffled her mane. “I know you, Evenfall. You would never hurt another pony intentionally. But that’s why you’re here.”  “Am I in trouble?”  “No,” Celestia cooed. “But it means that it’s time for you to learn what it means to be an alicorn. You are special, Evenfall. You have the magic of all three races flowing through you. That will make you stronger, faster, and bigger than any of the other foals at that school.”  Evenfall shifted uncomfortably. “Then I really am a freak?”  “No.” Celestia shook her head emphatically. “No, you are not a freak. You’re special. Someday, when you grow up, you’re going to be a Princess of Equestria. Like me and your mother. And it’s a big responsibility.”  “What do you mean?” Evenfall’s voice quaked.  “Alicorns are very powerful, Evenfall. We’re meant to use our power to protect Equestria and all the peaceful ponies of the world. But having all that power can be tough. Sometimes it can be hard to control. And when someone makes you angry, you just want to . . .” Celestia sighed. “Throw a ball at them.”  “Like I did.” Evenfall deflated. “So it is my fault.”  “No.” Twilight nuzzled her daughter. “But it does mean that it’s time for you to learn. Celestia and I will teach you how to control your magic. Just like she taught me.”  “More schooling?” Evenfall groaned.  Celestia laughed.  But Twilight didn’t. Neither of them. Celestia and Evenfall froze. They vanished along with the rest of the room, leaving the two Twilights standing alone in an empty white space.  “She was right, you know?” Twilight said.  “About what?” Twilight asked in response.  “About us. We hold powerful magic. Magic meant to help us protect Equestria.” “The Nightmare.”  “He’s more powerful than anything we’ve ever faced.”  “Too powerful. We couldn’t do anything to stop him.”  “Because we’re afraid, Twilight.”  “We’re not scared. Just too weak.”  A long silence passed between them.  “We’re afraid of death, Twilight.”  An even longer silence this time.  “No. We’re not afraid to die. If that’s what it takes to save our friends, then we’ll gladly give up our life.” “But it isn’t our death I’m asking about. Is it?”  “No.”  Twilight opened her eyes. Both of them stood at the base of their castle’s front steps. Before them, Ponyville burned. Blood spattered across the cobblestone streets, but was starting to disappear beneath the snowy ash. Bodies were scattered across the landscape. Bodies Twilight recognized. Their lifeless eyes lingered on her, burning her.  “What do you want me to do?” Twilight squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the scene. But it had already been branded into her mind. The stench of death on the wind nearly broke her.  “We can’t be afraid anymore, Twilight.”  “The Nightmare is too strong. I can’t stop him,” Twilight cried.  “This wasn’t the Nightmare, Twilight.”  Twilight looked to herself. No longer did her older counterpart stand beside her. Instead, it was a version of her she didn’t recognize. They shared the same violet coat, but little else. Her wings and tail burned dark, almost black. Her horn crackled with faded blue lightning. The same energy burned in her eyes.  “Who are you?”  “Even looking out on your home razed to the ground, his death still scares you more, doesn’t it?” Her voice sounded wrong. She could hear a slight reverberation with each word. “Because if he dies, then it really doesn’t matter what happens, does it?”  “Who are you talking about?”  Ponyville was gone. They were back in the white room. This time, they were accompanied by a statue of the Nightmare, reared back and standing tall in all his dark glory.  “His death scares you, doesn’t it?”  “I . . . I don’t . . .”  “Because it means you failed. You’re not too weak to stop him, Twilight. You’re too weak to stop me. Right?”  “I . . . I . . .” Twilight choked back tears. “I can’t. I won’t. I’d rather die than lose control.”  “You think things will be any different if he wins? Listen to yourself, Twilight. You’re stronger than you know. But you have to stop holding back. You have to trust yourself. You have to trust in who you are. Who we are.”  “What if I can’t?” Twilight shuddered. “What if I enjoy it?”  “You’ll have to be strong.”  Somewhere, in the back of her mind, Twilight heard church bells ring.  “And what if I’m not strong? What if I can’t control it?”  “You’ll never be able to control it, Twilight. That’s the problem. You have to let go of that control. You have to let go of your fears, your hopes, your morality. Sometimes . . . sometimes you don’t need to be afraid of death. Sometimes, it is necessary. That’s what Chrysalis taught you, isn’t it?”  The bells grew louder.  And louder. Until each ringing clang threatened to break her mind.  “What do you say now, Luna. There is no one left to save you,” The Nightmare kneeled down beside the still-bound Luna. He caressed her cheek with a hoof. “You can rest now. You can bring me my queen.”  “No. Never,” Luna said through gritted teeth.  “Why must you insist on being so stubborn? What hope do you have left?”  Luna opened her mouth to answer, but something else caught her attention. Her eyes went wide as she stared over the Nightmare’s shoulder. He turned with a huff, annoyed at the constant interruption. Twilight stood in the center of the tower.  Her fur was stained with blood. Two of her legs and a wing were bent at unnatural angles. She muttered under her breath, interrupting herself with an occasional gasp of pain.  “You’re still alive?” The Nightmare snarled. “You’re quite persistent. I will never understand you ponies. Your hope is gone. Your fight is over. Yet you still insist on rising against me. How many times must I break you before you learn?”  He marched forward. He raised a hoof, the shadowy limb stretching out like the tip of a knife. Before he could swing, he stopped.  “Please,” Twilight muttered. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, pooling at her hooves. “Please don’t do this. I don’t want to hurt you.”  The Nightmare raised an eyebrow.  “Begging? For my life?” He stepped back. “Is this some sort of joke? Some game? No matter. Beg. Cower. Run. It doesn’t matter. Your time is up.”  A twelfth bell chimed somewhere in the dark.  The Nightmare brought his bladed hoof down, intent on sweeping clean through Twilight’s exposed throat. But the blow never landed. The Nightmare’s body disintegrated. His shadows scattered across the world as a blue lightning bolt struck where Twilight lay.  It took nearly a minute for his pieces to knit back together.  “I’m sorry.” Twilight bit her lip as one final tear dropped from the corner of her eye. It reached halfway down her cheek before evaporating. Lightning arced through Twilight’s body, scorching her wings, mane, and tail black. That same lightning burrowed into her horn and eyes, giving them an ethereal blue glow.  “What is this?” The Nightmare demanded as the last of his pieces returned.  A shockwave exploded out from the transformed pony. When the dust settled, the creature that stood apart from them was no longer Twilight.  “Another of your tricks?” The Nightmare asked.  Twilight -- or whatever she had become --  stepped forward. Even to his own surprise, the Nightmare stepped back, cowering away from the overwhelming aura that burned around this pony.  “W-What are you?” “What’s the matter? Are you scared?” The dark alicorn laughed, light glinting off her razor-sharp fangs. “You should be.”  “You’re not Twilight.”  “I’m everything she ever wanted. I’m everything she’s ever held back. Every dark impulse. Every fear. Every fantasy. I am Twilight Sparkle, perfected! I am Midnight Sparkle!”  The Nightmare snarled.  “Is that so? I guess I have nothing to fear, then. You couldn’t hurt me before. You can’t hurt me--” his words cut off abruptly as his head split from his neck. He hadn’t seen Midnight move, but she was gone. A flash of lightning tore past. In the following thunder, he heard her laughter echoing.  “I’m sorry? I didn’t quite catch that,” Midnight said. She stood behind him, looking back over her shoulder at his stunned form.  “You might be powerful. But that doesn’t change the facts. You can’t kill me.” The Nightmare’s head dispersed, reforming at the stump of his neck.  “Oh?” Midnight grinned. “Good. After everything you’ve done, after everything you took from me, I will relish breaking you over and over again!” The Nightmare flicked his horn. From Midnight’s shadow, a cluster of crystals ripped out from the ground. Midnight avoided the attack in a blinding strike of lightning. This time, the Nightmare split vertically from muzzle to tail.  “Useless.” His halves stitched back together. “Let me show you real magic.” The Nightmare’s form tore itself apart this time. He fell to pieces, reduced to nothing more than a bank of mist. It sank to the tower floor, gathering and rolling in waves.  Midnight pouted, watching this mist sweep by her hooves. “Trying to run? It doesn’t matter. Run all you like. I’ll still find you.” She tried to laugh, but fell silent as a sharpened ice blade burst forth from her chest. Then a second through her flank. A third through her belly.  She flapped her wings, clearing the mist from around her. The blades melted away, leaving deep wounds in their wake. Midnight took off into the air. As the mist spread, the air grew colder. Snow started to fall. Each flake that touched her body froze instantly, encasing a large portion of her body in ice.  “Not so confident now, are you?” The Nightmare’s words roared from every direction.  “You call this real magic?” Midnight licked the blood from the corner of her mouth. The energy on her body crackled, steam poured from her wounds as they burned shut. But the buildup didn’t stop. Glowing orbs formed at the tips of her outstretched wings. Another formed at the tip of her horn.  Though no lightning emanated from her body, a crack of thunder filled the air. The sounds blasted through the night, dispersing the mist and the clouds above. She glanced around, searching for her cowardly opponent.  Her magic sense kicked in, but a moment too late. A dark tendril pierced through the ground with a spray of rock and wood, crashing into Midnight and slamming her down into the tower. The rest sprouted around the tower, twisting up the gnarled stone like demonic ivy. As they reached the top, they swirled together, all swinging full force into the waiting pony.  The inferno in Midnight’s eyes burned bright.  Before the tendrils would rain down on her, she unleashed a wave of magic, slicing clean through each vine in unison, raining black ichor across the battlefield. The Nightmare coalesced high in the air. Given the puffs of smoke near his mouth, he seemed to be panting.  “Getting tired already?” Midnight called. “I’m not the one covered in my own blood.”  “You know, I could use your help with an experiment.” Midnight licked her lips. “Don’t worry, it’ll be real easy. I’m going to kill you over and over until I find the messiest way,” she said with sadistic enthusiasm. “And then I’m going to keep at it until you stop getting back up.”   The smile wiped clear from the Nightmare’s face. With an earth-shaking crash of magic, the two figures clashed high above the ruined tower.  Chrysalis sat up, rubbing at her temple. Her vision blurred and doubled no matter how hard she tried to focus. Everything hurt. At the very least, that meant she was probably alive. She studied her surroundings the best she could. She seemed to be lying in a grassy field somewhere in the Canterlot Gardens.  Lightning and thunder drew her gaze upward. As the two figures clashed, Chrysalis could feel their power. She tried to pull herself up to her hooves, but stumbled. Her sense of balance was completely off. A quick glance down told her why.  “Doctor Heart isn’t going to be happy about that,” Chrysalis said, wincing at the sight of her injured leg. Or rather, where her injured leg used to be. From the knee down, there was nothing. A steady trickle of red dripped from the stump.  Her chitin clamped down, cutting off the blood supply completely.  That was only the tip of the iceberg. The blast tore a hole in her flank, burning the skin underneath. Though the rest of her shell was intact, she could feel the skin beneath, chafing as it broiled. Her wings were little more than ash scattered across her back.  “Twilight owes me big time for this.”  Chrysalis put her hoof against the wall of the castle. Then a second. She stopped for a moment to steady herself, then pulled up. Making progress felt like a slog, but she wouldn’t stop. She bit down hard on her tongue, the sharp pain momentarily dulling the rest of her broken body.  Each meeting of the titans above shook the stone, threatening to knock Chrysalis back to square one. Eventually she managed to make it to the roof. Near the base of the tower, a hole had been torn into the brick, revealing a spiral staircase. Silently thanking the Queens above, Chrysalis started up the stairs.  Her gait sounded odd against the stone floor.  It took a few minutes to reach the top, but she finally managed. Through a trapdoor, she climbed out onto the roof. Given her close proximity to the battle above, Chrysalis kept low. Each strike rattled the world, threatening to topple the tower like a child’s toy. Now close enough to see, Chrysalis realized the second combatant’s identity. She looked a lot like Twilight.  Chrysalis shook her head. Plenty of time for that later. As fast as she could, she limped over to Luna. Consumed by his current fight, the Nightmare’s magic had wavered, removing the shield over Luna. The princess met her with wide eyes and a hanging jaw.  “Chrysalis?”  “Miss me?”  “I thought you were dead.”  “Yeah, so did I.”  The Changeling tried to summon her magic, but the pain kept her from focusing. Of course, given her exhaustion, she might not have had the magic left to use anyway. “Twilight . . . er . . . Midnight is keeping him busy, but she will not last forever.”  “You could help, you know,” Chrysalis groaned. She kicked at the chain with the same hoof as before. She tried not to look at where the crystal had ripped a new hole into her leg.  “These chains are sapping my magic somehow. But if you free me, we can still succeed.”  “Yeah, well--”  An explosion beside her nearly blew Chrysalis over the tower’s edge. When the dust settled, she saw the hole in the stone where something had crashed through. She dared a glance upward to see the Nightmare floating down toward her.  “Honestly, do any of you ever die?” the Nightmare asked. “Maybe I should try severing your head. Would that keep you down for good?”  “You’re one to talk, buddy,” Chrysalis scoffed.  The Nightmare readied a spell, but was interrupted as the tower exploded again. Debris rained down on Chrysalis, bouncing harmlessly off her remaining chitin. The Nightmare hadn’t gotten away so lucky. His body had been torn to pieces, both from the shrapnel, and a deep gash running the length of his form.  Above, with the moon behind her, Midnight had her wings flared wide. Lightning coursed around her body.  Chrysalis shook her head. “Screw this.” She leaned down, putting the chain in her mouth. She ground her jaws shut on the links. Her whole being shook as she bit down. Her perseverance was rewarded with a crunch of metal and bone. The last binding went limp, allowing Luna to stand.  “I was wrong about you, Chrysalis,” Luna said, stretching her wings.  Rather than answer, Chrysalis spit on the floor between them. Shards of metal, blood, and the tip of her fang were all visible in the saliva.  “Right.” Luna turned back toward the Nightmare. His body had already regenerated.  Drenched in the cold twinkle of moonlight, a dark thread leapt from Luna’s horn, wrapping tight around the Nightmare’s body. Luna dug her heels in and pulled. They struggled against one another for a short time before Chrysalis got involved. She grabbed the rope in the remaining half of her mouth and pulled.  The Nightmare slid forward slowly, but steadily. The air shimmered in front of him, a curtain in reality that swung freely. One final heave pulled the Nightmare through that window. His shadowy form solidified. Rather than a horrific beast, he looked like a plain, black-furred stallion.  “You haven’t heard the last of me, Luna. I will return for my Queen someday,” The Nightmare promised.  “I do not think so.” Luna fired off another spell. The Nightmare froze in time. His eyes darted around frantically, but his body never so much as flinched.  A stone levitated up past Chrysalis’ face. With a start, she glanced upward. Midnight still held her spell. Storm clouds rolled in from every direction, swirling in a twister at the tip of her horn. Lighting blasted constantly, devastating the landscape.  “Luna, we need to move.” Luna looked at Chrysalis, then followed her gaze up into the sky. Both mares tore their focus from the impending cataclysm long enough to break for the edge of the tower. With no other options, they leapt into the night.  Time slowed to a crawl as Midnight unleashed her spell. A flash of lightning, brighter than the sun. The resulting thunder, the last gasp of a dying star. The tower didn't have time to crumble. It evaporated. If the Nightmare screamed, the sound was swallowed up along with him.  Chrysalis’ mane and tail stood straight as the magic washed over her. She tried to yell for help from Luna, but the ringing in her ears meant she couldn’t even hear herself. She guessed Luna felt the same. Instead, she grabbed on to the falling alicorn. The sudden shift in weight surprised Luna, but she stayed airborne, carrying the duo out of danger.  When Midnight’s lightning finally faded, it had burned a hole through the tower, Canterlot Castle, and even through the plate beneath it. Standing at the edge of the damage, Chrysalis could see the scorch marks on the side of the mountainside below.  “What was that?” Chrysalis asked when the ringing started to die down.  “I will explain later. You need to catch Twilight.”  “What?” Chrysalis looked up to see what Luna meant. Twilight plummeted from the sky, a trail of smoke behind her. She took a moment to line herself up before jumping into the air, snatching Twilight away before she could hit the ground. The dark fur was gone, as was the burning mane and electric magic.  “Is she alive?” Chrysalis asked.  “I do not know. We can figure that out after we leave.” Luna was holding her side, struggling to catch her breath.  “What’s wrong with you?”  “I am currently holding this world together. You will not want to be here when I stop.” Luna’s knees buckled. “I will open a portal back to Equestria. Take Twilight and escape.” At her command, a portal opened. Through it, Chrysalis could see Celestia’s bedroom. The same escape the Nightmare had offered her.  Chrysalis heaved Twilight onto her back. “What about you?”  “I will be right behind you.”  Chrysalis trudged forward. Twilight wasn’t light, and her wounds were starting to take their toll. Her body shook, her steps slowed. Her vision started to blur again. She summoned every ounce of her power, forcing her body to move. Her muscles protested with burning fury, but she pushed onward.  After a few feet that felt like miles, Chrysalis reached the portal. She cast a glance back toward Luna, only to see the Princess on her knees. She’d only made it halfway. In the distance, Chrysalis could see the end of the world. Literally. The snow-capped mountains were swallowed by the dark as it marched forward.  With a grunt, Chrysalis hurled Twilight through the portal and returned for Luna.  “What are you doing?” Luna asked.  “Saving your worthless hide?” Chrysalis suggested. Her breathing was little more than desperate gasps. Her limbs shook violently, completely numb from pain and exhaustion.  “There is no time. You have to get out.”  “Shut up.”  “Chrysalis, I am sorry for the way I treated you.”  “I said shut up.”  Chrysalis dropped to the ground beside Luna, pulling the alicorn up onto her back. Luna relented, wrapping her hooves around Chrysalis barrel to keep upright. The abyss had reached the castle perimeter. The golden gate fell away into the endless dark.  “Leave me,” Luna begged.   “I would love to.”  “Then why will you not?”  “No idea.”  It wasn’t a lie. Chrysalis didn’t have the mental fortitude for that.  The ground in front of them crumbled away. Everything fell away. In the end, the only thing that remained was their small island and the portal. Chrysalis closed her eyes, praying to any deity that would listen.  Her knees bent. It was a miracle they didn’t buckle. Her muscles tensed as she readied to jump. She knew her broken body wouldn’t make it, but she was too tired to listen to her thoughts.  “Thank you for saving my sister.” A voice from the void. Calm and collected. Comforting. Warm. “I knew I made the right choice. Thank you, Chrysalis.” Adrenaline surged through Chrysalis. One final gasp of energy poured into her. With the last of her strength, she jumped. She didn’t open them again until she landed hard on the tile floor.  She opened them one at a time. They were back in Celestia’s room. She tried to stand, but was pinned beneath the unconscious body of Luna.  “I thought your sister was the heavy one,” Chrysalis cursed. She glanced toward the portal as it closed. Floating past the oculus, a single white feather. Celestia’s. It took a moment for her to register the fact she had survived. She kicked Luna off of her and collapsed into a heap on the floor. She could hear armored footsteps outside of the room, on the other side of the door.  “Chrysalis?” Twilight, only half-conscious, staggered up to Chrysalis’ side.  “You’re awake,” Chrysalis smiled. She didn’t have the energy to hide it.  “Yeah.”  “Can you do me a favor, Twilight?”  “Huh?”  “I could really use some love. Could you fetch Thorax--”  Chrysalis never remembered what she planned to say. Instead, her mind short-circuited as Twilight leaned forward and kissed her. She felt Twilight’s small frame climb on top of her, never breaking their tangle.  She nearly forgot to drink in the love in the air. She certainly didn’t hear the door open. She didn’t hear a pony clear her throat. She didn’t hear the new arrival say: “Fluttershy, I think ya might have left out a part of yer story.”