War in Equestria: The Tale of Bright Blade

by Michael_Ravencroft

Chapter 31

Flutteshy was trotting through the halls of Fort Avalon, although she was sad about what happened in Ponyville, Twilight's return was a breath of fresh air to the cream colored pegasus. She decided to pay Pinkie Pie a visit, having remembered the devastated look on her face when the Crusaders told her what happened at Sugar Cube Corner. She stopped at the foot of the door and gently knocked. Fluttershy heard shuffling inside and waited for a response. After a minute the door opened to reveal Pinkie Pie, her eyes red from crying, but she still was able to manage a hearty smile like always.

"Hey Fluttershy, what'cha doin," asked Pinkie Pie.

"Oh nothing really, I just wanted to see how you and the babies were doing," said Fluttershy.

"They're alright, come in and see."

Fluttershy cantered into Pinkie's room, which was decked out like her room back in Ponyville, apparently having consulted her Party Cannon for decorations. The pink party pony then led Fluttershy into an adjoining room, much like Twilight and Bright Blade's room. Inside was Pinkie Pie's bed, and next to that was a crib that, of all ponies, Apple Bloom made out of some spare lumber. Fluttershy quietly took a peek inside the crib; little Pumpkin and Pound Cake were comfortably taking a nap, both twins holding each other in their tiny forelegs. Afterwards, Pinkie Pie brought Fluttershy into the other room, closing the door behind them. She plopped herself down on a couch while Flutteshy sat on her haunches.

"How are they," she asked.

"I don't know; they can't talk so it's hard to tell what they're thinking. I can't imagine what they saw, they're so little, and babies shouldn't have to see things like that!" said Pinkie Pie.

"Do you know if Mr. and Mrs. Cake have any relatives, maybe they can take care of them until this is over," suggested Fluttershy.

"What – no way!? I'm not abandoning them now, plus I don't know if there are any who can! No, they're staying right here, it's the safest place with all of us here!"

Fluttershy couldn't argue with that logic, Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash decided to keep the Cutie Mark Crusaders there for that very reason. Still, that bade the question of what Pinkie Pie would do once the war was over. "If you want I could help you take care of them while I'm here?"

"Oh Fluttershy you don't have to do something like that, you should go out and try to have some fun," said Pinkie Pie.

"It really wouldn't be any trouble at all Pinkie Pie, because I…will I…*mumble*"

"What was that?"

"I want to have foals of my own someday but I don't know if I'll be a good mother so I was wondering if you'd let me practice with Pound and Pumpkin just so I can see what it's like," said Fluttershy all at once.

"Wow, Fluttershy I didn't know you wanted to have a family! Does that mean you have a coltfriend," asked Pinkie Pie.

"What, oh no, I don't…but there is somepony that I'd like to ask to be my coltfriend, if he wanted to that is."

"Well who's the lucky stallion, c'mon you can tell your Aunty Pinkie Pie!"

Fluttershy had a bit of an annoyed look on her face, apparently the pink pony forgot again that Fluttershy was a year older than her. But she decided to let it slide, again, and answered her question. "I really can't tell anypony yet, I'm still not sure if he feels the same way about me, and I really don't want to pressure him into a relationship. Besides it's not the right time for something like that…"

Pinkie Pie got off the couch and trotted over to her shy friend. She then lifted Fluttershy's chin with her right hoof and looked into her eyes, when Fluttershy looked into Pinkie's eyes she saw a kind of, not affection, but more along the lines of a concerned older sister. "If not now, when? Fluttershy with everything that's been happening, our friends and innocent ponies dying, you can't afford to wait, remember what almost happened to Spike?" The pink maned pegasus winced, she did indeed remember the incident, how Spike almost died and how he professed his love for Rarity. "Don't wait until it's too late, alright," asked Pinkie Pie.

Fluttershy, moved by her friends words, embraced Pinkie Pie in a tight hug, to which Pinkie accepted. "Okay, I promise to tell him, someday soon, I promise," said Fluttershy.

"Pinkie Promise?"

"Heh-heh, cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!"

The two mares shared a laugh, something the Element of Laughter was finding harder and harder to do as of late. It was right about then when Pinkie Pie's stomach started growling loudly. They separated in surprise, both staring at the source of the noise. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy then broke out into a fit of laughter, making sure to keep the volume down as to not wake the sleeping foals. "Guess my tummy telling me I need food, I've been soooo worried about Pound and Pumpkin that I forgot to eat," said Pinkie Pie hugging her stomach with her forelegs.

"Why don't I go and get you something from the cafeteria, what would you like," asked Fluttershy.

"Anything, and everything," answered Pinkie Pie.

"Alright then, I'll be back soon." With that Fluttershy quietly left the room, knowing Pinkie Pie was smiling joyfully, and leaving with a smile of her own. Fluttershy began to canter down the hallway towards the Mess Hall, as she turned a corner she accidentally smashed into somepony. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I didn't check to see if there was anypony coming, are you…all…right?" Fluttershy looked up and saw the pony she bumped into, causing the cream colored mare to blush slightly.

"Eeyup," said Big Macintosh. "Are you alright Ms. Shy?"

Big Macintosh offered a hoof to the timid pegasus, she shakily locked her hoof around his, allowing the strong stallion to help her up. "T-th-thank you B-Big Macintosh, I was heading towards the cafeteria to get Pinkie Pie something to eat. I guess I was lost in thought for a moment," said Fluttershy.

"No problem, ah'm headin' there myself, if ya don't mind maybe ah could keep ya company," asked Big Mac.

"Oh yes – I mean no – I don't mind, really I don't!"

Big Macintosh knew about Fluttershy's, well, shyness whenever she was around him, so he gave a light chuckle and began walking towards the Mess Hall. Little did he notice the inconspicuous glances of the pegasus mare next to him, still blushing, and smiling as they trotted along.

Bright Blade was in the infirmary, sitting on a cushion at Twilight's bedside. Everpony else was doing something to occupy their minds. Spike was giving the Crusaders a ride in the air; they made no attempt to hide their friendly jealousy about now having two friends that could become grown up whenever they wanted. Spike even told them the story of how he got the ability to transform, which also entailed the part about his almost dying and the fact that he and Rarity were now dating. Sweetie Belle seemed to take the news pretty well, considering that Spike might become her brother-in-law.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash were busy having training sessions, the two of them growing somewhat restless. They even invited other soldiers to spar with them; the opportunity to take on two of the toughest mares in Equestria was not something that they were going to pass up. Sufficed to say, not one soldier could beat them, and that's without their armor.

Their friends would make the occasional visit since Nurse Redheart permitted them. But Bright Blade never left, well except for times when he was shooed out by said nurse. Every now and again Princess Celestia and Princess Luna would stop by and see how Twilight was doing. He thought Twilight was a lucky mare, to have two Princesses that care about her, as more than a subject, but as their friend. Bright Blade, however, couldn't shake the feeling that the Princesses regarded him in some suspicious way, he decided that it was just his imagination and went back to watching over Twilight.

The image of Twilight being vaporized replayed hundreds of times in his mind, and even now as he looked at her he could still see it vividly. Bright had to keep reminding himself that she was alive and sleeping, that this wasn't a dream but reality. Twilight's left hoof was lying outside the sheets next to her; Bright Blade gingerly placed his fore hooves around her left hoof, he then closed his eyes and sighed heavily.

I don't know if you can hear me, I don't even know if you still exist. Miss Epona, please help Twilight to wake up, I promise I'll never let anything like that happen to her again! I…I love her; I just want to tell her that…at least once. I've been fooling myself into thinking that I only like her as a big sister, but that's not true! I've loved her since the first time I met her, when she said "Bright Blade, from now on you can live with me; you can be a part of our family…" I almost kissed her on the spot! So that's why…that's why I have to say it, I don't care what she says I at least want her to know that much!

Suddenly Bright Blade felt something, he opened his eyes and became very still. He looked at his hooves and felt Twilight's hoof begin to move, his gaze then fell upon her face. Her eyelids, slowly, but surely, started to open. Bright Blade's heart began to feel light as air as joy began to overtake him. Twilight's eyes were now fully open; she stared up at the ceiling, and then moved her head lazily to her left. She stared at Bright Blade for moment, as if she didn't recognize him, but after opening and shutting her eyes a few times a smile began to arch across her face. "Hi Bright Blade…"

"Twilight! Oh man, Nurse Redheart Twilight's awake!" shouted Bright Blade.

It didn't take long before Nurse Redheart and other medic ponies rushed in, they immediately started to examine her. Bright Blade had to leave the room while they asked her some questions and made sure that nothing else was wrong. The golden earth pony colt wasted no time; he rushed off to find all their friends to tell them the good news.

It didn't take long for word to spread, and for Bright Blade to return with all their friends in tow. They all, carefully, entered the room. Twilight gave them all a weak smile, through half lidded eyes. "Twilight Sparkle…We thought thee dead," said Princess Luna, tears starting to drip from her eyes.

"How ya feelin' sugarcube," asked Applejack.

"I'm fine everyone, a bit weak, but otherwise alright, I am a bit mad at myself for losing my Element of Magic tiara while I was wandering around," said Twilight. She then noticed Spike, who was standing next to Rarity, doing his best not to hurry over and envelop the lavender unicorn in a bone crushing hug. "Spike you've changed so much since I last saw you, I knew you said you grew, but I didn't know it was that much. Guess I can't call you a 'baby dragon' anymore."

"No, but you can still call me your number one assistant right," asked Spike.

"Of course…"

"Twilight dear, what in Equestria happened to you, Bright Blade said that you were killed by Trixie," asked Rarity.

"Trixie…is she…?"

"Alive, no she isn't. Thanks to Bright Blade, the little guy went ballistic and blew Trixie away," said Rainbow Dash, ruffling the adolescent colt's white mane.

Twilight shifted her gaze towards Bright Blade; she smiled but the look in her eyes said different. "Bright Blade, I'm sorry I put you through all that…" Twilight eyes were down cast, unable to meet his.

"Twilight, how did you survive that attack? I thought Trixie…"

"Actually I – OH BUCK ME! I-I have some important information about the enemy!" said Twilight urgently, almost scrambling to get out of her bed.

The others were startled to say the least, Applejack and Rainbow Dash rushed to either side of Twilight's bed, trying to keep her still. "Twilight Sparkle you have been through a lot, you must rest until you are back to full strength! Whatever information you have can surely wait," said Luna concerned.

"NO IT CAN'T! You don't understand I was transported to Tikara Balak's secret base!"

The room went silent; all eyes were firmly fixed on Twilight. They couldn't believe what they had just heard; Twilight was transported to the enemy's secret base of operations, the very place many of their covert operatives have been searching for since the beginning of the war. "Twilight…I don't think that –!" began Princess Celestia.

"Celestia, Luna, it's about that," interrupted Twilight, motioning with her head towards Bright Blade.

The Princesses looked at each other; Twilight hadn't called them by their first names without putting "Princess" in front of it for a long time. But when they saw to whom she was talking about they seemed to understand, as their demeanor changed. "Very well, Twilight, we'll hear what information you gathered in the throne room," said Princess Celestia.

"Thank you, Spike will you help me to my room…There's something I need to get from there."

After a few minutes the group was gathered in the throne room. Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Bright Blade, even Big Macintosh and Major Broadside were called in for the briefing. Soon the doors to the throne room slowly opened, revealing both Spike and Twilight. Spike had increased his size enough to carry Twilight on his back. They noticed that Twilight had something floating beside her, from what they could tell it was a leather bound book of some kind. The Princesses had brought in a cushion for Twilight to sit on at the foot of their thrones. Spike gently helped her ease onto the cushion, before joining the others.

"Thank you all, I know you think I should be in bed, but the information I have is crucial and must be told, because it affects everypony here," stated Twilight.

"Very well then, Twilight Sparkle, please give us your report," said Princess Celestia.

"When Trixie blasted me with her last spell it didn't kill me, it transported me to their base. I was held captive for the past two days there; they tried to interrogate me, to get any information about our forces, hence my injuries. Luckily one of the guards was careless and I was able to get out of my cell. While I was wandering around I stumbled upon something, Tikara Balak." At this the entire group tensed up. "I overheard him talking to Queen Chrysalis, about a secret weapon he had waiting for us, and that he was prepared to unleash it soon."

"Well what is it," asked Bright Blade.

Twilight, with a solemn look in her eyes, turned towards Bright Blade. "It's you Bright Blade…You're Tikara Balak's secret weapon against us…"

The entire room went still; a bombshell had been dropped on them, one that they couldn't wrap their heads around. "You can't be serious Twi," asked Applejack.

"Bright Blade, Tikara's secret weapon, yeah right," scoffed Rainbow Dash.

"That can't be true," said Fluttershy.

"He went into detail…Apparently Tikara Balak split apart, whatever amount of good he had, from his soul. Using magic to create a Construct, which is an artificial object created by magic, he sent Bright Blade among us, knowing that we would take in a pony with no memories."

"That – that doesn't even make sense, I mean – so I'm, that can't be…" said Bright Blade, fumbling over his words in disbelief by the news.

"I'm sorry Bright Blade, but it's true, even the time we all spent together is nothing but a lie."

"Wait one minute, what do you mean it was a lie," asked Pinkie Pie.

"I have a theory about that. I believe, when Tikara sent Bright Blade among us, that he planted within him a delayed spell that would activate whenever he arrived at Ponyville. The moment he did, the spell switched on and warped all of our memories, making us think he's been living amongst us a lot longer than he actually has."

"No…that isn't true, I remember the day you came to Zecora's hut, I remember the day you brought me to Ponyville, and all the fun we all had," said Bright Blade, a hint of panic in his voice.

"No BB, I don't remember any of that…here." Twilight levitated her journal in the middle of the room, and then cast a spell to make the words appear in midair, floating holographic violet letters. "As you can see, I've dated all the entries pertaining to Bright Blade, all of them dating back to the day I found you. Now here's the entry the day of the first Ponyville Siege…"

The holographic pages began to flip, the date of the Siege finally shown.

New Day 1: This is Twilight Sparkle, on August 25th Ponyville was attacked by creatures known as Daemoni. The young earth pony colt named Bright Blade was transformed into an alicorn, and with his strange powers was able to save Ponyville. I write this entry as "New Day" for the fact is I have lost all memory of ever knowing or taking care of the colt known as Bright Blade and I seem to be the only one affected. I don't know how or why I lost my memories, a part of me doubts they were even real, but at the same time I feel as if I should trust him...Until I can figure this out I'll continue to pretend like I know him.

The others gasped at Twilight's entry, Bright Blade's mouth hung open, he couldn't believe what he just read. Twilight, the mare that he fell for, was actually telling them all that was nothing more than a false memory, created by Tikara Balak! "She is not the only one who does not remember him my little ponies…" all eyes shifted to Princess Celestia, "Luna and myself do not remember him either. As unbelievable as Twilight's words are, they are true, plus there is something else we haven't told you yet." Princess Celestia motioned for her sister to take up this portion of the explanation.

"Excellion, the sword that you wield Bright Blade, was once wielded by another. Its forger and original master, our brother, Arion…" said Princess Luna. It was one bombshell after another; barely any of them had time to recover. "Arion created Excellion as a tool to destroy evil, when he…when Arion fought against our mother he called out for Excellion multiple times, but it never appeared. We concluded that Excellion would no longer heed his calls because he had been consumed with darkness. Now after hearing what you have said Twilight, it does make sense that Excellion would choose Bright Blade as its new master. It senses the good in him, Tikara Balak must've thought that if the sword accepted him, then our suspicions would be satiated."

"But that doesn't make sense how come only Twilight and the Princesses don't have any memories about Bright Blade," asked Fluttershy.

"When Luna was possessed by Nightmare Moon, Twilight and I drew her to the underground shrine of our mother Epona. Once there the two of us performed a spell left behind by my mother to purge any evil, or manipulation magic. It would seem that it also applied to the artificial memories inside our minds," said Princess Celestia.

Bright Blade couldn't take it all in, the barrage of information hitting his head, hearing these royal alicorns and the one who took him in, talk about his whole existence being nothing more than a lie. "No…No it all happened I – I remember all of it! I'm not working for Tikara Balak!"

"Ah course you ain't sugarcube, and you're wrong Twi! Why I remember all the crazy stuff we've done together," said Applejack.

"Y-y-yeah – you're right Applejack! Oh, tell about that time you taught me to apple buck!"

"Ah'd be glad to BB, let's see we were in the…we were in the…west orchard?" Bright Blade began to panic at Applejack's puzzled expression, the others waited patiently for the cowgirl to finish her thought. "Ah, ah'm pretty sure we apple bucked around there…This is – uh, why, why can't ah remember!?"

"Applejack, you – you showed me how to aim my hind legs so that I wouldn't hyper extend them and hurt myself! On my first try I missed, slipped, and rolled down the hill into a big mud wallow! We laughed like crazy," said Bright Blade, desperation taking over a bit.

Rainbow Dash stepped forward and looked at her marefriend disappointedly. "C'mon AJ, you can't be forgetful now! Don't sweat it BB, I got your back," said Rainbow Dash confidently.

Bright Blade's ears began to perk up; there may have been one glimmer of hope from the Element of Loyalty. "Thanks Rainbow Dash! Tell them about the time I helped you with that stunt! You know the one with the flaming hoops and fireworks!"

"Oh yeah that one was a doosy! I…I…what the hay!? This isn't right, I swear I had it then I lost…what's – what's goin' on here," asked Rainbow Dash, mad at herself for forgetting about it so suddenly when her friend needed her help.

"WHAT!? You had me launch the flaming hoops into the air as you flew through them, and then you had me light the fireworks as soon as you did the Sonic Rainboom!"

The others quickly searched their memories, wanting so much to help Bright Blade. They knew if they could remember something they had done together it would verify that he was real, but unfortunately the faces of all who gathered were a sign that not much progress was being made on that front. Bright Blade's eyes darted all around the room, to the ones he called friends, wondering if Twilight was right. NO! I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THIS, I'M REAL! NOT SOME ARTIFICIAL BEING! I AM NOT A CONSTRUCT!

"Pinkie Pie," Bright Blade turned to the pink party pony, "I used to help you babysit Pumpkin and Pound Cake!" Pinkie Pie said nothing, but she was obviously panicking about not remembering anything.

"Rarity," he turned around quickly to face the fashionista, "you wanted me to model for you, for a tux you were making for a client!" Rarity, too, said nothing.

"Spike, bro, you and I hid those books you accidentally burned during Twilight's last re-shelving!" Spike seemed just as panicky as Bright Blade as he racked his mind, trying to help his surrogate brother.

"Fluttershy, I went with you to count all the brand new, bouncing, baby bunnies!" Fluttershy also, sadly, could not think of anything.

Despair, unlike anything that Bright Blade had ever felt gripped his heart and soul. Bright Blade then looked to Twilight, tears starting to form in his eyes. Twilight's eyes also seemed to be welling with tears, but she tried to keep calm as much as she could, this wasn't any easier for her. "I'm sorry Bright Blade, it's true…"

"No, no it's not true! Excellion proves that I'm not evil! With strength unmatched I sing this song, that might and magic be as one! Shine your light upon the land! Let evils wrath be undone, mystic sword Excellion!" Bright Blade said the chant, but to everyone's great astonishment, Excellion did not appear. "Excellion…!? EXCELLION!?"

With a heavy heart, a sorrowful look, Princess Celestia gave the order that none of them ever thought they'd hear. "For now, young one, I'm afraid I have no choice. I must place you under arrest, until such time as this information is validated, or new evidence comes to light. Lieutenant Big Macintosh, Major Broadside, would you please escort Lieutenant Bright Blade to the holding cells," ordered Princess Celestia.

Major Broadside and Big Macintosh looked at each other, they still couldn't believe what they were hearing, but the more they thought about it the more it made sense. Reluctantly they started to move on the adolescent earth pony colt. "Come along son," said Major Broadside.

"It's alright Bright, we'll figure this out," said Big Mac.

Bright Blade started to hyperventilate, the room was spinning, and he soon found himself backing up like a cornered animal. And just like anypony would tell you, never corner a desperate pony.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

In that instant Bright Blade's body erupted into a pillar of golden light that blinded all those present in the throne room. The pillar rose up, punching through the ceiling and creating a hole all the way to the outside. When they opened their eyes Bright Blade was gone from their sight.

"Did he just…" asked Major Broadside.

"Eeyup!" Big Mac answered .

"Bright Blade!" Twilight shouted.

"Spike, Fluttershy, follow me!" ordered Rainbow Dash. In a flash of red light Rainbow Dash's Element Armor formed around her. With a flap of her crystalline wings, she lifted off up the hole. Fluttershy's armor appeared after a pink flash of light, and then she too was airborne. Spike willed his wings to grow out and started to fly up after the two mares, transforming into his full grown dragon form after he cleared the building.

"Oh Bright Blade…I'm so sorry…" whispered Twilight.

Bright Blade flew as fast he could, not even bothering to look back, the wind wiping away the tears that continued to stream from his eyes. He had no idea where he was going; all BB knew is that he needed to get away from the fort, away from everything that Twilight said. Trying to run away from everything that was happening! Suddenly Bright Blade heard shouting from behind him, he turned his head and saw that he was being pursued.

"BRIGHT BLADE! YOU GOTTA STOP," shouted Spike.

Rainbow Dash was quickly gaining on him, not letting up until she had closed in on him. "Bright Blade you gotta stop! This doesn't look good for you if you run away!" pleaded Rainbow Dash.

"NO!" replied Bright Blade.

Just then his path was blocked as a huge milky blue Thunderbird flew right in front him. Bright Blade knew exactly who this was. "Bright Blade don't run, we'll figure this out honey, we promise! Please come back to the fort!" said Fluttershy.

Bright Blade hovered in midair, in front of him was a Thunderbird/Fluttershy, behind him was Rainbow Dash and Spike as a fully-grown dragon. Bright Blade's eyes darted in every direction looking for a way out. "B, c'mon this will only make it worse! I promise you, Twilight, and everypony will try and figure out what's going on! Because there's no way this is true," said Spike.

"Oh yeah, none of you can remember anything we did together! How can you all trust me, how you can you even call me your friend!? If I am Tikara Balak's secret weapon then I'm better off getting away from all of you!" said Bright Blade.

"Listen to yourself, 'not our friend,' would we be flying after you if we didn't want to help you," asked Rainbow Dash.

After a minute Bright Blade finally found his way out, the armored alicorn stopped flapping his wings, allowing himself to plummet downwards. Below them was a mountain range, to which Bright Blade opened up his wings and began to fly straight into. Rainbow Dash moved out first, already getting ahead of the others. The winds howled as the two winged ponies slalomed around one peak after the other. Snow and ice cold rainclouds muddied their vision, making it almost impossible to tell the difference between the snow covered mountain tops and the clouds themselves. Rainbow Dash was quickly closing the distance between her and Bright Blade, and he knew it. Bright Blade turned his head around to see how close she was getting; he grunted in frustration and returned his attention to the front. At the last second he spotted a mountain peak and quickly barrel rolled to the left to get out of the way. Bright Blade continued to fly faster, but stopped as soon as he heard a loud crashing sound. BB turned around and watched as Rainbow Dash started to go into free fall. Bright Blade waited for a few seconds, thinking that the rainbow maned pegasus was pretending to be injured in order to make him fly to her rescue.

After a few minutes she didn't pull out of the free fall, making Bright Blade worry. She'll be fine; Fluttershy or Spike will save her right…!? Bright Blade scanned the skies, no sign of either one. BUCK IT! Bright Blade flew after Rainbow Dash, flapping his wings faster and faster, rushing to catch up with RD before she hit something sharp. Once Bright Blade was close enough he lit up his horn with its golden aura, the armored alicorn reached out with his mind, willing his magical energy to grab her. Bright Blade's telekinetic grip finally wrapped itself around the cyan pegasus, slowing her descent till she matched his. Bright Blade then spotted a nearby plateau, and gently placed the unconscious Rainbow Dash onto it. He quickly put an ear to her chest, luckily she was still breathing. When he turned to leave Bright Blade saw both Spike and Thunderbird/Fluttershy hovering close by.

"I didn't do anything to her she crashed into a mountain and –!"

"We saw what happened Bright Blade, if you hadn't saved her I don't think we would've made it in time," said Fluttershy.

"Please Bright Blade, if you really were working for Tikara Balak you would've just let Rainbow Dash fall," said Spike, trying to reason with his brother.

"Tell me bro…Spike…do you still not remember anything," asked Bright Blade.

Spike looked to Fluttershy, even in her Thunderbird form, she could still express her sadness, which was all the reason that Bright Blade needed to do what came next. "Later…" Bright Blade's horn shined with magical light, till it flashed, and in the next moment Bright Blade was gone. Leaving only a KO'ed Rainbow Dash, a worried pegasus, and a sad dragon.

This day had been full of surprises, for everpony. But, as strong as Twilight was, the whole ordeal took a lot out of her. The lavender mare's eyes slightly bloodshot from crying after what happened in the throne room, as Big Mac and Rarity helped Twilight to her room.

"I just can't believe it, all this time we thought we had spent with him, and it was all fake!? The poor dear, I can't even begin to imagine the pain he's going through right now," said Rarity.

"I know, you have to believe me I had no idea the Princess would place him under arrest, maybe with some time I could've found a way to help Bright Blade! I was hoping to brainstorm something with everypony, but in the end…" Twilight began to weep quietly.

"Tain't your fault Miss Sparkle, there's no way any of us coulda seen that comin'," said Big Macintosh.

Once they arrived at Twilight's quarters Rarity opened the door, to which Twilight began to, awkwardly, trot into her room on three hooves. "Are you sure that you'll be alright dear, I could keep you company," offered Rarity.

"No…I just…I just need time to think, thank you though." With that Twilight closed the door. She trotted over to the couch and carefully laid herself on it, being mindful of her broken foreleg. Twilight then began to cry into one of the pillows, her cries, turned to wails, and her wails turned to…laughter? Evil, cruel, menacing laughter!? "I can't believe it was that easy! A bit of misleading information from a friend that returned from the dead, and their all clamoring like I just told them lord Tikara's Master Plan, HA HA HA HA HAHA!"

Twilight then got off the couch and started trotting towards the bedroom, on all four hooves! She locked the door behind her and made her way towards the mirror where she would brush her mane. Twilight looked upon herself and smirked as her amethyst colored eyes shifted quickly to two dark green cat-eye slits. "Honestly, these ponies are so gullible! Anti-Changeling defenses, HA, maybe that would've worked against the old me, but, as the equines would say, 'I'm not just a one trick pony,'" said Twilight her voice sounding eerily similar to Queen Chrysalis.

At that moment Twilight (Queen Chrysalis) heard a flapping sound at the window, spying a shadowy figure out of the corner of her eye, she quickly spun around with her horn ignited and ready to fire. But there was nothing there, nopony at all. Twilight (Queen Chrysalis), plopped herself on the bed and rested her head comfortably upon the sheets and pillows. Sighing contently, and satisfied with what she had done.