//------------------------------// // Black News // Story: Dusk's Dangerous Game // by Airstream //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle adjourned the meeting with haste. There was nothing more to be said, not really. Applejack would be willing to fight for as long as it took to bring her sister back, the rest of the Wielders were with her for better or worse, and the only thing left to do was begin. Contact was made with the cities under Twilight’s control, warnings were made, and ponies were called to arms. The evacuation of civilians into the Everfree began immediately and on a massive scale, and Twilight began to devote herself to her work once more, at least until Luna stepped in. “Twilight Sparkle, rest. I will guide the Ever Free while you sleep, along with your council. You do us no good exhausted.” The purple unicorn, surprisingly enough, didn’t put up much of a fight. In fact, she didn’t say a word as she nodded quietly and stepped away from the communication sphere she was using. This, to those who knew her, was not a good sign. If a pony like Twilight Sparkle was so exhausted as to neglect her work or leave a project unfinished, how tired was she, truly? Had she given up on the cause? Did she know something others did not? Whatever it was, those who watched her retire from the chamber, Tarantella gently leading her to bed, noticed that she looked more than tired. She looked old, and frail, like all the life had been drained from her, leaving only a hollow shell. As she was led away, feeling exhaustion ravage her body, Twilight couldn’t help but look back at her friends, sitting around the table. They looked almost as bad as she did. Fluttershy was comforting Applejack, who had the distinct look of somepony trying not to cry over a shattered family. Pinkie Pie looked uncharacteristically grim, staring at the rising sun as it broke over the trees, spilling ruddy light on the leaves below, turning verdant green into lifeless brown. Rarity was in conversation with Princess Luna, her face drawn and tight as she recounted everything she knew about Equestrian intelligence and troop dispositions. Rainbow Dash was worst off. Though color was gradually returning to her face, she still seemed to be only a shadow of her former self. Her cheekbones were pronounced, her hooves shook as she accepted a glass of water from an attendant, and Twilight could see that the bandage on her chest was bloody. And then the door shut behind her, and Twilight blinked. They were in her chambers, quiet and dark. Somepony had activated her personal door and sent them to their room as opposed to the hallway. It was Luna, she supposed. She’d have to thank her for that. Fumbling with her crystal, she managed to get it off and stow it in the chest before she put a hoof the wrong way and fell forward, colliding painfully with the floor. She hadn’t been this tired in ages, and it bothered her. Whatever Celestia had thrown at her, she was lucky to have had the armor on to catch it, she realized. It likely would have rendered her seriously injured at the very least. She felt a set of strong and gentle hooves lift her back up. Tarantella was stronger than many thought, and though it took her a moment to lift Twilight into the bed, she managed to accomplish it with her lover’s help. Twilight was dimly aware of covers being laid over her, and a kiss on her forehead, making her feel almost like a filly again. She smiled, eyes fluttering closed. Before she dozed off, she managed to force out a few words. “Tara?” “Yes, Cara Mia?” “I need to ask you a question…afterwards. Ok? Will you be here?” Tarantella watched as Twilight began to breathe deeply. She smiled. “Of course I will, Twilight. Of course I will.” Though a war was raging, for a few brief hours, all that existed for the two of them was the darkness and the warmth and the quiet. And each other. And that was all either of them really needed. Sweetie Belle trotted out of the room when nopony was looking, and took to the stairs. The five who had returned hadn’t agreed on any particular place to meet, but she knew where they had spent time together over the past weeks, and so she felt herself drawn to the room where they had been practicing. Down the stairs she traveled, through halls lit by the flickering light of torches and the glow of lanterns. She passed by the medic’s office, making a note to visit later, and traveled down another set of stairs, one that stretched up and down in both directions. She knew what was up those stairs. The room where she had met with the entire leadership of the Ever Free, where she had been asked to betray her sister. It had been easy for her, surprisingly so. She felt a little uncomfortable at the fact. As she turned down the stairs and began to walk, she became aware of what she was doing. She was coming up with ways to distract herself, to make sure that she didn’t think of him. Well, it was working. Less so than when she was unaware, but even so, she wasn’t thinking of Night Light, or how he had died, or how it was almost certain that it had been Applebloom who had killed him, or… She stopped, tears stinging her tightly shut eyes, and slammed a hoof into the wall, hard. It hurt, but the pain gave her something to focus on, construct herself around. It felt good, so she did it again. And again, and again, and again. She felt something in her crack, and a fresh needle of white hot agony lanced up her arm into her shoulder and neck. She clamped down on the scream. It was full of pain, and she wanted to keep it all for herself. When she opened her eyes again she saw the world through a haze of red. Clutching her re-broken leg to herself, she hobbled down the stairs, working a healing spell as she went. Her vision flickered, and she felt the bone knit itself back together. The pain stayed, and she was glad for that. From the bottom of the stairs it was a quick hobble to the room, and the door swung open to reveal her teammates sitting there, looking at her. They’d all been crying, she could see that. There was a set of bags on the floor, and Glimmer was wearing her preferred form, that of a white Pegasus mare. Sweetie Belle limped forward, and the eyes of her friends shifted down to her bloody hoof. Mahtaram lurched towards her, claws outstretched, and Sweetie Belle thought she was going to catch her, or try and force her to lie down. Instead, the claws of the Gryphon meet behind her in a tight embrace, drawing her in close. “I am so sorry.” Mahtaram whispered. “He was a good stallion, and I could tell you both loved each other. I am so, so sorry.” This uncharacteristic display of affection caught Sweetie Belle off guard, and she stiffened slightly before relaxing into the embrace of her friend. And that was all it took for the tears to begin flowing in earnest. Sweetie Belle was not one to cry loudly, or noticeably. Instead, what came out of her was a steady stream of tears, accompanied by small, pathetic whimpers. Surrounded by her friends, Sweetie Belle allowed the mask she had been so determined to keep on to fall to pieces, caught in the arms of a Gryphon. One by one, her friends joined in the embrace, and held tightly to her until she allowed herself to cry until she was unable to do so anymore. As she was released, she felt her friends move as a group towards the set of bags on the ground. Sweetie realized that they belonged to Mahtaram. The Gryphon noticed her looking, and smiled weakly. “I must return to my homeland, Sweetie Belle. My father calls his brood to him, and we are girding ourselves for war. Upon finding that the Princess of the Night had returned, and fought for the Ever Free, King Balmas at last gave his support. I must hurry, for if I am not at my father’s side, he must remain behind. And he is one of the greatest supporters of Lady Twilight. Until then, I must fly, and quickly.” Sweetie Belle glanced at the bag. “Sometimes, I forget that you have duties as a Princess. Won’t you get tired?” The Gryphon chuckled. “A little. Nothing that can’t be dealt with, in time. We shall arrive in good time, and be ready to fight as always.” Noticing the look of sadness in her eyes, Mahtaram held up a claw. “Do not fear for me or my family. We will be here ere the sun rises on the third day. Count on that, Sweetie Belle.” Sweetie Belle choked back a desperate laugh, that was the Mahta she knew and loved. “I will. And if you don’t show up, and we lose, I’m going to be pretty annoyed.” The Gryphon snapped a claw before rummaging through one of her bags, withdrawing a curved knife. “This is a jambiyah,” she said, resting a claw on it, but not pulling it free of its sheath. “We use it as one of our first weapons. And our last, in many cases. To draw the blade is to vow to spill blood with it. We never break that vow. Should our enemy retreat before we can slay them, we make a cut along our own legs to satisfy the oath. I have had this one since I was first cast out of my father’s house.” She offered it to Sweetie Belle, who accepted it dazedly. “Are you giving this to me?” she asked. Mahtaram nodded. “You will have need of it in coming days. The jambiyah is a tool of retribution. Use it wisely.” Sweetie Belle examined the dagger, before taking the belt it was fastened to and buckling it around herself. There was so much to say, but it boiled itself down to two words. “Thank you.” The Gryphon nodded before picking up her bags. Slinging them over her shoulder and tying them tightly, she only nodded at the rest of the party before she rose, and left without another word. Birchwood followed her, seeing as they had known each other the longest. Aside from that, however, all that had needed saying by her had been said. Sweetie turned to the rest of her friends. “What now?” Glimmer cleared her throat and spoke. “I have some…news for you, Sweetie Belle. We have already discussed it, and I am afraid I must take leave from your party as well.” Scootaloo sighed. “I still think that your Queen could have waited.” Glimmer inhaled shakily, trying not to betray too much emotion. “Sweetie Belle, I have been Called.” The unicorn tilted her head. “Called? What do you mean, called?” Glimmer shivered, as if ice cold fingers had been run down her spine. “Chrysalis has Called me. I have been officially selected to be her successor. And even now, I can hear her speaking in my very core. Sweetie Belle, I need to report to the Hive. I have to take her mantle up tonight.” “Wait, you’re going to lead your Hives now? This is the worst time for it to have happened!” Sweetie Belle cried. “We go to war, Sweetie Belle!” Glimmer snapped, her composure fracturing for the briefest of moments. “Chrysalis has been crippled beyond her ability to heal, and no Changeling shall lead her race into combat without being whole in body and mind. Tomorrow, all of the Changelings in Equestria will be united under one banner, fighting for our right to exist. My Queen’s last gesture of love to her people is to allow them a healthy leader. Me.” Sweetie Belle sat down hard, head spinning. “So what does that mean for you?” Glimmer swallowed as though her mouth had suddenly turned bone dry. “Tonight I will enter the Queen’s lair, and she will allow me to take her life. When I do so, all of her memories, as well as all of the memories of the Hive since it was first collected, will be transferred to me, along with her power. Tomorrow, I will still be me, but…not me. I will be given a different name by the Queens past, and part of me will be replaced by the echoes of them. Effectively, tonight is the night I die as well.” That was the wrong thing to have said. Sweetie Belle’s eyes flashed, and her hoof raised up as if to strike the Changeling. “Don’t you ever say that! I’ve lost somepony already tonight, and I don’t intend to lose anyone else!” Glimmer’s face remained calm. “And you won’t lose me, not entirely. I am informing you that I will be changing tonight. When next you see me, I will not be Glimmer anymore. I will still be a friend to you, but I will also be a Queen. I only wish for you to understand that. And…” Sweetie Belle saw a change come over the Changeling then, as her shoulders slumped and her words became heavy. “I am afraid. I do not want to kill Chrysalis. She has been good to me, and kind…and I do not want to change, but I must. For the good of my race, tonight I will become more for them.” Glimmer’s shoulders rose back up. “No. I consider it an honor. If that is what is required of me, then I will take that burden with no complaint. An honor and a privilege. But I digress. Should you wish to see me, I will be met with my queen in an hour.” Sweetie Belle said nothing, only hugging the Changeling gently. “I’ll be there. Don’t change too much, alright?” Glimmer returned the embrace. “Of course. It’s been a pleasure serving with you, Sweetie Belle.” She turned to Scootaloo, who welcomed her with open arms. “And you, Scootaloo. You were lovely tonight. I had fun.” Scootaloo’s voice was rough. “You weren’t half bad yourself. Even if you did keep stepping on my dress.” The two shared a laugh before Glimmer stood back up, squaring her shoulders. She turned to face them both, opening her mouth as if to say something, but closed it decisively, choosing instead to nod at the pair before departing through the open door. Scootaloo looked at Sweetie Belle. “Just the two of us again, huh?” Sweetie Belle smiled. “You know, I was just thinking the same thing. Funny how that works, isn’t it?” Scootaloo sighed. “I’m thinking of going to Trottingham, helping with the fight there. Are you okay with that?” Sweetie Belle nodded. “You’ll be safe, I know that much. How could you not be? If I remember correctly, nothing in Equestria could give you more than a broken bone. You’re not coming back as a Princess though, right?” The Pegasus laughed. “We do seem to know an awful lot of royalty, don’t we? Between Luna and Twilight and Glimmer and Mahta, we tend to get around.” “Not to mention the fact that we seem to be constantly in trouble whenever we’re together. It’s always something, isn’t it?” Scootaloo nodded. “I’m heading out with a group around noon, if you want to come with. We could always use another fighter, especially one like you.” Sweetie Belle didn’t even need to think. “Absolutely. Just like old times, we two getting in way over our heads…” “Making it up as we go…” “And coming out of it alright in the end, because that’s how it works, right?” Scootaloo offered a hoof, which Sweetie Belle bumped. “Definitely. If you want to come with, I suggest you get your affairs in order. Talk to Rarity, meet with Glimmer for the last time, all that.” Sweetie’s eyes widened. “Oh, shoot! I forgot to talk to the medic, he said he had something to tell me.” The two ponies began walking towards the door, and Sweetie Belle took one last look at the room she had spent so much time in over the past few weeks. In that time, it had started to resemble something along the lines of familiarity, but now, without the users inside of it, lending it life, it looked forlorn, abandoned. Sweetie Belle was suddenly struck with the notion that she would never see the room again, and she almost slowed down to take a better look. “Sweetie Belle? Are you alright?” Scootaloo’s voice jolted her out of her reverie, and Sweetie Belle fell back into line as the duo trotted back across the hall and up the stairs. They spent the ascent in a companionable silence, neither asking for anything other than the company of the mare beside her. After a wrong turn, they managed to find their place once more, and before too long they stood in front of the office of the doctor who had spoken to Sweetie Belle. Raising a hoof, she knocked at the door twice before waiting. A moment later, the portal swung open wide to reveal the unicorn who had tended to her. He smiled gently. “Good morning, Miss Belle. I’m glad you stopped by.” He noticed Scootaloo, and his expression became slightly puzzled. “And this would be…?” Scootaloo held out a hoof. “A friend. Sweetie Belle and I grew up together, and I’m here to help her wrap a few things up before she gets ready to leave again.” The doctor turned to Sweetie Belle. “Miss, I’m afraid the results are a bit…personal. I don’t know if you’d want anypony in to hear them.” He opened the door to his office. “Now, I am not forbidding entry to your friend. But I would suggest she wait in the hall while we discuss what I discovered. If you wish to tell her after that, you certainly can.” Annoyed, Sweetie Belle shot a glance at Scootaloo, who shrugged. She turned to the doctor. “Alright then. I’ll come in alone.” The stallion’s face wore an expression of relief. “Thank you, Miss Belle.” With a quiet thud, the door closed behind her. The doctor gestured at a seat, which Sweetie Belle took. He did likewise. Inhaling, he began. “Firstly, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Helping Hoof, and I am the Chief Battle Medic in the Regia. I attend to high-level parties all the time, and I can say without a doubt that there was nothing wrong with you except that broken hoof. However, there was an…abnormality.” Sweetie Belle looked him in the eye, confused. “And what would that be?” Helping Hoof sighed. “We were instructed to check each occupant thoroughly upon entry using an All-Body See-All spell developed by Lady Sparkle to detect latent or dormant magics. She gave us the modified version after we discovered that newly recruited ponies tended to attack her on sight, and so we began to use that extensively. It’s quite comprehensive, and can bring back a number of results. Now, the next questions may seem a bit personal, but I need you to be truthful with me. And I promise that none of what you tell me will leave this room.” Sweetie Belle nodded. “Two things. Firstly, you were coated in powerful latent Solar Magic. It leaves a very distinct trail. Do you know where this might have come from?” She thought back over the course of her evening, and found the answer readily enough. “I had an encounter with Princess Celestia that ended with her giving me a fertility spell.” The doctor raised an eyebrow and she flushed. “Look, I needed to cover for somepony, alright?” Helping Hoof massaged the sides of his temples. “I see. And to the second question. When was the last time you were sexually active?” This question came as such a surprise that Sweetie Belle actually thought she had misheard. “Excuse me?” “When was the last time you were with a stallion?” Sweetie Belle thought about that. “About a week ago, if I remember correctly. Myself and a teammate had a bit too much to drink.” “Is he available for contact?” She slammed a hoof down on the table. “No, Night Light is definitely not available for contact, seeing as he’s dead. Now would you mind telling exactly what the buck you found wrong with me?” Without betraying any emotion at all, the doctor spoke. “You’re pregnant. About a month along, by the looks of things.” He continued to speak, though his voice seemed to echo strangely to her. “If I had to guess, assuming you had no sexual contact before coming to the Regia, I would surmise that Celestia’s spell accelerated your pregnancy by a fair margin. If the spell runs its course, I think you would have a foal in the next six months.” Sweetie’s voice was high pitched and quiet. “I’m sorry. Did you say I was pregnant?” Helping Hoof nodded. “Undeniably. Somehow, you are with foal, and a developed one at that. We wouldn’t have picked it up otherwise.” “I…see. If you’ll excuse me, I think I need some air.” Sweetie said, standing up. The last thing she remembered before fainting was the floor rushing to meet her.