~~~~~The Golden Oaks Library~~~~~
The Library was abuzz with the gentle voices of the many ponies now inside of it. Pinkie Pie's laughter and the chatter of Applejack and Rainbow Dash wafted out of the kitchen, along with the scent of stir-fried vegetables. From upstairs, the murmur of conversation between the first two ponies to discover Lilith's secret identity.
In the main room however, a brother and a sister sat on opposite chairs. Shining Armor's hooves were crossed, a solemn look on his face. "Twily. I want to get something straight between us." He blew out his cheeks before continuing to speak, his tone quiet. "Everything you haven't been told, everything that's been hidden from you. We had the best of intentions." He raised a hoof, forestalling her speech. "That's not an excuse. You should have been told the truth the instant after you beat Nightmare Moon. Maybe if we had realized how grown up you'd become, all of this could've been avoided."
Shining Armor sighed, his head resting on the arm of the chair. "We were idiots, Twily. We were all so certain we knew what was best for you." He snorted derisively. "What a crock of ponyfeathers." He lifted his head to gaze at Twilight, a little smile on his face. "For whatever it's worth, I'm sorry for all of this Twily."
Twilight's head slowly slipped into her hooves and she sighed, much of the anger she'd been holding onto all night slowly draining away. "I- oh, to Tartarus with it. I forgive you, Shiny. Celestia I'm going to have stronger words with." Twilight gave a little laugh and settled down into the chair a little more. "So, spill the beans Shiny."
Shining armor rubbed at the back of his head for a moment, a somewhat awkward smile on his face. "Well that's the thing. I don't know the whole story, just what Celestia told me. I wanted to tell you right away, but Celestia put her hoof down on the subject." He sighed. "This isn't going to be easy for me to tell you but you deserve the truth."
Twilight rolled her eyes. "Shiny, after the day I've had? I doubt there's anything you could possibly tell me that could be that horrible." By the time she'd said it, Twilight actually felt a sting of worry. "I mean, I'm pretty sure there isn't." she finished lamely, worrying at her lower lip.
Shining Armor sighed softly. "Twilight, I-" Shiny took a deep breath. Welp, here goes. It was nice knowing you, life. "Twilight, Mom and Dad aren't your actual parents." Shining braced for the inevitable rage storm, hoping his shields would keep him alive.
Twilight stared at him blankly. "What." she said flatly, in a combination of shock and total disbelief. "I-who-what!?" she sputtered out, eyes widening.
Shining Armor, miraculously still alive, nodded slowly. "Um... Let me tell you the whole story before you kill me, please?" Twilight nodded a little, shock still written across her face as Shining continued to speak. "I wasn't old enough to know what was going on, but this is what Celestia told me.."
Shining took another deep breath and soldiered on, Twilight's face stock still in some unidentified emotion. "She said she'd gone to clear out a powerful little enclave of Dissonance cultists, and during the raid they'd found a newborn baby unicorn. She said she'd sensed incredible potential in you, and brought you back to Canterlot." Shining armor shifted from hoof to hoof in his chair.
"Mom and Dad were already pretty well known to the magic community, and apparently to the Princess too. Celestia asked them to take you in, raise you as their own." Shining looked away, closing his eyes. "They never asked where you came from, never asked who your parents could've been. You know them, Twily - they loved you from the moment they saw you. That was no lie." Shining Armor turned his head sharply, his eyes and voice suddenly fierce. ""And I don’t give a buck about any of it! You're my sister, and that's all there is to it!" He huffed out a breath, looking more than a little pissed.
That shocked Twilight out of her thoughts, and she pushed herself off the chair. Moments later, she was up in the same overstuffed chair as Shiny. "Of course you are." she whispered, squeezing his hoof. Shining looked at her with a big, broad smile that blossomed from nowhere. Twilight smiled back and gently rubbed her cheek against his. "You'll always be my big brother, no matter what."
Shining looked relieved, and Twilight had to giggle a little. "Shiny, I am angry." She said quietly, her hoof on top of his. "But you're not the pony I'm angry at. All of this, every last bit of it all comes back to Celestia." Her eyes darkened, and her face fell into sadness. "I trusted her completely. I never once believed she would ever hurt me. Even now, I've been straining my mind trying to find some reason for all of this to have happened."
Shining squeezed his sister's hooves as she talked, her voice fatigued and broken up. "I've been desperately trying to think of some way this could all just work out. I know that's a foolish hope but... there it is." She slumped against her brother's side, eyes squinted shut. For a moment at least, she did not have to be strong. She didn't have to be confident or smart or cunning. She could be Twily, and take some comfort in the fact that Shiny would always be there for her.
Shining Armor slipped a hoof around her and gently hugged her, letting them sit in silence for a few moments. "Twily, all we can do is confront her. Maybe together we can convince her to finally tell the whole truth." He squeezed gently with his hoof, before kissing her cheek chastely. "We've got enough trouble. Let's not go borrowing more."
Twilight sighed, and nodded slowly. "Right." She hugged her brother back firmly for a moment, a sudden thrill rushing through her at their closeness And he's not even related to me! Twilight huffed her thoughts back. He's still my brother. Still no.
Twilight hopped off the chair and got a noogie from her brother, causing her to squeal and scamper away while he laughed. "Tch! I'm going to get you for that, Shiny!" Why was he so worried about that? I mean, sure it raises a lot of questions but why do I have the feeling that I'm missing something? Twilight shook her head and began the ascent to her room, wondering what other weird nonsense was going to happen today.
Shining Armor sat in his chair and cursed silently. He wanted to scream, to rant and rage at the universe. She put a damn Compulsion on me! I can’t talk! Celestia you whorse! Shining armor ground his teeth, trying to call after Twilight as she scampered away from him. Oh now I am well and truly beyond ticked.
Shiny sat there on the chair, wanting to strangle Celestia for what she'd done to him. The compulsion spell was forbidden magic of the highest order, it could force a pony to act in any way the caster might demand. Celestia had forced him to tell a fairy tale, and then stopped him from so much as revealing a thing to Twilight.
Twilight deserves to know the whole damn story, not just the beginning! She needs to know now, or things are going to get even more out of hoof! Shining buried his face into his hooves. Goddess protect us all when Twily finds out the whole story. Cadence, why in Equestria did you have to go?
~~~~~
Far away in Canterlot, the castle was silent. Only the Night Watch remained on the grounds, for all the other royal guards had gone with the Princess. In a tower room, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza slept in blissful silence. At least, she slept in silence on the outside.
Within her mind, she was enraged.
But rage was not a power of Harmony, and so did Cadence's mind temper her rage and tame it to her hoof. Celestia had imprisoned her body, but not her mind. She had been careless, too close to the culmination of her centuries of planning to notice the small details. Cadence ground her mental teeth together. She would make Celestia regret that mistake, once she figured a way out of this damn sleeping spell.
Her mind probed at it from every angle, but there was no use. The damn thing was flawless in every respect. Designed to last a week, and not an hour longer. She was going to need outside help to break the spell, but without the use of her horn she couldn't contact Shiny. He would take her final orders to protect Twilight seriously, and she doubted Twilight would launch any kind of rescue mission until everything was already over.
So, I'm bucked. Cadence wanted to beat her head into the table. How could I have been so foolish? Because she'd wanted to believe in Celestia of course. They all had. Cadence had wanted to believe she could save her little Twilight from all of this. Celestia clearly had other plans.
Within her mind, Cadence quietly wept. Tomorrow, or perhaps the next day it would all happen. The closest thing she had to a mother and Twilight would face each other in mortal combat, with no telling who the victor might be. Or what the consequences might be. There is no despair. she reminded herself, taking a deep internal breath. There is Laughter. Hah. Not that I have much to laugh at right now, save my own arrogance.
Cadence's mind settled down into a meditation, trying to formulate plans or ideas that she could enact after the dust had settled. One thing was for certain, she was not going to let Celestia catch her off guard ever again. She only wished she could see around her. Hanging around in the darkness of her own mind was boring. Celestia didn't even have the courtesy to let me dream something. Bitch.
Then, there was a ripple on the outside of the spell. A dark green ripple that seemed to press up just lightly against the magic, then withdrew. Cadence's mind watched in detached interest as the dark green tendrils of power pressed and probed at the spell, until a hated voice seeped through the shield. "My my, Celestia certainly did a number on you, Sister."
A haze of bright green energy appeared outside the sleep barrier, and coalesced into the form of the changeling Queen, Chrysalis. "You are quite fortunate my King is both wise and farsighted. Else you would have been left out of the fun." Chrysalis smirked with her fang-filled mouth, her very presence taunting Cadence.
Cadence did not enjoy being taunted, but now was not the time to indulge in her desire to beat the changeling queen with a whip. "What did you come here for, changeling?" Cadence growled, not moving from her curled up position next to her sleeping form.
Chrysalis giggled, a sound not unlike a room full of crickets all making noise at once. "Why I've come to ensure you get your invitation for the family reunion!" Cadence saw a bright red envelope flutter onto the bed, landing perched against her side. And with just that, Celestia's entire sleep spell began to crack like an egg. "King Sombra insists you make arrangements to attend. I shall leave you to them." Chrysalis flitted her wings and turned away, only to stop. The changeling Queen craned her head over her shoulder with a smile. "After all, it's hardly a reunion unless every member of the family is there."
With that statement, Chrysalis was gone. The sleep bubble continued to crack and craze like thin ice. Cadence began to throw her mind against it, trying desperately to make it break quicker. Whatever her reasons, Chrysalis had given cadence the opening she needed. Cadence was not about to waste her opportunity. I'm going to get to ponyville. I'm going to get Shiny and Twily, and we're going to get the buck out of Equestria.
And Goddess help anypony who gets in my way.
~~~~~~
Mayor Mare of Ponyville settled into a wrought iron chair across from the Shadow King. At a silent cafe in the middle of Ponyville, Sombra looked up from the remains of his cupcake with a slow, toothy smile. "All is in readiness then?"
The Mayor nodded shortly, eyes now focused entirely on the green leafy boughs of the Library off in the distance. "Yes. I have arranged for the foals to be removed from harm’s way. All of the faithful who can reach the town will be here." The Mayor took a deep breath and exhaled. "All of your special arrangements are in place. Dissonance willing, all will proceed as planned."
Sombra chuckled richly. "Oh, it will not all proceed as planned, but a good deal of it shall. Which ought to be enough to tip the scales to even. The rest will be up to our little unicorn." He sipped at his wine glass, pouring himself a refresher. "Tell me, how is she?"
Mayor Mare shivered. "Every time she wields the power, every one of the faithful can feel it. The closer we are to her, the more powerful the sensation. It has been very - distracting." She gulped and then continued to speak. "As to the rest, she has not called upon me since her emancipation. I think it is likely she is creating powerful connections to the Elements, to ensure their power will become hers." The Mayor hesitated a moment before speaking again. "My King, I fear what is to come."
Sombra shook his head, his glass of dark red wine hovering in the air. "I do not blame you. We shall be gambling everything on what is to come. Yet I believe we have done all we can for Dissonance. We have hope, Scrolls. We can ask for no more than that." He glanced over at the Mayor and chuckled. "Nothing of importance will be happening until Celestia arrives. I suggest you go do as I am doing - Enjoy tomorrow. It may be your last day alive."
~~~~~~~
The whirring of the great fan blades was an oddly relaxing sound. Princess Celestia stood on the upper deck of the Cloud Fortress Commander Hurricane staring out into the night sky with a little bit of wonder. She wished Luna were here. Luna had always been her rock amidst the storms that the world had thrown at them.. For all of their troubles, Celestia knew that Twilight would need Luna in the days to come as much as Celestia had needed her for her entire life.
It was almost over now. A millennium of planning, centuries of toil and tears, every resource and magical researcher at her command. All of it to come to a final head in these next few days. Celestia had to admit to herself, the feeling was relieving. Today's research had revealed a startling truth to her, one that put all of her Apprentices actions in perspective. Harmony is clearly with me. All of this is far too perfect for it to be otherwise.
Yet she would be mindful of the pitfalls. She had often thought her plans perfect before, only for the rug to be swept out from under her. Sombra was ever the canny player, and Queen Chrysalis remained a wild card. This mysterious 'Lilith' and 'Scrolls' that her intelligence spoke of were also unknown quantities. I must be ever vigilant. Especially now.
Celestia's thoughts went to her Apprentice, to her beloved faithful student. Twilight. Would that there was any other way. Would that I were wiser or stronger in my heart, I would not have placed this burden upon you. Celestia's power lifted the tiny white tome from where she had tucked it under her wing, staring at it mournfully. Writing such a thing was so much harder than I'd imagined, but I wrote it all. Every sin and mistake, and more importantly everything she will need to know.
The quiet steps of a pegasus pony interrupted her introspection. Celestia tucked the book back under her wing and turned to the approaching figure. Sky Admiral Fire Drake was ancient by pegasus standards - nearly 80 years old, he'd served in the Equestrian Air Force for longer than most could remember.
His thinned out mane and eye patch made him look like a pirate, and his physique reflected a lifetime of hard work and fighting for the cause of Harmony. Somehow, his voice remained as strong as it had for all of his years of loyal service. "We're gonna be catchin' the main thermals in a few hours yer Majesty. Barring unforeseen wind changes, we'll be arrivin in Ponyville in Thirty-six hours." His gravelly voice proclaimed, looking quite pleased with himself.
Celestia smiled herself as even her best navigators told her the journey to Ponyville would take four days for the fortress. "That is most excellent, Admiral. I would propose adding to your list of impressive accolades, but I believe another piece of paper in your file might finally break the shelf it rests on." Good humor twinkled in her eyes, and the Admiral chuckled in response to her jibe. "You are dismissed, Admiral. Get a good night's sleep." The older pegasus nodded, saluting quickly before withdrawing himself from the deck.
Celestia's eyes gazed out into the night for a moment. "Good night, Lulu." She whispered quietly, then turned towards the cabins.
~~~~~~~
"Ya mean you saw it too!?" Scootaloo's voice said in a soft whisper as the Cutie Mark Crusaders huddled together under the bed sheets. "I thought it was just Dash being awesome!" Scoots sounded disappointed, but also intrigued.
Sweetie Belle cut in a moment later, her voice pitched low too, "Uh-huh! I saw Rarity do it too! I thought I was just really tired but..." she shook her fluffy mane back and forth. "Applebloom, you say ya saw it on Applejack too?"
Applebloom nodded enthusiastically, worry painted over her face. "Eyup! All glowy an' purple an' stuff! Bright as a candle at midnight!" She whispered back fiercely, frowning mightily. "Whaddya s'pose it means?"
All three of them stopped to look thoughtful, each one thinking as hard as they could to try and unravel the mystery of the eyes. Were this any other day, had the last few days been anything but really scary and exciting, they might have proclaimed this a chance to get their cutie marks. But dark things were going down in Ponyville, and all of them knew it.
"Maybe we oughta tell Cheerilee?" Sweetie suggests timidly. "Or maybe the Mayor. If something's wrong with our sisters, it could be wrong with Twilight and Fluttershy, and Pinkie too!" Sweetie’s hooves were tapping together nervously as she spoke, eyes darting around under the sheet.
Scootaloo shook her head. "No way. We could get them all in a whole lot of trouble if we did that! I mean, they've covered for us plenty'a times." Still, Scootaloo's lips turned into a worried frown. "Still, we gotta do something or tell someone. They could be in trouble."
Applebloom piped up a moment later, a bright smile on her face. "Zecora! She knows all about strange and weird things like this." The other two Crusaders nodded in enthusiasm. "We'll go talk ta' her tomorrow." She grinned brightly. "Maybe they're under some kinda curse, and we can save em!"
As one, the three little ponies chorused in whispers "Cutie Mark Crusader Curse breakers! Yay!"
~~~~~~~~
Rarity perched in the large overstuffed chair Twilight had been using as an ad hoc throne for the past three days. Luna and Fluttershy knelt next to each other, presenting an artistic picture that would have made any painter weep. Twilight slowly trotted into the room to see her Acolytes and Fluttershy's hooves crossed behind their backs and heads lowered. Rarity was saying something to them in a quiet voice as Twilight walked in, stopping short at the sight of her.
Rarity smiled in a slow, sensual manner at her. Everything about the scene sent Twilight's blood to boiling, no longer with anger. No, this was passion at its purest. Lust surged through her, and she wondered why she had ever tried to deny this glorious feeling in favor of her studies. Twilight felt her walk subtly change, swaying her hips a little with each step. Rarity hopped off the chair with that same smoldering smile and bowed to her as she approached.
Neither Luna nor Fluttershy moved, nor did they even flinch. As it is supposed to be. Twilight thought with satisfaction. Next to the chair hung a cloth dress-bag, heavy with some kind of garment inside of it. Rarity spoke first as she stopped in front of them, her tone as jovial and bright as ever. "Your majesty, I must say of all the identities of your Acolyte, this was the one I least expected." She eyeballed Luna with a sly sort of smile.
Twilight had to chuckle, stifling her humor as she responded. "I was shocked myself, I must admit. But what are you doing with them, hmm?" Twilight paced slowly around Rarity, whose face took on a trace of nervousness. "All presented here before you, I might begin to think you were trying to control them yourself Rarity." Twilight placed her hoof firmly against the white unicorn's chest, Rarity's face a study in excitement and slight fear. "Perhaps a touch of humility is in order. You will kneel with them." Her voice rang with power, dissonance briefly illuminating her eyes with a bright green glow.
Rarity sank down next to the other two ponies without another word, immediately adopting the same pose as the other two. Twilight had to admit, the feeling of total control here was intoxicating. "Acolyte Luna." She purred out, and the blue-maned Alicorn raised her head. "Next time, inform me if Rarity acts above herself without my permission." Luna smiled and nodded silently.
It was a very strange scene for Twilight to behold, but beautiful. Three gorgeous mares kneeling at her hooves. She knew that with a command, they might very well do anything she demanded of them. The cords of dissonance which connected her to them pulsed with emotions and power, and Twilight knew she could draw from that power and so much more. Their knowledge was hers, their every secret belonged to her.
Twilight slowly felt a smile cross her lips. She was tired, but perhaps a little practice tonight could not hurt. Luna's emotions were powerful enough for her to read without even trying - Twilight had always pushed aside the needs of the body for the needs of her mind. The next few days might not give her another chance to enjoy them.
Twilight's horn glowed softly and the door to her room shut firmly, latching and then locking with a subtle click. A second spell ensured no noise would escape that room that night.
~~~~~
Rainbow Dash sighed in disappointment. "Dangit." She had heard the door close and lock, and laid her head on the kitchen table over her hooves. "Stupid sexy Twilight." Applejack rolled her eyes at her and Pinkie Pie giggled madly. Dash simply glared back at them. "What? She is! Not my fault."
Applejack sighed and picked up a piece of soft broccoli and munched on it for a moment. "Yanno, ya could just tell her." She pointed out, eyebrow raised. "Ah mean, It ain't like we're exactly proper folks no more." Applejack grumbled at that comment, sinking down into her chair. "Sides, you ain't the only one feelin it right now."
Rainbow Dash blinked, as Pinkie Pie filled the background with her laughter and giggles, practically falling off her chair. "Wait, you too? No, you're not into Twilight, you're-" Dash's wings would have popped in confusion, if they weren’t bound together in bandages. "Wait, how the buck can I know that?!"
Applejack glared at her without heat. "Cuz of those damn silver necklaces. Th' Elements connected us as friends. Ah think those new thangs got other plans in mind fer us." She grumbled again, crossing her hooves and turning her head away.
Dash slowly put the pieces together, lifting her head from the table. "That's not this Dissonance stuff that's making you think those things, AJ." her voice was soft, softer than normal. "And you're blushing." Dash pointed out, a slow smile of triumph crossing her face.
Pinkie Pie popped up from the floor, a huge grin on her face. "Course she is, Silly! Everypony knows Applejack's got the hots for you!" Pinkie ducked a flying carrot hurled by Applejack, then poked her head back up over the table with a smile. "Applejack, you need to stop pretending everything's gonna be the same. I'm just a humble baker of cupcakes, but even I know what Dissonance means."
Applejack and Dash stared at Pinkie Pie as she slowly pushed herself up, no longer clowning around. Pinkie Pie's look was seductive, the subtle slant of her smile suggesting... things. "Dissonance is the dark, warm places of the world. It's full of the forbidden. Desire, passion, kink, lust, control." Pinkie broke into a giggle for a moment, except now it came out as a laugh that sent chills down the other two ponies’ spines. "And right now, the pony that's connecting all of us is full of all those emotions, and we're feeling the effects."
Pinkie smiled, much more normally for her. "So, girls. There's a big hunka stallion out there whose wife is away, and I think we could all use a little stress relief. Especially him. So whaddya say we go make a little Dissonance tonight, Hmmm?"
~~~~~~
Chrysalis perched on top of a house in Ponyville as the night went on, not hiding her true form for the moment. She felt the wind blow through her wings and the holes in her chitin. She felt the weight of the jewelry in the sack draped across her back. The world was silent and still all around her as the moon hung high in the sky.
It was the deep breath before the plunge. The world itself was getting ready for the event about to take place here. "Are you ready, Princess Celestia? Are you ready, my King?" Chrysalis wondered aloud, a slow smile spreading over her face - baring her fangs to the wind.
"Are you ready, Nightmare Queen Twilight Sparkle?"