//------------------------------// // Truths and Lies // Story: Dark Libra // by DragonassasslnGR //------------------------------// Luna had spent the last few days teaching Twilight how reading the journal. Like everything she learned, Twilight nearly mastered it in that time and was reading alone as Luna attended to her royal duties. Twilight had now learned much of Cassius and Equestria's past. She neared the end of the journal when she noticed and entry from the day before she found Cassius. The entry read, "It is dark in here. I can barely breathe and I can't move. What is happening? Where am I? If I can break out I can get out of here. There I'm out of the coffin but, where am I. There is another coffin next to the one I was in, I'm scared to look into it. I saw some stairs in the back so I guess that is my way out." Twilight was confused to how this was here and why it was written in this manner. She continued in hopes of figuring out what was going on. "There's a button on the wall and a dead end. This is self explanatory I guess. Great now I'm now in a large throne room. I can see clearly now and I have wings. Ha, I can fly who would have known. Somepony is coming, I need to leave now. There's a window so here goes nothing. I can't believe I shattered through a window and got banged up this bad. I was attacked by a dragon that flew past me but I-I killed it using some sort of black mist. I'm afraid that I might die, I don't want to die. My vision is fading and the sun is rising. I'm so tired. I...need...too..." The entry finished. Twilight then understood that Cassius must have been writing every step of the way. She continued to the next entry which was written in modern Equestrian. "I awoke tonight to find I had had no memory of anything and I found this journal that I can't even read under my wing that isn't broken. I look and feel like hell and feel just about the same. My wing is broken and I've nearly bled out. I did meet a nice baby dragon named Spike. He seems rambunctious and fun loving. His boss, Ms.Twilight Sparkle is one of the nicest and most caring unicorns I have met. Granted I just met her today and she is the only one I met that I know of. I think I can truly call her my first friend." Twilight couldn't stand to read the rest of this entry and instead was going to close the book when a new page formed in the back. "What the hay." Twilight mumbled. The journal had seemed to materialize a new entry that was writing itself as she watched. It was still in the new text so that meant Cassius was still writing even without it. It began, "I don't know where you are old friend but I will find you. Luna must have made off with you again. If I could use magic again I would teleport you to me. I realized that when I woke up in my tomb beneath Celestia I was sending the signal for you to write my thoughts. I have control again but I would feel better if I had you with me. I still remember when Luna gave you to me. Ha, the little filly always was a good friend to me and right now I wish I had more. I tell myself that my duty comes first. I miss those days, but the force that drives me is too powerful. I have learned to let go and even have fun in this state. My mind is lost in the haze of chaos and pain, but I can have a good time right? I have gone crazy but it will pass, it always did. On a different note, I have gone into Prince Shining Armors dream and I killed Twilight again and almost killed Princess Cadence, but he stabbed me with his horn and released a blast of magic that ripped a hole through my abdomen. The hole was through and through and hurt like hell even in the dream world. I had to go because... Luna was coming and I couldn't risk her tracking me. I do however regret my actions with Twilight during my awakening. I never wanted to hurt her, but I let go and she paid for it. I hope she can forgive me when this is all over. If not then I will carry on in silence. As for the war effort, the ones that have come to support me have decided to call us The Lost Night. I will let them have it. I... I still try to fight the control that Chaos has over me, but its like the balance has given me all the power and is putting me in the mind set to weld it. I don't know if after all this is done and I have killed Celestia if anypony can forgive me." Twilight felt a mix of emotions after reading the words and watching them finish. She felt angry with Cassius for his actions, Proud that Shining Armor beat him, and said that he was losing himself. She quickly levitated a quill over to her and wrote in the journal, "I do forgive you, but we will stop you and save everypony. Even you Cassius." Suddenly the book sprouted new page that read, "Faithful? Did I hear you or did I imagine your words? I must be so gone now. You wouldn't just forgive me after what I did to you. I only pray Luna can forgive me now. She is all I have left to care for. If I hurt her I don't know what I would do. Old friend, Its almost time that I see Celestia's Solar Empire for myself." With that the book slammed shut. Twilight jumped back nearly avoiding getting her hoof stuck in its pages but the quill wasn't so lucky, it snapped half way out of the pages. Twilight was not sure how to feel about the events that just transpired. She thought it was best to bring the book to.... No if she brought the book to Celestia, Cassius might call everything he had now instead of preparing. They needed time to get ready for whatever the hell was coming there way. Twilight decided it best to go to see her friends for help. She wanted their opinion about what to do before making a choice. ************************************************************* Pinkie Pie was waiting patiently outside the Day Spa for her friends. Twilight asked her to meet everypony else there. "Why did Twilight ask me to meet her here. I mean it is a nice place, but of all places the Day Spa. Oh maybe she is going to throw a party for us. Or maybe she is going to pull a prank on Rarity." Pinkie Pie said with a giggle to her last idea. The thought of Twilight Sparkle pulling a prank gave the party pony goose bumps and she liked it. Pinkie entered the door to find the rest of her friends sitting in the waiting room. The only one missing from their group was Twilight. Rainbow Dash looked to Pinkie from a bench she was laying on and said, "Hey Pinkie Pie, have you seen Twilight around? She invited all of us all here, but she isn't even here herself." Pinkie bounced over to her rainbow maned friend and replied, "Oh Dashie, don't worry so much, I’m sure Twilight has a good reason for being late. She is never tardy though. Something must have happened! She might be stuck in some ditch and calling for help!" Rarity got up and said, "Pinkie do you realize how... actually that sound right. Something must have happened to Twilight she is never late. But the whole thing with the ditch, really?" "Now Rarity, Pinkie Pie. We don't know that for sure. For all we know she is getting somepony else to meet us here." said Applejack who sat next to Rarity on a bench. Fluttershy even spoke up, "Um... I saw Twilight going to the library to get something." Applejack smirked and said with a little pride, "See, she is just running a little late. She is fine." The doors of the Day Spa suddenly swung open and Twilight walked in with Spike pulling a wagon and a large book with a leather cover. Spike parked it next to Rarity and he looked at her with loving eyes. Twilight stood in the center of the waiting room and said, "Sorry I was running late. We had to drag the book here. Now who's ready to relax, my treat." Rarity's eyes beamed with joy and she wrapped Twilight in a hug and said, "Oh thank you Twilight. You really are a good friend." Twilight only groaned as she tried to get air from Rarity's death hug. Seeing Twilights face turn a shade of pink from lack of oxygen she released her grasp. Twilight coughed a few times and rubbed her neck. Blushing in embarrassment Rarity apologized, "Sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you dear. I'm just excited that's all." Twilight trying to regain her composure and said, "It's ok, but we do need to talk when we are all situated." Applejack asked, "Is something bugging you Twi?" Rainbow Dash added, "Is there anything we can do to help?" Twilight just replied, "There is plenty of time to explain while we relax here." Twilight walked over to the receptionist at the counter and ordered the spa special, the complete group package. This way they would all get to do everything at the spa and still be able to talk together. They were started at the mineral pools, then the mud baths, followed by the steam rooms then the full facial. Finally they relaxed in a hot tub. The whole time they had spent there Twilight had explained what she read and what had happened with the book earlier this morning. "It sounds like he still is the Cassius we met at Pinkie's party. Just a little crazy on the outside." Rarity said looking into the steaming water. "Rarity, he tried to kill Twilight. He did kill Twilight and his sister. How can we call him a friend after that." Rainbow said with a snort of anger. "He was being used by this force he calls the balance Rainbow Dash. Inside he is still the friend we know." Fluttershy quietly stated. "She is right Rainbow. The book says it and it is his true thoughts. Right Twilight?" Applejack said as she lowered into the refreshing waters. Twilight waved a hoof for Spike to come over with the wagon. He was eating a large ruby when he saw her hoof call him. When he got to the hot tub he opened the journal to the last page so they could all see. "Here you are Twilight." he said proudly. "Thank you Spike. Yes Applejack that is what Princess Luna told me. The last entry was to a response from something I wrote in it. This leads me to believe that he can hear everything from the journal. If he slips up we can learn what he plans to do. He doesn't seem to have any real plans, but he is poking around my brothers dreams. I say we go to the Crystal Empire and deliver the journal to him and help there. Besides the Crystal Empire is training most of the new troops. I plan to go there and help out, I'm not sure how long I will be in the city with Shining Armor. I wanted to let you know before I left." "This isn't the first time we have just dove in headfirst to Into a fight with you Twilight." Rarity said. "And is sure as sugar isn't going be the last." Applejack chimed in now slowly rising from the water. "This is going to be fun. The last time I was in the Crystal Empire, I was caught being a spy. Now its time for round two." Pinkie Pie said as she floating on her back from one end of the tub to the other. "We can see all the nice animals there too. I still haven't been to the shelter yet." Fluttershy said as she poked the water with a hoof trying to get excited about their trip. "Well I'm up for some travel. This whole war thing is messing with me. I need a vacation to get my mind off of Cassius and what he did." Rainbow Dash replied crossing her hooves in frustration. "Thank you all, I knew I could count on you. Now we need to make arrangements with the train station. Ever since Princess Celestia brought myself and Sereen back, she has stationed guards all over Ponyville. Some of them will most likely be going with us. I already informed her I was going and she is sending personal guards to escort and protect us. I also heard Sereen herself will be accompanying us on the train. She is interested in meeting her successors as Equestria's protectors" Twilight said with a large smile. ************************************************* The group was at the station in less than two hours and to everypony’s surprise Rarity had only two bags instead of her usual wagon full. "Rarity where are all of your bags?" asked Twilight. "I have learned a new spell Twilight. I shrank them and put them in my first bag, my second bag holds things that I may need along the way. I will grow them when I need them. You know you are not the only pony who can learn new tricks." Rarity said with a sly smirk as she sat next to Twilight. True to Twilights word, personal royal guards in gold barding lined the train and a large white Alicorn stood in front of them. The escort gathered their personal belongings and loaded them into train. The white Alicorn with a golden mane and tail stayed motionless with the exception of her mane that moved to the slightest gust of air looking at them. "This is a little creepy." Rainbow Dash whispered leaning in to Twilight. "I am sorry, I was just examining all of you to see if there may be problems with any of you. I am Sereen, sister to Cassius." Sereen suddenly said with tender care in her voice. "Sister of Cassius?" Fluttershy asked. "Yes, I am his elder sister and one of the only ponies that truly remember him as he was. Please forgive him for anything he may have done. It is the force that drives us, it is to blame and he has accepted to much of it into his heart. Now if you are ready, I will escort you to the Crystal Empire." Sereen said as she turned and stepped onto the train. The others followed her and the guards positioned themselves on all points of exit and in between the cars of the train. The train began to move as they took their seats in a luxury car that had been prepared for their arrival. Food was placed on a buffet table that Pinkie immediately attacked. Rainbow and Applejack sat down in a booth and a waiter approached and offered them many different drink choices. Twilight was laying on a nice and well tailored chair and began to read a book that sat on a small table. Sereen and Fluttershy sat on a large couch in the back with Rarity in a chair in front of them with a cup of warm ginseng tea. "So Ms. Sereen, where is the journal Twilight was bringing. Isn't it the whole reason for the trip?" Rarity asked as the cup levitated to an end table beside her. Sereen cleared her throat then responded, "It was loaded up before we stepped on the train. As for its location, its sitting in the closed car to the engine under strict guard. Only I can have access to it. It will be delivered to the war room in the castle when we arrive. As for you and the others Ms. Rarity, I will be watching over all of you and making sure you all stay safe. The elements of Harmony are one of the top priorities right now." "So Sereen, what was the world like back when you were alive." Fluttershy asked as she looked into Sereen's face expectantly for an answer. Sereen closed her eyes and said, "It was a loving place at Canterlot, harmony ran supreme and unchallenged. However for this to be, other parts of Equestria had to suffer to keep the balance. The dragons where a constant threat to other places in the world that were not as well defended as Canterlot. Cassius was usually sent to take care of any problems with them, but most of the time it ended with bloodshed because the dragons thought that he was an easy source of food. The animal are much like the ones today, but a lot are missing. I assume extinction due to natural cause is to blame. The Crystal Empire was around though. Sombra was a master warlock at the time and Cassius was learning what Sombra had to offer. After he turned Cassius recruited and gave Sombra the Crystal Empire for his aid just before his defeat by his own hooves. So I guess the world was the same as it has always been with the exception of all this technology." Rarity and Fluttershy sat staring wide eyed at her for a moment. Fluttershy looked over to Spike who was eating with Pinkie Pie. Her gaze fell back to Sereen who only gave an innocent smile. She was so blunt with her answer like it was nothing but something she had read and had no feelings for. "Ms. Sereen, Is Spike safe from Cassius?" Fluttershy asked with a plain look of worry on her face. Sereen seeing this, her expression lost her smile before speaking, "I would be lying if I said any of you were safe. But if we can fix everything and Cassius reverts to normal then yes, Spike and the rest of you will be truly safe. With me, you are safe only as long as I can get to you. Does that answer your question Ms. Fluttershy?" "Please call all of us by our names, and yes thank you." the timid yellow pegasus said with a smile. The rest of the ride Sereen was getting to know all of the other ponies and a very happy baby dragon. However Sereen made a critical mistake, she told him she wanted to know everything about him and he obliged by telling her his life story from hatching to now. His story look until midnight to finish which after he was done he collapsed into a little ball of scales and snored quietly. Twilight grabbed Spike using her magic and everypony went to the next car and found a bed to sleep in. Sereen stayed in the luxury car a little longer and looked out to the night sky. They would arrive in the Crystal Empire in the morning. Sereen had to be ready for anything that could have happened. If Cassius was targeting Shining Armor this was only to get to worse from here on out. *********************************************** Ace had spent the day sleeping in his hotel room and was out on the night streets for hours inspecting the possible defenses of the crystal city with the two guards that had saved him. However the same two guards were dead and left far in the frozen tundra. Cassius had visited Queen Chrysalis in her dream and asked her to send him two strong changelings. They had arrived the day he was discharged from the hospital and posed as the two. They had volunteered to be Ace's escort and watchmen. Shining Armor had approved this request and here they were. Cassius thought about the real Spring Bash and Haven laying in the snow never to be found again. The thought made him happy and uneasy that he was so comfortable with it. He was slipping faster than he thought. With a sigh he looked to find the sun poking out and the sound of a train coming in. Curiosity got the better of him and he went to see what was going on. To his surprise a train filled with royal guards had stopped and bags were being unloaded from the back and stacked in a nice pile. A golden chest with Celestia's cutie mark branded on it was pulled of the car closest to the engine. Whatever was on this train was important to Celestia, that was for sure. Then seeing Twilight Sparkle and the others confirmed that suspicion, the sight of her made his cold blood hotter. Ace started to make his way to the train but got stopped by two of the trains guards. "Nopony is allowed past this point?" One guard said in a stern voice. "I am here to greet our guests, orders from Prince Shining Armor himself." Ace stated. "Papers?" the second guard asked. Haven pulled the papers that allowed them to escort Ace and anypony he is with from a satchel on his side. The guards looked it over then back to Ace with a raised eyebrow. "You will see, I am within my right to approach my friends and take them to the hotel." Ace said with a grin. Seeing the documents authenticity and the escort he already had, they let him pass. He made his way to the group when Twilight caught a glimpse of him and his protection. At first a look of confusion hit her before Ace spoke in a smooth moderate voice, "Hello, my name is Ace Gray-Feather. I am here to take you to..." He stopped in his tracks when he saw Sereen step off of the train. Cassius froze in shock at the sight of his sister walking amongst the living again. The memory of killing her flashed back into view, clear as day. The feelings of regret, anger, satisfaction, sorrow and of course guilt flushed over him. "Um Ace? are you ok?" the purple unicorn said. Sereen looked over to them and spotted Ace immediately. She yelled, "Twilight step away from him now!" Twilight did as she was told and looked even more confused than before. She looked back to Ace, his face was that of pure anger and his eyes held the multi colors that Cassius's had. He glared at Sereen with intent to kill, but stayed where he was. The shadows fled from him revealing himself making every pony freeze in fear. "I killed you! You are dead! Why are you here!?" He boomed in his normal voice. "I am here to save you and Equestria brother." Sereen said calmly as she stepped in front of Twilight and her friends. The two stared into the each others eyes for what felt like hours as the guards surrounded them. The two that followed Cassius did the same as to not blow their cover. Cassius glanced around to see from the corners of his eyes, to see he was going to have a fight. The image of killing everypony here made an evil grin form across his muzzle.