Disclaimer: I don't own My Little Ponies or anything related to it. That belongs to Hasbro or whoever it is that owns it.
Her eyes flew open and she found herself lying on her bed, the familiar objects of her room slowly coming into focus. She blinked a few times to adjust her view, fighting against the pull that wanted nothing more than for her to close her eyes and doze off once more. She pulled the sheets away and stood from the bed, immediately regretting her actions as her head began to pound dully and the room before her began to spin. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath and willed the pain away; a moment later she opened them and the room remained still. Sighing in relief she stepped out of the room.
It was a quiet morning; too quiet, in her opinion. There were no sounds of activity coming from within her home, and the streets outside were just as silent as the inside of the tree-like structure. Spike was probably still asleep. After all, the young dragon had stayed up far too late the night before working on…
On what, she thought, and stopped at the top of the stairs. What had happened the night before, and why couldn't she remember? She would have to ask Spike once she woke him up.
Making her way down the stairs she headed towards the young dragon's bed only to find it empty. Surprised, she instead turned towards the kitchen. He was not there, either.
"Spike?" she called out, making her way to the library. Surely he would be there busy with work, but when she checked the room and found it just as empty as the rest of their home a cold feeling began to spread through her. Had Spike gone out? The young dragon almost never went out on his own, at least not without letting Twilight know where he was going. His absence didn't feel right. Nothing about that morning felt right to her.
Panic began to spread through the purple unicorn but she couldn't explain why. There was nothing wrong with the situation yet her heart had begun to beat faster as a sinking feeling spread through her. The lack of sound both in and out of her home was suddenly suffocating, and the fact that she couldn't remember anything from the night before only made things worse. Everything seemed perfectly normal and completely wrong at the same time.
Whatever was going on, she wouldn't find anything out just by standing around. Pushing away the feeling of dread she decided to go out and find Spike. Surely he would remember what had happened.
Her horn began to glow and the front door swung open revealing the young purple dragon standing on the doorway. For a moment he stood there, his mouth agape as he stared at Twilight. A second later he had closed the distance between the two and clung to the purple unicorn.
"Twilight!" he cried. "You're up! You had us so worried!"
"I'm glad to see you too, Spike," Twilight said. "Now could you please let go? You're starting to hurt me."
"Sorry," the young dragon said, letting her go and stepping back. "I'm just glad that you're okay."
Twilight frowned. "Why wouldn't I be?"
She had a funny feeling that his concern over her was tied to whatever had happened on the night before, and she remained silent as she waited for him to speak. But Spike said nothing, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly as he stared at her.
Finally he asked, "Don't you remember what happened last night?"
Twilight shook her head. "I remember that we finished setting everything up for the Summer Sun Celebration, but everything after that is kind of a blur." She let out a gasp as her eyes widened. "I slept through Princess Celestia raising the sun! Why didn't anyone wake me up?"
She saw the young dragon's expression become somber as he lowered his gaze. When some time had passed and he remained silent Twilight spoke up.
"What is it?"
Spike let out a sigh as he turned to his best friend. "Let's go get the others. They'll be happy to see that you're up, and they can tell you the whole story. Or what they know, at least." He began to twirl his thumbs as he continued, his voice growing weaker until he was almost whispering. "We were kind of hoping that you could tell us everything that happened."
He turned to the open door and felt his feet leave the ground. A purple aura had surrounded his body and before he knew it he was face to face with the purple unicorn.
"What do you mean? What happened last night? Tell me!"
"Let me go, Twilight!"
Surprised, the purple unicorn complied, and a moment later he was back on the ground. Collecting himself, he turned to his friend once more. "I already told you, I don't know the whole story. The others can tell you what they know. Maybe then you'll start to remember what happened."
He turned to the door but stopped. His whole body slumped as he let out a sigh and turned back to Twilight Sparkle.
"Twilight, something bad happened last night…something really bad."
. . .
They left their home and began the short trek to the main square, where Spike said the whole town was gathered. Twilight walked down the familiar path in silence. Spike's words had offered no comfort to her, only serving to increase the ever-growing fear that was consuming her. She realized that if she focused hard enough she could recall glimpses of the events that had taken place the night before. She remembered welcoming Princess Luna and joining her friends in a party before slipping away to spend time with Princess Celestia, but here her memory failed her and all that remained was a large blank spot. She tried pushing past the barriers in her mind but all that her effort amounted to was the return of the dull pain that settled itself in her head. Sighing in frustration she let go of the trail of thought and walked in silence.
What happened last night, she wondered, and why wouldn't Spike tell her what he knew?
From what she could gather it had been a fun evening right up to the point when Princess Celestia was expected to raise the sun, and judging by the fact that it was daytime it seemed as though she had done so just like every other time. Lifting her gaze to the sky was enough to notice the beams of sunlight that shone down over Ponyville. She shielded her eyes as she shifted her gaze close to the large flaming orb that hung in the sky, trailing over the other orb in the sky as she let her eyes wander over the horizon.
Catching herself, she focused her sight over the other object that hung in the sky. What is that, she wondered. Whatever it was it seemed familiar to her. But how was that possible? She had never seen something like that in the sky before, and she knew for a fact that it had not been there the previous day. The more she looked at it the more it seemed to resemble a burned-out moon that was no longer shinning brightly in the sky.
Her eyes immediately closed as her body grew tense. The throb in her head had exploded into life, sending a fresh wave of pain flowing into her and making her cringe. Thoughts began to race through her mind, a recollection of events that seemed both familiar and strange at the same time. She saw the two princesses helplessly encased and her friends lying on the ground. Two large, bulbous yellow eyes flashed across her mind before being replaced by an azure-colored unicorn who wore a mask and unleashed a chilling scream that sent shivers through the purple unicorn.
Twilight began to scream, pain pounding endlessly against her as her mind continued to reel with the suppressed memories. A final thought flashed through her mind and she saw the unicorn send magic towards the sky where it began to take shape. Then the wave receded and Twilight was falling, her whole body growing numb as the world before her grew dark and she slipped out of consciousness.
. . .
Spike had wandered lost in thought for most of the short journey to the town square where the others were already waiting for him. So much had seemed to happen in such a short amount of time. It was bad enough that none of them had a clear answer to the many questions that plagued them, but now the only one able to tell the whole story didn't remember anything from the night before. Just what had happened to make Twilight forget?
The scream he heard a moment later broke through his train of thought and he whirled around just in time to watch Twilight wobble on the spot and fall on the dirt path.
"Twilight!" he cried as he ran towards his friend and dropped at her side. He grabbed the purple unicorn and began to shake her.
Please be okay, he thought over and over again, continuously shaking Twilight as he called her name, and when she opened her eyes a moment later he felt a wave of relief wash over him.
"Twilight, you're okay. Don't scare me like that."
But Twilight did not seem to hear him. Her whole body had begun to shake as she came to and she turned to the young dragon with wide eyes.
"I need to find the others. We have to hurry."
She quickly rose from the ground and turned around.
"Get on, Spike!"
The young dragon did not question her as he quickly hopped onto Twilight's back and she took off, the feeling of dread that had awakened within her remaining intact as she galloped through the dirt path towards the town square.
We have to hurry, she thought. There's not much time.
. . .
A burst of magic, a flash of light, and the crystal structure reappeared in her vision as strong and whole as it had been moments before.
She took a deep breath and pushed her mounting frustration away. Her horn began to glow once more, radiant light spreading out of the structure and stretching to the far corners of the room, bringing the stained-glass drawings that decorated the walls into clear view.
Another burst of magic, another flash of light. The resolute attitude that had led her to endlessly perform the same failed attempt flowed through her as darkness crept back into the room. She strained her eyes and found the familiar glow that marked the presence of her prison, the sheen it gave out silently taunting her to try again.
She accepted defeat and lay down within the confines of the structure that enclosed her, all of her strength seeming to fade away after so many failed attempts. Had she really thought that she would be able to break through such strong magic while she herself was trapped within it? A small part of her had thought so; the same one that still remained defiant even after all her energy had been wasted with nothing to show for it other than the exhaustion she felt. But now was not the time to feel discouraged. She would conserve her energy and rest, patiently waiting for what was to come next.
How long had she been here, she wondered. It had seemed like so long, but time had a way of seeming longer than it really was. She had no way of knowing how much time had passed, nor did she know the fate that had befallen the citizens of Canterlot. There was a time when the lack of knowledge would have been enough to overcome her and cloud her actions but that was in the past. She was much older now, more knowledgeable and capable of controlling her emotions. The time might come where she could take advantage of the situation and find a way to escape, but until then there was nothing she could do other than wait calmly and hope for the best.
Wait. Never act, but wait.
A deep sigh escaped her as she closed her eyes and sought control. She hated feeling helpless, unable to do anything but hope that all would work out in the end. It was something that had come with ruling over Equestria for so long, being responsible for all of its inhabitants and their wellbeing for centuries. Not knowing what was going on or the fate of her citizens was almost maddening, nothing but uncertainty to keep her company while valuable time ran out and the world around her continued to turn. She had the utmost of confidence in her most faithful student and her ability to succeed but she could not just sit by and do nothing. She needed to escape, to return to Ponyville and help Twilight and her friends in any way she could. Time was of the essence and they needed to act quickly.
"Given up, I see. Not that I blame you."
The voice came from everywhere, its delighted tone echoing throughout the massive room and giving the impression that there were many figures lurking in the shadows, but the princess was not fooled and she stared through the piercing darkness in the direction where the other unicorn stood. Two glowing eyes peered back at her through the lingering darkness.
Immediately the princess stood within the confined space, her face composed and free of emotion. The time had finally come for her to do what she could, and she would have to play her part well.
"Welcome back," she said. "I trust you've been busy since you left?"
Trixie did not reply as she closed the distance between herself and the regal unicorn. The princess merely stared back, her expression completely unreadable to the once-stage performer. After a long pause the princess let out a deep sigh, gazing at the masked unicorn as though merely bored with her current predicament.
"It would be nice if I could have some light in here," she said, gazing at the surrounding darkness to emphasize her point. "You wouldn't mind, would you?"
Her words were met with silence, but that did not discourage her. She knew the other unicorn would not speak, not yet at least. It was a routine that she knew well enough by now. Her captor would silently concede to her wishes, if only to make her less resilient for whatever plans laid ahead. From there anything could happen, and she had to make sure that she could properly read the masked unicorn before she began to play her hand.
Sure enough, the tip of the other unicorn's horn began to glow, and like smoke being ventilated the shroud of darkness that covered the room began to swirl and dissipate until it vanished completely and she could see all that lay in the room once more. Everything seemed just like she had remembered it except for two statues that seemed to have been placed near the throne since her last visit to the massive chamber. Each one was a marble carving depicting a pony garbed in armor and standing in attention, and she only needed to look at them once to understand the fate that had befallen the castle guards. The realization hit her hard, its strength almost overwhelming her. She had known each one of them, and she could only imagine how many others had already been lost.
It was a painful thought, but she did not linger on the matter. She had only one chance, and she had to make the best of it.
She turned back to Trixie, her features as composed as they had always been.
"That's much better. You have my deepest gratitude."
Trixie walked past the princess and approached the throne, seeming to collect her thoughts in silence. She did not need the mask silently hinting at her to know that the princess was up to something. Whatever it was that the princess was trying to achieve she was determined to get the better of her in this little skirmish.
"Your thanks are unnecessary, your highness," she replied in a casual tone. "Just say the word and anything you need will be done."
The princess smiled. The words were meant to sound indifferent but the other's tone had been marred and she had picked up genuine feeling hidden within them. Whether it was real or not was yet to be determined, but it was a good start. She would not be bothering with any acts if she did not think that the unicorn who held her captive could be saved. By the looks of things the mask had not begun to take over and her captor was still in control. If she could play her hand right it would be a big step in solving everything peacefully.
It was a long shot, but it was all she could do to be of any help at this point.
"Would asking you to release me be out of the question?"
Trixie nodded. "That would be correct, your highness."
The princess let out a weary sigh and closed her eyes. "And here I was getting tired of being locked in here." She let her gaze return to the two statues in front of the throne. "I see you've done some interior decorating. I can't say that I approve of the changes. Hopefully your work outside is of more taste than this."
Behind the mask Trixie smiled as comprehension dawned on her. So that's what you're trying to do.
She was no fool; the princess was clearly baiting her, expecting her to answer in defiance and let slip information that the regal unicorn deeply desired to know. The fate of Canterlot's citizens clearly rested impatiently in the princess' mind, the uncertainty slowly chipping away at her resolve, yet she managed to hide the concern behind an unreadable mask and pass it off as nothing more than idle talk.
Very well, Trixie thought. Two could play that game. She would show the princess that she was not to be underestimated, and she would make sure that the regal unicorn learned not to hide behind masks that could easily break apart.
A final hint was offered to her before she removed the mask she wore. Placing it over the throne she turned around and her eyes locked with those of Princess Celestia.
"I'm sorry my work does not meet up to your standards, princess," she said. "In fact, I must admit at being humbled by your own work."
When the princess raised her eyes in confusion she continued.
"I'm most curious about your creations, especially in the gardens. There's a particular object there that caught my interest. At first glance it was unimpressive but after a while it seemed to transform before my eyes into something grand. Such a feat is nothing short of amazing."
"You flatter me," the princess replied with a smile. "I doubt it's anything good."
"On the contrary, your highness, it's truly remarkable. Your modesty only makes it stand out even more. It was truly a work of art, portraying such a strong sense of havoc in such a subtle way. In fact, it seemed to capture the very essence of discord, if you know what I mean."
The mask became undone, and the once relaxed and nonchalant prisoner widened her eyes in recognition and horror. There it is, Trixie thought with a smile. Enjoying the sight of the ever-composed ruler of Equestria standing fearful and in panic she closed the distance between them.
"Yes, princess, I know all about that statue and what it really is." A goading tone carried her words, her pleasure at the other's despair ringing clear in her voice. "Imagine if something was to happen and the seal over it happened to break. Such an event would surely be catastrophic."
"You can't set him free," Princess Celestia cried out at once. "He must not be released again or all will be doomed."
"Don't worry, your highness," Trixie replied in a reassuring tone. "I have no plans on helping him escape."
Stunned silence met the words as the princess stared at Trixie, her mouth agape and eyes wide. The azure-coated unicorn stared back with a smile.
That's what you get for trying to make a fool out of me. This round belongs to me.
"What did you say?" the princess asked in disbelief.
"Exactly what you heard, princess," Trixie replied. "I won't release him."
Those were the last words Princess Celestia had ever expected to hear. She saw the confident smile on Trixie's face, understood the other's intention, and mentally berated herself. Her fears had betrayed her for one small but crucial moment, and the damage had already been done. Obviously her captor was toying with her, pushing and prodding at her to get a desired response, and in the end she had walked right into it. She had underestimated the other unicorn and had paid for it.
Recollecting her thoughts she pushed her worries away and turned to the other unicorn who starred back at her with narrowed eyes.
"Don't think I don't know what you're doing," Trixie said, the warm tone all but gone from her voice. "I'm not that easy to deceive, so why don't you drop the act?"
So much for that idea, Princess Celestia thought with a frown. She sighed and regained her monotone features. There was no recovering from that small outburst but she still had a hand to play. No more deception. If she was to truly find a quick solution she could not afford to play any more games.
"Very well, then," she said. Her tone, once undermining and bored, now sounded completely different in Trixie's ears. It was formal and powerful, yet kind and soothing at the same time. "Tell me, why are you doing all of this, Trixie?"
Trixie frowned at the regal unicorn. "Don't talk to me as if you know me. You've never even met me before. I bet you wouldn't ever know who I was if I hadn't kidnapped you and your sister."
No sooner had the words left her mouth that she let out a gasp and her eyes went wide. Her whole body had gone rigid as she seemed to stare through the princess, completely lost in thought. The regal unicorn saw the change and the chance it represented, and she decided to carefully pry in what she hoped was the right direction.
"You're right," the princess replied with a sigh, "if not for last night we might have never been personally acquainted. And you would not be caught in this mess."
Snapping out of her shock Trixie turned to the princess. "And just what do you mean by that? From where I stand you're the one who's caught up, not me."
She had meant for her voice to sound menacing but her fear had betrayed her and the words had sounded unsure.
She's scared, the princess realized. Good. It might not be too late for her to make things right.
"Yes, I am imprisoned," Princess Celestia said, "and I have no doubt in my mind that you've done the same to my sister. And that is exactly my point."
Here she trailed off, closing her eyes as though to collect her thoughts. When she decided that enough time had passed for the words to sink into her captor she continued.
"You have not harmed us but merely isolated us from intervening with your plans. You could have done much worse by now and there wouldn't have been a thing we could have done to stop you, and yet you haven't."
"You don't know what I've done," Trixie replied. Her eyes locked with those of the princess, silent defiance clear in her gaze. "You have no idea."
"But I do know what you did on Ponyville, and as horrible as it was you could have done more than that. You have shown that you are capable of great and terrible things. Why you have deliberately chosen not to do more is what I don't understand."
Trixie remained silent as the princess gazed at her intently, seeming to try and read her thoughts in order to find the answer she so desperately sought.
"Why did you spare the others when you could have easily removed them from your side? You realize that they will continue to interfere with whatever you have planned?"
She had expected silence to follow her words. She had even hoped for it, her plan carefully designed to play off the other unicorn's insecurities. Surely she could reach out to the younger unicorn, offering her a path that didn't lead to destruction.
Amused laughter was what she received, and she stared at the other unicorn in stunned silence.
"You surprise me, princess," Trixie replied, her laughter continuing to echo around them. "Did you honestly think I spared your faithful subjects and your pathetic protégé? Don't worry," she added upon seeing the shock on the other's face, "they're still fine. I doubt any of them are seriously hurt, not yet, at least."
"Then why-"
"Did I spare them?" The amusement in Trixie's tone could not have been more obvious, and the princess realized that she was enjoying a moment to be in the spotlight. "I would have thought that the answer to that was simple. I wish to have more fun with them before finishing them. I gave them a chance to try and save Ponyville if they could manage to find their elements in seven days, but I'd be surprised if they even manage to find the one that landed in the forest."
She began to laugh once more, savoring the moment. "I'll let them think they have a chance. It'll make destroying Ponyville all the sweeter in the end. I'll make them feel the same despair that they made me feel. I'll take everything from them just as they made me lose everything I had, and I'll enjoy every moment of it."
Princess Celestia shook her head. "I find it highly unlikely that you'll succeed, which is why you must stop what you are doing while you still have a chance, Trixie. What do you hope to gain from it all?"
"I will gain everything," Trixie said. "All my dreams will come true."
"You don't believe that," the princess replied. "No more than you believe that everything will be fine for you in the end."
The azure-colored unicorn turned away from her. "What do you know? In the end all I want will be mine."
"I doubt that. Do you really expect to rule over Equestria? Do you expect its citizens to simply accept you out of fear?"
When the other unicorn remained silent the princess pressed on. "That did not work for Discord and it will not work for you. Sooner or later you will be stopped and you will have to answer to all the crimes you have committed."
"And just who is supposed to stop me?" Trixie asked. "I have captured the rulers of Equestria, the most powerful unicorns in the world. The Elements of Harmony have been separated, and even if those ponies somehow manage to find them all they will be of no use to them. Nothing will save them in the end. I have won, princess, and you have lost."
"You are blinded by your previous victory," Princess Celestia said. Then, "And by false promises provided to you by something you cannot begin to understand."
Her words had the desired effect, and she saw the other unicorn gaze at her with apprehension.
"What do you mean?" Trixie asked. "What is it that I don't understand?"
"The mask is not a force to be controlled, Trixie. It will use you for its own purpose. In the end you will be its puppet, powered by nothing but rage and sorrow. Continue down this path and you will be lost forever."
Trixie staggered back, the words hitting her like a blow. A moment later she shook her head in frustration. Why was she letting the princess get to her? Surely it couldn't be true. It was just the sort of thing the princess would try to say to gain the upper hand. There was no way she would believe such a ludicrous tale.
"You lie," she said. "I control the mask."
Princess Celestia frowned. "Yes, but for how long? How much longer will it be before you lose yourself to its power? Surely you've already felt it begin to influence your judgment?"
Trixie opened her mouth to reply and then closed it. The princess merely nodded at her, silently confirming what she already knew to be true. What the princess said had been correct, and even if Trixie would never admit it to her there had been moments when she had let the mask make the choices that seemed easier at the time. But even so, she had still been in control during those moments, just the same as always. Nothing would change that.
"I don't believe you," she said at last. "What you say is impossible."
But the princess merely gazed at her with a somber expression. "Just like finding a magical artifact that could make all your dreams come true is impossible?"
Her words remained in the chamber long after she had said them. The younger unicorn's eyes widened as she turned back to the princess.
"What did you say?"
"Did you think we never knew, Trixie?" The voice that spoke was no longer kind, adopting a tone as cold as the eyes that now stared at the azure unicorn. "Surely you saw the symbols on the box and realized that you were not the first to discover its secrets. There were others before you, how many, I do not know, but that is not important. The mask has been deceiving you for its own purpose. Deep down you must realize that."
The younger unicorn registered the words as she stood in shock. Her mind warped and she found herself elsewhere, down an alleyway in the city where she silently vowed that she would one day make a name for herself. How everything had started to look up for her when she found the mask and the dream that she so longed for lay before her, finally within her reach. Nothing could stop her from accomplishing her heart's greatest desire.
Yes, it had all seemed good, almost too good to be true. With the mask helping her all that she had ever wanted would have been hers for the taking. As long as she had the mask nothing could stand in her way.
Even so, she could not deny the truth hidden within the princess' words. The mask had always guided her during her travels, offering advice whenever she had sought it, but what had begun as mere suggestions had changed over time, becoming strong pulls to particular decisions that made her feel uneasy at best and horrified at worst. After a while the mask had begun to force the more horrible choices out of her. What if a time came when she no longer had any control over what she did?
She took a look around, her eyes eventually landing over the two statues that had once been ponies.
Was this supposed to be the path that led to her greatness?
The princess saw the change in the other unicorn and felt hope rise within her. Whatever Trixie was thinking of it was producing the desired effect. Just a little more and things might work out after all.
"You must believe me, Trixie."
The other unicorn lifted her gaze to the princess. A haunted and hesitant expression loomed over her eyes as she asked, "How am I supposed to believe you?"
"Because deep down you know that what I say is right," Princess Celestia replied, her voice once again adopting a caring tone. "You have been traveling down a path that has only led to destruction and confusion but it doesn't have to end that way. I know that you don't wish to continue down that path. You still have time to set things right. I can help you."
"Lies!"
The voice caught both of them by surprise and each one jumped slightly as the words echoed in the room. Trixie turned to the mask where it now hovered over the throne. Princess Celestia also turned to it, and Trixie was slightly surprised when the regal unicorn showed no signs of disbelief at hearing the mask speak.
"Do not let her fool you, Trixie. She will say anything to be set free, and once so she will waste no time in punishing you."
"That's not true!" Princess Celestia said. "I want to help you, Trixie!"
"Help?" the mask laughed. "Do you mean to offer the same help you offered your sister? The one you banished to the moon for a thousand years?"
Princess Celestia's eyes widened in surprise. She saw the horror she felt reflected in Trixie's eyes as the other unicorn took a step away from her and felt her mounting frustration return. She had come so close, had almost succeeded, only to be brought to a crashing halt at the very end. She saw the hurt in Trixie's eyes and realized that the mask had struck the same target she had been aiming for all along: the younger unicorn's fears and doubts.
"It's not the same," she cried in her defense. "My sister was overcome by bitterness. Her anger was a threat to all of Equestria. You must understand I had no choice!"
The mask began to hover towards Trixie, circling around her as it spoke once more.
"Your plight is clear to us, princess. You would punish all who become a threat to the kingdom and justify your actions for the greater good. You feign care and deliver swift and cruel punishment once you have had your way. Your words are nothing more than deceit."
The mask came to a floating stop before Trixie, its lifeless yellow eyes starring intently into the unicorn.
"Her words cannot be trusted. She would justify sealing her own sister on the moon. What sort of punishment can you expect if you place your trust in her?"
"Don't listen to it, Trixie! The mask is twisting the truth! You know what you're doing is wrong!"
But the princess knew even before she tried that it was to no avail. Trixie had shut her eyes and seemed to fight with herself from within. She shook her head before opening her eyes and crossing the hall away from the princess, the mask following behind her. The regal unicorn tried calling her one more time but it was no use. In a matter of moments she was once again alone and everything had gone silent, the glowing hue of the prison her only companion as she closed her eyes and lay trapped within it in defeat.
Why had things gone wrong? Why couldn't she have done more? She should have done things differently. All of her effort had only served to further unhinge the confused unicorn, and she had no doubt that further chaos would flow into Equestria because of it.
No. She had done all that she could. To dwell on the negative was to give up hope, and right now that was all she had. She knew that she would not have another chance of reaching out to Trixie. From here on out the other unicorn would be too wary of her for her to even have a chance.
But what if she could reach someone else?
Her eyes flew open as she considered the possibility. Light had returned to the room now that the lingering darkness had been cast out and she could see that dusk was still some time away. Her energy would soon begin to return. She still had a hand to play.
Undeterred determination remained. The loss of a chance would not bring her down. She would rest first and then begin her plan.
And she knew just who she needed to reach.
. . .
The sun was high in the sky as Twilight raced through the streets of Ponyville. She spotted Rarity ahead of them, who seemed to have been waiting along the path for Spike's return. The white unicorn quickly ran up to the pair as they drew nearer, and the young dragon had no sooner hopped off of his friend when she embraced her, tears flowing down her face.
"You're okay," she whispered. Her hooves shook uncontrollably as she increased her hold on the purple unicorn. "Thank goodness. We were all so worried."
"I'm fine, Rarity. Just a little sore and a bad headache, but I'll be fine," Twilight managed to say under the overwhelming strength of the embrace. Then, in a weaker voice, "I wish I could say the same about your dress. It's completely ruined. I'm so sorry, Rarity."
But Rarity merely stepped back, and Twilight saw the smile on her face even as fresh tears continued to well in her eyes.
"If losing a dress means that I don't lose one of my best friends then it's a small price to pay. All that matters is that you're safe, Twilight. We had all feared the worst."
"Where are the others?" Twilight asked at once. "Are they alright?"
"Yes, they're all fine," Rarity said. "They're all resting in town hall. The whole town is still gathered there. We should hurry before they begin."
"Begin what?" Twilight asked as she and Spike followed after Rarity.
"A meeting," Rarity said. "Last night's incident left everypony scared, especially after we found all of you unconscious. Thankfully no one was seriously hurt. You and Applejack were the only ones who remained unconscious for long. Fluttershy agreed to watch over Applejack, but we were afraid of moving you all the way back even if you didn't seem hurt very badly. I kept expecting the worst, but you seem to be just fine. Thank Celestia for that."
The last words had made Twilight wince and she stopped running. Rarity noticed this and stopped as well, staring intently at her friend and gauging her reaction as she continued.
"We've been searching for Princess Celestia and Princess Luna but we can't find them anywhere." She hesitated, and then said, "We were hoping you would know what happened to them."
The white unicorn saw her friend close her eyes and knew instantly that the next words she said would not bring good news.
"They're not here," Twilight replied. "They're gone."
Spike's eyes widened and he stumbled off of his friend. "What do you mean they're gone?"
"I mean they're gone, Spike." Twilight said in a stronger tone. "They were taken by the one who attacked us. I don't know where they are or if they're even alright."
Silence remained once she had finished speaking. Rarity stared at her, seeming unable to believe the words. Or perhaps not wanting to belief, Twilight thought, but in the end it changed nothing. Both princesses were gone, and even knowing the horrible truth did not ease the pain brought about by the reminder.
She hung her head as silence lingered in the air. Then a hoof caressed her face, and she opened her eyes. Rarity offered her a smile and nudged her affectionately.
"Come on, the others will be happy to see you and it looks as though we have a lot of things to talk about."
. . .
They approached the central pavilion that marked town hall where crowds of ponies had gathered and were shouting in confusion. Twilight stared ahead of the gathered crowd towards the small stage that had been raised the night before and saw the mayor trying and failing to bring order to the mass of ponies. Her eyes locked with those of the other, who seemed relieved at the sight of her and beckoned her to the stage. Rarity and Spike followed after her around the crowd as she hurried to the elevated platform while the mayor tried to catch the crowd's attention, asking them to remain calm.
"If I could have everypony's attention," she said as Twilight and the others came up behind her, "I think we might obtain answers as to what happened last night."
She turned to Twilight Sparkle and offered her what she obviously felt was an encouraging smile, but it came out strained and, combined with the lopsided spectacles and the jumbled mess that was her mane, lost any effect it might have had on the purple unicorn.
"I'm glad to see that you're well, Twilight," the mayor said. She frowned as the crowd behind her continued to shout. "I hate to put you on the spot, but everypony's desperate to know what happened last night. If you could say anything at all that would help…"
Her voice trailed off, the burden of her suggestion seeming too hard for her to place on the unicorn. We don't have time for this, Twilight thought, but quickly pushed her frustration aside as she nodded to the mayor and stepped forward to address the crowd. She stared out at the many faces that stared back at her as their many shouts slowly died away and silence remained suspended over the town square.
If speaking to them the night before had been bad it was nothing to having to address them all now. Her nerves were overreacting and she felt herself become rooted to the spot as she tried and failed to speak. What exactly was she supposed to tell them? They were obviously expecting her to answer the one thing she had no way of knowing, the fate that had befallen their two princesses and rulers of Equestria.
She took a deep breath, willing her stage fright away as she heard herself begin to speak.
"I wish I could stand here and give you all good news," she said, keeping her gaze locked over the crowd in order to avoid the crushing look that was sure to appear on every face once she had told them all she could. "I wish I could reassure everypony here that everything will be alright, but I can't do that. All I can do is say what I know to be true. Last night there was an unwelcome visitor who attacked us and kidnapped Princess Celestia and Princess Luna."
There was a ripple in the crowd at her words, but on she went, afraid that she would be unable to continue if she stopped.
"This perpetrator was a unicorn with powerful magic. Unfortunately I can't offer any more than that, since this unicorn was wearing a cloak and a mask and we have no way of knowing who it was. As it stands, the princesses are gone, and so are the Elements of Harmony."
Another ripple as the shouting grew louder. The mayor walked up to Twilight and gestured for the crowd to grow silent so she could continue, but they seemed to pay her no attention as their questioning continued. Twilight closed her eyes, knowing just what they were feeling. The whole situation seemed too reminiscent of Discord's return, and how much potential damage had the draconequus threatened to spread throughout Equestria? This new threat seemed just as menacing, but while Discord had wanted nothing more than to spread chaos and disorder Twilight knew that would not be the endgame in this situation. There was more going on than any of them knew, but she could not worry about that now. She could only try to keep everyone calm and reassure them in any way she could.
On her other side Rarity walked up to Twilight and placed a hoof over her friend. She offered her a smile and then turned to the arguing crowd.
"Everyone be quiet now!"
The effect was immediate as the mob of ponies fell silent at once. Rarity smiled, muttering, "That's much better" before nodding to Twilight. "Keep going, dear."
Twilight smiled, feeling her resolve return as she addressed the crowd once more. "As a representative of the elements I ask all of you to leave this matter to myself and my friends. I promise that we'll find the princesses and secure their safety at all costs. For now, the best thing we can all do is remain calm. Go to your homes with your friends and family and keep each other safe."
Once finished she turned away from the crowd. Beside her the mayor remained silent as did the crowd behind the purple unicorn, but Twilight paid them no attention. She knew that her words had lacked any real encouragement and had left just as many unanswered questions on each one of them, just like she knew that only Rarity's words kept any of them from further questioning her. In the end it didn't matter. There was work to be done, and they couldn't afford to waste anymore time.
"Let's go," she said to Rarity and Spike, who followed her as she descended the stage and made her way towards the building entrance.
"Wow, Rarity," Spike said as he walked beside the white unicorn, his voice a mixture of surprise and admiration, "that was amazing!"
The white unicorn smiled at him. "Thank you, Spike. It's quite difficult being both ladylike and intimidating but I find that it must be done from time to time. And I find that I do it very well."
. . .
The two unicorns and the dragon stepped into the building and crossed the room towards the inner stage. Balloons and confetti lay scattered over the floor and the tables remained full of unconsumed treats. Obviously the search for the missing princesses had stopped the festivities. It occurred to Twilight how the end results of all their effort and planning lay before them and yet there were no ponies around to enjoy it. It all came back to the fact that the princess was gone; both of them were gone. She felt another pang in her chest and quickly pushed the thoughts away as she hopped onto the stage, the others following closely behind her.
Why had she lied about not knowing the unicorn's identity? Surely everyone remembered Trixie, the whole town rallying behind Twilight after she had banished the Ursa Minor and saved Ponyville. Why did she feel as though she needed to keep it a secret from everyone? Did she care about the other unicorn? Or was it because she felt the need to further understand the other's motivation for her actions the night before? The more she thought about it the more she realized that there was no simple answer, and she knew it would be a long time before she received one.
She followed the familiar path she had taken the night before, taking the curved passage to the smaller rooms that lay behind the stage. She froze as she spotted the room that lay directly ahead of her and quickly turned away from it, afraid that gazing any longer would bring all the memories back with painful force. Standing before another door to the side she shared a look with Rarity, used her magic on the door - which swung open instantly - and stepped inside.
Her eyes immediately found her other friends as her gaze seemed to land on all three of them at once. Pinkie Pie looked up from where she stood and immediately hopped over to Twilight, pulling the purple unicorn into a tight embrace in an instant.
"You're finally up, Twilight. Look Fluttershy! Twilight's okay, too!"
The timid pegasus had refrained from embracing Twilight but the unicorn could see relief in her face as Fluttershy moved away from the sleeping Rainbow Dash and closed the distance between them.
"How do you feel, Twilight? Are you hurt?"
"No, Fluttershy, I'm just fine. Why are all of you locked in here?"
"Oh, the mayor thought we should get some rest after everything that happened and let us use this room."
"I see you finally got Rainbow Dash to get some sleep," Rarity said. "You should have seen her, Twilight. She was so worried that she wanted to keep searching for Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. She was practically begging to be locked up like this."
Twilight nodded absentmindedly while Pinkie Pie hopped next to Rainbow Dash and gave a big shout.
"Wake up, sleepyhead!"
The cyan-coated pegasus jumped out of the bed and remained suspended in the air, her eyes darting in every direction. When they landed on Pinkie Pie she groaned.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to wake me up like that, Pinkie?"
The pink pony smiled. "But it's fun."
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and turned to the others. She spotted Twilight and in a blur of movement tackled the purple unicorn to the ground.
"Twilight, you're okay!"
"Yes, Dash, and as amazing as it is that I'm alive and well, could you please get off?"
"Oh," the pegasus said with a sheepish smile, "sorry about that. It's just good to se that you're not hurt. Now we just have to wait for Applejack to get up and we can go find Priness Celestia and Princess Luna."
Twilight looked across the room. Not seeing their missing friend she turned to Rarity. "I thought you said Applejack was here with everyone else?"
"Yes, I thought so as well," Rarity said, turning to the other three ponies. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie shared a look before turning to Fluttershy who frowned and lowered her gaze.
"They took her to the hospital because she still hadn't woken up."
She remained silent as the other six friends stared at her. Finally Rainbow Dash turned to the others with a smile.
"Come on, you guys, why the long faces? We're all fine, and I'm sure Applejack is too. I wouldn't be surprised if she was already up and on her way to meet us."
But when Fluttershy did not reply and kept her gaze downcast Twilight knew there was something the other pegasus was not telling them. She approached Fluttershy, feeling unable to handle any more bad news but at the same time needing to know what had happened.
"There's something you're not telling us, Fluttershy. What is it?"
A momentary flinch from the shy pegasus confirmed her fears, and Twilight felt her heart begin to beat faster as the silence in the room suddenly became overwhelming.
"Fluttershy, what happened to Applejack?"
All eyes were on Fluttershy as she squirmed where she stood before finally raising her gaze.
"I checked her before they took her to the hospital. There was something wrong with one of her legs."
"Was it broken?" Rarity asked.
Another downward glance as the yellow pegasus refused to meet anyone's gaze. "I'm not sure…it might be."
"Is that all?" Twilight asked, realizing how cold her words sounded and shaking her head. "A broken leg can heal, Fluttershy. She'll just have to be careful for a while."
"No, that's not all."
The pegasus turned to her friends, her haunted gaze searching every face. Her eyes locked with those of Twilight, the purple unicorn's feeling of dread increasing as she stared back at her friend.
A single thought crossed her mind in the ensuing silence.
This is going to be very bad.
She had no way of knowing how right she was.
Thanks to everyone for reading and/or reviewing. I hope you've all enjoyed this chapter and look forward to the next one!