Monarch

by Mickey Dubs

Chapter Two: Portents and Promises

From here above the world, bathed in the day's last light, there was little reason to believe this summit would ever end. If the resurgence of yelling from within was any clue, hours of fighting and picking over the details of the latest iteration of Luna’s treaty had fallen through. This day had been a complete waste. Twilight gripped the balcony's columns and twisted slowly in place, savoring the dull ache of her spine's realignment with every satisfying pop. Good thing Luna didn't see that.
Twilight grimaced at the thought. Luna had been right, much to her annoyance. It had taken every ounce of strength she’d had to remain strong in the face of worried ponies pleading for aid. The admission of futility in the absence of more wizened leaders only added to the misery. There had been far too many disgruntled ponies to stomach, and the image of Luna's eyes when Twilight had excused herself hadn't helped.
Their shadows lingered and whispered their corrosive taunts, every little “I told you you’d fail” stronger than the last. Twilight could hear her chanting those damnable words to the brink of madness, always with that snide little smirk and those glaring, eternal eyes. “I get it, already,” Twilight said sullenly. “You’ve already won, Luna. No need to rub it in.”
“Looks like you’re doing that all by yourself.”
Her gut clenched at the sound, but as she turned she found only a weary Shining Armor. Despite two days’ straight wakefulness, he held his head up proudly with a heartfelt smile. His eyes shone like a colt's would on Hearth's Warming Day, like his own had on receiving his first toy spear. The one he wielded now, glittering dangerous against the doorframe, was no toy anymore. No matter how safely it was secured, its presence was unnerving. Twilight eyed it warily before forcing herself to calm down. It was just for show, after all.
“You picked the wrong day to do that,” Twilight said wearily. “I’ve just about had enough surprises for a lifetime.”
Shining Armor chuckled. “You know I’m right though, don’t you? You’ve always had a tendency to take things personally. You’ve beaten yourself up more than anyone else ever has, or probably ever will.” He gave her a playful little shove. “You’re taking all the fun out of being your big brother!”
"I'm glad at least one of us can see the fun side of all this mess."
"You don't sound glad about anything, kiddo." Love trickled through the spaces of his words and spread warmth throughout her body. It was times like these Twilight pined for his outlook on life, if only to remind herself that hope still lived. He brushed her shoulder, his eyes pained. "C'mon, Twily. Tell me what's on your mind."
Her head drooped to the bannister. "That’s the heart of it, I guess. I can't even begin to list everything that’s gone wrong today. Nothing I've done has helped. I keep hearing Celestia in my head telling me to relax, but whenever I do I think of how Luna would chide me for it." Twilight filled her lungs, letting the pain seep away into the night. "Pinkie can see the fun in everything, and she's so good at making everyone else see it too. If she was here, maybe I could take a few steps back and really get my bearings. Now, all I can see is that place where she used to be. Where they all used to be. Everything else is just dull.”
“Dull enough to give up?” Shining Armor nudged himself closer. “Twilight never gives up, at least not the Twilight I know. The Twilight I know doesn’t take no for an answer.”
“I’d take anything for an answer if it would mean getting this over with. This whole day has been nothing but fighting and bickering and getting yelled at by Luna. I just can’t take anymore! If this goes on another day longer, I just don’t know what I’ll do.”
Shining Armor smiled sadly. “Will you promise not to run away again?"
Nodding her agreement was infinitely harder with such a little doubt attached. It was a heavy passenger to bear, and an obvious one too if that look in his eyes was any indication. With a little grin he drew her in tight, warmth and forgiveness screaming out of his skin to shield them from whatever might come. As disheartening as the summit was, having a brother like him was reward enough.
Twilight sank against his chest and sighed, snatching the calm from the evening air to allow her some perspective into this grand view they shared. If the day was a glimpse into how wounded the legislative process had become, then Canterlot's peaceful summer evening was its remedy.
Glittering trails of luminaries crept slowly from Canterlot's main gate to guide their guests to their favorite nocturnal hideaways. Carriages lined the avenue bedecked in their masters' trappings, their dutiful valets kept warm by great flaming bursts from nearby burners as airships of myriad makes and sizes refueled, reloaded, and finally took flight. One ornate carriage rocketed down the path stuffed to the brim with diplomats joking and trading compliments, drowning the last of their energy in the dregs of pilfered champagnes before the sleepy city greedily gobbled them up and bathed them in a warm darkness.
They disappeared, and her heart trailed behind, caught in the wake and its promise of abandon. Maybe the girls awaited her in town like they would have if not for fickle circumstance. Maybe, just for a night, things could be the way they were before the summit and her new responsibilities, back when things made sense. Back before Luna's horrible descent into something Twilight couldn't recognize or love as she had before. Had it been solely this summit that had made Luna so sour? Had it been Twilight?
“I'm sorry to worry you, Shining Armor. I just had to get away from there.” She shot a little plaintive smile towards the glowing lights in Ponyville, but no rescue came. “I just couldn't stand seeing Cadance so upset. She's been about to cry for hours now. I've never seen her so broken up."
"I have," he whispered. "But she's tougher than she seems. She's always been a fighter, as pacifistic as she is. She'll pull through this just like she always has." He fell silent. Cadance had entered his thoughts and set up camp, blocking out all else. Twilight afforded him some time before he returned to the world with a little prod. "I'm a little more worried about you at the moment. How is my little sister, anyway?"
"Horrible. I've spent all day handling the smaller tasks so Luna wouldn't be so stressed out, but she's still as mean as ever. The girls are all off having fun without me, and I get snapped at for so much as thinking about them. I've been working harder than I ever thought I could, but Luna doesn't seem to notice. I can't understand what's keeping her so bitter."
"She's handling all the same pressures you are, Twily, in the only way she knows how. It's not the nicest way in the world, but today isn’t exactly a day for us to look weak. We need help, and Luna is much more skilled at these types of things than anyone.” He pawed the ground, hiding the little jolt of pain lancing through his eyes. “I can’t keep watching Cadance cry herself to sleep, Twilight. As much as you hate Luna, you still need to help her. You’re her student as much as Celestia’s."
As uncomfortable as it was, there was no denying he was right. Twilight gave a little snort and played with the dust on the bannister, flicking a few grains over the edge and into darkness. "Why can't Celestia and Luna just do some magic and make everything better? They already raise and lower the sun and moon without so much as a thought. I thought maybe everything was just as rooted in routine as that was. Celestia always has an answer for everything. She always has."
"I don't think she expected having to answer something like this. These reports coming in... You’d think we weren't even trying to get to the bottom of it. The borderguard is stretched thin as it is, and with all these attacks? Who knows how much longer we can hold out.” He shook his head, his heavy eyelids fighting for purchase. “Celestia is used to having someone definitive behind attacks on Equestria and its allies. Without any viable leads, I don't think she knows where to start."
Twilight bristled. "She must think I do. I think the only reason I'm here is to provide some kind of sign for her to know where to go. She's hoping I'll save her, and Luna's expecting me to do as I'm told."
Twilight shifted her feathers closer together, but they never complied. Like a deep-seeded itch they festered, driving her mad. "If I obey Luna, I turn my back on Celestia. If I help Celestia, I tempt the wrath of Luna. If I do nothing, I might as well ask Celestia to reverse whatever spell she used to give me these stupid, good-for-nothing wings!" Another bristle, but still no peace. Twilight gnashed her teeth on the closest wing, gnawing the flesh into submission. When every failed scratch only worsened the agony, she slammed her head against his armor. It was a good a wall as any. "When will things start going my way, Shining Armor? When will this get any easier?"
"Since when has politics ever been easy?" Shining Armor said, bemused. His horn traced her wings with light, straightening every rebellious feather into its proper alignment. Twilight groaned with relief; the itch had been scratched and the inevitable madness abated. Shining Armor chuckled and brushed her wings. "There's a reason I'm silently standing by with a spear while you're off ruling the world. You've always had a better brain than me, Twily. This is one time I don't envy you."
"How could you? Cadance wants to see everyone safe, but doesn't want to fight. The zebras want resolution through arms, but can't because it might mean declaring war within the Crystal Empire. All the while, Cadance is screaming at everyone because war in her empire might as well be war with her empire, and then we're right back where we were before! This has been one colossal waste of time! If they'd just listen to me, I might be able to help... but it's like I don't even exist." Twilight held back her tears and sniffled. "I might as well not even be a princess."
Shining Armor stroked her mane and pulled her closer, wrapping her up against his chest. Twilight shuddered and sank in further. He held her just like Father did. "What happened to the Twilight who used to organize her blocks alphabetically by color, or correct my spelling before ever attending school? What happened to the personal student of Celestia who always had everything together? That Twilight was pretty great, a lot better than Miss Mopey here."
Twilight breathed deep the cool night air and removed her crown, placing it tenderly on the bannister. Its facets twinkled and caught her eye, but the Twilight they reflected couldn’t have been her. This Twilight staring back was exhausted, scared, and unsure. This Twilight was lost, and not even he had any chance of finding that last shard of her still holding out on hope. That luxury was gone.
"She became royalty, Shining Armor. For now and forever."
Twilight stifled her welling tears and focused instead on her library in the valley below. That fuzzy green tuft—her one true home—had infinitely more life than the cold, hard walls of the once-glorious Canterlot Castle. The magic of her ascension had made these timeless marble floors and sweeping balustrades so beautiful. Now, they’d warped beyond recognition, contorting into something even uglier than the snarls and howls of rage she'd spent the day trying in vain to ignore. The magic of Canterlot was forever ruined, but beneath her library's familiar boughs was a warm bed, a stocked kitchen, her books and journals... Her friends, waiting for her...
Spike would be snoring his heart out right about now, twitching and churning beneath his ever-shrinking blankets as his little mind went wild with thoughts of flight, dank caverns lined with precious gems, and another unattainable treasure who was as lost to him as she was from Twilight. His midnight awakenings to ensure Twilight was safe and his Dragon Code remained upheld never went unnoticed. She'd wasted hours just watching his plump little belly rise and fall, rise and fall, continue the pattern until nothing could ever disturb him. She'd suffer the next day for it, but at least she'd be smiling.
It was such a burden sometimes, just being there. She wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
Twilight drew her attention closer to Canterlot and admired the lanterns in the gaps between the trees of the Royal Garden. Their unicorn caretakers shrugged off the rolling breeze and trod silently from tree to tree, willing their charges aflare. Their choreographed dance mirrored the proud wavering of the banners she’d seen just this morning. The zebra ones had been particularly novel, and their translator? She'd been just as happy as Twilight had been.
"I hate how Zecora got thrown into all this," Twilight said, wiping her cheek dry. "She must be regretting having volunteered to translate for me.”
“That was her decision to make, Twilight. You don’t need to feel bad about asking.” He gave her a little nuzzle and rested his heavy head on her own. “There’s a lot of things you still need to get through this thick skull of yours. Knowing when to shake off guilt is one of them.”
“Guilt is going to be my go-to emotion from here on out. I feel guilty about not being able to really help out with the negotiations. I feel guilty about saddling Spike with my library while I'm away. I feel bad for all the waiters and bus-ponies carting away all our half-eaten food! I feel bad about everything! I can only imagine how Celestia and Luna have been coping these last thousand years. That’s a lot of guilt to keep track of, and a whole lot more to find yourself regretting.” Twilight turned to watch the streetlights in Ponyville as they shimmered through the darkness. “I don’t think I could live with it all.”
Shining Armor turned his attention to the fiery Cadance debating through the nearest window. How she stayed so beautiful wrapped up in her rage, Twilight would never know. She did know that look in her brother's eye, though. That little glint was inspiration, and he wasted no time in proving her right. “I never told you how Cadance and I fell in love, did I?”
Twilight gagged dramatically and prodded his belly. “Since when did you get all gooey? And I don’t just mean from all your usual junk food, either!”
“Touché, Your Highness,” Shining Armor said, smirking playfully. “Alright, alright, you win that one! Still, I think it might be a good story for you to hear.”
Twilight gave him her attention with a little nod. There was nothing quite like storytime with Shining Armor. He'd always been a professional raconteur, able to make ghosts spring to life or conjure the sensation of the salty spray of a raging tempest with every masterfully-crafted word. He was gifted in that regard, but never had his tales been about Cadance or their times together in Twilight's absence. The prospect of another grand tale stirred her attention to a boil, and judging by the glassy look in his eyes and the wan smile playing out across his lips, this was one to remember.
“It was right after you moved away to attend Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, and right after I got accepted into the Royal Guard. We got you all settled and said our goodbyes, after which I packed my things and caught the first train to Baltimare for basic training. Mom and Dad never got the chance to see us much after that. I regret having never gone back home to visit, but with curfews and exhaustion I never found an opportunity. One night, though, I got a break. I packed up some things and decided to catch the next train to Canterlot to see Mom and Dad. My Sergeant, however, had other plans for my leave.
“Some VIP needed an escort to Manehatten, and he asked for volunteers for an all-expense-paid two-week romp toting bags and acting tough. He told us we’d spend most of our time on guard, protecting whatever hoity-toity busy-body needed a few extra limbs and a weapon. I didn’t want to do it, but I needed the bits.”
Twilight's ears perked up. “So who was it? It was Cadance, wasn’t it?”
“Actually, it was Hoity-Toity,” Shining Armor said with a smile. “C'mon, did you honestly think I’d be that predictable?”
Twilight shoved her brother hard and joined him in fits of giggling before a lack of shouting from within betrayed their volume. With hooves over lips and a few final snickers the two came together and kept their voices low. Shining Armor watched the windows for an angry Luna's glare and continued when no admonitions came. “Needless to say, I don't think your friend Rarity would've minded it half as much as I did... but I wouldn’t have run into Cadance if I hadn’t taken a tumble carrying a few too many negligees.”
Twilight's cocked eyebrow demanded an explanation, so he stifled his laughter and gave in. “He had me bring some nightgowns out to the train and I, being the headstrong bachelor that I was, decided to bring it all out in one go. The Southern Staircase was a faster route than walking all the way through the ballroom and out through the foyer, so I gave it a shot. Turns out skimpy eveningwear is really, really heavy en masse. You’d never guess by looking at it.”
Despite his efforts, an embarrassed little grin played out across his face. “Once I finished tumbling down the spiral staircase, I found myself being cared for by a very young and attractive alicorn who just couldn't stop laughing at me. Here I was, battered, bruised, and utterly dumbfounded, lying under a pile of dresses while Cadance is rolling on the floor laughing herself to tears! She tried and tried to stop giggling like a filly and act like the princess she was, but she couldn't have done that for the life of her! She was snorting! Actually snorting!"
Twilight bit her hoof and tried in vain to keep herself contained, but it was a pointless move. Their laughter echoed from the walls and brought that wonderful sound back home, a fact which only made them laugh harder. His armor clanked heavily on the tile as he gave in to the memories and let everything go, thumping his hoof on the ground as Twilight held her gut and giggled uncontrollably. After a few minutes of glee, Twilight wrested control of herself and calmed that wonderful ache in her belly, smiling at her dearest brother as their laughter sounded out through the grounds and the valley beyond.
And for a few seconds, Canterlot was alive again.
Shining Armor wiped his cheeks dry with  a calming breath. "She thought it was cute that I was traipsing around the castle heaving around frilly undergarments. And me? Well...”
He peered back inside and caught Cadance’s eye, watching her calmly as she succumbed to the day's long train of disappointments. From behind the furious salvos of muffled yelling she smiled, beaming at her husband with all that love begrudgingly abandoned as the promises of Twilight's address clashed with the brutal realities of the day. It was as pure, honest, and sincere as Cadance herself, even when all hope had faded.
Of all the ponies for her to love utterly and completely, she had chosen him: the goofiest, most immature stallion who'd ever had the fortune to literally fall in love with her. His transformation from vagabond to loving husband had smacked him with all the force of those same marble steps down which he'd tumbled. They looked as though they wouldn't have had it any other way. Bringing himself back around, Shining Armor secreted away his love and gave Twilight a little grin. “Let’s just say I fell head-over-hoof in more ways than one that day.”
Chuckling as Twilight’s hoof sank further into her cheek, he concluded with a little shake of his armor and a few steps closer to the door. “The point is this: sometimes we’re forced to make choices we don’t want to make, but there’s no telling what little things you’ll find that make those choices worthwhile. You just have to be brave enough to take them when they come and understand that, whatever happens, the harder way is the better one. It won't seem like it, but it always will be.”
As she took her place at his side, Twilight couldn’t help but feel surprised. “Since when did you get all introspective?”
Shining Armor drew her in close, hugged her tight, and kissed her lightly on the head. “My sister just became a princess. I have to keep up the pace if I want to keep beating her at everything!”
Unfurling her wings, Twilight burrowed herself into his chest as far as she could, giving up every ounce of love she had. If all the world were to crash and burn by the coming of the dawn, that little shard of her would live on in the stallion to whom it mattered most. Twilight tightened her wings’ grip. In this moment, with all of eternity before her, at least that one little thing would never change.
Savoring the embrace for another moment, Twilight broke apart from her brother and donned her crown. When a nod from Shining Armor signalled her preparedness, she shook her mane and took a deep, calming breath. "Are you ready?" Shining Armor said, hefting his spear to attention. With a nod Twilight gave her affirmation, and with a brief trot in place to rally her courage Twilight pushed open the door and resumed her royal life with her brother at her side.

Emerging with a flush of cold air, Twilight's eyes adjusted to the glare and revealed a long stretch of mahogany table populated by senators and their aides conversing in hushed tones. The inability to join their lower-level comrades in celebration was weighing heavily on them all, but they remained dedicated to their work. Their position at the Elder’s Table was an honor unparalleled.
A beige river of parchment coiled through the air, snaking its way around the table to come fluttering to the base of a monumental pile. Attendants of every nation rushed pen and parchment to the attentions of their superiors, who stamped, signed, and certified each document before shipping them down the line to the attentions of whichever royal could ignore them first.
Zecora stood as poised as ever, holding her head high despite her obvious exhaustion. Sweat and paint besmirched her forehead with a light rouge, but she paid her appearance no mind. From between her client and Cadance there was little time for herself, nor ample time to think before rebuttals came flying in. Her translation of her client's tirade had all but finished before the stamp of a diamond-shod hoof prefaced a very improper bark of rage from a furious Cadance.
"You dare blame us for this?!" Cadance howled, the edges of her snarl curling with every word. "You dare insinuate that the Crystal Empire is harboring a worldwide threat for use as a... a bargaining chip? A secret weapon? This is outrageous!" Zecora adopted her native tongue to relay the message, but it did little good. Cadance's furrowed brow and volatility were universally understood and—by the looks of every mare and stallion in the room, including Shining Armor—universally feared.
"The Crystal Empire would never even think of granting Sombra any kind of leniency for his actions. My ponies spent one thousand years under the whip of that maniac, and now that he's no longer enslaving my citizens you assume I’m protecting him for my benefit? You think I’m faking this whole thing to lure you into a trap?” Cadance held her opponent’s eyes and shook her head. “He’s gone, Lord Ironhoof. I saw it myself. I’m not your enemy, and neither is the Crystal Empire. What more can I do to convince you to trust me?”
A few hurried comments from the warlord’s attendants went unacknowledged, and as Twilight snuck in for a closer look the zebra shifted his attention from Cadance and held her firmly within his gaze. Unlike the vivacious zebra elder she’d met before, this zebra exuded only malice. Jagged, crimson scars ran from chest to cheek, brutal reminders of foes long-slain on plains long since bloodied. His ragged ears perked up to heed Zecora's translations, but it seemed instead that every ounce of his attention was spent staring her down.
If Twilight thought Luna was cold, then this zebra was abysmally hollow. His one remaining eye glinted as dangerously as the obsidian spearhead he stroked at his side, both devoid of color or mercy. She averted her eyes, but still he followed her every move. Twilight shuddered and watched the candles on the table. How could Cadance stand looking at him as long and as fiercely as she was now?
Shooting Twilight one final glare, the warlord snorted his displeasure and grunted a few more words for his translator to pick up. He returned his attention to Cadance while Zecora nodded her understanding.
"My Lord demands to see the head to verify that Sombra's dead. You sang of battle, cursed his name, made all these claims... but nothing came. You lack the proof which he demands and thus, to him, your words won't stand. He says he hopes you'll follow through, for shame haunts rulers such as you."
"I told you before, nothing of him remains!" Cadance stomped her hoof to hide her tears, looking towards Twilight and her husband for aid before turning towards her opponent. "We've searched and searched, but nothing has been found! You should take that as a good thing! He left nothing that might taint our world! We are free of him!"
A few muffled grunts followed, summarized quickly by a worried Zecora. "He says that Cadance is too weak to know those ghosts of which she speaks. She dares not fight or cast a spear to save all those whom she holds dear." Zecora stopped for a second and shot Cadance an apologetic smile. "She failed her empire once before. Who knows what lies she has in store?"
Cadance reeled in shock, earning a scoff from Ironhoof as he leaned back in his seat. Shining Armor's nape bristled with rage, but Twilight's firm hold on his shoulder was enough for him to restrain himself. "You would do well to watch your tongue, Lord Ironhoof," Cadance asserted weakly, her voice limp with stifled tears. "I was unable to protect my ponies in the past, but you'd best believe I'll do anything to keep them safe. I will not, however, resort to war."
Cadance allowed Zecora a few unpressured moments to relay her message, listen to the muffled grunts and clicks of her client, and finally twist and turn the words into her usual rhyming rhythms with downcast eyes. "Lord Ironhoof has this to say: your absence led your mind astray. The zebra lords are warriors first, whereas you ponies lack bloodthirst. You lack the will to slay your foes or bloody your hooves to end your woes. If you will not then he must try, for should you fail..." Zecora returned her attention towards her client only to find him resolute. Returning her eyes towards Cadance, Zecora trembled and caught the tail of her speech where she'd left it. "Then all shall die."
As her head fell, those senators and aides checking the logistics of their documents broke their attentions and fell silent. A river of parchment fell slowly to the ground as Cadance shot forward, leaning her weight on the table with a growl of rage.
"Are you really so naïve as to think warfare will solve anything? My ponies haven't been able to rest knowing that they might be attacked at any moment! If you attack whoever is committing these heinous acts, how can you expect to bring about peace? How can warfare bring anything but more warfare?"
"Calm down, Cadance," Celestia said carefully, rising from her seat. "Lord Ironhoof means no disrespect. He means only his nation's safety and a swift resolution, as you do. Perhaps if you grant him some—"
"I will not permit any bloodshed in my empire! I will never permit anything so heinous, not ever! There has to be another way to end this without violence!” The first of her tears fell, slamming into the table with a violent force. Twilight watched them and held her own at bay. A part of her had broken off and died on the table, and none but her seemed to notice. “The zebras can shake their spears and sound their trumpets, but I will never—never—resort to killing anyone!”
“Then you’re a fool.”
Silence. Cadance opened her eyes to find Lord Ironhoof on his hooves, his eye blazing. Zecora and the other zebra senators sat stunned, retreating from the conflict as the warlord shook his regalia into a better position and leaned on the table, swearing under his breath. Cadance rallied herself and thrust back into the fray with a scowl. “Why didn’t you say you could speak Equestrian?”
Twilight could sense the bravery in her voice and the disdain in his as Ironhoof looked her over and snorted heavily. “You never dared ask, and you never gave me a choice. You slapped me with an interpreter without so much as a thought. You treated me like a savage. You were wrong to do so, and you’re wrong to stand idle. This mockery you call a summit has gone on long enough. If you will not take arms, then I will. I will not allow my lands to come to any harm because you’re too inept to lead and too stupid to fight.”
"Watch it!" Shining Armor barked, shoving past Twilight. "That's my wife you're talking to! One more word and I swear I'll—"
"Honey, please don't get involved," Cadance said. "This isn't your fight."
"It is now," he growled, inching closer. "Be careful what you say around Cadance, zebra. She may not want a fight, but I'd like nothing more."
Ironhoof lazily turned his head, watching them both with amusement. "I almost forgot about you. Shining Armor, is it? Captain of the Canterlot Royal Guard and a prince, now that Cadance has taken the Crystal Empire under her wing. There seem to be an abundance of crowns in your family line." His eyes narrowed. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think Canterlot was playing favorites."
"Shining Armor has nothing to do with this. He hasn't done anything wrong."
"Hasn't he? It would seem he's more guilty than you realize. The newly crowned Princess Sparkle has at least some credit to her name, being one of your most precious Elements. In all respects, she acquired her crown through some semblance of effort." Ironhoof bared his teeth. "He never needed to look much further than your bedsheets to find his."
Shining Armor lurched forward with a howl of rage, his spear clutched tight in his magic’s grasp. Ironhoof caught his movements and readied himself with a quick turn and a flex of his muscles, bracing for an impact which would never come. A pop, a flash of purple, and Twilight reemerged from nothingness, holding him at bay with every ounce of strength she had. As heavy as he was, there was something in her touch that broke his rampage almost immediately. She looked him in the eyes, shook her head, and sighed with relief as the tension in his chest slowly slid away.
When he had finally calmed down, Twilight turned and locked eyes with Ironhoof. Luna was on her hooves and poised for battle, but Twilight was closer and, if possible, more angry. Luna’s icy mantle calmed her down some. There was a certain power in her rage. “How dare you speak to her like that!”
Lord Ironhoof watched her carefully with an eye so cold she could feel it crawling over her, looking for a weakness. The very thought triggered whatever lesson came to mind first. She straightened her back, stood up tall, and took on Luna’s formidable airs. Ironhoof scoffed at her attempts, though a little part of him looked uneasy. “So, the little princess has returned after her long absence. Am I supposed to be afraid of you, little one?”
From the corner of her eye Luna inched forward, screaming through silent eyes for Twilight's caution. Her mane waved violently, but she never made a move. Twilight's bravery surged. For once, her stance was her own. “No, but you will respect me, Lord Ironhoof, just as you will respect Princess Cadance from here on out. Your accusations are unfair and untrue, and I won’t allow you to keep on attacking her.”
Ironhoof chuckled, watching her with his one good eye. It darted and zipped over every inch of her, judging the strength of her arm, the fire in her eyes, any possible threat she might have at the ready. He squinted, gave her another cursory look, and finally settled to the floor. The bulging muscles in his legs slowly relaxed, and as they did his smile grew. “You truly do take after your teacher. I can see Luna’s influence.”
An icy chill coursed through Twilight's legs. If this was what it felt like to be like Luna, then it was a sensation she’d best get used to. The attribution of her as Luna’s student stung even more. Even if the two of them were stern as occasion warranted, at least Celestia was fair about it. Hadn’t she been fair? Was she turning into Luna after all?
“I’m sorry about my brother,” Twilight said when all was calm. “Your insinuations were absolutely uncalled for, but his outburst was inexcusable. I beg your forgiveness on his behalf. He’s not usually so aggressive.”
“He should be. If he wants to protect Cadance’s ponies from harm, he would do well to learn from his actions. We cannot save our nations by talking of peace. Peace must be taken by the sword. There is no other way. I would’ve taken his spear’s edge if it meant he might learn this fact.” Ironhoof held Twilight’s eyes with his own, grinning devilishly. “You’ve denied me another trophy, Princess Sparkle. I expect some compensation.”
“Not at my expense you won’t.” Cadance, turning away from her husband, reaffirmed her station at the table with a distressed glance at Celestia. “Princess Celestia, please! Tell him I won’t allow him to wage a war in my borders! Tell him we have to find another way!”
“I don’t think he wants to hear from me.” She calmly turned to Twilight with all the warmth she could muster. “I believe Twilight might be the only one who can dissuade him now. ”
Ironhoof’s eye flared. “What help can Luna’s student possibly give? I haven’t heard a word from her all day save in her brother’s defense. Besides, she’s too young! What could she possibly propose that we haven’t yet considered?”
“She has been an Element of Harmony for quite some time, and a student of mine for far longer. There are few I have ever considered to wear a crown, and she is chief among them. Surely this must be enough to satisfy you, Lord Ironhoof. She is very capable, even if her silence denotes otherwise.”
With a little grumble Ironhoof surrendered the floor, giving Celestia an obligatory nod. “Fine. What does the little princess have to say in this matter?”
The room grew cold, and colder still the longer she sat in silence. The pressure grew heavy on her tongue, threatening to cut her down before her time. Twilight shook off the feeling and hid her eyes from the assembly. “I agree with Cadance with not wanting to start a war, but I also agree that we need to act on this if we stand any chance of finding out who or what is behind these latest attacks. Cadance is worried about her ponies’ safety, and Lord Ironhoof wants to make sure the danger is eliminated entirely. The way I see it, if he wants to ensure the danger doesn’t spread south, then he should come north." Twilight turned and addressed the council directly. "I think the only way we'll be able to fix this is if Lord Ironhoof is welcomed into the Crystal Empire."
“What do you mean?” Luna said, straightening herself in her chair. Cadance looked hurt, but there was an earnest appeal for some kind of idea from a trusted friend like Twilight. Ironhoof sneered triumphantly and stared her down, eagerly awaiting her answer.
“Well, I think maybe instead of fighting about who should take initiative, both nations should. When my friends Rarity and Applejack had a fight during my slumber-party, they kept on—”
“Surely, you’re not serious,” Ironhoof blurted, gawking at her incredulously. “Are you honestly suggesting we base the security of our nations on the notion of a slumber party?”
"I am, and I'd also suggest that you allow me to finish. I value your opinions, my lord, but your behavior makes it very hard to give you my respect. If you'll permit me, I have a plan that might assuage any worries you might have. I only ask for a moment of your time."
The calm stoicism of her address took them both by surprise. For a second, it was almost as if Celestia had seized control. Ironhoof started to speak, but his words caught in his throat. Without an attack to cling to, the power shifted almost completely in her favor. The sensation of being in command slammed her senses, coursing through her in a wave of exhilarating control. The room was hers and everyone knew it, especially a silently smiling Luna. Twilight steadied the rush of her heart before the nervous little mare within prodded her to speak.
"A little while ago, I invited my friends Applejack and Rarity to come inside my library during a storm. They'd been trying to work together to clear some branches so they wouldn't damage houses in Ponyville, but they'd had a certain difference of opinion. Rarity was averse to doing the heavy pulling required of the task, whereas Applejack had no issue with getting her hooves dirty. She rather enjoys it, in fact... but her direct approach didn't help when she accidentally pulled down a tree into my house."
Ironhoof shifted his hooves as her story went on, but he kept his word and held his tongue. His impatience was pressing enough for haste. "Her lack of attention and headstrong approach were doing more harm than good, so Rarity jumped in and turned a big, daunting problem into a bunch of little ones, each of them simple to solve when they worked at them together. They applied both tactics in equal measure, and in the end the problem was solved!"
For the first time, Ironhoof appeared intrigued. "And you're comparing myself to this... Applejack? My direct approach for Cadance's detailed one?"
Twilight nodded enthusiastically. "That's exactly what I'm saying! Don't instigate an all-out war, especially not when Cadance doesn't require or condone arms. Instead, direct your attention where it's needed. Think about it in terms of scars, Lord Ironhoof. Cauterizing a wound will get the job done quickly, but you'll damage healthy skin in the process. A careful stitch heals the same, but it requires more time and care. Apply your militaristic emphasis where Cadance needs it most, and you'll both profit!"
Lord Ironhoof fell silent, staring through her at some imaginary point as one weathered hoof traced a predominant scar on his chest. "And how do you propose we accomplish this? Princess Cadance has seen fit to remain adamant against my kind's presence."
"She never said that! She just said she didn't want war. Isn't that right?"
"Yes," Cadance said cautiously, "though I'd prefer no fighting at all."
"Sometimes we don't have that luxury, but if you remain an active presence in Lord Ironhoof's work, you can direct it more to your needs."
"You have yet to explain this plan of yours, and what part I am to play," barked Ironhoof. Twilight held his attention with a coy little smile.
"If I remember correctly, the zebra's have no embassy in the Crystal Empire anymore. Isn't that right, Princess Luna?"
"Indeed, they do not," Luna replied cordially. "The last ambassador, Lord Petrichor, died over a thousand years ago, a few months before the Crystal Empire disappeared."
"Then that's it! What if we rebuild the zebra embassy on the northern borders of Cadance's empire? We could allow Cadance the ability to be judge of what happens to the wrong-doers that are caught, but allow a zebra representative to be Lord Ironhoof's eyes in his stead. Bring zebra warriors to maintain stability, but allow Cadance some say in where they go and how they interact with the citizenry. Everyone gets some peace of mind and, if all goes well, we can nip this in the bud without a drop of blood spilled! As far as I know, that seems to be the best compromise, and it’s a simple one too."
The room fell silent for a few moments before Ironhoof chuckled dryly and shook his mane. “You disappoint me, Princess Sparkle. I’d expected something revolutionary from the Element of Magic, not another empty promise of a failed embassy.”
“This one won’t fail.”
“What makes you so confident?”
Twilight beamed. “Because this time, I’ll be the one in charge.”
Ironhoof looked her over incredulously a few times, raised his head to the ceiling, and cackled uproariously. Luna balked violently and watched Twilight, shocked. His laughter even earned a smile on Cadance’s lips, though it was hard to tell about whom she was smiling. Even Twilight’s façade cracked a little, though she hid it as soon as he wrangled himself back to his domineering stature with an exasperated smile. “How could you, a fledgling princess, fix a thousand years of failed negotiations by yourself?”
“I’ve been a student for far longer than I’ve been a princess, Lord Ironhoof. Celestia knows I know my way around a library. Fixing problems is something I’m good at. Besides, there’s no way you’ll be able to have the kind of scrutiny you want if Cadance doesn’t agree. Having me lead this project is the only way you’ll ever have a set of eyes and any kind of weapon in the Crystal Empire.”
Ironhoof’s devilish grin widened. “Is this how the young Princess Sparkle plays hardball with the likes of warlords?”
“It is,” Twilight retorted, stretching her smile to match. “Revolutionary enough for you?”
Her words echoed through the hall, and with a little start Twilight found the chamber quiet for the first time in hours. Cadance and Shining Armor sat stunned, but their surprise was nothing compared to Celestia’s. Her jaw was agape, her eyes wide with pride and a sliver of astonished horror. That maternal glimmer in her eyes remained, but there was no denying some immortal part of her had changed its perception of her once-timid student.
And for the first time in months, Luna was grinning from ear to ear.
Lord Ironhoof chuckled to himself and turned to Cadance. “Princess?”
"I would be alright with this," Cadance said meekly, "just as long as you can assure me no undue violence will be used against anyone caught."
"My soldiers are well-trained," Ironhoof replied. He sounded almost pleasant, a fact which appeared to shock Celestia even further. "They will not be an issue. Food and board, however, will be. If you’re willing to grant them a monthly stipend for food and necessities, I would be willing to give them up for this endeavour."
"That's more than reasonable," Cadance said with a sigh of relief. She turned to Twilight and beamed. "Let’s get started!”
"Actually, I believe Twilight needs to consult with me first."
Luna rose from her seat, and as she did the room turned to heed her. Twilight held her breath lest the sound of her screaming heart came roaring out from her mouth. Luna watched her for a few more seconds, then smiled politely at Ironhoof and Cadance. “With your permission, I will adjourn with Twilight and discuss her plans for this embassy. I believe you’ll find her more than capable of the task, but I feel obligated to consult with her on its course.” She fixed her eyes on Twilight. “She will have all the proper guidance. Of that, you can be sure. We will present our final plan tomorrow morning. Until then, I believe there isn’t much more we have left to discuss.”
Ironhoof and Cadance nodded their agreement, sat back in their chairs, and allowed the day to come to a close with a collective sigh of relief. The senators and aides along the table wiped their brows and shook hooves, joining with their comrades for refills on coffee and other choice beverages before another long slog through the legislative mire.
“Excellent,” Luna declared, more to herself than anyone. She followed the table’s edge and joined Twilight before nodding towards Shining Armor. “Captain, some of our guests are waiting for me in the Imperial Suite. Please bring them to my study as soon as you can.” Luna reaffirmed her watch on Twilight, her eyes glinting. “After you.”
Twilight turned from the table and immediately felt ill. For once a solid answer was pushing through the legislative bedrock, but still Luna remained to block out the light. Pulling open the door with her magic, Twilight trudged down the hall with eyes downcast. Fluctuations in the air and implicit commands were her only guides, for Luna had opted not to grace the halls with conversation. Like always, she jealously clinged to her thoughts. Twilight could almost hear her shackles rattling in the spaces between her hoofsteps. A firm success under her wing, and still she was Luna's grounded pupil.
Twilight's smile curled. Not if I have anything to say about it.

The Royal Observatory was as timeless as Twilight remembered from her childhood. Everything was in the same place as when she’d last seen it, forcing her to wonder whether anyone had come in to clean, to organize, or even to use what lay within. Hefty tomes and starcharts enveloped the tables, caked with the remnants of centuries-old candles and unswept dust. Bookshelves soared like monuments along the walls, with ladders and various stools propped up seemingly randomly against their towering heights. Old, decrepit, and fascinating it remained, but through the haze of stationary dust motes stood the one thing Twilight loved above all else: Luna’s personal telescope.
It was a transect of Equestria's glorious past, a bridge between the old and new. Oxidized, sickly-looking bronze gave way to dull iron, iron to shining steel, steel to warm gold. Clunky bands made way for newer, tighter fittings, each new addition more refined than the last. Finally, when gold and platinum intertwined and the final lenses were all snug in their places, the light of the universe came pouring out through the finest crystal eyepiece the world had ever made. The possibilities of potential discoveries were as awe-inspiring as the device itself.
Funny that Luna, its caretaker, didn’t elicit the same devotion anymore. Two months’ tutelage had wiped that slate clean, though the remnants of her formerly bright, personable attitude remained somewhere in the tracings left behind. Now, however, she was as she’d been since the summit was proposed: stern, immovable, and vigilant. The lingering echoes of her formidable Royal Voice permeated throughout the many lofty corners of her observatory. A thousand years, and still they lived.
But then again, so had she.
Twilight checked the hallway outside, closing the door firmly behind her when all was quiet. Luna, as silent as a ghost, seated herself on the padded cushions in her telescope's shadow. Twilight followed close behind, placing herself carefully just out of reach. Luna admired her telescope for a brief moment before a little pop and a flash of light signalled the arrival of tea. The sudden cordiality was more sobering than the inevitable doom to come, and the silence which followed made it even more harrowing. But still, despite everything, Luna didn’t appear to be angry. This was the most frightening revelation of all. “You said you wanted to talk to me, Luna?”
Luna’s teapot lilted through the air and portioned them both a steaming cup of a dark, aromatic brew. Luna eyed it warily, took a little sip, and deemed it worthy. “Indeed I did, Twilight,” she said curtly. “I was hoping you might walk me through what just transpired.”
A knee-jerk rebuttal came with a violent force, but there was something in her voice that sounded not haughty or judgmental, but sincere. She was asking, not demanding, in a voice stained with her sister’s easy grace. Twilight sat stunned, waiting for the hammer to fall. This wasn’t the same Luna who’d been tormenting her these past few months. It couldn’t have been.
“Lord Ironhoof was making accusations against Princess Cadance. He said that she was more concerned about her conscience than her ponies’ safety, and that she was unable to keep them safe. He advocated that we lash out, try and get to the bottom of this with force... something Cadance wouldn't do. He believed her to be too weak to lead."
“Do you agree with his assessment?”
"Do I think Cadance is weak? Of course not!"
"What then? Do you find her actions not in her best interests?"
Twilight shrugged her shoulders and grimaced. “A little. I think Cadance is doing the right thing by advocating for peace, but I think she needs to toughen up and accept the fact that defending her nation will mean getting her hooves dirty.”
Luna sipped her tea, hiding a little smile. “Go on.”
Twilight settled further into her seat and allowed herself to relax. Luna's behaviors dispelled any notion of some violent motive. For a moment, even her interjection into Twilight's project was forgotten. “He then asked my opinion, and I told him how he might be able to eliminate the problem to everyone’s satisfaction. It might have been a little foolish of me to bring the girls into it, but I thought that some personal experience might be helpful. As far as I know, I think he liked my idea for an embassy.”
Luna nodded quietly. "The zebra embassy in the Crystal Empire was never exceptionally large, nor very powerful. When the Crystal Empire disappeared, its existence was quickly forgotten. Diplomacy, to those lords still holding to the old ways, is a weakness best eradicated by the sword. Warfare, conquest, and trials by arms will forever be their pen and parchment. Lord Ironhoof is one such leader, and thus I am impressed you were able to reconcile with him.”
Twilight’s ears perked up at this. “You were?” The resulting smile and little nod swept her up. For the first time since this whole mess had begun, Luna appeared proud. Twilight reclined in her seat and sipped her tea, savoring every drop. “That means a lot, Luna. Thank you.”
“You are most welcome." She was curt, even when cordial. Wasted words were wasted seconds, after all, and time was a precious commodity. Twilight watched her sample her tea and waited. There would only be one chance to break free. When it came, she seized it without hesitation.
“Listen, I know you’re trying to make sure I succeed, but I feel as though this embassy is something I need to do by myself.”
Luna flicked her eyes from her tea to Twilight in a flash, though she never moved a muscle. Her eyes were crippling, but Twilight forced herself onwards.  "You always told me that a princess has to take initiative and lead on her own. I think this will be a good opportunity to try something by myself, to—"
"You're an excellent student," Luna said quietly, breaking Twilight's stride. "Celestia spoke highly of you, and yet I felt the need to question her appraisal. I admit that I was wrong. You are quite intelligent, and exceptionally adaptable to change."
What pride Twilight felt in this moment quickly died with every flip of Luna’s mane. Something was coming, she could feel it tingling through the tepid spaces between them. Twilight eyed the tea leaves clinging to her cup and prodded them with her magic, searching for a sign. Nothing. She scoffed and refilled her cup to the brim. So much for that.
Luna drained her cup, set it down delicately, and leaned closer. “You’re probably wondering why I asked you to follow me here, to the observatory of all places.” She turned to her telescope, practically glowing in the presence of her treasure. “This was handed down to me by Princess Platinum herself, long ago. She bequeathed it to me on the eve of her death with the expectation that it would forevermore watch over Equestria for those who might do it harm. This nation was her dream.” The star behind her eyes flickered, cast off its luminous shells, and slowly died away into nothing. “And I became its nightmare.”
She averted her eyes from her gift. “Weakness cannot be tolerated in a princess, Twilight. This must be recognized above all things. I’ve tried to temper and refine you into a leader of which Equestria might be justly proud, one which would never allow it to come to harm. I’ve pressured you, probably more than I should have... but it was in my efforts to ensure you were ready to lead on your own, without my help. I understand how much your independence means to you." Luna lowered her head and watched her cup refill, peering through the floor for inspiration. When she raised her eyes, there was nothing there. “I find that I cannot give it to you. You’re not ready to be on your own."
Like a punch to the gut Twilight’s core imploded and turned horribly cold. Every air of civility and grace which Luna had adopted was but a diaphanous fold to hide her intent, and they had served their purpose. Now, as Twilight stared at Luna’s padded cushions, her splendid porcelain mugs, even her glorious telescope, she could only see the emptiness of her future. Luna had wiped it clean. Her judgment had come.
“Why are you doing this to me?” Twilight whimpered, pushing through her tears to reach whatever sliver of the old Luna remained. “I’ve only ever done what you asked me to do! I’ve only ever done what I thought was right!”
“You've been a good student, and obedient,” Luna said. She kept her eyes from Twilight’s and stared only at the space between them. “Celestia has done well in training you, but she has only trained you for times of peace. I was asked to train you for making decisions in times of war, and though you have made progress I don’t feel you’ve reached my expectations.”
“That’s not fair!” Twilight howled, leaping to her hooves. “I’ve done every single thing you’ve ever asked of me, Luna! I’ve done some things I never thought I’d have to do just so you’d be proud of me! So you’d let me be on my own!” Twilight’s lip trembled, twisting slowly into a scowl. “What is it about me that you hate so much?”
Luna shook off an icy shiver. “I will not be victim to your assumptions, Twilight. Do not misconstrue my denial of your independence as a reflection of yourself, for you have achieved much in a short time. You should be proud of what you have done. Not many can lay claim to the successes you've had.”
“But what’s the point, if not to be on my own?” Twilight slumped back onto her cushion. “I want to be like you and Celestia! I want to be a real princess, but you keep finding ways to hold me back! That’s all you’ve ever done!”
“Enough!” Luna’s whip-like bark slammed against the rafters, filling the corners with the long-lost power of her millennial voice. She took a few deep breaths and assuaged those demons within. “That’s enough, Twilight. I did not bring you here to stand trial, nor hold trial against you. I brought you here for an opportunity to understand your place."
"I do understand! Cadance and Ironhoof? They understand!  Even Celestia gets it! The only one who can't see it is you!" Twilight braced herself. "I'm ready for this, Luna! I'm ready to be on my own! Why can't you trust me?"
Luna raised her head with eyes hard and emotionless. "The reason I cannot entrust you with your independence is precisely the same reason why you resort to begging for my blessing. A princess cannot rely on others all the time. The only source of power we can always rely on comes from within, not in your friends or Celestia. Not in me.” Luna relinquished her stranglehold on the air with a little sigh. “I know you feel you’re ready, but I must be absolutely sure before I can give my blessing. Celestia has given you her approval already. If you might answer one final question to my satisfaction, I shall do the same.”
Hope fluttered in the pit of her stomach, a colorful blast of relief to cast away the darkness of Luna’s shadow. Twilight wrangled her pulsing wings and stifled the reinvigorated squirming of her legs. She took another of Cadance’s calming breaths, sucked in every happy memory and every wonderful promise she could, closed her eyes, and let everything go. “What would you ask of me, Luna?”
As she opened her eyes, she found Luna’s somber stare waiting for her. “I would like you to explain why you hate me.”
Twilight choked. “I don’t understand...”
Luna's eyes fell back towards the floor. “I have provided you with the opportunity to learn how to be a better princess, to govern and lead with the strength necessary for any who wear the crown. I have given you my guidance, my experience, and my wholehearted devotion to your success. I have given you everything I have, but still I feel as though you believe I’m your enemy. I would like to know why.”
Luna’s face was empty, but behind those eyes was the Luna of old, from long before the world as it was. This was the Luna of the age of Discord, of battles won and histories rewritten, of a fledgling world hammered and tempered in the fire of her leadership. One misstep and the blade she’d been honing for a thousand years would finally come of use. Twilight summoned her courage. “I... I don't like that you've been so unnecessarily hard on me, Luna. You haven't exactly been fair.”
“‘Fair’ is a word you should eradicate from your vocabulary. It is a crutch for weakness, nothing more. Your enemies will not consider whether or not what they do is fair, and neither have I. You must learn how to push back when events are not in your favor. Now is one such time.” Luna raised her head high. “I will not accept your answer. Try again.”
Her words were calm, but those eyes... They belonged to the Nightmare, not to the fair, honest, loving Luna of the past. Twilight pawed the ground, looking for an answer. “Maybe it's because you’ve only ever treated me like I was a failure. Every time I try and do something on my own, you shoot me down. You expect me to be a strong leader, but when I try and do just that you say I’m not good enough! That I’m doing something wrong!” Twilight stamped her hoof. “Can’t you see how frustrating that is?”
“I can, but at this moment I only see a young mare not getting what she wants. I see you trying to carve your own path without understanding what to expect. I see a child unsure of herself, relying on fragile bonds which break when tested.” Luna’s tiny smile died. “I do not see a princess. If I cannot find a reason to take you seriously, why should your enemies?"
Twilight fell silent, listening to the creaks of cooling bookshelves and the tinny sound of her voice reverberating throughout the hall. The strong, powerful voice she’d heard before was now a nagging chatter in her ear. She did sound like a child. Had she always sounded so empty? Had Celestia noticed too? Had Celestia ever minded?
Looking around the lonely corners of the observatory yielded no comforts. Nothing gave any indication that Celestia, Canterlot, or even Ponyville existed. This lonely room—Luna’s refuge—was a world unto itself. No gilded suns draped from the walls, nor spellbooks or syllabary which Celestia wielded as instruments of knowledge. Everything had been aligned in the reverse. Luna’s moon sigil covered the bannisters on the catwalks above, framing her cutie mark’s portrait on the oculus cover overhead. Celestia’s white and gold had been transformed into Luna’s black and blue motif, as cold and stifling as the Royal Observatory, in her tenure as its caretaker, had become. Despite her alleged love for her sister, there was no trace of Celestia to be found. The more Twilight looked, the more it seemed she’d designed it that way.
Luna wasn’t standing alongside her sister. She was actively combating her influence. How better than through her protégé?
That's it.
“I think you're scared of me, Luna.”
Luna cocked her eyebrow, her victorious smile flickering. “And why might that be?"
"Because I can be a better princess than you ever were, and you're too afraid I might be right to let me try."
Luna’s eyes glittered dangerously. Her blade was being unsheathed. “You would be wise to watch your tone with me, Twilight Sparkle. Celestia might tolerate such rebellious behavior, but when you're in my presence you will remember your place. You are my student, and I will have your respect!"
“You’ve always had my respect, Luna, but I never felt I had yours! We spent months preparing for this meeting, but not once did I feel like you listened to my ideas. This embassy could be my chance to show you everything I’ve learned from you! What’s holding you from letting me give it a shot?”
“This is no time for trial and error,” Luna snapped. “This is life or death. This embassy is final. You have no experience in these matters, and we don’t have time to let you experiment with ponies’ lives to find out how you work best. You can’t do this alone.”
“Then let me talk to the senators tomorrow! Let me work with them and solve this! Chancellor Strata and I could work together on it! You saw how worried he was this morning. I think he’d love to be able to have a hoof in helping!” Twilight jumped to her hooves, alive with activity. “And Zecora! She could translate my intentions and talk to some of the zebras. I could assemble committees! I could organize everyone myself! I can do this, Luna!”
Luna looked at her calmly. “No, Twilight, you can’t. There will never be a committee large enough to conquer the wall of red tape you’ll encounter if you don't understand your obligations.” She shook her head, her eyes downcast. “I’m sorry, Twilight, but we can’t take that risk. You’ll need to defer to me on this. You’re not ready.”
Twilight slowly fell back onto her cushion, staring blankly at Luna’s hooves. She hid her eyes and scowled. “And you wonder why I hate you...”
The clinking of Luna’s mug was cacophonous, masking only slightly the sound of her blood rushing to her face. Twilight raised her eyes to find Luna glowering down at her, holding the chains of her demons at bay behind tight lips. When they broke, her words were murderous. “What did you just say to me?”
“Nothing you haven’t already asked yourself. I’m not one of your soldiers, Luna! I’m not so naïve that I don’t know how much work this will entail. I’m not such a child that I can’t hold my own! I’m capable of so much more than you think I am, but you have to let me show you! Please, just let me show you I can do this!”
When all was said, silence fell like a fog from the rafters. Echoes of her voice returned when they could, full of power and resolve. Luna watched Twilight carefully for a moment, looking her over like Ironhoof had, poking and teasing, searching for a weakness. The briefest flicker of a smile, just barely noticed, was quickly doused by a little shake of her head. “Another time, Twilight. You will have other chances.”
"See? That's just exactly what I’m talking about! You don't listen to me! You shut me out like what I have to say isn’t worth hearing! Celestia always let—"
"Celestia was too lenient with you. I can see that now. She raised you like her daughter, but forgot to wean you. You may have listened to my teachings, but you don’t understand them." She refilled her mug and took a sip, sitting up stiffly. "I was right to question your preparedness. You will remain under my instruction until the embassy is complete, at which time I will reevaluate your standing in my curriculum and decide whether or not you’re ready to be independent. That might mean a year as my student." She peered over her mug. "I can only hope that’s enough time for you to learn at your current pace."
A pen and parchment bobbed lazily through the air and joined Luna at her side. Her pen flashed across the page, every hollow word one more link in the chain holding Twilight eternally bound. Even now, behind her parchment’s veil, Twilight could feel her watching. Waiting for a movement, a challenge, a tear. Something. Anything. Twilight brushed her cheek, took a deep breath, and planted her hooves. A princess never panics.
"No."
The pen stopped scratching. “Excuse me?”
Twilight gripped the floor tighter. “No, Luna. I’m not going to let you do that to me. You're not going to stop me from helping. This is my project, and I have to do it myself. It’s the only way I’ll ever be the princess you want me to be.”
“You will be that princess when I have finished teaching you. I cannot allow you to go off into the world untested.”
“But you’re the only one to blame for me not being ready!” Twilight swiped her cushion away. “I’ve spent my whole life with a nose in a book, researching and testing and wishing I could be someone who makes a difference! Now that I have that chance, I have to see what I can do on my own!”
“I admire your candor, but I don’t have time for it.” Luna enveloped Twilight’s cushion with her magic and returned it to its place, gesturing towards it with her eyes. “Sit down, Twilight. We need to revise your curriculum.”
“No, Luna. You’ve held me back for too long. I can’t keep being your pupil if you won’t let me learn for myself.”
"Are you suggesting I allow you to abandon your studies? Let my instruction go to waste?! Preposterous!" Her eyes narrowed. “I am not my sister, Twilight. Celestia spoiled you by giving you the freedom to pursue whatever you wanted, but as a princess you will learn what is expected of you.”
“I could, if you’d let me try!”
“A princess doesn’t try, Twilight. A princes—”
“ENOUGH!”
Luna slid away, recoiling from Twilight's sudden bark as it slammed against the observatory’s dome. The windows rattled in the briefest pause between her breaths, shaking with the power of her bottled little demons. Now that the plug had been pulled, the rest came roaring out. The sensation was euphoric.
"Enough of your maxims! Enough of your lessons! Enough of you telling me I'm not prepared, I'm not ready, I'm not strong enough or smart enough or willing enough to fight because I am! You’ve done nothing but put me down and hold me back!” Twilight paused. There was no turning back now. “Do you want to know why I really hate you, Luna? It's because you're so narrow-minded that you think the world is inherently evil when it’s not, that ponies need to be told what to do when they don’t! You push me and pressure me, trying to turn me into a reflection of yourself, but you can’t see it’s not working! It never worked! I can't live in a world where I can't make some difference. I couldn't if I tried, and you know why? Because that's what makes it all worth it! That's something worth fighting for! You don't fight for anything but yourself and your dead past, and I'm tired of suffering because of it!"
The room was bathed in silence from tile to rafter, but Twilight couldn’t feel anything. The knocking on the observatory door, Luna’s stunned silence, that tiny smile on her lips. Nothing registered. Nothing clicked. Twilight closed her eyes, took in the stillness, and let everything go.
“I can't keep doing this, Luna. I don't want to live in your world. I want to live in mine, where what I say and do can change things for the better. That's all I've ever wanted, and that's all I've ever hoped you'd want for me. I don’t just want to do better than you, Luna. I need to be better. I have no other choice. I can’t live a life in your shadow. I can't stand by and let you destroy everything I’ve ever dreamed about because you're too scared to realize you're wrong.”
Twilight shrugged, basking in the silence and the calm it brought with it. “If feeling this way means I’ve failed being your student, or if it means I can’t be a princess in your eyes... then go ahead. Take away my crown. Take back these stupid wings. Take away everything you’ve ever given me because I don’t need it! I don’t need to be constantly torn down or made to feel worthless! I don't need your outdated, self-defeating pessimism! I don’t need your baseless hatred of me! I don’t need your cynicism! I don't need your disapproval! I can't take one more second of you, so if I have to give up everything you ever gave me to prove you wrong, then fine! I don’t need them and I don’t need you!”
The second it had all come out into the open, the pall turned absolute. The candles on the table wavered, pulsing with the slow march of the ghosts brewing behind Luna’s eyes. Like a silent sentinel she sat, emotionless and calm. The quiet was the worst of all. Her lungs inflated and deflated in perfect rhythm, but it was almost as if she wasn’t even there.
Twilight held her eyes on Luna's horseshoes, petrified. How could she have said something so mean? What had possessed her to react so violently? Twilight sniffled and wiped her nose dry, trailing slime across her foreleg with a pang of horror. Her outside was as disgusting as her inside had become.
"I'm sorry, Luna,” Twilight muttered, fighting back tears. “I am so, so sorry. Please, I didn’t mean to say that! I didn't mean it!"
Luna shook her head slowly. "No, child. You meant every word you just said."
"No! I'm sorry! I take it back! I didn’t—”
Luna raised her hoof, and all at once Twilight knew it was over. The wind chattering against the windows died down. The lights dimmed. Her eyes remained closed, her breaths even and controlled. Then, slowly, with all the grace in the world, Luna opened her eyes.
"Is this truly how you feel?"
Twilight’s heart caught in her throat. “I... I think so.”
"You must be sure," Luna said hurriedly, rising quickly to her hooves. "Do you believe in what you have said? Do you?!"
Her stoic eyes trembled when Twilight gave a tiny nod, and with every quiver Twilight's resolve crumbled. This was too far past the breaking point. "Please don't be mad at me, Luna. I don't want you to be mad. I just needed you to know the truth about how I feel."
"And now I know, don't I?" She turned away, facing the door. "Have you anything further to add before I make my judgment, Twilight Sparkle?"
The tiny, radiant tear flashed down her cheek and splashed on her collar. Twilight watched it, stunned. "Luna, please..."
"Do you?"
This was it: the end of everything. Closing her eyes would spare her a portion of the pain. "No, Luna. That's everything."
"Very well." A wing unfurled towards the door. "If you desire to prove your worth, you need look no further than that door. Beyond, you will find whatever aide you'll require for your embassy's construction." Her wing clasped tight to her side. "You will not find it here with me. You have passed my test. Henceforth, you will no longer be considered my student, but a true princess of Equestria."
Twilight sat in shock. The door to her cage had been opened, but never had she seen Luna so dismal. Twilight steadied herself and killed the glorious beating of her breast with a sad smile. How could she be so happy, to see Luna so heartbroken? “Luna, I... I don’t know what to say.”
“Then say nothing, but grant me one last liberty. I have already assembled a committee worthy of this task. There are none more competent than they. It is the only concession you must make to me. Everything else is yours.” A widespread wing gently swept Twilight closer to the door. “Celestia may believe in the merits of words, but I believe in the power of action. It is easier to fight for your ideals than to live up to them, Twilight. If you wish to explain, show me by following through on your promises.” Luna’s hoof planted itself on Twilight’s breast. “Show me the world you want to live in, and prove to me it’s one worth fighting for.”
In the following silence, the room glowed. The track of Luna’s tear melted away as slowly, without warning, her cheeks flushed like her sister’s sun, full of love and pride. Twilight sat in awe; Luna was gorgeous now her walls had been dashed. Her eyes shone and pierced Twilight’s core, stoking the fires of her heart with every hope she’d deferred until this one glorious moment. Now, when she allowed them to come rushing into the room, it took everything Twilight had to keep herself from bursting. Floating over the floor towards the door was effortless, but the closer she came the harder it seemed to bridge the gap. Who knew what lay beyond, save Luna? Twilight stopped, hearing nothing but a sickening silence. “What if I can’t handle this? What if I don’t get along with them?”
Luna chuckled and gracefully stepped to her side. “Ever unsure of yourself. Celestia saw it too, when first she took you under her wing. You have always been indecisive, but I have never seen you so sure of anything as much as you are of this project. You are capable of so much more than I’ve given you credit for, but I’m not the princess to whom you need to prove yourself.” With the gentlest of hooves Luna brushed Twilight’s chin, bringing it up into the light of her moon. “You’ve already shown me your strength. Now, it’s time to show yourself.”
With a final smile Luna focused her magic on the door and cracked it open, breaking the room’s seal like a musty tome. Cool, fresh air billowed in, bearing notes of jasmine and honey. If she could drown in their fumes, death would almost be worth it. And that smell... it seemed familiar. It smelled just like home.
A glimmering spearhead and the disheveled mane of Shining Armor popped from around the doorframe. He surveyed the room, paced his way inside, then snapped to attention. His legs wobbled, but he held his head up proudly. “Your Highness, I’ve brought your guests. Shall I invite them inside?”
“No need, Captain. Twilight shall retire with them for the evening. She has a long night ahead of her still.” A little brush of Twilight’s back with the tip of her feathers was Luna’s signal; there was nothing further to discuss. With another little pop a second steaming teapot materialized from the aether. “I will remain in my study. The night is young, and much has yet to be done. You have my thanks, Captain. Get some sleep, the both of you.” A teacup filled itself and drifted to her lips. “Oh, and Twilight?”
“Yes?”
Her eyes glimmered, her growing smile framing her face with all the light of life. “Try not to party too hard.”
“Party? Who’s throwing a par—”
Twilight’s tongue grew heavy in her mouth. Luna would never say anything so carefree without just cause, and there could only be one cause worthy of so precise a word. Turning slowly towards her brother, she found that knowledge given life in the form of a knowing smile; a little glint in his eyes, a sign he too was in on the plan. She looked at Luna through watery eyes only to find her nodding towards the door, her smile wide. Breathlessly, Twilight turned, brushed her dress, straightened her wings, and applied her magic on the door, pushing with everything she had.
And there, as the door creaked slowly open, stood her friends.
In the midst of their huddle stood Rarity, resplendent in an evening gown of deep crimson. She held herself poised and proud, hair glistening and supple in defiance of the tousled, unkempt mane of the Rainbow Dash at her side. With wings spread wide Rainbow gripped Rarity close, sparing a wing for a demure, dainty Fluttershy. Applejack stood closest to the door, her braids shining, the end of her tail flecked in mud as it always was. Time held itself at bay, giving Twilight the opportunity to take each of them in. This little moment was bliss, and every time she looked at them in turn this little moment stretched on.
It could've lasted longer had Pinkie Pie not taken one look, shot a glance at Rarity, rocketed through the air, and tackled Twilight in the tightest hug she’d ever given.
"Oh my goodness, Twilight!" Pinkie screamed, swinging Twilight through the air like a doll, giggling all the while. "We missed you so much! You look so pretty! How did today go? Was everything alright? Did those big, mean zebras play nice?"
"For the most part," Twilight said tremulously, clutching her close to her heart. Pinkie’s spinning must have drained the blood from her system; every part of her was ice-cold. Through her tears she watched as the others left their places and trotted towards them, dumbfounded. At least the feeling was mutual. "I can't believe you came to see me! When did you guys get here? Why didn't you come find me?"
"They came shortly following the midday banquet," Luna said from her cushion. "I found them wandering the halls, looking for you." She chuckled at the memory. "I'd have thought they'd be acquainted with Canterlot by now, considering all the times they've been here."
Applejack started slightly at that. "We just got a little turned around is all. We knew y'all were busy, but not that busy." She snuck in after Pinkie and held Twilight close, keeping a wary eye on Luna. "Besides, even if we had found Twilight, I'd've probably suggested to stay out of the way. Wouldn't want to throw a wrench in the works, now would we?"
"Of course not. That was very courteous of you, Applejack."
From within her embrace Twilight could feel her muscles tense. "No problem, princess," she said evenly, surrendering her place to Fluttershy and Rarity. Placing herself on the nearest wall, she surveyed the rest of her friends and waited. "It was the least we could do."
"I bet you're surprised to see us, huh?" Rainbow said lightly. She snuck in for a hug and backed off quickly. She was just as tense as Applejack had been, but as she joined Applejack by the door her beaming smile assuaged any ill will. It had almost hidden her limp as she'd walked away.
Twilight held back her questions. Rainbow might still have been too stubborn to explain. "Of course I am, Rainbow. You all said you couldn't come, and now you're all here! I thought you guys were busy!"
"We all were, darling," Rarity said. "But some things are more important than daily trivialities, and there's nothing more important to us than making sure you're taken care of."
"But what about Fashion Week? You look forward to that every year, and Fancypants said he had an offer for you. You wouldn't stop talking about it for days!"
For the briefest second, Rarity was at a loss. "Things... changed, Twilight. I made a decision. Fancypants can wait for another time, but not you. You're my dearest friend. I could never leave you high and dry." Her eyes flicked over Twilight’s shoulder. “Princess Luna, I’d like to thank you for all your hospitality. Truly, words cannot describe how grateful we are to you for letting us see our Twilight. If there’s anything we could ever do to repay you...”
“That’s quite alright, Rarity,” Luna said, raising a hoof. “I know how much you mean to her, and she to you. You are family in these walls, and we would never let you go wanting. Think not on it.”
“But I insist!” Rarity turned quickly towards the others to find them all nodding furiously in agreement. Twilight marvelled at the sight. Rarity held such sway when reciprocity was her foremost concern. There couldn’t have been a better Element of Generosity. “There must be some way we can repay you! How about another dress? A brooch, perhaps? Is there anything we might do to help tomorrow morning? I’m sure it will be busy. We’d love to pitch in!”
“I require nothing from you,” Luna stated calmly. “Twilight? Might you have a task they can aid you in? They seem eager.”
The smile on Rarity’s face was boundless, paling the others’ in sheer feverish excitement. Twilight couldn’t help but smile back. “I think I might have an idea... if you’ll permit it, that is.”
“I am no longer in a position to judge your actions,” Luna said happily. “Your decisions are your own now, remember?”
Just that little reminder sent her heart soaring from its cage, and the view from that lofty height was elation incarnate. Twilight thought for a moment, looked over the girls, and then returned her attention to Luna with a little bow. “With the embassy proposed and the committee assembled, I believe it might put some parties at ease knowing we don’t mean to back down. I think having the Elements of Harmony behind the project might let Ironhoof know we mean business. If they were to join us on stage when we announce our intentions tomorrow, it might make ponies more comfortable and a little more generous with their help.” She turned to the girls. “Would all of you comfortable with that?”
Rarity bounded towards Twilight and swept her up in another hug, pulling her tight to her breast. A shiver of excitement ran through her, followed quickly by little jump back and a quick trot in place. “Of course we would! That sounds perfect, just perfect! Ladies, how does that sound?” They nodded quickly in agreement, their eyes filled with expectation. Rarity bowed before Luna. “We’d love to join you, if you’ll have us.”
“I would enjoy nothing more. If Twilight thinks it will be of use, then I expect to see you bright and early tomorrow morning for rehearsal.” Her teacup floated back to her side. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, there is a comet that requires my attention. Goodnight, ladies.” As soon as she returned to her eyepiece, there was no doubt there would be nothing gained by lingering. Rarity drew Twilight close. “Let’s get you fed, dear. You look positively famished.”
Twilight’s stomach gurgled in response, earning a little smile from Luna and everyone present. Finally, the end was in sight. That night of abandon was finally within reach. Passing through the doorframe in silence, Twilight sat in wonder of this glorious change in circumstance. A few hours to catch up with her friends, another few to rest, and soon she would be unveiled to the waking world as a princess in her own right. Another glorious jewel on Equestria’s crown.
And it was all thanks to Luna.
Her pace slowed to a crawl and finally stopped, earning a confused look from Rarity and the others. “You go on ahead,” Twilight said quietly. “I’ll meet you in the room.”
“You’re not coming?”
“Not right away. I have something I need to ask.”
Rarity nodded her acquiescence, but it was obvious she disapproved. Another few minutes won’t kill them, Twilight thought as she retraced her steps. Pushing the door open once more, she found Luna right where she said she’d be: gazing through her telescope, lost in her cosmos. Hopefully another intrusion wouldn’t change her mind.
“How long have you known?”
Luna withdrew from her telescope and set her parchment down. “Known what?
“They said they were looking for me when you found them, which means you knew they were here before the Elder’s Council. You asked Shining Armor to bring them here, but you did that before... before giving me your final test. Before I yelled at you. They were coming here to meet with me before I even had your blessing.” Twilight raised her eyes to find Luna’s smile mirroring her own. “So when did you know I was ready for this?”
Luna nodded to herself, lost in thought. “The zebras are formidable warriors. Even Celestia and I take great caution when working with them. They are easy to anger, but nigh impossible to calm. Of those living, Lord Ironhoof is by far the most fearsome. You knew this to a degree, and still you faced him down. Never have I seen a zebra’s ire doused so quickly.” Luna beamed, her eyes twinkling. “It was then I knew you were ready.”
"Then why didn't you tell me that then?"
"It wasn't something for me to tell. Your abilities, your strength... these are traits which cannot be explained to you by another. I saw them long before I gave you my test. I gave you my test so that you might see them too."
A smile formed on Twilight's lips, but it felt so foreign. This was a happiness she hadn't earned, not for all her actions against Luna. Twilight rubbed her leg with a forehoof. "I'm sorry, Luna. I never meant to hurt your feelings or call you worthless. I don't want to push you away."
"And you haven't, but you must understand your role in this world. You will fail in your aims if you do not know what you are capable of. This is something all princesses must understand. If knowing what you fight for required you to stand against me, then so be it. There wouldn't have been another way, and none so effective."
"But I didn't mean to make you feel unimportant!"
"No, Twilight," Luna said proudly. "You have done me a great service! A student does wrong by their teacher if they remain but a student. For you to strive to be better than me is all I've ever wanted, all any teacher could ever want. A wounded pride is a small price to pay for such joy. Never have I been so sure about my decision."
Somehow, as it hadn't been before, the observatory glowed from every corner, filled with the wonder forgotten from the glory days of her youth. Perhaps Luna hadn't abandoned it after all. "Do you really think I'm ready?"
Luna gave her a little wink and turned back to her eyepiece. "Do you really need to ask?"
Laughter rang out down the hall, bringing warmth to the empty corners and the wooden door beneath her hoof. "I guess not," Twilight said, brushing the doorframe. "Goodnight, Luna... and thank you."
Luna turned, smiled, and bowed her head low. "Until tomorrow, Princess Sparkle."
With a final smile Twilight sealed the door closed. The rest of the way passed in a blur of excitement, every banner gilded in vibrant hues, every sound crisp and clear. Alone in the hall, Twilight closed her eyes, savoring the sensation and the promises to come.
Tomorrow would be a day she’d never forget.

"You should’ve seen the look on his face, Rarity. He was this close to running him through!"
"Surely he wouldn't have done something quite so rash!"
"I don't know," Twilight said, shaking her head. "I've never seen him quite so mad before. Had I not been there, I think he might have actually drawn blood."
"Would've done that zebra right," blurted Rainbow Dash from the corner. With decanter in hoof the remnants of a dark russet brew were poured out and placed tenderly on an outstretched wing. She stepped gingerly over a sleeping Applejack, earning a Stetson-covered groan as her tail swept past her chin. "Shining Armor should've given him a little scratch. That would’ve taught him a lesson."
"It would've started a war. As much as I agree with you, that's the last thing we want."
Rainbow Dash shrugged. "Whatever it was, it doesn't sound like he was thinking too clearly. Maybe he's just beat? Poor guy must be wiped out from all that soldier stuff."
Rarity plucked a glass from Rainbow's wing and drifted it to her side. "Rainbow's right. The Captain of the Canterlot Royal Guard, a prince, a husband, a bodyguard... The poor soul has had a lot on his mind, your safety chief among them. He and his guards must be exhausted!"
Twilight nodded sadly. "What's worse is he's had to send so many out to the Crystal Empire's border to stand watch. We don't have many to spare."
"How many has he kept here in reserve?"
Thinking it over yielded little in terms of quantity. "He said it would be enough for anything. He said we shouldn't worry, that the ones still here were the best. I've never seen them so tired, none more so than him. They’ve all been pulling half day watches, and I don’t think he’s slept at all... but if it helps Cadance sleep he'll do just about anything, even run himself into the ground."
Rarity sipped her drink and smiled. "What a gentleman."
A little snore broke the pall, followed by a rustle of pink as Pinkie Pie's plush mane flipped from her eyes. She'd snuggled up alongside Fluttershy and added her mane to the tangled mass of pink now cascading over the couch. It had taken them five repetitions of every party game in her repertoire before she'd lost steam. She had overdone herself in her efforts to make Twilight happy, almost to the point of annoyance. Twilight couldn't help but smile just thinking about it. It was Pinkie's sign that she truly cared.
Rarity swirled her drink, admiring its clarity. "So, this Ironhoof... How many soldiers does he have, exactly? Surely, a stallion as terrifying and as powerful as he must have quite a few under his command." She nudged Twilight's shoulder, grinning playfully. "A veritable plethora of strapping, striped suitors, perhaps? All at your beck and call?"
Twilight's cheeks flushed violently. "Rarity! I... I don't think... They wouldn't..."
"Please, dear, I'm only teasing!" Rarity slid herself closer, her ears on alert for every salacious detail. "But honestly, how many fine young stallions does our zebra friend have? If he's expecting you to house them, surely he must have a figure."
"I... I honestly don't know." Twilight snagged a glass from the passing Rainbow Dash and hid her blush with a sip. "He didn't sound like it would be such a sacrifice donating a small army, so I can only assume he has many thousands under his command."
"I see." Rarity slumped to her cushion, lost in thought. "Well, it's a good thing he's on our side."
"Not entirely. He may have accepted my proposal, but only because I pressured him into it. I doubt he'll ever consider me a friend, much less an ally. Something tells me he's going to turn on me the first chance he gets. I mean, I nearly—"
A yelp and a crackling snap of glass found Rarity on her hooves, gripping her forehoof like a vice. Glittering shards of glass littered the carpet, flecked with her blood. A flurry of blue swept to her side as Rainbow, towel in hoof, wrapped Rarity's limb with the vigor and precision of a trained professional. In the space of a few seconds her wound was hidden, and after a few seconds more the full weight of what had just happened slammed into awareness.
"Rarity, are you alright? Your hoof and... and your glass, they just—"
"I'm fine," Rarity said, retreating towards the wall. "Please don't worry about me. I've pricked myself with a needle before, Twilight. It's just a scratch, nothing some antiseptic and a fresh bandage won't fix!" She waved Rainbow closer and draped her injured hoof over her neck, using her as a crutch towards the minibar in the corner. Twilight followed them out, watching them sadly. It was hard to tell who was limping more.
Picking the glass from the carpet earned her more than a few nicks and scratches, but watching the jigsaw puzzle of glass take shape on the nearest table was encouraging. Every shard was accounted for, save one. From over in the corner she could hear Rarity wincing violently, bearing the pain as Rainbow doused her hoof with whatever drink was closest. The fire was lit, throwing Twilight back into the hunt for her final piece. She'd be damned if her night of abandon ended with another preventable injury.
Straining her magic, the couch bearing Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy hovered quietly into the air and bobbed overhead. Twilight spied her prize burrowed into the fabric and wrapped it up in her magic. Gingerly replacing the couch, she rushed to the table and slid the final piece into place. One problem down. Now, to clean up the blood Rarity had left behind.
A wipe of the tiles and a few dabs on the carpet absorbed most of Rarity’s blood. Twilight slid the reformed glass off the table and into the towel, bundling the entire thing with a wary eye for any missed pieces. The trash bin by the minibar was closest to Rarity and completely unused. Hopefully she was feeling better by now.
Twilight carefully placed her bundle in the bin, watching the edges unfurl and the glass’s glimmer reflect the light. Rarity's blood caked the larger pieces, and the towel was equally stained. From this angle, under the glare of the lights, her blood looked... It was almost...
Twilight froze. "Rarity, what's going on?"
The two mares by the minibar turned in tandem, Rarity's smile stretched wide. "Nothing, dear! Rainbow has done a splendid job. Nothing for you to worry ab—"
Her eyes flicked to the towel bobbing quietly in the air. Twilight stared silently at it in horror, her eyes devoid of understanding. Everything she’d known had escaped through her gaping mouth. Her breathing was laborious. Her limbs were shaking.
Her towel was stained with evergreen blood.
Twilight turned, and in a cyan blur Rainbow was upon her, howling with pain as Twilight’s jaw slammed into her forearm. Stars erupted as her head collided with the tile. She bucked and kicked against Rainbow’s underbelly, but still she held her down, her entire weight pressing squarely on Twilight’s ribcage. Another fruitless kick against Rainbow’s hindleg earned nothing more than a hoof on her neck, pinching her windpipe. The stars swimming in her vision pulsed with every cacophonous heartbeat. The edges of Twilight’s vision faded to black as death snuck in. Only Rainbow would be present to witness that spark of life leaving her.
Just when she sat teetering on the precipice of darkness, Rainbow’s weight unloaded. Thick, sweet air screamed into Twilight’s lungs, sending her convulsing into an agonizing battle for every drop of that precious gas. Rolling to her stomach, Twilight strained against her own will to regain her senses.
A porcelain-white hoof stepped daintily in front of her. A limb quivered, its bandage slicked in swipes of emerald. Something hard, glass perhaps, ruffled her hair and matted it down to her scalp. The sensation of Rainbow’s breath on her neck was wet and frigid; somewhere, something was bleeding. Through her panting she could hear Rarity chuckling to herself in triumph.
“Rarity, please! I don’t want to d—”
“Shut up!” Rarity snapped viciously, pressing her head down harder. A hoof found its way to the side of her horn, grating against its ridges. Twilight shivered uncontrollably. There was only one way this would end.
“No, please! Rarity, think about what you’re doing! Please, I’ll do anyth—”
“What did I say?”
Twilight sealed her eyes shut, silently trembling in horror. “That’s better,” Rarity crooned. The tension alongside her horn eased. “Now be a good girl and stay still. This will all be over soon.”
Through her blood-matted hair Twilight watched Rarity smile lovingly down at her. Rarity would never be capable of something like this, not in a million years. There was a force behind her eyes so horribly unnatural Twilight couldn't help but be entranced. They flashed turquoise, just for a moment. She’d seen those eyes before.
Another voice, this one deeper, rang out behind her. “Shall I wake the others?”
“No need for that,” Rarity replied. “Let them rest. We’ll need their strength tomorrow. Restrain her until the task is complete. We’ll deal with her then. She won’t make much of a fuss... will you, sweetheart?”
The rough fibers of a rope snaked their way under her legs and sealed them tightly together. Rarity’s lips intimately brushed her hair, her hot breath bathing her neck with waves of prickling horror. Twilight nodded as furiously as she could through the debilitating, necrotic stench. Please, just make it stop...
“Good. Do as you’re told, or I’ll snap that horn off and put it places you never thought it could go. Am I understood?”
Twilight bit her lip and nodded, struggling against the primal howl building up in her throat. It was a struggle Rarity noticed. She giggled horribly, stepping quietly away towards the far wall. “Gag her. I don’t want to listen to her sniveling. Lock her in the closet, and make sure no one has any reason to go looking for her.”
“Of course, milady.”
Rarity’s hoofsteps suddenly stopped, and as they did Rainbow gasped. The rope grating against Twilight's legs loosened, and as Twilight twisted her legs she brushed against Rainbow’s skin. She was trembling uncontrollably, her hair standing on end. Twilight raised her eyes, watching Rarity with confusion. What had Rainbow just called her?
“M... milady?”
Rarity wheeled around, her eyes aflame. A scramble of hoof on tile sounded out behind Twilight as Rainbow scurried to the door with a oaken clunk. Twilight turned back towards Rarity to find her gone, a flash of white the only evidence she’d been there.
Rainbow screamed as a sickening wet snap echoed around the room. Another snap. Another blood-rending scream. A bloody bundle of sky-blue fur sailed through the air, slamming against the far wall. Rainbow’s body slumped to the floor, her wings jumbled beneath her. She struggled to rise, but gained no purchase on the blood-slicked tile. Her wings flopped worthlessly at her side, attached by threads of tendon. Bile swam in Twilight’s mouth as she turned her head away.
Rarity stepped delicately over Twilight’s head and tiptoed carefully towards Rainbow. A bottle of champagne bobbed delicately at her side. She drew near to her prey, proud and refined. Twilight closed her eyes and turned her head away. Don’t look. Don’t look. Please, don’t look...
A whimpered plea, a sickening crunch, and Rainbow fell silent. Twilight opened her eyes, struck dumb by the stillness. Rarity stepped lightly away and faced Twilight, calm and collected, the bottle at her side intact. Rarity wiped her hooves, smearing her chest in emerald. Rainbow’s blood matched her eyes perfectly.
She smiled, her fangs glistening in the candlelight.
Before Twilight had a chance to scream, the world erupted with a blinding white pain from her temples and the sound of broken glass. She never felt her head hit the floor before the world went dark, sinking away into oblivion.