The Passings of Twilight

by Pencil Neck

IV. Pararetur

"Still no sign of her?" asked Luna.

Celestia was on her desk writing notes, signing documents like every other day. Her room was shined by only one candle next to her papers. Outside her window was the moon and all its glory. Celestia was tried, she hasn't slept in a while. She still has been searching for Twilight Sparkle after all these years. Luna herself was surprised on how far her sister has taken this. Though her people may have thought differently on how to used the Royal Guard, Celestia didn't care. She turned her head and now faced Luna. She was not tired from her lack of sleep, but from her lack of company.

"No…still nothing." replied Celestia.

Luna walked into her room, "You're still not thinking of expanding the search towards the Zebra Empire, are you?" Luna asked.

"I don't know, there's a lot of paper work to go through, she probably would have left by then,"

"And you're still not considering of ending the search?"

"No, I won't stop!"

"Dear sister it's been far too long! The soldiers are there to protect us, not for you're own selfish need!" Luna reminded.

"Protect us from what, Luna?!"

"From any kind of danger that may appear!"

"There hasn't been any–"

"Oh really? The Hydra, the Elementals, Ravens, Dysentery? Celestia, those ponies could have died if I didn't send a squad–"

"So you were the one who did that?" Celestia asked in a dark tone.

"Somepony had to protect her citizens and you're still after a mare who made her own choice! Sister, it's time to end the search for the sake of our citizens!"

"No! I don't care what it takes!"

"Even if it cost the lives of all of our citizens?"

Celestia was taken back by the question, and remained silent for a moment. "Y–y–n–… I don't know…"

"…so…this is what you've become, dear sister?"

Celestia looked up at Luna once more, and frowned at her.

"The mare who was kind and wise, the mare who would risk anything for citizens, the mare who'd make ponies cheer and hopeful. The mare who waited one thousand years for her sister to returned and the mare who will wait another for her own student who she made to suffer with her! Is that what you want to become, dear sister?"
"Celestia, the word for celestial, good and the sky, the word for sun tamer, and queen. If you continue down this road, what will your own name mean?"

Celestia turned her head towards Luna, speechless. Deep down Celestia knew Luna was right, but even she was too far gone. Instead, all Celestia could do was sigh and close her eyes.

"Is that all you came in here for? Just to argue with me?" Celestia asked annoyed.

"No, I was rather much hoping you see reason, but at this point I can see you're far too gone." Luna replied.

"As gone as you've been. Tell me, what have you been doing since you keep disappearing for weeks?"

"Thinking, Tia."

"Really? I'm quite sure thinking doesn't take weeks, Luna."

"You're right, but helping other ponies does."

"…"

"Equestria is wanting answers, Tia. I hope you have a good cover story," Luna warned as she left the room, closing the door behind her; waiting for the redemption her own doing…

Twilight didn't go very far from the city, in fact, she was at abandoned barn just outside the town. She only slept for a few minutes inside her tent, the Royal Guard would be arriving soon. Daylight struck Twilight's tent, eventually touching her face. She opened her eyes slowly and yawned as she rouse from her sleep. She rubbed her eyes and looked around her tent, suspecting she would find something. Twilight got up from her sleeping bag and began to pack up everything. Once her tent was back inside her bag she began to look around the barn. It was old, and was just made out of wood. There was no paint, no windows, and the ceiling had holes which light was escaping through; there was a few piles of hay, but they were too old to be eaten by anypony.

Twilight walked out of the barn and was now outside, Muzzlington was about three hundred feet away. The sky was still grey, but you can see the faint light coming from the east indicating where the sun was. It was very windy, the wind seemed to flow through the hills of grass! The town seemed empty, with no sign of smoke, and no sign of ponies. Twilight was still thinking about leaving Muzzlington and how to do it. Unfortunately, there was only one way to leave Muzzlington. In the south was Canterlot, in the north was a river that was to wide to cross, and in the southeast was blocked by the Foal Mountains. The Royal Guard will be arriving in the west and south in an hour and Twilight was running out of options.

She decided to wait for the two weeks the guard had, but it'll be difficult with two gangs trying to kill her. Twilight took a deep breath, and looked at the horizon that was Equestria before entering the town. Once she was done, she began her long walk back to Muzzlington; where she could either die, or suffer for an eternity.

"You bucking did WHAT?!" asked the grey coated, brown maned bartender named Jason.

"I beat up a bunch of noponies, Jay, it's not a big deal…" Twilight answered deadpanned

"A bunch of noponies?! Sarah, this isn't just a gang you just faced! This is a army of bandits! They don't just occupy one place, no, they occupy all over Equestria!" Jason Windserver warned.

"Okay, and?"

Jason sighed. "And no matter where you go, they will find you! You should have just kill the lot! Sarah, they will be looking for you!"

"Good, they'll get more than they bargained for." Twilight exclaimed.

"Not to mention, you also made the mistake of letting one Blackdog escape! You have two groups of ponies trying to kill you, what the Tartarus were you even thinking?!"

"That somepony needed to be taught a lesson…"

"What were even trying to accomplish, Sarah?"

"…I was sending a message…"

"W–what? And was the message?"

"…That they aren't the only ponies who can fight."

"W–what? Don't tell me you're going after the Blackdogs?!"

"…"

"You aren't really considering it, are you?"

"Actually, I am."

"Sarah, you just barely arrive here, and you're thinking of taking down a gang, and a group of thieves? What are you, a cop?"

"No, just a regular pony. Besides Jay, that was just five ponies! If that's how well 'trained' they are then I'm sure I can deal with them!"

"But I don't understand something…"

"What's that?"

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because you're going to help me take down the Blackdogs…"

Jason was frozen in place, and was speechless. His face turned cold and almost seemed to turn white! His brain slowly tried to process of what he just heard and select what was the best reaction for him to choose. After a long pause, Jason's gears were finally turning, but counterclockwise.

"Hehe, hehe. That's real funny Sarah! It's almost as if…"

Twilight looked at Jason deadpanned, with a cold expression. "I'm serious."

"W–WHAT?! Are you insane! You just arrived here and you're already planning on taking down a criminal organization!"

"Yes, got a problem?" Twilight asked coyly.

"YES! For one, it's a hundred stallions you have to take down!"

"Not necessarily, Jay. If I manage to take down the leaders first, the rest will probably scatter!"

"Okay then, what about the Ravens? You almost died from them!"

"True, but as long as I stay low they might not be able to find me."

"What about the guards? I'm pretty sure they won't just let you kill anypony!"

"Of course! They're going to be on our side. If I can manage to show the guards the criminal activity here then they might be on guard!"
And after that I need to find a way out of here. Twilight thought.

"And what about me, what am I suppost to do?"

"You're going to tell me everything about Muzzlington. Trade, shortcuts, anything, and also I recall you work at a bar."

"I own it, Sarah, but I don't care! You're gonna get me killed!"

"Not if you stay low, Jay!"

"Okay, and what do you need my bar for?"

"As I recall you said that you're planning on leaving this dump, right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, you're not going to need your pub once you're gone, and I need as much firepower as I can get."

"Okay, where are you getting at?"

"Well the best way to fight fire is with fire…"

"Are you sure these ponies are willingly enough to actually fight these guys?" Twilight asked Jason.

"Trust me, you have no idea how many times these ponies have come to my bar and grope about how they wish could protect their families from those bastards." Jason replied.

Stallions & Mares were talking amongst each other and discussing about the purple unicorn. They all gathered in the old farm house for one reason and that was because there was talk about a revaluation. But what did they lose, who stole it, and why do they need to fight? Most of the ponies had children and relatives that needed the. Most of them were also farmers, laborers, constructors, and teachers. They all lived in Muzzlington since they were born and never heard about a revaluation; they did, however, heard the term before. They all feared & hated the Blackdogs, they all want their children's to live happily, and they all want to see the sky clear for one day!

Twilight stepped forward towards the wooden pedestal, and cleared her throat. "Hello everypony, my name is Sarah Shy. Most of you already know I'm new here because of my shade of color, or the fact I'm a unicorn," Everypony looked up at Twilight with tired looks. "Anyway, that's not important. But who would agree that your families for children are important?"

Most of the ponies raised their hooves with firm looks of determination. "Alright, now who would do anything to protect their loved ones from anything?" Again, most ponies raised their hooves. "Okay, now what if I told all of you that I know you're lying?"

The room became quiet, and every ponies faces looked at Twilight with disgust. They couldn't believe what they were hearing! "And why would we be lying, Unicorn!" One pony taunted.

"Because you already failed to protect them…" Twilight replied calmly.

The entire farm was shaken by outrage, and shouts of disbelieve! stallions shook their hooves and mares stomped the ground; tired faces were replaced by angry looks. If the farm wasn't so distant from Muzzlington the whole town would have been eavesdropping. Jason Windserver took a step back, worried that he also might anger the townsfolk. Twilight however, was not even dazed by the ponies temper. Instead, she raised her hoof, and lowered her head. For some strange reason that caused everypony to settle down, giving Twilight a chance to speak again.

"If, however, you don't know why or how you failed the answer is quite simple, but it begins with one question…have you protect your families from the Blackdogs?" Twilight asked.

Everypony was struck by the question and some only looked down in shame. They all knew the answer, but not one pony had the courage to say anything. Twilight looked at everypony with pity and remorse. They knew they had failed, but Twilight was the one who woke them up.

"Why is it that you all raised your hooves, but never did when the Blackdogs began running this town?" Twilight question darkly. "Your children are being kidnapped, foals used for soldiers, and fillies used for pleasure. And all of you had the guts to say that you'll protect your loved ones?"

More ponies began to looked down in shame. "You've lost something, something that everypony deserves and received something no pony should ever know. You lost peace and gained fear. I know all of you are afraid of them, but that fear is only an illusion! I know all of you can do so much more, we all the know the Royal Guard can't do much, and will only help the Blackdogs more! If all of you are courageous enough to say that you'd protect your loved ones then I'm damn sure you're all courageous enough to raise your hooves! This isn't a revolution, or retaliation, this is revaluation to take back Muzzlington!"

Ponies began to cheer, stomp, and whistle in joy! Some didn't, but instead simply smiled. Twilight looked around and could see the fire in their eyes! They received something that Twilight complete overlooked, hope. Jason's mouth was drop, he was completely surprised on how much spirit these ponies had. They complained so much on how they wished they could do something about the Blackdogs, and here they are!

"But how are we gonna do it!?" somepony asked.

Twilight's smile faded, but was replaced by a determined look. "Simple…"

The sound of soldiers marching shook the grassy plains as if the soil marched along. Their golden armor shined even though the sky was covered by radiant silver clouds. The road leading to Muzzlington was bombarded by the steps each Guard took and the Equestrian flag shimmered as the wind passed through it. Most of the soldiers didn't like the idea of being trained in combat just to look for one pony who choice to run away. Not to mention Muzzlington was a dried up town with no hope of any kind of peace of mind; no pony really knew why there was still townsfolk living there.

There was no real entrance to Muzzlington and most of the homes looked the same. The Royal Guards never let their guard down and with the population decreasing, that only made them more cautious. As they walked towards town they all noticed that there weren't any ponies around. Soldiers looked at the abandoned homes, slowly beginning to raise their spears; the sound of wind masking the sound of hoof steps. They continued to march, but rather slowly.

Hiding in one of the homes was a cloaked purple alicorn ready to give her command. "Ready?" Twilight asked Jason.

"Yeah!" Jason replied.

"NOW!"

The Royal Guards never had a chance to react, dozens of bottles filled the sky as they soared upwards! They landed around the platoon, but not a single bottle hit any Guards! Orders were yelled, defenses were raised, but it was all too late. The bottles hit the ground, regardless of what anypony could do or say. As the bottles cracked open, thick, plum gas inflated out of the bottles, and surrounded the platoon! The gas expanded out, engulfing the Royal Guards with the smell of grapes.

Twilight raced downstairs as quick as she could! Kicking the door open, she was greeted by a humongous cloud of plum gas! Coughing could be heard inside the cloud, but Twilight wasn't planning on entering. She began to concentrate magic into her horn and began to cast her spell! Her horn began to simmer its purple aura and hummed with a soft pulse! She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and lower her head; horn now pointing straight at the plum colored cloud! Twilight released her magic out through her horn, radiating purple sparkles! A purple ray shot out of Twilight's horn and connected her with the plum cloud! The magic began to flow through the cloud, looking as though the cloud grew glowing purple veins! Twilight's horn hummed louder and seemed to blow away anything near Twilight! The veins of magic began to swirl around cloud, soon engulfing the plum cloud itself, causing wind to swirl around, houses to light up, leaves to fly, and coughing to die down. In a flash, the swirling magic expanded into thin air and all what was left was sleeping Guards.

Jason was one of the first ponies to come out his hiding spot and come up to Twilight. "What did you do, Sarah?"

"Easy sleeping spell! I could only do it to one pony at a time, so I need something to make them fall asleep all at once!" Twilight answered pridefully.

"So what are we gonna do with these guys?"

"Hide them and take their weapons! We can't have the Blackdogs carrying these and we can't just leave all these ponies here. They also won't just allow us to hurt anypony too, so we just need to keep them safe!"

"But what if they wake up?"

"Simple!"

Twilight levitated a Magic Gem out of her saddle bag, and began to concentrate more magic into it! Her horn glowed & hummed once again and a small shinning purple ball glided from her horn to the Gem. The Magic Gem shook as the glowing ball entered it, beginning to glow as well! Twilight's horn stopped glowing and she dropped the Gem to her right hoof. Jason looked at the glowing Gem with awe, fascinated by its shimmer!

"Magic Gems aren't only for absorbing magic, but also to store magic! The spell I used to keep those Guards asleep is now in this Gem! As long as nopony damages it, or absorbs it, the spell should be constant!" Twilight said in a low voice and put the Gem back into her bag.

"Okay we got them out of the way…" Jason concluded.

"Not quite. That was only half of them, the others will arrive in a few hours." Twilight informed. "Everypony collect their armor and weapons! Carry them back to the abandoned farm and make sure they don't wake up!" she called to everypony.

"So we're just gonna fight them? That's it?"

"It's not that simple. That would involve ponies getting killed,"

"But that's the whole point of stealing their weapons!" he exclaimed.

"No, it's to defend ourselves, look at them Jay," Jason looked around as Twilight instructed. "These ponies aren't killers! We're not going to just charge at them and have their children be fatherless, motherless, or both!" Twilight argued in a serious tone.

"… Okay, then what are you gonna do?"

"Reconnaissance, I'm going to try, and locate where their main base is! Or something similar to that nature. These parents will distract most of gang members, hopefully giving me a chance take out at least one of leaders!"

"So what am I suppose to do?"

"Ugh! Help out with injured, make more molotov, and try to help out as much as you can!" Twilight instructed as she was running off.

"Okay, but what now!?"

"Take care of the Guards, tell everypony to go home, and come back at dawn! I'll meet you at the center of town!"

"GET HER!" staillons with knifes raced towards a lone cloaked pony! This would have been easy if she wasn't Twilight Sparkle.

The first to slash was punched in his abdomen and found that he was no longer able to breath or see. Twilight levitated her bow out and began to fire by drawing back the string with her mouth; the arrow was held on to the string by more magic. The second & third mares dropped dead as arrows penetrated through their skulls. The final stallion was a dodgy one, but soon was being held down by the hoof of his attacker.

"Pick wisely, Raven—" Twilight was about to ask.

"Raven!" he spit.

"Alright then, since you guys are all over this town I'm gonna ask you a few questions,"

"Buck you!"

Twilight punch the stallion, causing his noise to break, and him groaning in pain. The stallion kept refusing to talk, but that only made Twilight break his hoof.

"AHHHH! Okay! Okay! STOP!" he pleaded.

"Alright good. Now, where are the Blackdogs?" Twilight asked in a dark tone.

The stallion took a pause because of his short pants. "They're everywhere! In alleyways, homes! You name it!"

"I meant their leader," Twilight began cutting his stomach with her knife.

"NO, NO, STOP! IN THE TOWN HALL! Buried underneath the rumble!" he cried out in pain.

"Thank you, that's all I need to know! Now, you crawl back to your other thieves and tell them that Twilight isn't going down so easy! You got that?"

"Y–y–yeah!"

"Good!" and with that Twilight punch the stallion one last time, knocking him out cold.

"Why is there blood on your cloak?" Jason asked.

"Hmm? Oh I was just having a nice chat with some Ravens!" Twilight answered in a cheerful tone!

"Um, okay. So what do we do now?"

"Now that we're all here we need to have everypony all over town! The Blackdogs will notice if we're all in one spot and likely will try to attack! I read about this kind of attack in a book once! The Battle of Chaos, boy that was a very interesting read!"

"Uh, Sarah, you're kind goin' off topic you kno'?"

"Oh right, sorry! Just lost in the clouds… anyway, back to the plan! Tell everypony to scatter near Town Hall, and bring all the Molotov you ponies have."

"Alright, Sarah. I just have one question."

"Hmm?"

"Why do you wear a cloak all the time?"

Twilight was struck by the sudden odd question. She didn't know what to say and just stood there for a few minutes while her poker face did most of the talking! "Uh, it–t for disguise! I really can't have anypony knowing who I am!" Twilight answered nervously.

"Alright Sarah, but I do have to tell you that you're a horrible liar." Jason said coyly.

Ugh, if I known any better, I would say he was a Raven… Twilight thought as the two walked back to the old farm, but not aware that another platoon of Guards were already marching their way towards town.