//------------------------------//
// 2:8- Eclipse 
// Story: Part I: Precursors 
// by Auryx Saturnius 
//------------------------------//

	Even after the events of the previous week, no one could have expected what happened next; not the king, not the siblings, not Twyla, and not even the Didact...
Twyla awoke from a start from her dream. Even in consciousness, she could feel the goosebumps covering her body from the terror and pleasure her mind imagined. It was chilling to know that Zero, the self-acclaimed equal to the Didact, had such power... or that said power was so high for either of them. She looked out the window next to her bed and stared down at the city. Even in the artificial twilight, she could see that much of Canterlot was already heading towards the festival grounds, where Celestia and Luna would raise the sun together, in the first time in a millennia.
She grabbed her clothes and was quick to dress. As Twyla finished, a heavy knock came from her door, two guards- one Solar and one Chinook- opening and peeking behind the door, sent to wake her up for the festivals. At the sight of her already awake and dressed, they swung the door wide and stepped inside.
“Ma’am,” the lead guard said, “We’ve been sent to escort you to Miss Rarity for your dress for the celebration today.”
Twyla put on a smile and nodded, “Of course.”
The three of them left the room, Twyla following the two guards to Rarity’s impromptu workshop in the castle boutique. At this early of an hour, the sun was nowhere close to being raised. The moon had set much earlier in the night, it’s cycle different from its solar partner in dance. Even so, the halls were streaming with activity. Everywhere around her, ponies and even some humans were busy with the final preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration, trying to get as much last minute details finished before the event. Magical torches gave adequate light, shadows dancing across tapestries and bodies, making a beautiful picture in Twyla’s mind.
Twyla herself reflected back on her dream from before. Casting aside all the... inconveniences, Zero had explained to her much, though a vague much, about what the Inferi were searching for. The Tempest was the obvious answer, but she had never realized that within the Tempest, was an object that crafted the entire focal point of Unitologist belief: the Marker. She wondered what else Celestia had kept out of her story to her about the Tempest and the Elements of Harmony...
...But she couldn’t be thinking about that now. Zero had said that all they could really do for now was to wait for the Inferi’s next move, which he also mentioned might have involvement with a third party... all very interesting and necessary facts for Twyla.
Then she wondered whether or not it was necessary to tell the Didact the information Zero gave to her during her dream. Twyla admittingly had absolutely no idea on how bad this Marker could become. Zero mentioned that in Rassilon’s hands, it could even destroy the world... something she felt the Didact probably should know. At the same time though, she figured that he would already know that about the Marker in general. It didn’t sound unknown to him in anyway. Also, the way Zero talked about him, it sounded like the Didact sorta needed to do this, or at least help. Then, to a more selfish point she was afraid to admit, she didn’t want the information that she orgasmed inside of her dream to be accidentally slipped.
Twyla concluded that she should hold on to the information for the time being, and that the Didact should be able to work without it. As she finished thinking, Twyla realised that they had already reached the boutique, the doors wide open for the royalty and for their friends to come and get their attire for the event. She felt happy that Rarity pulled everything off: like she knew she would, of course.
Rarity herself stood inside, talking to someone who was behind a curtain. The seamstress was already wearing her dress for the celebrations. While it wasn’t as extravagant as some of her greater works, it was still beautiful in it’s modesty and simplicity. Dark green covered with shiny gemstones, all equally placed along the length in key areas, made the majority of the fabric that extended from her shoulders to her ankles, as well as much of the long sleeves. At the waist, the dark color began to cut off and turn into a lighter pastel green, which highlighted the lovely apparel that signified Ponyville’s very own.
It made Twyla wonder how her dress would be, seeing as she had only been measured once as a human after the event in the halls. 
Finally, the curtain pulled away, to which Twyla was shocked by the image of the human king, Event Horizon. Her first instinct was to bow, but before she could, he put out a hand and gave her a look that made her think it was okay not to. Black dominated his suit. His tunic and trousers were the same intensity of the deepest onyx color she had seen. Adorned on his chest were golden symbols and relics, which displayed his status as King of Equestria. Tied on his back and hanging over his shoulder was a cape of white fur that ran down to gently drag on the floor. Real fur. It didn’t have the look of the fake fur that was common in Equestria. It was real fur.
“Isn’t it just superb, Twyla darling?” Rarity took a step back and marveled at her own work. “I managed to make something that told power and royalty...”
Twyla realized that Rarity must have been working all night to finish the king’s and Sirius’ formal dress. “It looks like something fit for a king...”
Horizon chuckled at Twyla’s joke. “I could not have ever pictured something better myself Ms. Rarity. You have certainly done an incomparable job...”
Rarity blushed. “Oh my... well... thank you, your Highness.”
The king turned back to Twyla. “I believe I must excuse myself ladies... if I recall correctly, someone needs to see their new dress.”
Twyla smiled. After he met them all, his Majesty Event Horizon had shown himself to be a relaxed and collected kind of pony. Even after he stated to the Didact that he was a Precursor of Astra, he was calm to explain everything. That was when all the secrets became exposed to everyone. He explained to everyone what Celestia had told her about the Tempest: it’s connection to the Elements of Harmony. He told them what the Cephalowalker told Celestia and the Didact: that is was an ancient weapon created by a pre-equine race long ago, whose myths and legends had become what is today known as the Precursors of Astra- the very same race that he stated was the Didact’s own.
Precursors...
Homo-Sapiens...
They were one and the same. The only ironic part was that the Didact had already known this too, which was probably why, Twyla thought, the king had taken an instant liking towards him. The Didact’s own explanation was met with as much awestruck as the king’s. He explained that modern humanity- in all of it’s diversity and sub-species- while not the exact race of the Precursors, the ones who built the machine, but were still descendants down the evolutionary ladder.
Despite the events of the past week, and of the new information came to light, the king stated that the Summer Sun Celebration should still go on. He said it had something to do with the public: that they can’t begin to make assumptions about things should the Celebration be canceled... so they shouldn’t cancel it.
As he walked out of the boutique and became the new escort of the two guards, Twyla thought about how his argument seemed perfectly logical at the time. She was quickly rushed into the dressing room, though, so she began to focus her attention on the task at hand: her dress.
Rarity walked over to the rack that held everybody’s formal attire for the event. There, she pulled out a lavish dark blue dress and held it up to her friend. “You looked so amazing in this dress, I thought you’d like it if I altered it to fit you now."
“Whoa...”
Twyla instantly recognized it as a modification of her Grand Galloping Gala dress. Even so, it still seemed to be more lustrous and magnificent than before. The blue fabric was adorned with sparkling stars at the waist hem and along the bottom. The top was held up by a strap that sparkled just as much in the light. Rarity even made a pair of gloves that ran up to her elbows. There was no doubt in her mind that it looked more amazing than at the Gala. Twyla could only look at it with watering eyes and hug her friend.
“I cannot thank you enough for it...”
Rarity held back her own tears of joy as she hugged her friend back. “Come now darling; we can finish this happy moment later.” Rarity broke the hug and held Twyla by the shoulders. “Now, you need to put it on.”
Twyla nodded and giddily bounced back into the dressing room, ready to put on her new dress.

***************

There was only an hour left until the rising of the sun. After having received her dress, Twyla had decided to stay and keep Rarity company. She also wanted to see Crescent Star when he came in for his suit. He was certainly getting better from the injury. While the doctors gave him a couple weeks to heal, his human self managed to largely do it in two days, thanks to no small part of magic, of course. What was covered in a large pad of bandages and gauze patches two nights before only needed to be wrapped in one layer. The wound was easy to conceal underneath clothing, and his limp was getting better, though he still needed a cane to walk or even stand for long periods.
Twyla wanted to personally be with him during the Summer Sun Celebration. She was in love with him. The very stallion that had known her almost all her life and had been unable to make any connections of friendship with her for most of that turned out to be the very stallion she had fallen for. The only problem, was that he hadn’t come into the boutique at all yet.
“I wonder why Crescent Star hasn’t come in yet...”
Rarity, who was currently standing outside the dressing room while Vulcan was inside, perked up at Twyla’s idle comment. “That’s because he already came in dear.”
“What?”
She nodded slowly, still looking at the dressing room curtains waiting for the results of her work. “Yup, he came in before the king did. Got his vest and suit and everything.”
Twyla looked down at the floor pouting. “I’m sorry to leave you alone, but I hope you don’t mind if I-”
“Oh, of course I don’t mind.” Rarity turned her head. “Go ahead and go find him... and, if you’re ever wondering... I approve of him.”
Twyla smiled as she walked out of the boutique. “I’m sure to remember that...”
She walked down the hallway and out across the main hall. She didn’t want to just ask if he’ll be with her for the celebration, she also wanted to tell her these said feelings. It was very important to her that she did, today. Twyla guessed as to where he could possibly be in the entire castle, and if she didn’t find him there, then she would keep searching.
Sure enough to her first guess, he was in the personal library. She remembered that it was the very room that she placed the Didact in before he became Vicar Saint to them. She remembered that it was the very room that she saw Crescent Star for the first time in a year.
Twyla found him sitting in one of the chairs, sipping at a cup of Andromeda Leaf Tea, while across from him sat the Didact. Crescent Star was wearing a fancy grey colored, pinstripe suit, with a maroon vest and tie over it, ornate with golden details. He looked ready for a business deal, over a big national celebration. 
Surprisingly, even the Didact seemed better dressed for the occasion. While he still wore his black clothes and white coat with the cutoff, it was neater, well cleaned and pressed, compared to the fresh from the woods dirt that coated it earlier. On his chest were about ten rows of countless military ribbons, below which were two rows of eight or nine medals, glistening in the library candle light. A rich sabre hung from his waist, and a black beret rested in his lap, covered by his hand.
“Ah, Ms. Spark,” he said with a joyed tone, “care to join us?”
Twyla said nothing, and took a seat closer to Crescent Star as the Didact continued. “We were just talking about his Majesty, Event Horizon. Crescent was sharing with me on how he had been sponsoring his expeditions across the known world.”
Crescent nodded, taking a sip of his tea. “I must say that, throughout the whole year of me and my team even working with him personally, I had no idea he was the king himself. He is very generous and patient, always willing to help us out.”
Twyla smiled. “He certainly is a kindhearted man. Over five thousand years is a long time to live.”
Didact smiled himself. “It’s interesting how that works. It’s almost more like an alicorn’s body clock is a hundred times slower than a normal sentient being. I’ve learned that Sirius is almost 3’500 years old; Jovian, 2’700; Celestia, almost an even 2’000; Luna, 1’700; and Vulcan, 1’500.”
Crescent nodded, “It’s hard to imagine...”
The Didact leaned forward in his chair. “Well it’s easy if you try.” He stood up and straightened out his coat, the medals on his chest jingling as he moved.
“I’m sorry to leave you two, but I’m afraid I have somewhere I need to get going to right now.”
Crescent Star looked up at him in confusion. “What’s that?”
The Didact only looked ahead at the door, speaking with an even tone. “Celestia had asked me to be her escort...” He didn’t speak again as he walked out, too quickly for either of them to retort. Twyla and Crescent Star only stared back at him as his heavy footfall began to fade off in the distance.
“Does that mean what I think it means?” she whispered in slight shock.
Crescent couldn’t help but laugh at the situation. “You know, I think so...”
The two of them glanced at each other and couldn’t quell the laughter coming from inside of them. For long moments, the two of them just laughed. It wasn’t just because of the Didact’s statement. It was because they were happy. They were alive.
When the two of them finally stopped, it grew silent. After having gone across the castle to talk to him, Twyla couldn’t find the courage to say anything to Crescent Star. She just sat there, eyes downcast, unable to even look at him because of embarrassment.
Crescent Star spoke instead.
“Twilight, I just wanted to let you know that I love you.”
Twyla inhaled a bit sharper than normal. She looked up over at Crescent Star to see that he was staring straight ahead, focused on some distant point on the wall, too afraid to even breathe. “There,” he said briskly, “I said it...”
She didn’t know what to feel. Sad? Angry? Most likely joyous? Ultimately, she felt sorry. She felt sorry that she hadn’t said it first after all these years of knowing each other. She felt sorry that he could only say this now, after having traveled for a full year, and after having been almost mortally injured.
“Crescent...” Twyla put out her hand and placed it on his own, resting in his lap. “Crescent Star I want you to know that I love you... I love you very much and I’m sorry I never told you this before...”
She wanted to cry, and she supposed he saw that in her eyes, because he immediately wrapped her into a hug and kissed her forehead. “Not the most romantic moment I’ve seen,” he joked, “but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Twyla smiled inside of his vest. She was very pleased; happy that he was with her. Crescent Star stood up, pulling Twyla to her feet. “I’m sorry to disturb you,” he stated with a posh accent, “but I would like to ask if I may be this fair maiden’s escort to the Summer Sun Celebration.”
He lifted up his arm to his side and Twyla pulled her arm through it. “I’d be delighted.”
So with that, they went.

***************

The Summer Sun Celebration in Canterlot, no matter how you cut, was perhaps the biggest festival of the year. In Ponyville, the Celebration was met with a party and excitement at the rising sun, but here in Canterlot, that party was always at least fifty times larger. No matter which city or town held it, Canterlot would always celebrate and would always attract the most visitors.
This year was no exception. Ponies and visitors from across the known world were jam packed below the observation balcony where the princesses would come out and raise the sun. With only a couple minutes before the two were to come out, ponies were still making the necessary arrangements for the guests to be present at the ceremony: chairs, side tables and glasses of water included in these preparations.
On the inside, Celestia stood behind the large curtain separating her and her party from the outside world. She was nervous, her arm tightly wrapped around the Didact’s.
“Your Serene Highness, that may not be a real arm you are holding, but it still hurts.” Celestia looked down at how tight she was holding his arm, and promptly loosened her grip with a swift apology.
“Didact,” she followed up, “What about the fact that I’m no longer connected to the sun? How can I actually do what I’m suppose to if I can’t control my own domain?”
The Didact turned his head and gazed towards her. “I don’t believe I ever was able to explain the extent of severing your tie to the Star. Yes, since you went into shock and began to drown in a river, I never had the chance. As you are severed from the Star, you are no longer dependant on it magically. Your aura is no longer parasitizing upon the Star’s magical energy.  Now, you’re own magical energy is separated and is, distinctly, yours. That doesn’t mean you can use that magic to control the “movement” of the Star... only that it is no longer bound and, if left alone, will “move” normally across the sky.”
Celestia looked ahead at the dark curtain. “So, it’s still possible to perform the iconic Raising of the Sun today, as well as the special stunt planned?”
“Yes.” The Didact rose an eyebrow. “Though I’m not certain about the stunt... you haven’t had time to practice all week.”
Celestia smiled as the cue was signaled to open the curtains and to send them through. “We don’t need to practice.”
Without another word, she stared straight ahead with confidence and the two of them walked out from the hall and onto the balcony. To his surprise, it brought a distinct feeling of pride and joy to the Didact at the sounds of the confusion made by the ponies and visitors below at the sight of the Princess of the Sun. He could only imagine what was going on inside of their heads: to see their princess as a strange creature.
She let go of the Didact’s arm and stepped up to the microphone. Her dress flared with the colors of white and with the beautiful phoenix feathers that lined across the length. Even as a strange creature, the audience couldn’t help but gasp and exclaim in awe at the beauty of their princess.
“My little ponies,” she started with her serene, smooth voice, “do not be startled by my change in appearance. I assure you that this is nothing more than magic, and that I am still I. Here, I stand before you as a changed mare; not just in looks but in philosophy. Over the course of recent events, I have learned to understand a whole new world that we have never seen before, and of the privileges and wonders that it holds.
“Which leads me to the introductions of our esteemed guests at this year’s Summer Sun Celebration.” The crowd cheered as Celestia turned and extended a hand to point attention towards the Didact, who stood a couple steps behind her. “Here, representing the Kingdom of Humanity; a place with storybook wonders and people never before seen in these lands; the Lord of Admirals and Master of Generals; the man, known as the Didact.”
He stepped forward and the crowd cheered to him with great enthusiasm. After a couple seconds, he stepped back and sat down in his assigned chair as Celestia continued.
“Also, together with us for the first time in a millennia; my sister, Princess Luna!” The Lunar Princess stepped out, wearing her dark blue military uniform. She smiled and waved at the audience, who didn’t relent from their continuous cheering. She promptly sat next to the Didact.
“Hailing from the Court of Fillydelphia; my brother, Prince Vulcan!” He stepped forward, a group of Fillydephians screaming with excitement at the announcement of their local prince. He wasted no time for waves or stances, moving from the hallway and straight to his seat.
“From the northern region of our beloved country: Prince Jovian and his wife, Princess Aria!” The two moved forward onto the balcony gracefully. Aria looked absolutely stunning in her sparkling pink dress, while Jovian looked powerful: his fur uniform doing nothing but increasing his imposing stance.
“Returning from his travels across the Gryphon States: Crown Prince Sirius!” The crown prince gave the most theatrical entrance yet: his arms splayed out and his black cape fluttering on his back. The crowd loved it, and roared even louder. When a particular group of visiting gryphons flew up above and cheered, Sirius stood firm and gave them the gryphon salute, before hastening to his seat.
“Now presenting, the esteemed heroes of Equestria: the very women who saved our nation from the return of Nightmare Moon, who stopped the chaos of Discord and who helped thwart the Changeling Invasion only a month ago. May I introduce, the Elements of Harmony!”
The six mares turned women walked out and the crowd cheered louder than ever. Each one of them waved and smiled with joy towards the audience, Rarity and Pinkie Pie even going to blow kisses out towards the air. After a second, the six, plus Crescent Star at Twyla's side, sat down and took their seats in the second row, behind the royalty and Didact.
Celestia paused from her announcements, clearing her throat into the mic to squander a couple seconds. As the crowd quieted down on their own, she continued with her final guest.
“And finally, after over a millennium of travels and exploration; the very stallion who before then had arisen to help this beloved country against the mighty demons and enemies who sought to harm us. He is the stallion who put an end to the reign of Discord and who stopped King Umbra the Terrible from his conquest of our land. Introducing, for the very first time in a long time; our father, King Event Horizon!”
He came forth without a sound or word. The audience’s cheers were less of joy than it was of shock. As the king walked out onto the balcony, most of the crowd had no idea what to do. That was until there grew a tiny murmur of voices. Soon, that murmur grew, and the entire crowd then began to sing the Equestrian National Anthem. Not a voice quivered, and not a single pony in the audience was quiet. On the balcony, everybody stood up and faced towards Event Horizon as the hymn was sung proudly throughout the entire city. Even the Didact, who wasn’t of the land and wasn’t of Equestrian blood stood, and saluted to the king: the utmost champion of Equestria.
As the song ended, he took his seat, separate from the rest, and looked forward towards Celestia. He didn’t say a word, only smirked with pride towards his eldest daughter, as if to say ‘This is your moment... so do not wait for me to approve.’
She nodded ever so slightly, and turned to Luna, who stood up and took her position behind her sister. Not a word was spoken between them as they put their hands together as if in prayer and filled their bodies with their magic. Celestia could only smile as her body became encased in a white glow, her eyes bright with magical energy, and she began to float in front of the audience She outstretched her arms and raised her head, the glow of her magic intensifying to become the brightest thing in the sky. As this happened, the most beautiful of wings unfolded from behind her.
Celestia became not just stunning, or alluring, but angelic.
As she reached high into the sky, the sun finally erupted from the horizon, its lifegiving glow casting down upon the earth and reflecting through the princess as a kaleidoscope of light.
That was when Luna became encased in her own blue magic, and when a Celestial Firestone lifted from her enclosed hands and began to glow fervently with magic. Like her sister, Luna floated upward and became a smaller Angel of the Night, easily outshined by her sister’s greater light. As the two hovered high in the sky and the Celestia Firestone between them shined like a star in between, the sky darkened and the gentle glow of Luna began to grow.
Soon, she had grown become as radiant as her sister next to her. The sky had taken a dazzling violet and orange color, as if in the dusk of the evening twilight. The sun itself still shined, but was only a ring of yellow behind an orb of pitch black.
For the first time in a millennium, the sun and the moon reigned in the sky together, in harmony: one never able to outshine the other.
The whole show lasted a total of eight minutes, and the entire audience was captivated by it all. Eventually, the two princess had descended back onto the balcony, and the sun had risen to become the great orb of the sky. The moon had moved off to the side, still aglow by the sunlight even when it was no longer covering the magnificent star of day.
It was evident that some had even been moved to tears, too stunned to react to what had transpired in front of them. Slowly, the sound of clapping rang out, the first to share his thoughts being the Didact, who stared towards Celestia with his own watering eyes. After that, the sound could be heard from across Canterlot, as every pony and every being living in the city roared and clapped in astonishment.
Celestia and Luna both walked towards the mic, the eldest speaking with a tone of pride and joy. “May this ceremony remain as a symbol of harmony and unity. Only together can our nation survive: both from outside, and within...”
She turned back towards the group, her words no longer amplified by the microphone. “Rainbow, if you would be so kind...”
The woman stood up and cracked her knuckles. “It’ll be my pleasure princess...”
Rainbow Dash lifted up and flew from where she had stood high into the sky, preparing for her signature move. That was when the Didact finally saw it. It stabbed him in the heart like a dagger. He was astounded that he, one of the greatest tacticians of an entire galaxy, had not realized it sooner.
Richard of York gave battle in vain. Kotec’s message had been lost to him in its blatant simplicity, but he finally understood what the Kamendando meant.
“Twyla.” He rapidly turned back to the seat directly behind him, grabbing the woman and bringing her closer so she could hear. “Twyla, the message!”
She was growing frantic by his urgency. “What about the message?”
“It’s a mnemonic device! It’s one of the ways used on Earth to help memorize the colors of the rainbow!”
She was wide eyed as he continued. “They plan on using the Sonic Rainboom as means for their next part in the plan!”
Twyla looked up towards her friend and realized that it was too late to stop her now. By now, Rainbow was already beginning her descent and was gaining speed... fast! “Didact... what do we do?”
He frantically looked around in the sky, before the words came from his mouth. “I-I don’t know...”
Rainbow Dash reached her velocity, and the sky erupted forth a magnificent rainbow. The sonic boom dimly echoed through the area, quickly dissipating as she made her rapid arch through the sky...
...That was when a louder boom rang out in the sky, followed by a series of booms...
“It’s a slipspace rupture...”
The sky was torn apart as a rip in the fabric of spacetime was instantaneously created and mended. Floating lazily above the outskirts of Canterlot, barely missing Rainbow Dash as she was sent careening off to safety, was a ship. Its kind was never seen in Equestria before, the audience gathered for the Summer Sun Celebration now awestruck by the appearance of this alien object. But the Didact knew exactly what it was. He knew that it wasn’t something promising or hopeful: it was an Inferi Prophecy-class corvette. Painted across the side, written in the Inferi language, was the name of the ship: ISC IOSEPH KALEIR.
The Didact instinctively backed up, knowing that there was now a crew of over 400 Inferi soldiers resting over their head: a hornet’s nest ready to attack. What was worse... corvettes never were alone.
“GET DOWN!” He shouted at the top of his lungs, everyone on the balcony dropping to the ground as his words were followed by more explosions in the sky. The following tear was far greater than the previous, the air pressure released breaking every single glass object in the city. The ship was much larger and more menacing than the previous one. Hovering above Arcem Solis was a Reclamation-class destroyer; almost a thousand men and women trained for war and conquest. ISC ABINADI CKES was scrawled out neatly across its side in Inferi.
This wasn’t an expedition group anymore; this was an army ready war. War with Equestria and with whoever stood in the way of finding the Leviathan.
The Didact stood up, the relaxed demeanor he held about the celebration gone. He was in full general-mode. “Everyone up! Galaxias; I need all of you to prepare the city and country the best you can. Try and evacuate as much ponies and visitors as possible, then get any and all forces prepared for a combat situation. We don’t have much time so make it quick!” No one on the balcony doubted that he was in charge now. Vulcan and Sirius nodded in confirmation. The Didact turned to Fluttershy and Rarity.
“Shy, Belle; I need you to get Rainbow Dash up here ASAP. You can fly and you have the best eyes, so try and find her and make sure she is okay!” They nodded.
“Spark, Jack and Star! You three, stay with me. I’m going to work on a plan to try and get those warships out of the sky, so I’ll need some muscle and some magic. The rest of you...” he huffed with what sounded like amusement. “Gentlemen! Prepare to defend yourselves!”
He took off at a sprint, Applejack, Twyla and Crescent finding it next to impossible to keep up. Celestia, Jovian, Sirius and Horizon also followed close behind, heading to both prepare the castle guards and thinking it would be best to deal with the crowd at ground level. The eight of them were quick to reach the great halls of of the citadel, only needing to cross the wide expanse. They were unprepared for the appearance of several guards, each holding their spears towards them
“Halt!” The Didact wasted no time, pushing one of the spears aside and quickly burst forward to incapacitate the guard holding in it. He shot out his hand, aiming for the fur of the neck, which would knock out the guard, but when he hit it, felt strange. It didn’t feel like fur at all, but something hard and solid... almost like chitin.
“What the hell?” The explosions of green flame around him danced around the room, each of the guards, as well as a number more that came in during the event, slowly being engulfed by one.
Celestia shook her head in disbelief. “No... it can’t be...”
They were humanoid, each covered in a shell of black chitin and snarling with a gaping maw of sharp fangs. The insectoid group was quick to surround the group. Their hands were bound and they were force to their knees, unable to anything but comply at the moment.
Twyla looked up at their new captors... their third party. She knew them well. She knew what they were and what they were capable of. She knew they wanted to destroy all of Equestria, and that they would do anything to do so.
She knew that they were the Changeling Swarm.
Her thoughts were broken by the sound of footsteps. The woman walked erratically, swaying back and forth with each step. Her skin was the palest of whites and her neon green eyes were fixated on Twyla, refusing to even blink or look away. Her voice was as erratic as her footsteps, clearly marking her insanity.
“So, do you like our new invasion force?” She tilted her head and huffed as no reply came. “Well, it took some bargaining on our part, but it helps that as a swarm we don’t care about the status of the world either way. Hehe... I’m sure you’re just dying to find out why we chose here instead of the machine... oh yes, we know about the machine...”
Twyla looked up at the Changeling Chrysalis, who had skipped Crescent Star and Applejack and had stopped in front of her. She bent down to Twyla’s level, sharp angles in her stance from her insanity. “I’m sure you, precious, are wondering how I survived that blast from your older brother. Well, I must say it wasn’t easy. It certainly, cost, my, sanity; thanks to your meddling and your interference! Now? Now, I’m going to make you pay. Our new allies said that I have claims to your demise... how does that make you feel?”
Twyla’s only response was to spit in her face. She recoiled back in disgust. “Bad pet!”
Chrysalis bend down and punched Twyla square in the jaw, sending her to the floor. Finished with her, she moved on to the Didact. “And what about our stranger here? We all know that he is probably the worst of anyone present in this room. Does anyone here know how many people have died in his name and cause? I certainly don’t.” 
She laughed at him, but he refused to respond or even look up at her. “Hm... you’re a boring pet.” She then kicked him in his ribs, a hard crack echoing around the room. The Queen moved on, skipping Celestia and Sirius, choosing to stand in front of Jovian and Horizon. With Jovian bound,  she simply bent forward and reached out to retrieve the sword hanging from his uniform.
“I hope you don’t mind that I’m borrowing this,” she said playfully, “All you rich boys have such wonderful toys.”
“Release these binds,” Jovian growled, “then we’ll see how much of a toy that is!”
She ignored him and leaned over to the king. “Well, well, your majesty. I’m flattered to be at your.. hehe... service.” She flirtingly tapped his nose with her finger, which he tried to bite.
“Go to hell.”
“Now, now,” Chrysalis pouted, “That’s no way to treat a lady, and this lady wants your sword...”
“I would die before I give it to you!”
“Well good for you! But would you let your children die for it?” At her cue, three changeling warriors came forward and drew daggers to the three siblings’ necks. Event Horizon stared at them with fear.
“No...”
Sirius protested. “Father... don’t do it!”
“Quiet pet!” Chrysalis kicked Sirius and knocked the breath out of him.
The king looked down at the floor before sighing with regret. “Don’t hurt them... please.”
It was Celestia who protested next. “Papa... stars be damned, don’t do it!”
Chrysalis, sure enough, kicked her hard in the chest, causing Celestia to keel further over. Instead of Horizon, it was the Didact who reacted, three changelings having to keep him on the floor.
“You bitch!”
“So your Majesty... what’ll it be?”
After a long pause, he finally said it. “It’s my sword... the one hanging from my waist.”
Chrysalis looked down at it and then looked back at Jovian’s. The two looked nothing similar. “Are you sure?”
“Yes... take it and check it! It is it!” Chrysalis did so, removing the sheath and then pulling out the blade. The sword was completely black, save some gold details in the handle. Even the blade was a dull onyx. Inscribed in lighter letters were the namesake of the Keys of Astra. On one side, “Umbra Stellarum” was etched, while on the other “Event Horizon Galaxia, Master of Equestria”.
Chrysalis nodded with satisfaction. “Hm... it seems you weren’t lying to me. However, just so you don’t get any ideas... you must forgive me... business and all.”
She casually stepped over to Sirius’ limp body, had him lifted up and then, with all the force she could muster, jammed a dagger into his heart. The crown prince desperately gasped for breath, as the changelings holding him simply let go and let him fall to the ground. Everyone kneeling cried in shock, but Horizon, Jovian and Celestia screamed in anger and sadness.
Chrysalis remained oblivious to their cries, instead taking interest to something in her nail, waving them off. “Take them to the Ioseph Kaleir and have them locked up. I’m sure some of Rassilon’s delegates can find something useful for them before their creative executions.”
The changelings dragged the living prisoners away to carry out their orders, leaving Sirius to bleed out on the floor of the great halls.