//------------------------------// // A Heavy Duty // Story: Marks of Harmony // by Lapis-Lazuli and Stitch //------------------------------// Gdocs Version Marks of Harmony Part 19 Well, it is no wonder she chose to attack Streak, he mused as he walked quite purposefully through the military encampment. A pony army of this size is unprecedented. I suppose this was why Ius said the griffons were becoming unnerved. I hope she at least considered she would scare the bird-cats out of their mortal minds. I would rather not heap that onto her sins at any rate. These and other more personal and comparatively trivial thoughts brushed across his greater consciousness as he strolled amongst the ponies. None of them bothered him or gave him strange looks, which provided him mild satisfaction that his ability to conceal his greater power had not entirely deserted him in his thousands of years of seclusion. Instead of his far more imposing form, all they would see would be a plain brown Earth pony with a deeper brown mane and tail. It was hardly an obtrusive display, especially as his lack of a horn and wings kept any suspicious guard ponies from glancing too frequently at him. After all, Earth ponies were less capable of causing trouble. He dared not ask for the location he so desired. Disguised as he was, the soldiers would see him as nothing more than a common pony seeking surety in the highest authority. An authority which was, no doubt, presently dogged with the insanity that was the aftermath of a large battle. Rather, he chose to find Celestia via his own intuition. He snapped his eyes shut and open, the world about him shifting from the material state which the average mortal only ever beheld, to a metaphysical pantheon of infused power. In this alternative vision, which he preferred, all things were defined by the fundamental forces infused within them. The ponies about him were a brilliant collection of hues, those marked by Streak as Ascended pulsing slightly more brightly.The plants and animals about him were glowing with the warm green of Life, while the inanimate objects of the world manifested in varying violet shades of Unity. To him, it was always glorious to behold the world as it truly was, despite the complaints of the others. With his new eyes, he caught sight of Luna, represented as tight cords of all the other powers surrounded by the dominating deep navy of Reciprocity. But for all his searching, he could only see wave after wave of mortal ponies. The consuming orange light of Epiphany exuded by Celestia’s form was nowhere in his sight. He grunted as he blinked once again to return his vision back to that of the material world. So, she had anticipated he would come, and was intent upon gauging his conviction over her actions by forcing him to search her out. So be it, Celestia, he thought, not without his fuming anger brimming ever so slightly. You desire to test me, even when you have already broken the laws we laid down together and have come perilously close to a full gathering for the express purpose of your judgement. So be it. His tail swished as he sidled out of the semi-official path of commuting, sitting stiffly on the edge and observing each soldier as he passed by. Being they were soldiers, the only ones about would be those off-duty, those on patrol or in drill formations, and those running detailed errands for their superiors. The former two were of no help to him in locating Celestia, but with the latter he began to see a vague route the more ponies he scrutinized. When he was confident in general direction they took, he returned to his hooves and trotted in the same path. His hoofsteps led him to a distinctly less active area, and one beset in the very air with fear and depression. The continued appearance of runners assured him he was still on the relatively correct bearing, and was unsurprised when legions of rows of featureless tents began to dominate his vision. In the place of soldiers out for practice, the ponies here were in distinctly smaller groups the mortals ascribed as families. Mothers could be heard within the thin walls of the tents comforting young foals while fathers and older colts and fillies joined in serious, often teary, discussion with their neighbors. Yes, Celestia would have her personal quarters nearby. Her natural gravitation and empathetic abilities for the mortals was as strong as it had ever been, and with her talent for diffusing the Renegade Powers, there was even less doubt of where she would have stationed herself. He strolled amongst those he had sworn to protect; those who had crafted the instrument of their own destruction and in so doing, had forced him and and his brothers and sisters to give the ultimate sacrifice. And he would continue protecting them until an enemy of superior power and skill slew him. But he would always hate them, every last one of them; hate them beyond forgiveness for what they had allowed themselves to become and create. Although he had not intended it, the deep scowl ingrained in his features at being so surrounded by the mortals was quite fitting for his arrival at Celestia’s heavily defended tent. It was only slightly larger than those used by the soldiers and refugees to account for her greater stature, and was ringed, roughly three yards out, by the most grizzled of the Royal Guard. At only two feet from the defensive ring, many of the ponies having adopted more barring poses, he let his disguise melt away as he simultaneously formed a shield of watery magic before him. Any guard who looked at it— which accounted for practically all of them— became mentally frozen, unable speak, remember, or even blink. He strode into their midst, pushing down one of the obstructing statue-like ponies as he passed beyond the ring, and with a silent brush of magic, he entered Celestia’s tent. “Evening, Celestia,” Verdance, Arbiter of Life, said to the Arbiter of Epiphany’s back in his Zebrican accented voice. ______________________________________________________________________________ “And then that anomaly appeared out of nowhere and attacked us,” Rarity huffed, slowing to a trot just slightly before Rainbow herself. “Yeah, we saw it,” Rainbow replied, motioning to Nemb. “I think the doc just about jumped out of his chitin when it blasted that magic wave. I’ll admit, it felt weird as hay.” “You girls stay out here,” Twilight asserted to the group, her horn lighting and magic grasping the handle to the doorway. “There might be more of Aurora’s ponies in here and it will be easier for me to sneak through than anypony else.” “Um... not to be rude Twilight, but, you really aren’t the best sneaker out of all of us,” Fluttershy said. “She’s got a point, Twi,” Rainbow said, not a little hurt at the way Twilight acknowledged her but refused to look at her directly. She knew she looked vastly different from her old pony self, but she was still the same as she always had been. Perhaps second only to Fluttershy, Twilight ought to have been able to tell that best. “I assume the objects you are after are the Elements of Harmony?” Nemb spoke up, the first time he had done so in the presence of Rainbow’s friends. “I don’t think Twilight said anything about the Elements,” Pinkie said, eyeing him curiously. “And I’m even surerer that I didn’t.” “Rainbow Dash is in my care, and well, don’t you think it would have been odd for our Queen to have not mentioned it to me?” Nemb replied, showing a genuine fanged smile. “Since when am I in your ‘care’?” Rainbow asked with force, pride not willing to take a blow. “Since you have yet to master changing, telecommunication, and casting spells,” Nemb answered flatly without ever looking at her. “Now, am I correct or not? I may be able to help if I am.” A pause lingered between Nemb and Twilight, the former patiently waiting for the latter to cease glaring critically at him and actually provide the answer. “Yes. We are,” Twilight finally decided, and Rainbow released a held breath. “Their magic is different and might be able to harmlessly destroy an anomaly.” “Then allow me...” Nemb said as green flames erupted about his body only to fall away moments later to the exact image of one of corrupted Guards that had assaulted them. “... to check whether the coast is clear.” “Can’t wait ‘til I’ll be able to do that,” Rainbow said wistfully. “I’d be able to help you guys out with stuff like this a lot easier.” “Not to mention making pranking even funnier!” Pinkie snorted with a wink which Rainbow returned, chuckling. “I’m giving you a single minute before we come in after you,” Twilight replied rather more aggressively than Rainbow thought was necessary. “There something I’m not gettin’?” she leaned in and whispered to Applejack. “Twilight’s more off, ya know, than the rest of us.” As an afterthought that stung without even saying it, Dash added, “Is it me?” “I ain’t gonna lie, sugarcube,” Applejack answered as Nemb slid into the slight crack Twilight had opened in the doorway. “She was right furious with Chrysalis when we told ‘er ‘bout what happened to ya. I don’ thank she’ll trust ya or any of the Changelin’s ‘til she’s sure yer still able to use yer Element.” “Oh, so that’s why you guys were out in this mess in the first place,” Rainbow nodded. “At least she’s not throwing me under the carriage right off the bat like she did Cadance... er, Chrysalis.” “True, but I thank she’s still gonna give Chrysalis a piece o’ her mind. Might even go outa ‘er way just to give tha Queen an earful,” Applejack said, smiling a bit. “She might not get the chance,” Rainbow said, mildly distracted by an itch near her wing joint and unsure of whether or not it was safe to scratch chitin with chitin. She resolved to ask Nemb, but settled for a few good flaps of her wings instead. “The old doc and I were sent to try to open diplomatic talks once everything had settled down: or at least once Aurora had been thrown in a cell. Please tell me that witch is in jail.” “Okay. She’s in jail,” Pinkie piped up. “Happy?” “Is she really?” Rainbow asked Pinkie with heavily lidded eyes. “Yeppers!” Pinkie said. “And I think Princess Celestia’s already been down to talk with her. Not sure how that went though.” Rainbow closed her eyes and allowed herself a slow, satisfied nod. It was final; finished. All of the dead, all of the injured, and all of the damage, while not exactly justified, had not been in complete vain. Aurora was to stand trial, though Rainbow was not exactly sure how one could use standard punishments to try an immortal alicorn. She shrugged it off as unimportant. All three princesses would know how to handle it. Semi-permanent imprisonment was the way Dash would do it personally. If Discord could be trapped in stone and his powers rendered all but inert, they would have no trouble doing the same or more to Aurora Streak. Trusting in Celestia as she always had, and likely always would despite her new allegiances, Rainbow found herself waiting silently when Nemb’s voice called down from within the library, “Everything looks good! No corrupted ponies in here at least!” Twilight had the door open and had burst into the main foyer before Rainbow had even set one hoof forward. The rest of them entered in short order, and Rainbow could not have been more stunned at the pristine interior of the library. Sure, it had still been standing amongst the rubble, but there were other buildings—however scarce—that could boast as much. Not a book had fallen from its place, from a quick glance nothing had been looted, and even the pictures of on the walls were still straight. Rainbow felt a surge of pride in her chest for all of Ponyville. In all of the chaos, fear, and disaster surrounding them, the citizens of her old town had put their best hoof forward, and left what had survived exactly as it was. In a way, Rainbow saw it as a declaration of their defiance of the battle’s ability to truly destroy them; Ponyville would rise from the ashes better than it had been and desecrating that which could be salvaged was no help to that endeavor. As Rainbow glanced fondly over at the fiction section—to the Daring Do books in particular—Twilight returned from her basement-turned-research-laboratory levitating an intimidating strong box Rainbow knew to house the Elements. There were three locks upon the maroon-red chest, and as far as Rainbow could remember Twilight describing them, the tumblers in each one required a separate spell to move into the open position. “Why didn’t we just whip these babies out when Aurora came stoppin’ into town?” Rainbow asked. “It’s a good thing we didn’t,” Fluttershy said. “It scares me to think what Aurora would have done if she had known they were actually here.” “I doubt she really would have cared,” Rarity sniffed. “As Twilight said when we first found them, the spirits of the Elements are in all of us. That’s what she was after.” “Still, I bet we could have crashed the ship with them,” Rainbow replied. “Quiet, I’m concentrating,” Twilight snapped at them, her horn glowing and almost touching the first of the locks. All of them stiffened, and Rainbow shared a significant glance with Applejack. Nemb stood opposite Rainbow and the rest, watching Twilight with a note of a physician’s curiosity. He had allowed his disguise to fall, his black coloring standing out sharply against the lighter wood of the foyer. Rainbow felt a slight tingle run down her spine, much like what she had experienced over and over again when she was a filly and always feeling the need to leave her group of athletic friends to spend time with Fluttershy. She had not exactly been able to place the sensation when she had been so young, but older now and with the revelatory knowledge of her place in the world as the Bearer of the Element of Loyalty, Rainbow could confidently say it was her inner devotion to others urging her forward. And while Nemb was certainly nothing like Fluttershy, he had noling who would stick by him in the world he and Rainbow would be entering. Except, that slight tingling reminded Rainbow of just how wrong such a notion was. Thus, with the eyes of her friends boring into her and feeling far more awkward than had the stares of her half-friends from her fillyhood, Rainbow stood, stretched, and walked over to sit beside Nemb. His expression was perhaps more astonished than that of the group of ponies to whom Rainbow now smiled, but nopony said anything, and Rainbow was more content with that silent acceptance than any forced and fake words. But two Changelings and five ponies were not the only ones in the room capable of making their thoughts known. “GAH!” Twilight yelped, the magic of her horn dying out as she jumped back away from the chest as if stung. She was not alone. Everypony and everyling else scurried to their hooves, pushing themselves against the wall while the chest began pulsing rapidly with a clearly magical red light. A dull vibration reverberated from the chest, making little noise but moving through the air and shaking all of their bones. The power emanating from the chest gradually began to increase, the locks themselves rattling in protest, until they exploded in a bursting shower of metal. Twilight yelped, but managed to erect a protective barrier in front of everypony and everyling. But the shattered locks were hardly the focus of any of their minds. With it’s restraints released, the chest flung open, the resonating Elements of Harmony rising in perfect formation from within and Loyalty giving off its power-infused red glow. As if possessed of a will of their own, the Elements rearranged, Loyalty falling into the center and the others beginning to cast their own hues. With all present still staring in awe and bewilderment, the vibration released from the Elements reached its peak, and their raw energies screamed out onto the Element of Loyalty. The artifact seemed to absorb the beams of rainbow colors, but it was impossible to tell, for the spectacular event was over more quickly than it had begun. Stillness fell like a hammerblow onto the library foyer, the hovering Elements landing with clattering and chinking on the wood. Twilight tentatively lowered each of the protective barriers, and before Rainbow could creep over to inspect what had befallen her Element, shouted, “Nopony move! They’ve never acted without us wearing them. This could be very dangerous.” “Oh, silly Twilight!” Pinkie exclaimed, happier than she had been since the battle’s end and bounding over to where the Elements had collapsed. “Can’t you see? This is what you wanted to know, and you didn’t even have to ask!” “Wait, Pinkie, don’t—! What?” Twilight nearly yelled in alarm, only to fall into her usual confusion over Pinkie Pie’s words. “See, look!” their enthusiastic friend said proudly, bringing up her hoof for all to see what rested there. Lain across it was the bolt shaped ruby of the Element of Loyalty, but the necklace itself had altered drastically. No longer was it an elegant gold clasp, but instead a burnished copper, with Changeling-like notches running across its length. When Pinkie was sure all of them had taken a sure gander at the new Element of Loyalty, she snapped it around Rainbow’s neck where it’s new color and form accented those of Rainbow herself. “Well, your Element has taken to your new, ah, self... rather well I would say,” Rarity said as Rainbow fidgeted with the jewel. She had not given much thought to the Element of Loyalty since her transformation, at least not outside of how she represented it. She had always thought that to be the point anyway: that she herself always be a proper example of loyalty and that the rest would follow. Discord had certainly manipulated that part of her and it had proven quite effective. But now, after such a clear display of innate magic, she was forced to acknowledge that though she was Bearer of Loyalty and the only one in Equestria capable of using it in tandem with the other Elements, that the artifact also held significance of its own. She owed it acknowledgement—as odd as it seemed to do so for an inanimate object—at any rate. Without question, her Element had confirmed before all her friends that despite having become a Changeling, she was still Rainbow Dash at her core. “Are you okay, Rainbow?” Fluttershy asked, when she did not immediately respond to Rarity. “I think I’m gonna be more than okay,” she replied, looking up and smiling with what she knew to be a fanged grin. That thought only made her smile wider. “Whoo hoo!” Pinkie hollered. “Come on, Twilight! Give Dashie a hug! You know you want to!” Rainbow turned to Twilight’s direction, expecting to see her scowling at Pinkie, but was blinded by a mass of lavender fur as Twilight embraced her with a small sniffle. A little caught off guard, Rainbow gingerly patted her on the back just as Twilight said, “I’m so sorry I doubted you. I should have been able to tell you were still you.” “Hey, if it’s any consolation, I would have doubted me too,” Rainbow chuckled. “So it’s no hard feelings or anything. I guess me still havin’ the Element is pretty good evidence for you right?” “It’s what I wanted to use in the first place,” Twilight said, disengaging from the hug. “But I never expected a response like that. So, um... how do you feel?” “We can talk later,” Rainbow said, now with their reconciliation complete, the danger to the camp occupying a good portion of her focus. “You wanna grab the other Elements so we can get a move on.” “Oh! Right,” Twilight seemed to jolt her own memory. “We go in formation all the way back,” she said, that steely confidence that always entered her tone in a crisis coming to the fore. “There’s no telling where the anomaly might be, and we need to be ready if it suddenly pops up.” “Agreed,” Applejack said as Twilight flung the Elements onto their respective Bearers. “An’ Changelin’ doctor, ya migh’ wanna stay outa tha way. This could get ugly.” “Duly noted,” Nemb said. “But if something does go wrong, since it is an anomaly, I think having a doctor nearby would be a pretty good idea.” “Suit yourself doc,” Rainbow replied. “But thanks.” “My pleasure,” Nemb smiled. “Okay, let’s go,” Twilight affirmed, as her Element settled onto her mane. ______________________________________________________________________________ Evening was settling on the encampment of the Armies of the Sun and Moon as their respective commanders lowered the glowing orange orb and raised the pearlescent night watcher. Dinner cookfires had gone up anywhere there was not a tent or a major pathway, and the soldiers did their best to cook food more acceptable for the displaced citizens of Ponyville than a marching army. In an amusing turn of events, the Ponyvillians usually ended up taking over the cookfires anyway and giving the soldiers better fare from their meager supplies than any had ever thought possible. Loud shouts of pride for whatever Ponyville family had joined a particular fire flew across the darkening camp: the soldiers engaging in that age-old pastime of compare-and-conquer. A few ponies, both civilian and soldier alike, stayed away from the general ruckus. They built smaller fires, prepared their meal, ate, and promptly departed to more private places. They and their more boisterous companions were a unique study in the nature of the pony psyche. If one was keen enough, one could see the grief from the the battle in the eyes of both types: and from the said differential in coping mechanism came the interest. These were the passing thoughts of a singular pony as he moved from shadow to shadow, doing his level best to avoid being seen and stopped. Not that if he was he would be suspected of anything sinister: quite the contrary. Only, he knew that the longer the night wore on, and indeed, the more such nights passed, the more difficult would be his intention to execute. Should a friend see him, they would no doubt seek his company, and as it stood, that was not something he could presently afford. And I really don’t want anypony I know mixed up in this if things go south, he added to himself. I can’t really blame them for not having seen what I did. Kinda funny when I think about it though. I didn’t even think to talk to any of my old friends. He was pulling away from most of the cookfires now, entering into areas lit more evenly by actual torches and guarded more heavily by stationed guards. Now without the boasting noise from the off-duty soldiers to offer a sufficient distraction, he was glad for his dark coat. Where a pony like Rainbow Dash would have had to dart from hiding place to hiding place to avoid being seen, he merely had to give extra caution to the noise of his hoofsteps on the churned dirt. This became not too terribly difficult the longer he did it, but his saddlebags did occasionally shift, nearly throwing dangerously off balance. Luckily, a lifetime of passing between homes in the clouds and on the ground gave him the necessary skill to right himself with minimal crunching of gravel underhoof. The guards themselves offered little challenge in sneaking past them. He suspected they were both tired and hungry, and of the mind that nopony would come anywhere near the area. Well, at least not any sane ponies, but even so, the ponies taken by Aurora Streak’s magic during the battle were still milling about the town, and since the return of Princess Luna and her general, their capture had been increasing in pace. Thus, when he finally came to the place of his objective, the sight of well over two-dozen battle mages and at least as many pegasi war fliers only concerned him due to sheer number. For a time, he studied them from the safety of the darkness, trying to pick out the captains, the less than attentive ones, and the stoic, alert seasoned veterans. Most fit into the latter category, much to his displeasure. They would make things far more difficult for honor’s sake, and being that there were so many of them, it would be a task fit for Discord himself to break them all. Well, there was little more he could do from the observer’s position, and the bits in his saddle bags were not going to come out by themselves. Backing up a few paces first, he strode out of the shadows cast by the number of torches, working his face into a heavy, anger ridden scowl. “Evening brother. Are you lost?” one of the war fliers asked, sympathetically taking him for a bemused drunk. “I’m not lost sir,” he growled, going just as far as he thought was safe with the disrespect he put into ‘sir’. “Then you should be headin’ back kid,” one of the older mages said. “Maybe you haven’t heard, and I wouldn’t be surprised with all the crap the runners are havin’ to deal with, but the prison’s off limits to anypony not cleared specifically by their Highnesses Luna and Celestia.” “No, I heard that too,” he replied, bringing his tone onto more level ground. “I’ve got a favor to ask you colts.” “Not sure any of us are in a position to be hoofing out favors,” another of the unicorns said, striding away from the sizeable group. He assumed him to be the captain of the present host. “But let’s hear it out.” “Her...” he glowered. “I wanna look at her. I wanna see the face that killed my family.” Internally, he winced slightly at the lie. It seemed rather poor taste to manipulate a scenario that was all too likely for far too many ponies. But he had to see her, and if it went well, possibly more than that. “I’m sorry. I truly am,” the captain said to him, and from the bowed head softer tone, he genuinely meant it. “But even fewer ponies are allowed in there with her than are even allowed to be around here to begin with.” “I have bits... enough for all of you....” he said, inserting a subtle note of pleading into his voice and unclipping his bags with his wings. In the dancing light of the torches, the gold sparkled with quite the appeal. “We won’t be bribed. I am sorry,” the captain reiterated, his eyes not even lingering or distracted by the money. “Captain, permission to speak freely, sir!” one of the pegasi declared, saluting upon landing. “Spit it out,” the captain answered. “Just let ‘im in, sir,” the war flier said. “I’m not sayin’ to take ‘is money or nothin’, but lookin’ at it, that’s gotta be all ‘e’s got. He was willin’ to give it up, Cap.” The commanding officer swiveled his head back and forth, looking first at him then to the soldier and back again. As the captain was considering allowing him inside, he made sure to keep his face as flat as possible. Any indication he was expecting one decision or another would likely end in being denied entrance. It was not a chance he could take being so close to his goal. “We’re all goin’ to Tartarus if anypony finds out,” the captain muttered. “But I know I’d want to see the face of my family’s murderer. You’ve got ten minutes, but if she kills you, nopony will know. You willing to take that risk?” “She has already killed me three times,” he answered, forcing a certain hollowness to enter his words. “Thought as much,” the captain said, motioning for him to follow. The host of guards parted ways for their commanding officer, some even nodding their heads in approval. He only glanced at them out of the corner of his eyes, but it was enough to know that a good number of the soldiers agreed with their captain if only because they needed somepony to do what they could not trust themselves to do. The captain lowered his horn, the glow phasing in and out several times as the various spells on the bars were retracted, and once sure that task was finished, he levitated three keys from a small pack to unlock the physical bolts. Each click of a tumblr falling in place set his heart racing faster than it had upon first taking that leap of faith to trust his wings over clouds. “Ten minutes,” the captain reiterated, and the bars were pulled aside. Unlike the outside, not a single light source fought against the darkness inside. He stepped cautiously within, jumping a little when the guards so quickly closed it back and reactivated the magical barriers. He took a full four steps into the encompassing darkness before a voice distinctly hers flew from his left. “It seems you have endangered your life and risked arrest for nought,” Aurora Streak’s voice said. “You will see nothing in this blackness, which is as it should be, bearing in thought that you have narrowed your mind so straightly that all you are able to see is the blackness of death and not the white light of truth that sits atop it.” He stopped his forward motion, gently removed his saddle bags, and took to sitting rather than standing. His ten minutes were precious, and he would waste time incurring her verbal wrath in a vain attempt to locate her. They could hear one another, and that was enough. He did not speak immediately. If he were to convince her of his sincerity, every response of his would need to be carefully thought out and not without a fair share of wit. It was not necessarily his strong suit, but... He had no other choice. “You talk... You speak of the white light of truth. What if I said I had for my entire life seen it as a rainbow of hues until just yesterday.” There was a distinct pause heavy with curiosity and deep thought, and when Aurora next spoke, it was in a markedly richer tone, “You are attempting to imitate me under the assumption that I represent all that encompasses a higher form of existence. In this endeavor, my ways can educate, but not dictate. I am curious now, however. What did you see that coalesced the many colors into one?” “I—” he stopped himself before he had begun. She wanted to hear him with more natural words. That at least was a relief for him. “The name’s Thunderlane. I think you might know me a little more than the others.” “You do know, I had hoped that should I be imprisoned under Celestia’s watchful stare, Twilight Sparkle would take up my mantle as the truth became more inexplicable, but you... while the blow to Celestia’s half-truths will not be so great, I find myself more believing of your desire to seek what I offered,” Streak said. “For one such as yourself to see past what I allowed to happen, something tremendous must have occurred before your eyes.” “I saw my princess start a war,” Thunderland said plainly. “And I cannot reconcile myself to support her after her actions caused the deaths of so many.” “Celestia has ever been at war with forces that defy her created truth,” Aurora replied. “But I must ask of you: was it the death of hundreds in and of itself that prevents you from reconciliation?” “I’m not sure what you mean,” Thunderlane said, confused. “The deaths and her initial attack go hoof in hoof.” “No, they do not,” Aurora bit back, not particularly sharp, but certainly pointed. “There are many in Ponyville alone that, now seeing how they reject the truth and the paths to it offered them, I would kill without a moment’s hesitation. They are burdens upon others seeking something higher. Does that disturb you?” Thunderlane was glad the darkness of the prison, for it meant Aurora could not see his mouth moving up and down seemingly of its own accord. Although he was pretty sure Celestia had not intended for the battle to bathe the town in blood, that did not excuse the act in his mind. Yet here was Aurora, whom he had thought had been against the shedding of blood in the first place, speaking about slaughter as though it were merely another daily activity. “Yes!” he could not hold in his disgust. It came out louder than he had intended and he glanced behind him to be sure the guards had not heard. They did not appear to have reacted, but he watched them for a few long seconds before he allowed himself to be sure. “You do not then see them as ignorant simpletons who would rather rot their few years away in so called ‘happiness’ than seek something beyond what they can find from merely existing in this world?” Aurora replied, a small growl tainting the end of her words. “Well... I,” Thunderlane stuttered. He would not use such a harsh description, but he certainly no longer saw anypony who still sided with Princess Celestia as worth his attention. “It doesn’t mean they have to be killed,” he settled for saying. “If you truly wish to pursue the path to a higher truth, you will need to be more honest with yourself. You still see them all as your fellow ponies, no matter your opinions of them. Truth holds no regard for opinion,” Aurora stated. “And therefore, anything that appears to begin one on the path to greater truth but is only seated in opinion, cannot truly allow one to ascertain that greater existence.” She paused, and Thunderlane allowed his mind to reel for a moment. Everything she said was true, but in a contorted kind of way. It was like she was straightening his views by twisting them. “You still see them as your equals because you live amongst them and know nothing else. Yours is one of many cases throughout the world that has been suffocated by the ignorant. It is for this reason they are to be slain. They stifle those journeying onward.” “And that’s why you were able go so far?” Thunderlane ventured. “You were in exile.” If he could have seen her, Thunderlane was sure a smile cracked onto Aurora’s lips as she said, “Ideally, the seekers of truth are best when amongst their own kind, but yes, without the taint of those who would cloud my mind with opinion and false impressions of equality, I moved along. Are you repulsed now?” “There are plenty of places where nopony lives,” he replied, trying to hold onto that thing that had once been revulsion but was transforming into something else as yet unidentifiable. “Why couldn’t all of us go there.” "And when one is born amongst them who refuses truth?” Aurora asked, almost gleefully. Thunderlane swore. Why did she have to make so much sense? Why was she his only option? He could no longer trust Celestia, but surely there was somepony else less... Aurora Streak was brutal, he could not deny. But, was not there a common Earth pony saying, “The truth is supposed to hurt?” She was most certainly farther along the path to this greater existence than anypony else, so there was no reason to suspect her pain would be any less than her truth. “You make me afraid of myself,” Thunderlane murmured, not intending for Aurora to hear. Nevertheless, Streak answered, “Often times, truth uses fear to frighten us into pursuit of itself.” “Then are you not afraid to try to escape?” Thunderlane asked, concerned for his ten minutes and beset by an urgency to relate this intention to the pony somewhere before him. “Your enthusiasm is admirable but misplaced,” Aurora sighed. “While I might still enjoy the path to higher existence, I am no longer its face. That task will pass to somepony else. Even if you could break past the defenses Celestia has put into place, it is my revelations, not physical self that is to lead those like yourself.” “But you never were able to explain everything you had found,” Thunderland pressed. “Celestia prevented that. We need guidance or we’ll only end up bumbling around with what little we have. I’ve been talking around and there are about—!” “Two minutes!” the captain outside bellowed. Thunderlane thought his stomach was in his throat from shock, but he managed to avoid vomiting despite choking and coughing like an old colt who had smoked one too many pipes. “Go on...” Aurora said after his minor fit had subsided. “There are roughly twenty other ponies that saw what I did and are with me on lacking any confidence in Celestia anymore,” Thunderlane continued. “The prison isn’t the problem. It’s our escape plan. Is your ship still flyable?” “Before I answer, I require an assurance from you for yourself and on behalf of these others,” Aurora said, steady. “You seek my guidance to advance onto your quest for higher existence, but I wonder if you will be able to follow all of my creed. The science I employ aids in both the physical and metaphysical path, but it is painless to accept. Can you assure me that all of you would not hesitate if I said a foal was to be executed?” “I... a foal... dang...” Thunderlane growled to himself. “I can only be accountable for myself, but provided you showed me evidence of their refusal of the truth, I would do it.” “And if one of these fellows of yours I judge to be only following the path for the temporary excitement?” Aurora asked. “I could do it,” Thunderlane repeated, the pangs of guilt slowly becoming less and less poignant. “That will surely happen, make no mistake,” Aurora chastised. “I know Inky Jay would have killed one of them at a whisper, but perhaps you will be able to live up to his legacy. Yes, the House of a Thousand Fangs can be restored. She was not ruined, only rendered inoperable mechanically. Reattaching the Devices for the thrust will ignite both the flame geysers and the flight pathways on the underside. Twenty ponies should be able to complete such a task easily.” “Okay then,” Thunderlane said. “When you hear talk of a march from the guards, prepare for that day.” “A clever use of Equestrian custom,” Aurora’s voice replied. “I will be ready. I insist that you be as well.” “I assure it,” Thunderlane said as he backed toward the gate, picking up his bags along the way. He found himself ignoring the guards as they let him out, but they seemed only sympathetic as far as his unfocused senses could tell. Not that they mattered anymore. They were beneath him now. They would follow Harmony until the day they died, but for Thunderlane, Harmony had failed far too spectacularly. Truth was what he would live by. It was far more final anyway. ______________________________________________________________________________ Galloping as madly as she was for fear of the anomaly’s capabilities, Twilight had never envisioned anypony holding her back at the entrance to the camp. There was an anomaly there after all. Any and all ponies would have been called in a desperate attempt to overpower it or lead it away. Yet as she tore across the ruined path leading out of the leveled Ponyville, two thestral guards stood at attention on either side of the entrance to the temporary base of operations. They appeared almost bored, if Twilight had to choose a single word. Combined with the lack of frantic screaming, shouting, and flaring magic; Twilight dug her hooves into the ashen gravel, skidding to a halt and nearly tripping herself. Her friends and the Changeling doctor who had accompanied Rainbow were more graceful in their stop, but far more perplexed. “Are... are you sure it was an anomaly dear?” Rarity asked. “There should be more, well... commotion,” Nemb agreed. “This isn’t good for Rainbow or myself either. Long questions and all that nonsense.” “Maybe they already destroyed it...” Twilight ventured to herself. “I mean, both Princess Luna and Celestia are here along with more trained unicorns than what are in a city. It’s... but there should still be a little bit of chaos, right?” “I can’t be sure Twilight,” Rarity replied. “Anomalies are thankfully so rare that no pony really knows what happens after they go out.” “Irregardless, we can’be standin’ ‘round here lookin’ like fools,” Applejack said, striding to the front of the group and continuing up the path to the camp entrance. “We ain’t figgerin’ out what happened to it from out here anywho.” “Oh joy, this is going to be fun,” Rainbow said dryly with a nudge on Twilight’s shoulder. “I can always do an illusion spell for you Rainbow until we meet with the princesses,” Twilight offered, turning her head back to see her friend. She did her best not to flinch, but her eye twitched involuntarily when she saw Rainbow’s glossy black hide. “No can do, Twi, right doc?” Rainbow replied with a shrug. “Her Highness requested we be as forward as possible to prevent feelings of deception on the part of your princesses,” Nemb said. “It may make things more complicated in a moment, but I think honesty from Changelings will speak volumes.” “That’s if you aren’t burned to little bitty cinders if Princess Celestia goes ‘WAHHH!’,” Pinkie said in her usual manner. “I wouldn’t, but I don’t even have a horn.” “Thanks Pinkie Pie, you’re very encouraging,” Rainbow answered, the sarcasm in her voice more weary than anything else. Anything else the group would have said to one another was halted by the cold stares of the guards on Applejack. Twilight breathed a sigh of relief that neither of them had noticed the two Changelings as of yet, but knew it would not last. “Yall know who I am,” Applejack was saying not a bit harshly to them. “So let us in. Hay, if ya don’ know me, I know surer than apples ya know her,” she continued, waving a hoof at Twilight. “Woah, hang on AJ!” Rainbow burst out. “Flutters doesn’t think they’re breathing!” “What!?” Twilight whirled first to Rainbow and Fluttershy then back to more closely scrutinize the guards. She edged around them, but their eyes never moved from staring straight ahead, and beyond that, they had yet to blink. “No, they’re breathin’, sugarcube,” Applejack reassured Fluttershy, bringing an ear to almost touch one of the guards’ snouts. “But only just. Twi, I ain’t an expert, but this is lookin’ like pretty sophisticated magic to me.” “You are quite right, Miss...?” Nemb approached the frozen guards with a note of intrigue. “Applejack,” she said for him. “Yes, Miss Applejack,” Nemb continued, “it’s very similar to a particular medical spell if I’m seeing the symptoms correctly.” “But those are too complex for an anomaly,” Twilight insisted. “And I can’t think of anything else that moves like what we saw.” “They’re so creepy,” Pinkie whispered. “Nopony can stand still like that.” “Faust on High!” Nemb exclaimed, jerking everypony’s head in his direction. His horn was aglow with Changeling magic and it was gently resting on the temple of one of the guards. “What did you find?” Twilight shot out, racing to his side. Nemb lifted his horn away and let the magic fade, before answering with a deep intake of breath. “I just did a minor diagnosis of the spell affecting them, and I hardly believe it,” he said. “I even checked twice to be sure I wasn’t fooling myself. Let me see if I can name it properly... Yes, these guards were attacked with a quintuple base layer triple modification reflection ring psychic inhibition spell.” The longer he spoke the wider Twilight’s eyes became. Modification was one thing, but to cast a spell with base power and what added into fifteen simultaneous alterations in a reflection form... it was a feat so far fetched nopony would believe any mage who claimed to have done it. Twilight herself knew that were she to even attempt something so complex, she would prepare herself for a full week and expect to be unable to work with even simple spells for a second week afterward. Power of that scale was unheard of, and yet it had been used almost casually against two lone guards. “What does that mean Twilight?” Fluttershy asked. “Is there still an anomaly?” “No... I don’t... we just need to find one of the princesses and warn them,” Twilight stumbled at first from pure disbelief, but found her resolve with the same determination that had driven her on when she had believed this threat was a mere anomaly. “The Elements can still stop whatever this thing is, but we are going to have to be more discreet. It wants to stay somewhat hidden, otherwise the camp would already be a disaster, but if we aren’t prepared, we could end up just like these guards.” “Onward to battle!” Pinkie cried out before bouncing into the camp, her discreet manifesting as rather obtrusive but accomplishing the desired result all the same. Twilight only hoped the rest of them could make it to either of the princesses with as much genuine behavior. At least night was settling in, the darkness helping to conceal Rainbow and Nemb even in the light of a growing number of torches. ______________________________________________________________________________ If Verdance were to be honest with himself, he had fully expected Celestia to jump up in shock and surprise with her strongest spell flying from her horn. That in mind, he had prepared a shield spell well before even entering the Equestrian border. Thus, when, at the sound of his voice, Celestia showed not even a sign of acknowledgement, he stood rather perplexed for a moment. That was, until he mentally checked the approaching hour. “Preparing to reinforce your barriers on the Palace are you?” he asked, his only answer being Celestia’s gentle golden magic waving over her horn. “Yes, it seems you are,” he said, taking a seat just off to the corner of the tent’s entry flap as the darkness of what the mortals called night descended over the world. “I do take it you were expecting me however.” “I was,” Celestia answered, her voice as collected and hard-edged as it ever was. “It amazes me still that you are able to change your tone so easily for the mortals,” Verdance added. “But, your curiosities aside, I also assume you know why you were expecting me?” “That is a round-about way of asking me what happened today,” Celestia replied. “You would have seen the town. You know what happened.” “You engaged in a civil battle, that is all I can garner from what lies outside this encampment,” Verdance said. “Ius was the one who told me it was Streak. I intended to warn you to avoid this damned catastrophe, but impressively enough, her ship can outstrip The Origin. I am trying to remain calm, Celestia, but let me go over in brief what you have done: you engaged in a battle that has destroyed an entire town at a speed I have not seen since the War, this battle you fought was against one of our OWN, AND YOU CHOSE TO DO THIS AT THE CUSP OF OUR RANKS BEING FULL ONCE AGAIN!” Verdance had lapsed into shouting, but Celestia’s calm demeanor did not seem to be understanding the severity of the situation and yelling at her had served him well in the past. “I already know all of that,” Celestia all but whispered. “It was Luna. I thought Luna was in danger, and I was not going to lose her again. Not again. I... I couldn’t go through that again.” “Do you think it was harder for you than the rest of us when the Pravum Queen finally took her?!” Verdance hissed, his accent becoming thicker with his earnestness. “She is as much a sister to you as to all of us: no more, no less.” “That is where you are wrong Verdance,” Celestia replied. “We are closer than any of the rest of us. And after Streak allowed that monster to take her, I was not going to stand by and watch while she might do something even worse.” “Don’t fool yourself Celestia,” Verdance said. “The Nightmare was already inside her and eating away at her defenses. Streak may have inadvertently accelerated that process, but Luna’s fall was inevitable. Now... I am, against my better judgement, giving you a second chance to justify your actions.” “Or what Verdance?” Celestia cut across, turning to face him finally. Tears were streaming down her face. “What will you do to me? What can you or any of the others do to me? I am not a foal to be slapped on the hoof.” “Perhaps we cannot do anything to you physically,” Verdance answered, a wry smile crossing his lips. “But it will not take much for me to convince the others to let me take your student to The Cascade... Without you.” That did not have the effect Verdance so desired. The tears creasing Celestia’s regal face dried away, her eyes became violet slits of pure fury. “If you so much as touch her, I will rip your powers, your immortality, all of your gifts straight from your inner soul until it is nothing but a crumbling mess and you a wretched thing deserving to be crushed underhoof!” Celestia snarled, the air before her beginning to ripple with the heat of epiphany. “Then explain yourself satisfactorily!” Verdance demanded, though he backed away from Celestia. “We are on the cusp the Arbiters being in full power once again, and you would risk all of that for what!? A grudge against a pony whose views are not yours? We knew Streak was unorthodox when we chose her to succeed Aria!” “She told me straightly she would have the majority of the world’s population slaughtered for refusing to Ascend and attaining a ‘higher truth’,” Celestia explained, her anger yet to die from her form. “She is a cold-hearted, ruthless murderer who cares nothing for what we protect save what will seek complexity in life. She is a mistake on our part. She will not honor the oath we all took.” “I would have them all killed if not for the oath,” Verdance said flatly. “They do not deserve all that they have, especially after their hate created Antithesis and forced our hooves. Streak is more reasonable than myself in that regard. I would not give any of them even a chance. And bear in mind, Celestia, she seeks something that she will never find without our aid. Is it any wonder she has crafted her own truth in lieu of what we have yet to tell her?” “She would only view it as validation at this point Verdance!” Celestia was yelling now, uncharacteristic for her. “And the difference between you and her is not reason! She would actually go through with it!” “So is she more dangerous with or without validation?!” Verdance raised his own voice. “You have made your argument about the danger she represents, but I am of the mind to give her her history to avoid further incidents; and yet here you sit debating that with me as well!” “Of course I will debate it with you. If you tell her what she is, you will have to... Wait, I... you understand why I acted as I did?” “Unfortunately,” Verdance growled. “While it wasn’t on the forefront of your mind as it should have been, she was an opponent of the oath we all took, if she was as determined as you say. That cannot be allowed to happen again, least of all by one of our own. You want to fight me on this now?” “Do we have any other options?” Celestia asked, her emotions becoming more stable and the pulsing heat fading out. “I do, you don’t,” Verdance said. “You can keep her here under your authority if you wish to push me over the edge, but that will only result in me taking your student—” “No,” was Celestia’s resolute response, a brief wave of hot air accompanying it, “but I do want to know your intentions with Streak.” “You will need to release her to me first,” Verdance elaborated. “I don’t particularly care how, but she is to leave your care and meet The Origin in the Everfree. From there I will tell her everything, and she will swear the oath; thus no longer existing as a threat.” “And if she refuses the oath? I don’t think I need to tell you that she might do that,” Celestia pushed. “If she is as much a seeker of truth as you claim she believes herself to be, she will accept the oath as a part she merely had not yet found,” Verdance said confidently. “Don’t worry, she’s not so far gone as to be irredeemable. Besides, if she does completely refuse the oath, your actions were even more justified and I will finish what you started.” “I had no intention to kill her,” Celestia replied, her eyes narrowing distastefully. “Not the way you would, and certainly not by my own hoof.” “You’ve grown a tad soft, Celestia,” Verdance sighed. “I won’t fault you in that regard since it makes you a better ruler for the mortals, but it is something you should be wary of.” “Releasing Streak is going to be difficult no matter how I go about it,” Celestia abruptly shifted the topic. “An Equestrian tradition dictates a march in honor of the dead after a large battle like this. I estimate a full day before then, but if I give you the keys, both mundane and arcane, to Streak’s cell; can you take her yourself?” “That is not impossible, but I will need to move The Origin closer to your encampment,” Verdance said, nodding his head. “Then do so tomorrow night,” Celestia very nearly commanded. That alone was enough of a signal for Verdance. Their meeting had come to a close. He had not been welcome in the first place; but now that he had settled his and other Arbiters’ concerns, Celestia clearly wished him to be gone as soon as possible. He stood and allowed his cloak of a mortal to fall over him, brushing aside the tent flap to the sight of the still frozen guards and the flickering light of many leaping flames. “And Verdance,” Celestia added, more ice in her voice than Verdance had heard since their coup had ended, “if you ever threaten me with Twilight Sparkle ever again, you will wish you were standing against the Face of Epiphany for all I will do to you.” He allowed himself a small grin at hearing the old Celestia resurface, and said as he left, “I’ll give you your guards back. Life knows you need them.” With that, he walked a few steady paces away from the ring of mortals, cast a simple spell to release all those he had immobilized, and before any of them could wake, drifted down into the streams of Life that ran throughout all the world. ______________________________________________________________________________ Rainbow Dash could see the growing panic in Twilight’s face. Not only could they all be stopped at any moment because a guard gave their galloping company too close a look, but not a single pony seemed remotely alarmed that there was a lethally powerful user of magic in their midst. Rainbow knew she handled this sort of stress better than the rest of her friends—well, perhaps Applejack could at least equal her—but even then, the prospect of a second terror so shortly after Aurora’s savagery shook her soul. She ran until her muscles were burning, and then kept running. Deep inside, she knew none of them were ready for something else of Aurora’s magnitude descending upon them. Hay, Equestria itself would probably crack under the strain even if it did not collapse entirely. Thus, when Princess Luna’s clear and sharp voice broke through the air behind them, a wave of relief washed over Rainbow not because her nerves abated, but from the knowledge that they were now in the presence of calm and capable hooves. Not to mention that Princess Luna would have quite a bit less of a reaction than Princess Celestia about Rainbow’s... change. She had not really given much thought to how she would approach the Princess as her appearance took that out of her hooves entirely, but she knew there would a fair bit of resentment and was glad she now had Princess Luna and her friends to intercede for her. “TWILIGHT SPARKLE!” Luna called out, and Twilight predictably pulled around as hard and fast as was possible for a pony of less than athletic skill. The rest all followed suit, and came into sight of Luna leading a veritable squadron of her thestral Guards. “We heard from our watchponies that thou wast galloping through camp with thy friends as if in great distress and... Rainbow Dash,” Luna began with the tone of a ready-defender until she caught sight of Rainbow. She said Dash’s name in an oddly emotionless voice, one that ringed with finality. “Doth our eyes deceive us or art thou truly...” Luna asked, again with that same flatness. “It’s not all that bad,” Rainbow replied with an uneasy chuckle. “I’m not braindead or anything, ya know.” “Princess!” Twilight broke Luna’s intense stare at Dash, “it’s a shock, I know, but I have it on pretty good authority she’s still the same pony. We’ve got bigger problems though.” “Explain,” Luna commanded, her voice returning to a note of normality and her eyes thankfully shifting off of Rainbow. “Something powerful enough to cast a base five triple modification spell disguised itself as an anomaly and is probably wandering in the camp right now!” Twilight shot off. “We have the Elements, but there’s no way—” “Guards, leave us,” Luna interrupted, eyes shut in a unfitting serenity. “A few of the thestrals oggled at Twilight like she was a crazy-mare and Dash like she was the plague, but with a few stiff kicks from their fellows, the Night Guards filed away until the only sound around them were the distant drunken shouts of revelling soldiers and the crackling whip of torchfire. “All of thee, follow us. We must have words with our sister as must thee.” “But Princess, what about the creature in camp? I’m certain it’s here now!” Twilight exclaimed. “Thou needest not worry over that Twilight Sparkle,” Luna managed a smile even as her face shifted back into that stony serenity. “We already know what, or rather who, hath graced our borders. Know this: everypony is safe, perhaps even more than before. We promise a full explanation in time, but as you hath said, there art more pertinent matters we must discuss and they canst not wait until morning, as my sister hath originally planned. Come.” Luna took to leading them through the camp, her steps much surer than Twilight’s had been. Despite that though, Dash felt her anxiety flying faster than earlier. Luna was mysterious just from having been in exile for over one thousand years, but in their time together, Dash had thought she had gotten to know Luna at least a little. Now, she was thrown into doubt again. Why did Luna not want to tell them what that manic energy was? Perhaps she was hoofing the responsibility over to Princess Celestia, but from the way she had said it, Dash was more of the mind, they would never be told unless it was absolutely necessary. Instead, with Luna so simply passing off the threat of the psuedo-anomaly-thingamajig, her attention had focused on Dash. Or more appropriately, the fact that Dash was now a Changeling. As they entered into the hastily organized but still well managed refugee village of tents, Rainbow’s thoughts drifted into how she ought to explain the whole story to Celestia. Where to begin, where to offer in a good word for Chrysalis and the others, and most importantly, where to conveniently forget certain parts. Dash wracked her brain. Quite a lot of what she considered to be inconsequential usually ended up mattering a great deal more to other ponies, but she had never examined a story for those things before. She was on the verge of whispering to Twilight for help, as she knew Princess Celestia better than the rest of them, but Luna spoke before Rainbow had even leaned forward. “Rainbow Dash, we trust Twilight Sparkle as our sister doth,” she said, these words coming out as though the princess had imagined them before actually opening her mouth, “but for the sake of how we might help assure our sister in this instance, we must know why thou elected to this transformation.” “If I might, Your Highness,” Nemb bowed before Princess Luna. “Thou art Chrysalis’ choice of accompaniment for Rainbow Dash?” Luna asked, ceasing to walk and turning to face them. “My Queen instructed me to aid Miss Dash acclimate to her new life both physically and mentally. I am her physician in a way,” Nemb replied, his service to Chrysalis inviting a perfectly formed tone of respectful submission. “Speak then,” Luna instructed. “Miss Dash did not volunteer for this,” Nemb said, still bowing. “She was bitten while we were still under Aurora Streak’s control.” “It really was my fault for not paying attention to everything around me,” Rainbow spoke up, not able to let Nemb try to protect Changeling dignity alone any longer. “And it isn’t all bad anyway. My Element even thinks so, see?” She ripped her necklace away, stretching it out for Luna to better see it’s new form. “Calm thyself, Rainbow Dash,” Luna said, giving her a quaint, reassuring smile. “It is only because we saw thy new Element of Loyalty that we did not lose our temper and charge horn ablaze after Chrysalis.” Pinkie and Rarity snickered, prompting a curious raise of an eyebrow from Luna. “I... I may have had a similar reaction,” Twilight explained, sheepishly trying to play down any impressions Luna may perceive. “It is understandable Twilight Sparkle,” Luna replied, then to Dash she said, “But thou hast answered our question as we had hoped thou would. Celestia may take some convincing and long-winded explanation, but so long as it was no act of revenge on Chrysalis’ part, we art sure she wilt understand.” “Then why ya look like a an apple without its skin?” Applejack asked. “It merely means a great deal of tension in my sister’s and our foreseeable future,” Luna said. “Diplomacy between formerly mutual enemies doth not usually take place during the trying of a war criminal and Rainbow Dash’s citizenship may complicate matters further.” “And you can add in whoever this mystery guest ghosty pony is,” Pinkie added. “Thou art not likely to forget that soon, art thou?” Luna grimaced. “Nope!” Pinkie replied brightly. “Well, we ought not to keep our sister waiting any longer,” Luna said, taking up her pace again and maneuvering around several tents until they all came within sight of Princess Celestia’s present abode. There were Royal Guards present, but they were the most disoriented Guards Rainbow had ever seen. Nearly all of them were groaning and banging their hooves on their helmets as if just having overcome a serious migraine, and one was even stumbling to his hooves from lying in the dirt. Even without Twilight’s significant glance and Nemb’s pointed nudge, Rainbow began to scan the surroundings for any signs of the creature. Luna might have claimed she knew it and that it was harmless, but Dash was still leery of anything that had power comparable to Discord’s. “At... At attention colts!” the captain of the squadron struggled to shout out, but his voice catching in his throat. All of the stallions present (Rainbow could not tell whether there were any mares in the formation) brought themselves into a staunch salute, impressive judging by the wincing on their faces. “Thou art granted ease,” Luna said, “and we wish to assure all of thee that the pain thou experience is but a symptom of prolonged proximity to a battlefield saturated with magic.” “Permission to change shift for security purposes and put those captured Changelings in the prison,” the captain asked, his stiff demeanor returning with time. “Thou and thy company have our permission to change shifts with one of the Night Guard,” Luna stated. “But Commander, these Changelings art not our enemies. In fact, one of their kingdoms may soon be our allies. I expect this information to be kept solely amongst thy Guards.” “You have our confidence, Your Highness,” the commander replied, and turning his head to his soldiers, barked out, “Not a word you hear! Now go get some rest! That’s an order!” A second salute passed through the assembled Guards before they trotted around past Rainbow and her friends, friendly conversation already breaking out between them. So occupied was Rainbow on the state of the Guards that she almost jumped at the voice of Princess Celestia saying, “Luna, is that you? You have... Oh, you brought Twilight and her friends? Is there something that cannot wait until morning?” Rainbow had only been in Princess Celestia’s presence a few times, and even then it had been with Twilight usually at the start of a possible catastrophe; but in those few times, Rainbow had noticed one constant in the Princess. She was always, if nothing else, calm. It was not a forced calm: a mask for the sake of others, but a genuine feeling of composure. So when Rainbow heard the princess now, there was a marked difference in her words. She was still serene, but it was a controlled grace: an attempt to guard both herself and others from a stronger emotion she felt. When she turned her eyes on the Princess, striding only just outside her tent, Rainbow almost gasped audibly. Everything about her stance, her eyes, even her mouth, was a mirror of anger. Celestia was, quite simply, furious. “See that do you?” Nemb hissed in her ear. “A benefit to being a Changeling. We have an innate ability to read into others and deduce emotions if they’re strong enough. Keep it to yourself for now. She’s hiding it, which for a pony of her caliber, means we are not to probe.” Rainbow nodded silently in response, unable to take her eyes off the Princess. Every few seconds, something else about her body language would jump out at her and cement meaning in her mind. It was a bizarre sensation, to automatically know what a pony was feeling, though Rainbow thought Twilight might feel the same way about science at times. And even if that was not exactly true, it helped keep the sensation from feeling so alien. “We wish otherwise, sister,” Luna said, “but no, this canst not wait. Rainbow Dash.” Luna’s proclamation of her name could only mean she meant for Dash to step forward and reveal her new shape. Hoping for the best, Rainbow very nearly leapt out before her other friends, striking up her best winning pose. Dash held a grin, but Princess Celestia’s mouth only grew thinner and her eyes narrower. “Geez, first Twilight and Princess Luna...” Rainbow tried to laugh away Celestia’s growing disapproving scrutiny. “Am I gonna have to show my Element to everypony that thinks I’m a weirdo now?” She tapped the gem on her shiny ebony chest, but rather than give it any attention, Celestia addressed her friends. “What is the meaning of this? Is this what you refused to tell me?” she asked, and Rainbow noted Rarity shrank away most. “Darn tootin’,” Applejack responded, the least phazed by the princess’s quite severity. “We warn’t even sure when we’d see ‘er ‘gain ourselves.” “But we knew she was in good hooves, we really did,” Fluttershy added. “Sister, we believe it is time we tell thee all that happened since Aurora Streak arrived,” Luna said, bowing her head. “It wilt explain much.” “Come inside then, and I want nothing left out,” Celestia answered, turning back and undoing the flaps for all of them. Nemb and Rainbow were the last to enter, and Rainbow received a small iota of encouragement that Celestia did not step inside until after they had taken their seats in the small enclosure. And it was indeed small. Occupied by two alicorns, five ponies, and two Changelings, there was only just enough room for everypony to lie down without physically touching one another. “I’d like to begin, Princess,” Twilight said, receiving a nod from Celestia. “Well, Aurora’s ship came out of nowhere, and it was pretty clear from the beginning she didn’t want anypony to interfere with what she was planning.” From then on, it was a great exposition told from each of their perspectives as turning points came and went. It was difficult at first, but once they had begun, it was if the floodgates had been opened and they could not stop. In fact, Rainbow felt tension she had not even realized she was carrying draining out of her whether she was listening or telling the tale herself. With all of them chipping in when necessary, nothing was left unsaid. They told her about their first encounters with the pink field, the inhibition bubbles, and Aurora and Inky; Twilight’s visit and Rainbow’s scouting mission; Rainbow’s close call that, in retrospect, seemed ironically cruel for all it had put them through. They explained all they could about the pseudo-assassination attempt; Chrysalis coming to them for aid after Aurora’s stealing the Changelings from her control; they choosing to accept it; Twilight learning of Aurora’s involvement with the Changeling’s origin and the Nightmare Moon incident; Aurora’s difficulty with managing the Changelings and her other pursuits; her construction of alternate Elements of Harmony; and finally the battle that claimed so many and what they had all done to end it. “Queen Chrysalis freed the Changelings and had Nemb look after me as I transformed,” Rainbow said, motioning to Nemb. “The rest of them are all out in the Everfree Forest taking care of the wounded like everypony is here. The doc and I volunteered to come try to open talks between Equestria and our Hive.” “Our Queen wants justice served on that mad creature you have captive as much as you do,” Nemb added. “And after everything she and these fine ponies have gone through together, I believe she is ready to look past old grievances.” “I really can’t look at her like an enemy anymore,” Rainbow agreed, nodding. “You guys’ll back me up on this right?” she asked her friends, Rarity and Fluttershy affirming their support more quickly than the others. “Sister, thou hath been unusually quiet, though we do appreciate thy listening to our tale in full,” Luna said worriedly. “Doth thou accept this invitation of diplomacy?” When Celestia did not reply, only giving each of the ponies in her presence a loving look before moving onto the next, Luna continued, ever more concerned, “We wouldst take the lead at the table, if only the burden wouldst be less on thy shoulders.” “I’m sorry Luna, and to all of you,” Celestia managed to say, Rainbow still able to sense that she was holding up a cracking facade of calm. “I have been listening, and it certainly makes everything make much more sense. It’s just, since Chrysalis is not trying to harm anypony, it is difficult for me concentrate on both her and Aurora equally. “Please don’t misunderstand. I am greatly relieved that you are safe and whole, Rainbow Dash, and that you still possess your Element; and it always lifts my spirits when other nations wish to join with us in Harmony. But with ponies like Aurora who deliberately threaten that Harmony, it becomes a crisis of how to handle bringing in new blood when the old is still at risk.” “We hath already offered to take the majority of the task ourselves,” Luna repeated. “It might be better anyhow, as we know Chrysalis better than thee, sister.” “It has been over one thousand years since you last engaged in serious diplomacy like this Luna,” Celestia cautioned. “It is a more refined game, and Chrysalis is likely more skilled in it than even myself.” “Well, that’s why the doc an’ I are here,” Rainbow replied with a grin, tugging a startled Nemb into a one-legged hug. “We can help bridge the gap, ya know.” “Princess, if you want to be able to concentrate on Aurora, I can always help Princess Luna with the newer Equestrian laws,” Twilight piped up. “I want... I need something to do after everything that’s happened.” “I believe we all ought to help,” Rarity asserted. “After all, we were the ones who welcomed Chrysalis into our fold. It is only fitting we be the ones to help into the larger Equestrian world.” “You would do this for me, my little ponies? It is a great undertaking,” Celestia said, and Rainbow sensed the mask fall briefly as raw anger was replaced gratitude and love. It was alluring, beckoning. There was something different about it, something more potent than just another emotion. There was actual energy it, energy she craved. In a distant part of her mind, she could feel her wings spreading out of their own accord and a warmth beginning to flow through her body. And before anything could truly come of it, Rainbow felt an intruding pinch like her tail had been stepped on, she letting out a small ‘Eep!’ in response. All around her, her friends were answering Celestia with various versions of ‘yes’, and quite distinctly, Nemb was glaring at her. You’re hungry, I get it, his voice carried sharply through her mind. But we need to do that in private unless you want to botch the talks before they’ve started. I’ll show you how once we can get a tent. I really should have warned you about needing to feed earlier, so part of the blame rests on me, but still, just hold off. Rainbow tried to think something back, but all she could manage was a simple, Sure, doc. “Well then, all of you, do what you need before getting some rest. With an undertaking this great, you will need it,” Celestia said. “Twilight, you and your friends can go on and sleep. My sister will handle everything until morning. Doctor, Rainbow, is there anything Chrysalis requested specifically?” “She would like Princess Lacewing returned to her immediately,” Nemb replied stoutly. “That much I can do myself once I know where she is.” “We have kept her with us in our personal quarters for her safety,” Luna assured Nemb. “We will take thee there presently. Rainbow Dash, wilt thou be accompanying us or thy friends?” In her heart, Rainbow knew Luna had not meant it as an impossible decision, or even one that required any degree of serious thought. But for Rainbow, she felt her loyalty to her friends being tried against her loyalty to her new Queen. Thankfully, Nemb relieved her of the necessity, saying not without a long-suffering sigh, “Go on. Just be ready when I come back.” She gave Nemb an appreciative wink as she trotted out of the tent after her friends, brushing aside the reality of the choice being inevitable. ______________________________________________________________________________ Celestia watched all of her champions leave her tent, her heart bursting with pride at how right she was and how woefully wrong Verdance always had been. They were incredible; putting aside prejudice to support their friend, always giving of second chances to those who did not deserve them, and above all, willing to lend a helping hoof whenever they could even when the task would have scared off even the most hardened diplomat. The joy at the sight of her ponies had dissipated much of the fury brought upon by Verdance’s blatant threats, but a tinge of that returned upon Luna saying, “Doctor, please await us outside. We hath private matters to discuss with our sister.” “Of course, Your Highness,” Nemb bowed. “Both of you are far less terrible monsters than the stories young Changelings are told at night describe, by the way. If it makes you feel any better coming from a born Changeling, that is.” Celestia allowed herself a slight giggle as Luna opened her mouth several times, attempting to reply politely and eventually settling on, “We canst not be sure. But we thank thee that thou meant it as a compliment.” Nemb merely nodded, exiting with the silent skill acquired from years of service to royalty. Celestia sat with Luna without words passing between for what felt like a great deal of time. Celestia was sure that only a few moments had passed; but nevertheless, she soaked in that calming effect Luna so carefully exuded when alone with her equals. It was quite a talent, to remain so composed when with one whose powers equaled your own, and Celestia had never mastered it. Of course, ponies, griffons, zebras, and even dragons credited with great serenity, but to her they were but children and always would be. Verdance’s criticism of softness was at least partially true then. But better to be soft and caring than cold and brutal, Celestia berated herself. “Verdance paid thee a visit, did he not, Celestia? We canst feel it in thy countenance,” Luna’s voice cracked through the stillness that had come over the night bound tent. Celestia offered only a nod, trying to think of the best way to relate all he had said to Luna. “How many of the others joined him?” Luna queried. “Surely he didst not come alone.” “As a matter of fact, he did,” Celestia answered. “He says that The Origin is hidden someplace in the Everfree Forest.” “I am amazed firstly that she still can run, and secondly that Sanctia even let him take her by himself,” Luna nearly laughed. “But sister, we didst not ask about his means of transport. What didst he have to say to thee?” “Luna, I... I need you to promise me something dearest sister,” Celestia decided. “We art leery of this, but we agree,” Luna replied, her tone reinforcing her apprehension. “He threatened to take Twilight to The Cascade alone if my explanation of my attack did not satisfy him,” Celestia glowered. “I avoided that, but the fact remains that he dared suggest it at all.” “We hope thou told him to go burn in Tartarus,” Luna quipped. “That and then some,” Celestia said, a slight chuckle escaping her lips despite the circumstances. “But Luna, I want you to promise me to stick by side when it comes to Twilight. Obviously Verdance already wants to take her there, despite her not being near enough ready, and it is my fear he may try to use force if he becomes any more impatient. I will not let him take her.” “Of course we wilt stay with thee in this!” Luna exclaimed, as if hurt that Celestia had even had the notion she might refuse. “After the Nightmare took us, we treasure our companionship with thee more than ever before!” There was a pause in which Luna sighed and slight grin crept over her face. “And to stand against Verdance’s cold demeanor, we wouldst do it alone simply for our own satisfaction,” she added. “Thank you, Luna,” Celestia smiled, her sister’s own upturned lips quite infectious. “I hope there is never a need for us to hold true to this promise. There has already been enough fighting amongst Arbiters.” “Speaking of whom,” Luna asked, “what didst he desire us do with Aurora? He might well have been angry with thee, but her he wouldst not simply choose to ignore.” “What do you think he wanted?” Celestia spat. “He wants us to hoof her over to his custody so he can explain her heritage to her. Try to bring her into the oath.” “We cannot deny the wisdom in that,” Luna said. “After all, if we had but done so earlier ourselves, none of this wouldst have transpired.” “I think Verdance is trying to get her as far from me as possible, to be completely honest with you,” Celestia replied. “He sees us as oil and water, and does not want to clean up the mess we might make.” “Again, we art forced to agree with his intention,” Luna said. “We were actually considering proposing Aurora be tried away from Canterlot for much the same reason.” “It may be a good idea on the surface, but at least you and I are not so easily fooled by her doctrine,” Celestia said. “She and Verdance are far too similar for me to be comfortable.” “Try to calm thyself sister,” Luna soothed. “Perhaps by having somepony who shareth her views at least in part, Aurora canst be brought to reason.” “Ha! Reason is so subjective!” Celestia scoffed. “So it is, and because of Variance, we canst not escape it,” Luna said. “Bear the weight of Aurora for a while longer. It will be over soon, whether in a manner thou approve of or not.” “And after her... then Twilight’s safety. It makes me wonder if our lives are more defined by our hardships than our successes,” Celestia mused. “We art quite certain they are, but rest easy sister. We hath already given our word to keep Twilight Sparkle safe until her time comes,” Luna replied. “I worry too much, Luna,” Celestia said, her voice dropping to a mere whisper. “Only because thou hath much over which to worry. Now sleep sister whilst we begin our talks with the Changelings with a return of one of their royals,” Luna said, consoling. Celestia nodded, lying down fully and closing her eyes in meditation. The longer she allowed herself to sink into comforting thoughts of her confidence in Luna and her love for Twilight, the more beckoning sleep became; until at last she met what would always be for her a world of dreamlessness.