//------------------------------// // Of Amethyst and Twilight // Story: Trixie vs. Equestria // by PaulAsaran //------------------------------// They sat upon that ledge before the slums of Canterlot, gazing down at the derelict and impoverished underground. Luna held an expression of deep regret and sorrow, her entire body slumped low. Trixie, on the other hoof, was thinking, and thinking hard. Luna’s story made so much sense, but it was simply too much to take in at once. She couldn’t accept it as truth. In fact it seemed uniquely ridiculous, the kind of scheme a conspiracy theorist might devise. Trixie was certain that much of what she’d just heard was yet another set of lies. But if so, what was their purpose? Was Luna seeking allies against Celestia? Was she planning some kind of coup? And if so, would it be in Trixie’s best interest to inform Celestia? What if Celestia already knew? But what if parts of the story were true? Though the idea was absurd, there was no denying what her eyes had seen, and she’d definitely seen Nightmare Moon and Luna as two separate ponies. What’s more, they were clearly at odds. If Luna was planning some sort of action against Celestia, and she was an enemy of Nightmare, did that make Nightmare an ally of Celestia? That had to be the single most preposterous concept to have ever passed through Trixie’s mind. In her opinion, it was the first sign that the time had come to step back and stop thinking before she was driven mad by the potential possibilities. Trixie glanced at the despondent Luna. Something needed to be said. Turning back to the slums, she asked, “So…what happens now?” Luna let out a sigh before answering. “Nothing. The fights will continue, but they will serve no purpose. More misery, more madness. In the end we will both be wretched.” Trixie’s brow furrowed as she thought on this answer. “Surely there must be some oth—ah!” She had turned to face Luna, only to find a pony standing unnervingly close between the two of them. Trixie fell back at his abrupt presence. “Where the buck did you come from?!” Fine Crime glanced at her, expression solemn. “Who knows?” He ignored her glower and turned to Luna. “I was hoping to borrow Trixie for a while.” Not bothered at all by his sudden arrival, Luna studied him with a critical eye. “Is this something for Celestia?” “No,” he responded, turning to Trixie with that same grim manner. “It’s something for you, Trixie.” “What?” Her blood ran cold. “W-what do you want with Trixie?” “I have something to show you,” he answered, nodding to the slums below. “Something out there.” He turned back to Luna. “With your permission, of course.” Luna looked to the slums, a weary frown on her lips. “It no longer matter what happens,” she answered quietly. “If she will go with you, then let it be so.” She turned away from the sight, back to the tunnel leading to the lift. “I have my nightmare patrol I must attend to. Trixie?” Trixie understood she was being given the decision, but in truth she trusted neither of them. At least she knew the princess wouldn’t stab her in the back when she wasn’t paying attention. As if knowing her thoughts, Fine spoke up. “You have my word that no harm will befall you. If I intended to kill you, I’d be much more subtle about it.” “Trixie does not find that comforting,” she remarked dully. Still, she felt she could believe him in this instance. She’d already had two run-ins with him before and was still alive. Then again, what if her luck was running out? “Go with him, Trixie,” Luna instructed. “He would not ask for you if it weren’t important.” At least they were united in the decision, whatever it might be. “Alright,” she agreed at last. She took a cautious step back and gave him a firm glare. “But you will remain where Trixie can see you.” He shrugged. “Fair enough. I’ll speak with you later, Luna.” Luna did not answer, only made for the exit with head hung low. “Well,” he said, turning and gesturing flamboyantly to the slums below, “shall we walk together?” Trixie's horn glowed threateningly. “You first.” His smile faded as he eyed her with a raised eyebrow. He turned and walked down the shallow slope. Trixie followed, her eyes locked on him in preparation. As they descended into the squalor below, he asked, “You’re really over-thinking things now, aren’t you?” She scowled. “It is not Trixie’s fault everypony seems to want to kill her.” He glanced back at her with a thoughtful expression. “For once, I agree.” His response puzzled Trixie. “For once?” He nodded as they entered the dirty streets, small houses and broken-down shacks all around them. “When a pony has the kind of attention you do, they’ve usually done something to warrant it. But you have merely stumbled into this situation. Whether that is a shame or a blessing, only you can tell. At any rate, it is good that you think so much on what is presented to you; it may just keep you alive longer.” Trixie stepped on the smooth crystal pathway, careful to avoid the piles of trash and junk that littered the passage. The entire area seemed little more than a massive but sparse landfill, the homes and ponies just more junk added to the pile. Everywhere she looked, ponies were wasting away. Some were visibly ill, others were handicapped. More than once she thought she saw a body amongst the rubbish, anxiously hoping they were only homeless and sleeping. The ponies who noted their passing had sunken, faded gazes. A few begged for food, ribs clearly visible against tight coats. She saw some ponies fighting down one street, turning her head away at what struck her as a brutal display. No ponies approached them. At the sight of Fine Crime they kept their distance. Some even fled, eyes filled with terror or despair. “They don’t seem to like you,” she noted. “They fear the established order,” he replied. “The Archons are the hidden symbol of royal power, and I am the only public figure of the organization. I represent everything they fear… and hate.” Trixie stared at him, a sense of loathing coming over her. “So the government really did put them here.” He paused, half turning to her with a critical eye. “Luna told you her story. You don’t believe it?” He glowered. “Do not change the topic.” “I’m not,” he replied, and gestured to the ponies all around them. “These ponies are a victim of the world we live in. It’s not a perfect system. It may even be a terrible one, but it’s what we've got. Some ponies choose to blame the government, others directly attribute their misery to their age-old rivals. Earth ponies, pegasi, unicorns; they all blame each other, and nothing is done in the meantime. Luna would have you believe Celestia is responsible.” “Well, Trixie does not believe it,” she declared, taking on a confident pose. “Luna cannot simply rewrite a thousand years of established Equestrian history and expect Trixie to accept it so easily.” He studied her for a few seconds. She fidgeted under his cold gaze. At last he turned away and resumed his walk, prompting her to follow after a sigh of relief. “The key to understanding any of this,” he told her as he turned to an alley, “is to weed out the lies from the truth. It is… an acquired skill. If you were paying the right kind of attention, you should have recognized one thing that Luna’s story made clear, a fundamental truth.” “And that is?” she asked, hesitating at the alley’s dark entrance. He paused and gave her an expectant look, waiting until she at last followed. “That Luna is working against Celestia.” “That much Trixie understood,” she admitted. “Why tell the story at all if she weren’t?” She peered at the back of his head. “Do you believe her story?” They passed into another street, making their way deeper into the slums. “It does not matter what I think.” Trixie pursed her lips. “Trixie would like to know, anyway.” “What good would it do?” he asked, voice critical. “You cannot trust me, Trixie. I survive through deceit. Lies and trickery are second nature to me. Whether I said I believed or not, you have no way of ascertaining the truth of my words. When one plays for both teams, even his truths become deceptions.” She had to admit, his words made a strange sort of sense. “If Trixie cannot trust you, then why do you bother to tell her anything at all?” He gave her a solemn look from over his shoulder. “Because if you are going to survive in the battle between Celestia and Luna, you must learn to weave the webs and untangle the strands.” She tilted her head at him, trying to make sense of his words. “So… you’re… trying to help Trixie survive?” “Perhaps. Or perhaps I am merely helping you dig yourself a deeper hole. You have no way of knowing… or do you?” She scowled. “Trixie does not understand, but that’s the whole point, is it not?” He came to an abrupt stop and turned, surprising her with a pleasant smile. “Yes, that’s it exactly!” He walked up to her and sat. “The truth lies before you. In the crumbs of civilization, the subtle tones of what is said, the words that aren’t being used. If you can learn to find the clues, to see the patterns, to recognize what is hidden before your very eyes, then the truth becomes obvious.” She stared, trying to grasp his meaning. It was like attempting to hold water. “Trixie has no idea what you mean.” She tensed as he took her hooves in his. The touch made her want to jerk back, and she almost did. But his serious, concerned gaze held her in place. “I am trying to give you a lesson. You cannot rely on anypony to give you the truth, Trixie, not anymore. You have passed beyond the normal world you grew up in, into a world where secrets are within secrets, where one pony’s truth is another pony’s deception. If you want answers, stop relying on what others tell you and start looking for them on your own! There is only one truth, but it’s up to you to discover it.” She stared at him, then at their touching hooves. The contact, surprisingly warm, made her blush. “W… Why are you telling Trixie this?” He let her go and stepped back, his face now emotionless. “Just one more mystery. Perhaps I’m trying to lead you down a certain path. It could be because of Luna. Or maybe Celestia is guiding me.” He turned away from her to head further into the slums. “Or maybe I think that a pony who never intended to get caught up in all this deserves more than to be thrown to the wolves without some guidance.” She watched him walk away, not sure whether to be thoroughly confused or very grateful. When he paused to look at her she winced and quickly followed. “If it is that last one,” she said, “then you have Trixie’s thanks. Even if she will probably never understand.” “If it’s that last one,” he noted solemnly, “then you’re welcome.” They walked on in silence for several minutes. Trixie devoted the time trying to unravel the words he’d given her, or apply them to Luna’s story. Above all she wanted to avoid thinking about the horrible living conditions that now surrounded her. Yet no matter how she wrapped her head around it, the only thing she could be certain of was that Luna and Celestia were clearly at odds. And Nightmare Moon, there was still her to consider. “We’re here.” She looked up to find that they were in a section of the slums made up of larger– but still run-down and shoddy – buildings. Most were two or three stories tall, resembling condominiums. They probably should have been condemned, but it was clear that ponies were still living in them, overcrowded and dirty. But Fine wasn’t facing one of those buildings. His eye was on a single-story, wide structure that looked like it might have been an administrative building at one time. Ponies still lived there, but these appeared larger and menacing. “Is Trixie... expected to go in there?” she asked, as she studied the burly, scarred stallions at the entrance. He nodded grimly. “It appears a local gang has taken over. No matter, they will make way for us.” He approached, Trixie slowly following. The two stallions, one a heavily scarred Earth pony and the other a pegasus with only one wing, spotted them. The pegasus moved as if to cut them off, but was stopped when his fellow guard set a hoof to his chest. Fine paused before them, his eye going to the bigger Earth pony. The stallion shifted and cleared his throat before asking in a deep voice, “Whatcha want?” Fine stood tall and peered at the guard with a glare so fierce the stallion’s face went pale. “You can take a break for about thirty seconds.” The two guards cast wary looks at one another and elected to sidestep away from the door with averted eyes. Fine proceeded inside. Trixie hurried to follow, noting that the stallions wouldn’t meet her gaze. “Such power must be nice.” Trixie trotted after Fine into a wide hallway. “Power is nothing,” Fine growled. “Power is dirt. Conviction is what really matters.” The air was filled with pale smoke, the unpleasant scent of Poison Joke extract making her cough. The hallway was filled with grim-looking ponies. At first they rose up in alarm at their arrival, but one look at Fine made them all huddle back and make room. Many watched them with pallid faces, as if they’d just seen their deaths. But others were glaring daggers. Trixie felt like a target, and moved much closer to Fine. “This strikes Trixie as dangerous,” she whispered. “Why did you bring her here?” He remained silent, ascending some stairs as a trio of teenagers scrambled out of his way. Trixie tried not to eye them and their animal-like manner. He led her through another hallway, ponies carefully staying out of the way. They arrived at a closed door, a massive black Earth pony sitting before it. The mare spotted Fine and, unlike the others, did not react with surprise or terror or anger. She merely stood and walked away, as if realizing she needed to be somewhere else. Fine stopped beside the door and turned to Trixie. “She’s in here.” “She?” Trixie eyed the door, then Fine. He merely gestured to it. She hesitated, unsure of what to expect from the professional deceiver. But, as he’d said before, if he wanted to harm her he’d have done it already. The thought was enough to convince her to open the door. She glanced through the opening. It appeared to be a plain, empty room. She gave him one last, critical look before stepping inside. She noticed the crying almost immediately. The floorboards creaked under her hooves as she walked around the large, bare room. She glanced around… then spotted the desk. The gentle glow of a myriad of candles illuminated pictures and a large vase filled with roses. There, sitting before the desk with her head bowed, was Amethyst. Trixie could only gape. She was certain she’d never seen her friend cry before, and it was… disturbing. She approached slowly, coming up behind Amethyst and looked over her shoulder. The pictures were of a young couple, a red unicorn stallion and a purple pegasus mare. In some pictures they were doting over a newborn unicorn foal. “...Ammy?” Her friend’s back jerked straight. She slowly turned to face Trixie with wide, moist eyes. “T…T-Trixie?” Trixie winced at those eyes. She glanced at the desk, then at her friend, her heart aching at the sight before her. “What is this?” Amethyst rubbed her eyes, blushing wildly. “I… I told you it was private!” Misery and alarm shifted to anger, her brow furrowing and her eyes flaring. “I thought I made it clear! Why did you follow me?!” Trixie stepped back from her anger. “Trixie did not follow you. She was led here by—” “Shut up!” Amethyst shoved her away with a vicious snarl. “Nopony is supposed to know! They could kill me, Trixie!” “Don’t be ridiculous.” Fine was in the doorway, watching the scene with a grave frown. Amethyst saw him, and when she did she screamed. “You! I wasn’t going to tell, I swear!” She fell back with wide eyes as he entered the room. Trixie saw her friend’s reaction and moved between her and Fine. “It’s okay, Ammy, he’s with me!” “It’s not okay!” Amethyst was between the desk and the corner. She dropped to the floor and covered her eyes beneath trembling hooves. “How could you do this to me? He’s going to kill me!” “Ammy, what is—” Trixie felt Fine’s hoof brush her chest as he approached the trembling pony. “Amethyst,” he whispered, “you are not going to die.” She did not answer, or react in any way save for a miserable whimper. “Celestia would not have you killed for being born.” “Yes she would!” Amethyst sobbed and attempted to squeeze herself even more tightly into the corner. “She’s evil, and so are you!” Trixie stepped forward to look at her from over Fine’s shoulder. “Ammy! Why would you—” “And you!” Amethyst pointed at her from the floor. “You betrayed me! Me! If I survive this night I don’t ever want to see you again!” Trixie took a step back, leaving another hoof in suspension. “Ammy…” Seconds passed in silence. Trixie could only gape at her friend, trying to grasp her extremely unusual behavior. Fine simply stared at her with his usual stoic frown, and Amethyst was caught between sobs and trying to keep away from him. At last, Fine broke the silence. “Amethyst, I want you to tell Trixie why you are here.” She shook her head violently. “No! I swore not to tell anypony. I’m alive because I don’t tell anypony!” Fine’s voice was firm. “I am the Mane Archon of Equestria, and if I say you will not be harmed, then it will be so. Speak, Amethyst!” “You’re lying!” she screamed. “How could I ever trust you, you monster?” Trixie waved her hooves at them in denial. “Trixie does not need to hear it! Ammy, you don’t have to—” Fine growled. “Shut up, Trixie.” “No!” She stood and moved between him and Amethyst. “She is Trixie’s friend! Trixie will not stand by and let you bully her!” He studied her, face calm and emotionless. Amethyst merely wept in her corner. “So be it,” he declared at last, “but neither of you will be leaving these slums until the truth comes out.” His horn glowed and black clouds began to form around him. When they dissipated he was gone. Trixie let out a relieved sigh and turned to her friend, who was still trembling on the floor. She knelt down and nuzzled her. “Ammy, he’s gone. It’s okay.” Amethyst raised her head to look around… and abruptly shoved Trixie away. “You! Why did you come here? I told you not to get involved with this!” “Trixie is sorry,” Trixie replied, shrinking at her anger. “He brought her here, honest! Trixie did not know what he was planning.” Amethyst sniffed and rubbed her nose. “I wish I could believe you.” Trixie frowned, tilting her head at her. “Ammy, you know you can trust Trixie.” “Can I?” She glared, eyes burning with fury. “You’re Luna’s new pet. If you’re in Luna’s lap then you’re bound to be in Celestia’s, too. How could I ever trust somepony who works for them?!” Trixie reeled from her friend’s words, unable to comprehend this anger. “Trixie is not a… a pet! Why do you hate them so much? Trixie thought you liked Luna.” “Like her? Like her?” Amethyst stood up, eyes venomous. “I stomached her for you, Trix. She’s not as scary as her sister, but she’s still royalty. You want to know why I hate them? Really?” She turned and snatched one of the pictures from the desk, shoving it in Trixie’s face. “Here, take a good look! This is why I hate them!” Trixie leaned back, the image far too close for her to see properly. It was that tiny family, looking so happy amongst a Canterlot skyline. She saw the familiar color of the young mother’s coat, the soft features of the stallion. It came together. “Ammy… Are they your parents?” Amethyst clutched the picture close to her chest, fresh tears welling in her eyes. “Papa was a good stallion! A wealthy pony loved by the Canterlot elite. He was Celestia’s personal jeweler! But then he fell in love with a pegasus and… and…” Trixie tilted her head. “And?” Amethyst gazed down at the photo, not bothering to wipe away the tears that fell on it. “You really lived a sheltered life, didn’t you, Trix? Interracial marriage is a crime in Canterlot!” Trixie’s jaw dropped. “But… B-but that’s not true in other parts of Equestria. Why would it be true here?” “Ask your precious princess!” Amethyst glared at her, holding the picture close as if Trixie might attempt to snatch it away. “They tried to hide their romance, but then they had a foal. That was the ultimate taboo! They came down here to escape and… and…” She bowed her head and fought to control herself. “M-my parents, Trix… C-Celestia killed my parents!” This news struck Trixie like a hammer to the head. She dropped to her haunches and gaped, incapable of processing the very concept of what her friend had said. It took her several seconds to find her voice again. “That’s… Ammy, that’s not possible. Celestia? The symbol of all that is—” Amethyst let out a frustrated scream that made Trixie jump in alarm. “She’s evil, Trixie! She gave the order, she sent the Archons after us! I know it was her, they were breaking her laws!” Holy Horseshoes. “Ammy, you don’t know that. It… It could have been anypony. Look at this place, any one of these—” But Amethyst stepped forward to glare at close range, hatred and fury mixing in her eyes to render Trixie speechless. “It happened here. In this very room. I watched them abuse my momma like a bucking street whore! They. Set. My. Father. On. Fire! I was barely old enough to walk, Trix, but I can still hear his screams. The Archons are evil. The royals are evil. And you—” “Amethyst!” “—you work for them now, so that makes you evil!” Amethyst shoved her aside and ran for the door. “Don’t ever show your face to me again! I’ll kill you, Trixie, I swear it!” “Amethyst, wait!” Trixie gave chase, fear gripping her. “Please, don’t leave me!” She followed the pony through the halls, down the stairs and out the front door. She had tears in her eyes, terrified by the knowledge that she could lose her only friend, the one pony who had always been there for her. “Amethyst, come back!” She tripped and fell amongst a pile of trash, the hideous smell attacking her nostrils. When she pulled herself back up, her friend had disappeared amongst the pitiful masses. “Amethyst!” She ran. She didn’t know what else to do. She followed streets, darted through alleyways, scoured the dirty heaps. She shoved ponies out of her way in her desperate search, praying she could find her friend. She couldn’t lose her, she just couldn’t! She didn’t know how long she ran before her energy faded. At some point she went from full gallop to a determined jog, then at last to a slow, unhappy walk. She couldn’t believe what had just happened, what she’d just heard! It couldn’t be true. It was impossible. Amethyst’s parents… She could see the Archons being so cruel, but to pin the blame on Celestia? She closed her eyes and instantly saw an image of the young couple in the photo. Dear Goddess, her poor friend! She would have given anything to find Amethyst right then, even her horn. She wasn’t the kindest or most supportive of friends, but she was all Trixie had. Ten years they’d been together. She couldn’t lose her, she just couldn’t! With her mind completely occupied, Trixie failed to comprehend her direction or surroundings. When she looked up she found herself standing before a crystal wall. She glanced around, realizing she was at the edge of the cavern between two of the condominiums. She considered staying there to wallow in her own misery, but shook the thought off; she would never go back to being the pathetic pony she’d once been! She turned around and blinked; Fine Crime was standing some ten feet away, watching her. “You!” She marched up to him, horn sparking in response to her fury. “Why did you do that? My best and only friend hates me because of you!” His stoic face didn’t shift. “I am sorry, Trixie. I did not think she’d react quite like that.” She paused before him, huffing in anger. “Why did you do it? What could you have possibly hoped to gain?” “I felt you needed to hear her story,” he declared. For several seconds she stood before him, glaring with all the menace she could muster. Why wasn’t he showing any emotion? Did he even care that he’d ruined their friendship? But something else, something much more pressing, was on her mind. “Is it true? Did the Archons do that to her family?” He answered without hesitation or remorse. “It’s true.” She struck him in the jaw so hard he nearly fell over. “You bastard!” He was engulfed in her magic and lifted into the air. She slammed him against the wall once, then tossed him back into the alley. He hit the floor hard, trash and dust flying up at his impact. She turned to face him, legs spread in an aggressive pose, hate and rage fueling her. He slowly got to his knees, but didn’t stand. “Get up. Fight back, you monster. I’m going to tear you to pieces for what you did!” He didn’t look at her. He turned his head away from her and said nothing, leaving her to fume. Sheets of paper and bits of trash were sent floating away in the presence of her magical aura. Her mane rippled as if blown by some unfelt wind. She stomped towards him, the energy in her horn so intense it was causing thin electrical sparks to fly out and touch the walls and objects around her. “Face me!” He ignored her. “Damn you, take responsibility for what you’ve done!” But he wouldn’t budge. She ran out of energy. The aura fizzled out, the objects around her crashing to the ground. She huffed in exhaustion and dropped to her knees just behind him, tears welling in her eyes. “You… Y-you bastard. You were supposed to defend yourself… Why didn’t you give me something to hit?” For several seconds they remained silent, Trixie sobbing on the floor and Fine stalwartly refusing to look. But then he spoke, and his voice was soft. “Even I have limitations, Trixie. I’m not proud of what happened. I gave out the order. So if you want to kill me for it, do so. I won’t resist.” She rubbed her eyes free of tears and stared at the back of his head. “Why?” she asked, voice feeble. “Why did you do it?” He hesitated. “I can’t tell you.” She gritted her teeth. “Why? For buck’s sake, tell me!” “I can’t!” He shot her an angry look, but it faded quickly as he bowed his head. “I can’t, Trixie. I just… I can’t.” He stood slowly and turned to her. “I’m sorry about your friend. Really, I am. I had no idea she was going to react that way.” He reached a hoof to her, but she slapped it away with a sneer. “Don’t pretend to be Trixie’s friend. As far as she’s concerned, you and all your minions can burn in Tartarus!” He stared down at her with a frown, rubbing his hoof against his chest as if to be rid of an itch. “I suppose I’d have it coming. Come on, Trixie, we need to get you out of here. The locals aren’t friendly to unicorns.” “Just leave Trixie alone!” “I can’t,” he replied, hi voice soft. “I gave my word that you would be safe from harm while down here. I will not leave you alone to get backstabbed by some homeless, bitter pony out for revenge.” She stood up slowly and sneered. “Trixie does not want your help.” “You will have it, regardless.” She jerked her head away, furious thoughts running through her mind. She wanted nothing to do with him and his Archons. If only she could lash out. If only she could fix what had happened! If only… If… Her eyes had fallen upon something in the corner. A cardboard box had collapsed, something sticking out at the edge of it. Something… purple. That shape… It reminded her of something. Her anger fading to worry, she slowly approached the box. Fine said nothing, watching her motion with that strangely neutral expression. Heart pounding, she carefully reached down to push against the box. It didn’t budge, so she used both hooves to pull. The cardboard ripped, revealing what was beneath, and Trixie could only gasp in horror. Twilight Sparkle. She gazed down at the broken alicorn, who was laying unconscious on her belly, mane set over her eyes. Those horrible scars, the missing wing, that crater where her horn should be… the sight left Trixie trembling, and for a moment she thought she might vomit. “Sweet Luna,” she breathed, "I had started to think she was a dream.” Fine was beside her, staring down at the body with cold eyes. “So, it’s the imposter.” Trixie gave him a slow, terrified look. “Im… Imposter?” He nodded solemnly. “She arrived in Canterlot a few years back, claiming to be Celestia's pupil. We thought she might have been a changeling.” Trixie dropped to her knees before Twilight. “Changelings are extinct,” she whispered. “As far as we know.” She ignored him, leaned forward to nuzzle the pony. Twilight didn’t respond. “She’s gone, Trixie.” She looked up at him with wide eyes. “Don’t say that!” She pushed Twilight, careful not to touch her crippled wing. “Come on, wake up! Talk to me.” “Trixie.” Fine set a hoof to her shoulder. “It’s too late for her. She’s not the real Twilight, anyway. Twilight was never an alicorn.” Whether it was Twilight or not, Trixie was horrified at the sight before her. This poor, broken creature bore the face of somepony who terrified her, but those scars, her broken and battered form… “What… What happened to make her like this?” Fine stared at her for several seconds, then let out a tired sigh. “She came to Canterlot, claiming to be Twilight Sparkle. It was impossible, of course; I personally confirmed that the real Twilight was at the Gates of Tartarus, doing her job. Celestia lured this one in then broke her. The best we can assume is that she was a changeling, a survivor of one of the last lineages from the war six hundred years ago. Celestia had her dumped in Tartarus, which is probably where she got the rest of her wounds. I’d heard she had escaped, but she was no longer considered a threat, so we ignored her.” Trixie shook her head, guilt and misery filling her. She came forward and felt at Twilight. She was so cold. She held the pony close, tears in her eyes. “Changeling or no, no pony deserves this.” He knelt down beside her, studying Twilight with a solemn, experienced eye. “I guess her body finally gave out. With scars like these, she surely had something permanent done to her on the inside too. She must have been determined, to have carried on this long.” Trixie noticed him and felt her anger return. She glared and rubbed tears from her eyes. “Go away. You disgrace her by being here!” He raised an eyebrow. “She’s a changeling.” Trixie rose up to give him her most sinister glare. “She was a living, breathing being! She had a heart, a soul! Get out of here, before I give you some scars of your own!” He stared at her, his expression neutral once more. He observed her fury for a while, but at last nodded. “Very well. But remember, Trixie: I’m always watching. Always.” “Go!” Black smoke billowed, and he was gone. She let out a long, bitter sigh and turned to the body at her hooves. Heart heavy, chest tight, she dropped down next to Twilight and brushed her mane from her eyes. She looked so… peaceful, even with that scar over her face. “I don’t know if you are a changeling or not,” she whispered, “but you didn’t deserve this. I’m gonna take care of you, okay? At least one pony in this bucked-up world will treat you with decency. I’m just so sorry it’s coming too late.” Nopony bothered her as she carried the body out on her back. Indeed, they all avidly avoided her, as if she were carrying a contagion instead of a corpse. She found the nearby mining tunnels and followed them deep underground, until she found a place untouched by the detritus of modern Equestrian society. There she used her magic to carve out the crystal in a wall. It was slow going, and her head was sore from a magic overdose by the time it was deep enough to be satisfactory. She rested the body within, legs folded peacefully, mane and tail straightened as best Trixie could manage without a brush. When she felt the body was as dignified as she could manage, she set to work sealing it within the wall by returning the pieces she’d removed. The process took hours, even after she’d figured out how to work the magic properly. By the time she was finished she was covered in sweat, horn smoking from over-exertion and head throbbing to the point that it was almost crippling. But the grave was completed; Twilight could just be seen within the crystalline surface, her scarred but peaceful form preserved within the solid, smooth wall. Trixie had spent the entire time thinking long and hard on all that she’d learned. No matter what she’d been told, she simply could not accept anything anypony had told her as truth. She couldn’t trust Celestia or Luna. Fine was clearly an abomination regardless of what side he supported. Amethyst was gone from her life. Nye was in Luna’s pocket, and Nightmare Moon was… Nightmare Moon. She had a suspicion that only one pony had ever been completely honest to her since this whole mess had started, and that pony was now entombed in crystal. So Trixie made a decision; she wasn’t going to fight for any of them. They weren’t worth it. But this Twilight – a changeling, a real pony, who knew? – had suffered an unjust punishment for a crime that wasn’t even defined. Who was standing up for her? Who was defending her right to exist? As she settled to the crystal floor and prepared to sleep, Trixie decided that it would be her.