One of the aspects of the Elements that took me the longest to study was how they interacted with outside magic. That is, whether normal spells could influence their power in any way. The results, like everything to do with the Elements, were mixed and frustratingly arbitrary.

My initial aim was to channel or limit an Element’s abilities, hopefully reducing the potential for disastrous accidents when experimenting. I started from a spell Princess Celestia had developed to keep the Elements from being stolen by Discord, as he had done once before. I soon discovered, to my great dismay, that this spell was accomplishing exactly nothing. The magic Princess Celestia used was tied to the Elements themselves, and their peculiar nature makes them terrible for anchoring certain spells to. The spell had, essentially, fallen off, unable to find purchase.

My further experimentation only solidified this discovery, but not in the way I had anticipated. Some spells anchored just fine to the Elements, especially ones that followed the function of the Element itself. Binding spells worked best with Loyalty, energizing spells worked best with Laughter, etc. Spells that attempted to prevent or limit the interactions between Elements and their Bearers, on the other hoof, slid off like oil from water.

In fact, I could find no way of blocking or limiting those connections at all, magical or otherwise. The closest I came was a method of redirecting the connections themselves which, while interesting, I could find no practical application for. This left me with no way to limit or regulate the amount of power that could be drawn from the Element, nor the use of Activated abilities. Like it or not, once an Element has a Bearer, the only limits it has are the Bearer’s own.

-From the third section of Harmony Theory by Twilight Sparkle

Chapter Twenty Four: Kindness

Twinkle Shine watched as Star Fall and her companions left the Dusk Hall. Her guts had roiled at the inclusion of Rarity in that group, but the Nightmare had thankfully kept her displeasure down to a thoughtful hiss. She couldn’t shake the feeling of wrongness from seeing the three mares from the past, though. It was impossible, but here they were. The genuine articles, according to Spike, and she had no reason to doubt him.

“So, Gamma, what have you discovered?” the King asked, as he stepped away from the thrones and towards the spymaster. The Professor, shaken from her thoughts, hurried to join him, the Queen following at a more sedate pace.

“Three things,” Gamma said. She waved towards guards at the doors. They opened them to admit one of Gamma’s agents, who gave the spymaster a thick folder before bowing and leaving without a word. “The first two pertaining to Max Cash, the last to the situation in the Republics.”

“Five days ago, the same night Spike was attacked by Cash, there was a magical incident commensurate with the appearance of the Shadowed Alicorn,” Gamma said, her magic drawing forth a few pages filled with numbers and diagrams. “This is a comparison report I had made. Professor?”

Twinkle Shine took the pages and looked them over. “The pattern matches,” she confirmed. “Though the magnitude is significantly smaller in the recent incident.”

“Or, more likely, that she just wasn’t exerting herself as much,” Gamma added. “Regardless, this is Umbra. Correct?”

She looked to the Professor for support, who could only nod. “Without a doubt,” she said.

“The Destroyer, active in my kingdom,” the King shook his head. “As if there are not enough problems with the nightlands at our doorstep. You said that this had to do with Max Cash. Is there more evidence that he is in collusion with her?”

“No,” Gamma said, though there was a pause before the word that told the Professor that she wasn’t certain about that. “What we do have is this.” She pulled out another paper, this one a photograph of a night sky. There was a strange pink and red streak going across it, like motion blur from something moving very, very fast.

“This is an object photographed moving at just over the speed of sound at the same time as Umbra’s activity was recorded.” Gamma pulled another picture, setting it beside the first. This one was an expanded part of the first image, showing the leading edge of the pink streak. Twinkle Shine made sure that her eyes widened at what she saw, imitating worried shock with understated precision. “This is the limit of our ability to enhance the photograph. Not ideal, but I think the conclusions drawn from it are still accurate.”

“Celestia’s day,” the Queen breathed. “It’s a pony. Then that trail of light?”

“Etherealization,” Gamma confirmed. “And this pony is carrying another. As far as I am aware, only one pony is capable of both travelling at these speeds and etherealizing, let alone carrying a load greater than their own mass while doing so.”

“Rainbow Dash,” the Professor said. Gamma nodded. “This clearly is not her.”

“No,” Gamma said. “Agent Dash’s position has been confirmed by trustworthy sources during the time this photo was taken. Furthermore, the colors are inconsistent with those of Agent Dash, even when she was still, ah, incognito. There is, however, one pony who comes to mind that they are consistent with.”

“Charisma,” the King growled, shuffling his hooves in agitation. “Will we never be free of her? Must she haunt my reign until my last breath?”

“Peace, husband,” the Queen said, reaching out a wing and laying it across his back to still his unease. She looked to Gamma, indicating the pictures with a dip of her horn. “If that is her, then I would assume she is carrying her master.”

“A logical conclusion, your majesty,” Gamma said. “This is a rather disturbing development, I’m sure you’ll agree.”

“She shouldn’t be capable of this,” the Professor said, frowning at the picture. “Flight, speed, strength… these are not her Talent. Even enhanced by Cash’s magic, this should be impossible.”

“Yet there it is,” Gamma said. “Charisma was a high-level threat to begin with, if she has acquired the physical abilities of Agent Dash, then the current procedures in place for dealing with her are… inadequate.”

She Is Using An Element, Umbra’s voice whispered into the back of the Professor’s mind. She stopped herself from nodding in agreement, but only just. “Can we counter her?”

“Presumably she is still mortal,” Gamma replied. “However, without a significant level of planning or luck, any attempt to remove her as a threat will result in losses. Under normal circumstances I would set two wings of Griffins against her and expect only one to come back, and not whole. At this level of ability? I would expect that any number of soldiers would be inadequate, used only to distract her from an incoming area-saturation bombardment.”

“You could have just said ‘no’,” Twinkle Shine sighed. “Do we have any idea where these madponies will strike next?”

“Cash bought passage through the Everstorm two days ago,” Gamma said. “Wherever he’s gone in the nightlands, none of my sources have been able to locate him.”

“As you say, your majesty,” Gamma said with a shallow nod. “But they will return, and I think it very prudent to prepare for that.”

“You sound very certain of this, Gamma,” the Queen pointed out. “Has Cash not already gained what he wanted from our lands?”

“Not entirely,” Gamma said, pulling yet another photo from the file, but not revealing it yet. “And regardless of whether they intend to return or not, I am certain that Cash’s actions will have dire consequences for the world as a whole. Master Spike has been candid with me about the abilities of the Elements of Harmony. The feats he ascribes to them are mythic in nature: shattering mountains, raising islands from the sea, annihilating armies, and other such abilities.”

“Spike has been a friend to our kingdom since its inception,” the Queen rebuked her husband. “He treated with the Goddesses themselves. His word is above reproach.”

The King opened his mouth to argue, but then closed it as he thought better, nodding instead. “Of course, Aqua. I am merely worried about these stories of incredible power. It all seems… overwhelming. As if the Destroyer were not enough of a challenge.”

“I understand, but there is no call to doubt our allies.” The Queen touched her horn to his, looking into his eyes with an expression that spoke volumes in the private language of long-married lovers.

“I do not believe the situation is quite that dire,” Gamma said, catching their attentions. “There appears to be a learning curve to the Elements that takes years to master, and mastery with one does not translate to mastery with another. From the deliberate speed he has chosen to employ, I do not think he has that much time. Perhaps there is a limit to his own control of the Elements. Perhaps there is some other deadline he is racing to meet. Regardless, I doubt he will be gone from the Kingdom for long. You see there is something here that he still wants, and it’s something he can’t just pick up and run off with.”

Gamma revealed the picture she had been holding back. It was of much higher quality than the first two, showing a vast pit dug into deep ice and rock, revealing a thick, towering spire that gleamed with reflected light from walls as smooth as glass. There was an annoyed snarl from the Nightmare, but other than that the reaction of shock was all Twinke Shine’s. “The Crystal Palace!”

The Professor’s eyes weren’t the only ones that went wide at the sight of that picture. “It was destroyed!” the King said, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Apparently not,” Gamma said. “How it survived the Schism is not important, that it exists is. Cash has crews excavating the entire building, and from the reports I’m receiving they are making very good time. This is the second item connected to Cash I bring to you. Your majesties, I believe that your ancestral home is key to Cash’s plans. I don’t know how yet, but if my memory serves the Palace itself was used to amplify magic.”

“No, not amplify,” Twinkle Shine said. “It was a broadcaster. It could send magic farther than any unicorn could on their own. According to the legends, a spell cast from the Crystal Palace could reach all the way across Equestria.”

“I’ve known for a year that he was digging in the north,” Gamma said. “But this particular picture wasn’t taken until a week ago. Until Agent Dash appeared I was not allowed to treat Cash as a priority, if you will recall.” If there was any heat in the comment, none of it showed in her voice or on her face. If the King noticed the barb in her words, he didn’t react to it. “However, now that we know of this discovery, I believe we can use it against him.”

“We allow his crews to complete their excavation, and then take control of the site,” Gamma said. “We allow Cash to believe he has succeeded, then ambush him as he attempts to use the Palace.”

“With an empowered Charisma and these Elements on his side?” he scoffed. “How could we hope to succeed with an ambush?”

“As I said, careful planning,” Gamma said. “And I am not saying it will not come without sacrifices.”

The Queen made a small sound of understanding. “You don’t just mean lives, do you? You… you would collapse the Palace on them!”

“The Palace could be a boon to the Kingdom,” the King said. “The power to send magical aid anywhere! It would be one hell of a deterrent to the Republics.”

“One villain is already planning to use it for his own purposes,” the Queen said. “Perhaps it would be best if that kind of power did not return to the world.”

“I cannot agree, Aqua,” the King said, shaking his head. “But I will let it lie for now. Gamma, see what you can come up with that will save the Palace. If it becomes necessary to destroy it to stop this madpony… well, we shall see, yes?”

“As you say, your majesty,” Gamma said again. “To my third piece of business, then. My sources have reported a new development with the Republics Senate. There has apparently been a power struggle going on behind the scenes.”

“Hawks against doves?” he asked, referring to the pro and anti-war factions in the southern government.

“No, but it is affecting the balance between them. One particular Senator has been calling in favors by the hooffull, directing his efforts against those of the RIA.”

“I don’t know,” Gamma replied. “This change came on suddenly, and with no apparent inciting incident. I’ve put out orders to tap all the usual sources, but so far the returns have been unhelpful. With my attention focused on the Max Cash situation, I haven’t been able to apply myself to the problem. It’s mere speculation, but my guess is that this Senator has done something highly illegal and is performing a pre-emptive strike against the only agency that could call him to account for it.”

“I will not rule that out. But there is no positive evidence in that direction.”

Gamma shook her head. “Normal diplomatic routes only. The RIA is too deeply involved. Any covert action would be traced back to us eventually, and seen as an act of war. I will monitor and report any major changes, but until we know the root cause of this the embassy is the extent of our influence.”

There was a moment of silence as Gamma gathered her papers and returned them to the file. Seeing that her news was finished the King turned to Twinkle Shine. “Professor, your counsel?”

She took a deep breath and slowly let it out as she thought about what to say. “Bring more of the army back to the mainland,” she said.

“That will leave us dangerously outmatched at the Stile Islands,” the King said. “I cannot do that.”

“It is the prudent move, your majesty,” the Professor pressed. “Those islands are not as important as protecting your subjects from Umbra, or Cash.”

“I agree with the Professor,” the Queen said. “We must think of the people before we worry about a small parcel of land.”

The King snorted. “You two! You would have me give up my kingdom by inches! No. Stay your words, Aqua, I am adamant on this. So long as the Republics continues to threaten us at the Stile Islands, that is where we shall keep the bulk of our armies. Gamma, you may have the use of any of the remaining forces to whatever plan you concoct, save the garrisons charged with the direct protection of our subjects.”

“They will not be enough if Umbra attacks,” the Professor said, keeping her voice carefully even.

The King turned to his spymaster. “Tell me, Gamma, you have faced the Destroyer personally, how many soldiers would it take to counter her?”

Gamma paused before responding, her intense blue eyes focusing on the middle distance for a fleeting moment. “She is a Goddess, your majesty,” she replied, a slight shudder marking her words. “Every soldier in the world wouldn’t be enough.”

“See?” he asked, looking back to the Professor. “I would rather my soldiers stay where they will actually do some good.”

Twinkle Shine knew a losing battle when she saw it. She caught the pointed look that the Queen was giving her, and knew that regardless of what the King said, it was not over yet. “Of course, your majesty.”

He smiled in his small triumph. “I will, of course, send an envoy to the Republics, asking for a reduction of their forces and pledging to do the same. If there is a shift in their thinking, perhaps the doves will finally have the edge and we can ease the tension between us.”

“Good. Then that is settled. Now, before we adjourn there is one other item to share,” the King said, gesturing towards the Professor. “Your trip to the Temple of Luna. Was it a success?”

Twinkle Shine allowed a small smile to creep onto her lips. “More than I ever imagined, your majesty. Their collection of legends were just as complete as they boasted, and amongst the tales I found one in particular that…” she trailed off as she felt a wave of power wash through her. She shook her head, trying to clear the sudden fog that filled it. “That talks about…” she stopped again, blinking hard. Gamma frowned at her, but the Professor’s attention was drawn to the two Royals, who were both staring up at the ceiling, their gazes locked on the same faraway point.

“Professor,” Gamma said, stepping close to her. She didn’t respond, swaying slightly on her hooves as something twisted and writhed within her. “Twinkle!” Gamma hissed. “What’s going on?”

She couldn’t respond. The Nightmare was burning along her veins, filling her mouth with ashes and fire. No! Umbra’s voice roared in her mind, burning through the fog of her thoughts like a lighthouse beacon. This Is Not Possible! It’s Too Soon!

“Too soon,” Twinkle Shine echoed the Nightmare. The castle shuddered around them, rattling the pictures on the walls and the windows in their stone frames. “Star Fall,” she gasped out as she fell, her body already falling into spasms and her vision going dark. The last thing she saw before consciousness fled was the sky bursting into light: a crimson aurora to announce her student’s power to the world.

They found Rainbow Dash in her room, staring out the large balcony window at the endless glow of the city that surrounded them. She didn’t look back as they walked in, her unblinking eyes scanning restlessly back and forth along the cityscape. “Hey guys,” she said. “How’s your rooms?” Her wings flexed open and closed as she spoke, sending little gusts of wind out to ruffle the sheets of the bed.

“Much like this one,” Rarity replied. “Large and quite well furnished, if uncreatively decorated.”

Dash shrugged. “Dunno. I just feel like there’s something that should be happening.”

“Like I said, I don’t know,” Dash said. “So, what’s up? Shouldn’t we all be getting some sleep or something?”

“Of course, darling, but Applejack and I thought we should talk before turning in for the night,” Rarity said, reaching out to touch a hoof to Dash’s face, gently forcing her to look away from the window. “And we’d like it if we could have your attention.”

“Yeah, okay,” Dash said, pushing Rarity’s hoof away and turning to face the other two ponies fully. “So what’s the deal? What do we have to talk about that we didn’t get to at Spike’s?”

“Well, for starters, what the hay we’re goin’ to do next,” Applejack pointed out. “I ain’t exactly heard much real talk on that subject yet.”

“Well, see, I’m not sure that’s what we all should be doing,” Applejack said.

“What?” Dash pulled back in shock, hovering a foot off the ground. “AJ! He’s going after the Elements! We gotta stop him!”

“Now, hold on, there,” Applejack said, putting up a hoof to forestall any more protests. “I’m not sayin’ he shouldn’t be stopped. He’s mad as a starvin’ fruitbat and needs to be seen to. But hoppin’ back in the skyship and goin’ after him might not be the best choice for us. We should think this through before we do anythin’ foolish. I’m not sayin’ we ain’t gonna, I’m just sayin’ we should make sure that’s the right thing to do before we go off and do it.”

“For one, we could let Gamma and her ponies take care of it,” Applejack said.

“I am one of Gamma’s ponies,” Dash said, crossing her forehooves in sullen resistance.

“That’s as may be,” Applejack said, keeping her voice even with an audible effort of will. “And if she tells you to go, then I guess you’re gonna. But you’re not the only pony she’s got. We could be more help to her figurin’ out exactly what Cash wants with our Elements rather than harin’ after him. Not that we even know where it was he’s goin’.”

“I know where he’s going,” Dash grumbled. “Ponyville, where Twilight’s statue is.”

Applejack paused at that, frowning. “And why haven’t you told anypony about that?”

Dash sighed, dropping to the ground and hanging her head. “I did. I told Gamma on the trip over here. The statues are where the Elements are, and that’s where Twilight’s statue is. I saw it when Astrid, Star and I crossed through the Everstorm.” She shivered at the memory, her eyes going back to the window. “I don’t know where the other ones are, but we know that if he wants them all he’s gotta find a way to go there.”

“I don’t know!” Dash snapped, tearing her eyes from the glowing city. “I don’t know. Maybe?”

“Girls, please,” Rarity stepped in, giving them both a pleading look. “Applejack, you’ve apparently given this more thought than either of us. What other options have you come up with?”

“Well, no matter what we do, it looks like Star’s goin’ to be stayin’ here,” Applejack continued. “It’s big business, becomin’ a princess. She’s gonna need some good friends by her side, and I get the feelin’ she don’t have too many of those.”

Dash’s wings drooped. “I hadn’t thought about that,” she admitted. “I thought she’d be coming with us.”

“You don’t send princesses into dangerous situations, dear,” Rarity said. “Fallen Star seems quite capable, but once she takes on that kind of responsibility, her life will be simply too important to risk.”

“That’s not all,” Applejack said. “There’s also this rivalry with the southern lands that’s goin’ on. Lots of ponies are whisperin’ about it comin’ to war. Now, Cash needs to be stopped, but I don’t see how this war needs stoppin’ any less. Seems to me we’ve got some celebrity to us, and maybe we could be usin’ that to do some negotiatin’ or somethin’ to bring these ponies together. We’ve seen a united Equestria, we knew Celestia and Luna all personal-like, that’s got to carry some weight. Maybe we can use that to help them look past whatever bad blood’s got between them, head the whole thing off before it gets goin’.”

“I…” Dash shook her head, trailing off. She took a deep breath, looking again to the window, looking for something that was on the edge of her memory. “I don’t know, AJ. I’ve got this feeling in the pit of my stomach, you know? Like something’s going to happen and we’ve got to be ready for it. We can’t let Cash get all the Elements. We can’t. If he does… something horrible is going to happen.”

“Is that what we have to be ready for?” Rarity asked. “Cash getting all the Elements?”

“No,” Dash said, shaking her head and looking back to her friends. “Yes. Maybe. I don’t know. It’s just a feeling, alright? It’s not like I know what it means or anything.”

“Well, I trust your feelin’,” Applejack said. “But I don’t think bein’ ready means runnin’ off without thinkin’ about it first. Now, I’ve been workin’ at it, and I think that we should stay here, with Star. At least until we’ve got some clear idea of how to stop Cash. I think we should be here to help her become the best darn princess she can be.”

Applejack snorted. “I’m a farmer, not some fancy-dancy diplomat. I don’t know the first thing about talkin’ to high-class ponies or negotiatin’ peace. It was just a thought on what we could be doin’, not what I thought we should be doin’.”

“I think it’s a wonderful idea, Applejack,” Rarity said with a bright smile. “As you say, Fallen Star will need all the friends she can get, and I know of no better friends to have than the two of you.”

“You do have to share the trophy six ways,” Rarity said, winking. Then her smile fell and her tone grew serious. “But I’m afraid I won’t be helping you.”

“Another trophy-holder needs me,” Rarity explained. “I’ll be leaving with Spike, whenever he decides to move on.” Applejack opened her mouth to respond, but Rarity held up a hoof to stop her. “I would much rather stay with you two, darling, but I doubt he can be persuaded to stay, even by the best argument. I made him promise not to leave without me, and I intend to see him keep that promise.”

“I’m not going because of Max Cash,” she said. “And I quite frankly would rather we didn’t find him. He sounds perfectly horrid. I’m going because of Spike. Like Fallen Star, he needs support, and I’m afraid of what might become of him if he’s left on his own.”

It took Applejack a moment, but she finally nodded. “Rarity, I understand what you’re sayin’, and I can’t think of one reason to stop you. I just wish it didn’t have to happen.”

Rarity graced her with a sad smile. “So do I, Applejack, but, well, it looks as if the future just can’t handle all of us together.”

Dash heaved a sigh, her wings stretching wide to touch both of the other ponies. “So is this it? Are we, like, splitting up now?”

“We’ll be together for a few more days at least,” Rarity assured them, stepping in as well and letting Rainbow Dash’s wings hold them close.

“I just got you guys back,” Dash said, sniffing hard to hold back the tears she felt threatening to fall.

“And we’ll be together again,” Rarity added. “Just let them try and stop us!”

Then Rarity’s head snapped up so fast her horn knocked Applejack’s hat askew. She stared up at the ceiling, turning to look at some point deeper in the castle, her eyes wide and shining. “Twilight?” she whispered.

Then the windows shook in their frames and Dash leapt into the air, instinctively reacting to a possible earthquake. She looked outside and gaped as the golden lights of the city were overtaken by sheets of crimson energy that ribboned across the sky.

“I don’t know,” Rarity gasped. “For a moment there I thought I felt… no. I have to have been mistaken.”

“I thought it was Twilight’s magic,” Rarity said. “It was faint, but… I could have sworn! Now all I can feel is Fallen Star. Whatever she’s just done, it’s quite impressive.”

“I’m… not entirely sure,” Rarity admitted. “It felt like her, for a second, but I could have been imagining it. Whatever it was, Star Fall was right at the center of it.”

“Now hold on,” Applejack said. “I don’t hear no alarms or shoutin’ goin’ on. Star had Astrid with her, and a whole mess of other guards in case she gets in trouble. I don’t think we should go harin’ off before we know there’s any trouble to fix, especially when we don’t even know our way around this here castle.”

“So we just sit here and do nothing?” Dash demanded, staring up at the red sky.

“I agree with Applejack,” Rarity said. “I’m sure she’s perfectly safe. The magic I’m sensing isn’t… distressed. It’s like she was simply letting off pressure, as it were.”

“Well, I suppose we can ask her about it when we see her again,” Applejack said. “I don’t see what else we can do without runnin’ around like scared chickens, no idea where we’re goin’ or what to do once we get there. For now, unless we get word that there’s an emergency, I think it’s better to sit tight and head to bed.”

“I agree,” Rarity said. “We are bound to have a few busy days ahead of us. Wherever we happen to end up going.”

“Yeah,” Dash reluctantly agreed, still looking out the window. “Get some sleep, guys. I’ll… I’ll think about what you said, Applejack.”

They left as quietly as they had come, and Dash barely heard the door closed. She was fixated on the city, on the anticipation that was burning in her gut, a feeling she could not tie solidly to any source. Every time she tried all she found was a strange mental image of green eyes and a voice that she recognized but had no idea where she had heard it before. A voice that said three things: Watch out for yourself. Don’t let Cash talk. Look for me in the Solar Capital.

The world shook like it had been caught in an earthquake. Twinkle Shine was tossed about in a screaming vortex of fire and ashes, losing all sense of herself as thoughts both alien and personal tumbled and rocked around her. It took her far too long to realize that it what was happening, to gain her bearings in the turmoil and orient herself once again towards consciousness. Finally, after an eternity of effort, she opened her eyes. At first all she saw was darkness, an endless field onto which were pressed a billion sparkling lights. Her vision brightened by degrees, widening to a gray tunnel and from there to a view of a blank ceiling and the face of a friend.

She nodded. “I am,” she said, frowning at the dryness of her mouth. Gamma brought a glass of water to her lips and she sipped from it eagerly. “What happened?” she asked as soon as her tongue stopped feeling like sandpaper.

The memory came to her, a burst of fear making her sit upright suddenly, spilling some of the water. “Star Fall! Is she alright?”

Twinkle Shine sighed in relief, sinking back. She looked around and realized that she was in a bed. Not the Queen’s this time, thankfully, but one of the many guest rooms at the Court of the Sun. A tray with a pitcher of water and several pills in a small paper cup sat on the nightstand, and the notes she had brought to the Court with her were sitting on the small reading desk, clearly having been read by Gamma before the Professor had started awakening.

“You are much more sensitive to these things than I am,” Gamma said. “I didn’t feel any magic at all until Agent Fall decided to light up the sky. Fortunately Their Majesties didn’t react as badly as you.”

“With their youngest son,” Gamma said. “Berating him for something they forbade me to ask questions about.” She paused for a moment, studying the Professor’s face. “Though from your lack of reaction to that statement I take it you know what that something is.”

“I know some,” the Professor said, refilling her water glass. “Not all, and it’s… private.”

Gamma shrugged. “Fair enough. But since I’m not allowed to even ask what, exactly, has occurred, I will take the opportunity to say this: Twinkle, this is the second time you’ve collapsed that I know of. Are you okay?”

She considered very carefully what she would say to that question before answering. “I’m not perfectly alright, no,” she admitted, looking away. “I tried something when studying Rainbow Dash, and it… didn’t go well. I thought that first time would be it, but I guess not. I think any time I’m around powerful magic now I could–”

The Professor shook her head. “I don’t know. Not as much as any unicorn could conjure. It would have to be something big. Like what happened tonight, or Umbra appearing.” She risked stealing a look at Gamma as she said that. If she could get the spymaster to believe this lie, it would make life much easier for her later.

Gamma tsked in annoyance. “This is the worst possible time to have you out of commission, Twinkle. You’re one of the only people the King still listens to, and if you’re out at a key moment…”

“Will he?” Gamma stepped back from the bed, walking over to the desk. “I happen to doubt that. Especially considering what you have discovered here.” She tapped the pages. “Really, Twinkle? A plan to trap the Destroyer?”

“Are wrong,” Gamma snapped. “I’ve seen this before, Professor. It’s didn’t work then, and it will fail now.”

“It’s different,” Twinkle Shine said, taking a deep breath and falling back to lie on the bed. “We won’t be making the same mistakes.”

“The only mistake,” Gamma said, her voice losing what warmth it had. “Is in thinking that Umbra can be trapped at all. If you bring this to the King he will act on it. You know he will. Nothing I say from that point on will be able to sway him from this course.”

“Because something has to be done!” the Professor snarled at her, putting just a hint of desperate anger into her voice. “What am I to do, Gamma? Sit here uselessly, watching while the Shadowed Alicorn attacks with impunity? What if she attacks a city? What if she comes to the Capital? She will, eventually, you know. It’s inevitable. Are we supposed to just let it happen?” She dropped her voice low, lacing it with new strands of anguish and fear. “Star Fall hurt her. What if she comes looking for revenge?” Tears came easily, her words close enough to truth that she didn’t have to work hard to bring the emotions to the surface. “I can’t just do nothing, Gamma. I have no idea what to do about Rainbow Dash or Max Cash or these damned Elements of Harmony. But I have found something that could deal with Umbra. How can you ask me not to use it? How could you?”

Gamma watched her outburst with stone-faced impassivity. Her intense eyes were fastened on Twinkle Shine’s, revealing nothing of the thoughts that spun like clockwork behind them. “I cannot stop you,” she said finally. “But I am asking you to refrain from giving this information to the King. You’ve already sacrificed your daughter to his obsessions, do not feed the rest of us to that disaster as well. Because that is all that will come of this.” She stabbed her hoof at the papers again. “Disaster.”

She looked like she had more to say, but a knock at the door cut her off. Twinkle Shine held her gaze for a moment before looking away. “Come in!” she called.

The door opened to admit Spike, the Dragon’s eyes going between the two ponies, noting the tension in their bodies. “Am I interrupting something?” he asked.

“I think we’ve said all we needed to,” the Professor said, looking to Gamma.

“It will suffice,” Gamma replied. “Master Spike, I thought you were going to bed.”

“I live in a mountain, Agent Gamma,” Spike said. “I’m not exactly used to the room shaking. I came out to see what was going on. Then I heard Twinkle was hurt and I thought I’d see how she was doing.”

Gamma nodded in acknowledgment of that and turned back to the Professor. “We’ll speak more later. Rest.”

She turned to go, but Twinkle Shine called out to her. “Wait! There is something you need to know.”

“I don’t exactly know many people I could tell it to even if I wanted to,” Spike added. “Whatever it is.”

Gamma froze, her eyes twitching in surprise and understanding. “He wouldn’t.”

Gamma swore, spitting invective with a fervor Twinkle Shine hadn’t seen from her friend in many years. “Good night, Professor, Master Spike,” she managed to say between curses. “If you’ll excuse me I have a civil war to pre-empt.” And without another word she was gone.

Spike watched her go, shaking his head. When he turned back to her he took his time, looking over the room and the state of her before speaking. "So, you felt that," he said.

He nodded. "Barely. But even after all this time I know Alicorn magic when I feel it."

He shrugged. "It wasn't my first thought, but yeah, it did cross my mind that you could be turning into Umbra right here and now."

Spike tilted his head at that, frowning. "Really? The guy Star is supposed to marry?"

"The very same," Twinkle Shine deadpanned. "Apparently he's inherited Cadance's gift more than the rest of his family."

"Isn't it, though?" the Professor snarked. "He poked something he shouldn't have. I’ll speak with Umbra. Get her to keep that from happening again."

He relaxed a bit at that, but still kept a wary expression. "She wants to, though, doesn't she?" Twinkle Shine just gave him a level look, she didn’t have to check with the Nightmare to know the truth of it. Spike nodded at the unspoken confirmation. "Thought so. Well. As long as you're not turning into an equine abomination or plotting to murder your student's fiance, then I'll be going."

"Wait," the Professor said, holding a hoof out to him. "Please, I have something to ask you."

"You'll be leaving soon, right? Before the wedding?" He nodded. "I want you to convince Star Fall to go with you."

He cocked his head to the side as he thought about the request. "You know, I kind of want to."

He shook his head slowly. "No. Even if I tried, she wouldn't go. Not before the wedding. She's made her decision, Twinkle. She talked about it a bit back at my lair. She’s decided to accept the King's will in order to take the power it offers."

"Power?” Twinkle shine repeated, shaking her head. “She doesn't understand. She only sees the glamour of it, not the burden."

"I think she sees more than you give her credit for," Spike replied, turning to go. "She's not a filly, Twinkle, she's a grown and capable mare."

"She'll survive," Spike said, opening the door and half stepping through before looking back at her. "Just because you failed as a ruler doesn't mean she will. Good night, Twinkle. I'll see you in the morning."

Rarity woke at the touch of a hoof on her side. Her eyes snapped open and she jerked upright. Her breathing was quick and she could feel her heartbeat pounding in her chest. Sheets were tangled about her legs as if she had been thrashing in her sleep and were practically soaked with sweat. She frowned in disgust at that, but turned her attention to the hoof that was still at her side. There she saw an earth pony mare dressed in an elegant dress of red and gold, the crest of the Kingdom emblazoned on its sides. A servant.

“Of course,” Rarity said, glad that her Solar was good enough for casual conversations now. “Is something wrong?”

“You were thrashing about terribly,” the servant said. “I feared you were in distress.”

“No,” Rarity frowned, taking stock of herself. “I’m quite alright.” She spent a few moments blinking in the light coming in from the windows. The servant, apparently satisfied that Rarity was fine, went to the closet and opened it to reveal racks of clothing in red and gold. “Excuse me,” Rarity asked, making the servant pause and turn towards her. “I’m sorry, dear, but what is your name?”

“I am Bridget, my lady,” she replied with a curtsey. “I’ve been assigned to be your personal servant for as long as you have need of me.”

“As for laying out clothes.” Rarity slid out of the bed, trotting over to the closet and giving what was inside a critical eye. “No. I’m afraid none of this will do.”

Bridget looked taken aback at that. “I’m sorry, Lady Rarity, what would be more to your liking?”

“Nothing for the moment,” Rarity said, picking out one of the dresses with her magic and running a hoof over the fabric. “This looks to be in my size, at least. The stitching isn’t terrible, but it was obviously done in a rush. Were these put together last night?”

Bridget nodded. “The castle tailors worked through the night once they knew you brought no clothing with you.”

“Thoughtful of them,” Rarity said. “How did they get the clothes into the closet?”

“There is a back way into the closets that servants use to fill them,” Bridget explained.

Rarity frowned at that, but accepted it with a nod. “I see.” She turned the dress over, examining it in greater depth before turning her attention to look more closely at the other items Bridget had laid out. “The material is very nice, but the colors are so… common. This entire palace is covered in red and gold.”

“Yes, but I’m afraid that Rarity needs something unique. Do you happen to know where these tailors have their workshop?”

“I do,” Bridget said, though she didn’t sound terribly sure of herself. “But, Lady Rarity, you’re expected at breakfast.”

Rarity thought about that for the moment, then dismissed it. “I shall eat after I have seen these tailors,” she declared. “Now, lead the way, Bridget.”

“Ah! That’s Rarity, please. Now, there can be no delay! I must get this sorted out before it becomes a fashion trainwreck!”

Bridget blinked in shock at her vehemence, but curtseyed again. “Of… of course, Lady Rarity. This way.”

Rarity followed the servant out of her rooms, carrying the dress with her and filling her mind with all the possibilities she could use to create an original, elegant and stunning dress that would truly display her at her best. One thing she was certain of: she was going to avoid red and gold. Well, perhaps only for a few highlights.

She spotted Applejack in the hall, dressed in a jacket and pants that practically blended into the walls because of the insistent color scheme. Her mane had been plaited into a golden braid that nestled nicely between her neck and the coat’s high collar. It actually looked rather good on her, Rarity admitted, but her hat ruined whatever effect the rest of the outfit would have had. “Not gettin’ gussied up?” she asked as Rarity walked by her. “The filly in my room was mighty insistent that I not be seen without these digs on.”

“Hardly, Applejack,” Rarity replied. “I’m just seeing to a more personal touch in my ensemble.”

“No, dear, but I’ll send her your way if I do,” Rarity assured her, and then she turned down another hallway and Applejack was out of sight.

They walked for a while through the labyrinthine hallways of the Court of the Sun, moving into sections of the castle that were more bare than the opulent halls that held her room. The servant’s quarters, she surmised. Eventually they came to a pair of double doors that Bridget knocked on, then pushed her way through without waiting for an answer. Rarity followed her and got her first look at the tailor’s workshop.

It was larger than she had expected. Somehow, she had thought to find something like her own sewing room in the Carousel Boutique. In retrospect that had been a foolish assumption. The castle had hundreds of servants and guards, if not thousands. It would therefore need many tailors. From the number of sewing stations she saw, there were at least twenty. Each of those stations had a ponyquin next to it, some partly decked out in unfinished outfits, most empty. All the clothing she could see showed the crested red and gold of servant’s livery.

What really caught her attention were the massive rolls of fabric that took up the back of the room. Every color was represented there, and in enough quantity to make a whole season’s worth of dresses from each one. Three times as much red and gold as anything else, of course, but she could hardly complain about that.

“Is there a problem, my lady?” someone was asking. Rarity pulled her gaze away from the miles of beautiful fabric to look at the unicorn servant, likely one of the tailors, that was giving her a nervous look. More precisely he was staring at the dress she was levitating next to her with wide-eyed incredulity. “Is something wrong with the dress?”

“What? Oh, no, no, of course not,” Rarity said. “In fact, for having been made over the course of a night, it’s rather well done. My compliments on that.”

“We are used to rush orders from nobility, my lady,” the tailor said, bowing.

“Just Rarity, darling,” she said, smiling kindly at him. “But, I feel like It would be better to have something that had more of my own personal flair. You see, I’m a seamstress myself, and I design dresses for a living. Or, rather, I did.” Rarity frowned at that thought. Her career as a fashionista was long, long over.

“I… see,” the tailor said, frowning. “Well, if you would like to tell us how to alter the garment, we can accommodate any request in good time.”

“Ah, you see that’s not quite what I was getting at,” Rarity said. “I mean that I would like to make the dress myself.”

“I’m sorry, my lady, but this is not a place for one of your stature,” he said.

“Nonsense!” Rarity said with a smile, walking past him. She didn’t like running roughshod over a fellow clothier in his own domain, but she had the feeling that if she backed off now she would be relegated to wearing someone else’s designs for the rest of her stay. She wasn’t going to have that. Not at all. “I’m perfectly at home with shears, needle and thread.”

The tailor looked to Bridget, who shrugged, a helpless look on her face. “Well… as you wish, my lady,” he said eventually, though it clearly pained him. “I’ll assist you personally.”

She grinned at him. “Why thank you, but I would never take you away from your own creations. I’ll just take,” she scanned the empty sewing desks. “Those four places there. That should be sufficient.”

“Yes,” Rarity confirmed. “Those will do. Now, to get started.” She closed her eyes, her horn lighting up and sending tendrils of sparkling blue magic through the room. There were a few gasps from ponies watching, but she ignored them. A bit of annoyance from her interrupting their work would only be normal. She could bear their disapproval for as long as it took to bring the beauty that was her designs to the future.

Her magic found very few true gemstones to work with, which was disappointing, but quite a bit of colored glass and bits of metal. She ran her power over the fabrics, discerning the fine from the coarse and the thin from the thick. The variety was a delight to her, and she quickly began picking out a few to start working with immediately. She realized that she’d need more than the four ponyquins provided by her chosen sewing stations. Fortunately she found several ranks of them hidden to one side of the fabric rolls. She pulled a half dozen of them out, floating them to their places at the same time as she was unreeling several yards of her chosen fabrics and sending a dozen shears to cutting it into useable pieces.

A bloodcurdling shriek interrupted her thoughts. She opened her eyes, letting her magic complete the tasks she had given it on automatic. She found the room in an uproar. Ponies were running for the doors. One was standing in place, screaming in fear. Rarity looked around, but could see nothing that could have inspired this reaction. She turned to the tailor and Bridget, only to find both of them staring at her. Bridget was frozen, her eyes wide and her mouth fallen open. The tailor was shaking like a leaf, and she could see how pale he was under his teal coat.

Two hours later, Rarity had the whole of the workshop to herself, which was far from an ideal situation. The other tailors had rushed out and apparently refused to return to their tasks. When Rarity asked Bridget about it, she was just told that they were afraid. Rarity couldn’t see why they would be scared, but allowed that she just might not be understanding the different attitudes of the future.

As it was, she was not only working on her own designs, but also finishing the work that had been so callously abandoned. It wasn’t easy, but they had all been making basic servant’s outfits, which were simple enough to copy and automate while she focused her efforts on the more elaborate designs she was creating for herself. In a way, doing so much work at once was soothing. It reminded her of all those times she had scrambled to create a new line of clothing right before a new season would start, making and scrapping entire outfits as her muse searched for that one perfect idea. If she closed her eyes, she could almost imagine she was back home.

Bridget stood by her side, shaking like a leaf. She was looking around like a particularly high-strung squirrel, and had been since the mass tailor exodus. She’d only left Rarity’s side to fetch a small meal that Rarity had requested once it was obvious she wouldn’t be making it to the formal breakfast. Every time Rarity tried to engage her in some conversation, she had barely said two words unless asked a direct question.

So Rarity tried her best to ignore the strangeness and bent herself over an odd-looking, but still perfectly recognizable, sewing machine and carefully fed the fabric through with her hooves, watching as the needle worked its own particular magic. She heard the door open, but didn’t look up from her task, knowing that to stop now was to potentially ruin a good stitch. She didn’t react even when Bridget let out a squeak and dropped to prostrate herself on the floor. She was a professional, and she would not be so easily distracted.

Thankfully, her new company didn’t care to interrupt her. She finished after a few quiet moments and examined her work for flaws before nodding and setting the half-completed garment aside. When she finally looked up to see who had come in to the workshop, she found herself facing the Queen of the Solar Kingdom.

“Oh! My apologies, Your Majesty,” Rarity said, hastily getting up and giving the ruler a proper bow. “I was just so absorbed that I didn’t notice it was you.” Rarity was surprised by how easily the words flowed. She’d been stumbling over speaking full sentences just the previous day.

The Queen, for her part, was staring around the room with the same wide-eyed terror that Rarity had seen grip the tailors before they had run away. She handled it better, though, shaking herself and giving Rarity a regal nod. “No apologies necessary,” she said, though her voice quavered. “I know an artist when I see one, and I know not to interrupt their flow.”

Rarity rose and grinned. “Would you like me to show you what I’ve been working on? It’s based on something I did for my friends, well, over a thousand years ago, I suppose! I’ve yet to see what the haute couture of this time is, so I’m not sure if it will fit in very well, but it will certainly be unique!”

The Queen swallowed her fear and smiled at that, nodding eagerly. “I would be delighted, Lady Rarity.”

“Then I will be Aqua,” the Queen replied. “And while I would love to see your work, I do have something I wish to talk about first.”

“Oh?” Rarity asked, absently shuffling the ponyquins to better display the outfits she had mostly completed. “Of course. What would you like to talk about?”

Rarity paused, frowning at that. “I’m not sure I can help you with that particular subject. You’d probably be better off asking Star Fall, it is her Talent after all.”

“And as talented as she is, she could never do this,” the Queen swept her wings wide to indicate the room, and all the myriad objects moving within the blue glow of Rarity’s magic.

“This is hardly spectacular,” Rarity protested. “Just some telekinesis and a lot of experience at work.”

The Queen laughed, shaking her head. “To you, perhaps, this would be something all unicorns could do. Now? For us? This… this is mythical.” She took a deep breath, walking out into between the rows of sewing tables. The fear in her eyes gave way to wonder and she spun in a clumsy, dancing twirl. “I never thought I’d see magic like this! Never imagined what it would feel like to stand here and be surrounded by this much power! It’s like… like being given a breath of real air for the first time in my life. Like standing before a roaring waterfall on a hot day. It’s like seeing the ocean for the first time, when all I had ever known before were ponds. It’s exhilarating! It’s overwhelming!” She paused, giving Rarity a steady look. “It’s terrifying.”

Rarity understood. “Oh,” she said, her eyes dropping. “I had forgotten. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten anyone.”

“How could we not be frightened?” the Queen asked, though there was no accusation in her tone. “You could crush any of us with a thought, and none of us would have the power to so much as slow you down.”

“Forgive me,” the Queen said. “I did not mean to imply that you would ever do such a thing. But the fact remains that with your power, it is within your grasp. For so long the only creature with this kind of magic was the Destroyer, many of us can’t help but equate strength like yours with her.”

“I… I suppose I understand why it could be frightening,” Rarity allowed. “But let me assure you, Aqua, that I could never hurt anyone. My magic is not violent, it is a thing of grace and glamour, meant for bringing out beauty. I suppose I could manage a stunning spell if I tried, but anything more is quite beyond me.”

“I believe you,” the Queen said with a warm smile. “Though it might have been better for all of us if you were capable of more.”

“The Shadowed Alicorn is abroad,” the Queen said, walking back to Rarity. “And there is much more darkness than just her in the world. Power like yours could save us all.”

Rarity didn’t have anything to say to that. Instead of letting the silence between them become awkward, though, she knelt down to where Bridget was still laying. “You can get up now, dear.” Bridget gave a slight shake of her head, just enough to be seen. Rarity looked up to the Queen.

“Rise,” the Queen said, and Bridget shot to her hooves, standing at rigid attention. “Would you be so kind as to bring some tea for Rarity and myself?”

Rarity watched the servant go, shaking her head. “The poor dear, she must have been terribly scared by my magic. Yet she stayed with me the whole time. Perhaps she should be given a break. My Solar is improved greatly, I think I can manage on my own.”

“That would not be doing her any kindness,” the Queen warned. “Serving you is very important to her.”

“It is her duty to serve,” the Queen explained. “To dismiss her would be an insult, saying that her service has been so poor that you can’t stand to have her near you anymore. After staying with you while you were doing all of… this, that would be a cruel humiliation indeed. And trust me, it will be difficult indeed to navigate the Court of the Sun without a good servant to keep you going in the right direction.”

Rarity frowned. “Well, I don’t mean to insult her. And I suppose I could use an assistant while I’m here.”

“I’m glad you see it that way,” the Queen said. “And I’m sure your servant will thank you for keeping her on. And it’s important to more than just her that you be happy in your stay. I believe my husband has offered manumission to the servants of yourself and your friends if they are able to faithfully see to your needs for as long as you are our guests.”

“An indentured servant, as most of our servants are,” the Queen said with a sigh. “It’s a rather sore subject for me, so if you wouldn’t mind that we avoid the topic?”

Rarity’s mouth worked soundlessly for a moment, then she shut it with a sharp click and gave herself a shake, pulling her composure back together. “Of… of course,” she said, regaining her poise. “I was going to show you my dresses.”

“They seem absolutely lovely,” the Queen said, walking over to examine the half-finished outfits. “This one looks quite nice. Did you take your inspiration for the gold highlights from the Royal livery?”

“I did,” Rarity said. “But, I’m afraid I won’t be finishing that one.”

“Upon reflection it…” Rarity paused, taking a deep breath and forcing a pleasant smile onto her face. “Doesn’t suit me.”

Hard Boiled stared into the jungle, chewing slowly on the few rations he was allowing himself. Sweat lathered his coat and the harness for his gun holster chafed painfully with every movement, but nothing compared to the throbbing agony in his head. If there had been some way to protect his horn from all the incidental bumps and scrapes that trekking through untamed jungle entailed, he wouldn’t be doing so badly. As it was, the food he was forcing himself to eat sat uneasily in his stomach, the pain making him more nauseous with every swallow.

Traduce wasn’t helping on that front, either. She’d caught something, he hadn’t looked to see what, and eaten it alive. She’d tried to offer an explanation, but he had waved it away, uninterested. He was sure she had a good reason, but no matter what it was he was still sickened by the sight, and he kept flashing back to the image whenever he looked at her.

She was up above the trees now, in a pegasus form, searching for anything that might indicate their destination and also looking for signs of the group they knew was following them. HB hoped that the precautions they’d been taking to hide their trail were effective, but he had no illusions about his own ability to walk softly. He was stumbling in pain and exhaustion, leaving a trail that even Traduce couldn’t erase.

Lost in his agonized thoughts, he almost missed it when she dropped out of the canopy. As it was, his reaction to her appearance was slow, his eyes drifting towards her with dull lethargy. “What did you find?” he asked, swallowing the small bite of food.

“They’re still following,” Traduce said, frowning at him. “And they’re gaining on us.” He grunted at that, unable to work up much alarm. “But there’s something up ahead. Ruins. It might be the place we’re looking for. Even if it isn’t, it looks like a defensible position.”

That got a reaction, his eyes widening as adrenaline surged and pushed back some of the pain. He stood, putting away the rest of the food. “Alright,” he said. “No stopping until we’re there.”

She didn’t question him again, turning to lead the way into the jungle. He followed, focusing all his attention on following her, blocking out the pain that throbbed in his head with every step. They moved carefully, wary of the loose soil and the many creatures that might be hiding in it, their tails moving constantly to swat away the clouds of biting insects that swarmed from every quarter. They scrambled over huge, ancient roots and crossed the tiny streams that formed with water from the rains that were always falling somewhere in the jungle. They didn’t take shelter when those rains were overhead, pushing through muck with single-minded effort.

He lost track of time, the motion and the agony forcing everything from his thoughts except the next step forward. Eventually, though, Traduce came to a stop. He collapsed next to her, breathing heavily and barely keeping himself from whimpering with every little movement of his head. She knelt down, putting her mouth next to his ear and making her voice very soft.

“You can’t go on like this,” she whispered to him. Even as quiet as she was speaking, her words were like spikes driven into his skull, and he flinched away. “Let me help you.”

“You are a terrible liar,” she accused. “And a stupid, stubborn stallion.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and her body tensed in repressed fury. “Not even to save your life?” He didn’t respond to that. “We’re being followed, Lieutenant. They mean to kill us, and as good as I am, I can’t fight them on my own. Your Talent is Finding Truth, do you think I’m lying about how serious this is?” He slowly shook his head. “Okay, how about this: I am trying to save your life. Let me help you!”

He struggled with himself. On the one hoof, she was right, and he knew it. On the other, she was going to use this against him, and he knew that too. The real question was, which would be the worse fate? To be manipulated by Traduce, but survive, or to remain his own stallion, but probably die. For a long, miserable moment, he didn’t know which he preferred.

In the end, though, there was only one choice where he got to the bottom of the mystery of Max Cash and the strange, impossible mare. “Do it,” he said.

She seized his head between her hooves and kissed him. It wasn’t a quick kiss, or a chaste one. It was full-lipped and passionate, burning in its intensity. Hard Boiled’s eyes went wide in surprise and a part of him responded to the honest emotion of the kiss before he could reflexively hold it back.

In that moment the connection formed between them. It blazed green in his mind, grabbing hold of the part of himself that had opened up to her in the moment of intimacy and forcing it wide. He felt her moving in his mind, his body, sending tendrils of her magic through him like veins filled with emerald fire. His body responded without direction, taking hold of her and kissing her back with a fervor to rival her own. Another pony might have been lost in the flood of emotion that threatened to drown him, but his magic could sense the falsehood in it and recoiled, keeping his conscious mind aloof from the power she was pouring into his body.

Then she was pulling back, her magic washing out of him and back into her. It took with it the emotions she had stirred in him, as well as all his fatigue and pain. It was a truly alien sensation to him, to have the pain go so quickly. He gasped, shuddering in a moment of pure emptiness where he was feeling, for the first time ever, nothing at all.

That emptiness was shattered a moment later by a stab of pain from his horn. He winced, but the expected agony wasn’t as intense as he’d been expecting. He felt a portion of the pain flow from him to Traduce, vanishing into the transforming fire of her magic. He shook his head and pulled away from her. It took a few moments for him to sort himself out, but when he was done he realized that he was feeling better than he had in years.

“Damn, that’s effective,” he said. Traduce was looking at him with a strangely sad expression. With a jolt he realized that she was feeling sorry for herself, as if terribly disappointed. He felt a surge of anger as he realized the source of that disappointment. “You tried something, didn’t you?”

She nodded. “I thought I could… make you see me as something other than a lie.”

“No, you didn’t!” she snapped back at him, but then her face lost its heat. “And I guess you were right not to.”

HB sighed, the anger leaving him. “Look, Traduce. It’s not you, personally, who is the lie. It’s the bodies you wear, the characters you take on.”

“I’m a Changeling, Lieutenant,” she said with a forced smile. “That’s all we are.”

“And that’s another lie,” he said. She opened her mouth to respond, but then shut it with a click as his words sunk in. “There’s more to you than your masks, and I’m willing to bet it’s the same for every Changeling. You want me to see something other than the lie? Then show me the truth. The real Traduce.”

Traduce smirked at that. Then green fire rushed across her body, consuming the flesh and feathers and leaving black carapace and insectile wings in its wake. She shook out a sickly, spiderweb-light silver mane and stared at him with defiant green eyes. He resisted the temptation to flinch back. She looked horrifying, and hungry. “Honest enough for you?” she asked in the strange doubled-over voice of a Changeling.

“No,” he said, shrugging. “But it’s a start. Come on, we’re close to the ruins.”

She blinked in surprise as he got up and trotted towards the clearing in the trees he could see up ahead. She recovered quickly, though, her wings buzzing as she lifted herself from the ground and flew overhead. “So we’re looking for a statue of a pony?”

“No,” he agreed. He came to a halt at the edge of the ruins. “That’s… not what I was expecting.”

In front of them was a garden, or the remains of one. Flowers in a dizzying variety of shapes and colors covered small hills that had bits of stone sticking out of them at odd angles. It wasn’t hard to imagine that those hills were what was left of stone-walled flower beds after falling from the sky and the centuries of neglect that followed. Bits of other structures peppered the garden: broken sections of wall, decorative iron arches, and dozens of animal statues, weathered smooth but still recognizable, reared from the soil in poses of rest or play. None of it looked like something Hard Boiled would have thought to find in one of the fabled floating cities of the pegasi. It was all too solid, too heavy.

In the center of the garden there was a marble building, miraculously intact. It had the look of a temple, with a pillared entrance and a relief in the shape of a large butterfly still visible above the door. Hard Boiled pointed to the building. “If we’re going to find anything, I’d lay good money that it’s in there.”

Traduce shook her head. “Couldn’t say. If they’re pushing as hard as I think they are, they could be here any minute.”

“Then let’s get inside,” HB said, starting towards the building. They crossed the open garden without any trouble, but the short hairs of HB’s mane stood on end with the feeling that he was being watched the entire way.

The interior of the temple was as surprisingly unbroken as the outside. The floor only showed a few cracks from the long years, and no plants had taken up the space. The far end had a small garden in it, an open skylight providing the light it needed to thrive. The garden had many small statues of various creatures cavorting around a larger, life-sized statue of a pegasus mare smiling gently down at them, a pink gem glowing softly at her throat. Other than that, the temple was empty.

Hard Boiled swore. “I was sure it would be here!” He looked again, running deeper into the temple and trying to see if there were any crevices or alcoves he might have missed. He found nothing. “Can you see anything I’m missing?”

She buzzed up near the ceiling, but shook her head. “No. Sorry. Maybe this is the wrong place?”

Traduce flew out of the skylight, only to duck back inside immediately, the loud crack of a gunshot echoing from the marble walls. “They’re here,” Traduce said.

Hard Boiled rushed to the doorway, flattening himself against the wall beside it and drawing his gun. He slowly eased his truth-finding magic on, bracing himself for the rush of pain. Again, that pain was dulled to manageable levels as a portion of it was whisked away by Traduce’s magic. He sighed in gratitude, and chanced a look outside.

A half-dozen ponies were arrayed in the garden, taking cover behind the remains of walls and statues, the pegasus assassin standing front and center. These were more thugs, their stances showing the casual bravado of brawlers rather than the precise balance of military training. One was a unicorn who had set up a rifle on a tripod next to him, his magic swivelling the gun slowly to aim at any target that tried to come from the air. HB marked him as the most dangerous, his ease with the rifle showing long hours of practice to HB’s magically enhanced sight.

The assassin also caught his attention. She was dressed in an outfit similar to what he’d seen on SWAT squads in Orion City. It couldn’t be comfortable in this heat, but it would be armored. An hoof-clamping extendable baton and dart-gun hung at her sides, making him wonder just how much police ordinance had made its way into Cash’s hooves over the years.

“We know you’re in there!” the assassin called out to them in a mocking sing-song. “Come on out, and maybe I’ll forgive you for what you did to me back in Hoofprint!”

Traduce landed next to him, frowning at the door but staying out of sight. “What’s your opinion on our chances?”

“Depends on how patient they are,” he replied. “So long as we’re stuck in here, we’ll run out of food and water long before they will. They can wait us out.”

“She won’t wait,” Traduce said. “I’ve been in her head, and there’s not much patience in her.”

“Then it depends on how they choose to attack,” HB said, closing his eyes and putting his mind and magic to it. “They’ve got a unicorn sniper, three earth pony bruisers, and two pegasus attackers including Cash’s hitmare. If they rush us, we’ll be overwhelmed.”

Traduce hissed in annoyance. “Alright, then we’re in trouble. We can’t wait for them to come in. We might be able to pick off the first couple, but if they’re smart about it we’ll be taken out before we can do more than that. If one of those earth ponies is a Toughness Talent, we won’t even get that far.”

Traduce smirked. “It’s better than waiting for them to get a plan together.”

“That sniper’s going to pick us off the moment we show our faces,” HB warned. “Can you neutralize him?”

“Yes, but it will take all my concentration.” Her horn flared and she took a few short breaths. “This is the plan. You duck out and start taking pot shots. Make them count, don’t fire blind. I’ll make sure the sniper is distracted, so aim for him first, if you can.”

She nodded. “But with the sniper out of commission we can put a few shots in them before they reach us. If they make it to the door, fall back. Make them come to you.”

“And you’ll cover the roof entrance,” he surmised. She nodded again. He levitated his gun up and called upon his truth magic as strongly as he dared. “Ready?”

He snorted, then spun out into the doorway. The details of the scene leapt to his attention immediately, made brutally stark by the magic he was using. The assassin was saying something to one of her thugs, in the middle of planning her own assault. The sniper had been watching for Traduce to exit by the roof, and so was slow to pivot his rifle down to target the detective. Even so, he was faster in bringing the gun to bear than Hard Boiled was with his. Before he could pull the trigger, though, his eyes unfocused and his mouth dropped open in a screech of pain. HB could tell what Traduce was doing, redirecting his pain into the sniper. It struck a chord of sympathy in him, but he smothered the impulse. He brought his pistol around, letting his magic guide the aim until it was perfect, then pulled the trigger.

The unicorn sniper fell, dead before he hit the ground. Traduce gasped as her connection was cut off, and the momentary backlash snapped into him as well, returning some of the pain the Changeling had been siphoning away. He flinched, stumbling into the doorway. His vision going blurry with the renewed headache.

“Get them!” the assassin screamed, leaping into the air and drawing her baton. The other ponies were moving immediately.

Fear dumped adrenaline into HB’s system, sharpening his focus and letting him push the pain aside. He hefted the gun and took aim. His first shot caught the lead earth pony in a knee, exploding the joint and sending the thug into a tumbling somersault. He re-aimed at the next closest pony, firing the moment he was lined up. This shot hit the pony in his broad chest, but did little more than make him stumble in his run. He fired again, but didn’t see if the second shot did any more damage before the pegasus thug had rammed into him, sending him sprawling backwards into the temple.

He fought to keep hold of his gun, barely succeeding as the pegasus pummelled at him. HB pulled his legs close to his torso, using them to protect his vital organs as his attacker smashed at him. The beating aggravated the bruises he still had from the fight in Hoofprint, but that pain was nothing compared to the rising agony in his head. He swivelled his gun to point at the pegasus, not even bothering to aim properly, and pulled the trigger three times. At least one of his bullets must have gone true, because the pegasus went stiff and fell away from him.

He scrambled away from the bleeding pony, rolling to his hooves and taking stock of the situation. Traduce was nowhere to be seen, hopefully preventing the assassin from swooping in from above. The earth pony he had shot twice was stalking through the doorway, his dual bullet wounds bleeding slowly and clearly not slowing him down. A Toughness Talent, then. He snorted angrily as he saw Hard Boiled, then charged with a roar.

HB tried to dodge, but didn’t have the footing to move that quickly, and so took the thug’s charge head on. The earth pony had to weigh at least twice as much as the detective, making the result of their collision a foregone conclusion. HB was thrown back into the wall hard enough to daze him, making him drop his gun and giving the thug enough time to rush him again and crush him up against the stone. HB wheezed in pain, scrambling to grab the gun again. The thug responded by shifting his weight and stepping on the weapon, putting it completely beyond the detective’s ability to grab.

Hard Boiled struck out with his hooves. Aiming for throat, eyes, whatever he thought might make his opponent back off for just a moment. He might as well have been striking the stone behind him for all the good it did. The pony weathered everything stoically, taking even a blow to his eye with a barely a grunt of pain.

“Hey! You got him!” a new voice called out, this one from the third earth pony thug. He came through the door limping, one leg held tight to his torso and a malicious grin spread on his face. The pony crushing HB grunted in response. The new arrival limped over to them, chuckling evilly. “Yeah, not so clever now, are you?” he taunted as he came up beside the bigger pony. HB could barely spare any attention for him, but did manage a spiteful look. A look that was met with a wink.

His magic still operating, HB suddenly realized the truth. Traduce unfolded her ‘injured’ leg, revealing that she had been using it to conceal her gun. She put the barrel right into the thug’s ear and wasted no time in pulling the trigger.

As tough as the pony had been, he was still not tough enough to survive that kind of point blank attack, and he slumped down, dead. HB fell away from the wall, heaving deep breaths and quickly snatching up his own weapon. “Others?” he asked as soon as he could speak again.

“I got this one,” she said, indicating the form she was wearing. “The Charisma wannabe is gone.”

Traduce shook her head, transforming back to her natural state. “No. She’s still around, hiding somewhere. I can feel her. I don’t think she’ll attack on her own, though. Not as long as we have firepower and are ready for her.”

“Yes we will,” she agreed. “But this still went better than I was expecting.”

HB coughed, feeling the new bruises already beginning to ache. “For you, maybe.”

She smiled at that, and for once his magic could see no artifice in it. “Come on,” she said. “If this isn’t the place we should get going.”

She turned to look at him curiously as he failed to follow her. “What is it?”

He hissed in pain, closing his eyes and forcing his magic inward, trying to reveal the truth of what he was missing. “No. ‘This isn’t the place’, you said. That’s not true.”

“It… yes.” Something was blocking him. Something was obscuring the truth. He could only approach the idea obliquely, every time he tried to face it head on his magic stopped dead, like it had hit a wall. He opened his eyes again, certain now. “It’s here.”

“Where?” Traduce looked all about the temple, and in his magic he could see when she was looking in the right direction. He turned his own head, forcing himself to see what was there.

“Right in front of us,” he said. There was a barrier in his mind, a slippery, invisible film that held him away from the truth. It was powerful, he could sense that much. So much more powerful than him that there was simply no comparison. Yet his Talent was Finding Truth, and he would not be barred from it even now. He focused, drawing on all of his magic, forging it into a needle of burning truth that he pointed inward, at the barrier that kept him from seeing what was before his eyes. Then he shoved the needle home and pierced the barrier.

He screamed, the agony of the magic ripping through him in a torrent that brought him down to his knees. He retched, bringing up what little was left in his stomach. Yet the pain was ongoing, twisting like a snake that had coiled within him and now wanted to be free. He fell, wracked with convulsions. He felt like he was going to break, but a soothing green cool washed over him, numbing the pain and letting his shaking limbs relax.

He lay in quiet like that for a long time. Long enough that when he opened his eyes again the sun was dipping into the trees. Traduce was lying next to him, watching him carefully.

“Ow,” he said, making her chuckle. “I thought you were supposed to be eating my pain or something.”

“Whatever you did broke the connection,” she explained. “I had to force it back in place. Thank Luna you didn’t resist.”

“Don’t think I was up to much ‘resisting’ at the time,” HB sighed, getting up.

“Broke a spell,” he said. “One that did not like getting broken that way.” He looked around the temple and saw what he wasn’t supposed to. “There it is,” he said, grinning. The statue in the garden was exquisitely done, the work of a true master. A yellow pegasus mare with a long, flowing pink mane and tail, her Glyph a trio of butterflies. A golden necklace with a pink butterfly-shaped gem sat at her throat. She looked down at the little animals in her garden with such honest benevolence that Hard Boiled was astounded it could even be caught in stone.

“I don’t see it,” Traduce said. HB picked up her hoof with his, leading her to the statue and forcing her to touch it. She blinked a few times, then her eyes widened as she realized what was happening. “Luna’s night! It was right there and I didn’t even notice it!”

“Exactly,” Hard Boiled said. “Someone with a lot of power went through a lot of trouble to hide this statue from anyone and everyone. The question is, why? And what about it makes Max Cash want it?” He looked closer at the statue’s necklace. “This looks like a separate piece.” He reached out and poked at the necklace. It moved a bit, confirming his suspicion, but he could see no way to get it off. Still, something about that necklace bugged him. It looked familiar somehow.

In a flash of insight, the memory came to him. Waiting in an opulent foyer, a statue garden much like this one, but with a different focus. The blue gem that had caught his eye. “Birchfield, you son of a bitch!” he snarled.

“He’s got one of these,” HB waved his hoof at the statue, “at his Luna-damned house! Right in his front hall!”

“I don’t doubt it for a minute,” HB snarled. “It must be protected by the same spell this one was, I completely ignored it when I was there, even after he told me about the statues. I don’t know how he beat that spell, but he obviously did. Damn it!”

“We need to have a few words with Senator Birchfield,” Traduce said. She eyed the statue. “We can’t carry this with us, obviously. What do you think we should do with it?”

“It’s safe enough where it is,” he said. “I doubt anyone else is going to find it.”

Traduce frowned. “I would like to get a report on this to Straff, but why are you in such a rush?”

“Because if Birchfield knows what he’s got in his house, then its possible that Cash knows too. And if Cash knows…”

“The Senator is in danger,” Traduce said, narrowing her eyes. “We have to get to him before Cash does.”

“Exactly.” HB rushed out the door, looking up at a sky swiftly changing from the boiling light of day to night’s cool darkness. The moon wasn’t risen yet, but he addressed it anyway. “Luna give us speed. Please, let us be in time.” Then he took off in a gallop for the jungle, Traduce rushing behind him. And, unseen to both, a third pony took flight from the roof of the temple and began winging its way north.

Star Fall lay on her back, her wings splayed out to either side. It wasn’t the most comfortable position, but she had been in it long enough for her complaining limbs to have gone numb. She stared at the ceiling without actually seeing it. Her thoughts turned over restlessly, running in circles that always led her back to the memory of Twilight Sparkle.

“You gotta eat, Fall,” Astrid said, interrupting the cycle of those thoughts.

“Not an option,” Astrid said, then reached over and physically lifted Star Fall from the bed and onto her hooves.

“Do I look like I care?” Astrid asked. “You’ve been moping for most of the day. You need to stop that and get back to life.”

“I wasn’t moping,” Star Fall said, but wasn’t fooling Astrid or herself. “Alright, fine! Maybe a little, but I’ve got a good reason.”

“Yeah, you met the nerd-saint and didn’t get an autograph,” Astrid said, rolling her eyes. “I know.”

“Astrid, this is important!” Star Fall said, flaring her wings and stomping a hoof. “I have to figure out what it means.”

“It means your personal hero’s a cradle-robbing pervert,” Astrid said, her attitude not shifting in the slightest in response to Star Fall’s aggressive stance.

“No she isn’t!” Star Fall yelled, then immediately backed off, her wings folding. “I told you, it wasn’t like that. It was familial, like the way my mother used to kiss me goodbye every day when I went to school.”

“Screw off, Astrid,” Star Fall sighed. “And whining about me moping around? What the hell have you been doing all day?”

“Bullshit. You’ve been hiding in this room just like...” Star Fall paused, sitting down heavily and hanging her head. “Just like me.”

“Yeah, well,” Astrid said, sitting next to Star Fall and draping a wing over her. “Roan’s been looking for me. That’s a load of crap that I just don’t want to deal with today. Or any day.”

“I’m sorry, Astrid,” Star Fall said, snuggling closer to the Griffin’s side. “It’s just too much for me. Seeing Twilight Sparkle like that, it was the most amazing moment of my life. Including everything that’s happened in the past month. But… I can’t do it again. I can’t risk it. What Regal and I did sent the Professor into seizure, for Celestia’s sake! It could have killed her. I could have killed her.”

“She’s a big, powerful girl, Fall,” Astrid said. “She can handle herself.”

“Everything’s connected,” Star Fall continued. “Everything that’s been happening to us. All of it. The evidence keeps piling on that it’s all part of some big plan, but I still can’t figure out how!”

“You’ll get there,” Astrid assured her. “Since when do you ever not figure it out?”

“Since Rainbow Dash crash landed in front of me,” Star Fall sighed. “You’re right. I shouldn’t be stuck in this room. I should be talking this over with the Professor, or spending more time with Regal, or… something!”

“Begin with the Professor,” Astrid said, getting up and stretching. “Then talk to your other friends. I’m pretty sure they’ve been asking after you too.” She held out a claw to Star Fall. “But before all that, get some food. Hiding from your problems is hungry work. And, personally? I’m starving.”

Star Fall laughed, taking the offered claw and pulling herself upright. They left the guest room, stopping by the kitchens to fill their bellies before going off to follow Astrid’s advice. The Professor, however, was not in the Court. She was back at her estate, apparently working on something for the King. Star Fall felt a twinge of sadness at that, knowing that she’d likely never be living there again. She pushed the melancholy aside, reminding herself that growing up often went hoof-in-hoof with moving out, and it wouldn’t be the first time she had done so.

When she got to the rooms that her three friends from the past were staying in, she found their servants standing outside the door to Applejack’s room, looking nervous. The servants all pulled themselves to attention as she approached, bowing low until she gave them permission to rise. “What’s going on?” she asked.

The three servants shared a look that spoke volumes. “I’m sorry, my lady,” one of them said, her voice filled with wary caution, as if she were navigating a minefield. “Our masters are having a private conversation within. I’m afraid we can’t tell you what it may be about.”

Star Fall’s eyes narrowed. With the nervous way they were acting and the sheer amount of denial in that statement, Star Fall translated it as servant-speak for ‘our charges are talking treason’. “Thank you,” she told them. “I’ll be joining my friends now. Could you see to it that we are not disturbed?”

They bowed in unison. Star Fall went up to the door and knocked. It was opened by Applejack, who smiled at the sight of her. “Star! Well ain’t you a sight for sore eyes! Come on in, we’ve been hankerin’ to talk to you all day!”

“I’m sorry, I was, uh, not feeling well,” Star Fall said as Astrid snickered. She shot her guard a warning look before the two of them filed into Applejack’s room.

The three ponies inside were in a clear state of distress. Dash was hovering near the ceiling, bolting back and forth like a nervous hummingbird. Rarity had stationed herself near the window. Her elegant violet dress was fit for a ballroom, but the expression on her face was one of incredulous anger. Applejack stood by her bed, looking unhappy herself. All three turned to Star Fall as soon as the door was closed and began speaking at once, their voices fighting to be heard over each other.

“Whoa!” Star Fall shouted, flaring her wings and stomping her hooves to halt the onslaught. “What the hell is going on here? One at a time, please!”

The three looked to each other, Dash and Applejack nodding to Rarity. “This morning,” she began, pacing back and forth with uncontrolled agitation. “I was speaking with the Queen. She let it slip that our servants were being offered their freedom for aiding us.”

Star Fall waited, but Rarity just looked at her expectantly. “And?” she asked.

“And she all but admitted that most of the ponies in the castle are slaves! Slaves!”

“Now, let’s not jump to conclusions, Rarity,” Applejack said. Rarity just let out an angry snort and went back to her pacing. “You said she called them ‘indentured servants’. Now I think that word means the same thing as you do, but I’ll allow that I could be wrong, and I think we should give Star a chance to explain.”

“Bad guys? What?” Star Fall put a hoof to her forehead, trying desperately to find a way to talk about this subject that wouldn’t be a total disaster. “Okay, so let me get this straight. You found out your servants were indentured, and now you want to know…”

“Right. First of all, no, the Kingdom isn’t evil. If it was we’d be wearing more black.” Star Fall smiled at her joke, but there was practically no reaction from her friends. Her smile slowly fell away as she realized the subject wouldn’t be deflected so easily. “This is… wow, this is heavy economics and ethics stuff.”

“Explain it to us, Star,” Rarity begged her. “Tell me that I am mistaken. Tell me that Equestria has not fallen this far!”

“Seriously?” Star Fall shook her head. “I… don’t think I’m qualified to explain the indenture situation.”

“Why is this such a big deal to you guys anyway?” Astrid asked, leaning against the wall.

“Astrid,” Star Fall said, silencing her guardian. She sighed and ran a hoof through her mane, her wings rustling as she thought about how to explain. “Guys, I don’t know what to say. This is something that’s been part of the Kingdom for, Celestia’s day, six hundred years? It’s been debated pretty heavily for just as long. I could probably give you a history lesson about it, but talking about the morality of it? No. There’s just too much for me to even begin explaining it.”

“Forgive me, dear, but I don’t see how this even warrants debate,” Rarity said. “This is exploitation!”

“Yes, but… It was a way to escape poverty,” Star Fall said. “A way to gain protection and to be taken care of when times got tough. A lot of ponies only survived because they were able to indenture themselves to a noble. Hell, there are entire bloodlines of hereditary servants, guards and farmers that got their start that way. In the hard times it was popular with the people, and the steady supply of labor made it popular with the nobles. It wasn’t about exploitation, it was...” she trailed off, waving a hoof at her helpless inability to continue.

“You’re tryin’ to make it sound like it as a good thing,” Applejack said. “But I’m not hearin’ much conviction from you.”

“It’s not a good thing, and it never was,” Star Fall said. “But it worked. Once. Not anymore.”

“Fall’s an abolitionist,” Astrid said. “She wants to gut the whole system. Indenture, hereditary service, serfs, all of it.”

“So what do we do?” Astrid demanded, stepping forward. “Make everybody slaves to money, like in the nightlands?”

“Whoa there!” Applejack said, getting between them. “I guess this is somethin’ you two disagree on.”

“Yeah, a lot,” Astrid said, backing off and slowly opening and re-folding her wings. “I got no problem with the system as-is. If it’s not broken, why try to fix it? Not that I’ve got a stake here, it’s not like changing it will affect Griffins anyway.”

“Don’t get your feathers ruffled about it,” Astrid said, then gave the other three ponies a pointed look. “Guys, this is a sore point, okay? Mention this stuff in public and it’s gonna get a lot of people’s blood up.”

“Aqua said the same thing,” Rarity said, sighing and dropping into a seat, the picture of resigned misery. “The Queen, I mean. She said it was a sore point.”

“They’re also the biggest contract holders in the Kingdom,” Star Fall grumbled.

“So what you’re sayin is,” Applejack said before Star Fall could retort. “That you folks have had slavery for a while–”

“Whatever you’re callin’ it. It’s been around for a good long while, and like all bad traditions it’s somethin’ that got stuck and gettin’ rid of it’s gotten to be like pullin’ a big stump out of a stony field. It takes a long time and effort, and it’s got so many roots that in the end you might just be makin’ the field untillable anyways, so a lot of folks are arguin’ just to keep it and plow around it. That sound about right?”

“Dash!” Astrid snapped. “Enough with the bad guy crap, alright? I told you how Griffins operate. You think I get paid?”

Dash looked like she was about to snap back, but backed down and nodded. “Yeah, sorry.”

“Astrid’s right,” Star Fall said. “This isn’t about good or bad. This is about something people did to survive a long time ago, and they just never stopped doing it. But a lot of people are looking to change it, and I’m one of them. When I’m a princess I will do my best to make that change happen,” Star Fall promised. “Is that good enough for now?”

Rarity heaved another great sigh, but nodded. “I… yes. I suppose it will have to be, won’t it? It was just so shocking! I hadn’t thought…”

“A lot of people don’t think about it,” Star Fall said. “Now, in that grand tradition, can we talk about something else?”

“Of course, darling,” Rarity said, very obviously forcing her misgivings out of her mind. “Now, tell us what happened last night.”

Star Fall gratefully fell into telling them the entire story, starting from when she had met the Prince in his room all the way up to when Twilight Sparkle had kissed her on the head.

“I knew I felt Twilight!” Rarity said, clapping in delight. “Does this mean she didn’t die back then, like the rest of us?”

Star Fall shrugged. “That’s one of the tough parts of history where not a lot of information survives. I think she’s mentioned as being around as late as the Schism, but it always has the feel of a rumor, or a legend. Whether or not she lived that long, she was gone from the public around the same time you all, uh, died. No more books, no more letters, no more great deeds. I suppose we could ask Spike about it, but when he talked about her, it was never anything past that point either.”

“Could that be because she was in this, what did you call it? Deep Power?” Rarity asked.

Star Fall shrugged. “That’s a good possibility. If she transcended to the Deep Power, it would explain why she isn’t around, but there’s also no mention of her death.”

“I wish I knew how you came back from a statue,” Star Fall replied. “I can’t even guess at how that works. Maybe she will, maybe she won’t.”

“If it takes someone dyin’ to bring us back,” Applejack said. “I’m hopin’ she won’t, if you catch my meanin’.” There were nods all around to that sentiment. “So, Star, what’s this all mean for us?”

“I don’t know,” Star Fall said. “I’ve been spending every moment since it happened thinking about it, and I still don’t know.” She closed her eyes, taking in a shaky breath. “I just know that when she stretched her wings out to me, something changed. Whether it was in me, or in her, or in the Deep Power, or something else, I don’t know. But it was important, very important.”

“Whatever it was, Twilight wouldn’t let anything bad happen,” Dash said, dropping down next to Star Fall. “Maybe she’s out there right now, finding a way to help us.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it,” Applejack said. “And if she likes you, Star, it only shows her judgement’s still good after all this time.”

“She’s right, Fall,” Astrid said. “Don’t you even think of questioning it.”

“Thanks guys,” Star Fall said, smiling at them. “I don’t know how I’d get through this without you.”

“Hey, we’re friends,” Dash said. “It’s what we do.” A moment later the smile on her face was replaced by a frown as a new thought crossed her mind. “Wait… wings?”

Harmony Theory

by Sharaloth

Chapter 24: Kindness