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// Chapter 2 
// Story: Battle Cry Of The Nadir 
// by WolfTheWyvern 
//------------------------------//

	“What in the name of creation did you do?” Queen Celestia demanded as she slammed the door. As soon as Twilight stepped a hoof inside of the castle grounds her thin disguise failed, stunning the guards that had captured her. As they rushed her off to anypony-knows-where, ‘Queen’ Celestia took Twilight, declaring ‘only the night belongs to my sister’. Now they were in Queen Celestia’s personal chambers. The scent of tea filled the air and a steaming teapot sat on a small, ornate table next to the large windows that ringed half the room.
“I didn’t-” Twilight started to say.
“Did you truly think that giving yourself a pair of wings makes you an alicorn? As if that would ever help?” Celestia was pacing the room, irate. “Don’t you remember what happened to her? How could you?” Twilight could hear sorrow creep into her voice, but the Diurnal Queen’s hot stare directed towards Twilight. “I told you to run, run far enough that she would’ve never found you. Why-” she stopped mid sentence to see Twilight sitting there scared, confused, and…innocent. The Queen paused for a moment. “Twilight, you will always be far more clever than I thought that you ever could be,” Queen Celestia said to the thin air. Then she said to Twilight, “You are not her, are you?” Celestia asked. 
Relief flooded Twilight as she shook her head, “I’m so glad you understand. I don’t know what she did, but you must know that I am innocent!”
“I do, but there’s nothing I can do,” Queen Celestia said apathetically.
“What do you mean that there’s nothing you can do?” Twilight asked, dumbfounded
“I’m so sorry that you had to get caught up in this,” She said coldly.
“Caught up in this? I was forced here!” Stress caught up to Twilight, and she exploded. “I’ve been branded a fugitive, ran for my life and seen things that I would’ve never thought of here. I am not ‘caught up in this,’ I was stolen, from my home, and from my friends! I-”
The room began to grow dark, and Queen Celestia’s horn lit with a sickly dark glow, fire erupted from her mane and tail, and darkness enveloped her eyes, “You NEVER address ME like that. I am the LIVING SUN!” Her voice felt like it rocked the very mountain that supported Canterlot, the large chandelier in the middle of the room crashed to the floor, shattering in to a million pieces; Twilight balked in terror. With a shout, Celestia fell to the ground, light returned as Queen Celestia rose again, her eyes shot with fear. She saw Twilight cowering in the corner, and her expression softened. She took a step toward Twilight, but stopped when Twilight cringed “I’m sorry, please I’m not a monster. Please,” Tears began to flow and Twilight didn’t know whether to try and run as far and as fast as she can, or to try and comfort her mentor’s doppelganger. “You need to get out,” Twilight heard the fear in the Day Queen’s voice. “I don’t know you, and I don’t know where you came from, but you will never deserve what she will do to you.”
Celestia stood, and with a transformation that would rival the best actors in Manehattan, walked to the door and asked the guard outside for something that Twilight didn’t catch. She then turned back to Twilight, perfectly level and regal as Twilight had ever seen Princess Celestia. “Please, sit our tea’s getting cold,” she gestured to the table, which narrowly missed the carnage of the chandelier. Twilight, fear getting a cold grip on her heart, didn’t want to upset the Queen again. She briskly sidestepped the glass shards that littered the room, and took one of the cushions.
‘She’s crazy,’ Twilight thought to herself, ‘I need to watch my hooves, and 
I might just come out of this. Celestia poured the tea. That was using dark magic, Princess Celestia knew dark magic, but she never used it, ever. Is dark magic just used here? She stopped the question in her throat, tread lightly.’
“What happened?” Celestia’s question cut through Twilight’s thoughts. “When you came here, I mean, what happened to you?”
Twilight paused, searching for the right words. After an uncomfortable pause, she took a drink of her tea for courage, “I went to sleep in my bed, and I woke up here,” Queen Celestia nodded for more. “I don’t remember a magical drain on my environment, no pull on myself, no vortex, and I didn’t pass through a mirror. I can’t think of a single spell that could create a bridge between universes without…side effects.”
“It was dark magic, but I figure that I never taught you that did I?” Celestia said.
“How did you know that?” Twilight was flabbergasted.
“You are very like my faithful student,” The Queen’s words sent a chill down Twilight’s spine. “But you are not telling me the whole truth. I know that you didn’t kill my guards by yourself, did you?” Twilight froze, and a small smile crossed the Living Sun’s face. “I know that they died, but that doesn’t concern me, they sold out to my sister. His blade was perhaps more… kind, than I would have ever been.”
“The White Feather? That was him, wasn’t it?”
“Do not ever speak that name again,” Twilight heard the edge that Queen Celestia used before, and her heart skipped a beat.
Twilight realized that this might be the best chance for her to get answers, and she had to push it. “Well who is…he?”
“I don’t know. I used to think that he was the last of the Griffon Confederation, wanting to avenge his fallen nation, but…” Celestia fought back another break down. “Never trust him,” She was pleading with Twilight, “Never.” Tears began to blot her face, and she began to babble. “He was the son that I could never have, I loved him like the sun,” The sky outside began to grow dark, the sun itself was growing dimmer as Celestia fell down into her hole of despair. Then the room grew brighter, and hotter, “That scum killed him, right in front of me,” Twilight’s breath was taken away by what she saw next. The regal face of Queen Celestia shimmered, and revealed many small, healed scars that marked the right side of her face and neck. One had claimed her right eye. The sun grew hotter, and brighter. “He rammed his blade right through my Blueblood’s heart, for spite!” Somehow, Celestia heard the knock at the door, and again she transformed so quickly that it made Twilight fear her like she had feared no other; the sun’s blinding rays dimmed to their normal status. “He will kill anypony to get to me; that is why he was there last night. Not to save you, but to put another blade through my heart.”
Celestia answered the door and asked for a moment to the pony on the other side of the door. Closing the door, she turned back inside. The Queen levitated the black cloak onto Twilight’s shoulders, “Tell her nothing, the less that she knows, the safer she will be,” She whispered in Twilight’s ear. Satisfied, Celestia opened the door, and the pony that walked through the door made Twilight’s heart skip a beat: it was Rainbow Dash.
She wore an ornate set of gold armor, with a short, red cape. On the breastplate there was a carving of a hoof holding a quill, accented in silver. Under her right wing, the hilt of an elegant rapier could be seen. Much like Rainbow, the sword and the armor were made for style and speed.
Celestia turned to Twilight, “This is my Hoof, Rainbow Dash, she will be sure that you will get out of the city safely.”
“I’ve heard of her,” Twilight said, trying not to stare at Rainbow. 
Rainbow smirked, “I bet you have.” 
“Twilight, trust me when I say that there is no way to send you back home, and…” Celestia turned away, trying to hold herself together, “I’m truly sorry, but this is the best I can do.” Twilight felt something crumple within her as she turned towards the door.

Twilight numbly followed Rainbow out of the castle. She couldn’t think about what she would do with herself now, trapped in a world where she couldn’t even walk on the street without being hunted. A world where she couldn’t even talk to the one pony that was always there for her. Celestia was mad, and Twilight didn’t even want to think about what Luna was like. She had seen four ponies murdered, and had seen the horn cut off another. Twilight couldn’t accept that there was nothing she could do to get back home, and why should she just stand here and accept this? She decided to do something about it. Twilight vowed to herself that she wasn’t ever going to stop until she was back home. After all, she was the Element of Magic, if anypony could figure out a universe bending spell, it would be her. With a new sense of resolve, Twilight picked up her step to mach Rainbow.
“So, you’re Twilight Sparkle?” Rainbow asked. Twilight’ nodded. “I knew that the Queen would want you gone after Queen Luna called for your head.”
“Why would she do that?” Twilight asked.
Rainbow Dash stopped, and looked at her, “You’re really that naïve? You were getting too powerful for your own good, and you were asking too many questions,” She began walking again. “You should just be thankful that you didn’t have your head taken off like Cadence.”
The words left Rainbow’s mouth, and immediately bucked Twilight in the chest. She stopped dead in her tracks, “She’s…dead?” Even though Twilight never met her, Twilight couldn’t think of an Equestria without the light of the Princess Cadence.
“Yeah, she nearly started a revolt…” Rainbow’s tone was questioning. When Twilight didn’t recognize what she was talking about, she continued. “Half of Upper Canterlot was in flames? How do you not know any of this?”
“I was…studying abroad,” Twilight quickly lied.
“Must’ve been for awhile.” Rainbow said dismissively. “I heard that she even teamed up with the White Feather. He seems to be anywhere trouble shows up.” Rainbow looked around. When she saw nopony was listening, she lowered her voice, “Take it from the pony that Queen Celestia has picked to find that piece of scum, I think that the White Feather is just a front.”
“What do you mean?” Twilight’s interest was building.
“I mean that it would be impossible for the same griffon to be fighting like this for nearly fifty years. It was before I was brought in as the Queen’s Hoof, but I think that Cadence escaped, and took the white cloak for herself. The execution was just to keep the public quiet.”
“You think she’s still alive?” Twilight tried not to sound too hopeful.
“I know that a griffon can’t use magic like an alicorn can, and I know that Queen Celestia has banned her name within the walls of Canterlot.” Rainbow said.
“But the White Feather is a stallion,” Twilight said. “He talked to me last night.”
“And there is no way to change a pony’s voice?” Rainbow asked rhetorically.
“There’re spells, I even know of a potion that could do it,” Twilight elaborated.
“Exactly,” Rainbow asserted. Twilight wanted Cadence to be alive, but what she saw last night… It couldn’t be Cadence. Could it?
As they continued down through the city, Twilight found herself staring at Rainbow Dash. Twilight found it surreal; Rainbow Dash is the one pony that Twilight wanted most to be with her right now, and here she was. Well, she wasn’t her Dashie, but it still made Twilight feel better that she was with Rainbow Dash in some sense.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” Rainbow noticed Twilight’s gaze.
Twilight blushed, “Sorry, you just remind me of a pony I know.”
“A friend?” Rainbow asked.
“She’s… a little more than that,” Twilight gave a slight smile at the sweet memories, but it was quickly shot down by reality, “I hope I’ll be able to see her again.”
“Hey, don’t talk like that,” Rainbow stopped and put a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “I’m sure that you’ll be able to see her again,” She gave Twilight a small smile, and continued on. “We’ve not far to go now,” Rainbow diverted.
“Where are we going anyway?” Twilight followed Rainbow Dash.
“It’s a…contact that I have in the city. She’s very good at getting what she wants, legal or not,” The way Rainbow frowned made Twilight think that this was the last mare she wanted to be asking for a favor. “Anyway, she’s a…business mare.” Rainbow said.
“That’s not ambiguous at all,” Twilight pressed.
“Look, all you need to know is that she is very good at avoiding the Night Guard’s eye. Now keep quiet,” Rainbow ordered. 
Twilight glared at Rainbow. She was beginning to feel like her hooves were tied in all of this.
They soon arrived at their location, a rose hotel that dominated intersection of two major arteries for Upper Canterlot. From the outside, Twilight could hear an upbeat melody of a piano, laughter, and a general din of merriment. Rainbow led Twilight into an overgrown and trash-strewn alley, overshadowed by the hotel, and seemingly overlooked by everypony. Rainbow knocked on a rusted metal door.
“Password,” said a stallion in a flat voice.
“Cupcakes,” Rainbow replied, and the door opened silently on well oiled hinges, revealing a pitch black interior.
Inside, Twilight stumbled on the steps in the darkness. Twilight could see a glow at the bottom of the short flight of stairs. At the bottom of the stairs was a long, arched brick cellar. At the back, there was a bar set up, with bottles of varying sizes filled with equally various kinds of liquor. In front of the bar, there were makeshift tables, and a cleared area with a player piano.
At the sight or Rainbow Dash, the bartender, an attractive unicorn mare, smiled and said, “Been a long time since I’ve seen you in here. Anything I can get for the Hoof?”
“Not now, Dust. I’m actually here to see the boss. She in?”
“You sure she wants to see you?” Dust raised an eyebrow.
“It’s about business Dust,” Rainbow’s tone grew harder. “Now, is she here or not?”
“I’ll get her,” with a small click, a section of the liquor cabinet slid back and away, revealing more of the cellar. Dust walked inside, and soon Twilight heard muffled voices.
After a moment, Twilight heard some hoofsteps, and the pony that walked through made really made Twilight feel like she was in nothing more than a long, lucid dream. “Pinkie Pie?” she whispered to herself.
The pink mare had the same crazy cotton candy mane and tail, and a hard, humorless gaze “You’re here early,” She said to Rainbow, “and you’ve brought a friend.” She looked at Twilight, and then turned back to Rainbow. “Now tell me, why is it that the Hoof of the Queens, is in my fine establishment, with the second most wanted pony in all of Equestria?” Rainbow opened her mouth to speak, but Pinkie pie stopped her, “Could it be that the Sun doesn’t agree with the Moon? And you have been tasked with the risk of getting a fugitive out of the city? So you’ve come down to my little bar, because you know that I’m the best at getting things in and out of the city without the guard, and you are going to make sure that my little hotel above has it’s taxes paid for the next… year, correct?”
Twilight found herself a little slackjawed at Pinkie Pie… well being Pinkie Pie, but it was still impressive.
“Now hold on,” Rainbow started, “I keep the guard off your tail, and I make sure that there is no other illicit liquor house in Canterlot that takes a chunk out of your profits-”
“And that’s why you drink here for free,” Pinkie explained, “Remember?”
“Now, I can’t just rewrite the ledgers like that-”
“Well you’ll just have to find another smuggler to get Queen’s Celestia’s student to safety. Taxes. Year. That’s my price.” Pinkie said with a note of finality. Rainbow knew that she was caught by the tail, and nodded. Pinkie walked up to the golden armored pony, and whispered something in Rainbow’s ear that made her turn pale. Then Pinkie smiled warmly, “Good, let the Queen know that her little student is safe and sound.” Rainbow nodded to Twilight, and made a quick exit. Pinkie listened to her steps fade away, and waited until she heard the door close at the top of the steps before she turned to Twilight.
“Take it off,” she said flatly.
“What?” Twilight said.
“The cloak, take it off,” Pinkie said. Twilight hesitated, and Pinkie nodded to Dust. Suddenly Twilight felt the cloak ripped off her body. “By the Sisters, she was right…” Pinkie Pie was stunned. “It looks like I owe my sister a drink.” She said to Dust. Fear coated Twilight’s heard with ice, and she considered running for it. “Don’t worry,” Pinkie Pie put a hoof around Twilight’s shoulder, “Your secret is safe with Auntie Pinkie,” Her smile warmed Twilight’s heart back to normal.
“What happens now?” Twilight asked.
“Well, there’s an alicorn in my bar, and the night hasn’t even began yet. Looks like party time tonight!” Pinkie Pie led Twilight behind the liquor cabinet, and it shut with a click. Behind the liquor cabinet was a small room with a desk, a bookshelf covered in files, a safe, and three wooden chairs.
Pinkie walked in first, and Twilight followed close behind her. As soon as Twilight stepped inside, Pinkie said, “Do it.” Twilight felt a wet rag cover her snout, and the odd smell was the last thing she remembered.