//------------------------------// // Chapter 19 // Story: War of the Moon (or Thanks MA Larson for the inspiration // by WildmoonNH //------------------------------// Chapter 19 Did she scream? Twilight couldn't remember. Just a heavy physical blow, then darkness. She recalled a scream - was it hers? Was it Aurora's? Nothing but blackness now. Any attempt to light up her horn sent searing pain through her entire body, which now ached all over. Eyes refusing to open, wings refusing to respond. Hooves leaden at their ends. All she knew that was she was alive..... right? Another attempt at her horn, another flash of pain. Her hooves on fire, her horn barely responding, head pounding as though battered by rocks. "....sparkle...." Part of her name echoed distantly. She did not recognize the voice, her mouth not quite ready to move. One ear carefully swiveled to find the voice, but even this tiny motion pained her. ".....twilight sparkle...." The voice closed in, commanding and deep. No empathy heard from it as it hovered closer to her, a moth of sound flitting just out of reach. "Welcome, Twilight Sparkle," the cold voice finally focused in her ear. "Who.... who's there....?" she whispered. "Aurora.... where's Aurora...." "You should be more concerned of your own predicament," the voice replied evenly. "You have been summoned here for a purpose." "'Summoned...?' But that's not how I......" "It pleases me to be the first to bring you somewhere with a homegrown magic." Her eyes finally drifted open, focusing on a dark figure standing almost directly over her. She could see two others - green and white - flanking the first, who towered over her limp form. She tried to look up, but again she couldn't move. Her dazed glances finally ascertained her predicament - doubly chained, physically and magically, in a cavernous room with one torch. "I expect you to find these accommodations completely unacceptable," the dark voice continued without humor. "Your existence is an abomination to Equestria. No one is 'chosen' in such a manner. You are not worthy of the wings on your back." Twilight weakly struggled, seeing the black coils around her. Had she the energy to scream, she would have at the sight of a shadowy pony creature biting fiercely on her horn. Reflexively casting sent new pain through her body, starting at her hooves and crescendoing in her head. "Cast all you wish," he continued. "The Shadowbane savors the taste, what little it can get." "Who.... who ARE you?" she finally managed. "Why are you doing this?" The speaker loomed ever closer, and now she could see his face - a black and dark gray unicorn, shaggy gray and black mane swirled around his head like a cloud. Midnight blue eyes pierced her harder than the magical backlashes, and the face itself locked in a perpetual frown. "Of COURSE you don't know who I am," he retorted. "That was Celestia's goal." "Princess.... Celestia.....?" "The 'perfect student'," a mare's voice interrupted. "the perfect little princess and her perfect little world, the sun in Princess Celestia's eyes! Maybe now somepony ELSE will be seen in that classroom." Twilight knew that voice. The next voice chilled her even further. "And your 'magic' that you hold so close is of no use to you, and your friends will learn soon enough of your disappearance. By the time they find you, any 'spark' you ever had will be eaten by the shackles around your hooves." "Strife....? Morning Star.....?" "Your past comes to haunt you, Unworthy Princess. And now you will learn some true history from a true ALICORN." Her eyes widened as the wings flashed open, a roar of wind in the room. "I am why ponies fear the night! Luna gave the night its beauty, I gave it guardians! I shared the moon with her until one night one thousand years ago, where she was banished there alone, no remorse or forgiveness from Celestia! The Family sundered all in the name of 'harmony', as Luna has bought into her lies and brother Cepheid rots in the dungeons of Canterlot! I, the very Shadow of the Moon, Lapis Umbral, will not wait to be NOT welcomed by her!" "I... don't understand....." "Of course you don't," Strife snarled at her. "Your privileged life knows nothing of the adversity of other ponies. You've never wanted or needed anything as earth ponies fed you and the pegasi spun the clouds for your amusement. Now we'll see how you like being the one at the bottom of the pony pile!" Twilight angrily tried to stand. "Blair!" Morning Star shouted, and the purple alicorn once again collapsed to the floor under the Shadowbane. "We will enjoy your stay," Umbral finished as he watched Twilight struggle. ----------------------------------------------------- "Somepony!! Anypony!! I need help here!" Spike's cries echoed through the town square as Applejack tried to chase him down. Pinkie Pie's screams reverberated from the opposite direction as she galloped up to Spike. "Twilight Sparkle is GONE!" They shouted to each other in unison. Applejack would have laughed if the situation wasn't so serious. "One minute, she's talking with a Canterlot unicorn about the Magic Council, next minute they're BOTH gone! If they were going somewhere, Twilight would have at least said something to me before - " "Slow down, Spike," Applejack ordered as she slid to a stop next to him. "I saw that unicorn go inside, you let her in." "Twilight was expecting her." "Ooooh! So she had an appointment? So if Twilight knew she was coming maybe there was a surprise involved but the surprise wasn't the surprise either one of them wanted and my Pinkie Sense says-" "Still don't explain where she's gone to, or how." "All I know is that unicorn was from Canterlot too!" "So perhaps they teleported to Canterlot together?" Rarity's silky voice interrupted the panic. "Sounds more like showing off, or perhaps they went back there to talk to Princess Celestia?" "They would have told me!" Spike insisted, "or at least I would have gone with them!" "Maybe they were captured by ninjas! They snuck into the library and really really quietly threw Twilight and her friend into a chariot and flew off!" "Pinkie, ah think in broad daylight ah'd've seen that." "If you did, those are REALLY bad ninjas!! Everypony would have seen them and we might have stopped them!" "uhm....." a new voice whispered. "But then they'd use their AWESOME NINJA POWERS and -" Pinkie reared and flailed away - "Ya~!! Haa~!! Ho~!! Hi-yaa~~!!! And then Poof! they're gone." "actually......" "We'd all be beaten up and poor Nurse Redheart would have to get us all help....." "You see......" "And then the ninjas would be able to hide Twilight from us forev-" "WAIIIIIT~!!!" The entire group shushed to the shriek of a more subdued mare, whose expression dissolved quickly from frustration to faint. "I mean.... shouldn't we just send a note to Princess Celestia and see if they went there?" Fluttershy meekly suggested. "Then at least we'll know...." Spike saluted Fluttershy and Rarity. "I'm on it!" Pinkie hurried up to Spike. "But how are you going to get the message to the ninjas?" -------------------------------------------------- Twilight still ached from the capture, even if the Shadowbane had quietly slid off and found somewhere else to rest. Her head ached, her legs stung, her wings felt more like overfilled saddlebags on her shoulders. She gazed down at the bluish metal shackles sparking back at her like insults. She took in what she could've her new quarters, thankful that at least she was given a mirror and a washbasin. Fresh water in a bowl sat nearby, and her ear caught the scrape of another bowl being magically served. Oatmeal, she guessed from the smell. No spoon and the consistency of soup. Twilight should have expected no less and turned to her server, now that she could see her better. Morning Star stood proudly outside the bars, frosted coat twinkling in the faint light of the dungeon. The Shadowbane had shrunken down to the size of a pet cat and slept quietly on her back. Her horn flashed a silvery white at the prisoner, mocking her inability to cast. "How does it feel now, Twilight Suck-up?" The alicorn puzzled the nickname. "I'm not sure what you mean, Morning Star. Why am I here? Why are YOU here? And where's Aurora, is she all right?" Morning Star smirked back. "Oh, so now you're concerned about us? No Princess Celestia to make puppy-dog eyes to, no books to scrape your nose around in.... you actually see other ponies. We were never sure." "I had my studies-" "And Princess Celestia's ears, at all times! There hasn't been a student before or since that even remotely had that much attention. Private tutoring, 'missions', and now that," nodding to the wings before her expression soured. "She BOWED to you! You're no Princess! And even if you were, YOU should be bowing to HER!" "But I -" "I dropped out because Princess Celestia had stopped teaching the rest of the class. I think Archer left, too. Aurora was too afraid to strike out on her own. She's told me that her USAT scores are even higher than yours and what has she gotten for it? The Royal Nod, the Royal Smile, and the Royal brush-off." "Princess Celestia wouldn't - " "Don't interrupt me!" Morning Star snapped fiercely, the Shadowbane peeking up to see if he was needed. "You have had everything handed to you on a silver platter by Princess Celestia and NO amount of hard work by anypony else at that school even gets a second look! Aurora and I are better than you even without the wings! At least HERE I've gotten a good education, personalized attention - " "I still don't - " "Of course you don't. I just feel better that while you might outlive me, I helped outsmart you. Enjoy your....." She looked at the soupy mess. "I think it's oatmeal, they didn't say." She trotted off, head and tail held high. -------------------------------------------------- Spike's missive to Princess Celestia arrived atop the afternoon paperwork. She had been so lost in other duties she had almost forgotten that Aurora had gone to Ponyville. Querying looks dismissed with a confident smile, she gathered the scroll to read what was surely Aurora's answer that Twilight would insist on sending ahead. She recognized Spike's hasty writing immediately; another smile. Twilight must have been VERY insistent. "Dear Princess Celestia, I'm checking in to see if Twilight and Aurora teleported back to Canterlot. I was not in the room when they left. Should they stop in to see you, send response right away. Spike" This puzzled her. If they were going to teleport all the way to Canterlot it would likely take both of them in a joined spell. Impressive as that would be, the display unnecessary just on their school records alone. "I need to speak to Count Solaris and Flank Attack immediately," she said to her aide. "It seems we have a miscommunication." That was her hope. ------------------------------------------------- Strife draped the Lyrium whip over his shoulders before heading to the dungeon. He was well aware Morning Star had already gone, but only struck the alicorn prisoner with words. Typical unicorn, thinking that words alone break the spirit. He glanced at the whip hanging loosely around his neck, already savoring the damage it would do to her. If the whip sliced Lapis' wing clean, he expected to leave Twilight with scars. Scars that no words could conjure. Scars that would remind the ruling alicorns they weren't invincible. A message that for which no words were necessary. Though he'd provide the commentary as well, if just for the satisfaction that he would have plenty of time to "talk". He needed the stress release. The shock of that imp returning to Drakengard reasonably intact impressed him, where Morning Star's bragging had not. Lapis spoke sternly to the earth pony that his message did not properly convey the protections Nightwake needed. Strife hid his surprise that the creature returned at all! And if this was such an important errand, why did he not even bother writing the note or proofreading Strife's? He'd counted on the alicorn's distractions to get the correct information to Salvino. Now he prepared for his "workout". Hooves echoed emptily in the halls as he descended into the cold, dark center of Drakengard, deliberately down the stairs to "welcome the new guest" personally. She was still conscious; a good sign to the earth pony. He watched her as she fussed with the chains, occasionally taking another stab of pain as the Lyrium rebuked her attempts at magic. It was suitable punishment, but in his mind it certainly was not enough. Forgoing any formal decorum, Strife nearly bucked the cell door open just to make sure she knew he had arrived. The purple alicorn wheeled, wings weakly spread in challenge. The stallion was unmoved. In fact, he deliberately stopped moving just so her instinct to cast would stagger her again. He'd smile if his rage would subside. "We've stopped you before...." she managed between shocks from the shackles. "'We'? Are you so powerful that you have more than one pony in you? Some would say three, but no TRUE earth pony would accept a horn or wings!" "My....friends....." she weakly tried to interrupt. Strife growled back at her. "Nopony is within your shouting range to save you. Knowing Canterlot they will have a few dozen meetings before they even miss your presence." She tried to say something else, but her gaze fell on the weapon that snaked off Strife's shoulders and hypnotically curled on the ground. "Before, I was nothing more than a mere Earth pony with high hopes of saving my race and bringing actual equality to this place," he informed her evenly. "It seems the equation requires more to reset this balance." The whip started glowing blue, recognizing even the faintest trace of Twilight's remaining magic. Her slow steps back only whetted Strife's appetite. "Abomination!" he snarled, "Even the original owner of this whip would have said so." The whip snapped across the ground in warning. "Magic that now only protrudes from your head but from your back! Automatic status! You deserve NO such gifts!" The whip nearly leapt from his hoof and caught Twilight with a blocking wing. She gritted her teeth back at him, refusing to scream for his satisfaction. He swung again, actually tearing at the wing this time. "Your so-called 'friends' nothing more than slavering servants to you, now that you can look down on them!" The whip flashed almost in tune with Strife's anger. One lash tore into a wingbase. "The appendages nothing but some bizarre compensation for not respecting a planet that feeds you!" Another lash bit into a foreleg. "Helps you stand above those that toil in the field! You will never acknowledge us for equals!" The whip carved between feathers to scorch her back. "YOUR back will now bear that burden!" "Mayor.... Mare.... was.... earth.... pony.... " She whispered. The whip sliced into her neck. "Your door was the first approached for any danger, what does that do to the morale of your mayor? You took away her duties as unicorns do in any and every village!" Twilight faltered. "but...." Again the whip attacked. "ALL Earth ponies are programmed to turn to the unicorns and alicorns to save their lives!! I didn't HAVE to belittle your mayor, the damage was already done!" Another lash crossed her back, the bluish glow from each strike illuminating the dungeon. A shadow slowly morphed behind Strife from the glow, looming over both ponies with stern attention. Twilight attempted to back away from Strife again. She turned, exposing a flank that caught two lashes before she could move again, her leg weakening from the blows. A whimper escaped her, only allowing Strife to close in on her. "You are who they turn to!" The whip slapped her other shoulder. "Not the authority of the town! And of course you get rewarded for your actions while I rotted in Canterlot's dungeons!" The whip wrapped around her horn and held fast. A violent tug of the whip made Twilight stumble face-forward. "You've left me little choice. I WILL have earth ponies in charge of this place, and you alicorns and unicorns can have the exercise of serving US! BOW!!" He stood on the whip to make sure she couldn't move right away. She struggled nonetheless. "It's not that.... simple...." she grunted, aching from the blows. "'Not that SIMPLE'?" Strife repeated incredulously. "Every earth pony I've spoken to in the last month accepts their lot! They don't CARE that they're slaves!" He rudely peeled the whip from her horn, only to stain her back with a new round of strikes. "The only chains are those of CASTE, and you take solace in their blind worship! The only answer I will accept.... is that earth ponies rule ALL of Equestria and save it before your magic smothers it! YOU will be the first to share this fate!" The earth pony's anger crescendoed into a lash that caught her just under her right ear. "Fester!" he demanded as the whip caught her other wing, slicing off feathers. "Rot!" He ordered, angrily pulling the whip back for a lash to her face. "STRIFE!" Lapis' voice boomed through the dungeon. "That's enough! We need her alive!" The earth pony trembled over Twilight's form. He closed in to her menacingly. "Your luck has run out," he growled. "I'll be there for your final moments." The whip casually wrapped around her neck. With a sharp twist, a shock of Lyrium thrust into her body. The reaction was instantaneous and violent- another instinct to cast, and the Lyrium of the shackles and the whip connected inside her body, shocking every sinew and nerve. He stepped back only to watch the painful dance, imagining strings around her wings and head as they spasmed with the magic-nullifying energies. "STRIFE!" Lapis repeated as a warning. " I SAID THAT'S ENOUGH!" Strife finally released her and backed slowly toward the door, anger still unsated despite the damage done. He inwardly savored each bluish line on Twilight's body, and now the two blue rings around her horn where his whip once gripped. Dark glances exchanged between the earth pony and the alicorn before Strife took his leave. Umbral then turned to the cell, magically closing and locking the door anew. "I would apologize but that color looks good on you." She managed to raise her head one last time, defiance expressed in a piercing gaze. Emotions in her swirling in its own magics, summed up in a single tear in each eye. "Tears....?" the alicorn mused, reflexively closing on the cell. She tacitly refused to answer the question, simply locking determined stares. Desert Sun's footsteps interrupted the standoff; the request she had for Lapis lost at the sight of Twilight's pained expression. She looked back to the dark alicorn, who stood completely unmoved by Twilight's emotions. He turned away from the cell and started back upstairs, the red and gold unicorn following in stunned silence. ------------------------------------------------- Few in Canterlot were made aware of the potential situation, Celestia made sure of that. The last thing she needed was panic in the center of Equestria over the newly-crowned princess. Messengers weresent immediately to the Crystal Empire and to some of the larger cities as a clandestine missing pony report. She restlessly shuffled her own wings in worry, fearing the worst still to come. "Could we be over-reacting about this, sister?" Luna queried. "Perhaps Twilight Sparkle and Aurora chose to meet elsewhere." "I worry only because both of them have the manners to at least tell Spike they would be going someplace," Celestia's simple reply. "If we start small, perhaps we can minimize the distress of her being missing." The two alicorns entered the meeting chambers, the guardcaptains all assembled. Gallant Lionheart yawned loudly at the table as the meeting began. "I have received a strange letter from Ponyville inquiring of the whereabouts of Twilight Sparkle and another student of mine, Aurora. What we will be discussing will not leave this room. "I have reason to believe something has happened, but the perpetrator has yet to fully show his hoof. I need to know if you or anypony in your respective units have seen anything suspicious here. Even the smallest tidbit of information is welcome, and you will remain anonymous outside these doors." "Should this truly be a more dire situation, all units will be mobilized and prepared," Luna continued. "The hope is that this is all for naught, but given the instability of relations with other nations this should not have been unexpected." "All I've seen is that our guards are too complacent to begin with," Flank Attack grumbled. "Drills don't mean very much to them, and we have a few bad apples." He chose not to look at Gallant Lionheart. "Only pegasus who gives me trouble is Hot Head," Thunder Arrow offered, "and he's finally learning to stop shooting his mouth off. All he tends to do is irritate other guards." "What say you, Count Solaris? Have you any ideas?" The dark blue unicorn pondered for several moments. "I have sensed occasional magic in strange places. I could not pinpoint it, but there are some days I catch traces...." "Traces?" Luna interrupted. "Explain." "Traces of.... stray thoughts, single words. All laced with magic in their own right." "Unicorns thinking out loud," Flank Attack grumbled. "Likely just background magic 'noise'," Gallant Lionheart explained. "I've caught it a couple of times myself, nothing more than 'gossip' on the wind." "I understand the need for secrecy, Princess Celestia, but I will need to pinpoint this magic. I request full access to the Archive." "You needn't ask, Count Solaris," Luna replied for her sister. "Lionheart, have some of your pegasi doing sweeps outside of Canterlot past sunset." "I'll get my crew to cover ground during the day," Thunder Arrow spoke ahead of the order coming. "If we can find them in the next two days, we might be able to keep this quiet." "Unfortunately Ponyville is aware that Twilight Sparkle is missing," Celestia sighed. "but the sooner we find them, the sooner we can understand." ----------------------------------------------- The Shadow of the Moon bustled from table to table as a wing's worth of quills scribbled away at maps and parchment, planning out his upcoming activities. Information from Gallant Lionheart and Hot Head proved very useful. Aurora's cooperation made the capture a complete success. He knew that Canterlot would be buzzing soon enough about missing mares, and perhaps this would have his sisters' attentions. Nightwake's babbling didn't break his concentration - every post, every guard, every shift, every step planned with a swipe of a quill. The imp watched from his assigned seat, waiting for another quill to finish a missive he would be delivering soon. "Go soon, yes? beat little pink horn to Canterlot, bother sisters, yes?" Lapis ignored the creature, knowing it would survive this journey in much better shape than he did his trip to Hollow Shades. Desert Sun peeked in on the chores, steering clear of Nightwake. "Aurora's about ready to go," she explained as Lapis continued his work, "and Hatchet's not stopped laughing for the last hour or so, I think your armor's about done." The alicorn absently nodded as she filled him in on Drakengard events. "Make sure Aurora stops here before her departure, I have some final instructions." Nightwake sprung from his seat. "Go to Canterlot, Nightwake go soon! Do pretty bird thing again? No hurt this time?" "I assure you it will not hurt as long as you maintain your disguise. There'll be no Lyrium whips waiting for you there. They'll probably pet you and feed you and try to give you a cute name." "Nightwake have name! Not need 'cute'-" "You WILL maintain your disguise this time. No excuses." "Can I do anything to help you, luv?" "I think things are in order." He glanced up from his work, locking stares with her. 'I'm not so sure." Her silver eyes held him fast as she finally stepped up. "There were tears in her eyes. Is that why you stopped Strife?" "I have no interest in a dead alicorn. Strife would not have stopped." "So you were actually worried about her, then?" He looked away. "We need her alive," he reiterated. "I understand that, it's just that- " "I stopped him, that's all that matters." Desert Sun felt an unfamiliar chill down her spine. "Yes, of course. He shouldn't guard her, might go off again." "Check on her if you wish." He had completely turned away from the unicorn. "I will be sending Nightwake soon enough. Make sure Aurora has her story together." She turned and quietly left the room, glancing back as the quills leapt back to task. Another shiver spooked her away from Umbral. --------------------------------------------- A few hours had passed since Spike sent his message to Princess Celestia. She had not responded, making the little dragon even more worried. The room Twilight and Aurora were last seen still untouched from earlier, save the tray he was carrying before the bizarre discovery. He had told the other ponies that he'd be okay and would let them know as soon as he heard back. A faint smile crossed his face, figuring Pinkie will tell them all first. An authoritative knock at the library door startled Spike. He checked out the windows first, spotting Applejack at her stand. Despite her sales pitch, most gazes uneasily turned to whomever chose to cut that far ahead in line. There were no challengers to the visitor; Spike surmised it might be Big Macintosh inquiring, or perhaps the mayor sent someone to confirm the earlier panic. The unease from the other ponies cancelled that theory, unless the visitor wasn't in a very good mood. Spike jumped again as the knock repeated with increased insistence. He scrambled to the door to see just who needed into the library. "Sorry. we're dealing with - " The outside light washed around the figure at the threshold, a towering shadow that halted Spike's words in his tracks. The creature's bright yellow eyes locked on him, freezing Spike even further. He flinched as the shadow spread its enormous wings, not a sound made in the gesture. The room darkened with his presence as his hoof-steps spurred Spike backward to the bookcases. The door slammed shut behind the large pegasus, followed by gasps from outside. Spike blinked in panic, finally seeing that his visitor was one of Luna's new Phalanx guards intimidating his way inside. Taller than Big Mac and almost as wide, the bat-winged pegasus closed on the purple target, growling threats and bodily harm. Unable to back up any further, Spike closed his eyes and braced. "All I did was tell Princess Celestia what happened..... I don't know anything else!!!" The pegasus backed off slowly, once again pulling to his full height. Spike dared a peek as the beast huffed in frustration. "Then what the hay am I doing up in the middle of the day? Gonna buck Lionheart in the head over this...." Spike deflated, relieved "Wait, if you're one of Princess Luna's guards, what are you doing here? I would think Princess Celestia would have sent one of her own....." "I'm the one asking questions," the pegasus snapped. "and if you MUST know, I was sent so that more questions wouldn't be asked!" "A Solar Guard at Twilight's door would have been less conspicuous-" "But MUCH more approachable," he gruffly finished for the dragon. "Officer Hazard Watch, used to work in Manehatten. Princess Luna herself asked for me to investigate this." Spike offered his hand, but the officer simply walked past him. "I.. wasn't expecting-" "I'm just here to look over the scene. Any information you've got, I'm listening." He stopped himself. "Sorry, used to Manehatten investigations." "Not much to tell or show you, sir. Aurora came here to talk to Twilight, I went into the kitchen to mix up some punch, heard.... something, then came out here and they were gone." "Your note suggested that you didn't see them leave." "They didn't tell me they were going anywhere," Spike babbled, "All I knew was that Aurora had told Princess Celestia that she was personally coming to Ponyville to give Twilight an answer to a request. She mentioned a gift in the note, the box is under the table. If they were going to go somewhere they wouldn't have me making them drinks, right?" "How long was she here?" "Just... just a few minutes, I guess. I was making drinks," Spike desperately repeated. "You haven't moved anything since that happened?" Hazard Watch continued his interrogation as he walked carefully through the main room. "Where is the 'gift'? And do you have the message about her arrival?" "Uhm.... the box is under the table there. I'll get the note..." Spike halted again with Hazard Watch's piercing gaze. "Good. The more information, the better." He gathered the lid with his teeth and dropped it diagonally into the main box. "You're not who I'm after, kid. I line up every pony in Ponyville and you'd be my last target. That's why I'm talking to you first." Spike finally felt able to move, carefully picking up the scroll and handing it over. "So what happens now?" "Both Princesses are trying to keep their own lids on this. I already heard whispers outside, too late to hide it in Ponyville. These come back with me." He scooped the box up with a wing and dumped it in his saddlebag, dropping the letter on top. "Might be some magic on the box. Keep the library locked down." He turned to leave. "Can I .... make a request?" The guard paused. "I don't have any new info for you." "Not that. Just... tell Princess Celestia to keep me informed. She can contact me any time. Please?" The stallion finally softened. "We'll do our best. I don't screw things up twice." He continued out the door, scowl keeping any other questions at bay. --------------------------------------------- Twilight leaned against the cool walls of the dungeon, still stinging from Strife's words and whip. She looked at each wound, resisting the urge to try and heal the wounds when she knew the shackles would shock her again. Even without the shackles she couldn't trust her own focus. The room would wobble and fade through her vision as she struggled to find a comfortable position to sleep. She heard somepony approaching the cell. Huddling against the farthest corner, she closed her eyes, hoping the next guard would leave her be. The hoofsteps slowed before the cell, followed by the quiet shuffle of a pony seating themselves just outside. Twilight kept still, head tucked close to her body, awaiting the next round of abuse, whether it be physical or verbal. She heard nothing but the twinkle of magic, and the single torch brightening near her. A warmth flowed into the cell, emanating from the hall and not just from the torch. "Seems a bit dark now, I'm sure," a mare's voice drifted to Twilight's ear. "may not help, but you're safe." Twilight didn't respond, continuing to pretend to sleep. "Not much to offer, mind.... but you'll be fed, watered, and hopefully a blanket brought in," the voice continued uneasily, "but you'll live through this, that much I promise." Again Twilight did not respond. She heard a sigh. "He stopped Strife, that I saw. He's still not exactly pleased with you. I'm.... I'm sorry that Strife made you cry." Twilight slowly opened one violet eye, seeing the unicorn seated just outside the cell. The mottled red and gold mare continued to stare at the unwilling guest, silvery eyes showing curiosity and concern and not the malice or disgust Twilight's first three visitors offered. The unicorn's unruly mane seemed to wave gently from heat radiating from her body, allowing the natural warmth into an otherwise cold and soulless place. Her tail curled on the floor beside her. almost like a question mark on the ground. "See? not here for that nonsense," Desert Sun assured her. "I've been lost in the dark myself, so I understand." "But I.. I DON'T understand," the trapped alicorn weakly replied. "I know why Morning Star is angry with me. I know why Strife is angry, period..... but why is that other alicorn so angry about this? What did those two tell him?" "Oh, nothing they've said, he thinks quite well on his own." "He called me 'unworthy'..... but this was a reward from Princess Celestia herself." Desert Sun thought a moment. "He's mentioned things about history... something about Princess Celestia bowing to you? That bothered him just as much as those wings on your back." "So his issue would be with Princess Celestia, not me." "More to it than that." "Why does he think he wouldn't be welcome? Princess Luna was welcomed at the Summer Sun Celebration the day after she came -" Desert Sun's expression darkened. "That so....? Nice of her to not come back and check on him after he did Luna the favor of bringing her back to Equestria. Not sure what happened to her once she left, but at least the last time he saw her she was grateful....." "Princess Luna, or Nightmare Moon?" "One in the same, she was his sister, was she not?" Desert's voice stern, yet not sounding confrontational. "She at least spoke to him before she left, never came back. Not sure what went wrong from there, but...." "Nothing went 'wrong'," Twilight spoke up, perplexed. "The Elements of Harmony cured her of the madness that made her Nightmare Moon. She's free, and happy now, living in Canterlot Castle." "As he would tell it, living with the one pony who put her to the moon in the first place. Sounds like more than one family member owes him an apology." "All he has to do is go to Canterlot and TALK to them!" Twilight pleaded. Desert Sun remained skeptical. "Don't think he'll have the same welcome." "How can you even support this?" Twilight struggled to stand. "Using magic-cancelling shackles on me, letting an insane earth pony torture me.... I don't understand Morning Star's jealousy, she was doing just as well if not better at the School as I was. So are you going to do something to me, now? Set me on fire? Heat up the shackles to sear my hooves?" Desert Sun slowly shook her head no. "No need. I think too much damage done already. Just here to see that you aren't going anywhere, and thankfully you're not crying anymore." "Why should you even care if I was crying or not?" "Because I know someone who SHOULD," Desert Sun's cryptic response. "For now, just rest. I'll not disturb you further." Surprised, relieved but still confused, Twilight settled again to let the warmth help her drift off to sleep.