//------------------------------// // A Night of Royalty and Remembrance // Story: Game of Worlds // by DualThrone //------------------------------// “I believe you’ll find the protocols of a formal dinner at the court of Queen Chrysalis to be much simpler than those you’re used to,” the noblemare explained to them as they weaved through the steadily-filling dining hall, aiming for several open seats. “You are obligated to stand respectfully only when the Royal Family enters, which generally occurs after the main course is complete. You shall only be obligated to address nobility by title if they request it, and it’s considered a very grave faux pas to castigate someone for failing to do so if you fail to ask it of them. As the guests of honor, your obligation to honor requests or commands extends only to the Royal Family or the Throne or Honor Guard. Feel free to speak to or interact with any guest you wish, and although I hardly think it needs to be stated, good manners and being considerate are expected of all attendees at these dinners, including the Royal Family.” She swept them all with a very warm smile. “And you are expected to enjoy yourselves and have a pleasant evening. Formal dinners are as much a celebration of community and the bonds of friendship and family as they are a celebration of a particular occasion.” “Thank you, Marquess du Dune,” Rarity said to her with a very practiced bow. The noblemare laughed. “Callista, please. I use the title only for the benefit of the exceptionally stuffy and protocol-fixated. Would you object if I were to sit with you to dine?” “Go for it,” Dawn said before Twiilight could. “Plenty of seats and you’ve been a pal.” “Thank you.” After the meeting with Queen Chrysalis, her daughters, and Nightmare, they’d been taken back to their rooms where awaited tasteful formal wear for each of them, which in keeping with the unsettling level of spying the changelings had done on each of them, fit perfectly and were based heavily on the dresses Rarity had designed for them for the Grand Galloping Gala, which meant they also looked very good on them. When it was time to go to dinner, the Honor Guard stationed at their doors informed them and escorted them there. The banquet hall turned out to be a room whose size and elegance put the throne room to shame, and by the time they arrived, contained large numbers of changelings that seemed far too simply-dressed to be invited guests--except that they were. They appeared to be common changeling families but when asked if they were there to set up the hall for the dinner, the Honor Guard had looked thoroughly confused by the question. “They’re invited guests,” one finally said after they’d exchanged several looks. “Why else would they be here?” “We’re used to guests at formal functions being members of the nobility and other ponies of particular wealth or fame,” Twilight had said, feeling mildly uncomfortable at how consternated the Guards looked. “We… didn’t intend to be offensive…” “Unfamiliarity is not offensive, Princess Sparkle,” the same Honor Guard replied with a reassuring smile. “But in the court of Queen Chrysalis, any citizen may attend the formal dinner, so long as there’s room in the hall. Inviting a pony to dinner is, after all, always a compliment and being asked into their Queen’s home to eat a meal with her and her family causes them to feel that their ruler cares about them, and they love her for it.” “And although love is power among changelings, being loved by her people is a point of great pride for the queen.” They’d turned to find the source of the refined Canterlot accent, a changeling mare dressed in an odd combination of simple canvas apron and expertly-fitted gown, smiling at them. “I’m certain you’ve other duties you need to see to, Guard, so I shall take the responsibility of our guests.” “Thank you Marquess du Dune.” The Honor Guard each gave them a smile and a small bow and had dispersed among the crowd, leaving them with the noblemare. She’d introduced herself as Callista du Dune and asked if there were any questions they might have for her. The high society conscious Rarity had promptly asked about the proper protocol for the dinner, which led to them sitting at the largest banquet table she’d ever seen with a stunning array of changelings spread out in every direction, a mass of perfectly ordinary non-noble ponies with the rare visible noble sprinkled among them. In most any other circumstance, Twilight would be paying close attention to the conversation as Callista pointed out individual ponies and chatted animatedly about who they were and what they did, but she was far too busy enjoying the appetizer (a sweet broth with finely-chopped herbs) and trying to wrap her mind around the paradox of what she was seeing. Namely, that every changeling she could see had the same black chitin with the same waxy sheen and the same dominance of aquamarine in their manes--and yet not a single one looked the same. She’d seen it, of course, among Queen Chrysalis’ four daughters who varied in appearance so dramatically that the family resemblance was hard to spot, but the seeming uniformity of the changeling soldiers that had intercepted them had led her to imagine that the changelings were relatively uniform in appearance outside of the royal family, an impression that she could tell was a dramatic illustration of the folly of forming conclusions without complete data. The soldiers had clearly wanted to appear to be duplicates of one another for some reason, but everywhere she looked there was a distinct variation in body type, the patterns of pits and grooves in their chitin, how they styled their manes, eye color, wing size and shape, and every other imaginable minor variation. “Surprised?” Twilight jumped a little at the refined feminine voice just to her left and she turned to look at their noble companion as she poured herself a glass of water. “I…” She wasn’t sure she wanted to admit that she was surprised that the changelings weren’t a race of duplicates but the mare appeared to read her mind because she chuckled and smiled knowingly. “As with all things in life, Princess Sparkle, the ponies who are so thin-skinned and sensitive that an innocent mistake will occasion verbal abuse aren’t worth knowing,” she said pleasantly. “I can hardly empathize with your astonishment in this matter, being a changeling myself and wholly acquainted with my own race, but I can sympathize with you.” “I’m still getting used to the fact that there has always been a fourth race of ponies out there who have wings like a pegasus, are tough like earth ponies, use magic like unicorns, eat love as part of a complete and nutritious diet, and can completely change their shape, including their anatomy if Princess Thryssa’s implication is accurate,” Twilight said. “And I top of that, I find out that the foalsitter I adored and treat like a big sister has three actual sisters and is a princess in a kingdom I didn’t know existed made up of a pony race I didn’t know existed, and is being advised by a mare who I thought was a sapient construct representing a fragment of Luna’s personality.” Callista chuckled lightly and swirled the water in her cup before taking a sip. “There is more out there than any of us could have ever imagined,” she said. “All of it truth and every bit stranger than any fiction imaginable. There was a time, a short one  I’ll add, that the mere notion of Celestia’s children sharing a table with their lost people was a pleasant fiction--and yet here you are.” “Yup, here we am,” Dawn grinned. “I’m guessing posh accent equals nobility, right?” “Posh accent equals finishing schools worth barely a quarter of the bits Grandmother paid.” The mare sighed. “But it does so happen that I’m a scion of a particularly prominent and titled family, which is why I’m regarded as nobility.” She took another sip from her cup and turned to Twilight. “Ordinarily, I’m a cafe owner and the entirely of my family are farmers.” “Yeah?” Applejack polished off the appetizer. “Whatcha grow?” “Lemons,” Callista replied in a voice almost identical in tone to the one whenever Applejack mentioned her family’s namesake crop, as if she was announcing that they grew diamonds on their trees instead of fruit. “The arid environs are amazing for citrus. You’d hardly know it from the immense dunes in every direction, but where soil can be found, it’s quite rich and productive.” “Lemons,” Applejack repeated as changeling servers circulated to pick up their empty appetizer bowls. “Ah dunno, sugarcube… seems like a sorta odd fruit ta toss all your apples in a single bucket with.” “And that is why we enjoy virtually no competition,” Callista said cheerfully. “There’s a considerable market in candies, pastries, extremely fine cuisine, and pies and the only other place good for lemons is the arid lands around Appleoosa and Dodge Junction. The first is dominated by apple-growing, the second is dominated by cherries, and the armed barrier we maintain between ourselves and Equestria proper has the entirely unintended side effect of protecting our near-monopoly.” “Which ends if y’all ever get back inta the Princess’ good graces,” Applejack pointed out. Callista shrugged. “You don’t win a marathon by laying around reading books or buck apple trees like an expert without doing a lot of kicking. Competition will be invigorating. Speaking of invigorating, I see that the main course and salad are being served.” Plates came floating over their shoulders just then, an extremely shallow bowl for the salad and a generously-sized oval plate for the main course. The salad was bright and cheery, decorated with thinly-sliced fruit and vegetable skins arranged in starbursts. The main course was framed by apples and nogales paddle slices so green as to look like they were glowing, but the delicately-sliced slab of pinkish white in the center, with each cut outlined with a carrot peel, was a mystery to her. Twilight noticed Rarity discretely leaning closer to the whitish slab and sniff quietly. “Marquess, may I ask what this is?” she asked Callista. “Skate I believe,” Callista said, leaning in and taking in the scent loudly and with relish. “Perhaps even whale skate. I hear it has an extremely luxurious flavor, and is a very rare delicacy this deep in the Barrens.” She smiled. “I’m sure this is the prize catch one of the roc families presented to Queen Chrysalis as a gift.” “Fish?” “Unless the chefs are so good that they can disguise roller skates as a piece of meat, yes.” “Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it,” Pinkie said with a grin. “You just need the right brand of roller skates.” Callista eyed her. “You must be the Element of Laughter.” “No, I’m Pinkie Pie. The Element of Laughter is in Canterlot.” The changeling looked confused. “...but you’re right here, in Scarabi, unless you’re capable of extraordinarily detailed illusions.” “Well, yeah, but the Element is in Canterlot, in a vault.” Pinkie tapped her chin. “At least I think it is. Princess Celestia said it was and she seems like the trustworthy type, but then there was that entire Nightmare Flare thing…” Callista blinked a few times. “Are you talking about the bit of jewelry?” “Hold on a second.” Twilight ate one of the apple slices adorning the fish, pausing to enjoy the mingled flavor of sweet apple and oddly tangy fish before continuing. “You realize that the Elements are objects and not ponies, right?” “The legend of the Elements is that they are whatever they need to be, and whatever will make them most effective.” Callista took a generous bite of fish and closed her eyes, savoring it. “Mmm… never thought flesh could be so tasty. Must be the key lime marinade.” “...she’s right.” Rarity said, sounding happily surprised. “It tastes more like savory pie than fish. I realize this discussion interests you darling, but you really must sample it.” Twilight hesitated and then nodded, scooping up a bite of the fish (that actually did seem to have consistency more like pie filling than fish) and sampling it. It was, as Rarity had declared, slightly sweet with a citrus tang, and really did remind her more of pie than the flaky texture of good fish. “It is really good,” she said, swallowing and taking another bite. “What do you mean, the legend of the Elements, Marquess?” “There’s a great deal of myth and legend surrounding the Elements of Harmony,” Callista said in between taking generous bites of her fish and salad. “I got it more in the form of bedtime stories, along with dramatic tales about the beautiful warrior-goddess and her courageous soldiers defending Equestria from all comers under the flowing banners of the moon and the sun. We have the same pageants about Hearth’s Warming Eve, the story of Nightmare Moon, thrilling myths about Starswirl the Bearded and his protege Clover the Clever, but I gather that Equestria doesn’t have our stories about the impossible and glorious Elements of Harmony, nor our passed-down stories of fighting alongside the Princess of the Moon and Night to keep the pony subjects of the Dual Thrones safe and happy.” “And what makes ‘em impossible?” Applejack asked. “Oh, I know, I know!” Pinkie grinned. “I can fit in a bucket of sponges!” “You…?” Callista shook her head. “No, you’re Laughter, of course you can. Anything that’s funny, you can do, or at least the myth claims. Perhaps it’s not as much of a myth as I thought.” “Nope,” Pinkie said with a grin. “I’m pleased to hear that.” Callista grinned back at her. “But it’s not only the blatant impossibility that follows Laughter around. Legend is that they’re aware, or at least have the capacity to change their form and where they reside. They have been in the jewelry, but Princesses Tettidora and Chiti have speculated that their magical nature has become entwined with their bearers, leaving the jewelry as mere symbols and focus points. According to legend, this has happened in the past.” “Princess… Chiti?” “Technically her title would be ‘Countess’ due to being Queen Chrysalis’ second-youngest sister, but no one uses it.” “Oh.” Twilight fowned. “So your legend states that the Elements can… entwine with their bearers?” “Yes.” Callista finished her main course plate, which was almost instantly picked up and taken away by a circulating server. “It’s said that certain ponies are unusually well-suited for their Element, and this leads to the Element adopting them as a vessel, so to speak. As with all matters of highly complex magic, though, you shall have to inquire of the Monarchy’s distinguished minds to find out details. All I know personally is that you wield Magic and your friend wields Laughter with such unconscious ease that you’re both unaware of wielding them at all.” “An’ how can ya know that, ‘zactly?” Applejack eyed her. “We ain’t ever met you and even if y’all do completely change shape, there ain’t been ponies around when we had ta use the Elements.” “Princess Lepinora runs a very intricate and efficient spy network,” Callista said casually. “And the Dune family is on excellent terms with the royal family, so such important information is shared in confidence.” “So the tattooed fillyfooler with an artistic streak is the spymaster.” Dawn took a moment to chew contemplatively on a lemon slice from the salad. “Hide in plain sight, huh?” “Naturally.” Callista glanced over her shoulder towards the large doors leading into the banquet area. “I think the Royal Family is just about to enter. It’ll be good to see Crown Prince Auron again… he throws himself so hard into the council that Empress Moon convened that he’s been sadly scarce these last few months.” Twilight blinked at Callista calling him ‘crown prince’ but was prevented from asking by the doors swinging open and the entire room standing as the Royal Family entered. Queen Chrysalis entered first, wearing the robe and adornments she’d worn when they first met her in Maredusa’s grotto, with the addition of several rich jeweled combs woven into her long mane and shoes like those that Celestia and Luna wore on formal occasions, except made of jade polished so smooth that it gleamed in the banquet hall’s lights. At her side, walking even with her, was a handsome stallion wearing a visibly heavy silver crown, an exquisitely-cut heart-shaped ruby in the crown’s peak with four emeralds in the smaller peaks of the adornment, and ornamental parade armor of a burnished white metal Twilight had never seen before and gold filigree. Over the armor he wore a black tabard bearing a dragon eye above two downward-angled hammers with their handles crossed, very likely his cutie mark. Each of the four princesses entered flanking their parents, each wearing finery fit for royalty. Twilight could hear a wave of awed and excited-sounding murmurs sweep through the crowd at Cadence wearing her familiar alicorn shape, and she felt herself smile at seeing her foalsitter walking alongside her very changeling family looking natural and comfortable in the shape that she’d worn her entire life. Thryssa was unaccompanied as was Tettidora, but alongside Lepinora (who was so well-adorned that her extravagant body art seemed to be intended as a part of the outfit instead of the constant presence it actually was) walked a very slightly taller mare with the characteristic dragonfly wings of royalty but seemed to be as austere and elegant as Lepinora was gaudy. “Wonder who the beauty is,” Dawn said sotto voce. “I’d think it was that marefriend she mentioned, Cryssa, but… can’t imagine a marefriend entering with the rest of the family.” “Cryssa is considerably more than Lepinora’s marefriend,” Callista said quietly as the royals took their seats at the head of the banquet hall. “They’ve been monogamous and devoted to one another for going on a decade now.” “Friends, subjects, and honored guests of our home, we welcome you!” Queen Chrysalis declared as her family took their seats around her. “It is always a joy to see a hall full of my people, eating, making merry, and being happy in the company of their fellows, and under my roof as well. This is a truly monumental and special occasion, my friends. We are here today to see the end of the beginning and celebrate its passage as we are drawn one step closer to the destiny that has lain before our people for a thousand years: to be welcome again in the home we were compelled to leave.” She gestured to Cadence. “My second-eldest, my Chidinida, called Mi Amore Cadenza by the Equestrian court, and to the Equestrians who love her, Cadence. The agent of the Great Plan, although unaware of it most of her life, who through being a gentle and warm pony and making herself easy to love, is now betrothed to the Captain of the Royal Guard and the lately-known adopted son of Princess Celestia. With this the most ancient and ironclad means of building alliances, the Hive Throne of Amaryss and the Dual Thrones of Equestria will once again be the warmest of friends and with the marriage, no changeling shall ever again be compelled to use the guise to live among, and love, and make families with our sister races. Never again shall the guise lock be required for a changeling to have a family with another of the races. Never again will Equestria be deprived of us, or we of them. With this traditional joining of two royal houses by marriage, there will never again be a need to post a guard on the border, and the Friendship Express will no longer be stopped by a terminus.” Twilight gaped. Cadence and Shiny are… getting married? But… how… I didn’t even know they were dating! But a moment later, she chided herself. But it’s been forever since you bothered to send him a letter or look her up when you were visiting Canterlot. Why should they involve you in their plans or inform you? It’s not as if you’ve been working hard to be in their lives. “...and Magic are here with us today, as our deeply honored guests.” Twilight’s attention snapped back to Chrysalis’ speech just as the room erupted into applause and Marquess du Dune’s hoof was firmly but gently pushing her forward to follow her friends and Dawn to the front of the room, just in front of the table that the royal family occupied. She turned around to see a sea of black ponies gazing at the front of the room with a mix of awe that was directed at their Equestrian visitors, and reverence directed at the Queen herself. “But more than being the Element of Magic, Twilight Sparkle is a princess, and her sister Dawn as well,” Chrysalis continued, remaining focused on her audience rather than events virtually at her feet. “The daughters of the very Princess Celestia who moves the sun in its eternal dance. In no other time in the history of the last thousand years has there been circumstances like there, where we could welcome and embrace the thing most precious to Celestia. Although we hadn’t planned it, the appearance of the Elements in this very castle gives us hope and much cause for rejoicing. So too do we have great cause to rejoice in what has always given ponies joy: friendship. And because we have made one friend, all the disparate exiles now gather in council with us, as our equals and our friends. Though no doubt many of you have met her as she’s walked the city, reveling in the life of Scarabi, formally honoring her as a friend and ally has been too long in coming.” “You are far kinder than I’ve any right to expect as always, Queen Chrysalis.” The sound of Nightmare’s smooth, grand voice from behind made Twilight glance over her shoulder towards its sound, which led to her turning around more openly. Nightmare was arrayed in a robe very much like Chrysalis’, but made of a beautiful material that she strongly suspected was fine silk with delicate threads of silver interwoven to cause it to glimmer in the light, all in violets and blues and trimmed with gorgeous embroidery. Her flowing mane was heavily decorated with jeweled combs, iridescent feathers, and brilliantly-colored beads. “There’s no such thing,” Chrysalis said with a broad smile before looking back at the crowd, which Twilight observed looked taken-aback at Nightmare’s appearance. “My people, behold the mare who drove the forming of a council, who has been a stalwart ally of the Hive Throne these several months, and who is memorialized just as surely as Celestia and Luna in the tales of our childhoods. The Dread Empress of Nightmares, known by her own as Nachtmiri Mein, but to all others as Nightmare Moon.” If anything, the applause at Chrysalis’ introduction of Nightmare was more enthusiastic than the reception of the Elements, and Twilight’s mind went back to the banners decorating the city walls of Scarabi with Nightmare and Luna positioned symbolically above Celestia. They must have a very different feeling about her than we do, she thought as the excited cacophony and the rumbling of applause blended into a wall of oddly energizing and pleasant noise. Very likely, they always have; I can’t imagine they fell absolutely in love with her in this short of time if she was the dread and terrible specter of their foalhood stories. I wonder what their stories of her are… “I appreciate your kind reception,” Nightmare said to the room as the applause died down. “I’ve been slowly acquainting myself with your legends concerning myself, and Luna’s attempt to depose her sister in the interest of making a more just Equestria. Many of the legends are true, many myth, and many are fanciful but there is one truth that is important above all else: it was the expulsion of an entire people who had done no collective wrong that set Luna on her path. That you leap so eagerly to aid Equestria more than justifies her faith in you, and your hospitality towards her niece and her friends does your race credit. You have forged a grand city full of life and love and wonders, an oasis against the dead sand around you. I wish only that I was not here alone, that Luna was standing at the right hoof of your queen as a guest as well, for I think the reunion would be a joyous one; Luna has never forgotten those who loyally served Equestria by her side.” “Which explains why in all the time since her return, she has not bothered to look in on us once.” The room went completely silent all at once at the creaking female voice with the light but distinct accent of Stalliongrad, the loudness and clarity indicating that she was magically augmenting her voice. The changelings between the royal family’s table and the source of the voice scrambled a little as they moved out of the line of fire, revealing an older-looking changeling noblemare adorned in so much finery as to appear more gaudy than Lepinora. “Baroness du Luc.” Nightmare’s tone, warm and happy moments before was abruptly frigid. “Don’t you take that tone with me ‘Empress’,” du Luc said. “For all the love between yourself and royalty, you are still a guest. And however the question angers you, it is meritorious: if Princess Luna remembers us, if she cares about us, if she is fond of us, where is she? Why do we have a doppelganger of a princess instead of the princess herself?” “Because Luna isn’t omniscient, you overstuffed twit,” Lepi said, her tone as casual as Nightmare’s was icy. “Excuse me?” “Sure, you’re excused.” Twilight glanced over her shoulder to see that Lepi was giving the baroness a mocking smirk. “And you’re a twit.” “I shall explain this to you slowly, Baroness, that you will be able to understand.” Nightmare spoke before du Luc could register another word of sputtering outrage, although her gaze wandered the assemblage around the banquet table as she did. “The princess whom I regard as a virtual sister is afraid to come looking for you, afraid that she will find out that her dearest hope, that you survived and thrived, is for naught and that she will find a sad pile of bones instead of the people she loved. She is afraid that if you remain, that you will despise her for doing nothing to stop Celestia, and that she and Equestria are dead to you, and that you are lost to her as surely as if your race had died in exile. And she is deeply ashamed that when she disputed Celestia’s claim to the throne, she failed to invite the stalwart defenders of Equestria. You have had a thousand years to make your peace with how you were treated; for Luna, it has been only a few as to her, her sojourn on the moon lasted moments instead of centuries. The loss still cuts her, although knowing her as I do, she no doubt conceals her pain. But more than that, she is a princess with a kingdom under a grave threat, and she has gone to the Griffin Provinces to see to affairs there and possibly discover her enemy, so she can smite him into the bedrock. Make no mistake and do not doubt it Baroness: Princess Luna remembers, and she cares, and when she learns that she is loved here and that your people thrive, she will come.” “And when she does, what then?” Du Luc seemed to fuss with one of the jeweled bracelets on her leg. “She’ll be welcomed warmly as a guest, Baroness,” Queen Chrysalis said in a tone that seemed oddly respectful for how provocative the baroness was being. “What else would you have?” The baroness stopped fussing and despite her being nearly at the opposite end of the long banquet table, Twilight could see the shrewd look on the gaudy noblemare’s face. “I would expect nothing less than the hospitality of your home for the princess who has always been most beloved of our people, Your Highness. But the visit of one of the Sisters here raises an important question that has not been asked since Queen Amaryss, and has needed to be asked since you spoke of your visionary plan: what shall the queen of the changelings be to the princesses of the sun and moon? Another subject, the way that our beloved Amaryss was, to be ordered about and treated as an inferior? We have traveled that road, Your Majesty, and traveling it again leaves a foul taste.” “The disposition of the Hive Throne vis a vis the Dual Thrones shall be settled between my wife and the princesses themselves.” Crown Prince Auron’s voice proved to have a much more resonant vibrato than the typical changeling voice, deeper and with the very deliberate way that he spoke, regal as well. “Ably assisted by Princess Tettidora and, it is our hope, Princesses Twilight and Dawn Sparkle.” “And none of the noble families?” Auron chuckled. “Baroness du Luc, how can the queen of the changelings be seen as the peer of the princesses who shall have no noble assistance, if she has the noble families of the changelings trailing her to advise? We should like to partake of the wise advice your family and the Dune family have given us over these ten centuries in this matter, but you understand why that cannot be.” “Whether it can be or not, it must be.” The baroness swept her gaze over the other ponies at the table. “We have made a glorious place for ourselves, but it was only necessary because Queen Amaryss was at the beck and call of a condescending alicorn, sitting on a throne, fixated on the glorious Equestria she had nothing to do with. A figurehead, nothing more, and yet at her word we were cast into a waterless waste. And what could Amaryss do short of attacking a pony who was wrong but not evil? Nothing at all, just like any maidservant in the castle.” Twilight furrowed her brow, trying to figure out where the noblemare was going with her entire line of commentary. She could see quite a few of the guests watching the baroness and several more nodding in agreement but if du Luc had a point, she still hadn’t worked herself around to it. “Is there a point you wish to make, Baroness du Luc?” Chrysalis asked, her tone mildly annoyed. “Just this, Your Highness: we know what being mere servants of the Dual Thrones leads to. Your people need to know that Celestia can request, but our Queen is not required to obey.” Any showiness or drama that the baroness had displayed moments ago was entirely gone now, and her gaze was focused on Chrysalis. “Even my family, who does not approve of intermingling again with the races that cast us out, supports you in this plan to restore communion with Equestria. But we will be servants by desire, wish, and choice, not by royal obligation. We embrace our own queen out of desire, out of our own wishes, and by our own choice; why should the princesses of Equestria who have not ruled us and shown us no love or benevolence, be elevated above our queen? And why should we be made to watch our queen bow before those princesses?” “They are our…” “The disposition of the Hive Throne vis a vis the Dual Thrones shall be settled between my wife and the princesses themselves,” Crown Prince Auron said calmly, one of his hooves resting gently on his wife’s leg as he looked steadily at the complaining noblemare. “But we can assure you and our people: Celestia’s choices have consequences, just as any other pony’s do. It is the position of the Hive Throne that determining those consequences is a matter for careful consideration and significant consultation with the wise and the knowledgeable.” “So little said with so many words,” du Luc scoffed. Auron shook his head. “Camri, disrupting a pleasant time with our subjects and with very well-loved guests is exceptionally ill-mannered. Crossing verbal blades with you is always an interesting and stimulating diversion, but this is a time for friends and for family. Please respect this.” “I will let this lie if you will say it, Crown Prince.” The baroness frowned. “Say that the time of our queen subservient to the Dual Thrones is gone, and will not return. Say that our queen will not be a mere servant to the whims of a sun princess whom none can restrain or account for. Say that our queen will be their equal at the…” “She will.” Twilight swallowed as dozens of heads swung in her direction, making her momentarily regret her outburst, but she took a breath, centered herself, and pushed on. “I don’t know the history of what happened, Baroness du Luc, but as a practical matter making a servant of an established monarch representing an entire pony race could never justify the cost in time to work out the specifics.” “Basically it’s too bucking hard,” Dawn chimed in. “Besides, what’s Mom going to do with her if it works out? Send her back here and have her manage things as an independent noble on the longest leash in the history of ever. If Mom’s gonna have to work with yer queen like she would the leader of any other independent nation, she’s not stupid, she’s gonna skip all the middle junk and go straight to treating you sorts like your own nation. Which ya really are. So… don’t get yer mane in a knot, Luc; it’ll be all good.” Du Luc stared at the two of them for several moments, looking like she was unsure whether to be annoyed at the interruption or pleased at the answer. She settled on a bemused half-smile and then bowed her head slightly in their direction. “It appears I have my answer then,” she said, “and the one I’d hoped to hear, the one that every one of your people hoped to hear, Your Highness.” “I would have preferred that you trusted me, Camri, to be strong for my people and be the queen they want me to be,” Chrysalis said. “Your Majesty, I have a wicked tongue,” du Luc said as she returned to sitting. “If I had the slightest doubt, I’d have said so. But there are times that something important needs to be said, not merely believed.” “Hail to our queen!” A voice out of the crowd cheered. The assent was almost deafening, followed by the enthusiastic stomping of applause. Twilight could see Baroness du Luc looking very pleased with herself before she turned away to converse with someone, quite likely another noble. Dawn grinned at her and raised a hoof. “I request the highest of fives.” “The… what?” “Bump hooves, sis. Yanno, like Dashie and ‘Jack do when they do something awesome.” “Um, OK.” Twilight tentatively raised her hoof as well and Dawn placed hers against it with a grin before looking over her shoulder at Nightmare. “Lemme guess.. troublemaker?” “Whenever she can,” Nightmare said, although her tone wasn’t as frigid as it was when she was speaking to du Luc directly. “In royal council, she takes the place of the person in the room raising doubts and asking the uncomfortable questions. Arrogant, aggravating, but indispensible. I have no patience for her and no wish to have anything to do with her but I recognize her vital function in my ally’s court.” “Nightmare, you of all ponies should appreciate the value of theater,” Chrysalis smiled. “I spent too much time entwined with Luna to appreciate it half as much as your race does Chrysalis.” Nightmare smiled back faintly. “But I suppose it’s not so different than making an uproar in the east and striking in the west. Still, she and her family are distasteful to me. Blame it on going mentally numb from the chattering idiocy of self-important nobles prattling on about matters they were worse than ignorant on. On the other hoof, there have always been nobles like du Dune…” “You flatter us Empress Mein,” Callista said. “We’re just a long line of good parents teaching their children to be good ponies, no different than the Apples or any other extended familial line.” “Exactly.” Nightmare treated her to a look of warmth before looking back to Twilight. “I hate to ruin a very comfortable and delicious dinner by bringing up something more business-like, but I think you and I need to revisit the discussion we had just before you left Maredusa’s Everfree grotto.” Twilight nodded, ignoring the curious looks from her friends and sister. “I was thinking the same thing. Right now?” “No, enjoy the rest of the meal and the evening with your friends.” Nightmare smiled slightly before turning and engaging Crown Prince Auron in conversation. “Y’all think we’re free ta head back to our seats?” Applejack said after a lengthy pause. “Most certainly,” Callista said, gesturing them back to the table. “That was well-done Dawn. You seized the moment and gave Baroness du Luc exactly what she was looking for, and without the royal family having to debase themselves by answering a public challenge from the nobility.” “So all of that was… staged?” “Of course darling,” Rarity said as she seated herself. “Most official court interactions are. Very little unexpected happens at this level. All the actors are given their roles, everyone plays that role, and everyone knows what the other person will say and what they’re trying to do by saying it.” She smirked. “Reminds me of the fashion conventions I’ve been to.” “Camri du Luc occupies the highest noble position in the court,” Callista said. “Caustic, petty, mean, stubborn, and egotistical, but so perceptive you’d think she could read minds and almost fanatically loyal to the throne. All that was about reassuring the common changeling that when Queen Chrysalis stands before the Dual Thrones, it will be as their ally and equal. I myself have never doubted that our queen will refuse even Luna subservience, nor has the baroness, nor most of the nobility. That’s why she challenged the royalty openly: she wanted everyone to hear the queen or the crown prince confirm that your mother burned the bridge of total subservience when she exiled our race.” “Don’t think I’ll ever get that,” Dawn said. “You guys are neat sorts and throw awesome parties.” “Needs more balloons,” Pinkie countered. “At least one gallon hot sauce, cake, and tons more party games.” “Pinkster, I don’t think party games are kosher for a formal dinner,” Dawn deadpanned. “It’s still a party to me though: good looking mares, handsome stallions, excellent food, and cool people hanging around. If booze is incoming, it’ll make the entire thing perfect.” “Du Luc are known for very good dessert wines and the palace keeps a healthy stock for special occasions,” Callista said. “They might be a little rich if you’re not used to them.” Dawn grinned. “Bring it on, sister.” “You know, Dawn, I’m pretty sure there’s a reason they serve it in tiny cups,” Twilight sighed as she stumbled a little under the weight of the pink earth pony draped over her. “Yer not th’ boss of me,” Dawn burbled, hiccuping. “It’s a dreadful shame darling, because someone clearly needs to be,” Rarity sniffed. “It was a delicious dessert wine, easily five thousand bits a bottle, and you ruin the experience by downing half the bottle.” “Pink -hic- took care of a whole one,” Dawn grumbled. “Totally not fair. What ish she made outta? Where she put it all?” “Extradimensional space,” Pinkamena replied brightly. “And I’m made out of impossible, because it turns out that I am the Element of Laughter. I also have the Element of Laughter. And I’m feeling rather calm and mellow right now because that was delicious wine and I just don’t have any funny to add to a drunk Twilight in bright pink.” “If you weren’t three, -hic- I’d totally kick your plot,” Dawn informed her. “Im not Twi, she’s boring.” “When you wake up tomorrow, you’ll wish you were boring too,” Twilight said, turning her head to smile at Dawn. “Hopefully, you’ve learned something.” “Yup.” Dawn hiccuped. “Next time, passing out drunk. Aaaan… uh… steal an extra bottle to kill th’ hangover.” “The court alchemist makes a simple concoction that helps hangovers,” the honor guard standing at the door to the room she shared with Dawn said to Twilight, looking sympathetic. “Thanks, but my sister needs to learn a valuable life lesson,” Twilight said, walking passed the guard towards the creepily accurate duplicate of the bed she slept in while living at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, right down to an exact duplicate of the position, color, pattern, and even stitching of a makeshift patch on one of the pillows. She floated Dawn off her back in a bubble of magic and set her on the bed. “Don’t move.” “Yer not th’... aw, buck, whom I foolin’? Seeing quintuple now…” Dawn scooted up and lay her head on the patch. “...holy buck, this is a comfy bed. Didja seriously have this for yer room sis?” Twilight chuckled. “No. I’m glad to see our hosts deviated a little from the real thing.” “You can blame the creepy level of duplication on Princess Lepinora, Princess Sparkle,” the honor guard said, leaning slightly into the room. “She’s a little too fond of working practical jokes into…” “Excuse me.” Another of the honor guard nudged the first aside, looking at Twilight with a very worried expression. “Princess Twilight, would you please come with me to Lady Rarity’s room?” Twilight blinked. “What could possibly have happened in ten seconds?” “I…” she chewed her lower lip a little. “You… had best come see this for yourself. You remember the gratitude our queen expressed to Lady Rarity when she first met her, thanking her for a service rendered, one that she didn’t specify?” “Something Rarity wouldn’t tell us about, and we respected her…” Twilght paused. “This is related?” “Come see.” The guard turned and trotted out of view, and with a moment of confused hesitation Twilight followed her. Rarity’s room was two down from hers, between Pinkie’s and Applejack’s, and she caught sight of the tip of the farmpony’s straw-colored tail as she walked up to Rarity’s door and looked in. Rarity was sitting on her flanks just a few lengths into the room, staring off into space with a exquisitely-arranged pile of what appeared to be roses but made with dark jade in place of the stems and light jade petals so exquisitely carved that they appeared lush with life. Pinkamena was sitting beside her, foreleg draped over her shoulder and occasionally moving to gently pat it. She turned her head just enough to see Twilight in her peripheral vision and she lightly jerked her head to the other side of the stunned white pony before returning to gently patting Rarity’s shoulder. Applejack was standing off to a side, hat in hoof, not saying anything, but her expression was a mirror of the worry in the honor guard’s face. “She jus’ walked inside, picked one o’ them up, and then jus’ dropped it an’ went like this,” she said softly as Twilight took up the position Pinkie had gestured to at Rarity’s side. Now that she wasn’t looking passed the stricken Rarity, she could see that a small white tag had been tied around each of the artificial flowers. Curious, she glanced at Rarity and flinched at the haunted look in her friend’s sapphire blue eyes, before tentatively picking up the flower directly in front of her and pulling the tag around so she could read it. They took my sister, it read. Thank you, Miss Jade. Twilight swallowed, suddenly getting a very bad feeling in the pit of her stomach before picking up another of the flowers. They took my mommy, this one said. They took my son, said the next. She traded one flower for the next, the bad feeling growing into a feeling of horror and a terrible suspicion as the litany of gratitude named off one relative after another, and another, and another, each one thanking ‘Miss Jade’. She was on the twentieth flower without making any apparent dent in the artfully-piled array, before pale blue magic wrapped around her own and stopped her from bringing the flower close enough to read. “Monsters,” Rarity said in a quavering voice, tears gathering in her eyes. “All of them. I… I had… I had no idea it was this… so… so many innocent ponies…” Twilight gave the flower a little extra tug and Rarity let it go, hanging her head and moving it back and forth in horrified disbelief as Pinkie and Applejack both took a flower than read it. Applejack looked faintly ill but after a brief flicker of revulsion, Pinkamena’s expression became contemplative. “The ones that ‘took’ ponies,” she said after several moments. “Queen Chrysalis mentioned them, just after we met her. Called them assassins, said you killed their boss.” “Not jus’ their boss, was it?” Applejack said. “I… I couldn’t…” Rarity said, the tears slipping down her cheeks. “I couldn’t let them. They would have shaped Equestria to… to what they wanted it to be. Princess Celestia was just recovering. Princess Luna had been out of the fight. Everything was chaos, no one had a firm grasp on anything anymore. The… right slit throats and…” She swallowed and looked down. “I had no idea it was so much worse.” “Couldn’t have told Mother or Luna?” Twilight said as gently as she could. Rarity shook her head. “They were prepared for an alicorn. How to… sabotage their magic, trap them, kill them, like I did with… whichever one it was. Winter, I think. Royal Guard aren’t… they’re police, not honed soldiers. There were rumors, just stories, that there was someone else but no one knew anything more than vague tales. But they didn’t prepare to be…” “...betrayed.” Twilight turned at the new voice and saw a changeling soldier, her pink and blue-green mane well-coifed and slightly curled, eyes of light green, her armor looking to be made of cured hide instead of metal. She was wearing the harness and straps for a saddlebag but the only thing hanging from it was a long wooden box. The soldier’s eyes flicked in the direction of Twilight before returning to Rarity. “They gave no thought to a sister turning her blade against them. Why would they? Indoctrination is so very complete after all, burning away so much of who a pony was before.” Rarity’s posture became a bit more stiff as she slowly turned her head to look back at the soldier. The tears were still wet on her cheeks but the haunted look was gone, replaced with the hard, analytic regard inherent to a trained assassin. “Who are you?” “Sugar Bell,” the soldier said with cool unconcern. “Princess Lepinora’s intended solution to the problem of the assassins. I would resent you for striking first, if not for the fact that not even Lepinora anticipated that an Equestrian, even a pony so exceptional that she was worthy of becoming an Element of Harmony, would do something so selfless. Reckless and suicidal, but so utterly, utterly selfless.” Rarity turned around completely and got to her feet. “You were there.” “I wouldn’t have been able to report back to the princess otherwise,” Sugar said. “But I…” “...killed all the ones that would not voluntarily lay down their blades.” Sugar nodded. “I neither laid down my weapon nor, as you can tell, died. Don’t feel bad, you had no idea it was me you were looking at.” “I assumed that,” Rarity said. “Would you mind to…?” “Show you the guise I was using?” Sugar smiled a little. “I will, but kindly do not be offended. I didn’t realize that I was imitating a particular pony until I saw her.” Her horn lit and the appearance of green flame ‘burning away’ her form swept over her. She lost some stature, her long horn becoming shorter and stubby, her green-blue becoming violet and her coat turning white. A shocked silence pervaded the room as a perfect copy of Sweetie Belle looked slightly up at them, although the utter composure of her features was uncharacteristic of the Sweetie Twilight knew. “It’s funny that no one ever calls me Sugar, incidentally,” she said in Sweetie’s voice. “I’ve never been able to find out why, but everyone I know calls me ‘Sweet’. Little did I imagine that not only is there a unicorn filly named Sweetie Belle, not only I do style my mane like hers, not only is she a white-coated unicorn with a violet and pink mane like my preferred guise, but she has a farmer friend she calls ‘Bloom’ that likes to wear a bow in her hair, and vigorously active friend with a violet mane and an orange coat. And she happens to be your little sister.” Rarity gaped at her. “You were disguised as… Sweetie…” A look of dawning realization came over her face. “I thought my mind was playing tricks on me, that I’d just lost track of Sweetie in the melee.” “Hold on, Rares,” Applejack said. “Y’all brought yer little sister ta take care of these assassins?” “Who else could I have asked?” Rarity retorted coolly. “I couldn’t involve you; they’d have seen you coming and known immediately what I intended. Sweetie was the perfect pretext; it’s traditional to keep the craft in the family and to do the initial training and arming before bringing them to the chapter house to be inducted.” “Surprised the hay out of me,” Sugar said. “Playing my part, and in walks the Element of Generosity and a young clone of my favored guise. It wasn’t hard to guess what you were up to although to be fair, I had a direct line to the pony you and all the other assassins had been praying to for the last thousand years. Listened a lot better than she probably let on--the topic seems to make her extremely uncomfortable--so I had a good idea about what the direction of your intentions were.” Rarity gave her a brief nod before turning again to the pile of artificial flowers. “I don’t mean to be rude, Sugar Bell, but why are you here?” “Three reasons,” Sugar said. “The first was that I heard crying and was concerned. The second was that I wanted to add my own thanks to all the thanks piled in front of you.” “You lost…?” “No,” Sugar said. “But Bloom’s family lost an uncle before she was born and a second cousin when she was eight. What I wish to thank you for is sacrificing so much to give numerous innocent ponies the justice they deserved. Empress Mein tells me that you did not take contracts and that you are as peaceful a pony as any other; one of two of the soldiers who were within earshot of you reconciling with your friends tell me that you felt unable to tell even ponies who would understand and still care about you. You paid a price, and paid it without complaint, and I just want to say thank you for that.” Rarity was silent for a moment. “What was the third thing?” “Delivering a gift.” Sugar unstrapped the box from her side and laid it down behind Rarity. “The flowers are a gesture of gratitude from every changeling who lost someone they loved to the assassin’ hunts. This is a gesture of gratitude from Nightmare Moon for removing a blight on the honor of her adopted sister.” Rarity half-turned towards her. “What is it?” “Replacements for the weapons the soldiers destroyed when they captured you,” Sugar said. “She packed them as I watched; I’ve never seen craftsmanship even approaching this level, and Scarabi’s foundry master is an exceptionally gifted craftsman.” “I see.” Rarity turned back and picked up one of the flowers. “I appreciate the thought but…” “Lady Belle, telling me you’d rather not accept Nightmare Moon’s gift to you is completely pointless,” Sugar said. “I’m not picking up the package and slinking back to the empress with it, and I can’t speak for her motives or her thinking beyond what she said to me. So go find her and castigate her for the gift. If there are no further issues, I have some things to attend to and will bid you ladies good evening.” “Wait,” Rarity said. Sugar turned towards her arching a brow. “What would you have done, if I hadn’t… taken action?” “I’d have killed them all, Lady Rarity.” Sugar returned to her natural changeling shape with a wave of emerald flame. “After all the lives they’d destroyed, the Princess didn’t want to take any chances.” “I see.” Rarity exchanged flowers again. “Thank you, darling, you may go.” “By your leave.” Sugar bowed in Rarity’s direction before repeating the respectful gesture in the direction of each of them, bowing more deeply to Twilight, before turning and walking from the room. “So now you know,” Rarity said. “We… sorta kinda knew already Rarity,” Applejack said. “Didn’t quite want ta know but we ain’t yer friends for nothin’. Ain’t… wasn’t hard ta put together after the Queen thanked ya fer settlin’ accounts with an enemy of her people.” “And you don’t think… erk!” The question was cut off by Pinkamena giving Rarity a hug that knocked the wind out of her, and then holding it. “Don’t be silly Rarity,” she said. “You’re our bestest best friend!” She let the white unicorn go and swept a hoof over the arrangement of artificial flowers. “And six hundred fifty-one ponies who needed Jade to know that she’s a good pony, and they’re grateful, and that she gave them something they couldn’t get from anypony else, and she did the right thing, and they wanted her to have something so she didn’t forget, can’t be wrong can they?” “Rarity, we can’t pretend not to be shocked,” Twilight said, laying a hoof on her friend’s shoulder. “Shocked that you had to kill ponies, shocked that you couldn’t come to us, and shocked that there were ponies in Equestria who murdered other ponies and other people. But… we understand. We don’t think any less of you.” She stepped close enough to hug Rarity lightly. “Want help moving the flowers?” Rarity smiled a little as she returned the hug. “No. After six hundred fifty-one ponies each sent a personal thank-you, I feel like I should read them all myself.” She looked over them all, her eyes going from Pinkie to Applejack and back to Twilight. “Thank you. For being here for me. For not pressing me about the past. But you girls get some sleep now; I’ve got a lot of reading to do.” Nightmare found her just barely after breakfast the next morning, giving them all a pleasant smile as she took one of the empty seats at the table. “Good morning, all of you.” “Empress Mein! What a… pleasant surprise!” Rarity said, looking suddenly quite nervous. “Less pleasant than a surprise Rartiy?” Nightmare grinned toothily. “Sugar Bell said you received the gift. Are the replacement pieces to your liking? I had to guess at your measurements and the exact dimensions of your original equipment but I can have them adjusted.” “Oh, no, no they’re… I’m sure they’re just perfect.” Nightmare’s grin faded. “You have not actually opened the box.” “Well, I… no, I confess I haven’t.” Rarity sighed. “With all due respect, Empress Mein, I’m… I was happy to leave the assassins behind. I have no desire to take up my blades again. I never took a contract for a reason, spent most of my life disowned for a reason…” “...and now you can use your skills to fight for a reason,” Nightmare said calmly. “You did it when you cut off the head of the snake. You did it when the Guardian’s puppets were slaughtering ponies. You did it when your friends were attacked. You have proven that no matter how you wish to leave your gifts behind, the need for them will never go away, nor will the opportunity to use them well.” She leaned down to Rarity and gave her a smile. “It is in the spirit of me helping you to be more of what you already are that I ask you to accept the gift.” Rarity met Nightmare’s eyes squarely for several moments before smiling back and nodding. “In that case, thank you Nightmare.” “I am pleased that you are pleased Rarity.” Nightmare looked to Twilight. “Now if none of you have any objections, I have something I need to discuss with Twilight before I see the five of you off.” “Don’t suppose it’s something egghead?” Dawn said, her voice just loud enough to be audible, making her wince. Nightmare eyed her. “Why are you speaking so softly Dawn?” “Severe dehydration headache.” “Got drunk off your plot, did you?” The fangy grin returned. “No. I got gloriously drunk off my plot. Dessert wine is too good. Pinkie drank more, isn’t affected. Totally not fair.” “If one of the side effects of the Element was not protection from excess, she would likely be more miserable than you.” Nightmare chuckled. “But I am afraid that the subject of conversation with your sister will not be ‘egghead stuff’.” “Oh, kay. Back to miserable then.” Dawn resumed holding her head in her hooves on the floor. “So when’ll y’all get back?” “Before the Red Mambo is ready to depart, which ought to be no more than an hour.” Nightmare put a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder “If you need either of us, simply get directions to Tettidora’s observatory. I plan to lock the door behind us so that the public knows the observatory is temporarily closed, but you need only knock and I will unlock it immediately.” “Cool!” Pinkie declared. “So what should we do in the meantime?” “Scarabi is a very cosmopolitan city.” Nightmare said. “I am sure you will be able to find anything you need to cause trouble.” “Or make a party.” “Same thing, different word. Not all trouble-making is bad.” Nightmare winked at her. Pinkie’s eyes went wide. “Ooooooh….” Applejack eyed Pinkie and then gave Nightmare a level look. “Don’t think ya can keep us occupied for extra time by unleashin’ Pinkie.” “I wouldn’t dream of it Applejack.” Nightmare replied pleasantly. “I am just moving the possible disaster from the palace where I am a guest, to a city full of ordinary ponies who will appreciate the one-pony source of everlasting positive emotional radiance.” Applejack gave her a thoroughly unimpressed look. “Betcha got a bridge ta sell me too..” “No, just a distraction. While you were not watching her closely enough, Pinkie has escaped.” “She…” Twilight looked just as Applejack turned, to find an empty space where Pinkie had been a mere moment ago. “...horseapples.” “The magical construct that lets ponies move between Scarabi and the palace is down the hall and at the first double doors on the left.” Nightmare smiled. “Do enjoy yourselves. I recall that Pinkie Pie has a special talent for spreading joy.” “An’ chaos,” Applejack pointed out as she started in the direction that Nightmare had indicated. “Chaos gets an undeservedly bad reputation. What are the most wonderful events in life but pure chaos?” Nightmare turned and used her hoof to gently guide Twilight along. Twilight looked back over her shoulder to see Rarity and Applejack trotting for where Nightmare had said a magical construct was and Dawn still laying there holding her head. “I think we should help…” “In case you did not notice, she has been downing an unhealthy level of drink,” Nightmare said with a note of amusement. “She will be fine, and learn a valuable lesson about moderation. I have half again her body mass, drank only two glasses, and still felt a bit of punishment for excess. Which is a very pleasurable experience… you cannot hurt unless you are alive.” “So you… enjoy having a body of your own?” Twilight sighed. “No, that’s a really silly question, of course you do.” “Of course I do. Now brace yourself, Twilight, for I intend to expedite our journey.” The flash of sensation was the same as when Spite had voidwalked them to Canterlot, a twitch of cold and unpleasant displacement, and they were at a large stone door that blended nearly perfectly with the stone surrounding it. “I feel that I need to apologize to you, Twilight.” Nightmare said as she opened the door and led Twilight inside. “It was my decision to just get spells from you,” Twilight said, watching the taller mare walk around the room lighting the various lamps with her horn. With each lamp that caught fire, shedding subtle greenish light, more of the observatory was revealed to Twilight. It was carpeted, the various cushions and furniture generously padded and wood pieces made of beautifully-carved cherry wood. Off to a side, several machines ticked along cheerfully, doing some kind of idle calculation based on an inch of paper creeping out of one of the meters to pool on the floor every so often. The centerpiece of the room, however, was a high-power telescope to rival the one she’d used in Canterlot during her time in Celestia’s School. The fixtures of the scope gleamed in the soft light, showing off the care that was regularly applied to the equipment. “You offered more,” Twilight continued after pausing to fully appreciate the room they were in, feeling  strangely at home in the space dedicated to the pursuit of science and learning. “I failed to impress upon you how important the comprehension of the danger might be,” Nightmare replied after a moment of looking at a candelabra that appeared to be made entirely of crystal, lighting each of the candles one by one. “I was too timid, too worried about appearing too domineering and overbearing, and so failed to equip you with the tools you’d need. Fortunate that the Drake sisters intervened and drove Tharalax away.” “They seemed familiar with him.” “Doubtful that they know of him specifically, but it is clear from Princess Lepinora’s account that they knew enough to threaten him.” Nightmare looked over her shoulder at Twilight. “As you should have. A pony with your gift for magic and fully entwined with the Element of Magic itself should be able to break a simpleton like Tharalax with no particular effort.” “Marquess du Dune alluded to that too,” Twilight said. “Talked about how we are the Elements instead of bearing the Elements.” Nightmare smiled a little. “Callista is correct. But that is a matter for a different time. You six are so fully entwined with the Elements that the only kind of instruction that will better you would take time that we do not enjoy at this moment.” Twilight hesitated, wanting to push it, but Nightmare’s reply had a subtle shading of finality to it. Instead she asked, “So you’re going to insist on the knowledge transfer this time?” “I can only strongly urge it on you Twilight,” Nightmare said. “It is not my place to insist that any mortal share their mind with me, most of all a mortal who is related to the vessel I regard as a sister.” “But this sharing would make me better able to repel Tharalax and deal with whatever’s among the dragons?” “It would.” “And as much as it might be uncomfortable, it won’t harm me?” “I cannot promise absolutely no possible chance of it being harmful.” Nightmare looked solemn. “I also cannot promise that it will not have effects that I cannot foresee. In hundreds of thousands of years making use of it, even I cannot compel the spell to do only what I intend and nothing else.” Twilight felt herself pale a little. “Effects like what?” “The knowledge will change you,” Nightmare said. “All knowledge does but the mind is not only knowledge. It is opinion, passion, hatred and love, and the wounds of experience. I believe that I can separate you from those wounds but my ability to keep you separated from my many passions and loves is much less certain.” Twilight took in a breath and then met Nightmare’s eyes, eyes that were simultaneously eerie for their reptilian pupils and comforting for the genuine concern. “I’ll take the chance.” “Then lie down here.” Nightmare gestured to a pair of large cushions on the floor, both easily large enough for her and certainly enough for Twilight. Twilight walked over and laid on the nearest cushion, finding it to be extremely comfortable and feeling like the covering was some kind of silk blend. Nightmare took a cushion of her own  and looked down at Twilight. “Try to think of the most mundane and harmless things you can,” she advised. “Things that are not particularly personal or sensitive. The merging can only bring out active thoughts, not all knowledge at once.” Twilight gave her a nod, closing her eyes and trying to concentrate on the driest history book she could remember. And lo, it wast in the thirty-second year and the fifth month where moon was found to be in a most efficacious position for the germination of seed corn and in a square orientated three degrees off north, the field was laid out… “I think I’ve got it,” she murmured. Just like that, she was standing in a vast black emptiness stretching as far as she could see in every direction… and yet when she looked down, she could see her hooves as if she was standing in complete daylight. Her vision was filled with a silvery clawed hand that slipped under her chin and turned her head to a side, revealing a silver dragon that reminded her very strongly of Spite: lithe, graceful, hornless, a mane cascading attractively around her face, and with the brilliant teal eyes of Nightmare looking out from an elegant, patrician brow. “Your discipline is impressive,” Nightmare said with a small smile. “Now, although we work at the speed of thinking, time is passing. The knowledge I would that you should have would be best conveyed by you questioning and I answering.” Twilight furrowed her brow in confusion. “Question and answer? Wouldn’t it be more efficient to just… imprint it, like the spells?” Nightmare shook her head. “Any mind, especially a mind coupled to a significant intellect, has many unconscious defenses against intrusion, one of the numerous reasons why forcing my will on Luna would have been an absurd thing to do, and doomed to fail. Certainly I could exert my entire will and burn the knowledge into your mind like a branding iron, but the likelihood of injuring it beyond repair is so high as to be a certainty. No, the question-and-answer method is the quickest and the most certain to give you what you want to know and nothing you do not.” Twilight accepted this with a nod. “What allowed Tharalax to slowly kill the roc by touching him?” “On any mortal plane, most beings of the Void use its energy to form shells into which they pour themselves,” Nightmare said. “The energies of the Light and the Dark are the energies of life; the energy of the Void is the energy of anti-life. It poisons and dissolves any mortal thing that is alive, and can be used as a tool of sadism the way that Tharalax used it against the roc.” “So there was nothing I could have done.” “Other that instantly spot a decoy when still getting used to an unfamiliar spell, likely not.” Nightmare lightly patted her on the shoulder. “I am sorry, Twilight.” “I’m just glad I couldn’t really see what he was doing to the roc,” Twilight admitted, finding the touch, to the degree that she actually was being touched, oddly pleasant and comforting. “Why is there such a difference between you and Tharalax, and between the two of you and Lashaal? She was treacherous and yet not overtly sadistic or cruel, Tharalax seems to revel in hurting things, and you’re...” She paused. “I don’t know what you are, other than very ordinary.” “Different strengths.” Nightmare moved over and lounged directly in front of Twilight, now twice as large as she’d been a moment ago. “The power of a webweaver like Lashaal is her lies and the skillful use of those lies. Tharalax is an unsubtle thug, raw power and arrogance indulging in every hedonistic whim, very much like most dragons, Void and otherwise. I am a manipulator, the most skilled of my kind. I can make anything seem true without saying a single thing that is false. I have made mortals of every possible kind, ranging from brilliant to imbecile, fanatic to egalitarian, violent to peaceful, satisfied and not, believe that they simply cannot achieve their fondest dream without me whispering in their ear. I keep every bargain I make, and never make a bargain that does not advantage me.” She smiled nostalgically. “Although many of the times I have taken advantage of mortals, my gain was intangible and cost them nothing.” “Oh?” Twilight found that the broad belly of the dragon before her looked like it’d be comfortable to rest against and just as quickly as she had the thought, found herself laying against Nightmare’s belly, wondering why things seemed vaguely fuzzy all of a sudden. “An appreciation for company, for instance,” Nightmare smiled and idly traced a looping shape in the nothingness of the mindscape. “Being a nightmare is a lonesome existence and one becomes so accustomed to it, you prefer the solitude. But I have come to appreciate, even crave, companionship and enjoy the distinct advantage that my appetite for company never needs to be restrained by propriety. Luna just made the desire stronger--she is very comfortable with other ponies, and the night is the realm of passion and romance. But she is a pony of duty, of self-denial, and of self-mastery which causes me to respect her all the more. I think it is fair to say that our exchange was very equitable.” “Oh, that’s… good.” Twilight frowned. “Nacht, does it seem… um… fuzzy to you?” Nightmare blinked and looked curiously down at her. “Excuse me?” “Things feel… fuzzy.” Twilight said. “I don’t know how to describe it other than that.” “No, no, the other thing.” Her expression looked uncertain. “Did you call me…?” “Nacht?” Twilight blinked. “I… suppose I did. Why, isn’t Nachtmiri Mein your name?” “Yes, that is true.” Nightmare seemed to relax. “I suppose sharing a mindscape would break down inhibitions. After all, we are equals here. Now, as an addendum to what I said of Void magic, there are certain counteracting agents.” “Counteracting agents?” “Magic,” Nightmare said, resuming her tracing of loops and whorls in the nothingness she lay on. “Most mortal magic is woven through with either Light or Dark and so can weakly harm those of the Void. Using pure Light or Dark will do devastating harm to things of the Void, Light scorching the substance of the Void like fire, Dark corroding it the way that Void corrodes life. I cannot imagine how Celestia failed to utterly obliterate the atermors and their pets with enough fire to scorch everything around her. Perhaps her pain and rage pushed her to simply destroy and robbed her of the focus to bathe them in the Light of her anger.” “I… guess so.” Twilight looked around herself. “Nacht…” “A side effect,” Nightmare said. “Part of this process is that the boundaries between those participating become transitory. It’s not quite a union, more like a mind… combination? No, a…” “...mind meld?” “Mind meld, yes.” She looked around. “It appears stable, but it is best not to rely on all remaining well for long.” “Right.” Twilight gave her a single nod. “Do you have any idea what Chrysalis’ sister was describing?” “Something ancient and powerful,” Nightmare said. “Beyond that, I can only speculate. The most likely possibility is that it is another of my race, one of the few that also shares a vessel by contract and persuasion. If so, confronting him if he chooses to lash out will be on the order of trying to duel one of Chrysalis’ daughters when away from Scarabi. That he has done nothing overt indicates that he is either reluctant to risk that Thalia could overpower him, or does not see her presence as a threat. Given what I know of Chrysalis’ sisters, I would wager the first.” “How would we…?” “Force a nightmare to leave a vessel without harming the vessel?” Nightmare sighed. “I do not know of any way. Driving my kind out is not difficult; not killing the vessel is beyond the power of any mortal method, save perhaps the Elements of Harmony and you only have four of the set. Granted, you have two of the strongest--Magic and Honesty---but the third is Loyalty and she is far beyond your reach.” “Then we can’t save the vessel.” “You could always try talking to him,” Nightmare said with a distinctly wry tone. “I would think that talking would be your first thought, not your last.” “The only ‘Void’ things we’ve met so far demanded something more along the lines of being magically hammered into paste than being talked to,” Twilight pointed out. “Fair point.” Nightmare examined the mindscape and her expression became concerned. “I think it is best that we rely on my conventional methods now, Twilight. The degree of melding seems to be increasing and I should not wish to confess to Luna that I harmed her niece, however inadvertently.” “Oh.” Twilight stood. “So how do we…? She had not completed the question when she was once again laying on a cushion in the observatory and feeling quite comfortable. After a moment of regained awareness, she realized that at least part of that comfortable feeling was the feeling of a soft warm cheek against hers and softly feathered wings laying over her, almost cradling her against the larger mare’s body. She swallowed a little and pulled away, and Nightmare withdrew with a look of searching concern. “No ill effects? The meld has been known to cause disorientation and momentary panic when it ends, especially if there was any degree of bleedthrough.” “No, I’m… fine,” Twilight replied, working her jaw a little from a suddenly dry mouth. Why did it feel so… pleasant being held against her? “Um, conventional methods then?” “If you have any lingering concerns or things you need,” Nightmare said as she stood. “However, I think we ought to discuss it as we return to your friends lest we delay you overmuch.” Twilight nodded and watched Nightmare step ahead of her to unlock and open the door, appreciating the sheen of ebony-black coat and the muscles rippling… she swallowed again and shook her head. What’s wrong with me? She followed Nightmare out the door, passing a pair of guards that she’d somehow missed when they entered, and walked at the alicorn’s side as they descended the comfortably broad staircase from the tower the observatory was no doubt set in. “So you said there might be changes, and you referred to a degree of bleedthrough…?” “There always will be minute traces of it,” Nightmare said. “A stray thought here, an odd moment there, inexplicable deja vu, that sort of thing. Even more noticeable bleedthrough will not be harmful necessarily especially as I took special precautions to separate you from the darker of my life experiences. Some can certainly be embarrassing--more than one time, I and Luna exchanged fragments of more passionate experiences with others--but I do not foresee any harm befalling you from any loves, passions, or whimsy of mine.” “Emotional changes?” Nightmare turned to look oddly at her. “Rarely, but they are known to happen. Why?” “Well, it was just that the embrace in case I’d suffered any odd effects was... more… um,” Twilight felt her cheeks beginning to burn. “pleasant that it was before when you… greeted me in Maredusa’s grotto…” Nightmare looked at her for another moment before smirking slightly. “Perhaps you have a slight attraction to your aunt, who seems to be about your age, and is very friendly with you and quite pretty?” Twilight thought her face would go up in flames. “No! And what does that have to do with anything?” “My body is based strongly on Luna’s,” Nightmare said, turning back to look straight ahead but with that same tiny smirk on her face. “The scent and feel of my coat, height, pattern of coloration, cutie mark, mane style, the shape of my face and even of my eyes all strongly resemble Luna. Some part of you wishes she wasn’t family.” The smirk disappeared and she pursed her lips. “Although I cannot imagine why I am certain that is true.” “Stray thoughts?” Twilight suggested, keeping her eyes on the cobblestone under her hooves. “Perhaps.” Nightmare snorted. “You are very much like her, Twilight. I cannot know Luna’s mind about a pony she did not know of while we were in full collaboration, but I know her tastes in partners, and I believe the attraction is mutual. As is, of course, the determination to never let the attraction be anything more than a warm familial bond between aunt and niece.” Twilight looked up at Nightmare, still blushing fiercely, and discovering that Nightmare wasn’t smirking. “If you know that, why bring it up?” “Because you brought it up,” Nightmare said. “Because you look cuter when you are blushing. Because I missed casual conversations with a very attractive and intelligent mare. Because building a relationship with you, whatever manner of relationship it will be, is a pleasant diversion from serious matters. Because it has been months and I am still discovering new pleasures I can experience with a vessel that is uniquely mine.” She shrugged. “Pick one, any one is as valid as any other one.” “Very attractive?” “And intelligent, yes.” Nightmare smiled at her. “There is a reason that you are mistaken for the foal of Luna instead of Celestia. In many features of personality, ability, and appearance you are similar to her in the way that a daughter resembles her mother. Of course there is no question that you are Celestia’s--the anguish that made her vulnerable to the nightmare was the type that only a true mother is capable of feeling--but you are particularly blessed with the things that I see as beautiful in Luna, and thus in you.” Twilight returned the smile, feeling her blush cooling but still pleasantly warm on her cheeks. “Thank you.” “You are welcome,” Nightmare replied warmly. “Now, one last thing related to the task at hand: if you need aid, you have a spell that can convey the need and now the knowledge of which it is and how it can be used. I am, of course, gifted in manipulation and persuasion above all, but my fellow Evils are very well-mannered around me for a very good reason.” She leaned down and Twilight felt her very lightly kiss her forehead. “Good luck, Twilight.”