Twilight greeted her brother, speaking of the battle to come. She spoke first, “brother, you don't have to do this; you're not a simple guard, and you've got nothing to prove.” She gave him a nervous smile. She held onto her big bro, holding back whatever tears she had for her brother. “I just don't want to see my brother get hurt out there. You're my amazing brother, and losing you to this, I'd never let myself be forgiven.”
“Twilight...I have to prove something to myself; I refuse to sit by and lose my country, my family, and everything I love.” He smiled back at her and patted her head. “I've made my decision. It wouldn't be your fault, since I would never blame my little sister. Remember that you'll always be my little sister, and I promise, this will all be okay.” With that, he stepped into the crowd of soldiers.
Twilight tried to follow but couldn't get through, watching what was left of her brother’s mane and body disappear into the large crowd; she wasn't too keen on looking much further for him. She walked back inside and spoke to herself, “This conflict will be pointless, a petty test of strength, but we must retaliate with full force.” She walked into the throne room, moping as she sat between the two sisters’ thrones.
A soft voice spoke out from the front of the room. “Do not worry, Twilight,” Luna sang softly, “this war can't last long; it is the changelings, after all.”
Twilight sat on those words for a minute before agreeing with them and saying back, “I worry for my brother; he's still just a captain. He's not going to get anywhere without some experience, and I'm sick of seeing the general treat him like he's not ready.”
Luna was sitting beside her now and nodded along as she stated plainly, “He will be ready when he is ready, and I get the feeling he’ll be ready at the turn of the tide.” Luna pulled her wing around Twilight, consoling her emotions as she pulled her back to her hooves. “Come now, much work is still to be done, dear student.”
Twilight grabbed her things and sat with Luna in the library for the coming hours, speaking with her of the finding of the the old fortress, filling her in on the history of the place again. She remembered it in its previous state, which was of complete disarray and disrepair, of the evil eyes scanning hers for fear and weakness.
The great tapestries of the past centuries could always weave a vivid and colorful picture of history to Twilight. Luna grabbed a small cut of a tapestry from a bubble and pulled it from its safe enclosure. She pulled the strings from it and unfolded it. There before Twilight lay the most vivid of the bunch, a nightmare given shape, a shadow with no body, it was Sombra in his full form. His eyes drew her attention, red and full of so much hate and contempt for the world.
Luna looked at Twilight. “You see, this was one of the first descriptions of Sombra after his fall, before we all knew what he really looked like. I must say, this form doesn't do his presence justice.” She shook her head. “Giving up the empire to him, that was a terrible mistake. To be allowed to rule for so long, I just thank my sister that she managed to save the empire in the end. Even if he's still around, we conquered him with one feat at a time.” Twilight agreed as she closed the piece of tapestry back up and sealed it in a main bubble, safe from harm, and returned it to its safe place in the library vault.
Luna shook slightly with chilling thoughts of Sombra’s return, his want and need for total domination and dominion, and his lust for achieving it. She remembered his old life, being an umber and his knowledge he found on them, and how he misused it to conquer and enslave his people.
“Twilight, not many can just appear again out of history. Sombra used to exist, but eventually he became a shadow. He’s what you should tell your fillies to make them sleep at night. Now, ponies live in fear of a shadow who is unfit to rule. He shouldn't exist, he's been gone for many years; we can't let him play his full part in all this.”
Twilight responded, “You're sure his presence in all this changes things?” She looked at Luna with a troubled gaze.
“I'm sure it's not for good, but I'm also sure the changelings have some things to play, and maybe their fates are entwined like a piece of string wrapping and stretching on the horizon. The real question is begged; is this string part of a greater machine?” Looking back to Twilight, “I worry it won't be easy to defend Equestria from two foes on the same side, but I have faith.” Twilight nodded enthusiastically as they finished up their reading for the day.
They made their way back to the throne room, which was still vacant, save for a few servants scurrying about preparing dinner, which already was making the castle smell delectable.
Celestia flanked to one side of Twilight as Luna did to the other, both looking hungrily towards the dining hall as they marched there right along with Twilight. Luna sat at the table right beside her sister, just as she did in the throne room as Twilight sat beside Celestia on the other side.
“So, Twilight, you did a phenomenal job on your speech. A grand step forward to being a good princess is being able to address problems by speech if needed.”
Luna nodded emphatically. “I expect you to be prepared to give another speech if needed soon?” Twilight nodded as the servants brought forth lovely smelling food from the kitchen.
Luna spoke out of the midst of the sudden clattering of food-filled dishes. “Shall we eat?” They offered seats to the staff and started a sudden impromptu banquet in the hall. A happy sight to see, the merriment in the dining hall that night. Compared to the coming nights, it would be a drastic change.
Twilight took great note in the celebrations prepared to wish for a good march into battle. She took due note of it because, after the festivities and cheering of the soldiers leaving, the whole city of Canterlot fell silent in the coming days. After their return, there was no victory party or return celebration, and at that time, looking back on the day, there never would be, for this was just the beginning.