//------------------------------// // Darkness Incarnate // Story: My Glory // by Eclipse Guardian //------------------------------// -Ponyville- Avec watched on as the ritual circle was at last finished around the altar where Twilight lay, mortal terror in her eyes. 'It's almost time.' He raised his curved dagger to inspect its heavily decorated blade. 'Our plan is about to begin...' He thought as the other cultists took their places around the altar. Twilight took several deep panicked breaths, she could no longer move and her rope bindings were beginning to hurt. Already she could see her hooves turning blue due to how tight the ropes were. Her magic was blocked off thanks to the metal inhibitor on her horn, so she couldn't even teleport away from this nightmare. She grit her razor sharp teeth as she felt a sob coming on. 'I-I can't escape. I can hear Celestia outside with my friends and her guards...' The cultists began to chant in a language Twilight couldn't even begin to understand. 'Is this it? Is this how it ends?' The Kirin Avec stood on his hind legs and called out. “Today is the day of the rebirth of this nation's true Ruler and Goddess!!” He spread his arms out. “Today the Diarchy dies! Today the light of Day perishes!” The four Dark Knights took point around the perimeter. The black Griffon named Reaper gazed about with mild disinterest. “There he goes again.” He rolled his eyes as Avec went on. “Always the dramatic one.” Blaze, a dark grey coated Pegasus chuckled with glee. “I think it's warranted, Reaper. We've waited centuries for this day, and finally it's at hand.” She flexed her wrist blades in anticipation. The other two Knights remained silent as Avec continued with his long winded speech. The two of them turned their heads away from the now helplessly flailing Twilight Sparkle, the soon-to-be gruesome act too much for their eyes. Blaze peered at the Earth Mare across from her. “Oh, come on Mural it's just blood and some necromancer mumbo-jumbo. Nothing too ugly for Dark Knights like us.” She laughed. Golden Mural ignored her loud-mouthed fellow and shook her head. Noct Wing, a Unicorn with bat-wings spoke up with disdain. “We are about to sacrifice an innocent, Blaze. It's not something you just forget you know.” The pegasus smirked. “She may be innocent Nocty, but she has Our Goddess' magic within her. She should be honored that she's dying for the greater good.” Noct narrowed his eyes from behind his helm as Avec fell silent. “Now my brothers and sisters of the Cult of the Dark Arts. Let us begin!” Avec shouted with a manic glint in his eye. “Bust it down! We're running out of time!” Princess Celestia charged her horn then unleashed another bolt against the damnable barrier standing between her and her faithful student. 'Twilight, I refuse to let you die by the claws of that monster!' Celestia channeled her power over the sun through her entire being hoping its might would destroy the wretched construct. Once she gained enough energy she let loose another-albeit more powerful- bolt against the dark purple wall. The two forces clashed, one trying retain its strength while other attempted to penetrate its opponent with the sun's wrath. Celestia's bolt pressed forward causing the barrier bend inward slightly, which caught the breath of several ponies watching...until the golden bolt dissipated into nothing. “What!?” Yelled Celestia in bewilderment. “How!? That's not possible...” She trailed off as she noticed how dark it suddenly was despite it being midday. “Princess Celestia! The Sun!” Rainbow Dash pointed at the sky. “Wha-” The princess looked up and gasped. Where her warm sun once gazed down, sat the cool dark moon of her sister. “The Moon is up. But Luna is much too weak to raise it, unless...” She summoned her magic again finding her connection to Solaris much weaker than it should be. “N-No, Luna.” A laughing sound called her attention to the barrier again. A black armoured Pegasus was on her back and pointing at the Sun Princess with a mocking face. “Oh, what's wrong Sun Princess? Did your ball of light abandon you? Ha!” Blaze laughed. Rainbow growled in anger. “Don't mock our Princess!” She raised her wings and stood snout to snout with the Dark Knight. “Why don't you come out here and say that!” “I don't think so Rainbow Crash. But you're welcome to come in here and fight! That is, if you can!” Laughing, Blaze turned away and joined the other Knights. Rainbow Dash was fuming, but Celestia raised a wing stem any further yelling. “We must break this barrier somehow first, Rainbow Dash!” Rainbow grunted in agreement as her friends surrounded her. Celestia closed her eyes in concentration. 'My magic is weaker at night, but I should be able to make a crack in this barrier with the right spell. And I have a feeling Luna is going to be here much sooner than I thought.' She could already feel her sister's magical signature rising in strength from where she currently stood. Channeling her magic again, Celestia opened her eyes with determination. “Hang in there Twilight.” Twilight warily eyed her captors as they chanted and circled around her like a pack of hungry hyenas. 'Princess hurry, please! I don't want to die!' She felt even more tears well in her eyes. 'I only recently began to make new friends here in Ponyville and now they're going to be taken away from me! I don't want to die! I promised Mom and Dad at their graves that I would live the life they wanted for me!' She noticed with dawning horror that Avec was standing over her with a dagger raised. She struggled against her bonds with even more ferocity. 'I-I-I don't w-want to d-die!!' She cried mentally. Avec's smile was full of malice. “And now Miss Sparkle. Your death! For Penumbra's life!!” He brought the blade down. “PRINCESS!!!” Twilight screamed. A earth shattering boom rocked the ground as the barrier suddenly shattered into tiny fragments. “Who dares interrupt our ceremo-!?” Avec was noisily blasted by a beam of pure moonlight, which sent him flying into the doors of Town Hall. “GET YOUR FILTHY CLAWS OFF OF HER!!” Somepony shouted in the Royal Canterlot Voice. Twilight turned her head as best as she could in shock and watched as Princess Luna stood over her. “L-Luna?” She asked in a quiet whimper. Luna didn't hear her as she punched, kicked, blasted and knocked the panicking cultists into the dirt and into the sides of buildings. Each with a sick sounding 'crack'. “YOU LITTLE FOALS DON'T KNOW WHO ARE BUCKING WITH!!” Luna said with a booming voice. “Nightmare!” Avec yelled as he teleported in Luna's face. “You will not interfere!!” He landed a balled fist into Luna's side sending her tumbling several feet away. “Continue the ritual! Dark Knights, deal with the usurpers!” He ripped off his robe, climbed on top of the altar and began chanting. “Yes, My Lord!” The Knights called out and charged to the approaching Element Bearers, Celestia, and both Solar and Lunar guard. Luna quickly got to her hooves just as Reaper was upon her. The griffon swung his scythe at the neck, which she caught in between her teeth. Reaper pushed forward to force the lunar mare back. Luna didn't even budge. Furiously, she twisted her neck around and hurled the griffon into a nearby wall. She proceeded to charge him with her horn lowered, once he hit the ground. Reaper flapped his wings as Luna ran under him, he then gripped her back legs with his talons and slammed her into the ground. Luna yelped in pain as felt the blade of the scythe under her neck again. “This time I'm taking your head!” Reaper yelled as he pulled his blade toward her soft throat. Luna vanished before his blade could tear into her flesh and appeared above him with her own sword gripped in her magic. “Yah!” She swung down. Reaper responded by jumping back, letting her blade dig itself into the dirt. The gazed at each other once more before clanging their blades together as sparks flew. Meanwhile, Celestia was facing off against Golden Mural and Blaze. Several of her guards were already defeated by the vastly more powerful Dark Knights and only Lieutenant Flare Wing and herself were still standing. The Princess raised a barrier as Blaze's wrist blades slashes into it. “Come on Princess, you have to be tougher than your pathetic excuse for a guard!” Blaze taunted as she drew a few feet. Celestia side stepped a quick flurry of attacks from Mural as Blaze continued her taunting and lighting fast reflexes. She swiped her left wing out, caught one of Blaze's wrist blades within her primaries catching the Knight off guard, and sending Blaze tumbling face first into the gilded shoe of her back hoof. Blaze cried out as she felt her nose break and fell to her side in a heap. Golden Mural sighed as the Princess dove over them and summoned another golden barrier. “Poor form Blaze. Your didn't even get one good hit in and already you're on the ground.” 'We're not the right warriors for this, the princesses would defeat us with ease.' “S-shhhuguught uuupppppPP!” Blaze groaned as she held her busted muzzle. Celestia decided to run past the Knights and pressed on toward the still captured Twilight, but her guard remained up. Golden Mural raised her short sword to interfere but decided against it. “We lost the moment the other Alicorns got involved.” She drug beat up form of Blaze away from the frenzy. “Live to fight another day and all that deary.” Applejack and the others were running toward Twilight until Noct got in their way with his sword raised. “Outta the way!” Rainbow Dash demanded. “'Fraid not missy. Avec ordered us not to let anyone interfere with the ritual. And I highly doubt civilians like you could possibly stand a chance against me.” He smirked. “Wanna bet?” Applejack stood on her hind legs and slammed her front hooves together. Before he could respond, Reaper was sent flying into his vision. “Tch.” Moving fast, Noct spread his wings and hooves and caught the griffon in midair. They two knights staggered backward as Luna landed some feet away. Luna lit her horn, grunting with exertion as she felt her strength waver. 'I can't keep this up for much longer, the energy boost I got from the moon is almost spent.' She thought with mild irritation. “STAND ASIDE!!” She charged them again. Noct threw Reaper to the side and ran forward meeting Luna head on. Until a voice called out which caused them both to look toward the altar. 'Mistress Twilight! She's having a flare!' Echo appeared out of nowhere along with Aphelia as they collided with Avec sending them into a heap ten meters away. Luna took the distraction as an opportunity to bash the hilt of her sword across the back of Noct's armored head rendering him unconscious. Nodding to herself, she swept past her sister as the solar princess arrived on the scene. Twilight could feel her magic burning from within her as the remaining cultists continued chanting, despite the fact that Avec was out of commission for the moment. 'I...I-I...c-can't control it...' Her eyes snapped open in a blinding white light. 'N-No! A magical flare! If I l-lose control..' Her horn lit up and shattered the metal ring around it. “I...but I just...wanted...to be...happy...” BOOM The ritual circle around the altar liquidized and the object and Twilight began to sink into a black and purple pool. The cultists around the pool gasped in surprise and backed away as Luna reached the edge. “Twilight! Hold on!” Celestia soon joined her sister and two of them flew across the pool to reach Twilight. The lavender mare felt her heart race as her back hooves slipped into the dark pool. 'It's so cold...' The liquid felt like ice water almost, but with a sense of warmness within it. 'But so warm...strange.' Time seemed to stop as the Alicorn sisters were knocked aside by a black figure. 'My Mistress is awakening, don't get in the way!' The dark form of Echo ordered as she pinned them both to the ground. Twilight's friends attempted the same only to be captured within a green aura. “Sorry Ponies, but same goes for you as well.” Aphelia nodded with a grim smile. Rainbow opened her mouth to scream at the queen but a drone clamped her muzzle shut with its own magic. Twilight watched as her friends and family were subdued, her heart screamed at her to help them but her magic was out of control. So she could nothing but sit and watch as the pool closer and closer to her head. It reached her shoulders. 'This isn't right...' Soon her neck was engulfed. 'I'm supposed to be Twilight Sparkle...' The cold but warm liquid reached her muzzle. 'Help me...please...' It rushed down her throat as she breathed. 'Princess?....Luna?...Girls?' Her heart stopped. 'Don't leave me alone...' Her eyes closed as her entire body vanished beneath the surface. Luna and Celestia threw off their would-be captor. “Twilight! No!” Both of them yelled in unison as they searched the black and purple pool for signs of the little mare. “Sister where did she go!? I can't see her!” Luna questioned scanning the pool. Tears fell from Celestia's eyes as she fell to her side in anguish. “W-We failed her. I failed her.” She whispered. “Tia, don't talk like that!” Luna prodded the liquid with her magic. ... ... ... Thump-thump Thump-thump Thump-thump Thump-thump Splash!! The sisters gazed up as a large pitch-black hoof breached the surface of the pool. “It-It...” Celestia stammered as the hoof lowered back into the pool only to be replaced by two much larger dragon wings and a black equine head. The mare's eyes opened to reveal two rippling draconic eyes, and a very long spiral-less black horn. The pony opened her muzzle to let out a dragon-like roar, sending everypony nearby several feet back. She flapped her wings to escape the pool as it closed below her. Luna and Celestia rose back to their hooves and began to breathe heavily as the mare gazed at them in confusion. Penumbra looked to her left and watched as the cultists bowed deeply before her in reverence and even a small hint of fear. “Where am I? What happened...?” Her eyes widened in anger once Avec came into view. “You!” The Kirin snapped his head up as Penumbra stalked towards him, her much larger form caused him to cower slightly. She gripped him her powerful aura. “You attempted to murder me didn't you?” She asked menacingly. “W-What my Goddess?” Avec clawed at his throat as he felt his wind pipe getting constricted. “You. Tried. To. Kill. Me.” Her gaze narrowed. “That clear enough for you?!” She smacked him across the head with a hoof which snapped one of his antlers clean off. “Ahhh!!” Avec screamed in pain. “...” Penumbra growled a bit then tossed the kirin across the plaza. She trembled a bit before turning back to the celestial sisters. “...Luna? What are you...? Ack!” She felt a sharp pain in her head. “What was I doing?” She noticed Celestia. “Princess? Gah! No! Celestia...you...and Dia.” Celestia turned away. 'Oh Mistress! You're back!' Echo cheered as dashed toward Penumbra. The dark mare squinted her eyes upon seeing Echo. “Oh, it is you.” She slumped to her side. “I don't feel all too well, Echo. Take me...home...” Penumbra passed out on the ground with loud thud. 'Mistress Penumbra!' As the cultists and changelings gathered around the newly revived Penumbra, Luna and Celestia snapped out of their stupor and glanced at each other. Celestia spoke up first. “Luna, are you alright?” She asked with a soft smile. Luna opened her mouth to speak but stopped herself when she realized she wasn't sure whether to be relieved or saddened. Sure, Penumbra was back and alive again, but what about Twilight? Did she still exist somewhere deep within the dark Alicorn? Or was her friend long gone and completely erased from the world? Luna found herself crying suddenly, and the tears wouldn't stop. “I-I don't know T-Tia.” Whimpering, Luna leaned against her sister's warm coat. “I don't know anymore...” With that she fell asleep. Celestia nuzzled her sister as she lifted onto her back. “Good night Lulu.” She narrowed gaze on Avec as he attempted to escape. “Lieutenant, arrest him.” Flare Wing gulped under the furious gaze of his monarch then pulled out a magic inhibitor ring and placed it around the twisted Kirin's neck, cutting off his chances of getting away again. Avec grinned as he was dragged toward the princess. “I may have been wrong, but I still succeeded in reviving Our Goddess.” He laughed sadistically. Celestia stamped her hoof lightly not wanting awaken her sister. “Lieutenant.” Flare nodded in understanding and clonked Avec over the head effectively knocking him out cold. Celestia then sighed and looked at the recovering guard ponies, unfortunately three lost their lives against the Dark Knights but most were merely bruised or suffering from minor wounds. 'Avec faces an uncertain future. I know Luna will want him publicly executed, but it's been outlawed for over four hundred years, so he'll likely face a life sentence.' She cleared her throat to catch the attention of Twilight's friends. “We're taking the cult's leader into custody. We'll call for a medical team to see to your wounds.” Her eyes fell upon Penumbra's sleeping form. “...Twilight” She whispered. As Princess Celestia took Luna into the Golden Oaks Library, Echo nuzzled up against Penumbra's long neck. 'She's back, Twilight has at last awakened to her true self.' “I bet you're glad now aren't you, shade?” Aphelia smirked softly. Echo angled her head so she could see the Changeling Queen. 'It's been centuries since I had last seen Mistress Penumbra.' Aphelia gave her a puzzled expression. “And what of the lavender one? Doesn't she matter?” She asked with a stern frown. 'Of course she does! Mistress Twilight and Mistress Penumbra are one and the same! Avec got it wrong when he said Twilight was just a vessel. She IS Penumbra! Body and soul!' Echo ranted as she gestured with her hooves much to the changeling's amusement. “Well I knew that bit. All of us Queens -except Chrysalis- knew about how the Dark Mother's reincarnation worked.” Aphelia tilted her head in thought. “I just wonder how that failure of a Queen is holding up right now.” 'I'm sure she's fine, but can we maybe get the Mistress home like she wanted? She's exhausted from her ordeal.' Echo stood up as the Changeling Queen trotted over Aphelia hesitated, she couldn't in her mind actually touch Penumbra without there some sort of divine punishment. 'Will the Dark Mother smite me for laying my hooves on her person?' She bit her lip and shivered at the thought. The cultists seemed to agree with her thought process, as they too gave each other wary glances. As they contemplated what to do next, Applejack fretted with her hat as eyed the cultists. 'The Princess didn't even pay them any attention as she took that slime ball Avec away.' The farmer even took notice of the missing presence of the cult's Dark Knights. 'They're gone too.' She mused not taking into account that Fluttershy had passed her, trotting carefully toward Penumbra. The demure mare was very worried about Twilight and her new form. Penumbra's black coat reminded her strongly of Nightmare Moon, but regardless of that, her mane and tail remained largely the same, only with a deep purple colouring and a ripple-like texture. The hair actually seemed to flow like Celestia's and Luna's but remained motionless. Penumbra's cutie mark was obscured by her over-sized dragon wings, which were now laying haphazardly to her sides. “Um, c-could I please take a-a look at her, to check f-for any injuries?” Fluttershy asked with a delicate tone. Aphelia and Echo turned around to look at the butter yellow pegasus, Aphelia adopted a plastered grin as the shade nodded to Fluttershy. 'Sure, go right ahead Fluttershy.' Fluttershy was slightly taken aback by Echo's shadowy body but smiled. “Thank you.” She moved past the shade and looked over Penumbra. The dark mare for the most part was unharmed, only that huge glowing white scar along her chest and belly stood out amid the black. “I'll be quick.” As Fluttershy checked Penumbra for any wounds that needed medical attention, the cultists murmured among themselves. Some were mortified that she had the audacity to lay her hooves on their beloved Goddess, but a fierce glare from Aphelia silenced them. ... ... ... Penumbra stirred. Fluttershy yelped as the dark mare's wing whipped out and almost clipped her chin with a claw. “Ugh...” Groggily opening her eyes, Penumbra pushed herself back into consciousness. The yellow mare backed from Penumbra as the dark alicorn turned to half-glare at her. “Who are you, little pegasus?” She asked with a hint of suspicion. “Twilight?...Don't you recognize me?” Fluttershy asked nervously. Penumbra raised an eyebrow. “No, I don't.” She walked passed her heading for the cultists. Fluttershy couldn't believe her ears as she watched Penumbra trot away. Tears spilled down her face. “T-Twilight...b-but we're your f-friends.” Penumbra ignored her whimpering and wracked sobs as her other friends crowded around the crying pegasus, Rainbow Dash glared at her as she passed. “Twilight you...” Echo and Aphelia quietly followed after their Goddess, each being silent not wanting to incur her wrath. Penumbra flexed a wing and wrapped it around her barrel. “My...er...ponies?” The cultists prostrated themselves before her hooves. Penumbra for some reason felt uncomfortable being bowed to. 'I ruled Tartarus for over a millennium, this shouldn't be so strange to me.' She shook her head, confusion riddled her mind. She did not recognize any of her surroundings, the various ponies around her gave her looks of fear and reverence. 'Except for that yellow one.' She glanced at Fluttershy for a brief second before turning away. She was whole, all together, alive, which baffled her to no end. 'I can't be alive, D-Dia she...' “Our goddess?” A voice pulled her from her reverie. “Goddess? I am not a...” She trailed off at their looks of awe. “...I am Penumbra, the Alicorn of Tartarus.” Again another name sat at the edge of her tongue, but she just couldn't recall what that name was. “Are you followers of mine?” The cultist at the front of the group pulled back her hood revealing her aged yellow fur. “We are the Cult of the Dark Arts, Your Eminence. My name is Golden Mural, a Dark Knight.” Behind her Penumbra could hear several gasps as Golden spoke. “Then you study my work into Dark Magic?” Golden Mural nodded with a small smile. “Yes, My Goddess. But not just Ponies; Vamponies, Griffons, Minotaurs, Changelings-” She tilted her head toward Aphelia. “-and other creatures of the dark.” Penumbra felt humbled by this, but a question burned in her mind. “Interesting, but...” She closed her eyes. “What of my sister Diamanda, is she alive?” At this, all of the assembled cultists cringed at the name. Golden spoke up. “The Traitor is gone, dead from the world, Your Eminence.” Penumbra felt a surge of anger flow through her, demanding she hurt this little foal for calling her beloved sister 'Traitor'. But the memory of being run through with a crystal made her wince. 'Dia did kill me.' She put a hoof over the pulsating white scar across her chest. “I understand. Now, what of my mate?” Penumbra asked recalling Luna's tear soaked face from the memory. Golden Mural looked to the library the Princesses entered not too long ago. “The Night Mare was carried into that library, by the Sun Goddess.” Penumbra started her trek toward the Golden Oaks Library, her heart began beating faster at the thought of seeing her beloved again. Images sprang into her clouded mind, blurry images of ponies and the names places she can't recall, even her own body felt unusual. She felt out of place, this village she was in was a mystery to her, and those ponies claiming to be her 'friends'. 'What a joke, I've never needed friends before...' A pain went through her chest. 'My friends...No! Just what is wrong with me?!' She stopped before the library's front porch then stamped a hoof in agitation. Sister... Penumbra stood up straight at the sound of somepony's voice. 'Th-that voice.' You're back....dear sister... “...Where are you Dia?” Penumbra asked worried about her sister's well being. 'Even if she did kill me...' Anger rolled inside of her, but she clamped it down with sheer force of will. Not anywhere you...can reach...me... “Speak sense sister, I'm still very confused about when and where I am.” I am...but a mere...piece of...myself... “...” Penumbra shook her head. Find me...a focus...crystal...the ones...we used as...children... “Diamanda sister, you are not making any sense...ah!” Another headache pulsed through her head. More blurry images appeared before her, feelings of want, of attention, and of love reverberated across her body. 'Luwa...' Sister...find me...and I'll...help you find...yourself once...again... The voice trailed off then faded away into nothing, adding much to Penumbra's alarm and even more confusion. She refocused on her earlier task and knocked on the library door pushing the thoughts of Diamanda to took the back of her mind for later. Five minutes passed without any reaction from the inside leading her to think that maybe Luna and her sister already left for some reason or another. But she could still feel their Alicorn magics within the structure. “I'm coming in, it is my library...huh?” Upon entering the building, a sense of nostalgia hit her like an angry Ursa Major. The lobby of the Golden Oaks Library was lit, books covered the walls from floor to ceiling all meticulously organized. A particular book caught her attention as she browsed the shelves, Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide. A glow from across the room drew her eyes away from the book. Six gems inlaid in gold sat within a glass case near the staircase; five necklaces and a tiara with a starburst gem. “Why are those here!?” She stomped over to the case containing the Elements. “There's no doubt that these are the Elements of Harmony. But why would these be in backwater tow-” “Twilight?” Penumbra turned to her left to finding Celestia standing on the staircase watching her with caution and a hint of fear. “Celestia?” Both stared at each other unsure of what to say next. Celestia trotted down the last few steps. “Luna is asleep in your room.” “My room? Celestia, I don't live here...do I?” She gave the alabaster mare a confused look. “To be honest, I'm wondering why you're here.” Celestia smiled sadly. 'So she isn't Twilight.' Secretly, Celestia was afraid of Penumbra's return for fear that she would lose her adopted daughter only after having her for so many years. “Penumbra, I'm sorry for not being there when you awoke, but Luna needed somewhere to rest.” She sighed. “...You have been dead for over well over a thousand years, Penumbra.” That caught Penumbra's utmost attention. “What?” Celestia nodded. “Surely you remember how you died?” Penumbra nodded once. “You're in possession of my student and...adopted daughter, Twilight Sparkle.” The darker mare's eyes widened. “That's who you really are, Penumbra.” She stepped closer. Penumbra laughed at her. “You must be joking, Celestia.” She spotted a few books spread across a table then began reshelving them while keeping her eyes on the sun princess. “Then how do you explain your sudden revival? Look at your mark, it is not the same as it was back then.” Celestia pointed a hoof at Penumbra's flank. Penumbra raised an eyebrow and angled her head over to check her cutie mark. “It-it...” She stammered staring her mark, which was half a purple starburst and half a purple pentagram crossed over each other diagonally and glowing ominously. She raised a black hoof and stared at it in shock. “I have been reincarnated. I didn't think it was possible, for an Alicorn such as I especially since I...” Something flashed in her eyes making her rippling eyes glow for a moment. “I'm...I'm...” “Penumbra, what's wrong?” Celestia wrapped her wings as gently as she could around Penumbra's trembling form. “I'm a monster!!” Penumbra/Twilight screamed at the top of her lungs. “I-I killed all those poor souls!” Celestia only gripped her tighter. “No, no it wasn't your fault, Penumbra.” “Yes it was! I knew it, I am Darkness Incarnate! It was right the whole time!” Memories flooded her mind, and she unable to stop them from overflowing. “You saw it, Celestia!” “I know, but Starswirl's death wasn't truly your doing. But what do you mean by 'It was right'?” The princess put her forehead on top of Penumbra's in a show of compassion. “The being who made me-” She was cut off by two doors slamming and five mares (and one dragon) trotted in, which was soon followed by Princess Luna stepping down the staircase Celestia came down earlier. Penumbra was now on the floor holding her head in her hooves cringing in pain, while Celestia rubbed her back with a wing. “Twilight!” “Penny!” All six ponies and Spike galloped over to the two large alicorns. “Her mind is very unstable right now, both sides of her soul are battling for dominance.” Celestia explained as held the pained alicorn in her hooves. Luna seemed reluctant to approach her revived lover, the lunar princess was well aware of what would happen if Penumbra found out about her memory wipe. 'She made me promise to never forget about her, but I went and broke that promise. She would feel betrayed.' Like her sister, a small part of Luna was afraid of what Twilight's former self would do once was she was resurrected. Between the two of them it would be easy to subdue Penumbra, but neither of them wanted actually to harm her, especially since she was still Twilight in there somewhere. 'She's both my mate and my best friend, I couldn't imagine hurting either of them.' Penumbra shakily stood up with Celestia helping keeping her steady. “I'm so sorry for not recognizing you, Fluttershy.” The yellow mare smiled at that. “But the rest of you, you'll have to forgive me. I have no recollection of who you mortals are...ngh!” She slammed her eyes shut when another spasm of pain shuddered down her spine. Her long purple mane fell across her face, hiding her right eye from view. “My memories are blurry at best, Avec's ritual did something to me, but I'm not sure what yet.” She frowned miserably. Celestia looked to her sister as she anxiously shifted from hoof to hoof. “Luna, why don't you come over here and say something?” She motioned with a hoof. Penumbra and Luna turned and stared at each other. Penumbra, despite the pain wanted nothing more than to embrace her mate, but she saw something in Luna's eyes that made her hesitate to do so. Luna on the other hoof, was already walking towards her with a nervous smile on her muzzle. “It...It's good to see you a-again Penny.” The darker mare lowered her head, breaking eye contact. “I'm not so sure, Luwa.” A pulse of magic flowed over the group, causing the non-immortal beings in the room to shiver. “Ah, there it is.” Celestia rubbed Penumbra's mane in a soothing motion. “The Aura of Fear.” Applejack and the other mares traded looks then turned to Celestia. “Aura of what now?” The farm mare asked confusedly. Celestia laid both of her alabaster wings over Luna's and Penumbra's backs before answering. “It's something that Penumbra has, that all Alicorns have, an Aura. Hers is the Aura of Fear, which-” “-causes others to be instinctively afraid of me.” Penumbra finished. Celestia sighed but nodded. “Yes. Me and my sister have our own; mine being the Aura of Maternity.” “While mine is the Aura of Youth.” Luna added as she pressed into her sister's warmth. Rarity nodded in understanding. “That would make sense at least.” “...” Penumbra shrugged off the wing and trotted to the door. “I should leave now, I've overstayed my welcome.” The Element bearers blocked her way. “What are you doing?” “Sorry sugarcube, but you're one of us.” Applejack replied with a determined look. “Yeah, we're not letting ya leave just like that.” Rainbow crossed her hooves across her chest while she hovered. Rarity and Pinkie Pie had similar expressions of shared fear but refused to move. “I may not know who you four are, but you shouldn't have any reason to stop me.” They shook their heads. “I need to leave, you're not safe around me.” Another shake. “Why not?!” “Twilight, you may have changed but you're still our friend.” Rarity huffed. Penumbra felt her hackles rise. “There's that word again. I am not your friend! I know who Fluttershy is, but not why I know her!” The other alicorns moved to intervene but were stopped by a raised claw from Spike, who shook his head. “We've been through a lot Twilight we're not gonna turn our backs on you just like that.” Rainbow said squaring her shoulders. “...My name is not Twilight!!” Her horn flared. “It is Penumbra!” It was obvious to the Alicorn sisters that the situation was devolving into a dangerous one. Penumbra's mental tolerance was very unstable, and she was easy to anger. At any moment she could let her weakened, but still considerable power out and badly harm someone. The argument was getting more heated with Twilight's friends speaking up but were countered by Penumbra's defiant personality. ... ... ... “Enough, you foalish mares! Whatever bond we had before is gone! If I felt any sense of companionship with you five, I would've realized it by now. But since that isn't the case, you should just leave me be!” Without warning Penumbra's spiral-less horn flared with a blinding darkness and the five smaller mares vanished from inside the library. “Penny, what did you do?!” Luna shrieked. Penumbra didn't bother with a response, instead the dark mare trotted outside and slammed the door leaving two shocked princesses and one baby dragon. “Spike, go find Fluttershy and the others, me and my sister will talk to Twi...I mean Penumbra.” Celestia said heading for the door, beckoning her sister to follow. Luna bolted out the door, surprising Celestia. “Come sister! I will not let my mate leave me again!” Sighing, Celestia nodded exiting the house. “We'll be back later, Spike.” The dragon shifted from foot to foot before shaking his head and waddling out the door.