> D=S-M
>  by MegatronsPen
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Tender Sugar
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 1: [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2T5q8UuRj8Tender Sugar




“It has almost been two weeks since I returned home to Ponyville and already, I just want to be left alone.

Even though I longed for this seclusion from the light of day and the ponies that bask in its sun, even here in the comfortably dark confines of my home I get no such luxury, whether it be from Spike fussing over me in his every waking moment or my friends coming to visit me on several occasions throughout the day; checking up on me as if I am incapable of taking care of myself.

I have come to notice their poorly hidden fear for my wellbeing, even though I have assured them that I am recovering just fine; just like the doctors said I would. And despite all of my best efforts to hide my true feelings, it just seems it is simply not enough to satisfy them. 

They continually persist in their fussing and I don’t know what to do or say to stop them other than to tell them exactly what it was I was thinking; which is completely out of the question.

So I lied.

I hope you understand, Princess, but I had to pretend everything was fine, because I just wanted to leave them with a peace of mind that I was in good health; even going as far as forcing myself to attend the odd party thrown by Pinkie Pie. All just to show my face with its fake smile, spluttering idle pleasantries while engaging in pointless conversations which only served to drain what little of my patience I had left… 

I even attended a health spa date with Rarity and Fluttershy to further put to rest their concerns; to reassure them and especially Fluttershy most of all, that everything was back to how it should be and that nothing had changed.

I have never once taken my friends for granted and never once have I found them a nuisance, but now?

I know they are concerned and I know they are looking out for my best interests… It is just...

I wish they would just stop and allow me to wallow in my self pity.

They just need to leave me alone so I can come to terms that I have lost the love of my—

I don’t understand where this resentment is coming from.

I don’t understand why I feel this way towards ponies I call my closest friends.

I love them to no end and yet I find myself bitter whenever I see them.

Where is this desire to ostracize them originating from; is this how I truly feel about them?  

Is this how I truly feel about our friendship? 

Are they just an annoyance to me now?

I lied to them without even thinking of the repercussions. I pretended nothing was wrong even though everything IS wrong with the world that I now live in.

It no longer has you...

It no longer has your sweet voice or your graceful beauty or even that dazzling smile to which anchored me to your side and spurred me to strive for a happiness that was stripped mercilessly away from me. 

I have become nothing more than a deceiver far worse than any changeling… at least those creatures are honest about their intentions in the end; while I... I just lie to hide myself away - I lie even to those that seek to protect and comfort me with good intentions...

But what disturbs me more so, is that yet somehow even though these emotions of loss and despair smoulder inside of me like the raging fire that took you from me, I am clearly and blatantly wrapped up into a facade of bold faced lies and empty promises where even Applejack to this day still does not realize that I am lying to her about my feelings.

Have I become that good at deceiving my friends in a short amount of time that even the Element of Honesty cannot even detect it? I know friends are not meant to lie to each other but what else can I do? I can’t let them know the true state of which my mind is fractured and drowning in its own hopelessness. 

I can’t let them see me like that... I don’t think they would want to see me like that… It would break their hearts and I just can’t allow that to happen. I believe they look up to me as if some kind of stalwart linchpin holding our close circle of friends together; after all, if I had never had come to Ponyville, we would not be where we are today… We would simply be strangers or just mere acquaintances on the off chance.

And then, I would be lonely…

Look at me, I’m contradicting myself now;  At first I say I loathe their fussing and now all of a sudden I want their company so that I don’t feel lonely? How pathetic.

But that is exactly what I am, isn’t it? I’m pathetic.

They believe I can handle and solve almost anything - being the Element of Magic - the Princess’s former prodigal student; the resident “egg-head” (as I am sure Rainbow Dash would so eloquently put it), and to top it off a Princess of Equestria, and yet… 

I can’t.

I can’t handle it.

I’m not you.

I am not that perfect.

But I have to lie. I have to keep up that facade...

I can’t let them see the despair I hide every waking moment behind a false smile... I don't want them unhappy on my account, for I am more than capable for feeling quite sorry for myself as it is. I just… I just want them to smile, you know? I don’t want them to look at me with sad eyes and speak in concerned tones that dance around the issue of what happened that day.

Perhaps it is because of my physical injuries that they fuss over me so much?

I have been assured that once healed the only issue left to worry about would be the superficial scars that will forever remain a permanent fixture to my nigh on immortal life, to which I am content about, for the hair on my flank and face will take some time to regrow and it will eventually cover up the majority of the blemishes upon my skin.

But not everything will heal and be as less as obvious. 

My flame-corrupted Cutie Mark will forever be a permanent imperfection to my everyday appearance; the image warped by the burns so that it now bears little to no resemblance to the original you would remember. 

It appears almost… chaotic… a warped star that has cindered into nothing... as if Discord had a hoof or claw in its creation. 

Kind of like how this letter is turning out.

And my eye? It is damaged beyond repair. It has been cataracted into blindness; scar tissue has formed over the lens so that it can never be repaired, even with Luna’s best attempts to heal it. 

Luna really tried her best to heal me as much as she could and that is all I can really ask from her. I’m indebted to her for saving my life as it is... 

You would be so proud of her, Princess…

But my face? I have yet to see the extent of the damage. Nor have I seen my blinded eye… It is because of these horrific injuries I have yet seen the reason my friends treat me as if I am made of glass or some helpless cripple?

It doesn’t matter how I look, as long as I am alive, right? Surely it cannot possibly be as bad as they are making it out to be?

I just want to be left alone! 

I want to silently work out what it is that is burning inside of me whenever they look at me with such pitiful eyes.

Why won't they STOP doing—?

I’m being… ridiculous… no… not ridiculous. 

I’m being selfish and arrogant in my assumptions that I can deal with this all by myself.

I know friends are meant to confide in each other in regards to their problems—it was one of the first lessons I learnt in regards to the Magic of Friendship, for friends are meant to be there for each other; meant to be leant upon when the need arises; to be there to cry with or to lend a helping hoof no matter what time of day or night. 

But I… 

I can’t help but feel rage building inside of me even if I know that... a rage that I so want to release; to talk about and yet  I can’t bring myself to confide in them about it or ask for their help in the matter because—

They can not know what it is I want and what it is I would do to get it…

To satisfy that constant itch borrowing into my brain that is begging me to sit up, smell the bitter-sweet roses for what they are and to take action upon which I fantasize each and every night as I lay awake in my bed seething with anger and tears!

Even now I struggle to believe I wrote this whole mess myself.

I keep re-reading it and… I’m shocked.

Oh, Celestia… please help me...

This is not from the mind of the rational student you raised but from a maddened mare who cannot just say one simple thing to which she desires above all else in this world for good or ill because she is simply afraid of the fallout...

I find my bleeding heart unable to express itself truthfully even to you in this literary form.

I have only eluded to the dark thoughts that fester within me, even though I wish to write with a truthful purpose and to spill my emotions on this piece of paper for you to understand that I… 

That is to say that I want re—

...I need your guidance. 

I need your embrace. 

I want you to hold me like you did when I was young—I need you to tell me what it is I should do and tell me everything is alright, that it’s going to be okay! I need your council more than ever because I believe I’m trotting down a path I don’t think I ever want to turn back from—it is too alluring to ignore, too… justifiable and full of promise of total satisfaction to calm my boiling blood and settle my twisting mind...

Please, write me back.

You will write back, won’t you?

You have to… 

You can’t be dead...

I just don’t know what it is I should do...

…Tomorrow is the trial and I will return to Canterlot within the morning. I will preside over it as not only a Princess alongside Luna but as a judge, jury and as a key witness. 

But a small part of me longs for an added role to that list.

I have to get this off my chest; I have to tell you something I have only dreamt about since that day…. something that just isn’t… me.

It something that has eaten away at every thought—again why can’t I just say it?! I'm just dancing around the issue with dressed-up words and constant repetition! I have never in my life had such an issue not writing what it is I truly feel to you and yet even now I am lying to the very paper I write upon as I pretend that you are alive and will receive my innermost secrets to read, hoping you will scrutinize and scold me for even thinking of them!!!

Am I going crazy?

Have I finally lost it?

Should I take justice?

Should I take revenge?

That word—revenge, it rolls off my tongue so bitterly and with such struggle I feel as if I know it is wrong and yet, something inside of me squirms in excitement at the mere thought of it regardless of how disgusted I am with myself.

Would I enjoy it?

Would you hate me for it? 

Would you hate me if I said I want to be the executioner, as well? 

I’m so ashamed to call myself a student of Magic for even entertaining the idea. I'm ashamed to call myself your former student and to call myself a Princess; I am not worthy of such a title nor was I worthy of your pride, for inside I am no better than Sombra or even Chrysalis…

I admired you for being such a benevolent ruler and now I know I can never measure up to you with these dark thoughts festing inside of me… Even if I want nothing more than to be exactly like you!

You were so kind, so loving, so merciful… you even gave Discord a chance despite knowing he caused so much suffering in the past.

Whereas I now cannot even forgive one gryphon for doing one inexcusable thing.

You were so proud of me when I became an alicorn and... and now I just want to abuse the position of power you granted me to attain something as vile as vengeance.

If only you saw me now...

If only you could see how far I have fallen... and if you can? If somehow in the afterlife there is some kind of existence where you are watching over me in this instant, then I would know with absolute certainty you would hate me, you would be disappointed in me…

I can already imagine your face looking down upon me with sadness and regret of ever choosing me to ascend to your side, as you fear for Equestria as I inch closer to the darkness like Luna did, when she submitted to her jealousy of you and transformed into Nightmare Moon... 

But I…

NO.

I won't go that way—I won't become like that—I can’t allow myself to fail you! It would be a dishonor to your memory and hard work in raising me into what I am today!

I can’t let you be disappointed in me…

I can’t let my friends be disappointed in me!

I just can’t!

I'm so sorry, Princess. Can you ever, forgive me?

Can you forgive this monster growing inside of me?

Can you forgive me for falling in love with you?

… I got to stop this.

I can’t resolve my thoughts and I am running out of paper.

I suppose, in a way, there is a lesson to be learnt here… I just only wish you were here to tell me exactly what it was.

Forever your loving student,

Twilight Sparkle.”




The lavender mare stood up from her desk trembling as she shambled away from the unsent letter, moving towards her bed as she stifled a yawn, where each and every awkward hoofstep caused a shearing pain to pulse up the muscles of her hind legs that were wrapped with an array of old blood stained bandages right up to her flank.

Concealing her heartache behind a chewed, trembling bottom lip, Twilight happened a glance with one lifeless eye of amethyst towards the bedside vanity and the mirror that displayed her near-mummified face staring back at her. 

Look at me… I’m a wreck.

Abandoning thoughts of sleep, Twilight turned to the mirror and approached to stand before it, her horn shining numbly with a lavender hue of magic as the mare started to unwind the gauze that encompassed a large portion of the right side of her head and her injured right eye.

Twilight Sparkle had yet to witness the damage to her face for herself, for it was only the doctors that attended to her while in hospital, her friends and Spike here in the library that knew of the true grotesqueness she surmised that was behind the dressing, judging by their previous reactions when they were required to change it.

Curiosity got the better of her.

She had to know.

She needed to know how horrendous her face had become.

Bit by bit with each reveal of repairing flesh, she observed the various scabbed contusions marred on the lavender fur with a morbid sense of curiosity, noting that she did not care much if they would leave scars and ruin her; in her opinion, above average appearance. 

If anything, she heard facial scars gave ponies a certain mysterious and dangerous characteristic that can be far more attractive to the opposite sex than an unblemished face… But then again, she did hear such nonsense from Rarity and the chances was in favor of the fashionista merely speaking about her own personal preferences in regards to stallions, who more than likely applied the same logic to Twilight’s situation in a vain attempt of making her feel better.

Thanks, Rarity, but… I don’t think I really buy into that…

As the bandage turned on its final revolution, the dried blood on this lowest layer had caused the gauze to stick and matt to her regenerating hide, causing Twilight to wince and hiss in pain as she painfully peeled the final strip of sticky gauze away from her face, pulling away a few bits of crust and reopening blotches of healing flesh that caused fresh hæmorrahaging and trickles of blood to dribble down her face.

Twilight closed her eyes as she felt her face tingle and burn as the cool, open air assaulted her uncovered and semi-reopened wounds while she unceremoniously tossed the clump of dirty bandages aside onto the floor, standing before the vanity with her eyelids clenched shut; as if too afraid to open them and witness the damage in its entirety… 

Reluctantly after a second or two to gather her bearings, the mare opened her one good eye to observe her face and gasped at what she saw.   

Simply regarding the stranger in the mirror with disbelief written upon her face, Twilight lifted a hoof to stroke tenderly at the doppelganger’s visage upon the reflective surface, mortified by the severity of her condition, finally realizing why her friends and family treated her with such tenderness and trepidation whenever they looked upon her.

They saw a mare with half of her face covered in a mesh of dried blood and plasma, missing tiny blotches of fur right up to her horn.

Twilight’s ears flattened against her lowering head as the wretchedness of the words she wrote in the letter blew back right into her face with a guilt ridden whimper. 

This is why… this is what they saw… I didn’t mean to...

Forcing herself to look at her own reflection, her attention turned to the remaining closed eyelid. With trepidation grasping around her throat, she slowly opened her injured right eye and felt her mouth slowly drop open at the sight of a white, bloodshot eyeball gazing back at her.

“M-my... my eye,” her voice squeaked as tears fell from her only working eye, having lost the ability for the other due to damaged tear ducts, “my eye!”

A sudden rush of emotion erupted from Twilight's mouth as she screamed; enraged and despondent, her wings responded in kind to her distress as they angrily flared erect and wide; her ears flattening straight back and her tail swishing violently from side to side. 

“I’m… hideous!”

With her magic reigniting with a brightened and oddly dark purple ferocity about her horn as an aura encompassed the mirror and she hurled it across the room with a flick of her head, her eyes wide open to smoulder a glare at the offending object as it hurtled through the air to crash into the wall besides a window, barking a beastial guttural snarl as the shards of glass shattered with a more than satisfying crash all over her bed chamber’s lush, lavender carpeted floor.

“Was it not enough that they stole my heart?!”

With her anger hardly subsiding; entrapping her once rational mind into a whirlpool of mindless rage, she swung her head towards her bed and aimed her vexation towards it, consuming that too in the only ever darkening purple aura to upturn it with ease before turning her attention fully onto the now mirrorless cabinet.

Raising her forehooves up into the air, she slammed them violently down onto the surface repeatedly as her guttural scream faded away into heavy, shaken pants, the wood of the cabinet creaking under the ferocity of the impacts that slowed with frequency and intensity over time until she leant came to lean heavily against it.

Was it not enough for you that you had to take half of my face with her?!

Twilight’s sudden temper was short lived as she embraced the abrupt silence that consumed her bed chamber while she attempted to steady her breathing between spittle smeared clenched teeth.

“W-was it… n-not e-enough… that I-I lost… my myself, too?” The buildup of pressure swelling behind her only working eye proceeded to flow down her cheek with a splutter of a whimper, Twilight succumbing to the immense grief that shook her very soul.

“It’s n-not f-fair… i-it’s j-just not...”

Twilight Sparkle collapsed against the bedside cabinet, pressing her muzzle into her hooves to stifle her wailing as she wept Celestia’s name into the cold, unforgiving dead of the night.
> One More Soul To The Call
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 2: One More Soul To The Call 


The council of ponies trickled into the throne room over the course of the early hours of the following morning, arriving in groups or pairs to take up their positions on either side of the throne room’s rather expansive hallway, some standing and others sitting while their conversations wrought about the echoing space in regards to the subject of this off the records trial.

Security was limited to just two ponies standing guard either side of the main entrance, stalwart and statuesque in their duties, only moving to salute the council as they entered.

Amongst the members of this newly formed political conglomerate were notable faces that many would come to expect amongst their ilk, such as Flash Sentry, Filthy Rich, Mayor Mare, Spitfire, Raven, Fancy Pants; and much to the surprise of many, even Prince Blueblood.

Two other members; Prince Shining Armour and the Gryphon lobbyist Quill were missing, however, having to attend their own private audience with Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Quill being the nephew of the sovereign King and Ambassador to the Crystal Empire - which was the closest neighbour to the Gryphon Empire - in regards to the recent fractured political minefield between Equestria and the Gryphons over Princess Celestia’s assassination.

Prince Blueblood arrived last, flanked by Spitfire - the captain of the Wonderbolts - and Flash Sentry, the recently anointed captain of the Royal Equestrian Guard in lieu of Shining Armour's expanding duties as Prince of the Crystal Empire.

Spitfire and Blueblood ignored the guards as they saluted to them, having been already knee deep within a heated debate since their departure from the barracks that morning, leaving only Flash Sentry to return the salutes with his own.

Breaking from the two squabbling ponies, Flash Sentry approached the guards, his face expressed into a fierce determination.

“I hope you both realize that whatever you hear within this room stays in this room,” Flash Sentry gave each pony a stare, “by the order of Princess Luna. You cannot utter a single breath to anyone; not even your families. Is that understood?”

“Yes, Captain!” Both ponies chimed as one, saluting to Flash Sentry who merely winced at being called by his title. He still never really got used to the concept that he was perhaps the most influential and powerful pony out of all of the members of the council. His word carried the might of the whole Equestrian army behind it, and to a degree, it unnerved him.

Turning away from the guards with his own salute, Flash Sentry reproached Spitfire and Prince Blueblood, who was still arguing. He groaned inwardly, thanking the sun that the Princesses have yet to arrive.

“We can’t just walk in on griffin territory and start churning up rocks as we please!” Spitfire waved a hoof about in her fluster, exasperated that Blueblood seemingly did not understand basic politics. “We could very well start a war and that is something nopony wants, especially the Princesses”

Blueblood turned his nose up at the Wonderbolt, his high born attitude only grating on Spitfire’s nerves more so. Especially how he barely looked at her in the eye when he spoke, as if he was above looking at what he so elegantly called ‘cannon fodder.’

“I for one don’t see why not. It is not as if we are going there to invade. However, if the Empire continues to dance about the issue that they are harbouring criminals and rebels without due course of action, then I say, they are as much at fault as the assassin. Besides…” Prince Blueblood raised a brow to Spitfire. “How do you know they did not send him in the first place?”

Flash Sentry stepped forward, “Prince Blueblood, that is a wild accusation. If the griffins did send the assassin, then why would they send one of their own ambassadors to lobby within our council? They wish to maintain the peace as much as we do. Underhandedly attacking us when we vastly outnumber their forces four to one seems to me like suicide to me. The griffins won’t willingly start a war they cannot finish.”

Spitfire nodded to Flash Sentry, huffing. “Exactly my point; there is no motive! This is more than likely the work of a terrorist attempting to usurp the peace between our two kingdoms.”

“And who is to say that our dear griffin council member is not just a spy for the Empire? How are we to know that they are telling the truth? Who is to say that the griffins have not been playing us for fools all this time all so they could achieve what we all thought to be the impossible,” Blueblood retorted haughtily, waving a hoof about as flamboyantly as he could, “they killed Auntie. In cold blood. Under our own roof! I don’t know how; I don’t know why, but I am going to find out and I can assure you I am not alone in this way of thinking. Mark my words, I will get what I want and the guilty verdict of this assassin is but the first step towards that end. I look forward to watching him rot in the cells.”

“It does not matter what you say Princey, because the majority of the votes will outweigh any suggestion you or even Prince Shining Armour will put forward. I am still amazed he even agrees with the likes of you in this case…” Spitfire gave Blueblood a dirty look, “perhaps ponies lose brain cells when they get their Princely titles.”

“How dare you speak to me like that you tomboyish rake—”

Stepping between the two, Flash Sentry shot them both a glare, attempting to defuse the situation.

“Cool it off you two! We are supposed to be here to help run Equestria for the Princess, not tear it apart from the inside. Please keep your opinions to yourself until the council meeting tomorrow evening.”

Prince Blueblood clamped his mouth shut, yet showed just how indignant he was in regards to Spitfire’s blatant attempt to get a rise out of him by simply trotting off with his head held high and yet with a twitching brow.

Once safely out earshot, Spitfire sighed in frustration, as if she had been keeping in a great amount of air in her lungs. “I hate that stallion so much.”

Flash Sentry cocked a half smile to her. “You ain’t alone in that, Captain. But you didn’t exactly help the situation either.”

She grinned mischievously at Flash Sentry. “Someone had to put him in his place, right

Returning the smile somewhat, Flash Sentry nodded some. “I must admit, I wanted to slap him when he brought up the integrity and usefulness of the Wonderbolts and the Guards…” 

Snorting, Spitfire turned her sight away from Blueblood, who was now conversing with Mayor Mare. “He’s got some nerve.”

“...but he does have a point though.”

Shocked, the Wonderbolt shot Flash Sentry a glare. “Excuse me?”

“I mean…” Flash Sentry lowered his gaze as he found himself unable to say what it was that was on his mind. “It’s just… the guards posted throughout the palace that night did not hear a thing. It was as if nothing had happened at all… if it was not for Raven stumbling upon the scene and alerting the guards, we may never had discovered the assassination until the morning. We could had lost Princess Twilight Sparkle as well as never discover the culprit...”

Spitfire nodded slowly, “I’m amazed the assassin got through so much security. The Shadowbolts are always on patrol at night over Canterlot airspace… nothing normally ever escapes their eyes… they see pretty damn well in the dark,” she scrunched her face up as she pondered as to how such a feat could had been accomplished, “it was as if the assassin just suddenly appeared... which is impossible, since gryphons cannot use magic, right?”

Flash Sentry shook his head. “Not that we know of… but what I mean is, Spitfire, is that I can see why Prince Blueblood is pretty angry towards the likes of us right now. He feels we did not do our duty and protect the Princesses as we should have, but, while I see his point, I cannot simply agree with it. I know for a fact the ponies on guard that night were experienced soldiers… I would trust them with my life let alone the Princesses’... but that does beg the question, though, doesn’t it? How did the assassin get into Twilight Sparkle’s bedchambers and manage to keep it all so quiet?”

“Maybe I was a bit harsh on him…” Spitfire muttered, “he is grieving harder than the rest of us. I just wished he’d vent it out in a different way other than being an arrogant ass.”

That comment alone elicited a chuckle from both captains, which was swiftly cut short as the doors to the throne room opened once more, allowing the two alicorns they awaited for to silently trot on in.

The collective of ponies silenced as they lowered themselves into long and elegant bows, all except for Prince Blueblood, who merely stared out at Princess Luna and Princess Twilight Sparkle with a sadness that was reflected within both the alicorn's eyes, even if they wore expressions that were completely neutral.

Under normal circumstances, the young Princess Twilight Sparkle would have ran up a storm of worry appearing in her first ever trial as the voice of Equestrian law in her first official duty as a Princess, instead however she held nothing but an odd bittersweet excitement coursing through her battered and bruised body; the aches and pains numbed as adrenaline coursed through each and every cell, over-exciting her already active mind into an explosion of thoughts towards a singular purpose:

Justice.

Twilight wanted to see justice for Celestia prevail. And it will.

It has to, no matter the cost.

Twilight’s voice would be heard amongst a select few; a council that was formed by the order of Princess Luna upon the demise of her sister, Celestia. 

This group of ponies were elected to deal with the daily management of Equestria – such as the Day and Night Court, where Luna would play a minor role in the decisions there and various other governmental duties, giving the Luna the ability to deal with the day to day manipulation of the moon and now the sun, which was of itself a tiring task.

Luna was an inexperienced ruler compared to her recently departed older sister, so this course of action; although unexpected and democratic - unlike the rule that had existed under Princess Celestia’s iron hoof of benevolence for a thousand years - was a logical course of action.

The lavender mare herself was too young to take up the mantle of the Sun Goddess and the manipulation of the sun, and, if the truth be known, Twilight felt herself unworthy to carry such a burden. 

The young princess was lacking in experience as an alicorn and was still learning the extent of her powers, so picking up the pieces of what Celestia left behind upon her death was madness to even consider… and Luna had to agree. The Council had to be formed to keep the peace and to return the operations of Equestria to a normalcy as quickly as possible.

As the two alicorns approached the thrones, both kept their attention firmly upon the vacant sun throne, which was decorated with a various array of flowers in tribute to the fallen goddess, Celestia’s crown nestled within the seat of power where she once used to sit and rule Equestria with her beauty and grace.

Stay focused, Twilight, Twilight willed herself as they came to a stop before the dual thrones, be calm and push aside those dark thoughts from your mind. Justice will be done. You’ll see...

Upon their journey here, Twilight was instructed by Luna to say nothing and simply sit quietly upon the throne where her great mentor once sat, yet the young lavender mare found it more suitable to stand next to it and almost guard the vacant throne, as she stared out of a singular amethyst eye down at the crown sitting lonely upon it.

Spike had talked her into wearing the bandage around her head, as to conceal her injuries, even though she wanted nothing more than to face the griffin down with his handiwork. But Twilight eventually submitted to wearing it.

As a wave of animosity washed over her, Twilight stole her gaze from the crown and regarded the ponies that stared up at them.

She could almost taste their pity.

No… no Twilight… they’re just as sad as you are. 

It’s fine. 

They’re not looking at you. 

They’re looking at the empty throne besides you… that’s all…

Although she loved Spike to no end, she could not help but feel disgust and betrayal whenever the baby dragon Twilight considered like a brother looked upon her with such similar trepidation and sadness. 

Spike had yet to look at her in the face for more than five seconds when he changed the gauze—or worse yet, he barely looked at her in the eyes at all. He always avoided looking at her face and it annoyed her to no end! Spike never had that problem though when Twilight had this stupid bandage covering up her horrific imperfections. 

Was he ashamed to look at her now? 

Was he disgusted by how she now looked? 

Was he pitying her just like the others were by simply avoiding the fact that she was now a crippled, weak little alicorn?

What am I thinking…? 

He’s just sad for what has happened to me… 

I know he cares about me and I know he’d never do those things no matter how I look… so why do I have to think so wrongly of him? He’s concerned he will hurt my feelings, that’s all… oh, Spike... how can I think so wrongly of even you?

“Twilight Sparkle, art thou feeling unwell?”

The sudden question broke Twilight out of her reverie and she shook her head, blinking an eye to Luna who sat in her own throne, looking over at the lavender mare with concern etched upon her features. 

“No, Princess Luna. I am fine. I-I am just a little tired, that’s all. The travel from Ponyville was long.” She smiled softly to the Lunar Goddess, lying perfectly. 

And it worked. 

If Princess Celestia was here… I bet she would had seen right through me…

“Do well to remember my council earlier, young Twilight Sparkle. Do not speak, if you hath no desire to. We will deal with this assassin’s verdict, personally. He has admitted to this heinous crime in private to us and I have come to a decision with the council on his sentence. We will not burden you Twilight Sparkle by looking upon his sight for a second longer.”

Surprise had managed to find its way onto the Element of Magic, “B-but… I was not told he—”

Luna lifted a hoof, to silence her, “We are sorry, Twilight Sparkle, but we thought you needed not be burdened any more by this tragedy. If… i-If ‘Tia, was here… she would not have wanted you to be here to witness this trial or to have a hoof in it… you are still young and you are still healing, so we kept this information from you until now.”

Twilight struggled to contain the bile in her throat. “What did he say?”

“The beast admitted to his crime and stated so boldly he was acting in the interests of the Gryphon Empire and it’s King.” Luna swallowed hard, uncertain if she ought to have parted with the entirety of that information and yet, she felt she owed Twilight that much.

Swiftly, Luna directed her gaze to the gathering below and towards the set of double doors at the end of the throne room as they begun to open once again, the creak of heavy doors fan faring the arrival of an entourage of six guards flanking a heavily chained gryphon, marching slowly on in.

Twilight Sparkle, still aghast at the news, took a few steps towards Luna, ignoring the arrival of the criminal in question. “You mean to tell me this wasn’t just a criminal act of a violent, insane griffin? You mean to tell me he was acting upon the orders of his King?”

“Silence for now, we speaketh more of this later, Twilight Sparkle, I promise.”

Rising, Luna took a step forward from her throne, her eyes aflame with an inner fury that made all ponies before her twitch nervously. All except the gryphon, of course, who smugly grinned up at Luna in an act of defiance as they approached the dais where the thrones were raised upon.

“No,” Twilight stomped a hoof, wincing as she did so, keeping her voice soft enough so that only Luna could hear, “if this is true then, surely, this is an act of war?” 

Out of the corner of her eye, Twilight could now see the smile upon the beak of the griffin and it only served to bring a deep rooted vehement hatred to rise in that amethyst eye of the lavender mare, as she swung it and her head towards him, casting her mane to cover most of the bandaged side of her head.

Their eyes locked for what seemed like an eternity. Familiarity glittering in his eyes as he stared on back, smugly curling his beak into a deeper, more sinister grin at the growing expression of disgust upon the face of the young alicorn mare.

“Nay, Twilight Sparkle, this shalt not end in war. ‘Tia fought hard for the peace between the Griffin Empire and Equestria. My sister would not want war, despite her… Passing. Nay, we must rise above this without violence. It is what ‘Tia would have wanted.”

Yes… Luna’s right. 

The Princess would want justice served fairly and within the confines of the law, even if creatures like him don’t deserve it... 

Fighting back the bile rising in her throat at such a sentiment; vivid memories of that fateful day assaulting her mind as the death of her mentor plagued her once more, Twilight Sparkle silently returned to her position besides Princess Celestia’s vacant throne and simply did what she was told, bit back her tongue and simply remained silent, despite wanting to strangle the life out of that monster with her own two hooves.

The guards seized their approach and moved to force the griffin down onto his haunches before the dais and the two princesses. 

However, in act of defiance, the griffin hoisted his head high and continued to grin up at the two alicorn princesses, before speaking out in a nonchalant sort of way, “Good morning, what a fine day it is for a stroll in a courtroom.”

“SILENCE!” 

Boomed the Royal Canterlot Voice of Luna, who stomped a hoof so harshly onto the dais, that the room itself shook under the weight of her cosmic power, blinding white eyes blazing with anger along with her outspread wings of onyx at the impenitence and audacity of the prisoner to smile and talk so casually in the face of his judges.

“What hath you to say to this court in regards to the assassination of my sister, Princess Celestia, the Sun Goddess of Equestria, to whom you admit murdering in cold blood?”

“Well.. I think it could have gone better. I was hoping to take out the purple one, too,” he craned his neck towards Twilight Sparkle and winked, “a shame really I went and ruined such a pretty face instead.”

A heated huff passed the nostrils of the lavender mare, as she smoldered a look at the prisoner that could had melted steel.

He has no remorse. He does not care he took the life of someone so pure, someone so innocent and someone so merciful that she would had spared his life if his attempt had failed… 

How… 

How DARE he! 

How DARE he smirk like that...

How DARE he talk about my face!

Twilight took a threatening step forward, her entire body trembling as she resisted the urge to just go down there, and… and what? Kill him?

The revelation shocked Twilight as she turned to look away, disbelief crossing her features as she attempted to rationalize where such a barbaric intent would had come from. 

What is happening to me? I… I’d never… ever… do such a thing. 

No sane pony would ever think that… 

Am I… Am I starting to lose myself?

No... 

No… I’m fine. I am strong. 

I-I am not like him. 

I am not a murderer!

Despite the goading, Luna was surprisingly calm, even though inside she seethed and shared unknowingly a similar mind to the lavender princess.

Luna knew that in this day and age she could do no more than sentence the assassin to life in imprisonment. The death penalty was abolished years ago, due to the newfound peace that blessed Equestria under the golden rule of Celestia, while the Luna was banished to the lunar object in the sky as Nightmare Moon.

But now?

Now stood before them the perfect candidate for Luna to revoke that law and be done away with the griffin permanently… But killing him... Killing him would gain Luna no victory and no peace of mind. 

She had lost a sister, regardless if he lived or died. At least, she was content in knowing that her sister’s killer was caught and that he would rot away in the cells beneath the castle for her own viewing pleasure.

It was of some solace, but it did not mean Luna had to like it.

“For your crimes against Equestria, I hath been informed by the King of the Griffin Empire by envoy that I am the full custodian of thy fate. Thou in fact acted out against the wishes of your Empire. You are nothing more than a radical and an anarchist and will spend the rest of thy dark days in the castle prison, effective immediately with no visitation rights. Never to see the light of day.”

The verdict, rather than shock the griffin or instill fear for his well being, instead took it upon himself to laugh very loudly at the decision, sending the council of ponies that lurked on the outskirts to whisper and mutter among themselves at the sudden fit of madness animating from the prisoner, while one pony amongst the lot - most notably Blueblood made his voice be heard.

“You ingrate!” The Prince flew forward with a raised hoof, though was held back by a much stronger Flesh Sentry.

Luna lifted a hoof to calm the room and simply stared at the prisoner, raising a brow as she resisted the urge to take back her decision and just run the griffin through the chest with her horn right there and then herself. 

“And… What is so funny, pray tell, prisoner?”

“You ponies, that’s what! You’re all just a bunch of clucking idiots! You can’t even bring yourself to execute me even though I killed your precious, little Princess! Some Goddess she turned out to be, huh?! That’s fine—I’m happy with the verdict because now I get to see the looks on all your faces when you realize that it is too late!”

“Too late? What doth thou speak of, prisoner?” Luna approached the edge of the dais, her face clouded with confusion. "Explain thyself immediately!"

“Oh I’m going to enjoy it when you’re the next to die, Princess! And then when you’re dead, I’m going to have my fun with y—ACKGH!” 

Alarmed, Luna took a step back and watched in utterly mortified confusion as the griffin threw his chained talons to his own throat and started clawing wildly at it, his wheezing, gasping breaths only intensifying when he was magically hoisted from the ground, his rear talons flailing wildly in the air as a constricting dark purple band of magic tightened around his neck. 

The guards stepped back, including the council members as all eyes were trained upon a single lavender mare, who was the apparent perpetrator of the sudden assault. 

Luna quickly followed suit with her own eyes, screaming out to stop as the griffin's flailing began to slow, his tongue loitering out of his beak with his bloodshot eyes almost popping out of his head.

A deep, purple aura covered Twilight Sparkle, her magic savagely pouring out of every pore in her body as it enveloped the floating, strangulating gryphon totally and much to the other’s horror, the young Princess displayed a deep, wide smirk to rival the one that was once upon the prisoner.

“Granting this pest life was an act of mercy in honor of Celestia and yet he laughs?! HE DESERVE TO DIE FOR WHAT HE DID!!”

Twilight sparkle bellowed out much to the surprise Luna, in the traditional, Royal Canterlot Voice, her working eye wide and blind with rage, the pupil bearing an oval definition Luna seemed to somewhat recognize.

“Control thyself!”

Upon the last word a resounding crack, spurning a collective gasp from all the ponies in the throne room; including Princess Luna herself, emanated from the gryphon. The council watched in abject horror as the griffin's neck snapped awkwardly to one side, his body haphazardly tossed to the ground as an immobile heap before the sun and moon thrones, his body making a sickening slap and crack as it did so.

“Twilight Sparkle!” Luna announced, incredulous as to what had happened, “What have you done?!”

Twilight’s magical aura encompassing her dissipated swiftly as she lifted a hoof to forehead, suddenly feeling very, very unwell. “W-why…” Dizzy, the lavender mare stumbled forward as she broke out into a cold sweat, “w-what’s happening…?” 

The world about her spun to a point where all colour had become a single mind numbing blur. From amongst the visual chaos, she felt blood seep from out of her nostrils and dribble down her chin. 

Twilight fell, her amethyst eye rolling upwards as she collapsed into an unconscious heap against the vacant throne of the Sun Goddess and no sooner had she hit the ground, the guards rushed up the dais to aid the fallen princess within a heartbeat with Flash Sentry arriving first on the scene.

Stunned, Luna stood back shaking her head in disbelief as the guards worriedly attended to Twilight, demanding for a unicorn healer.

Luna turned her eyes sadly to the dead, twitching corpse of the griffin besides her hooves, then looked back to the unconscious Twilight Sparkle, who was hardly moving herself. 

Breaking out of her daze, Luna took a single hoofstep forward and raised her voice over the chaos presiding within the throne room to affirm her dominance, all stopping and becoming silent the moment she spoke, their eyes firmly affixed upon Luna, except for Prince Blueblood; who only stared at the mangled corpse. 

“Take Princess Twilight Sparkle to mine sister’s chambers immediately and send for the healer there. And…” She glanced to the dead griffin, “someone remove this filth from my throne room and summon an envoy to travel to the Crystal Empire immediately…”

Luna regarded the council of ponies, muttering underneath her breath. “It seems I have political damage to correct and a peace treaty to maintain.”

> (Guest Chapter) Speaking Unto Nations
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


(Bonus) Speaking Unto Nations


“We have a problem.” Luna’s voice is as cold as the moon that slowly drifts across the sky outside her office window.

“We do.” Quill’s talons click uncomfortably against the arm-rests of his seat, and whilst his plumage is as smooth and unruffled as a millpond, his eyes are hard and flinty. 

Luna contemplates him silently for a moment, wondering as she does so where her sister found the wellspring of patience required to deal with these overgrown pigeons. The feather-care oil he uses is so pungent as to nearly make her eyes water, his voice is shrill and abrasive and his manner is as brash and arrogant as any of his race.

“Your dissidents… we are concerned about your lack of progress in hunting them.” Luna says flatly, and Quill’s beak clicks softly, before he reaches one taloned hand into his bag and pulls out a sheaf of documents.

“You have nothing to be concerned about, Your Highness. Progress has been made, we have swept through the Mazar-Zavelan mountains, through the traditional heartland of the insurgents and we have uncovered nothing relating to the death of your sister, though we did break the back—”

“No one was harmed during this I take it?”

“—of several dissident cells…”

“Were they?” Luna remarked.

“No one on our side, your Highness.”

“I expect a fair trial… My sister would want that.”

“She did, and we are all poorer for her absence.” The gryphon bows his head slightly and Luna frowns, not believing his condolences for a moment. “They got the justice that they deserved, your Highness.” The gryphon continues, “Which brings me rather neatly on to my next point.”

“Go On.” Luna’s eyes are flinty and her tone is cold.

“You need to rein in your new toy—”

Luna’s eyes narrowed into a blaze of anger, “Toy?”

“The murderer, Twilight Sprinkle—”

“—Sparkle.” Luna corrected with a growl.

“Yes, her. She butchered one of my citizens in your throne room, before your eyes.”

“You kill your own people by the hundreds every week.”

“That is not the issue here, he’s scum and we’re glad to be rid of him; the issue is that your moratorium upon the use of the death penalty is still very much in force.”

“And?” Luna growls, putting the pieces together herself.

“My government does not like the notion of an Immortal Princess who considers herself above the law of her government; that is in fact insane.”

“Ambassador, you forget your place.”

“Forgive me, I apologize.” The gryphon’s tone makes it clear he means nothing of the kind.  “The point remains, she’s dangerous. Who will she be unleashed upon next?”

“That situation is in hoof.” Luna says, her tone making it clear to the Ambassador that this topic is not open for continued debate. Wisely, the Ambassador takes the hint.

“Moving on, we’re also a bit concerned by the behavior of several of your councilmen.”

“I see, what has Prince Blueblood done this time?” Luna rolled her eyes.

“It is not just Prince Blueblood, though his vitriol has been increasingly virulent of late—”

“I apologize for my nephew he is—”

“Prince Blueblood is his own stallion, we cannot hold you to account for his actions. Our concerns are with the other male in the extended family.”

“Shining Armour? He’s a perfect gentlecolt.”

“I’m sure he is. He also commands the Crystal Empire’s military forces, which have all been put on alert. Five regiments have been moved to within one hundred miles of the border. That’s the thick end of eight thousand soldiers. His comments, both in public and in private likewise suggest that he holds our entire nation to fault for failing to find those who maimed his sister and killed his commander. This has naturally caused concern among the inhabitants of the Eyrie.”

“I see. I shall have words with him, and try and control any retaliation he may consider.”

“He is not the only one in favor of war. Blueblood may be a bigot but he is a darling of the tabloids. He must be… Amused.”

“He would be, his father owns many of them.” 

“Yes. The tabloids are whipping your ponies up into a frenzy, your Highness, as I’m sure you’re aware.”

“The populace has concerns.” Luna admits, and the gryphon scowls.

“The masses can take a short walk down a long cliff. The proletariat are a mob with the memory of a goldfish and a brain fitted firmly between their hind-legs. They only do what suits them in the short term, that is why we ignore the people and concentrate power in the hands of those who know how to make the right decisions. Those that are capable of doing difficult things, and accepting of material gain… We then disseminate the truth that we have prepared for the masses. Essentially, lies like the ones you tell. Lies you feed your own like we do ours.”

“The populace is not ready for the truth, that is different—”

“No. You are not ready for the truth. Your sister was murdered. By our rebels. I understand that much, and I understand we are in a difficult position, but what you need to understand your Highness; as much as we want to aid you, we cannot give you what you want.”

“They would be in an advisory position; non-combat only.”

“We have this situation in hand, we do not need, or want more Equestrian interference in our affairs.”

“Our interference placed your uncle on the throne.”

“I think we are done here if that is all you can offer.” 

“If I discover that it is the Empire’s fault, know this, and tremble well… I will not rest until each and every one of you is dead.”

“We shall bear that in mind.”

“Make it your every waking moment."
> I Want Love
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 4: I Want Love


The night lamp lurking behind Twilight Sparkle was more of a visual aid for the tiny notebook that was resting upon the ground. Whereby upon the pages, lines of observational notes regarding the astronomic state of the skies were scrawled. 

With a quill grasped firmly between her teeth, the lavender mare craned her head down low to peer into the lens of her cherished fillyhood telescope, a gift that was from her mentor Princess Celestia, for her tenth birthday.



 What’s this? I… I don’t remember this… isn’t that my first telescope?

That old thing brings back such fond memories… 

I remember being so excited when I unwrapped it; it was just what I always wanted. 

We always gazed upon the stars together when I was just a filly… especially the moon.

I never felt such love for anypony before; not even my parents… It almost sounds completely irrational when I say it out loud like that,  but I think when I received the telescope, that was when I first fell in love with the Princess. 

I didn't know what it was I was feeling at the time… I just thought it was admiration for an intellectual better. The love for a friend who gave me such a great gift. 

How wrong and confused I was... I was just clouding the truth with the innocence of a foal.



Although hardly as powerful as her newer and more sophisticated telescope back at Ponyville Library, Twilight Sparkle always indulged in old memories by using it whenever she returned to her nigh untouched bedroom within the capitol’s castle walls, which was situated subsequently just down the hall from Princess Celestia and Princess Luna’s own.

Twilight’s loving smile only deepened as she panned the telescopic sight from a single twinkling star that made up part of the Ursa Major constellation; momentarily remembering Trixie with a slight frown and then to the giant embodiment Luna’s power, bathing her eyesight in its hauntingly beautiful, pale moonlight as she observed and inspected its surface. 

It had been some years since Princess Luna was saved by the Elements of Harmony and since then, so much more had happened. 

Some days Twilight could not quite believe her current situation; once a former student of the Celestia; an Element of Magic, now a Princess herself – equal to royalty, and with enough power at her hooves to control an entire kingdom of her own if she so chose to.

“Someday, but not right now. I have much to learn… Besides, I have plenty of time for that stuff in the future,” Twilight announced to herself, her excited smile quickly transforming into shock as she spotted a slight imperfection upon the lunar surface that was not present in her previous observations.

“Oh my! Is that a new crater? I definitely don’t remember seeing that...” Turning excitedly and crouching down low, Twilight summoned her magic to manipulate the pages of the notebook, quickly flicking back through it to the appropriate page where she hurriedly read her older surveys to confirm her suspicions.



Why do I not… feel this excitement anymore? 

I haven’t read a book since… I haven’t even used the telescope back at the library since… since now, here, in this dream…

Is this a dream?

It feels so real, the detail too vivid… is this a memory?



She stomped all of her hooves excitedly, as she semi-jogged on the spot, turning around and around like a school filly going off on her first school camping trip, giggling like a maniac.

“It is a new crater! I must amend my notes,” Twilight spun about to summon her magic and pick up her pencil, writing excitedly into her notebook.

“This is simply too good to be true! This only serves to give further evidence to my ideas! And if I am correct—and that's a big if of course, then we must thank the Princesses all the more for raising the sun and the moon! The gravitational pull of the celestial objects must be drawing in interstellar debris, forcibly changing their flight path and protecting this world from direct harm from devastating impacts! If the moon and the sun—I theorize of course, were forced to remain in its original static positions, then I am sure that Equestria and various other parts of the world would had been peppered by asteroids and rendered uninhabitable! If it wasn't for the Princesses orbiting those celestial bodies, I am pretty sure the landscape and pony culture as we know today would had been shaped very differently by these impacts! Not to mention the drastic change in weather patterns—this is great!”

Her frantic amendment of her old notes was cut short as a soft knock on the door drew up her attention for a fraction of a second. 

“Ah… was I talking too loud again? I hope I didn’t wake up anypony."

Dropping the quill on top of the open notebook, Twilight Sparkle trotted from the balcony to which her telescope was perched upon and headed across her expansive bedroom, which resembled the library back at Ponyville when you consider the filled bookshelves lining the walls that only ceased on either side of the bedroom door, where the gentle knocking continued its relentless onslaught. 

Opening it up to find herself peering out into the hallway, Twilight Sparkle found Princess Celestia patiently waiting with a beaming, though somewhat tired smile upon the features of the monarch.

“P-Princess! Is something wrong? Oh… Oh, did I wake you up? I’m just so used to Spike being here to listen to me that I kind of forget that I needed to keep qui—”

“There is no need to fret, my dearest Twilight Sparkle. I was unable to sleep and I thought we could spend some time together. I do apologize for being unable to spend the morning with you, but the Day Court was particularly long… and boring,” Celestia’s horn was aglow with her magic as a silver tray enveloped in the same magical hue hovered into view between them, bearing all the necessary cutlery and ingredients needed to create herbal tea, “and don’t worry about waking me up Twilight, for there is nothing I enjoy more than hearing the excited voice of my greatest student in her element.”

The lavender mare blushed heavily as she glanced aside, her ears flat and twitching against her head at the complement, “U-Um, thank you, Princess... Um... please, come in,” Twilight announced almost in an embarrassed mutter, stepping back and opening the door fully.

As the Princess entered, Twilight’s eyes passed a glance over to the swishing spectral tail of her mentor, before running her gaze over those elegantly long hind legs and up over her flank where her Celestia’s Cutie Mark was proudly displayed upon the rump.

Entranced by the Goddess, Twilight observed as the Princess settled the tray of tea next to the notebook and drew her muzzle low towards the pages, reading silently the findings of her student with a wide, brimming smile of pride that just glistened in the eyes of her mentor… 

Silently, Twilight Sparkle stepped forward towards the balcony, where the Princess was currently and silently occupied, her ears pulsing as blood coursed through her veins in an excited surge as she felt the odd sensation of something squirming in her stomach, growing with the need to moisten her lips with her tongue. 

Nervously she approached the occupied Princess, her eyes wide and her mouth almost falling agape at the sight of the sheer magnificence gracing her balcony this evening,  bathed in the pale moonlight, almost causing the Princess’s spectral mane and tail to glisten like a thousand suns that were dimmed and compressed into the strands of her beautiful hair. 

Breathlessly, Twilight found her hooves rooted to the spot the closer she came, a fierce blush fighting its way onto her face, suddenly unable to speak or to think coherently.



Why did I have to fall in love with somepony who was just so perfect? 

She was a Princess who I aspired to be, and to… and to have… 

To hold… 

To kiss…

I longed to stroke that hair; yearned to take it in my hooves and smell the aroma of the dawn in the strands…

Lusting to feel those lips crushed against mine, kissing me with a wanted passion, one that could have burnt hotter than the sun…



Seemingly noting the silence, Celestia lifted her head from the book and looked upon Twilight with a growing concern, as the Element of Magic was just blatantly staring at her from the balcony entrance. 

“Is something wrong, Twilight?” At the continued silence, Celestia all but ignored the tea she had brought with her, her attention shifting from the notebook as she moved to approach Twilight with the look of a mother’s love twisted into worry.

“N-nothing is wrong, P-Princess I just—”

“Then… Why are you crying?”

“I-I’m crying?” Twilight shot a hoof up to her eyes and quickly rubbed at them, stunned to find that it was true. She was indeed crying, for she could not feel the moisture smeared upon her muzzle.

“Twilight,” Gentle, warm forelegs lifted to wrap about the neck of the lavender mare, as Celestia drew her into a comforting and loving embrace. “Is there something on your mind? Whatever it is, I will do my best to help. I promise.”

The lavender form trembled against the regal white of the Princess, unable to move as her her muzzle was pressed firmly against Celestia’s chest, the monarch’s wings too seizing Twilight’s diminutive form in its graceful entrapment. 

“I’m... afraid…”



I was so afraid… even though I wanted nothing more than to tell how I truly felt.



“Of what, Twilight Sparkle?”

Twilight clenched her eyes shut, the words passing through her lips without thought.

“Of… you.”

“Of me?” Celestia seemed generally surprised, “Whatever do you mean?”

“I don’t… I-I don't want you to hate me, Princess…”

“Twilight...” Celestia spoke her former student’s name with a dash of authority, yet with the permanent underlying sincerity of her love for the younger mare present within her tone, which served to both comfort and stir up a storm of conflicting emotions within Twilight as both mares stared deep into the others’ eyes.

“There is nothing you can do, or say to make me hate you. I am so very proud to know you, Twilight Sparkle. So, very proud to have once called you my student and so very proud that you fulfilled your destiny and grew up to become the mare you are today. So whatever it is you have done, Twilight, I am sure it cannot warrant my hatred.”

Celestia’s smile grew as she continued, noticing the faint blush upon Twilight’s cheeks, “I don’t know what it is that troubles you but no matter what it is, know that I will always be here for you.”

Twilight was touched beyond what words could comprehend. It took all of her might to stop herself from crying from the joy that exploded within her chest.

“Do you not remember the lessons you have learnt over the years, my dearest Twilight? As you have so rightly mentioned before in your correspondence to me in regards to the Magic of Friendship; do you not recall that friends are always there to lend a helping hoof?” 

The embrace upon Twilight slackened, as the Princess pulled back just enough to gaze into former student’s eyes, a wide, beaming smile upon the lips of the Princess.



I should had kissed her then. 

I should have told her… 

Oh please, let this one moment last forever; please, just for a while longer let me see that smile that melts my heart and makes me silently cry out with love.

If this is indeed a dream then don’t let this end!



That dazzling smile upon the lips of her unrequited love transformed much to Twilight Sparkle’s confusion into an alarmed surprise, before dropping into a sudden and enraged purpose that hardened Celestia’s gaze into blind determination. 

Uncertain as to why the Princess looked so distraught over the top of Twilight’s head, the lavender mare turned to look at just what it was that was behind her. 

Not a moment later, the Princess had moved to manoeuvre herself with such speed it almost appeared much like a white streak had invaded Twilight’s vision. The Princess was standing before the lavender mare with her wings outstretched, blocking her view altogether of what it was that was going on, as if protecting her from some kind of peril.

The Princess’s horn was aglow with all the might of the burning sun to which she represented, Celestia erecting a glittering shield of gold around them both, protecting them from a growing, pale light that animated from somewhere within Twilight Sparkle’s bedroom. 

Unsure as to what was going on, Twilight moved to press herself into the flank of her mentor, afraid and perplexed as to what was going on as she peered around her. 

“What is that?”



No, please, not that… anything but that!

This is a dream—my dream! I don’t want to see this again! Once was enough!



“Stay behind me, Twilight Sparkle!”

All too abruptly, the invasive light brightened to its blinding zenith, causing both the Twilight Sparkle and Celestia to instinctively close their eyes and raise their hooves up to cover their faces from the enshrouded entities that stood within the blast’s epicentre.

"P-Princess? What’s happening?!"



STOP IT!



A gut wrenching stench of burnt flesh and cindered hair permeated the air as Twilight felt herself flung to the ground—



PLEASE!



And the weight of something on top of her, pushing her down—



NO!



… and the horrific visage of the Princess, whose face was contorted into a silent scream; horribly burnt and blistered, as her final breath departed from this mortal coil.


____________________________________



“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” 

Twilight Sparkle jolted up in her plush comfortable bed, awaking in a rush of panicked bewilderment as her half blinded sight struggled to adjust to reality, her eyelids wide as she flailed her limbs and screamed in violent desperation to save the mare she loved that had long since been interned to her tomb. 

The mare felt something or somepony holding her down by the shoulders with a powerful restraint, while another two weaker struggling attempts wrapped about her writhing rear legs. 

Panicked by the weight crushing down on her, Twilight’s turmoilous mind reacted accordingly and thus she started bucking wildly against the restraints, tears streaming down her cheeks as she arched her back and thrashed her head wildly from side to side, as a mixture of anguish and anger contorted her face into a vile sneer as her maddeningly wide, unblinking eyes took in the surroundings of her own bedroom and its occupants.

“Twi’! It’s me! Ya’ll safe now!” Applejack bore her full weight down on the lavender mare’s shoulders, pinning her down onto her back, forcing her head to completely consume Twilight’s sight with a concerned and tearful expression.

“Ya need ta calm down, sugar, it’s jus’ us!” 

“L-LET ME GO! LET ME GO!”

“Someone DO something! I… I can’t hold onto her forever, you know! Ah! She’s stronger than she looks!” Came a struggling, tomboyish plea.

Applejack’s prized Stetson flopped from her head during the confrontation, landing upon the bed as she fought against Twilight’s violent spasms, her ponytail coming loose during the confrontation, spilling golden strands to chaotically cover portions of her deeply concerned expression.

“Someone go an’ call a doc! Or the Princess or somethin’! I don’t think she’s gonna stop—we’ll need somethin’ to calm ‘er down, like a sedative or somethin’!”

“Fluttershy go and find somepony, I’ve got this—” 

“A-are you sure?” Came a timid reply.

“Yeaaaah, no biggie. Just hurry up, okay?”

“O-okay…”

“Stop struggling, egghead! You’re only gonna go and hurt somepony if you-OW! Hey! Watch it!”

Panting and feeling weaker by the second, Twilight finally started to relent given her fragile state, the sudden explosion of anger and desperation swiftly replacing with a growing sense of helplessness that curdled away into a wrenching heart filled with the lamentation of tears, as her head simply flopped back onto the bed dejectedly, her wide eyed gaze glazing as she stared straight up at the ceiling, beyond Applejack’s worried expression.

“Twi’?” The abrupt silence and tranquillity from the lavender mare caused the earth pony to relax her grip, “Twi'?” She shook the mare gently and found little response from the unblinking eyes. 

“T-Twilight? Twilight, answer me…” Hot tears coursed down Applejack’s muzzle, as she shook Twilight a little more violently, “Twilight! Twilight can ya hear me? Please say somethin’, a-anythin’! We’re your friends—we’re here! It's me, Applejack... Don' ya recognize me?”

“AJ… It's cool, she's still breathing, see? She's just tired, let her rest a little, yeah?" 

The rainbow mane colored pegasus approached Applejack, content in releasing Twilight’s rear legs for the moment as she noticed how docile the alicorn had become. Gently, Rainbow Dash pried Applejack from off of Twilight’s immobile figure and simply embraced the earth pony as the farmer erupted into tears.

“A-ah can’t bare t-to see ‘er like this…”

“I know AJ. I know… Me either."

"Ya'll bein' awfully calm 'bout it!"

"Sorry… but you do know she will get better, right? It is why I ain't worried in the slightest. She's Twilight Sparkle, the Element of Magic, AJ, of course she's gonna be okay,” Rainbow Dash moved to sooth the earth pony, by stroking her mane delicately with a gentle, albeit trembling hoof, fighting back her own emotions by nibbling on her lower lip, “we’ve got to be strong for her, kay?”

“Ah’m not so sure—"

“We have to believe, Applejack. I believe she will be alright. Because we’ll be there waiting for her… Cause, you know. We’re friends… You look after her for a second, yeah? I have to go and do something.” Rainbow Dash stepped back and fluttered her wings so that she hovered a few inches off of the ground, electing a concerned expression from the farmer.

“Where ya’ll going?”

A look of determination grew on Rainbow Dash’s face as she regarded the scarily silent Twilight, noting now for the first time that the lavender mare’s lips were making subtle movements, as if Twilight was speaking silently to herself. Rainbow swallowed hard at the sight, casting away her worry for her friend for an unquenchable thirst for answers.

The blue pegasi blinked back her own tears and gave Applejack a pained glance, “I’ve got a bone to pick with a Princess for putting Twilight in this situation in the first place. We knew she was not ready to attend that stupid trial, yet she still gave Twilight the option to go...” 

Rainbow noted the rising retort from Applejack and merely interjected before she had the chance to say anything, “I know! I know! Twilight wasn’t being forced to go—we KNEW she was in no condition to go and we KNEW she would have gone no matter what we all said, but I just don’t see why the Princess had to go and agree with it. 

Heck, if Luna had said nothing about the trial in the first place and not bothered her with something so trivial, Twilight would still be in Ponyville resting, so I’m going to go and give the Princess a piece of my mind for allowing this to happen.”

“W-wait, RD! Don’ go an’ do anythin’—” before the farmer could even raise a hoof to stop her, a contrail of rainbow departed the bedroom leaving Applejack by herself, “ah, horse apples...” The earth pony sighed and moved to pick up her Stetson, placing it upon its rightful place atop of her head. 

To a degree, she knew Rainbow was right. But this whole situation was just so… Impossible. What could have caused Twilight to collapse like that and what was that stupid trial about, anyway?

Why did it need TWO Princesses to preside over it? Surely Luna and the council could have dealt with it between them?

Was it not the reason why the council was formed in the first place?

Why was it so important tha’ Twi’ was so determined to go?

Her emerald eyed gaze glistened with tears as she moved to hold Twilight’s hoof in her own, dipping down low to kiss the back of it as she stroked it tenderly. 

“Ya’ll safe now, sugarcube… We gonna take ya home back to Ponyville, ‘kay? Ah promise, we’ll all look after ya… so jus’… jus’ say somethin’, Twi’—anythin’… Twilight?” 

Renewed tears formed in Applejack’s eyes as she attained little to no response from the eerily silent mare, her bottom lip quivering, “I know ya’ll can hear me, Twi’ jus’ say somethin’… Move a hoof, blink a few, nod ya your head! Jus’ do somethin’!”

Twilight’s eyes of white and amethyst abruptly focused upon Applejack’s glittering emerald orbs at her plea, but there was nothing behind them. There was just no life in them and it stabbed at Applejack to see it. 

The sheer weight behind that vacant stare caused Applejack to crumble down and weep openly against Twilight’s hoof, “Ah’m so sorry I wasn’ there for ya… I’m so, so sorry... we all are... ya’ll forgive us, right, sugar? We’ve tried everythin’ to make ya feel better an’ I know how much it hurts… an’ it hurts us too tha’ the Princess... d-died in such ah-ah… ah... horrible… A-accident…”

An impassive voice croaked out hoarsely, barely above the audibility of a distant whisper, “Accident?”

Looking up from Twilight’s hoof, the snot and tear stained face of Applejack peered back into those eyes, pity and worry lacing them much to the lavender mare’s disgust, a smile breaking out across Applejack’s lips as Twilight finally responded.

“Twi’…”

“Accident?” Louder this time, Twilight’s voice grew in its demand, her gaze releasing a horde of emotion to pierce right through Applejack’s soul. 

“What accident?”
> Room Of Angel
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 5: [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0yvkmgy9B4[]Room Of Angel


The feeble desperation in the eyes of the lavender mare had stunned Applejack, but not enough to deter her from explaining what the farm pony already thought to be public knowledge. 

While she did not presume to know the situation in all of its magical-mumbo-jumbo Applejack did understand this; the Princess of the Sun had been killed in an unfortunate and quite devastating accident of magical origins; an accident which ended the life of the Goddess almost outright, while nearly ending the young Princess Twilight Sparkle in the process as well.

Applejack had explained what little she knew of the situation with as much detail as she could offer once pressed further upon the subject by the bedridden Twilight Sparkle whose insatiable thirst for knowledge was comfortingly present, despite her current injured predicament. 

While Applejack found solace in this reaction from the studious mare, the farm pony still found herself unnerved by how little Twilight seemingly remembered of the event; she appeared rather unsure and gave the farm pony a skeptical once over with a look in her eyes that Applejack had seen far too often, most of which revealed itself that one day a year or so back while Twilight attempted to figure out Pinkie Pie’s infamously reality shattering ‘Pinkie Sense.’

Had her memories not returned, or were they just a little fuzzy? Was the damage far worse than what they all had originally feared? Perhaps she was not as healed as they were all led to believe. Maybe Twilight still needed to be in a hospital to fully recover from her life altering injuries?

The damage to the mares brain was a great concern for many of Twilight’s friends for they knew no normal pony could had survived what she had went through, even though they were assured by the royal physicians who had saved Twilight’s life, that her recuperation was not only supernaturally swift but fairly remarkable, for not only was she attended to by Canterlot’s finest but Twilight was also attended to by the Moon Goddess herself, who personally attended to the wounded Princess many a time, by lending her powers to aid and accelerate in the healing process. 

The doctors said it should had taken weeks; maybe even months before Twilight would had been able to properly and clearly think for herself, and move around unattended. If it was not for Luna’s intensive healing sessions which had negated all of that arduous therapy, Twilight could had still been in far worse of a condition than what she was now.

She might had even died.

Throughout it all, Applejack felt powerless to help Twilight. She had wondered how she could help her, but found herself coming short of ideas. She had no fancy magic to call her own; no super healing powers or complicated memory spells to fix the Alicorn’s memories… she felt utterly useless.

The only attribute; the only way she could think of right now to help her was by simply being there for her, to talk to Twilight about the details of the assassination truthfully and honestly with all of her knowledge upon the subject. 

Perhaps in this way, she could aid the healing of the broken lavender mare’s mind the Princess’s magic could not, and help Twilight fit the pieces back together. To clear the confusion and to help her remember what Twilight had thus far only struggled and battled with inside her nightmares.

From what Applejack understood; and what she garnered from the very lips of the Moon Goddess, Princess Twilight Sparkle and Princess Celestia were engaged in what appeared to be a delicate experiment involving specifically the Element of Magic, attempting to discover what it was made from and how such a material could possess its attribute to harness the other Elements of Harmony as magical conduits, while simultaneously focusing and containing the volatile energy within itself only to manipulate such raw power into a concentrated radiation of pure, controlled Harmony.

Of course, Applejack explained all of this in not so many frivolous words by mostly glazing over the details with an uncertainty, half expecting (half hoping) Twilight to correct her mishaps in regards to the subject when she could not quite find the correct scientific phrase to explain what it was that she was trying to say and what the Moon Princess had told her. 

But the lavender mare did not. She merely stared at Applejack with an uncharacteristically disinterested and distant expression, hardly seeking to correct or even educate her upon her misuse of the correct terminology.

The earth pony could almost see the cogs working away inside of Twilight’s mind, as she processed the information she had just shared, but gave away nothing in return in regards to remembering or denying the event ever took place. 

However, the young alicorn Princess wore an expression of a particular manner that was again all too familiar with the farm pony, for Twilight often looked like this when she was trying to find the solution to some mind numbing problem she did not quite know the answer to. 

After many long awkward moments of silence as the two mares gazed at each other, Twilight simply turned away in the bed and closed her eyes without another word.

Struggling against a yawn, Applejack glanced to the bedroom door, half expecting Rainbow Dash to return from her confrontation with Princess Luna, or even Fluttershy with a doctor to attend to Twilight’s needs. 

Despite many minutes of drawn out silence and neither of the ponies showing up, the exhaustion of the day had crept up upon the earth pony, causing her to settle down beside the bed and to rest her head upon her crossed forelegs, creating a makeshift; albeit somewhat less than comfortable pillow.

When Applejack had closed her eyes, the lowering sun and its bleeding orange hue spilt out through the crack between the curtains, with the calming sounds of birds chirping merrily away beyond the patio window that led out onto a small private balcony that overlooked most of Canterlot.

By the time Applejack opened her eyes again, her mind reeled as she had to adjust rather swiftly to the sudden time dilation and drastic change of ambience.

The warm glow of the setting sun was replaced by a consuming darkness that threw the bedroom into a somewhat cold, unforgiving space. From her position on the ground, Applejack quickly gathered her bearings and released a rather loud and a rather sleepy yawn, a hoof rising up to rub at her sleep-sparkled half lidded emerald eyes.

“Ah must ‘ave fallen asleep…” She groaned, before her eyes settled onto a note that had been placed rather purposefully and neatly upon the ground inches before her. 

Applejack squinted her eyes to inspect it, and noted almost immediately that the mouthwriting was that of Fluttershy’s. 



We thought we would let you sleep, I hope you don’t mind. We just didn’t want to bother you... The doctor checked in on Twilight and gave her a mild sedative to help her sleep better. If you need anything, just come to my room. It seems Rainbow Dash is a little upset over something and she wants to spend the night with me. I thought you should know incase you go looking for her. Fluttershy xx<3<3<3xx



“Maybe Luna gave her a good tongue lashin’ after all. Just hope she didn’ say anythin’ too stupid.” 

With that said, she moved to rise up onto all four hooves, stretching each leg individually to work out the kinks as she casually tossed her dreamy eyed gaze to a bed she fully expected to observe a somewhat sedated Princess Twilight Sparkle. 

Instead, the bed was unoccupied.

Applejack quaked into a full alertness within a blink of an eye as her mind realized in its sudden attention that Twilight Sparkle was no longer there, however it did not take long for Applejack to break away from her sudden concern, for despite the inky darkness of the night consuming her still adjusting sight, a spectral beam of dazzling moonlight cut across the room from the now open patio doorway, illuminating the silent lavender mare as she stared out to the world beyond with her wings sprayed out wide as if basking in the cold light of the moon, as one would relish the warming rays of the sun.

Adjusting her Stetson so Applejack could get a better view of Twilight’s figure, the farm pony found herself unable to speak and unable to approach her friend. In fact, Applejack was simply entranced by the sheer magnificence of the alicorn, despite the blood stained bandages that remained wrapped about her flank.

Maybe it was the way the curtains curled and danced within a gentle breeze around the alicorn, or maybe it was because she was still half asleep and everything just seemed that bit more surreal and enchanting than it ought to had been.

Regardless of the reasons, it spurred a deep rooted blush to form upon Applejack’s cheeks.

Whoa there, nelly. She doesn’ need tha’ righ’ now. She needs a friend. N’ she definitely don’ need you oogling her. Now snap on out of it!

Finally, Applejack spoke, but in a soft and calming tone she often used to comfort Applebloom when the filly was upset about something. 

It was a sisterly sentiment that extended to Twilight, whom she considered almost like family like the rest of the Elements. They had been through so much together after all, so it was no stretch of the imagination that Applejack loved Twilight and the rest of the girls like her own flesh and blood; and if the truth be told, that love ran far deeper than she cared to let on when it came to Twilight Sparkle.

Breaking free from the spell, Applejack offered a soft smile and equally soft voice. “Come on from th’ window, sugar, it’s freezin’ out tonigh’.”

Twilight said nothing.

“Ya’ll catch a cold if ya stand there too long, an’ ya don’t go needing it in ya condition. An’ let’s get fresh bandages on ya flank there, they’re lookin’ a bit dirty.” Applejack stifled a yawn with a hoof, lifting it up to rub at her eyes as she glanced about the room in search of a medical kit of some description, “an’ I think we could be usin’ some more shut eye, ah’m beat.”

The lavender mare remained exactly where she was before the open window frame with her back fully facing the farm pony, immobile and seemingly defiant in her statuesque position, despite Applejack’s more than inviting suggestion of further rest.

“It wasn’t an accident,” Twilight finally whispered up at the unforgiving coldness of the clear skied night, spectral wisps of hot air curling from her lips as she spoke, “she was murdered…”

Applejack blinked once, her eyes registering the information with a widening stare at the bandaged hind quarter to which she had been morbidly observing for quite some time, her gaze quickly switching to look at Twilight’s frizzled, disarrayed state of her mane when she posed her bewildering statement with a tilt of her head. 

“S‘cuse me?”

“Princess Celestia…” Twilight’s entire body trembled at the mere mention of her name, her wings drooping low to the ground while her ears fell flat against her head, “she was killed...” 

The abrupt sobs that shook the lavender mare threw the farm pony into action, swiftly moving up alongside Twilight Sparkle in an attempt to support her with a subtle lean.

“Shhhhh—it’ll be okay, ah’m here sugar. We all are. Ah know what ya’ll goin’ through,” Applejack moved her head to nuzzle her Stetson and blonde locks comfortingly into the nook of Twilight’s neck, just under her chin, “when ah lost m’ parents, I was distraught too. But ya’ll gotta be strong, Twi’. Ya’ll not alone. Ya’ll have family and friends to be there for ya like ah did.”

“But—”

“Ah understand ya’ll confused and hurtin’ righ’ now, but ya’ll got to listen to reason. The Princess wasn’ killed; it was all jus’ one big terrible accident. Ya’ll gonna find yourself feeling disorientated for a while, but it’ll all—”

“I’m not confused, Applejack…”

The farm pony sighed. 

“Listen, ah kno’ the doc’ said that ya’ll memory will be a lil’ scrambled ‘cause of the accident,” Applejack pulled her head back to look at the pained expression upon Twilight’s face, noting how tense the mare’s body had become, “an’ ah know how it feels when grief makes ya think silly things; trust me sugar, ah know exactly how ya feel... When ah lost mah parents, ah blamed herself, when it was nothin’ but an acci—”

Twilight muttered something under her breath as she turned her head away, causing Applejack to tilt her ears towards the lavender mare, “Sorry, sugar? Ah couldn’ hear you.”

“It wasn’t, an accident.”

“Listen’, ah know ya hurtin’ over the loss of the Princess—we all are. But ya’ll need to go back to bed an’ jus’ rest. Ya’ll exhausted an thats not helpin’ any. With some good shut eye an’ a good meal or several ya’ll be seein’ sense again, an’ we can all get through this mess together,” Applejack smiled sympathetically to Twilight, placing a hoof upon the mare’s shoulder tenderly, “ah Pinkie Promise... things will get better.”

“Just… Just shut.., up.”

Applejack appeared dumbstruck, as if Twilight Sparkle had just slapped across the muzzle. “W-Wha’?”

Twilight lifted a hoof and simply shoved Applejack from her, turning about to scorch a glare right at the farm pony who instantly coward back from her friend with several retreating steps. 

Flaring her wings wide, Twilight continued her advance until Applejack was pinned between her and the bed, “Just shut up for one bucking second Applejack, and please listen to me! It was not an accident! How many times do I need to say it?!”

“Twi’, just calm down, an talk t’—”

“I WILL NOT CALM DOWN! I have been trying to talk to you but you keep dismissing everything I say! You are just not listening to a single word I am saying! Nopony is! I thought you girls were my friends!”

“We… we are, sugar! I jus’ don’ understand what ya’ll are tryin’ to say.”

Twilight stomped a hoof angrily, huffing through her nose to a point that she almost angrily snorted at the other mare she considered a close friend, “Celestia was not in some stupid experiment! She was not in some kind of an accident!”



The stench of burnt flesh invaded the air...



The lavender mare wrinkled her nostrils as the ghostly smell of cindered fur and skin invaded her nostrils, ignoring the memory even though it churned in her stomach, causing bile to rise up in her throat. 

“Hun, she was... ya’ll might not rememberin’ it well, but she was.”

Moving both of her hooves out to place them upon Applejack’s shoulders, she gently shook her the mare as if to illustrate her point further. “She was murdered in cold blood by a gryphon assassin! I was there! You have to believe me!”

Applejack steeled her resolve, her patience wearing thin. She had all the patience in the world for her friends and family and rarely did she ever lose her cool towards them. But Twilight was acting uncharacteristically violent and it irritated her to the point of anger.

A dominant force overtook Applejack’s initial fear of the threatening demeanour of her friend and she forced her emerald eyes into a focused and fierce expression right back into the dual coloured hues of amethyst and white that were evidentially wide with hysterics.

“Get off me, Twi’, ya’ll startin’ to scare me.”

Twilight only persisted, her entire body quaking as desperation forced the mare to scream her words right into the orange mare’s face. “You have to believe me, Applejack! Please! I am not crazy! I am not making this up; it’s the truth! I didn’t imagine this!”

“Twilight, ah’m givin’ ya’ll one more chance… git off me an’ we can talk ‘bout it like civilized—”

Hot, angry tears coursed its way down Twilight’s tempered features as she allowed the darkness in her heart; filled with the combined influence of gut wrenching sorrow and uncontrolled anger to bubble up into an amalgamation of rage, in the shape of words and actions she would never had thought of doing or even fathom to consider, in her entire life.

Savagely, she pushed Applejack down on the bed, moving to straddle the earth pony and press her hooves firmly upon the surprised orange mare’s exposed chest, pinning her there beneath Twilight’s full weight combined with a strength she did not know she could possess, her serpentine formed amethyst eye darkening a shade as her mane subtly flowed about her head as if caught in an unseen, unfeeling draft.

“NO! I have had enough of my friends ignoring everything I have to say! Every time I try to explain myself you say I’m confused and sick, showering me with concern I do not need! Well guess what? I am in full control of my mental faculties so you are going to shut the buck up and listen to me you stupid mud pony!”

Both ponies froze, each sharing a similar aghast expression upon their faces. For a time, both mares did nothing but stare into each other eyes. 

W-what… what did I just say?

One half-blind set beheld the sheer horror and immediate regret of what was said, while the other filled with an affliction of tears coalescing into a maelstrom of hurt that spilt out to dribble down Applejacks temples and to soak in the golden locks of her mane.

W-what have I done?!

Twilight Sparkle retracted herself from upon her restrictive position atop of the orange mare and moved to step back from the bed, a trembling hoof floating before her lips as she turned her head away in shame, the subtle change in her working its way to returning her to a normal state. 

A different kind of remorse filled Twilight, and it only served to mutate into a self-deprecation she now felt in lieu of her senseless outburst.

How could she say something so horrible to a friend?

I’d never… ever say something so…

“A-Applejack… I… I didn’t mean to—”

Silently, Applejack leant up from the bed and too moved to stand without another word, keeping her eyes firmly upon the ground beside Twilight’s hooves as silent tears dribbled down her cheeks, unable to move and unable to say a thing, yet the damaged caused was written plainly across Applejack’s face and it only served to deepen Twilight’s desperate attempt to correct her actions.

“I… I wasn’t thinking straight...”

“Clearly.” Applejack replied emotionlessly, trying her best not to sound snappy.

Twilight took a step forward, “I don’t know what came over me. I-I-I didn’t mean it. I’d never want to hurt you or any of my friends. You know that, right? I was just—”

“Ah know,” without so much as looking at Twilight; hardly offering her the chance to reply, Applejack headed for the door, “but ah suppose this inferior mud pony best be goin’ now.”

Nonononono—this can’t be happening!

“Wait!” Twilight moved quickly, blocking Applejack’s path to the door, both of her hooves moving up as she expressed her regret.

“It’s just—you have to believe me, Applejack,” Twilight swallowed hard as she angled her head so she could try and look into Applejack’s teary eyes that still refused to look back at her, “I’m sorry for what I said and did, but you have to believe me! I’m telling the truth! Celestia was murdered—ask Princess Luna! I’m sure she will tell you the same.”

“Never in mah life have ah ever wanted to—Twi’, please leave me alone before I go an’ do somethin’ ah’m gonna regret,” the orange mare hazard a glance at Twilight, trying hard to control herself and not glare at her friend, “Ah need some sleep. An’ so do you... goodnight, Twi’. We’ll talk more in th’ mornin’.” 

With that, Applejack moved to brush past a defeated Twilight Sparkle, who offered little resistance to stop her save for a hoof moving up to brush pathetically against the orange’s mare shoulder in passing.

“W-wait… I’m sorry...” Twilight meekly wept.

Don’t leave me, Applejack… not like this!

Kicking a front hoof out at the door to swing it open, Applejack departed, leaving the stunned Twilight Sparkle without so much as another word, leaving the lavender mare in the total darkness of Princess Celestia’s bedroom alone with her festering penitence.
> The Evil That Mares Do
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 6: The Evil That Mares Do


The clicking-clack of the train as it passed over the railway tracks was the awkward backing track to the rather awkwardly silent Royal Carriage that was purposefully set aside for the occupation of the Princesses and for the more important (and often richer) figures of pony society. 

In this instance, the carriage was blessed with not only the youngest crowned Princess Twilight Sparkle, but also three other Elements of Harmony namely: Loyalty, Kindness and Honesty. 

Their destination? Ponyville.

Fluttershy and Twilight were seated at one end of the carriage upon a plushed bench, curled up together and fast asleep, while Rainbow Dash was in a similar predicament just besides them, but the rainbow coloured pegasus could hardly rest; which was unusual considering she could normally sleep almost anywhere… literally. 

There was just way too much to consider and way too much to regret to make her drift into a peaceful slumber and under normal circumstances the best friends would had been at least an hour deep into a conversation about something or another, however due to the recent happenings of the past couple of days, not a single word had been exchanged in light of the revelations that was given to them before their departure from Canterlot. 

Rainbow Dash’s confrontation with Princess Luna was heated at best and while the Princess seemingly took Rainbow Dash’s rather threatening demeanour in stride; knowing that the mare’s loyalty and concern for her lavender friend was overriding rational thought, the Princess did not however take too kindly to an Element of Loyalty calling her out on her treatment of the injured Twilight Sparkle.

But it seemed Rainbow Dash’s outburst had somehow reached out to Luna, for it was because of this confrontation perhaps that with a measure of guilt, Luna finally revealed the truth to the group in its shocking entirety before their departure from Canterlot within the safe confines of the throne room. 

Despite hearing it straight from the horse’s mouth, they still could not quite believe it even now; as they were all led to believe Celestia and Twilight were involved in an accident. Now they had to swallow the pure, disgusting fact that Princess Celestia had been murdered; and by the looks of it, the assassin would had gotten to Twilight as well if it was not for Luna’s healing intervention.

Somepony, had tried to kill their best friend… and it was much harder to deal with than chalking up the event as an accident… but what was far worse; and what ate up the three the most, was that they had all chosen to believe the lie rather than listen to their friend who preached the truth the entire time.

Fluttershy comforted Twilight who was also in attendance, while Rainbow Dash simply interrogated the Princess further more on the fate of the assassin, though the Princess of the Moon gave no quarter in that regard, simply stating that the offender had been… ‘dealt’ with and that they best never ask her anything else in regards to the villain, while Applejack… 

The farm pony hardly said a word.

In fact the farm pony had slipped out when no one was paying attention, choosing to stew over the truth by herself while Rainbow Dash on the other hand contemplated only now on the way back to Ponyville the details of what was said.

Rainbow Dash thought herself loyal; she thought herself always there for her friends and ready to defend and to believe in them. Instead, in her attempt to comfort Twilight much like the rest of the Elements, they had instead only served to hurt their best friend unwittingly with nothing but with the power of their own love for her.

“Kinda damn… what’s that word? Ironic? Yeah. Ironic… at least I think that’s ironic,” Rainbow Dash muttered, breaking from her thoughts as she turned her gaze to the sleeping mares beside her and simply laid her eyes upon the freshly bandaged face of Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash’s heart wrenching as guilt filled her eyes with tears, “...I still can’t believe… she went through that...”

She watched Princess Celestia die in front of her.

No wonder Twilight’s mood had changed so much.

Rainbow Dash’s lips curled into a frown as the memory of Fluttershy comforting Twilight Sparkle within the throne room plagued her… but it was not the words of Luna, nor was it the concept of Princess Celestia’s assassination that disturbed her most… it was Twilight Sparkle.

She looked… strangely subdued; oddly... Lifeless? 

But somehow pleased at the same time? 

It confused and even almost frightened Rainbow at how mixed up the emotions were within the young Princess, though she made no attempt to question how the mare was feeling; she had some kind of an idea, though she did not want to break an already timid mare given the situation and push the subject further.

Rainbow shivered as she tore her eyes from Twilight, unsure as to where this odd feeling came from—yet for some unknown reason, she felt she knew of the source of the change. 

It was when Twilight had left for the trial; a trial that Luna had revealed to be the one that sentenced the killer of their beloved Princess of the Sun and the attempted murder of Twilight Sparkle.

The outcome never explained, but Rainbow Dash knew something had happened.

But what?

What had happened in that trial to make Twilight so… changed?

The cyan coloured pony sighed softly, attempting to push aside the guilt ridden questions, as she departed her eyes from her sleeping friends, glancing out across the carriage to the silently standing orange mare that stared out of a window.

Rainbow Dash’s biggest worry right now however was Applejack, who was seemingly most hurt by the revelation. And who could blame her? They all were hurting in their own special way, but Applejack? It was evident that her anger was getting the better of her. 

For the most part, herself and Fluttershy had left the farm pony alone to process her thoughts, thinking that would solve the issue while they attended and paid attention to Twilight Sparkle the best they could.

Naturally, Twilight forgave them when Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash brought up their heartbroken apologies. Twilight even spoke loud enough for Applejack to purposefully hear, but the farm pony paid no attention and simply said nothing in regards to it. She merely huffed, and made little of a response. 

Twilight barely pushed the subject as well.

The lavender mare said she bore no malice to either of them for what had happened, as she understood the lie was constructed to protect her; and given her state of being she knew they had no other choice but to believe in it. 

Despite being forgiven, Rainbow knew that none of them would ever forgive themselves… and by the looks of it, especially Applejack.

Quietly, Rainbow got to her hooves, and stretched out her legs, summing up her courage before making her way as silently as possible to the side of the brooding orange farm pony, whose face was still marked with the lines of a quietly simmering rage she struggled to contain.

The cyan pegasus’s ears drew flat to her head as she bowed her muzzle slightly downwards, her wings drooping to her sides as she quietly spoke out, half wincing as she noticed her presence was only deepening the blatant irritation upon Applejack’s features.

“A bit for your thoughts?”

“Not now, RD. Leave me be.”

The gruff response caused Rainbow Dash to sigh, glancing back worriedly to the two sleeping mares, praying they would not wake up at all to the oncoming argument that was about to ensue. Once she noticed neither of them stirred, Rainbow stiffened her posture, folded her wings, and perked her ears confidently. 

She even gave the farm pony a rather stern expression, and moved to lean in closer to Applejack, keeping her voice soft, and low.

“Damn it, AJ, stop being a stubborn filly and talk to me, yeah? I know you feel just as lied to as the rest of us, but being angry is just not cool right now.”

“Ah’m not angry, RD.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “You could had fooled me.”

“...Ah’m want’in to be left alone to m’thoughts,” Applejack turned her head, glaring at the cyan pony, but her emerald eyes focused past the rainbow coloured mane to something lavender over her head, which softened Applejack’s expression as tears prickled in the corners of her eyes upon the sight of a peacefully sleeping Twilight Sparkle, “Ah… Jus’ can’t believe it’s true. Ah don’ wan’ to.”

Rainbow smiled a little triumphantly at her mental cheer as she placed a foreleg about Applejack’s shoulders, attempting to offer some comfort for the earth pony, as she stood side by side the orange mare, leaning against her affectionately.

“Being all moody and silent isn’t going to help the egghead at all or  change anything. All we can do right now is just be there for her… I’m just not looking forward to telling the others… Especially Spike. I know the Princess told us not to tell anyone else except the girls and Spike back home but… I kind of don’t want to… but I’m glad I don’t have to do it alone, you know? And you need to be less grumpy when we do. Pinkie Pie is probably going to be hit hardest by this.”

Applejack felt every inch of rage depart from her at the mention of the baby dragon, while a sadness overtook her as she broke her gaze from Twilight and simply stared out of the window, nodding her head and silently agreeing with Rainbow Dash.

Although a part of her inside wretched at the mere thought of not telling anypony else the truth, she could see and understand Luna’s reasoning. A war would never had been a good thing. It was best avoided even if it meant having to lie to Equestria and its ponies.

“Ah’m sorry, RD. Ah’m not mad at Twilight or you, or anypony right now. Ah’m just mad at myself… Ah cannot believe ah bought such a lie an’ ignored th’ truth even when Twi’...”

Applejack’s words died away when the rising pressure within her head expelled from her eyes in a flow of tears and a restrained sob, her head turning away from the concerned expression of the cyan mare besides her, who only tightened the embrace at her friend’s sudden breakdown.

Rainbow Dash sighed.

“Come on, AJ. It isn’t that bad. I know we were lied to and we believed it, but it doesn’t matter because she’s here and she’s alive, okay? We still got our egghead. Well, maybe, but… you know what I mean, right?” 

Rainbow tried to soothe the crying Applejack, but felt awkward doing so. She didn’t do crying. Especially when it was her friends. It only made her want to cry. 

With a stiff upper lip, Rainbow Dash continued. “Besides, crying makes you look so uncool.”

“J-Jeez, thanks, RD…” Applejack spluttered a chuckle in between sobs, “Ah know tha’. Ah do… It’s jus’ Ah just can’t believe tha’ Ah believed such an obvious lie, ya know? She was tellin’ th’ truth an’ Ah knew she was… Ah could tell she was. But instead Ah believed she was jus’ sick in th’ head. That’s what is hurtin’ me the most… Ah feel like ah betrayed her somehow. Ah can’t go on livin’ with mahself an’ look her in the eye without—”

“Wow. You really do love her don’t you?”

“Wha’?” Applejack blinked at Rainbow Dash, her light sobs cut short, “w-wha?” She worriedly glanced to make sure the other two mares were still fast asleep, and quickly leant in close to Rainbow Dash, almost muzzle to muzzle with the other mare as she whispered, “Whattya talkin’ ‘bout? Ah don’ love her like tha’.”

Rainbow only blinked back slowly at the farm pony, evidently not believing a word of what was just said. “Um, AJ? It’s kind of… really, really obvious...”

A blush formed on Applejack’s face, her irritation returning, only if because she was rather embarrassed at this moment in time. She tore her eyes from Rainbow Dash, and simply huffed and stared out of the window as the scenery rushed on past in a blur of color. 

“Fine... a-ah do, kay? Jus’ don’ go spreadin’ it or anythin’”

The stunned expression on Rainbow Dash’s face brought a confused frown to Applejack’s face, “Wow. So Rarity was right—I totally lost that one.”

“Lost? Lost what?” Applejack frowned, looking back at Rainbow with an arched brow. “Y'all both didn’ go bettin’ on tha’, did ya?”

The cyan mare glanced around nervously, avoiding eye contact with the farm pony. “Uhhhhm… Maybe?”


____________________________________


Golden Spike was an earth stallion and he loved his job. There was nothing he did not know about trains and there was nothing he loved more than his position as the leading driver for the EETC’s (Equestrian Express Train Company), which linked all of the major cities and towns throughout Equestria upon a singular track.

Of course, that situation was soon about to change, for the need for a secondary train due to the popular growth of public transportation in this day and age. It was an inevitable outcome in his eyes, for the populace of Equestria was growing (and quite rapidly at that), and attitudes in regards to long distance travel were changing.

Gone were the days where ponies were content to live within their own communal bubbles; happy to spend the rest of their days hardly ever leaving their place of birth. But now, in this modern day and age where travelling afar not only seemed to be a way of life for many but a requirement; for earth ponies and unicorns from as far as Appleloosa and Dodge Junction travelled to other cities and towns using this form of transportation for work and leisure. Of course, some pegasus ponies used the system too. But with their ability to fly, it did somewhat render the train obsolete for their kind.

This for Golden Spike meant more work for him and more work meant more time on the track—and oh Boy, was he excited about that prospect! A secondary route for him to ride on? A different track?! He almost swooned at the idea as he grinned proudly out of the circular window of the steam train’s engine cart, content to watch the all too familiar scenery of the countryside go whizzing on by.

His thoughts were cut short however when several thuds of something clunked rather loudly onto the metal roof, cutting his smile short and jittering the engine cart side to side ever so slightly upon its well-constructed suspension.

Such a slight motion registered immediately with the driver as unusual, for Golden Spike new every bump, every dip and every turn on the railway track. The sudden unfamiliar movement the earth pony had just experienced was certainly not expected, and it caused him to frown.

Strange… He pondered, his eyes squinting up at the ceiling as he moved forward to inspect his instruments upon the dashboard, taking note of the speedometer, the positions of the acceleration stick, the brakes lever and the hand break, noting that they were all within their correct position and well within the correct parameters when moving at this particular speed, on this particular part of the journey.

He even checked the pressure gauge just in case the engine was starting to fail.

There was only one conclusion when he noted nothing abnormal with the readouts, and he only hoped it was not the case “I hope I didn’t hit anything…”

“No, but I think that is the least of your worries.”

Golden Spike nearly jumped out of skin at the feminine voice and blinked over his shoulder as he regarded the sudden appearance of two gryphons, who stood rather imposingly behind him wielding talon-held crossbows. However, his eyes were trained more upon the third member of the group. A flame haired, amber eyed Wonderbolt that stood between them rather smugly.

Taking a step back, Golden Spike ears flattened against his head as he noted the rather sinister smiles upon the beaks and lips of the intruders, his eyes dashing between the three as he croaked out his defiance rather nervously. “H-hey! You can’t be here!” 

But the presence of the famous captain of the Wonderbolts quelled any attempt to shoo them away, and it had Golden Spike looking very concerned. “Oh… Spitfire? Is there a problem?”

The flame haired Wonderbolt stepped forward to distance herself from the flanking company that brandished in their talons their primed and ready crossbows, whom both now lifted to aim the weapons directly at Golden Spike's chest. The earth pony threw up his hooves, trembling as he backed up against the dials of the engine’s dashboard, watching as the Wonderbolt curled a hoof about the accelerator stick and pushed it right the way down to the ground.

Golden Spike could not stay quiet about this. He shouted in alarm, “What are you doing?! If we hit a corner at that speed the train could—”

“Derail,” came the smug interjection, as the Wonderbolt simply turned away to return to her company. She regarded each gryphon with cold amber eyes, her smile widening as the listened for the wail of the engine as it increased its power output to a straining maximum. “That’s exactly what I want to happen. But that possibility is made all the more feasible if; for example, the track up ahead is also unexpectedly, well, damaged...”

“But… That will kill everypony!” Golden Spike shook his head, causing his drivers hat to fall from his head as he lurched into action, wrapping his forelegs about the brakes lever. He had a duty to perform. A small duty nonetheless, but the safety of his passengers meant everything to him. He would be damned to Tartarus if he ceased in his duties now.

“How perceptive,” The Wonderbolt turned, and in that moment she lifted a hoof, signalling both gryphons to fire their payload into the side of Golden Spike's head before he had the chance to act upon his near sighted valor. 

The bolts flew the short distance with the penetrating force to puncture through the armor of a Royal Canterlot Guard with ease, so the bolts made rather short work of the pony’s skull, passing in one end and out of the other, finally resting deep into the readouts of the train’s dashboard with an array of sparks and electrical sizzling.

Blood had been splattered everywhere inside of the engine cart, and Golden Spike's body slumped dead beside the brake lever before he even hit the ground, his arms still limply wrapped about it as if even in death he fought to vainly save his passengers as blood pulsed out of the side of his head in a steady flow, pooling below him, as his muscles spasmed sporadically in his death throes.

Warm droplets of blood and brain matter had dotted the uniform of the Wonderbolt captain, as she simply sneered her distaste for the earth pony’s futile action. 

“He had such cute eyes, too… a shame, really... he could had made such a lovely pet.”

She moved to brush between her comrades, her blood sprayed lips curling sinisterly as she did so, while a tongue flicked out to lick the stain away. She savored the taste, and almost groaned in satisfaction. 

“Come on, let’s get out of here—the next corner is going to be a doozy.”

“But what about the target?” The gryphon on the left inquired, turning to follow his superior, “we have ten minutes until we hit the corner and we’re supposed to attempt to capture—”

“Change of plans,” interrupted Spitfire with a dark grin, “let’s wait until after the unfortunate ‘accident.’ I am sure the Princess will survive it… After all, she IS an alicorn. They don’t die that easily.”

The gryphon on the right blinked, confused, “I don’t think that is a good idea, Captain… The Princess is going to be upset if we don’t follow the original plan. We need to make sure she thinks we’re— ”

Spitfire spun with a hoof swinging to strike the gryphon across the cheek roughly, sending him sprawling onto the ground besides the corpse of the dead train operator, more out of shock than the sheer force behind it. 

“I am your Captain and when you are out on the field you follow my orders, is that understood? If she does find out about the plan not going as exactly as she wanted, I will find out which one of you feather brained idiots told her and I will kill you myself. Besides, the outcome is the same regardless. I just think perhaps my way will get a better result and; at the same time, get what I want.”

The pony turned, and pressed her face close to the beak of the cowering, terrified gryphon as she eyed them both with authority, “You will not get in my way of revenge... Is that understood?” 

Spitfire felt her lips sneer as she turned away and scoured her gaze at the small coal cart trailing behind the engine compartment, followed by the passenger carts beyond, where her true prize stood unknowing of the disaster that was about to unfold. 

A lusty expression drew across the face of the mare, as she licked her lips in a slow almost sultry manner, her words laced with a bitter-sweet promise that appeared and sounded a bit psychotic to her two feathered companions, who both exchanged nervous glances behind her back as one helped the other to his talons. 

“I can only hope Rainbow Dash survives; after all, I am going to enjoy breaking her in and showing her just how much I…” she sighed in longing, “love her… now. Let us watch the show from afar,” Spitfire’s wings opened up, her posture moving to a pre-flight position as her smirk widened, “it's a shame I didn’t bring any popcorn.”



_______________________

The royal carriage jarred violently, spurring Fluttershy awake with a startled yelp and a flail of hooves that drew Rainbow Dash and Applejack’s attention from their deep conversation to the meek mare, while Twilight awoke with a yawn, turning her head towards Fluttershy as she too offered a single amethyst sleepy eye to investigate the rather cute noise.  

Fluttershy blushed, inclining her head as to retract behind her wall of pink hair. “U-um… sorry.”
Applejack and Rainbow Dash grinned, restraining their chuckles behind their hooves while Fluttershy merely smiled bashfully.

Twilight shared no such amusement, for she too felt the jarring movement of the carriage even in her deep slumber. Twisting her head to investigate the royal carriage, she slipped from the seat and settled onto the ground, stretching each leg out with a wince as she worked away the stiffness. 

The young Princess’s eyes regarded the scenery as it zipped on by, her lips curling into a frown as her mind registered the speed to which the train was now traveling. Though, before she had a chance to raise her concerns, Rainbow Dash zipped in front of her gaze, grinning rather mischievously.

“Mornin’ egghead! Sleep well?” 

Twilight smiled at her friend. It was nice to see a genuine smile for once.

“Thanks, Rainbow Dash. I think that was the best nap I have had in weeks… you were right, though. Maybe I was tired. I definitely feel better.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Damn right I was right. Nothing beats a mid-morning nap!”

Unbeknownst to Twilight, Applejack had slipped up beside her, chuckling as she too chimed in with mirth.

“Ya’ll always napping, RD...”

Puffing out her cheeks, Rainbow crossed her arms, huffing as she glared at the ceiling. “Hey! A girl has to get her beauty sleep!”

Twilight could not help but restrain a grin; a grin that mirrored Applejack’s own. Though, upon the two meeting contact with their eyes, they quickly glanced away and lost their teasing expressions, as last night’s event drew forth to the forefront of their minds.

Reading the situation, Rainbow Dash blinked over to Fluttershy who was staring out of the window, observing the outside world. With a sneaky glance to Applejack and a knowing wink to the mare that caused a faint blush to grow upon the farm pony’s cheeks, Rainbow quickly zipped off to join their lonesome friend, startling Fluttershy with her abrupt appearance.

Awkwardly, both Twilight Sparkle and Applejack shifted on the spot, both making it their purpose not to look at the other and for what seemed like an eternity, finally, Applejack spoke.

“Listen, Twi’ Ah’m sorry Ah— ”

Twilight shook her head and turned to fully regard Applejack, a sadness within her eye and a guilt written as plain as day upon her face. “No, Applejack. I’m sorry… I… I said a horrible thing to you when you were only trying to help me, and I—”

Lifting a hoof to silent Twilight, Applejack continued, “Ah’m sorry Ah did not believe in ya,” Twilight opened her lips to interject but Applejack silenced her by shaking her head, “no I don’ wanna hear it. What ya’ll said was… wrong. Ah know ya’ll sorry, an’ Ah forgave you the moment ya’ll said it. We are still friends. We always will be even if ya said somethin’ stupid, because, that’s what friends do.”

“Applejack…” A tear slipped down Twilight’s face. Relief crossing her features as she moved forward to embrace the mare, “I’m so happy to have friends like you girls… I-I’m so sorry I’ve been so…”

Applejack sighed, shaking her head as she returned the embrace as gently as she could, being mindful of the mare’s healing injuries. 

“Don’ worry yaself none, sugarcube. We’ll always be here for ya, no matter wha—”

Interrupted by yet another, more violent jarring of the carriage, both Twilight and Applejack’s heads collided, causing both mares to stumble back and yelp in surprise.

“I-is it just me, or is the train moving, really, really fast…?” Fluttershy got to her hooves, pointing at the window as she regarded the other mares with concern.

Twilight nodded as she and Applejack nursed where their heads collided with a hoof. “She’s right. The train has clearly gone far beyond what is considered the maximum cruising speed for this particular type of train. If I hazard a guess, I would say we are almost hitting about seventy miles an hour in a fifty-five miles an hour zone…”

At the abrupt silence, Twilight glanced back to regard the odd expressions upon her friends’ faces.

“W-what?” Twilight complained with a flush of red, her head tilting away somewhat indignantly, “I read it in a book once.”

Rainbow Dash shook her head, chuckling, “Suuuuure. Didn’t know you were a train spotter as well as an egghead…”

Both Applejack and Fluttershy giggled as Twilight embarrassedly smiled back to Rainbow. “It’s a hobby, okay?”

“Sure-sure-sure, right, I’m going to go and check on the driver. I’ll be back in—”

Applejack rolled her eyes, “ten seconds flat.”

Rainbow Dash glared at Applejack. “Hey!  That’s my li—”

Another violent jarring threw all of the occupants into one side of the carriage, their collective gasps of panic only increasing as they felt the floor tip away and the ceiling rush towards them at a sudden and unexpected speed, the screech of grinding and crushing metal harmonizing in an amalgam of chaos with the screams of other passengers in the adjacent carriages blending with their own.
> Silent Scream
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 7: Silent Scream


“It’s…” Twilight squeaked as the stew of emotion simmered to boiling point.

Celestia sat down upon her haunches and placed both of her hooves on to Twilight’s shoulders gently. “Nothing you can do or say will ever change my opinion of you, my former student. Whatever it is that is bothering you, I am here for you, Twilight.”

Contrary to what she just preached, it did silence the Princess of the Sun, cutting her off mid sentence.  Caught completely by surprise, the kiss to her lips was as tender as it was pleading to never break. 

Twilight’s blood pulsed like raging rivers within her ears, her cheeks burning as fiercely as her heart thundered like lava inside of her chest; the sweet taste of the lips of her one true love against her own threw Twilight into a momentary madness. She parted her lips, seeking to probe the mouth she claimed with a needy tongue. 

Gently, Twilight placed both of her hooves lovingly against Celestia’s chest and trailed them up to snake them about the Princess’s neck to capture her within a feverishly passionate embrace.

Then, came the foreboding light.

The stench of cindered flesh invaded the air as Twilight Sparkle’s vision had become a sheet of fading white and shades of grey. With each passing moment, her vision adjusted causing the moving grey, white and darkened shapes to become better defined until she recognized what it was.

A charred and grotesquely misshapen face that belonged to Celestia.

Unable to scream due to the burning agony that numbed most of her face and flank, Twilight could feel her body tremble and her mind struggle to latch itself onto consciousness.

From the peaceful silence came a high pitched ringing fading into being in lieu of the explosion; the feedback circulating within her head to discombobulate her senses. 

However, much like her vision’s gradual regeneration, her hearing returned over time, though not entirely as perfect as it once was. She could just about make out the faint panicked voice of a male and the calm collected voice of a female amongst the ringing.

“... dead...do…?”

“...Twilight… yet… no...”

Twilight Sparkle lifted her heavy laden head from the wet pool of blood collecting below her to inspect the origin of the voices in a single eyed gaze that still partially blurred the details of the somewhat familiar visages.

With her neck muscles taut and bruised, Twilight could barely just about spot them from over the corpse of the alicorn partially laying ontop of her.

What she could make out, though, was one of the two creatures was small and oddly shaped with a “lion’s?” tail and wings, while the other was distinctly familiar in its pony shape, it was more slender and taller than most ponyfolk, possessing imposing wings and a long horn.

“...recognize you… kill her?”

“she won’t...memories...”

“Gone?”

Twilight felt her head slap back down against the concrete of the porch as all her energy bled out of her along with her blood.

As she lost her grip on consciousness, Twilight directed her gaze up to the starry night sky that shifted quite oddly amongst the abyss, feeling suddenly very tired and unable to keep her eyes open.

“No,” Said the voice, as Twilight peacefully drifted into the darkness. 

“Changed.”


_____________________________


Twilight Sparkle awoke with a gasp, her legs kicking out as she attempted to remove a large gray suitcase that had become dislodged from the overhead compartment during the crash and had landed on top of her. 

Sucking air into her lungs, with a one final yell she weakly summoned enough magic to to throw the luggage from off of her. 

With her scrambled mind racing a thousand miles an hour, the event replayed over in her mind again and again as she struggled formulate just what exactly happened, reliving the crash from its inception to the inevitable and very familiar darkness as it suddenly consumed her consciousness.

The train… it crashed… why?

Pushing herself to her hooves, Twilight Sparkle noted that the interior of the carriage was mangled. The ceiling and the walls had bent inwards in places where the train was made of steel, while the wooden frames and beams that lined a lot of the car had become broken and shattered.

Not to mention the entirety of the cart was now flipped upon its ceiling, further disorientating the pony.

Urgh… my head… 

With a haze filling her one eyed vision, Twilight Sparkle limped forward several steps to the immobile image of a cyan blob she could just about make out, which had an array of colourful strands sprouting from it nearby. 

Rainbow Dash! 

Twilight Sparkle dropped her haunches and lightly reached out to shake the mare as gently as she could. As she spoke Rainbow Dash’s name, it was abundantly clear that something was not quite right.

She couldn’t hear herself.

Why won’t this ringing in my ear go away? I must had hit my head pretty hard… that explains why I taste blood.

After a few more attempts to stir Rainbow Dash, Twilight made with absolute surety that the mare was alive by checking her vitals. A little something she had come to learn from Nurse Redheart, considering how often Rainbow Dash liked to crash into various obstacles at rather dangerously high speeds.

She never thought she would get to use it.

Oh please, no… please no, please! Rainbow! 

Though she released a silent sigh of relief when she realized the mare was breathing normally (from what she could tell) and her pulse appeared steady and strong. 

Thank Celestia… thank you! Thank you!

Then something caught her eye in her peripherals that caused Twilight to renew her  hope. She could just make out the movement of something orange on the other side of the train car attempting to lift debris from off a fallen yellow figure she could just about make out buried there. 

Twilight could only surmise that it was Applejack and Fluttershy. 

I have to help them… I have to help my friends. 

Please be okay. 

Please.

Getting to her hooves, Twilight limped her way across the cart, struggling to step over and maneuver around the fallen luggage in her path, including a various array of other items from pillows, broken shards of glass to spoiled sandwiches that was was packed away in a picnic basket that was given to them for the trip.

Once she was close enough, she called Applejack’s name, causing the mare turn around and stare at Twilight with wild, fearful eyes of emerald, saying something that was lost upon deaf ears.

Don't be permanent… let me hear again.

Quickly stepping forward and pushing back the pain with a bite upon her lower lip, Twilight drew close to better see Fluttershy and her condition, but found it quite difficult considering how blurred her vision still was.

Robbed of two of her senses; one of which only being half present, Twilight had never felt so vulnerable and useless in all of her life. She could not assess the situation properly and could not formulate a plan like she always did. 

If only this ringing would go away then I could think straight for two whole seconds!

There was nothing she could do.

But she did feel something underneath her hooves. She was standing in a puddle of something warm. 

It was blood.

And judging by with each hoofstep drawing her further into the pool, it appeared to be quite a lot of it.

No… no! Not my friends too! You can’t take my friends away too!

Dropping to her haunches, Twilight sat in the blood and felt out with her hooves, wildly trying to feel for any signs of life. 

Fluttershy… don’t die...

But there was none.

Screaming Fluttershy’s name frantically, Twilight Sparkle felt herself surge forward, attempting to resuscitate the mare, but was stopped when she felt something wooden protruding out from the center of Fluttershy’s chest.

I can save you! I can bring you back!

She could feel the mare’s still warm blood on her hooves as she vainly attempted to pull the implement from Fluttershy’s chest, uncaring even if she felt the blood of one of her best friends saturating her hide.

I can fix this!

Soon enough a set of strong legs ripped Twilight away from Fluttershy, dragging her back from the yellow and stained red corpse that was once her best friend, who was once alive only minutes ago, smiling and laughing with the rest of them.

You can’t be dead!

No matter how much she kicked and cried, Applejack’s grip only grew tighter around the young princess, causing Twilight’s own silent primal screams to weaken her futile attempts to save a mare that was already dead.

Wake up!

Slumping back against Applejack, Twilight turned about and threw her forelegs about Applejack’s neck, clinging on for dear life.

Fluttershy...
> The Devil In I
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 8: The Devil In I


Applejack gazed sorrowfully over Twilight as the mare sobbed into the crook of her neck, her forelegs locked about Twilight’s powerless body with a viselike embrace, her glistening emerald eyes forever locked upon the corpse of Fluttershy, still unsure on how to properly grieve given how suddenly it had all transpired.

She barely knew how to fully register the harrowing wails and desperate cries for help of other passengers in the adjacent cars that was polluting the air, let alone fully deal with the concept that one of her friends had just been cruelly taken from this world.

“I-it’s okay, sugarcube… Ah’ve got you.” Applejack attempted to soothe Twilight Sparkle, not knowing the full extent of her injuries. “It’ll be okay, ya hear? It’ll be all okay, Ah’ve got you…”

Who was she trying to fool? She was not sure, but it seemed no matter what she said or did to calm Twilight, it certainly was not working to make her feel any better.

Still, the adrenaline still rushing through her veins, Applejack felt sick to her stomach, trembling from head to toe and ready to fight against anything that would present a danger to Twilight Sparkle. 

With a sorrowful whimper, Applejack took note of Twilight’s injuries, noting only a small patch of red within her mane and some minor cuts and bruises that nearly mirrored her own. 

The mare more than likely struck her head during their car’s tumble from off of the tracks, but it would seem it was nothing to be afraid of. Twilight appeared alert and very much awake, so a concussion fortunately was ruled out of this tragic equation.

Applejack herself felt fine, however, given the fight or flight response still firmly gripping her she would more than likely not feel the true extent of her injuries until the adrenaline fully wore off.

“Twi’, come on, let’s go.” 

Turning her head to glance over her shoulder, Applejack noted the immobile cyan mare amongst the wreckage; and with her forelegs firmly fixed to the mare who had abruptly fallen eerily quiet, Applejack guided her over towards Rainbow Dash, hoping they could at least attempt to bring Rainbow Dash into some kind of form of consciousness, so they could all finally escape this metal deathtrap safely together.

Slowly, she settled the grieving mare down onto the ground and stared deep into that single amethyst eye that silently cried a flow of tears, concerned that once again Twilight Sparkle had once again mentally shut herself off from the world.

Or more selfishly, from Applejack herself.

“Twi’?” Applejack whispered softly. 

When there was no response, Applejack simply pulled away from the mare, noting the familiar vacancy that was becoming a common expression for the princess.

Batting away her own need to break down at the sight of a broken Twilight and accidentally hazard a glance at the skewered corpse of Fluttershy, Applejack turned her back on them both and approached Rainbow Dash, dipping down onto her haunches as she used her superior earth pony strength to turn the mare over onto her back, restraining a sob.

Applejack shook Rainbow Dash, even going as far as to lightly tap her muzzle; as if she was waking the mare from one of her afternoon naps. “Dash! Dash, come on, wake up! We gotta get outta here. Dash!”

“Mmm?” Rainbow groaned, cracking her eyelids open, wincing as she did so. “Urgh… I feel like I just went and crashed real bad…”

Applejack cracked a smile, relieved the mare was in a better condition than Twilight or…

Fluttershy.

Pushing that thought painfully aside, Applejack curled her forelegs under Rainbow Dash’s own and yanked her up to sit her upon her rear. “Ah’m glad you’re okay, sugar, Ah know ya’ll hurtin’ right now but we have to get on out of here. It isn’t safe.”

Rainbow Dash glanced about the ruined car, her own body sporting an array of bruises and cuts that riddled her body. “W-what happened? Is everypony alright?” 

Moving to stand Rainbow Dash quickly fell back onto her rump, a sudden and expected dizziness overcoming her senses. “I don’t feel too good… it feels like I downed like eight gallons of hard cider or something.”

“Ya’ll must have hurt your head somethin’ fierce… we all did. The train crashed. Twilight is fine but she’s…” Applejack swallowed hard, annoyed at herself that she had to yet again lie to another of her friends, “she’s a little shaken up is all. Hit her head hard. Ah think she might be a little concussed but we best find a doctor quick to be safe. For you, too.”

“Where’s Fluttershy?” Rainbow Dash inquired, rubbing at her head, “is she okay?”

Applejack’s jaw clenched as she subtly moved herself into the full view of Rainbow Dash, despite knowing full well the mare had little chance of spotting the dead mare obscured by the debris strewn all across the cabin.

The question nearly caused Applejack to choke on her words, yet she somehow managed to keep the sob at bay that teetered upon the brink. There was no time to grieve at this precise moment for it was a higher priority for Applejack to get her remaining friends to safety.

Then she will come back for Fluttershy.

She would not leave the mare behind.

She deserved a proper burial.

“She’s outside, sugar,” Applejack whispered, afraid Twilight would hear her and react badly to the blatant lie, “Ah guided her out when ya’ll and Twilight were out. Don’ worry, she’s fine—now come on, let me help get ya flank up so we can get out of this place.”

Nodding, Rainbow Dash complied and allowed Applejack to help her to unsteady hooves, leaning heavily against the other mare for support considering she felt like a ten ton weight.

It was at that moment Rainbow Dash noted the silently staring Twilight Sparkle seated upon the floor just beyond Applejack.

“Is she going to be okay?” Rainbow commented with concern, her face forming into a worried expression as she regarded Applejack.

“Ah think so.” Applejack lied again, even if it sickened her to her very core. But it was necessary. She could not have two distraught ponies on her hoofs. “Come on, let’s—”

Movement from the nearby window drew Applejack and Rainbow Dash’s attention, as a figure outside dipped low to peer into the upturned train car. Both ponies stared dumbfounded as they noted the feathered female to be a gryphon, of all things.

Applejack was relieved to see somepony else alive, even if it was a gryphon. As she raised her voice, she lifted a hoof up to wave and greet what she assumed to be another survivor. “Hey there! Can ya’ll help us? We’ve got two injured ponies in here.”

Rainbow Dash huffed frowning at Applejack. “You know, I ain’t that hurt. I've been through worse crashes, you know.”

Applejack sighed, giving Rainbow Dash a fairly forced smile as she attempted to reply in jest. After all, Fluttershy was not dead, now was she? “Sure thing, Rainbow Da—”

Something peculiar caught Applejack’s eye, cutting her retort short.

By the time she had realized what the gryphon was holding and who she was aiming it at, Applejack snapped into action, moving quickly and swiftly to push a puzzled Rainbow Dash violently out of the way.

As Rainbow Dash struck the ground; yelping and groaning in pain as she did so, she painfully scrambled to her knees to confront Applejack at her sudden and rough treatment. 

The quick movement also caught Twilight Sparkle’s attention and it drew her eye upwards.

Both the cyan and the lavender mares mirrored each others horror as both watched Applejack hit the ground hard as a splatter of blood speckled the ground and wall behind her, crying out in agony as a crossbow bolt had wedged deep itself deep her right shoulder.

Screaming Applejack’s name, Rainbow Dash; in spite of how stiff and sprained her wings felt, quickly flew herself to land somewhat haphazardly next to Applejack’s writhing figure, her hooves quickly moving out to do something, though pausing midway as she realized she had not a clue as to exactly what. 

“Applejack!” Rainbow Dash cried as she snapped her head towards the gryphon still peering into the broken window, brandishing an empty crossbow still aimed towards the pair. “You could had killed her!”

“That was the point,” snarled the gryphon female as she scrambled to reach a talon into her arm strapped bandolier and withdrew yet another bolt to reload the weapon, “you know, there was a joke in what I just said, so allow me to make a second point," the gryphon female chuckled, "right between—"

Twilight Sparkle’s perfectly round iris mutated into a serpentine-like oval, the pupil becoming a narrow slit as she released a terrifying, rage saturated scream, her horn aglow with a fiercely sinister purple glow.

"I WILL EVISCERATE YOU!" 
> Blumenkranz
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 9: Blumenkranz


The flow of time changed for Twilight Sparkle, as did her perception of the world inside of the mangled train carriage. She felt numbly detached from her own body, as if some machiavellian force had taken the helm and thrown her into the backseat, a quiet though unwilling observer to the imminent collision.

As soon as Twilight’s vile promise had departed her lips, the horrendous ringing in her ear ceased, leaving the mare to fully absorb the sickening truth of the impossible scene playing out before her very eyes, sharply slapping her straight back into the reality she momentarily rejected.

I will not let this happen!

Having turned away from the fallen body of her first victim and the dumbstruck pegasus over Applejack’s agonized state, the figure at the window hoisted the crossbow again, the very same that had already buried its payload once inside the body of one of Twilight’s friends.

A flash of anger bloomed within Twilight’s chest.

This was the boogeyman that had taken away her Celestia.

A gryphon.

Twilight's pulse quickened, her heart thudding in her ears as the last pieces clicked into place in her mind. Celestia's assassination, Fluttershy's pleading eyes, the bolt impaling itself into the sinews of Applejack's flesh all flashed before her eyes as her mind locked on to its conclusion: 

It was all their fault.

Twilight howled like a mare straight out of Tartarus, laced with every single ounce of detestation for their kind shekept bottled up inside of her, drawing the attention of all onto herself, including the gryphon’s somewhat shaken aim.

Before the assailant had a chance to pull the trigger, Twilight Sparkle hurtled herself into the gryphon with as much speed as her hooves and wings could muster. Though perhaps not extraordinary in gryphon terms, the impact was sufficient to knock the wind out of the gryphon, her grasp on the crossbow slipping as she struggled for breath.

Looming over the gasping gryphon, Twilight Sparkle summoned a dark aura of fiery purple magic laced with a core of wisping black to pin the gryphon firmly to the ground. At the same time, a second string of magic slithered from the tip of her horn and snatched the fallen crossbow from the ground, hoisting it high above their heads.

“D-don’t kill me!” The gryphon spluttered, her alarmed face contorting in horror at the enraged alicorn above her. “I have a family! I was only acting under orders!”

“What about my friends?!” Twilight spat, her face roiling with anger.

The mere concept of such a villainous creature pleading for its life after attempting to take away that of those she loved overwhelmed Twilight Sparkle, her muzzle drawing tight with rage.

“What about my family?!”

Her eye widened maniacally, Twilight cracked the butt of the crossbow across the gryphon’s face, at once stunning the feathered fiend and silencing her terrified shriek.

The gryphon struggled up against the magical restraints more violently now, realizing that her death was imminent.

“You have no right to live!”

The second blow crushed the gryphon’s eye socket and subsequently rupturing the eyeball, causing the gory mixture of blood and ocular liquid to ooze out of the ruined gaping socket, the head trauma severe enough to cause the gryphon’s body to slip into a sudden fit of deathly spasms.

“You had no right to take them from me!”

With each strike Twilight delivered the blows become bloodier as the gryphon’s face had started to break and cave in on itself, the gryphon’s face resembling a soup of bone and an amalgamation of feathers, pulp and blood.

“I LOVED HER!”      

It was only when the body stopped writhing did Twilight toss the broken crossbow aside and marvel at her handiwork with a satisfied, blood-stained grin. She panted, overcome by a strange bout of pleasure that both thrilled and disgusted her.

“What’s going on out here, Cl—”

Twilight snapped her head over her shoulder at the first sound of the voice, finding a trio of gryphons that had stepped out of the ruined passenger carriage brandishing crossbows of their own.

Twilight summoned her magic,encompassing the gryphon that spoke in a glow of black and purple and dragging him towards her. Simultaneously, she ripped his weapon from his grip and knocked another foe out cold with it before the gryphon had a chance to react. 

The gryphon clawed at the ground desperately as he drew closer to the crazed alicorn, who was seated merrily on the corpse of one his comrades, her face barely recognizable to him in its mutilated state.

Twilight Sparkle’s grin only grew wider, amused at his futile attempt to escape his fate and the fertilized seed of panic growing behind his eyes.

The final gryphon—another female—although dumbstruck by what she had just witnessed occur, took only a moment to draw up her crossbow to level her aim on Twilight Sparkle’s head.

“To Tartarus with orders!” The gryphon screeched before unloading her single shot payload at the alicorn’s head.

Without breaking her eye contact from the gryphon she had been dragging towards her, Twilight barely registered the bolt even as it came to a dead stop before her muzzle. The deadly, barbed tip was merely an inch from piercing straight into her skull, right between the eyes.

With the bolt contained in her aura, Twilight Sparkle threw it back with such force that the bolt screeched through the air for a full second before being returned to its owner, piercing directly through the gryphon’s neck and finding its home embedded deep in the ruined carriage they had departed from.

A few inches away from the dying gryphon, Twilight hoisted the one she had abducted off of the ground and drew his hideous, feathered face close to her own. She stared deep into his eyes, the serpentine gaze of her single remaining eye penetrating the core of his being.

Twilight spoke slowly, in a gentle monotone. “Are you afraid?”

Frozen in place, the gryphon felt the strangely pleasant sensation of the magic surrounding him become increasingly warmer. He merely shook his head, defiant in the face of the princess.

“N-no,” he stammered.

“A pity.”

Twilight Sparkle lost her smile as with a flick of her horn the gryphon was launched high into the air, the magic around him intensifying in its hue until with a rush and roar of a sickening snap of tendon, muscle and bone, the gryphon was torn into two, his upper torso hurtling one way while the lower half was flung the other.

Why was I so afraid of this feeling before?

This is glorious.

This is how justice is supposed to be served.

This energy; this kind of magic... it is dark and cruel and I know it is wrong.

But I can use it to make them pay for what they did to me, to you… to my friends!

To Celestia!

Blood and organs crashed sloppily onto the ground around her, speckling the mare in a shade of blood that covered her from head to hoof, the pieces of the corpse long ignored as she felt something odd about her victory.

Her heart felt empty and a strange taste lingered in her mouth.

Why do not I feel satisfied?

So tunnel visioned on her mission to destroy anything that was a threat, Twilight Sparkle turned her head just enough to glance back towards the wreck that was the royal train carriage, having only just realized why she had snapped in the first place.

With the names of her friends playing upon her lips, concern drove her to return to them, though faltered midway upon noting the trembling pegasus and the frightened and almost disappointed expression upon an earth pony’s face, gazing from out of the carriage at her in an eerie silence. 

They had seen it all.

Every bloodsoaked minute of it.

A black wave of regret washed over her body, their expressions chilling her heart, making her blood cold and thick. She felt sick in the pit of her stomach as she realized what she had just done—what her friends had witnessed.

“I…” Twilight swallowed hard as she stood up, taking a trembling hoofstep towards her friends, “I was just trying to protect—”

Blood splattered from Twilight’s lips, cutting her words short as her head was abruptly and violently jarred to one side. With her lip throbbing and swelling almost immediately, she staggered several steps to the side. 

Whatever hit her, it was moving at such a speed she barely had the time to register what was.

Groaning, Twilight shook her head to try and unscramble her senses.

W-what was that?

Twilight heard the concerned cries of her name filling the air as she noted Rainbow Dash’s attempt to exit the carriage and aid her just within her peripherals, regardless of the despicable and deplorable onslaught Twilight had left in her wake.

With a lift of her hoof, Twilight snapped her gaze upon them, causing the cyan mare to give pause.

“Don’t, Rainbow Dash, it isn’t safe! Stay with Applejack! Something else is—”

Cut short yet again by another strike; though this time from the other side, Twilight retracted back several steps, swaying as she did so. However, unlike the last time, the next attack came soon after and from behind no less, causing her to stagger forward and crash onto her knees.

It’s so fast!

“I-I won’t be beaten!” Twilight hissed between clenched, bloodied teeth as she forced herself up wearily to her full height, only to find herself staring into the eyes of a taller white mare.

N-no… it can’t be!

The surprised gasps of her friends in particular did manage to break through to Twilight in her confused and turmoilous state, but nothing else would be able to match the climax of her own despair as she stared at the visage before her with a volatile mixture of betrayal, sorrow and denial.

“C-Celestia?” Twilight whispered as tears flowed freely from her eyes, almost sounding pleased to see her as her eyes trailed down from the alicorn’s unusually reddened eyes to the neck jewellery hanging about her neck. “T-that’s the—”

“Surprised, my most faithful student? Well, judging by the look on your face and the fact you haven’t turned me into pulp yet pretty much confirms that, now doesn’t it? A very nice display though, Princess Twilight Sparkle. You dispatched my team pretty quickly and quite mercilessly at that. Even if it was a touch melodramatic...”

Twilight simply shook her head in disbelief, her words laced with a pain her body could never fully comprehend. “I... don’t understand... y-you died… I-I saw it...”  

Am I going insane?

Is this all dream?

It has to be.

“Y-you can’t be her!” Twilight cried, “the princess would never do this! Who are you?!”

Celestia’s penetrating glare burned fiercely along with the red glow animating from the Alicorn Amulet as she cackled sinisterly down at Twilight Sparkle. “How very perceptive! I expect no less from you, princess.”

“How dare you use her image!” Twilight solidified her aggressive stance, though found herself unable to strike with such abandon as she did the gryphons. After all, it was the pristine and beautiful image of her unrequited love standing in her way and despite knowing its an imposter, Twilight could not lift a hoof to harm it. “Drop this illusion, now!”

“I think I am at quite an advantage as I am, thank you very much! But if you must know something? You can blame Rainbow Dash—but enough of this! We’ll get into all of that soon, but first...”

This has to be a nightmare.

The doppelganger of Celestia stamped a hoof to interrupt Twilight before she had a chance to say something. “I’ve always wanted to beat the life out of an alicorn and by the looks of it, you are in no shape to put up that much of a fight...”

This can’t be happening!

Licking her lips, Celestia grinned sadistically. “And that is exactly the way I like it.”

It just can’t be!
> Still Alive
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 10: Still Alive


With all of the new dark energy she had discovered, Twilight had become so excited that it clouded her judgement, warping what had once been a logical mind. 

A foal unicorn barely adept in magic could plainly see the differences between the two combatants and yet, Twilight could not speculate how it could all go so very wrong, so very quickly. 

All the warning signs were laid before her plain as day, yet her typically sound logical mind was filled with nothing but violent images of retribution against her enemy; standing victorious over the corpse of the true form of her tormentor.

And who could blame her?

Only minutes ago she was dispatching the gryphon scum that had derailed the train with terrible and merciless ease; fulfilling her unflinching desperation to protect her remaining friends. Now, though, she found her body aching and the situation reversed in favor of an imposter who dared deny the singular crime Twilight Sparkle could never forgive by  impersonating her princess, the mare that was cruelly taken away from her, the mare that she loved so dearly.

How dare she talk to me that way!

We are a Princess and she is nothing more than a pretender.

“Are you saying I am no match for you?” Twilight Sparkle hissed, the very notion making her sick to the very pit of her stomach, causing her to gnash her teeth together, dark power pulsing around the tip of her horn as she tumbled down the endless spiral of emotional instability. 

Taking a threatening hoofstep forward, Twilight ignited her horn brighter still, the dark purple glow bleeding blacker with every passing second. “I have defeated a bearer of the Alicorn Amulet in the past. Unlike the last time, though, you will see no mercy from me! You may take Celestia’s form and alter your voice to sound like her, but you will never have the righteous power she once possessed! You are nothing; a weak, pathetic coward hiding behind the image of a mare whose shoes you are not fit to wear! I will make you pay ten times over for such a disgrace!”

‘Celestia’ scoffed a laugh at Twilight’s threatening demeanor, evidently finding it far more amusing  than intimidating. A wicked grin formed on the false princess’s lips, causing Twilight’s scowl to deepen in response. 

“Is that so?” Remarked the taller alicorn as she tilted a brow, smirk widening. “Well then, I suppose we best put that to the test.”

Not a moment later, Celestia whirled about, cackling as her reddened eyes gleamed a thick shade of blood. The Alicorn Amulet burned on her chest, a red beam shooting from her horn straight towards Rainbow Dash, its thin, branching, hungry tendrils threatening to consume her.  Leaping into action, the cyan mare instinctively placed herself between the bolt and the wounded Applejack, who was still unable to even steady her hooves.

Twilight Sparkle screamed, the cold grip of fear constricting tightly around her throat. She should have expected as much. “Leave them alone!” 

In a flash of purple, Twilight Sparkle teleported herself directly in front of her friends, barely managing to erect a shield around the group in time to block the volley with a growl of frustration and sweat lacing her brow. 

The impostor's attack struck Twilight’s shield with enough force to cause several cracks to appear across the transparent purple dome’s surface instantaneously, pushing Twilight to pour more of her darker energies into the defense, sending blotches of inky darkness to swirl across the barrier’s surface until the final bolt of red finally dissipated.

Panting, Twilight looked back to her friends, huddled together and looking up at Twilight with a mixture of gratitude and fear.

Twilight shook her head, swinging her serpentine, singular eyed away from the duo to glower at the casually advancing Celestia. Twilight could not deny the attack packed quite a punch, requiring substantially more effort to maintain her magical barrier than she had anticipated.

The seed of doubt was planted, but her confidence in victory remained. After all, if this had been the real Celestia, none of them would have been left standing after that initial attack.

“Your friends will be the death of you, Princess.” With a wave of her horn, Celestia launched another red electrical barrage at Twilight, cracking her defenses more deeply and nearly forcing the lavender mare to her knees. “You don’t have to fall here, you know. You can just run away and leave them to their fate.”

She thinks you are a coward.

“I would never abandon them!” Twilight’s snapped, earning loving smiles from the two friends standing behind her, each leaning against the other for support.

“Oh?” Celestia cooed as she stopped her direct advance, a smug grin upon her lips. “Even though they’ve just watched their best friend relish in the murder of others? Even though they watched her rip them apart as if they were nothing but lifeless dolls with no loved ones, bathing in their blood as if it were mere amusement to her?”

She’s not wrong.

Twilight lowered her gaze to her bloodied hooves before glancing back over her shoulder to note the same fear in their eyes she had noticed before, even though they were desperately trying to hide it behind a smile. 

Are they… afraid of me?

Wouldn’t you be afraid if you saw one them do the same?

“Don’t listen to her, Twi’...” Applejack croaked with a cough, “tha’ monster is jus’ tryin’ to get into our heads. We trust in ya to protect us like Ah hope you trust in us to protect you.”

Rainbow Dash nodded. “Don’t worry about us, egghead,” Rainbow flexed her wings, wincing a little at their stiffness, “if things go south, I’ll get us all out of here in less than ten seconds flat.”

The icy chill in Twilight’s heart thawed, a soft smile breaking across her lips as a tear slipped from her only working eye. “Girls…”

“We promise, Twi’, we’ll never abandon you, no matter what.” Applejack smiled warmly, a trickle of blood drooling from the corner of her lips.

And I won’t abandon you, either. 

That much we promise.

“Urgh! I almost threw up in my mouth.” Celestia remarked as she reared back and launched herself high into the air. “Spare me this sappy manure and surrender, Twilight Sparkle! If you come with me now, without a struggle, I will spare you the torture of witnessing the death of your friends one by one… and I’ll make sure Rainbow Dash’s death will be the most excruciating of all.”

So this isn’t just about me, Twilight thought as she growled, she plans to take out my friends as well. The Elements… she must be after the Elements! Then that means Rarity and Pinkie Pie as well...

Rainbow Dash finally snapped, her words finally coming to her in a squeal of anger. “What have I ever done to you? What have we ever done to you to make you do this?!”

Celestia’s eyes snapped from her target, to her true cyan desire. “The only reason I wear this amulet and the only reason I am here doing the Princess’s bidding to capture Twilight Sparkle and to eliminate the current bearers of the Elements of Harmony, is all because of you, Rainbow Dash, old friend!” She spat the words as though they were poison, her deep-seated hatred worn all too plainly on her sleeve. “It is your fault!”

What did she just say?

Twilight felt her mouth drop, her mind snapping away from her desperation to protect her friends to a sudden intrigue, repeating what the imposter had spoken in a shocked whisper. “Princess?”

Rainbow Dash shrank back, shaking her head as Applejack looked towards her as baffled as she was. “I-I don’t understand! I’ve never done anything wrong to anypony before!”

“Nothing wrong…?” Celestia muttered to herself, her voice suddenly rising to a fevered screech. “You destroyed my dreams! You ruined what I loved more than anything else in all of Equestria!” Celestia’s red eyes shone with a ferocity that no sane pony would ever show as the Alicorn Amulet trembled about on her neck, the power within fighting to get out. “You were supposed to be my friend, yet you turned your back on me when I needed you most! I thought we were partners… so much for an Element of Loyalty. You’re nothing more than a backstabbing mule and I will see you destroyed! I will grind you to the dirt Dash until you are nothing more than a paste beneath my hoof!” 

Twilight gazed blankly, having tuned out the tense conversation around her in favor of attempting to amalgamate her chaotic thoughts into some kind of coherent thought process. If the imposter was indeed telling the truth, a Princess had issued this attack upon her friends and herself.

Princess Luna would never do this… she saved my life! And Cadence would never—

Can we be sure?

No… why would that creature say something like that unless it was the—

To confuse us; to take us out of the battle. To make us lose focus, perhaps?

But my dreams… the figure. 

I recall. It was slender, tall, with wings and a horn.

It can’t be true, can it?

It had white eyes and was dark.

But a gryphon did it! I saw it!

Don’t be illogical, Twilight Sparkle, what else to kill an Alicorn better than another—

Alicorn…

Precisely. We have been played for foals.

“No… it can’t be true.” Twilight solidified that conviction and brought her attention towards her enemy just a little too late. It took Applejack’s terrified screech of her name and the sudden collapse of her barrier to fully shake her out of her inner turmoil. 

Pain ripped through Twilight’s body,her breath hitching in her throat as the red energy coursed through her body, causing it to seize instantly. Rearing up, she howled as blotches of fur burned and peeled off of her already damaged body as she was thrown through the air, smashing painfully into the side of an upturned train carriage.

Striking the ground, Twilight coughed up blood, struggling to breathe. The air had been knocked straight out of her during the impact, harsh enough that even the wall she’d struck had dented under the force.

Struggling to her hooves, sucking in mouthfuls of air, Twilight reared her head up long enough to stare face-to-face with Celestia. Before her eyes, a fiery red aura consumed the alicorn’s figure, transforming into what Twilight Sparkle surmised to be her true form.

I’ll kill her.

“Lightning Dust!” Twilight stared at the maniacally grinning mare,  buckling as a searing bright lance pierced through the center of her chest and violently thrust her back against the warped metal remains of the train carriage, pinning her there.

My body feels so heavy. I can’t feel my legs anymore.

Blood splattered from Twilight’s mouth, staining Lightning Dust’s chest and drenching the Alicorn Amulet. Wordlessly, the young Princess slipped her gaze down and placed a shaking hoof on the red spear crackling with energy that had been magically summoned to impale her, groaning at such a sight.

Leaning in, Lightning Dust whispered over the screams of Twilight’s friends straight into her twitching left ear. “Princess Luna told me to keep you alive long enough to take back what is rightfully hers, but, guess what else I know?”

Twilight’s eyes widened. 

No… Luna would never…

Who else is strong enough to take out Princess Celestia? Discord perhaps, but he would never do that now since he has reformed.

But why would she kill her own sister? It does not make any sense!

Then Lightning Dust must be lying.

Twilight reached her bloodied hooves towards Lightning Dust’s neck, trembling as she forced herself to lean forward, determined to strangle the mare there and then, even her body burned with pain as her body slipped back up the spear. “L-liar!”

“Other Alicorns can absorb an Alicorn’s power even from their corpse, providing the horn is still attached. I do hope you last long enough for the Princess to take what she deserves, but, I am sure she won’t mind if you ‘accidentally’ bleed out before that happens. After all, during the heat of battle, sometimes ponies lose themselves to their hidden battlelust. I am sure she will forgive me for going a bit too far with you.”

Tears streamed down Twilight’s cheeks, her gaze drawn over Lightning Dust’s withers to a struggling Rainbow Dash, desperately attempting to restrain an irate Applejack.

Who else knew we were departing from Canterlot by train? 

Not many… but the Princess… she…

Precisely. She has betrayed us. Her true intentions have finally shone through.

But, the Elements… it cleansed her of Nightmare Moon’s influence! Why would she—

Did it ever occur to us that maybe, Princess Luna has always been this way? That it was her destiny.

Silently pleading for her friends to run, Twilight sobbed as the full weight of the possibility that Luna had indeed betrayed them became all the more fact than fiction.

“S-spare them, p-p-please,” Twilight choked, “d-don’t…”

Lightning Dust placed a gentle kiss on Twilight’s cheeks. “Don’t worry, Princess, it’ll all be over soon.”

Summoning her remaining strength, Twilight sucked in a large gulp of air to scream for her friends to flee as Lightning Dust turned menacingly towards them both, the Alicorn Amulet aglow with a sinister intent.
> The Last Goodbye
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 11: The Last Goodbye


With every step Lightning Dust took, Twilight raked her fore hooves along the shaft of the magical spear piercing her body, her rear legs flailing in spite of the pain that shook her body as her blood trickled out quicker than she thought possible. 

Curiously, dying felt like the everyday momentary acceptance of sleep.

It was oddly peaceful... almost comforting.

“D-don’t!” Twilight spluttered as she clasped her hooves upon the magical weapon penetrating her, resisting the compelling urge to close her eyes. With a few seconds to ready herself, Twilight pulled herself up the shaft a mere few inches, releasing a howl of agony as she felt the spear slipping through her with each tug.

“Oh do shut up!” Lightning Dust took a moment to glance back to the impaled Princess, the sardonic expression and the roll of her eyes instigating a more desperate plea from the dying alicorn.

“I’ll… I’ll do anything!” Twilight screamed out.

“And what’s that, exactly?” Lightning Dust questioned as she turned about with a tilt of her brow. “Or are you simply begging for your friend’s lives? What could you possible offer off me, Twilight Sparkle?” The mare placed a hoof upon the Alicorn Amulet. “I have the power of a Princess around my neck. And you? You are going to be dead soon.”

“My power!” Twilight hissed as she pulled herself up the shaft of the weapon a couple more inches, gritting her bloodied teeth.

What are you doing?

I don’t know.

We are dying; we need to escape, flee, not exchange words!

I know what I am doing.

You are seeking to save them, even now?

THEY ARE MY FRIENDS!

Still with this nonsense? We are going to die! 

I’ll distract Lightning Dust long enough to make sure they get away.

We, will, die!

I don’t care! I will not let them die here.

“I-if you spare their lives,” Twilight, weak from the blood loss and exhausted from the fighting felt her limbs fall limp to her sides, growing heavier and heavier as the seconds bled on, “I’ll give you my power… th-that way, you… you would become a-a Princess…”

Lightning Dust’s eyes widened. “I… I could become a Princess?” Her smile grew. “Really?” With her attention shifted once more, the mare trotted towards the Princess, and with a simple wave of her hoof the magical weapon dissipated, causing Twilight Sparkle to fall and hit the ground hard.

Belly down, Twilight painfully lifted up her head from the ground, struggling to form a smile. 

“Y-yes… it is as you said… Alicorns can strip another Alicorn’s power away, but it takes certain parameters… like being near death… given, my current condition, I can give you mine before Luna comes to take it away… but in exchange, you have to spare my friends. You have to promise me, you’ll spare them…”

Lightning Dust ceased her steps when her forehooves were before the fallen Princess’s face, gazing down at her with excited eyes. “Then… then I can become a somepony… a somepony to be respected. Somepony to be worshipped, to be loved… Yes! I agree! Tell me what to do. If you do this, I will spare them,” Lightning Dust grinned, "I promise."

You lied to her.

Precisely, I don’t even know if I could give up my powers that way… not that she knows that. 

And what exactly do you plan to do to save us?

That was never the plan.

“It… it will take time to charge the magical spell,” sucking in a deep breath. Satisfied that Lightning Dust was close enough, Twilight Sparkle slowly pushed herself up off of the ground, her legs trembling as they threatened to collapse below her. “I’m weak from blood loss… just give me a few minutes... it'll take time to charge.”

“We don’t have a few minutes, Twilight Sparkle! Luna will be here any moment to take your power for herself!” Lightning Dust stomped a hoof, drawing her muzzle close to the broken alicorn. “Hurry it up! If I can claim your power for myself; with the power of the Alicorn Amulet combined… I will become invincible! Nopony will dare challenge me again! I will rule everything; I will be the Princess—no… no… I will be something else; something more! Something new!”

She is just as easy to manipulate as Trixie was… the amulet is messing with her mind. Though I doubt I can pull the same trick twice and get her to remove it.

You mean it is interfering with her everything… such an artefact was locked away for a reason. Clearly her desire for vengeance and status has been amplified to an almost maddening degree. 

Which is precisely why I am going to use that against her.

Lightning Dust lifted her eyes up to the sky, grinning maniacally as they became wide, her wings erect.  “I will become Equestria’s one true Queen! Nopony will ever be able to deny me ever again!”

With a jerk of her head, Twilight reared up and plunged her horn into the side of Lightning Dust’s face, angling up through her muzzle until the tip resided within her left eye socket, rupturing the eye and causing the mare to fall backwards onto the ground screaming.

“M-MY EYE!” Lightning Dust howled as she held her hooves over her wounded face, thrashing violently on the ground as Twilight Sparkle summoned what little magic remained within her reserves to teleport herself in front of her two wounded friends.

“Th-there’s no time…” Twilight wheezed as she clenched her eyes shut, an aura consuming all three ponies.

“That has got to hurt.” Rainbow Dash made a face as she observed her agonized rival still rolling around on the floor. “So what now? We run?”

“Th’ mule deserved worse.” Applejack muttered, though far more concerned with Twilight’s injuries. “Twi’, are you gonna be okay?”

“We’ve got to get out of here and get you to a hospi—” Rainbow Dash did not have time to complete her sentence.  One moment the cyan mare was there and then with a dazzling flash of lavender, and then the next, she was gone.

Twilight opened her eyes as she looked upon her remaining friend sadly, trying her best to smile, even as blood drooled past her lips. “I’ve teleported Rainbow deep into the Everfree… I’ll send you there too. Go to Zecora’s, a-as quickly as you can… b-before it gets too dark.”

Applejack did not take kindly to those words. Quickly, she shook her head, wincing as she took a few steps forward. “What are ya’ll sayin’ sugar? W-we’re gonna get out of ‘ere together, right?”

“T-tell the other girls I… I’ll always remember them… a-and…” Falling back onto her haunches, Twilight’s half-lidded eyes blinked, her only working eye releasing a stream of tears, sobbing weakly. “I-I’ll miss you… I don’t have enough energy to teleport us all away… just two of us…”

“No...” Applejack limped forward, her own tears falling. “Y-you can’t do that! Ah w-won’t allow it! Teleport yourself, sugar! Ah’ll stay behind! Ah won’t let you sacrifice yaself; let me stay behind!”

Twilight Sparkle shook her head. “I-I’ll never rest peacefully knowing I couldn’t d-do all that I could for my friends… y-you have a family to live for that d-depend on you. Goodbye, Applejack.”

Grief stricken, Applejack lifted a hoof to touch Twilight’s cheek. “Don’ do this! Please! W-we can make it out together! Ah love y—”

Applejack was gone in one final brilliance of lavender as Twilight’s horn dimmed, her body falling back to lie upon the grass as she moved a hoof to rest against the wound in her abdomen, pressing it as tight as she could with a pained hiss, as if it would stop her life from ending.

Through all the pain she had experienced up until now, Twilight finally felt numb to the world with only Lightning Dust’s agonized howls as a cruel backdrop to her oncoming oblivion. 

A cold feeling trickled along her limbs as her eyelids closed; her mind wandered to a far more pleasant time in her life, with her friends around her, laughing and smiling. With Celestia at her side wearing the most loving of features she had hoped to one day witness upon the mare’s face.

“I… I love you, P-Princess.” Twilight whispered solemnly, spluttering blood. “I’m… coming to see you… I-I’m sorry, I… I’m late…”

With one final wheezed breath, she was finally at peace.

Her heart stopped.



_____________________



“NO! NO! LET GO OF ME!” Applejack thrashed against Rainbow Dash, her face screwed up into a desperation and despair she had only ever experienced once before. The death of her parents was a kind of feeling she could not quite explain, an agony of loss that forced a young mare to grow up far too quickly. But this? This was something completely different.

Applejack had accepted the passing of her parents, for she had seen their bodies sleeping peacefully within their coffins with her own eyes.

However, as far as she was concerned, Twilight Sparkle was alive.

She had to be.

“AH HAVE TO GO BACK! AH CAN STILL SAVE HER!”

Rainbow Dash kept her arms locked around Applejack’s neck, weighing her down against the ground as the mare struggled to get to her hooves. The cyan mare had no words of solace. She had realized what had happened the moment Applejack had arrived in such a state.

“Sh-she’s gone, Applejack!” Rainbow Dash sobbed, clinging tighter against Applejack as she buried her face in the mare’s mane. “S-she’s gone!”

Turning her body and ignoring the pain her broken leg wrought, Applejack shook her head from side to side as she smacked a hoof down against the top of Rainbow Dash’s head. “LET GO!”

The strikes against her were weak and feeble and those were attributes Rainbow Dash would never associate with Applejack. If it was not for her injuries, she was sure the mare would have run all the way back to Twilight, and Rainbow Dash would have been completely unable to stop her.

Rainbow Dash was not sure if she was thankful that Applejack’s blows barely registered, because at this point she wanted something—anything to hit her with enough force to wake her from this terrible dream, where two of her best friends had been cruelly taken from this world before their time.

Lifting up her gaze from Applejack’s mane as the mare slowed against her restraint, Rainbow Dash nuzzled her face into the crook of Applejack’s neck. “Oh… Fluttershy… Twilight,” she muttered, “how… why?”

“Ah-Ah loved her… Ah… Ah loved her…” Applejack wept. “Ah loved h-her an A-Ah abandoned her…”

“It’s… it’s not your fault, Applejack. Twilight she... she saved us.”

“Ah couldn’t do any—”

“Nopony could do a thing, Applejack. I couldn’t do anything… no matter how strong you were, or how quick I was… i-it didn’t matter because, Lightning Dust she was… she was stronger than us. That amulet… that damn, cursed amulet!”

Rainbow Dash released herself from Applejack and pushed herself to her hooves, wiping her eyes as she steeled her nerves. The Everfree Forest was bad enough as it is, but at night? Rainbow Dash did not want to even think about that.

They had to move.

“W-we have to get to Zecora’s. We’re in the Everfree by the looks of it, so we should eventually run into her hut if we keep walking. It’s safer than being in the middle of nowhere.”

Applejack simply stared into space.

“Come on, Applejack… w-we have to go,” Rainbow Dash curled an arm around the earth pony’s waist, attempting to drag the mare to her hooves, “come on, I’ll help you. We got to move before the wolves find us.”

“Ah… can’t…” Applejack’s voice cracked, her teeth gnawing at her bottom, quivering lip.

“You can!” Rainbow Dash snapped a little harsher than she had intended. “We are going to find Zecora’s hut and we are going to get ourselves patched up.” 

“Th-then what…?” Applejack drew her helpless emerald eyes upon the cyan mare. “What’s the point? Fluttershy… and now Twilight...”

“We… I mean... I don’t know,” Rainbow Dash replied gently, her voice breaking into a sob, “I-I just don’t know.”
> The Unforgiven
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 12: The Unforgiven


Lightning Dust panted angrily as she held a hoof over her weeping, gaping eye socket while she struck out repeatedly against Twilight Sparkle’s corpse.Scowling deep with teeth bared, she relished in the dull thud of her limb connecting with the dead Princess’s ribcage, seeking the satisfying crack of broken bones.

“You, fucking, bitch!”

Spitting blood down onto the peaceful slumbering face of Twilight Sparkle, Lightning Dust trembled as she seethed, turning about to trot a few paces away in an attempt to curb her rage.

“You’re lucky the Princess will need your body intact,” Lightning Dust shot a glare over her shoulder, “because so help me when she is finished with you, I am going to kick your corpse straight across Equestria and blow it into a thousand pieces!”

Pacing back towards the immobile Twilight Sparkle, Lightning Dust calmed herself just enough to use the amulet to cast a simple magical spell and much to her glee, there was no life detected in the Princess before her.

Her heart was still.

Her body heat was dissipating.

Twilight Sparkle was, truly, dead.

“How does it feel, being beaten by a mere Pegasus, hm? You fought well, Twilight Sparkle, but clearly you were outmatched against my speed and the power of my amulet! Because do you know what? I’m beginning to think I could do one better…” Lightning Dust manically grinned down a bloodied smile. “I think with the right preparation I can kill Princess Luna and take the Equestrian throne for myself!”

Spreading her wings wide, and wincing as she did so, Lightning Dust gazed off into the distance, frowning a little. “But I believe I have a few more Element bearers to be rid of before I can begin to even think of such things…”

Bending her knees, she took to the sky, leaving Twilight Sparkle’s corpse for her Mistress to play with. “Soon she will have what she wants… and I will be in her favour. I will be granted a title, lands and power and when the time is right, I will slip a knife across her throat as she sleeps! Then, I! I WILL BECOME A PRINCESS! I WILL BE THE BEST! I WILL RULE—”

All sound ceased to exist, causing Lightning Dust to pause mid flight to look about her, confused by the sudden phenomena. 

Then, it all came rushing it back in the form of a physical energy blast that erupted directly below, throwing her forward with such speed that it sent her spiraling out of control.

Spreading her wings wide, Lightning Dust attempted to stabilize herself, but found it impossible as she felt something cold brush past one of her wings, causing her to continue her freefall.

Lightning Dust screamed as she crashed hard, skidding several meters across the ground and leaving a bloody trail in her wake. Eventually she came to a stop, writhing on the spot in agony as she craned her neck just enough to the side to note that one of her wings, was missing. 

Met with a bloodied stump, Lightning Dust’s face twisted in horror as she stood warily to her hooves, unable to form words as her ability to fly was quite literally clipped from her.

The wound itself was cleanly cut, as if something incredibly sharp had severed it.

She had barely recognized the pain until she saw it with her own eyes.

Directing her gaze to the sky, Lightning Dust’s body convulsed as a sob broke from her lips, before it melted into pure rage as the stinging sensation of a missing limb attacked her senses. 

Seething, the amulet flared to life with cracks of red energy arcing outwards, scorching the area wherever the bolts hit.

“I am going to kill you, whoever you are! How dare you! How fucking dare you! When I find you, you are going to rue the—”

The mare’s threat died before it had the chance to fully present itself towards the assailant that not only had the audacity to attack her, but went as far as disabling the one natural ability she was smugly proud of possessing.

Something was breathing against the back of her neck, quite heavily.

Wheeling about frantically, Lightning Dust released a single red bolt from the amulet’s core, but found that her attack met with nothing but thin air.

Now, she could feel the breath tickling against the back of her ear.

“STOP PLAYING WITH ME!” Lightning Dust snapped, her eyes glowing red. “DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM?! WHAT I POSSESS?!”

Repeating the same process as before, Lighting Dust yet again saw and hit nothing. Angry, frustrated, and in pain, the mare could no longer contain herself. She growled as she turned on the spot, launching a continuous barrage of magical blasts that spiraled off into the distance, brightening the area in a hue of red as vast domes of energy blossomed from the epicenter of each impact, ripping up the ground and leaving deep craters wherever she turned.

The destruction brought forth a sickening smirk upon the mare’s lips, her laughter bubbling up as she gleefully submitted to the joy in her sudden act of widespread destruction of the once calm and idyllic Equestrian countryside. 

Eventually, she ceased her attack, turning her one-eyed gaze all about her with each twist and turn of her head, still desperate to repay the unfortunate thing that had so brazenly attacked her without warning.

Something sparkling overhead quickly caught her attention, however.

Tilting her head up, Lighting Dust winced and squinted with her one working eye.She lifted a hoof to block out the incandescent glare of something quite bizarrely black falling towards her at an incredible speed.

Her smile and laughter faded as she used the amulet to quickly form a shield around her, just as the beam of glowing dark energy made contact.

Almost immediately, the shield began to crack, eliciting a yelp of surprise from the mare as she poured more energy into it. Several long moments later,  the attack’s earth shattering fallout eventually dissipated. 

Deactivating the shield, Lightning Dust was met with a heavy cloud of dust, obscuring her vision of the surroundings and causing her to cough. Despite this, she noticed immediately the ground now sloped sharply away from the small plateau of grass her shield had protected.

“W-what the...” Taking a steady step forward, Lightning Dust realized  she was standing in a crater so large, she could barely fathom how she managed to survive the blast that created it. 

Logically for Lightning Dust, there was only one pony powerful enough to have wrought such devastation. 

“Is that you?!” She squinted her eyes. “Princess, why are you attacking me?!”

Lightning Dust winced at the stabbing pain throbbing in the gaping hole where her eye used to be, as she squinted at the shape beginning to take form amidst the smoke not too far away.

It was as tall as the Princess, but Lightning Dust’s heart stopped as it spoke.

It was nopony she recognized.

“We are going to take a lot more than just your wings, Lightning Dust.” The tall, dark purple alicorn mused, her voice smooth as silk. That voice was strangely familiar even though all her senses told her she had never seen or met such an imposing creature before. “We are going to break you piece, by, piece, until you tell us exactly what it is we want to know.”

“What... no, w-who are you?”

“Want a hint, Lightning Dust?” Eyes red and serpentine, the mare drifted fully from the settling mist. Her wings were flared wide as her mane drifted about her head as if caught by an unseen wind, displaying the varying colours of a setting sky upon the eve of night, burning with the dying light of the sun and as cool as the darkness of an unforgiving, starless night. “Surely your feeble mind can put two and two together…” 

Besides her taller and more mature body shape that closely resembled Celestia’s, Twilight’s wings seemed far more angular than before with the feathers a touch sharper in their jagged formation.

Her smile even bore a set of wicked looking fangs.

“No… no that can’t be—”

“Whom else would we be?” The alicorn mused. “Or is there a queue of alicorns who want to see you suffer like we do?”

An innate fear caused Lightning Dust to tremble and back away until she was met with the steady slope into what appeared to be a never ending oblivion.

“B-but… I killed you! I… I am sure of it! Your heart had stopped—I checked!” Lightning Dust summoned the magic of the amulet as she bared her teeth, creating a red sphere of energy to crackle above her head. “But… obviously not well enough... I will be more than happy to kill you again and again, Twilight Sparkle! And just who do you think you are? An illusion spell to make you seem more imposing is not going to phase me! What’s that supposed to be, huh?! A Nightmare Moon impersonation?! Don’t make me laugh! You’re too weak to go against the power of my amulet!”

Twilight Sparkle simply tilted a brow, chuckling again. “Shall we test that theory? We will be more than happy to comply and prove you wrong with a small and yet effective experiment.”

With a simple lift of Twilight’s head, her horn flared with an intense black aura that shot out towards Lightning Dust so quick, the mare had barely any time to react.

As if a gentle breeze had just passed her by, Lightning Dust found herself mysteriously falling forward, crashing face first onto the ground before flopping onto her right side. 

Unable to feel her right leg, Lightning Dust drew up the appendage which was sure she could still feel, but found herself staring at a bloodied stump that squirted out blood, again, pristinely cut, as if it had been surgically removed from her without her knowledge.

Lightning Dust immediately howled in unrivaled horror.

“Is it not funny that out of all the magical spells we could possible use to completely atomize your worthless husk and scatter the remains to the winds, a rather harmless localized teleportation spell was all we needed to defeat you,” Twilight Sparkle smirked, “how does it feel having your limbs ripped between several dimensions?”

Twilight spoke at a level tone, even as Lightning Dust writhed on the ground, squealing like a pig. “We’re sorry, Lightning Dust, we could not quite hear your reply over you incessant whining, so allow us to say it again a little louder this time, for your benefit…”

Twilight leaned in closer. “How does it feel having portions of your body being removed like that? Painful? We hope so, because we are going to make you suffer for a long, long time for everything that you did to us. You almost killed us. You almost killed those precious to me… you killed Fluttershy… you even killed a number of innocent ponies on that train when you derailed it… you are guilty of terrible crimes and for that you must be punished… For Fluttershy, I will make you suffer!”

Twilight leaned closer still until they touched noses, glaring her burning crimson eyes into the very soul of her prey. “How do you plead... guilty, or innocent?”

“PLEASE!” Lightning Dust wept in her state of desperate despair, trying her best to draw her head back from the monstrosity before her. “I-I WAS FORCED TO DO IT!”

“Forced? It seemed like to us you were enjoying yourself a bit too much for that to be true.”

“J-just wait a minute! I-I’ll tell you e-everything!”

“Oh? Bargaining for your life for information now, are we? Well, that is very kind of you but we are not doing this to get any information out of you just yet. We figure everything that you have said thus far, is nothing more than a complete lie… so we will extract the truth from you, by granting you pain unimaginable… you will wish you were dead, very soon.” 

Twilight’s eyes fell upon the mare’s remaining foreleg and with a simple glance and another rush of dark energy, that leg too was gone, throwing Lightning Dust into another frenzy of tears and howls. “The truth quickly comes from those who are tortured for it.”

“STOOOOOOOOOOOP!”

Twilight’s lips curled into a peaceful smile. “No, we are enjoying this. We will not stop until we are completely satisfied that you have atoned for your crimes.” Her eyes slowly made their way along Lightning Dust’s bloodied body, ignoring the desperate, wrinkled expression of despair upon her face pleading silently for mercy. “However, we feel this will not be any time soon, or at the very least, we hope.”

Another whispering breeze cruelly plucked away Lightning Dust’s remaining wing, forever removing any hope she would once again fly.

“D-DON’T K-KILL M-ME!!!” 

Twilight lifted a brow to the ever growing pool of blood surrounding the mare, amused as her body slipped upon its own bleeding lifeforce. “You’re right… if we continue like this, you will die… and that would be a shame. It would be far too quick. You will bleed out long before we grow tired of you...” 

Narrowing her eyes to each and every stump, Twilight summoned her magic to wrap around the gaping wounds and cauterized them to stop the bleeding. “We can’t have that, now can we?”

Squealing, Lightning Dust’s back arched her back as the intense, nerve screaming pain brought forth by the sudden intense heat, coupled with the scent of burnt flesh, caused her to wretch and eventually throw up the contents of her stomach, the stench of urine quickly following suit.

Twilight continued to speak, unphased by the expelled bodily fluids. “We need to confirm this, but... Luna sent you, didn’t she? All of this is her fault, right? You said so yourself, if we are not mistaken.”

Lightning Dust, unable to speak as she continued to heave, simply nodded her head frantically.

“Did she kill Celestia? Has she been lying to us this whole time?” Twilight Sparkle’s voice turned dangerously desperate as her horn glowed along with her sinister expression. “For the longest time we have been having dreams of that terrible night; but every night it changes, it reveals something new… something different. We believe that Luna has done something to our mind to make us forget, to twist our perception; she has done something to our memories, hasn’t she?”

Once again, Lighting Dust nodded her head.

A sneer grew across Twilight’s lips. “Then she must be punished, as well, once she has confessed to her crimes… but you?” She dipped her head low to stare into the snot, spit and tear stained expression of the now mute Lightning Dust, who simply stared back in utter silence. “You are going to deliver a message for us, because we want her to know that we are coming for her… maybe not tonight, maybe not tomorrow, but some time soon, we will march back through Equestria and we will destroy her and everything she hopes to achieve. I will show Equestria what kind of a villain she truly is… and so help me, anypony that stands in my way will be met with the same fate.”

Lightning Dust released a sob as Twilight formed a magical spear above her head. “No… no!”

“You have done well to remain conscious thus far, Lightning Dust.” A frown formulated on Twilight’s lips. “Let’s see how long you last when we are done carving our message into your flesh… but before that, we require you remove the amulet… for we have a use for it... and please, don't try to deny us this request.”

Twilight's frown transformed into a dangerous, fanged smile. "We are pretty sure severing your head is but one way to remove it if you do not wish to comply."
> Boulevard of Broken Dreams
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 13: Boulevard of Broken Dreams



“We… we have mobilized our troops and are in the process of tracking down Twilight Sparkle. She could not have gone far. The border patrols have been doubled so it is highly unlikely she will slip by us undetected. I… I have given the orders authorizing lethal force… k-kill on sight.”

Luna’s throne had never felt so intimidating and cold.

Surrounded by a sea of guards and her trusted council members, Luna could not help but stare in disbelief at Spitfire who mimicked the Princess’s somber expression.

Betrayal.

Denial.

It was written large upon all of her little pony’s faces and nothing she could do or say would quell it from her own.

Unlike her subjects, she refused to accept the news. She had not seen what they had.

“This… cannot be true...” Luna shook her head. “Your information must be incorrect.”

Spitfire lowered her head, unable to speak any further. 

Flash Sentry stepped forward from the ranks of the council, passing by a strangely subdued Blueblood who stared at his hooves, rage simmering behind his eyes.

“The… area was too devastated for us to fully comprehend the bigger picture, your Majesty. The ponies on the train… or… what was left it, were all killed by what appeared to be griffon weaponry or from the force of the train’s purposeful derailment. The damage done to the area was caused by immensely powerful magic. Magic that could only have come from an alicorn, or a being of equal measure.”

“There must something else.” Luna stood up from her throne, trembling. “Check again. I want a detailed magical analysis of the area. I want to know the truth! I refuse to believe she is capable of this horror!”

Flash Sentry looked back to Spitfire, saddened by the outburst. “I apologize, your Majesty, but… but we have done just that. We checked and checked again, but the results are the same. The report Spitfire put together after briefing the sole survivor… and her injuries… it’s… the evidence is conclusive. No mistake has been made… it was Twilight.”

Spitfire closed her eyes, speaking up despite her reluctance to do so. Everything was just one piece of bad news after the next. “What… little remains of the Element of Kindness we recovered… it… and what Lightning Dust has told us… or what she could tell us… there’s nothing else we can do or say to rationalize it to not being, Twilight Sparkle.”

Luna fell back against the throne, her trembling forehooves lifting towards her face. 

She stared at them for the longest of moments before looking back towards Spitfire. “Lightning Dust… will she recover? What is the extent of her injuries?”

Flash Sentry took a step forward. “Your Majesty, I don’t think you need to burden yourself with that—”

Luna gave Flash Sentry a very explicit look. One that dared him to speak again. He quickly stepped back, his head bowed in submission.

Spitfire cleared her throat. “She… she is suffering from blood loss but thankfully, she is still hanging on to life. She is a fighter and perhaps the bravest pony I have ever met and, if it pleases your Majesty, I would like to grant her the title of honorary Wonderbolt, including a medal of Valour… if it was not for her we would have been completely in the dark… and it appears she attempted to stop Twilight Sparkle, even though she knew she was no match.”

“Do as you please.” Luna muttered, having bigger things occupying her mind. “See to it she is taken care of. I would like to question her myself when she is better. I want you to make her as comfortable as possible… we owe her that much for the great service she has done to Equestria.”

Spitfire bowed her head, departing the throne room by filtering through the sea of ponies.

Flash Sentry swallowed hard, unnerved that he needed to speak again to the Princess, who was clearly upset, even if she hid it better than those around her. “I have taken the liberty of preparing a state funeral for the Element of Kindness… once we are able to gain access to... to her body...”

“Discord... “ Luna’s heart sank as she murmured his name. “Has he—”

Flash Sentry shook his head. “He is not well. He refuses to give us the body.”

“I see... I will deal with him in due time. What about…” Luna struggled to form the words as she almost sobbed, “what about Rainbow Dash and Applejack, have their… have their bodies been found?”

Flash Sentry shook his head. “No, your Majesty. I fear they will not be found. There is a chance they were vapourized… or worse. We are working around the clock to bring conclusive evidence that they too perished under the wreckage, but we cannot guarantee anything at this time.”

Luna closed her eyes as she turned away from the procession, her head tilting upwards as she lamented over announcing the news to Equestria proper. Or worse, to their families. 

How could she explain this? How could she tell them that it was she who had failed them.

She was supposed to be their ruler.

Their protector.

Instead, she practically gift wrapped them to a crazed Twilight Sparkle.

Luna caught herself mid-sob as she herself began to accept the impossible. 

Twilight Sparkle was the culprit.

They had all been played for foals. 

Trotting down the dais and away from the throne, Luna looked to Blueblood as she passed. “It is to you I leave the authority, Blueblood, to deal with the necessities of this case. I am going to retire to my chambers so that I can better think over what my future course of action is to be... but I decree as of now, so that we are all clear on it, that Princess Twilight Sparkle is stripped of her crown, status and is now officially an enemy of Equestria… I want her captured alive. I want to know why she has done this to us.”

Blueblood, surprisingly humble, nodded his head, his eyes averted from the Princess as she walked past him and through the crowd. “Of course. Absolutely. Leave it to me. I shall make the arrangements with the rest of the council and report directly to you.”


________________


Spitfire stopped before the door of the medical wing of the castle, entering after a quiet knock was given upon it.

The last time she had seen Lightning Dust was when she was discovered lying quite some distance from the wreckage, her limbs purposefully severed and scattered around like some cruel reminder.

They had hoped to reattach the limbs, but she had a strong suspicion that the procedure would result in a failure. They were simply too damaged. The stumps, too, were cauterized as if to prevent such an attempt.

Twilight Sparkle wanted her to live and suffer.

To become a message.

That much was understood without Lightning Dust’s mad ramblings. 

Carved across her flesh in varying degrees of size and manic hoof-writing was the word:

Revenge.

Revenge for what, Spitfire knew not. But the message left behind was directed at the Princess for certain.

Twilight Sparkle was threatening the Princess, but for what?

The key to these answers was their only lead to what truly happened.

Lightning Dust.

Immediately her stomach sank at the heavily bandaged, legless form lying still upon a gurney on the other side of the ward. The only areas not covered in the bloodied gauze were her muzzle and remaining eye.

Spitfire trembled at the expression within it.

Lightning Dust’s vacant eye gazed on as if trapped within an eternal nightmare from which she could not escape, her lips moving, wording something that could not be heard.

Next to her worked one of the nurses, carefully using her blue-tinted magic to rewrap a fresh set of bandages around Lightning Dust’s left stump, a clear yellow discharge of infection staining the old.

Looking up, the yellow unicorn blinked behind her bowl-cut, blue mane. “Ah… Captain Spitfire, I didn’t expect to see you here again today.”

“I’m not here on official business… I’m here for a personal reason. I hope you do not mind if I talk to her alone?” As Spitfire approached the gurney, she glanced towards Lightning Dust’s face, trying her best to smile and catch that dead-eyed gaze of hers.

“Of course, I think it is nice of you to come and talk to her. She is a little subdued due to the tranquilizers, but it was unfortunately necessary.”

“Why is that?” Spitfire remarked, her lips curling into a troubled frown. “Is she okay?”

The nurse shook her head as she approached, placing a hoof upon Spitfire’s shoulder. “She began to act violently when she realized she was in the palace. A moment of mania, you understand. She’s been through so much, so her psychology must be… damaged. I think it going to be longer to heal her mind than her body so, please, be careful what you say to her, okay? I can't give her anymore sedatives.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t press any questions that will upset her. I have come to give her some good news, at the very least.” 

“Is that so? I think it will be great for her to hear some kind of good news, today. I’ll give you two some space.”

Spitfire nodded as the nurse gave both a warm and caring smile before walking away to leave the ward entirely.

Once alone in the silence, Spitfire found herself staring in disbelief. 

The last time they met she thought the mare arrogant and headstrong to an incredible degree. She was expelled from the Wonderbolts by Spitfire’s own hoof, but never in a million years would she wish this on anypony.

Swallowing back her sadness, she looked upon Lightning Dust with a forced smile. “Hey there, Lightning Dust.”

The mare’s somber eye turned towards the Wonderbolt.

Under that stare, a tremble reverberated through Spitfire’s body. “I have some good news and I thought I ought to be the one to say it. I have decided that, due to your service and your undying loyalty to Equestria, including your bravery at attempting to fight back against the unsuspecting menace of Twilight Sparkle… I feel as if you ought to be awarded the prestigious honour of becoming a full-fledged Wonderbolt.”

Lightning Dust’s eye softened at the news, clearly stripping her from the haze she had lost herself to.

A quiet, gentle whisper came from the mare, her eye widening as a tear fell from it, soaking into the pillow. “W-Wonderbolt?”

Spitfire’s smile only widened, nodding gently. She longed to place a hoof upon the mare’s head. To smooth over her mane - to reassure and comfort her, but knew full well that her injuries beneath the gauze would make it quite uncomfortable.

“Yes. I haven’t brought your medal, but I will have it made right away for you to display wherever you go. You should be proud of yourself, Lightning Dust. No pony would have done what you did. You stood up against impossible odds and, despite the sacrifices you made, here you are… you’re a hero.”

Lightning Dust’s tears fell quicker while an odd smile graced her lips, including a curious expression Spitfire could not quite understand.

She looked… disappointed? The Wonderbolt could not quite identify the emotion.

“A… a hero?” Lightning Dust sobbed.

Spitfire nodded slowly. “If it wasn’t for you, we would never have known about Twilight’s betrayal. Who knows what would have happened if we had not known… she could have easily walked into the palace and finished what she set out to do…”

Lightning Dust’s cried as she spoke, whispering her words. “I-I… I’m so… sorry…”

Spitfire blinked, leaning in close towards the mare so she could better hear her. “For what? You did nothing wrong, Lightning Dust. You don’t need to say sorry… you did everything you could...”

“I… I...” Lightning Dust opened her eye, her head turning towards Spitfire. “I just wanted… I just wanted to be respected… I just wanted to beat Rainbow Dash… I just—”

“Shhh, it’s okay. That is all in the past. There is nothing to fret over. You’re no longer expelled from the Wonderbolts. You’ve returned a hero and will forever be remembered as one of the bravest that ever wore the uniform.”

“I… I did it. I… I killed them…”

Spitfire bit at her lower lip. She shouldn’t have come here. She was only upsetting the mare. “No, Lightning, you didn’t. If anything, you saved Equestria. You can’t think like that—”

“Y-you don’t understand!”

“I think that will be quite enough for the day, Captain Spitfire.” Came the annoyed tone of the nurse, who had inconspicuously snuck back into the ward. She was standing directly behind the Wonderbolt, looking none too pleased. “I thought I said not to upset her. She is in a very critical condition, even if she is stable…”

Spitfire, startled, took a step back, shame growing upon her features as she looked between the nurse and Lightning Dust. “I apologize… I was just... “ She looked upon the sobbing mare in the gurney, her eyes softening with her own tears. “I am sorry. I will come and visit you again, Lightning Dust… but please, don’t say such things about yourself. There was nothing you could have done to save—”

“Ahem.” The nurse shot Spitfire a glare.

Nodding her head, Spitfire trotted off. “Rest for now, Lightning Dust. We will speak again soon, okay?”

The nurse saw the Captain of the Wonderbolts out with a very intense glare which quickly softened the moment she looked upon her sobbing patient. 

Once the door clicked shut, then nurse’s smile completely dissipated almost immediately.

“What were you going to say to her, Lightning Dust?” The nurse soothed with a gentle voice, her magic reigniting about her horn as she lifted an empty syringe. Her voice betrayed her sudden grim determination.

Lightning Dust longed to lift a hoof up to wipe away the tears,but even though she felt she had limbs, she knew full well there was nothing there to get rid of the irritation.

“N-nothing…” Lighting Dust whimpered, looking to the nurse and the empty syringe as it levitated into the air. Her eye widened when she noticed the familiar green-fire of changeling magic being used to lift it.

“W-wait… you’re a—”

“Unfortunately, my Queen is upset with you as it is, but this? This is the last straw. It is nothing personal, so I hope you understand.” The nurse narrowed green tinted eyes upon the helpless mare. “You jeopardized her great vision of a unified rule. You didn’t follow her plan… you should count yourself fortunate that we were not revealed, and positively blessed that you managed to salvage the situation.”

Lightning Dust’s bottom lip quivered as she shook her head. “I didn’t mean for Twilight to get away! I… I can fix this!”

The nurse scoffed. “What, as you are? Don’t make me laugh. You couldn’t fight your way out of a wet paper bag, now… now, you’re just nothing more than a lump of useless flesh.”

“Give me one last chance! I-I’ll make it up to the Princess! I swear it on my life!”

“Correct me if I am wrong, Lightning Dust, but you just almost spilt your guts just now, didn’t you?”

“N-no! I would never—”

“What exactly were you going to say to the Captain? Were you just about to throw back the love our glorious Queen gave to you? The power she offered? It sounds like to me you would betray the only pony in all of Equestria that would love a sorry excuse for a pony like you.”

“I didn’t say anything! I-I didn’t plan to! I’d never betray her!”

Lightning Dust’s body locked up as the empty syringe full of air was jammed straight into her neck.

The mare yelled out in agony as its content was pushed into the artery.

“A risk we are not willing to make… but do not worry. It is as the pony said. You will be forever remembered as a hero… such a shame, you will pass from this life, knowing you are nothing more than a liar and a cheat… and above all else, a murderer.” Pulling out the syringe, the pony smirked, revealing a set of fangs and a long serpentine tongue that flicked out to taste the air.

Lightning Dust’s body convulsed violently on the gurney, her mouth wide as her eye rolled up into the back of her head, the deadly pocket of air reaching her brain swiftly, causing a seizure that induced a fatal heart attack.

Once still, Lightning Dust’s head flopped to the side, her face permanently locked in terror, a single tear dripping down her muzzle.

“Queen Cadence sends her love.”


_______________



Princess Luna stared emotionlessly across the city of Canterlot from her bedroom’s balcony.

Her eyes held a sharpness to them that mimicked the expression when she was lost to her hatred as Nightmare Moon; promising endless night and suffering for those that would dare defy her reign of eternal darkness…

But her anger was imbued with something far more painful.

Sorrow.

The bloodshot, puffy state of her eyes was evidence enough of just how much she had been crying since she was informed of the terrible, undeniable truth. Her heart ached with a sadness that was laced with a betrayal she could not swallow no matter how many times she attempted to rationalize it.

Luna fell back onto her haunches, her face contorting as a sob broke out from her lips. Her eyes clenched tight as the weight of everything that had been thrown at her in the past few months finally came crashing to the surface.

She had lost a sister, and now? She had lost her only remaining link to her.

Twilight Sparkle, her sister’s dearest student, was gone.

She was no more.

Whatever was left of her was but a vile shadow… a mockery of the pony she once called a friend.

Or, did she; did Twilight Sparkle, truly exist at all?

Was this always the plan?

Perhaps the change into an alicorn was the trigger? With newfound power came newfound responsibilities… including illusions of grandeur. She was no stranger to such a temptation and had fallen to similar inclinations…

Had Twilight Sparkle simply been biding her time? 

“Why?” Luna pressed her forehooves against her eyes as she wept. “W-why have you done this? What did we do… what did… what did Celestia do to deserve this?”

The young alicorn must have done it.

It explained so much.

Twilight had orchestrated the most perfect of betrayals and had hidden her true motives right under Luna’s very nose, without fault.

Celestia’s assassination… pinning the blame upon the Griffin Empire… silencing the assassin herself in a seeming fit of rage… her return to Ponyville with three of the Elements by her side, ripe for the taking when they least expected it…

Lightning Dust was the message and Luna received it loud and clear.

It all seemed to make too much sense.

It seemed so obvious now, even if she did not want to believe the pieces fit together.

Twilight Sparkle wanted the throne of Equestria to herself.

“H-how could she?”

Ripping her hooves back from her eyes, Luna stood, her wings flaring wide as she tossed her head aside. Igniting her horn with an inky darkness, she consumed every item of furniture in her room and threw it all against the wall in an almighty crash of broken wood and glass.

“What did we do to deserve this?! My sister; she loved you like no other!” Luna screamed, stomping a forehoof down hard enough to cause the entirety of her room to tremble under a terrible quake. “Why would you kill her?! Why would you kill your own friends? For what? For power?! You ought to have known better!”

Heaving hot, quick breaths through her nose, Luna snapped her attention to the entourage of guards bursting into her room, all wide-eyed and panicked.

They paused the very moment they set eyes on their Princess, who looked upon them as if they were mere ants for her to crush under hoof.

“LEAVE!” She barked at them.

“But… your Majesty we heard a—”

“I SAID LEAVE!” She bellowed again, magic angrily sparking from her horn.

Luna’s body sagged under the weight of emotions pushing down at her as the guards scrambled out of the room, closing the door behind them.

Dropping down to kneel upon the ground, Luna wept, completely overcome with what she had to do.

“I need you, sister.” She looked up from the ground and towards the ceiling, hoping the answer would come from the heavens. “I know what to do but I fear I won’t have the courage to do what you did… I-I just… I just can’t.”
> Epilogue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Epilogue: Hurt


“How dare they! To think that I, the Great and Powerful Trixie would lend her services for a meager sum! I am not some kind of charity show! My expertise in entertainment and magic are second to none! I cannot make a living on being charitable! Just who do they think they are, anyhow? How do they expect a mare such as myself to live on just five bits?!” 

With her nose turned up, Trixie Lulamoon stomped angrily through the muddy trail that led away from Manehatten, her prized hat and cape sopping wet as the heavens unloaded their burden down upon the irritated mare.

“Damn Pegasi! Why does it have to rain now? In fact, why does it always have to rain whenever I am on the move?!” She huffed angrily, glaring up at the sky. “You just wait, don’t you? You wait for Trixie to pack up her caravan and move on just to rain on my day, don’t you?!”

The sky did not answer back. But a bolt of lightning did flash through the air, causing the mare to jump.

“J-just kidding… heh-heh…” Trixie lowered her gaze, muttering her obscenities under her breath  lest the sky respond to her complaints once again.

It was during that single movement that Trixie paused, noting something bulky laying in her path quite some distance away.

“Urgh… what a pain…”

Squinting her eyes through the rain, Trixie removed herself from the reins of her caravan and trudged on up ahead, her hoofs squelching in the mud.

The closer she got, the more the obstacle became pony-shaped, and if it were not for the blotches of darkness appearing through the mud that heavily caked its form, she could had mistaken it for an oddly shaped rock.

Once close enough, Trixie stood aghast as her mind fully comprehended just what the mysterious looking rock actually was.

It looked like a pony, but it most certainly was not.

It had a jagged horn—or what was left of one. Not only was it terribly thin and monstrous to look upon, but it easily towered over her in height; in fact, it was almost as tall an alicorn, if not a couple of hairs bigger!

Taking a step back, Trixie trembled in fear as it reared its head from the ground, its emerald eyes gazing at her feebly, begging silently for help.

“I-it can’t be…” Trixie murmured in shock, looking around her as if suspecting somepony to jump out at her. “This… this is clearly some kind of joke?”

There, shackled, malnourished, and shivering before the show mare like a frightened kitten, sat the infamous Queen of the Changelings.