Prologue

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War breeds pain, in more ways than one. The country of Equestria has suffered many losses of their beloved role models, mages, inventors, and overall minds of the new age. But to have them turn against their own? The thought alone was unfathomable. Yet, still possible, as was witnessed with the naked eye.

Queen Twilight "Arcadia Nova" Sparkle, sworn protector and beloved Queen of the great expansive supernation of Psera. Her magic was unmatched, strong enough to power the entire country for centuries to come. Her knowledge of magic and science not only went beyond admiration and respect, but to speak of her in such a way of disrespect required an investigation into who you were as a pony.

Arcadia Nova was the first Alicorn-Pseratep to ever exist. A foreigner to Psera, but considered, at most, their goddess; their hero who would willingly lift her sword and give up her life. She resurrected their land from the dirt, married their king, brought to them technology they never knew existed, a new energy source that could bring dreams to life, and a military command so vast Narmeelah herself would have trouble getting through.

Arcadia Nova, Saviour of Psera. Her image brought smiles to the faces of many far and wide. But as of now, in the land of Equestria, her presence grew fear. Her daughter Fresh Dawn could hear it. The Pserateps soaring through Equestria's airspace, the shouts of military outside. But for what? What exactly happened?

What caused Queen Twilight 'Arcadia Nova' Sparkle to swing her sword upon both the Pserateps and IHT?

After everything that has happened, after escaping their prison of time, after witnessing the fight between her mother and almost every single pony alive, after witnessing her fall and detainment before they were separated, after screaming her lungs out for her mother to be freed, after fighting against the hold of Celestia, Flurry, and her grandparents, Dawn finally found serenity in her mother's room when she herself was a filly.

The quiet atmosphere calmed both Fresh Dawn and First Light down. Too much noise and it would cause another tirade. Instead, it distracted them from reality and perched them into peace.

On her Starswirl the bearded bedsheets she lied, staring at a picture of Twilight on a dresser in desperate need of a dusting. She paid no attention to the window where outside soldiers of IHT and Psera patrolled the streets, where a bubble shield resistant to her presence surrounded her grandparents' home; where, supposedly, Psera's fleet drifted off the coast of Las Pegasus. She knew everything that was happening outside.

Everything, except for her mother's whereabouts. She's asked grandma and grandpa so many times, the wardens of her prison. But the answers were always the same:

She's being held. That's it? That's all she's getting?! They refused to let her in on anything revolving her mother. The attack? Nothing. Zebrica? Nothing. Future plans? Nothing. She was stuck in a void with no answers.

Dawn already cried for father four days ago. As for her mother, she cried everyday. Even now a tear rolled down her cheek and added to a moist spot on the bedsheets.

Juniper, being the ever-loving magic-born pet she was would lick at her face to bring Dawn out of her depression.

"Not now, Juniper." She gently nudged her away with a wing. "Not in the mood." Juniper whimpered and tried again. "No, Juniper. Sit."

Juniper whimpered and did as told by Dawn's side. Sky Blue was around the house somewhere. She couldn't take to the skies like she wanted, being trapped within a bubble designed to subdue dark magic. One hit against it and Celestia would know. She would teleport over, tell her to stop, and go back to what she was doing before. That didn't mean Dawn would.

How long has it been? Almost a week, right? Dawn rose from the bed and jumped down. The hardwood floors creaked with her weight and every step she took to get to the window. She peeked out, staring through Ponyville up to Canterlot. What... Why... Dawn couldn't even fathom a thought anymore. She was done thinking. She was done trying.

A knock on the bedroom door pulled Dawn's attention from the window. "Dawnie?" Twilight Velvet called through it. "Can I come in?"

Dawn turned back to the window, ignoring her. Velvet knew she wouldn't answer. The door was opened and she poked her head in sadly. "Dawn, somepony's here to see you." No answer. "Okay, it's Cadance. She wants to talk to you. Is it okay if she comes in?"

Still no answer. So Velvet widened the door to let In Princess Cadance. Her taller figure walked in with a soft smile trained on Dawn's back. Her pink coat so flawless one wouldn't have believed she was real.

"Hey, Dawn," she greeted. "I just wanted to speak with you for—"

"Unless..." Dawn cut her off. "You're here to tell me about my mother, to say I can see her, I don't want to speak to any of you."

Cadance walked closer. "Dawn, please be reasonable after everything that has happened—"

"I am being reasonable. Perfectly, actually. But no one else is. So get out. Both of you." They didn't move. "GET OUT!!!"

Dawn's magic surrounded Cadance and pushed her out the room. Then the door was slammed shut in her face, leaving her in the dark of the house. Cadance sighed in dismay and bowed her head with eyes closed. It's been like this ever since they brought her here. Too many attempts, too many failures.

Cadance shook her head with Velvet then trotted back down the stairs where Celestia, Luna, Night Light and Merry Fire waited.

She shook her head at their questioning gazes. "She won't speak to me either."

Luna asked, "Let me guess. It's because she wants to see Twilight." Cadance nodded. "We should just let her. A filly needs her mother."

"A filly needs a mother," Celestia corrected. "Not Twilight. She has already proven that. Twilight will resort to violence if she sees Dawn. It is better if they are separated."

"Dawn could have an escort."

"Or Dawn just doesn't see her at all. She'll be better taken care of by relatives who are more normal than what she has been subjected to as of late. She doesn't need anymore of this. Not to mention, Twilight could use Dawn as a way to escape. Dawn isn't really a pony. She's dark magic. That means more magic for Twilight to use as a weapon or a spell, or whatever she wants. And Dawn will do what it takes to free her mother."

While Celestia spoke Cadance looked back up to the stairs. Lying at the top of them made her heart stop beating.

"But what is one visit?" Velvet argued. "She's a child, Celestia. A child who watched her mother be attacked."

"One visit could cause a bigger problem. One visit could mean disaster for all of us. We almost lost our lives in Canterlot and more did. We cannot take that risk. We must keep any form of Twilight's magic away from Twilight."

Without pulling her eyes from the staircase, Cadance bumped her wing into Luna. She followed her sight then bumped Celestia.

Dawn. Lying down at the top of the staircase amongst the shadows. Watching them stoically with an unreadable stare. It didn't take a genius to know she heard every word they said.

"Hello, Dawn," Luna greeted. "Were you spying on us?"

"It's not spying if you're talking about me," she answered. "It's just me listening to my business."

Celestia huffed out through her nose. She was not ready for this conversation. "Dawn—"

"You don't get to speak to me," Dawn snapped. "After everything you just said, I don't even want to look at you, let alone hear your voice."

Silence reigned before Cadance spoke for her. "Dawn, listen. We know you want to see your mom, but maybe now isn't a good time."

"Then when is a good time?" Dawn put out her hooves. "I just want to see my mother. There is no mega plan, there is no working together, there is no evil. I just..." Dawn sighed and wiped her eyes before the tears could fall. "I just want to see the last pony I have left. I just want to see the last pony that makes home feel like home no matter where I am in this world. I want to see my mother one more time before I'm alone again."

Cadance assured, "Dawn you're never alone."

"I'm always alone. I was alone on Psera and I'm alone here. At least I had a small chance. But now, no one wants the pony birthed of Dark Magic around on Equestria, and no one wants the daughter of the pony who almost ended everything on Psera. I'm alone and no one here can tell me otherwise.

"So please, before I take my final steps as an actual pony worthy of any respect in this world...just let me see the last of the little family I had."

Celestia closed her eyes and looked away. Buck why was she already regretting this decision? "...fine." She turned back to Dawn and pointed. "But only for five minutes, there can be no magic, and Luna and myself will be present the entire time. You do what we say, understand?"

Dawn stood up with her eyes wide and ears up. "Yes," she answered excitedly.

Celestia turned around and gestured with her head for the door. Dawn eagerly trotted down the steps and past her grandparents out into the brisk air. Civilization was slowly crawling back to normal. Ponies were out and about, but due to the military presence, only a few walked the streets. The rest chose to watch and stay indoors.

But once Dawn stepped into sight, those nearby stopped what they were doing and eyed her suspiciously. Measuring her up and down. A couple walking by stopped, stared, and turned around, going back where they came. A foretelling of the future.

Dawn's ears flopped down and Cadance laid a wing on her back. "Don't worry about them," she whispered.

"How can't I?" Dawn replied. "When the entire world will be doing it?"

A question that went unanswered. Celestia disengaged the bubble shield and walked towards a chariot on the other side. The soldiers attached cast curious looks to Dawn, but said nothing. Their silence didn't make her feel any better.

Once they were situated, Celestia ordered, "Onward to Containment."

The soldiers took off down the street and soon into the air, sailing amongst blue skies and cold air. Dawn looked over the edge and watched the town of Ponyville pass below. Its citizens watched her back, just like the hundreds would after.

The trip to "Containment" was silent. Celestia, Luna and Cadance stared straight ahead with the latter glancing down in her direction every passing minute. Would it always be like this? One pony watching the other for any strange actions?

They passed over the Everfree Forest. The Abandoned Castle. The doorway to Founder's has closed, leaving her here in the real world to face the nightmare that has become her life.

Dawn could see it in the distance. Containment. Patrols of Pserateps sped by overhead over a pyramid-shaped facility, as big as the Castle of the Gods in Psera. Three high and thick concrete walls outlined the operations. Containment. This was Pseratopian technology. The same ponies mom saved now keep her prisoner.

The chariot lowered into the woods onto a road leading up to the first gate. Pserateps walked the forestry, thinned of branches to watch anyone trying to escape or do anything sneaky.

An alarm blared and the gate creaked open, letting them through the first, second, and third gate.

They arrived at the pyramid, ringed by Psera's Elite military watching them. Watching Dawn. Their wheels rolled through muddy ground, as if rain pelted the pyramid before it stopped at a pair of doors outlined by runes.

"Let's go." Celestia hopped out first followed by the rest of them. Dawn caught up and walked through those automatic doors that parted upon their presence. They entered a wide hall colored a bright white, a stark contrast compared to the gloomy world behind them, fitted with Elite Guards standing on the side. A single hallway leading up stairs. One way in, one way out.

But where was mom? After climbing Dawn saw another pair of doors up ahead. Glass, Dawn could see Uncle Shining inside watching computers and talking to someone. The doors parted and beeped to let them know they entered. He looked behind him and honed in on Dawn.

His questioning gaze met Cadance's. "Once," she said. "Five minutes."

He couldn't argue. He looked back to the computers and focused on the glass windows beyond it. A large space that Dawn couldn't entirely see. But she was sure her mother was down there.

Shining leaned over the control board before him and twisted and turned a few knobs. Immediately, an alarm rang out in an expansive space beyond the glass. Shining leaned forward into a microphone. "You have a visitor. Five minutes."

He turned back. "She knows."

So that's how they spoke to her. Not in person? Dawn swallowed her anger at the disrespect. Cadance placed a wing on Dawn's back and guided her over to a door on the side down a secured stairwell that lead out into another guarded hallway.

Dawn could feel her near. But not as much as she used to. They were compressing her magic in here. Keeping her back from the world outside. Soon, they took a right and stopped before another pair of doors. Glass and light, quick and easy to open in the event the guard needed to swarm the pony on the other side.

But that didn't matter. Dawn could see her; how helpless she was. Right there, in an atrium filled with hot lights beaming down onto a plastic cone that kept her mother prisoner. A single walkway lead out to her in the middle of this pyramid. Turrets lined the walls stationed by more soldiers aiming at her cell. Twilight was lying down on her stomach with a container on her horn, a cuff on all four hooves, and wings spread by tools from above attached to the pyramid by chains.

"Five minutes," Celestia reminded her. "No magic, and no physical contact."

Dawn nodded. She would appease to Celestia's demands for mom. Once Celestia was sure she would listen, the doors were opened and they walked out onto the bridge leading up to the cone together.

Twilight sat up once she recognized her daughter. Her eyes widened upon recognition. "Dawn!"

"Mom!" Dawn ran for the pyramid and placed her hooves against the cone's surface. Twilight nuzzled the other side. "How are you doing in here? Why are you chained up like this? This is completely unnecessary!"

Twilight spoke through her fatigue. Upon further inspection, Dawn could make out bags under her eyes. The color that was left was no longer lively. She was weak. "Psera and IHT are trying to drain my magic. It won't work."

Dawn turned back to Celestia staring emotionless in fury. "Are you serious?! You're killing her!!"

Celestia held her ground. "It is for the safety of creatures everywhere that Twilight have her magic drained. Both Psera and IHT agreed on this move. Once she is weakened, we will move on with the trial."

"And just what are you doing with her magic?! Using it for yourselves?! You're stealing the magic of the pony who saved your lives a hundred times over! You should be ashamed of yourselves!"

"Dawn," Twilight whispered. Dawn quickly trotted back to heed her mother's call. "Do not worry."

"But mom—"

"Shhh, my child, come here." Twilight placed her forehead against the plastic. Dawn followed her example and closed her eyes. "Everything is going to be okay. Do you hear me? Everything is going to be okay."

"Mom, I need you." Dawn placed her hoof on the plastic. "I can't go back to Psera without you, I just can't."

"Shhh, Dawn. Listen to my voice. Just listen. You are a part of me and I of you. Everything will be okay. You can go wherever makes you happy and safe."

"But...Narmeelah...I can't leave them."

"Dawn, your happiness and safety comes first. Psera . . . They no longer care for us. Only their power that I have given them. I fear they use my magic to power all of them." Twilight stood up and looked down to Dawn. "But you must stay strong. Don't let them control your future. I know Psera may hold little grudges against you, but stay strong, my baby. Everything is going to be okay."

Celestia spoke up from the back. "One minute."

Twilight glanced up to them briefly before looking back to Dawn. "Because Equestria, Psera, The Dragon Lands, they will all need us before the season is over. They will need the pony who brought them to where they are today. They will need the pony who sacrificed their life for them, and they will need the pony who prepared for such a catastrophe. I will be okay."

Dawn and Twilight placed their foreheads against the glass once more. "I love you, mommy."

"I love you both, Dawn and Light. We'll see each other again soon."

"Time's up."

Chapter 01 - What Is Home?

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Another morning, another mourning. But this time there was a reason. Hunger reached Dawn's stomach. She rose with the sun and bathed herself. Her thoughts traveled back to Night Life and Lucky. What happened to them? It would be nice to see a friendly face. After seeing how everyone was treating each other, seeing them would make her feel better.

Dawn quickly got herself to face the day. She brushed her coat and placed her Tiara upon her head. Then walked down the stairs and into the kitchen where Velvet was cooking and Grandpa was reading the newspaper. There on the front page was a shot of Containment and the headline, "Tyrant Defeated." Her blood boiled. How dare they...

Velvet noticed her first and smiled gently. "Good morning, sweetie."

Dawn wasn't nearly as enthusiastic. "Good morning, grandma."

Velvet walked around and planted a kiss on her head before sliding breakfast before her. "Cadance told me that Princess Merry was going to be dropping by this morning with some news."

Yay. Dawn couldn't wait for her to show up after being absent this entire time. She ate in silence before a knock pulled Night Light from his reading. He set the paper down and walked around Dawn for the door.

He pulled it open and came face-to-face with Merry Fire and two Guards. "Ah, good morning. Come in."

"Thank you." Merry and her entourage walked through and locked eyes on Dawn. Well, at least her back. "Good morning, Dawn."

Dawn turned around and faced Merry with sadness. She knew what she was scared of. They all were. She walked to the table and pulled Dawn into a warm hug.

"I know," she said. "They won't understand, okay? None of them will. But we're going to help you move along. Now that the castle's modifications are done, we're going to head back to Psera. Anchor's up at eleven."

What time was it now? Ten, according to an overhead clock. They had an hour. And modifications?

"What modifications?" Dawn queried suspiciously.

"After the attack, all of us had to move to Safe Haven while the castle underwent repairs." That wasn't what she was asking. Merry knew it. "And a few things off your mother's were seized. That had to take some time. Grandma gave us the okay to come home."

"What did they take?" Merry didn't answer. "They took her spell books. Didn't they?" She still didn't answer. Dawn walked back to her seat and continued to eat her breakfast. "As if they're trying to control my life already."

Merry sat down in a seat next to her. "I know it's going to be hard, but we're going to move on as best as we can."

"What about mom?"

"Once Equestria has control of your mother, they're going to proceed with the trial. I'm sure you'll see her again then."

"You know, they're stealing her magic. Both Psera and Equestria are stealing the very thing that saved their lives so many times over." She wouldn't listen. They didn't care. No one did.

She was no longer hungry. Dawn's utensil dropped onto the ceramic plate. She scooted the chair back, dropped back to the floor and walked for the stairs. "I'll get my things."

Merry watched her before she was out of sight. She turned to her Grandparents. "It's going to be tough."

Velvet sat next to Night Light. "Maybe they should let Dawn stay here at least near her mother."

It was merely a dream. Merry shook her head at. "She has to come back to Psera. They're too close. It's for Dawn's safety."

"Alright. I'm ready." They turned back to the staircase where Dawn trotted down with a book in her hooves, Juniper on her back and Sky Blue on her head.

Merry stood and nodded to the grandparents. "Thank you for watching her. We'll see you at the trial?"

"We're thinking about it," Night Light replied.

What? Dawn faced them in disbelief. "You're not going?"

Velvet sighed and stated, "We don't want to see our filly be locked away forever."

"Yeah, I don't want to see my mother be imprisoned either, but I'm still going because I know that I'm nearly the only support she has left of this world." She turned and glared at Merry. "Everyone else seems to have forgotten the sacrifices she's made for all of us."

Dawn walked past her out the door before she could respond. Nothing they could say would defend their stance. Merry nodded to Night Light and Velvet before following her. It was going to be a long trip.

Containment's silence allowed Twilight to think. Lying on her side, staring blankly at whatever lied in front of her. With her own brother as her warden, things were not looking up. Her magic was leaving her. She could feel her wings shrinking, her size diminishing. Under the lights of this prison, she was dying.

But her mind, that stayed clear and sharp. They thought she would just let them use her? Allow them to steal her power and her filly? Fools. They would learn the hard way that nothing could control her. Everything that she's given them can be taken away.

The doors opened and Celestia walked in. Her steps reverberated off the walls. "Dawn is heading back to Psera," she said. "Her Majesty Molten Ice and the rest will be watching over her for now."

Celestia sat down and looked into Twilight's eyes. Tired, but furious. "How dare you," she said. "How dare you take my daughter from me."

"Dawn isn't safe with you."

"She could be nowhere safer than by my side. At least I am willing to sacrifice my own life for her and my ponies. What have you done?"

Celestia would not fall to her words. "In a few days, we'll be holding your trial. I'm expecting a sentence to Tartarus."

"So that's where you place the ponies who saved your life." Twilight weakly sat up and pulled the heavy chains across the floor so she was staring into her former teacher's eyes. "Now I see how far Equestria has fallen. Go ahead and pull my daughter from this star-forsaken country. Even your own sun frowns upon you and your actions."

"Says the pony who attacked her home in cold blood."

"Well this pony is the same one that saved Equus two times over, losing both her family and respect at the same time while supplying you sanctuary. So go ahead, curse me to a life of solitude. But riddle me this: when that darkness comes, the one that I have been following for years whilst the rest of you live your happy lives, who will save you when my magic and myself say no more?"

Celestia rose back upon her hooves and turned around for the door. She was done.

"Go ahead!" Twilight shouted. "Walk away! Walk out that door with your head held high! Walk out that door like you've achieved the impossible! I hope you can keep that look when Narmeelah rises from the sea and renders your home and ponies to dust at the wave of a hoof! You'll need me then, AND I WILL SAY NO!"

There it was, Aquata Zero. One boat amongst a fleet at sea watching from Equestria's shores to ensure mom didn't escape. Dawn was tired of the reminders. Defenses on the beach were thrown about, Aerial Guard flew through the sky watching the ground for anything strange, and weaponry from the Aquatas were aiming straight for Containment.

And here Dawn was, a product of this madness. The pony stuck in the middle with no clue on what to do except to move forward towards Aquata Zero's entrance outlined by Princess Cadance, Luna, IHT's heads, Flurry Heart, and even the Legends of Psera.

Cadance quickly swept Dawn into a hug. "Everything is going to be okay—"

Dawn shoved her way out of Cadance's hold and dropped back to the ground. "No it won't!" she shouted. "Does it look like everything is going to be okay?! Because when I look behind me, I see the prison for my mother and the caution of the same ponies I thought I could fit in with; and when I look forward I see the grave of my father and the distrust and fear of my country. I'll be lucky to walk off this Aquata onto Psera without getting something thrown at me."

"Dawn—"

"I don't want to talk to any of you. Go buck yourselves." Dawn trotted up the stairs and into Aquata Zero, uncaring to their gazes tracking her. She wanted to hit something. To break something so bad. Nothing was going to be okay, no matter what they said. So she walked the halls, coming up to the Royal Chambers. She walked past the guards, opened the doors and slammed then behind her.

Merry could hear the bang from outside. "Dawn's already had a few issues with anger growing up. Therapy helped. So we'll try it again. Thank you all for your assistance."

Flurry Heart asked, "Dawn is going to be okay, right?"

"We'll be watching out for her. But things won't be the same back on Psera for any of us. Let us know when she's ready for the trial and we'll find a location. It will not be on Psera."

Luna shook her head. "And certainly not on Equestria."

"Then it seems we've found another blockage: where to find a place to hold a trial. I'll bring it up with Her Majesty. Until then, farewell."

Merry turned around and walked back up the stairs. Upon passing a guard, she instructed, "Anchor's up."

The command was given. An alarm screamed through the air. The steps for the Aquata were pulled back out and the door was shut and sealed. The anchor for Aquata Zero dragged along the sand and pulled itself up to the bow of the Aquata.

Shortly after, wasting little to no time, the Aquata shifted off the beach and began its journey back to Psera. Home. But was it? The thought passed through Dawn's mind the moment she felt the boat move. Was anywhere like home? Dad was gone, all she had while mom was kept prisoner for sacrificing herself for Psera. Now mom is imprisoned once more by all the countries of the world. Including her own. Equestria was stripping away her magic.

There was no telling what Psera was doing.

Dawn could do nothing but watch the time pass. The sea used to be such a peaceful sight, yet torturous at the same time. The way the waves crashed against each other, was soothing to watch, but now it reminded her that ponies of the same family were striking against each other. The nations were turning on their own. The way the sun casted heat upon their coats was welcoming as it was terrifying to realize that one day, it would disappear. Just like her own sun and moon, those who gave birth to the twilight in between.

The way Odega would pop out of the waves like a dolphin before diving back in, waving towards her like a maniac. It reminded her of... What?

Dawn slowly straightened up and watched this interesting spectacle.

"What is she doing?" First Light queried.

"I have no idea," Dawn replied. "But I know how to fix it." Dawn reached out and pulled the curtains closed. That'll keep her out of sight, thus out of mind.

Dawn turned around for her bed but jumped almost a foot in the air to see Odega sitting on the sheets, grinning at her.

"Stars a...!" Dawn closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I don't want to talk, Odega. Go back to the ocean."

"Aww, c'mon, Dawn." Dawn stepped out into the hall with Odega hot on her hooves. She jumped up, turned into a small bird and landed on her head next to Sky Blue. "Hey, make some room, fluff ball."

"Odega, get off of my head." Dawn flapped her wings to spook her. But she would have to fly through the air to shake Odega off.

"No can do, short stuff. You and I need to talk." Ugh. Dawn turned and traveled up a pair of stairs leading to the deck. She turned the wheel and walked out into the air. The warm breeze smashed into her ears and fur. The high sun forced her to raise her hoof.

She turned and walked to the front of the Aquata. "We don't need to talk about anything."

"It's the opposite. We need to talk about everything." Odega flapped off Dawn's head to in front of her, transforming into the pony they all knew. The Legend of Psera. A Pseratep made of fire. "There's quite more to this story than meets the eye. Where have you been?"

"Don't worry about it." Dawn walked around Odega and out onto the bow of the ship. Watching as Psera crept ever closer and closer. They would be there in half a day.

Odega appeared on the railing and stared down to Dawn with a stern gaze. "I'm serious Dawn. Where have you been?"

She wasn't going to let this go. Dawn waved it off like it was no big deal. "Inside a time pocket. On some island called Founder's."

"What was on that island?"

Dawn glanced up and met Odega's gaze. The way she started through her looking for a specific a answer. "You know what was on that island."

"...Narmeelah." Odega moved her stare out to the ocean. "I thought so. I could smell her on you. As if her magic was a perfume."

Dawn shrugged and answered, "Well, it wasn't Narmeelah exactly." Odega shot her gaze back. "Although, she was there before I arrived. The pony you were smelling . . . it was Shaoloh. Her daughter."

"One of them."

Dawn glanced up to Odega oddly, the mare standing upon the railing brooding to the distance. "Why are you asking me these questions?" Odega looked back to Dawn. Giving her the answer before she could even open her mouth. Dawn backed away one step. "You knew. You knew Narmeelah would return."

"After your mother told me." Odega looked back towards the distance. "I remember one time speaking to Arcadia. She mentioned her research and how Narmeelah was constantly at the center of it at every turn. How studying her diary contained the destruction of Equus and how her own name was mentioned inside of it. You were really young, Dawn. As a matter of fact..."

Odega dropped down from the railing next to Dawn. "It was because of you that your mother was able to find Narmeelah's diary in the first place. The second meeting of IHT, you spoke with your mother and told her that you and Narmeelah talked in dreams, and she told you where to find it. You in turn told your mother, and she found the diary."

"What does that have to do with now?"

"A lot. Narmeelah can't communicate with ponies in the dream realm unless she's alive. Narmeelah has been running things behind the scenes, manipulating Queen Arcadia to get her out of the way, I'm sure."

Dawn looked around to make sure they were alone. They didn't need eyes and ears. She leaned into Odega's space. "So you think Narmeelah's back?"

"I know she's back. The rest of the legends do as well. She's probably on Psera right now. We have no idea where she is or what she's planning. But if Arcadia is right, and Narmeelah is back to reset Equus, she'll make an appearance soon."

"Then we have to warn ponies." Dawn stepped back and gestured out with her wings. "We don't have a lot of time."

"I wish it were that easy. But if Narmeelah's back, then we have proof that she's already acting out her plan. Magic is no longer allowed on Psera."

Whoa, record scratch. "...what?"

"Magic." She reached out and tapped Dawn's horn. "Specifically the spell-casting kind, isn't allowed on Psera. You'll see when you get back. I can't even go past the Obelisks."

"You're joking." Dawn rushed to Odega's side and grabbed her hoof, desperately holding her hope. "Please tell me you're joking."

"I wish I were. But Merry told me herself. Ever since Arcadia attacked, they've been switching back to magic-free elements and only using magic for energy. Spell books, history, all of it is being removed from Psera and may be en-route to Equestria."

Dawn knew it. They were stealing all of mom's spells. Possessing them as if they were their own. Dawn slammed her hooves on the deck of the ship and pointed towards the stern.

"THEY CAN'T DO THAT!!" She screamed. "What gives them the right?!"

"I wish I could tell you..." Odega jumped back on the railing and turned back to Dawn. "But I know very little about Equestria and their international laws."

"No wonder mom left in the first place, they're trying to control her." Dawn leaned against the railing and covered her eyes with her hooves. "And what about me?" Dawn looked to Odega. "I'm made of magic. Dark magic, not just regular magic."

"That's another thing I wanted to talk to you about. It's best if you kept that to yourself. Although, that may prove to be a challenge. I'm sure they'll try to ring you when you get on Psera. You and I both know what happens when a ring is placed on your horn."

It disables her. She'll drop to the ground unable to move a muscle. They'll think she was dead. "So what am I supposed to do?"

"I don't know, Dawn. Getting Arcadia out of this hole is impossible. Even she knows that. She's out of the picture this time. But whatever you choose to do, don't tell ponies about Narmeelah's possible return. They'll think you're as crazy as your mother. If Narmeelah is back, and her getting rid of Arcadia was part of her prepwork, then her first target would be Psera. Either she'll take it all out, or she'll use them to her advantage. Keep an eye out for anything strange. We'll speak soon."

Odega jumped over the side of the Aquata and transformed into the Phoenix, diving into the ocean below. Just like that, she was gone. But the conversation she just had with her, that was real. She too believed that Narmeelah was up to no good, and that it had already begun with ridding of her mother. Would it be possible to get her back? The world would need to be pretty desperate.

Would Equestria believe her? Puh, Dawn didn't even want to speak to them. They were stealing her mother's intellectual property and probably using it for their own gain.

No, this time, it was all on her. But what was her strategy?

Dawn turned around and walked back to the ship's innards. She had a lot of thinking to do.

Psera. The country built upon the luxury that was gold. Balanced and kept safe by the pony whose statue was being taken down in the megacity that was Cop. Molten could see it from her garden high in the sky, in the castle of the Gods. Recently opened, the castle maintained its long, tall, and twisting hallways, pictures of past rulers, and the law of Psera, patrolling and investigating. The aura of this peaceful place had been rather heated since the news of Dawn's return. The entire country was enraged that she was coming back.

But the question of how still blazed through Molten's mind. Her blue eyes narrowed upon thinking that Arcadia may have had a hoof in it. That crazy filly. She's finally lost her mind. No worries, it no longer mattered. Dawn was back home in Psera. She can move on without her mother. They all could. With these new laws in place, Dawn will find a place here.

Molten raised a glass of wine to her mouth and witnessed the fall of that statue. She felt the castle shake and heard the cheers of the Pserateps down below. The cloud of smoke rising into the sky would clear, as would Arcadia's influence. That was the last standing image of her. Even the paintings were removed. Dawn was going to be highly disappointed to see only her father at every turn in this castle.

Someone knocked on her door downstairs. A distraction from her place. She left the greenhouse and treaded through the living room before reaching the doors. An Elite Guard, a messenger, saluted. "Princess Merry and Aquata Zero will be in Lavender in four hours."

Her Majesty nodded. "Very well. Prepare motorcade Pods. Oh, and tell Gardeen's new aid to prepare to meet her."

"Yes, ma'am."

Chapter 02 - Home Isn't What It Used To Be

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There it was, shining like a beacon amongst the morning sun. Dawn could see it from the bow of Aquata Zero. Dressed in nothing but her crown, she watched Psera come into focus. She missed the Obelisks last night. Were those still in operation? Would they still work if mom's magic was drained from her? What would happen if the magic decided to leave them like Dawn knew it would?

The Equestrians truly were stupid. Mom's magic powers all of Psera. It was because of her they have energy to power their hospitals, to power their vehicles, to power their homes. Mom was magic. She was in touch with everything around her, and the magic was in touch with her. If Mom wanted to call it back, all she needed was time. It would come to her automatically. Both she and Dawn knew that. Psera would be powerless, and mom would be right back where she was before when it all came back.

"I'll be fine," she said. They couldn't keep her down. No matter how much they wanted to.

The wind kissed Dawn on the face. Gentle touches so beautiful that she closed her eyes to embrace it fully. The smell of Psera's approaching sea, the coolness of the breeze. Lavender was in sight. From there, she would finally be home.

"Dawn." Dawn popped her eyes open and turned back to Merry Fire standing by watching her stare out at the sea with two guards. "It isn't safe for you out here. Come inside. Now."

"Isn't safe?" Dawn walked over to Merry and allowed herself to be escorted off the deck of Aquata Zero back inside. "What are you talking about?"

Merry guided Dawn back down the stairs and into her bedroom. "Just stay in here until we come get you, okay?"

"But—"

"Stay. Here," Merry reiterated. Then the doors were shut and locked. Okay, this was scary now. Since when did they have to lock her in her own room? Dawn resorted to the window for information. The Aquata blew its horn and began turning, unfortunately pulling her sight further away from Psera and back towards the sea from whence she came. At least she could see the escort Aquatas. That was a little reassuring. But questions still weren't answered.

"What's going on?" First Light took over and walked to the window. "I don't see anything."

Dawn took control of her body back and scolded herself. "Hey, not now. Something's up. Aunt Merry locked us in."

"Why?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out. But I can't see the shore. We're blind."

"Kalumm," First Light cursed. Dawn faced the door again when she heard a radio go off. Something was going on out there.

"Copy, Dawn is secure, awaiting secure extraction." Extraction? Was there an attack going on right now?! Dawn sighed and quickly gathered her things. With a shake and a pat, Sky Blue and Juniper were awoken.

"Wake up, girls," she told them. "Hop on and be quiet." Dawn couldn't stress it enough. Thankfully, they jumped onto Dawn and stuck to her coat like adhesive. If something was going down, Dawn needed everything in her hooves. She moved for a dresser and pulled open a drawer for a bag. There was one, plastic. But it would work. Dawn placed her books inside before the door was opened.

A guard saluted in her direction, a familiar one with a smile adorning her darkened features. Those red eyes spoke of kindness. "Princess Dawn," Captain Smalls greeted. "It's good to see you amongst the living after all. But not everyone is happy about your survival."

"Captain Smalls!" Dawn rushed forward and gave her a quick hug around the middle before becoming serious again. "What's going on?"

"Some ponies don't like the idea of 'Arcadia's Demon Daughter' living on Psera. A threat's been made. Information leaked and we think ponies may try to attack you. Follow us and do as we say."

Dawn's been doing that a lot lately with everyone she's come in contact with. This was not going to change anytime soon. Dawn nodded and walked out into the hallway fitted with security surrounding Dawn's smaller stature. Captain Smalls raised her Comm Block and reported, "Moving for the entrance, standby."

"Copy, escort's pulling up now." Dawn was lead down the stairs and soon towards the entrance. The guards stopped her before she could even reach the doors, let alone peek into Lavender's sight. She could hear the commotion outside, feel the cold of winter bite at her skin, feel the tightness of the Elite Guards against her coat, cocooning and preparing for her to exit.

"Standing by, ready for transport."

Dawn heard the familiar roar of a pod's engine. She saw the tires screech and doors open up followed by shouting. "Secure the path, let's move. T-Nine in position, standing by for clearance."

Captain Smalls glanced back to look down at Dawn. Her weapon was out and she was ready for a fight. "Stay close," she told her. "We're moving you to the Pod for a quick getaway."

A quick getaway?! How bad was the situation?!

"Clear, move out," a report came in.

"Go, go, go!" Four guards moved out of the Aquata first before Captain Smalls moved with Dawn behind her. There was the problem. Concrete empty save for at most twenty combat vehicles spotting the land, observing an angry mob of Pserateps behind a fence watching Dawn exit Aquata Zero.

They chanted in fury, holding up signs and cursing her name. Slandering her mother and raising makeshift weapons to the sky. An interesting one was of herself burning.

"Oh my stars," First Light said. This was much worse than they suspected. Up ahead was a shiny sleek Pod parked before them. The door was opened and security was watching the mob scream, yell, and shout how upset they were at her mere presence on Psera.

Dawn was scared. More so than before. They were close. So close.

A loud pop rang amongst the crowd and something whizzed over Dawn's head, impacting Aquata Zero's hull.

"Shot's fired, shot's fired!!"

"EVERYBODY DOWN NOW!!" Weapons were raised and aiming at the crowd of protestors who quickly screamed and dropped to the dirt.

"Let's go!" Captain Smalls grabbed Dawn and ran the rest of the way to the Pod. She jumped in and lied on top of Dawn climbing into the vehicle where three more waited. They didn't wait for the door to close. The two escort pods in front of them pulled off and burned rubber, soon followed by the flashing lights of their own.

This can't be happening right now. They were trying to kill her. They were actually trying to kill her! Captain Smalls pushed Dawn deeper into the pod and slammed the door for the Pod close. "We're on the move!" She reported.

Loud metal burgeoned against the thick metal of the vehicle. "Dawn, down, cover your head! The pot is getting hit! Where's the suspect?!"

Dawn followed instructions and bent low with her hooves covering her head. The Pod swerved to the right and straightened up before speeding down the road, still getting hit with whatever was firing.

"Shots are originating from the field!" Someone relayed. "We're investigating!"

The hits stopped, easing the tension in the air. After a minute, Dawn slowly raised her head and fearfully looked at the windows. Small bullets had hit the glass and shield, trapped in the material. Evidence that someone was out trying to kill her.

Dawn swallowed hard and held the whimpering Juniper close to her chest. "Oh my stars," she whispered.

"We're not out of the woods yet," Smalls said. How worse could it get than getting shot at by your own ponies?!

They were still speeding with sirens blaring and lights flashing. They passed what used to be the land mom used to create the homes of IHT's refugees. But now, it lied in ashes, a victim of arson. The crown definitely didn't do that. Dawn swallowed hard and held Juniper closer.

They sped into the mountain and into darkness. Captain Smalls reported their position. "We're exiting entrance SE-One. Stand by for emergency deposit."

"Copy."

Captain Smalls turned to Dawn and hurriedly assured her. "Everything is going to be okay, Dawn. Once you're at the castle, you'll be safe."

If they even made it to the castle. Dawn was fastened into a seatbelt and locked in place. They drove out and into Cop, where the lights off police outlined their path. Where the smoke of collapsed statues reached for the skies and buried themselves in Dawn's memory. Where signs of "Down with Violet!" were hung from building rooftops. Where vengeful Pserateps watched the escort pod speed down the highway through morning traffic.

They were rising up against Twilight. Who else was in danger? Where was Gardeen?!

Something was thrown against their pod that completely shattered one of the passenger windows. But still it held. Visibility of any danger through the left passenger window was impossible.

"Pot is damaged!" Smalls called out. "Requesting aerial surveillance, we need—"

Something shot against the window, completely taking it out. Glass flew into Pod, landing against the carpeted flooring and among Dawn's fur.

Captain Smalls unbuckled Dawn's belt and threw her to the floor of the Pod. "Box us in, box us in!!" She ordered. This wasn't just one pony clearly. Whoever these ponies were mapped out the entire route, hoping to take out Dawn before she even made it to the castle.

The escort pods in the back split and quickly sped up to block off the sides of the main escort. So close they would hit their vehicle if someone crashed into them.

"Stay on the floor!" Small shouted. "Aerial, can I get a visual?!"

"There's no sign of them!" They replied. "We have nothing! Shots are coming from all directions!"

"Rainbow in one click!"

One guard stuck his weapon out the window and watched the air. More bullets impacted the back of the vehicle, hitting and cracking the rear. This time, the shots weren't stopping. They were missing their chance to take out the princess. Like pebbles they pelted against the steel of the vehicle in desperation.

"Taking fire! No known assailant!"

Smalls cursed and pulled a weapon from the top of the vehicle. She cocked it back and looked towards the rear, aiming. If they shot again, she would see that flash. Boom. There. Small's fired once. Such a loud bang that Dawn shrieked and covered her ears. Hopefully that shot hit. She cocked it back and let the catridge pop and fall into the vehicle.

"Accessing the entrance!" The speed of the Pods slowed down until they sped up and through the emergency entrance of the Castle of the Gods. Guards on the grounds quickly flanked the vehicle and walked with it up to the rear exit. Under the garage where Dawn's own Pod sat. The golden one that her father had promised would be hers one day if she kept up those grades.

Oh my dear father, look at our home...

The vehicle swerved and faced its left side towards the entrance of the COTG. The door was yanked open and the guard protecting Dawn jumped out. They grabbed her hooves and hectically pulled her from the vehicle and into the castle before her hooves could even touch the ground. Finally into the warmth of safety and familiarity.

"Gold is in Rainbow," Captain Smalls reported. They guided her deeper inside through the white emergency halls and soon into the regular brick halls of the first floor.

"What just happened out there?!" Dawn shouted in disbelief. She pointed behind her to the doors. "They were trying to kill me!!"

"Let's keep going. I'll tell you along the way."

They walked along in silence. Only then did Dawn truly realize how silent and abandoned it was in the castle. Only the sound of their hooves reverberated through this structure. Even the foyer was empty save for the guards protecting the windows. Was the building shut down?

They guided towards the elevator and waited. Smalls figured this would be a good time to brief her. "Ever since Arcadia Nova went rogue, many Pserateps rose up and began removing Arcadia's existence from Psera. They've 'had enough of her magical methods.' Her Majesty and Law Enforcement have been doing what they can, but flags still burned, pictures were still destroyed, property was still damaged, and at one point the castle was nearly stormed for, what was suspected, to be her magical texts and office space. They never made it in but that didn't stop them from going after what was out there.

"Statues were pulled down, buildings with her influence were damaged." The elevator was opened and Dawn was quickly guided in with Smalls. They ascended for Her Majesty's floor.

"Eventually," she continued. "The Senate Board heeded to their calls to remove all of Arcadia's face from Psera. As of this moment anything with Twilight 'Arcadia Nova' Sparkle being mentioned or seen, as well as her personal possessions were removed from Psera. Even going so far as to bar her magic."

The elevator slowed. "Then, word of your appearance arrived on Psera. They weren't happy." The doors skid open, letting Dawn onto a thoroughly protected floor. Guards stood to the side watching Smalls pass with Dawn at her side.

"I mean yeah," Dawn said. "B-But, I can't do anything nearly as close as my mom. I'm barely able to teleport."

"They don't care. You're part of her and they want you gone too."

Captain Smalls stopped at the door and knocked upon it before turning back to Dawn. "I'm very sorry that this is happening. Hopefully, Her Majesty had a plan for your happiness here."

One half of Dawn's happiness was buried, and the other was imprisoned in a cone in Equestria. There was no happiness.

Home isn't what it used to be.

The door for the suite opened, but not by Molten.

"DAWN!!" Lightning and Daisy shouted. They grabbed and pulled Dawn into the suite before Her Majesty finally walked out.

"Girls, you were suppose so to wait!" She scolded. But they were already carrying Dawn into the den. Ugh, Grand foals. She turned back to Captain Smalls. "Report."

Captain Smalls saluted. "We were pursued while en-route to Rainbow. One pod has suffered heavy damage, currently being assessed. So far, no casualties. Dawn was not hit by any bullets; she's shaken, but safe."

"Copy, Captain. Thank you for the safe transport." Captain Smalls genuflected briefly before walking back to the elevator. Her Majesty shUt the door and rushed back over to Dawn being harassed by the terror twins.

"Are you okay?" She asked. Molten picked Dawn up and held her in the air like the little foal she was. "Are you hurt? I heard the shots from here!"

"Grandma~!" Dawn hated being picked up. What were with these ponies and raising her off her hooves?! "I'm fine. Put me down."

Her Majesty released Dawn and let her stand on her own four hooves. Yes. Now she was in familiar territory. Her Majesty walked around out of sight to the kitchen. "Are you hungry? I have some breakfast prepared."

Dawn sighed and walked past Lightning and Daisy for Molten's library-slash-den. It was warm and cozy. Comfortable. She dropped her bag of books she managed to keep and lifted her wings so Juniper and Sky Blue could drop from her to the carpeted floor.

"Bird!"

"Puppy!"

The twins snatched them up before they could even announce they were here themselves. Dawn was sure Juniper whimpered before it happened. Sorry, girls, Dawn wasn't in the mood right now.

She climbed on the nearest couch and replied to Molten's question, "I'm not really hungry."

"Did you eat something?"

"No, but..." Dawn sighed and dropped her face into her hooves. Sadness once again creeped into her soul, if she even had one. Lightning and Daisy stopped playing with the stuffed creatures and cast sad gazes to Dawn.

Molten stuck her head out from the kitchen and sighed. She walked back over to the living room and caught wind of Dawn's sniffles. She was crying. Mourning.

"Come here, sweetie." She pulled Dawn from her seat and held her close. Letting her cry in her coat. She wasn't here when her father died, and barely around for Arcadia's rampant journey from Psera to Equestria.

Dawn cried into her coat. "I miss mom and dad."

"I miss your father too. Your mother . . . She was a pony of many honors. I believe your father's death and your disappearance drove her mad. So much she attacked even Psera."

"Is it true?" Dawn pulled back and wiped her eyes. "That Psera is doing away with magic."

"Well..." Molten let Dawn go and smoothed back her mane so it was presentable of a princess. "Not all of it. But I had her texts and books, all of that removed. Her lab, everything has been taken out of this castle."

"Where are you moving it?"

"Do not worry about that. That will not help you here." Dawn looked away and Molten walked to the kitchen. "Besides, you are not going to be using magic here on Psera anymore."

"What?"

"What?"

Her Majesty grabbed a container, opened it and pulled out a golden ring engraved with a rune. Uh oh. One of those.

Dawn slowly backed away. "What are you doing with that?"

Molten walked over to Dawn, who kept their distance constant by walking around the table between them. "On Psera, you'll have to wear this from here on out."

"Thanks, but, uhh, no thanks. I'm fine."

Lightning and Daisy sat by and idly watched this debate. These things were always fun to guess.

Lightning betted, "Ten shims says Dawn croaks."

Daisy thought otherwise. "Ten shims says Grandma croaks." They bumped hooves, sealing the deal.

Molten suddenly stopped and jabbed it to Dawn's horn. A quick dodge and she missed. Another try, another duck, another failure.

"Grandma, I seriously can't wear that!" Dawn insisted.

"Dawn, you'll be fine. Here!" She jumped forward in an attempt to grab her. But in a burst of black vapors, Dawn shadow teleported over to the stairs.

Great. She could do that now. Molten rolled her eyes and whipped around, clearly agitated. "Young lady, I'm not kidding around. You're going to wear this ring!"

"No!"

Her Majesty charged after Dawn who ran away just as fast. They rushed into the kitchen, heading for the sink out of sight. But Dawn teleported back to the living room table, leaving Her Majesty to crash loudly into whatever lied in there.

Lightning and Daisy seethed through their teeth. "Ouch," Daisy murmured.

Dawn called, "Sorry, Grandma, but I'm not wearing that ring. It's really uncomfortable!"

Molten slid out of the kitchen furious. Whoa, the twins have never seen her this mad. "More uncomfortable than jail?!"

"It's the equivalent of!"

Lightning jabbed Daisy and announced, "Looks like it's a tie game!"

A sudden knock on the door pulled their attention that way. It was opened by Merry who stepped in with her face in a booklet.

"Okay, so I did all the research, Dawn has to . . ." Wow. Weird. Mom has a pot on her head and Dawn was standing on the living room table. They were both too old for this. "What's going on?"

Daisy jabbed Lightning. "And another component enters the ring! A rabid mom has appeared!"

"Did you just call me rabid?"

That wasn't important! Molten raised the ring. "Help me get this on her head!"

"I told you I can't wear those!"

Molten charged again and Dawn teleported over her. She bounced off the pot and onto the floor while Molten flipped over the table onto her back. Defeated by a filly with mom and dad issues. What a great end to life.

"Oh my Psera, mom!!" She ran to Molten and helped her back on her hooves. Then glared at Dawn. "Dawn, you hold still this instant!"

"No! That's not going on this horn!"

Fine. She wanted to play rough? They could play rough. Molten nudged Merry for a planning session. She tapped her hoof against her head and pointed to the left. She would take the right. Then they slowly approached.

Daisy grabbed Lightning excitedly by the shoulders and shook her around. "It's two versus one, folks! Dawn had a good run with grandma but can she beat Mom too?!"

Oh boy. Now they had her in a weird corral. She backed into the kitchen table and shimmied underneath. "No, wait you really don't understand, I actually can't wear those!"

"Why not?" Merry asked. She peeked under the table. "It makes you sick?"

"No, it paralyzes me! I can't move my body!"

Can't move her body? Merry glanced oddly to Molten. Since when was that possible? "Dawn, that's ridiculous."

"How do you think those Zebras managed to kidnap me? They put a ring on my horn, and it kept me from moving! They threw me over the ledge! I would've flown away but they put a ring on my horn!"

Dawn . . . Was serious. Merry could see her shaking and quivering under the table. She was scared of those things.

Merry stood up and took the ring from Molten. She held it out to Dawn who quickly backed away and teleported into the living room.

"Aunt Merry!!"

Merry conceded with a raise of her hooves. "Okay, okay, we won't use the ring." She put the ring back in its container. "See? It's put away."

Dawn took a deep breath and dropped back onto the floor. But her eyes did not leave that container. She's had bad experiences with those rings, whatever they were called. She wasn't wearing another one.

Dawn wiped her eyes. She wasn't safe outside of the castle, and she wasn't safe inside of the castle. She was much safer in Equestria than her own country apparently.

Molten and Merry sat beside her and soothed her with rubs to her back and wings. They couldn't imagine what Dawn was going through. After everything that just happened, then to be subjected to this...

"We're sorry, Dawn," Molten apologized. "We shouldn't have tried to force this on you so soon. We should've settled you in first before anything else."

Yeah, they should have. What has happened to Psera? What happened to the order here? Dawn bounced from her seat and trotted over to Sky Blue and Juniper. She picked them up, ignoring the constant pecks and licks she received. "I just want to go home."

"But you are home."

"No. I want to go to my home. To my room. In my suite. Where I grew up." Dawn gestured to Molten's suite with a wing. "This isn't my home."

Molten sighed deeply through her nose. Of course she'd want to go there as soon as possible. Molten rose from her seat. "Dawn . . . I don't think..."

"Mom," Merry said. She stood up and placed a wing on Dawn's back. "I think it's best if she found out for herself."

Dawn glanced between the two of them curiously. More changes, she was sure. This time, in her own home. She didn't ask. They would take her.

Molten nodded and lead the rest of the way out the door. "Very well. If you want to know what happened to your home, Dawn..." Molten walked past Dawn and the twins for the front doors. "Then follow me."

Chapter 03 - Hot Stop

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This was so rudimentary. But Mimi had to secure all of her bases. Scaring the sitting crown would be enough to keep Dawn inside while she worked on the world outside. She could see them through the binoculars from the mountain ringing Cop. All the lights flashing outside the Castle of the Gods, the ponies lingering at the fence protesting her presence. They would be doing her job for her.

A smirk played at the corner of Mimi's mouth. She lowered the binoculars and set them in the grass. Her ice blue eyes sparkled with mischief. She had a plan and it involved something that Dawn was in the way of.

"You missed."

Mimi's smile dropped from her face. She turned around and faced Shaoloh, back to who she once was. A green coat glowing with the sun. A mane of fire that danced with the blowing breeze, and gray eyes filled with stars that reflected the edges of the universe. She could see the planets behind them, see the darkness of space, see the stars twinkle with time. A comet passed between her left and right.

"If I wanted to hit her..." Mimi turned back around and glared at the castle. "I would've hit her."

Shaoloh teleported to her side and lied on her stomach. "So why didn't you?"

"Because I still need her. But I need her out of my way for now. No doubt her mother knows of my return and warned her offspring. I'll be using Psera to keep her on a tight leash and to rid of my threat at the same time while I search for my sanctum. To get in touch with my ponies."

"Then why am I here?"

"Because you'll be in there watching her." Mimi turned to Shaoloh and smiled. "I need someone on the inside so I can search with no worries. Once I find my sanctum and take control, we'll begin the cleaning process."

Shaoloh raised one eyebrow. "Which is what?"

"Occupying Psera of course. From here, I'll control the rest of Equus." She turned back to the Castle. "But I need Fresh Veola Dawn out of the way. She's the only one I did not account for."

Shaoloh stood up and assured, "I doubt it'll be a problem. She won't even be able to leave the castle at this rate. You should have enough space."

"Good." Mimi stepped on the pair of binoculars she had with her. With a flash, they burst into stars that floated lazily up to the sky. Shaoloh tracked it before Mimi floated up into the air, away from the edge of the mountain. She rotated around and smiled at her. "Make sure it stays that way." Then Mimi was gone. At the blink of an eye, she disappeared.

"Oh don't worry." Shaoloh stepped forward to the edge of the cliff. Her coat gradually changed from neon green to a deep orange. Her mane was cut to a red buzzcut, and her eyes changed to green. On her face sat a pair of black frames, and in one hoof was a black planner. Around her neck was a lanyard holding a castle staff badge.

"I've already started."

There she was. His sister. The one before all of this. The Alicorn of Friendships past. Twilight Sparkle. No more Twilight "Arcadia Nova" Sparkle. Weakened, she lied in the middle of Containment with every last single weapon trained on her. She was no longer a threat. Even Shining could see that.

Now she was as who she once was. The Alicorn who had to stare up to Celestia even as an adult. Her massive wings were no longer, her power nearly gone. The readings showed that even teleporting would wind her. Arcadia Nova was gone.

The doors for her cell were opened. She did not stir. Shining, Cadance, Celestia and Luna walked in and up to the mare sleeping away her time until they were a foot away from the plastic that kept her back. Shining tapped lightly on the surface to stir her. "Twilight? Can you hear me?"

Twilight's eyes slowly cracked open until she was staring up to them. A gaze filled with a void of emotion. She did not speak, too weak to move.

Celestia spoke first. "Twilight...The words disappointed, ashamed, disheartened . . . They can't even come close to express my feelings towards you right now. Your actions have been monstrous, cold-blooded, and heartless. You willingly attacked your own ponies, and tried to kill your own family. Had it not been for your daughter's sudden appearance, I fear we all would not be standing here today."

"And where exactly did it get you?" Cadance added. She jabbed her hoof onto her plastic cone. "Here. Away from your daughter, away from your country, away from your magic, and away from the friends you did have. Instead, it gave you nothing but a sentence that will be carried out for the rest of your life."

"The trial begins tomorrow," Luna announced. "One day, one sentence forever. I am sorry, Twilight. But you have brought this upon yourself. Do you have anything you'd like to say?" Twilight said nothing. There was nothing she could say that would sway their minds. They all knew that.

Since her silence was her answer, they turned around and began to leave. They knew not of what they've done. Twilight raised her head and weakly rose to her hooves. The jangling of her chains slowly ceased their progression to a stop. That pulled the glares of the one hundred guards aiming at her from the sidelines

"The final reckoning..." Twilight hoarsely said. "It's upon us all."

Great. Another Twilight prophecy. That would be nice. Luna asked, "What could you possibly have to tell us, Twilight? After everything that you have done."

"Way before my departure to Psera . . . I have done my research as a passionate lover of magic. A mistress to all that was disbelieving to the eye. I studied its roots. I have tracked all where magic truly came from, the beginning of creatures and life."

"Yes, we know that you—"

"You'd be wise to only listen," Twilight interrupted. She lifted her wing, lighter than it was before to the left of her, then to the right. "All of you. From the Pserateps aiming their weapons to the ponies organizing my sentencing."

Celestia glanced to the rest of the line then back to Twilight, heeding to her words. "Magic . . . was never meant to be for us. It is a power of unimaginable limits that I have proven are nonexistent. With a single raise of my hoof, I was able to give life to land. Godlike abilities that you all grew greedy of, bringing to fruition a line of text from Narmeelah's diary. 'I see the fall of species. Limitless gluttony for the impossible. Extinguished . . . it must be done.' Section Fourteen-B. Paragraph C.

"Another line of text that was scratched into the dragon lands with fire and brimstone, found in Narmeelah's Diary translated from Old Pseratopian. 'The raiser of the Sun, a servant to humble beginnings. A mother to all, but a killer to her own. A target of Arcadia.'"

What? Luna, Cadance, and Celestia all looked to each other before turning back to Twilight. "What are you talking about?" Shining asked. "How is that in the diary?"

"It is in the Diary because Narmeelah is the one who wrote it in. As well as other lines of texts you should heed to. Such as the one where she spoke of this very second. 'Entry date, two thousand twenty-one. Sadness that squeezes the soul and emotion of Arcadia's brother. He watches his sister fall before his very eyes. She speaks of a truth; he hears only lies.'"

"Stop," Shining warned through his teeth. "Stop right now, Twilight."

"'With a firm hoof, he tells her to cease her words. But she continues, pressing his limits until rage fills him."

Shining Armor broke the line and trotted up to the plastic with Cadance behind him. "Stop talking!" He shouted to her.

"'She doesn't, continuing to speak my words.'" Cadance grabs his shoulder and pulls Shining back from the plastic before he could make a mistake. "'Disbelief, anger fills her own family. They hear nothing but tales; she knows the truth. It no longer matters. Her fate is sealed. But here, in this prison of plastic, metal, and pain, a light cuts from above thanks to faulty wiring.'"

One of the hot lights suddenly burst from above. Glass and sparks fell from the ceiling, shrouding the entirety of Twilight's left side in a shadow. Her eye was no longer glowing. Her magic was gone. She didn't do that. "'I watch, I stare, I cry. Ponies, you have failed me. Thirty-one cycles. Then we can try again. Narmeelah.'"

Narmeelah. That name again. It was clear that the Pserateps viewed her as a god, a deity among their race. But Twilight saw her as something more.

"Thirty-One cycles, thirty-one days," Twilight repeated. "Before our creator finally lays waste to what we have worked so hard to achieve." Twilight raised her hoof and pointed it at Celestia. "Go ahead. I know you want to ask it. I can see it in your eyes."

"How do you know these things?" Celestia walked up to the cone. "Your magic has been taken away, you have no more power."

"My ability to understand and comprehend did not come from magic, Celestia. It comes from experience. It comes from time and comes from curiosity. Narmeelah is part of my family line. But that doesn't matter. What does, is this."

Twilight stood before Celestia. "'Psera, my home. My creation. I watch the power of Arcadia drain from you upon her banishment, leaving you once more in the dark ages. She shall rise again. But I am already here among you. You have disappointed me, your creator. Narmeelah.'"

Celestia turned around and suddenly bolted for the door with the rest following behind her.

"One chance!!" Twilight shouted. "You only have one shot to save the lives of many!! Do not waste it, Celestia!! Do not waste it!!"

Here they stood. A home with no ponies. The hall leading up to the Royal Suite was silent. The ringing of phones were gone, the smell of dad was absent. Mom peeking in on her every five seconds of every day. Showing her pictures of the things she loved.

Curse Narmeelah and her Zebras. Speaking of...

Dawn was afraid to ask. She swallowed her fear. "What happened to the Zebras?" She whispered.

Ah, Psera's strongest attack. Molten ran her hoof through Dawn's mane. "Your mother launched Marrials upon Zebrica. The Zebras she took prisoner were executed. Equestria managed to extract survivors, but not many survived. Only a low double digit remains of their numbers."

In a way, Dawn was relieved. Why did that make her feel bad? Because if it wasn't for the Zebras, mom wouldn't be locked away. If it weren't for the Zebras, Dad would still be alive. If it weren't for the Zebras, her own ponies wouldn't be shooting at and trying to kill her.

If it weren't for the Zebras, Dawn would be walking up to the door, gripping the handle and come into a well-lit home where mom would be sitting on the couch working with Gardeen and Dad would be in the back writing away his time. She would see mom's beautiful smile that the rest of Psera found as legendary.

But instead, all Dawn found when she grabbed the handle, twisted, and pushed the door open was . . . nothing. The couches were gone, the bookcases were gone, the kitchen table and chairs were gone. The pictures hanging on the walls were missing. All that remained of the lights were loose wires after the bulbs were disconnected and removed. Instead of walking onto hardwood floors, Dawn stepped onto dusty gray concrete. There was nothing here.

Molten and Merry followed her inside and tracked her steps with her eyes. Dawn's ears flopped down to the side of her head. She stood in the middle of what would have been the living room. The dining table would be right here. A display screen would've been on the wall. Mom would've been screaming at the team playing to "Go faster."

But like a ghost, it was a mere memory that faded and left behind reality. Dawn traveled to her room to see the door gone, along with everything else that would be behind it. Her bed, her pictures, her clothes, her toys. Her jewelry.

"...why?" Dawn asked.

Merry walked into Dawn's room. "After your father died and you were declared deceased, your mother was moved to Safe Haven. The plan was to have the suite renovated for her return so she wouldn't be stricken with grief. Your mother was having a hard time with your passings. It was supposed to make her feel better. Then, she decided to take action against magic. The operation was paused and we cancelled it. We still thought you were dead. If we managed to get our hooves on your mother, she wasn't going to be using this suite anymore, so there was no point in finishing the remodeling."

Molten spoke up from the hallway. "We still have all of you and your father's things, in the basement of the castle."

Dawn turned around and faced them. "And mom's?"

"The only things we were allowed to keep of hers were anything but magical texts and items. All of that was sent back to Equestria to be properly cleaned of their corruption."

"They're giving it back, right?"

Molten walked back to the living area. "You can take it up with Equestria tomorrow when you see them."

"What? Why, what's going on?" Dawn walked out of what used to be her room back to the living area. Molten gave her a look of remorse.

"I just got word earlier. Equestria has successfully drained the magic of Twilight Sparkle. She is going to be tried tomorrow and held accountable for her actions before IHT and Psera."

What?! It was too soon! They just left Equestria almost three days ago! They got all of her magic extracted that fast?!

Dawn said, "Isn't there a way to push this back?"

"I'm sorry, Dawn, but no." Merry walked forward and stood in front of them. "The quicker Twilight gets tried, the better it is for Psera."

No, it wasn't. It was worse. If mom is sent to Tartarus or anywhere else, that leaves a large window open for Narmeelah! There would be no one left to stop her.

But they weren't going to move. They wanted all of this done tomorrow. The Senate Board certainly, IHT Definitely. She was outnumbered.

Dawn wouldn't cry. She's done crying. She's cried too many times. Dawn turned around and faced the suite. "Can I be alone for a little while? Please?"

Molten and Merry glanced at each other before turning back and walking for the door. "We'll be down the hall if you need us."

Dawn heard their hoofsteps fade until leaving her completely. Now she was alone. Dawn sighed and closed her eyes. What could she do? She would be alone after tomorrow. Alone and on the very precipice of death if those ponies had a say-so in her life. And Narmeelah was still out there. How exactly was she going to stop her? Or at least warn ponies without letting them think she was mad?!

"Ugh, this is so stupid!" Dawn dropped down in a spot and slammed her hooves down in front of her. Immediately, two violet rings circled around them. Two lines connected to these circles speared away and conjoined at a single point that flashed before her eyes.

She seethed and protected her vision before it died away, leaving her in the darkness of a home once more. She slowly lowered her hoof and met the eyes of . . .

"Mom," she whispered. There she was, as Queen of Psera smiling down upon her daughter.

"Hello, Dawn," she greeted. Whoa, a little loud. Dawn gently closed the door, just enough so mom's voice wouldn't cause an uproar. "If you're seeing this, then it means that I..." Twilight closed her eyes and looked away. "It means that the time of Narmeelah's return has come and all of the steps she predicted has come to light. I am being removed from office, and more than likely from Psera. Your father was killed in an attack, and you are all that is left of the both of us.

"I know you are confused, and I know you're scared." Twilight reached out and gently touched her daughter's face. "But we need you to be strong. Psera, the entire world needs you, no matter how bad they make it seem like they don't. You must find the Wells. They look like this."

Twilight reached down out of the hologram and pulled up a drawn image of something familiar that made both Dawn and First Light gasp.

"Is that..."

"It is." It was the same map that they managed to see on Founder's island! Of the circle with the interloping lines, the one Shaoloh burned!

Dawn placed her hoof out to touch the map. It faded right through. "I have no idea what these are or what purpose they serve, but they've been shown throughout history in many different forms. Many nations hold this same map, as if it comes from some older age of creature. This is Narmeelah's plan. She is going to use these wells to reset Equus. You need to find these wells, figure out what they're for, and warn both Equestria and Psera."

What?! How the buck was she going to do that?!!

Twilight quickly rolled up the map. "I know it seems like a lot, and you're right. It is. But I will help you. If I'm correct, then the hardwood floors were just pulled up. There's concrete beneath us. Or is there?"

Twilight had that smile. Where she knew something they didn't. She pointed down to where they stood. To the concrete beneath their hooves. Was it concrete? Dawn cautiously treaded forward and touched at where mom stood. it sure felt like concrete. Dawn glanced up to Twilight's prerecorded message. As if she knew she would look up, she nodded. Was Dawn that predictable?

Dawn focused back on the floor and hit it harder. Just like that, it cracked. "Syntherin," Twilight explained. "Just like it's brother, this element shares the same color, makeup, and luster. But unlike it's brother. It's a lot softer."

Dawn brushed it aside and dug into the ground. dirt flew through the air until Dawn found her mother's secret treasure. What the Pserateps couldn't get their hooves on. A small chest big enough to hold in her hooves, locked by magical signature, and the map of the Wells.

"Inside of this chest is the schematics to a weapon that even SERL doesn't have. We are the only ponies who have access to it. Now it belongs to you. Never let anypony else operate it. The Map of the Wells. You will need it to guide you along your journey. I certainly did. I'll tell you about it later once we meet again, because I know you won't fail. I love you, my sweet Viola. Please, be safe, and be careful."

Dawn looked up to the hologram before it disappeared, dropping Dawn back into the darkness that was their home. Fate was a cruel mistress. It dropped her into a land where she couldn't defend herself. But this time, she had a little help. Narmeelah was on her way, and it was up to Dawn to stop her.

After tucking away the map and stashing the chest in between her wings, Dawn exited what used to be the royal suite and walked down the hallway with purpose to where Her Majesty Molten Ice and Merry were speaking with two ponies. One, Dawn recognized immediately, another Dawn had no clue of.

Instantly, Gardeen locked her green wide eyes on her. She shot from in front of her majesty, leaving a white blur in her place. "DAWN!!"

Dawn was quickly and swiftly engulfed into the tightest of hugs she's ever received. Her wings tightened, hiding the chest and map, preventing a literal slip up. As of this moment, all Pserateps were her enemies. But maybe there might be a few she could trust.

"Hey, Gardeen," Dawn greeted. Gardeen placed kiss after kiss upon her head. "Ack! Gardeen, I get enough of that from grandma!"

Gardeen stopped. "Which one?"

"Both!"

Gardeen laughed before they both shared a hug. She held her tight. "I'm so happy you're alive. It's getting crazy out there. I was just able to get into the castle with the rest of the staff." She pulled back and turned her excitement into sadness. "I'm very sorry about everything, Dawn. I can't imagine what you're going through right now. Come to my office, I have some of that soda you like."

She turned around and jumped a few feet in the air. Did she forget they were there? Oh Gardeen, the same ol' pony. "I am so sorry. Dawn, let me introduce you to someone."

She held her hoof out to the only pony here that wasn't among Dawn's memories. A mare with a deep orange coat, a red buzzcut, and bright green eyes. Around her neck was a badge, allowing her entry into the castle. "Dawn, meet Hot Stop, my Senior Assistant. She's going to be helping me help you around the castle."

"Hello, Dawn!" Oh no, she's too cheerful. Hot Stop grabbed Dawn's hoof and shook it wildly. "Oh wow, look at you! You look just like your mother! Speaking of which, I am sooo sorry about this. Psera may be trying to get rid of her, but we'll never truly forget."

Dawn pulled her hoof back and politely rubbed it. "Yeah. Thanks." She referred to Gardeen. "Helping me around the castle? I already know this place like I know my own hooves."

"Well someone has to watch over you. Did you see that crowd out there? How ghastly."

Her Majesty explained it better. "As of this moment, getting you back into Psera is going to take some string-pulling. Gardeen is going to pull those strings. Such as getting you back into school, driving lessons, getting you ready for normal life so you can grow up."

"If we even make it that long."

Dawn hushed First Light in her mind. She smiled up to Gardeen and replied, "Thanks. I can't wait. Look, can I go to my room? I need to rest for a few hours. Everything's been happening so fast and I haven't even really sat down yet to process it all."

Molten placed a wing on Dawn's back and guided her back down the hall to the front of the castle. "Of course. I already have your room setup."

Gardeen sat back and watched her leave with Hot Stop. She winked and told her, "See? I knew you'd make a good first impression. If you ever need help and I'm not around, trust me when I say Dawn's got you. She's a very smart filly. Go ahead and drop off that paperwork. My office is right here. I'll meet you in the foyer in a little while."

Gardeen trotted off behind them, leaving Hot Stop alone. She slyly smirked and watched them depart. "Yes. A bright filly she is indeed."

Chapter 04 - Runes; Trial of Arcadia

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The trial of Twilight "Arcadia Nova" Sparkle. A fallen Queen who came and disrupted the fates of millions across the globe of Equus. A battle took place that could be felt all the way from Breighton. The stars in the sky turned lifeless, overlayed by a violet haze before lightning struck down from the heavens. They could see the battle from here.

This pony could see it further. They saw the lightning strike the rivers of Manehattan, the forests beyond the Everfree. They were certainly rich with magic. She couldn't wait any longer. This nationwide shutdown was going to keep her back from her research no longer.

She shimmied out of her Manehattan studio apartment with her camera and equipment in tow. A trench coat covered her features, blending her in under the shadows of alleys until eventually reaching the Friendship Express. A station swarming with Equestrian citizens moving from one location to another. As far as they were concerned, she was a blue coated mare with a trench coat on and a plethora of technology.

Upon boarding the train and riding out into the morning sunrise, she reached into her bag and pulled out a folded up map she quickly unfurled. Five flashes, five locations. One, the Everfree Forest. That was a no no, Ponyville was swarming with military from both Psera and IHT this morning. Getting over there would be impossible, foolish, and dangerous. She would come to that later.

Two; the Canterlot City Dump. During the Great Metal Shortage, they conducted experiments at a local welding factory, to test how the metal would hold up and whether experiments would work. That was the second flash.

Three; all the way north to the Crystal Empire. Too far, try that this evening.

Four; The Badlands, home to the changelings. How it even reached over there was another reason Snap Seed was out this early. Lightning typically sticks to the epicenter of the event. This lightning zapped all the way maybe forty miles from Canterlot. Strange. Suspicious. Arcadia Nova was up to something. She wasn't done. Her work was beyond admirable, there was no way Snap Seed was going to put this down.

"Coming up, Canterlot City!"

Great, her stop. Snap Seed quickly folded up her map and stowed it before before the train could come to a complete stop. As expected, the city of Canterlot was too close to the scene to be concerned with her appearance. The pony hiding under a trench coat. She could see all the ponies leaving their homes and rushing to the edge of Canterlot Mountain. They would bother her none.

She walked through the crowds moving to see the transfer of the incredible Twilight Sparkle. If she were to be honest with herself, Snap Seed too would want to honor her role model with a send-off of luck. But this? This was much more important. She could feel it in her horn.

There it was, Canterlot Dump. Fenced off from the rest of the public, it lacked its security. While the rest of Canterlot City bathed in luxury and brand new material, this was the home of the old. Where red dust gathered and built up over time. Where factory workers tended to watch the process of turning old metal into new metal, so that metal never ran cold again. But on this day, this day that will change lives forever, it was abandoned. As empty as the sea's surface. Perfect. They were too busy watching Arcadia's extraction. She has a good thirty minutes.

Snap Seed pushed open the gate and granted herself access to the facility. All was quiet. She reached up and threw off her hood, revealing her blue coat and black ponytails. She dropped her bag on the dirty ground and reached in, pulling out her favorite device. A reader, designed to measure feedback from magical events. If that lightning struck here, then it certainly left something behind.

She picked up her bag once more and continued walking the grounds. The wand was waved back and forth. She continued deeper into the facility, constantly looking over her own shoulder to ensure she wasn't watched. So far, so good. Although, curiosity did spike. How were they even going to transfer Twilight? It couldn't have been easy.

Focus, Snap, focus. She continued her journey. Low readings at every twist and turn until finally she reached the center of the facility. Like a switch, they jumped so high that the number wasn't even on the device anymore.

Snap Seed froze her steps and excitedly waved the wand around. The lightning struck here. Or somewhere in this region. But where, exactly? Where could it have landed?

"Think, Snap, think," she scolded herself. Where does lightning hit on a normal basis? They hit the closet metallic material. Normally, a spire or pole of some . . . Rod.

Snap Seed raised her reader to the building itself. She was done walking around it. The lightning must've hit it. The center had a few platforms on it she could teleport to. Snap was no Twilight, but any unicorn could do a few feet.

Snap focused and squeezed her eyes shut. Then teleported twelve feet in the air to one of the factory's rusted platforms. It creaked and swayed with her arrival. This thing was not structurally sound.

She teleported again to another platform, working her way up until finally she reached the top. A rod pointing to the sky must've absorbed the lightning. But what did Arcadia leave within it?

The reader no longer mattered. It was here. She searched the factory's roof and felt it's surface. It was here somewhere. It was... Snap seed turned her sight upwards when she bumped into a wall sticking up from the roof. There it was.

The reader fell from Snap's hoof. Her mouth agape with wonder and awe. She reached into her bag and pulled out a camera to take a picture of a rune embossed into the building. A big one, bigger than her entire body. It glowed weakly with magic. But Snap knew otherwise. A weird upside down "U" with a single line cutting through it vertically? She's seen this before hundreds of times.

"If this, then that," Snap whispered to herself. More pictures were taken while her mind came up with possible reasons for what it meant. Either this was a spell for the fight she had with the Princesses, or this was for something else she was preparing for. What did this mean?

Only time and research would tell. She swallowed hard and stowed her camera. She had to get this information back to Manehattan quickly. But not just yet. Now that she had what she came for, she could watch the process. Twilight was leaving for her sentencing this morning, and Snap had an unobstructed view.

She quietly crept towards the edge and watched the sun rise over the horizon, basking only a glimpse of light upon her before disappearing behind the shadow that was Twilight's containment cell. So that's how they were doing it. Instead of taking her out of the pyramid, they were lifting the entire pyramid. Her security must've been too tight. That's why all the ponies were gathered at the edge of Canterlot's mountain. They didn't have to look too far. The pyramid itself was humongous, twice the size of Ponyville. Lifting it required Psera's new technology. Snap was sure Queen Arcadia made those vehicles.

Snap watched the Pyramid pass over Whitetail Woods before heading out towards the ocean. Where were they holding her trial? In the middle of the sea? It no longer mattered. Snap grabbed her bag and began her journey back to the ground. This place would fill up again soon, and she had more sites to visit.

So this was how they were doing it. What did they call them? Helicopters? A little out of Celestia's comfort zone to be within such a tight metallic structure with no open roof in the air, but it was close to the Pyramid. Cadance was clearly having trouble with it. Grabbing whatever surface was available instead of sitting back and enjoying the ride. Her daughter was amused and Shining was watching the pyramid from an adjacent helicopter.

They were joined closely by Secretary Manny. How nice of her to see the send of Twilight Sparkle up close and personal. The look on her face was telling Celestia she wasn't enjoying it, staring out the window to the pyramid below them watching Containment move through the air.

Celestia asked through the headphones she was wearing, "This is very interesting technology."

"Yes," Manny replied. Her eyes didn't move from the Pyramid. "They were put through many trials to get the dynamics right and cost over a billion shims. But it's a new way to fly. As were one of her many visions." She gestured to the Pyramid. "She developed and created the first one. A shame we have to use her technology to move her to her own trial."

There were a lot of things Twilight created for Psera. Some they've already seen, some they haven't. Twilight "Arcadia Nova" Sparkle's name will go down in history under many categories. Loving mother, Queen, teacher, mage, inventor, innovator, the most powerful pony in history to ever exist. But now, at this very moment, she was the enemy, and had to come to terms with the crimes she has committed.

The minutes blazed into hours. Aquatas lining the seas watched the Pyramid's movement from below. Witnessing as over fifty helicopters carried the heaviest building they could ever hope to manage. Until finally they were approaching the landing zone. After all countries decided against hosting Twilight Sparkle on their soils, there was only one place left to go that was in between them all: the ocean.

A slab of ice had been created, thick enough to hold her prison, hundreds of ponies, the Legends of Psera, and the helicopters, surrounded by an endless sea of Aquatas. Celestia could see the Senate Board and their judges. The ponies in charge of Psera, the creatures in charge of the Dragon Lands, and many more spotted the stands that would surround Arcadia's prison. Celestia could see Fresh Dawn and her thick security amongst the stands with Her Majesty Molten Ice, Gardeen, some other pony, Princess Merry, and the rest of the Fire Family.

Manny grabbed the mic attached to her headset. "Set her down!"

They slowly rotated the pyramid, casting a shadow upon the ice. The Pyramid gently and carefully dropped onto the ice. Small cracks appeared upon this magnificent glacier, but the cords holding her prison in their grasps were cut, and the journey was complete. Her journey, anyway. Now it were their turns. The Helicopters landed amongst the Aquatas. Those who could fly soared back to the stands and sat amongst their respective parties. For Celestia, Luna, Cadance, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart, that would be with the Fire Family.

Upon arrival up to their seats, they shared hugs with Molten and the rest. Flurry quickly bounced over to Fresh Dawn. Embracing her cousin as tightly as she could.

"I'm so sorry," she apologized.

Fresh Dawn said nothing but delivered a pat on the back. Celestia greeted, "Hello, Fresh Dawn. How are you?"

Fresh Dawn glanced up to her with a sneer. They weren't friends. They were barely family. "Don't talk to me."

It was clear there was bad blood between them. The only pony on her side right now from Equestria, as far as Celestia could tell, was Flurry Heart. Other than that, she was not looking forward to speaking with any of them. So Celestia left and flew over to the judge panel. She and Luna would be one of those passing Twilight's sentence.

The trial was beginning. The soldiers were getting in position around the stands. The judges were taking their seats. The Elite and Arcadian Royal Guards were preparing their chains for their former queen. But how would they release her? When would they?

Judge Berry, an older stallion with a deep blue coat, a light blue mane, and navy blue eyes banged down a gavel. Pictures were taken, voices were hushed. He set it down and spoke into a microphone. "Today we bring to trial, previous Queen Twilight "Arcadia Nova" Sparkle for the following charges."

He raised a document. "Crimes against ponykind such as one thousand four hundred and seventeen counts of assaulting a federal officer, fourteen counts of destruction to Aqua Guard Property, one count to threat of damage to Aqua Guard property. And this is all from Psera."

Dragon Lord Ember raised one of her own. "Eighteen charges to assault on dragonkind, forty charges to murder of dragon kind."

The charges grew longer and longer as time passed until, finally, it landed on Equestria. Celestia raised one of her own. "Four counts of Assault to Royalty, five hundred counts of assaults to a Federal officer, multiple counts of Dark Magic Usage, multiple counts of destruction to property, destruction to federal property, vadalism to property..."

Okay, this was getting ridiculous! Fresh Dawn couldn't believe what she was hearing? Vandalism? What, did mom spray paint something? Highly doubted. Knowing Equestria, they probably counted her on drawing runes on their land without permission. That was a law there?

"...and Threaten to Capture," Celestia wrapped up.

It took five more minutes to name the charges. Overall, they were incredulous. With most of them even comparing her to true criminals, which Dawn knew just wasn't true. Oh, how she wanted to get up and say something. Instead, she kept her mouth closed and chose to use her ears instead.

All in all, there were nearly a three hundred different charges brought forth against former Queen Twilight "Arcadia Nova" Sparkle, Saviour of Psera. Once they were all brought forth, Judge Berry took off his glasses and rubbed his face.

"Oh how the mighty have fallen," he said to himself. "Present the accused!"

Oh boy here we go. Murmurs erupted from the crowd. Dawn shuffled in her seat. Her hoof was grabbed by her cousin Flurry Heart, reminding her that she wasn't alone. She was sure the pony inside of that pyramid wasn't the same one that went in.

After a loud alarm, the hydraulics of the pyramid began pushing out the sides of it in a slow fashion. The Elite guards with their weapons and chains stood at the corners, waiting for the four sides to lower. The steel interior was revealed. The sunlight crept into the darkness that was her prison, falling onto her violet coat.

Nearly to the icy surface under their hooves, all were exposed to the pony that used to be Queen. The mighty Queen Twilight "Arcadia Nova" Sparkle, Saviour of Psera was no more. Instead, what stood in her place, was a pony that made Dawn gasp and cover her mouth with her free hoof. She wasn't alone.

Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship. Not even. She was about as tall as Dawn, with a horn as small as a foal's. A coat as sickly as a newborn's, and wings too small to even allow her to fly. And her face . . . lowered to the ground where they couldn't see it.

"They took her life," Dawn whispered to herself.

Pictures were taken, voices murmured amongst the crowds. Even the judges were astonished.

Dawn swirled Flurry around and glared into her eyes. "What the buck did they do?!"

"I-I don't know!" She turned to her mother. "Mom!"

Cadance answered, "Her magic may have made up more of Twilight than we predicted. She has no more magic, but it also seems to have drained her muscular capacity."

So magic was literally her mother's source of strength. She depended on that to live. Dawn was beyond furious. She could feel First Light beginning to poke her head out. Her eyes fogged over with the dark of the night, soul as black as her dark magic.

"Dawn." Mom. Dawn's magic crushed. She wasn't entirely gone. Dawn focused on Twilight. Her head moved so she was looking over her shoulder, staring at her.

"No," she mouthed. "I'll be okay. Calm down. Deep breaths, my little filly."

Dawn closed her eyes and did as told. She couldn't lose her temper here. Behind closed doors would be fine. But not now, not in front of all these creatures. Not in front of her own ponies who already want her to join Twilight.

Twilight turned back to the judge panel. To the ponies staring at her. The ones serving her sentence. The ponies who used to adore her.

Judge Berry spoke loudly. "Twilight Sparkle! You stand before the leaders of countries around the globe today as a terrorist! Not as a Queen, not as Psera's sworn protector, but as a pony who tried to destroy the lands and lives of many, and did! Today, we will be passing down your judgement. But first, we want to hear your words."

Twilight coughed into her hoof, a deep concerning one. She focused back on the Judge Panel and cleared her throat. "This mistake that you will make . . . will cost you more than you realize. I urge you rethink any decisions. For if you make the choice I think you will make, my magic, my services, my knowledge, it will no longer be in service to you."

Dragon Lord Ember stated matter-of-factly, "I think we will manage just fine without your influence over our countries."

Celestia, unbelievably, nodded supportively. "I second that. Your magic and power pose a massive risk to the financial and structural security of our homes. If you have everything to say but an apology, then we will move on with the rest of the trial."

They waited for her mouth to open. For the words I'm sorry to leave her lips. But they stayed shut. Instead, she lifted one of her chained hooves and pushed them on.

Her choice. "How do you plead against these charges brought against you?"

"Guilty. On all accounts."

Words and murmurs before the gavel was dropped. "Order!" Berry shouted. He focused upon Arcadia. "These charges equal beyond the death penalty, Twilight. Do you understand that?"

"I do," she answered. "As long as you understand that I have already experienced death. For you." She looked across the line of judges. "For all of you." She looked behind her. "And for all of your citizens."

"And they shall never be forgotten. But your power, your presence, is enough to start fires."

Madam Singe spoke up. "But considering everything that you have done for us..."

"And the sacrifices that you have made for all of Equus..."

"IHT and Psera have decided to single out our sentences for you. We don't know what the sentences are for the others, that is their business. But Equestria is ready to present their judgement."

Luna, the pony on the side picked up a single document as official as their laws and read it aloud. "This was not an easy decision to make. 'The crown of Equestria, Princess Celestia Delune, Princess Luna Delune, and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza hereby restrict and bar Twilight Sparkle, previous Princess of Friendship, also known as Twilight 'Arcadia Nova' Sparkle, asylum, visitation, travel, or any form of communication with Equestria and it's citizens. If Twilight Sparkle is reported or witnessed in visitation, travel, asylum, or communication with Equestria, she will be apprehended immediately and punished as deemed for by federal law enforcement.'"

Holy buck, they just kicked her off Equestria. Dawn would've been furious. But it could've been much worse. She got the lighter end of the bag of that country.

The Dragon Lands were next. Ember raised her claw and denied Twilight. "No, no, no. After attacking the dragons and killing twenty in one go, she's never allowed on Dragon Land property ever again. We'll attack if we see her."

Dawn expected that of her. She seemed more serious than Celestia. Breighton was next. Queen Farue shook her head. "I am sorry, Queen Arcadia. But you are simply too dangerous to be allowed on Breighton. We forbid you from ever nearing our waters."

Dawn shrugged. No one ever visits Breighton.

Prance. Consort Snow and his thick accent. "Twilight Sparkle will never step hoof on Prance."

What?! "Prance too?" Dawn whispered. Okay, a little worrying.

The Forgotten Land. King Chancellor. A shake of his head. "Your potential for damage and control is too high a risk. You are barred from The Forgotten Land."

Saddle Arabia. King Haakim and Queen Amira both shook their heads. "She is highly dangerous and clearly unstable. We cannot allow her on our land. I am sorry, Twilight Sparkle."

The countries soon followed. Hoof Yun, Seaquestria and Mount Aris, South Neighton and North Neighton. They all . . . They all said no. She wasn't welcome on their lands. Mom was being banished by every single country on the planet.

Dawn shook her head. "They can't do this," she said. Merry placed a wing over her back and soothingly rubbed it. But Dawn was having none of it. She stood and pointed to the judge panel. "After all she's done..."

Molten interrupted her. "It's not about what she's done, Dawn. It's about what she could do. She's too dangerous."

Dawn pointed a hoof at her mother. At the shell of a pony. "Does she look dangerous?"

"Dawn, sit down."

The judges weren't done. Judge Berry delivered the final call for Psera. "In the words of the crown and senate, 'Twilight Sparkle will no longer share the same grounds or seas of a Pseratep. She, as well as her influence, properties, name, authority, permissions, and powers are no longer welcome within one hundred miles of a grain of Psera's sands or materials or properties.'"

A white noise blared through Dawn's mind. They just kicked her mother to the seas. She was stranded in an endless ocean. Anything that belonged to any of them she wasn't even allowed to be near. If they saw her, she would be arrested. Maybe even shot at.

"NO!!" All eyes and cameras flew to Dawn's seat. "No, this is too far!!"

"Dawn, you have to stay qu—"

"Shut up!! Get off of me!!" She slapped away Flurry's hoof and pushed aside whoever tried to hold her back.

She bounded down the stairs pointing at the judges on her way to Twilight's side. "I'm not just going to sit here while these barons disrespect my mother like this!! If it wasn't for her, they wouldn't even have a place to bar her from, let alone be alive! If it wasn't for her, Mr. Big Cat here..." She pointed to Judge Berry. "Wouldn't even be in that seat! If it wasn't for her, there would've been no Psera in the first place and no IHT! She brought your lands to life and she saved all of you from Maheera Dark! She provided you with refuge and protection when you couldn't protect yourselves and lost ten years of her life because of it!"

"Dawn, please," Twilight whispered.

"No, mom, I can't just sit here and listen to them disrespect everything that you have done for them." Dawn turned around and raised her wings out. "Citizens and onlookers! This is wrong! You know it to be wrong! My mother has been nothing but a role model, a protector, and a lover of all creatures. She has given us more than we have asked for, and we're allowing them to treat her like this?!"

"Dawn! Enough!" Twilight shouted. Dawn turned to Twilight in silence. Eyes wide, filled with sadness and rage. Twilight took a deep breath and held her hooves up invitingly. "Come here."

Dawn bolted into her mother's hooves and squeezed her tight, the second time of physical contact since she came back from the time pocket. But this time it was different. It was lighter, wasn't as fulfilling. Even amongst the coldest winters, Dawn remembered the inferno of love her mother held within her hold. Now it was barely even warm.

"The creatures of the world have spoken their minds," Twilight said. "No matter how unfair or wrong it is, we must respect their wishes."

"But mom..."

"Shhh." Twilight nuzzled the top of Dawn's head. "I know, my little Veola. I know. But this is what life is. We must respect it."

Twilight turned back to the judges and awaited their words as humbly as she could. Dawn was the complete opposite. She wanted to fight. She wanted to punch all of them. She wanted them to finally feel the pain they were inflicting upon their family. But if anyone here was deserving of respect, it was Twilight. She would respect Twilight's wishes, keep her mouth shut, and let it happen, no matter how much it hurt them both.

Judge Berry disregarded Dawn in favor of Twilight. "The judgements have been passed down. Do you understand these terms brought before you?"

Twilight nodded. "I do."

"You will never return to the lands of IHT or Psera ever again. Any attempt to return to Psera will be met with lethal force. Do you understand?"

"I do."

"Then you are dismissed from our shores. Your services are no longer welcome, Twilight Sparkle."

And with a bang of Judge Berry's gavel, the sentence was passed.

Chapter 05 - Exile

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Exile. The term used to describe the expatriation of a pony or creature from their native country. Twilight was restricted from both Psera and Equestria. Sanctuary anywhere else was impossible. All the countries she's helped have denied even visitation rights. Asylum, no. It was impossible. She would be alone from here on out.

Her demeanor was calm and collected when her sentence was passed, the actions of a true professional. Her daughter wanted to raise the depths of Tartarus upon all the ponies of IHT and Psera. It was clear she would never forget their traitorous actions against the pony who gave them land and a safe world to sleep in. She glared up to the panel of judges when the gavel was banged.

Judge Berry ordered, "We will give you a twenty-minute peace period before you must leave this ice sheet. Court adjourned." The gavel was banged one last time, ending the trial and finalizing the sentence.

The Elite Guards unlocked Twilight's hooves and untied her wings, freeing her from their prison. Dawn speared into her mother for a hug once more.

"I'll come with you," she offered into her coat. "I go where you go. They don't need us here."

Twilight firmly shook her head. "No, Dawn. Nothing would make me happier than having you by my side. But it wouldn't be safe for you. You wouldn't be happy and..."

Twilight pulled back and guided her daughter away from all the eyes and attention. They walked to the edge of the sheet, where the seawater splashed upon their hooves.

"The world needs you now, Dawn." Twilight bent low and raised her hoof over the waves. "I have already gave them my warnings."

Right. The arrival of Narmeelah. She snarled behind her to the ponies and creatures watching and leaving their seats. "I don't want to say a word to them. I don't even want to look at them."

Dawn has always been a strong pony who easily holds a grudge. As her mother, she's witnessed Dawn's, what Madun called, Angry Days. A full week of fury and issues. Teen angst and frustration.

"I know you worry for me, Dawn. But don't." She wasn't listening. Twilight leaned up and nudged the back of Dawn's head. She turned around and faced Twilight's oddly confident expression. As if she knew what they were going to do. "I'll be fine."

That smirk. Those eyes suddenly full of life. She had a plan. Same ol' mom. Dawn looked back to the stand briefly. They didn't notice. She whispered, "What did you do?"

"I followed the laws of nature." She gestured for Dawn to follow her back to the edge of the ice sheet. They both bent low and stared at the water dancing with gravity and life. Twilight raised her hoof over the water, preparing for a motion. "Magic. An element of unknown caliber as strong as life itself. Thought to be obtained through various forms of relics and power. I am the only one who truly knows where it comes from."

Twilight waited until the right moment. Then suddenly lashed out at the waves and threw onto the ice sheet a fish that made Dawn jump a mile in the air. It wasn't big by any means. But its sudden arrival certainly was a fright.

"Magic is everywhere. It flows through every life form and surface in various quantities." She reached down to the flopping fish and pinned it to the ice. "Now, we can either steal it and use it for ourselves like monsters..."

Twilight slowly lifted up her hoof. The fish began floating in the air. Her horn, hooves, or wings weren't illuminated. How was she...

"Or we can control it."

"How are you doing that?" Dawn whispered.

"Magic is everywhere Dawn. But more importantly, my magic is everywhere." Twilight chuckled and whispered, "You think I didn't have a backup plan? It was my magic that created all of their lands. It is my magic that powers even the lights of Psera. Their homes, their vehicles, their buildings, their clouds. Equestria? Their earth is my magic. So is Mount Aris, Saddle Arabia, all of IHT, healed with my magic, protected with my magic, and by my magic."

Twilight threw the fish back in the water and watched it swim in little circles. "But magic is conscious. Once it realizes that its owner is in bad health or pain..." The fish turned around and swam back to where Twilight stood. It jumped out of the water and flopped at her hooves. "It will return."

Twilight looked back to Dawn. "Because of their damnation and the stealing of my magic, all of my magic I gave to them will return to me. Their technology, their security, their energy, their homes, their soil. It will be no more. And not because I'm taking it back on purpose. It will render all of them defenseless and nearly homeless, giving Narmeelah the perfect window to what she is searching for on Psera."

"Which is what exactly?"

The million bit question. "I don't know. Her power, her magic, her control. Her sanctum maybe. A sacred location where she can grow to who she truly is and tap into her true power. If she reaches that sanctum . . . I fear for what will become of the world." Twilight looked back and saw a few ponies approaching. The last ponies she ever wanted to speak to.

She lowered her voice. "Dawn, you must find a way to defeat Narmeelah by the time my magic returns. You and I both know that she is going to reach her sanctum. She's going to show herself, and she is going to begin her process. I am no longer an option. It's up to them now."

"I got your map and I got your secret weapon."

The one she buried years ago. "Good. Now you will need to get to the Diary of Narmeelah. With it, you can figure out her plan. Psera's security will be dropping in a few days. There will be no one to stop you."

Arcadia pulled Dawn into a tight hug. "You're Equus' last hope, Dawn. We're counting on you."

Their conversation was interrupted by Celestia and a few of Equestria and Psera's Royalty. "Twilight? A moment?"

Dawn raised her hoof and stood between them and Twilight. She made the sound of a buzzer with her mouth. "Whoa! Stop! No! You've already had your moment and words with my mother and they were to kick her off her own homeland. So go stuff 'em. It's my turn."

First Light was in agreement. "Yeah, go buck yourselves!!"

"Dawn," Twilight lightly scolded. "Light. Please."

Dawn harrumphed and stepped to the side. Just enough so she could watch and hear them. The sentiment was not lost. The bond between this family was no more. What used to be a sweet berry was now an acidic lemon.

Cadance said, "Your daughter truly loves you."

"What do you want?" Twilight asked. "Do not think for a second I'm willing to spend the last twenty minutes on a floating ice block talking with the ponies who want me to swim instead of float."

Shining stepped forward and said, "I'm going to miss you, Twilight."

He tried going in for a hug but Dawn's wing denied him. "Nope. Not happening. Forget it. You could've hugged her all you wanted to in her prison, warden. But you wait until now? You don't care."

Shining was about to say something but Twilight beat him. "She's right." Her eyes narrowed. "You don't care. You didn't even give me a boat. You may miss me, but I will never miss you. Turn around and walk away. All of you. I'm going to spend the last few minutes of my life amongst civilization with the last true family I have."

Twilight placed her wing upon Dawn's back and turned her around while they backed away. "Dawn, I want you to grow up into a strong pony. Whoever you decide to love, that is up to you."

Whoa, what? How did they go from that to this? Dawn blushed and looked away. "Mom, come on."

"No, no, listen to me. Be safe and keep it healthy."

"Mom, I don't get sick. And can I even have kids?"

"I . . . don't know." Twilight offered her a supportive smile. "But when you see me again, I'll have an answer for you."

"Or I could just find out."

"No."

Dawn giggled at her mother's face. How she quickly switched. "I was joking mom. I'm not interested in anyone."

Hopefully it would stay that way. "Our time is almost up. Do not worry for where I'll be, for it'll be in paradise, where I'll be the only pony with a front row seat."

She removed her wing from Dawn's back And walked to the water. She dipped her hoof and tapped into place an invisible rune. Stepping into the magic that was already there. Once drawn, it flashed briefly and disappeared just as fast.

Now came the moment. Twilight's departure. All of them gathered behind Dawn, watching her stand before them. "You may think this is the last time you'll see me. You may think that this is the last time I'll ever be seen. The last time I'll ever be the strongest pony to ever live. That you'll never need me again. Fine. Think what you want.

"But remember this." A sudden burst of water blew from the sea and sprayed onto the crowd. A whale. A massive one that towered over then all.

"...What...how..." Celestia focused on Twilight. Did she still have her magic?! They carried off gallons of that stuff daily and she had more?! Twilight turned around and jumped up to the top of the whale, riding it like a vehicle.

"Magic is everywhere. My magic is everywhere. I am forever connected to it. You may have taken the magic from my body, but in a few days, no one will have any when darkness plagues your lands. An ancient evil shall rise. And now, with me gone, she will finally take action. You now have to defend yourselves. Good luck."

She looked directly at Celestia. Electricity crackled between them. "Thirty cycles," she said.

Her words were spoken. The final sentences. She looked down to Dawn. "I love you, Fresh Dawn, my little First Light."

Dawn waved and wiped away a tear. "We love you too, mommy."

That's all she needed to hear. Twilight looked back to the whale and patted it's back. "Ho'sha!"

The whale lifted its body and dived under the waves. Twilight held her breath and fell under with it. They turned and came back up for air, with Twilight on his back glowing a neon violet as bright as the sun. Magic. The water. She had a plan! This whole time! If they weren't sure before, Twilight looking back over her shoulder was an indication.

Cadance pointed at her and looked to Dawn. "Did you know about this?"

Ugh, really? Dawn rolled her eyes and turned to face them. "It's Twilight Sparkle. The same pony who fought Maheera Dark, Tirek, and Psera's military. You thought she didn't have a backup plan? Mom's magic is everywhere. If you want to get rid of it, you'll have to drain the oceans and all of your water supply. Because that's hers too."

Dawn walked through the crowd with security by her side. "Take me back to the castle, please. I have a lot of work to do."

Wow. They actually did it. Narmeelah has never seen such a foolish act. So many warnings, so many chances. But there it was before Mimi on a news channel. Twilight "Arcadia Nova" Sparkle Exiled. There was no place safe for her. All of them kicked Twilight out. A shot of her riding on the back of a whale was all they had left of her face. They even took her magic. At least from her body.

Mimi pulled herself away from the storefront's display screen and continued through the streets of Cop. She remembered a time when the Pserateps would think. But now, they depended upon her power. All of them did. No more will that be the case. Where in Psera was her sanctum?

It wasn't in the castle, that was the first Well. And it certainly wasn't in the north. It had to be here in Cop. Directly in the center of the Mountain Ring as was her image. And directly in the center of that was some centre with moving images on its glass that shone bright over the Castle of Cop. Entertainment that even the royalty could watch over during the nights.

It was in the way.

Mimi walked up its steps for the entrance with a pep. She regarded the security at the entrance with a curt nod before entering inside into an atrium, busy with activity. Directly in front of her was a security desk she walked up to. A mare in casual clothing looked up from her computer.

"Hello," she greeted. "How can I help you today?"

Mimi smiled back. Her eyes changed from their icy blue to the makings of the world. Filling this mare with wonder, information, and power she's never known.

"Take me to your basement."

"...yes, your majesty." She stood up from her seat, grabbed a pair of keys from a drawer and walked out from behind the station. "This way please."

She lead Mimi over to a side door reading "Service." With a turn of a key, she guided her into the building's innards away from the public eye. Where the pipes serving all of the energy through the building came through. Where the ceilings were low, where colors were absent, and the growl of an engine and the hissing of steam drowned out the commotion beyond the walls that separated them from the rest. They travelled these halls and treaded further into the darkness.

Mimi's escort looked back with the smile of a foal. "It is an honor to have you amongst us once more, Goddess!"

Mimi hummed in thought. Her eyes tracked the pipes overhead. "Hmm, I'm afraid I can't return your emotion. I am frustrated with what Psera has done. Has all of what I taught you been a waste of breath?"

The escort's smile dropped and she dropped her head. "I apologize for the rest of us, Allcreator. We will do better."

"No, you will not. Take me to my Sanctum."

The journey lead them downstairs deeper into the darkness beneath Psera's Press Center. Where no one else could see, to a storage locker as big as the Atrium above. The door was opened and the escort genuflected before Narmeelah, allowing her access first before herself.

Here it was, her sanctum, infested with what the Pserateps didn't need. Statues, old wood, chairs, benches, tools. Look at the knowledge of her ponies. Look at what they have created and overcome. But thanks to foolish curiosities and worry, they now have created too much, interacted with too many.

With a wave of Mimi's wing, all of it was gone, leaving an empty concrete space. Her eyes filled with the galaxy they lived in locked in on the center of the floor. That's where it was.

She walked closer and jammed her hoof down into the space. In the shape of a circle surrounding her, the floor shattered. Shards of concrete were brushed aside to reveal what lied beneath her. A rune as big as the room. Cut into the dirt it created an eight pointed star with lines. With a tap, it illuminated. Material that wasn't there before transmogrified into reality. A throne made of gold reaching for the skies above them sat directly in the rune. That was all she would need.

She walked to what was hers and sat down, facing the door and the mare bowing inside of it. "Begone, my child," she told them. "Grab your offspring and flee. For the coming weeks will not be pretty."

"Y-Yes, Goddess!" She turned around and bolted, leaving the door to shut Narmeelah into the darkness. Her green coat changed into a translucent body, more ethereal than any could have expected to see. Her eyes stayed the same, her mane made of stars and celestial gasses that twisted and turned at the simplest change of wind.

The massive rune beneath her activated, absorbing her magic and bringing light to the room. It wouldn't activate fully just yet, Arcadia's magic had to leave first. Curse the brain of her relative. Even through exile she still managed to slow her plans. But it was still too late. These ponies didn't believe her. They barely even cared that she was gone. All would go as planned, no matter what she did.

Narmeelah spread out her wings and stared ahead with a smirk on her face. This would happen, one way or the other. Then, they could try again.

She was gone now. No more Twilight. They watched her ride off into the sea upon the back of a whale, glowing with magic. She somehow had more. But how? Did she store magic in the ocean? How was that even possible? Secrets by Twilight Sparkle were now in their hooves, at the port of Las Pegasus being unloaded to Equestria. All of Twilight's texts . . . They were theirs now. They could find the answers.

But at a clear loss. Fresh Dawn. The hate she felt for them excelled all boundaries. A potential relationship with a powerful country, a dream torn to shreds by a filly, the daughter of the pony they just banished, heir to Psera's next seat of power. It took Twilight to calm her down. Anyone else, they knew it would be fruitless.

During the flight back over the seas of Psera in their helicopters, Cadance thought about all of this.

"Were we too harsh?" She asked.

Luna looked to her from the seas outside. "Too harsh?"

"Dawn was right that Twilight gave us all we have today. If it wasn't for her, there would be no Equestria. There would barely be an Equus."

Celestia sighed through her nose and responded as reasonably as possible. "Twilight Sparkle misused her magic for evil."

"Was that worth not seeing her ever again?"

"She also killed for magic. She took lives before our very eyes, and we would have been next. I worry for what would happen shall her magic be misused again. Would she strike in vengeance? Would she take matters into her own hooves? Would Queen Arcadia emerge again and take over? There is no way to tell."

Cadance looked to Shining Armor for backup. But he simply shook his head. There was no point; the decision was passed. But Cadance wasn't going to just let it go without knowing their reasons.

"Maybe she just needed to be audited," she suggested. "She's spent so much time as a soldier, fighting dark magic in a tomb rather than actually living her life."

Luna closed her eyes and solemnly shook her head. "It doesn't matter now. She's gone."

"We can find her."

"How, Cadance?" They were approaching the beaches of Las Pegasus where an Aquata waited for them. The boatload of Twilight "Arcadia Nova" Sparkle's tomes. From light magic to dark magic. "Twilight Sparkle is gone. You saw her ride off into the sea. There's no telling where she is at this point."

Cadance looked out the window to the beach. "If I had to hazard a guess, she's already found a place years prior to this event. Twilight's extremely proactive. She plans for every outcome. I'm sure she's reached it by now, watching the waves span out before her. As a matter of fact, I'm sure she has plan in the event that her previous one went south."

Flurry listened to the conversation. From Celestia's words directly next to her, to her mother's from across. Watching and waiting for somepony to say it. But no, they dodged over it. it looks like she had to be the one to speak up.

"We should investigate what Aunt Twilight said."

All eyes turned to her. "About what?" Shining asked.

"Thirty days." She looked to Celestia, the pony Twilight spoke to directly. "What was she talking about? She said we wouldn't have magic."

"Apparently, your aunt has been researching societies and civilizations as old as Psera. She came across different ruins and texts along walls she translated upon reaching Psera to decipher messages written within Narmeelah's Diary, which the Pserateps have. All of what she said were translated words from Narmeelah's diary."

"Then shouldn't we take them seriously?"

The helicopters began lowering upon the Psera-Equestria Trade Facility, dropping onto a courtyard now active with the transfer of numerous tomes still being unloaded from the Aquata. They were stashed in boxes and lowered onto a conveyor belt feeding onto a chariot. Those would be taken all the way from here to the Friendship Express to be shipped to The Crystal Empire. Away from the castle and deep into the security of Equestria's most forbidden zone. The only way in and out would be by train, lest you wanted to freeze to death.

The knowledge within those texts must've been magnificently fruitful. It felt wrong to take these from Psera. But the less texts that Twilight Sparkle had access to, the better.

"We'll always take what Twilight says seriously," Celestia answered. Her hoof felt along the top of a box before it was lifted and placed on a conveyor belt leading into the warehouse. "But we also have little to go on except her word. That is never enough. We will regard her warnings, but until we have more to go on, we can only be cautious of any changes and oddities. We cannot send mages out searching for something that even we have yet to identify."

That made sense. They needed strong evidence to act. Flurry watched them lift another box of Aunt Twilight's books onto the belt. "And what about Dawn?"

"I believe our relationship with Dawn is no longer. Whatever we had before, it's gone."

"Maybe she'll talk to me."

Cadance, Celestia, and Luna looked to each other before turning back to Flurry. Cadance asked, "What would you talk to her about?"

"About Twilight. Maybe she can tell me what she was talking about."

The words of Twilight Sparkle would always remain a mystery. Softer than a butterflies wings, her foreboding words would always be met with silence and confusion. Madun, her late husband and previous King of Psera, was a lot more forward to the real world whereas his widowed wife was more intricate with the stories of the future and present.

Now they had Dawn, a mix of the two. As far as they could tell, easily prone to her anger, a fire that could only be extinguished by her parents' touch. A pony hiding a dark secret alongside her mother and other members of The Crown: after nearly being murdered in the womb, Dawn was resurrected and overwritten by dark magic. Two ponies in one body made of ethereal mass, Princess Fresh Veola Dawn was a walking, breathing, and conscious form of magic. The very first to ever truly walk Equus.

As a consequence, Dawn and Twilight shared an unexplainable bond that clearly went beyond mother and daughter. It was more intimate, more heartfelt. Dawn could feel Twilight's emotions, the strength of her magic, her life force. Dawn was the result of her mother's love for both Madun and magic.

Dawn hated being separated from her mother. She hated it when she was a filly, small enough to fall asleep in one of Madun's hooves. Now, she was big enough to take care of and defend herself. She could speak up, and faust, could she talk. It was plain and clear that Dawn wanted nothing to do with them or Equestria in general.

But between her and Flurry . . . Dawn may actually let her in. She wasn't at all involved in any of the fighting. If anything, she was forced to the background while the adults took the foreground.

Luna, Cadance, and Shining Armor looked to Celestia for guidance. She would be the one to allow that decision. Her face implied she was troubled with the decisions. As if she smelled a very bad scent, she was unsure of what it could entail. But as of this moment, after hearing Twilight's warning of another threat that had the possibility of topping even Psera's defenses, they could take no risks.

"Very well," she decided. "I will allow Flurry Heart to investigate her cousin. I feel Dawn could use some of your spark. Psera is no doubt uncomfortable with her presence, based off the amount of security she herself has away from the Fire Family."

Chapter 06 - Crash Landing

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Twilight "Arcadia Nova" Sparkle may have been gone, and her effigies that dotted Psera may be in the process of being torn down, but Dawn knew she was never truly gone. They would need her again, as much as they all needed the sun. They made a mistake. They had time to reflect on it, to think about it, to reflect on any pasts they may have had with Twilight. But instead, they thought about the one time she messed up, and used that as an excuse to rid of her.

Now here Dawn was, parentless. Legally speaking, she was supposed to go with Twilight. But she insisted she stay in Psera. Both Psera and IHT did not fight it, let alone mention it. Another big mistake. Narmeelah was going to pay for messing with her family. Dawn will fight until her last breath for tearing them apart.

After the trial, Dawn was flown all the way back to the castle, this time in a protected chariot that kept the cool air from beating into her coat, failing to cool down the heated rage she felt in her soul. A league of seventy Royal Elite guards surrounded her and the rest of the family in transit. Dawn did not speak, she did not look at them. Instead, she kept her mind on other things. Such as how she was going to get to that Diary of Narmeelah without being seen.

A plan needed to be made. A plan as deep and secretive as the depths of the sea. How was she going to do that, especially with the entire country out to try and kill her? It was a thought interrupted by the sudden voice of Merry, sweet, delicate, and careful.

"So, I know you're upset about your mother's exile."

Dawn blew a strand of mane from in front of her face. "That's putting it lightly," she grumbled.

"But we're going to help you move forward with your life in Psera."

Her Majesty Molten Ice asked, "What is it that you want to do with your life? You have so many choices."

"That's a lie, grandma, and you know it." Dawn turned around and glared at the both of them. "Be honest with me. I can't be what I want here, can I?"

"You can," Merry said. "You just have to try hard enough, and keep pushing forward."

Dawn turned back to the window. They could say what they wanted, but Dawn knew the truth. As the daughter to the rogue queen who betrayed her country, there was no way she could go to a college. Let alone...

"Tell the truth, Grandma." Dawn turned back around and faced them with the glare of an upset filly. "How many requests have came in for me not to attend high schools around Psera?"

She saw Grandma Ice swallow hard. "Well . . . there have been multiple reports and requests. I haven't had time to count. But if I had to guess, there have been over four hundred."

Four hundred. There were only four hundred and twenty-eight schools in Psera. She's only been back for a day and a half. Yet here they were already keeping her back from her rights in Psera. And legally, they could. The laws in Psera dictate that all ponies had the right to equal education, an easier choice of words translated from their legalese. However, those same laws never declared how that pony gained that education, a legal flaw that cost the educational experience all foals should've been granted from day one. Instead, here she was riding inside of an armored chariot surrounded by Psera's Elite Guard because the ponies on the ground wanted her dead, and she couldn't even go to any school in the country.

But it no longer mattered. Whether she was homeschooled in the castle or out beyond its walls. It would be lights out for Psera in two days. If mom said it'll happen, then it would. Question is, how bad would it hit? Would it be hard enough that the backlash would fall back on Dawn, or would it be so bad that Psera would barely notice? Okay, so maybe that last one was less than realistic, but Dawn was preparing for the worst.

The armored chariot touched down in the back of the castle, protected by brick walls older than time itself, and the doors for the Royalty were opened. Dawn jumped out first and made her way up to the back entrance, speeding away from her grandmother and aunt as far as possible before they could stop her.

Molten stepped out and called after her. "Dawn—"

"I'd like to be alone for awhile," she interrupted. They said nothing.

She walked into the warmth of the castle with her security on her tail. All eyes on her, and will be more in the future. The silence has never been more comforting. the way the castle blanketed her in a cocoon of tranquility and peace made her shiver in love and affection. She could feel her parents still here with her. Despite everything that has happened.

But Dawn knew they were gone. It would take a miracle to get dad back, and mom was across seas almost out of contact. She could still feel her, diving under the waves and coming back again with the movements of the whale, as if she herself was her mother.

Twilight left a mission for her. Figure out Narmeelah's plan. What was she up to? What were her steps? How exactly was she going to reset Equus?

"Princess Dawn!" Dawn blinked out of her thoughts and focused on an approaching Pseratep. The one who works with her sister Gardeen, what's-her-face. She was skipping up to her with the smile of a proud teacher, carrying a messenger bag.

Dawn stopped walking with her security. "Oh, hey uhh..."

She stopped in front of Dawn. "Hot Stop."

"Right. Sorry. How are you?"

"I'm doing great! Thank you for asking!" If she gets anymore excited, Dawn was sure she'd be sick for the first time in her life. "I wanted to speak with you for a second regarding your stay here at the castle. Gardeen had listed out a few things regarding visitation and quarters."

What? What was Hot Stop talking about, she was living with her Grandmother. Wasn't she? Hot Stop pulled out a document and held it out for her to take and read. "Gardeen just wanted to make sure you knew about your schedules for this upcoming plan."

"Plan for what?"

"Well for the school year, silly!"

School year? These were classes? Where?! Hold on for a minute.

"Where is Gardeen?" Dawn asked. She held up her ridiculous schedule. "I need to speak with her about this."

Hot Stop turned around and pondered, "She was in her office on the third floor last I saw her."

The third floor it is then. Dawn and her security walked around Hot Stop and continued on her journey through the castle before her family members could catch up. She and Gardeen had to have a little talk.

Hot Stop waved after her. "Okay, I'll just wait here then . . . or, walk around!"

Dawn didn't care what she did.

The sea was extensive, going for miles in endless directions. As far as Twilight could see, she was surrounded by blue waves and blue skies. The air was cold, chilling her to the bones. The water was of no assistance to her warmth. But at least she was close. For hours, she and her whale have traveled further and further away from the societies she has come to know as home. Equestria was no longer a choice. Psera was no longer a choice. Both of her families . . . gone.

A rage filled Twilight. A furious inferno that blazed within her heart. She wanted to spit that fire over Celestia, Luna, Cadance, and her cowardice brother who sat there and watched it all unfold. She was more a soldier than he ever was.

The whale she rode on the back of blew water from its spout, splashing Twilight in the face. She sighed in dismay and wiped it off.

"Yes, I'm awake. What is it?" She looked up and widened her eyes. For in front of her lied the biggest storm she could have ever witnessed. Dark clouds filled the skies. She could see lightning flash across the sky, rain fall from the heavens. How she didn't notice the wind picking up was a mystery.

The whale she rode upon suddenly turned around, swinging Twilight off its back and into the water. He dived deep below to get away from the lightning and thunder rumbling across the sky, fleeing for safety while his passenger had nowhere to go.

She splashed to the surface and bobbed with the waves. Great, now she was stuck in the middle of the ocean facing an incoming storm. There was no land in sight, and her only ride just swam away. If she had her magic, she could push aside those waves. Alas, it was stolen from her.

She's never felt more hatred for ponykind than now.

The wind blew against her. The swells of the waves ascended higher and dropped her harder until the rain hit. Saltwater splashed against her face and threw her under.. She swam back to the surface and breathed in a lungful before she was once again bashed with the water of Equus. The sky turned dark, bringing night to day. Her world tipped and moved with gravity while she tried desperately to stay over the surface.

She was so happy that Dawn stayed back on Psera. It was a lot safer than being out here in the middle of the ocean with nowhere to go in a storm.

Another swell lifted her and brought her up to the sky. Flapping her wings as fast as she could. She managed to free herself before falling back under the surface of the ocean. The sea was no longer hers to command. She was weakened. With only one working eye and small wings too weak to lift her fully off the ground, she was now at the mercy of the elements.

The thunderous lightning made her ears ring. Her hearing cut and disappeared while she was once more brought up and slammed back into the ocean. Fatigue filled her being. She was tired, exhausted. Her strength from having her magic taken away had yet to return to her. But she had to stay awake. At least a little longer. She swam back to the surface and stared up to the sky.

After all that she's done for this world and this was how it treated her? After saving it?! Giving up her life and family for it?!

Hate held at bay for years finally leaked from her eyes and washed away with the sea. When the waves lifted her once again, and the flashing of lightning reflected from her eyes, Twilight took in a deep breath.

"MAY FIRE RAIN DOWN UPON ALL WHO LIVE IN YOU!!!" She screamed, loud and proud, before falling victim to the waves of terror and pain, finding herself once more in the comfort of unconsciousness.

Gardeen's busy days used to consist of following Queen Arcadia everywhere she went. Filing her paperwork, scheduling her meetings, setting up appearances with ponies who didn't pay their taxes and credits to work out a payment plan with the rest of the federal government's internal currency system. But now, ever since Queen Arcadia's sudden abandonment and exile, her duties now consisted of busy work. She was in charge of multiple ponies who were now in charge of little Dawn's duties as Crown Princess of Psera. She would be the one to supply her security, to set up her life before it even began.

How boring.

Instead of being out there, here she was in her office surrounded by books and silence, typing away on her computer and watching the screen dance with time. She could use a break. She leaned back in her chair and covered her face. Why do the days have to be so long now?

A sudden knock pulled her from her thoughts. She quickly straightened up and placed her hooves on the keyboard. "Come in!"

The door was opened and in walked the pony of the year, glaring at her. "Whoa, Dawn, that smile's upside-down. Might wanna fix that."

Dawn turned around and told her security, "Give us ten minutes." Then closed the door before they could reply and faced Gardeen again. She held up the schedule. "What is this?"

Gardeen leaned back in her seat and folded her hooves across her chest. "It's a schedule, what does it look like?"

"It looks like a distraction." She placed it on Gardeen's desk and lowered her voice. "I don't have time for any of that. We're all in danger, Gardeen."

Oh boy, she already had something going on. Gardeen sighed and asked, "What's up, Dawn?"

"Okay, so . . ." she looked back to the door briefly. "You know how mom was always researching?"

Gardeen sighed and closed her eyes to keep those images of the past away. "I really don't want to talk about your mother right now."

"No, seriously. Listen, Gardeen. Because you're not going have this computer working in a few hours."

What? Gardeen raised her eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"Everyone has made a huge mistake. For one, Narmeelah's back; and two, mom's magic is about to disappear with her." Dawn grabbed a chair and pulled it over to sit in. "I came across something while I was away."

Gardeen leaned forward and asked, "Where were you anyway?"

"I was in some time pocket. Made by, get this, Narmeelah."

"Narmeelah," Gardeen repeated. "The Goddess? You've mentioned her three times now."

"Yeah, the entire country has. But check this out, I wasn't alone. There were maybe fifty other creatures there, all misplaced from time who admitted to the fact that they disobeyed some of Narmeelah's rules and were forced out of time. We were stranded on this weird island that would constantly change temperatures and weather. There was this weird pony there named Heated Wings. A Pseratep."

"There were other Pserateps there?"

"Yeah, like twenty."

Whoa, interesting. Gardeen leaned on her hoof. "What happened?"

Dawn raised her hoof above their heads. "There was this mountain that would glow at night. Like a deep red. So, First Light and I decided to check it out. After digging deeper and deeper in, we entered this cavern that was later discovered to be Narmeelah's planning place. She had pictures on the wall of mom, Celestia, Luna, Cadance, Shining Armor, and even cousin Flurry.

"Then, there was this." Dawn looked back towards the door before reaching into her wing and pulling out the map that mom gave her. She unfolded it and slapped it on the desk.

Gardeen picked it up gently, reading the drawings and Old Pseratopian. "This is your mother's hoof writing, Dawn."

"Yeah. She had a copy too. But the original copy was burned to ashes after First Light and I ran into Heated Wings, or should I say..." Dawn whipped out another paper, this time an impressive drawing of... "Shaoloh, the Daughter of Narmeelah."

Whoa, what?! Gardeen dropped the paper to the desk. "Daughter?"

Dawn eagerly nodded. "Yeah. I know. Makes sense though. If my family are descendants then she had to have children. First Light and I figured out Narmeelah's plan. She used us and our 'deaths' as a way to set Twilight off. There were diary entries that Narmeelah felt threatened by mom's power and influence. You know of mom's theory that Narmeelah was going to reset Psera."

Gardeen nodded slowly. "She brought it up a few times, but not too often through the years."

"Well she was right. But she was a little to late. Mom—"

First Light took over Dawn's body and cried, "Hey, let me talk for once, you've had the body long enough." She smiled her teeth to Gardeen and waved. "Hey, Garda."

She waved back. "It's Gardeen, First Light. How are you?"

"I'm doing great. We came across some nasty stuff on Founder's Island. Narmeelah's been planning something big. Mom said that Narmeelah would return, but she was late. Narmeelah's already here. I'm sure she even had a hand in our deaths.

"While we were on that island, we spoke with a few Pserateps and told them that we were attacked by Zebras, and they said that didn't make sense, because the Zebras served directly with royalty. So, unless they were given the order directly by royalty, then they had no reason to attack. Unless given a command by Narmeelah herself. She even wrote a prophecy just to get them to follow along with it."

"Thus starting a war..." Gardeen murmured to herself. "Between Twilight and the Zebras."

"Who are part of IHT. Which meant, Twilight would go against all of her family to get to those Zebras, which would explain the crossed -out faces in that cavern. She set it up so Twilight would fight her family."

But wait... Gardeen pointed out to the East. "They're still alive though."

First Light solemnly shook her head. "It didn't matter. Because the only pony who even had a leg up on Narmeelah's competition was Twilight herself. They took her magic and exiled her from all countries of the world, removing not only our promising defense against Narmeelah, but also our own defenses."

Fresh Dawn took back over and whispered, "Gardeen? Mom's magic is going to fly back to her. Then we're all going to be defenseless."

Whoa, whoa. Her magic was going to fly back? How is that possible, Gardeen thought magic was a static energy. "What are you talking about?" She asked.

"Okay, so I'm not sure how it works, that's more of mom's department. I'll research later, but she said since they took her magic and left her weak, the magic that she deposited over the years will return to her automatically to replenish her health."

Gardeen clearly still didn't understand. But she didn't like the way it sounded. "So . . . what does that mean for us?"

"Gardeen? Psera's about to fall back into the dark ages. The times before Twilight Sparkle ever arrived. And there's nothing we can do to stop it."

Chapter 07 - Fail Peace, Fail Magic

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Narmeelah could feel it. She could feel all of Queen Arcadia's magic fluctuating. As if agitated, it fought against the bonds she has placed upon them, desperately pulling themselves from the materials and technology she healed and created with her magic to speed back to their creator. In the land of Psera, Equestria, Mount Aris, Seaquestria. All of them. Except for those who don't use magic in the first place. The magic she's placed upon their lands to keep it all pretty and beautiful was slowly increasing their intensity. They would notice something was wrong soon enough.

Meanwhile, Narmeelah sat in her sanctum brooding away the time, feeling the world dance around her. Soon, she would emerge from the depths of this darkness as their hopeful, their only shining star. Of course, for a limited time before it would all come to an end. A shame that a simple wave of a wing required so much time.

"Mother." Narmeelah's eyes snapped open and trained on Shaoloh. Standing in the same room as her. Hair ablaze with the magic of her predecessor. "I have news. Arcadia Nova . . . is dead."

Yes. She too no longer feels her. At sea, she perished with the waves. But if the magic was returning to their creator, then...

"She won't be for long," Narmeelah warned. She relaxed in her seat. Too much excitement at how effortless this would be. "It does not matter whether she is alive or dead. She has made her decision for the fate of Equus."

Shaoloh approached and stepped over the glowing magic on the floor building up Narmeelah's rune. "What if she changes her mind?"

"She won't. She seeks to start anew. She has given up on those who betrayed her. I can feel her hate." Narmeelah tilted her head back and closed her eyes, relishing in what was surely in the air Twilight's detestation for this world. "She is done."

"Do you think she will survive?"

"Both my granddaughter and great granddaughter will live through the reckoning. One is made of magic, the other controls it. They will survive and assist in fostering this new world. All you need to worry about is keeping them out of the way."

Shaoloh nodded before turning around and walking back towards the basement. "And Shaoloh." She stopped. "Have you located my diary?"

"Not yet," she answered. "But I believe Dawn knows where it is."

"Then you must find out what she knows." Narmeelah narrowed her eyes and snarled, "Find the Diary, and bring it to me."

A journey through Equestria was not one to be taken lightly. Almost two days. It took nearly two days to travel all over Equestria to get readings, pictures, reports, and information concerning the Arcadian Obelisks. Runes embossed upon multiple towering structures that reached for the skies. These were definitely no coincidences. They were embossed by Queen Arcadia herself. But the question as to why remained.

After taking over a hundred pictures in two days of these runes, Snap Seed traveled back through the might of Equestria to her laboratory in Manehattan; a basement underneath her actual home. It's lack of windows made it distraction-free. Did Twilight's laboratories look like this? Probably not. She used to be a Queen. Snap bet she had the tallest ceilings, the biggest boards, and the most advanced technology. She probably had her guards carry her things!

But Snap Seed, instead of someone politely opening the door, she had to walk around the back of her home off Manehattan's main street, lugging a bag on her back bigger than her body, and a coat that trapped the essence of summer.

Finally, she made it home. She reached up and flipped back her hood, only to have it fall over her face again. Aw, curse these bargain bin materials. And curse this rotten bag! She was tempted to throw the thing off and into the dirt, but not yet. She was too close.

Snap Seed retrieved her ring of keys fastened to her bag and searched for the basement's. How many did she have on this thing, twenty? Ugh, such an inconvenience.

The keys fell from her hooves and to the ground. Excellent. Thank you so much, fate!!

Snap Seed reached over to them, and unfortunately, so did her bag. She now tilted off her rear hooves and leaned against the door. Stuck. Perfect.

Nonplussed, she knocked against the door. "Lead? You in there? I require your services in granting me access to my laboratory. If you would please—"

The door was quickly unlocked and pulled open. Gravity yanked Snap down a pair of steps leading into the cool basement and crashed into a small contraption-in-progress, ending with her head stuck against its access panel.

The door was shut and a pair of off-yellow hooves trotted into sight, and a long red mane reaching the floor filled her vision.

"Why do you bring so much with you?" Lead Writer asked. With a sigh, she grabbed and pulled Snap Seed from their latest creation. She unbuckled the bag and shoved it off. "I'm surprised you made it back with your spine still intact."

Snap Seed bounced up and pointed to the bag. "I needed to visit those sites, remember?"

Lead Writer stepped through their laboratory, walking around the tables and over the trash littering the floor. The atmosphere was lit only by two small windows near the ceiling that showed the streets of Manehattan. Light pierced through the dust filling the air.

She sat behind a fold-out table as her own desk, staring unimpressed to her colleague. "So, Snap, I wanted to talk to you about my time here."

Oh, here we go again. Snap knew what she was going to say. So she began digging through her bag while she talked. "I feel like we've done a lot of work together, but it's not going anywhere. In a way, I think it's a waste of my time."

"I'm so happy you brought that up." Finding what she was looking for, Snap bounded across the room over to Lead Writer, leaning on her hoof and watching her carry folders in her direction.

She slapped them on her desk. "Check these out." She flipped then open and spread out photos among the little light they had of the runes.

Lead Writer's patented glare of annoyance turned to the pictures, slowly changing from boredom and agitation to interest. She picked up one, then another.

"What are these?"

"Those appeared after Queen Arcadia attacked. Remember those lightning bolts?" She slid over her readings. "Now look at these."

Lead let the pictures go in favor of the readings. Whoa, what? But... "How is this possible?" She referred back to Snap. "Unless their actively performing a function, or your doohickey's broken, then these numbers..."

Snap slammed her hooves on the table with the grin of a maniac. "Exactly. I told you that lightning meant something. Queen Arcadia isn't done." She tapped at the pictures. "These things are everywhere. There's almost thirty of them. I counted five strikes, but there are more all ringing Equestria."

She threw down more pictures. "Vanhoover, Lake Colton, the Everfree Forest, Fillydelphia. They're all over the country!"

"So what do we do? Tell federal agents?"

Snap Seed paced and shook her head frantically. "No. Not at all. We have to investigate why they're there in the first place. If we tell the Royal Guard, they'll be torn down immediately, and we can't risk that." She walked back to her bag. "But don't worry, I have a plan, and I need your help. I'm building a team."

She rolled her bag over and used her magic to pull out a notebook she slammed on the floor between them. Dust propelled into the air, urging a coughing fit.

Lead Writer waved it from her her face. "This place needs to be cleaned."

"No, it doesn't." Snap opened the notebook and flipped to a page titled Equestrian Magical Defenders. "We need to investigate why they're there in the first place. I doubt they're there for some attack. Queen Arcadia was pretty hooves-on, and she doesn't utilize timers like this."

Lead Writer walked closer to the notebook and said, "Wasn't her plan to steal magic?"

"No, it was to destroy magic. Regardless, we can't let any royal officials know of these. They'll want to destroy them."

"Isn't her destroying magic a safer excuse?"

Snap slammed the book shut and shouted, "No! I know it seems like Twilight was going to do something to harm us. But I know her. Well, of her. Everything she's ever done has been to protect all of us. Even now, exiled at sea, she's still protecting."

She pointed to the windows. "Those runes out there ring the entire country, like a wall of protection surrounding Equestria."

"Or a wall of imprisonment to keep us in."

"Or to keep something out." Snap walked to the window and watched the world pass her by. Equestrians going about their day as if they were safe. She's been in that situation before. Then Discord attacked, followed by Tirek, Nightmare Moon. All defeated by Twilight Sparkle. Why turn into the enemy but leave behind a wall of runes?

"I'm telling you, Lead..." She turned around to face her with the sincerity of a Princess herself. "Something isn't adding up here. We have to figure out what those runes are actually for."

Lead Writer could see the faith in her friend's fair idol. The Mistress of Magic. Twilight Sparkle, Equestria's strongest and smartest magician, smarter than Starswirl could ever hope to be. She was the protector of all creatures of this world, and has been for years until recently when the Zebras attacked. Why stop because of them? There was something else at play here.

Lead Writer sighed and gave in. "Fine. But what is this plan?"

Yes! Snap jumped away from the window and rushed past to her notebook. "We need to get the greatest magical minds together and investigate Queen Arcadia entirely before she was exiled. All of her motives, plans, tech, these ponies know about it. We don't. We need info from them."

She flipped to a page with the faces and info of two ponies. Lead Writer read their names aloud. "Sunset Shimmer and Starlight Glimmer. Who are they?"

"Two of Twilight's students when she was here in Equestria. They lived with her, learned from her, and even fought alongside her. If anyone knows anything about these runes, it's them. Only one problem: they worked with the Princesses developing the shield that kept her out."

Lead Writer waved it off as if it were no big deal. "Loyalty never dies. We should still be able to talk to them."

"Maybe." She closed the notebook and lowered her voice to a serious tone. "But we should remain cautious. They're in league with the Princesses. Anything concerning 'Arcadia Nova' and they'll throw it out. We have to act carefully."

"So what's your plan of action?"

"Simple." She trotted to her bag and pulled out two envelopes she presented. So she did have something put together. "We'll give them a really good reason to show up."

Magic was going to disappear?! Gardeen shot up from behind her desk.

"What?!" She shouted. "Dawn, this is serious, we have to do something!"

"There's nothing we can do!" Dawn replied. "It's automatic. That's what mom was talking about when she said thirty hours. It's already happening."

Gardeen walked out behind her desk for Dawn. "Even if we can't, we have to prepare."

Dawn turned back to the door and closed her eyes. "Thus risking my reputation even more as Arcadia Nova's daughter."

"At least let Molten know." She placed a wing upon Dawn's back. "Don't give them a reason to pin you just like they did your mother."

She has a point. They already looked to Dawn as some type of demon because her mother was Arcadia Nova. They didn't know how right they were. She looked back to Gardeen then the door, coming to a decision.

"...fine. I'll tell her."

"Good, come on!" Gardeen whipped open the door and guided her out. "We have no time to lose."

Dawn begrudgingly followed her out the door, protected firmly and closely by the security and guards in the hallway. Why did she get the feeling that their weapons would be about as useless as their telecommunications in a few hours?

They quickly traveled up to Molten's floor. The urgency of the situation couldn't be more apparent than the heat in the air. So thick with worry that Dawn could feel it dripping off the tips of her feathers to the floor below. Even her pets could feel the downfall of Psera upon this release. Dawn has already come to grips that magic was going to take away a majority of workflows here at home. As for the rest of Psera? The scientists, the interest, the news personalities, the rich ponies from Rayray, the Office of Defense in Lavender, the geeks of SERL...

So many ponies were going to lose their livelihoods because of this.

Too soon, the elevator for Molten's private floor opened. Dawn, Gardeen, and her security stepped out and quickly moved for the two looming doors at the end of the hall, protected by a firm layer of Elite Guard stationed on the side. They tracked their movements, watching them without moving their bodies.

Once they arrived at the doors, Gardeen leaned down to Dawn. "Let me do the talking."

"No." Dawn was tired of everyone speaking for her. As if she didn't have a mind, as if she were too fragile, too frail to follow in the strength of her parents. "No, I'll speak for myself for once."

Dawn stepped past Gardeen and knocked on Molten's doors. "Grandma! We have a problem!"

She could hear the thundering of her hoofsteps, feel how they impacted the linoleum of her kitchen before reaching the carpet at the front of the stairs. The door was swung open and she revealed herself fully. Her face scrunched in worry.

"What is it?" She asked. "What's wrong, Dawn?"

Dawn walked past, letting herself and Gardeen into the suite. Once the door was shut, Dawn took a deep breath and turned around to face her grandmother, the oldest Queen to ever live through Psera's life.

Carefully, Dawn explained. "So, we have an international problem."

"What is it?"

"So you know how mom used her magic to heal all the nations and their lands?" Molten slowly nodded her head. "Well, because she's in a bad place with her health and magic, the magic that she laid down and used to rebuild, as well as power and weaponize Psera . . . is automatically going to return to her to keep her healthy and alive."

Dawn waited for a reaction. Her expression remained the same, failing to make any sudden moves save for when her mouth opened and she spoke her response. "I don't understand."

"So you know how Psera didn't have magic almost twenty years ago?" Molten nodded. "Yeah. It's going to be like that again. But only worse this time because mom's magic makes up about four-fifths of Psera's assets. So, the Obelisks I'm certain will stop working, as well as the Pods, the grass may turn brown and die out because magic restored those to life, some buildings may collapse, etcetera, etcetera..."

Oh my Narmeelah. Gardeen facepalmed on the side. A little professionalism with this matter would do her parents proud. "What Dawn is trying to say is that we are all in danger. Psera, Equestria, Seaquestria, Mount Aris, IHT as a whole, wherever Arcadia used her magic."

"All of that is going to return to her. Mom's magic is going to leave their lands and whatever container they may have had to hold it back is going to break wide open, and society will retrocede."

They awaited another reaction from Molten's still expression. "You're joking," she said.

"I wish I was. But mom told me herself before she was exiled, and that it was out of her control. I'm not sure how long it's supposed to take, but her magic is supposed to leave all of us and return to her within the next two days."

Molten needed a fact check. Before she starts panicking, and then the rest follow along after she discloses this information. She turned around and walked towards the door with Dawn and Gardeen.

"How is that even possible?" She asked.

"I'm not too sure," Dawn explained. "But if I had to guess, mom's magic makes up a good third of all of our materials here on Psera. As well as the energy and method we use to store information."

Molten pressed on the elevator. "I'm not concerned for our information technology, I'm concerned for structures."

"For good reason. Mom's magic makes up the materials we used to build our homes and buildings. Everything that we have, all of it has mom's magic."

"And it just . . . goes back to her?"

"Yes." Molten, Gardeen, and Dawn quickly slid into the elevator and lowered to the third floor. Molten's gaze was set on the doors, thinking, planning. "What are you going to do?"

"Before anyone panics, we need to see if its even possible for magic to hold matter together, or even make up matter. If it's able to change form whenever it wants."

The doors to the elevator opened. They rushed out onto the third floor and began making their way to the one location where something like this could be predicted. Where international communications were exchanged.

The Situation Room. On the same hallway as what was previously the Royal Suite, it now served as an informational hub for Equestria specifically.

She knocked upon and opened the door. The table that served as their meeting place was now vacant. Instead, on the side were consoles and devices occupied by two Pserateps each. So focused were they on their tasks that her arrival had yet to deter then. Only when her voice cut through their haze of practical hypnosis did they acknowledge her arrival.

"Good day," she said. They swiveled their heads in her direction and froze, like dogs caught doing something they shouldn't be. "I need to speak with Princess Celestia of Equestria."

They bounced into action. Hooves danced across keyboards. Eyes burned a hole in their screens. "Locating Princess Celestia!"

"Found her! Stand by for transmission!"

She was gone now. A hole has burned into the heart of Equestria. Celestia could see it from the throne room. Even the guards and soldiers standing in the castle didn't seem all that strong anymore. The once blue skies itself casted shadows upon the towns and cities. The winter never seemed colder.

The work Celestia had before her fluttered from her hooves to the floor. She buried her muzzle and sighed deeply. All they had left was the Castle of Friendship, her spell books, and the memories they all had together. But as for Twilight Sparkle herself? They would never see her again. For sure this time.

The door for the throne room opened. Luna strode in with the one character she did not want to see.

Celestia glared at her. "What is she doing here?"

Queen Novo. "I just wanted to speak to you."

"You don't have to say anything."

Luna could see this was about to heat up. She slowly backed out of the room and closed the door behind her. No need to be involved.

Novo approached the throne with a saddened expression. "I know you may be a little upset with me. But please understand, I had to watch out for my own first before others."

Celestia couldn't fight her on that. She sighed and admitted defeat before the battle even begun. "I know that. I understand, Novo, it's just..."

Celestia stepped down from her throne and walked over to the stained windows overseeing Equestria's Western Side. She could see all of Ponyville from here. As if nothing happened, they remained on their hooves.

"I lost her, Novo," she whispered. "It finally happened. It all became too much for her and she fell from grace."

Novo walked closer from behind. "What were her reasons?"

"Magic was being misused and had to be confiscated. Attacking us assured no one would be in her way. She knew we wouldn't let her take control of it."

"So she forced her way in." Novo followed her gaze to the sky. "I mourn for her as well, Celestia. She was a friend and ally."

She laid a wing on her back and held her close, letting the moment overtake them. Equestria would move on. As would the rest of them.

"Princess Celestia."

Celestia and Novo looked behind them to face the hologram of Her Majesty Molten Ice. Uh oh. The only time Psera contacts these days is to warn of danger.

"Your Majesty," Celestia greeted back. "I hope all is well on Psera."

"It is not. I have a few questions regarding magic."

Celestia approached the hologram. "Ask away."

"Recently, it has come to my attention that Queen Arcadia's magic may be more superficial than we thought. Is it possible for magic, at any stage, to take up a physical form that isn't magical at all, and then remain magical?"

Novo inquired, "You're asking if magic is fluid in transmogrification?"

"Yes. Say if magic can turn into a chair, then into a picture frame. The same set of magic, turning into multiple things."

That was out of Novo's league. She turned to Celestia. The conflict upon her mind reflected on her face. "Well, it may be possible. This is magic we're talking about so it more than likely is possible. However, I've never seen it with my own eyes, nor came across any sighting of it, or tales of such."

Of course they haven't. But Molten had what she needed. She glanced away, thinking deeply. Celestia asked. "What are you thinking, Your Majesty?"

"It has been brought to my attention that Queen Arcadia's magic may return to her. I, however, am doubtful. But we are speaking of Twilight Sparkle here. All possibilities are open. The magic that she has given us, and the technology that we created using the same materials that she herself created out of nothing . . . I don't want to take a risk."

"You think Twilight's magic is what created her restorations?"

"More. I think her magic was her restoration. In which case, if Twilight's magic does happen to 'return to her,' then it would render not only Psera powerless. But all other nations as well. Her magic was formed into material to heal cities, seas, forests, farms, mountains. If her magic returns to her, then all of our forms of prosperity will go with it.

"My friends, we are in the way of an approaching international shortage of all materials."

Celestia quickly jumped into action. "We'll send out an urgent message to IHT."

"And we'll be dropping Psera into a Code Yellow. I'll keep you updated."

Once the hologram cut, Molten walked to the corner of the room where a Comm Block lied. She picked it up and dialed for lavender.

"Secretary of Defense," Manny answered.

"Manny, it's Molten. I need you to stop what you're doing, and place Psera into a Passive Code Yellow."

She heard Manny stop whatever she was doing. "What?"

"Psera has to go into a Passive Code Yellow now. I'll be summoning the Senate Board to discuss any further instructions about a possible international shortage."

She hung up before it could be explained and turned to Gardeen, bearing a focused glare. "Gardeen? Summon the Senate Board."

Chapter 08 - Resist

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It was over. All of it, done and buried with the past. But they would never forget. Sunset would never forget those times. How Twilight helped her become the best pony she was always meant to be. She no longer lived on the streets of Canterlot City, hiding her origins from creatures who would never understand.

Here she stood now, the engineer behind a project made to keep Twilight out. It lied in shambles. The gear inside was fried. Her greatest invention torn apart. But maybe this wasn't the treasure she needed. Memories of a time before flashed before her eyes. The pony that supplied her with the knowledge and inspiration to learn about this technology . . . She was gone now.

"Oh Twilight, why?" Sunset whispered to herself.

A small knock pulled her attention away. Like a gnat, it was seen, heard, and nearly ignored. She turned her head and identified thw gnat as Starlight, walking in with two letters in her magic and a small supportive smile.

"You miss her too?" She asked.

"I have never missed her more than I do now. The time she gave herself up to fight Maheera Dark; I knew she would return."

"How?"

A chortle rolled from Sunset. She grabbed the envelope when presented. "Because it's Twilight Sparkle. The name alone means a beautiful new start. But this time . . . Do you think she's okay?"

Starlight ripped open her envelope and set it on the Friendship Map to read. There was a strange insignia on the front. Certainly not of any royal origin. "I have no doubt. I'm sure she's already found a place to live and call her own. What is this?"

Sunset raised it up and read it aloud. "'Dear Sunset Shimmer. My name is Snap Seed, CEO and Head Researcher of Integral Magics, based in Manehattan. Recently, we have come into contact with magical evidence spread throughout Equestria. After the Arcadian Attack, we are taking no chances with magic lying listlessly around the country. Integral Magics is requesting your assistance to work closely, and professionally, with our researchers to study, and assess, the uses of these Arcadian Remains. Our address is listed below. Thank you, and have a wonderful day.'"

She glanced over the letter to Starlight skeptically. Think they're legit?"

"Sounds legit. Look." She raised the envelope and pointed to a logo. "They even have their own trademark slapped on an envelope. Not the actual letter."

Sunset wasn't too certain. Anypony could get a trademark in Equestria if they had the money. They claimed to be a laboratory. How come Sunset's never heard of them before, especially if they're straight out of Manehattan as claimed? Twilight has every book in here from every single laboratory in the nation. Sunset couldn't recall Integral Magics.

Starlight folded up the envelope and hopped down from the map. "Come on. It wouldn't hurt to check it out. Especially if there's Arcadian Magic lying around."

She had a point. Sunset sighed and circled the address. "Fine. Let's go to Manehattan and check it out. Maybe the Princesses know something about this Lab."

The news of Psera's predicament quickly reached the ears of IHT's current leaders and speakers. Dragons, Equestrians, Prancians, North and South Neightons; all were informed.

After the story and report was presented by Princess Celestia, Madam Singe quickly asked her questions amongst all the murmurs

She stood from her seat. "Is it possible for magic to exist in both a solid and malleable form, able to duplicate and manipulate itself in such a way?"

"The same question was asked by Her Majesty," Celestia answered. "The truth is we are not sure. Magic can do many things, as exemplified by Twilight Sparkle. But the things that Twilight knew about magic excel even beyond the understanding of Equestria. In a sense, Twilight Sparkle is the only pony who can answer that question factually."

Dragon Lord Ember assumed, "So we're worrying over speculation then."

Cadance replied, "Yes, but also no. Even if this is merely speculation, it must be taken seriously. If this claim is valid it is a threat to IHT, our health, safety, and wellbeing throughout our countries. Everything that was grown by Twilight's magic, and whatever was created afterwards using what that magic created will disappear. Our land, food, structures, the history of our lands will no longer be."

"In other words..." Luna looked around the room at all of their forms. "It is a slow death sentence. We will have no food to feed ourselves. No shelter from storms, and no place to call our own."

IHT's Trade Room erupted into worry. Was Queen Arcadia's magic truly that powerful? Strong enough to create countries, build worlds, and cripple the lives of them all on any given day? Of course after everything that has happened, they've seen the strength of the legendary Queen Twilight "Arcadia Nova" Sparkle, but if this was true, then...

Novo raised her claw and asked bluntly, "What would be the cause of this magic departure?"

Celestia answered, "The ponies responsible would be us. We removed Twilight's magic from her, which, according to diagnostics and readings, weakened her body. The magic is supposed to return and bring her back to full health."

"If we return the magic to Twilight's body, will that stop this magic departure?"

Celestia shook her head. "As mentioned before, Equestria isn't sure if this is even possible, let alone of any counter to it."

Madam Singe suggested, "What about her tomes? Equestria recently obtained ownership over all of Queen Arcadia's spell books, correct?"

Flurry nodded and answered, "You would be correct."

"Is there anyway we can check those tomes for an answer?"

Luna leaned into her mic. "No, it is not possible. Twilight Sparkle's collection is extensive. We have counted over eight thousand tomes in her collection, with two thirds of them being entirely her own works of which we've never heard of before. Some of it is even written in Old Pseratopian. Finding a single possibility or research study surrounding even the possibility of malleable magic would take us weeks, if not months."

"Is there any other way?"

Queen Farue quickly asked, "Wh-What about Princess Fresh Dawn? I'm sure that as her daughter, Fresh Dawn would know the answers to such information, or at the very least an idea."

Celestia sighed and admitted, "All ideas are worth a shot in these desperate hours. However, I am warning you now: Princess Fresh Dawn has already expressed her distaste and hatred for both IHT and Equestria following the banishment of her mother. To give us an answer without berating and expletives of the tongue would take a miracle."

She turned to one of the Guards standing behind her. "Please send forth a request for Princess Fresh Dawn to be contacted by IHT regarding this recent threat. We wish to question her."

Dad used to come here all the time. Mom would take her out here all the time. She called this the family garden, although, in reality, they both knew it belonged to the stallion of the family. She remembered when mom first disappeared, sacrificing herself in the name of the Psera and Equus. For the safety of all creatures everywhere. When she disappeared, so did the filly Dawn used to be. She fled to this very garden so the life of the flowers could lift her own spirits. The only pony who did was Erikia. How was she? Could she see her sometime? She's barely heard from her since mom's return. Then it was another six months away from Psera.

The silence here was incredible. It left her to the thoughts of her past and future. The only place left here to think peacefully. With no more reason to guard it, the last bit of home she had before Psera would soon take that away. Dawn could feel Grandma Ice's eyes bearing down on her from her own garden.

Dawn slowly turned her head to the sky, to see the floating greenhouse where Molten could be seen watching, just like the rest of her country. Earlier she had called for a meeting with The Senate Board underneath a Code Yellow. According to the time, they would be leaving in fifteen minutes. Would she be expected to be a part of it?

"We can't sit here like this," First Light said. "The darkness is coming."

Dawn pulled her sight up from the wilting flowers in front of her. "The darkness is already here. Decades, centuries. Narmeelah's influence will be the downfall of all of us."

"If we let it. You heard mom, we have to start acting."

"I know." Dawn turned around and dragged her long wings back to the castle. "But who will listen to us?"

"Grandma Ice did. So did Gardeen."

"Grandma Ice needed verification from Equestria. Gardeen will believe whatever we have to say. With no proof to back this up, we're alone in this, Light. The only way for us to act is for Psera to delve into darkness, then everyone will believe us.

Dawn opened the door with her magic and stepped back into the castle's frigid halls. As if death was near, she could feel the essence of an eternal battle. Good versus evil taking on many forms. How many forms has Narmeelah taken to come to this very moment?

Dawn traversed the castle halls in route for the elevator when she was approached by an Elite Guard.

"Princess Dawn," they greeted. "You have been summoned."

Summoned? "By who?"

"The International House of Trade wishes to converse with you."

Oh. If Dawn had any blood, the name itself would boil it through her skin. The nerve they had to even connect her personally. But she calmed her pot of anger, lest it boil onto the surface. Not yet.

Dawn sighed with regret and asked, "Where are they?"

The Guard turned around and guided her along. "They are in Equestria, but have set up a comm-line with us here in Psera."

Dawn nodded and followed after the guard. What did they want to ask of her now? As Psera's Heir to the throne, it would fall on her shoulders to see to their needs and requests. Of course, anything with Equestria would be denied immediately, but it would look good for her to at the least listen.

After their trek through the silent halls of the castle, the guard escorted her back to the same room where Molten Ice had her meeting with IHT. Now it was her turn. The ponies from earlier swiveled their seats around to face her when she entered.

One of them, a mare with a dark yellow coat rose and approached. "Do you know how to use this, Princess?"

"I have no notion of what it even is," Dawn answered.

She thought so. The mare pointed to a spot directly in front of the table. "Come stand right here and face forward. We're going to scan your body to create your shape."

Dawn did as requested and faced forward. Should she even breathe? The ponies went to work and began tapping away at their stations. The mare explained the situation.

"There are ten cameras setup around the room to shape your image virtually for the receiving party to see and will be magically transported to their space. In turn you will be able to see them as if you were right there. Close your eyes please, Princess."

The first time Dawn had to do this and she couldn't see what was going on? Perfect. Dawn closed her lids and breathed in and out. A click and a high pitched whine echoed around the room before a bright blue flash of light hit her face.

"I got her shape."

"Transferring. Stand-by, Princess."

Whoa, that tickles. Dawn grinned and shivered under her coat.

"Really?" First Light asked.

"It feels funny," Dawn said aloud.

The mare from before whipped her head around from her station. "Wait, you can feel it?!" She asked.

"Yes. Am I not supposed to?"

The mare turned to the stallions in the room. "Shut it down, shut it—!"

Too late. Dawn felt her body be grabbed and pulled forward. She was twisted and reshaped, painlessly so before being slapped back into what she was before, in the one place she would never return to had she a choice.

One minute they were all talking. The next, a pulse wave of magic washed over the coats of IHT. A hovering black ball slowly expanding in the center of the room. Dark Magic.

Celestia shouted, "Everypony, duck!"

Cadance grabbed Flurry and threw her down before following herself with everyone else. A sudden warp and pulse of magic flickered the lights in the Trade Room followed closely by silence.

"So . . . Did it work?"

Flurry popped her head up over the edge. "Dawn?"

Dawn finally popped her eyes open. "Ohhh, something went awfully wrong." This was not the situation room. At least in Psera. This was . . . What was this?

Celestia raised herself up with the rest and asked, "Did you teleport over here?"

"No. Something went wrong with the little thing we use to communicate." She smoldered to the table they hid behind. Through her teeth, she snarled, "What did you want?"

Straight to business. Luna queried, "I'm sure you've heard of the crisis Psera is in that may also affect the rest of us. We just wanted to verify a few loose ends. As daughter of Queen Arcadia, we're expecting you to answer a few of the questions. Upon Queen Arcadia's return, you studied magic, correct?"

Might as well get this over with. She sat down on the floor and nodded her head. "Yes."

"Did she ever mention malleable magic or magic being able to take on multiple forms at once?"

Malleable magic. Dawn made a face. "What do you mean?"

Flurry broke it down. "Like magic turning into a chair for a week, then into a picture frame."

Oh! Dawn nodded her head. "Yes. We studied that. But we called it Multifarious Transmogrification."

"So, it is possible," Cadance queried.

Dawn's nod triggered a murmur of worry. Look at them, realizing the extent of their mistake. Now they were freaking out.

Madam Singe asked, "Princess Dawn. As I'm sure you know, your mother was the reason behind the rapid restoration behind our lands during Maheera vs. The World. We fear she may have used Multifarious Transmogrification."

"Oh, she did," Dawn assured them. She looked around, feeling the magic tickle at her horn. This castle itself was made out of the magic in certain areas. Not just the lights in this room.

"I can feel it. It's not strong in here, but there is something nearby." She looked back at the expectant faces of IHT's leadership. "I can do it too, but not nearly as strong as mom."

"If you were to fall into bad health, would the magic you put down return to you?"

"With my unique situation, I would require magic to heal anyway. But to answer your question as if I were a normal Alicorn-Pseratep, yes. It would all come back to me based on studied test results."

Another round of worry. The only one not showing was Celestia. Her hooves were crossed in front of her mouth staring down at Dawn. She in turn was staring back.

"...you knew about this," she said. "Didn't you?"

"And I warned you," Dawn admitted. The room silenced once more. "Mom did too. But you didn't listen. None of you did. So, here we are, about to give way to a greater evil. Ourselves."

"How can we stop this?" Cadance tapped at her desk. "Do we have to look for Twilight? IHT will give her whatever she needs."

Dawn sighed and closed her eyes. "I wouldn't bet on it. Mom couldn't defend you even if you did find her."

"Why's that?"

"Well for one thing, mom is dead."

A hush reigned over the room, as if their breathing too ceased its flow. Dawn could see the disbelief in their eyes, especially in Uncle Shining's.

"...what?" Cadance asked.

"The empathic link mom and I shared since my birth is severed. I no longer feel her. And, before you say anything, be advised that I could feel mom even when I was in another dimension and she was trapped with Maheera Dark. I can't feel her anymore. I last felt her in the ocean, filled with anger and hate before she faded away."

Shining's hoof covered his mouth. Celestia's ears flopped down, something that has never been seen and Cadance looked away. Grief washed over all of them.

"This is happening," Dawn iterated. "And it's happening soon. In less than twenty-four hours, the magic of the world that mom gifted to you will return to her. There is no spell that can keep it back, no container strong enough to seal it away. Mom will regain her strength, rise from the ashes, and, well, do what she wants."

Dawn turned around and lit her horn a deep black. "I'm already prepping for the arrival of what comes after. You should too."

In a combustion of liquid darkness, Dawn teleported back home, leaving IHT to their meeting. But was it worth it now? Was it worth a discussion? Would time warrant them an opportunity to rectify the situation.

Queen Farue asked, "What do we do? If Dawn speaks true, then we're going to lose what we have tomorrow."

Celestia wasn't speaking. Luna could see the hurt in her eyes. She took over. "We keep an eye on what we have. I suggest we watch what food and building materials remain. Twilight couldn't have created everything."

Queen Novo nodded in agreement. "We'll keep watch over our assets. Until then, I believe we all have countries to address. Please, urge your citizens not to panic. Meeting adjourned. We'll convene again after tomorrow."

Chapter 09 - Debrief

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This was their operations headquarters? This was where they decided to host all of their experiments? Sunset Shimmer was sure that this was all a setup now. After traveling across almost all of Equestria in a matter of a few hours, their journey finally ended with them standing at the front porch of a townhouse on the busiest street of Manehattan. Chariots rolled by, horns honked, ponies shouted at each other on separate sides of the road.

But what lied before them fell short of what was envisioned. As vast and expansive as Manehattan was, all they had to offer in terms of a laboratory was a townhouse?

Sunset shared a glance with Starlight filled with ambivalence. "What do you think?"

Starlight seethed and shrugged, a vague answer. "It seems more like a startup to me. Maybe give it a shot?"

Why not? If they had some kind of information regarding Twilight's magic lingering around Equestria, they had to gather that information for themselves and deliver back to higher authorities.

Sunset walked up to the door and observed it carefully. Based off its state and the rolls of news, the only contact here were with the newsponies. Sunset's hoof when she knocked was just another addition to the number of those who visited them.

They waited for a response under the sound of honking horns and passing ponies. Were they even here? Sunset glanced to Starlight. She shrugged. "Maybe try again?"

Before Sunset could knock, someone called out to them from the side.

"Hey." They turned to an alley, inviting them with the wave of an orange hoof before drawing back around the corner.

Sunset teleported into the alley, hopefully to catch a glimpse of who it was before they could disappear. But they were gone, leading into the backyards. As fast as they appeared, a shadow in the day.

"Strange," Starlight whispered.

Sunset trotted to her side. "Travel the mysterious alley?"

Once again... "Why not?"

In a flash, Sunset teleported to the back with Starlight. Empty. This was too weird. Why invite them then run away? Was this some sort of trap? A sick game to play on curiosity itself? Sunset's seen too many of those to be made out like a foal. She narrowed her eyes, checked her surroundings,

"Psst." They turned around and faced the back of a townhouse. A hoof poking out of a door beckoned them in. "In here. It's best no one sees us."

Okay, Sunset's had enough of these little games. "Before we go stepping into a house that doesn't belong to us to meet someone we've never seen, can we, at least, have a name?"

"Fine." Their contact leaned out the door with a bland expression. A mare. "Trust me, I didn't want to do this anyway. My name is Lead Writer, Assistant Researcher at Integral Magics. Please, come in and we can talk."

Finally, some professionalism. Lead Writer walked inside and flipped on a light switch.

"Your guests are here," She announced.

An overhead bay light shone on Snap Seed sitting behind a table using her magic to write on a few documents. A large grin adorned her features upon recognition.

"Yes, yes, hello!" She teleported across to shake Starlight and Sunset's hooves. "Greetings! I am Snap Seed. Thanks so much for coming."

Sunset wasted no time. "Why are we here?"

"Straight to business. I like that." Snap Seed teleported back to her desk. "Come, come, and I will explain everything."

Snap Seed teleported back to her seat in the desk. Taking on the form of a mare shrouded in the shadows, ready to conduct business. She was joined quickly by Lead Writer, standing to the side, watching the commune take place.

Snap's throat was cleared loudly, taking on the tone of a mysterious character. "Have a seat."

Sunset and Starlight cautiously sat down on the two pillows in front of the desk.

Starlight asked, "So what's up with the dark room?"

"Because what you are about to learn..." Snap Seed levitated a black case over the table that was dropped loudly between them. "...cannot leave this room. I have reason to believe that even light itself is a spy."

Snap pulled a key and unlocked the case. The lid was lifted, exposing its contents. Documents, photographs, folders, Twilight's face. Weird. Sunset really wanted to take this seriously, but so far everything here has been rather incredible.

"My name is Snap Seed. Expert magician, valedictorian for Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, and Hall-Of-Famer for the first unicorn to ever levitate twenty items at once for the entrance exam."

Hall-of-Famer. How come Sunset's never heard of her? Sunset crossed her hooves and smirked sneakily. "Impressive."

"But what a lot of ponies don't know about me is this: I am Twilight Sparkle's biggest fan."

"I think a lot of unicorns are." Starlight Glimmer pointed to herself. "Myself included."

"Then perhaps you can answer this question." Lead Writer slid the case a little closer to them. A photograph was lifted and placed before them. "Queen Twilight 'Arcadia Nova' Sparkle's lightning trajectory was a little off during her attack on Equestria. While we were busy dealing with her attack on the ground, she had a little something going on in the air. Why?"

Sunset lifted the photograph for a closer examination. Whoever took this photograph was nowhere near Canterlot. The quality was awful and overall pixelated, but the circle pointed their eyes to what Snap wanted them to see. The lightning striking from the violet clouds overshadowing Equestria.

Starlight glanced up to Snap. "What is this?"

"That is one of Twilight Sparkle's bolts, controlled and manipulated by her. You can see her magic, the color violet. She turned her magic into lightning. But instead of aiming it at the princesses..." Snap slid a copy of the photograph their way, this time with a lot of notes taking up a majority of the page. "She's aiming directly over the entire city entirely."

Sunset sighed and rubbed her face. "Are you sure that was controlled by Twilight Sparkle? Not just a natural occurrence?"

"Absolutely!" Snap bounded out of her seat and jabbed at the photograph multiple times. "According to the wind, time of day, and direction of the clouds, this bolt was manipulated."

"Why are we here?" Starlight queried.

"Because of what that bolt, along with many others did. I tracked and followed it. Uh huh, yeah. It was certainly magical." Snap threw five more photos down in front of them erratically. "It streaked approximately eighty-six miles away from Canterlot and landed in the Forests of Marid, deep within the Badlands, through the mountains, and into an oasis on one of the many coasts of Equestria. Now, guess what I found there."

Sunset set down the photo she was holding and crossed her hooves again, nonplussed as ever. "What?"

"A rune."

A rune? Interesting. Starlight and Sunset glanced at each other before another picture was slid before them. On the edge of a promontory, a large boulder engraved with a rune clearly glowing violet with magic stood tall. Carved into the stone surrounded by a scorch mark, it was evident that wasn't a natural occurrence.

Sunset grabbed the photo and examined it closer. "Where did you get this?"

"From the edge of Equestria; and there's more." She slid in photographs of runes, all the same burned into different structures and products of nature. "Canterlot, Manehattan twice, The Crystal Empire, they're everywhere."

Sunset turned around the photograph she was handling and announced, "We have to report this, Snap."

"Buh buh buh, nuh uh. No you're not. There's a reason I called you two here and not Celestia, Luna, and the entire Royal Guard with IHT. It's because I knew you two would trust me when I say this: Twilight Sparkle came here for something else. Something only she knew."

Starlight stood up on her hooves and pointed to the windows. "Do you have any idea on what's going on out there right now? All of IHT is under threat by—"

"Imminent decomposition of all matter? Yeah, I already knew of its possibility before the news even reached IHT. There's a reason for that too, but one step at a time, ladies, please. Sit."

Begrudgingly, Starlight dropped back down into her seat.

"The reason I called you here is because you're the only two I can trust in Equestria not to rat these out. Whatever these are for, they're not to suck the life out of everything. Because, for one, they're only on Equestria."

"How can you be sure?" Sunset asked. "Did you visit the other nations in a day?"

"No. Psera's currently in the midst of an uprising. Anything Twilight related is being destroyed. Heck, they tried to assassinate her daughter when she stepped off the boat." She pointed to the corner where a display screen sat hooked up with multiple of wires. "I managed to put together a device that rigs directly into their feeds. It's weak, but it's enough. I learned a little bit of Old Pseratopian. That, and there was footage of their Elite Guard throwing Dawn into a pod and racing away from Aquata Zero. There was also footage of Arcadia's statues being pulled to the ground, her flags being burned, and the castle itself being shot at.

"Next, we have all of Twilight's Tomes being removed from Psera and The Forgotten Lands, and being delivered to Equestria. I'm sure more of Arcadia's influence is being removed from wherever else it may lie. Doesn't seem like a lot, but that's all they had in the term of Twilight's magic. Anything else either wasn't reported or cared for."

"None of that proves that these runes aren't sucking the life out of our lands."

Snap Seed wasn't here to argue. Time was running short for all of them. Lead Writer turned to her and said, "Snap. We have to get moving."

She was right. Snap sighed in discontent. "Ladies. I know this seems like a threat to ponykind. But all three of us, we either know or know of Twilight Sparkle. She doesn't like to hesitate, not if she can help it. If she wanted to destroy Equestria, she had an open window and she took that window to target the Princesses. She was winning the fight against all of us. The only reason she stopped was because Dawn returned. But if she hadn't, we would've lost. During that time, runes were being placed all over this country. A complete set of thirty two hundred that surrounded only Equestria. Twilight wouldn't hurt Equestria for revenge. Even when she had the power to do so, she targeted only individuals. During her life, never full-on countries. You and I both know she would never do that. Why now?"

Snap stood up and lightly tapped at the photographs. Her eyes pleaded with them, singing stories of a future unknown. "I'm telling you, because you are the only ones here on this continent who could possibly understand. Celestia only sees fear, Luna, danger; Cadance, pain; Shining Armor, confusion. But you two, your minds are still on straight. Twilight Sparkle is trying to tell us something. Those runes are for defense, entrapping Equestria in a circle while we move about our daily lives. Whatever that something is..."

Snap slid over another stack of documents. One she flipped open to display charts adorned with red squiggly lines slowly climbing the sheet. Live maps. "...they're being measured and a certain peak is going to activate whatever these things do. The faster we find out what these runes are for, the faster we can prepare. Just don't tell the Princesses. Then all that Twilight has done to come to this act of defense will be for nothing."

Sunset wanted to talk, to sing all the information she knew thus far. Twilight's magic was nothing to play with. With the power of this magnitude was a death sentence for not only Equestria, but anyone in sight of the power.

But Sunset was also knowledgeable of Twilight's methods. Snap was right, this crazy mare sitting in the dark. If Twilight wanted to destroy Equestria, she would've done so. If she wanted to kill the Princesses, she could've.

Sunset stood up and sneered at Snap. "We'll think about it. Nothing concrete yet. This is critical information, Snap, with an equally as critical outcome for any paths we decide to take. We have to ponder this."

"That's all I ask for."

The Senate Board had gathered in Founder's Circle. Why here? Why after mom's attack where evidence of hate rained the streets. Where Pserateps peacefully demonstrated their wishes of her own banishment? Where signs were lifted of Fresh Dawn either being kicked off Psera, or much worse. Was it to scare her? To make Dawn feel guilty for some unknown reason?"

The crowd was tremendous. Pushing up against the security gates of Founder's Circle while the escort team of the Fire Family rode in behind them. Their pods were surrounded by Guards before stepping out. The moment Fresh Dawn was in sight, their shouting grew louder, the chanting more vindictive.

Merry placed a wing over Dawn, shielding her from their hurtful words and to keep her sights focused, and guided her quickly with the guard over to the buildings across the courtyard.

"Don't listen to them," she said.

It was a struggle not to. A challenge to rid of their echoing words from her mind. To fight against their slurs, she continued pushing forward, walking through the rest of Psera's observant leaders whispering amongst themselves during the journey towards the Circle's Hall.

She rode down the escalator in between Molten and Merry, eyes forward, ignorant to the stares of the rest of their party. She had a mission to complete. A mission her mother assigned her: Save Equus; and it all would start here. In a few hours. Start the countdown.

They stepped off the escalator and walked through the damaged corridor for the hall they were needed in, filled with evidence of mother's tirade. Holes and cracks from impacts. A picture frame of father upon his throne was all that remained on the wall. Unstained, unbroken, perfect for decoration. Hopefully, it would remain that way.

She could hear the representatives voice their confusions as to why they were summoned beyond the door, way before it was ever opened by the Guards standing beside them.

All rows of the stands were occupied, filled with the powers of Psera and their respective hosts who rose to their hooves, whose sights swiveled to them upon entry. More specifically, her. Dawn could feel the heat searing into her fur, the flames of fury and confusion. They didn't understand why her presence was needed.

Molten raised her wing and guided Dawn to one of the seats underneath the Senate Board watching them. She leaned in close and whispered into her ear. "We are only here to inform and devise a plan. Remember that. Keep it at the front of your mind."

Right. That's it. Inform and plan. Dawn nodded and walked up to her place under the Senate Board, which would be under Queen Molten Ice and next to Merry Fire.

Once they were all ready, Molten spoke. "You may be seated." All of them lowered to their flanks and focused on the Fire Family. "Thank you all for coming on such short notice. A shadow plagues our nation. A shadow of fear, hate, and sadness. Queen Twilight 'Arcadia Nova' Sparkle is no longer, King Shimmering Madun rests in peace. But the last survivor of hate and fear lives, Princess Fresh Veola Dawn."

The congregation either glanced or locked on her. She met their gazes with the strength of her mother and father both.

"I am aware that many Pserateps wish for Princess Dawn not to live among us on Psera. But it is with a strong backbone that I say this: She is a filly. A child. A foal with no parents. She has done nothing to us. She is as innocent as you are in this. I am ashamed of Psera, of all of you that I have to ask of this. Leave my granddaughter in peace.

"Now, as for the reason we are here. A very important discovery has been made and unraveled that will permanently affect all of us. To explain further, I now call upon Princess Fresh Veola Dawn to take the stand."

She knew this was coming. Why come if she didn't have to speak? Dawn rose from her seat and walked around Merry for the steps leading up to the Speaker's podium. Molten nodded to her and stepped back so Dawn could take the mic and become the center of attention to the eyes of all Pserateps everywhere, or anyone watching.

"Thank you, Queen Molten Ice," she said. "Before my mother was expatriated, she left us all a message: that we made a mistake. That an ancient evil will rise, that a deep darkness would plague our lands. That her magic, services, and protection will no longer be available to any of us. She was right.

"Upon further thought and investigation, this darkness is what she has given us. It is no spell, it is no mere descant, sung by a mage. It is a process mother and I called Multifarious Transmogrification. When matter is able to change shape multiple times into multiple forms. Mother used this method constantly and taught me how to do the same, but only to an extent that allowed me to. My mother's magical skills were beyond understanding, even for me. But this skill, it is something that continues throughout life until it is disengaged."

Dawn cleared her throat. "Now, this is important for a few reasons. My mother used this skill to give us all what we have today in the form of magical energies. From decades ago when she first set hoof on Psera, this was used to give your land, food, and material to build shelter, as well as power. Multifarious Transmogrification was used to fix your homes and heal the land of all countries after Maheera Vs. The World, and magic is what it has been all this time. Even the seats you sit upon are magic, just in a different form.

"But as I've come to realize, magic is conscious. It has a mind of it's own. It follows the laws of nature, a law so ancient and overlooked that even Equestria doesn't know of this: magic can fade. It can return to its original caster if the spell will allow it. Multifarious Transmogrification is one of those spells."

One of the diplomats raised their hoof from the crowd. "What do you mean, Princess?"

"What I mean is that we have not only damned my mother, but also ourselves. By allowing Arcadia Nova to fall and exiled her away from all of our shores, this magic that she has gifted us will return to her side within a matter of hours to heal her, and there will be nothing we can do to stop it.

"All of what we have built using the material that rooted back to my mother's arrival will break down into magic and return to wherever she is, from all countries. Our Aquatas which were created by steel may be able to survive this, but that has yet to be determined."

"LIES!"

All turned to the mare who cried that word. She rose from her seat in the congregation and pointed down to Fresh Dawn. "You lie, Dawn! All of this isn't magic! It's real! This is real wood, real metal!"

"I assure you that what lies before our eyes is fake. Transmogrified to deliver the feeling of comfort and safety. What Psera had in the early twentieth century we will never truly get back. Not without serious alchemy and magical abilities."

One of the seniors sitting above and behind Dawn asked, "Would you be willing to give us such a demonstration of this Multifarious Transmogrification, Princess?"

There lied the problem. "As much as I'd love to demonstrate this skill, I cannot control that kind of magic. I can only control a different form of magic that doesn't exist here on Psera. I'm different from other ponies."

"And how is that? Last I checked, all magic was the same and had the ability to be controlled."

"May I remind you that we are here to devise a plan to contest against this imminent disaster, not contest my magical abilities. Let's stay focused, please." Dawn turned back to the congregation with a sense of urgency. "Arcadia's warning was over twenty hours ago. If she was correct, then the very place we call home will collapse before morning. We have little to no time to waste. I suggest we prepare rations and temporary homesteads. But if worse comes to worst, I'd like to propose an international migration."

Muttering and words were exchanged among the stand. A migration? Why partake in something so unimaginably large?

Molten leaned into Dawn's ear. "An international migration?"

"Just in case," Dawn whispered back. She raised her voice. "My fair Pserateps. As of this time, all options are on the table. We do not have time to waste."

One of the Pserateps, a stallion with a bushy beard, rose from his seat. "I agree with the princess. We should prepare rations and temporary homesteads immediately."

"But there is still no proof of this 'threat,'" another argued.

Oh, when will they learn? Words fly from their muzzles with little to no merit. Fueled by lies and distrust.

"The proof that you seek," Dawn replied. "...will be when ponies lose their homes, their food, their power, their jobs, their money, and, eventually, their lives. Are we willing to take that risk? We cannot possibly lose our sense of empathy and forethought as the leaders of this nation. I may be young, and be the daughter of whom many of you refer to as a traitor to Psera. But there's one thing I do know that many fail to understand. I know my mother. She doesn't lie. She doesn't misinterpret. She doesn't deliver empty threats. For the last time, trust my mother's warning that Psera is in danger. We must act quickly and not argue."

For a time, the hall was silent, filled only with the careful thought processes of her fellow race.

"I agree with Princess Dawn." All eyes turned to...Secretary Manny?! When did she get in here?!

She strolled from the rear entrance and up to the point of attention. "Through all the years I've known Queen Twilight 'Arcadia Nova' Sparkle, her word is a truth in some form or fashion. If she believes something to be a threat, then we are warned of such threat. The CPC Disaster was one such event where we all learned that even one of her smallest missteps have massive consequences. She warned us about the Zebras and a possible imminent attack from them. She was right. She warned us of a dark ancient evil that threatened the world. She was right. Now, she's warning us again, and we don't have a lot of time to react. Must we question something that has the possibility of not only critically impairing our defense, but also the imminent safety of our loved ones?"

Time wasn't on their side. Danger lurks through the shadows in an endless room full of harmless ponies who dared question against a power they fail to fully understand. Yet, here they were, doing just that, even with this threat latching at their throats, lifting them off their golden ground, and dangling them over the ledge of death, wingless.

"As much as I would love to take action," Judge Mahtoo said from the high rise. "We need evidence to make any moves. Is there anyway to measure or recognize this occurrence?"

There could be a number of ways. But, unfortunately, Dawn knew none. All she had was her mother's word, and, clearly, it wasn't enough. A word is only as good as its proof. With none, Dawn had no hope in getting this initiative in action.

"We would have to outsource to Equestria," Dawn answered. "As the apex of all magic and understanding, they would transfer any knowledge possible to observe Queen Arcadia's magic. If they could remove it, they could track it."

"Then we will have to establish contact with Equestria as soon as possible."

Yes. As soon as possible. But would soon be enough to reach their goal of security? Will soon keep them safe? Will soon keep them warm at night?

Time has never been more important than now for Equus. The term soon fell short for how much of it they had left.

Chapter 10 - Before The Thunder...

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The journey back to Ponyville was silent. Even after the battle against Twilight Sparkle, there was still always something going on. During the train ride, Sunset kept her eyes on the windows and the landscapes beyond them. Where were those runes? Sunset certainly couldn't see them. She peered long and far, eyes open and scanning every last single surface out there. Something was coming. She could feel it, more than the other three passengers on this train.

The car hit that familiar bump, bouncing her from those dark thoughts of impending doom and back into the waking sun of Equestria. The cold of winter was making her drowsy. Nearly delirious. But she knew what she heard. There were runes out there of Twilight's doing. Why?

"Stop searching."

She turned around to Starlight, sitting across the aisle buried neck-deep in a tabloid about some celebrity. "What do you mean?"

She flipped a page and sighed deeply. "Stop searching for those runes. I highly doubt we'll be able to see them from here. They're in Manehattan and everywhere else along the coast. Nowhere near Ponyville."

"I know, I know, but..." Sunset faced the window again and leaned on her hoof. "If what Snap Seed said is true, and none of them are related to her attack, then we should worry."

Starlight glanced up from her tabloid and in Sunset's direction. "Do you resent her?"

"No. I resent nopony. I just want to understand. I think it's too late for that now."

"We could always ask the Princesses."

Sunset rolled her eyes and let out a breath. "The Princesses are biased. Their words are no longer trustworthy."

The hissing of the brakes alerted them of their location. The train station, back in Ponyville. They bounded off the car and into the chill air of Ponyville. Ever since Twilight attacked, business slowly turned over a new leaf to normality. But not nearly to the point where it should be. Where it was before. The walk back to the castle was thick, albeit quick, in a desperate attempt to get out of the cold. They would only speak again when they were clear of any ears.

When the doors of the castle would shut them into the isolation of the castle. It seemed so empty now. How active it was in the past deemed it necessary for a period of silence to reflect. Strange. The girls, even Spike, fail to come here anymore. For even this was out of their comfort zone. The smell of coffee was no longer prevalent. The talk of early morning plans no longer flowed through the halls.

Silence over, Sunset walked away from the doors and up the hall with Starlight closely on her tail. "I know the Princesses know something, but they would try and bend a lie to paint Twilight in a different light. That all of her decisions weren't influenced and, instead, were at random."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because they've done it before. They blamed Twilight entirely in public, until admitting to themselves in private that they too were partly responsible. Twilight doesn't act without valid reasoning."

They walked through the castle and back into the map room. So much history was conducted here; so much accomplished. Now, it was as if life itself stood still. While the ponies, the cold air, the temperatures, even the smells moved with time outside of these crystal walls, the settling of dust was all that commuted within. As if Twilight herself was the pinnacle of change here; and without her, nothing would evolve.

Sunset and Starlight slid into the seats around what used to be the Map of Friendship. They eyed the biggest one there. Embossed with a star.

Starlight pulled her eyes away. "So, what do you think? Are we going to help her?"

"Well, I suppose it's obligatory." Sunset pointed to that chair, the one looming over the times. The one with the cutie mark of an eight pointed starburst. "She would want us to. Snap's right. If Twilight is leading with a clue, then these runes would be the first ones to check out."

"I wonder what's happening in Psera. Did they actually try to assassinate Fresh Dawn? She's only a filly. I'm beginning to think she was safer here."

"It's no doubt that she was, but her citizenship is with Psera, so she must return to Psera. There has to be a more thorough explanation. Are they even investigating?"

Starlight shook her head. "Snap said that a majority of the Pserateps are tearing down all resemblances of Twilight. Does that include her daughter as well?"

A drink was needed, and Sunset stood to seek it out. "We don't have a lot of time to ponder it. According to the Princesses, all of Twilight's magic is supposed to return tonight. We'll have to meet up with Snap again soon before that time to get a good reading. Because if those things are standing afterwards, then they may be seen by the Princesses. There's no predicting what'll happen next."

The meeting was over, and the solution was as expected. The trip back to their secure pod was filled with anxiety. Still under a Code Yellow, the guidance to their sources of transportation was rushed, yet calm. Eyes forward, focused on the target until safely inside the silence of the pod. However, despite being in the safe hooves of the Elite Guard, Princess Fresh Dawn still didn't feel any safer as she did outside of them under the burning gaze of Psera's worshippers.

The solution was simple, yet so recurrent whenever it came to magic. It made Dawn truly realize how dependent Psera has become, mother's worst fear. The tales of ancient histories that made the Pserateps appear as gods no longer applied. The only gods to ever truly grace their presence was her own mother, and Narmeelah herself, with the latter to reemerge from the darkness of death with a taste for a reset.

In a matter of ten hours, Narmeelah would show herself in some form of fashion. With mom's magic in the way, she was unable to do anything save for watch and listen. But once it leaves Psera, the truest evil in any time, in any world, on any continent would finally be unleashed upon Equus.

They had to act fast, not go through a third party. Instead, the Pserateps chose to contact the very same ponies who turfed out the only one with an actual valid answer. Dawn didn't want to talk to them. She wanted to go against them and figure this out on her own with those who claim to be the greatest on Equus. Alas, it was not the way.

So, here she sat, in a secure pod rolling through the streets watching the blue winter skies of Psera. Look at them, soaring through the air as if nothing were amiss during a Code Yellow.

Dawn shook her head and focused her sights on the ponies accompanying her back to the castle. Gardeen, typing away on her pad and Her Majesty Molten Ice talking urgently on the Comm Block.

"I don't care if they are in the middle of a snowstorm, do whatever it takes to get in contact with Equestria as soon as possible. We are running out of time." She hung up before a response could be given and smiled warmly to Fresh Dawn. "We're going to figure something out."

"There's no point." Dawn faced the window again. "Psera, and the rest of Equus, have already chosen their fate." And opened up an irreparable opportunity for the worst disaster to ever invade our shores.

"You're not telling me something, Dawn." Dawn looked back to Grandma Ice, eyeing her prey as if ready to strike.

"What do you mean?"

Grandma Ice set the Comm Block to the side and glared to her seemingly gormless granddaughter. She, however, knew otherwise. "You've been acting strange ever since you came back from the trial. Did you see something? Hear something?"

Gardeen looked up between Dawn and Molten, ceasing her typing.

"...mom told me something," Dawn admitted. "A long time ago. It involved Psera and Equus."

"What did she tell you?"

"Would you believe me if I told you?"

"I'll believe that these words came from your mother, Dawn. Now, what was it?"

Dawn turned around and faced Molten's eyes. Void of any understanding or empathy. Instead, filled to the brim they were with the ferocity of a Queen, desperate to keep her ponies safe. Her warning would be unheard, and her words cast aside as soon as they left her mouth.

"Equus is in danger and under threat by the same pony who created it."

"Narmeelah," Molten assumed.

"Yeah. Mom wasn't wrong. Narmeelah's back."

Molten say back in her seat, but her stare didn't waver from Dawn. "She's back," she repeated.

Her tone sounded almost mocking. Were they near the Castle yet? A glance to the window showed her they had a few minutes left until then they reached the gates.

"Yes," Dawn answered. "Narmeelah's back and she's trying to kill us all to free Equus from corruption. She wants to start over."

"Your mother told you this."

"I witnessed it. One of Narmeelah's Daughters, Shaoloh, tried to keep us imprisoned on that island. When we managed to escape, she did as well. While I was there, I investigated the island and came across evidence by Narmeelah herself. Her plan was to rid of all the Princesses and mom in one go by using mom herself, the action of which was presented before us almost, if not, a week ago."

"But it didn't happen," Molten retorted. "Narmeelah's plan failed. The Princesses are alive."

"...but mom isn't."

"...what?" Gardeen whispered. She looked up from her pad, eventually setting it to the side. "What are you talking about?"

Dawn's expression fell into solemnity. She closed her eyes and looked back to the window.

"Mom and I have this empathic connection. I could always feel her emotions, and she mine. After she was extradited, I lost connection shortly after. I could feel her all my life, but now... There's a hole inside where she used to be."

Dawn's hoof lifted and grasped at her chest. An emptiness, a void. Those emotions that defined her purpose was no longer there. Where a thickness occupied was now filled with a feather-like existence.

"Mom...she's not with us anymore." Dawn looked away from the window with tears in her eyes. "She's with dad now. That gives Narmeelah her open window; and it all starts when mom's magic leaves this place."

Molten crossed her hooves. "When your father was alive, he would tell me about the emotions you and your mother shared. I figured it was only a standard connection between mother and daughter."

"No. This is more. I could almost read mom's mind. That's how close we were. I would know exactly what she was thinking without even looking at her. But she's gone now. Now, we're all in trouble. The only pony who could even stop Narmeelah is dead because of all of you."

"Dawn, that's not fair."

Dawn steeled her gaze and narrowed her eyes. "Neither was it fair to keep me from seeing her until you kicked her off Psera. It wasn't fair for me to be shot at and almost killed. It wasn't fair for me to be kidnapped by Zebras. And it isn't fair for me to face hate and ridicule as a filly after all of it. I think I reserve the right to be unfair."

"Dawn—"

"Don't talk to me." Dawn turned away from Molten and out the window. Despite it being just about the end of the world, Dawn couldn't wait for the lights to go out. Then, for once, she would be right. She'd certainly be more than just her mother's daughter. She'd be the pony who warned Psera that danger was near, the pony they ignored.

The castle could not creep closer fast enough.

So, they were actually doing this? Following the lead of that excitable pony? She spoke so fast it were nearly impossible to follow her words exactly, let alone understand what she was speaking about. But there were a few keywords Sunset and Starlight did understand.

Twilight. Runes. Plan. Even beyond her banishment, she was still out there protecting them. The question was, why?

Bags? Check. Gear? Check. Sunset burst through the entrance to the castle of Ponyville and back out into the noisy air of Equestria. The birds sang their daily songs, the wind blew their tunes into the airs of any who dared listen. Life was slowly beginning to return to normal. At least, that's what Sunset heard. Maybe it was a trick of the brain, placing sounds into her mind that were never there.

The slamming of the door behind them brought Sunset back out of her reminiscences. She was joined by Starlight, gazing into the distant city of Canterlot, a kingdom upon a mountain.

"Are we going to the train station?" Starlight asked.

"No need!"

A very birdlike shriek expelled from the back of Sunset's throat. She and Starlight whipped around to face the source of their sudden visitor. The one lying back in a beach chair and drinking from a bottle with a pair of sunglasses on facing the blue afternoon sky, accompanied by her assistant next to the door. As if time were on their side.

The straw popped from between Snap Seed's lips followed closely by a relieving sigh.

"It's about time you two came out," she said. "Before you ask, yes, I've been waiting. I followed you back here because I knew you'd say yes. Besides, our being here will prevent you from taking quite the pointless trip."

Sunset wanted to be mad, but how could she fight against a valid point? Instead, her response was a stare, the likes of which were unwavering, dangerous to approach.

Starlight quickly cleared her throat to disperse this tension. "Why are you here exactly? Why meet us back at the castle?"

"It's too late in the evening." Snap Seed rolled out of her chair and into the grass. It folded automatically and into a shape to allow easy carry. "While we're investigating, Twilight's magic is going to leave Equestria. The runes in Canterlot and Manehattan are up high. So, one, if that building collapses, we'd be near it and nopony wants that; two, we have to travel further east, into the woods. There's no point in staying in Canterlot; and three, if the princesses or IHT decide to investigate, and we're seen near these runes, things could go down that we don't want to go down. You get my drift, ladies?"

Answering to IHT isn't a wish they want granted. Answering to the Princesses wouldn't be good. But there was still one question Sunset wanted recognized.

"What rune are we going for then?" She asked.

Snap Seed pointed behind the castle. "It's in that direction. Near the cliffs. We have to move fast; we're running out of time. Let's go."

Their journey began at a gallop behind the castle, leading into the woods until they were out of sight and out of mind. Was it traitorous to investigate that of which had the possibility of killing them all without permission from higher authority? If so, then Sunset feared for their safety upon them finding out.

Fine. Don't listen to her. But she was no foal. Not anymore. Dawn didn't need any figure to watch over her, treat her like some kind of fragile being. Dawn was more than that.

After arriving within the safe walls of the castle, Dawn went up to her room and waited. She and First Light had a plan, and it involved more ponies. Those she hasn't seen in months, who believed she was dead.

She watched the door from under the bed sheets. Ears up and listening in. Counting the time as it ticked slowly by. Tick, tock, tick, tock.

"What are we waiting for?" First Light asked.

"The right moment." Dawn pointed to the ceiling. "Grandma tends to her garden at five every evening. And she stays up there for two hours."

"That's very unhealthy."

"Regardless, we'll be able to hear when she moves up the stairs down here. When she's in and settled, we'll move."

"And how do we know she won't look for us?"

"We don't. Which is why we have to move quickly." The plan was last minute. But experience and study would make up for what was certainly reckless actions. Dawn was anxious. Her tail swished along the floor. Her fur shivered. The cold of winter seeped through the castle walls.

A creak. Small, almost unheard. But it was there. Dawn tracked the sound with her ears and eyes. Until they pivoted off and faded away. She was in the greenhouse.

"Now?"

"Wait." Too early and grandma would know that they were moving, arousing suspicion and a reason to watch. Wait until she's watering, and she'll be so in her zone that a simple creak downstairs would be happily ignored. Time ticked by too slow. One minute and Dawn was squirming. Two, and a small sweat appeared upon her brow. Her eyes narrowed at the clock, her enemy. Why must it be so unwavering. No matter what would happen next, time would never waver, no matter how much one pleaded. Oh why, clock? Why must you toy with the innocent lives of those who depend on you?!

"Dawn, we've been waiting for four minutes, can we please go?"

Oh. Well, would you look at that. Time listened for once. Dawn teleported away from the bed as fast as she could and into the foyer of the suite. It was silent, enough to convince Dawn that Molten was neck-deep in fauna.

With that thought in mind, Dawn walked to a shadow in a darkened library and slid inside slowly. Danger was now a barrier they needed to consider. Not just Narmeelah or Shaoloh. The latter would be considered after Arcadia's magic departs. But of their own home. The castle inside.

Dawn slid out the other side of the shadow to arrive where she wanted to. Her family's old suite. Where mom used to read to her, and Dad would help her get ready for meetings with executives. Now, it was a shell of what is used to be, a safe haven. A cocoon of comfort. Instead, it permeated dread. Beauty was left behind for a new slate. A sign of what was to come.

"We can't sit here all day, Dawn," First Light regarded.

"I know. Just wanted to think back to a normal time before things got out of control again."

Dawn cautiously creaked open the door and peered out. So far, so good. It was clear. It wouldn't look good for the castle staff to see her coming from her previous home. Dawn stepped out and into the silence of the Royal Suite. Like an ocean, it swept her up threw her back into memories. They even took the little swing set mom made just for her many many years ago. Now, it was a slab of rock and sand.

On timid hooves, eyes narrowed forward, Dawn rushed around and up to the entrance of this abandoned world. She grabbed one of the doors' handles and slowly pulled downwards. It gently creaked in, allowing her to peek out. The lights of the offices beamed out into the hallway, shining bright into her eye.

Someone was walking her way before turning into an office. She has to be careful. She tipped out the door and into the hall. Were there any shadows?

Dawn scanned the hallway. So far, light covered every surface. Tables were non-existent in this region of the castle due to this area being restricted from tourism. That made it a little difficult.

Shadow teleportation it was then.

Dawn cautiously took her next step out into the hall, listening out for anything that could spook her. Oh, she wish she knew a spell that could turn her invisible. Was there even such a thing? Invisibility?

Mom would know. Would've known.

Dawn stopped at the office of that pony and teleported to the other side of the entrance, out of sight. In, out, in, out, until finally, she arrived at where she wanted, no, needed to be. Labeled by a golden plaque, the situation room served as the smallest-most-powerful brain in all of Psera. Connected to the information center of Psera's Office of Defense, whatever they had there, they had here as well.

"What are you doing?"

Dawn froze and whipped around to face Gardeen, watching her from a nearby hallway. At least it wasn't her assistant. She was carrying a notebook, wearing a pair of reading glasses and that castle access badge.

Dawn looked back to the door then her sister.

"Look," she said. "We can't just sit around all day and do nothing about this."

"We?"

Dawn pointed to her head. "First Light and myself. Once mom's magic is gone, we have to act fast, or else Narmeelah's going to tear us a new one. So I need to get in contact with someone."

"You know, if you wanted contact information—"

"And," Dawn interrupted. "I need some classified information. Excuse me."

"Wait, Dawn I don't think—"

Dawn opened the door and lead herself inside, effectively shutting and locking Gardeen out of the situation. Here she was, the brain of Psera. Another subtraction from the areas of the castle she's never stepped hoof in before. The situation room. All the comp systems were connected to the table, small slabs of glass with a larger one at the head, where her parents would sit, the late king and Queen of Psera.

"Finally," First Light whined. "It took forever just to get here."

"Sorry for wasting your time." Dawn slid into her mother's chair and slapped on their system. The screen, covered in dust. A sweep of the hoof rectified the matter quickly. Now she could see. Doesn't housekeeping come in here anymore?

Come on, hurry up. Finally! Fully booted! Dawn quickly tapped away. Would her mother's login still work? Only one way to find out. She slowly tapped it in, then cautiously submitted the key. Boom, yes! On a side note, why was this still in the system? Anyone could get in here. It's a backdoor to highly sensitive information! Secretary Manny needs to be informed.

But only after Dawn streaks some information.

Digging, constantly sifting through endless folders and wikis. As convenient as it was to find information on Psera's networks, finding these kinds of files certainly took time. Dawn wasn't sure how much more she could take. She wiped her brow and glanced up to the door.

"I'm sure it's cool," First Light assured.

"Confirming that would be helpful," Dawn replied. But even she knew they didn't have time to waste looking for eyes. They had work to do. She clicked around some more, watching the files fly by. Back and forth until finally...

Dawn stopped and narrowed her eyes. DON. What does that stand for? Dawn clicked on the folder and opened a plethora of documents. All titled the basics of numerical filenames. One, two, three, four, so one and so forth. Strange.

Dawn glanced up to the door then clicked on one. The document downloaded into a temp folder and then opened. Boom.

"Yes," Dawn whispered. It was The Diary of Narmeelah. Buried so deep it took her almost an hour to find it. Dawn quickly skimmed through, much of which she already knew. As if mom herself wrote this. She probably did. Dawn exited out of the file and into another one.

"Finally," First Light decreed.

They reached it, the security diagram. Dawn hummed in thought. She would need a copy of this. Was there a printer? Yes, there, in the corner. A second later and she had three copies. Now that that was done, Dawn turned to another task that would take merely a fraction of the time it took to find those files. thirty-three minutes, are you serious?

Dawn quickly exited the files and swiftly opened a new tab. Typing in a link she accessed the castle's references to find a specific pony in Psera. Erikia Malnoro Torue. There had to be only one, right?

Wait... There was four?! Ugh. Dawn snipped their addresses and pasted them into another printed document. Then logged off, and teleported back to the room. Time was running out. Numbers that would ignite a war between her and Narmeelah were close to falling to zero.

Chapter 11 - ...There Must Be Lightning

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The sun dipped below the horizon. Long shadows cast from the trees, painting the world beneath their treading hooves in the colors of anxiety and dread. Sunset figured that if Twilight's magic would return, it would be late into the evening, just to the point when all ponies would bed themselves for the next day. That time was really close, and they have been walking ever since they left ponyville, about two hours ago.

The smell of nature and the humidity of the forest that would blanket any creature walking through in a comforter made of serenity now blasted Sunset in the face with dread and anxiety. They didn't have nearly as much time as they suspected to research.

They were nearing a hill, too tall to see what was over.

"How much further?" Starlight asked.

"Seriously," Lead subconsciously agreed. As if in a trance she merely followed behind in a trot of trust. Bustling her way through brush and heat for merely a suspicion.

Snap Seed smiled over her shoulder. "No further, my friends. For we have arrived."

Snap Seed bounded over the hill and into a darkening clearing, aglow with only the faintest of violet. Sunset and Starlight's hooves ceased their movement, standing stock still. A cool winter breeze flowed into their faces. It's origin unknown; whether it originated from the elements of nature, or from the massive rune-embossed stone monolith standing before them, circled closely by small particles of violet light and magic.

"Stars above," Sunset whispered. This was real. This was actually happening. She could feel the magic tickling her horn. A small orb passed across her features. Her eyes failing to move off this form of hidden luxury.

"We have to hurry." Snap's voice brought Sunset back to the present. She was pulling out familiar tools and equipment from their bags. "Lead? How much do we have?"

Lead popped open a case hosting a large device. "Less than an hour."

"Then we have to hurry."

Yes. Yes, hurry. Sunset broke from her trance and walked through the field of circling orbs. Straight off the bat, she could already tell one thing.

"It's holding a lot of magic." She pointed to the balls of neon floating around. "There's so much magic here in this thing that it had to force some outside of its form to hold anymore."

"Is it possible that this is Equestria's magic?" Snap asked.

"That depends on if Equestria actually has its own magic." Starlight looked to the starry sky. "If what I am hearing is true, then all of what we see, all of magic, all of nature, all of our materials we received after Twilight gave up her life to serve in Narmeelah Vs. The World, all of that is her magic."

"Yes, but what about this monolith?" Snap trotted up to it and tapped against its surface. A violet ripple appeared briefly.

"If the magic in the monolith and the world are connected..." Sunset walked forward and pressed her hoof against its surface. "There's only one clear way to find out. There's nothing we can do, Snap. We'll have to measure and compare events."

They had to wait until the inevitable. Sunset tilted her head back to face the sky. The time was near. Twilight's magic would soon return to her; and only time would tell what that would entail.

Dawn had to act quickly. Under the light of the setting sun, she took off away from the castle, soaring from the balcony and out into the air on the same level as Psera Skies. Hidden by a housecoat the color of her mane, she graced the skies with her presence and rode the wind in the direction of Capita. The lights of the night were slowly showing their heads. She, merely a dot in the sky, watched them pink the land below with their beauty, shall it last evermore.

Dawn pulled out her document and read the lines. Based on the address, she should be near the Main Hospital in all of Psera. The biggest building here. At least in the city. History was never her strongest subject, especially if it never involved her.

There. Dawn angled downwards and landed in a dark alley. Two ponies, loud and uncaring walked past the entrance. She waited until their voices faded before moving. Sticking to the shadows, Dawn cautiously approached the front of the alley and peeked out.

"Are we there yet?" First Light queried.

"Almost." Dawn jumped into a shadow and out of another alley further up the road. Thank the stars grandma didn't put that ring around her horn. It would have been the end of this mission before it even began. A radwood Pod was driving up the roads with a few ponies sitting in the bed. The headlights passed over her form before moving along. She pulled the map out of her coat and unfolded its contents. Just around the corner. Suite two-forty-seven. That was the second floor. She would need to get to the roof for this one.

Dawn flapped her wings and flew up to the rooftop of an adjacent building. From here she would be able to see where she would need to go, and get there easily. But she was also exposed for all eyes to see. At least she had her eyes on the target. The building next door. It looked like an office. She knew it was anything but.

Brick and mortar, a shared home. The inhabitants inside have seen enough of that for a lifetime. Careful not to be seen, Dawn glided over to the nearest window and landed softly on a ledge belonging to a brightly lit room. Infiltrating this facility was going to be a lot harder than infiltrating SERL, that was for sure.

"Teramera!" Someone shouted inside. "Get away from my stuff!"

"It's not yours, its the orphanage's'!"

Thank the stars Dawn was an only child. Almost.

"I heard that."

"I know," Dawn murmured. She teleported from one window to the next. This one had its blinds open, allowing the room's occupant to stare out into the night. Well, would be were the filly inside not admiring her vanity in the mirror. Dawn saw her reflection. So did she.

With a gasp, she whirled around to see a vacant spot where something just was. She trotted to the window and stared out into the night, missing Dawn's figure embossed, frozen to the wall above the frame. With a shrug, they turned around and walked back to the mirror.

"We're playing a dangerous game," First Light whispered.

"No, I'm playing a dangerous game. You're hiding in plain sight." Dawn crawled along the wall, passing over the bedroom onto the next one. Please let this be here. Or at least near it. She peeked in and scanned the space.

This room was darkened. No lights on. Good. Dawn slipped into the shadows and came out the other side into the bedroom. The first thing noted was the smell. That was most certainly a prolific perfume. A very familiar one. The second thing noted was that the occupant had their own bathroom. She didn't see the rest of the rooms with this. Must've been nice.

The bathroom light was on. Waves of harmony flowed through the cracks with the sound of splashing water. The shower. Just to be sure, Dawn checked around the bedroom and found exactly what she was looking for. A picture of her, Dusty, and Kia. This was Kia's bedroom.

What was she doing taking a shower so late in the evening? Was this normal for her?

The rushing water stopped, but the humming continued. Dawn ducked into a corner on the same side of the bathroom and kept quiet. There she was. It's been so long since she's seen her that Dawn's almost forgotten what she looked like. But now, it was nearly impossible to forget. The way her white coat shimmered with the sheen of moisture. The way her hair stuck to the side of her face, her walk of purpose. Was this what Gardeen found enjoyable about the feminine figure? Was it wrong to fantasize what it would feel like to...

"You choose now to question your sexuality?" First Light asked incredulously.

Right stay on flank. Track. Stay on track. How to get her attention? Dawn could do this the old fashioned way by just calling out. But knowing Kia, she would scream or make a loud noise that would attract attention. Then again, she'd do that anyway. That left only one option. They would have to go somewhere else.

Dawn lowered herself down into a predatory state and slowly stalked out the corner. Kia grabbed a towel and wiped her face. She batted her yellow eyes in her vanity's mirror and stroked her mane back from her face, flashing it with a pearly smile. No hoofstep was heard, no shuffle detected. Only when a towel was thrown over her head did Kia freeze in fright.

Dawn wrapped her hooves around her neck. Then, before she could shriek, teleported away with Kia in her hold. The only place she was sure they would never be found would be the last place she would ever set hoof ever again. But like a beacon in the night, this was the only location she knew of that would be invisible to any interested eyes. The timing was perfect. In the middle of the night, the Everfree Forest was just about abandoned. Whether these Equestrian woods were dangerous or not had yet to reveal itself.

However, if they were, Kia's shriek certainly would bring some kind of attention.

"Get off of me!!" Dawn teleported to the side. Kia bucked at the air in a circle, fighting wildly against the bond of her captor. "Don't you buck with me! I'll put you in the ground personally!!"

Ugh, eyeroll. "Kia, take the towel off your head."

That voice. Kia stopped fighting and yanked it to the ground. Her eyes met the mare of her dreams and nightmares filled with disbelief.

"...Dawn?"

Dawn smiled and waved. "Hey, Kia."

"Dawn!" Kia ran up and pulled Dawn into a hug so tight, she was lifted off of her hooves and into the air. Her face was squished into her chest. Relief flooded the both of them. A family broken apart by war was once again forged by love. Dawn needed help in many things. Having and sustaining a friendship was one of them. Oh, if only mother were still here...

After a time, Kia let her go and circled her.

"Are you okay?" She asked. "Were you hurt?! I saw everything!"

She grabbed Dawn's face and looked deep into her eyes. "When you came back those crazy ponies were shooting at you! Psera has lost their minds!"

Ugh, leave it to Kia to throw reality back into her face. But Dawn couldn't help but smile at Kia's rather overprotective nature.

"Kia, I'm..." Dawn slid Kia's hooves away. "I'm fine. It's been a long ride; and this trip isn't over. I need your help."

What? Kia pointed to herself. "You need my help?"

"Yeah. This is going to sound a little nuts. But I promise all of this is the truth. Think they'll check up on you back in the facility?"

She waved her hoof back in the direction of what she assumed to be the orphanage. "Nah. They don't really look in on the older kids and give us our space. They'll probably poke in at around ten."

"Make it sooner. I have no choice but to make this quick. It all started with me melting..."

Ten Minutes Later

Dawn needed water. After a story like that even Odega's throat would've been parched. Through her recollection of events spanning from losing consciousness up to this point, Kia remained silent. Choosing only to listen rather than comment, despite the many questions floated through her mind.

Narmeelah's return, Queen Arcadia being setup from behind the scenes... There was just so much to cover.

Once Dawn stopped talking she stretched her wings and looked to the starry sky of Equestria.

"Now, we have to worry about mom's magic," she said. "It's supposed to return sometime tonight."

Kia followed her face up to the night. "Is there anyway to stop it?"

"It's inevitable. With mom gone, her magic is sure to follow. She can't even stop it."

Dawn sighed and rose back to her hooves. "And with Narmeelah on the prowl, that leaves all of us unprotected. But I have a plan."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Narmeelah's Diary; she's looking for it. I'm sure Narmeelah could do without it, but if mom is right, then there would be information in there about where to find these Wells."

"Okay. Then all you need is the diary."

"Yeah. I know where it is. Mom hid and secured it pretty well. I can get it out."

Kia took a deep breath and looked around. "Where even are we?"

"...Equestria. The woods; I forgot what they were called. No Psera officials will be able to find us here. The only ponies I'm worrying about right now are the princesses. As for Psera? My worry will come in time."

They let the chirps of the crickets overcome their conversation. The smell of the night, the lights of Equestria in the distance...

"You know what's crazy?" Kia smirked to Dawn. "We came a long way since we were foals."

"I'll say." Dawn backed off and playfully slugged Kia's chest. Wow. Surprisingly hard. "Have you been working out?"

Kia laughed and rubbed the back of her neck. "No, I just lift a lot at work."

Whoa, what? Kia works now? "What do you do?"

"Construction."

Dawn grinned and winked in her direction. "I'm most certainly going to need your help in rebuilding Psera once all of this is over."

"I'm sure it won't be that bad. Right?"

"We're going up against the God of the planet, Kia, and mom's magic made up half of it. She's out of the picture now. Bad isn't even putting it lightly. Hold on to me. I'm getting you back home."

Kia wrapped a wing around Dawn's petite stature. "What about you?"

"I won't be getting any sleep tonight. The world is going to collapse soon. I'll be too busy preparing with Grandma to figure out damage control."

"At least you have a plan."

Yes. A plan. So far, Dawn only has one solution: heist the Diary and run. As for stopping Narmeelah...

Dawn stopped thinking and teleported back to Psera. They were running out of time.

With the night brings with it the recklessness nature of creatures everywhere. Where the seemingly relaxed can finally let go of all inhibitions in favor of inebriation and a good time. Of course, there was such a thing as inappropriate behavior that could get a pegasus stallion thrown out of a Manehattan Night Club.

His gray coat soiled with the bruises of assault, he landed into the abandoned streets beneath the hundreds of eyes watching from above, a forest of structures making up the city.

"And stay out!" The doors were slammed shut, and he was alone, once again, in the cool night air. He pulled himself up, and stumbled to his hooves, pointing at the building.

"You gon' need me, Berry!" He shouted. "You gon' need me soon!"

Toss him in the streets, will they? Fine. Fine! Be that way! He reached into his wing and pulled out a canteen, gulping down its remaining contents in one swallow.

"Good luck with your new boyfriend, Berry! He never gave you what I gave you! Safety, protection! He worth nothing! What you gonna do without a roof?!"

So focused was he on the club, did he fail to notice the anomalies happening down the street. Lights flickering, tree limbs snapping. Finally, an entire block's worth of power cut, bathing a section of Manehattan in shadows. Followed by another. Then another, inching closer to his position.

The stallion took another swig and began walking away. Berry'll come to her mind soon enough. Then she'll be right back. He stopped to take another sip and closed his eyes. Upon opening them once more, he met darkness and the worried calls of the club.

He rotated around in awe. The entire street and the buildings on it have lost power, throwing Manehattan headfirst into a blackout. He could hear the drops happening elsewhere, into other regions.

Ponies began filing out the club, out the towers, out into the majesty of sight staring wondrously to the sky and murmuring what lied on their minds.

"What's going on?"

"No idea."

Strange. Wasn't all of this powered by magic? So why was it going out?

Luna could detect it. From the Dream Realm she could feel their emotions, see their worry before the dream was cut in favor of reality. Something was happening. This pattern, she's seen it before.

Luna opened her eyes and rose to her hooves. From a balcony she overlooked the city of Canterlot watching the movement below. Something was wrong. A strangeness in the air.

Luna walked back into the castle with purpose, passing the stoic expressions of the guards of the night taking post among the castle's halls. She could feel the danger, urging her to quicken her pace.

"Celestia!" She called. Upon reaching her room, she barged her way in.

Celestia was lying in her bed, sleeping away the frustrations of running a country for a single moment. It was interrupted by a rapping to her head.

"Celestia, awaken!"

Celestia rose to her hooves and looked around. "What? Where? Luna, what is wrong?"

"Do you not feel that? Something is wrong."

Oh, stars above... Celestia dropped back to bed and closed her eyes. "Oh Luna, I feel nothing but the warm embrace of these comforters."

Ugh. Luna grabbed hold of the comforters and pulled them from Celestia's body. "I'm serious, sister. Something is wrong. Ponies in Manehattan are awakening following a strange behavior of clear worry. Something is happening in Manehattan."

A shattering glass snapped Celestia's eyes open and pulled Luna's attention. They were directed to the hallway where a window had burst, leading to the outside world.

Strange. Apart from that, there seemed to be no sign of foul play.

Celestia and Luna shared a glance before darkness basted over Canterlot. All at once, the lights went out. Candlelight exchanged for wisps of gray smoke. The castle was washed in the blue of Luna's moon, the homes below in shadows. A sea of black.

"Will you listen now?" Luna asked.

"...Twilight's magic," Celestia whispered. "It's happening."

Chapter 12 - Boom

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Dawn couldn't sleep. Not with the weight of the situation pulling at her heart, leaving First Light to their shared body. The dark was her thing, her only time of day where she had full control, so to speak. It was important to her, and Dawn couldn't deny her the right to live.

Their observation was taken to an abandoned area of the castle, Dad's old garden. The one she used to run through as a kid. Reaching the point of neglect, Dawn could make out among this tragedy specks of life, an attempt to continue one of her father's many legacies.

"Grandma." First Light took over the body and sat amongst what was once beautiful. A shadow of darkness lying among dead flowers.

"What's the plan Dawn? How are we heisting that book?"

"Easy. We seep into the darkness of the night tomorrow. We can't go in alone. We'll be needing backup." Sounded reasonable. "You're worried. I can feel your anxiety."

"Are you not?" First Light rose back to her hooves and traversed the garden. "You and I know what this will imply. It's all going to come to light. That and..." First Light raised her wings and rotated her body. "Look around you, Dawn. Everything that we have ever read, everything that has brought us to where we are amounts to this moment. Ever since mom first arrived on Psera, she investigated Narmeelah's involvement. Everything that we have ever known to keep us happy and safe will be a threat in mere minutes. How are you not worried?"

"I am." First Light plucked a red rose hanging on to life up to her face. "But I can only take one step at a time. We cannot save all of Psera. We called for help and it never came. It's all on us now."

A shame, truly. The life of a great country now rested in the hooves of a single pony possessed by two spirits because their leaders refused to listen. After being changed to yellow, the PDSSC was cycled back to green, as if all were okay. She could see the glow from here.

First Light teleported out of the garden and up to the castle's rooftop, away from observant guards to see the might of Psera and all her cities. From the lowest points to the heights of...

"Oh no. First Light, we have a problem."

First Light glanced to the guards. "And what would that be?"

"Psera Skies." First Light directed her sight up to the one out of the twelve floating cities of Psera, occupied by hundreds if not over a thousand Pserateps each.

"What about them?"

"The buildings are floating on clouds because of mom's magic. Without that magic, they're going to fall right through those clouds."

Oh no. "Right on top of their underlying cities."

They couldn't wait. First Light cycled back into Fresh Dawn who then teleported back to Grandma's suite. The halls, kitchen, and rooms were lit by small atmospheric lights, just enough to give off a glow.

"Grandma!" Dawn ran through the hall and to Molten Ice's bedroom. She burst through the door, startling Molten enough to flap her wings under the covers and sit up irately.

"Stars above, Dawn, what has gotten into you?!" She shouted.

Ignoring that, she stopped at Molten's bedside and rose on her hooves. "We have to evacuate Psera Skies! The only thing that's keeping them afloat is mom's magic! Once that leaves, they're going to fall!"

"Dawn, it is too late into the night for this." She grabbed the comforter and threw it back over her head before the humming of the power cut, bathing her room in darkness.

Molten peeked out. Weird. The only thing aglow were Dawn's eyes scanning the room, thanks to that bucket of magic in her. She slinked out of bed and to her hooves. Dawn created a small bead of light above her horn..

"Power's out," Molten said.

"No," Dawn denied. "The magic's out. As in out of here."

The event was early. Dawn trotted out of the room with Molten on her hooves before the door to the suite opened. Per protocol, the Guard were ready, standing by saluting with flashlights dancing around the suite.

Dawn and Molten walked past and out into the great hall. From the stained glass windows, Dawn could make out...nothing. Shadows bathed across the entire castle. The only source of power was the green ambient glow of the PDSSC.

Dawn turned back around. "Take us to the foyer. Are any Comm Blocks working?"

While one guard took the lead for the emergency stairs, the First Private checked for a reading on the Comm Block.

"First Guard to Castle, does anyone copy?" They awaited a response. "First Guard to Castle... Comms are dead."

Of course. They were powered by Mom's magic solely.

They ran down the emergency stairs and out into a connecting hallway, rushing into the castle's Foyer and soon, out the doors of the castle. Cop was silent. From beyond the gates, Dawn could make out multiple figures flying out of windows to the rooftops. Pods and Radwoods lined the streets, all shut down with their operators staring in confusion. The only source of light left was the PDSSC. Accentuated by a deafening silence, the calm before the storm.

"What has happened?" Molten whispered. Dawn was tired of answering the same question over and over again.

"Your Majesty!" Gardeen, Hot Stop, and a handful of other Pserateps, no doubt Psera's Observatory Unit jogged down the stairs in a panic. In her hooves were notes fluttering with the growing wind. "Word came in seconds before the outage reached Cop. The Power Plant in Merōl experienced massive drops in Wattage."

"Is there a status for repair?"

"They can't repair what isn't there. A witness monitoring their units said that the energy contained in their batteries... It burst through and into the air. There's nothing left."

Thunder rumbled in the distance, directing their sights to the dark skies this half of Equus. Massive, violet glowing clouds were forming. The wind grew stronger, billowing manes, tails, and clothes.

"That's our energy," one of the observers stated.

"No," Dawn denied. "That's mom's magic, and she's taking it back. This is just the beginning."

True to her words, the PDSSC finally cut out, bathing Psera in a true darkness. Shouts and screams echoed through the mountain range. They had every right to be scared.

Dawn turned around and faced the growing ring of officials gathering at the bottom of the steps.

"This isn't just happening here. It's happening all over the world." Dawn faced Molten Ice...no. She faced the Castle Guard. "Get with defense and begin evacuating citizens towards Lavender. That region out there isn't overshadowed by Psera Skies."

"Including Psera Skies, ma'am?"

"Everyone everywhere has to go to Lavender. We don't have time for—"

She was interrupted by a stentorian boom. So loud, they hunkered down before turning their sights to the bright glow of magic lighting up the darkness of Cop. Violet energy expelled from the walls of the PDSSC. A thick violet mist, almost a liquid streamed into the air, snaking to those clouds.

Another building burst, lighting up their skies followed by another.

"Evacuate Psera Skies now!!!" Dawn shouted. The time for a happy Princess was no longer. The Queen wasn't taking charge. Molten had no idea what to do. Sleep was still on her mind. It was Dawn's turn to rule.

She pointed to the skies and ten Pserateps took to the air amongst this growing battlefield of magic. That solved, she turned to the rest waiting. "Get these ponies to Lavender!!! Have defense power on all Aquatas and ready a move for the sea!"

Molten cleared her throat and shouted over the explosions of magic. "Dawn, we should have everyone take cover, not run!"

"We can't hide when there's no place to hide! We have to move for Lavender! Unless you think SERL is our next best option!"

They were interrupted by another explosion in the distance. Founder's Circle, the largest blast yet. The entire structure, as well as its floors blew outwards and into the sky, floating up through the air. Dawn could make out the steel skeleton breaking down, the orange flames flowing through the air, a river of destruction forged by mistakes of the past. So big were the pieces that they overshadowed the castle during its flight, shaking the ground.

Next were the pods. Radwoods being lifted and rocketing into the air. Homes amid skyscrapers, highways, entire streets lurching their way from the dirt, flying with a destination for that massive cloud. Dawn knew that her magic would return, not that it would be this destructive.

She turned back to Molten. "There is no place safe! Lavender is our best option!"

She was right. Dawn could see it in Molten's eyes. She closed them and nodded her head towards the Castle Captain.

"Have all Ground Forces escort citizens to Lavender," she ordered. "Power on all Aquatas through auxiliaries, no magic. We are in a Nationwide Evacuation."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The ground lurched, throwing all Pserateps that weren't in the air to the ground. Gardeen grabbed Dawn by the hoof and hefted her back up. The castle. The castle was moving, yanking its way from the dirt. Dawn was flown from the ground and up into the sky. She could see the disaster from the air. Buildings that haven't entirely fallen were collapsing. Dust was rising into the air, making visibility nearly impossible.

The Castle. Stars above, the castle. It was tilting its way forward. Which meant that it wasn't lifting. Something else underneath was. But the only thing under the castle made of magic was...

"The Bunker," Dawn whispered. Grandma. She was still down there! What was she doing?!

Dawn wiggled her way out of Gardeen's hold and shouted over the chaos. "Grandma!!"

Psera was rising. She could see everything for miles either going into the sky or falling to the dirt. The air was thick with the different colors of Pseratep coats, all speeding their way out of the mountain range for the atmosphere of Lavender. Like a hive of bees, they burst out of windows and buildings. Through the high winds and dust they fled.

But Molten Ice, she stood and watched. Her home, once again, falling apart. Thanks to magic. She remained at the steps of the castle, creaking and groaning with age.

In the distance, she could make out the Psera Press, still in it's prime, the memorial of the pass press center, ropes of highways and freeways floating through the air, all crashing into each other alongside tremendous echoes of destruction that bounced their way through this valley of wealth and, otherwise, peace.

Pserateps fell from the sky, either crushed from the materials of their own creations or too fatigued to fly through the thick layer of dust. The castle was falling apart behind her, groaning loudly. Violet webs of magic speared through the ground to latch onto whatever lied beneath, yanking it up and through this historical structure. The ground broke and shattered with its rise, a large metal box slowly inching its way up through the depths of tartarus.

Dawn teleported down to her and grabbed Molten's hoof, breaking her shock-induced trance. "Grandma, we have to leave! Now!"

"No." She directed her attention back to her stubborn granddaughter. "You go. Psera needs you, Dawn. I, however, am staying here."

"What?! Aseelo mahnurka, you're coming!"

"No, Dawn!" She reached down and bit at Dawn's ear to cease her attempts. She relinquished Molten's hoof and stepped away. Tears dripped down her face and she struggled to grab hold of the tilting Earth. "It is my time. I will do what I can down here to guide the citizens to the sky, and helping those who can't. Now go." Dawn stayed rooted to her spot. "Go, Dawn! I relinquish my power to you and Merry! These ponies need you! Now go! GO!!"

The ground lurched again, shaking Dawn back to the present. With great regret, she turned around and teleported back to the air. Molten was finally alone. She looked to the stars, overlaid with dust and fire. Bodies fell from above and into the chaos left behind. Death from the skies. A Pseratep's best friend, now their enemy. Oh, if only they listened. The Pserateps were flying right into the floating debris. They couldn't see where they were going when they would take off. There was no way they would all be able to escape.

Molten could help. She ran across the yard of the castle and over the iron fence. The block under the castle was finally pulled up in an explosion of dirt, fire, and bricks. Steel beams, bricks, pieces of historical artifacts blew across the eastern region of Cop. Dawn made it out just in time. Those still on the ground, Dawn lost sight of them immediately, buried underneath weighty material and collapsing buildings.

She lost sight of Molten after regrouping with the rest of the Guard in the sky. The dust was impenetrable. No way would they be flying back through there with a hope of getting out. Not at the time. If there was anybody else there, they would surely perish with the toppling of buildings or the lack of breathable air.

It would be a graveyard in a matter of hours. Even now, a guard held Dawn in a vice grip and strapped a gas mask to her face, one of the tools use by the Castle's Guards ever since the rioting and protests began, all to kick her off Psera. Now? According to law, she was the ruling Queen. Molten Ice just swore her in under a State of Emergency.

Upon breaching the cloud layer and taking to the sky, they were met with the true power and magnitude of this struggle. The plains, all of Merōl, as far as the eye could see, the godlike hands of magic was stripping away at Psera, taking all that lied into the sky, leaving behind nothing in its wake. Buildings, grass, forests, nature, technology, life. No matter what was there, streams of violet pulled it into the evergrowing cloud of Arcadia Nova's magic.

She could see Pserateps in those streams, desperately abandoning their homes with foals in their grips en route to Lavender. Fires illuminated the sky. Plumes of smoke filled the air. An entire crystal Obelisk belonging to Psera's early detection system flew between them and lavender on its way back to its creator, spearing its way fatally through groups of Pserateps flying to the safety. Dawn could make them out, falling back through the dust in heaps, succumbing to the destructive flames claiming Psera's soil.

Dawn laid her sights back on their goal. The port in Lavender, slowly running out of Aquatas to accommodate anymore survivors. As Dawn suspected, a third of what they had was magically infused. They, too, returned to the late mistress of magic. Others that weren't fully created but held elements of magic-infused materials lied in heaps, either lying over the ocean on their sides or sinking to the ocean floor.

Now it's being pulled from the dirt, leaving behind a lifeless dusty brown. Thanks to their rushing speed, the dust lifted into the air, slowly mixing together a haze of invisibility.

"We have to lower down for safety!" Lieutenant Smalls shouted. Yes, staying in the air was a death sentence.

They slowed their speed and lowered down to the ground. Just enough to avoid all of the streams of magic shooting into the sky. They reached the port, ducking the storm of Pserateps flying desperately to get to the next available Aquata, out of the few they had left.

Upon their landing and running through the chaos, Dawn ordered, "Ensure all get on an Aquata! No living pony is to be left behind!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

Gardeen leaned down to Dawn. "What about the Diary?!"

"The safety and well being of the citizens is first and foremost! Another day for the diary; she has no idea where it is!"

Through the flames they rushed, flapping their way onto the packed Aquata Zero. Would it hold during the travels to the ocean? They reached the upper deck and burst their way into the bridge right before a massive explosion shook the waves and rocked their ship.

Dawn held onto the side as their Aqauata tilted.

"Hold on!!" Gardeen grabbed Dawn with one hoof and a rail with the other one, holding on tight before their aquata stopped dipping, slipping back into its original position.

Dawn rose back to her hooves and pushed her way through the military onto the bridge, bustling with activity.

As assumed, Secretary Manny, Generals, and a handful of Executive Defense Officers were already there, healing themselves and the wounded, checking out their tools and instruments, and reviewing plans. They rushed through the cabin shouting at each other, something Dawn was able to easily slip through thanks to her small stature.

She urgently moved for the map. "Are we able to move?!"

"We're working on it!" Secretary Manny reported. "Auxiliary Power is a lot different from magical power. It takes an average three minutes to start moving the engines."

"The sooner the better." Dawn ran back out to the deck and watched Psera fall. Did mom even realize how deep this went? How massive her magic was? How destructive it would be upon extraction?

The beauty of Psera was no more. What remained in its place was a victim of anger, circumstance, and, most of all, death. Whereas Psera used to look so peaceful in the night, now it looked like the depths of Equestria's Tartarus had been pulled up to the surface. Massive fires licked at the skies. Victims of the flames walked around in a daze, hopelessly seeking their way out until they were latched up by a Pseratep who could find it. Falling structures claimed the lives of those digging through the wreckage for sentimental belongings.

First Light took over one of Dawn's eyes to see the underworld up close and personal. "Stars above," she thought.

So many lives perishing. Losing to a war they didn't even realize they were in. This final act would free all of them, but how many lives have been lost so far because of it?

Dawn didn't even know she was crying until a napkin was held in front of her by Gardeen. She, too, had tears leaking down her face.

"Thank you." Dawn wiped her face and sniffed her tears away. She needed to be strong.

The engines of the Aquata revved to life. Alarms blared, lights illuminated the seas and the bodies floating, drowning within them.

"All engines primed!" Secretary Manny shouted.

"All Aquatas, full speed, away from shore!"

Aquata Zero lurched upon its movement. Dawn grabbed hold of the railing and held tight. The wind of the seas blew forth her mane, flooding her sight with red. It wasn't enough to hide the horrors or memories engraving within her mind.

Behind other Aquatas they left Psera. It fell apart quickly. Those who didn't make it out were consumed by the flames and destruction. Last night, they slept peacefully. This night, all of Psera wondered where they would sleep, implying that they would, or even could.

Dawn couldn't tear her eyes away. Not when Executive and Co-Executive leaders stepped out, nor her family, even when the wind proved too strong to stand in. She couldn't stop watching as their home was torn apart, and they were left adrift at sea. The waves tossed around their Aquatas, mere twigs floating in a rushing stream. Here's hoping all Aquatas remained forward bow. A mere swing off-course, port or starboard, and it would tilt into the ocean. The Aquatas behind them would slam into the wreckage. Few would survive.

The further from Psera they sped, the more attention swiveled towards survivors and priorities.

"We're low on food and drinkable water," one said.

"Multiple casualties on lower decks!"

"We're out of beds! No more room!"

"We need a count of inventory immediately!"

Dawn pulled her eyes away from the stern towards the gathering. They were freaked, ignorant of next steps.

"We're missing ponies!"

"Yeah, no kidding!

"We lost Her Majesty!"

"Enough!!" Dawn shouted. Their bickering, arguing, and vocal worries ceased in favor of the wind and cries of the victims. Their eyes were now on her. Not the strands of magic carrying what was once Psera, Equestria, and others into that massive cloud. Not the smoking land of Psera behind her. Not each other's individual struggles. She has their attention.

"We have all suffered greatly tonight," she said. "We've lost beloved family members, partners, friends, our homes, and our way of life. Right now, all creatures are equal."

She pointed to the cloud. One stream was coming from the west, Psera's. But there were many others coming from the East.

"Equestria, Prance, The Neightons, Mount Aris, Seaquestria, we are all affected by the same thing. As of this moment we all have nothing. Our destination is clear. As acting Queen—"

"Whoa, whoa, acting Queen?" Secretary Manny interrupted.

Gardeen shook her head. "Her Majesty didn't make it out."

Surprisingly enough, Merry came to her defense. "According to the articles, as well as history, if the present King or Queen is not present, and the previous ruler or rulers is or are unable to succeed until their children is of required age, either the firstborn of the King or Queen will rule in their stead at the minimum age of fifteen."

Merry laid her hoof upon Dawn's back. "That makes Princess Fresh Veola Dawn Acting Queen of Psera for at least sixty days until she is officially sworn in."

She was Queen. Stars above, this was a lot to take in one night. Then again, considering the consequences, someone had to do something. Her father already played his part, as did her mother. Now, it was Dawn's turn. She faced the scene behind her. The magic stripping away at what once was into something far worse. Far from over, Twilight ate away at Psera, tearing apart the earth, feeding it to the cloud, and leaving behind a husk.

Dawn could feel the flames of this tragedy grinding away at her soul, searing into her the memory of a world lost. Mom's magic was officially gone, never to be used again except by her, stranding them in the middle of a war against the God of Creation.

"What do we do, Your Highness?"

Dawn looked back to all of her staff. To the Generals awaiting her command, to the staff piloting the very ship she stood upon.

"We can't go back to Psera. It's become a warzone." Dawn walked through the wide birth they gave her to the front of the bridge. "But, as stated before, we're not alone. All countries will be meeting up on Equestria, I'm sure. As the apex of magic, we can learn more there and plan accordingly. So, we'll head East. Full speed ahead; there's no time to waste."

Chapter 13 - Boom, IHT

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Their ogling took the Princesses outside of Canterlot Castle alongside commanding officers staged within. Despite being powered by magic, nothing seemed to be working! Citizens were crawling their way out of their homes in curiosity. How was this even possible?

"Hmm," Celestia hummed. A flicker of energy burst into a scroll before her clueless expression. A letter from Cadance and Shining Armor, based on the coloring of the ribbon. She unrolled it before herself and Luna, casting a small light down to read more of it.

"'I hope this letter finds you better than it has found us,'" Celestia read aloud. "'The Crystal Empire has been struck without magical power. Thankfully enough, the Crystal Heart remains intact and functioning.' We're not the only ones."

Another letter found its way to Celestia's hooves, this time with a green ribbon. Followed by another and a third. Yellow ribbon, purple ribbon. North Neighton, South Neighton, Mount Aris.

Luna levitated them up but didn't have to say a word, let alone unroll the scroll.

"They're without magic," she muttered. "It's happening."

Arcadia. Her magic was slowly leaving, as Dawn told them it would. As Twilight herself told them it would; abandoning them in the darkness of the night when they needed it the most. But was it supposed to be like this? A night relinquished of nothing but its magic? Celestia was sure it would be more dramatic.

A Guard flew in from the distance and genuflected briefly.

"Princesses," They greeted. "I have come with a message from the mayor of Ponyville. They have lost touch with their magic in terms of energy supply."

A weighty lump landed on Luna's back, enough to give even her a fright. Oh, just Sky Duster. Surprisingly, she and the rest decided to stay in Equestria after the battle in an attempt to rebuild. Surely, it was to regain trust among their fellow citizens, but ponies like Sky Duster had to always be watched carefully.

"What happened?" She asked.

"Environmental magic is dropping all over Equestria." Luna lifted a scroll to her face. "We're not the only ones. These continue to come in from IHT members."

Sky Duster took one in her hoof and unrolled it. Prance. Huh, would you look at that. They had magic?

"What does this mean?"

"Nothing's confirmed, but we're suspecting foul play. Something's happening."

Five more guards flew in at the same time ponies began to panic. She could read their faces, the antsy steps their hooves were making.

Before anyone could begin talking, Celestia held up her hoof and began barking orders. "Have all Military Personnel and police in every city staged and ready. I want all hooves pounding the pavement reporting any oddities. We are not in danger as of yet, but I'd rather not take any chances."

She turned to Sky Duster with a steeled expression. "Wake up the others and get them down here." She nodded and teleported away. Stars above, Celestia hoped this wouldn't be too bad.

Sleep has never felt this good. After being deployed on a mission such as that and seeing what she has witnessed up close and personal, this was exactly what Scootaloo needed. Some time with her girls, surrounded by the caring hooves of her loved ones. Although, Apple Bloom seemed to have worked up a habit of bucking her right rear hoof whilst sleeping, Sweetie snoring in her ear she could do without, and Rainbow Dash's wings were the heater in this pile-on. Nonetheless, there was no place she'd rather be than back here in the Cutie Mark Crusader treehouse with her family, under the loving light of Luna's moon and the embrace of her three best friends.

After being kicked awake again, she closed her eyes, preparing to sleep before a tiny knock alerted her awake. Applejack was looking inside, peeking in from the edge of the doorway.

"Scoot," she whispered.

Scootaloo groaned and closed her eyes. "Yes, Applejack?"

"Someone's here to see ya'."

"Ugh, can it wait until tomorrow morning?" Scootaloo groaned, almost indecipherably.

"She said it's a national emergency."

Scootaloo tilted her head to the side to focus on Applejack.

She stepped to the side and allowed a pegasus mare to step in at the door. A pegasus with dark green eyes and a smallish stature...

Majority padded her way into the treehouse. "I would make a joke about this, but there's no time."

"Get to the point, Private"

"Orders from the top, we're on the beat." At the word, the piled ponies popped their eyes open and scrambled awake.

As soon as the words left her mouth, Rainbow Dash's muzzle pressed against hers. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! What do you mean 'on the beat?' Scoots already served her play this month."

"It's an emergency." Majority looked past Rainbow to Scootaloo. "All Serving Military are to be scouting for magical oddities. The cities of Equestria are going dark with magic, and It's not just here."

"What do you mean here?" Scootaloo trotted purposely to the doorway of the treehouse, pausing upon recognition. She could see what Majority was referring to. The cities going dark with magic. There were no lights. Whereas in the evenings Ponyville would be lit up as bright as one of Pinkie's parties but this time, there was nothing. No noise, no animals, no lights, just an eerie dark silence.

Sweetie Belle, Applebloom and Rainbow Dash joined them at the entrance, fawning in fascination, albeit weariful.

"What's going on?" Applebloom asked.

"No idea, sugarcube." Applejack pulled her sister in closer. "How about y'all come inside?"

"No," Scootaloo denied. She looked back over her shoulder in their direction. The eyes of a warrior ready for a fight. "Stay away from buildings. If magic has something to do with it, you stay away from structures. I've seen what magic can do to a building when weaponized and trust me, you don't want to be near it, let alone inside of it. Get yourselves into a clearing where we can see you."

Scootaloo turned back to Majority. She knew that look. It begged for a salute, and a salute she got. "At your word, Lieutenant."

Scootaloo trotted past her out of the treehouse with the others on her hooves, destination for the home of the Apples and the road beyond it. "Where are the others?"

"They should already be at the square."

"Any comms?"

"Nothing yet in terms of danger."

"Get back there and tell them I'm on my way. Let me grab my fatigue."

"Yes, ma'am."

They split off in different directions, with Majority flying low back to Ponyville and Scootaloo back to the Apple Household. Less than two weeks and already back into action. Jeez, she didn't even get a chance to box up the uniform for another deployment. As a matter of face it's probably right where she left it at.

Yep, lying over the back of the couch. She grabbed her clothes and donned on her equipment. Helmet, weapon, goggles, boots, watch, Comm Block.

She turned around and faced her family. Watching from the entrance. Even Big Mac.

"Stay away from buildings," she reiterated. "If magic is going crazy, you're better off away from shelter."

Rainbow wrapped Scootaloo in a tight hug, and left a kiss on her forehead. "Be careful, okay?"

"Always." She gave Applebloom, Applejack, Sweetie Belle, even Big Mac tight embraces embossed with love before rushing out the door.

Her journey led her into Downtown Ponyville. Deployment was active. Soldiers were walking the streets with lights tapered to their foreheads while citizens stayed inside, watching through the windows from the comforts of their homes.

Silent Sound stood at the ready, waiting for her arrival. Majority Green, as uppity as ever. Mixed Candies, as interesting as life at night could get. Silent Sound's Weapon Specialist. She's shaking again. Nerves.

Private Red Mass. Eyes trained forward, he looked past Scootaloo in favor of what he could do to whoever decided to even set hoof in Ponyville with evil intent.

Tough Watts, a pegasus stallion with a coat as blue as the evening sky. Medical officer, ready to move.

Upon approach, all military saluted. "First Lieutenant!"

"As you were. Has anypony taken on the Everfree Treeline?"

"Not yet, ma'am,"

"We're taking it. Majority? Mixed? In the air. I want eyes in the sky and behind us."

"Weapons?" Mixed Candies asked.

"Probably not. This is a scouting mission. No need for—"

A boom sounded off in the distance. Loud enough to be heard from Canterlot. The ponyville train station. It was tearing itself apart and lifting from the ground into the sky in pieces. As if sucked away by a tornado. But nay, this was no tornado. The material broke down into a fine neon violet mist that flowed into the air over Ponyville, illuminating the sky with a destination behind those rolling hills for Las Pegasus. Magic.

Celestia could see the event from here, one of Canterlot Castle's many balconies. What in all the stars? A large cloud was forming in the distance. Flashing purple with lightning.

Another building, this time in Canterlot was uprooted in pieces. Ponies screamed and ran in the opposite direction before another met the same fate.

Equestria was being torn apart. Attacked from the air, they were losing all they had. Each blink of the eye was another structure before statues, the ground, even the grass was threatened and stolen by the loud stentorian strikes of Twilight's calls. That's right, that's what this was. Twilight was stripping their lands of her magic given to them after Maheera vs. The World.

Celestia teleported to the ground when ponies rushed out of the castle. She pointed to the citizens.

"Get them away from...everything!" She barked. "Sky Duster!" Sky Duster teleported into sight at the same moment lightning strikes lashed out from above, grabbed hold of the world beneath them, and lifted it into the sky, regardless of who was still in it. They could see ponies climb their way out of its grip and fall to the destruction happening below. Where fire, flames, and vibrations rocked the city to its core. Standing became nearly impossible.

"Create a shield!" Celestia ordered. "Big enough for all of Canterlot to hide in! Sun Waves, help her!"

A building blew into the air, as well as its debris. Entire structures were floating through the sky, carrying itself to those violet glowing clouds on roads of magic. This was happening in every city in every country around the globe. Celestia shouldn't have been surprised, yet, stoicism was impossible. They were dealing with Twilight Sparkle, the Mistress of Magic. Even beyond the supposed grave, her power was unmatched.

The bright oranges of fire ate away at the body of Canterlot, leaving behind a cancer of flames. Something that Equestria has never experienced. The acts of war with no hope of retaliation. Despite teleporting around to other ponies to gather them underneath Sky Duster's shield of magic, Celestia, Luna, military guards, all of them could only save but so many lives.

Celestia took high to the skies and watched the world around her fall. Manehattan was already undergoing their own changes. A bustling metropolis was turned into a beacon of light, gracing the skies with the smoke of disaster. Ponyville was slowly reaching the point. She could see the grass going up. Violet wisps lined the air, carrying with it materials that were no doubt created with Twilight's magic.

An entire apartment still occupied with a mare drifted past her face. Trapped inside, she banged against the glass windows for attention, for help.

Celestia speared up to the window and bashed the glass apart with one hoof. "Come, filly!"

She reached in and scooped out the mare by the barrel and teleported back down to the shield. She pushed her inside and focused back on the fall of Canterlot. Oh faust, what could they even do? The sky was turning orange with fire, smoke was plaguing the air, the crashing and bashing of collapsing buildings was a step up in terms of volume from the screaming ponies gathering within the shield they managed to put together.

Luna was ushering ponies from deep within Canterlot towards the castle the only structure that had yet to succumb to Twilight's posthumous strikes.

Perhaps she spoke too soon.

Loud creaking and groaning slowly drew their eyes behind them. Through the fence and gate, the magic grabbed hold of the castle walls. Violet cracks appeared along the surface, webs of imminent destruction snaking through stone that would surely rain down upon them shall they continue standing here.

Celestia turned to the remaining powerful ponies. "If you have a horn, help me strengthen this shield!" She shouted.

There was no way all these ponies could make it out. Canterlot had fallen in a matter of minutes, Manehattan before them, and who knows where else was being taken apart.

Luna, Celestia, Sky Duster, and Sun Waves banded together and raised their horns. Together a beam of light released into the air and ascended into the sky, a white stream more pure than the magic doing away with what was left of Equestria. A white shield cascaded a dome over all the gathered inhabitants and survivors at the same moment the castle gave way.

With a tug, the walls were pulled free of their structure. Debris spewed through the air beneath a thundering crash, echoing from the mountain and onto remaining cities.

Destruction, fire, tragedy filled Celestia's sight before darkness filled her vision. Their home for centuries was no longer. In a matter of hours, Equestria would have nothing. These ponies behind them, cowering in fear stood their ground with nothing to hold on to.

Instead, they endured the attack on their lives, cowering under the darkness of Twilight's anger.

No. No way. The castle of Canterlot just collapsed. Through the streams of purple being uprooted from Ponyville's land, Lieutenant Scootaloo could make out chunks of it rolling down the mountain through a red haze while the rest floated into the air, soaring over Ponyville in the direction of Las Pegasus.

Scootaloo faced the town and shouted as loud as her lungs would allow her. "Get everyone out of these buildings now!!"

At her command, guards and soldiers alike begun banging on their doors, shouting as loud as they could before the attack finally commenced. A single violet bolt struck down upon an unsuspecting home and pulled it from the ground. Ponies screamed and ran from the sight as fast as they could. Scootaloo had to think quickly. They couldn't just run around it here!

The train station. Recently attacked, it wouldn't be again.

Scootaloo pointed in the direction of what remained of its form. "All personnel, direct citizens to the train station!"

In a matter of minutes, ponies were running out of ponyville in favor of the smoldering ground of Equestria's famed Friendship Express station. En masse they gathered, watching as their homes literally went up in flames, losing all that they had to an unseen enemy.

A unit of soldiers ran out of the burning town and up to Lieutenant Scootaloo brooding on the front lines.

"That's everyone, ma'am!" Their commanding officer announced.

Good. No one else would fall victim to Queen Arcadia's inevitable attack. Look at that, in a matter of minutes, ponyville was no longer. All the buildings, structures, homes, lights, trees, everything post-Maheera vs. The World less than a year ago was no longer present in their lives.

Majority Green walked up to Scootaloo's side and watched with her the last of Ponyville be lifted into the sky, broken down into magic and join the streams heading towards that massive cloud in the distance. Glowing purple and sparking with internal reactions. Leaving behind a field of dirt in the darkness of the night.

"What now?" Majority asked.

Scootaloo swallowed. "We wait for support. I want military combing through the wreckage, see if there's anything we can salvage for shelter."

Majority nodded and turned back around to face the squads. "You heard her! All teams, check for salvage!"

Was it over? Please tell her it was over. Starlight kicked her way out from under a fallen tree and pulled herself through uprooted soil. Through the dirt she crawled. The haze of smog choked her lungs. A small cough and she could at least breathe again.

But through the destruction of the forest and the smoke of flames, an iridescent violet glow remained.

"It's still here!" She shouted.

Sunset, Snap seed, and Lead Harvest reemerged from different areas. The former slid to Starlight and helped her to her hooves.

"You okay?" She asked.

"I'm fine. A headache, but I'm fine." Starlight wiped her face and cast her eyes upon the only remaining structure. Disbelief and wonder filled her mind. It was still standing.

They all trotted through the mayhem up to the stone, aglow with magical energies that washed over the ash-ridden ground with the runner at its center.

"That means these didn't cause this attack," Snap Seed stated.

"Then what are they for?" Sunset and Starlight looked to each other with worry on their minds. Another mystery has hit their reality, one that needed to be solved soon.

The sky turned a mixture of red and purple. Magic from the streams of matter Twilight "Arcadia Nova" Sparkle was stripping from the same countries she brought back to life, and fire from her taking it back. From the Deck, Princess—no, Queen Fresh Dawn observed the spectacle. All of it was moving towards that massive cloud, dwarfing their endless fleet of refugees and leaving them defenseless, without food, drinkable water, barely clear air to breathe. Would mom return it when she came back to life? Would she grant them what all creatures need to survive. Or would she disappear just to prove a point? Mom wasn't that shallow or vengeful, was she?

"Dawn!" Fresh Dawn stepped away from the railing of Aquata Zero and faced the steps leading up to the bridge. Gardeen gestured up the stairs. "You may want to see this. We have a few eyes left on Psera feeding out here."

Really? Dawn eagerly trotted up the stairs and onto the bridge where other captains, generals and military commanders stood around a centered console casting a visual into the air. Upon recognition, they created a hole for her to walk up to the front and observe for herself. Clearly, it was a camera feed of Cop from what could have been a surviving skyscraper that was behind the castle; and based off the fact that there were still standing buildings, this was before the destruction.

"What is this?" Dawn asked. "How did this survive with no energy?"

"It's a recording of something rather peculiar." Madam Singe reached out and sped up the file, mere moments after city-state of Cop was laid to waste and all that remained were collapsed buildings and materials. Regardless, this camera stood tall. "As for what powered this feed? It may be this." She sped up the file, almost at the end when...what in Equus?

Dawn squinted and walked closer to the image. It looked like a massive rune was burning its way to the surface of Cop. Bright and orange, it seemed to be the outline of a three-limbed tree surrounded by a massive circle.

"What is that?" General Mack Land queried.

"I don't know," Dawn admitted. "I've never seen a rune like this before. Note it down for later. We'll ask Equestria if they recognize anything like this. How are our communications?"

"Barely holding on, ma'am." Hot Stop made it out? Dawn still didn't like her. There was just something about her that made her anxious. "We're glitching in and out. In order for them to work, we have to be stable and still to reach Equestria. Whether we'll reach them or not still has yet to be determined."

Would they reach them? So far, communications were powered by mom's magic. The chances of a successful connection were slim to none. If not, Dawn had a plan that could take longer.

"Captain!" All attention swiveled to the forward deck, beneath command. A Pseratep was pointing at their console. "The weather patterns are changing!"

Finally, a new development. That could only mean one thing. Something was happening with Arcadia's magic. Fresh Dawn was followed By Secretary Gardeen, Princess Merry, and others back outside onto the deck of Aquata Zero. A noticeable change in the wind, the accelerated speed was enough to classify this as a level one hurricane upon Psera's shores. But nay, this was no natural event.

The water splashed and sprayed into Dawn's face. She held up a hoof to defend her sight, trained upon the gathering clouds of magic in the distance, so massive, it seemed to go for miles upon miles into the sky whilst remaining within hoof's reach.

Something was happening in those clouds. They swirled with no physical force, increasing speed and lightning fluctuations around a single location.

"What's happening?" Secretary Manny asked.

None answered. Too busy guessing in the back of their minds and observing this spectacle. The streams of magic originating from other lands dwindled into nothing. The recapturing of mom's magic was complete. Now what?

The last stream was gone. The clouds began rotating around in a massive circle, illuminating gradually with violet magic. The wind was picking up.

Dawn swallowed the forming ball of anxiety in the back of her throat. "It's time."

Chapter 14 - Aftermath Of Relinquishment

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How long have they been like this? Shrouded in darkness, under the protection of a shield of magic? Canterlot was gone. Celestia didn't have to peer through the debris covering the shield's surface to know that any material above was no longer materialized. Maybe that's why she refused to lift the shield. To keep her ponies from seeing the horrors of this disaster.

Alas, it had to be. The shifting of material above ceased. The sound of rushing wind remained. Celestia could make out the noise, even through the shield's muffling.

"Blowout the shield. Gently."

The order was given. In a massive torrent, the shield exploded outwards and away from the ponies within, preventing any damaging debris from falling on any ponies beneath. The sound was stentorian, a massive boom that echoed over the mountain of Canterlot and the world surrounding it.

Celestia waved dust out from in front of her face and strode out of the group, to take a gander at the damage alongside the eyes of Princess Luna, Sky Duster, Tritanium and Sun Waves. Their steps slowly came to a stop, their air to breath lost to wonder. Canterlot was gone. The entire mountaintop was gone.

Structures that used to stand on their own now lied on their sides with some buildings missing entirely. The healthy green of grass turned into a sickly brown, the same color as the smoke and dust choking them through the air.

Fires decorated smaller structures. The streets were pitted with holes, and unearthed pipes spewed sewage water onto the surface.

And the castle, stars above... It was gone. Like a foal playing with a stack of bricks, a pull of the hoof tore it all down. What used to stand tall and pride with the majesty of Equestria, and weathered through the mightiest battles such as Maheera vs. The World, who knew it was merely a strike of Twilight's magic from its downfall.

Celestia walked forward and nudged at a pebble. A chunk of the rock that remained of that castle that fell around them.

Released from their princesses' protective holds, the citizens raced past and into an annihilated Canterlot. At the end of Maheera Dark vs. The World, structures were still standing. Some parts of Equestria were untouched. But this time...

"There's nothing left," Celestia muttered.

Luna walked past Celestia and into the cobblestone streets. Even the fountain that used to spit streams of water from three statues of Unicorns, Earth Ponies, and Pegasi no longer stood proudly. Instead, it lied in rubble at her hooves. Just like the rest of Canterlot City and Equestria as a whole. Save for a single tower in the distance. Strange.

Celestia looked behind her to her Equestrian Guard. Soldiers standing by stoically awaiting commands.

"I want scouts," she ordered. "Search all remaining structures for any form of shelter, no matter how minimal. All top-ranking commanding officers are to meet here in Canterlot in an hour and somepony please make contact with the Crystal Empire."

A salute and they were on the move. Hooves rushing through dust, dirt, wood, and metal so old they may no longer exist.

The citizens combed through the debris, unearthing whatever valuables they may have left. Celestia figured she may as well do the same. The castle, it fell to the earth and became one with the mountain. Stone to stone, wood to wood.

Sun Waves trotted her way to Celestia's side, following her sight to the massive cloud of magic building in the distance. Lightning flashed through its epicenter, painting the seas in purple.

"Where is it going?" She asked.

"I don't know." Celestia lowered her attention to the matter at hoof. They needed shelter, they needed a plan. "Grab Sky Duster. I want you and her to get a reading on the major cities of Equestria. I want damage reports. Any possible means of shelter should be brought forth to Luna and I."

Waves genuflected briefly then set off to find Sky. Wherever she was, the filly was surely in a catatonic state. Once gone, Celestia turned back to the cloud. The magic, what would happen to it?

Hundreds of miles from the coast of Equestria, Aquatas surged through uncontrollable waves. The journey from Psera to Equestria would certainly be a long one. Acting Queen Dawn was secured back upon the bridge behind impenetrable glass sure to stop the blowback of an explosion were it to occur on the forward deck.

Alas, even the potential of death kept back none from the event happening beyond those windows. All eyes were directed to the clouds, circling faster and faster around a single point. How they grew in speed, how their glow only brightened, none of it was missed by a single eye.

"Weather patterns are changing!"

"Something's happening inside those clouds!"

Yeah, Dawn could see that. They were picking up speed. More lightning crawled through its form, turning night to day spasmodically. Soon, it would reach its zenith.

Dawn looked back to the Admiral of the Fleet. "Have all Aquatas close their bay doors!" She ordered.

The order was given. In a matter of seconds, Dawn could make out the bay doors of all Aquatas slowly closing. There was no telling what would happen next. The possibility of Equus closing in on itself flashed through her mind. Highly unlikely, but everything that's been happening lately were also present in that same category.

The clouds were condensing, speeding faster, glowing brighter. Night gradually turned to day before, finally, the impossible happened. Violet lightning pierced from the center of the clouds and into the waves, diving deep beneath the waves, where the body of her mother truly lied. Thunder rumbled through the sky, stentorian, shattering eardrums out on any deck. Miles away it could be heard, the flash seen, the spectacle witnessed.

Sunset Shimmer and Starlight Glimmer could see it through what was left of the forest. Celestia and Luna could make it out through the destruction of Canterlot Castle. Queen Dawn herself had a front row seat.

Under the waves, drifting in a current with no destination was the body of the great Twilight "Arcadia Nova" Sparkle. Still intact, protected even from the carnivores of the deep, she remained whole.

Magic reached under the waves and grabbed hold of her limp body. Gradually, she was lifted. Although too bright to be made out, a large sphere of magic rising from the sea was enough to imply such a thing.

Celestia swallowed the ball of anxiety in her throat. There she was. What remained of Twilight. What remained of Dawn's mother. It was too bright to see her. But she was there.

She was lifted into the swirling clouds, where magic was reclaimed. The clouds rotated faster still, pulling at the air and increasing the wind so much the waves rocked the Aquatas.

Dawn grabbed hold of a railing, but could not divert her attention. She wouldn't, not now.

The light intensified, so bright all had to cover their eyes until finally a purple bubble of magic exploded from the center of the clouds. It grew bigger and bigger. At it's speed of growth...

"Brace for impact!" Dawn held the railing tighter when the bubble hit their fleet. It groaned from force and weight. Tilting over temporarily. Dawn could make out the screams from the decks below. Gardeen rolled backwards and rolled over the map, slamming into Merry.

The lights flickered before the power cut. The whirring of generators descended into silence. The sea ahead of them dropped into darkness.

The Aquata rocked back into its previous position. Dawn pulled herself to her hooves and was quickly accompanied by a guard.

"Queen Dawn, are you hurt?" They asked.

"No, I'm alright."

"The lights," First Light reminded her. "The power's out."

Dawn peered through the window. She lost the ability to feel, to be in time as it is and, instead, fall into a frozen state.

"I don't think we'll be needing it," Dawn whispered.

The clouds were gone, the sky clear, and the howling winds of the night had faded. At sea, the waves were calm and level, pulling into sight a shining star, twinkling ever so brightly.

That hole in Dawn's heart, the one that appeared so fast she barely noticed it had disappeared. Now, it was filled with a hellish warmth. So hot, so alive, it brought a tear to Dawn's eye. It rolled down her face and off her chin to the steel flooring beneath all the hooves of the ponies gathering towards that same side.

She was joined by Merry and Gardeen.

"Is that..." Gardeen whispered.

"Yes. Arcadia lives."

It was dark. Timeless. One moment, Twilight's eyes were shut. Her strength had faded, lungs filled with water, her consciousness lost. She died. She was dead. She was defeated by fate.

But not even death could keep her down. She would always persevere.

Her eyes opened. With a deep breath, Twilight pulled her head from beneath the waves. Confusion. Merely a side effect. But the rest, it was permanent. Here she lied upon the Eastern Sea, facing an endless horizon in the darkness of the night. Winter. It was cold. Her fur...where was her fur?

Arcadia raised her hooves. White. Glowing. She shone bright. Her "fur" had been riddled with runes, crafting tiny circles of messages across her body. She raised her wings. Still there. Horn? More or less present. Eye? No. Eyes. She reached up and felt her face. She had both of them. How about the ability to walk?

Arcadia slowly ascended to her hooves. The waves remained level. Her wings were raised and she took her first step in an aimless direction.

"It worked," she whispered to herself. Fate worked out in her favor once more. Betrayal would never succeed. No matter who was guilty.

She sat back down and took another moment to herself. Once again as the most powerful Alicorn-Pseratep to ever live. So strong she overcame death.

Her sights swiveled to the ocean and locked on the fleet. She gasped and rose to her hooves, spread her wings and prepared herself. Psera. Why were they here? What did they want now? And, more importantly, why were there so many Aquatas at once? Dotting her vision were hundreds of Aquatas sitting motionless on the waves. Dark. Quiet. She could make them out under the light of a raised moon. They were powerless. Defenseless. Why were they here?

Based on the position of the moon, they were heading east for Equestria. They were leaving Psera. But why? Why would they... Narmeelah. It was happening. Equus' reset.

She was being watched. She could feel it. Over a million were eyeing her. From the bridge of Aquata Zero to the castle of Canterlot.

Reaching out with her magic, she scanned her surroundings. Such a familiar spell. Arcadia would hate to forget it. Her tampering Grabbed onto the lives of those of Psera.

Dawn could feel her searching. A wave of magic that washed over her coat withdrew from her a shiver.

She spoke loud enough for her awestruck leaders to hear. "She knows. She knows we're watching."

"You can feel her?" Manny asked.

"Mom and I are connected empathically. I can feel her emotions and she can feel mine. She's...confused." Dawn opened her eyes and turned for the door. "I'm heading out onto the deck."

"Queen Dawn, maybe it's best to stay in here until our defenses come back online."

"How long will that take?"

Manny referred to one of the console ponies up front. "Ten mins, ma'am."

"We don't have that kind of time." Without so much as a glance back, Dawn walked out the door and onto the deck. The cold air assaulted her coat and mane. A simple breeze, calmer than what they first witnessed prior to the collapse. Dawn shivered and pulled her wings in tighter. But she had to know. She had to see her.

There. Out in the distance, standing on the waves. Even so far as a mile, Dawn could still make out her mother, watching her. Listening to her breathing. Their souls bonded, merging into one until their thoughts finally combined.

"Dawn. Light. My babies."

"...hi, mom."

Twilight turned her head back to where Psera lied. "What has happened?"

"Your magic uprooted Psera. We had to evacuate. So far, casualties are high. Fatalities even higher."

Her magic. Twilight sighed and closed her eyes. "What of Equestria and the surrounding lands?"

"No clue. We can't establish contact with them. Mom... Grandma Molten didn't make it."

Buck. The news was worse than she could imagine. She had expected disastrous results, but how bad could it have been? Apparently, bad enough for the entirety of Psera to evacuate the country. There was no telling how much damage the rest of the world received.

"It happened so fast. I couldn't retrieve the Diary of Narmeelah."

Right. Narmeelah. She was still out there. Watching. Waiting for the right moment to strike down Equus at the swipe of a hoof.

"That's alright," Arcadia said. "The citizens come first. Are you okay?"

"I feel no pain except in my heart. A lot of ponies lost their lives." The news only grew worse. "And without magic and shelter... Things aren't looking good, mom."

Dawn checked over her shoulder at the sound of hooves approaching. Princess Merry, Gardeen Daisy, Secretary Manny, high-profile names in Psera joined her on the deck.

"They will get better. Dawn, I hate to do this, but if the moment arises, you must tell them..." Arcadia stopped talking and whipped her attention back in the direction of Psera. Something spooked her. Her anxiety rose.

"Tell them what?"

Arcadia focused back on the fleet. "Get someplace safe. It is not safe out here. I will see you again."

"Wait, mom!"

With a shimmer of her horn, energy was restored. All Aquatas came to life. Alarms blared, lights flared, engines roared.

"Power's back online!"

"Aquata Zero, ready to roll!"

Dawn turned back to the sea to where her mother once stood, now empty. She was gone, disappeared, faded away. But she was alive. Dawn may not see her, but she could feel her out there. Alive. There was still a chance.

Dawn swallowed and ordered, "All Aquatas, full speed for Equestria."

The order was given. Manny peeked through the window of the bridge and made a signal with her hooves.

"All Aquatas, full speed!" She shouted.

After the blaring of horns, they began their journey once more. Dawn held on tight to the protective railing. No matter how hard she searched, scanned the seas, listened to the wind, mom disappeared once more. But she was alive. That was all that mattered.

A wing softly laid itself upon Dawn's back and guided her away from the rail.

"Come," Princess Merry cooed. "We have much to do."

Yes. Dawn had decisions to make in both her heart and mind. Ponies needed to be counted, medical supplies to round up. So much to do. So, Dawn donned the mask of a Queen. Head held high, she walked back into the bridge and for the map of the seas high above her head. She rose to her hooves and eyed their positions. They would reach the first checkpoint soon.

"How far until Equestria?" She asked.

Admiral Shooting Star pointed to the map. "At our current speed, we'll be reaching the first checkpoint by tonight. After that it will take us ten hours to reach Equestria from there. We should arrive by tomorrow afternoon. Estimated time, twelve-hundred."

That was enough time to plan. She pointed to her staff, specifically one of the many ponies surrounding the deck. "I want a count of medical supplies by tomorrow, five hundred. I want plans devised and ready to present for tomorrow's meeting with the Princesses and IHT, and I want a company going to Equestria within the hour to prepare."

It was amazing how fast they scribbled their notes. "Have we done a count on rations?"

"No, ma'am."

"I want that done as well. Our citizens are going to want food."

Secretary Manny asked, "What about an investigation into what happened?"

"No theories at all will be presented as fact until we converse with IHT. Are there any suggestions as to how we should proceed?"

None answered. So Dawn rose up and nodded. "Then let's get to work, ponies. In the meantime, I will be attempting contact with another individual of Equestria."

Secretary Manny, the Admiral, and other military leaders saluted upon her rise from the table and walk out the door. Soldiers lining the deck saluted during the advancement to her destination.

"Dawn!" Dawn stopped and turned to face Gardeen. "I'll walk with you."

The journey to inside of Aquata Zero was filled with silence until they reached the bays, where Dawn could look down upon all of the colorful citizens of Psera, fleeing their past lives behind in favor of safety. A deep sigh escaped Dawn.

"Look at this," she said. "All of them, all of us..."

"I get it." Gardeen sat down and took a breath. "Dawn, I know what you're thinking."

Of course she did. She always knew. "...I think mom was thinking the same thing. She and I held a brief conversation before she freaked out and disappeared. Something scared her. I haven't the idea what."

"What did she say?"

Dawn sighed and shook her head. "It doesn't matter. The timing isn't right."

"Dawn..."

Dawn turned around and walked away. "I'll be in the suite."

Perfect. There she goes, withdrawing into herself. Gardeen sighed and faced the deck once more. They would rile up soon. All of these multicolored citizens, crying to themselves. The question is, how long would it take?

Fire, smoke, darkness. A shame she must take advantage of this, but there's no better time than the present. The rune was raised and a spell cast. Now, she waits.

Narmeelah's hooves ground into the dirt. Her wings were raised and body straightened. It seemed only fitting to watch Psera from the top of Cop's mountain range. Where the castle once lied was rubble. She would create a new world with what was left over.

An exasperated sigh escaped her lips. She closed her eyes. The embers of destruction passed over her features.

"I oh so love when a plan comes to fruition," Narmeelah said. "Don't you, daughter?"

No response. Narmeelah opened her eyes. Her graceful smile fell. "You cannot stay mad at me forever, Saemool. You've already tried that."

"There are other ways."

Narmeelah looked back and met the unamused gaze of her oldest daughter. Her off-green coat glowed with magic. Her mane, short, and blue as the evening sky. Her wings, about as long as Queen Arcadia's splayed onto the dirt behind her. Her eyes, luminous with violet magic.

"Oh, my nubile foal." Narmeelah rose up and trotted over to face her directly. The same height, they could mistaken for another. Narmeelah placed her wing on Saemool's back. Her eyes glanced to it unshaken.

"For us, there is never another way. This has to happen. Embrace it."

Saemool slapped her wing off, turned around and left. Her hooves kicked up dirt during her trot. Narmeelah watched her leave. She was always the weaker one, despite being the oldest. Even Queramar had a better backbone than she did. Oh well. The plan would continue.

Narmeelah faced back towards the destruction of Psera; of the world, her masterpiece.

"Ferilia!" She called out.

The dirt at Narmeelah's hooves snaked into the air and curved around her. Narmeelah needn't turn around. She could feel her, sense her. When her show was over, she could hear Ferilia's hoofsteps stop next to her.

"Yes, mother?" Ferilia asked.

"Infiltrate Equestria. Your sister Shaoloh is already there for my diary. I want you to watch your cousin. She could still be a threat."

"Where are the others?"

"Your cowardice sister Saemool is somewhere, and the rest have taken up positions along Psera's most vulnerable points."

"Are you expecting company?"

"They are very adamant. Which is why I want you to intimidate Fresh Dawn. She is the daughter of Twilight Sparkle. Giving up is not in her blood."

Narmeelah faced Ferlia. She had her father's eyes. Black sclera and red pupils, as dark as the skies. She'd bring nightmares to anyone who stared through them. Her coat and wings matched, black and red. An alicorn, her horn protruded from her head towards the sky of smoke and flames. This was her environment. Alas, not this time around.

"How exactly should I intimidate her?"

"In whatever way you deem fit. Now hurry. Psera nears their shores."

Ferilia nodded firmly. In a puff of black smoke, she disappeared, on her way to fulfill her task.

In a perfect plan, she would succeed. Ferilia would keep them away, and all of this would be with no intervention from opposing forces. However, so far her ponies have chosen to make it difficult for her. They would find a way past, even through her remaining daughters ready along the cliffs of Psera. They would get to her. But they would surely have a mass of opposition.

Narmeelah faced the destruction. Hidden among this lied her greatest assets. "Rise!!" She shouted.

Among the flames and fires, they rose. Those who were left behind, those who perished beneath the results of such a magical onslaught, their hooves burst through the rubble. Scarred, burned, and left behind to die. Narmeelah could make them out. She could make out her magic, seeping through the eyes filled with stars. Some lost their wings, others a hoof or ear, a pinch severely burned. The walking of death. Sadness filled her heart. They will find peace once this was all over.

Among the damage, Molten Ice burst through glass and unfurled her wings. Three other ponies scampered from beneath her before she took her first steps. In her wings were shards of glass. Blood pooled down her body originating from tears and cuts. Alas, she moved forward painlessly to stand in solidarity of Narmeelah's growing army. From Cop all the way to Serl and beyond. They dotted the rooftops, the fallen buildings, demolished highways, crushed pods and whatever remained of the castle. Those who could fly hovered around Narmeelah, a shining star in this atmosphere of darkness, awaiting her wise words.

Her voice when spoken all could hear. "Today marks the beginning of a new chapter. Equus is not as it once was. It is not what I envisioned it would be."

Narmeelah raised her wings and levitated off the ground. She was the center of attention, the shining star in the sky that could be seen from miles. The brightest one out of all of Equus.

"No more!" Narmeelah's coat gradually changed to translucent. Her size increased, mane transparent, as wisps in the wind. Her eyes were black holes leading into the universe, revealing the true meaning of life. She overshadowed the ponies she rose from the dead, hovering tall over the entire city-state of Cop. Her breathing formed gusts of wind.

"This world will be no longer," she said. "But instead, we will make a new one." She pointed towards the center of Cop, at the massive rune that burned itself into Equus' surface. "Take to the skies, scour the underground, and swim in the seas. Protect this rune with your lives."

Narmeelah smoldered deeply. "They are not to near it."

Chapter 15 - Align With Fate

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The air was filled with settling dust. Lungs were plagued in minutes. All across Equestria, task forces scoured the land. They zoomed through the sky, covering the same path Sunset, Starlight, Snap Seed and Lead Harvest were taking back to what little remained of civilization. With a cart of equipment, they had what they needed at every turn, destruction lied in their path. But they would reach ponyville soon. They just had too.

Sunset's hooves were tired. Walking through this haze of fallen rock, trees and stones thrown about proved to be more difficult than walking through any other forest.

"How much further?" She asked.

Snap looked back. "Not too far. Maybe twenty minutes."

That's a lot better than before. Before that it was fifty-six, and her hooves were aching by that point.

Sunset turned to Starlight. "How's your head?"

Starlight reached up and felt a small bump under her mane. She flinched from a brief sharp pain.

"It's better, but still not good," she said.

"An improvement on how it was before, I assume."

Starlight could neither agree or disagree. Alas, her headache would remain for days, preventing any reasonable answer. Why is it that she's always getting hurt during these adventures? During Maheera Dark vs. The World, she was incapacitated for the entire journey from Equestria to Psera. Now, her own home was turning against her.

"How close are we to Ponyville?" She asked their oh-so fearless team leader.

Snap Seed jumped over a fallen tree trunk and onto the other side. "Just a little further. We should be back in Ponyville in twenty minutes at our current rate of speed."

"Or what's left of it," Lead Harvest murmured.

"What was that?"

"Look around you, Snap." She jumped over the trunk and faced Snap Seed directly. "Look at what just happened. The entire forest was wiped out. There's nothing left standing apart from us."

Snap Seed took a gander across what remained of the Everfree Forest. Despite its obvious contamination, the forest held up pretty well during Maheera vs. The World. But now... Lead was right. The Everfree Forest was gone, and whatever dark grotty secrets it may have held. They were no longer walking on soil. Instead, their hooves treaded a thick layer of wood and pine, gifting them moonlight into this usually dark and moldy environment.

Snap sighed and acknowledged the situation. "I am very aware that all of Equestria along with many others may have been affected by Queen Arcadia's final belt. But, as I mentioned before this journey even began, there is more to this mystery than we see. We must keep pushing forward."

She walked around Lead and continued moving. But Lead wasn't done. "What did we even get from this? I feel there are more questions than answers."

"You'd be correct to come to that conclusion, Lead. However, some of these questions are worth answering."

"Like what?"

"Questions like why are these here? Why did the strongest Alicorn-Pseratep to ever exist plant these things to encircle the entirety of Equestria?"

"All good questions." Sunset jumped over the log and continued her journey back to Ponyville. "Questions we'll answer later when we get to Canterlot. There's only one pony who can answer those."

"Who?"

"Arcadia herself. You two don't know her like we do. If she's alive, she'll show up soon, one way or another."

Dawn remembered when mother used this office. She would sit behind this very desk made of wood and write away. Its texture was smooth to the touch. She could see her reflection in its glossy finish. Across the desk lied a table mother and Gardeen would sit at and talk. She'd be held in either Gardeen's hooves or Arcadia's, innocent, worrying when she and mother could play again.

Oh how time has passed. One day, she trotted out those doors under father's guidance trying to gain control of her newly acquired ability to walk. The next, she walked back in alone with a plan in mind to fight against Narmeelah, the purger of worlds.

Dawn closed her eyes and breathed. In. Out. In. Out. Her consciousness left her body. She dropped on the desk, asleep. one would think she was dead were they to intrude. But floating above her body was the manifested form of her consciousness. A ghost, a shadow.

So that's what it looks like. Dawn flew away from her body and higher through the Aquata. Through the deck she flew unseen while the Guard continued their operations. Into the night sky, she angled among the stars en route to Equestria. She had a plan, and she needed help.

Flurry had been barricaded inside of her room. Ugh, of course. Mom always had to overreact. Guards were stationed right outside her door, leaving her to witness the action from her window. She had a full unfiltered view of the Crystal Empire from the top of the castle. So far for them, the crystal heart was still rotating, and motion was still active. All was peaceful.

Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for the rest of Equestria. As much as she's heard, the other regions of Equestria have been totaled. Canterlot was the first to collapse followed by Manehattan, then Ponyville before the remaining cities fell. Leaving the Crystal Empire as Equestria's only standing property.

Flurry could hear the voices through the door traveling up the stairs. Mom was upset, that much was obvious. Dad was out there in the streets rounding up troops while she remained vigilant for possible threats. No chances were to be taken. But wasn't there anything she could do, instead of staying cooped in this room playing watchdog?

Flurry groaned and flopped back on her bed to try for more rest. A shame all of this is happening while sleep prickled at the minds of Equestria. Some of their ponies would never wake again.

Flurry closed her eyes and turned over, missing the duotone figure of Fresh Dawn standing in front of the window watching her nonplussed.

"Flurry."

Flurry gasped and sprung out of bed to the other side of her room to face the voice at a safe distance. Dawn, more or less, occupied the space. Without her tiara and clothes she was a normal Alicorn-Pseratep. Save for the ghostly light blue making up her figure. She floated in front of the window, casting a blue glow around the room.

"Dawn? How did... What..."

"I can force my consciousness from my body and travel long distances." Dawn brushed her coat with a pleased look on her face. "One of my first skills, albeit lesser-used."

Flurry climbed back on her bed and wafted her hoof through Dawn's ghostly figure. It was as if she wasn't there.

Dawn giggled and slapped her hoof away. It did no such thing. "Stop that, it tickles."

"Quite the weakness."

"It's not my fault. Look, I'm here on business."

"Is this in regards to the end-of-the-world business, or am I missing something?"

Dawn floated over and sat on Flurry's bed. "No. It's end-of-the-world. Mom got her magic back."

"So I hear." Their attention wavered briefly to a flurry of commotion reaching their ears from beyond the door. "Mom and dad are freaking out."

"My ponies are as well. I have bad news. Psera's been disarmed."

Disarmed?! Flurry gasped and rose on her hooves. "What? No weapons?"

"We had to evacuate Psera entirely. It's a wasteland out there. Psera held most of Arcadia's magic. What Equestria is experiencing doesn't hold a candle to what Psera has. A majority of our newer range Aquatas have either sunken or been torn apart by Arcadia's pull. The same for our weaponry. We still have some of the old stuff. But right now, we're defenseless."

This is the first time Flurry has even been given a firm clue as to what's been going on in the real world. She knew it was bad, but if Psera can't even fight against it, then they were all in trouble.

Flurry sighed and walked to the window. Thanks to that cursed winter storm, she couldn't even see into Equestria. Whatever was occurring beyond that winter storm, they were cut off from assistance.

Flurry shook her head. "There's nothing we can do either. Our only method of transportation was the friendship express. If that was created by Arcadia's magic, then that means that's gone too; and we can't remove the crystal heart. It's extremely vital to this kingdom."

"I know." Dawn trotted next to Flurry and sat on her haunches. "Just deliver the message. I can imagine the princesses already have their hooves full. Tell them we're on our way to assist as soon as we can."

"And in the meantime?"

"We have a few military personnel en route to Canterlot now. In the meantime..." Dawn's gaze steeled. "Stay on edge. Tell the princesses exactly what I say. 'Mom's most greatest fear...has finally come to light.'"

"Greatest fear? What are you..." Flurry whipped around to face Dawn's resting place. Instead, she found herself alone once again in the dim lighting of her room, under the light of the room, hidden behind a haze of snow. A sigh escaped her lips.

She grabbed a letter and pink bow from a nearby dresser along with a pen and inkwell. She had a letter to write.

Dawn woke up a short time later and rubbed her eyes. All sounded the same. Their fleet creaked along the ocean undisturbed. Good. Less problems.

"I think I know what mom wanted us to do," First Light said.

Dawn slid out of her chair and onto the floor. "Which was what?"

"To reveal me. She knows something."

That's a very tall order coming from her. After everything that's happened, she was the last pony anyone needed to be taking orders from. She attacked about IHT, she was admittedly a bad mother, and, finally, her magic has rendered waking world to dirt, dust, and fire. If anything needed to be taking orders, it was her.

Dawn yawned and walked towards the door. "How do you feel about that?"

"Scared. Ponies... I haven't really spoken to them before."

Dawn stopped at the door. "You spoke to Night Light, Lucky, and the other creatures from Founder's."

"That was different. They were really really old. The only enemy they truly faced were themselves. They had no idea how to take me. But the princesses, Psera, everypony else... I'm born from Dark Magic, Dawn. The term alone is a taboo. But for a living pony to be created by it?"

Dawn stopped at the door. "Hey, the princesses already met you. They were cool about it."

"I only met them once and it was for less than ten minutes. All they saw was a pony made of Dark Magic. Even grandma doesn't know about me. But if I reveal myself now, all of it will finally settle in. And this time, mom isn't here to vouch for us."

"We'll take it on together. You know I'll never leave you behind. Now, let's get out there." Dawn used her magic to open the door and stepped out into the Aquata. The soldiers stationed at her door immediately saluted. Taking example of her father, Dawn acknowledged it with a simple nod and continued on her way to her destination. She needed an update on the situation.

Her journey brought her out onto the busy forward deck of Aquata Zero, where she was met with a cease of operations and a shout.

"Acting Queen on Deck!" All military stopped and saluted once more.

"Ah, yes, this can be quite annoying," First Light commented.

Dawn sighed and continued her journey. The stars were slowly glittering out of sight. They were nearing early morning. How long had she been out? She contacted Flurry then took a nap. Alas, the nap wasn't long enough, for the moment she stepped into the bridge, she locked attention onto a clock reading four eleven. Gardeen wasn't present, but her assistant sure was. Commanders and Generals were discussing something around the map whilst assistants stood by. At her presence, they bowed and were ignored.

"What's going on?"

All voices looked to her. Secretary Manny bent low. "Queen Dawn. Everything that you wanted is noted down. Unfortunately, we're capped out on food at one hundred and forty-eight thousand sixty-five rations."

That wasn't nearly enough for all of them. There were millions of Pserateps out in the ocean right now. Even if they cut each ration in half it wouldn't be enough for all of them. It most certainly went without saying that this would be only a one time thing.

Dawn sighed and asked, "Communications?"

"No direct response."

"It's alright. I made contact through dreams with one of the princesses. We're not alone. So far, Equestria is in a much lighter boat compared to us. As for other's, I can't tell for sure until we dock. How far from Equestria are we?"

"Not too far, ma'am." Neon Lighting pointed down to the map. "We're here right now, and this is Las Pegasus beach."

"Distance?"

"Five hundred and forty kilometers. Thanks to the time, we can't see the beach, but that'll change soon. We should be docking within three hours."

"Which brings us to our next order of business," Secretary Manny spoke up. She gestured to around the map. "Arcadia Nova. If she's back, she'll be close by within the seas. I have all branches on standby and watching out for her. So far, she hasn't been seen."

Dawn scoffed and shook her head. "Don't even bother, withdraw your troops."

Withdraw? Secretary Manny and the commanders exchanged looks. "What do you mean, Queen Dawn? With all due respect, we need every last asset we have to defend against this threat."

At that moment, Secretary Gardeen walked in stretching her wings and over to Dawn. Smacking her lips, she offered her a cup of something sweet smelling.

"There lies the problem," Dawn reported. She took the drink. "The threat isn't Arcadia. This was going to happen whether it was next week or the next century. The second mom falls into bad health, her magic was going to return whether we had a say so or not. The threat of destruction was always there, so no, I'm not concerned for mom. Instead, I'm concerned about that rune."

"This here?" Gardeen reached into her wing and pulled out a printed black and white image of the rune.

"Yes." Dawn held the image in her magic and set it on the map before them all. "I fear it greatly."

"I assumed it was Arcadia's," General Mack Land said.

"No. For one, runes are used to activate a preexisting spell. This rune isn't at all related to what happened, because if it were, it wouldn't have shown up after the event it was supposed to cause."

"Then what caused it?"

Dawn and Gardeen shared a glance before turning back to the military. "All theories will be revealed once we convene with IHT. Then we can properly explain the situation to its fullest extent." Dawn pointed through them towards the bow of the Aquata. "Until then, we stay on course. Have we sent out an ambassador in the name of Psera's arrival?"

One of the captains saluted and answered, "We're working on that now, ma'am. We're sending out Lieutenant Smalls and a large unit of Elite Royal Guard for communication." They walked over to a device sitting out in the open. "If we send them out now, we'll be in contact with Equestria within ten to fifteen minutes rather than the hours it would take. The sooner, the better."

"I like it. Deploy and monitor in ten minutes."

The captain saluted. "Yes, ma'am."

"In the meantime..." Dawn jumped back down from the map and trotted to the door with Gardeen and her assistant on her tail. "I want all of our rations split. It's not much, but it'll feed as many of our citizens as possible."

Well that was going to be a lot of work. They saluted and Dawn walked out the door with gardeen. The night was cold, and she was already tired. Dawn's felt worse but this was slowly rising to be the greatest responsibility she's ever felt.

She walked over to a rail and stopped to watch all the Aquatas. There were twenty five on this side she counted alone. Each one holding over three thousand Pserateps. All of which were her responsibility.

"When we dock..." Dawn spoke. "Because we know Equestria will say yes, I want to speak directly to all of these ponies."

"I'll have a feed prepared," Gardeen replied. She laid a wing on Dawn's back. "How are you doing?"

Dawn sighed deeply. "They're going to learn a lot about what the Royal Family's been hiding. From Narmeelah's return to First Light's existence, and even more."

"Do you think they're ready?"

"Even if they're not, it wouldn't matter." Dawn stepped away from the railing and walked towards the bow. "Because everything we know could help stop this war, including the true location of the Diary."

"What?" Gardeen quickly caught up with Dawn. "What are you talking about, I thought it was in Serl."

Hot Stop glanced over to Dawn. "It was before. But after mom returned from her imprisonment with Maheera, it was moved and replaced. The real one is a lot closer. Leaving an ancient artifact in a top secret facility after all of that, it wasn't enough. Mom was given written permission by the department of defense and the council to hide, to bury it so deep that only she would be able to find it. All they needed to know was that it was safe."

"Is it?"

"Very much so. Only one pony to ever exist could ever access it." Dawn faced Gardeen with a smirk very similar to her mother's. "First Light."

Blankets, torches, and small rations have been passed out to the many stranded citizens of Equestria. Ranging from Appleloosa to Las Pegasus, all the way to Manehattan. Scootaloo was now officially in the middle of a magic-stripped world. So close to death. Under the morning sky, where the sun barely pecked at the stars and an orange gradient filled her vision, she was able to obtain a full visual of Arcadia's reaping of magic. There was nothing left. How they would bounce back from this, no clue was given.

She sat down and stroked her dirty face. A majority of their refugees were sleeping, but word came in that a migration of creatures were descending upon Equestria. This country would soon be crowded.

"Hey, Squirt." Scootaloo glanced back to Rainbow. Covered in dirt. Funny. She's never seen her so vulnerable.

"Can't sleep?" She asked.

"I can't find a cloud." Rainbow sat by her sIde. She smelled of smoke and ash, the remains of their humble town that now lied in rubble. "I was going to use it to evacuate Pegasi. But there's none in the sky."

Scootaloo looked to the stars. Sure enough, as far as the eye could see, only stars dotted her vision. No fluffy white clouds anywhere save for Cloudsdale. Strange. Did the magic evaporate them? What science could account for such an event?

"It won't help us," she said. "There's no food."

"What?"

"The magic uprooted and destroyed everything. We're about to starve. Hopefully, the Princesses are working on something or coordinating with IHT for assistance. But the last I heard, they were all heading here to Equestria. I don't know if we even have enough space for them."

"We should. Remember Maheera?" How could she forget? "They all managed to get here? They were camped out in buildings that time. This time, there aren't any cages. We're not restricted to walls."

Right, of course but... "What if something else comes up?"

"Like what?"

"Captain!!!"

Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash diverted their attention to the remains of Ponyville, where an Earth Pony Guard was running through the desolation of Ponyville. They slid to a stop at Scootaloo.

"I need to see the Captain!" They requested.

"The captain's away from post," Scootaloo replied. "I'm First Lieutenant. What's going on?"

They pointed back past Ponyville. "Aquatas! Two hundred miles out and approaching. Bigger than a fleet!"

Aquatas?! Psera?! Scootaloo rose to her hooves. "Aquatas? Are you sure?"

"Yes, ma'am! As far as the eye could see! I counted fifty in a single row alone!"

She wasn't the only one who heard. Ponies who were sleeping before now awoke to the ruckus of rushed panicked words.

"Aquatas?"

"Why would Psera come here?"

Majority Green trotted to her side. "What's going on?"

Scootaloo didn't answer her. She faced the militant before her. "Are you sure those were Aquatas?"

Just then a rush of wind speared over their heads. A company of military personnel carrying the flag of Psera speared through the air en route to Canterlot.

If there were any doubts before, they were blown out the window now.

Without taking her eyes off the company, Scootaloo tapped Majority's shoulder.

"Get the refugees to relax," she ordered. "We're not in danger. Yet. Psera has arrived."

They were almost there. So close. The fallen trees were thinning. The feeling of comfort and familiarity were nearing closer. Sunset's never been more excited to be home after such an event.

"So!" Sunset's attention snapped to Snap Seed up ahead. "What did you ladies do before all of this?"

Sunset and Starlight shared knowing smirks. Oh, the stories they could tell that weren't common knowledge.

Sunset glanced back to Snap and Lead. "Define 'this.'"

"How about when you first met Twilight," Lead clarified. "The very beginning."

"Well, you know how life goes. Try a few things, conquer a few worlds."

The two laughed and nodded in agreement.

"The lives of all of us, I'm afraid," Snap said. She pulled out a map and shined a light from her horn. "Now, if I'm correct, we should be near—"

A crack from the left of them pulled their attention. So far, they've been entirely alone. Until now. A mare with a filly on her back were adjacently in the same direction they were going. She seemed to be in a rush, a faster pace than they were going.

Strange how she didn't notice them. No barrier lied between their views. One would've spotted the other before.

Sunset leaned over to Starlight. "That's weird."

"She has a filly, can you blame her?" True. But still.

Snap Seed cleared her throat and lifted a hoof into the air. "Yoo hoo! Hello! Over here!"

The mare walking stopped and turned in their direction. What they saw froze them to a stop. Her eyes. Her filly's eyes. They were blackened, filled with small particles of lights and stars that twinkled with the rising morning.

"What in all the..." Starlight muttered breathlessly.

Before anyone could say anything, the mare's wings expanded in surprise. She screeched and reared up. A Pseratep?! Way out here?!

"No! No no!" She shouted. The mare ran in a tight circle with a relatively calm filly on her back. "Stay away! Nonbelievers! Nonbelievers!!"

"Hey, hey, what's your problem?" Lead Writer trotted closer, but the mare jumped back and hissed at her.

"Whoa, relax. Lead, come back."

Sunset inched towards her. This was so strange. Something clearly happened to her, that much was clear. To both her and her child. Was that rune on the stone the cause of it?

"Hey, all is well, we're friends," she soothed her. The mare didn't back down. "What's your name? I'm Sunset Shimmer."

"The time is now," the mare spoke. She jabbed a hoof up to Sunset's face. "You will perish. But fear not, the allcreator will reserve a place for you in the Everlasting Sky. For all of us. She's coming, the conjurer of worlds."

Lead Writer asked, "What is she talking about?"

No. Impossible, it was only a theory. A theory with substantial evidence, but still a theory. Sunset's heard these words before. That's why she swallowed her fear and pushed forth her questioning.

"Who is coming?" She asked.

Chapter 16 - To Synchronize...

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The night was lifting. The stars were disappearing, unveiling to the world the real pain of what will be there both tomorrow and the days after. Dirt and destruction. Pain. Hate.

Twilight's seen worse.

On the waves she walked. After fleeing from the burning watchful eye of Narmeelah, she retreated to the oceans. Flying low, she kept to the current until determining she was safe and landed. A neon pony of the past walking along the lines of fate, she found the future. She turned back. Psera, Equestria.... She didn't want to think about them. Not now.

Twilight faced forward again and floated into the sky once more. She raised her hooves and closed her eyes. Horn glowing, runes alight, matter changed.

The ocean beneath her transformed, from its deep blue to a light brown. A single point that spread further and wider than the eye could see. For miles it morphed, transmogrifying, then solidifying into soil. Dirt, rock, grass and trees sprouted from below growing healthy and tall.

A new world inspired by the old one where directly in the middle, a mountain was pulled up from the ocean floor taller than the clouds could reach. Ponds, lakes, valleys, infinite length.

It was done. Twilight gently touched down on this new world, deep within the valley and faced the mountains surrounding her. Within would be her home. As for the rest....

A smirk licked at Twilight's face. All was going to plan perfectly.

"Celestia!"

"Madam Singe." Celestia, Luna and Madam Singe bowed to each other briefly before the ruins of Canterlot Castle. "I assume you are here for refuge as well."

They both looked out towards Canterlot and all of the creatures that had arrived within the last hour. Ever since the attack, they all flooded into Equestria, the supposed center of all disaster fallbacks for their land amount.

"Neighton is split," Singe said. "Some have stayed to bury the dead, others have fled for safety."

"Where do you lie?"

"On both sides."

Luna sighed deeply. These disasters were becoming too common an occurrence. What used to be sunny skies filled with bushy white clouds were now choked with the smoke from flames, originating from the homes of innocent ponies. A shame, the reality they now all live in.

"Very well." She pointed west. "I do not believe Las Pegasus has been shared yet. You may go there."

Madam Singe bowed once more. "Thank you, Princesses." Then regrouped with other Neighton leaders waiting behind her.

Luna sighed and looked to Celestia. "Must this happen more often than we sleep?"

"Either we sleep and experience nightmares, Luna, or we wake in an actual nightmare," Celestia answered. "There are no alternatives at this time."

She raised her wing and gently brushed back Luna's mane. A small breeze of wind pushed her hair into her eyes, carrying with it ashes and dirt. She could smell the world burning. The embers dancing through the air, a glimpse into the past.

"Things will be rather different this time, Luna."

"How so?"

"Last time, it were only us. But now it's affecting all of Equus." Celestia gestured out to the land before them. To all the mismatched creatures taking up makeshift forms of shelter to catch up on must-needed rest.

"So far as I can seen, a fraction of all IHT houses are present." Celestia looked down to Luna. "That just leaves us with one country."

"Psera."

Celestia nodded to Luna's answer. "I know for certain they were attacked as well. Without Arcadia's magic, they're defenseless, and we can't contact them. I hope The Crown has a plan in place."

Luna peeked past Celestia's and paled. "I think they're enacting it now."

Celestia followed Luna's sight to a platoon of Elite Guard slowing their descent from the hazy skies of Equestria over the refugees themselves. Dirt lifted from their places of rest, swirling in circles and tight formations.

The Elite Guard landed in front of Celestia, Luna, and their generals. One of them carried in their hooves a device, one of which Celestia suspected was for their use.

Upon landing they saluted. A mare with the air of familiarity stepped forward.

"Princesses!" Captain Gliding Sword! Yes, a familiar voice. "We bring with us a radio for communication with the Queen of Psera!"

Captain Gliding set the radio down before them and backed away gracefully. Strange. Only a radio?

Luna looked to one of their generals. "Power it."

They trotted forward and leaned their head down. The power cable was wrapped around their horn. Instantly the radio came to life. Such classic technology. Celestia lifted the microphone and called in.

"Come in, Psera. This is Princess Celestia."

The call was heard. The only general on deck for Aquata Zero, General Neon Lightning, grabbed the microphone and lifted it to her mouth.

"This is Aquata Zero, Navigating Head of Psera's fleet. General Neon Lightning on call."

"What's your heading, Zero?"

Neon Lightning looked to the side to a soldier. "Grab Queen Dawn. We made contact." Once they were gone, Neon turned back to the conversation. "We're heading east towards Equestria. The Queen can tell you more on the situation. Standby."

The Queen, huh? At least Molten was alright. Luna looked down to the Elite Guards.

"What has happened to Psera?" She asked.

"Destruction, death, and suffering," they answered. "We lost a lot of ponies and lives. All of Psera had to be evacuated."

What?!! Before they could respond, the radio buzzed back to life. On the other side stood Fresh Dawn, all the generals, and a majority of the ponies at their station.

"Come in, Equestria. This is Queen Fresh Veola Dawn of Psera, seeking refuge with Equestria and their borders."

All of those ponies. This attack had disabled all of them. Even Psera. Did they even have enough room for Psera?

Yes. Nopony would be turned around.

"I am uncertain if we have enough space," she replied. "But come anyway. Have your Aquatas ring Equestria. We'll talk more on land."

"Copy that. Thank you." Dawn set the radio down and breathed tightly through her mouth. The journey would be a long one, but it would be worth it. "Secretary?"

Manny saluted. "Yes, ma'am?"

"Track our movement through the waves. When we're one hundred miles from Equestria, have all Aquatas split. We're going to ring the country. However..."

She turned around and faced the staff. "Have all of our remaining battleships off the east coast for defense. There's no telling what created that rune. I'd rather not take any chances."

"Yes, ma'am."

Hooves treaded lightly along freshly carved stone. A glow emanating in the form of a shadow. This new land. This new world. This would be a new start to an Equus safe from threats, the center of a vision they all searched for. Safe from the misuse of magic and, most of all, from her.

The mountain was carved from within. Where there once was stone was now a surrounding triangular tunnel of metal connected to endless hallways. Lines of light shone through vents in the ceiling, framing her path and the steps taken to what lied ahead. Along the surface were words, wise ones of friends and allies lost, soldiers who perished, ponies with stories to tell. A new look on life. Would it be ready in time? Twilight didn't know. There was no such thing as time for beings such as them.

Twilight ceased her journey towards the tall golden doors at the end, a sea of luster in this glossy corridor, with drawings of tales and legends scribbled upon its surface.

This "life" was moving purposelessly in a direction none of them wanted to go. They needed her help. They needed her guidance. She could feel it. Across the oceans, across the seas of blood and fear they stood, reaching out for hope. But would she answer? Would she heed to the call that demanded she pick up the sword and defend Equestria once more? Is she truly the pony they needed the most?

With a spark of her horn, the doors to Twilight's sanctum opened. A massive spherical room buried deep under the mountain. Cool with blue hues and artificial lights. Spacious enough for her wings. Alone. Safe. In the middle stood a throne, on the side a bed, and all along the walls, leaving no space untouched were pictures, moving images. Memories of a time long gone. Many for those she's lost and for those she's losing. All thanks to her magic.

Her magic. Maybe the world wasn't the problem.

Twilight sighed and teleported upon her throne. She closed her eyes and lit her horn to reach out to Equus. Expanding her grip on external events beyond this home where what was once stone was now steel, a new prison she created for herself. Where beyond the beautiful shiny beaches and deep within evergreen forests lied a gray pyramid with a white top, glowing brighter and brighter as the sun rose. A new day has risen. One she, once again, will not be seen in.

Finally! Ponyville. Well, what was left of it. Sunset's hooves slowly trotted to a stop at the edge of what was once the Everfree Forest. The damage was almost incredible. Unbelievable. But considering the mare behind it, anything was possible.

Starlight, Snap Seed and Lead Harvest joined her side.

"Stars Above," Snap whispered. "It's all gone. Everything."

An entire landscape had been wiped out. What once used to have beautiful homes within a bustling town overshadowed by a looming castle made of crystals, and endless fields of grass bustling with frolicking critters was no longer. A legend of a town rendered to ashes and memories within a single night. No. Hour.

But where were the citizens? When she left they were still moving about. Did this wipe out the ponies as well?

Sunset swallowed hard and squinted through the dust. There! Shadows and movement beyond the damage! She pointed in that direction.

"An assembly zone," she announced. "Let's go."

Starlight flanked her and pointed upwards. "Think she'll tire by then?"

Their focus moved from the assembly to the glowing teal bubble floating above their heads. The Pseratep from before was suspended in the air within. While her filly was sitting and staring aimlessly ahead, her mother, on the other hoof, was kicking, screaming and shouting to be free. Obscenities flew from her mouth, words in the Pseratopian language none of them could decipher.

"Probably not," Snap Seed assumed. "It's as if they are under some sort of spell."

A spell from one unseen. Operating in the shadows. Sunset sighed and moved forward with Starlight on her tail.

"We'll inform the princesses when we see them again," she said. "For now, let's group with the rest of Ponyville."

The sun has fully ascended into the sky. Light bathed across the destruction of Psera. A shame, a world founded on promise rendered to destruction. But in time, it will all be over. These poor souls.

Narmeelah sighed and treaded across the rune embedded deep into Psera's soil, surrounded by toppled buildings and surrounded by Pserateps watching from afar. How much longer now? Time could not move fast enough. Her hooves moved her to the center of the rune. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes. She breathed in the ashes of the past, soaking in the floating disgrace of a fallen civilization.

"A shame, don't you think?" She whispered. No answer came forth. "There was so much more to them. So much promise. Yet... What went wrong, Molten?"

She spun around and faced the former queen of Psera standing stoically with her eyes trained towards the remains of the Castle of the Gods. Streaks of red trailed down her coat towards the ground.

Molten opened her mouth to respond. Narmeelah's hoof shot up, stopping her before she began. "No. It doesn't matter. The deed has been done, now we try again. Your services to Psera are no longer required. You now work for me. Is there any location I haven't covered?"

"Serl," Molten answered in a hollow voice. "Serl is uncovered."

Serl? Why hasn't Narmeelah heard of this city?

"What is Serl?"

"Solid Energy Revolution Labs. It is Northeast of Cop, hidden from the rest of Psera in a remote part of the country where we experiment and develop new technology and weaponry."

Such is that of a lab. But if they hold weapons... Narmeelah hummed and tapped at her chin. That could be used against her. A hole in a formidable wall.

"Change of plans, Molten Ice. I have a new mission for you."

They've been at sea for hours. Cruising endlessly through open waters. Splashing along salty waves filled with curious fishes and marine life oblivious to the war above their very heads. Dawn stood at the bow of Aquata Zero, brooding towards the land mass beyond the other ships sharing the same ocean. Equestria. They were close. Secretary Manny should be giving the order soon.

"Queen Dawn. It has such a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

Well, it's been a while since she heard that voice. Not long enough. Dawn glanced sideways to Odega, sharing the same space as her under the watchful eye of Guards staged all over the deck.

"...it shouldn't have been obtained like this," she replied.

"Destiny certainly has a way of throwing us into the unknown." Odega looked down to this new Queen. "You have a plan in place? They're going to find out soon, you know."

"We do. Something else is going to come to light and we'll build on that."

"And what would that—"

"She's nervous," Dawn interrupted.

Odega looked back out to the ocean, towards the land of Equestria swarming with ponies from all over.

"I would be too. No one really had a chance to soak her in. Now, they have no choice."

"That's what First Light said. Either way, it has to be done. In order to fight the same battle in harmony, all secrets must be revealed. This family has been divided because we all hide the truth. No more lies, no more secrets."

Dawn turned around and walked from the bow with Odega back for the bridge. Saltwater sprayed through the air into her mane and face. A sense of serenity and peace filled her soul whenever she traveled the seas. If only they weren't dotted with refugees...

"So, what's the plan?" Odega asked.

Dawn quickly trotted up the stairs. "Dock in Las Pegasus and convene with the princesses. Unload our ponies and put them where they need to be, then we can root out the cause and find a solution."

"You know what they're going to say, right?"

"Of course I do. They've been saying it ever since she was exiled. I'm used to it."

"Acceptance doesn't make it any less hurtful," First Light commented.

No. it didn't. Dawn didn't know whether it was truly her toiling in anger or First Light whenever a derogatory term was used to indict her mother. Hate stirred within her heart, if she even truly had one.

Dawn burst onto the Bridge and trotted for the Map, surrounded by the Generals and Gardeen, standing by for a report.

"Give me an update," Dawn requested. She raised herself to see the map. Curse her petite body.

General Bold Shoulder pointed at Equestria. "We're coming up fast, Queen Dawn. We should be able to dock within the next hour or two."

Good. They were progressing well. All fate had to do was maintain its current state. It never worked out that way. A wrench would always be thrown into their plans. The only question was when.

Dawn pointed to Secretary Manny. "When are we circling the nation?"

"I was going to have them circle in the next ten. It puts us at a better distance. But we can do it now, at your leisure."

"Commence."

Secretary Manny grabbed the radio attached to the map. "Aquatas, branch off. The Queen has ordered the circle."

"Aquata Two-Zero-Eight, copy."

"Aquata Nine-Four-Seven, copy."

Dawn left the map and approached the window at the front of the bridge. Past the stations of armed Pserateps manning equipment, past the watchful eyes of supporting guards. She stopped at the glass and gazed far. The Aquatas before theirs split off, framing the remains of, once again, a tattered Equestria. A complete contrast to when she first saw it. How sad. How in all of Equus were they going to get out of this one?

"One step at a time," First Light said. "The words that father and mother have always told us. We should follow them."

She was right. Dawn took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Step one: Unload passengers with exclusive permission from the Princesses.

"Secretary Manny?" Dawn said to the window.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Once all Aquatas have reached their destinations, keep their doors closed until after I meet with the Princesses. Reach out and let them know we're close."

"Yes, ma'am."

The ponies have simmered down. Resting within the arms of winter. It brought back memories of when Scootaloo was a foal. When she was the one having a blanket draped over her and not the other way around. When she was watching the fighting and not in the middle of it. Oh, how times have changed. She was older; wiser. A Corporal when she used to be a private.

The sun was rising. Time for a new day. Scootaloo shielded her eyes. The sun's rays blasted over the hills upon the ground where Ponyville once lied, now a barren wasteland of what it used to be, save for the crystal castle-slash-trade center in the distance, and... three ponies?

Scootaloo squinted and peered out further from her place of snoring ponies. She was joined shortly by Majority and Tough Watts, tracking her sight. The dust was thick. An immense smog so massive that visibility may as well be nonexistent. Those ponies were incredibly close, but she couldn't make out their features.

She squinted more. "Is that..."

They emerged through the smog. Sunset! Starlight! Two other ponies, and a mare and a filly in a bubble.

"We have six more!" Scootaloo, Majority, and two more guards rushed forward and lead them into the camp. They seemed worse for wear, but overall alright.

Regardless... "Grab a medic," Scootaloo ordered. "Are any of you hurt?"

Sunset stepped forward to respond but Snap Seed beat her to it.

"No, guardsmare, we are not," she replied. "However, we are requesting an audience with the Princesses. It's an extreme emergency."

Scootaloo and Majority shared a glance. A Manehattan snob. She knew them when she heard them; when she saw them. One hoof off the ground, head held high, and a disgusting aura of confidence protruding from between their lips. That voice, ugh.

Scootaloo groaned internally. "Equestria is in the middle of a crisis. All ponies are to report to their staging areas and remain there until further notice."

Sunset used her head to push Snap Seed to the side. "I agree. But I think she doesn't like that answer."

She pointed above her to the bubble, imprisoning the mare held inside. She screamed, just enough to vibrate the bubble, not enough to pop it. Like before, her voice and words went unheard. Fading into the wind as the past intended.

Horn-less, long wings... "A Pseratep?" Scootaloo assumed.

"And her filly." Majority pointed to a small filly sitting behind the mother. She stared off into the distance, looking through warping glass, entranced by the destruction of a once-flourishing society.

Starlight lowered the bubble closer to the ground and Scootaloo stepped closer. A hair's length away from the surface. Immediately, the mare whirled around and slammed her rear hooves into the side. Scootaloo jumped back, but the bubble held.

"How long will this bubble hold?"

Starlight shrugged and shook her head. "I can hold it all day if I have to."

The mare reared up and placed her hooves upon the shield. She stared deep into Scootaloo's eyes. Worlds were held within her mind. Has she gone mad with eyes like these?

"She spoke earlier," Snap Seed reported. She stepped next to Scootaloo and observed alongside them. "But it was in Old Pseratopian. We couldn't understand a single word she was saying."

"But there was something." Starlight stepped around and pointed at the bubble. "She did say something in Ponish earlier when we first saw her. 'Nonbelievers.' She was screaming that over and over again. Whatever that means."

That certainly sounds like something that someone at the top would know. Scootaloo shared a look with Majority. A question in her gaze and expression that was answered almost immediately.

Majority shook her head. "All communications are down until further notice. No form of communication except through dragon fire."

Scootaloo faced Sunset Shimmer, Starlight, and these two mares from Manehattan. They held a very important asset. A clue as to what was next. This pony and her foal... Who else was affected?

"Majority?" Majority saluted. "Scramble together a squad to escort these mares to Canterlot. Under no circumstances are you to stop. I don't care how you do it, get them there as soon as possible."

"Yes, ma'am."

Scootaloo pointed to Sunset and Starlight. "Don't you dare let that pony out of that bubble unless the Princesses tell you to do so. I have a feeling she'll try and run off."

At their nods, Majority beckoned them forward and ran off with Snap Seed and Lead Harvest on her tail. Upon reaching the Lieutenant, Sunset laid a hoof on her shoulder. "It's been so great watching you grow up."

Scootaloo scoffed and faced forward again "I wish I didn't have to grow up in such calamity. Where my friends and family had to be homeless. I wish there was more I can do. Now go. We'll deal with this here."

After a curt nod, Sunset galloped off into the staging area and disappeared into the sleeping ponies behind around them.

"Be safe, and good luck," Scootaloo whispered. They would definitely need it.

Chapter 17 - ...With Fate

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They would need help. Assistance. But not hers. Not this time. However, Twilight knew where she could get it. No Pony, Griffon, creature, nothing, not even Narmeelah herself was strong enough to match up to her power. Time in that box allowed Twilight to think. To speak, to learn. Now was the time to put that newly gained knowledge to use.

A small flash shattered the darkness of this space briefly. For only a moment, this place, this haven that used to be home was alive. But, alas, it was not how it used to be. Now, it was empty. Broken. Walls of gold were crumbling. Loose stones and rocks dropped from their place and upon derelict lab tables, empty bookshelves, and what remained of the Mecrah Portal's Control Panel. Each step taken was upon a rune, golden, a contrast to the caster's usual color.

Twilight walked through the darkness and stopped before the control panel; before the Mecrah Portal and the draconequus held within.

"Maheera Dark," Twilight whispered. It felt like a lifetime since they last spoke. So much frustration and animosity brought them here to this very moment. No longer. Now was the time for them to work together now that she knew who the true enemy was.

Twilight illuminated her horn. The symbiote shifted from its place and snaked along the ground, carefully oozing from the Mecrah Portal opening. It was much easier to control now. She was focused, stronger than when she first fell out. She had an edge over the strength of this material.

It was ripped out the Mecrah Portal and at her hooves. Then, with a flash, erupted into flames. The fire crackled beneath her features. But her sight remained on her goal.

Maheera Dark was gently levitated from within the Mecrah Portal. The chains unlatched from her hooves. Unconscious, she levitated Maheera Dark out and into her possession. She never thought she would ever hold a friend like this. Hopefully, familiar faces would not take her place.

She had to hurry. In a flash, Twilight disappeared, leaving behind an empty space. Mere seconds after she left, another teleported where she stood.

Narmeelah. She stared upon the Mecrah Portal. Whoever was just here, they weren't anymore. They had magic. Strong magic. But it wasn't Arcadia. She was a walking beacon. She would've recognized the first step she took.

No matter. Narmeelah teleported away, leaving behind the silence of this lab.

An alarm blared through the air, signalling the order of Queen Fresh Dawn for all Aquatas to brake. An endless tone the likes Equestria has never heard that spread over the entire continent. Psera had finally arrived. From the massive heights of Canterlot, one could make out every last single remaining Aquata they had left dotting the seas for as far as they could see, and further still.

"Holy Faust," Sky Duster whispered amongst herself.

Celestia nodded and commented, "This isn't even the full might of Psera. Come, we have to meet with their Queen, the Daughter of Queen Arcadia."

"You mean the itty-bitty filly?"

"Yes. I was told she wants to meet with us on Aquata Zero shortly after docking. Let's go." Celestia took off into the air with the leaders of IHT on her tail, destination for Aquata Zero, the only Aquata with three flags instead of one, and where Queen Dawn was preparing for her speech.

Oh stars, she was nervous. Her hooves couldn't stop feeling the desk. The way the movement put her at ease. The way the Equipment was brought into the office space she previously occupied, alongside notable ponies who stood out of view.

Gardeen was pointing to the lens and passing out instructions. "Speak here, and all of Psera will see and hear you. You have your notes?"

Dawn held up a sheet of paper. "Right here."

"Stick to that strictly. Don't add in anything else."

Right. Nothing else. Of course. Dawn cleared her throat and took a deep breath. In her mind, she envisioned a best friend. A one of a kind. A rare breed that put a smile on her face the moment a small red light on the camera illuminated.

"Hello, all of my Pserateps," she spoke. She could hear her voice relay over the seas, spreading over every single Aquata at sea and drifting over Equestria.

"I am Fresh Veola Dawn. Many of you know me as the daughter of King Madun, my fair father and late King of Psera, and of my mother, Queen Arcadia Nova, the banished Queen, and Saviour of Psera.

"Last night, all over the Known World of Equus, countries everywhere were ripped apart by the removal of Arcadia's Magic, taking the lives of thousands everywhere. In an effort of survival, Psera, Equestria, Neighton, and many countries have decided to merge numbers and technology. Shortly, I will be meeting with the International House of Trade to discuss temporary living arrangements and our next steps to action. Until then, the Government of Psera urges you to follow and obey all orders from operating commanders, and await any instructions from this point forward. Thank you."

The light on the camera was cut, and Dawn released that breath she didn't know she was holding. The first out of many.

"Excellent work, your highness."

"Yes, ma'am, great work."

Dawn rose from the desk and walk around to meet the ponies in charge.

"Any word on IHT's arrival?" She asked.

The door was opened and military stationed nearby saluted upon their exit.

"Not yet, ma'am," another answered. "We're expecting their arrival soon. The liaison from earlier mentioned our arrival and meeting upon Aquata Zero."

Gardeen and Hot Stop directed Fresh Dawn to the deck access. "We'll meet up with them out here."

The access door to the forward deck was opened. They stepped out into cold temperatures and a sunny environment. The Aqua Guard saluted their new Queen's arrival, and the Aerial Guard zoomed past overhead, running patrols back and forth over the coast of Equestria and the Aquatas that ring them.

Dawn asked, "Do we have a defensive line setup, Secretary Manny?"

"Yes, ma'am. We have ten battleships behind us now protecting the Western Coastline. Ten more heading for, if not there already, for the north and the south. We'll be setting up more defenses on the east without Aquatas."

Their progression ceased at the end of the deck facing Equestria and the calamity that stared back. Ponies and creatures of all kinds dotted Equestria like grains of sand on a neverending beach, staring at their ships. It was so crowded.

Dawn swallowed hard. It was almost hopeless. How did her family do it?

A wing gently settled upon her back. "You're not alone, Dawn."

Dawn looked up into the eyes of Princess Luna. Behind her stood Princesses Celestia, Cadance, and the remaining members of the international House of Trade. When did they arrive; and how did they not notice them before?

Dawn faced them but turned her sights to what lied before them all.

"It seems almost impossible," she uttered. Dawn walked back towards the edge of the Aquata. "All of Equus... Every last single living thing left on this world... They're right here."

"I know." Celestia stood next to Dawn and nodded understandingly. "During Maheera versus the world, we encountered something very similar to this moment. But back then, Psera had all of their weapons."

"So you know then. We're almost defenseless, save for the battleships we have occupying the coast. The rest of our weaponry, we assume, is left on Psera. Secretary Manny?"

Manny stepped forward and reported. "A third of our armed Aquatas have been sunk. We still have weaponry occupying other parts of Psera, but without any eyes on those areas, we can neither deny nor confirm if those weapons are still online."

"If I may ask, Queen Dawn..." Dawn turned around and faced the last pony she'd ever expect to ask that question. Merry. "Why are you concerned for weapons? Shouldn't we be concerned more for reproductive technology?"

"No." The military as well as the International House of Trade murmured amongst themselves. She was losing them. "I will explain as much as I can in the future as soon as our citizens are settled. For now, our ponies are our top priority."

Dawn turned back to Celestia, Luna, Cadance, and Flurry. "Princesses. I can see that room is tight. But is there any more possible space available anywhere?"

"There should be." Cadance pointed towards the hills keeping Ponyville from view. "Ponyville was evacuated, but there is still room there to rest and recover. You can stage there whilst we identify more locations. I'm afraid to say that the Frozen North is too far and cold for the Pserateps. Everywhere else should be fine."

"We're working on food," Luna added. "But most of our scouts are returning empty-hoofed."

"I understand," Dawn replied. "Even with our rations split, there's not nearly enough to feed all of our ponies for any day after tonight. We have to act quickly."

She faced her generals and Secretaries. "I want eyes on Ponyville. See how much space we can utilize without it being too much. Then have an escort team direct Pserateps towards those locations. Report back to me once it's done."

After a salute, the generals turned around and made their way back to the bridge, leaving Dawn, Merry, and the rest with IHT, and the military standing by holding flags.

Once they were out of earshot, she faced them again. "I'm am so nervous," she admitted.

"It's normal to be," Cadance replied. "You're doing very well."

Celestia looked to Merry. "My condolences to your mother. Losing both her and your brother so soon... I feel your grief from here."

Merry offered them a small smile. "Thank you, Princess. All I have right now are the twins, the country, and this little rugrat here." She scuffed her hoof through Fresh Dawn's mane. "I promised both her father and mother that even beyond death, I would watch out for their foal, and I plan on doing just that."

Dawn rolled her eyes and politely pushed their hoof away. Leave it to Aunt Merry to make things weird.

"While they prepare the Pserateps for landing, we have to convene and discuss what happened, and what's next."

"I agree," President Manamar replied. "The faster all of this is resolved, the sooner we can all sleep in the warmth of our homes. Or what's left of them."

Dawn nodded and began walking back towards the Aquata. "We can talk in here. I have a few—"

"Princesses!"

All attention swiveled towards a Royal Guard, a pegasus flying their way onto Aquata Zero's forward deck. They landed roughly on Aquata Zero and immediately saluted.

"Your attention is needed immediately back in Canterlot! A group of ponies have arrived from Ponyville. Among them Ambassador Shimmer and Secretary Glimmer. They brought a Pseratep and her filly. But, your highnesses..."

The soldier lowered their hoof and slowly shook their head. "There's something incredibly wrong with them."

Her head continued to bang up against the sides of the bubble Starlight had held during the journey from the Everfree Forest all the way up here to Canterlot. Wings flapping tirelessly for freedom to wreck who knew what. Floating both a bothersome Pseratep and stoic filly whilst floating oneself to the top of Canterlot was no easy feat. But Starlight's feat was done greatly.

Guards from all sides of IHT stood by carefully watching the scene. Sunset stood at the ready, hooves planted, and horn poised, ready to strike. If Starlight was unable to hold that bubble any longer, catching a Pseratep would prove to be more than difficult.

"Starlight?" She asked. "How're you holding up?"

Sweat dripped down Starlight's face. Her limbs quaked, eyes clenched shut. She was struggling. But with all of her might, Starlight held on as much as she could.

"I'm running out," she strained to admit. "But I got her."

As long as she stayed under control, it didn't matter if Starlight could hold her or not.

A flapping of wings, drew their attention to the arrival of Princesses Cadance and Flurry Heart. In a panic, they scurried over.

"What's going on?" Cadance asked.

Sunset shook her head and pointed to the wild Pseratep held within the bubble. "That."

She turned around and bucked at the bubble, pulling a cry out of Starlight.

"Starlight's been holding the bubble ever since we encountered her."

Well that just won't do. With a flick of her horn, a larger bubble surrounded Starlight's.

"You can let go now, Starlight," Cadance insisted. "I have her."

Starlight's horn simmered down and she slumped to the ground. Finally. She had no idea if she could truly hold on any longer.

Once that was done and the mare was now bouncing around Cadance's bubble, Flurry just had to ask.

"Why is there a Pseratep in a bubble in the first place? The Pserateps just got here."

"She was here before they showed up," Sunset answered. "Walking through Everfree Forest."

"If I may..." Snap Seed walked forward with her hoof raised, but her attention focused on a device in her hoof. The readings bounced. How? Was it this Pseratep? "We came across her earlier after investigating a few phenomenons."

"Look at her, look, check them out."

She brought Cadance closer to the filly sitting at the front of the bubble staring straight ahead to the destruction of Canterlot. As if in a trance, she minded not the intrusion of her sight.

"Whoa," Flurry murmured. Those eyes were something else.

Cadance waved her hoof in front of her face. "Hey. Hello? Anypony home?"

No response was even given. Not even a blink. They rose back to their hooves and shared a look.

"She hasn't moved at all since we found them. Any idea?" Sunset asked.

"None," Cadance answered. She rubbed the back of her neck. "In all my years, I've never encountered any thing like this. I suggest we leave this to the older ponies. Maybe they'll have a better idea."

Yeah. Maybe. Sunset's never heard of a spell such as this. The same spell thrust upon different ponies having opposite reactions. Who would have the power to do such a thing, and why would they in the first place?

Before they could continue, IHT swiftly arrived, along with Queen Dawn, Gardeen, Princess Merry, Secretary Gardeen and her assistant Hot Stop.

Celestia landed and asked, "What is going on?"

Cadance pointed to the bubble. "See for yourself. A Pseratep and her filly arrived here before their country did. She seems infected by something. The filly hasn't moved, and the mare won't stop moving."

While Celestia approached the bubble, Dawn and her entourage of Psera's Best finally landed. The moment her hooves touched the land of equestria, what remained of Canterlot Castle...

"Holy Celestia!!" Snap Seed shouted. Attention swiveled to her briefly before focusing back on the bubble. "Okay, which one of you was it?!"

Fresh Dawn turned to Celestia, who in turn looked to Sunset for confirmation. "Who is your friend, Sunset?"

Sunset sighed and held out her hoof in defeat in the direction of their overly enthusiastic friend.

"Princess Celestia, this is Snap Seed. She owns a small magical engineering lab in Manehattan."

"Owned," Snap corrected. She walked up to the princesses and held the meter near Flurry's face. Nope. No change. "The place and everything in it is likely rubble now."

Lead Harvest grabbed her by the tail and pulled her back only for her to walk away again. "Long story short, we've been tracking a network of runes that have been plastered across Equestria post-Arcadia's attack in hopes of identifying whether or not they were connected to this catastrophe. They weren't. The runes are still active, and have lied dormant in terms of reaction to anything."

"Until now!" Snap Seed walked over to all of IHT. "When you all landed here, their energy spiked! Bouncing right off the grid! I know it can't be the Alicorns, they have no connection to Arcadia Nova! The Princesses of Equestria are out; they've been here this whole time and nothing happened! But..."

She locked her eyes on Dawn. "You? When you arrived, the readings flipped right of the page. Who are you?"

Dawn pointed to herself and made to speak, but Gardeen beat her to it.

"This is Queen Fresh Dawn of Psera. Daughter of King Madun and Queen—"

"Twilight 'Arcadia Nova' Sparkle," Snap Seed said. "It's you. Arcadia Nova anticipated your arrival. Which means..."

Stars above. All of this. All of what they've done, what they've been through... "She knew. She knew about everything. She knew this would happen."

Snap Seed faced the entirety of Canterlot and saw it in a new light. This world, all of Equus...

Snap Seed was whirled around to face Sunset. "What are you talking about, snap Seed?"

"Don't you see?" She pointed to Dawn. "Why would she need runes to activate the moment Dawn steps on Equestrian land when at the time of setting up these runes, she thought Dawn was dead?"

A good question responded to by silence.

"Indeed," Luna muttered. "Arcadia Nova has left us with a plague of many mysteries and questions, all of which we have never received straight forward answers to."

"Well, now I have a question." Dawn pointed behind her, down the street where a strange glow was gradually growing from the top of an abandoned factory. A small bead of light that continued to increase in light.

"Should we be scared of that?"

Snap Seed took careful steps in its direction. "I'm not sure. The runes are activating, clearly, but what they're for, we had yet to uncover. The only way to find out was to let them go off."

At Dawn's gasp, the Elite Guard swiftly surrounded and shrouded her from view.

"Protect the Queen!" Orders were shouted.

"Ha'l sheema! Moname!" Dawn cried. Ugh, if these guards don't just let her sit on her own flank sometimes without there being a golden pillow under it...

Alarmed, Celestia quickly approached Sunset. "How many of these are there?" She hastily asked.

"They surround the entire continent. We don't have an exact number."

More of those violet lights consecutively spotted the distance. So bright, they shone like stars in the night. Like a Marrial, taking off from Lavender. Starlight, as much as she could move stepped closer. "We theorized, based off their formation alone, that they were designed to either keep us in..."

"Or to keep something out," Sunset finished.

Before they could speak on it any further, the stars let off large violet beams into the sky. Endless pillars that encompassed and entranced all of Equestria.

Endless groves of Pserateps flying from the Aquatas as fast as they could, stopped in their paths. The beams ascended higher than they could see, outlining an endless tube reaching for the stars.

"What is that?" Luna muttered. "Celestia?"

"I don't know," she answered. "Just be ready."

A light wall of violet snapped into existence between two beams. Followed by another next to it. Then another. They were created gradually out of sight. They weren't in danger as of yet. Dawn pushed her way free from the protective hold of the Guards. It was magic. Mom's magic. Dawn could feel it. So much it gave her a headache.

She rubbed at her horn. Such an uncomfortable feeling. Oh, why did her mother have to be the strongest Alicorn-Pseratep on the planet?

But it wasn't over. From the ocean, more burst from the waves, spearing past the Aquatas stationed below and into the other beams themselves. The walls tilted, creating a dome that soon swallowed their oceanic weaponry ringing the outside of Equestria.

Then, in a flash, the wall was solidified, a violet transparent veil that both kept in and out.

"...what in all of..." Consort Snow of Prance spoke up.

On the western edge of the wall, lines of magic carefully drew in an outline. An outline seen by all that brought hope and wonder to any who witnessed it.

Twilight "Arcadia Nova" Sparkle raised her wings, head and horn held high. A twinkling star sparkled at the tip of it all, a shining beacon of both life and control.

"She knew all along," Snap Seed whispered.

Secretary Manny didn't need a wall separating them from the action. She pointed at the wall facing towards Psera.

"Fire a test round," she ordered.

In no time at all, a single cannon was launched directly over Canterlot and into the veil. The only response was a ripple, outlined with an indigo ring, spreading from the point of contact across the entire thing.

Dawn shook her head. "Don't attack," she ordered. "Mom has a reason for everything. That wall? It serves a purpose."

"So it seems." A new voice. One they've never heard.

All heads swiveled back to Cadance's bubble, the one holding the Pseratep mare and her filly. So much happened they didn't even realize she had stopped bouncing recklessly. She stared ahead, watching the bubble with a small smile on her face.

"She's a lot more than I estimated her to be," the mare spoke. Strange. That voice. That energy...

Dawn squinted and walked up to the bubble. Those eyes, the one belonging to another entity tracked her. She could feel them watching.

"Who are you?" She asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" The mare asked.

The filly, the stoic of the two shot her head up to Dawn. "Surely, even you know."

The rest moved in closer, flanking Dawn's sides. The Elite Guard positioned themselves accordingly. Celestia leaned in close to the glass, staring deep into this mare's eyes.

"That doesn't answer our question."

"Your mother knew who I was." She crossed her hooves and sat down in front of Dawn. "She knew for many years, many moons, that one day, mistakes would be fixed. A reset..."

Dawn gasped and backed away. She quivered in fear. "You... You're..."

"You can just call me grandma."

"Or we can call you by your real name!!"

Great, another one?! Attention swiveled back around to the steps of their destroyed castle. A unicorn, as black as the night and eyes as yellow as a rising sun, slit down the pupil. An enemy of the world staring daggers into the soul of the true threat.

The mare was nonplussed. However, the rest weren't as calm. Weapons were drawn, magic was weaponized, Dawn was once more surrounded, and ponies lingering around screamed and took flight away from the scene as fast as possible. They didn't need this again.

The mare in the bubble sighed through her nose. "Hello, Maheera."

"Hello, again... Narmeelah."

Chapter 18 - Hello, Truth

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Electricity crackled between three parties. Maheera Dark, staring up to Narmeelah, or the ghost held within, and the animalistic stares from the International House of Trade. Dawn could feel the fear melting off of all of them.

"Oh, this is not good," First Light said.

"I agree," Dawn muttered.

Celestia was the first to speak. "How did you get out of the Mecrah Portal? Arcadia locked you in there."

"Oh, isn't it obvious?" Narmeelah rose back to the hooves that weren't her own and smirked casually to Maheera. "She was the one who let her out. I knew something felt off down there."

"Princesses?" Maheera raised a hoof and gestured in a come hither motion. "Step away from the bubble. This mare is the greatest threat Equus has ever faced."

"Oh, Maheera, always so dramatic. I believe it is the complete opposite. You see..." Narmeelah and the filly stepped forward and out of the bubble, as easy as walking through an open door. "I'm not going to hurt any pony..."

"I'm here to fix everything," she continued through the filly. No one responded. "Oh, come now."

The filly jumped from the ground onto a loose piece of rubble, standing at the same height as Celestia. "Surely, you understand and have witnessed the world at its worse."

"...you're the threat that Arcadia was always so afraid of?" Luna whispered.

Narmeelah turned in her direction. "Fear is merely a reaction, a result when faced with the unknown. We've all experienced fear. When we live different lives..."

"...when we travel to faraway places..." The group immediately split away from Gardeen. Now her eyes were changed. A smile graced her face.

"Or when we are in danger." They backed away from Princess Merry before she slumped and rubbed at her head.

The filly jumped on the back of the mare once more. They both opened their mouths and spoke at the same time through the same tone.

"All that matters is how we handle it. We can either fight against the inevitable, or we can embrace it with open hooves."

"Let me guess." Dawn pushed her way out from between the legs of her guards. "You want us to embrace Equus' Reset."

The mare leaned in closely. A wide maniacal grin spread across her face.

"So, you've seen my diary," she said.

"Mother told me a few things. She's the only one who knows what's in there, inside and out."

"And even she's gone into hiding." She faced Maheera Dark and the veil entrapping them. "Alas, she fights from afar. My granddaughters are the greatest of generations. Intelligent, strategic..." She glared back down to Dawn with disgust. "Magical."

"What do you want?" Celestia asked.

"I want my diary of your own free wills." She narrowed her eyes and stalked down the steps, right when Odega and the rest of the Legends of Psera landed, alongside Sky Duster, Tritanium, and Sun Waves.

Odega knew that look. "I thought Arcadia had lost her mind when she told me of your possible return. But then I remembered: you disappeared. There was no body."

"A goddess does not die, old friend." She looked past Odega to Maheera. "They merely sleep."

"No one knows where the diary is held." Narmeelah swiveled her head in Gardeen's direction. "The only pony who knew is Arcadia Nova, and I'm sure she's hid herself even from you."

"We'll see." Narmeelah backtracked into the bubble. "You have five days to return my diary to me."

"Or what?" Dawn challenged.

"Or I begin picking the memories of all of you. A painful experience. I am giving you a choice, allowing you to practice your wills and freedoms. Do not take advantage of it, for the end, it has finally come."

The mare's eyes shut and reopened. Her pupils normal, a deep brown. The filly dropped on her face, instantly sleeping.

"Wh... What happened? Where am I?" She asked herself.

No words were said until Dawn spoke. "You are in Equestria. All of Psera had to be evacuated." She faced IHT and Psera's leadership. "Let's get comfortable. We have a lot to speak about."

"I agree." Luna pointed into the remains. "Despite the destruction, the hall remains intact. We can converse in there."

Right. Before Dawn could take anymore steps, Celestia stopped her with a raise of her hoof.

"I suggest you put someone in charge in case danger approaches."

"Odega." Odega appeared next to Dawn saluting. "You're the oldest and second strongest Pseratep here. You know Psera inside and out. I need you to be in charge while we meet."

"Out of curiosity, who's the first strongest?"

Dawn turned around and faced the pony held at bay by weapons of all kinds. Maheera, staring right back. Facing the fury of all of Equus.

"Why did mother let you out?" Dawn asked.

Maheera poked at a spear. "Queen Arcadia thought you could use a little help. Your magic, while strong is still untamed. If you hope to defeat Narmeelah, you're going to need backup from the only pony who ever fought her."

"Having her on our side would definitely be a plus," First Light agreed. "She knows more than any pony else here. Even Mom."

Fresh Dawn sighed deeply through her nose and looked to Gardeen for her input.

"Let's give her a chance," she asked.

It was probably for the best. She pointed to Maheera. "After what you did, all eyes will be on you."

Maheera bowed humbly. "That is fair, Queen Dawn."

The decision was made. Dawn looked to Captain Smalls, and with a single nod, the order was given.

She turned around and walked into the castle with the rest of IHT, leaving the guards to aim upon and escort Maheera in behind her.

While IHT moved, Flurry just had to ask. She caught up to Dawn. "Are you sure it was a good idea to bring her in?"

"The fight is no longer against a basic pony, Flurry," she answered. "The threat? It's more dangerous than mother, let alone Maheera. The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

They soon entered the Trade Room. Stone, dirt, and debris littered every space, but all of what was in there prior to the attack remained. Horns were lit and debris was pushed to the side.

Ponies took their places and seats were taken. Alas, Dawn didn't have one. Psera never joined.

"You may sit here, Queen Dawn." Luna presented another chair next to Flurry Heart. It wasn't of the same design, but it was pretty close. Maybe in the future when all of this is sorted out she would have her own. A smile of pride burst from her face. She eagerly trotted over and sat next to Flurry who bumped her with a wing.

"Welcome, Queen Dawn," she said with a wink.

"Thank you, Princess Flurry."

Maheera stood to the side, guards lined the room and the cracked jagged edges of missing walls around them. Generals, commanders, personnel, the available Legends of Psera and IHT's Defense packed the room out.

A smile shone bright from Celestia's face. She stood up and became the center of attention. "Look at this. Ponies, both young and old, from far and wide, have finally come together. All of us."

Such a sight. The International House of Trade was finally whole. An entire room full of warriors, fighters, magicians, scientists, historians, and legends from lands far away.

Luna stood. "Before we begin, before we take these steps to reclaim this world as ours once again, I would like to thank all of you. Times have grown tiring, to say the least. It seems that with every year, a new threat shows its face, worst than the last. But all of you have persisted. None of us would be here if we didn't trust each other."

She looked to Dawn and bowed briefly. "Thank you, for trusting us, Queen Dawn. I know that after recent events, this seemed like a bad idea."

"Make no mistake, Princess Luna, that my decision to come to Equestria was fueled primarily for a means of survival..." Dawn sighed and looked around the room. A smile itched at the corner of her mouth. "But, if all goes well, I, personally, would like to revisit the relationship between The House and Psera."

Celestia and Luna shared a look. One of excitement. Finally. All knew of Psera and her power. For them to be aligned with IHT...

"I sense a wonderful future for all of us," Madam Singe said. "Now, how about we finally pursue it?"

"I agree."

Celestia nodded. "Very well. It seems the enemy of enemies has showed her face, in a matter of speaking. The threat that Twilight Sparkle feared for so long. Narmeelah."

The sun tickled Arcadia's fur. A warmth that pricked at her heart. The pyramid loomed in the distance, magical technology that even Psera would have trouble recreating.

She walked along a golden road, leading to a large space overshadowed by a forest of palm trees in the back. A garden ringed by flowers of all colors. In the middle of this garden was a single fountain, overflowing with water and splashing at her hooves. Made out of diamond, it was unbreakable. Prismatic rays bounced through its structure.

On the four corners of this garden were tall golden poles with floating rubies at the top. An affectation, surely, but serving a purpose in all rays of life.

Arcadia stopped at the fountain and reached into the water. The rubies shone bright, the water even brighter. Arcadia covered her eyes and gently withdrew her hoof. One does not simply yank out a foal.

An orange alicorn filly hoofing at the air. Arcadia chortled. Such beautiful life. Innocent through the pain and suffering of the outside world.

She leaned down and nuzzled her belly. The filly reached out and swiftly struck her hoof across Arcadia's face.

"Yikes!" Arcadia shot her head back in surprise. "Well, at least you can protect yourself. I didn't estimate for this to work in such a way."

Regardless, Twilight turned around and carried the foal out of the garden back towards the pyramid, for this child would be one of many. A new race, a new pony.

In the center of the trade room floated a three-dimensional rendition of the rune that burned its way to the surface of Psera. Around it, the destruction of Psera.

Dawn pointed to the image. "This is what was discovered after we left. This image hasn't been updated, so we have no clue if it's a growing rune or a static one."

"Narmeelah gave us a limited window to get to her the Diary of Narmeelah," Secretary Manny reported. "I like to think the diary is vital to her success."

"Are you certain?" Queen Novo asked.

"It could go both ways," Dawn explained. "Without the Diary, there's no way to know for certain."

"Careful, Dawn," First Light warned.

"It's okay," Dawn thought to her sister. "Today is the day and this the hour. I'll be here every step of the way."

"Then we have to locate the Diary," Shining Armor spoke. "It's in Psera possession?"

Secretary Manny cleared her throat. "It is located in one of our facilities... Back on Psera."

A round of groans and moans escaped the mouths of all in the room, save for Fresh Dawn.

"Dang," Sky Duster swore. "I was really hoping to show this Narmeelah how kick butt we truly can be without, you know, seeing her first."

A hoof settled upon Dawn's shoulder. She looked up to Gardeen, who in turn nodded. If she wanted to tell them the truth, now would be the time.

Dawn faced the room. Celestia proposed a plan to possibly infiltrate Psera under detection while Psera wondered if it was even possible to penetrate the veil.

"It's time," Dawn thought.

Tentatively, she raised her hoof. Slowly ever so gracefully. It stuck out like a sore thumb, and was spotted by Princess Novo.

"Yes, Queen Dawn," she acknowledged.

Here we go. Dawn rose from her seat.

"Actually... Okay, so, the Diary of Narmeelah. It..." She rubbed her hooves together. Strange. Luna raised an eyebrow. "The diary isn't, exactly, on Psera. Instead, it was hidden when we were on Psera. The one on Psera... That's fake."

Secretary Manny glanced around awkwardly. "What do you mean, Queen Dawn?"

Dawn took a deep breath and left her seat, all eyes on her until she was at the front of the room. She sat down on her haunches and took another deep breath.

"Mom knew Narmeelah would come back one day, so having the diary on Psera would make it too accessible. Less secure. So she met with the council under the eyes of Psera, rest their souls, and motioned to have the Diary secured in a location of which she determined to be the most secure."

"What is that location?" Shining armor asked.

Dawn shut her eyes. "Mom called it Vendulla."

Vendulla. Such a strange name. Celestia asked. "Is that another country?"

Luna shrugged. "I've never heard of it."

"None of you have ever heard of it." The response came not from Dawn, but from Maheera. She stared in disbelief. Mouth parted, eyes wide.

She carefully stepped out of her place and approached Dawn. "Vendulla isn't a country. It's not a city, it's not a town. Vendulla... It's another plane of reality. A reality that even I can't step hoof in, let alone leave my things."

All eyes turned back to Dawn. In silence. Interest. Disbelief. She sighed and shut her eyes. "I apologize for not telling you earlier. Our current state didn't warrant me that opportunity."

Before anyone could respond, Maheera beat them again. "I don't care that you didn't tell them. All I care about is how your mother got in."

"What do you mean, Maheera?" Sunset asked. "This is Twilight Sparkle we're talking about. She built a portal—"

"Yeah, to Earth, she told me. But Vendulla isn't like opening a door, okay? Anypony can build an entrance. This is an entirely different level. This is gaining access to another universe."

She turned back to Dawn before the room again. "Arcadia Nova didn't even know about Vendulla until after I told her, and I've been trying to get in there for centuries."

"Okay, everypony stop." Novo pointed to both Dawn and Maheera. "Clearly, you two know of Vendulla. But we don't. Explain it."

Dawn made to speak, but was, once again, beat to the punch. "Vendulla is the opposite of existence and magic. You only see the shadow of life, nothing more. It's a world of chaos."

She turned to Sunset Shimmer. "The reason Arcadia was able to get in to Earth was because everything there already existed. You can eat there, feel, smell, it's all real. Vendulla is the complete opposite. It's the overflow of dark matter."

Maheera used her magic to draw a multitude of circles in the air for them all to see. They floated around the room. "This is us. All of us. Different worlds, faces, creatures, realities, lives. All of it. I can walk forward, right? I can step here and feel the ground."

Maheera walked forward and bumped into the table. "That table is real, and I know that because I just ran into it. But Vendulla.... Vendulla is the complete opposite. Over there, this table doesn't exist. It just looks like it does."

A thick line was drawn underneath all the bubbles, followed by a much larger bubble that consumed the lower half of the room. "This is Vendulla. It's unoccupied space filled with nothing but fading possibilities. It's a land of... Of..."

"A land of illusions?" Luna guessed.

"Yes! Nothing there is real!" She faced Dawn again. "The reason your mother was able to travel to Earth was because it was actually real. On the other side of her portal there was something there for her to connect to. A chair, a face, the freaking dirt she walked on. But there's nothing in Vendulla. It's impossible to connect to.

"I want to believe you, Dawn, I really do. Nothing would make me happier than to see what juicy secrets Narmeelah hid in that thing. But it's scientifically impossible to get into Vendulla. Almost magically."

Almost? Celestia rose up and asked, "But, technically, there is a way in. Right?"

Maheera sighed and shrugged. "I suppose, yeah. But that's the problem, it's impossible to do. The only way into Vendulla... Okay, there's a big thick blockage separating reality from Vendulla. The only way in... Ugh, I'm confused now too. The only way in is to, technically, not exist. Even if you somehow 'deexist' yourself, there has to be a lot of your deexistence to push against the barrier of reality and Vendulla. In other words..."

"You'd have to be really really dead," Hot Stop assumed. "Queen Arcadia's 'died' plenty of times."

"Yeah, but she would somehow have to kill the Diary of Narmeelah as well. They both have to not exist to get in. The last I checked, there is no crossing over into the great beyond for minutes at a time and then coming back without any brain damage whatsoever."

She faced Dawn once again. "Listen, Dawn. Unless your mother's fully, actually dead, I don't see how she could've got in."

Dawn sighed and rolled her eyes. "Well, it's easy to explain, because she didn't."

Crickets chirped around the room. "But you said..."

"I said the Diary of Narmeelah was in Vendulla, I never said my mother put it in there. As a matter of fact, this was during her probationary period. She couldn't and didn't use any magic at all and had guards on her twenty-four seven. It would've been impossible to sneak, let alone do."

Luna humming to herself was the only response.

"So... How did it get in there?" Secretary Manny asked. "If Maheera Dark is speaking the truth, we're now even further from belief that it's there, and it still remains in Psera."

"Simple. Only one pony put it in there. The pony that dances on both the plane of existence and non-existence. I put it in there."

"...you?" Maheera asked.

It was time. Dawn sighed and closed her eyes briefly. "Many years ago, my mother and father got married. Mother was pregnant with me at the time. On their wedding day, someone tried to assassinate her. I was a few months old, maybe six or so. Most of you know.

"The arrow pierced my right ear. As an infant, I was extremely fragile. I was dying as fast as my mother. In an attempt to save my life, Arcadia used magic to save my life. What you don't know is the kind.

"Arcadia used dark magic. It gave me life. However, before she could cut the spell, she dropped into a coma. The spell continued, pouring more magic into my body until the inevitable. What I was supposed to be, who I was supposed to be.... I was replaced. I'm a pony, but..."

Dawn lifted her head and raised her hoof. She closed her eyes and let forth a breath she was holding within the silence; and with that breath flowed her body. Her hoof gradually evaporated, black wisps flowing graciously through the air. As if in a dance, they twirled out longer and longer, taking a majority of her body with her until she was nothing but smoke, sparkling with violet and red crystals.

Gasps flew from voices, chairs scuffed from their places, ponies rose to their hooves and observed in awe. Celestia and Luna already knew Dawn had a special kind of energy, a different kind of magic. One made of darkness. But this... They've never seen it with their own eyes, purely raw energy from this point of view.

"Faust," Luna muttered. Flurry reached out and lightly tapped at the wisps when they passed her features. It wrapped around her hoof briefly before returning back to its original path. Under Novo, around the guards and the rest of the room before appearing back at the front of the room. In a rapid manner, she condensed back into who she truly was. Queen Fresh Veola Dawn of Psera. She reached up and adjusted her crown back into its original position and offered a sheepish smile back to the forty-something ponies in the room.

Celestia walked from her seat over to Fresh Dawn. "I knew you were special. Arcadia told us when she was in the hospital that you were, her words exactly, 'a walking corpse.'"

"Sort of." Celestia lifted her wing and investigated her feathers. "Our life teeters on the edges of both existence and non existence. For example. What do you feel? Feathers, or magic?"

"I feel feathers."

"Those feathers are made of magic. They're not really feathers. As is the rest of me. But that doesn't mean I'm any less of a pony as the rest of you are. I just miss out on a few things."

"Like falling ill," Cadance assumed. "Your father told me about how you've never been sick. Because there's nothing to infect."

"Correct." Dawn politely took her wing back. "But that's only half of the story."

"And I'm guessing the other half is First Light, isn't it?" Luna asked.

First Light? Maheera sat down and folded her hooves. "I'm guessing that's another pony?"

"Here we go," First Light thought. "Are you ready?"

"I am. Are you?" Dawn asked.

"Let's just do it. What have we got to lose?"

Dawn cleared her throat. "Right. Yes. The spell continued and overwrote me into who I am. But it didn't stop. The magic continued to pile on, but it only covered so much. So, instead, it created a copy. Another entity. Another pony created entirely out of magic whose body merged with my own."

Sunset quickly asked, "Are you saying that Arcadia made a pony out of magic? Dark Magic? And she's you?"

Dawn nodded. "Yes. Her name is First Light. Think of her like another persona. Whereas I teeter on the edge of real and unreal, Magic and Flesh, First Light is entirely magic."

Before Dawn could move further, Queen Amira of Saddle Arabia raised her hoof and asked, "I hate to interrupt, but what does this have to do with The Diary of Narmeelah?"

"Because the pony who hid the Diary inside of Vendulla, the pony mother came to, was First Light. As far as she and I knew, and as far as history tells us, First Light, my little sister, is the first living force on this side of the plane who is able to travel to Vendulla with a single step. I don't know where she hid it. Despite us sharing the same body and the same mind, we don't really share the same knowledge or traits. We even speak differently."

"Then we'll have to speak to First Light," Queen Novo said. Now this Maheera would have to see. The first living form of magic... Who would've thought? Arcadia, you sneaky pony.

"Right, of course." Dawn backed away from the tables for space. "Now, before you see her, I need all of you to be aware that this is the first time First Light had such a large audience. She and I both agreed that it's going to take some getting used to. She may look a little scary to some of you, but I guarantee, she's a lot more scared of you than you would be of her."

Dawn sat down and closed her eyes. This was it. She was in a safe place. "Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

Dawn took a deep breath in and dropped into unconsciousness, bringing to light the pony they all wanted to meet. When she opened her eyes again... Those weren't her eyes.

"Whoa," Flurry whispered. They were replaced with a liquid darkness. No pupil. Just black orbs in her head. Gradually, her coat turned black. Her fur flattened, matting to her body. Her mane straightened out. Her wings lost their fluffiness and took on a more sharpened shape. Her cutie mark from the sparkling crown to the same dripping red liquid.

The pony standing there held the exact same shape as Dawn. But it certainly wasn't. This was an entirely different pony. a different creature.

Fully changed, First Light rose up to her hooves and smiled loosely.

"Hello," she greeted. "I'm First Light, the second daughter of Queen Arcadia and King Madun. Nice to meet you."

Chapter 19 - To Pursue Darkness...

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One could hear the breathing of the guards keeping watch over the airspace of Canterlot Castle. Their shock and awe linked to the impossible existence of a pony made of magic. By all ethics, requirements, and common sense, it shouldn't be possible, yet...

"You're a living form of magic," Sunset muttered. "You're actually real."

First Light bit her lip and rubbed the back of her head. "Yes, I suppose that's what I am. As far as I know, I'm just a pony."

Celestia sighed and decided to push this thing forward. "I know many of you have questions regarding Fresh Dawn and First Light's joined existence. However, now is not the time for those answers. First Light. We have questions regarding the whereabouts of the Diary of Narmeelah."

"I heard you all before. You're trying to enter Vendulla, and yes, I can retrieve it." Yes! Finally! Celestia breathed a sigh of relief. "But..."

But? Princess Cadance leaned forward from her seat. "What's wrong?"

"There is a small catch. The location I put the Diary of Narmeelah is a challenge. I put it there to make it nearly impossible to get to for any other creature but me."

"So even if some other pony had access to Vendulla," Maheera assumed. "They would have a hard time getting to the Diary itself. A challenge inside of a challenge."

"Yes."

"We'll worry about that when we step into Vendulla," Secretary Manny replied. "Is there anything else we should know?"

"Yes, there is one thing." First Light raised both of her hooves. With practiced ease, she sailed one hoof through the other. "You can't exist. You can't be solid."

"Well, you could've mentioned that before anything else, Princess First Light."

She was a Princess? First Light smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. But if you're solid, you'll break apart the moment you set hoof inside."

Snap Seed interjected, "In other words, you're the only pony who can go into Vendulla."

"Without losing their mind and soul? Yes."

"How long will it take for you to retrieve the Diary?" Luna asked.

First Light walked back over to Dawn's seat. Oh wow, that's high. She jumped up and was only able to get her front hooves on the cushion, leaving the rest of her hanging over the edge. Oh, how embarrassing. She crawled her way up and flapped her wings.

Dirt, rock, and stone flew from the table to the floor. "Sorry, sorry! I've never used my wings. It would take me about an hour once I enter. I have to garner the magic before though, so a total of two hours for this whole operation."

"Great!" Cadance decreed. "In that case, we're ready to move."

First Light raised her hoof before anyone could move. "Why are you looking for the Diary?"

Movement stopped.

"Why?" Shining repeated.

"Yes. What are we going to do with it? I've been assigned to protect it. Having it inside of Vendulla is as safe as it can be, and having it outside presents a massive safety risk. Unless we have a plan for what to do with that Diary as fast as possible, I'd rather it stay within Vendulla."

"She's right," Maheera agreed. She rose once again and approached the table. "Unless we know exactly where to look in that book of hers, having it out for any ample amount of time around Narmeelah is a massive problem."

"For once in my life..." Odega sneered to Maheera. "I concur with Maheera. Just came in to report the perimeter's clear and weapons armed. Psera is resting between Ponyville and Canterlot, Canterlot and Manehattan, Appleloosa, and what remains of the Everfree Forest.

"Also, how do you expect to open it? I'm not sure if Fresh Dawn can."

"The only pony," General Bold Shoulder inputted. "To ever open the Diary of Narmeelah before was Arcadia Nova."

"I have a proposition," Nova answered. "First Light. In Vendulla, is the Diary of Narmeelah intact, or will it have to be put together?"

"It is intact," First Light answered.

"Is it possible to open it then?"

First Light shrugged. "I'm not sure. When I enter Vendulla, I take on this form." First light jumped from her seat and into the air. She burst into magic, shadows that snaked through the air then gathered back at her seat. "I'm not really physical. It would be dangerous for me to. I could lose myself if I go solid."

The room sighed in frustration. First Light could grab that tome, but if Narmeelah was watching, she could grab it the second it was out.

"We'll need security and assurance that the tome can be opened once it's out," Celestia said. "I hate to propose this, but... Before we obtain the Diary, we need to converse with Arcadia. We need Twilight Sparkle."

The room muttered their agreements.

"She said she would say no," Luna stated. "After everything that's happened..."

"The fate of Equus rests in all of our hooves, including her own. We need her, she needs us. We have to find Arcadia Nova."

"She hasn't been answering any of our calls," First Light informed them solemnly. "We try, but we cannot reach her. It is as if she is shut off."

Arcadia's shutting down shop? Puh, as if. Celestia knew her student well. She was doing something and wished not to be interrupted. There had to be another way to reach her.

"You—well, Dawn—told us you can feel her empathically."

"Umm... Do you want to take this one? I do not know what that means."

First Light morphed back into Fresh Dawn who tapped at the table. "I'm able to feel and uncover her emotions. My theory is that since my magic is a direct linked copy of hers from the event prior my birth, most of what happens to her I can feel as well."

"I have an idea." Attention swiveled to Flurry. She turned on Fresh Dawn. "Remember earlier, before Psera reached Equestria, you showed up in my bedroom? You said you were able to push your consciousness out of your body."

"Ah yes," Luna agreed. "Your spirit, as it were."

"I get what you're saying," Dawn agreed. "But I also need to know where I'm going. I have no idea where mom is."

"I have an idea." Odega pointed out the door towards Canterlot. "The oceans are my domain. Maybe two hundred miles out at sea, southwest of here, there is a strange patch of magic, something I've never felt before. Maybe that's where you need to go."

Southwest. Dawn had never gone that far in terms of travelling. Especially away from her body. Stars above, she's only been as far as Equestria in terms of the world until recently. Then again, this is magic they were talking about. She could probably travel anywhere as long as magic existed.

Wherever mom was hiding, magic was certainly abundant.

Dawn sighed and replied, "I suppose it's worth a shot. I can begin as soon as I can."

"After you rest up." Gardeen and Hot Stop flanked Dawn's sides. "After everything that has happened, Dawn needs her rest, as does the rest of us, I'm certain."

"Yes," Consort Snow agreed. "The magical recession was quite a wake up call."

"And Equestria is protected with a shield," Luna agreed. "While we have this moment. We all must rest."

"Then we will reconvene when the sun is at its apex." Queen Novo banged her gavel twice, ending the meeting with a plan at the head:

Dawn had to find her mother.

Arcadia, you sly filly. You won't even give your grandmother a fighting chance, would you? That shield hindered Narmeelah's sight, but not enough to block her fully. She could still make out Fresh Dawn, the Princesses of Equestria, the rest of the International House of Trade, and multitudes of Military Personnel.

Wouldn't matter. The reset would commence soon, with or without the diary. The spell could be figured out from scratch again.

In the center of the rune, surrounded by the mindless Pserateps watching the desolate landscape, Narmeelah closed her eyes and straightened her body. Her form illuminated brightly. Reaching out, she connected to where she needed to be.

"Ferilia?"

"Yes, mother?"

"Have you seen your sister yet? She should be there somewhere."

"I have. I see her now. She's walking out of the castle with the rulers of Equus."

"Communicate with her. See what she knows."

"Of course."

Narmeelah cut the connection and rose back to her hooves. Surely, she would report back soon.

"This isn't the way to go, mother."

Narmeelah sighed deeply and closed her eyes. Out of all of her children, why did the oldest have to be the most foolish?

"In my position, this is the only way to go," she replied.

She turned around and faced Saemool, stargazing at what remained of Psera. "I know none of this makes sense, but it's for the best interest of Equus."

"The acts of a few do not sum the outcomes of many."

"The majority will influence the few." Saemool transitioned her sights to Narmeelah, approaching from afar. "Do not be foolish, Saemool. Do not let them sway your decision."

Oh, if only it were that easy. Equus' current path has lead its inhabitants down a tunnel with an unfinished ending. Narmeelah sees nothing but disaster, herself recognizes potential. The planet was still young. They needed time to grow.

Narmeelah was willing to cut their time short before the timer even began.

The last time Dawn had this much security was when dad allowed her to go to a concert by herself. Her birthday, the thirteenth. The fact that dad even let her go by herself was a clear indication that things were changing.

"So, you have another pony in you?"

Flurry approached Dawn from behind, staring at what remained of the world from the same vantage point and angle as her own. Where ponies of all kinds and breeds watched the sun rise and fall, waiting for a change of any kind.

"Yes," Dawn answered. "She likes to force her way out sometimes and—"

Dawn suddenly changed to First Light and zipped up to Flurry's face.

"You must be the one called Flurry Heart!"

"Gah!" Flurry fell back on her back and stared up to the hoof offered down to her.

"I am First Light. A pleasure to meet you."

Strange. Could she even really touch her? Flurry thought she understood magic down to its basic core, but clearly, she still had much to learn.

She reached out and made contact with First Light 's hoof. "Hello. I'm Flurry."

"Nice to meet you." She eyed the distance where Psera lied in ruins. What they saw, the damage of her home... Her mood dropped and a sigh as deep as any valley escaped her throat. "It's unbelievable, you know."

"What is?"

First Light gestured to the horizon. "This. All of this. History has depicted that Psera isn't linked to other countries. Who knew that we would all come together to save each other."

Flurry smiled slightly and looked to the dirt they treaded. "Well, that's the power of friendship. It's something that your mother taught all of us."

"Yeah. Mother." Flurry glanced back to Dawn. Wow, they switch bodies so seamlessly. Dawn was brooding to the horizon. "She's going to help us, even if I have to grab her by the horn. It's time we all took a stand against Narmeelah and come out of hiding. A shame we're all related."

Whoa, what? "Related?"

"Yeah." Dawn continued her journey to her chariot with her guards. "Narmeelah is our grandmother, generations old. I'll see you later, Flurry. I have some resting to do, and a mom to talk to."

They... They were all related?! Did mom know about this?! She turned around and came face to face with Princess Cadance.

"Did you—"

Cadance silenced Flurry Heart by pressing her hoof to her mouth. "Yes, I already knew. Twilight told us many moons ago. It makes sense, almost."

"How? How does any of this make sense?!" She pointed out to the wasteland that was Equestria. To the ponies kicking aside the stones of what was once their homes.

Cadance looked up to the sky. "I wish I could give you a direct answer, Flurry. But the truth is our family has always been known to get ahead of themselves. To always have the answer when they didn't do much of the research. I'm sure your aunt and Narmeelah are alike in some ways. Come, we have to sleep."

"Focus on the sun. Focus on its warmth, Celleel. But do not break your concentration."

Arcadia walked around her subject, her student. She's progressed well. From a cute foal into a full grown mare within a matter of hours. Her wings were no longer primarily orange. Her feathers changed to a deep violet and a bright green. Eyes as gold as the setting sun. Her horn alight, she remained afloat, depending on the magical energies to keep her above the ground.

Around them, in this garden born of magic dust flowed through the air, constantly morphing itself into different items pulled from memory.

"Yes, good. What are the laws?"

Celleel's voice flowed with a steady, calm tone. "Magic is life, life is magic. Respect life, respect magic. But happiness is greater."

"What else?"

"All are connected by the magic within them. You cannot create without a loss. At the essence of everything is magic. Dark magic is a faulty spell."

"Good work. Now, bring it all in."

The dust swirling around gathered together to create a small butterfly. It fluttered into the blue sky, leaving them behind. Celleel unfolded herself, lowering her wings and herself to the ground. She opened her eyes and took a deep breath.

"That was intense," she said. "How do you do it?"

Arcadia wrapped Celleel in a wing and nuzzled behind her ear. "Years upon years of experience. You will have the opportunity as well to learn these in the field. But for now, we eat. We need our strength."

They made their way back towards the pyramid. Their hoofsteps stepped in unison, gazes locked on what was surely the biggest structure compared to whatever lied beyond the mountains. What else was out there, Celleel wondered. How big was the world?

She stopped walking with Arcadia and gazed beyond the mountains. Her mind filled with realities and different versions of life. Food that was anything but fruits. Entertainment beyond that of the book.

Arcadia stopped walking and sighed deeply. "I know what you're thinking."

"What else is out there?" Celleel asked.

"Right now?" Arcadia peered back. "Disaster. Tragedy. The reason for your existence. You will learn more of it soon, I promise. But, for now, it is best to stay on task. There is more training for you to go through before I have our visitor."

"Visitor?" Celleel caught up with Arcadia and walked with her back into the Steel Pyramid. "Who would visit us here?"

"Those who need me the most." The colossal doors leading into the pyramid slowly opened for the two of them. "One of them being my daughters."

Finally. The Aquata was no longer moving. Dawn could finally sleep. Under the comfort of her comforters, she closed her eyes and took a moment to herself to finally reflect. Last night she couldn't sleep. Not with the end of the world at their doorstep banging impatiently for entry. Now, they were all stranded, protected by mother's magic in the country of Equestria. If it was up to her, Dawn would have chosen any other location. Unfortunately, Equestria was the nearest one. Where most of her family lived. What would life have been like if she met them before all of the madness? Would it have been better? Would it have been worse?

In the back of her mind, she missed Grandma Velvet. Grandpa too. Uncle Shining? Interactions with him were highly limited, but he seemed cool. Flurry? Almost like a big sister who moved out the castle. Aunt Cadance? Still too early to decide. Were Luna and Celestia considered family? They seemed to know hers on a first name basis; that had to mean something.

Odega was part of her family too, right? If she and the rest of the Legends of Psera were created by Narmeelah, then... Narmeelah. That sneaky, evil, conniving...

"You can't sleep like this, you know."

Dawn sighed and cracked her eyes open. They darted to the clock hanging above the door. Two in the afternoon.

"I can't sleep at all," she muttered. "Not with the fate of the world and my own family on the line. How the princesses can sleep through this I'll never understand."

The covers were thrown aside. She positioned herself on the edge of the bed and stroked her face into her hooves. With dark magic, she levitated her crown onto her head.

"Well, what can we do now? We need to speak to mom."

"And possibly interrupt IHT's sleep? I don't know about that, Light." Dawn slipped out the bed and let loose a mighty yawn.

"Are you sure you don't want to sleep?"

"I'm fine, Light." She opened the door and walked back out onto Aquata Zero. "A little sleep can't keep me down."

"Ah, but perhaps I can?"

Dawn gasped and whirled around to face the voice. Only to find that no one was there. Only Arcadian, Elite, and Aqua Guards lining the hall. None of them were mares. That was a mare's voice she heard. It sounded so close to her ear.

One peered down to her. "Are you alright, your highness?"

Dawn cast one last look down the hall. What in the stars...

A hoof grabbed onto her shoulder. Tightly. Too tight. She flailed open her wing and slashed behind her. Only to come into contact with air. Great, now all the guards were looking at her. Her faced tinged with embarrassment.

"Excuse me," she pardoned herself. Then walked back into her room and shut the door.

She took a deep breath and leaned against the door. "That... That was weird. You felt that too, right?"

"Yeah." First Light sounded just as freaked. "Maybe we should ask for an escort?"

That seemed to be a bit much. A little foalish almost. She was the Queen of Psera, she didn't need someone guiding her up the stairs to a location she's already been at.

"There is no need for an escort."

Before Dawn could turn around a darkness shrouded her sight before she could even scream. She was shadow teleported. She new the feeling well.

Before the situation fully started, it was over. The carpet of darkness was washed away, leaving Dawn in what appeared to be the sky. She was standing on an endless landscape of clouds, above them was the blue of the sky.

"Whoa," Dawn muttered. She whirled around in a circle. She seemed to be alone. Then who teleported them?

"Hello, Queen Dawn and Princess Light."

She whipped back around to face their speaker. A mare Pseratep with eyes the color of blood. A coat as dark as First Light's with red stripes, almost like a Zebra. She sat regally on the clouds, a stark contrast to her true nature.

Dawn poised herself, ready for a fight.

"Who are you?" She asked. "Are you with the Zebras?"

Their visitor remained nonplussed. "I am Ferilia, second oldest daughter to Narmeelah. Perhaps you know why I am here?"

Dawn sneered in her direction. "Let me guess: to gain information regarding the Diary of Narmeelah?"

"Correct. No doubt Odega has recognized my sudden arrival, so I will make this quick." Ferilia stood and walked around the clouds. Dawn kept her gaze locked on her. "Mother is quite adamant about that book of hers and the secrets held within. If you value the lives of your subjects and the land of Psera, you will hand over the diary. You cannot fight the inevitable. It will happen."

"It doesn't have to happen so soon."

"No, but it's happening anyway, you can either allow it to happen peacefully, or ruthlessly." She stopped walking next to Dawn. "As of this moment, the entire fate of Equus lies on your wings. Do not be a fool. It's been quite some time since I've feasted on pony blood."

She leaned in close to Dawn's ear and whispered. "I'd hate for it to be Flurry's."

That did it. Dawn rolled away and aimed her horn to where Ferilia stood before, only to find the space vacant. A quick glance around revealed she was alone, once more.

"Dawn!" Odega. It seems her time was up. She, Leacrope, the princesses, and a thick number of Arcadian Elite Royal Guard and soldiers from other regions burst from beneath the clouds and quickly surrounded Dawn.

"What happened? Is everything alright?" Odega pointed to the guard captain. "Secure the Queen back at the castle!"

"I was confronted by one of Narmeelah's daughters," Dawn replied. She was firmly surrounded and soon dipping beneath the clouds back towards Equestria. Somehow she ended up outside the shield.

Odega joined her on the way down. "What did she look like?"

"Tall, black coat—"

"Did she have stripes?"

"Yeah, red."

Odega snorted through her nose. "Ferilia. She's a little more extreme in terms of strength. I guess she tried to intimidate you."

They soared over the Aquatas outside of the shield and continued their journey back to Canterlot. Beneath them, she could make out restless ponies. The next milestone step they took would have to be briefed to them as well. So they, too, knew they were counteracting the problem.

They soon landed back at the castle. Once the Queen was secured within the walls, Dawn whirled on Odega and pointed at her.

"I want to be knowledgeable about all of Narmeelah's daughters. If you, or any of the Legends for that matter know anything about them, we need to know as well."

"Of course."

Dawn turned around and walked into the castle. "Now, I'm going to find and speak to mom. It's time she gave us more intel on who we're fighting against."

Chapter 20 - Wait In The Shadows

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Sleeping was supposed to be easy. All one had to do was close their eyes, let go, and fade away. It was as simple as breathing, as simple as thinking. It was supposed to be so easy that you wouldn't even know you fell asleep until you woke up.

Maybe it would be easier if Dawn didn't have an audience as big as the room watching her. Leaning forward from their seats waiting for her to appear. Apparently, the only pony in this room who has ever seen her magical form away from her body was Flurry Heart. This was a first for everyone.

She lied at the front of the room, body down, hooves tucked and head bowed. Breathe in, breathe out. In. Out.

Her eyes popped open and made eye contact with all fourteen members of IHT, and their respective guards watching her alongside her own advisory panel, alongside the Legends of Psera and Equestria's ponies and creatures from Tartarus. She wouldn't even be able to fall asleep with Maheera staring at her like she was, let alone every last King and Queen of the Known World.

"This is hopeless," she said.

"Would a sleeping spell help?" Luna offered.

"It may interfere with the process. It's better for it to be natural."

The only problem was that natural wasn't working. There had to be a faster way to get this done. Some way to get her to sleep. Then, it hit Odega. There was a way to get Dawn to sleep. Rather unorthodox, but it'll give them what they were all searching for.

Odega rose from her spot on the floor and walked over to Dawn under the scrutiny of the rest of the room.

She dropped next to Dawn and cleared her throat, shocking her awake. "Alright, Dawn. It's time for a history lesson."

What was she doing? Odega held up her hoof to the standing ponies and mouthed, "Watch."

She turned back to Dawn and started recounting moments in their own history. The development of the Aquata, the founding of Cop, and, of course, the arrival of her mother. The story that would most certainly put the main character's daughter to sleep at any time of day.

Oh, this story again? Why was Odega even recounting it? Weren't they in a meeting? What was even going on?!

Gradually, Dawn began to drift. Tilting to the side, eyes fluttering closed, gentle twitches of the wing in an attempt to stay awake. She was slowly fading.

"...and that was the story about how your mother and I met. Now, here's the time when I first met your aunt, Merry."

Immediately, Dawn's head dropped to the ground, eyes shut and body stilled. Mission success. Proud, Merry rose and trotted back to her seat.

"Recounts," she explained. "They'll put Dawn to sleep at any point of the day."

Well, the ends justify the means. Now, were they supposed to wait or something?

Suddenly, Dawn's body jolted, as if struck by a sneeze. Flowing through her fur was a light blue mist, forming next to her sleeping form as Dawn herself.

Huh, so that's what she looked like when sleeping. She's seen it before, but not in such a ridiculous position. Muzzle to the floor, hind legs splayed about. Oh, how low.

"Dawn?"

She turned her attention to the ponies waiting in their seats. She only needed words from one pony in the room.

Her sights swiveled to Odega.

"Where is she?" She asked.

Odega raised her wing towards the distance. "The mass of magic is in the Southwest. From there you should be able to get a reading on what's going on."

Of course. But Dawn had a question. "Why don't you go?"

"I am. I'm going with you. You're not going out there on your own."

Secretary Manny saluted. "I have a full contingent of Aerial Guard to escort you both."

Good. At least she had some assurance she wouldn't get lost. After a firm nod and a transformation from Odega later, she and Dawn flew out from behind the walls of what remained of Canterlot Castle and into the airspace of Equestria. A blue star being guided by a phoenix of fire surrounded by a diamond formation of Aerial Guard.

Over thousands upon thousands of refugees they flew. The center of attention, they didn't allow the onslaught of gazes slow them down. For on a mission they were to convince the strongest pony they knew to join in the fight against Narmeelah.

Passing over Ponyville, they neared Las Pegasus to test the one thing they didn't account for, but weighed heavily on all of their minds:

Would they be able to pass through the shield like this? Did Arcadia trap them inside? Did she have full access to the shield? Would it stop them if she so wished?

Dawn narrowed her eyes, gulping down her anxiety. Closer they neared the visage of Arcadia, plastered on the shield's surface guarding them from the dangers beyond treacherous seas.

"Here we go," First Light said.

Odega pulled in her wings and closed her eyes with the rest of the team. A small buzz passed over her coat before Dawn opened her eyes, gazing along the Western Sea of Equestria.

She glanced behind her. They made it through! Dawn could see the front of her mother, those eyes staring ahead as if watching her fly. Maybe it was just her, but she could've sworn those same eyes shifted down to her.

Dawn turned around and faced forward, tailing behind Odega as Equestria grew smaller and smaller.

"How far out?" The captain asked Odega.

"At our speed," she answered. "Under thirty."

Thirty minutes until they see Arcadia. The time seemed to fly by. One moment, they were soaring over splashing waves, the next they were slowing down and straightening out in front of calm seas.

Odega transformed back into a Pseratep and faced Dawn, pointing in front of them.

"The source is coming from here," she said.

Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. Dawn hovered forward and eyed what lied before them: nothing. Of course it would always look like nothing when in fact there was something.

"Hmmm." She reached out and came into contact with a bubble. At her touch, a violet ripple expanded from her hoof and spread high and low in a single wave. So, there was something here, obstructing their view. A mirage, no doubt, shielding what truly lied ahead.

"How do we get in?"

"I don't know," Dawn replied. Was there some passphrase or something? She rubbed at her chin and squinted her eyes.

"If I know Arcadia..." Odega floated forward and tapped at the shield, receiving the same result. "Then we don't have to do anything. We just wait."

"For what?"

"Anything."

And wait they did. One minute became two, and two became twenty. Still hovering, Dawn grew restless. While they were waiting for her mother to open the door, Narmeelah was preparing to strike against Equus!

Dawn banged on the bubble three times. "Mom, open up! Come on! We don't have time for these games!"

A loud snap later and Arcadia teleported before all of them. Shining brightly, they covered their eyes and averted their gaze until the light dimmed down.

There she was. As if nothing ever happened, Arcadia had her horn and wings back. Practically glowing with magic and hope. Her beauty flawless. Her mane danced with the wind, clean as the air over the sea. The magic stripped from their lands held with her body. Unlike before, she had both of her eyes, illuminated with energy. On her side, the Sword of Arcadia, sheathed and attached to a belt strapped to a violet and red summer dress.

She was unamused and glancing from her daughter's escorts to Dawn herself.

At a mere raise of her hoof, Dawn was pulled forward into her loving embrace. With a tight kiss and a nuzzle, she whispered, "It feels good to hold my little filly again."

"Mom, I'm fifteen," Dawn murmured into Arcadia's coat.

"You will always be the same filly I held on day zero who sucked on my hoof." Reluctantly, she let Dawn go and stared down into her eyes. She was growing up so fast. Too fast. She was flying on her own, thinking deeply... Oh, if only Arcadia could turn the wheel of time so Madun could see her.

She felt her hoof down the side of Dawn's face. "I'm always happy to see my daughter..." She glanced up to the faces of soldiers and Odega. "But I have reason to believe your visit isn't one to recall memories and tales."

"Mom..." Dawn said. "We know you have a plan."

Arcadia held up her hoof to stop her and turned around. "We'll talk in privacy. Leave your guards with Odega. You will not need weapons here."

With a light of her horn, a bright white portal appeared before her that Arcadia floated into. Tense seconds followed before Dawn nodded firmly to Odega, then flew in behind her.

Blinded by the intensity of light, Dawn raised her hoof once again to block it. Then lowered it, losing the ability to breathe. It was a tropical paradise. Palm trees, endless lakes, towering mountains and streams overcast by a rising sun in deep blue skies, all under the midst of a massive steel pyramid, the center of attention. This wasn't Equus anymore. This was an entirely new world.

Below them, hidden within the trees and lining golden paths were a number of homes. All of different shapes and sizes. Fancy. Some were made of gems and jewels, others as simple as different colored wood and stone. Some had small little pools and waterfalls behind them while others had gardens.

Dawn caught up with her mother and flew alongside her, beneath her large wings.

"You've been busy," she commented.

Arcadia sighed and replied, "I had to prepare."

"For what?"

Arcadia landed beneath the palm trees on a golden pathway, leading into a garden behind the expansive towering pyramid and leaving Dawn's question hanging in limbo.

"Wait a minute..." Dawn landed behind Arcadia and stared accusingly. "Why would you waste so much energy on building a new world if you can just rebuild the old one after the war is over?"

Arcadia walked behind the fountain facing Dawn expressionless. "I'm taking precautions."

Dawn gasped and pointed at her. "You're expecting us to fail!"

"No, I'm expecting high casualties. But neither of those circumstances have to do with this place."

Dawn lowered her hoof and stared dumbly. "Really?"

Twilight dipped a hoof into the fountain, staring at her own reflection. "I may act impulsively at times, my Veola, but I do have faith that you will give Equus the air it needs to breathe life into itself once again."

Well. This is awkward. Now she felt bad. Mom wasn't that kind of pony, she knew that. As Queen though she needed to be sure. That was a good excuse right? Bah! She needed to focus on the mission!

Before Dawn could speak again, she quickly transformed into First Light.

She pointed at her and shouted, "We need your help! IHT wants to make a move that could possibly defeat Narmeelah before it even begins. But we need input on what it could entail regarding security."

Security? Why would they need security? What was going on over there? What move were they beginning to make so early?

Arcadia walked back around the fountain in front of First Light. "What are they doing, my little Light?"

First Light transformed back into Dawn. "We were going to grab the Diary of Narmeelah from Vendu—"

"No," she interrupted.

"No?"

Arcadia turned around and walked back to the fountain. "Leave the diary. It is too late to grab it. You will have to go with the second plan. Begin planning to retrieve the weapon with the tools that have been given to you."

First Light transformed into Dawn. "What tools? We don't have any."

Arcadia sat down and closed her eyes. "After I was arrested, all of my material that was in Psera possession were transferred to Equestria. They are still in Equestria possession, buried beneath the rubble. Tell Celestia and Luna that I gifted them with an artifact a short time ago, one they may want to finally use. Even if they never open it again, they must open it now."

Dawn sighed and rolled her eyes. Even when the world was coming to an end, Arcadia just had to be difficult.

She turned around and nudged at a pebble. "Why are you hiding?"

Arcadia glanced at her daughter. "I'm not hiding."

Dawn whipped around and deadpanned, "Your entire little country is hidden behind an invisible veil, you disappeared when Psera spotted you in the seas, and you would only speak with me. You're hiding."

Arcadia turned her head in Dawn's direction. "I have my reasons. If I am seen—"

Dawn turned around. "She already knows you're alive, mom. Narmeelah's daughters are trying to intimidate me, and I'm sure there's another one closer to our asylum. We're running out of rations and time. I know you think I'm smart, but the stakes are too high. We can't afford to fail. You're smarter than me and have levels of experience. I don't."

Arcadia sighed deeply and closed her eyes. She was right. Maybe she did jump the gun a little too early. Dawn may need more guidance. Besides, perhaps the plan did need a little push. Time was moving faster than they were, a liability for the end of world.

They sat in silence, awaiting her words. Her decision. Arcadia sighed and closed her eyes.

"Dawn?" Dawn craned her neck forward. Arcadia walked around the water fountain and stopped in front of her daughter. She lifted her muzzle with a gentle hoof so she could stare into her eyes. "Change of plans. This is what I need you to do..."

Chapter 21 - Superspell

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They were closing in, the ponies of the new age. She had to act. Mahnurkah, were they going to grab the diary or not?

Hot Stop was growing antsy. Princess Dawn had yet to return to her body, IHT was gathering together brainstorming ideas for when to take back their home and what to do when they do, leaving Hot Stop to fidget in place. How long must she wait? How long until they make a move?

"You should go for a stroll." Hot Stop looked over into the eyes of Gardeen briskly walking over. "Clear your mind. Get some space away from these stone walls."

"I have to wait here for the Queen," Hot Stop argued.

"Nonsense. I'll do it. I've been doing it for years, I can do it for more. Now go." Using her head, Gardeen gave Hot Stop that gentle push towards the exit. Perhaps it was better for her to leave this cesspool of tension. There was less chance of her slipping.

Her steps found her walking through the barricade of guards and past the Legends of Psera conversing with the Creatures of Tartarus. Strange. They were going to have some serious opposition.

Hot Stop's journey took her to a hillside, abandoned partly due to the distribution of rations down below. She could see all of Equestria from here. All the creatures and ponies interacting with each other. Narmeelah is not pleased.

"What is taking so long?" Hot Stop didn't have to turn around to know who it was.

"Good to see you too, Ferilia," Hot Stop said. "And how are you today?"

"Dost thou really believe now is the time to play games, Shaoloh?" Ferilia stalked around Hot Stop and flanked her side. Her gaze was hardened, unwavering. Cold. "Mother needs that diary away from them. The risk is too high. What is the hold up?"

Hot Stop nodded to the remains of the castle. "A vote has been decided that Queen Dawn shall go speak with her mother regarding the best steps of the plan: to retrieve the diary, or to go a different route. No decision has been made yet because Dawn has yet to return. So, we are at a standstill. But tell mother not to worry. I've been pretty peaceful up to this point, but if they decide to take another path..."

Shaoloh narrowed her eyes in the direction of the castle. "I know how to get them to change their minds."

While Dawn was conversing with her mother alongside Odega, the remainder of the International House of Trade conversed closely with Psera. Generals, Commanders, Queens, Kings, and Princesses, all around a massive stone they stood, gazing down upon a large map of Psera.

Secretary Manny pointed to the east coast. "We have Lavender here," she said. "Although not all of them, a majority of our stronger weapons would be there."

"Is it even safe to cross into those waters?" Queen Novo asked.

"I'm not sure. At this time, we have no intelligence to know for certain. Unless we send a pony over to gather intelligence. But that's also high risk."

"How so?"

Manny looked up from the map. "Without any magic, we can't see anything from afar. We're spying on a god, I'm most certain they would know we were nearby and act accordingly. As of this moment, we're powerless."

"Then we have two choices," King Chancellor spoke. "We wait for news from Queen Dawn and Arcadia Nova; or we conduct a full frontal attack. If we're going up against a god, we can't just send in a platoon of soldiers. We need to utilize an entire army and a full navy."

"For once," Shining inputted. "I agree with King Chancellor. It's taken years for Arcadia Nova to plan any action against Narmeelah. A plan, I'm sure, that is still in development. We have to be mindful that Narmeelah is not our average villain. She and Twilight 'Arcadia Nova' Sparkle are on the exact same level. Taking down Arcadia was no easy feat, and even then, I'm certain she was going easy on us. There was no plan and there was no strategy. Now, there is. If we're going to charge Narmeelah, we have to charge her with everything we've got."

A guard entered and saluted. "Queen Dawn has returned!"

Finally! They faced the entrance when Dawn walked in with her guard and Odega.

"What's the verdict?" Cadance asked.

Dawn sighed and answered, "I still think it's a bad idea, a seriously risky move..."

Half of Dawn morphed into First Light, who said, "Way too risky!"

"But... She wants us to grab the diary." Dawn stood in the center of the room and faced them all. "We require a large space and a firm security. As firm as you can get me, Commanders."

The Generals, Secretary, and Captains all saluted in Dawn's direction.

"Yes, ma'am!" Secretary Manny shouted.

Celestia pointed behind her through the stone walls. "The best we can do at this moment in terms of space is directly behind the castle, where the gardens are. Or what's left of it anyway."

Dawn nodded. "Then that's what we shall do. Take us there."

"This way." Celestia guided Dawn and the remainder of the defenders of Equus from the meeting room through a convenient hole in the wall. They hopped over both steel and stone, traveling with purpose towards the last available location. A garden, forgotten by time, alas, able to support itself.

Despite the damage outside of the castle walls, the flowers of Celestia's garden managed to stay afloat. As green as Celestia wanted them to be, roses, carnations, tulips, chrysanthemums, dahlias, peonies, the garden was packed full of it.

Dawn slowly stopped walking and stared in misunderstanding while Celestia and the rest continued.

"Sorry for the mess," Celestia apologized.

"How do you still have these growing?"

Celestia nudged a fallen stem. A rose, slowly fading with time. Crushed by the fallen bricks. "This is only a fraction of what I had before. A true shame. I kept this garden maintained for many generations."

Dawn laid a gentle wing on Celestia's. "Over time, it'll grow back; I know a company that can help. When this is all over, I'll request and pay them to come here and help."

Ah, right. With Arcadia no longer in office and Madun out of commission, that leaves Dawn their inheritance. Last Celestia checked, their family was worth billions upon billions of shims.

A smile grew on Celestia's face. "I'd like that. Would this location be enough for the portal to Vendulla?"

Dawn morphed into First Light. She walked around and assessed the space. "Yes. This will do. The portal will be quite large and invasive. But this area will do just fine. Give me a few minutes to draw the rune."

To work she went. With a stone in her teeth, she drew a large circle and multiple shapes within. They let her work in silence. No one spoke a word. Hot Stop figured she too would keep her mouth closed and roll with whatever it was she was doing.

She walked in and sat next to Gardeen. Leaning over, she whispered, "What's happening?"

"Queens Dawn and First Light have been given the go from Arcadia. They're going to get the diary."

A few seconds later and First Light spat the stone from her mouth and faced the rune in front of her audience.

"Alright," she muttered. "Let's do this."

First Light rose to her hind hooves and spread her large wings. Horn alight, her hooves gracefully moved in multiple circles. The ground beneath them quivered. Slightly, but enough to be noticed. Celestia tracked a pebble bounce beneath her until more of the earth followed suit.

The sleeping structure around them slowly came to life. The brick walls shook. A column crumbled and brought down another section.

"First Light?" Flurry asked.

First Light didn't answer. Only moving her hooves faster until the rune she drew gradually grew a glowing white. With a jerk, the rune's shape snapped out of shape and slowly levitated into the air; a brick wall facing them. The runes that were drawn within shifted and moved into a sequence before the floating stone began rotating. Faster and faster until with a burst of wind, a shining star took its place.

Blinding, they all covered their eyes. Manes were blown askew, voices were lost to the rush.

"Dawn?!" Cadance shouted.

No response. The circle spun faster and faster until, at last, it shrunk in on itself and exploded into a portal. The flash was so intense that it pierced through the closed eyelids of all the creatures present. Why must magic be so harmful?

Only when the light and wind died down did they remove their hooves to bear witness to one of the greatest spells they've ever seen. A spell that even Starswirl the Bearded would have trouble casting. Still twirling, what stood in front of them was a doorway, Taller than Psera's throne room, it gave them a glimpse into Vendulla.

Surrounded by darkness, large gray storm clouds lied in the distance, circling a shining star within its walls. How close were they to those clouds? Lighting flashed within them every second.

"So," Maheera whispered. "That's Vendulla."

"Technically, Vendulla's within that," First light corrected. She faced them and stood tall. "The clouds protect it. It's going to take me around thirty minutes to get to the diary, and thirty minutes to get back. Up to an hour of traveling. In the meantime, I want this portal sealed off tight. Any creature that is in the air is to be grounded save for the military of IHT, and the Aerial and Elite Guard. No matter what happens, do not follow me inside. You'll break apart into tiny atoms the moment your hoof touches this thing. We'll be back shortly."

The generals of Psera saluted. "Yes, Queen Dawn and Princess First Light!"

First Light faced the portal and took a deep breath. Then with a raise of her wings jumped forward, turned into smoke and flew through effortlessly. They could see her form, leaving them faster and faster until she was out of sight.

Madam Singe approached Celestia's side and whispered, "I suggest we go through Arcadia's tomes. Whatever we can get our hooves on should be able to benefit us in some way."

"I agree."

So, this was the book. Luna couldn't believe she was even holding this thing. It had a black cover, thick to the touch. With no title, its mysteries can only be revealed once they were read. Sunset peered to the book from behind.

"Is that it?" She asked.

"Yes. This was Twilight's gift to us in the past. Celestia and I never opened it. Instead, we stashed it in this drawer." She poked at the wood that used to be Luna's drawer from the remains of her wing of the castle. A little yards away, they could see the portal from Vendulla twirling brightly behind them.

"I guess now you have to open it," Sunset assumed. "Think we'll find some answers in there?"

"If Twilight said she put something in here, then I guess so." Luna took a deep breath and sat down aside Sunset so she too could see. Then, with a flip of her hoof, the book was opened to...

"There's nothing there." Blank. The first page was blank. The same for the next page, then the page after that. Seriously? There was nothing in it?!

Sunset took the book from Luna's hold and flipped it herself. "Why is there nothing here?"

"I'm not sure." Luna tapped at her chin. "However, I am most certain Twilight had a reason. There must be something here that we're not seeing."

Sunset closed the book and looked over it. Why wasn't anything else in here? Was there a spell involved? Knowing Twilight, that was the most obvious answer. Maybe there was something there. They just couldn't see it.

"Can invisibility spells be cast onto certain items, Luna?" Sunset asked.

"Yes, but not entirely. I'm not sure if words can be turned invisible. Or at least, I wouldn't have gone that route. No, the answer isn't that obvious. There has to be something else we're missing."

Luna took the book back, rose and began their journey back towards the room. While they were searching for the tome, everyone else were gathering Arcadia's tomes and notebooks. In a pile they were placed before the portal for all eyes to see. Within a few minutes, they had all the books that were archived here towering above them.

Snap Seed couldn't believe her eyes. All of these were Twilight "Arcadia Nova" Sparkle's notes. They had in their possession every last single thing she wrote. This wasn't even the tip of the iceberg! Snap Seed couldn't wait to get her hooves on these!

Queen Novo approached the pile and whistled a descending tone. "I always knew Twilight Sparkle was quite the avid reader and studious individual. I didn't know it bordered near insanity."

Secretary Manny picked up a random tome with a title she read aloud. "Age of Timulaculous Arts and Magiks. Hm. Another vocabulary word I will have to look up on my spare time."

"Really?"

"Of course not." Manny placed the tome where it came from. "This is the field belonging to the Unicorns and Alicorns. Not a Pseratep's."

Celestia picked up a tome and read through a single line before she closed it back. "How long until Dawn's return?"

"Around thirty minutes." Celestia really hoped she would return soon.

Watching from afar, Gardeen sat next to Hot Stop and bumped her kindly.

"Excited?" She asked.

Ah, yes, the charade. Hot Stop smiled and nodded eagerly. "Oh, absolutely! Finally, we can understand what we're dealing with without losing any soldiers in the process."

"That's the whole idea."

Minutes later, as if no time had passed at all, Dawn returned. Well, First Light returned. This two-ponies-inhabiting-the-same-body madness would drive them insane long enough. They could make her out, the black smoke heading in their direction of the portal. Finally.

They stood back onto their hooves the moment First Light swooped in and condensed into her form. She wiped her brow and adjusted her crown.

"Status," She said.

"All is quiet, all is calm," Odega reported.

"But word is beginning to spread," Leacrope added. She moved closer to First Light. "Ponies are growing hungry."

Then they had to move now.

Sky Duster swooped down to her level. "So. Where is this diary?"

Right. The diary. Dawn carefully gazed across the room. Who could it be? Mom said there was a traitor amongst them. It couldn't have been Celestia or the Equestrians, could it? Magic was their thing! Mom, I really hope you know what you're doing.

Slowly, ever so casually, Dawn lifted her wing and floated out the Diary. The exact one from so long ago. She laid it before them, for all eyes to see.

"This is the Diary of Narmeelah," she said. "I don't know what's in it, but, so far, we do know that Narmeelah really wants it back."

They neared closer and stared down upon it's surface. Yellowing pages, hard to read Old Pseratopian. Stars above, what is in there that was so important?

"How do we open it?" Luna asked.

"Easy. You don't." All eyes swiveled to the background, where a pair of hooves slowly clopped together in a sarcastic applause.

Hot Stop standing next to a frozen Gardeen. While Hot Stop had a sneaky smirk, Gardeen's eyes were wide, staring straight ahead.

"Excuse me?" Merry said.

"You don't open the diary. Instead, you hoof it over to me." Hot Stop extended her hoof. "You do, and our friend Gardeen here doesn't lose a hoof."

Dawn looked down to Gardeen's hoof. There. A blade sticking out from Hot Stop's was sheathed in Gardeen's.

"A simple twitch, and instead of one pony's hoof, you lose two ponies."

The military quickly converged on the situation. Weapons were pulled, horns were aimed. Orders were barked.

"Drop the weapon!!"

"Hooves in the air!!!"

"Protect the Queen!" A full front of Elite Guard and Royal Guard surround Fresh Dawn.

"Ha shee ma!!" Dawn cried.

"We're moving the queen to a secure location now!!"

Ugh! "ENOUGH!!!" Dawn exclaimed. All voices ceased. She pushed aside the guards and jabbed a hoof up to the sneer of Hot stop. "Why do you even want the diary? You can't do anything with it without Arcadia, myself, or Narmeelah!"

"Exactly. I'm surprised you haven't connected the dots yet, Red. It hasn't been that long, has it?"

Red? Why was she calling her...

Dawn gasped and poised into position. "Shaoloh!!"

Hot Stop changed. Starting with her mane. From its short buzzcut to a orange mane of fire that waved with the wind. Her eyes changed to ice blue, dancing with stars and a green coat with wings.

"Oh buck!" Odega shouted. "Shaoloh!"

"Should we be afraid?" Luna asked.

"I'm not!" Sun Waves answered. She pointed to Gardeen. "Let the mare go!"

"What would be the fun in that?" Shaoloh teasingly stroked her hoof down Gardens face. "I get a hostage, I get the tome, and I get payback for what you pulled on Founder's, Princess."

"It's Queen," Dawn replied.

"I'm not calling you that, even if it is the end of the world. Did you like my performance?" Her head changed back to Hot Stop. "Or do I have to read you the script again?"

"Your character's off. Too random."

Hot Stop lost her smile. "Oh, what do you know about acting?"

"Little to nothing, but that's still a gargantuan amount compared to how much you know."

"Ugh!" In the blink of an eye Shaoloh unfurled Gardeen's wing and held it out. "Hoof over the diary, or Gardeen kisses both her wing and unborn foal goodbye!"

Unborn... "You're pregnant?!" They all shouted.

"I was going to surprise you when you were free!" Garden replied.

"Kalumm!" Dawn cursed. That made the situation so much more at stake. The Diary for the filly.

She sneered at shaoloh. "How do I know you'll keep your word?"

"You don't, and I can't guarantee I will. But in case you haven't noticed..." Shaoloh reached around her neck and slapped on her goggles. "We're all kind of in a rush. Tick-tock, princess."

"Don't give it to her!!" Gardeen shouted. "I'll be fine! Equus is at stake, don't—AHHH!"

Shaoloh lightly pulled on her wing. "Stop talking. I'll give you five seconds to hoof over the diary, or i'll rip out Gardeen's wing and take it myself. You know I can."

She could. Dawn wasn't a fool. Shaoloh was an incredibly fast Pseratep. They waited on her next move, staring across to their infiltrator.

"You know we're on you the second I give you the diary, right?" Dawn asked.

Shaoloh positioned herself in position. "Good, I do love a challe—ahh! What the?!" Her words were cut when Snap Seed dropped on Hot Stop's head.

"I got her!" She said.

Where'd this filly even come from?! Sun Waves teleported in, grabbed Gardeen, and teleported out as fast as she could before the fight could begin.

Shaoloh grabbed Snap Seed and threw her off. In a speed unseen, she dodged a hit from a guard and zipped over to IHT. She bucked Celestia to the side, Luna to the ground, and a majority of the rulers off their hooves with a firm spread of her wings. The wind from such a move blew them all back. Dawn wasn't among them.

Shaoloh moved to the side when bullets flew from the air. Aerial Guard! With time on her side, she traveled through the air, casually dodging bullets up to the ponies firing at her. A small tap to the muzzle and a kick to the abdomen, and they were spiraling through the air to crash.

She dodged a hit from Leacrope that she in return landed.

"Come on out, Dawn!" She cooed. "Where is the diary?"

Where did that filly go?! She watched from the sky. Eyeing everything below. There! They were escorting Dawn back towards the coast, Diary in tow. A grin appeared on her face. In a move so fast she was sure she broke something, Shaoloh raised her hoof and slammed it into the muzzle of Sky Duster before she could tackle her.

"Not now, filly. I have a book to check out of your library."

They didn't see her coming. One moment, Dawn was there. The next, she and Shaoloh crashed into the beach, muzzle first. She flipped Dawn over and pressed her hoof into Dawn's throat, staring mercilessly into her eyes.

"Where is it?" She asked. Dawn pawed at her hoof, struggling for air. "Give me the diary. Come on, let's go."

Dawn reached into her wings and pulled out the diary. Finally!

In a flash, Shaoloh snatched the diary and zoomed away, heading for the shield. She was trying to escape!

Dawn flipped over and pointed at the trail she was making. "Fire! Don't let her get away!"

The battleships at sea did as ordered. Cannons fired from the upper decks, trailing lines through the air. Massive booms that rocked the ground, scaring the innocent civilians seeking shelter.

Shaoloh zipped around every last single shot. A fly dodging every swat from a fly swatter until she was over the ocean. Yes! She was getting away!

Dawn was quickly joined by Flurry who helped her to her hooves. "What do we do?! She's getting away!!"

Dawn's expression of stress and fear slowly morphed into one of relaxation. "We let her try."

Flurry turned her attention back to Dawn. Then the ocean. Dawn again. "What?! What the buck are you talking about?!"

Dawn didn't answer. She pointed ahead when Celestia, Cadance, and Luna landed next to her. "I'm talking about that."

Shaoloh was leaving them behind. She looked behind her once, a smirk playing on her lips. Ha! They thought they could stop her? Ha! Foals! Idiocracy at its—

She was stopped mid flight by a force that grabbed her by the neck. Before she could turn around to see what happened, she was thrown incredibly fast all the way back towards Equestria and impacted with a boom into the beach.

The blast propelled Flurry, Dawn, Celestia, Luna and Cadance off their hooves, along with any guard around them. Dust and dirt clouded their vision. Flurry was the first to her hooves, receiving an earful of the struggle.

"No! No, wait a minute, you—mmmmm?!!" Something was stuffed in her mouth. Flurry was flanked by the rest of their observers, eyeing the fight. Oh, if only they could see through the haze the blast created.

The fight ended with a brutish slam, followed by silence. Hooves walked up the beach, with every step taken alongside the crunch of mud. They could make them out. A tall pony with a horn whose hooves were indicated by a bright light beneath them.

Shaoloh was thrown through the dust at Celestia's hooves. Tied up with thick rope, incapacitated with a shiner on one eye. How?

"You need to keep a keen eye on your ponies, Celestia." Arcadia walked into view through the dirt and smoke, covered in white runes and a smirk on her face. "Losing them has proven to be quite catastrophic."

Chapter 22 - The Return of Arcadia

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No one spoke. They grew wary. Arcadia had arrived. Celestia and Luna stepped back two steps. She did try to kill them just a few days ago.

Dawn walked over to mom and gave her a hug she strongly returned. Ah, there it was. That warmth. She was no longer cold and desolate.

"You were right," Dawn said into her coat.

Arcadia chuckled and rubbed Dawn's back. "Aren't I always?"

"Twilight." They broke the hug to face Luna and the Princesses of Equestria, alongside the Royal Guard landing nearby surrounding them. "I was certain you wouldn't return."

"Would you rather I stay away?"

"Of course not." Cadance walked over to Twilight and pulled her into a crushing hug. "I missed my sister-in-law and her weekly facts."

Twilight laughed and returned the embrace. If there was anyone here that she missed second to her daughter, It was Cadance.

"A little filly told me you were in quite the sinking ship."

Celestia walked forward. "A sinking ship that you know how to repair."

"I do." Arcadia looked over her shoulder. Storm clouds had appeared in the sky. Somepony wasn't happy. "It's not safe to speak out here. I suggest we take this within enclosed walls. I'll explain everything as soon as we are."

She faced Dawn and hoofed back over the Diary of Narmeelah. "Let's put this back under lock and key, First Light."

First Light burst through and saluted. "Yes, madam Mommy!"

Arcadia looked back to the ponies watching their interaction. The guards of IHT and Psera, a few dozen eyeing them, not including the thousands aboard the Aquatas at sea behind her. "I can already see that the House and Psera will be less than enthusiastic to my arrival."

"Can you blame them?" Luna spat.

"No. But ponies are at risk of starving. There is no time for emotions. I can feed you. I can feed all of you." She lit her horn. A portal appeared behind Arcadia. One that showed peace and tranquility. Beaches, palm trees, green fields and a massive pyramid.

Large crates floated through that Arcadia placed down. With the help of Dawn and Cadance, they spent the next few minutes pulling out food, by the smell of it. Mostly fruit with some fish and gems for the dragons with each crate labeled for the specific species. Just enough for what they all needed.

Once the last crate was pulled, Arcadia closed the portal and picked up the body of Shaoloh. "Have your guards be useful and deliver these to every section. We have a lot to speak about."

That mare packed a seriously large hit. One hit to the muzzle and Sky Duster was nursing a swollen jaw. Was she growing soft? Stars above, she missed a good fight. A shame she lost this one.

Removing an ice pack, Sun Waves turned to the Legends of Psera. "Who was that? This Shaoloh?"

Odega faced her from Gardeen. "Shaoloh is one of the many daughters of Narmeelah. First Ferilia, then Shaoloh. There are many more, each with their own skills. Those two seem to be here strictly for the diary."

"How are you feeling, Gardeen?" Novo asked her. "You shouldn't be here if you are pregnant, you should be with your family."

"Pink is fine," Gardeen argued. "She knows we'll return even if the world goes boom."

Just then, Celestia, Luna, and Dawn walked back into the room. Before they could ask, Dawn raised the tome and Luna dumped Shaoloh in the middle of the floor for all eyes to see. Relief flooded them all.

"So you s-stopped her," Farue stammered. "Quite the feat."

Celestia smiled. "We had help." The three of them made space in the doorway and looked back into the darkened hall Cadance soon emerged from, followed by...

Gasps flew from throats. Ponies stopped what they were doing. They knew the form. They knew the wings. The face of the pony who stopped in the doorway under the scrutiny of the guards' gaze.

"Twilight 'Arcadia Nova' Sparkle," Novo said. "I cannot say I'm not happy to see you, but I also can't say I am."

Arcadia sat down, and took a deep breath. "I do not blame you. However, I am needed nonetheless."

"I guess we're about to kick some flank now, huh?" Starlight asked.

"Not on empty stomachs." Two crates floated in and set themselves in the middle of the floor.

"Arcadia has delivered food to our subjects," Dawn explained. "That is one problem that has been resolved. Now we can focus on the issue at hoof."

"Defeating Narmeelah," Shining Armor said. He turned to Twilight and smirked. "I heard there's a plan in place."

"Had you any doubt? Your performances were part of it. The fight, my damnation, all of it. I'm sorry to say my return was not included." Arcadia looked down to Dawn. "Just like any veteran, I had to be pretty convinced to escape my seaside view of retirement."

"So, what do we do first?" Gardeen asked.

"First, we escort you down the mountain to Light Pink. Here, eat." She ripped off a crate's top and floated her a large mango. "Actually, take two. Your cravings won't be as intense."

"But my place—"

"Is by your wife," Merry interrupted. She guided Gardeen towards the door. "You and her need each other. Come, let's get you out of here." When they passed Arcadia, Gardeen stopped and gave her a hug.

"It's good to have you back, Twilight," Gardeen whispered.

"It's good to be back, my little filly."

Once Gardeen was gone, Shaoloh caged in the corner, and the room had full stomachs, Novo took to the stage again. "Now, we are complete. The leaders for a free world. Warriors, Kings, Queens, and Princesses finally brought together to fight; and now that we are joined by Arcadia Nova, I assume we can begin making progress."

"Starting with this." A document floated over to Arcadia from Secretary Manny. The one of the massive rune in Cop. Twilight picked it up and stared at the image. "Do you know—"

"It's a central rune," Arcadia interrupted. "I use these sometimes, but not on such a scale." She lifted the map. "By the stars, it covers the entirety of Cop. There's no telling what it controls."

"What does it do?" Secretary Manny asked.

Arcadia set down the photo. "At the time of this picture? Nothing. Narmeelah was missing a key component. A central rune won't work without a battery or some form of power supply. That unit was supposed to go here."

Using her magic, Arcadia displayed a live image of the rune in front of the whole room with a flashing red dot in the center.

Sun Waves leaned over into Celestia's space. "That's why she's the best," she whispered.

"What does a central rune do?" Snap Seed asked. "I've never heard of it."

"A central rune powers multiple spells at the exact same time to create either singular or various events without the caster killing themselves trying to pull it all off. Think of it like creating multiple horns and multiple brains. It's a playground that only advanced spellcasters can pull off. All of IHT has come in contact with a version of this in the past. Madun gave you the batteries and Dawn activated the rune."

"The Mecrah Portal," Chancellor deduced.

"The one and the same. Although, the size of this one is a little different..."

"A little?"

"...and I can't predict the outcome without knowing why it was built. So, unless Narmeelah has that battery, the rune is useless. Which means we have to focus directly on Narmeelah herself. Without Narmeelah, it does nothing."

"Which brings us to our next order of business." Queen Novo peered at her. "How is Narmeelah going to destroy Equus? What's the plan?"

Arcadia turned to Dawn. "Do you still have that map?"

Dawn reached into her wing and pulled a document Arcadia teleported over to herself. An image of the map was displayed in the room. The planet with all of its paths.

"After reading the diary, I have theorized that Narmeelah is trying to destroy Equus by using the planet itself as the weapon. All throughout Equus, underneath our hooves are a series of wells. That's what these lines are."

"Wells?"

"Tunnels. They circulate the entire globe. My theory is that Narmeelah is using these tunnels to ring magic through the planet faster than the speed of light in one direction..."

"...which will create a gravitational pull." Arcadia looked over to Snap Seed and her wide eyed stare. "She's going to implode the planet."

"I didn't have to say much for you to figure it out, I see," Arcadia said.

Snap Seed bashfully surrendered. "Oh, it's nothing, just physics, a little studying here and there."

"She's being modest," Lead Harvest. She wrapped a hoof around Snap's shoulders. "This pony is your biggest fan. She's read every last single one of your reports, practiced all of your spells, and won't shut up about reading all of your tomes later. She tracked your attack on Canterlot and discovered your runes dotting the continent before anyone else."

"Really? What is your name?"

"I'm Lead Harvest and this is Snap Seed. We ran a small lab out of Manehattan before it was flipped."

Snap Seed broke from her stupor. "I'm your biggest fan!"

"It's nice to meet the both of you. Queen Dawn and I could use your help later. I have notes that need to be compiled and a device to make." She turned back to the room. "And yes, I have a plan to defeat Narmeelah."

Celestia asked, "What is the plan?"

"Narmeelah is a celestial. She's not flesh and blood, weapons like guns and arrows won't work. She is moved by the forces of the cosmos."

"So these are useless?" Secretary Manny threw a random knife onto the table.

"No, they go right through her. A frontal attack on Narmeelah would've proven fruitless; more or less a massacre on your side."

Well, good thing they didn't commence a frontal attack then.

Cadance asked, "So how do we fight her?"

"Simple." Arcadia stood from her seat. "I have weapons that can harm Narmeelah. Most of them are complete."

Using her magic, Arcadia grabbed her tomes and floated them around the room. A spiral of literature that ringed the table. The pages flipped open to specific sections and chapters. With one new weapon per book.

Arcadia sheepishly scratched at her neck. "Now, I may have gone overboard."

"I don't think so," Sun Waves commented.

"Yeah," Tritanium agreed. He crossed his arms. "If we're going up against a god, having an infinite flow of weapons would be ideal."

"What are these weapons?" Queen Amira asked. "And where can we get ahold of them?"

A line of the tomes floated down from the spire and circled before the group slowly so they could read them.

"I've been working on a number of weapons we can utilize."

Celestia grabbed a tome and read the line. Most of the stuff she couldn't understand. These Twilight Linguistics were an entirely different level of magic. But she did understand some of it. Words that made her face scrunch up as if digesting a lemon.

"Twilight...these are disintegrators."

They all looked up to Twilight. "That's the idea, yes. That is her weakness. So please don't toy with them. If you lose a hoof, you'll likely lose your life shortly after."

"Are these safe?"

"They're weapons. I would think they're not safe for anyone to be near them. Now. There is just one tiny problem."

Oh boy. "What problem is that?"

Arcadia rubbed the back of her neck."The weapons aren't here. They're on Psera. Including the one we desperately need."

The room groaned in irritation. It seemed that everything they needed was either lost or stuck on Psera. It was obvious that an interaction with Narmeelah directly was proving to be inevitable. Oh, one could only hope and dream.

Odega looked to Secretary Manny. "I'm certain we sent all of Arcadia's things back here. All of her labs have been emptied, crated, and shipped."

"We did," she promised.

Arcadia admitted, "I have other stashes around Psera that aren't even accessible to Pserateps. Only to me and me alone. You more than likely missed a majority of these regions."

"Likely?" Luna repeated. "We need to know for sure."

"Then I'm sure you all missed it. The only way to get in is through a sequence of codes and locks. I placed a lot of security on my more dangerous belongings."

Queen Novo nodded and said, "Then getting to Psera has become our next course of action." Novo glanced around the room and landed her sight on Ember. She's been quiet ever since Arcadia stepped into the room. She was smoldering. Hate practically poured off of her. The other dragons in the room were no better.

"Ember." Ember moved her glare to Novo. "You've been quiet. Do you have anything to say?"

"I could've sworn that the plan was to arrest Arcadia if she so much as flew over Equestria, let alone sat right in front of us."

Silence followed before Flurry spoke. "I believe there has been a unanimous agreement following the uprooting of society and Narmeelah's arrival that we're in need of Arcadia's firm knowledge and understanding of the situation. Out of all of us here, she's the only one who knows magic from its very core and conducted thorough research on our enemy. You don't have to like her, but if we want to survive, we have to work with her."

Twilight turned to Ember. "I know the things I did—"

Ember slammed one claw on the table and pointed the other at her. "You don't get to talk to me. After everything you did, the nerve you have to sit there as if immune to any emotion is infuriating enough. I'd rather see you dead than see you helping us."

Twilight illuminated her horn. A portal appeared in the corner of the room leading back to that world with that Pyramid.

"I could always leave, and take my daughter with me."

"Please do."

The room quickly blared their disagreements.

"No, no, wait a minute!"

"We need her, Ember!"

Novo raised her claw and quieted the room. "No; Arcadia? Please stay. Ember? Please stop talking."

"Why? You asked for my opinion! It's been less than two months since she just eradicated an entire continent, razed her own country, and stormed IHT! I lost forty-seven dragons in that fight!"

"You'll lose the rest if you don't work with her," Cadance replied. "Despite Arcadia's character and past, Flurry is right. We need her. You need her. I understand the pain Arcadia has caused you. But imagine the pain she's caused us. We watched the mare we raised from a filly try and murder us. But we're still here willing to work with her."

"Just for now, Ember," King Chancellor added. "We just need to work with her for now."

Ember leaned back in her seat, but her glare never left Arcadia. Her claws crossed, she seethed with hate. "Fine."

Dawn pulled her eyes towards her mother. She didn't seem at all disturbed or worried by that sentence. Quite the contrast by how she herself felt.

"Very well. Our next course of action is getting to Psera." She turned to Psera. "Could we take the Aquatas?"

"You could," Arcadia spoke. "But then Narmeelah would know you were coming. I have another course of action that'll take us directly to where we need to go. It'll be timely and quite lengthy, perhaps a little dangerous, but we also won't be detected, which will give us the element of surprise."

"And wh-what is this w-way?" Queen Farue asked. "Where does it lead?"

Arcadia teleported over to Psera and generated a map of their continent, zoomed in on Cop, in front of Secretary Manny, their generals, and Dawn. A copy was created in the middle of the room.

What was she doing? Arcadia placed her hoof on the map in front of Psera, and, whilst watching their reactions, moved her hoof in a circular motion.

Their view of Psera moved towards the Northeast, leaving Cop, scanning over the mountain range into sandy...

Manny slammed her hoof upon Arcadia's before it could go any further. Her eyes narrowed.

"No," she said.

"It is our only option. In the diary, Narmeelah has some words regarding all the cities, except that one. Leading me to believe even she doesn't know it exists. Besides, the weapons that we need are also in that direction, and the path we will be taking will lead us straight there."

"Isn't there another way?" Queen Dawn asked.

"We could do it the original way and take the Aquatas but the moment we're in Psera seas, Narmeelah will know. We could fly there, but there would be no cover from attacks. I'm sure Narmeelah has that central rune firmly guarded. Without weapons, we'll be asking for a death wish. We'll be using Narmeelah's wells to travel. But the end result will still be there."

"We should let the current Queen of Psera decide," Merry spoke up. She looked to Dawn. "It's your call."

Oh boy, her first serious judgement. Her first ruling. Dawn swallowed and gave the answer she was certain they were all expecting.

"If Arcadia Nova believes that the direct way towards the weapons to be the best choice, then I, too, believe it is. She's the only one here who knows her plans, no doubt her strategies. If taking Narmeelah by surprise through this route is the best way to encounter less casualties, then we'll do it this way."

The motion has been passed. Arcadia teleported back to her seat.

"But what about its current nature, Queen Dawn?" Manny asked.

"I agree," Princess Merry said. "It's been under wraps for hundreds of years."

"So has Narmeelah's plans," Dawn argued. "We have to be wise. If all of IHT is coming along, then they are going to need weapons from Psera. Traditionally, delivery would be supplied under a pseudonym. But we don't have that opportunity anymore. We can always reproduce another site. Our family has enough money to contribute to a good amount of the construction and planning. But for now, let it be known that we are disclosing the site."

Looks like Psera was unleashing a secret on everybody. Even Ember was interested. Psera, always full of mystery.

Dawn stared at all of the ponies in the room. "What we say does not leave this room."

Queen Novo nodded her head. "Under the laws of IHT, we will not speak outside of it."

Dawn nodded and crossed her hooves. Her eyes narrowed. "Good. Then, it is time you all learned about Psera's eleventh city. Home to all of Psera's innovations, both scientific and magical in nature."

She looked into Celestia's eyes. "It is time you learned... Of Serl."

Chapter 23 - Heading To Serl (Intermission)

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It was time. The name has been thrown out there.

"Serl," Celestia repeated.

Dawn turned to her mother and nodded her head, giving Arcadia the cue to continue pushing the map forward until it landed on the site. It was big, almost as large as Eventa surrounded by walls.

"Serl is the city of our next generation," Secretary Manny said. "The technology that we have in Psera you have all seen is nothing compared to the technology of Serl. The ponies that lived there were extremely intelligent and thoughtful of the planet of Equus. A spotless city filled with the smartest minds of Equus."

"The Block of Steel I gifted to Equestria," Arcadia added. "Was created in Serl. Along with every single Aquata, including but not limited to The Front Lawn. It is also home to Psera's weapon manufacturing plants and studies, as well as the original development site of Railer One. The city was so secret that it dodged the original attack of the changelings. That is where we need to go."

"How will we get there?" Madam Singe asked.

"We'll be taking one of the wells. I already found two in Psera that had entrances directly underneath both the Castle of the Gods and Serl. I'm certain there's one here in Equestria. There's just the matter of locating and getting to it."

"Right." Cadance waited for someone else to ask the question. Apparently, no one thought that to be important. "So... How do we find these wells?"

"Easy." Twilight rose from her seat and walked around the table over to their prisoner. Shaoloh, bound and gagged, dreaming sweet dreams, unaware of the glowing glare of Arcadia standing above her.

"We squeeze it out of a goddess."

Okay, so, she'd better say something before these ponies think Arcadia would literally squeeze it out. Although they were giving her a chance, it was clear most of IHT would take her presence with a grain of salt.

"Maybe leave the interrogation to the International House of Trade, mom," Dawn suggested.

Arcadia backed off and smiled to her daughter. "Of course, sweetie. I wasn't going to be asking questions anyway. You and I both have another task to complete."

"And what would that be?" Celestia asked. Clearly, her expectations of Arcadia were rather moldy in terms of positivity. After all that's happened, the words that were screamed and her newfound power, anything involving mother and daughter had to be publicized amongst the group.

Arcadia walked back towards her space. "The journey to Serl is quite lengthy and arduous. The wells are underground. Unless you feel like walking in the dark, we're going to need transportation that I can provide."

"Are they going to be transfigured from magic?" Queen Novo asked.

"Any other way would take too long. We don't have time to design engines. While Dawn and I are working on these spells and construction, I recommend you begin pulling information out of our guest. We're going to need it by the time we're done."

Arcadia walked around the table for the entrance. "Come along, Dawn and Light. It's time for a lesson in expert-level magic."

Oh yeah, now she's talking! Dawn jumped out of her seat, prepared to follow her mother before the guards at the door raised their wings, shielding off their exit.

"Now hold on for a minute, Twilight," Celestia said. "After everything that's happened so far, the last thing we need is for your presence to be unsupervised."

Arcadia rolled her eyes and faced the table. "Oh relax, this is my daughter. What would or could I possibly do?"

"We are aware of that. Just to be safe, all of the Legends of Psera, Equestria's Allies, and a full contingent of Elite Guard and Aerial Guard will be assigned to you."

Sky Duster zipped over to Arcadia and floated into her nonplussed expression. "Don't try anything. I'm going to be all over you."

"Then perhaps you can learn something as well, like the physical interpretation of personal space." She pushed her back and eyed the table once more. "And who will be overseeing the interrogation?"

"I will." All eyes turned to Maheera. She was glaring towards the sleeping form of Shaoloh. "If anypony here is going to make this little piggy squeal, it's me. You do you, Arcadia. I'll do me."

"Thank you, Maheera." Arcadia looked down to Dawn. "Ready?"

Dawn nodded firmly. "Yes."

Before they could go, Snap Seed sprung from her seat and bounded over to them. "Oh! Can I come? Please can I come?"

Arcadia and Dawn shared a quick glance before turning back to Snap Seed, practically begging on her knees.

"I suppose," Arcadia replied. "The more to teach, the greater the reward."

Holy buck! Snap Seed turned around and waved maniacally to Lead Harvest who in turn waved back before rushing out the door behind Arcadia, The Legends of Psera, Equestria's Allies, and a small section of the Arial Guard.

Once they were gone, Maheera rose from her place and walked across the room under the watchful gazes of the International House of Trade. Her sight unwavering. Her hooves treaded with the weight of a thousand years of anger.

They let her pass, no one dared stop her. No one dared speak a word by the time she stopped in front of Shaoloh. Oh, this one. She was, by far, the weakest of Narmeelah's Daughters. However, she was not an easy one to track down in the centuries prior to this very moment.

Maheera reached out with her hoof, gradually transforming into a claw. A single talon traced her cheek.

"Wake up."

Slowly, Shaoloh's eyes parted. Confused they danced around the hall before landing on Maheera. They widened upon recognition, then narrowed.

"Maheera," she said.

"You and I have much to discuss, Shaoloh. I hope you have the energy to speak. Because no longer will I wait for answers."

The sky dotted with the wings and floating bodies of the strongest Alicorns, Pegasi, Pserateps, and creatures of Equus surrounding the body of their strongest asset. Or their strongest enemy.

They flew over the mass of ponies watching from below, wary and speculative, they kept their muzzles closed whilst they searched the ground below for a clear space.

Not once did their eyes leave Arcadia. Not even Snap Seed, who stared for a completely different reason. She was going to see her use magic! She couldn't believe it!

Dawn hovered close to her mother with a smile. Arcadia glanced in her direction before shooting her sight back to the ground below.

"Yes, sweetie?" She asked. Dawn glanced to her mother. "Something troubles your mind. You have the same expression your father would make whenever he was struck with a difficult decision."

"Oh, yeah, it's umm..." Dawn waved it off. "Just something Light and I were talking about."

"Well, what is it?" Arcadia pointed ahead to the one location free of any ponies. "Here. We'll use this space."

They gently landed next to the Mecrah Portal IN Port, surrounded by the military, Legends, Snap Seed and Creatures watching with close eyes.

Once down, Arcadia walked a firm distance from Dawn and faced her.

"It's just..." Dawn cleared her throat. "Light wants her own body. One we don't have to share."

Oh. Yes, this talk. Arcadia knew this day would come. She gulped and raised her large wings.

"That's... A tricky topic, Dawn."

"How tricky? Like 'you-don't-know' tricky, or 'I-have-to-go-to-school-first' tricky?"

"The latter, I'm afraid. We'll discuss it more during the ride to Psera. For now, follow my movements and instructions exactly. We can't mess this up."

"Do you trust her?"

Celestia turned her head to watch Secretary Manny approach her position, the edge of Canterlot Mountain. From here she could see Dawn and Twilight work. The way they drew their runes under the watchful eye of Psera and Equestria.

"I don't know," Celestia answered. She faced the site again. "After nearly killing us, I'm not sure if I can ever trust her again, but... Her daughters are here. Her foals; and she cares for them. What could she possibly be planning?"

"I'm thinking more along the lines of going rogue," Manny clarified. "Arcadia is known to go her own path and abandon her ideals for new tasks. Do you believe she would abandon us? And take her daughters with her?"

Celestia thought briefly. "No. Twilight is many things; a ticking time bomb, irrational. But a liar she is not. She has her own ways of helping, but she will help."

"...if you trust her, then we'll trust her." Celestia turned to Secretary Manny. "Arcadia has done a number of things to betray the trust that has been made between her and the nation of Psera. There are still many things, many cases involving Arcadia Nova that she must answer for. But, as said before, now is not the time. The faster we get moving, the faster we can get everyone home."

She turned around and walked back towards the destroyed castle under Celestia's gaze. It wasn't that she didn't trust Arcadia. No, far from it. She trusted all the Pserateps. She trusted her daughter, she trusted the Pserateps she raised to power. She trusted their technology, their strategies.

But the mind and brains behind it all... It was constantly changing. One moment, Arcadia's words and plans would be spoken, but their method of fulfillment and actions would not be what was expected.

Celestia turned back to Arcadia and the team down there, drawing their runes. In a matter of time, they would find out what her plans were prior to coming back here. Soon, everything would come to the surface. Very soon.

After the runes were drawn in a large circle, Twilight and Dawn stepped back to observe their handiwork.

"Okay, now what?" Dawn asked after a moment of admiration.

"Now, watch and learn." Twilight stepped back into the circle of runes and rose up to two hooves. Wow, she's never seen her mother take that position before. Since when could any pony stand on their rears like that?

Arcadia raised her wings. Her horn and eyes glowed bright, her feathers illuminated with the light of magic.

"I told you to place these runes in specific locations so you would be able to reach them easily. Each step in this circle is going to create an event. Like so."

Twilight lifted one hoof and stepped it into a spot. Spontaneously, dirt from behind her burst from the ground and twirled through the air in their direction. It morphed, changing shape and solidity until a tire was created. It bounced to a roll, stopping at one of the guards' hooves.

"You just created a tire," Dawn stated.

Twilight gestured to the circle. "Each step here will either create something, or move something. Like so." Twilight reached out with one of her other hooves and pressed another rune. The tire lifted into the air and righted itself, hovering, waiting.

"The trick is to create a sequence." Then, Twilight danced. She danced across the rune using all of her runes. Each step was highlighted by her magic. Moving parts flew from the dirt and transmogrified into a part. It was so complex, so professional, Dawn felt intimidated.

They all felt intimidated. Snap Seed knew she was good, but even she was blown away by Arcadia's flawless skill.

After it was done, they had a new Radwood Pod floating in the air. No doubt Psera technology. It floated from Arcadia's protective perimeter and into an empty spot.

"We will need a lot of these," Arcadia told her daughter. "Think you're up for it?"

Dawn had no idea. Stars above, she didn't even know if she could stand up on her hooves like that. Dawn stepped into the rune circle and swallowed down her fear.

"I don't know, but I can't afford not to try," she answered.

Her response brought a smile to her mother's face. Oh, if only her father could hear her say those words.

"Very well. Let's begin."

Maheera Dark and Shaoloh shared a tense staring contest. These interrogations never seemed to end. The witty banter, the growls, the hope of resistance. It would always be the same.

"Where is it?" Maheera asked.

"Where is what?"

Maheera grabbed Shaoloh's head and slammed it back into the brick wall.

"Don't play coy with me, pony, I can rip you to shreds. Where is the well in Equestria? I know you know where it is."

Shaoloh smirked and shook her head. "Like I'd ever tell you."

"You're going to tell me. Right now I'm giving you a choice. You cvan either give me a verbal answer of your own free will, or I can pull the answers from your very soul."

"You still won't find the answers you're looking for, you abomination." She spat at Maheera's hooves.

Maheera grabbed Shaoloh's head and squeezed it. Horn alight and eyes glowing, her and Shaoloh's minds molded together. Diving into a sea of memories and waves of madness. In the real world, it seemed they were just staring at each with glowing irises. But if anyone knew anything about magic it was that there was more going on behind the scenes that in front of it.

"You will reveal everything," Maheera spoke. "And with it, the key to defeating Narmeelah."

She experienced all of what Shaoloh had hidden in her mind. The years spent on Founder's, the time as a foal—no, too far. Maheera sped up the clock, further, further... There.

Maheera froze the time and found herself in a field of snow, layered with ice and wind. It was cold, freezing. But where was she? She turned in a circle and locked her eyes on a tall building. A very tall one. A castle made of crystal ringed by mountains.

Maheera smirked. "So... This is what you were hiding."

Dawn had made substantial progress. From having absolutely no clue to what she was doing to moving like an expert. She barely even realized her mother had stepped out of the ring and instead chose to watch and supervise from the side with Snap Seed and other ponies with her.

Through the chaos, Snap Seed leaned over into Arcadia's space and whispered, "Like mother, like daughter, huh?"

"She's getting there," Arcadia acknowledged. She turned her attention to the fleet they've already created. One hundred forty-seven pods for their growing army.

"How many do we need?"

"One-Fifty should be enough. Dawn?" The magic kept coming and Dawn kept dancing. "Dawn, sweetie?... She's harmonized."

Arcadia raised her hoof, using her magic to stop Dawn and all that she was creating in the middle of the action.

"That's enough, Dawn. We don't want to make too much and use up all the resources we have."

Carefully, Arcadia lowered Dawn back to the ground and the material back to where it came from. Now on her own legs, Dawn collapsed into her mother's hooves, staring into the sky.

"Holy..." She diverted her gaze into Arcadia's eyes. "I feel so... What happened? Why am I so..."

"Using a lot of magic at once at such a fast rate can make you disoriented," Twilight answered. "Fatigue is a common side-affect. Whether you're made of magic or flesh and blood."

Twilight set Dawn softly back on wobbly hooves. "Over time, your body will adjust and learn to counteract it."

Once Dawn was better, she and Twilight turned around to face the army of Radwood Pods Dawn created. They were long and rugged, designed to carry hundreds of soldiers across the world non stop, able to master any terrain. Their wheels were massive, armor thick. Windows proofed to fight against spells and damage alike.

Dawn and Twilight were flanked by the Legends of Psera, Sun Waves, Tritanium, and Sky Duster.

Triatanium crossed his arms. "Well, these should get us to where we need to go."

"As long as we know where that is. Maheera?" Twilight glanced back towards the Mistress of Dark Magic watching from the back with Celestia, Luna, and the rest of the world's leaders. "Where is it?"

She stepped forward. "The Crystal Empire. It's hidden, somewhere within the snow and ice. I'm certain it's guarded at this point."

"As am I."

Celestia nodded her head firmly. "We have to inform the citizens of our departure to fight."

Twilight raised her eyebrow. "You're coming?"

"You may be used to fighting alone, Twilight, but we're all needed now. Every last one of us."

"Me too." Dawn reached up to her mother's mouth before she could start. "I know I'm Queen, and I know it's dangerous. But if you need a pony to walk the realms of reality then I'm needed. This is going to be the biggest war Psera has ever been in. They need their heroes to lead them into battle."

Twilight would prefer Dawn stay here. She'd prefer she stay as far away from the fight as possible in the event Narmeelah either needed leverage or a way to hit Twilight where it hurts. Dawn could become the biggest target of them all. But she was right. Dawn had special skills not a single soul on this planet could even hope to replicate. Stars above, First Light was able to travel to Vedulla and Dawn was able to astro-project. Twilight was able to do it, but Dawn didn't even need magic for it like Twilight did. She was already pretty much a ghost. A walking shadow. A living dead pony.

Twilight sighed through her nose. "Fine. But as your mother, you do what I say. Psera needs you, more than ever."

Dawn agreed with a smile and a firm nod. She knew she was needed in multiple places.

Now that that was settled, Twilight turned to Celestia and Luna. "There's one more thing we need before we begin moving."

"What's that?"

"In case the fight doesn't turn in our favor, we're going to need the oldest weapon known to ponykind. The weapon that has defeated Nightmare Moon, Discord, and even almost Tirek. Just as a backup."

No way. She couldn't possibly mean... Celestia and Luna shared an expression of worry before focusing back on Twilight.

"Are you sure about this?" Celestia asked.

"The world needs us all, now more than ever, and I can't use them alone, even if I am the strongest here." Twilight narrowed her eyes before she finally revealed the request.

"We're going to need the Elements of Harmony; and the Element Bearers."

Chapter 24 - The Need For Harmony

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Stomach full, Rainbow Dash was left to her thoughts; to the questions plaguing not only her mind but the minds of others, she was certain. What now? What happens tomorrow? Will everything ever be the same?

She lied on the grass, hooves behind her head, staring up to the sky among the crowd of ponies resting in and around Ponyville. Next to her slept Applejack and Rarity in her side. Stars above, they were getting old. Sleeping all day, doing nothing else...

A slight chuckle left Rainbow's throat before her attention was turned back to the sky and her thoughts. She wondered where they found the food. It looked too fresh to be from nearby. She sighed and asked to the sky, "What are your secrets?"

Her answer was responded to by the flying past of Guards and the head of...

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow in bewilderment. "Princess Luna?"

"Rainbow Dash. Applejack. Rarity. Where are Pinkamena Pie and Fluttershy?"

Rainbow Dash sat up and glanced confusedly over to Rarity and Applejack. The latter shrugged before Pinkie Pie popped her head out of Rarity's mane.

"Here I am!~" She sang loudly and proudly, much to Rarity's horror. "And I brought Fluttershy with me!"

She dug deeper into Rarity's mane and pulled out Fluttershy. Wide-eyed and confused as always.

Well, now that they were all here... Luna cleared her throat and began. "We may need your help, as the Elements of Harmony, once again. We'll be travelling to Psera soon. Please pack your things. The guard will escort you to Canterlot once you're ready."

With that being said, Luna flared open her wings and flew back to Canterlot, pursued by the gazes of the ponies she just spoke with.

"What was that about?" Rainbow asked.

"I haven't the faintest clue," Rarity answered. "But it seems we're being called back into action."

"I don't know why," Applejack replied. "We can't use them without the Element of Magic, which was..." They all slowly turned their heads towards each other in a state of realization. "Oh no."

This was a really large circle Twilight was drawing. A massive rune designed to "Carry their entire army towards the Crystal Empire," her words exactly. Dawn stood in the middle, watching her draw the full radius alongside the Creatures of Tartarus, the Legends of Psera, the princesses, and their massive convoy of Radwoods.

Each rune was drawn with precision; careful and practiced. Arcadia proving her expertise once again. Once the rune was drawn, Arcadia lifted her head back up and wiped off her horn.

"Alright," she decreed. "We're ready, for the most part."

"What else needs to be done?" Sky Duster asked.

"Now..." She looked down to Dawn. "I teleport us all to The Crystal Empire. It's going to be big, and a little loud, but this is the fastest way for—"

"Aw buck no!" All attention swiveled to the back of the group of leadership. To an aghast Rarity, an upset Fluttershy, a fuming Rainbow Dash, an unsure Pinkie Pie, and a absolutely furious Applejack. Despite their clear feelings towards her, Twilight held her head up high.

"Hello, girls," she greeted.

"No. Nope." Applejack turned around and walked away. "There ain't no way I'm working with her. After everything she did, you expect me to forget and forgive?"

Ember scoffed from the side and commented, "Welcome to the club."

Celestia sighed and floated a box into sight. A large one made of glass cushioning the Elements of Harmony. "We're not asking you to forgive or forget, girls."

"She destroyed my farm!!"

"She wiped out my house!!"

"My animals have nowhere to sleep!"

"All of my stores have been wiped off the face of Equestria!"

"We understand," Luna persisted. "A lot of ponies have lost a lot of land and property because of Twilight Sparkle." She cast a glance over to Twilight who remained stoic. "But at the moment, we have bigger problems, and we may require the Elements of Harmony's assistance."

She looked to Twilight. "All of you have to work together. Twilight is willing to work with you for the greater good."

Applejack stomped her hoof. "She destroyed everything we had!"

"And I watched my family die." They turned to Twilight and her emotionless expression. "I watched thousands of ponies I loved die in front of me countless times. To protect you and your farm, Applejack, I had to miss watching my daughter grow up and turn into the beautiful mare she is today. Because I was protecting you."

"We didn't ask you to do that.," Rainbow defended her.

"You did. You seeked asylum on Psera and I granted it to you, knowing that it would put a lot of my ponies in danger, which it did. My country suffered for it. But I'm not here to point hooves or blame names. I'm here to end this war that has claimed the lives of so many so far. You can either stay behind and hope we don't fail, or you can finally put those fighting words to use. The choice is yours, but we will not be waiting for you to make up your mind."

With her words said, Twilight looked down to Dawn. "Would you like to say something before we head out?"

Right. She swore to keep everyone updated with the latest information regarding their efforts. Dawn took a deep breath and nodded her head.

"Right. I'll go appease the masses. We'll need more soldiers. All defense personnel of IHT and Psera, follow me back to Aquata Zero please. In the meantime..." She turned around and used her magic to pull her mother down to her level, just enough to whisper privately into her ear. "You have to make up with your friends."

Twilight whispered just as quietly, "It's not that simple, sweetie."

"The entire world is at stake. The last thing we need right now is for our backup plan to not succeed because the ponies who need to wield the Elements of Harmony ironically can't harmonize. You discovered a way to cross into another dimension, patching up a relationship cannot be that hard. Figure it out before we get to Psera, please?"

Her piece said, Dawn left her mother's side, flared open her wings and took to the sky with her guard and military generals on her tail. Twilight watched her leave until she disappeared behind the mountain of Canterlot. Great. Now she was alone with...

Twilight diverted her attention towards the stern gazes of every single creature left. This was going to be a long mission.

Back at Aquata Zero, Dawn trotted into her office, already set up and ready to go with their staff.

"We're ready when you are, ma'am," a pony said.

Stars above, how she hated that. "Queen Dawn, please," she insisted. "I'm fifteen, not fifty."

Once behind her desk, and after taking a breath, she nodded to the camera. The red light was lit; she was now live. Her face displayed across Equestria and became the center of attention of every creature seeking asylum on this continent.

"Hello, all," she greeted. "Pserateps, dragons, unicorns, earth ponies, pegasi, and the rest. It is with great joy to deliver the news to you that the International House of Trade has finally come together and fully analyzed the true situation behind the destruction of Equus.

"It has been discovered that the very world we call our own, Equus, is under a threat from an evil so ancient that a name cannot be given. However, the International House of Trade, your sworn protectors, have devised a plan of action."

She had their attention, she could hear the silence spread across the land, even from her office. Feel the focused eyes and the gazes of hope watching her large duplicated floating figure ringing the island.

Dawn steeled her gaze. "Within the hour, a massive army of IHT's and Psera's combined military will venture to the threat, and face it head on. We have within our arsenal ponies as wise as the beginning of time, as strong as a thousand Railer Ones, and more determined than a million leaders."

A smile slowly grew on Twilight's face. One of pride.

"With this army, we will make our last stand. As for the land and to return to where we once were, that will take time. When we do, we will take it on together. But for now, we fight."

She looked up to the ponies behind the camera and nodded her head. The feed was cut and her face disappeared from the edges of Equestria, leaving the sight of the small army they had watching her on the edge of Canterlot.

"I know you all hate me right now..." They turned their attention back to Twilight. "And you have every right to."

She reached down and withdrew her sword, staring longingly at the blade; at the words plastered on the steel burning into her mind. "I let you all down. I betrayed all of you for misusing magic and destroying the good that it did. We've made it this far with magic. We wouldn't be where we are today without it. In my rage and anger, in my grief and sadness, I forgot that.

"I destroyed your peace and took away your livelihoods, and for that I am deeply sorry. However, I know words cannot give you what you truly need. So, instead, I give you my sword to fight, my knowledge to learn, and my magic to yield. When this war is over, I will heal your lands permanently, with no ties to me at all; and, best of all, once it is all over, peace from the corruption that I seem to bring with me everywhere I go."

"Twilight..." Celestia turned around and faced her directly. "You don't have to—"

"No, Celestia." She sheathed her sword back into its scabbard. "I believe it's time I find my own place to call home. Somewhere else that won't affect anyone else. But first..."

She looked back to their front line of defense. The generals, guards, the professionals of magic both light and dark. The princesses and Queens.

She diverted her attention to the contemplative expressions of her old friends. "...Equus needs us once again. Can we put aside the hatred for me and work together one last time for the ponies seeking that peace?"

They stared at each other briefly before looking among themselves.

Rainbow Dash was the first to speak. "I may not be loyal to you, Twilight. But I am loyal to Equestria. If working with you one more time is what it takes to get Equestria back to peace then I'll do it."

Twilight smiled at Rainbow. "Thank you."

"As will I," Rarity said. "Although..."

"When this is all over, Rarity, I will see to it that you have everything you need to successfully take the path that you've always wanted your clothes to travel. I'm sure Dawn would love to buy one of your dresses."

"I was actually going to request for a more fashionable helmet, but that would be so much better."

"And a place for the animals?" Fluttershy asked.

"The greenest of pastures and the clearest of waters."

"No more mean Twilight?" Pinkie queried.

Twilight raised her wings and floated Pinkie within for a tight hug. "Does this answer your question?"

Pinkie gladly returned it. "Yes, indeed-ly!"

That just left Applejack. She sighed and pointed at Twilight. "You bring back my apples, and you rebuild my farm."

Twilight let Pinkie out of her embrace. "On the name of the Fire Family and the Sparkle Household, you have my word."

Applejack nodded. "Alright, then. Now, where are we going exactly?"

"We're taking a well back to Psera," Luna answered. "Narmeelah will not be expecting us that way."

"A well?" Rainbow repeated. She floated over to Scootaloo and her small team. "How much have we missed?"

Twilight looked beyond their circle and smiled softly towards a massive cavalcade of soldiers heading in their direction from Canterlot. "A lot. We'll fill you in on the way."

The stomping of their hooves echoed along the ground. With every step sounded the cries of war and pride. Thousands of ponies and creatures dotting every inch of land as far as the eye can see. They walked around the Radwoods and came to a stop at the circle of soldiers and legends, lead by a proud Queen Dawn at the front.

"We may have to rethink our terms of transportation mom," she said.

"Nonsense. I can teleport all of us."

"Really?" Dawn peeked over the heads of one of her soldiers all the way to the back. Further than Canterlot. "Are you sure? I'm not saying you can't, but... Those are a lot of ponies."

"Don't worry about me, sweetie. Only worry about your safety. Speaking of..." Twilight ignited her horn. A vest was suddenly teleported onto Dawn's person. Along with a helmet. Oh! Mouthguard! She had to protect those pearly whites!

"There we go!" Dawn stared up at her Mother unamused. "Oh, don't give me that; the Queen of Psera must be thoroughly protected, as is tradition. You know that."

Dawn spat out the mouth guard. "Mom, you of all ponies should know that we can't get hurt."

"We'll be going up against, Narmeelah. There's not a single doubt in my mind that she could find a way."

Flurry Heart walked over to Dawn's side and whispered, "She does have a point."

Ugh. Of course she'd side with her. Dawn rolled her eyes. "Fine. But I'm not wearing all of this. If I need to run, I can't have all of this holding me down."

The vest and helmet snapped into non-existence, leaving Dawn once again bare. Before her mother could argue, Dawn quickly said, "I'll be fine. I literally have an entire army watching my back right now. I'll be okay."

Twilight didn't like it, but with a deep breath she respected her decision. "Fine. But I want you firmly guarded at all times. I don't care if you're Queen, you're still my filly."

With a pull of magic, she was pulled beneath her mother. "There. Safe and sound."

"Mom..." Dawn warned her.

"Now then..." Glowing with magic, Twilight raised her wings and tilted her head to the sky. Her eyes turned a bright violet. "Let's begin the journey."

"Finally!" Sky Duster cheered. "I'm all for making friends and making up, Twinkles, but we're kind of on the clock. Let's go already!"

Very well. Twilight raised her hooves out to the side, rear hooves tightened together. The wind picked up and swirled around them, lifting dirt and soil to create a massive tornado entrapping their entire army.

"Uhh... Mom?"

"Almost ready," Twilight said. Random strikes of electrical arcs sparked from her body, building in intensity until finally...

"Done."

With a stentorian boom, their army was teleported all the way from the fallen abandoned grounds of Canterlot and Equestria to the cold and silence of the Crystal Empire. They arrived on rooftops, their vehicles on the streets. Some dangling from light fixtures. Their army too big to be contained properly within the small streets of the Crystal Empire.

Twilight floated back down to the ground over her daughter and pulled her wings in unharmed. "Are all accounted for?"

"It sure seems like it," Rainbow answered. She dropped down next to Scootaloo and gestured to the army and motorcade behind them. "How in Equestria are we even going to get all these ponies to Psera undetected?"

Twilight faced the empty atmosphere of the Crystal Empire. "We'll be taking the wells. Tunnels underground designed to guide magic through the planet."

"You're not afraid we'll burn to ashes in there?" Luna asked.

"It is quite the tradeoff," Celestia agreed.

"Not at all. In order for them to work, Narmeelah's rune must work first. But without the battery, it won't operate at all. We just have to find the entrances."

She faced the army again, specifically, the captains at the front. "According to Narmeelah's Diary, each well has a service entrance big enough to allow our Radwoods through. But this will be difficult to find. Because no one will be using magic. Especially me. The moment magic is used, Narmeelah will know where we are."

"We'll be using hoof and wing," Fresh Dawn added. "The entrances should be well hidden. For all we know, the entrance could be in the mountains."

"But with an army this size," Twilight continued. "We can cover more ground. So let's get to work. And remember..."

She narrowed her eyes. "No magic. Captains, we'll leave you to your Officers. Dawn, Flurry, Cadance, and myself will take the castle and the surrounding area. The moment you see something strange or odd, inform your superiors. The rest, pick and choose. Let's move."

At the blow of a whistle and Manny's shouting, everyone moved out. Twilight turned and began her journey towards the castle with Dawn. Without her magic, Twilight reached into her suit of armor and pulled out a small notebook.

She opened the pages before Dawn interrupted her state of mind. "This is great, don't you think?"

Twilight glanced down to her. "What's great?"

"Us. You and I, finally doing magic stuff together."

Snapping her book shut, Twilight hummed and replied, "I wouldn't call this magic stuff, sweetie. This is more..." She looked to the sky to attain the correct words. "Life or death, all is at stake, final mission, win or die stuff. This is, honestly, one of the most dangerous journeys I've ever taken in my life. And I have to do it without magic. There will be a lot of destruction, maybe death. Oh! That reminds me. Cadance, Flurry?"

She looked to her sister-in-law. "Psera may have to break some things."

A guard standing nearby loudly kicked down a door leading into a house and lead a team inside.

"Great," Cadance groaned.

"But as I was saying, although we're finally coming together as mother and daughter, we have to be careful and acknowledge that this is very dangerous."

"I know, I know. Trust me, I've had a few run-ins with her daughters, I know Narmeelah is a dangerous pony."

"Good. Then you know how serious this is."

They walked through the streets, passing the soldiers digging through the homes, combing through the sewers before arriving at the Crystal Heart.

Dawn stopped and stared at the spinning spectacle before them.

"It's so beautiful. How does that work?" She asked.

Cadance stopped and looked back to Dawn. "Well, the love of the Crystal Empire and Equestria sends the Crystal Heart energy which expels the snow and cold from this region, creating a habitable environment for all the ponies that live here. Thanks to love, we survive. Without it..."

"It's what keeps the snowstorm out," Flurry added.

Dawn changed into First Light, who yawned and rubbed her eyes. "Phew, that was a good nap. What'd I miss?"

"We're going after Narmeelah," Flurry explained. "But we have to find the entrance to the wells, which is discovered to be in the Crystal Empire."

Ah, yes, the ponies of glass. First Light trotted past her parents with her guards on her tail before arriving at the castle doors. Strange to see an abandoned castle.

Gently, she creaked open the doors and stepped in. Tall ceilings, crystal everywhere. Yep, the the crystal castle lives up to its name.

She was soon joined by Arcadia, Cadance, and Flurry Heart.

"Where do we even start?" She asked.

Cadance pointed out, "With a backstory. This castle has been around for centuries. Not as old as the COTG in Psera, but it has been around since Princess Platinum. But just like the COTG and the Castle of the Two Pony Sisters, there have been rumors of secret doorways and passages used by Platinum's family to travel and escape threats that have never been discovered. If the rumors hold up, they must be hidden pretty well."

"They could be on any floor of the castle," Arcadia added. "But if I'm correct, they would certainly stick out, hidden even from light."

"So a dark stairwell," Flurry suggested.

"Yes. Or a passage. Regardless, you'll see it. Cadance and I will take the top floors, you two stick to the bottom. I feel you will have more success that way."

"And stick together," Cadance sternly ordered. "After our interaction with Shaoloh, there's no telling what else may be waiting for us."

Flurry walked forward, passing Arcadia and Cadance. "Mom, I've lived here all my life. If anyone has the upper hoof here, it would be me."

She walked away down the crystal hall, leaving First Light to smile sheepishly before rushing after her with their parents' stern gazes on them and their guards.

"Think they'll be okay?" Cadance asked.

"After everything that has happened," Twilight explained. "I do not believe it would be my place to comment on Flurry's defensive abilities. Let alone her intelligence on fighting techniques. But if she's with Dawn and First Light, I know for a fact, she will be safe."

Twilight flared open her wings and flew up to the walkway hovering above them with Cadance landing next to her.

"Why is that?"

"All foals on Psera, especially royalty, are required to take defensive training in case of threats. Dawn has trained underneath the guidance of her father, her grandmother, Merry, and many others. That, and, as stated before, Dawn can't die by a mere injury. It's going to take a lot of power to take Dawn down. I know little of Flurry, so I can't speak for her. But I know that if she and Dawn stick together, she'll be fine."

Twilight turned her attention to the hallways lying before them. At all the looming rooms and doors that need to be searched.

"Now, where should we start?"

Chapter 25 - The Wells Pt. 1

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The task moved along slowly. They checked every crack, corner, and crevice of the Crystal Empire. But without magic, progress was slow.

The cold weather of winter mixed with the frigid air of the Crystal Empire began to burn into Celestia's coat. Luna, the night owl as she was, moved effortlessly through the chilling winds whilst her sister tightened her wings.

"I've never fully realized the extent of the Crystal Empire's winters," Celestia said. "A reminder of the curse lingering beyond the Empire's protective veil."

Luna stepped into another house and banged her hooves on the floor. "We can coordinate with Cadance to see if we can tighten the Heart more."

"Right." Celestia stepped into another room and beamed at the sight that truly touched her heart. "Luna. Look at this."

Luna stepped in and fawned. It was a filly's room dedicated to them. Pictures, posters, figurines of all the Princesses. Even Flurry Heart.

"Ohh, look, Luna." She stepped over to another dresser where another Figurine sat. One of...

"Is that Fresh Dawn?" Luna asked.

"I don't think Twilight has red hair." Luna lifted up the figurine. It was so perfect. They were lifted up and held in front of the poster of all the princesses. Even with Twilight at the top. Of course, that wasn't the Twilight they knew. The one with them now.

Luna sighed and placed the figurine back where it was before. "Think we'll ever get back to this? To the good days?"

"All I can do is hope, Luna. Now, I do not believe the entrance to the well could be hidden here in this house. It's too exposed."

"At least we can agree on that."

Whilst Celestia turned around and left the room, Luna couldn't help but stand and stare at the art of gratitude dedicated to them. Eyeing the smiling faces of princesses, kings, and queens, far and wide. She dearly hoped that one day, they would be able to go back to those times. To a more peaceful way of life.

But for now, she left the room and faced the prior objective. End this century-long war.

The foals were downstairs, leaving Cadance and Twilight to search the upper floors. Rooms spanned everywhere they turned. Despite being here numerous times before, it truly astounded Twilight by the sheer amount they had. Albeit small, compared to the Castle of the Gods in Psera. Or rather what was surely left of it.

Twilight quickly searched behind another desk and came up empty hoofed while Cadance peeked behind a large picture frame.

"Any luck?" Twilight asked.

With a regretful sigh, Cadance shook her head. "None. I'm starting to think we're searching in the wrong region of the castle."

Twilight walked out the room next to Cadance and continued down the hall, desolate of any sign of life save for the soft thuds of their hooves.

"If there was an attack in this castle," Twilight said. "I would want a convenient means of escape. Where would I put it?"

"Where would you put that?"

Twilight stopped in front of the door to Cadance and Shining's quarters. "The master bedroom for starters."

With a shove, the doors were opened. As if they never left in a hurry, the bed was immaculate, clothes were put away; no sign of distress.

They walked into the room and began moving furniture.

"Be careful," Cadance warned. "These are family heirlooms."

Yes, Twilight could make out framed paintings of Princess Mi Amore and Princess Platinum. Did Cadance have one? Did Flurry, or Shining?

Carefully, Twilight plucked the painting off the wall and set it down gently. "Do you have a painting, Cadance?"

"We do, it's in the throne room." Cadance pushed aside a dresser and looked around. Even tapping against the crystal floor for any anomalies. "How about your family?"

Twilight smiled at fond memories whilst checking behind the bed. "We have a few. Well, Dawn and her father have many. I only have the two, both of which when Dawn was a mere foal."

Her memories forced her gaze outside the door. "I missed so much of my daughter's life. Of my family..."

Cadance turned around and eyed Twilight's wistful gaze. A single tear rolled down her face before quickly wiping it away.

"But yes, we have paintings and photos. The Fire Family has quite the tree spread throughout Psera."

"I believe Madun told us that before."

"Yes. I'm sure he did."

Cadance stood back up and looked back to Twilight checking the walls. She could see the sadness in her eyes. The longing in her words.

"You have to stop that."

Twilight stopped checking the floor and turned to Cadance. "What?"

"That. Those emotions of grief, sadness, anger and pain. I can hear it. I can see it."

Twilight sighed and went back to checking the floor. "After everything I've done, Cadance, I'd think I deserve to wallow in my eternal suffering."

"Twilight..."

"Psera wouldn't be destroyed if it wasn't for me. Heck, my mere existence might just be the downfall of ponykind. I've taken countless lives, been the root cause of destruction and suffering far and wide. Even Equestria's current state I am responsible for. I bring bad luck wherever I go. For all I know, I could be leading everyone into a trap!"

"Twilight!" Cadance placed her hooves on Twilight's face staring deeply through her glowing eyes of sadness. "Enough. You're right, if it wasn't for you, Psera wouldn't be destroyed. But only because Psera wouldn't exist in the first place. Chrysalis and her swarm attacked Psera and nearly destroyed their land. They were on the brink of starvation already. A lot of ponies died before you even showed up and Celestia knows it would've been worse if you never did.

"As for the destruction of magic. No one thought this would happen. Not even you."

She stopped Twilight before she could speak with a raise of her hoof. "And even if you did, your intentions were to provide Equus with healthy food and water under the guise that it was real, safe, and comfortable. You did the best you could, even after giving up a decade of your life."

Twilight politely removed Cadance's hooves. "I know you're trying to help me Cadance, and I do appreciate it. But it's going to take some time to forgive myself for everything I've done."

Cadance sighed and returned to searching.

"When Dawn came back, when Luna told her what happened to the Zebras... The look she gave me... Oh Cadance... It's going to be years before I get her face out of my head. Her expression of disappointment. I could see her father in it. I thought I was doing the right thing..."

"You did it out of love for your country and your family. None of us hated your for that. We were appalled, absolutely aghast at your actions, but we already knew Psera had a steel hoof for the safety of its citizens and a record of violence. Tensions were rising between the house and Psera. It was only a matter of time before somepony made the first swing."

Cadance tapped at a wall. "We already knew it was coming. It was when you wanted to go further that we began to question your true motives."

"I want to do whatever I can to make it right." Twilight stared at her reflection. Glaring at her face. The way her eyes shone reminded her of... "I'm not Narmeelah."

She wiped at her face and focused back on the task. Finding a way out without using the hallways. This would certainly be quite the puzzle. To see an odd crystal among so many... Wait...

Twilight peered closer to her reflection. Was it just her or did it seem off? It wasn't warped like usual. But the color...

Twilight trotted to Cadance's side and stared at her reflection. No, it wasn't just her. She's been in this castle multiple times, she knows how she looks on the castle's crystal surface. Something wasn't right.

She walked back to that side. "Cadance? Has this room ever gone through repairs?"

"Repairs? Like what?"

"I don't know, say the crystal cracked somehow and needs to be replaced." Cadance deadpanning a look to Twilight was her answer. "Yeah, I thought not. What's behind this wall?"

Cadance stepped out the room and looked down the hall. "Nothing really. There's a small library, Shining's den. But they're both pretty far down compared to that wall. We'd have to chip through meters of crystal to reach them. Why?"

"This wall..." Cadance joined Twilight. "It reflects light as a different hue, as if there is something on top of it. I don't feel a difference between this crystal's surface and the rest, but I don't think it's real crystal. Stars, I wish I could scan it."

Cadance hummed before carefully growing a smirk. "You know, they are other ways to determine if this is real or not. Ways that don't require magic, and are a lot more fun."

Twilight glanced in confusion to Cadance. "What could be more fun than that of magic?"

Cadance's slow grin was not one Twilight found herself enjoying. For soon after, she was facing a large six-drawer dresser between her and the wall.

"Isn't this a family heirloom?" Twilight asked. It looked old enough to be. It was wooden and had small cracks from wear and tear. Quite an ugly thing. But Twilight refrained from saying that out loud.

Cadance scoffed from her place on the bed. "Not even. Shining bought that disgusting artifact when we moved in together. I told him I could just have one made but he insisted. I think he just wanted something from home to come with him, something he owned. There's nothing inside; it just takes up room. I've been trying to rid of it for years, but he always manages to find a use for it when I try. Don't feel bad, Twily. It's time for it to go."

"Couldn't we just buck the wall instead?"

"But what if it's real crystal? You could injure yourself, the last thing we need. Besides, this is more fun."

Well, if she was sure. "I know I seem to cause a lot of destruction, but this one you are responsible for."

Cadance raised her hoof proudly. "Absolutely. Now, let's destroy this dresser... Wall. Destroy this wall."

"Mmhmm." As swift as can be, Twilight whirled around and bucked the dresser across the floor and soon through the wall. In shards it shattered to the floor in pieces, revealing a wide winding staircase the dresser found itself wedged in. Much to Cadance's disappointment.

Twilight reached down and picked up a shard of glass. Wow. Amazing. Just out of curiosity, she licked it.

"Ew! Twilight!" Cadance berated. "Why on Equus would you—"

"It's sugar."

Cadance stopped talking. "What?"

Twilight popped the shard in her mouth and chewed. "It's sugar. Sugar glass. They use them during film productions in Psera whenever they want to record an action scene involving glass to avoid injury. Strange it's lasted all these years. Maybe it was spelled."

Cadance grabbed a piece and popped it in her mouth. "Huh. What do you know. Well, you found your staircase."

"With a dresser wedged inside," Twilight deadpanned.

"Yes, I am quite disappointed it didn't shatter. I've tried everything on it. Even fire. Somehow, it still stands."

"You haven't quite tried everything." Twilight reached down and withdrew her sword.

"I've tried swords, spears, and axes as well."

"You haven't tried mine. Forged from Psera steel with a diamond-tipped edge." With a single swipe, the dresser was perfectly halved, much to Cadance's clap-worthy happiness. "You should've called me sooner for this."

"I really should have. Oh, get the legs, those things scrape."

Dawn couldn't help it. She knew she was on a mission. She knew the world depended on them to keep their heads on their shoulders. But for Psera's sake, this was a castle made of crystal. Shining, sparkling crystals. She'd be remiss not to ask questions and look around.

"Is the entire city like this?"

Flurry glanced to Dawn before they reached another room. As ordered, the guards entered first for a thorough check.

"That's why it's called the Crystal Empire."

"How big is the city?"

"Two-hundred ninety mile radius."

Dawn and Flurry were given the clear to enter a room vaguely familiar to that of a meeting hall. There was a long crystal table ringed by ten cushions. How standard.

"That seems pretty small for an empire," Dawn noted. She peeked beneath the table.

"Sorry to disappoint. The rest is dead, buried beneath tons of ice and snow."

Dawn glanced back and eyed Flurry's demeanor. She was upset about something. That much was clear.

"What's wrong, Flurry?"

"We're at war against our great-great-grandmother, we have no weapons, and the fate of every last single pony rests on the wings of your mother who recently decimated and burned to the ground an entire country and a pony that is made entirely of magic who doesn't really know how to use it. No offense to Aunt Twilight or you, Dawn, but let's be honest here."

She lifted a photo off the wall and looked behind it. "The fate of Equus is not looking too good."

Ouch. Dawn pointed to a dresser, ordering her guards to search there. "Hey, getting access to magic on Psera is impossible, even for a pony who literally has access to everything. Also, Zebrica and Psera were already at war. They attacked us first. I know this because they killed my dad; and almost killed me too."

Flurry stopped searching and looked back to Dawn staring up to a flag of Equestria plastered to the wall. "Dawn, I—"

"For the record, Flurry," Dawn mocked. "Psera may not have much, but don't forget that we're the ones providing transportation, weaponry, militarization, protection, and intelligence while all of IHT is providing only shelter, if this can even be called that. Without Psera, there would be no fate of Equus at all."

Dawn walked out the room with her guards on her tail. "Dawn, wait," Flurry called. She quickly caught up to her small stature. "I didn't mean to offend you."

"You did," Dawn replied. "And quite rudely. You not only offended me, you offended my country. Perhaps you prefer to search alone and figure it out by yourself."

"Dawn—"

Dawn sped up and waited at another room while the team investigated first. Without turning her head to Flurry, she said, "We'll search this room. Since you know the castle so well, you pick and choose."

It was clear that Dawn didn't want to do anything with her. Flurry huffed out her nose and turned back around.

"Fine," she snapped. "You take the front and I'll take the back. Those rooms are bigger anyway."

Dawn watched Flurry from the corner of her eye and enter another hall before murmuring, "Fo' neena royäl (pompous princesses)."

Flurry trotted through the hall, eyeing the flags, more still than the walls of the castle. Reaching up with a wing she slapped one before arriving at another room. A large ballroom. Columns created a path leading to a stage where a piano sat. Flurry remembered this room. This was where mom and dad would have their parties and events.

Flurry trotted in and looked to the ceiling. It wasn't like Psera's. Stars above, theirs was massive. Tall, colorful, warm and beautiful. Their's was crystal, gray, and lifeless. It didn't tell stories like Psera's. Was she jealous of Dawn? Was that why she lashed out? It wasn't her fault, Aunt Twilight was the one that went crazy, Equestria was just caught in the middle of it.

Then again, they were all doing the best they could. The entire world was riding on them to succeed; and Dawn was right to state that Psera contributed quite a lot to the cause.

"I have to apologize," Flurry admitted to herself. But what could she say? Sorry for disgracing Psera and you, Dawn, my family and friend? Did it have to be political? Did she already screw up as a Princess of Equestria during the worst possible time?

Flurry trotted over to a piano set on the stage and sat down at the keys. Her weightful crown was set aside to hopefully lift this heavy emotion from her head. It did no such thing.

She stared at her reflection in the piano's black glossy surface. What could she do? Why was she even here? What could she possibly give to the war effort besides ideas?

She pressed on a key and tapped a single tone multiple times. What could she possibly give to anypony here? She didn't have magical prowess like any of the other princesses. Neither did Dawn, but she knew Dark Magic and could get into places none of them could. Not to mention, she was the current Queen of a superpower.

Arcadia Nova knew every last single thing there ever was to know about magic and the way to get there.

Her own mother knew strategy and knew how to weaponize love magic, which is what keeps the Pserateps alive. If something goes wrong, Cadance may be the one to save them all.

Celestia and Luna had millennia of experience fighting legendary monsters and creatures far and wide. The Legends of Psera knew all about Narmeelah and the creatures of Tartarus were additional muscle.

What was she?

Flurry tapped at the key harder, faster. What was her purpose? Why was she even here?!

Suddenly, the piano jerked. She yelped and bounced from her seat. What was that? Why did the piano just move?!

Stepping back, she watched in fascination as the stage seemed to lower. The entire stage. The steps moved with it, angling in the opposite direction. Did she just discover something?! How many secrets of this castle didn't she know about?!

The light from the room disappeared behind her, urging her to turn around and face a stone walkway. It went deep. It was dark, destination hidden in the shadows.

She needed to turn around, to run up those stairs and tell everyone else that she found something. Then again...

Flurry faced the hallway and took her first steps inside. Soon finding herself drowning in darkness. She tapped at the wall until she pressed on what was certainly a cord. Instantly, torches lit her path. Good, some light.

She grabbed one and waved it ahead. Great, more rocks and tunnels. Was this the well Aunt Twilight was talking about? Stars, it seemed rather long. Maybe it would be best to get some backup.

Flurry turned around and gasped. The entrance. Where'd it go?! The light disappeared, leaving her facing a jagged crystal wall. When did it even close? Great. Now she was trapped beneath the castle. Flurry gulped and turned back around to face what needed to be done. She had to find another way out. Maybe along the way she'll figure out her purpose.

Given the green light, Dawn stepped into another room. A bedroom no doubt. Maybe it belonged to one of their assistants. Did they sleep in the castle with them? The guard checked the bed and closet while she stood to the side. It were moments like this that made her feel useless. Waiting. Her time would come.

"Can you believe what she said?" Dawn asked aloud.

Captain Gliding sword peeked out from checking the closet. "What was that?"

"What Flurry said earlier."

Gliding went back into the closet. "The princess is frustrated. Whether with herself or with the situation, I don't know. You were like that growing up."

"What? No, I wasn't."

"Yes, you were," another guard commented. "Especially with Secretary of Royalty Gardeen Daisy. Remember that phase?"

Oh. Yeah. That.

Dawn groaned and said, "Why can't you guards just agree and say that Flurry was wrong, and not get on my case too?"

Captain gliding stepped out of the closet and walked over to Queen Dawn. "Young ponies like you need to know the 'why' and 'how'. Not the what. The more you understand, the faster you're able to find a solution. As Queen, having a firm understanding will be your best asset. Despite Arcadia's shortcomings, she was very fluent in deciphering emotions, which in turn made her a great ruler and mother, because she could connect with her subjects on a deeper level than what was on the surface."

Dawn tapped at her chin. "So, you're saying there's something else bugging Flurry then?"

"Of course. Flurry Heart may be the princess and heir to the Crystal Empire, but she's still just a kid who, starting just months ago, watched her mother and father be attacked by her aunt, saw an entire country blow up, and witnessed that same aunt wreck her country twice within forty days. No doubt she has a few things she'd like to say."

Captain Gliding walked past Dawn and back out into the hall. "But of course I could be wrong. You foals are all different. Still impressionable, but also unpredictable. You react to situations differently. Who knows what the problem could be but Flurry. But there is something wrong with her."

"Hmmm." Dawn followed out after Gliding before changing into First Light. "I believe it would be best for us to stick together. I agree that she needs her space, but I would hate for Flurry heart to get into trouble with Aunt Caddy or Mother for not sticking together."

She changed back into Dawn. "Yeah, I agree. Search for Flurry and being her back please. I'd hate for her to miss something."

A guard saluted and moved off from the group in search of Princess Flurry Heart.

Back upstairs, Arcadia finally managed to get the dresser broken down into pieces. She sheathed her sword and looked over to Cadance.

"Happy?" Her face of glee was her answer. "I figured. I'll go ahead and start the journey, you send for backup."

Cadance nodded and walked out, Leaving Twilight to fearlessly walk into the darkness alone. It was quite familiar. Almost a faint memory.

Along the way, she eyed silver flames burning from torches. Strange. Still she grabbed one and continued her way down. The crystal walls soon expanded into a single hallway. She must be beneath the castle. A single path of smooth crystal guided her forward. Carefully, she moved, taking the time to scan her environment for any dangers. So far, so good.

She ventured further in. Maybe this tunnel connected to another. For there to be only one entrance would be insane.

There had to be more.

Cadance found Dawn and her guards checking into the kitchen. No way they would find anything in there.

"Dawn," Cadance called out to them.

Dawn turned around and smiled to Cadance. "Hey, Aunt Caddy. We're checking the kitchen." She reinforced that fact by pushing over a refrigerator, much to Cadance's horror. Well, foals will be foals, no matter who they are. "We think the wells are hidden behind walls and camouflaged appearances."

Cadance stopped at Dawn's side and looked around. "That's good. Where's Flurry?"

Dawn seethed through her teeth. "So, she and I had a bit of a falling out."

She had to be kidding. You leave foals alone for ten minutes and they're already fighting. Cadance sighed and closed her eyes. A hoof rubbed her brow. "Where is she?"

"I have a guard searching for her now."

That same guard returned in the kitchen entrance and saluted. "Queen Dawn. I have reason to suspect Princess Flurry is missing."

"What?!" Cadance and Dawn shouted.

The Guard reached into one of the many pockets of his fatigue and withdrew a crown. "This belongs to the Princess, yes?"

Cadance took it in her hooves. "Yes, this is Flurry's. Where did you find it?"

"In the grand ballroom. Sitting on the piano. There were no signs of a scuffle, I ruled out any assault. Also no signs of a break in. It looked almost as if she just disappeared."

"Almost?" Captain Gliding asked.

They soon found themselves in the ballroom standing around the same piano. The guard was pointing down to the carpet, where a slight discoloration implied hoofsteps.

"So, she enters the room," Gliding pointed out. "Then sits at the piano."

"Then she walks over here." Cadance followed Flurry's tracks to the back of the stage before they fade. As a matter of fact...

Dawn pointed to two of the tracks. "Look. They're snipped off. Two hoofsteps are cut in half. It's like she disappeared."

"Flurry?!" Cadance shouted. She ran out the ballroom and into the hall. "Flurry!!!"

Her voice bounced off the walls and through them, reaching the ears of both Twilight and Flurry.

Twilight stopped walking. "Cadance?" She shouted back. Could they hear her? Were these walls that thin? Privacy must've been almost impossible in this castle.

"Twilight! Flurry's missing!"

"Mom?!" Flurry yelled. She stopped walking and looked around. "Mom, where are you?! Are you in here too?!"

"Flurry?!" Twilight shouted.

"Aunt Twilight?!"

"Cadance, what's going on?!"

"Okay, everyone stop yelling!" Dawn shouted. Jeez, they sounded like they were coming from every last single room in the castle. Likely a defense mechanism.

"Okay, mom? Where are you?" Dawn asked.

"Cadance and I found a hidden stairwell upstairs in the master bedroom. She went for backup while I got a headstart. Where are all of you?"

"Cadance and I are in the grand ballroom. Flurry and I decided to go different ways. Now, she's missing. Flurry? Where are you?"

Flurry waved her torch around. "I'm not sure! I tapped on the piano a few times and the stage lowered down to this path beneath me. I stepped in and it shut. So, I'm kind of tra—AHHHH!"

Flurry jumped back and dropped the torch. After shining it on the face of a stone pony guard.

"FLURRY?! Flurry, are you okay?!" Cadance shouted.

Flurry placed a hoof over her bouncing heart. "Yeah! Yeah, it's just a statue! I think I'm beneath the castle!"

"Okay, I'm beneath the castle right now," Twilight said. She quickened her steps. Maybe she could track her voice. "I'll come to you, Flurry. Do you remember what keys you pressed on the piano?"

"Maybe. It went like dun-dun-dun!"

"Right, because all pianos don't go dun-dun-dun!" Dawn quipped.

"Hey, bite me, double-trouble!"

"Whoa!" Cadance said.

"Hey, watch your mouth, Flurry!" Twilight berated. "I don't know what's going on between you two but you'd better patch it up quick before I see either of you again!"

"Ugh!" Flurry quickened her pace. Stars, these pony statues were creeping her out.

She walked past a few more of them, completely unaware of how all of their heads had turned in her direction.

Chapter 26 - The Wells Pt. 2

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Their searching brought Celestia and Luna to the train station. It was unlikely there would be any form of a clue here, but the risks were too high to negate any location. If need be, they would also search the field of ice beyond the relative warmth of the Crystal Empire.

Stars, even from here, Celestia could feel the wind whipping away at her mane.

Celestia sighed and turned her sight from that field of ice and snow back towards the station, where Luna, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and a team of guards were checking the building itself. Each room was open. The restrooms, the closets, the offices. Nothing was left untouched.

Celestia trotted over to Luna, leaving the lobby. "Anything?"

"Not yet," Luna regretfully answered. She looked to the rest of the guards and two of the elements. "What about them?"

"Nothing. I'm beginning to think we're not doing something right."

"Hmmm, I agree." She looked through past the train station towards the castle. That's where Twilight and Cadance were. Maybe they were having better luck than they were.

"Hey, Princess?" Luna and Celestia turned to Rainbow Dash, floating in front of them. "We found something."

They did? Behind her was a cacophony of guards and soldiers convening on one location. They quickly joined and eyed what seemed to be a blank wall in front of the railroad tracks that lead beyond the Crystal Empire and into the snowstorm surrounding it.

Alas, there was nothing Celestia could see that was any different than the rest.

"What are we all looking at?" She asked.

An Aerial Guard pointed to a small area on the wall, almost unnoticeable to the eye that had a small rune attached to it. Above it, another, and above that another that soon lead their sights to recognize a large ring of runes. Time and weathering faded them away but they were still there.

"What does this mean?" Luna answered.

"I don't know. This is magic even I can't understand." Celestia dragged a hoof down the wall. It's texture was rough with age. "It's old, ancient."

"No offense, Princesses," a Breighton soldier commented. "But what is it with your country always being home to ancient languages and foreign spells?"

"I wish I had an answer for you, soldier," Luna commented. "But even we aren't sure. But I am sure of this. When this is all over, I want to create a community, an organization, a school that can track down any of these spells and harmful magic; and enforce the good of magic once and for all."

"That's exactly what we shall do." Celestia removed her hoof. "This could be what we're looking for. But we need confirmation."

She looked to Rainbow Dash. "Go and grab Twilight."

The crystal walls were beginning to turn to rock. Twilight could see it from where she stood. That meant this torch would barely help with visibility. The crystal reflects the light, making it much easier to see. Without it, seeing an inch in front of her face would be nearly impossible.

Alas, she continued down.

"Now what is going on with you two?" Twilight asked through the walls. "It hasn't even been an hour and you're fighting?"

Dawn sat at the piano and answered, "I don't know, we were searching the room and Flurry grew a smart mouth and started talking about you and I."

"Flurry, is this true?" Cadance asked. She pointed to a key over Dawn's shoulder. "Maybe it's this one here?"

Flurry stopped and stomped her hoof in agitation. "I'm sorry, everypony else has said something in the last few months about Queen Twilight 'Arcadia Nova' Sparkle except me. Why am I all of a sudden the bad guy here?"

Dawn jabbed at the key a couple times. Was something supposed to happen? "Flurry, you're supposed to be older than me. Why are you acting like such a foal?"

And the condemnation continues. Twilight sighed and stopped at what appeared to be a hole. Really? Underground? Twilight lifted her torch and shone it over the hole. It didn't seem to end.

Twilight took a deep breath, took a few steps back, and with a running start, jumped and glided over the hole to the other side. Once landing, she glanced back. Maybe it was made to be a trap? Hmm. She'd come back to it later.

"Flurry, I know you have a lot of things you want to express," Twilight replied. "My actions against your home were unforgivable, let alone what I did to your parents."

"Mom, stop apologizing," Dawn said. "That's not what she's upset about." She tapped at another key. Stars, there were seventy-two of these things!

"What?!" Flurry shouted. She whirled around and pointed at the ceiling, as if Dawn was right there. "What do you know?! You're just some spoiled princess!"

"FLURRY!" Cadance berated.

"I don't have to be a princess to know there's more underneath that surface. Calshula meek, Flurry, you never wear your heart on your sleeve; getting a read out of you is almost impossible. I'm certain this isn't normal behavior. What's really going on?"

Flurry scoffed and continued walking. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"No, no," Cadance said. Now that she thought about it, as unbelievable as it sounded, Dawn was right. Flurry always keeps her emotions bottled up. Especially the deep ones. "She's right, what's going on, Flurry?"

"It's nothing," Flurry replied.

"So there is something."

"I just said—!"

Shf shf

What was that? Flurry stopped talking and turned around to face pitch blackness. Stars, it was already silent and dead down here, she didn't need any silent followers. She squinted her eyes.

"Hello?" She called. "Aunt Twilight, is that you?"

Twilight stopped walking down her passage. "Is it me? Do you have a torch?"

"Yeah?"

Twilight look around the cave. "That's not me, Flurry."

If that wasn't Aunt Twilight, then... Flurry's ears folded to the back of her head. "H-Hello?... This isn't funny, whoever you are."

Dawn stopped tapping and looked back to Cadance and the guards. "Flurry?" Cadance asked.

Taking a risk, Flurry raised the torch in front of her and shook it. Small embers broke off and floated through the air, illuminating that which made the noise. She could be seeing things, the stress from being in the dark alone combined with the stress of the mission could be causing her to hallucinate.

However, there was still the matter of there being three cracked stone ponies. They were gray, lifeless, covered in vines. One of them didn't have a head. The moment the embers hit, the one in the middle opened its mouth before the lights went out.

Flurry took a deep breath and screamed as loud as she could. A blood curling scream that echoed through the castle walls and through the tunnels.

"FLURRY!" Cadance shouted. She rushed out the room and flew up the stairs, soon coming back to the room with the broken wall. "Hold on, sweetie! Twilight, where are you?!"

"I'm tracking her now! Flurry! Are you alright?!"

The torch fell from Flurry's hoof and to the stone ground before one of the stone ponies jumped forward and pounced on her.

They fell down with her on her back, but she would not be down so easy. Her family was tough. They were strong.

Flurry used her momentum to keep rolling and vaulted the pony behind her into the air. It arched back down and shattered on impact with the ground.

She scrambled back to her hooves and ducked a swing and jab from the other two before a third and fourth jumped over them. Whirling around, they bucked Flurry back down.

"Ugh!" She cried.

"What's going on?!" Dawn shouted. She pointed to two guards. "You two, help mom find Flurry!"

"Stone ponies!!" Flurry shouted. "They're alive! Stone ponies!!"

Stone?! Cadance ran through the tunnel as fast ashe could. "Hold on, Flurry! We're coming!!"

Good, some backup! Twilight kept running forward before a thought hit her. Gasping, she shouted, "Cadance, be careful, there's a—"

Too late. Cadance's hooves left the ground before she went weightless and slammed face first into a crystal wall. She and her torch fell into the hole before landing on crunchy sticks.

"Ouch!"

"Are you okay?!"

Cadance rose to her hooves and shook her head. Great, that was going to bruise.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm..." Cadance's eyes widened upon recognizing the skull of a pony, illuminated by the nearby torch. No, the skeleton.

"Ahhh!!" Cadance screamed. She turned around and saw another one. Followed by another, then a third. "Twilight! There are skeletons in here!!"

Skeletons? Wait a minute. Stone ponies, dead ponies...

"Then we're on the right track!" Twilight ran back for Cadance. "They're trying to keep us away from the Well! Flurry, talk to us!"

"I can't!" Flurry looked over her shoulder. Those stone ponies were still chasing her. She could hear their trotting, feel their thundering hooves against the ground.

While they were running in circles, Dawn continued jabbing at the keys.

"Flurry, I know we're in a bad spot right now, but this is the time we're supposed to come together. Come on, you stupid piano!"

She jabbed at another key. Suddenly the floor shifted. She bounced from her seat by the time the floor began lowering, and at the moment Rainbow Dash floated in.

"Dawn, where... Did you find one?"

"Rainbow Dash!" Dawn cheered. She threw her hooves in the air. "Good! We found two! We need your help. Flurry is being chased by stone ponies down there!"

"Stone ponies?" The floor dropped down into the tunnel. "That's creepy."

"Tell me about it. We're in!"

"Good! I got Cadance!" Twilight replied. She jumped out of the hole with Cadance in her hooves. Once they landed, they continued running through the tunnel with torches.

"Flurry, how you doin'?" Cadance asked.

"Not so good!" Flurry ducked another swing and backed away. Before attempting to strike, the ground broke beneath her.

She screamed on her way down before finally landing once more on a stone floor. Stars, how many times did she have to fall to her death?

"Yep! Another freaking tunnel!" She reported. "I fell in another hole!"

"Okay, are you still being chased?"

"I-I don't know!" Flurry turned around and shone her torch. Amazing how it held on for so long. She stepped forward before a ring around her hooves glowing white illuminated. Runes created a pattern.

"Uh oh."

"What?" Rainbow asked.

"Is that Rainbow?" Twilight.

"Yeah. We found something at the train station that could use your help. But you seem busy."

"Help us get to Flurry!"

Flurry took one step forward before something shot out of a wall and speared directly across her line of sight. So close to her head. She gasped, jumping in surprise before even more followed suit. Luckily none of them hit her. She jumped around as fast as she could. Dodging them until eventually she was caught.

Two speared straight through one rear and front hoof.

"Ahhh BUCK!!!" She screamed.

"Flurry, what's wrong?!" Dawn asked. "We're almost there!"

Flurry shifted her left hoof. The cords were thin, cutting through her flesh. No, she would have to stay perfectly still and wait for help. She was surrounded by a thick web of these tiny blades. It she fell out, it'd be in pieces.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Dawn, her guards and Rainbow finally encountered the stone ponies. Wow, there were a lot of them. Nothing they couldn't handle.

Dawn whirled around and slammed her hooves into two ponies at once while her guards slashed and shattered the rest with Rainbow Dash.

"We're taking care of the stone ponies!"

"And we found an out!" Cadance and Twilight trotted through an opening up ahead into a larger space. Their hoofsteps echoed loudly, reverberating deeply. This was certainly a large tunnel. Could this be the well?

"Flurry?" Cadance called, her voice decaying ever so slowly.

They were close. Unfortunately, unless she wanted her head to be cut, she couldn't move.

"Over here! Torch is on the ground!"

Cadance turned her head. There! That flickering white star in the distance! "We see you! Stay where you are, don't move!"

"I couldn't if I wanted to!" Small stones and pebbles pelted her on her head. "Hey, be a little careful up there!"

"Sorry!" Dawn, Rainbow Dash, and five Elite Guards floated down. In a Guard's hoof was the head of one of those stone ponies. "Wow, you're in quite the predicament."

They avoided the webs and landed at the same moment Cadance and Twilight finally arrived. Flurry was surrounded by threads so thin, yet so strong, that even a mere twitch could yield lethal results. The webs themselves block off the entirety of the well. Which means...

"This is a defense mechanism," Twilight announced. "We're on the right track."

"Can somepony just get me out of this?!" Flurry cried. "It really really hurts!"

"Okay, okay!" Cadance followed the lines from where they shot. This would be a tricky situation. Getting Flurry out of this could prove fatal. Stars, it had her baby in a position where a mere pull could rip her apart!

"Twilight, what can we do?" She asked.

All eyes turned to Twilight who stepped forward with the torch. Carefully, she held it beneath the threads. Slowly, gently, they caught fire. One cord snapped, soon followed by another.

"Grab the ones on the outside first," Twilight instructed. Grabbing their torches, they slowly ignited the cords. Flurry tracked a line snap in front of her, followed by a second one.

"You've had quite the day, huh?" Dawn teased.

"Could you not right now?" Flurry asked.

"You know what, now that we got you both here, let's talk about this," Cadance said. She snapped another thread. "What's bugging you, Flurry?"

"Nothing is bugging me," Flurry insisted.

"Flurry..."

"Mom, nothing is bothering me!"

"Flurry, now is not the time to be secretive."

Twilight was more interested in the rune. There was text surrounding it. She leaned in close for a better read.

"This is Old Pseratopian," she disclosed.

A guard protecting Dawn walked over and read the line. "She's right."

""Seriously?!" Flurry bellowed. "Let me guess, you made this?"

Twilight rose back to her hooves. "No, Flurry, I—"

"Oh, save it, just work your magic, like you always do. You're really good at that."

"Flurry, what is going on with you?" Dawn asked. She snapped another cord and walked through the threads to be in Flurry's face. "Why are you being so mean for? Are you worried about the mission?"

"It has nothing to do with the stupid mission."

"Flurry. Be honest with me. Come on, it's me, Dawn. I won't judge you or anything, we're family."

Dawn and Flurry exchanged blinks before Flurry sighed. "...why am I here?" She finally asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, why am I needed in this mission? What could I possibly offer that can help?"

She gestured behind her. "Aunt Twilight is the definition of magic, you have an affinity to Dark Magic, mom can weaponize love, Grandma Celestia has fighting skills, Great Aunt Luna too, dad is a military colonel, then we have the guards, the Legends of Psera, Creatures of Tartarus, and then, finally..."

She spat, "You have Flurry Heart who can do nothing but watch. So, I ask again, why am I here?"

Dawn shared a look with Twilight who was pulling out a thread through Flurry's rear hoof who exchanged a look with Cadance. The tunnel was silent before a thick round of chuckling attracted attention to Twilight. She had a hoof held in front of her mouth, eyes on Flurry whilst twitching with each breath taken.

"Mom," Dawn warned.

"What is so funny?" Cadance asked.

Twilight waved it off and burned through a few more threads. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It's just... That's what's been bothering you? Oh, Flurry..."

She walked through to the other side where Dawn was and burned off the last few threads.

She reached down and cupped Flurry's chin. "You're what keep all of us together. I may not have been here during all of this, but I know for a fact, without a single doubt in my mind, that all of these ponies, dragons, all the creatures out there will not work together even if they didn't have a choice. Getting them to cooperate is like trying to get your father to sit down. Very rarely does that happen.

"However, if I'm correct, and I'm certain I am, based off the looks the rest of the hall were giving you, they depend on you to keep the fires at bay, the same flames they themselves kindle; and, since they're still together, I'm guessing you've been doing a good job. Am I wrong?"

Well... Flurry sighed and looked away. "It's not enough," she said. "I need to fight, I want to fight. Like you. Like mom, dad, even Luna."

"Fighting isn't for everyone," Twilight added. "Even the strongest know that their place is delegation. Sometimes, as Queen, even I knew that a swing of the blade wouldn't solve every problem. As you said, Flurry, we already have the muscle. Now, we need to keep the brains. You are part of that brain, as are your cousins Dawn and Light. We need you to keep a strong heart. The rest of us will depend on you."

"No, they depend on you," Flurry corrected. She flinched when the thread in her forehoof was finally yanked out. She plopped on her flank, allowing the medics to tend to her wounds. "You have all the brains, the mind, and all the information. You know how to defeat Narmeelah... Somehow."

She looked up from the wrapping they were applying to her hooves. "How did you figure all of this out, by the way?"

Dawn, Cadance, Rainbow Dash, the guards that were standing around keeping an eye out either glanced or looked in her direction. They too were curious. Out of all this time, no one has bothered to ask that question. How did she know?

Twilight answered, "It's a tale of a lifetime, I'm afraid. A lifetime I won't recall until we see the light again. This well is connected to other passageways in the city."

"We have to locate those passages," a guard commented.

"I can find them," Dawn announced. Attention swiveled on her. "Well, not me exactly, but a part of me."

She looked down to her wing. "Sky. Come."

Sky Blue poked her head out out Dawn's wing and cawed in curiosity before flapping free. She flew up to Twilight and landed on her head, who in turn looked down to her daughter.

"Dawn? What exactly is your plan here?" Twilight asked.

"The remote echolocation spell," Dawn answered.

"We're not supposed to be using magic," Cadance reminded.

"I don't need magic." Dawn pointed up to Sky Blue. "Sky Blue has a part of me in her. I'll have another pair of eyes. It's not like I'm controlling her with a constant spell. As a matter of fact, Sky Blue has been alive this whole time. From us departing Psera to now."

They looked to Twilight for approval. She nodded her head. "Then let's do it."

"What?!" Rainbow bellowed. "Twilight, that's a serious risk!"

"It'll work. I can't even feel Sky Blue in my magical aura. I highly doubt Narmeelah can as well. Do what you have to do, Dawn. But take the way we came; according to Flurry, the other passage automatically closes."

Finally! Dawn whistled, catching Sky Blue's attention who tilted her head to the side. They made eye contact. The buttons acting as Sky Blue's eyes slowly changed to black, just like Dawn's eyes now.

Instantly, Sky Blue's wings snapped open. She took off from Twilight's head and soared back from where Twilight and Cadance appeared from, leaving their sight.

"We're leaving the castle," Dawn explained. "We need a bird's eye view of The Crystal Empire in order for this to work. It may take some time."

"Then we'd better get comfortable then," Rainbow Dash flew towards the wall and leaned back against the stone. She kicked her hooves up and folded the others behind her head. "Not as soft as a cloud, but it'll do."

Chapter 27 - The Reason

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The journey through the tunnel was a quiet one. Sky Blue's wings flapped loudly through the halls, continuing her journey. While she flew with the wind, and moved through the silence, the rest of the party remained silent, watching Dawn sit and focus through Sky Blue's eyes.

The silence was interrupted by Flurry seething. Bandages were being wrapped around her hooves.

"From here on out," Cadance scolded. "You are to stay with the group. Do you understand?"

"Mom—"

"No! No excuses whatsoever, you do as you're told. Am I clear?"

Twilight leaned over to Dawn. "That goes for you as well."

Without moving, Dawn replied, "But I did as you said."

"I know, and you're not in trouble. However..." Twilight turned her attention to that rune, and the head of that stone pony lying nearby. "These Wells hold a few surprises. Who knows what else we'll encounter."

One of the Elite stepped forward, gear shuffling as they moved. "Permission to speak freely, my Queen?"

Rainbow cracked her eyes open and listened in.

"You may," Dawn answered.

"Is no one else worried that there are multiple passageways linked to an Equestrian castle protected by magically infused stone ponies that lead to a Well?"

"I was going to bring that up later with the others," Twilight admitted. "I was expecting it to be more under wraps, but..."

They looked around the Well and the ocean of black surrounding them. "We made it here too easily. Even the one in Psera was quite difficult to reach. Compared to that one, this was a cakewalk."

"You're right," Flurry admitted. She stretched and wiggled her injured hooves. "All I had to do was tap on an old piano five times and I was in. There were no puzzles, no codes, just a lowering platform inviting me in."

"What do you make of it, Twilight?" Cadance inquired.

"I'm not sure. This castle is centuries old. Perhaps Narmeelah used this castle before."

"Or maybe..." They turned to Dawn, still seeing through Sky Blue's eyes. "Cadenza and Narmeelah had something going on."

"What do you mean?" Rainbow asked.

"Correct me if I'm wrong mom, but isn't Flurry Heart part-Pseratep?"

"You're correct," Twilight answered. "Although by a small percentage. What's your point?"

"I don't know, just a theory. There are stairs here in the master bedroom that lead directly through the castle unseen and into the well, with the only threat being a hole beneath your hooves. Easy access for a repetitive event with a pony who knows a thing or two about Pseratopian runes. I'm leaving the bedroom."

Sky Blue flapped her way out into the silent halls of the castle and soon out the doors into the frigid air of the Crystal Empire.

"Ahhh," Dawn sighed in relief. "It feels good to see the sun again."

She flew into the sky, as high as she could go before coming to a full hover. "Okay, I'm in position. Give me a moment."

Cadance leaned over into Twilight's space. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" She asked.

"There will be no problem. The relationship Dawn shares with copies of her magic is the same relationship she and I share. It's just another part of her. It cannot be detected."

There. The passages. Using Dawn as a starting point and her physical connection to the shadows, Sky Blue was able to see the otherwise massive Well beneath the Crystal Empire. In her eyes it was tinted blue along with the passageways connected to it.

"I see them," Dawn announced. "I see the passages and the Well."

The crew bounded to their hooves. "What do you see?"

Sky Blue swooped lower, gently gliding deeper into the district. "Most of the passages aren't in the city. Most of them are outside of it. Within the snow and ice."

Well that wasn't good. Cadance and Twilight looked at each other.

"Wait! Except..." Dawn raised her hoof and pointed ahead into the darkness. "There's a passage up ahead that's a lot bigger than the others."

"Where is it?" Twilight asked.

"Behind the train station. I see a presence in that direction. They may have noticed something as well."

"Yeah, they need your help, Twi," Rainbow confirmed. "Some kind of rune or something."

"It could activate the point of entry, whatever it is," Twilight said to herself. She looked to Cadance and the guards. "Grab Dawn and head in that direction through the Well. We'll meet you there above ground."

Twilight grabbed one torch while Cadance grabbed the other. With a scoop and throw, Dawn's small stature was deposited on Cadance's back before they moved down the Well.

"How are your hooves, Flurry?"

Each step was like walking on needles. But... "I'll live," Flurry answered. "How far is it?"

"A few minutes up ahead," Dawn answered from Cadance's back. "I can see us from above."

While they waited, Sunset, Starlight, Lead Harvest and Snap Seed worked together to crack this rune. So far, progress was slow. Despite it being the middle of winter, beads of sweat were beginning to appear upon Sunset's brow. How much time did they have anyway? Was the end of the world running on their time?

Sunset wiped her forehead beneath her horn. "Okay," she said. "So far, unsuccessful."

"Where is Rainbow Dash and Twilight?" Applejack asked. "Did she already flake on us?"

"Unlikely," Sun Waves answered. "As far as I can tell, this matter is personal, even for her."

"How so?"

"Because we're all related," Shining answered. "Narmeelah's the root cause to the murder of King Madun and almost killed her daughter. If I know Twilight as well as I do, she's going to want to exchange a few words with her."

At that moment, Rainbow Dash trotted in with Twilight behind her. "Found her!"

They cleared a path up to the rune for Twilight to take a look. Sky Blue flew down from above and landed on Twilight's back, staring up to Luna. Ugh, why did she hate this bird?

"Did you find anything?" Luna asked.

"Yes," Twilight answered. She stopped in front of the rune and squinted at it. "We found a few passageways that lead to the Well. It goes directly through the city all the way out here, leading beneath the station."

Twilight tapped at the rune. "There are more of these."

"What are they?" Snap Seed inquired.

Twilight's sight moved downwards, continuing to the platforms before heading back into the crowd at the tracks.

"Dawn? Where's the entrance?"

Sky Blue cawed from Twilight's back, and took off into the sky. Gliding gently, she suddenly speared down and squeezed her way through some personnel to land on the snow. Flapping her wings, Sky Blue cawed louder.

Then it's not a door. Which means...

Twilight turned back to the rune. "This is a circuit. Activated with proximity information."

"So it's touch activated," Celestia assumed.

"Right. Only problem is that these runes faded with time. I'll have to write them back in. In the meantime, let's get all the vehicles back here and lined up. Dawn? Get back up here with Caddy and Flurry."

Sky Blue cawed. Good. With that out of the way, Twilight bent low and picked up a small stone with her teeth.

Silence crept amongst the group as Twilight read and worked. Watching the magic of her mind at work, up close and personal. Snap Seed crept closer as she drew. Wow. She was standing next to the Twilight Sparkle. The greatest mage to ever be born. She created so many spells, even created a process that allowed her to come back from the dead! And she was standing right next to her! Watching her draw magic!

Soon, the first rune was completed. Twilight stepped back and eyed her work. Flawless, as usual.

"The first one is done," she said around the stone. "But there are many more. Hidden in the stone and rock. I propose we set up camp."

"I second that motion," Luna agreed.

Captains and commanders began shouting orders, teams dispersed to grab tools and tents. After a moment's glanced, Twilight bent low and continued her work. It would be hours by the time this was done.

The sounds of hoofsteps resonated with the snapping and cracking of campfires brewing among the camps, darkened with the dusk of the day. Soldiers set up posts, watching from afar while their leaders and commanders convened on a single point, yards behind the train station. Beneath a large tent, protected by Psera's Elite Guard they overlooked a large map placed on a wooden table.

Princess First Light now commandeers the shared body between Dawn and herself while Dawn rested. It would be hours before she wakes.

Under the eyes of leadership, Light pointed to a specific point on the map.

"According to our geologists and commanders," she said. "And by cross-referencing the data Dawn and I managed to put together, we theorize we'll be arriving at Building Four."

"What's in building four?" Queen Novo asked.

"Aquata Manufacturing. It's the biggest site we have in Serl. But it's also the most dangerous. During any storm, the site is closed and shut down. Our Aquatas dangle over a crevice that leads into the ocean. It makes for an easier handoff, but it's not as pleasant when the winds are high."

"It's also the current home of The Cleansing Project." Their attention was brought forth to the front of the tent. One of the Pseratep scientists. Wait, Celestia's seen him before.

She pointed at him. "We've met."

Dark red coat? Deep blue eyes? He was as big as Madun was. He bowed to the Queen of Psera. "Briefly, back when Arcadia Nova first returned from her slumber after fighting Maheera Dark. I am Director Foresight."

At the mention of her name, they turned their attention back towards the train station. Accompanied by Sun Waves, Sunset Shimmer, Starlight Glimmer and Snap Seed, Twilight continued drawing in the runes. At least she wasn't alone this time. She had a ring of security watching her.

First Light turned back to Foresight. "You knew my father."

"He and I were rivals when we were foals. I couldn't stand his guts, but I can't say your father did not fill a rather unpleasant hole in my heart with the kindness of a friend. My condolences."

"Thank you, Director. What is The Cleansing Project?"

"Your mother would know more about it. She spearheaded the project initially prior your birth. Then gave me full control after you were born and she was crowned."

"But what is it?"

"Basically?" He stepped up to the table and sat down with his head bowed. "It's—"

"A bomb." They looked back to see Twilight with Sunset and Starlight walking in their direction. "The Cleansing Project is a bomb."

"Another one?" Cadance asked incredulously. "Was Railer One not enough?"

"If only defense was that simple. Hello, Director Foresight."

Director Foresight began to bow, But Arcadia placed a hoof on his back. "No. Do not bow to me. I am not worthy of your praise for what has happened to Psera."

"I do not bow because of you Arcadia, but for what you represent. Hope, peace, unity, and magic. With your arrival, all creatures of the world have now come together to face the biggest threat ponykind has ever faced."

Against her better judgement, Arcadia allowed him to greet the ground before rising once more.

"Thank you," she said.

"You are welcome. Now, I have come to, perhaps, interest the Queen in a backup plan. One of which I believe you may find useful."

"Yes, The Cleansing Project."

"Mother," First Light said. "What is The Cleansing Project?"

"Well..." Twilight turned to face them. "The Cleansing Project is less of a bomb and more of an enabler of an event. When the bomb is dropped it, for lack of a better term, punches a small hole into magical fields, disrupting the flow of energy. During the developmental stage, we had a different name for it. A few of you have come in contact with one of our tests."

"Yes, I remember," Celestia said. "You lied and said it was a solar flare."

"It was us testing The Cleansing Project." She turned back to Director Foresight. "But how exactly can that help us?"

"A weapon of that size could keep Narmeelah from using magic. She would have to use her hooves at that point. You would have the upper hoof."

"No."

"Yes." Twilight whipped her eyes to First Light, who in turn stared back. "We'll keep the option on the table. No idea is a bad idea. Thank you, Director Foresight."

Director Foresight genuflected before turning around and walking away. Once out of earshot...

"I highly recommend," Twilight said. "That we do not use The Cleansing Project."

"Why?"

"You know why. We are not using that weapon. It's existence was a mistake. That's why I had it locked down tight."

"Then you're going to have to unlock it, mother. This war is bigger than us. Dawn and I will risk our lives for the ponies—"

"No." Twilight's hoof slammed on the table. Sunset and Starlight backed away. "Enough. I will not be unlocking The Cleansing Project. It will stay locked away."

"Mom—"

"I'll launch it into the Western Sea!"

"Mom! You and I both know that no matter what we do, I'm the only pony able to fight Narmeelah! We have to use it!"

Neither of them spoke. Only the blowing wind carrying cold biting winter of The Crystal Winter.

With a massive sigh, Twilight walked around the tent back to the train station. As fast as she could without being rude.

"Mom!" She did not turn around. First Light banged her hoof on the table "Mahnurka! Masa lah kee!"

"What's going on?" Luna asked.

First Light dropped on her flank and placed her head on the table. "Mom and I both know that the chances of us defeating Narmeelah are slim to none. The magic mom can do is nothing compared to what Narmeelah can do. Our army could be wiped out. That's why The Cleansing Project was developed."

"To disrupt Narmeelah's magic," Flurry guessed. "She would be greatly weakened."

"Right. It's the key to defeating her. It wouldn't be enough, but mom would still have a fighting chance."

First Light looked to Flurry. "But that was before we were born. Dawn and I... We're not flesh and blood. We're magic. We're what mom calls Celestials."

"Like Narmeelah."

"Right. Creatures made of anything but flesh. We operate differently. As a celestial, we have an even higher chance at defeating Narmeelah than any pony here. We just need to use the weapon to weaken Narmeelah, then it would be a fair game."

First Light looked back to the train station. Where Twilight was continuing her rune drawing, albeit more slowly.

"That's why mom doesn't like it. She doesn't want me going up against Narmeelah. That's why she relinquished ownership of the project and locked it away after I was born."

"So you wouldn't have to fight her," Celestia said.

They all looked back to Twilight. At the sad way she drew her runes in. It wasn't until then that Starlight figured it all out with a gasp.

"That's what all the weapons are for," she whispered. She looked down to Dawn. "So you wouldn't have to fight at all."

"Right. Mom's greatest fear was never Narmeelah. It was me going up against her."

It made so much more sense that way. A mother would do anything for their child. Especially one who technically already died. They couldn't imagine what she's been through, but they did know that Twilight would do anything to keep Dawn and Light safe.

Celestia walked in that direction. "I'll go speak to her."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Cadance asked. "She's not the same mare as before."

"Underneath that hardened exterior is the same filly I helped raise. She will listen."

It didn't need to be perfect. As long as the rune could be contacted by the rest of the spell. But as a perfectionist, Twilight made sure each and every last curve was correct.

She drew in a line, as meticulous as she could in her own shell, blocking out the hoofsteps of an approaching pony.

"Maybe you need some help?" Twilight glanced over to Snap Seed briefly before continuing her work. "I can tell that now isn't a good time, but—"

"I apologize, dear Snap, but I would appreciate some silence."

Snap Seed deflated. "Ah. Yes, of course. No worries. I shall return later." Her hoofsteps faded away, leaving Twilight to her work again under the eyes of the camp. Half of the rune was finished. Now, she had to find the connector.

"You were right. I don't know what it's like..." Twilight breathed in deeply to contain her sigh of annoyance. "To lose as much as you have."

"Snap, now isn't the time..." Twilight turned around to face Celestia. Strange. She hasn't heard that tone in years. "Celestia. You're the last pony I was expecting."

Celestia offered her a soft smile. "Maybe you need a hoof with this rune? For old times sake?"

"As much as I'd like that, all I need to find now is the connector. It's a one-pony job."

"Ah, yes. You were always keen on doing things yourself." Twilight glanced awkwardly up to Celestia. Where was she leading with this?

"Why are you here, Celestia?"

"I wanted to speak with you about Dawn... And Light." Twilight shot her head up from the dirt, glaring at Celestia. "And before you begin berating me with your colorful tongue of stories, know that at my age, I have seen ponies come as much as I have seen them go. All of us have."

She looked back to the tent, where First Light remained, conversing with colonels, generals, scientists and specialists. She engaged with confidence, as if she knew what she was doing. But did any of them?

"I know you want to protect them," Celestia said. "You want to keep her from hurt and harm as much as you can. That's what all the weapons were for."

"Should I not be protecting my daughter?" Twilight bit back.

"You should always protect her. But sometimes, there are things out of our control that we must face. Like when our foals decide to go on their own, make their own choices. Or when they decide to pursue a love interest."

"Or when great great grandma decides to destroy the planet, and you're all that's between her and total annihilation." Twilight caught Celestia's face of growing annoyance. "I understand what you're trying to tell me, Celestia. I do. But this..."

She turned to Celestia, eyes brimming with tears. "They're my little fillies, Celestia. I don't want to lose what's left of my family. I thought they died before, and I..."

Twilight covered her mouth. Her eyes squeezed shut and she turned away. "I watched her father die in my hooves! Then she exploded in those same hooves not even an hour later! She...!"

Twilight took a deep breath before looking up to the tent. "She died, Celestia. I watched my baby die, and I was powerless to stop it. No matter what I did, no matter what I said, no matter what I researched, I couldn't bring my daughters back."

"I'm so sorry, Twilight."

"And then, by some miracle of mercy, she's... She's just THERE! She's alive, she's okay! I thought that maybe this is a sign that I have to quit while I'm ahead because this was too close. In a single day, I lost everything! I couldn't risk that again. I knew Narmeelah was coming. I was prepared to deal with her myself and leave Dawn behind safely with all of you, but now, we're back where we started with Dawn in danger!"

Celestia placed her wing on Twilight's back. "I know. I know this must be so hard for you."

Twilight said nothing. Her tears dripped from her chin to the floor.

"Can I tell you a secret?" Twilight looked up and sniffled back her tears. She nodded her head.

Celestia looked around. There were no guards within earshot. "I do know what it's like to lose a loved one."

"You had a courtier? Like Raven?"

"No, Twilight. I, too, had a special somepony before. Centuries ago. Before I was ever a Princess and a just a regular mare living in Old Equestria. A few hundred years ago. Before medicine was as advanced as it was today."

Celestia sat down and sighed deeply. "We made love, and he gifted me with child."

Twilight gasped and covered her mouth. "...you were a mother."

"I was. Luna and I keep this information from the public. We only talk about it behind closed doors. Her name was Philomena."

"Like your Phoenix."

"My Phoenix was named after my daughter as a symbol that she would live on. Whenever I saw Philomena, I would see her. I watched her take her first breath... As well as her last. I watched her stand on her own hooves and become a grown mare. She was so smart, beautiful, worked hard, and enjoyed life to the fullest.

"But as her mother, I wanted to keep her from the world. I wanted to protect and shield her from life. You and I are not so different in ways. You want to protect Dawn from facing Narmeelah, I wanted to protect Philomena from facing Discord."

"What?"

"Luna and I were tasked with keeping Discord distracted while Philomena searched for The Elements of Harmony that turned him to stone. She was the one who knew of a way to 'defeat thine dragon of scorn.'"

Celestia chortled and shook her head. "She had a way with words."

"I assume she found them."

"She did. If Philomena did not leave from beneath my wings of protection, I do not believe Equestria would have survived or be where it is."

Twilight looked back up to where Dawn was. She was getting tired. Yawning. Twilight sighed and nodded her head. "I see."

"Dawn will be okay. Unlike Philomena, the threat is great. But also unlike Philomena, Dawn has the biggest army in the world behind her. She has her friends, her allies, her mother..."

Celestia tapped Twilight's head. "...and the brains of Twilight Sparkle. She will be alright."

Right. Dawn was no longer a young filly. She was a mare of action. She was growing up. Now it was time for her to forge her own path.

Twilight left the station and dragged her long wings across the track back to the tent of royals and commanders. Upon arrival, they looked up and Dawn turned around.

They stared tensely at each other before Twilight reached to her side and removed the scabbard. She held it out in Dawn's direction with both hooves, who looked down at it.

"If you're going to fight," Twilight said. "Then you're going to need a weapon of your own."

She was giving her her sword? Dawn carefully took it in her hooves.

"Mom, I—wow, this is incredibly light."

Twilight chortled and nodded her head. "But it's also incredibly sharp and dangerous. Your father gave that to me when I was first crowned. But I disgraced it, and used it to inflict harm and pain on those who didn't deserve it. If any of us should wield that weapon now, it should be you."

Dawn stood on two hooves and carefully withdrew the scabbard from the blade. She held it in two hooves and stared at her reflection in its surface, at the text burning into her mind.

She waved it around, flipping it over and beneath her hoof.

"Wow, I... Thank you, mother. I don't know what to say."

Twilight grabbed the scabbard and the blade. She fastened it around Dawn's middle. "Say you'll try your best, and at least wear a helmet."

"I'll put in my all to protect our home, and I'll wear full armor."

Twilight chortled and pulled Dawn into a tight hug, who buried her muzzle into her mother's chest.

"I love you, Dawn and Light."

"We love you too, mom."

Twilight placed a gentle kiss on Dawn's horn before she transformed into First Light.

"I want hugs, too!"

Twilight laughed and nuzzled her mane. "You'll get as much love as your sister. There are no favorites."

After the hug, Twilight let them go and walked back to the station with Dawn behind her. "The rune will be completed soon."

"Should I wake the soldiers?"

"No, they need their rest, as do you. We rise at dawn, to take back Equus." Twilight sighed deeply and narrowed her eyes. "For we will all need the rest."

Chapter 28 - Her Beginning

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Crickets chirped loudly through the camp. The winter wind bashed against the tent hosting Flurry Heart and Fresh Dawn. Illuminated by a single candle, they were protected by four Royal Guards from the Crystal Empire.

Within the tent, made of reflective material to preserve body heat, Fresh Dawn and Flurry Heart sat across from each other. Flurry was twiddling with something she snagged from the castle while Dawn watched from across. A small toy train. It must've been important to her. She stared at it with the longing of a foal.

"How are your hooves?" Dawn asked.

Flurry shrugged and tossed the toy to the side. Guess it wasn't that important.

"It hurts but I'll live," she answered. "Things are going to be a lot different when this is all over."

"Yeah. Psera is completely destroyed. We're going to have to go through a complete remodel and restructuring. Playtime's over for us, I guess."

Flurry laughed and sighed. "Then, you have to be crowned after that. That's going to take years, I'm sure."

"It depends on the damage." Dawn turned her head to the opening of the tent and let the silence briefly wash over them. "You raised a good question earlier, Flurry."

"About..."

Dawn turned her head back. "How did mom know about all of this? About Narmeelah, about the attack, about everything?"

Flurry flipped over on her back and danced her hooves in the air. "Your mother is really good at keeping secrets."

"Well, it's going to be a long drive there. She can spill all of them during the journey. I'm not mad at her, I just really want to know. I feel like there's so much more I don't know about her. Specifically, her life before Psera."

Flurry glanced over to Dawn. "Parents don't really tell their children about their lives before them. They get all weird. My mom never talks about it, and dad just sort of talks differently. Don't even get me started on Luna and Celestia."

Interesting. "Have you asked mom?" Dawn asked hopefully.

Sadly, much to Dawn's downcast expression, Flurry answered, "No. Aunt Twilight and I—according to mom—used to have a really tight bond. She used to tell me everything when I was a foal. Then she left Equestria and that bond broke. What you know about your mother is probably about as much as I know, if not more."

Dawn lied on her side and faced Flurry. "Wouldn't you want to know more? Especially now?"

Flurry stopped dancing to the air and flipped over to face Dawn. "Well, I suppose if this was a family matter, which it is, then I would. But if it wasn't, I probably wouldn't give it a second thought. But we're two different ponies. Excuse me, three."

Dawn sighed and nodded. Hopefully mom could talk about it in the morning. Until then...

"Goodnight, Flurry."

"Goodnight, Dawn. Goodnight, Light."

"Goodnight, Flurry."[/hr]

By the time the sun rose, the small flame they created within the tent had dwindled into smoking ash. The sun shone brightly on Flurry first before someone called out from beyond their haven of slumber.

"Queen Dawn! Princess Flurry!" Dawn's eyes slowly opened. "Your presence has been requested!"

"Yes... Yeah." Dawn shifted from her lying position to a sitting one. She rubbed at her eyes. "Flurry... Flurry, wake up."

"Mmmm, don't wanna."

The tent was quickly unzipped and Luna poked her head inside. She moved it from Flurry to Dawn. "Come, you two. Awaken and ready yourselves. You can sleep the rest of the way."

Well, any chance of sleep was now impossible. Flurry groaned and flapped irately into a sitting position.

"Fine! Fine, let's go!" She said before stomping out past Luna.

"Note to self: Do not wake Flurry from her sleep," First Light said.

"Yeah, no kidding." Dawn grabbed and strapped the sword around her body before walking out into the morning action. All the soldiers were packing up the tents and throwing them into the back of the Pods. The Legends of Psera, the Creatures of Taratarus, the International House of Trade, and Psera's commanding officers were standing in front of a large ramp leading into the ground. Looks like Twilight managed to open the well.

It was massive. It was deep. It was dark. Even from way back here Dawn could see the earth give way to stone and rock.

Dawn joined Flurry who seemed to perk up from having her sleep interrupted to an interest as well.

They joined the other royals. Dawn squeezed in between Twilight's legs from behind and peered down inside.

"Whoa," she muttered. "How deep does it go?"

"Deep enough where it makes sense," Twilight answered. "It's at just the right depth. Over two kilometers."

Twilight turned around and walked back to the camp with Dawn following close. "We'll be leaving soon. You can catch up on your rest while we move."

"Right, yeah, but I... I have a few questions."

"As you always will. I did not forget what I promised you when we were building these." Twilight stopped at an empty Radwood, likely reserved for them and faced her daughters. It was longer than the others. The engine was loud, ready to move. "You want to know if I can split you and Light."

"Yeah, she wants to venture out on her own."

"The process to perform such a skill I can pull off. However..." They tracked Flurry stomp past them and jump into the very Radwood they were going to take. "It's an extremely risky process."

"How?"

Twilight sat down and raised her hooves out to Dawn, facing upwards. "The body that you share has two souls. Yours, and First Light. In order for you to split successfully, I would have to, for lack of a better term, solidify First Light's soul on her way out into another vessel. First Light herself is already magic sharing your body. She changes it whenever she comes through to a look she wants, but she doesn't have her own actual appearance. Instead, she modifies yours."

"So..."

"That means I have to do two things. One, I have to pull First Light's soul and magic out of you, and, two, place them into another non-living body."

"...necromancy," Dawn figured. "You have to perform Dark Magic. Sounds complicated."

"It can be. But that's just one process, and it's not even safe. There may be other ways and alternatives. I'm doing more brainstorming. Hopefully, I can come up with something safer." Twilight bent low and bit into Dawn's coat to pick her up. Then jumped into the Radwood.

"Mom, put me down!" Dawn cried. Stars, this was so embarrassing. She covered her eyes and tightened her wings to her body, hopefully to hide her shame.

Dawn transformed into First Light and wiggled free onto the Radwood floor.

"Oof!" She grunted.

"No need to be embarrassed," Twilight assured. She sat down across from Dawn. "I did that all the time when you were a foal. Would you rather I do it, or a guard do it? Or Celestia, Luna, Cadance... Flurry?"

"How about no one?" First Light suggested. She slid in next to Flurry while Twilight sat across and turned back into Dawn. "We don't need anyone picking us up. We can get in on our own."

"Okay, okay," Twilight gave in. She was soon joined by Celestia and Cadance. Luna and Shining, carrying his gear sat next to Flurry, who used her father's coat as a pillow to help resume her sleep.

"Didn't you wake her?" Celestia asked.

Cadance chortled and said, "If we didn't wake her, Flurry would've slept through everything and further still. She doesn't like to be disturbed."

Yeah, Dawn noticed. Did it come with age? Size? Because Dawn could barely sleep a wink these days. Speaking of... What would it be like to sleep on Psera once more? So much has changed, so fast. One moment, she was sleeping with mom and dad in the next room over. She had her toys, her pictures, her memories.

The next, the castle is attacked, mom razes an entire country, and dad was... Dad was killed. Stars, it was so hard to think about. She never even saw his grave. After arriving on Psera, she was immediately shot at and had to be put on lockdown in the castle. She wasn't able to leave until her mother's trial, and even then they were very reluctant to let her.

"Dawn?"

Dawn looked up from her hooves and noticed the darkness of the atmosphere. Were they moving? Dawn looked behind her and saw rock walls pass them by. Wow, was she that out of it?

The lights on the floor of the Radwood kept them illuminated to reveal Luna staring at her. Celestia and Cadance were leaning against each other sleeping, and Twilight was writing in her little notebook with a pen in her mouth.

She looked towards the back of the Radwood. Their convoy was on the move alright. For as far as the eye could see, headlights were trailing behind them. There were so many.

The roof of the well was high. But it was perfectly structured in a circle made of stone. Ahead of them were eight more Radwoods packed with guards, all for them. No, for her.

Dawn turned back to Luna who was staring at her oddly. "What is wrong?"

Twilight stopped what she was doing and glanced up.

"I've just been thinking. You know... That day. The last time I saw Dad was when I told him I was taking Juniper for a walk. He was in the kitchen cooking breakfast. Mom was still asleep."

Dawn sighed and tapped her hooves together. "I never saw him again."

Twilight closed her notebook and set it aside. "Come here, sweetie."

Dawn rose from her seat and walked over to Twilight, who embraced her in both hooves and wings.

"He loved you very much," she whispered down to her.

"I miss him," Dawn said. "I wish he was here right now."

"I do too."

"I thought I was over his death, but... I can still hardly believe it." Dawn looked up to Twilight. "How did he die?"

"A Zebra snuck into the throne room. A suicide bomber. Your father was closer to the Zebra. It took his life. There were more who slaughtered the guests."

Those Zebras. She felt some kind of hatred for them. An inferno of anger deep within.

"I can't say I'm proud you... Decimated their country," Dawn admitted. "But I am a little relieved they won't be setting hoof in Psera waters anymore."

"I made absolute sure of it, sweetie."

The Radwood dived into silence, allowing them to think and read before Dawn asked another question. "How did you know?"

"How did I know what?"

"About Narmeelah? When did your research truly begin; What tipped you off?"

The question woke Celestia and Cadance, even Flurry. One of the guards that wasn't driving peeked over their shoulder. Even Snap Seed in the very back with the rest of Twilight's friends listening leaned closer in her seat.

Twilight closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"The life I lived away from the library, away from the books and the Castle of Friendship was one of adventure and discovery, prior your birth, prior calling Psera my home, prior meeting your father, and prior becoming Princess of Friendship."

She shifted Dawn into a more comfortable position. "The day I discovered that something was amiss were one of the greatest adventures of my life. Let me go back in time, and tell you the story of how I met the Children of the Stars, a civilization that I believed was the home of Narmeelah and her followers after disappearing from Psera."

Twenty Four Years Ago
Evening
Ponyville

The sun shone bright upon the small town of Ponyville. The summer heat screamed down upon the ponies within, trotting along the roads, going about their day. Some stopped to say hello, but others chose to stay indoors.

Ponies like Miss Cheerilee, who cut recess early with a wave of her hoof for young foals like Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle in favor of the cool insides of the school house.

Ponies like Mayor Mare, who tended to her duties within city hall instead of leaving her office.

Ponies like Applejack, who shamelessly wore a sunhat gifted to her from Rarity she never thought she'd be seen wearing.

But within the tree, conveniently placed in the middle of the town, young Twilight Sparkle was preparing for an adventure of her own. Her loud voice could be heard from beyond the wood of the home-slash-library.

"Spike!... Spike!!!"

Twilight's faithful assistant came running out of the kitchen carrying a pair of violet saddlebags and a fishing hat as fast as his little claws could carry him.

"Okay, okay!" He replied. "Here. I got your bags, your notebooks, your coat—why do you need a coat?"

Twilight floated everything out of his claws onto her back and smiled down to her faithful assistant. She was smaller then. With a bitty horn on her head and lively eyes full of determination.

Twilight walked towards the entrance of the treehouse with Spike rushing to keep up.

"There could be a storm," she answered. "And those hills have dense vegetation and forestry. I could encounter humidity or even a rainforest. I'd hate to ruin my fur. I spent all morning smoothing it out!"

The door for the treehouse was opened and Twilight trotted out en route for the train station.

"And you're sure you don't need help?" Spike called after her.

"I'm certain, Spike!" Twilight called over her back. For assurance she raised her wings. "No need to worry, I know how to fly!"

"Do you though?"

"Oh hardy har. I'll see you in two days! Don't burn down the library!"

Without waiting for a response, Twilight galloped off into the distance. Underneath the scorching sun, and the passing of many pegasi and lovebirds, she made her way out of town past the train station to a waiting balloon fixed with her cutie mark. Nailed to the ground, it withstood the blowing breeze of nature that carried with it falling leaves.

With one last look over her shoulder to ensure no one was following her, she tossed her bags and books inside before following along shortly. The nail was removed, and with a pull of the string, the burners came to life.

She turned around and peered over the edge, watching the ground grow further and further away until Ponyville was far in the distance. With that, Twilight Sparkle turned around and watched where the balloon took her. Further and further into the wildlands of Equestria and soon over the border.

"My trip was initially a journey for the Blackened Hills, on the southeastern coast of Equestria. The plan I predicted was that there would be a three hour balloon flight there and back. The spell I used to walk on the clouds was not one I would use so flippantly. That spell is temporary, and I'd rather not arrive at my destination tired and winded after having pulled it off. So I used my balloon instead."

"Did you ever make it to the Blackened Hills?" Dawn asked.

"Not only did I make it. I overshot it. During the trip, I fell asleep. The heat of the sun forced me to rest, treating my coat as a blanket. When I awoke, I was met with black clouds."

No! No, no, no, there was no storm in the prediction! Twilight bounced to anxious hooves and used her magic to grab a few sand bags she tossed over the edge. She had to make an emergency landing quickly.

The moment the balloon began lowering, the wind intensified and droplets began falling from the darkening sky.

"Come on, come on," Twilight seethed through her teeth. The balloon had to fall faster! Come on! Twilight looked around for another source of weight. There! Her bag! But wait! Those had her notes in them!

Her decision-making cost her time, for the wind's true intensity had arrived. The balloon suddenly shifted, throwing Twilight back into the basket. Wildly, it flipped and turned. Unable to rise to her hooves, Twilight remained seated and held on for dear life. Rain water slammed into her fur, her books, and her burner, putting out the flame keeping the basket in the air.

The basket twirled faster and faster. Twilight's eyes squeezed shut. She held on for dear life, for if she lost her grip, no doubt she would be sent careening out of it.

The high pitched sound she was hearing, she was able to make it out as her own horrified screams that were suddenly cut when the basket finally crashed, and she was consumed by darkness.

"I impacted soon after. Naturally, it incapacitated me. For how long, I do not know. All I knew was that I was stranded in the green with little to no knowledge of what direction to take."

The cawing of birds and rustling of leaves roused Twilight from her deep slumber. Her hooves were splayed in multiple directions, her muzzle deep in wet mud.

Groaning, Twilight slid her hooves along the forest floor and cracked open her eyes. Blurry vision soon faded into clear sight, where she recognized old mossy trees, the richest of green grass, and the scent of summer.

She slowly rose to her hooves. Standing was wobbly and a sharp pain shot up her right wing that forced her to sit. Carefully, she grabbed her feathers and brought it into sight. She may not know too much about Pegasi, but even she knew their wings don't bend in that direction. It seems she was more injured that she thought.

"Great," Twilight mumbled. There was nothing she could do about it now.

She carefully set it down and looked around. It wasn't the Everfree Forest, but it was most certainly close. Nature, mud, tall trees with a canopy so thick the sunlight could barely get through.

The balloon was trashed. Tilting her head back, Twilight could see it stuck in the branches, punctured, ripped, and leaking a fluid. Even worse, only a single notebook made it down here with her. Unlike the big ones up there, this one had only a few pages that would serve better for a journalist than for her. Alas, she picked it up and looked around.

Which direction for help?

"They say that when you're stranded you stay in one location so a search party could find you. That is very much true."

Twilight began walking in one direction deeper into the forest, dragging her broken wing behind her until she disappeared from the wreckage, with her hoofsteps as the only indication she was ever there.

"However, I needed medical attention. Imagine. A mare of my caliber who knew all there was to know about magic and travel forgot to bring a med kit."

"Could you not heal yourself?"

"No. At that time, healing had to be done the normal way. With bandages and time.

"I walked for hours. Traversing hills, jumping over streams. I followed the clouds thinking that there could be water nearby. Of course, I stumbled across something better."

After walking for hours, Twilight slowed her steps to a thinning treeline. Behind it there seemed to be movement. Finally, some help! She could grab some materials to get this wing wrapped up!

She approached the treeline but slowed her speed until she was an inch away from being spotted. These ponies were rather strange. They came from all walks of life. Zebras, ponies, dragons, pegasi with long wings and tall ears. She's never seen them all in one place before.

But that wasn't what stopped her. It was a large pyramid in the middle of what appeared to be a small village made of mud, speared with sunlight breaking through the canopy above them all. There were homes both on the ground and in the trees connected by walkways. It was beautiful.

But the ponies there. They all wore the same clothes and face paint. Something was up here. Maybe she shouldn't approach just yet. Instead, sit and watch.

Two creatures, a dragon and pony stopped in front of each other.

"To the next light, sister," the dragon greeted.

"Away from shadows, brother," replied the mare. "Are you prepared for the word of Her Majesty?"

"As always."

Her Majesty? Twilight raised an eyebrow. Strange. What was going on here?

Suddenly, a loud gong rang from the pyramid and echoed through the forest. Twilight felt it along her coat. As did the rest of them. They all dropped what they were doing and immediately trotted for the pyramid. Whatever was going on, Twilight would be able to figure it out from within there.

Ah, but her wing. Perhaps one of these ponies had bandages inside of their homes. Oh, but that's stealing!

"I had to make a decision and quickly. A gut feeling that whatever they were doing was incredibly important bit away at my insides. Of course, it could've just been organized religion. But I had a feeling it was deeper than that. I stole some bandages and an extra cloak from a nearby home and made my way up to the pyramid."

She could see the entrance. Up the stairs where other ponies and creatures were headed, disappearing into a single door flanked by two of those long-eared ponies wearing red face paint and holding spears.

Twilight adjusted her cloak and made sure her wings were hidden before following after. She crept up the stairs.

Walk like the others, Twilight, she reminded herself. She adjusted her steps and walked with more confidence. By the time she entered the dark hall of the temple, she was walking with renewed confidence, as if this structure and the secrets held within were as common knowledge as a museum in Canterlot.

The air was cold, illuminated periodically by torches lining the brick walls. Writing she couldn't read were engraved into their surfaces.

Twilight dared not stop walking to decipher them. Walk like the others. Twilight closely followed two more in front of her into a larger space that must've been the center of the Pyramid. The ceiling was high, the room packed with these believers of whatever faith they were practicing.

On the far wall were luminescent symbols. Many circles with lines cutting through them. They seemed to be thrown up there almost haphazardly, taking up the entire wall before breaking off onto the side. Some of those circles intersected each other. One of them had both vertical and horizontal lines running through it.

b]"The wall was packed with those circles. Stars, I've never seen them in any book I've ever read. Whatever they were, they were important. I wanted to draw all of them. Alas, my little notebook wouldn't allow me that satisfaction. So, I only drew one. The one you have all seen before 'Her Majesty' finally showed herself."

A bright light suddenly permeated from the ceiling. All conversing ceased talking. Twilight stopped drawing in her notebook and raised her hoof to cover her eyes while the rest of the crowd bowed their heads.

"Hello again, Children of the Stars." The light slowly disappeared. Twilight lowered her hoof and stared in wonder at this majestic enigma before her. She had an all white coat, an all-white mane, and eyes the color of the sun. Around her neck were pendants of stars. Like a few of the ponies here, she had tall ears and long wings. So, this must be her majesty.

"Blend in!" Twilight's mind shouted. She slammed her face to the floor.

"To the next light, my children."

"Away from shadows," the crowd replied. They all rose back to their hooves.

Her Majesty gestured to one of the symbols on the wall. The one Twilight drew. It illuminated with light the closer her hoof got.

"The time, it is close," she said. "Soon, very soon, the betrayal of many will act as the catalyst of this event. The Reset. She will, of course, fail."

Her Majesty rose to her hooves and spread her wings. Glowing with power, all the markings on the wall were filled with light.

"Thus, the beginning of our new light! We will reach the stars and create a new world; the rules of this one will no longer apply! For we will make our own!"

"Children of the Stars!" They all shouted.

"Children of the Stars. That's what they called themselves. It was another Cult in Equestria."

"Another?" Dawn asked.

"They're quite common. Not all ponies are as happy as they seem in Equestria's photos. Equestria doesn't have their own religion like Psera, The Dragon Lands, or even Saddle Arabia. It quite common for citizens to make their own."

"It's true," Celestia replied. "Plenty a moon have I come across cults of my own name."

"In the years before our reign, I had quite a couple," Luna admitted. "They soon flocked to Celestia, triggering the Nightmare Moon Era."

"But this Cult was different," Twilight continued. "For instance. What happened next."

A mare standing next to Twilight suddenly bumped into Twilight's broken wing.

She seethed and yelped, "Ouch!"

The mare hidden behind her cloak turned to Twilight with a gasp. "Are you injured, my sister?"

Twilight waved it off. "It's just a bruise," she lied.

Her friend however didn't quite believe her. She gasped and danced on hot hooves. "Stars above! An opportunity!"

Dawn suddenly shifted into First Light. "Wait, I've heard you say that before!"

"Say what?"

"Stars above. You say it all the time."

"All Pserateps say it, my little Light. I didn't know at the time, but a lot of those ponies that were there were Pserateps. That was the first time I've ever seen them. But it wasn't until years later that I ever truly met them."

The mare turned to the stage and raised her hoof. "Mother! A mare here is wounded, she needs help!"

Wait! No! Before Twilight could stop her, she had caused all eyes in the hall to turn in her direction. Including Her Majesty.

"Oh!" She said. "Our newest guest. Do not be afraid, Child."

Her Majesty reached out one hoof, hidden behind a golden shoe glowing white. "Come forward."

A white glow surrounded Twilight and picked her up. She was levitated up and over the crowd before placed on the stage, facing Her Majesty. She had a smile Twilight felt she should stay away from. She towered over Twilight. She was most likely taller than Celestia. This was no ordinary pony. Her eyes were glowing gold for star's sake!

"I see you, youngling," Her Majesty said. She leaned low, closer to Twilight's face. "There is no need to hide." The hood on Twilight's coat was yanked back before the entire cloak was torn away, exposing Princess Twilight for all eyes to see. However, no one reacted negatively. It was as if they knew she was there the whole time.

Twilight slowly took a step back. Would they hurt her? "Listen, I don't want any trouble."

"Do not worry," Her Majesty said. She rose back to her full height. "We do not inflict harm here."

She pointed to Twilight's wing. "A balloon accident. No? Earlier today in the woods?"

She knew. How did she know?! Timidly, Twilight nodded her head.

"Hold yourself." Her Majesty's illuminant hoof was raised in the direction of Twilight's injury. Suddenly, Twilight's wing shifted back into place. It cracked and snapped before the pain vanished.

The glow disappeared. Twilight raised and dropped her newly repaired appendage. Holy Celestia. She just healed her with magic. It's... That's never been done before! Twilight had no words, despite all the questions she had on the top of her tongue.

"Now then." Twilight focused back on the situation at hoof. She was face to face with who could only be described as a pony more powerful than Celestia. Smiling knowingly down to her.

"What is this place?" Twilight asked.

"Do not worry yourself, Twilight Sparkle." Her Majesty pointed over the crowd to the entrance. "You will see us again one day. We will let you go; and when you return to your balloon, it will be fixed."

The audience parted, creating a path for Twilight to slowly and silently walk off the stage and through the crowd, under the eyes of over a hundred creatures; the Children of the Stars. No one said a word by the time she made it there.

"And Twilight?"

She turned around, quivering in fear, facing the multitude of ponies, the unreadable smirk of Her Majesty and her eyes of deceit.

"I certainly can't wait to meet you again. The mare you grow into will be one of power, knowledge, and influence. You and I will meet in a more formal manner, just as sure as I am that Spike will greet you with a story of what he and Rarity did while you were gone."

"I ran. I bolted from that temple as fast as my hooves could carry me and didn't stop. I ran through the forests, soared over streams, and made it back to the crash site."

Dawn leaned in closer to Twilight. "What did you see?"

It was fixed. Sitting on the forest floor as if it landed peacefully in a clearing. Even her books were positioned neatly back into the basket as if she herself organized them. Big ones on the bottom, small ones on the top. Sweat dripped from Twilight's face. Her body shook with each deep breath she took.

"No. No, that's..." She looked around the site for a shot, a clue that she wasn't alone. That someone else came and did this. But no, that would be impossible. The balloon was rebuilt in a clearing.

She didn't even crash in a clearing big enough to see the blue skies. She crashed in a thick canopy and awoke beneath the shadows of thick trees. The balloon was stuck in the branches. This spot wasn't like this before! The entire scene had changed! No way magic did this! It's unfathomable! Impossible! Incredible!

Carefully, Twilight stepped back into her basket and lifted the balloon through the clearing back into the sky. Her research would have to wait. But not once did her eyes leave that forest. She was sure Her Majesty was staring right back.

"I cut my trip short and came back home. When I walked through the door, I was prepared to tell Spike everything that happened to me, but..."

Twilight opened the door to her treehouse that same evening. She sighed and hung up her coat.

"Twilight! You're back!"

"Yep. I ran into a small snag and had to turn around."

"Well, it certainly seems like you had a trip. You probably need to go to a spa. Rarity and I went almost everyday since you'be been gone."

"Yes, a spa sounds... Wait." Twilight turned around fron the coat rack and faced Spike standing there in the foyer, proudly smiling at his glistening claws with more luster than any gem that was brought into this house.

"What do you mean 'everyday?'"

Spike looked up from his claws. "You've been gone for three days, remember?"

"What? I just left a few hours ago, Spike. It hasn't even been a day."

Spike lost his smile. "Uhhhh, no, today's the fifth, Twilight. You left on the second, remember?"

To reinforce his point, Spike pointed to a calendar conveniently placed on the wall next to the door, where Twilight remembered circling the two that Monday, now crossed out. She could make out Spike's sloppy circling of the fifth.

Today was the fifth.

Twilight's heart rate spiked. She shook her head and slowly backed away from the calendar, as if being near it would destroy the entire universe.

"No," Twilight whispered to herself. "No, no, today is the second, I just left."

She grabbed Spike in her magic and pulled him up to her wild expression of bewilderment.

"I just left!" She shouted.

"Twilight! You've been gone for three days! Like you said! Did you ever get your research done? Is that why you're so wound up?"

Twilight dropped Spike from her magic straight on his face. He easily brushed it off and pointed to the kitchen. "Look, all the newspapers that came in are in the kitchen. You can—"

She didn't ket him finish his sentence. She ran into the kitchen and immediately grabbed the pile of papers sitting by the back door. He was right. There was one here for the third, fourth, and the fifth. Today.

"After I read the papers, I ran out the door to the closest pony. I asked him the date."

Twilight slid to a stop in front of the last pony in the square closing down their shop. He was an earth pony with a dark brown coat and blue eyes.

"Oh, Princess Twilight!" He greeted. "Good eve—"

"What's today's date?" She urgently interrupted.

"Oh! Uh, the fifth, I believe."

Twilight slowly shook her head. "No. No, no, no, that's impossible!"

"I could double check that for you if you'd like."

Twilight closed her eyes and sighed through her nose. The only sound radiating through the dark Well they traveled through while everyone listening to her story held their breaths, awaiting her next words.

"You never told us about this," Celestia said.

"Because I needed proof first. I needed some form of evidence that what I saw, what I witnessed actually happened. My wing was fixed, my balloon was fixed, there was never a storm. So, I went back to the site where it all happened. That would be my proof."

"This time, I didn't take my balloon. I didn't use a spell on the clouds. Instead, I flew as fast as I could through the night. I've never flown that fast before. But I needed to know that I wasn't going crazy.

"I landed in the clearing and backtracked through the woods. I jumped over the stream and rolled down the hill, almost snapping my wing again. But I kept going until I finally arrived back at where I needed to be. The treeline where I saw everything."

Dawn grabbed her mother's hoof. "What did you see?"

Mouth agape, Twilight walked out of the treeline into...

"...no. No, this doesn't make any sense!!" Twilight shouted.

She ran forward and splashed into the marsh. She slapped her wings into the water. "This wasn't here! None of this was here!!"

Surrounding her was a swamp. A foggy swamp with curving trees relative to the ones of the forests lying just outside of Ponyville's border.

She jumped through the fog, through the marsh until she was in the middle of it all, where she saw the pyramid. There had to be something here! Something, anything!

Twilight took a deep breath and dove her head under the water. Searching for just a crumb. But she needed her oxygen. She threw her head back up and gasped for air. It was gone. Everything she saw was gone.

She sat there in that marsh, dripping wet, head bowed, empty hoofed with no evidence that any of what she saw, that any of what she witnessed ever happened.

"I had nothing. Nothing at all. I thought it was a dream. A nightmare. Except for one small thing proving that it was all real."

Currently
Crystal Empire - Site Four Well

Twilight hoofed Dawn the notebook she's been holding through her story.

"That," Twilight explained. "I had it the entire time. I drew the map of the wells while I was in that pyramid. I never got rid of it."

It was a crude drawing, scribbled with a great deal of urgency by a much younger pony. It was nothing like the one she shown then before.

Dawn passed the notebook over to Cadance, who said, "This is incredible, Twilight."

"I remember it happening like it was yesterday, despite it being over thirty years ago. I had no idea that it would be my inspiration for finding out more. After I made it back home, I researched. I studied. I popped open every last book I had in my catalogue before turning to every single library in Equestria. I found very little information on the drawing.

"So, instead I started looking at pyramids. Then reports of strange locations which soon inspired me to look into the weather, as well as ponies themselves. Perhaps I could track strange phenomenons and patterns, which made me do a double take at my own duties. Because of this notebook..."

Twilight politely took the notebook back from Luna and held it up for them all to see. "We are here right now, traveling ancient tunnels built by a goddess who wants to destroy the lands we call home all because she doesn't like how it turned out; we are all here fighting together against our true enemy because of this drawing, and what I saw that day."

"Let's make sure it all wasn't for nothing," Celestia said. She patted Twilight on her wing. "I know the times leading up to this moment have been hard on you, Twilight. I'm very honored to be here now helping you through this."

"You can count on us," Luna added.

"I would be ashamed not to help my little sister with her final homework assignment," Shining joked. "My soldiers will follow your lead, Twilight."

"All the way to the end, Your Highness," one of the captains added.

"Thank you. All of you. It's going to be a long ride, but I know that if I have all of you..." She reached out and stroked Dawn's bundle of red hair. "We'll make it through. Now I'm going to get some sleep. I never really get enough."

"How will we know when we're close to Psera?" Shining asked.

"I'll know. I set up runes that give of a specific energy. Enough to wake me up. Don't worry." She leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. "I learned how to prevent overshooting a long time ago."

Chapter 29 - Site 4

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A cool wind washed over Twilight's coat, rousing her from her slumber. Her eyes slowly cracked open, bringing into sight what seemed to be a land made of clouds.

She was no longer in the darkness of the Wells. Not the first time she woke up in a place she didn't fall asleep in.

She rose to her hooves and looked around. Clouds. Clouds as far as the eye could see. There wasn't even a star in the sky.

Twilight narrowed her eyes in suspicion. What was this?

"The average pony mind uses only ten percent of their brain's capacity."

Twilight slowly looked over her shoulder to face Narmeelah. Light green coat, cold ice blue eyes, and a long mane the color of fire, so bright it could be glowing. In between her and Twilight floating was a mockup of a brain. Slowly rotating.

Twilight refrained from responding. Instead, chose to narrow her eyes and scowl.

"Pserateps, my personal favorites, use up an average of twenty four percent. Average. It goes up and down, I'm sure even you know this, Arcadia. However, you?"

Narmeelah waved her hoof, turning the brain to floating dust. Her gaze diverted to Twilight's direction. "You have used up sixty percent of your cranial capacity. Sixty."

"I spent most of my time learning during my younger years."

"Yet, you couldn't learn humility." Narmeelah took her first few steps forward, slowly pacing around Twilight. "Instead, you choose to experience it first hoof. So, I ask... Why? I gave you, and your family a way out. Why seek the humility of fighting in a battle you've already lost?"

"We will not lose." Twilight turned around and faced Narmeelah's nonchalant expression with defiance. "We will rid your escapade of destruction. We will defeat you and save our home."

"Psera was never your home."

"But Equus is. The world that you created? It's here to stay, whether you like it or not."

Narmeelah smirked. As if she were waiting for those very words. The clouds beneath Twilight's hooves gradually turned dark. The once bright atmosphere took on a gray tone until they were standing on top of a storm.

"You really think you'll win," Narmeelah said. "I can see it. I can hear it."

"We will. Equus' Reset will never come to fruition. Not so long as I live."

"Then by all means." Narmeelah turned around and walked away, leaving Twilight to glare and growl. She stopped once a safe distance. "Bring your armies. Your navies, your soldiers, young and old."

Narmeelah slowly turned her head to peer back at Twilight. Her ice blue eyes were gone. In their places were galaxies in a sea of darkness. With a sudden flap of her wings, Narmeelah morphed into her true form. A pony made of light, gasses, and stars. Towering over Twilight.

"BRING THEM ALL!"

The clouds beneath Twilight's hooves suddenly broke, dropping her beneath and into a storm. Rain water slammed into her. High winds. She was falling over the ocean.

Tumultuous waves slammed and crashed into each other. Tall walls of water slammed into the sea. It was truly a sight to behold. Twilight's never seen the ocean like this.

"Bring them so they can share in your shame, in your humility!" Narmeelah taunted. "Bring them so you can watch them all perish for nothing!"

The water Twilight was headed for suddenly subsided creating a hole in Equus where darkness stretched endlessly. She gasped before submerging into where the light died. The waves above her head snapped shut, trapping her in one of her many fears.

"Oh, my dear granddaughter. You haven't even the faintest iota of understanding what I can do."

Something grabbed Twilight's wing. She whipped in that direction before suddenly being thrust out of the shadows and back into reality. Or rather, the past.

She slid across the floor of terror, the day the Castle of the Gods was attacked by zebras. It was all in slow motion. As if watching it happen in real time wasn't enough. She stood on her hooves and watched in horror as bullets speared through a younger mare, likely one of the castle staff.

They crossed her line of sight, covered in her blood before hitting another pony. Another addition to the bloodbath happening around her.

"Imagine seeing this all over again, my dear. Except now it's your oldest of friends."

One of the ponies, already lying motionless in a pool of their own blood, slowly morphed into the shape of Celestia. She was no longer elegant. No longer that pony of wisdom and strength. Now she was a victim. Because of her.

She wasn't the only one. Others were replaced with Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Luna, Cadance, Scootaloo. Even Gardeen, whilst heavily pregnant. Twilight turned in a circle, watching as ponies she knew and loved died.

"This isn't real," Twilight reminded herself. A small tear rolled down her cheek and dripped off her chin to the floor of blood beneath her. "None of it."

"Oh, but it could be. You brought them with you. I warn you now, Sparkle. Everyone you know and love, has the possibility of being wiped from existence. Of being an aid to your suffering. I know I won't convince you to stay away, no, it's too late for that."

The building quickly tilted. Twilight fell on her side and slid through the blood and bodies of her friends and family, crashing through a stained glass window back onto the clouds she first found herself.

Her horn was grabbed and tilted back, forcing her to face Narmeelah in her true form. Scowling. "So face me alone. Or they will share your pain. I'll be waiting."

Then with a jerk and snap of her horn, Twilight was thrust back into the waking world. She gasped loud and sat up straight, freeing herself from the nightmare. Or was it a vision? Ah, who cares? It was real.

Her sudden arrival of consciousness was met with stares from Cadance and Luna. The rest seemed to have slept through it.

"Are you alright?" Luna asked.

Twilight reached up to her head and felt her horn. Narmeelah in her head. Taunting her. It was still there.

"Narmeelah knows we're on the way," she disclosed. "She doesn't know where we are, but she knows we're coming."

Twilight peeked over the edge of the Radwood and focused further ahead through the darkness.

"We're close!" She announced.

The creatures on their Pod jolted awake, blinking spots out of their eyes and stretching their limbs. Flurry and Dawn, lying against each other awoke and looked around.

Celestia popped a joint. "Ouch. How far?"

"A few miles, so a few minutes. " Twilight looked down to her daughter. "As for your earlier question."

Dawn and Flurry glanced to each other. "Huh?"

"The entity separation between you and Light. I've ran the calculations over before I told my story."

She grabbed her little notepad and passed it over. It was a diagram of Dawn, including strange molecular notes and the Circle of Magic.

"Okay. What did you find?"

Twilight sighed and shook her head with closed eyes. "I'm sorry, sweethearts. But I can't do it—"

"What?!" Dawn shot to her hooves. "But you said—"

She flipped into First Light, just as upset. "You created us! You can—"

Twilight pressed her hoof against Light's muzzle. "You didn't let me finish. I can't do it without harming the process. There are too many external factors that will harm the development, and there are endless possibilities that when separated that I could inflict damage on you permanently. Necromancy is a skill I have yet to master, nor would I want to."

First Light's ears fell.

"But!" She perked back up. "There are many other ways, including a natural way. I do know a pony who can do it without there being any messy and unforgivable consequences."

Light turned into Dawn. "Who? We can have them tracked down after the war."

She reached down and poked at Dawn's nose. "You can."

Suddenly, the ceiling of the Well illuminated with runes, casting aside the darkness in favor of the light. The runes went on forever. They could finally see the path made of rock and stone they've taken.

Dawn peeked over the edge and faced the back of their caravan. All the soldiers were up and ready. Helmets on heads, weapons primed and armed.

"Oh, it feels so good to see my hooves again," Luna said. She flexed and stretched her appendages.

One of the drivers of their pod asked, "Where do we stop, ma'am?"

"Anytime now. The entrance is up ahead."

Finally, after what seemed like days, the lead pod slowly rolled to a stop. It was a smooth ride, but being able to stand on hooves that weren't vibrating was a treasure Dawn would never take advantage of again.

She jumped out the pod and stretched her wings. "Phew! That's better."

"I'll say," Flurry acknowledged. She landed next to her. "The tight spaces were murder on my wings. It must be torture on the Pserateps."

"You have no idea."

Twilight jumped out of the pod and over to Dawn. Helmet in hoof. "Here. Put this on. We are now in enemy territory."

Dawn sat down and dropped it on her head. It covered her horn perfectly. Then put on the rest of her armor as promised.

"The lights react to my presence," Twilight announced. "So for those in the back, keep a hoof on a pony in front of you. Now, let's move, and take back our home."

Oh boy, here they go. They were doing this. They were walking into the fire, the flames of a burning Equus to put it out. This would be the first time they saw Psera since it was uprooted. Hopefully, damage wasn't too high.

Twilight trotted to a wall and knocked a few rocks to the side. She pushed aside a large boulder and kicked a few stones, revealing a tunnel.

"This will lead us to Site 4," Twilight explained. "Flashlight?"

A soldier tossed her one that she caught in her hoof. She turned it on and cast the light ahead. "Stay close."

The journey began with Twilight taking the lead into the tunnel. The darkness returned, but this time it brought silence and tight enclosures with it. Movement was careful, weapons were on safety, but paranoia was high.

After what seemed like a walking distance, they heard it. A warm rumbling and hum echoing through this tight chamber.

"What is that?" Luna asked.

"Machines. We're here." Twilight pointed ahead to a steel wall. Carefully, she pushed it open as if it were a door. The sound grew louder. The darkness was washed away by a bright red light that had them covering their eyes

Twilight first stepped out into a single room with a large generator smack in the middle of it, circled by climbing steel stairs filtering out that hue of red. She looked up to the upper floors, eyes on the lights.

"There's still power," Twilight said. She stepped out and began ascending the stairs around the generator. "That gives us an advantage. It means Serl hasn't been affected."

She lead their army up to another pair of doors and held her hoof up for them to stop and wait. Carefully, silently, Twilight cracked open one of the doors and peeked out. A small beam of light hit her eyes.

The halls were clear, at least where she was looking. Laminate flooring free of more hooves. She opened it wider and peeked to the other side. Nothing. Good.

"Let's move." She opened the doors and rushed out with the Princesses and the rest of their army, slowly filling out the halls of white and gold.

"Welcome to Serl," Twilight told them. "This is Site Four."

Luna looked into a room they passed. A lab empty of any pony's presence. "Doesn't seem very lively."

"I'm hoping our technicians managed to find shelter," Dawn said. "Perhaps in the underground city."

"Perhaps," Twilight agreed. She stopped at a pair of locked glass doors that were blurred, blocking their path and obscuring their sight. It had a pad on the side, blinking red that she pointed at. "But they are in a Code Shut Down. These doors are master locked."

"What does that mean for us?"

"It means we make some noise." Twilight swiped a weapon from one of Dawn's guards, stood on two hooves and aimed it at the door. Carefully, she pivoted her line of sight upwards above the frame, to a specific point.

"Boom." She pulled the trigger and shot into the wall. Pressurized air escaped from between the door and the hole above it.

Passing the weapon back, Twilight pried open the door and stepped out into one of the many breathless views of the future. A smile grew on her face. "Ah, it feels good to be back here."

Dawn joined her with the rest of the princesses who lost control of their jaws, which had gone slack in wonder and awe.

In front of them lied the biggest and fanciest world of science that could have only been described in fiction novels and movies. Electronic signs and boards, floating vehicles traveling from one side of the building to the other. Moving monuments and shifting artistic structures that reached out over a multitude of open-floor laboratories. Some were encased in glass, others consisted of only tables. Projects currently in development were left out and alone. Would they ever be continued?

The view went on for yards. Just like Psera, to have life be so unnecessarily large.

The site had everything for the future. Everything except ponies. The only ponies they could see breathing, walking, and moving were themselves. Even down on the floor where laboratories were abundant, not a single room seemed active. The site was abandoned.

"It's so empty," Shining said. "No guards?"

The lights above suddenly flashed, bathing them in red briefly before going back to normal.

"Marshee!" An electronic voice spoke in Old Pseratopian. "Alee marta Marshee! O' shonay harsa!"

"Emergency," Dawn translated. "They had to follow protocol. There's no one here. The site's a ghost town."

"Unfortunate," Cadance assumed.

"Not exactly. We're not here for a tour, we just need to cross through to get to the shipyard. We're still not above ground."

"We're not?" Celestia asked incredulously.

"Nope." Twilight looked down to Dawn. "You still know your way around, correct?"

"Like I knew our home."

"I want you to guide this army through the other side to reach the shipyard levels' upper floors. I have to stop off at my old office for my keys." She turned to Celestia, Luna, and Cadance. "I need you three to come with me."

"Okay," Cadance said.

She turned to the army behind her. "No. Magic. Queen Dawn will guide you through to the shipyard. I'll meet you there."

Then without so much as a response, Twilight jumped over the railing keeping them away from the floor and glided to the bottom with Luna, Celestia, and Cadance on her tail. Whatever she needed she was in a rush to grab, for each step was long.

Dawn turned right and followed the path. "Follow. We'll take the bridge."

Soldiers quietly poured out of the hall and followed the young Queen with Flurry next to her. Her eyes tracked a floating Pod that passed them by adjacent to their walkway.

"Wow," Flurry whispered. "Psera has all the toys."

"Get a good look now," Dawn said. "It won't be like this in the future."

"What do you mean?"

Dawn turned left onto a glass bridge, decorated with foliage planted in a median. They could see the ground so far below them.

"Because foreign countries have seen it. So, I'll end up having to shut it down. A shame. It's been here for centuries. I wish there was another way we could have taken, but this was the only way; and now I have to deal with the fallout."

"Oh wow," Queen Novo said. "I am sorry, Queen Dawn."

Dawn slowly transformed in First Light, as if practiced, they continued walking. "Do not be sorry. We knew it would happen eventually. There's a plan in place. Although, we didn't account for what we would do if the entire country was razed."

Their long line of soldiers reached the other side and entered another hall. Light turned back into Dawn. "I used to run around here all the time as a filly."

"Twilight just let you run around a lab?" Shining asked.

"Well I never really entered any labs. The staff knew to keep their doors closed. I was a very free filly. Even then, I spent most of my time on that bridge back there. I could see everything from above. I would sit there for hours, watching the world pass me by, even underground."

"Sounds peaceful."

"Yeah. It still is." Dawn's ears flopped down. "Was. We're almost there." With that said, Dawn accelerated to a jog. They had to reclaim Psera today. If they reclaim Psera, they reclaim Equus; and everything would go back to normal.

The walk for Twilight, Cadance, Celestia, and Luna was a lot quieter. They most certainly had entered an executive hall. The rooms were a lot bigger and the doors were made of wood. The red flashing was insistent, biting away at their nerves. They walked quickly, passing abandoned rooms in favor of the double doors at the end.

"Does it ever stop?" Luna queried.

"No. We're here." Twilight pressed on a numeric keypad a number of times. The pad beeped, the doors unlocked, and Twilight slowly pushed them aside to reveal it bare of anything but its walls.

"Yep, saw that coming," she said. Sighing, she trotted into the room. "I hope they return some of my things to my babies when this is all over. Dawn and Light have a right to the material. Especially Light."

Luna stepped in and gazed around. There was clear evidence of dragging. That must've been when they moved a desk. Or even a bookshelf. A few bookshelves.

"Why Light?" Luna asked.

Twilight put her ear up to the furthest wall away from the door and tapped at the concrete walls. "Both Dawn and Light need to learn Dark Magic. They can't use normal magic. But Light would have a lot less control. Ah, here it is."

Twilight stepped back and jabbed at a specific point in the wall.

"Why hope?" Cadance asked. "You'll be there to make sure it happens."

A small slab of the wall slid open to reveal a secret compartment. Inside, a pouch Twilight grabbed and stuffed into her armor, no doubt next to her journal.

"I'm not too sure about that, Cadance." She turned and faced the Princesses. "As Queen it's always been my duty to protect my subjects. As a mother, it's always been my duty to protect my daughters. I trust my babies to fight for Psera..."

Twilight narrowed her eyes. "But I will still have to weaken her first."

"How many times must we tell you that you won't be alone?" Luna stated.

"And how many times must I point out that something always goes wrong?" Twilight sighed deeply. "Narmeelah and I had a brief discussion during the commute here. She knows you're here too. She wants to humiliate me, and she may use you to do it."

"Why are you telling us this?" Celestia asked.

"Because this is the plan. I will weaken Narmeelah myself. But I want you three to fight alongside Dawn. Not me."

Before they could object to such a ridiculous and almost selfish plan, the light in the room and the hall suddenly died. Darkness purged the facility.

Dawn and the army slowly trotted to a stop and looked around.

"Hmm," Celestia hummed. "What happened to your machines?"

"Those models don't just go out. Which means one thing." Twilight reached up and pulled down the mouth guard attached to her helmet. Runes lined her gear, illuminating the room.

"We're not alone."

Dawn and the army finally made it to the last pair of sliding doors. This time, the doors had a logo they highlighted with flashlights, plastered above them in the frame.

"Serl," Flurry read. They stopped at the entrance so a soldier could work on the doors. "What's on the other side?"

"The shipyard. Once we cross to the other side, we'll be heading back up to higher ground."

The doors finally unlocked and opened. Immediately, high winds and the cacophony of crashing waves and creaking steel blasted into their faces. Lying in front of them was another facility. But a facility made out of the walls of rock and support beams they were walking through.

Beams of light shone down onto massive Aquatas held above a massive crevice filled with water from the outlying ocean, lined up in two rows undergoing construction. The line was long. Two Aquatas made up each row, and one above another. A simple look to the left informed Flurry that there were over twenty rows of Aquatas. They weren't normal boats. Heck, they weren't even finished. Some of them looked like they could go underwater!

Below the boats were splashing waves, entering the facility through the open face that lead out to the sea. From here, Flurry could make out the crashing storm waves of Psera. The ocean was calm the last she saw it. How much time has passed? Was there a storm in Psera?

Of course, that was after Aunt Twilight showed up and they officially declared war on Narmeelah.

A sudden burst of wind forced her to grab hold of the rails attached to the walkway they were standing on. The Aquata in front of them, dangling over rough seas was pushed into the Aquata behind it. With a bang, they collided. Flurry felt the impact wash over her. That wasn't the only one it happened to. Every few seconds, another Aquata in this massive queue bashed into another one thanks to this wind.

A handful of guards stepped out first before they did. Dawn raised a hoof up to her face and spoke over the wind.

"We can't fly in this!" She pointed to a banner nailed above their heads with words written in Old Pseratopian. "No Flying!"

"This is the shipyard?!" Shining asked. "It looks like a death trap!"

"Don't be so dramatic!" Dawn pointed down their walkway. "Stay out of the air and you'll be okay! The closest path across is that way!"

"Then let's go!" Flurry was the first to move, followed by Dawn and the rest. Soon, they would make it above ground.

Thanks to Twilight's glowing armor, Celestia, Luna, and Cadance were able to see ahead of them down the hall. They carefully but urgently trotted through for the entrance to the laboratories while speaking on Twilight's plan.

"Twilight," Cadance said. "We agreed that you wouldn't be fighting alone."

"I won't be," Twilight replied. "You will be there. But Dawn will need your help a lot more than I will. Narmeelah may be overpowering and dangerous..."

Twilight glanced back to them upon nearing the exit. "But I'm experienced in dealing with dangerous situations. Dawn isn't. Protect Dawn and make sure she sticks it to Narmeelah unharmed."

"Twilight..."

Twilight slowed to a stop at their hallway entrance. "After everything I've done, I know I don't have a right to request anything. But right now, I'm asking you to not protect me, but protect my daughters. They're all I have. So please, just do it. Now, get back to the others while I find our attacker, and get above ground quickly."

This time, they didn't fight it. With a sad expression, They all flew up to the walkway from before and left Twilight in front of the same door the army took to leave the labs.

Celestia paused in her steps. Without turning away, she spoke.

"I've known you for years, Twilight. I will always watch over you. I promised your mother, and myself to protect you, always and forever. Especially when you were a filly. In return, you've helped my sister and I so much. So, even after everything you've done, do not be afraid to ask for requests. I'll always answer."

Twilight's ear flicked, but she refrained from answering. Celestia swiftly took her leave.

Once they were gone, Twilight looked around the darkened floor. There was something out there watching her. She could feel them. Running through the shadows. They were tall, their movements sloppy.

"I know you're there," Twilight said. "I can feel each step you take."

As much as she wished she had her sword, it was definitely better if Dawn had it. She would be a lot more protected. For this, Twilight would have to use her hooves and a small knife hidden in her armor.

She posed into a defensive position, watching the shadows. Where are you? Come out of the dark and face the light.

Two small balls with a metallic luster were suddenly tossed over the bridge, rolling to a stop at Twilight's hooves. They were red and black in color, bearing a very familiar shape and color scheme that made Twilight's eyes widen.

Projectile explosives. Bombs.

"Buck!" Twilight turned around and bolted into the hall as fast as her hooves could carry her before they finally exploded in massive balls of fire.

Chapter 30 - Arcadia vs. The Old Guard

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Dawn pointed ahead of the group. "The bridge is right up ahead. Once we—"

An explosion suddenly shook the platform and facility they were in. Dawn stood steadfast and held her ground. Loose rocks and pebbles from the walls fell free and rained down on them and the Aquatas.

Before they could continue, another explosion, much closer, shook the walkway.

"Oh crap!" Flurry held on to the railing as it creaked and groaned. Oh buck. Those waves down there looked a lot closer than they were.

Looking back down their army, Flurry witnessed the flames expel from the same hallway they took to get here in a large cloud, soon followed by Arcadia, who jumped over the railing.

"Aunt Twilight!!" She shouted.

The wind carried her up over an Aquata in progress, where she grabbed a chain to slow her ascent to a stop.

"Run!!" Twilight shouted. "Now!! Go!"

Her attacker speared through the flames, a black dart angling towards the darkened sky. Thinking quickly, Twilight let go of the chain and allowed the wind to blow her to the side out of harm's way.

They passed her. But it was close enough they still swiped a small blade across Twilight's cheek, cutting open a bright white line on her skin that revealed the magic beneath.

Twilight seethed and jumped on the deck of the Aquata as it dangled and swayed with their motions. Her attacker flipped in the air and landed in front of her. She was wearing older Psera military gear that fully covered her body. Twilight recognized the wear, the crest of an older Fire Family that ruled in Psera's name. Her wings were weaponized. Wrapped around her hooves were projectiles. The Guard of Old Psera.

Twilight remembered reading of them years ago when studying Psera's military history. There was little reference to them, but just enough for Twilight to put the pieces together. Despite the Elite Guard's advanced weaponry and tactics, they still moved in teams. But the Old Guard moved individually. Performing assassinations during the Gold Wars. One soldier would storm an entire battalion and still come out on top, leaving no survivors.

However, that were decades ago. Who was she? The program was deprecated. Any Old Guard's gear was stowed away from all eyes in Psera, specifically here in Serl in their archival department.

Arcadia looked back over her shoulder, watching their army scuttle their way for the paths leading to the other side before turning back to her attacker.

"Who are you?" She asked.

"Oh Arcadia. You don't recognize me?" Arcadia's eyes slowly widened in realization as she finally revealed herself.

"...Molten?"

It was Molten Ice. But, then again, it wasn't. She was clearly injured beyond repair. The skin on the right side of her face was burned off, her left eye was missing and instead filled with a blackness she wouldn't dare look into. Each step taken was aided with a limp, and responded with a step away from Twilight.

"All Hail Narmeelah, Arcadia Nova. I'm happy to see you again."

"What happened to you?"

"Your magic destroyed Psera, Arcadia. I was killed in the destruction. But the Goddess of All brought me back. You would know what that's like, wouldn't you?"

She stopped walking forward and stood on her hind hooves, staring down Arcadia.

"Why are you wearing that armor?"

"Tsk tsk, Arcadia. Despite your ruling of Psera, you still have much to learn of our history."

"I know of the Old Guard."

"Right, of course. But did you know..." Molten flapped open her wings. "That I was their Frontline General?"

Oh buck.

Molten flapped her wings and rushed forward, kicking Arcadia into the door of the Aquata's entrance. She yelped before she was flipped over Molten's back and thrown into a cannon face-first.

She landed on her back staring up to a sky beginning to rain. Small droplets pecked at her fur. The winds would grow more tumultuous. She could feel it.

A sharp blade entered her sight. Gasping, Arcadia rolled out back onto her hooves before Molten sheathed the blade into where Arcadia's head was seconds prior.

Ever the opportunistic pony, Arcadia sailed her steel shoe into Molten's cheek, throwing her head to the side and followed up with a kick to her face.

Molten followed the momentum of the hit to whirl back around with a hoof raised. Three cables shot out of her sleeve past Arcadia's head and impaled into the steel wall behind her. The cables attached grew taught pulling Molten forward.

She slammed her rear hooves into Arcadia's core, kicking her off the Aquata and onto another down below. She slammed onto the deck and quickly rolled back to her hooves. It was obvious what was going on. For one, Molten's eyes weren't in that color. They sure as Tartarus didn't have stars in them. Narmeelah resurrected her as one of her soldiers.

Molten's attention was focused on her, not the army attempting to cross the facility. Which means Narmeelah wants her. Not the others.

"Hala shee, Arcadia," Molten said. She flapped her wing over the edge of the Aquata, sending down more of those explosives.

Arcadia quickly turned around and ran as fast as she could before they could land. One by one, they exploded the deck of the Aquata. Ripping apart the steel, annihilating the cannons, and snapping the chains that held it aloft.

The explosions brought their army to a stop. They could make out Arcadia on its deck running as fast as she could before jumping off the back and dancing once more with the wind.

"Uh oh," Dawn whispered.

The chains holding the Aquata finally snapped. It dropped from above and fell upon another that also lost it's grip. Together, they fell upon the bridge they needed to get across and exploded in a massive shockwave that shook the walls of the facility.

The Elite Guard jumped in front of Dawn and covered her body at the front of the line before the impact could fling her off her hooves. As much as Dawn hated their overprotective nature, she was glad they were there to watch her, First Light and Flurry.

Good news, she was alive. Bad news, their means of escape was now obstructed by an ignited Aquata, rocks were beginning to fall around them, and Arcadia was in combat by an unseen individual. Their situation certainly flipped for the worse quickly.

"What do we do?" Flurry shouted.

"Time to act like a Queen," First Light suggested.

Right. Dawn referred to one of her guards. "Locate another way around!" She ordered.

Without a salute, the Elite Guard flew from their position into the air. The likelihood of them finding one in these conditions were slim to none. But for the sake of all of Equus they had to try.

Upon landing on another Aquata, Arcadia rolled into a standing position and held up her hoof, blocking the blade Molten swung upon her gear.

Swiveling around, Arcadia used her rear hoof to kick Molten's blade to the side. Thinking quickly, she swept her wing beneath her hooves, putting Molten on her back. Then pounced on top before she could rise.

"You will not win, Molten!" Arcadia shouted. She stared deep into her star-filled gaze. The ones put there by Narmeelah. They were lifeless, just as the person they belonged to.

"I don't have to win." Molten twisted her body, shifting Arcadia off her body and rolling away to her hooves. She raised her hoof, with a single dart poking out of a launcher hidden within her suit. "I just need you out of the way."

Without so much of a second thought, the dart expelled from her through the air and into Arcadia's chest. Followed by a second one, then a third.

"MOM!!!" Dawn screamed.

Arcadia stumbled back before falling to her hooves, clutching the darts and head bowed. Molten dropped back to all fours, casually walking up to her opponent amongst the collapsing destruction of the shipyard.

"Oh, Arcadia," Molten said in the voice of Narmeelah. She stopped in front of her. "You are an intelligent being. One of the most smartest beings in any world or reality. Not the smartest or strongest, not by a long shot, but you are one of the few I see worthy of respect. You have learned so much and used that knowledge to better your society. But there is one thing you have yet to learn."

Molten leaned down to Arcadia's ear and whispered. "Humility."

Was she giving up? She wasn't moving! Why wasn't she moving?! Dawn turned to the Princesses.

"Why aren't you helping her?!" She shouted.

"Arcadia wants us to watch out for you," Celestia. "She said that she could handle this. You're our number one priority."

Before Dawn could give the order to attack Molten with as many soldiers she had, her Elite Guard returned with their report. Smalls pointed up in the air.

"There!!" She shouted. Above the battle was another level with an emergency exit, leading into the next site. If they could fly up there they could escape! Alas there was fire and falling materials creating a dangerous situation for any creature wanting to rise into the air.

"You're wrong, Molten." Arcadia tilted her head back up, staring into Molten's gaze with eyes illuminated with power. "I have experienced loss and pain as much as you have."

Arcadia gripped one of the three darts in her chest and yanked it out. The hole was filled with a white light. So bright, it illuminated Molten's face. She held up her hoof to keep it from her sight.

A second and third was yanked out. "I'm sorry, Dawn. I'm going to have to kill your grandmother."

"You will do no such thing!" Molten shouted. She swung a hoof for Arcadia's face. It was knocked aside by Arcadia's who followed it up with a hard hit to Molten's chest that pushed her off her hooves onto her back.

"You may have served for many years, Molten." Arcadia slowly walked over Molten's body, glaring her down with eyes aglow with power and magic. "You may have fought in the gold wars and against Zebras far and wide, but me?"

A large chunk of loose rock from above fell down behind Arcadia and into a hanging Aquata, hitting the Aquata they were on. In a fiery explosion, they were launched into the air. The two spread their wings, grabbing onto the air.

But not once did Arcadia lose sight of her target.

"I have fought against GODS!"

A single flap of her wings launched Arcadia into Molten, sending them both over crashing waves onto another Aquata while their army was quickly evacuated.

Dawn was lifted by Celestia and settled on her back and with a single spread of her wings, she and many guards battled against the wind and rain threatening to knock them back down. Alas, they continued.

Arcadia and Molten landed on the last Aquata, positioned at the end of the facility leading into the ocean. Arcadia quickly rose to her hooves and slugged Molten hard in the jaw, sending her muzzle to the side followed quickly by a whirling kick to the ribs.

"I have towered over Maheera!" She dodged a hit from Molten Ice and darted beneath her hoof to Molten's rear. With a swing of her wing, Molten was swept off her hooves.

"I have towered over Nightmare Moon!" She grabbed Molten's rear hoof and swung her towards the end of the Aquata. She rolled across the deck to a stop at the edge. Rain fell on the both of them, lightning flashed through the sky. Thunder rolled through the facility. Wind threatened to blow their spectators off their hooves.

"Get the Queen to the entrance!" Dawn was quickly ushered as fast as possible. Through the flames, wind and rain they ran until she was guided safely inside with the rest of the army.

"Make sure Arcadia gets out!" Dawn ordered. "Without her, the plan upends!"

"And I will tower over Narmeelah!!" Arcadia reached up and grabbed one of the dangling chains used to support the Aquata's construction process.

She ran to Molten and flipped over her, wrapping the chain around her neck in the process. She dodged a swipe from Molten's blade and kicked out her front hoof before slugging her across the face.

Almost there, she almost has her. She tightened the chain around Molten's neck and pulled her close into her face. Bruised beaten, surely a walking corpse, Molten spoke her words.

"You will lose against Narmeelah," Molten whispered.

"I don't care if I lose. She just can't win."

Firmly, she shoved Molten off the edge of the Aquata, screaming on her way to tumultuous waves before turning and walking back into the destroyed facility. The chain ran and ran past her head before it went taught. Molten was surely gone this time. Had to be.

A sting of pain directed Arcadia down to her chest, where she was impaled. She peeked into her suit to see the point of puncture. There were three rips in her flesh expanding with small cracks. She needed that healed. What were in those darts?

"Arcadia!" Twilight looked up from her suit towards the pathways. Cadance and Luna were watching her from up there. Waiting for her return. Another Aquata fell from their chains and into the sea in a fiery explosion. They had to leave now.

"On my way!" She spread her wings, ready to take off, unbeknownst to the hoof that slapped back on the ledge. She didn't see it. Couldn't see it.

But Cadance did. She gasped and pointed.

"Look out!!!" She shouted.

Arcadia looked behind her at the same moment Molten pounced over the edge of the Aquata. Her neck was snapped. Head at an unnatural angle. Most of her limbs were broken. How was she still alive?! Hooves spread, teeth barred, she charged for Arcadia who posed into a fighting stance.

Suddenly, a shot of violet magic pierced into Molten's coat, forcing her back. Followed by four more that pushed her off the ledge where she grabbed hold. A final shot hit into her hoof, forcing her into the sea. This time, hopefully, for good.

Twilight gasped and whirled back to the facility. They weren't supposed to be using magic!

"No magic!!" She shouted.

Cadance and Luna looked around. But it was only them.

"That wasn't us!" Luna shouted back.

What? Before Twilight could question it, the chain holding up the Aquata they were on fell from the support beams above. That was her cue to go. She opened her wings and flew up to the path, regrouping with Cadance and Luna.

"What was that?" She asked.

"I don't know, but it wasn't us," Cadance replied. The three of them looked around before a voice from above called out.

"Al'sheena!!!" They tilted their heads back, looking up towards the top of the facility where Serl truly lied. A pony was peeking down from that rocky ledge holding a rifle. They had on a white lab coat and what appeared to be a tinfoil hat.

"Pa'hal?!" Twilight shouted back up.

"Al'sheena, calleum!" Before Twilight could respond they ducked back out of sight, likely heading to the same city they were going.

"What did they say?" Luna said.

"That we have to get out of here." Without turning back they retreated back into the facility. The Aquata Twilight and Molten fought on finally snapped, falling into the ocean with the rest of them.

From her place in the rune, in the middle of a fallen Cop surrounded by her army, Narmeelah opened her eyes and smirked. The moment Molten finally perished and she lost touch, sbe knew where they were. As suspected, they did enter in through Serl.

"So," she whispered. "That's where you are."

Chapter 31 - The Final Switch

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The fight left Twilight winded. But not winded enough to keep her from running. She, Luna, and Cadance quickly caught up to the army, who waited for them in a warehouse full of military transport vehicles. How convenient.

They were lined up, and smelled of new material. No doubt they would've been en route to Lavender, had Psera not floated into the sky in pieces. A flash of guilt flooded into Twilight's soul before diminishing. She would fix everything and end this war.

Everything would go back to normal.

Through the army, Twilight could see their leadership at the front, standing at the entrance of the warehouse. Dawn speaking to the captains and lieutenants of each team.

"Over here!" Celestia called out. She waved her hoof in the air for them to see. She was quickly approached by Twilight, Cadance and Luna.

Upon arrival, Dawn wrapped Twilight in a hug. "What was that? Who attacked us?"

Dawn's embrace put pressure on Twilight's wound, pulling a grunt out of her. Dawn backed away and scanned her mother up and down.

"You're hurt," she deduced.

"Just a scratch," Arcadia stated. "I'll be fine."

"Mom, you're magic, you don't get scratches."

"I'll be okay." Twilight walked through the concerning gazes of their military leaders towards the doors. She pressed her ear against the surface, listening through to the other side. "We have more pressing matters."

Luna explained, "There was another individual. A Pseratep with a weapon on top of this rock."

"Based on her position and our location..." Twilight turned to them again. "We're in Area C of Serl. It's in the rear of the city where warehouses lie. My lab is a little ways back from here. Now that we're above ground I can start making my way there."

Before they could continue, three knocks on the door cut their conversation.

Weapons were immediately aimed. Dawn pushed Flurry behind her, who was then pushed behind Arcadia. They snuck up on them. How did she not feel them in her aura?

"Oschena~!" A feminine voice on the other side sang. "Amino peesa catta eelo kay! Armana me!"

"What is she saying?" Luna whispered.

Twilight raised a single hoof and slowly lowered it to the ground. All weapons were laid down.

"She knows we're here and that she's friendly. Stay on your hooves." Arcadia carefully drew out the blade from Dawn's sheathe. She grabbed hold of the door and suddenly swung it open.

The blade found its home pressed against the pony's neck. She yelped and dropped a rifle much bigger than her on the ground to raise her hooves and wings.

She was a small mare with a white coat, and eyes the color of the ocean. The rain pelted against a tinfoil hat wrapped around her head hiding a short mane of golden hair, soaking her coat and dirtying her hooves against a dirt road.

"Sorry, sorry!" She quickly apologized.

"Inside." Twilight yanked her within the safety of the warehouse and shut the door behind her. There's no telling who was on the other side watching them. After Molten Ice, it was clear a few surprises were lying in wait.

Secured, Twilight sheathed the blade back with Dawn and faced their guest.

"Who are you?" She asked.

The mare bowed. Her tinfoil hat fell to the ground that she quickly placed back on her head. "I am Dohora Teek, a technician working on project Tinitus, your majesty."

"What are you doing here?" Dawn asked. "All ponies were ordered to drop everything and evacuate Psera."

"We got left behind. A few hours ago, we were preparing to leave by an Aquata in Serl. But then..." Teek walked towards the door and listened. "One of our alarms based in Cop went off, alerting us of a magical anomaly. We looked into it."

She turned back to the leaders. "We were astounded."

"What did you find?" Novo asked.

"You'll have to see for yourself. It's so hard to explain that even we couldn't figure it out."

It would probably explain their attacker from before. Speaking of...

"Is Serl secured?" Dawn asked.

Teek shook her head. "No. We've cut all operations to ensure we stay hidden. As of this moment, we have no security. Serl is as open as a Veneenia. But as usual, Serl has been off the radar. There have been no threats or visitors since Psera was evacuated."

Twilight opened the door suddenly and stepped out. "Good. Let's keep it that way until I return. Secure Serl and don't venture out."

"I'll be going with you," Cadance offered. She walked to Twilight's side. "How will you be transporting the weapons?"

"There are methods of transportation already there. Secure the city and yourselves here in Serl until we return," she said.

Without so much as a glance, Twilight and Cadance rushed out the door and took to the air, flying through the storm behind Serl, where mountains and hills lied.

They were gone. The weapons were being retrieved. Hopefully it wouldn't take too long.

"We have to worry about Defense now," one of the rulers said, pulling Dawn's attention away from the door. She turned to Luna who was speaking. "Serl may be a secret, but whoever attacked us down there knew we were here. No doubt they were sent by Narmeelah."

"Narmeelah?" Dohora asked.

"We'll tell you all about it later. But for now, we have to secure Serl. We can have the Pegasi and Dragons secure the air."

"No need," Dawn interrupted. She walked away from the Royalty towards their army awaiting instructions, at ease. Then Dawn stomped her hoof.

"Soldiers of Psera!" She shouted. All of her military quickly rose up and aligned themselves with their teams, high-ranking officers in the front and lower in the back. Saluting, they stared ahead.

"Secure Serl!" Dawn ordered. "No ponies in, no ponies out until Arcadia Nova returns! Shoot on sight! Operation Blacklist!"

Dawn stomped her hoof loudly once more. "Go."

Immediately, in a straight forward line, Psera's military trotted out the door of the warehouse. They took to the sky, flooded the streets and investigated buildings thoroughly while the rest of their army and leaders watched.

Once they were out, Dawn turned back to Teek. "Take us to the others so we can finally get a read on Psera."

Cadance had no idea where they were going. According to Twilight, her lab was in the mountain range. But how? Even from here, Cadance could tell that not a single building would stand on those rugged rocks for long.

"Your lab is there?" Cadance asked above her.

"Yes," Twilight answered. "Inside of them, actually. How much do you trust me, Cadance?"

Well, that's an odd question.

"Do you mean now, after everything that's happened or in the general scope of our relationship?"

"Whichever works better for my odds."

"I trust you enough to say that whatever idea you come up with will work."

"Good. We're flying into the face of the mountain. I need you to slipstream with me."

Cadance repositioned herself so she was flying directly behind Twilight. She had to slow her flapping lest she fly directly into Twilight's backside.

The mountain crawled closer, the rocks growing more defined upon their descent. Cadance was certain they would deviate off at some point. But it seemed Twilight had other plans, considering they had yet to ascend to get over the rocks.

"Uh... Twilight?" Cadance said over the wind.

"I told you. It's inside of the mountain. Get close."

She could make out the wet dirt on the mountain. Each crack and crevice. It took every nerve in Cadance's body not to swoop upwards. Instead, she squeezed her eyes as tight as she could and followed Twilight "into the mountain." Whatever that meant.

Cadance would soon get her answer. The speeding wind suddenly died out. The coolness of this winter faded away into a warmer environment. She was still flying. She could feel the air flowing between her feathers, her body was still moving.

"You can open your eyes now, Cadance."

Carefully, Cadance opened one eye before widening them both.

"Wow," Cadance whispered. They were actually inside the mountain. As if it were a hollow shell. All around them were glowing orbs of different hues that provided light. This must've been Twilight's biggest laboratory to date! All on the walls of the mountain were different inventions of all shapes and sizes, secured in blue metal pods luminant with a white light.

Directly beneath them were more of those LiVams, littering a laminate flooring, spotless of any dirt despite the growth of earth around them.

Twilight slowed her speed and landed directly in the middle of the lab. Cadance followed suit. Unlike the lab that was hidden beneath the castle, this one had a lot more room to it. Twilight was able to stand in the center and expand her wings to their full length without touching a single table.

Cadance landed gently and looked around.

"Roomy," she commented. Her voice reverberated around the laboratory. Despite the small amount of orbs, they were still able to see around as if the sun were shining directly inside. Who knows, maybe it was.

Twilight trotted over to a LiVAM and began typing away at a keyboard. "We're going to be bringing all of these over to Serl."

"How?" Cadance ventured off and looked around Twilight's lab. Her hooves clacked loudly along the floor, echoing off the walls containing all of Twilight's weapons and tools.

She stopped at one nearby and raised an eyebrow. Despite its small size and form factor, it was extremely locked up. It was merely a remote with a single red button and a small keypad of four numbers on a black casing. It reminded Cadance of a small changeling egg.

The entire invention was kept inside of a glass box surrounded by violet lasers. Guess somepony really didn't want any pony to touch it.

"What's this, Twilight?"

Twilight looked over her shoulder. Her eyes suddenly widened.

"Cadance back away from that!" She shouted.

Cadance instantly did. "Why, what is it?"

Twilight walked over and they both peered down to it.

"It may not look as dangerous," Twilight said despondently. "But I promise you, it's the most dangerous weapon in the world. I designated this weapon... The Final Switch."

Whoo. Shivers crawled down Cadance's spine. She was afraid to ask, but...

"What does it do?"

Twilight turned around and walked back to her LiVAM. "I'm sure you know as well as the rest of IHT that Psera has an astounding amount of secretive weaponry."

"At this point, I'm sure it's no longer a secret," she deadpanned.

"Right, well, in the event that we lose against Narmeelah, and worse comes to worst, and we've exhausted all of our options..."

Twilight looked back down to the weapon. "Just one press of that switch... Will launch every last single mass weapon Psera has in their cache directly upon its location."

Silence. Twilight continued pressing buttons on her LiVAM.

"Railer One?" Cadance whispered.

"Yes. All seventeen of them."

"The projectiles that wiped out the Zebras?"

"All of our Marrials. Even the Portal Project and our Skybombs."

More silence. Twilight continued typing, vaguely aware of the look Cadance was shooting into her back.

"Why... On Equus... Would you DO THAT?!!" Cadance screamed.

"Because Narmeelah has to be defeated," Twilight calmly responded. "No matter the cost."

She pressed a final button. A sea of red dots suddenly appeared on all of Twilight's weapons before an alarm blared. A panel on the floor beeped and slid out of the way, probably for a vehicle based on its size.

Cadance jumped away from the glass box and jabbed accusingly at it. "Does Psera even know about this?!!"

"If they did, it wouldn't exist." Twilight powered off the LiVAM and walked over to The Final Switch. The lasers deactivated and carefully, she picked it up and carried it over with one hoof over to the rising Pod, revealing itself from the floor on a steel platform. It was small, made only for two ponies. Colored brown with no doors and a truck in the back. The wheels were large, for traveling over a rough terrain.

She jumped into the driver seat and looked to Cadance. "Come on, we have to get back to Serl."

Cadance jumped into the passenger seat and pointed at Twilight. "You are insane! There are more strategies than total obliteration!"

"I know, and I'm already stressing every one of them. Here, hold this." She tossed the glass cube into Cadance's lap.

"Holy stars, don't give me that!!" She grabbed the cube and tossed it in the backseat.

At the press of a button, Twilight turned on the Pod. It roared to life and was switched to drive.

Cadance looked out the back to the armory, at the wide array of hundreds of red dots spotting each glass case holding a single weapon each.

She asked, "What about the weapons?"

"They're going to follow in a train." Without warning, Twilight took off, nearly throwing Cadance out of her side of the Pod.

Immediately, the cases holding all the weapons spun along the wall in a spiral and exited on a slope, following them through the lab towards the face of the mountain.

Cadance tracked how they seemed to catch up to them and cruise at their speed in a straight line. Beneath the pods were wheels, designed like their pod's. At the fronts and rears were bright blue lights, likely some kind of technology that kept them linked together because there certainly wasn't any other way that Cadance could see from her seat.

She turned around at the moment they exited the mountain face, back into the rainy environment of Psera. They certainly had a long drive, as well as a long train of weapons. This was more than enough for their army.

She looked to Twilight. "I don't know what to think of you right now. On the one hand I'm happy you're prepared. But that?!"

She pointed to The Final Switch in the back. "THAT is insane, Twilight. Dawn is not going to have that."

"It's not for her. It's for me." She looked to Cadance as she drove. "A backup plan to the backup plan."

"And even if that doesn't work?"

The ride delved into silence. Cadance and Twilight faced ahead, uncertain of the future with a horde of backup behind them.

"Just watch out for Dawn," Twilight said after awhile.

"Of course."

Cadance looked around the Pod and discovered an odd case in the floor in the back. It was black and opened with four latches. She reached back and pulled it open.

As if she was staring at gold for the first time, her mouth popped open in awe. Her face was washed in a violet glow.

"Wow," she whispered breathlessly.

Twilight smirked. "Dawn has my old blade and access to my old gear. That's my upgrade."

"I wish I was nearly as protected as you all are."

"You all will be. Serl is my homebase of operations for this Narmeelah business. I have gear for all of you at the site."

Twilight narrowed her eyes. "We just have to get there."

The tower Teek took them to in Serl was active with survivors of Psera's collapse, with many of them being operatives and scientists of Serl. Including what had to be Arcadia's own lab employees. They were walking around with violet lab coats with an embossed starburst on the back and front right pockets.

The tower they were in had a great view of Serl. From their windows, Dawn could make out their army positioning themselves around the city. Standing on rooftops and watching from the walled entrance.

They had a table like the one they used to have in the war room back in Cop. Inside was an entire map of Serl, painted over by that massive rune. What did mom call it? A Central Rune?

Dawn turned into First Light, who their military was prepared for. However, Serl's residents were not.

Teek popped up and screamed, forcing the rest of them to shout as well.

Teek pointed at Dawn. "Who... Wha... Where is the Princess?!"

"It's actually Queen now," Light corrected. "...and you're looking at her. Mother will explain it more when she returns. For now, let's focus on what you saw."

Teek was dumbfounded. As was the rest of them. First Light was beginning to fear the future. Would it always be like this when they get Psera back on her hooves once more?

"Hey!" Luna waved her hoof in front of Teek's face. "Come now, pony! Make haste with the details!"

Right. Right. Although very uncomfortable, Teek pressed on a large LiVAM overhead while making glances at First Light. On the screen, were a collection of camera angles of Psera's many cities. Cop, Lavender, even Fenix. All of it uprooted. However, the destruction was not what they were looking at.

All over those cities were Pserateps standing up and staring in the exact same direction. Their eyes were glowing white, like First Light's blacks.

Celestia walked forward to the LiVAM for a closer look while Teek explained. "We noticed this after the Central Rune appeared. We don't know for certain, but we believe that is what is controlling them all over Psera. Here."

She offered Celestia a tinfoil hat. "Put this on. If you're on your way to Cop, you will need the mental defense."

"Ah, yes, well..." Celestia kindly shied away. "I have a spell, thank you."

"As do I," Luna said.

"The alicorns will provide me with the same spell," Novo reported.

First Light tapped at a helmet nearby. "My tinfoil hat is built into my helmet."

"Nice save," Dawn congratulated.

"I'll take one." Flurry grabbed the hat and plopped it directly over her horn, despite the looks she was receiving from her side of the room.

"What?" She said. "These are the brightest minds Psera has to offer, not to mention Aunt Twilight's personal staff. Did you not see that Atrium back there? If they tell me to wear a tinfoil hat to not become zombified I'm wearing one."

First Light referred back to the map. "Okay, so, here we are."

She pointed at an area on the map, signifying Serl, then dragged her hoof in the direction of the cities they know.

"Cop is directly in the middle of all of Psera's city-states. When we leave here, the first city we'll encounter will be Snow. That may be our most dangerous region, based off of these feeds."

"Snow is a city of business," one of Dawn's generals explained. "A lot of towers and skyscrapers. We'll probably be seen first before we see them."

"Then Narmeelah will certainly know we're close," Novo assumed.

"Right. With an army this size, we'd be seen easily."

Dawn asked, "Is there any other way in?"

"For a full army like this? No. The front door is all we have."

Sky Duster's small stature allowed her to easily trot through their hooves all the way to the front of the room.

"I can go in and clear the way," Sky Duster volunteered.

First Light raised her eyebrow. "You?"

"Yes, me. It wouldn't be my first rodeo infiltrating enemy lines, Your Highness." She looked over to Celestia and winked.

"As much as I hate to," Luna groaned. "I second that. Sky Duster has serial experience getting into secure places she's not wanted, and ridding of guards."

First Light glanced to Luna, then down to Sky Duster. At the front of her mind, she was thinking that maybe she could easily get in. But in the back of her mind...

How on Equus was she so small? She was actually smaller than her. She's never met a pony smaller than her that was actually older too.

"I propose," General Mack Land suggested. "That we come back to this discussion after we understand what we're dealing with."

"As well as Arcadia's arrival and weaponry," General Neon Lightning added.

"I agree," First Light replied. "But your idea will be noted for later, Sky Duster."

Suddenly, a loud beeping emanated from beyond their meeting point. A sound that put Teek into a fit. She gasped and ran towards the console two stallions were sitting at.

"Anya carlsh shall nakal?!" She asked quickly.

One stallion pointed to their screen. "South. Fourteen miles."

"What's going on?" Novo asked.

"One of our motion sensors has been triggered. Fourteen miles south of Serl."

"Could it be Aunt Twilight?" Flurry asked.

"No," First Light answered. She trotted around the table and over to the far end of the room. She stood in front of the glass where she could see over Serl and the land beyond.

"Mom went north towards the mountains. This alarm is in the direction of Snow."

She looked back to General Mack Land with her eyes narrowed. "We have another visitor."

Chapter 32 - The Crow and The Phoenix

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Ten Minutes Earlier

In the middle of the largest rune ever made sat Narmeelah, ephemeral, body made of stars and the universe lying beyond Equus' atmosphere. Under the protective eye of Psera's current residents.

Her eyes were closed, focused was she on her task that she cared little for the thousands of eyes watching her.

Suddenly, her eyes snapped open. A small gasp left her throat. She solidified into her Alicorn form.

"Molten," she whispered. She looked towards the north of Psera. A small smirk grew on her face.

"So... That's where you are. Ferilia!"

In a cloud of black smoke, Ferilia appeared behind Narmeelah. Striped coat as dark as her soul. She reached into one of her flared wings and plucked at a feather.

"Yes?"

"Are you hungry?"

Ferilia reached up to her mouth and plucked fur out of her mouth.

"I actually just ate."

"Then have some dessert. Our guests are in the north, in a secretive settlement weaponizing."

Ferilia grinned. Her snakelike tongue sensually glided over her fangs, her curved horn glowing with anticipation.

"I can't wait." Ferilia spread her wings and took off into the air, destination for Serl.

With that, Narmeelah closed her eyes and went back to managing the universe.

Present

So, they had a visitor. Celestia looked down at the map they had over the table of Serl.

"Where could they be?" Celestia asked.

Teek pointed to an area south of Serl. "Over here we have a few structures that were abandoned centuries ago. Inside of these buildings are sensors we use to track incoming threats. That's where they are coming from."

"At the time of the alarm..." Dawn pointed to a meter on the side of a map. "They were an average ten minutes out."

Then they were really close. Odega broke away from the group and walked towards the glass window at the front of the tower. She could sense them out there. As a matter of fact, they felt rather familiar. Odega narrowed her eyes and hummed under her breath, vaguely aware of the decisions being made behind her.

"Have all teams on the walls keep an eye out," Dawn ordered her commanders. "Weapons ready and eyes peeled."

"Ferilia," Odega said suddenly. All attention turned to her.

"What?" Luna asked.

"It's Ferilia. She must be hungry."

"Hungry?" Novo asked.

Odega turned around and walked through them for the exit to the tower. "Yeah. Unlike Maheera, she enjoys eating ponies. I'll go handle her until Arcadia gets back."

"Hey!" Odega turned back to First Light. "Be careful."

Odega smiled. "Always will be, squirt."

She trotted out onto the deck, jumped off, and transmogrified into the phoenix, a fiery mass that flew over the city of Serl and it's protective wall. With a single flap of her wings, she landed on the ground in an explosion of fire that condensed back into her pony form.

All creatures were prepared for a fight. Their commanders watching from the tower, the soldiers standing at the ready along the wall. Ponies in pods behind the entrance into Serl, ready to drive out and meet the enemy head on. All they had to do now was wait.

Dawn grabbed a pair of binoculars from a nearby pony and peered through out the window. Odega must've sensed their opponent's aura, because she couldn't see them at all.

Dawn passed back those binoculars and ordered, "Weapons up, but do not engage. IHT, I require your assistance for aerial security."

Celestia turned to one of her generals and nodded her head. At their command, Pegasi from Equestria took to the sky and formed a line above Serl's wall, watching from above, ready for a fight.

Thank the stars that Scootaloo couldn't fly. A shame, truly, but in this situation, it was probably for the best. She knew her limits.

She shared a glance with one of her fellow soldiers on the wall and swallowed hard. They had yet to even see the threat from the other side of the war. So far, it's just been IHT and Psera`. Now, they would be able to see what they were exactly up against.

Dawn passed her binoculars to their owner and walked back over to the table.

She asked, "Are we able to send a signal out?"

Teek looked to another pony. "Can we send one out?"

They immediately went back to their workstation and began typing away. "According to this, we can send one out."

"Are you sure that is wise?" Luna cautiously asked.

"We're going to need all the help we can get. Secretary? Bring our navy back to Psera. Full speed. Teek, I need a visual on the desert."

"All stations, get us eyes!" Teek ordered.

All the LiVAMS converted from their current feeds to newer ones of every single camera they had out there in those sandy plains.

Dawn moved her eyes from one screen to the other. Narrowed, she focused on everything. What triggered that alarm? So far as they could see, it was empty. Then again, Odega sensed Ferilia out there.

"I have movement!" All eyes diverted to one single screen. Black dots were flying across the feed, heading in their direction. Something with wings.

"Crows?" Luna asked. "Doesn't' seem threatening."

"Not at first. But..." Dawn looked back to the princesses. "Psera doesn't have crows."

They could see them through the glass. A cloud of birds blacker than the storm in the distance coating Psera in an endless torrent of rain.

Odega was nonchalant. This wasn't her first time against Ferilia. They've had their spats.

"Here they come," Teek announced.

The crows eventually arrived in front of Odega. Upon arrival they bundled together, forming a black ball that Ferilia eventually stepped out of.

The Princesses narrowed their eyes. Dawn recognized her. That mare she met before back in Equestria.

Ferilia and Odega held a stareoff. It was thick, full of malice and hatred.

"Ferilia," Odega greeted.

"Odega," Ferilia responded. She reached up to her mouth and flicked out more fur. "Narmeelah said Arcadia Nova's army would be here. A shame you're a part of it."

"It's a shame that all Narmeelah's done has finally come to light. I wonder what else she's been hiding."

"Hmm." Ferilia looked past Odega towards the wall. "You have a very important pony safeguarded on the other side of that wall."

Dawn felt all eyes move to her. Of course it was her. Ferilia made it very clear that she was not her friend.

"There are a lot of very important ponies on that side of the wall," Odega replied.

"There is one in particular I'm searching for." Ferilia stomped her right hoof. "I assume you know of whom I speak of."

"I do. But she kind of isn't here to talk." Odega narrowed her eyes and slowly expanded her wings. "I take it neither are you."

"You know me well, Odega."

"Well enough to know you don't easily go so far out of your way for a meal. Narmeelah sent you here."

Dawn transformed into First Light. "She knows where we are," she whispered from the tower.

"Maybe she did, maybe she didn't," Ferilia countered.

"No, she did."

"Okay, I'm done talking." Ferilia suddenly flew forward, slamming into Odega. She saw it coming.

She flipped over and vaulted Ferilia over her back, who then landed on her hooves facing her again.

"You will find I'm not as easy as before," Ferilia warned. Her hoof slid across the dirt road leading up to Serl's gates. She expanded her wings and sneered at Odega, who in turn sneered back.

Even behind the glass barrier, Dawn could feel the tension in the air. The heat from the friction between the two of them.

Then, in the blink of an eye, Odega shot for Ferilia and slammed into her, sliding them across the ground once more. She grabbed Ferilia around the neck and swung her around, throwing her back into the sand. Alas, she would not be so easy to take down.

Ferilia flipped over and stood her ground, facing Odega. She took a deep breath and let loose a roar. A magic so dark that First Light could feel it from the tower spewed from between her teeth, shooting in Odega's direction.

Reacting just in time, Odega formed into the Phoenix and spiraled around the magic for Ferilia. She slammed into her once more, trapping her beneath a talon.

"Surrender!" Odega shouted. "You will not win!"

Ferilia clearly has other plans. She burst into crows again, slipping out from between Odega's form of capture and began to swarm together in front of the wall, growing bigger and bigger until they had a murder of crows towering over the wall of Serl.

This was getting them nowhere. First Light groaned and ordered, "Engage on Ferilia!"

In a matter of seconds Serl's army began to shoot at the spiral, breaking apart only a small number out of the hundreds that screened off what lied on the other side.

Suddenly, a massive crow burst through, Talons out, wings outstretched, and beak wide for the roar that escaped its throat. Ferilia grabbed Odega and pushed her back into the wall. The impact was enough to break straight through, forcing the the cambatants posted there to scatter.

Scootaloo ran to the right to avoid faking with the rest of the debris. She made it to a ladder and began to slide down before the destruction finally reached her. The concrete the Ladder was connected to broke off, leaving the ladder itself connected to nothing.

Buck. Scootaloo held on as the ladder began to tilt backwards towards the roof of another building with a section made of glass.

"Buck," Scootaloo muttered. At the right moment, Scootaloo jumped, hoping to make it onto the concrete. Alas, fate had other ideas. She fell through the glass and into a carpeted office.

"Ah!" She shouted. A sharp pain made it's way into her shoulder before she rolled over. A large shard had sheathed its way through Scootaloo's fur and into her body.

The fight could be seen for miles. Even going so far as to reach Cadance and Twilight driving through the pouring rain they could make out the dust from the collapsed portion of the wall, as well as the shrieks traveling for miles.

"They're in trouble!" Cadance concluded loudly over the rain, thunder, and motor.

"I see." Twilight reached into the back and opened up that case with her new gear. "I'll armor up. Here, take the wheel."

Cadance reached over and grabbed "the wheel" of the vehicle. How does one even drive this? It seems the wheel controls the direction, but what controls the speed?

Once Twilight made it to the back, Cadance jumped into the seat and put her bottom hoof on a button. That seemed to increase their speed. How would one stop?

She pressed another button. Immediately, the pod braked, almost throwing Twilight back into the passenger seat.

"Ugh! Cadance!"

"Sorry, sorry!" She put the vehicle back in drive and continued their journey for SERL. "I don't know how to drive this thing!"

Twilight righted herself in the back and began putting on her gear. Helmet on first then everything else.

Cadance glanced up to the rearview mirror and widened. "Wow. You look... Godly."

"Thank you, Cadance."

"But don't think that gets you out of this Final Switch situation."

"Sure. Now, please speed up so I can rid of our little visitor, and perform a proper demonstration of these weapons."

The fight lasted for awhile, creating destruction all throughout Serl before Odega finally managed to toss Ferilia beyond what remained of the wall.

She crashed into the mud and was flipped over by Odega.

"ENOUGH!" Odega shouted. She sheathed her talons into Ferilia's chest, pinning her into the mud.

They both turned back into their pony forms, with Odega on top, glowering.

"You will not win this," she told her. "You don't have to do this. If you do not surrender, sister, you will die!"

Sister? Dawn and First could sense each other's confusion. Maybe she meant that in a friendly way. Best friends forever? Sisters? Practically the same thing.

Ferilia growled and shook her head. "You were kicked out of the circle because you were corrupt, Odega. You went against our ways, you went against the plan. So you were made as a soldier, and you were made one for a reason."

Ferilia slammed her hoof up into Odega's muzzle, enough to throw her face to the side and her body off. She landed in the mud before Ferilia stood over her, clutching her pierced chest. Snarling her fangs and wings outstretched, illuminated with power.

She flapped her wings once, gently lifting her off the ground. But a ripple of magic shot Odega across the battlefield and through the wall, blowing bricks and destroying an entire section of SERL's defense.

She was getting stronger, beginning to show her true power. They had to put a stop to this now.

"Soldiers of Equus," First Light ordered. "Let violet magic rain upon her."

All soldiers within the walls trained their weapons on Ferilia and her glowing figure and pulled their triggers. The first stream of magic bounced off her glowing figure before the rest followed.

Buck.

"Get down!" A guard tackled First Light to the ground before the ricocheting shots blew through the glass of the tower, damaging equipment and nearly hitting personnel who took cover.

"This isn't good," Shining thought aloud from behind a cabinet.

Eventually, someone called a ceasefire. The shooting ceased, ending with Ferilia standing there with a nonplussed expression.

"You simple souls," she said. "You thought that could stop me. Foals!"

She rose up on her rear two hooves and spread her wings high and wide.

"I am a Daughter of Narmeelah! Pony of Power! I have never been defeated by any army, nor will I ever be!"

She pointed up to the tower, where could see the current Queen of Psera.

"You, will be my meal!" She shouted. "And I will feast upon—"

Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, a golden beam of magic shot from out of sight made impact on Ferilia. In a flash of light, she blew into brown dust, mixing with the mud of the world around them.

From many yards away, with Cadance at the wheel, Twilight leaned out the side of the pod, balancing a long rifle painted a reflective gold matching her armor, glowing with runes. Smoke expelled from the barrel slightly.

"Done," Twilight reported. She returned to her seat next to Cadance and looked her way. She seemed a lot more confident driving. "How's it feel?"

"Pretty good, actually," Cadance admitted. "I could do this all day."

"There's a career in it. Although, you have yet to deal with other drivers. Give it some time, change your environment, and you'll begin to hate it. We're coming up on the wall, so you'll have to slow down to make the turns. So come of the left, and slowly press on the right."

Cadance did as instructed, making their way towards the soldiers walking outside the wall to investigate what remained of Ferilia's ashes. Twilight leaned over and pressed on the horn, grabbing their attention. They didn't have a comm block, they would have to grab their attention.

One of the soldiers reported their location and pointed through the hole in the wall.

"Okay, so this is where things get tricky. Want me to take over?" Twilight queried.

"No, no, I got it," Cadance insisted.

"Okay. Make the turn."

Their pod, ever so slowly, maneuvered through the hole and gently over the debris, snaking their way into SERL with the longest train any of them have ever seen.

The doors into the tower opened, letting out their Kings, Queens, and Military Commanders, watching them snake past below.

First Light's eyes tracked one of the pods. "Those are a lot of weapons," she muttered.

The line was so long that they had to snake through the entire facility and make it all the way back to the hole facing southwest Psera before they could park again. Once the Pod came to a complete stop, Twilight hopped out in her new gear and faced the approaching commanders.

"Quite the mess," she commented on the security breach. "Psera will have to rebuild the wall."

"That's not even the least impactful situation on our minds," Celestia commented. She eyed the snaking line of carriers. "These are the disintegrators?"

"The very same." Twilight plucked off her helmet and set it by her hooves. Her mane quickly soaked in the falling rain. "I used one to get rid of our little problem. She won't be returning, unless Narmeelah recreates her. The policy for no magic used still applies. No doubt she knows we're already here, but secrecy is our best strategy."

"I agree," Queen Novo replied. She looked around SERL and hummed through her thoughts. Most of their army was in shambles. Just a little unorganized, but unorganized nonetheless. Some of them were even injured.

"I motion we setup camp for the remainder of the day," she said. She turned to the curious eyes of her colleagues. "We have to form a strategy. SERL has eyes on most of Psera. Perhaps we can spy on a few cities and work on a strategy upon approach to Cop."

"That's a good idea," First Light acknowledged. "We must replenish our strength before we can fight. It's for the best."

Sky Duster flew forward and hovered over the group. "As mentioned before, I can easily sneak in and get a better eye of the land."

"That sounds like a plan," Twilight agreed.

"And while we're planning..." Cadance walked into view from behind Twilight and placed the cube holding the Final Switch in the middle of the group. "...you can explain this to the rest of the class."

Curious gazes shifted from Cadance's suspicious expression to Twilight's annoyed one. Great. Another secret. Wonderful.

Dawn took back over and let out another sigh to add the hundreds from before.

"Mom, what is that?" She queried.

Twilight slapped her helmet back on her head and picked up the cube from the ground. She walked through the group, destination for the tower. "I'll explain it to you later. Right now, Let's get back inside and see if we can find anymore cameras. If Narmeelah's watching us, I believe it's time we return the favor."

Chapter 33 - Planning Session

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The weapons were safely secured within the walls of Serl. Enemy eyes and ears would have no clue where they were being held. Of course with their current track record obliviousness wouldn't be on their side for too long. It was beat to stay prepared. Arcadia Nova once again suited up in the best gear she had. The cameras watching Psera were still connected. This would be their post for operations.

If Narmeelah would attack again, they would know.

The scientists left behind in Serl were informed about the situation to the fullest. That Narmeelah was behind it all all along, that they had a plan of action, and that Twilight's daughter was the key to defeating her. Then, with much persistence by Cadance, Twilight was once again put under her daughter's heat lamp for the Final Switch weapon she created.

"Mom!!" Dawn scolded. "Really?"

Twilight held her head high and strode through the ponies surrounding her to the glass windows facing Psera. Uncaring to the stares following along.

"The moment I was crowned as Queen, my goal has always been to protect Psera," she admitted. "The weapons I create would only be used to fulfill that goal. This specific weapon would only be used if we have exhausted all other options."

Twilight faced her daughter and the team again. "I'd prefer it stay back in my laboratories, but that wouldn't be wise given the severity of the situation. I wasn't going to use it, but it's better than to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. For now, it will remain in Serl."

Dawn took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "As long as it is secure, and away from all hooves, I don't care where it is. Commander?"

A soldier wearing a white uniform strolled forward and saluted.

"Grab a team, and secure the Final Switch in Level Z," Dawn ordered.

"Yes, ma'am."

She turned back to her mother. "Mom, no more secret weapons, jeez. I'd be embarrassed if I wasn't so impressed."

Twilight giggled and pulled her daughter under her wing. "Okay, okay. I promise this time, there are no more weapons stashed. This is the final one, hence the name 'The Final Switch.'"

She looked out the window and observed the desert landscape before them. Her smile dropped. Tomorrow morning, they would be rising and finally facing what became of their home. Most of the ponies here have already witnessed the aftermath of their own worlds going up in smoke.

Psera was the center of it all. The source of the destruction. Everything started here, so it will end here.

Twilight let her gaze drift down to Fresh Dawn. No doubt the same thing was going through her mind. Jeez, look at her. She had her father's focus and her own eyes, filled with steel and determination. Would things have been different if she never sacrificed herself for Equus before? Would Dawn still be here?

"Your father would be very proud of you, my little Veola." Dawn shifted her sights up to her mother, staring down upon her with pride. She's seen her mother smile before, but this time there was something different behind it. As if she was being draped with a warm blanket in a cold room.

She faced her fully. "You think so?"

"I know so." She leaned down and placed a loving kiss on her horn and guided her into a hug beneath her wing. "The entire family's proud of you."

"Thanks, mom," Dawn mumbled into her coat.

"Let's get back to the table." Twilight let her go and escorted her back to the group conversing plans over the map of Psera. Likely this meeting would take many hours.

One of their commanding officers saluted. "I just received word that The Cleansing Project has been secured."

"The Cleansing Project?" Teek asked. She referred to Arcadia. "I thought it was locked away years ago."

"It was," Arcadia confirmed. "However, we're going to weaponize it against Narmeelah."

"We'll use it to weaken her temporarily," Queen Dawn explained. "Then we'll be giving it our all to defeat her."

"What about the ponies there?" She turned to one of the screens spotting the room, showcasing the images of all the Pserateps under Narmeelah's control. "What happens to them?"

"If they're controlled by Narmeelah's magic, then the only way to free them... Is by defeating Narmeelah."

"We don't want to stop them permanently," Celestia iterated. "But we are aware that Narmeelah doesn't value life like we do. If she wants them to kill us, and one of them gets close to doing so, we will have no choice but to stop the threat by any means necessary."

"Does that include the foals too?"

"Including the foals, yes."

"So, say we weaken Narmeelah," Singe assumed. "What then?"

Twilight looked down to Fresh Dawn. "Then, my daughter will engage with her."

"Queen Dawn?" Teek asked.

"Fresh Dawn's primary magic is dark. Dark magic has a cancellation affect on normal magic. Each hit will cut through her like a knife through butter. But Narmeelah has stronger defenses, thus the reason we have to weaken her first with The Cleansing Project."

"Once we weaken her and we begin to secure all of the Pserateps, and nothing goes wrong in the process, we can hit Narmeelah with everything we got, and she's gone. For good this time."

Teek looked down to the table. "But with an enemy like this, you and I both know, Arcadia, that a plan such as this will not be so easy."

"That's what I'm afraid of." Arcadia addressed the rest of the room. "We've already come across two of Narmeelah's daughters and Molten Ice. There's no doubt in my mind that there are more of them waiting for us. The closer we get, the likely we'll come in contact with them."

"But now that we have weapons that can also do considerable damage," Sunset spoke up. "We should be able to combat them affectively."

"That's what I'm hoping for. So, here's the plan for tomorrow." They gathered around the map Twilight began pointing at. "We'll be leaving a full front here to secure The Final Switch and warm The Cleansing Project while the rest of us journey for Cop. We'll have air visuals and ground visuals while we move. It will take up to two hours to arrive at Snow. At that point we'll slow our speed for caution. No doubt we'll run into someone there.

"Afterwards, we'll reach Cop and confront the army there waiting for us. While we travel..." Twilight swiped the map off of Psera all the way back to Equestria. "We get three of our ships moving back to Psera so they can provide offshore assistance."

Dawn looked to her counsel. "Admiral, I want those ships moving now, full speed ahead."

He saluted. "Yes, ma'am."

Dawn referred back to Arcadia. "What else?"

"We reach Narmeelah and the remaining Daughters. I will be confronting Narmeelah personally while the rest of you confront the army. Princesses?"

She looked to Celestia, Luna, Cadance, even Queen Novo. "You will be protecting Dawn and Light until The Cleansing Project fires. Narmeelah will then be weakened, Dawn and First Light can fight Narmeelah—"

"Wait, wait, wait, hold on!" Starlight interrupted. "Sorry to cut you off, but this cleansing project is made to stop magic right? So, how will Dawn defeat Narmeelah? Dawn is nothing but magic. Won't the Cleansing Project stop her too?"

Oh, yeah! Wait... Fear struck the place where Dawn's heart would be. Starlight was right. If there was no magic how would she fight Narmeelah?

"Because The Cleansing Project doesn't affect Dawn like you think it does. Dark Magic has a different polarity compared to Light Magic. They're reversed. The waves that travel out of the weapon have the same polarity as Dark Magic."

"Wait... That means that The Cleansing Project... Is Dark Magic."

Twilight smiled and nodded her head. "Correct." Dawn released a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "The cleansing project is on Dawn's side. If anything, it gives Dawn more power. She'll likely have a headache afterwards, but that would mean it's working."

Luna raised her hoof. "With all that being said, how exactly are we going to fight without magic? The weapons that you have given us are lethal and made to kill. Unless I'm mistaken, we're just trying to incapacitate, not kill."

"Correct. Our light magic may be gone, but there's another form of magic we can use. One that won't be broken. Remember that book I gave you?"

Sunset's eyes snapped open. She plunged her hoof into Luna's bag of things and yanked out Twilight's black textbook. She urgently flipped it open and... The pages were lined with words! It was empty back on Equestria!

"This book only works on Psera," Sunset whispered.

"Correct. I couldn't risk having that information falling into the wrong hooves. Equestria, unfortunately, has a bit of a reputation attracting the wrong kind of individuals."

She glanced over to Sky Duster, Tritanium, and Sun Waves. "No offense to you three. There are many others."

"None taken," Sky Duster acknowledged.

Luna swiped the book from Sunset's hooves and held it up. "Twilight..." Luna whispered somberly.

"I know, Luna." Twilight trotted over in her direction. "I... Understand how this makes you feel. But trust me. I made these weapons with not only my daughter in mind, but my friends and allies as well. Using these spells... They won't bring her back."

Luna gazed at the book oddly. "Are you certain? Without a doubt?"

"The spells listed within this book won't be enough to do so. These spells will just be enough to incapacitate."

She took the book from Luna's hold and passed it back to Sunset. "These spells will be optional. As always with magic, this is a choice."

Twilight walked back to the table and faced everyone else. "Regardless, the fights we've had against each other, Discord, The Storm King, even the fight against yours truly... None of those will be compared against the one we will be facing tomorrow. It's our official Day of Judgement. Either we win and rebuild Equus, or we lose, and... Well, you get the gist. With that being said, are there anymore questions?"

None of the room spoke. "Then let's get those Aquatas back here, train with those weapons SAFELY, and prepare for the morning. It's a big day tomorrow, every creature. Remember to get your rest. We may not have another chance to do so."

Night had fallen on Psera, flooding the desert beyond Psera's wall in darkness. At least most of it as far as Dawn could see. But there in the distance, far away from her sitting place on the wall, she could see a hazy beam of light strobing into the sky.

Her mane danced gently with the wind. In her hooves, her helmet, free from blemishes. But how long would that last?

"Queen Dawn?"

Dawn turned her attention to Sunset Shimmer, watching her with a smile. She must've climbed the ladder without her hearing.

"Ambassador Shimmer," Dawn acknowledged. "How can I help you?"

"Just thought you could use a little company." Sunset sat next to her and let out a long held sigh. "This is crazy."

"Completely," Dawn agreed. "You know, ponies my age usually have to worry about going to college, driving their first Pod, moving out on their own. Me?"

Dawn scoffed and shook her head. "I have to worry about not getting killed, keeping my mom from blowing up things, learning magic, and... Saving the world."

"Your life has been one for the history books, that's for sure."

"Yeah." They both stared out to the light in the distance, letting silence wash over them. "Think this plan will work?"

"Well, the plan is rough. We don't have eyes on their defenses nor any intel on the remaining daughters. All we have to guarantee an effective strike are weapons, Arcadia Nova, and The Cleansing Project."

"Then let's hope that we can come up with something before. First Light and I have been trying to split our bodies."

Sunset looked back to Dawn. "Split?"

"Yeah. Mom said that the power to give Light her own conscious form lies in us. I just don't know how to do it, and we're almost out of time."

"It'll happen. If there's one thing I know about your family, it's this: Anything is possible and it will come. Especially if you push yourself hard enough."

Huh. Well, she wasn't wrong. They studied Arcadia Nova like she was the goddess of Equus in almost every year in high school, and she accomplished almost everything she put her mind to. This would be the last time she did such a thing. Dawn was sure mom would be retiring for good after this journey.

"Thanks, Sunset."

"You're welcome."

Silence overtook them once more before Dawn asked one final question. "Hey, umm... Do you know where they buried my dad?"

Sunset hummed and shook her head. "I have no idea. But I do recall Arcadia telling us years ago that all of the Fire Family have private mausoleums somewhere on Psera for when they do pass away already prepared."

"Right. Yeah, I almost forgot about that place in Lavender." Dawn sighed deeply and stood. "When this is all over, and if it's still intact, we'll pay him a visit. Thanks for the talk, Sunset. Make sure you get some rest too, okay?"

At her nod, Dawn spread her wings and flew back down into Serl. Tomorrow would be the true start of their war, the true battle for Equus.

Chapter 34 - Eris

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They say that one's thoughts keep awake the mind. It's basic logic, true, when one's brain constantly runs, it keeps you awake. Maybe that explains why Twilight couldn't sleep. Why she instead chose to spend the next few hours before the sun rose on the horizon staring down the beam of light from the safety, silence and security of their tower.

That's where she was. The Goddess of Creation. Narmeelah. No doubt she, too, was anxious for their arrival. Ready for the zenith of her plan.

"But what is your plan?" Twilight muttered to herself. "What do you want, apart from destruction? Why?"

The door to the entrance of the tower clanked and opened. Twilight's ears flicked in their direction.

"...can leave the Lieutenant in charge here with her Captains," Dawn ordered upon walking inside with Secretary Manny, Admiral Shooting Star, Princesses Celestia, Cadance, and Luna, Queen Novo, Sunset and Starlight. "We can then assess... Oh, morning, mom."

Twilight looked over her shoulder and smiled at Dawn. "Good morning, my babies. Did you sleep well?"

Celestia walked over to the table and eyed Twilight's many notes and theories stacked upon their work station.

"I believe the real question is did you get any sleep at all?" She picked up a document and read the top line briefly. "It seems you were struck with a case of the all-nighters again."

Twilight lost her smile and faced the window again. "Out of all the things I've uncovered about Narmeelah, the schemes, the manipulations... I have yet to uncover how she plans to power the Central Rune. Let alone her true motivation for doing so."

Twilight reached out towards the glass. "It's funny. I feel like the answer is within reach. A spread of my wings away, a breath from my very existence."

Twilight lowered her hoof and turned around. "But I can't even see it."

"Maybe it's too obvious," Dawn suggested. She morphed into First Light. "Morning, mom! And I agree with Dawn. It's so simple that even you can't recognize it."

Twilight hummed and walked towards the table. She nuzzled Dawn and Light behind the ear.

"Well, whatever it is, we'll find out soon enough. What's our status?"

Secretary Manny saluted. "All soldiers are aware and accounted for. We are prepping the Pods now for the trip. We also managed to locate an army's worth of comm blocks in the warehouses for communication."

Dawn added, "Secretary Manny will be staying here to command Operation Skyfall and observe through the cameras."

Admiral Shooting Star pointed to the table around Twilight's notes. "The Front Lawn and four more Aquatas are two-thirds from Psera now. Weapons are hot and ready to fire at our command."

Then they were almost ready. Just one more order of business.

"Have we figured out a path yet?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, ma'am," Secretary Manny answered. She shifted Twilight's studies to the side and turned on the map of Psera.

"Wow, it's so much bigger than I thought," Celestia stated out loud. The country really did look like a snowflake. Celestia took a note out of Psera's book for later when they'd begin rebuilding Equestria. Their take on design was always beautiful. Even their chariots were... Well, they certainly couldn't be called chariots.

Secretary Manny pointed at SERL. "This is us currently. Marker."

One of SERL's technicians passed her a pen she caught in her teeth. "We'll be traveling from here all the way into Snow. Expect a lot of destruction and obstacles."

"Snow was the headquarters for all major corporations and businesses throughout Psera, and, at one point, the world," Dawn clarified. "You thought Cop was impressive? Cop is where Psera's government lived. Snow was the root to all of Psera's greatest accomplishments. Everything you see around us has to get past Snow first before it even reaches Cop, then the world after that."

Secretary Manny drew lines and roads through Snow on the map. "We'll be taking a caravan through here, all the way into the outskirts of Cop."

"We thought about sending in some scouts to give us a better reading on what we would be dealing with. But we all agreed to wait until we're actually there to make that decision."

"Why?" Arcadia asked.

"Because we may encounter trouble along the way. Narmeelah's daughters are still out there. They'll be watching us as much as we'll be watching them. We'll plan as we move, because their strategy will change as much as theirs."

"Once we reach Cop," Manny continued. "Then—"

"I will confront Narmeelah directly," Twilight interrupted. "Our army will deal with their army and we begin engaging the weapon from here. Once it fires..."

Twilight looked to Dawn. "I assume that's when..."

"Yeah," Dawn confirmed. She smiled sadly and nodded. "Then Light and I will fight Narmeelah."

The rising sun did little to bring warmth to the situation. Dawn would be going up against Narmeelah, an enemy none of them have faced, but whose power they have all seen.

"Your highness..." Dawn turned in the direction of Secretary Manny. She bowed slowly. "Your safety will always be my priority. We will get you there safely, and you will have all the technology and weaponry we have at our disposal, shall you require. You will not be fighting alone. Not if your kingdom can help in the fight."

"You have the sworn magic of Equestria," Celestia added as well.

"Light, and Dark," Luna agreed.

"The science of SERL," Teek inputted proudly.

"...and the wisdom, magic, and protection of your mother," Arcadia finally finished. She stepped closer into Dawn's personal space and raised her wings confidently. "No one will lay a hoof, talon, claw, or wing on you. Not while I'm around."

"Which leads us to your security." Secretary Manny lead them over to the windows looking into Serl, specifically a large steel pod, bigger and thicker than anything Dawn has ever seen. With eight wheels so thick it could be mistaken as boulders. It towered over the rest of the convoy. "Arcadia, we managed to uncover your Black Box."

"Black Box?" Dawn asked.

"It was invented for what would have been our family," Arcadia admitted. "Your father and I were thinking, at one point, having more foals. We weren't sure how the public would react to such a large royal branch, and with Psera out of the shadows, we envisioned multiple threats. Not just from Psera, but from all over the world. The more foals we'd have, the more vulnerable the crown would be. So, with paranoia being my driving force for the safety of my family, I designed and developed the Black Box. A vehicle capable of withstanding not only a blast from Railer One, but even a blast from my horn, Luna's, Celestia's, Cadance's, and the power of the Crystal Heart combined. It's outfitted with runes able to absorb any spell. The steel is so thick that it would take days to melt and can only be locked and unlocked from the inside.

"It has direct contact with Lavender, The COTG, and SERL, and weapons on the inside just in case external security does not work."

"The only windows on this machine is the windshield," Manny added. "Which, unless I'm mistaken, is also spelled to reflect both matter and magic."

"You are correct," Arcadia confirmed.

"...wow," Cadance muttered.

"That would have been nice to have when I first returned to Psera after all of that," Dawn muttered.

"We never used it because it was too heavy to transport along Psera bridges," Manny stated. "Inside of the Black Box you will have four Arcadian Elite Royal Guards, and two pilots. You will have ten Elite in front, behind, left side, and right side. Directly in front of the Pod you will have Arcadia Nova and Odega. Behind you will have Celestia, Luna, and Cadance. The others will choose. The Black Box will be the fortieth vehicle in the caravan. Here."

She passed Queen Dawn a Comm Block. "Inside of the Black Box will be a visual feed and monitor that will allow you to communicate with us here at SERL. This block is connected to all commanding officers. I doubt you will need it. But if you do, you will have it."

Dawn sat down and slid it onto her hoof. Felt like the old days. She smiled softly. "Anything else?"

"Yes. If you have to use the bathroom, I suggest you do it now. This is going to be a long ride. Snow is hours away by land. The pods aren't slow, but they're also not fast."

"What about our rules of engagement?" Twilight asked.

"For Narmeelah and her daughters, shoot to kill on sight. For citizens, we want to stun and detain them first and foremost. Narmeelah has their minds, not their souls. Anymore questions?"

They all looked among each other before Cadance asked, "When do we leave?"

"O'six hundred. It's five twenty-one."

"Then let's not waste any time." Dawn turned and left with four of her captains. "Begin rounding up our army. Brief and run."

"Yes, ma'am," they replied.

Look at them down there. Frolicking. Cuddling up. Braving through this same as if there was no storm at all. But from Kia's vantage point, atop this hill of dirt, she could see the entire world ending. The fall of Equestria, the washout of Psera. The freezing of the Crystal Empire. It was all coming undone.

Why should she care? She never really had a place in this world. Just a standard construction worker sliding beneath the radar. Heck, to prove a point that her existence didn't even matter, she trotted to the top of this hill, away from everyone else.

Not a single pair of eyes noticed her. Notice the dirt she kicked up by running up this hill. Stars above, sje could even make out Dusty down there, sleeping with his parents.

She had no such luxury.

"It's hard, isn't it?"

Erikia gasped and stood up. Sitting next to her was another pony. An Alicorn she had yet to meet. Well, she's seen a lot of Alicorns. There was an entire continent dedicated to them, and they all flew here. Of course she's seen them.

But this one... She's never seen her before. She had a pearlesque white coat, light gray eyes, and flawless beautiful wings. Her mane was long. Glowing with power and beauty. But her stare, it was filled with sadness, watching the scene before her eyes unfold.

Erikia swallowed and asked, "What?"

"It's hard. Being out here alone while the world ends. Isn't it?" She shifted her sight over to Kia, peering deep into the darkness that was her soul.

Kia felt more at ease. She sat back down and stared into the storm clouds off the coast.

"...yeah," she finally answered. "Everybody has someone they can count on to be there even at the end of the world. I... I don't have that."

"Neither do I."

Erikia turned back to her in surprise.

"Really? I'm sorry, but I find that hard to believe."

The Alicorn chuckled before rising and turning around. She began to walk away into what was left of the Everfree Forest.

"I'm flattered. But my life never allowed me to settle down, start a family, make friends, all of those lovely luxuries. I'm always on the move." She stopped and smiled back up to Kia. "In the process, I discovered a much more beautiful world. Or worlds, I should say."

Kia tilted her head before rising. She followed her down the hill, out of the sight of the rest of Equus.

"Worlds?" She repeated. "What do you mean worlds? Who are you?"

"Eris," she answered. "My name is Eris. I'm a traveler."

"Of worlds?"

She chortled again and began walking once more. "I'm a traveler of sorts. Not just worlds."

Okay, worlds sounded a lot better. But whatever, Kia could roll with the punches. Not the first time she's heard of something crazy. Her best friend isn't even flesh and blood. She could take this.

Kia trotted closer to Eris' side. "If you're a traveler of worlds, then why are you here?"

"Good question, my young star," she answered. She stopped and faced Kia. "I'm here... Because of you."

She booped Kia's nose, whose eyes crossed each other briefly before angling back up to Eris' in confusion.

"...me?" She scoffed and shook her head. "Why me?"

"Because you have a lot of potential."

"You sound like my therapist."

"See?" Eris pointed down to Kia in excitement. "Like that! Why do you have a therapist? Or, rather, why did you?"

Kia was beginning to have second thoughts about Eris. She took one step back.

"Ummm... My—"

"Parents. They died. Right? Yeah, that's what the others said."

Kia's eyes blinked wide. "Others? What are you talking about?"

"The other versions of yourself. What if I told you that you, Erikia Malnoro Torue, have a place in this coming new world? When this is all over... You can be the most powerful pony there ever was?"

Kia looked down to the ashes beneath their hooves whilst she continued.

"What if I told I've met you before; In countless lives, through countless worlds and events?"

She reached out and tilted Kia's eyes up to meet hers. Wow. They... They were filled with stars. Colors. Galaxies.

"...I would say...that's insane," Kia answered. "I'd say... It makes no sense."

"Yet, here we are. Look around us."

Kia averted her gaze to the landscape of destruction; to the sky above glowing a deep purple. To the storm clouds in the distance flashing violet. Stars, she couldn't even see the sun anymore.

"Wh-what's your point?"

"My point is that you can save them. You can stop all of this, and change Equus for the better."

"If it—"

"You won't have to hurt anyone," Eris interrupted. "Not if there's another way. Sometimes, though, a little slight of hoof will be required. But it would be for the benefit of ponykind."

Kia walked back up the hill to see all the ponies facing away from her. Watching the action unfold. As usual, she would be in the background, struggling to fight. Wishing she could do anything to help. Alas, she always stood on the sidelines.

Eris creeped up behind her. "You can save them all. You can help make Equus even better than it was before."

"Can't they do it?" She whirled around and sneered up to Eris with hate. "The princesses, the Kings, the Queens?"

She whispered to herself, "Queen Dawn?"

"They can, they do, and I think you and I both know they will." She walked past Kia and stood tall on the hill. "But what if I told you... It's not in this world?"

Kia's face of hate morphed into curiosity. "...what?"

Eris looked back and smiled. "What if I told you they fail, and all of you die? Including someone very important to your friend first? What if I told you something goes wrong, and Narmeelah wins?"

"N-no," Kia stammered. "No, that's impossible. You're lying!"

"Oh, but it is possible. I know, because I've seen it with my own eyes." She faced Kia again. "I told you, I'm a traveler..."

She leaned down and smiled into Kia's face. He mane draped over her face. Her eyes glowed in the shadows they created. "...of sorts."

She straightened back up and walked past Kia again. Her horn illuminated. A bright white light suddenly filled the darkness, forcing Kia to cover her face before it dimmed.

In front of them was a white portal. Filled with an intense light so bright, that she couldn't even open her eyes. Eris, however, stared directly into it. Coming from it was a light wind, blowing through their feathers and manes.

"What if I told you my real name is Eris, Mistress of Time, and that I control the way time flows, and the events that happen within it?"

Kia had no words, except one question. "...time magic?"

"Time magic," Eris confirmed. "It's never been done, or rather, not in this world. Not yet. But it has in other worlds. In other streams of time. Now..."

She faced Kia once more. "What if I told you that the only pony to ever be able to control time was Erikia Torue, the first pony to ever do it, in every last single one of them?"

"I would say..." Kia didn't know what to say. "Wait, Pserateps can't control magic!"

"Oh, yes they can. But not all of them. Narmeelah can. She's a Pseratep." Kia couldn't deny and say that wasn't a good point. "I can teach you, my young star. You can save all of them."

"How do I know you're not lying? That you're making all of this up?"

"Apart from the billions of ponies destined to perish if you don't believe me? Well... I suppose whatever you believe I possibly have to gain by lying. My goal is to protect these worlds and their timelines. Right now, all of that is at stake. If Narmeelah wins, the timeline here will collapse. All of you will die, and everything would have been for nothing. But if you come with me, and learn what I have to teach you, that future will change for the better. I promise."

This choice was a massive one. This isn't like she was offered a scholarship, or approved to join the Arcadian Elite Royal Guard. This was beyond even that. This was... This was saving all of Equus. This was helping billions of ponies get home.

Kia faces Eris. "What do I get out of this? If I go with you..."

Eris extended her hoof in Kia's direction. "You'll finally have a purpose in your life. A future so bright it would have been thought unattainable. Eventually, with time, millions will look to you for guidance. Like the millions did of Narmeelah, without the secrets. You can have your own kingdom, your own world floating among the stars."

"And... We won't have to hurt anyone?"

"Only if deemed necessary, and we've run out of options. We'll control time. There would be no need for violence."

Kia swallowed hard. Never in her life would she have thought something like this would be possible. Seriously, look at her. This small pony from an orphanage, with no other skills but to hold a hammer and nail. She was irrelevant to life here.

But this pony, holding her hoof out to her, was offering her a chance to be more. So much more.

Why shouldn't she take it?

"Will I ever come back?"

Eris chuckled and answered, "I swear to the Infinite Well, it will be like you never left. You'll be back just in time to save them all."

Kia slipped her hoof into Eris'. She allowed herself to be guided to the portal. But before she reached the edge of the ring, she stopped.

"Wait, one more question."

"Yes?"

"...how long will it take? I want to be back in time to do this."

Eris laughed and guided her through the portal before it shut, leaving the hill vacant once more.

"It will take no time at all."

Chapter 35 - Saemool's Words

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This vehicle was massive! Seriously, it towered over every pony and creature here! A behemoth of a pod colored as dark as the night sky. Rainbow couldn't take her eyes off of it.

"Bet my barns back home it's for one of the princesses." Rainbow shifted her sight over to Applejack, watching next to her.

"Yeah," Rainbow agreed. She looked back to the Black Box. "It's definitely not for us. I forgot which vehicle was ours."

"We choose our own. Makes the most sense. We're not part of the security. We're the backup plan."

A mighty yawn coming from behind them attracted their eyes to Rarity walking in their direction.

"Mornin', mare of beauty," Applejack teased.

Rarity shot her a stark expression of disdain before widening her eyes to the Black Box.

"Oh my goodness," she whispered. "What in Equestria is that?"

"We're not in Equestria anymore," Rainbow corrected her. She shared a hoof bump with Applejack.

"What is it?" Rarity repeated, ignoring their slight jab.

"They're transporting Queen Dawn to the battlefield in it," Scootaloo answered. She walked to the three of them with Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, along with Majority Green. Wrapped around her shoulder and encasing her wing was a cast. She was quickly enveloped into a hug by Rainbow Dash. A hug so close, that she could even see through the fur or feathers.

"How are you feeling, Scoots?" She asked worriedly. "Are you hurting anywhere? Do I have to get a doctor to check you out some more?"

"Rainbow, I'm..." She fought her way out of Rainbow's embrace threatening to choke her to death. "I'm fine. It's just a sprain, I'm okay."

A shrill whistle alerted everybody able to hear in its direction. Secretary Manny, standing on the balcony of the tower alongside Captains, Lieutenants, and SERL Executives.

"Soldiers, mount up!!" She ordered. "We're moving out in five minutes!!"

Oh boy, here we go. Soldiers scrambled for the pods, whistles were blown, they took to the walls, the air, the towers. The journey and time for action was officially beginning. Rainbow Dash swallowed and looked down into Scootaloo's eyes and smile. That smile could light up the entire world, even when darkness covered it. Rainbow couldn't help but smile back.

"Where is your post?" She asked her.

Scootaloo slipped out of Rainbow's hooves and stood on her own. "I'm stationed here. I'll be providing security for the project. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

She reached out and gripped Rainbow's hoof. She stared deep into her eyes, pulling Rainbow into her gaze.

"Focus on the mission," she told her. "Get us back home. We're running out of time."

Right. They had a mission to complete. The fight against Narmeelah. The biggest battle in Equus' history, for sure, to decide the fate of everyone here.

Scootaloo looked past Rainbow Dash and watched the rear doors to the rear entrance of the Black Box be unlocked. Black steps were placed there for assistance to the smallest yet one of the most important ponies going to the battle. The Arcadian Elite Royal Guard could simply jump in. But they stood to the side, watching Queen Fresh Dawn approach with her mother by her side all the way to the doors before they stopped and faced each other.

Rainbow followed her eyes. "Ah, that makes more sense."

Twilight handed Dawn her notebook. Then leaned down and placed a soft peck on her head before embracing her.

Once they separated, Dawn turned around, walked up the stairs and into the Black Box, followed by the Arcadian Elite Guard. Then, the doors were slammed shut and locked tightly. Yet, Twilight didn't leave. She remained at the doors, even when the other soldiers gravitated towards their own Pods.

A mother worrying for her child. Celestia knew the look. There must be a storm of thoughts swirling through Twilight's mind. None of them good. She trotted over to Twilight and followed her gaze.

"Remember what we said, Twilight," she said.

"I know," she whispered. "She has to spread her wings." Twilight swallowed, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, they were as hard as steel.

Twilight walked around the Pod and plopped on her helmet. "Let's go. The faster we get to Narmeelah, the faster we can end all of this."

Celestia followed her walk to the pod in front of the Black Box where Odega was waiting. She had her hooves kicked up, watching the starless sky.

"You ready?" She asked.

Arcadia jumped into the ride and put on her helmet. "I've waited decades for this to see the face behind this shaping of history. I'm more than ready."

Arcadia picked up a Comm Block and relayed, "Dawn, copy?"

Inside the darkness of the Black Box, Dawn sat at a console outfitted with an overwhelming count of four screens facing the doors of the vehicle, and the Elite Guard protecting her within.

On her back, the Sword of Arcadia. Her head, a helmet, the rest of her runed down for protection.

"Yes, mother, I copy," she replied. She looked at one screen that had a camera from Serl trained on their line of Pods snaking through the entire city. She switched to another. Then another.

"We're ready when you are, General," Dawn advised.

"Soldiers of Equus," the General replied. "Twenty-Five to Snow. Let's save Equus."

The gears were changed on all pods before the first Pod moved out. Followed by the rest before eventually reaching the Black Box.

The engine roared loud, drowning out the other vehicles. It jolted, almost throwing Dawn out of her station.

"I guess stealth is out the window," First Light assumed.

"Yeah," Dawn agreed. She tapped away on her system, gaining access to the same cameras SERL had. She watched from their point-of-view as they drove across the sand, leading them deeper into the desert.

The ride was tense. With all stations eyeing the sands, the air, and the ground. Their lead vehicle the most observant, save for Arcadia's. She and Odega both knew it would be a matter of time.

They shared a glance before eyeing the road. The wind blew back their manes, sending their feathers flying into the air.

Every few minutes into the ride, Twilight would look back and observe Dawn and Light's security. As ordered. Five pods on both the left and right side. Fully armored. They also had Pserateps, Pegasi, Dragons, and Hippogriffs flying in formation.

She would meet the gaze of Celestia, Luna, and Cadance before turning back around.

"She's not going to disappear," Odega promised.

"I know that." Twilight reached up and plucked off her helmet. Her reflection in its luster glared back. "I just want to look out for her."

"She'll be fine."

"As long as she's under my eye, she will be." Twilight faced the road again.

"She's under all of our eyes, Arcadia. You have to trust us, as we trust you." She laid a gentle hoof on her side, getting her to face her expression of strength once again. "I know it's hard, but you're just as important as Dawn is. You're here to weaken Narmeelah until the weapon fires, then Dawn is here to finish her off. Without you at the front, Dawn's role doesn't matter. The rest of us are your backups. Let us secure both you and her."

She had a point. A point Twilight hated to accept. Stars, it pained ber to admit it to herself. All of these soldiers and creatures, both new and old. They would die for her. This storm of strength, kicking up clouds of dirt behind them. Attracting attention.

Maybe they should slow down.

Twilight raised her Comm Block. "Twilight to SERL."

Dawn's attention swiveled from Twilight's journal to the conversation.

"Go ahead," a response replied.

"Where are we?"

Secretary Manny and several generals converged back on the map. They quickly scribbled, wrote notes, made assessments before Teek answered her question.

"You're two hours out from Snow at your current speed."

"What's the status on those Aquatas?" Dawn also asked.

"Two-thirds, your highness."

Your highness. Heh. That term, put on her daughter. There was a tinge of pride in the back of Twilight's mind at hearing that. It brought back memories of when Dawn was a foal. When they would play princess. She didn't even really understand that she was one.

Things have changed so much. They never should have.

Twilight sighed, closed her eyes, and let the ride lull her to sleep. In the event something showed up, her aura would let her know before any camera would reveal it.

They were coming. Rumbling along the dirt of Equus. She could practically see them. Narmeelah could feel them, among the thousands of Ponies walking beneath this gray storm of violet power. In the center of the ring she sat, listening, feeling, waiting.

But they were coming. The strength of the blowing winds grew, putting a smile on her face.

"Karteen!" She called with her eyes closed. Saemool, standing nearby glanced in her direction.

A small Silver Pseratep zipped into sight before Narmeelah with a large smile on her face. Her mane, violet and short, blew in the breeze. Her large glowing violet eyes spelled innocence.

This one had been nothing but trouble since the day she was created.

"Yes, mother?" She replied innocently.

"There are guests heading this way. Please get them to turn back around."

"Aww, but I LOOOVE guests!" Karteen rose into the air and hivered with her hooves spread. "They bring me such joy!"

Saemool smirked and sighed loudly. "Stars, Karteen," she mumbled.

"Then perhaps you'll enjoy meeting them first," Narmeelah stated. "They're on their way here right now." Narmeelah pointed Northeast. "Greet them before they reach the door."

"Okay, but shouldn't Fer—"

"She's unavailable at the moment. I want you to have the honor of taking her place."

Karteen crossed her hooves and squinted at her, humming. "Well... Okay, but I want full credit, and my own island after this, like the others!"

Narmeelah smiled. "You welcome them all, and I promise you two islands."

"Deal!" Karteen zipped out of Cop quickly, fading in the direction of Snow. There. That should keep them for a while. With that said, Narmeelah closed her eyes and continued focusing on her rune, pulsing with magic. Oblivious to Saemool's disappearance as well.

They've been riding for so long. Certainly they were getting closer. Every thirty minutes or so, Queen Dawn would check in and confirm their location. Indeed, Snow would be upon them soon. But that didn't mean they were safe. If anything, the likelihood of an attack was growing each and every minute.

The passenger Pseratep in the vehicle leading the charge peered through a pair of binoculars. Sure enough...

She raised her Comm Block and reported, "Snow is in sight! Repeat, Snow in sight!"

That woke Twilight up. Her eyes snapped open and she sat up in her seat. She couldn't fully see it with her naked eye, but there was a dot in the distance, growing with every passing second.

Secretary Manny sighed and ordered, "Alright, weapons hot, everyone! We are now in enemy territory!"

"Here we go!" Applejack donned on her helmet with Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and

Twilight stopped listening. She stood in the pod and focused ahead. They were never safe to begin with. Danger could be around any... Corner?

Twilight narrowed her eyes even more than they already were. Something... Something was tickling her Aura.

"All units stop!!!" Arcadia ordered.

The first pod slowed to a complete brake, followed by the second, then the third and soon, all the way to the Black Box until all vehicles were frozen in time.

"What's going on?" Manny requested. She looked to Teek who nodded to her own operatives tapping away on their systems. Nothing seemed odd in Cop or Snow. Business as usual with hypnotized ponies.

"Mom?" Dawn asked. No response. She looked up to her Guard who may share her expression behind their helmets. Unfortunately, their gear didn't give her that kind of luxury.

Twilight hummed, the center of attention. It was still there, tickling at her senses. It was really close. Right on top of them.

Twilight unsheathed her new sword and jumped out of the pod onto the hot sand. She wouldn't need her helmet for this one.

She slowly walked past the other Pods and their occupants, eyeing her confusedly. They were the least of her problems. She made it to the front of the line and stood in front of the very first pod, staring straight ahead.

Celestia raised her Comm Block. "Twilight?"

Twilight swiftly held up her hoof, silencing her. She was working.

"I know you're there!" She shouted. "You may be invisible to the others, but you are not invisible to me!"

A small round of tapping emanated from in front of Twilight's face before the smallest Filly Twilight has ever seen for a fully developed mare shimmer into view, hovering before her very eyes.

"Bravo, Arcadia, bravo indeed!" Karteen congratulated. She circled around her head. "Mother's stories of your power are indeed true and true!"

"Who is that?" Dawn asked.

"No idea," Twilight answered. "Odega? Legends?"

"One of Narmeelah's daughters," Odega answered. "I've never met this one."

"Oh joy, a city's worth of new faces!" Karteen buzzed once more around Arcadia's head before returning back to her original position. "You may call me Karteen!"

Her kindness didn't deter Twilight's defense. "Why are you here?"

"I represent a request from Mother. I am here to tell you that you are forbidden from reaching Snow, kindly."

Celestia and Luna shared a look before both of them jumped out of their pods and trotted to the front for Twilight's side.

"I'm afraid we're not here to ask," Twilight stated. She shuffled closer to Karteen. "Step aside."

"I can't do that," Karteen replied. She righted herself and grew to the size of a normal Pseratep until her hooves were on the ground. She was about as tall as Dawn, if not just a shy smaller. She had to crank her head back to meet Arcadia, Luna and Celestia when they finally arrived.

"Is it because you don't want to, or because Narmeelah said so?"

"I believe you know the answer, Arcadia Nova."

Twilight narrowed her eyes. Karteen didn't lose her smile. Their silence was filled with the blowing winds, tossing sand into their eyes.

"Mom, is she a threat, or not?" First Light asked.

"I'm not sure," Arcadia answered honestly. This one was tricky. She seemed kind, but so did Narmeelah. This was another one of her daughters.

They didn't have time for this. First Light sighed into her hoof.

"Soldiers of Equus," she spoke exhaustedly. "Aim, do not fire."

Immediately, all armed soldiers raised their weapons, cocked, charged, and aimed directly at Karteen. One rifle slid in so close to Rarity's ear she froze up.

Karteen found herself staring into the barrels and blades of thousands. Yet, she did not move.

"Whoa, hold your fire!!" Celestia shouted. She faced their army and held up her hooves desperately. "Every creature stop! Stop!"

"Celestia, we do not have time for this," Dawn growled.

"I know, I know, just...!" She faced Karteen. "Look, we don't want to hurt you. But I'm sure you can understand how desperate we are."

"I have my orders, Princesses." Karteen grew taller, soon towering over Arcadia with a wingspan and larger than her own. She was older now, with a complexion more ancient than Odega's. Now they were the ones looking up to her.

"You shall not pass," she spoke in a more mature voice.

It was a standoff. IHT aiming at Karteen, whose body began to illuminate with a dark green hue. They glared into each other's eyes. Hooves and claws on triggers twitching for movement.

"Enough!!"

The shout didn't come from any of them, but behind Karteen, who straightened up and shifted out of the way.

"Is that who I think it is?" Manny asked over the comm blocks.

"It sure looks like it," Dawn answered.

There was no mistaking it. Off-green coat, light blue mane, green and blue feathers in her wings.

"Saemool?" Karteen asked.

Saemool trotted next to Karteen, but kept her eyes on the army before them.

"Return to Equestria, Karteen," Saemool ordered. "Retrieve Shaoloh, and go to Earth. This isn't our fight."

"What?" Karteen swiftly shrunk back down to the floating filly and hovered between Saemool and Arcadia. "But, mom said—"

"I know what mom told you. But like I said, this isn't our fight. We never agreed to be in the middle of this. Trust me, Karteen. I'll deal with mom."

"But... But my island!!"

Saemool chuckled and stroked her hoof through Karteen's mane. "If you go, I'll give you an entire continent."

Karteen thought for a moment, gaze shifting between the army and Shaoloh before pouting and crossing her hooves.

"Ohhh, fine! But there has to be a lot of beaches!" She relented before teleporting away in a green snap. Leaving them with Saemool.

Saemool bowed before Arcadia, taking her aback. "Greetings, Queen Arcadia."

"Oh, uhhh..." Twilight bowed back but just as swiftly rose. "Your majesty."

"Please excuse my sisters." Saemool rose back up. "I can't keep them all away from danger as I'd like. I've failed Shaoloh, I've failed Ferilia, and I've probably failed the others. But I refuse to fail the youngest."

"You said Earth earlier. I've been there before. Twice, actually."

Saemool chortled. "We're gods, Arcadia. We don't need technology to travel to different worlds."

She looked to the rest of the army. "I will not hold you up any longer. We are all in a tight window."

Before she could turn around, Arcadia quickly asked, "Do you know how Narmeelah plans to power the rune?"

"Mother never tells us her plans. That's why she will fail in this one."

Dawn's non-existent heart leaped in her chest.

"So, we will win?" Celestia assumed.

Saemool walked out from their path towards the empty desert and spread her wings. "I said Mother will fail in her plans, I never said that you will succeed in yours."

That leaping heart stopped jumping and froze in place. Arcadia shared concerning looks with Celestia and Luna before Saemool spoke once more.

"Want some advice?"

"It would be well heeded," Luna replied.

"Do not let Narmeelah get to you. She will do all she can to break you." Saemool narrowed her eyes and locked back on Celestia. "Do not let her magic control you, and you will win."

She looked to the Black Box. "Good luck, Daughters of Arcadia. To split successfully and easily, you must undue the spell within Vendulla."

In Vendulla?! Before Dawn could say that would surely kill them both, Saemool beat them to it.

"Vendulla won't hurt you. You're both magic, not full matter. You will survive, I promise." She looked back to Arcadia. "Good luck, and remember what I said: do not give up. She will hurt you, break you, almost kill you. But do not give up."

She looked back to the Black Box. "Whenever you need me the most, all you need do is call. I will come. I have a feeling, Princess First Light, that you and I will see each other again. Until then."

She finally flapped into the air, fading into the dark colored clouds that plagued their lands, and leaving them free to continue.

Once it off sight and sound, Twilight turned around and walked back to her own Pod with Luna and Celestia. "Let's continue."

"Mom. About what Saemool said..."

"I don't know, Dawn." She sheathed her sword and jumped back in her pod. "All I know is that Vendulla is negative space and that First Light can travel through it. But I was never able to do full research on that place. Take her words with a grain of salt. Vendulla is still dangerous."

Dawn wasn't so sure. Like Mom said, they knew nothing about that place. But if it could help them somehow, they had nothing to lose but time. She would mull over the decision later. Snow was up ahead, less than thirty minutes away.

"Continue to snow," Dawn ordered.

Chapter 36 - The Gates of Snow

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She knew it. Narmeelah knew Saemool would disappear. It was only a matter of time. However, she was surprised most of all to see and feel both Shaoloh and Karteen go with her.

Narmeelah sighed with disdain. Now, she had to rethink her plan. At this point, she was stalling. Now seemed like the perfect time for direct intervention.

Narmeelah stood from her position within her Central Rune, glowing with magic and power, centered in the middle of Psera among the thousands of mindless ponies waiting for her command.

"Rise, my Pserateps!!" She ordered. Her hoof was raised, pointing North. "To Snow!"

All at once, the Pserateps that could fly rose from the ground. The morning sky turned dark with their silhouettes soaring through Psera's airspace for the exact same location Equus' soldiers were heading.

Narmeelah's expression soured. All of her children were slowly leaving, abandoning the mission. They all knew why they were doing this. It had to be done.

She couldn't win.

No matter. Narmeelah will stop them herself.

Through a combustion of light and stars, Narmeelah disappeared, leaving the citizens of Psera to meet Equus' army at the gates of Snow.

The battle would begin soon. Very soon.

The ride was growing tiresome. Nothing was changing. This is what it must've been like to be in the military all the time. To train and have nothing to fight against. Just wait, wait, and wait some more.

Dawn couldn't understand how any of the soldiers here were able to keep their eyes open. She certainly caught herself nodding her head back a few times.

"How close are we?" First Light asked.

Dawn lazily pulled up the map on her system and identified their location. What she saw brought her relief.

"Four miles out," she reported. "It's about time."

Just them, an alarm rang out from her Comm Block.

"Base to Convoy, hold your position!"

"So close, yet, so far."

All pods slowed to a stop, waking up Twilight and every other soldier that was not driving.

Queen Dawn answered the call. "Situation Report."

Serl's tower scrambled from device to device around Manny and her Generals back in SERL. The alarm was already raised. Beyond the windows, the soldiers of Serl positioned themselves along the wall.

"We're tracking activity all over Psera, your highness," Manny explained. Her focus flipped from one monitor to another. All over the screens, Pserateps were rising from their places and taking to the sky. "There's a lot of it."

Arcadia disembarked the pod and patched into the conversation. "What's happening?"

Secretary Manny looked to Teek. "Direction!!" She shouted over the chaos.

"Northeast!" Teek shouted back. "They're heading for Snow!"

"They're leaving current positions and converging in Snow!" Manny repeated.

Snow? Then... Arcadia snatched a pair of binoculars from a nearby soldier and pointed them in the direction of the city-state they were approaching. She could make out the damage in the city. The collapsed buildings, the roads they couldn't travel due to fallen barriers.

That location was crawling with these ponies.

"I need advice," Dawn called out.

"I propose we stay put," Manny suggested. "Until these ponies calm down."

"I agree," Queen Novo replied. "We have to watch and predict their movements."

"As do I," Celestia admitted.

"I disagree," Twilight said. She looked back to their faces. "If we stay put, we're sitting ducks in a den of timberwolves. We have to take cover."

"But the only place to hide is in Snow," Lord Ember dumbly stated. "In case you haven't been following, they're heading in this direction right now."

"Good." She turned back to the destruction of Snow. "Because now we'll know where they all are. They're in one location, leaving the Central Rune and Narmeelah completely unprotected. That gives us a chance to sneak closer."

"She's right," Celestia agreed. "We take shelter among the wreckage and await their arrival."

"But that means... We'll be leaving the Black Box behind," Dawn stated.

Arcadia shared a look with Luna, Celestia, and Cadance.

"We'll protect her," Cadance promised her.

"Thirty, no, forty Elite plus the ten inside the black box," Manny promised.

Arcadia looked back to the Black Box then Snow. Back, and forth.

"It's not like I have a choice in the matter," she muttered. Although, she would love for there to be one. As a matter of fact, there was one: Dawn doesn't engage at all. But it's already been decided that she would.

"We'll take cover in the destruction," she declared. "Prepare the Acting Queen for extraction, but do not extract until given the go ahead. Your call, command."

Secretary Manny turned to her Force Guard and Elite Guard Generals. "Depart convoys, put them on hooves."

"Looks like we're walking."

Dawn stood up with the rest of the Elite when the door was opened. A full unit was already there waiting for her when she jumped out, including Celestia and Cadance. With the rest of Psera and Equus behind her, she trotted up to the front of her line, where her mother waited, peering through a pair of binoculars.

She pointed ahead. "There's just enough room for us to crawl into the city. Stay close to your guards and the others."

Dawn did as instructed. She kept her head low, beneath the shadows of the guards as they ran across the dirt in the direction of the derelict buildings.

Twilight cast careful glances to the sky. It was a race, first one there to gain the upper hoof. They were almost there. So close... So close...

Twilight rushed forward and gestured the guards escorting Dawn towards a wide dark gap in all the damage.

"Go! Go!" She shouted.

They quickly rushed the Queen inside, shielding her from even the view of Celestia's sun.

"I need a clear space!" Dawn suddenly said.

"What?!" Twilight asked.

"We need a space to split!" Dawn explained. She slid beneath a beam and crawled over another.

"Dawn, you splitting isn't the priority, you know that!"

"Mom, I have a feeling that us splitting is going to throw Narmeelah off." Dawn stopped their progression and faced her mother.

"Queen Dawn, we have to keep moving," Cadance advised.

"We will, but I want to make this clear. We are going to split off, and we are going to split off before any of us gets hurt. We will use Light and Dark against Narmeelah and her, and we will make her fall!"

Her words stunned her small audience before she turned around and continued forward, including her mother.

"Keep moving," Arcadia ordered. Their horde of marched around her. But her sights never left her daughter's form.

"Oh, Madun," she whispered to herself. "I wish you could see the grown mare our little filly has become."

Arcadia took one more moment to herself before continuing behind the others. They had a fight to get to.

Their journey through the damage was a quiet and tense one. Filled with only the scuffling of hooves and weapons. They carried the hundreds of disintegrators from Twilight's lab along with their own weapons. Keeping their eyes and ears open the entire time for any movement.

Arcadia was at the front followed closely by the Princesses and a thick wall of soldiers protecting Queen Dawn and Princess Flurry Heart, followed by the Legends of Psera, the Creatures of Tartarus, and the Elements of Harmony. They were closely watched by the command team back at Serl, standing by with the Cleansing Project.

Dawn looked down to Flurry's hooves. They were wrapped in slightly bloody bandages. "How are your hooves?" She whispered.

Flurry shot her head head in her direction then looked down. "Oh, you know. Stings every now and again."

"We need to change your bandages." Dawn insisted.

"I can hold out a little longer," Flurry insisted. "We need to get ahead of Narmeelah's army."

Dawn didn't like it. Those could cause further injury. She's been doing well so far, but it could catch up with her.

For minutes they patrolled through Snow, crawling through the damage and eyeing the windows until Twilight's movements stopped. She raised her hoof, ceasing their movement.

"Hold," one pony commanded through their Comm Block.

Twilight's ears twitched. Moving shifting in place. Slowly, her head lifted up to the canopy of destruction above them. Where metal beams and other materials created the ceiling keeping them from sight.

She could feel them, a single pony above them. There was no report that any of their soldiers would be taking the level above. That means this pony wasn't theirs.

Twilight silently unsheathed her sword.

"Arcadia?" Celestia whispered.

"We're not alone," Twilight reported. "Protect Dawn."

Dawn silently raised her comm block. "Command, do you see any movement?"

"That's the thing, your highness," Teek replied. She stared dumbly at all of the screens around the room. "They've all stopped."

"They've surrounded your current position," Secretary Manny reported in. She turned back to her Admiral. "Where's that Aquata?"

"Within firing range, ma'am."

Manny turned back to the conversation. "The Aquata has also arrived, your highness."

Good! Backup's here! Dawn silently cheered. That was no longer an issue. Now they just had to worry about when to use it.

Arcadia looked back. "Stay here," she ordered. "I'll signal when it's clear."

"No need, Arcadia Nova."

That voice. That familiar voice. Flurry pushed her way to the front to see if the one who spoke was who she thought it was. She gasped upon recognition.

"Mimi?!"

Mimi sat in the middle of their path. A single spotlight from a hole in the ceiling above cast over her eerie figure. She was calm and collected, as if the downfall of society didn't at all faze her. Her expression emotionless. Posture upright. A standard pony. Or so she seemed. Arcadia knew otherwise. She could feel the energy flowing off of her. The power emanating onto her horn, gifting her with a headache.

Twilight narrowed her eyes while Celestia approached.

"When did you get here?" She asked. "

Without taking her eyes off of her opponent, Twilight asked, "You know her?"

"She assisted us during Psera and IHT's cold war."

Well, that makes things interesting. Twilight turned back to Mimi. "So. You finally decided to leave your throne of solitude."

"As if there was a choice," Mimi answered. She stood and turned around. "We both knew that I knew you were coming. We've had this conversation already."

Flurry Heart pushed her way up to the front. "Are you going to help us fight?"

"No, she won't," Twilight answered.

"She's right." Mimi spread her wings and floated into the air. She rotated around, revealing her eyes filled with stars and a sneaky smile. "I'm not here to help any of you."

Dawn narrowed her gaze. Mimi's body broke down into luminescent stars and gasses, illuminating the destruction around them that combined back into a much larger figure. Her coat was light green, wings as wide as Twilight's, eyes colored as blue as the deepest ocean, and a long orange-red mane. She was taller than a dragon, stronger than any of them. Dawn could feel the magic flowing from her. A hurricane of essence blowing through the air that scratched and itched at her horn.

Odega bounced forward and shielded Dawn. "Narmeelah," she growled.

Celestia gulped, Luna backed away slightly, and the army took up their formation. Cadance shared a worrying look with Flurry Heart.

Rainbow Dash leaned over to Applejack. "That's Twilight's great great grandmother?"

"Older than that, I'm afraid," Applejack replied.

Twilight took up a defensive stance. "Narmeelah, I take it."

"I was tired of these mental gymnastics," Narmeelah replied. "Strategy after strategy to be ahead of the other. It's about time we met face to face. Don't you think?" She raised her right hoof. Her wings began glowing. The rocks from the destruction detached themselves and turned to dust. It flowed through the air and behind Narmeelah, forming into a walkway that lead into the air.

She walked onto the path and smirked over her shoulder. "Come now, Twilight Sparkle. Let's talk."

Chapter 37 - Action In Snow (Interlude)

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Arcadia followed Narmeelah higher and higher into Psera's darkened skies, filled with the violet of her own power. They seemed to be in the middle of a hurricane, with wind blowing to and fro, whipping her mane back and forth. It wasn't enough to distract her from the real problem at hoof.

Narmeelah, walking ahead of her, using her magic to build a stairwell out of the rubble of Psera to the sky above it all. She could make out all of Snow from here. The destruction of her home seemed endless. Stars above, how would they get over this?

"I do not believe you know the entire story of Psera, Arcadia Nova." Narmeelah turned around at a step and faced her nubile granddaughter.

"I feel I know what would be considered important to know," Arcadia replied.

"Oh, but the most important part of the story is the one that is never shared." Narmeelah extended the bridge higher and higher into the sky, with them on it. Certainly the highest Twilight's ever been. She could see the entirety of Psera up here. The entire rune that Narmeelah drew up, she could make out its shape.

"Then please share this tale with the rest of the class," Arcadia insisted.

"Oh, I plan—"

"Actually..."

A large beam of magic, spewed forth from Arcadia's horn slamming into Narmeelah and launching her off the platform.

In a flash Narmeelah teleported behind Arcadia, nonplussed and unamused. She hovered in the thundering, darkened skies, watching as Arcadia turned around and faced her with hatred.

"We've already done enough talking," Arcadia said. "You've played your hooves hundreds of times while millions have suffered because of them."

Narmeelah said nothing, continuing to hover before the eyes of Equus' army, Arcadia, and the eyes watching the cameras.

"So," she finally spoke. "You wish to die first then."

"The only thing I wish for..." Arcadia used her magic to pull her blade from its sheathe. "Is for your manipulation and reign over Equus to end. We deserve our freedom from you and today, we will have it."

Narmeelah flared open her wings, aglow with power. "Then you will die trying!!"

The platform Arcadia stood upon illuminated with runes, runes she immediately recognized and teleported away from before they combusted, igniting the sky with dirt, fire and debris.

"Mom!!" Dawn shouted.

Secretary Manny's Voice shouted over the comms. "Get the Queen to safety now!"

"Move! Move! Move!" With Dawn in between them, the Elite Guard quickly began their mission. The army ran through the tunnel, beneath the fight through the cracks above.

A large violet beam shot from the smoke towards Narmeelah. A mere raise of her hoof curved Arcadia's magic around and into a nearby tilted building, igniting it.

A thunderous explosion shook the ground, almost knocking the running ponies to the ground.

"Oh, Arcadia." Narmeelah combusted into a mass of stars when Arcadia teleported behind her and swung her sword upon where she stood. The blade passed through harmlessly.

"You truly believe you'll be the hero the world needs you to be."

"I don't need to be a hero." Arcadia teleported when Narmeelah swiped at her with sharpened wing feathers, and reappeared behind her, facing the back of her head.

"I just need to buy time." She fired once again into Narmeelah's back, seemingly her weakness.

"Ugh!" Narmeelah was propelled from the sky towards the ground once again. This time however, the impact lifted a cloud of dust, forcing Dawn to cover her face.

Arcadia looked to the sky in the distance, to the thousands of dots heading in their direction.

"Her army," Arcadia whispered to herself. She quickly lifted her Comm Block. "Here they come in the distance! Warm up the—!"

A large tube of rock suddenly shot up from the ground and slammed into Arcadia from the dirt. Thinking quickly, she teleported away before she'd find herself in between a rock and a hard place when it smashed into the remains of a tower she hovered in front of. The impact was enough to blow straight through the building and out the back, raining dirt and debris onto the ground.

"Look out!" Rainbow Dash zipped forward and swept a few soldiers to the side before they would find themselves beneath an H-beam.

"Oh yes, your dear project." Narmeelah floated from the smoke with her hooves out. Dust and dirt lifted from the ground, gathering around them.

Dawn tracked the cloud with her eyes, eating away their cover until they were exposed. They could make out the army from the ground, breaching Snow's skyline. Narmeelah was too entranced by her fight with Arcadia to notice them. They kept moving.

The dust gathered and compressed into hundreds of individual spikes, aiming at Arcadia.

"I know all about it," Narmeelah iterated.

"How surprising." Arcadia crossed her hooves and spread her wings. A large rune formed between her and the building she hovered in front of.

The spikes spewed forth, with a destination for the pony Narmeelah now called her enemy. Arcadia swung the rune around and held it before her like a shield. The spikes disappeared inside, then she rotated the rune around and fired them back.

They passed through Narmeelah harmlessly.

"I'm impressed, Arcadia," Narmeelah admitted. "Not many even know of Pelothian Magic. I'm surprised you know how to use it."

"Then perhaps you don't really know what I can do after all."

"Perhaps. But it's nothing I haven't seen before. You'll still suffer this day, and watch as this world burns."

Narmeelah glowed a bright gold, a single star in the sky Arcadia prepared herself for. She winced, glancing down to the wound in her chest that still hasn't healed. It seemed Narmeelah's magic not only creates, but destroys as well. It ate away at her essence, the magic that brought Arcadia back to life. Unable to be replaced in its usual timely manner. She'd have to be careful.

It was good she had a backup plan.

Narmeelah hovered there in a suit of her own, striking similarities with Celestia's. Helmet, wing guards, full armor. Complete with a steel blade sparkling with diamonds, a stark level above Arcadia's own.

"You have a plan in motion, same as I." Narmeelah lowered her mouth guard to protect her face. Arcadia could see herself. Facing down her final enemy.

She positioned herself. Magic ready and sword unsheathed, posed for battle.

"I know all about your plan," Arcadia replied.

"Not everything. But you are really close, I'll give you that much." She looked to the army taking up positions on the ground. "Why don't we take this somewhere more... Private?"

In a flash, Arcadia and Narmeelah teleported all the way from Snow to the Center of Cop, facing each other on opposite sides of the rune. It was large, the battleground dark, flashing with violet lightning from the clouds above. Surely it would rain soon, and mix with the blood of the fallen within the hour.

Dawn raised her hoof and called into the Comm Block, "Mom!... Arcadia!"

"Your mother will be fine, Queen Dawn!" Celestia shouted.

Luna pointed to the cloudy sky, flashing with Violet lightning and filled with high winds, whipping at their manes and tails.

"I can't say the same for us!" She shouted.

The Pserateps, the ones whose eyes were filled with stars and minds overtaken by Narmeelah's magic. They were aiming for Snow. An entire army shooting their way down onto them. The sky darkened with their silhouettes, mixing with the torrential rain pelting them from high above.

They were here.

Dawn raised her Comm Block and continued running forward with her escorts. "Psera! IHT! Prepare yourselves! Today, we take back our home!"

Twilight Daylight: Dawn of Equus

by thedarktome

Prologue

Chapter 01 - What Is Home?

Chapter 02 - Home Isn't What It Used To Be

Chapter 03 - Hot Stop

Chapter 04 - Runes; Trial of Arcadia

Chapter 05 - Exile

Chapter 06 - Crash Landing

Chapter 07 - Fail Peace, Fail Magic

Chapter 08 - Resist

Chapter 09 - Debrief

Chapter 10 - Before The Thunder...

Chapter 11 - ...There Must Be Lightning

Chapter 12 - Boom

Chapter 13 - Boom, IHT

Chapter 14 - Aftermath Of Relinquishment

Chapter 15 - Align With Fate

Chapter 16 - To Synchronize...

Chapter 17 - ...With Fate

Chapter 18 - Hello, Truth

Chapter 19 - To Pursue Darkness...

Chapter 20 - Wait In The Shadows

Chapter 21 - Superspell

Chapter 22 - The Return of Arcadia

Chapter 23 - Heading To Serl (Intermission)

Chapter 24 - The Need For Harmony

Chapter 25 - The Wells Pt. 1

Chapter 26 - The Wells Pt. 2

Chapter 27 - The Reason

Chapter 28 - Her Beginning

Chapter 29 - Site 4

Chapter 30 - Arcadia vs. The Old Guard

Chapter 31 - The Final Switch

Chapter 32 - The Crow and The Phoenix

Chapter 33 - Planning Session

Chapter 34 - Eris

Chapter 35 - Saemool's Words

Chapter 36 - The Gates of Snow

Chapter 37 - Action In Snow (Interlude)