Happiness deserves to die

Titan walks out onto the balcony of the pagoda, gripping his goldne hands along the railing while his red eyes looked out over the town of Horn Kong. As he breathe in the scent of the town, the fumes of the furnaces below mixing in with the aromas of perfumes from the rest of the city, the general took the time to appreciate the quiet of their new base. Far from the sounds of rape, torture, and other horrors from the main base,the secondary base offered a strange sense of serenity and calm for Titan. A small scream of pain directed his red eyes to the furnaces below, reminding him that not all was calm at the base. While not the screams of torture, the base did have the screams of slaves as they were forced to work for them.

His red eyes gazed upon a small group of children as they brought stone and steel to the adults who were busy forging the swords, crossbows, and various other weapons that were important to the war effort. He put a finger to his chin and let out a humm of admiration for his superior. While this was not his style of warfare, there was a certain benefit from launching all out war and taking the territories. The victories that they had been winning against his old enemies brought a satisfied grin to his hidden face.

Turning away from the railing, he began to walk down the halls of the base. His quiet reflection was quickly shattered by a loud yell and slamming of a robotic hand against the wall,"Of all the stupid, foolish, mind-bogglingly moronic-"

"Hello, friend Fratello," Titan said with a bow, his left palm over his right fist. "And what bothers you?"

"What troubles me? I'll tell you what's troubling me!" growled Fratello, his voice reverbing thanks to the metal helmet. "Here we are, having closed off Equestria's northern borders and separating this stupid country from it closest ally and we are not taking advantage of it! he Crystal Empire is right there, waiting for us to assault it and we are not taking advantage of it. No, we are stuck here supervising the attacks and leading small scale assaults. Do you know what our 'great leader' has planned for us tomorrow? To assault a small no name port town, and in two weeks, another assault on a major city, isn't that fun!"

"I can understand your rage," nodded Titan. "I myself find rage within our commander's actions. My three most trusted lieutenants have been on several sorties by now, and I have been only crafting new weapons and spells for our army. Did you know that Raven will be sent out on her first assault soon? It is indeed an infuriating time for the both of us."

Fratello scoffed, "And what is our great leader doing right now? Either busy screwing his whore or crafting new plans with that mysterious benefactor. Benching his two strongest soldiers, how insane is that!"

"Our leader doth work in mysterious ways. Even if those ways have proven most...effective," Titan smiled and looked out of the window. "Look out there, in but a few weeks he has accomplished more than either one of us has in a year. Me, I would've sat back and sent monster after monster at the ponies until I had to step in myself to destroy them."

"Hmph, I know, I followed the same insipid strategy as well," Fratello said, crossing his arm and leaning against the window and looking down at the courtyard. "And yet, Conquest pulls off a full out war, and wins."

"That is not all his unpredictability has done for us. Weapons, land, and resources have become readily available to us. What's more," Titan smiled as he looked down at the courtyard and watched as an unicorn and a pegasus began to duel. The blue pegasus taking flight and striking against the green unicorn's shield. Across from them, two earth ponies began to spar with staffs while two mares sat on a bench to drink water while waiting their turn, "He has driven the ponies of Equestria to our side. Those who have not been turned into slaves have enlisted to carry our banner high. Either out of hatred for Grand Ruler or of the princesses for letting their world coming to this point. Even better," Titan laughed, watching as a winged unicorn began to use a blade and then turn it into a blaster, "Grand Ruler's perfect unicorns have also defected to our side."

Fratello sat on the window sill, letting his red cape lay over his lap while sitting his legs across themselves, "It is a shame that he wastes all of this power."

"You want more?" asked Titan, raising an eyebrow.

"What I want," Fratello said, getting off the window sill and began to slowly squeeze his metal gauntlet, "Is for Shining Armor's body to be crucified on a cross outside his crystal empire. I want Cadence's coat to adorn the back of my throne while her still alive head is impaled on a pike outside of the empire just so she can watch as it burns."

Titan closed his eyes and chuckled, nodding slowly. Then, with a smile hidden underneath his hood, he said, "What if I told you that you can have your wish?"

"What do you mean?" asked Fratello.

"Think about, below Conquest and his obscure ally, you and I are the most powerful soldiers in his arsenal. So, why hold us back? Answer-because he is testing us. He wants us to go out on our own and make assaults on our own. We are meant to launch our attacks."

"Why?" asked fratello.

Titan walked away from the window and put a hand to his chin, "Why indeed? It's simple, actually. What good are we as generals if we cannot come up with our own plans and wait for Conquest to give us our strategies? What good are we if we cannot come up with plans on our own? He wants us to prove ourselves on the field of battle, and he wants us to show autonomy in our battle."

Fratello stood silent for a moment, his metal hand caressing his chin as he stared at the ground, before narrowing his eyes and smiling cunningly. He gave a chuckle before he rose his metal helmet and gave out a boisterous laugh, "You are right! It's a brilliant way to test our skills, and to see how we handle ourselves on the field." Furling his cape, he turned around and began to walk down the hall, "I shall bring a contingent of our best soldiers and attack the-"

"No," Titan said, putting his hand onto Fratello's shoulder, "Go alone. Have you not always said that you possess enough power to wipe out an entire city? Do it, and prove your might to Conquest."

Fratello chuckled as he nodded, "Right, I will." as he walked away, he looked over his shoulder at Titan, "Farewell Titan, I shalt bring back victory for our side and the heads of the ruling family by tomorrow evening!"

"On the morrow then," Titan said with a bow, before snapping his fingers. As he did, a flash of light appeared before his eyes, revealing a board with ten black and white stones dotting its surface. At the moment, the black stones outnumbered the white stones, 8-2, "And now, we shall see where this next move goes. Shall White gain its first win, or will black dominate it all. Oh, Fratello, let's see what you will give our friends," he said, pulling out a black stone and laying it on a point on the board.

---

"...And that, empress, is why I think a tax free weekend should be enforced on the week before school starts," said the light blue crystal pony, showing her charts and graphs.

Sitting on her throne, the pink alicorn gave out a sigh as she felt her eyes slowly begin to droop. A calm nudging from one of the crystal guards made Cadence wake up and eat a berry, "T-thank you, Spackle dust, I will take it into consideration," she said, adjusting her blonde and pink mane. "If there are no more petitioners today, I would like to call it a day." and then she walked off her throne and out of the room.

The guard quickly began to follow her out, looking at her as she walked, "My empress, are you alright? You have been tired all morning, and you barely paid attention to the visiting school children."

Cadence let out a mournful sigh and looked to her guard, "I'm sorry, Gilded Steel, it's just that-"

"It's about Celestia and Equestria, isn't it?" Shining Armor asked, stepping from the next room and walking to stand next to his wife.

"Yes, it is," Cadence whimpered, shaking her head a little. "It's just so hard for me to focus on my duties when I know that my aunt's kingdom is under siege and I can do nothing to help! Everytime we try to send medical help, it's quickly shot down by the armies of Dark Conquest. If I try to offer military aide, it's quickly ignored because Grand Numbskull says that he wants us to keep us in reserve. But I know the real reason, he believes us to be weak because I train my soldiers to fight with a little sense of compassion and equanimity. He just wants blood and his enemies dead, and to push his beloved Starfleet above all else. Like they are the only capable fighters in the land. HE treats us like jokes because of our compassion."

"I know, I know," Shining Armor sighed, looking down, "I keep looking at my new recruits and they all ready for a fight, but I have to be the one to tell them that they aren't needed. It's especially heart breaking since much of our forces come from Equestria and many of them have families back in Equestria. We can't even get mail to see if they are ok. The only thing that we get anymore from Equestria is refugees or other ponies."

Cadence sighed and then leaned on Shining Armor's shoulder. She whimpered and cried a little into her husband's shoulder as he rubbed her back, "OH Shining, Ii-I just wish there was something we could do."

"I know," Shining Armor said, running his hand along Cadence's back, letting his fingers run through her feathers on her wings, "IT's just like how I wished I could've helped Twilight. But, right now, all we can do is-"

"The empire's burning!" shouted a guard.

"What?" Cadence shouted as she ran to the window,only to pull back in horror as she looked at the city scape. The normally vibrant colors of the aurora borealis was now tinged a deadly orange from the flames that arose from the buildings. Shaking her head in fear, she whispered, "Who could've done this?"

"Reports have been coming in of a stallion in a grey metal suit laying waste to the city," the guard said, looking down as he growled, "And we can barely touch him."

"Fratello," Shining Armor said. Looking at his guards, he shouted, "Get our most elite soldiers and meet me at the-"

"Belay that order!" Cadence said, opening the window and narrowing her eyes in a mix of determination and sorrow.

"Cadence, what are you...no, Cadence please don't do this," Shining Armor said, stepping forward reaching his hand out for her.

Cadence took her husband's hand in hers and held it tightly, "Shining Armor, I have to. It's my duty as princess to protect my ponies, and he's my brother. I have to stop him."

"Cadence, my love song, please don't. I-I-I couldn't deal with the loss of Twilight, there's no way I could live with myself if you were to die," Shining Armor said, tears rolling down his white cheeks.

Cadence lovingly rubbed the side of Shining's face before kissing him deeply, "Shining, my white knight, you won't lose me. I promise I will come back. We will come back." and then she turned away from her lover and opened the window. Spreading her wings wide, she flew out towards the fire, leaving Shining Armor to stand alone.

Taking a deep breath, Shining looked to his lieutenant, "Get your soldier and have them cordin off the area where Fratello is attacking. I want to limit civilian casualties as much as possible. We may not be able to fight on Cadence's level, be we can be sure that we can limit her distractions."

At the center of the city, Fratello held an unicorn from unicornia in his hand. Slowly he began to tighten his metal gauntlet around the stallion's throat, "It's a shame that you unicornians die so easily, I would actually gain some satisfaction from this massacre," the metal stallion said, the emotion gone from his voice. He let out a grunt of pain when he was hit hard by a crystal mare, "Ooof! And what do we have here then?"

"Let him go you bastard!" screamed the mare as she began to kick and punch at Fratello's body.

"Now, why would you care, you are an Crystal pony and he-"

The mare looked up defiantly into his red eye and growled, "Because I Love him!"

"Oh, and do you return her love?" questioned Fratello, to which the unicorn nodded.

"Y-yes, we were to be married son. No on wa going to know," the stallion said, watching as Fratello lifted his fiancee's into the air.

"How sweet. Such love needs to be rewarded," chuckled Fratello as he aim them both at a pair of jutted crystal spiked. He smiled cruelly as he watched the two lovers hold each other's hands as they hovered, "I'll make sure you die together."

As he threw the two ponies at the pointed spikes, they were caught in a pink aura and set down safely. Landing in front of them, Cadence looked at her subject with a soft smile, "You two are safe now. Go, run for shelter." as they did as they were told, Cadence looked to her brother.

"Ah, Cadence, glad to see you remove yourself from your brother's lap long enough to save your own people. Or, has his dick finally become unsatisfying for you, and now you just want an excuse to get away from him?" laughed Fratello as he made his hands glow black.

Cadence lowered her head and shook it sadly, "Fratello, please, surrender," she said, looking back up with a pleading look in her eyes, "No good can come from us fighting again."

"Oh, but that is where you are mistaken, 'sister'," he hissed that last word as if it poisoned him. "I rest easier, now that this world will no longer have you in it!" he growled, firing a fireball at Cadence.

Stepping to the side with a gasp, Cadence erected a crystal wall to catch the fireball. Then she flew to the sky, erecting a light barrier around the two back onto the ground, she smiled, "There, now no one has to get hurt."

"Except you, 'sister'," hissed Fratello as he fired three more bolts of black flame at Cadence. The pink alicorn ran at the fire, bobbing to the left and right as she dodged each attack. While she ran, her arms shot straight out and began to summon crystal spikes that stabbed at Fratello. The metal stallion barely had time to move as he jumped to the left, getting hit by the second spike and getting a gash in his armor. Before he could scream in pain, the third spike hit his face plate.

The hit made Fratello spin to the ground. Shaking the hit off, he generated a lighting bolt in his hand and threw it at Cadence. In response, she erected a giant crystal spire that directed the lighting to its tip. This caused Fratello to back up in surprise at the princess's ingenuity. Cadence smirked in confidence as she summoned three crystal daggers and sent them flying out at Fratello, who caught them in his telekinesis. With a wave of his hand, he sent the daggers flying out towards the pink alicorn, cutting into her arms and thighs.

As the blades cut deep into her skin, making little rivulets of blood streak down the side, she had enough time to scream in pain as a fire ball hit her in the face and sent her staggering back a little. Panting a little from the hits, she looked up in shock as a shadow loomed over her. With only a split-second of timing, she leapt to the side and fired a prismatic bolt of energy at Fratello, sending him crashing back to the ground. As he got up, he dodged several more bolts of mage from Cadence as she charged at him, getting closer to him. The metal monster smiled, "Face it sister, you have no chance to defeat me like this. You lack the warrior's edge." mocked Fratello as he drove a punch at Cadence.

"I know," smiled Cadence as she grabbed his punch by the wrist, and pulled it down to her side. Then she wrapped her arms over his shoulders and pulled him into a tight embrace, "Because I don't need it."

Chuckling, Fratello smiled, "And what is this supposed to be-Ahhhhhh!" he screamed as he felt lighting begin to crackle along his body, stiking along his metal frame. Each pink bolt of lighting struck his hode with the force of a punch, "What are you doing to meeeeeeeeee!"

As Fratello screamed and writhed in Cadence's grip, the alicorn held onto her brother tightly, " I am taking all of your hate and rage into me and absorbing it."

"What? But you can't, I am a robot without a soul! H-how can you do this?" he asked, the electricity from Cadence increasing, leaving him paralyzed in his grip.

"If you didn't have a heart or a soul, then why do still feel emotions? Why do you still hate me, want vengeance on me, or care at all!" Fratello said nothing, unable to come up with an answer, "There is still a tiny part of you that is good. I am an alicorn of love, which means i can take all of the love I feel from my subjects and turn it into power!"

"B-but you can't do this," screamed Fratello, tears running down the sides of his faceplate. "You'll be taking in so much pain and anger."

"Then let us share the burden, let me take on your pain and sorrow. LEt me help you through all of this," Cadence said, the lighting increasing in power, part's of Fratello's armor now burning away.

"No, you can't. This is impossible, This wasn't how it was mea-"

Cadence interrupted him, "There is always a way. If you know how to find it." she said calmly as the two were caught in an explosion of light.

Shing Armon watched in horror as the explosion occurred in front of his eyes, "Cadence!" he shouted as he ran to the crater where Cadence and Fratello once stood. As he neared the crater, he let out a gasp as he looked at the two fallen figures in the crater, "Oh Celestia, no. Cadence..."

---

Running along the tracks at a fast pace, the train rolled across the mountain paths towards the Crystal Empire. In a private car, a small herd of ponies consisting of unicorns, alicorns, and one golden statue of a pony, sat and watched as their world passed them by. Well, mostly sat, Pinkie Pie was busy looking out each window as much as she could, "Wow, I've never been in the queen's private car before!" she said, smiling.

"While I am always grateful for an invitation by royalty, I am worried about the enemy forces that are guarding our borders," Rarity said, sitting in her maternity dress.

Applejack nodded, "Yeah, considering that we've only been able to get refugees across the border so far, are you sure we'll be fine traveling to the empire your highness?"

Celestia nodded, Castor giggling in her arms, "I have a cloak over our train that make us look like refugees crossing the border. This will help us cross without worry, and besides, They would be mad to attack us."

"Shame we aint at full strength," grumbled Dash, looking at the empty seat next to her.

Applejack put a reassuring hand onto her friend's shoulder, saying, "She'll be fine sugarcube. She can't escape all of the time."

Luna looked away from the pegasus and earth pony to her sister, listening to Goldwin play with Leilani, "Sister, must we bring him along," she growled at the mention of their golden companion.

"A baby is a full time job, Luna," Celestia said, smiling as she looked at Castor. the little white colt booped his mother's nose with a laugh, "And I need somepony to help watch my little child."

"You did it again Tia," Luna said with an arched eyebrow.

"Did what?" Celestia asked, looking shocked.

Luna narrowed her eyes, "Used a singular noun, forgetting the other child. I am beginning to won-"

"Aw, isn't that sweet of Luna, seeing patterns that aren't there? Can't she accept that life can be quite...chaotic?" winked Goldwin as he smirked and went to play with the girl, leaving Luna to grumble and growl at their companion.

Pinkie Pie looked out of her car's window and smiled, "We're getting closer, I think I can see the castle!"

"Geeze Pinkie," Dash said, leaning back in her seat, "You think with the fights we've had lately, you would take this little shore leave as a time to relax."

"Speaking of which. Girls, Ah hate to bring up the subject of the war at a time like this but," Applejack looked between her friends, "Have any of you been feeling...weak at all?"

"Darling, I am pregnant, sometimes weakness is to be expected," rarity said, rubbing her belly softly.

Bell leaned forward and looked at Applejack, "Weak in what way?"

"Well, like that something's are getting harder to do. Like you've been finding it harder to do the things you normally like?" Applejack asked.

Dash nodded, "Yeah, now that you mention it. I've been getting a little slower, it's been harder to pull off a Rainboom."

"And it has been getting a little harder to concentrate on making the new armor," Rarity said. "But, I believed it was due that some of my magic is being used to help the foal develop."

"And Ah'm gettin a mite weaker too," applejack said, putting her hand to her chin. "Ah was exhausted from Applebucking yesterday."

"When did this all start?" Twilight asked.

Pinkie Pie sat down on her seat for a moment, "Hmmm, I think it was right around the time that we-"

"Lost Valkyrie mode," they said at the same time.

Belle put her fingers to her lips in thought, " this, I would like to run some test if you all have the time. I discovered that Twilight had a laboratory that I have been dying to try."

As the girls nodded in agreement, the train slowly pulled into a stop in front of the station. As the party got off, they were greeted by a small group of guards. One of the guards, a crystal mare by the name of Harmonic Kyrstal, stepped forward and saluted, "Queen Celestia, we are instructed to bring you and your party to the castle. After which, major Applejack and Princess Luna are to report to the silos for supplies."

"Now I see," Belle said, her eyes wide, "You are also using this trip as an excuse to transport contraband across the border and back into Equestria."

As Celestia smiled, Rainbow Dash pumped her fist in the air and shouted, "Aw yeah, nice one Queen!"

Celestia smiled and bowed, before following the guards to the castle. As they walked, they admired the crystal architecture and the reconstruction efforts of the ponies, "It was a good thing that the attack was limited to only a small part of the city."

"The empire was attacked?" Luna asked, looking at some of the burnt buildings.

"Yes, but it was all taken care of by Cadence," Harmonic said, smiling.

The herd of ponies were soon lead into the castle proper and into the castle throne room. Sitting on the throne, was Cadence who smiled at the new arrivals. At her side was Shining Armor in his uncle's old dress uniform, and on her right was a white unicorn with a long blonde mane. Cadence stood up and bowed to the new arrivals, "My friends, i am so glad to see you all here!"

Applejack looked at the stallion on the right of Cadence and asked, "Um, beg your pardon Cadence, but who is that right next to you?"

Cadence let out a giggle as she looked to her brother, "Allow me to introduce, Il mio Caro Fratello, my big brother."

"You may call me Fratello, if it pleases you," Fratello said, bowing to the ponies.

"WHAT?!" was the collective gasp from the former bearers of the elements, while Celestia went to Fratello and hugged him.

As Rainbow Dash picked her jaw off the floor, it was her job to be the first to speak, "But, how? I mean, how did you? I thought that Grand Asshole said that it was impossible."

Celestia broke from the embrace and looked to the group ponies, "My husband also believes in a black and white world. He doesn't realize that there is alway a third option, even if you can't see it. And if you can't find one, make one."

"Yes," Cadence nodded before continuing, "If you recall, my brother put on this robotic armor to face down an army a few years ago."

"But, I thought it was to defeat a robotic army from space," Rarity asked.

"Rarity, if that were true, then why didn't Twilight look up records of it, or why did no one know of other worlds until Starfleet arrived," Celestia asked.

Shining Armor then added, "Not to mention, that would make Cadence way older than she is now. She only ascended when she was twelve, and took care of Twilight when she was fourteen."

"While there was something mysterious that occurred 10 years ago," Celestia commented, walking to pick up a sleepy Castor, "It was not an 'army from space' or a robotic armada. That was a fabrication created by my husband misinterpreting the facts."

"The truth is, i was with a special team to stop a boar invasion. The robotic armor I had obtained was supposed to enhance the pony's strength and speed; however, the armor soon took over my body and Celestia had no choice but to banish me."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, while Pinkie Pie stated, "So, Grand Ruler is a big bad liar?"

"What else is new?" Dash asked, growling, "The jerk keeps finding new ways to either put us down or try to make his side look good."

"The point is, I knew that there was still a piece of that robot that was my brother's soul. After all, why would he care about me if he was completely gone. So, using the love magic from my subjects and the power of the heart, I absorbed all of the dark negative energy from my brother."

"As the dark energy left my body, I felt my old self returning. Using my own willpower and strength, i began to break through the armor," Fratello said, "and Cadence's healing magic did the rest."

"So, now you have all off that hatred inside of you. Are you not worried Cadence?" Luna asked.

Cadence let out a burp, that caused a cloud of dark magic to fly from her mouth, "No, I m not worried. As Long as the Crystal heart remains strong and the ponies love remains pure, my magic will keep the dark magic contained within me. It will b tough, but I assure you I will be fine. We will be fine."

"We?" Rarity asked herself,looking at the pink alicorn. She then noticed several things at once, "Wait, cheerful expression, a contented smile when she looks at Shining, and an inner glow. Cadence, are you pregnant?"

Cadence looked up to her lover and then to her friends before saying with a blush, "Yes, i am."

Celestia and Luna let out some very un-princess like squeals as they ran to their niece's side and hugged her. Through her tears, Cadence smiled and said, "I was going to tell you a month ago, but...well."

"I know," Celestia smiled and hugged her niece.

As Shining began to wipe his tears away from the happy moment, his eyes caught the sight of Belle, "I-I don't believe it!" he said, tears falling down his face as he ran to the woman who looked like his sister. Grabbing a tight hug on the mare, he hugged her tightly, "I knew it. I knew there was a way for you to have survived. I just knew that you had to hae found a way to live, there just had to be."

Bell sighed and nodded, "Sir, I know what you must be thinking and though I know I look like her, I am not Twilight Sparkle."

Shining Armor pulled away for the moment and looked at her, "N-no, you're right. You have her coat face and mane color...but nothing else."

Pinkie, eager to cheer the mood, said, "Hey, lets forget the gloom and doom and celebrate Fratello coming back and the new baby." as she said this, she pulled out her party cannon and aim it at the ceiling.

As always,it was hard to ignore the idea of Pinkie party.

---

The party began in earnest, with many ponies talking to one another or dancing with each other. Standing against the drink table, was Applejack, who stood and watched the party with a smile. As she did, she noticed Rainbow Dash walk over to her and leaned against it, the pegasus's face in a scowl, "It ain't fair you know."

"Chin up Sugarcube," Applejack said, drinking her cider slowly. "With Fratello on our side, it feels like we finally have an advantage on Dark Conquest."

Rainbow Dash shook her head, "But, this isn't fair! It isn't right! Twilight should be here with us, happy that Cadence is gonna have a foal. Pinkie should be doing something silly like falling to pieces over the news, and Fluttershy should be-"

"Ah know, Ah miss her too," Applejack nodded.

"I just," she growled, squeezing her hand and lightly punching the table, "Want to storm her cabin and free her. I want to just fly right into Rhymey's face and kick the crud out of him. But, I can't. And that makes me so useless. My best friend is in trouble and I can't do a thing to save her,"

Applejack rubbed her friend's shoulder, "It's the worst feeling in the world, thinking your useless. Ah remember how Ah felt when Twilight died and Ah saw how broken we all were. Ah felt like Ah couldn't do a thing to help you all. You feel the same way with Fluttershy. But let me ask you something,do you think Fluttershy is strong?"

"Stronger than I am sometimes," Rainbow Dash said, a blush of embarrassment on her face.

"Do you think she can handle things on her own," Applejack asked.

"That gal can handle anything," Rainbow Dash smiled.

"Do you trust your friend?" Applejack asked.

Rainbow dash nodded, "With my life."

"Then let that keep your spirits high," Applejack said. "You know that little pegasus can survive whatever comes her way. And if not, if it gets really bad, then you should know that you will be there in a flash to save her. Feel better?"

"Not really," Rainbow Dash said, walking away, "But, it is giving me something to think about. Thanks."

"No problem sugarcube," Applejack said.

Over at another table, Rarity sighed as she looked at her stomach, "No, I will not be eating those gems, they are for decoration only."

"Cravings?" Pinkie asked, face full of cake.

"Oh the worst kind," Rarity said. "Oh, Mina said that this would happen! And now i can't help but think about nibbling on one of those delicious gems."

Pinkie giggled, "When mom was pregnant with me and Marble,she would sometimes want some limestone with cucumbers." to this, Rarity laughed and smiled softly. Pinkie then looked worried and asked, "Are you nervous?"

Rarity nodded slowly, "A little. Who wouldn't? I am going to introduce a rare species that nopony has seen before into the world. And I expect all of Ponyville to accept her-"

"Or him," Pinkie interrupted.

"right off the bat? We are still having trouble accepting the ponies of Unicornia, how can we accept a Kirin?" Rarity asked.

Pinkie smiled, "Well, it'll be different this time. With the Unicorn's they were like party crashers, forcing their way in and eting all of our food without asking. The little one is going to be like an invited guest or an expected arrival. We'll want to see her. And if they don't, they'll have the world's second best mother to contend with."

"Second best?" Rarity asked, pouting a little.

"Well, next to my mom of course," Pinkie giggled. This caused Rarity to laugh in turn, and then as she looked at Cadence, dancing with Shining Armor, Pinkie whispered, "Can you believe that she is going to have the baby two months before you? I mean, she is only showing a little now, but soon" she then inflated her belly a little.

"Yes, I hope I look that good at three months along," Rarity said, sighing a little. "I fear for what he baby will d o to my figure though. You hear that? You better be worth it," the white unicorn sai with a giggle.

When the party winded down, and the ponies made for their rooms, Fratello made way to stop Celestia at the door, "Your highness, a moment before you turn in."

Celestia looked at her nephew, "Yes?"

"I thought you might want to know about my information about Dark Conquest, or what little there is," Fratello said.

"What do you mean by little?" Celestia asked.

"Conquest likes to play his cards close to his chest, only choosing to divulge battle plans with his unknown partner. I think he was the one responsible for bringing me back to life. I also can tell you that his primary HQ is in a dark void, a dimension far from our own. His army is also consisted of several ponies who have enlisted because they have a grudge against you," Sighing, Fratello finished, "I am sorry that is all I can say. I know there is nothing I can do to ever make up for-"

"You are starting with the most important step, helping others and seeking forgiveness. I believe in goodness in everypony, why do you think I tried to reform Discord?" Celestia asked.

"I had believed that it was because you wanted to stop him from causing mayhem ever again," Fratello said.

"Well, there is that. But, I sincerely believed that, as a spirit of chaos, he was incapable of being either bad or good, so I wanted to test my theory out," Celestia said turning to walk into the door of her room.

"I see," Fratello said, turning away to walk down the hall, "till tomorrow then, Auntie."

"Till tomorrow," Celestia said, closing the door to her chambers.

"Did you really see something good in me?" Goldwin said, slowly changing shape back into Discord.

Celestia nodded, "Why yes. After all, chaos should never be limited to one thing...correct?"

Discord nodded as he watch Celestia walk to bed, "You know, Celly...you've been in that dress for far too long." he said, snapping his fingers to make her dress disappear. "There, much better. I am so glad that the babies are asleep right now in another room."

As Celestia looked down at her see through underwear,she began to slowly back up onto the bed, "Now Discord, we really shouldn't." " she said, covering herself as her bra disappeared. "What if they hear us?"

"Soundproofing in the castle, and I transferred the sound elsewhere," Discord said, snapping his fingers to rid Celesita of her panies.

"A-and, I really have things to think about," Celestia said, spreading her legs in spite of herself.

"I think you can hold off," Discord said with a smile.

Celestia smiled back in return, "You never could take no for an answer."

Discord brought out a top hat, a fire hose, and some pies, "Not around you, my little sun-gal."

---

"OOOOOOOH, AHHHHHHH, DISCORD!" Screamed Celestia's voice.

Luna shot up in her bed, the noise waking her up instantly. As the noises of Discord's and Celestia's love making began to get louder, Luna began to put the pieces together, "No, he didn't. That miserable bastard didn't, he...he did. He transferred all of the sound from their room into mine," with a roar, Luna threw her fist into the air and screamed, "Discord! I'll see you hang for this!"

At that point, a letter appeared in her hands, "You mean well hanged dear. Well, that's what Celestia thinks. Love Discord."

"I swear I will kill him," Luna said monotonically, getting herself out of bed and putting on her nightgown. Grumbling to herself, she left her room and began to walk down the hall, passing by the other rooms. she shook her head, trying to get the images of her sister in bed with the monster and focus on other things that could keep her mind busy. As she continued her walk, she caught wind of moaning and yelling.

"No, please! Twilight, i am so sorry, please...forgive me! Ah'm sorry, no...Don't!" Applejack screamed.

This caused Luna to gasp in horror and flung open the door, seeing Applejack writhe and struggle in her bed. Sitting down bey the farmer's side, Luna began t lightly rub hthe earth pony's shoulder, "Applejack, please wake up. You are having a nightmare."

The gentle nudging from Luna woke Applejack up with a start, "Twilight! Oh, it's you Luna. What are you doing awake?"

"I was unable to sleep, due in no small part to my sisters...nocturnal activities," Luna said, pausing for the right word. She then looked back at Applejack as she sat on the bed, "I assume that your nightmare was about Twilight again? And about your fears of being a leader?"

"How did ya-oh right, dream walking," Applejack chuckled, rubbing the back of her head. Slowly, she got up from the bed and began to walk around, "Ever since Twilight died, its just been my responsibility to take command and lead everypony. To make sure that we all get home safely, you know?"

"But, why does it have to be your responsibility? Why not the others?" Luna asked.

"They-they can't handle it. Rainbow is good and all, for a small squadron, but an entire team like ours and a war like this? No. Fluttershy and Pinkie serve as far better supports than they do as leaders. Rarity might be good but-"

"But what, Applejack?" asked Luna.

"She has her own problems, what with the new baby coming and all," Applejack said, taking a deep breath. "And Ah gotta keep that one safe too. They all got their problems. Did you know at Pinkie Pie is still afraid if any of us will come back from these fights? Rainbow Dash is trying so hard to not be Fluttershy's white knight that it's killing her. Then you got Fluttershy, all cooped up with that snake of a husband of hers."

"You seem to know a lot about their problems, and you want to try and help them ease their burdens?" Luna asked, looking at Applejack curiously. "You wish to be their pillar, their strength, and big sister all rolled into one?"

"That about sums it up," Applejack said.

Luna sighed, "Applejack, your duties as the element of honesty are great, but you cannot shoulder everyone's burden. The others are-"

"Are my responsibility!" Applejack shouted, her eyes burning with tears but not dropping "Don't cry, you promised to never cry again. Ah have to be the one to protect them, now. Twilight's gone, so it all falls to me. Everything, Ah have to be the one to protect them and lead them home again. Ah'm the only one who is level headed enough to see it all through, me and no one else." she then turned away, a scowl on her face. "Ah should've been there, Ah should've fought with her instead of being in that stupid room with that stupid monster! Ah shouldn't have listened to that bastard when he told us to stay behind, but no! Ah listened and now..."

Luna looked down and moved to get off the bed, "Applejack..."

"You were the first one who saw her Luna!" Applejack said, punching the wall hard enough to crack the crystal. "You didn't see her body when they brought her in, to see her lying cold and dead. It...it was my parents all over again. Ah couldn't do anything to save her, and Ah won't be making that mistake again! So let them put their burdens on me, all of their troubles and pain, because Ah can take it. and Ah can handle anything that is thrown my way."

"Careful, Applejack, if you take too much burden on yourself, then you miht," Luna stopped herself and looked at a mirror, seeing a faint image of nightmare moon looking back at her.

Applejack chuckled, "Don't worry, ah know how this might work out. One day, it's going to be too much for me and Ah'll fall. Then, Ah am going to be picked up where Ah fell and Ah'll look up and see them...catching me. Just, let me handle this for now."

Luna nodded, "Ok, Applejack. I will grant you your request." and she got up and began to walk out, "What is with honesty bearers and putting so much burden on themselves?"

---

"What was that?!" roared Grand Ruler from his throne, glaring his eyes down at the young earth pony.

"I-I-I said that reports are coming in from the assualt on the city of Neighpal that there were sightings of some unicorns from Unicornia attacking alongside Conquest's forces. They were fighting under his banner, sir," bowed the reporter.

Grand Rule stood up to his full hight, his black mane laying against his shoulders as he narrowed his eyes at the reporter, "You mean to tell me, that my unicorns, who i raised from nothing but mud, turned against me and hae turned evil?"

"Well sir," the reporter shook, "they are only equine."

"Throw this man away!" Commanded Grand Ruler as he pointed away, his cape flapping with his movement.

"No, sir, please. My son, he needs me!" pleaded as he was taken away.

"Take him to the training camp. Can't allow proproganda like that ruin the image of the ponies of Unicornia," growled the Grand ruler. Sitting back into his chair, he commanded, "Let it be known from this point on, that all news is to be monitored closely, and any reports of unicorns from unicornia attacking are to be censored!"

"Sir, is that wise?" asked one of the guards, "That is withholding information from the people. That is censoring information."

Grand Ruler looked to the pegasus to his right with an air of indifference, "The ponies of Equestria must not lose faith in their superiors. They must always believe in the ponies of Unicornia, that they are stronger, faster, and more importantly, morally superior than a normal Equestrian. They need to have something to look up and and strive for, and thus have something to believe in. Remember, the power of believing will win this fight. Just as much as I believe in Lighting and his Starfleet team."

"Sir, are you sure tha-"

"Yes, it is right," Grand Ruler said. "We are Starfleet, and we are always right, because we have the power and we have the strength."

---

"Lord Conquest," said a soldier as he ran behind Conquest, "Latest report from the front sir. It seems that, Fratello has fallen and joined the enemy."

Conquest rapped his fingers along the balcony railing and looked down, "That's a shame, and I was planning on letting him lead an assault on the Empire next week." he then chuckled and shrugged, "Oh well, if he wants to be on the losing side, so be it." turning away, he began to skip to the hallway leading out of his chambers, "If you need me, I'll be with my favorite toy.."

---

Titan sat in front of his board and smiled, looking at the twelve white stones facing against the fifteen black, "And white gains a new win. How...wonderful. But, what happens," Titan asked himself as he took one more stone and put it on the board, "When an unexpected piece enters the game? What will be gained and lost? Well...lets see."

Somewhere, a white unicorn with a two tone red mane looked up at a large machine, "For Twilight" she whispered.

Interestingly enough, the biggest change from the rough draft, was the addition of Titan. Fratello originally just appeared in the empire with no reason. But, since I decided that I needed Titan to be a real character, I changed him into being the one who moved Fratello into doing his attack.

Oh, and I wrote the rough draft of this two years ago, ages befor we found out Cadence was pregnant. However, when I found out Mykan was pulling that Miscarriage crap on her, I decided to basically subvert and ruin his idea with a vengance. Also, this kind of was a way to deconstruct a few things in his stories.

1) The weakness of Cadence. In case you did not notice, Cady is weaker than anypony in the proper stories. So, I gav her a moment of awesome. Besides, she rarely gets anything cool to do in fanfics anyway. Seriously, I have read so many and most of the time, anything awesome is given to Shining Armor. So, I decided to give Cadence a badass scene.

2) The whole idea of "You can't change Fratello" or "You can't save him." Sorry, but I don't buy that. I am not a person who gives up, and I believe that there is always a third option. If not, make one. So, I decided to show off what should've happened. Not "Because I want it to happen."

3) he idea that his unicorns can't be evil. Sorry, but they are mortal and thus are capable to the same laws as others.

Join us next time, were we will wah as somepony new is added to the mix, a battle will arise, and...

NExt time, somepony dies.

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...

...

Sorry, I always wanted to say that. And also just wanted to get that trope on my page. Thanks for that by the way.