Princess Twilight received a great surprise when one of the royal guards burst into her chambers, panting and covered in minor burns.

“Captain! What's the matter?” Twilight asked, getting up immediately and looking over his wounds. Despite her outer demeanour, she felt a course of panic and confusion; her mind reeling with questions about the situation. Something about it didn't seem like a mere accident or a dispute.

Whatever it was, she felt a stabbing pain in her gut. She couldn't just pass this off, and had to assess the situation.

“In the street,” he panted, “Big... sword... hooded... not your friend... attacking...”

He collapsed onto the carpet and passed out. Twilight wasted no time in darting out the door and flying as fast as she could to the gates of Canterlot Castle. While assured that it wasn't a repeated event of before, it sounded much worse. Whatever was going on, she was sure it would not end well. Once more her mind reeled with even more questions, none of which she had an answer to, and would have to address later on.

'I can't let this go on... But I can't doubt her, either... What's going on here? Why are they doing this?' Was all Twilight could think as she flew fast, keeping her eye out for anything. 'What in the world is happening?!'

Sure enough, the Captain's fragmented information proved correct. A Val'Kyr was attacking Canterlot, and it was most certainly not her friend.

Twilight flew directly toward it, launching a flurry of magenta-colored bolts, and rolling to the side to avoid them when they were deflected back toward her. Skirting around it, she zapped it's leg and blasted it's wrist, knocking the sword from it's hand. Landing and skidding around on her hooves, she blasted it again between the eyes, and the tall creature was down for the count.

Galloping toward it, she kicked it over onto it's back. The Val'Kyr was male, dressed in the typical black-brown robes that most of them wore. She wanted to question him, but she couldn't. She had killed him.

It was rare for Val'Kyr to travel alone, particularly one that looked so young. Now that she had time to think, this Val'Kyr had gone down too easily. She had killed him in less than 6 seconds.

This was an apprentice.

Where was his Master?

Twilight turned to the guards that had intercepted him, “There's at least one more around here. Be careful! If you see an old woman in green robes, she's friendly. Don't attack her.”

“Yes Your Highness!” they saluted her and ran off to locate the Master.

Twilight looked back down at the body of the apprentice. Why was he here? And why was he hostile? Nothing about this made any sense. She'd had no warning, no speculation, not a thing. Not that the first time made any more sense, but regardless, it still raised so many questions. Not least of which being why they were sent here and who had authorized it.

She took a few breaths, taking a look all around her. Wherever the Master was, they were clearly planning an attack. As she considered, she was beginning to realize that the apprentice was a decoy. A distraction. Whoever was out there was counting on her or anypony else not to realize this, to take focus on the smaller threat while the actual threat was at large.

Without them even knowing it.

Twilight shuddered, realizing just how much trouble they were in. They had to find the Master, and fast. All she could hope was that her worst fears would not be confirmed.

'I have to figure this out. I have to find his Master and ask him why. Okay, subdue first, ask questions after. Now, if I were sending a decoy to distract everyone... where would I go?'

Striding back into the castle, she was intercepted by Princess Luna, who looked livid.

“Twilight! What is this I hear about Canterlot being under attack?” she demanded.

“I just killed a Val'Kyr in the courtyard,” she replied, “I have no idea what's going on.”

This did not help Luna's anger. Neither her nor Celestia particularly liked the Val'Kyr, and even saying that was an understatement. Luna's eyes flared a bright white as her voice began to boom in it's traditional fashion.

“Twilight Sparkle, we have warned you about fraternization with the Outlander. If your actions have brought us to war, may the Matriarch have mercy upon your soul,” she bellowed before turning to inspect the courtyard.

However, Luna didn't get two yards from Twilight before the door was blown open and three Val'Kyr stepped through the threshhold.

Coughing through the dust and dirt, Twilight ignited her horn, ready to cast magic if forced to, “What are you doing here?”

The one in the middle, hood over it's face, drawled slowly, “Our job.”

Twilight's eyes widened as she turned to face Luna, “RUN!”

The two Alicorns took off into a sprint down the nearest hall, wheeling around a corner and leaping through an open window to fly away. As they took to the skies, they looked back and saw something that made their hearts stop.

For miles, the colorful hills of Equestria were specked by thousands of Val'Kyr, all clad in uniform black-brown robes, moving in squads to the outlying towns and outposts. This was not an isolated attack. This was a full out invasion and extermination.

This was war.

Twilight had wasted no time in tracking down her friends. She had found the three of them off the outskirts of the Everfree Forest, tending to Fluttershy's animals in her absence. There was a brief pang of sadness in Twilight's heart, as she realized exactly what they were trying to do, and wanted nothing more than to join in. But now was not the time of mourning as they'd done in the first place. It was time to get things going into action, no matter how jarring.

'Priorities first. Assess the situation.' Twilight thought.

When the two Alicorns landed down beside them, they had jumped in surprise.

“Wha... Twilight, is something wrong?” Rarity asked.

“We have to leave, NOW!” Twilight shouted, “We're under attack by Val'Kyr!”

Rainbow perked up and looked around at the surrounding hills, “How many?”

“All of them. We have to get out of here!”

They took off into the sky, Twilight and Luna carrying Rarity and Applejack on their backs while Rainbow trailed underneath them, the wind roaring past them as they streaked off into the north.

“Where are we headed?” Rainbow called out.

“Twilight Sparkle, we must look for our sister,” Luna spoke softly, “We cannot leave her to those things...”

“We have to get word to the other kingdoms,” Twilight replied, “If they're coming for the reason I think they are, we need everyone's help to fight them off. We're going to the Crystal Empire. From there we can inform Princess Cadance and Shining Armor what happened. Then we can co-ordinate a rescue attempt.”

Luna seemed taken aback by Twilight's sudden surge in leadership. She had once held her doubts about Celestia's choice to ascend her, but they vanished on the spot after she took the proverbial reigns. At that moment, Luna would've smiled, bestowing her proud blessing on Twilight's leadership skills. It wasn't the time, nor could she truly formulate the words to do so. It would have to wait. The thought may have counted, she only hoped that Twilight would soon now.

Dwelling on that would not do her good, and decided to focus on Twilight's next command.

“You guys are going to have to do that without me,” she continued.

Now Luna was even more surprised, “What?!”

“I have a visit to make,” Twilight replied coldly, “I want answers.”

Cadance let out a strained sigh. Not two hours had passed since Luna and Twilight landed with the remaining Elements of Harmony and her and her husband were bombarded with explanations regarding an invasion. Twilight had left almost as soon as she had arrived, not even sparing time for their little childhood rhyme, vanishing in such a brilliant flash of light that Cadance knew she had teleported off-world.

As unimportant as it may have been, she knew it was more for a reassurance, taking a moment to feel the edge off everything. She felt a sting of overall worry, knowing this was far more serious.

Even when she herself was able to muster it while trying to keep the love spread throughout the Crystal Empire; while weakened from strenuous use of her magic, she couldn't see Twilight doing the same right now.

Cadance sighed, feeling dejected and worried. She had faith in Twilight's abilities, but it still didn't shake off that she hoped for the best, even if it didn't sound like the realistic outcome. Twilight was more than just her favourite filly to ever foalsit, she was more than just a powerful unicorn, but her equal as a Princess and an Alicorn.

But in moments like this, the Crystal Princess couldn't help but feel as if she were a foalsitter again, worrying over her favourite charge falling down off of her scooter.

A worried tremble settled in her stomach, to which Cadance bit her lip. What could she do to help? That was the next question on her mind, how would she be able to help prevent the loss of innocent ponies?

Twilight's young apprentice, Pumpkin Cake, had arrived with her brother via a teleportation rune. Both had been shaken by the invasion, but were otherwise unharmed.

“Princess Cadance?” Pumpkin Cake asked, snapping Cadance out of her thoughts.

“Oh, Pumpkin,” Cadance sighed, “What can I do for you?”

“Princess Luna said that Val'Kyr were the ones who had attacked Equestria,” Pumpkin replied softly, “Is this true?”

“Yes, it is true,” Cadance replied, not looking Pumpkin in the eye. She knew what was on her mind. It was on her's as well.

“Does this mean...” Pumpkin struggled to get the words out, “Is... she going to kill us?”

Cadance finally looked Pumpkin in the eye, “I don't know, Pumpkin. I would hope her love for Twilight would lead her to stay out of it, maybe even help us... but I don't know if Ascentia is part of this or not.”

“Princess Luna said that she is.”

“My aunts have never trusted Ascentia,” Cadance replied, “And for good reason. Nobody can readily trust a creature that powerful and that morally ambiguous.”

“What about you?”

“Excuse me?”

“Do you think she'd be with them?” Pumpkin asked.

This was a harder question to answer. Cadance was always the kind of pony who wanted to be fair, to hear both sides of a story and give the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes though, she had to rely on certain things to make a proper judgement, and sometimes, that wasn't easy. Especially when family and friends were involved. But as a Princess herself, she knew all too well of having to think with logical reasoning, and not just what she wanted to see.

She trusted Twilight's judgement, she knew fairly well it was in good faith. Despite her own doubts and worries from time to time, she was more cautiously optimistic than anything. It was the best she could do, by far because she knew Twilight was a grown mare, alicorn or not, and could make her own decisions.

Facing the young unicorn, Cadance decided to just answer it was best she possibly could.

“Pumpkin... I never spoke to Ascentia in great detail,” Cadance explained, “But I do know that she loves Twilight very much. Two years ago, she put herself through great risk to ensure her safety. She would never do anything to hurt her, at least not intentionally. But I could be wrong.”

'I really hope that I'm not.' Cadance thought, her gaze returning to the window for a brief moment. Nothing more she could say or do about this was going to help, but she hoped something could be done.

What Twilight was going to do was obvious, and she could only hope for the best.

The saronite gates of Grand Lord Megan's chambers had certainly seen better days. Being over a billion years old and subject to the effects of several wars with both the mortal and immortal realms, the scratches, warps, and wears were highly visible up close. Despite all of this, the door had never been repaired. Megan preferred to keep it that way, as a reminder of the past. It was her view that history would only be made irrelevant unless the damage lingered on.

The health of the gates was only put under more strain when a shockwave blasted them wide open and Master Ascentia Kortai came storming into the massive audience chamber, absolutely furious. A lavender Alicorn at her heels.

“Ascentia,” she said calmly, “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Ascentia ignored her and fixated her featureless eyes upon her former Master.

“I have received word that Equestria is under a full assault by Shadow Company,” she snapped, “Explain yourself, NOW!”

Twilight cringed at her anger. It was rare that Ascentia showed an extreme emotion or reaction to something. But when it came to anger, she could feel it inside, as if it were cutting through her like sub-zero temperature water. Deeply nervous as she was, Twilight kept her composure as best she could.

“Ascentia, despite your best efforts, the damage that planet has sustained has become problematic,” Ryder replied, his back to the both of them, “Shockwaves, chaotic reality warping, and even a shadow beast being exorcized into oblivion has damaged the ecosystem beyond any theoretical repair. You have bought them time, but that time has run out.”

Ascentia whipped him around and slammed him into a wall, “That planet is under my personal guard. You are under no authority to destroy it!”

“I am the Master of the Val'Kyr,” Ryder replied gently, “My authority is only overruled by the Grand Lord and the Solar.”

“I'm sure the Matriarch wouldn't take too kindly to an entire squad of warriors bearing down on her planet and slaughtering her people,” Ascentia snarled.

Twilight realized that she had a point. The Matriarch, or “Queen Faust” as she was known among ponykind, was a powerful being with a knowledge of magic that stretched beyond even the scope of the Princesses, and being a Solar made her strength all the more fearsome. She had attacked Ascentia two years ago on Neptune, simply because she was under the impression she was holding ponies against their will, and had tossed the Val'Kyr around like a toy.

Though, Twilight recalled that Ascentia had been critically wounded at the time after a brush with an Old God. She rubbed a scar on the side of her forehead where several Val'Kyr had cut the skin away to repair her own injuries at the hands of Athena: a shattered skull.

That did, of course beg the question. How in the world did that get past The Matriarch with them getting out of it seemingly scott-free? Twilight could easily tell that it must not have sat well with her, either.

“Ascentia, despite her maternal instinct, the Matriarch must still answer to the other Solar,” Ryder replied, “And they agree that the planet is in too poor a condition to remain alive. She protested, but they silenced her.”

“She will not be silent for long,” Ascentia smirked, dropping her former Master to his feet, “She is a stubborn one.”

“Not unlike you, my young apprentice.”

“Master, you cannot senselessly slaughter these people,” Ascentia replied, “Surely there must be another way.”

“The Equestrians lack the technology to colonize another world,” Ryder explained, “And we do not uplift races past their technological milestones.”

Twilight opened her mouth to say something in protest, only for Ascentia to signal to her as a way to quiet her down. Obediently, the Alicorn did so and said nothing. What could she say, anyway?

It was about as pointless as telling Discord-before his reformation-that he was not being fair, or telling her parents that they were mean for not letting her have a cookie before dinner.

Despite her front, all Twilight wanted to do was hide away in a corner. It hurt her to think that they would do this, and yet she could not escape the reality of it. There wasn't any evil intent, so she couldn't even dispute against that, either.

“Very well, my Master,” Ascentia replied, “You leave me no choice.”

She turned and strode away from him, Twilight following behind.

“Ascentia, you are not so foolish as to turn your back on the Val'Kyr,” Ryder called out, “This is not a fight you can win.”

Ascentia stopped, turning to look at him.

“No... it is not,” she said.

At those words, she brushed aside her cloak to reveal a long, lavender feather woven into her belt. A feather from an Alicorn wing that had been given to her almost two years previously.

“But I will fight you to the death, nonetheless.”

Ascentia slammed her palms into the stone railing of the outside balcony, looking out over the multi-levelled city beneath her. At her side, Twilight came up, lifting her own forelegs onto the stone railing. Neither spoke a word for some time, but it was clear about what was going through their minds. The very situation at hoof was already causing immense damage, and they had to do something. But what?

That too was the question, how they would be dealing with this.

“I guess the Val'Kyr don't really respect other people's opinions, do they?” Twilight asked.

“Nobody does,” Ascentia replied, “It is the nature of sentient life. If you have ever met another person who claimed to respect an opinion they disagreed with, you have met a liar.”

“Regardless, what do you suggest that we do?” Twilight asked.

Ascentia turned to look at her, “Are you asking me to help you, Twilight?”

“Didn't you say you would back there?”

“Twilight, you and I both know that you took a great risk coming here. If it weren't for the fact that most of the guard deeply respect me, it is likely you would have been imprisoned here. And now there are Val'Kyr tearing about your home. Do you honestly trust me?”

“You haven't killed me yet,” Twilight replied, “And I don't think you would, either.”

“Nevertheless, you are asking me to kill my own kin for you.”

Twilight paused for a moment. She hadn't thought of that. She had assumed Ascentia would help her like she did with Xebre. She hadn't expected that Ascentia carried ethical qualms about killing her own kind to save hers.

Hey wait a second, she thought, They're down tearing apart my home right now!. But then it dawned upon her that Ascentia had likely seen the rise and fall of over a thousand civilizations in her lifetime. What was she hoping would happen? That Ascentia would switch sides and start killing the people who were like family to her? Just to save her kind? Wasn't that a little selfish?

Hurt, guilt, and sorrow entered her heart. She could not believe that it was even a question. How would she have felt, if the situation was somehow reversed? What possible right did she have? The Val'Kyr may have been morally ambiguous, even somewhat detestable at times, but she knew that they weren't the same kind of evil she'd dealt with in the past. They were beings who had a different outlook on the universe and even life in general.

It was true. They were doing their job. That was why they did what they did. With the very few exceptions, it was done not to be evil and laugh about like mustache-twirling Con Mane villains.

And here she was, practically demanding that Ascentia go against her own kind, just to help her own. For what? There was no way she wanted to see the extinction of her own kind, no matter how anyone thought that it was a good idea.

Looking away, Twilight decided to just go home. There was no way she could ever let this happen. She was not about to ask, no, demand to her own friend to do the impossible for her sake. This was her own problem, and she was going to deal with it alone if she had to. Not ask her own friend to betray her kind.

Tears began to pool in her eyes, but she held them back. There was no use crying, and the last thing she wanted to do was make Ascentia feel as if she were being guilt-tripped.

“I'm sorry... I should go...”

Twilight turned to leave, but she did not get two feet away before...

“Twilight, wait.”

She stopped and turned back to look her in the eye. As much as Twilight didn't want to face this now, she was not about to back down from hearing Ascentia out. That was the least she could do.

“I can keep you and your close friends safe on a lush, fertile planet,” Ascentia explained, “You could stake out a new home there for the rest of your days. Possibly rebuild your species.”

Twilight thought for a moment, before rejecting the idea, “I won't abandon ponykind to extinction just to save myself.”

“Then neither will I,” Ascentia replied, “What do you need of me?”

Twilight froze for a moment, a feeling of immense affection for the Val'Kyr washing over her.

“I know Princess Celestia is still trapped in Canterlot, which got hit the hardest. We need to get her out and safely to the Crystal Empire. But there's also Ponyville. There are a lot of survivors that won't make it out if we don't get there soon enough.”

“Very well,” Ascentia nodded, “But I cannot promise that everyone will get out alive. You need to decide which distress is more important.”

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