The following chapter contains scenes of violence and mature subject matter. Reader discretion is strongly advised.

You never bent, you always stood

Could you plainly tell the trees from wood

You knew to part the wrong from right

To coax the darkness into light

You took me in when hope was lost

You paid with no regard for cost

You gave your time, you always found

A way to keep my feet on the ground

You never broke, you always healed

And favored need above appeal

You came, you saw, you mended foes

An altruistic dynamo

Twilight awoke to the sensation of warm, very soft fabric against her coat. She also felt a heavy, equally warm weight around her body. The pressure was comforting, like a tight hug. Not bother to open her eyes, she nuzzled deeper into the strange, warm enclosure and lay there.

Within minutes, the pain in Twilight's skull returned, though far dulled from the previous agony she had been in before. She could also hear a steady, robotic rasp above her. Not taking the time to think about it, she soon drifted back to sleep.

Twilight blinked and found herself in a dim, gray expanse of land. Dark soil crunched under her feet as the thick silence pressed in around her. A sound of footsteps came up behind her, and she wheeled around to see a tall figure in a lavender robe striding toward her. It was nearly as tall as Ascentia, with deep purple hair, dark tanned skin and her irises seemed to be burning in some manner.

“Take a good, long look lightweight,” she said, in a silky, taunting voice, “See the woman you are supposed to be. I am the embodiment of your true potential. I am what you could be, if you had the guts to follow the Betrayer's path more faithfully.”

“This is some kind of trick,” Twilight replied shakily, looking around for Celestia, or Luna, or Ascentia.

“A deadly serious trick,” the figure replied, “The kind that can kill you. Let me prove that I am you. We seek to save all of ponykind from the inevitable death that the frozen plains of Neptune has cast upon them. We wish to put an end to Athena, so that the Val'Kyr may turn their attention to helping us migrate to a new home.”

“Who told you that!”

“Good, be suspicious. Paranoia will fuel the ruthlessness you need to become formidable enough to slay the deity you seek,” The figure knelt down before Twilight, smirking, “Cease your delusions that the Betrayer sees you as a friend. She will do nothing but destroy all that you hold dear.”

“Ascentia? Why would she want to destroy me?”

“As much as Ascentia may love you, you are a complication in a more important goal of Athena's death. Should you get in her way or make things difficult for you, she will cut down those you care about to persuade you to stay away from her,” the figure continued, “In my time, she killed Shining Armor and Princess Cadance when you refused to hide from Athena while her and her Master did battle with it.”

Twilight took a few steps back from the strange creature in horror, “You're wrong... how could you even say that?”

“Because I saw it happen with my own two eyes,” the creature replied, “Watch... and see...”

The creature gathered a ball of energy into her hands, and presented it to Twilight. It cleared up and Twilight could see her and the Princesses standing on a frozen cliff with Ascentia, Shining Armor, and Cadance.

”Ascentia, you cannot expect us to allow you to take on Athena alone once again,” Celestia replied, a heated argument appearing to have just passed.

“Celestia, you try my patience,” Ascentia replied, growing more irritated, “I have already told you that your powers are required elsewhere, and my Master has repeated that sentiment. If you refuse to co-operate, I will make you co-operate.”

“What are you going to do, Ascentia?” Celestia taunted, “Attack me?”

“No,” Ascentia said quietly, “Attack those loved by those you love.”

In a flash, Ascentia drew her sword and put it to Shining Armor's neck.

“Now, will you follow your commands, or shall I rupture two families with a single sweep of my blade?”

Twilight turned away from the horrific image, “That's not real... you made that up...”

The creature laughed nastily, “Denial, how cute. Tell me, what words of comfort did she give you when you learned your best friend had been murdered?”

Twilight's eyes dropped to the dirt beneath her hooves, “...None. She never mentioned it.”

“Precisely. Did Fluttershy not follow you to another world, strange and filled with terrifying creatures? Did she not sneak into a dangerous town to scout for the very creatures that could have, and did, kill her?”

“Yes.”

“Why would someone you think cares about you simply ignore the death of one of your most devoted friends?”

“I... I'm sure she has her reasons,” Twilight replied, looking the creature in the eyes.

“You are justifying your denial,” the creature taunted, advancing upon her, “It is as if the Spirit of Nightmares has snuck into your home, disguised as a helpless child and you've fallen for it like the gullible idiot you are!”

Something about that particular insult tweaked Twilight in a way she had not known existed, and she lashed out against the strange creature, blasting her with her magic. The creature caught it in her fingers and crushed it into a wisp of smoke.

“Ooh, did I pluck a nerve?” she asked, her inquiry laced with sarcasm, “Not very calm, if you ask me. I do not know what my Master ever saw in you.”

Twilight's ears perked at that statement, “Ascentia was your Master?”

“She was not just my Master, she was my lover,” the creature replied, “And in the throes of passion, I cut her throat.”

Twilight recoiled at such a slimy betrayal, “Who are you?”

“I once had a name that I abandoned a long time ago,” she replied, “Now I am known across the universe as 'Lord Dusk'. Do not press my patience, Twilight. I have a limited time to speak with you, and I do not wish it to be wasted.”

“How do you know so much about my past?”

Lord Dusk knelt down beside Twilight, placed a hand on her shoulder, and smirked.

“I would think it would be obvious, given my choice of garments,” she replied, “I am you, Twilight.”

Before Twilight could respond, the strange place around her vanished into thick fog, and the sleeping mat and Ascentia's warm embrace returned to her perception. She lay still for a moment, as she tried to comprehend what had just happened. If everything Lord Dusk had told her was true...

Ascentia was awakened by the violent trembling of the crying unicorn in her grip.

“Twilight, what are you crying about?”

“It's nothing... don't worry.”

Ascentia knew the unicorn was lying, but she did not press the issue, “Very well.”

She let go of Twilight and got to her feet, straightening her robes and cracking her knuckles.

“Ascentia... why are you so warm?” Twilight asked.

“Pardon?”

“You're... you're very warm. I could feel your body heat through your robes, and they're very thick.”

“It is a simple skill to superheat one's body temperature in cold environments,” Ascentia replied, re-attaching her belt and swinging her cloak over her shoulders, “Difficult and painful to learn, but quickly becomes subconscious in execution.”

“I have another question.”

“Ask, and I will answer,” Ascentia replied, fastening her armouring to her shins, thighs, and forearms.

“I had a dream about this... wide dark place. It was filled with fog and gray soil,” Twilight described, “What is it?”

Ascentia stopped and her expression became one of loathing, “The Ghostlands. It is where all creatures go when they die. An endless void. And those who go there will wander it forever. Never stopping... always walking.”

“Are you alright?”

“I will admit... I dread going there,” Ascentia replied, not looking at her, “As much as I may keep people at a reasonable distance, the thought of wandering an empty, silent void for eternity... alone. It terrifies me.”

“Ascentia... you know what love is, right?”

“Yes, I know of it. I hold it in great disdain, but I know of it,” Ascentia said flatly, fastening a thick, metal plate over her respirator.

“Why do you hate it so much?”

“I do not hate it. Me and it merely do not get along,” Ascentia replied, “At least in the terms of mating. I love my Master, and my Lord. I love my former instructors, and the two apprentices I have had in my life. But I have never taken a mate, nor do I wish to.”

“How come?” Twilight asked, looking up at the seemingly old woman in question.

“When I was a girl, my Master told me a story of a young man who fell to such temptations,” Ascentia replied, “He, like me and you, was very powerful, and had his own great responsibilities. When he felt the one he loved was in mortal danger, he looked to the power held in cruelty and destruction to save her. In the end, his own transformation destroyed everything he held dear, and he lived out the rest of his days a broken shell of a man. Constantly miserable.”

“That's... horrible.”

“It is a story that is as horrific as it is beautiful,” Ascentia replied, “But it also taught me a valuable lesson. When you hold power like mine, or the power your Monarchs hold, personal ties can have a negative influence on your actions. You risk impulsive or rash behaviour, and the consequences are far more dire than mortals. It is best if someone in my position abstain from such complications.”

After a few minutes while Ascentia mended several large tears in her clothing, Twilight asked “Who is Lord Dusk?”

Now it was Ascentia's turn to look at her with a questioning eye.

“I have never heard such a name in my life,” Ascentia said, “Is this a title you are thinking of adopting?”

“It has nothing to do with me,” Twilight replied, “I just... I heard the name somewhere, and the title of 'Lord' made me think she was a Val'Kyr.”

“Understandable,” Ascentia replied, “But as far as I am aware, no Val'Kyr has ever taken the name 'Dusk'. Let alone accomplish enough to attain the rare title of 'Lord'.”

Twilight pondered her words in reserved silence while Ascentia finally finished assembling her armour and robes.

“I must speak with my Master before any more surprises take hold of us. Is there anything else you wished to ask of me?”

“Yes...” Twilight asked, her voice shaking, “Am I going to die?”

Ascentia was silent for a moment, and Twilight thought she heard her take a deep breath before answering.

“I do not know,” she finally said after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, “But if anything wishes to kill you, it will have to go through me first.”

She turned on her heel and strode from the small, icy room, her cloak billowing behind her. Twilight called out before she left.

“I love you, Ascentia.”

She stopped for a moment, turning her head to the side to peer at her from the corner of her eye.

“That is a dangerous road to traverse, Twilight Sparkle. I suggest you turn back from it.”

She left without another word. Twilight slipped back down and sighed as the cold in the room began to make itself aware to her. However, a very quiet whisper sounded from the back of her mind.

“But the feeling is mutual all the same.”

“Ah, my faithful student has returned,” Ryder smiled as Ascentia returned to his side, “I hope you slept well.”

“With all due respect, Master,” Ascentia replied, “I do not wish to speak of it.”

“Very well,” Ryder replied, “I have just been speaking with your new friends regarding the change in situation.”

“What is it, Master?” Ascentia asked, “Has Athena gained speed?”

“No,” Ryder replied, “She is dead.”

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