Author's Notes:

And after a very, very long time...an update.

As always, this is pure fantasy, and the material contained within is very dark. There is a lot of disturbing material within, and if any reader feels uncomfortable with the subject matter I encourage them to do whatever they feel best for their own health. In reality, anything intimate should only be done with the affirmative consent of your partner.

Lastly, people are free to comment here as they wish - I ask only that they do so politely, even if that is to say 'I hate this and everything it stands for'; that's their opinion and they are free to express it. Just please keep things constructive.

Thank you, and enjoy!

The sun burned in late afternoon light as a column of ponies slowly limped their collective way towards Ponyville. At its head was Twilight Sparkle. She had found herself a natural rallying point for those lucky ponies who had managed to escape Canterlot before the shield could be restored. Her eyes were dark circles from the pressure of unexpected leadership, yet she hadn’t faltered when her party of one began to swell. The refugees were primarily pegasi, for wings made escape that much more likely, although some unicorns and earth ponies had also managed to evacuate during the chaos of Canterlot’s fall.

The group was almost entirely mares, although to Twilight’s surprise a small number of stallions had made themselves known. Each swore to be unaffected by the corruption that had befallen their brethren. They were kept segregated from the other mares, just in case, though none had yet made any form of aggressive move. Twilight desperately wanted to believe each told the truth. If they remained untainted, then perhaps she could discover a way to reverse the effects on the rest of the populace. She could not see how an Equestria divided against itself could hope to resist. How were they to fight when their husbands, brothers, sons, and fathers could turn on them at any moment?

Twilight left unspoken that she too could not stop suspicion knotting her gut each time she stared at the cluster of stallions. It was what she would do were she as heartless as the caribou. Send infiltrators in amongst the refugees. It would be easy to slip in a collaborator or two amongst the half-dozen stallions, one sent to spy upon them, or sabotage the escapees at the most opportune moment.

Then again, even if one of them was a traitor, how much harm could they cause? It was not as if Ponyville was fortified in any way. There were no gates for them to open, no secrets to betray, nothing of value to be lost. Well, aside from herself, yet Twilight was certain no one stallion could handle her. Nor a half-dozen, for that matter. I suppose there is always the possibility of drugging my food or ambushing me in my sleep, but it will not be hard to safeguard against that…

Her reverie shattered when a mare approached, and Twilight straightened up to conceal her inner turmoil. “What is it, Emerald?” she asked the pegasus.

“Why are they with us? You saw what they did back in Canterlot. How can you possibly let them stay? They’re...monsters.”

“Not all of them, Emerald. They frighten me as well. I feel the same fear. I want to send them away.”

“Then why don’t you?”

“Because, Emerald. It is not enough for us to simply try to survive. If we lose everything we cherish in that struggle, then the caribou will still have won. I think it likely that at least one of them is not who he claims to be. Yet if I condemn them all, not for who they are, but for who they might be, I condemn the innocent to bear the burden of the guilty.” Slowly, Twilight shook her head. “I know it may lead to disaster. I’m afraid of what may come.” She clenched a hand to her chest. “I have watched my closest friends raped today. I have seen Princess Celestia and Princess Luna taken by those monsters, or those they have made their servants. They destroyed so many beautiful things to pursue their own twisted dream. And they will not stop.” Twilight shook as her throat clenched and a muffled sob fought to break free.

She did not let it. Her face contorted, and she refused to face the memory of Celestia. Of how she had felt, in those moments. Her own weakness could not be revealed. A sickening wave of revulsion, of shame at her actions washed over her, and she shook as she fled the guilt and the deeply buried hint of desire that beckoned, even now.

“We have allies we may call upon. But to win, we must be strong. We must be willing to welcome those who would stand for Friendship, for Harmony. Perhaps, even, in doing so we will find the key to let them overcome the vile magic warping them. To save those who can be saved.”

Emerald fell silent, and they walked together for a time. “I understand. But you’re wrong, Twilight! What will friendship do for me if one of those stallions attacks me? What good is harmony if one of them comes for me?!” Her voice rose to a shout, and heads turned in their direction. She started, and shrunk in on herself, dropped her voice to a mere whisper. “Please, Twilight,” and her voice cracked as she shook, as she fought to form the words. “Send them away. They can find their own refuge. Please don’t let them get me.”

“Emerald…” What was she to do? How was she to stand there and ask others to stand with her? Who was she to tell them they should risk enslavement for mere philosophy? The answer wouldn’t come. “I can’t promise it will never come to that. I...I want to. But I can’t. When we get to Ponyville, I can promise you supplies. Food. Clothing. If you wish to stay with us, I am certain we will welcome you. But if you feel the need to move on...I understand.”

Emerald did not speak again. Nothing more needed to be said. Their band was only a few dozen, and few were in any state to fight. Some bore bruises. One or two limped. Many had started partially or fully unclothed, and those lucky enough to get out with more had shared what they had amongst them.

Ponyville itself would have taken more than a day of constant travel to reach by hoof, and when the afternoon began to turn to evening, Twilight called the group to a halt.

“We cannot keep going like this,” she reluctantly stated. “We’ve been lucky so far, but we can’t be certain there’s no pursuit. We know there’s pegasi working with them. All it will take is one scout to report back, and we find ourselves attacked by a raiding party.” The group broke into worried murmurs, but she raised her hands to quiet them.

“I want to take those who can fly with me. We can reach Ponyville much sooner, and then I can return with help for the rest of you. Carts and a come-to-life spell will be faster. I know you’re scared. I know you are exhausted. I know you don’t want to be alone. And I promise...I will return.”

Those unable to fly were not happy. A few yelled that she was abandoning them, at first, but eventually they agreed, reluctantly, that the plan seemed the best available.

Two hours later, with the sun swelling red on the horizon, Twilight touched down with her straggled flock in the center of Ponyville, amidst pandemonium. Pegasi had seen them coming some time back, and the moment she was on her hooves the inhabitants were shouting, pushing, demanding information.

“Please, everyone! Wait, give me a moment, I promise I will - no, don’t do that! Hey! Watch it! If you’ll just give me a moment! Hey! Let go!” Twilight took a deep breath as the crowd surged around her.

“Hey! Calm down! Give her room!” Heads snapped at the loud shout, and Rainbow Dash swooped in to hover over the crowd. “What the hay do you think you’re all doing?! Give her space! Let her breathe! Panicking won’t help anypony! If Twilight’s back, she doesn’t need you all fighting too! We’re Ponyville, and we stand with our own! I know her! She’ll answer your questions, but not till she’s ready! Go home!”

The tension shattered as ponies found themselves with ears lowered in shame, and the angry roar of the mob subsided to embarrassed mumbles. It soon broke apart, fearful clusters of ponies chattering to one another as Rainbow dropped from the sky to her hooves.

“Twilight. I...I’m glad you made it. I was afraid only I…” The air was squeezed from her lungs as Twilight wrapped her in crushing hug, buried her face in Rainbow’s shoulder, and broke down crying. Rainbow wheezed for breath, awkwardly wrapped an arm around Twilight’s midsection, and patted her on the back. “It, uh, it’s okay Twilight, you’re home now. I mean, it’s not okay, but with you here, we’re sure to whoop them...right?”

Twilight sniffled. She drew back, inhaled, exhaled, wiped at her face with her hands. Cleaned away the tears with the back of her forearm. “I’m sorry,” she croaked. “I didn’t know if I would see you again. It was horrible, Rainbow! What they did, what I saw…”

“We’re gonna make ‘em pay, Twilight. I promise you. They’ll pay for everything. They got the drop on us the first time, but now we’re gonna be ready. And we’re gonna show them just who they’re messing with!”

“How, Rainbow? You weren’t there! It wasn’t just the caribou. They…” She turned and looked around. Her voice fell to a forlorn whisper. “They have the Princesses.”

“Princess Celestia and Luna?” Disbelief. “No way!”

“Cadance, too,” Twilight croaked. “And it’s worse. Cadance...she was helping them. She did something to the Crystal Heart. They did something to it! And then...then...the stallions…” She shook in place. “Canterlot is gone, Rainbow. It’s theirs. They twisted the stallions somehow. Made them...they’re helping. Doing the same things to us the caribou began. And I don’t know how to stop it. It...there’s no help coming, Dash. We’re it. What are we supposed to do now?”

Rainbow stood silent, pensive. She glanced round at the rest of Ponyville. Those still present hadn’t interrupted, had remained in their huddled groups, but heads continually turned in the pair’s direction.

“It changes nothing, Twilight. It’s always been long odds, hasn’t it? And you’ve found a way out every time. You awoke the Elements. Yea, okay, you needed us, but there’s no way we’d have ever done what we did without you. You saved us from Discord. You found Cadance when nopony else believed you. You found the Crystal Heart, and you saved us from...well, okay, the Cutie Mark thing was kinda your fault, but you fixed it in the end!” Rainbow tightly squeezed Twilight’s shoulder. “This may be the worst thing we’ve faced, but I know you can do it. And I’m with you every step of the way. Loyalty, right?”

Twilight mustered a wan smile. “Right.” The hubbub of the crowd stilled as Twilight turned towards them and raised her voice. She forced a bravado she did not feel. “Everypony!! I know you have questions! I know you are scared! And you have a right to be!” The chatter of the crowd immediately started once more, but Twilight flapped her wings to hover above them, held a hand up for silence.

“We face an enemy now that...is worse than anything we have yet fought. One crueller than Discord, more heartless than Chrysalis, colder than Nightmare Moon. But just as we have triumphed over them, so we shall triumph here!” She hesitated. The next part would not be easy. “These caribou have some foul magic that can turn our stallions against us. But not all! It can be defeated, and we shall find out how! Their barbaric society shall be opposed at every turn...and even if we fall? As long as even one pony still holds to the ideals of Harmony, we can never be defeated!”

The crowd cheered halfheartedly. Twilight dropped back to her hooves, and Rainbow clapped her on the back. “That helped! I mean, it wasn’t the greatest speech. You really need to work on, uh, not adding ‘if we lose’ into inspirational speeches, egghead...but it helped.”

Twilight smiled. “Thank you, Rainbow.” The few moments of tranquility did not last as a familiar voice rang out through the crowd.

“Excuse me! Coming through! Just a moment! Ah, Twilight, darling...I did not expect you to return so soon?” Rarity stepped between a final pair of ponies to approach her friends. She stopped at the expressions on their faces. “Oh, dear. I have come at a bad time, haven’t I?”

“Yes. Rarity, something terrible has happened. Our friends, the Princesses, they’ve been...taken.” Rarity’s hand flew to her mouth. Twilight continued, “It’s worse. They haven’t merely been captured. The caribou, they have forced themselves upon them. They put on some sick parade where our friends were used as toys. Where captured ponies, all mares, were…” Twilight squeezed her eyes shut. “I don’t want to go into it. I don’t want to remember it.”

The three friends stood in silence, then Rarity took Twilight’s hand in hers. “Surely it cannot be as bad as you fear,” she said softly. “Come. You’ve had an exhausting day. Let me make you some tea. I have news as well. But it can, ah, wait.”

“Not yet, Rarity. Rainbow Dash? There are other ponies who escaped. They’re making their way by hoof. Those of us with wings flew ahead to get help. Do you think you could - “

“On it, Twilight!” Anything that would let her help, do something good? That was welcomed. Rainbow needed to feel useful. After today, after running? “You go rest. You need it. I’ll handle things from here!”

The news came as welcome relief to Twilight. “Thank you, Rainbow. They should be coming west of the train tracks. We followed their general path, but stayed far enough away that any train would not see us.”

“Got it! I won’t let you down!” Rainbow leapt into the air, leaving the other two alone. Rarity placed a hand on Twilight’s back, gave an insistent push to start her walking.

“Come, Twilight. We shall go back to my boutique and you can tell me as much as you are comfortable telling, mm? You may wish to stay the night, in fact. The library, weeeeeeell…” Rarity drew out the last word, and Twilight snapped her gaze to her friend.

“What? Is something wrong? What’s happened?”

Rarity laughed, though to Twilight’s ears it sounded forced. “It is nothing serious, darling! Not truly. It is just, well, Spike has gotten a little ill-tempered I fear. He seems to be experiencing one of those growth spurts of his. Oh, nothing like last time! He hasn’t gone stomping over all of Ponyville! But, ah, he isn’t quite himself, mm? I tried to talk him out of it, but when he attempted to grab me, well, the only thing to be done was to leave him be, yes? But nothing has changed in hours! I have had ponies watching to make sure. And you can’t help him if you are so exhausted you are about to fall over, which I promise, darling, you are. You need rest. It can wait till morning. You know Spike! This is probably just a fit of sillyness and come tomorrow it will be all better, yes?”

Twilight had already turned towards the library. “No. I have had enough failures today. If Spike is out of sorts, then I am going to fix it. I’ve lost enough friends. I am not letting another suffer because I don’t have the answers.”

“Twilight! Please! You’re in no state to be handling this. Just look at you! Your dress is in tatters! Your mane is out of sorts. You need to sleep!”

Twilight ignored her. She fanned her wings and leapt into the air, left Rarity behind as she zoomed for home. Moments later, she touched down outside of the library. The tree hung dark in the evening light. No firefly lanterns, no scent of cooking food. Twilight knew she hadn’t been expected until tomorrow, but even so, this was not like Spike.

She walked to the front door, and carefully pushed it open. “Spike!? I’m home! Are you there?” Nothing. Dim shadows in the waning light. No movement, no sounds. A few scattered books that she absently levitated before her eyes. Soon they were back in their proper shelves as Twilight headed for the stairs.

“Spike?” she called again. Still nothing. She took the first few steps, and then a blur rushed downwards, and Twilight found herself bowled over, as a voice at once familiar and distorted roared out, “MINE!”

Claws closed round her neck, yanked her upwards, and she kicked out instinctively only for her hoof to bounce off hard scales. Spike was larger, no question about that. Unlike last time, he was...bulkier, too. Muscled and thick where he had been thin and lanky. Twilight gawked, but when his other talons cleaved open her gown, her paralysis shattered.

Darkness vanished as a bright flash of light illuminated everything, and Spike roared as it blinded him. Twilight screwed her face up, and popped out of existence, to reappear at the bottom of the stairwell.

“MINE!” Spike roared, and blindly swiped outwards, gouging the wood as he stumbled down the staircase. “TWILIGHT MINE!”

“Spike! Get ahold of yourself! This isn’t you!” He ignored her, only oriented towards her voice, and charged. Twilight narrowly stepped out of the way, and Spike barreled past her. His impact shook the room as he smashed into a bookcase, sending precious books tumbling to the floor. The mass moved, and Spike erupted from it as he roared in frustration. Talons clenched, rubbed at his eyes to try to clear away the spots.

Twilight backed away, but she could tell the faint clipclop of her hooves was giving her away. Spike grabbed a book, and her eyes widened.

“That’s a first edition! Be carefu-OOF!” The book smacked her in the stomach. Her breath vanished, and she wheezed as she tried to inhale. Spike’s low growl roiled in his chest as he stood and approached.

“Mine,” he snarled, and reached for the doubled-over mare.

Twilight’s eyes were wet with tears as she stared up at him. “I’m...s-sorry...Spike…” She puffed between short quarter-breaths. Her eyes squeezed shut as she gathered power in her horn, and just before he laid claw on her, the most powerful stunning spell she could muster blasted forth.

Spike’s angry roar reverberated about, but Twilight did not relent. More and more power poured into the spell, until a loud, boneless thump brought her back. Spike lay prone on the floor before her. She shuddered, wide-eyed and looking at him as she fought to get her breath back, and only then did she dare poke his body. She carefully levitated him up, rolled him over, and let out a held breath as she saw his chest rise and fall.

“Only unconscious. I’m sorry, Spike. You...you’re not well.” She rose, and he floated behind her as she carried him into the basement. It took the greater part of an hour before she felt he was adequately sealed away. Equipment needed to be moved upstairs, cluttering the main library. Spells woven to enhance the walls and door so he could not batter them down. And...food. She wouldn’t want him to be left alone and hungry. Even if he wasn’t in his right mind, he was still her number one assistant.

By the time she was done, it was well past moonrise, and Twilight had to fight to keep her eyes open. She realized she’d never changed, that her top was in tatters. She thought of tea, but even that simple pleasure felt too much work. Her horn had begun to ache at any use of magic halfway through, and she’d been forced to carry the rest of her equipment upstairs to conserve power. Now, she felt utterly drained. She plodded slowly up the stairs, to her room, to the one refuge she felt any degree of safety in.

Her bed beckoned. Twilight fell atop the sheets without bothering to change. Her eyes slumped shut. Her head found a pillow, and as tears stained her cheeks, she felt the world fall away until the last of her awareness winked out. Alone, uncertain, afraid...Twilight slept.