Chapter Eleven: Redemption of the Goddess

"Will you die for them?"

Celestia, Dusty Shine and Twilight all stand quietly within the dimly lit hospital room of the medical wing, their eyes transfixed upon the sleeping forms of the pilot and midnight princess. The room has been blanketed in silence for some time now, only the steady hum of the monitoring devices and the soft blips of the machinery ring into the air. It's been several hours since their careful return to Canterlot, Celestia herself having of carried both of them upon her back, escorted by over half of the interceptor aircraft from all over Equestria.

The white alicorn stares at their slumbering forms, unable to take her eyes off of them as she lets out a quiet, soft murmur. Her magenta orbs tracing along their faces and muzzle, her mind unable to comprehend the ordeals and terrors they must have faced. Half of the pilots face is swollen, his right eye so badly damaged that she's unsure if even magic could heal it. Deep cuts, lacerations and dark bruises adorn both of them, deep, obvious cracking showing upon Luna's horn. The midnight alicorn has two broken wings, both forelegs and hooves showing significant trauma from the crash.

"Celestia...I never knew it was this bad..." Twilight speaks up, just barely above a whisper. Her mind simply unable to process the extent of the injuries, her thoughts trying to piece together just what could have inflicted this extreme level of harm upon her friends. She alights her own horn to probe the two with gentle magic, only to quickly snap it away as an arc of pain shoots from her own horn to her tail. The alicorn lets out a soft whimper, her eyes tearing up at just what the couple must be feeling, yet grateful they're not awake to experience it.

There's a very gentle rapping upon the door, followed by it being slowly opened by the Pegasus doctor, chief medical officer of the palace, gingerly stepping in. He quietly clears his throat, signaling the trio to come with him into the hallway. Celestia and Twilight both turn to follow, the earthen mare on the other hoof, remains planted where she stood.

"Dusty?" Celestia whispers, turning her head. "Dusty...?"

Shaking her head, she comes to a rest on her rump, letting out a quiet, defeated huff. "Go ahead, Celestia...I'm not leaving them." She discordantly responds, her tone soft, almost sounding as if the sight of this were cutting her very heart from her barrel. Celestia watches as the mare lifts both fore legs, coming to rest upon the edge of the human's bed, before laying her head down upon her fore hooves. Dusty's muzzle gently touches and nuzzles the pilots hand, Celestia able to see the streaming tears falling from the ocean blue orbs of the earthen mare, cascading down to the floor. The regal white alicorn can only give a ghost of a small smile, before turning on her hooves and stepping out into the waiting hallway, the door closing behind her as she exits.

Letting out a soft sigh, Celestia turns her saddened gaze upon the Pegasus stallion. "What is it, Doctor Life Flight?" She asks, her heart sinking within her barrel. She studies the stallions body language, her mind already racing to darker thoughts when she senses the apprehension. Clearly...the news she was about to hear was anything but good.

The doctor adjusts his glasses with a hoof, before retrieving his clip board from under his left wing, and clearing his throat. "Well your highness...I'm afraid I have some bad news." He starts. He flinches as he sees both alicorns step back, the sun princess clearly the more distressed of the pair. Her doe like magenta orbs pleading, memories of that very same look when princess Sparkle was within his care, shortly after the war.

He clears his throat, looking down at the paperwork before him held in a foreleg, before turning his attention back to the two princesses. "Though we will be able to heal most of their injuries...I'm afraid that there will be lasting, permanent damage. Human...and alicorn physiology are still a bit of a mystery to us I'm afraid. We're unsure if we can repair your sisters horn...the extreme power she must have used at some point didn't do her any favors. Her wings, while able to be mended...are still going to be significantly weakened by the fractures we found. It could be weeks...perhaps months before she's able to fly again. ...if ever at all."

Celestia flinches, almost as if she were kicked square in the stomach, turning her gaze to the floor. She turns her eyes back to the Pegasus before her, then croaks out. "And...Talon?" She asks. "What of my sisters husband...?

Doctor Life Flight let's out a heavy sigh, shaking his head. "That's the bad news I'm afraid. He's in worse shape now, than he was after the ordeal in Horseshoe bay years back. We've detected signs of internal bleeding when we had them both in for surgery. We've done all we can...but at this point it's up to your mother if he makes it through the night. We've found evidence of extreme trauma to his chest, shoulders and back. Even if he does by some miracle survive...we don't know if he'll be able to walk, or pilot the banshee ever again. It's all up to their own will power and determination to survive at this point. Whatever happened to both of them, princess...is far worse than just that crash could have done. The best we can hope to do now is...pray, and let them both rest."

"When can we bring the twins to come and see their parents?" Twilight speaks up, a grim expression upon her features. "Perhaps if they see how much their children have missed them...it may give them the strength to carry on and recover."

The Pegasus doctor sighs, shaking his head. "I'm sorry princess...but even if that were a possible outcome, I can't allow the fillies in the infirmary. Bringing the children in here will introduce an unstable element for now, and they're at the impressionable age where seeing their mother and father in this condition would do a lot more harm than good. Until we see how things will turn out, I'm afraid I can't even allow visits."

The white alicorn clears her throat, interjecting. "You will allow Dusty Shine to remain, doctor. At a bare minimum, I want her to remain by my sister and the commanders side. She has more than earned that right, and she is well versed with medical procedures from her training before coming to the palace in service of the crown. I decree she is to be given free access and allowed to stay."

Doctor Life Flight eyes the regal white alicorn, nodding slowly. "Medical...training, your highness? I wasn't aware of this." He stares her down for a moment, watching as her ears swivel, her features showing she's not willing to give an inch. With a defeated sigh, he places on his warm award winning smile, his tone even and calm. "Very well, your majesty. I'll allow your sisters friend to remain and observe their care. But only to observe, mind you! They're patients in my medical bay, and I take my job as lead physician very seriously. But...if you believe having a close friend will assist in their speedy recovery, then I will oblige this once."

Twilight and Celestia nod, the solar princess seeming to visibly relax at this concession. "Please alert us should any changes occur, no matter how minor they may seem. I would like to be updated on my family's status regularly." Celestia speaks out, turning slowly on her hooves.

"Ah, it would be my pleasure, your majesty. Please give the twins my regards, and let them know that they have Equestria's very best looking after their parents." The Pegasus doctor breathes out with a smile, his warm, friendly bedside manner showing through very clearly in his tone.

As the two alicorns begin to walk out, Twilight leans over to Celestia and whispers. "I didn't know Dusty had nurse training...do all of the maids know first aid too?" She asks.

Celestia leans down, whispering under her breath into the lavender alicorns ear, smiling at her small victory. "She doesn't. Dusty started working here at the palace when she was still a teenager, and I have no idea what the maids are taught." Twilight can only nod, surprised by Celestia's small lie, but understanding the reasons behind it.

The lavender alicorn alights her horn, opening the doors to the exit of the medical ward, the pair stepping out into the hallway. Celestia comes to a stop near the window in the grand hall, her eyes watching the sun near it's setting point. She lets out a sigh and shakes her head. "I think it would be best if the twins slept in our chambers with us this evening. I have no doubt that they're going to be very upset after seeing what they did in the control center, and young Stardust catching me carrying them in."

Twilight also stops, coming to a rest on her haunches for a moment. "While that's a good idea...you may want to bathe first. I don't see the twins reacting very well with their mothers blood upon your back. Fluttershy had told me earlier they seemed inconsolable, and the other girls are keeping the twins occupied the best they can for the moment. I'll take them to dinner and help while you get cleaned up, and we'll both put them to bed tonight. I'm ok with them sleeping in our bed with us, if it will help."

Craning her neck to look and inspect her own form, Celestia blanches, having completely forgotten about the now long since dried blood smears staining her white fur. She cringes, the thought of it making her feel somewhat of a sour stomach. She nods and continues on bound for her chambers, while Twilight turns and heads for the gardens where the others are with the twins.

In the gloom and darkness of the room, Dusty lets out a quiet, sad sigh of despair. She's remained stationary, her head still resting on top of the mattress, positioned where she can continue to nuzzle and comfort her friends in her own way. The Earthen mare gently breathing, barely making a sound. She hears the latch of the rooms door lock click open, the handle moving slowly as the door opens. Into the room steps an unfamiliar cream soda colored unicorn mare, with a deeply vibrant crimson mane. Dusty notices her Cutie mark is an inkwell and a quill, with small golden stars trailing off of the quills tip. The emerald eyes of the mare stare into Dusty's own, causing an icy shiver to race down her spine.

As Dusty begins to lift her head to greet the new mare, the unicorn quietly steps to her, raising a hoof to her maw and simply whispering "Shhhh." A sensation of vertigo overtakes the former maid, before all of the room blacks out into comforting darkness; the earthen mare falling into a coma like sleep, the earth pony crumpling to the bed's surface.

The room is silent, minus the blips of the machines, and the quiet, steady breathing of the occupants. Alighting her horn and shifting the lock upon the door, the unicorn seals the room, stepping to the foot of the bed, a small, gentle smile adorns her muzzle as she eyes them, swishing her horn slowly into the air. "Not yet...you three. The time has not come for you." She whispers, her muzzle not moving, her lips remaining firmly sealed. Her eyes flash as her smile grows, a pure white aura of magic and stardust coat the entire room, the gentle magic falling upon the sleeping alicorn and human.

"Your final task awaits you, the end, draws quite near. I bid you come out of the shadows, it is time to face your fears. May you be laid bare before me, confess all of your crimes. I hear the requiem, the soft sound of an eternal lullaby. I bid you come forth for your final test, to show truth from all of your lies." The words echo off of the walls, the mare's mouth still not moving.

She watches as the occupants of the beds fall into a deeper sleep, her eyes tracing the glow of the bauble around the pilots neck. The amethyst light holding strong, flickering violently in her presence. "The time has come for you, Obsolescence. For you the bell has had it's final toll. You will answer for your crimes this night, so I have spoken to you, my desert rose."

"Mine flame...where are we now?" Luna asks, searching around the darkened room. It feels unfamiliar to her, the atmosphere tasting full of sadness, pain and regret. She lets out an unconscious shiver as she steps timidly in place, the sensation of nervousness and loss overcoming her.

The pilot lets out a sigh, shaking his head as he stands beside her. "Well...we just can't catch a break, now can we?" He mutters. "Last I remember, we were going down and about to crash. Now we're...wherever the hell here is."

The midnight alicorn perks up her ears, a faint sound akin to shouting in the distance, on the other side of a door. She nudges her human's hand, then motions with her muzzle to the direction. "I hear something, mine love...we art not alone, I fear."

He notices the door, not hearing the sounds that seem to have the alicorn interested. With a shrug, he steps to it, raising his hand to meet the cold, metallic surface of the door. It pushes open as if it were free standing all along, the way opened and beckoning them to step forward. The air smells of ash, smoke and wood, oils and mildew. Talon checks his form searching for weapons, finding none. He swallows hard and clenches his fists, then steps out into the hall, motioning for the alicorn to follow.

Luna obeys, galloping to his side quickly, and following close behind him. Her horn is alight with an attack spell primed, ready to leap into action should they be engaged in a fight. Down a long corridor, they see a small crack of light, obfuscated as if it were being held back by a curtain or drapes.

They hear the sounds of shouting and murmurs, cries and discontented pleas. A heavy scent of smoke permeates the air as they draw ever closer, approaching the hidden room. The two peer through the crack in the fabric wall, Luna gently nudging the drape aside with her fore leg to see. What the two find, leaves them breathless with shock.

Standing in the center of a large, dark room, is none other than a familiar black alicorn. Heavy chains bind her hooves to the ground, steel bands with malicious looking spiked locks hold her wings uncomfortably tight to her sides. There is a large, heavy collar wrapped around her neck, with connecting chains leading to the shackles around her legs, and one running to the band restricting her wings to her form. She's standing in the only pool of light, Luna and the pilot unable to make out the shadowed figures all standing high above the arena like room.

"Obsolescence, you stand accused of multiple counts of murder, heresy and treason. You have been brought before this tribunal this day to stand trial, before your execution. This court bids you to confess your sins before your sentence. How do you plead?" A dark voice of a mare rings out.

Luna flicks her gaze to the far right, seeing a heavily cloaked figure standing at a podium, a hood draped far over her face and her only feature shown is her shadowed muzzle. She gasps as she sees an object fly from the stands towards the black alicorn, striking her in the cheek and drawing a sharp, pained whinny from her.

Talon grits his teeth in anger. "Luna...we have to do something." He whispers, observing the area. He looks around through the narrow slit from their hiding spot, searching the area for any possible guards that may prevent their rescue attempt. "They're going to kill her if we don't do something."

"Mine flame, be still!" The midnight alicorn urges in a hushed, angry whisper. "This isn't right...How is Obsolescence out and in her own body? She hath taken refuge within your heart, and thus cannot be removed even by force! This must be an illusion, or another mare like ours!"

The black alicorn peers up at the shadowed mare presiding over this witch hunt, her teal orbs almost pleading as she speaks out. "I have changed, I only work as a force for good now! Please, you must see reason!" She cries out. "In the years that followed mine and Luminescence's banishment to that wretched place of silence, I learned from my sins! I have seen love, and light! I have born life out of that very love, and forgotten of my own rage! I beg of you to allow me to return to my herd! Let me repent for my sins and atone, to bring justice for my world, for my master!"

"Heresy! No stallion would take a devil into his care! It is a lie!" A shadow from an unknown side of the arena counters. Talon and Luna watch in horror as the area erupts in more shouts, voices cursing and insulting the black alicorn, sounds of pure malice and hate. Several voices boo and scream for her death before them.

"It is true! I beg of you, release me back to him!" The black alicorn pleads desperately. "He had given me a name! I made peace with the bringer of the light, and he had even treated me to a view of his worlds splendor! It...it was a beach he said! He is of the light! A hero to the kingdom! Seek him if you wish, my master is the prince of the skies!"

Talon swallows hard, clenching his fists. "Luna...that sounds an awful lot like our Nightie." He whispers, trying to step past the midnight alicorn. "Even if it isn't, we can't let them do this to her."

"And you'll do what?! We have no weapons, we're mother knows where and clearly outnumbered! Think things through, mine love! We need a plan of attack first!" Luna retorts, blocking his passage with her rump. "Stay your wrath for now, mine husband. We need to observe!"

The sound of a heavy clacking overtakes the arena, drawing the attention of the couple arguing, and ushering in a silence over the tribunal. Luna stares at the shadowed mare in the stands, watching as her cream colored muzzle moves on the edge of the hood, the appearance being almost akin to a twisted snarl.

"You have no proof, and have only made yourself a foal before this trial. I see no evidence of your so called master you claim. I hereby give my decree, that you shall be executed post haste before your peers this day. So I have spoken." The dark voice rings out, the crowd cheering out in an uproar.

"Your crimes have stayed your hooves, your sins weight your soul down. No one has come to your defense, and it is your final hour, Obsolescence. You shall have your horn removed, and your wings sheared from your form. As punishment for your heresy, I shall personally rend your heart from your very core, and display its wretched darkness for all of creation to see. You should have known the price of evil."

The pilot forces Luna to the side against the wall, glaring at her. "I have a plan. Attack! Give me a distraction, and I'll get her free. There's no time, angel!"

The midnight alicorn nods, arcs of soft blue electricity dancing off of her horn as the two charge through the drape, Luna firing shots of arcane magic wildly into the stands and shadowed mare. As she's rushing out, the pilot charges to the black alicorn, quickly going for the chains and pins securing them to the ground.

The blasts of the alicorns magic strike several of the shadows, simply passing through them harmlessly and colliding with the walls in the distance. One of the bolts lands a lucky glance on the cream colored mare in the cloak, somehow ricocheting off and being harmlessly deflected away. The cloaked mare does not move, but merely adorns a clearly un amused frown look upon her muzzle.

"Angel, the chains!" The pilot shouts, hurriedly motioning to the midnight alicorn. He feverishly rips and yanks on the bands links around her body, trying to bend or pry the metal free and off of the black mare.

"Master! You came!" Nightmare cries out in joy. She holds still as he works on her bindings, her eyes wide with hope. "I knew you would come for--mmmph!" She's silenced as he grasps her muzzle with a free hand, the pilot turning to look her in the eyes.

"Shut up, I'm busy." He retorts. Luna gallops to him in the confusion, sounds of angry shouts and hooves shuffling to them coming from all directions. Luna and the pilot both look up at the cloaked mare, who still hasn't moved from her position.

Luna touches her lit horn to the chains, the interlinks upon the bindings shattering to dust in an instant. Nightmare flares her wings out and alights her horn, dark blue arcane sparks erupting all around her own visage. She primes her own attack spells as she begins to prance and buck around, firing her own magic into the stands above them.

More hoof beats pound and thunder around them, several hulking, cloaked stallions coming into view, towering over the pilot as they gallop to the three. Talon quickly whirls around and swings with his fist, connecting a powerful right hook to the jaw of one of the stallions and knocking it to the ground.

Luna whips around on her front hooves, kicking wildly with her powerful hind legs and bucking another stallion hard in the muzzle, sending him into a high arc free flight into the stands, where he collides with several of the moving shadows, then vanishes.

As another stallion in a cloak rushes forward to the group, it rears up on it's hind legs and kicks forward wildly, nearly getting the human with it's deadly armored hooves. Nightmare lunges forward and gores its soft unprotected underbelly with her horn, then whips her head back and flings the large stallion behind her back into the shadows.

"Mine husband! We must flee! NOW!" Luna shouts, her horn unleashing a powerful burst of magic and knocking two oncoming stallion guards back. She quickly turns her head, the corner of her eye catching the pilot mid flip kick, sending another stallion to the ground, before he races forward and sends a bone crushing punch upon its head, his fist sinking deep into the skull and possibly shattering it.

"No shit!" He fires back in a shout. They all try to make their way back the way they came, fighting off what seems to be endless pairs of the shadowed and cloaked stallion guards attacking in waves. As they're nearly out, Luna glances back to the cloaked mare in the stands, who still sits watching. The mare has yet to move, or do anything. As the midnight alicorn begins to turn and flee through the drape, she can almost swear she had seen the cloaked mare...grinning.

The three race through the halls, twisting and turning quickly as they feverishly search for the exit. The midnight alicorn pants raggedly, her heart thundering within her and blood roaring in her ears. She's exhausted.

"In here!" Talon shouts, knocking open a door inside of the hallway, his shoulder ramming the door wide open. The two alicorn mares rush in ahead, the pilot whipping into the darkened room after them and pushing the door closed. He braces it from the inside, sounds of hooves thundering past them within seconds of the three sealing the door.

Luna and Obsolescence pant raggedly, desperately trying to catch their breath and slow their heart rates. Several minutes pass in darkness, before the midnight alicorn alights her horn, casting out a soft, pale blue glow to illuminate the darkened room.

There's two windows far off on the other side of the massive room, bars covering the outside and hindering the view. The room is for the most part empty, the windows far too small to climb out of and escape. She walks around within the chamber, searching for anything that may be useful. Her hoof bumps an object on the floor, a dull clatter overtaking the room for a moment before it's silenced.

"Mine love...come here." The midnight alicorn beckons, motioning with a swish of her horn. Her ears turn and swivel as she hears his soft panting from running, the sounds of his boots clacking quietly against the cold stone floor. "What do you make of this?" She asks, pointing her fore hoof at an unfamiliar object upon the ground.

Talon carefully eyes it, looking it over. "Looks like a bow of some kind..." He responds quietly, picking it up. It feels almost as if the frame were made of metal, the cord feels like tightly woven wires. He quirks an eyebrow as he studies it, picking it up and testing the draw. "Why...why would there be a bow here?"

"More importantly, why are we here?" Luna mutters, looking around. "This seems out of place, mine flame. We had come through the rift I remember, and we were in the air still. ...where is our machine, and why is Obsolescence here?"

The pilot turns his head, watching as the black alicorn rests against the door a short distance away, using her own body to barricade it closed for them. He turns his attention back to the bow in his hands, then nods in agreement. "This does seem off, and a human weapon in here to boot is a little too convenient. I don't like this."

"Nor do I." She responds, her ears swiveled behind her to track the black alicorn in the room. Luna chews on her cheek within her maw, her heart filled with an unsettling feeling. "This isn't right...none of this is."

Talon looks down at the bauble around his neck, the glass orb appearing completely empty and dark. Tapping it with his fingers, he motions to the midnight alicorn to show her. Luna notices it too. The star within it is missing.

"Master..." Nightie breathes out, a small, relieved smile adorns her muzzle. The pilot and night princess turn and look at her, the soft glow of Luna's magic highlighting the black alicorns fangs within her maw. "Thank...thank you, for saving me. Thank both of you."

"Don't thank us yet, we still need to find a way out of here." Talon replies quietly, looking around. "We need to figure out what's going on. What all do you know about this place?" As she's about to respond, Luna steps between the pilot and the approaching black alicorn, her lips twisted into a cruel snarl.

"She's not our obsolescence." Luna seethes out, taking position and blocking the black alicorns path. She flares out her wings, her gaze glaring dangerously at Nightmare as she gives a warning hiss. "This is some kind of a ruse, thou must be one of our captors!"

Nightmare stops in her advance, her hoof steps coming to a screeching halt. Her own wings fold tightly to her sides as she begins to back up. "Luminescence, that's not true! I am no impostor!" She quietly cries out. "Please...let me explain!"

"Then explain." Talon buts in, holding the bow still in his hands. "Where the hell is this, What in the fuck is going on? You can start by explaining how you're out of this charm, and where the hell my damned plane is."

More hoof beats thunder past the door, sounds of rushing and muffled voices from the other side of it. The three remain quiet for a moment as the ones seeking them pass, before the black alicorn lets out a heavy sigh of relief. Nightmares eyes focus on the pilot, before she inhales a gentle breath.

"I...I don't know where we are. Nor do I know what has become of our machine, master. I am the one you named, the one you call Nightie. As to how I am outside of the bauble Luminescence gave you...I don't know either. The last memory I have was dreaming about the place you talked to me and asked me to come to you. The...the Earth ocean!" She quickly adds. "I had fallen asleep after I used my power to save our machine from it's crash!"

"Crash...?" Luna quietly mouthed under her breath. She searches through her memories, vaguely recalling the landing into the water. Flashes overtake her thoughts, glimpses of swimming to shore with her human in tow, a brief sensation of the cold water over her fur. She remembers the sound of jet engines before the darkness.

"We...we were in free fall. I woke up right before we hit the water, and covered the banshee with my remaining power to protect you. The...the force was too much, and I was knocked out from the impact. I...I don't remember anything after that. I just woke up, and was being dragged to that horrible place in those awful chains." She falls to her rump, her ears turned outward as her gaze remains locked onto the couple. "Please...believe me. I am Nightie. Your beta mare and Luminescence's other half. Our...our children. Stardust Kiss, and little Moonlight. I am...I am Nightie."

The midnight alicorn primes her horn, she's had enough of this show and lie. "I'm going to end your life here, you deceitful mare." She growls out. As she's about to fire, Talon wraps his free hand around her horn and gives a gentle tug, breaking her concentration and dispersing the spell.

"No...don't." He quietly whispers, then steps around the midnight alicorn. "Luna...more light. Make it brighter in here." He gives a gentle command, stepping to the shaking and frightened black alicorn before them. He reaches out to her as Luna obeys, and gently grasps her wing, lifting it off of her side. His eyes study and trace her soft form, his fingers feeling along the outstretched wings frame. He can see what appears to be heavy scars along the underside, as well as wounds still mending.

"You are Nightie." He quietly comments, noticing how she's slowing in her trembling under his touch. "The one I know had gotten these in Baol when we fought off the demons." Turning his head, he looks to his alicorn. "Luna...this is Nightie. I don't know how, I won't even pretend I understand any of this...but this is our Nightmare Moon for sure. "

Nightie slowly stops shaking under the pilots gentle touch, relishing in the soft, warm contact of his hands caressing her sensitive wings. His fingers pass lightly over a deep cut still mending over the Ulna ** , causing her to shiver intensely, the massive wing shuttering for a moment as she bares the pain silently.

Talon releases the wing carefully, very gently assisting the black alicorn in folding it back against her side. As he's turning to face Luna, his eyes glance down at the sensation of wetness upon his fingertips, seeing the Nightmare alicorns blood upon him. With a sigh, he turns to face Luna. "I...I can't explain any of this either, angel. Somehow or another she is real." He says, holding up his hand and showing the small patch of blood upon his fingers, the crimson fluid glistening under the soft glow of the night alicorns magic. "And that's good enough for me. There's just no way even with all of her power she could fabricate any of this."

Luna growls out, glaring daggers at the black alicorn as her husband takes position standing beside her once more. Luna's jade orbs maintain their cold, unrelenting gaze upon Nightie. "Neigh, mine flame. Obsolescence was once known as the Shepherd Of Fire ages ago, the very evil that was a plague upon creation that both mine and my sisters powers could barely defeat. She hath far greater power than thou could ever fathom. Illusion magic was one of her many vast skills." The midnight princess clicks her tongue within her maw, narrowing her gaze. "This could still be a great ruse...I dare say."

Nightie shivers in place, looking at both the pilot and midnight alicorn before her, maintaining her seated position upon her rump. "Luminescence...there is no reason why I would create any of this....whatever this is. I made you a promise that day when we met, and I fought the vile insect for you. I promised that I would never bring harm to you, the kingdom or children. Above all else, evil I may have once been....I never did break any promise I had ever made. Even I had no love for a liar."

Talon sighs out, face palming as the two quietly argue. "Both of you cut it out, this is neither productive nor answering just what the fuck is going on. Let's figure out a way outside, establish where the fuck we are and get the hell out of here. If we can make it to sunny butt, she could get this crazy shit figured out." Turning away, he looks around the empty room for a moment, pulling the bow string around his shoulder and chest to free his hands. "I swear to God...you nutty fucking space ponies are going to be the death of me."

Luna rolls her eyes, letting out a quiet snort. "And yet it was thou who wed a 'nutty fucking space pony', mine flame." She counters, letting loose a swift punt against his side with her fore leg. She turns her gaze to him with a wry smile, her eyes hinting at her playful nature despite their situation. "And don't thou forget it."

"First thing is first, we need to find some kind of weapons we can use. As much fun as it is bashing in skulls..." Talon states after clearing his throat for a moment, ignoring Luna's witty retort. "We'll be a lot more effective if we can wound our enemy, rather than just beating them senseless."

Nightmare rises to her bare hooves once again, her own horn alit to give off some light within the dark room. She begins to slowly walk around, her teal orbs scanning for any objects they could fashion into a weapon, or other useful devices. Her ears swivel as she hears the pair also shuffling about together, searching the darkness as well.

Minutes pass, the three finding nothing of use within the room. The decaying wooden shelves against the wall are too far gone to even serve as any kind of blunt weapon, no hint of metals they could quickly sharpen with their magic. Even if the two alicorns were to attempt replication magic, there would have to be some kind of comparable matter nearby as a source that they could for transmutation or synthesis. After all, one cannot copy matter if none exists to begin with, even with magic.

The hall has been silent for some time now, Luna, nor Nightmare hearing any activity even in the distance. Luna slowly creeps back to the door, the pilot in tow behind her as they check to see if it's clear. With a baited breath, she turns her head and nods to the pilot, who quietly steps around her to crack open the door and search. The decaying door lets out a low groan and squeak as it's drawn open, the three wincing at the sound. Several intense moments pass, still no activity from the outside heard or seen. He pokes his head out and glances around, his own heart thundering in his chest with some fear. The hallway is empty.

He lets out a quiet sigh of relief, then motions for the two alicorn mares to follow. Luna is the first to step out behind him, her horn alight, arcane magic sparks dancing randomly off of her horn from a primed attack spell. Nightie exits next, the tall svelte black mare emerging from the room last, willing the door closed with her magic. They continue forward in the dark and foreboding hall, searching for any more rooms, anywhere that could lead to an exit. They follow the twists and turns, coming to room after empty room again, the feeling of grave despair washing over them more and more with every unsettling step.

The very air all around them is thick with tension, tasting with the same sullen feelings that Nightie and Talon had experienced in the toxic atmosphere of Baol. As they pass another opened door, Luna's jade orbs catch a shimmer in the darkness, light reflecting from her horn. She comes to a halt and clicks quietly within her maw, gaining the pilots attention. She turns quietly on her hooves and pushes open the worn out door more, stepping into the shadowed gloom of the room. Talon quickly follows behind her, the Nightmare alicorn hot on his heels as the three enter the unknown.

A few steps in, Luna is able to make out more and more of the shimmer, the light dancing off of the metallic object. Resting against the wall in some kind of a leather pouch that smells of blood to her, she can see a series of long, cold solar steel rods with feathers adorning the ends rigidly. She tilts her head silently studying the strange pouch, watching as the pilot picks it up and begins to remove one of the objects from the pouch.

"Oh now this...is just a little too convenient." He quietly breathes out, holding the object in his free hand. "Now what are the odds of these just happening to be here?" He asks, turning to the two mares with him.

"What are those, mine love?" Luna asks, her eyes tracing the long rod, ended by a menacing razor sharp triangle at the opposite end. She knew whatever it was, it was made with the intent to kill. Her heart begins to quicken in its pace as he removes the bow from his back, the strange object quickly being drawn with the bow.

"It's an arrow." He responds, testing the draw once again, the arrow docked at the nock, the shaft resting against the top of the grip. He stares down the shaft for targeting for a moment, before releasing the tension of the draw. "And I'll bet these white fetching on this one are probably space pony feathers to boot." He mutters, grasping the strap upon the quiver, and slinging it over his shoulder and chest as the bow once was. "Human bow...now human arrows, and quite a few at that." He says, counting them in the pouch. "The sad thing is....I was a lousy shot at these when I trained in basic. I never could shoot one of these worth a shit."

"What do these things do, master?" Nightmare calls out, her own teal orbs studying the human weapons the pilot is holding.

"Specifically, these were the forms of guns, before guns were invented. People of my world used these in the old days to take down prey, or other humans at a good distance. It's a form of ranged combat that allowed one to do damage from a safe distance. It doesn't quite have the same range as one of my pistols, but a lucky shot or an arrow through an enemies eye socket would do about the same job." He responds, pointing at the head of the arrow. "These ones were made to do a lot more damage being removed, rather than penetrating the target. Those razor ends were designed to sink into the enemy and embed, making it very hard to remove, and garenteed to cause more harm upon the exit. Whoever left these here, must have either been a hunter I would imagine."

"Why would this be here though?" Luna asks, following as the pilot begins to exit the room once more. Her ears swivel as she hears Nightie following behind her again, the three making their way back out into the hall.

"Like I said...this is just a little too convenient, angel. On my world, we had these things called video games. And the one common bit of knowledge was any time you got a lot of useful items in it, often meant something very very bad was about to happen. Being how incredibly cliche this is all turning out to be, I'm going to say we're likely going to get very unlucky up ahead. I swear...this is like some kind of very bad dream."

Luna nods, her horn once again lighting with her attack magic. Her mind processes all of this information, unsure what to make of any of this. Nothing makes sense to her. The stars outside feel so foreign, yet look so familiar. The air tastes nothing of Equestria, yet she feels the very fabric of harmony within the heavenly mechanisms. She can feel her power, yet nothing feels as if it's being drained within her like it would be with normal magical use. Nothing feels right at all.

Stardust Kiss sighs, looking up at the lavender alicorn quietly reading a large dusty tome upon the desk in the dimly lit chambers, the flickering light of the fire lighting up the cozy room of the regal white alicorn. She turns her head and glances around, chewing upon her cheek within her maw.

Princess Celestia is resting on the bed, Moonlight Way tucked safely under her large, elegant left wing, sleeping peacefully and snoring softly, the elder white alicorn holding a gold laden, intricately patterned white and silver banded brush within her magical grasp, passing the bristles slowly over the mane of Stardust Kiss.

"Auntie Tia...why can't we go see our mom and dad yet? Why is mamma sick?" Stardust moans out, the brush passing through her fine hairs and brushing out, the ministrations ebbing away at the tension and boredom within her. "You said we could go see them when they came home."

Celestia lets out a gentle, soft sigh, desperately trying to hold back the sadness within her voice. "They will be fine, my little treasure. Your mother and father are simply resting after their long trip, It's...normal...for ponies to be checked up by the nice doctor ponies, after they have an extended trip outside of our kingdom. " She says uneasily, hiding the white lie within her calm and regal words. "Your auntie Dusty is with them right now to insure they're being tended to...and we may be able to go see them with the sunrise."

The black alicorn filly alights her horn quickly, forming a thin veil of magic into a field, and deflecting the brush away. This startles Celestia, as the filly rolls onto her back and glares at the elder white alicorn, her sapphire orbs boring into Celestia's magenta ones. "Then raise the sun! I want to go see them!"

The clatter of the brush falling away, knocked out of the regal princesses grasp and falling to the floor startles Twilight, causing her to nearly jump off of the cushion and out of her fur. She turns her attention to the bed, seeing the surprise on the white alicorns muzzle. Clearly Celestia didn't expect that.

She's silent for a brief moment, before she regains her composure and lowers her head down to the black alicorn filly. She raises her bare hoof against the treasure before her, brushing a strand of the silvery pink mane away from the child's eyes, her soft magenta orbs locked onto the filly. "It's isn't as simple as that, little one. Even if I could this very moment, it wouldn't be right for me to place all of Equestria into a blind panic of suddenly raising the sun, after I had set it not but an hour ago." She quietly breathes out. Centuries of dealing with even the most difficult politicians and nobles have honed her skill of dealing with even the most trying of ponies, yet she was finding it hard tonight to maintain her calmness in this situation. She desperately wanted to tell the truth now, every fiber of the white alicorns being was screaming within her to demand that the children be with their parents. But she knew, she must stay this course. For the safety of both Equestria and the hearts of the treasured children of her beloved sister, Stardust Kiss must never find out the truth of her mothers state.

"I will keep my promise, my darling treasure." Celestia says, giving a loving nuzzle against the black fillies neck. "Your parents will never again be sent away on any kind of dangerous, or extended mission again. And as soon as the nice doctor tells me they're ok to return to their normal duties, I'll be sure they have a full month of doing nothing but spending time with you."

Twilight clears her throat, rising off of the cushion and stepping to the bed side. She rears up on her hind legs and places her fore legs upon the bed, coming to a seated position on her haunches, her violet eyes looking into the blue orbs of Stardust Kiss. "That's right." She says with a genuine, soft smile. "Your aunt Tia and I have decided that we're going to close the night court for a little while, and make sure your mom and papa have plenty of time with you. We're both even putting your studies on hold, and throwing your parents a big party. I'm sure Pinkie Pie would love it if you helped too, since the grand galloping gala is only a couple of days away. You could help make the hangar all pretty for your parents, since that's where we are hosting it this year."

Stardust chews on her inner cheek more, her horn fizzling out finally as the field comes down, letting out a soft sigh. She looks away and quietly murmurs for a moment, then nods. Celestia smiles softly as the filly once again rolls back upon her belly, tucking her hooves back under her, allowing the regal alicorn mare to continue brushing the mane and tail of the filly. Her horn once again alights with a golden glow, the brush rising off of the marble floor of the chambers and back to it's owners side, where she resumes the task of trying to calm the disheartened fillies sorrows away.

Twilight turns away and walks to the balcony, sounds outside catching her attention as her ears swivel. Her hooves lead her to the closed doors, where out of the glass she can see the black warbird being wheeled back indoors finally by the Lunar Stallions and members of the engineering teams. The nose of the war machine is crumpled in, the port wing bent upward at an unnatural angle and the glass of the canopy littered with massive cracks. Water leaks out from various panels, leaving a wet trail upon the stone work in its wake. The forward landing gear skids against the ground as they all push the aircraft back indoors, the alicorn knowing over the course of the next several days the engineers will be busy around the clock repairing the still soaking wet aircraft.

She lets out a soft sigh and nods, turning away from the doors and drawing the drapes closed tight, her magic lacing around the fabric so that only Celestia or herself would be able to draw them open once more, to keep curious filly eyes off of what shouldn't be seen. With another flick of her magic, she locks the grand doors of the chambers for the evening, signaling to the guards standing outside that so pony is to enter or disturb the occupants of the room for any reason, short of a flat out emergency requiring their attention.

Twilight returns once more to the massive tome upon the desk within the room, resuming her in depth study of what the engineers have learned over the last several years about human machines. If she could be of any use in the speedy repair of the star of the show of the upcoming night airshow before the gala, she will do all within her power to make that a reality. Memories glance her thoughts briefly, flashes of helping plan and coordinate each and every single maneuver with both the pilots and pegasus air demonstration teams, the joy warming her heart of knowing she could finally be a part of that dream soon enough. Her heart aches, wondering if the royal couple leading that very demonstration, would still be up for the task.

Turning down the darkened corridoor, they come to a stop at a massive wooden double door. The wood is splintered, cracked and broken with age, a gentle, icy cold wind blows through the cracks, bringing in the fresh scent of salty sea air. Talon lowers the bow slightly, grasping the redied arrow and bow in one hand, while pushing open the decrepit door with his free one. After a good heave, the door swings open slowly, revieling exactly what they have sought; the outside.

"Looks like this is it." He whispers with hope, stepping out onto the cold gravel. He looks around, seeing patches of dead grass and weeds, leading to a cliff a short distance away. Luna and Nightie quickly follow behind him, the trio exiting the large sturcture to the outside. The midnight alicorn serches around, the skies feeling so incredibly unfamiliar now, the stars not resonating with her magics call.

"Where in Heofon are we?" She asks, stepping close to the cliffs edge. Far below, she can see the waves of the ocean crashing against jagged, sharp rocks at the bottom of the chasm, waiting to end ones life should they take that wrong step. She gives a test flex of her wings, extending them out fully and pumping them for a few good, powerful flaps. A sharp pain shoots throughout her, forcing her wings to quickly retract in.

"You alright?" Talon asks, watching as her muzzle contorts to a pained expression. He comes to her side and brushes the strands of deep blue silken hair from her face, his eyes locking onto her own.

"Flying is out of the question, mine flame. My wings are still damaged from that hellish copy of our kingdom." She sighs, looking around. "We must find a way down to the sea, perhaps we can find or fashion some kind of raft to allow us escape from here."

Nightie takes position at the pilots side, the wind causing her chaotic ethereal mane to sway in the breeze. Talon turns to her. "Any of this look familiar to you, Nightie?"

The black alicorn shakes her head solemly. "No, my master. I do not know this place." She sighs quietly. "Luminescence is correct, we should attempt to find a way down. I do not believe I am capable of flight either at this moment, nor can I carry both of you safely down."

"And this is where your journey ends." Calls out a dark, feminine voice. The trio looks up and behind them, their eyes finding the owner of that voice. Standing upon the roof above the door of the structure, a cloaked, towering mare. Long flowing strands of crimson ribbons drape out from the hood, blowing about in the gentle breeze.

Luna steps forward, her horn alight once more with her most powerful, destructive attack spell. Arcane sparks fly off in every direction as the aura flickers violently, the power building with the sheer rage within her heart. "Who art thou! Why hath you brought us to this prison?!"

Talon draws the bow and takes aim, the razor sharp tip of the arrowhead gleaming menacingly as he brings tension to the bow string. His aim is directly at the mares chest, with no possible chance of missing at this range. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees the black alicorn lower herself into a defensive position, her own wings held tensely at her sides as she growls darkly, the draconic teal orbs trained on the cloaked figure.

Sounds of thunderous hoof steps come to their ears, as a great many of the cloaked shadow stallions step forward beside the mare upon the roof. The trio's eyes widen as they see the sheer number of enemies take position upon the roof tops of the structure, all three of them losing count quickly as the numbers continue to grow.

"Surrender that wicked mare now, and I may just spare your lives. Obsolescence must atone for her sins with her life. I will see to it that her punishment is carried out with haste. If you do not, you forefit your own lives." The cloaked mare calls out beneath the hood. Talon stares at the figure unrelenting, unable to make out any of her features to identify just who they were facing. A sensation of great fear washes over him as he feels her piercing gaze upon him directly, almost as if whomever it was under that cloak was looking through his very soul.

Luna steps with trepidation in place, her eyes breaking away to glance at the pilot, unable to decide what to do. A part of her is willing to sacrifice that darkness that held her within it's icy grip for so long, that caused so much pain. She processes quickly, and licks her lips to speak.

"We will do no such thing lady. If you want her, you're going to have to do it over my dead body." Talon fires back, drawing more tension upon the knocked arrow. "Even with my aim, I won't miss at this distance. So if you back off, we'll let you live." The pilot calls out, steeling his will. "I accept your surrender."

The creme colored mare under the cloak laughs darkly. "So insolent...it's almost cute. I wonder just who gave you that?" She responds. Raising her hoof, she points forward, the black steel of her armor gleaming under the moonlight with a wicked other worldly shimmer. "Kill them."

Without even a moment to respond, the stallions are upon them before they can even react. Luna and Talon are quickly taken to the ground, the bow flying off of the edge of the cliff, the midnight alicorns magic snuffed out as her horn is somehow blocked by a very powerful force, unlike anything she's ever felt within her thousands of years. The pilot lets out a howl of pain as a blade is suddenly plunged within his back, breaching his body and burying itself deep into the ground, holding him in place.

Luna also screams in agony, as a very long sword is also thrust into her withers, breaching her barrel just the same, and another dagger type blade through her right wing. She quickly flaps uncontrollably to try and throw the powerful stallions off of her, as her other wing is crushed and shattered under the weight of massive powerful hooves.

Nightmare charges forward and barrels into the stallions upon them, only to be knocked back by a massive beam of white light. She's struck again and again, a bolt piercing through her side and blasting clean through her chest, exiting and burning through her folded wing. She cries out in agony before she's taken down by a pair of brute stallions, pinning her muzzle first to the ground. She desperately fights, hearing the screams of her herd mates, trying to free herself to save them.

"This can end, right here." The cloaked mare says darkly, her voice resonating with the very air around them. "You can save them, if you surrender and atone for your sins, Obsolescence. Admit your heresy, and I shall spare them, and send them away."

A black armored, cream colored hoof stomps the ground, kicking the black alicorn in the muzzle. Nightmare coughs out a jet of blood, spitting it upon the ground before her, as another armored hoof quickly finds its way to her soft underbelly, kicking her hard in the gut. Nightmare gags upon the blood within her throat, rolling over and vomiting more blood upon the ground. Her eyes roll into the back of her head as she fights for air, pain searing through her every nerve.

"I ask you now..." The dark, cream colored mare calls out. "Will you die for them?"

Nightmare Moon hears the world around her, muffled screams and the dull sound of the wind and waves. Her world is a haze, as she makes out the soft, subtle, yet clear question almost directed at her soul.

"Will you die for them?!" The mare asks once more, shouting out. She turns her shadowed gaze to the pilot and blue alicorn, signalling to the guard stallions to dig in more with their blades. Luna lets out a pained howl of anguish as her flesh rips, crying out in horror and torment.

Nightie finally draws a breath back into her form, then cries out. "Yes!" She screams, falling against the ground limply. "...yes...I will die for them."

The cream colored mare draws a blade from her own side in a white magical aura, the dagger twirling within her magic slowly. The blade speeds down, as the world around the nightmare fades to darkness, releasing her final breath.

Dusty Shine awakens within the room, blinking the sleep out of her eyes rubbing her muzzle with her bare hoof. She blearily looks around, her ears swiveling as she catches the sound of stirring within the room. Perking her ears straight up, she whips her head around, the earthen mare's attention now completely transfixed upon the royal couple.

"O ooh...my head." Luna groans out, raising her bandaged hoof to her face, rubbing her head where the mild ache is felt just below her left ear. She lets out a loud yawn and tries to move, her eyes opening as she notices the IV lines bandaged against her fore leg.

"Miss Luna!" Dusty Shine blurts out with joy, rushing around the bed. After a few moments, the pilot also awakens slowly, his own eyes fluttering open as he begins to sleepily stir.

"Dusty...?" Luna asks absent minded, turning her head. Before she could react the cream colored Earthen mare wraps her forelegs around the night princess, squeezing the very air out of her lungs. Luna coughs in surprise, then slowly wraps her own fore legs around her friend. "Dusty...what...?"

"I was so afraid we lost you two after the crash! Thank the All Mother you two were alright!" Dusty Shine squeals out in glee, her voice carrying out into the hallway. Within seconds of the giddy mares cries, the door opens by a nurse, not seeming to notice the other occupant in the room resting quietly upon the plush cushion in the corner.

The nurse mouths words silently, before quickly bolting out of the room, sounds of her shrieking out and calling for the Pegasus doctor. Luna quirks an eyebrow at this, but gives a gentle pat upon the earthen mares back. "Yes...crash. Dusty...where are we?" Luna asks, trying to free herself from the kung fu death hug.

Talon snorts and sits up in bed, coming to his senses. Before he could react or protest, suddenly the excited former maid lunges and bolts on top of him, switching her crushing hug to him instead. "Oof!"

"Commander, you're alive!" She squeaks out in excitement, tears of unbridled joy flowing out uncontrollably. "You're alive! You're...alive!!" She cries out. Her tears continue to flow out, soaking the bandages around the careworn pilots chest.

Not another moment passes, before the door flies open, the room being swarmed by Doctor Life Flight and several nurses, quickly coming to pry away the excitable Earth pony from the human pilot, and the stallion doctor rushing to his charges. They still have not noticed the cream colored mare in the corner, smiling smugly as she quietly reads a magazine.

"Guards! Summon Princess Celestia at once!" Doctor Life Flight orders gruffly, turning his attention upon the royal couple. He begins to feverishly check the humans vitals without a word, mumbling to himself as he stares in absolute disbelief at the screens. Blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, all normal! These results are nothing like they were only two hours ago.

Talon remains still as the Pegasus seems confused, poking and prodding him with the stethoscope and medical devices, unsure what to make of the situation. He turns his head, a confused look upon his features as he looks to his midnight alicorn, who is currently also being swarmed over by the nurses feverishly checking her.

Luna raises her eyebrows, silently communicating to the pilot with her eyes what's on her mind. He only nods in response, understanding the unspoken message. Neither of them have any idea just what the hell is going on.

Minutes pass, the confused medical staff becoming even more confused by the second, fussing over the pair. Celestia finally barges in the door, out of breath. Her mane is in curlers and ribbons once again, her face bearing exhaustion and fatigue upon her features as she stares with wide disbelief and joy. "Lulu! Talon!" Celestia cries out, wobbly stepping to the bed side as she enters the room, a wide, relieved smile upon her muzzle. As she's about to speak, she hears a soft echo of a giggle, the sound akin to the melody of wind chimes ring into the air.

The occupants of the room all turn their gaze suddenly, finally seeing, but not believing. There in the corner, holding her regal hoof to her muzzle to cover the amused snickers and giggles, sat a cream colored alicorn, with vibrant emerald eyes and a flowing, luxurious crimson mane and tail. She flutters her wings, unable to hold back the chuckle at the sight of Celestia, the handy hoof work obviously of a very tired filly.

The room goes completely silent as the Goddess continues to reign in her light laugh. She regains her composure and rises to her hooves, Celestia suddenly falling into a low bow, splaying out her wings, the white alicorns long, sharp horn tipping down and touching the marble stone floor. Unable to process what is occurring, the other occupants minus the midnight princess and human remain frozen in shock.

"M...Mother?!" Luna whispers out, her jade orbs wide with surprise.

"Now...I told you I would visit, now didn't I? My sweet child...you always get yourself into the most interesting affairs." She steps forward, extending out her wing and gently glancing over Celestia's back with her primary feathers." And you...Celly, are just as silly as little Luna. Rise, my daughter. You never need bow before me."

The all mother smiles gently as Celestia rises to her hooves again, letting out another uncontrolled chortle at the sight. "I really must drop in more often, I always miss the most exciting things."

"Mother...I don't understand." Celestia questions, stepping forward. "What is going on? Did you know of their plight?"

She does not respond, her emerald gaze transfixed upon the pilots chest, a soft, gentle smile crossing her lips silently as she sees the iridescent glow of the bauble, the star and mist within spinning lazily within, the amethyst mist a shade lighter.

"I believe...you three have some children to greet upon the rising of the beloved sun, as well as an air demonstration to show me. Rest well...I will explain all in due time." She finally speaks out, her gaze not breaking away from the star as her smile widens.

Author's Notes:

Well here we are! The beginning of the most important, and best part of this arc, where you not only find out more about the ever deepening mystery, but just how and -why- Nightmare Moon was given redemption, and drawn back into the light. In the next chapter set, you will be thrilled, as the absolute unexpected happens. But who knows Perhaps some may have figured it out? Post your comments below, let me know what you thought! I'd love to hear from you, and look forward to seeing the theories about the fate of Nightmare! Until next update~

**See image for anatomy of a wing, to better understand the terms used in this book.