Twilight's eyes snap open.
She blinks, startled as she looks around, and a momentary stab of fear jolts through her as she notices that she is lying in Celestia's study once more, stretched out on one of the luxurious couches, with several cushions propped underneath her. However this time, Celestia's study is decorated as Twilight has normally seen it of an evening. The heavy velvet curtains are closed against the night and a roaring fire is blazing in the hearth, before which, Trolestia is curled up upon the hearth-rug whilst Philomena, Celestia's pet phoenix, bathes in the flames.

Twilight sighs, letting relief flow through her as she takes refuge in the familiar sight of the Princess of the Sun sitting at her desk, her long pastel coloured hair flowing languidly behind her, and for once Twilight can actually see the desktop, as opposed to the mountain of paperwork that normally occupies its surface.

I must still be dreaming, her desk is never that clear...

As Twilight looks closer, however, she can see that Celestia is looking a little older, more tired than usual and her cheeks are flushed as if she's been running. She looks drawn and she's biting upon her lip. Twilight has known her mentor long enough to know when she's focussing upon whatever she's writing or reading to keep her mind from dwelling on something. However, Twilight has little time to think on what Celestia might have been exerting herself upon, because the Princess of the Sun looks up at her, and releases one of her warmer, more tender smiles. Her eyes seem to light up and the worries that had rested in the creases around the eyes and mouth seem to tumble away.

“Twilight, oh thank goodness!” Celestia’s voice is laden with relief as she smiles warmly and rising from her chair to walk over to where Twilight is resting. Suddenly Twilight's vision is blocked by white feathers and long pastel-coloured hair as the Princess of the Sun enfolds her former student into a bone-crushing hug. Twilight reaches around to return it, basking in the warmth of the Princess of the Sun as student and teacher hold each other close for a moment.

“I was so worried...” Celestia sighs after a moment. “When I heard on the radio that your airship had been attacked...”

“Wait, on the radio?” Twilight asks, and Celestia nods.

“There were... journalists,” Celestia's tone darkens with distaste, “at the landing, they were broadcasting live from the scene. The end result of this was that I had to give the Khans an ultimatum. I wanted word that you were alive in two hours, or else we'd go to war.”

Twilight blinks in shock at the realization that Celestia would plunge the continent into war for her sake. “So does this count as ‘word?’” she asks after a stunned moment, and Celestia nods as she releases Twilight to go and sit down in one of the armchairs opposite Twilight. Twilight in turn sits up and stretches her wings out, folding her hands in her lap.

“It does. The moment Luna found you, she summoned you here. When you arrived asleep and stayed asleep for an hour, I was worried that you'd been injured in the real world, but here you are... talking to me. Now, what word do you bring from the Khanate?” Celestia asks, and Twilight sighs mournfully.

“I'm in the process of recovering Diplomatic Incident from jail. Once I've done that, I'm going to send word to the Shah that I want to see him.”

“Interesting, explain your reasoning for recovering Diplomatic Incident prior to seeing the Shah?” Celestia's tone becomes faintly critical and Twilight stiffens, but then she plows on.

“I want to recover him because he knows the local environment. He's fluent in the local dialect and has quite a few connections that I would like to exploit. He's also my friend,” Twilight says, ticking off points on her fingers as she goes. All the while, she's aware of Celestia's critical gaze upon her, until after a moment, the sovereign nods.

“I see, that is not the order I would have attended to business in, but your reasoning is sound. Do you have a proposal to present to the Khans?”

“I do. It's based on the toning down of our military presence on their border, and returning those two provinces that we took from them. In return, they'll cede to our trade tariffs and dial down their rhetoric. Alternatively, we can reduce the tariffs and keep the provinces, but they still have to dial down on their rhetoric,” Twilight says, and Princess Celestia tilts her head.

“That's a very soft bargaining posture, Twilight. We're giving them land, or we're cutting the prices, in exchange for them being a little less fervent from the pulpit. This is weak, too weak in fact. I had expected more of you, Twilight,” Celestia says as she taps one finger on the table.

“But it's not all that soft,” Twilight replies. “Those two provinces we took off them are marginal gains at best and financial estimates say that in the long run, they'll actually cost the Empire more to run than we'll get out of them. The income we generate off those tariffs is likewise fairly limited and I'm sure we can scrape up the money from elsewhere.”

“Mmmhm that's true, but we're being seen to climb down Twilight, the perception is that they're going to be getting something off that without giving us anything more than promises. It sets a dangerous precedent for other people who might decide to set off a disturbance to get something out of the Empire. We've had people killed already, perhaps some blood money is in order?” Celestia suggests.

“That won't work. The Khans will say that we cannot charge the government for the actions of a few lunatics, and if we find proof that it's a conspiracy by certain high ranking Khans, then we'll likely destabilize the Khan government when we present it-”

“Not our concern.”

“-and whatever replaces it will likely be even more anti Equestrian,” Twilight rejoinders. “The alternative theory, that this is a covert operation designed to weaken us, orchestrated with the Shah's knowledge and consent , dictates that the only viable endgame to us uncovering evidence to that effect... well, the only viable endgame would be war.”

“You think they wouldn't climb down?”

“Definitely not, from what I've read they're a proud people, and this'd be a humiliation. The Shah's government would never allow him to stand for it. They'd also never want to admit that they pulled a stunt like that, otherwise their friends in the Federation might get upset,” Twilight explains, and Celestia nods approvingly.

“Good... I suppose the Empire can tolerate a little bit of egg on its face in exchange for not having to wade through an ocean of blood. That being said...” Celestia purses her lips. “How about an edict for their militia to curtail their harassment of my expatriates? The final few diplomatic bags the Foreign Office received from our embassy suggested that had been an issue.”

“That could work,” Twilight replies. “Certainly the angry letters the Shah will receive will be enough to make him think twice about any funny business.”

“Then we have our proposals. Good work Twilight,” Celestia says warmly.

“Thanks,” Twilight replies quietly. “I've heard something worrying though... maybe it's just me being nervous, or the spell doing something strange but... well, something happened before I came here.”

Celestia's mouth twitches and her smile becomes rather fixed as she reaches for a delicate porcelain cup of tea. “Go on?” the ageless Empress asks, and Twilight draws a deep breath.

“Before I came here... I was in a dream, or else a vision perhaps... I don't know, but it was in this study, or a very similar study to this, but it was night and... and Luna was there... or, well, Luna as she was before, back when she was-”

“Nightmare Moon,” Celestia says, putting her cup down on the table. “You're saying that Nightmare Moon, or something that appeared to be her, appeared before you in a dream?”

“Yes.”

“I see. Did she speak to you?” Celestia asks, her eyes as hard as agates. Twilight quails beneath the baleful gaze, but then she nods faintly. “Hmm. What did she say?” Celestia asks, knitting her fingers together.

“She told me that the Khans were one problem, but that we also had the United Federation to worry about.”

“I see... so that's her angle,” Celestia says, almost to herself, and then she looks at Twilight calmly.

“Twilight, I want you to put all thoughts about Nightmare Moon and the United Federation from your head. You just worry about securing peace with the Khans.”

“Why?” Twilight asks. “Surely I should be alert for the possibility that-”

“No,” Celestia says. “Twilight, Nightmare Moon is a Daemon, who wants just one thing and one thing only. She wants to get back into the body she believes is hers. She will say, and do anything to serve that end. How her telling you this serves that end is unknown, but you should assume it does. Ultimately, you need to worry about the coming negotiations with the Shah. Nightmare Moon can wait.”

“So what's going to happen about the United Federation then?”

“I will look into it,” Celestia says. “Ultimately though, the Federation hasn't got the stomach to get into a war right now, particularly not a war with us. I'm sure you can understand if I wish to waste my worry on the people who are willing to get into a war with us.”

“Yes... I suppose so,” Twilight agrees, and Celestia gives her a gentle smile.

“You'll be fine. I know you can do it, if anyone can,” Celestia says, and Twilight nods.

“Now, to this attack at the airport... how bad was it?”

“Pretty bad... I lost two men and the carriage got blown up. If it wasn't for Da- Bolt.”

Twilight claps her hands to her mouth, but the damage is done.
Ohshitohshitohshit. Twilight’s thoughts are racing as she tries to stuff the word back into her mouth, but she knows it is too late. Her heart pounds as Celestia looks up, thunder in her eyes.

“Dash, as in Rainbow Dash?” Celestia says, her voice as cold as ice.

“Yes.” The word is more of a croak as Twilight forces it out after a long moment, and Celestia releases a long drawn out sigh, the fury draining from her expression.

“I trust, Princess, that you can remember our discussion about your responsibilities to the Crown?”

“About how I needed to stay free so you could marry me off?” Twilight replies, leaping to her feet, the venom in her tone surprising even her, but Celestia doesn't even flinch.

“Exactly. You are a Princess of Equestria. Your first duty is to Equestria. If I need to cement an alliance with a marriage, you're a prime candidate.”

“What about love?” Twilight asks, her shoulders slumping, but Celestia shrugs.

“Love doesn't enter into this equation. The common man may marry for love, but we are unfortunately above such things. Love does not put an army onto a battlefield or feed a starving population, therefore on my list of priorities, whether you love someone or not does not feature highly.” Twilight recoils at the words, her hand going to her throat as she tries to hold the fragments of her world together, but then it tumbles listlessly back down to her waist.

A tremor ripples through Twilight’s lip and she clenches her hands into fists as she tries to keep the tears from flowing. A maelstrom of emotions grab at her skin, gripping at her throat. However, the foremost emotion is anger, red and surging and boiling.

How can she do this to me? After all I’m doing for her and her poxy Empire…

“I see,” Twilight says, relying on a monumental effort of will to keep her composure.

“Can I trust that you will defer such feelings as you still entertain?” Businesslike and formal, as cold as cut glass and it cuts twice as deep into Twilight’s skin.

“For how long?” Twilight’s voice catches slightly as she tries to salvage something from this wreck.

“Indefinitely.” Twilight’s heart jerks as the word strikes like a bullet.

Twilight takes a deep shuddering breath, scrabbling to summon all the catechisms about duty and responsibility, but none of them seem to matter next to the weight of the future that looms before her, cold and loveless. Anger bubbles in her breast, anger at the expressionless mask upon Celestia's face. A sense of betrayal adds its simmering brew to the fire. Here is the woman that Twilight loves like a mother, casting her down and turning her out...

“I'm not doing this to be spiteful, or to be cruel, Twilight,” Celestia says, still in that calm and patient tone. “I'm doing this because I have to. One day, when you have a kingdom and a crown of your own, you'll understand.”

Rage leaps through Twilight’s mind like a torrent and her spine straightens. Her chest puffs up and her wings snap out, even as quavers ripple along the leading edges. Does she know what she’s saying… does she even care?

“I don't want a crown, or a kingdom! I don't want to be bought or sold like a prize heifer in a market square... Here's Twilight Sparkle, she can be yours in exchange for favourable trade concessions," Twilight snaps, "Step right up, bidding starts at two million! You don’t even care do you? You just don’t give a flying fuck about anything or anyone that’s not in your perfect little-”

“Enough.” Celestia’s word carries the force of a slap, and Twilight staggers back as the sheer unchecked force of the Princess’ personality smashes into her like a tidal wave. “I respect you a great deal, Twilight Sparkle, but do not Ever tell me that I do not care about my people.” Her voice is emotionless but the wall of heat that rises up to strike Twilight in the face makes her message plain.

The colour fades from Twilight’s face as her choler quails beneath the unfathomable wrath of the Princess of the Sun. Though Celestia has not touched Twilight physically, the junior princess feels like she’s been struck by a hammer blow. Her anger drained from her, replaced with a cold core of fear as she shivers before the might of the Princess of the Sun.

“I'm sure you understand quite how fatal it would be to any hope of a peace process if you were caught engaging in any kind of unseemly behaviour whilst on Khanate soil? I trust you do not think your loins are more important than the thousands of men who will die in any war I am forced to fight with the Khanate?”

The question sends a brutal knife of ice through Twilight's heart.

“No,” comes Twilight’s choked grunt. “I shall endeavour to control myself.”

“I'm sure you'll do splendidly,” Celestia says gently, and Twilight releases a long, tremulous sigh as she looks at Princess Celestia. For the first time, the Princess of the Sun looks older and far more worn than Twilight has ever seen her, her eyes sunken and her cheeks drawn, and Twilight can see faint tears sparkling in those eyes for only a second, before the cool mask is pulled back over Celestia’s face.

“Can I be dismissed? I need to wake up and brief my men,” Twilight says, her tone unsteady and resigned, begging for an escape route, anything to get her away from those now battered, rose coloured eyes.

“Of course. Good luck, Twilight,” Celestia says softly, and Twilight feels a familiar pressure behind the back of her eyes as she feels her eyelids growing heavier. She starts to sag backward, collapsing into the chair behind her as she feels herself drifting back.

“One more thing,” she feels Celestia’s words following her up, her tone becoming strident once more. “When you return, we’re going to be discussing your security arrangements. Get this job done Twilight, before your lack of self restraint undoes any hope of a peace process."

Twilight’s eyes widen in horror for just a moment, before closing for the last time.

Next Chapter: Chapter 5: Split Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 19 Minutes