Twilight hurried down the stairs to the balcony. When she arrived she spotted Celestia and Luna having a bit of a disagreement in front of the chariot that was to carry all of them.

"Sister I need to stay here, I have a bad feeling about what Zecora saw last night. Equestria will need a protector if this turns out to be a trap." Luna said with her chest puffed out pridefully.

"I know you are worried Luna, but Maskia would have to break through a line of our finest with nothing more than a scout battalion. Then she would need a way to get across the ocean To Equestria and THEN deal with the 7th legion. Having you here would be outright overkill."

"And me going with you when you have the arch mage with you already isn't?" Luna nodded at Twilight Sparkle, whom was standing at the entrance to the balcony.

"But Luna I..."

"Sister I know, you nearly died that night but you bringing me with you will put Equestrian citizens in danger if she manages to reach our shores. You have the second best military unit in the country and a Arch mage that has made you immune to those spear copies."

Celestia sighed and pawed at the ground with her hooves. "I know, I'm just being a bit cowardice. I have never experienced near death before."

Luna dove in, hugging Celestia. " And you never will as long as any other pony has a say in it. Besides I am terrible with negotiations."

"Why's that?"

"Because if I got the chance I would roast her behind on the spot. No one tries to assassinate my sister and lives to tell the tale."

Twilight stepped forward. "Then it's for the best. These negotiations will be sensitive enough as is with just us there princess. I don't think either of us could stop Luna if she flies off the handle."

Celestia stared at Twilight for a moment. "I guess I am overruled on this decision. However, Luna I want you to keep a teleport lock on Twilight at all times. If things get dicey I want you and the 7th legion there as soon as possible."

"Agreed." Luna nuzzled Celestia warmly. "I wish you both luck, come home safe."

"Umm...Luna?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, Arch mage?"

"I heard about the whole dream thing with Zecora, do you think it has any merit, I can't find anything in the Canterlot archives about Anguish Phantoms."

Luna stared at Celestia for a moment. "She does not know about the C.L.-eleven archives yet?"

Celestia averted Luna's perceiving gaze. "No, no she hasn't. You didn't know? Only four year or more Arch Mages can read about the horrors of Equestria in that place."

"Four years? Why so much?" Luna asked indignantly.

"We had an incident with an arch mage five hundred years ago. He nearly made roast pony out of half the country side messing with a spell he had no business reading. Since then I and the senate have devised a masters test after the Arch mages fourth year in service to see if they are ready for that level of magic."

"Can you not trust Twilight?"

Celestia raised a hoof to silence Luna. "We will talk about it later. The spell to open it to her in case of dire emergency is already planted in her. She will know what to do if 'That' occurs." Celestia looked at the puzzled Twilight for a moment I hope it never comes to that, a burden of that magnitude on one so young.... "Twilight, come. We must board the chariots, the 3rd legion will be following us on the battle blimps."

Twilight followed behind Celestia as she hopped up on the shy chariot. "So what was implanted in me?"

Celestia ignored Twilight and yelled for the two Pegasi strapped up from to take off. "Sulfare, Betegese, onward."

Twilight held on tight to the front railings as the two Pegasus took off with vigor. "These ponies don't mess around!?"

Celestia turned to Twilight smiling. "no, no they don't. The 3rd legion is the second the most powerful military force in the world next to the 7th legion. Like the 7th legion they have never lost a battle. They are some of the best trained soldiers in the world."

"Wow, I thought I knew everything about the military. I guess not." Twilight spaced out for a moment. "Hey, you wouldn't happen to be trying to change the subject from before would you?"

Celestia's horn glowed a muted yellow, a yellow bubble forming around the outside of the chariot. "Sorry about that Twilight. I needed to make sure no one overhears what I'm about to tell you. It's somewhat a state secret, even to my most trusted generals."

"Is this about the whole implantation thing?"

"Yes, or more specifically how and why. Remember the spell I used on you when you became Arch Mage? The one that allowed you entry into the forbidden archives?"

Twilight shuddered at the thought. The spell cast on her had made her nearly bedridden for a week. "Yes. How can I forget feeling like I have the flu for a week."

Celestia cleared her throat. "Well, yes. That sometimes happens sometimes. The last Arch Mage was allergic to bread and bread by-products for a month after I cast it on him. He was so angry that he couldn't drink beer." Celestia giggled to herself until she noticed the Quizzical look on Twilight's face. "Ahem, anyways that spell also safe guards Equestria's future in case something happens to me and Luna."

"But if something happens to you or Luna couldn't Cadence take over? I mean she is royalty."

"Cadence may be my niece Twilight but she isn't anywhere near as powerful as Luna or myself" Celestia replied solemnly.

"Why not? She's an Alicorn-"

"In form only. Have you ever wondered why my and my sisters mane billows with magic like this?" Celestia pointed to her mane, the multiple colors shining brightly in the sunlight.

"I tried looking that up once. There wasn't a single book on Alicorn biology anywhere so I just assume it was something that Alicorns just gained as they aged. I figured Cadence just wasn't old enough to have one yet."

Celestia shook her head. "Couldn't be further from the truth, Twilight. When a Alicorn reaches filly age she is set with a dilemma that will judge the course of the rest of her life."

"' 'Her?' Are there no male Alicorns?"

"None that I know of, though it may be a possibility in the future. Anyways, sometime shortly after she reaches filly age she has a dream of sorts. In this dream she has the option over the next few months to forge a contract with a celestial body. In my case it was the sun and in Luna's case, the moon."

"So you make a contract with a inanimate object?"

"Close, both the Sun and the Moon have guardian spirits of a kind. This Contract of sorts grants the wielder unimaginable magical power when they reach adulthood as well as functional immortality for as long as that celestial object exists."

"Then what happened to Cadence?" Twilight asked.

"She...refused her contract. The spirit of the planet Venus granted her the power of love but she refused to have any part in the immortality section of the contract."

"Why?"

"Cadence had many friends and she realized a grim truth, limited immortality would mean she couldn't grow old and would be forced to watch each and everypony she loves pass away. She already was falling for your brother back then, she couldn't bring herself to love him and you only to watch both of you perish. The thought of being eternally lonely scared her, so she refused that power."

"I see. I guess I could understand that sentiment, although I try not to think about it. I hopefully have many more years before that becomes a problem."

"Glad to hear that. Mortality kind of gives your life urgency, to live in the here and now and exist as if every day could be your last."

Twilight stared at Celestia for a moment. "You don't have to get all philosophical about it. Anyways what does all this have to do with that spell you cast on me?"

"Twilight, I must have your promise you won't panic. You can hate me all you want but please don't panic."

"I promise?" Twilight couldn't understand why Celestia would say such a thing. How could she hate the one pony that helped her become what she is today. Whatever this secret was it was a dozy.

Celestia exhaled sharply, as if trying to find the courage to speak. "In the event that me and Luna perish your body will undergo a strange transformation over the next month or so. You will become a Alicorn like us."

Twilight could almost feel her jaw metaphorically hit the chariot floor, break through and land on the ground far below. How could Celestia keep something like this from her? And why give her something like this without telling her? So many questions were swimming in her head that she felt airsick. "I..how...why. I..." Words Twilight!" " Twilight breathed deeply. "So...I become an Alicorn without my consent?"

"Twilight I..."

"No, no, lets curse Twilight with possible immortality. She's cool with watching everyone she loves die while she drags on nearly immortal. She's cool with that right?" Twilight had the sudden urge to kick Celestia right in her face. I save her life, save her sister, defeat discord and this is how she repays me? With a dagger in my back?

"Twilight Sparkle!"

Twilight had a sudden urge to cower before Celestia as she did all those years before but no, this time she would not cower, she was just as powerful magically as Celestia. There was no reason to fear her. Wait, wait, wait. What am I thinking,? Calm down girl. There's no need to get too angry...yet.

"Lemme explain. The Alicorn form you take only grants physical immortality and not age immortality."

"Huh? But you said..."

"You are too far past the age to make any kind of celestial contract Twilight. You will still age and eventually die a mortal death."

"So why cast it on me to begin with?"

"Making you physically immortal is a stopgap measure. There are ponies in the senate that would jump at the opportunity for power. And with me and Luna gone they could plunge this country into civil war over petty differences."

"You mean like how the Earth ponies, Pegasus and Unicorns nearly did before you existed?"

"Worse. With our deaths the seal on the Tartarus gate will weaken. Without a Alicorn replacement to power the seal the worst evils of Equestria will be set lose within a couple years. To make matters worse all the chaos sewn by a civil war would undoubtedly free Discord, although he would probably be a blessing by that point."

"Isn't Discord evil? Why would he be a blessing?"

"No, not exactly. He has never intentionally hurt nor has he ever killed anypony. He's just uncontrollable, unpredictable. He could one day become so unstable in his chaos that he does become a force for evil. That's why me and Luna locked him away."

Twilight scratched her head. "Back to what we were talking about. So I become a kind of stop gap measure but I'm still me. Does this affect any other part of my biology that I need to know about?"

Celestia thought for a moment. "There is the very slim possibility that your offspring may end up as Alicorns. In the event me and Luna pass on, the spirits of the sun and the moon may choose another possible candidate. It may choose your unborn foal as its candidate as it is far easier to choose an existing Alicorn than to create a new one magically."

"Even if it does choose her or him, my possible future foals will have choice in the matter right?"

"Of course they will Twilight. Just like me, Luna and Cadence he or she will have the option when they reach filly age. "

Each pony sat staring at one another for a long time, until Celestia broke the silence. "So."

"So" replied Twilight.

"Trixie Lulamoon."

"What about her?"

"I had no idea you were into BDSM, anal and transgender stuff. I didn't figure you were THAT kinky."

Twilight's face went so red you could possibly grill vegetables on it. "How... I mean, none of that happened." twilight bore a grin of innocence as if she was actually fooling Celestia.

Celestia chuckled. "The maids heard strange noises coming from your room and one of them decided to take a peak. I must say you take it in the rump like champ from what I heard."

"It's not what you think, it...it was a contest, I swear."

"Twilight, you don't have to feel embarrassed around me. I took one in the back end a few times in my lifetime and you can learn a lot from Luna, shes a master at the whole bondage thing."

Twilight's face contorted in disgust. "I could have gone my entire life without hearing that. Don't you Alicorns have concept of TMI?"

Celestia arched her head a bit. "TMI? Too much in?"

Twilight shuddered for a moment. "No, also eww. It means Too much information."

"Oh, well In case you want to know there is such a thing as too much cock insi----"

"La la la la!" Twilight covered her ears in a attempt to drown out all the gross things coming from Celestia's mouth.

"Your adorable when you are embarrassed, Twilight." Celestia pulled Twilight into a hug, much to her dismay. "Anyways, sex life aside." Twilight looked like she was ready to plug her ears again. "Oh, come off it. It's not like I'm going to tell you about the time I had a seven-some."

Twilight's eyes went wide in horror. How is that even mechanically possible?

"Well in case you're wondering that's two in the back, two in the mouth one in each ear..."

"What!? I don't even...just...ewww."

"So I can hear them coming, Twilight." Celestia said laughing out loud.

Twilight felt ill. She wanted to just hurl her lunch right over the side of the chariot when she noticed the ponies pulling the chariot laughing between each other. Reading their lips she could make our what the one on the right was saying.

"Look's like Celestia is telling another pony about that whole seven-some thing again."

"Always a good joke but I wish she wouldn't tell it while we are flying." The one on the left replied.

Twilight stared up at Celestia. "You can stop trolling now, I know that actually didn't happen."

Celestia looked down on Twilight. "Yeah I guess not although every time I tell that story I get someone airsick. Everyone tries to be so prudent around me that they forget to live or laugh."

"Yeah but seriously, seven at once is just a bit much."

Celestia lowered the bubble around the Chariot. "That's nothing. You should have seen me when I took BonBon's special candy."

"Wait, the one that causes severe heat for six hours? The one where you HAVE to do the deed?"

"The very same. Let just say It had a very different effect on me that it did on other ponies..."

One of the guards pulling the chariot spoke up. "I remember that night. You went nuts on the 4th legion. I think you nearly had sex with every single stallion and mare in that division."

Celestia has frown on her face, her lapse in concentration apparently broke her sound barrier. "Lieutenant, I thought I had instructed the military to not speak of that night."

"S-sorry you majesty, slip of the tongue. It won't happen again."

Celestia licked her lips. "Choose your punishment, glazing ritual or demotion?"

"You act like the glazing ritual is a bad thing, your highness. I'll take the glazing ritual."

Celestia cracked a smile. "Good, I always wanted to try it will hot sauce."

Twilight could practically see the sweat rolling down the guard face when Celestia mentioned 'hot sauce'. "I had no idea you were this perverted Celestia. I mean that would have to really burn..."

Celestia winked at Twilight. "It will be that time of year in a month or so. I need my practice. Besides, your one to talk misses BDSM."

Twilight's face went beat red. " I guess that makes us even then?"

"Sure" Celestia replied. The two sat for some time staring at the clouds pass by when Twilight noticed Celestia staring off into the sky. A somber look covered her face and she almost looked as if she wanted to cry, like she needed to get something off her chest.

"You know Twilight, the night I nearly died..."

"Celestia..."

"No, I have to get this off my mind." Celestia wiped a tear from her eye. "I was never more afraid that night for you, Luna and everypony in Equestria, I...felt so helpless. That everything I had worked over the last millennium to build. That I was going to be torn from my sister again. That I was never going to see you again..."

Twilight nuzzled up against Celestia's chest. "I don't plan to understand what being immortal is like princess but I understand the sentiment just as well. Death is a scary thing to contemplate, even more-so for somepony that never expected to die in the first place." Twilight grabbed Celestia's face with her hooves. "I was afraid that night too, when Luna came crashing into my library and told me there was a very real chance you were going to die. I couldn't believe it myself, the one pony that had been a mentor, a mother figure and a dear friend to me might die that night, shook me to my core."

Celestia sniffled to try and hold back her tears, trying to keep her composure. "You may still lose me. If Luna's hunch about what Maskia was up to proves accurate then...I'm afraid I'll freeze up when we face her. That my hesitation to strike her down could lose me everything I hold dear to my heart."

Twilight let Celestia's words sink in. Celestia was afraid for the first time in her life but not about her own safety but about her own ability to make others safe, that her failure would spell instant doom for everypony else. "Celestia, you silly filly..."
Twilight pulled Celestia into a powerful hug. " You don't have to bear that weight alone. You have me and Luna to share that load with you. Whatever happens we will get through this alive. I mean honestly, I'm nearly as powerful as you magically and Luna can headbutt a mountain in half when she's angry. Between the three of us no crazy megalomaniac Zebra is gonna keep us down."

"Twilight, Thank you."

"Psst Sulfare, I think they need to get a friggin room already."

The other guard pulling the chariot shot the other a dirty glare. "Keep it down, or she will invite us to it. I am not in the mood for hot sauce on the groin, thank you very much."

"What are you two whispering about over there?" Celestia asked.

"Nothing!" both replied together.

"Go fish" said one tower guard to another.

"Seriously dale? No kings? I think you are holding out on me."

"Well if someone hadn't killed off all the hooch we could be playing battle-shots right now, Vinegar."

"I swear I didn't do it dale. It was that camel trader down there. He has a frigging endless thirst!"

"Yeah and I'm Princess Celestia's coltfriend."

"Speakin of which isn't a peace treaty to be signed today? Shouldn't we be home, you know, getting wasted there and not being deployed at the bottom edge of a continent in the middle of nowhere?" Vinegar pointed to the vast open desert just out his viewing window. "We can see an enemy army coming for miles AND have enough energy shells to level a small country."

"If you wanted action you should have signed up for the 9th battalion or Spitfire's Hell Hawks. Everypony in the military knows 2and division grenadiers always get the boring blockade and defense jobs. With the 3rd legion out there we don't even get as much as a scout buzzing this outpost."

Vinegar sat back down on his haunches with a sigh. "Yeah I know. Those guys are crazy though, I heard in just the first three months they managed to defeat Maskia desert thunder battalion with only one loss."

"Isn't that the enemy special forces that wiped out the 5th division steel wolves?" Dale asked.

"Would a never happened if Blue Blood didn't screw up the supply distribution. Why Celestia made that guy chief supply officer I will never know."

"Most likely becuase it was the only job he couldn't possibly screw up. Too bad he ended up sending that orphanage all those weapons and the 5th division ended up fighting with rulers, calculators and literally throwing the book at the enemy."

Vinegar scratched his head. "I wonder what the look on the orphanage operators face would have been when she opened one of those boxes and found artillery shells instead of books."

"She probably had a heart attack. Nothing is more lethal and live explosives around overly curious fillies and colts."

"Dale, for the orphans or the staff?"

"The staff of course. Kids nowadays see Robomare before they are seven. I'd be surprised if they DIDN'T know how those explosives worked."

Vinegar looked at his hand as he drew a card from the pile and set his kings down. "Your call Dale."

"Hmmm. Ya have any sixes?"

"Go fish."

"Bullocks."

Suddenly a silver glare appeared just over the horizon."Hey what's that?" Vinegar stood up by the window and looked through his binoculars. "What in tarnation is that?" Vinegar did the tiniest of double-takes with his binoculars before handing them to Dale. "Take a lookit this Dale, ya think it's an enemy scout?"

Dale picked up the Binoculars and peered through them. On the edge of the horizon was something very shiny, almost metallic. "Look's like we may have company, but they are hours away on hoof at the least. Doesn't help none that their Silver armor may as well scream 'shoot me' ."

"Should I raise the alarm Dale, get the big shells ready?"

"Nah, by the time he gets here I reckon the peace treaty will be signed and forwarded to all troops anyhow. Hes probably just lost his squadron and wandered off in the wrong direction. Seems kinda silly to blow one warrior to smithereens when we outnumber him by a thousand to one."

"Yellow alert then?"

"May as well, but tell the captain it's probably a lost soldier. No real threat."

Vinegar leaned over the back railing of the watch tower. "Hey cap'n! We have us what looks like a single legionnaire due west about fifty miles! What ya reckon we do with em, sir!"

The captain took a swing from his hip flask and set it back into his pockets. "Leave em be unless they decided they wanna tussle. If they come within a few miles I want him captured, disarmed and set free. The war will be over in a couple hours anyhow, no point in keepin POW's then." The gruff captain lifted his right foreleg to his face to check the time. "Lunch will be soon, why don't one of you two come on down out dat der tower. Rotate halfway though lunch and get ready to pack up after."

"All you Dale. I can stay up here and keep watch."

"Thanks. I'll make sure to save ya some celery surprise this time." Dale climbed down the ladder on the tower just as Vinegar leaned over to shout at the commanding officer. "Cap'n should I call you in case our visitor causes an emergency?"

The captain almost wanted to laugh out loud but controlled himself. "Call me when it becomes a catastrophe" he said laughing his way to the mess hall.

Vinegar sat back down in his chair and picked up a copy of "Wet Mares'" magazine from underneath the table. "Hmm a workpony named Applejack is the centerfold eh?" Vinegar kicked his legs onto the table and sat back, occasionally glancing at the silver glare just over the horizon. "Poor dope, no idea he's lost."

"Princess, ETA till we land at the meeting rendezvous is five minutes." Said one of the guards pulling the chariot.

"Thank you lieutenant." Celestia gave a nod to the guard pulling the chariot and then turned her attention to Twilight. "i want to go over this one more time before we land."

Twilight wore a look on her face of mixed boredom and agitation. "We been over this like, six times already Princess. I think I got it by now."

Celestia stared into Twilight, a look of disapproval on her face. "Twilight I'm dead serious about this, we cannot mess this up."

"Fine, fine." Twilight put her foreleg over her chest and began to count down in a calm but clear voice. "Step one, create a magical table." Twilight created a miniature table on the chariot floor with her magic. "Step two, a pony from each nation checks the Table for any kind of traps." Two miniature pony figurines appeared on the chariot floor and marched toward the center table. "Step three, after the table has been inspected each leader walks up to the table." Another pair of pony figurines, one that looked like Twilight Sparkle and the other a Zebra in silver armor walked up to the table. "Lastly the surrendering party states clearly their surrender terms. If the conquering party does not agree they may then state their own terms for the other to accept, decline or counterclaim. Each party continues this until an agreement is settled.

"Good Twilight, and if a agreement cannot be reached?"

"We assault fort Zidalf the next morning with the full force of the 3rd and 7th legions." Twilight sighed "I really hope it doesn't come to that though. I would much rather not have anymore bloodshed than we already have."

"You and me both Twilight, you and me both."

"Princess, fort Zidalf has come into view. We will begin our decent as soon as the battle blimp behind us catches up."

"That's a negative lieutenant, take us in for a landing" Celestia said pointing at an open grassy plain below. "We will set up camp there. I want this to be done and over with as soon as possible so relief efforts can begin."

"Your highness, I have orders from Luna to wait on the battle blimps before landing. That you must be escorted by the legion at all times. I have reservations about ignoring her orders."

Celestia shook her head. "I can handle myself. I will take responsibility for anything Luna might do later." Still looking after her big sister. She has grown so much in these last couple of years.

"Take us down lieutenant. If anything happens me and Twilight are quite capable." The two guards pulling the chariot hesitated for a moment and began to descend slowly, in circles.

"Celestia, why are they going down in a circle, It would be faster to go directly down."

Celestia lowered her voice to a whisper. "Yes I know but they're conflicted, they are following my orders and Luna's at the same time. This circle landing pattern is to buy time for the battle blimps to catch up. I guess we can just ride it out, I don't see Maskia's honor guard below." The Chariot slowly descended and at about a hundred yards from the ground the six battle blimps containing the 3rd legion arrived.

The chariot landed on the soft grassy ground with a minor thud. "Not my best landing your highness. I was getting a tad dizzy from the circle decent, my apologies." Celestia and Twilight stepped off the chariot and onto the soft grass as the battle blimps began to land a hundred or so yards away.

Twilight turned her attention to the small fort dead north. Something felt off, there was only a single gate guard at his post and Maskia was nowhere in sight. "Celestia, something feels odd. Shouldn't there be a entire contingent posted here?"

"Already on it Twilight. Betagese! Sulfare!"

The two ponies unhitched themselves from the chariot and rushed towards the princess, stopping at attention to salute.

"Yes, Your highness!" they both said in unison.

"I want both of you to scout the area. The enemy fortress is missing its troops and I want to know where they are."

"With all due haste, your highness!" They both said automatically.

"Twilight, while those two ascertain the enemies whereabouts I want you to proceed as if nothing is wrong."

"Okay, but if they report a possible ambush or don't report back at all?"

"Then we order a full retreat and land at the 3rd division battlefront." Celestia pointed to a barely visible watch tower on the horizon. "That should be the forward base camp, it's only a few miles away at worst. If we need to retreat then that's where we will go. Until then set up the table, I'll prepare the peace treaty and the treaty for Maskia to release all tribal lands to Equestrian rule."

Twilight shot a beam from her horn, magicking a large conference table a few yards away. A few more puffs and a pitcher of juice and a plate of cookies for there side appeared. "There, all done."

"Twilight, why the cookies and juice?"

"Because this country's weather is usually hot. Keeping hydrated in a near desert environment is important you know." Twilight levitated a cookie from the plate on the table. "Besides I had these teleported from sugar cube corner. It would be rude not to eat them."

The two patrolling Pegasus landed on the ground behind Celestia and Twilight, panting hard. "Your highness, no enemies spotted in a ten miles radius. Nothing around but grass a couple grazing sheep."

The gate of the fort opened and four nervous looking zebra wearing red collars walked out carrying a large gold and silver litter on their shoulders. The seat section seemed covered in a veil of black silk, blocking their view of Maskia.

"Okay then. Sulfare, inspect the table for traps with the-"

The four Zebra's carried the chair up to the table and set it down before backing off nervously, glancing at the guard at the gate. The veil of silk lifted to reveal a Zebra obfuscated by thick silk garments and a veil over her face. "C-come Twilight Sparkle, state your terms for our surrender."

Twilight looked at Celestia and lowered her voice. "Okay this isn't what's supposed to happen. The format is all wrong and Maskia sounds like a nervous wreck. You'd think that somepony that has ruling experience would know basic treaty format."

Celestia horn glowed yellow for a moment.

Twilight felt something enter her mind, like warm breeze if her head was open to the wind. "Do not be alarmed Twilight. I have established this telepathic link to speak to you without anypony overhearing us."

Twilight stared at Celestia. "Can I- never mind I can talk back. I hear you loud and clear."

"I have feeling Maskia is going to try and pull something so I want to listen in using your mind. This is completely wrong, she should be well versed in this kind of thing yet is shaking like a nervous foal over there." Celestia's eyes met Maskia's. She could practically see the beads of sweat rolling down her face under the veil. "Her garments are wrong as well. Leaders typically show pride and power, even when surrendering. Not this thick black silk setup she's using in the hot sun."

Twilight nodded and walked up to the table. "Let's get down to business shall we?"

Maskia didn't respond but started to twitch her tail in a fashion that Twilight recognized. Tail signals? Twilight watched the tail movements intently, working out the signs in her mind.

"What is she saying Twilight?" The sound of Celestia's voice echoed in her mind.

"Give me a second, it's been awhile since I studied sign language."

Twilight slowly made out the tail signs they spelled out "I need a quill and paper, please. It's a emergency!" Twilight reached into her saddlebag and pulled out a quill, ink and paper for Maskia and slid them across the table.

Maskia started to scribble out something on the paper, clearly in a near panic to write whatever she was thinking down. Maskia slid the paper back to Twilight, her hooves shaking nervously as she did.

Twilight read the paper on the table. "Twilight Sparkle, I implore you to keep calm. I am not Maskia, I am but a simple handmaiden. The zebra with me wearing those red collars are forced to play along with me. The collars they wear are actually magical explosives and the guard by the gate has the trigger in his saddle bags."

Twilight stared at the Zebra's staring nervously over their shoulders at the guard by the gate. "Maskia is not here. She forced me to go in her place. My daughter is asleep behind the chair with a collar around her neck. The guard has orders to trigger the explosives in the event we do not come to a compromise or I do not act admirably in her place. Please, help us!"

"Princess are you-

I read your thoughts as you read the paper Twilight. We will proceed with caution, it could still be a trap.

What about the filly with the explosive collar on? Shouldn't we do something now?

Twilight, Maskia followers are know to be fanatical at times. Imagine for a moment you managed to disable that guard over there and moved to remove the collar from the fillies neck. Instead of getting a hug of thanks from the filly , it hugs you, chants an activation word and blows you to smithereens. A hug of death.

Twilight almost wanted to gasp out of surprised but held herself firm as to not draw attention to herself. Even if that filly is compromised mentally, it's still a filly, still an innocent.

Very well Twilight. I will creep a spell along the ground, if should be able to hold that guards movements for a solid thirty seconds at most, less if he's a shaman of any kind. You need be quick about removing those collars, see if you can get any more information on how to safely remove them.

Twilight pulled the paper to herself and began to quickly jot down a question about how to safely remove the collars. She slid the paper back to the handmaiden saying "that's agreeable but a few more things" as to not arouse suspicion.

The handmaiden quickly jotted down what she knew and slid the paper back saying "Very well how about this too?"

Twilight read the paper trying her hardest not to seem too silent. "The collars the other four are wearing are ten second delays but the collar my daughter is wearing is instant and cannot be removed unless you have key or powerful magic. I am sorry, this is all I know about them."

That is troubling Twilight but I do have a plan.

I hope it's a good one. judging by what she wrote there were probably used on pow's as a kind of chain gang safeguard. If one tried to rebel or escape they would trigger all of them at once. Ingenious, if a bit cruel and needless to say horrible.

Exactly what I thought. Using equine altruism against itself to control the whole without any chance of rebellion. It disgusts me to my very core. Celestia had to turn her face away from the table, spitting on the ground, grinding her teeth in anger.

That has to be a terrible way to live or die. knowing that at any second one of your own could try and make a run for it or start a fight, killing everyone. Or if you managed to get your collar off and escape, the guilt of knowing your actions killed everyone you knew in that camp would eat you alive. When I get my hooves on Maskia I swear...

Princess, control yourself!

Celestia hadn't noticed her eyes were blazing hot like the sun, her mane staring to flow like orange wildfire at the tips. I...I'm sorry Twilight, I will begin channeling the spell. Celestia took long deeps breaths. Her mane and eyes began to turn back to their normal hue. Twilight, tell her we will help her but I want you to have a shield spell ready to cast on yourself in case things go south. Celestia laid down in the grass and began to channel the magic from her horn though her feet.

Twilight went to work writing out a response to the handmaiden, jotting down non-specifics on what to do but most of all telling her to keep calm. "Almost done I think" she said sliding the paper back to the Maskia stand in.

The handmaiden read the paper, her eyes still making sideways glances at the back of the litter as she read.

Twilight heard a light buzzing sound, it seemed to be coming from the guard at the gate.

*BBZt* "Come in gate guard, do you read?"

The gate guard turned his back to Twilight, Holding his ear. "Loud and clear empress."

"Are those foals acting as planned?"

"Yes, your majesty. They are planning to rush me and deactivate the explosives at any moment."

"So predictable. The child in the back is rigged with the super high explosive collar?"

"Yes, your majesty."

"Bttzt* "Good, the second the arch mage or Celestia get anywhere near her, detonate it. I would rather not have to deal with all three of them if possible. I have located the outpost and will make a run at destroying their communications array as soon as possible. Once It is down signal the rest to attack the 3rd legion front. I want them distracted as long as possible."

"Yes your - huh?" The guard watched as a dancing yellow light raced towards him and struck him dead in the chest, paralyzing him.

"Get those collars off and get behind my shield! I'll get the-" before Twilight could move, Celestia was behind the cart trying to remove the explosive collar from the unconscious filly. The four Zebra and the handmaiden jumped behind the shield although the fillies mother with some hesitation.

"What about my little girl!?"

"You will be no good dead to her. Trust Celestia she's more than capable of handling this."

"Stand back Twilight!" Celestia probed the collars function to find it was much worse than she had imagined. "Twilight double, no, quadruple the shield now! 3rd legion I want you back three hundred yards minimum." The 3rd legion did as ordered as Celestia tried desperately to find a way to remove the collar without triggering the explosive inside. This isn't good, a charge like that is equal to a six or more tons of TNT easily. This wasn't meant to just kill the foal it was meant to kill everypony regardless.

"Twilight, extreme cold can slow a fuse correct?"

"Not by much. Judging from the collars on the ground it will give you maybe eight seconds, tops."

The guard by the gate started to slowly move his front hooves toward his back.

No time, I'll have to take the blast myself. I just hope I can get far enough away to save this filly. Celestia pointed her horn at the explosive collar and covered it in a thick layer of ice. She then cast a teleport spell on the collar and wrapped it firmly around her thigh. She then cast a teleport spell on the filly, placing her behind Twilight's shield before spreading her majestic wings and taking off into the sky with everything she had. Celestia climbed one thousand feet, three thousand feet, eight thousand feet. Have to make sure they are well enough out of the shock wave.

The spell on the guard far below faded and he pulled out a remote control with a red button covered in glass. He flipped off the top layer laughing to himself. "Dumb bitch! Just what the empress wanted!" He pressed the button and the collars on the ground exploded shattering two layers of Twilight's shield but leaving her and the Zebras unharmed.

High above the clouds Celestia looked back at her right leg, the collar started to beep and glow red, signaling her to brace herself. This is going to sting. The collar gave off one more beep before exploding.

On the ground every-ponies eyes were on the sky. The explosion was so massive that the litter toppled over, despite Celestia being more than ten thousand feet above them. Twilight could see large puffs of smoke coming from the explosive epicenter, she only hoped Celestia had managed to survive it.

The guard at the gate was smiling. "Even if she is immortal, a ten ton explosion is more than enough to cripple her."

Twilight wanted to run over and break the gate guards face when she noticed something spiraling to the ground. "Celestia!" Twilight ran as fast as her legs could carry her, trying to cast a slow-fall spell on the falling princess. "C'mon, work darn you." The left over magical energy from the explosion was interfering with her concentration. The princess was only a couple hundred feet above the ground when Twilight finally managed to tag her with the slow fall spell. "Shit, shit, shit!"

Celestia hit the ground with a thud and managed to bounce a couple of times before her body settled in a heap.

"Celestia! Celestia!" Twilight's heart was racing. She wasn't sure if Celestia could survive such and explosion, let alone the fall afterwards. Just as Twilight managed to get within range of Celestia she heard a battle-horn come from behind her. Twilight wanted to look back but her duty was to the princess, anything else the 3rd legion could deal with. Twilight bent down to inspect Celestia, her leg was terribly bruised and bleeding slightly, her hair around her midsection was singed and her wings seemed crispy around the edges. "Celestia! are you alright. please say something." The more guards from the 3rd legion ran up to the princess doing their best to assist Twilight.

Twilight put her ear to Celestia's chest. She was breathing and her heart was beating but her eyes were closed and her body unresponsive. "What to do, what to do!" Twilight checked the princesses pulse on her neck, still strong. "Medical doctrine page twelve, check for broken bones and concussions!" Twilight shined a light from her horn onto princess Celestia, checking her body for damage. "Lemme see, two fractured ribs, one broken rib, some small first degree burns on the leg." Twilight continued to peer into Celestia's body, cataloging all her injuries. "Leg is cleanly broken at the thigh. Two cavities and a some shrapnel less than a quarter inch imbedded in her belly."

Unbeknownst to Twilight the grass in the fields behind her began to move. Zebra in green armor wearing large grass canopy's on their backs began to rise out of the ground. The guard at the gate was brandishing a rather large silver spear, clearly aiming at the back of Twilight Sparkles head.

"Two with one stone." As the guard pulled his front leg back to chuck the weapon at the busy Unicorn. He felt sharp pain in his groin, so much pain that he dropped the spear immediately and fell to the ground,whining in pain. Standing behind him was the mother of the filly her tried to detonate earlier, her back legs placed firmly in his ball-sack. "Yo-you!"

The Zebra didn't reply, her face was contorted with rage as she kicked him in the groin again, and again as hard as she could.

"You tired to kill my only love in joy in this world!" The angry mare kicked and stomped on the guards chest and face repeatedly. "You will never do this to anypony else!" The other four Zebra rushed over to pull the enraged mother off the guard.

"He can't hurt anypony anymore Daisy. Let us handle him, your daughter needs you." Daisy on the other hoof was easily overpowering the four larger stallion Zebra and continued to pummel the guard. Only after she heard a faint 'mama' from her daughter did she relent.

"Sunflower!?" Daisy ran over to her daughter and embraced her in a warm hug. "Oh my little girl, I was so worried about you!"

"Mama, is that..blood on your hooves? Were you kicking that guy over there?" Sunflower pointed to the unmoving, bloody mess that was the former gate guard of fort Zidalf.

It struck Daisy that her daughter had seen the entire thing. That in her rage she committed a war-crime out of anger, right in front of her daughter. "Mommy...is sorry for that. I lost my temper becuase that mean stallion tried to take you away from me."

Daisy looked over to the other four Zebra, all of which were shaking their heads. One of them signaling Daisy by running his hoof across his neck and pointing at the crumpled mess of a body below him.

"Mommy, is that mean stallion...dead?"

Daisy had no idea how to go about explaining this to her daughter. However she looked back to find Maskia army less than a mile away from them, quickly closing on their positions. "We can talk later honey, more bad ponies are coming this way to hurt us." Daisy Picked up the filly and set her gently on her back. "Hold on honey, we are going to make run for it." Daisy galloped toward Twilight Sparkle, stopping just as she started to levitate Celestia's body away from the battlefield.

"Twilight, I request sanctuary behind your lines. I have no love for Maskia's tactics and I can help with information if need be."

Twilight stared at Daisy for a moment and then back to Celestia. "Sure, follow me. We have medical bay and civilian shelter in the battle blimp. Your four compatriots can follow us as well."

Daisy turned back to signal the four stallions that carried her earlier only to find them arming themselves with armor and weapons from the other side of the fortress gate. "Twilight, I think they mean to fight Maskia's army." One of the stallions pointed at the approaching army and ran his hoof across his neck.

"Whatever, I need to get you and the princess to safety. I will not have civilians killed on my watch." Twilight headed for the 3rd legion line that was forming close to the fort. "Who is the commanding officer of this battalion?"

A grey coated, blond maned mare stepped forward, her gold armor nearly covered on the front with decorations of all kinds. "Sky admiral Derpy reporting ma'am!" The mare saluted Twilight Sparkle and Twilight returned the favor.

"Derpy? How...you know what, never mind. That question is best left to aged sages. "I need full coverage on blimp number four. I need to evacuate Celestia and this civilian to safety. I need any advanced medical staff you can spare."

Derpy nodded and signaled two ponies over to her. "Blue Moon, Silver hoof, I need you both to escort Twilight Sparkle to blimp number four. Notify squadron five that they are to protect the blimp at all costs."

"Yes, Admiral!" said Blue Moon.

"At once!" Said Silver Hoof.

"Twilight, shall I send air dispatch for the 7th legion to assist?" Derpy asked saluting.

"No, we have no clue to Maskia's whereabouts. If she attempts an assault on the capital or an assassination attempt on Luna I want as many soldiers on alert as possible."

"Agreed. I will send orders to the 2and division grenadiers to join us. They are only a couple hours from us." Derpy drew a sword from her holster. "Communications officer! I want the commanding officer of the 2and division grenadiers on the line as soon as possible."

"Yes ma'am!"

"Squad Six raise the derp cannons!" Large steel cylinders rose into the air. "I want a beta spread of concussion grenade-lets over that field. Disarm those that surrender or are incapacitated, kill them only as a last resort. I rather not deprive children of their families tonight if I can help it." Derpy raised her sword over her head. "Ready! Aim! DERP!"
A salvo of red colored grenades filled the air, landing in a triangle spread in the opposing army. Seconds later tiny red explosions riddled the enemies ranks. "Hold the second wave!" The smoke slowly cleared to find that only a handful had succumbed to the explosives effects. Most of the Zebra on the other side of the field eyes were glowing a deep blue.

"Shaman special forces" Derpy raised her sword again. "Let's show these dogs what the 3rd legion is capable of, Charge!" Derpy took to the skies first, weaving and tumbling about as she flew, her legion backing her up. "Form up!" The legion formed into a large triangle. "Power tumble!" Each legionnaire curled up into their armor and dived wings out into the crowds of enemies, knocking them over as if they were a large steel bowling balls.

Derpy sprang out of her ball just as a enemy shaman took a swing at her with his spear. Derpy kicked the edge of the spear and delivered a vicious headbutt to the Zebra then immediately turned around and kicked two more Zebra square in the face. "Are any of you cupcakes actually any good?"

Derpy continued her rampage through the ranks while the 3rd legion lagged behind but overall were routing the Zebra forces. Suddenly a ray of blue light struck Derpy in her right wing bruising her and singeing her feathers. As she turned around to see what struck her another ray hit her square in her chest armor, knocking her over but leaving her unharmed. "Who shot that? Show yourself so I can make sure to give you a face only a mother could love." A large half minotaur half Zebra creature stepped from the crowd. Wielding a large war axe, clad head to toe in black armor and his eyes glowing lightning blue.

"Finally, a challenge!" Derpy got back up to her feet and drew a war-mace shaped like a muffin on the end. "Let's see how you hold up to the power of muffin..."

"Get that communications array back up, we need to respond to the 3rd legion that we are under att-" A silver spear pieced the heart of the base captain. Looking up he could make out the vicious grin of Maskia, her silver armor almost blinding him as it reflected the sunlight.

"You're lucky I don't have time to kill this entire regiment but I do have enough time to take few souls to power my armor."

The captain could feel his skin burning, his muscles dislodging themselves from his body, even his very spirit lurching into a bottomless black abyss. "Arrrgg!" With a loud scream, the captains body tore itself apart and was sucked into the tip of the spear, turning it crimson red for a brief moment.

"How to best use his remaining spiritual power?" Maskia swung the spear in a crescent arc, sending a wave of red energy right into the barracks, cutting them clean in half. "Hmm a bit more power I think." Three more legionaries charged the old Zebra. "Brave, but pointless." Maskia swung her spear, disarming the first soldier and tripping him with the opposite end, sending him tumbling into a stack of supplies. The second soldier misjudged his weapons distance, getting a glancing cut across his shoulder.

The second one fell to the ground, his body leaking magical energy into the spear. "Not a soul but I'll take what I can get."

"Dale, no!" the third solider, Vinegar, managed to hook his sickle underneath Maskia spear and send it flying into a nearby crate. "I got you know monster!" Vinegar swung his sickle across Maskia's chest. Managing to get a small flesh wound but shattering the weapon against the edge of her breastplate.

"I bleed?" Maskia looked down at her small cut which was just barely bleeding. "Let me show you my affection for your combat prowess." Maskia lurched forward and grabbed Vinegar in a bear hug.

Vinegar swung his front hooves landing clean hits on Maskia to no effect.

"Is that how you hug an old lady?"

It suddenly felt as if his body was being crushed in a vice. The air forcefully pushed its way from his lungs as if a large constrictor snake was holding him. Every time he tried to inhale Maskia would squeeze harder, pushing all the air out and causing him a great deal of pain.

"What's wrong dear? Don't like grandma figures giving you hugs?"

Maskia bared down harder on Vinegar, bending his armor as she closed her front hooves tighter and tighter around his ribcage.

Vinegar couldn't think, he couldn't breathe. All he could feel or hear was his ribs creaking and breaking. His body going into convulsions as it begged for oxygen. A few seconds more and all he could see was darkness, the sweat embrace of unconsciousness and ultimately, death.

"Poor thing got loved to death, may as well end his suffering." Maskia prepared to give the killing squeeze when she caught a round orange object out the corner of her eye, striking her side and exploding. A cloud of red energy and smoke filled the air near her and she reflexively dropped her prey.

Vinegar dropped to the ground gasping for air as Maskia rounded about to see who had hit her. Dale was standing on top of some supplies chucking concussion grenades at her. "Miserable wretch!" Maskia tore her spear from the boxes only to have another explosive hit her square on her back armor. "Annoying pests! I will slaughter you all like the pigs you...." the smoke from the explosion cleared and Maskia was staring down at least a dozen 2and division grenadiers pointing rocket launchers at her.

"Smoke 'er boys!"

Maskia jumped into the air as two rockets hit the ground where she was, blasting back Vinegar but leaving him relatively unharmed.

"Second volley!"

Nine more rockets filled the air, two of them finding new homes in Maskia's midsection.

"Confirmed hit sarge!" The smoke cleared quickly to reveal that Maskia had shielded herself from the explosions, but only just.

I can't be wasting precious power on target practice. Maskia stared at the bodies of dozens of Pegasus she had killed. with the radio station down and their Pegasus contingent down I have hours before the mainland is notified.

"Reload, lite er up!" Three more rockets streamed by Maskia just barely glancing her shield.

Best get moving. The armor on Maskia's back opened up in the shape of steel wings. As they spread blue flames spurted out the back and in seconds Maskia was flying away at supersonic speeds. First, force Zecora into giving her my blessing. Second find and kill Luna.

"Vinegar!" Dale hopped down off the supplies and ran to his friend still gasping for air on the ground. "Everyone, on medical duty except the engineering squads. I want a death toll and somepony get this radio tower back up, we need to warn the mainland!" Dale pulled a first aid kit out of the nearby wreckage and strapped a oxygen mask to Vinegar. "Hold on buddy, please hold on."

"Boy, why you tellin us what to do, yer only a ensign." The Sargent that led the rocket attack on Maskia was puffing out his chest on top of some crates. "I be having the next highest rank, I reckon we chase after her."

"With what? a buckin glider? This is no time to be pulling rank and chasing after things we can do nuffin too. Now if you excuse me I have lives to save." The other ponies nodded their heads in agreement each sorting through the debris for medical kits.

"You do be knowin this will get ya a court martial for pullin above yer rank, right ensign?"

"To put it nicely sarge, get bucked." Dale picked up his friend and carried him toward the medical tent when the sergeant blocked his path.

"Sonny boy, you put that corpse down. We Will be chasin after the enemy leader."

Dale didn't know what to do, he was in no condition to be fighting someone larger than him; let alone wounded himself. "Stand down Sargent. protocol calls for injured first and you know it."

"Or yer gonna what, bleed on me?"

The pompous Sargent took two intimidating steps forward only to collapse on the spot after a slight buzzing sound filled the air. Behind the Sargent was a red headed mare with a cross on her flank lined with Apples on either side, in her right hoof was a medical stun-gun. "Overruled, in the event of a catastrophe and no other commanding officer is present than the medical team can take control." The mare's eyes met the eyes of the barely breathing Vinegar and then Dale's. "Bring him in ensign, I'll do what I can."

Dale walked inside the tent to find many soldiers still being brought in. Some of them DOA and other just hanging on by a thread. "Set him on that bed over there."

Dale walked over and set Vinegar gently on bed, taking care not to jostle him too much. The doctor pulled out a strange blue instrument and shined a blue light over Vinegar's body.

"Collapsed ribcage, compressed vertebrae and at least two slipped disks. Help me move the iron lung above him, it will keep him alive as I operate." Dale helped pushed the iron lung over the bed, gritting his teeth to bear the pain in his shoulder.

"You seem to be injured as well."

"It tain't nothin, only a flesh wound." The nurse didn't believe him however as she began to scan his wound with the strange blue light. "What are ya doin? I'll be fine, please heal Vinegar first." The nurse smiled but continued to scan Dale's wound. "I don't get it, it's just a flesh wound."

"No, this wound is pretty bad actually."

"What do ya mean?"

"Your body is experiencing soul leak. If i do not get this patched up you will die within a few hours."

"But Vinegar-"

The nurse put her hoof over Dale's mouth to hush him. "Vinegar's wounds are lethal yes, but in that iron lung he is in not immediate danger of death. He has no internal bleeding and should be fine as I operate on him. You case is special."

"In what way?"

"This base is only staffed with C, B and one dead A class doctor. You need a S class unicorn doctor to seal this up, of which we have none."

"Can't ya do anything?"

"I can slow it down and heal the cut but you must find a S class doctor. Soon."

The doctor walked over to her med-kit and pulled out a syringe filled with a green gel. "This may smart a bit." The doctor poked Dale just above the cut and then injected the gel.

The sensation of being cut was nowhere near as bad as the healing process. It felt like someone was cauterizing the wound instead of closing it. "You was'n kiddin when you said this hurts."

"You will get over it. As for the other part, I suggest you start running as fast as you can to the 3rd legion forward camp."

"But I'm only class two scout? I'm not even the fastest here."

The doctor pointed to a row full of beds containing mostly stallions and mares from the 4th squadron scout brigade. "When she attacked she hit the scout barracks and radio station first. You are the only one healthy enough left to make it there."

"I-I guess I can run that, but It will till take awhile."

"I would order some extra's to go with you but sad to say, most of the earth ponies here are not fast runners."

"Yeah well, lack of action does that."

The doctor pulled a satchel out from the cabinet and popped it open on the counter. "Let's see, medicine, flare gun, water." the doctor pulled a magazine out with the title "Wet mare" on the cover. "You won't be needing this." The magazine landed on the table and opened up to the Spitfire centerfold. The doctor reached in the cabinet again and pulled out a red badge with the 2and legion insignia on it.

"Show this badge to anyone that tries to block your progress, it signifies medical overrule and will get you to some one in charge quickly." The doctor dropped the badge into the satchel and tossed it around Dale's neck. "If you feel any pain in that shoulder stop and rest, we don't need your soul leak being accelerated."

"Agreed, I will take this to the 3rd legion front at once!" Dale turned and headed for the tent exit when the doctor caught his attention with a whistle.

"I will send some slower scouts behind you as soon as I can, in case you fail."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence there doc" Dale replied sarcastically.

"Well then, don't fail and that won't be a issue will it?"

I'll show her failure. Dale ignored the doctor and headed out the tent to the 2and legion gate. Keep calm, only all of Equestria is counting on you. No sweat right?" Dale wiped his brow and took off out the gate like lightning. "I hope I can get there in time."

"Males, so predictable. Insult their pride and they are back on their feet like nothing can stop them." The doctor giggled to herself before returned to her duties.

Celestia slowly opened her eyes to find a panicked Twilight pulling bits of metal out of her. "Twilight?"

"Omigosh shes awake!" Twilight moved into direct eye contact distance with Celestia. "Celestia I need you to follow the light on my horn with your eyes." A red light appeared at the tip of Twilight's horn. "Follow it as closely as you can." Twilight swayed her head back and forth.

Celestia followed the light but found her head to be pounding, like she was binge drinking the night before. "Twilight, how long have I been unconscious?"

"Thirty minutes at most. I want you to do the alphabet in reverse by ten letters."

"Err...Z,Y,X,W umm V, U, T, S, R and Q?"

"Good now what's the square root of seventeen?"

"Ummm...get bucked?"

"Okay square root of twenty-five, sheesh."

"Five, I think. What's with all the odd questions?"

"I need to gauge how bad your concussion is, my last four scans on your body didn't show any kind of permanent brain damage. Although you may feel a bit hung over for a few hours."

Celestia shot up, her eyes wide open. "The fort! Is the filly okay! Where is the Sky Admiral!" Celestia felt two hooves on her chest push her slowly back down on her back.

"Calm down, you're in no condition to be doing that. The battle is already over and you managed to save the filly and her mother."

"Oh, that's a relief. Casualty report?"

"We have eighteen injured and the Sky Admiral had to get her wing regrown. Thankfully enemy deaths are nothing but we have injuries in the hundreds. Most of the Zebra don't even remember what there were doing there. Brain scans of most of them turned up positive for magical suggestion." Twilight picked another piece of shrapnel out of Celestia's belly. "We have yet to inspect the inside of the fort, Derpy is interrogating pows for intel bout what we may find in there."

"Twilight, I want you to go back to Equestria. I'll handle the investigation here."

"No can do Princess. Protocol dictates that I must stay with you when you're vulnerable."

"But, but Luna.."

"Can handle herself. She has the entire 7th legion as well as five other legions at her disposal including her Shadow Knights. If Maskia's intent was to get to Equestrian soil then she is in for one heck of a surprise; try moving your right leg."

Celestia did what she was told and moved her leg, to some minor pain. "It feels a bit stiff and the hair feels thinner around that area."

"The bone back there was broken clean but as I started to mend it with my magic your body took over and finished the job for me. Most of your burns have started to heal as well. I had to practically force your shrapnel wounds open with magic so they didn't close up with the metal still in them." Twilight pulled another small fragment of metal from Celestia's belly. "Speaking of which I think that's all of it." Twilight ran her horn across Celestia's belly again closing stopping and closing the wounds after inspecting them for debris.

"Twilight, I don't mean to pry but, when did you become a doctor?"

Twilight blushed crimson. "I managed to get my B grade certification done three weeks ago. I felt helpless ever since you were nearly killed so I been studying anatomy and working my way up the grades ever since."

"It's a good skill to have."

"It is neat isn't it? Okay could you roll over and sit up please."

Celestia rolled over but couldn't manage to sit up, it hurt to put any pressure on her back right leg and the numbness in her wings only complicated matters. "I think I will have to lay down for a while longer Twilight. I can't seem to stand up on this leg yet." Celestia tried putting weight on her back legs only for them to protest with a shot of pain up her back. "Nope, not going anywhere soon."

"Huh? lemme check something" Twilight scanned Celestia's back leg with her horn. "There shouldn't be any...oh."

"What Twilight?"

"You have a sprain back here but... I didn't realize Alicorns had a second subset of muscles, I'm sorry I missed that. I better scan your whole body and make sure I didn't miss anything."

"No worries Twilight, I doubt there are many books in the Canterlot archives about Alicorn biology."

"Hmmm, that's fine, okay I can heal that up then." Twilight seemed to be completely caught up in her work to notice Celestia's banter. "Okay, try standing now."

Celestia put weight on her back legs and with some minor stiffness she was standing tall again. "Much better Twilight, what would I do without you."

Twilight beamed at Celestia. "Okay, next up I need you to hold still while I preen your burned feathers."

Celestia spread her wings and examined the feathers. Most of them were singed on the ends but still functional. "No time for that Twilight, we can postpone the wing manicure, I want to know what's in that fort and where Maskia is."

"Are you sure? My calculations put the drag from torched ends at four percent."

Celestia giggled. "I'm sure I can handle a loss of four percent while WALKING, Twilight."

"Good point."

"Shall we?"

Celestia walked up the stairs from the medical bay to the deck of battle blimp number four. Sitting on the deck in a chair across from Sky Admiral Derpy was a large Zebratuar giving Derpy information.

"Iron snout doesn't know what came over himself. Iron Snout came upon this fort a couple days ago trying to sell custom doormats." Iron Snout held upa doormat with what looked liek a picture of Fluttershy on it. "The lady leader welcomed me in and then stared at me funny. Next thing I know Iron Snout was on the ground getting his face kicked in by angry cross eyed Pegasus."

"Well, that was then and this is now. Iron Snout is better now. Can you tell me about anything weird inside the fort?"

Iron Snout scratched his chin absentmindedly. "As iron will was being brought to talk with the big boss lady there was this big silver door with all kinds of heavy barricades and gizmos attached to it. There was a little window at Iron Snouts height, something was glowing in there but Iron snout didn't really pay attention, Iron Snout was too focused on making money."

"Any other comments before I send you to the refugee camp?" Derpy asked.

"Yes, Iron Snout is very sorry about chopping off pretty Pegasuses wing."

Derpy unfolded her left wing, aside from half the wing being devoid of feathers it looked fine. "I will be fine. We can share a muffin over it after the refugees have been sorted out."

"Iron Snout would like that." The Zebrasus got out of his chair and was escorted to some tents on the horizon by a couple 3rd legion troops.

"Sky Admiral, report."

Derpy shot a glance at Celestia and immediately stood at attention, her helmet falling over her eyes. "Yes, your majesty. I apologize for not noticing you and am glad you are okay."

"At ease. I want a full report on the aftermath of the battle."

Derpy cleared her throat and put her front hooves firmly on the ground. " We have begun to treat injuries on both sides and although some of them are severe, the doctors report those few are stable. We have already set up a forward command post and a pow camp. We are currently filtering though which Zebra were mind controlled and which are the true perpetrators of this ambush."

"Have you found any of the perpetrators of the ambush?"

"A dozen so far but even they seem to have trace amounts of weird magic about them."

"How so?"

"Advanced mind wipe, your majesty. Aside from the nonsense put into their heads by Maskia all of them cannot recall what they did before the war."

Celestia paced about the deck of the ship, a distraught look on her face. "She was so desperate for numbers that she either black mailed them, mind controlled them or wiped out their past altogether." Twilight nudged Celestia, grabbing her attention.

"We need more information. We need to explore that fort."

"Agreed, Arch mage. Derpy I want you to join me and Twilight in exploring the fort interior for clues." Derpy gave a salute and ran up to Celestia's side.

"I want you both behind me at all times, no telling what traps lay in that place." Twilight and Derpy both nodded in agreement, although Twilight with some hesitation.

"I want to know what she was doing in that fort."