Okay, I stank pretty bad. I didn't realize this until I prepared for takeoff, but wow. It took a second to remember that I had endured horrible, jarring elements in the questionable multi-phasing experiment, two days of sleeping in the outdoors, and then there was the whole getting covered in mud with my teats slathered in an insane mare's sexual fluids. And maybe my own sexual fluids. Okay, also my own sexual fluids, what of it? Stinking is not a good thing if you want to make a grand appearance at a castle. I didn't have time to waste looking for a suitable river to bathe in, and while that might mute the smell it wouldn't help my appearance very much. Fortunately, I had an out: home. Specifically, my parents' place, and my ability to find it. I've taken many a balloon ride from Canterlot to nearby lands (including Ponyville), so even before I magically poofed myself some wings, I knew how to find my home from the air. I was horribly filthy, but my first stop-off would be home, and my parents would understand. Because they're my parents, and that's what parents do.

Plus, I kind of had to catch them up on most of the horrible stuff so they would be prepared for what had happened to Shining Armor. I really didn't want to do it. I just didn't have a choice. These past few days, I've learned that it's easy to do terrible things when you have no choice. I wonder if that's how it feels to be Rarity or Cheerilee right now. I really hope not, because it feels awful to me.

I attracted some attention, but managed to get to my house without anyone trying to run up to me. I knocked loudly and rang the doorbell at the same time. I could have used magic to open the lock, of course, but I still have some manners.

Night Light (Dad) opened the door.

"Hello? Twilight? Sweetheart are you okay?" he asked, clearly upset by my appearance.

"Hi Dad," I said, choking back tears I didn't expect. "I, I need to come in—"

Without needing to hear more, he opened the door and ushered me inside, looking left and right to see that I wasn't being followed. He shut and locked the door, and turned to face me.

"I need a bath," I said, and laughed as a tear streamed down one muddy cheek. "You wouldn't believe, what, I, just... oh Daddy," I said and cried freely in his arms as held me close.

"Sssh. It's okay, Twilight. I'm here for you, anything you need," he whispered. "I promise we'll see you through whatever this is." I sniffled a little and broke the hug.

"There's... (cough) there's another crisis," I said. "A big one, and Brother's involved. He and Cadance have been possessed by something, and it's making them do terrible things to ponies. My friends and I are trying desperately to find a way to fix them, but we've already lost Rarity and Fluttershy to whatever the evil thing is. I'm fairly certain that Luna has been compromised too. I'm here to find Celestia, and some of my friends are helping me in Ponyville right now."

A familiar voice sounded from behind me. "Wait, did you say Rarity?" Twilight Velvet (Mom) asked.

My heart sunk, and my hooves rattled in fear. Please have your horn, Mom. Please have your horn. Oh Dear Celestia, please, please, please have your horn.

I turned around and let out an overwhelming whinny of relief. Mom was standing there, as bright and normal as always. She had a pair of copper earrings in her hoof, which she held up to me. "Your friend Rarity sent these to me a day ago, but they require a very large piercing. I don't know how she expected me to wear them," she said.

Dad reached up and pulled me gently by the shoulders. "What do you need us to do, Princess?" he asked me, refocusing my attention.

I swallowed hard. "Shining Armor is not himself. He may sound like him, and have access to his memories, but it's not him and I know that with one hundred percent certainty. I can't tell you details of the things he has done because you would be horrified, but many ponies have been badly hurt, myself included. I need a safe haven in Canterlot, but he cannot know I'm staying here."

Mom winced, surely from the pain of knowing what had happened to her son. "Twilight, we trust you implicitly, you know that," she said. "If anyone can help our son, it's you."

Dad nodded. "We have faith in you, dear. If he comes by or contacts us in any way, we'll say we haven't seen you or heard from you. You can hide in the attic if it comes to that."

I nodded, exhausted. "Thank you both," I said, holding back more tears. "I need to take a bath and then I'm going straight to the castle."

"Wait, Twilight. I think he's in town," Dad warned me. "He hasn't contacted us, which is unlike him, but I heard that he arrived with a few ponies a day or two ago. You might want to wait until dusk if you're worried about being seen."

I thought it over, and it made sense. I nodded my agreement, and ran upstairs to bathe.

After the bath, I tried to relax. Mom wanted me to eat a full meal before heading out, but my stomach is bothering me too much. I had a light supper (just a sandwich I scavenged from the fridge), took a very short nap in the guest bedroom (I unconsciously locked the door, probably paranoia setting in), and finally wrote out this entry. It's dusk now, so I'm about to head to the castle once I finish writing. I can leave my things here safely in the interim, which is very useful. I've told my parents about the journal. They will guard it with their lives, and if I don't make it back by dawn, they will personally hoof-deliver it to Princess Celestia. There's nothing quite like unconditional love, journal. I can safely trust these two ponies even more than I trust myself.

Something is bothering me, however. I have a nagging feeling that I've forgotten another clue, something super relevant yet remarkably simple, and it's driving me crazy. But I can't keep stressing myself like this or I won't be able to eat properly. Heck, I can barely eat as it is. I'm going to put it out of mind until I return.

Here goes everything. Again.