Six ponies and one zebra stood on the Ponyville train platform, waiting for a train.

It was an oddly mundane moment, Twilight thought. This was it, this was the culmination of everything she'd been working towards. Luna had had a whole day to fall into Celestia's hands. Twilight had taken a draught mixed by Zecora to make sure she slept dreamlessly the night before, just to be sure she couldn't give anything away while she slept, and commanded everypony that knew anything about her plans to forget when they went to bed, and not remember until they woke in the morning. Trixie awaited their arrival in Canterlot. Spike had delivered a summons to Spitfire, and the flame-haired Wonderbolt was now in possession of four sets of earmuffs, four doses of sleeping powder, and most importantly, had received her orders.

Every part of their preparation had been secret. Even Luna hadn't known exactly when Twilight intended to act. So here they were, taking the most mundane route possible to the city, to the inevitable confrontation with her dearest mentor and greatest threat.

Six ponies and one zebra, waiting for a train. Twilight subtly rubbed the back of her hand across her chest, wincing slightly at the soreness.

Pinkie was plainly nervous, speaking twice as fast as usual as she chattered intensely at Rainbow Dash. Zecora and Applejack were reassuring Rarity, and Twilight herself was absently stroking Fluttershy's mane as the quiet pony pressed against her for comfort. The plan was simple, and she'd talked it to death before they'd left for the station. Now, in public, with other ponies boredly shuffling back and forth across the platform, she didn't dare say a word about it. The entire thing rested on secrecy, and surprise. She hadn't even told her friends the whole thing.

The brisk chuff-chuff of the approaching train broke into her thoughts, and she felt an immediate surge of overwhelming gratitude. The waiting was driving her crazy. And she'd thought it had been bad the first time they'd set out to challenge Celestia!

Carriages swept past, one after another, gradually slowing. Billowing steam, the train settled to a stop. A door near the front of the train opened, and a young-looking lavender colt in a conductor's uniform stepped out of the lead carriage. Lifting a silvery whistle from where it dangled on a strap, he blew a sharp note, freezing ponies in the act of reaching for the carriage doors.

"Ah-hem! I am sorry to announce that no passengers are permitted to board this reserved train, mares and gentlecolts. Please step back from the train - there will be another train shortly, which will allow you to continue on your expected journeys."

"Oh, come on!" protested Rainbow Dash. "We're kind of in a hurry, here!"

Twilight resisted the urge to facepalm. Rainbow was terrible at secrets.

The conductor turned towards Rainbow, and bowed. "Not to worry, Ma'am. This train is for you. Sorry for the misunderstanding."

Fluttershy went rigid against Twilight's side.

"Ah - and why would that be the case?" Rarity inquired with measured calm.

The colt straightened his back further, if possible. "Princess Celestia's orders, Ma'am! She would like me to announce that the staff of the train are earth ponies, and if Twilight Sparkle would kindly restrain herself until Canterlot, we're under instructions to convey you there with speed and comfort, Ma'am!" There was a trace of confusion to his disciplined expression, not fully understanding the meaning of the words he'd been given.

Twilight's hand tightened into a fist at her side. Celestia knew she was coming, and so she'd put on a train full of ponies incapable of using the charm, and politely asked - asked - Twilight not to charm them in return. It was an almost kindly, benevolent gesture, one that felt like Celestia's hot breath on the back of her neck. Twilight's tail twitched with agitation.

Everypony on the platform was staring at her, now.

For a moment, she considered insisting that the other passengers be allowed to ride the train with her. This train was reserved for her use, wasn't it? She wasn't going to meekly play along. She got as far as opening her mouth before she considered how the other ponies on the platform might react. How would they feel, about getting onto a train that they'd all heard that Princess Celestia had reserved for Twilight? Even if she bullied the conductor into allowing it, they'd be too nervous to get aboard anyway.

She released a soft, frustrated sigh. Celestia had thought of everything. "Come on, everypony. Let's get on board." She felt the nervousness of her friends and lovers as they followed her, each having to put their faith in her judgement. Of course, they didn't know how slim her chances were.

Climbing into the open door, Twilight moved into the carriage and immediately bit her lip. While the outside looked like an everyday train, the interior was decked out with finery that wouldn't have been out of place on Celestia's personal train itself. Soft cushions and low lounging couches were laid out with casual, artistic elegance, broken up by plants and greenery in well-tended tubs. A delicious smell of mingled foods wafted from the carriages further down through the open connecting doors.

Just how long had Celestia been planning this, anyway?

Applejack stepped up beside her and took her hand, squeezing it firmly. The grip of the farm pony's strong fingers was comforting. "Alright, so she knows. Big whoop. We'll still go on up there'n kick her behind, Twilight. Wasn't like she wasn't going t'guess we were coming once we stepped into the palace anyways."

Rainbow wandered past them, stretching out on a couch as she determinedly refused to show any sign of intimidation. Pinkie bounced past towards the smell of food - for all Twilight could tell, she really didn't find this worrying. The rest gathered in a small group beside and around Twilight, too unnerved by the display to take advantage of it.

The conductor stepped into the carriage, shut the door, and gave a second long blast on his whistle. With a renewed billow of steam past the windows, the train smoothly pulled out of the station.

He nodded in satisfaction. "My name is Clock Watcher, and I'll be your conductor today. In the first carriage, you'll find the relaxation and comfort area. In the second carriage, you will find the feasting table, with a selection of treats. If you have particular requests, I will convey them to the onboard chef. In carriage three, you may take advantage of our trained masseurs, and a small spa pool. The fourth carriage is reserved for the train staff, with my apologies. If there's anything else I can do to make your journey to Canterlot more pleasant or relaxing, please let me know."

Twilight was becoming very annoyed. The excessiveness, the totality of the concern for their well being, the constant implication that she must be so nervous that she could barely function... Clearly, Celestia was going to go out of her way to show that she didn't take Twilight seriously, implying the Princess was worried that she'd win so easily that it wouldn't be any fun. Twilight couldn't even take out her ire on Clock Watcher, who was obviously delighted with himself at being there to make their journey pleasant.

"We appreciate everything that's been done for us. Thank you, and please convey our gratitude to the rest of the staff on the train. Could we have some privacy in this carriage for a while? We'd like to talk." Her tone was pleasant, with a matching smile. If Clock Watcher saw through it, he gave no sign, nodding as he thanked her and disappeared towards the staff car.

"Fetch Pinkie from the dining carriage, then close the interior door, please," Twilight said mildly, in the same, level, pleasant tones.

Applejack nodded. "Ah'll take care've her."

Rarity looked around at the finery hesitantly, then parted her lips to speak. Twilight raised a hand, forestalling her, and Rarity nodded, biting her lip. After a moment or two, Applejack herded Pinkie back into the carriage, and shut the door firmly behind them both.

Pinkie bounded down the central aisle, a platter of cupcakes in her left hand. "Ohmigosh, the cupcakes taste so good! Everypony! You have to try the feast!"

"Really, Pinkie dear, please settle down for a moment. We need to talk about what this means."

Twilight nodded her agreement. "Okay. First things first; this isn't a trap."

Fluttershy timidly raised her hand, looking anxious. "Um. How do you know? This kind of feels... trap... ish."

"I understand Celestia. This is a game. If she'd wanted to win outright, she could have come to get me before I was ready, when she was suspicious enough to arrange all this. If this train was a trap, it'd look normal until half a dozen unicorns turned on me at the same time. She wouldn't tell me that the train is safe, and then go back on that." Twilight took a deep breath, and let it go. "She's inviting me to take my best shot."

Fear hung in the air. Each and every pony gazing at her showed it, in her own way, in the little movements of their bodies and the agitated flicking of tails.

Zecora finally spoke in a soft undertone. "If the Princess knows, if her preparations are completed, are we not already defeated? I do not expect you to agree, but if I were to choose, I might now flee."

"No, that would be the worst choice of all. Celestia will find us, wherever we are. If I throw away this one shot at fighting her on equal terms, she'll just take me. I'll have lost by default." Twilight addressed Zecora, but knew she was speaking to all of them. "Our chance lies in her overconfidence. She's handicapping herself. I'm not. There are things that she doesn't know - can't know - and that's how we'll win. This is just... meant to unnerve us. Don't let it. I want you all to take as much advantage of the train as you can until we reach Canterlot. You should be well rested. Don't eat too much, that's all."

Hesitantly, with murmurs of agreement, her slaves dispersed. Only Applejack remained, defying Twilight's instruction. Once the others had dispersed down the carriage and out of earshot, the farm pony breathed, "Twi, don't mind telling you I'm real scared of this one. Others are too, I c'n tell you that for nothing. Can't help remembering when we lost so darn fast last time, never even saw the Princess before y'ordered us in f'r her to take control of, one by one. I reckon you're trying t'stick it to her, getting us all to spread out'n act like nothing's wrong, but that won't work."

Twilight's hand clenched at her side. "I... what do you want me to do, Applejack? I don't know what to say to reassure everypony. It is scary. It's... Celestia."

"Never mind all that. This's what you do: push a couple've couches together. Pile up the cushions. Let'm all cuddle up with you. I sure want that something fierce my own self. Y'don't need to say any more. Jest let us take some comfort from being together."

Something that simple, and she hadn't thought of it. Too busy trying to find a way to persuade them that it was going to be okay, she'd neglected to just comfort them. "...please, let everypony know that they're welcome. To curl up together."

"Yes, Ma'am. Ah'll be right back. You save a place f'r me." Applejack stepped close and kissed Twilight, a quick, yearning press of her lips, before she backed away and vanished into the next carriage.

Twilight set about shoving couches together.

A nervous cough came from the doorway, followed by a slightly stammering, "W-we'll be arriving in Canterlot momentarily, Ma'am. If you'd like to p-prepare to disembark, we hope you've enjoyed your journey." The carriage door shut sharply.

Twilight smiled wryly to herself. She reclined amidst a pile of ponies snuggled up to her, Applejack and Rainbow on one side, Zecora and Rarity on the other, Pinkie sprawled across her lap and Fluttershy cuddled up to her feet. One by one, they raised their heads, looking up at her, and Twilight told them gently, "It's time. Everybody up."

Reluctantly, with a murmured chorus of assent, they got to their feet. Wincing, Twilight crawled out of the pile of cushions, straightening her blouse. Looking around herself at her beloved companions, she reached out to caress each pony in turn. "You're brave, and wonderful. All of you. I know you're scared, but we're going to make this. Heads held high, everypony. Let's do this."

Taking the lead, Twilight moved to the end of the carriage, and unlatched the door. The sound of the world outside flooded in, the hissing of the train as steam escaped underscoring the chattering of ponies waiting on the platform. Warmth touched her as she stepped out into the open. The sun beat down on the spires of Canterlot, and glittered over the high rise of the castle beyond. It was all impossibly normal.

Her throat was dry.

Trying not to be obvious, Twilight looked towards one of the tallest buildings in town, one with ornate mock-battlements, and kept her eye on it as she walked. After a few moments, a mirror flash of reflected sunlight blinked at her. One, two. A pause. One, two. Twilight murmured, "Applejack, walk in front of me. Good.... stay there for a count of five. Now switch. Rainbow, you're in front. Good... now behind me. Follow me, all of you." A final pair of flashes indicated acknowledgement of the signal.

The knot in her chest eased a fraction. The Wonderbolts were in position. Now all she needed was...

A pink unicorn mare with a clashing orange mane stepped out of the swirling crowd, falling into step with Twilight. The cutie mark wasn't a familiar one, but that was only to be expected. After a moment of walking in silence, Twilight risked, "Trixie...?"

The pink mare snorted, rolling her eyes. "Were you expecting someone other than the innocent and virtuous Seashell?"

"Yeup, that's Trixie," Applejack muttered.

"You picked that coat and mane? Like, on purpose? That wasn't some kind of really horrible accident."

"Rainbow! Shush. Keep walking." Twilight kept her gaze on the palace. There was a growing feeling of unreality about everything around her. Common ponies went to and fro, chattering innocently, crowds pressed close, sellers hawked their wares. The distant banners on the highest towers fluttered in the breeze. It was warm enough to be summer.

After a moment, she glanced sideways at Trixie, the disguised mare now sporting an intensely recognisable pout. "Well?" Twilight asked tersely.

"The innocent-"

"As few words as possible."

"Success. Naturally. The maid reports no one noticing or stopping her, and I re-charmed her after to check for interference."

"You did well." Twilight couldn't help but smile at Trixie's brief look of smug pride.

The question was whether Trixie had gotten away with it.

Low chance that Trixie's rented cottage had escaped notice. Medium chance she'd been spotted leaving it in disguise. The disguise change on the train should have thrown off any description of her, though. Celestia almost certainly wasn't charming every single pony in the castle as they entered each day, and the maid had access to her chambers. The maid was also the pony most likely to have stumbled across evidence of Twilight's preparations, if she hadn't have been puppeted into making them herself.

Maybe sixty-forty in favour.

Memories of sneaking into the castle flashed before her eyes as the eight of them emerged onto the wide boulevard that led through the belt of greenery up to the towering castle walls. There was where she'd first spotted the pony with her cart, there was the bush she'd paused behind as they waited for the right moment to make a dash for it. Lifting her head, she could even make out the distant shape of the balcony they'd leapt off.

This time, sneaking would be a waste of time. She approached the main gate without breaking stride, towards the double row of armoured ponies flanking the entrance. Twilight could feel the mute fear of the ponies around her, tension crackling in the air. No one spoke, as Twilight and her small group filtered between the ranks of rigid guards. Their silence, their complete lack of response, was oppressive.

Two more guards flanked the entranceway of the castle itself. Each bore a golden staff, from which sun-marked flags fluttered. As Twilight approached, they banged down the base of their staves in unison, announcing together, "Princess Celestia awaits you in her private meeting room, Twilight Sparkle."

Behind her, Twilight heard a muffled whimper. It sounded like Fluttershy. A spark of anger kindled in her breast, pushing back against the cold fear. How dare Celestia scare innocent ponies like this? All to intimidate Twilight, all to feed her ego?

At once, her own thoughts gave rise to Celestia's inevitable rebuttal, as if she could hear her mentor's voice. You involved them in this, Twilight.

The empty halls rang with their footsteps, echoes bouncing into the distance.

Applejack coughed nervously, speaking in an instinctive whisper. "Say, where in the hay is everypony? Shouldn't this place be bustling?"

Twilight shook her head. "She's emptied the castle. She just can't stop showing off how ready for me she is. She doesn't want any other ponies involved, making things complicated. It's just me, and her."

"Hey! If you haven't noticed, it's not just you," Rainbow replied indignantly. "You've got us on your side, and she better be shaking in her fancy golden slippers! She has no idea what we're capable of when we work together!" Pulling a face, Rainbow added, "Oh, and Trixie's here, too."

The disguised Trixie practically vibrated with outrage. "Firstly, Rainbow Dolt, she is being Seashell right now, and secondly-"

"You can drop the disguise now, Trixie," Twilight interrupted. "We're all done hiding your involvement."

"Oh, Trixie thought you would never give permission!" The colours of her body shimmered, seeming to strangely drift upwards from her skin and hair, before something intangible popped like a soap bubble to reveal the blue and white mare, clad in her favourite magician's outfit. Straightening the layers of frills and adjusting her sparkly corset, Trixie sighed. "The slutty and submissive Trixie will have to fight a Princess of Canterlot without a hat. It breaks her heart."

Rainbow Dash snorted aloud with amusement. "The what and the what, Trixie?"

"Did you say something? The sensuous and special Trixie can't hear you over the sound of all the long days and nights she and her Mistress spent together, working on things that air-headed ponies simply aren't equipped to understand, not to mention the long, long nights of passionate abandon. Perhaps if you asked nicely, she'd tell you some stories, so you wouldn't feel so woefully inexperienced in the ways of Mistress's desires."

Trixie looked around at the other slaves, taking in their universally irritated expressions. Zecora in particular seemed about ready to hex Trixie out of existence on the spot. It was honestly impressive, Twilight thought, how Trixie's supernatural talent for being irritating had transcended Twilight's gentle conditioning to avoid jealousy between them.

The showmare preened, addressing herself to Twilight. "Perhaps you'd like to take the slutty and sexually talented Trixie for a private celebration after we've won. She's the one that can appreciate the true skill of your preparations, after all."

"Why, ah oughta-"

"You're so rude!"

"Hey, if it's a good time Twilight wants, she should take me. I came first-"

"Well, how dare you suggest that my Lady would neglect me in favour of-"

Twilight raised her hands. "Quiet, everypony! We need to concentrate on what we're doing, please." Begrudgingly, the ponies around her settled down, turning their focus outwards to hunt for signs of guards as Twilight guided them through the corridors. Thank goodness for Trixie, Twilight thought. She couldn't imagine a better way to puncture the growing atmosphere of intimidation and fear. In fact... could that have been Trixie's intent all along?

She glanced at Trixie. The blue mare was almost skipping along, radiant with an aura of sheer smugness that almost lifted her off the ground.

No, that had just been Trixie being Trixie.

The castle was eerie when it was this quiet. She was so used to the place being constantly busy with ponies at all hours of the day and night that seeing it abandoned felt instinctively wrong. It reminded her of the Castle of the Two Sisters; as if the walls and hangings might begin to peel and decay in front of her at any moment. She focused on the small spark of anger within her, letting it fuel her determination.

It was time. "Earmuffs on," she commanded softly. Pulling out two pairs, she handed one to Trixie, and settled the last over her own ears. The world filled with a saw-toothed buzz at the edge of hearing. Around her, the others pulled on their own. "Can everypony hear me? Good. Stay close, and when I run, run."

So far, she'd followed the obvious route towards Celestia's private chambers. That was about to change. To her right, a narrow corridor loomed up, coming closer step by step. She tensed, then abruptly swung around the corner and marched briskly down the narrow passage towards the descending stairs.

Within seconds, the velvet hush was shattered by armoured footsteps clattering on stone. Breaking into a run, Twilight dashed towards the stairs and pelted down them as fast as her feet would carry her, grabbing the railing and swinging herself around the corner to descend deeper into the castle.

"I think they've noticed!" Rarity trilled with breathless alarm.

"We have to reach the vault before they catch us!" Twilight panted. Her heart was pounding in her chest and drumming in her ears, prickly sweat tingling on her skin as she readied her magic. Exploding out of the stairwell, the other ponies fanned out across the width of the corridor, Trixie sheltering behind her with Fluttershy, Applejack and Rainbow Dash taking up the flanks.

Two more turns. Almost before she knew it, before she could fully steel her heart, the final corner before the vault loomed up ahead. Colourful stained glass windows towered high above, set into pure creamy-white stone. Her breathing caught as a colt's gruff tones rang out from ahead.

"Show yourselves, by the order of Princess Celestia!"

This was it, then.

She dashed around the corner without slowing, sprinting towards the massive doors of the vault itself. Breaking their silence with shouts of determination, her ponies threw themselves headlong down the corridor as fast as their legs would carry them, Applejack already spinning a lasso in midair. A full squad of ten armoured guards barred her path, each wearing an intricate golden helmet that completely covered their ears, and bearing golden staves. Their evident leader, a distinguished-looking colt with a thick brown moustache, mutely gestured a rapid trio of hand signals. Fierce purpose on their faces, four brown and grey pegasus guards leapt into the air and arrowed towards Twilight with singleminded intent.

"I don't think so!" Rainbow Dash spat, and in an instant, a rainbow-hued streak arrowed between them, sending two tumbling into each other. Applejack's spinning rope snapped out and grabbed one by the wrist, jerking him off course and sending him crashing into an elegant golden statue. Tossing herself aside with frantic haste, Twilight scarcely avoided the last pegasus as she swooped past, lashing out with her staff at Twilight's legs. The six earth ponies advanced without hesitation, crashing into her advancing ponies. Instantly, there was chaos, staves flashing in the air, ponies dodging and struggling.

"Keep them back from Trixie!" Twilight shouted as the moustached captain lunged at her, forcing her to stumble back. Dragging her horn through the familiar pattern of the old charm, the scarcely-there bolt flashed into the guard captain without resistance, and Twilight added frantically, "Awaken!"

As she'd feared, her cry achieved nothing. The helmets. Celestia had learned! As Applejack grappled with the pegasus she'd roped out of the air, a staff smacked into her stomach squarely, knocking her to the ground. A flash of movement caught Twilight's eye, as around the corner, six more guards charged in neat formation.

She couldn't hold off a second longer. "Trixie! Flare!" she shouted, looking up at the high window panes that pieced the walls above. A shimmering ball of light gathered at the tip of Twilight's horn, trembling and multicoloured, and as the captain swiped at her with his staff, the spell leapt towards the light above. It soared over the struggling ponies, hit the ceiling, and exploded.

A sudden burst of throbbing, concussive sound flooded the hallway, complex waveforms encoded into the thumping pulse. The glorious stained glass thrummed in resonance for an instant before one after the other, the windows burst outwards in fine sprays of colourful dust. A brilliant flare of green light shot up from Trixie's horn, arcing out through the window and across the cloudless sky in an almost-solid line of incandescence.

Distracted by the sight, Twilight twisted back towards the guard captain an instant too late. The staff swept low, hooking her legs from under her. As she began to fall, he reversed the swing of the staff, and caught her solidly in the chest with a blow that hurled her across the corridor.

Strong arms caught her, cushioning her fall as she tumbled. Wheezing, she collapsed to the ground, clutching her chest as she looked up at the ponies supporting her. Spitfire and Soarin gazed down at her, shocked and angry. Forcing the words out, Twilight panted, "Carry out - your orders!"

Spitfire's head snapped up. "Wonderbolts! Formation five! Principal is down!" she shouted tersely, leaping towards the captain. Rolling midair out of the range of his staff, she banked with impossible agility and ripped a tiny pouch from her side. Yanking it open, she jinked to the side and dumped a handful of grey powder into the guard captain's face. Lightning Dust swept in front of Twilight as a massive dark grey guard lunged towards her, blocking her view, but as the two struggled, Twilight caught a glimpse of the captain's unconscious body slumping to the ground. Zecora's powder worked.

Struggling to her feet, her ribs screaming, Twilight shakily pulled out her own dose. Lightning was getting the worst of the fight, unable to dodge effectively while she blocked access to Twilight, and the massive guard clamped onto her shoulders with both hands. "Lightning, hold your breath!" Twilight called, her eyes on the guard. Not a flicker of reaction; he was deaf to her, entirely occupied in wrenching the earmuffs from Lightning's head. With one quick squeeze of his fist, the muffs snapped in two, sparks of stray light escaping.

Cursing, digging her hand into her pouch, Twilight hurled the handful of dust into his mouth. He jerked back in surprise, his blue eyes widening, before a distant look crossed his face. Slowly, like a falling tower, he collapsed to the floor. Without pause, Lightning leapt into the air and threw herself into the fray once more.

Pressing herself back against the wall, Twilight took in the scene. Applejack and Trixie were finding surprising success working together, ropes writhing with blue magic and lassos snagging the pegasus guards out of the air. Between them, at their feet, Rarity huddled on the floor. As she watched, another guard seemed to have grabbed Pinkie, right until the Pinkie-shape proved itself to be an exploding balloon filled with confetti and fireworks. Fluttershy seemed to be giving yet another the talking-to of his life, and judging by his look of paralysed horror, he couldn't quite find it within himself to make her stop. Fleetfoot was huddled against one wall, groaning. Rainbow Dash and the remaining Wonderbolts arced through the air, twisting and looping, buffeting the guards back towards the immovable barrier of the vault doors. Explosions of dust nailed one armoured pony after another, dropping them to the ground, as Zecora seemed to be everywhere at once.

The guards had been ordered not to hurt Twilight and her friends too badly. It was obvious, now that she'd had a moment to watch them move. Even now, the few that remained conscious were only using their staves to knock ponies to the floor and trying to manacle them, but not hitting hard enough to seriously injure. The helmets obviously deadened all sound, making them immune to her use of the charm, but that absolute deafness had hindered them, too.

Her ribs screamed as she hoisted herself up a little further. She couldn't afford to be wasteful of her magic, not yet. She had to be efficient. A nimbus of faint magic snapped into existence around a guard's boot, and tugged. He stumbled, involuntarily glancing down to see what he'd tripped over, and looked up in time to be put peacefully to sleep by - Twilight winced - Applejack's fist. There were only three guards left on their feet now, and one by one, they were roped down, and put to sleep by a handful of dust.

Without the Wonderbolts, Twilight and her friends would have been badly outnumbered. Sixteen guards would have been more than enough to overpower them with sheer numbers, even with the handicap of trying not to hurt them. Without the powder, there would have been no quick way to make them stay down. Twilight winced as she realised several pairs of the enchanted earmuffs had been torn off and ripped in two. Celestia had seen that trick before, and they'd probably had orders to destroy any ear protection on sight.

Wheezing, Twilight gingerly rubbed her chest, a wave of dizziness passing over her. If they'd been trying not to injure them too badly, they could have tried harder. With a double thud, Rainbow and Lightning landed in front of her, taking her arms and carefully supporting her weight. "Twilight's hurt!" Rainbow called over her shoulder, frustration riding her voice.

"I am tending to Rarity! What is the wound's severity?"

Lightning addressed Twilight directly. "How hurt are you, Ma'am? I'm sorry that we weren't quick enough." Chagrin rode her tone, her triumph tempered by shame.

"I'm okay," Twilight gasped. "Don't crowd me, please, I just need a minute to breathe." The gathering knot of ponies took two steps back in unison, with a chorus of murmured apology. Lightning carefully let go of Twilight as if she was made of porcelain, then all but hid behind Rainbow Dash.

Twilight shut her eyes and planted her hands on her knees, concentrating on breathing shallowly. The all-encompassing totality of their worry for her, even beyond their concern for each other, was oddly exhausting.

A gentle, yet firm grip lifted her head. Twilight's eyes opened.

Zecora was standing in front of her, her eyes shimmering with emotion. Her hand rose to Twilight's cheek, and in that single touch, Twilight felt the aching depth of the other mare's fear and horror at seeing her injured. Despite Zecora's evident upset, however, her voice was steady. "You have been struck hard in the chest. You need healing, and rest. If only you would, but while Celestia still reigns..." Zecora trailed off, then steeled herself. "I will ease your pain."

Dipping into the row of pouches at her waist, Zecora drew out a small twist of parchment. A strange scent drifted from it, making Twilight's nostrils twitch. "This will keep you moving, the pain will be numbed. It will not last long. Extend your tongue."

A persistent voice in Twilight's head repeated that she didn't have time for this. A louder, wordless insistence from her aching ribs overruled it. She stuck out her tongue.

Zecora untwisted the top of the parchment and poured small grains of ground-up herbs onto it, before demanding shortly, "Hold it in your mouth as long as you may, then take this and rinse it away. You will have to spit, though it is not delicate."

Twilight nodded carefully, taking the flask of water from Zecora's hand. The grains on her tongue were beginning to tingle and burn, an acrid taste filling her mouth. She could feel her heart racing, a strange flush of heat pouring through her body. It felt like sparks were being lit under her skull. Her shoulders shuddered, and then, all of a sudden, she felt her throat close up.

A sharp, convulsive cough wracked her chest. She tried to spit the powdery grains off her tongue, but they stuck. Thrusting the flask between her lips, she gulped water, swirling it back and forth across her tongue, fighting her body's sudden and nigh unstoppable urge to throw up. Her face crimson with shame, she hunted for somewhere, anywhere, she could spit the mixture that wasn't over beautiful white stone, or gilded columns. There was nowhere. Hating herself, burning with embarrassment, she spat the mixture into the corner, then shakily swilled out her mouth again with water.

She tried not to realise how many of her friends and lovers were watching her with concerned eyes. Wiping her mouth, she managed, "I'm okay. Is anyone else hurt?"

Rarity shook her head bravely, though she leant on Pinkie's arm. "I'm fine, my Lady. I can do this."

"Fleetfoot?" Twilight asked. Gently, moving with slow motion care against every instinct that screamed at her to hurry, she took out a padded case, and removed a long shard of shaped quartz from the indentation within. Sharp blue-black light was frozen inside the crystal, like motionless ink in water.

"F-fine! I can-"

"She's not fine, Ma'am. Fleetfoot has got a bad sprain. If she tries to do anything more with it, she could do permanent damage." Spitfire overrode the other mare's words, loudly and firmly.

Nodding, Twilight agreed quickly, "Fleetfoot, you're staying here. I'd prefer to leave someone to keep an eye on the guards anyway. They're only doing what they're meant to do; serving Celestia. I want to be sure they'll be okay." Twilight gave the pegasus a sharp look as she opened her mouth to protest, then nodded as Fleetfoot nodded meekly instead. "See if you can get their helmets off, now they're unconscious. Soarin, Lightning, Fleetfoot, hand over your earmuffs to the ponies that have lost theirs, and replace yours with helmets."

Moving to the vault lock, Twilight carefully guided her horn into the channel, and squeezed the crystal in both hands. Energy crackled over her skin as she forced Luna's frozen spark of magic to the very tip of her horn. It wasn't enough just to present the signature; she had to carefully smooth the magic over her own, wear it like a second skin.

It wouldn't, couldn't last for more than a few instants, but those few instants were enough. She heard the lock clang as it disengaged, a rich, ringing sound, then the massive doors began to slowly grind open.

Bouncing on her toes, Twilight silently urged the doors to move faster, fearful of more guards. The ache in her ribs was entirely gone now, all hurts and pains forgotten in the frenetic rush of her accelerating pulse. The strange taste lingered in her mouth, imbuing everything with a kind of razor-edged clarity.

Lights snapped on within the vault, shining down on six tall plinths. Framed by individual columns of glittering radiance, she beheld the six Elements of Harmony.

A catch released in her chest. If Celestia had moved them, or hidden them, it would have been a disaster. They were still her best hope of fighting this battle on anything like an even footing. Lunging for the central pillar, she reached out with her magic, levitating the tiara off the plinth, to settle onto her head. Twilight's eyes closed as she felt its own magic resonate with hers, sweeping through her from head to toe. Yes.

Now, she had a chance.

Releasing a long breath, she looked around at her enslaved friends. Each of them now wore their own element proudly, their crystalline symbols practically glowing with inner light. Even Rarity seemed strengthened by the presence of hers, standing straighter now. Zecora's eyes were wide, as were Trixie's, while the Wonderbolts held themselves at rigid parade ground attention in the presence of the artefacts powerful enough to have saved Equestria several times over.

For a moment, no pony dared break the silence.

"Come along, everypony," said Twilight briskly. "It's time to speak with Princess Celestia."

"Yes, Ma'am!" rang out loudly. Spitfire nodded, and gestured wordlessly to the other Wonderbolts to follow.

It was a straight run up the stairs and along the main passages to the Princess's chambers. Twilight found her fear ebbing, as they jogged through the corridors. In its place, a strange excitement welled up in her breast, even impatience. She'd done everything she could imagine to prepare for this, risked everything she possessed. Now she just had to do it.

There. Gilded doors, pure white and gold, loomed before them. Twilight's heart pounded in her chest as she forced herself to slow to a walk, down the soft crimson carpet. She couldn't arrive out of breath. Celestia had challenged her, all but mocked her. She'd treated Twilight like a joke, indulgently toying with her, when the charm was the single most serious thing that Twilight could have imagined. She gripped on hard to that ember of anger, and fanned it. Her back straightened. If there was ever a time she needed confidence, even arrogance, it was now.

Not a single pony stood in their way. Twilight gave a short, sharp gesture of her horn, and the doors flung inwards to reveal a small antechamber, and the final doorway to Celestia. "Trixie! Stay out of sight and wait for the moment. You know the contingencies; if I am charmed, disguise yourself, and run. Charm as many as you have to to get away. Spitfire, hold here. Keep the Wonderbolts out of sight of the door until I call. Zecora, hang back and jam something in the doors to stop them closing. The rest of you, you're with me."

Twilight's hands clenched at her sides. "I know this won't be easy, but we can win. Celestia thinks this is a game. We don't. We're doing this because we love each other. We're doing this because we want to be safe, to know that no one will separate us again." Her heart swelled as she spoke the last words, her gaze moving from pony to pony. Applejack, looking stoically determined. Pinkie, nodding so quickly it looked as though her head might fly off. Rainbow Dash, standing on her toes, wings spread and almost vibrating with eagerness. Fluttershy, whose eyes held a hardness that looked out of place on her gentle features, and finally, Rarity, oh, Rarity, with Zecora standing protectively beside her. To those two, she added a softer, "Thank you, for coming back. I know I didn't give you much choice, and I'm sorry. But I'm still glad you're here."

"We love you, my Lady. All of us, even Trixie, it seems." Rarity glanced at the blue mare hiding behind a tall vase, who stuck out her tongue in return. "Even so. This isn't just for you. It's for all of us. As you said... I don't want to be taken away from any of you again. I am ready."

"I could not let you fight while I stood by. Let us face the Princess; I am ready to try."

"There's no way she'll beat us, Twilight. Come on, let's kick her big white butt!"

"Victory party will be the best party! I love ALL OF YOU!" Pinkie hugged Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy hard, the ponies in convenient grabbing range.

Fluttershy kissed Pinkie's cheek with a quick, shy peck of her lips. "I won't let her be mean to us again. Not like before."

Applejack straightened her hat over the earmuffs covering her ears. "Things sure might've been different if you hadn't found that book, Ma'am. Don't reckon I'd have ever felt like this. Felt any've this. If this is where that moment led us, if we had to face this because of what we've done, well, Ah'm glad. I'd rather this, all've it, than anything else. Let's go'n do this."

Twilight felt the powerful urge to open her arms, to hug and kiss all of them, to let each and every one of them know that they were special. That she cared about them, and couldn't face the idea of losing them. The hard kernel of anger began to slip away.

She dug her nails into her palms. Remember the moment when they spoke as one. Well done, my apprentice. Remember speaking to Big Mac, who, she was painfully aware, was lost in a limbo of his own uncertainty, needing her to come back and tell him everything was alright. Remember the letter, both the fear and anger she'd felt writing it, and the trembling horror she'd felt reading it.

Well done, my apprentice. I'm very impressed.

It was time to really impress her. The nimbus of Twilight's magic surrounded the tall, imposing doors before her, and smoothly, they opened inwards.

It was bizarre, how little had changed. The pair of couches from the last time were still off to one side, the cupboard containing Celestia's tea set exactly where it had always been. The polished floor was covered almost entirely by a maze of deep, soft rugs and carpets that left only a hint of wood showing through here and there. Celestia sat comfortably ensconced in a deep chair at the far end of the room, an indulgent smile on her lips. She was even wearing the same delicate sundress as the last time.

If there was a difference, it lay in the row of ten guards, mares and colts alike, along the rear wall. Each wore a golden helm, and each stared forward with that special blankness that only the charm could produce. It lay in the presence of Princess Luna, standing on a small plinth in the corner like a trophy or decoration. A midnight blue helm cradled her head. Her eyes were as empty as the rest.

Seeing her was like being punched in the stomach. Even if - or because - her plan had called for this to happen, it hurt. It hurt more than Twilight could have imagined. A sick, sinking feeling flooded her, as she stared helplessly at Luna. Anger, despair and desperation roiled through her, shattering her calm, and for a moment, it showed on her face. Then, sharply disciplining herself, Twilight's expression smoothed over to become one of hard confidence. She met Celestia's eyes.

Celestia stood up. "Hello, Twilight. Hello, everypony. It's so good to see you. Can you hear me?"

Even through the buzzing interference of the earmuffs, Celestia sounded as if she genuinely meant her warm greeting. Which was worse, Twilight wondered - if the Princess had always been able to lie with such convincing fluidity, or if she was sincere?

"I can hear you," Twilight replied, biting off an almost-instinctual 'Princess' at the end.

"I'm pleased to hear it. Before we begin, I wanted to congratulate you, Twilight. You've achieved some very impressive things. When I locked away your memory, I didn't anticipate your warning to yourself. You managed to hide Luna and Zecora's enthralling from me as well, and I still don't know how you managed to do that under the charm. You actually defeated my sister."

Was it Twilight's imagination, or was there a hint of something else in those final words? Some faint echo of possessive anger that lurked beneath Celestia's pleasant warmth. It was gone as quickly as it came.

"Now she tells me that you have actually broken the charm's power completely. I had truly believed that to be impossible... but then, I'd believed the same of hiding something under the charm's compulsion. Is it true?" Celestia stood by her modest chair, not yet trying to approach, but her eyes bored into Twilight in a way that felt like a physical blow.

"Yes. Yes, it is. It's not the first time I've achieved something that seemed impossible, and you gave me a lot of motivation, Princess. It's been a very exciting game." Her voice was level and calm, strange in her own ears. Behind her, she felt her ponies shift uncertainly.

Celestia smiled, looking thoughtful. "I laid out things to make it as easy as possible to come to see me today, though it seems you took a detour anyway. I truly hope that you're all okay. Are my guards well?"

"They're sleeping. They'll be okay in a few hours." Was that genuine concern? Was this more of the same game? Twilight was tensed to try casting her charm, to begin the fight, but there was something off about the conversation. She wasn't going to take Celestia off-guard in any case, so it cost her nothing to play along, for a few moments.

"I see. Are you willing to prove that you've found a way to remove my charm? I will use nothing more than my voice to test this, Twilight. You have my word."

Twilight couldn't refuse. Not when it could sell her lie all the more efficiently. Her body tensed, ready to begin the confrontation if it was a trick, she nodded. "Applejack? Remove your earmuffs, please." Twilight heard a nervous swallow from beside her, though she refused to take her eyes off Celestia.

"Y-yes, Ma'am."

Celestia smiled fondly as she overheard the way Applejack spoke, before telling her gently, "Applejack, you can hear me, can't you? I'd like you to awaken, please."

"Ah can! I mean, I can hear you, Princess. Sorry. Nothing doing."

"Put your earmuffs back on, Applejack," Twilight interrupted her.

"Whew. Right. Sure thing."

Shaking her head, Celestia turned her attention to Twilight once more. "I'm truly impressed. Later, I will have you show me how. I knew you wouldn't let me down, Twilight. You never have. That's why I'm going to give you a chance to have everything you want."

A bad feeling settled in the pit of Twilight's stomach. "I'm listening."

Celestia took a step forward. "I can end the game, right here. Wouldn't you like to keep all of your friends, without risking trying to fight me? Clearly, they're all here to help you, so you've made them yours again - isn't that right, girls? I will allow you to keep them, and even Zecora, too. All you have to do is surrender. Twilight, I want you to choose to belong to me."

"I won't." The words left her mouth before she was even conscious of saying them.

"Are you sure of that, Twilight? Think, really think, about what you're risking, and why." Celestia rested a hand on the rising curve of her chest. "Haven't I made you feel wonderful? It could be so easy for you, Twilight. Don't you remember how good it felt to be made helpless? You have never seemed so at peace as when you embraced what I was doing to you, in the dance hall. You adored everything that you felt while strapped to the nurse's bed. Nothing can make you feel as good as the charm in my hands, Twilight. You never need feel guilty again. You never need risk losing a pony you care about again. You never need feel responsible again. Come to my bed, Twilight. Be my loyal apprentice again."

She could. She truly could. That was the worst part of it. If she fought Celestia and lost, everything she had would be taken away. Her friends would be charmed to worship Celestia, instead of her. She would be a toy, not a willing participant. She might not even be allowed to remember.

It was frighteningly easy to consider giving up her freedom. Knowing that she'd keep her beloved slaves was almost enough to convince her to surrender then and there. It had felt incredible. The sheer pleasure of feeling her mind melting into the heat between her legs. She could ask for Vinyl to be hers. She could ask to be Vinyl's, sometimes. She could just bow down, here and now, and everypony would be okay. All it would cost was her freedom, but Celestia would be a kind and loving owner. No guilt, ever again, no struggling to do the right thing. All the fear, and uncertainty, it could be over.

She didn't want to fight Celestia. The Princess was terrifyingly powerful, and had been one step ahead of Twilight ever since their first confrontation. And yet, and yet. Twilight didn't, couldn't, look over at Luna, standing blankly on her pedestal, enslaved, deaf to Twilight's words.

Everything that had happened to her was Twilight's fault. She'd forced Luna to fall in love with her. She'd sworn she'd protect her. She'd lied, and betrayed that trust in the hope of wresting some slim advantage, and there Luna stood, the embodiment of the things Twilight had done and the sacrifices she'd forced others to make. If she was to ever make up for what she'd done, she couldn't resign responsibility, and abandon herself to pleasure.

Even if some version of Luna would survive regardless of what Twilight did, and that Luna would be happy, that wasn't enough. She had to protect the demigoddess who'd cried for her.

"I have a counter-offer." Twilight's voice was clear and steady. "Surrender to me, Princess. You're tired of running Equestria, of being responsible for every pony in the realm. You don't have to be. You could give away that burden to me. My friends and I have protected the realm against threats that were almost impossible to imagine. You could just be happy. You could be my slave, and worry only about pleasing me. Luna chose that, willingly. Serve me with her. It won't be forever; we both know that. But you could rest for a while. You don't have to fight me."

Celestia's lips parted slowly, a strange expression on her face. "You never cease to surprise me, Twilight," she said eventually. "I could almost imagine agreeing. However, I cannot lay down the responsibility for all my little ponies so easily. You would not have donned these earmuffs you wear if the charm was powerless against you; what you have removed, I can restore." She shook her head. "If you truly believe you can overpower me, you may try."

Twilight's hand shot out, in an unspoken gesture for the others not to move. "I've surprised you before." Slowly, subtly, she slid the toe of her shoe under the rug in front of her.

"Not this time, Twilight," Celestia said with finality. Her long horn flicked and dipped as she began to cast the charm.

Twilight roughly kicked the rug aside, revealing a smooth, sweeping arc of chalk marking the smooth wooden boards. Violet magic flooded from her horn into the exposed chalk; a shimmering curtain of light erupted from the ground. A gossamer bolt flew from Celestia's horn directly towards Twilight's face and slammed into the rising wall of light, exploding into a shower of colours that washed past Twilight without touching her.

A wide circle of luminescent magic surrounded the seven of them, rugs smoking where they had been instantly severed by the rising outer ring of the ward. Runes and arcs glowed fiercely beneath their feet. Twilight's gaze met Celestia's eyes defiantly.

"Oh, Twilight." Celestia's expression was one of delighted surprise. "How did - yes, of course. A maid. A wonderful delaying tactic." She raised a slim hand into the air, then pointed directly at Twilight. The ten guards locked at attention along the rear wall looked up, then broke into movement, raising golden staves and manacles as they marched forward.

"Wonderbolts!" Twilight shouted. Spitfire blurred overhead, Soarin and Lightning Dust flashing after her, lashing out at the golden helms of the advancing guards with stolen staves of their own. Several of the guards paused to fight back, while the others advanced to rain blows against the curtain of light.

Celestia smoothly cast bolt after bolt at Twilight, ruined spell energy crashing through the air in multicoloured sparks. Maintaining the ward was already a terrible strain. They had only moments. "Everypony, now!" Twilight called, and stepped back into the centre of her friends. Her eyes closed, and she reached out for the power of the Element she bore, the Element of Magic.

Something was wrong.

The Element was resisting her. It felt like a sheet of glass was abruptly between her and the energy it held, near enough to touch but somehow inaccessible. As her attention to the ward waned, the curtain of light weakened visibly, and desperately, she shored it up just in time to meet the next gossamer burst from Celestia's horn. What was the matter? As if in answer, a flood of her own guilt surged like bile to the back of her throat. All the things she'd done to her friends. The sight of Rarity and Zecora each running from her in angry tears. What she'd made happen to Luna.

Twilight understood.

Guilt prevented the Elements from awakening. Her Element was using her own feelings to judge her. After using them to banish Luna, Celestia had never been able to look on them without feeling guilt again. That was why she couldn't use them any longer.

Twilight reached deep inside herself. This confrontation wasn't about her guilt. This was about protecting the ponies she loved. This was about all of them, each choosing to come back to her, each loving her, all working to protect each other's happiness. This was the feeling of lying on the train, surrounded by ponies that she adored, feeling their warmth and nearness, and vowing to protect them.

She let that feeling swell up inside her, let it fill her heart. The barrier within her mind cracked, and gave way; magic flooded out from her crown, reaching out for the sparkling gems decorating each of her friends. Twilight's eyes flashed open, glowing incandescently. Celestia was still throwing charms against the weakening ward, as the guards struggled under the rain of blows delivered by the darting, spinning Wonderbolts, but they were too slow.

She began to rise into the air, as the power of Element after Element joined with hers.

The glittering lightning bolt resting on Rainbow Dash's chest pulsed brilliantly, once, twice, three times. Then it exploded.

An echoing boom rang within the confines of the ward, scattering ponies everywhere. Twilight was slammed roughly into the ward, which threw her back with a pulse of energy as her own magic attacked her, before it collapsed completely. Breathing harshly, her ears ringing even through the muffs, Twilight shook her head muzzily. She tried to rise, but was pinned to the ground by another body atop hers.

Celestia laughed pleasantly. "I'm sorry, Twilight, but I'm afraid you do lose marks for not checking all of the Elements carefully. Rainbow Dash is a little tone deaf when it comes to magic, so I switched hers for a replica I created. The real Element of Loyalty is safely and secretly under the guard of Cadence. She believes it's being protected from a changeling plot to steal them."

"Owwiieee..." groaned a voice from the weight atop Twilight. Pinkie. The other pony rolled off her, giving her room to struggle to her feet.

Her friends were scattered around her on the floor, moaning as they struggled to rise. Zecora stood over Rarity, struggling with a burly guard, but the last dregs of her sleep powder did no more than make him stagger before he resumed trying to manacle her. Fluttershy was pinned to the ground by another, though as she watched, Rainbow Dash kicked him off her. Pinkie and Applejack were wobbling to their feet.

Throat dry, Twilight couldn't help glancing at Luna. The dark pony remained motionless, gazing ahead, unseeing. Twilight scarcely looked back at Celestia in time to see the other pony beginning to cast again, and threw herself aside as the bolt shimmered past.

"You very nearly won, Twilight. That was impressive."

In desperation, Twilight jerked her horn through the motions of the new charm, and hurled the bolt at Celestia with all the strength she could muster. The divine pony didn't even try to dodge. A shield of golden radiance flashed into existence around her, and the bolt splattered harmlessly against the torrential outpouring of raw power.

"That's... impossible...!" Twilight wheezed. "No pony is that strong!"

"I'm afraid you're wrong, Twilight."

"You can't keep up an absolute shield forever!" Twilight threw another charm bolt at Celestia's face, with the same result.

"I won't have to." Celestia's gaze flicked to the speeding blur of Lightning Dust, and as the Wonderbolt ploughed into a guard and momentarily came to a stop, she cast a delicate shimmer in the air that flashed into Lightning's blue-clad body.

"Lightning!" Twilight cried, too late, then realised with frustration that the helmeted pony couldn't hear her anyway. Fortunately, that went both ways. Even if she was charmed, it didn't matter, because-

"Awaken. Lightning Dust, pin Rainbow Dash," Celestia said calmly.

Lightning stopped dead in midair, her arms falling to her sides. "I'm awakened. I will pin Rainbow Dash," she droned, then flung herself through the air. Rainbow barely had time to yelp in protest as Lightning bore her to the floor, then wriggled out of her grip and shot into the air again. Twin trails of light flashed across the arched ceiling as they fought each other.

Twilight's blood ran cold. "The helmets don't work against her voice! Soarin, get - drat, Spitfire, get Soarin's - hey!" Diving out of the path of another flash of energy, she rolled to her feet in time to see Celestia strike Soarin squarely with another bolt.

"Awaken, Soarin. Help my guards remove the earmuffs of anypony still wearing them. Leave Twilight to me, please."

Soarin's repetition was lost in the noise of battle, but he dropped his staff, and instantly turned on Spitfire. The two dodged and soared across the ceiling, leaving the guards unimpeded. Fluttershy was desperately covering her ears, two strong guards had Pinkie by an arm each, and were wrenching off her earmuffs. Applejack was laying about her roughly with her fists and boots, but becoming rapidly outnumbered as Rarity and Zecora were placed in manacles.

Celestia barely glanced at Twilight as she threw bolt after bolt at each fallen pony, announcing steadily, "Awaken. Awaken. Rarity, Zecora, Pinkie Pie, stand against the back wall."

Twilight's return bolts glanced off Celestia's golden shield, without so much as prompting the Princess to turn her head. In desperation, Twilight began trying other spells; waves of concussive force, thundering gusts of wind, levitation, teleportation. Nothing worked, each thrown back by the absolute wall of magical power. It was useless.

Changing focus, Twilight tried to throw her own charm bolts at her fallen friends. Even that was no use - each time, a guard stepped in front of the captive and took the spell for them. The helms they wore cut off all sound but Celestia's voice; Twilight didn't even try to shout the words. Luna was supposed to have done something by now! Wasn't this hopeless enough? Had Celestia recast the first charm on her, and wiped away all of Twilight's careful preparation?

Her heart broke as she saw Applejack's eyes turn blank, and her arms drop to her sides. Silence fell, as the guards marched back into place along the rear wall, Applejack walking with them. Twilight's tiara dangled from a guard's hand; she hadn't even noticed it had gone. The audience chamber was half-wrecked, chairs turned over, vases broken, delicate plants disturbed. The rugs were sliced to pieces in a memory of the ward, which now lay quiescent as mere chalk lines on the floor.

Celestia turned, her shield aura diminished, but still fluttering around her in billows of warm gold.

Twilight backed away towards the doors as she met Celestia's eyes, breathing harshly. The demigoddess didn't try to follow, a look on her face that was almost regretful. The ward flickered fitfully as Twilight tried to raise it, then died again.

"I'm sorry that you had to go through this, Twilight. I will take good care of them."

Swallowing hard, Twilight breathed, "I still have my-"

A solid line of golden energy snapped into being, reaching from the tip of Celestia's horn, through Twilight's mane, to singe a dark mark into the far wall. The abrupt stink of burnt hair filled Twilight's nostrils, as her charred ear muffs fell to the ground in two pieces.

"Oh," she whispered.

"You've done all that any pony could, Twilight. Rest now."

A gossamer bolt flashed towards Twilight's face. A small, bright spark of pure energy leapt from Twilight's horn, deflecting the spell just enough to miss her as she threw herself to the side. Landing hard on one knee, she hissed in pain, then jerked to her feet.

Celestia's eyes widened, and she arched a slim brow. "That was very impressive."

"I've learned a lot," Twilight panted.

"Indeed you have. Show me again," Celestia invited. Her horn curved upwards as she began the charm.

From behind her, harsh laughter echoed off the walls, sharp and unpleasant in the echoing quiet. "Oh, don't stop! Don't you stop for anything, sister."

Celestia faltered. Slowly, inch by inch, she turned.

The plinth was empty. Nightmare Moon stood before the throne-like chair, roiling clouds of writhing blackness filling the air around her like a cloak. Her slitted eyes gleamed viciously, a dark smile curving her lips.

"No," Celestia whispered.

"Oh, yes. Did you think it was a coincidence that I came for her, after what you did? You opened the way, and I sank my roots deeply. All those years we spent together, her and I. I thought we were truly one. Then you had your silly little ponies drive me out, doing what you never could. You must have thought I was gone forever. But then..."

Throaty triumph filled Nightmare Moon's voice. "But then... oh, Celestia. Then you froze Luna's silly little mind, left her standing helpless as she watched you torment the single pony she cared about almost as much as you. You made her witness everything, without being able to do anything about it. She watched your cruelty, your gleeful spite, and she despaired." Nightmare Moon's lips drew back, as she hissed through her teeth, "Thank you."

"No! No, I - I wasn't..."

"You've given me everything I ever wanted. I'm so grateful. In return, I'm going to destroy everything you ever built. Canterlot. Equestria. All of it. But first... I'm going to destroy you." Power flared outwards in a tangible wave, as midnight magic glowed in a nimbus around her towering horn that seemed to suck all light out of the room. Nightmare Moon lowered her head, pointing her horn directly at Celestia.

Celestia's shield snapped into full life around her, glowing so brilliantly that the radiant energy was almost solid. Sweat stood out on her brow as she threw everything she had into it, her eyes wide and wild.

A massive, thundering beam of power erupted from Nightmare Moon's horn without focus or form, no hint of spell structure imposed on it. It was a primal scream of raw magical energy, tearing the air apart in scintillating sparks, a throbbing, rumbling roar sounding deafeningly in the enclosed chamber. It was nothing less than the full might of one of the most powerful beings in Equestria, focused into a single howling torrent.

The unimaginable beam of energy missed Celestia cleanly.

For an instant, blank incomprehension marked her face, her golden shield wavering. Then, her mouth snapped closed and her eyes widened. "This is a trick!"

Celestia twisted.

Twilight stood directly in the focus of the beam, rigidly digging her heels in as the starkly incredible torrent of power poured into her body. Her neat blouse burnt away to sharp flecks of orange ash, her body wreathed with brilliant white flame as the ritual circle of energy transformation tattooed across her chest and breasts glowed with incandescent fury that hurt the eye. A tornado of stolen power roared and boomed around her, the palace shuddering beneath her feet. Overturned furniture tumbled away from her, sharp flashes of white and violet light casting razor-edged shadows across the faces of the mindless ponies ranked against the far wall.

For the space of a heartbeat, Celestia's face expressed nothing but simple fear. "Stop!" she shouted above the deafening thunder of untamed power, then urgently, she swirled her horn through the charm's pattern.

Twilight's world was power and white fire. There was no emotion where she was, no fear or triumph, only the pure challenge of what she was attempting. The last of Luna's energy crashed into her, leaving her alone in the centre of a storm of energy that made her previous theft of Celestia's essence a candle flame before the sun. She could never have imagined the feeling, like standing in the heart of a star, buffeted and bruised, torn and exalted. She could feel her body trying to crystallise as the ritual magic of the conversion runes dumped more and more energy into her, far more energy than her frail form could contain.

There was no hope of stabilising it. She simply had to be the still point at the centre, let the energy rotate around her as she imposed form and structure upon it. The wood beneath her feet burnt away in white fire. The stone below that began to smoulder. The entire castle quaked and vibrated like a living being.

One distraction would end her. She had no time for anything else, no comprehension of what Celestia was trying to do.

Celestia loosed the spell.

A flaring wall of energy rose around Twilight, and the charm crashed into it, with a spray of colours that were pitiful and lost in the depths of the maelstrom. Celestia shouted in frustration, lost over the thunder of unconstrained magic, and beyond the howling storm, she saw Trixie. The Great and Powerful Trixie, almost sheepishly half-hidden behind the door, horn lit as she fuelled the defensive ward with all her might.

A warm hand landed on Celestia's shoulder, and she jerked in surprise, looking into Luna's eyes. The other pony looked drained, exhausted, but strangely content.

"I am sorry for the things I said!" Luna called over the storm. "I forgave thee it all!"

"She could destroy herself! This is insanity! She could tear down the entire castle!" Celestia shouted, wild-eyed.

"But she shall not! Witness thy student, sister!"

The howling maelstrom was developing patterns. Swirling knots and coils, complex patterns of light that hung in the air, even as the air shuddered with fury. Violet magic crackled hungrily over the stones, surrounding a body glowing so brightly that she seemed a creature of pure light.

Celestia slowly lowered her hands, her shield flaring and pulsing around her in sympathy with the cataract of energy she faced. "Twilight," she murmured, unheard.

The air around Twilight was clearing now, as energy bound itself up in runes that seared into air and stone. She was nothing but an expression of balance, of guidance, the mind and soul of the mass of power. In the depths of the storm, Twilight's burning gaze pierced Celestia, standing together with Luna, hand in hand. Slowly, purposefully, Twilight's horn described delicate arcs in the air.

The accumulated power tearing the castle apart found an outlet.

A brilliant beam of incandescent energy ripped through the air, smashing through the ward with a halo of rainbow sparks. Celestia's golden shield was torn apart, bathing her in light that grew and grew. White light starker than sunlight flooded the room, swallowing up everything, brightening until all detail was lost.

Author's Notes:

It was a trick!

-

Proofed by the speedy and splendid Setokaiva