In the dim evening light, Twilight lay on the bank of the Mareissippi, casually rolling the speaker stone under her good hoof, trying to think of what to say to Luna when they spoke.

Thankfully it wasn't as if she didn't have the time. In her rush to avert the imminent attack on Neigh Orleans, Twilight had sped off only to find that the Viscount's riverboat was still in Whiplash having some of its bulkier interior items removed to make extra room. Frankly this suited Twilight just fine, because the amount of soldiers they fit onto the boat was irrelevant to the plan she had concocted. If anything, the more the merrier.

It had also given her a day to refine her plan, choose the best spot for it, set it up, find a spot just south of Whiplash to spy on the boat, spend a couple of hours writing down her observations on alicorn regeneration in her journal, and wait until dark so she could talk to Luna. The whole thing had left her in a surprisingly good mood, a lot of which could be attributed to the fact that it was only her in danger.

Figuring that now was as good a time as any, Twilight placed her horn against the stone, and charged it before waiting for a reply. She didn't have to wait long before the quiet voice of Luna drifted out of the stone. "Hello Twilight."

"Hi Luna. I'm guessing Celestia must be having an early night if you've got the stone."

"No, she is still awake, but she felt it best to give us some privacy so that we might talk."

Twilight was glad that Celestia was feeling so tactful. "Good, because I want to ask you what happened the other night."

"I suspected you might." There was a long, drawn out sigh before Luna spoke again. "The truth is Twilight, I don't know what happened. You were upset, and I was only seeking to comfort you when suddenly, I... I felt her."

"Her? Her who?"

"The nightmare, Twilight!" Luna said, exasperated, "I felt Nightmare Moon!"

"B-but how!? You said the negative energies of the dreamscape here couldn't bring her back!"

"And they cannot." Luna sighed again, "I'm not sure how to say this Twilight, but it was you."

"Me? How could it be me?"

"You bear memories of Nightmare Moon, both from the night that you vanquished her, and somehow from the night she was banished to the moon by Celestia. Your memories of her, binds you to the part of me that is her. I'm not going to say this makes perfect sense, but your anguish on that night is something she would have enjoyed, and in the dreamscape, the past and present are meaningless. There is only what is, and the boundary between ponies are blurred, if only slightly.

"What are you saying Luna? Are you saying that my pain that night somehow empowered Nightmare Moon?"

"No, or at least I don't think so. If the past and present are one in the dreamscape, then it stands to reason that my past and present are one. While I sought to comfort you, the part of me that will always be Nightmare Moon relished in your pain. She became excited enough to... create an echo of herself within me. Add to that the negative energy the Mareitania dreamscape is rife with..."

Twilight rubbed her head in confusion, "Luna, this makes no sense. So you're saying that my pain, combined with my memories of Nightmare Moon, which connects me to you or her or whatever, created an echo of Nightmare Moon within you? That's not even logical!"

Luna laughed a single, bitter laugh, "Logic has no place in dreams, hence my difficulty in explaining this."

"Does this mean you're always Nightmare Moon now?"

"No! I will never be her again! But she is part of me, and in the dreamscape that becomes a little more prevalent."

"Okay, okay... Are you alright Luna?"

"I assure you that I am fine, though I will confess that I am shaken by the experience. I also confess that the idea of walking within your dreams makes me... nervous, at least while you remain in Mareitania."

"I understand, and you don't have to walk in my dreams if it helps."

"Thank you Twilight, I appreciate the gesture. But what of yourself? You were most distraught when last I saw you."

Twilight sighed through her nose, "I'm... doing okay I suppose. You were right when you said I was being too hard on myself, and I've come to terms with what I've done, and what I've yet to do."

"That is good to hear. While I may have been driving Celestia slightly loony with my secrecy, I wasn't about to discuss this with her until I had talked it over with yourself."

"Yeah, she did seem to be a bit miffed that I wouldn't talk about it either. Are you going to talk about it with her? Please say you are."

"Most certainly. I think she deserves to know as much-" The scream of a horn cut over her, as finally the riverboat began its journey towards Neigh Orleans. "Good heavens Twilight! What was that?"

"A riverboat horn, and my next objective."

"Pardon?"

"The Viscount is planning to launch an attack on Neigh Orleans from the river, and has just set off from Whiplash to carry it out. I intend to stop him."

"That seems like a rather ambitious tactic for that wine guzzling buffoon. Surely though, such an attack would only be effective if carried out upon an unsuspecting foe. Am I to believe you are quite prepared for the attack?"

"I'm not sure what preparations have been made in the city, but I'm hoping that won't matter because I'll have stopped the Viscount long before he gets there."

"Will you indeed?" Luna said with a hint of amusement. "You're a better princess than you know if you're willing to put yourself in such dangers before others. What are you planning to do?" Twilight told Luna her plan, the elder alicorn laughing as the younger explained it, "I do wish I could be there to see this. Good luck Twilight, and farewell."

"Thanks Luna, talk to you soon." Twilight tucked the stone back into her bags and sat waiting, watching as the riverboat passed her by, its paddlewheels churning the water. Soldiers were out on the decks and filling the balconies, and Twilight couldn't help but wonder if that was because there was no room inside. The boat also seemed rather low in the water compared to last time she saw it.

Lamps slowly flickered to life on the balcony over the bow, illuminating the river before the boat. They certainly failed to illuminate the alicorn that flew along the riverbank, swiftly overtaking the boat.

Twilight hummed a happy little tune to herself as she did some final checks on what she needed for this plan to work. Despite everything, and despite what she was about to do, she couldn't help but be cheerful. Sometimes it just felt good to take somepony down a peg.

Unfortunately though the boat was still as slow as ever, and she had to wait a couple of hours until it reached her specially selected spot on the widest and deepest part of the river. To her expectations, and slightly to her disappointment, it was steaming its way right down the middle. Ego was a terrible thing.

She took to the air, keeping low to scoop up a large quantity of water in her magic, before shielding herself and heading towards the rear of the boat and above it, where the smoke would hopefully keep her concealed, and the shield hopefully keep her from suffocating. She split the massive orb of water into two, and fed them down into the chimneys, the smoke quickly replaced by clouds of steam as the water extinguished the fires powering the riverboat. The paddlewheels slowly ground to a halt, and Twilight flew back to the riverbank to collect what she needed for the next part of her plan.

It had taken a few hours, but she had managed to find four anchors, four hooks, and four sturdy pieces of rope. To each piece of rope she had tied an anchor at one end, and a hook at the other, creating what was hopefully the perfect tool for the next part of her plan. She approached the boat from the rear, barely keeping above the surface of the river. Thankfully the soldiers all seemed too distracted by what she had already done to pay too much attention elsewhere, so she was free to attach the hooks along the stern and drop the anchors into the river. The ropes stretched out as the current slowly moved the boat away from her, and one of the ropes must have found purchase sooner than the others as it quickly became taut.

There was a loud crack, and the hook ripped itself off the boat, taking a decent amount of what it was attached to with it. Twilight was barely able to dodge out of the way as it sprang back towards her and sunk into the gloom of the river.

Thankfully the other ropes held, but the noise of the rope tearing a chunk out of the boat, combined with the sudden lurch as the other anchors forced the boat to a standstill was enough to draw the attention of the soldiers to the rear of the ship. Not that it mattered to Twilight much because she was about to make one hell of a dramatic entrance. At least for her standards.

She flew away from the boat, keeping just above the river, before flying up into the sky and diving back towards the boat. Along the sides of the boat were eight lifeboats, four on each side, suspended by winches. These were her target as she swept down and along the starboard side of the boat, blasting them to pieces, before circling back around and doing the same on the other side. She could hear the shouts of the soldiers panicking as her bolts of purple destruction rendered the rowing boats into splinters.

Once they were destroyed to her satisfaction she flew back to the bow of the ship, or rather the balcony overhanging it, and forced the two lights illuminating the river to spin around so they were shining back on the boat and blinding the soldiers, while giving her a nice pool of shadow to hide in. A few crossbow bolts pinged off the lights, and Twilight quickly teleported up above the wheelhouse while the soldiers continued attacking the lights.

Eventually the soldiers figured out that they could turn the lights back around, and were surprised when their assailant had vanished. Twilight teleported back to the balcony, between the lights, before temporarily teleporting away again to avoid the hail of crossbow bolts flying towards her.

"I want to speak to the Viscount!" she shouted after teleporting back again. She formed a shield to deflect the few errant bolts that were fired at her while the rest reloaded. A spear wielding soldier charged her, but hardly got near when he found his spear forced downwards, jamming itself into the decking. "Please?"

Things were strangely awkward for a moment until one of the soldiers decided to challenge her verbally. "And why would he want to talk to you, abomination?"

"The leader of the forces opposing you in Neigh Orleans? I'm pretty sure he'd like to talk to me," she said, pointedly ignoring the 'abomination' part. "If you like I could keep blowing holes in the ship until you get him?" she added sweetly.

Something about her tone must have struck a nerve in the soldier addressing her, because he swiftly turned and issued an order to summon the Viscount. Twilight tapped her hoof while she waited, almost appearing to be totally oblivious to the large number of weapons pointed at her.

"Sooo... are they feeding you enough?" she asked in an attempt to break the silence. Not one of the soldiers made a sound, although she was pretty sure she could see a couple of subtle shakes of a few heads. "Okaaaayyy then... do they at least pay you enough?" A few more of them shook their head.

"Silence, beast," the one soldier hissed at her.

"You know, I think there should come a point in every pony's life when they learn that calling others beasts and abominations, is just plain rude," Twilight said grumpily, but she took his point and stayed quiet until the Viscount arrived.

"You!" the Viscount screamed as soon as he got close enough to see her, "You stole my pegasus!"

Twilight folded her ears back, the Viscount's weirdly deep voice already grating on her. "No I didn't," she quietly replied.

"Yes you did! Father told me it was you! You were at my party, and you stole my pegasus!" Clearly the Viscount had an amazing grasp on the idea of priorities.

"Did he also tell you I'm the one that shielded you and saved you from that assassin?" Twilight half shouted back. Judging from the Viscount's expression, it was clear that little factoid had been omitted.

The Viscount recovered valiantly though, "An assassin you are now in league with! And that still doesn't give you the right to steal my pegasus!"

Twilight spread her wings before rearing up and stomping her hoof, her eyes turning white and glowing, "I never stole her off you because she was never yours to be stolen off! She is her own pony, and have no right to say otherwise!"

"I have every right!" the Viscount shouted back, impressing Twilight with his show of backbone. "This is my country! Mine! And if I want to own a pegasus, I shall!"

Twilight sighed bitterly, her eyes returning to normal. "This isn't getting us anywhere. The fact is that I'm here to stop you from getting to Neigh Orleans. Go home and tell your father that his attack failed."

"My father has nothing to do with this attack." Twilight's eyebrows raised slightly, but she managed to hold back her surprise. "He seems content to let you have Neigh Orleans," the Viscount continued, "but I will not let you take our sovereign territory so easily! Soldiers! Open fire!" Twilight rolled her eyes and teleported away again, the spot where she had been standing becoming considerably more spikey from all the crossbow bolts sticking out of the wood.

She teleported back, taking care to flatten the arrows around her first. "You're just wasting your arrows doing that. Tell me Viscount, are all your servants still on board?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Just answer the question."

"Fine, I'll humour you. There are no servants on board. If there were I'd probably be a lot happier since Ivory's services are lacklustre at best!" To prove his point, Ivory Spire, the Viscount's personal servant, stepped out onto the deck wearing a highly scandalous maid outfit, which didn't match her frown in the slightest. Twilight couldn't help but notice that a lot of the soldiers were now looking at the white unicorn instead of her.

"Hello Twilight," Ivory said politely.

"Nice to see you again Ivory," Twilight said back.

"You've met?" the Viscount asked.

"We did, darling, at your birthday party."

"And you didn't tell me!?"

"You never asked."

The Viscount growled before delivering a backhoof to Ivory's muzzle, sending her sprawling onto the deck, "I will deal with your insolence later!" Ivory looked to Twilight, begging with her eyes, giving Twilight a vital prompt to act.

"Hey! Leave her alone!" She teleported Ivory behind her and raised a shield over the both of them, deflecting the few arrows that some of the more nervous soldiers fired at her.

"You return her this instant!" the Viscount screamed, spraying flecks of spittle over the shield.

"No, I'm done with this." Twilight cast a voice amplification spell, making sure as many ponies on-board heard her as possible, "If you take all your armour off you can easily swim to shore, especially if those that can swim help those that can't. Do that and you'll all be fine."

"What are you talking about?" the Viscount asked demandingly.

"I'm here to stop you getting to Neigh Orleans. I think I've done that so it's time I left."

"Hah! You're a fool Twilight Sparkle! All I have to do is cut the ropes and dry the engine room out and we'll be moving soon enough."

"And you're a fool if you think I hadn't thought of that." She pointed her horn at the floor and unleashed a single blast of magic that was roughly the size of a hoof. It punched through the decking, through the floor below, and through the hull of the ship before slamming into the riverbed. She steadied herself as the boat lurched from her attack upon it, and she smiled disarmingly at the Viscount, "Consider yourself on a timetable." She scooped Ivory up in her magic and was about to fly away when she remembered something, "Oh, and Viscount?"

"WHAT!?"

"I am not Celestia's pet." She flew away, easily avoiding the few arrows that whistled through the air near her. She angled towards the riverbank and set Ivory down before landing beside her. "Are you alright?" she asked the unicorn after spotting a small trail of blood running out of her right nostril.

Ivory reached a hoof up and wiped it away, the smear of blood invisible on the black stocking she wore. "I am now, thanks to you," she said, smiling slightly.

"Does he often hit you?" Twilight had to admit that Ivory's lack of reaction was a little disconcerting.

"Occasionally, but ever since his father told him that you and your friends were at his birthday party, he has become increasingly insufferable, and-" She hitched her skirt up and pulled her neckline down, showing a collection of bruises and vivid red marks, "-violent."

"I'm sorry!" Twilight squeaked. "I never thought-" Ivory silenced her by pressing a hoof to her lips.

"It's not your fault Twilight, honestly. I've had far worse off him before now." They both turned to watch the soldiers swarming off the sinking ship, discarding their weapons and armour before jumping into the murky water. Unlike what Twilight had suggested though, it was a free for all, and two or three bodies were already floating downriver having been drowned in the crush.

Twilight didn't let it get to her though. She had given them a way for all of them to survive, and it wasn't her fault if they totally disregarded her advice. "He doesn't really have any serving ponies on there does he?"

"No, he wasn't lying when he said it was just me."

"And he doesn't have any more pegasi on there?"

Ivory shook her head emphatically, "No no no! I would've told you straight away if there was. He's still determined to get his old one back yet."

Twilight snorted dismissively as she kept watching the sinking boat, paying particular attention to a speck of brown that was getting nearer to the stern. "The Viscount can swim can't he?"

"I have no idea," Ivory answered airily.

"Great..." Twilight lazily flapped into the air and headed back to the boat, grabbing the Viscount in her magic. He screamed at her, but she wasn't in the mood to dignify it. She roughly dumped him on the riverbank with the few soldiers that had made it there so far. "That's twice," she said before flying away again.

Rather than return to Ivory though, she returned to the boat and teleported straight into the ballroom, which was half filled with water. Wrapping an air bubble around herself, she dived into the water and made her way to where she remembered the bar to be. Finding it, she looked around for a minute before finding what she was seeking; two cases of Sweet Apple cider.

She took them and was about to leave, when out of the gloom a fully armoured soldier drifted towards her and tapped her shield, making her scream. "Celestia fucking damn it you... you..." She sighed as it seemed a bit unfair to scream at the pony that was dead because of her. "Sorry," she said quietly before teleporting her and the cider back outside.

"You went back to save the cider?" Ivory asked incredulously, cocking her head as Twilight flew back towards her.

"No, this is just an afterthought. My friend Applejack makes this, and it seems only fair that I reclaim it in her name."

"Uh-huh. And the Viscount? Why save him? Or at least you could have captured him?"

"Because I need him alive and free."

"But he's your enemy? Why?"

"Firstly, if he wants to lead military campaigns against me, great! Because if this is the best he can do, this'll be easy. Secondly, I just completely shamed and humiliated him. Me, on my own, taking out his personal riverboat full of soldiers without losing a single pony on my side. I want him to take that back to the Duke."

"Hmm... That's actually quite devious. The Duke already thinks his son is weak minded, and this only proves it. I'm glad I convinced the Viscount to launch this attack now."

"You did what!?" Twilight couldn't believe what Ivory had just said. "You could've got a lot of ponies killed if the attack had gone to plan!"

"I have faith in you Twilight, and you presented an opportunity for me to finally escape the Viscount. Besides, the Viscount is no military leader if he thought filling his riverboat with soldiers and sailing into Neigh Orleans was a good idea. You know, if you had waited for the Duke to die your job would probably be a lot easier."

"Maybe, but I hate to think what this country would end up like with that twit in charge. I still can't believe you would do that though."

"I am sorry Twilight, but you saw the bruises. I did my best to stack the odds on your favour with this attack by leaking news of it, but still, I am sorry."

"I suppose I can't complain too much since you just gave me an easy victory." She watched as the rear of the boat lifted out of the water slightly. "I think it's time we got out of here. Are you taking that... outfit... off?"

"That depends on two things."

"And those are?"

"Are we flying back?"

"I was planning to, yes."

"Then I'll keep it on to stave off the wind a little. Secondly, I can't reach the buttons on the back."

"Why don't you use your magic to take it off?"

Ivory pulled her mane away from her horn, revealing a pencil thick gold band around the base of it, "Its not just for show. I've had it on since I met him... seven years ago, I think?"

"For crying out loud..." Twilight muttered. "In that case, why put the buttons where you can't reach with your hooves?"

"Because it stops me taking it off until he says I can."

"Of course it does."

"Honestly, this is better than all those stupid robes and headdresses he makes me wear to official functions. He seems to think that they make him look worldly and regal. What they really do is make him look like a tit."

"Okaaayyy... We're still taking that thing off before we get to Neigh Orleans though."

"Of course we are." Ivory reached up and removed her frilly cap thing before shaking her mane out of the tight bun it was curled up into. "Shall we?"

Dawn was starting to break by the time they were close to Neigh Orleans, and Twilight had spent the entire journey grilling Ivory for every piece of information she could think of. "So what you're saying is... is that the Duke hasn't retaliated yet because he wants us to gather all his enemies in one place so he can crush them all in one? He does realise most of our ponies are just normal ponies right?"

"He considers anypony with ideas of dissent to be his enemy."

"That's just stupid, and he's taking a serious gamble in letting us build up our strength."

"He wants to defeat you with one decisive victory, showing everypony how strong he and his army are."

Twilight almost laughed, "Do they still use mercury as medicine in this country? Because that's just crazy. What if he loses? What's he going to do then?"

"I don't think he appreciates the threat you are. The possibility of him losing hasn't even crossed his mind. Of course it might now after you beat the Viscount so easily."

"But his only advantage is numbers. That and his total disregard for ponies lives. We're training unicorns to fight with magic, and hopefully we'll have pegasi on our side as well. His army'll quickly lose its advantage against that!"

"The Duke doesn't know what losing is. His forebears have ruled this country for centuries, and none have ever come seriously close to stopping them."

"This is ridiculous."

"Don't underestimate him. He might be an old fool, but he's a powerful old fool with plenty of ponies willing to follow him. Now could you undo those buttons please? We're almost there." Twilight did so, allowing the unicorn to slip the dress and stockings off, the clothing fluttering to the ground in their wake. "And now, I am finally free of him."

"Not until we get that inhibitor off." They headed towards the docks, finding plenty of ponies dressed in the purple uniforms of the liberation front, but there were also plenty in the cast off armour of the city guard. "Welcome to free Neigh Orleans," Twilight said as they flew over the assembled fighters, many of which cheering at her as she flew over towards the city hall.

"You seem popular," Ivory joked.

"Well, uh... what can I say? My ponies love me," Twilight joked back.

"Say that without blushing and I might think you're being honest." They landed on the steps of city hall, Twilight gladly collapsing into a heap after gently placing the crates of cider down. She picked a bottle out and unscrewed the top, gladly savouring the sweet apple drink.

"Aah... that's the stuff. Want one?"

"Maybe when I can hold it without hooves." The doors to the hall slammed open and a group of ponies, including her friends ran out led by Daybreak.

"Twilight! Did you do it? Did you stop the attack?" He stopped as he noticed Ivory smiling at him. "Why is the Viscount's wife here?"

"I am not his fucking wife..." Ivory grumbled.

"She's defected," Twilight explained, "and is willing to trade information for sanctuary. And yes, the attack has been averted."

"Excellent. I guess that means we can get these troops back to Puddingarde to finish their training now." He nodded to Snowbright and Mason, who quickly headed off towards the docks. "As for you," he said to Ivory, "you're coming with me to..." He trailed off as Summer trotted up to Ivory and sat down in front of her.

"Hi Ivy," she said with a small smile.

"Summer! I'm glad to see you're alright."

"You two know each other?" asked Octavia.

"Mmhmm. Ivy was the only pony that was really nice to me before I met you guys, and she used to sneak me extra food whenever she was on the boat."

"Speaking of," said Twilight, "said boat is now resting on the bottom of the Mareissippi."

"It is?" Summer squealed excitedly and grabbed Twilight in a hug, "Thank you Twilight!"

Daybreak cleared his throat, "Right, as I was saying, you're coming with me. I want to know everything you can tell me about the Duke and his plans."

"I've already asked her Daybreak. You don't need to ask her any more questions."

"Doesn't matter, I want to question her myself. Then, if I believe her, she can choose what she wants."

"And if you don't believe her?"

"Then she will be put in the cell next to the mayor in the guards station."

"Still beats living with the Viscount," Ivory sang.

Twilight stood up fully and looked Daybreak in the eye, "If you don't believe her, she is to be kept as a political prisoner, under house arrest here in the city hall or in Puddingarde. She is not to be crammed into a cell next to that vile piece of filth."

Daybreak held up a hoof and bowed his head slightly in submission, "Okay then, but she will be kept away from anything she could potentially sabotage." Twilight nodded and Daybreak turned and headed back into city hall with Ivory following behind him as Thorn brought up the rear.

"Ooh, putting on your big girl pants I see," Trixie mocked. "Letting Daybreak know who's boss."

"Ivory Spire has no reason to betray us. She hates the Duke, and especially the Viscount, just as much as the rest of us, if not more."

"What about you though?" Fleur nudged Twilight with her elbow, "I think you owe us an explanation of what you got up to in your absence."

"It's really not very exciting. It mostly involved waiting."

"Did you at least deliver a killer line," the filly asked excitedly, "right as you blew up his ship and all his soldiers?"

"You took the time to steal cider?" Octavia gave Twilight a funny look, "Really?"

"Alright! Alright! Let me have a rest and I'll tell you all about it. You're going to be disappointed though, I can assure you."

"You let them all live!?" Fleur asked in shock. "W-why would you do that?"

"Okay, I freaked out over killing one pony. Do you really think I'm about to murder a couple thousand ponies so easily?" Twilight took another sip of her drink, "The point was to stop them getting to Neigh Orleans. The fact that I managed to disarm two thousand soldiers and completely humiliate the Viscount is just a silver lining."

"But what if the Duke tries to get back at us for attacking his son?" asked Octavia. "Surely that's something we should all be worried about, right?"

"Unlikely. If Ivory is to be believed, the Duke isn't a big fan of his son, thinking him to be a slow-witted, hedonistic waste of space. That's why the Duke hasn't left the throne despite how old he is, and why the Viscount is still the Viscount."

There was a knock at the door, and a second later Spitfire entered, followed by Fleetfoot and Soarin. They rigidly stood to attention and saluted, "Ma'am."

"At ease soldiers. Feel free to have a bottle of cider if you want." Soarin immediately went for the cider, followed shortly by Fleetfoot. "How are the cloud houses coming along?"

"We've got a few constructed, and the native pegasi know enough to take over construction themselves."

"That's good."

"Their combat training is also going well-"

"Combat training? But none of them wanted to fight?"

"It was Miss Octavia's idea, that they learn to fight for self defence."

Twilight glanced sideways at Octavia, who looked elsewhere as nonchalantly as possible. "I see. Good thinking Octavia."

"I only- Excuse me?"

"Hopefully once I tell them that we're going to shut down Whiplash soon, some of them might be convinced to join the fight."

"Shut down Whiplash?" Trixie snorted, "When were you planning on telling us this."

"When I saw you next, which so happens to be now. I thought Daybreak might've told you, or Fleur."

Trixie glared at Fleur, "You knew about this? Why didn't you say anything!?"

"It might've slipped my mind in lieu of the incoming attack, okay?"

"We really need to set up better communication links between here and Puddingarde," Twilight muttered to herself. She returned her attention Spitfire, "Have you also drawn up a weather plan?"

"Yes ma'am, and we're ready to implement it whenever you're ready."

"Good. You can start it tomorrow, but I'll need one of you available to perform some aerial reconnaissance over Whiplash."

"Yes ma'am. Fleetfoot, you're up."

Fleetfoot saluted with her wing since her hooves were occupied by cider, "You can count on me."

Twilight leant back and sighed contentedly. It really felt like things were coming together now, and if the next few weeks went to plan then they would be in a much better position. She really ought to go and speak to Daybreak though.

She finished off what was left in her bottle and rocked to her hooves. "Right, I'm going to go talk to Daybreak about some of our plans. Do you guys know what you're doing?"

"I guess Summer and I ought to get back to Puddingarde," said Octavia.

Twilight nodded, "Actually, I think we all ought to go back there soon. We can't keep using this place as a base of operations when we set up Puddingarde for that very purpose. Tell you what, how about we all head back there tomorrow? Oh, apart from you Spitfire, since you'll need to organise the weather." Spitfire saluted.

"So we get one more night of comfort?" Trixie asked with only a hint of whine. "Guess I better make the most of it."

"I suggest you do Trixie." Twilight nodded to herself as she thought, "Fleur could I borrow the thing that removes inhibitors?"

"Sure." Fleur removed the spanner-like device from her tail and passed it to Twilight.

"Thanks. Right, I'll see you all later."

"So what do you think Daybreak? Think she's telling the truth yet?"

Daybreak rubbed his hoof back over his mane, "I have literally no idea. Either she's telling the truth, or she's the best liar I've ever met. She isn't really giving us much practical information though, short of the Duke's plan to let us get strong before crushing us. Its a stupid plan-"

"But an effective one. Its been four hundred years since the last rebellion, and they were quite strong before they were stopped."

"Yeah, and we don't have the numbers to fight back against what he can throw at us should he decide to bring his attack forward."

"Which is why we're going to split his attention, remember? Start a micro rebellion in every town and city?"

"Yeah, but what if he attacked Neigh Orleans in the next week? What then?"

"Then we retreat to Puddingarde, warn all incoming ships that the city is no longer safe to dock in, and come up with a new plan. This is risky stuff Daybreak, you know this."

Daybreak rubbed his mane again, "Yeah, I... I know. I'm just worried that we're going to think we're doing well just for the Duke to sweep in and crush us without even trying."

"Then we stick to the plan. Have you thought about what ponies you're going to send out to the other towns and cities?"

"Me? Why do I have choose them?"

"You mean you haven't even thought about it?"

"I didn't say that..." Daybreak grinned sheepishly. "I was thinking of sending most of the old Pierre members out to the places they came from, since knowing the area would give them an advantage. Obviously I can't send them all and would have to send some other recruits out with them, but as long as we have one original member in their home city, we should be alright."

"See? I knew you were up to it. Make it so captain."

"Aye aye matey." Daybreak looked back through the door behind him, where Ivory was sat quietly with Thorn watching her. "Since I can't decide whether she's being honest or not, I'm going to leave what happens to her entirely up to you."

"Um... okay then."

Daybreak stuck his head through the door, "I'm leaving the prisoner to Twilight, Thorn, so come on; we need to write up a list of ponies to send out." They both nodded to Twilight as they left.

"That Thorn is a scarily intense pony when she wants to be," Ivory said as Twilight entered the room.

"I don't really remember the first time I met her since she clubbed me over the head during it."

"And now you're friends with her? Did you at least get an apology?"

"Now you mention it, no, no I didn't."

"So what now?"

"Up to you entirely. You can either stay here and do what you like, or you can join us."

"You'd trust me to join you? I'm not sure I can fight..."

"No problem. We have a distinct lack of literate ponies in our organisation, and if you were to aid in that capacity, it'd help, a lot. I could use a pony to organise our reports in Puddingarde. Of course you'd be living under some pretty intense scrutiny for a while, to make sure you're not spying for the enemy."

"I would never do that!"

"I know, but I'm just saying that because other ponies aren't as trusting as I am. So, how about it?"

"I'd be honoured to join you."

"Great!" Twilight pulled the inhibitor removal tool from where she had concealed it under her wing, "Now to remove the last sign of your servitude." Twilight placed the tool over Ivory's inhibitor, and despite the inhibitors unique design the tool popped it off without trouble, leaving Twilight slightly perplexed over how these things work.

"Huh." Ivory said, sounding disappointed. "I was expecting a bit more after having that on for so long, like an explosion of magic or something as its finally unleashed. Frankly I'm a little bit disappointed by that."

"Nah, nothing like that'll happen, but you might have some headaches for a while until your body and horn gets used to manipulating magic again."

"Nice to know I have something to look forward to."

Twilight stretched out in her chair, throwing another couple of logs onto the fire before returning to nursing her glass of cider. It was barely into the evening and she was already flagging since she hadn't had much sleep lately, on top of everything else she had done. She sat, staring into the flames like she was trying to make sense of the patterns, and all but screamed when the door slammed open to let Trixie in. "Trixie! Knock first!"

"Oh. Uh... do you want me to go back out and try again?"

"Wha...? Urgh, no Trixie, just... knock next time. Please. What do you want anyway?"

Trixie took the chair next to Twilight, "Even though you spared the soldiers and not only spared the Viscount, but actively saved him, again, I thought that maybe you'd like a little something to celebrate with?" She pulled a small bottle of whiskey out from... somewhere. "How about it?"

"I don't know Trixie, I'm not sure I should." Twilight was starting to realise that the days she spent in a drunken blur after her amputation weren't her finest moments.

"Just mix some in with your cider, it'll be fine."

"Cider and whiskey?" Twilight said a little sceptically, "That just sounds wrong. Is there a name for that mix?"

"Maybe? Trixie has no idea." She poured a generous helping of the whiskey into Twilight's glass, before drinking some straight out of the bottle, "Ooh, cheers."

Twilight raised her glass in a small toast before tasting her drink. It was bizarre to say the least. The sweetness of the apple combined with the warmth of the whiskey to... create something not quite as good as either if Twilight was totally honest, but it was still pretty nice. "Not bad. I think I'll call it an Applejack."

Trixie snorted, "And why would you call it that?"

"Because it's nice and sweet, but has one hell of a kick, just like Applejack."

"Ooh, so it's Applejack you have a crush on," Trixie teased. "I bet she does like a nice little roll in the hay..."

"I don't know where you all got the idea that I'm gay from. It's like you've all spent too much time reading badly written romance stories where the heroine is always suspiciously easy going when it comes to the gender of her suitors."

"And I think you're in denial."

"What? You complemented Fleur's ass once, and nopony accused you of anything! I never said anything that I can think of, and you all think I'm strictly for the mares!"

"And? Can't I admire the beautiful piece of artistry that is Fleur's derriere?"

"My cheeks are burning," said a voice from the doorway. "It always happens when somepony's complementing my gorgeous tush." Fleur smirked at the two ponies before focusing on what they were imbibing, "For fuck sake Twilight, are you drinking again?"

"What do you mean again? I haven't had a drink in days!"

"I still think you're drinking too much lately."

"After I had my leg cut off I might have, but that was kind of a little bit traumatic. I'm drinking nowhere near as much these days by a long way."

Fleur ignored her, "And you Trixie, you shouldn't be enabling her like this."

"Trixie seems to remember pictures of a certain super model a few years back, being dragged out of a night club in Manehatten, drunk off her ass. I also seem to remember her punching one of the paparazzi."

"Oh yeah? I was also falsely accused of possession of tranquilizers. What of it?" Fleur snatched the bottle off Trixie. "Stop letting Twilight drink," she said before throwing the bottle into the fireplace, the fire flaring as the whiskey ignited.

"Bitch, I kill ponies!" Trixie bizarrely shouted at Fleur, though it was hard to gauge how serious she was being when she said it.

"Does that include Twilight when she drinks herself to death?" Fleur stormed out of the room, leaving two rather bewildered ponies behind.

"She's growing a leg Fleur!" Trixie shouted after her. "I'm sure a bit of booze isn't even going to touch her!" There was no reply and Trixie slumped back into her seat, "What the hay was that about?"

Twilight shrugged and shook her head, "I honestly have no idea. This is like my first drink in over a week, and I only had it because you offered. Does it sound like I have a problem to you?"

"Pfft, nope. At any rate I guess you've been told now."

"Apparently so."

Trixie screwed her face up and rested her head on her hoof, "Now what the hell am I going to do with the rest of my evening?"

Author's Notes:

And then they had sex. Awkward, awkward sex, and it was weird and ugly and Twilight cried when they woke up the next morning while Trixie tried to play it totally cool, but inside she was deeply ashamed of what they did.

In all seriousness though this chapter was such a headache. I had this exciting idea of how the attack was going to work but when it came down to it, it was barely even a thousand words long. Hence a whole lot of extra padding.