It's been a day since Twilight and Cadence sealed themselves in what the others all assumed was a room of sorts. Princesses Luna and Celestia, the former currently wearing an ankle length dress with no sleeves, leaving her cutie mark visible and was as black as night, her sister wearing a dress where the only change was the color was as white as her skin, had arrived just after dawn, and Shining was just now fininshing telling them about it.

"And you're certain of this, Shining Armor," Luna asked.

"Yes. I've never seen Cadence or Twily act like this before, and I have no idea about what might be going on."

"Well," Celestia said in her caring voice, "what do you know?"

"It's not really a 'know'," Shining said in embarresment and rubbing the back of his head. "More of a theory."

"What ever it is, it may be it," Luna said. "After all, something, even if it is wrong, may just get us on the right track."

"Right." Shining took a deep breath and said, "We think that someone might have messed with Cadence's memories and maybe even her personality, and put some kind of seal on the original, and that said seal has started weakening, letting some of the memories and her old personality out, but I doubt it. Cadence would never act like this."

The royal sisters shared a quick, worried glance, then Luna said, "And, if I may ask, who came up with this idea?"

"Chrysalis."

"And you trust her?"

"Well, yeah," Shining sid. "I mean, I know she ruined mine and Cadence's wedding, but that was eleven years ago, and she's proven that she's changed since then. The least I can do is trust her." Luna opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off. "And before you say something, Princess, I did consider myself being controlled, and had the doctors examine me. I'm not a fool."

"And what do you think happened with Twilight?" Celestia asked, concern for her student in her voice.

"If I had to guess, I'd say the same, but that still brings up the question of who cast the spell, not to mention when it was cast."

If Shining had been paying attention, he would have seen the solar alicorn breath a small sigh. "That is enough for now, Shining Armor," she said. "Luna and I will do what we can to investigate it and help."

"Than you, princess," Shining said before leaving to go with the others, who all waited at the entrance to the new corridor, which, for some reason, had stayed visible this time.

Once he was out of ear shot, Luna turned to her sister and said, "This may be an issue. We can't let them know. If they did, it may reignite the old war!"

"I know, Luna. I know. We are simply lucky with the current state of the investigation. But still, we must make an attempt at helping them, even if we don't wish for them to find out the truth."

"Then we should begin," Luna said. "We should go to the doctors that were there when Cadence went violent, and see if there was anything visual with her aside from her shooting flame spells."

"Agreed, and let's hope not," Celestia said as the two sisters made their way to the infirmary.

Shining, Chrysalis, and the others had made a small camp site at the entrance to the corridor, and were all doing something to pass the time and take their minds off the current circumstances.

Rainbow, Applejack, and Pinkie were playing a game of cards, while Rarity, Fluttershy, and Chrysalis talked about the fashion world, one of the interests the three had in common.

Shining walked over to where the card game was going on and took a seat. "So, anything happen?" he asked.

"Nope, just a whole lotta nothing," Rainbow said.

"Actually, there was some yelling or something," Pinkie said, "and we tried to open the doors, but couldn't. When we yelled in there to get there attention, they just asked us to go away, and that they'll be out when they're ready."

"So they're feeling better," Shining asked hopefully.

"Pinkie's just paraphrasin' it, Shining," Applejack said. "They said it in much harsher words, though, I'll admit, I wonder what they meant when they yelled 'Get out of our heads'."

"That was just Twilight," Rainbow said. "Cadence was actually calmer, telling Twi to do the same and, I quote, 'Let the memories in, Twilight. Let them come, and everything'll be okay'. If I had to guess from that, I'd say that Cadence is doing better and trying to help Twilight."

"So they aren't coming out?"

"Not yet, no," Pinkie said.

"To be fair, I doubt Twi would want to come out until she's certain whatever's going on isn't some kind of disease that can spread," Rainbow said.

Shining chuckled. "That does sound like Twily."

That night

As Shining and the others slept, deep in the corrdor they stood watch over, the door opened, and singular figure stepped out and snuck out of the hall and past the group, making her way to the kitchen.

As Twilight snuck past her friends and family, she stopped just in front of Pinkie. She covered the pink mare's mouth, causing her to jolt awake, and put a finger over her mouth, and Pinkie didn't make a noise. "Come on, Pinkie," she said. "I need some help. You in?"

Pinkie nodded. "Good," Twilight said, removing her hand. "Please, not a sound that the others can hear." With that, she made her way to the kitchen, Pinkie close behind.

After ten minutes of sneaking through the palace, the duo found the kitchen, and not a single pony was there. Once they had entered said part of the palace, Twilight, in a normal voice, said, "Okay, Pinkie. You can ask what's on your mind now. Slowly, please."

"Twilight, what's going on," Pinkie asked. "Why didn't you let the others know you're out? How come Cadence didn't come out?"

"In order: I'll show you when we're done here, what is going on is why, and because I snuck out while she was asleep. That good enough?"

"It'll do," Pinkie said with a smile. "So, what do you need help with?"

"I kinda need to get food into the area me and Cadence are in on the other side of the room, and for reasons I'll tell you and you only later, we can't exactly leave it for a six days starting tomorrow."

"Okay. I'll help," Pinkie said. "Just let me know what you're going to need."

"Mostly just bread and cheese, stuff that's filling in small portions."

"Right."

Five minutes later, the two mares walked out of the kitchen, each carrying about five pounds of bread and the same amount of cheese, each. The quietly made their way to where the others were, and entered the hall. Once they made their way o the doors, Twilight said, "Last chance, Pinkie. You sure you want to see it?"

"Only if I can help ya, Twi."

"But, Pinkie-"

"Save it, Twilight. We're in a relationship, and i know I can be illogical sometimes, but one thing that anypony would agree with me on is that you always help those you love, even if they don't want it. Besides, I can keep a secret. I just need to leave a note saying that I felt you needed help with something, and just came in using my abilities. It's not the craziest thing I've done before. We both know that."

Twilight sighed. "I hate the few times you make logical sense, Pinkie." She then smiled and gave Pinkie a small kiss on the nose. "I guess that's one thing I love about you, too." Pinkie smiled. "Now come on, we need to get in before one of the others wakes up for some odd reason."

"Right, would you mind holding the bread and cheese? I need to make that note."

Taking the food Pinkie hold in her magic, Twilight said, "Just be quick, okay, Pinkie."

Pulling a piece of paper and a quill out of her hair, Pinkie said, "Don't worry, I will be."

Not ten seconds later, the note was written and, with her unnatural speed, Pinkie left where she had been sleeping earlier, and made her way back to Twilight in less then ten seconds.

"Eat it, Rainbow," Pinkie said. "So, what exactly is the huge secret," Pinkie asked as she took the food she was carrying back in her arms.

"It's best if I show you," Twilight said as she used her magic to open the door, and the two stepped inside, the door, and it's secrets, closing behind them.

The next morning

Rainbow, sleeping next to Rarity, in just a shirt and underwear, woke up slowly. The first thing she noticed was her marefriend's arm draped over her. The second thing was Pinkie wasn't there. Oh, Pinkie's not there, she thought as she dozed off again. Three seconds later, her mind finally processed it. She jumped to her feet, waking Rarity up in the process.

"Dashie, what's wrong," Rarity asked groggily.

"PINKIE'S GONE!!"

The yell woke the others up, including Shining and Chrysalis, who, at some point in the night, had cuddled, and woke up to find themselves still like that, and quickly jumped away from the other, a blush on their cheeks. "Sorry," they both said.

"Rainbow, what do ya mean?" Applejack asked, wearing the clothes she wore yesterday.

"I mean she's not in her sleeping bag!"

"Ya mean the one with a note on it?"

"Yeah-wait, there's a note?"

"Why am Ah not surprised," Applejack said as she went to pick it up. "'Hey guys, I knew you'd be worried, so I wrote the note to let you all know I had a feeling Twilight needed help, so I just used my abilities to get in the room. No idea when I'm gonna be out, but see you guys later. Pinkie.'"

"Wait, she didn't tell us about this," Shining said. "Why didn't she wake us up to let us know."

"I guess because it's Pinkie being Pinkie," Applejack said. "Nothin' we can do now, but do more research and see if we can force that door open. I refuse to believe Twilight's gonna be okay 'til I see it myself."

"I agree with Applejack," Rarity, wearing a purple nightie with a blue bow(think rainbow rocks). "We need to find a way in there."

"But how?" Chrysalis said.

"I'll go ask Princess Celestia," Shining, wearing his guard outfit, said.

With that, he left and made his way to the palace's library.

Crystal Palace library

Celestia and Luna sat on opposite sides of a crystal table, both looking at, or, rather, pretending to look at, books on ancient memory spells.

"Sister, what if we can not prevent this?" Luna asked. "What then?"

Celestia sighed as she put her book on the table. "I do not know, Luna. Mother knows it was hard enough the first time. I don't think it can be done again."

"But then we'd have to do the one thing we swore we'd never do since then!"

"You don't think I don't know that!" Celestia yelled at Luna due to hours of frustration and worry. "I'm sorry, Luna," she said after realizing the look on Luna's face as one of fear. "My nerves seem to be getting the better of me right now."

"I understand, sister, but I do not wish to become like, like that again, not in this age when those sides of us have been forgotten. We barely contained them then, and we are weaker than we were then."

"I know, Lulu, I know," Celestia said. "We need to stop this before it gets to that point."

"And if it already has?"

There was a tense moment of silence before Celestia answered. "Then I'll do what must be done, Luna. You have suffered more then me, and it is time I repaid you for that."

Luna's eyes widened in alarm. "Sister, you can't mean-"

"I do," Celestia said, cutting her sister off. "I do mean it Luna." Celestia smiled. "It's funny. Ponies always assumed which of us was older, me. They are right, biologically speaking, I suppose."

"Ah, yes, that. I still remember it. The spell that caused me to revert back to a tiny filly, and left you as the elder."

"One of our eternal secrets."

"Yes. Yes it is."

It was then that Shining Armor walked into the library. He made his way to the able the two sisters sat at. "Have you found anything, yet, princess?" he asked.

"No we haven't," Luna said. "Why do you ask when you know we would let you know if and when we did?"

"Because last night, Pinkie somehow got into that room, and the others are worried she might get sick or something," he said.

Luna and Celestia shared a worried glance. "If that is the case, we will work harder to find something," Celestia said.

"Thank you, princess," Shining said as he bowed and left.

"I worry as to how Pinkie actually got into that room," Luna said once Shining had left. "We both scanned the door with our magic, and it negates any magic from allowing entrance except for one single spell that only a unicorn or alicorn could cast, I doubt even Pinkie Pie could find a way into it.

"Agreed," Celestia said. "And there are only a few still alive who know that spell, ourselves included."

"So should we open the door now?"

"No. If we did, who knows what Twilight and Cadence will do if the seal has been broken. We've wronged them once already, and I do not wish to again."

"Agreed," Luna said before going back to pretending to read.

A few hours later as the time came closer for the transition between day and night, the sisters got up from the table and returned the books. "Come on, Luna," Celestia said.

"I'm coming, Tia," Luna said as Celestia made it to the doors.

Luna caught up with her a few seconds later. "I know it has been thirteen years since what would be the best time to ask this, but do you not think we should tell Twilight's friends our secret, if only because they are the ones to give me the strength to return to the real me?"

"Unfortunately, it seems we may have to, because if we are to late with Twilight and Cadence, more of our secrets could come loose," Celestia said.

"Tomorrow, then."

five days later

It had been an eventful week for Twilight's friends. Starting off with Cadence and Twilight going into the room, then Pinkie. The next day, a bomb, if they knew what a bomb was, had been dropped when princesses Luna and Celestia had revealed to Rarity and the other Elements that, in fact, because of an accident when the two of them were kids, Luna had been reverted back to a baby, just a few days before Celestia had born, in fact, which meant Luna was actually the bigger sister.(1)

The three days after that had been uneventful, and now, Luna and Celestia, stood in front of the door, their horns lit with the spell needed to unlock and open it.

Luna looked back at the others and said, "I would suggest you prepare yourselves. There is no telling what may be inside." With that, she returned her gaze to the door and, together, she and her sister cast the spell to open the door.

The spell hit the door, enveloping it in  a blue and yellow aura on the left and right, respectively.

At first, nothing happened, but then, the door began to open slowly. Cries of "No, no, not yet," could be heard inside, but they did nothing to stop, or even slow, the doors. Once the doors were fully open, there was still a light, but id slowly faded. When it did, the view that was there shocked all, and confirmed Luna and Celestia's worse fears.

There in the center of what they could all see, was Twilight and Cadence with fearful, but also angry, the latter especially, expressions on their face. But what really got the attention was the one who held the two mares in his embrace, with a blank look on his face.

"Hello, Celestia. Luna. Chrysalis," he said, an undertone of anger in his currently otherwise deadpan voice.

Before any thing could be said, though, Pinkie walked in with a cake. She saw the others. "Oh, hey guys. Did you know Sombra and Cadence were Twilight's parents," she said with a smile.

"WHAT?!" her friends yelled.

"Step away from them, Sombra," Celestia growled.

Sombra, wearing black dress pants and a gray version of Shining's guard outfit, his horn not the curved, red tipped tooth like horn from ten years ago, but was a normal unicorn horn, said, "I will, when you remove the rest of the memory block you placed on my wife and daughter," he said, anger now in his voice and on his face, "as well as the one you placed on my, subjects and my sister, Chrysalis."(2) Next Chapter: Bloodshed Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 14 Minutes