"MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE?"Celestia spoke as she clinked her glass with a spoon. "As you know, my student, Sunset Shimmer has returned. Not only has she returned; she has transcended into being a princess. While this is not a proper coronation, that will come later, once she has completed her last mission; I do want to say a few words to mark this occasion.

"Having never had children of my own; I have always thought of all of you as my children; and you are. But, that intimate relationship, that special bond, only a mother and child, specifically a mother and daughter can know, I had given up on - until I met Sunset Shimmer.

"When I had first heard about this remarkable unicorn, I became intrigued. I knew that my time upon the throne was growing short and I would soon need a replacement. I wondered if she was the one. Over time I saw not only her raw power, but her innate kindness, love, and nobility. I knew without doubt she was the one. I grew closer to her than all my other students. I consoled her when her mother . . ., passed away. I grew not only to care about her as a student, but as my own child.

"Then, as I suppose most of you parents know, came the rebellion. It broke my heart. Not because she wasn't listening or doing things I disapproved of, but I felt that special relationship slip away. It was like a small death.

"As her rebellion and anger got worse, I began to question myself. Had I made a mistake? Was she really the one? And then when I banished her and she left for the human realm; my heart broke again. Night after night I hoped for her return somehow. I hoped she would come back around to that sweet, loving unicorn I had met years before. And you know what? - Tonight I got my wish. Thanks in no small part to my other student Twilight Sparkle."

Celestia turned to look at Sunset who was sitting to her right, who had tears streaming down her cheeks. "Sunset, you have more than redeemed yourself. In a way, you have redeemed me as well. I love you and I am proud of you; more than feeble words could ever express. And while I wish you could stay longer, I know you have a serious mission to take on. One that I have every confidence you shall accomplish with great honor. So, until you have returned victorious, my simple speech here will have to do. ALL ARISE AND CHEER THE PRINCESS SUNSET SHIMMER! HIP-HIP HORAY! HIP-HIP HORAY!"

"Starlight, Starlight."

Starlight turned around to look who had called her name even though she knew she hadn't heard it with her ears. The voice, soft, sweet, and feminine had come from inside her head.

"Starlight, Starlight, Starlight Glimmer."

"Who are you? How are you in my head?" she thought to herself.

"I am one who knows. I am one who cares. And I am one who is speaking to you across time and dimensions."

"I don't understand."

"You are so powerful. You bested Twilight, nearly bested Sunset. You sought to make all equal. That was your only flaw. Ponies aren't equal. Earth ponies are less than pegasi, pegasi are less than unicorns, and unicorns are less than alicorns. Even within those groups, some are better and worse than others. You sought to tie yourself to the weaker, inferior races of this world. The strong have no quarter with the weak! The brilliant have no kinship to the dumb! It is the job, nay, the natural order of all things for the better to rule and cull the lesser.

"See Celestia; weak, old Celestia, fawn over her little pupil? What is she to you? What are any of them to you? You have done more, have more raw power than any of them. Yet here you sit. You've gone from trying to make the inferior your equal to making yourself equal to them."

"What are you saying? I did everything out of anger and spite, I hurt people, stole their individuality. I was lost and lonely. I have friends now. Real friends."

"FRIENDS? Haw. If you believe that, you are a fool. What is a friend? Someone who exploits your kindness while making you feel good about doing it. There is no such things as friends. Friendship, like all emotional bonds, are an illusion. A biochemical cocktail designed to put you in a stupor. No, there are no friends; only those who exploit and those who are exploited."

"So what does that make you then?"

"An exploiter." The voice gave out a chilling laugh. "What; you expected me to answer otherwise? Yes Starlight, I am trying to exploit you. But I chose you because I know you have the power to accomplish what I want done."

"And that is?"

"Twilight, Twilight Sparkle. She is a threat. I need her corrupted."

"You mean killed?"

"No, corrupted. Have her turn, turn against her against all she stands for, against all that would call itself good."

"And why should I? What could you possibly offer me to do such a thing?"

"Freedom. Freedom to be yourself. To be the ruler you were meant to be. Predator and prey, aggressor or victim, Strong or weak; there are only two states in nature. What is your nature Starlight Glimmer? What is your true nature?"

With that the voice was gone from her head. She looked back to the table where Twilight (both of them), Sunset, Celestia, and Luna sat. A million thoughts ran through her brain. What was she to do? She had been forgiven, TWICE! Would she really jeopardize all that now? Hadn't she seen the error of her ways?

But still.

Twilight was a princess and yet she was almost too easy to beat. She even said herself that should couldn't match her in power. In fact, Starlight had created a whole community, ruled it as her own, by herself. Twilight, not even Celestia and Luna could say as much. What would happen if she did ascend to full alicorn status? Why she would be a goddess almost. And what would a goddess need with friends?

Starlight didn't know what to think or feel. What did she want? Deep down. what was it she was really looking for? She didn't know what that was now. But she knew that once that question was answered; all of reality would hang in the balance.

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The party soon petered out and only Celestia, Luna, Sunset, Twilight, and the rest of the gang remained.

"Well, it is night time," Celestia said. "I have had rooms prepared for all of you. Sleep tight for the journey is long tomorrow."

"Uh, Princess Celestia," Earth Applejack spoke with great concern. "You're right, it is late, but that must mean our families are already plum scared about where we are. Shouldn't we be gettin' back now? I can't imagine what we all could say ifin' we's out all night."

Celestia smiled with compassion at Apple. It was the smile a mother might give a young child who's concerned about monsters in their closet. "My dear; with all four Princesses here, we can combine our powers and teleport back in time to just after you left Ponyville. You would have been gone in your world's time for about five minutes."

Apple sighs with relief and soon they were all escorted to their rooms.

********************************************************************************

In a flash of light, the group was back at Twilights' castle; in front of the mirror.

"So we really went back in time?" Earth Rainbow asked.

"Yes," said Celestia. "And once you all have returned to the human world; Luna and I will take the Equestrians back to their proper time."

"And me." Sparkle meant it to sound like a statement, but it came out sounding more like a question.

"Yes my dear." Celestia spoke as softly and calmly as she could. "It's safer for you and everyone else if you and my Twilight were apart. It will be ok. Luna and I will take great care of you and teach you all we can about magic. Think of it as studying abroad for a semster."

Sparkle nodded.

Soon the Earthlings, led by Sunset Shimmer went back through the portal. Only Twilight remained to say bye to everyone.

"I'll miss you all so much!" Twilight said through tears. "All we've done, all we've gone through, I wish you could come."

"In away we are." Fluttershy said. "You might not have us, per se, but you will have a version of us."

Twilight nodded and forced a smile but the tears continued to flow.

"And Spike," Twilight said, pointing to Sparkle, "look after her ok? She'll need you like I did."

"Same for you Spike." Sparkle added. "She's going to need you to fill her in on everything that's going on in my family."

"Will do!" both Spikes said in unison and saluted. Each gave their Twilight a hug and left.

Twilight turned around and was about to enter the portal when Celestia stopped her and whispered in her ear. Twilight looked in horror as to what Celestia had told her and ran thorugh the portal not wanting to believe it. When she got through, she saw everyone standing around, ashen faced.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

Sunset stepped forward. "When we got back, Lyria and Bon Bon came running up to us. There's been another murder."