Commander Twilight stood in the Canterlot dungeons where they had out the Purifier spy after Luna had called the guard, he had been thoroughly searched by the guar d and then searched by Twilight to make sure he didn’t have any weapons on him before being escorted to the dungeon.

She wasn’t in the cell with him as she was busy dealing with a small hang up. “What do you mean you want to be present for the interrogation?” Twilight asked.

“I mean exactly that Commander.” Celestia said. “I would like to be present while you question the prisoner and Twilight has also asked to be here as well.”

Twilight looked between the two Princesses as well as the handful of guards in the room, this wouldn’t work, and she couldn’t do a proper interrogation with them around. The Princess had rushed back here along with the Captain when word reached them a Purifier had been captured within the castle, while the Captain went to find out how the spy got in the Princess had gone to the dungeon to meet up with Twilight and Celestia. Luna was most likely overseeing the castle duties so Celestia could be here.

Twilight sighed, this simply would not due. “As you wish.” She said and regretted not having any real pull here like she did back home, both as the leader of the army and through the Game, though she was a Player she didn’t really have any power being the only EDF member in Equestria.

“I’d like to try talking to him. “The Princess said and both Twilight and Celestia looked at her.

“What?” both of them said in unison, ok it was strange when her and the Princess did that being Counterparts it made sense, doing it with Celestia was a whole other thing entirely.

“Well I’d like to try talking to him and see if I can get him on our side.” The Princess said.

“So you want to reform him.” Twilight said and couldn’t suppress her facehoof. The princess had gotten away with too many reformations of enemies it seemed.

“Something like that, but I hope to get him to see us alicorns as beings of harmony, not chaos.” The Princess said showing her idealism that the Soldier had come to expect of her.

Celestia nodded. “Very well Twilight, you make speak to the prisoner.” She said and Twilight facehoofed once more. These ponies were going to cause her death by facehoof at this rate.

With a nod the Princess approached the cell and a Royal Guard unlocked it to allow her to enter. Twilight stood close to the bars, her magic ready to grab her side arm and put down the spy if he tried anything as he wasn’t restrained and mealy sat in a chair with a scowl on his face.

The Scowl deepened when the Princess entered the cell and walked up to him. The Princess wore a warm friendly smile. “Hello, I am Princess Twilight Sparkle. The Princess o—“

“I know what name you got by abomination.” The spy spat at her.

The Princess blinked as she hadn’t expected that it seemed. “Yes, well, what is your name?” She asked polity and the Spy huffed. “Ok…well….” The Princess grasped for something to say. “It’s going to be hard to talk to you if I don’t know what to call you.”

“Then don’t, I do not wish to hear any of your poisonous words.” The Spy said with a glare directed at the Princess.

She sighed. “My words aren’t poisonous, I don’t mean you any harm, I just want to understand why you hate alicorns so I can try and clear up what I am sure is a misunderstanding.” She said with an encouraging smile.

“You are an abomination creature of chaos.” The spy said simply. “We will purify this land of your taint and save it from your corruption.”

Twilight said and sat down. “We aren’t creatures of chaos; we are being of harmony, a blending of all three tribes.”

“You are a perversion of the three tribes, an abomination that should not exist in this land.” The Spy said.

The Princess looked at him sadly. “Now, we are harmony and we only desire peace and harmony for all of Equestria.”

“You may have everpony else fooled and under your spell but we are strong, we will not fall, our war is just and protected by harmony for it smiles upon us as its chosen saviors.” The spy said with all the conviction of a zealot.

“But we want the same thing, it was the Princesses that sealed Discord in stone and restored harmony to Equestria.” Twilight said.

“And seized power for themselves and have ruled the land, controlling and manipulating those around them and trying to bring about eternal night. “The Spy said and Twilight was glad Luna wasn’t there. “And allows Discord to run free for two days after he “escaped” from his imprisonment at a time when things had been too peaceful as Equestria had faced no real threats besides that posed by the abomination of the night and it took just two days before he was recaptured and restored the power you were losing as ponies would start to think they didn’t need you.” The spy said with a glare for Celestia. “And even now you allow the God of Chaos himself to walk free among ponies even after he turned on the ponies of this land.”

Twilight could defiantly see what the spy was talking about as it wasn’t not hard to take the events of the past out of contexts and that last bit the mare had to agree with.

“Discord is reformed, he is no longer evil and he just made a mistake and knows it.” The Princess said.

“Discord is the God of Chaos, the very opposite of harmony.” The Spy said and that was where Twilight disagreed, though it was not hard to see that of the God and understanding chaos was impossible, but Twilight had spent much time speaking with Discord, both willingly and unwillingly and learned much about the god and what his type of chaos meant and what he found fun.

He actually served a purpose in keeping harmony by serving as a counterpoint to the majority, whatever the majority of reality was, it was his duty to be the opposite, if the land was in order, he was to cause chaos, if the land was in chaos not of his doing, he was to create order. If the world was filled with death, he would save lives, though that meant the opposite was true of a land overfilled with life. Discord’s chaos meant doing to opposite of the majority and that is what he found entertaining.

It was why he was helping the EDF, Twilight was a major point of chaos and he was acting as a counterpoint as well as countering the order of the EDF as well which in turn made the EDF more able to handle the chaos of the battlefield, everything he did served a purpose and was not left to chance but no one normal could see it without having spent a large amount of time with the God as well as being a source of chaos, in short Twilight was the only person in Equestria qualified to understand Discord to any extent.

“Even so that does not mean he cannot do good.” The Princess said.

“Yes it does, he is disharmony, the opposite of harmony and those of us who stand for harmony and order will fight against him. “The spy said and looked at the Princess with a sneer. “And his allies.”

“We aren’t his allies, we are his friends.” The Princess said. “We don’t help him cause chaos we help keep him in check.”

The Spy scoffed. “Friends, allies, tis the same, you are all creatures of chaos and will be purged from this land and harmony will be brought to the land”

“But that is what we are trying to do, keep harmony and you fighting us is disrupting that.” The Princess said. “That can’t be what you want”

“Tis not but sacrifices must be made in the name of the greater good.” The Spy said

The Princess frowned. “IS that what happened in Horston all those years ago?” She asked.

The spy did not hesitate. “Yes, in the name of the purification of the taints a sacrifice of the few was made to save the many.”

“But even if you meant to kill the princesses you failed so what does that mean of your sacrifice of all those innocent ponies?” The Princess demanded.

“That our sacrifice was not great enough, we lost many brothers and sisters that day and it is a truly sad time in our history but it also was educational in it told us what would not work.” The Spy said and Twilight had to admit his answers disgusted even her, while she did believe in the ends justifying the means in most things, sacrificing and entire city of innocents was so far over the line it was in another galaxy. Simply put Twilight was not leaving this Equestria till the Purifiers were permanently eliminated.

Even the Princess was appalled by the spy’s answer as she took a step back. “How can you say that, so many innocent ponies and an entire section of Equestria forever barren, how is that harmony? How is that just?”

“An abomination like you would not understand.” The Spy said dismissively. The Princes just stared at him, jaw agape as she tried to process how this pony could say that what they did was in the name of the greater good. No matter how she tried the Princess simply could not make any sense of his answer, these were the ponies they were facing? Ponies willing to kill that many and claim there war is just and that harmony smiles on them. She looked back at the Commander who wore a neutral expression as if she were unphased by the Spy’s answers, maybe Celestia was right in that they needed somepony like the Soldier to fight this enemy, somepony willing to take a life to defend others. She now truly believed they needed the unicorn mare to save all of Equestria as the Purifiers wouldn’t stop in there war till either the Princesses were dead or all of Equestria, no all of Equus was just a barren wasteland were nothing lived.

She looked back at the spy who scowled back at her before she turned and approached the door and a Guard let her out, she didn’t say a word as she rejoined the others. Twilight looked at her and placed a hand on her counterparts shoulder and nodded to reassure her that everything would be ok before heading for the cell door and being allowed in.

She stood before the spy who glared back at her. “What do you want Agent of Chaos?” He said in a voice filled with the venom of pure hatred.

“Just wanted to say you gave a lovely speech to the Princess.”” She said and started to slowly clap. “Bravo, I have never seen anyone shake her down to her core so thoroughly that she was speechless.”

“Tsk, I do not require nor want your praise.” HE said.

“Oh trust me this isn’t praise because you see I like the Princess there and you have hurt her and I cannot stand for that.” Twilight said. “So I’m going to say this once, you should have answered her question and listened to her because she is nice and polite, whereas me. “She pointed at herself with a thumb. “Am not so nice and polite, especially to those who hurt those I like.”

The Spy merely huffed. “Yes, I know that you all preach your false harmony and I know what your rules are and if you were to break them it would revel your true colors to the ponies of this land and you can’t have that.” HE said smugly.

“You are right Equestria does have rules, probably with that tidbit is I’m not from here, I’m an outside consultant so to speak so I have more room to work as I am not bound by most of the rules of this land.” Twilight said.

“Your scare tactics will not work on me.” The Spy said.

Twilight chuckled.” We shall see. Tell you what I’m going to use a reward and punishment system, for every question you answer with the full truth you get a rewards, for every lie, refusal to answer to attempt to hide you get a punish meant. Sound good?” She said and the spy spat at her feet. “Ok good, let’s start with something simple shall we? Name?”

“You do not scare me Agent of Chaos.” The Spy said.

“Ah, tsk tsk, wrong answer. “Twilight said, drew her side arm and promptly put a round through the knee of the spy causing him to collapse with a scream of pain from his chair. “Let’s try again shall we? Name?”

“Damn you to Tartarus!” The Spy said from his place on the floor where he clutched his bleeding leg.

Twilight sighed and put a round through his other knee causing him to scream again. “Name?” She asked calmly.

“Cloudy Rainbow!” The Spy yelled his bleeding fore legs clutched tightly to his chest as he winced in pain. Twilight blinked and looked the stallion over, dark tan coat and light green mane and an earth pony, why the hell was that his name? Filing that question away from later she cast a healing spells and numbed the pain in his legs and stopped the bleeding.

“There now was that so hard?” She asked smiling down at him. The Stallion was smart and kept whatever biting remark he had in mind to a low grumble so it didn’t count as a false answer and result in another punishment. “Now then let’s move on shall we?” She asked.

Commander Twilight Sparkle stood in the corridor just outside the door that lead to the Canterlot dungeons and was facing something she had never thought she’d see in her entire life, a very angry Princess Celestia.

“I do not know how your Equestria handles prisoners but her we do not shoot them or cut them with blades!” Celestia yelled in the Royal Canterlot Voice and Twilight was nearly blown back by it, she actually hat to raise her arms to block some of the force of the yell.

“We needed information and didn’t have time to break him by more pleasant means.” Twilight said looking back up at the irate Sun Princess.

“That does not give you the right to torture a prisoner!” Celestia yelled back and Twilight looked around, she saw the Princess a little ways off just sitting there her face clearly showing she was still in shock about both what the spy had said to her and witnessing the interrogation, granted it was only a fraction of what Twilight would do normally but with witnesses around she couldn’t do her normal tactics, that would earn her a one way ticket to Tartarus.

Twilight looked back up at Celestia and her blood ran cold as she saw her glaring down at her and Twilight stood more at attention then she already was. “Ma’am we needed the information as soon as possible, it was the only way. “Twilight said stiffly, the back of her mind hoped that Celestia didn’t notice her change in demeanor and figure out how to actually make her feel bad for her actions. That same voice also kept saying this wasn’t her superior so she had no reason to feel bad about being chewed out by her commanding officer as her commanding officer wasn’t actually here, but that voice was drowned out by the other voice that was having a panic attack that she had angered her C.O. and might be at risk of a dishonorable discharge or a demotion, or sent to the brig, or demoted to a private given a weak of crap jobs then sent to the brig while she waited to be dishonorably discharged!

“That does not excuse what you did in there! We may need your help but that does not mean you have the right to do what you want while in Equestria!” Celestia shouted and even the Royal Guards further up the hall were making themselves scarce for fear of having to face the angry Princess of the Sun. “If not for the fact I was in such shock at what you were doing I’d have stopped in the first time you shot the prisoner!”

Twilight winced. “Sorry ma’am.” She said weakly. “You have my word it will not happen again.”

“See that it doesn’t Commander.” Celestia said no longer using the Royal Canterlot Voice but still clearly angry. “Consider your privilege of being allowed to walk around unsupervised revoked until further notice, when not with Twilight then you will have a Royal Guard present at all times.”

Twilight nodded her eyes downcast behind her sunglasses. “Yes ma’am, under stood ma’am.” She said weakly. Celestia nodded and turned away to go tend to the Princess, leading her some where they could talk privately and maybe enjoy some tea while she tried to fix the shell shocked alicorn.

Once she left the corridor the guards started to cautiously return to their stations. Twilight heard as a guard walked up behind her, no doubt half the castle heard her being chewed out and the guards were quickly to carry out the order that had been indirectly given so they didn’t have to face the angry Celestia. Twilight looked back at the earth pony guard who looked at her with the same stoic expression everywhere but his eyes which told her “You really screwed up.”

Sighing and head hanging low Twilight left the corridor, they had the intel they needed, now they just needed to put it to use, but first Twilight needed a drink and there was only one place to go.

Princess Twilight Sparkle walked through the back streets of Canterlot muttering about why the places had to be so out of the way that it was nearly impossible to find. IT had been about three hours since the spy was interrogated and the Princess had spent most that time with Celestia having tea and talking about anything and everything not to do with her military counterpart or the Purifiers or anything important. Twilight had appreciated it though she did not agree with Celestia revoking the Commander’s right to be alone as despite everything, she agreed with her, they didn’t have time and needed what the spy knew and the Commander had gotten it as quickly as she could. Twilight hated admitting that.

After hear tea with the Solar Princess she had gone looking for the Commander to talk to her about what the next step should be but had learned she had left the castle shortly after being yelled at by Celestia, that had been the biggest shock of the day and the main reason she was in shock, she had never seen Celestia angry much less yelling at somepony in the Royal Canterlot Voice.

She had thought about it and could think of only one place the unicorn would go in the city and now it was a matter of finding it as she had only been there once and it was an out of the way place, which was why she had already been searching approximately where she knew it was for the last forty minutes. After another thirty minutes she found the Ivory Wheel and nosed the door open. Sure enough she found the Commander sitting at a table with a drink and across from her was a Royal Guard in the standard gold armor though he had removed his helmet, breaking the enchantment on the armor so it revealed the grey earth pony with a yellow mane he actually was. What Twilight had not expected was to see the Commander smiling as she spoke with the guard.

“So after about three hours of the officer cadets trying to figure out how to set up the flag pole and run the flag up it I stopped them and showed them how.” The Commander was saying.

“Oh? And how did you do it?” The Guard asked leaning forward eagerly, a smile on his face.

“I turned to the three enlisted men that had been standing there since the test started and said. “Corporal, have the men run up the flag.” Five minutes later the flag was flying high in the sky.” The Commander said and both her and the guard burst out laughing.

“What is it about officers not knowing how to use what they have?” The Guard asked.

“Hell if I know, but it’s the main reason most of the officers in the EDF are promoted from the rank and file so they actually have a brain.” The Commander said and the Guard nodded and they both laughed again. Twilight blinked and walked further into the bar’s main room and up to the table and the Commander noticed her right away. “Oh hay Princess, what brings you here?” She asked with a smile. “Come to share a drink with me and Stonewall here?”

“P-Princess.” The Guard, Stonewall apparently, sputtered and quickly got to his hooved and grabbed his helmet at the same time hi other hoof hurled a glass of dark liquid from the table in a vain attempt to hide the fact her had been drinking. Plopping the helmet on his head his fur changed to pure while and he looked like any other guard as the enchantment in the armor was activated. He stood at attention like all the guards. “Forgive me Princess I was merely…..um….”He said trying to grasp for an excuse that would save him.

“Oh relax Stonewall I’m sure the Princess doesn’t mind that you were killing time with me.” The Commander said and looked at Twilight. “Right Princess?” She asked giving Twilight a look that said let it slide as it was my fault.

Twilight sighed. “It’s fine Guard Stonewall; I know how the Commander is when it comes to drinking and getting others to do it as well.” Twilight said, it was true, hearing her talk about her Nightfall whiskey so much had Twilight almost to the point of wanting to try it when not in the middle of a panic attack and it wasn’t often Twilight saw the Commander relaxing like this with other ponies.

Stonewall visibly relaxed and nodded. “Thank you Princess, my apologizes for my dereliction of duty.”

“Come now Stonewall, no need to be all formal at the Ivory Wheel, it’s not the place for it, it’s the place to relax and have a good time and share a drink with friends.” The Commander said gesturing to the both of them with a smile on her face.

Twilight blinked as it was the first time the Commander had actually said they were friends and she was also surprised she had made friends with her escort though it seemed the Commander could make friends if she wanted to, especially with those who served in any sort of job that involved even a semblance of a military set up. Twilight guessed there were a few fundamental truths that spanned across all those jobs no matter what they were.

“Anyways Princess.” The Commander said looking at her. “Care to join us for a few drinks and talk about absolutely nothing?”

“Actually I was hoping to discuss the next step in dealing with—“

“Later, this is not a place to discuss work unless it’s to complain or tell stories.” The Commander said interrupting Twilight and using her magic to pull out a chair for her. “Sit, order a drink and relax Princess, too much stress isn’t good for your health.”

Sighing once more Twilight could tell this was one of the times the Commander was going to be stubborn so rather than waste her time the young alicorn took the seat and a moment alter Stonewall took a seat and the Commander smiled wide. “Next round is on the Princess!” She called out loud.

“Yeah sure.” Twilight said absent mindedly as she got comfortable. “Wait what? No it’s not!”

“Too late you agreed!” The Commander said and waved over one of the waitresses so they could place their orders and Twilight sighed, having a friend like the Commander was defiantly interesting to say the least.

Author's Notes:

Well we now know how to make Twilight feel bad and what can cause her to have her well known panic attacks, though they happen in her head rather then like the Princess