Princess Twilight Sparkle stood with the other Princesses at the main door of the castle as the Royal Guard carriages came in to land, most of them going towards the Royal Guard wing of the castle while three broke off and made their way towards where the Princesses stood. Behind Twilight hovered both of the Commander’s sentries as they had both been ordered to keep her safe while the commander was away and they had been with her all day. She had to admit it made her uncomfortable having the two machines following behind her but after she started talking to them she became more comfortable as they genuinely seemed to want to keep her safe and actually helped her through her day with advice or intercepting nobles who were bothering her.

As the carriages landed Twilight felt herself be filled with apprehension at how the mission could have gone, the Commander had been gone when she woke up this morning and so she hadn’t gotten a chance to ask her about what her plan was or what her project was. She wasn’t sure if the fact they had only been gone for about a day was good or bad.

As the lead carriage touched down the door opened from the inside and the Commander stepped out in her uniform and looked up at them and smiled as she made her way towards them, her two squad leaders exiting the carriage and seemed to be working on getting something else out of it.

“Mission accomplished.” The Commander said as she saluted the four Princesses before her with the same smile on her face. “The Purifiers shouldn’t be a problem anymore, least not for a very long time as there could have been some that weren’t in the camp. But I doubt they will have the power to cause any real problems.”

Celestia nodded. “Very good Commander, I am glad to hear that the threat to Equestria has been dealt with.” She said and the Commander dropped her salute.

“Also one of my squads got you a little present your Majesty.” The Commander said and gestured to the squad leaders as they dragged a pony who was bound in ropes towards them, then unceremoniously dropped them at the hooves of the Princesses.

It was a stallion with dark grey fur and what remained of his made was dark blue, however what was most striking, or in this case shocking, was that half his face was burned severely and it looked like his mane had been burned away, in fact what Twilight could see of his body under the dark yellow robe most of it was burned severely.

Twilight looked at the Commander. “Did you do that to him?” She asked in shock.

“No, he looked like that when he was captured, no clue what’s up with him either as I’m getting really weird medical reading from him.” The Commander said as she looked down at the stallion who was glaring up at Celestia.

“So, we meet again abomination.” He said in the voice of the Purifier Leader who had attacked the party at Ponyville and Twilight’s eyes went wide, however her surprise was over shadowed by Celestia’s.

“This cannot be possible, how are you still alive?” The Sun Princess asked looking down at the Leader.

Twilight looked between the Leader and Celestia. “Celestia what is it? What’s wrong?” She asked however it fell on deaf ears as the two were focused on each other.

“Seems there was an unforeseen side effect of being at the epicenter of our ultimate weapon in that it didn’t kill me as it did everything else.” The stallion said. “Imagine how it was to learn you two had survived meaning my brothers and sisters sacrifices were in vain.” HE said and smiled, his burned skin stretching horrible with the simple expression. “However harmony chose to allow me to live for all these centuries so I could try again.”

Twilight’s eyes went wide and she could tell the Commander came to the same realization as her as she looked down at the stallion and removed her sunglasses to stare at him with nearly as wide eyes as Twilight had.

“You mean you are…” Twilight began.

“The one and only leader of the Purifiers and the one sworn to bring Harmony to this land and destroy you abominations.” The Leader said.

Twilight’s mind reeled at what the stallion said, he was the one who had set off the first Life-Bomb centuries ago and created the Badlands in an attempt to kill the Princesses, the one who had taken so many lives that day and somehow he lived to continue his war all these centuries later.

“Guards, take the prisoners to the dungeons immediately.” Celestia said coldly as she looked at the Leader with hard eyes Twilight had never seen on her former mentor. The Royal Guard around them jumped to obey grabbing the stallion and began to move him towards the dungeons. “I want him under heavy guard at all times.” Celestia said as she watched them go.

Both Twilight and the Commander stared at the Solar Princess as neither had never seen Celestia like this, even at the height of the war with the Separatists the Commander had never seen so much rage and anger in the princess, unlike her counterpart she knew Princess was ready to finish what the Life-Bomb had failed to do all those years ago and it terrified the mare to see the one she knew as a diplomat ready to kill with her own hooves. The Commander would need to make sure that the purifiers were wiped out when she got back before they could even start trouble as she didn’t want to see what a truly enraged Celestia would do and order and she didn’t want to have to institute Plan 77 if she could help it.

Once the Leader was out of sight the Solar Princess took several deep breaths and closed her eyes.

“Sister are you ok?” Luna asked taking a single step towards her sister, concern edged on her face.

“Yes I am fine Luna.” Celestia said calmly as she reopened her eyes and they were the normal soft calm motherly eyes they always were. Both Twilight and the Commander looked at each other then back at Celestia, nether was sure how to react to what they just saw. “Come Commander, I wish to hear how the battle at the camp went. “Celestia said turning and head towards the castle, the Commander was quick to follow, making sure to keep a safe distance behind the alabaster alicorn and be ready to flee if need be, she wasn’t sure if she could beat an enraged Celestia in a one on one fight.

Princess Twilight watched after them and heard the bots speak behind her. “Sister should we go with the Commander? She may need help?” Lunabot asked.

“Yes, go with her sister, I’ll stay with Princess Twilight, but if something happens I want you to call for me immediately ok?” Celestiabot said.

“I will sister.” Lunabot said before taking off after the Commander. Twilight wasn’t sure if she should scold the machines for thinking Celestia would harm the Commander or take comfort at having the sentry flanking her just in case. Looking between the other Princess who were also watching the door the two ponies and sentry had disappeared through with concern.

“Let us go to the dining hall and prepare have the cooks prepare a feast, I believe we should celebrate todays victory.” Luna said taking charge of the two younger alicorns, she needed to take their minds off what they just saw in her sister, though the Lunar Princess made a mental note to speak to her sister in privet at a later date when she as had time to calm down.

Twilight nodded as her and Cadence followed the dark alicorn into the castle.

Commander Twilight Sparkle followed behind Princess Celestia, Lunabot was flanking her as usual, it was almost like being back home and going in for a debriefing. Though now she was following an alicorn that clearly was filled with controlled rage that had already slipped through partly once just a few minutes ago. Twilight was sure that if Celestia lost control it would be all the unicorn mare could do to escape the room and make a tactical retreat to someplace as far from Canterlot as possible as no doubt the Solar Princess could turn her into a red smear on the floor with that much rage.

Twilight’s theory was that seeing the original Leader of the Purifiers was in fact still alive had opened some very old and very deep wounds from back when so many had died and the land was eternally scared. That would have hurt someone like Celestia more severely than any physical wound ever could and wouldn’t be nearly as easily healed.

They reached Celestia’s personal study and without a word to her guards the Princess walked into the room and Twilight looked at the guards who looked back at her, she could tell the fact Celesta didn’t say a word to them had them very concerned. Taking a deep breath Twilight fell back into her professionalism before walking into the room.

As soon as Lunabot was inside the door was wrapped in a golden glow and closes, not quite slammed but still firmly shut and Twilight hear the click of the lock. Twilight immediately ran over all the known ways out of the room as she approached Celestia who moved behind her desk. Twilight best bet would be jumping from the window if she needed to make a fast escape, she was sure her cybernetics could absorb the ten story fall.

Twilight stepped before the Sun Princess as she took her seat behind the desk and looked at the military mare. “Tell me everything.”

Twilight saluted and then dropped into rest before she began to recount what happened in the camp, only leaving out a few details that the princess didn’t need to know, such as how much fun the unicorn had though sadly the mood she had been in was well and truly dead now.

Celestia nodded when Twilight finished with her and the rest of her team being extracted from the clearing east of the camp with their prisoner. “Pity you weren’t the one to have found Leader as you would have done what was necessary.” The alicorn said coldly.

Twilight nodded slowly and didn’t say anything, while she did agree with the princess the fact it was Celestia, kind nurturing, always the diplomat Celestia saying she wanted Twilight to have found the Leader so she could have ended him was very disturbing to the mare. “With the threat of the Purifiers no longer an issue I shall see to having our mages and researcher look into finding a way to get you home Commander.” Celestia said. “You have my deepest thanks for removing this threat to my ponies”

Twilight nodded and saluted. “Just doing my job ma’am.”

“Even if that is the case you helped us in our time of need and I am eternally grateful to you.” Celestia said and looked at some of the papers. “All that is left is to deploy some of the Royal Guard to hunt down any of the purifiers that remain and this problem will be solved permanently.”

Twilight blinked at that. “Permission to speak freely ma’am?” She asked and when Celestia nodded Twilight spoke. “Wait about deploying the guard to hunt down the Purifiers.”

The Solar Princess blinked. “I must say I never thought I’d hear you suggest waiting about routing out a threat to the nation Commander.” She said. “I thought you’d be all for it.”

“Under normal circumstances I would be ma’am.” Twilight said and readied her body to bolt for the window. “But right now you mind is clouded by rage and other emotions and thus your judgment is corrupted.” Twilight said and sent an order to Luna to get ready to provide covering fire if need be. “You need to take a few days to collect yourself and get your emotions under control and then if you still feel the same deploy the guard, but as it stands if you give the order now you may regret it later once things calm down and by then it will be too late.”

The Ruler of the Day stared at the military mare before, the mare who up to this point had suggested nothing but exterminating the Purifiers and now she was advising Celestia to hold off on doing so. The Alicorn sighed. “You are one of the hardest ponies to predict I have ever met Commander, always surprising me just when I think I have you figured out.” The Princes said and the mare simply nodded. Celestia took a deep breath and let it out. “Perhaps you are right, I should wait about giving the order till I am more myself, it’s just seeing the pony who took so many innocent lives still alive and ready to wage his mad war…..it reopened some old injuries I thought long dealt with.” She looked at the mare before her. “Do you give advice like this to your Celestia as well?”

Twilight nodded. “All the time, I’m more or less her military advisor.” Twilight said with a hint of pride. “But I don’t always advice the military option as sometimes that will make things worse and I know diplomacy has its place in the world and that is what you are good at, diplomacy and making the correct decisions on when to strike and when to talk but you can’t do then without a clear head.”

Celestia nodded. “Yes you are correct, I have dedicated my life to finding alternate solution to problems that don’t involve violence and needless bloodshed and yet every fiber of my being is calling out for me to send the guard out to exterminate the Purifiers once and for all.” She said and sighed as she stood. “That is not me.” She walked around the desk and stood before the soldier and looked down at her. “Thank you for stopping me Commander, I know we haven’t been on the best of terms for most of your time here but despite me not agreeing with you one most things I see now you do have the best interests of others at heart in your actions and for that I thank you.” She smiled down at the unicorn and then did something that military mare didn’t expect. She leaned down and nuzzled the top of her head. “You are a good pony Twilight even if you are stained with a lot of blood.”

Twilight nodded but didn’t say anything, partly out of shock and partly because she knew what she actually was and now wasn’t the time for lies. “Anyways I’m sure by now my sister has organized a feast to celebrate your victory and knowing Pinkie Pie she has turned it into a part with everypony invited.” Celestia said with a smile.

“You are correct.” Twilight said already getting a report from Celestiabot.

“Then I’d suggest we don’t keep them waiting much longer.” Celestia said as she walked towards the door and unlocked it before walking out of it stopping to address the two guards outside of the door. “Forgive me Hammer and Steadfast for not greeting you earlier; I had much on my mind.” She apologized.

The two guards shared a look out of the corner of their eyes. “No need to apologize Princess.” Hammer said and saluted. “Do you require anything?”

“Mmm” The princess bobbed her head slightly in thought. “Yes actually, there is a celebration going on right now and I require you both to be there.”

The two guards saluted. “Yes Princess we shall be there.”

“Excellent and I expect you two to enjoy your time there as well.” She said and with that turned and headed towards the main dining hall of the castle with Twilight following behind.

Princess Twilight Sparkle stood in the castle main dining hall looking it over in shock, not only was half the table set for a feast of all types of pony foods but the other half was cakes, cupcakes, pies, crepes, doughnuts and many other deserts. The walls and ceiling was cover in streamers and balloons and scattered around the room were party games and party favors on small tables placed randomly around the room. Twilight look over at the pink mare beside her. “How did you set all this up already?”

Pinkie Pie shrugged as she pulled a cup cake from her mane while surveying the decorated dinning hall. “Just a few streamers I had lying around and a few deserts I whipped up while the chefs made the main course.” She said matter of factly with anode. “Not my best work but I didn’t want to save my best work for the next party.” She said smiling wide at Twilight.

Twilight blinked and tilted hear head. “What other party?”

“Oh the one we will be throwing a few hours after this one is over.” Pinkie said.

“Why would we be throwing a party after this one?” Twilight asked even more confused.

Pinkie looked at her very seriously for a moment. “Oh, because no one noticed it was too easy is why.” She said then smiled wide and before Twilight could ask what she meant the party pony bounced over to the main doors and flung them open to revel Celestia and the Commander on the other side, the Princess’ horn lite as she had been about to open the door herself. “Come on in! You don’t want to miss the party do you?” She chirped and bounced away as Celestia shook her head in amusement as she walked in.

The Commander looked around and shook her head and Twilight knew she was placing the decoration and other party musts away in her “its Pinkie Pie File” Once that was done the uniformed mare made her way over to Twilight. “So how were Celestia and Luna while I was away? They behaved I hope?”

It took a moment for Twilight to realize the Commander was referring to the two sentries that flanked the both of them. “Oh yes they were fine, actually rather helpful at times.” Twilight said.

The Commander nodded. “Good, I told them to treat you as they would me.” She said with a nod and a smile as she looked around. “Pinkie Pie did rather well on such short notice.”

“Yeah though it’s not her best work.” Twilight said looking out as the pink mare was getting the other guests to either eat or play a game; she was zipping around at her normal manic pace. When Twilight looked back at the Commander she found the other mare looking at her with a raised eye brow. “Her words not mine.”

“Ah, ok. I was going to say.” The mare chuckled and pated Twilight’s shoulder before a familiar griffin and an Earth pony Twilight didn’t recognize walked over.

“Good evening to your Commander Sparkle, Princess Twilight. “Greywing said with a slight bow.

Twilight blinked. “Greywing? What are you doing here?”

“Not entirely sure myself, I was overseeing some renovations to the store front I’ll be renting when this strange pink mare came out of nowhere, babbled something about a party and me being invited as I’ll be needed before dragging me here faster than I thought possible.” He said rubbed the back of his neck with a talon.

“That would be Pinkie Pie.” The Commander said. “She has a habit of doing that.”

“Yes well it has to be the strangest experience I have ever had.” The griffin said.

“Yup, you just described Pinkie to a T.” The Commander said with a chuckle before looking at the earth pony. “Long time no see Meadow, how you been?”

“Oh you know living life, and working, haven’t seen you at the club the past week, where you been?” the earth pony asked.

“Oh work’s kept me busy, you know how it is.” The Commander shrugged.

“I hear that girl.” The earth pony said with a chuckle before looking at Twilight.

“Ah right introduction times. Princess this is Calm Meadow, I met her at a club here in Canterlot a few weeks back, Meadow allow me to introduce my friend Princess Twilight Sparkle.” The commander said gesturing between the two of them.

“Pleasure to meet you Princess Twilight. “The mare said with a deep bow. “I had no idea the Commander had friends in such high places. “

“Oh…um…pleasure to meet you too Meadow.” Twilight said a bit uncomfortably, she still wasn’t used to the bowing. She looked around a bit nervously.

The Commander saw this and spoke up. “So I’m guessing you had a similar experience as Greywing here?” She asked.

Meadow rose from her bow. “Not as dramatic, I already worked her in the castle as a gardener so it wasn’t as far I was dragged. She caught me just getting off shift.” The mare said.

“No Shit you mean you worked her in the castle all along and you didn’t tell me?” The commander said.

“I prefer to keep my private life and business life separate so yea, it would have been a bit awkward meeting up here in the castle when I was working.” Meadow said with a smile. “Though I guess that’s a little too late to hope for now. “

The Commander waved a hoof. “Don’t worry about it; I won’t bug you at work unless I have a pressing issue to talk to you about.” She aid. “Believe me I understand wanting to keep things professional.”
Meadow nodded. “Thank you commander, I appreciate it.” She said with a smile.

“Anyway why don’t we all go grab ourselves a drink and enjoy the party?” The commander said and the other two nodded before heading over to the drink table. The commander stayed behind to speak to Twilight a moment.” You going to go talk with your friends?”

Twilight nodded. “Yeah wanted to tell them how things went today and all.” She said and smiled. “Have fun with your friends.”

“Oh I always do.” The Commander said with a chuckle as she headed for the drink table and Twilight went looking for her friends.

Deep under Canterlot Castle, where the music and chatter from the party above did not reach rested the dungeons. Rarely used as most ponies were held in the Royal Guard jail as the dungeons were only for special criminals. Inside one of the cells sat one such criminal.

The Purifier Leader lay on his back, hooved behind his head, eyes firmly locked on the ceiling above his cot. The earth pony had been like that since being stripped of his robe and placed in the cell a few hours ago, the guards outside his cell mostly ignored him as he wasn’t making any noise.

There were four of them, two by the door into this set of cells and two across from the cell the Leader was in. The guards tensed and look at the door as it opened and a unicorn guard walked in. Seeing who it was the four saluted. “Lieutenant Bright Star what brings you down here?”

“I was ordered to take the prisoner up for questioning.” Bright Star replied as she looked at the two guards across from the cell and held out a hoof. “Please give me the key to the cell.”

“I’m sorry ma’am but the Princess said we are not to allow anyone into the cell but herself under any circumstances.” One of the guards said.

“I’m under orders directly from the Princess to take the prisoner up for question.” The mare said firmly.

The two guards looked at each other. “I’m sorry ma’am but till the Princess tells us otherwise we can’t let you.”

Bright Star sighed. “I was afraid of that.” She said and then her horn lite. Before the guards could react she fire off a spell and caught the one who had been speaking in the chest and he was slammed into the wall before slumping to the floor.

The second guard lunged at the lieutenant as he yelled for help and slammed her against the bars of the cell containing the Leader. Yelling for help once more the guard looked for why the other two weren’t responding and founts four other guards standing over their limp bodies. He had enough time to widen his eyes before a hoof connected with his jaw and he stumbled back. He regained his foot just to take a magical blast to the chest and drop to the floor.

Sighing Bright start dusted herself off and searched the two downed guards for the key. Finding it she turned to find the Leader standing beside the cell door. “What took you so long Sister Bright Star?”

“Sorry Leader, there is a party going on upstairs, the abominations and Agent of Chaos are celebrating their “victory” over us.” Bright star said as she unlocked the cell.

The Leader stepped out and the unicorn mare dug in her armors saddle bags and pulled out his robes.

Donning them the Leader looked at the five Purifier’s dressed as guards. They had infiltrated the ranks of the Royal guard and servants months ago and in the case of Bright Star converted when they came to realize the Purifiers were the true protectors of Harmony. “So the plan worked just as expected.” The leader said.

Bright Star nodded. “Yes, our Brothers and Sister’s played their parts perfectly and put up just enough resistance to make the Agent of Chaos believe we were surely fighting and not just drawing attention away from our true plan.”

The Leader nodded and looked at the mare. “Did you bring it?”

She nodded and pulled out an amulet set with a polished emerald, and hoofed it to the Leader.

HE smiled. “Excellent, after tonight the abominations and Agent of Chaos will be no more and true Harmony can rein.

“All glory to harmony.” The guards intoned before they followed the Leader from the dungeon.

Author's Notes:

Well we got to see that there are certain things that can crack even Celestia's mask and revel a well controlled rage,

also got to see a hint of how CTS and her Celestia's relationship is with CTs acting as a military advisor.

plus got imformation about the castle staff.