The room the seven individuals stood in was silent. "Princess, what makes you think I want to join them, let alone am willing to kill!? You know my stance on it."

Celestia chuckled. "Yes, I do," she said. "I know you would join them because it would mean being able to better protect your friends and family. As for your willingness? I think Lone can explain it better."

"Figures," Lone muttered. "I come up with it, and have to explain it, even when she knows how it works." He sighed before looking at the lavender alicorn. "Trust me, Twilight, you've been under observation since the Empire and that little. . .stunt you pulled with your efforts to get the Crystal Heart. A little known fact about us-mainly because few know of us to begin with when everyone who knows this is a part of the guard or Celestia- is that every single one of us has been touched by dark magic," he said as he brought his hand up, palm facing the sky, and created a purple and green orb. "Unicorns even have some control over what is in their bodies, and it does make those it resides in a little more violent and more open to darker means, such as killing to protect. Spike told us you used dark magic, and he's been sending us reports on your usual stuff to see if it changes, as well as small things. As an example, you really started swearing after the Empire returned."

"Plus, if you didn't know, Celestia can dream walk as well, just not often and usually when helping us find new recruits," Spike said. "Trust me, more ponies are exposed to dark magic than you'd think, though usually by accident."

Celestia nodded. "Yes, and in your dreams, my student, I've seen the dreams you've had of protecting Equestria and what you did," she said with a small smile. "And I am proud of how you handled Tirek those years ago. Cadence does not know this, but alicorn magic, much like how we are physically the embodiment of all ponies, is the mix of all magic, including dark, and when you took our magic, you had four times the amount of it in you, perhaps more. The fact you fought Tirek and gave in when you knew there was no other choice to free everypony's magic is one any of the Shadow guard would do. The fact you did not kill him speaks as to how much control you have."

"And even then," Lost said, "if you didn't use dark magic then, there are some, myself included, who didn't come across dark magic, but was rather introduced to it upon our induction to the training, with us getting more control as we grow stronger, to the point," he said before stepping back into a nearby shadow of one of the thrones and melting into it, only to reappear in Twilight's shadow later, "some of us are the shadows."

"Though that's rare," Sweetie said. "Most of the time, it can only be controlled by unicorns. Not even Lone can do that."

"Guys, we're getting off topic," Lone said. "So, Twilight, what will it be: join us to help protect Equestria, or not, and have your mind ersed of all that happened to lead to this?"

"And if I choose neither?" she asks out of curiousity, only for Sweetie Drops to draw he rblades and point them at Twilight's neck.

"Security breach, which we can't have," she said.

Twilight's eyes widened in fear. "Noted," she said. "What happens if I decide to join you guys, Spike?"

"Well, for one, you'll be in Canterlot for a month at least undergoing basic training," the dragon replied. "And that's just for physical stuff. Doesn't matter how strong is with magic, if they have a horn, then they also do that, but length is dependent on how skilled they are with combat and defensive magic."

"And the others?" Twilight asked. "What are you going to tell them?"

"That I requested your presence, which is true enough," Celestia said, "for something I need your help with, and it will be some time before you can return. If you accept, we will leave immediately with Spike staying behind to say I had need of your help at that momen, and had ot leave without saying goodbye."

"Don't worry, if those ponies that attacked you come after them, we'll make sure nothing happens," Lost said. "Besides, we do have a few acolytes-our reserve members- here to help us out."

"If you say no and don't try to escape, then your memory of us will be wiped up to now from when you were attacked," Sweetie Drops said, her swords still out. "In short, you won't remember any of this."

Twilight mulled the decision in her head for a time before she told those in the room with her what her choice was. "If it'll help protect Equestria," she said with a sigh, "I guess I'll join."

Celestia nodded. "That eases my mind, Twilight, as the memory spell rarely has issues, but still has issues. If you are ready, then I will teleport myself, you, and Lone to the training grounds in Canterlot."

Twilight nodded. "I'm ready," she said.

"Then let's get a move on," Lone said. "I got books to read."

"Lone, a little more tact, please," Celestia said before she lit her horn, and herself, the captain of the Shadow guard, and the lavender alicorn vanished in a flash of light.

"Well, with that," Lost said, "I'll make sure the acolytes here know the situation. You know, unless you do, Spike."

"No, just Rarity and the others," Spike said as he went to leave.

"Tell Rarity we say hi," Starlight said.

"I will," Spike said. "See ya guys later."

Author's Notes:

Next question for the contest: how many Displaced beings have I written?