Slowly, the dark alicorn approached, and the Tantabus, having finally recovered from the attack she'd sent against it, merely hovered in place as the Queen finally spoke again.

"Well...you are a bold one, aren't you? Coming here, to my territory, attacking one of my subjects?"

She gave a brief chuckle, before gaining a very steely glance in her eyes.

"I'd be impressed if it wasn't such a...foolish decision."

Twilight, who had been keeping utterly silent since the Queen arrived, turned her eyes to the Tantabus. It continued to slightly swirl around itself as always, and yet, there was something else going on as the Queen drew nearer. There were ripples in its outer surface, vibrations, almost like a shiver of some kind. If Twilight didn't know better, she'd have assumed it was actually afraid right now. It was a fact the approaching alicorn had not missed herself.

"Yes...you remember, don't you? Many ages may have passed, but one universal truth will always remain."

She halted her advance, giving the Tantabus her absolute attention.

"Ponies may fear the dark..."

Her eyes narrowed.

"...but the dark...fears me!"

And with that, the Tantabus had heard enough. It shot upwards, heading for the hole in the ceiling of the cave, looking almost as if it were about to flee. But the Queen merely smiled to this, her horn and eyes glowing a bright blue. Her magic grew faster and faster, enveloping her swiftly until, to Twilight's shock, she too began to change. In an instant, it was as if she was like the Tantabus itself, a cloud of pure magic, albeit one of dark blue rather than purple. This magical entity raised itself faster than any of them could move themselves, and certainly faster than the Tantabus, for it now barred its path from the hole above. Then, almost as fast as she had changed, the Queen changed back to her more solid form, though her eyes were still glow.

"I do apologise...but were you trying to escape?"

Before the Tantabus could react, the Queen shot it with yet further magic. And like before, it was massively effective, slamming the beast into the ground so ferociously that it actually formed a crater in the ground. The impact shook the cave all around them, to the point where Twilight and the other mares had to hold on tight, lest they fall over. As for the dark alicorn, she soon landed upon the floor once more, watching with interest as the Tatnabus struggled to emerge from the crater.

"Pitiful. Have the centuries so dulled you, Tantabus? You were once a force to be reckoned with. But now?"

She frowned.

"Now...you're barely even worth the effort."

The Tantabus, at long last, reacted to this, shooting forward a number of dark and ethereal tendrils from its main "body", attempting to strike the Queen as vigorously as it could. But, in a move that further surprised all there, such an attacked seemed to have no effect whatsoever. For the Queen now seemed to be surrounded by some other aura of magic. Dark, like smoke, almost as if she was bathed in shadow. Twilight took on a fearful look, which Pinkie soon commented on.

"Twilight? What...what's she doing?"

Twilight shook her head.

"That's...dark magic!"

Again and again, the Tantabus struck, but like before, it had little effect. Though the Queen was far from annoyed by this, bearing a small smile as her assailant continued its efforts.

"Yes...that's the spirit!"

Unfortunately for the Tantabus, the Queen's mood did not remain so entertained, and her horn began to light up in a menacing way yet again. The ancient ethereal monster sensed what was coming, flying off to try and get away, but it was too late, for the Queen's magic was upon it, surrounding it like some kind of rope. It grew tighter, forcing the Tantabus into a single shape and squeezing hard. A confident smirk crept onto Queen Moon's face, and with an almighty tug, she pulled her enemy down, crashing it into the ground once more. But she was far from done, and so began to repeat this motion, hurling it into nearby walls, the ground, the ceiling, anywhere where she could cause damage to her captive. And all the while, Twilight watched, unable to do anything right now. After several minutes of toying with her foe, the Queen, after bashing it to the ground again, released it.

"Now...it is over."

Slowly, Twilight began to walk forward, much to the concern of her colleagues, but she still remained quiet as the Queen took step after step towards the fallen Tantabus.

"You think we ponies would stand by while something like you roamed about, doing whatever you pleased?"

She narrowed her eyes.

"You were sorely mistaken, beast!"

Her horn lowered, and it began to glow once more, gathering power while the Tantabus twitched upon the floor. Twilight's eyes widened, for she knew what was about to happen. It was a suspicion confirmed by the Queen's next words.

"For your heinous crimes, your terrorising of Equestria...I bring you your death!"

Then, a flash. A bright magical burst appeared in front of the Queen, catching her off-guard and causing her to take a step backwards. When the light died down, she saw, to her surprise, that it was Twilight, having teleported in-between her and the Tantabus. But, as impressive as this magical display was, an even more startling feat was soon performed, as Twilight soon spoke.

"Wait! You don't have to do this!"

Confusion promptly covered the older mare's face, leading to Twilight pointing to the fallen Tantabus behind her as she began to explain herself.

"I...I know it's done terrible things...and I know it seems hostile...but it's still a unique life! There's never been anything like it before or since! We..."

A determined look crossed her face.

"...we have to give it a chance!"

The Queen stared at her, then soon responded in a highly incredulous tone.

"You are jesting, right?"

Here, Twilight looked to her with a more pleading expression.

"Please, just...just give me one chance."

The alicorn turned her eyes to the Tantabus, still upon the ground nearby, then back to Twilight, before narrowing her eyes slightly.

"Then be swift, Twilight Sparkle."

Twilight nodded, appearing grateful for this opportunity. Her friends watched her, aghast as they observed her drawing nearer to their collapsed enemy. As for the Tantabus itself, it continued to appear docile and largely motionless on the ground, but even so, Twilight's moves towards it were cautious at best. She looked it over, taking a few deep breaths, before then starting to say what she needed to.

"Tantabus...I know you must feel great hostility towards me. Towards all ponies. You've attacked us, hurt us, risked the lives of those we hold dear."

Her expression softened.

"But I cannot and will not believe that there is nothing good in you at all. I don't know if you can understand me. But if you can, then..."

Slowly, she reached out a hoof.

"...know that we can make a place for you in our world...if you're willing to make peace."

All eyes were on the Tantabus, especially the Queen's, whose expression was one of utter contempt as she regarded the beast. As for Twilight, her face soon lit up with a slight sense of hope, for the Tantabus soon started to move, crawling upon the floor towards her in a manner far more calm and non-threatening than she'd ever seen on it. Then, just as it drew near enough, her smile vanished. For just like it had done with the Queen, the Tantabus lunged out, aiming what seemed to be a hundred razor-sharp tendrils towards the defenceless unicorn. Twilight, in the instant this happened, did nothing, merely watching with disbelief at what was now about to befall her.

"TWILIGHT!!!" Applejack called from afar.

However, in the fraction of a second before the Tantabus could fulfil its violent intent, it was kept from doing do. A massive blast of magic shot forth from behind Twilight, striking the creature right in its centre. The tendrils disappeared immediately, and it was sent flying, before being slammed into the wall nearby. Twilight continued to stare blankly as this happened, as Queen Moon's magic intensified, causing the Tantabus to writhe against it. The screams the creature let out were growing louder, more ear-piercing. Then, at the height of it all, the Queen concluded her work, intensifying her magic further, which resulted in an almighty flash, as the Tantabus was engulfed entirely in a near-blinding light. All the ponies shielded their eyes from this, but it was not long before that intense light died down.

Slowly, they all lowered their hooves, seeing what now lay before them. The Tantabus was no longer where it was. Instead, the only thing there was a massive dark scorch mark upon the wall where it had been hurled. Wisps of purple smoke could be seen quickly evaporating, until at last, there was truly nothing there at all. The Tantabus, the great adversary of the waking world, was dead. And even those unfamiliar with magic, like Pinkie or Aurora, could recognise this when they saw it. But Twilight remained, looking where her enemy had been mere moments before. Her expression was both of shock and disappointment all in one, and so stunned was she that she did not notice the sound of hoof-steps coming behind her, until the Queen gently lowered her head to just behind Twilight's.

"When next you offer mercy to a monster...it could well cost you your life, Twilight Sparkle."

The young unicorn hung her head low, continuing to stare at the spot where her enemy had once been. The victorious Queen stood tall once more, moving away from the still pony, but watched as her friends rushed over to her side.

"Twilight! Are you okay?" Applejack asked.

Slowly, Twilight nodded.

"Yeah. A little shaken, but...yeah, I'm fine."

A sigh of relief was heard from both her and Applejack, and as they looked to each other with warm smiles, the nearby Queen was soon greeted with a salute from her Captain, Aurora.

"Thank you for coming, your Majesty. I don't think we could have fared much longer without you."

The Queen raised an eyebrow to her subject.

"I am sure. But I do not recall giving you orders to engage the Tantabus, Captain Dash."

A look of guilt crossed the cyan mare's face, but when she opened her mouth to reply, the Queen halted her by raising a single hoof.

"No matter. The beast is felled. That is what's important."

Aurora breathed a sigh of relief herself, but remained silent as she looked up, seeing Twilight approach her Queen. The latter too noticed this, regarding her with interest as Twilight began to speak up softly.

"So...what happens now?"

The Queen considered that for a few moments before giving an answer.

"Well...that all depends upon my sister."

Twilight took on a serious expression, but before she had the chance to say anything to her elder, she was kept from doing so by a sudden bright light emanating from the massive hole in the ceiling. All eyes were upon it immediately, and the Queen frowned at the sight of it.

"Well...speak of the devil."

At those words, Twilight took a single step forward, hope filling her face once more. And soon, that hope was rewarded. For there, floating gracefully down from the sky, bathed in bright light like the sun itself, was Princess Celestia. All the ponies there, save for the Queen and Twilight, took a step back from this. It was not long before the white alicorn was upon the ground, looking as composed and as regal as ever. The Queen looked to her with caution, Aurora with nervousness, and Applejack and Pinkie gave an instinctive bow in the presence of their leader. But Twilight began to take careful steps closer to her "mentor".

"P...Princess? Is it you? I mean...is it really you?"

The elder alicorn looked to her, smiling sweetly.

"Twilight...my beloved student."

Hearing that, Twilight's eyes began to well up, and she rushed forward. Celestia anticipated this, and knelt down to her level, before promptly embracing her with her vast wings. As the two held one another, Twilight's words, though coming through the occasional sob, were tinted with joy.

"I...I thought I'd never see you again!"

But Celestia merely smiled.

"It's aright, Twilight. I am here now. Everything is going to be okay."

Twilight's smile widened, as indeed did Applejack's and Pinkie's. However, there came a time when Celestia looked past her student, and to the dark alicorn nearby. There was a brief moment when the look those two gave each other was, for lack of a better word, cold. Celestia stood once more, catching Twilight's attention, and soon after, she watched as her teacher started to walk closer to her sister. She stopped just a few short feet away from her, and there was utter silence in the chamber for a time. Both alicorns regarded one another in an analytical fashion, and all others in attendance kept as silent as the grave. Then, at long last, it was Celestia who broke that silence.

"Sister...it has been a long time."

The Queen narrowed her eyes.

"Indeed. Over a thousand years, to be precise."

The elder sister looked her sibling over, then took on a brief look of slight concern.

"You have...changed since last we met."

The younger sister gave a short nod.

"And I see that you have not."

Celestia paused for a time, then resumed.

"I sensed that I have you to thank for the Tantabus' defeat?"

The Queen nodded right back, leading to a brief pause from Celestia. And when she spoke again, it was with a more steely tone.

"...You killed it, didn't you?"

To that, the Queen maintained her serious glare at her sibling.

"I did."

Celestia sighed, closing her eyes for a moment.

"I see. Then you really haven't changed, have you?"

The Queen frowned deeper to that.

"And I see that you have not learned gratitude in the last millennia."

Celestia opened her eyes again.

"Luna..."

But she was halted by a raised hoof from her sister.

"Do not call me that. It has not been my name for a very long time."

The elder sister kept quiet, allowing her darker counterpart to continue.

"I go by Moon now. Queen Moon."

Again, Celestia was quiet for a time, then let out yet another sigh.

"Very well then...Queen Moon it is."

After that, the dark alicorn let out a snort, turning her attention to her Captain.

"Come, Aurora. I believe it is time we returned to the castle."

Briefly, Aurora glanced over to Twilight, who gave her a quick smile and a nod, before instinctively giving her Queen a salute to that command. As the pegasus began making her way back towards the tunnel, however, Celestia, after briefly looking hesitant about something, spoke up again.

"Lu...Queen Moon."

The younger alicorn halted, looking once more to her sister as she spoke.

"Is...how is...she doing?"

Twilight took on a confused and curious look to her mentor's words, but said nothing, instead looking to the Queen as she responded.

"Better than she was, sister."

For a time, Celestia seemed almost insulted by that remark, which was something the Queen appeared to delight in, before the latter began to turn in the direction of the tunnel herself. But, before she did so, she stopped, and looked over to Twilight. The young unicorn was, at first, unsure of why this was, but then it became clear when the dark alicorn spoke her final words to her.

"You fought well today, young Twilight."

Though taken aback by this, Twilight nevertheless showed her appreciation for it, giving a slight bow to her teacher's sister. The Queen herself gave a short bow of her head in response, before yet again facing the runnel. This time, she actually began to walk within it, with Celestia and all the other mares watching intently as she continued onwards. Eventually though, both the Queen and Aurora had moved off so far that they could no longer be seen. And here, knowing they were at last out of view, Celestia turned to her student with a small smile.

"Twilight...let's go home."