Twilight awoke in a small soft bed, but most of all it was warm, on a night stand beside her was a glass of water and some food. she began on the water, drinking greedily, she slowed herself and took some bites of the food, it was a simple salad, but she didn't complain. She also felt odd, her body was feeling like it wanted something but she couldn't place her hoof on it. it wasn't food as she was already eating, was it---

as she got up she felt the clank of something on her hoof, she looked down and saw a shackle, but no chain on the end of it.

"What in the...." Twilight muttered.

Twilight began at the door before the shackle glowed and quickly pulled her away from the door.

"AAH!" Twilight yelped feeling an invisible force pull her away. she looked at the shackle and noticed the runes etched on them. "an enchantment of some kind. this room probably has a barrier that reacts when the shackle is drawn close enough. interesting way to keep a prisoner without use of a jail cell..."

"Your awake, good." Revelation said as he trotted through the door. "I hope you understand, Hollow Shades has lived in peace for many decades. our magical barrier protects us from your 'Princesses' influences. even Queen Ryugu's Ice retreats from it's warm touch."

Twilight glared at him but knew any wrong move she made might cause more trouble for her. yet the odd feeling in her body was still present. what in Luna's happy dreams were going on with her?

"the shackle will be removed, after I learn your reasoning for coming here with that.... uhm... Nyx is what you call it?"

"HER, and yes, Nyx is my daughter." Twilight tried to keep her anger at bay, though like a volcano, anypony could see the glow of rage in the little unicorn.

"you two look nothing alike." Revelation stated. "We did a blood test, your not biologically related in any form."

Twilight seethed but did her best to calm down. "I adopted her."

"Ah I see. so why did you and the Abom-er" he quickly backpedaled noticing Twilight's body begin to glow like hot metal her mane somehow starting to smoke and turn to flame. "uhm You and Nyx. why did you come here, is it to force us to bend our knee to your Princesses?"

Twilight snorted. "No. we came---"

Revelation interrupted with a hoof closing her mouth. "I speak. you listen."

Twilight was now fighting hard not to bite the stallion's hoof off. but now as he looked at him in better light, Revelation was a maroon unicorn with black mane and orange eyes.... she's noticed that alot with ponies in Hollow shades. orange, red, and even golden eyes. not a sign of a spell or indoctrination.... but through specific breeding.

"Now, we'll try this again. Did your princesses order you to come here to convert us? you two were armed and wore armor similar to their soldiers, are you their Arbiters? or are you Priests coming to spread the word of the good celestia?" Revelation continued to interrogate Twilight. though a bite of mockery added at the end.

"No. no to all of those."

"Then why have you come?" Revelation asked, his tone softening. "And you may now speak. but you are being recorded I'll have you know. what you say will reflect on the abom---Er on little Nyx. so please speak carefully, but I want the truth. if you lie you'll both return beneath Freefall's blade."

"why would you kill us and not let us go?"

"Just answer the question, Miss."

Twilight sighed, she took a few calming breaths. "a few days ago I awoke to find my town, friends, and family..." Twilight she paused and sighed before she Continued. "all of central Equestria to be covered in Ice. anypony who was outside at the time was frozen still, their bodies went completely grey.... they were petrified. upon further investigation I found out their Life Force was taken from their bodies.

"I recognized the effects is what happened to equestria when Queen Ryugu was in power soon after the three pony tribes founded Equestria. we knew the story of the Knights of Harmony, and the Crusader of Harmony that defeated her before. it was a long stretch, but it was the only lead we had. so Nyx and I started our journey here."

Twilight then paused, she didn't want to reveal too much about Canterlot right now. "After going to Canterlot Princess Celestia and Princess Luna gave us this armor, weapons, and some other supplies as well as an Airship. they confirmed our suspicions. I guess I don't have to tell you an Alicorns abilities to sense things?"

"One of their many unnatural abilities." Revelation stated.

'Don't kill the racist unicorn, Twilight. you can thump him after this whole chat is over.' Twilight thought to herself.

"Anywho!" Twilight quickly started still a hint of anger in her tone. "Princess Celestia and Princess Luna told us that it was indeed Queen Ryugu returning, they said we were to find the Tomb of the Knights of Harmony, to equip the armor and sword of the Crusader of Harmony and stop the queen from returning, and now that I am in this town, I got a Pretty good idea of what to think about you and the other racist jerks here!" Twilight inhaled deep as she began.

Revelation walked out of the room with a bloodied nose and rubbing his ears.

"That is one angry Unicorn." Revelation stated as he held a paper towel to his muzzle.

"Shall I punish her sir?" Freefall asked stoically.

"No need." Revelation replied. "I recognize Maternal instincts when I see it. Abomination or not, she believes this Nyx to be her daughter, that's more then enough to awaken those emotions."

Sovereign trots up to them. "I'm afraid their stories match. probably except the last few minutes with the Unicorn."

"What? you believe them?" Freefall asked anger starting to brew on his face. "we can't trust an Abomination!"

"We have no reason to detain them. and I fear the reports outside the town boarders matches their story." Sovereign stated. "if this Queen she speaks of is indeed returning, I rather have the two Abominations we're dealing with now then this new one."

it's then a Pegasus is seen going to Nyx's Room, on one wing a tray of food is being balanced rather professionally.

"Nightquill, What are you doing?" Freefall marched to his comrade from the forest.

Nightquill, a light blue Pegasus with Orange eyes and charcoal mane and tail with a feather and stars for a cutie mark looked at Freefall like he had six wings.

"uhm. bringing some food for the child?" Nightquill said as though he was asked the oddest question in the world.

Freefall growled. "Those things aren't Natural, nightquill, Get it through your thick skull! those things are Immortal. they don't need to eat or sleep!"

Sovereign shoved Freefall away, he then looked over at Nightquill with a smile. "Actually, I have an assignment for you Nightquill. you've served the Hunters well, yet it's obvious you do not view the Alicorn as we do, why?"

"W-Well, my mother was an outsider, if you remember. she said the Princesses were nice. it's...." Nightquill paused for a moment before he spat. "before she was 'Punished' for her heretic beliefs." His glares were like daggers at Revelation, though from the lack of restraint from Sovereign and Freefall, if Nightquill was to make a move on the Maroon Unicorn stallion there be no action against it.

"Honestly, I don't see an abomination." Nightquill stated simmering down his anger but keeping his glare on Revelation. "I wasn't even the one that attacked them. I just saw my brothers beating a mother and her defenseless child. armor or not."

"Perhaps you are best to escort our guests, Nightquill." Sovereign stated.

Revelation muttered something but had no complaints, Freefall however.

"You must be pulling my feathers, you want Nightquill to be their escort, Priest, Grandfather, I am more then capable of---

"Causing more problems by angering or offending the Unicorn." Sovereign interrupted coldly. "You'll do nothing but make things worse!"

Freefall did nothing but growl before storming off, knocking a maid out of the way as he left.

"Stupid Colt," Sovereign muttered as he looked to nightquill. "so do you accept the mission I've given you?"

Nightquill nodded with a smile. "Yes Priest, I hope I do you proud."

"Very good." Sovereign nodded and began to trot to the end of the hall assisting the maid to her hooves.

------

Nyx layed in bed fidgeting with the leg brace. she tried a few times to remove it but after the first electrocution she dared not try a second time. at first she was afraid she and Twilight were separated in different buildings, but it was after she recognized Twilight's yelling she knew she was nearby.... Mommy's very angry.

Nyx felt as though everypony in Hollow Shades hated her, but unlike the few ponies in ponyville, this was different, it wasn't who she was that they didn't like, the nurses referred to her as 'It', or moreso, 'Abomination'. but they spoke the same of the Princesses as well, hearing Sovereign refer Princess Celestia as the biggest Abomination of all. as well as some bad words she was trying to forget. No doubt, the town hated her because she was an Alicorn, she could be the Princess of candy and kisses and these ponies would rather hang her for having wings AND a horn.

It was when the door Opened that broke Nyx's concentration, her ears wilted as she slowly backed away from the Pegasus that trotted in. he was probably the youngest one she's seen so far yet still fully grown, not unlike the boys Applebloom, Sweetie belle, Scootaloo, and herself beat at the Play and Learn Day, Tug of War contest so long ago.

But unlike the others in this town, he didn't look at her with hatred.

"Okay I got you some food. Not sure what they were giving you before but I don't think it's what I'd call food." Nightquill said as he sat the plate on the table.

Nyx kept herself on guard slowly moving towards the plate and sniffed the food. but kept her dragon-esque turquoise eyes locked on Nightquill as though he'd attack her at any moment. but as she looked at the plate she saw the meal he set down, It was her favorite Cabbage soup. CURSES They Knew her favorite food!

"Soooo.... why haven't you yelled or spat at me yet?" Nyx asked. after all it was all these ponies did whenever one came in to check on her. sure they tended to her injuries, but it was obvious they wanted to make some new wounds.

"they gave you that treatment huh?" Nightquill grimaced, shaking his head before looking at her and sitting down. "Look I wasn't with my brothers when they attacked you. it.... it didn't feel right. I never believed that the Princesses were evil. my mother, she came here a long time ago when princess Celestia gave her an assignment to study our town. from what I heard from my father she was really nice. they got together and I guess you can guess the rest."

Nyx sat and listened sipping the juice and began on the soup. it was just how she liked it too. "where is she now?"

Nightquill said nothing as he looked away. one Nyx immediately picked up on.

"Oh.... I'm sorry."

"don't be." Nightquill muttered.

it's then Nyx looked where Nightquill was looking, she saw a sight all too familar. a gallows with a Hangmare's noose.

"Well, she said she was happy when they did it, because it will let me see this town as it really was." Nightquill said as he looked to Nyx.

Nyx tilted her head. "and that is?"

"That everypony in this town is a Bigot who are living in unfounded fear..." Nightquill sighed "I know your young. but do you know what inbreeding is?"

Nyx's ears perked, Twilight taught her alot about pony biology, though she of course kept some certain aspects ponies her age weren't ready to learn., she was still taught enough to know what inbreeding is. especially since alot of the aristocrat families in canterlot use this process to keep their families purebred.

"I was taught it's when there's not enough genetic Diversity in a Family, it happens in secluded towns or high society families that keep their bloodline pure." Nyx began. "ponies begin pairing up with others in their own bloodline. although it's often between cousins, when it's between sibblings it's rare but it happens."

"heh your a sharp one." Nightquill said. "I looked in the records. this town has been inbreeding for the last sixty years. most of the pegasus you fought can't even fly due to wing deformity, they have to glide. others have medical issues. most hide them well. but alot of ponies don't live past their mid twenties."

As Nightquill explains, Nyx sees a Unicorn trot by with a stubby horn. another goes by, a Pagasus with malformed wings.

"Why did this happen? it's like everypony is boxing themselves in." Nyx said looking outside.

"It's because we are. the town is protected by a magical barrier, it makes the town look like it has a shroud of darkness, I been outside once and all you see is the town's lights at night." Nightquill said as he looked outside pointing to the statue in the center of town, the one of the Knight. "Town don't just hate Alicorns, they fear them. I'm not sure why either. but something happened a long time ago that made them fear and hate all Alicorns and view them as Unnatural."

Nyx finished her meal, she was feeling better and even stronger. it was as though she hasn't had a hot filling meal in days.

"So what happens now?" Nyx asked looking at Nightquill. "I mean they can't possibly expect us to stay do they?"

Nightquill looked at Nyx and shook his head. "in normal situations, they'd force Twilight to stay, but I don't think I should say what will happen to you."

Nyx nodded. "No disrespect but the sooner we leave the better, I don't like this place. the ponies here are mean and I don't like how the stallions stare at twilight."

Nightquill chuckled. "Don't worry. you have every right to feel that way. and honestly. I've been thinking about leaving. theres no rules against it. unlike the others I wasn't born through inbreeding. problem is...." Nightquill sighed and looked out the window once more. more fixated on the other ponies of the town.

"It's your home too." Nyx Finished, she could read it from his emotion.

"Yeah." Nightquill smiled. "they may be a bunch of jerks but to me they are cousins, uncles, aunts...."

"Family." Nyx said with a smile, now she had to look at these ponies another way.... well sure they were all Racist jerks, but they were a family all the same. even with the health issues that were beginning to come out of the inbreeding, they all looked to eachother, supported one another. they looked at her with hatred and fear, but at eachother they saw a brother and sister.

"They are still a family of Meanies though!" Nyx pouted as she drank the rest of her juice.

Nightquill laughed, and soon the door opened and Revelation trotted in, already Nightquill glared daggers at him, Revelation however ignored the pegasus as his horn glowed. the shackle on Nyx's foreleg came off and clatter to the floor, at the same time Twilight was brought in, rubbing her now free foreleg.

"the two of you are to leave Hollow Shades. you'll take your belongings, armor, weapons, and any supplies you had with you and Vacate the town." Revelation began. "Nightquill here shall escort you to Saddle Tor. your never to return. and if you should decide to show your muzzles here you WILL be killed on site, am I clear?"

Nyx whimpered and nodded. Twilight also nodded though if she had it her way she'd ensure the town gets a visit by the royal guard when this was over. Twilight then looked at Nightquill and raised a brow as she looked at him then Nyx.

"Uhm... HI?" Nightquill did his best friendly smile.

"First one of those I seen while here." Twilight said to herself.

"I recommend you leave immediately, Freefall has orders to forcibly throw you out if your not on the main road to the mountains in ten minutes."

"Oh trust me, you'll find we'll be out of here in far less time. come on Nyx, let's leave before I Decide to do something I'll arguably might regret later." Twilight huffed as she put her armor on. "where's my---"

"Your weapons will returned to you at the town gates." Revelation assured her. "you have eight minutes now."

Twilight snorted as she simply grabbed the saddle bags, camping equipment, both sets of armor, and Nyx herself as she galloped out of the temple to the town gates. Nightquill following close behind. at the gates Sovereign awaited at the gates with Nyx and Twilight's weapons as well as Nightquill's armor and wing blades.

As Freefall stopped Nightquill to have a talk, Twilight went up to Sovereign as Nyx put on her armor, Twilight took her short sword and Nyx's dagger.

"I wish you luck on your travels." Sovereign stated as he looked at Freefall and Nightquill starting another squabble. "But heed my advice. go straight to Saddle Tor, do NOT return here. the Kill on Sight order is more real then you may think."

"Oh I have NO intention on coming back. ANYTIME Soon." Twilight grumped as she nudged Nyx through the gate. "Come on Nyx."

Nightquill followed quickly sharing a glance at Sovereign before leaving through the gate. the earth ponies then pushed the gate until it was closed with a loud thud and the sound of a metal poll being put in place.