Twilight peered at the ancient text before her whose pages were nearly crumbling. She applied the barest hint of magical force to the page, turned it. Cadence was sitting in the chair beside her. Books were stacked in neat rows over the desk and the shelves surrounding them were filled with even more books. The crystal ceilings radiated rosette light throughout the room. This was the very bottom of the library, deep within the bowels of the castle, but even here the material of the roof was that same crystal which glowed with a mystic light.

These books were ancient. Many of them were not books at all, but scrolls. Cadence perused one such scroll, trying to decipher the language of her most remote Istallian ancestors. A low ground sounded from her lips. "I have no idea what this means."

Twilight glanced over at it. "It has the same reference to the Great Field which is somehow connected to the Crystal Heart and binds together the subjects of the Crystal empire."

Cadence patted her back. "Twilight, I am so proud of you."

"Aw, thanks." She blushed.

"So how many languages do you speak?"

"Fluently? Twelve, seven of which are archaic. Most really powerful spells are written in ancient texts." She turned the page. "Ponies suffered some sort of throwback around two-thousand years ago."

"Discord's time."

Twilight shrugged. "Maybe? Nopony knows when that was, not even the Princesses. Time is measured by the movement of the sun and moon. Discord reduced our history to Swiss cheese."

Cadence chewed her lip. "Speaking of ancient history..." She trailed off.

Twilight looked up from the book. "Yes, Cadence?"

Cadence drummed her hoof on the floor.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Twilight turned to look at her.

"I'm not sure I should tell you."

"What do you mean?" Twilight's attention was now on her fully.

"It's Celestia, something she told me. She knew Chrysalis when they were younger. Sounds like...like they used to be friends."

Twilight blinked. "What?"

"That was my reaction too. They used to go on adventures together. There's a place at the roof of the world, a chamber where the antidote is stored. A curse is on the place." Cadence shuddered. "It twists the mind. I even felt it happen to me."

"The curse corrupted Chrysalis?"

"Luna too."

Twilight pursed her lips. "That's awful. What kind of curse was it?"

"I'm not even sure. It made me...hear things." Cadence shuddered. "I'd rather not talk about it."

"I understand."

Twilight examined the scrawling script of the text before her. Cadence lapsed into silence. Twilight closed her eyes for a few moments, tried to return her focus back to the text in front of her. "How close do you think they were?"

"I'm not sure. She wouldn't talk about it with me."

Twilight closed her eyes again, tried to imagine her friends. Tried to imagine one of them descending into madness, slowly tainted by dark powers, then losing them to the forces of evil. What would that be like, having to fight one of them? Knowing that you would never be able to get them back?

"Ladybug? You okay?"

Twilight shook her head. "Just thinking."

Cadence laid a hoof on her withers. "I know what you're thinking. Not everypony can be saved."

"I used to think that. But now the monster that warped my brain has tea with one of my best friends. And, to be honest, I sort of like him now. Luna was Nightmare Moon and look at her now."

Cadence chuckled. "What are you going to do? Blast her with the Elements?"

"Would it be such a bad idea?"

"How would you find her?"

Twilight started to pace, each clap of her hoof on the glistening floors like a gunshot in the normally silent place. "The Guard has been looking for the Changelings for years. Actually, I might not need to find her. All I'd need to do is invite her."

Cadence sidestepped so she was right in front of Twilight. "Alright, so you invite the Bug Queen and...ambush her? Can we all say 'declaration of war?'"

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Cadence, I know I've come up with some mane-brained schemes, but that's not what I was thinking."

"What then?"

"Maybe...I don't know, get them in the same room? Maybe if they'd just talk."

"They might kill each other." She placed both her hooves on Twilight's shoulders. "Look, Ladybug, this is one of those things that can't be fixed. If it could be fixed, it would have been fixed a long time ago."

"To be fair, you're hardly objective."

Cadence's face twisted. Twilight stepped back, let Cadence regain composure. "I know what you're saying."

"I'm sorry, that was uncalled for."

Cadence hugged her. "It's okay."

Twilight patted her back. "Celestia feels so much pain from what happened to her during her past. If I can just, return a friend to her, maybe I can help soothe some of that pain."

"Don't you think you've done enough for her?"

"I don't think the Princess of Love needs to be told that you never tire of doing things for your beloved."

Cadence's face broke into a broad smile. "No, she doesn't. If it was Shining Armor, there's nowhere I wouldn't go for him. But, this might be something best left in the past."

"You're afraid I'm going to be hurt, aren't you?"

"Chrysalis is a dangerous opponent. I don't know what she was like one-thousand years ago, but she's not someone I'd trust these days."

"What if she just needs a friend?"

Cadence shook her head. "Promise me you'll be careful."

Twilight placed her hoof on Cadence's. "I vow it."

"Good."

"So, where do you think Chrysalis would be?"

They returned to the desk.

"I'll ask Shining, okay?"

Twilight set aside the book she'd been reading and started looking through a scroll.

"Hey, Twilight?"

Twillight glanced up from the scroll. "Yes?"

"Are you worried about the test?"

"I'm trying not to think about it. I gave Celestia the vial. It's safer with her."

"I agree."

"I'm not even sure why I thought I could keep it. Maybe, I was trying not to think about it?" Her back legs trembled a bit. "So many variables, that's the problem. There's just too many variables." She stretched. "If I don't think, I don't panic. If I think, I panic. Get it?"

"Keep your mind clear as the empty sky?"

"Exactly." The proverb was an ancient one, one all mages knew. "But I am worried. When this fails-if this fails-"

"It will fail."

"What's next? How far will Earl Grey take this? And Earl Shimmer as well?"

"When this fails, she will be completely discredited."

"And the other nobles?" Her breath hitched.

Cadence rubbed what she hoped were soothing circles in the fur of Twilight's back. "Listen, Twilight, I've learned a lot ruling the Crystal Ponies. One of those things is, one crisis at a time. Now, why don't we get back to studying?"

Twilight fidgeted with a scroll at random, unwrapped it. "Alright, alright."

Cadence looked over her shoulder. "This one looks interesting."

Twilight tried to lose herself, ignoring the panic fighting to control her, listening to Cadence as she talked about love magic, talked about the way Crystal Ponies understood the art, what she herself had learned about the element she was connected to.

Cadence could take one look at her and tell her heart and her mind just wasn't it. "Hey, Twilight?"

Twilight jumped, broken out of some internal reverie.

"Do you want a tour of the city?"

"No, we can keep studying."

Cadence raised an eyebrow. "What was I talking about?"

Twilight scratched the ground with her hoof. "Magic?" She offered.

"Look, it's alright. You're scared for your life and you should be. Why don't we just go somewhere and relax? I have a hankering for roasted crystal corn."

Twilight's stomach rumbled. "You know what? That sounds fun."

...
It was late when Twilight got back to Ponyville, the silver moon now peaking over the horizon as the sun sank to her rest. The silver moonlight illuminated the narrow lanes and cottages. Only a few Ponies were still out this late. Twilight waved to Carrot Top who was humming while pulling up carrots.

"Twilight!" A pink blur rushed down the lane and grabbed her hoof, materializing just long enough to reveal itself to be Pinkie Pie. The Earth Pony dragged Twilight down the road, Twilight struggling to keep up.

"Pinkie, where are we going?"

"To your party, Silly!"

Twilight just let herself be tugged along by Pinkie, the cottages zooming by as they rushed towards Sugarcube Corner. Asking why Pinkie had thrown her a party wouldn't get her a straight answer. Pinkie was throwing her a party for reasons unknown and that wasn't really a bad thing.

Twilight, still holding Pinkie's hoof, started to gallop, doing a good attempt at keeping up with Pinkie. Pinkie, seeing what she was doing, let go of her hoof and bumped her flank. Twilight bumped back, stuck out her tongue. Pinkie darted ahead, Twilight zooming ahead so they were galloping side-by-side.

The herd consciousness, which Twilight had slowly grown more attuned to, took over. She could feel Pinkie's exhilaration as clearly as she could her own. Pinkie making Twilight happy made her happy and Twilight was awash in that happy. It bubbled out from Pinkie's heart, flooded outward to cover the world.

That was Pinkie Pie. She really, truly did want to make others happy. Without being told, she knew Twilight was feeling scared. A party was Pinkie's solution-to everything really.

They picked up speed, their hooves crashing onto the dirt road, their hearts beating against their rib cages, sweat covering their bodies, their legs starting to burn, but neither cared about that. They rushed through town, Twilight feeling like she was outrunning her fear.

With every pounding of their hooves, their was an explosion of dirt that covered their coats, a beating of wind that cleaned their coats just as quickly as they were soiled. A giggle built up in her belly, the same building up in Pinkie's belly. Their race led them towards the gingerbread house that was Pinkie's place of employment.

They broke through the doors at the same time, the race now forgotten, and their laughter burst out of them. Twilight fell onto the floor in a fit of giggles, Pinkie right beside her. They both rolled around for a few seconds, until the fit of joy wore off.

The rest of Twilight's friends just watched, their lips twitching. The bakery had been decked out in purple streamers. Purple balloons floated around the ceiling. Purple banners arched around the ceiling and the table had been filled with daisy sandwiches, daffodil sandwiches, rose sandwiches and in the center one large, chocolate cake.

All of Twilight's friends were there, Dash sipping a bottle of cider. Celestia and Luna towered over the other assembled guests. Twilight, recovering from her earlier excitement, lifted up. "Everypony, thank you. A party is just what I needed."

Pinkie gave a friendly slap to her withers. "Silly, Twilight, a party is just what everypony needs!"

Twilight bounded up to Celestia and they shared a nuzzle. Not wanting to leave out Luna or her friends, she shared a group nuzzle with all of them. "Celestia, Luna, you came to?"

"Of course, Twilight." Celestia levitated a plate with a daisy sandwich on it. She cut half of it with a concentrated blast of magic. "Hungry?"

Twilight levitated over half of it. "Well, it has been a while and I barely ate with Cadence."

"Oh, I know. She sent me a letter before the party to tell us whether we'd need anything for a real meal for you. She regrets she can't come. Duty calls and all that."

Twilight nibbled on the sandwich. "I understand. At least we got some time to study together. I missed that." She watched as Luna and Fluttershy started a conversation. Both had learned to shed their shyness, but there were still a lot of awkward pauses.

Dash and Applejack started a sandwich eating contest which Rarity grumbled about, but couldn't seem to look away from. Pinkie was roped into judging it before joining it herself. Twilight brushed her side against Celestia. "The test is tomorrow."

"Worried?"

"Not so much anymore."

The sandwich eating contest came to an abrupt end with Applejack coughing. Dash patted her back.

"Who wants to play pin the tail on the pony?" Pinkie brandished the tail. "Twilight goes first!"

Twilight trotted over and took the offered tail in her magic.

...
Celestia hadn't left with the others. Instead, she decided to do everything in her power to make Twilight forget the trials, to make sure all Twilight felt were feather soft touches, hot breath everywhere on her, skin against her skin. The night was lost in sensations, lips, hooves, wings, all caressing intimate places.

The night guards stationed outside her window had to turn away as the lovers retreated into the shelter of each other's embraces. Twilight closed the windows and the blinds, cutting out the cool night air she normally delighted in. She had deeper comforts in her bed.

Celestia's lips trailed kisses down her neck. Twilight arched her back, pressed her lips to Celestia's own neck. Celestia drew upon all the arts of love she knew and Twilight, enthusiastic student that she was, reciprocated so that both knew pleasure, only pleasure that started in their hooves, tingled up their spines, filled their secret places with nought but bliss.

Twilight and Celestia laid side by side, exploring each other, breathing in each other's breath, pressing hooves to their most sensitive places, places that brought joy. Sleep caught up with them after they reached their peak, collapsing into each other, melding as they sought union.

Twilight's dreams were full again of those same primitive valleys she sometimes dreamed of, had dreamed of for years. It was not Mustangia, these valleys were older, these forests deeper and more dangerous, but there was peace there. She snuggled closer to Celestia, Celestia pulling her into herself, her horn laying atop Twilight's.

In the dreams, there was Celestia, but younger, another incarnation in primeval ages. They sought each other, made love on the moon-bathed floor of forests and everything felt right. Twilight slept all through the night, no nightmare of the coming trial disturbing her dreams.

The wings guarding her banished all fears. Everything was alright and always would be.

...
The morning came perhaps sooner than either Twilight or Celestia would have liked. Twilight laid on the wing stretched out for her and stared up at the ceiling. Celestia's horn glowed as she lifted the sun from its place in the west. Twilight magically lifted the blinds so she could watch.

It began with a pinkish hue that trickled across the sky before the sun blazed forth in a crimson and orange burst of flames that lit the heavens. The flames faded away leaving only a cloudless blue sky. No rain had been scheduled for today. Maybe they could go on a picnic.

They had already agreed to a double date with Luna and Akbear. They could move that up to today.

There was just one hurdle they had to cross. Just one.

The smell of pancakes wafted through the window. Spike was up early, not too tired from last night's festivities.

Celestia turned around so that she was facing Twilight. "I could just tell the nobles to go put a carrot in their ear."

Twilight sought Celestia's hooves, grasped them. "I suppose you could."

"Strip Earl Grey of her title."

"You could."

"It'd be an abuse of power, but I could do it." Her muzzle brushed against Twilight's. "Do you want me to?"

"Absolutely not."

"So, you're going through with this?"

"Against all my better judgement, yes I am."

"No going back, my love. We must be at the castle by noon. They have either found-or used necromancy to resurrect-an Earth Pony sage who knows how to administer the truth potion which will reveal that you are innocent of the taint of demonic magic."

Twilight rested her head beneath Celestia's chin, wished time would stop, longed to be in that place forever. "Noon huh? So we have time for a picnic when it's all over."

"Of course, love."

Twilight peeled back the covers, Celestia pulled them back over herself. "My dear, we don't have to be there right now."

"You know how I feel about punctuality. We have to get showered, have breakfast, prepare."

Celestia's golden aura took hold of her as she tried to rise from bed. "Can we not spend a few moments listening to the birds?"

"I'd rather get up."

"Just listen."

The morning chorus started with a few bluejay's chirps greeting the sun. The melody was a rising rhythm, reaching a crescendo as the robins and cardinals joined. The crow's harsh squawk contrasted with the lilting softness of the other bird's tunes. The crow's screech was a drum beat, keeping time with the other birds, all the voices blending to form one seamless song.

Each bird brought their own song, their own unique message, sweet strains of love to their mates, gentle lullabies to awaken their young, the hard cry of males arguing, each unique yet fitting together perfectly. And always, at regular intervals, the crow would shout.

Twilight rested into her mattress and just rested. "Good idea."

"I thought it would be."

A sharp knock at the door broke them from their reverie. "The pancakes are done you two!"

Now, it was Celestia who knocked aside the sheets. Her magic lingered on the hairbrush on the night stand.

Twilight stood. "There's no more postponing it. We've done that long enough."

Celestia disentangled her aura from around the wooden tool. "Very well." She stretched out her wings and rolled out of bed. They strolled to the door. Twilight opened it for her and they stood on the cool wood of the hallway. If Twilight stood and felt with her magic, the heart of the great oak thrummed with life.

Life was a wonderful thing, Twilight concluded. They didn't talk much during breakfast. Twilight helped Spike with the dishes, going so slowly that Spike got annoyed, ushered them out, then gave Twilight a rib crushing hug which she returned.

Twilight stood at the doorway. The night guards yawned while they prepared the chariot, hitching themselves to it. Celestia and Twilight stepped inside and they were off. The night guards tugged the chariot after them, ascending into the sky, soaring along at a leisurely pace.

The journey passed in silence just as the breakfast had and Ponyville was soon behind them. Celestia held Twilight's hoof. Twilight moved closer to her warmth. The wind whipped through their manes, snapping against the wooden vehicle. Twilight kept her eyes straight ahead, watching for the high spires of Canterlot.

The mountains were glistening today, the summer sun having finally reached the highest peaks. It was a testament to how warm it was here that the snow and ice which were nearly permanently frozen this high up melted down the mountain slopes, a clear stream of water pouring down to the rivers below.

The rivers glinted in the sunlight, winding through the grasslands that led towards the capital. Every flap of the night guard's wings brought them closer. Celestia observed them closely. Their wing patterns were sluggish, each beat of their wings getting slower and at the same time slowing down the chariot.

"Please land." The order was soft, but it might as well have been shouted. The night guards angled their wings downward, bringing the chariot to the ground. It slid and came to a stop as the Night Guards planted their hooves on the ground.

"What's wrong?" Twilight asked.

Celestia exited the chariot. "Gentlestallions, I believe we've had a discussion about not piloting a vehicle under fatigue."

The first Batpony, Morpheus, stared at the ground. "My apologies, Princess. We didn't realize how tired we were."

"Of course. Martial training normally does require ignoring the body's complaints. A double edged sword. I should have had the day guards do this, but it seemed more efficient to have you do it. I thought you would nap in shifts."

Morpheus yawned again. "We tried, but...Nyxius kept thinking he heard something."

"I did!" The grey-furred Batpony exclaimed. "Also, Lady Twilight, we would have appreciated being told about the owl."

Celestia succeeded in not facehoofing. "Very well. I will pilot it myself."

"Ma'am, please, we can-"

"Morpheus, rest. I assure you, my sister will not eat you for being fatigued."

They all shared uncomfortable looks.

"Despite your tribe's mythology."

They all knelt their heads and piled in next to Twilight. Celestia hitched herself to the chariot and took off. The ride was smooth, Celestia not even flapping, simply allowing a thermal to whistle through her pinions. She sailed around the hills and mountains.

Morpheus and Nyxius attempted to keep their eyes open and keep alert, but soon both were snoring, their nocturnal instincts reacting to the light of the day. The third Batpony, an older one by the name of Erebus, held off for a little longer before sleep also claimed him.

The spires of Canterlot came into view. Celestia spun around them, flapping her wings a few times, sliding onto the palace landing pad. Razor Wing and Valiant Heart were waiting for them, saluting as the chariot came forward. Razor Wing strode forward, spear in hoof. "What happened to the guards?"

Celestia unhitched herself. "Peace. They were fatigued. They are not designed for daytime."

"Indeed, they are not, but they should have been able to stay up till morning light. Only after noon does the Batpony find continued waking intolerable." Luna touched down. "I will need to talk to them-all the Night Guard-about the importance of resting between shifts if they are required for morning duties. They are more zealous than even your guard."

Razor Wing flared his wings. "We are indeed devoted to our Solar Regent."

"That was not an insult to you. Zeal must be mixed with rationality and that might be something we need to work on."

Razor Wing couldn't find an argument to that. Valiant Heart nudged him. "Perhaps, we should get going. I'm certain my colleague meant no offense, Princess Luna."

"None taken. Nor did I mean offense nor slander towards the valor of the Day Guards."

Razor Wing lightly bowed. "None taken, Princess."

Twilight jostled the night guards awake. All three got out and saluted Princess Luna who ushered them to follow her. Twilight and Celestia, escorted by Razor Wing and Valiant Heart, entered into the main hall of the palace. They all paused outside the door to Celestia's room. The guards took their stations outside the door.

Celestia placed a wing on Twilight's back , guided her inside. She strode over the crimson carpet, opened her closet. Inside of the closet was a secret compartment. She blasted it open with her magic, drew out a silver chest.

There were five locks on the chest. She flipped them one by one, in a particular sequence. The chest flipped open. The vial laid on a plush, violet surface. Over the surface was a crystal shield. Twilight stood by the bed. "You were worried."

Celestia's head snapped up. "Did I give the impression that I wasn't?"

"You're hard to read sometimes, even for me."

Celestia brushed Twilight's face with a feather. "Listen, Twilight, I never intended to give you that impression. You know how hard it is for me to express myself."

Twilight pressed her lips to Celestia's. "I know and it's alright."

Celestia removed the shield, raised the vial, unscrewed its cap. It trembled slightly in her magic.

Twilight took it in her own violet magic, pressed it to her lips, sipped it. It was as tasteless as water, refreshing and cool, making its way down her throat. It felt clean, extraordinarily pure. "How long will it last?"

"Six hours, let's go."

...
Twilight and Celestia stood before the wide, solid mahogany doors. Celestia pushed them open and they came into the room side by side. The room was wide, an atrium designed to hold hundreds of Ponies. Twilight was dwarfed by the space as were all the others in the room. The four walls were a solid, blinding white that rose, lifted to form a circle that towered above everyone.

Two rows of pillars supported the roof. One wide window let in the noon light which caused the pillars to shine like gold. Her accusers, Ear Grey, Earl Shimmer and an Earth Pony who looked older than Granny Smith sat in three thrones. This was the Hall of Judgement. A table sat before the thrones which were normally reserved for the triumvirate of judges who were responsible for trying cases of treason and other high crimes.

Twilight controlled the shudder that passed through her body. It stopped at a touch of Celestia's forehoof.

Earl Grey stood. Suddenly, the doors swung open and a herd of Ponies stormed in. At the head of the herd were Night Light, Twilight Velvet, Fancy Pants, Fleur De Lis, and a motley crew of other allies of House Sparkle.

They said nothing. Nothing needed to be said.

The air was tense with the threat of violence. More Ponies streamed in, the Shimmers, the Greys, other allies and enemies of House Sparkle. Celestia scanned the crowd. If anypony made the slightest wrong move...she activated the anti-magic field.

Earl Grey took a moment to control her features. "We are here to resolve the question of Twilight Sparkle's status as a warlock. In order to do so, we have contracted the help of a venerable Earth Pony sorcerer who retains knowledge of a potion designed to determine warlocks. Lady Sparkle, please come forward."

Twilight did so, then approached the throne, held out her hoof. "Earl Grey, Earl Shimmer. This test will most assuredly prove to all the assembled nobles and, indeed, the whole of this nation that I am not a warlock."

"We shall see."

Earl Grey ignored the offered hoof. Twilight didn't withdraw it though it was difficult to balance on three legs. "I hope that this puts an end to enmity between us. You too, Earl Shimmer. I hope this puts an end to this foolish quarrel between our clans. Our clans' struggle only causes Equestria to suffer-"

"We are not in a temple my dear, I do not require a sermon."

Earl Shimmer snorted. "The Sparkles can not help but pontificate."

"This is what I'm talking about." She rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I am ready for the test."

The sorcerer picked up a silver chalice filled with amber liquid. Twilight nearly retched from the smell.

Earl Shimmer smirked. "Is something wrong, Your Grace?"

"No, I'm fine."

The sorcerer placed the chalice on the table. The liquid bubbled and roiled. It would be foal's play to scan it, to find the poison, but then it'd look like she was altering the potion. Asking somepony else to do it would make it look like she was hesitant to take it and the old sage would say the poison was a necessary ingredient or he had erred.

Grey and Shimmer had skillfully set their trap.

Earl Grey cleared her throat. "Go on or call it off...though there will be consequences for that."

Twilight lit her horn, discovered she couldn't access her magic. She glanced at Celestia, realized what she had done in order to prevent any mystic violence. She reached out her hooves, placed them on the chalice, picked it up. It was heavy, almost spilling. She quickly put it to her lips, threw back her head.

It tasted disgusting-a mixture of rotten fruit and something certainly metallic-and it burned going down her throat. Only her learned mastery over her nerves and muscles prevented her from spitting the vile brew onto the floor. Her eyes stung with tears, her nostrils ached from the stench.

It tasted like fire, a heat that exploded in her body. She almost threw the empty chalice back down, grit her teeth. The chalice clinked against the table. The fire of the liquid ignited every cell, set her muscles trembling.

Then, a second feeling took over. This was ice, changing her blood to frost. Ice traveled through her veins, slowed the beating of her heart with tendrils of cold reaching through every part of her body. The chill started in her stomach, deep inside of her magic core, soon spread throughout all her limbs. It brushed inside of her hooves.

Tremors shook her body, put her fur to standing on end. Beads of sweat popped on her forehead, heat and coolness contrasting. Earl Shimmer, Earl Grey and the sorcerer watched.

The cold traveled through her chakras, extinguishing the flames which the potion had stoked. The flames and cold warred inside of her, nausea churned in her gut and for a moment she was afraid she was going to vomit. She forced herself not to collapse onto the hard, alabaster floor.

The cold twisted like a serpent uncoiling, sliding towards her root chakra. The flames ceased. The cold ceased, released as a puff of air.

The judges frowned. Twilight straightened up. "Well? Are we done here?"

Earl Grey's teeth clamped together. "How did you..." She winced in pain as Earl Shimmer kicked her.

Twilight cocked her head. "How did I what? I already told you, I'm not a warlock."

The sorcerer reclined. "We are sorry to have troubled you. It has been proven conclusively that you are innocent of the charges. Go in peace."

Twilight turned, hoofbumped her mom and dad, then left as the herd streamed out, many of House Sparkle's enemies grumbling among themselves. Celestia patted her back when they went into the hallway. "You could very easily be a politician, Twilight."

Twilight pouted. "Words hurt, ya know."

Then, stars appeared before her eyes. Celestia grabbed her as her knees gave out from under her and the digested remnants of the poison spewed from her lips. A maid saw it and grabbed a mop from a nearby closet. Celestia hurried Twilight away and ran to her room. She slammed open the door and laid Twilight on the bed. Twilight struggled against the hold. "I'm fine, I'm fine!"

"You are not." Celestia levitated a cloth from the washroom, wet it and started patting Twilight's face. "I'm going to make you some mint tea and you are going to take a nap."

Twilight did not protest. "Do you think it's really over?"

Celestia gaped. "You really have no idea what you did, do you?"

"What? What did I do?"

"Twilight, everypony saw you extend friendship to Earl Grey and Earl Shimmer. If they continue the vendetta, they'll look vindictive and insane."

"Huh." She pressed her head into the pillow. "I really didn't intend that. I just...I really just wanted all this to stop."

Celestia kissed her cheek. "And that is why I love you."