Gilda screamed as the darkness around her suddenly faded followed by the numbness, then the returning pain. She grasped at her chest, scraping against the solid steel to check her wounds, but found nothing to show that she had ever been injured. There was no blood on the ground around her save for that of the few corpses that lay nearby, nor was there a gash severing her breastplate. Her eyes frantically scanned the horizon, taking in the deadly scene before her. The scene that had not changed at all since she had supposedly been slain.

“Wh- What the fuck?”

A heavy sigh permeated the air, carrying with it a note of annoyance. I would have thought that you would survive longer than that with all of the boasting you perform. Your performance was pitiful, at best. I am of the mind to simply leave you in this state for the rest of your mortal life, however short that may be.

“Hey! How was I supposed to know what was going to happen! I wasn’t expecting to be shoved into some freak’s magical battlefield! Stupid cunt!”

As soon as those final two words slipped from her beak, the entire platoon of gold-clad ponies within her vision turned their eyes on her, turquoise fire burning behind their soulless pupils. They converged upon the terrified griffoness, their weapons poised to strike. Do not forget who is in control here, worthless cur! You should be grateful that I am even taking the time to teach you of my magic! You are not of my subjects. I hold no duty to protect you. Nightmare’s voice rumbled through the fog like an earthquake, shaking the air and vibrating Gilda’s eardrums almost to the point of bursting. You and your worthless companion would not be alive were it not for my subordinates’ and mate’s efforts. Remember this when you recover from your next death. Remember who holds ultimate power over your very life, in reality or in dreams.

Before Gilda had a chance to react, to even twitch her body, dozens of weapons converged upon her, slicing, ripping, beating, and tearing her to pieces. She couldn’t even scream as the darkness enveloped her again.

The young hybrid once more returned to consciousness with a gasp, coughing breathing in the iron-tinged air as if she had just surfaced from nearly drowning. She frantically scanned her surroundings, expecting to see the mob ready to cut her down again, but all of the ponies were much too busy with each other again. She sighed in relief, sat on her haunches, and ran her claws over her body, rubbing away the phantom pains from her last failure.

“Fine! You win.” Gilda glared up at the clouds, then grabbed a slain pony’s weapon, a plain claymore, from the ground beside her. Fuck, that hurts. Damn crazy bitch. She held the heavy weapon in her talons, one holding the grip and the other allowing the blade to rest in its grasp, and began flapping over to the nearest cluster of ponies.

She watched the trio of earth ponies fighting, taking care to stay out of the gold armoured pair’s vision, and waited for a chance to strike. She readied her sword, flying closer, and began her vertical cleave, but a sudden impact from behind her followed by a burning slash against her unarmoured back sent her face-first into the bloody mud, weapon lost to the murk and pain.

Gilda scrabbled to regain her footing and find her blade, ignoring the fire that was her back, and turned to face her challenger. A pair of pegasi flew towards her at high speeds, two ponies she hadn’t noticed in her scan of the area, sword and axe at the ready, but never made contact as Gilda dove to the side. She tried to move her wings to take flight for a more even fight, but a sharp flare along her spine informed her that it wasn’t going to happen. She cringed and hefted her blade in front of her, struggling to maintain its weight with her newest wound, and waited for the pair to make a return pass.

Luckily, she had been prepared this time, for their speed would have surely done her in, but she hopped to their left and, with a deft vertical slash, cleaved one of the ponies down the middle. She watched cooly as the body fell, spilling its innards into the filth, and screamed into the night until its life was drained into the growing pool around it.

Gilda dropped to her knees, panting heavily as the strain of using the weapon and her continuous loss of blood finally took its toll on her. Her mind raced in panic as she tried to call upon the moon’s power, attempted to recall the technique that her cruel mentor had taught her, but it couldn’t focus. The molten agony of her wound and her terror of dying again kept her mind closed to all attempts.

The remaining pegasus, noting her inability to retaliate, landed beside the griffon and raised its blade. Gilda looked up into the pony’s eyes and saw a fire behind them. Not the same fire that had shone when Nightmare Moon had taken over them, but the flames of one who has lost the one thing they cared most about. The griffon opened her mouth to speak, but into it the pony’s blade was thrust, silencing her and pinning her to the ground through her chest.

Her eyes remained open, tears blurring her vision, as the taste of blood, steel, and bile filled her mouth until she drowned in her own blood.

Soft squeaks and agonized cries filled the starch-white hallways of the Manehattan central hospital, the once quiet haven now filled to bursting with hundreds upon hundreds of casualties. Screams echoed through the halls as patients were wheeled to holding rooms or to and from operating rooms. The entirety of the unicorn staff worked endlessly as they healed the patients that could be saved through spells or magically sedated the ones that could not.

Everyone else worked as quickly as they could to cover the ground that the unicorns could not. They amputated the dead limbs of sedated casualties, saving them from possible infections, hooked up severe cases to pain medication from their ever dwindling supply, and risked all to rescue critical patients through heavy surgery. Yet, even with all of the effort each and every staff member put in to save each pony, six more died before they could be reached.

A butter-yellow pegasus calmly flitted about one of the hospital’s higher floors, moving from room to room, determination set in her tear-stained face. She had been hard at work for well over half of the day, helping the few ponies that she could, yet every time she landed before one of the patients’ rooms, she was struck dumb by the sheer number of ponies clustered about one room. Each new ward brought fresh tears to her eyes.

“Fluttershy.... You’re working yourself too hard.” A dull-blue earth pony looked up from between a trio of gurneys inside the room as she carefully glided a needle into a sleeping patient’s foreleg. “You haven’t slept in two days. Please, why don’t you take a rest?”

The timid mare glanced at the unexpected nurse, surprised, but relaxed as she recognized her. “I-I can’t Nurse Tenderheart. They’re all in so much pain.... I just can’t let them suffer while I can still do something to help the poor dears....” She sighed, looking over each unconscious pony. They were all from the lower levels, ponies moved upstairs so that they could make room for newcomers below. None of them were expected to survive a day.

The nurse smiled weakly, the effort of finding any kind of joy in such a situation a strain all on its own. “Flutters.... It’s okay. There isn’t anything we can do for them. Not even the doctors could help them and neither of us are trained for any of this.”

“But it’s not!” The pegasus’ wings flared in agitation, but were quickly brought back down to her sides as she hid behind her mane. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell.”

Tenderheart smiled again, abandoning her duty of inserting IVs, and wrapped a foreleg around her friend. “You don’t have anything to apologize over. You’re right, I shouldn’t be okay with this, but there really isn’t anything we can do here to save any of these ponies. All we can hope for is that they pass easily without too much pain. It’s....” Tears burned her eyes and she clung tighter to the sweet, sunny mare.

"I know. It hurts, doesn't it? We Ponies aren't meant to fight." Fluttershy sniffled as she stroked her companion's mane, comforting yet another pony despite her weariness. "I came to help ponies and treat the sick because I like helping others. Even in such scary times, it makes me happy to take care of hurt ponies..., but I never thought it would be this bad.

"I saw so many of my friends in Ponyville hurt that night and I knew that others would need my help, too...." She closed her eyes, picturing the dead laid out in rows just outside of the town. Each of the ponies had their own little blanket to cover them while the griffons were all piled up in a cluster off to the side. They had lit a massive funeral fire and cremated their friends, sending them off with the warmest love and aching longing. She saw the emergency tents set up, filled to the brim with the victims of the assault. “I just wanted to help ponies....”

The teal-maned mare smiled and bumped her friend with her hip. “Here I am, getting all sad and being cheered up by you when I’m supposed to be keeping you happy. Some friend I am, huh?” She giggled as Fluttershy cracked a joyful, yet embarrassed smile. Their moment of bonding was interrupted by the crackle of the intercom sparking to life as it filled the area with its message.

“All medical staff stationed on floor seven, please report to the third floor conference room for reassignment.” A young mare’s voice played through the speakers, the slight crackle in her voice making the age of the system apparent. “I repeat. All medical staff stationed on the Intensive Care floor, please report to the floor three conference room for reassignment.” The intercom system died down with a noisome buzz, then the floor was quiet again for the brief moment before the few nurses on the floor began filing towards the elevators.

“Reassignment? But these ponies still need us!” Fluttershy paced back and forth, her eyes flitting between the comatose stallions and mares laid atop their beds with worry. “What if they wake up and they’re in pain? What if they.... What if they....”

“Flutters, it’s okay.” She nudged the pegasus with her nose, calmly booting her towards the door as she spoke. “They wouldn’t just leave these ponies on their own, I’m sure some other nurses are going to be here within a few minutes to take over. Let’s catch up with the others so we don’t have to wait for an elevator.”

The butter-yellow mare chewed on her bottom lip, but relented. “O-okay, but I don’t know how I can be of help anywhere else. I’m not really a nurse.”

Slowly, as they were pushed along by the small herd of employees, the pair entered the mecha-magical lift, surrounded on all sides by various mares and stallions. Fluttershy cowered in the presence of so many ponies, succumbing to a fear that, despite the month and a half that she had been around many of them, still overwhelmed her in such situations. Luckily, she had the wonderful Nurse Tenderheart by her side the whole time. One soft nudge and an encouraging smile later and the timid mare had moved up to simply hiding behind her friend, her face concealed by her pink mane.

The small herd of ponies shuffled off of the elevator two at a time the moment the twin doors slid apart. Led by the crowd, Tenderheart and Fluttershy quickly arrived at the small conference room, the area familiar and fresh in their minds, and sat around the small coffee table set up in the middle.

The earth pony nurse took a quick head count, her head and green mane bobbing with each ‘tick’ to mark the ponies, and ended with a total of eleven. Eleven? Counting Fluttershy and I, they are relocating thirteen nurses? With all of the recent victims coming in and how much we’re struggling now, why would they risk cutting even one?

“Uhmm, Nurse Tenderheart?” Fluttershy scooted closer to her friend, the only pony she truly knew in the entire building, speaking just above a whisper.

“Please, just call me Heart. I’ve already told you that we’re more than close enough friends for it.” She grinned as she turned her attention away from the others and onto the butter-yellow mare. “Now, what’s bothering you dear?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I just wanted to know....” She paused, glancing around the room to the various looks of resignation on everyone’s faces, then looked back to Tenderheart. “We aren’t just changing floors, are we? Everypony’s awfully quiet.”

The blue mare sighed and shook her head. “Not likely, Flutters. We’re probably going to be sent to the castle, Fillydelphia, or somewhere like that. Most of the injured here won’t make it and, despite how horrible it is, everypony knows. There are many doctors here, sure, but not even all of them can make much of a difference.” The earth pony mare closed her eyes and leaned back to stretch her aching forelegs. “The latest death count since last night is one-hundred and eighty-three.”

Fluttershy gasped and covered her mouth with her hooves as tears began to trickle down her face. “Oh- Oh my.... Oh, that’s terrible!”

Tenderheart nodded and grit her teeth, her anger flaring up for the slightest moment until she got her emotions in check. “I know. And when I think of all of those fatally wounded ponies on floor seven, just laying there waiting for their turn to pass on.... This whole thing is so stupid! First the civil war and now this? It’s all Nightmare Moon’s fault! None of this would have happened if she hadn’t taken over!”

“Shh.... You have to be careful. I... uhmm.... I’ve met her before and she’s not a very nice pony. You have to be careful who you talk around.” The mare’s aquamarine eyes scanned the crowd, but found nobody paying any attention to the two friends.

“You’ve met the queen? When? How?” The nurse’s surprise was very evident in her voice and her eyes were wide as she regarded her companion. I can’t believe she’s actually met that witch!

“Oh, yes. A couple times, actually. You see, my friend Twilight Sparkle-”

“The filly that came to Ponyville for the Summer Sun Celebration that knew who Nightmare Moon was?”

Fluttershy nodded. “Mhmm. Well, she.... She’s the queen’s... uhm... pet....” The pegasus balked under her friend's incredulous stare, but nodded, answering Tenderheart's question before it could be posed. "When Nightmare Moon returned, we went into the Everfree Forest to try and stop her, but we failed. Twilight sacrificed herself to get us to safety. We thought she died, but Rarity found out she was forced into being the queen's captive."

"Wow.... You're amazing, Fluttershy. I can't believe you stood up to the queen like that. But, what happened? Surely that can't be the end of it?" She leaned in closer to her timid companion, eager to hear the rest of the tale.

"Oh... uhm.... No, that's not all. It's just, I can't tell you everything, but the six of us went to rescue her after that. It had taken some time and we were prepared to get away with Twilight, but she...." Fluttershy looked away, tears beginning to stain her eyes red.

Tenderheart tilted her ears forward, needing to know what happened, but a heavy cough followed by the clearing of a throat dragged her attention away and to a portly stallion that now stood in the doorway. She sighed, suddenly feeling guilty for trying to pry into Fluttershy's past. Some friend I am. I'm trying to get an interesting story and not even bothering about how it makes her feel. How am I supposed to tell her how I feel if I can't even respect her feelings?

"Don't worry about it, Flutters. I don't need to know. If it dampens your mood, we don't have to talk about it." She glanced up at the stallion as he made his way to the center of the room, the various conversations dying down around him. "If you want, we can talk when this is over."

The daisy-yellow pegasus nodded and wiped the fresh liquid from her eyes, then focused on the speaking stallion. "Hello, everypony. As you are well aware, things have taken a drastic turn for the worse here in Manehattan, especially here at Manehattan Central hospital. The rapid influx of battlefield casualties has put us over capacity, but it isn't anything we cannot handle."

He turned around and looked up at a poster depicting basic health regulations, heaving a heavy-hearted sigh. "Unfortunately, most of these ponies will not make it to see the morning as you are all well aware of, having been stationed in the Intensive Care ward." He turned back to the majority of the group with a deep frown weighing heavily upon his muzzle. "However, we have been told that we are not the worst off of the other cities throughout Equestria. As per instructions of Her Majesty, Queen Nightmare Moon, we are going to be sending your group, by carriage tonight, to the hospital in Trottingham."

"But what about the ponies we can save here!?"

The director turned to the stallion that had spoken, the pain that this order was causing him evident in his teary eyes. "I know. The cut will definitely cause us to lose more of our friends and family here, but the hospitals everywhere else are horribly understaffed. If it's this bad here, then I can only imagine how it is where they aren't getting consistent additions to medical staff as we have."

There were a few murmurs of acknowledgement and understanding, but a look of deep concern on Fluttershy's face followed by a soft squeak of words drew the attention of those around her and, in turn, the portly stallion, too. "Was there a question, miss?"

"Oh, uhm.... Wh-what about the griffons? I know that there will be a lot of hurt ponies, but won't there be just as many griffons?"

The director glared at her, forcing the pegasus to hide back behind Tenderheart. "Why should we care what happens to them!? They're killing us!"

"But we're killing them, too! They can't all be horrible like the posters are saying! They need medical attention just like everypony else!" She stared down the pony in charge, then immediately shrunk back. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell, but we can't just leave them. Isn't that what we're here for? To help others?"

The old stallion sighed and scratched his broad muzzle, a resigned frown now etched into his features. “I once had a griffon friend, as several ponies here in Manehattan have, but times have changed. We are at war and the only thing keeping us alive is ourselves.” He trotted to the door and adjusted his trim, white vest. “There isn’t a law against tending to their wounded, but do not expect to be looked kindly upon by those that have lost others due to their malice. You all leave in the morning. Get some sleep. The Trottingham Medical Center is expecting a batch of rested nurses and aides to deal with anything that may arise.”

With that, the light brown stallion disappeared through the open door to leave the various levels of staff together in the small conference room. Murmurs of conversations began to pop up between the various ponies followed up by pointed stares in the golden mare's direction.

Fluttershy, having heard the tone of disgust in the overstallion's voice and noticed the growing animosity towards her, shrunk back behind her blue friend, whimpering softly. Seeing this, Tenderheart abruptly stood, her icy glare causing the would-be hecklers to flinch away, and turned to the pegasus after a pause to ensure nopony decided to make any wrong moves. “Let’s head up to bed, Flutters. We got a long ride ahead of ourselves tomorrow, so we might as well turn in early. Plus, you have to tell me all about your friend!”

Fluttershy followed the young nurse out of the conference room, smiling, but not before catching a glimpse of the other ponies’ baleful glares. She dipped her head and inaudibly sighed as she caught up to Tenderheart’s determined stride. Oh my.... I hope there won’t be any trouble. I’m just glad Nur- I mean, Tenderheart, was there to help me. She’s been so nice lately. Her smile widened ever so slightly as she watched the mare walk in front of her. I don’t think I’d mind everypony not liking me as long as I have at least one friend.

“So, have you heard of anything scandalous about Twilight Sparkle and the queen?”

Fluttershy ‘eep’ed in surprise when she was suddenly face-to-face with her medically-inclined friend and blushed, hoping she hadn’t just been caught staring at her. As the question processed through her mind and Tenderheart’s smile grew, so too did the crimson flush upon the pegasus’ cheeks. “W-well.... My friend, Rarity, sent me a letter just recently about her last visit to the castle... and she said something about them, uhm...”

“Oh....” Tenderheart’s wicked grin expanded to inequine proportions while devious images danced in her mind. “Do tell.”

Crickets chirped, filling the cool night with their music to the metronome of dull thumps resounding off the trees and the patter of apples as they dropped into the waiting buckets. It was quiet, peaceful, a rare occurrence for the orchard after recent horrifying events. It was, however, not something a particular orange farm pony enjoyed as much as she used to.

Apple Jack paused in her work and wiped the sweat from her brow as she glanced over the grove of apple trees she was in the process of bucking. She had been up since early morning, waking around the time the sun would usually begin peeking out from behind the horizon, and had been working the fields since shortly after, yet there were still so many more trees to get to. A soft groan escaped her lips as her eyes scanned the extensive fields of her family’s farm.

“Well, shoot.... This sure has been a slow year. Even with Mac’s help, we still aren’t finished with the harvest.” She sighed and slumped back against the rough bark of a nearby trunk for support and patted the little dog at her side. “Winona, I don’t think we’re gonna get finished with this year’s bucking, ‘specially now that Big Macintosh is gone to fight. We’re not strapped for bits or anything, but it sure is mighty disappointing to leave so much produce to waste.”

The canine barked happily at her side and affectionately licked the hoof scratching her head. A small smile played across the Apple mare's lips, as the warm tongue tickled her frog. "Alright, now! We should get back to work. These trees aren't gonna buck them...."

Apple Jack glanced about the apple-bearing plants, her eyes wide and searching. The cricket's music had come to a complete standstill and her mind conjured up images of all the ponies that had been killed and injured. And the beasts that had done the deed.

Her body shook as she crept along the grassy ground, staying as close to the soft blades of green and out of the revealing light of the moon as she could with her strangely silent companion padding close beside her. “Winona.... If anything happens, I want ya to run an’ get help from the town, okay?”

“What do you mean if anything happens, AJ?”

With a scream most unfitting of the proud Apple mare, Apple Jack spun on her hooves and backed away from the source of the voice and into a waiting apple tree with frightful speed. Absolute fear coursed through her body, fueling it with adrenaline, as she glared at the source of her distress. After a moment, her fear turned to anger as her terror-stricken mind registered who it was that had caused her so much distress.

“A-Apple Bloom!? What are ya doin’ out here!? Ya scared me half to death!” She advanced on the little cream filly, her emerald eyes glaring fiercely at her little sister. “Ah told ya to go straight home after school! It’s dangerous to be outside alone!”

The filly balked under the fury of her older sibling, but didn’t move from her spot. “A-ah know, big sis, but ah do have a reason! Honest! Miss Rarity said she wanted to talk to ya and sent me to find ya after ah got outta school!” She shuffled her hooves, glancing worriedly between the grass below her and the orange farmer. “A-and I wanted to know if ah could c-come with ya.”

Apple Jack sighed, her anger dissipating as the stress from the situation slowly wore. “Now, Apple Bloom.... Ya know we hafta keep an eye out for Granny Smith. She’s very sick and needs all the help she can get and since ah hafta go into town, that means ya hafta be the one that watches her.”

“But ah don’t wanna! She’s weird and scary now and doesn’t even look at me anymore!” The red-maned filly stamped her hoof and stared at her sister with pleading eyes as her bottom lip quivered. “Please, AJ? Please, can ah come with ya?”

The blonde farmer adjusted the stetson resting upon her head and sighed, knowing that her sister wouldn’t back down. Ah know you’re scared Apple Bloom and ah know ya don’t understand why Granny Smith is actin’ so weird.... Ah just wish ah could tell ya. “Fine, but we’re gonna have a little talk when we get back. Ya can't just avoid yer Granny right now. She needs all the help she can get." Her frown lessened as the filly hung her head and gave a slight nod. "All right, little filly, let's go. Ah'm sure ya can play with Rare's little sister while we talk."

Apple Bloom nodded eagerly and fell in line behind the older pony, following the yellow tail as it swayed ahead of her. Apple Jack, however, was much less enthusiastic about the short trek into town and continually shot nervous glances to her surroundings. Yet, despite her misgivings, she never let her fear outwardly show, playing off every time Apple Bloom caught her looking around as if she was making sure the filly was still following properly.

The earth mare sighed and shook the mane that had fallen in her face back to the side. Gosh, darn it. Why does all this have to make me so darn nervous? It's hard 'nough keepin' Apple Bloom as out of the loop as possible, but with me jumpin' at every little noise? How's a pony s'posed to keep her family safe and worry-free if she can't even keep herself from worryin’?

Much to the farmer's relief, the first few buildings of Ponyville slipped into view beyond the treeline and past the wooden fence sectioning off the Apple family land. With the worry of being ambushed left behind in the orchard, Apple Jack trotted into the town with a growing smile working itself across her muzzle. The townsponies greeted them as they came into view, yet none of their old cheerful dispositions were present, long tucked away to be replaced by deep-seated anxiety.

The earth mare frowned. Ah can’t believe Ponyville is so darn quiet. Just a few weeks ago ah couldn’t even hear mahself think and now ah can hear the creek out by the forest no problem.

Trotting along the nearly vacant streets, it took little time for the sisters to reach the elegant door of the Carousel Boutique. A quick knock and a soft "Coming" later, the pony pair found themselves face-to-face with the snowy fashionista herself whose eyes lit up with delight. “Oh, Apple Jack, darling, so nice of you to visit. I see little Apple bloom delivered my message.” She smiled warmly and stepped out of the doorway. “Come in, come in. It’s getting dreadfully cold outside and I don’t want either of you to be getting sick on my part.”

“Thank ya, Rarity. Now, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?” Apple Jack sat beside one of the poneqquins and leaned back against its stand for support.

The unicorn fashionista glanced at the yellow filly rushing about the shop’s lobby as she examined all the various dresses that were on display and coughed gently into her hoof. “Apple Bloom, could you be a dear and go keep my little sister company? Sweetie Belle is up in her room doing her homework, but you can tell her that I said a break is in order.”

“Okay!” With a fillyish giggle, the young earth pony dashed up the stairs, tearing wildly through the hall. “Sweetie Belle! Miss Rarity says you don’t have to do your homework!”

The violet-maned mare winced at the volume of the filly’s voice, but smiled no less as she turned to her blonde friend. “So, how have you been, Apple Jack? Are you holding up well on the farm with Big Macintosh away?”

The farmer sighed and pulled her hat off to scratch her head. “Ah dunno. Ah’m nowhere near finished with this year's harvest and we don’t have much more time before the apples are too ripe.”

“Oh dear, that’s simply dreadful. Well, if you ever need any help just be sure to ask. How’s Granny Smith doing? Is she feeling any better?”

“Ah’m not sure. Granny’s a strong mare, but she’s gettin’ on in her years.” Apple Jack frowned and replaced the stetson upon her head, using the brim of the hat to hide her face as she recomposed herself. “That’s enough ‘bout me, though. What’d ya wanna tell me? Ya can’t have called me all the way out here to just chat.”

Rarity nodded slowly, yet never lost her small smile despite the farm pony’s abruptness. “Right. Do not get me wrong, Darling. I do want to know how you and the others are doing, but that wasn’t the only reason you’re here. I’ve already told Pinkie about it and sent a revised letter to dear Fluttershy since I forgetfully neglected to tell her in my last one, but our ban has been lifted from Nightmare Moon’s castle."

Apple Jack deadpanned. "Is that all? Ah don't rightly care about goin' back to the castle. Sure, it's surprisin', but ah can't say ah wanna go back. You heard what she did from her own mouth."

"I know, dear, but this is important. She's changed...." The fashion-minded mare frowned at her inability to find the words she was looking for. "A lot, actually. She isn't the same mare we met that one night months ago and not entirely for the worse, mind you. She still cares about us and you do remember what happened when me made our daring rescue attempt, right?"

"Yeah, ah know, but...." She's murdered somepony....

"I know what you're thinking, but haven't your brother and Rainbow Dash killed as well? I think a good portion of the town has helped-"

"How can ya be so calm about this!? She killed yer friend for Celestia's sake! What's stoppin' her or that fake queen from killin' somepony else we know?"

Rarity flinched at her companion's sudden outburst, but kept herself calm with a soft smile still drawn across her lips. "I know, darling, and do not think for a second that I have completely forgiven her. I am still very much angry, but I also know how much her actions ate away at her. We talked in length about many things."

"Sis? Are you okay? I heard somepony shouting!" A little white unicorn, followed by a ribbon wearing filly, poked her head around the corner and peered down the stairs into the boutique's lobby.

"Everything is fine, Sweetie, we just had a bit of a disagreement. Go on back and play with Apple Bloom. We shouldn’t be much longer.”

The fillies watched their older siblings’ expressions with worry, but a quick grin from the pair of mares seemed to ease their minds. “Okay. C’mon! Let’s go see if we can....”

The country filly’s voice was lost to the sounds of their hooves clopping against the tiled floor, much to the equal relief and dismay of their elders. Apple Jack was the first to return to the conversation, sighing as she approached Rarity. “So, what are ya gettin’ at? Ah still don’t see what this has to do with me and mah family.”

“Why, it doesn’t really have anything to do with your family, just you and Pinkie. I was genuinely curious about the goings-on of your life, my dear.” The fashionista’s lip curled out in a pout as she assessed the farmer’s attitude. Hmmm, perhaps I should have waited to talk to her, but.... “No, this cannot wait. Apple Jack, let me be completely straightforward with you. I understand that you feel that you don’t owe anything to neither Twilight, nor Nightmare Moon and that this may seem a bit selfish, but there really is not much time left to put this off.

“Would you join Pinkie and I on a trip to visit Twilight? She is, if my guess is correct, going to fight in this war right alongside the other ponies and, while she seems to be quite gifted with magic, she is not quite as gifted in the department involving friends.” Rarity’s expression turned dour as she recalled the extensive discussion the pair had had during the knowledgeable unicorn’s fitting.

“Ah don’t see why she can’t just talk to her master. She didn’t seem to have any need for us when we came to rescue her.”

“Apple Jack! Why are you being so belligerent about this!? In the years that I’ve known you, you’ve never turned your back on a pony! Why, if Rainbow Dash wasn’t already the Element of Loyalty, I would have thought you would be it!”

“Because it’s Nightmare Moon’s fault that all of this is happening! It’s her fault that mah brother’s goin’ off to fight in some stupid war and it’s her fault that Granny Smith so darn sick! And Twilight? She’s siding with the one that did all of this!” Apple Jack stamped her hoof, cracking the tile with the force of her impact. “Ya talk about how Twilight needs us and all of that manure, but the real pony that needs help is Celestia. The Princess has been missin’ for months and nopony’s found her yet. She could put a stop to all of this.”

“But, Apple-”

The earth pony mare glared at her friend, silencing her mid-sentence and shot a glance up to the two fillies watching indiscreetly from the top of the stairs. “Apple Bloom, we’re leavin’. Tell Sweetie Belle goodbye and let’s go.”

The Apple filly’s head drooped as she slowly dragged herself down the stairs and stopped midway to bid farewell to her new friend. “See ya, Sweetie Belle. Maybe we can go lookin’ for our cutie marks some other time?”

“Aw, Rarity! Can’t Apple Bloom stay a little longer? We were having so much fun!” Sweetie Belle rushed down the steps and grabbed ahold of the earth filly as she plead with the largest pout she could muster.

“Ah said let’s go, Apple Bloom. It’s almost supper time and we still hafta make sure Granny Smith is doin’ okay.”

Apple Jack moved to grab her sister’s tail, but was cut off by a stern frown. “Must you punish your sister for our argument? How uncouth of you, Apple Jack. What harm could there be in letting her stay a little longer?”

“It’s dangerous outside and ah don’t want her walkin’ home alone when it’s darker!”

“Then, why not let her spend the evening? I would not mind and I’m certain the two could use each other’s company. With the curfew in effect, it’s become increasingly difficult for little Sweetie to go out and see her little pegasus friend, so this would be a perfect opportunity for the both of them.”

Apple Jack made to protest, but the unicorn fixed her with the most baleful stare the farmer had ever seen. “Uhh.... Okay.” The fillies cheered excitedly, jumping into the air and dancing around the refined unicorn. “But, ah’m gonna be back here come morning to pick her up. And there will be no buts, missy.”

“Thank you, Apple Jack. Do not worry, she will be awake and ready to leave by daybreak. Please, give what I said some consideration. She really could-”

“Ah’ve considered it enough and ah won’t do anything to help either of them. Ah can’t risk it.” She turned away, stepping out through the door Rarity had opened for her, but paused to glance back at her friend who held her head high and kept her face calm. “Ah’m sorry.”

Rarity gave a curt nod and watched quietly as the disgruntled Apple Jack left without another word. Softly, she closed the door and turned to the waiting fillies with a tense, yet tender smile. “You two go back upstairs and have fun. I’ll call you when dinner is ready.”

“Rarity? Are you okay?” Sweetie Belle placed a hoof on her sister’s shoulder, smiling through her worry.

“Why, of course, Sweetie. Now, go on you two. You only have a few hours before bed and we simply must get all of your bounding energy out before then.” Without another word, the fillies grinned and rushed away, scampering away from their jovial guardian and up the stairs to begin playing anew. The moment the pair rounded the corner, however, was also the moment her well-composed facade broke.

Small rivulets of tears slid down her smooth, alabaster cheeks as her body shook with uncontrollable sobs. Carefully, she walked over to her ornate lounge chair and fell upon its plush, crimson cushions to bury her face in its headrest. Twilight.... I’m so sorry.

Twilight stared at the twitching body of Gilda Steelfeather, watching the girl's shifting facial expressions worriedly. "She.... She's going to be all right..., right?" She glanced up to the midnight-black alicorn from her position on the grass, but was met with only a look of disapproval.

"She has been attempting my task for the majority of the night and has died twenty-six...." She paused and her scowl deepened. "Twenty-seven times. She already has the knowledge required to call upon my moon. I cannot fathom how she is failing.” Nightmare Moon stamped her hoof, kicking up dirt from the impact, and lit her horn. In seconds, the griffon was consumed by the black glow of her magic, lifted into the air, and dropped unceremoniously upon her back.

“You know, Luna.” Twilight sidled up to her lover, ignoring the groaning griffon save for quick, worried glances in her direction, and nuzzled under the ancient mare’s chin. “You really shouldn’t be too tough on her. Maybe she can’t master the technique that quickly. I’m still having trouble controlling myself while fighting. She just needs time.”

“That is where it differs, Twilight. She is not simply having trouble. She could not even begin to call upon the moon. You have at least lessened your movements.” Then we shall just have to teach you to dance while combat casting. I fear I may lose you yet.

"Wh-what.... What the fuck is wrong with you!?" Gilda staggered onto shaking legs, using her pegasus superior as support, and pointed a trembling claw at the alicorn. "You're a.... I.... I don't even know, but.... Fuck! Do you know how much it hurts to die? That was...."

"I may not know, griffon, but you could have prevented any number of those deaths by accepting the strength of the moon." The night mare frowned as a clump of dirt soared past her head to impact the ethereal walls of the obelisk and break apart into dust. "I would advise against attempting to assault me again, girl. My patience does not last an eternity. I am aware that you are upset, but how can you expect to use my magic if you cannot-"

"Fuck your magic! I haven't needed it yet and I don't need it now! I'll just fight how I was taught!" Spreading her wings, Gilda took to the air with powerful strokes and dashed off towards the barrier only to smash face-first into the wall. With a heavy thud, she landed back in the grass, groaning as she rubbed her face and shook the stars from her eyes.

"I.... I will not lie. That was still pretty funny." Twilight shot Cloudy an incredulous look, genuinely surprised by the hardened mare's reaction. "What? Even I find the fact that she did that twice amusing."

The lunar alicorn groaned and lifted the enchantment on the obelisk with a wave of her head. "Remember, Gilda Steelfeather. I only accept the strongest of allies into my personal service and I hold no love for your people. My patience wears thin and your actions are testing it. Should you fail in your upcoming duty, then surviving on the battlefield will be the least of your worries."

"Wh-whatever. Buck off."

"Are you really going to-"

"What the queen does with an insubordinate child should not concern you, Twilight. Instead, you should be focusing more on your own skills. You still have a lot to learn, after all."

The pegasus trotted past the larger mares and fluffed her wing, wincing as her stub stretched further than she had intended. “As do I. My queen, I assume we are finished for the night?”

“Yes, Commander Horizons. Return to your room and rest. We will return here tomorrow with or without Private Gilda.” Nightmare nodded to the soldier who saluted and began to trot away. “Ah, a moment, Horizons. Have Moon Beam return to my chambers as well. She and Cherry Tart should be in your room.”

“Of course, Queen Moon.”

“Come, Twilight. Let us retire as well. I can feel the strain that tonight’s session has put on your body.” Without another word, the moon mare sauntered away, through the barrier wall, and back towards the castle’s halls, with Twilight following close behind. “You do not need to worry about the griffon. She already knows what I am capable of and will not disappoint me. If not for herself, then for her companion, at least.”

“R-right....”

The dark unicorn followed closely behind her mate as they made the rest of the trip through the palatial halls in silence, never once breaking the tempo of their hooves upon obsidian with her voice. The journey seemed to drag on for hours, the short travel made all the longer without the joyous banter of a smoky-maned filly to entertain her, but they eventually came upon the massive moon-emblazoned doors to their sleeping chambers. Before either Twilight or Nightmare Moon could react, however, the metal portal was thrust open to reveal a very displeased little unicorn.

“Mommy Twilight! Mommy Moon! Why couldn’t Cherry and me come and watch, too? You two are so mean.” Moon Beam stuck her lip out in a pout, and stared at the mares with wavering eyes. “I want to have fun with you, too....”

“Oh, Moonie.... We just didn’t want you to be bored. We really weren’t doing anything fun.” Twilight leaned over and scooped the filly up in her forelegs and nuzzled against her, cheek to cheek. “Do you want to come tomorrow?”

“Twilight, I do not think that-”

“Oh, yes! I do, I do, I do! Yay!” The navy filly squealed happily and crushed her unicorn mother’s neck in a fierce embrace. “Thank you, Mommies!”

Twilight laughed and kissed the petite unicorn on her nose. “All right, but you have to go to sleep if you want to be up early enough. Come on, I’ll tuck you into bed.”

Nightmare watched as her lover slowly followed the overly-energetic filly onto the expansive bed they all shared and cuddled up with her, quietly singing a lullaby as she pulled the blankets with her magic until it covered them both. Soon, Moon Beam’s eyes began to droop as Twilight’s soothing voice carried her off to the land of dreams and into blissful slumber.

The alicorn couldn’t resist the slight smile that crept its way onto her muzzle, a smile that a certain scholarly mare took notice of. “You really are enchantingly beautiful when you smile, Luna. I know that you have to be seen as the one in power, but smiling and being kind to your subjects is another necessity to ruling. Celestia was-”

“Celestia was a fool. Her weakness caused all of what we are struggling with. This war would have never happened if she had kept the griffons under an iron rule, but she instead tried to pacify them with gifts.” Nightmare Moon sighed and joined the pair of unicorns on the bed, closing the gap between them with a single leap and carefully climbing into the bed in order to avoid waking their daughter. “When I ruled alongside her, the griffons were never an issue. We kept our ponies trained for combat and sent patrols through the griffon lands in regular intervals after their breaking away from Equestria. Whenever a patrol would come up missing, we would send our armies to occupy their towns and flush out those who were responsible. They feared our attacks, yet we never moved against them without reason.

“Then, my foal of a sister banishes me and attempts to appease them, to placate them. The chieftains of old may have accepted her tidings, as they remembered the tales of our iron will, but the newer generations care not for such tales. It is evident in their actions.” She wrapped her hooves around Twilight’s withers and pulled her in close before tenderly kissing her. “Tonight, I will show you. You will see the last memory of my time on Equestria before my banishment to the moon. You will know the truth of your mentor, the pony you idolize so reverently, and you will understand the pain that I have faced. When you sleep, I will guide you to the vision, but for now.... For now, I want you to stay like this.”

“Of course, my love. Anything for you....” Twilight leaned in and brought their lips together against, returning the sweet embrace that she had been graced with moments before. For you, I would even risk my love for Celestia. Anything for you, Luna, my beloved.

Author's Notes:

Author’s Notes: Still took forever, but this one isn’t short! Woo! Next chapter will reveal the truth behind Nightmare’s hatred for her sister (aside from her jealousy) and other sweet goodies (who knows what could be inside the mystery chapter? It could even be a boat! You know how much we’ve wanted one of those!) Well, happy reading and enjoy! Peppy out~!

P.S.: Yes, I know alllllllllll about the discrepancy between Fluttershy receiving a letter from Rarity and NOT knowing about the lifted ban on the Elements being able to see Twilight. It was done purposely on my part, and was an accidental omission on Rarity's.

Editor’s Notes: Witty dialogue. Crude joke. Polite outro.