After a deep, calming breath Twilight pressed the button, opened the door, and stepped inside the ritual chamber.

Inside was the same unfinished cave-like structure she had witnessed in Beaker’s memories, though upon closer inspection it was actually slightly different than how the skeleton remembered it. Discord’s bones were gone, as was the tablet, and the ritual circle itself was absent, though if they had been removed purposefully or had been destroyed by the ravages of time, Twilight didn't know. The only thing that actually did seem to survive was a unicorn skeleton that sat off to the side, its hoof clutching something around its neck.

The long horn and above average height made Twilight realize that she gazed upon not only a corpse, but her own corpse. The feeling she got when she looked down on the body was one akin to vertigo, though it also made a yawning depth open up in her stomach, and brought forth a surge of unpleasant thoughts. Brushing that feeling aside hastily, lest it knock her to the ground, Twilight did her best not to look down on her own body, and instead focused on anything she may have missed.

Only to find that the tomes she had seen in the memory had remained exactly where they had been the last time she had seen them. Though she wanted nothing more than to dive into their pages, and learn everything they had to offer, she had a mission to complete, and friends to save before she could do that.

Which meant turning back and looking down at her corpse. Something Twilight did only after gulping down her fear, and slowly began to extend a shaky hoof towards it, intent on retrieving the other half of the amulet it still clutched. A task that wasn't as easy as she would have liked, as the skeleton was clutching the other half with booth hooves. Its grip was tight, and it was as if death itself couldn't dissuade her former incarnation from releasing its hold on the piece of jewelry.

She stopped and for a moment considered turning back, the unpleasant realization that she was robbing a corpse coming to mind, only to shake her head at the thought. Don't be stupid, it's not grave robbing if its your own grave. Right? The thought made Twilight frown when she realized just how weird this situation was. I am going to need so much therapy when this is all over, she thought to herself.

Her hoof extended once more, and she confidently reached towards the moon half of the amulet clutched in her former self’s skeletal hooves. When her limb neared its goal, and victory was in sight, a sudden wall of black rose up, and obscured nearly everything. Thinking quickly, Twilight backpedaled and gripped the amulet, pushing a bit of her own magic inside and speaking the first command she could think of, “Stop!”

The looming shape of what looked like a massive, bat-winged alicorn made from pure darkness stopped mid-pounce, its enormous maw hanging open as its body hung in the air. Evidently gravity was not its master, as it remained there, merely gazing down upon the pony with what could only be described as a look of amusement. Twilight cleared her throat, and kept her hoof wrapped tight around the magical piece of jewelry.

“Get back!” she bellowed, jabbing a hoof at the shadow creature that loomed over her menacingly, wings outstretched.

Its hooves touched the floor, and it seemed to consider the pony’s words for a solid ten seconds or so, before it sniffed the air and turned to the corpse. Seeing where this was going, Twilight stumbled back a step. “She's me, I can explain!” Twilight exclaimed hastily, her hoof outstretched, as if the limb would ward off the nightmare.

The creature turned back towards the undead mare and shook its head before setting its hooves wide apart and lunging directly at the pony. A desperate cry filled the room, and sparks flew as Twilight attempted to defend herself, only for the darkness to close in around her anyway, unaffected by the weak spell. In an instant, all feeling in her body was lost, and her eyelids grew heavy. A second later the unicorn felt as though she were falling, and then, nothing.

Opening her eyes, Twilight watched as her mother bounded towards her, eyes wide and filled with terror. She was saying something, or at least trying to, but Twilight couldn't hear the words, for her own heart pounded so loudly that it obscured any other sound. Twilight knew there was some kind of intruder in the house, that much she was able to gather from her mother’s words, but everything else was lost. For a moment the world seemed to slow, and though she was aware of her brother tugging at her, trying to get her into the third story of their house, and away from whoever was invading their house, Twilight found herself unable to move.

She watched in horror as a thin lance of golden magic shot up the stairs, and pierced her mother’s shoulder, gouging deep into the elder mare’s flesh and making a jet of blood shoot out the other side. She tried to cry out, to warn her mother, but she found her hooves nailed to the floor, and her gaze locked on her injured parent’s face as she cried in agony and lurched across the doorway.

She realized in that moment that this was her fault, she had seen her mother move to dodge out of the way, but then wince. She had aged too fast, unnaturally so, and though Twilight had always told herself it wasn't her fault, now that she knew what she was, she could deny it no longer. The crows feet visible on the edges of her mother’s eyes at forty, the limp she had developed in the last few years along with the loss of her hair color.

It was all her fault, she had been feeding unconsciously off the mare all this time, and not even known it. Suddenly all the tender nights Twilight spent sobbing into a carefully placed towel took on an entirely different connotation. For as she clutched her mother tight in her forelegs, Twilight had drawn not only warmth from the mare, but also her very life force.

Twilight’s jaw moved as her mother stumbled, and nearly fell, a cry on her lips, but Twilight didn't hear that, as her mother’s killer’s voice echoed as if she were speaking right in front of her.

“Yes, that's right, fight fight fight! I want to feel you squirm beneath my hooves before I crush you,” she said, her voice dripping with such cruelty that it bordered on comical, though in this moment Twilight couldn't find much humour in it.

Gathering Twilight in her magic, Twilight Velvet surged forwards, grabbing her brother before sprinting up the stairs, blood trailing behind her. The younger mare couldn't struggle, couldn't even move as she felt herself hoisted up and all but tossed onto the next floor by her grim-faced mother. Shock seemed to fill the young pony and she found herself standing there weakly as Shining Armor ran over to the top of the stairs and summoned forth his best shield.

A second later and the assassin followed, running nose-first into said shield and recoiling. “Oooh, that tickles. It is going to feel so good killing you,” she announced with a vile, twisted smirk.

Twilight could only watch as her mother used her magic to try and heal herself, only for the spell to fizzle as the wound was too deep, and was thus beyond her magical abilities. The young unicorn wanted to help, to cast a healing spell of her own, but she knew that such spells seemed to react violently when cast by the strange mare. So it was that she could only stand there in horror, watching as her brave brother stood up to her mother’s would-be killer.

“Who are you and what do you want from my family?” he demanded, glaring up at the fiery-maned unicorn who stood at the top of the stairs.

Twilight looked on and realized that the colt looked small, weak, his body unable to cope with the theft of his life force by his own sister. This, Twilight knew, was her fault as well. The young colt was brave, indomitable, and fiercely protective, sticking by Twilight when nearly all other family had written her off as a freak. He was there, along with her mother, when she needed comfort and even when she had pondered ending her life just so that her family could live without the burden she imposed upon them.

“Well, before I beat your father I said I was the garbage mare,” the orange-furred unicorn announced with a haughty laugh. “But I think that joke has run its course.”

Shining Armor, ever the protector, ground his teeth and set his stance wider after Twilight let out a gasp of shock. He seemed ready to launch into an insult of some kind, but Twilight Velvet beat him to it, stepping forward with strength a mare in her shape should be impossible to have.

“Don't you dare touch him!” she boomed, pointing down at the unicorn.

Smiling widely, the mystery mare’s teeth glinted in the semi darkness of the poorly lit room. “Oh, he's fine. He’s just taking a brief tour of the dungeons and receiving a first hoof lesson on neuromancy,” the assassin declared with a chuckle. “As for who I am, and what I want… The first doesn't matter, and the second is her,” she exclaimed, jabbing hoof at Twilight’s lanky form.

The undead mare knew why she was here, knew why she was so ready to kill her, but she felt her lips move of their own volition. “Why?” Twilight asked.

“Why?” asked the faux-perplexed looking mare. “Well, to Celestia you are a danger. To me-” She smirked. “You are just a fun little challenge.”

Realization dawned on the three ponies, each one coming to the same conclusion at the same time. Sunset Shimmer, the butcher of Canterlot, was here in the flesh. And my mother is about to die, Twilight thought to herself.

Then, before anypony could gather themselves after such a terrifying realization, said butcher conjured forth a golden tack the size of a pony’s hoof and brought it down hard against Shining Armor’s shield. The effect was immediate, with enormous cracks appearing all along the glowing magenta barrier, and knocking her brother to his knees. Twilight knew how impressive such a display was, as even she struggled to damage or even crack her brother’s shield. While here Sunset Shimmer had nearly destroyed it utterly in a single, half hearted attack.

The assassin whistled while looking up and down at Shining Armor’s shield with a newfound appreciation. “Impressive. I’ve popped barriers made by ponies twice your age with half the effort,” she began, before pointing down at the colt. “Quick lesson before I beat you and your mother unconscious and then murder your sister; the modern shield spell is designed to refract force larger than a hoof. Once you go smaller, the damage done multiplies exponentially.”

Twilight winced, but found herself unable to look away, her eyes glued to her brother as his horn began to glow a little brighter, the colt trying, and failing to summon an extra layer of defence before the mare struck again. It was all for naught, however, as the second tack appeared where the first had vanished, and flew unerringly towards the barrier. Twilight herself had also summoned her magic, intent on reinforcing her brother’s spell, while still knowing she couldn't actually help in time.

This too, she realized, was her fault.

The colt was strong, strong enough to block a powerful spell from one of the most powerful mages in history, but he could have been stronger. If Twilight had not been so selfish and fed from him, perhaps he could have been strong enough to hold her off long enough for Twilight to reinforce the colt’s shield as well. Perhaps then, they would have been able to teleport away, to live another day, and perhaps even, to escape Celestia’s cursed city alive and unharmed.

None of that would happen, Twilight knew, for as the tack flew forwards, it morphed into a beam of light, and turned towards her. She wanted to close her eyes, to look away, to not watch her mother die again, but she knew it was coming, and knew she couldn't look away. The world slowed once more, and she watched on in horror as the golden bolt of magic destroyed her brother’s shield and sent him tumbling into unconsciousness.

After that, it felt like a small eternity as the bolt closed the distance, intent on destroying Twilight utterly. Twilight herself would have welcomed such an end, but she knew she wasn't going to die yet, but someone far more important than her was going to.

Hooves connected with her shoulder, shoving her out of the way, and taking her place in the path of the spell. Twilight could feel her magic fizzle away, dissipating into nothingness as a small part of her mind realized it was a wasted effort. She hardly cared though, for in that moment the only thing she could think of was that she should be where her mother now stood.

All of this was her fault, if she hadn't robbed her mother of her youth, she would have been faster, stronger, and more able to protect them all. If Twilight had not robbed her brother of his vitality he would be more powerful and combined with their mother’s strength, could have saved them. A third, and even more damning thought entered her mind, making her realize the fact that if she had never existed, Sunset Shimmer would have no reason to even be there in the first place.

Twilight knew, a second before her mother died, that the undead mare deserved the hell she was in, and she deserved what was coming.

“I love you,” Twilight Velvet, mother of two, whispered, her final words crashing into Twilight’s heart like a hammer blow.

Twilight felt herself reeling in shock and terror, for she had not thought her mother had actually been able to speak those words. Though she wasn't sure if it was her addled mind merely imagining it or not, it didn't matter as she didn't have time to contemplate the words before the golden ray of magic flew through the elder mare’s body. Suddenly the heartache and terror of her mother’s death came roaring back all over again, and Twilight wanted nothing more than to scream, weep or do anything to help release her anguish.

Yet, she couldn't, sure her body continued to move, but her mind was blank, the mare merely accepting that in the end, she deserved to watch her mother die all over again. For the fault was hers and hers alone.

The moment was shattered, and Twilight Velvet was cleaved in half, each piece of her flying in a different direction. Twilight watched on in muted horror as she saw her mother’s entrails pinwheel through the air, spraying the room in a fountain of blood and gore. She hoped her mother didn't suffer too much, but Twilight knew it hardly mattered at this point in time.

Her face contorted in rage, and though her horn sparked with power, deep down inside, Twilight felt only apathy. She didn't blame Sunset Shimmer, not anymore, not while her mother’s blood was on her hooves. Twilight was more a killer than Sunset was, decided the dead mare, even as she screamed the word ‘No’ at the top of her lungs.

Raw mana and directionless spells seemed to pour out of her horn, the mass of purple power twisting and writhing as it exploded at the golden pony. Yet even this titanic outpouring of power and emotion did little to stir the true Twilight’s mind, as she gazed through the windows that become her own eyes. Power strong enough to vaporize all but the most hardiest and well enchanted metal erupted in a great explosion, tearing through the air and flying at the golden mare across from her.

Who had erected her own shield of magic just in the nick of time.

Even still, Twilight felt her voice continue to scream, continue to vent the rage and grief she no longer truly felt. Sure, there was a sliver of her that still mourned for her mother’s death, but all she could think about was the simple fact that this was all her fault.

She screamed louder, and poured more power into her spell, obliterating everything in a six foot sphere around the pony. Wooden walls, floors and ceilings vanished, leaving behind not even dust. Their house shifted as supports were annihilated, and the weight of the upper floors moved, threatening to bring down the entire building. None of which mattered to Twilight as she continued to watch herself scream and yell at the pony, trying to foolishly overwhelm her with raw power alone.

When finally the flow of magic stuttered to a stop, and Twilight felt her hooves grow weak beneath her she knew it was nearly over. And that her end, was coming.

Before her, a shimmering sphere of golden magic flickered and died, revealing an unharmed and unconcerned Sunset Shimmer standing within. And though Twilight’s body gasped in shock, amazed that anything had survived the blast she had unleashed, Twilight’s mind was unsurprised by the turn of events. Of course such an attack would be useless against the well-trained pony as the attack was strong, but spread over such a large area that Twilight may very well have thrown a pillow at the pony for all the good it would have done her.

Gulping down her fear, Twilight felt her lips begin to move, the dead mare remembering well her attempt at being clever. “Why does Celestia want me dead?” Twilight asked quickly, as Sunset Shimmer strode forward, unbothered by the devastation that was all around her.

“You are a necromancer,” she announced with a shrug.

“Necromancy is impossible!” Twilight shouted angrily, though she did not feel so much as a single iota of such an emotion.

“Tsk tsk, Twilight. Some would say that living without a nervous system was impossible too, but yet, here you are,” Sunset Shimmer declared excitedly, gesturing to Twilight with a hoof. “Yes, I know about your little condition, and I know it only got worse as you grew older. You shouldn't be able to move or even breathe, but yet here you are!”

Sunset Shimmer waved a dismissive hoof over Twilight’s body. “And necromancy isn't impossible, just really, really difficult, and only able to be learned by a select few,” she explained.

Twilight could feel her features fall slack, though the realization that her enemy’s words brought on had already been discovered before she uttered them. “You don't mean…” Twilight murmured.

“Oh yes, you can learn the magic of the soul. And to top it all off, you gave the old bitch the silent treatment for an entire day. That's usually enough to earn a quick death,” the golden mare remarked with a smirk.

Twilight could feel her heart pounding in her chest, and though her body was experiencing terror the likes of which it had never felt before, Twilight’s mind remained impassive. She knew what was coming, but couldn't stop it even if she wanted to, nor could she stop her lips from moving on their own.

“Why are you here? I thought you were killed by the guard five years ago-” she began, only to be cut off.

“Blah blah, my patience is running thin, and I have one last thing to say to you. Which you will be surprised to know is a compliment,” the golden mare remarked with a wry smirk. “Your spell use was impressive, your overcharge of mana bolt was simple and elegant, easy to cast and just as easy to dump more power into. I like it.”

She leaned a little closer, a glint in her eye. “You know another good spell that’s simple but can be used quite elegantly? Telekinesis.” The mare’s smirk grew into a huge wolfish grin as her horn lit with maleficent power.

Twilight could feel her body begin to panic even harder as it struggled to react to whatever it was that Sunset Shimmer was doing. “Wha-hrk.” Her body’s confusion melted away, replaced with pain, the energy gathering around her own horn dissipating as she felt a bizarre tightness bloom in her chest. Reconciliation

Looking down, Twilight knew what she was about to see before her eyes even beheld her glowing chest. Golden magic radiated out from her body, and Twilight felt her heart all but stop as a force seemed to grip it tightly. Twilight wanted to close her eyes, to simply go quietly into death’s embrace once more, but her body continued to move of its own volition and she was forced to listen to Sunset Shimmer speak.

“With telekinesis, I can grab your heart and hold it like I am right now, stopping you from doing anything and making your body utterly panic without killing you,” Sunset Shimmer explained, her horn glowing brighter and making Twilight’s body collapse to the floor. “Or I can give a gentle squeeze and pop it like a grape, like this!”

The tightness quintupled and suddenly Twilight was vaguely aware of a faint popping sound and several panicked seconds passing before oblivion took her. Her last moments before darkness took her were consumed by the realization that she might indeed be in hell.

Then, there was nothing.

Opening her eyes, Twilight watched as her mother bounded towards her, eyes wide and filled with terror. This was it, Twilight realized, she was dead, and finally in hell for all the things she subjected her family to. Before her the familiar moment began to play out once more, everything moving exactly as it had last time. Even Twilight’s body reacted as it had the very first time, leaving Twilight’s mind unable to do anything but watch as her mother got hit again.

As her brother raised a shield, again. As it failed, again, and as her mother died, again. Finally at the end of it, Twilight died again, and it all began again.

No matter how hard she tried to look away, she couldn't, and even her own body felt foreign and distant. She couldn't move, couldn't look away, couldn't utter a word that she hadn't already uttered. The world, it seemed, was set in stone.

All there was left to do was to give in to despair and pray that in time, even the loss of her mother would become meaningless. Darkness coiled around her, seeping into her mind and driving her deeper into the dark recesses of her own psyche and smothering all thoughts of hope.

Words quickly became meaningless, and even the events playing out before her seemed to slowly fall away. Her body slipped from her grasp, leaving her without a sense of touch, followed quickly by the rest of her senses. There was no sound within the void, nothing to touch, nothing to smell, nothing to see, until finally even darkness itself seemed to bleed into non-existence. Her own thoughts became more distant by the second, growing so small, and so quiet that even Twilight didn't know what she was thinking any longer.

Here, there was nothing, she was nothing, and there was only oblivion.

Time had long since lost all meaning and Twilight wasn't even aware of how many times she had experienced the same nightmare before falling between the cracks in reality. It felt like a small eternity however, until something changed and her world gained a small sliver of light amidst the endless nothingness.

The mare recoiled from it, pushing the light away, and trying to flee from the truth she knew it would bring.

“Abandon your own perception,” spoke a voice startlingly familiar to the one she had once claimed ownership over.

Twilight wanted to deny the voice’s demands, to stay here, in the void, forever, but she couldn't deny the power of the voice’s words and with great reluctance she felt herself turn to the light. Though it was only a shred, a mere crack in the endless expanse of nothing, it was enough, Twilight knew, for her to emerge once more into the nightmare she had fled from.

Form returned to her slowly, and Twilight could feel her senses and body return bit by bit as she flew towards the light. Until finally, her outstretched hooves emerged into the realm beyond and she felt her eyes open once more.

She saw her mother begin to sprint across the doorway at the top of the stairs, and though she wanted to lament being here and being forced to view the same moment again, Twilight felt as though something was different this time. Looking at her mother, Twilight could see there was a sort of acceptance in her eye, an understanding that this may be the last thing she did. Yet she crossed the distance regardless, diving towards the two ponies she cared about most in this world. She accepted the bolt of magic with only the slightest of winces, and continued to carry her children up the stairs and to what she hoped was safety.

This time Twilight saw her brother, the young, brave colt, recoil with fear in his eyes, and realization on his face. He knew who this pony was upon only catching a single fleeting glimpse of her, yet he stowed that fear away quickly when he noticed Twilight’s gaze upon him.

Even Sunset Shimmer’s words seemed to change, and Twilight nearly ignored them at first, only for the subtle shift in cadence to catch her off guard.

“That's right, fight, fight, fight!” she yelled almost hysterically, as if she was trying to make Twilight resist her in some way.

“I want to feel you squirm beneath my hooves before I crush you,” she bellowed in a voice that was so campy that it sounded a little ridiculous, like she was putting on a voice rather than speaking naturally.

Even while Twilight was being levitated up the stairs, and tossed onto the next landing, she watched Sunset Shimmer out of the corner of her eye. Catching sight of something she had not seen yet, a rare moment of weakness and pain amidst the villainous act she was putting on. There at the bottom of the stairs, the golden mare paused to wipe tears from her eyes before her hoof suddenly jerked back down and her body began to move once more.

It was as if her body was being pulled along by strings, and the mare herself was merely along for the ride. Then, Twilight’s hooves were under her once more, and the assassin was out of sight, leaving only her mother and brother in view.

Though her body continued to move on its own, her lips creating words on her, Twilight felt as though she had gained some control over her eyes at least, and was able to direct her attention in ways she hadn't originally been able to. Allowing her to watch as Sunset Shimmer closed her eyes a second before Shining Armor’s shield popped into existence, creating an opening for the spell to coalesce without interruption. Something she knew would be relatively easy for the expert mage, who needed only to cast a quick dispel to stop Shining Armor’s complex shield spell to collapse before fully forming.

When her eyes opened once more she ran face-first into the force field, and for a moment, Twilight thought she saw a smile on the mare’s face before it vanished. “Oooh, that tickles. It is going to feel so good killing you,” she exclaimed in the same almost fanciful villain voice of hers.

She tapped the barrier with a hoof, an act small in itself, but strange as she had already touched the barrier. She should know how strong it was, why bother with wasting time by prodding it unless she was trying to give them more time? Twilight brushed off that thought, as she had little evidence to support it, though she couldn't help but imagine that it was a distinct possibility, one that went against everything she thought she knew of the butcher of Canterlot.

“Who are you and what do you want from my family?” Twilight’s brother yelled, voice quivering with fear Twilight had not noticed until now.

Oh he tried to look intimidating, to appear every bit the stallion he felt he already was, but Twilight could tell he was scared.

“Well, before I beat your father, I said I was the garbage mare,” the fiery-maned unicorn exclaimed, wincing slightly. “But I think that joke has run its course.”

Was that, regret Twilight saw in her eye? A flash of empathy appearing amidst the seemingly endless displays of brutality and evil that only made Twilight wonder what was truly going on.

“Don't you dare touch him!” Twilight Velvet demanded.

Sunset Shimmer frowned for a moment before forcing herself to smile. “Oh, he's fine, just taking a brief tour of the dungeons and receiving a firsthoof lesson on neuromancy,” Explained the unicorn, her voice rising as she emphasized the last word, stressing it strangely. “As for who I am and what I want... the first doesn't matter and the second is her.” The yellow hoof poked out of the gloom and pointed towards the lanky purple mare towering over her brother and mother.

Twilight felt her body continue to move, her face shifting into a grimace, but her mind was elsewhere even while she asked. “Why?”

Twilight had seen a flash of pain and guilt when Sunset Shimmer spoke of who she was, as if the killer genuinely believed that her very identity didn't matter. It was the strange inflection in her tone that made Twilight realize this, and she began to wonder if there was more to her mother’s killer than what she had first anticipated.

“Why?” Sunset Shimmer asked in a disgusted tone. “Well to Celestia, you are a danger. To me, you are just a fun little challenge.”

Every word that seemed to come out of her mouth sounded different, felt different and carried an altogether new meaning than what Twilight had witnessed until now. The way she spoke of Celestia made Sunset Shimmer sound like she truly hated the mare, before reverting to the weird, villainous voice that she used for the most part. Even the summoning of her magic, and the subsequent attack felt oddly lethargic and restrained, like she was holding back. In that instant Twilight knew that she could have broken the colt’s shield the first time she launched her spell.

Again, it didn't break, but instead sprouted a great spider web of cracks from the point of impact. Twilight didn't have to look around to notice that her family was now aware of who was standing before them. She put that out of her mind though, the illusion had been broken partially, and Twilight no longer saw them as her family members but cruel imitations meant to torment her. Resolve burned hot in her breast, and as time passed, that resolve only grew hotter, and stronger, until Twilight could almost wiggle her hoof.

Sunset Shimmer whistled, in what sounded like genuine appreciation. “Impressive,” she remarked. “I’ve popped barriers made by ponies twice your age with half the effort. A quick lesson before I beat you and your mother unconscious and then murder your sister; the modern shield spell is designed to refract force larger than a hoof. Once you go smaller, the damage done multiplies exponentially.”

The way she spoke was more like a teacher giving a lesson, one that was directed not only at Shining Armor, but Twilight as well it seemed. It still had that slight, gloating edge to it, but it was also stern, confident, and Twilight noticed the killer’s gaze flash past her, as if checking to see if her lesson was understood. Could she have been hoping that Twilight and Shining Armor had enough time to react and reinforce their shield? Or was she merely gloating and this was just another way she went about doing just that?

So many questions rolled in Twilight’s head, only for Sunset Shimmer’s horn to glow once more, and a second construct of solid magic came into being. This time Twilight noticed something different about the energy that gathered around her killer’s horn, most notable being the fact that it was a different color. Sure it was still gold, but it also lacked the distinct red parts that Twilight had noticed around her horn until now.

What did it mean? Was it perhaps related to how she was being puppeted? Or perhaps it meant nothing at all and Twilight was seeing clues where there were none.

Time slowed once more, the usual events playing out again, but even the coming loss of her mother playing out once again did not bother the dead mare. She watched as Sunset’s face briefly flashed with confusion and resistance, as if the pony was struggling to stop herself from casting her own spell. Then it was gone, and Shining Armor’s shield broke, Twilight was pushed out of the way, and her mother died again.

No matter how much looking away hurt her, Twilight was determined to stay focused on Sunset Shimmer throughout it all, hoping to find some sort of hint that may help her unwind this puzzle. Twilight didn't see her mother try to speak her final words, nor did she watch as the elder mare died, Twilight’s gaze glued to a terrified and guilt-stricken Sunset Shimmer. Who stood there, shocked and confused by what had occurred, her horn dull and her eyes wide.

Then Twilight felt her body move and power grow, and though Sunset Shimmer did indeed light her horn and conjure a barrier, she seemed to struggle with the action. Magic came slowly to her, and for a moment her shield was only a single flat wall before whatever was controlling her won out and forced her to construct a more complete dome shield. Twilight couldn't help but wonder what she was resisting, what she was fighting against, and why she resisted at all.

She heard herself yell, felt magic course through her and erupt from her horn in a torrent of magical power the likes of which she had never attempted before. The house shifted, her beam increased in size and scale, yet Twilight knew that Sunset Shimmer would be unharmed. The past was written already, and Sunset Shimmer could not be injured, no matter how many times Twilight lived out these events.

Her horn dulled, and the magic sputtered to a stop, and a second later the dust and debris cleared to reveal an angry-looking unicorn. Yet her rage was not directed at Twilight, but rather some other direction entirely, though what that was, Twilight didn't know.

“Why does Celestia want me dead?” she asked, not meaning a single word.

Twilight’s heart pounded, her mind reeled, and she could feel panic set into her body, yet not her mind. The dead mare could feel more power return to her, and she felt as though she could move a leg or two if she wanted to. Yet she didn't, not yet anyway as the mare told herself that her time would come soon, but patience was necessary, for now.

“You are a necromancer,” Sunset Shimmer replied weakly, a frown on her face.

“Necromancy is impossible!” Twilight yelled, her lips continuing to move without any direction on her part.

“Tsk tsk, Twilight. Some would say that living without a nervous system was impossible too, but yet, here you are. Yes, I know about your little condition, and I know it only got worse as you grew older. You shouldn't be able to move or even breathe, but yet here you are!” Sunset Shimmer declared with what seemed like genuine admiration.

The fiery maned unicorn trotted forward, standing tall and unafraid. “And necromancy isn't impossible, just really, really difficult, and only able to be learned by a select few.”

Why was she talking like that? Twilight wondered. Why was she talking like she was giving another lesson to her? What was the point of spouting such strange exposition, knowing that she was going to have to kill Twilight in the end?

“Oh yes, you can learn the magic of the soul. And to top it all off, you gave the old bitch the silent treatment for an entire day. That's usually enough to earn a quick death.” The golden mare chuckled, real mirth coming to her eyes.

“Why are you here? I thought you were killed by the guard five years ago-” Twilight began, only to be cut off when Sunset’s horn began to glow for a second.

Then it was gone, dismissed by the unicorn suddenly stepping forward, her movements jerky, and uncoordinated for a reason Twilight could not explain.

“Blah blah, my patience is running thin, and I have one last thing to say to you. Which you will be surprised to know is a compliment.” The golden mare smirked though Twilight could tell that beneath the cocky expression she was clenching her jaw, and holding back something.

“Your spell use was impressive, your overcharge of mana bolt was simple and elegant, easy to cast and just as easy to dump more power into. I like it,” Sunset declared, a small genuine smile flashing across her face before it was wiped away. “You know another good spell that’s simple but can be used quite elegantly? Telekinesis.” The mare’s smirk grew into a cartoonishly wolfish grin as her horn lit with power, as if she were demonstrating the spell rather than simply using it.

The pain that bloomed in Twilight’s chest was small, and she watched closely as Sunset Shimmer took another step forward, her limbs continuing to jerk and pull her body forward. “Wha-hr,” Twilight grunted and looked down, only to find that there was more to the glow then what she’d first noticed.

There on her chest was a detailed arcane script of sorts, illuminated in golden magic and displaying how to cast an altered telekinesis version of the standard telekinesis spell. Twilight’s head jerked away immediately, and she understood why she hadn't noticed the detail within the glow now, for she only gazed upon it for mere milliseconds before turning away in terror. Yet now, Twilight was able to look down upon the script and commit it to memory as Sunset Shimmer took another jerky step forward.

“With telekinesis, I can grab your heart and hold it like I am right now, stopping you from doing anything and making your body utterly panic without killing you.” The tightness increased threefold and Twilight’s legs fell out from under her.

Though her gaze was drawn down to the ground as her vision swam, Twilight forced herself to deviate slightly and looked up and saw the tears as they ran down the other pony’s face. She saw all the heartache, guilt, and agony that flowed through the pony’s features like water, her voice becoming strained as she moved to kill Twilight once again. “Or I can give a gentle squeeze and pop it like a grape, like this!”

Yet the tightness never increased, as Twilight was no longer on the ground, but was instead lurching forward. Her body, which had up until this point been distant, and unable to follow her commands suddenly heeded her call once more. Hooves extended and Twilight wrapped them tight around the neck of her mother’s killer, squeezing tightly.

“I forgive you,” Twilight whispered.

“W-what?” Sunset Shimmer muttered, her horn winking out as the world began to fall apart around them.

“I know she’s controlling you, making you do these things,” Twilight whispered, tears flowing down her face. “I know you want to die, I know you wanted me to kill you and I… forgive you.”

Great shards of the house fell away like chunks of glass, revealing a writhing darkness just behind it. Twilight’s family vanished, the street beyond vanished, everything breaking apart until nothing was left but Twilight and Sunset Shimmer. She squeezed tighter, hoping against hope that the real Sunset Shimmer, wherever she was, got the message.

“I’m sorry.” Sunset whispered, a tear trailing down her cheek.

And then, even they shattered, leaving behind nothing but darkness.

Twilight lurched forward, her legs having turned to jello and leaving her sprawled out on the ground. Images of the last moments she had shared with Sunset Shimmer flashed through her mind, memories of the spell she had been given remaining fresh in her mind. Twilight wondered if Sunset Shimmer was alive somewhere, and if she knew how Twilight felt. If that were true, Twilight knew she wouldn't find out for a long time, if at all, but the knowledge that she had at least tried felt good.

Putting her hooves under her once more, Twilight forced herself into a standing position, though her legs continued to shake and her body seemed ready to rebel against her. After several shaky and unnecessary breaths, the lanky unicorn rose fully and looked around the room. Which seemed the same, with little having changed save for the fact that the great nightmare which had menaced her up until now was now little more than a mewling mass that writhed before the unicorn.

It looked and acted like a beaten dog, recoiling from Twilight’s gaze and attempting to hide in the darkest corner of the room. Upon seeing the nightmare Twilight felt rage and righteous indignation flare in her chest and for a moment she considered destroying the creature. She quickly put such a thought from her mind however, as the creature was not truly sentient, and was also most likely acting upon her own final command. An ironic and utterly unfunny twist of fate, Twilight decided.

With a sigh, she turned from the nightmare and surveyed the rest of the room.

Behind Twilight stood her friends, each one locked in the same stance they had been in since Twilight had walked into the room. Though they had not moved, Twilight could tell something had changed, as they all seemed slightly thinner. How long had they been standing there? How much longer could they take?

Twilight didn't want to think of the answers to those questions and instead focused on the bones of her past self and the necklace it held in her grip. Walking over to it, Twilight leaned down and sighed. “Thank you,” she whispered to the corpse.

After a moment of silence, Twilight reached forward and grabbed the other half, knowing full well that another memory was coming.

She stood over a table at the basement of the library, a great number of papers splayed out before her. They covered a great many topics, from dragon culture to myths to magical theory and seemingly everything in between. Notes scrawled on slips of yellow paper were placed here and there throughout the great pile, though Twilight didn't know what they said.

She felt her hoof rise and point to a seemingly random chunk of papers as if they were important. “Discord is the key to all of this,” Twilight declared.

Beside her, Spike leaned on the table and looked at the spot, only to scratch his head with a clawed finger. “How does ancient dragon legend make sense of any of what has happened?” he asked.

“It doesn't matter anymore, but suffice it to say he's the key to everything, Spike,” Twilight declared swiftly, before turning towards the diminutive dragon and wrapping him in a tight hug. “What matters is that the tree will protect you if anything happens.”

“If anything happens? What are you talking about, Twilight? What is going on? I just wanted to know what all this was about and what you were doing down here,” Spike demanded, gripping the lanky limbed unicorn by the shoulders.

“There is no time to explain. Something terrible is brewing, and we need all the allies we can get if we are going to fight order,” Twilight explained.

“Fight order? Twilight, please just tell me what's going on,” Spike pleaded.

Twilight sighed, and gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. “I’m afraid I can't, time is short enough as is. All you need to know is that the tree is old, and such things tend to gain a personality, trust in it to protect you and I swear I’ll return one day.”

“Return? You are not going to leave me, are you?” Spike begged, his clawed hands clutching Twilight tighter.

“I might have to,” Twilight announced with a gentle frown. “The circle has been established, and must be broken. I don't expect you to understand, please, just trust me on this.”

Spike nodded meekly, tears flowing down his cheeks, the dragon trying to contain his sobs in an attempt to appear as strong as he wished he was. “I’m scared, mom,” he whispered.

“I’m scared too,” Twilight whispered back, planting a kiss on the dragon’s forehead. “If something goes wrong, one half of the amulet will teleport to you. At which you are to go to the panic room and not come out until you hear my voice, got it?”

“Why though? I thought you said the amulet will protect you, don't you need it?” Spike pressed.

Twilight sighed, and gently wiped away the dragon’s tears with a hoof. “If it returns to you I won't need it anymore, but she will.”

“Who is she? What are you talking about?” Spike pressed, his voice becoming desperate.

“I’m sorry, Spike, I wish I could tell you more, but there isn't any time.” Twilight pulled the young dragon into one last tight hug, squeezing him tightly. “Please, look after the library, okay? She’s old, and needs someone to look after her.”

The young dragon wept openly, tears crawling down his features and matting the fur around Twilight’s shoulder. The unicorn smiled softly and gently began to rock him side to side, humming softly. Slowly, Spike’s sobbing softened, his tears no longer a stream but only a steady trickle, until finally he stood there, sniffing softly, his grip as tight as ever.

“I promise you that somewhere, somehow, we will meet again,” Twilight vowed, gently, but firmly pulling Spike away from her shoulder so she could look him in the eye. “I swore I would never leave you, right?”

Spike nodded weakly. “Y-yeah.”

“And have I ever broken a promise to you before?” Twilight pressed.

Spike shook his head. “No.”

“And I don't plan on starting now.” Twilight leaned in and smiled. “Plus I’m pretty sure the whole apple clan would whoop my butt if I did.”

Spike smiled even while a few stray tears ran down his face. “They’d tan your hide, mom.”

“That they would,” Twilight declared with a smirk. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Spike replied quickly, taking an awkward step back. “What now?”

“Now you stay strong, and wait for me,” Twilight replied, rising to her full height once more and flexing her appendages.

Spike nodded slowly. “Good luck.”

“Thanks, Spike, stay safe, and remember, I’ll always be with you.”

Twilight blinked and looked around, quickly establishing that she was back in the dark room once more, a complete amulet in hoof. After placing a hoof against her chest, and deducing that she was indeed back in her regular body, she looked down upon the amulet. Turning it with her magic, Twilight could tell that the other half had been affixed perfectly, and the piece of jewelry was now well and truly whole.

Turning to where the nightmare cowered in a corner, Twilight gripped the amulet in one hoof, and pushed her magic into it before speaking loudly and confidently. “Come to me,” she commanded.

The nightmare seemed to strain against itself, one part of its body clinging to the darkness of the corner while the rest reached out towards her. “Come here,” Twilight repeated.

Instantly the nightmare lurched across the space, the alicorn-shaped shadow cowering before Twilight. “Release my friends,” Twilight spoke, pointing to her still catatonic companions.

The nightmare nodded quickly and zipped away, moving from being to being and releasing the hold it had on them. One by one, they seemed to awaken from their slumber, only to fall to the ground panting, and confused.

“What happened?” Rarity demanded, her wide eyes latching onto Twilight.

“And why am I so hungry?” Rainbow Dash added, a hoof clutched to her stomach.

“Trixie feels quite unpleas-” Trixie began only to turn and toss whatever still remained in her stomach into a nearby garbage bin.

“Oh no, Angel Bunny!” Fluttershy cried, the spirit spinning around as she searched for her friend and former vessel.

Twilight spun around and telekinetically dragged the nearest skeletal pony over to her. “Where is the bunny that was here?” she demanded.

The skeleton gulped, despite the fact that it had no muscles to do so with. “A few minutes after you all stopped moving he fell over and woke up an hour later. He tried to wake you all for a while but eventually gave up and hopped away.”

“Oh no!” Fluttershy cried, the spirit floating over to Twilight, temporarily forgetting her fear of being seen. “Twilight, we have to find him, he could be hurt!”

“Fluttershy, stay calm, he's a smart bunny, chances are he left to go find food and is sticking nearby,” Twilight reasoned, placing a hoof on the non-corporeal being’s shoulder. “We are safe now, you can go find him. We’ll meet back up in town, okay?”

“Y-yes. Please tell the girls I didn't abandon them, and that I’ll see them again soon,” Fluttershy added, the young spirit glancing over her shoulder at her friends who were in various states of disarray and sickness.

“I will, Fluttershy, I promise,” Twilight vowed.

“Uh, can you let me go now, please?” Beaker asked.

Rolling her eyes, Twilight dropped the skeleton, and turned her attention to her friends. Some of whom were relieving themselves behind tables, or were otherwise throwing up and generally feeling unpleasant. “Fluttershy is fine and is going to look for Angel Bunny, she wants you all to know she didn't leave you and that she’ll see you soon,” Twilight yelled.

A chorus of weak affirmations could be heard scattered throughout the room, with only Rainbow Dash’s enthusiastic, “Thank the stars,” audible over the sound of sickness.

“What is wrong with them?” Twilight asked, turning back to Beaker.

“They have been standing in one place for a week. Even with the magic of the tower helping to sustain them, they will still suffer some unfortunate reactions. Such as, but not limited to vomiting, nausea, disorientation, diarrhea-” Beaker explained, only to have his muzzle slammed shut by Twilight’s magic.

“I get it,” she replied, before releasing him.

Looking out over her friends, Twilight frowned, both glad for and annoyed by her status as a member of the undead. For though she did not suffer any ill effects of standing in one place for so long, she also couldn't summon any serious healing magic to aid them. Though she supposed raising them from the dead would be a kind of aid, if she actually knew how to do such a thing of course.

Sighing, Twilight turned back to the nightmare, who visibly wilted under her gaze. “Gather the books and bring them here,” she commanded, pointing to the heavy tomes her former self had coveted so much.

The creature nodded before zipping away, with Twilight putting its presence quickly from her mind. Though she couldn't really blame the creature for what it had done, it still irked her that it had tortured her friends in such a brutal manner. The sound of the books being placed next to her drew Twilight from her thoughts, and she turned and quickly stowed the heavy books in her bags, tossing aside the rotten fruit and contaminated water that had been taking up space.

“So, how do you girls feel?” Twilight asked hesitantly, watching Rainbow Dash as she wiped her lips and straightened what armor she had left.

“Like I just went through boot again,” she lamented dryly. “How much of our supplies are left?”

Twilight shrugged. “Anything not magically preserved is likely gone.”

“Dammit all. We are going to need to get back to town or otherwise find supplies tonight, or we’re gonna start dropping like flies.” Rainbow Dash lamented.

“Did someone mention flies?” Rarity asked, the arachne scurrying up to them.

“No, not flies, flies,” Rainbow Dash replied, wiggling her wings in emphasis.

“Oh poo,” Rarity lamented. “I’m so hungry I wouldn't mind going au naturale.”

“Your tellin’ me,” Applejack replied, the mare stumbling past a half destroyed table and revealing that she had lost a significant amount of color, and the tree upon her back had lost a lot of its leaves. “I feel like ground manure.”

“Darling, you look dreadful!” Rarity declared, running over to her and uncorking her water bottle. “Please drink, you need to keep your strength up.”

“Thanks, Rares,” Applejack replied weakly, before gulping down every last drop of water she could. “That was good, but if I don't see the moon soon, I’m gonna shrivel up for good here.”

Trixie stumbled over to them, seemingly the least worse for wear. “And I must return to mother soon, she is likely worried sick by now.”

“Do you need an escort?” Rainbow Dash offered. “‘Cause I can't offer much help unless you come back to town first, my duty is to my friends first.”

“Though that is admirable, I do not need assistance whatsoever,” Trixie declared with a smile.

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? There are a lot of traps out there, and that's not even taking the golems into consideration.”

Trixie smirked. “I am more resourceful than you give me credit for, Sparkle!” The unicorn’s smirk grew wider still. “Plus I copied all of Rainbow Dash’s notes and maps while she slept.”

“Why you little, those are night guard property! You cannot replicate them without authorization!” Rainbow Dash declared, jabbing a hoof into the mare’s chest and nearly falling over when she didn't hit anything solid.

“Trixie needs no one's permission!” yelled the illusionist from across the room, before laughing haughtily as she walked out the door and disappeared into the gloom.

“If I ever see her again, I’m going to strangle her with that stupid hat of hers,” Rainbow Dash declared, as she picked herself up off the ground.

Snickering to herself, Twilight turned to the nightmare which was hiding in her shadow. “Now girls, I know you are going to freak out, but the nightmare is on our side now, and we are going to need its help if we are going to get out of here in a timely fashion.”

“You what?” Rainbow Dash groaned and facehoofed. “That thing nearly killed us all, well, except you.”

“Yeah, I don't know how I feel about relying on something that nearly killed me an’ Bloomberg, never mind the rest of y’all,” Applejack added hesitantly.

“Well I for one will just be glad to leave this place and if it can help us do it, then so be it,” Rarity declared.

“Yer just saying that ‘cause it helped ya loose that pesky ten pounds you were always complainin’ about,” Applejack remarked with a snicker, which turned into a dry, raspy cough.

Smiling gently, Rarity gently patted her friend on the back. “Though true, I am a little more worried about you.”

Rainbow Dash sighed and leaned in close. “Look, can this thing bring us back to the teleporter thing quickly or not? And I assume you have a plan to unstone the library?”

Twilight turned and looked down at her shadow. “Can you bring us there?” A small equine shape rose from the darkness and nodded. “I have a good idea on how to remedy our library issue as well.”

Rainbow Dash pursed her lips but reluctantly nodded. “We better get moving then.”

“Rise and present yourself to everyone,” Twilight commanded.

The nightmare creature slowly rose, until it was the same height as the average pony, its body resembling Luna’s from Twilight’s memories, only lacking all definition, and being as black as the night. Responses from her friends were mixed and muted, though all at least understood the necessity of the creature’s assistance.

Stepping forward, Applejack nodded to the thing and extended a hoof. “Name’s Applejack.”

The nightmare seemed to raise an eyebrow and glance down to Twilight, who nodded. Shakily, the shadow creature bumped her hoof against Applejack’s, who chuckled. “Kinda feels like petting some sorta weird cat,” she exclaimed.

Rarity cleared her throat and stepped forward. “Though I do not forgive you for what you’ve done, you may begin to make it up to us by assisting in our escape.”

The nightmare nodded and glanced down to Rainbow Dash, who snorted in barely contained irritation. “I forgive you. You are pretty much an aspect of the moon, and I know you were only acting on orders. Or at least I am pretty sure you were.”

Twilight nodded. “I think she was charged with protecting me, only to not stop doing that after my previous incarnation died.”

“Wait, don't tell me those were your bones back there?” Applejack grimaced.

“In a way they were,” Twilight remarked slowly, shaking her head. “None of that matters now though. Nightmare, please use whatever manner most expedient to return us to the teleporter platform.”

The creature nodded once before sinking back into the ground and stretching out until the floor around all four of them turned as black as its body was. “Twilight, what is it doing?” Rainbow Dash asked hesitantly, watching the thing as it continued to grow.

“I believe she’s using a teleportation method called shadow gating,” Twilight began, only to pause and scratch her head. “I’m not sure how I knew that though.”

“Goodbye. Please come back soon and give us some new orders!” Beaker interrupted.

“I will. For now you two can continue to guard the door and not let anyone in,” Twilight replied.

Rarity sighed and lifted a leg, glancing down at the puddle of darkness she now stood in. “Well so long as we don't have to waaalk!” she cried, the arachne and her three friends briefly becoming airborne for a split second after the ground opened up.

Then, before anyone knew it, solid ground was under them once more, and around them was the now familiar sight of the teleportation room. “Well, that wasn't so bad,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“Speak for yourself,” Applejack replied, a hoof pressed against her lips, her cheeks bulging.

“Come on, we don't have much time. Beaker mentioned the magic of the tower helped to keep you girls alive and healthy, but we don't know what kind of side effects might occur,” Twilight hastened, already standing in place atop the teleportation pad.

Off to the side, the nightmare reformed and shook its head, pointing a hoof down at the ground.

“Somethin tells me it ain't comin’ with us,” Applejack remarked.

“You have orders to remain here, don't you?” Twilight asked, prompting the nightmare to nod. “Ones I can't override, huh?”

Again, the nightmare nodded.

“Continue to guard the remains of my previous self, but don't kill anyone, remember?” Twilight commanded, her eyes narrowing.

The nightmare nodded meekly, and sunk into the shadows, quickly disappearing from sight.

Upon its departure, everyone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and assembled around Twilight. “Remember the rules?” Twilight asked, prompting her friends to all nod. “Good, now hold on tight, and try not to throw up on each other.”

“No promises,” Applejack muttered.

“I don't think I have anything left anyway,” Rainbow Dash added dryly.

“Please hurry, Twilight, I have no doubt my sister is worried sick by now,” Rarity remarked nervously.

“Right, hold on,” Twilight replied, her horn glowing brightly.

In a flash of light, all four beings found themselves once more within the depths of the Golden Oaks Library. The strange scent of petrified wood hit them at the same time that the oddly fresh, yet still slightly stale air did. Everyone save for Twilight continued to brace themselves for a few more seconds before looking around in confusion.

“I would have expected a greater discomfort,” Rarity murmured.

“Yeah, that wasn't half bad…” Rainbow Dash added.

“Let’s just get moving. Maybe we can figure out how to unpetrify this place upstairs. If not I’m busting one of these walls down,” Applejack declared with a snort.

Twilight nodded grimly and followed her friends up the stairs until they once more stood in the library proper. “I’m going to try announcing myself again,” Twilight began. “Maybe now that I have the complete amulet it will work.”

Applejack shrugged. “Might as well give it a shot I suppose.”

Without any additional prompting, the unicorn took off the amulet and raised it into the air. “My name is Twilight Sparkle, and I ask that you unpetrify this door!”

After a few moments of silence, Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Well it was worth a try anyway. What's the plan? ‘Cause right now busting down that door sounds like a good idea.”

“Wait, hold on,” Rarity interrupted, the arachne standing up as tall as possible. “Do you hear that?”

“Hear what?” Applejack asked, looking up. “Sounds mighty quiet to me.”

“I hear it too,” Twilight murmured, the unicorn settling the necklace back around her neck.

“Is that… leaves rustling?” Rainbow Dash asked.

As if answering her question, the roof of the library began to glow a bright, vibrant purple light which slowly began traveling down the walls, revealing brown, living wood in its wake. A chorus of shocked gasps came from the friends, who watched in awe as the tree unpetrified itself, seemingly of its own volition. The glowing ring of magic fixed books, shelves, and everything else it touched, revealing the items to be completely normal, and utterly unharmed by spending a millenium in stone.

Pale moonlight spilled through the now normal windows of the library, revealing the confused faces of passers-by, and a sight that filled everyone with relief. Ponyville, in all its strange, and beautiful glory now surrounded them, showing that they were now near a busy street at the very heart of the small village.

“Gawking can wait, we need to get you two medical care immediately,” Rainbow Dash announced, as she pushed open the door.

“I’m just a little famished is all,” Rarity replied, only to wince when her stomach began to turn. “On second thought, that does seem like a good idea.”

“I need to tell Granny, Mac and Bloom that I’m alright first,” Applejack declared with as much conviction as she could muster, which wasn't much as she very nearly fell over after taking two steps out the door.

“I’ll send a runner as soon as I can, and they can meet you in the hospital,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, glaring at the stumbling pony.

“Fine, but y’all better do the same for Rarity’s sister,” Applejack replied.

“Of course,” Rainbow Dash vowed, before turning to Rarity. “Do you need a hoof?”

“No, I think I can manage walking there,” Rarity answered. “Though I do think our stubborn friend is hurting more than she’s likely to tell us.”

Rainbow Dash nodded and trotted next to Applejack, allowing the farm pony to lean on her, despite how much she didn't want to admit needing said support. Grumbling to herself, Applejack continued to trot towards the hospital in the distance, only to stop after a few feet, her breathing coming in labored gasps.

“Should I come too?” Twilight asked hesitantly. “I know I’m not exactly alive, but I’d like to still be there for you girls.”

Rainbow Dash shook her head. “The guard is gonna come running in a matter of seconds, you better stay here and answer any questions while keeping the general public out of the library. They might mean well, but we can't have anyone running off with the books before we know what's in them.”

Twilight nodded, and took a step back. “Please let me know what the doctor has to say.”

Rarity smiled, and placed a hoof on her friends' shoulder. “Of course, darling, you just relax and hold down the fort, I’m sure we'll be back in a jiffy, as they say.”

Twilight smiled faintly. “You can count on me.”

With one last squeeze, Rarity pulled back her limb and turned down the street where Rainbow Dash and Applejack had disappeared. Leaving Twilight alone, with the whispering crowd of confused individuals who were gathering near the entrance. Summoning her courage, Twilight took a step forward and rose to her full and considerable height.

“The library is not open yet I’m afraid. If someone could find a night guard and alert them of this change that would be wonderful, thank you,” she announced.

The crowd suddenly grew silent, and a short, sickly changeling took a step forward. “So it's true. The Tree of Harmony has really returned?”

“I’m pretty sure it's called the Golden Oaks Library, not the Tree of Harmony, but yeah, it’s back,” Twilight corrected.

More shocked gasps and renewed muttering, but before anyone could say anything of importance, a pink blur rocketed out of the crowd and tackled Twilight to the floor of the library. “Ohmygoshyouareokay!” it blurted.

After her eyeballs stopped rolling around in their sockets, Twilight looked up to see a teary eyed Pinkie Pie looking down at her. “Pinkie, how did you get here so fast?”

“My Pinkie sense kept telling me to come to Ponyville everytime I tried to go looking for you, so I stayed in town and searched but couldn't find anything. Until now of course!” the earth pony announced before gripping the dead unicorn and hugging her tightly. “Oh I’m so glad you are back, how are the rest of the girls?”

Twilight silently thanked whatever god was listening for the fact that she did not actually need to use her lungs anymore as something told her she would have asphyxiated then and there. “Injured, but not life threateningly. They were heading to the hospital if you want to go visit,”

Pinkie gasped while recoiling, eyes wide. “Are they really all okay?”

Twilight nodded, the unicorn able to feel the veritable flood of energy that was emitted by the pink troll. “Exhaustion and malnutrition will likely keep them down for a few days, but they will make a full recovery, I’m certain of it.”

“And you? Are you hungry too? ‘Cause I made a whole batch of super special pick me up brownies for just such an occasion!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, pulling an entire pan of baked goods from her mane.

“As tempting as that sounds, you’ve already given me all I need, Pinkie. Now if you don't mind, I think the guards are here,” Twilight replied, pointing to the door where a pair of bat ponies stood looking in.

“Oh right!” Pinkie hopped off the unicorn and pulled Twilight up all in a single fluid motion. “Make sure to wait for me before you go on your next adventure!”

“You were there, Pinkie.” Twilight dusted herself off and nodded. “In a way”

The troll paused mid-stride and cocked her head. “What do you mean?”

“You were there in spirit,” Twilight responded with a smile. “Oh and try not to pressure the girls into telling you what happened. It was…. harrowing.”

Pinkie stopped by the door and flashed Twilight a winning smile. “Okalee dokalee, see you at the victory party!”

In a flash, the pink troll was gone once more, leaving Twilight with a pair of confused guards. “So, I’m assuming you are going to want answers,”

“Actually, we have standing orders to lock down the library should it ever appear. We were just hoping you would let us know if there are any other ways to get into the premises that isn't through a window or door,” the thestral mare replied.

Twilight blinked and scratched her head. “Well, there is a teleporter in the basement, but it’s connected to one of the lower levels of the undertower and can only be used by someone with a horn.”

“So we don't have to worry about anything else then,” finished the mare’s partner, a slightly shorter thestral with an identical dark coat and steely blue eyes. “I’ll take roving patrol if you wanna stay on guard.”

The mare nodded. “Got it, oh and Sparkle?”

“Yes?”

“Commander Dark Hallow is on his way, you’d best have your story straight by the time he gets here,” the mare replied before pulling the door closed.

Twilight bit her lip and began to pace, her mind already conjuring numerous possibilities, each more gruesome than the last. “Calm down, Twilight, you didn't do anything wrong. You are just freaked out because this whole thing is moving so fast all of a sudden”

Looking around for something to distract herself with, she only then realized that she was in a library. Slapping herself upside the head, the unicorn trotted over to the veritable wall of books before her. With her curiosity sparked, and the exhaustion she had felt nipping at her gone now that Pinkie had helped her in that regard, she no longer craved sleep and instead found herself feeling listless.

The excitement of her most recent brush with death still lingered, and while she felt as though she should speak with someone about what had happened, she knew no one would understand what she had gone through. Her friends might, but they were indisposed, and with her only halfway decent option now gone, Twilight determined that a distraction was needed in order to keep her wandering thoughts from dwelling on what she had seen. It was hard to do however, as there was a considerable part of her that knew something was wrong with her, that some deep part of her had become unmoored after her recent traumatic experience.

The suffering she had experienced had felt surreal after washing up on the bank of that river, but now after she had been forced to go through it all over again, it felt real once more. Picking her way through random books, Twilight hunted for something mentally challenging, lest she see her mother’s face once again.

“Linus’ Big Book of Riddles and Puzzles. Not what I’d usually pick, but at least you can help me eat a few hours,” Twilight muttered to the book.

Sitting down on one of the chairs, Twilight flipped open the book to a random page and began to read. She hardly made it more than a handful of riddles before she heard the basement door open, breaking her concentration before she could even get into the book.

Turning around, Twilight heard someone gasp, and then something warm suddenly impacted her chest, a pair of arms wrapping around her. “You are alive!” cried the dragon.

Twilight’s jaw hung open when she realized she had completely dismissed the dragon as relevant, her mind evidently still reeling from what she had just experienced. Though the unicorn knew it was a silly assumption, Twilight had merely guessed that unstoning the dragon would only be possible after going on another adventure of some kind. Now that said dragon was hugging her tightly, and crying on her shoulder, she was left baffled, and too confused to utter anything other than a single word.

“Spike?”

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