“Oh, uh…” Twilight blinked. “Yes?”

“Are you asking me if you are no longer allergic to them?” Celestia raised an eyebrow.

“No. I was just, um… thinking about something. Sorry about that,” Twilight hastily answered, even while a part of her told her to turn and run as far away as possible.

“You’re not planning any more silly little contingency plans, are you?” Celestia inquired, a smirk visible on her features.

“I think I have enough,” Twilight declared as confidently as she could muster.

“Are you sure you're not allergic though? You look rather flushed. Which is weird, considering your condition,” Celestia exclaimed, waving a hoof at the mare.

“I’m just fine,” Twilight replied. “I was merely distracted, and you surprised me.”

“Oh, that's good,” Celestia stated and gestured towards the treehome. “Shall we continue this conversation inside?”

“Oh, um, sure.” Twilight hastily stepped forward and opened the door.

Stepping into the home, Twilight seated herself on the chair that didn't have a sun emblazoned on the back. As she was getting herself comfortable on the slightly too large seat, Twilight noticed that Celestia was looking at her strangely.

“Did you also forget which is my favorite chair?” Celestia asked in a teasing tone of voice.

Twilight blinked and stood up, extending a hoof. “Right. Sorry about that, err, allow me to put those in some water.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow, but handed over the flowers anyway.

The unicorn quickly made her way over to the kitchen, her mind still reeling after the sudden appearance of the terrifying alicorn. Twilight tried to remind herself that this wasn't the same Celestia, but it was hard not to panic at the mere sight of her. This was the pony responsible for torturing and enslaving Sunset Shimmer, as well as killing Twilight’s mother.

Twilight was also fairly certain that the alicorn had likely killed both her brother and father, or at the bare minimum wiped their minds. The solar princess was also a warmonger and a tyrant with more crimes to her name than the entire population of Canterlot. With all that in mind, it was hard to dismiss the fear, rage, and bitter indignation that welled in Twilight’s chest as she walked across the room.

Her guilt weighed heavier still though, and after reminding herself that this wasn't her life, Twilight breathed a little easier. After all, if this Twilight had seen fit to fancy the alicorn, then surely she couldn't be evil, at least not yet, anyway.

With a sigh, Twilight retrieved a tall cup, summoned some water with a spell, and dropped the wildflowers into it. She then placed them on the counter before seating herself on the open chair across from Celestia. As she did so, Twilight couldn't help but notice how closely Celestia was watching her, as if she were suspicious of the unicorn.

“Is something the matter?” Twilight asked, doing her best not to let the fear she felt seep into her voice.

“Several things, though the first of my thoughts is simple curiosity, as I can't help but wonder why you would put the flowers in that cup,” Celestia inquired.

Twilight blinked. “To help make them last a little longer, of course.”

“So that is why…” Celestia murmured, rubbing her chin. “I thought it was only the roots which took in water.”

This really does feel like the stone ages, Twilight thought before clearing her throat. “Yes and no. The water won't keep them alive for long, but it does extend their life for at least a little while.”

Celestia nodded. “Interesting.”

“So…” Twilight began somewhat awkwardly. “Why are you here? Shouldn't you be in Canterlot?”

Celestia laughed aloud. “Not all of us are married to our work, you know. Though perhaps I wouldn't mind such a scenario, provided you changed your name to Work.”

Twilight did her best not to cringe, but judging from Celestia’s frown, Twilight hadn't managed to resist that urge.

“Err, right,” Twilight muttered.

“Are you absolutely sure nothing is wrong?” Celestia inquired a little more forcefully. “Usually you love my awkward pick-up lines and grandfather jokes.”

Twilight schooled her expressions and quickly concocted a lie. “I’m sorry, dear. I just saw those ex slaves on the way back from town, and I’m afraid my mood is rather shot, as they say.”

Celestia sighed, immediately settling back into her chair, as a small frown crossed her face. “I understand. It is rather concerning just how many of our ponies have been forced to serve those scaled fiends.”

“Indeed,” Twilight murmured. “I can't imagine what some of them have gone through.”

“I suppose you wouldn't have seen the worst of it, given your own status in their twisted hierarchy,” Celestia remarked.

This Twilight had been a slave? No wonder everyone viewed her with a mixture of awe and pity. Twilight cleared her throat. “Let's change the subject, shall we? Why are you really here? Or is it just to observe my beauty?”

Celestia laughed gracelessly. “Oh, that is good, but no. I’m afraid I do not have time to bask in your iridescent glow.”

Twilight sighed dramatically. “A shame.”

“Yes well… that can wait for another time,” Celestia murmured before sitting upright. “I actually came here today in order to inquire if you had given Luna and I’s request any more consideration?”

Twilight tried to keep her expression neutral while she rubbed her chin and made herself look thoughtful. Does she mean raising Cadance? I mean, it has to be that, right? What other major requests could there possibly be?

“We should be able to continue soon,” Twilight stated. “Provided there have been no other changes.”

Celestia shook her head. “No. Cadance’s spirit is still on this plane, and the method of giving you the temporary boost you will require has proven successful during my trials.”

“Excellent,” Twilight remarked, clopping her forehooves together. “Then we can get moving on the actual ritual within a fortnight.”

“That soon?” Celestia asked, her eyes widening considerably.

Twilight nodded. “I need to check my notes and run a few more tests in Hollow Shades, but I’m fairly confident that such last minute checks won't change anything.”

“That is wonderful news!” Celestia exclaimed, leaping out of her chair. “To think you have not only single-hoofedly brought down the eternal empire, but will also return to me my dearest sister. Truly you are a force to be reckoned with, my love.”

“I haven't done so yet,” Twilight warned. “And I have not done so alone.”

Celestia chuckled. “Humble as always, I see.”

Twilight bowed her head slightly. “It is the truth.”

“Say, if she is returned to us soon, would that make me the eldest sister?” Celestia inquired in a slightly comical tone. “I mean, she wasn't that much older than me when she passed, and it's been a little while.”

Twilight shrugged. “I think you’ll have to take that up with her.”

Celestia smiled and leaned back in her chair. “So. What else is new around here? Have they finally decided on a name for this place yet?”

Twilight shrugged. “There is some construction going on, and the dome is being rebuilt into a community space of some kind. Other than that, I’m afraid I haven't really been paying attention to the minute of the town’s going-ons due to my other more pressing concerns.”

“Don't worry about it, that's about as much as I know about Canterlot,” Celestia admitted. “My sister is doing her best to organize the construction and has left me with little to do other than assist in the grunt work.”

“She's putting you to work already?” Twilight replied with a smirk.

“At least she hasn't broken out the whip yet…” Celestia began before leaning in close to the mare. “I leave that to you alone, of course.”

Twilight blushed and cleared her throat. “How is it going then? The construction, that is.”

Celestia shrugged. “Not bad. A lot of ponies want to abandon the project, but Luna is quick to remind everyone of the various other nations which have sprung up already or will soon enough.”

“This settlement of yours would certainly be difficult to assail, given that you no longer need to worry about dragon attack,” Twilight reasoned.

“Exactly,” Celestia stated, clopping her forehooves together. “Such fortification will enable us to state for all the world to hear that we are here, we are strong, and that we aren't going anywhere.”

“Plus it is fairly central,” Twilight pointed out.

Celestia nodded. “Indeed, it is. Once we have constructed a wider road up the mountainside, the castle will serve as an excellent trading hub and center for our budding bureaucracy.”

Twilight nodded. “Very well thought out. Perhaps in time it can grow into a proper city.”

Celestia snorted and waved a hoof in the air. “I care little for grand standing or the like. It will grow according to the needs of our ponies, and not on the whim of a leader who wishes to flaunt their empire’s holdings.”

Twilight’s shoulders fell ever so slightly. She was more than a little relieved to have an acknowledgement that this Celestia was not the monster Twilight knew from her time.

“As it should be,” Twilight stated. “Though I’m curious. Will you be returning to Canterlot after this and is that where you have decided to hold the ritual?”

Celestia chuckled and scratched her cheek somewhat awkwardly. “It is, and I’m supposed to be there right now, but I haven't seen you in so long that I couldn't resist sneaking away for a short visit.”

“Well, so long as you aren't shirking your duties,” Twilight replied.

Celestia rolled her eyes. “Sometimes I wonder if you’re my partner or my mother.”

Twilight coughed suddenly, a little caught off guard by the comment. “I don't want to touch that particular subject with a ten foot pole.”

Celestia let loose a deep belly laugh as Twilight struggled to regain her composure. “You are too fun to tease, you know that? If you didn't get all blushy and bashful, I probably wouldn't even do it.”

Twilight sighed. “Keep it up and you’ll be out on the street, missy.”

Celestia raised her hooves defensively. “Fine, fine. No more then.”

Twilight shook her head. “So, how is the rest of the surrounding area doing now that the dragons are gone?”

“Not bad…” Celestia began somewhat haltingly. “Most of the cities have finished burning at this point, and though the dragons were determined to leave nothing behind, we have saved a few key buildings.”

“Petty to the end,” Twilight murmured.

Celestia shook her head. “It's a waste. So many crops burned, so much food lost, and so many grand structures toppled needlessly. All to make sure we couldn't use them.”

“Or maybe they simply wanted the world to forget about them,” Twilight inquired.

“That would make sense, considering just how many libraries they put to the torch,” Celestia remarked.

Twilight frowned. “Don't remind me.”

“We saved what we could, at least. Maybe when we have built enough homes and have enough food, we can think about constructing a library in Canterlot,” Celestia remarked.

“Perhaps by then we will have more books penned by ponies to add to the collection,” Twilight offered.

“Wouldn't that be something, huh?” Celestia mused, leaning back in her chair. “No more will every book espouse the greatness of the eternal empire and the dragon race.”

Twilight nodded to herself.

The pair lapsed into a sudden silence, Twilight a little unsure of what to say while Celestia merely sat there, staring off into space. The alicorn seemed lost in her own thoughts for several seconds, though it passed quickly with the mare vigorously shaking her head.

“You know, I’ve been meaning to mention it before, but I’m still a little baffled that you would consider creating a magical failsafe to reawaken the dragons,” Celestia exclaimed. “I thought you of all people would want them to stay asleep forever.”

This Twilight thought of bringing them back? But why? Twilight thought to herself before quickly shifting her expression to something more neutral rather than shock. Perhaps she hoped to redeem them in time. That would make sense, since she considered Sinthgunt a part of her family.

“I had hoped that in time they could be turned away from their destructive ways,” Twilight began somewhat hesitantly. “After all, we have some evidence that they can be good.”

Celestia sighed, a flash of guilt passing over her face. “I suppose so. Either way, I’m just glad we put that particular project permanently on ice. Maybe in a few centuries we can think about awakening one or two of them.”

“All in due time,” Twilight replied, silently congratulating herself for responding as Celestia seemed to assume she would.

“Well, I better get going then,” Celestia announced suddenly, glancing out the window. “I should probably get back before someone notices I’m gone.”

“That might be a good idea. Don't want to start a panic, now do we?” Twilight stated, eagerly rising from her seat.

“I suppose not,” Celestia murmured wistfully. “Do I at least get a kiss goodbye?”

Revulsion welled deep in Twilight’s stomach, though she quickly pushed it right back down.

“That depends. Have you been good?” Twilight replied, hoping her tone sounded more jovial than she felt.

“Oh, I have, I swear!” Celestia eagerly proclaimed.

Twilight sighed. “I’m not sure if I believe you, but I suppose you have at least earned a small one.”

Celestia blushed. “Why thank you. I know you aren't a big fan of physical affection.”

“It's… fine,” Twilight murmured before leaning in and planting a small kiss on the alicorn’s cheek. “There.”

The alicorn grinned from ear to ear. “Oh my, that is quite the reward. Maybe I shouldn't tease Luna more often.”

Twilight chuckled and made a shooing motion towards the door. “Now then, off you go before someone forms a search party in order to try and find you.”

Celestia trotted out of the now open door and turned around. “Oh fine, but on our anniversary I’m having you all to myself for the entire day. Provided that's alright with you, of course.”

“Oh, uh, yeah. Of course,” Twilight awkwardly replied.

“Good,” Celestia stated. “I love you.”

“I know,” Twilight answered.

The alicorn gave the other pony an odd look before opening her great wings and taking flight. Within a few seconds Celestia was out of sight, and soon after not even the beat of her wings was audible. When finally all trace of the other mare was gone, Twilight closed the door and collapsed into an exasperated heap.

“I know? Really? You couldn't have just said you too?” Twilight muttered bitterly to herself. “Well, at least this version of myself isn't the affectionate type. I don't think I could have kissed her on the lips without throwing up.”

She rolled over onto her back and looked up at the ceiling, stretching her limbs out in all directions.

“I guess I can't just kill her. Despite the possibility of creating some infinite time loop, she is helping ponies at this point,” Twilight murmured. “Equestria might even end up invaded by some foriegn force worse than even Celestia if I got rid of her at this point.”

She released a long sigh as she lay there on the cool ground, bitter thoughts floating through her head.

“I guess I should get moving,” Twilight told the empty room. “I just need to ask for directions to Hollow Shades, go there, and check on my- er, this Twilight’s notes on this ritual.”

The unicorn hummed thoughtfully to herself. “Perhaps I should locate more baked goods for the trip. This time I’ll make sure to get blueberry.”

Twilight hopped back up. “Right, let’s go.”

Directions sure are easy in this time period, Twilight thought idly to herself. Follow one road until you end up where you want to go. If only things were so simple in the Everfree.

Twilight wondered if these ancient roads were still around in her time period and she simply hadn't noticed them. Though with the Everfree’s ability to move people back and forth through time, that certainly was a possibility. She might have even used the same gravel road she was using right at that moment and hadn't noticed before.

Ignoring the strange implications of such an idea, Twilight looked around, observing her surroundings carefully. Wide, flat plains stretched out in all directions, mostly covered in simple, unassuming grasses. The odd farm could be seen on occasion, though they were few and tended to stay grouped together, likely for protection.

The one thing Twilight didn't see much of was trees, as there was only the odd cluster here or there to break up the otherwise flat horizon. Even then, they were mostly stubby little things that had taken a beating from the wind and leaned in one direction. This was likely the only reason they hadn't been cut down, as the wood was unusable for large scale construction.

I am so bored, Twilight thought to herself. It's just flat ground in all directions with only a few hills to break up the monotony. You could run away from home, and they could watch you leave for three days.

Looking forward, Twilight could see a larger mass of green steadily growing in the distance, though it was still quite far away. It would be an hour or so before it was anything more than a thin line of trees poking up over the horizon. As she walked towards that distant sight, Twilight cursed herself for only bringing food and not a single book. The dusty road beneath her hooves was straight enough that she wouldn't even have to worry about accidentally wandering off while reading.

I’ll have to bring at least one back with me, she noted.

The unicorn sighed and let her mind wander as she walked towards the distant forest, time beginning to fly by as she stared off into space. She wondered about this Twilight, what she was like, and what kind of knowledge Twilight could give her if they ever met. Left to her own thoughts, she found herself drawn into a fantasy where she rapidly increased the technological growth of Equestria a hundred times over.

So all consuming was her daydreaming that Twilight hardly even noticed as the sun began to dip low in the sky.

In front of her the wall of green had grown much larger, with smaller pockets of trees jutting away from the central mass. One such chunk of forest extended to Twilight’s right, the thick boughs and dense woodland making it difficult to see into it. The dense wood reminded Twilight of the Everfree, though not nearly as chaotic and without the ever-present feeling of wild magic that pervaded her adopted home.

A sudden movement to her right made Twilight stop and turn towards the noise, her ears perking up. Her first instinct was to light her horn, but she stopped herself, choosing to simply observe before she acted. She narrowed her gaze, her surprisingly sharp eyesight managing to pierce the gloom relatively easily.

She saw a short tree the same color as freshly fallen snow rise out of the mass of green. The strange plant grew from a mass of rocks, each of which was roughly the size of a pony, its pale roots intermingling with the many stones. It reminded Twilight of a cairn, though what such a thing was doing way out here was anyone’s guess.

“Well well well. Would you look at what we have here,” remarked a female voice.

Twilight mentally reprimanded herself for focusing on the first odd thing she saw and turned towards a trio of ponies who stood at the edge of the road. One was a pegasus mare while the other two were earth pony stallions, each of whom bore the marks of a former slave. Before Twilight could continue her inspection of the group, the lone mare stepped forward, an easy smirk on her face. She also had a hoof on the sheathed knife which was strapped to the front of her barrel.

“It looks like someone didn't get the news of the new toll,” stated the pegasus.

“That's not a very smart move, missy,” snickered the scrawnier of the two dirt-colored earth ponies who had a blue mane.

“Not smart at all,” added the slightly brawnier one whose mane was red.

“Why don't you cough up any valuables you got in those bags of yours before we have to get violent?” demanded the pegasus and smiled fakely.

Twilight took a moment to look over three ponies, noting that the two stallions were likely twins, given their matching colors and cutie marks. One of which was of an axe being swung at a tree while the other was of a scythe mid-swipe through a patch of wheat. They also had only simple leather armor while the pegasus wore a set of finely crafted chainmail, though none had a helmet.

Their weapons were also fairly pathetic, with the pegasus having but a simple short dagger while her followers held sharpened farm implements. It was a sight which would have made Twilight laugh, given she could bring all her magic to bear against them. This body wasn't quite as powerful, though it still likely had more than enough mana to overpower a trio of would be highwaymen.

Not like she wanted to start a fight though.

“Sure. Here ya go,” Twilight offered before shucking off the bags and tossing them at the robbers.

“Huh. I thought for sure you would start something, what with that look in your eye and all,” remarked the pegasus.

“Nah, she's too scared of us,” stated one of the dirt twins.

“Scared stiff, no doubt!” added the other before all three began to laugh.

“Hack, Slash, check out what she has for us. I’m gonna keep my eye on our little visitor,” commanded the mare and gestured to the bag.

The stallions nodded and ran off to the side, each one opening a bag before peering within. Bits of food were tossed aside, as were the writing materials that Twilight had brought along with her. With their contents now all over the road, the saddlebags were turned upside down and shaken profusely.

“Just some food and junk boss,” remarked one of them.

“What, that's it?” demanded the pegasus who shot Twilight a glare. “You aren't holding out on us, are you?”

“Does it look like I’m hiding something from you?” Twilight replied, gesturing to her naked body.

The pegasus snorted. “Well, don't that just beat all. How are we going to maintain our quota now?”

“We could sell her,” remarked one of the stallions.

“She is a longhorn,” pointed out the other. “I bet she knows plenty of spells.”

The pegasus’s gaze narrowed, reminding Twilight a lot of herself when she was younger and needed glasses before getting her eyes fixed with magic.

I doubt they even know what glasses are, Twilight thought to herself, only to blink. Wait. Did he just suggest selling me into slavery?

Twilight’s question was answered a second later when the pegasus’s eyes widened once more.

“Well, would you look at that. I bet old Sharp Beak would pay more than a few pieces of silver for such a fine specimen,” exclaimed the pegasus.

“Maybe then we could get real weapons,” muttered one of the stallions.

“Or at least a tent. I’m tired of sleeping on the ground all the time,” murmured the other.

Twilight frowned, and though she was already planning on defending herself, she wasn't sure how far she should take it. The twins’ necks were completely barren of fur, as if the collars they wore had worn were different from the other former slaves. They also had a few thin scars that made Twilight think they had been whipped more than a few times.

Upon closer inspection, Twilight realized their leather armor looked more like aprons the likes that smiths used. They also smelt like they hadn't washed themselves in days, and their fur was absolutely covered in burrs. All three of them were also fairly thin, the pegasus most of all, as Twilight noticed her eyes were slightly sunken.

The mare also had a nasty-looking jagged scar across her throat which was mostly hidden by the ragged clothes she wore under her chainmail shirt. Even her dagger, once removed from its sheath, looked rather pathetic, with half of the clearly dull blade covered in rust. Her goons weren’t much better off, as the shovel one wielded like an axe was missing a handle while his brother’s scythe had a chunk missing out of it.

The entire affair was more sad than anything, and honestly Twilight felt more pity than fear.

If only they hadn't decided to try to enslave me, Twilight thought to herself.

Then they were in motion, and Twilight lit her horn, firing off a concussive blast just as the pegasus mare was mid-leap. The bright blue orb of force had hit her attacker square in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her. Rolling to the left, Twilight heard a grunt of pain as the pony tumbled to the ground, likely unconscious, though the unicorn didn't bother to check.

Her goons weren’t far behind, and one of the slightly taller, more gaunt brothers was the first to arrive. Swinging his shovel in a fierce downward strike, he seemed intent on using the flat of his weapon to knock Twilight out. She appreciated that he wasn't trying to kill her, but she also wasn't about to just stand there and let him hit her.

Thankfully for Twilight, her enemy’s attack was telegraphed a mile away, and she had ample time to step to the right. This put the first stallion between Twilight and the second earth pony, leading to an awkward scuffle as one tried to go around the other.

“Dammit it, Hack, get out of my way!” shouted one.

“Screw you, Slash, I almost had her!” yelled the other.

Twilight used her magic to tug on the ear of Slash, while pulling the leg of Hack, leading the two brothers to crash into one another. A few more telekinetic tugs later, the pair were exchanging insults and shoves, having seemingly forgotten about Twilight entirely. The scene would have been a humorous one, had their ring leader not charged back in a second later, knife aimed for Twilight’s torso.

Not entirely confident in her ability to cast standard spells due to how weak they had been, Twilight chose to rely on necromancy for her defence. Which came in the form of a dozen ethereal blue green hooves which emerged from her forehoof. The pegasus reacted predictably, with the mare opening her wings and trying to go over them in order to get to Twilight.

The unicorn had seen this coming, however, and her conjured limbs reached up and grabbed the pegasus mid-flight. They then extended, winding their way around her opponent’s body and binding the mare in a cocoon of soul magic. After ensuring the struggling pony couldn't escape, Twilight turned to the squabbling siblings, half expecting them to be attacking her once again.

They were not, and were instead staring down at their leader in horror.

“What did you do to her?” asked Slash.

“She isn't dead, is she?” added Hack.

“She's fine, just taking a bit of a time out,” Twilight explained. “Unless you feel like attacking me. Then I could very easily turn her into gelatin.”

“What’s gelatin?” inquired the red-maned one.

His brother clopped a hoof upside the first one’s head. “Pay attention, we gotta get her out of there.”

“Don't try it,” warned Twilight, her eyes narrowing dangerously. “I don't want to hurt you, but I will, if you keep this up.”

The red eyed one shook his head. “You don't understand. Her master-”

“Ex master,” interrupted the blue eyed brother.

“Right, ex master used to tie her up in chains and bed sheets and leave her like that for days,” warned the first pony.

Twilight gasped in shock, now understanding as to why she had felt so little struggling after binding the pegasus. Releasing her hold on the mare, Twilight looked down in horror as the pony was cataonic and completely unmoving. Her eyes were open wide, yet her pupils were the size of pinpricks, her entire body remaining rigid despite being freed.

“Grab her back legs, I’ll grab the front,” remarked one of the brothers.

“Right, and don't drop her this time,” added the other.

Twilight merely watched as the pair hoisted up their unmoving leader, too confused and guilty to initially say anything. It wasn't until the pair reached the edge of the forest before Twilight felt strength return to her limbs

“Sorry about her, but would you guys mind turning yourselves in?” Twilight asked.

“And why would we do that?” demanded one of them.

“The punishment for robbery is death, you know,” added the other.

Twilight winced. “Look, you have to stop doing this.”

“What other options do we got?” stated Hack gruffly.

“Yeah, it's not like anyone will take on a pair of broken stallions and a pegasus who can't do more than hover,” added the other.

Twilight cringed even harder. Great. I bullied a crippled pony into a crippling anxiety attack.

“Go back that way and keep walking until you find a tiny town called Haymarket. From there they can give you directions to a nameless village with a big dome at the center,” Twilight continued, trotting awkwardly beside the pair as they walked over to the white tree. “I promise if you go there, I’ll do what I can to find you steady work.”

“Is this lady for real, Slash?”

“I don't know, Hack. Seems a little too good to be true.”

Twilight sighed and watched as the pair laid their fallen leader down at the base of the tree, angling her head upwards. “My name is Twilight Sparkle, and I swear to you that this is not a ruse.”

Hack stallion sighed. “Fine, but if this is some big trick…”

“I really will hit you over the head with my shovel!” yelled the other.

Twilight raised her forehooves defensively. “I promise that I meant every word.”

“Whatever,” muttered one of them.

“You best get out of here before Dot wakes up, ‘cause she won't be happy about this,” stated the other.

“Right, uh, sorry again. I guess,” Twilight added before awkwardly stumbling backwards out of the small grove.

Hastily turning around, she made a beeline back for the road and nearly tripped over the brothers’ forgotten weapons in the process. Kicking the things aside, Twilight took a moment to glance back into the trees, her expression darkening somewhat. In that instant she made two important realizations that she had not initially comprehended up until that point in time.

One, this time was darker than she could have ever imagined, and two, the dragons had been more horrible than even Celestia. Twilight already knew both of those things before, but she never fully grasped just how true the statements were. Now that she had come face to face with their handiwork, it was hard to pretend that even her Celestia held a candle to the foul reptiles.

With a sigh, Twilight shook her head and turned back towards her distant destination.

“You can't save everyone, Twilight,” she muttered to herself. “Some have to save themselves.”

Twilight paused amidst the towering pillars of green which stretched so high that they seemed to pierce the heavens above. Her mood was still sour from the rather strange interaction she had only an hour earlier, but it was beginning to lift. A gurgle from her stomach stopped her from smiling however, and she kicked herself for not grabbing her dirt-covered food.

They probably need it more than me, Twilight thought to herself.

Shaking her head, she looked around, distracting herself from her problems by inspecting her surroundings a little closer. As expected, the forest was quite expansive, with enormous trees large enough to hide a drake from sight. The wood was also surprisingly clean, for lack of a better word, as there was little underbrush or small bushes to clutter the space.

It definitely felt like a place once controlled by the one-time rulers of this world, as there were clusters of trees that were little more than burnt stumps. Occasionally a large, mostly destroyed stone structure rose from the bush at random, each one with an entrance large enough to admit a fully grown dragon. These buildings always seemed to be a part of a larger compound that likely served as a villa for a rather well-off drake.

Though intrigued by the unique brown roofs and towering white columns that ringed these complexes, Twilight didn't linger for long. The architecture drew the unicorn’s curiosity, but also made a wave of anger and fear rise from deep in her belly. The revulsion she felt was almost instinctual in a way, and Twilight quickly moved out of view of the dilapidated buildings.

Following the path deeper into the woods, Twilight noticed that there were no other ponies in sight. Only the green trees, distant bird calls, and the occasional flutter of wings served as her companions. Sure, there were signs of ponies moving to and fro like the occasional hoofprint as well as several indents left behind from a cart, but that was it.

A few minutes later, Twilight could hear the soft gurgling of moving water coming from the distance. Hastening her step, Twilight noticed that the path rose slightly and turned a dull grey in the process. It wasn't long before she drew close enough to notice that this was a bridge, one likely built by dragons due to its sheer size.

Trotting across the cold stone, Twilight couldn't help but get a sense of deja vu from the experience. The bridge felt similar to the one she had seen in the Everfree not long ago, though she couldn't quite picture it in her mind. For some reason that memory felt muddy, and she couldn't recall anything other than a vague sense of familiarity.

Pushing that thought out of mind, she paused at the midway point of the stone structure, looking down into the wide, deep rushing water beneath her. Large fish swam only a few feet away and dozens of different kinds of plant life could be seen growing on the riverbed. Its startling depth made Twilight wonder if the river had been carved out by dragons as the land around it was surprisingly flat.

Either way, that wasn't a concern of hers, and she continued walking.

Time stretched on once more, with little to occupy Twilight’s mind save for her worries and her little brush with those bandits. That was until she saw a large rope bridge hanging over a deep ravine and a towering castle standing just beyond it. Again, everything seemed to be built with dragons in mind, with the enormous gate standing at least a dozen meters tall.

Even the bridge was wide enough for at least ten adult ponies to walk abreast with room for a child or two between them if they walked close to one another. Few trees grew from between the crevice which surrounded the structure and the castle walls, creating a wide clearing. The castle stood tall and imperious, though it had clearly seen battle, given the visible damage to one of its towers.

It took a moment for Twilight to realize she could hear the sound of distant conversation as well as the hammering of tools. She could also see a few ponies moving about the battlements, though they were difficult to make out due to the sheer height of the crenelations. Only the occasional pegasus was clearly visible, as they flew this way and that, ferrying supplies or working on a roof.

Trotting hastily across the rope bridge, Twilight tried to ignore the feeling of vertigo she briefly got when it swung to one side. When she stood on solid earth once more, Twilight couldn't help but smell freshly baked bread and recently cut wheat. Looking through the open doors of the castle, she noticed that scent was coming from the courtyard full of golden stalks.

There were also several small wooden structures, and as Twilight nervously strode inside, she noticed how frequent these buildings were. The enormous homes intended to house grown adult dragons had been modified to serve as pony lodgings. Additional levels had been added between the floor and ceiling, allowing for far denser habitation than the original builders intended.

Even towers, guard houses, and walls had been added to in a similar fashion, with draconic architecture serving as a solid base atop which stood wooden homes. Everywhere she looked, ponies moved this way and that, some toiling in the fields while others simply lounged around. Including two guards which stood just inside the gate who jumped to attention the moment they noticed Twilight standing there.

“Oh, uh, good afternoon, Director. We weren't expecting you,” greeted one of the armored ponies in a gruff, yet still feminine tone.

Her partner pushed his helmet back up his head and openly gawked at the unicorn. “How did you even get here? Those roads are infested with bandits and other ne'er do wells.”

Twilight thought back to the trio she had seen earlier and wondered if they had been enough to warrant such a response. They did mention something about a quota, so maybe they were part of a larger organization?

“You mean Hack, Slash, and Dot?” replied Twilight.

“Those three losers are just scouts for the band of miscreants hiding out in the deep woods,” stated the tall female unicorn. “They didn't harass you much, did they?”

“Nothing I couldn't handle,” Twilight quickly replied.

“Well, next time make sure you leave with a caravan. I’d hate for our top researcher to get caught by those jerks,” added the short, demure pegasus stallion standing to Twilight’s left.

Twilight winced. “And when would the next one be leaving here?”

“Tomorrow, I think,” murmured the stallion.

The guard mare nodded. “Yup. At two o'clock in the afternoon, to be exact. Big shipment of grain going up to Canterlot.”

“Ahh…” Twilight’s gaze lingered on the surprisingly large fields which filled the space between the walls of the castle and the keep inside of it. “Thank you for the information. You might want to put someone on watch though.”

“Sure Shot is probably asleep again, sorry about that, ma’am,” remarked the mare who bowed slightly.

Twilight took a moment to observe her carefully, noting her advanced age, silver mane, and kite shield cutie mark. Her grizzled features seemed oddly familiar for some reason, and for a moment Twilight felt like she knew the mare’s name.

Silver Shield, Bulwark Buckler? Twilight shook her head and dismissed the feeling. It doesn't matter.

Trotting past the towering walls, Twilight strode down the road connecting the gatehouse to the central keep which resembled the Everfree Castle, at least in part. The overall design was familiar, but Twilight knew the castle in her time wasn't completely sized for dragons. She wondered if it had undergone extensive remodeling over the years to bring it more in line with pony design.

Though the walls of the castle she knew had definitely not been that tall, so it was likely that the castle had suffered a major attack at some time. This would explain why the exterior wasn't the same, though it still had a nearly identical general layout. After all, the old castle would have quite sturdy foundations which could be easily built upon if disaster had indeed struck.

Making her way between the two massive oaken doors that marked the entrance to the keep, Twilight found her gaze drawn upwards. The architecture seemed designed to inspire awe, as even the entryway looked more like an opera hall than a simple area to greet guests. Or at least it would have resembled one, had there not been a dozen or more homes stacked on top of one another.

The houses looked sturdy and had long walkways leading up to the various levels, all save for the topmost ones. Those had only simple balconies where the occasional pegasus landed or departed from. Even more than the outside of the castle, this place was abuzz with activity, with ponies coming and going at a rapid pace.

Other creatures here, like minotaurs and gryphons, though they were clearly in the minority. They all seemed to be soldiers as well, given that they were the only ones who wore armor and carried weapons. They were also quite relaxed, and most were busy chatting or looking bored while guarding the entrances to the more important rooms.

Those two side entrances were much like the castle Twilight knew, with a pair of large doors standing in front of her. Pushing her way through them, Twilight paid the guards she saw little mind, trusting that she had the authority to go where she wished. Sure enough the earth pony mare and minotaur male didn't bat an eye at her, with the female giving only a small nod as Twilight passed them by.

Once inside, Twilight found out that it looked like she expected it would, with more double doors on either side and a staircase in front of her. Another pair of guards stood inside, one on each side of the room, the bored ponies jumping to attention the second Twilight walked in. Giving the one standing to her left a small nod, Twilight moved to open the door, only to be stopped by a raised hoof.

“What's the password?” demanded the pony.

Twilight blinked and glanced nervously at the tall unicorn stallion she hadn't bothered to pay attention to until that moment. His fur was a deep red, while his mane was a mix of yellow and white, though the majority of his features were hidden beneath his scale armor. A steel helm obscured his expression, though Twilight assumed he was glaring on her due to the gruff way he spoke.

Is he serious? He can't be. Noone said anything about a password! Twilight thought to herself, more than a little baffled by the sudden turn of events. Wait, why would there even be a password in the first place? Do they have to worry about changeling infiltration?

“Ha, I totally got you!” exclaimed the stallion, who shared a chuckle with a guard from across the hall. “Can you believe that, oh brother of mine? She totally bought it!”

“I hate to disagree, brother, but I think the good director was contemplating how to punish you,” replied the other stallion in a slightly deeper voice.

“Actually, I was in the middle of a calculation and your question made me lose track of my thoughts,” Twilight stated in as serious a tone as she could muster.

The first stallion winced. “Oh, uh, sorry about that, ma’am. It wasn't anything serious, was it?”

“Maybe the world is about to tumble into the sun, and you just ruined our esteemed director from saving the planet!” shouted the guard from across the hall.

Twilight chuckled. “Nothing so serious. Just thinking about how to alter a recipe I was intending on making.”

“So, either way, we die by fire,” remarked the first guard with a snicker.

“Hey, ordering things to be made counts as making them, right?” Twilight retorted.

The two guards exchanged a look before erupting with laughter. “Oh, that's good! You should make jokes more often, ma’am.”

“Eh, it could use work,” added the other.

“Regardless,” Twilight interrupted, gesturing to the door. “Would you mind?”

The unicorn lit his horn and quickly pushed open the door, bowing slightly as he did so. “There you are, ma’am.”

“Thank you,” Twilight replied, breathing a small sigh of relief after the door closed behind her.

Putting the two guards behind her, Twilight found herself in a long hallway that was completely empty, save for the pillars which rose on either side of her. Although ornate and interesting in their own right, Twilight didn't give the columns much consideration as her eye was drawn elsewhere. Namely to the ransacked relief carvings she could see that covered both walls as well as the ceiling above her.

Each was decorated with scenes of dragons defeating some foe Twilight didn't recognize. Or at least that's what had originally adorned the walls, as most scenes had been disfigured in some manner. Some of the figures depicted had moustaches added to them while other individuals had been removed entirely by blunt instruments.

Other times the scenes depicted were altered to make it look as though the dragon had lost while their foe was victorious. Each one of these changes was crude and likely done by a vengeful pony doing what little they could do to get back at their oppressors. Twilight even noticed that a few of these carvings had insults written across them or had been splashed with paint.

Each strike of a hammer or stroke of a paintbrush carried with it an anguish that Twilight could feel just by looking at the strange scene. Though the most vitriolic of defacements was reserved for the stone doors that rested at the end of the hall. Upon them stood a towering figure whose glowing eyes drew Twilight’s own gaze and whose imposing figure made Twilight feel incredibly small.

The dragon himself was lithe, his arms narrow and thin, with only three clawed fingers at the end of them. He stood proudly on two legs which were covered in platemail, as were his arms as well as his chest and the rest of his torso. Each piece of his armor was immaculatiely detailed, as was the flowing parchment which hung about his neck and fell down either side of his body like a scarf.

Even from where she stood, Twilight could read the thousands upon thousands of words which covered the enormous scroll. So dexterous was the sculptor's hand that Twilight could count each individual scale on the dragon’s long tail which formed a lopsided eight. All of that paled in comparison to his face and those piercing eyes which left Twilight with a feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach.

Like the rest of him, the dragon’s head was angular and sculpted with such skill that Twilight worried he may come to life and step out of the doors. However, he didn't, and his stern, neutral expression stayed impassive, his fingers remaining splayed before his chest. Stranger still were the horns that rose from the top of his head.

Each one appeared longer than Twilight was tall, and they bent at the midsection, coming back together until they almost touched. Between them floated an egg-shaped orb of some kind, while behind his head was an eclipsed sun. The symbolism was obvious, whoever this was had once controlled the planet, holding sway over earth and sky alike.

The dragon’s majesty was marred, however, as bright red paint covered a majority of his body in large, hate-filled words.

Your pathetic nation lies in shambles, dragon. Where is your arrogant pride now?

Each letter dripped with rage and indignation. The declaration superseded any feeling of awe the carving may offer and replaced it with a fire that burned hot in the viewer’s belly. So powerful were those handful of words that Twilight felt herself standing straighter and striding with increased confidence after having read them.

On either side of the carving were the additions of other less proficient word smiths who wrote petty insults aimed at the dragon. Childish names stood alongside bitter refutations of the dragon’s deeds and legacy. The only thing that tied them together was their shared animosity for the dragon as well as a single name.

Linoc.

It was everywhere, and always it was written with such harsh strokes that Twilight could tell that it had to have been the name given to the dragon. It was one Twilight had never heard, though one which felt familiar and she committed it to memory immediately. In that moment she wanted nothing more than to seek out whatever tome of knowledge that could tell her more of the powerful dragon.

She quickly stopped herself, however, as no matter how intriguing the awe-inspiring creature was, Twilight had bigger concerns. Namely the fact that she was expected to return an alicorn from the dead within two weeks’ time. This meant she had mere fourteen days to figure out where Luna was buried in Twilight’s time period and learn a language no short lived being could comprehend.

“Easy,” Twilight murmured bitterly to herself.

Pushing past her irritation and the enormous stone doors, Twilight walked into what had likely been a throne room at some point. It wasn't half as awe-inspiring as Twilight expected, likely indicating that this wasn't where the dragon ruled from. The throne had been removed almost entirely, and had been replaced by a large round table flanked by a dozen chairs of various sizes.

“How the mighty have fallen,” Twilight remarked to the empty room.

A click suddenly stole Twilight’s attention, and she turned to her right where a dragon-sized door now opened for her. She hadn't exactly given the room a thorough inspection before that point, but she had seen enough to know the entrance was new. Walking over to it, Twilight peered within and found a spiral staircase leading down deep into the depths of the castle.

A quick scan made Twilight chuckle.

“A spell that deactivates an invisibility charm whenever the caster speaks? Now that's just poor design,” Twilight muttered to herself. “These people really are primitive in some ways.”

Twilight made a note to leave her other version some more optimized spells designed to hide secret rooms before entering the stairwell. There she proceeded down deeper and deeper into the darkness, her way illuminated by softly burning blue torches mounted on the wall to her left. The mage fire enchantment placed upon them was simple, but efficient, and gave off enough light that she could just barely see.

The placement of the stairs made Twilight wonder if this was the same undertower she knew from her time. When the pony strode into a very familiar room that served as the very first floor of the undertower, she knew her assumption had been partially correct. Though familiar, it was not identical, as for one, this area seemed to be laid out more like a small apartment rather than a lab.

A bed sat against a wall to her left while a chamber pot and a small tub sat in a partially cordoned off section to her right. In the center of the room was a small table covered with books, wherein a rather startled pegasus had been sitting and reading. The mare in question seemed familiar much in the way that the guard Twilight had seen earlier, though this time Twilight could recall her name.

Flitterhooves, Twilight thought to herself. She is my- no, her lab assistant.

The pony had wide, bright blue eyes, a short cropped mess of wheat-colored hair which sat atop her head, and stark white fur. Her wings fluttered uselessly at her side, and upon her flanks was a book in motion, as if it had been tossed into the air. The mare’s expression was that of shock, though it quickly shifted to confusion, then panic.

“Oh no, is it the sixteenth already?” she shrieked and hopped up from her chair. “I could have sworn I was only reading for a few hours! How did I let an entire week pass me by?”

Twilight chuckled and raised a calming hoof. “No need to worry. I am merely here to check a few things.”

“Oh…” The pegasus blinked. “Is this a test?”

Twilight shook her head. “No test, no tricks. I just wanted to get a copy of my notes that I left behind.”

“What happened to the ones you brought with you before?” Flitterhooves questioned.

“Different notes,” Twilight stated. “Nothing to worry about though. I’ll probably be out of your mane by the morning.”

“Oh, um, okay,” the pony moved to sit back down, only to stop. “Are you sure this isn't a test? Should I have offered to come with you and wait nearby in case you needed me?”

Twilight chuckled and trotted up to the mare, placing a calming hoof on her shoulder. “There wasn't a test, but if there was, you would have passed with flying colors.”

Flitterhooves grinned. “Oh, thank you, Miss Director. I’ve been keeping your labs and the storage space organized just as you like them. Except for the bottom one.”

Noticing the sudden look of fear which crossed the mare’s face, Twilight’s first reaction was to question her. Though Twilight quickly reined back that urge, as it was likely that this Twilight should know the answer to that. Instead, the unicorn merely nodded and gave the pony’s shoulder one last pat before trotting away.

“That's just fine, Miss Hooves. Enjoy your book!” Twilight called as she entered the other stairs.

“You too!” replied the mare, only to curse under her breath. “Wait, I meant to tell you to enjoy your research!”

Twilight chuckled at the pegasus’s awkward, yet endearing responses. This pony clearly took her job very seriously even if she was likely little more than an assistant of some kind. The thought made Twilight’s mind go back to Beaker and the undertower she knew from her own time.

As she walked down the next set of stairs, Twilight cursed herself for not seeking out and helping the two undead rebuild their lives. Sure, she had talked with them a few times, but Twilight had quickly grown used to their presence and hardly gave them a thought since. Vowing not to ignore their needs any longer, Twilight made a note to help them once she got back to her own time.

They had certainly earned a chance to live normally once again.

Twilight snickered at her own dumb joke, her quiet laughter echoing down the empty stairwell before her. Which, unlike in her own time, did not end at nearly every floor, meaning Twilight didn't constantly need to search for the next set of stairs. She still stopped whenever she saw an opening or door, though some rooms were empty while most were filled with crates.

A quick scan revealed that most boxes were full of random items all sized to be used by dragons. From clothes and armor to weapons and chairs, everything that had been unable to be repurposed had been put down here. The only exception was one level that contained preserved grain and a small treasure trove of tapestries as well as flags.

It was certainly a far cry from the undertower Twilight knew, which certainly felt the part of a wizard’s lair. This just seemed like a small apartment for a court wizard and their experiments which had been repurposed to serve as a glorified warehouse. That was until Twilight reached the bottom and stepped out into a large open space that had half of the floor missing.

The closest section looked the part of a lab and library while the other half disappeared into a deep hole. Looking around the first section, Twilight noted that the books which lined the walls were far more ancient than the others she'd seen so far. They were also intermingled with haphazardly bound tomes of loose paper which bore this Twilight’s tight, neat script.

There was no doubt about it. This was where the other version of her had been keeping her notes.

There were also a few minor experiments off to one side, though they appeared rather simplistic in nature. A few crude summoning circles, a poor attempt at a modern binding rune, and a half-completed set of spells sat on one large table. None of that grabbed Twilight’s attention, however, and she turned to the other side of the room where the floor ended unexpectedly.

Glancing over the side of the hole, Twilight found that her past self had dug deep into the earth using some manner of spell. The perfectly even and well-organized stone and mortar of the undertower gave way to slick, almost glass-like rock. After lighting her horn, Twilight found that a haze of powerful magic hung over the entire area, as if a lot of magic had been expended in this exact spot.

Likely an overcharged flare spell concentrated into a single point, Twilight thought to herself. Crude, but would allow her to excavate the area in secret if she wished to do so.

Twilight paused and looked around the room. Where did she put the slag then?

Shrugging off that small inconsistency, Twilight tried to peer into the depths, only to find that her vision couldn't quite reach the bottom. She cursed this body's poor night vision before searching for some way of getting down there without ending up as a red stain on the ground. Thankfully her past self had the same goal as there was a rope ladder bolted to the floor a few feet to her right.

I really hate heights, Twilight thought bitterly to herself. Wait. I don't have to go down there, do I?

She considered it for a good few seconds before letting out a sigh. I probably should. It's not like my past self would hide something dangerous, after all. Or would she? It's not like I know her very well.

After thinking it over, Twilight shrugged. “Only one way to find out.”

Just climbing onto the ladder was rather awkward, but she managed to do so after only some minor struggling. With her body weight now fully suspended by nothing more than simple rope, Twilight found that the flimsy thing felt surprisingly sturdy. The ladder had been secured at multiple points on the wall, meaning it didn't swing around when Twilight stepped down.

Which she did at a glacial pace, taking her time to maneuver one hoof and then another down the long ladder. Over and over she carefully navigated the ropes, descending deeper into the oppressive darkness. Until she was forced to light her horn and cast a simple light spell in order to see what was right in front of her face.

Then, just when she thought it was going to go on forever, Twilight felt her hind hoof hit stone. Awkwardly reaching out, Twilight tested the ground around the bottom and, after finding out there was enough room to stand, hopped off the ladder. With her hooves now under her once more, she let out a long sigh and stood back up, quickly looking around.

She didn't even manage to completely turn around before her heart leapt up into her throat. For there, sitting before her, was the partially excavated head of an enormous black dragon.

It was only revealed up to the base of its neck, but it still occupied nearly ninety percent of the available space. Two massive horns sprouted from the sides of the creature’s head, each one curving forward much like a bull’s would. Frills extended from its brow and disappeared into a still solid stone wall which likely encased the rest of its body.

Scales thicker than any plate mail adorned its features, each one wider than Twilight’s shoulders. Fangs longer than most ponies could comfortably wield as swords jutted from its maw while spikes extended from the bottom of its jaw. Its great eyes were closed as was its mouth, yet still Twilight couldn't help but feel like she was seconds from death.

I really should have dropped a light down here first.

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