Alright, Twilight, calm down. Your past self wouldn't have left it like this if it was dangerous, Twilight reasoned. Right?

The unicorn stood stock still as she stared at the unmoving dragon head which jutted from the wall. Her breath was short, and her heart beat quickly in her chest, despite her status as only half alive. Her gaze was immediately drawn to the dragon’s unique features and its much more angular overall appearance.

It was the look of an apex predator, one that was more than capable of swallowing Twilight whole if it desired to. Compared to the dragons she knew from her own time, this one was far more intimidating. In comparison to the great beast before her, the ones she knew were like a foal’s interpretation.

As time ticked by, Twilight slowly came to realize that the partially imprisoned creature wasn't about to eat her anytime soon. Despite just how alive it looked, the beast did not move an inch, nor did it seem to breathe, no matter how long Twilight watched it. It was a perplexing juxtaposition, given how fresh the creature looked, and Twilight couldn't help but grow curious.

She remembered that this version of herself had apparently put the dragons ‘to sleep’, but she had assumed that was merely a metaphor. A nice way to put ‘committed genocide’ and was not literal in any way. Yet did she really know if it was indeed alive? It could have simply been incredibly well-preserved, after all.

Summoning her magic, Twilight focused on her eyes, infusing them with necromantic energy. When her lids lifted, and she gazed upon the dragon again, Twilight saw a ghostly outline overlapping the seemingly dead creature. Upon closer inspection, she noticed that the spectre was indeed the creature’s soul which slept as well.

Twilight had never heard of a soul sleeping before, and yet here it was, slumbering within its own mortal shell, remaining motionless as Twilight observed it. It was identical to the body, save for the faint wisps of greenish black which rose from its slumbering form.

Reaching forward, Twilight prodded the creature’s snout with a hoof, ignoring the much brighter appearance of her own two-toned spirit. Still the dragon removed impassive, merely lying there as Twilight poked it a few more times, just for good measure. Once the unicorn was absolutely certain that it wasn't about to wake up, she breathed a sigh of relief.

With danger no longer a concern, Twilight was left with many questions and few leads.

Why was it here? What was so special about this dragon in particular? What was her past self’s interest in this creature?

She didn't know the answer to any of those quandaries, and, with no hints left for her at the bottom of the hole, she turned around. A part of her wanted to stay and experiment on the dragon in order to find out an explanation to all her questions. Though without absolute assurance that the creature wouldn't wake up, she didn't want to take a chance on it.

Not while she still had notes to search through and ponies to question at least. Maybe after all those avenues were explored, she would return to test the dragon herself, but that wouldn't be anytime soon. After all, this version of herself was far weaker and was without strong, reliable allies.

Or at least ones Twilight was comfortable with calling upon anyway.

So after giving the dragon one last look over, Twilight mounted the rope ladder and ascended once more. As she did so, she continuously glanced over her shoulder and down to the reptile’s massive head. No matter how many times she looked, it never moved, yet despite that Twilight still couldn't seem to relax.

Not until she stood upon the edge of the hole, with all four of her hooves on solid ground once more. Only then did she breathe a little easier, though she couldn't help but imagine the great black dragon staring up at her. Shaking off the lingering feelings of dread and disquiet which tormented her, Twilight trotted over to the bookshelf.

On her way over, Twilight absently flicked through the various tomes which sat open on the tables. Each one seemed to be about some recent discovery that from Twilight’s perspective was so ancient as to be common knowledge. Either that, or had been disproven so long ago that she had never even heard about it before.

A better, more efficient way to drain the body of blood in order to balance the humors? Twilight thought, her nose crinkling in disgust. Did the dragons believe such nonsense, or did they merely hide such advanced medical knowledge from their slaves?

Twilight quickly located a scrap piece of paper and wrote a quick explanation that the body’s humors weren’t real in the way these people thought they were. She wanted to go into depth with her explanation, but resisted, as she had more important things to do. Though that didn't stop her from pausing when she noticed several notes referencing something she had never heard of.

What the heck is trepanation? Twilight thought before shaking her head. As Rainbow Dash would say, we have bigger fish to fry.

Striding past the table and making her way over to the shelf, Twilight immediately noticed a problem. Namely that it didn't seem to have any kind of organizational system to it. Stacks of loosely bound papers sat squished between more professionally bound hardcover tomes.

Starting from the top left, Twilight pulled open the first book she saw and found that the title proudly proclaimed that it was the last self-help tome one would ever need. Flipping through it revealed that it was indeed just that, a book designed to boost one’s confidence. It was also penned by someone with a very draconic sounding name.

Picking through more of the many tomes, Twilight found that the first few were quite random, with one of them talking about how best to raise reptiles as pets while another described the best way to make a rare desert flower bloom. Hundreds of pages were filled with inane ramblings Twilight quickly skimmed past before placing it back on the shelf.

Were these just some of the few books they were able to save? Twilight thought. Perhaps this version of myself had hoped to find some secret within those pages. Or perhaps she had simply not sorted them yet.

Either way, Twilight quickly moved past them and onto the more pertinent tomes.

One after another, Twilight worked her way through the various books that covered one wall of the laboratory. Thankfully after the first bunch, she found that they were organized, though they were grouped by subject. It wasn't the worst organization method ever, but it still took a while to study them with any degree of accuracy.

It took nearly an hour to read them, but once done, Twilight had found what she was looking for. Three books and two bound sets of notes about resurrection as well as a single, much slimmer journal were laid out before her. Though the books on necromancy were interesting, as one was likely written by a dragon, Twilight turned her attention to the diary.

Experimentation log number thirty-one. Project Designation, Dream Eater.

“Well that's… dark,” Twilight muttered.

Stated Goal. The infiltration and domination of Nerimar the Foul-blooded.

Reason. The extraction of knowledge pertaining to the dragon language.

Secondary Objective. Revenge for killing Cadance.

“That's even darker,” Twilight whispered to herself. “Though I can definitely understand her motivations, considering how close they were.”

Twilight paused and scratched her chin. “How would she get revenge though?”

Flipping through the tome, Twilight quickly began to notice that this other version of herself had made poor progress. At least in the first few weeks, after that things began to accelerate rapidly. Her tests into dream infiltration and domination went from the work of a complete novice to a seasoned adept overnight.

It was a startling turn of events, one that was quickly explained by a rather revealing trio of paragraphs.

Luna’s assistance has proven to be integral to this project. I admit my amateurish attempts to reverse-engineer her spells based solely on second hoof accounts was a poor place to start. Though it was the only place I could have truly begun my research, or so I had thought. For the judgement and condemnation I expected to find never came up.

Rather Luna has thrown herself into tutoring me whenever she has a spare moment. Her time is still largely occupied by the construction of this yet to be named castle built astride the Canterhorn. This leaves us with little option but to meet in the wee hours of the night, or in our dreams, though that is a suboptimal solution.

Practicing magic inside a dream is impossible, thus we reserve that time for discussing theory. During these past few weeks I have learned a considerable number of things. Most pertinent of which is that my stunted magic is not enough to bypass the dragon’s natural defences, leaving me with little option but to speculate, plan, and hope that eventually I manage to surpass this barrier.

True to her words, the rest of the pages contained a detailed explanation of the steps her past self planned to take if she managed to grow in power. Steps that Twilight knew she could take herself, if she remembered it upon returning to the present, where she had magic to spare. Once there, the unicorn could easily extract the information she needed, after she got some practice with the spells, that is.

Putting down the book, Twilight considered testing them here and now, only to brush that thought aside. She needed every scrap of magic she could muster, and not only that, but she had little time to spare for experimentation.

Does this mean I can cross off one of my goals? Twilight thought to herself. I can technically learn the dragon language this way. Provided this dragon still exists in my time period.

Though it left her feeling uneasy, Twilight was forced to admit that this was probably the best solution she was likely to get. After all, the only person in her time period that would know the language was Celestia, and it wasn't like Twilight was going to ask her.

Wait. Do I need to learn the language if this Twilight knows how to raise an alicorn already? Twilight thought. I needed the tablet to bring back Luna, but if I learn how to bring back Cadance in this time period, then will I…

Twilight shook her head vigorously. I hate time travel.

Putting that thought out of her mind for now, she instead chose to review this Twilight’s notes. For there was a possibility that Twilight’s assumptions on raising an alicorn were wrong, and she would need to learn something new. After all, her own plan to bring back Luna was to use an overcharged raise dead spell, which worked in theory.

It wasn't like she had any alicorns to run tests on, however, and just thinking about it made Twilight second guess her entire plan.

After giving her head one last shake, Twilight set herself to work on reviewing the tomes left for her. Before she could do so, the unicorn acquired a few candles from a nearby desk, noting how bad the strain on her eyes had gotten. With that done, she pulled up a chair from the other side of the room and got as comfortable as she could manage.

A difficult task, given she knew what lay at the bottom of a hole several metres away.

“Alright, let's get some studying done,” Twilight muttered to herself.

Twilight let her face fall against the table, a groan escaping her lips. “I am an idiot,” she muttered into the wood.

It had not, in fact, been as easy as she had assumed it would have been. The thaumatic density of an alicorn soul was such that any normal spell designed to raise the dead would only bring back a piece of the target. Like a pony carrying an elephant, the task was simply impossible, no matter how strong the pony in question was.

The metaphor wasn't exactly elegant, but then again, Twilight had been studying for nine uninterrupted hours, and it was the first thing to spring to mind. It was also remarkably apt, given that it wasn't as easy as just getting more ponies, a whole underlying structure needed to be built. A structure that was incredibly complex and required the knowledge of several draconic words, including the one for soul.

It was also completely tailored to Cadance and Cadance alone. This meant that she would need to study the underlying mechanisms and create a unique version of the same spell for Luna. Something she simply didn't have the time to do, even if she spent a month studying.

Worse yet, her past self didn't know the necessary words, as such knowledge would only be given on the day of the ritual. Such information was apparently only known by Luna, adding an extra layer of difficulty to the entire prospect. Celestia in this time was blinded by infatuation, but Luna had no such blinders on.

“Why does everything have to be so damn difficult?” Twilight muttered bitterly.

With a sigh, she lifted her face off the table and grabbed the bundle of notes she had taken. The stack of detailed instructions was quickly bound with simple twine and secured with a hastily tied knot. Locating a set of saddlebags didn't take long, and after securing the precious package, Twilight glanced towards the exit.

“I wonder how long I’ve been down here?” Twilight murmured.

Twilight looked around, trying to locate a clock or something which would have marked the passage of time. After finding nothing, the pony frowned and began to trot towards the stairs, only to stop. She turned and glanced back to the hole on the other side of the room, imagining the strange dragon that lay at the very bottom.

She wondered if it would survive until her time, and if it would still be in the same spot in the future. If so, it meant that she could infiltrate his dreams and potentially extract the information she couldn't gather in this time period. That was if she managed to keep that information after hopping forward in time.

“A thought for another time,” Twilight remarked to herself.

Turning back towards the exit, she made her way back up to the top floor, stopping briefly at the small apartment level. There she saw Flitterhooves, sweeping the floor with a rather rugged-looking straw broom. Her hair was placed in a bun, and a soft, somber tune spilled from her lips.

“Good morning, I think,” Twilight greeted.

“Eek!” screeched the mare, who raised her cleaning tool like a sword. “Oh, thank goodness, it's just you. I thought for sure that thing had snuck up on me.”

“Trust me, it isn't a problem, and if it was, there would be no way for it to sneak up on you,” Twilight stated.

“I know that, but for some reason I keep dreaming about it slithering up the stairs during the night,” the mare shuddered.

“Why don't you ask someone to install a door down here? Perhaps that would help your peace of mind,” Twilight offered.

“Are you sure?” questioned Flitterhooves. “Last time I mentioned it, you told me to suck it up.”

Twilight blinked, a little shocked that this past version of herself had been so rude. “I had a change of heart.”

“Well, that's nice. Have you given any thought to my request of being able to visit the topside more often?” Flitterhooves inquired, holding her broom tight against her chest.

Twilight’s brow furrowed. “Of course. We aren't in war time anymore.”

“Oh, thank you, Director Sparkle!” Flitterhooves exclaimed, tossing aside her broom and throwing her forelegs around Twilight’s shoulders. “I’ve been visiting at night like you told me to and making sure no one sees me coming down here, but it's hard.”

“Well, there's no need for that anymore,” Twilight replied, patting the mare on the back. “Just so long as you maintain proper security for the premises.”

The pegasus hastily backed up and gave Twilight a quick salute. “Yes, ma’am.”

Twilight cleared her throat. “Carry on, then.”

“I will, Miss Director. Thank you again!” Flitterhooves proclaimed, eagerly resuming her sweeping while humming a much more upbeat tune.

As she trotted past the mare, Twilight couldn't help but wonder if this other version of herself was more jaded than she realized. Forcing her assistant to stay locked away for the majority of the day was a bit overkill, especially given that the danger had largely passed. Did she know of some other looming threat that necessitated such security, or was she simply paranoid?

The latter certainly seemed the most likely answer, especially considering just how many back up plans she had created in case conflict broke out. Not like it excused her actions, as the poor mare hadn't been allowed to feel the sun on her face for who knows how long. Twilight ignored the concerns she had for this version of herself and left the moral quandaries behind as she made her way back outside.

After emerging out into the foyer, she realized that it was indeed morning already as thin slats of warm light slipped through the windows. The guards remained in their places, though they seemed tired and ready to switch off with their counterparts. The early hour also meant that only a select few of the castle’s inhabitants were awake.

Ignoring the looks she got from both the guards and the general populace, Twilight made her way to the exit. As she did so, she couldn't help but wonder where this caravan would be gathering. Her question was answered almost immediately when she found that a large group of carts and an equally large group of beings were waiting for her.

Guards and laborers alike loaded the wooden wagons with supplies of all kinds, most of which were great bushels of wheat. Soldiers stood sentinel at the nearby gate, eying the road beyond while also occasionally observing the slowly assembling caravan. Nine carts stood in a row, the first and last of which had a white cloth covering it in addition to being fortified with magical runes.

In the midst of it all stood a tall, slim earth pony mare with short-cropped black hair and dull grey fur. Her surprisingly melodious voice carried well, even across the vast expanse between the wall and keep. Twilight couldn't make out any details from this range, but it was obvious that the grey mare was the one in charge.

As the unicorn crossed the long expanse, her assumption was proved true when the mare in question ordered a guard to assist her in loading more supplies. Clearly the earth pony had some kind of authority, and Twilight slowly made her way over to the other mare.

“Stone Shod, get those tools up to the front. I want them to be watched the entire way there!” demanded the mare, who jabbed a hoof at a stallion twice her size. “We can't lose so much as a trowel, got it?”

“Yes, ma’am!” shouted the other pony.

“Good, now then-” The mare paused and turned towards an approaching Twilight. “Ahh, Director Sparkle. What a pleasant surprise.”

Twilight nodded, carefully schooling her features so they appeared neutral. “Good morning. I assume you are in charge.”

“You would assume correctly,” replied the mare who ducked into a brief curtsy more fitting for someone attending a fancy dress party than standing on the side of a dusty road. “As you may already know, my name is Wind River, and I am leading this little supply run.”

“Excellent,” Twilight remarked. “May I secure passage to Ponyville by chance?”

“Ponyville? I’ve never heard of that town before. Where is it?” questioned the other mare.

Twilight cursed under her breath for the slip of a tongue. “Oh, uh, the research village. It's one of the names they’ve been considering, now that it's a permanent settlement.”

Wind River nodded slowly. “We go relatively close to there. Would Paddington be acceptable?”

“That's about an hour’s walk away, correct?” Twilight inquired.

“Indeed it is. I would go a little closer, but our schedule is very tight,” replied the mare.

“That's fine,” Twilight replied. “When will you be leaving?”

“Early afternoon,” answered Wind River. “You're welcome to relax in the guard tower or find something to eat before then. I’ll have someone come find you when we are ready.”

“No need,” Twilight interrupted. “I will assist you.”

The mare blinked. “Are you sure?”

Twilight nodded. “I wish to get some practice and this would be an excellent way to do so.”

“Well, if you say so,” murmured the pony and waved a hoof, beckoning a slim, one-armed female minotaur over. “The director here is gonna help you guys load. Could you show her what needs doing?”

The minotaur raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure about this, boss? Other than the crops, it's all heavy stuff like masonry and whatnot.”

“I can handle it. Just let me know what goes where,” Twilight stated, a little gruffer than intended.

The minotaur shrugged. “Sure. Why don't you help with the wheat? Sunny Stalks is a little under the weather, so you can help pick up the slack there.”

“Excellent, lead the way,” Twilight proclaimed.

The minotaur and caravan leader shared a confused look before the minotaur trotted away. “Alright, so we just gotta-”

“So you were a singer then?” Twilight inquired, noting the treble clef on the earth pony’s flanks. “How does that carry over to your current job?”

The grey pony chuckled and swiped a stray strand of mane from her face. “First of all, I was a virtuoso. I can dance, sing, compose, as well as play the piano, harp, and lyre.”

“Huh,” Twilight murmured.

The caravan they rode upon bounced over a rather large bump, causing the two mares to briefly lurch out of their simple wooden seats. The other passengers of the covered wagon continued their private conversations. All save for the driver who sat patiently on the front seat, a crossbow lying across his lap, loaded and ready.

“And secondly you would be surprised how many of my skills are applicable here,” Wind River stated. “To sing, you must be aware of yourself. To dance, you must be aware of others. To compose, you must know the skills of others, and to play, you must know your own skill.”

“That makes sense,” Twilight remarked, wiping the sweat from her brow.

“I am gussying it up a bit, but suffice it to say that the transition was not a difficult one,” exclaimed the other pony.

“Do you miss all that other stuff?” Twilight inquired.

The mare snorted bitterly. “Not in the slightest. I always danced at the whim of my master or sang upon his request. Perhaps when the memories of the lash have faded, I will ascend the stage once more. Until then my creative side shall rest idle.”

Twilight winced. “I apologize for bringing it up.”

“I’m surprised but glad you did. That must mean you have begun to move on from your own rather traumatic experiences. Or am I assuming too much?” Wind River pressed.

Twilight’s shoulders fell. “I, uh…”

“We got a couple of ditch divers,” announced the gruff tone of the elderly driver. “Three of ‘em, to be exact.”

Twilight immediately leaned forward, peering out through the front. “Where are they?”

“Over there,” indicated the stallion, pointing to the right.

Sure enough, three shapes had fled halfway across a field before ducking into a dry riverbed. Though distant at this point, the mid-afternoon sun made them easy to spot. Twilight recognized the two dirt-colored earth ponies and their pegasus companion immediately.

“Can you stop the caravan for a few minutes?” Twilight asked, turning to Wind River.

“You did help us enough that we’re ahead of schedule…” The other mare shrugged. “I don't see why not. So long as you don't take more than a half hour.”

“Thank you, Wind. It won't take long,” Twilight proclaimed.

“I sure hope it doesn't. You don't have to answer to Luna if it does,” Wind River exclaimed.

Twilight chuckled. “Oh, I’d hear about it alright.”

Wind River cleared her throat and let out a sharp whistle audible to everyone in the caravan train. Within seconds the ponies hooked to the wagons began to slow their pace and a minute later they had reached a full stop. The instant this happened Twilight leapt out of the wagon and began to trot over towards the ditch, ignoring the curious looks she got.

With only empty plains and small fields surrounding her, it was easy for Twilight to pick out the three huddled forms of the former thugs. Though Dot hid herself well, her two lackeys weren't quite so adept at stealth and could be easily seen.

As Twilight walked across the field, she couldn't help but wonder what they were doing out here.

“Dot, Hack, Slash. Is that you?” Twilight called.

“Dammit, she found us, boys,” muttered Dot who awkwardly rose from the ditch with her forehooves raised. “We aren't armed.”

“I don't intend on fighting you,” Twilight replied, watching as the two earth pony stallions stood up next to their leader. “I’m just wondering what you were doing out here.”

The trio exchanged a nervous glance, a silent conversation passing between them in the form of several pointed looks. A few shrugs as well as a sigh later, Dot stepped forward, lowering her hooves.

“We were heading back to the boss’ place,” she offered.

Twilight sighed. “Look. With the war over, it won't be long before an army is raised and your bandit buddies are put to the sword. Do you really want to be there when Luna and Celestia show up?”

“Who?” asked Slash.

“Máni and Sól, remember?” replied the other twin.

“Oh, right,” murmured the first stallion.

“How do you know all this?” Dot pressed.

“I’m very close with the princesses,” Twilight declared.

Dot frowned. “The boss says that they are too tired to fight, and that we got a good few years to work before the law shows up.”

Twilight snorted. “You have a few weeks at best.”

“Maybe we should go back and warn her then?” offered Hack.

“Or you could come with me and get out before your heads end up on pikes,” Twilight offered.

Dot winced and rubbed her neck. “I do rather enjoy having all my body parts attached.”

“So?” Twilight pressed, extending a hoof over the lip of the ditch. “Are you coming with us?”

The pegasus seemed hesitant, glancing back to her confused and equally nervous underlings. After a moment of consideration, she let out a long sigh and took the offered limb.

“Fine, but you have to promise not to do that thing with those weird magic hoof thingies,” Dot declared.

“I promise,” Twilight exclaimed, wincing slightly. “And I apologize for doing so before.”

Dot sighed as she was hefted over the side. “It's fine. We deserved it, and it's not like you knew.”

“So, does this mean we don't have to rob ponies anymore?” Hack inquired as he scrambled up onto the field.

“Unless this longhorn is thinking of starting a gang. I don't think so,” added Slash.

Dot glanced expectantly up at Twilight, a glimmer of hope in her eye.

Twilight sighed and ran a hoof down her face. “No. I was not thinking of starting a bandit gang.”

“Daw…”

The unicorn rolled her eyes. “Come on. Let's see if I can't get you three something to eat. You look famished.”

“We have our pride, you know. We can't just accept handouts,” Dot growled.

“Speak for yourself,” interrupted Hack, who gripped his stomach with a hoof. “If I don't eat something soon, I’m going to pass out.”

“I am rather hungry,” muttered Slash.

Dot raised a hoof and was about to offer another retort, only for her stomach to rumble loudly. “Maybe a light snack would be nice right about now,” she reluctantly admitted.

“Hang back here for a moment while I clear things with Wind River,” Twilight stated, only to be stopped when Dot unexpectedly grabbed her forehoof.

For a moment the unicorn feared the worst, only to turn around and notice that the pegasus’ eyes were wide with wonder.

“You don't mean the Wind River, famed virtuoso, do you?” she pleaded.

“Err, yes?” Twilight replied.

The pegasus let out a shrill screech and bounced from hoof to hoof. “Oh my goodness, this is amazing. I used to serve in a theatre where she performed!”

“That's great. Now could you just stay here for a second?” Twilight repeated.

The pegasus blinked, only now realizing she was nearly nose to nose with the other mare. “Oh uh, sure.”

Twilight took an awkward step back and dusted herself off before turning back to the caravan. Where she saw several confused and one rather irritated looking pony waiting for her, hoof clopping against her seat.

“You didn't mention that these were the ne'er-do-wells you were giving a second chance to,” stated Wind River in an uncharacteristically harsh tone.

Twilight chuckled. “That shouldn't be a problem, shouldit? You did mention you would give them a shot.”

The earth pony sighed. “I don't like it, but a deal’s a deal. Tell them to report to the last cart. I’ll notify my second.”

With that the mare hopped off the front of the wagon and trotted briskly away, her step lacking its usual bounce.

Twilight shrugged and walked back to where the three former bandits were hiding a dozen metres away. “You can come out now.”

Three heads popped out from behind the much too small bush.

“Are you sure?” asked Hack in a nervous tone.

“I don't wanna get stabbed in the back,” added Slash.

“We are rather… well known,” Dot muttered.

“It's fine. They owe me a favor,” Twilight stated.

“Well, if you say so, but if this ends with me getting gutted in my sleep, then I am so coming back as a ghost and haunting you!” Dot exclaimed, jabbing a hoof at the necromancer.

Twilight briefly wondered if that was possible before laughing it off. “I wouldn't worry about that. Wind River runs a tight ship-er caravan.”

Dot peered intently at the unicorn, her brows furrowed and jaw set. “Look. This is hard to say but… well.”

“She’s trying to thank you,” Hack offered.

“And is failing hard,” added Slash.

Dot’s face suddenly turned beet red, and she spun around, punching the two stallions in the shoulder. “That's enough out of you two!”

The two earth ponies grumbled, though it was obvious they weren't actually injured.

“How about we just call this even, alright?” Twilight offered, extending a hoof.

The pegasus hesitated a moment before taking the offered limb and shaking it. “You got a deal, and, for it’s worth, I am… sorry.”

Twilight nodded and took a step back. “Well, you better get going. I don't want to see what Wind River is like if she gets really mad.”

“R-right,” muttered Dot. “Come on, you dolts, let's get to work.”

“Aye, boss,” declared Slash.

“On it,” added Hack.

Twilight watched as the trio trotted over to the back of the caravan and exchanged a few words with the one-armed minotaur as well as Wind River. After the short introduction was over, and several quick orders were barked, the grey earth pony walked back up to the front where she quickly took a seat at the front of the wagon, dismissing the elderly stallion who had been on watch.

“Well, are you just going to stand there or what?” demanded Wind River as she turned towards Twilight.

The unicorn nodded and clambered up next to the other mare. “Thanks, by the way,” Twilight whispered.

Wind River let out a shrill whistle, and the ponies on pulling duty began to trot once more.

“Out of all the former bandits, you just had to find the one fan,” Wind River muttered, shaking her head. “I can already tell this is going to be a problem.”

“Is it really that bad?” Twilight pressed.

The earth pony sighed. “No. Hopefully not. I just don't like reminders about my time back then.”

Twilight nodded slowly, watching as the plains began to roll past them once more. “Say, I was wondering. One of the earth ponies mentioned that Dot had been clipped, and that they were broken. They aren't injured, are they?”

Wind River scowled briefly before letting out a short, irritable snort. “Those damn scaly fiends. No wonder those three didn't come to town.”

“What happened?” Twilight pressed.

Wind River sighed. “When you clip a pegasus, you purposefully deform their wing bones when they are children. It stops them from being able to spread them completely, and thus they can't fly very high or even glide for that matter.”

“Is… she in pain?” Twilight whispered.

“Not likely. I’ve been told it just feels like trying to extend your leg past your knee. Impossible, but not painful unless you push yourself,” Wind River explained. “The process is usually used for laborers who are given more freedom so they don't just fly off. It also stunts the growth of their magic so they can't manipulate clouds.”

“That's… deeply unpleasant,” Twilight muttered, her mind going back to the magic at this body’s disposal.

Like the pegasus in question, this version of herself felt stunted in a way that Twilight couldn't explain. It hadn't been readily apparent at first, but after using her magic for a while, Twilight could sense that something was off. She was capable of casting many spells, but none were terribly strong, nor was she capable of maintaining them for long.

Did they do something similar to this version of me? Twilight thought.

“That's nothing,” remarked Wind River bitterly. “To break an earth pony, you have to sever their connection to Equis itself, cutting them off from their magic and leaving them with no natural abilities, save for their strength.”

Twilight’s mind immediately went back to the moment that her horn had been shattered and most of her magic had been cut off. Sure, she had lost the majority of her abilities and the memory still stung, but at least she had kept her necromancy. To be without that would be like having her legs amputated, or her eyes cut out.

“Why?” Twilight whispered.

“It's our connection to the earth below that gives us our stubborn nature,” Wind River remarked, tapping her hoof against the floor in emphasis. “To feel such a vast well of power right beneath our hooves, always present and always willing to lend us aid feels…”

After a second or two of struggling for words, she shrugged.

“I think I’m starting to understand,” Twilight offered.

“It's not something I can really explain,” Wind River remarked. “It would be like losing a family member, yet even closer.”

“So, they do all that just to make earth ponies more docile?” Twilight questioned.

“That, and to ‘show the earthborn their place’,” Wind River said bitterly. “Those who are broken in such a way are usually subservient to a fault. Subconsciously desperate to fill the void left by Equis itself.”

Twilight watched as Wind River’s gaze grew distant, and her features remained stony.

“That's so sad,” Twilight murmured. “No wonder they felt as though they had to stay bandits.”

Wind River nodded slowly. “I’ll have to tell my second all this.”

“But not everyone, right?” Twilight gently inquired.

Wind River shook her head. “No. Of course not.”

“That's good,” Twilight murmured. “Do you think maybe you could take them on for the full trip and not just to Ponyville?”

“I’ll see how they do and talk to my crew,” Wind River replied, flashing the unicorn a smile. “If they can follow orders and not goof off, then I’ll consider taking them on permanently.”

Twilight smiled. “Thank you. It's good to know that we’ve been able to help someone who sorely needed it.”

Wind River smirked. “You know, I didn't expect to hear this from you.”

“What can I say. I saw a little bit of myself in them,” Twilight remarked.

The earth pony’s smile faltered briefly. “Well, I’m just glad you aren't spending the entire ride with your nose in a book and your butt somewhere soft. It feels like we’ve seen one another a hundred times, yet have never exchanged more than a dozen words.”

Thank god this version of myself is so antisocial, Twilight thought to herself before clearing her throat. “Yes, well. Don't expect this every time. Today I am merely feeling extra generous.”

“Let's enjoy it while it lasts, then,” offered the pegasus with a warm smile.

“Let’s,” Twilight replied.

“This is about as close as we’re going to get,” Wind River exclaimed. “I appreciated the conversation, by the way. It's been sometime since I’ve spoken to someone a little more learned.”

“The feeling is mutual,” Twilight proclaimed, extending her hoof.

Wind River took the offered limb and used it to pull Twilight into a brief, one-legged hug. “I’ll see you again soon, right?”

Twilight awkwardly patted the other mare on the back. “Oh, um. Yes, I should be back in a month or so. Depending on how my project goes.”

The other mare smiled, relinquishing the hold she had on the pony. “Good luck with whatever it is you have planned.”

“Thank you, Wind River. Best of luck,” Twilight replied, hopping off the front of the wagon.

After briefly stretching, the mare gave a quick look at her surroundings, noting that the landscape seemed fairly standard for the area. That being long stretches of open prairie broken up by the occasional group of trees, a farmer’s field, or the odd creek. The road she walked was one of the few pony-made things visible, save for the caravan sitting idle near a fork.

Twilight breathed deep of the fresh country air and began to trot away. However, she didn't make it far before she heard the sound of hooves behind her.

“W-wait,” called a familiar voice.

Twilight turned around to find that Dot stood nearby, a flustered look on her face. “Oh, did you need something? I thought Wind River agreed to take you on for the entire trip.”

“Oh, uh, yeah. She did,” Dot admitted somewhat reluctantly. “She even agreed not to mention our sordid history, provided we did some volunteer work and stuff.”

“That's wonderful, Dot. I’m happy for you guys,” Twilight exclaimed.

The pegasus coughed awkwardly. “Er, yeah. Thanks. I know I already said goodbye and that we were even, but well, the boys wanted to do something for you, so here I am.”

“You don't have to do anything,” Twilight cautioned.

“We don't really have anything worthy of a gift, but just know that in time we’ll meet again and when we do I--we will pay you back in full,” Dot claimed.

Twilight recognized the look on the pegasus’ face and immediately realized that she wasn't going to talk her out of it. “Fine. Though be aware that I am not usually so benevolent,” Twilight warned.

“So I’ve heard,” Dot muttered, clearing her throat. “Though I don't care about all that talk. You’ve done me and my boys a great kindness, and we won't soon forget it.”

“Good luck,” Twilight offered.

The pegasus bowed low, spreading her wings slightly. “Go in peace, Director.”

Twilight felt a little awkward and quickly cleared her throat. “You too uh, Dot.”

“You done talking? We got a schedule to keep!” shouted the one-armed minotaur who was hanging off the back of the last wagon.

“Coming!” Dot yelled the pegasus, then turned and quickly trotted away.

Twilight watched the strange mare disappear into the cart where two familiar earth ponies were waving at her. Raising a hoof, Twilight returned the gesture, observing as the caravan continued its long trek to Canterlot which rose far in the distance, the mountain barely visible at the edge of the horizon.

“Right. Time to go back home, review the ritual, leave my past self a few notes on what’s happened, and then head to Canterlot myself,” Twilight muttered to herself. “Should be easy, right?”

She frowned. “I just have to convince another alicorn I’ve apparently known for quite a long time that I am who I say I am. Plus I’ll be stuck being super close to Celestia right up until the ritual is completed. Which is itself going to take absolutely everything I have.”

The unicorn groaned. “Come on, Twilight, you can do this. Let’s get some studying done and then see if we can't fish for some more info once in Canterlot.”

Twilight sat on the end of a wagon, back legs dangling over the edge while her gaze lay on the horizon. It had been almost twenty-four hours since she had parted ways with the first caravan to ferry her across the prairie and here she was again. This one was much smaller though, and far simpler than the magically reinforced cart she had ridden the first time.

This one was piled high with food, a select few pieces of antique furniture, as well as more than a few rocks. At the forefront she knew there was a young couple and their infant son, though they had exchanged few words with the unicorn. It had been obvious even at first glance that they didn't trust Twilight, and the reason was even more glaring due to the way they had glanced at her horn.

Twilight was half tempted to try and introduce herself again, but quickly decided against it. They had been kind enough to pull her along without asking for anything in return, save for silence.

“Not long now,” shouted a gruff tone from the forefront of the wagon.

Perking up, Twilight sat up and peeked over the shoulder of the mare seated at the forefront of the wagon. Ignoring the nervous glance of the brown-furred pony, Twilight peered intently at the rising shape of the Canterhorn. The mountain itself was a strange sight, but that wasn't what grabbed Twilight’s attention. It was the village that lay at its base.

Surrounded on all sides by simple wooden fortifications, the entire town seemed to be built haphazardly. Tents sat next to simple log structures the same shade of brown as the walls. Everything was built not to last, but to serve a singular purpose which was to aid in the construction of the castle which hung over it.

Though not directly aboe the village, Canterlot Castle’s shadow was long and cast most of the settlement in shade. Though little more than a keep sitting atop a wide flat plate, Twilight could see the beginnings of stone walls as well as towers. The route up to the structure was also complete, though it wasn't very wide yet, and a variety of beings could be seen carving out the mountainside.

Which was a strange sight, given that Twilight saw every kind of pony working together, including a few she didn't expect to see. Such as the thestral which mainly seemed to be overseeing the work, or the almost troll-like creatures swinging pick axes. Twilight could even see the odd crystal pony working, serving in the guard, or simply meandering around the walled village.

Upon closer inspection, the other pony variants seemed to lack their more distinct features Twilight knew from her own time. Thestrals lacked the more intimidating eyes and shorter stature, appearing more like leather-winged pegasi. The same were true for the vaguely troll-like ponies who weren't quite as blocky or large.

Did these subgroups already exist and simply evolve over time, or did I miss something in my research? Twilight thought to herself.

Shaking her head, she focused on the here and now, namely the fact that her ride was slowing down. A checkpoint had been established slightly further up the road, and Twilight could see a group of lightly armored soldiers inspecting each wagon that came through. The guard squad seemed to be made up of a unicorn, an earth pony, as well as what looked like a changeling.

Together the trio moved from one visitor to the next with the unicorn scanning the cart before the earth pony and changeling inspected it closer. Deciding this was her chance to leave, Twilight hopped off the back of the wagon and trotted up to the front.

“Thank you both, and I wish you luck on starting a farm of your own,” Twilight greeted, bowing slightly.

“You’re welcome,” replied the stallion in a slightly confused tone.

“Go in peace, starborn,” added the mare.

Twilight smiled and nodded, glancing briefly at their red-furred infant and giving him a little wave. After watching the child wave back, Twilight chuckled to herself before trotting towards the gate. Sure enough, there was a second line of people entering the small village, one that was moving much faster, given that they were all on foot.

Taking her spot behind a trio of armored gryphons, Twilight silently observed her surroundings. The first thing she noticed was the palpable feeling of excitement that hung over everyone, including the guards. From the laborers hauling wood to the ponies standing atop the walls, they all had a certain noticeable bounce in their step.

Wine casks were rolled through the gate, and despite the early hour, Twilight noticed several individuals enjoying frothy beverages off to the side. It felt more like a festival than an average working day, and Twilight couldn't help but smile as she was caught up in the atmosphere.

“Next! Oh, Director Sparkle. We weren't expecting you so soon,” exclaimed a voice.

Twilight blinked and looked down to where two guards stood outside the smaller of the two gates. One of the soldiers was a surprisingly short unicorn mare garbed in yellow cloth while the other was a changeling outfitted in platemail. The chitin-clad creature stood a full head taller than even Twilight did and glared down at her coldly.

“Oh, uh, yes. I finished my preparations earlier than anticipated,” Twilight replied.

“I’m sure Luna will be happy to hear that,” replied the unicorn who turned to her companion. “I’m assuming she's clean?”

The changeling nodded slowly.

“Excellent, come on through,” invited the unicorn, who stepped to the side. “Sorry to keep you waiting, by the way. You know how it is.”

Twilight waved a dismissive hoof. “It's no trouble at all, good day to you two.”

The changeling grunted while his companion offered a wave and a weak, apologetic smile.

Passing through the wooden gates, Twilight trotted into the town proper, which immediately opened up into a rustic market. Though crammed into a relatively small area, there were dozens of tents and stands selling wares. As she walked, Twilight noted that although bartering seemed to be the norm, most creatures accepted ingots of precious metals as payment.

The bars themselves were long and appeared to be considerably heavy, given how many beings struggled to lift the things. Twilight rightly assumed the dragons used those same bricks of gold and silver in place of a more standardized currency. A choice which was seemingly made just to spite the much smaller slave races the scaled creatures kept as chattel.

Such a system of trading precious metals had its flaws, as it wasn't easy for a pony to guess the purity or weight. Unlike the dragons who were easily able to tell at a glance if it was pure, as well as how much it weighed, ponies and other creatures had no such abilities and thus were forced to carry around scales as well as other equipment.

Moving deeper into the town, Twilight noticed that she was surrounded by barracks as well as several long bunkhouses. Though they looked fairly primitive, Twilight had no doubt they were effective, especially given just how many beds she could see through the window. As she peered curiously at her surroundings, she was forced to squeeze through a number of tight crowds.

After passing by a duo of rowdy earth ponies stumbling through the tight, narrow streets, Twilight came to an abrupt stop.

An incredibly long and enormously thick log had emerged from a small side street, nearly clipping the unicorn. Stepping back, Twilight glanced to her left, to where Celestia strode out of the alley, sweat dripping down her form. Her usually flowing mane was tied into a tight ponytail, and even her tail was visibly shorter than usual.

The first thing Twilight noticed was just how incredibly well-muscled and absolutely massive the alicorn was. With one hoof wrapped around a log as tall as Twilight herself was, the mare strode confidently down the street. Seemingly unaware of the nearly twenty foot long bit of wood slung casually over her shoulder, until she noticed Twilight and came to a stop.

“Oh, hello dear. What are you doing here so early?” Celestia inquired, a wide smile on her face.

Wow, she is hot, Twilight thought to herself, only to grimace. Focus, Twilight.

“For the, uh, thing,” Twilight replied.

Celestia’s smile widened. “Oh, that's wonderful news. You must be looking for Luna then? I bet you two would have quite a bit to work out before we start things.”

Twilight nodded, her gaze drawn down to Celestia’s rippling muscles and enormous thighs. “Yeah, Luna. That's why I was here.”

“Well, she just flew to the keep. If you hurry, you can catch the next balloon up,” Celestia replied, pointing somewhere to her left.

Twilight shook her head vigorously. “Balloon. Totally… where is that exactly?”

“Is someone getting distracted?” Celestia teased, flexing even harder. “You know I could do a few reps for you if you’d like.”

“Hey, what's the hold up!” shouted a distant pony.

Celestia grunted. “Sorry, Steal Tip! Just a second.”

The alicorn turned back to a still slightly stunned Twilight. “It's straight ahead. You’ll see the big blue bag in a second. I’ll meet you there in a bit, cutie!”

Twilight merely nodded dumbly as Celestia strode away, her gaze drawn to the other mare’s backside. That was until Twilight realized what was happening, then the unicorn slapped herself out of her hypnotized state.

That wasn't me. That was this Twilight. I’m not attracted to Celestia, she thought as she screwed her eyes shut as tight as she could.

After several tense moments, she released a sigh, her shoulders falling slack. The strange attraction she had felt faded away, leaving behind guilt and an unpleasant bitterness at the bottom of her soul. She could take being forced to play nice with Celestia, but this body’s reaction to the alicorn’s appearance was an entirely different level of vexatious.

“Right. Balloon, then keep,” Twilight murmured.

Trotting down the road, Twilight noticed the odd being giving her a curious look, as if they were tempted to ask if she needed help. Brushing that aside, Twilight made her way down the street and towards a distant stockpile which lay at the edge of the walled village, and right next to where a surprisingly large gasbag was hovering a few feet off the ground.

Its basket was wide, perfect to carry the heavy stones which were being loaded inside of it. A nearby unicorn stood at the ready, his horn glowing the same color as the rune which lay at the bottom of the gas bag. All around him workers of various sizes were helping to load the marble blocks while a series of long ropes went all the way up to the plate above them.

The guards standing nearby gave Twilight only a brief look before ignoring her, giving the unicorn tacit permission to approach.

“Good afternoon. May I accompany this delivery by chance?” Twilight offered.

The yellow-furred and red-maned stallion blinked. “Oh uh. Sure thing, Director Sparkle. There is only enough weight left over for one operator though, so you’ll have to get it up there.”

“Just feed it mana until it reaches the station, right?” Twilight replied.

The other unicorn nodded. “Yup. The rune does all the work. Just don't go overboard.”

“I know what I’m doing,” Twilight softly declared.

“Well, you’ve certainly done it enough times,” exclaimed the male.

“How much longer before you are ready?” Twilight questioned.

“Five minutes, probably less,” answered the yellow unicorn.

Twilight nodded and stood there quietly as the balloon was loaded using a series of slopes and levers. It was a rather ingenious way of moving the great stone blocks, given that they didn't have the magical know-how to simply teleport them. For a second Twilight was tempted to teach the unicorn the spell, only to remind herself of the potential consequences of such an action.

And so she waited, taking her position atop the load of marble after the stone had been secured in place. With that done, she exchanged a brief goodbye with the operator and lit her horn, pouring magic into the rune. She began to rise almost immediately, the now roaring flame above her head cutting into the sharp bite of a bitter northerly wind.

It wasn't more than a few minutes before Twilight had risen up to the plate, but during that time she couldn't help but worry. Her current magical reserves weren’t anywhere near as significant as in her own time period. Thankfully she made it up without incident, the receiving team waiting patiently for her arrival.

The second the balloon was in place, a trio of earth ponies as well as a minotaur tugged sharply on the rope. With Twilight no longer feeding the gasbag any heat, it hovered in place, allowing the ground team to maneuver it into the landing zone. The small cordoned off area was flat and unremarkable, as was the mostly empty stockpile that sat nearby.

Beyond that were several structures in the midst of being built, their skeletal foundations standing tall. Only the towering stone keep was complete, with its four towers and built-in gatehouse serving as the plate’s only true defences. In time Twilight could tell that four walls would surround it as well as the other more minor structures like the barracks and blacksmith.

Only a small section at the forefront would be left open, barely enough for a trio of wagons to enter at the same time. It would obviously make any assault difficult, but it also made construction hard as well. Twilight didn't concern herself with such thoughts though, and made her way over to the entrance of the keep.

Guards and workers scurried about everywhere, some ferrying stone, others orders, all grim and hurrying to their destination. All save for the two who stood outside the keep’s entrance, as their expressions were stony and their posture straight. They wore a deep blue armor that was quite unlike the other guards, who wore only a plain greyish mail.

Upon drawing close, Twilight gave the pair a nod, an action they reciprocated. A second later the door was opened by the unicorn soldier, who extended a hoof towards the entrance. Knowing that no words needed to be uttered, Twilight stepped eagerly inside.

Twilight felt her gaze drawn up, a little surprised that the first area was a compact kill zone like she thought it would be. The main entryway was two stories tall, had only one other door, but did have several windows looking down from above. This area was clearly the final line of defence, though it was grand enough to serve as a ball room if needed.

All the subtle flourishes one might expect from a royal domicile were absent, leaving behind only plain grey stone. The only decoration was a statue of an alicorn which stood off to one side, her large wings spread wide, and forehoof extended towards the horizon. Her horn was long, her mane ragged and so incredibly detailed that Twilight could see each individual hair.

After reminding herself that although interesting, she couldn't waste time, the mare quickly trotted deeper into the keep. Making her way around the various soldiers and workers that milled about the area, Twilight entered into a long hallway. After that it took a little searching, but she eventually found her way outside of a rather simple-looking office.

More guards similar to the others stood outside, their expression as perfectly neutral as the last had been. This time when Twilight approached, they banged the butt of their spears against the ground, and gave her a crisp salute. The greeting threw Twilight off, and it took her a second to gather herself before she could respond.

“At ease. Is Luna here?” Twilight asked.

The slightly shorter of the pair nodded. “She's just inside.”

“I’d knock first though,” interrupted the other mare.

“Of course,” Twilight replied, extending a hoof.

Two sharp knocks later, a surprisingly masculine voice called from inside, “Enter.”
Twilight pushed open the door and strode inside, her confidence wavering slightly when she laid eyes on Luna. Gone was the lithe, slim form she had seen from her memories of the past, replaced by someone far bulkier. Though there was no doubt that this was indeed Luna, as the mare had the same coloration, cutie mark, and overall appearance. Even still, there were small differences.

Like a more prominent and thicker jaw, a shorter mane, as well as greaves that had been exchanged for the more delicate shoes Twilight knew from memory. Despite her more male appearance, this Luna wasn't nearly as big or as well-muscled as either Celestia. Her gaze was as sharp as ever though, and the second it settled on Twilight, the unicorn felt her chest tighten instinctively.

“Close the door, if you please,” Luna remarked glancing back down at the paperwork she was in the middle of.

The stack was tall, nearly dominating the relatively small and rather primitive looking desk. A desk that was the only piece of furniture in the room, save for a small bookshelf nearby and the chair Luna was seated upon.

After recovering from her initial shock, Twilight did as she was told before trotting up to the desk.

“Good afternoon. How are you?” Twilight began, hoping to dismiss the slightly uncomfortable atmosphere.

“I have been… good,” Luna replied after a short pause. “Who knew running a kingdom came with so much paperwork.”

“It is an unfortunate truth,” Twilight remarked.

Luna raised an eyebrow and observed the other pony closely for several long seconds before glancing down once more. “So it is,” she stated.

Twilight cleared her throat. “I was just stopping by in order to mention that all preparations have been completed.”

“Excellent,” Luna exclaimed. “Though I’m curious. Did you see my sister on the way here?”

“I did,” Twilight replied. “Why?”

“Oh, no reason,” Luna replied. “How are you two doing, by the way? Celestia speaks of you quite often.”

“It is going well,” Twilight answered somewhat hesitantly. “Our anniversary is coming up soon.”

“Ah, yes. That is quite a milestone,” Luna replied, placing her quill back into its pot and facing Twilight fully. “Do you have any plans?”

“Of course. Though it may be some time until I can actually enact them, given everything,” Twilight explained.

“I suppose our little surprise will have to take a backseat to the more pressing concerns at the moment,” Luna continued.

They were planning something? But what? I better try to change the subject, Twilight thought. “Yes, well. A thought for another time, now about the ritual. There were several things we will need to gather before it can begin.”

Luna nodded slowly, rising from her seat and pulling open a drawer. “That may be true, but there are more pertinent concerns, I’m afraid.”

Twilight blinked. “Like what?”

In a swift motion, Luna drew a dagger from the desk and thrust it forward, stopping only a hair’s breadth from Twilight’s throat.

“Like who you are and what you’ve done with my sister,” spat the now glowering alicorn.

If you want to read the next updates for my biggest stories at the begining of the month rather at the end, or want to get a commission from me as well as access to patreon exclusive content, and the chance to submit story requests every month, head over to my patreon!

Join me over on patreon and get instant access to exclusive content and early looks at new stories, patreon only stories and other great stuff! Check it out!
Or just join the discord to ensure that you dont miss an update.
This update was made possible by the wonderful support of readers like you: John, MestreJ, Starless, Gear Change, DioKyo, Tacocat598, Canary in The Coal Mine, Ceepert, Doomgoey, Tiwake, Vigilant Watch, Joshua, Nfreak, Facinus, M, John, Rhys, Corey, Blade Tech, Mephia, Peter, Apollyon, Nightwing, 浩民 簡, Hannibal, Dragon's Sheperd, BeenMcsqueen, Mop Hop, Dale, Xvos, Nathan, Octavia and Lowbar, Lich lord krosis, Prysm, Mike, Astor, Travis, Soundtea, Menthol Qtip, Craig, Mirvra, Ivar, Pacsik, Kali, Makani, Steven, Fiamgoku, free, GruB, Todd, Megatyrant.