Twilight blinked, her mind reeling as she gazed down at the incredibly sharp dagger mere inches from her throat. “I, uh, what?”

“Where is Twilight Sparkle?” Luna demanded.

“I am Twi- eep,” Twilight yelped, the knife nearly brushing against her neck.

“You are not her, so drop the act, lest I lose what little patience I have,” Luna pressed.

Twilight gulped, trying desperately to come up with some way out of this situation which didn't end up in her dying again. The first thing she considered was using another lie, though at this point she doubted that would work. Not only was Luna as sharp as ever, but Twilight was flustered, ruining her already poor poker face.

The second possibility she thought of was simply telling the truth, though she quickly realized that Luna might think she was lying. After all, informing someone that you’ve travelled backwards in time to possess a different version of one of their family members was pretty ridiculous. Especially considering the fact that the kind of time travel Twilight used had yet to even be conceived of in this time period.

Fighting was also right out for reasons which should be obvious to anyone looking in on the situation. With a dagger next to her throat, dozens of guards waiting outside, and only one reliable way down from the castle, Twilight’s chances of escape were slim. Sure, the unicorn might have the advantage due to her necromancy, but even that wouldn't be enough to get her out of there without a scratch.

“Speak, demon,” Luna hissed.

“I really am Twilight, just not your Twilight,” declared the unicorn.

Luna blinked, a confused expression crossing her face before being banished and replaced by a bitter scowl.

“Do you really think I would believe such nonsense? Twilight has no such twin,” Luna spat.

Twilight shook her head. “Not a twin, well, not in the traditional sense anyway-”

“Get to the point,” Luna demanded.

“I came from the future using a spell your Twilight will likely only finish in twenty years or so,” Twilight continued. “I am a different version of her.”

“A different…” Luna’s scowl deepened. “Prove it.”

“I, uh…” Twilight blinked. “How?”

“Tell me what is going to happen- Hold on...” Luna frowned. “That would mean we would have to wait for the event to occur.”

“Also history books from this time period are incredibly rare and hoarded jealousy, so I likely wouldn't even know of a relatively close historic event,” Twilight added.

“You really aren't helping your case,” Luna deadpanned.

Twilight chuckled nervously. “I’ve never done this before.”

“Obviously. Your lies are laughably easy to see through,” Luna exclaimed.

“Celestia believed them,” Twilight pointed out.

“My sister is blinded by love and guilt. She sees and hears what she wishes to and has little time for anything else,” Luna retorted.

Twilight winced. “Point taken.”

“Enough distractions. Prove you are who you say you are, or else I will dispatch you like the common knave you seem to be,” Luna proclaimed, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

Twilight raised her hooves. “I wouldn't do that if I were you.”

“And why not?”

“Because if you kill me, you kill your Twilight,”

Luna blinked. “You aren't bluffing.”

“I think we’ve already established that I couldn't do so even if I wanted to,” Twilight awkwardly pointed out.

“Explain.”

“My spirit traded places with your Twilight’s. She is in my time while I’m here in hers,” Twilight explained.

“So that body is not yours either,” Luna stated.

Twilight winced again. “I’m sure she would agree to switching if I could speak to her.”

“She did not even consent to this changing of places?” The alicorn’s nose crinkled in disgust. “How vile.”

“It's for a very important reason,” Twilight stressed.

“Like what?” Luna demanded.

“Can we put down the knife first? Before we continue this discussion?” Twilight asked, glancing down to the dagger still resting only a few inches from her exposed throat.

Luna’s gaze narrowed, and she sized Twilight up for several seconds before pulling the weapon back. “I suppose you are fairly harmless.”

“Hey, I know plenty of powerful spells that wouldn't be created for several millennia,” Twilight pointed out.

“But could you cast any of them before I buried this dagger in your windpipe?” Luna retorted, flipping the dagger around in her hoof before pointing the tip at the mare across from her.

Twilight frowned. “No, probably not.”

Luna sat back down across from the other pony. “Then speak. Tell me of this grand purpose of yours.”

“Okay, first of all, I know how this sounds, but is there any way I can convince you to just leave me be without making me tell you that information?” Twilight asked, already grimacing.

“Why would I do that?” Luna replied.

“Well, it's just that I don't know how it would affect the time stream,” Twilight continued, awkwardly settling back into her chair. “I don't fully understand how this whole thing works, and I don't want to accidentally cause myself to never be born or something like that.”

“You don't even…” Luna groaned, running a hoof down her face. “You have to be the worst spy I’ve ever captured.”

“I’m not a-”

“You know what I mean.”

Twilight chuckled nervously. “R-right. Anyway.”

“Give me a moment to think,” Luna stated.

Twilight bobbed her head. “Of course. Take as long as you need.”

Luna rubbed her chin and stared off into the distance, her expression darkening as her mind whirled with possibilities.

Twilight meanwhile was left with little to do but look around the room and wonder if her entire mission was about to fall apart. In that moment Twilight cursed her bull-headedness, as well as the future version of Celestia for pushing her to this moment. For without having to worry about more of the alicorn’s enforcers, Twilight wouldn't have done something so brash as use a spell she barely understood.

Twilight didn't have long to consider all the reasons which lead up to her poor decision though, as Luna had just cleared her throat.

“Seeing as how I will likely divine the reason you are here anyway, I think it would be best if you informed me of your mission right here and now,” Luna concluded.

Twilight was ready to argue for a moment before she frowned. “Yeah, that's probably fair.”

“Whenever you are ready,” Luna encouraged.

“Well, the first thing I was hoping to find was someone who understood the language of the dragons,” Twilight began.

“That knowledge doesn't exist in your time period?” Luna questioned.

“There are two possible ponies who may know it, and one of them would like nothing more than to incinerate me,” Twilight replied.

“Incinerate… this doesn't have anything to do with Celestia, does it?” Luna pressed.

“It doesn't… not have anything to do with her,” Twilight muttered awkwardly.

A frown slowly returned to Luna’s face. “I’m going to ignore that for a moment and ask you what words exactly have you come here to learn?”

Twilight silently cursed her former self for the thousand time that day. “Information was so minimal from that time that I assumed it was a normal language. Though it's been clear that it is not as easily learned as I first thought.”

Luna’s frown deepened. “Then what do you hope to accomplish now that you know otherwise?”

“I was hoping to just learn as many as I can while I’m here and then hope it's enough,” Twilight reluctantly admitted.

“That is frighteningly naive,” Luna deadpanned.

“I am aware of how it sounds,” Twilight murmured.

“What did you hope to accomplish with these words of power?” Luna continued, pressing her forehooves together. “Their power is considerable, and if you had a good many of them, you could accomplish numerous grand feats.”

“Well, this is the part I was hoping to avoid mentioning,” Twilight remarked.

“And why is that?” Luna asked, her gaze narrowing on the unicorn.

“Because…” Twilight hesitated. “You die.”

The time-displaced mare braced herself for a negative reaction but was surprised when she heard the alicorn chuckling.

“Is that it?” Luna exclaimed. “Without a dragon to consume our soul, we alicorns will wander the world for an eternity, waiting for someone to resurrect us.”

“Wait a second. Dragons can eat souls?” Twilight asked, jaw hanging open.

“We are frighteningly hard to kill, and our spirits can linger for millennia. How do you think we would ever lose a war if our enemy could not negate this ability?” Luna explained, opening her hooves.

“I…” Twilight paused. “Suppose that makes sense.”

“Now I assume from your tone that you intended to resurrect me. Why?” Luna pressed.

“There is an enemy only you can defeat, and I need your help to defend my new home,” Twilight admitted.

“Yet you didn't go to Celestia, nor are you trying to raise her,” Luna pointed out. “Why is that?”

“The enemy is your sister,” Twilight blurted, her shoulders tensing.

Again, she was met by laughter.

“My dear boneheaded sister is your enemy, and you expect me to defend you against her?” Luna scoffed. “Don't be ridiculous. I would never engage in combat with blood.”

Twilight chewed on her bottom lip briefly, wondering how she should respond. “You already have.”

“What, do you mean?” Luna demanded, her voice falling several octaves.

“She was the one who well… you know,” Twilight murmured, squeezing her forehooves together nervously.

“That is…” Luna’s jaw worked silently, the alicorn struggling to find the words to respond with. “Unlikely.”

“It's true,” Twilight pleaded. “She murdered my parents, tortured my friend, and has done terrible things to entire species.”

Luna scoffed. “You struggle against a doppelganger of some kind. Perhaps one of the dragon’s experiments still lives in your time and has stolen my sister’s face. Regardless, whoever you fight is not her, of that I can assure you.”

“How can you be so certain I’m lying?” Twilight demanded, an anger burning deep down in her core. “I have been in the same room as her, breathed the same air as her, and I know the person I’ve met from this time and her are one in the same.”

“You may not be lying, but that doesn't mean you are telling the truth,” Luna retorted. “Yes, you may believe it is her, but I know Celestia’s very soul. As alicorn siblings born with purpose, her and I are bound by something no mortal creature can comprehend.”

“Like Cadance?” Twilight replied.

In an instant all the indignation, anger, and borderline hate in the alicorn vanished, replaced by guilt as well as grim resignation.

“Yes,” Luna whispered softly. “I know my fallen sibling as well as Celestia. As well as myself.”

The cool wind of regret blew away what little rage burned in Twilight’s breast. “Look. I don't claim to know what it is like for alicorn siblings, but whoever is posing as Celestia has a damn good job taking over the known world and unless I want to watch my new family die, I need to find you in my time.”

“Your words contain the bitter bite of honesty,” Luna admitted, her shoulders slumping. “Ask your questions. I’m sure you have many.”

Twilight sighed. “Where would you be buried, if you did die?”

“I wouldn't,” Luna responded. “I would wish to be petrified like the ancient emperors of yore so I may look out over my domain for all eternity.”

Twilight blinked. “Wait. Don't tell me those alicorn statues outside were real ponies.”

Luna shook her head. “Neigh, those are merely clever recreations. Though rumour has it that some alicorns created many identical copies of their final state so as to discourage people from seeking them out.”

“Okay, but would you do that? Be placed somewhere prominent and obvious?” Twilight pressed.

Luna shrugged. “I know not. Though I had always thought that I would want to be placed somewhere scenic like a garden, or perhaps a library so I may guard the knowledge contained therein forevermore.”

“Hmmm, that doesn't exactly narrow it down… Though it's not like I’ve seen many alicorn statues around, so I could probably test every one if necessary,” Twilight murmured.

“Does that answer your question?” Luna asked.

Twilight hummed thoughtfully. “Mostly. Though I’m curious as to why they would choose petrification. It seems almost morbid to display their body in such a way.”

“That's simple. The process of petrification preserves one's body and maintains the spirit's link to the natural world. Should the spirit ever decide it wishes to be reunited with its flesh, it would be easy to divine its intentions,” Luna explained.

“How would you do that?” Twilight questioned.

“Use a necromancer’s enhanced sight to detect if the soul has returned to its old host,” Luna answered.

“That…” Twilight paused, the unicorn realizing that she had not used her new necromantic powers to investigate the lone alicorn statue she had seen back in her own time period. “I swear, if you were staring me right in the face this entire time, I am going to scream.”

“What?” Luna muttered.

“N-nothing,” Twilight quickly exclaimed. “Is there any way I could convince you to teach me the dragon words you know?”

“That depends,” Luna began. “What would we get out of it?”

Twilight had to stop herself from smiling. “I can bring back Cadance.”

“And who is to say our Twilight couldn't as well?” Luna countered.

“Simple. I am ten times the necromancer she is, and it will take her years if not decades for her to reach my skill level,” Twilight claimed.

“That is quite the statement,” Luna murmured. “I suppose you have evidence to back that up?”

“I’ve looked over her work and ascertained that although she is quite good, the general understanding of magic has improved dramatically over the centuries,” Twilight continued.

“And you hold this understanding, I presume?” Luna pressed.

“I do,” Twilight stated. “Now, I could prove it to you, but I think you know I’m an open book and couldn't lie to you even if I wanted to.”

“Or to save your life for that matter,” Luna muttered absently, the alicorn leaning back in her chair, rubbing her chin with a hoof. “I will need some manner of concrete evidence before the ritual, but that can wait for later.”

“So, you would let me help you?” Twilight asked in a hopeful tone.

“Again, I would need to actually test you, but I feel like we can trust one another,” Luna exclaimed. “At least a little bit, anyway.”

“Well, that's a relief,” Twilight exclaimed, her shoulders falling slack.

“Though I’m curious as to how you plan on getting back to your own body and time period,” Luna suddenly inquired, leaning forward on the desk. “You seem to lack a plan to accomplish most of your goals.”

“Don't remind me,” Twilight murmured, clearing her throat. “Though I didn't have a plan for most of this, I do actually know how to return to my time. I just need a bit of a magical boost as this body lacks the raw power necessary to cast it unaided.”

“Then you know of the alicorn infusion that Celestia planned to give our Twilight to aid in the ritual,” Luna pointed out.

“I do, and trust me when I say switching back is all I plan on using it for,” Twilight quickly exclaimed.

“That is good,” Luna replied. “Because the infusion is not something you can just steal. Nor is it something I will allow Celestia to do more than one final time.”

Twilight raised her hooves defensively. “Oh, I would never attempt to steal such a thing or use it selfishly. I have sort of met Cadance in my time period, and I’m fairly certain that if I mucked things up here, I’d ruin history somehow.”

“Then we must have already been successful in a way,” Luna exclaimed. “Let us hope it is because of your help that is the case.”

“Let's hope that me just mentioning that fact didn't screw things up,” Twilight murmured.

“I’m sure it's fine. From what little reading I’ve done, time seems to happen all at once, and is not so easily broken by meddling in the past,” Luna explained.

“Well, that's… good. If a little confusing,” Twilight muttered to herself.

“Quite. Though I have more questions about the future, I must give you a warning,” Luna declared, her voice becoming stern once more. “Although I feel like I can trust you, I will be watching you very, very closely.”

Twilight gulped and nodded her head eagerly. “I’ll do my best to earn that trust and prove my good intentions.”

Luna smiled suddenly. “That is a relief to hear. Oh, and try not to break Celestia’s heart while you’re here. I know you are supposedly enemies in your time, but she is not the mare you apparently know.”

“I’ll try,” Twilight whispered. “It's just hard, knowing what she will become.”

“I still doubt that the pony you know is her, but regardless you must at least be kind to this Celestia. That mare doesn't like to show it, but losing Cadance has affected her greatly, and the guilt of it all weighs heavily on her shoulders,” Luna explained.

“Why guilt though? It's not like she was the one who did it… right?” Twilight inquired.

Luna’s features twisted into a puzzled expression. “You don't know much about alicorns, do you?”

“One of the two I know of claims that she is the last of her kind and is divinely ordained to rule the world while the other is busy running a vast underground resistance that opposes that first one,” Twilight replied. “Neither are about to give me a history lesson, and there aren't exactly many textbooks left in this time period, never mind my own.”

“That is a lamentable fate,” Luna murmured. “To not know one's history is a crime in itself.”

The alicorn stared off into space for a moment before shaking her head, as if dismissing a particularly unpleasant thought.

“Regardless, I can give you a short one now,” the alicorn began, clearing her throat. “We alicorns born and bred to rule are created in threes. One a military general who is connected to a force of nature, the second a civic leader usually bonded to some aspect of the emotional spectrum. Lastly we have the bodyguard, who, as you might have already guessed, shares a special tie to a force of nature and must look after the other two.”

“You are the general, Cadance the civic leader, and Celestia the bodyguard,” Twilight reasoned. “Shouldn't the eldest be the bodyguard though?”

Luna chuckled and shook her head. “That would be quite amusing. I don't think Cadance even knows how to swing a sword, nor do I believe she could ever bring herself to kill.”

“It's strange to think that she’ll become the head of a vast resistance network,” Twilight murmured.

The alicorn’s smile slowly faded. “That is quite true, but to answer your question, the logic is this. The eldest must learn the most, science, math, engineering, leadership, et cetera. The bodyguard must become the embodiment of strength, while I need only learn how to command armies and memorize battle strategy.”

“Huh. Interesting,” Twilight murmured. “Where does this brother of yours come in? He was a dragon, right?”

Luna’s features darkened, and a frown spread across her face. “You had best watch your words on such a subject. Sinthgunt may have been adopted, but we all loved him like a brother.”

“I meant no disrespect,” Twilight quickly claimed.

“I know you don't, but still. Watch what you say about him. His loss is still on all of our minds,” Luna warned.

“Noted.”

Luna sighed. “He was an interesting and quite unique case. You see, Sinthgunt was thought to have been a dragon equivalent of stillborn, and was abandoned in what amounts to a supply closet. Forgotten by his people, Sinthgunt’s egg was captured in a raid by a rather daring young stallion. After hearing about the egg, my mother, who had suffered a miscarriage of her own not long before, empathized with the unborn dragon and sought to revive it.”

“And she succeeded,” Twilight continued.

“She did, and though it cost her greatly, she was able to bring up the young creature as our final sibling,” Luna remarked wistfully, her gaze becoming distant. “Perhaps it was the infusion of alicorn magic, or maybe it was simply my mother’s kindness, but in the end Sinthgunt grew up an honorable young dragon.”

The alicorn’s hoof absently scratched at an old, faded scar on her cheek. “He was kind, curious to a fault, and always up for a joke or a game. When he earned his name and officially became a part of our family, I was relieved, for I had grown attached to him.”

“What would have happened if he had failed?” Twilight asked.

Luna scoffed. “The test is not one you can fail. You either barely slip by, or you succeed by a wide margin, which was just what Sinthgunt did. The family would have suffered a minor disgrace if he had not done well, though thankfully such concerns proved unnecessary.”

Twilight leaned forward, listening intently.

“He was many things to many people, but despite what his own race had done to the mortals seeded on this planet, our ponies accepted him,” Luna exclaimed. “His loss was a major blow to all of us, Celestia included. Now with Cadance’s demise I fear she may be teetering on the edge of madness.”

“And you?” Twilight questioned.

“I have seen tens of thousands die,” Luna quickly replied, waving a dismissive hoof in the air. “Another death does not upset me so greatly.”

“Still…” Twilight murmured.

Luna sighed. “Still, he was my brother. Though I hold out hope that we may remedy his affliction and return him to normalcy once more, I understand all too well how grim reality can be.”

“I was wondering if you could tell me more about this version of myself,” Twilight began. “Her journals are filled with anecdotal information and little about herself, I’m afraid. Especially why you call her sister.”

Luna laughed loudly, a hoof going to her stomach. “Excuse me, but if that isn't the most Twilight thing ever, I don't know what is.”

“That was definitely me when I was younger,” Twilight murmured.

“I’m glad at least one of you aged out of that, though I doubt our Twilight ever will,” Luna exclaimed, wiping a tear from the edge of her eye. “She has suffered too greatly, and now all she has left is duty and study.”

“What happened exactly?” Twilight pressed.

“She was groomed from birth to be the assistant to a dragon wizard who in turn served in the court of a local ruler. Twilight’s mistress was paranoid and cruel and when the dragoness found out how powerful Twilight was becoming she tried to remove her horn, but thankfully another dragon intervened,” Luna explained. “Though not out of pity, mind you. The local lord simply did not wish to waste such talent.”

“That explains why her magic feels so… stunted,” Twilight murmured, glancing up to her horn.

“She wore a limiter for so long that her magical system became damaged and ingrown,” Luna remarked bitterly. “It was not pleasant, and though we freed her, the time spent in captivity has harmed her in a way that we cannot heal.”

“She seems to care deeply for all of you and Equestria,” Twilight offered.

Luna smiled. “Though her kindness is blunt, it is one thing that she has always held onto and why she eventually became like a sister to me.”

“I was also wondering about-” Twilight began.

Luna’s right ear twitched, and the mare raised a hoof. “I’m afraid this is where we end our conversation for the moment. I am needed elsewhere, and Celestia is making her way here at this very moment.”

Twilight bit down the bile that built deep in her belly. “When can we speak next?”

“Later this evening at dinner we can exchange pleasantries, but truly conversing with one another won't come till later,” Luna remarked, scratching her chin. “Tonight, at midnight we can meet at the tallest tower in the castle. There I will teach you one of the words I know.”

“Does anyone else around here know any words?” Twilight pressed.

“Celestia does not have the aptitude for the more complicated words you are likely to require. Nor is she able to grasp even the most basic facets of necromancy,” Luna answered. “Cadance knew a few, and Sinthgunt knew many, though there will be little chance you could learn what he could teach even if he was not… indisposed.”

“Hmm fair,” Twilight murmured. “Hopefully I can learn Cadance’s words before I leave, though I could always meet her again in my time and learn them then. Provided she hasn't forgotten, of course.”

“You cannot forget the words. To learn them is to make them a part of your soul,” Luna pointed out.

“Then I won't forget them when I go back…” Twilight muttered to herself.

“What was… Nevermind we can continue this conversation later, my sister is here,” Luna remarked, rising from her desk.

Sure enough, a second later Celestia appeared in the doorway, a smile on her face. “Ahh, I knew I’d find you two tucked away somewhere with more dust than ponies.”

Luna chuckled. “You know us, sister.”

“That I do bro-sister.” Celestia cursed under her breath. “My apologies, Luna. You know I’m not the quickest of the bunch.”

Luna rose from her seat and trotted across the room, placing a gentle hoof on the taller alicorn’s shoulder. “You are a brilliant mare, Celestia. Your brain just moves faster than your mouth sometimes,” Luna exclaimed, a smile on her face.

Celestia chuckled, patting her sibling’s hoof. “Quite right. So, how was the discussion? Are we still on track?”

Luna glanced to Twilight and gave the other mare a subtle nod. “That we are. Isn't that right, Twilight?”

Twilight bit down the hint of worry which continued to plague her and smiled back. “Of course. Perhaps we could even start tomorrow or the day after that.”

“Truly?” Celestia asked, her eyes going wide.

Luna hummed. “Let us aim for tomorrow, likely late in the day. Unfortunately there are other matters which need to be addressed before we can move ahead.”

“What needs doing?” Celestia demanded. “If you require additional security, I will recall general Stonewall from the eastern front. He isn't doing anything save for hunting down dragon cults anyway.”

“You need not worry yourself, sister,” Luna quickly interjected. “We just need to get some administration out of the way and set in motion some back-up plans in case we end up indisposed for a large amount of time.”

Celestia sighed. “Of course. I am merely excited to be reunited with dear Cadance. Things will be better with her wisdom helping to guide your nation.”

“Our nation,” Luna interrupted, patting the other alicorn again. “Now then. Was there something you wished to discuss, or did you merely hope to recover your beloved?”

“I was hoping she and I could go for a walk before dinner. I know it is important that we eat with the other officials, but I find the discussion to be so bland during these meals,” Celestia exclaimed, flashing Twilight an unsettling wink.

“Yes, it does end up becoming rather boring, doesn't it?” Twilight muttered.

“Quite,” Luna agreed. “I shall leave you two lovers to enjoy a stroll through town before we meet again for supper.”

Celestia’s smile grew. “Thank you, sister. Oh, and do try to take some time off for yourself.”

Luna chuckled, retracting her hoof and walking away. “I will make the attempt if nothing else.”

“Now then,” Celestia exclaimed after Luna left the room. “Like I was saying, I was hoping we could go for a walk, maybe around the castle grounds. It's a beautiful day out.”

Twilight hesitated before nodding. “That it is. Very well, I will follow you… dear.”

Celestia’s smile faltered briefly before being plastered to her face once more. “There is a most wonderful view from the east battlement that I know you will enjoy.”

“That would overlook some beautiful country,” Twilight remarked.

“Indeed, shall we?” Celestia offered, extending a hoof.

Twilight reluctantly accepted the invitation, taking the offered hoof and being gently pulled from her seat. “We shall.”

Celestia’s expression darkened for a moment before her smile returned a second later. “You’ll never guess who I ran into after you left.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Who?”

“Ingrid the Intrepid,” Celestia replied. “She was telling me all about a book she found in a forgotten dragon temple the other day, and you would not believe what it-”

Twilight stared out over the vast expanse of mostly empty space that was the burgeoning nation of Equestria. Though largely made up of endless prairie and rolling hills, a few notable landmarks dotted the area. Most noticeable of the lot was the Everfree Forest which was at this point in time little more than a distant wall of green no bigger than a speck.

The Canter River stood out from the endless green and gold of the prairie lands, cutting it down the middle before it split in two. One of its branches entered the Everfree while the other flowed off into the distance, eventually reaching the ocean. Though she could not see it even from her vantage point atop a sturdy stone tower, Twilight knew the great mass of salt water lay just beyond the horizon.

The Smokey Mountains lay to the right, while to her left Twilight could see the distant form of the Macintosh Hills. Though Twilight could augment her sight with magic if she wished to do so, the unicorn knew that the landscape would lose some of its charm if she did that. Something about the green, gold, and soft browns was enough to pull the breath from her lungs while also setting her mind at ease, despite the slight sense of vertigo she had initially gotten when she had first looked out over the sprawling nation.

“It's quite something, isn't it?” Celestia asked in a soft tone. “Sometimes I come up here to think whenever things get me down.”

“It is quite nice,” Twilight admitted. “It makes my own problems seem so…”

“Small?” Celestia offered.

Twilight nodded mutely.

“I’ll let you in on another secret. Though you’ll have to turn around to understand what I mean,” Celestia exclaimed.

Twilight glanced up at the alicorn and studied her features briefly before turning towards the interior of the castle grounds where dozens upon dozens of workers toiled while a vast array of soldiers moved to and fro. Each one burdened by some task, there were few individuals who were simply standing around while not being on guard duty.

These creatures moved with purpose and skill, visibly eager to complete their tasks. It was obvious morale was high, as most of the creatures Twilight saw wore a smile on their face or at least moved with a bounce in their step.

Twilight’s attention wandered though, fixating on the anomalies amongst the mostly equine individuals below her. Eye-catching proto-versions of seemingly every race supposedly born from the Everfree walked the dirty primitive pathways. Though they mostly kept their ponylike features, the beginnings of their races more unusual traits had started to poke through.

The trolls were not nearly as large, though they had a rocky exterior. Thestrals had bat-like wings, but weren't quite as short. Everywhere Twilight looked, she saw another species that had supposedly been birthed by the Everfree that ponies rarely even ventured into.

Not only that, but many other races were represented in the workforce, like minotaurs and gryphons, and even a lone centaur could be spotted. A few stranger creatures that looked like an oversized bipedal cat and its toucan assistant could be seen walking the castle grounds. Though rare, these creatures seemed to be treated no different than their pony allies, each one going about their business without pause.

“Now your problems seem even smaller, right?” Celestia prompted.

Twilight blinked. “Uh yeah. Totally.”

Celestia lifted an eyebrow. “You are distracted. What troubles you?”

“I just noticed those…” Twilight searched the grounds before pointing to a pair of larger, bipedal guards that stood next to a small tower which itself had been placed beside a barracks. “Guards, and I found myself wondering about them.”

“Ahh, the storm creatures. Curious, aren't they?” Celestia mused. “Born from the eternal storm of their homeland to the south, they were supposedly some manner of hyena before wild magic gave them the gift of intelligence as well as strength.”

Twilight blinked and inspected the tall, broad-shouldered creatures closer, noting their muscular features and masked appearance. “That is quite fascinating. I wonder if that would also explain the other creatures who seem to be simple beasts only with the intellect of any other sentient creature.”

“Perhaps, though the dragons are also to blame for a few of the strange creatures that walk our planet,” Celestia began, pointing down to a troll who was pulling a cart of bricks across the yard. “Take the humble shaleback down there. They were born from generations of earth caste bred for their connection to the earth before being imbued with foul magics.”

“That explains a lot,” Twilight murmured.

“But you already knew all that,” Celestia concluded.

“I try not to think about it too much,” Twilight replied.

Celestia nodded. “Fair. I too find that if I ruminate too long on the dragons’ many misdeeds that my mood will become as foul as they were.”

Twilight frowned as she stared off into space, silently wondering how the modern day equivalent of the shaleback had come to be. She almost immediately concluded that it was likely genetic isolation along with the effects of the forest, but that didn't paint a complete picture. There were too many pieces to the puzzle, and that was without even considering how the arachne might have come to be.

“A penny for your thoughts?” Celestia inquired.

Twilight chewed on her lip briefly, trying to come up with something, anything that didn't include the fact that she still felt uncomfortable in the alicorn’s presence.

“I’m just tired from doing so much research, is all,” Twilight exclaimed.

Celestia shifted her forehooves on the wall. “Is that why you’ve been so distant recently?”

“Yes! That's it exactly,” Twilight quickly exclaimed, awkwardly patting the other mare’s hoof. “I’ll be back to my usual self soon enough.”

Celestia's smile faltered. “If that is what is wrong, then why do you wince whenever our eyes meet or tense up the moment I walk into the room? I know I’m not smart enough for you, and I don't share many of your interests, but I feel like we really have something special.”

Twilight donned the widest smile she could manage and looked up to the other mare. “It's just the ritual. I promise things will go back to normal soon.”

Celestia grinned back, but her eyes still contained a deep well of sadness. “Is it Luna? I know you two have far more in common than you and I do. Not only that, but she's not a failure like I am. If it is her, just tell me, and I’ll back off-”

Twilight wanted to hug the mare, to tell her it was going to be alright, and that her Twilight would be back soon, but she just couldn't do it. No matter how sympathetic this Celestia was, she was too close to the pony responsible for the death of her mother. Desperate to escape this awkward situation that was quickly devolving by the second, Twilight turned and pointed to the small tower she saw earlier.

“Hey, what’s that?” she asked.

Celestia sniffed and wiped a tear from the edge of her eye. “That houses the pin, or coffin nail, as I like to call it.”

“And why do you call it that?” Twilight pressed.

“Because…” Celestia dragged a forehoof across her face and stood a little taller. “Because it helps to bind the plate to the mountain. Without Cadance’s knowledge of engineering, we were forced to take shortcuts.”

“That sounds dangerous,” Twilight exclaimed. “What if someone sabotages it?”

“It would be incredibly dangerous to do so. That is, if it was capable of being broken by just anyone,” Celestia began, the alicorn’s breathing becoming less ragged by the second. “But the only creatures capable of destroying wards of that strength are the dragons, and they aren't exactly a problem anymore.”

“But could a pony theoretically destroy them?” Twilight asked.

“I guess,” Celestia muttered. “But no normal pony has registered over thirty thaums of power, and it would take nearly a hundred times that to even crack the outermost layer.”

“That is very strong,” Twilight pointed out.

“I may not know much, but enchanting has always been my forte,” Celestia replied, sighing deeply. “Look, I’d really like to talk about… you know what, we can do that later.”

“It will be fine soon. I promise,” Twilight exclaimed.

“You’re probably right. Cadance’s absence is just weighing heavily on us all,” Celestia added, her eyes becoming glassy for a moment as she stared off into space.

“Very true. Now then, why don't we go see some more of this wonderful castle you are helping to build?” Twilight offered, gesturing further down the walls.

Celestia shook her head and blinked. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“I said why don't you show me more of the castle?” Twilight repeated, a curious look on her face.

“There is a trail I found that winds around to the east,” Celestia remarked, a small smile gracing her features. “The view isn't quite as nice as it is on this side, but you can at least see Foal Mountain from there.”

“That sounds wonderful. Lead the way,” Twilight declared, silently hoping that she hadn't screwed things up too badly. Come on, Luna, let's hurry up and get that ritual started. I don't know how much longer I can do this.

Twilight smiled and waved as Celestia walked away, the alicorn noticeably more chipper than she had been before dinner. Then again, I handled that awkward conversation about as well as Applejack does flying.

She sighed, quickly secluding herself back within the guest room she had been assigned. Though little more than a storage closet with a window, it was at least big enough for a bed, a chest of drawers, and a desk. With little room to pace, Twilight walked over to the window and threw it open, gazing out at the evening sky.

If she was focusing, she might have noticed that the stars weren't quite where they had been in her time period. She didn't care for such a thought though, as she was too busy agonizing over the dinner she had just sat through. It had been a fairly formal affair with nearly everyone using titles and generally saying very little of importance.

Twilight had managed to catch a few interesting snippets of conversation though, like how several splinter groups were attempting to form their own nations. She knew that most of these fledgling countries would eventually become small city states. Ones that would initially ally with Equestria until Celestia took over and absorbed them through conflict or even less scrupulous means. That wouldn't be for several thousand years though, and in the meantime they would be major players on the world’s stage.

Or at least that's what Twilight assumed, as most history books claimed they accomplished little and were largely insignificant. Believing the opposite of what Celestia claimed had happened was usually a wise course of action. Though if it was this Celestia that had made such a claim, then Twilight might have taken such an assertion to heart.

For unlike the alicorn from her own time period, this one was kind, honest, and had a very straightforward attitude. Heck, it was getting hard for Twilight to even imagine that they were the same person at this point.

It was enough to make Twilight begin to doubt herself.

Regardless. Whoever you fight is not her, of that I can assure you.

Luna’s words echoed in Twilight’s mind as she peered out the window and at the realms far beyond. Those words contained a truth Twilight didn't want to face, the pony staring up at the moon as she contemplated the day’s events. A line of thinking that inevitably made Twilight irritable and more than a little disappointed in herself.

“I’m going nowhere slowly,” Twilight told the moon.

Turning away from the window, she made her way over to the desk and began to review the ritual she had planned. It may have been redundant, considering just how many times she had read it at this point, but Twilight needed something to take her mind off things. Namely the way Twilight was slowly ruining Celestia’s relationship with her other self and further destabilizing the alicorn’s mental state in the process.

Twilight leaned back in her chair and peeked out the window, searching the sky for any sight of the moon. Sure enough, the enormous orb could be seen poking out from between a pair of slim black clouds that had tried to obscure the glowing object from sight. Based on the moon’s position, Twilight quickly deduced that she had only ten or so minutes until midnight.

“Finally,” she muttered to herself.

The unicorn carefully rolled up the scroll she had been reading not long ago and set it aside along with the other books she had been pretending to read. Though perhaps reading was a bit charitable considering she had mostly opened them to make it feel like she was accomplishing something rather than simply distracting herself from her failings and desperately trying to elevate her falling mood.

With midnight having nearly arrived, Twilight was able to push past the vague miasma of despair which hung over her. A goal now in sight, the unicorn stood up and made her way over to the door, a small spring in her step. Slipping out of the room, Twilight glanced down the narrow halls before realizing something important.

“I have no idea how to reach the highest tower,” Twilight whispered.

Thankfully, she remembered the location of some stairs leading further up into the castle, ones nearby no less. Seeking them out took little time, and though they didn't take her exactly where she wanted to go, they put Twilight on the right path. A little bit of backtracking and some aimless wandering later, Twilight stood outside the tallest tower currently complete.

She went to wipe her forehead of sweat, only to find that despite her limbs burning, there was no perspiration upon her brow.

“This body is confusing,” Twilight exclaimed before reaching forward and pulling on the handle.

Sure enough, the door swung inward, allowing Twilight to peer into the gloom and see the small circular room beyond. It was empty save for everything but a single medium-sized table. Twilight tried to find any sign of Luna, but found none. The unicorn was about to start worrying that she was late, when she heard the sound of great wings flapping vigorously just outside the window.

A second later Luna gracefully flew through the entrance, unfolding her feathery appendages and arresting her momentum. The alicorn took a moment to settle herself before turning to Twilight and fixing her with a soft smile.

“Ah, there you are. At least you are as punctual as your other self,” Luna remarked.

“I almost wasn't,” Twilight replied. “This place is a bit of a maze, and I might have forgotten to ask for directions.”

“And it's not like you could just ask a guard without appearing suspicious,” Luna stated.

“Exactly. None of that matters now though,” Twilight confidently declared. “I’m ready whenever you are.”

“Before we begin, I must ask what have you learned about the primordial words so far?” Luna pressed, standing across the table from the other mare.

“That they are the embodiment of some aspect of reality like ice or fire,” Twilight began, standing across from the dark alicorn. “To learn them, you must understand every facet of the word.”

Luna raised a hoof. “You are mostly correct, but to truly grasp the word, you must realize that you are not speaking a word in the traditional sense. You are forcing the very essence of something into reality by uttering not the word for ice, but evoking the concept of ice itself. For example.”

Twilight scratched her head. “I think I get it, though I’m still not sure what the difference is.”

“It's not just that you are saying some word of power and that doing so conjures some kind of magic, but you are forcing reality itself to bend because you have brought forth one of its aspects,” Luna continued, only to frown. “I can see that doesn't quite explain things.”

“It does seem to avoid simple description,” Twilight remarked.

Luna sighed. “Think of it this way. When you say a word, you are speaking the sound associated with the concept of it. When you speak the dragon tongue, you say not the word for ice, but ice itself.”

Twilight scratched her head. “I think I get it.”

“Don't worry, you will understand it better in due time. For now just try to wrap your head around that concept while I work on something to assist you,” Luna stated.

“Okay,” Twilight murmured, watching absently as Luna began to breathe in and out in a very deliberate fashion. “What exactly are you doing anyway?”

“To understand the soul, you must be able to extract your spirit and gaze within its depths and grapple with the meaning you find within,” Luna murmured, her eyes remaining closed as she relaxed her body one muscle group at a time. “A dangerous process, though one that will grant you understanding without spending decades staring into a mirror.”

“Before we proceed,” Twilight interrupted, “would you mind telling me what applications these words might have?”

“The most obvious application comes with uttering the word while casting a spell which may share an aspect with the concept you have so invoked,” Luna replied. “For example, a master of ice may be able to freeze a target creature by conjuring a cone of cold, or they could banish all the heat from a room.”

“So imagination has a component then?” Twilight inquired.

Luna nodded. “It does. Though ponies and even alicorns can rarely use them to do anything more than empower our natural magic, in time you might be able to do more with it. Provided you are as skilled a necromancer as you say you are.”

Though Luna’s features were different from the other version Twilight had seen in her visions, the look on her face was familiar. It was one she had used quite often when teasing the version of Twilight who had been romantically interested in the alicorn.

“Alright, so how do I bring out my…” Twilight paused. “Wait, I already know how to do that first step.”

Luna blinked. “Well, that certainly speeds things along. Just bring forth the totality of your soul and remember that your spirit is everything you are, not just the energy inside you. It is your memories, your personality, your disposition. It is every aspect of yourself put into an orb the size of an orange.”

Twilight nodded slowly and repeated the breathing technique she had seen Luna use a few seconds earlier. Relaxing her body took longer than she would have liked, but in the end Twilight felt her muscles fall slack. Once done, she opened her eyes to see that Luna had conjured forth a perfect sphere of what looked like purple fire.

The flame burned almost lazily, flickering back and forth at a ponderous pace, its energy contained by some unseen force. Yet beneath the calm surface, Twilight could see faces flash past, some in terror, others in joy, while a select few simply stared blankly. That wasn't all she saw though, as numerous locations, army formations, and night skies flashed before her eyes.

It was a strange sight, and one that was dismissed only a few seconds later when the alicorn winced, pulling back her hoof. The hoof-sized orb of fire flickered out before receding into the mare’s body, vanishing without a trace and leaving behind only a single blue ember.

“I would advise against staring too deeply into another’s soul,” Luna remarked, shaking her hoof as if she had lost feeling in the limb. “For if you do, a part of them might enter you.”

Twilight gulped. “Err, sorry.”

Luna clopped her hoof against the table several times. “It is fine. You did not peer deep enough nor for long enough for that to be a worry, though it is something you should remember in the future.”

“What would happen exactly?” Twilight questioned.

“You might gain their memories if you're lucky, but if you aren't, then you might have your entire personality overwritten or just lose a few of your own memories,” Luna stated grimly. “If the other individual is exceptionally powerful, then they might even be able to overwrite your soul entirely, creating a copy of themselves in a way.”

“That sounds horrible,” Twilight murmured.

Luna nodded. “It is something not even the dragons dared to meddle with.” Then she murmured in a dark tone, “Until the end.” .

Twilight lifted an eyebrow. “What was that?”

Luna shook her head. “Nothing. It is also a difficult process, and one that I don't expect you to complete tonight. Though if you do manage it, simply stare into its depths until you understand it as well as you do the back of your own hoof.”

“Please allow me the chance to try before you pass judgement on my abilities,” Twilight retorted. “I just might surprise you.”

“That is fair. I suppose this would make for a worthy test of your skill,” Luna added.

Twilight smiled as she closed her eyes, quickly relaxing her body once more. The second she felt her shoulders finally release the last of their tension, she focused on the deepest part of her being. She then pulled on the majority of her essence which traveled up her hoof before emerging fully into the world.

Where it took the shape of a great kaleidoscope of swirling apparitions so numerous that they were beyond counting. Nearly a dozen times bigger than Luna’s, Twilight’s soul twisted and contorted with a manic energy that was only just barely contained. Upon closer inspection, Twilight noted that the many faces she saw within her soul were quite familiar.

For they were her.

Their appearance varied, and though most were unicorns, there were many who were not. Those that lacked a horn had anything from bat-like wings to a pebble-encrusted hide, with nearly every pony subspecies being represented. These ghostly entities all had their eyes closed, and each one flew by on unseen currents, folding endlessly in on themselves.

“What did you do?” Luna gaped.

“What you told me to,” Twilight replied.

“Well, then look in it quickly,” Luna encouraged, taking a stumbling step back from the table.

Twilight hesitated only briefly before peering into the mass of swirling spirits, her vision immediately beginning to swim. Then before Twilight was able to gather herself, she was no longer herself, rather she was a farmer living in a sod hut, her family sleeping peacefully around her. Despite their snoring lulling her to sleep, Twilight remained awake, watching as her two children slumbered next to her.

Behind her she could feel her earth pony lover shift in his sleep, and she didn't need to look to know that Surprise Start was still dreaming. The sound of his snoring was as recognizable as the slightly sweet scent of his fur. Before Twilight could truly appreciate being that version of herself, reality warped, and she went from lying down to leaning against the wall of an alley.

Her body was covered in thick cloth which hid her features, including the large wings twitching anxiously at her sides. In the city streets beyond, a stallion in purple garp stopped at a stall, his hoof going to the large bag of gold that hung from his side. The sight made Twilight’s own hoof inch toward the dagger she kept at her side, but before she could strike, the ground fell out from beneath her.

Then Twilight was in freefall, a grin on her face as she plummeted toward whatever lay below her without a hint of fear in her heart. Letting out a shrill cry of joy, the wingless, hornless pony hit the water with a cataclysmic splash. She barely registered the startled cries of her friends before cold lake water swallowed her whole.

She emerged from the swirling water, coughing and sputtering bitterly, immediately tearing the waterlogged helmet from her head. Throwing the heavy thing further up the bank, Twilight crawled out of the mud and up onto semi-dry land beyond. Her gaze immediately went further up the river where she could see her camp burning as winged raiders swooped down and carried off her soldiers.

A soft, gentle smile came to her face, the flames crackling as Twilight peered into the slowly dying embers. The cold of the night threatened to creep in, but thankfully the many blankets she had acquired at the last town kept her warm. Despite the warmth, her bones still creaked as she rose from her spot around the campfire, Twilight’s ancient body urging her to return to her wagon for the night.

Emerging out into the frigid air, Twilight looked down from her tower, unbothered by the wind whipping about her nude form. Though she could smell the heady aroma of perfume wafting from her harem’s chambers, she felt no desire to return at the moment. For now she wished to simply look out onto her domain and relish the feeling of pride which welled from deep down inside.

Curiosity consumed the nameless creature as it stared out of its cave home and towards the rising sun. Behind her set the moon, its features blocked by the mountain the creature resided within along with its recently discovered tribe. It was at that moment that the first and only words it had ever heard came to mind, stirring something from deep within its very soul.

“You will be the first and last of the ponies to grace this world. I beg of thee, guide your brothers and sisters, for they will need your curiosity just as much as they need your kindness,” spoke a motherly tone from everywhere and nowhere.

What does this all mean? Twilight thought, her mind returning to her the second the voice left her. What point are all these visions trying to make?

They are all me, that much is obvious, but what was that last one? Twilight hesitated as her thoughts went back to the cave pony who did not even have a name, nor anyone else to truly call a friend. Was I truly the first pony to be placed on this world? If so, why? And if I was the first, then who were my true parents?

A miasma of panic threatened to overwhelm her thoughts, and for a moment Twilight felt herself begin to slip. The abyss opened beneath her, a soft song spilling forth from the depths of reality and urging her to just give in. Twilight refused to follow it though, and with a titanic shove, she tore herself from the darkness, flying out from between its terrible teeth.

Without the great nothing threatening her soul’s very existence, Twilight was able to observe her surroundings unmolested. They were made up entirely by a great swirling mass of purplish green shapes so numerous that they seemed endless. Each one Twilight knew was a life she had lived, or would live, and though that knowledge filled her with fear, it also stirred a sense of pride in the mare.

This is Twilight Sparkle. This is what it means to be me. I am just one spoke in a wheel that will turn until time itself dies, Twilight thought to herself.

Then just like that she was standing in the tower once more, the raging miasma that were her other lives having fallen still, their eyes now open. Understanding flooded Twilight’s mind, and she knew immediately that she truly understood the soul in a way she had not a moment ago. With a gentle tug, Twilight pulled the spirits back into her body, their unearthly light leaving the room and returning the tower to darkness once more.

With only the moon’s glow to aid her, Twilight looked up to find Luna staring at her with wide, fearful eyes. The expression vanished the second their gaze met, the alicorn closing her mouth and forcing her face to appear more neutral. Her horn remained lit for a second or so before it too flickered out, the pony observing Twilight closely, but also curiously.

“That certainly was something,” Luna remarked.

“That it was,” Twilight agreed, flexing her hoof as feeling slowly returned to it. “I think I get it now.”

“Then speak,” Luna commanded, her voice tinged by a sliver of doubt.

Twilight opened her mouth and forced reality to bend to her will, bringing to bear her understanding of the soul. Though a part of her knew she could speak with power and control, she resisted that urge, uttering the word that was a word, softly. The second the power left her mouth, Twilight noticed how both her and Luna had gained a faint glowing outline.

The alicorn’s aura was a deep blue, while Twilight’s was an equally as dark purple color, both of which surrounded them completely. Luna silently marveled at her hoof, moving it this way and that before setting it back on the ground.

“You have done extraordinary well. Truly you are every bit the expert you claimed to be,” Luna declared in a slightly amazed tone.

“Thank you,” Twilight replied. “Do we have time to learn another?”

“I’m afraid I only anticipated you being able to learn one,” Luna admitted. “We will pick this back up tomorrow somewhere more private.”

Twilight wilted, but nodded in agreement anyway, her stomach growling angrily at her. “I assume you will seek me out then?”

Luna looked away form the window. “Absolutely. I aim on being free of my duties by two in the afternoon tomorrow. Return to my study, and we shall reconvene then.”

“Excellent, thank you, Luna. I learned a lot,” Twilight declared.

Luna smirked. “As did I, young Twilight. As did I.”

Unknown to Twilight, Celestia stood atop the castle roof, her mostly white, though partially golden hoof glowing faintly. The alicorn stared at the limb for several seconds before glancing up at the tower and noting the familiar glows emerging from within. The mare was conflicted and more than a little confused, but knew enough to know who was up there.

“What are you two doing?” Celestia murmured before reluctantly shaking her head and returning to her patrol route once more.

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