Twilight awoke suddenly, her entire body lurching forward with enough force to nearly launch the mare from her bed. Her chest heaved, and though she had no pulse, the mare could sense her heart was about to pound its way out of her chest. Combined with the perspiration which ran down her forehead, she suddenly felt more alive than she had in weeks.

“Was I… sleeping?” Twilight murmured absently.

She glanced at the bed, recalling the moment she had lay down in order to rest her aching head. She had decided to close her eyes just for a few minutes, and yet here she was, an indeterminate amount of time later. She shielded her eyes and glanced towards the window where the morning sun shone brightly.

Thankfully its light didn't meet her gaze, though the sun’s mere presence was enough to startle the unicorn. Thinking back, Twilight tried to remember how long she had been lying there, and what she had dreamt about, but came back with nothing. Though she was sure she had slept, Twilight was uncertain if she had dreamt, though perhaps that was for the best.

After giving her head a shake and dismissing the cloying remnants of sleep, Twilight pushed her way towards the edge of the bed. Putting her hooves under herself once more, she tried to take a step forward, only to stumble and nearly fall. A sudden sense of vertigo gripped her, and it took several more seconds before the dizziness left her completely.

“I guess that little lesson took more out of me than I thought,” Twilight muttered to herself.

Waking up was a strange sensation, especially since she had not required sleep for several days at this point. Thankfully the strange feeling was one she knew well, and, after a little bit of stumbling, she was able to walk over to a mirror. The rather simple silver reflective surface sat near the end of her bed and revealed that the mare had a rather bedraggled mane.

Like herself, this Twilight seemed to have a very minimalist sense of style, so it took only a bit of magic to straighten her hair once again. An action she took great joy in accomplishing, as her hooves and necromancy lacked the dexterity that her telekinesis did. After she no longer looked like she had just crawled out of her own grave, Twilight gave her reflection a satisfied nod before trotting to the door.

Stepping out into the hall, Twilight expected the silence of her quiet room to continue, only to be surprised when she heard excited conversation from nearby. Glancing to her right, she noted that a pair of minotaurs were speaking animatedly in hushed tones near an open window. Not only that, but several maids were clustered in the entrance of a set of double doors, wide joyful expressions on their faces.

The mood in the hallway was jovial, and before Twilight could even choose a direction, a pegasus came sprinting towards her. Clasped tight to his chest were a bundle of papers and books which he carried to parts unknown after rounding the bend to Twilight’s left.

“I wonder what's going on,” Twilight murmured.

Deciding to take her chances with the minotaurs, Twilight trotted up to the duo and cleared her throat expectantly.

“Good morning,” she announced.

The bipeds gave their unexpected visitor a respectful half bow, placing one closed fist over their hearts.

“Good day to you, Director Sparkle,” exclaimed the slightly taller and thinner of the two in a distinctly masculine voice.

“And what a wonderful day it is,” added the other in a deeper, yet more feminine tone.

“What happened to get everyone in a hubbub all of a sudden?” Twilight inquired.

“Did you not hear?” asked the male.

“How could you not know about Cadance’s return?” added the female.

“So that’s today then?” Twilight replied curiously.

The male grinned and lightly punched the unicorn in the shoulder. “Oh, you sly dog. You knew, didn't you?”

“I may have. Though I’m curious as to who made the announcement,” Twilight tactfully answered.

“Celestia did so only a few hours ago during her morning speech to the guards,” declared the female. “She just hinted at first, but it took only a few pointed questions. They managed to weasel it out of her.”

“To think she will be coming back from ‘vacation’ already. Alicorns sure are something,” muttered the male in awe.

Twilight frowned. “That does sound like her. My apologies for intruding.”

“It is no trouble, director,” replied the taller.

“No trouble at all,” added the other, who repeated the closed fisted gesture from earlier.

Twilight turned quickly and resumed her trot, now with a bit more on her mind save for her unkempt appearance. Though Twilight was slightly annoyed by Celestia’s rash actions, she could hardly blame the alicorn. Especially considering how excited Celestia likely was, and how small the chance of interference would likely be.

Though a dragon cult probably wasn't in the area, Twilight still didn't like adding extra layers to her plans. Especially when she was in an unfamiliar time and place, without the assistance of her friends no less. The more Twilight thought about it, the more she couldn't help but worry, and just when those negative feelings were beginning to pile up, Twilight shook her head.

“Focus. Let’s get some food, wait for our meeting with Luna, and then start preparing for the resurrection,” Twilight murmured to herself, being careful to keep her voice low as she passed by a trio of soldiers.

Thankfully they, like the others Twilight had seen so far, were too engrossed in their own conversation to even hear Twilight’s mutterings. They also didn't bat an eye at the mare when they did hear her talking to herself, and Twilight silently wondered if her other self did that often. With a goal in mind, she walked to the half-built kitchens where she placed an order for whatever they had on available.

While she waited, she couldn't help but listen to a few of the many conversations happening within and just outside of the mess area.

“Do you think I’ve got a chance with her?” whispered a deep feminine voice.

“She's the Princess of Love. What do you think?” replied a slightly shrill male.

“Yeah, but she's the princess of all kinds of love. Including the temporary kind,” replied the first pony in a suggestive manner.

The second voice snorted. “Yeah, good luck with that. You may have bedded more maidens than I, but she’s probably got you beat tenfold.”

“Hmm, that's what you think. Just last week I learned this thing with my tongue where I-”

Twilight tuned out that particular conversation and focused on a pair of young stallions wearing loose-fitting armor who stood relatively close by.

“Do you think she’ll start giving out advice again?” whispered one of them.

“I keep telling you, all you have to do is talk to her. You don't need a princess to tell you that,” replied his friend.

“But she's a minotaur! You can’t just walk up and talk to one. You gotta prove yourself!” retorted the first.

“Fine. I’ll bet my entire beer allowance for the month that Cadance is just going to tell you the same thing I have,” offered the second, slightly older-sounding male.

“Really? You're on!”

Twilight ruminated on the information she had received and was about to start eavesdropping on someone else when an older stallion with a white mane approached her. He carefully placed a bowl of beans and brown bread before the unicorn, flashing her a wide smile once his job was complete.

“Yer breakfast, Director,” he greeted.

“Thank you,” Twilight replied. “Say, what do you make of Cadance’s return?”

The male raised an eyebrow. “What exactly do you mean?”

“Well, what's your opinion of her?” Twilight continued.

The elderly stallion hummed thoughtfully. “Well, I can confidently say her comin’ back from her little vacation will be a great relief to my old ma. The poor mare used to clean Cadance’s room and grew a mighty bit protective of her during her twenty years of service.”

Twilight chewed languidly on her bread while she listened to him.

“Had a right crush on the alicorn when she was young, but thankfully Cadance looked her in the eye and set her straight,” he remarked. “Even helped things along with my dad, thankfully. Otherwise I wouldn't be here talkin’ to ya right now.”

Twilight chuckled.

“Whether the rumours of her demise are true or not, it don't matter to me. I’m just glad she's coming back,” the stallion stated confidently.

“Which they aren't,” Twilight quickly interjected.

The stallion smiled. “Whatever you say. In general though, I think most folk feel the same way I do. Either that, or they just wanna look into those big green eyes of hers and find out who their soulmate is.”

“Green…” Twilight murmured, her mind going back to her first meeting with the scarred alicorn from a few months earlier. Her memory was a little fuzzy, but she didn't think that Cadance’s eyes had been green.

Chrysalis’, on the other hand...

“Whelp, I better get back to it before Surprise burns another cake. Enjoy the meal,” offered the male before turning and walking away.

“Oh, uh right, you too.” Twilight winced. “Whenever you have lunch, that is... and he's gone.”

The unicorn sighed, running a hoof down her face. “I really have to pay more attention to the person I’m talking to.”

Twilight took her food and trotted out of the room, searching for a quiet spot to eat while she contemplated what she had learned. After finding a small nook next to a large window, Twilight plopped down and bit into her last piece of bread, mind wandering aimlessly. The meal itself wasn't half bad, and though a little primitive by her more modern tastes, it was quite tasty.

While she filled her belly, she wondered what kind of connection Chrysalis and Cadance had. Other than the more obvious romantic one that anyone who had met with and spoken to the pair could recognize. Twilight recalled that they had apparently escaped some sort of prison together, though they hadn't mentioned much outside of that.

But if Luna’s words were anything to go by, then there were shapeshifters in this time period, though that could mean anything. After all, Twilight barely understood dragon magic, and they might very well have the ability to alter their appearance like a changeling. They also might only be very good illusion mages, and Twilight had merely assumed Luna meant changeling when she spoke of doppelgangers.

“Too many questions, not nearly enough answers,” Twilight murmured, staring out the window with a frown on her face. “As per usual.”

Twilight sighed, stood up from her spot, and made her way back to the kitchen in order to return her wooden bowl. As she walked, Twilight wondered what she should do with her time while she waited for her meeting with Luna to arrive. Her first instinct was to help in some way, but without knowing how her actions may affect history, she wasn't sure if she should.

“Damn the time stream,” Twilight muttered, dropping her bowl amidst a pile of others and turning towards the nearest guard. “You there. Where is the closest hospital or infirmary?”

The mare jumped to a stand. “Right down the hall, down the stairs, and then on the right side of the room, ma’am!”

Twilight nodded. “Thank you.”

Without giving the startled guard a second look, Twilight began to follow her directions, leaving the mess hall behind. In her mind the mare was already recalling what Sunset had taught her about healing magic while also coming up with a plan. Behind her, completely forgotten, stood the guard who silently watched Twilight walk away.

“She is as intense as they say,” murmured the mare. “What do you think she’s up to?”

Her partner chuckled. “You haven't been around here long, have you?”

“Err no. I’ve been out on campaign since I signed up. Why?” asked the mare.

The stallion standing next to her smirked. “That right there is a bonafide genius of the highest order. Whatever she's up to, expect to only hear about it in a decade’s time after the princesses decide to authorize the release of said information.”

“Is she really that smart?” questioned the mare.

“She ended the dragon threat nearly single-hoofedly,” he remarked. “Heck, if anyone should have a secret fanclub, it should be her and not Luna.”

The mare’s face went pale, and she leaned in close. “How did you find out about that? Have you been following me?”

The stallion raised his forehooves defensively. “Hey now, ain't nothing wrong with having a favorite princess. I’m just saying that if anyone should have their hooves kissed, it should be her.”

The mare’s shoulders fell, and she glanced back down the hallway Twilight had disappeared into a minute earlier. “Maybe…” she murmured.

Twilight smiled as she trotted the halls, silently congratulating herself for the stealthy assistance she was able to grant to a select few creatures. With only a few honeyed words, she had avoided suspicion while also using her necromancy to heal nearly a dozen patients. Most were beyond the limited medical understanding of the time, while several others needed only a slight magical nudge in the right direction.

In the end, Twilight was certain that they would all make a full recovery, and, better still, she hadn't even used a significant amount of magic. Her natural regeneration, although greatly lesser than in her own time, was more than enough to refill her reserves within minutes. She had also been more or less undetected throughout, and if she was lucky, the effects on the time stream would be minimal.

Besides, it wasn't like Twilight could have just ignored a creature in need.

“Afternoon,” Twilight greeted, nodding to the two thestrals standing outside of Luna’s office. “Is Luna in?”

“She is,” remarked the taller of the two. “Though I should warn you that she appeared rather irritated.”

“That would probably be due to Celestia,” Twilight added.

“Probably. Either way, go on in. She’s expecting you,” offered the other.

Twilight nodded. “Thank you.”

The unicorn then pushed open the door and trotted inside, smiling faintly when she noticed Luna was working away at her desk. A quill blurred across a page while the mare’s eyes scanned a separate document. Twilight gently closed the door behind her and then sat across from the mare, waiting patiently for her chance to speak.

It took only a few minutes before at long last Luna gently blew on the scroll she had been writing on before rolling it up. She then gently placed it aside, crossed her hooves in front of her, and fixed Twilight with a gentle smile.

“Thank you, by the way. Our Twilight would have simply cleared her throat and demanded to speak,” Luna exclaimed.

“I’m not doing the best job acting like her, am I?” Twilight replied, scratching her cheek with a hoof.

“It is a nice change of pace. Though not, if it leads to more problems with my sister,” Luna deadpanned.

“So you heard about that,” Twilight muttered.

“I heard about it a minute after it happened, but chose not to mention it at the time,” Luna replied. “I should not have to remind you to tread carefully. Celestia’s relationship with your… twin is incredibly important to her.”

“And to the other me as well,” Twilight pointed out.

“True, though Celestia’s mental state is in a precarious spot, and if she were to believe that she lost the one pony who has been her rock during these trying times, it would be devastating.” Luna’s eyes narrowed. “And I also shouldn't have to mention how bad it would be if an alicorn went mad.”

“I’ll do my best,” Twilight quickly replied.

Luna nodded. “See that you do so and that you return your twin to her proper time soon.”

“Is that why we are moving ahead on the ritual so quickly?” Twilight questioned.

Luna sighed. “That, and Celestia couldn't help but gloat about it the second she was informed of Cadance’s return.”

“I don't think that was wholly her fault. A guard mentioned that they prodded it out of her,” Twilight replied.

“Regardless of how it came about, she spilled the beans early,” Luna exclaimed, her brow knitting tightly. “The chances of this backfiring are admittedly small, but I want to lower them even more by getting it done as soon as possible.”

“That explains why you moved things up,” Twilight remarked.

“It is. I also don't want to disappoint our subjects, though that is a lesser concern,” Luna added, rising from her seat. “Now we must continue with the next lesson, and quickly if we hope to have you recovered by the time this evening comes around.”

“Great. What do we have to do?” Twilight offered, following Luna as she made her way into the hall.

“We must go to a special place far away from anything living,” Luna replied. “There you will come to understand life in a way you would have otherwise never have imagined.”

“Where is this place anyway?” Twilight asked, her curiosity piqued.

“It is deep below the earth. Where the natural ley lines of the planet near the surface. It is there that you will learn what it truly means to be alive,” Luna claimed.

“What do you mean exactly?” Twilight pressed.

“You will see,” Luna answered.

Twilight frowned as they made their way up to the roof of the keep, where a pegasus-pulled chariot stood waiting. As well as a slightly hesitant looking Celestia who was armed, armored, and staring directly at the pair. Upon ascending the final set of stairs, the fiery alicorn trotted over to them, her heavy plate mail clanking loudly with each step.

“Sister, you must allow me to accompany you,” Celestia immediately stated. “I know you said you needed me here, but I cannot in good conscience let you wander off alone.”

Luna snorted. “We are not going far, and our subjects will need someone to look to while we are gone. You should remain here while I teach Twilight the final word.”

“Do you not have need for the words fire or light?” Celestia replied, glancing expectantly to Twilight. “I know you don't like borrowing the power of the dragons, but surely it couldn't hurt for me to teach you them as well.”

Twilight hesitated before shaking her head. “I don't need to know those quite yet. Perhaps after the ritual is complete you may teach me.”

“But-” Celestia began.

“-I do think you should come with us though,” Twilight interjected, glancing expectantly to Luna. “You said it yourself. We are not going far nor will we be gone long. What harm would there be in some added security and better company? No offence to our ride.”

Luna frowned and seemed about to dismiss Twilight’s assertion, only to notice the confident look in the unicorn’s eye.

“Fine,” Luna conceded. “But Celestia must wait outside of the cave entrance, or else I will not be able to teach Twilight the word.”

Celestia gently nuzzled Twilight’s cheek briefly before taking a step back and plunking a helmet onto her own head.

“Thank you, dear. I may not be able to protect everyone, but I can at least keep you two safe,” Celestia exclaimed.

Luna rolled her eyes. “As if I would let our dearest subject come to harm.”

Celestia chuckled. “I have no doubt of your skills, sister. I merely wish to give what support I can to the mare I love.”

Twilight blushed and awkwardly stepped to the side, watching as Celestia donned the last of her equipment. Luna, meanwhile, merely ignored the other alicorn and boarded their carriage before glancing back at Twilight expectantly.

“Well, are you coming?” Luna offered.

Twilight blinked and hastily took her place at the dark alicorn’s side, her gaze going to the lack of railings or supports on the small carriage. Even the word carriage felt wrong in Twilight’s mind, as there were no walls or comfortable seats. The entire ride resembled a bucket without a back, and there were only a pair of hoof-holds to ensure she didn't tumble off the thing the second it began to move.

Thankfully, Luna’s confidence and oddly enough Celestia’s presence helped to alleviate some of the unicorn’s worries.

Gripping the front tight in her forehooves, Twilight waited as Luna barked a few orders before settling in herself. Celestia was the first to become airborne, the alicorn simply leaping straight up before opening her wings and taking flight. The move less than subtly reminded Twilight of just how physically powerful an alicorn was, or at least how strong Celestia was anyway.

“Show off,” Luna muttered under her breath.

Twilight chuckled as she watched Celestia circle above them while the pegasi pulling their carriage warmed up. A second later the entire thing lurched forward, startling Twilight, who grabbed the front even tighter than before. She continued to grip the lip like her life depended on it even after they had leveled out and were no longer gaining altitude.

Resisting the urge to glance over the side was difficult to do, and Twilight turned to Luna in order to distract herself.

“Sooo….” Twilight began. “Tell me more about the alicorns.”

Luna raised an eyebrow and glanced down at Twilight curiously. “Don't tell me you're scared of heights as well.”

“If I was meant to fly, I’d have wings on my back,” Twilight replied.

Luna chuckled. “Fair enough. What do you want to know? Or were you merely hoping I’d ramble so you’d have something to focus on?”

“Yes,” Twilight answered.

Luna’s smile grew. “Fair enough. Well, to start, alicorns are at the head of a multi-dimensional empire that spans many worlds across as many realities. They travel through the infinite darkness by using the presence of magic as a beacon in the night. After establishing a connection to a world, they seed it with ponies in order to support their newest colony, and then simply return in several millennia.”

“Why ponies though and why not stay with them?” Twilight questioned.

Luna smirked down at the mare. “Are you sure you’re actually a different Twilight Sparkle? Because I’m fairly certain your twin asked me the exact same question.”

“It's the obvious logical conclusion,” Twilight retorted.

“I think she said the same thing too,” Luna added with a chuckle. “Though the answer to your question is quite simple. Ponies naturally terraform the land, creating acres of arable grassland while also taming the weather. In addition, they naturally work together, and given enough time will eventually create the perfect world. All the alicorns have to do is come in, make a few trades for advanced technology, and within several generations they have another planet under their control.”

“You make it sound so simple,” Twilight murmured.

“It is the nature of ponies to submit to their alicorn masters,” Luna pointed out.

Twilight hummed thoughtfully. “I’m curious, though. What about the other races, like minotaurs and gryphons? Were they never encountered before?’

“Ah, now that is an intriguing question,” Luna exclaimed. “From what my mother told me before her passing, when life and magic are found on the same world, the species of that planet tend to develop towards only a few specific forms. The dragons are one of the only aberrations to that general principle discovered and-”

Twilight nodded. “Fascinating, and what about the role of the stars?”

“I’ll answer that question in a moment, but first I must congratulate you on making it the entire flight without getting sick or demanding we land for a break,” Luna exclaimed.

Twilight blinked and looked around, only now realizing that she was on solid ground once more. Behind her the pegasi who had been pulling their sky carriage were stretching in a small open field. Celestia was circling above them, her horn glowing as she no doubt scanned the forest which surrounded them for hostiles.

The sparsely inhabited and completely normal looking woodland had little to offer in the way of enemies though. Even the sounds of birds were curiously absent, and only the noise of distant buzzing insects pierced the quiet which had fallen over them. Then with a fwoosh and thump, Celestia landed next to them, grinning at the pair.

“There is nothing to threaten you here, save for the odd thorn bush,” Celestia proclaimed.

“The cave opening is only a few metres away. You may join us up until its entrance, though after that I must insist that you wait outside,” Luna exclaimed.

Celestia rolled her eyes. “I remember, sister.”

“Good, because this lesson will likely be a difficult one, and we do not have the time to repeat it thanks to someone,” Luna replied.

“It will be fine,” Twilight quickly interjected. “Why don't you lead the way, Luna?”

The darker alicorn nodded and did just that, following a small, ill-used path in the woods.

“Thank you, by the way,” Celestia whispered, taking her spot next to Twilight as they moved to follow the other mare.

“Not a problem at all,” Twilight quickly replied with a smile. “It is nice to have another friendly face out here.”

Celestia smiled and gently nudged the mare with a hip. “And expect that much more often after Cadance’s return. At least then I won't have to try and fail to take over for her.”

“I’m sure you’ve been doing a wonderful job,” Twilight exclaimed, ducking under a low hanging branch.

Celestia snorted, her gaze going to the back of Luna’s head. “That's not what the others say.”

“Well, the others do not understand you as I do,” Twilight retorted.

“T-thanks,” Celestia whispered.

“Here we are,” Luna declared.

The alicorn lit her horn and caused the landscape to ripple briefly before the small thicket before them melted away, revealing an equally small crag that popped up in the middle of the forest, a large hole visible in its center. This opening curved down and to the right before disappearing into the darkness, its interior remarkably bereft of the usual rocky outcroppings one might expect from a natural cave.

“How far down does it go?” Twilight inquired.

“Far,” Luna replied simply. “Not to worry though, I’ve ensured that it is structurally sound.”

“I’ll await your return here then,” Celestia remarked, taking position to the right of the opening.

“Now, I must warn you, this may take a while, so I will have to ask for patience from you both,” Luna added, glancing from Celestia to Twilight and back again.

“You don't have to repeat yourself so many times,” Celestia whined.

“It is worth noting at least,” Twilight murmured.

“The preparations will continue according to plan with or without our presence, so don't worry about rushing things or worrying about returning in time,” Luna added.

“Still, you had best get moving. Because it won't be me explaining to our subjects why Cadance’s vacation was extended by another day,” Celestia exclaimed.

Luna snorted. “Come, Twilight. As crude as she may be, my sister has a point.”

Twilight gave the solar alicorn a brief smile. “Thank you, dear. I will see soon.”

“I’ll try not to get too impatient,” Celestia replied, flashing the mare a grin of her own.

Twilight chuckled as she followed Luna into the cave, the sound of their hoofsteps reverberating off the stone walls and echoing deep into the earth.

“Woah,” Twilight murmured in surprise.

“Each noise you make will be sent down into the depths of the cave,” Luna explained. “This was used as a non-magical alarm system of sorts which was intended to alert the golems which had at one time guarded the hoard beneath us.”

“I assume you removed them?” Twilight questioned.

Luna nodded. “The guardians as well as the wealth they were protecting. Now it is nothing more than a winding tunnel that ends in a large, open space.”

“Seems kind of wasteful,” Twilight remarked.

“That's dragons for you though,” Luna replied, gesturing to the smooth walls which curved down in a gentle slope deeper into the earth. “They would use magic capable of altering the fabric of reality just to build a hole which they could dump their gold into.”

Twilight frowned. “That's just so… unimaginative.”

“Trust me, they were plenty imaginative. Just in ways which you and I would find deeply unpleasant,” Luna muttered. “But we have enough time to answer your question now if you’d like.”

“Oh, the one about stars?” Twilight inquired.

Luna nodded. “Yes, and the answer is both simple, and incredibly complicated, though that isn't true for other worlds. For you see, in most realities the stars are simply masses of magic that were ejected after the planet beneath our hooves came to be.”

“But in others?” Twilight pressed.

“In others they are each a sun like the kind my sister has bonded with,” Luna answered. “Each one has a world or many worlds surrounding it.”

“But there are so many,” Twilight muttered in shock.

“These realities usually have very little magic, or so I’ve been told anyway. They also tend to be home to hairless bipedal creatures capable of spanning the vast darkness between them without the aid of magic,” Luna continued.

“Fascinating,” Twilight whispered. “Please tell me more.”

Luna smiled. “Gladly. Now the first thing you need to remember is that magic of that magnitude present within our stars is strange and fickle, operating on its own rules, and-”

Twilight gaped silently. “And to think my grandmother might have been right when she said we each have a star.”

“It's possible,” Luna replied, pushing a little more magic into her horn in order to increase the brightness of the ball of light floating before them. “They might also tell the future, for all we know. They are simply too vast and too numerous to study.”

“I wonder…” Twilight murmured, her mind wandering back to her own time.

Around them the smooth walls of the winding hallway continued down into the darkness below. Only the ground beneath their hooves wasn't perfectly flat, the surface being broken by what had at one point been stairs. Something had beaten or cracked most of them, however, making it slightly irritating to walk down in Twilight’s opinion.

Thankfully it wasn't long before they reached flat ground, the walls falling away to reveal a pair pedestals on either side of her, each of which was large enough for a small dragon to sit upon. The statues that had once stood vigil over the entrance were gone, and only the shattered remnants of one of them remained. Beyond the former guardians’ seats were a short set of stairs which went down into a much, much larger room.

Where a dome the likes of which put the Ponyville town hall to shame, in both size as well as height, waited. Luna’s meagre light couldn't even begin to illuminate the massive empty space, nor could Twilight’s night vision pierce the darkness. Twilight could only imagine just how much gold and other valuables could have been piled here at one time.

It would have been enough to finance several wars, feed every hungry pony in Equestria, or collapse the value of gold if dumped onto the open market. For a moment Twilight was almost a little sad that she hadn't had the chance to see it herself before the pony reminded herself how angry it would have likely made her, should she have seen it. Brushing off her curiosities, Twilight glanced down to where Luna strode into the center of the vast empty space.

Not wanting to get left behind, Twilight followed quickly thereafter, falling in next to the alicorn.

“I have a confession to make,” Luna began.

Twilight blinked, a bit of nervousness welling in her chest. “Oh? And what did you wish to confess?”

“I had attempted to make things harder for you when it came to your understanding of the soul,” Luna replied, the unicorn’s shoulders falling. “I let my distaste for your actions override my better judgement by not giving you the primer I should have. I know it was ultimately unneeded, but still I wish to apologize.”

Twilight sighed. “That's fine. Honestly I’d be a little mad with myself if I were in your shoes.”

“Regardless,” Luna stated, turning to the mare. “These words are supposed to be nearly impossible for any to learn, save for when some of that knowledge is gifted to another before they complete the necessary training.”

“I’m ready whenever you are,” Twilight exclaimed.

Luna fixed the other mare with a firm look. “Brace yourself. This will not be the most comfortable of experiences.”

“What are you going to do?” Twilight hesitantly asked. “It isn't going to hurt, is it?”

“Not likely,” Luna answered. “I will be giving you, in essence, a piece of my soul. This part of me will contain some of my understanding of the word life.”

“That sounds more uncomfortable for you than me,” Twilight replied.

“We alicorns can take it. You mortals less so,” Luna countered. “Now make ready. I will only do this once.”

Twilight looked around the empty space. “Should I be sitting or something?”

“If that would make you more comfortable,” Luna answered.

Twilight considered it for a moment before shaking her head. “I’m fine the way I am. Go ahead, Luna.”

The alicorn nodded and set her hooves wide apart before dismissing the soft glowing blue light which her horn had been emitting up until that point. She then breathed deeply, drawing power from down in her core by repeating this action several times. As she inhaled, her body began to glow brighter and brighter, her fur shimmering in the unearthly blue light coming from inside of her.

Twilight just stood there, growing more curious and confused with each passing second. It was obvious that the alicorn was building up to something, and though Twilight had assumed that it was a spell, the other mare’s horn remained unlit. Then the light emanating from deep within Luna’s body began to shift, going up her neck and settling behind her closed eyes.

“Gaze into my soul and receive my knowledge,” Luna exclaimed in a tone akin to a half-whispered prayer.

Unable to help herself, Twilight did as she was commanded, staring intently and waiting patiently. She tried to brace herself for when the sky blue eyes would open once more, though nothing could prepare her for what she would behold. For when Luna’s eyes opened, Twilight glimpsed the very edge of what felt like true infinity.

The only thing that came close to it was the great thing that lay beneath everything which Twilight saw when she had transported her soul back in time. Now, like then, Twilight felt as though she was little more than a mere mote of dust lost on a river so wide and so deep that she could not even perceive the edges thereof. Unlike before, Twilight was not a part of that enormous expanse, and was instead an observer or traveler looking in.

Standing atop that ocean of power, Twilight was struck by just how vast the alicorn’s soul truly was. Not only did it rival what Twilight had experienced when jumping back in time, but it also felt more directed and orderly. Rather than a churning mass of chaotic energies, the alicorn’s spirit was like the sea at rest.

Then a tendril extended from the great blue expanse and pressed against Twilight’s mind, a part of itself forcing its way into the unicorn’s being. It was an experience that Twilight would normally fight tooth and nail to reject, but she resisted that urge. Instead, she opened herself to it, inviting Luna into her own most sacred of domains.

There, a single pearl was left in the deepest recesses of Twilight’s mind, a single nugget of knowledge which quickly became a part of her. The extension of Luna’s soul then retracted and Twilight was no longer standing at the edge of infinity. Only an empty room constructed to house a dragon’s hoarded wealth, which now contained nought but darkness and dust.

The feeling of vertigo Twilight experienced made her feel as though she had just hopped off a boat after being at sea for some days. Her stomach churned, her mind ached, and her muscles burned as if she had just run several miles without a break. Shaking off the worst of these sensations took time, though Twilight managed to do just that after only a few moments of struggling.

“That certainly was… something,” Twilight muttered, glancing up to frowning Luna. “Are you alright?”

“I am…” Luna murmured after a short pause. “Your soul is a strange place. It feels vast and empty at the same time.”

“I am connected to many versions of myself,” Twilight tried to explain, scratching her cheek. “It's hard to explain, but that's likely what you're feeling.”

“Interesting…” Luna murmured. “Though I wish we had the time to explore that a little more, we must continue with the lesson.”

“Right, so what do I have to do again? Something about connecting to the earth?” Twilight asked, looking up at Luna expectantly.

“You must reach out and immerse yourself within the stream of life which circulates deep within our planet,” Luna exclaimed. “Trust me when I say this will be far more difficult than the last task I put before you.”

Twilight nodded. “Is there anything I should watch out for?”

“You will feel as though you are awash in a great river that moves faster than any you have ever witnessed. It will try to swallow you, but you must stay afloat,” Luna stated firmly. “If you do not return to me within three hours, I will be forced to reel you back, and we will try again tomorrow.”

“And if you can't pull me back?” Twilight inquired.

“Then your essence will have been swallowed by the planet, and you will have simply ceased to exist,” Luna replied, reaching forward and placing a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “Fret not though, my young friend. You seem to have experience when it comes to navigating such strange tides.”

Twilight chuckled. “That is truer than you realize. Any last words of wisdom by chance?”

Luna shrugged. “When in the heat of combat or in the grip of a vicious undertow, all logic fails you. Leaving you with little option but to follow your instincts and do what your heart knows you should.”

“So…” Twilight rolled her hoof in the air. “Do that then?”

“Yes, Twilight. Do that,” Luna replied.

Twilight frowned and reluctantly sat down. “Fine, though I would have liked a little more direction than such a vague suggestion.”

“Alas that's not how this works,” Luna retorted, her nose wrinkling. “Now focus and begin the process. Your endless questions are leaving me with little patience.”

Twilight winced. “Right, sorry.”

Luna sighed. “I am sorry as well. It is not your questions that leave me irritable, but this vexing place we find ourselves in. Good luck. I know you can do it.”

“Right, give me a moment,” Twilight muttered.

Grasping onto the thread of her magic, Twilight recalled the experience she had gained when learning the last word. Manipulating her soul was predictably easy, but connecting herself to the primal wellspring from which all life originated was a little more difficult. Not that it was hard to find, because the second Twilight extended her senses beneath her, the pony immediately detected it.

Rather it was actually taking the plunge that was the hard part, as it was akin to throwing oneself into a raging river at the bottom of a canyon. For although her spirit was strong and greater than most, it was nothing compared to the vast expanse of spiritual energy flowing beneath her. The titanic torrent of souls that lay beneath the world was so vast and so fast moving that to call it a river would be a misnomer. Rather it was akin to an ocean moving at speeds such a body of water should be entirely incapable of.

Not only that, but it was filled with the spirits of the world’s lesser creatures both big and small, from the humble squirrel to the great star beasts seen only in the deepest reaches of the Everfree. Each one was represented in the vast flowing ocean beneath her, their cries of indignation and mourning filling her being.

It was enough to make Twilight briefly forget herself, as her entire being became awash in the rush of emotions not her own. These feelings were as raw and primal as the creatures they came from, bringing tears to Twilight’s eyes. It took a significant application of will before Twilight was able to overcome the animals’ raw emotions, but in the end she emerged relatively unscathed.

“I can do this,” she murmured to herself.

Closing her eyes once more, Twilight focused on the empty space between herself and the torrent of souls beneath her. Reaching out a thin strand of essence, Twilight brushed against the edge of the expanse and was immediately pulled under. Like trying to dip one’s hoof into the raging rapids to test the temperature, Twilight found herself tumbling into the ocean.

In an instant her body was gone, and she was awash in experiences and feelings not her own. Unlike the times when she had briefly connected with another pony, this time there were no clear memories for her to latch onto. Only an ever-expanding number of emotions, feelings, thoughts, and actions which occupied her mind and spirit.

The rabbit’s flight from a pursuing fox gave her terror, desperation, and the distinct burn that came with harsh exercise. The bear’s feast of berries filled Twilight with the same primal joy she knew when she had gorged herself on cookies as a child. The hawk’s lonely search for a mate gave Twilight a new appreciation for the isolation both she and this noble beast experienced.

Even the great oak had feelings that were almost like the ones Twilight had experienced in her lifetime. The first open sky of spring was joyful, as was the first thunderous downpour that came shortly thereafter. The coming of winter drew resignation and sorrow, but also hope for a new year that the plant knew would be coming soon. Patient and solemn, its spirit was strange, but not so much so that Twilight could not understand what it had gone through.

Not every sensation was easy to come to grips with however, as gazing out the many eyes of a hydra was deeply unnerving. As was the sensation of swallowing a zebra whole as a great snake older than the trees the massive serpent slipped deftly under. There were more creatures, far more, but they had become so numerous that it was impossible to pick each out as they flowed through Twilight’s mind.

Each experience bled into another until Twilight the unicorn ceased to be, her spirit awash in so many experiences that even thought left her. Time fell away from the pony as she became a thousand creatures at the same time. Yet as the torrent flowed over, under, and through the mare, a small, infinitesimally small part of the mare remained.

Her will created a cocoon around what little of her mind it could salvage, bringing forth a tiny island of calm and finally allowing the pony a chance to plan. Or at least she could think, for all she did was commiserate over her failure and impending annihilation. It was simply impossible, she had decided, to overcome something so massive and all-consuming.

To even think that she had at one point thought herself strong enough to grapple with a veritable storm of souls was frankly ridiculous in her mind. She may have been powerful for a pony, but what did that matter when compared to the sheer vastness of the planet. A trillion spirits was too great a force for anyone to take control of, and yet she had thought herself a match.

The sheer stupidity of it all made her want to laugh and cry in equal measure, but without a body all she could do was consider her own mortality. A topic she had not been forced to grapple with in a while, due to her growing power and increasing resistance to the reaper’s attempts to finish her. Yet here she was, staring death in the face, and all of her experience meant absolutely nothing.

No, she thought. I will not falter now, not after coming so far.

Her effort to grapple with and control the ocean of essence had failed, but Luna had evidently succeeded in this task. Twilight wondered what the alicorn had, which Twilight did not, exempting the obvious addition of wings. A serious attitude had evidently not helped the unicorn, so that couldn't be the solution she so needed.

Then it hit her.

Luna may be serious, but that did not mean she would not bend when it was required of her. Twilight knew well that the alicorn’s stern exterior melted away in the future and likely had already begun to defrost now that she was not locked in a desperate struggle for survival.

Do not fight the current, use it, Twilight told herself, bracing what was left of herself for the moment she released her protective cocoon.

Once free of her impromptu prison, Twilight felt herself become awash in the great torrent once more. This time she did not resist its tugs, merely adapting to how it pulled her deeper into its depths. A sensation which would normally bring panic prompted Twilight to release her manic desire to hold herself together.

This time when the rush of experiences returned, it did not overtake the mare completely, and within the depths Twilight found a piece of herself. The deeper and further she went, the more Twilight picked up the pieces of herself she had nearly lost during the initial plunge. Over time, the chaotic maelstrom became slower, calmler, until finally Twilight felt as though she could guide herself upwards once more.

An effort which would at one point have been impossible, Twilight glided through the streams and eddies like a salmon swimming upstream. As she moved slowly but surely back to her body, the unicorn took a moment to appreciate her surroundings. For there was a beauty there that Twilight had never grasped before, just like there was a vast ugliness she could not imagine.

Great apes fought wars for dominance while also painting primitive images on the walls of their cave home. The hydra she found so alien was still hard to comprehend, but it was also capable of the same love Twilight felt for her friends. Each one of these beasts Twilight would have considered mere obstacles contained within them a whole universe of knowledge she knew she would never fully understand.

But she didn't need to know, their worlds were separate and yet connected, different but similar. And she accepted that.

Twilight gasped, filling her lungs with unneeded oxygen, her entire body trembling as feeling returned to her once more. Blinking rapidly, Twilight looked around to find that Luna had a hoof over her heart and a worried look on her face.

“You nearly scared the life out of me. I thought for sure that you were a goner,” Luna remarked, seating herself once more.

“It couldn't have been that long. It felt like only a few minutes,” Twilight murmured.

“You were gone for hours. I was seconds from pulling you back,” Luna retorted, her eyes narrowing. “Did you come to the realization that I hope you have?”

“Yes, I…” Twilight hesitated and stood up. “Perhaps I should simply demonstrate.”

Luna stepped back and gestured invitingly with a hoof. “Go right ahead.”

Twilight smiled to herself as she closed her eyes and briefly meditated on her newfound understanding. Summoning all she knew on the subject of life, Twilight held those thoughts close as she brought forth her magic. Like before, that power did not come from her horn, but rather it built in her throat and spilled forth from her lips.

With the utterance of life, a sudden wind picked up in the cave, and beneath Twilight’s hooves trotted a ghostly green fox. The creature rubbed its body against the underside of the unicorn’s chest and coiled around her right forehoof. A sight which made Luna raise an eyebrow and glance expectantly at the unicorn.

“What did you do exactly?” she asked.

Twilight smiled as she petted the ghostly creature. “I spoke the word, of course. Did you not feel it?”

“I did,” Luna replied after a pause. “Though I’ve never…”

She watched as the creature leapt atop Twilight’s back before draping itself over the unicorn’s head. There it watched Luna closely, a mischievous expression on its furry features.

The alicorn’s frown slowly melted away, and she shook her head. “It matters not. You know the words, and we can move on. Provided you are strong enough to do so.”

“I am,” Twilight replied. “In fact I feel more alive than I have in a very long time.”

“That is good. Come then, we should return before Celestia begins to panic,” Luna declared.

“We wouldn't want that,” Twilight muttered, trotting after the departing alicorn. “Say, do you mind if I ask you a question?”

“You just did,” Luna pointed out with a smirk.

The fox rolled its eyes, as did Twilight.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Twilight remarked.

Luna nodded.

“Well, I’ve been using these words of power in spellcasting for a while. I was wondering if they were related to the dragon language somehow?” Twilight questioned.

“Utter a few of these words, and I will tell you one way or the other,” Luna answered.

Twilight hummed thoughtfully for a moment before glancing up at the fox on her head. “Za Dolpan kul gra-”

Luna’s magic forcefully closed the pony’s mouth, and the alicorn glared at her. “Do not utter the black speech of the demons, lest you attract their attention.”

Twilight cocked her head. “Wait, demons?”

“Yes, demons,” Luna replied. “How did you even learn the black tongue?”

“I…” Twilight paused. “I’m not sure. It just came to me one time.”

“Then you have crossed paths with a demon, and it has decided to give you an unbidden gift,” Luna exclaimed. “Do not use those words again, lest it return to you.”

Twilight nodded slowly, and stared gravely off into the distance. She tried to recall the moment the knowledge had come to her, but couldn't think of the exact time. The feeling of a ghostly tongue against her cheek prompted Twilight to emerge from her thoughts once more.

“You’re right. I’ll think about it later,” Twilight murmured.

Luna stopped at the bottom of the staircase and eyed the unicorn curiously. “Did you say something?”

Twilight shook her head. “No.”

“Good, then let us return to the surface,” Luna declared, walking away before Twilight had a chance to return.

“Right behind you,” Twilight remarked before following in the other mare’s hoofsteps.

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