Twilight wheezed painfully, her hooves shaking as she struggled to walk up the final few steps. In front of her, Luna waited impatiently along with Celestia who looked rather concerned for the unicorn’s health. Twilight’s summoned fox meanwhile was busy trying to pull the unicorn along by tugging on her leg, though it did very little.

“Are you sure you don't want my help?” Celestia offered.

Twilight stopped, leaned against a wall, and held up a trembling hoof. “I’m. Fine,” she declared between breaths.

I didn't even know my muscles could be this tired. You’d think that since I don't sleep that would mean I couldn't get to this level of exhaustion, Twilight thought to herself. This version of myself really needs to get in shape, and I should probably do the same now that I think about it.

“So where exactly did that spooky-looking fox come from?” Celestia inquired, prodding the creature in question with a hoof.

The fox hissed at the alicorn before putting itself between Celestia and Twilight, snapping at the taller mare every time she tried to touch it.

“Temperamental little thing too,” Celestia remarked.

“It's a creature I summoned. Partly by accident,” Twilight exclaimed.

“It is rather cute,” Luna stated somewhat reluctantly.

“On that we agree,” Celestia replied, distracting the fox with a hoof before slipping another limb behind the creature and sneakily petting it.

Within a few seconds the fox was like putty in the alicorn’s grip, and Twilight couldn't help but smile as she watched Celestia pick it up. Feeling her strength return to her, the unicorn trotted up the last few steps and joined the princesses at the top.

“So,” Twilight began. “What next? Return to the castle and begin preparations?”

“Precisely. Though Celestia and yourself will have to start without me, as there are several matters of state that need to be addressed first,” Luna exclaimed.

“We can begin the second we return, if you’d like,” Celestia offered, tossing the fox into the air and catching it.

“That would be nice. I am rather eager to get it done,” Twilight replied.

“As are we all,” Luna stated, gesturing back to the distant carriage and the patiently waiting pegasi standing nearby.

“Go on ahead. I was hoping to speak to Twilight in private,” Celestia remarked, glancing expectantly down at the unicorn in question.

Twilight nodded to Luna. “I think your sister deserves some conversation after being bored for as long as she has been.”

Luna chuckled as she walked away, shouting over her shoulder. “Quite right, Twilight. Just don't sneak off into the bushes, you two. We have work to do, you know.”

Celestia’s blush, though mostly hidden by her helmet, was still easily visible to Twilight. “I, uh. Wasn't planning on that.”

“Neither was I, dear,” Twilight exclaimed, smiling at the other mare. “What did you wish to discuss?”

“Just how things went… down there,” Celestia replied somewhat awkwardly. “You were gone for quite a while, and I admit I was getting worried.”

“It was…” Twilight hesitated, rolling several words around in her mind before eventually settling on one that sounded appropriate. “Enlightening.”

“You weren’t in danger, were you?” Celestia gently inquired. “I wouldn't ask, but I could tell that Luna was still a little worried about something.”

“There was a moment of danger, but it passed quickly and thankfully without any lasting harm,” Twilight admitted after a short pause.

“What happened?” Celestia asked, her voice growing low. “I’m not doubting you or anything but… well, you know how I get.”

“During the lesson I nearly lost myself, but thankfully I pulled out before Luna needed to do anything drastic,” Twilight answered.

The alicorn’s frown twisted for a moment before falling away. “That is good to hear. Luna also mentioned that you learned the necessary word. Is that true?”

Twilight nodded. “It is.”

“She wasn't too strict with you, was she?” Celestia pressed, a small smirk coming to her face as she deposited the fox back on the ground.

“Maybe a little,” Twilight admitted, a hoof going to the ghostly creature’s back. “She can be rather impatient at times.”

Celestia chuckled. “Very true.”

“How were things up here? You didn't have to fight off any wild beasts by chance, did you?” Twilight asked, noting that the alicorn’s armor was still spotless.

Celestia shook her head. “No. The most exciting thing that happened was Sure Shot eating a choke cherry and making his face turn inside out.”

Twilight wondered briefly if that was a thing that could happen before quickly brushing the thought aside. “They are quite sour,” she remarked.

“Very true. Well, I’ve kept our escort waiting for long enough. Though I was hoping that I could offer my own expertise on the dragon language sometime soon,” Celestia offered after a moment of hesitation.

“That would be interesting. I admit that perhaps my distaste for it was not wholly earned,” Twilight remarked as they began to walk once more.

“Wonderful!” Celestia proclaimed, a grin spreading across her face. “I was thinking we could go for a flight this evening before the ritual so I could teach you the word for light.”

“How about we hold off until after,” Twilight quickly replied. “I know you're as eager to teach as I am to learn, but our focus must be on returning Cadance to us.”

The alicorn deflated somewhat, though her smile remained. “You are right, I’m sorry. I think I was a little wrapped up in the fact that you were finally okay with learning the words and got too excited.”

“It’s fine,” Twilight stated with a smile of her own.

“Ahh, there you two are,” Luna greeted, already standing at the back of the carriage. “Are you ready to go?”

“We are,” Twilight stated, falling in next to the darker alicorn.

As the pegasus soldiers began their preparations, and Luna settled in, Twilight felt her gaze drawn to Celestia. Though the alicorn was outwardly calm and collected, she was also exuding an aura of worry that even Twilight could detect. The unicorn’s words had evidently done little to assuage the other mare’s concerns, and Twilight hoped she could return to her own time soon.

I hope I don't ruin their relationship, Twilight thought to herself. She's a strong mare, though, I’m sure it will be fine. Besides, Cadance will be back soon, which will help both the other me and Celestia quite a bit.

The thoughts, though logical, did little to stop from Twilight from worrying about her other self as well as Celestia. The stress Twilight had inadvertently caused the alicorn was visibly taking its toll, and Twilight wondered what would happen if things went south before she could switch back. Though strong, Celestia was going through a lot, and it wasn't impossible to imagine that she might break down under the weight of it all.

Just another reason to focus on the task at hoof, Twilight thought to herself.

“Good luck dealing with he-who-shall-not-be-named,” Celestia whispered in a conspiratorial manner.

Luna rolled her eyes. “Sextant Hale may be a rather brutish minotaur, but he is honorable enough to deal with.”

“You’re just saying that because he shows up to all of his meetings without a shirt,” Celestia needled, smirking at her sister.

“I do not!” Luna retorted, turning away quickly and hiding the slight blush that colored her cheeks. “I just appreciate his very straightforward attitude, is all.”

“Suure,” Celestia exclaimed. “Come on, Twilight. We better get moving before little Lulu lights my tail on fire.”

“You would be lucky that is the only thing you lose,” Luna grumbled, mumbling curses under her breath as she walked away.

Twilight merely chuckled as her and Celestia departed in the other direction. “I think you got pretty close to losing your mane that time.”

Celestia giggled. “Oh, she likes to complain, but Luna enjoys my little pet names. Makes her feel cute.”

“Hmm, maybe. Though I still think it's a good thing that no one was around,” Twilight added, glancing back down the long, empty castle hallway behind them.

“Very true. Even I have enough sense not to tease her like that in front of her soldiers,” Celestia remarked, only to chuckle. “Unless I had a deathwish, that is.”

Twilight nodded as they continued to walk deeper into the castle, the afternoon sun peeking through the odd window to her left. Only a pair of guards and a maid who had been more focused on fixing his mane before noticing Celestia was there, darkened their path. Watching as the male quickly pretended like he had been dusting the wall was amusing, though Celestia and Twilight resisted the urge to laugh until they had rounded a turn.

“So… What requires our attention?” Twilight inquired. “Luna said she had most of the set up covered, though did not elaborate on the subject.”

“Not much, admittedly,” Celestia exclaimed. “We merely need to double check the preparations and complete the last bit of rune-carving before we can begin. Though there was one thing I was hoping you could help me with before we get to all that.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “And what would that be?”

“Creating the infusion is a difficult and uncomfortable process. One that I would appreciate your presence while enduring,” Celestia whispered.

Twilight eyed her companion closely, noting the hushed way Celestia spoke of the process and the emphasis she placed on the word uncomfortable. Whatever was needed to create the infusion was painful, that much was obvious to Twilight, though there was something else to it. The manner in which Celestia spoke of it made the unicorn imagine that it was also forbidden or frowned upon in some way.

“Of course,” Twilight replied, turning her gaze back to the hall before them. “Where do we need to go?”

“To my room,” Celestia answered. “It can be accomplished anywhere, but that is where I am most comfortable.”

“Fair enough,” Twilight remarked.

As they walked, Twilight idly wondered how Celestia could have created such a strange and supposedly powerful elixir in the first place. It was obviously not a discovery that could have happened by accident, and the hint of guilt in Celestia’s voice only deepened the mystery. Regardless, Twilight knew the answers she sought were not far away, as the alicorn had begun to slow down.

“Here we are,” Celestia exclaimed, stopping before a simple oak door. “Just a moment while I undo the lock.”

Twilight resisted the urge to remark how plain things looked, or how close they were to the barracks. She also did her best to ignore how simple the alicorn’s lock spell was and how easy it would be to bypass. Twilight had a harder time keeping her mouth shut when Celestia’s door opened to reveal a tiny room that lacked even a window.

It looked like the space that might have been given to a particularly low-ranking officer noone particularly liked. Not only were there no windows, but there was no chandelier, only a scattering of candles Celestia lit after the pair had entered the space. The alicorn-sized bed had only a single roughspun blanket to cover it, though it at least had a pair of moderately-sized pillows.

After stepping inside, Celestia glanced back at Twilight expectantly. “Are you coming?”

Twilight quickly followed her, silently marveling at how spartan the space appeared. The only furniture Celestia owned besides her bed was a desk that was likely much too small for her to sit at comfortably. The workspace itself was empty, save for a single round-bottomed bottle capped by a golden crystal as well as a small black book.

“You have everything you need?” Twilight asked, casting a curious glance to the desk.

Celestia nodded. “The bottle and my notes are all that I require. Allow me a moment to lock up before we continue.”

Twilight did her best to hide the discomfort that came from being locked in a room with the mare. Yet she didn't feel nearly as uncomfortable as she would have otherwise assumed, and Twilight couldn't help but ruminate on the subject. It was obvious even after only a few seconds of thought that as Twilight learned more about this Celestia, the more she grew accustomed to her.

She didn't have long to contemplate this slight change, as Celestia had lit her horn and cast a comically laughable locking spell, followed by a set of anti-scrying spells that a child could likely bypass, though Celestia nodded confidently upon completion.

“There we are. Sorry about that, but I didn't want anyone listening in,” Celestia explained.

Twilight stiffly sat near the end of the bed. “That is understandable. Now, what exactly does this process require of you?”

Celestia sat down next to the other mare, her weight causing Twilight to slide closer until their sides touched.

“Can I tell you all about it after I’ve gone through the process?” Celestia whispered, glancing nervously down to Twilight.

Who eyed the other mare closely. “Why? Is it dangerous?”

“I ask this because you might not allow me to go through with it if you knew what it entailed,” Celestia admitted.

Twilight watched the alicorn for several more seconds before letting out a long sigh. “I suppose it is necessary and so long as you don't go teasing Luna in front of the army, we should not need to do this again any time soon.”

Celestia chuckled grimly. “Very true. Though I would still ask that you try not to be too angry with me.”

“I can only promise to keep an open mind,” Twilight stated.

Celestia nodded. “That's fair. Now then, one moment.”

The alicorn stood up, walked over to the desk, and pulled open the lone drawer before retrieving a small knife from within. Though even calling it a knife felt odd, as the thing was more like a sharpened piece of stone mounted on a brass hilt. Clearly ancient, the rust-colored weapon was primitive in the extreme, yet radiated an almost menacing aura.

The second Celestia took it in her hoof, the alicorn winced, though she pushed through whatever unpleasantness she was feeling quite quickly. The pony then retrieved her notes and began to look through them, flicking through a dozen or so pages before setting it back down. With a confident expression on her face, Celestia lit her horn, closed her eyes, and began to concentrate, pulling forth a great mass of power from deep down inside of herself.

Twilight couldn't help but feel a bit of fear worm its way into her heart upon seeing so much magic build in front of her. Her mind ran through a list of all the spells that such power could bring into being, and how many of them could kill her. None of the many imagined possibilities came true though, as Celestia cast something that Twilight had never seen before.

The golden glow of her horn shrunk until only a tiny ball was visible at the very tip. There it grew brighter and larger until eventually it resembled a blob of honey, which Celestia proceeded to gently drip into the bottle until it was nearly halfway full of the stuff.

Twilight leaned a little closer, watching intently as Celestia shut off the flow of magic and let out a low sigh of relief. She didn't rest for long though, and raised her hoof up to the lip of the glass container, closing her eyes in concentration. Seconds ticked by without event, and then just when Twilight was about to ask what Celestia was waiting for, something happened.

A slightly wavering golden aura emerged from the pony’s limb, though unlike the normal glow of her magic, this was different. Twilight quickly deduced that this was the alicorn’s soul and not her magical field at all, which explained its stranger appearance. Though the question remained as to why the alicorn was going through all that just to summon up a small part of her spirit.

More and more of her soul collected outside of Celestia’s hoof, which she angled just above the bottle’s opening. Twilight didn't have long to wonder what Celestia was planning, as the alicorn quickly grabbed the dagger. Then, with a single swipe of the bladed edge, she amputated a small section of her soul, which fell into the jar where it mingled with the magic, becoming a golden slurry.

Twilight leapt to her hooves and was next to the alicorn before she even felt her muscles twitch. Her own aura gripped the larger pony’s midsection when her hooves began to tremble, and together the pair tumbled to the bed. After a moment of confusion, Twilight managed to untangle herself from Celestia’s hooves in order to look the alicorn in the eye.

“That was an incredibly dangerous thing you just did,” Twilight declared.

Celestia chuckled weakly and waved a shaky hoof. “It was nothing. I got plenty more to spare.”

“Souls do not just grow back, Celestia,” Twilight retorted, her jaw hardening. “That could have killed you, or paralyzed you, or a thousand other possibilities!”

Celestia smiled faintly. “Trust me. I know the risks.”

“Then why did you do that? Surely there must be another way,” Twilight pressed.

“There isn't,” Celestia softly replied. “Neither Luna nor I have the skill necessary to use such necromancy, and besides I’m fine.”

“Still…” Twilight murmured, only now realizing how close they were and backing up slightly.

“I’m okay, Twilight. Really,” Celestia stressed, gently touching the other mare’s shoulder. “It takes more than that to injure an alicorn.”

“You don't understand. If you had died with a fractured and unstable soul, it would be unlikely that I could bring you back,” Twilight murmured.

Celestia shrugged. “At least then I could die knowing I wouldn't have failed a second time.”

“Second time?” Twilight asked.

“I’m the guardian sibling. I let Cadance go out on her own even though I knew there was a chance that a dragon could have resisted the call,” Celestia explained. “I killed her as surely as that poisoned dagger did.”

“You couldn't have known,” Twilight remarked, though the words rang hollow even before they passed her lips.

“I knew it was a possibility, and thus I should have acted on it,” Celestia stated. “Besides. Fighting is the only thing I’m good for. Without a war, I’m less than useless. At least if I died, then I’d have been of some value to my sisters.”

Twilight opened her mouth to retort, but felt such a mixture of anger and pity that her words turned into a wordless cry of disappointment. Instead of speaking, she simply reached out and grabbed the alicorn by the shoulders and hugged her tightly. Celestia tensed up for a moment before slowly relaxing and allowing the contact to continue, a sigh slipping past her lips.

They remained that way for nearly a minute until finally Twilight felt her voice return to her once more.

“You are not useless,” Twilight whispered.

“I-”

“You are not useless,” Twilight repeated firmly.

Celestia sighed and nuzzled the other mare’s neck. “I understand, dear.”

“Don't ever say that about yourself again,” Twilight continued.

“I won't,” Celestia replied.

Twilight pulled back in order to look the other pony in the eye. “You won’t what?” Twilight demanded.

“Say I’m useless,” Celestia answered, a soft smile crossing her face.

“Good,” Twilight muttered. “Now then. Let's change the subject to something more palatable.”

“Would you like to know how the potion works?” Celestia offered.

Twilight nodded her head. “I would love to.”

“I thought as much,” Celestia exclaimed, rising from the bed and placing the stopper into the top of the bottle. “The condensed magic acts as a sort of pseudo body which works as a container for a small part of my soul.”

“Otherwise it would have dissipated immediately,” Twilight remarked.

“Exactly,” Celestia stated with a smile. “Along with the enchantments I placed on the bottle, it condenses my essence and allows it to be consumed by another.”

“Fascinating,” Twilight whispered, extending a hoof. “May I?”

“So long as you don't drink it,” Celestia warned.

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Why would I do that?”

“Hey, I’m just saying,” Celestia replied, levitating the bottle over to Twilight.

As Twilight began to inspect the glass container, she couldn't help but consider simply chugging it all right then and there. She chose to ignore that urge, however, and instead indulged in her curiosity for a few moments. So focused was the unicorn that she didn't notice Celestia observing her in turn, the alicorn eventually smiling when Twilight offered the object back to her.

“It is a remarkable work of enchantment,” Twilight exclaimed.

“Thank you,” Celestia replied. “It is really the only field of magic I actually enjoy practicing. Evocation is so simplistic, while divination just feels too much like guessing to me.”

“And that's without even mentioning illusion,” Twilight added with a smirk.

Celestia chuckled. “Quite true.”

The pair sat there with smiles on their faces for several long seconds before finally Twilight broke the silence.

“I suppose we should get going then, huh?” she remarked somewhat reluctantly.

“It would be best to check things out before Luna completes all of her obligations,” Celestia agreed.

Twilight nodded slowly and rose from the bed. “Right then. If you’re up to it, then I say we get moving.”

Celestia stood on slightly shaky hooves and nodded. “Ready when you are.”

“Fascinating,” Twilight murmured.

The unicorn couldn't help but stare at the enormous crystals which jutted out from the cave walls around her. Gone was the grey stone and boring flat expanses of rock which had marked their journey up until this point, replaced by something far more mysterious. Twilight had of course heard the tale of the crystal caverns beneath Canterlot, yet she had never seen them, nor had any member of the public for that matter.

Called dangerous by the government and sealed off by Celestia’s order, few took the steps Twilight was now taking. That was in a different time, however, now Celestia ruled nothing and made no demands of anyone. The contrast between them was significant, but Twilight didn't dwell on those details for very long.

For her gaze remained fixed on the pinkish purple crystals which sprouted from the very cave walls. Each one of which was varied ever so slightly from the next, refracting the dull light from Celestia’s horn in a million different directions. Though the seemingly endless catacombs would have been unnerving in the dark, with only a little light they were completely illuminated.

The dancing light of Celestia’s spell somehow managed to banish even the most stubborn of shadows. In fact, it almost seemed like the crystals themselves were assisting Celestia in this effort, ensuring their path was well lit. Not only did the crystals give off unique radiance, but they also made Twilight feel safe in a way she couldn't quite explain.

It was like she was in the presence of a very old friend, one who Twilight knew would do anything in her power to ensure the unicorn’s safety. She couldn't explain why she felt as such, though Twilight theorized that it must have been the simple color association. For when light shone through the crystals, they glowed every color of Cadance’s mane.

“They are quite unique, aren't they?” Celestia remarked.

Twilight nodded. “And quite… beautiful as well.”

Celestia stiffened briefly before nodding. “That they are. And to think they’ve already taken root deep within the mountain within only about a year’s time.”

“Then where did they come from?” Twilight asked before she could stop herself. I sure hope that wasn't a question the other me already asked.

Celestia was unbothered by the inquiry and gestured with a hoof towards the walls. “Cadance brought them into being. Though she likely did so without conscious effort.”

“Interesting,” Twilight murmured. “Are you sure that she is the cause?”

Celestia nodded. “I’m certain. Not only do they have her colors, but if you focus on them, you can detect trace amounts of alicorn magic within each crystal.”

Twilight peered intently at one of the larger crystal formations and noted that deep down within there existed a small swirl of teal which floated along an unseen internal current.

“So there is,” Twilight whispered.

“Any significantly powerful creature alters the world around them, a process which does not end in death. It is why the sleep spell we used forced the dragons to bury themselves underground,” Celestia explained. “Lest their lingering hate poison this world.”

“Though that effect is lessened in living creatures,” Twilight reasoned. “Right?”

Celestia nodded. “That is true. With a living host for this magic and a mind to guide it, these effects are usually incredibly subtle. Like how most rooms I’m in seem brighter than they would normally.”

“And why Luna has the opposite effect,” Twilight added.

“Exactly,” Celestia declared. “Though you knew that already, considering you were the one to teach this very fact to me.”

“I-” Twilight gulped, only now realizing how deep of a hole she had accidentally dug for herself. “I must have forgotten.”

“You have a perfect memory,” Celestia stated simply. “It is a part of your condition.”

Twilight felt her legs lock up as Celestia stopped several paces away and glanced in her direction. Within those violet orbs Twilight expected to find hate, fear, or least worry, but she found only grim acceptance as well as a deep sadness. Left confused, Twilight tried to think of some excuse or another before ultimately settling on the truth once again.

“I did not know that,” Twilight admitted.

“What happened to you?” Celestia softly asked.

“Being me comes with certain… complications,” Twilight muttered.

“Will you turn back to the way you were?” Celestia inquired, hope evident in her voice.

“The moment after I bring Cadance back,” Twilight replied.

Celestia’s shoulders slumped. “What happened to my Twilight then?”

“She and I traded places for a little while,” Twilight answered.

“What are you?” Celestia pressed, her eyes narrowing.

“Twilight Sparkle, just a different one than the one you know,” Twilight hastily exclaimed. “I’m something of a great great granddaughter of hers.”

“That…” Celestia frowned. “Explains the coldness I’ve felt from you.”

Twilight sighed and took a hesitant step forward. “And I’m sorry for that. I did not want to startle you, though perhaps looking back on it, I should have come clean at the very beginning.”

The alicorn’s features became drawn and tight, the mare visibly struggling with an upwell of conflicting emotions. Among the many feelings flowing through her the most prominent of which seemed to be anger. The alicorn’s eyes glowed with a fire Twilight had seen briefly in the memories of her other past self.

“She loves you more than she lets on, you know,” Twilight whispered, placing a hoof over her heart. “Even now I can feel the ghost of that feeling.”

In an instant all the anger and bitterness flowed from the towering mare, and Celestia gazed curiously at the pony across form her.

“Really?” she whispered.

Twilight nodded. “Though she is not here at the moment, it is like she has left behind a muscle memory that urges me even now to hug you tightly and stroke your mane.”

“That explains your actions earlier.” Celestia chuckled. “And why you want to touch my hair, as she always used to comb my mane after a long battle.”

“Trust me. She will return, but I have to bring Cadance back first,” Twilight continued. “Your Twilight did not have the know-how to do so, but I do.”

“So is that why you are here?” Celestia asked.

“One of the reasons, yes,” Twilight replied.

Celestia stared off into the distance for several seconds before seemingly making up her mind, nodding to herself.

“Then I will choose to believe that is why you are here,” Celestia proclaimed.

“Thank you. I know this isn't easy, but trust me when I say everything will return to normal very soon,” Twilight continued.

Celestia smiled. “Good, because I don't know how long I could go on without the rock that is my Twilight Sparkle.”

The unicorn held open a hoof. “May I hug you? I know I’m not her, but maybe we could pretend for just a moment.”

“I’d…” Celestia hesitated a moment before stepping forward. “I’d like that.”

Following her body’s instincts, Twilight rose onto her back hooves and hugged the alicorn tightly, pressing the other mare’s muzzle into the crook of her neck. A hoof unconsciously reached up and stroked the other mare’s mane in long, calming movements. For a moment it seemed like Celestia would pull away, only for her body to relax all at once and a soft sob to spill from her lips.

Following those same urges, Twilight hummed softly, repeatedly stroking the other mare’s mane. Until nearly a minute later Celestia pulled back and wiped the tears from her face.

“T-thank you,” she stuttered.

“No, thank you,” Twilight replied. “In my life I’ve never known love, though now I think I understand it at least a little.”

“Well, I hope you find someone you cherish half as much as I do my little librarian,” Celestia remarked.

“Maybe one day,” Twilight murmured, only to shake her head. “We should keep moving, though. I want to return her to you as soon as possible.”

Celestia sniffed. “Good thinking. Shall we continue?”

“After you,” Twilight invited, extending a hoof.

“Oh, and thanks for caring for those people in the infirmary,” Celestia exclaimed as she walked past.

Twilight stumbled. “How did you know?”

Celestia smirked. “Luna learned how to be sneaky from me.”

Twilight tapped her chin with a hoof while her eyes continued to roam over the magical circle before her. It was intricate and had aspects of the old style of casting while also sporting the newer additions which made it much more efficient. It was a strange balancing act, as Twilight was unsure of how many magical advancements she should reveal without accidentally hindering herself in the process.

In the end, she used as many as necessary to make the process as easy as possible without going overboard. There was still a small element of surprise to the entire thing, as Twilight had never actually raised any creature as powerful as an alicorn. Though she hoped it would be a simple process, she expected to face an unexpected challenge or two along the way.

After all, life seemed hell-bent on throwing her constant curve balls.

“That looks complicated,” Celestia remarked.

Twilight blinked and glanced over to where the alicorn had posted herself at the entrance to the cathedral-like cavern they both stood within. Massive crystals descended from the ceiling, though despite their titanic size, they still loomed a good twenty metres above Twilight’s head. Little else occupied the space, save for the ubiquitous gems which surrounded them from nearly all sides.

Only a small pile of supplies, some flickering braziers, and a long wooden box which supposedly housed Cadance’s body dotted the area. Along with the ponies themselves, and the massive magical circle that had been inscribed on the cave floor. Which had in turn been cleared and flattened by the use of powerful magic to create the necessary space for the ritual.

“It is a bit more advanced than what your time period is likely used to,” Twilight explained. “Though I admit I am rather impressed by the preliminary work your mages did before I arrived.”

Celestia smiled. “Moonlight Gleam and Noonstar Glint are our best magic users, save for Twilight, of course.”

Twilight nodded. “Well, their expertise is certainly beyond reproach. I assume they worked closely with my counterpart?”

“They did indeed,” Celestia answered, raising an eyebrow. “How can you tell?”

“The way they connect the inner and outer circles is exactly the way she does, though from what I’ve been able to gather, that goes against the popular consensus of the time,” Twilight explained.

Celestia blinked. “I’ll take your word for it.”

“Now we just need to wait for Luna’s arrival so you two can set up the containment field,” Twilight remarked, levitating the piece of chalk back to the pile of supplies. “After that it should be just a matter of activating all the runes and dealing with whatever surprises the universe throws at us.”

Celestia perked up and turned towards the entrance of the cavern a second before Luna appeared. The darkness parted to allow the general passage, gathering in her wake and following her as she walked into the room.

“I see things have been advancing at a steady pace,” Luna exclaimed, her brow furrowing. “Though I don't think I’ve ever seen such a circle before.”

“It's better,” Celestia quickly stated. “Please don't ask anymore, otherwise you’ll have to bring me back as well after Twilight bores me to death.”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “My explanation was not that lengthy, nor that boring.”

“You were talking for two hours, and I only knew half the words you were using,” Celestia deadpanned.

Luna cleared her throat and stepped forward. “Regardless, I’ve informed the kitchen staff to bring our meals down into the caves. It will be our last meal before we get started, so I hope you’re hungry.”

“That sounds like an excellent idea,” Twilight proclaimed, cracking her neck as she walked over to the pair. “Do you remember the procedure?”

“Celestia will create the containment field while I assist,and await the completion of your spell. At which point I will heal Cadance of her wounds,” Luna answered.

“Thus returning our sister to us,” Celestia finished, a wide smile crossing the alicorn’s features.

“Exactly,” Twilight declared. “After which I will cast the sending spell and switch back with your Twilight.”

Luna raised an eyebrow and glanced to Celestia expectantly. “You know of our little time traveler?”

Celestia snorted. “I knew something was amiss for a while. I just didn't know for sure until a few hours ago.”

Twilight chuckled awkwardly. “I’m not very good at keeping secrets.”

“So we’ve come to learn,” Luna deadpanned.

“All that matters is that she's helping to get Cadance back,” Celestia exclaimed.

“Right, and again I must warn you. This spell works in theory, but there is no way of knowing for sure if it will work. The sheer scale of bringing back an alicorn is beyond anything even I have encountered,” Twilight stated.

“You will bring her back,” Luna confidently declared.

Twilight hesitated for a moment, her initial urge to argue against the mare subdued by the part of her that said doing so might be a bad idea. Though not exactly a threat, the comment was close enough to being one that Twilight wasn't sure how to respond. Thankfully the clop of dainty hooves outside the room signalled that a visitor had arrived.

“Ahh, that must be our meal,” Celestia eagerly remarked. “I hope you ordered plenty of good food because something tells me we are going to need our strength.”

“Don't worry, sister. I pulled out all the stops,” Luna replied, leading the trio into the next room where a pair of bat-winged ponies were setting up a table.

A half dozen attendants stood nearby, waiting with trays, cups, plates, and more food than three ponies should even be capable of eating. In a flash a small dining area had been set up in the crystal cave, with the servants quickly excusing themselves after their job was done. All save for one, who waited quietly off to the side near a quartet of well-armored guards who remained even now at the ready.

The meal was surprisingly good, and after seating herself near the middle of the table, Twilight quickly felt her body begin to relax. Without any secrets for the first time since she had switched places with her past self, the unicorn was able to act like herself. To say this was a relief would be an understatement, as the necromancer hardly had a duplicitous bone in her body.

Conversation was light, with the three mares mostly focusing on simply enjoying the spread laid out before them. Though more meaty than what Twilight would have liked, there were also quite a few pickled items that Twilight enjoyed. It was a little odd to see cabbage chowder served alongside fish and stew, but at least there was a familiar white porridge as dessert.

In the end, despite Twilight feeling a little like the odd mare out in this situation, she reluctantly enjoyed herself. Now with a belly full of food and a smile on her face, she stood once more on steady hooves.

“Thank you. That was wonderful,” Twilight exclaimed.

“It's good to see that in the future people will still have proper manners,” Luna exclaimed while patting her lips with a cloth.

Celestia belched, while bobbing her head in agreement. “And after only giving the food a fifteen minute long inspection.”

Twilight chuckled awkwardly. “I’m sorry, but meat is not a feature of my diet usually.”

“Or any food for that matter,” Twilight whispered to herself.

“The war has pushed us to embrace denser foods that we would normally avoid,” Luna exclaimed.

“I’m sure we'll be back to munching salads for three meals a day in no time,” Celestia stated.

“I have little doubt of that fact,” Twilight remarked.

“Ooh, more future knowledge,” Celestia cooed, slipping up next to Twilight. “I don't suppose you have any other interesting facts to share with us? Maybe like if a certain tall dark and brooding alicorn ever finds a date.”

Twilight nearly choked. “I, uh, don't think that will be a problem. Though my only knowledge on such a subject is likely a few centuries away from our current time.”

“Ha,” Celestia cackled, “I can't believe it takes you that long to find someone who would put with your endless moping.”

“I merely require time to get used to this body,” Luna muttered, stomping her way forward. “Let us get to work.”

Twilight shared a snicker with Celestia before they followed Luna back into the ritual chambers. The somewhat humorous atmosphere didn't last long, as they were collectively reminded of the grim task ahead of them. One which would end with prying Cadance’s soul from the jaws of death itself and implanting it back into her original body.

“Are you prepared for what we are about to do?” Luna inquired, eying Twilight closely.

“I am,” she replied.

“Then let us begin immediately,” Luna proclaimed.

Twilight watched as the alicorn levitated the lid off the pine box containing Cadance’s body. Immediately a hush fell over the room, and even Twilight couldn't help but hold her breath in anticipation. The soft blue glow of Luna’s magic emerged from the wooden container a second before Cadance’s broken form gently floated into view.

Though it was clear that great care had gone into preserving the body by applying numerous wards, it did not change the fact that her throat had been cut open. No blood poured from the gaping and ragged wound which stretched from the mare’s chin down to her chest. In Twilight’s mind, it looked like someone had dragged a claw down the poor creature’s neck, slicing straight through her throat and nearly decapitating the alicorn.

Without any of the usual signs of life, or even trace of blood, the body seemed to look like a doll. It was easy for Twilight to imagine that she was looking at an incredibly realistic anatomical dummy like the kind she had seen on one of her trips to the library. Even the dead mare’s facial expression seemed too serene to be normal, especially considering the unpleasant manner which she died in.

The oppressive silence and grim reverence she could sense from the other ponies in the room reminded Twilight that this was not a doll. Nor was this a simple attempt to gauge her growing necromantic skills, rather it was a test she could ill-afford to fail. Not only would she potentially ruin the timeline, but the thinly veiled threat from Luna and Celestia still hung over head.

With a soft, gentle thump, the body was placed at the center of the circle. Celestia approached a second later, a familiar bottle sitting atop her extended hoof.

“I would not normally trust such a task to someone I barely know, but your skill is too obvious to ignore. Please, bring her back to us,” Celestia whispered.

Twilight nodded, taking the bottle from the other mare. “I swear on my very soul that I will do everything in my power to return her to you.”

“If this works, I will owe you an apology and perhaps a reward of some kind,” Luna mused.

“No reward is needed. I just hope you’ll forgive me for stealing away your Twilight,” replied the unicorn.

“See my eldest sister as well as my beloved returned to me, and you will have my forgiveness as well as my thanks,” Celestia answered.

Twilight smiled weakly. “That is all I ask for.”

With a nod, Celestia stepped back, giving Twilight all the space she needed to work.

A move Twilight was appreciative for, though it also left her feeling oddly alone for some reason. Casting one last glance at the pure white alicorn, Twilight couldn't help but feel safe in her presence. Twilight wasn't certain if it was some lingering influence from her other self, or if this version of Celestia had simply worn off on her.

Regardless of the reason, Twilight turned away and knelt down on the ground before Cadance’s lifeless body. Stowing the feeling of revulsion which threatened to build in her throat, Twilight began to center herself. The process of focusing her emotions and eliminating any unwanted thoughts took a while, but for now she had time.

A clear mind was necessary for what was to come, and resisting the urge to become sick was the first thing Twilight did. After that it wasn't difficult to get her mind in order, while at the same time the first of several shields went up around her. Summoning her magic, Twilight slowly built up the amount of power which gathered at the tip of her horn.

While she prepared the first spell, Twilight removed the cork from the potion bottle, and, without a moment’s consideration, downed it in a gulp. Hot lava poured down the mare’s throat, making her want to gag, throw up, or do anything to remove the offending liquid. The unicorn quickly brought her will to bear, banishing the feeling and allowing the golden liquid to settle in the pit of her stomach.

By the time she had mustered all she required for her spell, the final shield had been erected around her. Now isolated from outside interference both magical as well as mundane, Twilight carefully guided her energy into the rune below her. Like a match to black powder, the circle immediately lit up, glowing fiercely with Twilight’s eerie greenish-purple magic.

Just as Twilight suspected, even that massive amount of power was not enough for the glyph which began to pull at any source of magic within reach. Opening herself to the spell’s hunger, Twilight felt it draw deeply on her reserves, prompting her extremities to tingle. As mana drained from her lambda system, she worried the potion was a dud, and that she had been used like a sacrificial lamb.

Panic welled from within Twilight’s chest, though it was quashed the moment she felt something click within her mind. A path she had never trod revealed itself to her, opening the mare to an entirely different source of power she had never felt before. Not only did strength fill her, but for an instant her perception warped, with the pony looking down on Cadance as well as down on herself from outside the shield.

Then it was gone, and Twilight was only Twilight once more, though the ghostly flickers of Celestia’s influence remained. Like the heat that remained at the base of Twilight’s soul and the fire which now coursed through her body, the alicorn was with her even now. With power and confidence, Twilight opened herself even more, strengthening the connection she now shared with the spell.

In response a thin cord of ethereal energy slowly came into being, starting from Twilight’s chest, and going to Cadance’s forehead. The rope looked weak, sickly even, though it grew stronger with each pulse of magic that was pulled from Twilight’s body. Until finally the lifeline was thick enough that it felt sturdy in a way that Twilight could not put into words.

Though this process was mostly automatic, it was only able to be completed due to Twilight’s newfound understanding of the soul. She knew from her brief studies that to connect such a line too fast, too slow, or to the wrong part of one’s body would result in death.

Or worse.

Guiding that power through instinct, Twilight marveled at just how deep her well of magic now went. With only a small part of the alicorn’s soul, Twilight felt as though she were capable of any great feat of magic. She could tear down the heavens, remake the world around her, or bring back anyone she wanted.

Her thoughts threatened to stray to her mother, though the unicorn resisted that urge, keeping her mind focused on the task before her. She would not ruin this moment because she couldn't help but entertain an idea she knew was better left unconsidered. There was simply too much riding on this moment, including her very life, which would become forfeit the second the spell broke down.

Squeezing her eyes shut, Twilight invoked the word life, filling her body with vigor and returning her focus to the physical world. Now focused on her task once more, she carefully tracked the minute fluctuations in the spellform beneath her. With such a close connection to it, these ripples and shifts in the magic felt akin to the odd twitch or itching sensation.

Almost like how Pinkie Pie described her Pinkie sense, Twilight thought briefly before pushing that thought aside.

Feeling out the spell, Twilight sensed that it had filled the alicorn’s body with the necromantic energy necessary to prime the resurrection. With that done, it then reached out for Cadance’s spirit, seeking to anchor it once more to the body the alicorn had left behind. A search which began to drag on for far longer than what Twilight had first anticipated.

Cadance had left behind family, friends, loved ones, and a whole nation of people who looked up to her. Surely that meant her spirit was close, even if Twilight had not been able to detect it with her spiritual vision during their preparation. She had assumed that Cadance’s soul had simply been lingering nearby, her senses discombobulated due to her untimely demise.

Yet the spell continued to follow the thin strand of fate which connected body and spirit, extending ever further. Feeling that the spell was rapidly escaping her grasp, and not wanting to test the limits of her newfound magic, Twilight invoked soul. This time she focused that power, that knowledge on simply seeking out Cadance’s spirit and pouring it through their connection.

The rune around her flashed brighter still, prompting both bystanders to glance nervously at one another. Twilight didn't notice this at all, however, as her senses had left her mortal body far, far behind. There was only the thin green cord which connected Cadance’s body to her soul, which seemed to be lost deep within the planet itself.

Yet as time passed, Twilight realized that was not truly the case, for the pony’s spirit was not anywhere she would have assumed. As the darkness closed in on her, Twilight began to recognize the inky blackness and familiar deep shadows. They were of the undertower, and from a floor which Twilight immediately recognized and instantly feared.

Emerging from the floor above and with eyes already wide, Twilight gazed down to find that at the bottom of a familiar pit were two shapes. One, a dragon dark and terrible, the other a princess, desperate and scared, her body half-swallowed by the ghostly monster. Though the dragon’s attempts to consume the alicorn were languid and almost lazy, Cadance was seemingly unable to escape.

Each attempt to punch the dragon’s face did little, and each attempt to wiggle out of his jaws saw the pony gain little to no ground. What infinitesimal victories she gained were immediately negated by the dragon clamping his ghostly fangs down on the alicorn’s body. Though no cuts appeared on the pony’s spiritual form and no blood flowed from her wounds, Twilight could tell this assault caused Cadance great pain.

Seeing the poor mare’s face contort in agony shocked Twilight out of her stupor, and the necromancer swiftly moved to help. Though intent on assisting in any manner she could, Twilight was still little more than a bundle of spiritual essence with little way to interact with the world. Glancing backwards, Twilight realized she was still connected to the cord, which in turn could act as the lifeline Cadance so desperately needed.

By then the alicorn had noticed Twilight’s presence and stopped resisting for a moment to stare in shock at the other spirit. Using this moment of distraction, the half-asleep dragon opened his maw and attempted to swallow the alicorn whole. Twilight was faster though, and with a surge of motion, she connected the cord to Cadance’s chest, saving her from being consumed.

Ghostly jaws still snapped down around Cadance’s midsection, obscuring all but a single foreleg, as well as the alicorn’s head. Her mouth hung open in a silent, horrified scream, her ethereal form punctured by the ghostly dragon’s teeth. Twilight grabbed onto the single limb and began to pull as hard as she could, throwing everything she had into the act.

Golden light shone from within the necromancer’s chest, giving her ethereal hooves a strength they hadn't had a second earlier. With a lurch, the alicorn’s other foreleg emerged from the dragon’s maw, though the beast was far from done. Summoning strength from deep down within himself, the monster began to squeeze down around the alicorn.

It was as if the dragon had given up its attempts to consume his entire meal, and was attempting to bite off as much as he could. Though a victory compared to where they had been a moment earlier, Twilight knew that such a loss would kill Cadance as sure as if her physical body had been bitten in half. With desperation now fueling her, Twilight pulled harder, gritting her teeth and pouring every last bit of strength she had into the act.

Cadance wrapped her hooves around Twilight as best as she could, the alicorn doing what little she was capable of to aid her savior. Yet despite their efforts and the golden energy coursing through her, Twilight could not see their victory drawing any closer. In fact, it was only becoming further away, as Twilight saw the alicorn’s spiritual form begin to lose consistency below her shoulders.

Twilight quickly realized that the dragon was winning.

Again, panic threatened to overwhelm the unicorn, and again she fought it down with all the fire she could muster. There had to be a way out, a solution to the problem she was facing, as there always had been every other time. No matter how desperate the moment, Twilight and her friends had always come through, yet here the necromancer couldn't think of a single way out.

If she tried to attack the dragon, her focus would be split, and he would win. If she somehow tried to salvage the majority of Cadance’s soul, the beast would surely be victorious. Numerous possible avenues of attack were considered and dismissed, all while the situation grew more desperate.

Seconds ticked by like hammer blows upon an anvil, reminding the unicorn that time was very nearly up. With the final toll of that dreaded bell, Cadance would be no more, and if that happened, Twilight knew there was little chance she would survive much longer. With not only her life, but her past self’s life as well as Cadance’s hanging in the balance, Twilight struggled to think of anything that could help her.

You’re going to die scared and alone, in a time that is not your own.

The words slammed into Twilight’s mind like they were the furious kicks of an angry troll, but in them Twilight found something curious. The word alone felt wrong to her, as the pony wasn't alone, nor would she ever be alone for as long as she existed. After all, she was a single link in a chain that extended from the beginning of ponykind as they knew it until the end of time itself.

A great interlocking soul inhabiting a million bodies stretching across infinity, and within those lives Twilight would find strength. Soul and life were evoked, their power focused into the task of merely connecting Twilight to herself. In an instant she was no longer trapped in a desperate struggle for survival, but rather she was a dozen different versions of herself.

Every one of which answered the unspoken call for aid, gifting Twilight a portion of their shared power. Through each one of those many links, Twilight felt herself answer her plea for strength, gifting her with what they could. Even a future copy of herself, who stood amidst the shattered heap of what had once been their family home, offered her what she could.

Each version gave Twilight a glimpse into the many lives she had lived, but she did not commit them to memory. She only took what she needed and left their privacy unmolested, returning back to her body with power that she could not have dreamt of. When her eyes opened, and she gazed upon the two souls locked in a desperate struggle, Twilight knew what she must do.

Extending a hoof towards the dragon’s head, Twilight willed the limb to go from flat and short to long and sharp, creating a weapon. She rammed the impromptu spear into the beast’s eye. The monster let out a roar of pain, yet refused to let go. With grim acceptance, Twilight leaned back before throwing her weight into the blow, turning the dragon’s eye to nought but mist.

This time when he cried out in agony, his grip loosened ever so slightly, giving Twilight the opening she had been looking for. With a swiftness her mortal body was not capable of, Twilight retracted her hoof and returned it to normal. She then grabbed the dragon’s jaws, before pulling them apart and putting herself between them. Then with a titanic push, the necromancer freed Cadance from her tormentor’s maw, the alicorn leaping to freedom.

The dragon was obviously injured, but had not been defeated, and with a surge of strength he clamped back down on Twilight. Forced to use some of her borrowed strength to resist the bite, and reinforce her soul, Twilight felt her strength begin to fade. That power waned by the second as Twilight resisted her enemy’s efforts to bite her in half and kill her for good. Facing grim prospects, Twilight decided to cut her losses, and with the last bit of her borrowed magic, leapt out of the dragon’s jaws.

She willed herself upwards, and away from her foe, a victorious smirk on her face as she saw Cadance reach out towards her. Yet a sudden shot of fear in the alicorn’s ghostly eyes made Twilight realize she was not out of harm’s way yet. For the beast, in one final act of defiance, had leapt out at Twilight and clamped down upon one of her back legs.

This time there was no struggle, as a part of Twilight’s soul was neatly amputated and swiftly swallowed by the foul creature beneath her. Confidence left the unicorn, and she barely managed to hold onto Cadance as they were both collectively dragged back towards the alicorn’s distant body. Time blurred as they traveled, with Twilight struggling to keep herself together, her magic having drained away to nothing.

It was only by the love princess’ efforts that Twilight returned at all, as the loss of a part of her soul had taken what strength she had left. Yet it wasn't just power that left her, but also memories, and though she did not know it at the time, Twilight had lost her sympathy. For in the dragon’s belly lay all the small moments of kindness and patience shared with this more personable Celestia.

All that the poor creature was aware of was her spirit roughly tumbling back into her body. Senses she had nearly forgotten about returned, and Twilight’s eyes snapped open to find that Luna had just cast her healing spell. Flesh knitted back into place, and with Cadance’s body made whole once more, the alicorn awoke with a start.

“What, who-” she croaked weakly.

Her emerald green eyes opened a second before Twilight’s own unseeing orbs closed, and the unicorn’s body tumbled lifelessly to the ground.

This update (and the one before) were brought to you by generous patrons who pledged at the higher collaborator tier and requested an additional chapter of this story!