The Everfree Castle. Ancient and mysterious. Well, to most. Celestia had once lived there.

The white alicorn alighted in the crumbling throne room, touching the aged stones with her delicate hooves. She relished the sound of the clip-clop that echoed about those old chambers. Perhaps, one day, she would rebuild it. She and her sister.

Though, she she wondered if she might ever get poor Luna back alive. Siding with those revolutionaries might be hard to forgive.

"Finally arrived, have we?" a familiar voice called attention to a balcony overhead.

She casually looked up at the blue figure. "Ah. Speedy Silverstreak, revolutionary extraordinaire. How nice to see you again. Come negotiate your surrender, have you? That's really nice. Saves me the trouble and so much unnecessary bloodshed."

"I'm here to discuss your latest project," the stallion said, ignoring her little quips.

"Hmmm, which one?" she asked innocently. "I have so many... is it my plans for Prince Rutherford? Silly bull, isn't he?"

The stallion shook his head, trying desperately not to imagine what horrors she had planned for the ruler of Yakyakastan. "No."

"Well, maybe my plan to plant marigolds on the south slope of the mountain."

"Shut up you insane bitch," Speedy growled, not sure how much of her voice he could take.

"Watch your language in the presence of royalty," Celestia warned him. "I am here on good faith. No guards to escort me. No traps to bring you into the Canterlot castle to experiment on. Though, I should tell you, the room I have reserved for you is just gorgeous."

The alicorn looked up into the rafters and snorted. "Which is more than I can say for you. Snipers? Really?"

"Just a precaution," Speedy stated, mentally cursing himself for not having them hide better. "No, I am here to discuss Transcendence."

Celestia closed her mouth and her smile disappeared. It was quiet for a long time.

"What of it?" she asked finally.

"What happened to you, Celestia?" Speedy asked with a shake of his head. "When I was a little colt, my mother used to tell me all kinds of stories about how you were the greatest princess in the world. Kind, loving, and the symbol of peace... then I grew up."

"Into a clever stud," the alicorn mused to herself.

"I learned, growing up, that I was really just moments away from being nabbed and castrated at any second, simply for being born the wrong gender," he continued. "My parents... thankfully, were good ponies. Though... that might not have stopped you, now would it?"

Celestia shook her head. "If I knew you were going to grow into a stallion capable of defying me, I'd have you brought to live in my palace. Not as a gelding or eunuch, mind you. But, to raise to become my consort. And Luna's, of course. You're one of very few stallions to have caught my interest. As for transcendence... How do you plan to stop me?"

"We have our ways," Speedy responded ominously.

Celestia rolled her eyes. "Please. I'm being very kind and merciful to you stallions. My other project, Ascendance, would erase the need for males all together. At least with Transcendence you get to stick around."

The stallion opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off.

"No-no, it's the mare's turn to speak stallion," she chided him. "Know your place. Every time you've acted up it's only gotten worse, Speedy. And then you had the gall to drag Cadance into your lite crusade. So unforgivable."

"She was already against such practices," Speedy retorted.

"Perhaps," Celestia nodded. "But, I could have, over time, persuaded her otherwise."

"She's stronger than that."

"She's misled," Celestia growled. "But, that's neither here nor there. I fear that this may come to head sooner or later. But, perhaps, I can persuade you to hold off on your intrusions at least a little while. Here. Take this to my dear niece. She'll know hwat it is."

A box appeared out of thin air beside stallion. He quickly grabbed. Celestia's wicked smile was returning. "I'll be off now. Say hi to Cadance for me, would you?"

Sometime later in the Crystal Empire:

Cadance took a deep breath before carefully opening the lid. Inside were two locks of mane. One purple and the other blue. Her eyes went wide and her body paled in a sickly fashion.

"No," she said softly, unable to believe it.

Beneath the lock was a note.

Dear Cadance,

By the time you're reading this Griffonstone should already be sending word that it's on fire. Hope you're willing to take on more refugees. Oh, and Flurry Heart is just the sweetest thing. It's been forever since I've held her. Shining Sends his regards. Though we had to muzzle after he bit several ponies while yelling the most uncivilized things.

P.S. Tell that stallion to stop inuring on my territory. For a little while at least. Else I be sending you this little angel's wings.

Much love,

Aunt Celestia

The box and letter fell to the floor of the throne room. Everyone was silent as they watched the princess shiver in a horrid limbo bewteen screaming and fainting.

A moment later a soldier burst in shouting.

"Your highness, Griffonstone has been attacked and refugees are already on their way."

Fainting it was. She collapsed on the crystal floor with a mighty thump.