I trotted purposefully down a hallway.

Emerald's former blade floated by my side, still stained red from the blood of its pervious owner.

A plethora of soldiers followed behind me.

It was perhaps ten minutes since Emerald's attack. Ponies had swarmed the sitting room, whisking away Clover before I could ask about her condition.

To say I was mad would be an understatement.

And everypony knew it.

Off to my side, the faces of gaunt prisoners stared from behind the bars of the dungeon, dimly illuminated in the dank darkness by faint candle light.

The slumped body of a Guard loomed out of the darkness, directly next to the still open door of my destination.

"Check him." I commanded, gesturing at the soldier as I rounded on the former cell of Emerald Gleam.

I glared into the darkness, trying to pierce it's secrets through sheer rage.

Seeing nothing however, I flared my horn bright. Casting the cool cerulean light of my magic into the dark cell.

There was only two shapes within.

The first, was obviously a tipped over waste bucket. Its contents spilled to the floor, but it didn't make the odor of the dungeon any worse than it already was.

The second, was huddled in the far corner, and was shaking badly.

"... I told her not to go." Came the soft voice of Sapphire Shine. "I told her... I warned her!"

"When?" I asked stiffly, not stepping forward.

The soldiers off to my side managed to rouse the Guard, proving he was only unconscious.

"I dunno... An hour... Maybe two? I can't keep track of time in here..." Sapphire replied.

"Then why didn't you escape?" I called.

If the mare was being truthful, she would've had plenty of time to flee, even if she didn't follow her sister.

The shivering mare didn't respond.

As the silence grew more grating, I noticed that her forearms were held over her head and eyes.

"Then why didn't you escape?" I repeated.

"... What could two mortals do to challenge death?" She asked.

"Pardon?" I responded, confusion finally breaking rage's hold on me.

She finally removed an arm from her face, revealing a quivering, staring eye in the darkness.

"Any who face you are doomed to die..." she whispered fearfully. "The Hydra was our first clue. And then Hoarfrost. But we were two fillies who didn't... Couldn't know."

"You're not making sense." I stated.

First of all, factually incorrect. I hadn't killed Ebony Rain or any of my sparring partners over the past year...

Wait, was that it? Were those the only Ponies I hadn't fought to the death?

... The only reason I hadn't held Ebony Rain under the water until she stopped flailing was because she had surrendered the second time I asked...

If she had refused me my customary three times however...

"But then we came back North..." The mare continued, ignoring me. "And forgot about you for many years. Until my Lady, Princess Platinum took my battalion South to scout for new lands to settle." She shuddered. "I didn't know it at the time, but I saw that shield your sister held."

"Still not making sense."

But she continued.

"That night... The night of the Windegos... I fled. Abandoning my brothers and sisters to their fate. Telling myself I was returning to tell the Queen what had happened. But that wasn't it." she shook her head, dislodging a few strands of oily mane hair. "I was running from tales of a pair of sisters rising in the South. It was then, when rumors of a mare with wings of light reached me did I realize what I had seen... All those many years ago..."

"What are you talking about?" I snapped.

"That night... With the Hydra..." Sapphire licked her lips to wet them. "Emerald and I both saw them." she shuddered. "Wings... As black as night, and as cold as death around a filly we knew well..."

My blood ran cold as the forbidden question rattled its cage.

"I barely reached Unicornia before tales of a blue filly crushing Casúrdomhain in a single night reached us. Emerald became a fanatic when she came to the same realization I had made... And Queen Iridium made us both Generals, me for bringing the news... And her because of her zeal..." She shuddered again, but I didn't interrupt this time. "Then Pegasopolis fell... Humbled by the sisters of the South. And we knew... We were next..."

With the exception of the blue mare in the cell, the entire dungeon was as silent as a tomb.

"I had nightmares every night... Of a black winged shadow bringing war. Emerald did her best to hide it, but she focused her fear into her faith..." She quivered, covering her eyes again. "My nightmares came true when the banners depicting a silver Moon crested the hills. When a filly I knew as weak and strange came and demanded our surrender..." She curled in on her self, like a filly protecting herself from the darkness. "I'll never forget your eyes Luna..." Once more an eye appeared, illuminated by my magic. "Like eyes gleaming in the dark, alive, cruel, and mocking... Daring us to defy you... When we fought in the cathedral... I knew we had lost before we even drew our swords... I tried to tell her! I tried to get her to stop! Over and over again!" she started to screech. "You have to believe me!"

That... That was bucking unsettling.

I turned towards a soldier to my left.

"Search her, if she's unarmed bring her before a doctor. See if they can knock her out or something."

"What about you Gen- Er... Princ- Er..." The stallion began to stutter.

"General will be fine." I rolled my eyes. "I don't know what my sister is thinking and I'm not going to speculate until I speak with her and give her a piece of my mind."

Several soldiers stiffened, if it was at my tone or at the thought of a mortal chewing out an Alicorn I didn't know.

"Then what about you General?" the original stallion asked.

"What about me?" I snapped.

This evening hadn't started well, and had only nose dived from there.

My patience was growing dangerously short.

"Well... Um... Don't you need to see a doctor after-"

"I'm fine." I responded. "She didn't scratch me."

"Then maybe you'll listen when I tell you the same thing." came a familiar voice from behind the crowd of soldiers.

The ranks of guards split, revealing the practically glowing form of Tia, which seemed to push the dank darkness of the dungeon away.

The prisoners in the cells had prostrated themselves, and were muttering or chanting quiet prayers.

"I'm fine Tia." I insisted.

"No you're not." She replied. "You're rightfully frazzled, anxious, and tired."

"Most of that is your fault Tia." I rebutted.

"Regardless;" she said serenely. "We will discuss that later. For now, trust that I have my reasons, and go get yourself looked over. Emerald may have gotten you with a poison."

A part of me obstinately wanted to object, because I was fine. But I couldn't think of of rebuttal to her poisoning argument.

Perhaps I was being stupidly stubborn? I certainly didn't think I was having a good day. Maybe it was a decent opportunity to let somepony else handle this?

"... Fine." I acquiesced.

"Excellent. Now, is there a Captain here?" Tia asked, looking around.

"Aye your Grace..." Captain Short List stepped forward.

"Your Highness." Tia corrected. "It'll be Princess from now on."

"Aye yer Highness." Short List nodded.

"Good, you're in charge of this investigation. In the meantime, I'm going to take Luna and the prisoner to our herbologist ."

"Yer G- Highness?" Short List asked.

"Ms Sapphire here looks like she needs a sedative. And if she hasn't escaped while the door is open she can be trusted outside the dungeon."

"Of course yer Highness." he nodded with a slight bow.

"Luna? Sapphire? Could you please follow me?" Tia asked.

"Oh great Alicorn of the Sun!" Sapphire proclaimed, still in her corner but prostrating herself. "I am unworthy!"

"Enough of that." Tia tsked. "What good is being an Alicorn if I'm not allowed to care for Ponies?"

Sapphire wasn't listening however, and was busy with her face to the floor and muttering prayers fervently.

Tia rolled her eyes before lighting her horn, and gently lifting the blue mare in a field of sunlight.

"Eek!" Sapphire shrieked in surprise.

"Lu? If you would?" Tia asked, gesturing for me to follow.

I followed without protest or comment.

But I wasn't happy about it.

The prisoners continued to prostate themselves and pray as we walked by. Sapphire awkwardly tried to do the same even as she floated along, still held in Tia's magic. But she soon fell still.

We reached the top of the stairway without event.

"... How are you doing Lu?" Tia asked.

"I'm..." I paused looking for an answer. "I'm- Honestly I don't know where to start."

"If you're worried about talking in front of Sapphire, don't worry, I got her with a sleeping spell." Tia informed.

Gah! I guess that explains why she wasn't flailing or chanting...

"What were you thinking?!" I started. "Making me a Princess?!"

"Hm." Tia nodded. "Figured that would get on your nerves..."

"Then why?! What were you thinking?!"

"Because Lu, believe it or not, you have more a claim to the throne than I do."

"No I do not." I stated. "You are the elder, and you are the Alicorn. Nothing I do can contest that."

"You're the conqueror however. By right of conquest you have a claim."

"That's not true and you know it." I countered. "I no more have a claim than a General conquering for another Queen."

"Luna..." she sighed. "Listen to me very carefully. I'm giving you the title because I want to honor you. I fully intend to include you in ruling at my side."

"But why do you want me to have equal standing to you?" I asked. "I thought our agreement was for me to be an advisor and General."

"And what if something were to happen to me? You said it yourself, I may be an Alicorn now, but neither of us know how long I'll naturally live now. And as demonstrated this very evening, there may be assassin blades waiting for me. This way, there is a clear line of succession should the worst happen."

I didn't know how to respond to that.

"If you're that worried about getting caught up in politics, then we can split up the duties of the office. I'll take dealing with the politicking, you handle leading the army."

"That... That I can do." I admitted.

"Thank you Luna." Tia responded.

We walked in silence for a little while longer, passing by only a few scurrying servants.

I guess everypony else was busy with the excitement caused by Emerald...

"Here we are." Tia said at last. "Word of warning Lu, Meadowbrook is... Let's say eccentric."

"Eccentric?" I asked.

"Hmhmm." Tia nodded. "She came with me when I brought reinforcements. Never knew a better herbologist, but... Well you'll see."

She pushed the door open, and the smell of rich earthy herbs and strangely pungent smoke hit me in the face.

"Meadowbrook? I've two patients for you!" Tia called, stepping inside.

"Oh Tia darling! Come in come in!" Cried the voice of a mare with an accent that I had never heard before. "Don' mind tha smell! Founda new herb ina local store!"

The room was illuminated by a single candle, but most of the shapes and objects within were obscured by lazily drifting smoke.

As I entered the room, it felt like my mind became fuzzy, and as if I wasn't entirely in control of my actions.

"Any spare beds?" Tia asked.

"Oh yes'm! Over here yonder!" Something in the fog shifted.

"Excellent, this one I need you to keep an eye one for a small while. I fear her mind's weak at best, or broken at worst."

"Shaw! Tha all? Ah'll get 'er fixed right up quick!"

Stars above... Her accent was so thick and strange...

"And this;" Tia continued. "Is my sister Luna. She needs looked over for poisons and given a good night's sleep."

"Oh Luna!" A mare's face suddenly loomed out of the haze.

"Gah!" I started, jumping back.

"Oh ain't you a card!" the mare grinned, her mane tied up with what looked like a shawl, although I couldn't tell the color with the hazy smoke. "We'll getcha looked after sugar!"

"Thank you Meadowbrook. I hope you don't mind keeping them until morning." Tia called.

I realized I had lost her to the thick haze.

I wanted to call out, but my fuzzy mind didn't seem like it wanted to work.

"Naw! I dun mind attall! It'll be lovely ta have company come morn!"

"Tia?" I called, finally finding my voice.

"Alright Lu, I'll come back to get you tomorrow. Good night!" Tia's voice called again.

"Uh... Good night?" I responded, my mind too fuzzy to make sense of what was going on.

"Now why duncha get outta them there threads Luna? So Meadowbrook can look ya over."

Something pressed against me, leading me gently around the room.

"T-Threads?" I asked.

"Yer clothes! Kint look ya over if yer not nude!"

"I uh... Okay?" I asked, unable to answer anything else with my fuzzy mind.

"Grand! Now you do tha while Ah tend ya friend!"

Something shifted in the haze.

"... Okay..." I repeated, pulling my cloak off my shoulders.

What... What was this place?

The strange mare started to hum pleasantly, doing whatever she was doing as I removed my armor.

I fumbled with the straps keeping things in place, unable to focus undoing them.

My mind wasn't only fuzzy now... But slippery as well.

I suddenly realized I had removed everything, and now had a bundle of clothes.

"Uh... Where-?"

"Jus' set em on tha floor sugar. They won't get in tha way."

"Uh... Okay?" I said, setting the bundle on the floor.

"Ahright then. Yer friend's gonna be out fer a long while. Let's get a look atchu sugar."

The mare's face emerged from the smoke again.

"Gah!" I repeated.

"Oh ain't yew a silly filly!" the mare chuckled.

I felt hooves pulling at me, leading me somewhere else.

"Naow then, lay down here sugar."

I was gently pushed down, laying on something hard and wooden.

The candle moved closer, revealing that I was laying on a table.

"What're you?-"

"Now yew jus' relax and hold still. Ah'm gonna look ya over."

Despite my apprehension, I found myself untensing.

The mare, Meadowbrook if I remembered right, busied herself moving my limbs and examining me.

Finally she moved to my face, positioning the candle near my face.

"Hmhmhmmm..." Meadobrook hummed as she started touching my face. "Haha!" she suddenly chortled. "Oh yer outta it ain't you sugar? Plum forgot ain't anypony who keen handle as much incense as Ah keen."

"Huh?" I asked dizzily.

"Oh dun you fret sugar. Yer gonna sleep well tanight."

It felt hard to think... Like my mind was drifting as slowly as the funny smelling haze in the room I occupied.

It was even hard to discern what was inside and what was outside.

"Alright sugar. Ain't a scratch on yew. All yew need is a good night's rest." the mare stated suddenly.

"Huh?" I repeated.

The mare chortled again.

"Dun you worry 'bout it. Naw come on, get up, dun be afraid ta lean on me if ya need it. Yew ain't the first Pony an' yew ain't gonna be tha last. Yew ain't even gonna be tha heaviest.

I wasn't sure if it was my own violation, or if Meadowbrook was lifting me up, but I rose off the table and got to the floor.

"Come on. Gotta bed right ova here ya keen use." the strange mare informed me.

"... Kay..." I drawled, feeling myself being dragged across the floor.

And suddenly I was falling into a bed, but I was asleep before I even touched it.

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