Though her mind was focused on doing her chores as a princess and ensure the wellbeing of her loyal subjects, many things clouded her vision with doubt, fear and even anger.

The things she had seen barely a few days before, coupled with the new revelations of ponies not being truly who she thought they were filled her mind with a newfound worry.

She knew she could trust her friends, she knew they were truly her best friends and would never betray her confidence. But what of the others?

Her eyes quickly scanned the multiple ponies running back and forth with materials for the wooden wall they were building around Ponyville to hold a siege and to protect their princess. Still, every time she looked at the wall, multiple points always surfaced of how fragile it looked, how easy it could be broken or even passed by, despite the residents' hard efforts to make it sturdy.

And her mind connected dots that shouldn't even be there!

What if those weak points of the wall were made on purpose? What if the traitor was among those building the wall, making it weak so the Caribou could quickly tore it down? What if the traitor had already contacted the Caribou to tell them of the wall? What if they were already on their way!? What if they all ended captured and then raped for days straight, possibly weeks or months, until they could no longer think by themselves, turning them into mindless animals just looking for pleasure and completely forgotten who they were before and the bonds their friendship had formed were broken and-

"Uhh Twi? Are you alright?"

Twilight almost jumped in fright at the voice which interrupted her thoughts, blinking at the voice of her dear friend Rainbow, who was looking at her with a concerned expression. The next voice who spoke to her was that of her unicorn friend.

"I must admit i share Rainbow's concern, darling. You're even sweating!"

Of course, Twilight hadn't yet noticed the liquid drops falling down her forehead, having to shake off the doubts clouding her own judgement to get back to the point at hand.

It was really nice to have friends who kept her mind from wandering too far and to keep focusing on what was important. It brought a truly happy smile to her face, despite the current situation.

"Y-Yes, i am fine." She even had to take a deep breath to steady her own body, finding it much to her surprise to be trembling. "I just... Had a lot on my mind, you know? With everything that's been going on so far."

Though Rainbow's and Rarity's faces softened at that, they all truly knew what she meant. Rainbow had seen what they were capable of, and Rarity had only heard about what had happened there, but it was enough to know and understand why Twilight was so worried.

"... Yeah... It's been crazy what's been happening. Canterlot... The princesses..."

"Not to mention our friends..." Rarity added with her own tone of worry, making Twilight to remember just how powerless she was. "Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie... Applejack. All of them captured by those brutes!"

Speaking of which, Twilight considered herself fortunate when she saw several of Fluttershy's animal friends actually helping them, as if they knew something bad was coming.

Beavers had taken upon themselves to help chopping off the trees and even transport them all the way from the woods to Ponyville. Even Harry the Bear was actively helping the ponies, be it by helping in the transport of wood, or serving as a sturdy wall to balance the construction.

The Cakes were helping too, in their own way, preparing food and even some sugary treats to help those who were busy building the wall to keep their energies up.

The cutie mark crusaders helped as much as they could, being led mostly by Applebloom, who was just as serious, if not even more, than her brother the day before. As eager as they were, they just didn't have the strength to help in the building. So they had taken upon themselves to act as messagers for anyone who needed help. More wood, more nails, more help... Anything needed, they quickly got the message, or even moved small objects to where they were needed.

Granny Smith was nowhere near of Ponyville, surprising Twilight when she had gone to visit the heavily changed Sweet Apple Acres some time before and seeing the elder pony working just as hard if not harder than most of the ponies chopping down the trees. Just how strong could a pony like one of her age be?

And last of them all, Twilight looked at Applejack's brother, Big Mac, working the hardest he could. Rainbow had told her he hadn't even slept at all, being constantly busy with doing everything in his power to do.

Applejack's capture had turned the silent and serene pony into such a ferocious worker, Twilight assumed, to keep his mind from thinking of what was happening to his sister, keeping his hopes up that whatever she was passing through would end soon.

Each individual example of those worried for their loved ones was inspiring for her, making her remember the promise she had done to herself a few nights ago. Nopony else would fall in the Caribou's hands unless she could avoid it.

And she would ensure that promise to persist for as long as she lived!

Still...

The terrible images of what she had seen, the ways the Caribou acted like monsters and made the ponies they captured feel humiliated, coupled with that strange dream she had had the day before made her legs feel weak, even feeling her knees shaking at the thought.

Her eyes turned to the north, looking at the city she once called home, still surrounded by that pink bubble she once felt comforted by, and her thoughts became dark once more as doubt neared its ugly head again.

Her friends, the princesses, her parents, those she knew from school... Just what was going on with them? Were they safe? Were they hiding?

Or even worse... Had all of them been captured and subjected to the horrible tortures the Caribou had in mind? And just what such torture was? Was it horrible, life scarring? Would it forever be in their minds? Would it leave them with a mind blown by so much pleasure that they couldn't even think about it without having an orgasm-?

A sharp pain crossed her head suddenly, making her feel dizzy and terribly tired, despite having slept for a whole day. If not for her friends' quick reaction, her face would have fallen to the ground.

"Twilight, darling!"

"Woah, there! What's up? You okay?"

The moment of dizziness was broken for a moment, allowing her to look at her friends, to their concerned faces and how beautiful they looked, and even towards Rarity's modest cleavage.

A soft blush came her face when she noticed where she had been staring, trying to get up on her own to avoid staring further by looking around to everyone else.

That proved to be a bad choice, noticing instantly everyone working in the wall had stopped and were looking at her. Almost all of ponyville was looking at her, in a moment of weakness! What if the traitor had seen her in such way!?

"... I-i'm... I'm fine... Maybe just a bit hungry... I'll go to eat something..."

Every pony just stared at her as she walked away slowly, making her feel even worse when the dizziness came back, making her walk even slower than what she wanted.

"O-Oh, wait! Darling, allow me to help you. Perhaps we can share a nice lunch over at my home." Rarity came rushing to her aid, like ever the good and generous friend Twilight saw her as. Quickly taking her hand, she started to lead her with as much decorum as possible, given the circumstances they were in. Twilight risked a look behind to ensure nopony was following them.

Of course, everypony, while returning slowly to their work, still watched her closely, all of them having concerned looks on their faces, showing their devotion to their princess, as well as being concerned for their wellbeing. Although, how many of them were actually concerned for her? How many of them were actually taking note of her weakness!? How many were just waiting for the right chance to attack!? How many-?

"Twilight? Are you truly alright?" Rarity's voice snapped the young alicorn from her own questioning, finding some comfort in her sapphire eyes, which were filled with a constant worry for her, just like those she had seen before. But those, she knew they were real.

"... yes Rarity... i'm fine... thanks for asking." Twilight replied with her own smile, feeling herself getting calmed. She thanked once more to whatever deity who was listening to them for the friends she had.

That smile vanished as quickly as it came when memories of her other friends came back in full force, remembering all of her friends all the way back in Canterlot, even those who had recently been captured. Their faces when they were taken away were still firmly imprinted in her mind, replaying over and over. Fluttershy, Applejack and Pinkie Pie... The princesses...

All of them captured... because of her.

The rest of the trip towards Rarity's house was spent in an uncomfortable silence, with Rarity growing even more concerned while Twilight felt herself sinking deeper into a pit she wished never had existed.

Once the door in Rarity's house closed off with a quiet click, Rarity took off a moment to take a deep breath and then face her alicorn friend.

Much like the moment at the Wall, Twilight was silent with her gaze fixed in a nonexistant point in the distance. Or perhaps it was something in her home?

Quickly dismissing the thought, Rarity rushed off to prepare some tea, taking a small pouch with some powder in it and poured some of it in a spoon with her magic and leading it to the kettle.

Midway to the kettle, she stopped. Much like Twilight, her gaze stood firm on the blue aura surrounding the spoon. A hand slowly rose to catch it from the air, only stopping her magic once the spoon was firmly taken by her right hand while her left slowly rose towards her horn.

In the distance, Twilight watched Rarity for a moment, finally being able to focus on other thing than her own, but finding her friend's attitude somehow strange.

Despite not being able to see for herself due to Rarity's mane, Twilight watched her friend slowly stroking her horn, as if her own life was in such a small and seemingly useless object. Twilight understood her reaction, having seen it by herself and having told her friends about it.

Unicorn mares losing their horns for being "inferior", according to the Caribou. She could definitely understand Rarity's reaction, also lifting a hand to rub at her own horn, the one object that had guided her to her true talent as a pony: magic.

With the prospect of possibly losing it if they fell to the Caribou... It was truly terrifying!

Rarity's hand stopped stroking her horn, slowly sliding down her face until her hand grasped her own neck, Twilight hearing a soft gulp of nervousness from the unicorn moments later, probably imagining the worst that could happen to mares like themselves: being collared.

How would it feel? Was the sensation truly as terrible as she had seen them?

...

... What if she truly were to wear one of those?

"It's simply... Worrysome, right?" Twilight's thoughts were once more interrupted by her friend, thankfully. Twilight took a deep breath to calm herself before turning once again towards Rarity, who had finally prepared the tea.

"I mean... The whole Equestria falling subject... It's nothing but... Worrysome."

"... Yes, it is." Twilight's reply was just as low and emotionless as her friend's, watching as the table was slowly adorned for a true meal, just as Rarity liked.

"But i think... The worst part of all... Is the future..." Rarity said suddenly, more musing to herself at that point, but still making Twilight stop everything else to listen. "... I'm scared, Twilight."

Watching her friend slowly go from composed to actually trying to hold back her own tears without success, even closing her hands to hold onto something that could not be seen while her voice trembled.

"L-Life as we know it... It's over! Even if we do manage to win against... T-Them... Things will n-never be the same!"

Twilight already knew it. She herself had thought about it just a couple hours ago, when seeing all those mares just ditching everything else, everypony else even, just for their own selves!

But upon hearing it from her friend... The wound opened even more. Canterlot would be freed, mares would be saved, the princesses would be restored and her friends would go back to Ponyville... But even then, the scars would remain for life. Pinkie and Fluttershy would forever be affected by it, and Applejack would surely shut herself from any form of sexual interaction... Or even social for a time.

Even herself, even when not having experienced any of those horrendous tortures... She now saw the world in a different light... A much more frightening light.

Of course her friend was right! Even if they did win (a big if), their former lives were over.

Yet another thing she had failed in. She was the princess of friendship, by the stars' sake!

"... I know, Rarity... It's over." Rarity stopped crying for a moment, looking at her friend now turned princess, who had a sad, empty and too dark for her liking look. "... It's over... A-And... I shouldn't even be an Alicorn!"

Rarity's tears were controlled, as if she had learned to control them... But Twilight's... Twilight wasn't only crying, she was loathing herself.

Twilight wanted to be left alone, slowly starting to rise from the table while even darker thoughts surfaced on her mind, doubts and self-blaming slowly trying to consume her with every memory of her failure as a princess. It felt as if she was alone, alone with all of her screw-ups and nothing else.

A soft clink before her managed to make her lift up her face from her arms, seeing the tea her friend had prepared already in front of her.

Even sniffling a little, Twilight slowly got up to thank her friend, being interrupted by said friend and a comforting and much needed hug.

None needed to say anything at the moment, just feeling the comfort in each other's presence for the time being. In that moment, the next tear that fell from their eyes was different. Yes, the sadness would remain there, then anxiety, the doubt, the fear and everything else would remain there, but they weren't alone.

"Thank you being here, Twilight. I truly don't know what would happen if those brutes would come here... And i didn't had my friends with me."

Twilight nodded silently, not wanting to say anything else to not break such a pacific moment. But good things must come to an end.

"W-Well, Twilight... *Sniff* The tea will cool down i-if *sniff* If we don't drink it."

Still having tears in her eyes, much like her friend, Twilight took the cup and brought it to her lips, moaning softly when the tea went down her throat. It felt relaxing, comforting even!

She turned to look at her friend, finally being able to speak without doubt in her voice.

"Thank you Rarity."

Rarity was definitely right, having consumed several pieces of bread for the past hour and some more of that delicious tea she had prepared, and Twilight was feeling a lot better.

"Hmm, Rarity, you have to tell me what blend this is! It's actually really relaxing! Did Zecora give you this?"

Rarity stopped her polite sucking (definitely looking better, too), to answer to her friend.

"Oh no, darling. This was a recipee suggested by somepony all the way back in Canterlot during a private party. I was... Stressed in the moment and... A foreign traveler was kind enough to give it to me."

Twilight nodded in understanding, though wondering what kind of foreign traveler was that, to assist to a private party nonetheless, and even bringing a blush to her friend's face!

Noticing her own stupor, Rarity chuckled nervously at that while trying to cover her face. Now that seemed unlady like!

"Anypony worth mentioning? I would like to see him by myself and ask for some of this blend for myself." Twilight asked with a smirk, actually having fun for once in the past few days, and seeing Rarity actually flustered for once!

Of course, said unicorn didn't wanted to continue or had something else to say (which was strange, considering how gossipping she was).

"Well... I'd really like to get him to meet you, too... But... He was in Canterlot... Sometime before... Well, you know what."

Twilight's playful smirk instantly vanished from her face, knowing what Rarity was referring to. Her face turned to a more serious tone when she took her friend's hand in hers, squeezing supportingly.

"Don't worry, Rarity... You'll see him again... When all of this is over. I promise."

Rarity nodded slowly at that, showing her friend a hopeful look in her face, but also one of another emotion she couldn't quite identify. But nonetheless, Twilight would make sure at least one thing positive would come out of this!

Rarity suddenly stood up, looking at her friend with an apologetic face.

"You'll have to forgive me... But i think i drank too much tea." She slowly started to walk away from the table, but before she vanished completely from sight, she turned once more to Twilight. "Oh, and one more thing! If Sweetie Belle happens to come around here, don't let her enter into my studio, please?"

Before Twilight could answer, Rarity vanished from sight with only the soft slam of a door sounding moments after.

Twilight chuckled to herself, finally feeling like those days where the only worries she had were to send the princess a letter of her lessons on friendship, like the one she sent when Rarity helped all of them with their dresses to the Grand Galloping Gala. Such a stressful yet wonderful memory!

Speaking of which, Twilight had to admit she had grown curious at what Rarity was working on. She always made such wonderful clothing, always so elegant and beautiful!

With her friend sometimes being so busy doing complex or big orders, she sometimes didn't see her friend in days at most, sometimes not even getting to see the clothes she had been working on until the next fashion show (if she was in the mood to see it or had the time for it)!

Having that in mind, and assuming her friend wouldn't mind if she took a look, Twilight got up from the table and quickly went upstairs, almost giggling as if she was a filly again, hoping not to get caught, but secretly wanting to!

Her hoofsteps were heard, though, letting her hear her friend quickly exiting the bathroom.

"Is that you, Sweetie Belle!? I told you not to-"

"It's alright, Rarity, it's only me!" Twilight answered to calm her friend, reaching the end of the stairs up in the second floor.

"Oh, it's only you, then... Wait, what are you doing up there? The toilet is over here!"

At first, she was curious as to why Rarity sounded so concerned about, but Twilight was in a good mood! Besides, she wasn't one to gossip about dresses before they were out for the public, so a peek wouldn't hurt.

"Oh, you know... Just got curious as to what you were doing for the next fashion trend~!"

Twilight replied teasingly, relishing in the way Rarity seemed to panic over that. It must have been a good secret to tease her with!

"Wait, T-Twilight, please! Do not even dare to open that-"

The door opened with a soft creak, making Twilight grin mockingly at her friend and in small triumph over her. She wasn't as competitive as Rainbow was, but she did like to win sometimes, too.

Her voice died in the instant she stood inside the room, watching several mannequins around the room with several different outfits on them. But most notably on several of them were the obvious sexual connotation on them, even having seen several similar designs during that accursed Parade!

She even felt a panic attack rising on her when her eyes fell on top of a thick, shiny leather collar around the neck of one of them. Very similar to those accursed objects she had seen clasped around her friends and the princesses' throats!

The sound of magic was heard, and several thick blankets immediately floated and covered the mannequins, giving Twilight some relief at not having to see that object.

As for Rarity, Twilight could see in her face her friend knew the damage was done, quietly sitting in her own bed while giving her friend an apologetic frown, sometimes not even daring to look at her in the eye.

"... I assure you, Darling... This all has an explanation."

Author's Notes:

Surprise! Another cliffhanger!
*Insert villain's laugh with the thundering and lightning behind.*

...

Anyways, back on track. Nothing more to say but an apology for not posting before. Still dealing with the family issue, but now feeling better about it. Hopefully, even better to get back on track with all my stories (hopefully)

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