“There you are sister! You had everyone worried when you didn’t return last night.” Luna said when Celestia returned to the makeshift outpost near Canterlot.

“Captain, take these to the research department immediately, it should speed long our progress. I’m sorry sister, I’ll explain later.” Celestia said.

“Are you alright Princess? you seem like you’re exhausted.” Spike said.

“Even though I had the first good night’s sleep in days I guess I am. My capital city along with half of its inhabitants are dead Spike. When we finally clear it of threats and the toxin we still have to rebuild and repair.” Celestia replied.

“Sister you know once that happens things will get better.” Luna said.

“I know, but for now I’m just sick of things going so badly when I leave my people on their own...” Celestia said.

“What do you mean Princess?” Shining said.

“I didn’t have any real input for the cure to the disease that started this all so I let my scientists do as they pleased with it. I thought my people don’t need me to hover over their shoulders like a scolding teacher at all times whenever something important is happening.” Celestia said, sitting on a chair and putting a hand to her forehead as if it pained her.

“You may not have been there the entire time but that doesn’t mean you could have known it wouldn’t work the way it did.” Luna said.

“You don’t understand. My scientists told me the cure changed in one of their experiments... They found it out not long after they started administering it. They don’t know how but the toxic effects were added later, if I was there I would have detected the difference.” Celestia said.

“Wait, are you saying someone sabotaged it?” Dash asked.

“I don’t know... It could have been a slow acting change from something in it or someone could have done it on purpose. We can’t know for certain.” Celestia said.

“Um... Princess... um just because there’s a possibility that you could have stopped it doesn’t mean that it’s your fault...” Fluttershy said softly.

“Fluttershy’s right. Don’ beat yerself up fer somethin’ like that, you were tryin’ to give yer people some space to work freely an’ not seem demandin’.” Applejack said.

“You should listen to them Sister, I bet Twilight would say something along those lines. Now, I believe you and your scientist team were near a breakthrough so I suggest you go to them.” Luna said. Celestia sighed slightly but she smiled and nodded before exiting towards the area the scientist team had acquired for their use.

It wasn’t until Night fell when the Princess and her team were disturbed.

“Princess? You need to come to the watch tower and see this.” Shining said.

“Can it wait?” Celestia asked.

“I’m not sure, but I don’t think so.” Shining replied. Celestia looked at her team for a moment before nodding and stepping out of the doorway with Shining.

“Tell me what you know.” Celestia said as they ascended the stairs of the watchtower their outpost was built around.

“We’re not quite sure why but there are a few spots that are starting to get similar, but it was the fountain that was first.” Shining explained, handing her a telescope when they reached the top. She quickly found the Fountain and saw that instead of it’s old pristine flow or it’s more recent sickly green was now a slightly glowing red.

“She’s preparing early...” Celestia said softly as she looked around and saw the small body of water in the park was similarly covered.

“What was that Princess?” Shining asked.

“I’m positive it’s Twilight. She’s starting to spread the antitoxin in her blood in the isolated bodies of water around the city. This should slowly absorb the Toxin, though once we figure out how to filter it from the water she can dilute the river which runs through the entire city.” Celestia explained.

“How close are you anyways?” Shining asked as she took the lens from her eye.

“We’ve managed to filter most of it out and eliminate its acidic properties, but there’s enough of it left to still make people sick if they tried drinking it. Her blood is strange, it has more elements and a different makeup than normal blood... I’ve got a secondary branch working on other properties it could hold.” Celestia said.

“I see. I should let you get back to that, I was afraid this new development wouldn’t bode well but it seems the opposite.” Shining said.

“Thank you for showing me Captain. If anything else major changes let me know.” Celestia said, handing the telescope back and turning to the doorway.

“She got hurt again, didn’t she.” Shining suddenly said before she left. Celestia sighed and turned to him.

“She asked me not to tell anyone unless they noticed it in the research logs, though Starswirl did most of it this time. She had a teleporting accident, but she’s replaced the limbs with biomechanical ones.” Celestia said.

“... Limbs?” Shining said.

“Don’t worry, you will most certainly be on the team I take with me as escort when we go to Twilight with a way to filter the blood out of the water. She can talk to you about it then, but I fear if I try to explain my mood will only dampen again.” Celestia said.

“I... Understand. Thank you.” Shining said. Celestia nodded and exited the room.
---
“You know, in what I remember this square looking in my time that fountain would look rather beautiful like that.” Starswirl said as they sat near the fountain in the city.

“I think it would too. I’m a bit exhausted now, I may not be low on blood but regenerating all of that so quickly is making me tired and hungry.” Twilight said, getting to her feet and cracking her back.

“I can only imagine. I hope they find a filter soon, I wish to see this place thriving again and to see you happy. What you’ve told me of your life before this I would like nothing more than to see it in action.” Starswirl said.

“You and me both buddy. Things won’t be exactly the same, but at least I would be able to relax and be glad I hear someone coming because after all of this they’d be a friend and not a Ghast trying to eat my guts.” Twilight said.

“These instincts you’ve acquired will take a bit getting used to not being needed, you know that right?” Starswirl said.

“Of course, but I’ve adapted instincts plenty of times. For example, when I was a little girl I developed instincts that helped me avoid other people. I got rid of those almost as soon as I arrived in Ponyville. Then there was that time when I turned sixteen I joined the mage guard for three years. We had a lot of action then so I was kind of experienced so I had to get rid of those kind of instincts. Stuff like that.” Twilight said.

“Well I hope it goes as well as then because the instincts you’ve developed could possibly ruin a friendship or hurt someone you care about.” Starswirl said.

“I know, and I won’t let that happen. It’s been a few hours and this area already seems to be a little thinner, I can’t wait until the toxin is all gone and the city revives.” Twilight said, looking up.

“Neither can I. We should get going now, I imagine some of our friendly neighbors would be interested in a glowing red fountain and you’re exhausted.” Starswirl said.

“You’re right. If I remember I found some younger wine my last foraging trip and I found a can of my favorite soup.” Twilight said as she got to her feet. As she extended her wings she looked over to the barrier rather suddenly.

“Do you sense something?” Starswirl asked.

“I sense a very familiar presence waiting just outside the barrier... Thinking back on who I’ve met in the past it kind of feels like my friends since I can definitely feel spike. If they prod it they’re calling me, but they might just be getting ready.” Twilight said as she shot into the air and slid her visor down and turned the optics on.

“What do you see?” Starswirl asked.

“I can see my brother, Spike, my friends and a group of Royal Guards with what looks like that thing I made for Spike... They’re either preparing to come help me or they’re preparing to come find me. They’re making a camp so I don’t think they’ll be coming until at least tomorrow.” Twilight said as she pushed her visor up again.

“Let’s hope they’re better trained than your assistant’s team.” Starswirl said as they turned towards the house.
---
“Twilight, I do believe that group of guards breached the barrier.” Starswirl said, waking Twilight up the next morning.

“I don’t feel a breach.” Twilight said, sitting up. Before Starswirl could answer there was a sound she recognized as a magical explosion and a building collapsing.

“You must have been in too deep a sleep to feel them passing through but they’re definitely in now.” Starswirl said.

“Let’s go then.” Twilight said. She quickly got dressed and left the house and rocketed into the air towards the column of smoke as she began charging the steam rifle/ cannon.
---
“Damnit there’s too many of them!” Shining yelled as he hid behind a riot shield as Luna and Celestia flung spells from their cover as unstable energy battered against the line of shields the other guards set up for the spellcasters to attack from safely.

“Shit there’s another flier coming in!” Someone yelled and prepared to fling a spell at the flier, but Spike stopped her.

“That’s not an enemy!” He exclaimed. Shocked, they all looked as a massive purple spike at least five feet long came crashing into one of the many spectres, impaling its head to the ground. The spike exploded to create a hail of smaller spike to impale everything in a well sized radius except the guards. Half of the creatures fell as the spikes evaporated and bled back towards the sky from where they came. Twilight used a burst of speed from her new modified steam thrusters to smash into the ground with her shield to create a shockwave that knocked all the ghasts off their feet.

Everyone stared in awe as Twilight gave them a friendly salute/wave with a smile under her mask before turning towards the recovering creatures and extending the Longsword blade as Starswirl swooped down in the form of a massive purple dragon.