Rarity eyed the mare next to her as they made their way down the ornate halls of the castle. The anger was etched into her features as she walked next to the guards who flanked them. Moonbow had cried her eyes out on the unicorn’s shoulders, and although the sadness remained, she could tell that rage began to replace it. A monster had killed her husband, and they were being summoned by Princess Celestia for some sort of emergency task. She shook her head at the thought of Moonbow being given something to do right now. It angered Rarity to think of the poor widow being forced into work for the crown so soon after Halberd’s murder. Rarity sighed deeply as she further reflected on the situation. Twilight had killed Halberd in cold blood and was currently rampaging through the castle. Not only did the group hold their collective breath while approaching every corner, but the more the fashion expert thought about it the more she realized that things would become complicated further. After all, she knew who the beast really was; She was Twilight Sparkle, a mare she once called a friend, and Rarity hadn’t told Moonbow that. What would happen once she talked to the princess? As much as Rarity didn’t want to think about it, due to their current circumstances, she had to. They were rapidly approaching the throne room doors. The unicorn couldn’t imagine what was happening on the other side of that entryway.

‘If all this does have to do with curing Twilight, then I have to make sure Princess Celestia knows who she is before she explains whatever it is we’ll be doing,’ she thought as they stood in front of the large golden doors.

“We’re here,” one of the guards said as the other two opened them.

As Moonbow and Rarity made their way inside, they each took in their surroundings. There were about two dozen unicorns gathered in small groups of three and four in various areas. They murmured to themselves as the Princesses stood in the center of the throne room. One of the windows on the side of the throne looked to be open as well, with what seemed to be a chariot with two pegasi guards at the ready. Rarity stopped as her gaze fell upon the telepods. She felt her chest tighten at the mere sight of the contraptions. They’d caused so much destruction and pain, yet they may very well hold the salvation for the beast that now stalked the palace. A beast she very well may have helped create. She felt a hoof on her shoulder, snapping her out of her daze.

“Are you alright, Rarity?” Moonbow inquired.

“Oh, yes…yes, I’m fine. Let’s go find the Princess,” she said.

“Can we have your attention please?” Luna announced, quieting the crowd.

‘No! I’ve got to step in! I can’t let Moonbow know!’ Rarity thought to herself as she ran up to the princesses.

“Wait, Princess Luna, before you begin, I have someone you should meet,” the unicorn announced hurriedly.

“Rarity, we do not have time for this! We need to…” she said before Rarity cut her off.

“Please, you need to meet her! I…I apologize for interrupting, but it this is important!” the fashion expert insisted.

“Very well, Rarity, who is it that you’d like me to meet?” the moon princess said, annoyance dripping from her tone.

“This is Moonbow. She’s…she’s Halberd’s wife,” she said.

“Halberd…” Luna whispered.

“You remember, don’t you? The royal guard who…saved me…” she answered.

The dark coated alicorn’s eyes widened as her memories of the discussion at the rendezvous point entered her mind. Looking into Rarity’s eyes, she was able to comprehend why the unicorn had insisted on telling her right away. Luna looked back at her sister, who wore a similar expression as her own. What were they going to do about this? They couldn’t possibly reveal their plan now, not to the grieving widow in front of them. Princess Celestia stepped forward, offering the mare a sympathetic look.

“Miss Moonbow, you have our most sincere condolences on your loss. Halberd was a fine soldier,” she said, bowing to the misty-eyed unicorn in front of her.

“Please, just tell me, were we summoned here to help kill the beast that took my husband away from me?!?” Moonbow questioned, a look of determination plastered onto her face.

Princess Celestia was at an impasse. She obviously had no intention of killing her own student, but at the same time, in order to save her, she needed every ounce of magic she could muster from around the castle. What would happen if she did correct her, and told her that they were here to try and cure Twilight rather than destroy her? She’d be forced into an impossible decision. If Moonbow refused, it could cost Twilight Sparkle her life, and Moonbow would be refusing a direct order from the princess, which could cause other problems that they didn’t have time for. Celestia closed her eyes and sighed. She’d have to do the only thing she could right now. She’d have to lie. She felt her stomach tighten at the very notion of lying to a poor mare who just lost her husband, but she couldn’t think of any other way out of this. Time was of the essence and she could no longer afford any delays. She opened her eyes, straightening up as she spoke.

“We need your help…and everyone else’s to…stop the…the monster that has terrorized our citizens. Can…can we count on you? Please?” she asked, bowing once again.

“Whatever you need from me, Princess. As long as that…that demon is destroyed, I’ll do whatever you need me to do!” she shouted as tears welled up in her eyes once again.

“Very well…please, everyone direct your attention to the telepod all the way to our left,” she said as she turned back around.

They all approached the throne area by where the sun princess had directed them. Celestia activated her magic as her horn began to glow. A small device on the side of the unit sprang to life.

“This is an artificial magic storage device. We believe that if we pool all of our magic together, then we can use the telepods to sa…to sanction the molecules of the…the beast. On my mark, please poor every ounce of power you have into the machine. We will do this in pairs, so, please find someone and form a line in front of the computer. Once your task is completed, Princess Luna will levitate you to a chariot that is waiting on the balcony to take you into Canterlot proper,” she explained.

“But…but princess, why are you sending us away?” one of the unicorn guards inquired.

“Without your magic, you’d be powerless to defend yourselves. Therefore, once your mission is done, you will be escorted safely into the city. Any more questions?” Celestia announced.

After a few seconds of silence, the unicorns began to partner up. The magical transfers didn’t take nearly as long as Princess Celestia had originally anticipated. Luckily, the pegasi team were able to find a landing point not far from the palace to the edge of the castle grounds for the spent unicorns to disappear into the city. As Rarity and Moonbow got closer and closer to the telepods for their turn, the fashion expert’s anxiety rose. She prayed with all her might that no one would mention the connection between Twilight Sparkle and the monster that killed Moonbow’s spouse. She found herself fighting gasps and startles at the murmuring that would occasionally arise in front of them. She just hoped Moonbow wouldn’t notice, and luckily for her, she didn’t. Just as they stepped up as the last pair, Rarity let out an audible sigh as she readied herself.

‘Alright. Let’s just get this done, so I can get Moonbow out of here,’ she thought to herself as they powered up their magic.

“Now, just aim your horns at the device, and let the magic flow from you. Please start out slowly, as we are dealing with a large amount of magic,” Princess Celestia instructed.

They both nodded as their horns sparked to life, two beams now streaking towards the telepod. After a few moments, the task was done and they both sighed, struggling to keep their balance for a moment. They could feel the weakness creep into their bones. The elder alicorn was right when she said that they’d be defenseless after the task.

‘I feel like I just pulled an all-nighter at the shop!’ she thought to herself.

She frowned as she thought back to the Carousel Boutique. She hadn’t thought about her home since she arrived. The fabrics, her bed, even the ringing of the bell above her door seemed a lifetime away. She wanted the memories back, however. The last few months had been stolen from her by heartache, betrayal, and insanity. She wanted it to be over. She snapped out of her daze as Princess Celestia moved towards the pair.

“You both did wonderfully. Moonbow, thank you once again for your assistance. I know this is hard for you, but, you have my utmost gratitude,” Princess Celestia stated, bowing slightly.

“Just…just please promise me that you’ll use my magic…our magic to kill that thing, your highness!” the widow answered with tears in her eyes.

The sun goddess’ eyelids became heavy as she frowned. She hated lying to the poor unicorn, but she had no choice. She had to be as diplomatic as possible in order to ensure the mare’s stability. A small smile forced itself onto her face as she approached Moonbow.

“We…we will do everything we can. I…I promise,” she said, her stomach tying in knots again.

As Moonbow walked towards Princess Luna to guide, Rarity hesitated. She wanted to leave more than anything. A few paces away was her salvation. If she just stepped onto the platform of the chariot, then in a few minutes, she’d be away from the castle, and away from the nightmare that stole her lover and her dignity. She’d be able to leave it all behind. But should she? She may have been fighting with her friends right now, but if she left, would she be abandoning them? The questions permeated her mind as Princess Celestia eyed her curiously.

“Rarity, you should get going too. We need to keep you safe, especially since most of your magic has been used up,” she said.

“But…but princess, should I? I…I mean, it’s just…Applejack, Fluttershy, they…they’re still here. What right do I have to leave and be safe while they have to stay?” she asked looking up at the alicorn.

Princess Celestia sighed. By the look in her eyes, Rarity wasn’t challenging her authority, she was genuinely asking her what she should do. The sun goddess understood what the unicorn meant. She and the rest of the elements of harmony had been through this together since it all started back on that horrid night. Forcing her to leave now could cause irreparable damage to her relationships with them. However, letting her stay was simply not practical. The safest place for her to be was here with her and Luna, but that would all change once they got Twilight into the throne room. As admirable as her bravery was, she’d just be in the way. She could get hurt or worse, and Celestia simply couldn’t allow that.

“Rarity, I’m sorry…” she began before the doors burst open revealing a Royal Guard galloping towards the group at breakneck speed.

“Your highness, your highness!” he shouted as he skidded to a halt in front of the white alicorn.

“What has happened?” Princess Celestia questioned, her worry increasing.

“Miss Twilight attacked the infirmary!” he said.

“Was anyone hurt?” she pressed.

“A stallion was gravely injured! He’s the brother of Miss Applejack!” he stated.

Princess Luna felt her heart stop as she dropped Moonbow onto the platform unceremoniously. She turned around her eyes wide with fear. She gingerly approached the guard, her stomach churning with each passing second.

“Did…did you say…” she stammered.

“Yes, Big Mackintosh, Miss Applejack’s brother! He tried to fight her off, and she hurt him! He’s being treated as we speak, Princess Luna!” he continued urgently.

Luna screamed as tears began to stream down her face. Time seemed to stop around her as she closed her eyes. How could this have happened? The infirmary was supposed to be safe! There were guards everywhere! She felt her heart beat inside her chest as her worry rose. She made a mad dash towards the doorway, blowing right past the guard. Every other concern fell away from her mind. She only had one thought now. She needed to make sure Big Mac was safe.

“LUNA, STOP!” Celestia shouted as she galloped after her sister.

Rarity paled at the news. Her eyes went wide as she collapsed where she was. Big Mac? Injured? It was unthinkable. He was the strongest stallion she’d ever known. For him to have been hurt by Twilight was maddening. She shut her eyes tight as tears fell to the floor beneath her. Everything was falling apart. It seemed like no matter what anyone did to end this insanity, the problems would just mount rather than extinguish.

‘What do I do?!? What do I do?!?’ the unicorn thought to herself, before a voice broke her away from her contemplation.

“Rarity?!? What’s wrong?!? Who is Twilight?!?” Moonbow asked.

Rarity gasped at the question. What should she say? She stood up slowly, buying herself time to come up with an answer. She couldn’t tell her the truth. Not now. She cleared her throat as she made up the best excuse she could.

“Oh, she’s a…a friend. She’s been…having issues lately. Psychological issues. It looks like she had an episode and attacked another friend of mine,” she answered.

“That’s horrible!” Moonbow exclaimed.

Rarity sighed. The way Moonbow looked at her made her feel horrible. She had wanted so much to help her. To be there for her, but how could she do that if she had to lie to her? She felt like she was being ripped apart by the decision. Go somewhere safe, and keep the lies going, or stay here in her friends’ time of need. Both were losing options. She thought about it, and finally made a choice. She sighed as she turned around.

“Look, I…I have to stay here. The stallion who was hurt is one of my friend’s siblings. I have to make sure he’s alright. Please, go without me. I’m sure the princess will contact you once it’s safe,” Rarity explained.

“Miss Rarity, our orders are to…” one of the pegasi guards began before she cut him off.

“Take Moonbow to the city! I’m staying, and that’s final!” she shouted as she ran towards the throne room doors.

-

“Here, press this against your face,” Nurse Redheart whispered as she gently lifted the ice pack to Pinkie Pie’s cheek.

The earth mare only grunted in response, as she eyed the pegasus on the other side of the room. They were both brought to the infirmary for treatment after their fight. However, due to the immense activity going on around the makeshift hospital, the two former elements were forced to share a room while Nurse Redheart treated their injuries. Neither of them said a word while they were being taken care of. The only sounds echoing through the room were the occasional hisses of the patients as different antiseptics and ointments were administered to their various cuts and bruises. They tried to look each other in the eye, but the medical professional was often in their way. When Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie would catch a glimpse of each other, the glares they traded only served to heighten the tension in the room. Nurse Redheart was a consummate professional. She only spoke when she needed to give the mares directions regarding their treatment. It was obvious that something was going on, as she easily picked up on the scowls being slung back and forth. That and the fact that they were brought in separately was another clue that a fight had erupted between the two. She sighed as she put a roll of gauze on a small tray at end of the bed.

“Well, that should do it. You only have a few minor cuts and scrapes, nothing to be worried about. Pinkie Pie, there is a little swelling, but as long as you keep that ice pack on your cheek, you’ll be fine. Look, I…I have to go. Something happened, before you were brought in and I need to go see if any of the doctors need me. Just…be safe, alright? There are guards posted outside if you need anything. Get some rest,” she said as she trotted out the door.

Neither of them said anything as they watched the medical professional exit the infirmary room. They simply continued to eye each other warily. Eventually, they began looking around their chamber in silence, each of them growing bored with the stand-off. Pinkie Pie leaned her back against the wall while gingerly adjusting the ice pack, wincing slightly at the sting. Rainbow Dash cleared her throat, shifting slightly as she began to fiddle with one of her bandages. She was beginning to hate the silence. It made her feel uneasy in an already tense situation. She knew she was stubborn, but she also knew how stubborn Pinkie Pie could be. The pegasus was still angry, however, and she couldn’t help hiding it anymore. She coughed as she spoke up.

“How’s your cheek?” she murmured under her breath.

“You should know, Rainbow Dash! You’re the one who hit me!” Pinkie Pie shouted back.

“Oh yeah?!? And just why did I hit you, huh?!?” the young flyer countered, leaping off of her stool, trotting towards the party planner.

“I’ll tell you why! It’s because you’re nothing but a hateful coward!” she retorted.

Rainbow Dash’s eyes narrowed at the comment. She wanted nothing more than to leap at the earth pony and throttle her. She breathed deep and relaxed however. If there was one thing she’d learned over the past month or so training with Princess Luna, it was patience. Fighting got them here, and it wasn’t going to get them out. So, as much as she wanted to pummel Pinkie Pie, she decided against it. She straightened up, walking towards the other side of the room.

“Oh? And how do you figure that?!?” she questioned.

“It’s simple! You hate Twilight and since I’m supporting her, you hate me! And you’re a coward, because I think you want her dead!” she accused.

“What the hay do you mean by that, Pinkie?!?” Rainbow Dash shouted in frustration.

“You aren’t scared of Twilight the way she is now! You’re just scared that if she is cured, that she’ll be like the old Twilight again and you’ll have to forgive her! And you don’t want to do that! You’re sick, Rainbow Dash!” she yelled.

“Are you demented?!? Look around you, Pinkie Pie! You keep calling her Twilight! News flash: SHE’S NOT TWILIGHT ANYMORE! She’s a monster that is killing royal guards, and she’s trying to kill us, maybe even the princesses! And you know what? I AM scared, ok? If anyone is the coward here, it’s you!” Rainbow Dash bellowed.

“Wh…what?!? How am I a coward?!? I’m the ONLY one in Twilight’s corner right now!” Pinkie Pie responded.

“You know what, Pinkie?!? I learned a heck of a lot while working with Princess Luna, and you know what she said?!? She said that a true coward is the one who feels fear, who knows what’s going on, but doesn’t admit it to themselves! That’s you, Pinkie!” the pegasus countered.

“You don’t think I know what’s going on?!? OF COURSE I KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON!” the earth mare screamed while turning away from her fellow element, tears freely flowing down her cheeks.

Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened in confusion. She didn’t know what to make of Pinkie Pie’s sudden change in demeanor. She took a few steps forward before speaking again.

“Wh…what do you…” she began before the party pony cut her off.

“You…you really think I’m that stupid? You really think I don’t know that Twilight’s probably not going to live to see tomorrow? Of course I know that! Either the transformation kills her or the princesses will! I already know all of that!” she said between sniffles.

“But…then why…” Rainbow Dash started again before the mare continued.

“Because, if I don’t then who will? Someone has to have hope, Rainbow Dash, even…even if everything seems hopeless. Twilight was my best friend, and I don’t care what happens to her, nothing will change that as long as she’s in this world, no matter what form she takes! If…if I don’t then…” she stammered.

“Then it becomes real,” the pegasus whispered.

“What?” Pinkie Pie asked softly.

“It becomes real, right? All the hopelessness, Twilight dying, everything you just said. If…if you give up your hope then what’s happening right in front of you becomes reality. Look, I get that, but here’s what you’re not getting. Reality exists, whether we want it to or not. We…we can’t run away from it, or pretend it doesn’t exist, because…because it’ll still be there. That’s why they call it reality,” Rainbow Dash said.

Pinkie Pie turned around to look at Rainbow Dash. The pegasus’ eyes went wide again at the look of sheer hurt she received from Pinkie Pie. All of the pain and sadness welled up inside the earth mare. She wanted so badly to keep hope alive for Twilight Sparkle. She willed with every inch of herself that things would get better, but she couldn’t argue with the cold hard facts that the young flyer presented, and that infuriated her. She was right. Ponies were getting hurt, even dying. Fluttershy was in a hospital room down the hall all because of Twilight’s actions. She closed her eyes, crying softly to herself, as she remembered Discord’s parting words.

‘Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it,’ echoed through her mind.

“What the hay is going on out there?” Rainbow Dash said, snapping the earth pony away from her musings.

The pegasus poked her head out of the doorway, looking left and right. She’d heard activity from a room not far from their own. She cleared her throat, trying to capture the attention of a Royal Guard who was right outside the entryway.

“Um, excuse me sir, but, what’s going on out there? Did something happen?” she asked.

“Well, Miss Dash, I don’t know all the details, but apparently Miss Twilight was here and attacked one of the rooms. A stallion was reported to have been gravely injured,” he explained.

“Geez, another guard?” Rainbow Dash muttered dejectedly.

“Actually, I believe it was a civilian. A large stallion with a red coat. The princesses seemed quite disturbed, especially Princess Luna. They ran past us not too long ago with a white unicorn, and are now in the room with another mare. Miss Applejack, I believe?” he said.

“Big Mac!” the pegasus gasped, turning back into the room.

“Pinkie Pie, we gotta go! Big Mac’s been hurt! Real bad!” she shouted with tears forming in her eyes.

“Wh…what?!?” the earth mare stammered.

They both ran out of the room, demanding the location from the guard. It was right down the hallway. They took off down the corridor, forgetting about their fight.

‘Please, please be okay!’ Rainbow Dash’s mind screamed.

-

Applejack pulled her knees closer to her chest as she sobbed. She’d been in hysterics since she ran out of Fluttershy’s room. It felt surreal watching the doctors and nurses go to work on her brother. She couldn’t understand the technical jargon, and even when one of the nurses tried to give her a quick explanation, she only remembered a few words. ‘Staples’ and ‘swelling’ were among them, but she couldn’t help but stare at her sibling lying helpless on the hospital bed hooked up to machines with a bandage around his head. Seeing the bloody gauze and instruments falling to the ground and being put back on the tray not only nauseated her, but increased her anxiety exponentially. She’d never seen anything like that before, and the fact that it was happening to her brother was something her psyche couldn’t take. Once the nurses and doctors left, Applejack finally reached her breaking point. She’d been through the trauma of watching her best friend turn herself into a beast, beat her and her other friends, and then try to kill her and the rest of them. She’d come here and endured the psychological pain of the aftermath. Nightmares that shook her soul, the very smell of food making her physically sick, tremors and panic attacks, shedding tears as those memories haunted her every day and night for months on end. Now, there was nothing she could do, other than wait and see if the stallion would wake up. She always thought her worst fear was Twilight’s monstrous form coming for her, and while that did scare her, she thought back to the dream she had the night before Twilight came back. Applejack always had strong bonds with her family, and that is what she was truly afraid of. She was afraid that Twilight would go after her kin, just like she threatened to all those months ago. The core of that fear was that she was powerless to stop her. She’d felt Twilight’s strength before, and she was just as strong, if not stronger now. If she wanted to, she could come right back in the room and finish what she started, and there would be nothing Applejack could do about it. She couldn’t take it anymore. She collapsed and rolled to the far corner of the room screaming into her chest, her fur matting with fresh tears. Her wailing was so loud she didn’t even hear the princesses and Rarity enter the room.

“Applejack, what happened?!?” Princess Luna asked as she stopped short in front of the bed containing Big Mac’s unconscious form.

Flanked by Rarity and Princess Celestia, they all turned towards the crying mare in the corner. Their hearts broke at the sight, as Princess Celestia and Rarity were by her side in an instant. The royal alicorn attempted to wrap the young mare in one of her wings, but the sudden physical contact startled the farmer as she screamed and shuffled away, her back slamming into Rarity. They both attempted to calm her down.

“Shh, shh, it’s alright, Applejack, we’re here,” Celestia whispered as she and the unicorn cradled the sobbing earth pony.

The two mares immediately hugged the crying farmer as she buried her face into the monarch’s chest, screaming at the top of her lungs. They could feel her body shiver as it was wracked with sobs. She was trying to speak, but they couldn’t make anything out due to her incoherent wailing. Celestia began cradling the young mare, rocking her like a foal and continuing to whisper words of comfort into her ear. Rarity couldn’t help but tear up as well, but did her best to keep her emotions in check. She knew that if she broke down now, it would only exacerbate Applejack’s current condition. Just as Applejack began to calm down, a voice startled them all. One of the doctors cleared his throat trying to get everyone’s attention.

“Forgive me for not exchanging pleasantries, Princess, but time is of the essence,” he said while checking the monitors connected to the injured stallion.

“What happened here?!?” Princess Celestia demanded.

“I came in on the tail end, but it seems that Miss Twilight threw Big Macintosh across the room, slamming his head against the far wall. The impact was immense. He’s lucky to be alive. I’d hate to think of what would have happened had this not occurred within a medical facility,” he answered.

“What is the prognosis?!?” Luna barked.

“He’s suffered major head trauma. He’s stabilized for now, but that could change in a heartbeat. I won’t lie to you, for the next twenty-four hours it’s going to be touch and go. We’ve done what we can for him, but please understand, this isn’t an actual hospital, and now that he is stable, he should be transferred to an actual medical facility as soon as possible,” he explained while looking over the farmer’s medical chart.

Princess Luna’s eyes narrowed at the news. She stared at Big Mac as Celestia and Rarity continued to comfort Applejack. It was taking every ounce of will power the princess of the night had not to scream and explode with magic. As she watched the subtle rise and fall of his chest, she was reminded of the wonderful times they spent together. She reminisced about how calming it was for her to just watch him sleep and forget everything else in the world. She loved him. Yet now, she may lose him. It wasn’t something she was willing to stand for. She knew he was a fighter, and as tough as they come, but seeing him this vulnerable frightened her. That fear turned to anger the more seconds that past. She needed to talk to her sister.

“Tia…outside. Now!” she said forcefully.

“Wh…what? Luna, I don’t think we should be leaving…” she started before her sibling cut her off.

“HALLWAY! NOW!” she screamed, as she turned marching out the door.

The three mares on the ground started wide-eyed at the princess as she exited the room. The elder alicorn’s jaw clenched at the reaction of her sister. She pulled Applejack into one more hug before taking her leave.

“Don’t worry. We will do everything we can for him. He’s very strong and he will get through this,” she said.

Applejack just nodded, still quietly sobbing. As Celestia stood, she turned to walk out the door after her sister when she stopped for a moment, turning her neck towards the unicorn now hugging the farm mare.

“Rarity, stay here and take care of her,” she stated evenly.

“Of course, Princess,” Rarity whispered, pulling the earth pony closer to her.

Princess Celestia nodded as she turned around to exit the chamber. She found her sister stomping swiftly down the hallway. The elder alicorn quickly caught up with her.

“Luna, talk to me,” she said worriedly.

Once they were down the corridor, away from the infirmary, Luna turned around to face her sibling. Celestia gasped at the sight. Luna’s eyes told her everything. They were the same eyes she was greeted with over a thousand years ago not long before her transformation into Nightmare Moon. They were filled with anger, sadness, and hatred. The moon princess straightened up before addressing her kin.

“This has gone on long enough! Our soldiers have been hurt, maimed and killed! And now civilians are getting in harm’s way! I’m stopping her, Tia! I don’t care if she’s your student! I don’t care that she has friends or a family! I’m going to find her and I’m going to end this!” she shouted baring her teeth like a wolf.

“Wh…what do you mean, Luna?!?” Celestia inquired.

“You know exactly what it means!” the younger mare answered.

“Luna, no. I will not allow you to kill my student. No matter what she may look like on the outside that is still Twilight Sparkle, and I will save her, no matter what. She can’t help what she’s doing, and…” she continued before her sibling cut her off.

“Oh, is that what you’re going to tell Halberd’s family?!? What about Applejack?!? Are you going to tell her that it’s not Twilight’s fault that her brother is lying in a hospital bed holding on by a thread because she can’t control herself?!? Look, I know how much she means to you, so I’ll do it,” she shouted before turning around and walking away from her sister.

“Luna, stop it! I understand you’re upset! Seeing Big Mac lying there must have been horrible for you, but you can’t use it as an excuse to let your emotions run wild! You’re a princess! We have to be better than that!” she countered.

“What?!? You…you of all ponies have the gall to lecture me on how to control my emotions?!? With how you’ve acted over the past weeks?!? How dare you!” she yelled, turning back around to meet her sister’s face.

“You misunderstand me, Luna. I…I was wrong! Don’t you see?!? You were the one who kept telling me that my emotions were getting the best of me and they were! When…when we had that big argument, the one where I was yelling at the guards, I was yelling at them for bringing me reports about an animal that was seen going through the trash looking for food. After I talked to Twilight, I found out it actually was her! If…if I’d listened to them…and to you sooner, then…” she stammered.

“This is different!” Luna insisted.

“No, it’s not, Luna. What do you think a battle like this would prove? What repercussions do you think we’d endure? Twilight’s power rivals our own, sister. A battle between us would…” she began again before she heard a sniffle emanate from her sibling.

“We had a fight, Celestia. Don’t you get it? The last time I talked to him, we had an argument! He…he was going to take Applejack and go home! We…I didn’t even know what we were when it ended. I didn’t know what we had, and now…now I may never know, and….and it hurts, Tia! I…I can’t stand it!” she cried.

The next few minutes passed in silence as the two mares simply stared at the floor. Neither of them could say anything. This whole nightmare had reached its fever pitch, and they had to make a decision. They each carefully examined the other’s points, all of which were valid. Finally, Luna spoke, once again straightening up to her full regal height.

“Do…do you have enough magic saved for the spell?” she asked.

“Yes…yes, I believe I do. Now we just need to find a way to get Twilight into the throne room. I can’t imagine that would be an easy task, but if we find her, we may be able to at least steer her towards it. If I’m waiting there for her, then between the two of us, we should be able to use the spell or at least get her into the pod with the boosted power unit,” Celestia explained.

Luna’s jaw clenched as she stepped forward. Her muzzle came within inches of her elder sister as her eyes narrowed.

“Very well then. I will lead the search for Twilight, and I will confront her myself. But, understand this now. The only reason I will not kill her outright is because you are my sister. I will do whatever I can to get her into the throne room, but mark my words, Celestia, if I have to, if she leaves me no other choice, I will no longer hesitate to end her life, and may the stars themselves have mercy on whoever gets in my way, because I surely won’t. Have I made myself clear?” she said, venom dripping from her tone.

She didn’t wait for her sibling’s answer as she turned and walked away. Celestia didn’t try to stop her. She was still absorbing her sister’s words. Once she was out of sight, the elder alicorn’s head drooped as tears dropped from her eyes.

“Crystal,” she whispered.

-

The ten soldiers that entered the lounge area stood at attention once they got in formation. Princess Luna stood before them, a look of determination on her face. She stepped forward, her hooves clacking against the stone floor the only sound echoing throughout the room. The soldiers continued to stand like statues, not moving until ordered.

“The time has come to take back our castle from the beast. I understand that everyone already knows the identity of the monster that is currently roaming the hallways of my sister’s palace. Rest assured, she will be stopped today. You need not be worried about conflict of duty. You are to be a scouting party. I do not want you to make any direct contact with Twilight Sparkle. I merely want you to report on her whereabouts. Once a pattern is established and we get a working route in order, then I shall be the one to confront her,” she said evenly.

They all saluted as Luna made her way to the exit.

“Fall in behind me. Tonight, Twilight Sparkle will feel the fury of an alicorn,”she stated, her eyes narrowing.

-

Happy New Year, everyone!! I hope everyone had a good holiday! Well, here is the next chapter, and I hope everyone enjoys it!