---------- Melody’s Tale - Return Part 1 ----------

Southbay wasn’t even a full day’s flight away from their home. Hurricane carried them almost straight west, though Melody didn’t miss the chance to peer over the edge of his wings at the ground below. They passed over what looked to be a bog of sorts. A brown haze hung over the ground. She had heard tales from her parents about this place. The haze was sulfur, and nothing lived there. It was a forsaken place. But shortly after, they passed it and arrived outside of a sprawling city. Southbay sat on the edge of the ocean, right where the southern tip of the Everfree forest met the sea, in a place called ‘Daggerpoint Pass.’ The area was dominated by two large, intimidating peaks, and if legend told, the only safe passage into the shadow lands was between the two. But that myth was long dead. Since then, the mountains played host to a luxury ski resort, making Southbay a bit of a tourist destination. Coupled with a long stretch of fine sand east of the city and a relatively temperate climate, Southbay was a popular place to live.

It was also a booming fish city, and accounted for almost all of Equestria’s seafood intake. That was why it was important to the war effort. Fish was a valuable food in times of war, so there were plenty of reasons to keep Southbay protected, not to mention its strategic position. Backed against the sea with only two angles to attack from, both easily defensible, made Southbay an effective bastion against invading forces.

Hurricane’s arrival sparked fresh panic in the city streets. Melody could hear their screams all the way from atop the massive roc’s back. When they landed, she all but fell off of his back, only to be promptly surrounded by a ring of guards. They seemed to be torn between staring at either her and Verse or Hurricane. One of the guards closed his gaping jaw and slowly approached them.

“You’re not… Melody and Verse, are you?”

“Hmm? Oh, no, we’re just a couple of teenagers who’ve taken to riding a Roc everywhere we go.” Verse didn’t appear to have lost his wit, and a soft chuckle radiated outwards through the guards. Even Hurricane joined in. Melody’s tired smile relaxed the guard even further.

“We’d like to see our mother, if that’s possible.” She rubbed the bridge of her nose tiredly. The flight from their home had been sleepless. She wasn’t sure if she was thankful for that or not.

“Right this way,” The guard swept his arm out, indicating they should follow. Melody and Verse fell into step behind him, while Hurricane settled to the ground.

”I’ll remain here, children. I actually think I’m going to enjoy your mother’s reaction. From a safe distance.” Melody waved over her shoulder at the gigantic god, giving him one last smile before they slipped into the back seat of a car. Southbay was a large city, but after Fillydelphia and Canterlot, she couldn’t compare it in scope. It appeared to be rather well-organized, as well. Where Fillydelphia’s districts seemed to run together one into the other, all of Southbay’s were divided evenly between a basic highway system.

The business and residential districts sat side-by-side on the northern edge of the city, while the industrial and entertainment quarters occupied the southern half, reaching all the way to the shore. The two peaks loomed above them to the north-west, their tops lost in the late-day shadow. It was past sunset, and Melody wondered how much of the city was asleep, and how much was awake with the gossip that they had returned.

One party, in particular, she was hoping fell into the latter. After a short ten-minute drive, the car stopped somewhere in the business district, and they found themselves in front of a large, important-looking building. Their escort assured them this was the temporary headquarters and capitol for Equestria. Twilight and the other elements had made their home here, along with Judicia and Discord. Having eight gods in the city must have been rather hectic, considering one of them was intent on wreaking as much mayhem as possible. Still, as Verse and Melody ascended the short flight of stairs towards the large double doors, she felt an odd sense of calm and reassurance.

On the outside, the building appeared dark and cool, constructed mostly of granite and brick. The entrance was rimmed with a set of four columns stretching upwards to support a large, heavy awning. This must be some sort of government building during normal times. Also, since it was in the north-eastern most quarter, it afforded closeness to the frontlines of any conflict that would break out. Roving patrols of four guards patrolled the exterior, and the main doors were flanked by another six guards, three to each side. They barely even glanced at Melody and Verse as they approached.

Inside, things appeared to be orderly. It was quiet this late into the evening. A small group of guards trudged past, hardly giving them a second glance. A receptionist of sorts appeared to be writing behind a desk, and their guard all but ignored her as he led them up a marble staircase to the second floor. They didn’t see anyone else until the guard deposited them at the door to an office that had hastily been re-labeled ‘Twilight Sparkle.’

“If she’s awake, which she most likely is, she’ll be inside. Unless she’s found out your arrival using magic, I doubt she even knows you’re here.”

“Thank you, sir.” Melody smiled at the man, while Verse shook his hand.

“My pleasure. This’ll be a story to tell my grandchildren one day.” He returned the smile and let them be. Verse and Melody took a deep breath and faced one another.

“Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.” They nodded at one another before slowly pushing the door open.

Nothing in the world could have prepared Melody for that. Twilight sat behind a cluttered desk stacked high with papers and books, her head lowered over some scroll she was scribbling furiously on. As soon as the door opened, though, Melody and Verse were gripped in her power. She didn’t even look up from her scroll. Instead, she held Verse and Melody in front of her desk, still scribbling away, while the two fought at the bonds that held them. Melody couldn’t do anything. Her magic was sealed away as if she were wearing the same shackles she had been back in Nest. Beside her, Verse was struggling similarly. Neither of them, it seemed, would be breaking free of the magical grip any time soon. She couldn’t even talk properly. Instead, she just had to stand there, muscles tense, watching her mother heartlessly writing whatever it was she was writing on the scroll.

After almost an eternity, she spoke. “She missed you, you know.” Twilight’s tone was cold and even. Melody would have ventured as far as to call it heartless. A pressure released near her mouth, and she drew a shuddering breath. She could speak again.

“W-who?”

“Twilight.” That cold, even statement made Melody freeze again. Twilight was sitting right in front of her. So what could she mean?

“I don’t-“

“Twilight’s shut herself away.” Twilight, or at least, Twilight’s body, finally looked up from the scroll before her. Melody and Verse glanced at one another as their mother fixed them with a stranger’s eyes. There was no love or compassion in that gaze. Only cold, heartless decisiveness. “As did the one formerly called Liliana. And Applejack. And Rainbow Dash.” Twilight leaned forward, tenting her fingers on the desk between them. “They went into a sort of sleep. Let their predecessors have control of their body. ‘Twilight’ is dead. I have taken her place. You may call me Ephemira.” Twilight’s even gaze slid between Verse and Melody several times before she spoke again.

“In your absence, the war effort has suffered. Chrysalis occupies Canterlot and is beginning to vie for Fillydelphia, Stalliongrad, and even Eyriewatch. The guard is split. Half of them defected and went to Canterlot to re-take their homes. Chrysalis executed what hostages she had, and left their bodies in the fields for all to see. As soon as Twilight and the other elements saw what Chrysalis had done to your bodies, they… Well.” Ephemira slowly rose from her desk. “They went to sleep.”

Melody could feel her heart break. Her mothers and all of her friends had seen her dead body hanging from the Canterlot ramparts. They were as good as gone. Replaced instead by their respective elements, Melody’s parents were nowhere to be found. She would find no sympathy here. Indeed, Twilight slipped around her desk and behind them both. She heard a door open and Ephemira speaking.

“Guard! Come here. And bring the magi shackles.” Still held in her grip, Melody and Verse could do nothing. After a few moments, a guard came trotting up to the door, the shackles jingling in his hands. “I’ve questioned the Children of Love and discovered they were directly responsible for Celestia and Luna’s downfall, and the enemy capture if Canterlot. Detain them immediately, on account of High Treason.” The guard snapped to salute and came into view before Melody and Verse. Her arms were released for half a moment, only to allow the guard time to slap the shackles on her. She felt the core of her power shut off immediately. Beside her, Verse was similarly bound. The magical field holding them released, and both of them collapsed on exhausted legs.

“Take them to the prison, and isolate them both. I don’t want them anywhere near each other until I’ve had a chance to question them more thoroughly. Then inform the other elements. Now that we know what happened to Celestia and Luna, we might be able to save them.”

“Yes, ma’am!” The guard saluted before hauling both Melody and Verse to their feet. With a rough shove, he pushed them towards the door. Melody got one last chance to shoot an angry glare at Ephemira before the door closed behind them. After that, it was solemn silence. Verse was paired with another two guards, while a fourth joined the first. They were separated, Melody with her two guards and Verse with his. They weren’t even carried the same way. Melody felt the strength leave her halfway out of the building. The two guards hauled her outside unceremoniously, her feet dragging along the pavement.

Outside, there was a small park opposite the government building. Hurricane was there, alongside two other figures. From a distance, and through the haze of exhaustion, Melody thought she saw glowing wings and a strong figure. But Hurricane drew her attention the most. His massive head reared up, and turned towards her. She could hear him speaking even from where she stood.

”Ladies. Look. It’s Melody. Melody! What’s happening?” Much to her surprise, the two figures moved between Hurricane and Melody. She could hear the conversation from where she was being dragged along.

“This is Ephemira’s jurisdiction, Hurricane. We thank you for returning the Children of Love to us, but this is where your involvement ends.”

“We can’t let you interfere with Ephemira and Judicia’s justice.” Hurricane stood opposite Melody from the two intimidating figures, but didn’t move. His amber eyes flickered between them and Melody as she was hauled towards a waiting van. After a few long, tense moments, he seemed to relax.

”I’m sorry, Melody. The elements are right. My jurisdiction is the sky and the weather. I have no say in what they choose to do with you. I am sorry.”

Melody was just barely able to mouth the words ‘I forgive you’ before she was unceremoniously thrown into the back of the van. She grunted with the impact, but felt more saddened at the loss of everything she thought was safe and true. Twilight, Lily, even Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy, they were all lost to her. The one place left in the world she and Verse thought they might find some solace, and instead, they had found betrayal.

Then again, Melody deserved little else. As the van rolled away, she curled up on the floor and closed her eyes. Sleep came, but with it came the nightmares.

-----------

This is madness. They’re my children!

And you are not yourself. Not anymore, Twilight. You’re host to something far greater than familial bonds.

You can’t do this. I won’t let you.

Twilight was fighting with herself. Both literally and mentally. The battle for her mind had started the instant Melody and Verse entered the office. She had thought them dead. She figured the best course of action would have been to let Ephemira have control of her body. She would do what was best for Equestria. She would have fixed the problem. Instead, Ephemira had detained both her children. Now, she was alone in her office, fighting against herself. Twilight needed control of her body back. She had to save her children!

Is she fighting you, Ephemira?

No more than usual. I can handle this. The other elements began to re-join the link one at a time, each of them having followed Twilight’s example in letting their counterparts take over their bodies. Even Lily surrendered to her element of Generosity. Twilight was alone against Ephemira, trying to wrest control of her body back.

In the end, she failed. It took maybe an hour of her fighting the bonds of the goddess, but in the end she was subdued. Defeated, Twilight returned back into the corner of her own mind, sulking. She had to do something, to help Melody and Verse. She thought them dead the entire past month. Seeing them again had filled her with hope and excitement. She wanted nothing more than to rush to them, to hold them close and calm them. They both looked in pain, like they hadn’t slept for the entire month their friends had mourned their passing.

Instead, she got to watch as the guards hauled her children off in cuffs. What Ephemira planned for them was beyond her. Twilight could speak with her other half, but she couldn’t tell what the goddess was thinking. It seemed Ephemira couldn’t tell her thoughts either. Elsewise, all her best-laid plans would have been foiled before she put them into motion. Not that they weren’t thwarted anyways. No matter what spells Twilight tried to cast on herself from within her own mind, she couldn’t wrest control of her body back. Idly, she wondered if the other elements were having as hard a time of it as she was.

Twilight had given herself a home in her mind. It was not unlike the plain white surface she was familiar with. It was a place she went to, where she could imagine herself having a corporeal form. Unlike the place she went to visit the other elements, though, this place was her own. It took the form of her old library home back in Ponyville. The smell of dust and books was just as she remembered it, but instead of her collection, Twilight’s library took the shape of all the things she and Ephemira knew. Their shared knowledge of magic, it seemed, was still not lost to her. So Twilight retreated to her library, pacing, reading, searching.

The only difference between this time and the last few months were the tears.

’They’re alive. At least I have that much.’

-----------

Melody’s cell was less-than-forgiving. She didn’t have a window or a clock, so she didn’t know what time of day it was. She was given two meals a day, of which she ate little. Her exhausted body could hardly handle walking, let alone eating the hard, cold bread and thick gruel she was given. The water was a blessing, though. She drank each small cup they gave her thirstily, and accepted any seconds they offered.

Her captors were either deaf or chose to ignore her. Each plea she made for news about the war, about Canterlot, her parents, or anything else was met with silence. Sometimes a reproachful glare, but mostly silence. Meanwhile, Melody was left alone to her own thoughts. She lost track of the nights and days. She took sleep when it would come to her, but spent the rest of the time curled up on her cot. It was a living nightmare. Each time she closed her eyes, Chrysalis stalked just underneath the thin layer of consciousness she managed to cling to. Whenever she would slip into the dream, her torturer would emerge, with cold green eyes and an evil laugh.

When she was awake, Melody was left to her own devices. The shackles chafed her wrists and kept her from practicing any magic. The cold grey walls of her cell kept her from thinking about anything other than the things she had done.

In her sleep, Melody saw Chrysalis.

But in her waking hours, she saw Celestia and Luna. She saw their eyes, and the pain of betrayal.

If Melody had to be honest with herself, she didn’t know which was worse.

It might have been a year or maybe twelve before they retrieved her from her cell. One day, very unceremoniously, she was hauled to her feet and dragged out into a long, grey hallway. She was led into a room with a single table and two chairs. She was sat in one with a cup of water in front of her. She drank greedily, but was left alone after that. At least this room was different. What day was it? How long had she been imprisoned? Those questions and more plagued her as she sat in the chair.

Much to her surprise, Ephemira entered the room. Before Melody could react, Ephemira took the chair opposite her, crossing her legs and arms as she leaned back. They sat like that in complete silence for a long while, Ephemira staring her down, Melody feeling almost like she were in a dream. After another eternity of waiting, Ephemira finally spoke.

“Why.”

“What?”

“Why did you do it? Why did you put Celestia and Luna to sleep? Why did you hand Canterlot over to Chrysalis?” Ephemira’s voice was wracked with pain and conflict. Melody wasn’t too tired to hear how torn she was. Melody covered her face with her hands and began to recollect what she could.

“She made a threat. If we didn’t, she’d repeat Baltimare.” Melody began to recall everything with more and more clarity. “She… She said she was dying. But she knew how to stop it. It was the same reason she tried to take over Canterlot in the first place. She needed more love for her changelings to stop changing into the primes. If she… If she didn’t get Canterlot, she would do her best to kill as many people as possible before her magic gave out. Before she lost control of the horde. Then afterwards, the primes would ravage everything around them until the new queen or king was decided. She was going to burn the world, Twilight. We had to. We had to give her Canterlot.”

“I’m no longer Twilight.” Ephemira spoke quietly, but she didn’t address Melody’s explanation. Instead, she sat opposite Melody, a permanent frown painted across her face. She was silent again, leaving Melody alone with her thoughts. Just before the tears began, Ephemira spoke again. “You had your reasons, I’ll give you that. But why did you have to put Celestia and Luna to sleep?”

“It was their time.” Melody began to feel something within herself. Something she hadn’t felt in a long, long time. Something almost foreign to her. It was righteousness. “Celestia and Luna needed to sleep. Their strength was flagging day by day. You know it. You felt it. Back when you were Twilight.” Ephemira didn’t say anything, but the look that crossed her eyes was all the answer Melody needed. She leaned forward, tapping the table. “Celestia and Luna needed to sleep. That we put them to sleep before allowing Chrysalis to take over Canterlot only helped the transition. Tell me, Ephemira, how many soliders were lost in the transition?”

“I hardly think that’s-“

“How many.” Melody cut her off, her expression dark. Ephemira stopped speaking, looking at Melody for a few more moments. With a sigh, she rubbed the bridge of her nose.

“Only a small force resisted at first. Of the twelve thousand left in Canterlot at the time of the invasion, only twelve perished. The rest laid down their arms and were accepted into captivity without incident.”

“And how many died when the guard defected and tried to re-take the city?” That touched a nerve. Melody’s question made Epehemira glare at her. Melody could feel a ripple of power in the room. If Ephemira had a temper problem, Melody was about to be the brunt of it.

“Half of our force defected and left Southbay to go attack Canterlot. Chrysalis executed the twelve thousand captives she had, and decimated our forces in open combat. They were out-numbered and out-positioned. All three hundred eighty thousand died in a four-day campaign. Chrysalis lost maybe half that number.”

“You see,” Melody slowly stood from her chair. Ephemira stiffened, but didn’t move. “I have cost Equestria less lives than you and yours.”

“The guard defected because you let them invade-“

“No, the guard defected because Rainbow Dash couldn’t keep them loyal.” Melody countered. “Or was that even Rainbow Dash? When did Chrysalis reveal our bodies? When did you and the other elements take over their host bodies?”

“… I don’t-“

“WHEN?!” Melody slammed the table. Ephemira jumped, but answered shortly.

“Just before the guard defected. Maybe a day.”

“Hmm. I wonder,” Melody straightened herself. “Who was to really blame for the guard’s defection, then? Rainbow Dash let her body be taken over by the element of loyalty. But how loyal were those soldiers to their new commander? You see, ‘Ephemira,’” Melody spat the word, glaring at the goddess in her mother’s body as she took her seat again. “I cost less lives than you and your elements. I’m beginning to wonder if reviving you wasn’t a mistake in the first place.”

“Melody, we-“

“Enough.” Melody sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “I don’t want to hear your excuses, Ephemira. My brother and I revived you, and the rest of the elements. Your actions are our responsibility. You’ve saddled us with a terrible burden, Ephemira. The burden of so many lives lost. As if we hadn’t lost enough with this terrible war in the first place. You see,” Melody looked back at Ephemira. “If Chrysalis had been allowed to take Canterlot in the first place, all those years ago, she’d have had enough love to fuel the horde for… Who knows how long? We might have struck a balance with her. We could have found peace again. Instead, you stubbornly kept her from the world’s greatest source of love, and in doing so, drove her to desperation. She’s just trying to survive, because she knows if she dies, then the horde will go wild and destroy untold numbers of lives in the process.” Melody leaned back, closing her eyes.

“I only see one way for this to end.” Ephemira spoke after a short silence. Melody opened her eyes to look at what used to be her mother. “We need to transfer Chrysalis’ power to another. We need to force a new queen or king to be chosen. Without the loss of power that results in so many primes.”

“How?” Melody asked quietly. Ephemira frowned, her hand glowing as she raised it to her chest. This wasn’t Twilight or Ephemira’s purple glow of magic, though. This was a sickening shade of green that Melody had very seldom seen. Her eyes went wide as she watched Twilight lay the hand on her breast. Slowly, she pulled it away, and with it came something else. Melody was mystified. Twilight held an orb of power in her hand, shifting and ephemeral.

“This is called an essence.” Ephemira said softly, holding the orb between them. “It’s discovery changed much about what we thought of changelings. Your mother, Lily, was the first one to successfully extract one.” Ephemira slowly pushed the orb back into her chest, and with it went the soft glow it had cast on the room. “I have a theory, and it’s just that. A theory.”

Ephemira leaned forward, her eyes piercing directly into Melody’s own.

“We need to take Chrysalis’ essence and give it to a new host.”

Author's Notes:

I'm not 100% on this chapter or the next. Sorry if it's sub-standard.

This will signal the 'beginning of the end' of Melody's Tale.