Cam Hall

The Cambridle Estate was, frankly, pretty large. While some royal properties across Equestria had been opened to the public, the estate at Cambridle had remained private since the Crown first came into possession of it. However, it had stood empty for the last two hundred years or so until Princess Cadence requested permission to move there from Celestia, who graciously granted it to her.

The short walk from the gate to the house was deceptive. The manor itself was only a short distance from town, built before the walls were put up around the estate's perimeter - the grounds actually stretched way back, even with a small lake at the far end of the grounds. Covering over fifty acres of land, there was a boathouse, a summer house, a big old barn where Mulch kept the birds over the winter - even an orangery, installed some four hundred years ago by the hall's then owner for reasons known only to himself - though the fruits that grew in there were indeed quite delicious.

All that aside, the place was a security nightmare.

Captain Kite Shield, a high-ranking officer in the Braytish army, had the joyous task of staffing over two thousand metres of perimeter wall and keeping an eye on everypony inside it. It wasn't something he particularly enjoyed. Though there had been few incidents in his time at the hall, and most of those had occurred shortly after the Princess and her new husband moved in, the residents and their guests were liable to wander all across the grounds. It would be many times easier to keep them safe if they would simply stay in the house and inform the guard when they were going outside - but Princess Cadence found that arrangement stressful. Kite Shield was there to serve - so he took that stress from her, only to place on his own self the need to keep track of everypony’s movements, whether they informed the Guard or not. The only small grace he had was that little Princess Songbird wasn't allowed to go far on her own.

As such he was not unhappy to hear that he would finally be receiving some relief.

"Listen up lads," he announced, stepping inside the mess room in the guard house, on the estate's south wall. "If there's more than fluff between your ears, you'll have noticed Lady Sparkle and some of her friends are here to stay for a while. How long they’ll be here, I couldn't say; but Princess Celestia is concerned about their safety, so we've got some support coming in from Londock. They'll be arriving by airship later today."

The ponies at the benches didn't question him. They were a disciplined bunch, even if they didn't see much action. Kite doubted they'd be all that good in a crisis, having had a pretty relaxed time of things over the years, but it was the same in most of Equestria. Only Reignssia and the far west seemed to have much trouble these days - and the Soul Mountains, of course, but the crackdown there was stepping up, and hopefully the issues there would be sorted soon. 'Issues' is a bit loose a term for 'ritual sacrifice', the captain thought, but shook the idea from his head. That was only a rumour.

"While they're here, I'm expected to answer to Captain Star Steel of the Londock Guard. The rest of you lot still answer to me - so, except in an emergency, if any of them asks anything unusual of you, you run it by me first. Don't be stupid about it - I don't need you running to me every time one of them tells you they need the bog." A couple of sniggers went up around the room, and the captain grinned at his men. They weren't nearly as stressed as he was, none of them had to manage the bloody walls, they just stood up there. Eight hours a day walking up and down the perimeter - it wasn't particularly exciting; but the guard paid well and Cambridle was a pleasant enough town, if you weren't the sort of pony who liked too much excitement. Kite Shield was glad a couple of nights at the local pub a week were enough for him to unwind, otherwise he would have quit his post years ago.

"I'll tell the same to the lads on the walls now after you change over. Until then though, today's just another day, so get up there and do what you're here for. I think Lady Sparkle wants to visit the lake later, so those of you up on the north wall keep your eyes peeled. Um.” Kite Shield licked at his lips, wanting to say more but coming up with nothing. There’s never anything else to say. None of this is really new to them.

The guards looking his way seemed to agree. Though they might talk among themselves when Kite Shield was gone, there was little to say. Soldiers would arrive, soldiers would leave. It was the same when any dignitary came with their own platoon of bodyguards. Kite Shield stared a moment longer, then turned to leave without another word. He hadn’t joined the military for his public speaking skills. Then again, he hadn’t joined up to sit waiting every day for the reports that somepony had hopped the wall that probably wouldn’t come, and fretting all the same. Let Star Steel take care of that for a few days, he thought to himself. With him overseeing things I honestly have no idea what’ll be left for me to do.

Inside the hall, Twilight Sparkle was perhaps not as complacent as her protectors. Although she maintained a relaxed exterior (something that in her youth she would have found intensely more difficult), the knowledge that additional security was arriving today served as a stark reminder that her very presence at Cam Hall was a threat to its residents. A part of her wanted to turn the walk to the lake into an escape from the grounds, but she'd promised to take Princess Songbird with them, and leaving without writing to Celestia first was out of the question - so she suppressed her discomfort as best she could, and made do.

She had sat herself in the large living room, in front of the big fireplace. Winter had not yet been wrapped up, and the chill was heavy in the air outside. A few inches of snow lay here and there on the ground, and Princess Songbird sat on the rug with a red woolen hat and scarf ready for when they set out for the lake. Both ponies were pouring over magic books, though Twilight had read Advanced Thaumaturgical Theory, volume 2 several times over before, and had even wrote a contribution for volume 3. It had been in Cadence's collection, so she had thought about giving it another look, but she found herself focusing more on the little princess than the words on the page.

The young alicorn had a mane the colour of her mother's coat; bright pink locks swept back to one side in a surprisingly unchildlike style. Songbird’s own fur, however, was more reminiscent of Rainbow Dash's that of anypony else Twilight knew. Her foalish wings were not yet quite strong enough to let her fly; but the princess put her stock in her magic, not her flight - though that did not seem to have quite manifested yet either.

Twilight frowned, worried for her niece. She so desperately wanted to get into Princess Celestia's school, but she knew the diarch would not grant any favours to a family member, and at the rate Songbird was progressing it seemed her power would not be much greater than a typical unicorn's, unless she could find her niche. Twilight had read up on the phenomenon - unicorns often experienced a surge in their magic after discovering an aspect of it they excelled in. For herself it had been simple, for her talent was for magic itself - but Princess Songbird seemed to be finding it a little trickier.

A sun and moon mark. Cutie marks were hard to decipher; they couldn't always be taken at face value. In much of Celagia they called them liferunes, thinking they showed a pony's future. Not always so. A mare was not bound by her mark - but for one to give up on their prescribed destiny without even knowing what it was to begin with…

Songbird just had to learn to concentrate, that was all. It was the key to all unicorn magic; knowing what you desired to happen and making it so. Magic words and gestures were all just show or concentration aids, but magic was all in the mind - and the horn, though Twilight didn’t think Songbird lacked to potential. Celestia would not give her niece favours regarding admission to her school, but she knows the most of solar magic than anypony who has ever lived, and Luna of the moon. Perhaps Songbird’s mark...

At that moment, Rarity and Applejack came tramping into the room together, laughing together at a shared joke. Rarity's laugh was a high-pitched giggle, AJ's a resounding guffaw. It made Twilight smile to remember they were so different when they were so close friends.

"Are you girls ready to head out?"

"Whenever you are," Applejack said, and Rarity nodded in agreement.

"I love these crisp winter days," she admitted. "When it's cold but the air is still... Why, it makes life so much more exhilarating!"

"See how you feel in a couple of hours time," Twilight cautioned her, grinning all the same. "It's not a short walk to the lake."

"I'd rather walk to the lake than to the sea," Rarity replied, and AJ grunted in agreement.

"Damn straight," she muttered, and Rarity tutted. When the farmer looked to her, questioningly, she gave a pointed glance to the filly on the floor, still deeply engrossed in her book. "Oh. Right."

The princess didn't seem to have noticed, but rose all the same as Twilight stood up from the sofa. Putting on her hat and scarf, she then took her book in her magic and placed it on a side table. To Twilight, her grip on the textbook was reassuring, but its title was not. Basic Magical Theory. To be sure, the standard of reading in the book was much higher than Twilight would expect a pony of Songbird's age to achieve, but the spells themselves were only beginner-level. A child hoping to get into Princess Celestia's school should have progressed beyond that by now.

"Captain Shield wants to send a guard with us to the lake," Rarity said, as they made for the door. She was wearing the snow-white cloak Princess Celestia had given her, now cleaned of all the mud of the Marshlow.

"Well, he can forget about that. I've attuned myself to the wards on the walls."

"Which means?"

"If someone enters the grounds who shouldn't, I'll know."

“Twilight,” Rarity protested, “Princess Celestia is pulling out the stops on our safety while we’re here. If she thinks there’s a risk then I don’t think we should take a chance, especially with Princess Songbird-”

“There’s a risk,” an older voice cut her off, “but I trust Twilight to protect my daughter better than any of my guards.” They all looked around to see Princess Cadence stood on the first floor landing. “I know what she’s capable of,” the alicorn went on, “and I want my daughter to have a normal life. She can’t have that if she spends her childhood being constantly tailed by guards, now, can she?” The princess smiled down at them, and Rarity realised how genuine Cadence was being. “You’ll keep my daughter safe, I’m sure of it.”

Rarity was a little lost for words, the Princess’ voice of trust leaving her taken aback for a moment. Applejack spoke up, though, unfazed. “We’ll get her back to ya safe ‘n’ sound, yer highness. We’re just walkin’ the grounds, after all.”

“Exactly,” Twilight agreed. “And if anything happens the guards won’t be too far away, will they? There’s nothing to worry about!” They were at the door, which Bell Cord pulled open to reveal frosted ground and shallow snowdrifts outside. The mage smiled at the sight. "Come on," she said, setting hoof in the snow. “Winter won’t be here for ever.”

Elsewhere

The High Priestess' chariot landed with a clatter of hooves on a runway of stone. The two pegasi pulling it winced as they touched down, but their passenger was unharmed - or at least she seemed to be. It was hard to tell, her face hidden under a black cloak, banded with gold. Count Iceheart stepped forwards to greet the leader of the Ichor Order with no sense of joy.

"Priestess," he said, flatly, as she stepped down onto the ground, her long robe flapping in the bitter wind.

"Count," she replied, in a smooth, lilting voice. "It is good to see you well in this time of deplorable peace."

"Yes," he said, impassive, "it is." The Priestess was completely mad, her Ichor Order having fallen for the idea that war was a good thing harder than any other group of Knights. The thing about Commanders like Highpine was that they only wanted power for themselves. It was the ones who wanted to give strength to a dead alicorn that were hardest to control. He turned and strode for the stone tower ahead.

"I hope we will not be waiting long," the High Priestess said, trailing behind him. "Only three others beside myself know how to tend the bloodfires that will restore our Lord to life."

Only three others believe it will work, then. "Laird Highpine will only travel by carriage," he informed her. "It may be as long as two months before he arrives, depending on where the snow falls."

"Then why am I here now, when I should be away in the Soul Mountains, tending to our fallen Lord?"

"To help me draw up battle plans. All we need is for circumstances to align, and we will march on Canterlot." His hooves kicked up snow as they trudged through foot-deep drifts. "Twilight Sparkle is abroad."

"I know," the Priestess replied. "But why should this matter?"

"She's more powerful than the Archmage of Canterlot," Iceheart said. "Why do you think her records are kept secret? Her absence is but one of many factors in our favour."

"I only wonder why she has chosen to leave."

Iceheart grunted. "A research project. Does it matter?"

"A research project involving the Elements of Harmony?"

Iceheart whirled. "How do you know the Elements are absent?"

"I've known since the start." She flashed a grin from beneath her hood. "You are not the only ones with spies, Count. The servants of the wretched sun are far easier to infiltrate than our own ranks."

The Count took a moment to process this information before turning and walking on once more. "They are easier to infiltrate, but only because they are the majority," he reminded her. "And, as such, they are stronger than us."

"With Twilight Sparkle gone-"

"They are still stronger than us. They have alicorns on their side, we do not. We would fight them to a stalemate at the foot of Mount Canter without something to even the odds."

"An alicorn?"

"The next best thing."

Cam Hall

The lake was frozen over when Twilight and her party arrived, and likely as not had been for days.

"When they Wrap Up Winter, twenty ponies come from the village to the Hall," Princess Songbird was explaining, "It can take them up to a week to cover the grounds, depending on how deep the snow is. They always save the lake until last."

"A week?" Applejack looked disdainful. "Back in Ponyville we have the whole place cleared in a day."

"There's more to clear," Twilight told them both. "More land here is owned by noble families than farmers. The villagers typically take payment to clear the big estates and leave the town until all those are done."

They stopped at the edge of the lake and stood, breathing clouds of white vapour into the wintry air. AJ took a copper penny from a pouch and flung it out onto the ice, and the strange sound it made reverberated around the shore.

"Shall we walk around the shore?" the farmer asked.

"That could take another hour," Rarity pointed out, "and lunch will be served before too long." Applejack pulled a discontented face, but said nothing.

"Aunt Twilight?" Songbird asked, tugging at the hem of Twilight's cloak. "While you're still here in Cambridle, will you help me with my magic?" Twilight smiled down at her.

"Of course," she said. "But remember, the magic is all yours. I can help you, but I can't learn for you."

"I understand."

Twilight held her smile a moment more, but then something distracted her. A faint buzzing at the edge of her mind - and then a crack, inside her head, sent her reeling into the frozen ground, knocking the air from her lungs.

"Twilight!"

Her friends dashed to her side and helped her to her hooves. "Twilight, dear, are you quite alright?" Rarity was saying. "Perhaps we should go back-"

"We should," Twilight agreed, "and quickly. The walls have been breached, but the wards only just broke. Whoever is inside knew a trick to delay them."

"How do you know there was a delay?" Rarity asked, prompting a look from Applejack suggesting the farmer really didn't think this was the time.

"It's not supposed to hurt like that," Twilight answered. "Somepony stretched the boundaries here."

"Then they probably ain't paparazzi," AJ grunted. "Twi, can you teleport us back?"

Twilight shook her head. "I'm not prepared. I'd need time to ready myself to move four ponies, whoever's inside could be on us in minutes."

Rarity was looking around, desperately. From where they stood she could see no walls, no buildings, and no ponies. "We should send up a signal, so the guards know we're here," she said.

"No, we have to run," Twilight insisted. "We send up a flare, the intruders will know we're here. They probably think we're still in the hall. We have to get Songbird back safely."

AJ nodded in agreement. "Princess," she said, looking to Songbird as she crouched. The filly had not said anything since Twilight fell and was looking from one adult to another in fear. "Climb on mah back. I'll carry you back to the hall."

"But-"

"Now!"

Songbird climbed on and AJ set off at a gallop, Rarity and Twilight trailing behind her.

"What do you think's going on?" Rarity managed to ask in between gasps for breath as they hurried for the house.

"It could be nothing," Twilight replied, "but I'm not taking any chances."

"It took us almost an hour to walk to the lake," Rarity panted. "I don’t think I can run all the way back."

Twilight wasn’t sure about that, but this wasn’t the time to bicker about her friend’s fitness. "If somepony is in the grounds, they'll probably think we're still in the house. They won't look for us out here in the snow - and Captain Shield will send out guards looking for us. It'll be alright - still, don't stop running just yet."

Between them and the manor were two patches of woodland - the closer one a small copse, and then past it a wider band of trees that stretched all across the grounds. Applejack, stronger and stockier, was pulling away from her friends, and closing in on the copse. Songbird was silent on her back, and AJ could run well enough despite her weight, but the way she clutched tightly to her sides told her not all was well.

"You scared, sugarcube? Uh - I mean, you OK?"

"Yes," Songbird replied, quietly. "You aren't scared - so I'm not. I can be brave if you can."

"Ah don't let myself be scared of things I can't see."

"What about things like germs?"

AJ snorted. "You know what I mean."

"I think so."

"Right."

The farmer crossed into the copse with Twilight and Rarity still a good couple of minutes away. As she realised the distance between them, she slowed, and looked back uncertainly.

"Are you going to wait for them?"

"I dunno, sugarcube. Ah gotta get you back safe to your momma." She dithered for a moment, looking back at her friends and scanning the surroundings for the mystery intruder. "I’ll slow up a mite," she said at last, turning to set off again, "Twilight’ll catch up." She started out walking, past a great old oak in the centre of the copse, but her hooves were itching to run as she reached the edge of the treeline - she didn’t have to, however, after something very solid collided with her head and everything went black.

On the other side of the spinney, Rarity slowed, gasping for breath, and Twilight stopped with her. "I think AJ's away," she said. "She must have gone straight on."

Rarity shook her head. "That's no good," she panted, "she doesn't have her axe. If you're right and these ponies mean us harm, she can't protect the princess."

"She'd dispute that," Twilight noted, "but you're right. Applejack!" She called. "AJ!" There was no response. "She must be a way off. She could easily make it to the hall without stopping. I'll never catch her."

"Teleport ahead," Rarity urged her, but she refused.

"I'm not leaving you behind," Twilight insisted.

"Fine," Rarity grunted, staggering forwards once more. "Have it your way. We'll have to catch up with them." She ran doggedly on to the other side, Twilight knowing nothing she could say would slow her down - and she darted out of the mage's sight behind a tree. Twilight sighed, looking back to see if anypony was following them.

I hope I'm not over reacting. Maybe the guards have already detained the intruder-

"Twilight!"

Rarity's shriek confirmed her fears. Breaking out of her thoughts, Twilight dashed for the other side of the treeline, to see Applejack face down on the snow - and Songbird, held with a knife to her throat by a pony robed in red and gold.

"Cowlmane?" she gasped. The unicorn's hood was back, revealing a green face and a stringy brown mane. The intruder shook his head.

"Not I," he spat. "Now, Twilight Sparkle - I'll make a deal with you. Give me the Elements of Harmony and I'll let the abomination go free."

Songbird was looking at Twilight with wide, fearful eyes, tears starting to pool there. If she hadn't been scared before, she surely was now. Rarity hung back against the treeline, terrified.

"Abomination?" Twilight asked, incredulous. "She's Princess Cadence's daughter - eighth in line to the throne!"

"A false alicorn!" The unicorn ranted. "I would rather spill her filthy blood than spare her, but in exchange for the Elements I will let her go." He hawked and spat on the frozen ground. "She'll only be slain later, for the glory of our true Lord."

"Lord...?" Twilight wide eyes narrowed into an angry frown. "I thought as much. You’re with the Order. The Crown has many enemies but these days it seems there’s only you lot." Her gaze hardened as she took a step towards the Knight. "You're mad if you think you can just come in here and demand the Elements from me. I've fought off more ponies than just you, alone." Twilight glanced quickly to Applejack, trying to see if she was alright. It looked like she had just been knocked cold - she couldn't see any blood. That would have to be good enough for now.

"Mad, aye, I may be," the stallion conceded. "But I'm holding the knife. So hand them over. And no magic tricks!" he barked. Songbird flinched in his grasp, jerking against the blade, and a bead of blood appeared on her throat where it had caught her.

"I have to use magic to get the Elements out," Twilight said, carefully. "You can see I'm not carrying a bag.

Their assailant's eyes flicked nervously to one side. "Fine," he conceded. "But I'm watching you."

Twilight tried to hide her fear as she lit her horn. One wrong move and he would kill the Princess, but there was no way she was ever going to give him the Elements. She wiped her face, showing no emotion as she concentrated - a small, black hole tearing itself in the space just above her shoulder, and from within she withdrew a golden tiara with an amethyst centre, a six-pointed star. The Element of Magic. She took as long as she could, trying to buy herself time to think. Concentration is the key to magic. I just have to know what I want. I musn’t act until I know Songbird will be safe. Concentrate on that.

The stallion's tongue flickered at his lips. "And the others, too."

Rarity knew there was nothing she could do. Sat, horror-struck, at the base of a naked tree, she could only watch the scene play out in front of her. A flicker of movement off to one side caught her attention - up in the air, on the far horizon over the treeline, a dot of an airship was growing as it approached. "The reinforcements," she whispered.

Twilight was pulling forth a second Element from the nether space - Honesty, this time. Rarity watched her face for any sign that she might perhaps have seen the airship, but if she had she hid it, focused only on the intruder and the filly he held.

"How did you get past the wards on the walls?" Twilight asked, carefully. The two Elements she'd revealed now hovered in her magic in front of them. You have to mind the knife. If you don’t deal with that Songbird could get hurt.

The stallion scowled at her and tightened his grip on the princess. "Why should I tell you that?"

"I'm curious." Twilight nodded at the gap in the world she'd created for her convenience. "Aren't you curious as to how I did that?" Get the Princess as far away from the madpony as possible.

"I can manage my curiosity," he replied, "but not my patience."

Applejack was starting to stir. If she comes round to see the Princess in danger, she'll react rashly, Twilight realised, and that could endanger Songbird. She has to understand. "OK," she said. "Last one."

"Last?" The Knight exclaimed. "There are six. Don't take me for a fool, girl."

"Three are in Canterlot," Twilight insisted. Don’t kill him. We have to know who sent him.

"Don't lie to me!" he barked.

Twilight bought the Element of Generosity out into the open. "Suit yourself." The stallion stared at the three artifacts hovering before him - and then turned his gaze to Twilight, giving her a threatening stare - she merely shrugged back at him. Then a bolt of energy loosed itself from her horn and knocked him flying.

The mage's eyes lit up, and she couldn't hold back a grin. Taking her time with the Elements had given her time to prepare for real magic, and now she could finally loose her power for once. In a blur the Knight whirled across the grass, coming crashing to a halt more than forty feet away, and at the same time the knife flew forward, away from the child and burying its now-blunt blade in the ground before Twilight; Princess Songbird vanished as Twilight sent her through space, teleporting her to her mother's side; Applejack leapt to her feet, eyes wide and with her axe in hoof as Twilight forced energy and comprehension on her, and a mighty beacon of light blazed out into the sky, to tell the whole guard where they were. It happened in mere seconds - to everypony but Twilight Sparkle.

For Twilight, time slowed as her keenest sense - her sixth sense - took over from all the others. She could see the flashing lights before her, hear her spells, feel the raw power in the air, taste the crackle of magic on the wind - but if she had shut all that out it would still be there in front of her, clear as day. She could trace every magical fibre from herself to its target, and if she chose she could unpick a spell before it even struck. She knew Songbird was back in her mother's arms, that Applejack did not blame her for raising her the way she did. She could even count the number of ponies who had seen her beacon - had there been time for an expression of guilt to cross her face there would have been one, for the number was far higher than she'd intended - but she had reconciled the mistake in her mind before she could blink. This was what it meant to truly cast magic, and she went completely overboard just to feel the thrill of it. She was sorry to shut it all off again, but she had too, or else her underlying anger at the pony who'd almost killed her niece - anger that had replaced her fear as soon as he was vulnerable - was like to burn him to ash. She'd rather have him alive.

Twilight and Applejack dashed to the fallen Knight while Rarity was still stood there in shock. AJ grabbed his legs while Twilight wrestled him onto his back - only to find a tube of brass and wood pointed in her face.

"What in Tartarus is - woah!" Applejack yelled as Twilight slammed into her, knocking them to the ground just before there was a resounding bang and a flash of light, nothing like that of Twilight's magic.

"Oh, Celestia," Rarity gasped behind them as she arrived. "What did you do, Twilight?"

Twilight and AJ stood and turned together, only to recoil in horror.

"It's a good job Songbird weren't here ta see this," AJ muttered.

The face that had once been hidden by a hood needed hiding no more. The force of the blast had blown it off, and all that was left of their attacker's head was a gory pulp on the end of his shattered neck.

That night

"Songbird!" The mixed fear and relief in that revered voice was as Twilight would expect to hear in a mother's cries for her own child. Then again, we are all children to her.

"Auntie!" Princess Celestia galloped into the room and swept the little alicorn up in her arms.

"I'm so sorry this happened to you," she whispered.

"It's not your fault," Songbird replied, and they lapsed into silence, together for a good few minutes. For a moment Twilight thought Celestia was going to cry. She had seen her cry before - when Celestia had admitted to her the truth of her alicorn nature, she'd nearly collapsed with the guilt of having not told her sooner. But Princess Celestia was trying to be strong for her - niece, she called her, though the actuality was a little more complicated.

"Twilight," Rarity said, gently nudging her. "Leave them to it." Twilight nodded, slowly, and followed her from the room, into the little kitchen where everypony had huddle around the cook's fireplace.

"The kettle should be boiled in a minute if any of you want more tea," Pie Crust was saying as they set hoof on the tile floor. Mulch and Bluebell were sat in front of the fireplace, which roared hotter than any other in the house. Longhorn was off to one side, at the stocky wooden table, nursing his mandolin which he had been repairing since the storm in the Marshlow. The rotund cook was stood at the stove while the kettle boiled and fresh bread for the morning's breakfast baked. Normally Crust left it for the morning, but it was gone midnight, and Princess Cadence had told him to do it sooner so that he could take the morning off. Rarity went to join Longhorn at the table while Twilight sat down in front of the fire.

"You gave us such a fright when the little Princess appeared in the hall," Bluebell said, after several minutes of silence. "And bleeding, too. They'd just sent the guards out to look for you."

It turned out the pony who had threatened Songbird's life was not alone. He had slipped past the walls and wards using some kind of spell while his two comrades engaged the guards. One of them was alive for questioning, the other very much not. Nopony had realised there was a third Knight until the Princess had arrived in the hall.

"She's alright," Mulch grunted, "that's the important thing."

They sat in silence as Pie Crust bustled around for a good fifteen minutes or so until Princess Cadence stuck her head around the door.

"Twilight?" she said, "Princess Celestia would like a word. Oh," she added, as Twilight stood to go, "and Bluebell too, please." The pink princess' mane was bedraggled; she hadn't left her daughter's side since Songbird had reappeared until now.

"Where is Princess Songbird?" Bluebell asked as they walked back through to the main lounge.

"We put her to bed," replied Cadence. "She was so tired, but once we heard Princess Celestia was coming, she wouldn't go to sleep. Now she's here she's finally nodded off, bless her." The Princess’ voice trembled as she spoke, but the danger was past and Cadence was not one to fear what might have been.

They found Celestia contemplating the fire as they entered, stood in the centre of the room. She looked up when the sound of hooffalls came to her over the crackling of burning wood, and she looked as tired as Twilight had ever seen her. "Twilight," she said, softly. Bluebell dropped into a kneel beside her, but Twilight stayed standing. She knew the Princess preferred her to treat her as she would any other pony, and now of all times she did not want to disappoint her. "I - thank you for what you did today."

"I just did what I had to, Princess," she replied.

"Tell me what happened," Princess Celestia told her, "I want to hear it from you."

"Three Knights in robes attacked the hall," Twilight began, "members of the Order of the Bloody Cross. One of them made it inside the grounds unnoticed. We were out by the lake when I felt the wards being breached - then we started to run for the Hall. Princess Songbird was riding on Applejack's back; they got some distance on us and the intruder attacked them from behind the treeline."

Celestia nodded apprehensively. "Go on."

"AJ was knocked out and the Knight had a knife to Songbird's throat. He demanded I give him the Elements - I took my time and prepared spells to overpower him and send Songbird to safety."

"To overpower him?" The solar alicorn looked worriedly at her. "Twilight - is this why he isn't here for questioning?"

"No," Twilight reassured her, "no, of course not... He had a gun."

Princess Celestia groaned. "Oh, Tartarus," she cursed. "What did he try to fire it with?"

"From the smell of it, dragon dung." Twilight wrinkled her nose at the memory. "Not dangerous on its own, but when exposed to heat..."

"In a small chamber, too." The elder princess sighed. "I didn't ban gunpowder so ponies could blow themselves up trying to replace it. But, I suppose, fools are fools, and if anyone will try, it’s them."

“Do you think the Order is trying to create new firearms?” Twilight asked, uncertain. “This doesn’t seem like the kind of risk they’d normally take…”

“No,” Celestia replied, shaking her head, dispelling the notion. “This sounds like just another black market deal or some other scam. This is the most daring thing the Bloody Cross has attempted in decades, so why they’d take the risk of experimentation is beyond me.”

"Ah, Princess," Bluebell spoke up. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but the gunpowder issue has always interested me. Surely it would be possible to fabricate a - a replacement, or spell that serves the same purpose."

"No, little one," Princess Celestia answered, turning her gaze to the spy mare. "Hundreds of years ago, at the end of the Eastern War, I wove a spell to prevent that kind of bloodshed ever occurring again. Nopony will ever discover the secret of gunpowder again, they will never be able to devise a substitute. I care far too much for life to allow that sort of thing." Her gaze, which had turned imperious as she spoke, softened. "You are Bluebell, am I correct?"

"Yes, ah, your highness." Bluebell bowed again, looking nervously up at the white alicorn. She was surprised when Celestia lowered her head to meet her gaze.

"Then I owe you my most sincerest apologies. I put you and your fiance into a dangerous position."

"Princess," Bluebell gasped, eyes moistening. "I - I..." She took a shuddering gasp. "I did my duty, for you and for Equestria. And so d-did Thin Thistle."

"Would you be prepared to do your duty again?"

"I-" Bluebell hesitated for a moment. "Of course, Princess."

"Thank you. I need somepony who better understands the issue at hoof. Come over here." Princess Celestia led them to where a globe stood in the corner. It rolled all the way from Equestria's Westlands to the edge of the Great Forest of Celagia, where a blank band of brown between them signified the unknown on either side of the world. "You see here?" Princess Celestia pointed a gold-shod hoof at the Soul Mountains, in the very centre of the Eastlands. "That is where I would like you to go.

"The ponies who attacked you today where members of the Ichor Order; a cult within the Order of the Bloody Cross committed to restoring the alicorn War to life. The robes they wear signify their membership."

"Ichor?" Bluebell asked. "Isn't that - demon's blood?"

"The Ichor Order believe it to be alicorn blood."

"Is it true?"

Princess Celestia raised her eyebrows. "Would you like me to show you?"

Bluebell hastily averted her eyes. "No, your highness."

"I bleed as red as you do," the princess replied. "I can't say the same for my sister, but there's no accounting for taste."

"What?"

The alicorn smiled, while Twilight and Cadence chuckled quietly. "Just a little joke," Celestia said, gently. "I believe the Ichor Order to be the same group whose members burnt Pitsburgh to the ground some years ago. They seem to act more desperately than any other group of Knights with regards to the Elements. Perhaps they think they can use them to revive their leader. I personally doubt it, but they will continue to commit their atrocities until they know for certain." Her gaze hardened as she went on. "They are also the group responsible for the kidnappings and other acts of terror in villages in the Soul Mountains. Every year I send guardsponies to the mountain range to help deal with the problem, but I cannot spare enough to stamp the order out without rendering Canterlot vulnerable to attacks from other chapters. I would like you to go to the Eastlands, infiltrate the Ichor Order, and do what ever you can to disrupt their activities, and end them if you can."

Bluebell swallowed, hard. Twilight could see that the prospect daunted her - as it should. It was a big ask. "Alone, Princess?"

"If you collaborate with another you may bring suspicion down on both your heads," Celestia warned. "The Ichor Order are highly secretive - most who know of their activities do not even know their name. It will be difficult - but you have proven your loyalty to the Crown and you understand the threat of the Knights. Will you do this for me?"

"I... I will, Princess," Bluebell agreed.

"Thank you, little one. And Twilight?"

"Yes Princess?"

"You must go. Soon," Celestia urged. "You must leave Cam Hall before others come, you must rush to Celagia and the Gate before the Order realise where you are going. Take the airship that arrived this afternoon to Port Bridle; the guards that came here for you will stay aboard and defend you if needs be. We can no longer afford to waste time if the Knights think themselves strong enough to attack us in our homes."

"But what about Princess Cadence?" Twilight asked, bewildered. "Surely she needs to security now her home has been attacked."

"Me and Songbird are going to Canterlot," Cadence answered for Celestia. "It'll be much safer there, and Songbird would dearly like to see the capital again. It was a shame she was ill at the Solstice, but now she's fine to travel." Twilight nodded her approval.

"We can be ready to travel tomorrow evening, Princess," Twilight said. "We've rested up, sorted ourselves out... Rarity will be pleased to not be walking any more."

Princess Celestia smiled, but did not reply. Instead, she looked to Bluebell. "Would you go now please, Bluebell? I would like to speak to Twilight and the princess alone." Bluebell nodded, bowed, and left. Princess Celestia watched her go, but did not speak when she had left - instead she dropped down and pulled Twilight into a hug as she had Princess Songbird.

"Oof!" Twilight exclaimed, more in surprise than anything. "Princess-"

"I'm so sorry, Twilight," Princess Celestia wept. Now she was crying. "I put you and your friends into so much danger... I-I didn't know how dangerous Hockfall would be, how bold the Knights were getting. We heard you had to kill to escape the Marshlow with you lives..."

"We did," Twilight said, quietly, "but it's - I'm OK. We're safe, and we're going to finish what we started. We'll be more careful from now on, we'll be stronger. The ordeal in Hockfall left me drained, but I'm stronger now, my magic's at full strength. As long as we keep an eye out for our enemies, nothing is going to stop us going forward.”

"Oh, Twilight." The princess sniffled as she pulled away. "You've come so far... I know I shouldn't worry about you, but I do. Everything that's happened to you is my fault."

"And I'd face it all again if you asked me to," Twilight reassured her. "Hey, I might take some convincing, but I'd do it for you."

Celestia gave a little laugh as she stood, wiping her eyes. "I know, you would, Twilight. I'm so lucky to have a pony like you by my side."

"Though, Princess," Twilight said, a little more cautiously, "moving Cadence and Songbird to Canterlot will help, but you can't let the Knights get away with this sort of thing. There has to be some sort of response."

"We're going to put out a press release," Cadence cut in. She was sat on the sofa by the fire now. "Strongly worded, to send a message."

Twilight frowned. "That isn't enough. I know we can't risk taking the Knights head on, but surely there's something more we can do - somepony we can arrest-"

"There is more we can do, and I will do it myself." Twilight gasped as Princess Celestia towered over her, stretching out her wings to their full width. Her eyes still glistened with tears, but her voice was cold with fury; a fury Twilight had not seen in her for many years. "These so-called Knights wish to quarrel with an alicorn, and I have let them go too long without teaching them what that means. Our armies may not be able to go to them, but I can - and I will make sure they do not threaten my niece's life - or any lives - again."