Twilight found no comfort in sleep, nor in pacing the halls. In fact whatever she seemed to try only made the fear worse. Luna remained high upon the tower, observing the battles events while regaining her strength. She seemed surprisingly calm despite it all, leaving Twilight baffled. All that suffering and death and Luna didn't even seem to remotely care. No, that was a stupid thing to say. Of course she cares; she’s just thinking things over. I hope so.

Twilight could not help herself; she wandered up the stairway and up to Luna’s quarters. The Princess of the Night turned her head, more surprised than anything else. “Twilight Sparkle? Why exactly aren't you resting? We know you worry for your friends, but pacing around will not help them. You are more useful fit and ready rather than tired.”

“I know Princess, It’s just that-“

“Why do you still address us as Princess?”

Twilight looked back and tilted her head in confusion. “I’m not sure I understand.”

“I believe our sister had already addressed this matter before hoof; you may simply call us as you would do to any of your friends, you have more than earned it. To you we are simply Luna.”

“But I’m not like you. Sure you gave me these wings, and made me couple of inches taller, but I’m not royalty. I’m not really anything, just a librarian from Ponyville.”

“And now you are a Princess, is that so hard to grasp? You were always destined to rule on when we could no longer. But why does this trouble you? Surely there are far more important matters that require your attention?”

Twilight rested herself down on her haunches. “I know, I’m just having trouble getting used to it. It’s a big change to go through and…   yeah. I guess we should focus on something else, this really can wait for another time, maybe when things are less hectic.”

“Sound words. Fine, what is it you wish to discuss with us? If you have any concern over the events then feel free to share. We understand that this is difficult, and sometimes the outside world can feel insane, but we understand.”

“Then could you explain to me, you know…  who these ponies are? I don’t understand how anypony could turn on another like this.”

To Twilight’s surprise, Luna seemed a bit taken back by this question; almost like this was quite a sensitive topic she had stumbled on. “We can see how you would be curious to know, we do not blame you. Fine, I you wish us to tell you the story then we shall, just bear in mind it has been a thousand years and our memory is rather untrustworthy at times.”

Luna looked back out across the night sky, taken to a completely new world as she spoke softly. “Once Equestria was divided, many years ago. With the arrival of Discord the pony factions broke into full scale war. When the Crystal Empire fell to Sombra it seemed that the fate of the land was certain. That was when we came, we and our sister. Together we united the warring factions and forged the Elements of Harmony. An alliance of Pegasi, Unicorns and Earth Ponies was formed to drive out the tyrants that had caused so much misery. Both Discord and Sombra fell, neither could resist the power of the elements. We thought ourselves victorious, but we were wrong. There were those that rejected our rule, some who only saw us another pair of tyrants. No matter what we did they would not listen.

“And so they left, wandering north and then turning east across the land. Our sister and I kept watch over their travels as best as we may, but their fate was now in their own hooves. After weeks of endless wandering they could go no further, halting in the mountain pass far from any other pony civilization. But they would not suffer for long, for they found a vast wealth in the earth. Setting up camp they began to mine the rock face, digging up gems and rubies unlike anything they’d ever seen. But they were not the only ones who sought the mountains wealth.

“Diamond Dogs had settled in the caves far above the pass, a vicious clan led by a cruel and greedy alpha. Without warning he raided the settler’s camp, pillaging and murdering. They took many prisoners but other were killed in their sleep. They were taken back to their home in the mountain to be traded and sold as slaves. That was until one among them inspired them to rise up. They rebelled and managed to escape their prisons in the dead of night.

“I bet by now you must be wondering how we managed to learn all this. Well, the moon is a good spot to watch such things unfold. By now my sister had banished me for our stupidity, we were such a fool. And, well, you know the rest of the story, and I don’t want to bore you with details. Now where was I? Oh yes, the escape.

"Well they had made it out just find, the dogs being rather slow to react and all. A few more of the slaves had joined them, bring supplies and the such. They wandered again for days before they had no choice but to stop and set up camp.  Sandstorms battered their tents relentlessly and it seemed the bad weather would never end. They couldn’t move on, they were trapped in the middle of nowhere.

“When the storm did die down the ponies began to argue among themselves, bickering over what action to take next. They came to no solution and quickly fighting broke out across the camp. Soon they were divided, splitting off and going their separate ways. After that there is little more to say. Many set up small camps and villages while other dies at the mercy of the desert. It was saddening to witness for nothing could be done to lend aid. After a thousand years they began to expand, populate. They built up a civilization, one based off of violence and war. Villages and clans raged a constant battle against their neighbors for resources. But now it seems that after all this time they have united under one banner, the banner of a tyrant.

“We ignored them for so long, forgot them, left them to their own fate. It seems to have come back to bite us. We always were aware, but never did we turn a passing thought. In the end it is our own fault and our own negligence that have caused this. Do not blame yourself Twilight for anything that has happened, we are the ones to blame. This…  Azzal Khan, he is not one of them. He is a pony who has seen a chance and taken it. I don’t know what he wants or why but I fear the worst.”

There was nothing Twilight had left to say, nothing she could interject with. She was gobsmacked, amazed at how she had have never heard anything of this before. Her eyes began to pool slightly as tears began to form.

“Do not worry Twilight Sparkle. We will not fail you again.” Luna looked directly at her, the princesses eyes full of nothing but guilt and sympathy. “I will not fail you.”

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