In Hoc Signo Vinces had fled the wedding reception when the ponies had started to recover from Trixie's magic. She had seen the way Trixie and even Luna had looked at her true appearance. It had hurt. The streets of Canterlot were graciously mostly deserted, although she didn't really know where she was going. As she wandered amongst the streets, her horn began to glow and began magically guiding her towards the Canterlot Cemetery.

Winny's eyes went wide as she was led before a great tomb, the tomb where Celestia and Luna had placed the comatose body of the Unliving Queen after her defeat. The magically reinforced stone door of the tomb lay sundered in half on the ground, the jagged edges still glowed with green magic. Two royal guards lay slumped in front of the gaping doorway. As if in a trance, she slowly walked inside the tomb and her horn's magic ceased as she reached the chamber of the Unliving Queen's sarcophagus. Its heavy stone slab lay shattered on the floor. Seated atop the sarcophagus was a beautiful pink unicorn with dark red hair that wore purple robes.

Fizzle Hooves was munching on a pomegranate, the juices dribbling down her chin. She winked at Winny. "Hello, little one."

Winny warily eyed Fizzle Hooves, then cautiously walked over and looked into the sarcophagus. The Queen looked just as she did when the Nether Crystal was inserted a week ago, a look of contentment on her smiling face. Winny didn't know how she knew, but she knew this was her mother. Her voice quavered. "Mum?"

Fizzle Hooves smirked. "Ah, how very perceptive of you, little one. Yes, this is indeed your mother. It is fortunate you arrived when you did."

Winny looked at Fizzle Hooves and felt a twinge of fear. "I suppose it is fortunate, my horn's magic led me here."

Fizzle Hooves laughed. "Oh, you misunderstand. It is fortunate for me that you arrived when you did. I have need of you and your mother, you see."

Winny staggered back. The twinge was now a full blown feeling of impending dread. "W-what are you talking about?"

Fizzle Hooves grinned evilly as her horn began to glow. "You will soon see."

Winny screamed as a wave of magic enveloped her and she fell unconscious. When she opened her eyes, she found Fizzle Hooves standing over her, her mother's body lying on the ground next to her. Fizzle Hooves smiled. "It is just as I planned. It all has been. I fear I had an advantage over you. For years I have been manipulating events, solely so we could have our little meeting here tonight."

Winny couldn't move, couldn't speak, could only watch in horror as Fizzle Hooves straddled her mother's body. Fizzle Hooves put one hoof over the Queen's heart, one hoof on the Nether Crystal, then touched her horn to the Queen's and began casting a spell to transfer the Queen's magic into the crystal.

The Queen's eyes shot open, and as she stared into the strange unicorn's smirking face the unholy fire in her eyes began to fade away.  The Queen felt herself growing weaker and weaker, she groaned and Fizzle Hooves grinned in delight. As Fizzle Hooves' spell continued, the Nether Crystal began to glow with unholy energy. As the spell ended, the Queen's cutie mark faded away into nothing.

Fizzle Hooves stood and plucked the empowered Nether Crystal from the Queen's forehead. The Queen tried to speak, struggled to find the strength. "Wh-what d-d-did y-you..."

Fizzle Hooves laughed and placed her hoof on the Queen's chest. She leaned down and stared into the eyes of her prey. The Queen shuddered as she looked back into the eerie green eyes of Fizzle Hooves. The Queen closed her eyes, tried to cast a spell - any spell - but the magic did not heed her summons. Her magical gift was gone, and as she realized this a fresh wave of terror washed over the Queen. Fizzle Hooves smiled in contentment.

"I have drained you of your magic," Fizzle Hooves explained. "Stolen from you the very thing that made you special. It is the worst of curses, and I should know. I have taken your very talent, your destiny, taken everything that you are. The curse that was wrought against my sisters and I will soon cease, and yours has begun. Enjoy."

Fizzle Hooves sauntered over to the Queen's daughter and used her magic to move the body into position. She straddled Winny and whispered in her ear, "Now, little one, it is your turn."

A scorching beam of sunlight lanced out from the entrance to the chamber and blasted Fizzle Hooves, who tumbled forwards, the Nether Crystal spiraling out of her grasp. If the situation hadn't been so dire, it would have been humorous, as Trixie, Twilight, Rarity, Star Swirl, Celestia, and Luna fought Fizzle Hooves in a 'tug-of-war' over the Nether Crystal, grasping and pulling on the Nether Crystal with their magic.

For reasons Rarity could not fathom, a tiny amount of her horn's magic went from the Nether Crystal to the purple robes Fizzle Hooves was wearing, Puzzled, Rarity closed her eyes and let the magic flow through her. For but a moment, she saw what it wished for her to do - pluck a thread from Fizzle Hooves' clothing. Using her expert knowledge gained from years as a seamstress, Rarity easily removed the thread without detection. Why the mystical force that was unicorn magic desired the thread, Rarity did not know, but she knew it had to have been important.

Fizzle Hooves sneered. "I admire your persistence, but I think it is time you accepted the fact that it is not within your power to stop me."

"Give up, Fizzle Hooves," Celestia ordered. "This is your last chance."

Fizzle Hooves smiled. "Thousands of years of planning shall not be undone by the likes of you."

"Drop the act, Fizzle Hooves, I'm tired of all these charades. Just tell us what this is all about so we can get back to our wedding," Celestia said, annoyed.

Fizzle Hooves laughed. "I'm sorry, but war and charades are the only two games I know how to play. If they are not to your liking, I'm afraid you'll be ill-equipped to play the game that is about to begin."

"I bet she's just jilted that Shining Armor loves Cadence and is going to marry him instead of her," Pinkie Pie said, in an attempt to fluster Fizzle Hooves.

"Perhaps," Fizzle Hooves laughed. She leered at Twilight, "But it is Cadence that my desires were focused on, if you must know."

"Thou shalt pay for the evils thou hath wrought," Luna said. "I shall reduce thee to ashes for what thou hath done to me, my kingdom, my ponies."

Fizzle Hooves cackled with glee. "It is a welcome change to hear such... succinct threats from an enemy. Unfortunately for you, they are most assuredly idle threats, as if you had the power to defeat me, surely you would do so instead of all this posturing."

Fizzle Hooves pulled back her head and laughed as the Crystal moved towards her. "Your pathetic magics are useless. Let this end."

Applejack blinked and looked at the other, non-magic wielding ponies. "Why the hay have we just been standin' here? Come on, girls!"

The pegasi and Earth ponies charged towards Fizzle Hooves, and stopped as an Earth pony and pegasus mare shimmered into existence in their path. They wore the same styled robes as Fizzle Hooves. The Earth had wild, unkempt hair as dark as night and a coat to match. Her face was twisted into a grimace and her eyes gleamed with a cold, evil light. The pegasus had a sky blue coat and purple hair that was elaborately braided. The pegasus' eyes were red and smoldered like embers.

The pegasus thrust out her hoof and the ground began to quake. The Earth pony stomped and fissures to the Netherworld opened up with an eerie green glow, then horrible demonic creatures began to pour out of the openings. The creatures looked like bipedal goats wearing dark armor and wielding a variety of wicked looking weapons. Their eyes were red with slit pupils and they sent waves of fear into the hearts of the observing ponies as they met their gaze.

The ponies trembled in fear and lost their concentration. The Nether Crystal flew into Fizzle Hooves' grasp and she slipped it into her pocket. The Earth pony turned to her and asked in a raspy voice, "What about the girl?"

Trixie shivered. She recognized that voice. It belonged to one of the shadows she heard at Travincolt.

Fizzle Hooves shook her head. "We shouldn't need her, she was more of a bonus, if you will. Irksome, but we will be fine without her. Come, sisters, we have wasted enough of our time, we are through here."

Trixie found herself yelling, "Fizzle Hooves, wait!"

Fizzle Hooves chuckled. Her sisters looked at her expectantly. Fizzle Hooves nodded at them. "Leave us, I will only be a moment." The two robed ponies vanished,  the fissures and demons disappeared with them. She glared at Celestia and cast a spell, surrounding Twilight with a swirling wreath of green flames. "If anypony makes a move, I will kill Twilight Sparkle." She turned to Trixie and smirked. "Yearning for master's touch are we?"

Trixie shuddered. "No. I think you owe me an explanation. Why did you do this to me?"

"We are like sisters, Trixie. We are the same," Fizzle Hooves replied.

Trixie shook her head. "Sisters don't do the kinds of things you did."

Fizzle Hooves pouted. "I'm sorry, Trixie. That is my... nature. I'm afraid I can't explain anymore than that, for now at least. Soon, all will be revealed, and I shall return to claim you and perhaps we can finish your training. Goodbye, Trixie."

"Wait," Twilight said, gulping nervously. "You are what we call a demon, yes? You possessed and corrupted Nightmare Moon, and, uh, me, right? And many others throughout history?"

Fizzle Hooves smiled. "Perhaps."

"Then why didn't you do the same thing to Trixie?" Twilight asked.

Fizzle Hooves paused. "Corruption has the strength of deceit, but innocence holds the power of purity."

She turned back to Trixie. "I told you before that not everything was a lie, Trixie. You are destined to be a hero. It was.. Hmm. I really don't want to show my hand here. Not yet."

She looked into Trixie's eyes, which were glistening with tears. Fizzle Hooves felt something stir within herself, something unfamiliar. It was guilt. She was actually sorry for what she had done to the poor mare. She shook her head to try and clear the sensation. "I actually feel bad about this. Strange. I know you surely enjoyed the magic school just as much as I dis. I am... sorry, that you remembered the other... activities we engaged in. I also wasn't lying when I said there was something special about you, Trixie. However, I shall leave that to you and your associates to discover."

Fizzle Hooves winked. "But I am sure it will be too late. Farewell, foals. We shall not meet again."

Fizzle Hooves shimmered and vanished, and so too, did the ring of fire around Twilight dissolve and the paralyzation magic afflicting Winny, who rushed to the Queen's side.

Celestia looked around the room, then frowned at the Unliving Queen and her daughter. "Is everypony alright?"

"Who were those mares?" Rarity asked.

"A very good question, Rarity. Three sisters, as they called themselves. A unicorn, a pegasus, and an Earth pony, with infernal powers," Celestia said. "You read the Demonology book, Twilight. Anything come to mind?

Twilight shook her head. "I don't remember anything about three sisters. Those goat-thingies they summoned from the ground were definitely demons, though."

"Star Swirl? Any ideas?" Celestia asked.

Star Swirl shook his head. "I can't recall any thing such as this." He looked down at the Unliving Queen's rear and raised his eyebrow. "Celestia, look at her flanks."

Celestia frowned. "Where is her cutie mark?"

Winny cried, "They.. they stole it. That Fizzle Hooves. She said she stole everything that she is. Took all of her magic...."

Winny felt all the ponies staring at her, wished she had kept silent. She heard Applejack whisper, "There's another undead unicorn? I thought we got rid of 'em all."

Winny glanced at the gawking ponies, looked at Twilight, looked at her mother, then back to Twilight. She turned to Star Swirl. "Uncle...?"

Celestia stepped in front of the Queen and her daughter. "Let us leave this dank place and retire to the Castle. We have much to discuss."

Celestia hugged Trixie. "You were very brave, confronting that thing as you did. Hopefully she let slip some clues as to what she really is and what this is all about."

Celestia ushered the ponies out, Star Swirl stayed behind. Winny gazed down at her mother's face. It was the sad, benign face of a weary mare. Memories could be seen flashing across it. Memories of happy times, and horrors, and love, too. Tears fell down Winny's cheeks, fell on her mother's lips. The Queen smiled weakly.

Her daughter ran her hoof through her mane. "You're Twilight Sparkle, aren't you?"

The Queen whispered, "Once..."

Star Swirl sat down next to the pair. "Your mother was a victim of this Fizzle Hooves, or whatever her real name is. She and I hailed from an alternate future, which we came back to prevent. The tale is long, but suffice it to say, your mother was lost to you at an early age. I found you and brought you to the monastery to be raised. My magic brought me years into the past, and tonight I think I know why."

He conjured up a brush and ran it through Winny's matted mane. "You've always tried to hide who you really are, haven't you? Dresses, masks, armor, whatever it took to hide your unique looks."

Winny nodded.

"You didn't eat the cake, did you?" Star Swirl asked, although he already knew the answer.

Winny shook her head and smiled as she realized what the old unicorn was implying. Her dislike over her appearance had ensured she would not eat the poisoned cake on this night. "No, I didn't."

Winny looked down at her body, glanced back at her flank. For a fleeting moment, she was happy she looked the way she did, then she remembered the looks of disgust on the ponies' faces moments ago. She scowled. "Fate is cruel, huh. So all of this, years of despising myself, was just so I could stall Trixie long enough so Luna could come and save the day? That was my destiny? The reason magic itself made sure I would be there?"

Star Swirl hugged her. "Don't you think fate has something more in mind for you? Saving Princess Celestia's life, and everypony else at the reception, including myself I might add, is a noble enough destiny, but I feel there is more in store for you. Tell me, how did you end up here tonight?"

"My horn's magic guided me here," Winny said.

Star Swirl shivered as the cold night's air seeped into the tomb. "You see? Unicorn magic happens for a reason. If your destiny ended at the reception, you wouldn't be here. Also, I don't think we would have arrived in the nick of time to get that awful Fizzle Hooves character away from you. Now, let us get someplace a bit more pleasant, and warmer."

Star Swirl placed his hooves on the two mares and cast a teleportation spell, arriving in a vacant bedroom in Canterlot Castle. He gently placed the Unliving Queen on the bed and tucked her under the covers. It didn't seem possible, but the undead unicorn looked even more dead, what little light of life there had been was now gone. Star Swirl frowned at the gaping hole in her skull where the Nether Crystal had been removed.

"I should get back to the others," Star Swirl said. "Are you going to be okay?"

Winny nodded. Star Swirl smiled at her. "If you need to talk, just say the word."

Winny sighed as Star Swirl left the room. She had long dreamed of meeting her parents, but not like this. "Mum?"

"Yes, my daughter?" the Queen whispered. She smiled weakly as Winny moved closer.

"What are you?" Winny asked.

The Queen laughed, a horrible wheeze. "Just an old foal that got into magic she wasn't meant to..."

"You're dead, or rather, undead? I mean, I kinda look like a corpse, but you kind of have a big ol' hole in your skull," Winny said.

"I don't know how long it has been in your time, but from my perspective I died decades ago, dark magics granted me undeath. But you, you're fully alive, aren't you? Let me look at you," the Queen whispered.

Her daughter stood and slowly turned. "You're just as beautiful as I would have hoped," the Queen said. The Queen smiled at her daughter's flank. "Your cutie mark, let me see it." Her daughter moved her rear closer. The Queen grinned. "Yes... That was to be your destiny, you know. You were made to lead my Order of the Undying Dragon." A tear ran down the Queen's cheek. "But that fate is gone now. You're meant for better, nobler, things."

"That's why you named me this, isn't it? I was meant to lead this army of yours?" Winny asked.

"Yes. In Hoc SIgno Vinces. 'In this sign, thou shalt conquer.' Star Swirl let you keep the name I gave you?" the Queen asked.

"He did, but I usually go by Winny," Winny replied. "What did you mean just now, that I was 'made' to lead?"

"I could never have a child of my own, thanks to being undead. However, one day a necromancer came to my castle and offered me the chance of a lifetime. She said she knew a ritual that could make, uh, you, using some of my flesh and bone and her blood."

"So that is why I look the way I do," Winny whispered. "You said you had a castle, who are you? I mean, what did you do before you were laid to rest? Or, unrest, rather?"

The Queen smiled. "Once, I was a mere student of magic, trained by Princess Celestia herself. I had awesome friends, a good life, I was so happy! Then, the bad things happened to me and I began a transformation that led me to be the Unliving Queen of Equestria. Far, far, into a future that no longer exists. I ruled all and crushed all those who opposed my laws. But, just like your own, that fate just wasn't meant to be. I came back from the future and my friends saved me from the evil I had become by using the Elements of Harmony."

The Queen reached out and ran her hoof through her daughter's dark blue mane. "I heard Star Swirl say you hide what you truly are. You should be proud of who you are."

"I saw the way the ponies looked at me tonight," Winny softly said. "They weren't looking at me in admiration."

"Please forgive them, daughter. I led an army of undeath against Canterlot and threatened their lives. Unfortunately, you truly did get my looks. But those ponies were my friends, they're good ponies and they will learn to love you as I do. Go to them now, join their discussion, show them you are no different from them. This Fizzle Hooves must be stopped. I love you," the Queen whispered.

Winny cried and embraced her long lost mother. "I love you, too, mum."