~~~~~~Twilight City~~~~~~~~

The front door to Pony Joe's slowly opened into the silent street, and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza strode into it without a word. Her husband, Prince Shining Armor followed in her hoofsteps while projecting a thick violet shield of energy around the both of them. There were no shoppers or onlookers in the street, only a single pegasus in a dark purple flight suit and bright golden goggles.

Cadence turned her eyes upon the pegasus, and spoke gently - if gently meant that her voice rumbled through the square like the power of the earth itself. "You will not stay my path, Captain. If you attempt to do so, it will not go well for you." The pegasus shifted in place, its gaze still placid as though it was not bothered by thundering declarations of intent. Then again, perhaps she was simply used to such from her once queen.

Captain Winterlight smiled faintly at her, and gave a little shake of her head as Shining Armor moved up alongside Cadence. "Whatever gave you the impression that I was here to get in your way, Princess? I'm just here to warn you the roads are going to be dreadfully unsafe for a time." She cooed softly, as Cadence's magic lifted Shining onto her back. There was a brief moment where he squirmed into position, hanging onto her slim back. Winterlight arched an eyebrow. "And just what do you think you're doing, Princess?"

Cadence's wings flared and she smiled. "Leaving." her horn suddenly glowed an eye watering white as her wings descended in one powerful flap. Magic surged through the Alicorn's body and wind blasted through the streets from beneath her wings. The sheer force sent them rocketing into the air, as her pegasus magic warped the very density of the air around them.

Winterlight was sent flying into a wall as windows up and down the streets shattered from the sudden pressure wave set off by Cadence's wings. The two soared into the skies above Twilight City at astonishing speeds, and Cadence smirked in satisfaction. Most would have thought it was impossible to fly like this, and it was... for an ordinary pegasus.

Cadence was far from an ordinary pegasus, even though she had once been one. Worse still for them, one she deeply loved was in danger - and no foe was going to keep her from getting back to her little Twilight. They think their little power makes them strong. Cadence knew better. She knew what real power was, and now she was going to give them a little taste of it.

Dozens of dark-suited figures appeared around her - bursting forth from the shadows cast by the clouds themselves. Cadence did not hesitate even for a moment, turning her head to direct rapid fire magical blasts at her pursuers - blasting them away to crash down into the city below, their bodies smoking from the pure magical energy.

Cadence snarled silently as even more of them began to press in - and found themselves foiled by a sudden burst of violet shield around them. Shining grinned fiercely at their attackers. "Come and get some, Blunderbolts!" He spat out at them, and Cadence felt her own fierce smile cross her face. That's my Knight. She thought with exultant pride, as they continued to put distance between themselves and the city below.

Once she was certain she had more than enough cold air to work with, Cadence executed a perfect twist of her body in midair. Shining grit his teeth and hung on as another massive blast of air pressure burst from her wings sent them rocketing over the treetops. She could feel Shining barely holding on to her body as she accelerated at an incredible pace. What a Stallion! she thought with a flush of lust through her body - likely precipitated by the massive amounts of magic she was using. There were perilous few non pegasus ponies that could stand the massive force that often accompanied a flight like this.

More Shadowbolts appeared from beneath the trees, and more of them fell before her blasts of power. The few she missed found themselves smashed against Shining's shield, battered out of the way by the rapidly moving sphere. They kept coming, and the duo kept smashing them out of their way. Little by little, the Shadowbolts began to retreat - either too injured, or too terrified of the force of nature that was ripping branches off their trees as they flew past.

Cadence smiled at the sight of them beginning to give up, and Shining Armor gave a whoop of victory from behind her back. Cadence grinned as she felt his own excitement making itself known against her back, and decided that a little alone time might be necessary once they'd spoken to these mysterious ponies in town. Cadence could not guess who the young pony might be, but there was only one in Ponyville that fit the description of 'pony from a faraway land.'

Shining grinned at her, and Cadence returned his grin with a fierce, loving smile. Let this Shadow believe it could break them down, that it could win. There was only one force in the world that could not be contained, and could not be stopped. Only one power that no other could match. It could even be summed up in a little phrase Cadence had once read from a book - a phrase she had adopted as her own personal battle cry. A phrase she now let loose exultantly, in a voice that rippled through the forest and into the world around her.

A declaration of War against the Shadow, because be it ever so strong...

"Love Conquers All!"

~~~~~~~Sweet Apple Acres~~~~~~

Rarity's eyes shot open, finding herself lying in a soft feather bed, covered in a sweet smelling white sheet. She shot up, looking quickly around herself - it was a bedroom. Applejack's bedroom, not to put too fine a point on it. Her right forehoof had been bound and splinted carefully, though it still badly ached.

There were no other ponies in the room, and no sign of anything wrong with her mind or body. She quickly did a mental check over, and spoke aloud. "I am Rarity, Equestria's finest fashion designer, and Element of Generosity. I am also quite fabulous." She paused, licking her teeth for a moment in thought. "Everything seems to be in order." She opined to the silent room, then wondered why she was talking to herself.

Her eyes went to the splinted and bound hoof, and realized all at once why she was alone. It had to be broken, which meant that getting anywhere in any kind of hurry was not going to happen. And there's no way in Tartarus I'm going to try jumping or climbing out the window without four working hooves." she thought bitterly.

Who needed chains or rope? She was as effectively a prisoner as any iron bars could make her. Especially with Rainbow Dash downstairs to chase her should she somehow evade immediate capture. So Rarity drew herself up in the bed, eyeballing the clean looking water pitcher that sat enticingly next to her. Ha. As though I were foolish enough to believe that it is truly untouched. she sniffed at it derisively, and scanned the room as she did so.

Sadly, the room offered no immediate options for her to effect some kind of escape or message to the outside world. Steady on, Rarity. she thought sternly to herself, trying to stave off the feeling of despair. It was difficult of course, but a Lady must be strong in times of adversity. Doubly so when family was involved, and for Sweetie Belle... there was no end to Rarity's strength when it came to her little sister. Where there is the will, there is a way, darling.

So she waited, putting her mind to boiling over how she could use the various sundries within the room to affect an escape. Darkness would undoubtedly give her a better opportunity, but that was hours away. It did not seem as though they intended to leave her alone either. The door swung open, and a deep-purple coated pony slowly walked through it.

Rarity steeled her nerves and held her head high. She would not show her friend any more fear, and would not give her the satisfaction of seeing her act any less than a true Lady should. Defiance might be cheap, but it was all Rarity had left. Her eyes went to the plate glass window and felt a little knot of sickness in her stomach. Well. Perhaps not all she had left, but some things were best not thought about until it became clear that all hope was lost.

The dark-coated, dragon eyed Twilight sat across the room from Rarity. The door still open just a crack or so, facing away from rarity. She's going to see if I'm foolish enough to try to run in my condition. Hmph. I will not cower and claw at her hooves. Rarity did not speak, and did not move. She simply met those dragon slit eyes with as cold a regard as she had ever given another creature, her face a mask of haughty disdain.

The false Twilight's mouth opened a little, and then shut. Rarity kept the look upon her face, refusing to let whatever this was intimidate her into speaking first. Many emotions passed over the pony's face, before settling on sadness. She looked down and sighed. "I didn't want this, Rarity."

Rarity paused for a moment. It certainly sounded like her, especially in that sad inflection that Twilight often had in difficult times. "I don't suppose you did, Twilight. Yet here we are." She crossed her forehooves as primly as she could, tossing her mane over her shoulder. "So. I suppose you've come to do to me whatever it is you've done to my sister and my friends." Rarity's tone was as cold as ice, and rolled testily across the room.

Twilight winced a little at her tone, and turned her head slightly away. "I didn't mean to get Sweetie Belle involved in this, Rarity. It was an accident, I swear to you." There it was, that desperate tone in Twilight's voice. Rarity knew it well, from the few times her friend had been driven to near madness. "As for our friends-" she began...

When Rarity cut across Twilight's speech, her words as sharp as a surgeon's blade."Really. An accident? I find it awfully hard to believe you have brainwashed my beloved little sister - and Applejack's too, come to that - by accident." Twilight was actually driven a step back, staring at Rarity in surprise. Rarity poured acid into her words, a desperate plan forming in her mind. "If you truly believe in your heart that we are your friends Twilight, you will let me go this very instant." Twilight stared at her, as if uncomprehending - and Rarity plowed on. "You will let me go and speak to Celestia in Canterlot about what has happened, and we can find a way to fix this together."

Twilight bit at her lower lip, and Rarity tried to cling to the hope that her words would reach her friend. Please, Twilight... she silently begged, even as her words came out softly. "I wish to have faith in you. But first you must have faith in me." Rarity sensed things could go either way now, and so stopped speaking. Instead, she decided to force the issue. She gently uncovered herself from the sheets, and scooted over to the side of the bed.

Twilight watched her, as she hopped gently off the bed, purposefully keeping her splinted hoof off the ground. It hurt even to move the damn thing, but she had no choice right now. She quietly began moving towards the door. If she does not let me leave...then... Then Rarity would face her fate, her head held high.

Like a Lady ought to.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight met Rarity's gaze as the door swung open at the touch of Rarity's magic. Dash sat directly outside the door, her head wrapped in a white linen bandage and bruises obvious all over her torso. Applejack sat next to her, her forehoof wrapped around Dash's shoulders and nuzzled into them softly. Pinkie Pie stood at the end of the hallway, quietly talking to the two fillies that had gotten dragged into this, and giggling in soft humor at their antics. Rarity looked with pity down that hallway, and then turned those pitiless eyes upon Twilight.

"Rarity, please." Twilight whispered, having already made peace with her plan of action - and subsequently, that plan with Umbra. "Don't." Rarity sniffed softly at the words, her head still held regally high. It was clear even to Twilight that every step she took cost Rarity a great deal of pain, and yet still she was walking. Determination was written in her face, and defiance in her eye.

"Your choice, Twilight." Rarity said gently, turning away. "Don't try to tell yourself any different. It was always, and still is your choice." She walked past the door frame, where Dash and Applejack sat it one another's hooves. "I'm dreadfully sorry about those, dear." Rarity gently spoke to Dash, with a small smile crossing those beautiful lips. "I promise you, when all of this is over I shall repay you for them a thousand fold."

Dash looked at her - a combination of irritation and amusement written on her face. She spoke softly. "You were just defending yourself, Rares. Nice trick with the rope, by the way." There was an ironic sort of smile on her face as she said it, and an equally ironic tone in her voice.

Applejack, turning her eyes away from Rarity spoke softly. "You really ought'a go back in there n' talk t' her Rarity." She sounded so incredibly sincere that Rarity simply smiled at her, continuing to walk. "Quit bein' a damn fool! Who d'you think bound yer damn hoof?" She called out, a trace of her usual ornery nature bleeding through into her words.

Rarity spoke as she walked, her voice soft. "Just because a jailer takes care of his prisoners does not make them any less prisoners, Applejack." Her voice was arrogant and proud - and also vicious enough to set Applejack to wincing away from the words. "Perhaps you ought to be expressing that wonderful honesty to Twilight about what's happened to Applebloom, instead of worrying about me."

Twilight stared down the hallway, as though she was lost for words as Rarity came to the two little fillies sitting in Pinkie Pie's lap. "Come along, Sweetie Belle." Rarity said gently, a quiet firmness to her tone. Sweetie blinked up at her in surprise, as though she wasn't quite sure what had driven Rarity to say that. "We're going on a little trip to Canterlot. Now come along. Move that flank." Her tone was a bit sharper as Sweetie lethargically moved, her eyes focused on Applebloom now with a bit of sadness and disappointment.

Twilight found her voice then. "Rarity, stop. Don't take one more step, Or I'll-" once again, Twilight's words were cut short by the icy gaze of Rarity whipping around to bore into her eyes. The voice of Umbra had gone silent, and a powerful sense of dominance radiated from Rarity's form. She was injured, weak, and all alone - and she was showing no fear of Twilight.

"Or you will what Twilight Sparkle?" The whip crack of Rarity's voice traveled down the hallway, and seemed to physically strike Twilight in the chest. Rarity lifted up her injured forehoof and purposefully set it down on the first stair of the staircase, the white hot pain obvious in Rarity's voice as she spoke. "What will you do?"

Twilight stared into those diamond blue eyes, fierce with determination and teared up with pain. Rarity's hoof gently took Sweetie Belle's, but she did not avert her gaze. Twilight could not bring herself to look away from those eyes, from that icy-cold stare.

"Well, Twilight Sparkle." Said Rarity's pain filled voice, once more. "What will you do?"

For the very first time, Twilight felt her resolve begin to crack.

~~~~~~Ponyville~~~~~~

Zecora knocked firmly on the door to the shop, then pushed her way in - only to come face to face with a broad brimmed goblet, a quarter full of red goo. Berry Punch glared into Zecora's eyes, who nodded once and downed the thick concoction without a second word. Silence reigned between them, and then Berry sighed softly in relief before speaking. "Not good, I take it?"

Zecora shook her head firmly. "Get your things and pack them fine, we only have a little time." she quickly began to pull down jars, trying to judge what would be most useful for the road. Medicines. Salves and dried herbs. Grandmothers recipe book. Berry was staring at Zecora for a moment, then nodded in silence and quickly rushed upstairs.

Zecora noticed nothing around her for a time, as she quietly agonized over which of her cloaks she wished to bring... when she noticed the little orange coated filly at her hooves, looking down at the floor. "There's nothing we can do, is there." It was not a question, it was a statement. The heartbreak was clear in her voice, and it was more than enough to drive through Zecora's own fears like a steel spike.

Zecora fell to her knees and gently placed her hoof under Scootaloo's chin. "Little one, don't be a dope." she said, with a little grin. "This is no time to give up hope. Though darkness holds them now, you see - A way to free them there will be." Scootaloo looked up, and nodded once. "Go get your things, and feel no fright." Zecora looked up and smiled a little. "This is a time to run, but there will be a time to fight."

Scootaloo closed her eyes then nodded firmly, scampering out the front door a moment later. Zecora cocked her ear, and heard the buzz of wings rocketing away from the shop. Then she went back to the difficult task before her, her thoughts brooding. She will be safe. The Gods will watch over her, until her time comes. She paused, holding up a pitch black bottle with a grim smile. And when it does, you must be there to protect her too.

~~~~~~~

Scootaloo did not need to go far. Not many ponies knew about her situation, and that was just the way she liked it. The tiny orphanage building was often overlooked by most of the town's inhabitants - and Scoots often took extra care not to be seen exiting it or entering it at the times of the day when somepony might notice. The place was empty, as it usually was around this time of the day. Ms. Charity and Ms. Goodwork, who kept the place running, were off doing errands while all the other kids were out playing or in school.

Scootaloo rushed into the sleeping room, and threw open her trunk - carefully lifting her scooter repair kit and putting it into the little pair of saddle bags that Dash had gotten her last hearth-warming. She followed it with her own hoof-made pillow and a few other odds and ends - her Rainbow Dash shirt, her bag of marbles - the little golden locket with the pictures of her parents, which she made absolutely certain were stowed carefully away. She also grabbed her bag of trail mix - dried fruits mostly, but some nuts were in there too. Her tiny bag of carefully saved up bits. Her compass, and...

Her hoof found the bright red cloak, made from hard wearing red silk and embroidered with a bright blue shield upon which a rampant filly in white smiled. Scootaloo closed her eyes, and felt all the strength sap out of her. Sweetie. Applebloom. Tears came again, though not quite as strong as they had been a few hours before. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought up that stupid liquor. I should've been stronger. I should've...something. She slammed her head against the battered wooden chest, the pain cutting through her grief.

She didn't know how long she was there, but after a time the tears began to dry up. She grasped the red cloak and threw it around her neck, tightening the knot firmly. "I'm gonna save you." She said to the empty room, mounting the saddlebags over her back. "I'm gonna get you girls back, and ain't nothing's gonna stop me." She continued, as she grabbed the pencil from atop the scattered papers on the study desk and began to write, the final drip of a few tears spattering against the paper.

A few moments later, she carefully folded the paper and put it on her pillow. She looked up at the little photograph of the Crusaders holding up the talent show trophy from just a year or so ago, the one that sat next to her bed. Her eyes burned for a moment, and then she picked it up, stowing it away in her pack. She took one last look around the place that had for so long been her home, and turned away. "G'bye." She said, trying to fight back her emotions.

She walked towards the door, feeling some strange strength feeding into her limbs. The music played softly in her head as she halfheartedly sang, her voice growing with each step she took. "Now there's just me to fight the fight... But I won’t shed a tear." She shoved open the doorway, hopping down the steps slowly. "I'll go anywhere to fight the foe, and I will show no fear."

She hopped up on her scooter, and paused to look towards the bright blue sky. "For I'm the Cutie Mark Crusader, on a quest to save my friends." Her voice rang out through the empty alleyway, echoing off of the walls. "And I'll fight on forever, until we're all together again." Scootaloo's wings began to buzz, setting her cape to billowing in the wind they created, and took off down the road towards Zecora's place. Upon her trusty scooter, the little filly felt a tiny spark begin to bloom inside of her heart.

Just a little spark... for now.

~~~~~Sweet Apple Acres~~~~~~

Twilight inhaled softly, and then exhaled. Rarity's unflinching regard felt like it saw through to her very soul, and why would it not? Rarity had always been far more perceptive than most ponies would ever know. Her words had cut Twilight to the quick, and forced her to confront that all too simple question. What would she do?

What could she do?

The moment stretched into forever, and Twilight felt herself teetering over a cliff. The world before her, and the world behind. Everything up until now could be answered for, could be swept away. It would not be easy - and there would be hard prices to pay for some of it - but nothing was beyond her ability to pay. She looked down that hallway with her assembled friends, and their eyes upon her, but especially into those diamond eyes that did not look away.

Twilight knew she would need that strength, in the days to come. "I'm going to come with you." She said quietly down the hallway. Shock appeared on Rarity's face, followed by a steady mix of emotions - which eventually won out into pride. Twilight slowly walked down the hallway at an even pace, and Rarity lifted her injured hoof off the lower step - wincing a little in the process.

Twilight picked up the pace and hurried to Rarity's side, sighing. "You and your dramatic gestures." She muttered, half angry - and half lovingly. Rarity just beamed at her. Twilight gently moved under the injured hoof to support Rarity with her shoulder, and looked up into those shining eyes. Twilight bit at her lip softly, looking down the stairwell sadly.

Rarity blinked at her a little in surprise, followed immediately by a warm smile. "What's wrong, Twilight?" she said softly, tilting her head fetchingly to one side. That gorgeous mane pouring over her shoulder and the sweet and elite tone in her voice echoing in Twilight's ears.

Twilight whispered softly. "No more hesitation." She turned in one motion and pressed her lips to Rarity’s firmly, pressing out her tongue to slip past those delicate lips. Rarity's eyes widened in shock, moving to pull away - then finding her body stilled, unable to do so. Her pupils slowly began to contract, as Twilight's eyes closed and the shadow of her mane slowly liquidized as her power began to flow.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash both smiled at the scene, then turned back to focus on one another - secure in the knowledge that all was right with the world. Pinkie Pie giggled and shooed the two fillies down the hallway, giving Rarity and Twi a little privacy for now. Twilight remained locked in her embrace with Rarity, both of their eyes closed in the kiss - which was slowly becoming a much more mutual affair.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rarity could not move her body, she could not feel any pain, and her world had focused down to only one thing - Twilight. Everything else seemed trivial and pointless, unworthy of her direct attention. All that mattered was that soft kiss - those gentle, insistent lips and the velvety tongue teasing at her own.

Rarity was no stranger to intimacy with a mare, though a Lady did not kiss and tell. Yet nothing she had done before this moment felt like it could ever possibly compare with this simple moment. Intellectually, her mind knew this was wrong - that she should not be feeling these things. That she should run as quickly as she could, as far away from Twilight as she could manage.

And for a little time, she tried to struggle - valiantly, defiantly - but defiance is a poor emotion when confronted with a dream fulfilled. Oh certainly, the details were a little different - and perhaps, there were some little niggling doubts that would need to be addressed. Yet all of that paled to the emotions that now built up inside of her. She was lost amidst a sea of love and acceptance, a feeling of safety that filled every little crack in her heart and soul. All of the loss and rejection and failures were swept away in a torrent of that sweetest of all elixirs - Love.

Rarity no longer wanted to run away from this. She wanted this kiss, this glorious moment to last forever if it could. She had wasted years of her life searching for her Prince Charming, and her Princess Alluring had been right here in front of her the whole time. Maybe not love at first sight, but love at first kiss was more than romantic enough for Rarity's sensibilities. So she simply stopped caring about silly little things like running away, and leaned into those glorious lips to show that the gift she had been given was very much reciprocated.

Rarity tightened her injured leg around Twilight's neck, and gave off a pretty little gasp of pleasure - her tongue finally responding to the invasion with no small amount of vigor. Rarity was more than a little pleased that Twilight was so obviously returning the passion, and was now more than certain that this was indeed Love and not some lesser emotion.

Rarity could feel herself filling with that glorious light... Or was it shadow? Twilight had changed certainly, but perhaps Rarity had been a touch hasty in presuming they were bad changes. Sweetie would certainly need a stern talking to, given her behavior - but perhaps no more than that. It was good to be understanding with one's little sister.

The kiss could not last forever, and when it finally broke it was like taking in those first deep breaths after coming up from a long stay underwater. Like emerging into life once again, rarity gasped in deep and cleansing breaths. She had been drowning beneath a sea of loneliness, and a purple hoof had pulled her from the waves. Twilight was looking at her with half hopeful eyes, as though she couldn't quite believe she'd been so bold. Rarity took a moment to admire the purple faceted gems within those eyes, and found that the dragon look was not quite as bad as she'd first thought.

Rarity put on her best sultry smile, nuzzling her cheek up against Twilight's. "Twilight do you really..?" Rarity whispered, hoping beyond hope that at long last, she'd found the way. Twilight's smile blossomed, opening up like the petals of a rose. She said nothing, as nothing truly needed to be said. She simply kissed Rarity again, her own hoof pulling the white unicorn in closer. Rarity gave off a little squeal of surprise and then returned the affection enthusiastically.

After all, some of Rarity's favorite stories were about the beautiful maiden falling for the dark and mysterious prince. Prince, Princess. Details, details. She thought with a wicked little smile, drawing away from the second kiss with a throaty sigh of satisfaction. "Mmm..." Rarity purred, nuzzling her cheek up against Twilight's. "Say it for me... Please?" She plead, closing her eyes and leaning into that soft and strong shoulder. "I need to hear you say it..." She whispered again, shutting her eyes tight to the world...

~~~~~~~~~

Twilight couldn't repress her smile, and returned the nuzzle affectionately. Though Twilight had feared what she would have to say here - she found she could not lie. That here, in this little hallway, in this little house - the truth would set her free. No more hesitation - but more importantly, no more hiding from her true self.

Twilight's lips parted and she whispered back softly. "I Love you, Rarity. I will never, ever leave you." the words poured out of her heart, her soul. Twilight felt herself fighting back a sob of tears, of emotions long suppressed deep within her heart. She truly did love her, with just as much of her heart and soul as she loved Dash or Applejack. They were more than friends now, more than just lovers. Twilight didn't have a word for it - and for once in her life, she didn't need one. The proof was in the Love.

Rarity whispered back, her own voice thick with emotions. "I love you, Twilight Sparkle. And you had best not, or else!" There was a teasing joke to her words, a relieved burst of emotions. They had both found their port in the storm of the world, and that feeling of gentle safety permeated them both.

Another had words for Twilight too - as a soothing and motherly voice spoke to her, brimming with pride, ~"Well done, my Shade. Gloriously well done. You see? She is so much happier now. She only needed to be shown the beauty of our love. Imagine what we could do, my Shade - if we could show this to all of Equestria..."~

~~~~~~

Rarity felt Twilight slowly sitting down next to the window at the end of the hallway, and she found herself slowly lowered down next to her. With her uninjured forehoof now free of having to support her weight, she wrapped it around Twilight's neck and nuzzled into that sweet scented coat. Safe. Warm. Happy. She would deal with Sweetie Belle in a few minutes, but for now it could wait.

It looked like the books were right after all. "Love conquers all." Rarity whispered, and closed her eyes with a smile.

Author's Notes:

Back in the saddle! YEEEEHAW

Also! Ha HA! Literary devices!