>You ease open the door, light pouring in from behind you.
>It’s pitch black in there, how does she move around?”
>You shove the thought to the side as you slip inside and close the door.
“Hello, Trixie? You in here?”
>No response. If she wanted to be hidden she wouldn’t make a peep.
>That just means you get to search for her.
>Fucking joy.
>You pull an orb of magic light out of your ass, figuratively of course, keeping it dim for Trixie’s sake.
>If she’s been cooked up inside this place for so long then she’s going to be extra sensitive to light.
>You’ve been there; living in the changeling hive wasn’t nice to your eyes.
>So you try your best not to hurt hers.
 
>You almost trip over a discarded book by your feet and make a note to avoid the dozens of others that litter the floor.
>The fireplace is out cold, the logs long neglected.
>You pick up a picture off the mantle, a small purple unicorn standing beside Princess Celestia.
>She looks so happy, likely the Twilight that Anonymous mentioned.
>You place it back down and head deeper into the room, two bookshelves on either side of you.
>Only a few books remain while the rest have been thrown about.
>Skimming through the book yields little for you, just highlighted pages of useless information.
>”Biology of Equines: Unicorn’s Explored.”
>Interesting.
 
>You toss it with its comrades and move over to the curtains held tight against the wall.
>Gently peeking through the slit grants you a gorgeous view of the city below along with the rolling hills around.
>She cut off such a view? She must be crazier than you thought.
>You move back inside, this time finding a set of stairs to ascend.
>The wooden planks creak under your weight followed by heavy breathing from the second level.
>It hushes shortly afterward, but you at least know she’s here now.
>You scan the second level calmly and try to pinpoint her location.
>The bathroom door hangs open so you can cross that one off.
>You check out the desk and point light onto the documents spread over it.
>There’s a mess of diagrams and lab notes along with comical circles around some of the important information.
 
>She’s really weird, you don’t need to meet her to find that out.
>You’ve met your fair share of wackos in your day, but she strikes you as obsessed.
>Twilight’s signature can be found on the majority of the documents here, most of which seem to deal with some sort of energy enhancement.
>It’s of no concern of yours so you allow yourself to keep moving about.
>The blankets on the bed bulge upward, its inhabitant as frightened as a child.
>You’ll let her calm down before you tear the sheets off.
>Behind the bed lies a most curious sight, a mannequin.
>You place your hand on the soft layers of the cape, its starry pattern reminding you of a magician.
>Its tied together with a jewel, cracked and ragged. It’s certainly seen better days.
>And to top it all off is a wizard’s hat, resting on the head.
>It’s a cute little costume as far as you’re concerned.
 
>You look back to the bed, Trixie as still as a rock.
>You walk slowly over to the bed and sit down on the side.
>Gently, you pull the sheets away revealing… a bundle of pillows.
>You grin and shake your head. Clever girl.
>Another set of hushed breath clarifies what you already know.
>You get to your knee and lean down as your light hovers above.
>You pick up the concealing sheets as you peer under the bed.
>”NO GO AWAY!”
>The sudden shout startles you and you bang your head on the side, a slight annoyance.
“Wait, I just want to-“
>A pillow smacks into your face and you can hear her scrambling away.
“I want to talk to you.”
>As you’re about to chase her down the stairs your footing grows unsteady as the floor grows slippery.
 
>You hold onto the rails as you breathe in a heavy scent of ammonia.
>Why does everyp0ny do that around you?
>You can make out Trixie barreling for the door.
“Don’t open the-“
>She swings the door open and screeches as the light blinds her.
>You force the door shut as she stumbles backwards and hurry down to her.
>She hears you approach and tries to escape  once more.
>”Please don’t hurt Trixie! Trixie’s sorry!”
>She stumbles over the books and you catch her just before she hits the ground.
>”NO NO NO!”
>She goes berserk in an effort to escape, hitting you everywhere from the jaw to your more intimate parts.
>You clench your teeth and bear with it while trying to calm her down.
>”I never meant to anger you!”
 
“Please just calm down.”
>She tries to slip from your grasp but you keep a strong hold on her.
>”Please don’t…”
>She begins to tire which puts you at ease a little. At least you don’t have to worry about getting hit again.
>”Don’t.”
>You pet her mane gently, the strands brushing through your fingers.
“Shhh, be calm. I’m not to hurt you.”
>Your arm dampens as she wipes away her tears.
“Let it out, just let go.”
>Thankfully she already released the other stuff.
“It’s alright. It’s alright,” you repeat as you rock her like a child.
>It’ll be alright.
 
>You place your hand on the log and look back to her.
“Can I?”
>She nods and you ignite the fire, making sure to shield her from its intensity.
>The fire illuminates more of the room than you did before so you get a better feel for the space.
>The coffee you put on dings and you pour a cup, placing it in Trixie’s cold hooves.
>She thanks you and sips at it, the steam rising from her cup.
“Can I ask what that was all about?”
>She seems to close up, “Don’t think about it, don’t think-“
“It’s alright,” you cut her off before she goes all catatonic on you. “Let’s just talk about something else.”
>”Sure.”
 
“So… You were a famous magician right? I saw your outfit upstairs.”
>”T-trixie hasn’t performed in a long time.”
“I’m sure your act was something. You ever do the ol’ saw a p0ny in half trick?”
>”Trixie only performed by herself.”
“A loner huh? Not much for company I’d assume. I never really liked to be the center of attention myself.”
>”Trixie used to like the stage, before she was a joke,” she bows her head.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, everyone has their off days.”
>”Trixie was humiliated. No p0ny would take Trixie seriously.”
“Maybe it has something to do with all the third person. It makes you seem a bit pretentious.”
>”Oh that’s nice,” she says as she starts to cry again.
>God dammit.
 
>You scoot closer to her on the couch and rub her back.
“I didn’t mean it like that. I’m sorry.”
>She sniffs and takes another drink of coffee, “I forgive you.”
“Doesn’t that sound better?” you reply with a grin.
>She smiles back in turn, “Yeah it kind of does.”
“A smile too? Say it ain’t so.”
>She hides her face as you continue to entertain her.
“If I knew I was this funny I would’ve become a comedian rather than a hero.”
>”Hero,” she mutters solemnly as her eyes fixate on the fire.
>Her violet eyes capture the flames as she recedes back into her memories.
>”He… he killed them…”
>She’s not ready, you can tell.
 
>You pull her away from the fire and rescue her from her mind.
“Come on, I want to see something.”
>She follows you back upstairs and sits on the bed as you whisk her clothes off the mannequin.
>”I can’t put those back on.”
“Oh come on, humor me.”
>”A-alright, for you. Don’t you dare laugh at me.”
“You can hit me if I do.”
>”I can do that anyways.”
>Smartass.
“Let me rephrase, I’ll let you hit me.”
>”Fine,” she says as she levitates the clothes from your hand.
 
>You turn around as she fixes herself up.
>”I didn’t say you had to turn around.”
“I know, I just want it to be a surprise.”
>”You’re weird you know that?”
>You could say the same thing about her.
>”Alright, you can turn around.”
>You swivel around, a grin sprouting on your face.
>She smacks your arm without hesitation, “You said you wouldn’t laugh.”
“I didn’t” you rub your arm, “You’re just cuter than I thought you’d be.”
>”Oh,” she blushes, “Thank you.”
“You really are something else. I don’t know why you stayed in here all day.”
>”Because I’m a fake, that’s why,” she retorts ruining the mood.
 
“Like hell, you’ve got something, I can feel it.”
>”That’s what Anonymous said too, and he threw me to the side when he was wrong.”
“Well, I’m not wrong.”
>”You don’t understand. I lied to everyp0ny. I told them I was something I’m not. I’m just a phony.”
“It couldn’t have been that bad.”
>”I told them I defeated an Ursa Major.”
“And they believed you? Damn, and here I am trying to make clever lies.”
>”I almost destroyed Ponyville, but Twilight saved them.”
“You’re jealous of her?”
>”Why shouldn’t Trixie be? She was Great and Powerful, while I cowered in fear.”
“Is that what all these notes are about? You’re trying to catch up with her?”
>”Anyway I can.”
 
“You’re a fool.”
>”Don’t speak to Trixie like that.”
“Cut the third person crap, you’re better than that. You don’t need to be better than Twilight.”
>You cut her off before she can backtalk. You’re in no mood.
“I know how it feels to get shown up. That’s a defining part of my life, but I don’t let it control me. I focus on what I can do, not what’s been.”
>”That’s what I’m trying to do. I want to be better.”
“For the wrong reason. You want to prove that you’re better, and as long as you think like that,” you shake your head, “You’ll never be.”
>”I have to try.”
“Do you know where I get my power from?”
>”Your emotions, anger, fear, love, hate. Just like Anonymous.”
 
>You shake your head. She’s so very wrong.
“He took that power. He’s unnatural. Do you really want to be like him?”
>”I guess not.”
“You guess or you don’t.”
>”I don’t.”
“Good. Now I’ll ask you again, do you know where I get my power from?”
>”I don’t know.”
>You take her hoof and place it on your chest.
“I get it from here, from inside. Not some medical experiment doohickey. I strove to be better so that I may protect others. I was rewarded with this.”
>Energy ripples down your arm and into her.
“True power is born within, not brought from out.”
 
>”I could never achieve something like this. I just can’t.”
“Celestia did. Twilight did. I did. You can too.”
>You brush the hair out of her face.
“You just have to believe you can.”
>You pause and think for a moment.
“There’s something I want you to have.”
>You yank the gem from her coat.
>”Hey! What’s the big deal?”
“This necklace has been handed down for generations of heroes like me. Equestria needs heroes.”
>The ruby sparkles brilliantly on her cape, truly doing her justice.
“I think that hero should be you.”
 
>”But why?”
“I don’t know to be honest. It just feels right.”
>She peers down at your gift, “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. I should get going. It was nice to meet you.”
>”But what about why you came?”
“I wanted to know what happened on the day the rebellion was crushed, but it only pains you. I can find another.”
>”I wasn’t in the battle, but I met the hero,” she exclaims. “He, made a fool out of me. I was so scared…”
“Do you know anything about the changelings?”
>”Never heard of them.”
>You nod. She really didn’t know anything.
“I figured. Still, that’s one person off the list.”
>That doesn’t mean this trip was pointless.
 
>Trixie shows you out and asks about your next journey.
>You say that you’re going to talk to Nightmare Moon, and boy will that be fun.
>She seems to know the way which is good, because you have no fucking clue where to go.
>”Nightmare Moon should be inside, and Anon?”
“Yes?”
>She holds you tight, “Thank you. I hope I can call you a friend.”
“Anytime,” you reply scratching her ear, ”Now go and do something great for me.”
>”Yes sir.” She trots away with a spring in her step. Damn ponies these days.
>You grin to yourself and open the door, two p0nies inside, a unicorn and alicorn.
>”Ah! Anon? What’re you doing here?”
“Mr. Light? I could ask you the same thing.”
>You look to Mr. Light and… Luna.
>She scratches her leg nervously, “Well this is awkward.”
 
“I’ll say.”
>You’ve never seen her in her normal form before. She’s far less imposing without the armor, fangs and such.
“What happened to Nightmare Moon?”
>”She died when their hero saved my life.”
>What? Your head is full of fuck right now.
“So the whole Nightmare Moon persona has been just an act?”
>”Convincing isn’t it? She fooled me at first too.”
>”I have to be careful not to let it take me over again. I trot a thin line.”
>You walk inside and shut the door behind you. Anonymous would not be happy if he found out.
“Who else knows about this?”
 
>”Just me, Light and now you.”
“Keep it that way. The last thing I want is Anonymous finding out.”
>”Don’t worry, I keep my identity safe.”
>You certainly hope so.
>”So why are you here Anon? Shouldn’t you be back-“
“No, why the hell are you here?”
>”Watch your tone boy.”
>Oh he fucking didn’t.
“I’m older than you are, kid. I want an answer.”
>”He’s too much like him.”
“What’s she talking about?”
 
>”When we spoke in the past, I requested your help in dealing with our benevolent ruler.”
>”To which I said was a terrible idea. He has him in his pocket.”
“I’m in no one’s pocket. I made a deal and that was it.”
>”You declined Anon, and if I couldn’t get your help I would have to find others.”
“But Luna knew about your intentions already?”
>”Yes, she was the one who found me. I was scared for my life the first time we met.”
>”Being the incarnation of darkness does that,” she jokes.
“You’re both a couple of revolutionaries is that it?”
>He nods, “Big things have small beginnings.”
>They’re- Dammit.
“Do you have any idea how fucking stupid you both are?”
>This startles Light, “I wasn’t expecting that.”
 
“I’m not stupid enough to try and go toe to toe with him and no offense, but you both don’t compare to me.”
>”We may not be as strong, but our spirit is unwavering,” he boasts.
>”Someone has to defeat him. So we’ll find a way together.”
“Do you really believe that?”
>”I do.”
“Are you willing to die for that belief?”
>She shrugs, “Isn’t exactly plan A.”
>You laugh lightly at her joke.
“I admire that. Foolish to be sure, but admirable. A part of me hopes you might succeed.”
>Light steps in, “With that I would like my answer. What’re you doing here?”
>You never did give an answer. It’s only polite.
 
“I came to talk to Nightma- Luna.”
>”Perhaps I could stay.”
>She looks at you quizzically, “I think this is a bit too personal. It’d be best to leave us, until next time Light.”
>He bows to her will, “As you wish Princess.”
>His absence leaves a void, “Come, let us sit.”
>You sit down on a seat across from her, her eyes upon you.
>”What troubles you?”
“What doesn’t these days?”
>”We know what we’re doing Anon. We’ll know when the time’s right.”
“Make it count.”
 
>”So what is it you wished to discuss?”
“The war mostly, mainly the confrontation here in Canterlot.”
>”The Brother’s War. A catchy name, I’ll have to write it down in the scrolls.”
“I need to know who fought alongside him, other than p0nies.”
>”Griffons mostly. They were the first force to breach the castle walls simply because they flew over them.”
“Yeah I fought a few myself.”
>”I remember hearing about a mass of Minotaurs, Diamond Dogs and other wildife from the Everfree Forest breaching the gates as well.”
“What did you see?”
>”I was tasked to the throne room to defeat Anonymous’s brother. I was not enough.”
“So you didn’t see any of them yourself?”
>”I get the impression you want to ask something specific.”
 
“You got me. I try to keep a low profile about this.”
>”Go ahead, I promise your secret’s safe with me.”
>You take a deep breath.
“Was Chrysalis there?”
>”That name sounds familiar, but not in the battle.”
“You’ve met her?”
>”No, but it was many years ago when she staged an attack on Canterlot.”
“Nah, that doesn’t sound like her.”
>”I’m certain of it now. She and her horde infiltrated the castle in an attempt to capture the city.”
“She- She’d have to be pretty desperate to try that again.”
>”She was close to you wasn’t she?”
>You nod and look to the floor.
 
“No one tends to care about specifics after war, so when I didn’t come back, not many questioned it.”
>”You won that war though.”
“I was at Chrysalis’s mercy and she spared me… twice.”
>”Ouch.”
“Not easy for a guy to take let me tell you.”
>”I wouldn’t doubt it.”
“I just want to make sure she’s okay.”
>”I’m sorry that I can’t help more.”
“Don’t sweat it. You were my last lead though. Looks like I’ll never find out.”
>”Have you considered talking with Octavia?” she pipes up.
“Why does she sound familiar?”
 
>”She’s only the most famous classical musician in Equestria. She has seen better days though.”
“That girl with the violin?”
>”Cello, but yes.”
“That seems kinda pointless. She’s a musician, what the hell would she know about it?”
>”Forgot I mentioned it then. If you don’t take the initiative then it’s your fault.”
>She knows how to push your buttons, but she’s right. You never know.
“Which way to the dungeon?”
>”Right this way.”
>She stops at the door, a shuddering surge of magic surrounding her.
>Her skin turns black and mane a starry mist.
>”Can’t be raising suspicion.”
“Of course.”
 
>The dungeon’s about as damp and dreadful as you’d expect.
>The guards salute to the disguised princess as she passes.
“You have the respect of the guards.”
>”I have respect, of whom it doesn’t matter.”
>She really is good at acting.
>”Guard!” she shouts to the jailor and he comes galloping over.
>”Yes Ma’am.”
>”Show us to Octavia’s cell, Anon wishes to interrogate the prisoner.”
>”Yes Ma’am.”
>The cells are surprisingly empty save for a few, a shivering mare presented before you.
>”Leave us. We wish to work in private.”
“Unless you’d like to join her?”
 
>He takes off the other direction slowly, but there’s no mistaking the hurried nature of his departure.
>”After you.”
“Ladies first.”
>”Such a gentlecolt.”
>Octavia backs into the corner as you lock the cell behind you.
>”I swear I don’t know anything.”
>”You will speak when spoken to!”
“But you just spoke to her.”
>”Don’t tempt me Anon.”
“What a buzz-kill… Guard, food and water!”
>”Right away sir.”
 
>You kneel down next to her, Octavia flinching at your hand.
“I’m not like the others Octavia. I’m not going to hurt you.”
>”That’s what the last guard said. That’s what they all said.”
“Fine, I am like the others, but I’m not going to hurt you.”
>”Half-truths and lies.”
“It can’t be both dear,” the guard slides the tray through the bars.
“Here, you need it,” you say pushing the tray closer to her.
>The hunger burns in her eyes as she stares down at the toasted bread and cold water.
“Go ahead, take your ti-“
>She snatches the bread in a flash and eagerly devours it. Must’ve been hungry.
“Drink up, don’t want to get the hiccups.”
>It doesn’t take her long to finish up the last few drops, the plate barren.
“Uh guard? Another please.”
 
>”Why?” she asks as you replace her tray.
“Just being a friend, we’re friends now right Nightmare?”
>”Buck off.”
“The best.”
>”I’m just a prisoner. What do you want?”
“I want to know more about you. Specifically, war stuff.”
>”I don’t really like talking about it.”
>No shit, it’s war.
>”I wasn’t much of a fighter, but when Anonymous took over I joined in the fight against him. I picked up my instrument and did what I did best.”
“How’d you end up in here?”
>”We were ambushed. They flooded in around us and had us on the run before I could think.”
“You should’ve hid better.”
 
>”That’s the thing, we were well hidden. No one ever went into the sewers.”
>”Sounds like someone wasn’t on the same team.”
>”You’d be right. I always wondered what I did wrong to end up in here, and I only recently found out we had a mole.”
“Who?”
>”My best friend,” she sips her fresh cup. “Vinyl Scratch.”
>”What is it with musicians?” Luna comments.
“How’d you find out?”
>”The guards were talking about her. Apparently she’d fallen into the rancor pit and there was only one way out.”
“Wait wait wait. Hold on a second.”
>”What is it?” Luna asks.
“Anonymous has a fucking rancor pit?”
 
>”Focus Anon.”
“A RANCOR pit. With a motherfucking rancor? Jesus fucktits, I am jelly.”
>”Anon!” she slaps you in the face.
“Oh sorry, I lost my composure. Thank you.”
>”Anytime.”
“So Octavia, anything else?”
>”Sorry, all I know is that I wasn’t her only mark. She got nice and comfy with Anonymous’s brother too.”
“She was with him the entire time? So she knew everything that he’d done.”
>This is great. If you can find the letters then you can discover what happened to Chrysalis.
>”I almost forgot,” she says as you’re about to leave, “There was an escape attempt a while back. It sounded like there was fighting outside.”
”It’s alright, I-“
>”The guards came to check on me, but one of them was different. He attacked his partner.”
 
>”I never forget how she looked, her black skin and emerald eyes, the crown atop her head. Only this time she tried to help me.”
>Luna speaks to you, “It was her. Anon, she was there! …Anon?
>Your emotions battle within yourself, a mix of hatred and relief.
”Vinyl knew where he went and who he met.”
>You look to Luna as she continues your thought “And if she was keeping tabs on him for Anonymous…”
“Then she must’ve kept communication with him.”
>”Which means that Anonymous...”
>Your blood boils hot, a passionate rage that you haven’t felt for decades.
>He played coy. He pushed you along, and all this time he…
“Knew.”