Hey everyone, well, after a lot of thought and consideration of reviews, I'm changing how and when it will end. I probably won't be shipped out until October so I have plenty of time to think about how I want this to keep going. Thank you for those who reviewed and helped me think of new ideas! This chapter will start shadowing over Twilight's thoughts, so italic things are her thoughts, not Aegis'.

Unsettling Realization

TWILIGHT'S LIBRARY

FOLLOWING DAY

MORNING

"Ugh, I think Princess Celestia is right… Silver and Aegis, their comparisons have almost no similarities… Perhaps Aegis is to reckless for his own good."

"Hey Twilight, what's up with you?"

"Oh, hey Spike and it's Aegis."

"Have you decided whether you're gonna help him or tell Celestia?"

"No, I haven't Spike, but I feel the Princess was right in this situation… He doesn't seem at all phased by what he has caused."

"Yea well, maybe you should go back and talk to Rainbow and Applejack, they were involved with him."

"I don't know Spike. Applejack seemed deadest on helping him, but perhaps I can talk to her about it more in-depth.

Twilight arrives at the hospital and is greeted warmly. Upon entering, she sees Deity entering the ICU, she shrugs off her curiosity and makes her way to Rainbow and Applejack's room. The two are arguing when she enters.

"Now y'all do it one more time Rainbow, and ah'll knock ya into a crater twice the size ya made. Ya hear?"

"Yea Yea, hard not to when your yelling!"

Twilight timidly walks between the two and begins to speak,

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything, but I need to talk to someone."

"No no, y'all quite alright sugarcube, just someone needs to learn to behave in a public area!"

"And someone needs to lighten up and have alittle fun!"

Twilight lets out a big sigh and taps them lightly on their bandaged wounds. They both yelp and snap their attention to Twilight.

"Good, now I have your attention ladies. Anyway, I feel I need to stop Aegis… for his own good."

"Now Twi, we already told ya our standing on the matter."

"I know, but have you actually thought about what he has done…"

"Yea, he stopped Sanguinis, what else is there to say?"

"Well Rainbow, as I recall, he spent the battle fighting his father, a battle he could have avoided if he followed Princess Celestia's orders. His "plan" resulted in you two injured, Sanguinis is MIA, eight guards are lifeless AND Princess Luna disappeared in attempt to save his life."

Applejack and Rainbow rub their heads and look around the room in embarrassment.

"Ah… uh, guess we didn't think about it like that Twi…"

"Yea, I guess so Sparkle."

"I am sorry to rant, but it seems that punishment is needed… He is nothing like his father and the constant urge to try and live up to him, is putting himself and others in critical danger."

"Well Twi, y'all do what y'all feel is right, we support ya fully.

"I am going to send the letter and I feel I should do it now. Deity is in the ICU now."

"For now Twi, why don't y'all just give a tidbit of info to the guards standin at his doorway, sure they could keep him there until ya send the letter."

"Good idea Applejack."

Twilight rushes over to the guards who notice her and spread apart. She stops a few inches from them and signals for them to come close.

"I overheard Aegis and Deity planning an escape, but I don't know how, I am going to alert Celestia, but I just want you to keep a close on Deity, don't confront them, just keep an eye on them. I will have Celestia here shortly.

"Aye ma'am"

Back at the infirmary entrance, Rarity, Fluttershy and Spike come in to visit their injured friends. Twilight rushes over and greets them. Rarity is the first to speak.

"Oh hello dear, how is Rainbow and Applejack holding up?"

"Oh yes, we have been worried sick about them…"

"They are doing fine, if you want, just go in the first room on the right down that hallway, but Spike, come with me."

"Aww, but I wanna see Applejack and Rainbow."

"NOW Spike."

Twilight and Spike split from the group and go over to the lobby. Twilight fetches a quill and some paper from the front desk and asks for Spike to write the letter.

"Ok Spike, all I want you to write is for Princess Celestia to come to the infirmary as quickly as possible for Aegis is planning his escape with Deity."

"Alright and…. Done. Twilight, you sure you want me to send this?"

Twilight lowers her head as she makes last minute thoughts.

"Yes Spike, please send it."

CHANTERLOT INFIRMARY

ICU UNIT

Deity sits bedside near Aegis, looking at him with a worried expression. Aegis is focused on his hooves, lost in his state of mind.

"What Celestia said… is right… I'm not my father… I do nothing like my father would; maybe I should do what I want, instead of trying to live up to him… All I have done is hurt people… Doesn't that make me a…"

"Aegis, are you ok?"

He snaps out of his trance and redirects his attention towards Deity. A frown emerges on his face.

"Huh, oh, can't really say Deity. Just feels like I'm the opposite of my father. I risked the lives of my friends. I killed my fellow guards. And all I can think about now, is to evade capture… To me, it sounds like I wasn't meant to be honor bound…"

"I cannot argue your point Aegis… but I am sorry to say, but the deeds you have done are not the deeds of a heroic stallion… Sound closely similar to what my father has done…"

Aegis stares at Deity with a serious expression. His mind comprehends the words she had just spoken and then comes to a realization.

"I don't even care my parents are gone Deity…"

CANTERLOT INFIRMARY

LOBBY

Princess Celestia bolts through the double doors, accompanied by six earth pony guards. She signals for them to the ICU and runs over to Twilight.

"Twilight, are you sure you heard correctly?

"Yes Princess, I overheard Deity and Aegis talking about an escape, I know what I heard. The two stationed guards have been watching them, ask them about their report."

Celestia, followed by Twilight, run towards the ICU. The eight guards are now lined up outside of the room, ready to move in on command.

"I want you all to wait until we separate the two, then I want you to rush in and arrest Deity. We don't want them to know we are on to their plan so give us some time. Twilight, come with me."

Princess Celestia and Twilight casually walk in and greet Aegis and Deity. Aegis' expression is one of suspicion.

"Wasn't expecting a visit from you ma'am, everything ok?"

"Yes, of course Aegis. I just wanted to visit and see how you are doing."

Aegis hears ruffling outside and shoots Deity a glance and a slight nod. Twilight notices and runs in front of Deity, blocking her vision. Twilight gives her a fierce gaze.

"So Deity, you have stuck around quite a bit for just visiting. Everything ok between you and Aegis?"

Celestia begins to speak to Aegis, who is now sweating as his heart races.

"Yes Aegis, what is it you and Deity have been talking about. We are all curious."

"Shit, Twilight must have overhead and told Celestia, looks like this is happening now.

Deity, NOW!"

"GUARDS!"

Guards flood the room, barreling towards Deity and Aegis. Aegis' horn emits a white orb as he struggles to regain focus and calm down. Deity's eyes morph into an icy blue. Twilight notices the change and channels a spell last minute. Celestia, with little effort, casts a spell to interrupt Aegis' spellcasting.

"You're a fool Aegis; you should be ashamed of what all you have caused."

"Enough!"

Blue light radiates across the entire room, freezing everypony where they stand. Guards stand frozen in their running position, Celestia frozen mid speech. Aegis, lay frozen in his bed. Deity walks over, eyes change to a fire red and Aegis quickly melts and comes to.

"We need to go now Aegis, they won't stay like that for long…"

"I was never meant to be a guard… or to save people…"

"Aegis, we have to go!"

"Oh o you don't!"

A fireball shoots straight between Aegis, Deity, and bursts, flames flying in all directions. Deity is knocked back, flames eating at her cloak. Aegis' right side of his face is seared as the flames subside. Deity puts out her robe and focuses her anger towards Twilight.

"You're so curious about runes, here's one of my favorites!"

Deity stomps the ground with her runic hoof, electricity passes through the ground towards Twilight. Reaching Twilight, a blue ring appears on the ground she stands on, electricity flows through Twilight, rendering her unable to cast spells and rooted to the floor. She struggles to speak.

"You're a coward Aegis. You're nothing but a danger to the people of Equestria. We believed in you… And you betrayed us… betrayed your father and mother… You'll never be the stallion your father was…"

Aegis gets out of the bed, anger apparent on his face and walks over to Twilight.

"You're right Twilight, but I've learned something. Sacrifice means nothing to me; I did all I could to live up to that fool… And mother was weak to begin with… Sacrifice is weakness and it's time I changed how I do things Twilight."

Applejack and Rainbow, along with the others rush to the ICU and gasp at what they see. Applejack and Rainbow rush in beside Twilight.

"What in the hay are y'all doing Aegis!"

"Yea, what's your deal!"

"Nothing that concerns you two, now leave before you force my hoof."

"Ah reckon those are fighting words Aegis, now stop what y'all are doin before ya get hurt."

"We took Sanguinis down, can easily take you down punk."

Aegis smirks as he feels magic flow through his body. He begins to laugh, confusing Applejack and Rainbow. Deity walks behind him, recovering from her last attack.

"Make our day you two, please…"

"Guys, don't, you're injured and he won't hesitate to hurt you two."

"Listen to Twilight and get out of my way."

"Really starting to piss me off Aegis. Apples, let's take him down."

"Couldn't agree with ya more sugarcube."

Rainbow launches and flies toward Deity and Applejack sprints at full speed towards Aegis, preparing herself for a forceful headbutt. Aegis maintains is smirk and signals to Deity.

"Seems you forced my hoof ladies"

Aegis effortlessly with one hoof, swipes his arm and creates a magic force so strong it sends Applejack into nearby medical equipment, she lay in the mangled machinery. Rainbow continues her charge towards Deity. Deity's eye morph into purple and instantly, Rainbow is forced into the ground with such force, the tile cracks in all directions. The two lovers lie on the floor, groaning and motionless.

"I really wish I didn't have to do that to you, but I don't find being arrested and under guard my whole life very appealing. Deity, get us out of here."

Deity walks over and grabs Aegis, they turn bright white and then vanish. Twilight's rune prison breaks and she rushes over to Applejack. The others run in the room and check in on Rainbow. On the way over, Twilight casts a dispel, clearing the ice from the guards and Celestia. Celestia walks over to Twilight and Applejack with a sad expression.

"Twilight, he's turned…"

"I know Princess, he can't get away with what he has caused…"

"But, why, why would he go up and betray us like that Twi?"

"Not being able to live up to his father for so long, it must have slowly caused him to snap Applejack… Now c'mon, we have to get you back in your bed. You and Rainbow both still need to recover, even longer now."

"Rainbow dear, are you ok? Rainbow?"

"Ugh, wait until we heal, that bastard will get what's coming to him."