Princess? When you get the time, I need to ask you something.

[Donna's expression is not a happy one when she appears on the scroll, but it is determined. Andrew isn't here right now, which means someone has to pick up the slack. She's addressing Celestia directly, but the scroll is open. Everyone needs to hear this.]

Princess Celestia, where exactly is Stalliongrad, and what's the fastest way to get there? If you've seen Zetta's message, we need to know immediately.

Or... Alastor. You're the one who can teleport, right? I remember seeing on the scrolls. Can you use Zetta's scroll message to get a group of fighters to where he is to stop him?

[Welp. Here's Celestia, and she doesn't look very happy sitting on her throne. In fact, she looks downright angry.]

Everypony. I apologize for this rather abrupt announcement, but I need you to be on the lookout for our...resident Overlord.

It appears he's made good on his promise to extract information from ponies' dreams, after all.

[As soon as they’re out of Tartarus, Bertie goes for his scroll. Why they can’t do this while in Tartarus when it’s so important is a bit of a mystery, but Kreutzer and the Flutters are insistent about getting him out. So, he’s got the pair of them flanking him when they turn up… where are they? It’s not near the mines. In fact, they appear to be standing atop a clocktower in a dusty little town. Bertie's never been to Appleloosa, but the Flutters might recognize it. That doesn't matter now. What matters is that there's some sort of demon from Tartarus after the Princesses.]

Your Highnesses! You've got to be on the lookout. There's somepony from Tartarus coming to get you. It's the nana of some blighter named Ms. Helios... Halitos... Hallie! Ms. Hallie's nana has got a pomegranate cutie mark, and she's coming after you at the princess party.

[He'd really only meant to send it to the princesses properly located in Canterlot, but Bertie hadn't been paying that much attention to the auto-search function on his scrolls when he'd named the princesses. The pegasus who appears on the scrolls is looking just a little unhappy, but given the contents of Hoovesweek and the fact that he's got hooves once more, that's probably not too surprising. Once he realizes he's actually recording this time, he quickly draws himself up, expression going to nervous before he settles on a bracing smile.]

Hallo, hallo, hallo, princesses, all! I just wanted to say, 'hallo,' and... and all that. [Yes, moving on.] Hoovesweek's a rather wretched sort of paper, but I did note one of the articles discussing the Grand Galloping Gala. Seems only yesterday we were hieing forth in our finest to Canterlot to sing and dance and do as you do at these sorts of soirees. Frightful lot of work must go into the whole affair.

[Now they're coming to the beating heart of the matter.]

I'd, um... well, I mean I know you're awfully busy. I was head of the Drones Club Dining Committee back in London, and I just thought: 'If you can manage to sort out dinner and entertainment for about 50 of the lads, young Bertram, why not a whole stable-ful of behooved birds and beazels?'

What I mean to say is, if you need any help, I'd really like to. Help, that is! With the Gala. Harvey and I can do the music again, or I'm sure I can get someone else through his agent if you're wanting a touch of variety!

Hey, Princess?

Do you mind if we tell people what you told us about Star Swirl and all that? A little bit? 'Cause Iiiiiiiiii dunno if you get Hoovesweek in the castle, but they've been big meanie-heads lately.

CITIZENS OF PONYVILLE. THOSE WHO WERE HERE. WE, PRINCESS LUNA THE FIRST (BUT NOT THE LAST) HAVE DRAGGED OUR DEAR SISTER INTO THE LIGHT FROM HER EMOTIVE STATE.

DAME RARITY, I PRESENT MY SISTER TO YOU. YOU MAY NOW COMMENCE WITH YOUR LECTURE. ALSO SHE HAS SOUR GUMMIES AND SWEET CHOCOLATE.

That is all.

[And Woona shoves Celestia towards Rarity.] Go on, she won't bite.

[And then to Rarity she holds out a stick that reads "I am what smacks in the night".] Have fun.

[Hello, ponies. Celestia is in her now-open sky bedroom, laying on her bed. Now that she's back to normal and there is no beehive hair to distract everyone, its pretty obvious that there are injuries on the princess, as well as weird burns on her, that she is healing up with a soft glow of her horn.]

My ponies. I told you after the battle, I would explain everything. That time is right now. I...had hoped it wouldn't come to this, but you deserve to know...

[There was a pause before she continued.]

( These fragments I have shored against my ruins )

[Oh, hey, guys, remember that mirror that caused everything? Its spitting our one last thing. For those watching, yes, hi, what's going on. That is some ridiculous hair there.

In other words, Luna was right. That is some ridiculous hair there.

For those that aren't meanwhile...the newcomer turns on her scroll. The voice coming from her is very Celestia-y.]

Sorry I'm late, everyone.

This wasn't how I'd hoped to come back here.

Well, THAT was the worst date ever.

[Zetta scowls at the scroll from beneath a top hat, looking slightly angry and mostly... glum, not that he would ever admit it.]

Incidentally, the non-Dame Rarity just vanished in a puff of rainbow. No, I wasn't responsible. Figured I'd better tell you all before you showed up at the castle with torches and pitchforks. Save it for the stuff I actually DO.

Princess? We have a problem that we need to talk to you about.

(Twilight looks to Ako and Nozomi, both of which are by her side.)

A Mayfield-related problem.

*Sometime in the late afternoon, a message gets sent out to all of the scrolls. It's in the sharp, careful handwriting of someone who's trying very hard to make it look unremarkable, even though very few would recognize the writer's usual handwriting anyway.*

I have a question for all you heroic types here. You're so willing to put yourselves at risk for the sakes of others, but how? Do you ever think about the fact that it could get you killed? Are you really that confident that you'll always make it out? Or do you just always act without considering the personal risk?

I get the idea of being concerned for people who can't protect themselves. What I can't understand is why you don't seem to care what kind of danger you put yourselves in, even when you're under no obligations and don't owe anyone anything. Don't you ever worry that one of these days, you'll get in over your head and end up killed?

[Morgan unrolls his scroll to smile into it, because inspiration has struck! Never mind that he looks a bit tousled from exertion or that he's a little bit sweaty. (Stallions who look THIS good can get away with that.)]

So I'm thinking, and it hits me -- we have a bunch of different people all offering their own insight into training, combat, martial arts, self-defense, the philosophies thereof. Why don't we combine them? Consolidate them all under one roof and form a dojo.

We've got me and Gwen for martial arts, Nephenee for lancework, Dame Rarity for bladecasting and magical combat, and I'm sure we have others who're willing to teach and willing to learn. This way, we have a comprehensive lesson plan. Any kind of self-defense or self-advancement you want, in one place.

Who's with me on this?

[Good evening, everyone. Here's Princess Celestia, sitting regally on her throne, her eyes closed. For some reason, the room itself is considerably darker than usual, lit with sparse candlelight, making it difficult for anypony to make her out well. Regardless, there was no doubt from the expression on her face that she is calling on a serious matter.]

My fellow Equestrians, native and otherwise.

Given the circumstances of the past weeks, it is necessary for me to make an important decision regarding what happened. As the crimes committed were quite serious, I felt it important to make an appropriate sentence that reflects what has happened and why. Even while the likelihood of another, similar transgression in the future is small, it is important that the responsible party still feel the full weight of punishment on her shoulders.

[At this, she cleared her throat.]

As such, I, Princess Celestia, henceforth sentence Chrysalis, former ruler of the changelings, to be confined within the limits of Ponyville indefinitely, under the watch and supervision of a specially assigned guardian, where she may spend her time here in a meaningful way. As well as to remind her of those she wronged and hurt through her actions, those who she will need to face, every day, until she at last repents of what she's done throughout her time in Equestria.

[At this, her eyes opened. Though it is dark, the sharper-eyed of those looking may notice they are more dilated than normal. The stare she gives is actually a little scary.]

The duty of a ruler is not simply to take power for the sake of power, or to gorge our own subjects at the cost of others. We are all citizens of this world, and we have a responsibility to each and everypony, not just to ourselves, to be prudent about what we do and how we do it.

[The eyes closed again. Then, she smiled.]

With that, I shall leave the prisoner to her fate among all of you. And, of course, to your capable hands...Spike. You are in charge of her now; may bring her with you when you are ready.

Oh! You bet! Right away! I won't let you down, your Highness!

That is all, everypony.

So, over Christma... er. Hearth's Warming Eve, I was gifted a pass to go see a movie. Problem is, I'm not quite as versed in Equestrian cinematography as I'd like to be, so...

Can any of you recommend what I should watch? I'm open to any suggestions.

  [Shortly after one Queen Chrysalis 'graces' the journals with her visage, and a Pinkie Pie shoots off her message from the inside of a cocoon, an urgent visual message appears on the journals. One blue mare in armor and deep blue cloak can be seen with a few downed changelings behind her, and unlike normal, her countenance is anything but cheery, or even anxious. After checking to make sure the message is going out, she starts, her voice intense and determined. Have one relentless battlemaiden, Ponyville.]

Attention! This is Nephenee of Crimea, bringin' news from the battlefield!

Y'all just heard Pinkie and Chrysalis, right? Them Changelin's got a bunch of our friends, and they're sappin' 'em. We need to get rid of this threat, an' fast! We can't kill 'em, they're innocents, but we can knock 'em out, rescue our friends, and hold her 'til Princess Celestia gets here! But Ah can't do none of this by myself, so Ah ask to see who will help rescue and-or take out this so called 'Queen'! 

[Another changeling charges her, and she hangs the scroll in midair long enough to spinkick it off screen,]

Please contact me as soon as y'all can! We need folks for that an' we need folks who know a strategy for beatin' these jerks! Any help will be appreciated!

[In short, reconnaissance and fighters, and a battle plan beyond that.]

To those captured, help is on the way as soon as we can! Don't lose hope!

[She quickly ends the feed as more charge. Dang, are these things everywhere?!]

[As for those nearby, the Sentinel is fighting off a bunch of these things by herself, but with their sapping, she probably could use some assistance.]

( Private to Celestia )[After talking to Celestia:]

Does anypony here know binding magic?!