It was strange, Morgan thought, the way that Veliuona and Sol darkly reflected each other. And what she found strangest of all was that, after watching them together for so long, Morgan began to forget which of them was the savior, and which was the tyrant.
Sol pushed their march hard, and was more tireless than the droves of undead that walked with them. Sol had a schedule to keep, and was willing to do so at the expense of every other pony, be it the living dead, her own soldiers, or even the innocent who happened to get in their way.
And Veliuona showed a strange and almost alien compassion: her deathless forces inspired great fear in the ponies that they came across, and yet she was strangely tender with the wounded, the weak, the diseased and the dying. She would approach them... and even if she was vision of terror, escorted at all times by her Vizier and her other deathless lords, and her words at first seemed cruel and heartless... Morgan began to see a kindness in her that she had not expected. Perhaps, even compassion and love.
Veliuona made the same offer to all those they came across who were badly injured, or elsewise nearing the end of their mortal coil. She would offer to help them die peacefully, and then to resurrect them, free of any cost, as a Velite who would be permitted to complete any unfinished business, or stay with their families and friends.
Not even Titan thought such a gift could be without cost, but Veliuona only smiled, and said that she was not foolish enough to put a price on life. But she was surprisingly honest, as well, as they continued down the road: those who accepted her gifts, and clung to life, would likely find it difficult to accept the passage of the lives of their family and friends. They would bring others to her... and so would her empire grow.
Sol said with disgust that she was a parasite: Veliuona only laughed, and said she wished to do no harm. She would passively, peacefully grow her empire... and as the ponies so loved the day, her people would rule during the night. This way, they could share Equestria... and she thought it was far better that they somehow find a way to stay united rather than put both their peoples at risk with a senseless war, when there was plenty of land for them to realize their visions of a nation together.
Sol said coldly and simply there was no way that they could live side-by-side: Veliuona only replied calmly that there was no way to know unless they set aside their differences and tried... and further chastened Sol for her lack of tact, pointing out that for now, at least, they had no choice but to work together. That a great threat had invaded Equestria, one that would require both of their wiles and strengths to defeat... but Sol was undeterred, saying with disgust that if she had the choice, she would gladly eradicate Veliuona, and all of her kind for existence. That Veliuona only continued to exist because she was right: that for now, she was necessary. But, Sol said, when the moment came, she would not hesitate to turn on her, just as she knew Veliuona would do the same.
But Veliuona only smiled, and turned knowing eyes to Morgan, speaking to her as much to Sol as she said softly that she expected nothing less from her: that Sol would never stop until every last piece of darkness was erased from Equestria. No matter who it was, no matter what they had done for her, Sol would never stop... until her light had burned away every last inch of shadow across the nation... and perhaps beyond.
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