Rise of a Luna Empire

*** Luna ***

(26th Heartsong, Everfree Castle around 6:30pm)

The bodies of two ponies lay where they had fallen. Blood trickling from wounds in their necks and staining the surface of the cold stone floor. Their eyes were closed and their bodies no longer drew breath. However, three still remained... Still cowered in fear at the terrible sight in front of them... Cowered from Luna.

Luna drank deeply from the pony currently trapped in her maw. His muffled sobs sending waves of pure ecstasy rushing through her body. ‘He must be nearing his end’ Luna thought as the stallion’s cries grew softer and softer until they cut off all together and his body went limp.

Letting the stallion’s limp body fall from her mouth Luna gazed down on the two frightened mares and smiled. Exposing her scarlet fangs and reviling in delight as the ponies shook in fear. Whilst the first three ponies had sated her appetite just enough, she couldn’t let these two go and expose her. It was time for some fun.

“Well, well my little subjects…” Luna said as she relaxed into her old throne. Making sure she was comfy. After all why should a princess not indulge herself a little in her own castle?

“… It would seem that you have a choice to make.” She continued darkly. “You can die here. Your life nourishing mine. Or you can serve as my slaves. The choice is yours.” Luna finished. Crossing her hind hooves, she sat back in her throne and stared at the terrified prey in front of her.

It had been a stroke of genius to lure them here and it was easy to do so. Just a little nudge in their dreams and they had come scrambling here. Fueled by fears that if they did not somepony they cared about would die. Besides, Luna had given up trying to find Syren and instead focused on building her strength.

“Well? Don’t keep your princess waiting or she might be inclined to choose for you” Luna said menacingly as the ponies quickly looked at each other and whispered something, which Luna heard with surprising clarity.

“Should we do it Flitter?” One asked.

“We don’t really have a choice Cloud. She’ll kill us if we don’t” the one called Flitter responded.

After about a minute the two ponies turned to face Luna and got down on their knees. With heads bowed they pledged their lives to the dark princess.

Luna felt power surge within her as the ponies surrendered themselves to her. ‘This is excellent. We shall have our own minions again’ she thought returning to a less formal version of her old speech patterns.

“Rise minions. Your new mistress has a task for you” Luna said motioning with a hoof for them to approach her.

“Anything Princess Luna” Flitter responded with Cloud Chaser nodding in agreement.

“Do not call us that anymore. You will refer to us as mistress or you will be punished” Luna barked, causing them to flinch.

“S-Sorry mistress” they said, bowing before her in submission.

“Good. Now your mistress demands entertainment” Luna said, shifting slightly in her chair. She enjoyed the confused look on their faces as they puzzled over her meaning.

“We shall put it bluntly so you may better understand. We wish for you to engage in copulation” Luna said excitedly as her words took root inside the mares’ minds and their eyes widened.

“Forgive me Pri…Mistress, but are you saying what I think you’re saying?” Cloud Chaser said with a blush on her face.

Rising out of her throne Luna quickly flitted to the mare’s side and shoved her hoof against Cloud Chaser’s nethers, causing her to moan sharply. She had to remind this mare who was the master here. So she leaned across the mare’s body and whispered in her ear.

“Was it in any way unclear slave” Luna crooned darkly as she knocked the mare to the ground and proceeded to climb on top of her.

“P-Princess?” Cloud Chaser questioned slowly with wide eyes as Luna lowered her head to the mare’s neck and began to lick softly and gently. Her tongue flickering across the mare’s exposed neck. How easy it would’ve been to clamp down and end her life. But something stopped her. A feeling that she had not felt since her exile on the moon… Loneliness.

“Hmmm… Tis quaint that we find ourselves in such a predicament” Luna mused to herself. Her voice vibrating on the mare’s neck, causing her to moan softly. “It would seem that your mistress would rather you embrace each other where she can take you if it so suits her.” Luna stated truthfully as an idea popped into her head. She had no clue where it came from, only that it felt right.

“Begging your pardon Pri… Mistress But what do you mean by take us?” Cloud Chaser asked nervously.

“Well if she so desires your mistress shall use your youthful bodies to her own ends…” Luna chuckled as she trailed off. Letting the intended meaning take root. A strangled noise escaped Cloud Chaser’s mouth. “Do not worry slave. We shall try not to kill you… but if we do then we are sorry” Luna replied rubbing her hooves together in anticipation. “So who wishes to please their mistress?” Luna chimed. Suddenly taken by the urge to do something to these mares. As to what, she did not know but something was driving her actions. Something instinctual and dark.

The mares just stared dumbfounded at the sudden change in Luna’s mood. Their confusion obviously annoyed her because she suddenly started shouting at them. Screaming for them to get to her chambers or she would punish them to within an inch of death. So they scrambled after her.

***Cloud Chaser***

(Everfree Castle, Luna’s chamber around 7:30pm)

“Well this is nice” Cloud Chaser mumbled softly to herself.

“We are glad you think so slave… As this is where you may one day die” Luna said with a dark humor. Laughing at Cloud Chaser’s startled cry. “Relax. We do not wish to end you before you have been useful.” She said with a smile that would forever haunt Cloud Chaser.

“Well my slaves. Here we are. Please go over to the bed and entertain your mistress before she gets hungry” Luna said licking her lips and letting her fangs slide out to emphasize her impatience.

This terrified Cloud Chaser and she practically leapt into the bed and motioned for her sister to join her.

***Luna***

Once her slaves had climbed into bed they began staring nervously at each other and at Luna. As if unsure of what to do next.

“Kiss… Passionately” Luna demanded. Taking a seat in a wooden chair and eagerly waiting for her perverted fantasy to take shape.

“Y-Yes Pri…Mistress” Flitter caught herself before finishing as Luna visibly tensed.

‘Oh yes. We are going to enjoy this’ Luna though pleasantly.

***Cloud Chaser***

Cloud Chaser turned her head and faced her sister. A red burn slowly appeared on her sister’s face as Cloud Chaser moved closer to her. So close that she could feel her sister’s breath and see clearly her large rose eyes.

Against every fiber of her being Cloud Chaser began to feel aroused at the thought of taking her own sister who was now blushing furiously as Cloud Chaser brushed her lips against her in a fleeting kiss.

‘Well that wasn’t so bad’ Cloud Chaser though as she leaned back in for another kiss. This time Flitter met her halfway and with lips parted they fell into each other. Not pausing at all as the two sisters’ continued to share one breath.

They were completely absorbed in one another. Their tongues fencing as each one tried to get the upper hoof and slide into the other’s mouth.

‘Not bad at all…’ Cloud Chaser thought, smiling to herself as her sister broke away from her. A thin strand of saliva between their lips glistened in the pale moon light.

In the corner of the room Luna sat watching intently. Her face obscured by a lingering shadow. Her red eyes the only distinguishable feature.

Cloud Chaser turned to smile at the Princess who surprisingly returned a similar smile but in her own dark fashion.

***Luna***

Her slave smiled warmly at her and without time to think she gave a dark smile back as her eyes narrowed. A small burn had crept into her throat and had intensified when the mare smiled at her. The familiar scent of prey began to permeate through the room filling Luna’s nose with the sweet scent. Taking a deep breath, Luna felt the burn in her throat become slightly more intense. Equal now to a sore throat when one has a cold.

Luna felt a pressure build inside of her as she stared, transfixed on the mares as they explored each other. A sequence of moans and high pitched squeaks emanated from the mares as they found each other’s pleasure points. A dark excitement coursed through Luna as she felt herself rise out of her chair and move slowly toward the mares. They would not see her unless she wanted them to.

Luna moved silently toward the bed and a raw power coursed through her veins and built up in her horn. Building further and further until it discharged in a soft flash. Luna had no idea what she had done but nor did she really care. Her gaze was centered on the scene in front of her. On her slave. Her little Flitter.

She moved closer to the bed. Now standing beside the quivering form of Flitter who was still occupied by the other mare’s mouth and subsequently failed to notice Luna’s sudden arrival.

Panting heavily, Luna reached out her hoof and placed it gently on Flitter’s flank. The mare froze and broke away from her partner as she felt the foreign object press against her. She relaxed however when she looked up at the source of the object and saw Luna gazing longingly down at her.

Luna watched as the mare’s fearful face turned into a warm smile. “So my slaves are starting to enjoy themselves are they?” she questioned with eyebrows raised.

“Oh yes. Thank you so much. We love you mistress” The one known as Cloud Chaser said contently while her other nodded in agreement.

‘Oh, they’re so beautiful. We shall never let them go.’ Luna thought as she found herself smiling genuinely back at her. “Dost thou speak truly?” She asked pretending to be unconvinced.

“Yes, thoust does indeed speak truthfully. You are everything to us now. A-And… we wish to be everything to you as well” Cloud Chaser replied shakily as she wrapped her hooves around her body and rubbed herself for warmth. Mist forming on her breath as she exhaled softly.

Luna said nothing as she hopped up on the bed and placed herself in between the two shivering mares. The night had become cold and thus caused her mares to feel uncomfortable which she could not allow.

‘This is odd. We saw them as little more than worthless slaves only a short while ago. Now, we feel an intense desire to keep them safe from anything that would cause them harm. Is this love we feel?’ Luna thought as she spread her wings and curled them around her little thralls. Embracing them and pulling them closer to her.

Luna smiled as the two mares nestled into her and began sleeping quietly. The soft rise and fall of their chests mesmerizing Luna as she lay quietly listening to them breathe. Soon their dreams began to seep into Luna’s mind. She closed her eyes and watched the dreams take shape.

Cloud Chaser was dreaming of beating Rainbow Dash in a race and performing a sonic rainboom as she crossed the finish line. A large crowd was cheering as she was lifted onto the shoulders of many ponies who carried her to the podium. Where she accepted the first place trophy and a kiss from Luna.

Luna chuckled softly at this and left Cloud Chaser’s dream to check on Flitter’s. Which was more of a terrible nightmare.

Flitter was standing alone as ponies shunned her for something. She walked sadly out of Ponyville and toward the edge of the Everfree forest where a pack of timber wolves waited hungrily. Luna immediately felt an instinct to violently destroy the beasts and rescue her little pet from danger. But this was only a dream and she had little power here. So she left the mare’s mind and proceeded to stare at the sleeping Flitter’s scrunched up face. As she moaned softly in fear and sadness.

Luna was overcome with an instinctual urge to hold the mare close and somehow by doing that it would make things right. So she did. Wrapping her hooves around Flitter’s sleeping form, she hugged the mare close to her chest and watched in complete fasciation as the troubled filly stopped moaning and snuggled into her embrace. Luna felt her rage subside and a soothing calmness overtook her thoughts once more.

‘We think it is indeed love we feel, but more time will be needed to make a proper evaluation… Oh no. Not now.’ Luna thought sadly as she felt the burn in her throat increase again. It was fast becoming uncomfortable. ‘No no no’ she thought furiously. Hoping with all her heart that she would have the resolve to not kill her precious little pets.

Tears stung her eyes as she felt her fangs slide out involuntarily and her hearing centered on two heartbeats, pumping fresh blood around two beautiful bodies. She bit her lip causing blood to well up and flow into her mouth. Then an idea hit her and she rose from the bed to walk over to the blackened window and stare into the night.

‘Perhaps we could drink from both of them. That way we still get what we need and keep them safe… sort of.’ She thought with excitement rising within her. It was, however necessary for them to be awake their own safety being the fore front of this reasoning.

‘Time for a less courteous awakening’ Luna thought as she prepared to execute her devious plan.

“Arise” She bellowed in her loudest Canterlot voice.

***Flitter***

A piercing shout shattered Flitter’s peaceful dream and she leapt up and landed on the cold stone floor looking wildly around the room. “Wha? What’s happening? Cloud?” She said bewilderedly. Staring at her still sleeping sister who showed no signs of waking. A snigger behind her confirmed the theory she had scrounged up and hastily pasted together. “Why would you do that and how come it didn’t wake Cloud up?” she asked a smiling Luna. Who turned to stare incredulously at the still, snoring Cloud Chaser before shrugging.

“Because we felt like it” Luna offered with a sincere chuckle. To which Flitter only glared silently. “What? Did we frighten y…“ Luna began playfully but stopped when body became ridged and her head fell.

“Eh? Mistress Luna? You okay?” Flitter said chuckling nervously as a low growl came from Luna’s throat. An animalistic growl.

“Never better… except we do feel cold this night… Help us feel warm” She replied in a raspy voice. Her head still bowed, she took a shaky step toward Flitter. Veils of shadow moved with her. Creeping toward Flitter like living vines.

Flitter’s heart sped up and her breathing increased as Luna continued to stumble toward her. “M-Mistress?” she asked fearfully. Only silence answered her save the periodic tap of Luna’s hooves walking slowly toward her.

Images of what Luna might do once she had the little mare raced around Flitter’s reeling mind. Those fangs would plunge into her squirming body and it would all be over. A montage of dreadful scenes cascaded from Flitter’s thoughts causing her whimper softly.

‘Ah, stuff it… No sense in crying about something you can’t stop’ Flitter though defiantly as she stopped shaking and faced Luna. Shooting off a stare that said “Give it your best shot.” She tensed as Luna closed the distance between them and stood silently in front of her. Her head rose and Flitter could for the first time see the animal inside Luna.

Her face was shockingly different. Her facial structure had become more defined and sharp resulting in intense beauty. Her lips had formed into a twisted smile and a small trail of saliva dribbled down the corner of her mouth. Her red eyes reflected an insane hunger. She was now a predator and Flitter was her unfortunate prey.

Luna’s lips parted and Flitter got a full view of her deadly arsenal. Her dental structure was mostly pony except for the two pearl canine teeth that hung like stalactites from her upper jaw. She exhaled slowly and a sweet scent filled Flitter’s nostrils causing her to feel light headed. Flitter began to sway and stumble around the room like a drunk, Luna’s intoxicating breath causing her to finally faint.

Flitter fell backwards but a soft hoof caught her before she hit the ground. She was now completely at Luna’s mercy. A trait which she was sure Luna would not show. As her red eyes indicated the hunger inside had completely overwhelmed her.

Luna lowered her head, going for Flitter’s neck. To her surprise she found herself being carried over to the bed and being gently placed in it. Luna looked her straight in the eye then lowered her head again and muzzled into Flitter’s neck. A sharp pain and a small squelch sound made Flitter very aware that Luna had bitten her.

With her body paralyzed Flitter could do nothing but stare listlessly at the dark ceiling as Luna began drawing blood at a steady pace. Slow gulps as if she was being careful not to hurt Flitter. This wasn’t anything like before when she had first seen Luna feed. This was tender and intimate whereas before had been frenzied and cruel.

Flitter began to relax as she accepted her fate. Unfortunate as it was, it didn’t hurt which counted for something. Slowly Flitter felt feeling return to her body. She could move her fore hooves but not much else. ‘Better than nothing I guess’ she thought grimly.

A moan escaped her when Luna shifted causing her fangs to slide deeper. ‘Ouch… that hurt a little’ Flitter thought as the pain briefly passed. But another movement from Luna cause Flitter to moan sharply again. This time Luna had withdrawn completely and her fangs sliding out had caused the disturbance.

Her muzzle was stained a deep scarlet and fresh blood dripped from her chin. Flitter’s blood. Luna bit her own lip and blood welled up furiously as she leant and kissed Flitter. ‘So that’s how it is huh? Just bite, bleed, bang huh? Well you won’t hear this mare complaining…’ she thought. Trailing off as Luna’s mouth clamped around hers.

A metallic taste filled her mouth as Luna’s still bleeding bottom lip filled Flitter’s mouth with her blood. Whilst Luna’s blood had a metallic texture it tasted amazing at the same time. Like strawberry milkshakes with iron filings in it. But it was so addictive. Flitter just couldn’t get enough she had to have more.

Flitter found herself biting into Luna’s lip not allowing the wound to coagulate. The need for this substance had become so great that she could no longer think of anything else. ‘Oh Celestia. I could just be drip fed this stuff forever’ she thought humorously.

Luna didn’t seem to care much as the frenzied filly when about sucking desperately from her lip. But sooner or later Flitter knew she was going to have to stop. That time came much too soon though as Luna pulled away from the filly and proceeded to bite her again on the other side of her neck.

‘Why not use the same side?’ Flitter thought, questioning Luna’s logic. But her thoughts abruptly ceased as Luna started drinking with a fury Flitter hadn’t seen before. This time she seemed eager to finish Flitter off.

***

Flitter found herself dying as Luna furiously drained her. She felt her eyes close and her body shutting down. She focused the last of her will power on the living shadow that had been surrounding Luna.

It had slowly made its way toward Flitter and had now crept up her hind legs. Currently residing on her stomach, it was slowly making its way toward her chest. In a matter of seconds the shadow had reached her head. Causing Luna to break away involuntarily as the shadow consumed Flitter’s body inside a pulsing mass of wispy tendrils. At the center of the dark mist Flitter lay barely conscious as the shadow stopped pulsing around her.

The shadow began to seep inside her body and Flitter let out a soft cry and closed her eyes as the shadow enclosed her heart and began to force its way inside. The shadow began filling her heart with a strange energy that made Flitter grind her teeth with every beat. It was like her heart was being squeezed in a vice that was on fire. So unbearably painful she wanted to die.

Her back arched as the shadow extended from her heart and explored the rest of her body. Filling it with the same strange energy. She felt a tingle in her hooves as the shadow filled her up completely. The pain from all this was indescribable and Flitter wanted to scream for Luna to kill her, but the shadow had prevented that.

***

After what seemed like a lifetime the shadow’s movements changed and it began to retreat toward Flitter’s heart. Leaving her hooves blissfully pain free. Then her lungs were next as the shadow continued withdrawing into her heart. It would have been heavenly if not for the pressure building in her heart. The more the shadow retreated, the more pressure built inside her heart until the shadow had completely withdrawn into her heart.

The pain was so great that nothing in all of existence could accurately find a word to describe it. It felt like her heart was going to burst. Flitter begged silently for the pain to stop. But her prayers went unanswered and she continued to suffer. Thinking it would never end, Flitter screamed in her head and wished she’d never been born.

It did eventually stop… As did Flitter’s heart.

With a shudder Flitter felt her heart stop and her body die. Her consciousness slipped into darkness as she drifted out of all time and thought. Only to come hurtling back into it.

***

Flitter was on fire as her eyes snapped open and met the gaze of a startled Luna. Who looked down at her incredulously and wiped a stray tear from her eye.

“W-We thought we had killed you… No we had killed you. How are you still living?” She asked confusedly. She had obviously been crying because her eyes were bloodshot and damp.

“Need… to… drink… so… thirsty” was Flitter’s reply. ‘That’s not what I wanted to say… Stupid brain, all muddled up’ she thought angrily. Looking up at Luna again, she noticed how her eyes had widened and her mouth was agape.

“No… It isn’t possible” She mumbled quickly and started inspecting Flitter’s body.

***Luna***

‘Surely this cannot be’ Luna thought. Trying to wrap her head around this latest shocking revelation. To confirm her suspicions she needed to check a few things. Luna inspected the mare closely. Looking for any signs that her theory was correct.

Luna placed a hoof on the mare’s fur, ice cold. Next she checked the mare’s irises, red. This could be all a coincidence so Luna decided that should this last test prove positive, her theory would be correct.

Using a hoof, Luna cupped the mare’s chin and tilted her head so she could use her other hoof to part the mare’s lips slightly and gaze inside. There they were. The last piece of condemning proof that confirmed Luna’s suspicions.

Two little fangs adorned the mare’s upper jaw. Luna opened the mare’s mouth a little wider and gently touched the fangs to make sure they were real. To her surprise the mare clamped down on her hoof. Luna quickly withdrew her hoof from the mare’s mouth before she could sink her fangs into her.

Just then Cloud Chaser moaned and shifted in her sleep. Flitter’s head snapped toward the sleeping filly and she bared her fangs. Making a hissing noise she crawled slowly over to Cloud Chaser.

‘Oh no… We forgot about Cloud Chaser… We must do something’ Luna thought frantically. Without thinking she moved in front of Flitter and positioned herself protectively over Cloud Chaser. Thinking this would somehow deter the salivating Flitter, Luna craned her neck to peer down at Cloud Chaser’s sleeping form. However an object impacted her side and she was thrown off the mare. Looking at the source of the disturbance, Luna noticed the filly standing on top of her.

With eyes wide Luna let out a surprised gasp as the mare sunk her fangs into Luna’s soft neck. She just stood there with canines burrowed into Luna’s neck, not drinking, just standing.

Luna felt a little suck as the mare first tasted blood before becoming completely consumed by it. Her pace increased and she collapsed on top of Luna. Drinking greedily the filly gulped down blood as fast as she could until she released Luna and flopped onto the floor beside her.

Both panting heavily Flitter turned toward Luna.

“Did I just drink your blood?” she asked in a quiet voice.

“Yes” Luna replied softly.

“Okay, just wanted to make sure I wasn’t dreaming” she said casually. After a few moments of awkward silence Flitter spoke up. “So… What happens now?” She queried.

“We do not know… This has never happened before. We will need to study it and do something about Cloud Chaser in the meantime” Luna said. Motioning to the still sleeping Cloud Chaser.

“What did you have in mind?” Flitter asked cautiously.

“Well we were thinking about doing to her what we did to you. But it must be her choice… We know you didn’t get a choice and for that we are sorry.” Luna replied as Flitter eyed her angrily before sighing and looking up at the roof.

“I guess we’ll have to see when she wakes up.” Flitter said.

“We sure will… However the night is still young and we have much to discuss. Let us leave your sister in peace” Luna said smiling as Flitter turned at the mention of her sister.

“How did you know we were sisters? We never told you.” She questioned suspiciously.

“Come now… We are still ruler of the night. What did you expect?” Luna replied. Shrugging, she lifted herself up off the floor and moved towards Cloud Chaser’s sleeping form. “It will be dangerous for her and you to remain here together” She said using a hoof to gently stroke Cloud’s face.

“Umm… Yeah I guess… So what? You want to take her back to Ponyville?” Flitter inquired.

“No she will remain here until she decides. You will go to Ponyville” Luna said not even bothering to look up at Flitter’s stunned face.

“Wha? Wha? Why? Will I not pose a danger?” She fumbled.

“Probably… But we need you to be our eyes and our ears. As far as Equestria knows, we are dead” Luna finished. She held up a hoof to silence Flitter’s response. “What we need you to look for is a certain being. Listen for any strange news. Do not worry you will know what we mean when you hear it.” She finished and allowed Flitter to speak.

“Okay… but what about Cloud? And when will I see you again?” Flitter asked frantically.

“Cloud Chaser will be shown her options and have made her choice in three days. As for you. You will come to us every night to report and also to be instructed.” Luna said with authority.

“Instructed?” Flitter questioned. Her eyes reflecting her confusion.

“We shall teach you how to use your new body. You are a predator now and sadly your fellow ponies are your helpless prey. Embrace the night and she will grant you her power. Become her follower and she will protect you. Be her sword and she will love you. Will you accept our proposal? We cannot force you… Well we can but we do not wish to. Still do you give yourself freely to the night?” Luna said. Her figure lording over the stunned mare.

Flitter blinked once. Then again. Before hastily babbling out a response. “When you refer to the night do mean yourself?” She asked.

“Yes… and no. We are the physical embodiment of the night but we are not her. She is the mistress we serve. Just as our sister serves the sun… We serve the moon… We bring her soft light forth to illuminate the night and guide dreams. She speaks to us sometimes… Perhaps she may speak to you now.” Luna said stopping to put a hoof on her chin thoughtfully.

“Then yes I do willingly give myself to the night… I do have some questions though.” Flitter said shattering Luna’s thoughts.

“Good. What did you wish to know?” Luna responded, preparing for the barrage of questions that was surely coming.

“Firstly. What am I? Secondly. What do you mean the moon will talk to me? Thirdly. What happens if Cloud doesn’t want to be turned? Lastly. What is the being I’m supposed to be looking for?” Flitter asked in rapid succession. Inhaling deeply as she finished.

Luna stood there, processing all the questions. Trying to find accurate answers for them. “To your first question we do not have an answer as of yet. To your second question. The moon, if she so chooses will speak in either two ways. One by appearing in her mortal form or you may hear her whispers in your head. To your third question. If Cloud Chaser wishes to remain as she is then that is her choice. We shall still have use of her. She will, regardless of her choice go to Canterlot to spy on our sister. To your final question…” Luna stopped. Hesitantly she decided how to best approach the topic of Syren. Sighing she decided to answer as much as she could.

“… The being you are seeking is called Syren. He is gripped by insanity and a lust for slaughter. He is responsible for our death… and our new life. We are not sure where he went… He left us when we had only just been reborn. We do not know his intentions but can guess they aren’t going to benefit us. He seems to be immensely powerful and has a vast knowledge of dark magic… Even more so than us. He harbors an unnatural hatred for ponies, our sister predominantly. This leads us to believe that they somehow know each other. That is the reason we need to find him. We need to know his plans.” Luna finished her long explanation with a satisfactory nod.

“Okay but why exactly do we need to know his plans again? And why does Cloud have to spy on Princess Celestia?” Flitter asked still not quite sure of Luna’s meaning.

“Because we need to stop them both... Syren because he will destroy Equestria given the chance and my sister because she is weak and allowed this to take place. We will destroy them both and seize the throne for ourselves. Taking Equestria into a golden age of power and wealth. The likes of which have never been seen before…” Luna’s voice began to quiver with excitement as she continued.

“… Ponies will bow to the glorious night and she will love and protect them. She will make them strong. So that they may never again know fear. Equestria will prosper under our rule. But we won’t destroy our sister. No. We will turn her into a foal of the night. Our subjects will love us and we them. It will be beautiful as we mix with ponies. We will drink freely and they will give willingly or sometimes not. Equestria will be the seat of a New Luna Empire. From which we will dominate all other life… Ponies are the superior race and we shall prove it.” She finished.With a twisted grin on her face and a dark gleam in her eye she began to laugh manically. Stopping when the sound of a small voice interrupted her.

“Yes… Queen Luna…”

***Flitter***

As Luna spoke Flitter was filled with her dark mistress’s vision and she felt anticipation rise within her. ‘Yes… That sounds wonderful… A strong Equestria… Free from fear and suffering. The soft hearted rule of Princess Celestia will give way to the new firm but loving rule of Luna… Queen Luna.’ She thought as Luna’s words ignited a dark spark inside her. A dark shadow had been forming around Flitter’s body, unnoticed by her it went on growing until it joined with Luna’s to create a seething mass of living darkness.

Flitter listened silently. Absorbed by Luna’s words. Until she had finished and at which point Flitter had seen it necessary to properly address Equestria’s future ruler.

“Yes… Queen Luna” She said with as much devotion as possible.

Luna stared at her for a few moments before speaking. “Queen… Queen Luna. Yes. We think we like it. In the meantime your Queen will need an army as well as her personal vanguard. Go… and find some willing recruits… Captain of the new Luna Guard.” She said, dismissing Flitter with a wave of her hoof.

Captain of the guard… Flitter had always dreamed of being a Royal Guardsmare but had never had the resolve to apply. But to be named Captain of the Luna Guard was like a fantasy becoming a reality. She snapped off a quick sloppy salute.

“Yes, my Queen…”

***Luna***

Luna raised an eyebrow and sighed. “We shall have to train you personally. Your first lesson begins now… Keep your back straight.” She said pushing a hoof down on Flitter’s back and straighten her spine.

“… Legs locked and rigid…” she continued as she gave Flitter’s legs a flick with her hoof to straighten them.

“… Head up…” she said using a hoof to cup Flitter’s chin and pulled it up.

“… Wings tucked firmly to your body…” she added as she used her magic to pin Flitter’s wings to her side.

“… Maintain a perfect arc when saluting…” she said motioning to Flitter’s raised fore hoof. Before reaching over and correcting it.

“… And finally. Eyes forward…” Luna finished. Stepping away from Flitter she scanned for any discrepancies. Satisfied that none could be found she again dismissed her new Captain. Who attempted another salute and succeeded in impressing Luna.

‘Flawless... It takes months to learn a perfect salute. Even the veteran guards don’t always get it right. Perhaps she will train her own guards soon. Then we can focus on more pressing matters. Like strategy and study.’ Luna thought as images began to formulate inside her mind. Images of her army marching over Equestria. And the look of sheer surprise on her sister’s face as she bit into her and let her shadow consume the solar princess. It was glorious to think how Celestia would become nothing more than her slave, ready to do her biding.

Luna frowned when her thoughts turned to Syren. She didn’t know his part in this. His actions were impulsive and wildly unpredictable. The sooner she found him, the better.

A small cough brought Luna back from her fantasy and she looked at the mare still standing at attention.

“Yes… Right. You are dismissed with a change of plan. You are required to travel around looking for suitable candidates for the Luna guard. You will bring them back here for training. You may want to convert some existing royal guards for the obvious reason. Otherwise try scouting for young, impressionable colts and fillies. By young we mean barely of age.” Luna said trailing off with the feeling that she had forgotten to mention something.

“Oh yes… you will want to procure suitable protective eyewear for daytime travel. Remember we are the night incarnate so in the sun’s light you will be severely weakened and your sharpened eyesight will be adversely affected by the light in a most uncomfortable manner… Well we think that is all. Any final questions?” Luna asked. Noticing the look of pain on Flitter’s face as she had been dying to ask a question.

“DoIgetmyownarmor” She said hastily. Her eyes begging for an answer.

Luna took a few seconds to break down the sentence and rearrange it into a more suitable form.

“Well we suppose we could create a set of enchanted armor… Heavy or Light?” She asked. Secretly Luna loved creating her own armor and weapons. Each piece was forged from pure moonstone and enchanted with strong spells of protection. Other details could be customized like the color obviously.

The showy bits were Luna’s favorite. She loved to add different reagents that added different qualities to the armor. For instance the armor she had in mind for Flitter was a dark azure colored piece, of Pegasus design. She would adorn the armor in shadow scales for intimidation value and extra protection. She would definitely infuse the moonstone with dragonite crystals to perfectly combine with the shadow scales. This would make the armor appear as though a shadow were emanating from it constantly.

“Medium?” Flitter responded hesitantly, interrupting Luna's dream like state.

“Fine… We will create a ceremonial piece then. It will be your badge of office. It should be ready in three days. Return then… But now please carry out your task…” Luna held a hoof up to silence the coming questions. “… Remember what we told you… and discover your own powers on the way… We shall communicate with you via this…” Luna said using her magic to summon a small pendant which she placed around Flitter’s neck.

“… We’ll call you.” She added quickly. “Now for goodness sake… GO” She bellowed causing Flitter to scramble off toward the door and Luna watched her disappear down the hallway but stop at a fork in the corridor.

“Left” Luna shouted again resting her face in her hoof as the filly ran down the left hallway. She turned once again to gaze at Cloud Chaser.

“We have no doubt that you’ll be ours little one. As we know that separating from one’s sister is unbearable.” She crooned softly. Her thoughts turning to her own sister.

‘We will be together again Tia. And you’ll see the paradise we have in store for our subjects. We know you will resist at first but we shall break you. Our dark bite will ensnare you and our shadow will force you to see our point of view. When one becomes the monster they fear, sooner or later they embrace it.’ Luna thought as she stared out the window at the moon.

Her plan was now in place. She would create an army and take Equestria from her sister and away from Syren. She would spend the coming months laying low and biding her time. Just waiting for the right moment to strike.

When Luna did eventually strike she would break her sister into pieces so she could rebuild her. Luna would take away her sister’s pain and suffering. She would relieve Tia from the burden of bearing the crown. See it wasn’t greed or a lust for power that drove Luna…

…No…

…It was love.

Author's Note

So that's another chapter done and dusted. The story is starting to take shape finally. Before you comment on Luna's mood swings know that she is acting impulsively she is more like and animal driven by her emotions.

So anyway Luna is now building her army to take Equestria. I wanted to call it the New Luna Republic but that I thought that might ruin the atmosphere.

*Sigh* COMMENT (You know the rest)

Look forward to hearing your feedback as it keeps me writing this.