True Colors

Shades of Grey

There is good, and there is evil. That is a fact. It is unquestionable. The Alicorn knew this, but as she strode through the halls of her and her sister's castle she could only wonder. "What does that make us?"

She rarely posed this question to herself, often unsatisfied with the answer. She and her sister were the leaders of Equestria. The empresses of the Celestial Empire. The protectors of the ponies from everything, even from their some of their own poor decisions. Surely, they were good. For 2,000 years they had ruled this land, ever since freeing it from the piecemeal of a beast that ruled before them. Their citizens were happy. So why was she unnerved?

The alicorn stepped out onto a balcony overlooking the forest that surrounded the castle. The sun shined brightly down on her making the star-like sparks in her astral mane and tail nearly invisible, and warming her black pelt and cutie mark, which was a crescent moon in the middle of a purple splotch. Maybe, she was so conflicted because not all of her subjects were happy. She wasn't foolish or foalish enough to think that she could make everyone happy, but there were more than a few ponies that were dissatisfied with the government. A rather...staggering amount were actually. Of course, this was kept under wraps. The public didn’t know there were so many who would oppose the Celestial Empire, and, without that knowledge, many more who were unhappy would not take any form of a stand. This meant the bulk of the god-empresses’ subjects still followed them unquestioningly.

“God-empress. Hah!” The alicorn thought to herself.

If there was such a person as God she wasn’t him. She couldn’t even decide if she was happy or not, and she was certain that a deity would be decisive enough to determine how it felt. “Empress Nightmare Moon.” A stiff duty-filled voice behind her spoke.

The Alicorn turned around, and her turquoise eyes fell on a royal guard, bearing the usual gold and blue armor. “Yes, my loyal subject?” She responded as stiff and dutifully as the guard.

“Your chariot is ready to depart, your majesty.” The guard answered while bowing his head, completely unfazed by his ruler’s tone.

“Bastard.” Nightmare Moon thought at his lack of reaction. “Very well then. Lead me to it.”

The guard turned at the command, and headed back down the hallway. As the millenniums old alicorn followed him her thoughts drifted towards her trip. She was heading to Stalliongrad to increase morale. A little appearance to show the commoners that their deified leaders cared for them. Nightmare Moon scowled at the notion. It was not that she hated the idea of visiting her subjects, it did become lonely in the Everfree Forest with only their guards to keep her and her sister company, but there were so many better ways to help Stalliongrad than visiting to deliver a little speech. The town was in squalid condition. What it needed far more than morale was money. Money to improve the buildings and roads. Money to fund the schools and orphanages, and there was plenty money in the royal treasury last time she checked.

Yet, her sister, Celestia, was adamant that all that was needed was an attitude adjustment. Nightmare Moon wasn’t so certain, but her sister made most of the decisions revolving around the public. So who would know better than her? Nightmare’s own experiences with other ponies primarily came from her association with the Equestrian military. She organized it. She funded it, and she usually had final say on matters of security, national or otherwise. Of course, recently she’d noticed Celestia overriding many of her decisions. Nightmare meant to bring that up sometime, but she trusted her sister. After all, the older alicorn had been the one to start the rebellion against Equestria’s last leader, and, though they both had a hoof in it, was the one to ultimately lead the ponies to victory.

The guard and the empress stepped outside the castle to see many more guards, almost all pegasi, standing at attention on either side of the stone path leading from the castle entrance. In the direct center of the road, with it’s open back facing them, was a white chariot with gold colored rims and wheels, and four royal guard pegasi were strapped to it’s front. Nightmare Moon briefly noted that it was one of Celestia’s chariots before another thought pushed it out of the way. She sighed. It had been so long since she’d flown with her own wings, and even longer since flying without an escort, which always stripped away the feeling of freedom she enjoyed about flying. “Is something wrong, my empress?” The guard that had lead her dutifully asked.

Nightmare shook her head at the question, replying, “Nothing. You may return to your normal duties.”

“One must keep up their expected appearances.” She thought to herself as the guard strode away.

Wasting no time, the Empress took a deep breath and stepped onto the carriage. As she sat she ordered, “Let us go. I wish to be in Stalliongrad before noon.”

A lavender unicorn wearing nothing more than an old dress constructed from rags walked to the end of a narrow alleyway between two worn down stone buildings. She poked her head around the corner, her purple eyes searching for any danger in the snow covered town. The guards in Stalliongrad were usually too busy to perfectly memorize faces, but, even so, the mare didn’t want to take a chance. She had stolen some food just two streets down mere moments ago, and that wasn‘t the only time she‘d done something like that. The law was harsh. It didn’t matter your motives behind a crime, whether for necessity, greed, or something else, what mattered was that you committed a crime. Fortunately, growing up on the streets like the unicorn had advantages. Chances were, if you survived to adulthood you had enough skill and smarts to avoid being caught most of the time, and skilled and intelligent the unicorn was.

Spotting no threat, she left the alleyway and began walking down the street. She bent her head low in the imitation of a dejected look, and let her navy-blue mane, which had a pink and purple stripe each running through it, fall over her face, so as to help hide herself. A pair of guards in worn grey armor walked by, and the unicorn flinched on the inside. “Easy, Twilight.” She reminded herself mentally. “Just keep your head down and your pace slow, and you won’t stick out at all. Remember, they can’t see you unless you let them.”

Following her own advice, the young mare remained undisturbed on the outside. She was just a part of the crowd, and nopony could tell otherwise. She made her way to the edge of the town. The poor side, where she had a “home.”

Of course, with the whole town being poor, rich and poor had different meanings than usual. Rich, in Stalliongrad, typically meant you had a roof over your head, and made just enough to support your family. Poor meant you had nothing at all. You took what little shelter you could find, and had to steal to sustain yourself. The buildings around the poor side of town were either collapsed or in a severe state of disrepair, and with the way ponies who lived on the edge of town were forced to survive it was a dangerous area. Fortunately for Twilight Sparkle, for that was the unicorn's name, most ponies left her alone.

The reason was evident on her flank. Her cutie mark was a large crimson star surrounded by five small white ones. Most Ponies in the area, being unlearned or superstitious, took it as meaning Twilight had something to do with the stars, and they didn’t wish to anger someone connected to celestial bodies. They did live in the Celestial Empire after all. The truth, as a few had found out the hard way, was that her special talent was magic, and while she didn’t know any fancy spells, aside from a few she had learned on instinct, her sheer power was unparalleled by anypony in town. So, she was mostly left alone.

Finally, after half an hour’s walk, Twilight arrived at her home. She was still a little way off from the end of town, but not too far. The unicorn stood in front of a wooden building on the left side of the street. The structure was collapsed in on itself, but it’s front was mostly intact, including the door. Twilight smiled to herself, and her horn lit with a magenta glow. The door in front of her glowed as well before opening. Calmly, the mare stepped inside, and closed the door behind her. Inside, the broken and splintered boards formed a small triangular room that ended only a few feet from the entrance, but still managed to keep the elements out. In the middle of the room was a hole that led into a small tunnel Twilight had spent weeks making many years ago. This hole was her home.

Twilight walked into the tunnel, her horn barely clearing the roof, and proceeded to the back. The darkness closed in around her, but was quickly banished when her horn turned into a dim light, casting the tunnel in a magenta shade. The mare went to a soft patch of dirt at the very back, and laid down. Once again using her magic, she pulled the two apples she had stolen earlier from out of her dress, and began to munch away at them while taking a look around her home. Aside from a blanket by her side there was nothing else in the tunnel. It was rather depressing, but at the same time Twilight was happy for it. The door of the structure her home was in didn’t have a lock. So there was nothing stopping anypony from coming in while she was gone, and stealing anything she kept. At the same time, Twilight was also used to not having anything but the bare essentials, and she was grateful enough for having a roof over her head, unlike many on the poor side of Stalliongrad.

As Twilight finished her first apple she heard noise echoing down her tunnel, and paused in the middle of picking up her second piece of food. It sounded like a bit of a commotion. Fights weren’t uncommon, but as close as it sounded it would have to be in the street. The guards would certainly break it up and arrest those involved if that were the case, and few ponies here were stupid enough to risk that. Curiosity got the better of Twilight, and she placed her apple down before dispelling her light. Quickly, she trotted up the tunnel, and opened the door to her home. There were quite a few ponies in the street, and they were all staring down it at the same thing. The unicorn decided to join the bandwagon, and looked in the same direction. She gasped. Several stallions wearing golden armor that signified they were royal guards were pulling a chariot down the road, and in it was a sight no one could mistake, despite the fact nopony there had seen it before.

Riding in the chariot was a pitch black alicorn that sat tall. Even sitting the pony was three times the size of any other. Twilight would never have imagined that anypony could be so big, and, perhaps even more spectacular, the alicorn’s tail and mane were a constantly flowing field of stars. Upon the pony’s chest set a large black crest with a crescent moon on it, and, as if to assuage any doubts, the alicorn was adorned with a sapphire-encrusted silver crown bearing rounded spikes. What caught Twilight’s attention the most however, wasn’t the simple, yet expensive, raiment. Nor was it the alicorn’s lithe and unique body. Rather, in front of the empress’ face was a book.

The unicorn’s eyes widened to the size of plates at the sight. An actual book! She had never seen a book before. She had, of course, learned how to read over the years, but only from signs hanging in the town. To see a book just made the unicorn ecstatic, and filled her mind with all sorts of fantasies. What would the empress be reading? Certainly no ordinary book. No, that would be beneath her notice. She must be reading a book filled with all sorts of ancient secrets. Oh, what the little unicorn mare would give to have just a glimpse! Twilight continued to stare even after the chariot had passed, and without thinking about it, she began to follow it at a distance.

Nightmare Moon sat rigidly as her chariot touched down within the town. Her body was beginning to ache from sitting still so long. After all, the chariot was fairly small for somepony of the alicorn's stature. Too much shifting about would tip it over. Briefly, Nightmare wondered if her sister had given her the chariot to annoy her that way. After all, the dark alicorn’s own chariots were much larger in design.

Taking a look around, the empress was disturbed by what she saw. There were few buildings still standing, and those that were were riddled with large holes, some missing whole walls. Most of the street was lined with simple tents and campfires, ponies huddled around them to keep warm. As her chariot proceeded down the dirt road the ponies began stare at her, and murmur amongst themselves. Nightmare’s ears folded back in agitation. She knew it was bad in Stalliongrad, but she hadn’t believed it was this bad. It was difficult to look at, so the empress turned her attention to the inside of the chariot. Looking about, she spotted a small book in one of the pocket slots inside the chariot’s sides. The book glowed with a dark blue aura as Nightmare levitated it out, and brought it in front of her face to read.

It turned out to be a simple guide on the basics of magic, likely written for foals. Nothing new to her. She had learnt much more than what was in it on her own, in a time before books. Still, it would make for a good distraction from the morose atmosphere. So she lost herself the act of silently reading. “There are two prominent definitions for magic. One is ‘to enforce one’s will upon the world,’ and the other is simply ‘something that can not be explained.’ In reality, both of these can be said to be true. The most basic part of spells is to mentally will, or believe, something to be, but what causes magic is unknown. All that is known about the cause is that it relates to the horns of unicorns and our beloved empresses.

The range of things that magic can do is near infinite, but it requires more than just faith to perform most spells. While simple things, such as telekinesis or lighting, and a few advanced spells, such as mind control, require nothing, or little, more than enough belief to come about there are often other factors in casting...”

Nightmare’s mind was blank as she read. She wasn’t really paying attention to the book. The truth was that there was no difference between what she was doing and staring off into space. She just couldn’t stare at the town. It was too bothersome. Did it make her sad? Yes, but ,more than that, it made her angry. This town belonged to the Celestial Empire. It was under her authority, and what kind of leader let their followers suffer like this? Yet, what if it was just this section of town? True, that would be bad anyway, but perhaps this was the stem of all Stalliongrad's problems. If it were, then she could see how morale might help.

Nightmare carefully lowered the book, and began looking around the street once more. The tents seemed to have disappeared to make way for buildings that were whole. This almost confirmed the empress’ hope, but the ponies walking about appeared in little better condition than they had been earlier, proving it wrong. Nightmare Moon grimaced as she noted the expressions on their faces. Most had their eyes wide or jaws dropped in awe, a few even bowed, but several set their eyes in a glare, clearly blaming her for the condition of their lives. Was it her fault? Perhaps it was. As their leader and, in the eyes of many, goddess their wellbeing was her responsibility, but, then, how did Stalliongrad come to be in this position? The alicorn wracked her brain for the memories. It proved more difficult than she liked, a little over two thousand years of memories blending together a she searched. Finally, she recalled the start of the town.

It had been during one of Celestia’s courts. A group of farmers had approached with a request to settle land near Equestria’s northern border. Most of their reasoning was dismissible, such as gaining supplies from the untouched north. One idea in particular though, had won over Nightmare’s sister, and the night empress saw why. The northernmost land that ponies lived on was the old military fortress of Canterlot in the mountain to the north of the Everfree. With a town closer to Equestria’s northern border their claim on that land would be stronger, and the town would able to give warning of invasion from the northern gryphon kingdoms far sooner than Canterlot could.

Unfortunately, the land they decided to found Stalliongrad in was extremely cold, even in summer, so most of their crops didn’t make it. This led to the, at the time, small settlement struggling to survive. Celestia, not willing to lose the lookout so easily, selected subjects from other towns, and sent them to Stalliongrad. The new residents which made the budding village much larger were mostly builders and hunters. This allowed the town to expand easily, and establish a fur and trophy trade. However, considering that much of the money went to buying the food Stalliongrad had difficulty growing, the town continued to struggle. Things had only escalated as the town grew.

Nightmare Moon was jerked out of her thoughts as her chariot pulled to a sudden stop. Her guards began to unfasten themselves as she looked around. The town appeared much the same as earlier, but the building to her left, which the chariot had parked beside, was a surprisingly well kept log cabin. It was large in comparison to the buildings around, though Nightmare suspected the entrance hall to her castle alone was bigger than it. Still it was an impressive domain considering the rest of the town.

Nightmare stowed the book she had been reading earlier back into the slot she had taken it from, and stepped
out of the chariot. She stretched her body momentarily to ease out the tension in her muscles, and turned to head up the steps to what was obviously the ruling lord’s, a duke Pie if she recalled correctly, home. Her first order of business was to meet with him and exchange the expected greetings. Then, considering the growing late hour, she would discuss her lodgings, and giver her speech tomorrow when more ponies could be alerted.

Flanked by her four guards the regal black pony knocked on the door and waited patiently. After a few moments the door opened to reveal brown earth pony stallion with a gray mane. He had a serious look about him, but bowed his head when he saw who it was that was visiting him. “Empress Moon, it is an honor.” He spoke in aged voice.

Nightmare Moon nodded in acknowledgement and spoke as the pony raised his head. “Lord Pie, I presume?”

The pony nodded in return and stepped to the side saying, “Gravel Pie. Please, come in your majesty.”

The empress bowed her head to move through the door, and was followed by two of her guards. The other two took up positions beside the door as it was closed.

Twilight Sparkle stood in the middle of the street dumbly, staring at the chariot, as other ponies walked about her. The book was in there. It could be hers. She would actually be able to read something. Learn something! Yet, two of the royal guards were standing watch outside. They would see her, if they didn't already. "Outta the way!” A gruff voice ordered.

A normal guard shoved her aside, sneering as he passed. Twilight averted her eyes to avoid any recognition, and once the soldier passed she looked back up at the royal guards. One was staring at her impassively after the incident. Sighing, Twilight lowered her head, and began walking down the street once more. It was pointless now that she’d been spotted. The guards would stop her before she made it ten feet. Unconsciously, the unicorn turned down an alley and sat. “But, the book!” She thought. “I may never have another opportunity like this again. I...I have to have it!”

Determination set, the young mare closed her eyes in concentration, and began to think of where she wanted to be. Her horn started to glow. Subtly at first, but soon it was flaring with light. Several ponies walking by the alley stopped to stare at the spectacle as Twilight demonstrated a talent that, although she didn’t know it, was very rare.

After a few moments Twilight disappeared from the alley in a magenta flash, and reappeared inside the chariot that the empress had rode in on. Acting quickly, she looked to the slots on each side, and, after spotting it, grabbed the book in her mouth before turning to run. The royal pegasi guards, who had been stunned by the blinding light that signaled the unicorn’s appearance, recovered quickly, and took off in chase of the thief.

Twilight Sparkle glanced behind her to see the guards gliding towards her at rapid pace. Thinking quickly, the unicorn spotted a nearby barrel on the side of the street, and hurled it at her pursuers with her magic. One of them avoided it effortlessly, but as the other made to dodge the barrel slammed into his wing. The force of the object knocked the guard out of the air, and, worse yet, the barrel revealed itself to be a keg of mead as it shattered against him, dousing his feathers to render him flightless. The grounded guard scowled as he stood back up. The unicorn was faster than him on foot, so he turned around to do the only sensible thing. Report.

Up ahead, Twilight turned down a narrow alley to throw off the remaining guard, who had nearly caught up. Said guard swerved in the air as he missed the opening in between building, but returned quickly. He alighted on the ground, the alley too narrow for him to fly through, and galloped after the mare. As Twilight made it to the street on the other side the guard burst out of the alley behind her yelling, “Stop her! She’s stolen from the empress!”

Several normal guards that were in the street hesitated to process the words before they too joined the pursuit. Twilight was beginning to slow as she charged down the street. Normally, she’d be able to keep running for hours, having done it to escape authorities before, but the teleportation spell had drained a lot of her energy. It was only a matter of time now before she was caught.

Nightmare Moon sat patiently on a cushion in Duke Gravel Pie’s den as he paced back and forth expressing his apologies for the state of the town. He’d been going on like this for a while, and she’d only been able to make him stop for a short few moments by bringing up the subject of her lodgings for the night. Apparently, she’d be taking his room, and he would be moving into his guest room. “...of course it’s to the point where I don’t know if a pret-”

The duke was interrupted as one of Nightmare’s guards from outside rushed in and saluted saying, “I apologize for the interruption ma’am, but something has occurred.”

Grateful for a distraction the black alicorn responded, “At ease. Tell me what-”

She paused as her gaze turned to the guard. Much of his armor and his whole right side were stained brown and wet. The empress arched a brow before continuing more seriously, “Tell me what has happened.”

“There has been a theft from your chariot, your majesty.” The guard reported.

Nightmare Moon’s eyes widened at the news. The audacity. The sheer arrogance to do such a thing astounded her. Nopony was stupid enough not to realize that chariot belonged to at least someone of nobility, even if they hadn’t seen her riding in it themselves. “Wait...” Her mind paused. “What was in the chariot to steal?”

While she pondered this Gravel Pie had his teeth grit, and a stare set that said he was ready to kill somepony. “Where is thief now, and what did they look like?” He asked.

The royal guard turned to the duke and answered, “She was a lavender unicorn mare dressed in rags. As for her whereabouts, I am uncertain. My partner is still pursuing her, but I was...grounded after she...threw a barrel of mead at me.” The guard finished hesitantly, not wanting to admit his failure.

Gravel Pie shook his head at the guard muttering, “Incompetence.”

The guard glared at the duke before his attention was grabbed by Nightmare as she asked, “What was it that was stolen?”

“I didn’t get a good look, my empress, but it seemed like a book.” The guard answered.

“A book...” Nightmare Moon thought before making the connection.

The book she had been reading to distract herself. The black alicorn relaxed slightly. It had been nothing valuable. Gravel Pie turned to her. “Do not worry.” He assured her. “We will retrieve it.”

Nightmare replied calmly, “What was stolen is of no consequence...” Her voice became tense as she continued, “...What matters, is that it was ME who was stolen from.”

Gravel nodded nervously but spoke calmly, “We’ll scour the town for her.”

“No need.” A stern voice spoke up from the hall beyond the den.

A second royal guard followed several city guards entered. Being dragged between the city guards was a unicorn matching the thief’s description, but covered in fresh bruises, indicating the guards had beat her. She was unceremoniously thrown into the middle of the room, and the guards seemed to smirk as she winced. The unicorn looked around cautiously, and seemed to shrink at the stares being directed at her. When the mare’s eyes fell on Nightmare Moon she began to tremble. “As she should.” Nightmare thought with a smirk.

During the moment of silence she took in the appearance of the unicorn before her. She appeared just barely out of fillyhood. Seventeen years old, nineteen at most. “Here is the item that was stolen ma’am.” The guard that had caught the thief said as he walked over to Nightmare, and hoofed her the book.

The alicorn didn’t register this as she paid attention to the scene before her. Gravel Pie brought the unicorn’s attention to him with an angrily toned question. “What is your name?”

The young mare looked at Gravel, and shakily answered, “T-twilight Sp-sparkle.”

The duke eye’s narrowed as he continued, “And? What have you to say for yourself?”

“I-I’m sorry!” She yelled while lowering her face, and covering her head with her hooves. “I just...I’ve never seen a book before, and I wanted to read it! I know I shouldn’t’ve done it. J-just please...don’t kill me.”

Nightmare Moon quirked a brow at the explanation, it seemed unlikely. Yet she had been attending court for over a thousand years now, and was good at discerning the truth in ponies’ statements. This unicorn seemed to be telling the truth to her, or she was a very good liar. Nightmare doubted the latter though, as the explanation would not guarantee any kind of mercy. “Unfortunately for you,” Gravel Pie began with spite, “Death would be the appropriate punishment for attempting to steal from one of the empresses.”

“I‘m sorry!” Twilight pleaded once more.

“Take her away.”

“Please, don’t kill me!” The unicorn panicked, and began to struggle as the guards wrapped their hooves around her legs again.

“Stop.” Nightmare Moon commanded calmly.

Immediately, everyone in the room froze. The empress sighed. Her sister always said justice must be given without compromising emotions, but the black alicorn did not have it in her. What had been stolen was unimportant, and the unicorn’s reasoning was...very peculiar. She’d just wanted to learn something it seemed. Well, she would. This Twilight Sparkle had still stolen from her, and that could not go unpunished. Death, however, seemed too severe. “Place her in a cell until I can decide what to do with her. I was the one wronged, and I will decide her punishment.”

Nopony spoke in opposition. She was their ruler. She was the law. After a moment one of the royal guards stepped forward, “Of course, your majesty, but...Ma’am she can teleport.”

The alicorn raised both her eyebrows at this. That was surprising. She stood, sighing, and replied, “Very well. I will come with you and erect a ward.”

The unicorn thief ceased her panic as she was hauled away. Nightmare Moon, following behind, finally decided. She was not happy.

Author's Note: Well, I hope you guys enjoyed that. I feel the ending was a little weak, but I'm not entirely certain. Regardless, this not my first story, so please do not hold back if you have any criticisms. Of course, I don't have any pre-readers, so I apologize for any typos or the like. I do the best I can to correct those on my own. That said, I'm looking forward to writing the rest of this story for you guys, and hearing what you think.