A New Day

Through Emerald's Eyes

  Princess Luna stayed at our home for the rest of the day. And when it came time for her to raise the moon, she offered us a chance to watch it. Nymph was filled with joy.

  We put on our disguises and went out into the backyard. Nymph, being raised to be a hatchery worker, wrapped Flutterwing just enough to keep her warm and hide most of her appearance.

  He stood by Luna who smiled at the pair. My broodlings circled around Luna, but tried to keep a distance from the Moon Queen. I have seen the moon rise, but never the alicorn who made it rise.

  The sun began its descent in the west. Creating a beautiful spectrum of color throughout the sky. Oranges, pinks, whites, yellows, reds, purples. It was truly marvelous.

  I believe that Celestia was trying to show off by lowering the sun at a snail's pace. She was succeeding, Luna's bright smile was turning to a scowl during each passing moment.

  When the sun finally set, Luna was near rage. But Celestia trying to play a joke wouldn't stop her from creating the most beautiful moon rise ever.

  She began by lighting her horn with a light blue glow. Then, at the same pace as the sun, she rose. Her eyes began glowing a bright white as she made her ascent.

  The moon appeared in the east, rising with the Queen of the night. Her horn glowed even more as the sky turned from the bright sunset coloring to purples, blues, greys, and the stars started to appear.

  The stars though did not stay in place. They moved along with the moon, rising to the highest peak in the sky. Once the moon settled, the stars moved past it.

  They created a blanket of night flowing over the world as if to tuck it in so the ponies below could dream only their greatest fantasies. Luna then lowered to the ground her hooves touching the grassy surface.

  Luna then turned to us with a smile. My broodlings were not looking, they were mesmerized by the colors she had out into her night. There were entire galaxies of stars spread evenly about the sky.

  Nymph's eyes were never so big. He looked up to Luna with his green eyes almost popping out of his head. The Night Queen chuckled seeing his face.

"I hope you enjoyed the dusk as much as I did."

  I turned to Luna.

"Princess, I speak for all of my hive when I say, you have truly outdone yourself and have outdone Celestia's sunset."

  My broodlings all nodded in agreement, not taking their eyes off the sky.

"Many thanks to you. We made sure this was extra special for you. If you look over by my moon, you can see something truly beautiful."

  We shifted our sights to the moon. Right below it was a green crown with holes. This must be for me. Tulip had a purple tulip. Mantis, a red chess piece. Locust, a blue raindrop.

  For Azure, a swirling cake. Onyx had a white eighth note. Wormwood's was a black hammer. Leaf had a grey leaf. Cicada's was a yellow lightening bolt with holes.

  Nymph's was a spinning galaxy. The galaxy itself had a line of stars beneath it, creating a giant pinwheel. She even made one for Flutterwing, who was waving her hooves and giggling.

  It was a pink heart and it surrounded the other shapes. Luna meant for this night to be a tribute to us. After all, the only thing we could do was talk during her visit.

  She heard our stories, from escaping old queens to finding me. Or me finding them. My broodlings were opening up to the Night Queen.

  I knew her of course, seeing her time to time around Canterlot. Though the one who seemed most reluctant to keep her was Azure. She saw Luna almost every day at the bakery.

  In fact, my broodlings were frightened of her. They thought that she would blast us away, separating us apart. But now they smiled and laughed with her. As my mother used to say, a Queen's actions changes the hive's attitude.

  Princess Luna bid us farewell and flew off into the night. Everyling was very tired, but wanted to stay up for a bit longer to stare at the sky. Nymph wanted to watch the galaxy spin around. I still don't get his fascination with those things.

"Come along everypony, it's time."

  Everyling went inside while I broke Nymph's trance. He gave me a sour look, but followed me in anyways. They had their bags and the plink jars were hidden in each one.

  They bunched all around me while I created a green shield around us. I began my spell feeling my magic course for my body. Then I mixed in my love energy.

  We teleported to the Canterlot train station. There was one last train going to Ponyville tonight and I wasn't taking any chances on walking.

  The train was still there. We shuffled into a private car in the back, never can be too careful. Not wanting our bags lost we kept them right next to us.

  We only got disturbed once by a ticket pony. I asked that no pony else enter our car. Since we had the last car it was doable. Then my broodlings and I settled down to sleep.

  Nymph curled up next to me with Flutterwing by his side. Everyling else had their own seat to lay on. Though I did notice Mantis went to lay next to Cicada.

In the morning in Canterlot

Through Celestia's Eyes

  Luna won last night's competition, but tonight I will beat her. 899,999 to 50,354. She always beats me. Speak of the diabolus.

"Sister we have won the night over your slow sundown. Haha!"

"Yes Luna, but tonight will be different.."

"We shall see, sister. We saw Lady Emerald last night. She was very frightened."

"Frightened? Of what?"

"She said that she would depart for Ponyville that night with her 'family'. She asked if we could bring you a letter."

  Luna pulled a rolled up parchment with Emerald's green seal. I took it in my own magic and opened the letter. A piece of silk fell out of it.

Dear Princess Celestia,

By the time you are reading this me and my 'family' will be in Ponyville making ourselves accommodated with the civilians there. We needed to have a vacation. As you know, we have never left Canterlot ever since I arrived.

A change of scenery is something we really needed. I did not leave the situation at hoof unattended. As you know, the changelings attacked Canterlot to feed off our love on a wide scale.

I recently found an attempted planting of a changeling princess. Do not worry, the little changeling is with me. She is just a child. Not full grown like her mother.

Unfortunately, I learned Chrysalis is not the only changeling queen. The grey queen, Sliverwing, is the mother of the changeling princess. She will be coming to attack Canterlot in an attempt to steal her child back.

As it says in the piece of silk sent with the princess, 'We will bring her home. No child of mine will live among ponies. Royalty shouldn't live like commoners, they should live in a palace filled with servants.'

We believe it will take about three weeks for this particular queen. Caelum knows how many more queens and hives exist. I ask you to prepare for anything. If you find a changeling, please don't harm it.

I wish to speak to any changeling you may find. They might have something useful to say.

Your adviser,

Lady Emerald

  I picked up the silk and wavered between the letter and it. My subjects were in trouble.

"Tell Shining Armor to prepare the guards. I'll go to Infernus before a single holed hoof touches my little ponies."