Book of Moon

Two soul-stabbing eyes were carved into Twilight's thoughts.

She inched towards the book as though it were a sleeping lion.

Twilight had contended with many possessed artifacts. They were invariably dangerous.

Gingerly, she levitated the book from the desk and stood staring into its cover.

There was silence. Twilight scanned the book for magical influence. Nothing.

Twilight huffed, then ignited an arcane lamp she kept on the desk.

Twilight set the book back on the desk and walked over to the window. She was about to jump out when she noticed something.

The jeweled container was lying on its back behind the desk; lid open. It's enchanted lock had been melted away.

Twilight swallowed. She backed away from the book.

The cracking of wings came from outside. The room shuddered as Spike landed on the roof. His neck twisted down the side of the tower so his great green eye could look inside the window.

"Get down, Spike — something's wrong."

Spike hissed.

"Don't argue with me. Go back to your pen."

Spike growled, then sank back into the grounds.

Twilight sighed and rubbed her eyes. She make a force field around the window, and magically sealed the door.

Twilight's neck itched as she turned back to the book. Images of Lazuli, Magna, and Spike, all being swallowed by shadowy magic conjured themselves in her mind.

Magic, like language, has a code. If the thoughts used to cast a spell could be understood, counter spells could formulated to break them apart.

Twilight decided that book could not be left an enigma. If it was truly malevolent, the only safeguard was in ascertaining it's arcane signature as soon as possible.

Twilight took a deep breath. She sat down at her desk, then pulled the book towards her.

The book was of distinctly griffin origin, marked by the use of desert ink. This was not unusual given that the griffins were eminent artificers. The inscriptions used a hieroglyphic system of writing that, though impractical, had become tradition for the griffins of Horakhty. Twilight had studied whole epochs of griffin history in depth, but the book's exact dialect was still alien to her.

Twilight scratched her chin. She pulled dozens of reference books off her shelves, but none could point to meaning of the tantalizingly familiar symbols.

Twilight scanned a line of text by emitting a thin ray of magenta light from her horn.

The analysis suggested that the book was impossibly old — older than the elements of harmony. Twilight reeled. She flapped her wings like a bee and fell out of her chair.

Ignoring the pain in her back, Twilight got up and trotted towards her quarters to fetch the element of magic.

It was now clear why she had failed before. The book used enchantments the makings of which were foreign to her, both in time and space.

Twilight concluded that if she was going to solve this riddle, she'd need something to focus her magic.

Twilight found the element on her dressing table, She stopped to take a look out of her bedroom window.

Spike was sulking by the lake.

"I'm sorry, Spike. I'll see you very soon." Twilight put on her crown.  "That's a promise."

Twilight walked back into her office. Before she could reach her desk — the book flipped open. It's pages flickered on their own accord.

Twilight froze. Her veins turned to ice.

The book's pages cast a pale red light over the walls. A black, beast-like monster sprang forth from its surface and lashed out at Twilight's face with it's claws.

Twilight was sent sprawling down the stairs. Her back jarred as she hit the ground. The monster gripped Twilight with its claws and gashed at her with its beak.

Twilight pulled the monster away from her by levitation, then yelled and turned her head sharply.

The monster crumpled into a wall. It lay gurgling with twitching limbs for a moment, then It's body disintegrated into a cloud of stagnant black smoke.

Twilight's foreleg was raw with cuts. She almost bit her tongue as she got up. Twilight relapsed as she tried to understand what had hit her.

The monster's body had been indistinct. It was something Twilight could only describe as a winged spectre.

Another spectre jumped out of the book. Then another, and another. If the monsters had any eyes, Twilight couldn't see them. They snapped their beaks and stalked low to the floor — ready to pounce.

The stress and dread the book had inflicted upon Twilight over the last few days was finaly being realized. Lazuli, Magna, her students, and Spike were now in danger.

Twilight remembered how Spike had once thought that nightmares living in the closet were going to eat him whole.

A tiny pair hugged Twilight's legs.

‘Hehehe. Don't worry Spike, I'll protect you.’

The spectres wailed like strangled banshees and charged.

Twilight jumped backwards. Magenta flames gathered into a sphere about her horn.

A spectre sprang though the air; claws outstretched.

The magenta spellcaster loosed the magic at her target.

"Dusk spark!"

The fireball rammed into the Spectre and blasted it apart in a violent clap of searing light. Wisps of black smoke tailed upward.

The other spectres jumped after. Twilight shot them down. More streamed out of the book's pages and attacked. Flashes of magic brightened the room in regular bursts, like a strobe.

Twilight's breaths were short. Exhaustion degraded the accuracy of her attacks. Some of the spells missed their marks and added to the growing insanity that ravaged the workshop. The room fell dark as a magenta flame shattered a row of arcane lamps mounted on the wall. The advancing spectres began to pile up and surround her.

A spectre flew at Twilight's head..

Twilight caught it on a force field, then flung it away. The spectre crashed into her tool cabinet; leaving a dent.

A swarm of spectres pulled Twilight to the ground and clawed at her.

Twilight growled — magic boiling in her horn. She unleashed it.

An explosion showered the walls with the liquidized remains of the spectres.

Twilight rose steadily with an aching chest.

The room was quiet. Tools and stationary lay scattered about. Claw marks in the floor were the only evidence that the spectres were ever there.

More appeared.

Twilight raised her horn. It fizzed uselessly.

The spectres slinked down the stairs with a deliberate ease of pace.

Twilight shrank. A fear that destroyed all coherent thought permeated the air. Her vision fogged and her head began to drift again. She turned and ran through the workshop, narrowly avoiding shards of glass, as she stumbled about in the dark.

The spectres clicked their beaks and fanned out to fill the room.

Twilight reached the control panel. She slumped against the wall, trembling. She input the code as fast as she could.

Invalid passcode.

A spectre jumped down in front of Twilight from a nearby workbench.

Twilight's coat stood on end. She hammered  the code in again.

Invalid passcode.

Black claws clasped Twilight's legs and prized her from the control panel.

Twilight kicked and struggled against them as the spectres dragged her into the office.The chess table spewed its contents as they knocked it over, and threw Twilight to the floor at the foot of her desk.

Twilight scrambled away from the spectres, pressing her back up against the desk as they filled the office.

The spectres were still. Their forms inclined, as if they were bowing.

Twilight paused. She tried to slow her breathing and rationalize what was happening.

The book changed. It cast a soft blue light into the office. Twilight shivered as she was licked by the malevolent richness of a nightmare's voice:

"Pathetic little girl. In the face of certain death, you are fearful. I do not have time for this."

Twilight spun about.

A lurid mystical flame of blue bathed the room in it's light. Ancient symbols danced about a column of magic. When the pillar of magic died away, there stood an image of an alicorn hovering above the book's pages. It's body was made of golden fire.

"Who are you?" said Twilight, shielding her eyes.

The image scoffed.

"You are asking a book who it is? How quaint."

Twilight heard a clicking noise. She instinctively looked at the spectres.

"What are these things?"

The imaged grunted in reluctance.

"The creatures you see, child, are phantasms. They are the fabric of chaos given form by my power."

The phantasms bared their claws and began slashing away at the wall of magenta magic that blocked the window. Sparks fizzed off Twilight's barrier as its energy began to deplete.

"You will do as I say, or I may not be accountable for their actions."

Twilight jerked about to face the phantasms. Her face clenched with exertion, but tiny sparks were all her horn could muster.

"Chaos disrupts all other forms of magic," said the image. "You are powerless."

"Please stop them —" said Twilight, gasping for breath. "I'll do whatever you want, Just don't hurt anypony."

The image smirked, making clear that it's estimation of Twilight was provisional.

"You will read from my pages, until you are fit for my purposes."

Twilight's wings shifted.

"Read? I've been trying to read uh —" Twilight gestured between the image and the book in confusion, finally deciding to point at the book, " — you, all night. All I can tell is that you're some sort of moon calendar. Why would you want me to read something like that?"

The image's eyes glazed over. It's expression became vacant.

"You are not permitted to..." The image shook it's head vigorously. "You will find that my contents are not what you

remember. Now read. I'll have no more of these fatuous questions."

A phantasm shoved Twilight closer to the desk.

The contact made Twilight squeal..

"Alight alright, I'll read, but I still want to know what it is that I'm reading."

The image groaned and collapsed. It lost its garish colour and became a ghostly outline. The phantasms evaporated entirely.

Twilight looked about in a daze. Her office couldn't be more spoiled if it had been a china shop in the middle of a warzone during an earthquake.

The image sat on its haunches, and sighed.

"Insofar as I am able, I must answer any and all questions you ask of me — as dictated by my program."

A dull ache set into Twilight's entire body as her adrenaline levels plummeted. Now that she had a grasp of her senses, she noticed that the Image's speech was firm, but not unkind.

"Program? I thought you were a book? So now you're some kind of machine?"

The image chuckled and looked out at them moon.

"Nothing so crude. I am Voice: a complete mental reconstruction. Designation: Princess Luna."

Twilight felt the colour return to her face. She found the energy to smile.

"Really? oooo That's impressive. How does that work?" said Twilight.

Voice's posture became rigid.

"You are not permitted to know at this time."

Twilight massaged her bruised hind-quarters.

"Well what about those phantasm things? Why did you send them to attack me?"

"You are not permitted to know at this time," said Voice.

Voice clamped its hooves over its ears.

"Please. No more questions. I had hoped to complete my directive without suffering your inexorable curiosity. Time is short, and this primitive spoken communication takes too long."

"Short for what?" asked Twilight.

Voice cringed.

"You are not permitted to know at this time."

"You're not a very informative book, are you?"

Voice crossed its hooves.

"It's not my fault that you continuously pry into areas of my archives that you have no business being in. Some of my knowledge is withheld for your own good. Now if you would just read, maybe, you would be able to satisfy the prerequisites for the disclosure of that knowledge. "

Twilight righted the overturned settee by levitation. She sat down in the elegant Canterlot fashion. With one hind leg laid over the other. She wore a crooked smile.

"hrrrm Could tell me when the next lunar eclipse is," said Twilight.

Voice fumed. It rose to its feet; wings flared.

"Damn you child, by Saturnalia's cream-filled beard, If I ever — "

Voice's speech became insufferably chipper as she was forcibly made to answer Twilight's question.

"The next lunar eclipse will occur in approximately four weeks. It will be a total lunar eclipse visible from Canterlot for a duration of three hours and twenty minutes."

"That's exactly right." Twilight giggled. "This is fun."

Voice's head slammed into Twilight's desk without a sound. It groaned.

"I submit."

Voice slowly sat up and crossed it's forelegs.

"Fine — play twenty questions. I can see that Equestria's safety is no concern of its Princess."

Twilight frowned.

"Equestria is in danger?"

Voice looked at Twilight with an expression of bemused contempt.

"Why do you think?"

Twilight Strode over to the table and stared into Voice's translucent eyes.

"Why? Because I'd have the audacity to ask even the simplest questions on the matter?" said Twilight, in a flush of anger.

"Yeah, that's just unreasonable when lives are at stake."

"How dare you," said Voice. "I will not be lectured by some upstart little — "

Twilight pointed upward to interrupt Voice, as if posing a question. Her face appeared curious: a vision of Socratic irony.

"Hey I was just wondering..."

Voice sat down, and ground it's teeth as it spoke:

"Point, Con-ce-ded."

A devious deduction glinted in Twilight's eyes. The tables had officially turned. Twilight subtly re-absorbed the energy she had used to seal the room.

Voice huffed and shook it's head.

"Why waste time with all this blathering when I can show you the problem. All you have to do is read."

Twilight's horn glowed. She smiled.

"Given the choice, no, I don't think I will."

Twilight jumped into the air and opened her wings. She spread her forelegs wide and a ring of arcane symbols spun behind her as she cast her spell.

Voice directed it's horn at Twilight. Phantasms spawned from the book.

"What are you doing? I can nullify any spells you cast."

The phantasms glowed magenta. They screeched in pain, then burst. Their gaseous remains were drawn into the arcane symbols, making them ripple with dark energy.

Voice was still.

Twilight said, "Exposing yourself wasn't a smart move. I've deduced your arcane signature. Your ‘power’ is negated."

Twilight pointed at the book and commanded her spell:

"Fiendish Circle — seal Princess Luna."

Voice instinctively flexed into a fighting stance.

The ring vanished, then reappeared on the book's pages. Tendrils of magenta magic were conducted into Voice's horn like a lightning rod. Voice screamed and fell to its knees. The magic persisted; binding Voice to the book. The ghostly image shrank until it was no larger than a chicken.

"You figured it out...in just a few minutes?"

Twilight floated back to the floor and stood triumphant. She peered down at Voice.

" All you've shown me is that you are very ancient and very dangerous. You terrorized my friend, threatened my university, and scared me half to death. I haven't seen anypony so selfish, so deplorable, so single-minded, in the pursuit of their own goals in a very — very — long time."

Twilight stamped the floor.

"I don't believe for a second that Luna would act like this."

Voice trembled in silence. Twilight wondered if it was crying.

"However," said Twilight. " I promised Luna I'd find out what you are, and there's definitely some sort of connection. Why couldn't you have been honest with me?"

Voice stuttered the same line she always did when her program rejected a question. It was then that Twilight noticed Voice was shaking with anger, not submission.

Twilight trotted back through the darkened workshop to the safe room. She withdrew a white spherical device. Its surface was permeated by small holes through which a large green crystal could be seen filling much of its interior.

Twilight placed it on the office desk and took out some tools from the workshop.

Voice regarded the sphere with distaste.

"A magic inhibitor?"

Twilight began adjusting the orb's circuitry.

"If I'm not reading on my terms, I'm not reading at all."

Voice grunted.

"You might as well put your hooves up and make yourself comfortable while you are at it. I may not be flesh and blood but that doesn't mean I am prepared to wait all night."

Twilight paused; levitating a screwdriver.

"hrrrm Making myself comfortable? That's not a bad idea."

Twilight made for the door.

Voice craned it's neck as far as it's restraints would allow.

"Where are you going?"

Spike almost fainted when Twilight explained to him what had happened. He insisted on spending the rest of the night with her. Twilight was confident the book was no longer an immediate threat, so she didn't try to dissuade him.

Magna's comparatively small quarters were directly below Twilight's. He had managed to sleep through the entire incident. He leapt out of bed upon hearing the news, and ordered the custodians to begin clearing Twilight's workshop of wreckage immediately.

Twilight was somewhat taken aback by his startled apologies and unusual level of concern. She watched from the office as drowsy guards helped maids sweep the floors, and carried crumbling work surfaces out the door.

Seeing Twilight's many cuts and wounds had sent waves of shame throughout the guard garrison. For once, Magna was allowed to direct his subordinates without retort.

Spike sat on the roof of the tower and gazed in through the window.

Twilight returned to her office with a healthy supply of snacks. She put the bags of popcorn and candy on the settee, then resumed her work on the inhibitor.

"This is so humiliating," said Voice.

Twilight giggled.

"You can't expect me to start a big reading session without something to eat."

Twilight positioned the inhibitor on a stand, the pressed a button. The inhibitor projected a green dome of energy about the book.

Twilight released Voice's restraints.

"There, now you can't try anything. Now what is it that's so vitally important for me to read?"

Voice tapped the dome; frowning. The image disappeared, and the book flicked to a table of contents.

"Chapter seven," said Voice.

Twilight was still able to hear it's speech, though there was no distinct source.

Twilight sat down at the desk.

"That's odd, there wasn't a page of contents before, and It's written in Equestrian too."

"Ignorant of alicorn mind magic, are we?" said Voice. "You really are a child."

Twilight reproached.

"Stop calling me a child. I'm 118."

"Ah, 118," Said Voice in reverent tones. "I wish I could return to such innocent, formative, years." Voice reminisced for a moment. "As I was saying, you're going to read my seventh chapter. Speak the title aloud and I will take you to it."

Twilight squinted so she could see through the field of magic.

"Why is there only one chapter on the list?"

"No need to present you with the others," said Voice. "Now for the last time — read."

Twilight growled at the book.

"Please," said Voice.

Twilight smiled, then read from the book:

"Flash Flare Lightning."

Twilight touched her chin.

"What an odd title. Doesn't sound like a chapter from any book I've ever read. It doesn't even make any sense. It sounds like the kind of thing cheesy comic artists who couldn't speak a word of Equestrian would throw together just because they thought it sounded cool."

Twilight's horn began to glow. She jumped back from the table; knocking over her chair.

Black flames spewed from the book. A pair of shining red eyes blinked from within the growing shadows. The darkness spread over the desk until it was large enough for a hulking monster to poke it's head into the office from within.

The magic inhibitor went offline as a wyvern shattered it's protective barrier. The neck of a phantasmal wyvern extended towards the ceiling. It's head had three black crests that pulsed a blood red — and It's white-colored neck scales where thick plates of a tough, yet smooth, material. It's roar whipped back Twilight's mane.

Twilight couldn't breathe. She couldn't move.

The wyvern's lunged at her; it's jaws bristling with fangs. An ear piecing screech emanated from Spike's throat.

Twilight dived to the floor. The wyvern's head came down close to Twilight's hind legs.

Twilight kicked it's snout and ran.

The wyvern hissed and shook it's head, eyes flashing green.

Twilight made for Spike. She ran up to the window and jumped, forelegs outstretched.

The wyvern snatched Twilight out of the air and pulled her towards the shadows.

Twilight reached for Spike.

"Spiiiiiike."

Spike tried in vain to enter the office. The stonework shuddered and cracked as he rammed his snout into the window.

Magna was helping some guards lift a golden sarcophagus out from under a pile of rubble. A guard yelped as Magna dropped it on his hoof as soon as he hear Twilight's screams. He sped up the stairs jumped at the monster.

The wyvern slipped out of sight into the pit of darkness. Magna whistled overhead and slammed into the bookshelf.

He fell to the floor, and was buried by an avalanche of books.

The darkness shrank away, and the book snapped closed.

Magna clambered out from under the mountain of literature. He desperately opened the book.

An image of an eclipse with meaningless symbols underneath stared back at him.

"Bugger buggering buggery on a blimey sandwich."

Spike woke up all of Canterlot as he cried at the moon.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Twilight was carried into a grand hallway. It's splendor rivaled that of Canterlot Castle.

The wyvern tossed Twilight down at the foot of a dais. An alicorn peered down at her from a throne at its peak.

The aloof alicorn was resting her head on her hoof.

"Magic was never Luna's forte, but you cannot beat experience."

The wyvern stomped its way to the alicorn. It hummed as she absently petted it's crest.

Twilight got up and surveyed her new surroundings.

The hallway was lit by dim candlelight. High above, the stars twinkled through a glass ceiling, which was stained a faint blue.

Twilight wondered how she had entered this place. When she looked behind, there were no doors.

The hall was lined with high-reaching windows. Twilight was debilitated by what she saw outside.

The Earth was high above the horizon. Millions of miles away.

Panic seeded Twilight's thoughts once more. She turned to her captor.

The alicorn bore an uncanny resemblance to princess Luna, but something was different. She was taller, and her mane was a coruscating red. Her very presence was cold, owing to her fearsome countenance and practiced ease of authority.

"Where am —"

Twilight's lips moved but no sound came out. She looked at the alicorn in confusion.

Voice relished Twilight's hapless expression.

"You are in my world now, child, and the first rule of my world is that there are no questions."

The wyvern lay down in front of the throne and slept.

Twilight's head was spinning. She hurried over to one of the windows. Her mouth hung at what she saw.

The desolate sea of tranquillity.

Voice walked down from her throne and stood next to Twilight, who was hyperventilating.

"I suppose you shall not be able to learn anything if you are worrying your little heart out."

Voice pointed about the sands and dust of the moon.

"None of this is real. I just created it so that your mind had something to cling to."

Voice walked down the midnight blue carpet.

"Come, you cannot tarry. There are things you must to see before we can get started."

Twilight hesitantly followed Voice down the hall.

A mural marked the end of the hall. At the right, there was a depiction of a dark alicorn with great draconian wings. It stood in opposition of another alicorn of light, who brandished a crescent sword. They battled under the glow of a magenta star.

Voice's horn glowed. A massive stone book gradually rose out from the ground and swung open. It's pages shone bright with magic.

Voice gestured for Twilight to walk into the book's light.

"Inside is one of my chapters, it is named ‘Arena: Prince of Force’. You will be seeing Luna's memories."

Twilight didn't move.

"Go on," said Voice, with a snigger, "it will be just like watching a play at the theatre."

"I want to ask a question," said Twilight.

Voice grumbled.

"Alight, one question, after that, you are going in even if I have to throw you in myself."

"Why am I here?" asked Twilight.

Voice smiled ironically.

"You are here because a mad-stallion with the might of six gods is currently clawing his way out of the pits of Tartaros and, sadly, you are the only chance Equestria now has. Because of that I have the unenviable task of filling the gaps in the vapid sieve that is your education as a princess."

Voice scowled.

"Just look at you: softer than a velvet pincushion. Celestia has been far too lenient with you — If she is going to treat you like a child, then so will I."

Twilight opened her wings and flew so her face was level with Voice's.

"I might not know much about throwing my weight around and blowing hot air, but what I do know is that I don't need you to protect Equestria. If I have my friends, I'll never lose, no matter what's thrown at me."

Voice scoffed at Twilight effrontery.

"Oh, the elements of harmony is it? Why not try facing an adversary who actually knows about these things. You rest on them time and again, like a crutch. It is as if you are waiting to be left without a leg to stand on. We cannot afford to be so, so — "

Twilight raised an eyebrow.

"Predictable?"

Voice's face flooded with belligerent colour. She grabbed Twilight by her horn and flung her into the book.

Twilight screamed, her stomach turned.

The stone book slid closed and sank back into the ground.

"That is quite enough out of you," said Voice; dusting off her hooves.

Voice dumped her rear back onto her throne.

"Just who does that girl think she is?"

The wyvern raised its head. Voice stroked it's scales with a disconcerted sigh.

"She's not even a tenth my age. Perhaps I was being a little impetuous..."

Twilight found herself in a void of light, without place or time. She drifted for what might have been an eternity.

Something came into focus. Strange sensations flooded her limbs. Her legs started to grow and her mane became a sparkling red. She felt something tinge in her throat. Her brain numbed as everything that was Twilight fell away, so that somepony else could be put in her place.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Captain Marauder strode over the indomitable fortifications of cold stone. He was accompanied by his lieutenants and a platoon of pegasus soldiers. They had the red circle of Prince Arena marked upon their armour.

Marauder looked out into the dark knowing that somewhere between the fog and shadow, Jove's forces lied in wait .

"How do you fancy our chances, Lieutenant?" said Marauder.

"When I was a just colt, I saw Arena the Star Stallion protect this city from a mighty red-eyes," said the grizzled First lieutenant Spartacus. " I'll be damned before the walls of Fort Varja fall to anything those loyalist scum can muster."

His peers murmured in agreement.

The group soon reached  a large watchtower built near the gatehouse. Inside one of the lower rooms was a map on a table, and a set of chairs.

The lieutenants studied the map and conferred amongst themselves.

Marauder looked down at a bird's eye view of the city. At the center was the keep: the original Fort Varja.

It had served as an outlying ward against dragon attack. Overtime, those seeking asylum gathered there, and when the dragons were finally driven off, some settled. As the town and it's needs expanded, new walls were built.

What was once a garrison of soldiers had become a city, but it's name as a fort had stuck as a source of pride and heritage.

The map now looked like the stump of a tree, although weathering had formed gaps in the older rings.

Marauder bent low to better examine his troop deployment.

Lieutenant Dual Lance pointed at Fort Varja's defenses on the map.

"Who does Jove think he's kidding? The city is locked down, the keep can levy a siege for more than a month, and our heavy spell slings deny all airship access. If Jove wants his sister back, he's going to have to storm the keep himself."

"And if he does, Arena will be waiting for him," said another Lieutenant.

Marauder sniffed and scratched his muzzle.

"I've been talking with Arena. His informants in Tall Rostra say that Jove is going to attack...tonight."

Lieutenant Spartacus's face creased up.

"Attack? You mean a direct assault on our fortifications? He'd need four-thousand earth ponies and two companies of pegasi, just to get one sword over the first wall. Does he expect us to leave the gates wide open for him?"

Marauder raised an eyebrow. He covered his mouth as he coughed.

"He's bringing six-thousand. And three companies."

Lieutenant Spartacus stopped laughing.

"Impossible. The wine in Tall Rostra must be stronger than whisky. Where are all these soldiers coming from? Even with that many, the keep was built to hold even dragons at bay. Attacking now doesn't add up."

Lieutenant Ambush was sitting in the corner, forelegs folded.

"Attacking on a night like this is a fool's errand. They'd barely be able to see the ends of their muzzles."

The lieutenants turned to him and paused. They glanced at each other in silence. Lieutenant Ambush gave speech to what they were all thinking:

"But, there is one horror of the dark that can see, even on nights like this... and they would turn our advantage into a crippled fault: If Jove orders the Nightmare and her cadre into battle, he would have lethal air support, while low visibility would have ours grounded."

Lieutenant Spartacus shifted his weight slightly.

"They can't be here. Jove ordered Nightmare Moon to maintain order in Tall Rostra. There must be another explanation."

The conversation was cut short when the door to the upper levels flew open. A fresh-faced soldier slogged in and saluted. He was short of breath.

"Begging your pardon, Sirs, but I have an urgent report," said the soldier.

Marauder made redundant adjustments his his shin guards. He studied the soldier's standing and uniform out of the corner of his eye.

"Go ahead, watchman." said Marauder, a few seconds later.

Spartacus gave Maruader a sideways look.

"Yeah, what's this about, Torch?"

Torch gave a short bow of his head.

"We've spotted a shadow passing in front of the moon."

The lieutenants were expressionless. Ambush rose to his feet.

"It was big and fast. Something about how it moved was just...unnatural — we think it's a Nightwing."

Spartacus was pale. The lieutenants looked at the map; downcast.

The corner of Marauder's mouth curled. He struggled not to smile.

"Let's not give in to despair just yet. If it comes to that, we have Celestia. She can raise the sun for us. We'd lose our advantage, but those demons would have to retreat. Fort Varja isn't going to fall this night. That much is certain."

The lieutenants nodded, but said little. Each was absorbed in own thoughts.

Marauder felt his pulse heighten as he relished the somberness of the lieutenants. He made a conscious effort keep an even tone of voice.

"Stick to the walls. You will be exposed to the air, but the lighting is better than in the streets. None of you want to face a nightwing in the dark, believe me. All of you will be at the ready in the event of an attack, no officer is to be in reserve, understood? You are dismissed."

The lieutenants filed out of the watchtower and made for their posts.

Marauder stood over the map until he was alone. He walked back onto the battlements. Tiny flames blinking in the darkness marked the gatehouse.

The privates stationed along the wall stood to attention as he passed.

The gatehouse was a feat of engineering. It's inner walls were lined with massive gears and chains of black steel. It was more heavily fortified than the watchtower or any other segment of the wall.

Marauder climbed the stone steps and walked through a short corridor. He came to the thick metal door that permitted entry to the gate's operations platform.

Marauder presented his key (one of only a handful ever made). The guards unlocked the door and stepped aside.

Marauder slammed the door behind him.

In front of him was a suspended walkway that lead to a platform with a collection of levers. The iron guts of the gate lay just below.

The gates themselves were more than forty feet tall.

Marauder strode over to the arrangement, and searched for the access lever.

"You're a long way from HQ, Sir," said a cold voice.

Marauder stopped in his tracks. He glanced over his shoulder to find Ambush leaning against the wall, right next to the door. Ambush came closer. He eyed Marauder with suspicion.

"You've been acting very strange lately, Captain. What are you doing here?"

Marauder blinked and stepped back. His mouth was clammy.

"I forgot...something. What are you doing here, lieutenant?"

Marauder's gaze clung to the whites of Ambush's eyes like a lifeline.

"I don't remember giving you the authority to be here," said Marauder.

Ambush looked about the collection of machinery. Practically everything in the room was chained or riveted to something else.

Ambush shook his head.

"What am I going to do with you? You'd forget your mouth, if you didn't need it to drink yourself senseless."

Marauder battled the rising look of relief that was spreading on his face. He half-smiled.

"Well, you know me...always forgetful. And drunk apparently."

Marauder paused. His ears flicked about, in search of eavesdroppers.

"I pulled, ‘the usual,’ and snuck in."

Ambush took out his pen-knife. It had seven different tools for lock picking.

Returning it to his pocket, he said, "I had to speak with you privately. There's something I need to report on."

Ambushed spoke in a hush:

"The platoon I sent to watch the catacombs have not reported back. Our perimeter is no longer secure. I've not told the others for fear of tipping off potential spies."

Marauder's teeth gleamed like fangs. He straightened his back.

"Is that so? Yes, I had noticed something was amiss. Thank you, Lieutenant. You may just have saved all of Fort Varja."

Ambush saluted.

"Always willing to serve, Sir. I'll keep a watch on the ranks for you. I hope you find what you're looking for."

Ambushed faced-turned and made for the entrance.

There was the sound of sliding steel. A wedge of silver burst out of Ambush's chest in a fountain of red.

A tall cloaked figure withdrew her sword from its farrow, mortal, sheathe. The corpse fell like a rag-doll.

"Yes, you go ahead and search the ranks. No one has ever looked there before. I almost feel shame at ending such a petty existence."

The figure righted her crescent sword. It had a single, large, notch, a few inches below the tip.

She admired how it had drunk deep from the mortal's blood — leaving a crimson sheen.

"A blade like this deserves to fight an equal..."

Captain Marauder emerged into the cool air night atop one of the towers on the gatehouse. His eyes shone bright with magic.

Below, First Lieutenant Spartacus was pacing about the walls. His breath condensed in front of him.

A soldier keeping watch nearby started to cough.

Spartacus reached for his sword, and was about to gut the young stallion, but was disarmed by the anxious expression that met him.

Spartacus was shaking. He sheathed his weapon and cleared his throat.

"As you were, Private."

Spartacus rubbed the back of his head and resumed his patrol.

An ominous wind made the torchlight wither and die. Sanguine rays bled over the earth as the moon glowed a deep crimson.

Spartacus's flesh crawled.

"Nightwings"

The call passed down the line as the howls of demons echoed from the sky. Soldiers scrambled about the walls in complete darkness.

Great winged monsters swooped low and carried soldiers off to their makers, like a black whirlwind of death.

Spartacus called for archers on the towers to fire into the breeze, hoping to catch the monsters as they flew downwind.

Their arrows hit nothing but stygian mist.

The air was a convulsion of shouts and startled cries.

Marauder laughed openly at their plight.

The soldiers on the walls were being picked off left and right without remorse. Weapons hit the floor. Cowards began to desert amid the confusion. The entire company was just inches from routing.

Spartacus cursed. He took up the spear of a fallen soldier and slung it at the moon in hopeless fury.

A languished cry emanated from above. A black demon with a spear jutting out of its shoulder slammed into the side of the watchtower and crashed down onto the wall.

The soldiers stepped back; weapons raised.

The black monster bore a haunting resemblance to a stallion. Sinuous muscles flexed beneath his smooth black coat. His eyes glinted green inside his dark helmet.

A soldier shouted and ran at the creature with his sword raised high.

The nightwing hissed and battered him away with savage strength. The soldier was thrown clear from the wall, and disappeared into the black.

Unamused, the nightwing tore the spear from his shoulder and turned it against the soldiers.

Spartacus spurred his soldiers to attack.

The nightwing bared it's fangs and culled the ranks with brutal discipline. Every inch of him was a weapon. No sword could reach him, and no arrow could find his heart.

Spartacus trembled as the sons of Fort Vajra under his command each met their end.

Marauder's cackling ceded. He rested his head on his hoof and sighed.

Torch ran up behind Spartacus. He called the Lieutenant's name.

Spartacus took the young stallion aside; crouching low.

"Leave me, kid. You're not under my charge."

"I'm not here to die, Sir." Torch had to shout to be heard. "I have a message: The gates have been opened. Jove's ground forces are pouring in. If Double Lance doesn't get some support, they'll breach us before dawn."

A nightwing roared as it swept low to the wall.

Spartacus grabbed Torch and ducked as it passed them by and felled another soldier.

Spartacus shook his head.

"Don't just stand there — run. Tell Arena we're dying out here, and if Celestia doesn't raise the sun now, there won't be a dawn for any of us."

Torch nodded with conviction. He made for the stairs.

Spartacus watched him run into the streets. A nightwing lurking in the dark brought death from above. It snuffed out  the colt's young life like a candle in the breeze.

Spartacus's heart was wrenched from his body. He shouted his grief into the night, daring the nightwings to claim him too.

The battlements were littered with corpses. The nightwing on the battlements crushed a soldier's skull with his bare hooves, and tossed the carcass aside. His fanged formed a devilish smile as he stalked towards Spartacus.

Spartacus and the nightwing were alone on the wall. Neither moved.

Spartacus looked up at the sky. Just one, frail. star cut through the darkness.

Spartacus held up his sword, closed his eyes, and said softly, "Torch...even if costs me my life, I will find vengeance this night. May Arena carry our hopes."

The nightwing loosed a venomous cry and attacked.

Spartacus returned the cry and charged.

Marauder raised an eyebrow in mild curiosity. He leaned forward to more clearly watch the duel that was unfolding on the walls below him.

The nightwing lashed out with a blood-drenched spear.

Spartacus rolled to the nightwing's side, then stabbed upward into his ribs.

The nightwing dropped his spear with a furious screech. It clamped Spartacus's neck between his jaws and severed the jugular.

Spartacus collapsed onto his back in a pool of blood. He looked up at the sky, and found rest among the stars.

The nightwing staggered, it grasped the sword in disbelief, then fell from the wall.

Marauder chuckled.

"My, he was willing to sacrifice everything. Not bad. I guess mortals can be entertaining after all."

Marauder overlooked the carnage that at the gate. Soldier's clad in the royal purple of Tall Rostra were swarming through the open gates. The red soldiers of Fort Varja encircled them to close the breach.

Nightwings continued to erode the will of the defenders. Arena's troops withdrew to the second ring within the hour. Scores of stallion fell prey to a disorderly retreat, and insufficient leadership.

Companies of Jovian soldiers squatted in the streets to keep out of bow-shot, while battering rams were wheeled forward in readiness for the next stage of the assault.

Marauder huffed. He jumped from the gatehouse, and his body shone white. It changed in size and shape to reveal a tall cloaked figure.

The figure landed some fifty feet below. Five nightwings formed up beside her in a protective pyramid. They trotted down the road to rendezvous with Jove's commanding officers.

A nightwing at the figure's left tipped his helm.

"You called, Princess? This evening has been simply divine. You wouldn't believe what I overheard the guards talking about while I was on my little reconnaissance trip. Oh but the wine here is worse than rat piss, not nearly strong enough to get —"

"Bellows," said the figure.

"Yes Princess?"

"Shut up before I rip out your oesophagus and feed it to you."

The figure looked to her right.

"Forceps, why is that dullard readying siege engines after I clearly stipulated that they would be redundant?"

Forceps raised his eyebrows in a somewhat blank, but also curious, expression.

"Your Majesty, according to my recent interactions with the General, It would appear that he does not want to discourage his troops by involving the nightwings in the assault. He has refused to allow any of us within sight of his offensive lines."

"And you allowed him this order?" said the figure.

Forceps opened his mouth to speak.

The figure interjected with a growl.

"I do not care for you excuses."

The figure looked to another nightwing.

"Crucible — status report."

A stout nightwing moved his eyes left and right, as though he were sorting the beads on an abacus inside his head.

"Jove's forces have sustained minimal losses, ma'am. No nightwings have fallen."

"Are you certain?" said the figure.

Crucible nodded.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Think again. I saw a nightwing get stabbed in the heart myself. Pick up the slack. I won't stand for such carelessness."

"But ma'am — that loss is negligible, our effective military strength is unchanged."

The hood of the figure's cloak glowed from within.

Crucible was stifling in his armor. Visions of his body turning to stone flashed through his mind.

"Yes ma'am — sorry ma'am."

The threatening glow faded.

Another nightwing walked with his wings half open. His breath was shallow with impatience.

"I say we leave the mortals and hack up Arena's puny underlings ourselves," he said, in a voice that sounded like talking masonry.

The figure scoffed.

"Yes, you would say that, Furnace. How about not martyring half of the Nightwings when there are perfectly worthless earth ponies we can have slaughtered instead?"

The figured looked directly ahead.

"And you, Hephaestus?"

Hephaestus looked back at her and said, "The General can overturn Forceps, but not you, Luna. You can lead the Armoury Aide and the rest of the nightwings into battle yourself. Then we could support his attack from the air."

Luna smiled.

"Not bad. But I would like to be reunited with my sister sometime tonight, and the General needs to learn his place."

A command pavilion had been erected within one of the city's plazas. General Sage used it to establish a staging ground for his assault, and stationed his senior most officers there in readiness for a prolonged siege.

Luna and the Armory Aide approached, with the blood-stained gateway at their back. Amidst the nameless fallen, was a corpse Luna identified as Lieutenant Double Lance. He was unrecognizable, save for the twin pair of spears he carried. His body had been cut to shreds.

Forceps noted the unusual circumstances of the stallion's death and, in passing, mentally conducted an autopsy from what he saw.  It would seem that it took the combined efforts of three nightwings, using hit and run tactics, to bring the warrior down.

The General's rearguard, consisting of hundreds of soldiers, fell silent. They parted to permit the alicorn's passage; bowing low and laying down their arms.

A stunned greenhorn almost said, "That's Nightmare Moon," but a veteran clamped his mouth shut, and dragged him to his knees mid-syllable.

Furnace menaced them with his fangs and laughed.

The soldiers quivered with eyes clenched shut in prayer.

Luna stood before a purple command tent. Her hood glowed again.

The tent was surrounded in a pale blue aura. It was uprooted from the earth, compressed into a tiny ball, then thrown into a gully on the side of the road.

"Settling down for the night are we, General?" said Luna.

The General faced Luna from across a strategic map, which was at the center of where the tent had been.

He froze for a moment, then screamed like a filly and cowered low to the table. His beady eyes were peeking just above it.

His lieutenants blenched as one. They stared dumbstruck at the intruding nightwings.

Luna paced forward. Her cloak fluttered as aggression welled with.

"What gives you the right to order my warriors? I demanded that we take Fort Vajra tonight. Where cometh such insolence?"

The General shied further under the table at Luna's advance.

Luna swiped downward with her hoof; shattering the table in two.

The lieutenants recoiled and backed away. The General crawled out from beneath the shards of wood — his flank filled with splinters.

"I'm waiting, General Sage — explain yourself," said Luna.

The aged stallion no longer had the strength to stand.

"Please, Princess, I mean no disobedience — but taking Fort Vajra in one night would be suicide. Our forces would be

diminished before we reached the keep."

Luna ensnared the General's very soul within her shadow.

"And I take it you do not deem that an acceptable exchange for the safe return of my sister? Your foolishness has cost me time. There is no telling where Arena could whisk her off to if I don't free her now."

The general shock his head and shielded his face.

"No, no Your Majesty — Your Grace. I only tried to — "

"Silence.."

Luna's cloaked glowed. The General's face rippled as she spoke. Luna's voice tore away his false mane and pulled back his ears.

"I hereby denounce you as director of field operations," said Luna.

Luna turned to the masses of soldier's who had gathered before the imposing spectacle. She directed her thunderous voice at the lieutenants.

"These traitors will pay for their trespasses against the light of Tall Rostra. Mobilize all brigades. We attack until Fort Vajra lies on imperial soil — and this farcical, "Shooting Star Rebellion — " is crushed."

                                                                   *                      *                      *

Excalibur cleaved Jove's soldiers off their feet. Though he had his back against a wall, Arena would not allow anypony to walk within ten feet of his sister.

Scores of soldiers stood with trembling weapons. Even the officers had lost their nerve.

Prince Arena eyed his attackers. They all bore the long stares of battle-drained stallions, with no will to fight.

Arena lowered his sword in recognition of the reprieve.

Excalibur was greater than a stallion measured from the tip of his tail to the end of his muzzle. A horned cross guard of gold was the only aesthetic element in its design.

Arena's armor was a bold red; prophetic of bravery, strength, and glory. A three pronged crest of gold adorning the helm sheathed Arena's horn.

"Celestia," said Arena, "it's not too late to raise the sun. With the nightwings gone, I could retake this city myself if I had to."

Celestia was behind him. Her pink hair was askew and her eyes were lined with tears. She stared about the corpse riddled battlefield in a stupor.

"I'm trying, Arena. I'm trying, but — "

"She is unworthy," said a strident voice, "Jove took the sun away from her so that surreptitious rats like you would be unable to exploit her."

Celestia raised her head. Her face was lined with tears.

"Luna..."

The Prince turned his head from the entrance to his arena.

"Ah, Luna, why am I not overjoyed at seeing you again?"

Luna and her nightwings marched over the piles of dead that swamped the pit of the battleground. The arena was at the heart of the keep inside a courtyard lined with broad stone steps, for seating. It mirrored the proving grounds of Tall Rostra, where alicorns trained and dueled. Nonconformity in the stone architecture showed that the keep had been repurposed for contest and sport after the dragons had fled once more. A high vaulted throne was raised above the walls of the pit.

Luna fixed Arena with her gaze.

Forceps lowered his neck to examine the fallen. Each was felled by a single jagged gash across the torso, others had their skulls cut in half.

"Fascinating. Arena's strength is beyond superfluous. The Jovian combatants are set to flee at any moment. Why does he not attack?"

"Arena lives for combat," said Luna. "He has no interest in fighting those who won't fight back. Now is this interruption going to provide me with invaluable intelligence, or do I have to hurt you?"

Forceps swallowed.

"Understood. Sorry, Princess."

Arena grunted.

"I see you're still stuck in your old ways. Trampling upon mortals for being wretches, and pretending you're any better."

Luna's wings were rigid at her side.

"You insult all that it means to be an alicorn, and for what? So that you can debase yourself as one of them?"

Luna stamped her hoof, shattered a tile of granite flooring.

" And then you have the audacity to take Tia away and besmirch her name as one of your own —  a traitor. Unforgivable."

Luna stood fuming for a moment. She allowed herself to calm, but her gaze never left Arena's eyes.

"Nevertheless, we are still a family. Jove is prepared to negotiate your sentence, if you release Tia and surrender yourself."

Arena picked the wax out of his ears and flicked it away.

"Before I refuse, there's something Celestia wants you to know."

He gestured towards Celestia.

"Luna," said Celestia, "Arena didn't abduct me.  I came here of my own free will."

Luna was still. The black of night festered inside her cloak.

"You lie."

Celestia walked towards Luna.

Arena tensed. He held out his sword to stay her.

Luna ordered the soldiers to guard all the entrances. They filed out of the arena.

Celestia looked Arena in the eye, as if pleading. Arena hesitated at first, then nodded knowingly.He raised his sword and let Celestia pass.

Luna was still staring at Arena. She walked out from behind the nightwings. Her eyes were ablaze with green flame.

"Luna, please," said Celestia, "The killing has to stop. Ponykind is in pain, and it's as real as the pain I feel when I look at what Jove has done to you. Alicorns don't need to control mortals, we can nurture them."

Celestia looked at the Armoury Aide.

"You understand, Luna — I know you do. Please stop fighting."

Luna was unmoved. Her eyes were that of a dragon.

"Nurture them? Into what? Mortals are as dust, Tia. No matter what you give them, time will sweep it into oblivion."

Luna reared onto her hind legs and gestured about the piles of dead, forelegs outstretched.

"Look around you, Tia. What can your, ‘nurturing,’ do to protect mortals from their end? They gladly destroy each other, at our bequest."

Celestia's eyes welled with fresh tears. She rubbed them and shook her head.

"They were never given a chance.."

Luna returned her hooves to the ground and laughed.

"Your talk is senseless, traitor. I have nothing more to say to you. You will be tried by the High Prince."

Excalibur flashed through the air.

Luna calmly jumped out of its reach.

"Not while I'm standing," said Arena.

"Ah yes, I would remiss if I forget about, ‘the star stallion.’" Luna laughed deep in her chest. "Are there any monuments to futility that mortals will not praise?"

Furnace shouted in excitement.

"I'm sick of this talk — let's get 'im."

Furnace threw himself headlong at the Prince, sword drawn.

Arena brought Excalibur to bear on the nightwing. With one stroke, Furnace's sword was shattered. With a second, he was sent careening into a wall.

Furnace's shoulder cracked as he struck the coarse stone, and his ribs fractured as he hit the ground.

"Dat didn't hurt," said Furnace, coughing up his lungs.

Luna rubbed her temple.

"Will someone get him a healer?"

None of the soldier's responded.

"No? Fine, just leave him in the corner or something. I will tend to him later. Forceps, make sure he does not do anything stupid."

Celestia tilted her head. Luna's eyes had returned to normal. Somewhere inside was a glimmer of the sister Celestia had once known.

Forceps complied with Luna's order. He went with Jove's soldiers as they carried Furnace out of the arena.

Luna turned to the Armoury Aide.

"Jove sent me here for a reason. None of you can stand before an alicorn and live. I will not have any more of you trying to help."

Hephaestus nodded.

"If you say so, Luna. I myself have already done my part," he winked at her, then gave orders to the others. "At ease, lads. We can still cheer for her."

Bellows' face split into a smile. He inhaled.

"Except you, Bellows," said Hephaestus.

Bellows deflated and dragged himself up to the spectator stands where the rest of the Armoury Aide flew.

Luna grunted and looked away.

"Battle is no place for cheer. You say the stupidest things, Hephaestus."

Luna stood face to face with Arena.

Celestia wanted to help him, but Arena shook his head.

"Luna was always Jove's pet, and she never stopped rubbing it in my face. Let me face her alone. If I never see the light of day again, I want to cut the smugness right out of her before I go."

Luna threw off her cloak to reveal her blue mane and jet black armour. She conjured a dark cloud of magic in front of her. A hilt emerged from inside. Luna gripped it by levitation and drew her crescent blade.

"Now, if Furnace is quite finished embarrassing himself, I would like to get this over with."

Arena smiled. He pointed Excalibur skyward. Thunder rolled in the heavens.

"Let's go, Nightmare Moon."

Celestia held her chest.

"Luna...Arena..." said Celestia.

She covered her eyes.

"I can't watch."

Luna shook violently as she readied her sword.

"Duel."

Luna opened her wings and became a shadowy blur as she dashed forward.

Arena raised Excalibur in a guard.

Sparks flew off Arena's sword as Luna struck. She cut into Arena's faltering eyes with her focused glare.

Arena threw Luna out of the deadlock and lunged forward.

Luna effortlessly guided his heavy swings astray with fleeting parries.

Arena roared and cut at Luna's legs.

Luna smirked. She hopped onto his blade, then ran up its length and kicked her halfwit brother full in the face.

Arena was thrown backwards. His sword clattered after him.

Luna shouldered her sword.

"Will you never learn, Arena? I have not lost to you since I was 150."

The left side of Arena's body screamed in pain. Arena grasped Excalibur and used it to help himself stand.

"Maybe I can't, but not giving up. I need to win this, so Celestia can go free ."

Arena disappeared in a burst of speed.

Luna laughed and stepped to her left slightly.

Excalibur crashed down next to her. Luna kicked it away.

Arena grimaced and staggered off balance.

Luna unleashed a flurry of stabs at Arena's neck.

Arena's face was set. He cried and swung his sword about to meet them.

Luna scowled. Arena's movements were slow, but he held his desperate guard by the skin of his teeth.

Arena strained to keep up. He drove Luna back and slashed at her chest.The sword passed through Luna as though she were smoke. An illusion.

Arena's breaths were measured. He frantically searched the battlefield, guard raised.

Luna descended from above in a rain of shining steel.

Arena repelled her attacks with a force field.

Luna growled as her sword rebounded out of her grip and embedded itself in the ground.

Arena tackled Luna and pinned her to the ground. He stabbed at her with Excalibur.

Luna Jabbed Arena in the face with her horn.

Arena faltered with an eye that would surly blacken. His vision spun as Luna reversed the grapple.

Luna's hoof hammered Arena's head further and further into the ground.

Arena's senses began to darken, but a rage that burned like the sun kept him fighting. He loosed a battle cry and kicked the wind out of Luna.

Luna was flung onto her back.

Arena jumped onto his feet, then flew above his opponent with his sword held high. A streak of lightning arched down from the sky and shot into Excalibur.

Arena came crashing down, his blade radiating raw power.

"This fight is mine."

Pain filled Luna's chest. She half righted herself, and levitated her sword towards her from across the arena, and raised it to bar her opponents' attack.

Violent waves of magical force discharged from where the two swords met, blinding Celestia and the Armory Aide in the spectator stands.

Arena was speechless. His inexorable attack had been blocked.

Luna's nostrils flared.

"Pitiful."

Luna's sword crackled with electricity. She sprang back, then slashed her sword downwards.

Arena screamed and was carried off by a surge of magic. His armor was torn asunder, and his body sent fissures through the wall as it struck.

Arena was numb. He couldn't move his legs.

Luna stood over him.

"Is this it?"

She knelt down by Arena's head.

"Is this the one mortals call, ‘Champion?’"

Crucible whistled.

"Incredible, Heph, he didn't even scratch your handiwork. That sword is a masterpiece."

Hephaestus was smiling, forelegs crossed.

"Of course. She'd push my face in if I gave her anything less."

Luna called to Jove's troops as she strode towards Celestia.

"Put him in the containment wagon."

Luna pointed her sword at Celestia.

"What say you, traitor? Will you surrender to my custody? I would not take joy in breaking you."

Celestia started to cry.

"Jove was right. I'm weak. Weaker than a mortal."

"Don't say that. It's not over," said Arena.

Luna looked over her shoulder.

Excalibur was limp in Arena's grasp.

"Celestia, listen to me. Mortals have a power — a magic all of their own. One that Luna will never understand. As one, they're stronger than any of us, even Jove. But they need somepony to guide them."

Arena winced. He struggled to lift Excalibur.

"My friends all died this night, but I can still feel them. I will show you their strength."

Arena pointed Excalibur to the stars. Ethereal images of his friends and subordinates began to appear behind him.

"Torch, Double Lance, Ambush, Spartacus, Marauder. Please, lend me the power of your bonds."

Arena stood tall.

"O-ver-lay"

Luna spread her hooves in a fighting stance.

The images became five tiny orbs of light that floated around Arena. Two of them were absorbed into Arena's chest, invigorating him.

A storm of lightning streamed down from the sky. Lightning coursed about Arena's being.

Celestia and the Armoury Aide dispersed before the titanic forces that Arena was about to unleash.

Hephaestus called to Luna.

"Luna — get out of there."

Luna stood firm and braced herself. Again she heard the taunts and cries of the mortals. The accursed name of Nightmare Moon repeated in her mind like a mantra of despair.

"If this is the power of mortals — I will destroy it."

Arena slashed the air towards Luna.

"Vajra Sword!"

Excalibur loosed a concentrated beam of light.

Luna fulminated. Her sword frayed the light and sowed scintillations throughout the arena.

Luna drover her wing beats against the beam's growing intensity. Her levitation began to buckle as the beam's force eclipsed her strength.

Luna shrieked and was overcome. A deafening explosion dissolved the wall behind Luna. The spectator stands toppled. Hundreds of tons of granite avalanched on top of Luna.

Arena glided down through the dust.

Luna hefted away the rubble that buried her. Her armor flaked off her singed coat as she staggered upright, breathing heavily. Her disheveled mane tumbled over her shoulders and covered her eyes.

Luna gripped her sword by levitation.

Arena pinned the blade under his hoof and held Excalibur to Luna's neck.

"In time, all mortals die. But their bonds never fade. In this, they can surpass death."

Luna gazed at the ground.

"How could I lose..."

"Jove has more planned than simple rule. He plans to claim all mortal souls for himself, and he's using you to that end. Can't you see it?"

Luna hid her tears.

"You are wrong. Jove is the only one who understands me anymore. He is the only family I have left."

Arena extended his hoof to Luna.

"It doesn't have to be that way. Just look at Celestia. You and her were so close when we were young. Don't you miss her?"

With uncertainty, Luna looked to Celestia, who ran to Arena's side. She looked up at Arena's smile.

Deep-seated desires vied for control of Luna's heart. Something black and ugly found victory.

Luna snarled. Her features darkened, and her eyes became draconian. The arcane lamps illuminating the room flicked before her voice, and the stars were nowhere to be seen.

"I miss nothing of liars and traitors. You turn your back on Jove after he gave both of you everything. Oh, but I see that second rate does not satisfy your narcissism. Nor Saturnalia's gluttony, or the complacent floundering of Probita's pseudo-philosophy. "

Celestia shrank behind Arena as the Nightmare glared into her soul.

"And you. You are most ungrateful of all. You are the one who broke our family with your insipid love of mortals. I should have left you to die all those years ago..."

"You don't mean that..." said Celestia, something breaking in her chest.

A flare of magenta punched a hole in the blanket of thunderclouds above the arena. It dissipated upon the dais. Jove appeared on the throne beneath the mystical flames.

The alarm in Arena's nerves seized his every sensation. Despair itself had come.

Jove sat with a grave face. He was wearing an amulet housing a crystal in the shape of a blue lightning bolt.

"Why must you disappoint me, Arena? I had my misgivings while you were growing up, but you showed so much promise. As always, I was right in choosing Luna as my right hoof."

Jove turned his head. His features overflowed with concern.

"Luna, do not be upset. Arena may have won this fight, but his honor is dead."

Jove's horn glowed. The orbs surrounding Arena were pulled into his grasp.

Arena's breath was snatched away. He tried to catch them in his hooves.

"My friends."

Jove regarded them with contempt. He crushed the magic with his own, and it fizzled away.

"In dueling with the strength of others, Arena has violated the ways of the alicorns."

The red glow of the moon bowed away, and a six pointed star of twilight magenta shut out all others. Jove's mane billowed as he brandished his sword.

"The Shooting Star Rebellion is a travesty upon all that is high and noble. You fight in vain with magic you cannot even begin to comprehend."

Arena's grip on Excalibur tightened.

"I know what I feel, brother. I'll face you if that's what it takes to protect what my friends believed in."

Celestia tugged at Arena's wing.

"Stop it. I'm going to surrender myself. I won't watch him hurt you again."

Arena saw the compassion, but also courage, in Celestia's eyes.

"I'm sorry. You're right." He loosened his grip.  "I'm a soldier, so all I can do is fight. But if I had your strength, maybe I could find another way."

Arena looked into Excalibur. He saw a lifetime of jealousy, destruction, and a rueing of all things mortal reflected back at him. An age of ill deeds soaked into one blade.

If Arena was to keep Celestia safe, he would have to defeat Jove himself in a duel. But with the bonds of his friends lost, how could he keep fighting?

Arena's eyes lit up. He had found his answer.

Arena's horn glowed. Excalibur evaporated into a river of magic, allowing Arena to absorb it's essence.

"I repent before all whom I have wronged. For a better future — I lay down my sword."

Celestia was raised in a golden aura.

Jove was already devising a counterspell. Arena touched Celestia's mind with his own, so that he would have time to make his farewells.

What are you doing? I'm not leaving you behind, thought Celestia.

Arena smiled weakly.

The dragons are gone, Celestia. My time — the time of the warrior — is over. The world doesn't need warmongers like me anymore. You are strong in ways Jove can't even imagine.  Forget about me, and watch over the mortals. Keep their hope alive.

But I'm the Princess of The Dawn, and I can't even raise the sun, thought Celestia. How am I supposed to end this war?

Arena laughed.

And I'm fighting an opponent who, in all things, has never known defeat. If we want to bring change, we have to take risks. Remember that for me?

Celestia raised her shoulders and looked away.

I don't know what you mean, but I will try.

"Be safe, Celestia. I pray that I will see you again someday."

Celestia vanished in the golden burst of Arena's teleportation spell before she could respond.

Arena sagged as the magic drained him of energy.

A bolt of magenta lightning from Jove's amulet struck Arena in the chest and pinned him against a wall.

Jove seethed like an incensed god. His hair frayed and his eyes bulged with blood vessels.

"What have you done with her. Where did you send her. "

Area doubled over in agony.

"I'm not telling you anything."

Luna lowered her head and rubbed her foreleg. She had never seen Jove lose his temper. Jove noticed her disquieted expression.

The lightning ceased and Arena feel to the ground. Jove sighed and reshaped his mane.

"I seem to have gotten a little carried away." Jove put down his sword and smiled. "I will ask again. Where did you send Celestia?"

Arena pointed to Jove's amulet.

"Never. I know what you did."

Jove grunted. He gestured towards Arena and said, "Luna, your brother is being difficult. It seems he requires some assistance."

Luna scowled as she entered Jove's interrogation. She punched Arena in the face.

"Where did you send the traitor?"

Arena clutched his muzzle to staunch the profuse flow of blood.

"You fool." Arena pointed at Jove. "He is the betrayer."

Jove's eyes narrowed. His face betrayed no emotion as he tortured his younger brother with electric current until he lost consciousness.

Amid his strangled cries, Arena said, "I know...what you did to Caelia."

Jove smiled at Luna.

"You did well by forcing Arena to expose himself, you made him vulnerable to arcane interference. I had the signature of his rudimentary spell weaving deduced in less than a minute. But alas, it was too soon to catch that sloppy excuse for a teleportation spell."

Luna was lost in her thoughts. She stared at Arena, and couldn't return the gesture.

"Is it true what he says? That mortals hold their own magic."

"Yes, and a parasitic magic it is. The mortals have been using our family. That is why they must be controlled. Their hedonistic desires would have us destroy Tall Rostra and that I have strived to build. You have nothing to fear as long as you do not allow yourself to be infected."

Jove cleared his throat. Luna stood to attention.

"Escort Arena to Tall Rostra. In the mean time, I will lead incursions into Saturnalia's realm."

"But what about Tia — the traitor?" said Luna. "I need to find her."

"Quite right, I have already pieced together the purpose of Arena's spell from residual arcane influence. An easy matter, given his sloppy spellweaving. It would seem that Celestia has been sent to Madolche. Not altogether unexpected, as Saturnalia will naturally assume leadership of the rebellion. Once Arena is safely contained, I want you to infiltrate The Mad Château personally."

Jove grinned.

"Saturnalia believes his esoteric wit will keep me at bay. Let us see if we cannot beat him at his own game. Without Celestia to rally the earth pony outcasts to their cause, the rebels will lose faith."

Luna made for the exit.

"— Just be warned," said Jove. "Saturnalia is not all you need consider. Do not underestimate Celestia. She  herself may prove...difficult. Be on your guard."

Luna snatched up her sword with a bitter snarl.

"I thank you, Jove, but you need not be concerned. I came here thinking  there was a sister left for me to save, but that wretch is past the point of salvation. Now that I understand what must be done, she will rot. I will not fail you again."

Jove gave her a caring smile.

"My greatest servant has never failed me. Luna, come here a moment."

Luna's eyes were shadowed by shame, but she complied. Jove's horn glowed. He laid a hoof on Luna's armour and it was restored in a flash.

"Be revived — Black Lunar Soldier."

"Jove," said Luna, with a hint of embarrassment. "I have my own blacksmiths..."

She saw that Crucible, Bellows, and Hephaestus, were unharmed. They stood patiently by the courtyard entrance.

Jove chuckled.

"I know, but I cannot have my greatest servant standing before me in such a shambles. Do not let me keep you. The rebels must know that I am the sole arbiter of the future. Go safely."

After Jove said goodbye, Luna went to a room of the keep that was being used as a medical area.

Luna was trying to close Furnace's wounds by magic.

"Sit still, you ignoramus, or does the prospect of having your crotch fused with your head appeal to you?"

Furance squirmed about on the bed.

"Grrrrraaaagh. I missed all the action. No fair — I never get to see you fight."

"And you have only yourself to blame for that."

Forceps was struggling to restrain Furnace.

"Jove will be raise the sun any minute now. It would be unfortunate to delay our departure, lest we turn to stone were the townsponies can deface us."

Luna was plagued with doubt. Arena's words could not be dislodged from the back of her mind. She continued her treatment as a distraction.

Hephaestus was resting on the doorframe. His forehead was lined as he watch Luna.

Luna huffed. "What are you staring at?"

"You're troubled," said Hephaestus.

"What told you that? Just shut up. I am in no need of pity."

The air was filled with stunted groans and ill scents. Unicorn healers tended their patients with a cold urgency.

Luna's thoughts were arrested by what she saw:

A healer of Fort Vajra, nursing a wounded soldier of Tall Rostra. Even with the demand for space growing ever higher, the beds next to Furnace had been left vacant, and the healers gave him a wide berth.

————————————————————————————————————————————

Luna rolled through the air in a corridor of light. She grew heavy as gravity reasserted itself. She felt her body begin to squash, and her mind began to race with a million thoughts and calculations at once.

Twilight winced. Her bones jarred as her body was splayed out on a some kind of surface.

Light and sensation numbly returned. Twilight shuddered and twitched. For a brief moment, she felt as if she were drowning.

The starry ceiling of Voice's hall on the moon came into focus.

Twilight gasped from the sting of realization. She hugged herself and sobbed.

"I killed him. I killed that poor stallion."

Voice starred down at Twilight with a hard expression.

"Luna killed him."