That awkward moment...

“High five!” Eris yelled suddenly. She held her hand up and waited for a response. Lunar had just explained to her what had happened between he and Solaris before her little outburst. Both Eris and her stallion were in her own room, sitting on the eyesore of a color-contradicting bedspread.

Lunar rolled his eyes. “That is socially wrong and completely rejected.”

Eris snorted and let her hand ‘literally’ drop, having severed itself from her arm. “Kill joy.”

“Do you not understand the depths to what I have done? I attacked my brother because I couldn’t get him to tell me what was bothering him.” Lunar retorted. He pushed himself up off of the bed and paced back and forth next to it. “He probably hates me, despite what he tells me. He must. I did, after all, attack him over Umbra. I do not remember much about her, but I know I pushed her away from him. It is too bad. She was such a sweet mare. Shy too.”

“Oh, you mean miss prissy shadow queen? Last I saw of her, she had this crazy purple smoke that came from her eyes. Smoke. From her eyes. Now even I can be a little surprised at that one.”

“You have seen Umbra?” Lunar asked, suddenly drawn away from his memories. He looked at Eris expectantly.

Eris sighed and rested her head on the air above the pillow. “Yeah, but it was a long while back. I’m pretty sure she’s dead now.”

Lunar looked down at his hooves as more memories were brought forth. He remembered the little black mare with an even darker mane. If the castle of the two brothers had been any darker back in those days, Umbra would have blended in perfectly with the shadows. He then also remembered what he had said to Umbra and what he did to her. It was right around the time when he had just began transformation into Night-Terror Moon, when only his mind was turning.

It took a moment for Lunar to realize Eris had said something. He suddenly looked up.from his hooves at her. “I am sorry, but what did you say?”

“I said you’re def.” Eris retorted.

Lunar rolled his eyes. “Very mature… Now what did you really say?”

“Oh, right. That. I said; what if Umbra isn’t completely dead?”

“I do not follow…”

“You derp. I mean what if the crystal heart didn’t kill Umbra? What if she’s still alive?”

Lunar shook his head. “Umbra was not immortal, Eris. She was a simple unicorn.”

“A unicorn powerful enough to take an entire kingdom to another dimension.” Eris pointed out. “Maybe it’s not the combination of wings and a horn that causes you to be immortal. I mean… Look at me. I’m not an alicorn.”

“You have horns and wings.”

“Yeah, but I can’t use them. They just sit there.”

Lunar groaned. “What is your point?”

Eris rolled her eyes, mentally cursing herself for not speeding up his thought path too when she changed his speech. “My point is, a unicorn that powerful wouldn’t be that easy to kill. Some part of her would contain her soul in a single focal point. Trust me, I do it all the time.”

“Are you saying Umbra could have used the soul displacement spell on herself?”

“Just as that blast from the crystal heart hit her.” Eris confirmed. “Just like king Cocoon did.”

Lunar was about to reply when both things that Eris said registered in his mind. “Wait… What about Cocoon?”

“Not important. I think we should talk to Gleaming Shield about searching the kingdom for signs of Umbra.”

“But the-” Lunar’s lips were closed by Eris’ severed floating hand.

“I said not important.” Eris stressed. “We’ll deal with other matters later. We’ll cure your stressing over your brother so you’ll stop talking about it. It really ruins my bedroom mood.”

Lunar blushed. His horn glowed light blue as he cast a thought projection spell. A blue bubble formed next to him and projected his thoughts in his own voice. “I did not know my stressing about my brother was causing you to lose interest. Apologies. But this information about Umbra having possibly survived is not quite a happy thought. Umbra turned evil for a thousand years.”

Eris popped the bubble with a single claw. “So did you, and so was I. It’s worth a shot. Plus, I just want to get this over with before you talk yourself into sleeping in your own bed. I don’t want to do that to my big, sexy prince of the night.”

Lunar pushed the floating hand away that was holding his lips closed. “Oh… fine. We’ll talk to Gleaming Shield tomorrow.”

Eris pouted. “Awww! But why not now? It’s day time now.”

It was Lunar’s turn to hold Eris’ lips shut. He shook his head. “I can not stay up two days in a row, Eris. I need sleep.”

She held up a sign that read “But why?”

“Because I am tired and I will not search for an old rival while I am drowsy.” Lunar replied.

Eris put that sign away somehow and held up another that read “Pleeeeeeeeeeease?” She added wide puppy eyes to add effect.

Lunar leaned closer. “No.”

Prince Lunar groaned as he watched the ground below pass him by. How did Eris convince him to go? He couldn’t even remember what she did any more. He was so upset about missing another day of sleep he had forgotten almost the entire conversation. He looked over at Eris. Both Lunar and the goddess of chaos were riding in one of his brother’s chariots as they flew toward the crystal empire. “You are a freak of nature when you want to be.”

Eris smirked. “You know you love it.” She teased.

“Not when it takes from my sleep…” Lunar said under his breath. He then looked in front to the two solar guard pegasi that were currently pulling the chariot. “How long until we reach the Crystal Empire?”

“Not long, your highness.” The pegasus on the left replied in his gruff voice.

Lunar sighed and sat back in his seat. He crossed his arms, shooting another glare at Eris. “You are lucky I love you. When we get back, I am sleeping for two nights straight. Dusk Shine can take the night for a while for all I care.”

Eris giggled. “There is no way you’re getting any sleep with me around when we get home. I have to reward my big steed for getting me out of the castle.”

“Is that what this is about!?” Lunar exclaimed. “You could have just told me you wanted to go out instead of making an excuse like this!”

“Where’s the fun in that? I didn’t even have anything to go do, even if I did get out.” Eris then wrapped her arms around the night prince and nuzzled against his shoulder. “Besides… I get to help my love solve a romance mystery.”

Lunar bit back the venomous reply that was on the tip of his tongue and forced back his growing anger. He slowly took a deep, calming breath, before slowly letting it out. He felt much calmer after that. “Let us just get this over with so we may return to one of our beds. I have been looking forward to cuddling with you sense our time in the throne.”

Eris blinked a couple a times. A deep frown slowly formed on her lips. “Aw, man! I forgot about the cuddles!” She whined.

“See now why I did not want to leave today?”

The goddess of chaos let go of Lunar and looked away, crossing her arms as she pouted. “You had to bring up the cuddles… Can’t believe you brought up the cuddles…”

Lunar sighed and pulled Eris against him, wrapping his arms around her. “Look… Let us just be quick. The cuddles will be at the castle when we get there. We can cuddle for as long as you like, as long as I get some sleep too.”

Eris slowly nodded.

“Your highness, we’re approaching the Crystal empire. Should we land in the city or at the castle?” The pegasus guard on the right called back.

Lunar looked up from his mismatched lover to the city that was now within view. The Crystal empire, home of their previous captain of the guard and Lunar’s nephew, seemed to literally glow in the sun’s light, the reflective surfaces glistening with his brother’s tallant. The castle itself wasn’t nearly as massive as Canterlot, but the city that surrounded it more than made up for it.

“Land as close as you can to the castle. I want to be done here as soon as possible.” Lunar replied.

“As you wish, your majesty.” The two pegasi chimed together. They began to flap their wings faster, picking up speed as they flew over the city. It wasn’t until they had finally approached the castle entrance itself that the guards began to slow and decrease altitude. The chariot slowly drifted with their decent and gently landed just after the two pegasi had.

Two unicorns dressed in glistening purple armor marched up to the chariot and bowed to Prince Lunar. “Prince Lunar. Tis good to see you again. To what do we have the pleasure of welcoming you to the Crystal empire?” The one on the right asked.

Lunar stood from his seat and stepped off the chariot, standing in front of the two guards. “Eris and I wish to see Prince Crescendo. It’s a matter concerning queen Umbra.”

The two crystal guards looked up at Lunar, then at each other, then back at Lunar. There was slight confusion and fear in their eyes. “Wh-what about Umbra, your majesty?” The left stallion spoke again.

“That is none of your concern.” Lunar replied in a gentle tone, as not to sound rude. “When can I see Crescendo?”

“His majesty is in the library. Shall we escort you there?” The mare on the right asked.

“That won’t be necessary.” A familiar mare’s voice called from farther away. “I’ll take it from here. You two are relieved.”

As the two guards hurried off, Lunar looked to see a white mare wearing a red dress with gold trim. Her mane and tail were a deep blue and styled to the left as it draped down across her shoulder. She looked at Lunar with a friendly smile, her blue eyes bright and happy.

Lunar smiled. “Hello, Gleaming Shield. It has been a while.”

“That it has, Lunar. What brings you here?”

“You mean both of us, right?” Eris butted in, somehow coiling around Lunar’s abdomen like a snake.

The mare’s eyes grew wide. She had to take a a few steps back to keep from freaking out. “Y-yeah… That is so what I meant…”

Eris giggled and twisted her lips into a creepy smile. “Why so serious?”

Gleaming shivered, before looking up at Lunar. “What is she doing here?”

Lunar rolled his eyes. “She is my fiance…”

Gleaming’s jaw dropped, her mind going blank. If she hadn’t trained herself not to, she may have even fainted. Prince Lunar and Eris!? Eris goddess of chaos!? Thinking about it nearly snapped her brain it two.

“I think we broke her too.” Eris whispered into Lunar’s ear.

Lunar sighed and rubbed his face. He was too tired to deal with this. Why did Eris have to convince him to come to the Crystal empire today? They could have gone tomorrow and it may have even gone over with Gleaming so much better. But now Lunar was irritable with having to deal with it.

The prince walked straight up to Gleaming and backhanded her. Gleaming had always told him that she could take it, telling him that he was supposed to do that if she was ever acting irrational. “Get a hold of yourself, Gleaming. It is not the biggest surprise anypony has ever seen. Your brother becoming the prince of friendship and becoming your superior was more startling than this.”

Snapped from her stupor, Gleaming shook her head in an attempt to clear ir. She looked away, blushing. “R-right… So what was it you were here for again?”

“Eris and I wish to speak with you and your husband, if you are not busy. We are… curious about queen Umbra’s death.”

Gleaming’s gaze snapped back to Lunar, her eyes full of curiosity. “What about Umbra?”

“Please, in private. I would not wish to startle those who may be listening with information that may not be true.”

The princess glanced around her, as if somepony indeed may have been watching. She seemed to be on edge. Without looking at the unlikely couple, she said; “Fine… but if Eris breaks anything-”

“Well, I never!” Eris exclaimed. She crossed her arms and turned her nose up. Her action was full of sarcasm, of course.

Gleaming rolled her eyes as she cast a teleport spell, her horn glowing bright purple. Within moments, all three of them vanished in a purple flash of magic.

Prince Crescendo had been reading one of his favorite romance books from his personal section of the library, about a dragon who found love in a timid pony. The prince was a bright pink alicorn with a curly pink and purple mane and tail. He was dressed casually today in a white collared shirt and a pair of khakis. He wasn’t even wearing his royal jewelry.

He had read through half of his book when a bright purple flash of light startled him. The book flew out of his hands and landed on none other than prince Lunar’s face.

The night prince groaned. “Must things like this always happen to me? I need a vacation…”

Crescendo gasped. “P-prince Lunar! My apologies.” His pink magic took hold of the book and brought it back to his hands. He placed a bookmark between the pages he remembered having last read and shut the book. It was then set aside. “Do please make yourself comfortable, you as well Eris. Gleaming, love, could you please have Steward bring our guests some refreshments?”

“There is no need, Crescendo. Besides, I want both of you here while we talk.” Lunar said. His look was completely poker as he sat in one of the four reading chairs, one of which Crescendo was sitting in.

Eris, on the other hand, was not pleased about Lunar rejecting the refreshments. “I wanted a glass of chocolate milk, Lunar. Don’t turn down refreshments until everypony is counted for.”

“Sorry, Eris, but it’s going to have to wait until after we get what we came for.”

The draconequus groaned, but didn’t argue.

Crescendo was confused by the couple. “Lunar, I don’t understand. What’s going on?” The answer came when Gleaming walked up next to him and whispered into his ear. The shock that spread across his face was proof of understanding enough. It took him a moment to process the information before he spoke. “First… Let me congratulate you two. I thought I felt something between you two.”

Eris made to reply, but was cut off by the rest of what Crescendo was saying.

“Second… Why are you so interested in Umbra all of a sudden?”

Lunar sighed. This was the one part he was dreading about coming to the Crystal empire to speak about Umbra. He began telling them about how he had hurt Solaris and scratched open old wound, about when Solaris told him about a time that Lunar had forgotten until that morning, about a timid black mare whom Lunar had driven away in his days as Night-Terror Moon.

Crescendo sat back and listened to every word, not making a single comment as the prince spoke. Once Lunar had finished, the prince of love let the new information seep in. He looked first to his wife, then back to Lunar. “I never knew Umbra was a different mare a thousand years ago.”

Lunar sighed. “Jealousy can be a sick monster if it wishes to be.”

“Indeed…” Crescendo shifted in his chair, finding that the conversation had gotten slightly uncomfortable. It was especially so after he had found out that Umbra was just a heart broken mare lashing out at those around her. “I… had no idea.”

“But that is not all…”

“What do you mean?”

“Eris and I came here looking for traces of Umbra. Thanks to Eris bringing up the possibility of a soul transfer spell, we think that Umbra may still be alive.”

Both Crescendo’s and Gleaming’s eyes grew wide. They glanced at each other, as if they were trying to send silent messages. Crescendo finally worked up the nerve to speak. “You… might want to come see this…” The prince stood and gestured for the couple to follow him.

Crescendo pushed his horn into the slot of a massive door that Lunar guessed to be the royal archives. As magic flowed from the prince’s horn, the seam of the door began to glow bright pink. Tumblers creaked and clicked into place as they were forced to move by alicorn magic.

After the last tumbler locked into place, Crescendo pulled his horn from the slot and used more of his magic to pull open the door, it being too heavy to open by hand. The hinges creaked as the barely used door swung open to reveal the contents.

Gleaming quickly put up a visual blocking spell on every item but the one they had come to see.

Lunar shot a questioning look at the princess.

“What? I don’t care if she’s your fiance. She’s not privileged enough to see the archives. Dusk informed me of what she did when Teria came back.” Gleaming replied.

Eris suddenly appeared in front of Gleaming, a glare more menacing than when Dusk finds a rip in a page showed in her eyes. “What was that, you sorry excuse for a princess?”

Caught off guard, Gleaming stumbled and fell on her ass. She glared back at Eris despite this. I said, you don’t get to see this kingdom’s secrets. Get that through your thick skull or you can wait outside.”

“Big talk for a mare who just fell on her ass.”

Gleaming’s anger began to boil. She jumped off the floor and butt heads with the goddess of chaos. “You’re not going to down talk me in my own castle!”

Eris laughed. “Your castle? You’re not even an alicorn. This is Crescendo’s castle, freeloader.”

“Freeloader!? Why I oughta-”

“Girls, break it up!” Crescendo yelled at the two mares. Instantly both ceased all arguments and turned their noses up from each other. The prince pointed at Gleaming. “You should know better.” She then pointed at Eris. “And you should show some respect. You’re not in Canterlot anymore. In this castle I share the rule of our land with my wife. What we say goes. If you can’t respect that, then go home.”

Both mares looked down at the floor, Eris showing a lot less shame than Gleaming, but still showed it.

“Now if you my wife doesn’t feel like missing out on her favorite part of our afternoon routine, she better make nice. And if Eris doesn’t feel like making the long flight back to Canterlot, she better do the same.”

Eris and Gleaming both sighed and turned back to one another and shook hands. “Sorry…” They chimed together.

“I swear you two act so similar…”

Lunar couldn’t help but chuckle. “I think you may be right, Crescendo.”

The two mares blushed and looked away. Eris slithered her way back around Lunar’s body and Gleaming stood close to her husband, still looking at her hooves.

Crescendo shook his head and sighed. “Anyway… would you like to see the artifact now?”

“Why not? Perhaps this could be the one thing that would not waste time like everything else has today.”

“So you’ve been having that issue too?”

“Can we not waste any more time?”

Crescendo blinked. A rude retort drifted through his head, but he pushed it away. Insulting the prince of the night would do nothing but harm. After a moment, he regained control and nodded. “Sure. Follow me.” Crescendo walked through the open doorway into the archives.

Due to every artifact being blocked from sight, there wasn’t much to look at but the ceiling and the floor. Both, unfortunately, were very white and bland. That come as a huge inconvenience to Eris, but she distracted herself by playing with Lunar’s wings.

A playful argument, a laughing fit, and prank on Crescendo later, they finally arrived at the end of the vault. Against the back was was a glass case with a black box nestled on a red pillow inside.

Crescendo walked straight up to the glass case and opened it. He pulled out the black box and handed it to Lunar. “This is the last remaining piece of Umbra… and it’s very much alive.

Lunar hesitated, gazing at the box like it were a vicious predator. After mentally berating himself about owing this to his his brother, he finally took the box from Crescendo. It wasn’t heavy, but it definitely had some weight to it and the wood it was made from felt chilled to the touch.

A shiver ran down Lunar’s back. He was literally holding the mare who he himself had turned into a monster, much like himself. With a deep breath, he slowly lifted the lid on the box.

Inside, nestled in a felt cushion, was the dark red horn of queen Umbra.