Hellfire

The lunar princess sat up in bed rapidly, clutching the silk blanket to her unarmored chest with bare hooves. She glanced at her armor wall, which had her breastplate and hoof armor. Aside from traditional wear, she had much more durable and warlike armor on it.

She needed to get it out of her system.

Kicking off the sheets, she quietly stood up, flinching as the carpeted floor creaked, glancing at her chamber door. Then, Luna softly trotted to her desk and used her magic to summon fire to a candle, and an inkwell and parchment floated out of a compartment and settled down on the empty space that was dimly lit by candle.

She began writing down the dream.

The lavender pony stood amongst the crackling and terrible fire, ignoring it. Her eyes seemed to bore into my maddened sister's ones which were watching the burning Equestria, who stopped watching to stare at her. I can't shake off the feeling this unicorn is destined to stop whatever my sister is planning.

She laid down her quill and mused over this lavender unicorn. Slowly, Luna came to a decision; she would search for this pony. Secretly, of course; she would contact the Selenic Council, her own personal group of advisors that assisted the Lunar princess in any way. The princess was positive they would put in the effort to see if her dream was true.

"Princess Luna?" An unsure voice spoke, and Luna stopped her deep planning to glance at the doorway.

"Ah, Lunar Maria! I was hoping you'd come soon; please assemble the Selenic Council in two hours," Luna smiled briefly in greeting.

Lunar Maria was a dark grey batpony, and her wavy and long hair was a sea green. Her cutiemark was of of waves; she was a scientist on the theory that her moon controlled the tides; it was certainly interesting to the lunar princess. The more she knew about her own craft, the better.

"O-of course, your Highness! Though, I came in earlier and saw you were sleeping, and of course I didn't disturb you," she added hurriedly, in case she had offended the princess, "and I was wondering why you were sleeping in the middle of the night?"

Luna pressed her hooves together. "I barely got any sleep the moment morning came and Tia took over for the day. I had a dream, and I had it again right now. I'm afraid its repeating too much for me to ignore it."

"Ah. In that case, I'll hurry," and the door finally clicked shut as Lunar Maria's hooves carried her back down the hall.

***

Soon, they were all gathered and attended for; most were batponies, who by nature were nocturnal; some were ponies, who were bleary eyed and yawning.

They had decided to hold the Selenic Council in a circular meetinghouse in private, which was only used for- well- meetings. Princess Luna opened the door via magic, and all the council members bowed graciously, tired or not. She raised a hoof. "Rise, subjects. I have important news."

A light grey stallion batpony nodded gently, his cutiemark a wooden chisel and mallet crossed. "Of course, your Highness. Take your seat, please; you look more tired than any of us."

"Thank you, kind Daedalus," the lunar princess smiled pleasantly, her dark bags under her blue eyes momentarily lifting, but quickly dropped again as she took her seat. "Now, I had an omen in my dream," she began.

A few eyebrows raised in the crowd, but otherwise there was silence, causing Luna to continue. "The omen was of my sister; she watched all of Equestria burn without a care."

Shocked gasps were almost on cue as she described her experience. Celestia? Watching Equestria burn?

A young white unicorn stallion with a golden mane and a shield with a crescent on it for a cutiemark spoke up. His name was Amici, one of the few ponies that was in the night guard that wasn't a bat pony. Unlike most, he didn't reel back in shock. "What was the cause, your Highness?"

Luna turned to face him. "It was none other than my sister's sun, scorching the earth and drying up the seas."

Lunar Maria nearly fainted at the mention of the seas drying up. Daedalus held her and patted her shoulder comfortingly.

Amici nodded curtly. "I see. continue."

The princess of the night turned her glance over the crowd, who watched with bated breaths. "However, one pony stood against her. It was like the flames could not burn her flesh nor dry her tongue; it was very powerful. Even my sister felt a twinge of fear for her own immortal soul when she faced the lavender unicorn."

"...Lavender unicorn, your Highness?" A young batpony glanced up, presently sitting next to his father. His cutiemark was a pair of outstretched golden wings.

"Icarus? You have seen a lavender unicorn?" Daedalus glanced down at his son.

He shuffled his feet. "Remember during the Festival of Stories, a gypsy band was putting on plays? A young, beautiful, may I add, mare, was singing a few tales, stuff like that. I don't remember her name, but she was a lavender unicorn, by Starswirl's beard," Icarus explained.

"What was her cutiemark?" Luna asked, standing up from her seat.

"..It was rather abstract. A large pink sparkle surrounded by smaller white sparkles. I think it represented her magic and how talented she was at it," Icarus murmured, lost in thought. Luna rubbed her armored hoof across her chin, her eyes closed in concentration.

Why would a gypsy have magic as their talent? Usually its soothsaying or dancing or phony future predictions.. She thought, puzzled. However, before she could get too deep, she opened her eyes to gaze at Daedalus, a question dancing in her mind. "Can you draw her cutiemark based on your son's eyewitness?"

Daedalus nodded. "I can see it in my mind, yes, but it might be a bit rough."

Luna nodded. "Very well. I expect a good sketch of it tomorrow night."

Lunar Maria spoke up. "What are we gonna do, plaster fliers all over Canterlot?"

Luna shook her head. "No; we all are going to investigate Canterlot thoroughly. I'm sure this gypsy mare will be found soon; she'll be performing, I hope."

The rest murmured quietly in agreement, knowing the meeting was coming to an end. As Luna stepped down from her chair, they bowed their heads respectfully and followed her out, and departed for themselves. Luna took off into the night sky, her shadow passing over lit lamps and buildings, extinguishing lights as she went.

***

However, someone lied awake in their royal chambers, awaiting the message that would reveal everything. As soon as her doors creaked open, a cautious white stallion poked inside. "Your Highness?" he said unsurely.

In the gloomy darkness, the sun goddess turned around calmly, however her eyes burned with a certain madness. "Amici, what takes you so long? You know I hate waiting.." her voice sounded patient, however it was simply a sugary layer over the cold tones.

He gulped, taking a careful step back, incase she decided to do something. "I'm sorry, your Highness, your sister was questioning us about everything-"

"Nevermind, you foal," she snapped impatiently, her gilded cover scraping off instantly. "Spit it out or I may do it for you."

"Of course, your Highness," he bowed dutifully. "It began when your sister announced she had an omen.."

***