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.."
***
Celestia paced around the throne room, her golden hoof boots echoing in the empty space. She looked normal at first glance; calm, benevolent, her magic hair billowing in an unreal breeze. However, her light purple eyes were bloodshot and a few stray strands of hair were separated from her mane and tail. Her crown was bent at a slight angle, too.
She was waiting patiently for the day to begin; for her sister to sync with the night and go to bed with her beloved moon. Both sisters have an internal clock within them that woke them up when it was time to raise their astronomical objects and to paint their canvases a bright blue to awaken the citizens of their planet or a sleepy shade of purple to lull them all to sleep.
Today marked the Lunar Eclipse, when Luna's moon would fall into the planet's umbra and turn a 'blood red'. Most creatures refer to it as a blood moon; the name was very fitting.
However, this was not the topic that was on her mind as if right now; in fact, she was currently interrupted in her pacing by somepony else.
Celestia.
Solar Flare?
Yes, its me. What will we do about this gypsy unicorn mare? She will clearly attempt to stop us.
...I will do whatever I can, but for now I must remain patient. Only Blueblood and I know what went on in the meetinghouse last night, and neither of us want to raise suspicions of our little ponies.
Do not refer to them as your little ponies, Celestia. Remember what they do to your sun? They mock it and praise the night instead! They are our enemies.
Yes, Solar Flare.
Solar went silent after the small talk they had, and Celestia turned to hear the tall wooden doors open.
"Princess Celestia?" A young maid stepped into the throne room, and brushed her hooves self-consciously.
"Yes?" She straightened her crown via magic, and brushed down her mane with an armored hoof.
"The Sun Court will begin in twenty minutes in the Royal Court, Your Highness," the maid replied politely, slightly bowing.
"Of course. Tell them I will appear soon enough."
"Yes, Your Highness. Good day," and the maid stepped back out and closed the door quietly.
Celestia turned to the stained glass windows, deep in thought. She then looked through a clear window to watch the city of Canterlot in a neat line waiting outside the Royal Court for her appearance.
***
Luna fought the urge to lie down and rest. Instead, she prepared a magic spell that would change her voice, appearance, and cutiemark. She clamped a bootless hoof over her muzzle when she yawned, and then her horn began to glow blue. After tinkering with her cutiemark and the color of her mane, she settled on being a dusty gray pegasus mare with a long dark brown braid named Meteor Crater, her cutiemark of a moon rock.
Once she met with the Selenic Council on the outskirts of Canterlot, she told everyone their codeword would be 'Regolith' when they meet up, to avoid any spies/changeling incidents. Luna cupped her mouth again when she yawned.
Lunar Maria was not convinced. "How will we find her? Canterlot is huge!"
Daedalus showed her the sketch of the gypsy's cutiemark that his son described. "I'm sure knowing what her cutiemark is will most certainly help!"
'Meteor' shook her head. "This is no time for bickering, my council. Time is running out, and we must complete this prophecy soon. If we do this during the daytime, we will not be noticed as much."
Amici nodded. "Of course, your Highness. There is no time to waste."
Icarus spread his bat pony wings. "One question, your Highness. How will us thestrals not be seen?"
'Meteor' mused on it. "If anypony spots you and questions you, tell them you need to round up any other batpony guards from last night's drinking festival."
Icarus stifled a chuckle, and instead saluted. "Of course, Princess Luna."
She turned from Icarus to look at everypony. "One more thing; refer to me as Meteor Crater, not Your Highness, Your Majesty, Princess Luna, etcetera. That will most certainly give away who I am, and we do not want that happening."
Lunar nodded. "Of course Your Hi- I mean, Meteor."
***
The streets of Canterlot were busy and loud; it wasn't for the faint of heart, the claustrophobic, or the paranoid. The cobblestone paths were covered in all kinds of characters; mostly of nobles, workers, a few griffons, crystal ponies, zebras, mules, buffalos, even a solar guard or two roamed Canterlot freely, with it being one of the most largest and richest areas of Equestria.
However, the Selenic Council successfully went unnoticed as they were released into the streets, searching for a familiar cutiemark in the crowd.
Icarus and Lunar looked through every window, attempting to search the insides of every building without being spotted from inside by anypony. A couple of times, ponies came out of their homes, waving them away not so politely. They were forced to run from aggressive house owners and guards.
Meanwhile, 'Meteor' asked Amici to use a detection spell to see if the gypsy was using any concealment or shifting spells.
Amici's horn glowed a brilliant golden as he waved his horn amongst the throng of creatures on the cobblestone paths. He briefly stopped, his eyes widening for a split second.
'Meteor' noticed this reaction, and glanced up at the unicorn, her eyes flashing with concern. "Did you find her?"
He shook his head scarcely, as if trying to stay secretive in a silent room. "No; I just detected a Solar Guard watching us. You best leave before he notices anything. I'll continue to walk around."
The disguised Princess Luna nodded once and then trotted off casually, disappearing down a branching road.
Amici's walked over to the hidden Solar Guard, his hoofbeats clicking against the cobblestone. "How is Princess Celestia?"
"Fine," The guard muttered quietly, looking down at the path. He didn't seem talkative.
"We haven't found the gypsy yet. Keep following me."
"Of course. Blueblood is getting impatient; he's serving out punishments for the guards frivolously," the Solar Guard turned his head up at him, slightly smug.
Amici's tail twitched. Was that a threat? "I'll be leaving now. They'll be wondering where I've gone," and he walked away, looking as casual as 'Meteor' down the path she went.
However, one pony heard the entire conversation. He took to the sky on his batwings, trying to find Princess Luna.
***
"Yes sir!" The solar guards saluted in perfect sync, their gaze focused in front of them dutifully.
"Battle Array!" A radiant white unicorn with a flowing golden mane decked out in silver armor hissed, his eyes narrowed.
The named pegasus guard stopped saluting and simply stood neatly, trying to look humble. A drop of sweat glistened on his temple as the general marched to him. "Sir?"
"Your salute was a few seconds late. Twenty wing pushups!" He commanded boldly.
Battle Array weakly nodded. "Yes, General Blueblood.." And dropped down on his wings, counting under his breath.
The general stalked off haughtily, but he snorted out of impatience. When were they going to execute the mission?
***
Meteor Crater stopped at the front of a store, pretending to do some window shopping. Her eyes were scanning the clothing behind the glass, however she looked side to side to make sure nopony was trying to do anything that could jeopardize the operation. She suddenly heard a flap of wings, and a bellow. "Meteor Crater!"
A few passerbies raised eyebrows as they watch him land next to her. However, none of their gazes seemed suspicious, so Meteor disregarded the looks. "Icarus?" In fact, some of the passerbies turned their looks to a rickety carriage.
The young thestral pony landed next to her, panting for breath. "We..we have.."
She began to become impatient. "Spit it out, soldier."
He glanced up at her. "We have a traitor among our ranks, your Highness," he whispered slowly.
Meteor Crater stomped a hoof. "What?!"
At that moment, Amici turned around the corner, hearing the blare of music and flinching. Meteor and Icarus also stopped to look at the performance on the other side of the street.
A young lavender unicorn mare sporting a colorful dress stepped out from the carriage and landed on the cobblestone path.
