Skyfall

Chapter 28: Talks With the Other Side

Tristan

Sometimes I wonder why I was assigned to protect Twilight and her friends when most of their problems are small even if they happen at least once a week. The most I did in the past month and a half was play pest control with the Everfree. While it got me a source of meat and something to do I still felt restless.

Sure I could talk to Twilight and her friends but I really did not connect real well with any of them. Twilight would play a hundred questions, Rainbow Dash didn’t like me because I put a bullet in her idols. Fluttershy was scared of me, Pinkie Pie was just unsettling, Rarity was way to posh and constantly wanted to make me some sort of clothing if she was not calling me uncultured, and Applejack kept trying to read me.

Sure there were a town full of ponies but I couldn’t find it in myself to bother making friends. So most days I wasn’t hunting I talked to Nightmare who even helped me learn the whole magic business and in a month and a half I was able to briefly move my magic to my hands and hold it there but I still could not repeat what I did in the Crystal Empire.

Well it seems the world knew about my boredom as Twilight gathered myself and her friends at the train station saying we were summoned by Celestia for something important.

One uneventful train ride and walk later we found ourselves in the throne room with Celestia and Luna standing in front of us talking about something and Luna popped away.

Celestia noticed our group and the girls all bowed. “So what’s the issue?”

Celestia rubbed her forehead, “Earlier today I was informed that an old foe of mine Discord escaped. It seems that the spell trapping him was severely weakened and he got just the push he needed to escape.”

“Heh surprised he didn’t break out sooner, probably could have but…” I was then interrupted by Discord appearing in front of us drinking a glass with milk in it.
Throwing the milk after finishing the glass Discord spoke. “You are very much correct my friend.”

Every pony in the room with the exception of Celestia looked at me with a shocked expression and as expected Rainbow Dash exploded, “Wait! You mean to tell me you and Discord, the Lord of Chaos himself were friends!? Wait that means how can we trust you not to just join him again!?”

“I fought as one of his inner circle for years the only others that called him friend are long dead .” I turned away from Rainbow Dash with a wave of my hand. “There’s no point in continuing this line of dialogue you won’t believe me anyway.”

Discord rolled his eyes. “If you two are done I have one announcement to make… Listening? Good. Since our armored friend here has provided me with plenty of entertainment and I trust more is to come and because ruling is boring after the first pass at it. I will go into the Everfree and watch. Send a monster or two out for kicks when things get too dull and I won't make Equestria my playground for the time being.

Celestia stepped up tightening her stance. “How can we trust you to keep your word?”

“I was planning on taking the Elements, turning the bearers into a twisted version of themselves and making ponyville my personal playground and once that got boring torment you and your sister.” Discord scoffed

“That does not inspire confidence Discord.” Celesta said with an edge in her voice

“Remember it was the elements that save you the first time or I would have crushed your pitiful kingdom for trying to “liberate” mine. I am still upset that I had to fight a war for years because you and your sister believed I was oppressing my subjects. I was content messing with pretentious nobles, initiating pranks on citizens at random and making deals with the foolish, sure some died but I can’t control everything.

“But no you had to have your embargos, and send your priests to stir up the discontent. So many died in a pointless war over how you thought I should run my country.

“Anyway you will just have to take me at my word won’t you?”

Celestia teleported away then back again with a small chest. She opened it only to find it empty. “What have you done with the Elements Discord?” Celestia was seething at this point wisps of smoke coming off her mane and tail.

Discord just laughed. “Like I said without the Elements you are powerless against me so I ask you again do we have a deal?”

Celestia stood silent taking a glance around the room and then the box in her hands before she sighed. “Yes, we have a deal.”

“Good, pleasure doing business with you.” Discord said as he disappeared in a puff of gummy bears that Pinkie Pie immediately ate.

I turned to Celestia, “Well that went surprisingly smooth considering.”

Celestia shook her head, “I still don’t trust him to keep the deal.”

Twilight and her friends with the exception of Pinkie Pie were blankly staring at the spot Discord once was in.

Twilight looked at her mentor confusion evident in her eyes. “Princess, how much of what Discord just said was true?”

Celestia sighed, “All of it was true in hindsight the war was pointless but Luna and I were young and when we first visited it was so unlike what we knew. So when a group of residents claimed Discord a tyrant we bought into it and the oddness of how Discord acted did little to make us think otherwise.”

“Thank you Princess” Twilight said evidently trying to process the new information.

“You and your friends may go if you wish rooms will be ready for you and just talk to one of my staff for lunch.”

Twilight and her friends took that as their queue to leave leaving Celestia and myself alone in the throne room.

Luna teleported into the room in a flash of blue magic. “Sister I-” Luna paused as she looked at her sister. “I presume Discord was here and your student and her companions now know the details of the war?”
Celestia solemnly nodded, before walking out of the throne room. Luna and I both watched Celestia leave.

“The idea that Twilight may doubt her must hurt, but that is something between them.” I shook my head. “All in all things could have gone worse. Discord’s still pissed about the war but finds my little adventure so far to entertain himself enough to be willing to look past that for now.”

Luna gave me a look between worried and relieved, “Good, one less problem to deal with.”

I shook my head, not sure of what to say next the last time I talked to Luna I just found out about my new situation. Now here we are just awkwardly standing around. “So, how has reintegrating into society going?”

The break in silence grabbed Luna’s attention. “Fine, the castle staff don’t run as soon as I enter the room or stutter as often when addressing me.” Luna sighed, “Most nobles insist I am still Nightmare Moon or try to get into my good graces but tis to be expected.

“You’d think they would know that it is hard to manipulate someone with hundreds of years of ruling on their belt” I huffed

Luna grinned, “Indeed, so how has Ponyville treated you?”

I had to admit the familiarity threw me for a bit of a loop seeing as I tried to kill her and was the reason that she was trapped for two extra years, yet here we were talking as if we were two old friends. I couldn’t complain but I still expected some anger. Then there was Celestia I saved her from a fate arguably worse than death and not long after she warmed up to me.

We went from brief conversation. A month later I was checking on her and she suddenly cried on my shoulder while I was out of my armor holding me like I was going to fade away. That was when we started becoming more like friends. I still didn’t know what makes them so receptive to me but it was as it was.

Luna

Tristan was silent after I asked my question, his eyes unfocused. “Are you alright? Hello? Tristan?”

He reacted after saying his name rapidly blinking and shaking his head. “Huh? I’m sorry I zoned out for a moment what was your question again?” He snapped his fingers, “Ah I remember now you were asking about my time in Ponyville.”

I nodded my head gesturing for him to continue.

“The town has an issue every week it seems, but most of the time I am not needed. It is boring to be honest. The locals have gotten used to me and don’t pay me much mind though they still don’t go out of their way to talk to me.” Tristan sighed. “I understand why but it results in me lacking any real friends there.”

“How about the Elements? By now I would have thought you to have befriended a couple of them.” I asked

He snorted, “Twilight is more interested in what I know, Rainbow is waiting for me to mess up, Rarity is very passive aggressive towards me. Applejack avoids me, Pinkie Pie calls me a friend but I really don’t know her and Fluttershy shakes like a leaf if I am alone around her.

“So as you can see I am acquaintances at best with them. If it were not for Celestia’s word and my job as their guard they would be likely to just confront me or just find out if the first time they blasted me with the Elements was just a fluke.

“Doesn’t help they know Nightmare is sharing my mental space with me or that at a drop of a hat and a bit of pain I can essentially trade places with her now that I have those potions that I had Zecora make for me.”

I was very curious, he could switch places with Nightmare at will. I knew about the body swap incident but the potion was new. “Pray tell why you had a potion made to let you and Nightmare swap around?”

“Simple, she is more powerful and all around better with magic than I am so when such an advantage is needed I can let her take over.” Tristan sighed, “She won’t try anything the rune on my neck carries over. You should know that if Celestia told you anything.

“It’s just now we have one more trick up our collective sleeve, besides after two years as a military advisor slash right hand man I consider her a friend and felt it would be nice to let her stretch her legs and see the world through her own eyes.” Tristan explained

I honestly did not like the idea of the being who possessed me walking around as she wished but he was correct she stepped out of line she was under the same threat as Tristan. “Okay I don’t like the idea but I will trust you. Even as our enemy you were always the sort to keep your word. But first I want to speak with Nightmare Moon.”

Indicus was quiet for a moment before nodding. “Okay she’ll talk with you, give me a second.” Tristan grabbed a bottle out of thin air, it was a moment before I realized it must have been the same pocket dimension his armor was stored. He then opened up the bottle and drank a fourth of its contents.

The effects were immediate as the man before me transformed into the familiar form of Nightmare Moon the transformation itself took but a minute.

Nightmare Moon

The transformation was uncomfortable as we expected but the potion worked. I was standing before the mare that was responsible for my existence clothed in the same jumpsuit Tristan wore. “So what-”

Luna slugged me before I could finish, I clutched my muzzle the pain already fading. “Huh kinda expected that.” Indicus commented

I did not respond instead I looked at Luna. “I deserved that considering the aftermath. So what did you want to talk to me about?”

“First I will take us to my quarters so we can both talk without causing panic and rumors and so I can get out of this armor” Luna said waving her hands down her sides showing that she still had her battle gear on.

“Fair enough.” With a flash of Luna’s magic we were in her room. Little had changed since I last saw it in fact the biggest difference between Luna’s room and Celestia’s was the night sky themed paint on the ceiling and the dark blue walls as well as an empty armor stand and weapon rack next to a writing desk on the right side of the bed.

Luna motioned to a sitting area consisting of several chairs and a couch around a table located immediately left of the entrance. I took my seat and Luna put her sword on the sword rack and started removing her armor. Starting with the helmet and working her way down not paying me any mind as she did so.

“Is it entirely appropriate for her to do this while we are here sure you and her are both mares but I am also able to see everything you are?”

“Simply look away if it bothers you that much while I enjoy the show. Besides you have seen mares in less before now sush.” I could imagine Tristan’s glare but I was right. Nightshine had ‘shown off’ in front of him dozens of times in her attempts to seduce him and he even was roped into helping her clean herself several times when she had an injury that needed to be still for a few days to heal.

By the time our conversation ended Luna was now in a plain white shirt and similarly plain brown pants both loosely draped over her. “That feels much better.” Luna stretched.

“So what is it you want to talk about? Well what is it you want to ask might be a better question.” I smiled when she blinked a few times telling me I was right. “I was born from your sadness, anger, and jealousy of course I can read you. So out with it.” I said rolling my eyes.

Luna sat down on a chair in front of me. “So you and Tristan became friends how did that start?”

I laughed, of all things she was wondering how Tristan and I became friends. “So that is your question huh? Fine. It started with a respect for his dependability. Then I used him as a military advisor and personal guard on top of important missions. Of course we spent a lot of time around one another so naturally we talked. From there we had enough trust built up and we started considering each other friends.”

“So it just happened?” Luna asked seeming confused.

“Yes it just happened, like most friendships. You will do yourself a favor to remember while I was created from your negative emotions given life through magic I still can feel any emotion you can. I just happen to feel negative emotions as we are calling them more strongly. Did I mention plain clothes look good on you?” I teased licking my lips for added effect.

“Don’t torture the poor girl she’s blushing up a storm already, though it probably did help her self esteem.” Tristan commented.

“But her reaction is adorable!” I shot back, Tristan did not reply.

Luna must have regained her composure while Tristan and I talked and was looking at me head cocked slightly to the side. “Something wrong?”

“No, rather I am looking to confirm a suspicion. So can Tristan and yourself communicate with each other without being asleep?” Luna asked.

“Yes we can, in fact he can see what I am seeing right now, hear what I hear, even feel anything I do, physically of course, if he so chooses.” I responded.

“So he…?” Luna abruptly halted her sentence but I easily put the blush on her face together with what she said.

“Yes he could see you get out of your armor.” I sighed as Luna’s blush intensified. “There is nothing to be embarrassed about you did not strip naked, and you are still clothed.” I put my hand on my forehead. “Your acting like a schoolfilly with a crush.”

“Is it just me or…” Tristan started before I interrupted

“I believe for whatever reason Luna might have a childish crush on you.” I finished.

“For fucks sake, since when did someone switch Luna and Celestia to infatuation mode I thought killing many of somebody’s subjects while helping their enemy kinda pissed them off. But no they forgive and forget at a drop of the hat because I was nice. Like some kind of bad anime.” Tristan ranted.

“Nothing like that!” Luna exclaimed

I shook my head, “No matter, anything else you want to talk about?”
“No, nothing else in particular. Nonetheless thank you for this talk between it and hitting you I have calmed my reservations about your continued existence. You may sleep in any room in the Lunar wing if you so wish.” Luna offered.

I nodded, “Thank you Luna I will do that we do have a train to catch tomorrow.” Without another word I walked out of the room and into a room further down the hall. The room was large with the necessary furniture and a writing desk as well as a balcony.

I walked onto the balcony spread my wings and took off. I flew with no destination in mind enjoying the wind whipping past me. I could feel Tristan’s enjoyment as he let the experience take him.

I flew for about an hour before landing back on the balcony. “Wow that was fun, humans can only dream of flying under our own power like that. If you go out on flights like that I will have to let you have control more often.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed that as much as I did. You will get control back tomorrow for now I’m going to sleep.” I said before I climbed in the bed and let myself drift off to sleep.