The Darker Side of the Moon

But before this conversation could continue another pony popped into the frame.

"Princesses, forgive me, but they've found another body!"  The servant exclaimed.  This was the third, the two before were found crippled and tortured, their deaths seemed random at first but each of their background stated that they had, at somepoint, wronged a pony.  Their deaths were wrong in every sense of the word (they had been tortured and mutilated, their deaths were prolonged to ensure pain), but were still a crime, nopony deserved such a death.

Another one?  Celestia thought, this is getting bad, what was Luna saying?  "Luna, what were you saying?"

Luna looked around, the servant had left.  Good.  "It's my fault, when I turned into Nightmare Moon, she-I made my own version of the Elements of Harmony, but only one.  This one, the Element of Torture must still exist..."  She waited for Celestia to disown her, for her to banish her, or worse to look at her with Disapointment.  But it wasn't any of those, only sorrow.  Better than disapointment, I guess.

"Cee, are you mad at me?"  The younger asked.

"No, it's just, are you sure?"

"Yes, when I rose as Her I need something to combat your Elements.  If you remember it was where Ponyville now stands, thats where it began."

"Are you saying it's in Ponyville?"  There was fear in her voice, not for herself but for Twilight Sparkle.

"Yes it is but I don't know where in Ponyville, and I don't know who in ponyville..."  She didn't want to think of who had been corrupted by its dark magic, no pony was safe from it, nopony but an Ali- You don't need to put any other pony in danger, what you need is  an Alicorn, Luna.  But whom, the only she could think of were those in the royal family-Maybe one of the Darknebula family.  Hope must have shown on her face.

"Luna, what is it?"  Luna knew that maybe, just maybe a Darknebula still lived.

"I think I know who can help us."

"Who?"

"Only an Alicorn can resist its dark magic, does the name Darknebula ring any bells?"  It did, Celestia couldn't place it but it was somepony whom had help Luna.

"That family is still alive?"

"I hope so, they're our only hope for this."

Luna had finished her letter to Twilight Sparkle describing the situation and the pony whom would be staying with her.  Maybe I should ask if she can accomidate another pony, but we don't have time for that, I'm sure it will be O.K.  At an instant a dark purple light had appeared beside her bed: she was here.

"My princess, you've called?"  The Alicorn's voice was liquid night, Luna almost felt jealous of her voice.

"Err, yes Darknebula, your family has been loyal to me for generations, but none before Nightmare Moon, will test your loyalty like a task I have for you now. You have heard of the recent murders?  She had, in fact Luna didn't have to say much, as she already knew where she was going with this conversation, but it would be rude to point out that fact.

"Yes I have, you need me to investigate?  Luna had hidden her thoughts well after she realized that the Alicorn before her could read them.

"No, I need you to stop them."  Luna explaned the situation, the Element of torture, and her accomidations.

"When will I leave?"

"As soon as possible."  The Princess thought The sooner done the better.  "Remember Ponyville is a nice, quaint town, an Alicorn will stick out, this mission must be kept secret between all who I deem worthy of this information;  at most, only the holders of the Elements of Harmony may know:  Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and of course Twilight Sparkle."

"Do you know anything about the Elements location?"

"All I know is that its in Ponyville, you may be able to detect it through some use of magic, until its discovery, you must keep me informed."

"How may I do this without actually seeing you?"

"Twilight Sparkle has a pet dragon, whom she uses to communicate with my sister, he will sevice, although he may no be willing at first." She chuckled at her jest.  "You may leave when you are satisfied with this infomation, but do please hurry."  She added with a sense of urgency.

"Thank you, my princess." Sol bowed not knowing if she should keep it formal.  It couldn't hurt. she thought to herself.