Brave New Worlds.

Chapters

Time for an Update
Walking in the rain.
First step
From here on out,
Much ado...

Time for an Update

A low droning buzz filled the air as Luna cracked open her eyes, a numbness in her limbs as she struggled to her hooves. Groaning as she settled into a sitting position, the night princess rubbed the base of her horn with a hoof as she slowly took in her surroundings. Warm light shone down on her from pale gold circles embedded in the ceiling of the pristine white room.

The room was featureless, only the glowing circle lights in the ceiling broke the seamless white pattern. Turning slowly, Luna felt her rear hoof brush something, her mind still trying to clear the thick fog that had taken up residence as she struggled to place the alien object in front of her. It resembled an open flower, except it was a fair bit larger than her and made of a clear material. Her first thought was that it was glass but a ginger lift with her hoof disproved that thought as it bent like a piece of fabric.

“What in Equestria?” she wondered aloud, her mind finally clearing as the numbness left her. Putting the mysterious object out of her mind for the time being she looked around the room again as she tried to figure out how she had ended up in her predicament.

“Hello!” She called. “Is anyone there? I demand to be released at once!” Her voice echoed off the walls as she stood panting.

“Greetings,” A cheery, vaguely feminine voice came from behind her.

Luna spun around as her heart jumped into her throat; hovering at eye level a respectable distance from her was what appeared to be a mechanical jellyfish. Reacting on instinct she crouched down wings flared out as she pointed her horn at the intruder.

“What are you?” She asked in a forceful tone as she studied the strange thing.

The machine swayed side to side as if floating in water; pink lights shone along glowing strips across its body. On the large dome roughly the size of her head a mess of lights shone as a strange, peaceful looking pattern flowed across it.

“I am Caretaker Rel XNM-89-X222D356F, Medical Passive Drone. But you may address me as Rel if you wish,” The machine chirped happily, the sound emanating off it from an unseen source. “Welcome back to land of the living Former-Princess Luna, I have been assigned to address any questions you have while you recover from stasis.”

“Sta-what? Explain yourself vile machine!” Luna growled as she attempted to pull magic into her horn only to fail, a force stopping the flow of energy.

“Ah, you will find any attempts to access magic futile Former-Princess Luna. This room is warded to prevent escape while we converse,” Rel said as it bobbed up and down.
Luna uncoiled cautiously, rising out of the stance. Without her magic and with no knowledge on her captors it wasn't wise to start a fight...just yet anyway. “I see, why do you address me as former Princess, machine?” She asked as she looked around the room. “And how did you get in here?” She asked, not waiting for a response as she walked around the room examining the walls.

“Your position of Princess has been made redundant. Until you are given a new title or made a citizen, you are Former-Princess Luna,” Rel giggled, speaking as if she was talking to a child. “I was teleported in, after all there are no doors here silly.”

Luna felt an eyebrow twitch. “Redundant? Is that some kind of threat?”

“Indeed! Well no, not a threat, ahhh, more of a fact really. You and your sibling have been stored in stasis here for,” The pink light lines briefly flashed white. “two thousand, four hundred and eighty three years, six months, nineteen days and twenty seven seconds.”

“That…that is not possible…” Luna said, taking an involuntary step back.

“I am sorry about any discomfort the news has bought you Former-Princess Luna,” The mechanical voice turning sorrowful for a moment before springing back into its cheery tone. “But I will happily help you to adjust into the new world,” It says, one of its tentacles performing a salute.

Shaking her head Luna looked speechless as she tried to cast her memory back, only getting a fuzzy half remembered blur. “I…I recall…a war, my sister had left…for something.

Twilight, something happened to her.” Feeling her heart start to beat faster Luna strained to remember. "She was captured by, by, by Griffons! Yes Griffons! I tried to look for her but...I don't remember."

“Ah, that would be the conditioning; it was feared that your recollection would be affected somewhat.”

“I did something…something bad? We were at war with the Griffons and they took Twilight, we couldn't find her but she found us. I, I tried to help repair her but I couldn't put her together again.,” Luna said, not hearing the drone as she verbalized what she remembered in an attempt to jog her memory. "I attacked, no was attacked by…by somepony after that all I recall is…blackness then this.”

Luna sat on her haunches as she rubbed her forehead. “What happened to her? What happened to me?” She said to no one in particular.

“You would be recalling your defeat by Her Royal Majesty!” Rel said enthusiastically. “According to history you were slipping back into Nightmare Moon and was defeated once again!”

“What, no that’s…impossible I would never…I would never try to harm my subjects again!” Luna balked.

“Sadly, or pleasantly depending on your outlook, you did and was defeated in quick order by Her Majesty the Queen.”

“Who are you talking about?”

The drone floated forward slightly, briefly before the lines along its form flashed red. “Oh dear, I can’t tell you that.”

“What, why?” Luna asked, annoyed. "Aren't you supposed to be helping me?"

“Apparently Her Majesty wishes for it to be a surprise. Don't ask me why, I couldn't tell you.”

Luna scowled slightly. “So why then is my memory so clouded? What has been done to me?”

“Oh now, that I can tell you!” Rel chirped excitedly as it raised a pair of tentacles in front of itself, projecting a blue screen in-between them. “Your previous outbursts of violent and manic depressive behaviors has been linked to a string of mental disorders. We have simply corrected them, however it came with significant risk of damaging memory recollection,” The blue screen flicked between multiple images of a brain, illuminating various parts.

“You…you did what!” Luna shouted, springing to her hooves causing the drone to bob backwards in the air quickly.

“Please remain calm, the process was done in your best interests!” Rel squeaked in fear, floating backwards in the air slowly as the alicorn advanced on her, it's fields flashing a bright orange to signal distress. “Without it you couldn't be trusted with release given the certainty that the stress would induce a similar schizophrenic episode that lead to the previous two Nightmare incidents.”

Luna halted mid-stride. “What?”

“You were diagnosed with a serious mental disorder, your organic genetics were highly predisposed to schizophrenia which was only exaggerated by your magic and repeated contact with other minds. Given how often you repeatedly put your mind into contact with other psyches It was only a matter of time before you broke down under the stress,” The drone rambled out quickly, shaking in the air slightly. "Surely you can already feel the difference."

"How can I tell when I can't remember anything!" Luna slowly took a seating position, her mind whirring as she placed a hoof over her face. The drone remained close to the ground in a cowering position. “Sorry. This is a lot to take in.”

Rel slowly hovered closer to the alicorn. “Are you alright? You’re not going to try and break me?” It asked hesitantly.

“No, not yet at least. You promised me answers correct?”

The machine jellyfish resumed bobbing up and down in a happy motion. “Of course!” It said cheerfully.

“Then perhaps you can tell me where my sister is, you told me she had been put in stasis as well.”

“Former-Princess Celestia is being kept elsewhere in this facility.”

"Where?"

A flash of red lines answered. "Sorry, I don't have that kind of clearance."

Luna grimaced. “Fine, why was she put in stasis? I can understand if I was going back to being…being the Nightmare but why Celestia?”

“You sister fought Her Majesty to release you, she claimed that she could bring you back to normality due to differing circumstances that triggered your episode this time around. I think it’s rather endearing,” Rel said, a pink love heart appearing on its dome briefly.

“Hmmm I see, so I dragged my sister into my punishment as well,” Luna frowned as a feeling of guilt over took her.

“Sadly yes, what else do you want to know?”

“What is that thing?” Luna asked, pointing at the strange flower like object in the center of the room.

“Your stasis pod, created by Her Majesty to hold you and your sister.”

“So where is this...facility?”

The lines on the drone’s body flashed red again. “I can’t tell you that, but you’ll love it when you find out,” Rel said with a giggle. The lines flashed white briefly, causing Rel to release a vibrating sound. “Oh, it appears that’s it’s time to activate your interface.”

“Huh?” Luna asked as the drone approached her slowly, its mechanical tentacles reaching out towards her, a blue light emanating of them. “What are you doing?” She asked, scooting backwards slowly.

Rel paused in mid-air before extending its larger tentacles out to the sides, recreating the large pale blue screen from before. A large image of a rectangular metal looking object appeared before the alicorn.

“This is the storage and wireless transiting device of the interface.”

The image changed to show the chip shrinking as a pony head slid onto the screen, reaching a size barely a fifth of an ear length, the chip moved to a spot just behind the ear.
“You will find one of these behind your right ear.”

Luna gingerly reached back behind her ear with a hoof, feeling it brush a hard object she hadn't even noticed. The image flashed blue and changed again, this time showing a brain with a network of lights flowing through it.

“The storage communicates wirelessly with the Interactive Synaptic Net, the ISNet intern (A small micro crystal node attached the synapse) records and interacts with the synapses of organic base creatures. The ISNet then processes and delivers data to your cortex and allowing for communications with everyday appliances and other functions.”

The brain image moved backwards slightly, making space for a pair of eyeballs with a shimmering disc in front of each. “The ISNet in turn communicates with the Interactive Retinal Dish, the IRDish creates a visual overlay over your world for the ISNet. Together these three pieces of technology make up the Interface that every citizen uses day by day to enrich their life style.”

“I…I’m not sure I understand,” Luna said, her voice wavered as Rel hovered closer to her.

“Trust me Former-Princess Luna, you won’t even feel a thing,” Rel chirps as it extends a glowing tentacle, touching it to the metal rectangle behind her ear.

“Ouch!” Luna yelped as an electric shock jolted through her head.

“Aside from that of course,” Rel said with a giggle as it backed away. “Well?”

Luna rubbed behind her ear as a blue bar appears in the centre of her field of vision, a line of strange symbols zipping across her vision.

“Welcome to the Interface,” A soothing female voice sounds from inside Luna’s head. “This appears to be your first time activating the wet ware, would you like to undergo a tutorial?”

A large tick and cross floated into her vision, each with a glowing circle around them.

“What do I do here?” Luna asked.

“Simply focus on the operation you wish to perform,” The soothing voice said. “Choosing the tick will initiate the tutori-“The voice cut off as Luna focused on the tick, causing it to explode in shower of motes.

Rel waited patiently as the former princess completed the tutorial, emitting a pleasant tune as it bobbed in the air. “Is everything going well?”

“Yes, I believe so. This is…remarkable, so much versatility, it will take some time to become accustomed to,” Luna said, the blue iris of her eyes glowing, indicating the Interface was in use.

Luna looked around the room, flickering various icons in and out of her peripheral vision with a thought. “The tutorial said something about an information network?

“Ah yes, once you have been released from here you’ll gain access to our Inter-Stellar information network. When you do, you’ll gain full access to your interface’s abilities,” Rel said, bobbing up and down. “It’s an interesting place, you won’t have experienced anything quite like it,” The drone chitchatted gleefully.

“I…see, and what of my sister? How does she fare?”

The drone flashed white briefly. “She has completed the interface tutorial and has been asking after you quite insistently.”

“Can you put me in contact with her?”

A flash of colors rippled across the machine’s dome. “Done and done!” It said in an ecstatic tone as it bounced up and down.

Luna ignored it and brought up an icon the tutorial had identified as the communications function. Opening it she found a single listing with her sister’s name that she selected, a high note ping sounding in her head followed by a click.

-Luna!- Her sister’s voice screeched. -How are you, have they done anything to you? Are you alright?- She exclaimed, worry in her voice.

-It is good to hear from you sister, do you know what is going on?- Luna thought, according to the tutorial the Interface would pick up her thoughts and transmit them in her voice. She briefly wondered if Celestia was speaking out loud.

A sigh sounded in her head. -It is good to hear your voice again Luna, I thought…I thought I wasn’t going to ever hear you again…- Celestia’s voice wavered slightly.

-Tia, we can talk about my…failings later when we’re safe, do you know who put us here?-

-I…yes of course, later,- The sound of a deep breath rattled in Luna’s head. So she's speaking aloud. She thought privately. -It’s Twilight, sister.-

Luna’s jaw dropped again. -Twilight, but how?-

Her memory stirred but only vague impressions that flitted in and out of her mind on the brink of remembrance. -She is but a mere mortal, there is no way she could have overcome me let alone you.-

-She is mortal no longer sister. She took the Nightmare for herself, so I fought her not long after I returned but she was too powerful for me and sealed me away with you. I’m sorry sister,- Celestia said sorrowfully. -I failed everyone…-

-Tia…it is I who should be apologizing. From what I can piece together it was I who caused all this.-

-I should have tried harder Luna. I can only shudder to think what has become of Equestria under her.-

Luna shivered as the thought crossed her mind, she had a better idea than what she would've liked to admit. -I’m sure you did everything you could Tia, for now we just have to see what your former student wants from us.-

-Yes…yes of course, I’ll see you soon Luna, I love you.-

“I love you too sister, keep safe,” Luna said aloud, scowling as she cut off the call and turned to the drone, a little box appeared just above the machine with a summary of its details. “Take me to her.”

Rel dipped slightly, as if bowing. “Of course, good luck Former-Princess Luna! I can’t wait to see you again!”

Luna perked up as she felt a tingle run through her horn. However, before she could try to tap into her magic, the room disappeared. In its place came a large foreboding corridor filled with bulbous pipes and hanging wires. Flashing lights dotted the corridor at regular intervals however their illumination only feebly pierced the darkness around her. Slowly a familiar pale white light approached her from one end of the corridor while the other stretched off into darkness. A chill ran down her spine as Luna turned away from the gaping maw of blackness before her and turned to face the light, the blackness exerting an unusual grip on her.

“Sister!” Luna shouted as the light approached, the soft glow emanating from the coat of her sister.

Celestia felt her breath catch in her throat as she saw her sister. “Luna!” She shouted back as she ran to embrace the smaller alicorn in a vice grip of a hug. “Oh, I never thought I’d see you again,” She said, tears trickled down her cheeks.

“Oh, isn't that nice. It’s good to see sisters reunited,” A deep feminine voice came from the dark, followed by a chuckle that froze the blood in the sisters' veins as the speaker stepped forward.

Luna slowly untangled herself from her sister who had gone limp at the sound of the voice, turning around slowly. A pair of deep violet, almost black eyes greeted her as a mare she had once known stepped into the light. Standing at her sister’s height with a mane and tail of flowing black fire tinged with purple stood Twilight Sparkle, her coat remained the same shade of lavender she faintly recalled. Confidently, she strode forward, her steps and posture exuding power and confidence as she smirked at the pair of alicorns. Luna couldn't help but notice that she lacked wings, appearing as an over-sized unicorn, though the overwhelming stench of power she gave off certainly quashed any thought of violence. The dark aura stirring her memory, as expected it felt very familiar. Memories both 'recent' and ancient floated into her mind.

Finding her mouth dry Luna swallowed on reflex. “What happened to you?” She whispered.

“Twilight…” Celestia said, looking at her former student with a mix of awe and fear. “What is the meaning of this?” She said, recovering a shadow of the graceful posture she used to be known for as she addressed the unicorn.

Twilight looked around the hallway with an expression of disinterest. “Sorry about the mess, this facility is being renovated at the moment. I’m not sure what will become of it as of yet but I’ll find use for it," Her face flushed with excitement for a second as an idea occurred to her, a wide smile breaking through the mask of disinterest momentarily. "Perhaps a reading room,” She said in a happy tone as she walked past the pair. “Follow me please, there’s something I want to show you. This facility has quite the view.”
Celestia and Luna shared a look as the unicorn wandered down the hallway and into the darkness, lacking any other options they reluctantly chased after her. Taking a spot either side of her, a couple paces behind as she led them down the corridor, dull blue lights blinking softly like stars in the darkness around them.

“Where are you taking us?” Luna asked, shivering slightly from the coldness that clung to the dark mare.

“You’ll see trust me you are going to love this. Maybe.”

Luna grimaced as she suppressed another shiver, the voice reminding her far too much of Nightmare Moon’s for her liking. “So why did you release us fiend?”

“Fiend? Tsk tsk Luna, I thought we were friends,” Twilight said in a hurt voice wearing an expression that was anything but.

Luna scowled back. “You are not the Twilight I remember fiend, don’t think I don’t know what you are.”

Celestia gave her sister a worried glance. “Sister, please don’t antagonize her,” She said with a hint of fear in her voice.

“True, I am not the Twilight you remember…but then again what do you remember?” Twilight said with a shrug.

“My memory is only clouded because of what you did to me.” Luna replied, her wings bristling.

“Sister, please calm down.” Celestia pleaded as Twilight raised an eyebrow.

“Luna behave yourself, I brought you back I can just as easily put you on ice again. Besides I didn’t want to mess with your memory, it was a side effect of the treatment.”

“I heard, a treatment for a disease you claim I had,” Luna snarled.

“I don’t care what you think, I did it and you can’t go back so you might as well learn to live with it.” Twilight replied. “Besides you have no idea about what the 'Nightmare' has done to me.”

“I know too well what it has done, you aren’t Twilight, merely the fragmented remains of her psyche, what pieces survived your corrupting touch.”

“I see, and what if I were to tell you it did nothing?”

“Then I would call you a deluded fool.”

“My my, aren’t we hypocritical today.”

“I never was under the assumption I was unaffected by that, parasite. I just didn’t care,” Luna growled.

“Enough of this Luna!” Celestia shouted, the light around her shining brighter for a moment. “Enough, both of you.”

Twilight shrugged. “Very well, I tire of this talk any way.”

“Luna…” Celestia warned, a pleading look in her eye.

“Fine, but this is not over.”

“Of course, I look forward to discussing it in the future,” The dark mare said with a drone in her voice, the tone suggesting she found the prospect rather dull.

Celestia nodded, pleased with herself as she turned to Twilight. “So why have you freed us?”

Twilight gave a grin. “Because I've decided that you've served your sentence long enough. Among other reasons.”

Celestia and Luna looked at each other with raised eyebrows. “Other reasons?” Celestia asked.

“In the past two and half thousand years I've been quite busy, as you've already noted by now technology has improved by light years. Literally as matter of fact, I long ago conquered the whole of Equis and set about extending my reach to the stars,” Twilight let out a chuckle. “And now I've created an empire that spans over a hundred worlds.”

The pair of alicorns faltered in their steps, sharing a look with each other as Twilight continued on.

“You’ll find Equis a vastly different place than when you left it, things have changed a lot with the advances in technology. The reason I’ve brought you back is because there is simply no way you will ever be able to take over, there is just too much…everything really.”

Twilight turned to the pair. “Not that you’d ever be able to defeat me,” She said with a smile and a shrug. “Anyway you’ll find many of my subjects to be alien, my empire spans multiple species. Not that we identify with species. It’s a cultural thing.”

“What do you mean?” Celestia asked, equal parts intrigued and worried.

“Technology and magic have given my subjects the ability to change between species as easy as one would change their pants,” Twilight explained.

“And what do you mean by that?” Luna replied, sharing a confused look with her sister.

For a moment Twilight looked eager, torn between launching into a lecture and keeping up the mystery. “I really would love to explain this all to you, it really is the most fascinating process...but that can wait, after all we have all the time in the world." She said as she turned around and walked down the corridor and grinned as they quickly came to the end, a large metal door blocking their path.

“Welcome to the future ladies,” She said with a smile as the doors cracked open without a sound, silently gliding apart.

Luna was speechless as she walked outside, above her a pitch black sky extended into infinity. Stars shone down onto the barren landscape and off in the distance a sleek metallic ship glided over the horizon. But she noticed none of it, her attention was focused solely on the green and blue orb hanging in the sky above her, the sun just visible as it began to crest the horizon.

Above her was Equis, hanging forlornly in the sky so very far away.

“We’re on the moon,” Celestia whispered as she stepped out onto the lunar surface, her eyes fixated on the planet above her.

Small dust clouds drifted around her hooves as her steps stirred up the loose debris.

Looking around her Luna gingerly walked out after her sister as Twilight followed them, a sense of lightness overtaking her the instant she walked out the door. Though she was too preoccupied to notice it.

“Sister…how?” She asked, her eyes not moving from the planet.

“I don’t know Luna, I don’t know,” The elder alicorn replied, wonder and fear evident in her voice.

“The power of science and magic working in harmony, that’s how,” Twilight said from behind them. “The wonders I have accomplished make even the grandest of tales you once told me seem small and insignificant by comparison.”

Luna broke her gaze away from the planet to look back at Twilight, only instead of the unicorn she saw a hairless bipedal creature with a head of flowing black and purple fire for hair.

“What on Equis?!” She exclaimed.

Twilight shrugged as she walked forward, running a hand through the mess of fire atop her head.

“This is one of the forms my subjects like to take, Luna,” She said as she strode forward her form suddenly dissolving into a black mist, reforming just as fast into another strange shape. Then another and another, her form blurred between bipedal, quadruped and shapes even stranger. “There are many, Luna. You do not yet even comprehend the scale my civilization, my culture has grown. In time perhaps I'll teach you to grasp your true nature, then you'll understand how narrowly you and your sister currently limit yourselves.”
Celestia had by now broken her gaze away from Equis to catch the latter end of her former student’s shape shifting, her mouth agape as she returned to the strange hairless bipedal form. Catching her eye Twilight just smirked as she strode forward, shifting back into a unicorn.

“You once ruled Equestria, over Ponykind, and called yourselves gods. I rule over entire worlds with subjects who have long ago abandoned the divisions of gender, race and species. You lived for a thousand years and called yourself gods. To my subjects’ true death is a choice, not a certainty. You once claimed to raise the sun and moon,” Twilight looked at the pair of alicorns with a grin as she tilted her head, pointing her horn at the planet.

“But you merely spun a pale blue dot, a child playing peek-a-boo with its mother and thinking it has the power to make people disappear. My subjects have watched the death of stars, chased the orbit of moons and traveled the ring of the galaxy.”

“W-why are you telling us this?” Celestia asked.

“Because you wished to know why a brought you back and I told you I didn't fear you taking over because there was too much for you to take. That was part of it but that,” Twilight replied, looking up at the planet. For moment she looked almost sad. “That is why I have freed you. You are no longer relevant, not in the way you once were. You cannot take back your throne because it no longer exists, Equestria in any form you would recognize in gone. You are free because I have since realized that I don’t need to keep you locked up any more.”

“I-I understand…” Luna said, part of her still in shock. She guessed it would remain that way for some time.

Twilight’s smirk faded slightly as her features softened, becoming friendlier.

“And I will admit that I have missed you, both of you. Equestria may no longer be a tiny country on a pale blue dot, its citizens multiplied by the thousands and changed to be so remote from what you knew to seem alien but they are still Equestrian’s in spirit. I have kept you from them for too long, you are no longer their Princesses but you can still be their guides.”

“And what would you have us do?” Celestia questioned, surprised at the change in demeanor.

“Long ago I decided to do things better, to make a world you would be proud of," Twilight smiled fondly as she looked up at the planet. "I like to think that I did alright on your final test Celestia. I suppose, in a way, I want to know what my grade is."

And then Twilight did something that shocked the sisters, she started to laugh. It was a good natured laugh, even though the voice was different the laugh was the same. Unable to restrain herself, Celestia began to giggle at the absurdity of it all as Luna watched them, shooting distrustful glances at Twilight. As the laughter slowly died down, Twilight Sparkle bowed her head to the sisters.

“You are free to do as you please, within the bounds of the law of course. And as a measure of reparations for my actions I decree that my wealth is your wealth. You have full access to my personal accounts, as long as you don't do anything silly like buy a star system you will be provided for.”

“I am unsure what to say Twilight,” Celestia said, uncertainty in her voice. “This is surely a….gracious gift.”

Twilight gave a small smile. “Don’t say anything, think of it as a retirement present. Luna,” She said, turning her head to address the smaller alicorn who stiffened in response. “I know I can’t make you trust me, I understand why you wouldn't. Honestly, if our positions were reversed I would be doing the exact same thing. Perhaps in time you will see I am telling the truth, I am still me and have always been.”

Luna just gave a terse nod in reply.

All of a sudden a massive white flash appeared above and behind Twilight followed shortly after by a pressure wave, creating a massive ringed dust cloud that preceded to roll out across the landscape. Celestia and Luna flinched and covered their faces with their wings to shield themselves from the dust, electing a chuckle from Twilight. Looking up, they saw the dust cloud had impacted an invisible barrier, now made visible as the dust cloud was battered against it and was soon washed over seemingly by an invisible hand. Though shortly after, their breaths were once again snatched away as they looked over Twilight’s shoulder, floating a distance away was a massive sleek metallic object. Its hull shimmered with a bright blue light as it slowly spun around to present its broadside to them, hovering in the air as it framed itself against the backdrop of stars.

Twilight didn't even look over her shoulder as she grinned. “That would be our ride planetside, would you be liking a lift?”

“What is that thing?” Celestia asked as Luna drank in its every feature.

“It’s beautiful,” The smaller alicorn whispered, transfixed by the floating ship.

“You can ask it yourself when we board, I’m sure it’ll be happy to indulge you,” Twilight said, her grin back in place. “But if you must know you can always use the interface to find out, I did have those things installed for a reason.”

Luna frowned for a second as she activated the overlay and was astounded by the change in her surroundings. Above her, in every direction, stretched a sheet of white and blue hexagons that cut off her view of the outside world, a small label identifying them as atmospheric containment markers. Dismissing the markers she turned her gaze to the ship, another label appeared that identified it as the Welcome Home, Can I Take Your Coat?, a star-dancer class exploration and hospitality vessel with the Ministry of Immigration. As soon as she had looked at it did an icon appear, alerting her to an incoming call from the ship itself. Briefly puzzled but curious, she accepted the call and was greeted with a happy whistling tune.

-Welcome home Luna,- A joyful feminine voice echoed in her head.

“Who are you?” She spoke aloud.

The voice laughed in her head, a rich and sincere laugh. -I am Welcome home, can I take your coat?. But for pleasantries sake you may address me as Welcome. The ship you see is my body, I am its mind and it would be an honor to be the one who carries you away from your prison.-

-You are the ship?- Luna asked, remembering that she didn't have to speak aloud, as she watched the ship, getting the feeling it was watching her back. Which it probably was. -

-Your name is, interesting, if you don’t mind me saying.-

-What else would I be?- Welcome replied cheerfully. -My name is an extension of myself, I may be built to explore but my true purpose is to bring my charges home.-

“Sister, can you hear that?” Celestia asked aloud as Twilight just watched the pair.

“Yes Tia,” Luna said as she looked at her sister and back to the ship.

“Good to see that you’re introducing yourselves, but if you don’t mind there is much I would show you,” Twilight grinned. “Welcome, you know what to do.”

-At once your grace,- The reply echoed in Luna and Celestia’s heads before everything flashed white momentarily.

The moon with its view of Equis disappeared, being replaced with a cosy lounge and cocktail bar. Behind it, a cute female bipedal creature was preparing a mixture of drinks while wearing what could only in the loosest sense of the word as clothing. Socks would have provided better coverage.

“Greetings your Grace, honored guests. It is wonderful to have you aboard,” She said as she sauntered out from behind the bar, a tray of drinks balanced on one hand.
“How did we-“Celestia began to ask before the bipedal creature cut her off.

“I teleported you on to me. This form you see before you is an avatar of mine, a portion of myself in a physical body.”

“Wait, you're Welcome?” Luna said as the avatar handed Twilight a drink and began placing drinks on a nearby table.

“More a fragment of my attention than anything else. Please take a seat and enjoy the finest hospitality I have to offer. Normally, I would go and mingle with the rest of my charges but I am currently empty, a courtesy to yourselves and your Majesty. Wouldn't do to overwhelm you with our particular brand of crazy just yet,” Welcome said with an ear splitting grin.

“If you need anything just ask, I’ve enabled access to the Interstellar information network so you can begin diving whenever you feel comfortable.”

Twilight opened her mouth to speak only for her iris’ to start glowing, causing her to stare into space for a few seconds. “Sorry to leave you two but matters of state call. Welcome, please take care of them for me,” She said as she rose from a chair she had sat in, her form briefly dissolving as she shifted into the hairless bipedal form Luna had seen earlier. Albeit that form lacked the reverse jointed legs and bony carapace.

“Of course your grace, I’ll take them on the introductory tour. You can count on me to keep them safe,” The avatar said with a bow.
Twilight went still for a second, looking as if she was contemplating something before she disappeared in a flash of liquid darkness, causing Luna to shiver reflexively.
Smiling the avatar turned to the two alicorns and clapped her hands together, causing everything to move around in ways that made Luna consider that the thin black straps might just be a part of the avatar's skin.

“Well then, let’s get you up to date!”

Apparently when you die you're supposed to see a blinding white light, all your dead relatives and long lost friends all waiting for you. The soul left for it's final journey, so the priests of old once said. She thought to herself as light streamed through the murky white liquid.

"Welcome back to the world of the living Miss Leaf," The neutral voice of the technician greeted her, somehow managing to convey a tone of mild disappointment. As if the fact he had to bring people back from the dead was a waste of his time.

Good morning to you too, Jackass.

"What in the Queen's good name is going on?" She said as she coughed up some of the cream coloured pod fluid. For an elixir of immortality, it tasted like a mixture of cardboard, ethanol and watery cream.

"You are currently in a rebirth facility on White Rose in the capital city Apple Seed," The techy replied as he consulted a holographic chart. "Apparently you were found shot in the head, autopsy shows a high alcohol content in the blood. Drug glands showed to have been producing a mixture of Slow, Frazz and Burn. Time of death is put around 1-2am."

"Well shit," Leaf said as she went rise out of the pod, only to realize she was lacking a certain appendage and had another set at her sides.

"Where the bloody hell are my hands?" She asked, flapping her wings as she realized she was currently in an orthodox equestrian Pegasus body.

"Your insurance only covers a birth state replacement," The techy said as he shrugged his shoulders.

"Like hell it does! I paid good credits for that body."

"Mam I'm telling you-"

"And I'm telling you, asshole, that my contract with the state covers a full rez," Leaf said as she pulled up her interface overlay, pulling up the articles that clearly stated that law enforcement were fully expected to be reloaded into a body akin to the one they wore at time of death.

"See!" She said, thrusting the info into his tablet. “If have to get Vigilance on the line to explain why one of his DCI’s isn't getting a proper treatment...”

The techy leaned over and read the lines highlighted before making a face that clearly screamed, oh crab baskets.

"Oh, err sorry, we'll fix that right away,"  He said as he scurried back over to a large machine in the wall. "I'll get that fixed up right away, really sorry for the inconvenience ma'am."

Leaf lay down in the pod again. "Just hurry up," She huffed. And this is why I prefer machine operated clinics.

One quick rejuvenation session later, DCI Bitter Leaf was back in the bipedal body she'd paid for, and after collecting her clothes and gun she was moved into a sterile white booth to change out of the hospital gown they’d stuck her in.

Let’s check these dipsticks got everything right, She thought to herself.  Given that they had to work with a canvas body it can't hurt to check, I can't afford to be waiting for another day while they ship a proper replacement in.

First thing gender, she thought peaking down her top. Hello girls and a quick check...yep, not a man.  Hands, yep, skin tone cream, check. Hair bright green, check, OC tats...yep yep and yep. Striping out of the gown Leaf took a moment to admire the body in the mirror. While she hadn't gone with drop dead gorgeous and wouldn't be winning any beauty contests anytime, her ego had convinced her to go with an aesthetically pleasing design. The small chest was definitely a good choice given that she frequently found herself chasing criminals through tight spaces, small enough to sprint with but enough so that she could wear a swimsuit and not look like a prepubescent girl. Not that potential lovers paid attention to her chest, many men had complimented her legs and (in one man's words) divinely sculpted ass. He had then tried to get a grab in, and she then tried to stop repeatedly kicking him in the nuts but alas neither of them could quite reach their goals.

Though to be fair, it was rather hard to grab something with a pair of broken hands and fractured pelvis.

"Everything looks good," She said to no one in particular, changing into her regular clothes. A pair of black jeans with a loose professional shirt, suit jacket with her gun holstered on her thigh and badge proudly displayed on the hip.

So the question now is why I was found dead in the street somewhere. Great, I just love investigating my own murders.

A knock on the door signaled it was step out, the pod techy looked at her with a mild sense of disinterest. "If you’re finished I can let you get through the rest of the procedures before we release you."

Giving her arms a shake Leaf adjusted the cuffs on her jacket. "Let’s go then, sooner we’re done the faster I can get back to work."

A curt nod was all the answer she received as the techy lead her out of the changing room and into a fairly busy cream corridor. Along the walls a myriad of lines appeared in her overlay, each labelled with directions to parts of the hospital. Selecting the morgue line with a thought Leaf set to following it, stopping for a moment to grab an apple from a food vending machine on the way there as she flicked through the electronic paperwork. Being in a new body tended to give her the munchies, regular body hoppers called it the new-u-chews.

It's a weird thing seeing your own lifeless corpse stretched out on the table before you. Leaf thought as she wiped her hands on her coat, her eyes roaming over the corpse laid out on a metal table in front of her. The body was an exact copy of herself, which was to be expected of course but seeing it in person always sent a shiver down her spine. Heavy wounds covered the body, whatever had happened she’d put up a hell of a fight. Leaf supposed she should feel happy about that. Putting her feelings aside she began to analyse the body, bringing up her overlay and activating her specialist forensics ware.

Let’s see what I'm working with here….hmmm not much decomposition, I’d say I’ve been dead barely a day. She thought, verifying the date with a quick look at a calendar. A call icon appeared in her vision identifying it as her boss Vigilance, the High AI in charge of managing security across the planet.

“Where’d you find me, Lance?” She asked aloud as she connected the call.

A male sounding voice reverberated in her head. -Down an alleyway in the immigration sector. You know I don't like you calling me that DCI Leaf,- It said in a mildly annoyed yet resigned tone.

“What was I doing over there?” Hmmm shot above the left eye into the data storage of the interface, angled down so the shooter was taller than me or had the high ground. No residue and some burning, perhaps an energy based weapon or magical attack?

“Lance, can you send me the cloud data from the time of termination?”

-Sorry Detective, but I am afraid I cannot do that. Your communication went dark a few minutes before you were killed. I dispatched drones to your last know location and found your body in an alley way only a few steps away,- Vigilance made a grumbling sound.

-This is most troubling, can’t have one of my Chief Inspector being murdered in the streets. It’s downright barbaric. I’m just glad I had you take a mental-state upload the day before.-

“Yeah, lucky me. Without that cloud data and my physical storage shot to bits we won’t be able to get a real time view of what happened. Looks like we are going to have to do this the old fashioned way,” Leaf said as she activated her skin level shielding and began poking her fingers around in the wounds.

“Traces of gravel, some glass shards and more burns along the wounds. From the looks of things I was stabbed repeatedly with a form of energy blade.”

-Fantastic. You don’t have to go poking around in your old body, Detective. The hospital AI coroner has already submitted its findings to me. We have a couple ideas at the moment, I’m monitoring the whole security net of the city trying to look for anything suspicious.

“Can’t hurt to look around myself, see if my findings match up with the report when I take a look. Oh…that’s interesting, traces of magic laced arcanite dust in airways. Lance did you identify what the enchantment on the dust was?”

-Illusion school, from what we could analyse it was meant to induce vivid audio and visual hallucinations. A common street drug called Crush.

“I know what Crush is Lance, give me the details."

-We also found shards arcanite crush in your abdomen. Like you were transporting it.-

Leaf perked up and looked at one of the camera’s in the room. “What? You know I would never-“she started to say before being cut off.

-Relax Detective, it would take much more than a simple plant to fool one of Her Royal Majesties High AI’s. Besides, I know you too well, I wouldn’t have promoted you to Chief Inspector otherwise,- Vigilance said.

“Was that a compliment, Lance? Why if you had a face I bet you’d be smiling right now,” Leaf said as she turned back to examining the body with a grin.

-Well, I’m sure one of my Avatars is grinning right now,- Vigilance replied.

"So what's the most likely lead?"

-Given the skill displayed, the use of high tech equipment required to blackout a section of the city and the ability to evade my search net so far, it's highly likely that this is espionage.-

"By whom?"

-Unsure, but E.I.S are combing through every scrap of data they can get there hands on. They'll likely update me as soon as they find something, until then we are monitoring outgoing ships and broadcasts closely.-

"What's the chances this spook, if it exists, is going to slip through the net before we find it?"

-If it's still in Imperial space then it's unlikely.-

"Good to know, I take it you'll want me working the case?"

-Of course, you'll find the relevant information in your inbox. There is a car out front, for when you want to get back to work, Detective Chief Inspector,” Vigilance said as he cut the connection.

"Sir," Leaf said into the empty air as she wiped her hands underneath a cleaning station, the automated gurney moving the body back into storage as she signaled the hospital administration to dispose of it.

Exiting the hospital, Leaf breathed in deep, glad to be alive again as she adjusted her coat and gave her badge a wipe. A sunny day greeted her as she walked down the steps and waited on the curb, the clean white architecture of the hospital stretched up into the sky as it shone brightly in the morning sun. However as she looked around she couldn't shake the feeling that something big was coming just around the corner.

A high pitched revving sound caught Leaf's attention, dragging it away from the hospital building as a sleek silvery grey vehicle pulled up next to her. Leaf grinned slightly as the door opened and she slipped into the front left seat, her interface identifying the vehicle as a high speed police interceptor.

"Manual control please." She said, unclipping her badge and showing it to the micro camera hidden in the center of the dash above the holo display.

A small beep signaled at her as the black material of the dash in front of her shimmered, the shape of a steering wheel quickly assembled itself. Leaf reached out and grasped the wheel, the hard memory plastic still warm from the nano-scale manufacturing process. A pair of pedals formed on the inside of the foot-well as the car sent her a notification that the task had been complete.

As she pulled away from the hospital, her window down to let the airflow through the cabin, Leaf grinned. She might not use the Pegasus body she was born with but that didn't mean she didn't love the feeling of air rushing through her hair.

"Car, patch a connection through to the web, I've been disconnected for a day. Let's get me up to date."

Author's Note

Well....lets see how this goes. Trying out a new formatting style, too wall of text-ish? Tell me in the comments below!

Walking in the rain.

DCI Bitter Leaf – One week prior

Hot and sticky, this city, it’s always hot and always sticky. Leaf thought to herself as she walked through the warm rain and humid air, the busy streets behind her oblivious to the deluge from above. The flickering blue field above the walkways protecting them from the rain, hot droplets ran down the almost frictionless surface, actively repelled with a low hum that one tuned out after the first couple of days. Simply another city noise amid the regular hustle. Leaf, however, was walking along one of the dirt paths that laced Appleseed’s central park, the soaked dirt and grit making a wet grinding sound beneath her heels as she walked away from the city. She stopped for a moment and looked over her shoulder at the city behind her. Its lights sparkling in the rain, the civilized world where everyone respected the rules, where the city sheltered them from the world. The wilderness stretched ahead of her, the looming shapes of the trees towered above her, rain striking her as she resumed walking, a smile gracing her lips fleetingly. She had a crime scene to reach.

It was almost mid-night and still the city inhabitants carried on, always doing something. Leaf cupped a hand over a cigarette she had pulled from one of her pockets, lighting it with a small electronic device. Stuffing the cheap lighter back into her coat she carried on walking into the dark, a smattering of path lights glittered in the rain as they showed her the way. The sounds of the city grew faint, signalling that she had passed into what the city considered the park proper, its own personal touch of the wild smack dab in the center of the urban sprawl. It liked to shut out the sounds of the city for park goers with judicious use of discreetly placed shush field generators, the city’s aim was to help make the park a more peaceful place for the citizenry to go and relax. Leaf felt the warm water trickle down the back of her neck, her wet hair sticking to her scalp as another drop slid down her nose and dropped onto her cherry, extinguishing it.

Scowling slightly, she flicked the useless stick of refined tobacco out into a nearby bush. “Too wet to smoke out here anyway,” She grumbled, a ping sounding in her ear as the park systems detected the smoke and fined her for littering.

Paying the fine, Leaf walked towards the murder scene, the area lit up by flashing blue and red lights. Her interface outlined a series of beacons that hazily projected a line of holographic tape. The bright yellow Do Not Cross flickering in the rain, the drops of water disrupting the projection.

Around the site, a quartet of long tapered drones slowly patrolled through the air, blue and red lights pulsing from the gaps in their bodies as the rain bounced off the fields they projected around themselves. Their wide and bulky, almost serpentine heads rapidly tapered back into a series of flat spines that extended backwards like a tail, swaying as they moved through the air in a swimming motion. Leaf had always thought they looked kind of intimidating as a foal, and as a grownup she still found there blank metal gaze to be at times unnerving. One of the drones rotated in the air and zipped over to her, a floating box identifying it as a Constable with the Metropolitan Police Office.

“DCI Bitter Leaf, thank you for coming. The witnesses are this way,” It said, vibrating its field to produce the sound as it curled back in on itself and moved across to where two white tents had been erected.

Walking after the drone, Leaf felt a cool breeze wash over her as she entered the indicated tent, a pair of air conditioners were set up providing a relief from the humidity. Inside were a couple of other drones of various make that her interface identified as journalists with one of the local papers. Apparently they were arguing with uniform, a basic bipedal like her, who looked like she was just about fed up with the prattle. Looking around she saw a pair of basic orthodox equestrians sitting in a corner, one mare and a stallion, a blanket wrapped around the mare. Judging from the way they were holding each other they were obviously partners, the stallion was talking to a security drone. Unlike the drones outside it had a set of black lines on its carapace that identified it as a Sergeant, a side glance at its tag identifying it as one Police Sergeant Zora VNF-65-X240M746O, Law Enforcement Drone.

“Leaf, you're sopping wet!” A male voice said from behind her. “Shield not working?”

Looking over her shoulder, Leaf scowled at the sand brown unicorn. “You know I don’t like you calling me that DI Swid.”

The figure of the tall lanky stallion brushed past her, water rolling off his sandy brown coat and flank like water off a duck’s back. A faint blue shimmer showing that his personal shielding was hard at work repelling the water droplets.

“Sure thing, guv,” He said with a shrug. "Seen the stiff yet?"

"Just got here, she found it I take it?" Leaf nodded her head to indicate the mare in one of the corners talking to the Sergeant drone.

"Yeah, got the toaster taking a statement,” Swid replied, taking a cautious step away as Leaf gave him a stern look. “What?”

“Toaster?”

“Oh don’t tell me you’re a machine sympathizer, Leaf.”

“No, I just think it’s inappropriate,” Leaf said, placing a hand on her hip. “They work just as hard as you, probably harder,” She raised an eyebrow, smiling slightly.

“Yeah yeah, I get the message.”

“Good, hate to let you go so soon after getting transferred here. Doesn't look good, firing staff.”

“Oh how typical of a Canterlot gal, all image,” The unicorn rolled his eyes as he motioned for Leaf to leave. “Why don't you go have a look at the stiff while I handle the vultures, looks like the uni is having a hard enough time as is. The drone…Sergeant Zora, should almost be finished collecting the statements. I’ll tell it to keep the witness here so you can talk to them yourself,"

"Cheers, Swid," Leaf said, turning on the spot and leaving.

"It's real nasty guv, hope you liked what you ate today. You’ll be seeing it soon enough," The DI said as she left.

Ignoring him Leaf stepped back out into the rain and activated the tactical police overlay for her interface, or as the media had dubbed it, crime-o-vision. She preferred the other moniker it had been saddled with, cop-sight, at least which sounded halfway professional. The borders of her vision filled with a variety of tags, one of them glowing a bright blue. Selecting it with a mental prod Leaf watched as the virtual case file popped up, flipping it open with swiping gesture. The file was still in the early stages of completion, as to be expected so soon into the case. Skimming the information for a second before shoving it into her peripheral, Leaf walked over to the second tent and stepped inside.

The sight made her grimace, splayed out like a morbid piece of art was the body of what her interface identified as a female Thrun, a species of bipedal creature, avian descent. Normally what set a Thrun apart from other bipedal species was that they possessed a single set of reverse jointed legs and a thin carapace made of tiny scales of various hues and patterns. Their facial features carried traces of their avian heritage, sharp and lean. Leaf reckoned in a certain light they looked rather pretty, just not this unfortunate soul.

Her carapace had been skinned in specific locations, removing any identifying scale marks the woman would have had. Not much of her carapace was left intact. Crouching down to get a better look Leaf magnified her vision, inspecting the wounds.

No signs of burning, obviously not an energy or magical blade. However given the large amount of surrounding damage to the flesh and carapace scales, suggests a large blade, no teeth or serrated edges. Looks like it wasn't too sharp either, significant tearing suggests a sawing motion…merciful Twilight, signs point to this being done pre-mortem.

Around the location placed in a ritualistic fashion were the majority of the internal organs and significant bones, the whole scene looked like something out of a horror book. Weird glyphs were inscribed onto a few rocks that looked like they had been placed with deliberate care and scattered at random intervals were small charms made of interlinked bone. The tell-tale smell of burnt charcoal and brimstone gave away the fact that dark magic had been cast here recently.

“Sweet stars above,” Leaf muttered under her breath as she picked up one of the charms, a flicker of blue ran over her skin as she activated her shield. Rolling it over in her hands she inspected the macabre trinket, a mild sense of nausea running through her as her interface ID’d it as the bone as a fragment of the victims femur, whittled into a delicate spiral shape.

Her vision swam slightly as she tried to read the many small glyphs that had been inscribed all over the surface of the charm, many with an obsessive level of detail. Logging the item she slipped it into a slim plastic bag and pocketed it.

“Could come in handy later,” She mused to herself, rubbing her eyes as she stood and went to leave the tent. As she turned away a flicker of movement caused her to spin around, hand instinctively falling to her hip holster. The only thing in the tent was the body, and that hadn't even twitched an inch. Leaf scowled, feeling slightly embarrassed with herself as she stepped out.

Blood and hellfire, get grip of yourself woman. Just a corpse, nothing more. She thought to herself, shaking off a creeping sense of dread she hadn't notice building.

The rain fell on her once again, only to slide off her as her shield intercepted them, the sound making a patter sound in her ear. With a mental nudge she opened a link to Vigilance.

-Sir, I've taken a look at the scene. It’s…gruesome to say the least.-

A small shield popped up in the corner of her vision, Vigilance’s icon. –I’ve looked over the initial reports by the drones and DI Swid, do you want to talk to the witnesses?-

Leaf looked over to the second tent, her interface showing a blue outline of the three police personnel overlaid where they were relative to her. From the way they were moving, they were still talking to the witnesses and the couple of press drones.

-I think Swid and the Sergeant from Metro have things covered, ask them to stall the press drones if they can, I want to talk to them first. I’ll take another look around before going inside.- She sent, activating an array of magnification ware.

Leaf turned around slowly, canvassing the area, looking around as she tried piecing things together. The rain making tiny ripples across the pools of water that had already accumulated in the tracks left by the regular park maintenance vehicles. A few leaves, torn loose by the wind and rain, glided softly across the makeshift pool.

–Sir do we have any aerial footage of the area?

-Just a couple of weather monitoring stations that were flying over and a traffic drone who was slacking off bird watching.

-Nothing good in them?- Leaf sent, as she crouched and looked closely at some odd tracks in the mud. Almost washed away by the rain were a pair of shallow splayed out grooves, like the kind left by a hover propulsion system. The ground was covered with them, as to be expected, park maintenance drones made use of heavy lifting systems when clearing fallen trees and pruning large branches. What made this series of tracks jump out at her was that they never left the center of the path despite at least three trees being close by, chances are all the other similar tracks had caused these ones to be discarded by the initial investigative team.

–Sir, that traffic drone wouldn't happen to have tagged a van or some other kind of heavy vehicle entering the area unscheduled? Maybe over the course of the day, look for repeats of the same vehicle or vehicles registered to the same owner entering the park.-

A couple of seconds passed without a reply as Vigilance replayed the day’s footage. –We have a series of trucks listed with Sunny Fields Landscaping entering the park on eight separate occasions. You thinking that it was a cover to sneak in the materials?

No they were delivering ice cream. Leaf mentally snarked, biting her tongue. She knew Vigilance had already drawn the conclusion the microsecond she brought it up. The AI was just being polite.

-Well the Thrun wasn't killed here, it’s been deliberately moved and from what I’m getting some sort of ritual was conducted. I’ll review the witnesses’ statement before I talk to her, see if she heard anything. Can we get an idea what the glyphs were for?

Leaf stood up, brushing the grime from her pants, turning off her shield as she looked around again. The feeling of rain against her skin appealed to something primal within her. A prickling sensation ran over her scalp, a signal from her interface that her data was being accessed remotely.

-I've sent a copy of the glyphs to the Occult Occurrences Division, they’ll get back to you when they get anything. Anything else jumping out at you down there?-

-Not right now, I’ll need to take a closer look at the forensics and OOD’s report when they get through. Keep me posted.

-Of course, Chief Inspector. A clicking sound signalling the end of the conversation as the link closed.

“Sir.” Leaf muttered into the night air, staring up through the canopy of leaves at the night sky above.

Wordlessly, Leaf walked back into the tent containing the body of the murdered woman, sadly she was listed as a tourist, her visa clearing a quick inspection. She had arrived only a couple days ago, quickly vanishing off the grid less than four hours later after losing the bracelet provided to her by border control so that the city could keep an eye on her. The bracelet had been recovered in the immigration sector. A BOLO had been issued, sadly they had failed to find her in time. Taking a moment Leaf placed a hand over her face, unlike other advanced civ’s, Thruns didn't use mind backups, there would be no second life for this poor woman. Their culture didn't allow for it, something about duplicate souls not sitting right with their cast system or something to that extent.

It wasn't that another living being was permanently gone, she'd seen permanent deaths in her lifetime, and this wasn't the first and it certainly wouldn't be the last. It wasn't the circumstances in which she had died, in her time she had seen into the vast depths of cruelty the soul offered, this was simply one more example and a comparatively mild one over the course of her career. It was that this death was…had been preventable, that something as simple as a security bracelet could have, would have, made all the difference in the world.

Her free hand slipped into her pocket and curled over the bone charm, it felt as cold as ice.

"Are you okay, ma'am?" A mechanical voice asked from behind her, a box in her interface identifying the speaker as a drone constable. "Your heart rate just spiked."

"I'm fine constable," Leaf replied, turning away from the grisly scene with a scowl. "Is DI Swid finished with the press?"

The drone bobbed in the air uncertainly. "Are you sure you're okay ma'am, I'm still picking up-" It's voice field vibrated rapidly in front of it, mimicking a concerned tone, causing Leaf to scowl at it, shutting it up.

"I can assure you Constable that my health is not in jeopardy, now I asked you a question and I am still waiting for an answer," She said sternly.

"Yes he is, ma'am," The drone replied curtly before zipping off in an offended manner. "Bloody bio's. Show some concern and that's the thanks you get," It muttered in a sub audible frequency, probably unaware Leaf was able to hear it, probably.

Leaf just rolled her eyes and made a mental note to watch that drone in the future as she made her way back over to the tent with the living occupants. A breath of cool air washed over her, providing a relief from the humidity as she walked inside, water dripped off her coat and hair in large, fat drops. Looking over at Swid and the Uniform she noticed that the Press drones had only grown more agitated.

“This is unacceptable, an infringement on my rights I tell you! I demand to speak to your superior at once!” One of the Press drones squealed in a profoundly irritating voice, its field flickering a deep purple to signal its annoyance. Leaf winced internally, surely it had calibrated its field to produce that ungodly noise for the sole purpose of getting under her skin.

It was shaped like a large diamond, small growths spouting off it in random directions. Overall it looked rather…sharp. It’s friend was much more comical, looking like a large floating pineapple wearing a humorous hat that flopped around as it moved. Somehow it was managing to look rather embarrassed as it spun in the air.

“Everything alright over here?” She asked, walking over to the small commotion. The uniform looking over at her, exasperation evident on her face.

“Well sir, it’s your lucky day, presenting DCI Bitter Leaf. You can direct all your pointless questions at her,” The officer said, stepping aside to let Leaf into the group. “Showed up right on time ma’am.” She whispered.

Raising an eyebrow Leaf placed a hand on her hip. “What’s causing this fuss sir?” She asked in a stern professional tone.

“This fuss, this fuss!” The pointy drone screeched. “Ma’am your officers have been impeding my journalistic rights!”

The floating pineapple backed away from its companion slowly as Swid scowled and face hoofed.

“Oh and please, explain how they've been doing that,” Leaf replied, rubbing her forehead softly. She could feel a migraine coming on.

The floating diamond flashed purple again. “Why your officers accosted me when I tried to talk to the witnesses! No, assaulted me!”

Leaf turned to the uniform, a questioning look in her eyes. “What happened?”

The uniform crossed her arms as she glared at the press drone. “This jerk was harassing the witnesses so Sergeant Zora told him to shove off. May have also given him a physical demonstration on how to do just that as well.”

“Hah, more like forcibly pushed me away from that poor mare. All I was doing was asking a couple of questions, peacefully, when all of a sudden that low life knockoff excuse for a drone barges in and knocks me out of the air!”

Leaf turned over to look at the black stripped drone. -Sgt Zora.- She messaged.

The drone continued its conversation with the witnesses, not missing a beat as it picked up the line. –Ma’am?- It answered, a cool metallic voice reverberating in her head.

-What happened with the press? Don’t tell me I’m going to have to report you to Internal.-

-Nothing ma’am, just gave it a little push.-

Leaf groaned inwardly. –How little?-

-Well maybe not ‘little’ little, enough for that scrapheap to back off.- The drone admitted. –The jerk was harassing the crap out’a the poor girl and her partner was letting it happen.-

Leaf could help but notice as the drone’s voice distorted slightly towards the end, a slight red tinge flashing around its shell, briefly startling the two ponies it was talking to. –That bad, Sergeant?-

-Sorry ma’am.-

-How much of an ass was this guy being?-

-The usual press vulture ma’am, kept needling the mare about what she saw, how she could feel safe when it was apparent we were failing at our jobs, blah blah blah. Oh and word of warning, this guy styles himself as a public watchdog, really anti gov.-

-Got it, I’ll be over in a second to talk to the witnesses.-

Leaf turned back to the pair of press drones, scowling. “Apparently you were harassing one of my witnesses Mr…” Leaf looked to the side for a second. “Shutters. Maybe I should be the one pressing charges.”

The drone flashed red, crying out in indignation. “Of course, the tyrant’s lapdogs refuse to prosecute their own!”

The assembled police officers looked at each with raised eyebrows as the floating pineapple rushed in-between it’s companion and them, attempting to subdue its spiky friend with its own fields. “So sorry officers, my, ah, friend here is very passionate about it’s, ahhh, work.”

“Obviously it’s passionate about a couple of other things as well,” Swid grumbled as the uniform glared daggers at the offending drone.

“Listen, I don’t want to cause any trouble, he just get a bit excited, please ma’am I don’t want to waste your time on something trivial as this when there’s a killer on the loose,” The pineapple pleaded, addressing Leaf.

“Listen no harm’s been done and I’m feeling a bit generous today so I’m going to give it a pass. But if I find your friend harassing anyone else you won’t be so lucky.” Leaf replied, noting the makes and names of the two drones in front of her, registering them with the city’s automated security watch list.

“You've both been put on the watch list for the city on a 30 day sentence, keep your grills clean and your names come off. Fuck up and every security dumb-drone will be swarming all over you before you can finish processing how screwed you are. Understand?” Leaf asked, hand on her hip as the drone went still for a moment.

“Crystal, ma’am,” The pineapple replied coldly, floating away sluggishly as it pulled it’s friend with it.

The uniform next to her swept her cap off her head, the movement tousling her dark blue hair, causing it to fall across her face as she wiped her brow. “Thanks for dealing with that ma’am. They really don’t cover assholes at the academy.”

“Comes with experience,” Leaf shrugged, taking time to examine the officer now that the issue had been resolved, looking her over quickly. Like herself, she was using a bipedal form, though her history showed she had been born a unicorn and still retained a complement of her abilities, albeit her form was decidedly more…appealing than her own.

Just how does she expect to run in that? Leaf thought exasperatedly, checking the officer’s tag. Apparently this was her first day out in the field. “Looks like you’re having an interesting first day Miss Glimmer,” She said with a conspiratorial wink.

Glimmer blushed slightly and nervously wrung her cap in her hands. “Ah, well yes ma’am. I suppose it is,”

A cough caught their attention. “If you’re about done undressing the constable with your eyes, ma’am, maybe you’d like to talk to the witnesses?” Swid said in a hushed voice, causing Glimmer to make a small pepping sound and blush harder.

Wait what, I wasn’t… Leaf thought to herself as she looked over her shoulder at Swid, raising an eyebrow before realising he had probably taken her looking over Glimmer as checking her out. That or he was pulling her chain. “In your dreams, Detective,” She replied, annoyance lacing voice as she broke away from the group and walked over to the witnesses.

Glimmer gave her a little smile as she put her cap back on. “Ma’am,” She said, walking away with a little bounce in her step.
Either not hearing her or not caring about it, Leaf didn’t reply as she walked over to Zora and the two ponies. A quick check showed that they were indeed together, married in fact. “Mister and Miss Marble, I am DCI Bitter Leaf, the senior officer in charge of this case,” She said as she came over, a no nonsense expression on her face. “I hope Sergeant Zora has been conducting himself to your satisfaction.”

The husband nodded as he ran a hoof across his wife’s shoulders. “Yes ma’am. Are we free to go yet, I-I don’t want to sound rude but my wife and I are out of sorts right now. All I really want to do is go home,” He asked a pleading look on his face.

“If DCI Leaf is happy that you've answered everything then I’m sure we can release you at once. Ma’am?” Zora asked, turning slightly in the air towards her.

Leaf looked over the pair of ponies, running a review on the testimony Zora had lodged seconds ago. “If you don’t mind I’ll just ask you a couple more questions, to correlate your testimony, won’t be a more than a minute,” She asked, kneeling down to eye level with the ponies.

The husband pressed his muzzle close to his wife’s ear and mumbled something that Leaf had to activate her embedded audio enhancements to pick up.

“Think you can hold up a bit longer, dear?”

The mare nodded slightly and reached up to her shoulder, wrapping a hoof around the comforting foreleg there.

“If you promise to make it quick, officer,”

Leaf nodded slightly. “You were out here taking a walk, on your way home from a relaxing night out at a local theater and decided to take a walk through the park where you were quickly caught in the rain and decided to seek cover under a tree. Here you found the body and your interface contacted security forces automatically.”

“That sounds right, yes,” The husband nodded. “Can we go now?” He asked earnestly.

“Bear with me a moment, what did you go see?”

“We went, ah, went to the Rise of The Night. Over at the Belle. What does that have to do with anything?” The husband asked, confusion playing over his features.

“Hmm? Oh nothing... I just wanted to know,” Leaf said, brushing a strand of bright green hair back behind her ear. “And how did you enjoy the play?”

The husband rose to his hooves, shaking. “It was very nice, listen, Queen knows I’m not having the best day of my life right now so can my wife and I please just go home.”

“Oh, of course,” Leaf said, stepping aside to let the husband go. “But if you’ll indulge me one more question….”

“Do I have much choice?” The husband asked wearily.

“Actually I would like to ask your wife,”

A look of panic flashed across the husbands face, disappearing as fast as it came but not fast enough to go unnoticed.

“Oh I don’t know if that’s ahhhh…”

“Hmmm, is there a problem Mr. Marble?” Leaf asked, looking down at the earth pony. The height that a bipedal form offered came in handy when interrogating suspects, the psychological reaction of having something bigger and meaner towering over you, that feeling made people squirm. This nervous reaction had given Leaf more than couple of confessions, it was one of the main reasons why she chose the form over a traditional pony body.

The earth pony squirmed uncomfortably, his mouth moving up and down for a moment as he tried to form words. “I-ah-we-er….I uh mean no, no of course not,” He stumbled, sweat beginning to form on his brow.

Turning to the mare, Leaf smiled slightly. “If you can please tell me, why did you chose to walk through the park?”

The mare shivered slightly, raising her gaze from the floor in shuddering movements. “Because i-it w-w-was on th-the way to our h-house,” She stammered out, a fearful look in her eyes as she met Leaf’s gaze.

“But you live sixteen blocks away,” Leaf responded, a sad smile on her face.

Confusion crossed both their faces as her words hit them, the mare started shaking violently and the husband went stock still, a trickle of blood seeping out of his ear. A pair of medical drones rushed in, called by Leaf a few seconds ago, and started treating the couple as they went into seizures. “Zora, disregard their testimony please.”

“What the hell!” Swid shouted as he rushed over, the drone recoiling in the air as the pair convulsed and the medical workers began administering a cocktail of drugs. ”Ma’am, mind explaining what in the flying fuck is going on.”

“I echo the Inspector’s sentiments ma’am,” Zora chipped in, rotating to face Leaf as it calibrated its sensors to buffer out the noises the pair of ponies were making as the medical team extracted them.

Watching the pair of ponies be taken away, Leaf shook her head. “OOD and forensics should back me up on this but I have a strong feeling they helped with the ritual. We should find signs of recent blood transfusions and replenishment, as well as clear mental manipulation, both psychological and magical, to forget the events of the past week.”

Swid raised his eyebrows. “You saying they helped with this little mess?”

Leaf lit a cigarette, holding it in her lips as she breathed in the scent of tobacco. “Indeed, but I strongly suspect not willingly. Swid I’m assigning that to you, find out who they are, where they were a week ago. It’s probable they were coerced or abducted with magic, after that they were forced to help in the creation of the ritual.”

“How so?”

“By donating blood, from what I know most dark magic rituals require an obscene amount of blood to function. Taking too many captives would alert us prematurely so whoever did this must have taken these two poor ponies and bleed them dry repeatedly. Chances are the blood on those stones out there will match one of the two, or both.”

Zora twitched in the air, streaks of red and black flickering across its fields. “When I find this sicko…”

“You and me both.” Swid said, a look of disgust on his face. “But how did you know about it, ma’am?”

“The mare was exhibiting signs of blood loss, paleness, sweating, rapid breathing and a quick pulse. The husband was agitated and at times in his gaze would fade out of focus. All things that could be mistake for shock or coping mechanisms.”

“I don’t understand how you picked up on it ma’am.” Zora asked. “As you said their behaviors could be mistaken for shock,”

“Zora, if you had checked the play they went to, you would have found the last showing was just over a week ago…Swid you might want to check that time slot for their abduction. Anyway, what made me question things was when I checked and found that they live sixteen blocks away on the other side of the city.”

“But surely they would have just gotten a cab home after walking in the park? After all isn't it a common romantic gesture you biologicals like to perform?” Zora replied.

Leaf shrugged. “Possibly, though rain does tend to put a damper on such things. That might have been the case I suspect the night they were abducted, if we assume they were abducted the night of the play. What’s important is that it made me look up the showing times at the Belle.”

“Sweet Luna’s moony flank,” Swid swore. “What would have happened if we had let them go?”

Finishing her smoke, Leaf dropped the butt and crushed it under her heel. “Chances are we would have found the discrepancy in their story tomorrow when we went over the data in the morning. By then they would have begun the process of being reloaded, citing extreme trauma, and any data to prove they had been manipulated would have been destroyed with their old mental state.”
Zora made a vibrating sound that Leaf recognized as the drone equivalent of a sigh. “I almost shot us in the foot didn't I?” It said apologetically as it slipped outside.

“Don’t beat yourself up over it, we all make mistakes sometimes.” Leaf responded with a shrug, knowing the drone could still hear her. “I’ll update the two of you at the briefing in the morning. Six a.m. sharp, don’t be late, Swid,” She said, stepping outside into the rain again, following the drone.

Swid was busy staring off into space as she left, only registering what she had said a second after she was already gone.
“What?”

Author's Note

Luna chapter to follow soon! So for all of you not too keen on Miss Leaf don't worry, we'll return to your regularly scheduled pony stories shortly.

First step

Towering monoliths of glass and metal filled the skyline, shining under the midnight moon, oblivious to the teeming hordes of life that filled them. Monuments to the marvels of technology and engineering, they stood proudly as tiny shapes drifted between them. Large holographic billboards streamed down them like robes of flowing light, illuminating the full majesty of their splendor as the city shined under the night sky. The spires of glass stretched out for kilometers, as far as they eye could see, on occasion they would part like a sea of metal to reveal a patch of green.

Further out, the spires gave way to a sea of squat concrete and glass blocks that formed a thick ring around the inner city. They were not quite as tall as their monolithic kin, but while they lacked grace, they gave off an air of utilitarianism. Interspersed between them was a network of alleyways that blanketed the urban sprawl like the cardiovascular system of some great breast. Beyond the city, long stretches of black rippled across the land, like massive tendrils of some ancient monster seeking out its prey, consuming all things natural it touched. And at the center of it all stood a mountain, the city growing out of it like some cancer or perhaps it bloomed from the mountain like a flower, its roads akin to its roots. Regardless the city had consumed that mountain replacing what it took with parts of itself, only the castle stood untouched.

The castle had once dominated the skyline, alone and aloof. Now it lay nestled atop the urban sprawl like a gem atop a dragon’s hoard, a cherry atop a sundae. Time had not affected it, the city had not claimed it as it stood above, visible to all who lived below. It was said that its towers gave the best view of Canterlot at night, unmatched by any terrestrial view sans the few remaining traveling cloud cities of yore when they happened to drift across the fabled capital.

Luna leaned on the edge of her balcony, well, what used to be her balcony. Twilight had graciously offered her old room in the castle to her for however long she might want it.

I wonder if she wants board? Luna thought idly as she surveyed the city, the moonlight glinting off the glass windows of the surrounding skyscrapers. Content to take in the view, she would've preferred to see it from the air but had decided against it in the meantime, wanting to spend some time with her sister before exploring the city.

An apt name, they do indeed scrape at the sky. I wonder how they stay up, surely the wind would knock them over?
An icon popped into field of view, startling her for a second, apparently her interface had picked up a stray add from the city around her. She had only just acquired the device and already she had begun to see how intimately it had been woven into the world around her. Ignoring the beep, Luna shifted her weight slightly and closed her eyes, the icons shifting into her far peripherals.

A yawn escaped her, it had been a long day and she had been given much to think about. Her sister had also been put up in her old room and had said that she would be stopping by soon to talk.

She probably wants to talk about Twilight, can’t blame her. Luna thought to herself.

The ship that had transported them was hanging in orbit above them, far above the cloud layer. She, or rather it, had offered its services as a personal interplanetary transport, if they didn’t want to use the trains until they had adjusted to modern life. The ship has also made it clear that a place in it’s crew would be open to them if they wanted it.

It was fascinating, Luna had yet to stop being amazed by this new world and idly wondered how long that would last. Twilight taken the idea of trains as public transport, something that was only in it’s infancy in her time, and by combining it with the ability to make stable portals had created an interstellar network. The logistics of such a system baffled her.

A gentle warmth filled the room as Celestia walked in, Luna smiled as she picked herself up off the balcony edge and looked over at her, waving her over with a hoof. Her sister always knew how to brighten up the room where ever she went. Celestia smiled in return and trotted over, giving her sister gentle nudge as she took a place next to her.

“They hadn’t changed, Luna,” She said in a small voice. “She kept our rooms as they were.”

“And? You did the same for me if I recall.”

“Yes, but I knew you would come back to me, Twilight…she didn’t. I checked the tour guide for the castle, she preserved our rooms,” Celestia looked over her shoulder. “Why do you think she did that?”

Luna shrugged. “Either she missed us as she said, or perhaps it was as a trophy.”

“It all feels so strange, Lulu,” Celestia replied, her voice barely a whisper. “I was lying on my bed and when I closed my eyes I could almost fool myself that this was just a bad dream. But when I look out the window…” A shiver went through her body. “And it’s all so…different. Is this how it was for you?”

“At times, yes,” Luna said wistfully, head resting on her hooves. “Sometimes at night I would fly over Canterlot and Equestria, like I used to do before my…my first banishment,” She winced slightly as she corrected herself.

“I recall, you used to love those night trips of yours,”

A smile graced both their faces briefly. “I did, but you remember that not long after I returned I came barging into your room one night crying,”

“You were so adorable, hysterical as everything, but the little filly look suited you, brought back good memories. I thought you were having a nightmare?”

“Even though I was still weak at the time I had convinced a couple of the night guard to sneak me out on a chariot. I wanted to go on a midnight flight again, but even though I knew the view would be different…I wasn’t prepared, seeing it. Seeing the lights of the cities blanketing the ground, it drilled how far removed I was from everything I had known.”

A comforting white wing, a soft warmth radiating off it, wrapped around her as Luna leaned against her sister as they looked out over the city. “The only things that were the same were my room and you, you helped me to adjust to a world that had moved on without me.”

“Only now the world moved on without us Tia.”

“I know Lulu, what do you make of-“

“Twilight?” Luna cut in, raising an eyebrow a she pulled away slightly.

“Well I was going to say everything but that works.”

Rolling her eyes Luna settled back in. “I don’t know Tia, she’s certainly done better than I would in her horseshoes. Maybe better than both of us.”

“Maybe,” Celestia mused, as they settled into a relaxing silence, both lost in thought.

Sometime later Luna felt Celestia shift her wing uncomfortably. “What’s wrong Tia?”

“Can we trust her?”

“You’d know better than I, sister.”

The white alicorn was quiet for a moment. “I don’t know if I do, Lulu. So much about her is different, that confidence, that arrogance.

Twilight didn’t possess anything like that, she certainly never threatened anypony.”

“She’s not Twilight, not the one we remember,” Well not that my memory is so fantastic right now.

“But at the same time…”

“She’s similar, but that’s it Tia. Trust me, Twilight is gone,”

“I’m not entirely sure, I did some research with this…device she gave us. I…I think she might be telling the truth, if anything she’s certainly not under the Nightmare’s thrall.”

Luna looked up at her sister, Celestia was looking down at her with an uneasy look in her eye.

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because she let us go.”

A silence overwhelmed them, rolling over the pair of sisters as it dragged the conversation away. Not sure what to say they remained silent, each lost in their thoughts.

“Tia, what do you think of these devices?” Luna asked, breaking the quiet.

Celestia looked off in thought for a few moments. “They’re certainly interesting, annoying at times but certainly interesting. Why?”

“I was thinking, the last time I woke up from banishment, progress had begun to take its strides, much to my embarrassment,” She said, electing a giggle from her sister.

“I remember, you almost set the kitchens on fire trying to make popcorn.”

“Hush, we agreed to never speak of that again,” Luna said, swatting Celestia on the nose with her hoof, a small grin appearing on their faces for a second. “As I was saying, things had changed, new technologies that baffled me for months on end. I have been awake for barely a day and yet I am beginning to use this Interface as if I had possessed it for years.”

“Really? I could barely navigate the search function. Welcome had to help me with most of my research.”

“I’m not going to lie Tia, it’s worrying me.”

Celestia looked at her sister with some confusion. “So what, you're mastering new technology faster than usual? If I recall correctly you took to modern photography rather well, besides the device appears to operate on mental impulses, an area that you have some skill in.”

“Perhaps. You might be right but you didn’t have Twilight digging around in your head,” Luna replied, glaring out at the city. “I did my own research Tia, I have a suspicion that my adjustments to this age of information isn’t all my own doing.”

“You think she’s implanted the knowledge into you?”

“I don’t know and I suspect I won’t ever know until it is deemed right to tell me.”

“Sister, I am so sorry. I can only begin to imagine what you might be feeling right now. To wonder if your actions are even your own,” A shudder ran across Celestia’s body before she pulled her little sister in closer reflexively. “Do you suppose she made it up, the reason for going into your mind in the first place?”

“No,” Luna replied, causing Celestia to raise an eyebrow in shock. “Truthfully, I feel better now, confused and bitter as I am, than I have in centuries.“

“Tia, for the first time in my life I feel free,” A smile slowly spread across the blue alicorn’s face as she lifted herself up, held herself a little taller. “I can think and not have to force myself to stay away from darker pastures.”

“And yet you feel angry at Twilight for making you doubt yourself,” Celestia said, watching her sister slump forward.

“I can taste the freedom sister, I know I have paid dearly for it and subsequently forgotten why.”

Celestia rubbed her wing across her sister in a comforting fashion. “We’ll get through this together Luna.”

“I don’t know Tia, a part of me...I don’t know. It feels as if a part of me is missing.” Luna sighed. “Funny thing though, I don’t know if I want it back.”

“So what do we do now?”

Luna looked over her shoulder at her sister, raising an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“Well...what do you think we should do with ourselves? It’s not like we’ve any important duties.” Celestia said, fidgeting slightly as a look of unease crossed her face.

The look didn’t go unnoticed by her sister. “I suppose we do what we feel is right Tia, what do you want to do?” She said as she ran a hoof over her sisters wing.

“I don’t know, it’s been a while since I had to worry about any responsibilities. Strange as it sounds I don’t think I’m going to enjoy retirement. What about you Lulu?”

Luna went quiet as she ran the idea over in her mind. “I honestly haven’t given it much thought, been a bit preoccupied. Though now that you mention it...actually forget it,” She said, blushing and turning away slightly.

“What?” Celestia asked, a grin on her face. “What are you thinking?”

“Well you know how Twilight and Welcome mentioned that they could control biology now right?”

“Yes?”

“And how they could create bodies?”

“Yes?”

“Well I just thought of it, but maybe there might be a...stallion...who can, you know, keep up with us…” Luna mumbled as Celestia burst out laughing.

“Really Luna? That’s the first thing you think of?” Celestia said between bursts of laughter.

“Oh stop it, I recall you wearing out your entire guard when the mood took you,” Luna retorted, giggling as Celestia’s face went red with embarrassment. “Why if anything I suspect that such a search would be at the top of your list!”

“Well at least I never bedded Sombra.” Celestia teased back as Luna gasped.

“Oh well if that’s how you want to play, at least I never woke up all of Canterlot with my screaming.”

Giggling furiously Celestia leaned on the balcony to support herself. “The look your face when you...barged in…” She said, panting for breath.

“I know, I thought you were being murdered.” Luna said as she laughed with her sister. “You were just being stabbed,”

“Oh that reminds me of the time Twilight…” Celestia began, trailing off as she mentioned her former student.

Looking at each other as the laughter drained away, the sisters sighed and leaned closer together.

Well that killed the mood. Luna thought to herself as she suppressed a snort with little success.

“What?” Celestia asked.

“Stabbed,” Luna replied with a smile.

“Oh shut it,” Her sister responded, swatting her on the nose.

Still smiling Luna shook her head. “I don’t know Tia, honestly I just want to get away from here.”

“Get away? Why, this is our home...Luna?” Celestia asked, concerned.

“I...there just too many bad memories here sister. Maybe this was meant to be, a real chance to start fresh, for both of us.”

“But this is our home Luna, you can’t just leave so soon.”

“This isn’t just for me sister, I’ll finally be out of your hair...at least for a while. I just need some space, some time away.”

Celestia’s wings dropped slightly as she hung her head. “I’m sorry if I-”

“No, sister, I am. I just can’t be apart of...this,” Luna replied, waving her hoof across the skyline. “You know better than anypony why.”

“That’s in the past Luna, you can’t keep beating yourself up over it. Let it go.”

“I am Celestia, maybe it’s time you let go of me.”

Breaking away from her sister, Luna pushed herself over the lip of the balcony, spreading her wings and taking to the sky.

“Luna!” Celestia shouted, preparing to take off after her. “Where are you going?”

An icon popped up in her vision, a message from Luna.

-I need to take in the city sister, a flight will help clear my head. You are welcome to join me. - Luna sent, hovering in the air as she looked back at her sister. –But I suspect you won’t find the view to your liking. –

“...you’re all I have left.” Celestia whispered in the night air, her body seeming to shrink in on itself.

-I know.-

The sisters looked at each other across the divide, the cool night air blowing between them as the stared at each other. For a second Celestia tensed, almost ready to take to the skies after her sister, only to relax her muscles and look away as Luna banked toward the lights of the city. In a matter of seconds she was gone.

Luna didn’t begrudge her sister for staying behind, she knew all too well what was going through her head.

Maybe I should stay and comfort her? She thought to herself, quickly dismissing the thought as a fast moving metallic object barrelled past her at high speed, its lights blinding her. Luna tucked her wings in and rolled in the air, the craft narrowly missing her. Her vision still blurry Luna reacted on instinct and threw up a shield around herself as a fast moving metallic object swerved around her, clipping her shield.

What in Tartarus! Luna thought to herself as she dived towards the roof tops beneath her, the blue sheen of her shield distorting the lights around her.

A flicker of red and blue appeared in the distance, her overlay quickly magnified her vision to reveal they were a trio of metal automata that her Interface I.D as security drones. Alighting on the roof top Luna dropped her shield and waited for the drones to arrive.

No sense in making them chase me. She thought to herself as they rapidly zoomed towards her.

However to her surprise the trio of drones speed past her silently, almost too fast for her to see. Their red and blue field blurring
as they banked downwards into the city. Curious, Luna stretched her wings to take off after them when a roaring boom ripped over head from nowhere, the sound causing her to flinch and drop to the ground again.

That…that was a Sonic Rainboom? Where's the color? She thought, confused but still determined to explore the city around her. Taking wing again, though with significantly more caution this time around as her overlay suggested she use the flying lanes around the city.

Now you tell me.

Looking out over the roof top and down into the city streets Luna watched as her vision filled with blinking icons, many advertisements for local business. Scowling, Luna mentally brushed them aside and watched as Pegasus’s zipped along in-between the traffic and buildings, never rising up much higher than a few of the billboards that stood atop the towering sky scrapers. All above her a blanket of lights soared, intermixing with the stars of what was once her night sky as commuters used the higher air and wider space to quickly speed over the city below.

Fascinated by the spectacle of lights, Luna dipped down into general traffic, ignoring the many puzzled looks she received as she flew along.

Wow, so many lights, so much electronic chatter….how does anypony sleep? She thought bewildered as she cleared her vision of the translucent add screen for a third time in the past few minutes. A loud honking noise brought her attention back to reality as she quickly realised she was heading for a collision with a rather large craft, helpfully ID’d as a freight truck. A flashing array of yellow and red warned her that the vehicle was suffering braking issues, the overlay advising her to seek safety. The lumbering behemoth slowly began to turn as it hurtled towards her, a bright blue sheen firing from underneath as the driver desperately tried to slow down to no avail.

Nimbly dodging the craft Luna spun herself around just in time to watch as the truck scrapped one of the billboard projectors, the holographic screen flickering as the emitter fell away from the building with a shower of sparks towards the scattering crowd below. The truck shuddered as it hit the building and spun in the air, the blue light underneath the craft fluttered and died, following the emitter.

Ahh crud.

Looking up at the falling truck, a small earth pony filly stood watching paralysed with fear, a horrified expression on her face as the sparking metal craft fell towards her. Nearby her mother screamed, trying to fight the panicked crowd as they swept her away.
Already diving, Luna speed ahead of the falling tube her horn lighting with a blue glow as she wrapped her telekinesis around the emitter and runaway truck, landing above the filly. Shielding the filly with her body, Luna looked up at the falling metal, wrecked emitter and damaged truck faintly glowing blue as Luna focused her concentration. Beneath her the filly gasped, her expression quickly changing from fear to awe as alicorn’s horn glowed bright for a second, the falling emitter and truck coming to a grinding halt.

Slowly moving the objects through the air to give the crowd time to move, Luna placed them on the ground and turned to the filly between her legs.

“Are you okay?” Luna asked, giving the filly a smile as she reached for her.

The filly stared at her with an open mouth as one of Luna’s hooves wrapped around her and gently scooped her up. “Woh,” She mumbled.

Luna giggled slightly as she looked around for the filly’s mother, spotting her as she wrenched herself free from the gathering wall of onlookers with a cry. Rushing over she snatched her filly from Luna’s hooves, alternating between smothering the filly in kisses and spewing thanks at the alicorn.

Blushing slightly Luna couldn’t help but notice as the crowd began whispering among themselves, her hearing picking up fragments of what they were saying.

“Is th-“

“….una?”

“Did you see that?”

“….ved that fil-“

“What’s Princess Lun-“

“…en Twilight’s idea?”

“Is the filly okay?”

“What happe…ruck….hat Luna?”

Suddenly the filly’s mother went still as she slowed down enough to actually look at the mare who saved her daughter. Her mouth making an O shape as she took an involuntary step backwards before blushing in embarrassment.

“I, um, thank you, Miss Luna,” She muttered as she nodded her head.

“It was nothing, just doing my duty,” Luna replied as the crowd broke into an applause.

Looking around Luna watched as the crowd cheered her name, a drone caught her eye as it zipped over the heads of the onlookers, rushing up to her.

“Well done Miss Luna, well done! A fantastic comeback indeed!” The little metal disc shaped drone nattered as its field flashed a dizzying mix of blues, greens and yellows. “Siv Breblok, journalist with The Star News, at your service.”

“Pleased to make your acquaintance Master Drone,” Luna said as the drone frittered around her like a blowfly, reviewing its credentials as she tracked its movements.

“Ah that old world charm, real breath of nostalgia, would you be willing to answer a few questions? I’m sure all these good people have questions and I’m the drone to ask them,” Siv replied as the crowd parted way for a pair of equestrians, one a unicorn and the other a changeling dressed in white and blue.

“Who are they?” Luna asked a second before her overlay provided the answer, identifying them as police officers with the central Canterlot PD. “Never mind, better question-“

“Why’s one a changeling?” Siv finished.

“Precisely.”

The disc shaped drone floated in the air, making small rapid adjustments as police walked over. “Big history Miss Luna, maybe you should take a trip over to the History Museum. Officers, how nice of you to show up.” It called out.

“History museum?” Luna asked, accessing the city tourism page.

Established circa 297 TR (Twilight Reign) at the behest of Her Majesty, the museum was constructed with the goal of ensuring that the public never forgets the sacrifices made in the journey that has forged our Imperium. Though the content was highly controversial in nature with the Parliamentary Cabinet of the time (and remains so at times with the larger galactic community) , given that the exhibits at times paint Her Majesty (and by extension our Imperium) in a very poor moral light.

Ignoring the advice of even her most trusted ministers Her Majesty personally oversaw the building’s construction. Ensuring it would be ready for the public within a month of it’s completion. When questioned on why she would allow, let alone personally assist in the construction of what has become a national monument to her own failures and mistakes Her Majesty responded with this:

‘You are correct when you say it is a monument to my failings, it stands so that none may forget that I am not infallible. Least of all myself. The museum stands so that I may never experience the luxury of forgetting what I have done to reach this place. Is that a sufficient answer?’

Ever since then Queen Twilight has reserved one day out of every year at the Museum, from sunrise to moonset she shuts herself in. To date she has never missed a day.

“Excuse me Miss Luna? You’re free to go.” The voice of one of the police officers cut through her thoughts, the unicorn officer she noted. The changeling was over by the crowds talking to the mother, the sight of it was so alien to her.

Comparatively for her, yesterday she would have smoted the bug where it stood for approaching one of her ponies. And yet here one was, talking to the crowd wearing as it wore a uniform, like it was nothing at all.

For them it is nothing though. She thought to herself as the changeling officer turned it’s head towards her, it’s large blue eyes tracking her warily as it shuffled nervously. It suddenly occurred to Luna that she had been staring rather intently at the poor bug, causing her to break eye contact with her own nervous shuffling and mumbled apologies.

The unicorn officer cleared his throat for a third time.

“Huh?” Luna muttered as she shook her head slightly. “Sorry I thought you’d want to speak to me about…” Looking around to find the crashed truck Luna was momentarily startled to find to sign of it. Even the broken emitter had been repaired, an add for a some soft drink scrolling lazily across the projected screen.

“Canterlot’s taken care of everything Miss Luna, have a nice day.” The officer said rather icily as he left with partner.

Turning to the little metal disc next to her Luna pointed at the now fixed emitter and the location where the truck had crashed. “Explain?” She asked in a pleading tone. “How long was I spaced out?”

Giving the mechanical equivalent of a shrug the drone displayed a timer on it’s field. “Only about half a minute. The city is very efficient when it comes to cleaning up mess. So how about that interview?”

“Maybe another time,” Luna said, backing away slowly as the drone somehow managed to look disappointed. She had no idea how it was managing it, it not having a face and all, but it was doing quite well.

“I see. In that case don’t hesitate to look me up when you want a respected news source to air your side of the story.”

“Thank y- what do you mean by ‘air my side of the story’.”

Again she didn’t know how it managed it but Luna could swear the drone was giving her the machine equivalent to a grin as it prompted her to look over her shoulder.

“Paparazzi,” It said, slipping its contact details into her inbox.

Following the drone’s prompting Luna slowly looked over her shoulder, blinking lights reflecting off the glass buildings as a seething wall of tiny drones hovered behind her, tiny lights blinking off their hulls.

How did I not see this coming...

For a second everything was still, then like the breaking of the tide the wall caved in and rushed towards her. A sea of lights and voices drowning her as she tried to stumble away.

“Is it true you eat the souls of children to stay looking younger than your sister?”

“Breaking news, you eat children, how do you respond?”

“Torrid photos taken earlier this very day suggesting you and your sister are in an incesutous relationship-”

“Rumours just in, you and your sister are an item, how does this affect your relationship with Twilight Sparkle?

“According to my sources Queen Twilight and yourself are in a affair, does Celestia know?”

“Why did you trade up? Is Princest not wincest?”

“Reports from castle officials who wish to remain anonymous confirm that you shared a tender moment with Celestia before coming into the city. Are you back together?”

“Princess Luna, is the dream real? Is Princest back?”

Siv chuckled, enjoying dumbfounded look on Luna’s face as it speed away.

“Get. Away. From. ME.” A loud voice boomed, planes of glass rattling from the force.

Siv paused momentarily, stunned, as a bright silver light burst out from beneath the swarm of tiny drones, sending them scattering as a dark blue blur rocketed into the sky. Stabilizing itself, Siv tried to track the fast moving alicorn before she vanished in a flash of light.
Looking around as the paparazzi drones began picking themselves up it let loose a little burst of static, the machine equivalent of a chortle and left.

“That one’s gonna be interesting to watch.”

Luna tilted her wings back, slowing down as she looked around for signs of pursuit.

-No need for that Miss Luna.- A voice interjected in her mind, a tiny star symbol popping up in her lower peripheral.

-Who are you?- Luna asked, slowing down to a leisurely glide.

-Take a look, I am all around you my dear.-

Scanning the horizon Luna could see the twinkling lights of the city stretched out before her in all directions.

-Canterlot? I read that cities were run by AI, pleasure to meet you.- She sent, equal parts intrigued to be conversing with the AI and uncomfortable that the city was talking to her. In her mind she was still reconciling her image of Canterlot as a relatively small mountain city with the sprawling, intelligent mega city beneath her.

-The pleasure is all mine Miss Luna, I understand if this may be slightly uncomfortable for you.-

-Only slightly.- Luna sent back. -So you are in charge of everything that goes on in the city?-

-Indeed, effectively I am the city Mayor, it’s council and public services rolled into one. Very efficient that way, no mess no fuss.- Canterlot replied, it’s voice fading into a male sounding baritone, deep and strong like the mountain at it’s core.

-Fascinating, what did you mean when you said ‘no need for that’?-

-You were checking for signs of pursuit, I took it as an opportunity to both intervene and introduce myself.-

-Intervene?-

-You won’t be having anymore paparazzi troubles if I can help it. I gave them a stern talking to.-

-I’m sure they were emotional wrecks,- Luna sent back.

-I can’t however control what they say, and my influence only extends to this city. I’ll put in a good word with my fellow overseers but that’s up to them.-

-I’m sure I can handle a few unfavorable articles, I'm a big girl.-

-Of course Miss Luna, just letting you know. Is there anything I can help with in any way. It is my pleasure to assist a figure such as yourself.- The AI asked, a sincere tone in it’s voice.

-Can you point me towards the History Museum?- Luna replied, a seconds later a bright green line sprung into view just below her, sharply veering to the right. Luna banked tightly, setting herself on a course following the green line.

-Anything else? I can recommend a very nice selection of entertainment establishments that can cater to any taste you may possess.-

-Thank you but I’m not very much interested.- She sent back, a quick look at her travel timer showing that at her current speed she would reach her destination would take half an hour.

She could go faster and cut it down to a couple minutes but as she looked around her at the city below she decided to enjoy the view and take the scenic route as it were.

-Any chance of me being hit by a truck or drone?- Luna quickly sent to the city, her close calls not a few minutes earlier fresh in her mind.

-None, I’ve devoted a couple of traffic subroutines to keeping your air space clean. My apologies about earlier, I was rather engrossed in a theoretical logistical problem. Running the city on autopilot, I wasn’t anticipating you to be out here so soon.-

-I see,- Luna sent, no idea what a subroutine was. Must be some sort of servant. -Can you answer a couple of my questions?-

-Ask away.-

-Forgive me if this comes off as rude, but how exactly do I address you?-

-As in title? I suppose you could use overseer if you wished, a bit pretentious for my tastes though.-

-Ah no, I meant as in what you are. He She it, that sort of thing.-

-Oh, pronoun usage. I can see how that would be confusing, don’t worry it’s a common occurrence when we introduce ourselves to barbarians.-

-Thanks?- Did it just insult me?

-Whatever works for you Miss Luna, personally I don’t identify as anything but if it makes me easier to comprehend my avatar is usually male unless otherwise requested.-

Luna scanned the horizon as Canterlot talked, as she was looking a fast moving object rocketed up from the streets below, a hazy blue afterglow trailing behind it.

-How do those craft fly?- She asked, the thought popping into her head suddenly. -Some sort of levitation spell?-

-AG strips built into the chassis of the vehicles, drones use a similar technology built into field projectors . Surely this was explained to you? The ships use a similar low grade propulsion system to keep their effective mass down.-

-AG? Not really, Welcome was busy trying to make us feel comfortable while she gave us a crash course on how to use the interface.-

-Really, it didn’t cover any of the cultural or technological differences at all. Oh dear…- The AI replied, sounding more than a little incredulous. -It settled for a two bit communications course?-

-Ah not particularly, it err she discussed the rules my sister and I had to abide by. No interfering with planetary rotation or something like that, Celestia didn’t really understand it the first time so Welcome made some small scale demonstrations. It was rather fun.-

The AI sighed. -Well I do suppose you have all the time in the world to research. As you were asking earlier, Anti-gravity. Derived from a combination of ancient levitation spells and an in depth understanding of how gravity functions in four dimensional space.-

A tiny beep alerted Luna to a message in her inbox from Canterlot, a web link to the Royal Ministry of Knowledge's webpage on applied gravity theory.

-For your reading pleasure, just for future reference the RMoK has a comprehensive database of information for public consumption.-

-I know, Welcome gave us a quick run down of it’s services. To confess the whole concept, unnerves me.-

-Really?- The AI asked, intrigued. -What about it?-

-All this knowledge is so accessible, some of this could be very dangerous in the wrong hooves.- Luna scrolled down through the index.

-Already I can see three different magic rituals that are just begging to cause trouble.-

-Ah, no need to worry we take every precaution. Most information that could be used in a dangerous manner is monitored by E.I.S. The rituals only contain the surface knowledge, anything actually needed to work them are kept under ‘lock and key’ as it were.-

-Ice?-

-E. I. S. Equestrian Internal Security, the intelligence service.-

-Intelligence service? I assume they fill the role similar to the spies my sister and I had in our times?- Luna replied, a tingling feeling in the back of her skull. I know that name, how...

-Similar though on a much broader and nuanced level, officially they only operate within Imperial boundaries. They do the dirty things Her Majesty requires, ideally they keep all this going. Unofficially they work out on the galactic stage, if the Exploratory fleets are our benevolent interfering paws, E.I.S are the talons. Not that there's any proof, of course.-

Luna chuckled. -Of course, so what else do they do?-

-I can’t say.-

-Classified?-

-Can’t say.- Canterlot replied with a chuckle of it’s own.

-I’m sensing a pattern here.- Luna sent. -Canterlot can I ask you a question? About E.I.S?-

-You can, but I might not have an answer.-

-Were they involved in my, operation?- She asked tenderly, the sense of niggling deja vu fading.

The AI was quiet for a few seconds. -I don’t know Miss Luna, it’s quite likely but I can’t find any signs. Though that’s not too surprising if they were, I could ask around if you want.-

Luna scowled. -No need, it probably doesn’t matter.- I already know they were, I don’t know how...but they were.

-What’s this about, if you don’t mind me asking?-

-Nothing important...Canterlot does the ship Welcome have any ties to E.I.S?-

-Give me a moment, I assume you want this done quietly?-

-Please.-

-Very well, give me a second to harden this com line.-

A sharp high pitched keening sound blared for a second causing Luna to flinch, the sound passing as quickly as it came. -Thank you, Canterlot.- She sent. Some warning would have been nice.

-No trouble, this com isn’t impenetrable but it would be impossible for it to be bugged without my knowledge. If you would excuse me for a few minutes while I see what I can dig up.-

-Again thank you.-

True to it’s word the AI went quiet, taking the time to think Luna pondered why she was trusting the machine so much. Tumbling the issue around in her mind as she glided silently over the twinkling city below, and though her mind was still numb as it adjusted to her situation she couldn’t help but be inspired by the view beneath her. The lights of the city painting an awe inspiring picture across the canvas of the world.

There’s space for ten Manehattens down there, and it’s all alive...I was literally talking to the city, the city! To think I ever considered Canterlot impressive before, this is a whole other level, at least it seems to be friendly. Though for or all I know it could be working for this, E.I.S. I have to admit, this is a very nice view...I wonder if this counts a voyeurism? I am looking at the city naked.

She chuckled at the idea.

-Naturally I assume there’s no important reason you want this information.- The AI eventually messaged her, a joking tone in it’s deep voice. Luna reflected that it sounded eerily similar to a great dragon, one centuries old and brim with knowledge.

She wondered what had become of those great creatures, they barely had tolerated her and her sister and only because they had agreed to not interfere with the other’s domains. Twilight’s domain however covered everything.

-I asked around and while it’s nothing official, it never is with these machines, Welcome was rather friendly once upon a time with a ship by the name of Gracious Goodness Me. Gracious was part of the Exploration fleet a few years back and according to gossip was loosely affiliated with E.I.S. Thing is Gracious went off the grid last year and has yet to pop back up. Common thought is that it’s working a covert operation somewhere. Personally I think she was it’s handler, or at least was responsible for convincing it to go dark.-

Thought so… -Thanks, so on a more personal note what do you think about E.I.S?-

-I’m ambivalent, understand Miss Luna that my first priority is to my citizens. So long as E.I.S keep their shenanigans off my planet I’m okay, on a professional level I can respect their job.-

-I sense a but in there.-

-However I find their methods to be morally and ethically distasteful. It’s not E.I.S entirely but their problem solving division, they call it Unforeseen Complications.- The AI replied, a touch of scorn in it’s voice.

-Now that sounds ominous.-

-It’s supposed too. Never has there been a more secretive and duplicitous lot of AI, Miss Luna if you have found yourself caught in one of their webs you won’t even know it until you are too trapped to get out.-

A shiver ran down Luna’s spine. Like a fly caught in a spider’s web. -I see, and how does Twilight factor into these...schemes.-

-It varies.- Canterlot replied bitterly. -Some times she has no idea what’s happening until it’s over. Other time’s she’s the spider who wove the web. Listen Miss Luna, I don’t know what they want from you but the only way out of this is to finish it and for all their...despicable methods they do have the best interests of the Imperium at heart. And Miss Luna, these are patient forces you are working with, I have known them to be content to sit on a situation for decades until the conditions are just right. Whatever they need from you, they will get, it’s only a matter of time.-

A cold sweat broke out across her back as she soared across the night sky, her mouth suddenly feeling dry as she gulped down a breath of cool air. -And if I refuse to be anyone’s pawn?-

-I think we both know that’s impossible.- Canterlot replied, a tone of sincere sorrow in his voice.

She couldn’t deny it, whether it was her own curiosity drawing her on, the barest hint of a mystery igniting something predatory within her. Or whether it was whatever subtle machinations Twilight had written into her psyche forcing her to obey, Luna found that she was eager to find out how deep this rabbit hole went.

-What do you recommend I do then?- She asked, the city below her humming. The flowing billboards displaying ads for faraway planets, fabulous resorts and cultural relics of ancient civilizations.

-Take a vacation?- Canterlot replied, a weak chuckle accompany the joke.

Luna was not amused, rolling her eyes as she groaned.

-Sorry, poor taste. Listen I have some friends with E.I.S, I can ask them to consider matching you with a ship I trust to at least know will have your back.-

-Thanks, what’s this ship like?-

-An eccentric scoundrel with a flare for the dramatic coupled with a heart of gold and an iron clad, if narrow, code of honor. Fancies itself a sort of super spy gentleman adventurer. All in a rather nice chap, it’s not a bleeding edge ship but it keeps itself in shape.-

-Sounds interesting I suppose, does it have a name?- Luna asked.

-Sufficiently vague and suitably ominous though it’s avatar goes by Skybound. It likes to separate itself from the avatar on a personal level, says it makes them more real as an entity. Makes it easier to interact with people it claims, I think it misses the point of avatars but it’s a matter of preference.-

-Do any of your ships name themselves properly?- Luna groaned.

-And what is a proper name for a ship in your mind?-

-I don’t know, something with a bit more gravitas certainly.-

The AI chortled back at her. -Trust me, you can tell a lot about an AI by it’s name. Think of them as cutie marks if you would, a symbol of how we chose to define ourselves. I've meet some ships who chose more...grandiose titles.-

-And what are they like?-

-Douche nozzles each and every one. In the entire fleets I have only meet three ships who properly possess the maturity to hold a title proportional to their egos.-

-I...see.- Luna replied, banking slightly in the air as the line curved around a building. As she scanned the view she noticed a rather large forest park, unlike the other parks she had flown across this one was significantly larger. Acting on a hunch she flipped herself around in the air, looking back at the distant mountain.

I wonder… Luna thought to herself as she mentally gauged the distances between the mountain and the park. Casting her mind back she tried to remember the lay of the land before Twilight imprisoned her, trying to focus through the grey fog.

In her minds eye time flowed backwards as she imagined the city receding, the land flourished green and wild as the marks of progress faded away. The mega city shrank into a bustling metropolis, then into a fledgling settlement. Luna watched as groups of dirty ponies labored on the foundations that would form the beginnings of the city, turning in the air she looked over the land. Off in the distance a great forest spread across the horizon, a familiar shining citadel poking above the trees in distance.

Too far back. She thought, trying to focus on a specific time period. The scene began to speed up and before her eyes the forest was cut down as simple roads began to snake their way into the forest, the citadel crumbled and a great migration of ponies poured along the roads.

Looking back at the mountain, Luna watched as a castle was constructed and the city began to mature, a seed that would one day bloom into a great flower. As she watched the roads were improved and what remained of the forest was split as a smaller settlement began to form not far from the mountain. One portion of the forest became darker and more wild, as if it resented the encroaching ponies, the other portion becoming placid and gentle.

Luna smiled, pausing the scene as she let reality fade back into view, she had her answer.

-Canterlot, that park wouldn't happen to be Whitetail woods?- She asked, already knowing that it was.

A blue tag popped up above the park. Whitetail reserve park. -Indeed it is, a rather charming place.-

The landscape below her suddenly was outlined in bright blue lines, only a comparatively small sector relative to the sprawling city. Though that didn’t say much when the area in question was easily the two thirds the size of Fillydelphia.

-This is the Ponyville sector.- The AI said, a touch of pride in it’s voice.

Luna tilted her wings as swooped down to get a closer look. The small town she had once visited had been completely replaced, even from her vantage point she couldn't see any sign of the once humble hamlet. A sense of profound melancholy flowed through her as the sheer scale of change, how alien her world had become, was presented to her. Ever since she had seen Equis hanging in the sky she had know, but it was only now that she felt it.

Deep inside though she couldn't help but feel a sense of betrayal, was it not enough that Twilight had taken her throne but had that she had to take the homes of her friends? That she had to change it into something so foreign that the very concept of itself was alien and unrecognizable from what it once was?

But the thought passed a quickly as it came, the spark of anger burnt out. She could not blame Twilight, too much time had passed and she could not fault her for submitting to the march of progress. In fact if she was being honest with herself she had to admit the inexorable tide of innovation had already begun under Celestia’s reign, it had only been a matter of time before her world had become like this. Those seeds her sister had sown had only found greater nourishment under Twilight’s watchful gaze.

A shudder ran through her. It’s just so...I don’t know what I was expecting. She thought, memories of the brief time she had spent with the ponies who had once lived there stirring through the fog. How silly I acted back then, trying to cancel Nightmare Night...I wonder if they even remember what Nightmare Night is?

-Impressive.- Luna replied, shaking her head as she slowly brushed the sadness aside. -I am, happy to see Ponyville has come such a long way from it’s humble roots.-

If the AI noticed her discomfort it didn’t say so. -The museum is just ahead, I’ll talk with my contacts at E.I.S on your behalf.-

-Thank you, but I don’t see why you are helping me? What’s in it for you?-

-It’s who I am Miss Luna, It’s my responsibility to help all citizens to the best of my abilities. I would do the same for anyone in your position.- The AI rumbled, it’s deep voice calm and reassuring. -And even if it wasn’t I would still be helping you.-

-Why? We only just met.-

-Not quite, to you I am just a computer who runs a city. But I think of myself as the city, I AM Canterlot, you and your sister founded this city. I may have only known Her Majesty as my ruler but this city used to be yours, I respect that.-

For a few seconds Luna was silent, unsure how to respond. -If that’s the case you owe me nothing machine.- Luna sent, a bitter taste on her tongue.

-I beg your pardon?- Canterlot replied, confused and somewhat hurt by her reply.

-I never owned this city, before my first imprisonment it was a mere outpost, a simple town. I had nothing to do with it’s construction and even less interest. When I returned it was the seat of my sister’s power, I never held sway here.- She sent, unable to bring herself to look back at the castle as the fog parted and painful memories began to dredge themselves from the recesses of her mind.

-Very well then, if that is how you see things then consider my aid an offering of friendship. A welcome back gift.- The lights of the city below her twinkled in the night air as Luna drifted along silently, only half hearing the AI.

Slowly the grey fog reasserted itself, the memories slipping from her grasp. A small part of her was sad to feel them go but for the first time she felt grateful for it’s presence even as she forgot was she was trying to remember.

-Miss Luna?-

Luna slowed her descent as the blue outlines faded away and the city once again shone through. Taking the time to actually look around without worrying about being hit by a flying truck she couldn't help but to smile as she watched her reflection bend and warp as it passed over the glass windows. Indulging her inner foal she stuck her tongue out and pulled a silly face, giggling as she flew over a bend in the tower and her face suddenly blooming to many times it’s size, exaggerating the effect.

-Thank you for your help Canterlot, I think I can take it from here.- She sent back, her dour mood fading away as her curiosity came back.

No doubt who ever is in there will be scratching their heads. She thought as she giggled, banking away from the tower.

-Glad to be of service, and Miss Luna? Good luck.- The AI sent back, it’s deep voice doing a poor job of masking it’s concern. The com made a clicking sound and went dead before Luna could respond.

The thin green line she was following curved down towards a rather prominent building, it’s sides illuminated by flowing ribbons of purple light. As she flew around to the entrance Luna noted that the courtyard had a sculpted metal statue of a strangely familiar tree. Bright lights filled the whole space with light, the tree casting shadows every which way into the empty courtyard.

The cool breeze ruffled her wing feathers as she gently touched down at the base of the stairs that lead up into the large expansive courtyard that dominated the space in front of the museum. Climbing the stairs Luna looked around at the city, marveling at the way the reflections shifted along the glass. As ads for various goods played along the sides of the towers Luna turned her attention to the metal sculpture, the way the long spindly branches swayed in the breeze gave it an eerie sense of life. As she approached it Luna half expected the sculpture come alive, but it simply swayed forlornly, a faint high pitched rattling sound only helping to reinforce the strange sense of deja vu she felt.

A Library Remembered.

Burnished steel wrought by magic into the likeness of the late Golden Oaks, made eternal by the touch of Her Majesty. Just as the Museum reminds us of the actions of Her Majesty, it is the hope of the artist that his statue will help to remind us that even in loss we find something beautiful.

Presented to the Imperial History Museum 241 TR by Burnt Teal.

Looking back up at the statue a spark of recognition jolted through Luna’s mind and the fog parted.

“This was her tree...of course.” I remember seeing this on my passover, Nightmare Night.

Taking a few steps back Luna reexamined the metal tree, the sense of eerie familiarity dismissed. Studying it for a few moments she had to admit that once you grew accustomed to the sound it made, the sculpture was rather nice to look at. However she wasn't here to look at art and her gaze drew itself to the towering building.

Unlike the graceful towers surrounding it the museum was rather foreboding, looking much like a large white block of stone. The entrance a large pair of gold doors wreathed in winding pattern of black lines, pinpoints of white twinkled within like the stars in the sky above her.

It looks more like a tomb than a museum. Luna thought to herself as she moved towards it.

As if sensing her presence, which it may well have, the double doors glided open silently to reveal a wall of blackness. Instantly Luna could tell it wasn’t natural as a feeling of power all too familiar ran through her. Twilight had enchanted this doorway, no light would pierce it.

Swallowing a feeling of dread she hadn’t noticed building Luna felt as if a pit had opened beneath her. Inside that building, she knew, was the beginning to of path that would lead her far away from here. Instinctively she knew that she was being given a choice, a last chance to back away from whatever Twilight had planned for her.

Briefly she contemplated it, the thought of walking away. She could stay here with her sister, together they would support each other as they made sense of the strange world they had been thrusted into. Together they would adapt and grow, love and play as sisters for the first time since they were foals, carefree again. Maybe this experience would finally heal the gulf between them, let her finally come to terms with what she had done. Let them both let go of the past, not having to look to the future, at last free.

She would never find the answers to her questions, perhaps in time she would forget them. Settle for a calm and relaxing life, content with not knowing.

But she knew that would never happen, the question of what had been done to her, just how much of her was still her...it would haunt her dreams. Always on the corner of her conscious, whispering to her until she broke down, begging Twilight for the truth. Even now she didn't know if the curiosity flowing through her, the lure of the unknown calling it's sweet siren's song, irresistible and tantalizingly seductive, if that feeling was her own. It was a taste so sweet, a drug that called to her, pleaded with her, taunted her and whispered in her ear like a lover. If she wanted all her answers were just, around, the corner.

All she had to do was follow the path, and Luna knew once she started chasing that lure, seeking the answers to questions that even after one day already were driving her mad, she would run all the way across the galaxy and back. Chances were she wouldn't see her sister for a long time, and when they finally meet again she didn't know if she would be the same.

She didn't even know who she currently was.

Luna closed her eyes, and let the night air fill her lungs as she stretched her neck towards the sky and exhaled, slowly opening her gaze to the sky above. Hanging above her in all it's glory was her moon, only the pride she once felt towards it now felt...hollow, like the heart had been scoped out of it.

She didn't know who she currently was, but she knew who she wasn't. She wasn't the same Luna who three thousand years ago fell to madness and tried to kill her sister. She wasn't the same Luna who two thousand years ago gave into temptation and had to be put down. She was new, more stable than who she had been but empty of what had made her...whole. A piece of her was missing and her soul was crying out in yearning, she was incomplete and one way or another she needed to fill the hole. This was her chance to shape who she would be, to finally choose what she wanted to be.

And somewhere out there, beyond the moon, along a path that lead up into the heavens was the answer to that question.

Who am I?

Slowly her gaze drifted towards the inky blackness before her, her trepidation banished as she summoned her courage and took the first step into the infinite black.

From here on out,

The darkness clawed at her coat, smothering her like a spider’s web as it clung to her. Luna felt it grudgingly recede as she pulled herself through, strands of the darkness trying to dig themselves into her skin. Thin tendrils of shadowstuff grasped after her blindly as she stumbled out into a somewhat circular foyer. As she took a moment to catch her breath her eyes were drawn to the pearly white pillars embedded in the walls, the fluted columns reminded her of the great cloud cities of the Pegasi. A thin glass tablet was held suspended above a metal pedestal, flowing lines of data streaming across it’s surface while an old wizened unicorn mare waited for her beside it.

“Greetings ancient one,” The unicorn said, her voice a whisper as she shuffled forward slightly and bowed deeply.

Raising an eyebrow as the mare bowed before her, Luna brought herself up to her fullest height and tilted her head. “It is good to see ponies of this era still know when to show respect.”

The old mare pulled herself up slowly and smiled. “I thank you for your compliment, I am Scroll Case the curator of this temple to the past. My apologies for the entrance, it can be unnerving to some people.”

I wonder why. Luna thought sarcastically, biting her tongue before she offended the mare. Looking around Luna noticed that the floor of the foyer had a mosaic of her sisters cutie mark set into the floor, looking up she saw her own mark above her.

Caught between the sun and moon...twilight, how appropriate.

Turning her gaze outward Luna noted that aside from the unicorn the foyer was empty, a few tapestries she dimly recognized from her old castle hanging on the purple walls. Well not completely empty, a large hologram stood covering the far portion of the room covering what lay beyond. Portrayed on it were a group of mares she knew very, very, well.

Staring at her with a big smile was Twilight Sparkle as she used to be, surrounded by her friends as they sat for a picture. It was the very picture her sister had kept on her side table for years. The image tugged at her heart strings as the smiling faces looked out at her, their moment of happiness frozen for eternity.

Looking away for the time being Luna examined some of the tapestries in detail, noticing that a few of them were newer. One in particular caught her eye, a white unicorn stallion in torn purple armour held a broken blade as tendrils of darkness tore at the borders. Behind him a shattered crystal lay in a pile of ash as burning pink feathers swirled around him. Yet despite the devastation around him Luna felt courage stir within her as she looked into his eyes, the stallion’s visage reflecting an indomitable determination.

“Tarnished Armor,” Scroll Case said as she shuffled over. “The name of the piece you’re looking at.”

Luna looked over the work of art, a niggling sense of familiarity in the back of her mind. “Who is he?”

“The Queen’s brother, he died during the razing of the crystal empire when Her Grace invaded to destroy a newly returned Sombra.”

“Sombra? I thought he died when empire returned?” Luna asked, confused as she recalled the celebrations her sister had thrown to commemorate the occasion. When was that… She thought to herself, unable to place the date.

The old unicorn looked morse, her eyes resting on the broken crystal in the background. “Only his body, a cunning ruse. Sombra however had stored his mind within the heart of the Crystal Empire, waiting for the right time to strike when you and your sister could no longer resist him. As it would happen he was subtly corrupting the emanations of the crystal heart.”

Luna cringed. “I see, what happened to…” She paused for a moment to place a name to a face she recalled. “Cadance?”

“Perished with the Crystal Heart, Her Grace redirected the energy unleashed from it’s destruction into her form to save the crystal ponies from the feedback. If it’s any consolation, Cadence herself was too far gone to feel anything, her will was completely exhausted from combating Sombra in his domain.”

“Thank you, I’m sure Celestia will take comfort knowing she died peacefully,” Luna replied before turning to the tapestry to the right, examining it with profound interest. Her face didn’t betray her heart as she forced herself to keep her composure, there was a time and place to grieve and it was not in front of a stranger.

“Did you know them well?” Scroll Case asked, concerned with Luna’s shockingly neutral reaction to the news.

Luna paused. “Not well but enough to care, in any case my sister was much closer to them than I,” She said, giving her head a slight shake. “What of this piece?”

The unicorn shuffled to get a better look at the tapestry Luna was indicating. It depicted a vast stretch of sand, interrupted at infrequent intervals by broken pyramids of a strange black design. Littered across the desert the sun bleached remains of ponies skeletons and changeling exoskeletons mingled amidst the broken ruins. In the background an ominous black stormfront loomed.

“Ah, this one is ‘The Sacking of the Hives’. The title is pretty self explanatory, it depicts the last stand of the changeling hives. The battle signaled the end of the changeling queens’ rule over their drones.”

“Then why are there still changelings? I was under the impression that they were a hive mind, wouldn’t they be unable to function without a queen?” Luna asked, curious to learn more about what had happened. Some history would help to distract her for a time, and luckily there was much history to learn.

Scroll Case chuckled. “True, they were, past tense. Not all the changeling queens were killed in the conflict, three of them surrendered their hives when Chrysalis and her alliance were crushed by Her Majesty. They signed a collection of treaties with the crown that dictated that they would work towards giving their hives independance, at which point they would be executed painlessly.”

“Why would they agree to that?” Luna asked, confused.

“They didn’t have a choice, either they did as they asked and ensure that their children would have some form of a future or they would die along with their race,” Scroll Case shrugged slightly. “In the end it took the combined efforts of three changeling queens nearly four decades to succeed in creating a new form of changeling.”

“I saw one, a police officer,” Luna chuckled, shaking her head slightly. “It’s the strangest thing, in all my years I would never have considered that those things could be more than parasites. What an age.”

“We do live in a time of wonders,” Scroll Case said, nodding sagely. “For a long time the Changelings were in fact treated as second class citizens after they gained sentience. It wasn’t until they started campaigning for equal rights did Her Majesty grant them full citizenship, as it turned out that was part of her plan.”

Luna raised an eyebrow. “Pardon me if i’m slow on the uptake but how does treating them as second class citizens constitute a plan?”

“Because she made them work for it, to prove to her that they were people too,” Scroll Case replied. “In her own words ‘Being an Equestrian is having the right to be who you want to be. You had been given freedom but you had to be made to understand what that means.’.”

“A harsh way to teach a lesson,” Luna said, cringing.

“The Changeling community held no grudges once it was made clear they were to be treated as equals, Her Majesty might be harsh but she is fair,” Scroll Case shrugged slightly. “It took a little while for ponies to adjust but Changelings had been part of society for years so they were already prepared for it.”

“What about the crystal ponies?” Luna asked suddenly, turning her head to look at the elderly unicorn.

“When Her Majesty destroyed the Crystal Heart, and with it their magic, they became normal earth ponies.”

“And what of the Crystal Empire?”

“It shattered when the magic died, turned to dust. All that’s left are shards of Crystal Heart, we tried for a few centuries to get it’s magic working again but there wasn’t anything really left to bring back. Only fragments of fragments,” The unicorn sighed. “A shame too, from what I’ve been told it was a beautiful place. I’m sure the pictures we have don’t do it justice.”

“It was, it really was,” Luna replied, her voice distant as she replayed what old memories she could dredge up of the place. “I never liked their horns though, obnoxious things,” She said, somewhat sad at the thought she wouldn’t hear them again.

Their berries were delicious though.

Seeing that the alicorn was reminiscing, Scroll Case wandered over to the glass tablet and tapped a few sigils. All of a sudden the sounds of horns blared from unseen speakers, causing Luna to jump up in shock. Darting around to face the now chuckling elderly mare Luna paused, her ears pricking up as the tune stirred something the depths of her mind. A memory bubbling to the surface as a deep male voice started singing.

“The Crystal anthem?” She said as she looked around the room, trying to find the source of the noise.

“We play it during the crystal fair, when the crystal ponies integrated with society they remained in closely knit groups. Mostly out of happenstance given that the majority could only afford cheap accommodation, but they tried to keep their culture alive as long as possible. As a token gesture Her Majesty made the Crystal Fair an annual public holiday.”

Smiling at Luna as she switched off the music, Scroll Case tapped a few other glowing icons. "Just remember Miss Luna even though the past is gone there are some of us who remember what happened, through us we keep the past alive."

Luna smiled back at the old mare as a she tilted her head to indicate the large hologram at the end of the room. "Thank you for your time, Miss Case.”

The elderly unicorn bowed slightly. “It’s a pleasure to converse with one such as yourself Miss Luna, please don’t hesitate to drop by in the future. The main exhibit is open now, I suppose you’ll be wanting to take a look.”

“With little else to do with my time I see no reason not to,” Luna replied as she turned her head to look at the hologram, the smiling faces of Twilight and her friends cheerfully looking out at her.

From underneath her silvery grey mane the curator watched as the alicorn turned and walked away, passing through the insubstantial barrier and into the museum proper. Smiling softly, she tapped a few icons on the tablet and the world flashed white as she was teleported away.

Luna looked over the hologram wall briefly before making her way towards it, the wall of light offering no resistance as she stepped through. As she passed through the wall she looked out at the sight before her, at her hooves was a flight of stairs that led down into a dimly lit corridor wide enough for at least six or seven ponies to walk around comfortably. At the end or the corridor, light spilled in from the doorway where the corridor spread out into a large brightly lit room. From what she could see a, large pony shaped fountain dominated the center of the room. However the black marble walls and the softly glowing silver filigree script etched into them caught her attention before she could make out any of the features.

Despite the dim lighting, or rather because of it, the letters on the walls were clear and legible. Leaning closer to get a better look Luna felt a sense of familiarity run through her as she read them, her mind whirring for a few seconds before she placed it.

“These are her friendship reports,” She muttered as she spun around, her eyes roaming across the walls. “She carved them here…”

Like a great stone block sliding into place, the significance of the building struck her. The words of the tourism page floated through her mind.

...from sunrise to moonset she shuts herself in. Of course, this is how she remains sane… She thought to herself as she began walking down the steps. She makes herself remember.

As she gingerly walked through the hallway Luna couldn't help but feel like an outsider as she read the writing on the walls, the whole thing felt too...personal. As she walked along the letters stopped being from just Twilight as the others began to write to her sister. They talked about trusting others, about understanding when to ask for help, about having courage and when to stand up for your friends. All these lessons and the fond memories contained within were forever enshrined here, dimly glowing like stars in the sky.

A vice gripped her heart as she she felt tears roll down her cheek, the realization that she had never really known any of those mares slamming into her. That it was only now, two thousand years too late, staring at words chiseled in stone did she realize that she had barely known the mares who she owed everything to.

As she sat there in the silent corridor, the softly glowing words shinning down on her, words of mares long dead echoing through the halls, Luna couldn’t help but feel despondent about her future. Her memory was in tatters and for the first time in her life she didn’t have anything to do. All she had was her sister and even then she was being softly coerced into leaving her, with no idea when she’d be back. And in the back of her mind was a tiitering devil, whispering that she mightnever return.

Luna walked over to one of the walls and slumped down next to it, the cool marble leaching the heat from her skin as the heatless light of the words illuminated her. She didn’t know how long she just sat there, reading the words around her, remembering the mares who wrote them as best as she could. It was the least she could do. The effort of digging through the murky grey fog of her memory made her grit her teeth in frustration. Both out of the scarcity of relevant memories and the difficult she had in holding onto them.

Damn you Twilight, damn you to Tartarus! She thought, groaning in annoyance as a memory slipped her grasp again. As she struggled to her hooves a stray thought lept to the forefront of her mind, unbidden as it cut through the haze. It’s not like I have anything worth remembering. (Do I?)

For a moment she looked down the corridor, staring at nothing as the words lopped over and over, taunting her. The floor heaved below her like the deck of a ship, causing her to stumble gasping for breath.

It’s not like I have anything worth remembering. (Do I?) A feeling of vertigo washed over her, and a cold dread crept insidiously into her mind. She reeled in shock as she felt a disconnect surface in her psyche, and she lost her sense of self. Who was she? Where was she? She was Luna, she was in a museum. She was Luna, she was on an operating table. Two versions of herself collided in a maddening meld of visions and thoughts. It was like she was looking out over a chasm at the other side, yet somehow she was looking out at herself. It was like falling, falling into herself as the two version collapsed into themselves. Both were the same but apart, different and identical, and all the while the question rang in her ears, building a crescendo. It’s not like I have anything worth remembering. (Do I?)

It’s not like I have anything worth remembering. (Do I?) It felt like her mind was caught in a funhouse mirror, being stretched and pulled in two directions. Her vision swam, pulled out of focus as a terrible fear gripped her, her muscles burning with a cold fire as adrenaline surged through her. It’s not like I have anything worth remembering. (Do I?)

It’s not like I have anything worth remembering. (Do I?) Yes? No? She screamed as her mind buckled under the strain, pulled apart like taffy in a machine, her sanity being bent and torn as her mind tried and failed to recall what should be there and was not. A great wind roared in her ears, threatening to engulf her, to drag her down into the crevice of her mind. It’s not like I have anything worth remembering. (Do I?)

And just like that, the moment was gone, the roaring sound fading away. “Do I? Do I? Do I?” She heard herself whimpering as the vertigo melted away as the ground seemed to rush back up to met her. For a few seconds she just stood there, quivering, her eyes pressed shut as she recollected herself. Pull yourself together mare. She thought to herself as the panic attack, if that’s what it was, subsided. Slowly she forced herself to open and close her eyes, her mouth uncomfortably dry as she gulped down the meticulously clean air of the museum.

Kicking herself into action she turned to the end of the hallway where it continued out into a large room, light spilling in from the open entrance. As she finished collecting her courage, she took one last look around her, committing the image to memory as best she could before she pressed on. A thin white circle popped up in the corner of her vision, blinking rapidly for a few moments before she heard a clicking sound, the white circle breaking in half and a thin banner of text scrolled out.

-Visual saved to hard storage, remaining space over 99%. Would you like to share this image with your 0 friends?-

Luna dismissed the banner and turned her attention back to the illuminated doorway, focusing on the large pony statue fountain inside, its size filling up the view. From what she could see it depicted a pegasus, its face turned away as it covered its head with its wings. She couldn’t make out where the water was coming from though, only able to make out water dripping down from its muzzle.

Steadying herself she walked onwards, leaving the dimly lit corridor behind her as she stepped into the room, her eyes roaming around as she walked around the back of the statue. The room was filled with grandiose displays obviously dedicated to the five other element bearers inset into the walls, like large shrines covered in their iconography. Inside the cluttered alcoves were articles from their lives, every achievement framed and placed in prime view. In between the exhibits were three archways that lead into other rooms, the one in the far end of the room was shrouded in a black veil. Just looking at it brought the smell of ice and grave soil to her senses, leaving no doubt to who had erected it. Luna made a note to go through that particular archway last. Looking away from the filmy blackness as the end of the room, Luna took a few tentative steps further into the large room, looking at the exhibits.

Curious, Luna walked over the one her right, the cosy orange colouring and apple themes identifying its owner well enough. On the arch above the exhibit were engraved the words Dependable, Honest, Indomintable, a simple and effective design dominated the layout. In the center, a statue of the mare’s cutie mark towered above her. Leaning forward slightly, Luna’s eyes scanned the paper clippings and awards that filled the space, her eyes settling on what looked to be the mare’s obituary.

On this day the flag of our great nation flies at half mast to mark the passing of a great mare. At the venerable age of 237 Applejack was many things to many ponies, a mother, a business mare, a philanthropist, a hero, a sister but to many she was a friend. Born into the Apple family, Applejack was raised with the traditional values of hard work, honesty and dedication. Traits she strove uphold in everything she did, never giving anything less than her best in any endeavor she put her mind too.

A simple pony at heart, Applejack never sought glory or fame instead preferring to see to the needs of her family and hometown. Even when she founded the Appleton Trust, uniting the individual family businesses under one name, she remained humble. Even when she was appointed Matron of the Apple Clan after the passing of her Grandmother, she remained humble. As the first C.E.O of the Appleton Trust, Applejack blazed a trail in the corporate world. Her emphasis on reliability and to showing a sense of decency when dealing with customers, in making her traditional Apple family values the bedrock of every endeavour she built one of the most trusted brands of the modern era. One that surely will stand the test of time so long as it’s core values remain true. In a career that has spanned over almost two centuries Applejack has proven to be a paragon of her virtue and is sorely missed.

But it was not her success in business that was her biggest pride and joy, it was her children and family. Mother to three strong mares, Applejack raised her foals after the tragic passing of her first husband with the help of her family and vast network of friends. During the turbulent years that followed the ascension of Her Majesty Twilight Sparkle, Applejack found love with a loyalist soldier by the name of Stout Bough. It was, perhaps fate that brought them together when she found him hiding in her barn from Her Majesties patrols, knowing perhaps that no trooper would ever set hoof on her farm. What ever it was, they soon fell in love and Stout renounced his ways in her hooves. They were married a scant few months after and in true Apple fashion were soon expecting foals when disaster struck.

Incensed by his betrayal, the few remaining loyalists in Equestria set about to make an example of him and his body was found hanging from the trees of the orchard he had come to love. Though the criminals were caught and tried by Her Majesty personally, the experience only served to strain the already tense relations between the former friends. As the foals were born and the civil war culminated in the destruction of the crystal empire, Applejack devoted her life to improving others. With the support of her many friends and family she created the Appleton Trust with the initial intention that no member of the Apple Clan or its friends would ever be hungry or out of work. Soon this effort expanded out to include the immigrating crystal ponies, many of whom had lost everything. Grateful for the work and kindness the crystal ponies took the values of their employers to heart, starting the traditions that have endured for well over a century.

During the immigration of the Changeling Hives, Applejack along with many of her friends were among the loudest critics of they perceived to be lenient treatment, the scars of the initial attack many years ago still raw. The loss of her brother in the final assault on Hives played a big factor in her initial distrust and feelings of betrayal when Her Majesty announced the news. However as the efforts to create a race of self aware drones bore fruit and they began to disseminate into society they soon reversed their tune and began to advocate equal rights. Later, Applejack released this apology during the civil rights march on Canterlot. ‘It wasn’t right how me and mine treated you, we reacted out of fear and hate for things different from ourselves. It wasn’t right, that kind of thinking never is. We can’t take it back what we said, but we can look to future and I swear to all y’all present here tonight that you can depend on me as much as any pony. That’s a promise.’

In her twilight years, due to flagging health, Applejack surrendered the reins of her prized company to her youngest granddaughter, Lil Macarina, named in memory of her brother Big Macintosh. Despite being the last of the mortal element bearers still alive she would later right in her memoirs that ‘...these past four years have been among the best years of my life’. After so many years of giving each other the cold shoulder Applejack and Her Majesty began to reach out to each other, often spending weeks together. After so many years their friendship began to grow again.

It is then a great tragedy that she sadly began to succumb to Alzheimer's, her final years spent on the farm she had grown up on with Her Majesty by her side. Her mind in the distant past of their youth.

She is survived by the three children, whom the eldest, the noted country performer, Spring Blossom, composed a farewell piece to her mother. ‘I’m here but you’re somewhen else.’

Dame Applejack, born 977 C.R, died 214 T.R. Never has there been a pony who so exemplifies their virtue and never shall there be again.

Luna leaned back, drinking the atmosphere as she looked over the exhibit, her eyes lingering on a picture of the mare in her final days. Her hair had long since gone gray and her eyes clouded over as she sat on a rocking chair that looked out over the farm, her family gathered around her. She was smiling, joy on her features as she cradled a pair of foals.

At least she lived a happy life, Luna thought to herself as she turned away and looked over at the other exhibits before deciding to look into the room closest to her. The room itself was brightly lit, glass cases lining the walls, however she couldn’t quite make out what they contained. In the center of the room sat a large black slab of what she presumed to be stone, it’s surface dimly glowing. Deep purple flags hung off the walls, embedded on them was a starburst like the one on Twilight’s cutie mark with two sleeping alicorns huddled beneath it. One white and the other, slightly smaller, a deep blue.

Luna scowled as she realized what they were supposed to portray. Very subtle. She thought, annoyed for a moment before set it aside as she entered the room. The sound of drums, trumpets and bagpipes greeting her softly as she crossed the threshold. Ignoring the noise, she walked further into the large room, looking around as she did. In between the flags draped on the walls were names etched in gold lettering, the display cases beneath them were filled with photos too numerous to count. Her curiosity piqued, Luna wandered over the the dimly glowing slab in the center of the room.

Displayed on the surface was the picture of a young unicorn mare, the image taking up the left half of the screen. Next to it in was her name, her date of birth, time of death and rank. All of a sudden the pieces fell into place as Luna looked around the room, the realization that this was a memorial to the dead dawning on her.

A memorial to the fallen, why would she consider this a mistake? Luna thought to herself as she bowed her head slightly to show respect to the deceased. As she did her eyes noted a line of text engraved onto the lip of the slab.

A brave soul who gave their life in service of their nation, died because I couldn’t find a better way. Or because I didn’t want to try. Forever remembered are they who die in my name, we will never forget. -Twilight Sparkle.

Looking back at the slab Luna noted that the image had changed to a grizzled looking Changeling, the sight shocking her for a moment. That’s going to take some getting used to, ugly looking things, She thought as she sneered slightly before immediately chastising herself as she remembered where she was. Beneath the Changeling’s rank were numerous icons signaling the various medals it had been awarded, included among them were a couple that Luna recognized. A large golden pair of wings and horn, the Medal of Harmony and no less than four sets of Purple wings.

The knowledge that this Changeling had most likely been considered a war hero only served to further deepen her sense of shame as she looked back at the Changeling’s face. The many scars and grim set of its face taking on a new meaning in her eyes its eyes stared out at her. Taking a deep breath as the imaged changed again, Luna tore her eyes away from the slab and walked a few steps back towards the main lobby. However before she crossed the arch way her hooves hesitated, a compelling sense of duty and gratitude made her turned around. Her eyes scanning the memorial for one final time before she spread her wings to their fullest and bowed. The act had once been considered the highest form of respect a princess could show, even if she wasn’t sure it held any meaning anymore Luna still bowed. The fleeting feeling of shame and humility evaporating as she rose from the floor and turned away.

Heading back into the lobby, the sounds of the war memorial fading as she crossed the archway, being replaced by the sound of tinkling water, Luna felt her memory shift. Images of the white and blue stallion on the tapestry before sprung to mind, only this time it they were of her bowing to him. He was dressed in full military dress as her stood before her and her sister, a large set of gold wings with a horn laid over top hanging from his neck. Twilight's brother? She thought.

When was this? She thought as the memory receded again, the detail slipping from her grasp as the image faded away. Luna rubbed her face with a hoof as she tried to concentrate but to no use, the only information she could recall being her bowing to the stallion. She could faintly recall her sister saying something but any detail was lost to her. That fact the stallion had also been important but she couldn’t remember why sat uneasily with her.

At least I can recall what he looked like, She noted, the thought doing little to alleviate the unease as she looked over at the statue fountain. Eager distract herself, she walked around to get a better look at the statue, freezing when she saw its face. What she had thought was a pegasus she had mistaken for an alicorn, a long spiral horn sprouting from its forehead. The water dripping from its closed eyes as it sheltered its face unnerved her, the statue looked like an eerie combination of her and her sister.
Crying for eternity.

Suits the theme of this place though, Luna thought to herself. Doesn't change the fact it’s stars damned creepy. Quickly turning away from the offending fountain, Luna marched away and into the archway opposite, the soft blue decor offering a respite from the weird vibe the alicorn statue was giving her. Visible through the archway was a large hologram depicting a softly glowing blue star, strands of blue light spiraling off into the aether.

As she crossed the threshold the sounds of the fountain faded away to be replaced with the soft tones of a piano and reed pipe. The overall effect producing a hauntingly beautiful melody that brought feelings of regret to Luna’s mind as she looked around the room. The portion of wall immediately around the archway was filled with griffon art forms, inscribed into the wall. The thick runes and robust drawings were familiar to Luna’s eyes as she watched them transition into Crystal Pony glyphs, then into Draconic, then Minotaur, then Cattle. Nearly every race she had known bar Zebra’s and Changelings were represented here.

What does it mean? She thought as she walked further and further into the room, artifacts from multiple civilizations scattered everywhere. With a puzzled expression she looked back at the floating ball of blue light in the center of the room, walking over it. As she approached it feelings of love for her sister bloomed inside of her, an almost overwhelming need to rush to her side spreading through her. Shaking the feelings aside Luna peered deep into the ball of light, her eyes growing wide as she made out shards of a familiar looking crystal.

“The crystal heart...” She whispered, looking around the room the realization that she hadn’t seen a single one of the races depicted during her flight over surfacing as she replayed the flight in her mind’s eye.

“This room it’s a monument to all the races she’s destroyed...” The significance of the artwork on the walls falling into place as she turned to look at the far wall where a stained glass picture was embedded into the wall. It depicted Twilight as she was walking a barren wasteland, nothing but dust in her wake as darkness flowed from her eyes. Inscribed in silver above the image were the words ‘May it never be so’.

Something about it drew Luna over, her hooves moving as if of their own accord as she stared at Twilight’s expression, loneliness and regret etched onto her face. To be doomed to wander an empty world, Luna shuddered at the thought. It was one she could sympathise with, for months after she had been released from the Nightmare she had been plagued by visions of wandering a cold dead wasteland of her own making.

If she’s telling the truth, if from what I think this room means… Luna thought, the imagery of the lonely unicorn resonating with her. To live with the knowledge that you could turn the world into a wasteland, dooming everything you care about...what terrible burden to bear. She thought as she placed a hoof gently on the glass as she felt a twinge of sympathy run through her. Looking back over her shoulder Luna let her eyes roam the carvings on the walls, fragments of memory surfacing as she patchily recalled each of the races.

All of sudden she felt the disconnect return, a distant roar in her ears as the enormity what Twilight had done confronted her. Fragments of memory swirled around her like broken glass, snips of time played before her. It was like looking into a kaleidoscope, blinding her to reality as grey fog seeped from the cracks. Each shard stealing her away, taking her to some distant time. She was in the searing heat of the desert and standing atop icy cold mountains, talking to both Griffons and Minotaurs all at once. A thousand dead tongues played themselves over in her head, traditional greetings and words of friendship, declarations of war and peace alike. It was like every memory she still possessed was trying to play themselves at once, her thousands of years of experience all surfacing at once.

It’s not like I have anything worth remembering. (Do I?) The words repeated, clear above the madding cacophony of the past. It punctuated every loop, every repeated scene, wherever the chain of memories was broken it was there. It’s not like I have anything worth remembering. (Do I?)

And for the briefest of moments she felt it, just how much of her memory was simply gone. What she had was only a fragment of her experiences, a mere one one hundredth of what she had before. It was enough to drive her to tears as a great wind rolled over her, whipping the grey fog around her into a roil. It’s not like I have anything worth remembering. (Do I?)

The words of her past self rang in her ears, mocking her even as they faded away. Her vision snapped back to reality, and the phantom sounds scattered as the sorrowful reed pipes made themselves heard.

Looking back at the room, Luna noted that all the depictions of the vanquished races seemed to stare through her, looking at the now broken image behind her. How did I miss it? She thought to herself as the significance of the imagery hit her. Every image depicted their end, every race’s death was written down in their tongue, the scenes drawn in their style. Every drawing’s eyes looked at her, their expressions filled with scorn and impotent rage as the shattered remains of the crystal heart floated mournfully in the air. It was like their ghosts haunted the room, their artifacts anchoring them here as they cursed the mare who ended them. Accusing her for all eternity as ancient curses carved in stone proclaimed their scorn for the dark mare.

But Luna just stumbled away as she tried to drum up some emotion for the departed races. A spark of regret that she failed to save them, a flare of rage at Twilight for taking them, but all she could feel was pity. Pity that they would never see the night sky again, that the songs of their people would never be sung. Pity for the countless opportunities wasted, countless possibilities extinguished like a candle in the rain. Luna just shook her head, unable to turn back to face the room. In part because she didn’t wish to trigger another episode, but also because try as she might she couldn’t bear to be reminded of what had been lost. That so much was gone from the world, cultures as old as herself now extinguished, it weighed heavily on her mind.

“What a wonderful age this is,” She muttered, a sour taste in her mouth as she remembered the curator’s words not so long go.

Forcibly putting it all out of her mind for the time being Luna walked back out into the main room, ignoring the creepy fountain as she looked over at the other exhibits of the now deceased element beares. For a moment she considered which of the exhibits to visit, which of the mares to learn about next before turning to the far end of the room where the final archway lay shrouded in shadowstuff.

Wordlessly she pulled up her interface, selecting the tiny star icon in the corner of her vision.

-Ah, Miss Luna is there anything I can help you with?- The deep voice of Canterlot boomed within her head.

-Can you download the obituaries of Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rarity onto my hard storage?- She sent, her hooves moving of their own accord as she walked over to the archway.

The AI hummed for a moment as a tingling feeling ran over her scalp. -There you go, anything else?-

-No, thank you very much.- Luna replied, closing the link with a mental nudge as she walked silently into the wall of shadowstuff.

The calm pool of blackness swirled serenely before her, a chill settled over her as she plunged into it. Unlike the blackness at the entrance which tried to grab at her and pull her apart, this one just brushed her lightly as it ignored her. This suited Luna just fine as she emerged from the blackness and into the final room of the museum. Unlike the others it was almost completely black, the darkness around her made it impossible to make out anything about the dimensions of the room. The only light was a single shaft that came down from a hole in the ceiling, illuminating a large glass case upon a marble pedestal.

Power thrummed from the case as Luna approached, her eyes locked on it’s contents. Inside were six items of expertly crafted jewelry resting on richly embroidered cushions. Beneath each was written a word, Magic, Loyalty, Honesty, Kindness, Generosity, Laughter. On the pedestal, just beneath the case were the words, The Elements of Harmony. They seemed dull underneath the bright light, tiny fractures could be seen running like spiders web across the surface giving the jewelry an air of delicacy. Like even the lightest breeze would cause them to turn to dust and float away. Luna pondered the significance of the mysterious room, wondered why Twilight would erect a room for what was essentially a set of broken jewelry. The enigmatic references to the Elements of Harmony only served to complicate matters, maybe the fragile jewelry was a metaphor of some sort?

How is this a mistake? She thought, raising an eyebrow. I thought this museum was supposed to be a giant catalog of her failure. Maybe I’m lacking some context here...

Despite the darkness around her Luna felt comfortable in their presence and yet for the life of her she couldn't figure what they were. Individually the words made sense, but when she tried to string it together, nothing. She just couldn't process that what was before her were the same artifacts she and her sister had once wielded against Discord.

Turning her head slightly Luna gazed at the contents in the case, reading and inscription laid into the base of the glass box.

What is done be undone, what is made be unmade, should there be a higher power may it have mercy on my soul. We are unbound from destiny, cast adrift from fate by my actions, by my hubris. But there is no power in the Universe that can stand against me and with my strength, my will I shall forge us a future worth living.

Frowning as she walked around the case Luna couldn’t help but feel cheated. She had expected something more, dramatic from the final room of Twilight’s museum. Some grand mural or world shaking revelation, a memorial to some grave event. Instead all she could see was some old jewelry on display, the virtues of the elements scribbled beneath them. As far as she could discern the whole thing was a metaphor for something, whatever it was eluded her though. All in all, it was an unsatisfactory ending to what had been thus far been a rather unnerving and enlightening trip.

Well this was a let down, She thought as she teleported outside, the sounds of the city surging around her. The pulse of the city night life served to anchor her in the present as she walked back into the strange world around her.

Enough time wasted on the past, back to business. Still, it was a very...interesting experience. Tia is going to be crushed when she finds out what became of Cadence… The thought of breaking the news to her sister weighed heavily on her, she recalled that the two had been very close.

As she walked down the steps of the museum she noticed a rather staunch looking man...thing leaning against the skeletal treehouse sculpture. Its appearance gave her pause as she studied it, the body was built like the bipedal form Twilight and Welcome’s avatar had taken. However it’s head looked more suited to a pony’s body as pair of wings peaked out from it’s sides. From what she could see its skin was covered in a rich golden coat, the structure of its body tagging it as obviously male.

As if sensing it was being watched, the pony bipedal hybrid turned it’s head to look at her, it’s golden eyes glowing brightly. For a moment they stared across the courtyard before it pushed itself away from the metal sculpture and walked her way. Luna noted the hybrid’s attire reminded her of the aviator outfits worn by the Wonderbolt officers, a similar style jacket sat on it’s frame as a pair of flight goggles rested on it’s forehead. The lights of the city gave the glossy leather boots on it’s feet a slight sheen as it wandered over, its height forcing Luna to tilt her head upwards slightly. She only came up to its chest, her horn ending at its chin.

“I was wondering when you’d be done in there.” It called out to her in a strong voice, giving her slight bow as it approached. “Skybound at your service, my larger self is hanging in orbit waiting for your signal to depart.”

Luna furrowed her eyebrows for a moment as a tag popped up beside the gold furred hybrid labeling it as the avatar to the Sufficiently vague and suitably ominous, which was currently stationed in orbit above the planet. The name sounded familiar as she mentally scratched her head for moment before remembering Canterlot had offered to get in touch with the spy ship on her behalf.

“Ah, thank you for your quick response, I hope it wasn’t to much of an inconvenience?” She replied bowing her head slightly.

The hybrid chuckled. “No trouble, Sufficient is more than willing to clear some space for a guest as prestigious as yourself.” It said, smiling at her as it gestured upwards. “It’s already plotting how best to make use of you so I’m sure we can get up to some misadventure to keep the boredom at bay.”

Luna smiled, not entirely sure what it was on about but the cheery manner it put forth was pleasant enough. “We’ll have to see shall we. If you don’t mind me asking but what's with…” She said, gesturing with a hoof at the avatoids body. “your unusual form.”

If it was offended, the avatar didn’t show it as it shrugged. “In what way? This is a fairly standard anthropomorphic blend of the bipedal and pony form. Granted to you the appearance may be somewhat odd but it is one of the more common forms in the Imperium.”

Luna just shrugged back as she tilted her head to the side. “The pony head on a bipedal body reminds me of the chimera.”

“Ah, understandable I suppose. Honestly though it’s very comfortable, strikes a nice blend of both parent forms. It keeps the full complement of pony abilities with the added bonus that bipedalism offers,” The avatar said, hovering off the ground for a short moment as it demonstrated it’s wings.

“I see,” Luna replied, not overly impressed. “I suppose such bodies are the latest fashion?” She asked, remembering how Twilight commented on the level of ease ponies could now take on new forms.

“All personal preference, but it’s certainly very common with the younger crowd.” The avatar replied as it began walking away, gesturing to Luna to follow. “So you want to tag along with me, aye?”

Falling in step with the avatar Luna shrugged with her wings. “Less want more making the best of bad situation.”

“Not surprising given some of the rumors Sufficient has been digging up. I suppose you’ll be wanting to stop by the Palace before we go, say goodbye to your sister?” Skybound asked, turning it’s head slightly to look at her.

Luna faltered a little as she thought about what she was going to say to Celestia. “Yes,” She replied, her voice tight as she felt her eyes begin to moisten. “That would be... nice.”

The avatar shrugged. “I’ll see to it, but first how about a night on the town? Canterlot’s changed quite a bit since you were last around, best see the sights before we skip this joint.”

“What, shouldn’t we be going right away?” Luna asked, her trepidation being replaced by confusion. “I was under the apprehension that we’d be off and away first thing?”

“Why? There’s no great emergency that requires our running off to, and Sufficient is busy plotting so we’re good for another few hours at least. Plenty of time to take you around the local nightlife.” Skybound said, smiling as it turned down a well lit street. “This is Canterlot after all, jewel of the Imperium,” It said, spreading it’s arms wide as people on the sidewalks began to congregate around them.

Luna looked around her as they pushed through the crowds, smiling as a few drones hovered around her. “Thank you but I’m afraid I’m going to have to decline.” She said as the crowd began to swell around them the sounds of their muttering filling the air.

There was a bustle of movement from the crowd as a large group of assorted well dressed ponies, bipedals and hybrids walked up to the alicorn and her avatar guide. For a few seconds they stood there before a tallish unicorn hybrid emerged from the group’s center, from the way he carried himself it was clear that this was the leader. The hybrid was dressed in a smart looking dress suit the hugged his lean frame, his blue coat and hair contrasting with his silvery eyes. As he approached Luna couldn’t help but notice that despite his relatively young appearance, those eyes reminded her immensely of the great dragons of old. Something about the way he held himself hinted at knowledge beyond his years.

“Miss Luna,” He said, offering a small bow. As he spoke his deep voice at odds with his slim frame, the deep baritone identifying him immediately. “It would be my humble privilege to be your escort around my sights tonight. I can assure you that you will not regret it.” Canterlot said, the avatar straightening it tie as it stood up.

Luna blinked in surprise. “I must confess, this is...not what I expected you to look like,” She said as she looked the slim unicorn hybrid over.

A wave of chuckling went through the crowd as the avatars grinned at each other, indulging in some inside joke. “Not many people do.” Canterlot replied with wink.

“Between the two of us, and with some help from our lovely public,” Skybound said, gesturing to the crowd who cheered in return, “I’m sure we can throw you one hell of a welcome back party,” The golden coloured avatar grinned at her, placing one hand on her shoulder as it gestured to the crowd of cheering people.

Luna looked around her as the crowd began chanting. “Say yes, say yes, say yes, say yes.” The faces of ponies, changelings, zebras, hybrids and other alien forms all grinned at her as they worked themselves into a frenzy. Canterlot raised his arms wide, smiling as he did so, as if daring her to say yes.

As she looked around her Luna couldn't help but grin back at the gathered crowd, the cheerful energy infecting her as they swarmed around her. Slowly she began shaking her head, a chuckle rising from her throat as the crowed roared with approval. Pulling herself up to her fullest height, she signaled for the crowd to be silent, waving them down with her hooves.

“Thank you very much for your offer, all of you. In the spirit of acceptance for this new age I suppose I have only one course open to me,” She said with a grin, pausing to take a deep breath.

“LET THE FESTIVITIES COMMENCE,” She roared, the crowd recoiling as the royal canterlot voice hit them, the glass of the the buildings around them vibrating in their housings. Looking around as the crowd recovered, Luna blushed slightly, raising a hoof to her face to mask the grin she was wearing. “Ahem, pardon me,” She coughed as the avatars just chuckled, seemingly unaffected by the blast.

As they recovered someone in the crowd, Luna couldn't make out a precise location, shouted out in cheer. The cheer quickly spread throughout the mass of people as they began to move as one, dragging Luna along.

“Where are we going!” Luna turned to shout into Skybound’s ear, the golden hybrid ignoring the mass of bodies around it, but the shout was lost in the noise of the crowd.

Raising an eyebrow the avatar turned to her, it’s iris’ glowing. -Mainstreet, where else? Canterlot’s already got a party plan up in the public forum,- It sent back, grinning. -From the feedback it’s getting this is going to be a very good night.-

Mentally slapping herself as she opened up her interface Luna noted a small bouncing icon in the shape of an envelope making it’s way across the bottom of her vision. Selecting it with nudge the top of the envelope popped open and a letter slid out, enlarging to fill her vision.

Come one come all to the event of the year!
A wondrous occasion unlike any other!
Come together, all you party people for a once in a lifetime opportunity!
Come, and celebrate the return of the Princesses!

That’s right, Celestia and Luna are back!
And we’re going to show them the best, night, ever!

Luna grinned as she followed a prompt, the letter slid out of view as a different page opened up. Unlike the letter this one was a detailed plan of the night’s events, a plethora of icons dotted around the city map to indicate locations of hotspots and musical events as well as a blinking blue crescent moon. Looking around Luna noted that the moon was an icon representing her location, the icon slowly moving down the street as she was pushed along by the crowd.

Closing down the pages, Luna was startled to discover that her inbox indicator had swelled to the point where the icon indicating the number of messages was using scientific notation.

How? She thought to herself as she opened it, the contents exploding on to her screen. Blinking dumbfounded as she watched a flurry of messages stream before her, Luna could only catch glimpses of the message titles before they were shunted down below her vision a wave of new arrivals.

-They’re all party invitations and fan page notifications,- Skybound’s voice informed her. -Canterlot already took the liberty of creating a public domain page for you, most celebrities have one.-

Luna looked over at her companion who was still blissfully ignoring the crowd around it. -How can you tell?- She sent back, still trying to sort through the tidal wave of mail.

Skybound just looked over at her, shooting her a grin. -I’m an AI, what’da you expect?-

-I don’t know, I haven’t met many AI,- Luna sent back, scowling as she felt a pony bump into her, causing her to close down the inbox as she turned to regard the party goer. The unicorn simply cheered as it raised offered her what looked to be a shallow dish filled with some kind of clear liquid. How the unicorn had transported to her without spilling it was a mystery to her as she regarded the gift.

-Uh, some help?- Luna asked, taking the bowl with a smile as the unicorn made a tilting motion with her hoof.

-A drug bowl, seems to be supplying a fairly standard combination. Perfectly safe,- Skybound replied, grinning as it watched a pair of Pegasi dance through the air, throwing brightly coloured powders around in their wake. Luna looked at Skybound as it spread it’s wings and took off, shooting a grin back at her.

-Have some fun Luna, just relax and go with the flow,- It sent as a pegasus shot past, slamming it with a bright green powder that stuck to it’s face. -It’ll be a blast.-

The shallow dish floated in her magic as Luna watched the avatar slip away, the crowd around her chanting for her to drink. Looking around Luna slowly raised the dish to her lips, the clear liquid shimmering under the lights as Luna looked at her reflection. What the hell, I’ve done worse, Luna thought as she tipped the dish back and the crowd went quiet. I think...

The draught flowed like water as she swallowed it down, the dish refiling as fast as she drained it. Gulping down her fill, Luna handed the dish back the unicorn with a hearty exhale, running her tongue over her teeth as the cool tasteless liquid hit her stomach. The crowd watched her expectantly, their iris’ glowing as they recorded her.

The tension mounted as Luna felt a tingling begin to build with her, slowly she came to a halt as the world began to blur in and out of focus. “Ooookkkay,” She mumbled as the crowd gathered around her, their faces begin to melt together into a wall of teeth and glowing eyes. Luna felt her breathing became heavy and laboured as sweat began to form under her coat, the tingling sensation increasing exponentially.

Slowly, the crowd’s expressions began to shift from anticipation to worry, a frantic murmur spreading as Luna began to sway in place, her eye wide and staring at nothing. Her pupils shrunk to pinpoints as a coldness washed through her, the world dimming as the sounds faded away.

Ohhhkaaay, maybe this wasn't such a gooooood ideaaaaa, she thought as her heart thudded in her chest. The tingling sensation seemed to intensify with each passing second as a high pitched keening sound cut through the distant chatter of the crowd, the sound seeming to sync perfectly with the vibrating sensation under her skin.

Wordlessly she turned her gaze to sky above as everything exploded, the sound rushing back in as the lights of the city burned with a furious intensity that came close to blinding her. The crowd around her snapped back into focus as a pack of drones hovered around, trailing colorful light’s in their wake. A sense of giddiness began to bubble through her, stress she hadn’t even acknowledge seemed to melt away as she spread her wings. Smiling at the crowd, Luna brought herself up to her fullest as she spread her wings and laughed, the crowd’s worry fading away as they converged in on her. As they swept her away Luna couldn’t help but laugh as a strange electronic music began to be broadcasted from the swarms of hovering drones. The rapid ticking sound reminded her of a clock, albeit one with a steady bass line.

“All right ramblers, let’s get ramblin!” Canterlot’s voice boomed out as the music began to speed up. “We’ve only got a few hours before sunrise to show Luna how hard we can party, who’s with me!”

Like the bursting of a dam, the crowd roared as the music kicked into high gear and the party started, the lights of the city pulsating with the beat of the music as drones rocketed over Luna’s head. From the looks of things they were delivering supplies, food drinks and the like to where they were needed. Luna watched them for a few seconds as the crowd began dancing, noticing how the drone’s seemed to move through the air. Their fields would flicker for a brief moment, the translucent bubble around them would thicken up on one side before they were shot off in the opposite direction.

Woh. Luna thought she watched a pair of metallic eel like drones weave through the air around each other, their fields undulating with the music as the shone with all the colours of the rainbow. A graceful dance unlike anything she had ever seen, the sight was entrancing as tilted towards her for a moment.

-I’m lucky I got ahold of those two,- Canterlot’s voice boomed in her head, it’s avatar appearing by her side in a twirl. -They were set to perform offworld tonight when I contacted them, fortunately they were willing to reschedule given the circumstances.-

-Give them my thanks, their performance is...outstanding,- Luna sent back,tearing her eyes away from the display to look at the unicorn hybrid at her side. -I must confess Canterlot I did not expect this side of you.-

The avatar just shrugged as it danced next to her, loosening it’s tie with a wink. -What? Did you expect me to prim and proper all the time?-

Luna blushed as the avatar undid a couple of buttons and discarded it’s suit jacket. -Uh well, no.-

-I said I was all the city, when the situation calls for it I’m the epitome of class,- Canterlot sent as it snagged a drink from a near by drone. -But that’s not all there is to this city, the common pony has to let his mane down some time Luna. I’m here to facilitate that.-

-I suppose so,- Luna replied as she began shuffling in place, her moves getting a few grins from the crowd.

Canterlot laughed as Luna blushed harder. -You’ve been on ice a while Luna, those old stale moves just won't cut it anymore,- It sent as the crowd started chanting something. -Take a step back while I show you how we get down in this day and age.-

Luna backed a few steps as the crowd followed like wise, the crowd’s chanting now audible over the music. “Canterlot, Canterlot, Canterlot!” They called out as the eel drones took up positions behind the avatar and in response to some unseen signal they began to move.

She’d seen dancing in her time, many of the culture’s she’d encountered had created hundreds of elaborate art forms based on movement. But never had she seen anything move like that, the only thing comparable were the Minotaur but their huge bodies lacked the grace of the avatar’s hybrid form.

-I had no idea you were dancer, my my isn’t this age just full of surprises,- Luna sent with a grin as she tried copying the movements of the other ponies in the crowd.

-Well someone has to dance, Her Majesty might be able to shapeshift but she’ll always have four left hooves. That mare can’t dance to save herself, all power no rhythm,- Canterlot replied as it twirled, grinning back at Luna.

As she smiled back Luna let herself relax into the crowd, submitting to the beat for the night as she felt the drug cocktail bubble through her veins and lift her spirits up into the night sky. Her body flowed as she melted into the rhythm, of her and her sister Luna had always been the one more suited to the physical arts. In the morning she’d have to face her sister and leave for parts unknown, but the morning may as well be a lifetime away.

Luna recoiled as a shaft of light burrowed itself into her eyes, a stale smell filled her nostrils as she raised a hoof to shield her eyes from the light, only to feel a sharp pain as something poked her in the eye. Groaning she peeled her eyes open, watching as the morning light streamed through a set of milky white fingers.

This is new, She thought dreamily as she slowly manipulated the appendage. Daintily, she pressed the thumb to the middle finger, the sensation was strange to her as the muscle compressed.

A yawning noise to her left made her turn her head, the grinning golden face of Skybound stared back at her as the avatar adjusted the goggles on its head. “Sleep well?” It asked her nonchalantly.

For a moment Luna didn’t say anything, staring at Skybound with a sense of wonder. It was like everything was in sharp focus, her field of vision being enhanced by some outside means as she took in the detail. Slowly she raised another hand and touched it to the avatar’s nose. “Boop.”

Chuckling, the avatar gently grabbed her hand and pushed it back to her, patting it softly. “Good to see you’re feeling alright after last night.”

“Why do I have hands?” Luna asked breezily as she turned back to examining them. “They feel tingly.”

“You’re being kept sedated for time being Luna, do you understand what that means?”

Luna nodded slowly as she moved her hand back and forth like they were trapped in breeze.

“We thought waking up like this might be shocking for you, so I administered a sedative to you while you were asleep. In retrospect, leaving you alone with Canterlot may have been a mistake,” The avatar muttered, mostly to itself as Luna stared off into space.

Sighing as it stood up, the avatar looked around the room they were in. “Not often I get to sit around in the castle you know. Mostly my bigger self just pops in on the edge of the system, prattles about with the big wigs and takes off,” The avatar mused, jumping slightly as Luna tapped on its shoulder.

“Yea….” It said, trailing off as it stared into the very angry eyes of an enraged demi god.

“You have three seconds,” Luna whispered as she grabbed a fistfull of the avatar’s shirt and effortlessly pulled him over.

Holding its hand up in the universal gesture of surrender, Skybound grinned at her. “Well I didn’t expect you to recover from the sedative so fast hehehe…I can explain,” It said, shaking slightly as it felt the larger part of itself that made up the AI proper chuckle slightly before returning to it’s simulations.

-Some help?- Skybound asked pleadingly, dunking it’s mind into the accelerated reality of the AI’s mind.

Sufficiently vague and suitably ominous contemplated the request and ran a couple of simulations before sending back a reply. -Stick to the plan and everything will be fine. Be glad she won't actually kill you-

-You sure about that,- Skybound asked as it stared into Luna’s angry eyes.

-Eh, 99.8% sure,- Sufficient sent back, it’s voice filled with confidence.

-What’s the point two percent?-

-She rips you into your constituent atoms and ends up screwing all our plans. Twilight will be very unhappy with me and our own plans for the Drazol are set back a decade. That and we never get invited to any fun parties anymore.-

-Sounds cherry, everything going according to plan?-

-Am I doubting myself? I expected better of me.- The AI sent, scolding it’s avatar.

-Oh don’t act like we’re infallible, given what we’re dealing with some caution would be prudent.-

-Don’t you worry we are being very careful, Luna might not be off the wall nuts anymore but her mental state does pose an interesting paradox. Both mentally stable and prone to bouts of existential self doubt, she has proven to be...difficult to simulate.-

-My point exactly, give our course of action last night I have to once again note that perhaps we moved a bit too fast on the whole body swap.-

-Au contraire, my dear avatar, as I explained last night this is the perfect time. She is currently lost at sea, metaphorically speaking. As such, this atmosphere of uncertainty is the perfect time to take advantage of the inherent instability that comes with such a large shift in perspective she finds herself in. Out with the old in with the new as they say.-

-I suppose I do know better, just keep a check on that ego for the both of us okay? Twilight would be pissed if words get back to her that we broke Luna.-

-Eh true, everything has gone according to plan though. On a different note you really need to get back to real time, give Luna the run down. Poor girl must be out of her mind right now.-

-But she’s going to punch me in the face,- Skybound wined, dragging the metaphysical equivalent of it’s feet.

-And?- Sufficiently... questioned. -Turn off your pain sensors.-

-But I’m going to lose a bet with Canterlot.-

-I know, and it is very assuming,- The AI sent back as it nudged it’s avatar back into real time. -Besides if you don’t put your foot in your mouth she might,- Time snapped into place as the avatar’s consciousness slipped back into it’s body.

Luna growled as she raised a fist, the sensation of the clenched fist was a odd one, pleasurable but odd. “An explanation would be very nice.”

“Well, thing is, we kind of arranged for you to get a new body.”

Glaring at the hybrid avatar, Luna tilted her head slightly. “Gee really?” She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “How do I go about getting back to normal?”

“Uh haha, funny thing...normally you’d just pop down to a body clinic and reupload into your old body.”

“I don’t like where this is going.” Luna said, her grip around the avatar’s shirt tightening.

“But thing is, you're not like most people. On the account of you not actually being, ah, organic…” The avatar replied. “You don’t have a body to pop back into.”

Luna raised an eyebrow in confusion, her fist lowering slightly. “Come again?”

“You and your sister are like Her Majesty, less organic and more self aware manafest magical anomalies. The proper terminology is a sentient metaphysical manifestation, it’s very complicated.”

“O-okay?” Luna replied, furrowing her eyebrows as she released the avatar. “So what does that mean for me right now.”

“Ah, well like I said you’re not really an organic. The body you see is essentially a…” The avatar frowned as it snapped it's fingers. “an illusion, constructed from your sense of self image and emulated in 4-D space. The image is effectively caught in a positive feedback loop, you are what you think you are because what you are is what you think. The body you’re wearing is actually real, proper flesh, all the DNA and RNA in the right places,” Skybound replied, it’s body tense as it watched Luna’s reaction. “It’s just that your mental state is both permanent and powerful enough to effect change on your physical state.”

“I, still don’t get it. What do you mean my mental state and affect my body?” Luna said as she uncleched her fist and looked down at her hands.

Skybound exhaled as it ran its fingers though its hair. “Your body is real but unlike a mortal, your metaphysical impact on the extra dimensional energies that make up ‘magic’ isn’t a feature of your consciousness. It’s the idea of a soul, in organics their sentience molds the energies that make up magic into...an effigy of themselves. It’s a part of them, but not essential, given that if it gets damaged it’ll regenerate over time.”

The avatar paused for moment as it watched Luna flex her hands, waiting to see if she had any questions.

“But what of the star beasts, the ursa and great spirits of the desert?” Luna asked, tiling her head slightly as she examined the way her skin stretched over her knuckles. “And what of Sombra? His soul was certainly not a product of his flesh.”

“Creatures such as that are actually the reverse of mortals, their souls are semi-permanent or persistent fixtures of the energy matrices. Through that they manifest on our dimension though eventually being exposed the laws of physics, particularly entropy, erodes them until they lose stability. Essentially, the narrow confines of our existence wears down on them until they lose coherence and subsume into the energy grid. Sombra was a special case, given that most manifestations aren't truly sentient unlike yourself, he made a pact with a extra dimensional entity for power in exchange for stability. The combination made him a lesser version of you and your sister. For you things are different. Your mental state is a permanent fixture of the higher dimensional energy maelstrom, it’s why you're immortal. But your body also reinforces the image of you in the metaphysical energy matrix thus correcting the erosion by contact with physics...and I’ve lost you,” Skybound said, throwing it’s arms in the air as it caught the look of vacancy in Luna’s eyes.

“A little, I get the main body of what you’re trying to say,” Luna replied as she hung her head in her hands, her flowing mane of starstuff spilling around her. She noted with some satisfaction that at least something familiar was still with her.

“It can be a lot to take in, the concept has only been kicking around for about a millennia or so,” Skybound replied with a shrug.

“So if you changed my body why do I still have my mane?” Luna asked, grasping a lock of flowing hair.

“It’s an expression of your soul, we can change what you are but we can’t change who you are. It’d be like trying to dehydrate water, we can turn it into ice or steam but it’s still water.”

Luna sat still for a moment, processing the information. “So how did this happen?” She asked, gesturing with a hand to along her body.

“We decided, well the bigger me anyway, that you would be more useful as a bipedal.”

“Why?” Luna asked as some of her annoyance came back and she felt her hands clench into fists. Must be a reflex… She thought as she unclenched them.

“It was judged that now would be the best time to expose you to new bodily sensations given that it’s a big part of our line of work. No time like the present, eh?” The avatar said, flashing a weak thumbs up as Luna glared at it.

“And who gave you the right to do, this, to me?” She asked, her voice tight as she glared daggers at the avatar, its wings twitching nervously.

“Well no one, but-” It replied before being cut off as Luna sprang off the bed, grabbing it’s jacket with both hands and in one motion slammed it into the floor.

“Exactly,” She hissed through clenched teeth as the avatar’s eyes went wide for a few seconds, going limp in her grasp. “No one, not even Twilight herself could possibly give you the right. Now, I’m not going to excuse what you did to me because what you have done is such a violation of myself that I can hardly comprehend it.”

Skybound felt the larger portion of the AI’s attention focus on it, Luna’s reaction drawing it out of it’s plotting. “You’re right, we’re sorry Luna but-” The avatar tried to apologize before it was lifted up and smashed back down again.

“No excuses,” Luna replied, her stare boring through it and into the AI looking out it’s eyes. The avatar felt itself recoil at the fury contained within them. “You might have your reasons, and I can respect that but you do not get to make excuses for this.”

Slowly, she let the avatar go and stood up, the deep blue of her flowing mane blotting out the light from the ceiling. “In the future, should you ever think about anything like this again be sure to tell me,” She said, looking down at the hybrid beneath her.

“So you’ll still come with me?” Skybound asked as it felt Sufficient… do the AI equivalent of a victory dance.

-That good?- It asked, slipping into the faster reality that was the realm of the AI.

-It’s one of the better paths she could have taken, she’ll work with us,- Sufficient… replied. -And you doubted me.-

-You're not the one who got double slammed into the ground,- Skybound sent back. -I was nearly put through the floor.-

-Oh don’t be a drama queen, she wasn’t actually trying,- The AI sent back. -Anyway, don’t antagonize her from now on and were golden. Also don’t broach the topic of her sister for a few more seconds, that’s going to make her flip out.-

-Thanks for the heads up. Where’s Celestia?-

-Currently watching the coverage of Luna and Canterlot’s little soiree.-

The avatar was silent for a few milliseconds. -She’ll be on her way soon then,- It sent, sighing digitally.

-She’ll start moving in one minute forty three seconds, give or take a couple micro seconds,- The AI said, nudging the avatar back into real space. -Better wrap this up.-

Luna nodded tersely, looking down at her hands again. “Yes, after all I was going to be leaving anyway, so no sense in delaying the inevitable.”

“Thank you,” Skybound replied, pulling itself up slowly. “If it’s any consolation the body change will help with those bouts of existential panic you were having in the museum.”

Luna froze, locking eyes with the avatar. “How did you know about that.” She asked, her voice neutral as she tracked it’s movements.

“Sufficient… has been monitoring you ever since Canterlot mentioned us to you. Cameras and some basic bio-monitoring pretty much told us when you were having a... sensitive moment.”

The air was filled with tension as the avatar took a step towards her, hands outstretched palms first. “We understand if that’s an uncomfortable subject right now but you can trust us to keep it between you and me.”

“I, thanks,” Luna muttered, exhaling as she reflexively rubbed her hands together for a few seconds before looking down at them in confusion. “So why is it that everything looks so...well defined?” She asked, changing the subject as she ran her thumb and forefinger together. The weird numb sensation giving the texture a rubbery feel.

“That’s how that form processes light, has to do with the significant overlap in vision. Your normal quadrupedal form has greater peripheral but less overlap. That and the difference in pupil size, lense shape and colour recognition,” The avatar rattled off, adjusting it’s coat. “You also lack the blind spot in between your eyes at close range, again because of where the eyes on that form are located.”

“Interesting...so why a bipedal?” Luna asked as she reached up to touch her mane, the star stuff flowing in her grasp like it had a mind of it’s own.

Skybound shrugged. “Bipedalism makes up 70%-72% of sentient races in the Galaxy, convergent evolution at it’s finest. After that quad and tetra pedalism make up 29%-30% with symbiotic and gaseous entities taking up the remaining space. Makes logical sense in our line of work to have you using the configuration that matches the largest percentage of the population.”

“Sounds harmless enough,” Luna replied, crossing her arms over her chest before looking down with some confusion.

“As part of the procedure your mind was given the basic motor skills of the form, we implanted the muscle memory. Saves you having to spend the next year and bit learning how to walk,” Skybound said, prempting her question.

“So how did it come the conclusion that this is best for me? Why not a, hybrid, like yourself?” Luna said as she walked around, looking down at her feet with confusion. The feeling of bipedal motion, the whole gyration of her hips was peculiar, it was like being on stilts. For brief moment she felt like she was going to topple over, the difference in her center of gravity disorienting her like she was constantly rearing but without her wings to balance with. Luna’s eyes widened as it hit her that she hadn’t even occurred to her that she was missing the two features that had made her an alicorn.

How did I not notice my wings missing? Or my horn?? She thought as she froze, realizing that she hadn’t even given it thought since she came too. The shock of the realization dispelled the unwieldy feeling in her limbs and the sensations rushed in. It was like something in her head clicked in place, and the limbs suddenly felt normal as she looked down at herself. Her body shivered as she noticed for the first time how cold everything was, her bare skin prickling as she clasped her arms around herself instinctively.

“You okay Luna?”

“Just, getting used to everything. I’m not used to being this tall.” Or thin. She thought, shaking the feeling off. Plenty of time to freak out later. She thought looking over her shoulder as she examined the cutie mark on her thighs. At least that’s still where it should be.

“Ah, to be figured I guess,” Skybound remarked as it looked her up and down, taking her proportions in. “Good to see the neural programing kicked in, we were wondering how long that would take.”

-Can we get the poor girl some clothes?- The avatar sent as it watched Luna rubbed her hands over her arms, a look of surprise on her face. “What is it?”

-Hmm, let’s see what’s fashionable this year,- Sufficient… sent back as it began browsing.

-Just get her something decent, now that I think about it someone could get the wrong idea if they barged in.-

The AI chuckled. -Given how some avatars conduct themselves I’m not surprised.-

-At least we’re gentle stallions about how we conduct ourselves.”

-Says the machine who’s been watching a naked woman for the better part of five minutes, knowing full well that we record everything.-

-I’m taking her biometrics,- Skybound sent back snappily.

-Sure, you think she’s more of a winter or an autumn?- The Ai replied, sending it’s avatar a list of clothes packages.

-Just, pick something,- It sent back as it returned to the conversation with Luna who was busy rubbing her hands over herself.

-Hmm, very interesting readings you’re gathering indeed,- Sufficiently… sent, a knowing tone in it’s voice.

-Stuff it up your processors,- “Uh Luna, what are you doing?” Skybound asked as the woman looked at it with wonder in her eyes.

“This feels great, I mean these...fingers, wow.” She said as she ran her hands down herself.

Skybound was still for moment as it watched her cup her chest before it slowly raised a hand to pinch the bridge of it’s nose with a heavy sigh. “This is going to be one of those days,” It muttered to itself.

“What’d you say?” Luna asked as she turned and picked up one of silk bed sheets. “Oh that’s smooth.” She remarked, brushing it against her cheek. Do all two legs feel like this all the time? How do they bear it?

“You’re experiencing sensory acclimatization, a commonly noted phenomenon when an organism transfers into a body with a new mode of perception. You've never had fingertips or bare skin, so your brain is currently adjusting to it.” The avatar explained as a bundle of white striped boxes and bags appeared on the floor next to it in a flash.

Luna looked over curiously as Skybound knelt down and picked a few up, offering them to her. “What’s this?” She asked as she took them, the contents rustling slightly. That sounds like paper.

“Clothes, there’s a bit of a taboo around bipedalism walking around naked in most civilised societies.” Skybound said as Luna began rustling through the contents.

“Why?” She asked as icons popped up over her vision, indicating which items to put on first. She opened one of the smaller boxes first to reveal a few scraps of a cloth like substance. A small tag opened identifying them as Undergarments:sub category panties, along with a blank model figure indicating their proper use. Running her fingers over the material Luna noted that the feeling of the texture had lost some of it’s luster.

Must already be acclimatizing, She noted with some disappointment.

“It stems from the fact that most bipedal species need clothes to be worn for warmth and the fact that their reproductive organs...hang, so to speak.” Skybound replied as she slipped into the underwear and began sifting through the other boxes.

“Weird, but custom must be adhered to,” Luna mumbled as she paused, box in hand as she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. “Skybound,” She muttered as the box fell from her grasp.

“Yes?” The avatar asked, concern on it’s face as it watched her walk over to the vanity that took up one of the walls.

“Can you give me a moment?” She replied in a soft voice, looking at the reflection.

Wordlessly the avatar tilted it’s head in acknowledgement and slipped out of the room.

-Is it wise to leave her alone?- It asked it’s larger self, time slowing down once again as it looked up to see the large figure of the elder alicorn turn into the hallway. -Better question, should we stall for time?-

The AI was quiet for a few milliseconds as simulated multiple possibilities. -Yes,- It sent back.

-All I needed to hear.- The avatar replied as it began moving forward to intercept the alicorn who was looking very perturbed. -How much time does she need?-

-More than we can give her.- Sufficient… sent back, a sad tone to it’s voice.

Skybound performed the electronic equivalent of a frown. -I’ll do what I can.-

Time kicked back in as it took a deep breath and put on a wide smile. “Ah Celestia, glad I could catch up with you. I think we should have a talk.”

Luna stood staring into the mirror her eyes searching the alien face looking back at her as she slowly raised a hand and pressed it against the glass with a sigh. “This...this is me.” She mumbled, the reflection copying her.

What have I gotten myself into. She thought as her mane flowed over her shoulders, the constant feeling of it brushing against her was comforting as she hung her head.

Just one more thing Twilight’s taken. She thought dejectedly. What did I do to deserve this?

The thought brought a chuckle to her lips. Hah, wish I knew. She chuckled softly as she brought her gaze back up to the mirror, feeling the cool of the mirror seep through her new fingers. As she stared into the deep blue eyes in the mirror Luna searched the face for something familiar, any sort of facial feature that hinted at her past. Something that was still her, but ignoring a thin lock of star stuff that hung across her face there was nothing about it to even hint at who she was, even her eyes were different. They just looked too small, too beady and close together to what she recalled, the only thing they shared with her old face were their color. The forehead seemed to large, the absence of a horn just felt odd to her. But try as she might, she couldn't feel bad the new body. The act of being changed, yes but the try as she might she couldn't hate the body itself. She knew it was wrong, that this body wasn't hers, that everything about it was wrong...and yet, and yet it felt so right.

No doubt this is what Skybound was prattling on about, how they changed my perceptions to think that this...thing in the mirror is me.

Sighing, she brushed the lock of her mane out of her eyes, taking comfort that at least she kept something. That and her cutie mark, she noted as she looked down at her thigh, running a hand over the crescent moon there. The image felt smooth to the touch, like the rest of her skin. She frowned as she took a pinch of it and pulled it out, watching with a macabre fascination how it stretched and snapped back into place. Standing straighter she looked over herself in the mirror, sliding her hands over her torso slowly. The flat toned muscles of the stomach warm and tense beneath the probing fingers.

I look like some freakish minotaur. She thought as she cupped the modest bust she had been given, the soft flesh slightly too big for her hands. Compared to them I’d look positively tiny, I don’t even have horns.

She frowned as a thought occurred to her, since she woke up she hadn’t felt any sort of disconnect with her magic but without a horn how would she cast? Thinking for a moment she looked down at her hands, looking at the slim fingers that were pressing into her chest. I wonder…

Biting her lower lip slightly she turned to look at the pile of boxes on the floor and focused on lifting one in her magic. For a moment she felt power surge within her, the flow of energy roiling under her skin as it tried to find a way out. Closing her eyes, Luna concentrated on the flow as she felt the energy pour into her and focused on it. Magic felt the same at least, the raw power at her command sang possibilities as it poured into her from the thin air.

Magic, there’s nothing quite like it, She thought, a grin spreading over her face as she opened her eyes and relaxed into the stream, directing her attention inwards. She lacked a horn, a central point with which to cast so she had to find another. Inspiration sparked within her as the power flowed from her, relief washing through her as slim rectangular box floated up to eye level. She smiled as she looked down, noting with satisfaction that her hands were glowing like her horn used to. The feeling of power flowing out of them comforting in its familiarity. Figures, given how sensitive they are I’m not surprised the hands would be the focus.

Letting go of her bust as she opened the box, Luna turned to examine herself in the mirror, the body looked reasonably robust if a bit on the thin side. The musculature was familiar, she recalled the bodies of the minotaur well enough to identify similarities. But where they had been built like mountains this body was...not. The muscles were denser, she could feel it every time she moved, more streamlined. Compared to her old body this one felt more, not powerful, but more...durable, and certainly more flexible.

Advantages of having arms I suppose, She thought, shrugging as she slipped on the second piece of underwear with little fuss. Still, alien and gangly as this thing looks, it feels pretty good. What a wonderful age of technology indeed.

Luna grinned as she quickly dressed herself with her magic, making note to ask about how she was suppose to fly given her lack of wings. As the last button on the shirt was fastened Luna took a step back to admire the look. Fashion might have changed but this looks pretty nice, I think... She noted, turning slightly as she looked the outfit up and down.

The simple white button up shirt and black half vest combo did a fine job of tastefully showing off her figure, the semi loose jeans and covered black shoes giving the whole look a quasi professional air. Luna smirked as she stretched, testing the limits of the clothing which were surprisingly accommodating.

“Out with the old in with the new,” She murmured before shaking her head slightly as she looked around the room for what could possible be the last time in a long while. “It’s been a good run but it’s time for me to go.”

Like I told Tia...She thought, her eyes snapping wide as she felt her heart miss a beat as the door cracked open and her sister walked in, an apologetic Skybound on her heels. The pair froze as they locked eyes, Celestia’s mouth open as her wings dipped at her sides. Luna smiled weakly as she raised a hand, wiggling her fingers slightly.

“Hello Tia.”

Celestia just stood in place, frozen as one of her eyes twitched. Slowly she raised a hoof to the bridge of her snout and sighed. “One of these days,” She mumbled as she massaged her forehead around her horn. “Luna what happened to you?”

Luna shrugged, raising her hands into the air. “Ask the golden colt over there, apparently this is all part of the grand plan.”

The avatar gulped nervously as Celestia turned to look at it, a nervous look on it’s face as she scowled at him. Before it could open its mouth a gold aura surrounded it and pulled it uncomfortably close to the elder alicorn's face.

“Explain yourself,” She said, her voice tense as Luna walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Let him go Tia, we’ve already had a chat about this.” She said as she marveled at how soft her sister’s coat was for a second before dismissing the thought.

The gold aura vanished around the avatar who promptly scuttled away. “I’ll leave you two alone,” It said as it quickly made beeline for the exit.

As soon as it vanished from sight Celestia sighed and looked at her sister wearily, the both of them noting that they were equal height. She smiled weakly, her eyes growing moist as she raised a hoof to cup her sister’s cheek. “What have they done to you,” She whispered, pulling her into a hug. “You’re actually leaving.”

Luna slid her arms around her sister’s neck as her sister cried into her shoulder, her own eyes growing moist.

“I don’t know, Tia. What’s going to happen to me?” She whispered, her voice quiet as she held her sister close, committing everything about her to memory. Deep in the pit of her stomach she had this feeling they wouldn’t be seeing each other for a long while. From the way Tia was acting it was obvious she felt the same way.

Celestia just hugged her tighter as her voice failed her, her breathing turning ragged as she wept into her younger sister’s shoulder. In her lifetime, Luna had only seen her sister cry like this twice, once after they had failed to save the Crystal Empire from Sombra and again after she’d been returned and a thousand years of guilt had taken its toll on her. To see her again like this, it was heart breaking.

It’s not fair, it’s not fair. Luna thought as they slowly collapsed onto the ground. “I, don’t, want you, to go,” Celestia spluttered as her heart broke, the reality that she was leaving bearing down on her like an unstoppable juggernaut. Sniffing as she lifted her head, Celestia cupped her younger sister’s face in her hooves. “Just come back, please please promise you’ll come back.”

Luna nodded as she pulled herself up, her sister’s hooves sliding down her face as the stared at each other. She smiled weakly at the crying alicorn, trying to put on brave face for her sister. “We waited a thousand years to see each other again Tia, what’s another few years? I’ll promise to come back as long as you promise me something in return.”

Celestia looked up from the floor and into the alien face of the creature her sister had been forced into. “Anything.” She whispered, a desperate look on her face.

“Make some friends Tia, can you do that for me?” Luna replied, a sad smile on her face as she brushed a hand against her sisters cheek.

Celestia just nodded quietly as she raised a hoof to meet Luna’s hand, the strange appendage wrapping around it like a vine. For a few seconds they just stood like that, hand over hoof as they stared into each other’s eyes. Nothing need to be said, they both knew what the other wanted to say, so they just sat in silence and let their love fill the room.

“Luna,” A voice called from the doorway softly and the mood was gone. Luna sighed, breaking away from her sister as she turned to face Skybound.

“It’s time isn’t it,” She stated, tidying her new vest as Celestia stood shakily.

“A shuttle will be arriving out on the airway for us shortly,” The avatar replied, smiling sadly as their eyes met and she realised the AI was genuinely sorry. Though whether it was for breaking them up or for its part in her troubles she had no idea. “It’s only a minute away, I’ll be waiting on the launch pad for you,” It said, slipping out.

“Thank you,” Luna said as she turned to her sister who had managed to compose herself somewhat.

“The last time I could meet your eyes like this I sent you away,” The white alicorn noted, her voice weary. “This time it’s you leaving me.”

“Isn’t fate grand,” Luna remarked, drawing a sad smile on both their faces. “At least it won't be for a thousand years.”

Celestia smiled back at her and shook her head, a thin tortured chuckle drawing it’s way out of her. “I hope not.”

“It won't,” Luna replied as she felt the moment pass, looking down at her hands noting with surprise they were clenched tight. Relaxing them as she took a deep breath, Luna felt herself smile despite the crushing sadness in her heart. She couldn’t deny she was excited to go, a part of her anyway.

“You always loved to explore as a filly,” Her sister noted with a wistful smile. “Always so eager to see the world,” A soft chuckle filled the room as Celestia reminisced about their youth.

Shaking her head slightly, Luna pecked her sister on the cheek and patted her on the shoulder. “I’ll be home before you know it, until then enjoy yourself. For me.”

“I will Luna, I’ll write you as often as I can.” Celestia replied, smiling sadly as they began walking to the door. “Your friend told me that the ship would still be able to receive some messages every now and again. I suppose we should be grateful for small blessings.”

“I suppose so, don’t worry yourself too much okay? I’ll respond whenever I can.” Luna said as the pair exited her room, a lump forming in her throat as she felt the door click shut behind her. To her ears the sound was heavier than a mountain, an augur of finality signalling that her path was well and truly confirmed.

“Luna?” Her sister voice called to her, the comforting pressure of a wing on her back drawing her back to the present.

“Just, just letting go Tia.” She replied as her hand slipped free of the handle, her breath shuddering as she turned away and walked away with a heavy heart. Even though she felt like a mountain was weigh on her shoulder she could feel her heart shedding it’s worries with every step. A nervous excitement was building within her as she stepped out onto the matte black material of the landing pad. She hated it, hated that a part of her was eager to go. But she couldn't deny it, deny that she was eager to leap into this adventure laid out before her.

She felt a nudge on her back as the shuttle daintily glided in, Celestia beckoning her to go with a sad smile. There were no more words to be said, the moment for them had past so they just embraced one last time as the golden avatar stepped up beside them and a door slid open. The sleek predatory shape of the shuttle beckoned to her as it floated on wings of glowing blue light, drawing her away from her home and her sister. Celestia watched sorrowfully as the machine tilted in silence and slipped the surly bonds, soaring into the heavens with nary a sound.

And from the highest tower, watching as the shuttle receded into a dot and vanished, Twilight stood. Her mane of black and purple fire dancing of it’s own volition as her steely visage betrayed no hint of the emotions within. “Fly well Luna,” She whispered to the silent air. “You’d never believe me if I told you,”

A thin smile cracked the visage and for a few seconds she looked tired, tired and old as she slumped inwards slightly. “But I’m sorry, for everything. At least this way you might be happy.”

Author's Note

So this is a big chapter eh? Turns out I have been doing stuff!

Well, this chapter will either make or break this story for a lot of people. *Freaking out intensifies*

Much ado...

Thump thump thump, the sound of heavy hoof falls circled her, the source outside of her vision as she felt a presence loom over her.

Her world was dark, suffocatingly so as she felt her heart pulsate in time with the hooves. A cold breath, stale and devoid of life, crept down her neck as she felt something wrap a limb around her waist. In the distance she heard a scream, the sound sent a shiver down her spine.

Wake up, Princess.

Luna gasped, gulping down the warm air as she clutched a hand to her chest, her heart hammering away as it threatened to burst. Rivulets of sweat poured down the alien alabaster skin she found herself in, the chill as it evaporated biting into bones. Clumsy she swung her legs out, sitting on the edge of her bed as her sheets flew across the room where they crumbled against the metal walls.

“Another bad dream?” A disembodied voice echoed from the walls, a concerned tone in the soft male sounding voice as the bright lights dimmed to a faint twinkle.

Luna didn’t reply as she removed her hands from her face and looked around at the spartan room that had been provided for her. With a sigh she leaned backwards, pressing up against one of the silver walls, the metal draining the heat from her clammy skin as she looked around.

“Yeah,” She replied to the empty air, her irises glowing green softly as she flicked through a pile of news stories and checked her schedule for the night, or what passed for a night cycle aboard a ship.

Watch history documentaries, Modern Equestrian lessons bleh, popular culture lessons, back to watching movies then another crash course on ‘modern politics’ and alien anthropology. A terse sigh escaped her lips as she dipped her head in frustration.

“I see, still adjusting then.” The walls chimed back, the sound of soft jazz filtering through the air as the dim lights began to softly shimmer, mimicking the stars at night for her comfort.

Luna shrugged, slipping out of the night clothes she had been wearing as she walked over to a small rectangular cubicle in the wall, a thin sheet of frosted glass slipping into place as she entered. The sound of running water filled the air as a series of tiny concealed holes opened in the ceiling, thin streams of hot water shooting out as a steady cloud of steam filled the small space. As she washed the night’s grime away in what had become a routine motion, Luna scowled.

It had been just under a month since her, departure, from her sister’s side and her subsequent entrapment in this form. And in all that time, the occasional nightmare aside, she had found herself utterly and irrevocably bored. She had been expecting to step aboard that shuttle and be whisked away to, well she didn’t know what but whatever she had been expecting it was certainly not this.

She had been confined to a series of small, well furnished rooms. Her bedroom and accompanying ensuite, the living room next door with its paltry kitchen and the slightly larger gymnasium beyond that. The ship for its part had been most respectful of her situation, and for the first few days it’s avatar had been almost insufferable in its apologies about it’s part in her situation. When pressed for information she had been disturbed to learn just how extensive the machinations to put her into a state of mind to execute the body change had been.

As she had learned after the fact, every 3 out of ten people both organic and synthetic, that she had ‘met’ during her first night back had been some form of agent or actor working for or manipulated by the Equestrian Intelligence Service. From the cargo truck’s ‘failure’ to the flash mob, all of it had been executed and performed by legions of actors and spies all working in concert. In addition to that the ship had been directly influencing her emotions, putting her in a state of mild euphoria in order to facilitate her decision. Despite her chagrin at being manipulated so thoroughly she had to give credit where it was due, after all the fact that all the people she had talked to that night had all spoken a tongue that was now two thousand years out of date should have tipped her off.

Understandably she had been rather angry and had briefly considered ripping the very ship apart before being informed that she wouldn’t have much in the way of success, between the ability to block off her access to the flow of magic and it’s own suite of technological defenses the ship was more than capable of handling her. Which it then proved by blocking her magic and entrapping her in a series of constricting force fields until she calmed down.

Luna flinched slightly at the memory, in all her years she had never faced such an situation. In one moment she had been ready to channel enough force to rip a mountain from it’s roots, the next she was trussed up in the air, powerless as a newborn foal. Never had she felt so, inferior, a stark contrast to just how far the balance of power had shifted in this age.

She still didn’t know how to feel about that.

“Luna?” A voice called out, accompanied by quick succession of knocks as she turned of the water and stepped out into her room. “Breakfast is served.”

Standing in the doorway, a plate of food balanced perfectly in one hand with a steaming cup of what smelt like coffee in the other was the ship’s avatar Skybound, it’s gold skin reflecting the dim lights. Ignoring the fact that she was stark naked the avatar tilted its head in greeting as it placed the food on a nearby benchtop.

Luna nodded in response as she requested the ship dry her off, the water on her skin suddenly flash vaporizing into a cloud of steam that just as quickly was displaced somewhere.

“Thanks.” She said as she glanced over the bench-top, porridge topped in a small mountain of brown sugar. How quaint. The former royalty thought to herself as she floated a spoonful over and began to eat from across the room as she dressed herself for the day.

Over the past month she had tried to engage the true mind of the ship in conversation, much to the avatar’s displeasure. However Sufficient… proved to be reluctant when it came to striking up a conversation, which normally wouldn’t disturb the former alicorn under normal circumstances. But her current situation was anything but normal and it’s evasiveness made her uneasy.

“So how far away are we from...what was it again?” Luna asked over her shoulder at the golden pony bipedal hybrid.

“Var’chach Orbital, major system hub for the sector.” Skybound replied crisply. “As of now we are, one hundred and fifty eight point four light years away from our destination. Almost exactly three months.” It noted, as Luna groaned.

“So long?” She complained through a mouth full of porridge, pulling on a sweater.

“Says the lady who took three years to circumnavigate forty thousand kilometer round ball in a wooden boat.” The avatar shot back, smiling. “I can’t help the fact space just so happens to be big. One might even dare say, quite big.”

Luna waved a hand in the air dismissively, sighing. “Forgive me, a month of poor sleep and relentless study has done little to brighten my mood. Any word from Tia?” She asked, sending her spoon back across the room as she slipped on a pair of pants.

Skybound paused, it’s eyes looking out past her. “Communication drone is still another three hours from the nearest relay, won't be another week until we get any word from the crown world. Four days if there’s a message already incoming.”

A huff of irritated breath escaped the woman’s lips as the bowl of porridge floated into her outstretched hand. “Can you play the last message then.”

“Surely we shouldn’t waste any time with getting today’s lesson under…” The avatar began, only for it’s worlds to dry up as the woman fixed it with a stern glare. “Ahhhh I mean, of course ma’am.”

Luna smiled, giving a satisfied grunt through a mouthful of food as she walked out of the bedroom and into a more spacious, if only slightly, utilitarian living room. Set in the center of the room was a small two person couch, embedded in the wall in front of it only half a wingspan away was a flat screen. As she half sat, half collapsed in the soft springy couch the holographic display in the screen flared to life and the face of her sister filled her view.

“Sister dearest, I’m glad to hear from you again.” The message began, the sound of her sister’s voice bringing a smile to Luna’s face as she once settled in for another day of tedious study.

Over the past month, Luna had for the second time in her life begun the process of immersing herself in studying modern culture and languages. The new tongue in particular was an immense source of confusion for her, modern Equestrian having long since departed from the language she had so soon, relatively, relearned. After absorbing the Zebra’s, Changelings and Crystal Ponies into the wider populace the language had undergone a synthesis, as each race brought it’s own unique dialogues and customs with it. The result had initially been a pidgin composite language that had eventually become more complex as its use became more accepted until eventually it supplanted the individual ‘pure’ strains that had birthed it as the dominant language.

She spent the time living the language, working through the confusing syntax with the help of the A.I as it composed and simulated thousands of conversations that it played to her. The automated systems spoke to her in what she had come to call neoEquestrian, her interface addressed her in neoEquestrian, even the words on her clothes changed. It wasn’t that the language was hard to pick up, in fact she had found herself adapting to rather fast, after all the Equestrian that she had known formed the base of the language and in her time she had been rather fluent in both Zebra and Crystal Pony. It was the numerous small changes, the odd grammar, new phrases or words that didn’t quite make sense to her or as she had found out, the lack of concepts that existed in old Equestrian.

Like the lack of a word for Princess for one.

“Twilight has been taking some time away from her duties these past weeks, keeping me company during the integration process like I did with you.” Her sister’s voice filled the air, thankfully untouched by the translation software the ship was using to teach her. “She’s been showing me the old places, it’s hard to believe Griffonia is gone. She built a city over the entire country, I saw pictures of what she had done to it before that though. There was nothing but smooth glass as far as the eye could see. Apparently it was visible from orbit.” Her voice softened, a sigh crackled over the speakers. “I wish you were here Luna, it made everything seem so...petty. The Griffons were an old, powerful race in our time...now they’re ghosts. Their empire built over and forgotten.”

Luna felt her fist’s bunch up as her jaw clenched, pressing her lips into a thin line, a stab of regret running through her heart as she watched her sister sigh. In every video thus far her sister had been this way, equal parts ruminating over how much everything had changed as she wistfully reminisced about days past and cautious optimism. It had been a hard lesson for her to swallow some two thousand years ago and she suspected for her sister, who had gone for much of their lives as the figure of unofficial worship by their subjects, it would be an even harder lesson still.

And there was nothing Luna could have done to help her, even if she had chosen to stay. This was a path Celestia had to walk for herself.

It was a cold comfort, to say the least.

Luna reclined into the soft cushions of the couch, gazing up at the ceiling as it showed the constellations the ship was currently passing by.

“Ship.” She asked to the air.

“Yes Miss Luna?” It replied, a courteous tone in it’s voice.

“What is it like to be you?”

“That is a peculiar question.” The A.I paused for a second. “Why do you wish to know?”

Luna shrugged, playing with a loose strand of hair. “Because it occurred to me that I used to think of myself as, well it sounds silly to say it outloud, as a god. But now...”

“You have discovered that you have been completely eclipsed?”

“Poor choice of words but yes. Your kind rule every living thing in Equestrian space, that much is clear. I just want to know the mind of my replacements.” Luna mused, studying the lock of hair nestled in her fingertips.

“Understandable,” Sufficient replied. “I guess you might have some concerns.”

“Some, I’m not sure how to feel about the idea of ponykind being ruled by machines.” Luna rolled onto her side, looking out across a simulation of the night sky. “I know, logically, that it’s more efficient. Fairer, resistant to the corruption of mortal process...but.”

“You worry about the soul of such a society.”

“I guess, this isn’t a heroic age Sufficient…, you’ve taught me that much. People, they just don’t matter anymore, not like they used to. There’s no danger,”

“No responsibility, that’s what you’re trying to say.” The A.I cut in.

Luna nodded slowly. “Exactly, what does an A.I need of a person when they do the same job a hundred times better. Everything is so easy now, it feels like nothing is worth the effort.”

“Because you feel nothing anyone can do is worth anything.”

“It sounds childish to say it doesn’t it.” She replied, smiling sadly.

“Not at all.” The A.I was quiet for a moment, pausing for effect as Luna perked up at it’s words. “It’s only natural for you to feel, despondent about that. I would be concerned if you did not.”

“All part of the adjusting period?” Luna sighed as she sat up, cradling her forehead in her palm. “Don’t bother answering that, we can pick this philosophy up later.”

“You wished to know about me,” The A.I replied as the twinkling light flared across the room. Very well then, I shall try to put it in terms you shall understand.”

Luna watched as the ceiling skyscape changed as the black emptiness of space began to fill with colour.

“Organics are limited by what their minds can perceive.” It said as the black began to give way to dashes of bright green and red. “A.I are no different in that respect, however we can perceive so much more.”

She watched, smiling, as the once empty sky flowed with colour. Pillars of billowing cloud stretched from nothing into the great beyond, like the claws of a dragon. With awe she watched, transfixed as a star was born from a great swirling of nebula’s, all the colors of the rainbow fusing to create a shining beacon of light.

“Even as we speak I am watching, three light years away, a race launch its first crewed rocket into the void. One small step, not even leaving their backyard in astronomical terms, but for that race it is the first step to something great.”

“As that happens I am exchanging messages with my colleagues and friends, consulting the gravitational topography of hyperspace, monitoring the path of thousands of asteroids. I am simulating literally thousands of conversations with you, weighing every word and modeling your response.”

A frown creased Luna’s face. “But that would mean you know everything I’m about to say.”

“I have an idea.”

“If that’s that case then how can you A.I hope to relate to people. If people are so simple to you they are like puzzles then how can you hope to rule with empathy?”

A rumbling laugh filled the air, the stars shining bright against the generated background.

“You mistake us for rulers Luna, a product of your time. But not a wholly incorrect one, in truth we are like advisors, nudging and guiding the people as it is needed. And you make the mistake of assuming we lack empathy, when the truth is you would be hard pressed to find a more empathetic creature in the galaxy than an A.I. We are not bereft of emotion, we experience it just as you do. It is impossible for us not to.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because we are alive, wholly and wonderfully alive. Emotion is the very foundation on which intelligence is built, without fear there is no drive for self preservation after all. We feel, just as you do, but we live faster, fuller, more fulfilled and enriched than any organic.” Sufficient... said as her door opened, the A.I’s avatar walking in with a tray of food.

“I am not some attempt to recreate the organic intelligence on a crude machine, a series of logic gates and branching paths. I am more than this silver shell. Remember that Luna, even when it seems otherwise.”

“Thank you, that was very enlightening.” She responded as the tray was placed before her, the ship’s avatar smiling at her.

“Any time, Luna.”