Once upon a nightmare

by KarmaSentinal

Rating: teen
Tags: Mystery, Royal Guard, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Bat Pony, Alternate Universe
Length: 29658

Weeks after Luna's return, the princess is still fighting some lingering demons.

Luna, after her almost nightmarish return to Equestria is very slowly taking in the world around her. While still a princess, she has no duties other than raising and lowering the moon until she is deemed fit for service; a process many claim will take years, so Luna is given small tasks here and there to speed the process up.

With no objections, the young alicorn takes her little slice of responsibilities seriously. While in the public eye, Luna is still seen with suspicion but given the befit of the doubt; behind her closed doors, she still battles against the demons...or demon of her past.

Most of this story is a rework of my now cancelled story The Future is Ours: Salvation of a moon. I'm going back and rewriting the story, which will broken into two parts. Once upon a nightmare will be the first.

Cover art isn't mine, just something I googled.

Title shameless taken from the wonderful Nox Arcana song of the same name.

Published 2014-08-08 02:40:06 UTC
Last updated 2016-01-24 19:02:41 UTC

Fighting a losing battle

Author's Note

Alright, this story was once known as, The Future is Ours: Salvation of a moon. After getting some feedback and giving it considerable thought, I decided to not only go back and redesign the plot a bit, but to also break it into two stories; this being the first part, and setting the stage, while the second one will be the adventure and conclusion.

Please feel free to leave thoughts and concerns and I will do my best to try and answer them. Thank you!

Fighting a losing battle

It was cold. No. It was by Celestia’s radiant flank it was freezing, or so was the agreement amongst the guards. The freezing temperature made gliding nearly impossible for pegasi, let alone fully armored pegasi to hold formation at such heights. Luckily their new armor was enchanted to withstand the colder temperatures; not against this kind of cold, but it still helped them in some way.

The dozen or so bat winged guards kept close to their charge as she flew just a ways ahead of them. Nightmare Moon seemed ill affected by the height or the chill as her wings effortlessly continued to sail over the cold front. Her escort struggled to keep pace, but even with the new armor, a buildup of slush along their wings continued to impede their progress. Still they pushed themselves with the tenacity forged by their status as Nightmare’s Elite.

Sadly the title acted more in line with a parasitic stigma than a title of respect.

Her moon’s light reflected off the motionless clouds, acting in a way that helped their newly improved eyes to see much better as they began ascending over the ominous mountain. In the not so distant past this mountain had the slightest amount of frost just barely covering its peak, but now the entire point was nothing but an avalanche waiting to happen. Their wings flapping harder as the group struggled to climb over the peak, the air burning their already frigid lungs as it tried to claim a life With the endurance provided from months of consecutive high altitude, and “winter” training the entire flight managed to fly over the mountain’s jagged peak before slowly descending to less freezing temperatures.

The numerous bonfires of Canterlot attracted them like moths to the flame.

It was only noon and the lands surrounding Canterlot Valley was pitch black as far as anypony could see. Only with their heighten eyesight could the guard make out the pinprick light of fires coming from homes, or from smaller, sparsely distant settlements. Beyond their sight was anypony’s guess. After the declaration of the Eternal Night, the country(and entire world) was left to run itself as Nightmare gathered followers, both willing and unwilling to hunt her sister, Princess Celestia. That was the bat ponies’ job in the grand scheme, to assist in Celestia’s capture, and bring her back to Canterlot for trial.

It had taken many months but another group had finally found, and captured Celestia. With this news, Nightmare turned her unit around with post haste back to Canterlot and had force them to fly nonstop. It was a miracle that none had been lost during the flight back solely because of Nightmare’s set speed. With the brightening light and warmth coming from the city the tired guards managed to pick up the pace; they looked forwarded to finally collapsing on a warm bed… even if today marked the death of the sun.

“Alright guard, close ranks and tighten formation.” Nightmare ordered as they approached the city square. The guard did as they were told, and followed Nightmare Moon as she descended into the streets, flying just a few heads above the crowded mass of ponies that had gathered. They turned right with the road as it opened into the massive city square, following its outline a bit before making their landing on the newly erected platform in the center.

With a pronounced thump, the party landed on the sturdy, wooden stage. The crowd shifted from open talk and discussions to whispers and gossip at their ruler’s entrance. The activity had quickly dissipated as Nightmare Moon turned to the crowd, her wings unfolding to their massive span to gather their attention. Her bat winged guards took their stations on her flanks, lining against the sides of the stage in a pseudo barrier to keep the crowd a set space from the stage. Everypony gladly gave to their demands if it meant holding closer to their neighbors. The mist from their many breathes hovered in the air like an ominous mist on the old Nightmare Night Holiday.

The alicorn lowered her wings once the gathered ponies had quieted some. It was time for her to speak.

“My fellow Canterliaons, we are pleased to see such a turn out for what surely will be a historic night!’ She boomed in the Royal voice. Its eccentric pitch rocked the very foundations of the city, causing a brief panic which was quickly drowned by the sharp stomping of armored hooves.

The Cosmic Guard stomped in unison before stopping with one last clack as their hooves came together, signaling order had be restored and Nightmare Moon had the floor. Her lips curled almost sensually at the display of training and obedience. It was a show of their loyalty and devotion to her, and soon, before this assembled mass of spectators it’ll be the first of many more acts. Without acknowledging their display, partly because she had expected them to do something without being told, Nightmare Moon returned to her speech.

“Tonight's the night of nights! A night that all gathered will witness snuffing of the sun by our very hoof!” Nightmare screamed with vigor as the mass of ponies gave each other worried looks that voiced their enthusiasm. Most didn’t like it but none did anything to stop or impede it.

Nightmare Moon looked off to the sides of the stage, nodding her head at a couple of guards on the edges of the mob. The pair quickly took the sky, heading for the castle with the speed of an injured bird… Nightmare would have to punish them for their lack of urgency. But tonight was a good night and she’ll be damn if a couple of ponies were going to mess it up. She swiveled her attention back to the crowd who were now looking at her with a mixture of curiosity as well as fear.

Surprisingly, she only had to wait a few short minutes before sounds of disbelief and gasps filled the quiet square. Nightmare turned toward the disturbance with a wicked fury in her eyes. Her heart was alight with glee and anticipation at was to come, and by the sound of the crowd it would only get better. The ponies parted as a column of armed guards cut their way through, not even stopping for those that failed to move out of the way. Soon the first of them had managed to reach the stage in the center of the square, joining the rest of the guard that made up the barrier around Nightmare Moon. The column moved with the disciplined professionalism expected of trained guards; not even giving their surroundings any attention unless it called for them to. Once the last of them had reached the stage, in uniform they halted their march before turning toward Nightmare Moon, and giving her their attention with a quick salute.

“Empress Moon, we brought it like you asked.” The more formally dressed pony informed the alicorn. The ponies closest to the stage renewed their whispers at the officer’s words. What was this creature they had brought and what was her interest in it?

Nightmare Moon nodded happily at his words, she made a jester with a hoof and the guards responded quickly by opening their ranks down the very center, parting enough to allow their “companion” room to emerge. The crowd looked on with keen interest, noting every movement as if it’ll help them figure out their mysterious guest.

The mystery only deepen when four guards emerged from the column wrapped in chains. At first the rumor that circulated was that they were traitors that had been captured, but quickly a few ponies noted that they had too much freedom for being in chains. Which their observations were only proven right when it looked like the chains were only wrapped around them, tying them together… to aid them in their struggling to pull a great weight.

They were dragging something.

Attuning to their herd nature, the ponies as one started moving between each other, foals jumping on their parent’s heads, pegasi tried to take to the air for a better view but were quickly stopped by the guards. Still they’re previous discontent was forgotten as they all wondered what it was on the stage. Finally after a torturous wait they finally got their first glimpse of it, and it was massive.

The color was the most distinguished trait it possessed; as comparable to the sun against the night sky. The pure and radiant white coat made a few ponies shield their eyes from its intensity, but it wasn’t nearly as bright as it could have been. Many stains that looked like blood and dirt covered the beast so much that some could have mistaken them for spots, but other than that there wasn’t much else that stood out. Certainly there weren’t any animals with this coat color around these parts; perhaps it’s a bear from the Great North? It made sense and many started nodding their heads at that logic…

Its massive wing suddenly twitched.

The appendage was so still and awkwardly bent that many didn’t notice it until it moved. Just looking at it sent chills down their spines as many pegasi clutched their own wings in response since they better understood the anatomy of a wing. The amount of pain it must be experiencing was just impossible to even think about, let alone try and comprehend. Most of the feathers were unkempt and unclean having been stained with the blood and cobble from being dragged along the pavement. Nearly every segment of feathers were in some way misshaped, broken, cut, bent, or spread in any direction other than following the wings natural curve.

The poor creature. Whatever it did or didn’t do to catch Nightmare’s eye just didn’t deserve it. Mutters of sorrow and a few shouting that their hearts were with it went out, but almost instantaneously the dark alicorn’s murderous eyes fell upon them. The soulless gaze was utterly terrifying. Parents shielded their foal’s eyes; others averted their own while a couple even fainted from them. She made it clear this creature of grand stature deserved every bit of it, and to feel for it would only invite the same upon them.

“DO NOT PITY THIS CREATURE!” Nightmare Moon shouted with the ferocity of a rampaging dragon.

The crowd leaped back in fright, terror and instinct demanding them to run, stampede, or take flight; anything that’ll put a valley’s distance between this…this inpony monster from the caverns of Tuataras. As the ponies thought this, an ominous chilling wind, almost on command exhaled forth from the night. The bonfires that created the only source of light flickered and danced madly to the unheard beat. They lunged, and grew brighter and stronger as the wind’s eerie tune energized them to new and freighting feats. The crowd twitched and turned, cowering closer to one another; watching as the fire built a wall of hellish flame around the City square, trapping them.

The hellish lambent intensified its holdings on their minds by toying with their sight. Their cell was bright; brighter than they have ever bare witnessed to since the sun’s collapse. Everypony, every detail, every aspect, was displayed to all expect for the only shadow in this inferno.

Oh Sweet, sweet Celestia come back to thee!

The wicked unclothe eyes hung in the pure darkness that definitely stood unaffected by inferno of light around it. Its eyes bore into their hearts with malice intent. Suddenly the light betrayed something of it, illuminating the poisonous glaze that coated its fangs as it smiled. A laugh followed. Than another and another before its mighty wings unfolded, taking the shape of doom and dread incarnate…the shape of Nightmare Moon.

“DO YOU SEE!? I TOO CAN PROVIDE LIGHT!” Nightmare howled. “I TOO CAN BE JUST AS GRACIOUS AS THAT WRENCH YOU CALLED PRINCESS!” She roared angrily now. The guards in front of her dropped in pain from suddenly becoming death in both ears as the ponies in front of them followed suit; the rest clutching their ears to numb the pain. Thanking the Sun for leaving them a bit of their hearing.

Her head turned furiously toward the broken creature that lay disposed next to her. Her horn shined its brilliant midnight color as it gathered magic for her use. The body was cloaked with the dark bindings of the night, it twisted and offered some form of resistance to the magic’s touch.

It moved, and convulsed in pain at the unwanted attention but that didn’t stop the dark mare as she gripped it firmly with her magic. Its high pitched shriek from the pain waned the crowd’s hearts even more as they watched helplessly, being shackled by their fear of the Empress Moon. She dragged it closer to her only to add to its pain, before nimbly levitating it off the ground so she could look it in the eyes directly.

It uncurled limply, losing its previous resistance and liveliness. The more Nightmare lifted it off the ground the more distinguishing features came to light. Its white coat was even more scared and dirty than expected; cuts and gashes adored its sides and legs like it was part of a disturbing ritual. Its damage wing from earlier didn’t fall toward the ground, instead it hung fixed pointing to the sky while it’s other wing… just wasn’t there. Discoloration on its coat marked possible bruises, possible scorch marks from magic, but from their distance it wasn’t for certain what it was other than it only added to the long list of wounds. By now the ponies silently wept for her.

They only needed a quick a moment to recognize the mauled and molested body of their Princess.

Nightmare Moon grinned madly at her sister who could barely keep conscious at the moment. Her laden eyes made no effort to hide the pain or weakness she was feeling, Celestia had all but given up hope over the past months and by now wasn’t feeling any more optimistic. She watched with some interest as her sis…Nightmare Moon’s demonic eyes bore into her mind.

“Do you see now sister how foolish you were? Do you see now that you could never have truly stood against my night?” She asked Celestia, not really expecting an answer. She asked more as a way to boast her own ego and rub her victory in Celestia’s muzzle even more.

“Do see your little ponies?” She asked suddenly. Nightmare Moon yanked Celestia’s head toward the crowd and the guards that still covered their ears. Both parties looked up at their princess getting one of their first looks since this entire affair started. Her current state, and health was anything but grand, in fact it was disheartening to see a once majestic being reduced to such a lessen standing. But it would take much more for them to completely lose faith in their princess. After all she’ll always be the true princess of Equestria.

The dark alicorn watched with rising anger renewed as the reactions were less than stealer. Nightmare gritted her fanged teeth the more she watched the hope in their eyes renew itself to replace the fear and obeisance she had worked so hard to install just vanish in mere seconds. Even her own guards never showed her that much respect and she had allowed them the privilege to live and serve her! Celestia’s eyes flared with life at the sight of her ponies before they closed in pain as Nightmare started constricting her neck with magic. Nightmare Moon turned to the ponies with malice, barely able reign herself back from lashing out and slaying some of those ungrateful ponies!

“IS THIS HOW YOU SHOW YOUR RULER AND HIGHER PONY GRATITUDE FOR LETTING YOU LIVE IN MY GLORIOUS NIGHT!” Celestia choked as the hold gained strength, cutting off her air.

Nightmare paid no heed.

“DOES THOU LOVE HER SO MUCH YOU SHALL FORSAKEN ME ONCE MORE?” She convulsed spitefully, even relapsing back to her traditional tongue. The flames that had once hellishly ensnared the crowd were almost extinguished immediately from the hurricane that came from the enraged mare, leaving only the glow of her moon. Yet even now the two alicorns stood out drastically with Nightmare turning an even darker shade of black and Celestia...remaining not as dark. She snorted the last bit of irritableness away before calming herself just enough to think. If that’s how they felt, then she’ll just have to change that.

“We… I see how it’s to be than.” Nightmare Moon stated with misguided conviction as the air next to her shimmered and pulsed brightly with dark magic before the distorted air split open to reveal its deadly purpose. Nightmare plucked her favorite weapon from the portal with such care; it was hard to believe her capable of such a thing. She held it above to let the moonlight reflect of the unnaturally spotless blade; the same weapon she had first forged, and had used in every conflict up to her banishment.

It was the same weapon Celestia had destroyed by hurling it into her Sun.

“eh…h…ho…” Celestia wheezed as she was gravitated to the weapon Nightmare Moon gripped eagerly with her magic. It was almost right after the major clash between their guards where Celestia had managed rip it away from her before sending it straight to the center of the sun. After that fight Nightmare had retreated back to their home where one last confrontation took place before Celestia banished her to her moon. An act that had infuriated and caught Nightmare Moon completely off guard and to this day had never forgiven Celestia for.

“You know Celestia, you really disappointed us. We believed you had higher standards than the rest of rubble that had made up your old nation, yet it appears you're the same as them just taller.” Nightmare Moon snorted unimpressed at the mare before her.

It was quick and so sudden it took almost a full second for the crowd to realize what had happen, but when they did they only closed their eyes trying to lessen the screaming that followed. Nightmare in a sudden and spontaneous act of aggression raised her newly claimed blade and sliced Celestia’s other wing off. The new unicorn cried in agony once her damaged nerves finally processed the wings removal. Her wailings danced perfectly with the eerily haunting night that surrounded them; many found it disturbing but a few actually forgot what had just happen and even started picturing the setting as a beautiful example of a Nightmare Night.

The dark alicorn herself seemed to be dancing to its tune, one or two claimed she was even humming to Celestia’s changing pitch.

Celestia’s broken tears did nothing to end her pain, only serving to wash some of the grime that had built up around her cheeks. She blinked to clear her vision to stare at the happily singing monster before her. Her wheezing reminded Nightmare that she still had a barely breathing Celestia in her magical grasp, and with a fleeting annoyance returned her attention to the almost dead mare.

Nightmare Moon waited until Celestia’s bloody coughing finally ended so she could listen to her final words. “Wh...what...where..i..is my sister.” Her words felt along the lines of a statement expecting an answer than hoping for one. Nightmare laughed. It seemed Celestia still couldn’t let go of old habits from her ruling days... Nightmare would indulge her one final time.

“Where is your sister you ask? In your final moments of life you don't spit blood in our face or curse our bones to damnation, but worry for your family. A touching but pointless concern...” The encroaching darkness violently engulfed the alicorn mid speech in a vortex of pure darkness. A darkness that made going to Tartarus sound pleasant. It spun around her body as it aimed for the night sky before reversing its direction back toward the cold ground; like how a clock is adjusted clockwise before moving counter clockwise.

Celestia watched in horror as the darkness receded to expose the mare of the moon once more. She had shrunk nearly 4 inches in total height, her wings no longer held the air of unchallenged dominance that would have ultimately defeated Celestia. Her royal dark blue coat stood boldly against the pitch black world around them as she opened her eyes to reveal the familiar irises Celestia had known for her entire life.

They stared diligently into her soul, boring deep into Celestia’s inner being and essence.

Luna tilted her head questioning at her sister, before happily closing her eyes to smile; antics of a foal that knew something the other didn’t. Happily walking the remaining distance between them, Luna closed gap between Celestia’s and her horrified muzzle to enjoy the complete look of terror engraved onto it.

“But sister, I’m right here.”

____________________________________________________________________

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Luna yelled in shock as she awoke in a cold sweat. Her labored and struggled breathing filled her thought and hearing as she tried to reclaim her breath. Luna’s hooves wrapped themselves around her distressed body in an attempt to stabilize the uncontrollable shaking. Meekly collecting her shattered mind, Luna raised her dilated pupils in observance to the alien room around her. What greeted the scared alicorn was the massive; obsidian rich chamber Luna called her room, home, and workshop for the past several months since her “welcomed” return from banishment.

The chamber was setup to mimic the large (and wonderfully built) dome of the modern day astronomy observatory that was located near one of the major towns or cities. The name escaped her, but Luna had never seen it but from the illustrations and descriptions she had heard... it was perfect. An entire room dedicated to the art and science of the stars and the night sky brought much needed joy to her heart but now with these darkening times it was becoming a curse.

The room before was used as an off hoof storage, but had been renovated in a matter of 2 weeks nonstop to match the look of the observatory. At its completion, Luna was overjoyed at the vaulted ceiling look, but now the 360 degree look only hid the disorientating shadows that mocked her. The constant and very real feeling of being on display didn’t help her current mental state either.

Luna was now having second thoughts about having placed her bed in the center of the chamber.

Even constricting the sheets closer to her body, Luna still felt a cold shiver slink down the entirety of her spine. The result startled her into a mild panic while her eyes faked as much bravado as they could. The flickering lights cast from the enchanted candles aided Luna to some degree, but not enough to quell her terror. Using her magic, Luna managed to brighten them some; they dimly illuminated the chamber enough to cast it in a nightly, mystifying haze that a normal pony would only find in a horror tale. This sent the terror returning with a fury. Luna’s traitorous moon candles were not helping, but seemingly betraying her to the horrors and demons that lurked and stalked her room. All of this only reinforced the belief she needed to remain in bed.

A flutter of movement caught the corner of her eyes; it was met with a quick turn around and a question. “Who is there!?” the trepidations alicron shouted. “We beseech thee, stop this act and return to once ye came!”

Another flutter this time came from the opposite side. Luna answered it with a Royal shout, shattering her mighty, and ancient oak desk into fine wooden chips. The soft clicking of hoof steps coming from behind her bed earned itself a shout as well; which broke one of the massive night stained windows in the process, releasing a fury of sunlight into her chambers. Luna hissed angrily at the light blinding her sensitive eyes. It would have lasted longer if not for the panic pounding of multiple hooves on her door.

“What was that yelling princess? Are you alright?”

Of course it was guards assigned to her door, a questionable act in Luna’s opinion which left much to be desired. In thought the idea of guards near and at the ready sounded good, but the execution left a bad taste. In her day, all of this yelling would have not only alerted every guard in the castle but they wouldn’t have hesitated to break the doors. Act first, ask questions later. These guards would have allowed a foreign threat enter uncontested before fighting back. With the exception of her Captain, the whole lot was near damn worthless.

“We are fine! Return to the post beside our chambers, and tell our sister we have awakened. ” After asserting her authority while avoiding a direct answer, the prior tensioned had dissipated leaving Luna feeling even more drained than before going to bed. It felt more like another all-nighter in the archives, only this time with fewer books…and less water damaged tables.

The archivist still refused to leave her unsupervised after that.

The sunlight annoyed Luna greatly; noting against her sister but having a bright light shunned in her eyes wasn’t a pleasant thing. Still it was a great motivator for the princess to wake and make preparations for the approaching late afternoon. The sunlight also took some of the darkness away, and for that little fact the young princess gave a silent “thank you” before teleporting to the safety of her washroom.

A silly act, but who knows what sort of creatures lurked under the bed.

Cruel Moon, where are thou?

“Luna? Are you sure you’re feeling well?” Celestia’s flawless voice splintered with worry and anxiety for her sister’s well-being. Having only just started getting used to Luna’s presence around the castle once more, Celestia was determined not to lose it again. And true to her vow and promise, Celestia had done any and everything she could to help ease her sister’s transition back into society… and still Luna seemed aloof with generally everything in day to day Equestrian running’s.

Luna blinked as she jumped from her recently created and newly categorized thoughts and concerns to look up at the “ill at ease” expression her sister was given her. Luna mentally sighed, not in annoyance but in an “I appreciate the concerns, but I’m a big mare that can handle my own problems now” sigh. It was truly wonderful to be back and finally able to grasp her sister in her hooves once more, it truly was and Luna really did miss Celestia, but her constant smothering was starting to suffocate her.

Luna only wanted maybe a day, a week at the most, to clear her mind, process, and adapt to this… this Eden of a kingdom her sister had built in her absence. To be able to explore and interact with their subjects a bit more informally as a fellow pony and not as their ruler, maybe even make a friend or two in the process. If Luna had to decide on any possible good to have come out of her banishment, she would have likely picked the swiping of her slate clean.

Without a doubt, many events would have been different if she had ruled by her sister’s side during those 1,000 years, but she likely would have followed in Celestia’s hoof steps in setting herself up as a demi-god. In truth they were demi-gods in both term and power, but separating themselves in almost all aspects of their subjects’ lives just because of their title and power? Nay, Luna thought over and over again to herself. They should be involved in the lives of their subjects more than just sitting on their elevated throne and passing judgment, shouldn't they?

“We are humbled sister, and cherish your sympathy towards our well-being, but… “ Luna trailed off in brief thought, wondering how to word this next part without possibly causing her sister to panic.

“We feel thou may be overdoing it.” She bluntly stated, looking her sister in the eyes. Luna saw the flicker of emotions playing through Celestia’s eyes as they analyzed and battled for a response. Her muzzle retaining its practiced and calculated expression during the entire process before finally dropping in defeat.

“Luna,” The older sister weakly spoke. “I...I’m sorry if I’m really bothering you that much. The day I banished you… I nearly lost my will to continue on. Only for the well-being of our ponies did I even try to continue.”

Celestia’s tone, devoid of its usual warmth and radiance, started delicately plucking at Luna’s heartstrings, creating a heart aching mix of doubt and guilt over her blunt and now obvious poorly chosen words.

“Luna…” She silently flinched at her own name.

“The last thousand years were nothing more than a dark and depressing time for me. I locked myself away for nearly a decade to grieve, and would have stayed longer if it weren’t for my…our ponies.” Celestia momentarily paused to fix the more noticeable cracks that squirmed along her mask.

“It wasn’t until Twilight came along that I felt that similar spark we shared, sister. Up till that point I didn’t really live, only existed and nothing more. Plagued by ghosts from the past, my soul could find no release from its eternal sorrow, if I may borrow the words of the famed gentlecolt E. Poe. He was a troubled, but truly brilliant pony in all senses of the word, and sometimes I think he was maybe the only other pony that understood what I was going through at the time.”

Following Celestia’s deep and honest confession, the sisters continued their walk, only now haunted by a lingering silence. Celestia kept her regal appearance for the benefit of those they passed, but eternally she was in anguish. Her sister, Luna, fared no better if not worse. Her pose and self-confidence were almost nonexistent; favoring the tired and defeated look of a scolded foal, the night princess trudged alongside her sister hoping for the ill tasted mood to go away.

A few more crawling minutes, and a quick turn here and there, and the pair found themselves in front a pair of simply massive, aged oak doors that marked the entrance to Celestia’s chambers. The two solar guards noticed the pair, and to most would have gone unnoticed. But to Luna’s surreal eyes, she noticed them quickly twitch in alertness at her presence.

“Truly I’m forever feared and alone.” Luna sulkily thought.

Surprisingly, at least it seemed to Luna, Celestia gave a small nod to the two guards, who left in haste, leaving the two siblings alone only after giving the “monster” a wide berth. “Luna. Please don’t ta-”

“Tis fine dear sister.” Luna cut her off. “We are not concerned with what others think of us.”

Celestia, for a pleading moment, felt a slight ping of joy at hearing her younger sister’s words. Thinking of them as possible signs of her growing tenacious personality… but that was shot down as quickly as she thought of it.

“For they are right to do so. We do not need, nor crave their affections.” She stated with such venom and hatred that Celestia nearly jolted back in fright. Taking action before anything else was to happen; she moved forward, surprising the night mare with her sudden embrace. Stunned and unsure how to proceed, Luna stood still as her sister poured every ounce of love and sympathy she could muster into her hug until finally Luna caved. With painfully guarded tears, she graciously leaned into her older sibling’s breast, greedily eager to accept any attention she could get.

“Sister…” Luna whispered, unable to summon anymore words while her rambunctious thoughts bombarded her mental walls; unable to focus or decide on anything other than to silently accept the comforting hug.

“I’ve missed you so terribly, Luna. It’s good to finally have you back.”

“We…I missed thee as well.” Luna returned her sister’s hug with earnest. The feeling of worth and belonging always seemed to dance just within Luna’s hooves before vanishing into dust. It stung her deeply. Millennia of isolation with nothing more to keep her mind occupied than festering thoughts of revenge and ill intent melted in that moment. Luna hugged her sister even more, not caring if her tears were likely staining the white mare’s pristine coat.

“Sister, your words are far too kind and forgiving for what we had done to you.” Luna could practically feel her sister’s smile grow as the radiant warmth that engulfed her increased a bit. This was going to be harder than she had first thought. “And it pains us greatly that you, dear sister, will never see the world we would create.”

Before her words could sink in, Luna summoned the ghostly dagger she had been concealing and plunged it deep into her sister’s neck. Celestia’s eyes widen with true disbelief, struggling to break the hug she had started, only to find Luna’s embrace had tighten. The struggles lessened and the muffled cries went silent before the solar mare finally collapsed limply onto the cold tile floor. Fixed with steely regret, Luna closed her eyes, slightly ashamed of the act she had just committed; a necessary act, she quickly noted mentally before silencing her tears to look once more at figure she had called sister, now lying unmoving and dim on the floor.

“They’ll come to love me as they did you. They’ll come to love and adore the night as they do with your day. I truly wished events didn’t transpire the way they did sister.” Luna’s somber tone deceitfully preached to the lifeless body before striding down the meek halls towards the throne room.

The transition was swift and subtle. The light thumps and clops of horseshoes grew heavy with weight and power, echoing her presence to any and all that still lingered at this hour. Tiny and delicate wings suddenly became enormous and powerfully wings capable of creating gusts and storms with a single flap. The rest of her body quickened to match the new rush of power being released and wisely displayed. Only the sun sibling carried such a similar aw worthy aura of power, the only difference between Celestia’s and this new power being the constant and chilling wind of fear that followed her closely.

Night Guards and the occasional castle staff that crossed her path quickly and hurriedly bowed before her, only dashing off in panic after she had left them. Her Night Guard, to their credit, hadn't lost their composure even though the faint traces of worry and uncertainties were plainly obvious to her. But it didn't matter. They’ll quickly learn, just as every otherpony would learn. She could feel the confusion and awe as she passed, smiling faintly at the “admiration” seeping from them. A slight nod and the two before her opened the massive doors with post haste, illuminating the interior within with her Majesty’s beautiful and subtle radiance.

She didn't much as blink, let alone acknowledge the few guards that guarded the room, nor the state’s ponies that oh-so-dignified “graced” the Grand Throne with their presence. The fearful glances, the murmurs of disbelief soothingly courted Nightmare’s ears as she pressed on to the object of her desire and attention: The Throne.

The ponies reminded her of statues: neatly displayed in even, kept rows, unmoving yet full of emotion, she thought to herself until the object she sought was finally upon her. Nightmare Moon paused only for a moment, but it might as well have been a lifetime to the others that occupied the room, before lifting a massive hoof to take her first step; even at such a soothing, and pleasant ascension up the stone steps, her hammer hoofs echoed throughout the vastly quite chamber they found themselves in.

Reaching the very top, the literal seat of power in the world, Nightmare Moon stopped and turned around to face the ponies as a politician would to address the masses. Except there was no speech or encouraging talks to be given, in fact no words were to be spoken at all. All were quiet as their eyes stared with fearful interest at the benevolently dangerous eyes so silently judging them.

Her horn suddenly flared to life with lunar magic, startling the ponies and causing a few to bolt for the massive doors, but they too flared to life as the massive doors groaned closed, sealing them off from the rest of the world. All the ponies turned as one, gazes on the gates to their cell, praying to Celestia not to confirm their fears and sudden realizations, praying that this was just some sort of harmless nightmare that they’d all wake up from and nothing else, unaware that Celestia would never hear those prayers. They were trapped within the room with this twisted and dark version of their benevolent and bright ruler.

Luna stirred slightly, but nothing more as her perpetual, calculating gaze lingered from one pony to the next as she looked from one side of the room to the other. Her stone cold poker face never revealing her thoughts or motives as her head continued to turn in comparison to an owl’s. Nightmare Moon finished her examination of the room, silently soaking in their “respect and admiration” for her and her power. For what she could arguably say was the first time in over 1,000 years she felt such true and uncensored bliss, Nightmare Moon would even dare compare it to the first time she had managed to raise the moon by herself.

“This feeling… it’s intoxicating.” She drunkenly thought to herself while still drowning in the emotions.

“You love it, don’t you Nightmare?” A voice manifested within the sanctuary of her fortress like mind. She blinked once, twice and continued to stare at the crowd of displaced and anxiety ridden ponies.

"You do love it, it radiates ever so brightly from you.” The persistent voice wisely stated once more. Whoever this pony was, it knew her well.

“Just look at them, at how they cower and shudder in submissive obedience. This is the way it should have always been and should continue to be.” This pony knew her too well…and yet she strangely loved it! Nightmare Moon found herself siding with this voice more and more, and even nodding in agreement to it. It, he, she, whoever or whatever the case may be, this was somepony she could get along with.

“Do it.” The voice soothingly compelled the raven Alicorn.

Nightmare Moon gave into the spectral hooves that now guided her every action and suddenly felt her body lifting from its throne. She watched through her own eyes, taking a back seat as her body moved on its own, raising to all fours as the magic pulsed through her veins until gathering at the tip of her horn. It shined brightly in a rich nebulous of dark colors, building and burning brighter toward the final moment which no pony understood.

She felt it, she truly felt it. In all her long years upon this land did she ever conceive such a thought, let alone even risk to imagine one? And yet she found herself willingly going along with this “pony’s” ever increasing vision of grandeur. But that’s how it’s supposed to be, isn’t it? When aiming high, you shoot for the stars…and what star is bigger than the sun?

At first, the ponies flinched instinctively from her sudden and unexpected movements before, with some courage, turning their heads to face her once more. Her horn lit up in a dangerous beauty of nightly colors, filling nearly every corner of the room with its hypnotic spirals; for that brief moment, they forgot about their fears and concerns, too intent to watch the magical hues dance and twist in an almost ironically tranquil tone.

Nightmare Moon’s face contorted in pseudo-anger and pain as the stress and pressure begin taking its toll. It was proving to be an even more daunting task then the voice had first let on, but she couldn’t stop now. To stop would only prove her own weakness and unfitness to rule in front of her subjects. Mainly it would prove her sister right along.

With a strained and pain enforced yell, Nightmare threw her head back in a show of force and power. The tip of her horn shined brighter than before, the hues intensifying as they pulsed brighter with more potent magic.

Her subjects reacted, covering their eyes with hooves, hats, scarves, or anything they could use to fight back the burning light and just like that it was over. The burning light faded, returning their vision slowly to normal, and soon the mutters and surprised gasps coursed shortly after. Standing with her legs spread apart in fatigue while she inhaled deep, controlled breaths was a triumphantly smiling Nightmare Moon, but the ponies paid little notice to her since their attention was focused on something more frightful. Brightly, or rather dimly, floating in the sky was the symbol of their protector, and mother to them all. The sun, hidden behind the now tainted moon, had flung their once heavenly, glorious land into a perpetual gloom of twilight.

Nightmare Moon inhaled deeply once more, having finally controlled her breathing before correcting her posture to its formal regal state once more. Her time on the moon surprising did teach her something important: the moon was, in fact, very, very cold. And learning from that experience had taught her that the same would happen if she were to have done the same to Equestria. So, Nightmare Moon somewhat reluctantly settled on a compromise of sorts that was a win-win to all, a permanent and total eclipse would reign over all instead.

Nightmare Moon noticed one or two ponies here and there falling, disappearing into the crowd and for a moment she mused the thought of them trying to hide from her gaze. But when a few more followed, her musings were turned upside down, unable to make out what was happening until the entire room followed the examples of the few. She couldn't believe what she was seeing! The entire mass of ponies, even with fear and shaken expressions etched on their faces, were bowing to her. To her! The unexpected and abrupt feeling of energy and pride rushed dangerously through her entire being. Finally! These ponies were wising up, and understood she was the absolute and only true ruler this land needed and, if she were a weaker mare, she would have started to cry.

It was low, and hushed at first. A few testing the waters no doubt, but soon the rest followed, filling the chamber with the uniformed chanting of her name.

“Nightmare Moon! Nightmare Moon! Nightmare Moon!”

The mass continued their chant in earnest and vigor. Nightmare Moon, filled with such delightful and restored self-arrogance, returned to sitting on her throne, content to listen to them chant her name for a bit longer.

It’s good to be Queen.

The nightmare was violently shattered, releasing the Princess of the Night from her slumber. She yelled in fright and confusion at what she had just partook and witnessed.

“OH BY THE MOON AND THE STARS!” She cried out. The wind from her cry fluttered the enchanted curtains, letting a flicker of sunlight enter. Normally this would be enough to snap Luna out of her thoughts, but this... no this was something else entirely.

She grasped the drenched covers with trembling hooves in an act of restoring some much need bravado. Luna barely felt it as her pin pricked eyes blinked madly as they adjusted to the light. In her entire existence (except maybe after her redemption by the Elements) she had never felt such a raw frightening helplessness; from a dream no less! From the one realm Luna could truly call her own, and then this nightmare happens. If she couldn't even protect herself from such an alarming occurrence, than how could she protect her subjects?

By her wondrous night what could have caused such a... realistic and nearly lifelike nightmare. The nightmare felt too real and personal for it to be simply her mind running wild. It had purpose and meaning behind it, but as to what it was unnerved Luna. The thought of her having a relapse crossed her mind but was quickly discarded like bad candy, and yet she found herself clinging to it the more she wondered about other possible solutions for the nightmare.

A relapse... something about the word didn’t taste right.

“We need to talk to somep.. NEY!” Luna quickly changed her decision. She was only tolerated as it was already and if word got out that she was having a possible relapse already...

“They’ll kill me.” She whispered. What could cleanse this pony from the darkness of her own heart if the Elements of Harmony couldn’t? Nothing could.

“Death would be the only logical choice to protect the citizens of this land, and the rest of the world from...me.” Luna felt her already cracked heart shatter just a bit more. There had to be a way, a meaning or something she could do to solve this on her own without telling another living soul.

“We need to treat this... illness, no disease that inflicts us with much pain and torment. We need an idea, a starting point on how to begin our endeavor.” Luna voiced her thoughts to help clear some of the burden from her mind. She pondered for a few minutes, before glancing at one of the many windows. Using her magic, she drew one of the curtains back just enough to gauge the time of day: it was just past noon.

Luna knew she couldn’t tell another soul, but knew not of a possible place to start her search. The only ones close enough to be considered an option where her Knight Captain and the two friends that constantly watched her door. Any other pony wouldn’t understand her plight…

She needed somepony more sympathetic to her struggles... somepony that not only firsthoof knows what she went through but one that carries a lot of weight with words.

“A visit to our sister’s student is in order.”

Author's Note

No excuses for the very long delay on this story, so here's two chapters to hold you over until I finish the next two chapters. The second promised chapter will be up in a day or two after one last look over.

Lunch with the head of State

The last few weeks had seen the biggest influx of legislative action and paperwork in nearly 200 hundred years; the last great influx had overhauled the country’s entire agriculture policy from the ground up. This on the otherhoof, was something much, much bigger and even more frustrating. To transform their country from a matriarch to government resembling a cooperative matriarchal overnight simply couldn’t be done in the alout time.

Especially with most of the upper crest sandbagging the entire process with fake concerns and filibustering every meeting with pointless jabbering until every member either vetoed the current proposal or diluted it with unnecessary add-ons.

Now it was nothing but a deteriorating mess that gave Princess Celestia a headache to rival any other. Peace talks, meetings, gatherings, social and planned events were eventually overshadowed to the point they became the same thing just on a new day. They had all became an elaborate excuse to gather around polite company to discuss the troubles surrounding their Princesses, or rather a certain nocturnal one, and that deeply troubled the Sun.

Luna, having only just returned nearly 6 months ago from exile held little to no status in the eyes of the current nobles and other influential ponies. Granted, she had made a few strides in winning the common ponies’ trust,though many still viewed her with an air of fear and suspicion. It sadden Celestia to say it but other then being her sister, Luna held no real power or prestige in the court and by that logic made it all the more difficult for her to reintegrate back into society. Sure, Celestia didn’t expect Luna to fully reintegrate in the same day but she had hoped the transition would have been smoother.

In Luna’s credit, she really had been trying to resume her old duties as quickly and seamless as possible. Though limited in power and influence, Luna did manage to win some favor among some of the key common ponies (namely in Ponyville) and even helped some of the astrologers and maritime ponies by updating their star charts, thus allowing for better sea navigation and cosmic research. Still this did little to wash away the stigma of Nightmare Moon, and sadly it may never truly disappear.

Celestia sighed quietly, allowing a portion of her concerns to vanish with it as she continued her mild stroll. The outside gardens were one of the only places within the castle open to the public, with the outer courtyard around the main entrance being the other; ironic considering the alicorn never liked displaying her feelings in public. The soft crunching of the crisp grass was the only sign somepony was out this early in the morning, and Celestia hoped it remained so until she had her fill of despair.

Her sister’s night was still present and on display for the world, and yet Celestia couldn’t even look at it; a bit of guilt and fear still held her in a vice. She loved and wholeheartedly praised higher beings for Luna's fortunate and safe return, but now she grudgingly questioned Luna’s mental stability. Celestia was at a loss. Luna’s habits and mannerisms showed just how out of tune she was but could that alone really ruin her chances of integration?

She sighed once more. Even this late into Luna’s Night, her moon still managed to illuminate the land with just enough light to see without the use of a candle or spell.

To Celestia, it allowed her a small glimpse into her sister’s world; the ability to gaze on the bare, and plain truth normally hidden by her sun. To the left, the statue of Commander Hurricane, a hero and model for many pegasi for generations by day… and by night, it could be mistaken as a demon of death and suffering to his would-be enemies. Celestia gave pause to absorb this strange statue, noting how the light seemed to go to great lengths to avoid his face; even the shadows ignored his face, settling on cloaking the body like an armour. With the absence of light, this paragon of a hero was transformed into faceless monster.

Perhaps this was how her sister felt most of the time, maybe all the time? Maybe ponies as a whole were actually two completely separate beings that wore two masks each day; one mask the pony they were expected to be with the second being the monster they really were? Were Luna and her the exceptions to this or were they in some way each other’s opposite mask? Luna being Celestia’s demon and Celestia being Luna’s angel?

Could such a system even be possible? Perhaps in a twisted way Nightmare Moon was the world’s answer to maintaining a pure harmonic balance... Celestia shook her head, partly in hope of it freeing her mind from such thoughts. An immortal ruler and a learned pony in many fields, especially philosophy and yet all of its "What If?" completely eluded her. She needed answers that could be found by completing a hypothesis. Celestia needed that hypothesis to be formed from facts and not just assumptions littering her collective thoughts. Celestia didn't like the unknowns and their unanswerable variables.

She found them unnerving.

“An unfortunate truth it would be.” Celestia whispered dejectedly. “We’re already different enough with two opinions on how the whole world views us. My little ponies see me as a savior and pillar to lasting harmony, happiness, growth, acceptance, and prosperity for all. My sister Luna is looked upon as nothing but a cold entity to be feared and condemned; a living reminder of ages past and disasters to come if they should ever leave my light.”

Going off the position of the stars and from her connection with the sun, Celestia knew it was almost time for the sun to rise and for that she was thankful for the brief distraction.

Normally she was all about a new day, but for this morning Celestia wasn't going to perform any spectacles: shows of power, or fancy flying. Instead the alicorn opted to just raise the sun like her job demanded given she wasn’t really in the mood anyway. Aiming her horn toward the sky, Celestia enveloped it with the purest light one could ever hope to see in their lifetime; a light so pure in contrast, it could reduce a pony to tears.
The aura grew brighter as she channeled more power into her spell. The raw energy coming from her radiated outward, unleashing ripples of energy that shook the trees and hedges with an unseen wind as it continued to encompass the surrounding area.

As it reached its maximum point, the energy just as quickly began recalling back to its point of origin. The wind reversed its direction back toward Celestia with a vengeance, collecting and swirling around her form before converging at the very tip of the horn. She could feel the exuberant energy of the sun as it compressed into a perfectly shaped sphere no bigger than a common bit.

With the practiced motions only achieved with centuries of repetition, Celestia elevated her upper body toward the night sky. Using her mighty wings as a balance, she was able to stand using only her hind legs as a base. The sphere shot forth into the sky with speeds Rainbow Dash could only imagine. Celestia held her pose until she felt the energy pulse across the sky, signaling her connection with the massive fireball that graced her flank. The bleak blanket of the night began gradually dissipating as the warm, and hopeful colors of the dawn surged through the sky. It only took minutes after that before its rays extended over Equestria, shooing its nocturnal cousin away.

Celestia’s smile, however brief fell into a frown as she lowered herself back on all fours. It wasn’t new watching day and night “chase” each other so they could have their turn, but watching it happen repeatedly only reminded her of her previous thoughts. Luna, and her night frolicking peacefully before the big, bad, glaring sun comes…

“Could I really cause Luna so much distress, and not realize it?” Once more, like centuries before, Celestia found herself down this very trail of thinking. How often would she sit alone while sipping tea, as her self doubt pick at the bones of her sanity?

There had to have been the reason, there was no other explanation as to why she fought so hard to clear her sister’s name; it wasn't Luna’s fault but hers alone, or she assumed. Luna was her sister, and that gave Celestia the unparallel advantage of knowing her better than anypony. So, why did every possible explanation or hypostasis she tested ended with the results she didn’t want?

Every conclusion pointing toward a pony with an unstable thought process that is likely to repeat?

“I need answers, not agreement but honest opinions I can use, but whom?” Celestia asked herself. What about her staff or Guards? Maybe one of them, but even though she saw them on a daily basis, could she even consider calling one of them a friend? Ultimately she decided no, this wasn't something she could discuss openly with them. What about Twilight or one of her fri….

“Of course.” It dawned on her. There was only one pony besides her faithful student she could discuss this matter with. “If there was anypony... it’ll be him.” Happy with this result she calmly started her walk back to the castle’s inner halls; breakfast was approaching and she had a summon to make.

“No Morning Rise, that would be all, but thank you for asking.” Princess Celestia said, politely dismissing her hoofmaid. The early-bird, Morning Rise lowered the pot of hot tea aside before giving her lady a very friendly and warm bow to which Celestia gave a friendly smile right back. If anypony could come close to matching her sleep cycle it was her hoofmaid; since her first day on the job, unless they had forgone sleep altogether, nopony could beat her in waking up first.

After that initial discovery, Celestia came to rely on Morning Rise to wake her every time to lower the moon and raise the sun. But with Luna’s return, the job had become even less taxing meaning she had the option of sleeping in for a few more hours than normal.

Sadly, that still didn't keep Morning Rise from waking Celestia at the crack at dawn, so to speak.

With her task for the moment finished, Morning Rise gave one little bow before leaving Princess Celestia to enjoy her heavenly morning breakfast of imported oats, and hazel chocolate-covered toast. Her diet was going better than expected, and so Morning thought the Princess of the Sun deserved a treat this morning instead of the usual sliced bananas, and oranges with a glass of water. Morning nodded to the guards, and the trio left the Princess alone to enjoy her meal.

Celestia watched as her little entourage disappeared, waiting until the echoes of their hooves were nothing more than faint claps before letting loose on the defenseless plate before her.

Normally, the regal purity Celestia was known for would have accompanied her throughout the entirety of a given meal, but not this time. For on this morning she wouldn't worry whether or not anypony’s eyes were upon her… criticizing her for not being their ideal monument In little stories and legends since the founding of their little kingdom, Luna and Celestia had been seen on a higher standing- the ultimate plane one could reach.

It felt wrong wanting and not giving, but if the Sun Princess could be selfish, it would be for a throwback to older times, just after Discord’s reign and the beginning of it all . A period where by an unanimous agreement, Luna and her were chosen to rule all of pony kind; a time when they could walk down the dirt roads of any village and the ponies would just bow or simply wave, and announce their gratitude. Unlike the notion of today, with ponies treating her existence like that of a celebrity with parades in her honor for a simple visit or copying every little quirk and making it into a “thing”.

It was from this mindset Celestia all but skipped dessert unless she wanted to watch ponies rolling up ramps again…

Ok, that was mildly funny.

Celestia paused from the greedy consumption of the food that once graced her plate. Mostly because her ears detected the faint taps of approaching hooves, and mainly because there was hardly anything left on her plate. She paused, ears swirling at attention for the noise once more…there it was. Celestia could only detect one pair of hooves, weighed down not by the burden of one’s items but the enormous responsibilities forced upon them… and just a little bit of their self-imposed worth.

An accurate description proven true when who but the very picture,( with help from the guards by the door) dragged himself through the Dining Hall.

“Why Blueblood, what an unexpected surprise to see you this early! Are you going to sit down and join your dear mother for breakfast son?” The sun incarnation asked as “Prince” Blueblood slumped into the dining hall. His beautifully kept mane clung to his face and neck in patches while his coat was raked with scratches and little bits of plant life. The dark rings under his eyes only enhanced the image.

The moment she realized this, a slight panic descended upon her like Parasprites on Pinkie Pie’s cupcakes. In her self-indulgence and hunger for not-so-healthy food, Celestia had discarded her table manners and proper dining etiquette. Her muzzle was covered in a mixture of chocolate-covered oats and crumbs that closely resembled bread crumbs but could have easily been passed off as dirt. In short, she was a mess.

“It appears we’re both not looking the part this morning.” his sluggish voice pointed out the obvious.

“Indeed. Was it one or two?” she playfully retorted.

“Please don’t start that this early mother. I was “roughing it” in the frigid wastelands that we call our Northern Border.. the garrison there wanted me to say hi for them.” Blueblood added to change the subject, while pouring the remaining tea for himself.

Celestia knew this tactic very well and showed her displeasure by crossing her fore hooves over her chest: pouting. “But I just want a couple of grandfoals to spoil with love and candy. Isn’t it a mother's duty to not only care for their foal but to meddle in their romantic life to guarantee a grandfoal?”

“No. In fact it’s nearly sinister in context and morality, so if you want to redeem your image I suggest leaving your little ponies to their own devices.” Blueblood watched as his mother eyed him with interest, trying to study him before giving a playful snort.

“You make a valid point Blueblood, and I can’t but agree. I guess I’ll have to be patient and wait for some dashing mare to sweep you off your hooves.”

“Don’t you mean elegant?”

“ For you, only an equally dashing pony will grab your attention.” this time Blueblood pouted, unable to hide his smirk as Celestia finished another sip of her tea.

The pair fell into their own routines while enjoying the presence of the other, no words were exchanged during this cease fire. Celestia and an equally tired Blueblood sat across from each other, one sipping tea and the other using their hoof as a makeshift pillow. A rare moment in the life of a princess always busy, and a son following in the family tradition of swimming matters of the administration. Still some small, and fidgeting concern kept Celestia from fully enjoying this rare treat.

While nice, why did her son come back so early from this trip, especially from as far as the Northern Border?

“What brings you here Blueblood? While it’s a treat to dine with you, I understand the matters of state are just as important to you and for you to came back early is a surprise.” The stallion cracked an eye, giving Celestia her only hint that he’s still conscious.

“Shadows... and pies.” or conscious enough to be talking in his sleep.

Celestia lowered her empty cup onto the plate, giving the silent clink a chance to thin out before lifting Blueblood’s cup to her muzzle. No point in letting it go cold after all. She was in mid sip when the loud knocking of hooves against oak doors filled her ears. The alicorn turned to her snoring son before glancing to the door, just as Shining Armor crept into the Dining Hall. He waited until he was fully in the room before looking their way, removing his helmet in show of respect and tradition when appearing before the princess in such a manner.

Seeing this, Celestia nodded and motion with a hoof he was allowed to approach. Shining Armor wasted no time in approaching the table, taking a seat directly beside Blueblood while setting his helmet on the chair next to him.

“I’m glad you came, Shining Armor. You of course made sure to burn that note, correct?” Celestia asked already knowing the answer, but asked it just for the clarifiaction. He gave a simple curt nod in response and the pair left it like that with nothing more needing to be said. With that first question out of the way, Celestia decided to take another sip of her tea before starting her conversation with Shining Armor.

She was going to need its calming effects for this talk.

As Celestia continued her silent partaking of her tea, Shining Armor shifted restlessly a in his seat wondering what she’ll do next. This was one of those moments he truly didn’t like, the unknown and uncertainty of a situation. His training was top notch and of course prepared him for dealing with multiple circumstances, but that still never truly helped when it came to dealing with the unknown. As a commander, his choices, and his actions affected everypony, and the less knowledge he had about a subject, the larger the possibility for somepony to get hurt.

Or for sompony to get dragged into needlessly dangerous scenarios.

Though Princess Celestia was the poster filly of elegance, and stature, there were also times she could become unpredictable, and to a point on par with Nightmare Moon in terms of anger and ruthlessness. Granted, the last time such an incident like that happened was about 300 hundred years after Luna’s exile, during the Griffon Hierarchy’s aggressive expansion campaign.

“That was different.” he told himself. “It was another time, another situation.” Shining Armor told himself as he steeled his mind for the coming conversation. Celestia’s lips finally left the rim of the tea cup, only after finishing off the tea before setting the cup and plate to the side. Other than that she didn’t move, didn’t even blink or twitch, as she sat with the practiced patience of a monarch.

Blueblood snored while mumbling something incoherent.

“Well, Princess Celestia...” Shining Armor started off casually before delivering the bad news. Celestia had insisted when he became Captain for him to just simply use her name and nothing more, but by addressing her with title, it was their way of knowing what was to be said wasn’t the news she wanted to hear. But she had summoned him for his input and he was going to tell her the truth.

“I have to agree with Prince Blueblood… he’s right. Why aren't we helping Princess Luna more than we currently are?” Shining Armor suddenly, despite being in the close proximity with the Mare of the Sun herself, felt a cold shiver running through his body.

“Excuse me, Captain Shining Armor?” Oh damn. He was treading straight into the jaws of an Ursa Major, and sadly he was doing it willfully, but the fact she used his rank scared him the most. Only in extreme times of importance or anger would Celestia use such a protocol when they were for the most part on a familiar, first name bases. This was likely going to end badly if he didn’t tread more carefully.

“I’m just saying Celestia that I agree with Prince Blueblood.” He quickly raised a hoof when he noticed the faintest movements of Celestia’s mouth readying to react. The gesture did its job, and bought him enough time to justify his reasons before becoming the newest garden statue.

“In the sense it feels we should be helping Princess Luna more than we have been. Couldn’t we try encouraging her to come out of her room more; maybe take her for walks around the city or something along those lines? What about setting up a tour of modern Equestria so Princess Luna could interact with her subjects? Both sides could do with some more exospore.” Shining Armor questioned.

Normally Prince Blueblood and he were at odds with each other, but for once that secretive prince was right. Shining Armor had so far only officially met Princess Luna a few times (like three or four) and even those moments had been very perfunctory. Most of their conversations in fact really weren’t conversations at all; they were her “letting him know” of his complete lack of command over her newly formed “Cosmic Guard”. In fact, nopony really knew much about their Night Princess except for the occasional loose bit of gossip and when she makes her routine appearances at the Night Court.

Princess Celestia had managed to return to a more natural demeanor after digesting Shining Armor’s insensitive remarks... or rather their spot on comprehension of the matter. She let her inquisitive magenta eyes scan the pony before her as they searched for anything that could be used to discredit his statement. They effortlessly scanned his very essence and his very soul for a shred of deceit or ill meaning behind his words, but they found none, and she respected him more for that. Celestia had summoned him for this reason in hopes he would agree with her and her decisions, but instead he sided with her son.

He sided with Blueblood because he honestly felt there was more they could be doing for Luna, and what was currently being done simply wasn’t enough. She had believed there was more that could be done, but once more she opted for giving Luna space and hoping that she’ll come around; a major problem she had when dealing with most ponies other than Twilight.

Celestia loved and respected her ponies so much to the point she tried to not interfere with their lives. Through the long years, she had learned early on that the more she got involved with her ponies lives, the more it ended up hurting her when they passed. It pained her very much, but Luna even more as she watched numerous friends and love interests pass while she remained the same. They both quickly chose to wisely stay out their citizens’ lives.

It’s a selfish tactic that they had used to great effect to this very day, one Celestia seemed to be recklessly using on her own sister. And that was even more crippling than the wound from the mightiest blast of magic. It was through fortune she figured this out now before it Luna got worse and either ended up on the moon once more or it ended with one of their deaths…

Celestia had made her decision, one that would involve breaking the rule she and Luna had agreed to enact and uphold indefinitely. She was going to open up to a pony other than her sister, and ask for their help. Her face drooped in defeat, letting a small sigh escape her lips as her entire body posture sagged till it resembled how an exhausted pony would look when sitting down.

“You’re right. Both of you are so very right.” Celestia finally said, her voice having lost its confident and lofted wisdom. She looked up from her hooves at the Captain whose gaze sought to comfort her, and equally wanting answers that only she had.

There were only a few scarce moments Celestia ever felt vulnerable and cornered, the last being the banishment of her sister, and now this one was slowly becoming such a moment. She straightened her massive body to an informal pose, disregarding the nature of her stature as she readied herself for a rare informal discussion with Shining Armor. Though she knew him a bit more than normal from how Twilight and Cadance, her niece, talked about him; sadly none of that ever made Celestia actually want to sit down with the stallion and just talk. And now here she was about to open up to this very stallion about a matter she wasn’t even going to tell Twilight about.

Celestia allowed her previous thoughts to settle along the floor of her mind, before returning to the present. Shining Armor still sat before her, worried and unsure how to proceed. He wanted to help or be of some assistance, but his training and her status chained him from doing anything. Celestia found these qualities and traits endearing, and it would seem her niece did as well.

“From the way Cadance talks of him, I might have to start getting used to this sort of thing.” Celestia thought with a sad smile gracing her muzzle. Not from disappointment of the possible future couple, but at how she suddenly just felt…better. Not by much but enough to dispel a couple of the dark clouds that hung over her head. To think Luna and her had agreed not to do this very sort of thing, and now it was possibly the very thing she needed right now.

“Shining, to be very blunt, I honestly don’t know what to do about my sister.”

The two sat in idle silence, sampling on the other’s confliction. One unmoving while his mind continued to processing the staggering revelation, while the other waited in bated breath. Celestia noticed only faint moments coming from her comrade, notably the subtle blinking of his eyes, and a few twitchy bodily jerks before he would inhaled a cool, restoring breath; all signs their backbones were trying to play poker with the cards facing up. A classic textbook mistake in the civil arts arena called peace talks.. or in any other negotiations. Talks that most always cater to the quick and nimble, but punish the naive and ignorant.

So, to hear Shining Armor speak first again was both a blessing and mildly humiliating for a pony of her vast experience.

“ I’m sorry princess, but I’m afraid I've misheard you. I swear you said you don’t know how to handle Princess Luna, when you really meant the opposite?” He asked knowing full well what Celestia had just said. Between his responsibilities as captain and brother to her protege, the stallion found it hard to accept their...his princess capable of being anything but perfect.

The saying, “nothing is perfect...” found its way sourly seeping into his thoughts.

“I naively thought once Luna returned, everything would be well once more. I knew there would be some resistance with her sudden appearance, and with the huge span of time she’s been away but nothing that’ll affect her permanently.” Celestia paused, magically gripping her tea cup. She raised it off its matching saucer before having it fall to her studious gaze, staring silently into its empty depths for the answers she sought. Her aura pulsed brightly once, before she released a small sigh, setting the teacup back on its saucer.

Shining did nothing but watch as his sovereign pondered what could very well be the meaning to their lives. He wanted a more lucrative answer but held his tongue until she was ready to speak, which if he needed to would wait until the setting sun.

“I need help Shining, plain and simple.” Celestia declared in defeat as she leaned a bit onto the table. The sudden movement surprising Shining Armor enough for him to instinctively move back like a foal readying themselves for one of their mother’s disappointment speeches.

“You’ve heard the rumors, the gossip about her behaviors, and importantly even seen how she’s been acting for the past couple of weeks.” Shining Armor nodded meekly to her words. The captain in him was unease, guilty even at just sitting here gossiping about his other charge while to his own dismay the civilian side of him was eager to listen and exchange in these juicy details. But thankfully the Captain in him was the stronger of the two sides, and had kept his professional image up.

“You've noticed how she’s be reacting to my presence as well. How Luna seems to tolerate my presence just long enough to exchange small talk, and keep up appearances. I try to make time and be there for her when she needs me but Luna ignores this and locks herself in her room. ”

“Princess…” he gulped “Celestia, I’m a bit surprised and at the same time honored you trust me enough for my opinion…” Shining Armor started as he thought about the ramifications of his involvement. In one hoof was Princess Celestia, the “Monarch” and light of all of Equestria. In the other was Princess Luna, the “step foul” or black sheep so to speak; the lost, confused and complete polar opposite of her sister.

Each move he made from here on out would affect both in some way. Should he give Celestia bad advice on how to handle Luna, both would feel it but Luna would suffer the most. While the opposite could be said, Shining Armor could draw more attention than he needed to himself and that could give Luna the wrong idea about him and how he played in this scheme of things. The way he looked at it, only more problems were going to be created in the end and it was going to eventually come down to who had been hurt the most.

And yet, Shining Armor couldn’t back out. He had in a way already made the first move in their game of chess just by replying to Celestia’s note. If he had known before what the note was really about he might have made some excuse not to be here. It wasn’t foolproof but it would have given him way more time to think this through.

Shining Armor is a soldier foremost and never had any intention to play the political game, but now he had already hit the ground running. He’ll play it one move at a time until he could plan ahead; for now his first move would be agreeing to Celestia’s plea for help. Because after everything was said and done, Celestia was his lord, and he was her vassal. He would have had to say yes eventually, and before that time came he wanted it to be on his terms.

“.. I’ll be happy to help you Celestia.” Shining Armor finished as Celestia’s face brighten to almost shedding tears of joy. She was about to respond when a blood curling scream quaked throughout every hallway, and room of the castle causing many ponies to drop what they were doing and whimper as they felt the chill snaking down their spines.

Shining Armor and Princess Celestia both snapped their heads toward the double doors as the two guards that always guarded the Sun came through followed by one of Luna’s Cosmic Guards. The controlled panic on their faces twisted before morphing into one of extreme urgency as all three open their mouths...

“Princess! Captain! It’s Princess Luna!” They shouted their warning just before another seismic blast hit, almost knocking the guards off their hooves.

“Tell the chefs we are famished and desire our nourishment now!”

The unmistakable royal voice of the night shook the table and its contents into a frenzy, enough to throw a still sleeping Blueblood onto the floor. The clattering of dishes quickly settled so only the powerful hoofsteps of Luna’s approach were audible to the six ponies. The lone Cosmic Guard was to the first to recover, giving his other sovereign a proper bow just before speaking.

“Princess Luna is awake and on her way for breakfast.”

Author's Note

No excuses for the very long delay on this story, so here's two chapters to hold you over until I finish the next two chapters.

Court is in session (Part 1)

“... and by the end of the period, you will notice a strange and yet subtle mixing of the old and new world thinking blending together. The ruling structure while now a monarchy is still present and functioning, the legions were disbanded and reformed into the modern day Royal Guard. There are many more examples, like how hard currency is now used in place of everyday items, but for the sake of moving forward, I’ll just give you notes for your convenience.”

Twilight reinforced this by dropping a stack of papers rivalling the history book in front of her distracted student.

“Alright Luna, any questions, comments or concerns over the final decade of the Fallen Moon, and the start of our transition into the Solaris period? ”

The silence was her reward for the informative three hour lecture. It’s hard enough waking in tune with the sun, let alone to plan and assemble all the needed material for this class. It took hours and hours alone of reading, note taking, skimming, and chart making to make it as time efficient as possible, and what is her reward?

“Princess Luna!” her reward was to have the sole inheritor of this knowledge asleep in class. Even for a princess this was such a massive disrespect to not only her character but as a teacher.

The delinquent alicron awoke in a panic, nearly smashing the table as she scrambled to fix her posture. Twilight didn’t even need to ask the obvious, Luna’s exhausted expression said it all; from her shattered red eyes to the sagging ears hiding in her pale mane.

"We covered enough today Luna, please make herself at home. The guest bed is already set up with the pitcher of water on the nightstand this time.”

The studious unicorn didn’t receive a verbal thanks( just like the last few times before that) but the by observing her body language, she faintly noticed a subtle nod from Luna’s sleepy eyelids before the impact. Twilight didn’t worry too badly but just hearing the impact’s load pop never got easier on her sensitive ears.

The table had seen better days as well.

Unwilling to move and most importantly disturb the monarch, Twilight casted a small silencing spell on the room, leaving all materials as they laid, frozen in the moment as she carefully closed the door behind her. It was hard watching Luna exert herself this much after just returning, but on the other side she greatly approved her dedication to these lessons. It was this similar mindset that ultimately gave Twilight everything she currently had, and hopefully it will aid with Luna’s eventual full return to greatness.

With the door closed and the room silenced, the student unicorn turned mentor descended the stairs with soft claps. Today’s lesson was over and that meant another afternoon of attending to all the chores running a library required, all of this after she sent a letter to Celestia. A simple, one sentence letter explaining the situation: “Luna was staying over.”

Twilight watched as her assistant and...well… number one assistant Spike lounged on one of the padded chairs, reading yet another comic. She didn’t mind too much, at least not today anyway for it was their slowest day of the week; it was the main reason she taught on this day every week.

With little to no distractions, it meant leaving the pair mostly to their own devices. Speaking of distractions, Twilight cast a quick glance over to the checkout desk where a stack of two books laid unattended.

“Spike? Where did those books come from?” She asked. The bell just above the door didn't ring...or did it? Honestly she wasn't sure exactly what had transpired in the world around during the last three hours, and now the thought was starting to bother her. The little dragon and assistant didn't even look up.

“ Somepony just came and returned them not too long ago, just after you began.”

“Spike, that was almost three hours ago, but did you at least get their name?”

“Sorry, Twilight. He just kinda..came and went.”

Strange.

With her curiosity sated for now, she left Spike to his own world as the primal urge to open, stamp, and shelf occupied her current desires. Any thoughts and concerns about the books prior caretaker could wait until an opening in her schedule made itself available, but until then these books need a home.

With a practice delight only found in the company of many hours among books, Twilight summoned her bureaucratic supplies: Stamp, stamp book, quill, and one log book. Settling them just above their assigned placement on the desk before taking her own assigned spot behind it.

With her magic the first book was placed before her and the cataloging began; “ An abridged history of Ancient Equestria.” A new book most definitely considering she would never allow what she felt was lacking in context, still maybe she could use it as an introductory book?

Satisfied with this, Twilight quickly, but carefully snapped the cover open revealing its pristine pages. The texture and smell of a very well kept book never ceased to send her senses into a flurry! Oh but the irony she was about to unleash was enough to ground the free floating tendrils of her psyche, and with a readied magical grip….

“Property of the Golden Oaks Library” the deed was finished but the damage was everlasting. It was for the greater good of society Twilight would tell herself but it never did anything more than to dull the regret.

With the feeling still dull, she brought forth the next and final book waiting its assimilation into this databank of knowledge. This one was old, far older than it looked before and looked practically ready to become dust.

No name was imprinted on its weathered spine, and the cover.. well it was nothing more than the fiber stitching used to hold the book together. With the exception of a worn sliver of paper marking a past interest, the book on the surface looked less and less worthy of lining the shelves. In its defence, the book had served its time and wouldn’t be used by the public but would be officially retired and stored in the cellar for preservation.

While it was kind of this mystery pony to bring it here for donation, she felt the act itself was closer to a dumping than an act of kindness. Still beggars can’t be choosers and new books on a town library fund was a needle in a haystack.

So, with the outside a bust, Twilight turned to the one place any book would house a crucial detail- the Front Matter. With a librarian patience, she opened the book one page at a time until she found her target...

“Predictions and Prophecies" Edition 1th. Scribed in the founding year of the city of our liege, Princess of the Sun, Celestia. Hoofscribed by Guard Historian, Goldeneye.

_________________________________________________________________________________

The birds chirped their always lovely tune, ponies humming along as they milled about the late evening. Luna neither heard nor felt none of this merriment. Instead, the princess was treated to what was becoming her night’s very own anthem. She watched as they bobbed their little heads in great exaggeration to the silent tune, the little messengers of evil preached right off her balcony railing this time with another group accompanying them. The new flock watching intently with the midnight alicorn as the choir entered the final chorus.

“O…h… br…ing…the…end…, O…h… br…ing…the…end…cruel…moooooon.”

“Cute.” was the princess’s only thought as she threw her second cup this week out the window.

Their sharp cries were the real music of the setting sun; Luna smirked triumphantly as they flock of 20+ birds scattered once more to the skies, vowing to finish the second verse tomorrow night. Just like the last night, Luna would be there with another object at the ready.

Of course the birds weren’t really talking… or even existed for all the alicorn could distinguish. A few ponies here and there as they encountered the approaching night showed some wariness, but the rest were oblivious. Only her Captain and two nightly escorts knew of the blending reality, but beyond that Luna made sure nopony knew. Feigning adjustment to an illness was to easy, ponies accepted the word as easily as a parent telling their foal about life.

A knocking at her door garnered the Night Princess back to reality, as her eyes quickly scanned the room…finding it to be exactly the same way. No questionable distortions in the air or any other unexplainable occurrences. The shadows, visions, and more importantly the voice hadn’t bothered her lately, and by not haunting her dreams continually it was mocking her, treating her to constant paranoia.

However, from her own paranoia or actual demons of the soul, nothing was certain anymore. It didn’t hurt to tread lightly though, after all one can never be too careful when it came to the night…

“Y..Yes.” Luna asked hesitantly, unsure if the knocking was not but a distant pony’s hoof steps or just the new doors expanding from a little moisture. Part of her wanted to feel relieved, when silence answered and not those damn birds, but the other part argued the lack of noise as an omen. What could this omen mean besides a looming danger?

Nothing. Omens were explanations concocted in early civilization to explain the bad and the ugly. So, when a disciplined voice broke her short lived silence, Luna nearly knocked over the “picture frame” Celestia had given her a week after her return. She quickly returned the small painting of her saviors to its home on the petrified wooden desk before something else happen to it.

“The Night Court is assembled and ready to begin.” The deep voiced Stallion replied, momentarily pausing after processing the Princess’ rather weak tone. “Are you ill my Princess?” He asked curiously, but mostly with concern. “We can…”

“No.” Luna cut him off. “Tell them we’ll be there momentarily.”

The stallion held his voice for a moment, long enough to ask his partner what should he do; the mare noticed his pleading eyes and admittedly shrugged at their dilemma. He questioned the blue eyes, but quickly ceded to their wisdom and resumed his role of protector/ate .

“Yes, Princess.” The stallion’s reply was quick and without further question.

______________________________________________________________

“Silence is a double edge sword.” or so a wisepony had once possibly mentioned in some distant time, and so does it lingering echoes. Tonight, like every night, there were no ponies awake besides its few enigmatic guardians. The very few beings meant to bring life to an otherwise desolate time where nothing was to be seen.

The silence was almost painful.

And so the young pony set in limbo, waiting for the sharp clicks and clacks that would single her time was at an end. The doors remained still; no matter how many glances or hopeful wishing, they remained defiant to her protest. Down the grand waiting hall, the cheery red carpet, now marron served as a damper to her mood. It didn’t help the only source of light illuminating its walls were the rarely used, but extremely pricy “Blue Flame” candles, which used an enchanted flame to allow the candle to burn longer and brighter. A side effect was it turned the flame blue, which was how it received its name.

She watched as the pale light flickered

back

and

forth,
back

and

forth.

Each movement of the flame would push and fight the pale darkness until it fought back to continue its encroachment on the flame. Their struggle reminded the silver mare more like the rhythm of a miniature beating heart; each candle, all 32 of them, 16 on each side, beating in unison to support the entire complex which was Canterlot Castle, the seat of power. With each collective flicker from the candles, she felt it against her chest as her heart matched the speed. Why was did she feel so nervous? A question with merits as her hoof attempted to quell her rebellious heart, as it pounded madly against the her chest.

Why?

What could be causing her such heartache, especially during a time like this? It had been years since she had last experience an episode, and it ended her career as Senior Flight Lead of the local weather team. Still they found it in their hearts to keep her as an consultant, it felt more of a shallow gesture than anything.

A gesture meant to ease their own guilt.

This line of thinking was a common time waster, and keeping true to this logic had proven right. Her temporary angst was soon dispelled by the low grown of the massive hall doors; slipping from between them came one of the enigmatic guardians, his movements while discipline in design showed the night was wearing him down.

“That explains the heart murmur.” she thought.

“Miss. Eclipse, her majesty will see your appointment now.”

Not wanting to keep Luna waiting, Eclipse nodded to the guard in appreciation as she trotted past him eagerly. Finally, after waiting for almost a solid two hours, she was about to have her moment under the stars, a meet and greet with the Lord of the Night herself! Truly the drain to her savings was well worth it!

_________________________________________________________________________

It was to be her last appointment before the retirement of the Night Court, and it disappointed the princess to say she was glad for the morning sun. Her beloved court was more than an extension of the Day Court, or a social experiment to help not only her readjust… it served as a means exercise her authority most definitely but it was her child.

After a week of recovery and calming the affairs of the general upper crest of government, Luna finally convinced them to allow another court of commons. A court all her own. A sign that not all sleep during the night, but some even prefer it- there can be life in the stillness.

Still, her fellow hobbyist were few and far between.

So, for Luna to watch this enthusiastic mare wilt the closer she drew closer, dampened her spirits. She wasn’t disappointed by any means, just a little heartbroken. Disregarding the past, Luna was trying to bring to light so to speak, that the night could be nothing short of joyous scenes and wonderful experiences. It was this type of feeling and wonder she hoped to grace her subjects from now and onward, but the almost trembling mare before her had bluntly reminded her such hopes were likely a long way off. Nothing in this world was achievable without talent or hard work, but the fact this mare still crawled in fear rather than bolt in terror gave the her some hope it was a possibility.

“Court is in session, announce thy complaint and we shall listen.” Luna started with tradition in mind, but killed that notion when the mare gave a startled squeak. With nothing to lose, she felt mimicking Celestia’s tone would be the best route to take until the ponies warmed up to her.

“Please, my little pony don’t be frightened of thee. We won't hurt nor harm you…” The more Luna spoke, the more she notice the mare’s tension dissolving but still held some feral fear. “We…er Pinkie Promise?” Luna asked unsure, vaguely recalling where she heard it from but once she spoke those words the mare’s entire demeanor quite literally puffed back, startling the Night princess.

“OH! Well that’s wonderful than! I was worried you didn’t like me or might have even tried to eat me!” The silver coated pegasus happily exclaimed, ignoring the strains of white mane falling over her eyes. “But you pinkie promised so you must be ok then since nopony ever breaks a Pinkie Promise.” She finished, seemingly adding extra emphasis on “ever”.

“We… er excuse us?” Luna responded unsurely. This sort of open display of joy, and casualness continued to awe and surprise her more and more. Thought the House Nobles and Elite of Canterlot continue to act as they had for the past millennium, it seemed the common ponies of this time bowed more out of common courtesy then of protocol. Maybe a bit of both.

“How much the times have changed.” The dark Alicorn though sulkily. The more she thought her grasp of the “Modern Times” was adequate, something would “kindly” and constantly remind her, like the mare before her, showed just of out of tune she still…and probably forever will be. The world felt more like a rose of such beauty and splendor; it brought praise and joy to all that gazed upon it. While she was and would forever be the ugly, out of place thorns that clung to the rose with some desperate, misplace hope of being a part of that beauty.

“Sorry...” She inhaled a relaxing breath to help calm her and gather her composure.

“I’m.. It’s such a relief and joy to find the stories and rumors about you were based out of false speculation and not fact. My name is Pale Eclipse your majesty and I work as a consultant for a small weather team near the islands around VanHoover. I’m also an amateur astrologer at heart, my Princess.” She finished with a heartfelt and respectful bow.

It was only when the mare mention she was an aspiring Astronomer, did Luna notice for the first time the mare’s cutie mark. The mark itself was up to debate with the Night Princess but trusting the mare’s words concluded it to be of a planet of some sort. If that is the case, then the small, golden circle that sat in the very center of a much larger ring had to represent the sun. Then again, cutie marks were easily as vague or held a deeper meaning than they appear.

“Arise, my little pony. Thou does not need to bow to us. Na, in fact your words are truly welcomed and most appreciated.” And the Night princess meant it. To hear such a thing did remove part of the cloud that followed her so eagerly. “The Isles of VanHoover you hail from? Thou has truly traveled far indeed; tell us, what is it that brings you to our Court of The Night?”

The pegasus arose, and nodded. “As I mention before I come from the Islands around VanHoover, and with us being off the mainland and out a little ways at sea, the weather there is a bit more wild and untamed. Because of that we’re short hoofed on pegasi that can or would even dare try to fly in those conditions, let alone all the time. So most of the time the others and I end up pulling a double, and sometimes the extremely rare triple shifts which really eats into my stargazing.

Luna listened with extreme interest in the mare’s story. Though she really didn’t have many ponies ever come to her Night Court, let alone this hour, Luna couldn’t quite remember the last time she’d honestly felt a connection with one of her attendees. The few that ever did set hoof in her court were usually either to intimidated by her to hold a conversation and ended up stuttering their request/concern or were only there to have their request that had failed in Morning Court reviewed for a possible second chance.

Never, except for the Pink Mare of Cake did she have the privilege to meet one so friendly and seemingly selfless. The mare wasn’t here asking for gifts, privileges, ect that most wanted, but was here, asking if the Princess of the Night, could find some way to allow her just enough time during her busy schedule to view the night sky just a bit longer… and it filled the Princess with joy, and a warmth she hadn’t felt for nearly 1,000 years. This was the exact thing she had craved, and desired back then… for ponies to enjoy her night just like they did with the day.

“How times had change.” The Alicorn happily thought.

Waiting until the pegasus mare finished, Luna did something that not only surprised the mare, the Cosmic Guards, and herself: she broke tradition. A tradition that had not only stood through the ages, but had even evolved to defined what was proper etiquette of how a Princess or a similar royal should act in company- privileged or common. She rose from her throne, the pedestal from which she sat and passed judgment and carefully walked toward the mare.

To the mare’s credit, she didn’t run or tremble with a dreaded passion but held her ground as the living shadow approached. The stallions watched this with great animosity for what could happen, their relaxed muscles suddenly finding a new purpose. Their sovereign of questionable sanity openly advancing on the only pony to have sought a counsel in weeks and it made them all on edge.

“Pray tell citizen, why do thee shake as a leaf in the evening wind? Is it something we have said or done to displease you that causes you to tremble with fear?” Luna asked as she tried to meet the mare at eye level. It was a joy to see one of their own here at this time, seemingly full of life and foalish mystic as she nearly skipped to the throne but like a bad dream that ended when she noticed the pony on the throne. ]Luna, determined to prove not only to herself but to her guards that her past was exactly just that, the past. Even if this mare said nothing as the anxiety wrecked her ability to function, Luna was going to put her friendship lessons to the test.

Luna, determined to prove not only to herself but to her guards that her past was exactly just that, the past. Even if this mare said nothing as the anxiety wrecked her ability to function, Luna was going to put her friendship lessons to the test.

All was quiet as they watched with a childish fascination, each set of eyes lingering far too long to be considered public appropriate. Yet, this was a different matter altogether, for this was becoming a firsthoof account of not Nightmare Moon, but of Princess Luna lowering herself to greet a common born.

“I was there.” They would tell their numerous descendants. “I was there when our Princess Luna came back to us, and showed the world she was here to stay.”

The mare, Pale Eclipse, was astonishing in her discipline even if most of it was installed fear. The trembling had been exhausted to only a couple minute spasms of her achilles tendons, before leaving the irregular breathing as her only sign of distress. She tried moving but found no luck, her hooves had rooted themselves in place or it was because the princess’s own hooves had reached out and gripped them; no matter the reason, Eclipse found the sensation exhilarating.

Even her part time job of weather watching wasn’t even close to this feeling and yet this new alicorn could command such a response from just being in the same room unnerved and excited her. A living representation of her life’s passion was here before her, and it demanded her full attention; Eclipse needed to act, to respond if she was to be worthy of the celestial's affection.

“I don’t.. I mean I’m sorry princess.” the silver mare finally responded. Her apology- sudden and unnecessary, surprised Luna enough for her to lose her voice. Heir to the Royal Canterlot Voice and left speechless by a few simple words, uttered not by one of status but of common birth.

“Excuse us good mare?” The Canterlot voice was absent. “What in the good name of Equestria did thee do to warrant an apology?”

“For acting as a foal in your presence. I have been fascinated with astrology and the sky since the early years of my life and this moment-meeting the princess of it all is like a dream come true.” Her moment was over but the impact it left solidified the young mare as a favorite.

“Ceade your sobbing and misplaced sorrow for you will find no companionship. Misery will not make friends today with thee.” Luna was on a roll. Her guards had all but abandoned protocol to fraternize with the others; each discussion ranging from their princess stepping up to their theories that Celestia and Luna were the same pony. The talk nearly stopped when the large plume of her wing extended for the mare, and delicately wiped away the only tear threatening to spill.

Eclipse shuttered. Her touch wasn’t close to how she had imagined it, even the sensation of fur on fur paled in comparison; nothing, from the lowest of cottons to the finest silks existed such an item. How could a simple feather of all things obliterate any known luxury? Simple. Because none could claim to have originated from the enchanted night itself.

She watched, quietly, as her immortal idle gingerly retracted her wing, observing as the one tear sparkled in the pale light. With a calming flick of the wing, everypony watched in awe as the tear failed to react, instead deciding to linger in place just a bit longer until Luna could grasp it with her hooves. With a magic as pale but beautiful as the heavenly moonlight, they all watched as it seeped over the princess’s frame twirling every way, yet still moving forward. Once it reached the inseparable hooves was where it truly took off; all but the princess herself shielded their eyes from the resulting saturation but only after its disappearance did they gaze upon the result and marvel.

“What in Equestria is it?” Luna wasn’t sure who had asked the obvious question, but given it would be her only response answered anyway.

The princess took a courtesy step away from her newest masterpiece, and absorbed the surreal praise and wonder imitating off the gathering around her. Hovering defiantly in the open air no bigger than a breezy floated a crystal of unparalleled beauty; pear shaped in design, the crystal attracted moonlight like a moth to a spiders web, caching every stray ray to add to its increasingly bright collection. This gem, a rare, and one of a kind item in beauty and power thought to have been lost had suddenly found life once more.

“This, companions of thine is known as a Moon’s Tear. An artifact with origins preceding anything known in the current; a time when sister and w.. I were content with the arts of health and nature.” Luna paused, letting her eyes linger as they moved from muzzle to muzzle. Each gaze met was the same- unlimitless wonderment.

A sensation the princess cherished wholeheartedly, It was this kind of fascination and desire to learn and explore Luna had wanted so desperately; a payment she was now just receiving. Nopony said a word as the mystical artifact descended into the stunned hooves of Eclipse.

Her expression was lost behind the dazzling white mane, but the reaction wasn't lost for once the fleeting moment passed she had ensnared the Lunar matriarch. It was too quick for the naked eye, even for Luna but the surprise hug was met with shocked confusion and mild outrage.

Luckily for the offending mare, the princess was first to have recover and with a stern glare fended off her guards. The three bat-winged ponies gave resistance to the request, but quickly(and wisely) backed off from their instincts to protect; with no threat declared, the three ardent guards nearly kissed the polished stone in their apologetic bows.

They were just doing their assigned duty, but a simple hug, while given without permission wasn't warrant of such a zealous reaction. Luna admired their willingness to follow and obey, but detested their exaggeration of most actions as being nefarious in nature.

Yet, she herself had most likely put them in this state with her near constant paranoia. After court is finally adjourned for the night she’ll fix that, but for now Luna gave into the feeling and returned the mare’s honest hug.

Tonight was a night of first, and following this series of broken protocols declared Night Court closed almost 3 hours early; the call was unexpected but wasn’t challenged by anypony present.

With a sudden opening in her free time, the Princess of the Night and Stars began the first steps into having a genuine discussion with an unknown pony about the future of the star constellations and what nightly plans were being scribed as they spoke.

Unusual by any means given the circumstance but considering who their sovereign is and her detrimental culture shock this was one of those look the other way moments. Knight Night Watch looked on and smiled as his reclusive princess eagerly tried to hold her own against this strange mare, but each time Luna stumbled over her own words, Eclipse wouldn’t laugh but politely correct her and continue on.

“Back to your post stallions- three hours left until we’re dismissed for the night.” Night Watch commanded.

“Understood sir, but what about the young mare?”

“Ignore her for now. Princess Luna may have closed Night Court, but now she is the Princess’s guest which means we do nothing but exist.”

The three stallions gave their captain a reluctant nod but quickly followed it with a crisp salute. Their job wasn’t to question, but only to react when the threat of harm stalked their princess and if Night Watch declared the mare not a threat.. than who were they to question him?

Report

Field Report # 23

* updated 2205 hrs on the eve of the third night of the winter solace

P.O.I, The silver hued pegasus only known as ‘Eclipse’ has departed suddenly by the way of a makeshift cloud raft.

Current direction and rate of speed indicates that she is not only heading for Vanhoover, but is expecting to be gone for at the very least a few days; we will check with her work’s recent records to acquire further details.

Signed,

Watchful Gaze of the 7th Chosen

Field Report # 42

To our dearest and watchful Grandmaster Goldeneye, we are submitting to you our annual weekly report.

Activity in and around our sector has risen in accordance with each outburst the Princess of the Night and Stars has had. With each burst, no matter how small, at least one pony is always present to witness it and one of ours is always there to catalog these events of ‘public expression’. It is very fortunate we have a significance presence in the Solar Guard and those two fine stallions in the Cosmic Guard.

Besides these few outbursts, nothing of major importance has been noted as of yet. The mare known as ‘Eclipse’ has been returning periodically once a week at Princess Luna’s expense and encouragement.

When not visiting, the lame pegasus returns to her island home where she is active in her advisory role during the day and at night is writing letters to the princess. I advise further observation for an unspecified amount of time or until it is determined the mare is of no further importance.

On a small but important note we have evidence that the trifecta have been noticed talking on occasion, with the blue muzzled pony already setting up shop in the war room so to speak. The other two are unmoving at the moment.

It is not in my authority to ask this of you but I feel it's worth letting her Grace know that now maybe the time for “Shadow of the Colossus” to begin before any unwanted/unexpected distractions arise. This is by no means an order but merely a suggestion coming from your loyal servant.

On an unrelated note I may have found a lost soul to join our cause but nothing for sure as of yet.

Singed,

Evening Glow

Field Report # 8

Subject ‘Blue Muzzle’ has been on the move since his return from the northernmost guard post; more late night “appointments” and less letters from him are exchanging hooves and this should warrant our attention. I recommend On to Dawn and Windy Storms for such a task, but if you have others in mind than disregard.

P.s Tread with Pegasus hooves, the strength of the earth, and the fortified mind of a horned one. They all are unaware but that can change quickly.

Signed,

Busy Body

Author's Note

Just a small tidbit of to hold everyone off until I can finish the next chapter, which is sitting just above 9.5k words and is expected at the very least to increase another 2k .

Court is in session (Part 2)

“Twinkle, twinkle, little star..”

“How we wonder…”

“How I wonder, Luna. ”

“How I wonder what th..what..you are?”

“YES! YES! That’s correct, now try it again from the beginning once more."

The nervous alicorn cast a glance to her left and then to her right where she was greeted with more encouraging eyes. Inhaling a lung full of air, she resumed her lesson.

“Oh, twinkle, twinkle little star, How w..I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky!” Luna finished in a roar of applause and shouts of congratulations. Silver Cloud and the guards present in the Night Court turned Night time Speech Class held nothing back as their princess and friend demonstrated her progress.

Since her return and the reestablishment of her beloved court, the alicorn had wrestled on and off with the very notion with what she desired to what she held were likely to remain unchanged. A want to feel accepted than being told she was accepted were while not ideal was better than out right rejection. So, to be sitting here surrounded by ponies that honestly cared for her being and her for theirs vice versa felt more like a wish come true.

“Thank you, thank you. I want it to be known that these past weeks have been most fruitful and we are most grateful for thou..your patience. So let us declare that these classes of the night are a success!”

Silver Cloud was the more vocal of their little group as she shouted happily for the pony of her admiration turned friend with Night Watch a close second. The pair Stand Fast and Solid Wall were content to watch from afar at their assigned posts but from a distance it looked like they were quietly exchanging a few bits between the two. The other two guards present were much like the night, quiet and mysterious to everypony that saw them but for tonight only they gave their approval for their princess with simple smiles and tamed clapping.

“She has improved quite a bit over the last several weeks hasn’t she?” the noticeably poorer stallion said has he hoofed over whatever he had under his helmet.

The slightly richer stallion next to him accepted the new addition to his nest egg, placing them in a small pouch he kept under his armor. With a lazy glance to his partner and then one to the nosy group, he nodded.

“Yes boy, she certainly as. To think not but a few months ago we could have mistaken her for a historical actor!”

“ I’m older than you Wall.”

“It isn’t about age, but how you present yourself and you do so with the makings of a village idiot.”

“Unh-uh, momma’s boy!” Stand Fast retorted, eliciting a sarcastic chuckle from his partner.

Stand Fast recovered his gaze back onto the little party sitting around a small board with a three by three grid on it near the throne, with the guards taking turns explaining how the game worked. With attendance of court at an all time low(nopony besides Silver Cloud showing any real interest anyway) left the princess and her guard’s schedule open. With this free time, Luna was able to pull some strings(namely asking Celestia) and suddenly Silver Cloud was staying in one of the spare rooms next hers.

Since then, she had slowly became apart of their little circle and had even came up with the night class idea as a sort of pseudo payment for the room. The idea took off and soon every little get together became a sort of social gathering with the group ending the night with either a game or some sort of fun activity like they were doing tonight. Most times they were apart of it and other times they were here doing their job...sometimes.

As the guards wrapped up their explanation of the rules and Luna was in agreement on the rules was when Wall felt a gentle poking on his side.

“Hey Wall, how about another chance to win back your life savings?” Stand Fast ask as his head gestured to the group. “ Bet is Luna loses her temper and slips back into her ye old self before declaring the game a mockery of her intellect and destroys it.”

“She already did that last week.”

“ Well.. your bits say she’ll do it.” Solid Wall held his sight on Fast before moving to the group and back to his shifty cohort. “Add my guard shift for the week onto the bits and we’ll have a deal.”

Stand Fast grinned. “Deal. I took a couple of Night Watch’s shifts this next week so, there will be a couple double shifts.”

“What!”

The friends as usual were about to engage in one of their more infamous past times involving many creative uses of words, name calling, and sometimes fierce hoof to hoof engagements- otherwise know as debating. Shoulders squared, jaws flexed, and stances taken the pair locked eyes as they took one final breath before this test of skill and intellectual might began.

The defendant Solid Wall was first.

“I am calling you out on the grounds that you made a bet knowing it wasn’t as you worded it. I demand this contract be null and void under the liar liar clause.”

The opening argument could have been from the opening of a book or play: straight forward and to the point with enough meat leave somepony wanting more. Than again, how Wall had worded it left many openings ripe for twisting and exploitation to the highest caliber. Sometimes Solid Wall made it too easy.

The accused Stand Fast was next, and he relished it.

“I’m challenging your argument on the condition that while I didn’t inform you of the shift swap, it's still considered my shift. It wasn’t my wording but your very own assumptions that led you to make a deal you figured was already won. ”

Solid Wall was about to object when Stand Fast cut him off to hit the final nail in the coffin.

“Under these criteria and the binding, but still equally just playground law of our youth..there are no take backs!” the giant kid concluded his evidence, even going as far as to stick his tongue out.

The wronged stallion fidgeted as his muscles contracted and relaxed in vain to expel this raising tension. His ears flex and rotated to the sounds of their charge's little social gathering as they cheerfully chirped and gossiped like the magpies of his hometown. Wall tried his best to listen, observe and simple breed ignorance, but all of his attempts failed when the prodding hoof a certain child broke his nerve.

“Hey Wall. Are you pouting?”

He said nothing but this only earned him another poke.

“You're mad aren’t you?” Fast asked with the trailing shadow of wickedness in his words.

“No. Stop it.” Solid Wall lied in the hopes his friend would leave him be. This dream lasted two seconds before Stand Fast resumed poking his side, not to garner his attention but for the sole act to annoy ever living night out of him.

The pestered stallion was about to turn and bite his friend’s hoof when this idea was interrupted by a rapid clapping coming from behind them. The pair's quarrel abruptly ended as both sets of eyes turned to greet the imposing throne doors nestled between them. Princess Luna and her gathering didn’t hear it else they would have surely stopped to inquire, but Solid Wall and Stand Fast had heard something and weren't going to take any chances.

Two sets of puffed ears went to work. Fast’s ears were frantically moving as Wall’s ears lumbered from side to side but despite the difference in method, each were listening for the slightest disturbance to rear its ugly head once more.

“Found it.” they both whispered.

The guards listened intently as this rapid tapping became more distinguishable as the running hoofsteps of somepony growing louder by the second. The need for action was inevitable. An unspoken agreement between the two BFF's turned guards was sent and received with Solid Wall drawing his standard issue short sword and Stand Fast gripping his against regulations, Griffin serrated knife.

How he accumulated the bits to buy it, let alone managed to hide it in the barracks was a mystery perhaps best left to the unknown.

“Ready Fast?”

“Rawde.” He replied the best he could without sacrificing his grip over the knife's handle. While the moments were few and far in between, sometimes he secretly wished there was a sharp horn right between his eyes. So many of life’s little nuisances would be solved, but that would make things to easy.

Their preparations for this conflict didn’t go unnoticed, and while they readied themselves so to did Knight Night Watch and the other two guards. The best friends looked to the left and than to the right and then behind them as their commander arrived, drawing his sword as well. Against her personal desires to join them, Luna had retreated back to her throne along with Silver Cloud; the alicorn having thrown up a small barrier around them as she whispered something to her companion. From this distance the words were lost to all but their intended recipient but judging the silver mare’s widen eyes, and open jaw expression it must have held tremendous meaning.

Night Watch and his four guards had finally taken a defensive semi circle around the doors so whenever they opened, the threat would be dealt with as quickly as possible.

“At the ready colts, this isn’t a rub-n-tug convention. Give the pony next to you room to swing, and whatever you do, for the love Equestria, don’t start making those weird chirping noises again Results!”

“But sir, they're growls and war barks...”

“You sound like a damn cockatiel! Now defensive fortitudo, open ranks with two hoof steps between and for the love Luna and Celestia don’t let anything through! ” Night Watch ordered.

Amazing what twists and turns populate the plan of life.

Commander Watch, a slightly older stallion just entering his 'settle down years' while sporting a greying crown along the sides of his muzzle is perhaps the most recent effect by such plans. A soldier who joined the guard early in his life, just able to sign the paperwork without his parents help and hadn't looked back since; practically married to the job, a father in a way to the younger recruits(he even tutored the others by request of Shining Armor) just screamed ideal soldier and potential Knight Commander. His record like most just starting to venture out had a few details permanently splattered on the paper but unlike most Night Watch turned this disadvantaged into something to be admired.

By using his own life has a teaching aid for the recruits, most begin seeing him as somepony approachable and thus willing to take and ask for advice. It wasn't hard to see how familiar with his fellow guards Night Watch had become. He didn’t see them as fellow soldiers or brothers in arms but more along the lines of family, to the point Watch would even take lower ranking cadet’s guard shifts if they had a valid reason. This near selfless attitude not only made Night Watch the most well like senior guard, but it had also made him the unfortunate possible scapegoat for ponies with an agenda.

While his basic drilling and commands are all nearly textbook in nature, it severely clashed with the guard’s perception of this ‘rebel’ commander. Several of the higher ups in the most recent years have started pushing for a ‘thinner and meaner’ guard with their country’s war track being virtually nonexistent. Night Watch’s demeanor and leadership is unquestionable- good behavior, excellent sense of command, punctual. So, when the grapevine exploded with talk of his possible discharge it wasn’t surprising many of the younger guards stepped up to his defense.

Some appealed Celestia herself to block the motion but even she did nothing stating it wasn't her place to question how her knights ran the guard. Luckily, by chance Night Watch wasn’t a regular enlisted guard but a sub-attachment of the Celestia’s very own personal guard that operated at night. Princess Luna had not only encountered the stallion during her lone treks around the castle but found him approachable enough to ask questions. Once she had learned of his planned discharged, Luna waited until his final day before offering him a spot in her very guard unit. When asked about his potential brothers Luna bluntly told him it was just him until more could be recruited, but he would have near free reign on the guards operations. From recruitment all the way to how the armor should be worn and everything in between.

Needless to say, the offer was very tempting and the rest was history. If Princess Luna hadn’t returned and brought forth the reestablishment of her guard, than Watch wouldn’t be standing here tonight on the edge of conflict.

All five guardstallions braced: stances strengthen, muscles flex, weapons leveled, doubt and fear purged. All five guardstallions took one final breath as the unknown pony finally reached the only barrier between them and… knocked.

Silence.

Followed by more of a rhymed desperation than actual knocking. Night Watch waited..one..two.. before making a quick gesture toward the door with his wings and one stallion from each end of their half circle carefully advanced. Each grasping a separate door handle and paused to mutter a small prayer before yanking open the doors, to which their comrades tensed in anticipation.

The solid barriers split at the seam and revealed the somber void that lurked beyond, and besides the few sparsely scattered blue candles there was no other source of light except for what little beamed through the stained windows. A second pasted before the guards could distinguish the massive pony shaped blob ripping itself apart from the rest of the darkness. The trepidation that burst through (thankfully) wasn’t a monster or creature bent on causing them harm, but a distressed and tired Solar Guard who collapsed the very moment he crossed the divide.

"Celestia..." he uttered before hitting the floor.

Night Watch didn’t even have to give the order before the two that had opened the door responded and rushed to the stallion’s side. The two were fairly new, only having received their first few duty assignments a few weeks ago, and already they were some of the..

“By Celestia, I think he’s dead!”

“Quiet Dastardly! He’s not dead, but clearly not in the best of shape.”

… or another Stand Fast and Solid Wall. Oh well. At least they were dependable and did their jobs as told so he couldn’t complain too much. The others relaxed slightly and began moving up to assess and assist their comrade in arms, Fast and Wall had the right idea and head for the doors. The odd pair in a surprising display of tactics and professionalism found the walls on both sides and resumed their defensive stance from before; the bigger of the two, Solid Wall taking the right door and his more compact and thinner partner, Stand Fast opposite of him.

With that little detail in place Night Watch felt his wound muscles relaxing with each step he took.“What’s his condition Tri Salus?”

Tri Salus, or more known by his nickname Trinity for his love of the number three is an average built pony standing roughly a few hooves taller than Madam Silver Cloud, which isn’t very tall for a stallion. Keeping in touch with his love all things in three, the earth pony found himself sporting a rarity of a cutie mark; plastered right on his ocean blue coat were three winged staffs each colored differently depending on the ornament that decorated the staff. The staff on the left was colored red after the small cross that adorned the tip, while the center and right staffs were colored white, and black after the Celestia and Luna like figures on decorating their tops.

The oddity of such a mark left many a pony lost to its meaning at first, and it's clear use of Princess Celestia and the recently returned Princess Luna. In a small way it may had predicted Luna’s return but more than a few scholars had suggested it represented the supposed good and evil in a pony; the little red cross was clearly related to the medical field and the if the white and black alicorns on the staffs did represent good and evil.. maybe it's a good thing Tri Salus joined the guards instead.

After all, the saying ‘ Take the love from a doctor and you’re only left with a pony that knows how to kill’ into context was chilling but to see a possible manifestation of the phrase was unsettling.

“Why are you askin’ me!” the small stallion aggressively questioned Night Watch. He may be a member of the guard and he was perhaps one of the most gifted medics most would ever meet if he were to publicly show it. Even without the formal training for it, Tri Salus had demonstrated twice his knowledge and by going under the red tape and regs became their unofficial medic for the unit.. to his great hatred.

Still, in true guard fashion he held his tongue( most of the time) and did what he was asked.

“Because its either you check his pulse or I check his pulse.” his fellow guard and friend Dastardly Results declared. This ended any objection right there and left only one grumpily mumbling under his breath.

There was no question the collapsed guard was still alive judging by his subtle breathing, but drawing of breath alone didn’t tell a pony everything. So, the pair waited as Trinity knelt before Solar guard and firmly placed a hoof near the base of the neck, just between the vertebrae. While he ‘searched’ for a pulse, Night Watch and Dastardly turned their attention to the booming steps of their princess coming to do her own inspection.

“Is he..”

“Negative. The jugular vein is still pumping blood at a rate one would expect after after endurance training. Even though his breathing isn’t labored or very noticeable, it's mostly do to his exhaustion and less than acceptable physique. “

“So then the young guardstallion is just resting due to his unhealthy way of storing food?”

“.. more or less my Princess.” Tri Salus said in agreement even though that’s not the how he would have said it. Still he couldn’t argue the fact with his princess and as long as everypony knew the stallion was fine then it didn’t really matter.

There was a slightly chuckle behind them before a sharp pop silenced it.

The three guards and one princess were quiet as neither knew how to properly proceed from here. By how the stallion was running and even mentioned Princess Celestia’s name made it sound important but from the lumbering quiet the castle was in it likely wasn’t an attack. Was it was an early summon so the princesses could dine and enjoy each others company? Maybe.

“The young guard is sleeping.” Luna injected this new information into the public knowledge. Her gathered guards shot her a questioning look hoping their princess would clarify why this information was worth knowing when Night Watch spoke up and did just that.

“Dreamwalking.. am I right Princess Luna?”

“Indeed Sir Knight, but it has been far too long since we.. since I tried to enter the realm so who would know the consequences of such an unknown? Besides to enter, let alone traverse its plane requires power and magic I have not felt since our.. I.. since we were freed from the Nightmare.” Dastardly, Tri Salus, Night Watch and even to the best friends watching the doors made it an effort to listen. The Latter of the two just rotating their ears to follow along and not miss anything juicy.

“If that’s the case than how do you plan on dreamwalking?” Night Watch questioned. A surprise to his peers not because of the question itself but how casually he just spoke to the princess. A few could pass it off as the familiarity and closeness they have been experiencing over the past months and was a simple mistake but a few could view this as maybe something more.. something more private.

Only adding more wood to the stoking fire, Luna didn’t seem bothered by the question or lack of respect, but instead proceeded on like it was the normalist thing. A topic of possible debate later or maybe if one of was dared, to even ask directly but at the moment only warranted a small place in the ‘get to later’ part of their mind.

What Princess Luna said next brought them all back to the present.

“We need to induce a deluge magi.”

“An induced what?” Solid Wall asked

“ Thou knows of it, no? Young Sparkle had one years prior to my return and we were told it was a deciding factor in her acceptance as my sisters student.”

There was a slight pause before the first of the guards understood what Luna meant.

“YOU WANT TO INDUCE A SURGE!” Tri Salus vocalized his displeasure over the idea, mentally slapping his fellow guards from their thoughts.

“ Princess Luna! Why in the celestial plane do you want to do something like?” Night Watch jumped on board with the quickly growing party against Luna’s idea.

“Protege Twilight Sparkle was a filly barely able to start school when her surge happened and if it weren’t for Princess Celestia than likely the entire school and bits of the castle itself could have been lost. What would happen to Equestria if not a filly but an alicorn went through a surge?” Salus warned as he trotted closer his princess, the straining frown plastered on his muzzle.

The alicorn said nothing. She had expected there would be mild resistance to her idea at first but it would be solely for her safety and after some reassurance would dissipate. This of course didn’t happen and Tri Salus had even summoned a point Luna had completely failed to address and to her shame didn’t even think about; what could she say to justify potentially destroying not only Canterlot but the surrounding area if this went wrong?

Better yet, why was she still justifying such a selfish action and not looking for an alternative?

“Please honored companions, enlighten me. How does thee expect to traverse the guard’s memories if not by the use of magic? How can we learn if I’m unable to cast the spell needed for the dreamwalking?”

That was the million bit question. How can one attempt dreamwalking without using magic, let alone enough to not erase Canterlot from existence?

“I..” Salus’ mouth was left agape as his and everypony’s eyes went nova.

“FORGIVE ME PRINCESS!” Luna had no time to react let alone turn around before the white of her eyes exposed themselves to the world. There wasn’t a single yelp of surprise or pain, no staggered movement or attempt to run before the alicorn mimicked a puppet without strings and collapsed.

Every set of owl eyes locked onto the lone pony standing by himself over the downed princess. Dastardly Results stood ghost-quiet as he dropped his dented helmet.. only to pick it back up and place it back on his head to avoid any more potential reg violations.

“She needed to sleep and that’s how we did it back home!”

_____________________________________________________________

The lack of light was the most noticeable difference. There were no governing laws that entrenched the waking world or bound the land here, instead there was simply nothing. No focus. No objective but the desire and the strength of will of whoever managed to stumble upon this sacred realm.

A separate plane outside the vision of most but in reach to all.

“Oh stars, how it feels to be back.” The alicorn chanted.

The numerous spiral nebulas spun as the mare hovered past them, frozen in place with no regard for the concept of time and reality as a single eye opened in the center to watch the returning pony with interest.

Here in this pocket dimension any being capable and strong enough physically and mentally could traverse this separate plane and even shape it to their will and whims; the alicorn princess, being such a being and master of dark magic could and can achieve this. Thus the creation of an infinite expanding plane of her night sky and interpretations of the world beyond.

"It's smaller than I remembered." Luna thought as she took claim to a group of single stars. The alicorn collected and pressed them into a makeshift pillow, forcing them to carry her further into the endless void of sparkling stars and watching eyes.

To the left and to the right, Luna was met with familiar star clusters that would change and evolve the more she floated away until each took on a more alien appearance. Before her challenge of the dual thrones, she, as the keeper of the night and guardian of all that dwelled in it had to watch over every being..even those that dreamt.

‘We live in darkness to protect those in the light.’

A creed that had meant more to the alicorn than her own sister at one point, but now was a forgotten phrase that meant nothing to the general populace. Maybe one or two here and there will find it and ponder its meaning, but ultimately it was destined to remain a glass memory of what it meant to be a guardian.. to be a princess.

Back than this realm Luna called her own once was populated with many galaxies and star clusters of dreaming ponies and other magical beings that subconsciously linked themselves to this hub. Back then she would traverse it( like she was doing now) and just watch as numerous currents of foggy thoughts and desires flowed in the purest expression any deity, let alone any mortal could view.

It was here in this unending sea the alicorn found her island.

The flashing galaxy that marked her target was faint. Very faint, but it was bright enough to signal her star raft over and with no effort altered course for this beacon. As she neared, Luna drowned her horn with a simple spell that mimicked the spinning star system’s signal; she felt the corners of her mouth lift up as the galaxy spun more frequently until it moved so fast it was hard to distinguish it was moving at all. With this portal opened and stable for the moment, the night princess’s hooves tightened their grip on the starry pillow as she braced for collision...

______________________________________________________________

“BY THE OLD ONES AND MY OWN MOON!” the two realms had met for a second before catapulting the dream walking alicorn from its dimension and into the waking world.

Her worried but nervous companions jolted themselves alert, some launched themselves to the ready while a noticeable few almost out of their armour. The guards recovered and once more were by the air hungry alicorn as she worked to ease the contracted muscles plaguing her body.

Knight Night Watch, Dastardly Results, and Tri Salus had taken stance around Princess Luna with Watch at the front; Stone Wall and Stand Fast had capitulated their post by the doors to retrieve the still downed guard carefully dragging him out of the main path next to the others. Each knew their role and what was expected of them as was demanded of their training and duty. Not only were they five Guardstallions of Equestria and thus responsible for its continued legacy but as the first in an entirely new branch, they were also entrusted with carrying it to the stars so to speak.

Communication and understanding are the required pillars needed in order for a strong and independent group to continue functioning effectively; so when the shaking hoofsteps of Silver Cloud echoed in their ears it wasn’t a surprise to find all but Luna and Watch looking her way. Slowly advancing was the lame pegasus their lord and employer had slowly grown fond of, placing a single hoof down before moving another shaking hoof that resembled a foal learning how to walk.

The way this silver coat mare moved uneased the four. At first they were willing to chalk it up as shock and worry for her idol and newest friend and yet there was something else puppeteering her movements- an alternative motive than a deep concern. The four shuttered, stirring loose bits of armor causing them to bang against each other.. did it just get colder in here?

“Princess..what..what did you see?” asked the unnerving mare as she almost stumbled toward the makeshift heard.

Tri Salus, Dastardly Results, Stone Wall, and Stand Fast quickly moved to close the ranks while their commander broke from Luna’s side to take his spot behind the new defensive line. Princess Luna watched in wide eyed shock and teeth gritting anger as her guards would dare overstep their authority and treat her friend in such a manner; long past were the days of necessary herd ostracization and petty tribal conflicts, but clearly some remnants still needed to be stomped out.

“GUARDS ENOUGH! SHE IS MY GUEST AND FRIEND AND WILL NOT BE TREATED AS ANYTHING ELSE.” Luna roared as she staggered to her hooves. Creases littered her fur forcing them to part in a way that created the illusion of deliberate self ritualistic marking; spidered blood webs clouded her vision enough to prevent the stressed alicorn from targeting a single pony, but it mattered little for she could still sense them.

They tried opening their mouths to argue and even justify this.. behavior but Luna would not hear of it. The stressed alicorn’s muscles strained to keep her standing as she lifted one leg and swiftly brought it down like a judge’s gavel calling for order.

“Be silent. We will not hear whatever reasoning you may conjugate, but we will demand you restrain yourself!”

The five guards gave the Pegasus one last glare before turning back to meet Princess Luna’s unhealthy gaze and with much trepidation lowered their upper bodies, resting their muzzles on the winter cold marble.

Silver Cloud observed this unusual form of bowing since being taught just lowering your head down in respect was more than enough, but concluded it was just a guard thing. She stole a glance at her friend who looked down toward her and gave a quick nod signaling to her it was alright to proceed. Four quiet seconds went by with no movement by either pony until Luna summoned Silver Cloud using one of her wings in calling motion; click clack each hoof echoed in the silent room, each and every possible sound or noise that could be produce clamped their mouths shut. Even with the display of loyalty from the guards, the way the held themselves high above her showed just how close over the edge they really were and a simple poke would send them over.

Almost sensing this from reading the tension littering the air, the princess raised a hoof forward opening another option to the mare who eagerly took it and halted her advancement.

“We are deeply apologetic for the heinous display my guards have shown toward you, and thus offer...”

“What did you see princess?”

“I..we beg your pardon?” The question caught Luna off guard.

Silver Cloud instead of answering pointed a hoof to the still sleeping guard and then back at Luna. Her guards who were still suspicious of the mare’s odd behavior tensed but did nothing else to avoid angering their Princess. The alicorn followed the hoof to the downed guard and back to the silent Pegasus who had lowered her hoof and asked once more.

“What did you see princess? Was the kitchen staff refusing to bake those ‘peasant biscuits’ again or perhaps that prince sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong?”

“Neither.” Luna stated defensively. Where had this sudden outburst been hiding? Sure a mere few letters and weeks weren’t enough to fully know a pony but it was adequate for the alicorn to gauge this mare, but surely this wasn’t the real Silver Cloud?

“Neither?” Luna noted how she didn’t sound too relived. “Or was it something more serious like the sun never rising again due to a comatose Celestia?”

That got everypony’s attention.

“Pray tell.. what did you just say?”

“I’m right aren’t I? Oh goodness, I can’t believe it's finally here Princess!”

“Clearly, I fail to see how any of this could be good.” Luna

“ Don’t you see how perfect this is? Not only can we enjoy each others company more frequently, but we can present your night to the masses in all of its splendid glory.” Silver Cloud paused to inhale a deep breath. “I can now gaze at the night sky every minute, every hour for the rest of time! “ she stated excitedly, ignoring the one questioning gaze, and many outright glares from the other ponies.

“How can you say such a thing!?” Night Watch turned to face Luna. “No offence Princess. The night is truly a wonder, and beauty to behold, but it can’t last forever. We need the day just as much as we do the night, else we’ll forever forget the joy of looking forward to it.” he concluded, and found Princess Luna nodding in firm agreement.

“Indeed Knight Night Watch. Tis is not a matter we can simply ignore.” Luna turned to address the excitable silver mare. “I’m aware of your love of thy night and it fills me body greatly with warmth, but your words are a shock. We.. I have experienced much from taking such a trail and do not wish for another to follow thy path.”

Her little declaration was met with several claps and words of support as she turned around. All of her guards were looking to her with a plethora of emotions but the biggest was their eagerness for action. She won’t let their faith in her crumble.

“Guards, alert the rest of the Watch, and summon Captain Shin…” Luna abruptly stopped. The look of sheer surprise and slight panic that crossed their face now signaled that something was terribly wrong and with a decisive spin, brought herself face to face with the object of their anxiety.

The silver coated Pegasus’ eyes had changed. Not in the ‘are you feeling well’ look, but changed in its essence entirely, taking on one of the most beautiful, and yet sinister golden, amber toned colors the princess had ever seen. Each piercing blink could only be described as a step being taken, closer and closer to the innards of her very being. The beauty … and power it radiated locked not only her, but everypony in place plunging the room into silence. Such a combination was only comparable to the Princesses, but unlike the calm, inspiring aura they radiated this did the opposite, inspiring only fear, and hopelessness. Truly, those eyes looked and felt…chaotic in origin.

“It’s perfect.” The mare whispered.

“Wha..what are you? Night Watch found the resolve to speak. His years of training, and discipline took effect as the situation played out before his very hooves. The stallion’s fellow guards, though good and properly trained lacked the experience when dealing with anything more than a disgruntled pony. Princess Luna in her own right is a princess and has dealt with her own share of horrors but though the dark alicorn ruled, and fought along Princess Celestia in the day, this was a new year and a new world the alicorn was still adjusting too. Added to that was the possible mental trauma she must be dealing with.

The other ponies, Princess Luna included spared Night Watch a glance before turning back to the mare in question. One thing Guardsponies learned during their training was a pony’s fear of the unknown was nearly matched by their curiosity. Night Watch’s question broke the others from their fear induced chains, and gave their minds something else to think about other than the eyes. But the question was a double edge plan from the beginning, thought they weren’t worried about the eyes anymore, now they were starting to fear the mare herself. Only clouding their minds even more with numerous questions. Out of the herd here, only Luna seemed to be the only one not locked in fear, but she still held that dark and grim look. It gave Night Watch the chills. If the night alicorn held that air around her, then the situation was possibly much worse than he first thought.

The tone that the Knight used popped Silver Clouds's bubble, bring her back to Equestria. The mare gave them an honest to Celestia look of confusion!

“What? Oh! You mean who am I?” she hovered off the ground, using her hooves to gesture herself. “Why I’m Silver Cloud. The Pegasus mare from the Islands off the VanHoover coast that loves stargazing but can’t because of work. And I also love nice, calming flights over the beach, during the sunsets.” She mockingly added, giving them a heart stopping, chill of a smile before continuing. “I mean, it’s not as if I managed to somehow subdue Princess Celestia in the hope of keeping the stars out all night, so I can gaze at them at my luxury.” She mutely noted the raising anger clearly radiating from the group, particularly the dark coated mare but continued with her speech. “Oh no that would be silly and illogical…”

“TELL US WHAT THO HAST DONE TO OUR SISTER AND WE MAY BE ‘LENIENT’ WITH THY’S RETRIBUTION!” The night alicorn flawlessly demonstrating how the ROYAL Canterlot voice acquired its well-deserved named.

The mare was blown from the sky onto the ground from the force of the shout, but surprisingly managed recover quickly enough to perk right back up. Her mane being comically blown back in the shape of a cone before the mare shook quickly; regaining some of her senses while fixing her mane at the same time.

“Wow, you really do have some attitude! What she said was right after all!” Silver Cloud expressed this revelation too calmly, possibly even forgetting what happen not even a minute ago. The cheerful outburst momentarily confused the royal entourage… only for a moment before the group found its composure again. Luna had calmed enough so such an outburst wouldn’t happen so suddenly again. She certainly was not in the mood for more of this jousting, but the quick and subtle glances she had made around the room showed that her guards were the only ones with any visible effects from her outburst.

“Who is this “she” thou speaks of? An accomplice to this heinous crime thou hast committed?” Luna asked already developing some theories around this new tidbit of information. The addressed mare gave a puzzled look before her mouth and eyes widen at the realization of her slip up.

“OH! You weren’t supposed to know yet! Horseapples, she’ll not going to like that.” The last part strangely felt more for the mare than for Luna’s knowledge. The mare began started mumbling short and fast bits of non-coherent phrases, while walking back and forth in a distort fashion. The alicorn snorted in frustration at the rapidly declining scene before her. She had enough and was ending this now so she could attend to crisis at hoof.

“Night Watch.” The night princess turned her head back to address the Knight and his fellow guards. “Take this mare into your custody and bring her to the holding cells until further notice. Watch her has a dragon watches its horde.” With an understanding nod, the guards left the princess’ side, quickly subduing the now delirious, and shouting mare. She struggled briefly before being overpowered by the combined strength of the Lunar Guards and dragged out of the courtroom.

Luna watched the scene for a moment before losing interest in the crazed mare. Her desperate words of “The end is here” and “She’s already here” were taken as serious as AppleJack would to the thought of growing oranges instead of apples. Not a heretical thought was given, and was chalked up as the ramblings of a madmare. Following the group's quick departure and with a flick of magic, Luna summoned a quill and two pieces of parchment to begin drafting a letter to Miss Sparkle and the other elements.

The princess paused mid action, giving some thought as to how she would deliver the news to the young ponies. They had accomplished so much in their personal and public lives in such a short amount of time. To manage and successfully run an orchard of that size with little to no help was an undertaking in itself and yet the Mare of Apples’ could do it no problem. To be a successful, and upcoming designer in the fashion world with nothing more than a vision and strive to succeed? A baker that could rival top chefs from around the world? A talented, and almost guaranteed candidate for the Wonderbolts and maybe even Head Manager for the Cloudesdale Weather factory and weather teams?

A local “wildlife” and caretaker that can even move dragons, and the personal student of the Sun Princess who could rival if not surpass Starswirl the beard himself? Barely able to be considered adults and yet have done so much with their lives and still managed to save herself from the darkness in her heart… or so it seemed.

Luna sighed softly in understanding to what she had to say. No, she would not deceive them or coat the news with sugary delights much to her (and possible Pinkie Pies’) dismay. They deserved to be treated like the adults they were and with a sense of renewed duty began to pen two letters. One to be written and sent to Miss Sparkle(Celestia’s student and perhaps Luna’s only friend) unedited details and all about the night’s calamity and the urgency of the elements immediate arrival to Canterlot.

The second letter being more personal in nature. A plea from the Night Princess wishing for a private meeting with the lavender scribe; any further details about this meeting were left unpenned, only meant to be spoken muzzle to muzzle.

Luna watched as her dark magic set fire to letters just as she was shown. The dark flames enveloping the two parchments with the speed of wet paint drying. She huffed angrily as it dragged the entire process further out, wasting time she just didn’t have. Luna’s eyes slitted with anger, and her fanged mouth barked her displeasure twice before the letters finally turned to ash, letting the wind take them to their new owner. She blinked once, and then twice before her mind caught up; her tongue ran over her teeth to confirm what she thought and was somewhat relieved to learn there were no fangs.

The confirmation was a boost to her psyche but it wasn’t enough to lessen the affair any. Having to deal with these “mild” changes for the past few days on top of having to now deal with a madmare declaring the return of an eternal night certainly wasn’t improving her shattered public image any. For now(though she hated to admit it) she was unable to take any action other than to wait for a response from Twilight Sparkle and hope they arrive in time to figure out what's wrong with her sister. Else the public conference she’d have to host to explain the lack of a certain fireball in the sky wouldn’t be the most exceptional(or approved) in history.

Luna turned her gaze to darken sky that was her charge and way of life. She needed to know exactly how long she had until the sun was to rise. Her conscious briskly touching the cooling orb she called the moon, coating it with her presence as she called out to it. The moon reacted as she had expected, releasing a small display of its enchanting moonlight into the night; the rays from it flickering with some radiant power as it revealed its secrets and what the princess wanted to know.

Four and a half hours.

Upon arrival Twilight and the others were immediately taken to Celestia’s personal quarters, where she had remained since she was first discovered. Since then Princess Luna and the Elements were the only ponies in the room, with only a small guard detail remaining outside. Other than that the room had remained undisturbed. So far all of their efforts in the past couple of hours having been in vain with no visible improvement. It was nearing the end of her night and with that the raising of the sun. Princess Celestia was still nowhere near any better, still ill by whatever ails her. The Elements of Harmony(much the groups dismay) were of no use either, leaving an even more disappointed Luna present.

If such an event would have befallen Luna instead, Celestia would have likely figured out a cause and corrected it before it could of escalated any further. At the very least she could continue creating the day and night until a solution could be discovered but herself? No. She was still too weak in power to attempt such a thing, even after being freed from Nightmare Moon several months ago. The redemption, and imprisonment had taken its toll on her and would require decades to fully recover, and even if she were at full power there was just now way Luna could raise the sun; she never was as strong as her sister and once more it was proving to be her major weakness.

“Has there been any change in her condition?” Twilight asked once more, still trying to hide the hopelessness in her tone. The other Elements were still experiencing their own feelings of apprehension and fatigue of the situation. Their thoughts and concerns all being directed to the sleeping and unresponsive princess that slept before them. After the first two hours of unsuccessful testing and procedures, the elements had started taking small breaks to try and ease their worry over Celestia’s condition. Twilight and Luna stayed to continue trying different methods in hopes of finding the one that’ll wake Celestia up. None had worked so far.

“Na Twilight Sparkle. Celestia’s condition remains constant.” the Night Alicorn spoke weakly. Her voice having lost its commanding volume and energy over the remainder of the night. Her head hanged just a bit lower at the confession, matching the unicorn’s pose next to her. The pair sighed in unison, both in defeat and exhaustion.

“Perhaps young Sparkle, you should join your friends in main dining hall for an early breakfast.” Luna said out of the blue. “ It is getting very late… early in your case and maybe an early meal and couple of hours of relaxation would do you wonders. We can continue our work at a later time.”

Twilight raised her head slightly, enough to give Luna a mildly shocked look. Did she just say they should just leave Princess Celestia to her fate? She opened her mouth to rebut the suggestion but was cut off from a raised hoof from Luna.

“Hold thine tongue Miss. Sparkle. We mean not an abandoning of our work, but merely a pause to recoup and think clearly before we continue in earnest. Besides, we have preparations to attend before the nobles mob our throne room with their pointless bickering and questions about the sun. Good nig… Good day Miss Sparkle.” Luna ended her pleasantries with a partial bow of respect for her scholarly friend. An action the Princess of Tradition didn’t freely perform all the time, which only added to the meaning behind it.

Twilight for all of her intelligence and mannerisms in royal etiquette simply froze dumbfounded before realizing her mistake and dropping into a bow of her own. “ Thank you Princess Luna for the concern and hospitality. I’ll make sure to get some rest before we continue our work.”

Luna nodded before turning to make her leave. “ Please Miss. Sparkle, there’s no need to call us by our title but nevertheless we welcome your politeness.” The moment her back was turned Twilight dropped the act as she critically watched Luna shut the door behind her and the echoing of her hoofsteps growing fainter. It was quick and startling but Twilight was sure of what she felt; the same magical aura that had afflicted Princess Celestia coming from Luna.

It didn’t make sense. Many strange thoughts and scenarios began formulating and coursing through her mind as she tried to understand what it was. There was no mistake that the traces of magic residue were without a doubt Luna’s but what truly unsettled her was how familiar it felt to another certain alicron.

“Twilight dear, we understand how much Princess Celestia means to you. And while we can’t fully claim to understand what you’re going through, we just want you to know we’ll be with you all the way.”

“Its not Princess Celestia, but Princess Luna that I’m worried about Rarity.”

“Uhm… pardon us sugercube?” Applejack tilted her head questioningly. Sure she and the girls had expected some sort of strange or abnormal behavior from Twilight but to see her completely ill effect by her teacher's current state was to put it lightly… untwilight?

“I’m fine Applejack. I’m not that sleep deprived but that’s besides the point! Rarity did you feel anything familiar coming from Luna? Her magical aura to be specific.”

“What are you getting at Twilight?” Rainbow Dash inserted herself into the conversation.

“Yea Twilight! Why are you accusing Princess Luna of being a meanie pants!”

“Oh my…”

Twilight flared her horn brightly to get their attention, illuminating the room for one second before cutting off the magic to the flare. She need their complete attention for what she was about to suggest and with that needed their trust.

“Girls before I say anything else I need you all to pinkie promise me none of this will be repeated to anypony. My BBBFF is the only exception to this promise alright?” Her friends to their credit tried to keep their looks from completely showing their scepticism, but nonetheless nodded to the terms.

“Alright Twi, I don’t know what’s flying around in your head but alright. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Rainbow came forth enacting the Pinkie Promise. The rest gave each other looks of uncertainty before following Rainbow’s lead. With all sworn to secrecy Twilight relaxed just a bit.

“Girls what I was referring to earlier was Princess Luna’s magic.” Her eyes darted between each friend, gazing their reactions; which now only showed intense curiosity.” Now, I say this mildly since it was only for a moment I felt it but it was enough. I didn’t mention this to Luna but I did detect something; a lingering entity or..or I don't know but it reminded me of Luna but not Luna.”

“Darling you're not suggestion…”

“Indeed that is exactly what I’m suggestion Rarity. What I felt reminded me of ********* M**n…

Ni*****re M**n…

N**h*m*re M**n...

“You’re Nightmare Moon, Luna.”
_____________________________________________________________________

By now a good morning’s rest was nothing but a long lost foal's tell the dark blue alicorn once knew and reflected on the numerous times she would lay awake- which was quite often now. Another nightmare and this time it was about the betrayal of one of her closest and only friends, but to wake up now without a nightmare would feel rather weird.

Even with the night replicating enchantments woven into the very wool fabric of her curtains, Luna could not only sense the arrogant golden rays reaching for her but also another.. something that she couldn’t classify lurking in her very room. The shadows of her personal cave were also still but once in a fleeting moment a flash of movement just out of her view would catch her eyes; every time she turned to confront this anomaly something again would graze the outer limits of her vision and the process would repeat.

“Another night of forged lies, and an another restless day.” Luna mumbled as she angrily balled her bed sheets and threw them at the bedroom door. She didn’t watch this time but knew they had found their mark when a soft audible thump met her lazy ears but like before waited for her guards to respond.

This, like many things since her return no more than six months ago had become the protocol of her daily routine. During the first week of integration and recovery, the princess had found herself unable to use her Royal Voice and thus unable to summon her guards when she needed them and in a fit of mild rage threw her pillow at the door. The act had surprisingly worked in both parties favor and it quickly became a sort of inside joke whenever she needed them.

So, unlike last time when the reaction was immediate, several minutes of waiting had failed to enact a response and the longer the seconds clawed forward, their little joke ceased being funny.

The urge to stay bedridden and the desire to leave conflicted but the dread of remaining in this eternal hallucination won over; rising from the lonely bastion stranded in this forsaken room, the alicorn hurriedly galloped the distance until she was standing just below the massive gates. One second… two seconds… Luna collected her breathe and with as much grace as a flustered gazel grasped the two fridged handles and opened the doors to the outside.

What golden rays laid beyond stirred the very embers of her darkened soul until it clad not only her scarred conscious but every dark secretion...

“Good afternoon, Princess Luna.”

“We are surprised, but honored to see you at this hour.”

A hammer colliding against a mirror couldn't have ruined the mood anymore than to leave your chambers and “express” yourself in front of would be strangers. Flenching back, Luna almost threw herself back into the void from which she came from, but thought better to save what public image she had.

“Tho..We..I mean.. you aren’t my guards.” Luna struggled to find the right word before she felt comfortable enough to continue.

To her left and right were not the two unusually bulky but loveable adult foals she had come to know and call comrade. Instead, their appointed place was now occupied by not one, but two nearly identical stallions of the Solar Guard. The only difference besides their speech tone was one sported a horn while the other a pair of wings, but all other differences ceased.

“We’re sorry about the sudden..”

“ and rudeness of not informing you prior.”

“but we were instructed to relieve your guards a bit early so they may have some rest.”

The alicorn shivered once the two were finished. She had tried following them but once they had switched to finishing the other’s sentence, Luna gave up trying to keep eye contact and opted to just wait until it was over. Forbid anypony to find out but little examples such as that left her uneasy since it felt more like one being instead of two.

Discipline was fine and all but the moment the individual is lost, than one is left with a blank slate.. and a reminder of what Luna had done centuries before.

“Well, you should have asked but we forgive thee. Next time we recommend you awake and inform us before taking such action. Given I’m awake now, we.. I shall be off to join my sister for our meal.”

“Princess Celestia is in the middle of her court. The time right now is barely past the conclusion of breakfast but if you hurry princess, I’m sure the chefs wouldn’t mind making you some.”

“Yes.. breakfast at the time it was created for does sound intriguing. Perhaps we do just that, and if you should see Stand Fast and Solid Wall, the guards you relived, please ask them to meet me at the normal spot. They’ll know what you’re talking about.” Princess Luna requested which to her delight the substitutes nodded.

With nothing more to say she bid each of them a good morning and off for the kitchens. It wasn’t far down the hall when mouth watering thoughts of the strange egg covered toast dish struck her with the intensity to rival the pink creature’s need to consume vast amounts of candy.

“Covered in maple delight, won't this toast be the envy of many!” Luna sang as the butterflies in her stomach carried the alicorn to her destination.

Despite the ever increasing distance, her singing could still be faintly heard for nearly two minutes until finally the distance proved to vast and no more was heard. It was once the silence resumed did the senior most guard moved. To the left and then to the right his eyes scanned, looking for potential threats, but nothing was seen or heard since most ponies still carried the belief this wing was cursed.

Good.

“Private.”

“Yes Sergeant?”

“Make note. Subject left her chambers in a mild panic early this morning near the end of breakfast. There is no obvious reason except a lack of sleep or a lot on the mind. We will continue our watch and will report any new revelations as they surface. Praise the Sun.”

___________________________________________________________________

“Oh why do I have to get up?” Celestia asked herself as she casually fell onto her side.

The motions of getting up and starting the day has always been a personal battle for the alicorn between the self imposed duties to her selfish desires of sleeping just a few minutes longer, but ooh that blissful sensation a pony gets when tighten muscles are finally allowed their moment in the sun so to speak.

Celestia never really understood where that saying originated from and had always felt a bit strange referencing herself like that but there can be no denying that an early morning stretch is the best sensation next to simply blowing off your responsibilities for a day.. not that she would ever claim to have done so. Yet, sadly this sort of logic didn’t run a country and because of that conditioning the alicorn found herself rising early every day in order to make sure her little ponies had something to look forward to.

Just as she found the threshold that walked along the flimsy line of fiction and reality suddenly came a light rapping on the bedroom door. At first Celestia did nothing as was customary when treading such a fine line but when the knocking became constant, she found herself sighing in defeat.

“Come in.” the lazy alicorn asked more in the hopes of ending that constant knocking than from general curiosity.

With permission given, one of the doors creaked as its messenger forced it open to noisily announce their presence. Celestia heard him first, if the heavier hoofsteps were any indication before she saw him but from each metallic clank his hooves gave off singled it was likely Solar Wing or his new partner sent to wake her. Their dedication and sense of duty is something to be admired but to take it upon themselves to monitor how long she sleep left the alicorn wanting to give them the famous “I’m disappointed look.”

“Solar Wing, I’m up. You don’t have to check on me, so please feel free to return to duty.” Celestia made a simple flex of her wings to reinforce the point she was indeed awake and ready to get up.. at least until he left.

So when her assurance failed to elect a response, the alicron froze in thought. That sort of thing had always worked before so why not now? Were they becoming wiser to her tactics and are now waiting until they physically saw her leaving the bed? Oh bollocks.

In order to cease these train of thoughts from continuing, Celestia had no choice but to give into demand and wake up. So imagine the alicorn’s surprise when she arose to find NOT Solar Wing standing there but one of her sister’s guards waiting patiently for orders.

“Oh! I’m sorry dear guardstallion, but I thought you were my normal guard Solar Wing.” The stallion gave the princess a deep bow before standing back at attention to speak.

“I am sorry for the unannounced visit Princess Celestia but its too important to wait for.”

That got her attention. It is strange enough being awoken by anypony other than her own guard and even stranger for them to seek an audience this early. Lifting her gaze from said guard Celestia glanced at the two barriers to her room, and noted there wasn’t any other except for the two them.

“I am to believe what is discussed is only between the two to us?”

“I’m afraid so. This matter is already conflicting with my service oath but its important enough that I’m more than willing to break it if it means the right thing is done.”

“A noble motive but you are aware that breaking such an oath no matter how justified is punishable at the very least a dishonorable discharge? And that’s if the Court Martial is lenient in punishment. ”

The stallion held his posture better than he did with his emotions. A lifetime of dealing with face to face meetings had crafted a finely capable mare able to take but a second to read them like an open book; and it only took the exile of her sister for the alicorn to adopt and harness this gift which even now isn’t bring Celestia closer to solving her sister’s plight. She was about to continue her questioning when the guard spoke up.

“I’m well aware that I would lose the very life I’ve wanted, but this is too important to ignore. I couldn’t live with myself knowing she was rotting away i..”

“What did you just say?” That woke Celestia up in a hurry. Her tired wings stretched to match the entire length of the bed and in one great flap propelled the alicorn onto her hooves. The guard with great credit to this training and courage did not backpedal but instead held his ground and bowed again. Neither said anything as the smaller pony waited for his liege to finish correcting her image, which only consisted of her dawning her regalia.

“I said I couldn’t live with the guilt of leaving that young mare to rot in the dungeon.” He answered with his muzzle pressed shamefully into the ground as his heated breath polished the pristine marble.

The act itself wasn’t too uncommon to see, being royalty, but the discipline in which it was executed made the gesture even more distinguished. In accordance to the pleasantries associated with royal greetings, the bow was used more closely to that of a courteous hello, and an acknowledgement of Celestia’s position-this held none of that. No. When the alicorn put in context the guard before her and the ancient teachings likely instilled throughout the generations than the simple gesture could rival their classic epics.

“What did you do?” Celestia asked once more with her restraint eroding the longer he remained.

“Please your majesty, just follow me so we could end this matter quickly.” he pleaded until a sharp stump of Celestia’s hoof singled he may raise.

Before he could fully stand up, he felt a sudden tingle grouping his body before consuming his eyes. He blinked once and found the lights had went out. This mattered not as his vision adapted to the darkness, a trait that made his kind the envy of most and once his eyes had fully adjusted to the surrounding darkness, he nearly flinched when he found Celestia.

Standing not even ten hooves in front of him was his other princess, who held the eyes of a Minotaur gazing down not at the red eyed silver mare behind bars but directly at him. His breath hitched at the back of his throat as his body began experiencing the onset of a massive panic attack; his legs rooted in place not to keep him from falling but out of fright. All over he could feel the constricting muscles working in agitation as they spasmed and crushed his chest, his heart desperately pounding his inner ribs with enough pressure crack them.

In his final moments, he managed to raise his head just enough to see a wide eyed and opened jawed Celestia making for him just as he did his impression of a fallen tree and collapsed.