Moonlight

“A thing may happen and be a total lie; another thing may not happen and be truer than the truth.”

One day after the battle.

The city fires have died out. All across Canterlot, salvaged loudspeakers echo Luna’s voice. Her message repeats every so often.

“… Citizens of Canterlot. The battle is over. King Dainn is dead. The caribou are no longer in control.

For many, this would be a time to celebrate. But we do not have such time. Our victory was only the beginning of a war. A war which may last for a long time.

From this day forth, Equestria is under the rule of the New Monarchy. It is a constitutional monarchy, so that the power of ruling may be shared fairly among the royalty and the people of Equestria. Your representatives of the reformed senate house, the Consulate, personify this.

Equestria needs every able body, every pair of hands to help rebuild and continue the fight against our enemies. If you are of proper age and build, you are to seek out any Haven Alliance officer to be examined and readied for combat training. If you are not fit for battle, you will be directed to the Consulate for evaluation and placed in a line of work most suited to the needs of the New Monarchy. Every pony will play their part. We are in this together.

Relief and aid will be distributed to all who require it. The areas of the city left intact and the castle grounds are open for those without homes. If you are injured or in need of shelter, make your way to Canterlot castle.

On a final note, I must confess the truth.

Celestia… is no longer with us.

Though I tried to save her, she was too far fallen. I was given no choice but to grant her a painless death. As much as it tortures my heart and my thoughts to have committed this act of mercy, I assure you, I am ready to lead. We will endure.

As the last Princess of Equestria, I promise you all… We will reclaim what was taken from us.”

Remembrance. Something all too important, yet Luna wants none of it.

After passing through the makeshift medical ward set up in the expansive castle voyeur, a conversation with one of the lead battle medics sticks in between Luna’s thoughts, refusing to leave.

…

We don’t have an in-depth report, Princess. We only tallied the dead, since there are much more wounded to be cared for. The army got lucky. We took a beating but… It could have been much worse.

I can tell you about your Sentinels in general, at least from what I saw.

Ok. I’ll be frank.

Lacerations, broken bones, limbs missing, extreme bodily trauma from electrical burns and blunt forces. Some I had to examine closer to see their damage. Others… I didn’t even need to glance to know what they went through. The only way to explain the severity of their wounds is that they were simply overpowered by numbers. Considering how many caribou they killed, that’s what I’m betting.

I… Don’t want to tell you this Princess, but… You know how caribou work. It didn’t matter to them if their victims were bleeding, bruised, or… even missing a limb. They still… did their thing.

Word of their deaths have already spread. Some are starting to use it as a rallying cry. ‘For the Seven Sentinels’, they say. It’s driving others to keep fighting through the pain. But… I’d keep the details under wraps. Ponies would rather memorialize them than picture them clawing for breath while being slaughtered alive.

I’m sorry, Princess Luna.

…

Luna should not think so selfishly. Many have lost those dear to them during the battle for the city. Yet even so, those seven faces cannot stop appearing in the back of Luna’s thoughts. Question after question follow them. What could have been done differently? What mistake caused their deaths?

Princess Luna shakes her head, placing a hand on her brow. The only cure she can think of is to put her mind to work on something. Being back in a seat of power and authority luckily provides her with a constantly-stacking list of duties to attend to. Meeting with the Alliance leaders being one of them.

Making her way to the outside of the main castle doors, Luna descends the huge steps, which only a day earlier had seen some of the fiercest fighting. Now, the homeless spend their time here, sitting on the many steps or searching the grounds for loved ones. Clusters of tents fill the edges of the castle grounds, making their way closer to the center as more and more are erected.

At the very bottom of the stairs, Luna spots General Olive, speaking with a few of his Saddle Arabian soldiers. Luna approaches him as he finishes, garnering his attention.

“Princess. Allow me to congratulate you on the victory.” The General says, holding a fist to his heart and nodding his head. Luna replies with a nod of her own.

“Thank you, General. But it was a victory earned by all who fought for it. It belongs to you and to all of our soldiers as much as it does to me.”

“Your humility knows no bounds. And it could not be more appreciated. With the losses many have suffered, we must double our efforts to keep up morale. My ponies and I will continue to maintain order in the city. We have already begun rebuilding critical defenses on the fringes of the capital.”

“That is good news. Thank you General Olive.” Luna replies, moving to leave. She is stopped by the Saddle Arabian General for one last question.

“I trust your judgement, Princess Luna, but… Had the Princess of the Sun truly fallen so far from grace? Was she truly so out of reach that nothing could have returned her to her brilliance?”

Luna bows her head solemnly. “I am afraid so. If there was anything I could have done, I would have. The only way for me to save her was to let her leave this world.”

“I understand. It is a shame. I will send a message to the Sultana of this sad news. I expect to be still stationed under your command, however. Saddle Arabia is still starving, and as my people’s representative in the Haven Alliance, I will do anything I can to give them the help they need.”

Luna reassures the General. “I promise you. Getting food and supplies to Saddle Arabia is one of our top priorities. Please tell the Sultana that aid will be coming soon.”

With a thankful nod, General Olive departs, allowing Luna to exit to the castle grounds.

A stream of wayward clouds travel to and fro over the mountain and the valley, casting the rays of sunlight in bright patches. Though the day remains mostly cloudy, laden with the occasional drizzle of rain. It will be some time before Equestria can properly regain control of the weather, and in turn, retake the mantle of nature’s custodian.

Princess Luna makes her way through the battle-scarred capital, its rubble being sifted through by its worn and weary inhabitants. Ponies scatter about, picking up the pieces in a mix of sorrow and relief. War is something many ponies don’t want, but they know it will bring about their freedom from the caribou. As Luna had assured in her messages.

Luna passes into the Sun quarter. The streets now see much more activity, with Canterlot’s citizens scavenging for useful items or searching for lost companions. A desperate stallion asks if any pony had seen his wife, pleading that he still loves her. A mare discovers water spilling from a broken pipe upon the second floor of a shattered building. She quickly soaks herself in the frigid water, inviting others to use it before Alliance troops cordon it off for water storage. The voice in Luna’s head once again reminds her of the necessity that comes from this aftermath.

War is the solution to peace. There is no other option.

Arriving in the market quarter, Luna takes sight of the vast detainment camp set up in the center of the old commerce plaza, sectioned off with wired fence work. The camp is lined on the inside with hastily constructed tents and processing centers, and is filled with mostly caribou non-combatants. A small selection of stubbornly loyal red-collared mares are among them, along with those traitor stallions and caribou soldiers who survived their defeat.

On the roof of a nearby building, a large flagpole was erected to be seen by the entire detainment camp. The sheared-off antlers and destroyed war hammer of Dainn are dangled from the pole.

Overseeing the camp and the surrounding quarter is Commander Skyward and her Red Hawk Regulars. The griffin unit had taken the least amount of casualties by battle’s end.

Luna approaches Commander Skyward’s officer station, set up in the remains of a bookstore. Luna finds the Commander just outside.

“I gotta say… I haven’t been in a battle like that in a while.” Skyward remarks, leaning against the side of a ruined wall.

“Was it a challenge for you?” Luna asks.

“What? No way. The caribou down here have no idea how to fight griffins. Their legionnaires in the north give us a much harder time. These guys were pushovers.”

The Commander coughs, retracting her statement.

“I mean… It was tough for everybody. We lost a lot of good troops. But that’s war for you, yeah? Still, we gained a massive strategic victory, in both damage done and in what we gained. A lot of the ponies in this city who have come to the recruiting officers have made the cut. Our ranks are growing.”

Luna nods in approval. “What is the situation with the detainment camps?”

“In short; easy. We don’t have a lot of hostile prisoners. Only a few caribou and stallion soldiers attempted to escape the city. The majority of them were caught, some killed. The rest are just civilians. The mares, stallions and stags sometimes give us guff, though it’s nothing we can’t handle. The cows are terrified of us.

On a more productive note though, the caribou clerics and other mage types are being kept in a separate camp altogether to force them to remove collars. Most are being cooperative, with some… added encouragement. And don’t worry, there won’t be any ‘accidental’ deaths. I know that these prisoners are more useful alive.”

“Well done,” Luna says, “Minister Rhona will probably be expecting your Regulars and the Thunderhead back in the Griffin Kingdoms after she hears of our victory, yes?”

“I think after they hear of this victory they’ll end up sending more griffins and supplies down here, actually. My people may tend to be pricks to other nations, but they know Equestria’s survival is crucial to their own. Unless things get really dicey back home, the Red Hawks will be with you in the long run, Princess. Giant-ass cannon included.” Skyward smirks.

Luna smiles. “Thank you, Commander. I will leave you to your charges. You will hear from me soon on the next course of action.”

“Will do, Princess. Nice talking with you.”

With little else to tend to in the city itself, Luna returns to the castle grounds, arriving in the castle’s voyeur medical ward once more. Here, Chief Zavala and the zebra lieutenant Abéna have set up shop, lending what assistance they can to those recuperating. Alliance soldiers and surviving citizens alike are tended to by battle medics and zebra healers.

Luna spies Chief Zavala, making her way towards her. She stops at a distance as she sees the zebra Chief preoccupied with a group of younger foals needing attention. Alongside the other healers, Zavala gives them care and lightens their hearts, wiping away tears and reuniting what families she can.

As Luna looks on in silence and admiration, Abéna appears. A bandage is wrapped around her forehead, and her left arm rests in a sling.

“Princess of the Night. You are truly as strong as they say. To have led us and then slay the very king who deposed you. And then while suffering the loss of your Sentinels, to have to grant your sister peace to save her from herself… I would not have been able to do any of it.”

Luna forces a smile. She’d rather not speak too much of yesterday’s events.

“Thank you, Abéna. But… you and your fellow zebras deserve more recognition than I. You were forced out of your own country, with no place to call home, and yet you fight to help free another people. Chief Zavala gives her love to those foals as if they were her own.”

Abéna smiles. “We lost our civil war with the Tributes and were cast out of Zebrica, yes. But we do have a place to call home. Haven is our home. Equestria is our home, thanks to you. And that makes the ponies of Equestria our family. It wouldn’t matter to Chief Zavala, though. She is stern and stoic when she must lead us on the field. But at heart, she is a mother to all.”

The zebras had seen the very worst of the consequences of the Fall. Yet they were perhaps the strongest of all in the Alliance. Luna had never seen it so clearly until now.

She turns to Abéna.

“Do you still have family in Zebrica?”

“Yes,” Abéna nods, “My family was one of many who could not make the journey northward to Equestria. They remain in Zebrica’s southern reaches, living nomadic lives to escape the Tributes. I hope every day that they are still safe.”

Luna places a hand on her shoulder. “We may have to wait some time before we acquire the necessary strength to take back Zebrica. But I promise you that it will be done. As the caribou fall, so too will the Tributes.”

Though saddened, Abéna retains a hopeful look in her eyes. “I’m aware. All of us are. The distance from our homeland will not slow us. We know that if we follow you, Princess, we will have our freedom.”

A heartfelt smile appears on Luna’s lips.

“Thank you. Stay strong. Please inform Chief Zavala that I will speak with her later.”

“Of course.”

With an exchange of bows, Luna bids Abéna farewell, proceeding through the medical ward and further into the castle.

Marshal Mjolna is the last leader Luna needs to speak with, though she is still gathering a finalized report on the city. In the meantime, there is another loose end in the castle for Luna to visit. One which she herself has not seen in years.

“I thought I might find you here.”

Luna walks into the hedge-maze garden, finding Discord sitting atop a stone platform.

He chuckles weakly.

“You among few ponies know me so well.” He mutters.

Discord poofs into nothingness, reappearing a foot off of the ground with his face planted in the dirt. He struggles to free himself, requiring Luna to help pull him out.

Luna looks concerned. “How are you feeling? Are your powers returning?”

Discord shakes his head with a frustrated sigh. He himself looks drained, weak from years of inactivity.

“Not at a pace which I’d hoped. Don’t get me wrong, I’m overjoyed that you freed me from that sex-for-brains king. But… my chaos magic was being siphoned by that hammer for much too long. It comes back in tiny trickles, but it’s going to take an unbearably long time before I can feel like myself again.”

Discord shakes his head like a wet dog, throwing off the tiny bits of dirt and grass stuck to him. He readies a snap to conjure some of his magic again, only for Luna to stop him, lowering his bird-like claws.

“I am sorry. I must ask that you save what magic you can to aid me in controlling the Sun and Moon from now on.”

“Ah, yes. It makes sense that your hornless magic would have its limits. The dawning question, however, is how you achieved such a feat in the first place.” Discord muses, stroking his slim beard.

Luna stays silent, defensive in her expressions. She continues on her previous subject.

“I am unable to use my magic continuously without crippling pain. That is why I need your help.”

“Well, I’ve got nothing pressing on my own agendas that clashes with raising the Sun and Moon. And… it’s the least I could do to repay you for freeing me. Quite the trouncing you gave Dainn, by the way. I was cheering for you, just in case you weren’t aware.” Says Discord, finishing with a quick smirk.

Luna’s lips curl into a small smile. She is about to speak, before Discord suddenly interrupts her, changing the discussion with a sharp turn to a more serious tone.

“I don’t suppose you’d consider explaining to me what you did to Celestia. I knew she became the lowly-obedient-blissful type after a few short months, bordering on insanity, but even I know that a sword to the heart isn’t a very good healing practice.”

Though she is caught off guard by Discords prying, Luna retains her semblance, sighing.

“Actually, Discord… You are perhaps the only being I can tell the truth to.”

Discord perks up in surprise.

“That will be for another time. For now… I have a proposition for you, Discord. A place where you can apply yourself while you regain your powers.”

“Alright. I’m listening, Princess.” Discord says, his ears fluttering in peaked curiosity.

“As the New Monarchy and the Consulate are being implemented as the new governing system, I have been needing a particular position filled in. How would you like to be my Spymaster?”

“A Spymaster, you say? Goodness gracious, what an offer. Why are you so willing to give such a title to me? We hadn’t even truly warmed up to each other before all this falling nonsense.” Discord quips.

Luna crosses her arms. “A trickster such as yourself should be ashamed to have been fooled by Dainn… But, if you are willing, you can make it up to us. You’d have free reign to recruit and lead anyone willing to gather intelligence on the enemy. What do you say?”

“… Well, when you put it like that… We have a deal. I’m sure Fluttershy would want me to do something other than lie around all day anyway.”

To see Discord smile again feels much more heartening to Luna than she thought.

As Luna smiles back, Discord slinks closer to her ear, whispering.

“Also… I’ll help keep up your charade of Dainn’s death. As long as you tell me what you intend to do with him.”

Luna nods, shaking Discord’s lion paw. “I had forgotten how inquisitive you are. Very well then. I will fill you in on what I have planned. For now, get some rest. There’s an office section in the castle’s upper halls which may suit your future needs.”

“An office room? I’ll take it, but I hope you aren’t expecting me to do paperwork. Not my strong suit. In any case, Princess, ta-ta for now!”

Discord readies for a snap of his fingers, only to be stopped by Luna.

“Please, Discord! You need to save what magic you can to help me lower the Sun and raise the Moon.”

“Ah, right. Well then, I’ll… I’ll just walk. All the same though; Until we meet again!”

The daytime light slowly changes from yellow to orange in between the passing clouds. Having the life-giving light of the world finally free from the caribou’s grasp brought a great joy to Luna’s heart, as she gazed upon the coming sunset from the balcony of the castle’s west tower. Perhaps the price that was paid would be worth it all.

The west tower platform gives way to an encompassing view of most of Canterlot. At the very edge, one can see the castle grounds below, and the sprawling city surrounding it. The Canterlot Valley lies beyond, spanning out into and endless sight. Sparse clouds gather here and there, sailing along the currents of the wind as the Sun slowly descends. The castle’s flags of the Sun and of the Haven Alliance gently sway with stray breezes.

Mjolna should arrive to meet with Luna anytime now, hopefully carrying with her some good news amidst all of the reports she has been gathering. As much as winning the battle and reclaiming Canterlot was good news in itself, there will be more hardships to come.

A knock on the balcony doors shakes Luna from her thoughts.

“Yes?”

A guard, a pegasus mare fresh from the battle the day before, pushes the door ajar.

“Apologies, Princess, but it’s the Guardian, Liberty. She demands an audience with you. She is adamant.”

Luna sighs, holding her hands behind her.

“Let her in.”

Luna’s ears twitch to the sudden slam of the balcony doors as they are violently swung open, the guard having been pushed aside. Liberty appears, hastily making her way to Luna, her fists clenched in anger.

“HOW COULD YOU!?!”

Luna retains her posture, continuing to look outwards from the balcony to the horizon.

Behind her, Liberty seethes.

“You murderer!! You killed her! You killed Celestia just as we won!! I trusted you and you… you USE all of us just so you could take the throne! You… you didn’t even leave a body for us to bury!!”

Liberty’s outrage continues, her voice rasping from strain.

“You mourn for your Sentinels, yet you feel nothing for your own sister?! WHY?!?”

Luna drops her eyes to the side, still facing the sun.

“…Chorus-”

“No. Don’t you DARE call me that!! My name is Liberty! Because that’s what I believe in! That’s what I stand for! And I’ll keep fighting for liberty, in CELESTIA’S name, under CELESTIA’S Sun!!!”

Luna looks down.

“…I did what I had to do. I am sorry that I cannot explain it any other way.”

Liberty grits her teeth, venting her anger with a frustrated growl. If consequence did not exist, she would surely have tackled Luna off of the balcony’s ledge.

With effort, Liberty reigns in her emotions. She does her absolute best to compose herself, sighing.

“… I’m no coward. I won’t back down from the fight ahead… But you and I are through, Princess Luna. My Guardians and I will help in our own way. We won’t be taking orders from you.”

Liberty turns to leave, her gold and white cloak flowing briskly. She stops to glance once more at the back of Princess Luna.

“…You’ve gained a victory, and now you’ve gained a monarchy… But you’ve forever lost a friend.”

The balcony doors are swung open and slammed shut once more.

Luna, alone on the balcony, returns her eyes to the orange horizon.

Only a minute or so passes before Luna’s expected company arrives on the balcony.

“Princess Luna,” Marshal Mjolna moves to her side, “I ran into Liberty on the way here. Are you ok?”

Luna weakly nods, relaxing slightly from her stoic posture. She takes her eyes away from the orange sunset to look at Mjolna.

“Yes… I am fine. Were you successful with the reports?”

Mjolna pulls out a paper with several notes. “Yup. I have them here. Do you want to hear them now, or…?”

“Now is fine. I need to put my mind to something.”

Mjolna nods.

“I’ll start with the smaller ones. Some information on persons of interest;

Shining Armor has left the city. From what the note he left behind says, he is planning on searching for Cadence. The note expressed his guilt over everything that happened. A lot of guilt. He doesn’t feel fit to lead any one anymore. Not after all the choices he made. In my opinion, it’s kinda harsh to beat himself up like that. He was brainwashed after all.”

Luna forcefully sighs. “I would have rather he stayed. We need all of the experienced commanders we can get. It is a setback, but perhaps he may return someday.”

Nodding, Mjolna continues.

“While on the topic of royalty, we can confirm that Princess Twilight has fled as well. To where, exactly, we don’t know. No one is sure why she would flee to begin with. Unless she is still aligned with the caribou.”

“Perhaps. Hard to say. I did not encounter her during the battle. We will keep an eye out for her in the future.” Luna says, turning her head away for a moment.

“Noted. Lastly, Elder Vigil sent word from Haven that things are ok down there. She also mentions that the Bureau ponies, Tome and Scavenger Hunt, are looking to relocate to Canterlot. They might need some help with moving all of the stuff they acquired. There is another letter also stating that a noctral team successfully reached the Castle of the Two Sisters in the Everfree. Night Wing and her scouts, along with the Hooves family, have been safely taken to Haven.”

Flipping the page of her report papers, Mjolna proceeds to the longer list.

“That aside, here is our overall status;

As of the battle, the Haven Alliance is in firm control of Canterlot and the Eastern fringes of Equestria, that being Haven and its surrounding forests and mountains. We also technically control Savannah Pass in the South, but we don’t have any presence there. Chief Zavala has suggested moving a contingent there, just to make sure the zebra Tributes don’t try to use it.

The only other major city in our control is Stalliongrad and its surrounding Ursa Mountains. Commander Skyward received word from another unit under Minister Rhona’s command who arrived in Stalliongrad several weeks ago. They found that the city had liberated itself, and is sheltering some of the Crystal Empire’s population after the winter storms overcame it. They are already working with griffin forces to find a means of opening supply lines with us. Though right now, the quickest and safest way to reach the town is going around through Umbra, but that means weeks on the road. Once we begin taking more ground here in Equestria, we should be able to forge a more direct supply route.”

Luna nods. “A natural fortress and two cities, one of those cities being the capital. It is good start.”

Mjolna continues. “I’ve already began the official organizing of Equestrian troops in accordance with your guidelines. Just the general stuff, but soon we will begin forming specialized unit classes based on what we need. In order to do that though, we need more recruits. Recapturing regions and liberating ponies will bolster our ranks. The best place to start would be the Canterlot Valley. It has many small towns as well as larger ones, like Cloudsdale…”

Mjolna peers out from the edge of the balcony, scanning the valley below. She tilts her head in confusion.

“Speaking of Cloudsdale, shouldn’t we be able to see it from here? It isn’t too far from Ponyville…”

Luna shakes her head in dismay.

“When I traveled to the Everfree Forest, I passed by Ponyville and where Cloudsdale used to be. I initially thought it might have been moved, but I noticed a field of fog where it had once floated. It seems that the city was not moved… But destroyed.”

Mjolna’s ears perk up in shock. “What?! But how??”

“That I am not entirely sure. Supposedly, when we destroyed the Crystal Heart, the subsequent fighting in the city was enough to tear it down from the sky. The reports I’ve heard are varied, and it is not clear who exactly caused the city’s destruction.

It is saddening. Yet another tragedy to give ponies something to fight for…”

Mjolna dwells on Luna’s words, reminding herself of the Princess’ loss.

“…I’m sorry about your Sentinels, Princess.”

“It is alright, Mjolna.”

Luna turns away from the railing as the orange in the sky starts to dim.

“Come. Let us go for a walk.”

Princess Luna and Marshal Mjolna make their way along the castle bridges and ramparts, walking among the destruction caused by the battle. Though the evening sky begins to set in, there are still a few hours before the Sun and Moon must be tended to.

As they continue towards the lower sections of the castle, Luna speaks.

“Mjolna… Who do you see me as?”

The Marshal pauses, blinking her beige eyes. It only takes seconds for her response.

“You’re a leader, and our Princess. Our only Princess, as of now.”

Luna takes in her words.

“Do you think I made the right choice? About… About my sister.”

“Liberty won’t be the only one upset about how you dealt with Celestia. There will be plenty others voicing their worry. Me? I trust you made the right choice. You’ve fulfilled your promise to save us. And even though there is still a war to be fought… No other pony could have done any of this except for you.”

Luna finds some comfort in Mjolna’s honesty. Though deep down it only makes her feel more shameful. Her inner thoughts are cut short as Mjolna speaks again.

“I know you mentioned earlier that you will be reforming the Sentinels into a unit of its own, much like the Guardians of the Sun are now. I’m considering doing the same actually. The Wardens, as I call them, to act as a middle ground between the two sides. No doubt there will be some internal strife from the divide of those serving you, and those who would rather serve Celestia, even after her death. It would be best to have an elite group in the middle, for ponies who would rather not pick between the Sun and the Moon. My Wardens will also prioritize protection of the Heartmenders as they continue to grow. They are crucial to Equestria’s recovery.”

Luna places her hands behind her, nodding in agreement.

“I see the logic in your choice, Marshal. You have my approval to form the Wardens. We can’t afford to be slowed down by internal rivalries at a time like this.”

Luna and Mjolna continue on their walk until they arrive at the garden courtyard. The signs of Luna’s battle with Dainn have been roughly cleaned up, mostly to make the garden feel more peaceful.

In one of the corners, next to a stone railing which is flanked by empty flower patches, lies a chunk of stone taken from some of the rubble found throughout the castle.

Luna had placed it there as a memorial. A stone slab placed at the bottom contains two words etched into it.

Seven Sentinels

“Maybe we could put a statue up for them?” Mjolna suggests, “I’m sure Elder Vigil would want to make one in Umbra. The castle gardens could use some new pieces too, since all the others are long gone anyway.”

“Yes. When the time allows… That would be nice. I would have liked to bury them here, but… I wasn’t sure if they would have wanted to be separate from all the others who have perished alongside them. A lot of other noctrals were killed as well.”
Luna continues to gaze at the stone memorial. Those seven faces appear in her thoughts.

“… We were… planning to all spend some time up in Despina. An Umbran town. There are hot springs there.”

“… When did you figure you would have time for that?” Mjolna asks, curious.

“We would’ve had to wait a few more years. Until this war ended. Whenever it would.”

Luna sighs.

“I suppose they could have perished at any time on the road ahead. It is better that they died together, instead of one by one.”

Mjolna sees the discomfort in Luna’s posture. The stress in her voice is all too apparent. The deaths of the Sentinels shook her to her very core.

“With all due respect, Princess… Wouldn’t you of all ponies be used to death?”

Luna pauses. She stares at the chunk of rock she stuck in the ground.

“… I am used to it. That doesn’t mean I do not feel the pain. It has more to do with life, I suppose. I was once alone for a thousand years, with no friends. The Fall happens, and then I find seven of the best friends I could have ever asked for. To lose them so soon hurts, but… What hurts more is that I am still here.

I am immortal. Immune to time's grasp. Which means… That whatever plane of existence, whatever realm of afterlife they are in… I will never meet them there. I will never see them again.

I am grateful that I had my time with them. But now… I will be forever plagued with their memory. And thus I will never know true rest, like they do now.

Oh… How I envy them….”

Luna is approached by the clipboard-wielding unicorn mare standing outside her chamber door.

“Greetings, Princess. The healing medicines, tonics, and poultices for magic strain were just delivered to your chambers. Taken from secondary stocks and not from the medical ward, as you requested. Also, we were able to find some wood to make you that sword rack you needed. Though the carpenter we worked with was curious. Did you mean for the tweaks to the rack to make it look like an altar?”

“Thank you, and yes. It is meant to look that way. It is simply easier for me to handle them when stood upright, and not leaning against a standard rack.”

“I see then. Have a good evening, Princess.”

The courier mare departs, finishing Luna’s official agenda for the night.

With Discord’s help, Luna had a much easier time raising the Moon to its proper place. Though she still experienced some pain, it was much more manageable, especially when she stayed in close proximity to Phobos and Deimos. The Blades of the Moon have been mostly quiet following the battle.

Luna will be directing the war effort and reconstruction from the castle and away from the frontline, as having the Moon and the Sun in her – and Discord’s – care will prevent her from traveling too much. All for the better, as Luna surmises.

Luna enters into her old chambers. The room is mostly empty, save for an old bed and desk scavenged from what remained outside. Luna lost her personal effects long ago, when the entire castle was gutted and re-purposed in the days following the Fall. Luna’s room, and her memories, were not exempt from the caribou reorganizing.

With a sigh, Luna picks up the box of various potions from her desk and brings it towards a stone wall. She presses upon one of the stone bricks, relieved to find the secret door the wall contained still operational.

The secret room she had always kept was no real secret even before the Fall. Celestia new fully well of this place, as it was a common for Luna to find solitude in it when she was still recovering after her banishment. As the Fall came around, it was retrofitted for more tortuous purposes.

Having these spaces of memory and past returned to her feels strange. Like entering one’s ransacked and defiled home after fighting tooth and nail to take it back, only to remind oneself that it is one small room, in a home as large as a nation.

Within the secret room lies another bed, and before the bed, Luna’s newest addition to her living space.

The sword ‘rack’ is wide and long, made of a dark and scorched wood. Pieces from the battle the day prior. It lies on the floor before Luna’s bed, sitting with a ghostly feel, like a casket taken from its grave.

Within the piece are two slots hastily carved downward, big enough to fit one of Luna’s blades in each slot.

After placing her potions down beside the bed, Luna takes Phobos and Deimos off of her person, unsheathing them from their ancient scabbards and placing them in their altar. She sits on the edge of her bed and looks to each of them as they stand, their hilts pointed upwards. Phobos on her left, and Deimos on her right.

Luna glances back and forth between them.

Phobos.

To Deimos.

Then Phobos again.

The sight resembles the fork in a long and painful road. Which path to take? Left, or right? Phobos, or Deimos?

Time and time again, as Luna asks the question and answers it in her head over and over, she finds herself picking the more appealing option. The less humble path. The path that flies off ward into the dark. Filled with danger, death, and rashness. But at the same time, filled with want, pride, power, an endless drive to brush aside any opponent. An insatiable need for revenge, and a small inkling of jealousy.

Luna always reaches for the left path.

Luna always reaches for Phobos.

Entering into the deepest and darkest caves of Canterlot castle, Luna passes through the dungeons to find the entrance to the crystal caverns.

Awaiting her is Marshal Mjolna, accompanied by the same six guards from the day before who took Dainn into custody. They stand before a heavy metal door, barred with two thick steel beams.

“Princess. We’ve readied him for you. We will remain here for when you are finished.” Mjolna states.

Luna nods. The guards move to the door, withdrawing the beams and unlocking it. It swings open steadily, allowing Luna to slip in as it is closed behind her.

Amidst the blue and red crystal formations lies Luna’s prisoner, seated on a wooden stool. His hands are chained before him.
Luna walks up to him, pulling another wooden stool from the nearby wall and placing it in front of him. She takes a seat.

“Now… King Dainn… Let us talk.”

Dainn’s cell, though cold, barely lit and slightly hazardous from the crystal growths, is relatively comfortable. There are places to sit, plenty of natural mirrors to look into, a chamber pot installed only recently, and even a desk with paper and pencils for writing. The most comfortable piece, however, is the cotton bed.

Dainn retains his signature frown. “What makes you think I’ll tell you anything?”

“Oh no, you mistake my intentions,” Luna chuckles, “I had hoped we could talk about other things, if you’d like. What do caribou generally talk about when they are at the mercy of a mare?”

Luna’s prodding seemingly has no effect on the former king.

“Nothing.”

“Surely you have some form of small talk. Or is it always about ambition, power, sex, and lies? It seems as though those are recurring topics.”

Dainn remains silent. Luna is somewhat impressed that he isn’t running is mouth with insults. He is very composed.

“I’m actually quite curious about your people, Dainn. The mind of a caribou stag and a caribou cow are both very intriguing. I would like to learn more. Who better to ask than you?”

Silence.

Luna smiles, waiting. She moves her head to the side, keeping her eyes on her prisoner.

“No?”

Dainn turns away.

“Very well. I suppose you are not the best person to ask. A shame.”

Luna exhales, patting her knees with her hands

“Well, I enjoyed this. I look forward to our next discussion tomorrow.”

As Luna stands and the cell door begins to open, Dainn scoffs.

“Is this what you think interrogation is? A comfortable cell? Small talk? You can’t be serious.”

Luna stops halfway to the door, turning her head to Dainn.

“I assure you, King Dainn, I am being quite serious. We royals must always be civil and compassionate towards one another. The guards will bring you breakfast early tomorrow morning.

I suggest… you get some sleep.”

...\/\/\/\/\/\/

\/\/\/\/\/\/...

“…?”

Dainn awakes to darkness. A cold air seeps from around him, as though a gust of wind came to tease him.

He attempts to rise, but is unable. An unseen force keeps him afloat, hovering while laid upon his back.

Slowly, the darkness recedes, revealing the dry grass and dying plants of the castle garden. It strikes the king as familiar, realizing it to be the site of his battle with Luna.

A sudden light permeates the blackness from above, casting an ethereal glow upon Dainn like a spotlight. The white and silvery light descends from the full Moon. It’s entire being radiating with the ominous light.

From its nearly blinding center appears the tiniest of specks. A small, black dot, floating from the Moon’s smooth and cratered surface.

It grows closer, shaking the air with methodical beats.

The speck becomes larger, landing in the garden daintily only a short distance from Dainn. The black sphere unfolds into a magnificent pair of shadowy wings.

The winged shadow plants its talon into the dying grass, its blue eyes hovering above the void where its head should be. The creature of black extends its wings outward, suddenly revealing its passenger.
Princess Luna.

With a hand brushing along the wispy feathers of the winged shadow, Luna walks towards Dainn. She bears a calm and gentle demeanor, as though she carried the Moon’s blessings with her.

The winged shadow follows behind her, folding its crow-like wings. It halts as Luna looks upon Dainn before her.

“Good evening. I trust you are sleeping well.”

Dainn speaks, but cannot hear himself. Confused, he sees Luna smile.

“You do not need to speak, I can hear you. I can hear everything here.”

From beneath Dainn’s suspended state, a pool of black sludge forms. It spreads out to encompass the ground of the garden, replacing the dry grass.

Sickly shapes grow from the creeping liquid, wriggling their way up towards Dainn. They form into limbs, spewing a foul stench as their tips unfold into black hands.

The hands latch onto Dainn’s body, grabbing his arms and legs. They feel cold and coarse.

Luna looks down upon him calmly.

“You are now in Moonlight’s presence. Subject to a never ending plague. You will understand fear… And it will consume you. Every time you lay yourself to sleep. Every time you close your eyes. I, as Nightmare incarnate, will be there.”

She begins to walk around the immobile Dainn, the black tar creeping across his flesh as the winged shadow watches intently.

“You see… I can create living manifestations born of emotion. Magical beings designed to induce nightmare after nightmare upon its host. But I have no need for such a parasite.”

Luna stops behind Dainn’s head, caressing his cheeks.

“As you suffer from this lullaby’s taint, your dreams will be mine to pry open. I will uncover your secrets, and make them my own. I will craft you, change you, and turn you into the very opposite of what you hope to be. As the night wanes, you will fall.”

Dainn looks up.

A pair of teal, cat-like eyes stare back.

“Now… Let us begin.”