Chapters The city of Canterlot was busy as always. Whether it was the nobleponies’ regal parties, the fashion shows, or the local donut shop, the city bustled with activity like a proper Equestrian capital. Among them was a mare with a dark grey coat, with white markings, a maroon mane and upon the base of her tail she had a golden bobble. She had purple eyes and a backpack strapped on as she trotted towards the Canterlot libraries.
For Selune Darkeye, discovery was many things. It was both fun and serious, a job and a leisure. It was also a means to an end, to reach her idol Princess Luna and catch a bit of her attention. The latter had returned to Equestria only a year and a half ago, and as per her request to re-acclimate with current and old affairs she had requested a re-organisation of all documented events, both before and after her “leave of absence” as she mentioned. For that reason Selune couldn’t be late. Working as an archivist, Selune was tasked with collecting and organizing the history of Equestria. Now, this might seem like a tedious job, but when archives are lost, scattered, and deformed it could do even more than alienate a princess from the affairs of the world. Falsification of history for personal gain was not uncommon and fiery debates stormed the universities of Canterlot at times. Careful investigation had to be done so that the thestrals, the ponies accompanying the Princess of the Night, would not be confused with the pegasi. Or the Zebras with the tropical tribes of Earth Ponies in the jungles.
Some of the records of history were destroyed in times of great conflict. Like the time before the sisters, back when the three tribes were separate, back when the windigos attacked. Or even the time when Discord the spirit of Chaos decided to turn Equestria into his own personal playground.
As Selune crossed the guarded gates and entered the book-filled hallways and corridors of the archives, she looked at the morning sun that was in the sky: it was about time she started her work. She was tasked with sorting out diplomatic documents, some of which were centuries old. She didn’t know that Equestria had been the center of so many peace talks, and conflicts. Was it the magic? The fertile land? The hospitality? Perhaps it was just that she was in Canterlot and not Griffonia, or any other country. She imagined there would be a lot more to talk about outside Equestria. It wasn’t often that she encountered symbols, and emblems that she didn’t know of. Apparently many of the foreign leaders liked to occasionally change the marks of their countries, putting their own touch in them, wanting to leave their mark on history. To Selune it was nothing more than petty arrogance, but she had to admit that some of them had style. Sometimes the change of time required a change of appearances, and when an emblem representing a country changed it could mean that the country itself was entering a new era.
This night while Selune was working, she found one that was very interesting. It depicted two female pony heads, one pegasi, one unicorn, connected with their necks forming an S- shaped emblem. The unicorn on the bottom had a serious expression. She had a grey mane and black coat, with red eyes. While on the other hoof the pegasus had a gentler appearance of a grey coated pony with a blonde mane and green eyes. The record itself was about someone named “Queen Metis”, who in the name of the Kingdom of the “Proteans” swore to uphold peace and maintain trade with the Earth Pony tribes in the southeast. Strange… Selune had never heard of “Proteans,” let alone this Queen. Was it some mix of pegasi and unicorns living together? If that was true then it could change the way they viewed the events of Hearth’s Warming Eve. She looked out for clues about this Kingdom but found none. There were no other mentions of said kingdom in any other documents. Nor did the unicorns or the pegasi have any records of the Kingdom in their maps, let alone recorded dealings with them. Whatever this kingdom was it seemed its inhabitants were either too far out of reach for the Equestrians to communicate, or they were very reclusive.
There weren’t any records of exiles either. If this was a group of pegasi and unicorns there would be records of some sort of split, some schism between the two groups, or some sort of immigration, but nothing suggested it. Could it be that this was an entirely different species? One that perhaps shared pegasus and unicorn traits? There were no alicorn documents of someone named “Queen Metis” so that was out of the question. If it was a different species, why was it not noticed? What happened to them? Why were there no other documents of their existence? As always, each apparent discovery raised more questions than it answered. She looked at the document a little bit closer. The meeting apparently had been conducted near Dodge Junction, which now consisted of the Hayseed swamps and the Badlands. Few ponies dared to tread there, for the land harbored dragons, and the fires of the beasts scared even the mightiest of ponies. There were of course times the dragons were more… “civilized”. Records spoke of a creature that bore the title “Overlord” that ruled the dragons with an iron claw, one that had bridled and tamed their savage nature. Myth, legend, or truth, it was one more reason why these lands were not trespassed easily.
There had to be more information that could tell her where to search. It was around then that she looked at the tags of the records, which cited where they were found. “Equestrian Diarchy Archives”, but those were far too old to be of this era. Besides the term “Equestrian Diarchy” had only been recently used when the Princess of the Night had returned. It was unlikely that this… the realization hit her. Of course this wasn’t the current time… it was from the time before Nightmare Moon! The time when the sisters ruled together in the past. These records were collected from the Old Castle ruins in the Everfree forest! If any more information was to be found about this strange new race, then it would be there!
Selune lifted a piece of paper and a quil. She whistled and as she did a black raven came through the window and landed on her shoulder, answering her call.
“Thanks for coming Akane… now listen up…” she said as her horn glowed, scribbling a message to the Princess of the Night. She was requesting permission to travel to the Old Palace, as well as reporting her findings. She folded the paper and, using some a red ribbon, she folded it together, wrapping it around the raven’s claws. Akane bit Selune’s nose lightly as a gesture of affection, to which she responded with a giggle. Coughing to return herself to the seriousness of the situation, she spoke once again to her animal companion.
“Take this to the Princess. Then come home as soon as possible… I have to get ready and collect supplies. This is going to be a long trip.”
2. The Princess of the Night
“So… a new species, Ms Darkeye?”
Selune was standing in an oval office with the Princess of the Night herself. It was made out of mahogany, and there were a lot of documents in folded scrolls on top of it, some of brought by Selune herself. An enchanted crest was on the front and middle of it depicting the current phase of the moon. There were three chairs one behind the office and two in front, and on the sides of the room were two libraries filled with tomes after tomes. Selune would give anything to spend a day here just learning what was within them, but what she was here to do was far more important. After a series of necessary bureaucratic procedures her letter had finally made it to the Princess. For reasons unknown to her, the Princess wanted to discuss the matter of venturing into the old castle with her personally. She shuffled her hooves feeling awkward at this, perhaps even a bit stressed.
“Yes Princess… the records I sent you…” Selune started explaining before she was interrupted with a raised hoof. Princess Luna waited until she stopped and spoke once again.
“Miss Darkeye… I trust my subjects, I trust you. I trust that your knowledge doesn't fail you and your mind is clear on this matter, right?” Selune simply nodded at this.
“My concerns are not scientific, at least not entirely. My question is… do you believe you will find what you seek there?” Her inquiry made Selune worry a bit. This wasn't a question about her confidence alone. She gulped, trying to find the right words in her anxiety. She was in front of what she considered an inspirational figure, an idol.
“Princess…”
“We are alone Selune, you may call me Luna. As much as I like the titles my subjects give me, I do not wish to alienate myself from them. As I said before you volunteered, this project of clarifying the past serves a purpose: to connect the past with the future, so that we may learn...”
“... from the mistakes of the past.” she completed the sentence. She immediately realized her mistake and put her hoof in her mouth with wide eyes. She had interrupted the Princess! But that wasn't the only thing that was clear to her now, she now understood why the Princess wanted to talk to her about this. This wasn’t about what research she did, but what else she would find, or see.
But Luna wasn’t offended, instead she smiled kindly at her for remembering. They were reaching the point, and she was glad that Selune, whether by coincidence or not, understood.
“Are you even sure you want to go there, Selune? I have heard of your… enthusiasm for my works, but you might not like what you see there. This castle could do wonders for your research, but I don’t want to kill your spirit by letting you go there.”
Luna’s eyes looked into Selune’s,requesting an answer. She had a small smile, not one tense muscle in her expression. She had the kindness of the wise old mentor saying proverbs like “Ignorance is bliss”, or “Sometimes the truth hurts”. There was no easy answer to this, but in a way she felt like she already had it, she just had to look back and find it.
“Remember when you asked me why I want this? Why I joined this seemingly boring job?”
“Mhm…” said the Princess, letting her continue.
“I told you that I wanted to contribute. When you asked me “To what?” I said. “To build a world the size of the dreams of the ponies.” My answer hasn’t changed, and I don’t think your wish to connect with other ponies has changed. No matter what I find in there it won’t change the Princess I see before me,” she had gained a new air of confidence. Remembering why she was here, what led her here, what gave her the strength to continue.
“Selune…”
“Princess, please allow me to call you that for now, there are some things about me you don’t know. My family comes from a lineage of unicorns who’s gifts have always been associated with sight. Lumina Oculus my mother, Noble Gaze my grandfather, Clear Sight… and so on. But when I was born I had pitch black eyes, the unicorn magic I had within me had a complication and couldn’t stabilize. I didn’t cry, and I hardly woke up, and I was sure to die if that went on for too long.”
This seemed a tad off subject and Luna was puzzled a bit. “Where are you going with this, Selune?”
“Bear with me a bit, I am getting to it. My mother Lumina was a seer, possesing the magic of divination. She saw within a vision that I would see only if the light of the sun and the moon struck my eyes together. We went north, up where the Aurora Borealis are… beautiful green lights the solar wind causes upon the Equestrian sky. There we waited, and when the light of the full moon shone upon the Borealis one ray shone into my eyes, and I was finally able to see. It also gave me the white markings you see upon me. The first thing I saw was a full moon, and a dark figure of a mare “carved” upon its surface.”
The Princess was quiet, she knew what Selune saw. It was her, it was her own self. The part of her which she wished to forget. She closed her eyes in pain, refusing to look one of her own subjects in the eye. How could she look at her? How could she even tell her she was sorry? Was she even worthy to give an apology? She felt a soft, hesitant hoof rise up to her face and touch her, the understanding smile of the mare standing before her trying to reach her, to extend a helping hoof.
“Despite what my mother said when she recited the tale of that mare, I knew that even if they told me the figure on the moon was evil, even if they told me that this figure was about a monster from the most dreadful of fairy tales…”
They looked eye to eye, and Selune, though hesitant, though she felt unworthy to even touch the Princess… She knew that this was the right thing to do.
“... that deep inside, there was something more. I didn't know exactly what but when you returned to us I saw it. A heart filled with love. Love for her subjects, for the night, for life. My mind confirmed what my heart was feeling. So if you want to apologize to me Luna… don’t, because in my eyes your figure shines the brightest.” She had managed to say it, but she was pretty sure this wouldn’t last long. It felt awkward addressing Luna without her title, but it sure felt nice.
Luna was silent, silent but happy. It wasn’t just the kind words that warmed her heart. It wasn’t just the faith that inspired her when she saw the faces of her subjects. It was the confidence in those beliefs. Of course, Selune wasn’t the first to say this, Celestia had also talked to her in a similar way, but she had dismissed it as her sister being her sister. She thought it was merely a false hope fueled by sisterly love, in fact she didn’t quite believe her subjects felt this way.
As the extended silence grew on, Luna took Selune’s hoof and put it down slowly. She held it softly, as if showing her appreciation for the gesture, as she did the blush on Selune’s face intensified. It sure felt like she made a leap of faith with that move.
“Well…” Luna coughed as Selune withdrew her hoof, shaking off the shivers that had come from her actions. Luna smiled, she was lucky to have found such a unicorn - understanding, and good at her job. As she pondered, her mind shifted into what her journey would need.
“Are you sure you’re going to find what you need in the old castle? This is a treasure hunt you’re doing Selune, and the castle might just be the first stop. You’re going to need supplies, food, water, parchments, quills…” she started counting the items, trying to find what she could provide.
“Worry not Princess, I have taken care of these. I just need your permission and I can begin right now.” Selune tried to calm her down, but the Princess was not willing to leave her like that.
“Well in any case, I’m not leaving you to go alone like that! You may be a competent sorceress, Selune, but I’m not letting you go away alone! You need a bodyguard to help you face the danger! There must be someone among the guards that may help.”
“Actually…” well, that idea wasn’t so bad in Selune’s mind. Not only that, but she knew of a perfect candidate, someone she had known as a filly.
“A friend of mine is among the Solar Guard.” She said hesitantly. He wasn’t under Luna’s command, which was why she didn’t say it at once.
“Well, I’ll have to inform my sister about his absence, maybe volunteer someone of my guard to replace him, but that’s a minor issue.” Luna seemed eager for something, eager to help perhaps, to do something to help. “Well… what’s his name?” She said, waiting for a response.
“Terra Lionmane.”.
When applying for the Solar or Lunar Guard, one must bear in mind that their smithpony isn't available for commissions. It’s not that they aren’t needed, or that the smits are unavailable. It’s expected that the applicants prove they are mature enough to maintain their own equipment for a little while. Whether brought, rent, or commissioned, the armor and weapon should always be the product of a guard’s labor. But it’s not simply a matter of proving yourself mature and appreciating what you have. It’s also a matter of not becoming a leech to others.
Royal Guards are meant to provide for Equestrians, and not the other way around. In that thought the Royal Guard quarters and armor are paid by the guards themselves, whether it is with their monthly pay, or otherwise. It is not uncommon for a Solar Guard, for example, to uphold their duties during the first half of the day and work the rest. A small price to ensure solidarity and diligence from the applicants.
Hiring a Royal Guard always meant you would get the job done. All guards were famed for their dependability, and those that smeared the name with their actions did not escape judgement.
Everypony did their best to remain in shape. Whether it was pushups and obstacle courses in the training grounds or studying the protocol of action in the library, Terra Lionmane knew the importance of keeping a healthy mind, within a healthy body.
He was sitting among others in the library with his saddlebag dropped next to his chair. Some had quills and were studying, narrowing their eyes and chewing the end of their quills. Concentration was almost tangible in the air. Among them was Terra, an earth pony with a blue coat, and a spiky red and yellow mane and tail. His cutie mark was an golden star with a round ruby core in it. Terra was taking a short break, and to him, nothing was more relaxing than reading one of his all-time favorite books: “Artorigus and the Noble Knights of the Round Table”. This book, among others, were some of the most popular books that served as a source of inspiration for potential guards.
Terra’s eyes were focused on the words, his mind so immersed in the tale of the brave 14 stallions that he didn’t notice the sudden hot air current. It was not until he felt a pair of claws on his shoulder and a sharp pain upon his ear that he turned around to see.
On his shoulder he saw an eagle-like bird, with with a fiery plume that left a small flaming trail behind it. Terra rubbed a bit on his ear to ease the pain of the phoenix’s warning bite.
“Alright Fenix, you don’t have to bite so hard, what is it?”
Fenix chirped repeatedly as he lifted his wing, showing the entrance from which Shining Armor was coming heading towards him.
“Keep it quiet there!” Came the librarian pony’s warning,but Terra had more important stuff to worry about.
Dropping the book quickly, he dusted himself up and stood proudly at attention. Shining withheld a small chuckle and smiled instead. Like all the captains before him, he had spent a considerable amount of time with his fellow guardsponies and he wasn’t about to forget the times they all spent together. Like those before him he had to know how to work with them, and being friendly with them was important both before and after his ascension.
“At ease, Terra. I trust your day is well?” Raising his hoof, he let Terra relax from his position. In the meantime, Fenix decided to go to the window, spreading his wings towards the sunlight letting a happy chirp as he enjoyed the heat of the sun like all phoenixes did.
“As good as it can be. Is there something I can do for you?”Though Terra knew Shining from before, now that he was a captain he was inclined by the guards’ code to treat him with the respect he deserved, at least during the time they were on these grounds.
And Shining, though it took him time to get used to it, understood and held no grudge. “Me? Oh nothing, though you are requested for an assignment from the Lunar Guard. Your name was called by some… Selune Darkeye. Friend of yours?” He said, raising an eyebrow quizzically at him. Terra noded.
“Yes, we knew each other from school here in Canterlot. How come, though? I thought Selune was working at the archives. What kind of assignment is this, if I may ask?” He said, waiting. Maintaining a level of kindness in front of his superior was more than just common courtesy to him. To Terra kindness and nobility in both speech and actions were signs of a knightly stallion, something he aspired to be.
In response, the captain hoofed a paper over to him. Looking at it carefully he saw that it was a request from the Lunar Guard, signed by Princess Luna among others, to be assigned as a bodyguard to Selune in her journey. It was not yet approved by Shining as his signature was not there. Terra could only guess why.
“There is a reason I haven’t signed it yet.” said Shining as Terra lifted his head to face him. His eyes were focused on shining and his ears were perked listening carefully not to miss something important. It would be disrespectful and rude to do otherwise.
“There aren’t many reasons for me to refuse this. As a matter of fact, since this is approved from Princess Luna, I could hardly refuse.” he paused for a moment and Terra didn’t interrupt him, knowing he wasn’t finished yet.
“That doesn’t mean I want to refuse this order. In fact, I am proud to offer one of my guardsponies, one of those I’d like to call friend.” His face bent into a smile.
“Thank you sir, you honor me,” said Terra, his chest puffing a bit. Though Shining shared that feeling with many others it made Terra feel proud nonetheless. When Shining ascended to the rank of captain, Terra didn’t feel jealous: he knew he was more capable than him, he knew that there were few chances for an earth pony like Terra to be accepted. For that Shining Armor was grateful, and this was one of the reasons for which he was having this talk with Terra right now.
“Knowing your disposition, you might see this trip as an adventure.” Shining’s eyes fell upon the cover of the book Terra was reading. He recognized the figure on the cover. Artorigus, the King of the Noble Knights a popular tale he was also familiar with. He turned back at Terra, his forehead furrowing in seriousness as he looked the other stallion in the eye.
“I don’t know what you will encounter at the old castle, the Everfree, or anywhere else you and your friend go. But I’ll be damned if this restoration of history becomes a reason for me to lose one of my ponies. So you make sure you come back safe, alright?”
Terra’s face shone a bit as he smiled, now this was one of the reasons he was proud to be a royal guard. Not just because of his knightly aspirations, or the fact that his parents were retired royal guards, but because of the camaraderie. Being reminded of this, even if he was being scolded in the meantime, was a joy for him.
“Aye Shining, I’ll do my best, I’ll do my best.”
“That’s Captain Shining for you…” said Shining, keeping his serious tone. This made Terra flinch a bit as he resumed the formalities and stood in attention once again, ashamed that he let his guard down to a superior.
“Sorry, sir! It won’t happen again sir!” Shining Armor in turn laughed a bit as he revealed his ruse.
“SHHHHHH!” The librarian hissed in the background and the two ponies lowered their voices a bit, not wanting to cause a fuss. Shining took a deep breath to relax.
“I’m just joshing, you don’t worry about it! But seriously don’t get killed that’d be bad.” He coughed a bit and shook his hoof, shooing Terra back to work.
“Now off you go! I’ll sign this, and I want you to be ready in six hours back in the barracks, understood? I promise it won’t take more than that for your assignment to be finalized. In the meantime, you take Fenix, go home, prepare some supplies for the trip, say your goodbyes, prepare your armor, and get ready!
Terra turned to Fenix and let out a low whistle, calling him to his side. He extended his hoof, letting Fenix rest his claws upon it. When they got outside the library, Terra turned to Fenix. He mimicked the phoenix’s squeaks and chirps, telling him to go home.
This was a trick he had learned over time after he found Fenix. Whether it was by pure luck or fate, five years ago while he was returning from a delivery for his uncle Solid Gear he happened to be crossing a forest near Baltimare. There, he encountered a ruined nest under which lay a phoenix egg. Inspecting the nest and seeing large claw markings and burns, Terra realized that the phoenix's parents were possibly hunted and killed by dragons. Dragons love phoenix eggs and hunt them as trophies or for their spicy taste, they consider them a delicacy... Knowing that, Terra couldn’t leave the egg on it's own. With the help of his friend Selune, Terra managed to raise the phoenix hatchling properly. The newly hatched phoenix looked at Terra and seeing the colors of his mane the little one saw in them the colors of a phoenix, thus imprinting over time to Terra and viewing him as a father.
As Terra ran home to make the necessary preparations, he felt a slight tug in the back of his mind pulling him forward. It was a feeling he knew all too well, the invitation to go out in the world and join the hunt of the wild enchantress dancing in the night, the one they call “Adventure”.
