Author's Note

Greetings and Welcome to my first attempt at fan fiction, that being said I am sure mercy is not a common trait on the internet so I won't waste both our time by asking you to be nice or tactful, so instead I will say that your comments will be taken into consideration like they should be.... enjoy

From the desk of Dr. Mind Quill

Preliminary: Early Release p1

Beginning POV: Celestia
My hands are still shaking by the time I set down my cup and breath in a uneven huff. Fear and concern still grip me tightly as I franticly worry over the condition of Luna's mental health, 'she needs more than my reassurance' I say inwardly as I stare blankly into my tea as it wafts into my senses and I feel not of comfort but guilt, guilt of not being able to help my own beloved sister. I feel my eyes gain a sheen of tears that I refuse to let fall. I inhale deeply in an attempt to use the jasmine aroma to calm down. The tears fall regardless as if to spite me for my incompetence 'I can raise a celestial body and govern a nation to peace but I can't help my own flesh and blood' I think bitterly as I recall the series of events that made me realize that Luna suffers more than I could ever imagine...

* flash back one week ago*

My smile lifts when I see Luna enter my study, I feels so elated that she has returned to me a few weeks ago, though the initial awkwardness of her retuning in the form of a filly was palpable, she returned to normal form within a few days and I was happy for her return regardless, filly or not. As she walks forward my smile falls slightly as I feel something off about her, she hasn't said hello or even looked at me since she entered, as she sat in the chair in front of my desk I think worriedly 'this is definitely a bad sign, I would be happy if she greeted me in the royal canterlot voice, at least then I could tell how she felt'.
I decide to approach the seemingly crestfallen Luna carefully

" Hello dear sister, how does this evening find you?" I ask delicately with a hint of care evident in my tone.

"Fine Tia" She looks up at me finally and my heart breaks.

I see the poorly hidden pain in those pools of turquoise, her tear matted face, and her baggy eyed tired-unfocused expression. I resisted the urge to rush out of my chair and hold her close 'I have to find out what's wrong' I thought choking slightly on the breath I didn't realize I was holding. Putting down the trade agreement I was looking over I focused entirely on my saddened sister.

" Y'know you can talk to me about anything" I pleaded as I lie my hand upon hers " Right Luna? "

Luna's tired unfocused eyes that seemed as empty as a bottomless void looked upon me with painfully obvious forced happiness and her face reflected the same expression.

" Yes Tia I know" her voice cracked with unused practice

Her hand slipped out from under mine as she looks away from me and returns her expression to a blank monotone.

" Is that all you had to speak to me about?" she asked with a faraway look in her eyes as she looked out the window and the sunset beyond it.

I was at an impasse to say the least ' she would always tell me what was bothering her when we were... fillies' I thought as the realization dawned on me ( pun not intended ) 'we lost our sisterly bound long before her banishment...'. My mouth asked the question before my mind could stop it.

" Do you hate me Luna? "

My hand flew to my lips as the words left them. Luna seemed completely unfazed by my seemingly out of place question, as if she had been asked the question a thousand. She answered without even looking away from the window.

"No Tia, I love you, my dear sister." She answered in a flat tone.

present time

I hastily wiped away the tears and blew my nose in a very un-princessly manner, deciding to suck up my self loathing for now i focused on how to help Luna 'I can't get her to open up and hiring a councilor now would only draw the eye of the reporters trying to demonize her and goddess know what kind of effect that will have on Luna...' I started massaging my temples at this point as every solution I thought of would only hurt Luna more than help her. Finally I thought of something... a horrible solution... one that I couldn't believe I was considering but I did all the same...

"Him" I said in finality, not even daring to say the bastards name in fear it would somehow summon him.

' He is the only one that could help without attracting attention... but he is also the only one that knows how to take advantage of the position'. I thought over the situation till my headache became almost unbearable but in the end I came back to the same solution. Finally I asked myself the question I kept avoiding ' how far will I go to help her... will I risk the safety of my ponies to save my sister' I answered my own in a second, not even having to think about it.

"I would move the whole of Equiss to help Lulu, yes" I said aloud

A moment later I was on the line with the dragonian head of state arranging a new type of trade... one I secretly hoped i wouldn't come to regret, but I knew deep down that I would in some way. After pulling a few favors with the draconian penal system I finally arranged a meeting with my... past transgressor and a firm deal with the foreign government to keep the deal confidential.

I hung up soon after the meeting was set for tomorrow ' I'm going to regret this in the morning ' I thought as I went to the balcony to lower the sun, even the way Luna raised the moon seemed sad and apathetic ' but I know that I won't stop until Luna is better ' I though firmly as I gave my dear sister a silent good night.

Even now as I lay in bed the thought of the pony, no the being I was about to call upon plagued my mind to no end until, before I passed out from exhaustion I had one chilling thought ' the being who I tried to erase from history is my only hope... Faust help us all '