The Nocturnal Mind

by Dr_MindQuill

Rating: teen
Tags: Princess Celestia, Slice of Life, Alternate Universe, Sad, Anthro, Princess Luna, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark
Length: 2314

The return of the Lunar Princess Luna is the source of great revelry for many... but no one said the guest of honor was thrilled. Seeing her sisters plight saddens Celestia, what lengths will one sister go for the happines of her sibling? Find out.

It has been one month since the return and cleansing of Luna, Tia is utterly thrilled to have her beloved sister back, all are happy and elated for her return... except the one who came back that is. Celestia notices her sisters plight and tries so very hard to cheer her up; but allas it seems fruitless. Desperate and out of options she turns to the option she had hoped to avoid most of all... HIM.

Cover art done by the ever talented Pencil Melody

Published 2015-03-09 06:30:02 UTC
Last updated 2015-07-15 16:31:35 UTC

Preliminary: Early Release p1

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 '

Preliminary: Early Release p2

Time lapse to morning

3rd person perspective: Celestia

After a less than restful night and fruitless breakfast discussion with Luna, Celestia went to the carriage landing to depart to a most undesirable place: The Draconian Federal Correctional facility. The flight itself was only scheduled for an hour and a half but it ended all to soon for Celestia, who's mind was askew with worry and fear of her past decisions.

As the carriage hit the concrete of the landing pad Celestia jumped at the sudden force and composed herself as the carriage slowed to a stop. As she stepped out she was greeted by a battalion of armed guards and the head guard at the front of his assembled troops; Steel Sentry. A tall built dragon a head higher than Celestia and quite muscular, his face showed a no nonsense demeanor and his reptilian eyes seemed to be able to freeze an inmate in his tracks. Once Celestia own guard were instructed to guard her carriage she turned toward Steel and spoke in her usual 'princess tone'.

"Good Morning Mr. Maze I must thank you for your quick response on this matter and your understanding in keeping this between us and the Warden" Celestia spoke with genuine gratefulness in her tone.

"Hmm" Steel Maze grunted " As long as this doesn't get traced back to me and my prison I don't care what you do with the snake" he seemingly growled out in a blunt manner.

Not at all surprised by his gruffness Celestia motioned to the facility behind the guards " Shall we then?"

Nodding silently Steel started walking towards the prison with Celestia in tow.
A short walk to the side entrance had the duo, along with another two draconian guards, entering the facility to the sounds of hoots and hollers from the prisons inhabitants. The ruckus became even more loud and racy the deeper the group marched into the facility, the inmates, ranging from dragons, diamond dogs, changelings, and even a few ponies, yelled lewd or downright disgusting comments at the Solar Diarch from their cells. Celestia ignored them with her usual grace and levelheadedness as she followed her host through a door labeled;

Solitary/Special Confinement

As the reinforced door slammed behind Celestia the now silent halls made her feel a sense of deadly foreboding, not only from the deafening silence but from the presence she felt... a presence she hadn't felt in a very long time, one she had hoped she wouldn't have feel again but it seems that fate is not without a sense of irony...

Perspective switch to ~~Q#$%@-~~ Prisoner-4479 3rd person

'She's here, I can feel it' the prisoner thought with a sinister smile adorning his shadow hidden muzzle. Said prisoner was currently bound and blind folded in a sparse and dimly lit cell, the only light being the small high window shining in the mornings rays. Currently the room had only a lavatory and a bed frame (both looking unused), the room itself was a bit larger than a normal prison cell; about the size of a normal apartment living room. The walls and floor made up of solid concrete as well as the ceiling, despite this though the prisoner was lying in the darkest corner of the room with his back facing the door. He himself (from what can be seen in dim light) looked like hell, his grey fur matted and stained with his own blood in several places the same can be said for his vermilion mane and tail both knotted and stained with the same substance. His 'clothes' if you could call them that anymore were ripped and stained as well, the red scrubs shirt was long since destroyed and the pants still kept him decent though they to were ripped and stained with dried blood. Despite his appearance and current condition the prisoner was still smiling and seemed to be quietly chuckling at the irony ' I wonder what she wants so badly to turn to me for help' he laughed with mirth making his damaged insides scream with pain which only made him cough up blood and laugh more at the pain. Soon the vicious cycle stopped as he heard the slot on the steel door open and he felt eyes on his back, after a few seconds of observation he heard the voice of both sun-butt and the head guard as they spoke to each other, though he was sure that Celestia knew he was awake and listening.

"I see you followed my instructions on handling him, his hands are bound, his eyes are blindfolded, and his horn is suppressed. That's wise though I question the necessity of roughing him up." Celestia spoke with measured breath at seeing the monster still living.

"Bah you ponies are too soft, he caused to much trouble to get mercy and my guards don't exactly think of him fondly after some of the shit he pulled in here, you should be happy he doesn't need an iron lung to breath." Steel Maze glowered rudely much to the chagrin of the ruler.

"Never the less, I am just glad he is still under contr-"

"Y'know they didn't follow your instructions when I got here Celie, tell me Mr. Maze how many guards and cell mates did I go through before you wised up?" the Prisoner finally spoke and though he still faced away from them she felt his smile.

"QUIET 4479! YOU WILL SPEAK WHEN SPOKEN TO!" Steel barked, turning to the cell control room down the hall he ordered" GET CELL 2-B OPEN NOW!"

"Heheheheheheheh but wheres the fun in that my scaled friend?" he said after a cough filled laugh "How else am I supposed to piss you off then with my voice?" he laughed once more

The heavy steel door opened with an loud creak and a electronic buzz, Steel moved before Celestia could think of stopping him. Steel stepped over to the prisoner and roughly grabbed him up to a standing position, helpless to stop him and not really caring to even if he could, the prisoner felt the force of a large fist hitting him before the pain exploded in his temple, the next thing he felt was the cold floor. As he faded from consciousness he heard something that made him smile.

"That wasn't necessary Mr. Maze... Take him to the Interrogation room if you would be so kind." Celestia's voice echoed before he let forced sleep take him.

Author's Note

Some of you have suggested getting an editor and although I have searched for ones assistance I have come up short... I will however try to proof read more thoroughly. If you don't like that the door is right there.

Also if you caught the reference of the prisoner's number, you get a cookie

From the desk of Dr. Mind Quill