Flight

Chapters

The Letter
The First Entry
The Second Entry
The Third Entry
Luna's Tale

The Letter

Lyric was both giddy and anxious as she stood before the door to the Canterlot Castle hall. She had been wandering across Equestria as she usually did, telling its tales to the ponies and playing her music, until a pegasus wearing a Royal Guard uniform landed before her. Awestruck, she took the letter from him and opened the scroll to pore over its contents.

Dear Lyric, it had read,

Forgive us for the surprise you must be feeling, but we know that you have been studying the travels and tales of the explorer, Dashing Hoof. Something of interest related to him has been found. When convenient, please meet us at the castle so that we may share this discovery with you.

Faithfully yours,

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna

To say that Lyric was stunned would be an understatement, and she thanked the guard in a daze just before he flew off. She had immediately made her way to Canterlot, arriving after only a few short days. Now here she was, waiting as another guard announced her presence. She heard Princess Celestia's warm, "Lovely! Send her in," through the crack in the door. Lyric imagined the way the guard would have saluted before he returned to her and let her inside.

Lyric trotted down the hall and gazed upon the stained-glass windows that depicted various points of ancient and recent Equestrian history. It was almost hard to tear her eyes away, but then there they were, the regal sisters, right there before her, waiting to receive her. Lyric bowed to them as she came to the end of the hall. "Your Highnesses, it is certainly an honor to be here." She hoped that her voice shook less than her hooves.

"'Tis an honor to have thee," Princess Luna told her in turn. "We are happy to see that thou hast received our royal summons, and that thou hast answered them."

"Well, of course!" Lyric exclaimed as she rose to face the alicorns. "I was so delighted to have earned an audience with you! And I admit that I am curious to see what you've found."

Now it was Princess Celestia's turn to speak, and she did so with a smile. "Actually, it was not we who made this discovery, but my dear student, Twilight Sparkle. Twilight, would you come in here, please?" she called out through the doors.

Lyric turned to see Equestria's newest princess practically prance into the hall with joy, and she found herself bowing again. "Princess Twilight, it is lovely to see you once more."

Twilight beamed as she came to a halt right in front of Lyric. "Thank you for coming. Oh, I was so excited when I found this, and I just know that you will be, too, when you see what it is!"

Lyric cocked her head until she saw an old, tattered book floating towards her, the cover faded and the spine cracked. It landed expertly in her hooves, and the bard slowly opened it. She saw yellowed pages with rusted red ink, all about ready to crumble at the touch, but nothing that was of interest.

"I'm sorry, Princess, but I'm not sure what it is that I'm looking at."

Twilight grinned. "Look closer, there in the corner."

Lyric did as she requested. When she found what she was to be searching for, she paused, gaping. She looked again, peered closer, ensuring that her eyes were not deceiving her. "...You found Dashing Hoof's journal? The one he kept during his travels?"

Princess Twilight rubbed a hoof behind her neck. "Well, I've only found this one so far. I think he had more because it all seems to be from his later explorations. But there's some great stuff in there. You should definitely give it a read when you have the chance."

Lyric's eyes landed on all of the princesses, and then back onto the treasure she held in her hooves. "Where did you find this?" Her voice was little more than a whisper.

"Oh, I found it in the Castle of the Two Sisters. They have an old library there filled with knowledge untold! I cannot wait to go back there to explore some more."

Perhaps I will be able to visit it one day, Lyric thought to herself. Who knew what ancient songs or legends were there, waiting to be discovered? But those are for another time, she reminded herself as her gaze fell upon the journal once more. "May I borrow this for a little while?" she found herself asking, though she was unsure if her request would be granted. As far as she was concerned, and likely as far as Princess Twilight was concerned as well, the worth of the journal was unmeasured.

"Of course," Celestia told her. "In fact, you may even read it in our current library, if you'd like."

"And because 'tis almost time for the moon to rise, accommodations shall be made for thee here so that thou mayest spend the night," Luna continued.

Lyric bowed once more. "Thank you! Thank you all so much." She hugged the journal to her. "If you do not mind, may I...?"

Celestia beamed. "Of course, Lyric. Please, go and read to your heart's content."

Lyric could hardly wait. She thanked the princesses, calling to them over her shoulder as she trotted through the door. She galloped all the way to the library, her cloak flying behind her, not caring who saw her beaming like a madmare.

The First Entry

It was not long before she found herself a comfy-looking chair, one with a plush cushion and back, tucked into an alcove of the library. Shelves towered above her, but there was still plenty of light, both from a window and from a torch being lit nearby. Lyric unshouldered her lute and leaned it against the dark wood end-table, ensuring that it would not fall, before settling in.

She slowly scanned through the pages, anxious to read the first-hoof accounts contained within. As she did, she found some stories that she already knew, but it was a thrill to be reading them in Dashing's voice. She also found some stories that she'd had no idea about, ones that made her laugh until tears ran down her cheeks and others that made her cringe as she read of his harrowing escapades. Those she would have to tuck away for later.

And then, as she flipped to a new page, she found herself in the middle of an entry. Must have accidentally skipped a few pages. As she went to turn the pages back, a certain phrase caught her eye. "Bat pony?" She knew of these ponies, of course, had even met a few on her journeys. But what could Dashing Hoof have written about them? She returned to the start of the entry and began to read.

~*~

Year 5, Day 141 of the Royal Sisters' Reign

As night fell, a storm broke out in the skies. The pegasi had warned me it was coming, but I, in my stubbornness, wanted to press on and reach the other side of the mountains I found myself in as soon as I could. There was no real danger as I was still well within Equestria's borders, but the land beyond had been uncharted since at least the Princesses had begun their rule. Who knows what was there, if anything, before? I searched the area and took shelter in a nearby cave, looking about to see if I would find any more star stones as I had the first time I set out. Instead, as I glanced upwards, I was greeted with many pairs of frightened and distrusting eyes.

"Go away!" something hissed. I heard wings flap, felt a whoosh of air, and it alighted before me. I could see now that it was a pony, and I guessed that the other pairs of eyes I had seen belonged to ponies as well. He was old, if his rasping voice was any indication, and he was thin, but his weight was not from age. Instead, it seemed that this poor chap had not had a proper meal in Celestia knows how long.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize that this cave was occupied. I'm simply seeking shelter from the storm."

"Look, I don't wanna fight, so jus' please go away," he said, rearing up and spreading his wings. He was trying to appear threatening, but he wobbled unsteadily on his hooves.

It was only when a flash of lightning struck outside that I realized the stallion had bat wings. And then it dawned on me that he had been clinging to the ceiling! Not only he, but every one of the ponies I had seen earlier! It was quite a shock to me, but even greater was the shock when he passed out cold on the stone below.

"Papa!" a younger mare cried as she glided to his side. She tucked her wings in against her body and tried to shake him awake. "Papa, Papa! Please, wake up!" More of these bat ponies glided down and worked to rouse him. It seemed he was important to them, if the way they rallied around him was any indication.

I put a hoof on the mare's shoulder and, in as gentle a voice as I could manage, said, "Here, let me." She also hissed at me, baring fangs, and tried to appear threatening in the same way her father had. But when she saw me hold up my canteen, she stopped. Every eye was on it, and on me. Finally, she conceded and gave a nod. I don't know what she expected me to do, but she and everypony were shocked when I poured the water over his head instead of into his mouth. He coughed and sputtered and soon came to, and the mare threw her hooves around him.

"S'okay, Onyx," he murmured as he patted her back. "I'm okay. Jus' feelin' a bit... faint, is all."

"Onyx? That's your name?" I asked, but then the stallion glared at me again.

"What're ya still doin' here? I told ya ta get!"

"Papa, stop! He just helped you!" Onyx cried.

"I don't care! What if he's in league with Sombra, huh? Didja think of that!?"

I was completely lost. "What? Sombra? Who is this Sombra? I've never heard of him."

"Lies!" the stallion screamed at me, and tried to charge. It seemed he was past the "asking nicely" phase. Fortunately for me but unfortunately for him, he was still woozy and just flopped onto his side.

Onyx shook her head and lay down beside him. "Papa, rest. Please," she begged, and when the lightning flashed again, I could see dried blood and old scars on his flank and legs.

I sighed, feeling only pity for the stallion. "I'll take care of this." I dug in my saddlebags to find the medicinal ointment and bandages I always carried on my travels, and showed them to Onyx and the others as I did. When they all agreed that these were harmless, I cautiously approached the stallion. He protested weakly and attempted to stand, but Onyx put a hoof on his shoulder and he fell back to the ground. Surprisingly, he lay there and let me treat him.

"I'm Dashing Hoof, by the way," I told everypony as I spread the ointment on his wounds and applied the bandages.

The mare nodded and told me, "Like you heard, I'm Onyx, and this stubborn lunk is Obsidian, my father."

Obsidian grumbled at that, but didn't have the strength to do much else. After feeling just how thin he was—his bones jutted out at all angles under his coat—and seeing him lie there as I treated his wounds, I reached into my bags once more and produced some fruits, bread and cheese. "Here," I told him as I held out an apple. "It's not much, but you look like you could use it more than I."

He eyed it suspiciously, but finally took it into his hooves and ate. I gave Onyx another apple, and passed out what food I could spare among the others. Any ponies left on the ceiling floated down and swarmed around me now. Tears flowed in their eyes as each received their share. Some scarfed their food down right away while others ate slowly, savoring every bite. They were little more than skeletons held together by skin, every single one of them. What happened to these poor creatures? That was the only thought on my mind as I then took out some cheese for myself and bit into it. All was silent for those few moments, until Obsidian finished his apple and cleared his throat.

"Dashing Hoof, was it?"

I nodded, and he sat up.

"Look, sorry 'bout earlier. As ya can guess, it's been a hard life for us. I still don't exactly trust ya, but ya had no reason ta help any of us, so I'll give ya that."

"Thanks... I think." I fell silent for a few moments longer. "So, can I ask... what happened to all of you?" As I sit here and write, I realize it was probably a rude question, but seeing their mistreatment, I had to know. Perhaps there was more I could do.

Now it was the bat ponies' turns to be silent. They all looked amongst themselves, chittering to one another as I had only ever heard actual bats do before. The discussion must have been quite heated as the chirps rose in frequency and pitch. Finally, Obsidian returned his disapproving gaze to me.

"Ya sure ya ain't in league with King Sombra?" He spat the name out like a curse.

I raised myself to my full height and put my hoof over my heart. "I swear to you, I do not know this King Sombra, nor have I ever heard of him before this night."

I held this pose as Obsidian looked me over. Then he muttered, "Very well." He turned to face me, and I seated myself in front of him. Onyx remained at his side as the rest of the bat ponies took their places around the pair. "We're from the Crystal Empire. Ever heard o' it?"

I had to admit that I did not. He let out a heavy breath. "It used ta be a beautiful place, but I ain't seen it like that fer a long time.

"Ya see, it used ta be peaceful, with crystal ponies jus' livin' their lives and helpin' each other out. Then an evil unicorn named Sombra took over the place and crowned hisself King. Now, he's enslaved all the ponies o' the land an' doin' horrible experiments."

"Like what?" I asked.

"Like us," was Onyx's bitter reply. They all gave a melancholy nod of their heads. Now it was her turn to take up the tale. "It wasn't enough for Sombra to take over the land and turn everypony into slaves. He was smart, and he knew that it was only himself against hundreds. Sooner or later, he'd need somepony to watch his back.

"He started stealing ponies off the street, those who had no families, no home, or those he didn't think anypony would miss. He also lured some in with false promises of power or restoring order. He arrested ponies for crimes real or imagined, taking the prisoners because there was nopony able to protest. Or some..." She shuddered. "Some volunteered themselves willingly, believing in his cause. Whatever he did to bring them in, the results were the same."

"Sombra used his dark magic an' changed us forever," Obsidian told me sadly. "He used a mutatin' spell on us ta turn our beautiful crystalline bodies inta these dark forms, an' crafted these wings fer us ta strike fear inta the hearts o' his 'subjects' an' enemies alike." He unfurled one of his bat wings and viewed it with sorrow. "Next he gave us these eyes," and he leveled his slit-eyed gaze upon me, "an' these fangs in his despicable image. An' if that weren't enough, he granted us abilities befittin' our new appearances ta make it easier for us ta sneak up on somepony unawares.

"He also tried ta warp the minds o' the ones he changed, make us more like him, but he jus' couldn't do it. Some ponies broke and completely lost it. These ones he had no use for. ...Ya can imagine what happened ta 'em. So those who're already loyal ta Sombra became members o' his Shadow Elite. The rest o' us were thrown deep inta his mines ta slave away, day in an' day out. Didn't take us long ta become accustomed ta sleepless nights an' the dark."

I was in shock, trying to contemplate all of the atrocities that must be going on in the Empire. "How..." was all I could manage at first, then, "how did you escape?"

Obsidian got a dangerous gleam in his eye. Onyx beamed proudly. "We tunneled ourselves into the armory. It took us months, and the stupid guards didn't even realize what we were doing. I knew that the armory wasn't too far from where we were forced to dig for gems because my mother was a member of the Diamond Guard before Sombra's rule. So we made a plan, prayed we really did have the right heading, and began to dig. When we broke through, we grabbed any weapons—or anything that could be used as a weapon—close at hoof and armed ourselves.

"The Shadow Elite didn't figure it out until Mother and I led the attack and were fighting them off. They thought we'd be easy to keep down and only had a few guards on us the whole time. What they didn't know was that I'd wanted to be a member of the Diamond Guard, too, and that my mother and I already knew how to fight. I helped her rally the slaves and we ganged up on the Elite. Soon we overpowered them and were free. Free! We flew away into the night as fast as we could. Of course, even though their numbers were few, they were all trained warriors. Some of us didn't make it..." Her voice trailed off, and she hung her head.

Her father put a hoof around her shoulders. "S'okay, go ahead. Let it out. Least yer mother died fightin' ta protect others an' not stuck in that thankless pit..." Obsidian's voice choked up as he spoke, and soon he and Onyx were sobbing into each other's manes. I stepped back and let them grieve, turning away to give them some semblance of privacy.

It was a while before Obsidian had recovered enough to continue their story, his voice still thick with sorrow. "We lost more o' us in the bitter cold surroundin' the Empire, but we didn't have the time ta stop an' pay our respects. We jus' had ta keep on goin' if we were gonna escape Sombra for good. We've been on the run ever since. We tried ta run in the night, but it turns out the Elite could see in the dark now, too. So then we were only travellin' durin' the day, though it stings our eyes and blinds us somethin' fierce. But at least that way we know Sombra's guards can't easily follow. Though, truthfully, we don't even really know how long it's been or where we are."

It seemed as if all eyes were on me, waiting for an answer. "I can't tell you how long it's been, since I obviously was not with you at the time of your escape, but I can tell you that you are now in the land of Equestria. It is a land ruled by two kind alicorn sisters. Princess Celestia is the ruler of the day, and she raises the sun. Princess Luna, the younger sister, is the ruler of the night, and she raises the moon." At the mention of the princesses, but especially at the mention of Princess Luna, my audience leaned in, enraptured. It was then that I knew what I could do.

"I will take you to meet them." Everypony chittered and gasped. "I am sure that once they hear of your plight, and the horrors being faced by those still in the Empire, they will be willing to help."

"But how long will it take us to get there?" Onyx asked. "We're not exactly at our best right now."

"Well, it should only take a fortnight if we head in a straight line."

"That doesn't seem so bad," she said, thinking. "Some of us are injured still, but we've made it this far." She surveyed the bat ponies around her, and they all gazed upon her with exhausted, but hopeful, eyes. "We'll press on." The others agreed.

"Alright." I looked around at this group that I found myself to be a caretaker of. "I can guess that you're all more comfortable in the dark now, but as you said, we don't know if Sombra's forces are still after you. And because I cannot see as you can, I would only be hindered in the night and slow us down. I propose that we travel during the pre-dawn and twilight hours, when we can all see, and rest when daylight and full dark comes. That way, we can make good time and hopefully evade any pursuers."

Obsidian looked to me, then to the bat ponies, then to Onyx. They chirped amongst themselves once more. Whatever Onyx said to him, Obsidian scrutinized me, sizing me up once and for all. He sighed. "I guess we got no choice. Either ya help us out, or we keep runnin' forever." He held out a hoof to me. I took it, and we shook. "We'll leave soon as the storm lets up." He took his hoof back. "Get some sleep 'til then. I know ya other ponies don't do so well stayin' up through the night."

"Indeed, and you all look like you could use the rest yourselves." I lay down and yawned while some of the bat ponies took their places on the ceiling once more. Onyx asked for the ointment and bandages, and I gladly gave them to her so that she could tend to the injured. I had a feeling that, even if I slept, their eyes would be watching out for us all through the night. I don't know what they all thought of me, but at the moment, I was their only hope.

Author's Note

The star stones mentioned in this chapter are a reference to my first ever Lyric story, The Story of the Stars. It does not have to be read to understand and enjoy this story.

The Second Entry

Lyric set the journal aside for the moment, taking a breather from its contents. Although she knew that Sombra had been defeated and the Crystal Empire was finally liberated, it was painful to read of the bat ponies’ struggles. They had suffered, but at least this small band had escaped. Needing to know what happened to Dashing Hoof and his companions next, Lyric skipped through the next few entries—short accounts of them finding food and seeking shelter—until she found the one she was looking for.

~*~

Year 5, Day 155 of the Royal Sisters’ Reign

Finally, after exactly a fortnight of travelling, we arrived at our destination. Despite their weary bodies, the bat ponies and I made good time. I suspect it was largely due to my tales of Equestria’s many wonders, Onyx’s encouragement, and Obsidian’s determination. Obsidian seemed to come alive just a bit as the Castle of the Two Sisters came into sight. He chittered to the others excitedly, and they all sped up as we came near. Upon our arrival, I asked that my companions wait slightly behind so that they would not shock the guards or the princesses themselves. Here, Obsidian groused about me abandoning them, though I assured him that this was not the case. He relented when Onyx convinced him that it was for the best, and I went ahead.

The princesses were informed of my presence right away and granted an immediate audience. “Dashing Hoof!” Princess Celestia said as I bowed to her and to Princess Luna in turn. “Though it is always wonderful to see you, we did not expect you back for quite some time. Is something wrong?”

“Actually, yes, Your Highnesses, though not here in Equestria. I have met some ponies on my travels who are in desperate need of your assistance.”

Here they grew concerned, though this soon turned to confusion when they saw nopony but myself. “Forgive us, Dashing, but… where are these ponies?” Princess Luna queried.

“They are but a short distance away, awaiting my signal,” I told them. “These ponies are not like the ones you and I know, and I did not want you to be startled.”

They shared a glance for but a moment, then nodded in agreement. “Very well, then. Thou mayest send for them.” The princesses stepped onto the balcony and gave word to the guards that more guests would soon arrive. They saluted, and I whistled. It was not long before my companions flew up to the castle and landed gracefully before the two sisters. When the bat ponies looked upon the princesses, they marvelled at the sight, and the princesses were astonished when they laid their eyes on the disheveled creatures. I heard Princess Celestia gasp, and Princess Luna nearly wept at the scars marring their hides.

Princess Luna, however, was the first to recover. “Hail, ponies,” she called, her voice almost masking her sorrow. “I am Luna, Princess of Equestria. This is my sister, Princess Celestia. We have heard that ye are in need of our aid?”

Obsidian stepped forward. “Yes, Yer Highnesses,” he said. He introduced himself and told them the whole, sad tale. When he came to the part about the treatment of the crystal ponies, they listened stoically. When he told them what they were being turned into, he spread his wings. At the end of it all, the princesses were horrorstruck.

“We had felt some strange power growing in the north, but we did not know what it was,” Princess Celestia confessed. “It must be Sombra. And if ponies are being tortured, then we have no choice.” She then raised her head and looked to Princess Luna. “Are you thinking what I am, Sister?”

“Of course, Sister,” Luna told her. “We cannot leave those ponies to suffer.”

“Then we are decided.” Celestia faced the bat ponies once more and declared with hardened eyes, “We will do what we can to help the crystal and bat ponies under King Sombra’s rule. It will take time, and we must investigate, but we will formulate a plan and take action as soon as we are able if what you say is true.”

At first, Obsidian was elated, but then he became enraged. “Ya don’t believe us?” he roared. “Jus’ look at us! We’ve been tortured, enslaved, an’ beaten! We’re rail-thin cuz we haven’t had a proper meal in ages! There’re still more ponies back there who’re livin’ their lives in terror, an’ there’re others who’re dyin’! How can ya not believe us!?”

I was appalled by his lack of respect, though I saw the sense in his words. Onyx screamed, “Papa, enough!”

Princess Celestia, for her part, stood tall. Her eyes and quieted voice could have seemed to convey rage, but for somepony who knew her such as I, I saw only worry and concern. “Do you not understand, Obsidian? We will be risking our soldiers’ lives and our own! We need to assess the situation and then plan accordingly so that we can prepare ourselves and minimize casualties.”

Obsidian fell silent at her words. Princess Celestia’s gaze softened as she put a hoof on his shoulder, his anger apparently forgiven. “I know it will be hard to wait,” she told him. “Nopony deserves to live through the fear and the torture that you have. But bear this in mind. We have only just learned of your suffering, and if we act, it will be a declaration of war. We cannot take this lightly. We will need intelligence on King Sombra and the Crystal Empire if we are to succeed. Of course, you will be immensely helpful in that regard, if you are willing.”

Obsidian seemed to search himself for an answer, though it was not long before he looked her in the eye and said, “Alright, I’ll help if it means freein’ all those souls. But if ya really want intelligence an’ all that stuff, ya better talk ta my daughter. She’s the one with the head fer it.”

“Very well. Where is she?”

Onyx stepped forward and bowed. “Here, Princess.”

“What is your name?”

“Onyx, Princess, and I am ready to serve.”

Celestia looked her up and down, taking her measure with a scrutinizing gaze. “Are you really, Onyx? Are you ready to go into battle and possibly lay down your life for this cause?”

Onyx’s gaze was unwavering. “I am. I was training as a guard before Sombra’s takeover, and I know what may happen. Even so, I want to help. What is being done in the Crystal Empire is unforgivable, and Sombra must be vanquished. To that end, I will assist you in any way I can.”

“Your dedication is admirable, and I accept your oath.”

“As do I,” Princess Luna told them. “Ye shall both be invaluable to us as we prepare.”

Father and daughter saluted the princesses, and the princesses lowered their heads in a show of respect. Princess Celestia then raised her head to look in the eyes of Obsidian and Onyx once more. “As you can see, we have made our decision. And when the time comes, I would like for you two to lead our troops. Onyx, you seem quite capable in this regard because you have had prior training. And I can see that you truly care for your kind, Obsidian. You have done admirably as you and your daughter led your escape. Also, you both know the lay of the land in the Empire, a trait that will be invaluable to us. So, what say you?”

This time, Obsidian did not hesitate. “’Twould be an honor, Princess.”

“An honor indeed,” Onyx added.

Now Princess Luna spoke up. “However, before that, there is one thing more we must do.” She paused, meeting the gaze of each and every bat pony before her. “Because of all ye have been through and all that ye will do, ye shall be granted amnesty as we take on this campaign. Once we have freed the Crystal Empire, ye may choose to return, or ye may choose to be made citizens of Equestria.” She reared back, spread her wings, and struck her hooves upon the stone below. “I bid welcome to ye all!”

Princess Celestia gave them a benevolent smile, repeating the gesture as the bat ponies cheered. Obsidian even shed a tear. Now, after all they had endured, he and his kind had a place they could call home.

The Third Entry

Lyric smiled from ear to ear at the scene depicted upon the page. She was intimately familiar with the feeling of coming back home, back to a place where you were welcomed. For the bat ponies, that feeling must have been one hundred-fold what she experienced each and every time. However, she also knew what the cost of battle could be, and her smile fell some. Still, she kept on reading even as a yawn escaped from her. There were some mentions of the planning and preparation, but not as many as she thought there would be. Perhaps Dashing had set out on more travels and made new discoveries. There were certainly enough entries that this could have been so. Perhaps he hadn’t been privy to that information, not being on any sort of council or a member of the military.

Or, Lyric wondered to herself, her ears now downturned, perhaps he just couldn’t bear to think of it… Inhaling deep, she shook off the dark cloud that had hovered over her. Whatever the reason for the omission, she found the next entry that mentioned the bat ponies themselves and carried on.

~*~

Year 5, Day 293 of the Royal Sisters’ Reign

It’s been a few months since the bat ponies have taken up residence here in Equestria, and it seems like everypony is getting used to having them around. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are about ready to head to the Crystal Empire, and all of the bat ponies volunteered to go with them. They’ve trained with the troops every day since they were well enough to do so, and they’ve all become competent warriors in such a short time. It’s remarkable, but they’ve pushed themselves harder than anypony else. They are determined to free their brethren from Sombra’s reign. Celestia and Luna also did not need to convince Starswirl to take on this campaign, as he fully agreed that Sombra was a threat to ponykind. It turns out that he had also felt some dark force growing, though he had been unable to determine its exact source.

Obsidian and Onyx have been made Captains as promised, but, more than that, they have been selected by Princess Luna herself to head her personal guard. She can see that they are dedicated and loyal, and besides, they can stay awake through the night as Princess Celestia’s guards cannot. To top it all off, all of the bat ponies have been given a place in her guard, for they’ve been loyal to her through and through. It’s been nice having them around, even if Obsidian still treats me in the same gruff way. I suspect he always will, but at least now, when he looks at me, I see respect in his eyes. As for Onyx, I can’t say that anything will happen between us, but I will say that a pony such as she could make a stallion like me think about settling down for good. Will that happen? Probably not for a while. But when it does, I hope I can have a mare like her by my side.

I must admit, though, that I am worried for the fates of those who will leave for battle. We’ve all heard the stories of the horrors faced in times past, and now another one is practically at our door. And as far as the bat ponies have come, almost all are still quite green when compared to the Princess’s more seasoned soldiers. I can only hope that all of my friends, new and old, will return safely.

Luna's Tale

Lyric skimmed through the rest of the journal, barely able to keep her eyes open now. There was no more mention of the bat ponies or the Crystal Empire, and so she closed the ancient tome. Although she did not know the exact time, she could see that the moon was high in the sky. She picked up her lute and the journal, slung her instrument over her shoulders, then trotted towards the hallway where she had met the princesses earlier. She saw one of Luna’s bat ponies on guard, and she smiled at him. “Is Princess Luna in?” she asked.

“She is. Hold on just a moment, and I’ll announce you.” He stood and entered the hall. Lyric caught a glimpse of his cutie mark as he did, a key crossed with a sword.

Interesting, she thought to herself. I wonder how he earned such a mark. The guard reappeared shortly after to wave Lyric in, cutting her musings short. As she stepped inside, he resumed his post once more.

“Greetings, Lyric,” Princess Luna called as the bard entered. “I did not expect thee to be awake so late. Is there something with which I may help thee?”

“Yes, Princess,” Lyric replied. Holding the journal out, she said, “Could you please see that this is returned to Princess Twilight? I very much enjoyed reading it, but I am sure that it would be better off in her hooves.”

Princess Luna nodded, and used her magic to lift the tome out of Lyric’s hooves. “It shall be done.”

“Thank you,” Lyric told her.

It was then that Princess Luna gave Lyric a conspiratorial grin. “Now then, didst thou find any interesting stories in there?”

Despite her fatigue, Lyric’s eyes brightened. “Yes, it was all so fascinating! Especially the story about the bat ponies! I mean, the way they were treated was sad and horrible, but it’s wonderful that they were given a home here in Equestria and were able to help free the Crystal Empire. I’m sure they really appreciated the opportunity.”

“Indeed…” Princess Luna’s face fell, and the glow in her eyes began to fade.

“Is… something wrong, Princess?”

Luna hesitated, and the silence between them drew on. Lyric shuffled her hooves. She was about to beg Luna’s pardon and retreat for the night when the princess spoke. “’Tis true that they were able to help us free the Empire. In fact, they helped us many times over.” She set the journal aside. “They knew the Empire and the surrounding area. They knew how to make their way through the bitter cold, they knew the swiftest routes into and through the Empire, and they knew the ponies who had been left behind. They helped us strategize and to formulate our plan of attack.”

A sad smile crossed Luna’s features. Her eyes seemed not to see the bard in front of her, but a scene from a millennium ago. “My dear sister and I gathered our troops once we felt ready to do so. ’Twas hard on us, for we knew that not everypony who marched with us would return. Here we were, taking them away from their friends, families, loved ones. But they all believed in our cause.”

“Especially the bat ponies, I bet,” Lyric interjected.

“Thestrals, dear Lyric. They prefer to be called thestrals now.”

“Oh, my apologies. I didn’t know.”

“Thou dost now,” Luna told her with that same smile, the one that didn’t quite meet her eyes.

Lyric nodded. “That I do.”

“But thou art right when thou sayest that they believed in our cause. They fought the hardest of us all.” Lyric leaned in, not wanting to miss a word even as her heart ached for the ones who went to battle so long ago. “When we entered the Empire, the Shadow Elite set upon us right away. I suspect that Sombra had sensed us with his magic, and sent them to harass us from the start. There were fewer than we expected, and we defeated them with ease. After this, Celestia and I parted ways, her taking half of our troops to spread out through the city. I stayed with Obsidian’s and Onyx’s companies as they led the charge through the streets, choosing the broadest, most direct route to Sombra’s tower.”

“But wouldn’t that have left you the most exposed?” Lyric asked, her head tilted to the side.

“Unfortunately so,” Luna told her, “but ’twas also to our advantage, for Sombra’s guard could not ambush us from some dark, narrowed alleyway. But of course, there were Elite waiting for us, blockading the path. They charged us as soon as we were in their sights. Our forces engaged, and we clashed… ’Twas terrible.” The princess’s eyes watered. Lyric hesitated, then put a hoof on her shoulder. Luna seemed to take some comfort from it, for she continued, “Some ponies fell to the ruthless tactics of the Elite, though we soon realized that our numbers far surpassed theirs. ’Twas not long before we had broken through their blockade and continued our march. As we went, the thestrals gathered their imprisoned comrades, crystal pony and thestral slave alike, and brought them unto our cause. Before long, through capture, desertion of the Elite, or defeat, we made our way to the tower.”

Lyric was enthralled, even as her chest pained. She could see it all so clearly in her mind’s eye, both a gift and the curse of having the imagination that she did. She could see the skirmishes between the ponies, hear their cries. “What happened next, Princess?” she gently queried.

Luna seemed to regain some vitality as she reached the climax of her tale. “My dear sister soon joined me at the base of the tower. Her troops had also claimed victory, though their losses were great. We had a brief moment of silence in memory of those who had fallen, vowing to ourselves to have a proper ceremony once we were home again. Our loyal comrades took up positions around the tower, ensuring that Sombra could not escape without somepony noticing, then we began the long climb, searching for the one who called himself King.

“We found him at the top of the tower, waiting for us. He was so confident that, even with his soldiers gone, he could defeat us. ’Twas there in his gaze.” The Princess of the Night shuddered. “He said nothing, instead summoning a dark spell. We dodged and summoned our own magic. He only needed that moment, for I was then hit.” Lyric gasped. “It did nothing but knock me off my hooves and addle my mind for a moment… or so I thought at the time. I regained my hoofing, and, hurriedly, Celestia and I summoned our magic once more. He hurled more spells our way, we flew into the air to evade, and, when ready, fired our magic at him, turning him into nothing more than the shadow for which he was named, and imprisoned him within the ice.”

Lyric’s jaw hung open. Hearing this account from Princess Luna brought it to life in a whole new way. It was a moment before she said, “And then… and then the Empire disappeared along with him, thanks to his curse.”

“Yes,” Luna told the bard, sorrow in her voice. “It began to disappear around us, and we called for as many ponies as possible to escape.” Her voice dropped. “But it vanished so quickly… Only those of us who were originally from Equestria were spared. Even the small band of thestrals who had first come seeking our aid, for they had spent long enough in our lands that I believe the innate magic protected them. To say that they were devastated would be an understatement. They wept for their lost comrades, for all of their efforts had been in vain. Lacking any other course of action, we all began the long march home.

“After my beloved sister and I returned to Equestria, we opened our borders to any and all who may have escaped from the Empire before it vanished. We had hoped that somepony may have made it out, but after a time it seemed as if our hopes were in vain. Then a small number of crystal ponies appeared and took up residence, as did some thestrals.” Luna held up a hoof to defer protestations. “These ponies told us that they had escaped months before and were deep in hiding outside of the Empire, so we assumed that they, too, were able to escape the curse. We also assumed that once they heard of us here in Equestria, they made their ways into our country to seek our aid. They were all welcomed.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Well, yes, mostly.” It did not seem as if Luna would continue, though, after a time, she did. “The spell that I was hit with, ’twas not meant to simply cause a stumble. ’Twas meant to place a piece of his corrupted soul inside myself. It… changed me, Lyric, corrupted me as well, made me see the world through his twisted view, though I struggled to resist.

“’Twas gradual, but more and more, I saw how the ponies would play in Celestia’s sun, and how they slept through my beautiful night. Then the dark whispers began, slowly at first, softly, then building and building until they became an everlasting roar… Over time, I became convinced that mine own sister hated me, that she was doing this just to spite me. It did not help that some of the thestrals who came to us were still loyal to Sombra and sought only revenge. They pretended to be scared refugees and feigned loyalty to us. When they came to seek my counsel, I gave them my wisdom and they fed me their lies.” She scoffed. “’Tis likely that ’twas all a plan concocted by Sombra and his guard in case of his defeat, and that they had been protected from his curse.”

“You mean—”

“I do. ’Twas they, and the dark presence in my mind, who helped to convince me that my beloved sister felt she was better than I. ’Twas they who built upon my delusions of our subjects purposefully shunning the night, when I now know that they simply needed to sleep. And so, ’twas thanks in part to them, and to Sombra’s spell, that I became jealous and turned into Nightmare Moon. Of course, most of the fault is mine own.”

Lyric was silent as Luna hung her head. “I should have seen what was happening. I should have known. I should have talked to Celestia or sought help. But I was too young, too stubborn, too foolish. But Onyx and Obsidian… they saw, and they tried to turn my thoughts against these dark notions. Unfortunately, ’twas too late. My madness had already begun. Even so, they were loyal to the end. They stayed by my side even as I became more and more unstable. They never stopped trying to save me, nor did they ever lose their hope that, one day, I would become their beloved Princess once more.”

All was silent for a time as Lyric thought of all she had learned and Luna reflected on all that had been. It was Luna who broke the silence once more. “I miss them. Dashing, too. They were true friends to me, not because I was a princess, but because they knew and loved the real me.”

“I can see why they did.” Luna started as she gazed upon the bard. Lyric stepped forward and bowed. “You are an inspiration to us all, Princess. Though you may have fallen from grace, you have returned to us from the darkness once more, and you are willing to learn from it. If you can overcome such a hardship, then so can we.”

Luna bowed her head in return. “I thank thee, Lyric. That means so much to me.”

Lyric blushed and beamed as she lifted herself once more. “Well, it’s true. Believe me. After all, you know my past.”

The princess nodded, her gaze softening. “That I do.”

“Though, funny enough, it was Dashing Hoof who inspired me, who set me upon this path that I have taken in my life. His tales were what first gave me a thirst for adventure... I wish I could have known him myself,” she admitted. “And it sounds like you thought highly of him. Obsidian and Onyx, too.”

“I did. I still do.”

Now it was Lyric’s turn to hesitate before speaking again. “Princess, if I may ask, why are you telling me all this? It’s not as if I am anypony important.” She chuckled to herself, taking her lute off of her back and strumming a chord. “I’m just a simple, wandering bard.”

At this, Luna shook her head. “I must disagree, Lyric. Thou art a wandering bard, true, but ’tis ponies like thyself who will keep these ponies alive. They may have passed on, but their spirits will always remain so long as there are those such as we to remember them. Their loyalty, their kindness, their bravery—’twill never be lost.” The princess put a hoof on Lyric’s shoulder and met her gaze. “What thou dost is important, and ’tis a great service to our country and to our kind. Never forget that.”

Lyric was at a loss for words as she looked upon Princess Luna, one of her idols, resplendent in the moonlight that splashed upon her flank and lit up her starry mane. A warmth spread across her breast. However, it was also funny to her how Luna’s words reflected ones she had heard from another alicorn not so long ago. “I won’t, Princess,” Lyric whispered, clutching her lute. “I will always remember.”

Luna nodded. “Good. Now, go. Sleep. ’Tis well into the night, and I am sure thou art ready to rest.”

“Truthfully, I am,” Lyric told her as a hoof stifled another yawn, “though I don’t know if I will be able to now with all that I have learned. It’s all so interesting to me, and it’ll be circling around in my mind for quite some time.”

“I could help with that,” Luna offered.

Lyric pondered for a moment, then shook her head. “Actually, I feel like it’s a good thing. It shows that what I’ve learned means something, and that it will stay with me.” She grinned. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Lyric dipped her head in respect, slung her lute onto her back, and turned for the door. “Good night, Princess.”

“Good night, and sleep well,” she replied just as the earth pony put her hoof to the door. “And, Lyric?”

Lyric turned to face Princess Luna once more. “Yes?”

“I thank thee.”

Lyric smiled. “You’re welcome, Princess, and thank you, too.” She pushed the door open. “Have a good night.” And with that, she left the hall, her cloak swishing after her.

THE END

Author's Note

Although most of the original characters in this story belong to myself, there is one that belongs to my good friend, Will-Owl-the-Wisp. That would be Keystone, the guard on duty in this chapter. All other characters belong to Hasbro. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed!