A mind warped and life lost
The Night Queen's Betrayal
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Seven years into Princess Luna’s reign, she is announcing her engagement to Lord Clear Skies of The Razorhail Kingdom. This is after her ninth great victory over the Zebrican Empire after they declared war- by poisoning Celestia. She is barely able to cling onto life and no magical remedy, no amount of medical treatment can cure her, only her body can attempt to beat the poison. For seven years she has been tended to only in nutrition needs and most have forsaken her.
Lately, rumors have been spreading of Luna’s crowning to be High Queen. Mostly spoken in hushed tones and between the shadiest of characters.
But, if she were to be crowned, she would be much more powerful than anyone could imagine; that is why plots have been hatched against her. Rather nasty plans with consequences the devisers of said plans don’t know.
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A dark chariot glides through the air, pulled by two similarly dark figures. The pullers, both bat ponies, are Lunar Guards- the personal guards of the Princess of the Night, whom is sitting in the chariot. She has a slight smile on her lips as she rides to meet her fiancé. She had first started relations in a hope to get another powerful ally in the war, but it grew into love over the course of several weeks.
Approaching the castle, she looked to see her husband-to-be waiting there for her. He smiled and waved to her almost hysterically. She returned the wave and a slight smile grew on her own muzzle. Even though the actual wedding is a few days away, the celebrations have already began. Also the recent victory over the Zebras has drawn quite the reaction from the citizens of Canterlot; granted they aren’t the ones in the war- just the ones funding it.
Touching down on the widened landing platform, Luna exited her chariot and was quickly embraced by Clear Skies. The pegasus stallion having to reach up more due to his smaller height. She returned it nonetheless; the horrors of battle slipping away in the happiness he gave her.
“Welcome back Luna.” He said, letting go of her. “News has already spread about the battle.” Her happy mood diminished slightly. “But the details were… biased.” He hadn’t been at the battle she just came from, but from another battle just off the border of his own country.
“Let us leave it at a victory.” She shuddered. “‘twasn't a glory to behold.” She tried to push the thoughts and memories away, but they clung to her. “Come, let us retire.” She draped a wing over him as they left the platform for their chambers.
The Lunar Guards left on the platform unhitched themselves from the midnight blue chariot and wandered around on the platform; both trying to push away the memories of the gruesome battle. But, like Luna, the memories wouldn’t let them be.
“When will this war cease?” One, Casket, spoke to the other, Brute Force, “I grow weary of it.” He held a slight smirk on his face as he continued, “To think there was once a time were battle would give me a rush; but now it’s just another bore. It’s just an extermination rather a glorious battle.” He shook his head as Force grunted his agreement.
“Yes. Sadly it must be so.” His very deep voice replied, “But they brought this upon themselves. Had they simply surrendered, we may have shown mercy.”
“Maybe so.” Casket sighed, “Maybe so.”
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“Oh that feels good.” Night Lance, another Lunar Guard, relaxed after the battle in a spa’s hot tub, letting the near scalding water let the tension out of his sore muscles, “Definitely needed this.” He laid his head back on the heated stones that sat on the edges of the tub; eyes closed in peace.
“Enjoying yourself Lance?” A feminine voice spoke up behind him. Astra, another Lunar Guard, had walked in, her armor not adorning her, “Must be.” She smiled a bit, “Almost thought you were having some other ‘fun’.”
“I was thinking about it but not so that I would simply buy it. I would rather earn it.” He cracked open his eyes and lifted his head up to see the mare climb in with him. He arched an eyebrow at her.
“What? I forgot my money.” She admitted huffily, “Besides, I’d rather have a free spa treatment on you than pay for it myself.” She snickered as he laid his head back once more. “It’s also that it takes a bit for a tub to heat up and the spa’s closing soon. May as well sit here with the infamous ‘Shadow Spear’ than than not even get in.” She said his unfortunately earned nickname with borderline superstition.
He smiled at her near cringe of saying it, “You know, only those who have fought by my side know that name- and I haven’t see you around me all that often.” Even with his eyes once more closed, she could feel him looking at her.
“If you’ll remember that you were in the newspapers a while ago; and that yes, I have fought by your side on one occasion.” She replied as she relaxed more and more. “I love hot tubs.” She said under her breath as she sighed in relief.
“Did this room just get hotter?” He asked to no-one in particular, “Or are you…?” He trailed off a bit as her face lit up in a blush.
“I didn’t pee.” She said, entirely in truth, “Just that this is the time of year when you know…” She trailed off, rolling her eyes as the awkwardness increased to near astronomical levels.
“Oh, I think I see…” He eyed her carefully, not being able to see but so far under the churning water.
She caught his expression, “Don’t you dare even think about it.” She snapped, as a little ding sounded, signalling that the spa was closing soon. She climbed out of the tub, glaring at him as he watched her every move, “Oh yes, there was a point besides the tub.” She scratched her chin with a hoof, trying to remember her other reason for coming, “Now I remember. Porcelain Vase wanted to see you about something. It seemed important.” She remarked as she walked away; but she was fully aware of where his eyes lingered, “And If you don’t stop staring at me, I’ll remove the head you’re thinking with.” She shot the most sincere glare, promising pain and suffering.
He winced at her threat, legs moving protectively closer together.
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A few minutes later, water cooled down to just lukewarm, Lance climbed out of the tub, drying off with a towel in his magic. Donning his own Lunar Guard armor, he exited the spa to find this Porcelain Vase who had invited him somewhere.
But just as he walked out into the late evening streets of Canterlot, he heard his name being called. “Who calls?” He responds.
“You are Night Lance?” A glimmering white earth pony mare walked out from the shade of a nearby alleyway. Her flamboyant light blue-green mane flowing in styled waves.
“Yes; and you must be Porcelain Vase.” He bowed respectfully to her, “It’s a pleasure.”
She only slightly returned the gesture, “It’s mutual. So then, shall we take a stroll? And perhaps talk business?”
“Why of course.” He nodded at her as she took the lead. “And if I may, what is this ‘business’ you refer to?”
“I’ve heard some stressing rumors passing about concerning Luna’s reign. It is mostly talk of her to be crowned High Queen.” She almost said it with distaste, “If that were to happen, I’m not sure that it would be a good thing.”
Night Lance was retaining a neutral expression as he listened; but, on the inside, he was screaming blasphemous insults at her. “What do you imply?” He asked cautiously.
“I propose that we… don’t allow this to happen.” She replied evenly.
It began to set off some alarm bells in his head but he continued to speak to her regardless, “And how do you propose we do this?”
“Unfortunately, it comes down to one thing.” She hesitated, mostly due to his status as a Lunar Guard, also that he’s developed a reputation for being particularly brutal.
“Before you continue,” He interrupted her, “I must ask, who gave you these thoughts?” He had a slight amount of venom to his words, causing her to get more on edge.
“My mother travelled a great deal in her youth, and she had met several interesting characters in that time.” She paused as she rounded a corner into the more shady part of the lustrous city. “More than one of them had clairvoyance, and they all predicted the rise of one ‘Nightmare Moon’. Since Luna’s name itself is Itailian for ‘moon’, it narrowed who Nightmare was down significantly.” She stopped at the front door of a shoddy-looking tavern; made of wood rather the pristine marble and stone the rest of the city is made of. A faded sign hung from rusted chains that squeaked in the gentle breeze.
“So you’re going to trust the word of these… ‘psychics’?” He retorted sharply as she pushed the door opened.
Just a dozen or so feet from the door sat a round, wooden table. And around it sat: Astra, a smirk on her cloud-white face, her blue mane tied back in a loose bun. Jade Circlet- a green furred unicorn stallion with a near fluorescent purple mane and tail- a prominent stonework company owner, the one who supplies a good deal of the stone to make repairs to the various buildings in the city as well as build more. A cloaked figure also sat to his left, the cloth obscuring their features.
“They have also predicted many other things which have all occurred. I would trust them when they warn me.” She responded as she took a seat, motioning him to do the same.
Taking a seat, Night Lance unclasped his finned helmet and set it aside. He brushed his naturally grey mane out of his face as the rest of the group relaxed to some degree. “So, your plan to stop this ‘Nightmare Moon’ you want to do what?”
“Remove Luna.” Porcelain said with no hesitation.
Night Lance showed no opposing reaction. In fact, a part of his mind grew to embrace the idea. The part that served Luna until the very end shrunk in strength as he still sat there instead of leaving or going so far as to drag them all to the dungeon. “What do you propose?” He asked as a smile worked its way onto his face.
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Two days later at Luna’s wedding, Night Lance and his fellow conspirators relaxed at the festive event. Even though they were the ones who were going to kill their own Princess before she became Nightmare Moon. But even though they were enjoying the party after the actual ceremony, they still worked; namely the zony alchemist they had employed to deliver the various ingredients of a poison to Luna’s lips.
“I still do not trust him.” Night Lance said to Astra as they- even though on duty- relaxed a great deal.
“You don’t have to.” She replied, messing with her dress, “All he does is deliver the poison. Nothing more, nothing less.” She kept fidgeting with the white dress she chose for the wedding. “I really don’t like this dress. I feel like I’m being crushed.”
“I think you look lovely.” Night Lance responded, earning a blush from Astra. He looked out to the ballroom’s massive floor, “Shall we dance?” She blushed more as she still took his hoof in her’s and he lead her out onto the floor.
The two Lunar Guards swayed to the music, holding each other close.
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“The poison isn’t working.” Night Lance exclaimed as he observed Luna still performing magic. The poison was supposed to make a unicorn’s- or in this case, alicorn’s- magic inert and useless. They become nothing more than an earth pony with a stick growing out of their head.
“The third ingredient hasn’t been applied yet.” The creepy old zony appeared beside Night Lance as he nearly jumped out of his armor from the stallion’s sudden appearance.
“I thought that you gave it to her at the wedding?” He snapped.
“The poison is in three parts, two liquid and one solid. The solid in the food, one liquid in a drink and the last…” He drew an ordinary blade. No trade markings of any kind, just another piece of sharp metal. “... Is administered by blood.” He gave the blade to Night Lance, whom picked it up in his magic.
Astra had walked up to them, trailed by Jade and Porcelain, “So why didn’t you poison her while she slept?” She asked the zony alchemist.
“It is so she doesn’t suspect that she’s been poisoned. Until all three ingredients are mixed, the poison is harmless.” He replied as he nearly vanished into the shadows.
“So then… let’s go and deal with this.” Night Lance said, placing the sword in a small sheathe the zony had also given him.
The group of four approached the castle, the normal night guard letting them pass due to the Lunar Guards with them. As they walk through the hallways, they steel themselves to what they’re about to do.
Striding through Luna’s chamber doors, they see the beautiful- despite heavy bags under her eyes- Princess of the Night turn to face the four. A puzzled expression crosses her face, but it is quickly replaced with that of shock as a blade plunges into her shoulder. The last ingredient of the poison quickly mixing with her blood and the other two ingredients, nullifying her magic.
Screaming in pain, she tries to light up her horn to remove the blade, but only finds panic as she cannot. The four draw similar blades and march toward her, looming over the once powerful alicorn, now reduced to a cowering, trembling filly. They take no pleasure in their actions, only seeing them as needed for the safety of the citizens of Equestria.
Encircling her, they plunge their blades down at her, stabbing in multiple places, and ultimately killing her as one shortsword sunk into her heart. Her eyes stared out at them, the lifeless glassy orbs see into their very souls- now blackened by their cold murder.
“Honey! I picked up some muffins at a little shop that opened up…” The four turn to see her husband, Clear Skies, standing in the doorway. A small bag of chocolate muffins dropped from his mouth, spilling the pastries over the stone floor. His shocked expression drew tears from his eyes, as he slowly moved over to his wife’s lifeless body. They moved away from him, knowing him to be a terrifyingly powerful pyromancer; and not only that but also a ruthless fighter.
He cradled her body as tears flowed and he sobbed. The four moved out of the room and down the hallway were several guards who were put on edge by the bloodied ponies.
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Later, after the funeral service, many (many, many, many, many) death threats and promises of retribution were made against the four. Enough so that they had to flee the city, exiling themselves and others who shared their views to an island just a few miles off the eastern coast of Equestria.
As the days passed, the four all began to experience the most horrifying, scream inducing nightmares they will ever have. Just two weeks after Luna’s betrayal, Nightmare Moon arose. Their worst fears taken physical form, they could run no further away. So, like rats in a trap, they were cornered, and killed by Nightmare. Night Lance, the last one standing after a few minutes of her attack, swore himself to her service for eternity, begging for mercy, but she killed him anyways.
As her reign of terror continued, Nightmare Moon defeated the Zebras, but at the cost of all her support in her own kingdom. The eternal darkness ruined crops, disheartened everyone, and ultimately let to her banishment. Celestia, having beaten the poison, stood against her own sister, banishing her- and the Nightmare she turned into- to the moon.
~END
