A Hunter Amongst Ponies

A middle age mother walks around a small room tears in her eyes as she remembers fondly the years the rooms owner had lived in it. She walks over to a desk sitting down and looks at the pictures remembering the good times and the bad. Opening a draw she sees a journal and sets it on the desk. She hesitates for a brief moment before opening it slowly reading the first page.

Year X Month X Date X

I can’t believe what she did to me. I felt so helpless so angry so betrayed. I TRUSTED HER! I LOVE HER LIKE A MOTHER!!! AND SHE SHE!!!!!….
I…I have to put that behind me I ran away for a fresh start and now I have one. Things…things are difficult to get use to but I’m managing. The new school is helping so is this journal at least I hope it’s going to help. Letting out my frustration and emotions I think is good for me. It helped a lot that I was able to cry my eyes out to someone even if I hadn’t told her what happened yet but I will in time I think maybe….. It’s strange she looks so much like that BITCH but she was so much kinder than bicth could ever be.

But back to why I started writing this journal. I think I made a friend today she is even quieter in class than I am. I think the reason she even joined me at lunch today was cause she seen me crying in class…..again. She said I looked like I could use a friend. I wanted to tell her to mind her own business and go away. But I couldn’t and ended up hugging her as I cried into her shoulder. She wasn’t the one taking care of me now but I think that made it even more cleansing for me. Someone my own age caring enough about me really helps a lot.

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As I ran toward Canterlot I felt the cool night air against my face and through my hair. My feet hit the ground in soft but rapid thuds as I got closer to the tall mountain looming in the distance. The starry sky was clear and the moon was high. I had only been running for about an hour and as best I could tell I was about halfway there. My body was slowly beginning to drip with sweat as I continued. My lungs were slightly burning as I breathed in and out in a rapid but controlled pace. All in all it was rather nice to run like this again. It had been several weeks since I had first crossed the portal into this world. Most of that time I had spent in the everfree forest which did not allow for a lot of running space. So being out on the move again was very refreshing so was getting to talk to someone again. It was amazing how a few weeks of solitude had played on me the way it did.

A smile made its way out of my face as I thought about conversation I had earlier. Even with the rocky start I still enjoyed it. The innocence and downright naïveté of most of them I found quite charming and perhaps a little jealous of. I had to shake that thought from my head though I wasn’t going to hold it against them because they lived in a peaceful world. At least mostly peaceful, Nightmare Moon had proven it wasn’t an untouched paradise.

I kept my eyes trained on the mountain growing in the distance as I analyzed what I thought of the mares I had met this evening.

Rainbow Dash headstrong, stubborn, prideful and brash. Quick to anger and quicker to act very slow to think. She dove into that situation earlier giving little forethought to the consequences of her actions. From what little I’ve observed of her during the week and a half before I sent the invitation. This strongly contradicted my initial impression of her. When I observed her in Ponyville she appeared to be a do-nothing lazy slacker spending most of her time sleeping on the clouds. Or flying around like an absolute maniac with little to no reason that I could see. I would have to make a mental note to check out the so-called Wonder Bolts that she talked about when trying to get that ticket from Twilight and speaking of Twilight Sparkle.

A scholar through and through while this is not necessarily a bad thing but there was something…. Off. Something that I couldn’t put my finger on something deep down they told me she was going to be a problem. How and why I didn’t know perhaps it was because she reminded me of… No don’t think about it. I had to tell myself as to not dredge up those old memories. Am I being too harsh in my assumption of her? Perhaps, perhaps not.

Princess Celestia’s age was apparent in her eyes. One look was all it took to see the years of experience behind them. I imagine however that very few had seen what I had. The books had described her as a motherly figure I saw no such thing. Her eyes were closer to that of a soldier than a mother. She hid it well though but I could tell she knew what I had seen. Two of us had the same eyes the eyes of someone that is experienced immeasurable amounts of pain and untold amounts of death. Worst yet not all of it was because of the ravages of time. The both of us knew what it meant to take lives personally. Her choice in pupils aside I gained a certain amount of respect for her.

Rarity… a part of me felt her name should have been Vanity. There wouldn’t have been a more appropriate word to describe her. She did offer to make me clothes which did earn a few points with me. I had a suspicion though that she only wanted me in something more “elegant” or “tasteful”. She struck me as someone trying WAY too hard to be sophisticated. It never does you any good anyway unless you’re born into so called “high society” you’re not accepted anyway. Then again maybe this world was different I didn’t really believe it but one face to face conversation wasn’t enough to gauge anything really. That was the single biggest reason I hadn’t written this place off yet.

Fluttershy…her name seemed to say it all but couldn’t really get a read on her. The way she was glaring at me thou was perhaps a little unsettling. Beyond that she seemed to be meek, timid, and shy. She was surprisingly accepting of my eating habits must have had something to do with the animals I smelt on her.

Applejack seemed to be the most level headed of the group which was fine by me someone would need to keep the rest of them check. The fact she was a framer didn’t hurt either I’ve always had a healthy respect for what was probably the second maybe third oldest profession. Its hard and honest work plus you’re doing something constructive and meaningful in your life.

I felt bad about lying to Spike but there was nothing else I could do. Maybe I could try to make it up to him at some point. I wouldn’t be holding my breath though trying to make things better between me and him would mean I had to be near Twilight. If I could help it I’d be avoiding her.

Last but not least Diane, without a doubt the friendliest of the bunch. Not that was actually saying much mind you. I didn’t know what it was but that smile of hers was downright infectious. Merely thinking about her smile was enough to make one pop up on my face. I have seen children’s smiles and laughs that weren’t as heartwarming or frowns as heart breaking. While they all seemed almost childlike to me none seemed more so that Diane. It wasn’t a bad thing; her demeanor had made me hold back on the darker truths about myself. I also hadn’t seen such pretty or piercing blue eyes before they seemed to be looking inside my soul. Normally I’d be terrified or angered by such eyes but with Diane it was different like she was telling me not to be afraid. Afraid of what I didn’t know the worst of my fears had already come to pass.

Shaking away those thoughts I found myself quickly approaching what looked to be some kind of check point at the base of the mountain. Slowing down my pace greatly I saw a few bushes and trees along the side of the road. Nowhere near the amount of cover id like or want to hide in but it was something. With a small leap I grabbed hold of the lowest hanging branch and swung up onto it. My feet firmly planted on it as I took a moment to catch my breath and slow my heart.

While I could run at 4/5th my full speed all day and most of the night if I needed I preferred not to. Despite my cocky boasting to Celestia it did take a toll on me wither I admitted it or not. I wasn’t the quickest runner in my world nor did I have the endurance to claim distance. Those honors went to my mentor Reneer and he could keep them.

After a few minutes my heart and breathing had finally slowed enough that they didn’t drown out the sound of the world. Funny that most wouldn’t think that your breathing could mask the sounds around you, most didn’t have my ears though. I pointed my ears to the check point from what I could tell I was about 400 feet out. Had it been day time I was sure I would’ve been spotted. Judging from the lack of movement or voices I hadn’t been on my fast approach. Reaching into a belt pocket I pulled out my spyglass which was nothing more than a very small telescope. It didn’t let me see a great distance only about doubling my range but, that was enough for close range recon.

I held it up to my eye I took notice of the small white wooden shack with a pulley system to raise and lower the gate. The “gate” was little more than a painted broad that went from parallel to the ground to perpendicular. This made no sense seeing as there wasn’t a fence so you could go around it easily. However there could have been alarming wards to send out an alert if you did. Dam I really hated alarm wards.

The dirt road I had been following till now was well traveled and maintained and led right up to the gate which was up at the moment. I didn’t see a guard only the flickering shadows from what I guessed was a lantern. Frowning slightly I slowly lowered myself out of the tree scanning the area. Guards not at their posts made me ten times more nervous than too many guards. I had been caught in far too many ambushes to just accept easy entry. I kept my body low to the ground nearly crawling like an insect as I slowly made my way toward the checkpoint. Keeping my ears on a swivel I briefly closed my eyes issuing a mental command to my clothing. When I opened my eyes again the royal blue of my clothing was gone and in its place was the bright green of the grass I had be crawling on. After I pulled the hood of my jacket over my head I knew I would look like nothing more than a mound of grass. It was harder to hear with the hood over my ears but I could make due. On the tips of my fingers and the balls on my feet I crawled slowly getting closer and closer to the shack. My fingers and arms burned from the slow pace and the weight I was carrying and was beginning to sweat again.

As I neared closer and closer I made my way onto the road my clothes shifting to match the color of the new ground beneath me. Closer and Closer I got my eyes on the shack my heart thumping in my chest from effort and nerves. I was now only ten feet away I crept even slower turning my head I peeked inside the shack and…

Promptly fell on my face with a light thud grumbling into the dirt. Picking myself up of the ground and dusted off my clothes as they returning to their natural color. I walked to the door way of the shack glaring down at the sleeping pegasus mare in gold armor. It was almost cute how she was curled up into a little ball snoring very softly her wings twitching gently. Mind you almost, one of my biggest personal peeves was sleeping on watch. I had a very hard time not kicking her awake and yelling at the top of my lunges. I couldn’t let this just go my own sense of duty wouldn’t allow it.

Inside another belt pocket I pulled out the pen I had used when learning to read and write today. It was silver with very small colored gems near the top each one marking what color I could turn the ink if I pressed the right gem. The mare’s coat was a soft aqua green and her main and tail was blonde with darker and lighter highlights in it. I looked back at my pen and slowly turned it looking at the colors. Red, yellow, green, blue, black, purple, brown, and white. Only question was how mean did I want to be and how much chaos could I cause? With the red ruby pressed I held my finger onto the writing tip and the bright red ink began to flow. The magic’s within the pen allowed for an infinite amount of ink to be produced. This had seemed to be a great wonder to most I had shown it but truth is the ink was mundane and not useful to wizards that need to add spells to their books special ink was needed for that. So I stood looming over the mare as ink drop by drop landed on her neck. She did stir slightly but with the way she crooned gently made it sound like she was enjoying herself.

“mmmm yes..right there…” She mumbled gently in her sleep.

“Ah one of those dreams.” I thought to myself as I removed my finger from the tip of my pen and looked down at my work. She looked like someone a slit her throat in her peaceful sleep the small pool of ink next to her neck only made it look more convincing. A smirk on my face I reached down and wiped my ink stained finger on her leg. I was about to turn away when I seen a sheet of parchment on the small table near the door. I picked it up and it seemed to be orders passed down from a one Captain Shining Armor. Celestia was expecting a visitor either late night or early this morning and to be on guard. A full written description of myself was there along with instructions that I was to be escorted to the palace with due haste.

My smirk grew a little as I pressed my hand against my headband and dawned my “Gray Mane” disguise again. Leaving the guard shack I started walking up the winding road to the city of Canterlot and Canterlot castle.

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The city itself was quite dead by the time I reached it. The sounds I would normally expect weren’t here at the moment. No drunkards singing songs poorly, no sounds of fist fights, and no shouts of angry gamblers hell not even the pleasured shrieks of a back alley whore practicing her trade. It was quite and boring and I loved it I might very well be able to sleep in this city.

Then again I might not be able to; in Oozorcs the noise had become something of a strange lullaby to me in the five years I had made it my semi permanent home. I was starting to miss it and in a strange way it had its own kind of charm. Once you got past all the taxes anyway but if you could over look that you could get anything and everything you wanted if it could be bought or sold. Orc virgin shaman as a slave? Give them some time. Dragon eggs ready to be hatched and trained? No problem. Bring the family pet back to life? As undead or true resurrection? Is what you’d be asked. Need a demon to kill someone? Fast, slow, or tutored and did you want to keep their soul or did the demon get it? A city of sin, vice, and taxes that’s what Oozorcs was. The fact it was the one city I could walk around in completely undisguised and no one would bat and eye didn’t hurt either.

With my hood off I put my ears back on a swivel listening for anything dangerous. I wasn’t expecting or hoping for something to happen but old habits and all that. I passed by a number of shops with large glass windows displaying their goods with tacky gold lettering with the shops name on it. Why didn’t they have a normal sign so customers could see the merchandise was beyond me. I walk by a few what looked to be pub or taverns and for some reason stank of what smelled like rotten salt.

When I had entered the city proper from the road it was apparent that I was in the middle class section of the city sense things only seemed to get more and more pompous as I got further in. I could see the castle in the distance but decided I explore a little. As I did I became aware I had only seen one or two guards since I got here. I wondered if crime just wasn’t a problem or was it staffing issues. I didn’t think about it too long it wasn’t any of my concern. I had ended up finding myself in what I could only call the slums at least compared to what I had already seen. The place was still nicer than most high class homes I was familiar with. Walking along I saw a few recurring pieces of clothing. I put the clothing together in my head and realized that this place seemed to be where butlers and maids lived. Which struck me as odd since most that could afford them in the first place would have them at the place of employment.

I was nearly about to turn around and head to the castle when I heard something. Craning my ear in the direction of the noise I heard a soft but familiar tone. As I walked in the direction it was coming from I could tell what it was. I sounded like a string instrument of some kind and I approached it rather quick. I found myself standing outside a building that looked like it could house dozens within its walls. I looked over to the simple white sign with green ivy broader around it in blue lettering said “Castle Heights Apartments”. I had seen similar buildings in my world they were a rather new concept I had lived in one for a few months but my neighbors being so close and loud ended up making me leave rather quickly.

I was brought back to the present when whoever had been playing started up a new piece. It sounded very very soothing and I was dealing with walls between me and the lovely tones being produce. I moved around the structure quickly trying to find the source. To my surprise it was not my ears that found it but my eyes. On one of the many private balcony’s I saw and open window with light and the music pouring out. I came to a stop under it while the balcony in question wasn’t on the top floor it was only 2 levels down on the third if I wasn’t mistaken. I could only close my eyes and leaned against the wall just enjoying the piece. Sadly though it came to an end after a while and I wait for another that didn’t come. When the light went out I let out a tiny huff of disappointment and stood up again.

As I walked away I glanced back at the balcony the wonderful music came from a musing thought entered my head. Wonder if they do private shows? That would have to wait I had two royals to see and more guards to embarrass opportunities provided of course. Ducking into an alley I gear myself off pulling out what I would need from my bag. Since most of the more entertaining options were in my belt already I didn’t need much. Two spools of endless rope; one with a collapsing grappling hook the other with a lariat knot at the end. After firmly securing them to my belt I wince slightly as I pull out two silver mostly flat spiders connected by a thin strand of silk. They were just slightly larger than my hands and I shuddered as I spoke the command word. The instant I did the spider’s eyes opened glowing an eerie blue and began crawling up my arms their metal legs griping my clothes. I cringed as they clamped tightly around my shoulders and bit down into my flesh through my jacket. I hissed through clenched teeth and balled my fists tightly enough to nearly draw blood with my finger nails.

“200 years later it still hurts like hell.” I complained as the eyes on the spiders stopped glowing and the silver dulled to match my jacket. After shaking the pain away I quickly checked the more frequently used pockets on my belt. I was good on mini smoke bombs, flash pellets, thunder stones, thunder flash stones, marbles, caltrops, lock picks, trip wire, mini blast caps, and a healthy sized roll of sticky cloth (fabric tape). Retrieving my mask I pulled it down over my head and resting on my neck once I whispered softly it became nearly skin tight pulling it up carefully it covered my nose and mouth but let me breath unhindered. The hood of my jacket had become much like the mask and had to nearly force it over my skull. Thankfully while it was like this my ears were allowed to poke out the top and be used as if my head was uncovered. With a flick of my wrist my bow uncoiled form my arm returning to its proper shape. Finally putting my backpack on and tighten the straps it held snug against the quiver that was still on my back under it.

Sticking to the shadows I made my way to the castle treating it as a stronghold wanting to test their security. Though I wasn’t expecting much at this point with the mare earlier tonight and the clueless scouts that I came across in the everfree my expectations were very low. I couldn’t really blame them though a thousand years of peace are bond to cause standards to wane. It had seemed that they had gotten a few things right when they built this place. A large expanse of ground between the outer wall and the city proper that was devoid of trees, bushes, or large boulders or hills that could be used to hide an approaching infiltrator. A moat and draw bridge it was down at the moment but that could be forgiven. The outer wall looked to be about 60 feet high a little sort but respectable.

Using my spy glass I took a closer look checking for sentries from the shadows or the closest building which seemed to be the single most tacky display of wealth I had seen yet. On the golden gated that also had many gems encrusted all over it read “The House of Platinum”. I rolled my eyes I had seen a castle made of platinum that was way more elegant than that thing. Returning my attention to the guards I made note of their numbers. There was 4 on the draw bridge; 2 on the wall 2 on the ground and all unicorns I couldn’t see any others on the front wall. My brow twitched a little I hadn’t seen any pegasusi in the air on flying patrols. With no others on the wall that I could see I put my spy glass away and pulled out a special arrow from one of the 10 slots on my quiver. Each slot could hold up to 20 arrows and only arrows in a pocket dimension and only one type of arrow each. The one I had pulled was one that fit into the grappling hook so I could fire it farther that I could throw it. The hook fixed to the arrow notched ready to fire I ran along the outskirts of the city getting well out of view of the guards at the gate. Running quickly to the western corner battlement I fired the arrow up and over the wall the hook catching with a satisfying metallic click.

My bow coiled back around my arm I firmly took hold of the rope in both hands. A jump and a pull I swung into the wall placing my feet steadily against it as I dangled like bait on hook over the moat. I climb up the rope coiling it around my other arm as I made my way up my legs stepping up the wall. Once I got to the top I fed the rope back into the spoil as I took a careful look around making sure there weren’t any guards. Unfortunately there was but he was asleep in a chair inside the covered battlement. He also had his hooves propped up on a table and was leaning back in the chair. Pulling the trip wire out I make a quick and crude trap that would pull his chair back if someone entered the room and smash a thunder stone giving him and any that came in a rude wake up call. A shit eating grin on my face I moved each other battlements finding similar situations at each I acted accordingly.

It was about an hour before I finished up still grinning. As amusing as this was I hoped more that it might instill some fear and/or discipline in them. I had to really fight the urge to whistle a tune as I looped the lariat on the wall and slid down the rope my gloves heating up from the friction. With the bayonet on my arm I cut the rope the length not attached to the spool quickly dissolved into nothing. Using a match I brunt the frayed end and tied a new knot still keeping watch. I didn’t really need to I had landed in some kind of garden. The rope fed back on the spool I walked around taking in the sights. Rubber necking as much as I was I spotted a number of small animals and birds but I didn’t bother them. There were plenty of nice statues, small fish ponds, and lots of flowers which nearly made my sense of smell useless. Then I came across a statue that looked like a number of other works combined into one. The plaque simply read “Discord: Bringer of Chaos and Disharmony”

“Isn’t that kinda redundant?” I asked no one in particular not really expecting answer so I nearly jumped out of my skin when I got one.

“Oh indeed it is finally someone that gets it, Great job with the guards by the way.” I heard from directly in front of me it smooth slightly high pitch but male voice. Years of training were the only thing that kept me from doing something stupid. I looked up at the face of the twisted pony with mismatched horns and an oversized tooth sticking out of its mouth.

“Discord I presume? So that’s where you were imprisoned” I looked back at the castle then back to him. “Dam I thought Rocko could be arrogant.”

“Oh your barbarian friend with the axes oh my word he was priceless. Endless hours of entertainment let me tell you a shame he die when he did I was so hoping see what senility would’ve done to the poor fellow.” The statue said sounding both assumed and genuinely saddened.

“He wasn’t my friend the only reason I have any respect for him was what he did in his final hour.” I shot back slightly angered by the decoration. “So I take it you’ve been looking into my world then why didn’t you just go there instead of getting turned into a garden scare crow?”

“Oh believe me I wish I could have but I am bound to this plane as much as I hate to admit it even I am bound by rules…well one rule in that I can’t leave. Besides way way to much competition on your plane I wouldn’t get to have a much fun as I can here.”

“So you just watch for your amusement then?”

“But of course I got centuries worth on my DVR at this point it’s not all your world though yours is just a little too what’s the word I’m looking for….. sadistic. Yes that’s the word I’m looking for especially Reener truly twisted he was but so were you after Whis…”

“Don’t. You. Dare. Say. That. Name.” I growled darkly and low emphasis on each word cutting him off and if it wasn’t for the fact that he was made of stone I thought I felt him shiver.

“You ARE scary oooohohohohooo that sent a tingle down my scales.” He said sounding pleased. “It’s too bad I’m not allow to mess with you beyond words I could have lots of fun with your skills. By the way I have watched your most of your life and if I’m honest with you for a moment you have my deepest sympathies.” He sounded genuine I didn’t believe it though.

“I don’t want your sympathy.” I said plainly my mood ruined as I started back to the castle. “I was having such a good night too.”

“Things always get worse before they get better my boy you know that better than anyone.” He voice had gotten softer I dare say almost parental and swore I felt a large paw on my shoulder. “This time don’t take on the impossible alone.”

I turned back to glare at Discord’s frozen form the quite of the night nearly ringing in my ears. With a grunt of frustration I continued on. I slowly made my way out of the maze garden and came up to the castle hiding in the hedge wall I scanned for patrols. Not seeing any I walked up to the wall and gazed up at the towers then the spiders on my shoulders.

“Well I put you on I might as well use you.” I sighed in defeat as I placed my hands then my feet against the wall. As I did I felt the spiders begin to drink my blood fueling the magic that let me climb around like one. I hissed slightly as I begin to crawl up the wall quickly higher and higher I went turning the camouflage on making me nearly impossible to see. I climbed the outer wall quickly while the spiders wouldn’t drink me dry I didn’t want to black out from blood loss and fall.

When I made it to the peak of the slanted roof I looked at the towers trying to make a guess as to where the lunar princess would be. My shoulders sag in disappointment when I saw a tower emblazoned with a golden sun the mark of Celestia.

“Are things really so peaceful here you can just yell “Excuse me mister assassin this is where I live but don’t worry I won’t inconvenience you by locking my doors or windows.” and no one give a dam?” I asked sarcastically becoming frustrated with this place. It would be nice if this place was that peaceful but I highly doubted it. Slapping my cheeks firmly I got myself back on track with looking for Luna and slammed my head into the roof cracking one of the shingles on the roof.

“OH COME ON!!! REALLY?!?!?!?!” I yelled internally as I looked at the tower with the crescent moon on it. Even with the spiders drinking my blood slowly I could only stare at it tapping my fingers against the roof contemplating how much thought went into that. A formerly demon possessed princess makes her return and her place of residence is clearly marked for anyone that just might want to “play it safe”.

“I don’t care how peaceful a place can be you just don’t….i mean… anyone..could…just ARGGUHH!!!” I slammed my head into the roof a few more times trying to distract myself from the glaring holes in security. I had to take a few calming breathes as I made my way to the tower. Once I made it to the top I quietly climbed onto the balcony a large double door that was slightly cracked was in front of me. Next to it was a small dining table with two chairs. They were made form a dark wood and surprisingly simple in design but still spoke of quality. The balcony had a marble railing around it that was also simple but expertly sculpted. I aired of the side of caution and tied my rope tightly around the railing and pulled the spiders form my shoulders hissing out as I felt their metal fangs being pulled from my flesh. I reached behind my head and opened up the top of my pack and tossed them inside. As I rubbed the tender spot on my shoulders I heard the sound of hoof steps approaching the doors.

“Tia is that you?” I heard a soft and slightly sultry voice speak as the doors opened. I had a brief moment of panic as the smaller alicorn looked at me and gasped her wings flaring out. I understood why with the mask and hood as they were at the moment I very much looked like an assassin the moon at my back making me cast a shadow toward her. I also had a moment to take in her appearance. She was slightly taller than the non alicorns I had met thus far looking at about 5’4 maybe 5’6. Her mane and tail were of the same gentle blue they had been when I helped her a few weeks ago. She was wearing a revealing pair of black garments that barely covered anything. Over that she wore a sheer short robe of some kind that opened around her bust reveling her shapely and respectably sized cleavage. It only came down to just under her flank that showed off a splotch of black fur with a crescent moon on it her cutie mark if I wasn’t mistaken. The black patches of fabric underneath the robe only just covered enough to preserve her modesty. In that moment I was sure I was about to be blasted on the tower and fall to a very painful if not deadly landing. She folded her wings back into place after a moment and looked at me curiously.

“Remove your mask and hood stranger.” Her eyes darted to the blade on my arm her voice turned dangerous before adding. “Very slowly.”

I did as I was told keeping my hands open my palms facing her as I very slowly brought them to my face. I whispered the words in my native tongue that made the nearly skin tightness loosen and pulled the mask down and the hood over my quiver. Her horn glowed slightly as my hood was placed of the arrows sticking out of the quiver. I figured she was concerned I was going to try something when I returned my hands to my side she seemed to glare at me angrily.

“You had best explain quickly who you are my pony and how you got past the guards.” I blinked in surprise confused then I nearly smacked my forehead. I had forgotten to drop the Gray Mane illusion.

“Forgive the appearance Luna I had a slight lapse in memory.” I said calmly and politely as I could. “I am Ro and I’m using a peace of equipment not unlike that of your palace guards to hide my real appearance.”

“You had best be telling the truth we do not take kindly to being deceived.” Her horned glowed brighter as she seemed ready to throw me for the tower. Cautiously I brought the fingers of my unarmed hand to my head band and let that illusion fade showing my shifter self. When I did her horn stopped glowing and she looked at me in amazement.

“Tia was right you are most peculiar looking.” Her dangerous tone was gone and she looked up at me with a small smile. “Not in a bad by way though.”

“I don’t really hear that second part very often so I’ll take it as a complement. So does this mean you’re not going to blast me off the tower then?” I asked still keeping myself in a non threatening manner as I could.

“What? No of course not why would you even think that?” She asked seemingly aghast at the very idea.

“Partly cause what happened at your old castle.”

“Oh yes Celestia said you had an interesting way of forgiving her.”

“Seeing that I was laid up for a few days after that she was lucky I only gave her a busted lip.”

“I am sorry to hear that you were injured it wasn’t too bad I hope.” She said folding her arms under her bust.

Deciding it was safe I knelt down and began to untie the rope from the railing. “I’ve had more life threatening injures before just perhaps not quite as many took so long to heal.” I stood back up feeding the rope back into its spool.

“A few days after being hit by an ailcorns’s spell is quite a feat in of itself Roe you shouldn’t take that lightly it proves you are durable.”

“Is the sight of blood something you’re use to?” I ask while I rolled up the sleeve of jacket on the arm without my bow coiled around it.

“Why do you..” Her eyes bulged as I quickly stabbed my exposed fur covered forearm the bayonet my red blood spilling on to the marble floor. I let out a tiny grunt of pain as I pulled the blade out. Luna was looking at me with horror in her eyes and she looked ready to scream at me but I held up my hand with a gentle smile on my face to stop her.

“Clam yourself Luna.” With my good hand I reached for my belt pulling out a steel flask with a water droplet and a profile of a dragon breathing fire engraved on it. Twisting the cap off I tapped the droplet and poured water over myself inflected wound. Luna was looking beyond confused as the blood washed away relieving the closing wound. I held my arm up for her to take a closer look and she stepped forward eyeing the small pool of blood and water. She stood close to me taking a look at my wet arm and her eyes widened in amazement as she looked at the closed wound.

“How…is…how that is…” She sputtered trying to understand how I healed so quickly.

“I honestly couldn’t tell you when, where, or how but I chalk it up to being a shifter. You see why brought up how long it took me to heal. ” I said as I tapped the dragon engraving and motioned her to step back as I poured out a fiery red liquid on my arm holding my breath. When the smell hit her muzzle she stepped back further covering her muzzle with a hand.

“What in the name of the moon is that smell?” She asked me sounding overwhelmed by the strength of the smell.

“You know of hard spirits or alcohol correct?” I asked pouring more onto the blood puddle.

“Yes, is that what that is?”

“Sort of its highly distilled alcohol that has been magically infused so that its 400% alcohol, back home it’s called Dragon’s Breath.” I switched back to water and washed off the Dragons Breath my arm and my blade over the edge of the balcony. “Do you mind if I dispose of that puddle?” I ask as moved closer to her and the doors to her chamber.

“Please do the smell is rather strong.” Luna said her voice muffled by her hand.

I pulled a match from my belt and used the rough surface of my jacket to strike it. Once lit I tossed it into the fire quickly igniting in a small pool of purple, red, and gold flames. Luna’s she widened slightly at the sight the watched in wonder as the flames danced about.

“Pretty isn’t?” I asked her rolling my sleeve back down as I watched her with a small smile on her face. The flames danced and shined brightly in the night the colors remained apart while mixing creating greens, yellows, blues, and even pinks all dancing like the northern lights back home.

“Yes it is.” She spoke softly and knelt down hugging her legs as we watched for a few minutes.

“Sometimes at night I’ll pour out a bunch into a bowl or small caldron and just watch the flames dance for hours on end. Helps me to forget about life sometimes and just let me….be.” I told her as I watched the flames slowly die out. When they did I walked over and brushed away the small scorch mark leaving the marble mostly clean and unchanged. “I’ll have to do a better job later.”

“Don’t worry; we will have a maid finish that later.” Luna had stood once more giving me a strange smile. “We have much to discuss don’t we?”

“That depends on you Luna.”

“You’re rather informal.”

“Would you rather I be uptight kissing your shapely flank constantly?” I asked with a raised eyebrow wondering why she was suddenly worried about my manners. My comment about her flank seemed to make her blush which really stood out against her blue fur. It also seemed to make her aware of what she was wearing and quickly covered herself with her wings.

“Oh by the moon we are so sorry!” She yelped and jumped into her room closing the doors behind her. I heard the sound of muttering and frantic hoof steps for a few moments before they opened again. She stepped out wearing a thicker robe that was deep black with white fluff along the outer hemlines. It covered her arms and went nearly down to her hooves. The blush on her cheeks was even deeper now and she seemed to be having trouble looking me in the eye. “We are very sorry about that please forgive us.”

“What are you apologizing for? It’s your castle your room your balcony if anything I should be apologizing to you.” I asked her beyond confused.

“It is considered to be highly scandals’ for a mare to present herself to a stallion it such a way unless she is herded with them. It’s implied that she is trying to force herself on him.”

“Ah I see now I guess that makes some sense but you shouldn’t let that bother you around me. My people barely even know the meaning of the word modesty. It’s a very look but don’t touch without permission kind of society I grew up in.”

“You mean all of your kind walks around wearing what I am under this all the time?” Her blush intensifying.

“Even less most of the time outside of certain events and armed conflict. A mentality of “if you got it flaunt it” and covering yourself means that there is something wrong with your body and your ashamed of it.”

“Oh we see that is most different to what we are used to. Then might we ask why you are covered up so much?”

I shrugged “I may have grown up in that culture but have had to travel to many different ones that frown on being that exposed in public like here in Equestria so I’m used to it. Had a few funny times when some woman was trying to use her assets to get me to tip her more because I was use to seeing what she was flaunting it didn’t work.” I chuckled slightly as I recalled the memory. “I don’t believe I had even seen a dancer get so upset before.”

“Oh we see how that can be amusing.” She giggled gently then walked inside. “Were are our manners please come in and sit you must be tired from traveling here from Ponyvile in one night.”

“Thank you it will be nice to get off my feet for a while.” I took in the room as I followed her inside lots of dark soothing colors mostly in blues and blacks. Her bed that was rather large up against one wall with book selves adorning most of the other ones. From what I could see most were law or history books. “Celestia wants to catch you up on what’s happened while you were away?” She winced as she sat down in a comfortable looking arm chair making me feel a little guilty but I couldn’t take it back so I said nothing.

“You have not used our or our sister’s titles. Why?” She asked me as motioned to the chair across from her a table low table between us. The table in question had a small metal basin in the center with a circular metal stand over it.

“Outside of formal events I have never felt the need to use titles when dealing with nobility of any kind.” I explained as I sat down sighing slightly after finally getting off my feet. “That has caused me to be called a disrespectful mutt on many occasions. The way I see things respect has to be earned besides what is a title at the end of the day? A word nothing more nothing less it only has any meaning what so ever if it is earned no offense meant to you or Celestia. That is unless you are one of those types that believe just because you have a title you should be respected instantly but I don’t think you are otherwise you’d be more upset.” I explain calmly with a smile on my face one that she returned.

“No I’m am not like that neither is Celestia we’ve both been on the receiving end of so many flank kissings as you put it. That it has lost much of its effect making it seem more and more hallow as time has passed. We were merely curious as to your reasons.”

“Ah that’s good to hear.” I went ahead and removed my bow, pack, and quiver setting them on the floor next to my chair and rolled my shoulders slightly trying to work the stiffness out of them.

“Would you like some relaxation tea? You seem understandably tired giving the busy day you must have had.” Luna asked me sounding a little concerned.

I nodded and leaned back into the chair. “That sounds very nice right now though I’m more stressed than tired.”

“Oh what has you so stressed?” She asked me as she levitated over a tea set to table and placing a few small pieces of fire wood in the middle before lighting it and setting the kettle over the flames.

“The security here mostly, had I been assassin or spy this would have been the easiest infiltration in my life.” I said slightly disgruntle. “With as much as you ponies use magic I was expecting a greater challenge.”

“You snuck in just for the challenge of it? You are an invited guests of the crown so may we ask why?”

“Part of that is the fact I still don’t really trust you or Celestia yet no offense meant it’s just how I am. Secondly stealth and caution are as much a part of how I am as your horn, wings, or the moon is part of you. It’s not something that will easily change for me if it ever will. For a third reason I wanted a chance to talk you in private with you without Celestia around.” I explained as steam began to rise out of the kettle’s spout.

“Why is that? Have we done something to warrant your distrust?”

“You? No but Celestia did nearly kill me without as much as trying to see if I spoke the language which at the time I didn’t I might add.”

“T-truly? Tia said you had a way with language but we scarcely believed you were that gifted is that your special talent?”

“No no not in the way you’re thinking shifters or any species on my world don’t get cutie marks. Some may have a natural talent for something but most anyone can become a master of anything with enough time, effort, and patience.”

“That…that is truly amazing you are not bound to one talent we think we are a little jealous or that.” The ailcorn of the night said looking genuine about her feelings.

“I know this is a sudden topic change but are you using a royal “we” or is that left over from the Nightmare?” I asked as politely as I could the curiosity getting the better of me.

“A…a little of both if we…I am being honest.” She said her ears dropping slightly.

“Sorry Luna I know it can’t be easy for you being free again and nothing is how you remember.” My tone had gone from casual to melancholy as I rubbed one of my simple silver rings on my finger. “Everyone you ever knew or cared about gone or different than what you remember.”

“You…seem to understand…has something..” She started to ask me but I quickly shook my head.

“I don’t know you well enough to talk about that yet.” I stared down at my ring for a moment the shook my head. “Let’s talk about something else like you or your sister.”

“I understand.” She said her ears perking back up. “What would you like to talk about?”

“Well the history books seem to lack a lot of details about the warring tribes before Equestria’s founding. Should I assume that you and Celestia had a much bigger part in the ending of that war?”

“Yes indeed we did it was a very bloody time for ponies. All that fighting only came to an end because we had banded together against Discord and the Windigoes he created. Us taking control away of the sun and moon away from the unicorns of the time was merely the final nail in the coffin of the conflict.” When she finished the kettle began to whistle and she quickly went about fixing the tea.

“I thought so the way the books made it sound it was like hugs and kisses fixed everything.”

“Yes the two of us decided that it would be best to alter the histories as best we could so those dark times could be forgotten.” She quickly poured me a cup of tea levitating it over to me carefully before fixing her own. I took the cup nodding my thanks and smelled the herbal mix already making me relax a little more.

“I can understand wanting to erase something like that but aren’t you worried about history repeating itself because they don’t know it?” I asked concerned as I took a testing taste of the tea and winced form the heat.

“Perhaps a little but as long as Celestia or myself is around that shouldn’t happen.”

“How long were the two of you ruling before…sorry.” I apologized forgetting how sensitive a subject her banishment could be.

“No it’s alright it will be sometime before it won’t be needed to be talked about. As for how long we ruled over the day and night around 400 years or so.” She explained as moved to take a sip of her tea a smirk form on my face.

“And how long have you two been lovers?” No sooner had the question left my mouth Luna turned her head spitting out her tea sputtering and coughing for a brief moment before looking at me with wide eyed horror.

“SHE TOLD YOU!” She nearly shouted at me her entire face blushing madly.

“No….you did.... just now.” I smiled at her as her mouth formed a silent “oh”. “I had my suspicions before now though.”

“How? What made you suspect we were lovers?” She asked as she started to shake.

I tapped my nose. “Unless I’m mistaken you and Celestia made love before she left of Ponyvile and had to hurry to hide your sent on her, also your room smells like the musk of mares.”

I wasn’t sure if a pony could light themselves on fire from embarrassment put I’m pretty sure she wanted to in that moment. Her entire body seemed to flush red as she covered her face with her hands.

“Luna you have my word I won’t tell a soul.” I told her with a smile as I sipped my tea. Now that it had cooled it was rather pleasant tasting. Luna looked at me through parted fingers.

“You…don’t care that I am with her?” Her voice was timid and soft as she asked me.

“Answer me this one thing it won’t change anything but it’s something I’d like to know. Are the two of you really sisters?”

“No..we are not sisters by blood. We are actually stepsisters also by being in the same herd.” I raised an eyebrow waiting for her to continue. “You see we married the same stallion not long after the defeat of Discord you may have read about him as King Sombra..”

Indeed I had read about him and what I had read made my blood boil. “I’m guessing he wasn’t always quite the bastard he became?” I asked Luna shooting me a glare I’m certain would’ve killed lesser beings but her expression soften with an angry sigh.

“Yes he was a kind stallion once but it was because of our selfishness he became what he did.” She said sagging in the chair.

“The two of you tired to extend his life didn’t you?” I asked to which she nodded. “And in turn also cause your possession didn’t it?” She nodded again. “You have my sympathies.”

She shook her head and poured the both of us another cup of tea. “No we were warned not to try it and we did anyway it’s our fault.”

We sat in an awkward silence for a few moments as few sipped our tea and I looked to the window noticing the sun would be coming up soon.

“Luna is it time for you to lower the moon?” I hopped that this would remedy the situation.

“Huh?..” She looked out the window. “Oh no not quite yet besides I haven’t yet recovered enough of my power to do that yet. That’s not going to be my main duty when it does recover anyway.”

“Oh what do you mean?”

“While I do rein over the moon and the night itself moving the moon and stars is rather light compared to warding the realm of dreams.”

“You watch over the dreams of others?” I asked trying to hide the concern in my voice.

“Oh yes indeed watching over my little ponies’ dreams is my main duty.”

“I see then I have a favor to ask of you Luna.” My body stiffened slightly as I looked into her eyes and she looked back into mine seeming to sense my seriousness.

“What is it Roe?”

“If you regain your powers before I leave this world I want your word on pain of Celestia’s death that you do not for any reason enter my dreams.” I made my request my tone flat and nearly dark in the warning tone. Luna for her part met my gaze unaffected but I could tell she could see the intent in my eyes. If she did for any reason I would make sure she would regret it.

“Your dreams are your to keep secret Roe but you needn’t worry I could not enter your dreams if you didn’t want me to in the first place.”

“That’s the thing I don’t know if I wouldn’t want you in that’s why I’m asking even if as I dream I might want you to. That’s why am asking you to respect this request here and now till I say otherwise.”

“Very well I shall not enter your dreams Roe but I will tell you if your dreaming self did want me to.”

“Thank you Princess you are most kind to fulfill this request.” I smiled at her as I relaxed. “You keep to your word and I could see us becoming friends.”

“You…you would like to be my friend?” She asked clearly caught off guard by the statement and I was slightly confused myself had I really wanted meaningful interaction with someone this badly?

“Why not? I’m a bit more of a night person anyways.”

She seemed to be thinking it over almost unbelieving of what was happening I wasn’t much better myself.

“We…I would like that.” She said with a happy smile and I nodded back to her.

“Oh before I forget I’m sorry about the arrows I used on you before had I known I wouldn’t have used them.”

“No no no please I am thankful that you did if the Elements could not have been used on me it would have been best for me to have been killed.”

“Well I don’t think I would go that far but no need to thank me for it.”

At that moment the double doors form this inside of the palace open relieving a very tired looking Celestia walking in.

“Well Luna it seems Roe was just boasting about being..able…to…” She trailed off her mouth opened slightly as she looked at the two of us.

“Would you like a cup of tea Celestia?” I asked a wide smirk on my face as I heard the sound of several small explosions and screams in the distance the two ailcorns looking to the balcony.

“I wonder what that could be?” I asked trying poorly to sound innocent.

“Just what did you do?” Celestia asked me her eyes narrowing at me as she walked up to us.

“Before you get your knickers in a twist I did nothing that would cause any permanent damage.” They both glared at me as another higher pitched scream echoed. “Well physically anyway.”