Chapters "Your father would be ashamed to see you work with such evil."
The bars bent as hooves slammed into them.
"Shut the buck up." Uzumaki howled, magic aura spilling out his eyes. "You know nothing!"
Luna stepped back, the deceptive chains rattling. The belled hat fell to the stallion's heaving shoulders. Cold amber narrowed from behind the pale tresses. Luna's ears pinned back as Uzumaki's head began to rise.
"Stop." A gravelly voice rasped.
Out of the shadow, Nue pulled itself out of the shadows. The dark gray draconequus grasped the back of Uzumaki's collar with the good claw and pulled. Luna watched as Uzumaki allowed the magic to disapt.
"You shouldn't be out of bed!" Uzumaki's mood flipped. "Somber will kill you!"
"No, just you." Sombra also stepped out of the shadows in the opposite direction of hall.
Luna scowled at the Shadow Pony dressed in muted green robes. Sombra only gave a passing glance before he clopped a hoof over Uzumaki's crown. The hornless magic user yelped as he rubbed the spot. Sombra spoke in a mild tone.
"You're lucky you didn't bring the tower down on our heads." The pale pony's ears pulled back and tail became tucked. "Lucky for you, our resident empaths had added in those braces."
Nue released Uzumaki. Uzumaki grunted as he used magic to fix his hat. Luna skittered away when the Nue's dark eyes looked at her. The beast's mouth formed a frown for a second before melting into the stony facade.
"And what about..." Uzumaki punctured the air with his hoof in Nue's direction.
Somber glanced at Luna for a second. "Nue-sama refused to stay in bed with the amount of discharge in the air."
Luna's muzzle scrunched up. Somber was saying something without having to actually say it. Luna's fear gave away to irritation.
Uzumaki sighed, sitting on his hunches as he rubbed a hoof over his muzzle. "I should have insisted someone else take the meals to her majesty."
"Indeed."
Nue chuffed. Uzumaki gave a wan smile. Sombra inclined his head and both the beast and Uzumaki disappeared with a puff of smoke. Sombra meet Luna's eyes impassive.
"What are you planning, Sombra!?" Luna demanded. "Allying yourself with these monsters?"
Sombra chuckled. "Ah, you're under the impression that I'm your Sombra."
Luna was jerked against the bowed bars by his aura. He whispered in her ear.
"Foolish alicorn, the only monster here is ... you." Luna could see the dark glint in his red eyes. "Open your eyes, princess, and see what is real."
He paused. "And the name is not Sombra, it's Somber Hope."
Luna stumbled back as he released her. When she recovered, the Shadow Pony was long gone. A tray of food sat right inside the cell. Luna stared for a long time, Sombra's words echoing in her mind.
Hours later, two griffin toms appeared, flanking Uzumaki. In his icy blue aura, he held a few items that made Luna want to run. The obisidian ring and collar clinked together. The inkbottle and brushed confused her.
The two toms wrestled her to the floor with ease. Hurling obsentites, she struggled hard, but the runes flashed. Her strength drained out of her, leaving her feeling gray. Uzumaki painted a symbol or two on the collar.
"The inhibitor might itch for a while." Uzumaki's voice remained even and toneless. "You'll be able to use your kinesis but don't try anything stupid. Like attack any one."
The horn inhibitor indeed itched when it was put on. Luna jerked her head. The collar clicked on and weighed her down. The toms released her and the trio left her.
Luna cried like a young filly and broke down. She became aware of a warm body and a humming noise next to her. A large one. Luna cringed before peeking. Bundled in a cloth coat, the Nue laid stretched out. The hum had the cadance of a lullaby.
Luna stared blearily at the draconequus before sleep rose and claimed her. She felt a thick blanket being pulled over her. The last thing she heard was the clip-clop-tic and the humming lullaby.
Luna peered from her hiding place near the Council chamber of the castle. A white changeling with blue-green plating fluttered by to take a seat next to the two irritating toms. The two Griffons played some sort of dice game.
Sombra had his muzzle deep in a book, glasses perched on his nose. Every so often, the Shadow Pony would reaching for a stick of celery or carrot. A bat-pony with metal wings seemed to flirt with a female diamond dog who seemed to take his words in good humor. The green dragon leaned against the wall shared a pipe with a russet unicorn female.
The main doors opened, permitting Uzumaki and the Nue in. Luna evaluated the leader. Nue looked less haggard and was using her left forepaw again. The Coven member stopped and took seats. Any gaiety that had been was now gone.
Nue sat, not on the throne like Luna would have thought but a bench set next to it. Uzumaki hopped onto the throne and settled down. Nue's voice, as gravelly and low, could be heard.
"With the Equestrians busy trying to lick thier wounds, we can attend to our own properly." Nue's claws tapped on a paper on the large wooden table.
The dragon boomed. "Indeed, Nue-sama, the citadel is ready to send our belated on the Path."
Sombra, placing the book aside, spoke. "Luckily no other fatalities - battle-related or otherwise, have occurred."
The batpony spoke up. "We've already taken care of Stormwing's widow and son. The colt will be in the nursery for a while yet. Windchaser has taken his death hard."
The golden griffin inclined his head. "She's under Madam Heidi's care. The old hen knows what she's doing."
The silver griffin winced. "Unfortunately for us, old Boris is petitioning Bloodcurse on Beryl."
Nue sat still. Uzumaki piped in. "Grant it. Not that it is likely to stick."
The dragon snorted out some smoke. "Maybe we'll be lucky."
Sombra rolled his eyes. "The hag is too crafty. What about Jade Fire?"
The dragon shook his head. "Will not be missed. That pathetic lizard was only permitted to live because he was the last male of his clan. Now with Mirada having a clutch..."
"I'm claiming what is owed me." The unicorn mare said.
The dragon nodded. "Agreed."
Nue interrupted. "The children need names."
Luna jerked. The silence filled and buried the room as the group contemplated this.
"Morning Dew and Evening Breeze." The educated tones of the Diamond dog shocked Luna. "Tis fitting."
The murmur of consent echoed in the chambers. The changeling spoke, standing up.
"Let us give a moment of silence for our fallen. May they reach the other shore."
Luna crawled back down the shaft as the phrase was repeated by the Coven. Luna slapped a hoof over her mouth. What the buck was going on here?
Luna stumbled into Sombra when the staircase moved away from the platform. His back to her as he sat in the light of the full moon. A white small vase reeking of alcohol next to him.
"Moonraiser." He greeted, not bothering to look.
"Sombra." Luna replied flatly.
Indeed of correcting her, he threw back a small saucer of the sweet-smelling drink. Luna cursing her curiosity moved out of the doorway onto the walkway. Sombra's normally red eyes had become green and weary.
"I hated that name." He spoke after a long silence. "Actually, I still do."
Luna kept quiet. The two head stallions of the Coven tended to say more when she didn't interrupt. Her encounter with Uzumaki was still quite fresh on her mind.
"I hated those two - Amore and Rabia." He slammed a hoof onto the walkway. "Umbrum may have been my people but their desire was their downfall. And Amore - that heartless nag of a mare."
Sombre rolled his head and glared with glazed eyes. "If it wasn't for Radiant, I would have died. Amore wouldn't or couldn't care less. Inner good, my plot."
"Radiant? As in Radiant Hope?" Luna froze for a moment.
Sombra looked to the stars. "Yes, the sister of my heart. Every year without fail, she would tend to me during that dreadful holiday. By the Elements, I miss her."
He brushed the walkway with a forearm. "I went mad with anger and grief to learn what I was. The Umbrum made me into this half creature. Radiant was able to talk me out of my desire for revenge against Amore but it was too late."
Sombra's stare grew even further. "Amore called on the Alicorns, Solaris and Hecate. They bonded my powers when they caught me and threw me into a cell, directly under the Crystal Heart."
He swallowed. "Poor Radiant, she did her best to stop them and paid a horrible price for it."
Luna waited as he gave a large pull from his saucer. "The backlash from the spell she used to try to stop the Alicorns and their shield destroyed her mind and her magic. The only mercy they granted me was to see her at the end."
He placed a forearm over his eyes. "I can still see her shattered form and blank eyes."
He paused with a bittersweet smile. "Before she passed, she recognized me. The only comfort I had for a long time."
Luna felt her eyes water but he continued. "I spent a decade, trying to died. By time, Nue and Uzumaki came upon me, I was little better than a puppet for Amore's purposes."
"Nue blackmailed Amore." Sombra's smile was tight. "Just in time as well. That Unicorn came only days after and annex the Crystal Empire. The Alicorns themselves fell quickly under the powers of Order."
"You mean Harmony?"
"Perhaps you could call it that." Sombra shrugged.
"You changed your name." Luna stated.
"And begun healing in honor of my soul sister." Somber Light knocked back another saucer. "That is my story, Moonraiser. I am Somber Hope, the Dark Healer of the Coven. Now and forever."
"Come to pester me about my father or is it the lack of horn this time." Uzumaki greeted as he shoved a few scrolls haphazardly into a box. The copper bells jangled as he moved about.
Luna glanced around. The laboratory was eerily similar to Starswirl's own set-up. Luna shuddered before examining the Earth Pony, levitating some paper and quill.
Uzumaki, for the lack of a better word, had more in common with a mare than a stallion in form. His slim form and delicate features would have made him a pretty mare. The golden eyes, on the other hoof, set in a tan face was unsettling.
The Coven's primary mage, despite being an Earth Pony, stalked about like a predator of the highest order. His hoofbeats couldn't be easily heard as he moved about. The light star upon his brow made Luna wonder if he hadn't been a unicorn before.
"Oye, stop staring, Alicorn." The quill twirled in the air.
"You have no love for Alicorns?" She inquired.
He snorted. The quill wrote something down. "Only the stupid ones - wait, that's all I've ever met."
Luna scowled.
"I don't like you because you have shown to be an idiot. Entering an enemy stronghold without any backup. Attacking Nue whom may I point out was seriously ill and drugged to the hilt. Hence our leader was helpless as a newborn. (Ponies often say we don't have honor.)" His right forehoof punctuated the points with a rotation. "Then you have the nerve to bring up my late father and his equally idiotic opinions while knowing nothing. Therefore, you are an idiot."
It slipped out before she could stop herself. "You're a lot like Starswirl."
"Yours maybe but Sutauzu - not as much."
The copper bells jangled against as he stood up. Luna took a step back from the easily irritable mage.
"Why do you say yours?" Luna inquired.
"Why don't you go figure that out?" The golden eyes oozed magic and Luna founded herself, nose to the door. The changeling and griffin guard posted nearby giggled until she glared at them. Feeling embarrassed, she took her battered dignity elsewhere.
7: Spirited Away
The large pool glowed with an unworldly light. Luna stared at her reflection in horror. Nightmare Moon stood in the reflection, lovely but as cold as space itself.
"Absolute power corrupts." Luna jerked.
Nue padded up to the pool. Nue's dark eyes reflected and glowed with the unworldly light. Luna turned her attention to the pool and resisted the urge to run. Nue was not reflected in the pool!
"Welcome to the Mirror." Nue intoned.
"Y-your reflection?" Luna stepped back.
Nue ignored her sudden fear. "The Mirror show you your deepest desire - past, present, and future."
A chill went her spine. "What of yours?"
Nue's blue-tinted eyes gazed at her for a long moment. "... I am what I am, Luna Moonraiser."
Luna's eyes grew the size of plates. "How do you know that title?"
Nue's stone facade lifted enough so a cool smile curled around her mouth. "Books."
Luna's brow furrowed. Nue stretched like a cat.
"Many assume I am more than I am. You are not the first, nor will you be the last."
"What are you then?" Luna inquired.
Nue looked at her over her shoulder. "A reflection."
The airship bobbed in its hangar, an armed whale at home. Across the floor, laid various tools and strange mechanical artifacts. Luna picked her way through.
"Hey, you down there!" A male voice called. "Could you hit the green lever!?"
Luna looked up. Tangled in the ropes, a pony hung upside down! Luna stumbled over a pipe to get at the green lever.
A short scream later, the stallion in question was extracting himself out of the ropes. She recognized the bat-pony from the chamber. He grumbled as he worked himself loose.
Clang.
Luna felt a little nauseous as one of his wings just popped off and fell to the floor.
"Horsefeathers." The stallion grunted as he scooped up the wing. "I hate reattaching my wing."
Freed, the stallion moved over the clamp and placed the wing in. He examined the exposed end for a moment before perking up.
"Ah, thanks, Miss Prisoner." A blush was seen through snow fur. "Old Flamey got herself in such a tizzy. And well -."
"Anyhow, you can call me Gear. My original name is too stuffy to be used." He held out a grimy hoof.
Luna gingerly took the offered hoof in a quick shake. "What do you do?"
"Ah, well, little old me? I'm the Head Mechanic for the Coven." He flashed a brilliant smile. "You can say the opposite of Herb-colt - I mean, the Head Mage."
"Mage? You mean the Earth pony born of Starswirl?" Luna's ear perked despite her self.
"Ah, don't be talking about his father like that." Gear poked something stone at the end. "He's a mite easily angered about that."
"Do you know why?"
"Eyup." The steel edge warned Luna off.
"What happened to your wings?" Luna watched him pick up a tool with the opposite.
The steel disappeared. "Well, lost this one in an incident back when the Boss's parents were around. I served the late Lord - after all, not many of us batties take up mechanical work, though we're good at it."
"I didn't know." Luna admitted.
"Eh, well then you're no Hecate. Thank the Night for that." The wing in the clamp moved by itself as he prodded. "Back home, most of us specialized in animal care, scouting, or smithing to be honest."
"The Boss and old Shadow came to help me after I was grounded. After all, how can you be a batty or featherhead without both wings?" Luna blinked.
"Anyway, old Shadow might be a grump but he has some clever ideas in that noggin of his." He bounced in place for a moment. "And the Boss has some fine instincts about weird stuff. Helped me designed this wing and a number of other false limbs."
"False limbs?"
"Yeah, I'd say about forty percent of the civs that live here has one and at least half of our guard does." The joviality in Gear turned. "A number of enemies seem to enjoy collapsing buildings and breaking limbs."
Luna sat in silent contemplation of such thing. "I hadn't noticed."
"Good, means the designs are worthwhile." Luna watched him back up into the wing's end. Luna heard and felt the buzz of magic as the wing reattached with a click. Gear flexed the wing experimentally.
"Enough of this depressing talk." Gear grinned. "The Boss said I was to take you out."
"What?" Luna's ear went back.
"Nothing like that, Miss Prisoner." Gear laughed. "There's a lovely bar about two floors up with a fantastic veiw of the night sky. The Boss mentioned that you're probably feeling lonely and out of place."
Gear herded her with practiced ease. "Sides, the old man, Flamey, and KinGin are having a card game! You any good at Poker?"
"Poker?"
Luna kicked the ex-queen of the Alicornia Empire in the barrel. The unicorn groaned and Luna watched with some satisfaction as the damage horn sparked. Celestia circled around.
"Nue - the most fearful villain of the Coven." Luna slipped into old speech. "Nae, not once among the Coven did they spread out to pillage and sow chaos among Equestria."
"Sister..."
"Does you think me a fool, Queen Luminary? Rough they may be, brutal, that I can agree. Yet not once did they seek issue with us!"
Many of the army cringed.
"We feared a mere city of two thousand, most be youngsters." Her voice boomed. "A city of children, elderly, the helpless, and the ill. The Coven - the only thing between existence and destruction! An handful of warriors and mages to our ten-thousands."
Luna pulled the beautiful white mare up into the air. "Thou has lied to us with half-truths. Thou would condemn a city for just a few!"
Luminary snarled, her pleasant facade gone but eyes desperate. "You've fallen for those monsters' lies!"
Uzumaki thrashed his bonds as Shining Armor pulled tight. Luna could sense the tide as she countered.
"No, thou has no room in thou blacken heart. A monster could not cry for the fallen or lost. I have seen with mine eye, tears of sorrow and grief in those so-called monsters."
Celestia's spear lowered slightly, letting Luna know her sister was listening but the hesitance in the other alicorns and many of the army let Luna know she was on the knife's edge.
Somber, trapped in crystal, began hitting the confines. The Coven's warriors otherwise went still and the Equestria and allies silent. Uzumaki's silent struggles had increased.
"Moonraiser." Nue intoned.
Despite the power difference, Luna heed the unspoken command. Luminary coughed as Luna gave one more squeeze before dropping. Luminary spun to face Nue.
Neither spoke. Nue only clad in a scarf and unarmed stood. Luminary, having picked up her sword, stepped forward.
"Why do you insist on this?" Nue's gravel voice carried, tired and worn.
Luminary shifted the sword in her aura. Nue didn't move an inch.
"Will it be worth it in the end, Lum?"
"Don't call me that, monster! Because of you, I've lost everything! My family, my home, my kingdom!"
Nue sighed, a sigh that seemed as old as the mountains. "Open your eyes, Luminary, and see the truth."
Luna stumbled backwards as Luminary leaped.
The whole world screamed.I've forgiven you.
Luna vomited as she stumbled out of the strange stone bowl. Luna began wiping herself before she realized that there wasn't a drop of blood on her. She froze at the hot breath on her neck.
She turned enough to see the fangs. She almost started like an foal but kept steady. The emerald dragon's amber bore down on her. Luna put distance a step or two on shaky legs.
"Liked what you saw, pony."
Luna's voice failed her for the moment. The dragon slithered closer, peering at her through specs.
"Monsters." The first word squeaked past her lips.
"Hm?"
"Y-you slaughtered an entire village! Monsters!"
"Ah, that memory." The dragon's expression went glacier. "Of course."
Luna attempted to pull a offensive shield but the inhibitor drained her horn. The sparking magic hurt. The dragon rolled its eyes before turning its attention to the bowl. A silvery ball was pulled from its temple with a dark claw.
With a flick of claws, the ball landed and melted into the bowl's surface. The dragon pulled off its specs and tucked it into the vest pocket. The dragon flexed its claws and Luna felt the pull. The dragon entered into the bowl, dragging her with.
Memoria's council chamber reformed around them. Luna, despite fear and anger, gawked. The room wasn't tattered and faded. The circlar table didn't exist but a series of long tables flank the sides of the throne. A white serpentine dragon with the same golden eyes as Nue talked with a younger Uzumaki as it was perched on the throne.
The green dragon stood not far off, less scarred in resplendant armor.
"My sister is late again." The white dragon chuckled. "It's amazing she ever gets anything politically done."
Uzumaki hummed. "Today is her day off and she travelled to the far side of the valley, my Prince."
The Prince laughed. "Tenpou, is this true?"
The dragon inclined its head. "Yes, my leige. Lordling Nue spent the last few months without such a break."
The Prince slapped a claw upon his muzzle. "She is just like father. They both work too much."
Uzumaki spoke, irriatation in his pose. "The valley inhabitants most appreciate it."
"I'm sure." The easy smile on the dragon Prince seemed to grow. "Here comes my sister."
Luna stumbled as the Nue without many of the gray strips passed through her. The sudden chill reminded her this was a memory. The older copy of Tenpou chuckled at her. She glared at him fully.
Nue talked in a strange language, cheer infused in her tone. Something lacking in the current version. The Prince chattered back and both hugged each other strongly. Nue in the memory was about Luna's current size was smaller than the Prince's length.
"Prince Tsukiyomi made a wonderful dragon king." Living Tenpou walked closer. "However, his reign was short. He was murdered a few years after this even."
"Where they actual siblings?" Luna's curiousity got the better of her.
"Yes. Nue is Tsukiyomi's young half-sibling. Her birth had forestalled a brewing war no one knew was going to happen." Tenpou gave a gusty sigh.
"What do this have to do-"
The doors, having closed themselves, slammed open. An earth stallion, a lovely navy color, stumbled in in full armor and bleeding. He gasped out something about one of the villages in where ever the valley was. Luna watched in horror as the stallion begged to be killed as he died.
The corpse had fallen only to stand back up. The voice that issued from it was horrible. It mocked the two nobles about how the Necromancer, the speaker, was going to gain the Valley for his master. It lunged forward towards Uzumaki. Before it hit, Nue had decapitated it with a long sword.
The corpse fell but not before Luna heard a soft thank you from its lips.
"The spell killed the body to gain control but left the soul within." Tenpou stood next to her as the memory played out. "I and a number of others not longer with us went with Uzumaki and Nue to deal with the Necromancer. That memory was the brutal last fight Nue had with that being."
Both dragon and alicorn found themselves back in the original memory room. The bowl flashed once and the energy melted away.
"I'm not sure how it is in this Equestria, but where we are from, life is much different. We are hard because we need to be hard. Think about that, Moonraiser of Equestria."
Tenpou pushed her outside the door and shut it behind her. The next time she tried for the strange room, she was unable to find that door the entirety of her stay again.
The halls echoed with hoof-steps. The walls seared with spell fire of now long past. The halls of Memoria wanted for warmth, children's laughter, and murmur of life.
The gardens withered in their courtyards.
The plaster cracked and wood molded.
The horror gnawed at her insides as she wandered the halls. The blast marks increased the closer she trotted to the council room. Outlines of all-ponies and piles of melted slag lined the halls behind half-destroyed remains of barriers.
The heavy ironwood door, blackened, was ajar. Luna wished to turn back. Wanted to turn back. She owed them though. More than anything, she owed them.
She pushed through the gap.
Death reigned in the gloom. Her light revealed the gleam o f white, gray, and black. Her nostrils flared at the stench of death and blood.
They fought to the end. Every pony, from babe to elder, had been prepared for the end. Even in the bare remains, Luna could read the resignation.
The only thing remained intact was the throne. Impaled and crucified, Luna recognized Nue's skeleton. The jawbone twisted in silent, eternal agony. The eye sockets and cheekbones stained black. The draconequus's last tears for those she could not save.
"Why are you torturing me with this?" Luna snarled.
"Am I?"
Luna twirled on her hind legs and glared at the white alicorn. The alicorn's eyes gazed at Nue's remains. The larger alicorn finally looked at Luna.
"Come."
Reality twisted around the two. Luna couldn't break the elder's grip. However, when reality reinserted itself, Luna's body slacked in disbelief.
Canterlot may had glistened in the daylight but Luna's attention was drawn to those scurrying below in the gardens. Collared beings of ever type prepared for some sort of gala. Unicorns with their horns filed down worked in concert to adjust a stage. Even from her position on the balcony, she could see no hope. Even the guards displayed such things.
Then if by some unseen signal, the non-ponies disappeared and the rest took their position. The doors from the castle opened and a herd of unicorns cantered out.
Unlike the others, these unicorns stood well-fed, haughty, and long horned. Their cutie marks framed by cloth and jewelry made the most absurd display Luna had seen. Even the galas had not been this bad.
Luna realized as her eye was caught by a familiar pair of forms among the statuary. Luna's horror intensified as she took stock of the detailed statue. Her sister and Discord, back to back, in fighting stances. Her sister's semi-serene face unable to hid the sorrow there and Discord's profile screamed ugly grieving rage. Their vessels emptied of their souls.
Luna left the elder's side and flew around the garden. None of the ponies bothered to notice her.
Cadance and Shining Armor stood protectively over their daughter, petrified for all eternity in a quiet nook. Twilight and the Elements of Harmony caught probably in what had been the last moment of joy, only Futtershy displaying dawning fear sat in the middle of a hedge maze.
Nue's spirit surprised her when she discovered the statuary of Spike, sleeping forever. The spirit looked up at her with wide colorless eyes. The holes from the swords were merely gaps in the ectoplasm. Nue looked more stripped, more scarred.
The ghost beckoned with a claw. Wordlessly, Luna followed.
Luna's own statue, her preserved corpse was placed near the slaves' quarters. A small shrine had been placed behind it, only visible to those coming in and out of those quarters. Her statue was quiet dignified grief. The ghost caressed the statue's cheek before entering the quarters.
Luna followed. Here was the whisper of hope. Stories of the Alicorns, of draconequus, and of freedom murmured and told between moments of work. Luna listened, an unseen guest, to the tales of woe, the darkness across all of Equestria, of the Unicorn queen who had not much room in her heart, and dreams of a future.
Nue's presence faded as the elder Alicorn arrived. Luna turned her head to see Nue bow to the elder before fading away. The Alicorn beckoned her with a wing. That horrid reality faded and her original room reinstated itself.
"It is a warning?"
The elder didn't not answer before dissolved into mana motes. The Alicorn's voice echoed in the room.
"A reminder."
The snow crunched under Luna's hooves. The outer courtyard garden had snow drifts that buried most of the inhabitants when they sank into the snow. The evergreens peeked out of the white.
Luna watched young Gale flit from one side of the courtyard to the other. The pegasus colt landed and called to his companions. A bundled dragon waddled over with a unicorn filly rode its back. The wolfish pup bounded over and exchanged words with Gale.
The young silver nymph, Luna recongized as Kaito, buzzed over to her, giving a fanged smile. Luna tilted her head. The changeling put his toe to his mouth. Luna frowned.
The snow sprayed into the air. Nue, snow-crusted, tickled the youngsters as she caught them up. Kaito shifted forms, a small tiger, and barrelled into Nue. Nue with a huff caught him with her tail. Kaito shifted back and buzzed, trying to escape.
Like a cresting whale, she and her prizes disappeared into the snow. Luna stood up as the laughter died away. The ensueing silence unnerved the alicorn.
SPLAT!
Luna spluttered as the snowball hit her in the muzzle. Nue's wicked grin could be seen in Canterlot. Luna didn't even dodge the next one. The children's laughter rang out.
Luna recovered enough to launch a counter strike. Nue slithered back under the snow. Without a thought, Luna joined into the game. She and the children tried to capture the draconequus as she moved through the snow.
The sun was setting when Luna and her tepid band of adventurers cornered the elusive Nue. Nue pretended to die a most dramatic silly death. Luna laughed, nostalgia warring with the simple here-and-now. The children didn't noticed, urged by Nue to go get some cookies and tea. The group stampeded.
Nue folded her fore-paws like a cat and waited for Luna to recover her wit.
"Thank you." Luna murmured once the fit passed.
"Yule is not a time to spend alone." Nue shrugged. "And some memories are not always those we should dwell on."
Luna flushed a purple at the reminder. "Hypocrite."
Nue's golden gaze turned from her to a distant place. "Memoria echos with the past present, and possibility yet to be, Luna Moonraiser, and sometimes I cannot do anything but watch and think."
Nue's serene expression turned dark for a moment. Luna tilted her head slight. Nue shook her head, the beaded braids shifting.
"However I prefer the here and now." Nue temporized. "We all have things we regret, but that is life, isn't it?"
Luna blinked as Nue surged to her feet. "Let's find Uzimaki and Somber. The pair make the funniest pair of drunks during this time you've ever seen."
Luna stared. "Buh?"
"Last Yule, those two spelled themselves bright colors and danced the waltz on the ceiling. Then the next morning, the resulting screams woke the dead! I bet you a bottle of cider that the two will find themselves in the same bed again this year."
Luna trotted to keep up. While her facial expression was unimpressed, she inwardly laughed.
3: Meeting with The Dreamer and The Mother
Luna tried to skitter away from the group of changelings. The dark but colorful group flowed by, armed with all sorts of tools. Luna tried calming her heart as she stared after the stampede.
"Forgive my children." Luna jumped into flight.
The white changeling in a black and white kimono stood with a pair of young nymphs and a earth filly peering around her flank. Luna almost accused the changeling of pony-napping before she recalled the situation.
The changeling ignored her fright. "They are so eager to repair the outer western tower... Would you join us for tea?"
Luna followed mechanically. The stone gave away to warm woods and plaster walls. The three children raced ahead of the old bug. The hallway reminded her of the home she and her sister had shared before become princesses.
Luna, remembering that she was, asked a question that had been on her tongue. "Why is the Nue not keeping me in a cell?"
The changeling turned, one navy blue eye, one jade on her. Luna resisted the urge to flinch.
"Nue, eh?" The bug laughed to itself. "That question is best given to Uzumaki or Somber, seeing as you fear Nue. Then again, only Nue knows."
The bug's fangs flashed. "Personally, I would have left you in that chamber. So would many of the Coven, filly. You have not endeared your self to us. You're lucky that Nue has a gentle heart."
Luna wanted to protest but the bug gave her the look that only the ancient could muster. Luna's teeth clanked. A tea service was set out with delicious smelling pastries. The children raced by, out the room, and back down the hall, armed with toys.
"Now, I am Ayumi, the Wiseling of Memoria and the Watcher of the Eastern Gate." The changeling reclined in a rocking chair.
"Princess Luna Moonraiser." Luna reluctantly took the seat opposite.
"Have some tea, Princess." Ayumi motioned. "It's quite good. Herbal blend of my own. Mint, clover, and few herbs from Uzumaki's garden. If that colt wasn't such an excellent mage, he'd make a killing in herbs. Has a regular knack for it."
Luna took a tentative sip and nearly lost the cup. It was delicious. Luna also sampled the pastries as well. Both sat in a near companionable silence.
The changeling sipped some tea. "Now, how did you find out about the Coven?"
"A group of ponies in -" Luna slapped a hoof over her mouth and glared.
"Bzz. Bzz. Bzz." The bug laughed. "Don't fight the Truth Bloom, dearie. It'll only upset your stomach."
"You poisoned me!" Luna exclaimed.
The fanged smile creased the bug's muzzle. "Don't be so dramatic."
Luna dropped the tea and fled the room. She crashed into a living wall at an intersection. Nue peered down as Sombra stepped forward. Nue's nose flared for a second.
"Truth Bloom rounds." Luna heard the draconequus rumble with disapproval in the monster's stance.
Sombra's aura lit and lifted her back on her feet. "I told Ayumi to not do anything stupid."
Luna, lost in frustration and anger, tried to strike back at Sombra. The collar roared to life. Magic arched as it was drained into the collar. Her body convulsed. Sombra's aura had quickly been retracted.
Luna panted, her forelegs barely supporting her. Sombra carefully stepped into her line of sight. His horn flashed and she felt a scanning spell wash over her.
"Minor burn. It will heal in a day or so if you don't use magic." Sombra peered from over his glasses before turning to Nue. "I don't think she should be left alone."
"Lexi." Nue stepped up and draped Luna on her back.
"Nue-sama?"
"She is not a child killer." Nue responded.
The monster's gait smoothed out after a moment. Sombra trotted after. Luna could feel ridges of scars on Nue's barrel. The place twisted and turned. Stone faded into plaster and wood and courtyard gardens. A myriad of being went about their business.
Luna couldn't help but stare. All gave the trio a large berth. Memoria's people giving her looks of half-fear made her squirm especially the ponies.
Nue entered into a courtyard. Luna, seeing a sign, couldn't make heads or tail of it. It wasn't the Common Equestrian or even Old Equestrian. The children playing stopped at the sight of the monster.
Luna watched as Nue and Sombra were knee-deep and chest-deep respectively in curious and exited children. Nue had a changeling nymph chittering a mile a minute, hanging off it's nose. Sombra was trotting about with a colt, a cub, and a pup, clinging and laughing.
"Nue-sama, Master Sombra, what brings you to this humble one's Nursery."
Luna recognized the educated Diamond Dog from earlier. The sable dog stood fairly groomed with a newborn pony slung in a pouch.
Nue spoke as Luna was forced off. The children having gone silent peered up at her and whispered.
"Mother Lexi, Luna of Equestria." Nue inclined, its braided mane shifting forward. "Has a run-in with Ayumi."
Lexi rolled her eyes. "Aye, Nue-sama. This one understand."
The dog gave a barking yip and the children surged into the building behind them. A large warm cottage oozing with gentle peace. Once the children left, Lexi turned to Luna.
"This one is named Lexi once of the Garnet Paw, now Den Mother of Memoria and the Caretaker of the Center Gate. Do my children no harm and this one has no complaint of thee. Nue-sama claims thou are not dangerous to the young and I believe."
Luna blinked, unsure if she should be insulted or relieved. Sombra claimed some sort of thing needing his attention and Nue merely rumbled. Both took their leave as Lexi herded her toward the cottage.
Luna wondered briefly before being distracted by ever curious children - what was Nue's intent in all this?
A soft gentle voice sung.
"May your spirit fly, my dear,
Let me dry my tears.
Soon you'll be home my dear
Let nothing else touch you in fear."
Luna paused at the window. Nue sat, a study in the moonlight. Moonlight glinted off the trailing tears. The feminine voice contrasted with the gravel voice Luna associated with Nue.
"Summer breeze will come
The bees in flowers hum
I always shall miss you some
May your spirit fly, my dear,
And let me dry my tears."
Luna sensed when Gear sidled up to her. The metallic bat-pony listened to the hum for a moment before guiding her away. Luna looked over her shoulder.
"Best not let her know ya heard her." Gear's mechanical wings twitched. "Always bucking hard this time of year."
Luna frowned as the normally jovial pony. "May I ask?"
Gear's blond mane moved slightly. "A loss that didn't have to happen. Don'ta ask anymore than that."
"Why?"
"There is a reason why it is hard to get at the nursery and leave it at that, Moonraiser." Gear sighed.
An hour later found her on the castle's wall far from the Western tower. The smell of spring wafted up, reminding her that a year had past. Sometimes it was hard to remember that Memoria was in fact her prison. But then, it was a cage for the races of Memoria.
Luna could spot the Royal Night Patrols. From her sneaking into the Council chamber and listening in to the Gatekeepers, she knew Nue had attempted many times to open dialogue with the rest of the world. But the enigma of Nue and her Coven kept even her sister away.
Uzumaki trotted out, his golden eyes ever serious. The stallion's bells jangled in the slight breeze. He plopped on his plot.
"I'm sorry for your losses." Luna murmured.
"Death happens." Uzumaki's tautness betrayed him despite the light tone. "Gear told you."
"Yes."
"More soldiers are arriving." Uzumaki stared into the night sky. "An attack is inevitable."
"Why not release me then?" Luna inquired.
"Do you think your sister would welcome you without fear or suspicion?" Uzumaki countered. "Especially with that Unicorn at her side? No, you won't walk free until the proper time."
"A year and I still don't understand how you operate." Luna complained.
Uzumaki's smile could have frosted glass. "Knowing is not the same as understanding."
"You and Somber are the sons of wolves." She bit out, anger coloring her tone.
"Thank you for the compliment."
"Aces." Luna placed the cards on the table.
"Shards." Gin threw his cards down in disgust as Kin snorted into his ale.
"Quite the luck streak." Flame muttered.
Somber took a lick of a large salt crystal and hummed in agreement. Uzimaki swiped it.
"So, these conjurations were..." Luna accepted a new set of cards.
Uzimaki snorted and slurred. "Training ground."
Somber stole his crystal back. "Memoria was a training ground like our Illustrious idiot has mentioned. The holograms are part of it."
"Crystalsss..." Uzimaki lunged into Somber's back.
"Lightweight." Somber shoved Uzimaki back into his seat.
"Training ground?" Luna tilted her head.
"Aye, Lord Jiraya and the old Emperor Midori used Memoria or Omoide as it was known." Gin placed down a chip. "But that's old history, back when Tenpou was young or something."
Flame snorted out some smoke. "Tenpou is not that old."
"Almost as old as the crone." Kin countered back, his wings flaring.
Luna almost sensing the fight about to come, guided to conversation back. "So what about these hall-e-grams?"
"Holograms . Solidified lights and shadows." Somber pinned Uzimaki to his seat with a back hoof. "And the magic imbued can make them deadly."
"Crystal?" Uzimaki's voice floated up from below the table.
"Then why?" Luna waved a hoof.
"Pocket-space, Moony!" Luna bit back a scream as the inhibitor sparked for a second.
"Done with Nue-sama?" Flame inquired.
Gear's expression was extraordinary pleased. Luna and most of the table inched away. Flame leaned forward.
"Ta Boss has approved a couple of new trap designs! Apparently, that twit, Bell Graves, and his team demolished a portion of the Chapel."
The group groaned as Luna looked lost. Gear's fangs glimmered in the light.
"No wonder. The hive must be driving her crazy." Somber sighed.
"Maybe." Gear chirped as he stole Kin's plate of potato fries.
"Who's Bell Graves?" Luna inquired.
"Sun-butt's team to free you." Gear replied. "Bell Graves is this crazy unicorn who has some mad skill with the whip."
"Despite the letters to the Princess Celestia, that madpony keeps showing up." Flame growled. "He managed to kick my plot last time in the Dance Hall."
"Told ya to mix up the pattern more." Gear pointed out. "At this rate, he'll be facing Somber soon."
"Wonderful." Somber said dryly. "I'll be sure to use my scythe."
"Wut?" Luna choked on her drink.
Author's Note
Name that reference!