The following month of taking care of little Vis proved to be a very energizing experience. Being more eager to tend to her needs I would admittedly cut a few corners during my dream warding. Nightmares of lesser dreads I would ignore; finance troubles, caught unprepared for a test they didn’t study for, or the embarrassment of getting caught with your tail raised, and the like. More urgent and frightful dreams however; monsters, Discord, Sombra, and the like still got my full attention though. I had asked Tender Care to switch to the night shift and be Inanna’s personal nurse maid with increased pay for the inconvenience and she happily accepted taking a liking to the little alien. A small variety of pajamas were made for her and strangely the blue that nearly matched my coat seemed to suit her quiet well plus made her look even cuter. The new crib that was built for her ended up being something of a wasted effort as she would frequently climb out of it and into bed with me snuggling into my chest warming my heart every time. Her appetite while still far too large for a creature so small wasn’t nearly as large as that first feeding and with the addition of meat to her diet helped even more. We also found out that flowers, hay and such were unsuited for her.

Sadly it wasn’t going perfectly rumors began spreading around the castle about me and little Inanna. Mostly how I was neglecting my duties to dote over a new pet or as a few called her monster. The first time I had heard that I very nearly tossed them into that nightmare of a forest Discord had created. Thankfully I controlled my temper long enough for Tia to pointedly explain that Vis was sentient being and it was in our best interest to look after Inanna. As she might very well be a royal to a new friendly species that could perhaps bring new prosperity to Equestria. I admitted I hadn’t thought of that and considering the sphere she came in it made some sense. I made it a point to ignore said noble’s nightmares for a week. Petty to be sure but I had grown very fond of her. Poor Tia for her part was doing her best to help and bond with the child as best she could her only reward for her efforts was a second black eye and a bald spot on her soft pink mane. She wasn’t the only one however as Vis simply refused to behave for anypony other than myself and Tender. Starswirl the unfortunate stallion had almost half of his beard ripped out when he had the foolish idea to study the tiny alien without mine or Tender’s help. The castle maids were beginning to earn their pay as Inanna would the instant she wasn’t being watched someway somehow break something. We quickly learned from this and would have somepony’s eyes on her at all times thankfully reducing the number of broken items in the palace.

Now if the troubles had only been around Inanna it would have been great. However the griffons, yaks, and even the level headed zebras were for some reason starting to butt heads over land and import/export taxes with each other and Equestria. The reason being completely unknown to us as was the reasons for our ambassadors being very short and cross with us for having to deal with the “lesser” species as they decided to call them. That last little jab ended when my sister and I firmly “reminded” them who they were talking to. While effective in the short term it brought about a new round of nasty rumors that it was the “monster’s” fault. Tender, Tia, and myself truly couldn’t believe ponies were spreading such nonsense.

All of that lead to the current situation I found myself in, sitting side by side with my sister at the conference table with the foreign ambassadors. I was especially irritated by the timing of all this, my favorite time of my moon’s cycle the full moon. I had been planning a little night time picnic with Inanna all week only to have to cancel for this emergency meeting. While I trusted Tender to take care of her I still worried and that made me wondered if all mothers were like that. I had to pause for a moment to think on that. Did all mothers worry like this? More importantly did I think of myself as Inanna’s mother? I suppose I did at least partially I had been rather insistent in feeding, bathing, playing, and even changing her diapers much to the shock of many. I was also the one that was able to make the energetic baby giggle and laugh. That may have been the element of laughter’s influence as well as perhaps loyalty’s as well for my dedication to her though. The element honesty however was telling me different however, that all my feelings for the cute child were in fact mine and only mine. On the inside I smiled at the idea that viewed her as my daughter. On the outside however I had to maintain a look of attentiveness that came with the delicate negotiations I was currently involved in.

Celestia and I ended up breaking out even more formal regalia for the meeting. It wasn’t that much different than our standard finery other that the elements of harmony being embedded on the front of our chests in instead of our cutie marks. There were a few extra gems encrusted and plates that made it much closer to armor than anything regal. In fact it was the armor we had used in the first wave against Discord’s take over. It still served a purpose after his defeat though while Equestria had taken the brunt of his chaos the other nations weren’t untouched by it. Shortly after his defeat and our country still weakened the minotaurs decided to try their luck at taking us over. We sent them a very powerful message that we wasn’t going to put up with it, and ended up annexing much of their desert to the south of the chaos forest.

On the right of my sister and me was the zebra representatives Mehara and Nehara. Twins surprisingly enough both mares and they looked it too were it not for Mehara’s blue stripes and Nehara’s green ones you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart. They even wore the same traditional gold loops on their necks and legs. The two were pleasant enough if somewhat disturbing sometimes always speaking in rhyme and together seamlessly. In front of us was the Yak ambassador King Glouther and aside from the regalia the only thing noticeable about him, for a yak at least was how much larger he was than the average one. Finally was the griffons’ current acting king Gufer. I say acting because with how much infighting the griffins did he might not have been the king anymore by the time he arrived here to talk. Gufer was odd for one of his kind he had a tigers body with a black coat and white stripes and a falcons wings and head. Even odder at least for the moment was calmest one at the table. I knew this cause I could nearly feel Tia trembling with nervousness and anger with way her ears and wings twitched were clear indicators.

“YAKS WANT MORE FOOD FROM PONIES! PONIES CHEAT YAKS IN LAST TREATY FOR YAK’S TASTY HAY AND YAK CRYSTALS.” Glouther boomed his voice echoing off the walls making all cringe slightly.

“Quit your shouting yak, have you not heard of tact?” The twins responded nearly shouting themselves.

“Perhaps you could take your own advice.” Gufer stated simply and in the lowest tone but still plenty loud enough to be heard.

“YAKS WILL SMASH STRIPED PONIES AND BIRD CAT IF NO LET ME SPEAK!” Glouther threatened even louder than before. His rather speciesest comment made Gufer puff up and screech in a threatening fashion for the first time in the three days since all this began. Three long days of the same arguments over and over. Ponies used magic to trick one, griffons fly and steal from another, useless zebra potions and brews, yaks closing borders stopping trade, criminals fleeing from one nation into another etc etc. On and on it had been going like this and we had all just about had enough of each other.

“THAT IS ENOUGH!!” Celestia and I boomed in the royal canterlot voice before things could get worse thankfully the room silenced and the others looked at us.

“Clearly we are all more than a little stressed with the talks, perhaps we should all head to bed a little earlier than normal.” Celestia offered her tone calm but firm the zebras were the first to speak up and I had to force myself to keep from face hoofing.

“Perhaps that would be best, and with some rest, one of us might not be such a pest.” They both glared at the yak and this caused another hour of yelling before we had to nearly force them all to their own wings of the castle.

“Just what has gotten into everypony!” Celestia nearly shouted stomping her hooves as we dragged ourselves to our own private dining hall.

“You are asking the wrong mare sister this has gotten completely out of hoof were it not for the lacking numbers and casualties I’d say war would be the better option than this.” I huffed in aggravation as we sat down but quickly smiled when I seen Tender carrying Inanna over to us on her back. They both looked tired and a little cranky but still smiled.

“Luna please don’t suggest such things especially with what’s been going on.” Celestia chided me but I could tell a very small part of her agreed with me.

“Sister we both know Equestia has been more than fair to each of them. I’m beginning to think they are mistaking our generosity and kindness for weakness.” I argued back with a smile on my face for Inanna as I picked her up in my fore hooves nuzzling gently. “Although with what happened with the minotaurs I can’t understand how.”

“I’m starting agree with you on both counts.” Celestia rubbed her temple while Tender respectfully went off to the side of the door. “This entire thing has been completely pointless and now I’m even more behind on my paper work and….UGH!” She yelled nearly flinging her regal armor off her body leaving only the chest peace with the elements of kindness, generosity, and magic on. “And this stupid armor is starting to chafe my flanks!”

“Calm down sister.” I followed suit albeit more controlled setting it down gently next to me. “You’ll upset Inanna” I cooed gently as I smiled at Inanna making her giggle. Celestia looked like she was about to say something but sighed and smiled upon hearing her.

“Your right Luna…she might not like me but that giggle is heartwarming.”

“Indeed it is..” I trailed off caressing her chubby baby cheeks as I cradled her. Looking into her eyes I smiled brighter as she looked up into mine and for a brief moment all my stress melted away.

“Luna…you…you have bonded with her haven’t you!” Celestia loudly spoke her eyes wide and wings flared in shock.

“So what if I have sister.” I stated clearly as I looked to her not hiding my satisfaction with it. “I was thinking of officially adopting her after this mess has been cleared up.” From the door I could hear Tender squeal and dance in place hooves clopping on the marble floor.

“Luna I feel that is unwise the ponies already don’t like the fact that she is even here. The idea of her being royalty would cause an uproar and being a predator on top of that. I don’t even want to imagine what that will cause.”

“Are you only saying that because of what happened with Sombra and my moon ponies?” I raised an eyebrow at her.

That was a dark time for all ponies. Sombra had been my student and friend for years or so I had thought. He had used me to get secret and powerful magic to turn himself into a being smoke and dark power praying on the fears of ponies to get them to join him. My ponies were unlike Celestia’s day ponies nearly completely opposites of one another. While most day ponies were bright and colorful myself and my ponies were much darker in colors. While this had become a closely guarded secret I myself did eat meat from time to time just like my night children. They were far fewer in numbers but lived much longer lives nearly twice that of the day ponies. They were also feared by day ponies, with curved horns, leathery bat like wings, yellow nearly glowing eyes, and prominent fangs they did look intimidating at times. It was this fear that led to a spilt in Equestria many got refused services or price gouged. Sombra used this to get them to form an army and made a play to take over using the crystal empire and its ponies as slaves. After his defeat all of them even the ones not part of his army fled and even my dream magic could not find them. As a result many ponies believed that they were banished along with their “King”.

“Yes sister I don’t blame you for what happened but-” Celestia was intrupted when the door to the hall was knocked off its hinges by a very angry yak king.

“NO SLEEP WE FIX TREATY NOW OR YAKS GO TO WAR!” The king stomped forward cracking the floor each time and Inanna began crying. I tried cooing to stop her and Tender galloped past the ass of an ambassador ready to take the crying baby away. As I hoofed over Inanna Glouther snarled at the infant.

“LOUD CRYING HURT ME EARS!”

What happened next was forever burned into my memory. Snarling the yak raise a foreleg and slapped Tender along the side of her head sending flying cross the tiny room. It all happened so quickly but I might as well have seen in a slowed state. Tender and Inanna flew towards the wall the young unicorn was unable to hold onto the baby and they separated mid flight. The innocent maid hit the with a loud thud while Inanna impacted against a small pillar that was holding up a large flower vase. The vase and pillar teetered as my child fell to the floor silently eyes closed. We tried to use our magic to steady them both but nopony was fast enough. The vase fell onto Inanna’s head shattering and crushing her head the pillar fell next right onto Inanna’s tail severing it from her body.

High above Canterlot three figures circled the mountain quietly when a booming wrathful scream erupted from the pony castle followed by a bright orange flash from every window of the palace. The three smiled evilly as they circled the mountain a final time and went their separate ways a tune filling the quiet of the night.

Author's Note

Okay for those of you following this story sorry for the long wait and thank you. This chapter was...difficult for me to write. My original idea was for Inanna to transform into the Ōzaru and the sisters have to stop her wounding her greatly in the process. But a good friend of mine brought it to my attention that only one month to bond with a child enough to ignore the logical threat she would pose if kept around was a tad insane. Inanna was going to lose her tail at some point anyway so i decide not to make it a factor in the story. As for it maybe growing back only to lose it again? I dont think i'll do that seems a little to pointless. (In the Xenoverse game custom sayain charters dont have tails and cant transform in game) On the plus side i pretty much have everything already planned out in my head so chapters should come faster now. At least after i get the next chapter out for my other story.

Again thanks for the support!