The Warmistress of Equestria (Luna's POV; A day before her letter)

Tis' been a few nights since my sister Celestia has left for the Kingdom of my niece Empress Cadenza. Although it has been many years since my return from my banishment in the confines of the moon orbiting Equis, I think back towards the era that I came from, a time of slow sleepy villages and supposedly 'decadent' speech and outdated practices. I find myself sometimes as a mare outside of time, as I am constantly reminded that the life that I had lived long ago is nothing but ink on the page. I have retaken my duties that I have been entrusted and forced upon as the original caretaker of the moon and newfound steward of the realm of dreams.

Seated on my throne carved in obsidian colored stone and accented with velvet's of deep purple and midnight hues I gaze half-heartedly at the decor of the Canterlot throne room where once a solitary throne rested now resides two thrones united of the sun and the moon. The great hall reminds me little of the home me and my sister built together after the fall of the largest tyrants in Equestria which were Lord Discord and King Sombra Rex respectively horrible in their own regards. I gaze out onto the opulent white marble and engraved colonnades on each side of the hall accented by glistening gold engravings, between each pillar the beautifully glimmering colors of stained glass windows outlining important events during my sister's solitary rule whilst I was imprisoned to my lunar cage within the cold void of the heavens. Although I shall never admit it even to my sister, I think of the time spent there and I recall that every day for one thousand years I screamed an unanswered apology towards the planet aimed at my sister. But what still haunts the edges of my thoughts to this day is the feeling I received from the Nightmare eating away pieces of me, with every thought of jealousy and anger fractions of my soul were being torn asunder for the cheap reward of unequaled power.

And to pour oil on the open flame of my past mistakes sometimes I attempt to recall what had transpired during my time imbued with the strength of the Nightmare. I suspect that the Elements have something to do with my memory loss but when I try my hardest to remember I see flashes of blood soaked fields and corpses of equines, with a laughing Nightmare overseeing it all. Even within my dreams Nightmares in which I normally control, I feel powerless as I am accursed to watch over and over the crimes of my past and the faces of those who I took arms against and splayed their bodies across the war torn battlefield. I may not be a great ruler, I may not have been the best in political situations or social events, but in one thing I can take the mantle completely is that I am the Shadow of the Moon and I often prefer words with the clash of sword and steel and the fresh smell of conflict in the air, and much to my displeasure the Nightmare accelerated those qualities too well.

Returning from my lament of my past I gaze from my throne to yet another depressing empty feeling as I am met with a vacant empty hall of to which the night court of Equestria is once again filled with stillness and silence. In my opinion since its creation, has been nothing more than a gimmick as in its few years of creation only a few brave souls or those in desperate need came to my audience.

I recall once filled with joy and excitement about hearing my many subjects pleas and requests from the newfound act of ruling together from my sister, but even still today a millennium into the future I still feel echos of resentment as I am currently only taking charge of both day and night court due to mine sisters absence. But even as I sit here with nothing other that my thoughts and my feelings I gaze down upon the many scrolls and messages that were left during the day for my judgment in the night court; not a subject in sight to purpose their needs in person as they were originally meant for mine sister the 'true' Princess of Equestria. With a shake of my head and my ethereal mane flowing in a everlasting wind I cast out the dark thoughts that caused so much pain long ago.

In my sister's absence I have been tasked to hear the pleas of the day court which is normally undertaken by my sister but due to her absence I had to take over. At first I was quite elated that I would have the chance to see the faces of my subjects within the court of the night, I dreamed of filled halls of ponies with needs and desires that I would be all to happy to hear regardless of their size with the glowing beauty of the moon hanging through the windows. But I should hath known better as even with my 'filly' like excitement I was met with disappointment as none had shown in the past two days. I do not have any disdain for my sister Celestia, but ever since the court of the night hath been open I feel quite. . 'salty' as the common pony says. That the only subjects I receive are the nightly crime reports of the Night Guard which consists of the more nocturnal ponies of the Royal Day Guard and a few of mine own personal guard mixed in.

Although my own personal guard are quite eccentric in nature my personal guard are a subspecies of ponies known as thestrals. Although before being overtaken by the Nightmare I cannot recall their creation but after the curse of the Nightmare was lifted by Twilight and her friends with the Elements I was informed by my sister of their origin. According to my sister the Nightmare had 'blessed' those who fell under her leadership and using dark magic transformed her followers into creatures of the night gifting them with bat-like wings and cat like night vision with slitted pupils. During this transformation everything that they were, such as unicorns or earth ponies, were removed and replaced with this 'gift of the night' changing who they were from the inside and out. After my defeat the remnants of the thestral followers were relocated by my sister to an isolated mountain area of Transylvania where they could live in peace and were told that I would return for them. Over time the population had increased, some having resentment for their past ancestors choice while some were accepting of their lot in life and enjoy a life of simple needs.

Absentmindedly returning back to the world and my charge set by my sister, I look down and I take in my midnight blue magic another scrolled 'request' which is something I have taken to dislike reading these past few days, as most ponies who would normally come to make their requests in person to my sister; would not even show me the common courtesy to do the same to an equal member of the royal family and leave messages instead during the day to be delivered by night. I open the scroll by breaking the wax seal and take note of the written request from a Noble Pony known simply as Elegant Flair in which I notice the header has a striked out message as the greeting:

Dear Princess Celestia Luna,

It has come to the attention that the current tax margin for the nobility is too large and oppressive and is reducing the capacity of the nobility to aid Equestria. We humbly ask that the royal sisters redu-

With a huff of frustration I take the scroll and with a wisp of effort I incinerate in azure flame the offending request with extreme prejudice disappointment that the nobility of this age do nothing more then look out for their own hides than the betterment of ponies as a whole. The falling ashes from the letter make a neat pile on the floor and I close my eyes and exhale rubbing a shoed hoof over the bridge of my muzzle and to my shock the sound of a throat being cleared brings my heart rate up slightly and my nerves tingling with anxiety for this silent trespasser.

I open my eyes and at the base of the throne dais I notice that the Captain of the Night Guard Sir Bane, a thestral from the Nightmares blessing is now standing in front of me with a neutral expression. With awkward expression I quickly look back towards the incinerated scrolls ashes on the ground and with a midnight blue glow and a slow motion of someone caught with their hooves in the candy cupboard so to speak I brush the ashes into a nearby planter and sit silently having a staring contest with the aforementioned Captain, who simply smiles and removes his helmet taking a low bow with his wings extended fully; a tradition that the nightmare once required and should they displease her she could smash their wings a honorable but horribly dark tradition.

"Rise Sir Bane, you and the soldiers of Equestria should know I do not require the formal greetings of the day during the hour of the night," I formerly remind the Captain of my decree to the night guard in an attempt to make my presence less threatening within the eyes of my soldiers, at least while my sister is not around who enjoys such formalities.
Bane rises from his respectful bow and folds his velvety wings back towards his body as he takes a seat silently, "It pleases me that you take to such. . .-enjoyment of reading the requests of the Equestrian Nobility my Princess," Bane says with a smirk and a sarcastic look that could rend steel if held long enough.

I roll my eyes and with a sigh I stand from the comforts of my throne and steadily I make my way down the red carpet that accents the floor towards the Captain of the Night. During my short trip I take note of the Captains current appearance, A charcoal grey coat highlighted with his short cut dark blue mane and tail most commonly found in military stallions within the guard, his amber eyes stare through me as if focusing on something far beyond his vision a sign of knowledge and leadership. I finish my descent of the stairs from the throne dais and take a seat in front of Bane wearing traditional azure and silver trimmed armor with a deep blue enchanted amethyst cast into the chest protecting most guards from a myriad of spells and curses harmful to those unprepared.

"Tis' not a request but was a poorly disguised order from the nobility, as they feel they need more privileges than they already possess,," I state with a small chuckle as see that Bane has nodded in agreement, "However, I hath suspicions that you come with news that should regrettably draw me away from mine duties tonight?," I finish gesturing to the pile of neatly stacked scrolls that are as high as I stand tall.

"Actually my princess, if you permit me to be so bold I was wondering if you would care to fly with this commander during his rounds and be with your subjects this oh wondrous of nights," Bane finishes with a fang tipped smile and a small rustle of his wings as he gestures to the open window outlining the moonlight city of Canterlot.

I stare at Bane and look towards the open portcullis window in the throne room and I see my beautiful cloudless night in her full glory I feel a sudden urge to escape and I look back towards the stack of correspondence at the base of my throne filled with more than likely more un-fillable requests as the past two days have been without Celestia and return back to Bane with a raised eyebrow.

"Captain," I pause with a feigned shocked expression, "I would not think you to be so bold and separate a Princess from her royal duties, what would mine sister say if she saw me do such a thing?" I reply with a smug smile and a few bats of my eyelids. As Bane returns from his smile to a neutral expression he raises an eyebrow of his own he points behind me with a hoof towards the dais.

"What duties your majesty?" He quizzically states, "I see nothing keeping you from being amidst your subjects this evening." In curiosity I turn quickly to the direction Bane has addressed and suddenly where there was once an oppressive amount of legal work I now see nothing but blank space, I look back towards bane and back again at the empty area and turn and extend my wings to fly back up to the now very much vacant area in front of my throne.

"What vile sorcery is this?!" I exclaim confusedly with a shocked expression as I examine around the dais for the missing pile of scrolls and during my search I begin to hear a very faint sound of muffled snickering coming from somewhere near my position. Suspecting utmost heresy I lift my throne with a cracking sound into the air with my magic thinking that my scrolls have bewitched themselves and fled under my seat in a vain attempt of escape seeing their fellow scroll-brother purged in azure fire. With more muffled snickers I suddenly gaze upwards and to my amusement I see a fair amount of thestrals clinging to the roof using their natural magic each with a scroll in their mouth and a bemused expressions innocently plastered across all their faces.

I stare at the twenty or so pairs of amber eyes all staring back at me expecting the worst when I turn back to the seated grinning commander below me. "Captain, it would seem that mine charges for this evening hath been stolen by fiendish pests of the night," I state slowly approaching back towards my original position in front of Bane who is now with an obviously bemused expression of shock he flares his wings and gestures towards the window.

"Then we shall make haste my princess and show these foul thieves that none shall interrupt the duties of the night!" He exclaims with much practiced enthusiasm. I smile internally as I take note of this incident, Although Captain Bane is the leader of the Night Guard, his leadership style has always been one that I have admired often caring for the well being of his soldiers versus outright discipline most of the day guard expresses. It has even been noted that he adopted a filly who lost her parents in a tragic accident a year back and has been a loving and supporting father since. I admit I was once unappreciative of this stallions efforts but his actions have always made my soft hearted nature glow and his soldiers loyalty towards him is unquestionable.

"Very well Sir Bane, we shall see that these heathens," I quickly snap a look back towards the now unoccupied space where there was once many thestrals with scrolls and now there are none, "Shall be brought to justice this night," I state and with and trot and nod to Bane we approach the open window which the captain and I take into the beautiful night sky.

Seeking Trouble (Luna)

It has been half an hour since my departure from the throne room along with the captain in an attempt to catch the villainous heretics under my command who despise the needs of my citizens and keep me from them to come and woefully enjoy the beautiful and wonderful starry night I created for the enjoyment of my subjects. Since my imprisonment I have taken note of the various improvements that the ponies have created such as a newfound form of light source that uses a power known as electricity. There are also new forms of night entertainment that I find most enjoyable as we fly over the Canterlot main plaza, the many wondrous night time attractions such as the 'dance club' where ponies congregate and mingle to dance to various forms of modern music to which in some forms I quite am fond of myself. There are also theaters where once ponies acted out performances live on stage are now replaced with recorded images of the actors and applied various 'special effects' to make it seem that you were actually in the story rather than just watching it.

I lazily flap my wings and close my eyes and I stretch my hooves and perform a slow barrel roll and I smile gleefully feeling the wondrous cool night air across my primaries and my coat through my shimmering mane I feel the breeze of flight and I inside me a sense of ease and freedom from the confined palace walls. With a small giggle to my side I level out and fix my gaze on the re-armored Captain Bane who has instigated the heathens joined me on the search for the day courts scrolls. As we pass over the streets various ponies look up and wave and fillies and colts along with their parents squeal in happiness as they see their Princess of the Night fly overhead. I wave and smile to my subjects as me and the Captain aimless fly over the large mountain town of Canterlot, I feel the brush of velvety wings as I look towards Sir Bane who is gesturing towards a row of buildings that is residing on a street known as Canterlot's food district a place where many grand restaurants have been rumored to call home.

As the Captain and I land on the cobblestone streets, we draw a few looks from various ponies and with smiles and greetings they wave at the new arrivals on the row. I wave back and give a few greetings to a few passing ponies and I think to myself how once I was never given the time of day (or night) by ponies a millennium ago, and now I can walk openly among my subjects in the beauty of my night and meet many smiling happy faces. I look towards Sir Bane who is now seated beside me with a neutral guard expression but if one looks close enough a faint start of a smile can be seen and I now understand the Captains true intentions as I am responsible for the care and well being of my subjects, he is in turn responsible for the care and well being of my own. With the now street bound ponies finished with their greetings I return to Banes gaze and as I open my mouth to address the Captain, instead I hear a loud rumbling noise and not only do I hear the sound but I feel it as well, and as realization comes to my face that I might possibly be hungry and with a smile from Sir Bane, and a few confused stares from the ponies around me I feel the warmth starting to build upon my face.

"My Princess, are you hungry by chance?" Asks the now smirking Captain and with a few giggles from ponies around us out of embarrassment I simply nod and attempt to recover from this situation. Finally fighting the rushing blush in my head I collect myself and turn to Sir Bane, "Captain, I have never really come out of the castle to dine, would you have any suggestions?" I ask with a pleading expression to not cause any more embarrassment towards myself. "Yes I do actually, there's this lovely place around the corner that has become quite popular as of late and I'm sure that they would very much appreciate a visit from yours truly," the Captain says with a grin and a gestured hoof towards an alleyway. I look skeptically towards my escort and am quite suspicious of his activities but none the less I nod and follow the Captain towards the darkened alley, as we move deeper into the alley something very familiar yet foreign greets my muzzle and I can't quite put my hoof on it.

As we come towards the smell, I notice that at the end of the alley is a restaurant, which I find quite strange as most of the restaurants are on the main row but I watch as Sir Bane steps forward and opens the door for me with a hoof. I look up at the sign as I enter which reads 'The Tasty Treat' and has a crafted decoration of a elephant holding a spoon and as I enter the breach I am greeted by the smells of curry and spiced yellowed mustard which has been quite a while from when I traveled with my sister before my banishment into the lands of Saddle Arabia when we were searching for the elements.

As I enter the restaurant which was quite full at this time I see many ponies conversing and having a good time when suddenly one by one they notice the newcomer into the room and the room goes quiet. "Um, Good evening everypony?" I nervously greet at the now quiet restaurant and I feel quite nervous now as I am still not adept towards social situations with unknown ponies especially with ones so quiet as this.

Eventually the ponies return to their business and I get a few passing waves from ponies in the pillowed booths and the eyes of some fillies with their parents in another. I feel something lightly armored skirt by and I see Sir Bane trot past and he makes a motion towards the empty booth in the back of the restaurant which has a small sitting table and a few seating pillows around it, I trot alongside my escort and take note of the very homey decorated restaurant. The restaurant is completely lit by candlelight and feels warm in nature, various textiles and sheets are spread hanging from the roof giving the overall feel that I was stepping into a large caravan tent run by vagabonds. We reach the table and Bane offers me a seat by the table and I thank him and sit with my back to the corner so I can see everypony in the restaurant and Bane takes a seat next to me removing his helmet exposing his short mane cut and face, causing the mares across the table to blush and giggle as they look towards him.

"It would seem that you would have some admirers Sir Bane," I giggle and motion with my head towards the table with blushing mares. "Oh please your highness, do not be like your sister Princess Celestia and attempt to play matchmaker with me, I don't think my poor heart could take it," he states frustratingly with hooves over his head and his ears folded back and like my sister I too have quite the evil streak. "Oh? I did not know that the handsome Sir Bane was courting, especially as a single father with a little filly!" I pronounce loudly so that the mares across the table could hear, and I see them all turn and with various coo's of praise such as 'how sweet!' and 'What a noble stallion!' Bane looks towards me his face even more aflame and gives me a deadpan stare.

"You're dead to me your majesty," he states to which I simply giggle with a smile and I look over his shoulder and notice a mare enter the dining area from which I presume is the back door into the kitchen. I make eye contact with the mare and she makes eye contact with me and I see her pause and slowly walk backwards into the kitchen area not taking her eyes off of me and as she disappears into the back. I raise an eyebrow and I look towards Bane who is still recovering from his embarrassment.

I take two menus from the nearby table in my magic and place one in front of Bane who grumbles something in thanks and I look through my menu, the menu is very simplistic in nature, a majority of items are under the lunch category which means that it was a lunch and dinner restaurant which is normal for Saddle Arabian culture as most of their mornings are spent with their family and sometimes various religious reasons. I glance up from the menu towards the door and I see two heads sticking outside the door staring at me one was of a short haired portly stallion and the other was the same mare I saw with the curly dark mane and violet eyes, as fast as I looked up they were gone back inside and out of annoyance I felt my ear twitch but I attempted to ignore it and focused on the task at hand which was of course sustenance.

I decided on the mustard curry which was labeled as 'spicy' and a side of Arabian grass wrapped in a seasoned dijon sauce which sounded interesting and I look over to Bane who is intensely reading his menu, "Oh Sir Bane?" I fluttered my eyes mischievously, "Have thou decided what will sustain your hunger for this evening my most prized guardian and available bachelor?" I mockingly ask while emphasizing some words and as Bane looks up from his menu with much disdain in his eyes and a firm folding and placement of his menu on the table, a chorus of giggles erupted from the table behind us and I could see that my jests may have gone too far possibly.

"That's it," States a flustered Bane, he gets up from his table and walks over to the group of now silent mares staring at the large thestral approaching their table, I sit back in comfort and watch the proud captain attempt to spite me in the best way possible to which I wish I had a bowl of snacks to compliment this incident.

"Excuse me ladies," Shadow starts off, "I hate to disrupt your evening but I am Sir Shadow Bane Captain of the night guard and my charge over there," gesturing towards me and I feign a sign of innocence and a smile, "-could not help but remind me that I am a very approachable and quite endearing stallion and I was wondering if any of you three lovely ladies would be interested in a breakfast date this Friday at nine in the morning after my shift," finishes the bold captain of the guard.

The three mares simply look at each other and of the three mares the cream coated unicorn with a curly blonde mane and blue eyes starts to blush a furious beet red and in out of something resembling a book her two friends push the offered mare towards Bane with a squeak from the cream colored mare in protest. Drawing my attention from the giggling and hilarious antics of the now soon couple to be, I see the kitchen door open and the mare from the kitchen approach my table with an somewhat strained expression on her face. As she approaches I brush my ethereal mane out of my face as sometimes it floats in my field of view much to my annoyance and I take a friendly smile upon my face and await the mare to approach.

"G-Good evening. . . I-I mean good night. . .I mean Your majest-" the mare stutters and looks extremely flustered and I stop her onslaught of her greetings with a hoof lightly pressed over her mouth and she looks cross-eyed for a moment at my hoof and looks towards me pleadingly with a small flush on her face. "My pony, please calm thyself I mean thee no harm I am a simple mare wishing to partake in your cuisine this evening, which by the way smells lovely," I take a breath and remove my hoof from her muzzle and with another warm smile I nod for her to continue hoping she will relax more. "Y-Yes your majesty I apologize, my name is Saffron Masala and I am the chef here at the Tasty Treat, I see you have already had a chance to look at our menu is there anything I can get you for this evening?" Saffron asks questioningly and I look through my choices again and recite my order to Saffron who quickly jots down my order and nods. As I finish Bane comes to join us from his escapades and he greets Saffron with a friendly hello and asks for his usual plate to which Saffron nods and trots off towards the kitchen. I refocus my attention on Bane and place my hooves under my chin and stare at him with a smile.

"You're an evil mare you know that," states Bane who now looks back over at the table with a small sigh and returns back to my gaze, "But I suppose I should thank you my Princess for pushing me to be more responsible and trying to find a mother figure for my filly Nightfall back home," he finishes.

"So what is thine consorts name?, tell me a bit about her," I ask towards Bane and he smirks back and taps his muzzle twice with his hoof and says one word "Spoilers!" With a huff and a return to a proper posture I see two glasses float over from the kitchen entrance both filled with chilled water and they set on the coasters perfectly and I look towards the kitchen window and I see the head of Saffron disappear behind the counter.

I take a sip of the served water as Bane does the same, I take another look at my surroundings and notice much of love and care was put into this establishment. Along the walls where our booth was I see some photographs, some were in color which looked to be more recent I see Saffron and a portly stallion with a mustache cutting a ribbon to a non painted version of the Tasty Treat. I focus on the next group of pictures and I see a black and white photograph of a younger looking Saffron who is cooking with an elder mare, behind her I see the same portly stallion who is reading a newspaper from the Manehattan press. As I observe more photographs of various events of Saffrons family I think back to the friends that I left behind in my timeline, it seems only as yesterday but in reality the cold and gripping truth of morality sets in as those that I once shared a deep and special bond with are now long gone; and as the holder of the power of the moon as long as it exists I shall exist with it.

A clink of a bowl is heard and I look towards the table and a freshly baked bowl of pita chips is placed on the table by crimson magic along with a pasty looking dipping sauce with a clover accenting the dip. I take a chip in my magic and a small amount of dip and take a bite and am immediately overtaken by the crisp and well seasoned chip with the tangy sauce which I believe is a form of hummus made from chickpeas and a few garlic cloves and a dash of olive oil. Regardless the treat is a wonderful addition and with a hoof i push the bowl towards Bane who simply nods and take a chip in his mouth and performs the same action, as he takes a bite I see a small grimace and he finishes the snack forcefully and shakes his head and attempts to fight past the apparently not-so-tasty treat. I raise a questioning look towards my escort and he looks at me with a neutral expression.

"Not a fan of chickpeas, I do like hummus but only if its made with hearty man-," Bane is suddenly cut off as a second dip bowl is placed looking a bit less robust like the other bowl and unlike the other has a fresh mango sticking out of the bowl instead of the clover piece. I look towards the empty window of the kitchen and back to Bane who has taken it upon himself to start inhaling his mango treat. With a giggle I turn back to the decorative pictures with another pita chip with a moderate amount of hummus and I reflect on times long forgotten.

I remember a time when such technology was foreign to us, I have missed so much in these past thousand years that I can't even remember some of my friends faces from long ago. Back then we used to have a local artist charcoal or paint a picture in order to capture a moment in time and now that I think about it I cannot recall if I ever had any shadings of my friends within my old belongings. As I continue down the line of happy memories I stop and notice something quite particular, It's an old charcoal drawing of a unicorn mare in front of what looks to be a traveling wagon. With much resemblance to Saffron she is wearing a dress and a blouse with a small bit of her barrel showing with a happy smile. I take the picture from the wall unconsciously to inspect it further and next to the now happy mare I see a earth pony stallion with shaded hooves and a short cropped mane happily leaning into the mare and if one looks closer I see two hoof bands around each of the ponies left fore-hoof, a think to the long lost tradition in marriage that once again has been expedited in the passing of time and is now placed upon fallible paper. A sharp smell fills my nose and I look up from the held photograph as I notice Saffron has returned to the table with a tray and our ordered items. She sets each item in front of us along with a placement of silverware. "Here you go as requested, one spicy mustard curry and sides for her majesty, and for the handsome stallion knight a order of assorted seasoned and fried fruit slices," As she sets the places down in her crimson magic I see a face of irritation at his plight then the child like glee face of Bane return with an even more confused look from Saffron and I get her attention with a wave of my hoof.

"Please pardon my Captain as he hast been tested upon this night a bit too far possibly," I say with a smile and with an understanding nod from Saffron She looks to my side and notices that in my magic I am holding the etched frame of the mare and the stallion. I look at the frame and back to Saffron and with a thought I place the frame back upon the wall exactly as it rested prior.
"Oh you didn't have to put that back but thank you Princess, did it interest you somehow?" Saffron asks questioningly as she magics away the serving tray behind the kitchen window.

"Yes indeed my pony, I was reminded of a time long ago when such technologies such as these photographs here did not exist, you can say I'm out of my element in some regard," I state with a glance back towards the hanged picture and back to Saffron. She nods and brings up a small stool and moves it towards the table with her magic, "If it's not so bold may your Majesty?" she asks and I nod with approval and take the spoon and take a small taste of the delicious smelling curry in front of me, which meets all my standards as it is a perfect balance of both spice and sweetness and I swallow my first bite.

"Tis' an impressive dish young Saffron tell me what has inspired thee to cook with such passion?" I question with another bite and Bane takes another bite of his grilled fruit and a unstallion like moan much to Saffrons pleasure and to my unbemused stare.

"Well actually it begins with that drawing of my tenth-great grandmother," Saffron starts taking the picture off the wall with her magic and sets it within her hooves, "My tenth-great grandmother Silk Strider was a part of a traveling pack of vagabond's long ago that traveled along the norther border, from what my family history says that she was a really great dancer and singer," She takes a small breath as I continue to listen and eat my meal along with Bane who is slowly snacking on his fruit. "One day she met my tenth-great grandfather Black-hoof who was traveling north when they met by chance overnight, I was told it was why Grandpa Black-hoof loved her so, was because she used to sing very old tales that she found from the ashen wastes that once kept the Crystal Empire!" Saffron exclaimed excitedly as I looked at her from my meal its rare that I hear a story from the past right before my banishment.

"Well that's quite the area to lay about I suppose," I state and push my finished empty plate away from the placement which was immediately taken by a crimson glow and whisked away towards the kitchen with a metallic clink, "That intrigues me more on why those particular ponies decided to skirt the edges of a once cursed kingdom."

At this point I look across the table to a semi-hurt looking Saffron who has her ears folded back but still none-the-less offended by my spoken words. "My pony I apologize if I-I have offended you," I begin to say with a slight stammer as my own ears fold back to which Bane takes immediate notice and as he just finishes his last apricot piece he refocuses from his fruit craze as his tufted ears focus the conversation to which I don't think he was paying attention in the first place.

"Worry not Princess, it's not a. . .too broaching of a subject however it is a family story if you do have time to hear it, I-I understand if you're busy being royalty and all," she finishes with a reassuring smile and I look towards Bane who simply shrugs while examining a fore hoof and I return back towards Saffron's gaze. "Well there's always room for dessert but no cake please I cannot fathom ending up like mine sister as of late," I state with a smile and Saffron wordlessly left her seat and went back to the kitchen. I look around and see a portly stallion wordlessly cleaning up the tables, this must be the host of the restaurant as he's upturning stools on top of empty tables; I reach out to the moon and my internal connection tells me its around eleven in the evening right when my moon decides to take a mind of her own and hangs in the sky in the for a few hours, a mystery that I could never really solve.

I turn to Bane who is now looking a thousand miles away with his ears rapidly moving and a concerned look is now on his face, "Something wrong Sir Bane?" I ask and he returns back to reality and shakes his head, "Nothing to worry about your highness, I was merely listening to some reports that my kinsmen were relaying me," states Bane calmly and now he returns his attention to the returning Saffron and in her crimson magic I see three bowls of which resemble ice cream and as the bowls were set down and to my surprise all three are of a melon flavored variety to the much enjoyment of Bane who has now assaulted his bowl with much fervor.

"Ms. Saffron, I cannot seem to help to notice that you keep distracting my captain with fruits of his weakness, pray tell are you trying to do to the poor stallion?" I ask with a head tilt and a spoon full of watermelon flavored deliciousness.

"Well your majesty," Saffron giggles, "My family story starts near the edges of the empire and of course as with your captain here his species resides in the western mountain ranges of Transylvania. My family is well aware of their. . dietary needs," she pauses at the captain who is now in a fruit frenzy across the table and is licking the bowl clean with a long forked tongue. We both share a giggle at Banes antics and unlike the captain we finish our bowls quietly and neatly,

"So you were saying Ms. Saffron, I wish to hear your family's tale of the Empire and how they know it so?" I state and I see Saffron exhale and she looks as if she's far away and takes hold of the picture of her relatives.

"It's a long story but one I'm willing to share," she starts and I find a more comfortable position and she gestured to the portly stallion still turning over chairs, "Although myself or my father do not look it our family many generations ago hailed from the Crystal Empire, my grandmother Silk was part of a traveling group of singers and dancers. . .and to a more professional nature courtesan's now that then," much to the reddening face of Saffron I nod in understanding as a mare of the past it was the modus operandi for those without any of the various skill sets in today's time, to use other. . .skills in providing service to those in need.

"But none the less the troupe that my grandmother traveled in was very well known throughout the northern realms, and on that dark day when King Sombra attacked and enslaved the ponies of the Empire," as Saffron takes a breath the noise of a bowl being set on the table we both take a look at Bane who has now finished licking said bowl spotless.

"You're an evil mare, Lady Masala, using mine weakness of fruity deliciousness against me," with a small wet snap Bane returned his very unnatural long pronged tongue to his mouth, and with a moment of silence he smiled and his ears again continued to focus on sounds that were not there.

With a nod and a smile Saffron continued her family's tale as I listened while finishing my bowl "But something that I've never understood is that my mother said that there were once two great cities in the north but I've never heard or seen any etching or written history about the other great kingdom," Saffron finished as I finished my small bowl of dessert now encompassed in crimson magic and levitated onto a bus tray on the counter.

"Strange, I thought that the Crystal Empire was the only kingdom in the North?" asked Bane now finished with his own desert with a small frown and his bowl too whisked away as mine was. and with a curious glance I agreed with the Captain's statement, "T'was my understanding as well Miss Masala, I too am unaware of another kingdom other than the smaller villages of the north scattered in the mountain ranges near the arctic circles."

"Well, I am unaware of the kingdom's name but something does come to mind from my grandmother's trunk if you wait here for a moment i'll go grab it real fast," with a slide and a quick trot Saffron went back towards the kitchen and I looked towards Bane. "I have a feeling that you are paying attention but are pretending ignorance," I say to the Captain.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Bane states with his ears still rapidly focusing on sounds not there and for a moment they stop and Bane gets serious for half a moment, "-also your majesty you have some correspondence from your sister Princess Celestia upon return to the castle." he finishes and I nod in understanding and a sound is heard from the door and Saffron returns with a small crate in her magic and returns to the table.

"I don't have the musical talent as my grandmother so I thought I would just hand you a copy of some of her works," Saffron states and she brings out a book and flips through the pages and stops on a page midway through and slides it in front of me and I take a look at the offered page.

Silk Striders Musical Journal NO PEEKING BLACK-HOOF!!

Hymn of the Twin Fortresses
by Silk Strider

Part One: The Crystal Prison

A king he was on crystal throne,
In many-pillared halls of stone
With onyx roof and jade cast floor,
And curses acast upon the door.
The light of sun and star and moon
entrapped by lamps of red crystal hewn
Undimmed by cloud or shade of night
There souls forever trapped in his might.
The land is grey, the tundra old,
The hearts great fire is ashen-cold;
No harp is wrung, no memory calls:
True darkness dwells in deepened halls;
The entrance lies before his throne
In halls so dark, there lies a tomb.
But still the sunken eyes appear
The dark shadows of the Mirrormere;
Cast from his crown in ice so deep,
Till his vengeance wakes him from sleep.

Part Two: The Winter Fortress Invaerne Bán
Needs Work!

A Lord there was, on a throne engraved,
In great ice walls, a fortress laid,
With roof of night, and azure lit floor,
And mighty runes, that seal the doors.
The brightest light, of moon and star
In spectral lamps, shines through the dark,
Unshaken by, the veil of night
Their souls eternal, shimmering white.
The fortress still, the gate un-aged,
The forges flames, have died away;
No songs are sung, no blade is cast,
In warden's halls no evil lasts!
The darkness hangs, over his tomb
around the mountain, in the gloom,
But e'er the fall~en souls glow free
In cool and breathless, Winter's Peak;
There rests his casque, on the throne of souls
Till need is dire, he'll rest in sleep.

Song of the Crystal orphanage

When you're rife with devastation
There's a simple explanation:
You're a toymaker's creation
Trapped inside a crystal ball.....

I finish the document ignoring the other written words on the other page noting that each line is accompanied by a score of musical notes and I overlook it once more and pass it over to Bane who simply reads it with a neutral expression and he seems to be muttering to himself and I hope he isn't planning to sing cause I am unaware of any stallion with a voice of gold. "If it's possible Miss Saffron could I make a copy of this book for my own personal readings? I promise not to capitalize on your grandmother's works and it's purely for personal enjoyment," I ask Saffron who seems to glow in excitement.

"Would I?!" She exclaims with a shout and reaches back into the trunk with extra parchment and I giggle and take the paper and with a spell I make a copy of the entire book and take the original and pass it back to Saffron, much to Banes displeasure.

"Unfortunately the hour is late my pony and I must be attending to some businesses back at the castle, but I must thank you for the meal as it was very delicious," I summon a small bag of bits on the generous side and place it in front of Saffron, "I hope this will suffice as payment for the meal," I finish with a smile and Bane offers his own thanks and returns his helmet to his head.

"Oh Princess Luna this is way too much for the meal I cannot accept this, I was never going to charge you anyways I couldn't find it in my heart!" Saffron is shocked at the very generous amount of bits placed on the table and I giggle and shake my head. "Its nothing my pony, I sincerely enjoyed the meal as well as my escort here," I gesture to Bane who has a odd smile remembering the fruity deliciousness that was his dinner, "-and if there's anything else we can do for you this evening please feel free to ask anyone of my guards," I finish with a smile and stand along with Bane as we make our way towards the exit.

Upon exit to the establishment I notice that each of the restaurants on the main row have a green wooden sign with three hoof-print symbols I turn to the Tasty Treat where Saffron and her Father are waving at us good-bye and I see the same sign with no marks over the arch of the door. With a glance to Sir Bane he explains the rating system of Restaurant Row to me and with a nod I summon a small spell and cast it towards the green plank and as both Saffron and her Father watched as the bland green boards turned to a amethyst metal with the royal symbol of yours truly burned into the metal. Across the street I see a pale pony wearing a trench cloak who is watching the entire process and he suddenly fainted in which two nearby guards checked on his status while Bane and I took off towards the castle proper.

A Meeting Not By Chance(Luna)

Returning to the great hall a few hours later after a few more rounds, entering through the main doors I first take notice that the 'missing' scrolls have returned back to their neatly and organized pile, I pick up a few scrolls and upon further inspection I see that the official stamp of acceptance or denial is placed properly in each request and much to my approval I see various rubber stamps on the nearby table where Celestia's scribe Golden Scroll sits with various sliced mangoes and other fruits on the table.

"Something wrong your Majesty?" Sir Bane asks with a rocking motion between his front and back hooves, and I shake my head. "It seems that the heathens have Equestrians best interests at heart so I will let them off this time,"I smile and fold the sampled scrolls back towards the pile, "See that these scrolls are forwarded to the day courier and distributed properly," I turn and walk down the dais and as I approach Bane I give him a sudden nuzzle for taking this mare out to a lovely dinner and a walk amongst my subjects who returns it friendly back.

"Oh by the way," I stop mid stride out the hall and I look towards Bane, "If you ever find those noble thieves whomever they are please offer them my thanks and offer them a date of absence from any of their duties of their choice on behalf of my authority," I state with a smile and with a small bow from Bane he bids me goodnight.

I return to my quarters in the southern tower, as I enter I am reminded of gentle hues of the night and I take off my hoof shoes and my adornments and stretch with a cat-like yawn and a crack of my spine. Even though I am immortal I still have many mortal needs and the washroom is first on those lists, approaching the washroom I feel towards my charge and I sense it is around four in the morning and my moon has released control back to me. I take control of the moon and nudge it towards the horizon and prepare for Celestia to raise the sun in a few hours, After taking a hot shower which now and days is a luxury in my opinion I prepare for bed and summon the letter from my sister and the book that I copied from Saffron.

After reading Tia's letter I, quickly take a parchment and fill out a forwarding request from my stationary to relay to her student and my friend Twilight Sparkle the Princess of Friendship. She and her friends hold a special place in my heart as they cured my madness from the Nightmare, with my sister's request forwarded and a little personal notes and a jest or two in my favor I seal and teleport the mail to the guard courier who will deliver the two letters to Sir Spike in the morning.

Resting on my bed I feel the oncomings of sleep and I take in my magic the book of Silk Strider and begin to read the page indicated containing the legend of the Hymn of the Twin Fortresses. Although I'm not one of the musical arts I do have an appreciation of the practice, using basic harmonics I take a few moments to hum out a reasonable tune to the best of my ability and I sing the second verse to myself out loudly. As I started to sing the verses I suddenly felt the overcoming feeling of sleep take over me and before I knew it I fell asleep on my bed with the sun beginning to take over the horizon.

It's strange when I fall asleep, normally since my last incident I used to punish myself by encasing myself in a permanent Nightmare to atone for my sins. But since Twilight and her friends saved me from my own personal tartarus I have been able to dream lucidly on my own accord, normally I place myself within the endless vastness of the heavens and drift but something about this dream felt off, and I couldn't put my hoof on it.

The first thing I felt was the softness of the sand, I was laying on a shore of some sort as the second and third senses awoke as I heard the sound of gentle waves and the smell of the salty air. But something that I was confused about was the coldness of the air in nature, I open my eyes and I'm immediately taken back by the appearance of the shore around me. In the horizon I see a fairly small moon and the sky is filled with a white cast glow igniting the already odd beach with dark colored sands and jet black rocks and coast objects with midnight glowing accents laced randomly within the stones themselves. I stand and take a few more observations around my situation down the dark coastline I see a never ending border as it looks that the coast goes on forever, I begin to head North assuming the moon is supposedly sitting over the West horizon over the very dark waters of the sea.

Walking in a slow gait across the beach I notice that it is eerily silent except for the sound of hoof falls and the soft crashing of the waves upon the dark colored sand. I'm unsure how long I traveled along the coast, but up ahead I saw something strange that drew my curiosity. I approached the objects and I see two pillars about forty hooves high with a distance of a fraction of a league of space in-between them, Upon further inspection I noticed that a throne was perched upon each pillar but what was curious was that one throne was noticeably larger than the other but both thrones were facing each-other as if standing off to one another. As I approached closer and to my surprise that the smaller throne is no bigger than my own but as I look across the distance I see something that brings me to a start, there is an individual standing at the beaches edge near the larger throne but to my surprise it's not just him that's standing there that startled me, it's the fact that there were flowing six wispy purple energies flowing from the creatures back almost like that of how of my mane has a mind of its own.
The individual in my opinion was creepy and something seemed off, if anything maybe a head taller than myself and about Tia's height, but something that I could not identify was what its species was and the fact that it's constantly moving extremities coming from its back was another factor in my overall uneasiness. As I approached I saw a breach of warm air exhale from the creature and I took more note of his form and things that it was wearing and doing. The individual was wearing a hooded traveler's cloak that was black in color and on the edges of its sleeves and cloak edges were a white trim, Beneath his cloak I could see that it was bipedal in nature, but not of the hoof kind eliminating that it was a possible small minotaur but wearing some type of metal armor over his hooves. The creature’s arms are folded behind his back with the same kind of armor covering his hands and his glowing appendages are simply waving in the wind without a care in the world.

I approach the creature within a respectable distance and take a seat on the cold sand and stare at the creature who doesn't seem to notice or care about my presence, and with a side attempt to glance within the creatures hood I can only see the darkest of voids, as if the creature does not even have a face but with a brave heart and the possibility of the nightmare trying to reassert itself in some way I decide to take the initiative.

"Tis a lovely night isn't it?" I ask with a bit of hesitation and for the first time since I noticed it, it slightly turned its head towards me and with a faceless stare.

"Why hello. It's not often I get visitors," It states with a deep stallion sounding voice, but what's odd about the voice is the nature of calm that this creature is expressing.

"My name is Luna, the Steward of Dreams and caretaker of the Moon, what are you doing here all alone?" I question the creature with a bit of a head tilt my focus not wavering from its void filled face, appendages still calmly flowing within a windless drift.

"Well," The creature pauses and turns his attention back towards the Western horizon, "If I am to be honest this a punishment I've had to face for a very long time, but strangely enough this is not the realm of dreams Miss Luna," he states no change in his position and no emotional display other than a calm demeanor.

"Then where are we?" I ask questioningly, "-who are you?" I finish and I continue to observe the creature for any malice or deception in his non-existent movement, my own ethereal mane flowing along with the direction of his appendages.

"I cannot recall my name, the only thing that I can remember in the fragments of my memory is that I am a prisoner in my physical body," he pauses, "I know I am very old, and I have lived a long life in which I can sense deep sorrow throughout that lonely existence but this is not the realm of dreams but the plane of immortals; if memory calls." he finishes.

"You mean the astral plane? We have visited it with mine sister Celestial Steward of the Sun and although we do not understand it fully we and other stewards of primordial magics can commune with each-other." I state with my ears fully focused on the individual ahead.

"This place is special in nature," he says, turning to look at me with a faceless expression, "-those only with a special connection can come to this plane and the connection lies within the source of power, the moon in this case; but those who do not serve under or for it cannot be. If you truly are the Steward of the Moon then if I recall correctly my fate is tied along with yours," he says his faceless gaze staring down into the depths of my soul silently judging me.

"Connected fate? Let us say that we believe this conjecture and we continue under thou's assumption that we are servants of the moon," I pause with a hoof on my chin in thought, "-you have stated that you are a prisoner of thine own physical form how is that possible?" I ask returning my gaze towards the creature.

"The primordial magics have champions Miss Luna, as you are the self proclaimed champion of the sleeping realm and the moon itself I have my own area that I am champion of in my own regard. As for the reason for my imprisonment I am being held captive in a state of life and death by those I once called friends and allies, I am revived to fulfill my duty or to restore my vitality then put to rest shortly after to keep me in control for whatever plans they have in store for me," he states solemnly turning his gaze back towards the white horizon.

I gasp internally at the creatures statement how can one's friends or colleagues repetitively revive and kill a creature especially one who is of the immortal realms. I too recall being prisoner to a foreign magic but that was a cause of my own ignorance and situation between my sister and I, but to what this creature describes is willing torture of another which borders the crimes of that of Discord and Sombra ages ago. I take a breath that I realize that I have not been holding and attempt to inquire about the graveness of his situation.

"I-I'm currently at a disadvantage, as I'm still appalled how could another living creature could torture another for simple pleasure or petty reasons, you crime could not have been damnable as so," I exclaim with a stamp of a hoof in sand my mane increasing its flow and excess magic venting through the ethereal wind, "I find it unfair as once I too was a prisoner amidst the void and I must ask how long hath it been since you have seen the passing of the sun or the moon!? Are those responsible unable to see that you are hurting and what they are during is pure evil in nature and unforgivable?!" I ramble my questions off towards the shadowy figure who simply returns back to my gaze and to my surprise he chuckles slightly in a throaty laugh.

"My dear Miss Luna, although I truly appreciate your concern for my personal plight, but at this point I have surrendered everything but hope itself. I cannot recall my exact time in captivity but to what I can remember is that I have been a prisoner for over two millennia, as the reason I cannot recall for my imprisonment but my jailers are immortal just like me, they are ageless, restless and above all very dangerous to those of the living world it would take something sort of a small army to challenge them," he states.

As the creature finishes his statement I can feel my jaw drop, not only is this being older then Tia or myself but he could be possibly older than Discord himself placing him within the range of a Ancient Being, on top of that he has been at rest for over two millennia which he now holds as the reigning champion of both magical and physical imprisonment with torture of a cruel kind. I barely could stand my own imprisonment and if were it not for the realm of dreams to placate my need for social interaction I feel that I would have gone completely off the deep end in madness. I attempt to collect myself for the first time he moves its whole body and begins to approach the pillar with the large throne on top and he continues to speak.

"Our time is short unfortunately, and since I'm unsure if you can return back to this place I must ask if you a favor Miss Luna," he asks, and I leave my seated position to follow the creature towards the pillared throne, "We will attempt our best, I beg of thee how can we assist in your situation as a fellow immortal and Princess of Equestria l I cannot deny your call for aid," I ask attempting to keep up with his long strides, I begin to notice that his glowing appendages are beginning to fade into nothing. One by one dissolving into thin air he begins to climb the pillar to seat himself on the throne that is five times bigger than his own form, finishing his acent he finally rests himself and relaxes on the engraved throne.

"If you are truly Steward of the Moon Miss Luna, then with practice you can sense those in your moons service in dire need, but I offer this advice to you as I can feel it deep within your soul that troubles you so, the regret you feel must be let go in order to attempt to rescue me; If you harbor such pains then you will fail in any attempts to aid me,," The creature settles himself on the throne and before I can respond he looks down upon me and continues his advisement. "Although it is hard to recall, I do find familiarity within your voice, as many years ago I heard the constant cries and apologies of an unknown child somewhere within this realm, and even though I searched for a time the voice eventually faded and silence was once again met across this dark coast," he takes a breath and as I watch him I see that his form is beginning to fade out along the edges.

He heard me, for in the totality of my imprisonment I truly thought I was alone, but here this creature of unknown origins was searching for the voice that was asking for forgiveness and aid into the long hours of the night I spent alone. I think weather that if this being could have found me and if he did would he been able to curb my resentment towards Tia and make my imprisonment a better experience? I return my gaze back towards the creature and with alarm I see that his form has now faded even more so with very few of his appendages remaining and as he looks at me I begin to hear a harmonious hymn from his direction and I take off with my wings to meet him at his throne.

"One day, you will realize,"

I leap from the sands and take the first few beats of flight; I see shimmering light leaving his body,

"The stars you are chasing,"

I've covered a quarter of the distance but as I approach I feel a sense of sadness as I see the creature fade more and more into the void.

"Shine bright deep inside you,"

A pang of guilt enters my heart as I continue to approach the top of the pillar, I can understand his pain.

"But will you ever let it shine, from within- and cast all of your fears aside?"

I can feel the destruction that I wrought many years ago, the ponies that I have harmed those that I once swore to protect and images of bloody battlefields and crying mares and foals peering over the graves of missing fathers. I see the fears that I am still not apart of my ponies and In my vain attempts to lock myself away forever, with the wind biting into my eyes I finish the last leg of my ascent and reach my destination.

"You'll see the light, But until that day comes. . ."

As the creature suddenly becomes silent over three quarters of his form is now missing and I finally reach the top of the pillar where he now sits, with a sense of urgency I fear that I may be unable to get any type of information from this being before he fades completely and I for one shall never break a promise once it has been given.

"Do you know where thou are?!" I exclaim placing hooves on its shoulders which to my surprise take hold as it firmly sits motionless on the engraved throne.

"/b]I cannot recall," it states, his form vanishing ever rapidly his appendages now completely gone increasing the fade of his main body.

"Who are your captors? How many are there in number?!" I ask with urgency my face contorted in raw concern for his safety and well being getting any specific military details I may need.

"They are death-less, they know no numbers," he continues his voice wavering at some points as his once calm demeanor begins to fade along with his body reaching the crest of his chest.

"Tell me what are you the embodiment of?!" I ask with finality shaking his remaining form as only its head and shoulders remain as the rest of his body has now vanished into nothing.

"Death," It states with finality and a echoing hollow voice and as his form vanishes my hooves suddenly collapse in on themselves with the absence of a physical form to hold I lurch forward into the large throne and with a smack onto the stone throne I suddenly find consciousness in the physical world.

With a cold sweat I shoot out of my bed flinging cover sheets and pillows in various directions, I reach out with a thought of very weak telekinesis I take a second to grab parchment on my desk and quickly write down as much information I can remember, before I feel a sudden magical exhaustion and the vision begins to blacken around me and the realm of sleep takes me over again I feel the embrace of the carpeted floor.

Author's Note

I apologize for the long wait, these next three chapters parts 1,2 and 3 will be very long and will include a lot of information. And the story will begin to ramp up into more actiony sequences as it progresses.

In regards to the words the shadow man said to Luna I used the theme Dearly Beloved as a vocal back the Immortal realm is something I took from concept art as how I see the realm of the moon. This is my first time attempting to write Luna so please offer any comments or objections you have as they are much appreciated.

I will post a character image sheet soon of what each character looks like in my eyes so you have something to base off of, Ill post the next part soon as it is already completed im just splitting up the 25k words into multiple parts.

8/19 - Thanks to my editor Die Pie WiM the grammar and spelling hath been doubled.