The thick square of parchment appeared in a puff of green fire, hovering just a few inches above the tabletop. Princess Luna plucked the fabric from the air with her magic before it could drift down to the combat map on its own.
"Curious. It has heft," commented Luna, holding the note below eye level so both she and the general could see the unusually dark writing surface. Not much was written upon it.
"Your Highness?" asked General Firefly, as she stood watching with her wings wide at attention. Aside from the princess and the general, the underground bunker was empty. All of the remaining senior staff were currently pinned to the battlefield.
In most cases, literally.
Luna placed the parchment onto the smooth surface of the stone table, temporarily cancelling her illusion spell in the process. A pictorial representation of Equestria wasn't very useful at the moment, anyway: it was easy enough to remember which cities hadn't fallen. As the light from Luna's magic projection faded, two sconces on the cavern wall remained the only source of illumination in the damp, artificially carved-out room.
The princess rubbed her sore left temple with an ankle. "I am referring to this missive from my elder sister, General. The material she used is heavy, and it appears to have survived a fire," she said, gesturing toward the paper. The surface had a mottled sepia tone, and it looked like it had been charred around the edges. Luna squinted. "The odd color makes it slightly difficult to read in this light."
"Hmm. Burned in transit, I suppose," suggested General Firefly.
Luna shook her head. "No, the dragonfire spell does not work in that manner. Although it may only be cast upon a single piece of paper at a time, the apparent 'burning' effect one witnesses is illusionary," she said, and ran the tip of her hoof across the smooth, darkened writing surface. "My word. Never before have I seen paper of this quality, General. It is clearly an ancient form of parchment, one designed to withstand the elements. I believe my sister wishes to preserve what she has written here for future generations."
It was a rare and humbling experience for the princess to lay hoof upon anything older than herself, and she had the uncanny sense that she was doing so right now.
After a few moments, Firefly noisily cleared her throat and toed at the floor.
"My apologies, General," said Luna, snapping back to attention. "I shall read it aloud now."
Manehattan has fallen but for a few pockets of resistance. I have done what is necessary to prevent Tirek from draining my magic, and I remain hidden. Though I would do anything to help my little ponies in their time of need, I lack the strength to mount another attack.
Luna, you must approach Scorpan and beg for his aid. When he sees the horrors his brother has wrought, perhaps his heart will soften and he will elect to join forces with Harmony. Act now, but please wait for the second half to arrive before leaving the bunker.
Two confused faces stared down at the strange paper.
"Wait for the second half? What does she mean?" said General Firefly. "Pardon my curiosity, Highness, but the page she sent you is already mostly blank."
Luna's brow knitted together. "I do not know. More vexing yet, this letter tells us nothing remarkable. I was already planning to seek Scorpan's aid once the allotted hour had passed," she said. "Princess Celestia knows we presently wait within the safest stronghold in all of Equestria, and nothing she sends to this room can fall into enemy hooves. The second note must be something of great value, such as a map, or perhaps a rare spell."
"Well maybe, but we already know where to find Scorpan—" the general began to say.
Another puff of green flame, and the second sheet appeared. It looked just like the previous one. Luna quickly yanked it down to the surface of the table with her magic.
"What does it say?" asked General Firefly.
There were only three words on the page, or five if you counted the signature. Luna spoke them aloud. As she did, she used a tone of voice that made the tiny phrase sound more like a question than a statement.
Good luck, Sister.
–Princess Celestia
"That is all?" said Luna, her voice rising with frustration. "What in Tartarus does Celestia mean by this cryptic nonsense?"
Princess Luna lifted both parchments up into the air to examine them more closely, side by side. Then she heard a soft choking sound coming from across the table. In the space between the two pages, Luna could make out General Firefly's face. The general wore an expression that Luna had never before witnessed on a senior officer. She was frozen in a state of shock.
"General Firefly, are you all right?" asked Luna.
The general leaned to one side of the table, and her legs buckled as she vomited onto the floor.
Princess Luna quickly flipped both pieces of parchment over, and gasped. Then she shut her eyes tightly and released her magic grasp. The two papers plopped quietly onto the table. Luna paused for several moments before finally reopening her eyes.
"Leave them here where they shall be safe, and do not bother cleaning your mess," she said to the general. "Prepare my chariot for departure as soon as you are able. We must hurry if we are to save my sister's hide, not to mention all of Equestria." Luna trotted briskly toward the exit tunnel.
General Firefly took in several deep gasps of air, wiped the sick from her chin with a greave, and followed her liege into the dark crevasse.
Resting gently on the table lay two patches of magically tanned horsehide, an unmistakable royal sun emblazoned upon each one.
