Looking For Luna

Chapters

Chapter 1: The Elements of Harmony
Chapter 2: Awakening
Chapter 3: Aftermath
Chapter 4: The Great and Powerful Trixie
Chapter 5: The Meeting
Chapter 6: Welcome To Canterlot
Chapter 7: The Room
Chapter 8: The Dream
Chapter 9: The Signs
Chapter 10: The Interview

Chapter 1: The Elements of Harmony

The battle had been short but fierce, my attempts at corrupting them… turning them upon one another had failed. I had watched and listened, offering them their heart's desire or placing them in desperate situations, and yet they refused to yield. I was so sure that the subjects of my former kingdom would balk beneath these pressures, yet these six chose to persevere, chose to resist me.

The light blue pony had sacrificed her dream to ensure her companions could safely cross the gorge into the ruins of the castle. The snooty unicorn with the purple wavy mane had sacrificed her vanity to calm the river beast so they could safely travel across the river. The orange peasant with the hat had managed to calm Celestia’s precious pupil long enough to prevent her from falling to her doom. The small yellow pony hand managed to soothe the enraged manticore that I had injured. The obnoxious pink pony had simply dispelled my illusions in the woods through laughter. It was infuriating.

“Had they chosen not to defy their true princess these six could have been quite the useful servants.” I thought to myself as I stared down Celestia’s pupil, the small purple unicorn had great potential but for now, she was another inconvenience. She lowered her head and pawed at the ruined stone floor with her hooves, threatening to charge. “You’re joking, right?” she continued to paw at the earth, and we charged. I was much larger and had the longer horn, overpowering her would be easy, or so I thought. With a flash, the unicorn warped past me, desperately trying to buy herself time so she could generate a spark strong enough to empower the elements of harmony.

I clenched my jaw as the pale purple light of Celestia’s student surrounded the elements, I growled before enveloping myself in magic and warped before her. The unicorn was startled, losing control of her spark, she was thrown backward while magic crackled chaotically between the elements. “No, no, no!” I whispered in horror, the magic fizzled and the elements fell still, their power still beyond this ponies grasp.

There was a moment of silence, as both I and Celestia’s student attempted to process what had just happened. It was I who broke the silence first, a chuckle escaped my lips as I realized that the unicorn had failed. “No, no, where- where is the sixth element?!” the purple unicorn cried. I didn’t intend to let her find the answer, my chuckle had grown into a cackle as I raised my hooves towards the darkened sky before slamming them into the fragile elements. I watched with glee as they shattered into several dozen pieces and the unicorn's face was filled with horror and dismay, as hope slipped through her hooves.

“You little fool,” I chuckled striding forward “Did you really think you could defeat me? Now you will never see your beloved princess OR your precious sun.” I spat the last few words as the unicorn cowered before me“The night shall last forever!” I spread my wings and laughed. Once upon a time, the elements had been quite powerful, but like my sister, they had clearly grown weak over time. With their destruction a new era could finally begin, no longer would it be my sister who cast the shadows, but I. Before long, no pony would even remember her name.

I was wrong, for all the darkness that I had embraced and the powers that it had blessed me with in return, I was moments away from my second fall. In my revelry, I had failed to hear the approaching hooves of several ponies or observe the light that came into the purple unicorn's eyes. Even if I had noticed, I would not have cared, for their arrival no longer mattered. The elements were already gone.

“Twilight!” they called in unison, rushing to their friend. She rose to meet them, a smile on her lips as she found the path to victory. “Did you really think you could destroy the elements of harmony just like that?” I stopped laughing for a moment, pulling my wings back in confusion “Well then you’re wrong!” cried Twilight as she spun about to face me. “The spirits of the elements of harmony are right here!” she boldly declared, her allied flanking her as she faced me. Twilight continued to speak but I did not listen, my eyes were fixed on the shattered remains of the crystals at my hooves. As she spoke they quivered and began to glow, flying off towards the ponies that embodied their values.

“…The spirits of these five ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us,” Twilight continued with confidence. I didn’t understand how she had done it, the elements had never resonated with more than two ponies. I took a step back, gritting my teeth and looked around anxiously, the elements weren’t intended to work like this. Although this unicorn had managed to call upon the powers of the first five elements of harmony she still lacked the sixth, I wasted no time in pointing it out.

“You still don’t have the sixth element!” I cried as I looked around the room. “The spark didn’t work.” I made myself taller, desperately hoping that she had been unable to locate it, there was still a chance for me to walk away from this. I could still claim my rightful place as Equestria's true princess, I was only lying to myself.

“Oh but it did, a different kind of spark,” Twilights confidence grew, the smile on her face not even wavering, but she turned her back on me to face her companions “I felt it the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear you, to see you, how much I cared about you.” her eyes appeared to become rather watery “A spark ignited inside of me when I realized that you all are my friends”

The purple unicorn had turned to face me again, and I knew with a sinking feeling of horror that it would soon be over. As if to confirm my impending sense of doom a light began to pulse overhead and from it came down the last element, the element of magic. The light was becoming to bright and I was forced to shield my face with my wing.

“You see Nightmare Moon, when those elements are ignited by the – the spark that resides in the heart of us all. It reveals the sixth element, the element of magic!” I watched with horror as the elements came back to life. With a faint pop, they transformed into amulets that rested against the necks of the five ponies as they glowed with a unique and distinct aura. At last, the element of Magic revealed itself, warping into a tiara that landed delicately upon Twilights head.

Time seemed to suddenly move slower, I watched in terror as a brilliant light enveloped the six ponies. I reared back, but it felt as if I were moving through quicksand. I raised my wings preparing to take flight just as a vibrant beam of rainbow power rushed towards me. “NOOOOO!” I cried, lashing out with my forelegs as I was ensnared in a vibrant vortex. There was nothing I could do to escape, but still, I thrashed. I felt my power being ripped away, my wings shrinking and my magic dissolving into the rainbow. My legs gave way and I began to collapse, my fall softened by the vortex.

Weak as a foal, that was the only way to describe it, my legs rebelled against me and a loud ringing in my ears made it impossible to think. My breathing was rapid and shallow as I began to panic, the other ponies were oblivious to this as they celebrated my defeat. Their celebration was cut short as they fell in immediate silence, signaling her arrival. While my sister sang her champions praises, I intended to escape. My head throbbed and I had just begun to regain control over my legs when she began to approach me, our eyes met and my body locked once again. Her lips moved and her eyes were fixated on me, a smile played across her lips as she drew closer. The other ponies were not too far behind.

Shamefully I will admit, I cowered before her. Fear gripped my heart like the sharp talons of a griffin. I attempted to back away, but I didn’t have as much control over my legs as I had thought and stumbled over something behind me. My legs shook and my sister approached more quickly, the ringing grew louder as I began to panic and it was hard to breathe. I watched as her horn lit up and her magic surrounded me.

She was going to send me back to the moon.

I would be alone in the darkness for another 1000 years.

There was no hope for some pony like me.

I didn’t want to go back, I couldn’t go back.

My magic responded as I sunk deeper into terror, emitting a brilliant blast of light that left every pony, including myself, stunned. I was, surprisingly, the first to recover and with the last of my fading strength, I teleported away. It was stupid and dangerous, my mind was unclear and unfocused, at the time I had no idea where I had even landed. At the time it was the furthest thing from my mind, as soon as I arrived at my destination I collapsed, my consciousness being swallowed by a darkness I couldn’t shake.

Chapter 2: Awakening

Unsteadily, I rose to my hooves and found myself in the center of a small meadow. Overhead the darkening sky was filling with large storm clouds. I was scared and lost, the trees around me seemed taller than I recalled. The thick leafy branches blocked out the few precious rays of starlight peeking through the clouds while the thinner spindly branches clawed at the belly of the sky. I hadn’t mastered the art of flying yet, even if I had, my wings were pressed firmly against my quivering sides. I watched helplessly as the last rays of the sun were enveloped by the horizon.

I was trembling from head to hoof nothing but darkness surrounded me. Every bush, rock, and tree was its ally, cloaked in the dark embrace of the night. I stood there for a long time, feeling the warmth of the day being stripped away by the uncaring winds of the night. Around me the trees let loose a mournful howl, as the wind raced through their branches. It felt as if the world around me was growing smaller, the trees and rocks surrounding me as their howling intensified. Carelessly I raced headlong into the darkness, desperately trying to escape the monsters that existed only in my head. I ran, something sharp grazed my flank, convincing me I wasn’t alone in these woods.

“Why can’t I be just like Tia? Tia would know the way out” I darted forward, my eyes squeezed shut, hoping to block out my living nightmare “Why can’t I just use my wings and fly up high to find home?” With my eyes closed I was unable to see the bushes and low hanging branches of the trees, their sharp tips grazing my sides as I managed to run past them. My breath soon grew wild and ragged, but I didn’t stop until I ran head first into a solid oak tree. With a cry filled with pain and fear I lashed out with my forelegs. I backed away while lashing out, stumbling backwards into a patch of black berry bushes. The sharp thorns slid easily through my coat and pierced my flesh. A new score of small cuts adorned my flank, I broke free quickly and ran back into the darkness. Ahead of me a small ray of light peeked between several tree trunks, I raced towards it desperate to be beneath its warm glow. I broke through the tree line and the smile on my lips began to fade. I skidded to a stop as I realized I was back in the clearing I had started in, stopping only a few yards away from where I had started. “I just want to go home and be free from this dark and scary place. Why did I take Chestnut Crunch’s stupid dare? Even if those stupid flowers existed there was no way someone like me would ever find them.”

My limbs grew numb as a sense of defeat washed over me “This is it… I’m never going to make it out of this forest, I’m never going to escape.” A tear rolled down my cheek and it was joined by another until I was sobbing. I curled up and continued to cry as I covered my face with my hooves. I was unaware of what was happening around me while I wept. As if by some magic, the howling wind became a whispering song, weaving a lullaby. As the wind dissipated a bit of warmth returned to the night.When I finally realized that the night had shifted I lifted my head towards the sky and was enraptured by a truly magical sight.

Sitting just overhead, the moon cast a brilliant light across the land like a luminescent pearl. The dark clouds that had once sheathed its beauty now circled it like a crown as they bent to the will of the wind. As its cool light kissed the land the shadows fled and left very few places untouched by its beauty. The clouds continued to part revealing that the moon was not alone, at its side, hundreds of shimmering stars helped illuminate the darkness. Arounds me, what I had thought were weeds seemed to grow and unfurled into shimmering white flowers, the beauty of the moon and her stars reflected in every petal.

I didn’t understand why at the time, but the sight of that beautiful moon with its accompanying cascade of stars filled me with determination. A dream took root in my heart… a dream that even now I could no longer recall. I sat there for a long time, until I was no longer Luna, I was the night, I was the moon and her stars, I was the light in the darkness, I was-
“Luna!”
“Luna!”
“LUNA!!!”

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Slowly I woke up as the desperate cries that had stirred me from my slumber continued to ring in my ears. My head throbbed and my mouth was so dry that my tongue felt like sandpaper. I felt as if I had been dreaming of something important but as I continued to wake up it continued to fade from memory. I cautiously opened my eyes, fearing that I would be blinded by the morning rays of the sun. However, I soon discovered that sunlight would be the least of my concerns.

I found myself in complete darkness and a dank musty scent hung in the air, only adding to my confusion. “Have my efforts been futile after all? Am I in the castle's dungeon?, Is my destiny truly to live and rot away in this darkness for the rest of my life?” I needed to be sure that there truly was no escape from this place. Despite my bodies continued protest, I rose unsteadily to my hooves as I tried to get a sense of the space I was currently being held in. It was in vain as the walls and floor were rough and uneven. After several minutes of stumbling about in the dark I concluded that I wouldn’t be able to get my bearings without a bit of magic.

Reluctantly I called upon my magic and formed an orb of light at the tip of my horn. I didn’t know how much time had passed or if Celestia would be able to sense my magic from this distance. I wasn’t confident that I had the strength to wield my magic based on how much pain I was in. Despite these fears it was clear I would gain nothing by stumbling in the darkness any further. It was taking a great amount of focus to keep the space lit but it was clear that I was in no dungeon, but rather some sort of cave in a place I was not familiar with. As I looked around my eyes were drawn to an object that had been hidden the darkness.

It’s smooth crystalline trunk and branches stretched towards the ceiling. As if responding to my magic it seemed to hum with life. It had been forever since I had seen the tree of harmony, it was as beautiful as I had recalled. I walked forward laying my hoof against the symbol of the moon on its trunk. The once brilliant light that had radiated from it was gone, a grim reminder that both its light and my destiny were no more. The symbol of the sun resting higher on its trunk still pulsed with light. Regardless of my feelings towards the tree its presence was problematic. If I was in the cavernous chamber built for the tree then I wasn’t very far from where I had fled from my sister. Depending on how much time had passed I could still be in danger.

I paused for several moments, my eyes fixed on the moon, I was tempted to rest beneath the gentle light of the tree and recall some of my fonder memories. However, like the faded moon symbol, these sentiments were best left in the past and perhaps even forgotten. Once upon a time I would have caved to my temptation and lingered longer than I should have but I was no longer the same pony. Tears pooled briefly beneath my eyes but I ignored them as I scanned the cave for a path that should have existed.

As I scanned the space my eyes were drawn to a pile of rubble. It was in the direction of where the entrance should have been. I trotted closer to get a better look, the rocks had fallen some time ago but appeared to be unstable and packed loosely together. I considered my options, which were limited to, blasting away the rubble or levitating it aside. Neither option was particularly appealing, if I blasted them I could draw unwanted attention and I couldn’t guarantee that I had the strength to slowly move the pile aside. I rested my hoof against a rock, assessing the piles strength. After determining it was possible to knock the pile over, I gave it a light kick. It was one of many mistakes that I would soon be making.

When assessing the strength of the pile I forgot to consider the size of the rocks in the pile. The loose rubble wobbled and groaned as a small boulder towards the top was dislodged and fell towards me. I stumbled backwards and tripped, unable to dodge the massive chunk of rock I let loose a magical blast. I knew, even as I cast the spell, that I didn’t have the strength for it. I watched with horror as the spell failed, causing a small distortion before imploding and throwing me backwards. I heard the sound of my body slamming into something rather hard, most likely the tree of harmony, and then the world went dark.

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I awoke sometime later if my body had grievances before then it was outright rebelling now. My head was spinning and I felt as if I hadn’t slept in days, it was several minutes before I even had the strength to lift my head. I recalled that my spell had failed, had I not panicked I could have likely jumped aside to avoid the blast. There was no use lamenting spilled oats, it seemed as if the spell had managed to blast aside a great deal of the rubble. I climbed unsteadily to my hooves and made my way towards the exit.

As I stepped forward I found myself beneath a canopy of the stars, a gentle breeze caressed my cheeks and I was filled with an indescribable feeling. A numbness settled over my body I was vaguely aware that my current appearance would be unsuitable. There were only two Alicorns in all of Equestria and the sudden appearance, or rather return, of one would undoubtedly draw attention. As numbness continued to settle I cast a transformation spell. I knew the words I was speaking but struggled to hear myself. I started moving forward, climbing an ancient set of stairs that led to the mass of land above the tree of harmony. As I climbed the stairs the numbness continued to spread, slowly claiming my forelegs. When I reached the top of the stairs I was just beyond the bridge leading to my former castle and my legs began to shake.

I sat down before my legs gave out entirely, but the shaking didn’t stop instead it continued upward so that my entire body was shaking. Tears began welling in my eyes, I didn’t understand why the tears wouldn’t stop. It wasn’t until I gazed upon my ruined home, truly beheld the castle, that I understood. I was… grieving. My home was gone, my role in Equestria was gone, everything I had once used to define myself… the pony I used to be? She too was gone. The beautiful castle, whose spires once stretched towards the moon and overlooked the rising sun, was in ruins. Gone were its tranquil gardens and majestic architecture. The tree of harmony had once been protected by an elegant stone entrance, flanked by stone griffin sentries, but like the castle, very little remained. This world was likely very different from the one I had left and I didn’t even know where to begin, how to start over. As I wept like a foal I was unaware of the hoof steps approaching me.

“Who dares to cry instead of applaud in the presence of THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE?” a rather high pitched voice bellowed behind me. I practically fell on my face as I leaped to my hooves, momentarily forgetting that they were numb. I barely had enough time to look back and see a cloaked figure moving towards me. A large brimmed, purple, star-coated pointed hat upon their head. The pony raised their cornflower-blue head revealing a slender rounded horn. It was quite clear that they was some sort of wizard. Celestia must have sent them, why else would a wizard be wandering around this place at this time of night?

I had been far too careless.
Celestia had found me, would I be slain or simply taken captive?
It didn’t matter, it was all over.

“Uhh, are you alright?” the unicorn asked with a perplexed expression. They leaned back uncertainly as a peculiar expression forming on their face as they waited for my response. It was a response they wouldn’t receive because for the third time that evening I passed out. The last thing I recalled was the wizards surprised and extremely confused face as they leaped backwards.

Author's Note

Special thanks to the reader who helped me catch a continuity error in this chapter long after I had uploaded it:
- RikiTheMonk

Chapter 3: Aftermath

Celestria stretched her neck towards the sky. The moon was beautiful without the shape of a mare emblazoned across its delicate silver face any longer. The stars had always felt cold and distant since Luna’s banishment, but since her return, they felt even colder to the white mare. Her eyes were riveted on the luminous orb, hoping desperately that it would move and slide behind the horizon, for several moments she waited with baited breath. Still the moon and her stars stood frozen in place, just as they had every night for the last thousand years.

“Craaw craw,” a gentle coo broke the mare from her trance as a flame coated bird nuzzled her neck. “Crrrra crrrwww,” it continued to gently cluck, nipping lovingly at its owner. With a resigned sigh Celestia lowered the moon, watching as the sun slowly began to climb over the horizon. Soon the sky was painted with lovely pinks and yellows as the dark purple and blue hues of the night were chased from the sky. The phoenix tilted its head with concern and drew closer, picking up on the alicorns disappointment.

“No, no, Philomena… you were right, it was time to raise the sun.” For several days she had watched for any changes to Luna’s moon or her sun, praying that she would find some trace of the former princess in the night sky. Celestia did not see Luna in her dreams, nor had any reports of an unfamiliar alicorn been delivered to Canterlot. In fact, Celestia couldn’t even begin to reflect upon the resources she had wasted scouring the former castle grounds or surrounding woods looking for her. It was time to accept that she could no longer hope that Luna would easily be found or willingly return to her. It was as if she had simply… vanished. Perhaps she was safe wherever she was. Celestia’s last memory of her was etched painfully into her mind. She had hoped that when we they next met it would be as sisters and not as foes, but she could not base all her decisions around such a fanciful resolution any longer.

“Let’s go, my pet. We have a long day ahead of us and many ponies to speak with… I suppose it is time that I own up to my past mistakes.” She paused, unwilling to step forward, to prepare her city… her people, for the nightmare that could ensue. As if sensing my hesitation, the phoenix spread her wings and flapped several times before nipping at the princesses flank. With a chuckle she took the hint and trotted forward. The day would be long but wouldn’t get any shorter if she tried to avoid it.

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After the battle with Nightmare Moon everything had been a blur for the Princess and her pupil. Princess Celestia had promised the six ponies that she would explain everything later, but to restore order they needed to finish the Summer Sun Celebration. They had been paraded about Ponyville as heroes while Celestia finished raising the sun and ponies cheered, letting it conclude as scheduled. Afterwards they returned immediately to Canterlot, the promise of an explanation to be delivered shortly.

It had been seven days since the Summer Sun Celebration, and while she had plenty of books to read, Twilight’s mind kept wandering back to Nightmare Moon's face when Celestia had approached her. She had looked so scared - no, terrified - of Celestia. While old history books cited the “Mare in The Moon’s” transformation as a result of jealousy and envy, was that all there was to the story? There were very few texts or tomes that even mentioned the Mare in the Moon and even fewer that mentioned Luna. The lack of information… bothered Twilight, leaving her anxious and restless. There hadn’t been a moment to ask her mentor anything. Day after day dignitaries descended upon Canterlot, demanding information. Their first concern was always what had happened to Nightmare Moon and what had happened to the princess. Even now, as Twilight waited for her ponyville friends, a long line of news ponies, government representatives, and those with usual business, all waited for a moment of the princess’s time. Even thinking about the state of affairs made it impossible for Twilight Sparkle to sit still. Anxiously, she trotted back and forth about the Canterlot train station while Spike watched.

“Twilight, maybe you should sit down and relax for a bit,” the small purple dragon suggested, his green spines sparkling in the sunlight. “The train will be here before you know it. Besides, if you keep pacing like this, you won’t have any energy left to show our friends around Canterlot." The pair had arrived at the station about an hour ago, at Twilight's insistence that they “not take any chances and risk being late.” Twilight hadn’t stopped pacing since they had arrived.

“Spike, don’t you understand how important this is? Princess Celestia is going to explain more about Nightmare Moon and the next steps for locating Luna.” Twilight's tail swung irritably as she spoke, snapping from side to side. “Who is apparently her sister and also a princess. If that wasn’t bad enough the only thing we’ve got to defend ourselves against her are the Elements of Harmony.” The last words were finished with noticeable anxiety and exasperation. Spike walked over and gently patted Twilight's shoulder. “I mean, Princess Luna has been gone for a thousand years. Who knows where she’s gone, or if she’s hurt, or has been captured, or is plotting some sort of horrible revenge.” Twilight continued to ramble as her anxiety continued to grow, fueled by her own darkening thoughts.

“Well… Princess Celestia has always seemed pretty prepared. I’m sure she has a plan to help us find or defeat Luna.” Spike replied. Twilight had already shared with him the events that had transpired in the Everfree Castle. In fact, she had given him a play-by-play of the events, analyzing each action they had taken, determining if there was anything they could have done to have had things end differently. Spike wasn’t sure if Princess Celestia really did have a plan, but he hoped she did, if for nothing else than to ease Twilight's anxiety. He could tell that not being able to help Celestia reconcile with her sister right away had been weighing heavily on her mind.

Their conversation was interrupted by the shrill shriek of the train's horn, announcing its impending arrival. The two walked to the edge of the platform and waited, watching for the train that would soon be coming around the bend. It wasn’t long before the colorful Friendship Express came into view. Several moments later it came to a stop, letting out a slow hiss as it settled. Ponies disembarked and Twilight anxiously scanned the crowd until a familiar voice caught her attention “Twilight!” She turned to her left, barely managing to withstand a leaping Pinkie Pie hug “Oh my gosh, it is so good to see you again! Even though it’s only been like a couple of days it feeeels like forever!” the pink earth pony excitedly chattered on as the rest of their friends approached.

“It's good to see you, too, Pinkie Pie. Actually it's good to see all of you,” Twilight replied warmly. The purple unicorn had been so caught up in her own thoughts and the events within the castle that she hadn’t realized how much she missed them until she’d seen them. Fluttershy and Rarity moved in for hugs of their own while Applejack and Rainbow Dash trotted up behind them, waving as they approached.

“It’s nice to see you too, Sugarcube. We haven’t heard much since you an’ the princess returned to Canterlot. Is everything alright?”

“Yeah, has the princess caught Nightmare Moon? Or is she still out there somewhere? ‘Cause if she thinks she can beat us, she’s got another think coming!” Rainbow Dash said cheekily, a grin on her face as she took a couple of swipes in the air.

“Rainbow Dash, would you please settle down? We’re in Canterlot now,” Rarity added, “the city of culture and couture. This is hardly the time or place for that sort of behavior.” Twilight couldn’t stop smiling. While their adventure together had been brief, she felt as if she had known these ponies forever.

“Twilight?” Spike tugged on the purple unicorn's tail and said, “We should really get back to carriage, maybe we can talk more there…” While the purple dragon hated interrupting, it was rare for Twilight to want to enjoy the company of a pony who wasn’t the princess, a teacher, or librarian. He also knew how much she had missed them since returning to Canterlot, even if she wouldn’t ever say it out loud.

“You’re right Spike. C’mon girls,” Twilight said as she turned and led her friends to a carriage waiting at the front of the station. Once they were inside, the carriage took off. The two unicorn guards pulling it sprinted as fast as they could towards Celestia’s Palace.

“Ummm… Twilight?” Fluttershy asked timidly, playing with her tail. “Has princess Celestia said anything about Nightmare Moon since the Celebration? I know what she did was wrong but she looked so… helpless.” The yellow pegasus had said something that had been bothering them all for many nights. The story they had been told didn’t seem to match up with the pony that they had defeated, nor did it explain why she had been so terrified of Celestia.

Twilight looked out, watching the rapidly passing Canterlot scenery. “No… she hasn’t. The truth is, since we’ve returned, the princess hasn’t really had a moment’s rest. Diplomats and representatives from cities all over Equestria have been pouring in and demanding to speak with her.” Her friends frowned, noting Twilight’s somber tone. “B-but I’m sure it’s fine! I mean it is Princess Celestia,” Twilight continued. “I’m sure she’s dealt with much more serious issues. I mean she’s been only ruling for 1,000 years.” Twilight rambled on anxiously with a forced cheerfulness. She wasn’t fooling anypony, but they nodded their heads to calm their friend; they were certain they would find out soon enough what their princess had to say

Chapter 4: The Great and Powerful Trixie

I could smell something warm and delicious, a hearty stew-like scent. Slowly I opened my eyes, feeling a vague sense of déjà vu as I tried to recover from my third fainting spell. Instead of finding myself out in the elements, I discovered that I was lying in some sort of cabin. It was small, but felt warm and familiar. The walls had many shelves lined with numerous knickknacks and other small trinkets. Looking down, I found myself tucked in beneath a warm and well-worn quilt.

A door to my left, that I had failed to notice, was thrown open as the cornflower-blue wizard returned. In her mouth was a small bundle of herbs while small packs on her sides were stuffed with berries. She did a double-take, glancing at me several times before realizing that I was awake.
“Ah! I see my number one fan has finally awoken from her slumber!” She cried with delight, accidentally dropping the herbs on the floor.

“Number one fan?” I asked timidly. What the unicorn was saying made very little sense and she was quite sure it wasn’t a result of her numerous collapses.

“But of course!” The unicorn cursed herself before levitating the herbs into a nearby jar. It was quite clear that despite being a unicorn, the task was quite difficult and taxing for her. “What else could explain a unicorn weeping and then fainting in the presence of the GREAT AND POWERfUL TRIXIE?”

“Of course! I didn’t mean to trouble you.” I had no idea who this Trixie was, but I doubted that she was great or powerful. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be wise to stay in the company of the unicorn for too long and risk having her spell work detected. “Perhaps I should leave you before you waste anymore time worrying about me. I-I wouldn’t want to deprive you of your rest.” I said as I rose to my hooves, hoping to make a clean exit.

“Oh but I can’t let you do that. I can’t help but feel partially responsible for your current state.” Trixie lamented, blocking the door with her body as she posed a bit dramatically. “After all, had it not been for the presence of THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE, you wouldn’t have collapsed. What pony could truly be prepared to bask in my presence?”

“Oh, please, you don’t need to worry about that. I-It already means so much to me that you cared for me. I-I couldn’t possibly impose on you any further,” Luna replied nervously. She wasn’t sure where Trixie was going with this and she really didn’t have the time to find out.

“Oh you flatter me, I know! As thanks for being such a devoted fan I will give you a special in-person performance right now!” Trixie replied with delight.

“O-oh, you don’t have to go to all that trouble.”

“Nonsense, it’s the least I can do for my number one fan! This will give me a chance to practice my act before I amaze and astound the citizens of Ponyville.”

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I sat on a log, heavily questioning several of my choices from the past several days; particularly the ones that had led me to meeting Trixie. The blue unicorn had been polite enough to serve me some stew while she prepared her “stage” to show me her amazing performance. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until I had devoured two bowls. It seemed to have eased some of the nausea I had been experiencing as I realized it may have been a sign of low blood sugar or hunger.

“So Trixie, what brought you to the Castle of the Two Sisters?” I asked as I watched her put the finishing touches on her makeshift stage.

“The castle of the two what-now?” She asked with confusion, stomping a piece of wood into place. She stared at me with a strange look in her eye.

“Oh uh- I mean the ruins of the castle. I mean I hear a lot of ponies say how scary this place is and the lengths they would go to avoid it.” I had quickly realized my mistake and tried to play it off. Trixie seemed to buy it and turned away, focusing her attention on a bouquet that she was making for me to toss to her at the end of the performance.

“Well that’s rather simple, really. The great and powerful Trixie already has incredible show stopping abilities but… I’ve been thinking I need to add something to my already amazing performances. I was thinking about it as I was trotting over to Ponyville when I saw something incredible!”

“Oh what did you see?” I asked, feigning curiosity. I had a feeling I knew what it was but I wanted to confirm exactly what the street performer knew.

“Well, you wouldn’t believe it but I saw this incredible brilliant ball of light and for a moment rocks and boulders were launched into the air. I came over here to see if I could find what had caused all the ruckus but when I arrived only you were there.” Satisfied with her work, she laid the bouquet at my hooves. “You didn’t happen to see anything did you?”

“Oh nope, sorry. When I arrived everything was pretty quiet and I didn’t see any pony or animals around.” Trixie clicked her tongue in disappointment, perhaps hoping that I would divulge something of use.

“Well no matter, Trixie’s preparations are complete. Prepare to have your pretty little pony mind blown!” Trotting towards a makeshift curtain I feigned a star struck gaze of excitement. “I shall show you feats of magic that you have likely never seen!

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Trixie's performance was unimpressive, and that was putting it kindly. She had burst onto the stage, unleashing several smoke bombs with less-than-agreeable aromas. Most of her “show stopping tricks” were barely above card tricks. Many of her “incredible feats” were mundane or easily accomplished by the weakest of unicorns. Still, her passion and determination were admirable and the only thing not in flux throughout the performance. As planned at the end of her show, I tossed her the bouquet and applauded as she continued to bow for several long minutes.

“So what do you think, my number one fan? Brilliant or what?” Trixie asked, trotting towards me with her head held high. She confidently strutted forward as her cape slightly billowed behind her. Pride seemed to radiate from every pore, despite her lackluster performance.

“Oh uhh, it was incredible! Definitely jaw-dropping,” I replied “I mean your smoke bombs were spot on and those fireworks? Uh-mazing!” Trixie's eyes seemed to sparkle and shine with delight. “But…” I paused dramatically placing a hoof against my muzzle. While Trixie had been preparing for her performance I had been preparing for a performance of my own.

“But what?” Trixie asked, a hint of nervousness slipping out.

“Well, it's just, I see what you mean. Your performance was amazing...” Trixie's chest swelled again. “...But it felt as if it was missing something.” I reached behind me and produced a small blue crystal.

I had spotted the crystal while Trixie fussed over her makeshift stage. For any other pony I might have hesitated, but I had a particularly good feeling about a pony like Trixie. I had cast several small charms upon the stone, insignificant enough to be easily overlooked but still able to have impressive effects - one of these effects being increased shimmer and shine.
“Perhaps this would help you.” I held it out towards her as it settled in the center of her hoof. As Trixie continued to gaze at the stone it seemed to glow, catching the light in just the right way.

“What is it, exactly?” Trixie asked curiously “I’ve seen gems before but this one seems… unusual. Does it have any special type of magic?” Unlike the many mares I had met, its shimmer held no sway over her. Instead the unicorn seemed more interested in what it could do, and I was admittedly a bit surprised.

“It’s an ancient talisman passed down for centuries through my family. It hasn’t ever worked for me but… for someone as talented as the Great and Powerful Trixie, it’s sure to bring good fortune!” Trixie smiled, eagerly awaiting the next wave of praise.

“You flatter me! How does this little talisman work exactly?” She asked as she levitated it a bit closer to get a better look at it. “And where in Equestria did it come from?” I had already rehearsed the story several times in the back of my head while Trixie performed.

“Well, my parents told me that many generations ago,” I began ominously, looking from side to side quickly for dramatic effect, “two of my ancestors worked for the Mare in the Moon, before she turned evil and tried to take over Equestria. The talisman was a gift from her to reward them for their efforts, but no one in our family has ever been able to get this gem to work for them. I’m not sure if the story is true, but I’m certain this gem holds some sort of power.”

“Well that is certainly an interesting story, my little pony,” Trixie remarked, her eyes fixed on the tawdry little jewel. “But how does it work?” She spun the gem about, examining each face carefully.

“Come close and I will whisper the spell to you. If I remember right the spell only works if you really want it to and if you need it. I recommend waiting to try it, maybe save it for your Ponyville show. I’m sure it would work then.” Trixie smiled and leaned in close. I cupped my hooves around her ear and whispered the three little words that would seal her fate.

Author's Note

Special thanks to these readers who helped me catch several errors I overlooked when I posted this chapter:
- ZodiacalComet
- MoonlightEcplipsed
- DarkKnightOfIT

Chapter 5: The Meeting

Celestia could hear the sound of approaching hoof steps long before she could see the ponies making them. Her entire body was tense as she anticipated the arrival of the guests. As the door swung open and the placid face of the door pony met her gaze she relaxed.

“Announcing the arrival of Twilight Sparkle and her guests- ” a low, hearty voice called.

“That will be all, thank you,” Celestia called to the guard. Once she heard Twilight’s name, she knew the ponies who would come trotting through the door. As Celestia rose from her throne, Philomena flew from her perch and followed after her owner as she strode forward.

“Princess Celestia,” Twilight began, having only walked a short distance before falling forward and kneeling before her mentor. The five ponies and dragon behind Twilight followed suit, paying their respects to the powerful ruler. Celestia stopped at the bottom of the stairs leading to her throne.

“Please rise, my little ponies. Let us continue our discussion in the garden,” She walked between the ponies and led the way. The hallways were lined with long stretches of stained glass portraits and murals. The sunlight cast colors and light on the ponies as they walked through the tall corridors. The walk to the garden was awkward and silent, their echoing hoof steps doing nothing to ease the tension.

When they finally reached the castle’s rear garden, there was an almost an audible sigh of relief. There was a large circular table with nine seats, tea, and an assortment of small snacks waiting for them. Celestia took a seat first, levitating a cup of tea to her lips as the others uneasily took their seats.

“I know that you’ve all been very patient, waiting for an explanation of the events that took place within the Castle of the Two Sisters. I am sorry that I couldn’t offer an explanation sooner.” She lowered her cup and looked into the eyes of each pony at the table. “Please, while we sit here, don’t think of me as your princess or a mentor, but as another pony with answers. Don’t hesitate to ask me anything, regardless of how it might sound; I promise to answer truthfully.”

“Uhh, Princess-” Applejack broke the silence first.

“Please, call me Celestia.” Celestia interrupted, a gentle smile on her face.

“Umm, Celestia, I am glad to be getting answers and all but are we expecting company?” Applejack gestured to the two remaining seats at the table.

“Don’t worry about them for now. There were two other ponies who were intended to join us, however their work appears to be making them run a bit late. However, they know everything that I am going to share with you today,” The ponies’ ears perked up at the statement, “While late, I believe they will join us and hopefully provide information that even I am unaware of."

“Exactly, what is it they’ve been researching?” Rarity asked a bit nervously this time. The princess may have asked them to dispense with the formalities, but Rarity wanted to be cautious. After all, this was the princess of Equestria and she still should be treated with great respect.

“Why, the signs of Luna’s return of course,” At those words, Twilight practically choked on her tea, mid sip, a bit of the tepid brown fluid escaped via her nostrils.

“B-but you said,” she dabbed at her muzzle, “it was all an old pony tale.”

“I told you that you needed to make friends, nothing more. You alone did not see the signs of Nightmare Moon’s return. I had been waiting for this day to come for longer than any of you can imagine. When the first whispers of her return appeared I was quick to act. I prepared a party of ponies who began to study Luna-”

“Uhh, Celestia? I don’t mean to interrupt you or nothin’, but how could they study Luna if she’d been gone a thousand years?” Applejack asked nervously. The farm pony was aware she was using a lot of “uhhs” and at times stumbling over her own words. She was feeling a bit out of her element in the castle, and calling the princess by her first name felt strange. Despite being in the tranquil garden wasn't doing much for Applejack's nerves.

“Yeah, and how did you know she was going to appear in Ponyville?” Rainbow Dash added. The light blue pegasus had kept quiet for some time but she didn’t want to leave the meeting with more questions than answers. If things really had been getting as crazy as Twilight had mentioned earlier, then Rainbow had no idea when another opportunity like this would present itself.

“P-perhaps you could m-maybe start from the beginning?” Fluttershy added nervously “That is if you u-um wouldn’t mind talking about,” she seemed to slowly dip behind the table, her voice starting to get quieter and higher pitched, “exactly what happened to Luna to make her turn into…” her voice was little more than a squeak. Pinkie Pie, whose mouth was stuffed with an assortment of muffins, nodded her head in agreement.

“Of course, that might explaining things a bit easier,” Celestia smiled warmly at Fluttershy, attempting to ease her nervousness. “Since the defeat of Discord, my sister Luna and I ruled over Equestria. As alicorns, our magic made it easy to protect the kingdom and help it expand, but we were not infallible. Alicorns are powerful, and as a result our magic can be rather… sensitive to our emotions. As the princess of the day, I was beloved and celebrated by our ponies. However, as princess of the night, Luna was not celebrated in the same way. Many ponies back then feared the night.” Celestia paused. “Please don’t misunderstand,” she began to defend the subject who had long since passed, “they cared about her but they did not give her the love and appreciation she deserved… truthfully, neither had I,” Celestia sighed, her eyes glazing over as she stared intently at her tea, as if seeing something that nopony else could.

“It is my belief that over time Luna began to feel unloved, possibly even hated. In turn, her magic began to respond to her dark feelings and transformed her into something, no, somepony who couldn’t be ignored. After it happened, I attempted to reason with her, but there was no point. She was already consumed by the magic; I had no choice but to use the Elements of Harmony against her and banish her to the moon for a thousand years.” Celestia sighed. “When Luna was banished, I couldn’t bear to part with anything that had belonged to her. When I left our former home I took everything of hers with me. I placed it in a special room and placed a spell on it that has kept everything preserved all these years.”

Celestia levitated a black berry scone onto her plate. “When I first saw the signs of her return, I had the assembled ponies study everything that belonged to her: her journal, her scent, anything she touched, and even the magic that sent her away. I hoped it would give them an edge if Luna didn’t appear somewhere near Ponyville. We didn’t know exactly what the Elements had done to banish Luna. However, all spells, hexes, curses, and enchantments with similar effects had their targets appear within a relatively short distance from where the spell was cast.”

It was Pinkie Pie who spoke this time, licking some crumbs around her muzzle away. “Wait, if you have her journal, can’t you read it and see what caused the transformation?” Twilight bit her lip a bit nervously, she had been thinking the same thing but hadn’t dared to ask. How could she?

“I will admit that might have been easiest. However, I haven’t been able to bring myself to read it. A transformation like Luna’s… it takes more than one night to happen. I was afraid to read it for the longest time - afraid to see all the signs I had failed to recognize and the sister I had failed to be. Even now, the only ones who have read it are those who I assigned to locating Luna.” Celestia replied, her smile appearing pained.

“So what happens now?” Twilight asked. “Do you want us to assist with the search for Luna or-” Celestia shook her head before Twilight could finish her sentence.

Staring fondly down at her prize pupil, Celestia responded, “I believe now, more than ever, the magic of friendship is needed in Equestria. That is why I would like you to continue your studies in Ponyville. Continue to study the magic of friendship and report your findings to me from your new home.” Twilight’s eyes widened as smiles spread across all their faces. “As for Luna, I would like you to keep your eyes open for anything suspicious. While I doubt that Luna would return to Ponyville so soon, we can’t be certain." she said firmly.

“So does that mean Luna is our enemy now?” Applejack asked earnestly. Everypony's happy faces were replaced with uncertainty.

“I am not sure. At this time, I don’t believe Luna is evil or corrupted by her powers. However, I don’t know what she is thinking or feeling, and it is imperative we find her. If you see her, please don’t hurt her, but we can’t be sure what her next move will be.” The ponies nodded.

“If there are no other questions, I believe it is in our best interest to conclude this meeting.” Her words were met with silence. Celestia walked towards Twilight. “After all, some pony needs to get settled in and be shown around Ponyville,” the white alicorn said with a smile and a wink to her student. With that, the meeting ended and the ponies returned home.

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With a sigh, Celestia sat on her bed. It had been just as hard to send Twilight away as she had imagined. She had wanted to cry letting her student leave. However, in her heart, she knew that it was best not only for Equestria but for Twilight as well. She was beginning to get comfortable, knowing that she may have cleared her duties temporarily but that there would be a price to pay come tomorrow morning.

Unfortunately for the princess, tomorrow was getting a head start. Just as she started to drift into a deep sleep, the sound of rapidly approaching hoof steps began to stir her. As she sat up the door to her bedroom was thrown open.

“Princess Celestia, I come bearing urgent news!” a familiar husky voice had her leaping “We’ve found traces of Princess Luna!”

“Speak Vermillion” Celestia replied, her tri-colored hair appearing a bit more disheveled than usual. Her chest tightened as she sat down to listen to the last piece of news she wanted to hear.

Chapter 6: Welcome To Canterlot

The path to Canterlot had been paved with kind ponies. Before I had parted with Trixie several days ago, she had kindly offered me some spare provisions she had. It wasn’t much, just a well-worn saddle bag and a spare map. I hadn’t known where I would go until I pressed Trixie for details about the larger cities on the map. Trixie mentioned that Canterlot was known for its massive libraries and for being a center of culture, learning and magic. If I had any hope of surviving in this new world, I needed to understand the rules and bodies of power that influenced it.

It wasn’t until I had nearly reached the city that I discovered it was the new capital and seat of Celestia’s power. I had tried to mentally prepare myself for what I might see. The city would be not only a reflection of my sister’s power, but also the type of leader she was. I felt that vanity, pride, and shortsightedness had been my elder sister’s greatest weaknesses. Anticipating the worst, I expected to see effigies and other dedications to Celestia, her face visible from every street corner, and her colors reflected across the city. I was not prepared for what Canterlot had to offer.

The buildings were grand and were graced with intricate details that highlighted their exteriors. The city was teeming with life and culture: it appeared to be ingrained in every walkway and arch. The ponies themselves were adorned in jewels and strange yet beautiful garments. The paths were flanked by delicate flora and well-maintained shrubbery. The last time I had really been in Equestria, paved pathways had only been considered. The resources required had been deemed too costly, but it was clear no expense had been spared for the capital.

I spun about trying to appreciate it all; it was all so breathtaking.

A nearby store front caught my eye and I couldn’t help but trot forward for a better look. My eyes widened with delight as I stared at the wonderful items within. The display was clearly intended for a toy store. Just beyond the window pane, lustrous red velvet lined the display. Fluffy stuffed toys with glittering glass eyes seemed to smile back at me. Around the perimeter, a small train happily puffed, its movement clearly fueled by some unseen magic. As I started to back away, I froze as I locked eyes with a pony I wasn’t familiar with.

It took me several seconds to realize that I was looking at my own reflection. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment and left me feeling rather foolish. I wasn’t quite used to my new appearance. I had always taken my sapphire blue irises for granted.

My coat was a frosty shade of blue but my mane was still a dark sapphire, a bolt of silver cutting through it. I hadn’t quite adjusted to my honey gold eyes and was always startled when I didn’t see the sapphire irises I had always taken for granted. My cutie mark now was a crescent moon with a small droplet hanging off the tip, several small stars, and three wavy clouds. I had even gone so far as to cut my mane and tail, disposing of my sacrificed hair in a nearby river. Hopefully, they would make their way to the Celestial Sea and give any of my pursuers the impression that I was somewhere in that area.

With a sigh, I returned my focus to my task. I needed to locate a library or some other location that held historical documents and magical spells. A particularly loud voice caught my attention, a pink mare with a rather pointed muzzle was talking to a rather dapper stallion and his marefriend. I trotted towards them, doing my best to look confident, friendly, and polite.

“Pardon me, this is my first time in Canterlot. Would you be able to direct me towards the library?” The pink mare recoiled, leaning away from me with a look of disgust. The ponies she had been speaking to raised their eyebrows and looked at one another quickly. They took several steps back and appeared to be relieved by my interruption. I had waited politely for a pause in their conversation, yet everypony seemed startled, or rather offended, by my presence. Had I said something strange?

“Do you know who I am?” The pink mare said with contempt, an undisguised sneer on her lips.
“No, but I am-” I replied a bit nervously.

“I don’t want to hear your pitiful excuse.” The pink mare snapped. The couple she had been talking to took the opportunity to excuse themselves quietly and left. “It would make sense that somepony like you wouldn’t have any idea who I am.” She took a menacing step forward.

“Somepony like me? What do you mean by that?” Her question only seemed to anger the mare further. As far as I could tell she was dressed like any other peasant I had seen drifting about the city. What made her so special?

“A simple-minded pony who is clearly unaware of her own social standing.” The mare took another step towards her. “I am Spoiled Rich, wife to Filthy Rich, one of the wealthiest business ponies in Equestria. This necklace is worth more than anything you’ve ever held in your disgusting hooves.” Spoiled Rich’s voice grew louder as she spoke. I took a step back, feeling rather uncomfortable in her presence.

“Excuse me, what’s going on over here?” a new voice broke into the conversation. A stallion came out from the building behind us. He had a light orange coat with a cyan mane with a pair of black goggles holding his voluminous mane back. He frowned as his eyes locked with Spoiled Rich’s. An expression flitted across her face for a moment before being replaced by a scowl.

“That would be none of your concern,” Spoiled snapped.

“That would be where you’re wrong,” he replied cooly. “It is, more or less, my business when loud ponies are screaming outside of my store and chasing away potential customers.” I couldn’t help but glance at the sign for “New Horizons.”

Spoiled looked taken back by his harsh words. There was an emotion on her face akin to being wounded, which lasted for only a few moments before being replaced by indignant rage. “What hard times you’ve fallen upon if ponies like this are your clientele. You’ve fallen far from Canterlot’s good graces, haven’t you? Regardless,” she continued as the stallion clenched his jaw, “someone of your status has no business speaking to me.” She turned her head away from him with her muzzle held high. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “After all, consider what effect my word could have on your little hobby shop,” she spat the words like an insult. “It could have a rather negative impact on your business.” The stallion, seeming to have recovered a bit of his composure, raised a single eyebrow before derisively snorting.

“Is that a fact? I thought someone in your position wouldn’t be so eager to keep making the same mistake.” Spoiled Rich’s head spun back towards him so quickly I was quite certain I heard her neck snap. “After all, it’s well known that you’re just an impetuous upstart who has been rather aggressively and abrasively taking Canterlot by storm; I can only imagine what sort of damage an incident like this could do to your social standing. Especially considering Impossibly Rich’s feelings towards you.” Spoiled Rich balked under the thinly veiled threat, her face becoming a bit pale. “Go home, Spoiled Rich. We all have better things to do with our time than deal with one of your contrived incidents.” From the way the mare opened and closed her mouth several times, it was clear she had something to say but thought better of it. Without another word she stormed away, shooting withering glares at the two ponies behind her.

“My name is Fresh Coat. What’s yours?” I jumped slightly. I had been focused on Spoiled Rich’s retreating figure. Fresh Coat stared at me with an outstretched hoof and a grin. I hadn’t wanted to continue the argument with Spoiled Rich, but the stallion had been equally brutal. I wasn’t sure if I should shake his hoof or smack it. Before I could reply, the clouds overhead gave a low rumble. “Err- Perhaps we could continue this conversation inside?”

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“So your name is Dream Drop?” Fresh Coat asked, his head slightly tilted and a small smile on his lips. I nodded in response, munching on a daffodil and hay sandwich. The friendly stallion had been kind enough to offer me a snack while we waited out the storm, slowly but surely changing my opinion of him. The name was something I had thought of last minute. It seemed fitting since most of my spells were related to dreams and subconscious thought, not to mention the small water droplet on the moon of my cutie mark. I quickly swallowed and wiped my mouth with a nearby napkin.

“What exactly did you do to get Spoiled Rich all worked up like that?” Fresh Coat asked. A foreleg propped on a nearby counter as his head rested on his hoof.

“I’m not sure, to be honest. She was speaking with two ponies and I approached them to ask for directions to the nearest library. The couple she was with seemed polite enough, but Spoiled Rich seemed to only get more agitated even after they left.” Fresh Coat nodded his head. “Do you understand what I did to upset her?” I asked, hoping to gain some insight. Fresh Coat sat up and shrugged.

“To be honest, Spoiled Rich can get herself worked up over anything. If you don’t have status, money, or a skill she wants to take advantage of, she isn’t so great at keeping her temper in check.” He rolled his eyes. “Who was she talking to?”

“I’m not sure. They seemed nice enough and left while she was talking to me.” Fresh Coat nodded in response.

“Well, we’d better get going - the storm doesn’t look like it’s going to be letting up any time soon. I’m sure you want to get going to wherever you’re staying and rest. You look like you’ve had a long day.”

I grew silent and I felt my face grow a bit pale. My initial plan had been to go to the library and simply sleep there and erect some simple camouflage magic. With so many other ponies visiting the facilities and casting magic frequently, I had been sure they could cover my own use of magic. However, I had lost track of time sitting and talking with Fresh Coat. Already the sun had set and the street seemed to be well lit.

“This is your first time in the city, isn’t it?” Fresh Coat was looking at my face. His expression was an odd combination of concern, astonishment, and pity.

“Yes, I had just arrived in the city when I encountered Spoiled Rich. I figured that when I got here, I could just figure out a place to stay.” The last few words slowly died on my lips. It was better than it sounded; of this I was sure.

“Are you planning to stay in the city long?” Fresh Coat asked, his brow furrowed.

“Well, I had hoped to, but I should probably get going and look for a place to stay.” I smiled sheepishly. “You wouldn’t… happen to know of any good inns around here, would you?” I had assumed that if my first plan didn’t work, I could always just try and find a room at an inn or sleep beneath an invisibility spell. Fresh Coat’s concerned and horrified expression had me second-guessing myself.

“So I will just assume that you haven’t heard, then?” It was only then I began to learn of the consequences of “Nightmare Moon’s return,” and my adventures in Canterlot would officially begin.

Chapter 7: The Room

The streets of Canterlot were filled with an eerily uncomfortable mist and the clouds overhead were thick. Not even the moon could break through the clouds as our hooves clopped against the paved walkways. I felt as if we were being watched, as if Celestia or a squadron of royal guards would jump out from around any corner.

“I’m surprised you didn’t know. Even out on the road you really never heard anything?” Fresh Coat asked over his shoulder.

“N-no… I didn’t even know the Mare in the Moon was real. I just assumed she was some old pony tale.”

“You and the rest of Equestria. I guess you don’t really see it much during the day, but at night, security around Canterlot gets doubled. So many different ponies have been pouring in, there aren’t really any spare beds around.” I couldn’t help but swallow a bit nervously.

“So if there aren’t any spaces available, then where are we headed...?” We had, by this time, gone down many twists and turns. I had really lost track of which turns we had taken and when.

“Oh, you’ll see, It’s a... lovely place,” Fresh Coat said cheerfully, making me desperately wish I could believe that. Suddenly he came to a stop and opened a small gate, its door shrieking as we passed through. The lawn appeared overgrown and I could see several items poking through the grass, but the mist seemed to conceal it. I felt nervous as we drew closer to the hovel. Something seemed to be splattering the sides of the building, giving it a more ominous appearance.

Fresh Coat continued trotting forward as if the world around him simply didn’t matter, ignoring the trash and rather tall grass that was beginning to graze our barrels. The yard and the hovel we were approaching felt abandoned. The light of the nearby street lamps didn’t seem to reach the building only adding to my growing apprehension. Fresh Coat began to hum a small tune, oblivious to my feelings.

What am I doing? Even foals know better than to just follow strangers so easily, I thought as I nearly tripped over a stray stick. What would Celestia say if she saw me doing this now? She would think I was an utter fool! I was paying slightly more attention now. Fortunately, it was just enough attention to prevent myself from running into Fresh Coat’s flank.

Was I always this dumb? I don’t recall always being this dumb, I continued mentally grilling myself as Fresh Coat reached the door. Slowly he turned his head, the dim lighting giving him a rather sinister appearance.

“Welcome to my home!” he declared proudly.

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As the door swung open, I wasn’t sure what I had been expecting, but it hadn’t been this. Beyond the door was a rather open home, the sitting room and dining quarters seeming to have been combined. A set of stairs seemed to lead away towards an upper floor. However, none of these places held as much interest for me as the two ponies sitting at the simple square table.

A board game with several interconnecting square tiles and arranged pony figurines covered the table. The two ponies appeared to be engaged in some sort of epic battle. We had entered during the final climax of a war. The pony to the left, who had lavender hair, threw down a final card. It must have been effective, because as he played it, what I can only assume was his rival’s last pony figurine was laid low.

“Nooooo!” a pale pink mare cried dramatically. “Celestia, why have you forsaken me?!” She flopped face-first against the table. The board before her was jolted from its position, scattering the pieces that had been sitting upon it. The lime green stallion with the purple hair on the other side threw his hooves in the air.

“What did I tell you, Love Lace? You can’t take down the Master!” he laughed as he threw both hooves into the air in victory. Fresh Coat appeared to be slightly embarrassed for the scene we were viewing and coughed slightly to catch their attention. It was the lime pony that spoke first.

“Fresh Coat! You finally made it back! Sooo, you get us any new clients or jobs lined up?” he said in a joking manner. “Or did you spend the entire day… missing me?” The pony dramatically struck a pose and made a kissy face.

“Welcome home, Fresh Coat!” the other pony replied. She seemed cheerful enough. Despite appearing to be overwhelmed by defeat moments earlier, she was now bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. “Do you perhaps want to enter the world of Ogres and Oubliettes with us? I may not be able to defeat New Scene’s Rat King alone, but together we can overcome!” she boldly declared, a hoof raised in the air.

“Maybe another time,” Fresh Coat replied. “I do have somepony that I would like you two to meet.” I had unintentionally been hiding behind Fresh Coat and only realized this when he stepped aside. The two ponies’ faces became blank and Love Lace quickly knocked Ogres and Oubliettes off the table. It was New Scene who regained composure first and trotted over curiously.

“Sooo,” he said slowly, leaning in to get a better look at me. I leaned back a bit nervously. Trixie may have developed personal boundary issues when trying to show off, but she had nothing on this curious stallion. “Whooooo are you?” he asked.

“Uhhh, Dream...Drops?” I replied a bit uncertainly. Without warning, New Scene pulled back and extended a hoof to me. I took it cautiously and was alarmed when he began to vigorously shake it.

“Nice to meetcha! I am New Scene.” He had a great grin across his face. He seemed nice but his very cheerful disposition reminded me of a certain pink pony. “I work with Fresh Coat to bring all sorts of life to Canterlot through our visual arts.” I wanted to ask him a question but before I could, Love Lace stepped forward.

“Hello, I’m Love Lace!” She did a quick curtsy before extending her hoof for a shake. “I’m not quite as artistically gifted as Fresh Coat and New Scene, but I make a pretty mean apron or pillow from time to time.” she added with a wink. “I currently work for a stallion and mare matching company.” She looked between me and Fresh Coat quickly. “Sooo, are you here for dinner-”

“Orrrrrrrr?” New Scene cut in looking more quickly between myself and Fresh Coat.

“Cool it, you two,” Fresh Coat said with a smile. “She’s here because she’s looking for a room.” New Scene pouted for about thirty seconds before recovering his smile and Love Lace just clapped her hooves excitedly.

⊰ ★ ⊱ ❈ ⊰ ★ ⊱ ❈ ⊰ ★ ⊱

It had taken me more than several minutes to process what was happening. In fact, even as I watched, I still couldn’t believe it was happening. Near the bed, Lovelace was spreading out a delicate-looking quilt and tossing a couple of pillows on top. New Scene and Fresh Coat were scooting in a desk and making sure it fit just right. A sickening feeling was building in my stomach. I grabbed Fresh Coat and quickly pulled him aside

“Fresh Coat, I’m not sure I can afford this.” I whispered frantically. He smiled calmly and replied in a happy voice.

“Oh, don’t worry too much about that! I’m sure you can afford it,” he replied jovially as, I must confess, I did feel an urge to punch the stallion. He smiled softly at me, the way an adult might look at a young filly for worrying about monsters under the bed. He ruffled my mane and shouted, “Now, c’mon! I bet you’re gonna wanna sleep after dinner, and this room won’t get itself ready!” before trotting back cheerfully back into the room. For a fleeting moment, I envied his confidence that everything was going to be alright and would just magically work itself out. I followed him back into the room reluctantly.

“Wait, are you sure? I don’t want to inconvenience you. Are you sure these are items you can spare?” I asked, biting my lip. The quilt was lovely, but such blankets couldn’t be cheap and the desk looked quite difficult to move. I didn’t even know what currency these ponies were using. I couldn’t guarantee that I would be able to make enough bits to afford this place - the price was a detail that Fresh Coat had neglected to share. My question went unnoticed or was subsequently ignored, because nopony bothered answering.

“Dinner should be ready about now!” Love Lace suddenly noted, glancing at the new clock they had put on my wall. New Scene’s stomach then rumbled and the three laughed and led the way towards dinner. I was torn between staying in the room - after all, I hadn’t been explicitly invited - or following after them.

“C’mon, Dream Drops, we’re having four-cheese ravioli that’s amazing. The stallion at the pasta shop down a few blocks makes some of the best in Canterlot,” Love Lace called to me with a smile. She then squinted her eyes and looked over her shoulder before continuing in a whisper. “Besides, if you wait too long, Fresh Coat will eat it all.” The knot in my stomach twisted. I couldn’t likely afford the room or any of the items in it, and Fresh Coat had provided me with lunch earlier, but here I was about to go and eat their food again. Still, I had no better options and followed after with a small smile.

Dinner was a mix between a conversation and a battlefield. The ravioli had been arranged into a precarious looking pyramid at the center of the table. Sauce and melted cheese flowed freely from the top down, only making the pile more unstable. Every pony had a fork and a plate in front of them. While everyone tried to carry pleasant conversations it was clear that their minds were heavily focused on the ravioli they were fighting for.

It seemed so natural, four ponies sitting around a table, talking, eating, laughing.
But it wasn’t. Because these weren’t just any ponies.
We were 3 friends and a stranger.
A stranger who they were letting stay with them.
Normally one wouldn’t just whip a room together and roll out the carpet for somepony they hadn’t ever met. Let alone let that same stranger sleep in their house for free.
It was so unnatural. It didn’t make sense.

“Why?” I asked.

“Why what?” New Scene asked first, Fresh Coat’s muzzle was stuffed with ravioli and while he made an effort to say something. “Oh,” he said, chewing with his muzzle full, “if it’s about the ravioli, I can explain. See, if you don’t stuff your face, this guy-” he pointed a hoof at Fresh Coat- “will eat it so fast, it’ll be gone before you know it.”

“WHM! MEEHH!?” Fresh Coat swung his head towards his friend indignantly, though it wasn’t very effective. His stuffed cheeks made him look like a grumpy squirrel and it was almost impossible to understand what he was saying with his mouth so full. He started making several gestures with his forelegs.

“Wha-” I was a bit caught off guard, as these two had a way of unintentionally hijacking a conversation and steering it in the direction they wanted. “N-no, I mean...” I took a deep breath. “Why help me? I mean, you’ve been so nice, but you don’t even know me. W-what if I was some master thief or a con artist?” I asked. Love Lace had a genuinely surprised expression on her face, as if I could be anything other than Dream Drops. While her hoof was to her mouth, Fresh Coat managed to choke down the ravioli in his muzzle.

I felt my eyes water as if I was about to cry.

It didn’t make sense - one normally cries because they are hurting or sad but… I was neither of those things. Still, a few tears managed to escape; perhaps I was feeling overwhelmed? I couldn’t understand what these ponies were thinking. In fairness, I hadn’t really understood what I was thinking for most of the evening. Fresh Coat thought for a moment before answering her question.

“Questions like that. Questions like that prove you can’t be either of those things. After all, you would be a pretty terrible thief or con artist if you made us think that you might be one.” New Scene nodded in agreement before throwing in his own two bits.

“But to answer your question, a very long time ago, somepony did this for us. We showed up out of the blue, two dumb colts with a dream and not a bit to rub between our hooves. There wasn’t anyone who would take us in or was willing to help back our dream. Then she found us.” He leaned forward and wiped the tear away.

“Like you, we were invited into her home. She made up two rooms and fed us a wonderful dinner, made us feel like we were at home. Offered to take us in as long as we did three things.” Fresh Coat continued as he laid a hoof on my withers.
“One, do your best,” Love Lace started speaking, rising from her chair.

“Two, even if you can’t pay rent now, help where you can. Worry about rent when you actually start making bits,” she walked around the table to me.

“And the third thing?” I asked.

“Never turn down a free hug.” They said in unison. The three ponies pressed against me as they gave me a hug. If I had been overwhelmed before, things were well over my head now. This whole situation was a bit insane.
I was still just a stranger.
In a house with three ponies, who might be a bit too giving for their own good.
Being offered shelter and support to get on my own hooves.
They didn’t know who I was, not really. Then again - I got the sense that they wouldn’t care even if they did know.
And now all three of them were hugging me.
Normally I would have just pulled away, resisted this closeness, this level of affection. But, for once this evening, I decided to not think and just enjoy the moment.

Chapter 8: The Dream

I sat on the edge of the bed with a sigh. After dinner, I hadn’t had the energy to be social and was reluctant to become any more sappy than I had been. Since arriving in Canterlot, I had been shown so much kindness - more than I deserved. A knot of guilt had been forming in my stomach for some time, likely from regret. I couldn’t help but ask myself, If I have been shown such kindness… shouldn’t I be extending that kindness to others?

I rolled over and closed my eyes, my mind wandering back towards the pony named Trixie. It was true that the blue mare had been… overbearing. Had she truly been so deserving of the “gift” I had given her? Granted, Trixie was arrogant and bold, but she had done quite a bit to care for me. Would it not serve the unicorn well to be served a piece of humble pie to quench her unyielding thirst for glory?

While my mind said maybe, my heart said no.

If Celestia was responding so poorly to a potential trace of my appearance, I could only imagine what she would do once Trixie finally used her “gift”. I shuddered, imagining Trixie’s cocky smile crumbling beneath one of Celestia’s withering stares. Surely she would respond poorly and be sent to coldest darkest corner of Celestia’s fortress, never to be seen again.
Does anypony deserve such a fate?

With a sigh, I sat up. There was no way I would find peace until I knew that Trixie received what she deserved. Closing her eyes and letting out a deep sigh, I slipped away into the world that only I knew.

⊰ ★ ⊱ ❈ ⊰ ★ ⊱ ❈ ⊰ ★ ⊱

As the princess of the night, only I truly knew the twilight hours. When the world was cool and silent, while the stars brightened the night, and the moon blessed the night - only then was I truly in my element. I slipped into a trance, transcending beyond the mortal realm and slipping into the realm of dreams. It had been so long since I had been in this place.

All around my dreams floated about, delicate orbs reflecting the psyches of Equestria's slumbering inhabitants. Some were joyful with bright bursts of colors while others were dark and somber. I was tempted to weave through these dreams and peek into them all, but refrained. With a deep breath, I sighed, closing my eyes and focusing only on the world around me. I could feel the path beneath my hooves shift and followed it. I trotted forward complacently, already knowing what I would find at the other side. Slowly, I opened my eyes.

Before me hovered a small orb with a blue aura, the occupant and its world bathed in black and white. It was not what I had been expecting for an individual like Trixie. Typically their orbs were golden and their dreams rather flashy, radiating with their confidence and often brazen personalities. I ignored my intuition and silently slipped inside, anticipating a grander dream than what I was about to enter.

⊰ ★ ⊱ ❈ ⊰ ★ ⊱ ❈ ⊰ ★ ⊱

I quickly spread my wings, flapping quickly to prevent myself from falling too deeply into Trixie’s dream.I cursed myself for not peering more deeply into the dream and being a bit more precise with my entrance. I had just assumed that this melancholic dream was just a reflection of a sad moment or thought; I hadn’t considered that it might be a nightmare. Below I could see the dream’s occupant, succumbing to her nightmare. I circled above, watching cautiously - I had already made enough reckless decisions today.

“Hah! See, Trixie can’t even perform basic spells!” a faceless pony pointed and laughed.

“Powerful and great? As if!” another pony cackled.

“N-no! I am powerful and great!” a small blue filly cried from the center of the circle. It was clear she was trying to keep herself from crying, but only barely keeping it together.

“Says who? Says who?” the faceless ponies around her cried.

“My grandpa! T-the greatest show pony of all time! I-I’ll prove it! I’ll show you!” The little filly tried desperately to use her magic, but her horn only flickered in response. Tears poured down her cheeks as she tried desperately to perform her spell. The faceless fillies continued to laugh and jeer.

“Begone! Trouble this pony no more!” I screamed, having watched long enough. I blasted the apparitions with a quick blast of magical power and they scattered like ash on the wind. I wasn’t sure what I had seen, a faded memory of the past or an accumulation of self-doubt and loathing, but it needed to stop. The small blue filly raised her crying head and wiped her tears staring up at me in awe.

“W-who are you?” she asked in a small voice.

“I might ask the same of you,” I replied calmly before circling overhead once more and landing some distance away from the filly. In this realm, the magic I used to alter my appearance had no effect. My coat was now a shade of midnight blue and my hair an illustrious sapphire blue. I stepped forward, carrying myself as a princess of the night should.

“I-I’m Trixie… The great and powerful Trixie...” she replied uncertainly. The filly’s tears stopped as if she realized that this was only a dream. I blinked for only a moment, but when my eyes opened again, the filly had returned to her true form. “You never answered my question. Who are you?” she asked with a bit more confidence. As she awaited my response, I could see her struggling as she tried to decide whether to embrace her persona or act with a bit of genuinity.

I hoped she chose to act a bit more genuine.

“I am one whose name has not graced the lips of any Equestrian in a thousand years.” I took another step forward. “I am she who commands the moon and her stars.” Trixie appeared to be growing anxious. “I am Princess Luna, but perhaps you know of me as the Mare in the Moon?”

“W-why are you here?” She had grown a shade paler with each hoof step that I took. I didn’t relish the fear in her eyes as an old, yet familiar, lump formed in my chest. I ignored it and took yet another step forward, taking a deep breath before speaking in the ancient royal voice.

“You ask why I am here while you bear my sigil?” I demanded in the royal voice. As Trixie panicked, I watched as fear, confusion, distress, panic, and recognition flitted across her face. She attempted to speak for several moments, but it seemed as if some cat had taken possession of her tongue.

“Y-you mean that weird sparkly rock?” she finally managed to splutter. I didn’t respond for several long moments, letting the silence hang in the air.

“You dare insult the Tear of the Moon with such a pathetic description?” Trixie leapt backwards as I raised my voice. The name was like “Dream Drops,” a beautiful lie that wasn’t too far from the truth. I delivered a flawless scowl as Trixie balked and nervously swallowed.

“Tear of the Moon? I-I haven’t heard of any object like that?”
“Of course not! Do you really think that I would have shared it with just anypony!? Even the worthy only dared whisper its name during my reign!” Trixie seemed to be quivering slightly now, but throughout it all, her impertinence remained. She clung to it as though her life depended on it.

“Then why bother talking to Trixie about this precious trinket of yours?” the blue pony asked as she referred to herself in the third person. My presence alone was clearly not enough to force her to be herself. With a smile, I began Plan B, transitioning without batting so much as an eye.

“Oh? To whom do you think I should be speaking?” I asked coyly. “Perhaps a genius or prodigy?” Trixie twitched. “Somepony that is magically or financially blessed? Who effortlessly can obtain whatever their heart desires?” Trixie’s jaw was clenched now and I knew that I had her right where I wanted her. “Somepony that shines brighter than the sun and captures everypony's attention?” I began to circle the troubled mare.

I paused before continuing. “Because, Trixie, I am just like you.” The blue mare flinched, most likely out of surprise.
“How would you know that? You don’t even know me!” she retorted with disbelief. “What? Am I supposed to believe that because of y-your wings and horn that you’re omnipotent or something?” A hint of anger colored the last couple of words, but wasn’t enough to conceal her nervousness.

“I know more than you could possibly comprehend. I was once Princess of the Night, and dreams of ponies - ponies like you - are accessible to me.” I continued circling. “You call yourself ‘The Great and Powerful Trixie’ to compensate for the fact that you feel like you’re anything but. Tell me, how many times have you performed? Poured your heart into your act?” I paused for a moment. “Tell me, how many ponies even noticed? Did they even care?” Trixie didn’t reply right away.

“P-plenty of times. I’ve done dozens of shows across Equestria!” Her faux confidence was almost amusing. It was clear by the tone of her voice that the façade was going to crumble.

“How many of those stages were you invited to perform on? Or were they all shows performed on your humble homemade stages?” I made sure to emphasize the word ‘humble’. The blue mare remained silent, standing still, I couldn’t see her expression, for the wide brim of her hat hid her expression from view. In a voice that was soft like a whisper, I continued to speak.

“As I said before, I was once like you. I was a princess and full of potential. I wanted to share my gift with Equestria much like you... wish to share yours. Despite every effort I made, every trick that I could try, and no matter how brilliantly I tried to polish my performance… nothing came of it. I remained in the shadow of my sister. All I wanted was to be noticed - appreciated, valued - but nopony cared. Ponies only play during the day; nopony cared about the night, so why should they care for me?” Trixie remained quiet. “When I was banished, nopony cared and when I returned, very few ponies even knew I had existed, and even fewer knew my name.”

“What do you want from me, then?” Trixie said quietly at first. “I can’t help you.” The unicorn performer was looking up now.

“Oh, but that is where you are wrong, Trixie. Like me, you’re forgotten and lost beneath other ponies’ shadows. I don’t require much, just a speaker. Someone who can share my words with Equestria.”

“Why wouldn’t you just do it yourself?” Trixie replied tersely.

“There are many powerful ponies seeking me as we speak. I have power that they wish to bring to heel, to command as their own, others would rather see that I return to the shadows from whence I came. If I am to do anything, it will be by my will, and my will alone.” My voice temporarily took an imperious tone.

“What’s in it for me? Why should I help you?” Trixie asked, seeming to mistake my determination as desperation. I stopped circling for a moment to look her in the eye and smile.

“Because I can offer you many things. For instance, I could grant you some of my magic. You’re due for a performance in Ponyville tomorrow evening. Or I could give you the power to magically charm others into listening to what you have to say.” Trixie’s jaw was clenched yet again. “However, those offers would only offend you, wouldn’t they? If you act as my speaker, you will gain that which you lack: opportunity.” Trixie was looking at me warily, watching me with narrowed eyes.

“... I’m listening.”

“If I were to offer you such gifts, you would always feel insignificant, as if your achievements weren’t of your own doing. You believe you have the power to make your dreams a reality. As my speaker, all eyes would be on you - you would have every opportunity to propel yourself into the spotlight you so desire.”

“How do I know I can trust you?” Trixie replied hesitantly. I watched several expressions flit across her face. I could feel her excitement, fear, nervousness, reluctance, and desperation. She lusted for that glory and adoration, but despite the temptation presented before her, she was cautious. It was admirable.

“I will give you two chances to decide your fate. Tomorrow, when you perform, shatter the tears of the moon. Their shards will rise and form my sigil in the night sky and those seeking me will take notice. All eyes will be on you and you will most likely be taken into custody.” Trixie’s fear radiated from her. “They will ask you how the strange sigil and the powers displayed at your show and it will be up to you how you answer them.”

“How is that two chances? It sounds like only one to me.”

“It’s rather simple. You don’t have to shatter the Tear of the Moon. They will be imbued with my magic until midnight. If you have not shattered the tears of the moon by then, the magic will disappear. Its magic will likely still be detected and you will be detained.” Trixie bit her lip. “If you choose to shatter the tears, you will face the pressure and attention that comes with acting as my speaker. After you’ve been detained, you will be asked how you came to possess the tears of the moon. That will be your last chance to give your answer.”

“How will-”

“I know your answer? I have my ways.” Trixie stared at me for a long time.

“Now what?” she asked hesitantly, slowly looking around as if she expected something strange to happen.

“Now I return you to your dream, of course.” Trixie’s face grew ashen.

“Wait, what-” the rest of her words fell on deaf ears. I broke away from the dream, separating myself from it. The dream became a cool mist and restored itself to its delicate orb state. I could see a confused Trixie look about in a panic.
I could return her to her nightmare, back her into a corner by reminding her of a time and place she never wanted to experience again. Persuading her would be much easier...

I touched my horn to Trixie's dream and watched as it was bathed in warm colors. Instead of her nightmare, I gave her a dream of an older memory: a memory of a small blue filly who had just discovered her love for magic, as she read a book about its history and origins, in a place where it wasn’t terribly hard to imagine that anything was possible if you just tried your best. I was better than my sister, I would not sink so low as to utilize her tactics here. While I might not like her, Trixie deserved a choice.

With my work complete, I disengaged completely. The orbs that made up the dreams of other ponies faded away like stars meeting the sunrise. The dream world seemed to fade away as I slipped away. I was greeted by a familiar darkness and I fell into a dreamless sleep as a feeling of warmth and comfort enveloped me. When I awoke all I would remember is a single white flower.

Chapter 9: The Signs

Cadance trotted quietly among the ruins. Several days had passed since the ‘incident,’ but whatever magical disturbance had created the flux of magical power, it was long gone. She had wanted to deliver her report to Celestia personally, but the magical abnormality had to take precedence. Thus, she had sent one of the soldiers in their company, Vermillion Crusade, in her place. While it was essential, the princess was still dissatisfied with her choice.

The ponies around her respected her as a princess but didn’t seem to trust her judgment. Everything she asked of them was questioned and often greeted with hesitant looks before they performed the task she asked of them. When Vermillion spoke, the soldiers always seemed to freeze before scrambling. Cadance had hoped that if perhaps she had sent Vermillion to Canterlot with the report, she might be able to use the opportunity to gain a bit more respect from the soldiers.
It had backfired, as the anomalies were volatile and sporadic, appearing and disappearing without warning. Even with her teleportation spell, Cadance couldn’t quite keep up with the magical spikes that seemed to inexplicably fizzle. The only one pony who could have traced them, Cadance had sent away on a menial errand.

“Cadance?” a familiar voice called out to her as she drew near the former castle’s throne room. She turned to see Shining Armor and two of the guard trotting her way. As they reached the end of their hall, Shining Armor nodded to the two guards accompanying them and they dipped their heads before heading back towards the camp. “Did you detect more of those magical anomalies?”

“No,” She replied. “The anomalies seem to have just vanished. It’s concerning - there was something familiar about that magic.”

“Princess Luna’s?” he asked in a quiet voice.

“No, it doesn’t belong to Auntie Luna. I’ve come across this magic somewhere before, but I don’t know how to describe it…”
“So is that what’s been bothering you?” Shining Armor asked.

“What do you mean?” she replied curtly, stopping.

“Cadance… I know you.” he walked in front of her now, turning around to face her. “I’ve been with you for some time, not to mention the fact we went to school together.” When she dipped her head a bit, he gently pressed his forehead against hers.

“Talk to me.”

“Shining Armor, I feel like a fool. I know Celestia has entrusted us with the task of tracking down Luna, but I’m inexperienced and I feel like they don’t respect me. I’m at least 90% sure that Vermillion Crusade hates me, and this anomaly is still unexplained. We have no idea what Luna has done or where she might be headed-” Shining Armor gently silenced her,
placing a hoof on her head. He stared deep into her eyes, until they slowly started moving in opposite directions. Cadance pulled back with a laugh.

“What was that?” she asked, a small smile on her lips

“A little trick for relieving a pony that’s doing a bit too much thinking. I used to do it a lot when Twilight started thinking a bit too hard about Celestia’s assignments.” He replied with a small smile of his own. “I know it seems hard now, but I don’t think Celestia would have given you this task if she didn’t think you were capable of fulfilling it.” The two ponies started walking again, venturing deeper into the ruins. “As for Vermillion Crusade. I’m sure she doesn’t hate you… she can just be a bit slow to warm up to other ponies. I would trust her with my life.”

“So she’s your right hoof mare?” Cadance asked, a twinge of jealousy stirring inside her.

“Not exactly,” Shining Armor replied. They had reached the ruined library of the two sisters. He took a seat at one of the old tables, while Cadance started pulling musty books that looked like they might have something about dark magic.

“Oh?” She levitated two books in front of Shining Armor. He flipped through the pages, scanning for any relevant information

“She’s more like… my back right hoof?”

“Why’s that?”

“You shake a pony’s hoof with your forelegs, but you use your back legs whenever you wanna give something a real good kick.” Cadance laughed, and Shining Armor smiled ruefully. It was nice to see his marefriend smile.

After gathering several more books, the pink Alicorn sat beside her coltfriend. The two spent several hours going over the texts, silently enjoying each other’s company.

⊰ ★ ⊱ ❈ ⊰ ★ ⊱ ❈ ⊰ ★ ⊱

“The wilds are truly my home,” Vermillion Crusade thought to herself. She sighed in contentment, listening to the whisper of the wind and the tranquil sound of a babbling brook. Such sounds were rarely heard in the clean and proper city of Canterlot, unless one was willing to pay. Bits were practically disposable among the upper echelons of the society ponies. Enchanted forever fountains and instant gardens were becoming quite the rage. For Vermillion, however, the magic was a pale imitation to nature's true beauty. She stopped to take a drink from the river.

At first she had been offended that rather than utilize her abilities to locate and suppress the anomaly, she was being sent as a courier for the report. It felt demeaning, at least the way Cadance had asked her. Vermillion Crusade was taking a bit longer to return to her base camp. Time was of the essence but with her emotions so… unsettled, she would be of little use to the team. You should know better than to let your emotions get out of hand, her grandmother’s old words rang in her head. It had been hard since Princess Cadance had been placed in charge of the search for Princess Luna. While she had tried to get along with the Alicorn of Love, she found she had less than adoration for the tri-color maned mare.

She wasn’t powerful or great like Celestia; Cadance was… delicate, careless, and inexperienced at best. Just thinking of her gave the earth pony a migraine. In response, the feathered earrings she wore seemed to shudder violently in response. Vermillion paused to take a deep breath. She was a skilled magic tracker, the only one at the disposal of her highness, Celestia. Vermillion had tracked down dozens of magical creatures and deviant magic wielders. Her powers, however, were reactive to her emotions, and when not in check, they tended to muddle her ability to track anything.

After she had spoken to Celestia, her magic had gone a bit haywire. The enchanted earrings she wore to guide her during her hunts were vibrating so violently that at times she thought they might break. Even after she had left the capital they had continued to shake. Vermillion kicked at the water. “Why her?” she asked herself. “Would I be more forgiving if she wasn’t with him?” She had already been rejected politely by her captain several moons ago, but that hadn’t made it sting any less. Seeing him with her, a dainty princess that required protection, was almost unbearable at times. Admitting this to herself seemed to make the earrings grow still.

Vermillion sighed. This was hard… perhaps she should withdraw from the royal guard. Let this become somepony else's problem. As she gazed into the river, her eye met her reflection with shame. As she considered turning back now and speaking with Celestia, her earrings swung. They pointed forward, and she swung her head to make sure they weren’t detecting something in error.

“Of all the times-” she growled. Her earrings spun for a moment, swinging in all directions before slowing to a stop, pointing the way forward. Cautiously, the earth pony walked into the river - it was shallow enough at this point - several yards from the small rapids that caused it to merge with the river leading to the Celestial Sea. She waded forward, the cool water lapping at her hooves as nothing on the opposite shore caught her eye. Her earrings started to drop as she approached, telling her that she was near a valuable clue.

Vermillion was practically ensnared in a nearby blackberry bush when her earrings finally started to drop. Following their reflection in the water, her eyes happened upon a low hanging branch.
Wrapped around its slender limbs were three strands of sapphire blue hair.

⊰ ★ ⊱ ❈ ⊰ ★ ⊱ ❈ ⊰ ★ ⊱

The moon was high in the sky when Vermillion finally returned to the camp. Cadance was helping clear away the remnants of dinner when she heard a commotion at the edge of the camp closest towards the woods. Several soldiers were yelling, seeming rather excited over something, as Cadance approached she could see that Vermillion Crusade had returned. The vermillion earth pony looked haggard, as if she had been chased back to the camp. She was still heavily panting when Shining Armor reached over her.

“Vermillion?! Are you alright?” The white stallion looked into the woods searchingly and the other guards looked about as if they anticipated timber wolves to burst out from the brush at any second.

“I’m. Fine,” she said in between gasps. “I. have. Urgent. News.” She resisted the urge to request water. The guards respected her for her fighting strength and… unique abilities, so letting them see her like this was killing her on the inside.

“I’ll get Cadance,” the captain said quickly, turning to look for the princess. For a moment an unpleasant expression flashed across Vermillion Crusade’s face, but it was missed by the captain. Several guards caught it, but said nothing. They decided they liked their jobs and that getting involved in matters above their pay grade would be unwise. Shining Armor didn’t have to look long, as Cadance had almost already reached them. He nodded his head and the two mares trotted after him.

When they had gotten far enough into the ruins, Shining Armor passed a flask of water to his weary comrade. “Take a moment to recover, Vermillion. We may need to make use of your skills momentarily.” Cadance produced a small jar with several scraps of parchment in them. The alicorn gently set the jar down on the table and took a step back, while Vermillion raised a single eyebrow.

“As you may recall, the anomaly overwhelmed the lower courtyard and ancient throne room of the castle. After you left, it started inducing madness, hallucinations, and almost total darkness.” Vermillion nodded her head, not quite ready to speak. “We thought that if left it unchecked, it would spread to Ponyville and potentially make its way across Equestria. However, shortly thereafter, as quickly as the anomaly appeared... it disappeared. We had several leads on it, but as soon as we had them pinned, they just seemed to vanish.”

“Explain to me the significance of this jar, it appears to be scraps of paper.” Vermillion wasn’t wrong. The text appeared to be of some old Ponish language, but what little appeared to be scrawled didn’t look threatening or wasn’t recognized as part of any ancient incantation that the earth pony could recognize. The papers themselves lacked a presence or any aura, and none of her equipment was responding to it. As she gave the jar a light kick with her hoof, Shining armor lunged forward.

“Vermillion, wait-” The captain of the guard was much too slow. With the violent jostle, the scraps of paper were stirred and immediately consumed by a purple and blue fire. Ancient garbled old Ponish could be heard from the small jar, though the jar fortunately kept most of it muffled. Vermillion Crusade’s earrings quivered and the small broach holding her cloak in place began to burn. As quickly as the energy appeared, it vanished. The screaming stopped as if it were being cut off, the energy vanished without warning, and the jar grew very still.

“I apologize, I should have warned you it was so volatile,” Cadance began apologizing quickly. Sweat began to form on Vermillion’s brow, a thousand thoughts racing through her mind, the look on her face was of pure horror - no - dismay. Vermillion stumbled backwards, trying to get away from the jar. Cadance exchanged a glance with Shining Armor.

“You know what this is, don’t you.” Shining Armor spoke in a low, serious voice. Since training with Vermillion Crusade, he could only recall one other time she had looked so terrified, and that moment had paled in comparison to the expression she was showing him now. Vermillion didn’t reply right away. Instead she was mumbling something incoherently.

“Vermillion, please. If you know anything about what this is, please tell us. I don’t understand what this magic is, but I do know that if we work together, we can overcome it.” Cadance spoke in a reassuring tone. She hoped it would calm the earth pony down, but it had no effect. Vermillion didn’t even look in the princess’s direction.

“I can’t.”

“You can’t or you won’t?” Shining armor asked.

“I can not speak about this topic by royal decree.”

“What decree?” Cadance asked in reply. While studying under Celestia, she had thoroughly studied a majority of Equestria’s history. Not one decree she could recall had involved anything about the information restrictions.

“By Decree 54,” Vermillion looked agitated. She turned her back on the captain of the guard and the princess of love. She had begun to walk towards the door when the sound of excited yells reached their ears. Without hesitation, the three of them raced back towards the camp.

Had the anomalies reappeared?
Were they under attack?
How many might be injured?

As the three ponies reached the camp, well prepared for a fight, they found celebration. The guards were bumping chests and stomping their hooves in excitement. Cadance and Vermillion were both still a bit stunned when Shining Armor spoke.

“What’s going on here?”

“SIR!” an excited white stallion yelled before raising a hoof in salute. “We’ve just received a courier, sir! It would appear that hair that looks like it belongs to Princess Luna has been found near Baltimare. The hair was discovered seven days ago, but the courier had difficulty acquiring safe passage to Canterlot. Celestia has sent word that we should move our base camp as soon as Lady Vermillion confirms the findings.” Vermillion felt slightly numb as she stepped forward. Again her mind raced through a thousand different thoughts, but not one stopped the sickening knot from forming in her stomach.

She held her hoof out as the courier placed a jar containing several strands of hair upon it. Her face grew pale as her thoughts began to slow and a painful thought came to mind.

“Oh for the sake of Celestia,” she swore. “Get me a courier. No, make it a courier and the two fastest ponies here.” The vermillion mare shook with rage. Signs she had overlooked in her emotional state seemed to be slapping her in the face.

“Vermillion?” Cadance asked. “What’s going on? Can you confirm that the hairs belong to Luna?” In no way was the princess being patronizing, but her calm demeanor and soft voice only made the tracker more agitated. Three ponies stepped forward as Vermillion asked.

“Run. Do not stop until Celestia receives this message. Tell it to her in person and pass this task off to nopony else. Am I understood?” The three ponies before her nodded quickly “Three crows take flight, they beckon to midnight. Go. Now.” At her sharp command, the ponies ran, the sound of their hooves striking the earth continuing to echo for some time. The camp had become unusually quiet. All eyes were on the agitated Vermillion.

“Vermillion, what’s going on?” The captain didn’t know what the message his tracker had sent but he recognized the term ‘crow’ and it seemed many of the other guards had as well. ‘Crow’ hadn’t been used in sometime, and by none of the company present. It was only used in reference to dark magics. “Vermillion?” Shining Armor repeated a bit more firmly.

“The hair belongs to Princess Luna,” Vermillion confirmed. Cadance frowned, staring at the earth pony intently.

“I see, then we need to move the camp at once.” Shining Armor turned, preparing to deliver orders.

“Shining, wait. It… it doesn’t make sense,” Cadance interrupted.

“What do you mean?”

“Luna was still… indisposed when Baltimare was founded. She wouldn’t know of its existence, and there was nothing out there before that would draw anypony out that way.”

“She’s… she’s right,” Vermillion said slowly. “Not only does it not make sense. It’s impossible for her to be there. If we go there, we will be playing into her hooves.” Shining Armor frowned.

“What do you mean by impossible?” Cadance asked uncertainly. The statement was bold coming from anypony, but Vermillion said it with such certainty. It was unlikely, but Vermillion said nothing she couldn’t provide evidence for. What isn’t she telling us? Cadance wondered to herself.

“I can’t explain now, not with the decree in place. If we go now, we will be playing right into her hooves, going exactly where she wants us to.” Before anypony could react, a painfully loud cracking sound echoed around the clearing. The ground trembled and a massive wave of force raced towards them. Cadance spread her wings and let loose a crystalline barrier, barely sparing them from being thrown to ground. The wave was powerful and Cadance’s barrier cracked beneath its force, but it held. The wave passed quickly, leaving the ponies in a stunned silence.

“Is everypony alright?” the pink mare asked as she lowered their magical protection. Ponies mumbled quick confirmations, Shining Armor moved from soldier to soldier, confirming that they were really alright. Only vermillion remained silent.

“Vermillion,” Shining Armor called cautiously as he trotted toward her, “are you alright?” The mare had her back turned towards the other ponies, her head tilted towards the sky, and she seemed to be bathed in an unnaturally bright light. “What’s wrong?” Shining Armor walked over and placed a hoof on her withers.

“That.” a single hoof was pointed towards the sky, some ponies followed her hoof and others followed her gaze. It mattered not because they were all drawn towards the same terribly beautiful sight.

Chapter 10: The Interview

I nervously brushed and washed my face as quickly as I could, making a mess of both tasks in the process. It was about 9am, much earlier than I was accustomed to rising, but today was rather important. I frowned as I gazed at my reflection in the mirror, lifting a hoof anxiously to undo the sloppy hoofwork on my mane. While I was more used to my face and mane’s new appearance, I hadn’t quite found a way to tame my shortened mane. Regardless of the numerous brushings, the ends always seemed to flip upward, curling back just far enough to brush the tip of my muzzle. I tried my hoof at styling it about a dozen more times, but each attempt bred a rat’s nest that was far more terrifying than the last. I accepted defeat and trotted downstairs. I had kept everypony waiting long enough.

As I reached the bottom step of the stairs, I was greeted by a wonderful sight. Large, fluffy slices of browned bread, diced potatoes, and scrambled eggs were already on plates at the table, just waiting to be eaten. My other companions were already digging in. I couldn’t fault them for it - nopony knows how long I had been in the bathroom.
“I-I’m sorry I didn’t wake up sooner,” I apologized, quickly taking a seat at the table. “You think you might have a job for me?” Fresh Coat and New Scene glanced at each other quickly.

“Well, we have a couple different leads. But…” Fresh Coat replied, taking a quick bite of the toast with a fork. The bread was thick, and I noted that it appeared to be coated in a white sauce of sorts, but it didn’t make sense to use a fork. I wonder what sort of topping that is, I pondered silently. I wanted to ask, but the others paid it no mind. It must be rather common, I thought. Regardless, I followed Fresh Coat’s lead and cut up the thick toast with a fork as well.

“We were hoping you could tell us about your cutie mark and your special talent,” New Scene finished. “There’s a chance we could find you a better paying job if we know what your talent is.” The lime green stallion was stuffing his muzzle full of potatoes.

“My cutie mark...” I glanced at my flank. I had anticipated such questions. I had even ensured that my cutie mark made sense in relation to my powers as a princess. I took a deep breath, and the others seemed to sense my apprehension. “I’m not so sure… My talent is pretty useless. Even on a good day.” Love Lace laid a reassuring hoof on my shoulder.
“Don’t worry. It’s okay. We won’t judge,” she said, smiling comfortingly. “Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s amazing.”

“My special talent is dreams…”

“Dreams?” All three replied.

“When a pony is sleeping and I’m nearby, I can sort of… step inside their dreams.” I had planned to stop there - in my head I saw it as the perfect moment for a dramatic pause. Unfortunately for the past Luna, present Luna was very nervous and a bit tongue tied. “W-when I was younger, it was a bit more problematic and I could accidentally fall into other ponies’ nightmares. At the best of times, if I am aware of what’s happening, I can fight nightmares and figure out the cause of other ponies’ problems.” The words seemed to spill out of me. There was an awkward moment of silence.

“Do you slide into just anypony’s dreams?” Love Lace asked curiously, her bright eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“Not really, at least not anymore. When I was younger, that was more of a problem.” I chuckled. “I used to have nightmares about running into other ponies’ nightmares.” An uncomfortable smile settled on my lips.

I wasn’t exactly lying, but I wasn’t being entirely honest, either. These ponies had been nothing but kind to me. Not sharing the truth with them left a bad taste in my mouth. It’s better if they don’t know, isn’t it? I would just be placing them in grave danger if they knew the truth, or at the very least forcing them to choose between me and the only princess they’ve ever loved… right? Right… My thoughts were sane and my answer rational, but deep down a part of me was dissatisfied. I hoped that one day I could tell them the truth - tell them everything - but I knew that was nothing more than a dream.

“Wow… That’s a really unique gift,” New Scene noted, tapping his hoof against his chin “I think… we might know someone who might appreciate that special skill.” Love Lace frowned slightly, almost as if she were pouting. “Oh, c’mon, Love Lace, don’t give me that expression. You might not like him but Psyche isn’t all that bad. Besides, Dream Drops’ gift would be absolutely perfect for his line of work.” Unwilling to look him in the eye or perhaps unwilling to accept his opinion, she swung her head in the opposite direction, continuing to pout.

“I’m terribly sorry,” I interjected as I snuck in a quick bite of the delicious sweet bread, “but who is Psyche?” My eyes shifted between Love Lace and New Scene. Fresh Coat had cleared his plate by now.

“Well, with any luck he might just be your new boss. You better hurry up - we’re gonna meet him soon.”

⊰ ★ ⊱ ❈ ⊰ ★ ⊱ ❈ ⊰ ★ ⊱

“Can you tell me a bit more about Mr. Psyche?” I asked Fresh Coat, blowing a loose strand of hair out of my face. I felt uncomfortable and nervous as I trotted beside my host. Love Lace seemed like a particularly happy and loving pony and her reaction to this pony's name made me a bit nervous. The strand of hair slid back out of place.

“He’s a good pony, just a bit… tactless from time to time.” He paused for a moment to help me nudge the hair back into place. “He may be a bit hard, but he really only does it with the best of intentions. If you get a job with him, I have a feeling you’ll like working for him.” Satisfied, he continued leading me forward.

Love Lace had graciously helped me get ready for the sudden interview. My hair was in a short braid that curved around the left side of my neck and placed some sort of collar with a “lucky” gold ribbon tied just beneath it. “You know, New Scene said something similar earlier. What exactly does he do?” We turned down a busy side street.

“Oh, he’s a therapist. He runs his own business by helping out ponies understand their own feelings and come to their own solutions.” Before I realized it, we were standing just outside of a business. A sign over the door read, “Simple Solutions.” The exterior was simple and unassuming with a number of flowers lining the front. I swallowed nervously, feeling a bit shaky. It had been centuries since I had spoken in a formal manner with another pony.

“Go on inside, I will wait for you out here. Tell him I sent you.” Fresh Coat nudged me forward, and uneasily I walked forward.

I pushed open the front door and stepped into a small but welcoming space. A tan stallion sat at the desk, his scruffy brown mane stopping just short of his glasses. As I walked forward, I could feel a cold sweat breaking out along the back of my neck “H-Hello, I’m here t-” I was cut off mid-sentence by the stallion.

“One moment,” he interrupted, not even looking up for several moments. The silence only added to my anxiety. After what felt like an eternity, he spoke. “If you’re here for an appointment, I should inform you that I’m booked out until next week.” He pushed the glasses farther up his muzzle. He acted as if that was all he was doing, but the way his eyes flicked quickly up and down I could tell that he was assessing me in some way.

“I’m actually not here for an appointment.” I took a breath for a moment, trying to regain some composure. “My name is Dream Drops. I am looking for work and Fresh Coat recommended that I should come see you.” He frowned and sighed heavily.

“I see. Well, why don’t we step into my office for a moment.” His voice was kind, but his half-lidded eyes betrayed his disinterest. He led the way to a small room just to the left of the desk. The room he led me into was warm and cozy. A number of articles and important documents and shelves lined with lightly used tomes occupied the walls. I felt as if I had entered a scholar's den rather than an office. “Please take a seat wherever you like.” He didn’t even look at me as he spoke. I chose a large chair with a high back that leaned against the left corner of the room. “Do you mind if we leave the door open? I’m the only one in at the moment, and I would hate to miss a client.”

“No, no, it’s quite alright with me.” The words came out of my mouth a bit more quickly than I intended, betraying my nervousness. I could feel nothing but frustration for several moments. I had been a princess of a nation, seen more than anypony had the right to, and lived for thousands of years. This, by far, should have been the easiest part of my life.

“So,” the stallion started as he shuffled around several papers on his desk, “I didn’t properly introduce myself at the door. My name is Psyche and I run this office. We assist ponies with their problems, helping them unlock the answers they already knew.” He leaned forward with the same disinterested face, his forelegs on the top of the desk. “Any questions so far?”

“Yes, when you say ‘unlock the answers they already knew,’ what do you mean exactly?” I asked cautiously. Fresh Coat had touched on the subject briefly earlier, but he hadn’t been particularly clear. Psyche let out a slow, deep sigh.

“It is the belief of myself and my associates that every pony knows the answers to the questions they seek, but that sometimes they may not exactly like those answers. For instance, say a pony is having trouble with a relationship and wants to break it off. It would make sense for said pony would break it off, yes?”

“Well if it is at you said, and the pony truly feels it is best to break it off, then it would make sense for them to break it off,” I agreed slowly. The premise made sense, but I got the sense that he was going somewhere with the question.

“The problem many ponies face is their own emotions. Say that the relationship is very troublesome, but that these two ponies have known each other for years. Their families are very close, and they’ve always had little tiffs like this, but the last one was the straw that broke the camel's back. Now it becomes a bit less clear, as the client may struggle with the need to protect that bond and the need to just let go.” He rested his head upon his folded hooves. “What once came across as a very simple answer is now muddled by a mixture of feelings even if, fundamentally, the answer has still not changed.”

Psyche’s glasses began to slowly slide down his muzzle and he pushed them back into place. “Answers that are considered ‘ugly’ can often be hard for ponies to accept. We’re here to help them recognize what’s causing their distress but then also provide them with a safe place to uncover the answer that they already have. My associates and I have a variety of methods that each of us employ. Now tell me, why do you think Fresh Coat recommended you to this place?”

“My special talent,” I blurted out without thinking. As he had been talking, it sort of clicked, why New Scene and Fresh Coat had suggested that I speak with Psyche. Speaking of the stallion, he frowned at my curt answer and raised an eyebrow.

“Can you please elaborate?” He replied patiently.

“S-sorry. You see, my special talent is a type of dream magic. It allows me to enter the dreams of other ponies. When I’m in the dream, I see things - naturally what the sleeping pony is seeing - but also the other small details that occupy the space. What I see there can tell me a lot about an issue that a pony is facing or give me an idea about what is bothering them.” My answer wasn’t eloquent, collected, or concise in any manner. I bit my lip and squirmed a bit nervously.

“Have you ever used your gift in a way to help other ponies and do you have adequate control of it?” Psyche still looked indifferent, but I swore that his eyes were just slightly more open.

“Well, yes and no, you see I-” Before I could finish the sentence, we were interrupted. Psyche fell backwards out of his chair and I flinched as the front doors of the office swung open. With a loud bang, the sense of calm and quiet was shattered. I had never really understood the expression ‘my heart was in my throat.’ The very notion of an organ moving locations just because a pony was scared seemed ludicrous. More concerning to my past-self was the idea that somepony had specifically chosen to describe their fears in such a manner. However, at present, that description was making plenty of sense.
I swallowed nervously. I could feel my heartbeat throughout my body as my pulse began to slowly return to its normal pace. At the desk, Psyche was just getting himself collected again, pushing his glasses back into place. While he was trying to remain the picture of calm, I could see that his jaw was clenched and he was clearly a bit displeased.

“Oh, Dr. Psyche, it - it’s just awful! Those same terrible nightmares keep coming back. I know you said I would need time and that it would get better, but... I can’t keep living like this.” Having recovered a bit more, I was able to pay somewhat closer attention to the pony.

The distraught pony appeared to be either a very masculine mare or effeminate stallion. I won’t lie, it was hard to tell. They had a rather angular face and a rather sturdy build, but these features were overshadowed by their apparent distress. Beneath their eyes were deep purple bags, their sclera was red and irritated, and their mane was disheveled.

“Now, now. Has nothing I recommended been of help to you?” Psyche said in a calm, slow, deliberate voice. I blinked for a moment; it was odd that he had chosen to not address this pony by name or express more concern, and I could only conclude that it had something to do with me being here. The other pony nodded as Psyche patted his back gently. The intention was clearly well-meant but his movements appeared to be stiff and robotic. “I’m sorry to hear that. As I said before, though… I’m not confident that I have the skills to assist you. We’ve attempted to resolve this issue with every specialist we have at our disposal.”

“Please, isn’t there anything more you can do?! S-Some spell you could perform to make them go away? I’m willing to try anything!” the pony pleaded with Psyche. The tan stallion sighed, closing his eyes for a moment before glancing in my direction. A small smile was forming on his lips.