Dawn - Change - Part 1
Thanks to Ukai and MintyRest for prereading/reviewing.
Luna reeled backwards, throwing up a dark blue shield as she somersaulted through the air. A momentary silence followed before a huge shock wave slammed into her with a deafening roar. The shield rippled under the force, flickering unsteadily as Luna fought to gain her sense of direction. Her breath came out thin and ragged as she fought to keep calm. Beads of perspiration flew off her cartwheeling body. A secondary roar followed the explosion, this time from a different source.
Carefully timing her movements, Luna launched her wings out, wincing in pain as they buffeted under the air resistance. With a shudder, her wild somersaulting ended. Her body whipped around violently, propelling her into a shaky, yet straight flight path.
Her shield died as a curtain of flame consumed her, baking the air and singing her coat. A cry of pain forced its way through gritted teeth as Luna pumped her wings with all her might. She shot forward, gaining speed. Another roar shook the air behind her, this time closer.
Luna swore under her breath. Steeling herself, she tilted her wings upward. Another cry of agony escaped her mouth as she was thrown upwards. Her wings momentarily buckled under the pressure, causing her to flip in mid air.
Time slowed as she hung upside down. Her hooves flew over her body and her head stared down towards what had almost been her death. The edges of her mouth pulled tight as the realization struck her.
Occupying the space directly below was a large, behemothic form. Thick black scales armoured the heaving bulk of an adult dragon. Its wings were the colour of slate and its spines were a dull silver. It had a long, slender neck, with a head like an arrow. Muscular legs were tucked into its sides and its sinuous tail stretched out behind it.
Time sped up again as Luna regained her flight path. Pulling her wings in, she let herself slow as she angled downwards. A gust of air blew past her as the dragon spread its wings to brake. It lifted its head and roared, anger at its lost prey giving the sound a menacing venom.
Luna began to move, slipping into the recitation of a chant she knew all too well. A sense of determination gripped her as her whole body tensed, her wings and legs clenched into her sides. Shivers ran down her spine as the dragon coiled upwards, twisting its body to fly towards her. Its eyes met hers; two piercing gazes locked on one another. Luna struggled not to look away. Its eyes were a deep blue, haunted by a tragic beauty.
As Luna hurtled down towards it, its mouth opened, revealing a precise row of razor sharp teeth which glinted in the sunlight. A faint grey mist coalesced around Luna’s horn, thickening to a fog as her speed increased and glowing as her words became louder.
“Not by might.”
A thin smile spread across the dragons cracked lips. Its cold eyes glinted.
“Not by brawn.”
Luna’s face twisted in rage; a snarl escaping between words.
“Not by night.”
With the dragon almost upon her, Luna could feel its hot breath and the wind of its powerful wing beats.
“But by the first light of dawn.”
A blinding white light erupted from the tip of Luna’s horn; a beam burning through the air.
The black, serpentine head of the dragon drifted from side to side with steady rhythm. Its pupils were wide and its eyes were glossy. A thin, blue aura encased its lips, causing them to move out of time to its purported voice.
“And I’m very sorry, Luna, for all the trouble I’ve caused you,” it said in a comically deep voice.
“That is quite alright, Mr Dragon,” Luna said with a flick of a hoof, “I must admit that you almost had me back there.”
“Well, I’m afraid I mistook you for someone else.”
The dragon’s tongue lolled out of its mouth, before falling to the ground as it was cut cleanly through by a sharp row of teeth. A small trickle of dark blood ran down its chin, staining the green grass below it.
Luna sighed, relinquishing her magical hold on the dragon’s head. Its neck slumped down immediately, the skull impacting the ground with a sharp thud. With another sigh, she closed her eyes and massaged her temples with her hooves.
“What were you thinking, Luna,” she admonished, “you could have gotten yourself killed. There was no reason to get that close to it.”
Luna looked out across the carcass in front of her. Its thick, black hide held a dull gleam under the afternoon sun. The body lay spread-eagled along the ground. A massive hole carved its way through the back of the beast, dripping a vile concoction of burnt blood and bile. The edges of the hole were clean cut. Melted scales formed strange ripples along the underlying flesh.
Waiting for a heaving sensation, but feeling none, Luna drew her sword. A long blade formed from shadow and fire. Tongues of flame licked at its edges as she positioned over the neck of the cadaver. With one swift movement, she brought it down, severing off the head. She then dropped the blade. It gave a soft hiss before turning to ash.
Scrunching her eyes closed, she summoned a flock of bats with a small effort of will. With another, the bats coalesced into a writhing mass. Coming to a halt, the masses formed into a large cloth. Luna lay the cloth out flat on the ground and levitated the head towards it. She paused briefly to inspect her work and, on finding it satisfactory, lowered the head onto the cloth and wrapped the cloth around it tightly.
The package sat in front of her, matching her in height. She stood up, spreading her wings wide. She turned and paused for a while, looking over the landscape before her.
Around Luna, lay miles upon miles of rich grassland. To her right lay the Great Northern Mountains, housing the Queendom of Canterlot and the ‘Alabaster City’ itself. To her left lay the rolling hillsides beneath Cloudsdale, the sprawling city casting the countryside beneath in shadow. Directly in front of her lay the Everfree forest. The sun hung over Everfree, catching the canopy in the warm, yellow light. All around her was seemingly peaceful.
Scanning more closely, Luna caught sides of patches of shade across the countryside; shadows of smaller sky settlements outside of Cloudsdale.
Luna’s face pulled into a frown. Over the past few years, Cloudsdale had begun a campaign of expansion, aggressively expanding its borders out over Everfree and towards Canterlot. The move had sparked tensions in the region. Ones which Luna rather not dwell on.
With a series of wingbeats, Luna took off setting her path towards Canterlot, the beast’s head in tow.
The streets of Canterlot were abuzz with the activity of market day. All around, white streets were lined with cart after cart of goods, ranging from the most luxurious fabrics to the most deadly weapons. Bands of royal guards wandered to and fro while city folk did business with merchants and nobles trotted haughtily through the streets.
A cloaked mare cut a path through the busy streets. Ponies gave wide berth upon seeing the thin white band of material around her neck; the sign of a mercenary. Above her floated a large, brown bundle wrapped in sackcloth.
Luna’s eyes darted around warily, looking for any sign of trouble. The streets were calm though, discluding the usual hubbub. Her midnight blue hooves glided silently across the clean cobblestones. Her gait was quick and graceful, attempting to draw as little attention as possible.
Without warning, a gaggle of playing foals cut straight in front of her. Luna stumbled, almost dropping her package, yet regaining her step before any commotion could ensue. Silently swearing under her breath, she continued, pulling the cloak tighter around her.
The cloak was a simple affair. A large, black piece of fabric hung loosely over her back so as to hide her figure. A modest, silver broach fastened the front together and held her mercenary band in place. Her head was covered over by a large, baggy hood, draping over her horn and concealing her mane. The cloak covered her from head to withers, effectively hiding her identity.
She continued down street after street of stalls and tall, spiring buildings. An indifferent populace paid her no heed allowing her to relax a little as she went.
Navigating Canterlot was quite the task as the city expanded, the outer reaches transforming from a series of dirt tracks into well paved highways. Luna furtively searched for her target. Sweat began to wet her brow as the strain of carrying her load became apparent.
Finally, she arrived. Half way along one of the larger roads running through to the center stood a large, white, military issue tent. The side of the tent was emblazoned with the insignia of the royal guard; a six pointed, pink star upon a purple shield, crowned with three blue stars.
Luna sat down, adjusting her hood and bringing her load down to ground level. She ran a hoof through her mane, melting into the cool sensation against her sweaty head. Her eyes glanced up, taking in one last look at the pink, shielded sky, before standing and marching forward.
Inside the tent, the atmosphere was hectic. Guards and clerks rushed everywhere, shifting through the organized chaos of an army office. The tent was filled with desks piled up with papers. A loud din filled the air, chatter and shouts and commands flying all over the place. Luna walked in a straight line down the main causeway splitting the tent into two sections. In front of her stood a large desk, neatly organized and manned by two ponies who sat patiently.
Upon reaching the desk, Luna was met with two icy glares, which she respectfully returned. The first to speak was the pony to her left, a butch, yellow female earth pony with a strawberry mane wearing the standard gold guard’s armor.
“What?!”
“That’s not very polite.” Luna raised an eyebrow, only to be met with an even colder glare.
“We’re not hiring mercenaries right now,” exclaimed the stallion to Luna’s right.
He was a thinly built unicorn, the kind you might find slinking around in the shadows. He had a sharp muzzle and his eyes were a sharp green. His mane was a dark black, contrasting his hazel coat.
“I’m here to collect a reward.”
“What reward?” the mare asked pointedly, leaning forward as she did.
“The one offered for handing in a dragon’s head.”
The two guards threw doubtful looks at one another before looking over Luna’s shoulder.
“I assume that is the dragon’s head,” the stallion stated, a hint of incredulity running through his voice.
“You assume correctly.”
Luna slung the bundle onto the desk, spilling paper everywhere. Ripping the cloth apart with her magic, she revealed the jet black head underneath. The guards reeled backwards in shock, looking to one another for support but both failing to form words. Luna glanced between the pair, contempt clearly showing on her face.
“You two call yourselves royal guards and you can’t even make sense of a dead dragon head. Here is the head, now give me my reward,” she finished in a mocking tone.
The stallion moved forwards again, regaining some composure.
“How do we know this is the real deal?”
Luna met his gaze with a pointed stare. With a gulp and an unsteady step backwards, he squeaked, “Give her her money.”
The mare scrambled under the desk keeping her eyes on Luna the entire time. Upon finding what she was looking for, she pulled a small, leather satchel out with her hooves and tossed it to Luna.
Catching it in her mouth, Luna curtly nodded to the pair.
“Thank you kindly.”
Turning to go, Luna added, “Oh, he’s missing a tongue.”
With that she left, leaving behind a severed head, two shaken guards and a room of confused onlookers.
The evening sun set the sky alight with hues of red and gold. Luna sat at a table outside a small cafe, sipping at a cocoa and soaking in the view. About her, stalls welcomed the last customers of the day and ponies marched through the streets, determined to get home after a long working day. The cafe bordered one of the many parks of Canterlot which was, at this time of day, busy with families and alive with sounds of foals playing.
The table Luna sat at was a round veneer table with a small parasol standing above. It provided pitiful shade against the low hanging sun. Luna swirled the chocolate liquid in its mug, savouring the taste while the pleasure lasted. Feeling a draught, she pulled her cloak in tight, snuggling into the relative warmth.
“It’s not often that you see a hardened mercenary enjoying a peaceful drink in Canterlot.”
The voice came from the large figure who now towered over the table, seemingly having appeared from nowhere.
“It’s not often that the Queen meets with hardened mercenaries, surely you fear a scandal.”
Luna looked upwards, flashing a sly smile at the pink alicorn standing over her.
“I’m glad to see you again, Luna.”
“I’m glad to see you too, Cadence, but I am sincere in my concern.”
Cadence drew out the chair opposing Luna and sat down, throwing Luna a wry smile as she did.
Cadence had grown considerably in recent years. Gone was the small, frail form that she once held. In its place was the tall and slender yet muscular form of a fully grown alicorn. Her horn had also grown; from the regular stub of a unicorn’s horn, to the majestic peak of a ruler. The pinks and yellows of her mane swept behind her, billowing majestically. Fastened around her neck was a subtly gilded necklace matched by a set of gilded shoes.
“With everything that goes on nowadays, ponies would be shocked to not find their Queen having a secret meeting with a shady character, pun intended.”
“I suppose you are right.”
Luna cast her eyes back down to her cocoa, watching the swirling liquid curl around the mug’s edges.
“It’s been a long time, Luna,” Cadence said, putting on an alluring tone.
Luna’s eyes shot up to Cadence, her back bristling. With a strict finality she murmured, “No.”
Cadence’s face fell to a pout.
“Oh, come on”
“No.”
“Come on.”
“No!”
“Come on?”
Luna’s eyes threw daggers at Cadence. Cadence just sat there, her face unmoving from the pitiful pout it held.
Finally, Luna relented, “Go on then.”
Without hesitation, Luna was drawn into a bearhug, lasting too long for her liking.
“Okay, enough.” Luna lodged a hoof between the pair and forced Cadence off of her. Cadence rolled back over the table and rolled onto the floor with a somewhat mad giggle.
“You’re the Queen, for goodness sake. Have some dignity.” Luna ruffled her feathers, her face turning sour.
A cheeky smile framed Cadence’s face. Playfully she cooed, “You’re the best auntie ever, Luna.”
Put off, Luna cast her eyes back to her cocoa, swirling it all the more vigorously.
“You creased my cloak,” she mumbled.
“Anyway,” Cadence began, adopting a serious tone, “how are things?”
“Well, I suppose. I’ve started killing dragons for money.”
“Oh.” Cadence raised an eyebrow.
“The Royal Guard are offering rewards for dragon heads. I finally have a source of steady income.” At this Luna smiled with smug satisfaction.
“It’s nice to hear you finally found a job. As for me, I must admit, it’s not easy running a country. Especially when I must follow on the footsteps of the two greatest monarchs who ever lived.”
“Yes, well, you know I don’t care for flattery, Cadence. How is Shining Armor?”
Cadence sighed, and leant back in her chair.
“He still hasn’t come back.”
“From the peace expedition to the griffin kingdom?” Luna leant forward, a hint of worry in her voice.
“Hmm,” Cadence nodded, “I receive letters regularly, but still. His party happened across a dragon cave. Obviously they wouldn’t let the opportunity pass, but it would be nice to have him back.”
Cadence slipped down in her chair a little.
“Well, I’m sorry to hear that. Is that what you wanted to see me about?” Luna looked at Cadence quizzically.
“No, no, that’s fine,” Cadence pulled herself up in her chair and shooed the idea away with a hoof, “What I called you here for is to tell you that they’ve found them.”
“What?” Luna’s blood froze in her veins, a chill shooting up her spine and stinging her head.
Cadence leaned in, and repeated herself slowly, “They’ve found them, Luna.”
“Where?” Luna’s voice was but a whisper.
“Chrysalis has them. My spies were unable to find out how she got them, but from what they gather, she’s had them for some time.”
Silence followed. Cadence let her words sink in as Luna brooded. After a few minutes of soaking in the evenings ambience, Luna made up her mind and spoke up. Her words were slow and deliberate.
“Cadence, I would like to ask a favour of you?”
Cadence, lost in thought, took a moment to compose herself, briefly letting slip a look of concern, before regaining her regal composure.
“What is it, Luna?”
“I would like you to accompany me to the Northern Spire to confront Chrysalis.”
Cadence fumbled for words, “But, Luna, I—”
“After the last interaction we had with the Changeling race, I am somewhat apprehensive about going on my own. Chrysalis is not to be underestimated and I would feel much more at ease if you were to accompany me.” Luna brought her hooves together in front of her, trying to hide the hints of fear on her face.
“Luna, it’s just...”
“Yes?”
“I, well,” Cadence’s eyes drifted off to one side, her form sunk slightly, relaxing, “The thing is, I fear for the country.”
Cadence glanced towards Luna, who replied by raising an eyebrow.
Cadence continued, “In recent months cousin Blueblood has been growing restless. His influence at court grows everyday. He would never stage anything when I’m around, he fears for his life as I’ve been known to be not exactly, umm, how should I put it? Accepting, let’s say that. I’ve not been known to be very accepting of insubordination. But if I were to leave, I would not be surprised if he were to try something.”
Luna gave Cadence an indignant stare, causing the pink alicorn to shift uncomfortably in her seat. “What’s this really about, Cadence?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know as well as I do that if Blueblood tried anything you’d crush him like a worm. Plus, if needed, I would myself intervene.”
They held each other’s gaze, letting time pass. After what felt like an eternity, Cadence relented.
“I’m worried about Shining Armor. The Royal Guard are already distrusted. For him to come home to an uprising would put him in mortal danger.”
Luna sighed and began to massage her temples, taking some solace in the act.
“Cadence,” Luna’s tone was firm, caching Cadence’s attention, “I want you to listen to me. Shining Armor puts himself in mortal danger everyday. It’s his job. I know you wish it was different, and I know that you worry, but there are greater things happening. I’m sorry you have to hear this Cadence, but you must listen. If we can get them from Chrysalis, the Elements of Harmony, then we can put everything right. We can end all of this. No more dragons, no more split Equestria, no more pointless deaths. All you have to do is trust me. Do you trust me, Cadence?”
Cadence’s eyes were firmly glued to the ground, set like stone. Without another breath she spoke, “Just answer me one question, Luna?”
Their gaze locked once more, Cadence’s eyes hardening, “Are you sure she’s still alive?”
“Cadence, I’m certain. Every fibre of her body cries out to me. She’s still alive, I know it. When I first thought she was gone, I tried to set the sun, but I couldn’t because she still had a hold of it. Even now I can feel her. The sun basks the earth in her magic. Just being under it, her radiance calls out to me. But we must act, Cadence. Every day that goes by, I feel her magic weaken. She’s not the only one moving the sun, someone is helping her. But every time it rises there’s a little less of her magic and a little more of the other entity’s magic. I don’t know how long we have. All I know is that with the Elements, we can find her, and put all this right.”
What seemed like an eternity passed, time slowed. Ponies rushed by and the sun moved in the sky. Some time later Cadence replied with one single word, “Okay.”
With that she got up, and casting Luna one steely glance, she added, “I’ll meet you at sunrise, sleep well.”
And then she was gone, leaving behind a Luna deep in contemplation, soaking in the sun’s dying rays.
Dawn - Change - Part 2
Thanks to MintyRest for reviewing.
The sun peaked over the horizon, neatly lighting up the world with sparks of red. Luna’s statuesque form sat silhouetted against the sky, the blue of her coat dim against the dawn. Her eyes were stagnant, face a mask of scrutiny. The silver glow of her horn cooled, tucking away the moon beyond the horizon. The sound of soft hoof falls signalled an approach.
“I remember when I was just a filly. Every so often mum would let me stay up to watch you raise the moon. Another time, I even stayed up all night just to watch you set it.”
“You were hiding on the balcony overlooking mine.”
“I always suspected you knew.”
Luna turned her head to look at Cadence, a thin smile breached her lips. Cadence returned the smile, moving forward to sit by Luna. Luna shifted over, allowing Cadence to join her on the dry patch of ground she had found, among the morning dampness.
“Celestia always insisted that I sent you to bed. Of course, I did not listen to her. Saying that, I didn’t really listen to anypony a thousand years ago.”
“That was all a long time ago now.”
“I know, but the past thousand years weren’t very eventful for me.”
Cadence gave Luna a playful nudge. Luna giggled and nudged back, before sobering up once more. They sat in silence for some time, taking in the sights of the waking city below them and the sounds of the waking palace behind them.
“I never did see your mother pass away. A shame really, I would have liked to say goodbye.”
“She left a message for you.”
“Really?” Luna arched an eyebrow, turning towards Cadence, her interest piqued.
Cadence continued staring into the distance, her look just as far away.
“It said, ‘Luna, you better pay me back in the next life,’” Cadence finished, breaking out into a large grin.
Luna snorted with laughter.
“She always was a funny one.”
“You did owe her a lot of money to her.”
Luna stuck out her tongue at Cadence.
“It’s as if she always expected me to be redeemed.”
“She was always the optimist at heart.”
Another silence ensued. Both mares smiled, slipping into their memories.
“You always were brave, Cadence. Marrying Shining was a brave thing to do,” Luna mused.
Cadence gave a contented sigh.
“It’s love, Luna. It doesn’t matter how long it lasts. Sometimes things are worth the pain of loss.”
“But other times you just have to fight for them,” Luna mumbled.
“What was that?” Cadence turned her attention towards Luna.
“Oh, nothing. Anyway, it’s time.”
Luna stood up, her body tensing. Cracking her neck, and arching her back, she readied herself. Deep blue wings stretched majestically, giving a few test flaps, buffeting air. Cadence stood up also, spreading her wings with grace and poise.
“What war magic do you know, Cadence?” Luna’s tone became serious. She pulled in her wings and adjusted her stance, readying for flight. Her movements were precise and sharp, with the efficacy of a killing machine.
“Only what has been needed to protect my subjects.”
“Can you cast a blade?”
“I can but I have not cast in a long time.”
Luna nodded her head expectantly.
A bright flash of pink light appeared between the pair. As the light dulled, a thin blade appeared. The blade was considerably smaller than Luna’s, thinner also. Instead, of size, it had precision. The blade curved upwards, perfect for slashing. It was also far sharper than Luna’s blade. It was constructed from a roiling mass of fine pink ribbons surrounding a yellow shaft of light.
Cadence swung it experimentally, letting it cut through the air. Her face lit up, like a foal rediscovering a lost toy. She began to spin it around, slowing marking out smaller and smaller circles until she was spinning it like a drill. A cry pierced the air and she lunged it forwards, adopting a combat stance as she did.
“Good, but I must warn you now, you should avoid using your blade at all costs. If an enemy is close enough to swing your blade at, then you already sacrificed the tactical advantage of magic. When we enter the Northern Spire, though, you should have your blade cast and ready at all times. We will be fighting in close combat so it should be your primary weapon.”
“Ooh, quite the soldier now aren’t we, auntie,” Cadence cooed.
Luna’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, she stumbled over words before admonishing, “Cadence! This is serious now. We’re going into real combat.”
“You’re no fun.” Cadence fell onto her haunches, folding her forelegs in a playful manner.
Luna cracked a smile, before wiping it away.
“Can you summon a blast?”
“What’s a blast?” Cadence looked up, intrigued.
“As you already know, channeling magic is closely related to strength of emotion. When a being is channeling magic and they have a strong emotion attached to the reason they’re using the magic, amplification occurs.”
“Textbook stuff.”
“Indeed, but a good warrior cannot be a slave to emotions. Instead, they must be able control them. In doing so, they learn to use their magic to its full potential. A harmonic blast occurs when a sufficiently large enough quantity of magic is summoned to be weaponized. The most efficient way of channeling this magic is into a beam of energy, named a harmonic blast. Any magic user can summon one, they just need to learn how to evoke the strength of emotion needed. This is normally achieved through either some poignant memory, the close presence of a loved one or set of words with particular emotional weight.”
Cadence cocked her head to one side. “So what you’re saying is that I get all sad and I can conjure giant explosions.”
Luna simply glared at Cadence.
Cadence broke out into a grin before turning away and murmuring, “Sorry.”
Luna huffed before continuing, “It is not so simple. It requires a great amount of mental discipline. Also, I take it that you cannot summon a blast.”
“No. How come I’ve never heard about this harmonic blast before?”
“Such a spell was a closely guarded secret before the war began. I was not even aware of its existence before Celestia taught it to me. Upon the commencement of the war, the spell spread through the mages of the army. It would seem that it never gained enough usage to become common knowledge. Only a handful of unicorns had the mental discipline to perform such a feat. Even Twilight Sparkle had difficulty in learning it.”
“How long would it take for you to teach it to me?”
Luna shifted about uncomfortably, her gaze wandering to the rising sun. “Longer than the time we have available to us. It is time we leave. If we meet a dragon then we dispatch of it as quickly as possible. We should try and avoid skirmishes with griffins as stopping to kill them would only slow our progress.”
A look of horror framed Cadence’s face before slipping back under her mask. She stood, her back bristling. “Pray tell, why you would even wish to attack the members of a neutral nation at a such a fragile time of diplomacy.” Anger laced her tone.
Luna blinked.
“This is not a time of peace, Cadence. I cannot always afford luxuries.”
“And sparing lives is a luxury?” Cadence leaned in towards Luna, her breath hot on Luna’s face.
Luna’s brow wrinkled.
“I’m sorry, Cadence. It would seem that I have not said what I meant to.”
“And what exactly did you mean to say?”
“It is of no consequence now. Forgive me and let us discuss this some other time. There are more pressing matters at hand.”
Somewhat mollified, Cadence backed away. Her hoof started scuffing at the ground below her.
Luna’s frown deepened, but, thinking nothing more of it, she spun round and stretched her wings once more. She took in the last sights of the city below her. The first ponies to wake were beginning to filter onto the streets. Glancing behind her, she took one last look at the pristine, white washed walls of the palace. Looking up at the pink sky, her wings flapped, strong powerful strokes lifting Luna into the waking day. Cadence followed behind her, her movements rigid.
Luna reveled in the crisp breeze under her beating wings. The coolness of the high altitude winds was refreshing in the early morning sunlight. A lazy smile played on her lips trying to dispel the dark mood that hung over the pair. Sparsely populated grasslands rolled by below them, marred by the occasional burn. As they headed north at a respectable pace, the air grew colder, and the foliage thinned. Roads ran in straight lines without any noticeable traffic.
The journey so far had been a quiet one, silence only having been broken at the Canterlot Shield as Cadence cast her bypass spell. In the heights of the sky, the only audible sounds were the beating of wings and the rush of wind. To those accustomed to those noises, all was silent.
Luna glanced back at Cadence, who followed closely behind. Cadence kept her face fixed forwards, her mouth taught into a frown. Her flowing mane buffeted behind her. Luna looked forwards again. Her eyes began to scrutinise the horizon, taking note of its shape and adjusting course appropriately.
The rest of the journey continued in much the same way. Grasslands rolled into great forests and great forests rolled back into grasslands. Snow began to lace the ground as they headed further north and mountains began to rise. The air grew colder and all the while, silence remained. As far as the eye could see the ground below was lifeless, save the occasional wondering beast.
Continuing north, they began to pass over mountains, entering the lands of the North.
A soft white blanketed the clearing peppered with black smears. At its edges stood the charred timber carcasses of buildings providing shelter to multitudes of pony corpses, roasted black, which littered the ground. The remains of the village were well preserved, shielded from the harsh weather by the mountain cliff faces.
Luna glided over the field of ash on silent hooves. Her face was inscrutable. She stopped in the middle of the clearing and lifted a hoof, inspecting it closely; white ash coated her dark fur. After a short pause, she blew, scattering the ashes into the breeze.
“What was this place?” Cadence’s voice held a sense of urgency.
Luna was silent for a moment, her face dampening. Her hoof still hung in front of her, once again deep blue. She turned her head and looked back at Cadence who stood some way behind her.
“A frontier town. Some of the northern stretches are still populated, though conditions are tough. The provinces up here are trying to expand back into the old Equestrian lands, they need the farmland.”
Cadence hung her head, her eyes glistened.
“When did this happen?”
“Not long ago; the smell still hangs in the air. The absence of life would suggest a few days.” Luna finally rested her hoof down and began to walk slowly. “This was a sloppy job, the dragon merely came, breathed and left. A good portion of the ponies would have survived, most likely fleeing for their lives. I doubt they survived. They probably died of thirst.”
Luna turned back to Cadence, observing her. Cadence was sitting down, shivering. Tears rolled down her muzzle, marking the ground below her.
“What of the dragon?” She enquired with a shaky voice.
“I imagine these are his territories. We cannot pass through unnoticed, we should expect to meet him. Expect him to be hostile, he appears neither sympathetic nor professional.” Luna peered up at the setting sun. “Blood will have been shed before the night is through. Let’s hope we fight him in the dark, I prefer it that way.”
Cadence picked herself up, choking back a sob. With what seemed like a growl, she stiffened, spreading her wings.
“I will not yet abandon diplomacy, but if that fails I fear I may not be able to control my blade.”
Luna merely peered back at Cadence.
An icy wind chilled Luna’s spine. Blue and black outlines of mountains jutted up from below, rolling underneath as the pair flew in near silence. The moon shone in the sky with an unnatural intensity and the clear, high altitude air revealed a rich blanket of stars above.
Cadence hummed softly; a strange, ghostly tune. Cadence led now, letting Luna rest in her slipstream. Time seemed lost hanging below the stars. Luna bristled impatiently and a small smile graced her lips. A thin silver aura coated her horn as she reached out with her magical senses, searching.
Minutes and hours rolled on, the moon tracing its arc across the sky.
And then, it began.
The sensation was weak to begin with, a small distortion in the magical field. Luna sensed it but held her tongue, waiting. As she waited the feeling began to grow; a sinking feeling in her stomach, a throb in her horn. Still she waited.
Then it came. Pain shot down Luna’s horn closely followed by a deep rumbling sound from far off. Luna gritted her teeth, not letting her magic waver. Her words came out in stutters, punctuating ragged breaths, “Dragon incoming. At our two o'clock. It knows we’re here.”
Cadence shot back a look, something nameless passing over her features. Her voice was quiet and her tone serious, “What’s it like?”
Luna’s horn began to throb. Her eyelids pressed hard together, as her jaw began to shake.
“It’s big. Powerful.”
“How long ‘til it reaches us?”
“Not long. Ready yourself.”
Cadence looked forward once more, slowing in her flightpath. Luna slowed too, matching her speed. Another rumble sounded, this time nearer. Luna let go of her magic and began to ready herself. Her breathing became deep and her eyes remained closed. She concentrated her mind, picturing what was about to ensue. Her mind flicked through her magical arsenal, looking for the spells she needed. Once she had mentally prepared, she opened her eyes again, looking to Cadence.
A pink light encased Cadence’s horn, quickly spreading to cover her whole body. Armour began to take form, glowing gold. As the light dimmed, the armour was revealed; thick gold war plates, carved with Canterlot insignia. A helmet rested on Cadence’s head, simple and round with two opening at the front and back, one for her face and the other for her mane. Luna was interested to note wing casings. Thick plates hinged for maneuverability and enchanted to be weightless. Razor sharp edges lined the front, making for a deadly, natural weapon.
Luna’s own horn lit with a flash. A dark blue shield expanded around her. Cadence glanced back, an eyebrow perking upwards and her mouth ajar.
“The shield’s a bit much, isn’t it?”
“I have learnt from recent... altercations that I may need to be a little more careful in combat.”
“I’m surprised you’re not dead yet.” Cadence shot Luna a smug grin.
Luna’s face scrunched up in annoyance before, in desperation, she poked her tongue out, blowing a raspberry at her agitator. Cadence giggled and turned forwards once more leaving Luna to brood and mutter expletives under her breath.
A monstrous roar jolted Luna back into the present. As she watched a shape emerged from the shadows before her, clearly visible under the moonlight.
The dragon was large, far larger than anything she’d recently fought. Its body, covered in ghostly white scales, drifted through the night, its path seemingly immutable. Massive wings stretched outwards, reaching into the void of the night. Its spines were a light blue and its underside was coloured a misty grey. The skin covering its legs was tight, revealing gargantuan muscles. Its claws were sharp and refined, attention had been paid to chisel them down to fine points. A sturdy neck held a head trained forward, poised to attack.
“Cadence, on my command we attack. I’ll rise and you fall. Distract him and I’ll finish him,” Luna stated without trace of emotion.
“No. Diplomacy first, we will not attack without trying to be reasonable.”
Luna glared at Cadence. Cadence glared back. A short hesitation and Luna looked away.
“I’m warning you now, this is foolishness. We have been hostile to the dragon race for longer than I care to remember.”
“We are not at war anymore, Auntie,” Cadence hissed.
“Yet they still kill our own.”
Silence fell over the pair. Luna’s face was grim, a deep frown soured her face. Her horn began to glow with a subtle blue. White sparks began to jump to the tip, hinting at the power she was gathering.
The dragon’s advance continued unabated, his bulk drifting ever closer. As he neared, Luna began to notice smaller, more subtle details; the shine in his red eyes, the glint of his teeth in the moonlight. Remaining steely faced, a white aura lit her horn. She opened her mouth and, with the full force of the Royal Canterlot Voice, shouted.
“HALT DRAGON! LEST YOU WANT YOUR HEAD CARVED FROM BODY!”
A throaty laugh resounded, the dragon’s face twisting in amusement. Cadence shot Luna an admonishing look. Luna ignored her.
“You ponies are all the same. All noise and no fight,” he mused with a voice like an earthquake. “Pray tell, pony, what you intend to do to one as large as myself.”
“WATCH YOU HALT!”
With a chuckle, the dragon stopped beating his wings and angled them upwards, slowing himself. He came to a halt about fifty yards in front of Luna and Cadence.
“Very well, I find you somewhat amusing so I suppose I can take a small break from chores of killing and pillaging in order just to talk. What is it you wish to talk about?”
“Diplomacy,” Cadence declared, moving forwards. Her armour glowed majestically. Luna watched her warily, readying herself.
“Oh.” The dragon tactfully arched an eyecrest. His tone stood somewhere between amusement and curiosity. It held a soft touch now that he no longer planned to kill them instantly.
“We wish for safe passage. We have greater things to fight than you this coming day and we wish that no blood be shed this night.”
The dragon gave a snort of derision, a small puff of smoke escaping his nostril.
“Do you know who I am, pony?”
“Do you know who I am, dragon?” Cadence countered.
“Well, I believe I can take a good guess.” The dragon lifted a paw and stroked his chin. “Let me see. You,” he said, pointing to Cadence, “you must be the one who calls herself the ‘Queen of Canterlot’. Not an awful lot to be queen of if you ask me. And you,” he slinked his head round to meet Luna’s eyes, “you must be the coward sister of the sun pony, the one who ran away.”
Luna gritted her teeth, her eyelid twitched, she snarled in rage. Shadow and fire coalesced as she drew her blade. She surged forward and trained it at the dragon. Cadence let out a small yelp of surprise, failing to form words. The dragon grinned in wry amusement. Luna stopped just short of him, her blade sweeping a vicious figure of eight, sparks trailing behind it. Her shield glowed with a strange intensity.
“Luna, what do you think you’re doing?!”
Luna ignored her, instead focusing solely on the dragon.
“And who, dragon,” the word grated on her tongue, “are you?”
“I,” the dragon announced, dramatically lifting a paw, “am Thunder, Third General of The Dragon Modern Standing Army, Conqueror of the Equestrian Deserts, and now retired dragon enjoying my share of the land and my horde of many treasures. And no, pony.”
“Huh?”
“You may not have safe passage.”
Gale force winds tore at Luna’s wings, pulling her into the dragon’s open maw as he breathed in deeply. Luna lunged forwards, swinging her blade round in a wide arc. Thunder recoiled his head and finished breathing.
“DIVE!” Luna screamed. Her wings snapped into her sides and her horn flashed. A telekinetic blast launched her downwards as a carpet of flame scorched the air above her. The world was lit in a fierce red outline. The shield held.
In a moment of panic, Luna frantically looked around for Cadence, her heart beating double time and not slowing down again until she located Cadence following her down, diving also, some twenty feet behind.
“Cadence, I need you to distract him!”
A growl pierced the sky. Luna watched Cadence look up before snapping her head back down again. She set her face firmly and looked to Luna and nodded. Throwing her wings out, her descent ended as she swooped into a graceful arc, leaving Luna to fall.
Luna looked up. Thunder had begun his descent, wings flapping to gain speed and his course set to follow Cadence. Luna bit her lip, holding back a grin. His majestic form sailed downwards, cutting through the sky. The white of his scales made him seem like a phantom in the night.
Luna snapped out her wings, already anticipating the pain. Her fall ended harshly, whipping her upwards and throwing her into the sky. Her breaths were slow and deliberate, fighting against the black that laced her vision. She began to beat her wings, gaining height. There was a white flash, followed by a bang; Luna pumped her wings harder.
The whistle of wind in her ears began to lessen as she gained altitude. She tucked her wings in and brought her body round, facing downwards toward the battle below. Cadence flew with a precise skill, dodging and diving with perfect timing, avoiding claws here and teeth there. From high above she seemed like a fly bothering a cat, albeit a slightly monstrous cat. Thunder swatted the sky with his paws and drenched the night in waves of flame, growling in growing frustration at Cadence dancing around him.
Luna began to fall once more, her wings slightly outstretched, guiding her. Grey mist seeped to Luna’s horn, gathering from the air around her. As it thickened, a fire lit inside of it, burning vigorously. Luna hurtled downwards, reaching terminal velocity. The wind roared in her ears and the air pounded against her face. Adrenaline coursed through her veins. Luna’s shield went down, no longer supported by sufficient magic.
“Cadence, move!”
Cadence looked up at Luna and, upon seeing her hurtling towards them, darted away, a blur of gold and pink. Thunder roared, twisting around to swat at Cadence and finding nothing there. He thrashed in a wild frenzy, trying to find her.
“Come and fight, Pony! Stop running away and hiding. Your whole race are nothing but cowards.”
Luna focused, clearing her mind and filling it with pictures of regret.
“Not by might.
Not by brawn.
Not by night.”
Thunder snapped his white head up towards Luna, his gaze meeting hers. His eyes burned with furious wrath. His mouth was twisted into a snarl, but instantly dropped.
“But by the first light of dawn.”
Thunder rolled in the air narrowly avoiding a pillar of volcanic white light that seared the night. He screamed in frustration; a violent hissing sound. He moved upwards, closing the gap on Luna.
Looming in front of her, her blocked out all vision of the ground below. Panic set in in Luna’s mind. She desperately thrust her wings out, trying to steer herself from the opening jaws. They did little to slow her fall, achieving only a pain which shot through them. The white of Thunder’s scales began to come into focus as she neared. Luna howled, the sound llying somewhere between anguish and disappointment.
Time slowed.
Luna pulled her wings in and focused magic through her horn. Ignoring the stinging of magical exertion, she cast her blade from fire. Precise rows of sharpened teeth lay just below, ready for her entry. She angled her blade to cut down through the dragon’s throat, taking them both to their deaths.
It should be quick. She took solace in her reason. My blade will shear through his neck, and his inner sets of teeth will shear through me. If I’m going to be taken then at least this should even the score. It’s chess.
Luna smiled; the kind of peaceful, serene smile that she hadn’t smiled in some time.
The pale white of his scales began to disappear, replaced by the black of his throat. His jaws began to rise up around her.
Time sped up again.
There was a mighty crash and a giant force exerted on Luna. Luna momentarily blacked out under the physical stress, her blade extinguishing in a puff. A choked roar followed.
As she came back to, she found herself cartwheeling through the air. A flick of her horn and she abruptly halted, a thin wave of force panning out from her body. She spread her wings and banked.
From the way she had come, she found Thunder struggling to fly. His wing beats were weak and irregular, his body turned in the air. His neck hung limp, choking noises came from his mouth and his claws flailed weakly. Under the moonlight a large bloody wound on his neck glistened, a wound typical of blunt force trauma.
Cadence leveled up beside Luna, her golden armor dented.
“I’m sorry to force you two apart during such an intimate moment, but we have better things to do than let you get eaten.”
Luna looked at Cadence and regarded her with an eyebrow raised. Her face quickly slumped into a smile.
“Thank you, Cadence.”
“Your welcome.”
Thunder went limp and his body began its descent. The white ghostly form plunged into the darkness below without trace.
“Luna.”
“Yes?”
“You did a good job in distracting him.”
Cadence smirked and flew off. Luna chuckled and and shook her head, before following Cadence into the night.
The campfire was now little more than an ash heap, glowing merrily in the dark. Luna and Cadence lay nearby, huddled together for warmth. Luna stared wistfully into the embers.
“Cadence.”
“Hmm,” Cadence groaned drowsily.
“I’m sorry.”
Cadence was quiet.
“What Thunder said today. I did run away, and I just left you. I reasoned that you were ready, but it was unfair of me. I’m sorry for that. I should have stayed, but I was too emotional and too distraught. Do you forgive me?”
There was a moment’s silence, interrupted only by the chirping of crickets.
“I love you, Luna,” Cadence mumbled.
“I love you too, Cadence.”
Luna smiled, she took one last look at the fire and then lay her head, snuggling into Cadence.
“We fight Changelings tomorrow,” Luna whispered. “Stupid Chrysalis.”
