The Man and The Moon

Mystic Haze

It was a quiet night in Equestria, at least, from what I could tell, it was rather peaceful. Everything was silent and still, except for me, who assigned to monitor the stations, making sure everypony was where they were supposed to be. I near a turn but as I go to follow through, something outside of the window catches my eye, leaning out slightly I attempt to see just who it is.

"A group of solar guards? At this hour?" And that's when it dawns on me, those aren't just solar guards, they were the guards assigned to track down Edward, but instead of entering the castle immediately, they form a circle just in front of the door, curious I lean out to see what they're up to.

"Remember what the princess said. Found nothing, looked everywhere, no evidence that he's alive." She said under a hushed breath, leaning back I cast a scornful gaze towards them, and quietly make my way to Princess Luna's chamber as to not alert the group that I just overheard 'Something isn't right' I think to myself, are they under orders not to find anything for real?' My time of thought passes as I sand in front of the double doors to the Princess' chamber giving I stand on my hind legs as I give it an urgent knock. Returning to my natural stance I wait eagerly for a response, seconds pass before one is given.

"Yes? Who is it?"

"Mystic Haze, Ma'am, I have urgent news!"

"News about what?" I gulp as I contemplate how she'll react but she needs to know that something is amiss.

"The search party, Ma'am, they've returned!" Silence is what followed, for what felt like an eternity that's what I was greeted with, feeling a large amount of unease, I speak up once again. "Ma'am?" and with that, the doors burst open with an overly excited Luna bulldozing through them.

"Where are they? Have they found him?"

"Before that Princess, there's something I need to tell you." Looking both ways down the corridor I swiftly enter the room and silently wave her in. She slowly walks in a confused look on her face.

"Mystic, you are acting quite strange, what's wrong?" Closing the door I turn to answer her.

"It's the search party, I overheard them talking and it sounds like they're under orders to report false findings."

"Pardon." Said more like a demand than a question, her mood has done a complete one-eighty and if the expression on her face is to say anything, she's pissed.

"I think... That, well, maybe the search party..." She continues to glare at me, only her eyes get more intense. "Maybe the search party wasn't actually... a search party." I close my eyes and cover my ears from fear of what might happen, but nothing happens, I open a single eye, and hee Luna looking at me with an expressionless stare.

"I see... So that was her response."

"I'm sorry, Ma'am but what response?"

"Why to the princes' demands. He made her put Edward on as my guard, and I suppose that her response to that was to get rid of him without me knowing."

"What should we do?"

"Contact the prince, inform him of what my sister has done."

"But there are solar guards watching him, isn't it a possibility that they'll find out and tell Celestia?"

"Well, then we stop them from relaying the message."

"How do you suppose we do that...?"

"Leave that to us. We need to have a chat with our sister. Be ready for our order."

"Yes, Ma'am!"

Edward

"Could you stop laughing?" I ask as Chrysalis is on her back laughing maniacally.

"Depends, can you stop setting yourself on fire?" I give her a deadpan stare as I pat myself down.

"You know I'm starting to think that you enjoy my failures"

"Oh, what gave it away?"

"Well it could be the laughing there cheese-legs"

"Oh? Nicknames now? I didn't think our relationship would grow that fast. But really? Cheese-legs? You could've come up with something better." I shrug as she looks at me.

"If it's any consultation sometimes I call Celestia Sunbutt."

"To her?"

"Haven't had the chance, I usually only interact with the other guards or Luna, I rarely see Celestia anymore."

"You're better off."

"Considering that if she had it her way I'd be dead right now I think you're right." She finally leaves you laying down position to one of sitting and as she adjusts herself she continues to speak.

"You know, with how much we talk about what she's done to you, I don't sense any hatred towards her from you."

"That's because feeling hate towards someone who's wronged you is a waste of time and energy." I snap my fingers in the direction of a fallen branch and the tip catches fire, the flame is small and weak but the fact that it's not on me is a sign of improvement. "I'd rather use my time and energy to practice my abilities and improve myself."

"So you're telling me that you choose not to feel certain emotions?"

"Yes, I suppose."

"Are you sure?"

"What do you mean? Of course, I am."

"You look confused, and you play the cold unfeeling machine, but I think it's just that. You playing the part, I also think that it was easier for you to play it back in your world but it's harder to hide your emotions here and you don't know why and you're confused." I pause for a moment, staring at the little flame I created, and I think only to have her chime in again. "And right now you're thinking of a way to convince me that I am wrong. That maybe, just maybe you really are the thing you pretend to be." Biting the inside of my cheek I turn to look at her, I suppose there isn't any point in trying to bluff.

"Twilight was right... You do see through everyone."

"It's what I do, Edward."

"And I guess you have an answer for me?"

"More of a theory in all honesty. Everypony in Equestria is more in tune with their emotions, in fact, some emotions have a direct impact on their ability to use magic. Twilight for example, when shes devastated or heartbroken, her magical output shrinks dramatically. Equestria is full of magic, whether it be living or inanimate, it has magic, and I think that it's affecting you, drawing you closer to the emotions that you thought were locked away." The theory she displays to me makes sense, and while it does I can't help but remember something. 'Relinquish the chains on your heart.' My head recoils from a sudden pain. Chrysalis stands to use her remedy but stops when I hold up a hand.

"I'm fine," I say half-heartedly, "I'm just remembering." I stagger slightly before falling down.

"Remembering what?"

"A contract."

Luna

It's mid-noon, We are exhausted but the matter at hand is of the utmost importance. Entering the dining hall We quickly levitate a banana to use, peel it, and eat the peel before throwing the unsavory part away.

"Lulu! You're going to be enjoying lunch with me today?"

"Yes, sister." We take a seat before addressing her further. "There is a matter We wish to discuss." We watch as Celestia takes a bite out of the cake that's found a home directly in front of her, before replying.

"Oh? And what matter would that be?" She says as she dabs her muzzle with a napkin.

"The guards watching over Princes Joseph."

"What about them?"

"You are aware that all guards must undergo a mandatory training course to make sure they are still informed of our procedures yes?"

"Yes, I most certainly am. Why?"

"It turns out that the guards you have posted there are over-due with theirs." She looks at us with a tinge of surprise in her expression.

"Oh, well that won't do, thank you for bringing it to my attention."

"If possible We would like to station some of our night guards there."

"Why would that be?"

"All of our guards have undergone their training, We simply want to ensure that nopony gets left out on the solar side of things."

"You make a good point Lulu, I'll send word to the guards stationed there and inform them that they should return to Canterlot as soon as their relief arrives. Do you have anypony picked out?"

"Mystic Haze, and one pony he chooses to accompany him."

"Okay, was that all you wanted to discuss?"

"One more thing sister."

"Yes?"

"Has the search party returned yet?" She looks down at her plate with a somber expression.

"They have... I'm sorry Lulu, but they didn't find him."

"We see..."

"With the time that has passed since his disappearance and the lack of any evidence that shows he's one of the living, I have to declare him to be deceased. You know I have to, right?"

"Indeed." Getting up, We make our way towards the door. "We're going to turn in for the day." Without another word, We exit and make our way to our chambers, on the way We pass Mystic Haze. "Mystic Haze." We call out abruptly.

"Yes, Ma'am?"

"Gather your things, and choose a pony, you and whomever you choose will be stationed to watch over the prince, effective immediately."

"Yes, Ma'am!"

"Dismissed." He goes the opposite way he came, maybe he already has somepony he wants for the job? We shrug and continue to our chambers, as we think to ourselves, 'Tia has deceived us for the last time.'

Chrysalis

I've been watching over Edward for two weeks now, and he will be every bit as useful as I thought he'd be. Why he's already moved on from setting himself on fire to directing his magic to precise spots. Though not letting me use my remedy to ease his pain is a bit disconcerting. Saying that 'He's remembering' and that 'He formed a contract'. But still, there's something about him that just draws me in.

"Chrysalis?" He says, looking me in the eye.

"Oh, done with your 'remembering exercise'? I was starting to enjoy it."

"Oh, hush, are your boys ready to start their training?"

"Of course, just need to walk back to the hive." He nods before leading the way back. "But really though Cheese-legs?"

"You're still hung up about that?"

"Well, to be fair there's nothing really clever that I can call you."

"You're implying 'Cheese-legs' is clever?"

"Not in the slightest I just feel like one-upping you."

"Just call me whatever you want." I raise an eyebrow at that, oh, he's playing a dangerous game now.

"Anything I want?"

"Sure." He says in a monotone voice." Stretching his fingers until a loud pop can be heard and limbering up his shoulders.

"Hmm, I can live with that." I give him a smug look, hoping that it prompts him to ask 'What?'

"What? Do you have a name for me already?"

"How does handsome sound?" He stops in his tracks and processes what he just heard as if he's never been complimented before.

Edward

I think I'm starting to regret some of my choices, as she looks at me with what I assume to be a seductive gaze before she breakouts laughing.

"Oh, the look on your face! You really make it hard to keep a straight face you know." She starts to walk again before continuing. "Why with how much you know about combat and espionage and assuming you've seen a lot of stuff, it is quite surprising that something so trivial as sudden compliments would alarm you."

"It doesn't alarm me, you just caught me off guard. And what possessed you to pretend to compliment me?"

"Who said I was pretending?" I avert my attention in hopes of somehow forcing a subject change. Well, that rock over there looks especially interesting, I must ruminate on it. "Oh, look we're here."

"Okay, good, let's have some of your boys come out here and we can start their training."

"Very well." She claps her hoofs together and a group of four emerge from the hive, and all the while I'm left to wonder, how do they know she wants them when the claps are identical?

"You summoned us, Majesty?"

"Yes, it is time you began your raining with Edward."

"Very well, what might I ask do you have in store for us?" They look to me, as they ask, and draw in line awaiting command. 'Well, at least they're disciplined, so I can skip that part." I think to myself as I think about how I'm going to teach them when an idea forms into my head that just might work.

"You can morph into any creature, correct?"

"Yes."

"Alright then, first thing's first, I want you all to transform into a human." They look at each other, slightly puzzled, most likely because they've never attempted to take the form of something that wasn't equestrian in nature. "Feel free to emulate my appearance, though, do try to morph with clothes on, it'll be distracting if you don't." They give each other a nod before the for cast themselves in a green glow. A minute passes and the glow starts to shift, changing in shape, growing taller. My theory was right, I think to myself as the glow disperses and I'm left looking at four copies of myself. To the side, clapping can be heard from chrysalis.

"Wow, I actually didn't think of that, clever." I nod slightly before addressing them further.

"You boys, look stiff, try taking a walk." They each go to take a step before losing balance and toppling over. "Well, that settles it, your first lesson will be to walk." They look at me as if to say 'really?' I cross my arms and loom over them and say coldly "First you will learn to walk, then to run. Only after you've learned those two things will I teach you how to fight like a human." I point in the direction that Chrysalis and I just came from. "You will travel that way until you can stand on two legs and walk without needing to think about balance, then you will run back here." They look to their monarch who just has her usual smug look on her face, she lifts a hoof and points in the same direction I am. They try to stand, using each other for support and start to walk as instructed. Once they leave eyeshot I sigh and look to Chrysalis. "How long do you think it'll take?"

"For them to learn the lesson?"

"For Celestia, to track me down and finish the job."

"Who knows, her ability to be any kind of decent ruler is very erratic. Most likely she'll hope you died out in the desert somewhere."

"Good. We can plan her downfall in peace then. Could take months, even years for me to feel that your army is ready."

"We have the number advantage."

"And they have the higher win streak."

"So, any ideas besides your plan on making other nations help us?"

"Simple. We destroy Canterlot from the inside. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a letter to write."