Chapters Luna thrashed in her sleep, tears streamed down her face. The bed in the shape of a crescent moon upon which she rested soaked up the tears she cried, and that was a lot. The pain in her chest of her black heart, or so she believed, bore the weight of shame, guilt and loneliness. She thrashed again striking the bedpost hard enough to crack it, causing her concerned guards to jump and burst into the room thinking someone got in.
They scanned the room but saw nothing, then their gazes fell on the weeping princess herself. They stood in shock and worry when they saw how soaked her sheets were and that they were still absorbing more of the mares tears. They wanted to comfort her in some way but she was asleep. So they decided to return to their posts and report to Celestia when she woke up.
Luna continued to thrash as though being strangled, tears soaking her sheets even more. “No, please.”
Luna whimpered in her sleep, “Please, dont. Let them be Nightmare.”
*****
Nightmare, that was her name. The demon that seized Lunas mind one thousand years ago. Luna believed that she and she alone was responsible, but no, Luna fell victim to the Nighmare. That same demon haunted her mind now, destroying her from the inside out. The Nightmare cursed Luna with images and taunts of the way she had lost control to her.
“I took you once Luna,” She cackled at the moon princess kneeling in front of her, “and I will do so again.”
“Please,” Luna begged through her sobs, “Stop.”
“Why,” Nightmare challenged, “You wont fight, and your own sister abandoned you to me. You’re mine Luna.”
Her words cut deeper than any knife ever could, Luna collapsed into more forceful sobs when she heard this. She didn’t want to believe it, Celestia never abandoned her, did she? Still, she had not saved Luna from her demons, she hadn’t supported her when she needed it.
“And What’s more? No one cares enough to help you, no friends, no one.”
Still the nightmare cut deeper, her taunts and verbal abuse were only the beginning, soon she bagan to beat Luna across the dreamscape. Pushing against her mind the Nightmare tried to force her way to control. Luna thrashed in the pain of her mind being attacked by a demon, one that knew how to hurt her the most. Luna fought as well as she could in her weakness, it was futile, she had to wake up before the nightmare escaped.
Luna fought to wake up, the Nightmare resisted, wanting to finally be free of her host. Luna fought all the harder, she could not fail here, but she did. The Nightmare essence left and receded from her consciousness, Luna failed to stop her escape.
Luna sat bolt upright in bed, tears streaming down her face and breathing hard. She emmediately looked around to see her sister and two concerned guards. Celestia looked more than worried, she had lost her sister once because of her own negligence, she wouldn’t let it happen again. She turned to the guards and motioned them out, then turned to her sister once they left.
“Luna,” Celestia said her voice laden with worry, “what is the matter?”
“Nothing,” Luna said.
“Luna, this has been happening since your return, and that was ten years ago. If this happens every night, three hundred sixty five days a year then there is likely a major problem. What is bothering you Luna?”
“Nothing is wrong sister, it was just a Nightmare.”
“One that has been happening every night for ten years.” Celestia said, “The guards could hear your sobbing through the door. They are worried about you Luna, I’m worried about you. But I cant help if I dont know what’s wrong.”
Luna felt like it was a lie, the guards worried about her was absurd, how could they worry about a monster like her? Luna buried her face in her hooves, overwhelmed by the conflicting emotions and thoughts in her head. She bagan to sob quietly, Luna felt her sister wrap her wings around her and begin to shush her gently. Celestia began to brush Lunas mane with her hoof.
“Please Luna, talk to me.” Celestia coaxed.
“I dont know what’s wrong,” Luna lied, “I dont know why I’m plauged by these nightmares. I...”
Luna choked on her sobs before she could finish. She continued to sob into her sisters shoulder, the Nightmare had used everything. The nightmare replayed scenes from her childhood, and their abusive father. Luna was just a filly and her body was already hard as a rock thanks to her fathers remorseless beatings. And Luna had never received support from anyone, Celestia wasn’t aware of it as she was kept from the area and Luna was threatened with worse should she seek out her sister. She had been shown the way that she was cast out by everyone as a child, and all of the things that lead her to “betray” Celestia. The Nightmare knew how to gain control or escape, and she did it.
“It’s alright Luna,” Celestia pleaded, “I cant handle seeing you like this. Please Luna, let me help you.”
“That’s just it Celestia,” Luna sobbed, “I dont know how you can help. I dont know what’s going on, much less how it can be helped.”
Celestia stood there embracing her sister, she was now even more worried because she had never seen so many tears fall from her sisters face. She hugged Luna closer and put her chin on Lunas head, she didn’t have any idea what her sister could be going through. She wanted to know, she wanted to help, she hadn’t been able to with her father around and she felt she should have done so anyway. She didn’t want to fail Luna again. Lunas sobs finally began to recede and Luna began to shake with emotion, she felt broken. Again, and again.
Luna, thrashing in her sleep as usual, but this time it was worse. The Nightmare had escaped her body and her full power became available to her. That power was used to torture Luna further, the Nightmares favorite pastime. This time she forced Luna to relive memories of her childhood, if it could even be called that.
*****
A young Luna pranced through the halls of the castle everfree. That night she had finally rose the moon on her own, she was so excited, so happy that finally her parents would look on her with pride. She knocked on the door of her parents room, and heard her mother call her in. She did, she looked at her parents in bed, her father Vulcan looked on her with a scowl, her mother Gaea simply frowned. She did not like to be disturbed.
“What is it,” Vulcan spat getting out of bed and towering over Luna.
“I did it,” Luna squealed, “I finally did it, I raised the moon!”
Vulcan glared at her, then smacked her across the room where she collided with the wall making an audible crack. Gravity didn’t catch up with her before her father held her there by her throat. Vulcan, the god of fire and Volcanoes, Leaned in and glared with all the rage of a fire into his youngest daughters eyes.
“You did WHAT!?” He roared making Lunas ears ring.
Luna winced at the volume whilst choking on her fathers hoof, she didn’t think he’d react like this, despite what he had done to her in the past. Vulcan increased the pressure on her throat making her choke even more.
“Awnser me!!!”
Luna tried to choke it out but couldn’t, there was too much pressure. Vulcan released his hold on her throat then smacked her again making Luna cry out.
“I-I raised the m-moon,” Luna whimpered.
Vulcan seized Lunas mane and picked her up by it, making her scream.
“THAT. IS. YOUR. SISTERS JOB!!!” He roared with the force of an exploding volcano.
Luna began to sob, her father glared in disgust. He threw her against the wall, then followed up with a punch to her gut. Luna doubled over sobbing and coughing. Gaea seized Luna and dragged her to a chair, where she tied her to it with her back facing out and tied a rope in her mouth to keep her quiet. Vulcan came up behind her with a thick leather whip, and began to beat Luna.
“Know you place child,” Gaea said.
Luna could barely hear her over her own screams. She was used to this abuse, but it still hurt. Vulcan continued to beat her for another half hour without breaking, then when he finally ceased he simply opened the closet and put the still bound and gagged Luna in there then closed the door. He cast a soundproofing spell on it so that Lunas muffled sobs wouldn’t interrupt him and his wife again.
*****
“Where was your beloved sister when that happened?” The Nightmare taunted, “Where was anyone?”
Luna continued to shake in her sleep, her dreams had just gotten much worse since the Nightmare escaped. Very soon she began to shake even harder from the internal pain. Luna continued to sob, she didn’t know how much more she could take before the Nightmare seized control again.
“Where are they now?” Nightmare pressed, “Celestia is in full awareness of your suffering, yet she does nothing. Some sister she is. If your own sister isn’t willing to help you, then who will be?”
Nightmare leaned in closer to her ear and hissed, “No one.”
What little Luna could hold back finally escaped with those last words, she collapsed into a ball and sobbed uncontrollably. She couldn’t handle it, she had to let go, to release her pain. Her tears fell, more numerous then ever they did in the past. Again an image from her past, this one of a later period.
A young Luna looked through the barred window, her sister and her parents were currently at a banquet to welcome the griffin king. Luna had to drag herself to the window as her father had broken her legs and wings three days prior before locking her in the cell. She was chained to the wall by her forehooves, the only limb she had that wasn’t broken. Her father had not allowed any form of cast or splint to be put on her broken appendeges, therefore it hurt to move.
Luna groaned in pain at her legs and wings being dragged on the floor. At least Celestia didn’t suffer like she did, she wasn’t even aware of her suffering, thats the way Luna wanted it. A pony passed by the window and saw her in it, they laughed and continued walking. It wasn’t unexpected, Luna knew thats what ponies thought of her, worth less than dirt.
A guard hit the bars of her door, “Get back in the corner dirtbag, your father said your face wasn’t to be seen.”
“I know,” she whimpered.
“And keep your mouth shut,” the guard snapped.
Luna winced and obeyed. Why did he do that? What did he have against her? What did she do to deserve this? All of these she had asked before, and she would continue to ask for years to come. Her parents had grown more cruel, ever since she had begun to mature they had given her to the guards and told them to... subject her to... such unspeakable things.
Luna had begun to hide, and well. When she ran from her raging father she could take a bare stone room and effectively hide in it without using magic of any kind. But this time she didn’t run fast enough, and she could run fast, very fast.
Lunas brother was called Antares, he was a good stallion in more ways than one. He was the only one to know of her suffering and helped her in all ways he could. Antares was a very large stallion, heavily muscled and covered in scars from fights with animals and ponies alike. His wingspan was twice his body length and his horn was slightly longer than Lunas, his coat was grey and his mane was pitch black. He taught her how to effectively fight with any kind of injury no matter how serious, just in case father decided to kill her.
Antares had stood by Lunas side every chance he got, even if he had to make those chances himself, and allowed her to cry into him. He had shown the most support, Celestia couldn’t as she was always busy and kept unaware of her sisters position. He had taught Luna any and all kinds of fighting to use, knowing that Celestia would eventually find out and would have to fight them when that time came.
Antares knew what would come, as the god of war he knew exactly what to prepare Luna for. Luna as the goddess of the moon and darkness in turn taught her brother how to bend the shadows to hide his movements both visibly and audibly.
One night Luna was walking through the halls to the cell she had been sleeping in for ten years, when she was grabbed from behind and dragged into a soundproof chamber. Not surprisingly her parents had caught wind of her training with Antares, and they decided to put her back in her place. That’s what they were counting on, Antares and Luna both knew that Luna had to be abused in order for Celestia to believe it, Antares had done everything he possibly could to find another way, but it was all for naught. Luna was ready for it, she knew what had to happen.
Vulcan and Gaea weren’t aware of the two young alicorns cloaked in shadow in the corner of the room. Antares and Celestia both watched the proceedings, Antares in anger, and Celestia in horror. But none of them saw the small group of three peasants observing through the window their eyes wide in horror.
At this point Luna could hold in a scream under the pain of death, and worse. Luna only grunted in pain when the blows came from both hooves and whip. It wasn’t until the whip was used to channel lightning that she finally screamed, the lightning she had dealt with before but the shock it delivered still overwhelmed her nerves. The beating continued for some time, until Luna lay there on the floor her breathing heavy and barely conscious.
Vulcan wrapped up his whip and hung it on a wall hook then left with Gaea. That was when Antares dropped the shadow cloak spell and rushed to Lunas side with Celestia, that was also when the three peasants watching left, looks of absolute rage in their eyes. No ruler should do that, especially not to their own children.
“Wait,” Nightmare said, “Why cant I stop this? What are you doing?!”
Celestia rushed to Lunas side and tears fell, “Luna?”
“Hello sister,” She said weakly.
“That is why we brought you here sister,” Antares said to Celestia, “So that you can see who our parents really are.”
Antares has spat out the word “Parents,” with a look of absolute hatred in his eyes.
“Luna,” Celestia sobbed, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Would you have believed me sister?” Luna questioned, “Would you have believed that your beloved father beat your sister until she could barely walk?”
Celestia choked on sobs, how had she not realized? Luna was her sister for ponies sake, she should have found out long ago. Luna stood up on shaky legs, then with Antares help limped out of the room. Celestia followed them, out into the gardens, out of the city and into the forest. There they soon found a hillside cave and took shelter in it. Antares lit a fire and began preparing herbs for Lunas wounds.
“What can we do?” Celestia asked.
“I was going to fight them,” Luna awnsered, “I would end the pain one way or another.”
“Hush Luna,” Antares said, “You need rest right now.”
Antares then took out a powder of herbs and blew them into Lunas face, Luna collapsed and began a dreamless sleep. Antares sat next to her and put his wing over her protectively, he nuzzled her once then rose. He went over to a spot by the front of the cave and took out his Trottish Claymore and began sharpening the two handed sword. Celestia looked at the forty seven inch blade, it had to weigh some fifteen-twenty pounds.
“You think that violence is what will solve this?” Celestia asked.
“The time for reasoning is over,” Antares said, “This has been happening for Lunas entire life, you cant reason with ponies like them.”
Celestia knew he was right, what she had seen, it wasn’t right. She didn’t want to believe that the parents that had been so kind to her were only making Lunas life a misery. Still, she had seen it happen.
“Go to sleep sister,” Antares told her, “I will take first watch, and when the dawn comes we will face mother and father. They will pay for every one of Lunas tears with their own blood.”
Celestia had to agree, so she lay next to Luna and put her wing around her bandaged sister and slept.
*****
Luna sat up in bed, as she did every night. This time the guard was standing in the doorway, a look of honest concern on his face. He approached her cautiously, Luna looked at him through tears trying to blink them out. The guard reached her bed and spoke to her.
“Are you well Princess?” He asked.
“Yes,” Luna said, “I’m fine.”
“Princess,” He said gently, “You are a horrible liar. Is there anything I can do to help?”
Luna looked at him curiously, “What is your name?”
“Polaris ma’am.”
“Well, I thank you for your concern but there really is nothing to worry about. Return to your post.”
“Yes princess.”
So the guard left and closed the door behind him, he wasn’t so sure that there was nothing to worry about. When Polaris left Luna quickly cast a muffling spell and sobbed into her hooves, this time in grief. Why did he do it, why did he go in? He would still be here if he didn’t feel so angry. Luna could have stopped him, she should have stopped him. She felt that it was her fault he was gone. Gone where? Where was he, he wasn’t dead she knew that much. But he wasn’t here, and he wasn’t where she had looked, so where was he?
Polaris stood guard outside princess Luna’s chambers that night, he had heard faint sobbing coming from inside and was deeply worried. He stood on shaky legs as he listened to his princess sob quietly, suddenly he heard a crack inside that sounded like breaking furniture. He burst into the room thinking that somepony got in and looked around, but he only saw the room and the weeping princess on her bed. He felt his heart wrench at the sight of her, she had suffered much, that he knew, but still she suffered more.
She sat bolt upright in bed tears streaming down her face. She wiped her eyes and looked around, her eyes landed on him and the pain he saw there nearly dropped him on the spot. He slowly approached her and she flinched slightly.
“Are you well princess,” He asked. What a stupid thing to say.
“Yes,” She lied to him, “I’m fine.”
“Princess,” He said with a pained heart, “You are a horrible liar. Is there anything I can do to help?”
She looked at him, “What is your name?”
“Polaris ma’am.”
“Well Polaris, I thank you for your concern but there isn’t anything to worry about. Return to your post.”
“Yes princess,” He said before leaving.
He closed the door to her chamber and stood there the rest of the night. When morning came princess Celestia came to the chamber and entered telling him to go to her meeting room. So when Celestia finally came to the meeting room he stood at attention.
“At ease,” She told him.
“I believe you have orders for me,” He asked.
“I do,” She said, “I am worried about my sister, as many of her guard are. I need someone to follow her, and report to me what they find.”
“You want me to spy on princess Luna?” He asked.
“Essentially yes, I want you to keep an eye on her, and stop her if she attempts anything...drastic.”
He knew what she meant by “Drastic”, if she was having this nightmare every night for ten years, something bad must have happened. Still, he didn’t want to believe that Princess Luna would attempt her own life, but it was a possibility he couldn’t ignore. He saluted and nodded.
“I will do what I must ma’am.” He said.
“Thank you.” Celestia said.
Celestia pulled out a document and gave it to him. “If any of your fellow guards catch you and attempt an arrest, show them this, it will make sure that there will be no legal rebound.”
“Princess, isn’t there somepony else better suited to this task?” He asked.
“You dont want the job?” Celestia asked.
“I will take the job ma’am,” He assured quickly, “I am just stating that there is likely somepony that will be more successful than I.”
“I am sure there will be,” She said, “But they wouldn’t succeed in the other half of the job at all. You on the other hoof, would be successful in the see and report portion, as well as the... other half of the job.”
“I’m sorry princess,” He said, “What is the other half of the job.”
“If I told you, then it wouldn’t work.” She said with a mischievous grin.
He took the document and bowed before leaving, “I will give my first report on the first of next month.”
Celestia sat at her desk for a moment, i hope this works. If it doesn’t, then I may lose Luna again. Please, do this right Polaris.
*****
Polaris followed her at a distance, he was always twenty five feet away or more and he drew no attention. He would hide in plain sight, at a guards post or with a patrol. He followed Luna to her duties and meetings, she seemed disheartened after the last one and went to the library once there was time. He followed her there and sat on the opposite side of the room while keeping her within eyesight.
Luna went into the botany section, and began looking through some older books. She flipped through pages and read a few passages before taking a few notes in a small notebook. She put the book back then moved to another one, then another, then another. She then left the botany area and entered the enchantment section and began to read up on different spell that could be contained in objects. When she finished she left for her chambers.
Polaris quickly sped to each and every book he could pick out that she had read. He wrote the titles down in his own flip-up notebook. Plants with high toxicity levels, Poisonous plants and herbs, deadly greens, weapon enchantments: god killing enchatments, life drinking enchantments, enchanting: immortals bane. His worry was emmediate and heavy, Celestia had to know emmediately. He went to tell her but stopped when another thing crossed his mind.
She may be going to do it now! he realized with shock, Celestia can wait, first I need to make sure Princess Luna doesn’t do anything, I hope that I’m not too late.
*****
Luna entered her chamber and locked the door behind her, she found what she needed. She couldn’t take it anymore, she couldn’t handle the pain any longer, she would end it, now. She pulled out the three floorboards that hid her weapons cache. Inside there was a katana, a wakizashi, a couple tanto weapons, a Kama, a few smoke bombs and a belt of kunai.
She went out onto her balcony then took off to the mountain, where the perfect cave was waiting.
*****
Polaris ran through the halls fast as his legs could carry him, he stopped and saw Princess Luna flying off to the peak of the mountain. He emmediately found the nearest balcony and took off after her, he sped to catch up with her, his bat wings flapping wildly. He saw her enter a cave and soon followed. He didn’t want her to succeed here.
Polaris rushed into the cave and looked around thankful for his thestral vision. He saw princess Luna at the back of the cave facing away from him while sitting back on her haunches to free her front hooves. In her right hoof was a tanto knife, held out with the blade facing her. Polaris sped foreword and seized her armed hoof and threw the knife away just as she tried to bring it back into her gut. She looked up at him with teary eyes and a surprised look on her face, other than that she didn’t react. Polaris had read up on old traditions and rituals, he recognized what she had attempted.
He grabbed her shoulders and looked her in the eye, he could see much more of Luna than he had before. Anguish, that was the expression on her face, that was what he saw.
“Princess,” He said nearly choking on his words, “Why would you try something like that?”
She didn’t awnser, instead she stared at him.
He didn’t know what he was doing, but he pulled her into an embrace and she began to sob into his shoulder. He didn’t know what was happening, he didn’t know how this happened and he didn’t care, he just felt Luna’s warmth and held her closer. She continued to weep into him, and he let her.
“Luna,” He said tenderly, “I want to help you, but if I dont know what’s wrong I can’t. Please Luna, let me help you.”
Luna shook in his embrace, she had never believed that a guard would care, she had always thought that they were in it for the money. But here one was, supporting her beyond what any guard was expected or even allowed to do. Still, despite the possible consequences, he was there, supporting her in a way that no one but Celestia and her brother had. He had even abandoned formalities and called her “Luna”, not “Princess” or “Princess Luna” or any of the other ways she was publicly addressed, just “Luna”.
“Please Luna,” He said with a cracking voice, “Tell me what happened.”
Luna somehow found her voice, “I-I can’t. I can’t handle the memories, not now.”
“Luna, I may not know you very well, but I will always be here to help you.”
Luna looked up at him with tears in her eyes, “Thank you.”
“Anytime, just please, dont try anything like that again.” He said pulling her close again.
Luna couldn’t respond, she had only ever been shown this kindness by her brother Antares and her sister. But here was a guard that didn’t even know her very well, breaking nearly every rule set for him just to be there with her. To say she was touched would be an understatement.
Luna quickly fell asleep exhausted, and Polaris did the same. There they stayed until the dawn came and Luna lowered the moon, then lay there again, neither would be needed until nightfall.
*****
For once Lunas dreams were peaceful, she felt Nightmare pushing against her mind but she couldn’t reach it. Something about the stallion she currently slept beside protected her, she didn’t know what, but she knew it was him. She cuddled closer to Polaris and he squeezed her tighter.
What am I doing?! he asked himself, What am I getting myself into?! I’m sleeping with Princess Luna for pony’s sake! Surely this breaks protocol, federal law, martial duties and a heck of a lot of other rules. But still, she seems to need it. Am I doing this for the right reason?
He looked at the sleeping moon princess under his wing, and smiled. He pulled her even closer than before, he didn’t care what the consequences were, she needed him and he would be there.
Polaris escorted Luna back to her chambers when it came close to dusk. She still had sadness in her eyes but it wasn’t as intense as before. She went about he duties and Polaris left to Celestias chambers and waited in one of the dark corners. He sat there, blending in perfectly with the shadow despite the brightness of the sun filling the room with light.
The door opened and in stepped the princess. She had a smile on her face and she seemed to radiate joy as he sun did light. She stepped onto the balcony and began to lower the sun. That was when Polaris approached her silently from behind and stood five feet from her and waited until her job was done and the stars were out. Celestia looked into her sisters night for a few minutes taking in its beauty, she turned and just about jumped out of her skin.
“H-how,” Celestia stuttered.
“Don’t be alarmed,” He said, “I came here because your fears were legitimate. Princess Luna did try something drastic, I barely got there in time. Princess, she is really hurting for some reason, I dont know what I can do on this job if her motivations are deeper than anyone can see.”
“That quickly?!” Celestia asked, to say she was alarmed would be an understatement of the highest caliber.
“Yes.”
“What happened? When did it happen?”
“Last night. She flew to a secluded cave high on the mountain and attempted the ritual suicide of seppuku.”
“What stopped her?”
“I stopped her, I grabbed her armed hoof just as she tried to pierce her flesh with the tanto.” He said pulling out the weapon which he had retrieved from the cave. “I retrieved the knife before we left.”
“Keep your eye on her,” Celestia said, “Don’t let her out of your sight.”
“Yes princess.”
“And one more thing.”
“Yes princess?”
Celestia whispered into his ear, “Take care of her. She needs you Polaris. She wont talk to me, so you will have to be there for her.”
Polaris felt a chill run down his spine. “Of course princess.”
“You’ve developed feelings for her,” Celestia said, it wasn’t a question.
Polaris swallowed hard, she knew, what would happen to him now that Celestia knew that he had feelings for her sister? Polaris nodded, and Celestia smiled.
“Good, then her heart wont be broken.”
“What do you mean princess?”
“I mean, she will develope feelings for you as well. How can she not? You just saved her life, when she thought no one cared. You showed her kindness when she least expected any. You gave her hope, when there was none to be found. She will grow to love you Polaris, I can only hope that you will feel the same way. Do you Polaris? Do you feel the same way she will?”
Polaris thought for a second, his mind warred with itself while his heart had an awnser locked and loaded. He smiled when he thought of her beautiful features, and imagined the beauty it would gain when a smile adorned them.
“I do, princess. I do feel the same about her.”
“You awnser from your heart,” Celestia said, “That is the only place that the true awnser to this question can be found. You speak truly Polaris, and I will be eternally greatful for it.”
Luna went about her duties as the night drew on. She couldn’t help but think back to the night before, when the guard Polaris stayed her hoof and saved her life. Why would he do that? Why would he care if she lived or died? Why would he save a monster?
Luna continued to ponder this after she completed her nightly duties and then sat in the gardens. She looked up at her stars, they seemed to speak with her, as they had since she was born. They had helped her many times, they warned her, they guided her, and they read her feelings and gave her council on her personal affairs. Tonight she asked them about her feelings and thoughts, her feelings at war with her mind and her mind at war with itself. Her heart would win eventually, but how she went about doing anything about it she needed help.
Her stars read her heart and memories and told her that he cared about her, there was no other conclusion. She couldn’t help but feel her mind fight agains what she felt and knew was true, he cared for her but her mind refused to believe it. She sat in silence for a few minutes until she felt someone coming up behind her. She knew someone was there but they made no sound, and there was no light behind them to cast a shadow. Luna turned her head to see Polaris, he smiled at her.
“Good evening princess,” he said to her, “may I join you?”
“Of course,” Luna said.
Polaris sat down next to her, “How are you?”
“Better.”
He sighed in relief, “That’s good to hear. The guards are worried, they aren’t aware of last night but they still worry. Princess, they have gone to your sister on several occasions with these concerns. I know because I was one of them. They want you to be okay princess, I want you to be okay.”
Luna looked at him to see a look of honest concern on his face. He put a wing over her back and pulled her close, she let him. The stars were right, he did care, there was no doubt now.
To say Polaris was nervous would probably give me an F in reading people class. His heart raced pumping more adrenaline than blood through his body. He rested his head on hers while being carful of her horn and she sighed. He could feel her heart racing as well. Her face had a deep blush on it and her eyes had a new light in them. He wanted her to be like this, happy.
Twilight stood frozen in place by the sudden feeling of a great power somewhere in the room. Twilight and her friends had been on an excavation project on the castle of the two sisters, and much of ponyvill had agreed to help. They had been at it for two days now and were close to considering a restoration project on the castle. They had found several artifacts, though very few of them belonged to the princesses.
Twilight had uncovered a hidden room with powerful containment enchantments on it in the deepest reaches of the castle, and that was deep. Inside she had found a stone sarcophagus with even more binding runes and enchantments etched into it. Something about it made her feel strange, uneasy, small. She found herself afraid of it, and she felt the barest hint of anger rise in her, for what reason she had no idea.
So Twilight called in an expert archeologist to help with handling it. When he arrived he brought everyone in to assist with opening the sarcophagus.
“Alright,” Bones said, “Let’s get this thing open.”
So the six stallions that had been selected to pry the tomb open got to work. First a group of unicorns, with Twilight, removed the spells and enchantments on it. Next the stallions would then use their tools to crack the stone open, and lift it from the top to reveal the body inside, only it wasn’t a body.
Inside the sarcophagus was a young armored unicorn stallion that appeared to be in comatose. He was covered in scars and he had a heavyset scowl on his face. His hooves were chained to the sarcophagus and there was an iron band around his chest, that showed he had wings bound to his sides, on his horn was a magic suppressor. His breathing was steady and even, and audible.
There was a collective gasp from the crowd, they didn’t expect a healthy young alicorn stallion to be in the sarcophagus. They expected what any sane pony would, a dead pony. But instead they found an alicorn, alive.
The alicorn opened his eyes very suddenly and looked down at his hooves. He pulled on both chains for about five seconds before they broke with the shriek of tearing metal, one after the other. Then his wings tore through the iron band holding them there and he let loose a blast of magic that broke off the magic suppressor. He stood up from the sarcophagus and looked at the group of ponies.
“What year is it?” He said in a deep voice with a heavy Trottish accent.
The group responded by running like frightened rabbits from the room and castle, leaving Antares without information. This didn’t faze him however, he simply went to the back of the chamber and retrieved his Trottish Claymore from the weapons rack. He held the claymore over his shoulder and began to walk out of the castle that was all to familiar to him. He had memories of horrible atrocities committed by his own parents against their youngest child, his sister Luna. Celestia had been kept in the dark, so she wouldn’t protect Luna as she would have if she had known.
Antares left his ruined home and out into the forest, he could see the capital city from there, and that is where he was headed.
The ocean, filled with Islands and creatures, even volcanoes, many of which were underwater. One particular volcano underwater had remained dormant for eight thousand years, now was rumbling with more than enough force to send a ship to Davy Jones in pieces. From the volcano burst an alicorn stallion that hadn’t seen the light of day for eight thousand years. He sped upward toward the surface using the force of the eruption to carry him up. Twelve thousand one hundred feet up.
He broke the surface in a rage and flew above the ocean. He looked at the rising sun, then turned and flew west toward equestria and his traiterouts children. He had managed to lock Antares in that sarcophagus before that acursed daughter of his put him in one of his own volcanoes. He sped across the waters at a pace that left a trail in the water three feet below him.
Vulcan had sworn vengeance against all of his children, especially Luna. She was the one who had killed his wife Gaea, she had removed Gaea of her head. But the thing about gods was that they were immortal, they could only die if it was something extreme with major magical backup. And if one managed to kill a god, be they one already or no, they had to assume the responsibilities and powers of the god they had killed. Luna had been too powerful as it was, now she had even more. This would be a difficult thing to achieve, but he would do it, no matter what it took.
Antares strode across the plains toward the new capital city. He kept his wings folded against his side as he marched across the grassy landscape toward the shining city on the mountain. He saw a group of guards armed with spears and wearing bronze armor fly at him from the city. They soon had him surrounded.
“You are coming with us.” The sergeant said to him.
“That depends on where it is you plan on takin me.” He replied calmly.
“Lay down your weapon and come quietly.”
“If you plan an arrest, what charge is it I am under?”
“Armed assault.”
“On what victim.”
“A large group of ponies at the ruins of the old castle.”
Then Antares knew what had happened, one of the ponies who had awoken him had panicked and contacted law enforcement.
“Ah, there has been some mistake I’m afraid. I never hurt anyone, and I never intend to hurt anyone who hasn’t started a fight with me. I simply wish to speak with the princess.”
“Come with us and you will get the chance.”
“Alright, but I’m keepin me sword.”
Celestia opened the doors to the room, she wanted to see this strange alicorn for herself. She had been alerted to a strange alicorn making his way toward canterlot by a royal scout, she had decided to see who it was before she let Luna know. She walked in and stopped cold in her tracks when she saw who it was. She smiled.
“Brother!” She exclaimed pulling him into a hug, “Where in Equestria have you been?”
“In the old castle,” he replied in his usual Trottish accent. “In some tomb as though I were dead. Some ponies found me and woke me up, my thanks to them, and when I got up out of the coffin they ran away. I suppose they were frightened.”
“Well its good to have you back, Luna will be ecstatic.” Celestia giggled.
The guards in the room looked confused. They looked between their sun princess and the strange alicorn in front of them with the oversized longsword on his back.
“Your majesty, I mean no offense but who is this pony? We hardly know where he came from much less who he is.” A corporal asked.
“Corporal this is my brother Antares, he means no one any harm.”
“Well besides that fussock we called a father. Where is he by the way? I have something he’s had a long time coming.” Antares said with a scowl.
“He’s long gone.” Celestia assured, “You need to see Luna, she’s been having a rough time lately and seeing you alive and well might help with that.”
Luna had been seeing Polaris in the gardens often once her duties were finished, she even found him waiting there for her at times. This confused but filled her with joy, she enjoyed his company and he hers but she still didn’t see why he would behave in the way he was. He wasn’t hostile as most were, he wasn’t neutral that was certain, he acted friendly sometimes a little beyond that. An occasional tease here or there that made Luna blush, but nothing more than that. She had grown to see him as a close friend, at least consciously, what her inner mind thought she had no idea.
She was heading for bed after another night spent talking with him when she found her door unlocked. She reached under her left wing with her right hoof and grabbed the hilt of the tanto knife she had there. She used magic to open the door and seized the one just inside, she threw him onto the wall with her knife pressed to his throat, and his dirk pressed against her stomach.
“It’s nice to see you too sister.” Antares said smiling. “I see you haven’t forgotten a thing about fighting.”
“Brother, sorry I...” Luna began, pulling the tanto away from her brothers throat.
“Don’t be sorry, that was impressive.” He said to her pulling her into a hug and almost crushing her ribs.
“Need... breath.” Luna wheezed in his death hug.
He put her down, “I hear you’ve been in a rough patch lately, what’s going on?”
“Well, its just, memories.” Luna said to him. “You know the miasma father conjured to possess me?”
Antares nodded.
“It succeeded, and before its hold could be broken I had to be banished along with it. I spent one thousand years on my own moon with no one but that blasted Nightmare for company. I came back still possessed but six mares managed to weild the elements and separate me from her. Then when I came back, I was accepted, but I was alone, and the Nightmare never truly left.” Luna said to him, knowing for a fact that he could be trusted. “It tortured me in my sleep, it still does. I dont know what can be done.”
“Well, to destroy a demon, you must first destroy its master.”
Luna looked up at him, horror in her eyes, “Vulcan?”
Antares nodded. “I’m afraid so. We must find and kill father before we can kill this demon.”
“So thats what was wrong.”
Both heads turned to see Polaris standing in the doorway.
“Polaris? What are you doing here?” Luna asked.
“I was on my way to the barracks, I heard a commotion in your chambers, and I came to make sure you were safe.” He explained. “Luna, I had no idea. Why didn’t you tell me, or your sister? We could have helped.”
“My friend, Luna’s pain runs far deeper than a demon who gives her bad dreams. It runs far deeper than you can know. Both of our parents hated Luna, for one reason or another, it isn’t clear. And I don’t believe it is my place to tell you. If Luna believes you should know, then she will tell you. But I cannot, it would not be right. Ah, this can be discussed later, you must be tired sister, we’ll let ye sleep.”
So Antares ushered Polaris out and followed, closing the door behind him. Polaris turned to leave, but Antares seized his foreleg.
“I saw the way ye looked at her.” He said, “Do not, screw it up. If you do, you will be begging for death.”
Polaris kept his voice calm, despite his heart switching from blood to adrenalin in a matter of seconds. “I dont plan to. I love her, Antares, you can threaten me all you want but it wont effect anything. I will do what I can to make sure she is happy, even if it costs me my life.”
Polaris pulled away from Antares and began walking away. However, he was sure he heard “I hope so.”
Challenge and showdown pt1
Vulcan, the wicked and corrupt father of the sibling trinity, sped across the ocean towards land. The heat of his fury burned the ocean as he flew. It scorched the sand of the beach he flew over and left the grasslands barren. He was coming back, he would have his vengeance.
Luna sat meditating and her eyes opened at once in panic. She saw him, he was coming. She rose and dug through her closet until she found what she was looking for. Her armor and weapons. Her armor was like that of the night guard, a light steel breastplate with rectangular iron plated shoulder plates. The armored skirt was made in the same way the shoulder plates were made, only larger. The helmet was a steel cap with three iron plates that wrapped around the head in a skirt like way to leave the face open. Lastly, the faceplate, or the menpo. It was a steel plate that covered the bottom half of her face, such as muzzle and cheeks, and on it was carved an extremely hideous scowl. Her weapons were the daisho (the pair of swords carried by samurai, the katana and wakizashi) as well as a much longer sword, the Nodachi. The Nodachi was the equivalent of the longsword, it was incredibly long and curved, the handle following the curve, and the handle could fit five closed hooves on it instead of three like the katana.
Luna set her arms and armor leather on a stand in the corner of the room, and left to meet with her brother. Luna had agreed to show Antares what training her guard was given. It was less of a guard and more of a military corps, it had several battalions in it and all of them given two years of constant training. Their arsenal consisted of the naginata and daisho, and all of them being experts in their use. Luna found Antares waiting outside of the training ground where he saw the trainees dueling with their wooden training weapons. There were even some three on one to nine on one, but those consisted of the younger trainees against one more experienced one.
“Impressive.” He said. “I am eager to see what they can do against you.”
“They can do surprisingly well.” Luna said. “I have lost a couple of times to some trainees.”
“Well lets see if any of them can best you now.” He challenged her with a teasing voice.
They had agreed previously that Luna would go up against ten of the more experienced trainees to show Antares what they were capable of. So Luna and Antares walked into the training grounds when the instructor called a stop to the fighting and told all of those present to form a ring and allow Luna to stand in the middle, surrounded by the trainees assigned to fight her. She had her bokken (wooden training sword) and they had their naginata with padded blades to prevent death or serious injury.
“Begin.” Called the instructor.
A lot of things happened at once. All of the trainees rushed foreword swinging their naginata in their own way trying to hit her. Luna rolled at the last second ending up outside of the ring of attackers and struck at two of them before they could react, taking them out of the fight. One naginata swung at her feet and she had to flip over it and just about got hit by a second one that was swung to hit her midair. She had to twist with feline reflexes to dodge it. And she managed to land on her back hooves and swing her bokken to strike at one stallions neck. He ducked the blow and stabbed at her and she had to roll sideways to escape harm, she slashed across his ribs and took him out. Only seven more to go.
The fourth brought his naginata down to chop and was struck across the stomach as a result. Had it been a real fight he would have been gutted. The next stallion threw a hook kick and followed up with a slash. This was difficult for Luna to dodge as jumping away would put her at blades length and leave her no time to respond to the slash. So she spun low and kicked his leg out from under him, before chopping down on him. The next two attacked at once, one stabbing the other slashing downward. Luna twisted away from the stab and sent the stabbing one into his friend who caught the stabber on the shoulder, taking both of them out. Only three left.
Now Luna was on the offensive. She cut one stallions hooves out from under him and cut up across his chest while he was airborne. The next tried to swing at her, she blocked with her bokken pulled him forward while spinning and stabbed his back. The last chopped downward, Luna sidestepped and swung at his neck, stopping just before contact. She had won.
Celestia sat amidst the council chamber when a guard burst into the room. He was covered in sweat and his breathing was heavy and coming in gasps. He tried to say something but it was lost on his exhausted breathing.
“Calm down, take a breath.” Celestia instructed.
After doing just that the guard verbally delivered the message he bore. “There is a strange alicorn flying over the everfree. He looks frightening as ill get out and he looks to be made of burning coals.”
Celestias eyes widened in shock. She was worried about this.
“He was last reported to be heading towards canterlot. They think he will arrive within the hour.”
“Get the troops ready.” Celestia told him. “This stallion is not our friend.”
“Yes your highness.”
Celestia dismissed the court and teleported to Luna’s side to deliver the news.
Luna, Celestia and Antares stood outside in the main courtyard while their troops were told to wait inside. Luna stood in her armor with her Nodachi in her right hoof and her daisho at her hip. Celestia had her plate armor on and her broadsword in hoof. Antares stood bare with his claymore in front of him. They waited, and they didn’t have to wait long before Vulcan arrived and landed in front of them. He had his own weapon, which was the Dane axe, but no armor.
“It has been eight thousand years.” He cursed. “And after so long, this will be all the more satisfying.”
