Come on little sister you can do it!” A white-furred stallion with orange flames for a mane, that was currently sitting next to me encouraged. I sat there concentrating on the moon in the sky. I could feel it with my magic but I couldn't get it to listen to me. “If you can do this then we ponies will have taken back control over the day and night cycles.” With that last comment, I lost what concentration I had.
“Brother if you wouldn't mind being quiet, I am trying to concentrate on doing this. Which you are making more difficult by talking to me!” I snapped at him. I then turned my attention back to that cursed sphere in the sky. I then stuck my tongue out the side of my mouth to help me concentrate much to the merriment of my brother if the chuckles coming from his direction was any indication. I just ignored him as I reached out with my magic to the moon. It felt just as stubborn as always. ‘Come on move!’ I mentally yelled as I pulled on the moon with my magic. I could feel the strain of trying to move something so big and far away. After about five minutes my magic was getting close to being depleted. Just as I was about to let out a sigh of defeat I felt something give.
“I think I did it!” I cheered.
“Really?” My brother asked to which I nodded in answer. “Well, what are you waiting for? Set the moon.” He said impatiently. I turned back to the sky then willed the moon to move behind the horizon. Though it was a little shaky in its movement it still did as I bid. There was a flash all around me. When the light died down everything around me looked smaller. I then felt something move on my sides. When I looked to see what it was I was greeted by the sight of two dark blue colored bat-like wings. From there my eyes traveled to my flanks where a symbol of a moon hidden behind some clouds sat.
“Yes, you did it, Asteria! With your control of the moon added to my control over the sun, we now have a bargaining chip with which we can get the Draconequus’ to help us with the demons!” My brother cheered loudly from right next to me his white feathered wings flapping in excitement.
“While you are right Belenos, I fear that we will need more than the Draconequus’ to beat the demons,” I replied. I thought for a bit then came up with an idea. “What if we also recruit the Kirin? They hold hate for the demons that make ours pale in comparison and they do have power over nature’s elements.”
Suddenly everything went white. I look around and see nothing around. “Remember!” I heard somepony say from behind me. I turn around and let out a gasp of surprise. There standing behind me was a shadowed figure, It's glowing red eyes bore into mine. It stood there just looking into my eyes for what felt like an eternity, it then reached a clawed appendage toward me. I was then swallowed by darkness.
The first thing I felt as I woke up was irritation at Emperor Belenos, who deemed it a good idea to shine his sun directly into my eyes. As I rolled over and covered my eyes with my bat-like wings to try to go back to sleep I heard my door open and hoof steps drawing closer to where I laid in bed. “Ugh go away Dream, it is way too early for me to be up. Can't you come back in an hour?” I asked the pony that was obviously my twin sister. I mean, who else would just barge into my room without knocking?
“Oh wake up Melody, it's already eleven thirty and Master Rich has us booked for the one-thirty slot at the Solar Illusion. If you don't get up and get ready soon we will be late and you know what master does to those that are late. I really don't want to be put on the breeding rotation.” I heard my sister reply. “Now get your flank out of bed.” She yelled in irritation.
“Okay, okay I'm getting up,” I said as I opened my eyes. I blinked a couple of times to get the gunk out of my eyes and saw Dreamscape leave my room. I let out a yawn as I got out of bed and headed towards my mirror to get my mane in place. I looked at my reflection for a couple of seconds, gold slanted eyes stared back at me through strands of blonde and midnight blue colored mane. I picked up the shooting star-shaped comb that was on the desk next to the mirror and started to comb my mane back.
‘ What is with my dreams lately? ’ I asked myself as I combed the tangles out of my mane. I let my mind wander back to my dream last night. ‘Seriously, I dream that I am sister to the Emperor and that I hold power over the moon?’ I stopped messing with my mane for a moment to look at my lite brown colored flank where my destiny mark rested, a silver-colored full moon surrounded by gold musical notes. “Yeah, like I am the long lost sister of the Immortal Emperor,” I said with an amused snort.
“And what was with that shadow figure at the end? It looked like something from a horror story. Ugh, no more mangos just before bed for this pony.” I said out loud as I finished my mane and started on my tail. “Although the first part of the dream felt different than normal. Almost like it was a memory and not a dream. But that can't be because everypony knows that the Emperor doesn't have any siblings.”I mulled as I finished combing my tail.
With my tail dealt with I picked up three of my mane and tail ties off my desk each of them having a different gem attached to them. I used them to put my mane into twin braided ponytails and tied my tail into one also just like Master Rich liked it. With my mane and tail dealt with I took out a pair of crescent moon earrings from a wooden lockbox on the desk and put them in my fur tufted ears.
With that, I exited my room into the long hall that housed the rooms of all of the towns female lunar ponies. With the time it was the hall was heavy with the traffic of Lunar ponies leaving to meet with their masters and those coming back. I made my through the crowd into the common room. I looked around searching for my sister Dreamscape amongst the crowd. My sister had the same colors as I did what with her being my identical twin, the only difference being that she was a lunar unicorn instead of a lunar pegasus like me. After a few minutes I spotted her over by were our blonde-maned, brown coated lunar pegasus brood mother was. I gave a gasp of surprise as I made my way over. As I approached the pair our brood mother turned to me and fixed her gold slanted eyes on me and let out a sequel of happiness. She then flew at me and wrapped me in a hug. “My Little mango.” She said as she squeezed me tightly.
“Good morning Broodmother,” I said happily as she disengaged from me which caused her to frown.
“What have I said about using that title when no solar ponies are around?” She asked sharply.
I felt my ears flatten at the scolding. “Sorry Mom,” I whispered while looking around to make sure that there was no solar pony around. “But what are you doing here? You are on breeding rotation aren't you?” I asked worried as I didn't want mom to get punished for ditching her rotation.
Mom shook her head. “Nope, they confirmed that the breeding took yesterday so I am off the rotation until the baby is old enough to have a contract.” She explained. “Which means I get to see both my little mangos more often!” She said excitedly.
“That is great news mother.” Dream said as she hugged mom. She then let go of mom and let out a sigh. “Unfortunately we have a performance at one thirty so we must be going.” She then turned to me. “Are you ready to go?” She asked to which I nodded my head yes. As one we head to the doors leading out into Ponyville.
“Wait you forgot to eat!” Mom said as she rushed up to us and gave each of use a mango muffin. I looked at it in surprise.
“Mom where did you get these?” I asked because anything made with mangos was hard to come by unless you had a rich and generous master, which mom did not.
“Angel Cake came by and gave out baked goods to all of the broodmares. She gave me a couple more than the others saying that you two will need the extra energy for your show today. That mare is far too generous for her own good.” Mom explained as she dragged both of us into one last hug before we left.
I started on my muffin as we left the building. Once outside I was greeted by the sight of a crowd of mostly solar ponies rushing about. I could spot lunar ponies spread out in the crowd usually accompanied by a solar pony. All of this under the watchful eyes of the Order of the First Light Paladins.“Wow, what is going on?” I asked Dreamscape as we worked our way through the crowd. “There seem to be more paladins out today than normal.”
“I don't know but it has nothing to do with us.” Dream answered while we continued to make our way through the crowd. Most of the ponies steered around us as nopony wanted to get on Master Rich’s bad side. Soon we were at our destination and to our surprise, there were even more paladins around the building. “Are you sure it has nothing to do with us?” I asked suddenly nervous. When the paladins took a lunar pony they were never seen again. We made our way to the back entrance and there at the door was a solar unicorn.
He had a fiery red mane and white coat. He turned his attention on us as we approached. “Moonlight Melody and Dreamscape,” He said in greeting while his eyes wandered over our bodies.
“Hello, Solar Flare,” I said through a clenched jaw. I mentally prepared myself as he lit up his horn and I felt the sensation of tingling moving around all over my body the sensation staying focused on my rear for a couple of minutes longer than on the rest of me. “Okay, you both check out. Go report to your master.” He orders with a creepy smile as he opened the door for us.
We didn't need to be told twice. Once we passed by the doorway the door closed behind us. I shuddered in disgust over what just happened. I looked over at Dream and she seemed just as disgusted as I was. “I hate that. He always has to linger on my flank.” I said hotly.
“I agree.” She replied as she collected herself. “Now let's get to Master Rich before we get punished.” She said and started walking down the hallway. I quickly followed her. We passed multiple doors on either side of the hall before we came to Master Rich’s door. Voices could be heard coming from inside.
“And I told you Seeker Shimmer that none of the lunar ponies that I own have anything to do with this rebellion that you are talking about. I treat them better than anypony else in this town and they know it.” The voice of Master Rich said sounding slightly annoyed.
“I am sorry mister Rich but the trail of magic led me to this building. So I am going to have to put all shows on hold while I examine every one of your lunar ponies.” A feminine voice replied to master Rich. Not wanting to get in trouble for eavesdropping I knocked on the door.
“Who is it?” Master Rich asked through the door.
“It is Moonlight Melody and Dreamscape, Master,” I replied dutifully.
“Ah come in.” Master Rich said as the door opened. A brown solar earth pony stallion sat behind a mahogany desk. Just in front of him was a pony dressed in silver-colored hooded robes that marked her as a seeker of the Order of the First Light. She was currently looking in our direction. Once we came into the room both Dream and I kneeled down on the floor with our foreheads touching it as was required by our contract when in the presence of our master. We stayed like that until master bade us to rise.
“You might as well get started, all of my Lunar ponies are here.” Master Rich said as he waved a hoof at us. “You can start with these two.”
“Thank you for your cooperation.” The seeker said as her horn lit up and I could feel her magic wash over me. Unlike with Solar Flare, I felt the tingling all over at once. I looked under her hood and saw an amber colored unicorn with a red and yellow mane. I watched as her cyan eyes grew wide and changed color to purple for a second. She then finished up scanning us and turned back towards master Rich. “I am afraid that I am going to have to ask you for their contracts.” She said much to master Rich's surprise. I felt a pit form in my stomach at those words.
‘No I this isn't happening!’ I thought in denial. ‘We haven't done anything wrong.” The seeker continued to talk to master Rich but I was no longer paying attention as I turned to my sister. She looked just as scared as I was. ‘Damn what do we do!’ I thought as I looked around frantically. I noticed that the door was still open. I looked back at Dream to try to tell her but I suddenly felt drowsy. I felt my eyes start to droop.
“Now, now none of that. I can't have you running off.” the Seeker said as I succumbed to sleep.