Chapter 1-
“Pull in the mainsail!” he screamed. “There’s too much win—”
The stallion, brown and drenched in saltwater, was interrupted by a concussive clap of thunder.
“I’m trying, dad! But the boat’s rocking too much!” the younger unicorn sputtered.
“Then we have to cut it loose, lest we go under. Get my axe!” And with that the younger pony rushed for the small hatch situated in the back of the boat, all the while struggling to maintain his balance on the wet surface.
It was supposed to be a day trip, nothing unusual, just a routine fishing haul. They couldn’t have been more than fifty miles offshore, and everything had been going well.
But then the storm had arrived.
It was easily the worst that Saltyspray had seen. Waves that pushed his thirty feet fishing boat around like it was made of paper, and lighting that hit the sea in explosive blasts that made magical cannon fire look docile. It had descended upon them in seconds, something that completely baffled the old sea-pony. Never in his entire career had he seen something so catastrophically spontaneous. And that wasn’t to mention the darkness.
Five minutes ago it was midday, bright and sunny. But now he could hardly see the front of his ship, let alone the massive waves. It was only when lighting was assaulting the sea that he could truly spy a reliable image of his surroundings, and every time he did, the pit in his stomach seemed to grow deeper.
They had to have drifted, he knew that much, but this was a problem for another time. Right now all that mattered was getting rid of the mainsail. It was catching on the wind, violently. A few times now they had nearly capsized and it was just a matter of time before it tipped a little too far.
“Here, dad!” His son, a tan young unicorn, had returned, axe held firmly in his magic.
Salty took it and immediately made for the mast. He had extra canvas, and rope was not in short supply. But even still it felt sinful to mutilate his own ship. ‘I don't have time to consider this,’ he thought, nearly losing his balance.
He slammed into the mast, clinging to it for support, axe still held in hoof. ‘It's now or never!’ he thought as the weapon was raised above his head. There was a dull thud, and the familiar sound of rope screaming through a pulley as the sail was cut free.
The boat calmed, albeit only a little, as it was freed from the forces of the sky. But the ship still shook. This made no sense, the boat was small enough that it should float over the dark water like a leaf. And the keel was more than long enough to ensure some stability, so why were they rocking so violently? Panic started to worm its way into the old stallion’s heart. That was the last resort! There wasn’t anything else to be done but sit down and pray.
He looked to his son, he was clinging to the side of the boat, desperately. His once bright red mane was now darkened by the seawater. It clung to his face, a face that spoke of the fear of the sea, eyes reflecting the divine radiance produced by the storm’s lightning.
He turned away from his child and looked to the horizon, hoping beyond hope that something would happen, that some solution would present itself. But what he saw set his hopes ablaze with grief. On the very edge of his vision, he could see it. A wave. A monstrous wave. It looked like an inky black mountain, slowly and silently creeping towards its unsuspecting prey. The wind calmed, and the water around the boat seemed to grow still as it approached.
All Salty could do was sit and watch as it consumed the horizon, a look of terror on his face.
“It worked! Dad, we’re saved!” his son screamed over the wind. Relief had trickled onto his face, something that made the old stallion’s heart break.
“Get below deck,” he had returned his gaze back onto his son, “Get below deck, now!” The hell wave was closing in. It had already begun to crest, the only hope for survival was to get down and inside the boat.
He got a confused expression from his son, something that made the stallion burn with anger. “Look behind you, boy!” he screamed, throwing a hoof into the air behind his child. He turned, backing up a little upon realization.
“We’re going to die!” he screamed. Panic had clearly seized him and now the poor creature was rooted to the spot.
Salty let go of the mast. He began to run for his son, hoping to grab him and throw the poor colt below deck. The boat was still slippery and, despite the monster that sat on the horizon, sucking up all the sea water, waves still assaulted their boat. But the colt’s father was experienced. He had more than earned his sea legs and was easily able to reach his son in time. Grabbing the child, he shoved him into the open hatch.
The boat began to tilt back. They were on the wave’s doorstep, slowly rising up the steepening monster. Salty had followed his son into the hatch, the only thing left to do was close the porthole and strap themselves in. He turned and grabbed the flimsy wooden door, hoof slipping on the wet surface. But before he could pull it shut, he paused. There, in the water, a light was shining. A pale, silver blue, easily distinguishable against the jet black water.
It was beautiful.
“Close the door, dad!”
Behind him, he could hear his child pleading. But the light, he couldn’t look away. It had encompassed him. And even now, as he struggled to stand on the near vertical angle the wave held them on, he couldn’t stop himself from leaning forward, just over the edge of the boat.
‘You suffer,’ it whispered. A voice in his head, something made from the softest silks. It was a sound that ran like clear cold water over his whole body. He was still lost in thought when the dark water rose from the ocean, like a meaty claw, and grabbed the unsuspecting stallion.
There was a gurgling scream as the dark water began to tug on the poor pony’s head, violently. Despite the noisy sea, the sounds of scrambling hooves could be heard, desperately trying to gain a hold on the sea stained wood. Behind him, paying witness to the horrible sight, Salty’s son simply screamed. He pleaded for his father, unable to move for fear of joining the unlucky soul.
But the stallion could not breathe, and all too soon his fighting began to grow weak. There was a loud crack as the undulating water finally gained the upper hand. He went limp. His son simply stared, in petrified horror, at the sight before him. Not knowing whether to cry or hide. Slowly the corpse of Saltyspray was pulled out of the doorframe and, right as the boat began to flip back on itself, it quietly entered the realm of the sea.
The next moments were filled with the sounds of screams, and whirling wind as the boat fell off the cliff of water and was subsequently reunited with the sea. There was a sharp snap of wood and, with the resolute crackling of thunder, the screaming stopped.
~
In her chambers at the Castle of the Two Sisters, Luna woke with bleary eyes. She hadn’t been sleeping, she was much too busy nowadays to be doing that. She had been dream walking. And despite what her sister thought, dream walking was not as relaxing as it seemed. Not when she was dealing with nightmare the likes of that one. Every night she would enter the dreamscape tired and sleepy, and every night she would leave just as exhausted as when she had started. ‘It might look like sleeping,’ she thought, ‘but it doesn't feel like it.’
Blinking the blurriness out of her eyes, she took note of her surroundings. Luna’s chambers were modest compared to her sister’s, but they were still something to be marveled at nonetheless. They were situated in the northern tower boasting a small, but eloquent, balcony. One that looked over the gentle southern mountains of her kingdom. From the balcony, situated behind her, and through the filter of newly fallen snow, streamed the silver light of her moon. It quietly illuminated her bedchambers, giving her home an almost dreamlike appearance.
The light trickled past her door frame, like a gentle creek, reflecting off and over the white marble floor. She was a classical creature, preferring to keep her chambers organized and orderly rather than frilly and overly ordained.
Function over form.
Because of this, her quarters might be seen by some as uninteresting. Her ceiling had the same baroque molding as the rest of the palace, and were it not for the many tall windows and accompanying curtains, the likes of which were very heavy, one could not be faulted for thinking it to be nothing more than simply undecorated.
The exception to her rule, however, was a large and ornate painting. It stood out against the unadorned walls and windows, a depiction of her starry night, created by an old painter she had met nearly a hundred years ago. It hung directly opposite Luna’s position on the bed, right above the large embossed double doors that marked her passageway out and into the castle below. All in all, the chamber wasn’t too different from the royal throne room, albeit hers was certainly smaller and a bit less rectangular in shape.
There was a huff of frustration as Luna made her mood known, her breath dancing in the silver light as the sound echoed up and into the air. The nightmares were getting worse, and she was getting no closer to finding their origin.
Terrible, they were. The worst she had seen in a century. And every time she came close to finding their master, it expelled itself from the dreamscape as quick as a thought. She had been spending every moment she could, trying to solve the riddle of the nightmare streak. But nothing was making any sense.
Usually, these sorts of problems were grounded in the waking world and they always had a pattern. A frightened colt or filly, scared of the monster in their closet, would perhaps dream up such a creature into existence. Always the same monster, and always an easy fix. Or, in rare cases, it was the occasional adult stressed beyond their limit, so much so that they entered a depression, something Luna was more than happy to ease.
But these nightmares only had one thing in common, and the pattern wasn’t painting a pretty picture. All signs pointed towards another dream walker. She had, in her many years of experience, seen things like this before. Never a simple pony, of course. The only creatures capable of existing within, let alone manipulating, the dream world would have had to have been immortal. Even King Sombra, a terrible creature, could only survive in her world as a wispy shadow, completely harmless.
But this thing, whatever it was, was not only able to move freely in her domain. It could fight her. A lesson she had learned but a moment ago. She was about to reach down, onto that poor ponies’ fishing boat, and pull them both to safety. But it had stopped her.
She slowly sat up, bringing a hoof to her temple and gently began to rub her head. This was bad, things shouldn’t be able to contend with her in the unconscious mind. In the waking world, Luna was a force to be reckoned with. A reputation that she earned through years of bloody warfare. But within the dreamscape, she was so much more. All powerful, omnipresent and all-seeing. She could bring down mountains with a twitch of her tail, and create them just as fast. She could sniff out lies as easy as she could see her own hooves, the unspoken rule of her world was simple. She held all the cards. Yet somehow this creature had gained power. In all her time as the steward of sleep, Luna had never come across anything that could check her in battle.
This was new.
She was deep in thought, pondering the many problems that now rested on her weary shoulders, when there came a quiet knock at her door. For a moment she merely looked at its source, still lost in her own mind. And for the scant visage of maybe a minute, she could have sworn that there wasn’t even a sound at all. But Luna knew better.
The knock came again, this time a bit louder, and this time Luna chose to answer.
“Enter,” she breathed.
There was a cold click as the heavy wooden doors were pushed open. Yellow torchlight washed into the room, dancing wildly in the darkness. It stood out among her moonlight, like a carpet on the marble, something that amused Luna. She could have stared into the firelight for hours, pondering its many secrets. But alas, she was a princess, and her time was already spread thin.
Oh, how she wished for the days when she was but a young and ignorant filly. When she was without the heavy burden of godhood and could pass through the streets unmolested. Dreams, they were, of a different time. A time that had been stolen from her. At that, she scowled. It had been centuries since Luna had thought of her father, and longer still since she had seen him.
“Your Majesty,” a voice, tentative and hushed, echoed out and into her hall, “the princess has requested your presence.” The guard was clearly uncomfortable. His golden armor marked the stallion as her sister’s. It was reflecting the torchlight brilliantly, making it impossible to miss.
Judging from the sleep that still clung to his eyes, she ventured a guess. Ever so quietly, Luna spoke, “Broadsword, isn’t it?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I see you got stuck with morning duty.” She gave him a hearty smile, though she knew he couldn’t see it.
He replied, “Yes, Your Majesty. And I must say, your stars were most beautiful tonight.” He too was smiling now.
Luna sparkled with joy. She always received compliments on her night sky, at least from her own nocturnal guards. So to hear it from the lips of a solar guardspony was indeed a welcomed surprise.
“Thank you, Broadsword. You may inform my sister that I will arrive shortly.” The stallion gave her a polite bow, and exited her chambers, closing the heavy wooden doors behind him.
Once the coast was clear, Luna dropped her smile and resumed her fretting. No need to worry the guards, they couldn’t help anyway. Celestia, on the other hoof, might need to know about this. She chewed her bottom lip as Luna rose from her bed and began to walk to a small trunk situated at the end of her bed frame. Her hoofsteps echoed across the empty room, as her shadow silently mimicked the actions of its master, looking akin to a phantom in the night.
Within the trunk, neatly arranged, lay her metal shoes and tiara, among other things, which she quietly dressed herself with. All the while she was thinking. Her sister already knew about the nightmares, Luna had been sure to keep her updated on everything she did within her realm. But the problem was clearly bigger than she had first anticipated. Even still, was it worth worrying her sister? To tell Celestia would be a cry for help, one that could not be answered. She wasn’t capable of wandering the dream realm. And if she knew, she could make things worse.
Luna had reached the door now, it was cool within the glow of her magic as she pushed it open. It creaked a loud groan of discontent as it moved under her will. She would have to remember to oil the hinges sometime soon, or at least to get somepony else to do it for her.
She pushed past the old doors and into the hallway beyond. It was dark, as to be expected, and bore a long red carpet upon its marble floor. One that ran the length of its perceivable area. Many doors and door frames sat upon its walls, all of which Luna ignored as she made her way to the main keep. She was in the northern tower, otherwise known as the Lunar tower. It served as her quarters, workrooms, throne room, or anything else that Luna might find herself needing.
Celestia had a similar space located in the eastern tower, to fall in line with the rising sun. Though hers was far more detailed. When they were building their castle, the two sisters had known Celestia would receive most of the traffic as far as the government went, owing both to the fact that she was actually awake during the day, and that she had wanted the job to begin with. So, to account for this, the sisters had designed the eastern tower for just that purpose. High ceilings, embossed with the finest of carvings. Large doors and many windows. The place was more of a public office than a private home.
That was something that Luna had always been grateful for. She, despite the enervations of the job, had gotten the night shift. No angry nobles to sit and pester away her time, and no random civilians stumbling into her private chambers. Her hours were spent with the company she wanted to keep, unlike her sister.
She rounded a corner, passing a bust of the recently deceased Star Swirl the Bearded. It had been three years now, but Luna still missed the old stallion. It was rare to find a true friend among the masses and she hadn’t been that close to anypony other than her sister in ages. She was so lost in her remembrances that Luna might’ve ran into the door, had she not spotted it in time. She pushed through it and into the room beyond.
Inside sat Celestia. She was eating a large plate of steaming pancakes, drizzled in a clear amber syrup that made Luna’s mouth water. Without looking up, her sister spoke, “Good morning, Lulu. You’re almost late, you know?”
“Yes yes, but here I am anyway,” she answered.
Luna sat down at the breakfast table. It was large enough to comfortably seat seven or so ponies, but they had stretched that number before. Around them lay their private dining room, as well as a small hearth in which a hearty fire crackled. This dining room was smaller than the one they used for state functions, but like most things in the castle, it put the normal household to shame. Her food was sitting on the table, thankfully her sister had already taken care of that. She began to eat.
This was the normal schedule. Celestia would wake before sunrise, and together they would move their respective heavenly bodies. Then Luna would sleep, wake just before moonrise, and repeat the process in reverse. They would chat about their day, fill the other in on important information, and otherwise simply enjoy each other’s company. The time was about six in the morning, the sun coming up late in winter.
“I hope you’re in the mood for daffodils, I tried to keep it simple just in case.” There was a tired look upon Celestia’s face. Despite being the Princess of the Sun, she had never really been a morning pony.
“Daffodils are wonderful, dear sister, thank you,” Luna spoke through a mouthful of warm bread and flowers. It was delicious, everything from the royal kitchen was.
“Good,” Celestia rubbed her temples, “by the way, is there anything you can do about these headaches? I’ve been getting them these past few weeks, every morning. They’re starting to get on my nerves.”
Luna chewed on her dinner, giving her sister a deadpan expression. Swallowing, she said, “If you would stop reading those ridiculous romance novels so late into the night, you might find an improvement. The strain on your eyes can’t be good for you.”
Celestia began to cough, hard. And her sister only smiled as she continued,” Although, I do know how much you care for them. I hadn’t the faintest idea you were so passionate. What was his name,” she cooed, “Brave Muscles?”
Through ragged breath, the now very awake Celestia spoke, “How do you know about that?!”
Luna merely cast her sister a sideways glance, hardly looking up from her food. “I took the liberty of entering your dreams last night,” she began to roll her eyes, “and the night before that, and the one before that.” She punctuated each statement with a gentle wave of her now half eaten sandwich.
Celestia, for her part, had managed to get her breathing back under control. She glared daggers at her sister, now having completely forgotten her breakfast.
“Could you pass the salt?”
A flash of magic, a quick gasp, and in the blink of an eye the far corner of the room was covered in salt and broken glass. Luna peeked her head out from under the marble table, only long enough to see her sister’s pink mane smoldering at its tips.
“You pest!” she cried, lobbing her fork towards Luna. She dogged it, though it did get a little close for her liking.
Underneath the table, Luna was giggling uncontrollably. Her sister’s reaction was far better than she had anticipated, rendering her a joyous ball of dark blue fur. “Oh relax, sister! I promise I won’t tell anypony!”
“That doesn’t make it better!” She whined. “Nothing is safe around you!”
This sent Luna into another bout of giggles, in between breaths she was able to say, “You kept calling him da—OW!”
“Not. Another. WORD!” Celestia hissed. In her magic, she held a pitcher of water. It was clearly made of metal and was clearly very heavy. “Or else…”
“Okay, fine! We don’t have to talk about your fantasies if you don’t like. So long as you promise not to hit me, that is.” When her words went uncontested, Luna hesitantly rose from under the table and back into her chair. Eyeing her sister warily, she slowly resumed eating her dinner. The next few minutes were silent, the only sound being that of polite shuffling and the muffled clank of silverware. Eventually, however, the quiet was broken.
“Did anything important happen tonight?”
Luna slowed her eating. She had forgotten about the nightmares, owing to Celestia’s wonderful reaction. But now the lesser light was once again plagued with unsettling events. Her expression began to fall.
“Sister?”
Luna snapped back into focus. This was something that Celestia did not need to know. Luna was a princess too, and she was capable of solving her own problems. Acting almost on instinct, she made a hasty decision.
“Oh sorry, something did happen last night.”
“Oh?” the white alicorn queried.
“Yes. Night court was something of a bother.” The best lies are masked with the truth. “Do you remember our sister, Nightlight, wasn’t it? The one we adopted into the family back before Discord.”
“Of course, but she died some ten thousand years ago. Why do you ask?” Celestia seemed a bit confused. They hardly ever talked about life before Equestria and even then it wasn’t the most pleasant of topics to discuss.
Luna buried her head into her hooves and spoke through a labored tone, “Well, apparently she married before she died.”
Celestia was stopped dead. “What? When? And why didn’t we know about it?”
“I do not know nor will I pretend to. However, this last night I was presented a signed marriage certificate.”
“Well,” Celestia was still dumbstruck, “that can’t be that ba—“
“By Lord Blueblood.”
Luna could feel her sisters dread from across the room.
“Is he—”
“That ‘creature’,” she spat the word off her tongue like a bad apple core, “claims to be of royal blood. He wants a wing in the castle, and to be crowned as a ruler of Equestria!”
Celestia shivered. “We can’t let that happen.”
Luna lifted her head from her hooves and looked unto her sister. “Yes, which is why I told him to come back today. So that he may speak to you about it.”
“You dumped him on me!? Why?!” she cried, a hint of panic laced in her tone.
“Because you, sister of mine,” she pointed a fork down the table, “are much better at dealing with the nobles than I am! You know what I would do if I could have my way!”
Celestia slumped back into her chair. Crossing her front legs, she said, “We can’t just get rid of them.”
“Yes, actually, we could.”
“No,” Celestia said, punctuating the statement with a wave of her hooves. “We cannot. I’m not about to strip them of all they are just to be called out as a tyrant and have to give it back. Doing something like that might spark a rebellion, you know how those ponies are, they’re always plotting something!”
From across the table Luna could see her sister’s gaze soften, if only a little.
“We beat them by playing their game. We play it better than them, we get to keep on ruling the kingdom and by extension helping our ponies.”
Seeing her opportunity, Luna jumped in, “And you are much better at that game than I am! Therefore I bestow upon you the privilege of dealing with our ‘cousin’ Lord Blueblood!” Her mock smile couldn’t have fooled a fence post. “Anyway, I think it’s time I lowered the moon. Good day, sister!”
“Wait!”
But before Celestia could stop her, there was a bright flash of pale blue followed by a quiet ‘pop’. Where Luna once sat was now merely an empty space, the only evidence of its former occupant being that of a half-eaten rose and daffodil sandwich.
She was about to get up and follow her sister’s lead when there came a loud and frantic knocking at the doors. She paused, looking behind her, she answered without thinking, “Yes? What is it?”
The door opened to reveal one of the castle maids, she was sweating and looked to have been running. Through her labored breathing, she squeaked, “I’m sorry, Princess, but he wouldn’t—”
“Oh cousin!” came the sing-song voice from hell. “Where is my dearest cousin! I have some important family business to discuss! Now that I’m royalty!”
Celestia’s left eye twitched, her back right hoof stiffened. ‘It’s okay, Celestia, he is only a pony,’ she thought.
“Did you know that griffon royalty marry their siblings?” his voice echoed from somewhere down the hall. “We should talk about that! Keep the bloodlines pure and what not!”
Celestia shrank back. “Please inform Lord Blueblood that I am busy raising the sun and would be happy to speak to him later today.” Once again the room echoed with the reverberation of teleportation, leaving only the maid and a few royal guards alone in the now quiet dining hall.
~
The gardens were still in the winter air. It was far too early in the morning for anypony to be visiting them and by extension far too late in the night for any batpony to be wondering them. A soft breeze blew through the trees, shaking their bare branches, and loosening the snow that rested there.
‘Don't do it.’
The wind picked up a little. And the tree shook in kind.
‘Don't. Do. It.’
Right as the sparkling snow was about to be set free from its lofty perch, the wind died. And all was set to silence once again.
‘Thank goodness, that was clos—’
His thoughts were interrupted by a small pop, followed by a bright flash of light and the shockwave of teleportation. The snow fell from its tree, right onto the statue of Discord.
‘Of course.’
“Discord?”
‘Oh, and now I get to talk to the moody one.’
“I can hear that you know?”
Behind his snow-covered, stony prison. Discord rolled his nonexistent eyes.
‘Yes, of course I know. I wouldn't have bothered to think it otherwise. Here to torture me some more?’
“My my, and you’re calling me the moody one? And no I am not.” Luna sang. She approached the statue, the sound of her hooves crunching on newly fallen snow as she advanced. “Would you like me to get the snow? I know how you hate having your vision impaired. Really I can’t blame you. Must get dull, being stuck in there.”
‘Would you be so kind?’ If he had knees, he would have begged.
“I need something first.” Her tone went from playful to serious. Something was wrong and Discord was far too good at guessing games to miss it. He spent but a moment thinking up the possibilities, before answering her call, ‘I'm going to go out on a limb here and venture a guess.’
He couldn’t see it, but Luna cocked her head in confusion. “What do you mea—”
‘Since you’re not here to ask about that tragic little immortal you made, I’d say you've been having trouble in your dream world, haven't you?”
His thoughts were met with silence, the kind of silence that spoke more than words. Discord could practically feel his stony face alight with amusement, and his mind was, for the first time in centuries, filled with the satisfaction of victory. After a moment of contemplation, Luna spoke again. Though this time she was clearly frustrated, something that Discord was happy to note. “Yes, actually, I have. Did you have something to do with this? What do you know?”
‘Oh yes! This is fantastic! Finally, something to spice things up a bit!’ His statue was still, but Luna could feel the excitement bleeding off of him like heat from a fire. ‘It’s been far too long! But this is so much better than what even I could've hoped for!'
Luna stomped a hoof on the ground and huffed. “What's happening, demon! There are worse things to lose than your sight!”
‘Now now, little light,’ he could almost hear her disgust at that, ‘I wouldn't want to go and ruin the fun.”
“Fine. If you insist, I’ll leave you be.” Luna turned. “Shame really, it’s a beautiful sunrise.”
‘Hold on just a moment!'
“Why should I?” she spat. “I’m tired, I’ve been up all night and I want to get some sleep.”
‘Because I never said I wouldn't help you.’
“What? Yes, you di—”
‘You know, no matter how hard I try, I don't think you two will ever learn. I said I didn't want to spoil the fun. Not that I won't help you. Devil’s in the details, little light, you should know that by now.'
“Stop calling me that! And get on with it, if you’re going to say something useful, just say it.”
‘Alright alright, just calm down.’ Her thoughts burned a little hotter at that.
“Don’t tell me to calm down, lest I petrify your mind as well.”
‘Oh, you won't do that.’
“You think?”
‘Yes, because then I wouldn't be able to enjoy my imprisonment.’
She slumped back a little, a small sigh passing through her lips. “Just get on with it, I want to go to bed.”
For a moment Discord considered playing with her on a bit longer. Leading her on and on until her brain snapped into insanity. He could do it, he could do it oh so easily. The prison they held him in was so flimsy and they didn’t even know it. But he had rules. After being alive for so long you do get bored. And he wasn’t about to cheat his way to the top.
‘Fine. My advice is this. If you're having trouble with a dream walker, why not enter their dream?'
“What? I never said anything about a dream walker, how did you know about that? And it's impossible anyways. The amount of power it would take to project yourself into the dream world is immense! If something can do that, then its mind will be impenetrable.”
‘Have you tried it yet?’
“Well, no. But that doesn’t mean—”
‘All that means is that you don't know it won't work.’
“It's not possib—”
‘Now begone! I have snowflakes to count.’
Luna ground her teeth. Every time she talked to Discord, her temper always seemed to get the better of her. She turned, deciding to walk back to her chambers rather than teleport. The sunrise was too glorious to pass up. Without looking back, she spoke in a tired voice.
“Fine. Good day, Discord.”
And with that resolute farewell, she walked back towards her tower, leaving the lonely statue to its own devices. There he sat, quietly fretting over the coming months. To the average observer, it was merely a strange work of art. But underneath, the soul of chaos incarnate was leaping with joy. The chess board was set. The game was on. Powers were now in place that could not be undone, and he knew it. But for now all he could do was wait, so he did what any normal chaos god might.
He began to count the snowflakes on his brow.
Author's Note
This chapter was edited by the wonderful EverfreePony! He really put a lot of work into it, like a scary good job, so please go an check his stuff out. Were it not for the great edits this story probably would have come out a lot worse. Enjoy!
-Loonymoony
Chapter Two-
Octavius
Stairs. Oh, how she hated them.
Luna was on her fourth flight now and, having stayed up the past sixteen hours, was in no mood to deal with the following three. She could easily just skip them, spread out her wings and fly through an open window. Hadn’t she passed one just a while back? But she was too tired to try that, it was more taxing than to simply walk. Plus it was freezing outside. Perhaps teleportation? She could blink and appear inside her bedroom, a place that she was drooling to see. But what was the point of having a tower if you weren’t going to see it?
She looked out one of the passing windows. Through it she spied a waking Equestria, bathed in the early orange light of morning. Distant trees, seemingly set ablaze from the rising sun, swaying gently in the cold breeze. Ponies would be feeling that sun soon. Some, the early risers such as her sister, had already felt it.
Below her, she could see the many townhouses and shops that made up her city. From their chimneys, white smoke rose into the sky, a sign of the life that rested within. The market would be opening soon, though the streets were still empty. A sight she was accustomed to. Not many ponies ventured out at night, especially not in winter.
Luna’s hooves clanked off the marble as she came to the top of her last staircase. It emptied out into a small hallway. To her left, and through the stained glass of windows, streamed the light of her sister's sun. In rays, it fell upon the many portraits and tapestries that hung on the adjacent wall. Lighting up her private wing.
Finally, she thought. The carpet was much more forgiving to walk on, even with her metal shoes.
On her journey through the upper northern tower, she passed many a memory. A famous sword here, a glorious painting there. Unbeknown to most of her citizens Luna held an impressive collection. She was a nostalgic being and, having been scared of forgetting, loved to keep tokens of her past. She had almost arrived at her bedroom when something caught her eye. It was a tapestry, recently hug by the castle staff. She stopped to examine it.
It spoke of a long-ago war that she had the displeasure of fighting in. On its faded fabric, and in the very center, sat a depiction of the mare in question. Luna, sporting her silver armor, and wings fully extended. In this particular piece, she seemed to be shooting a griffon down from the sky.
She remembered that day. Scholars wrote it as one of their greatest victories, but they weren’t there. Far too many had died to call it a victory. She could still hear the screaming, and taste the nauseating smell of battle. They were outnumbered ten to one. And, with Celestia injured, the burden of leadership had fallen to Luna. She had killed thousands, ending the battle after striking down their king. An honorable and noble creature, caught up in a war he didn’t want to fight, but she killed him nonetheless.
She cocked her head to the side and looked down to a raised hoof. Luna regretted every minute of that battle. At the time she was consumed with anger. That, coupled with her young age, had lead to many mistakes. From the aching cavern that was her heart, guilt and regret began to swell. To make matters worse, next to the tapestry stood the very armor she had worn.
It was old and unfit for combat, But what an insult to memory. She sighed and drooped her head, the pressure of sadness was building up behind her eyes now, threatening to break into tears. She stuffed the feelings back down into her empty heart with practiced ease.
I am so sorry.
The hall was quite as she sat vigil, taking a moment of her time to remember the past. The dead she wronged deserved that much at least. Once again she wished for a simpler life, as she had once lived. She was about to return to her journey, having remembered her fatigue, when there spoke a voice.
“Luna?”
It was quite. Well below a whisper. And its tone seemed more curious than ghastly. In the still hallway, Luna had no doubts in her mind. Looking up and around her, and with a tone of confusion she simply said, “Hello?”
She looked left, down the hall which ended in an abrupt turn. Then she turned right, where she could spy the familiar dark mahogany of her bedroom doors. The curtains that lined the walls were swaying lightly, somepony had left the windows open. Once again she called, “Hello? Is anypony there?”
The wind blew and at the very edge of her mind, she could have sworn she heard it.
“Always.”
A chill went down her spine. She was about to call out again when the telltale clip-clop of hooves, probably a maid, tickled her ears. It was much louder than her phantom voice, drawing her attention from the strange experience. Picking herself up she turned toward the sound and spoke, “Excuse me?”
Whoever it was stopped, obviously surprised. It wasn't long, however, until around the corner appeared, like she had guessed, one of the castle maids.
“You called, Your Majesty.”
“Yes. I want this moved.” She gestured towards her old armor absentmindedly. “Anywhere within the North tower is fine, just not here.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
“Good, do it now if you can.”
The maid gave a polite bow.
Satisfied, and content to forget her phantom voice, Luna turned towards her salvation. The doors gave their familiar greetings as they swung open, in the form of a low creaking. Before her, finally, were Luna’s bedchambers. They had a different air about them in the morning sun. The large windows gave ample room for light to pass through. That, coupled with her open balcony door, enriched the entire space with a bright empty glow. Not to mention its lack of keepsakes, she never stored them in private areas.
There were no shadows this time, as Luna made her way forwards. Her hooves almost dragged across the floor, But there was a smile on her face. Hopping onto the soft bed she stared at the ceiling with a quiet sense of joy. She closed her eyes, lost in the warm embrace. It didn't last, however. The light was beginning to irritate her. For her final act of the day Luna, eyes now open, lit up her horn. In a flash the curtains, balcony, and bedroom doors were all shut, leaving the room in familiar darkness.
Finally, she could sleep.
She could see just fine in the dark, and quickly made herself under the sheets. Tense hooves relaxed and her body followed soon after. The blankets were cool and comforting, causing her to shiver with joy. It wasn't long before, In the back of her mind, she could feel that familiar pull. A gentle pressure, as if she was being beckoned. And as her body slowly began to lose sensation, becoming a weightless shackle, Luna could feel herself falling backwards. Her breathing steadied, and her mind was at peace as the sweet embrace of sleep took her under its ageless wings.
That was her favorite part, entering the dream realm. She had spells to emulate the function, she could blink and arrive there just the same. But when she slept, through natural means, it was always a heavenly experience. Like what a feather must feel when it falls from a great height. Cool wind on your shoulders and an eternity to enjoy it. An unconscious interpretation of time, minutes could have been eons for all she cared. In this place, in this transitory state, there was no time.
But that unknowable moment, despite its paradoxical nature, does not last. And all too soon she could feel herself waking up. Her body felt light like she could run it for a thousand miles and keep on running. What she felt, as an immortal, was always difficult to describe to regular ponies. It was like having a seventh sense. A sense that gave her a kind of control. When she moved things with what others would see as magic, it wasn't her horn really doing the work. Though it worked perfectly fine and she certainly could use it for that, it was something else nonetheless. The best way she could describe it was simply that she wanted it to be moved, and so it obeyed. Now, as she began to flutter open her eyes, even that mysterious piece of her soul felt like it had been overcharged.
Around her lay an endless grassy field. To the east, sitting on the horizon, rested the rising sun. To the west, in mimicry of her sister, sat the moon. The sky was alight with the dancing of twinkling stars, its ethereal cloudy shadows streaming down onto the grassy green hills. Standing, Luna smiled a hearty smile and, in a quick flash of magic, blessed the sky with swirling blue and green auroras. She closed her eyes, this world was hers.
Her mane flew around her as if underwater, blending seamlessly with the starscape above. The dark mare took in a deep breath. The air was warm, but kindly so. And a breeze drifted across the land as Luna reopened her eyes. She could feel every blade of grass, every star and cloud and drop of dew. It was a sensation that she adored. She was as much the dreamscape as Celestia was the sun. It was here that she truly belonged.
She gazed into the sky for a while, enjoying the freedom the sleeping world permitted her, before picking out one star in particular. It was a bit brighter than its sisters, standing out against the pitch black backdrop of its canvas.
Take me there. It wasn't even a thought.
In the blink of an eye, Luna was whisked into the sky, a bright streak of light as she flew past clouds and into the stars above. On her travels, through the endless air, she passed the dreams of others. There were fewer than usual, owing to the time of day, But still, they persisted. Some were the dreams of young children, sleeping late into the day as their bodies grew steadily on and into adulthood. Some were of the elderly, past the years of responsibility, and simply enjoying a fading life. Most were ignored by Luna, as she sought out her star.
Quick was her journey, and soon was she upon its end. The world below seemed far away now, from her lofty perch. She was in the clouds, surrounded by thousands of little lights. Each one represented a pony. They looked akin to fireflies, Floating lazily through the now cold night sky.
Picking out her target, she touched her horn to the bright light. For a brief moment, her eyes burned white as her wings extended into the air. Before, in a flash, her surroundings changed drastically.
As her eyes adjusted to her new surroundings, Luna blinked wildly. From behind what sounded like a door she could hear the soft sound of what seemed to be a pleasant conversation. Yes, it was a door, she could see that now. She was standing inside a humble little hallway. Its floor was blanketed in a red velvet carpet, almost scarlet, and on the ceiling, there was a modest molding. There were no windows or picture frames hanging here, really the hall looked as if nopony lived there. Luna frowned at that, He’s gotten worse.
An outburst of muffled laughter caught her attention. The door was small, only about six inches taller than her horn, but pleasant to look at nonetheless. For a moment she debated whether or not to enter, intruding on somepony’s dream isn't exactly polite. But present circumstances seemed to warrant such behavior. So, after a brief mental deliberation, she willed the door open.
Behind it sat a small and cozy library. The ground was wooden, a little rug covering most of its area. Books and scrolls were piled on the shelves of the study, adding to what looked to be a large and neglected mess. And a fire was burning in the hearth, acting as a light source. In front of the said fire, both sitting in two large armchairs, rested a pair of ponies.
The one Luna could see had a long white mane, though it sparkled with the gleam of youth. It contrasted wildly with her dark coat which, while certainly not black, might be mistaken as such. In her hoof, she held a glass of dark red liquid, something she occasionally glanced at with her rosy red eyes. The most prominent, or perhaps to some odd, feature were her teeth. When she opened her mouth Luna was clearly able to see fangs. They weren’t particularly long, really only measuring up to large canines. And while most ponies did lack them entirely, it would be forgivable to overlook their existence.
Luna scrunched her face in confusion. The pony looked familiar, but she couldn't place her. She was beautiful. By all standards, hers was a face that shouldn't be forgotten. But then again most batponies possessed some form of beauty. The other pony had their back turned towards Luna, though she already knew who was sitting there. They clearly hadn’t heard her come in. She was still scouring her memories, hoping to identify the dream character when, in a chuckle of leavity, the conversation broke her concentration.
“Your father was such a brute! Don’t deny it.”
“He was… difficult, at times. But a good stallion nonetheless! He approved of you, Carnelian.”
Luna cringed at the name. The mystery mare was his wife, one that had passed into the afterlife a long time ago. And here Luna was, about to ruin his good dream. She drooped her head, if only a little. Something that could have easily been missed. But Carnelian was a batpony, and an attentive one at that. She stopped for a moment, as her sensitive ears searched the air. Then, with a playful grin, she said, “Hello, Princess!”
Behind the back of the armchair, Luna could hear a quiet coughing sound, like somepony was choking on their drink.
“Please come in! I hope you don't mind the clutter but we weren't expecting company.” The mare beamed up towards the old alicorn, and Luna’s breath hitched in her throat. Immortality had its benefits, but not without a price.
“Damn it to tartarus.” The voice was male. It spoke with the gruffness of old age, laced with bitter sadness. He rose his voice a fraction and, clearly speaking to Luna, said, “This is a dream, isn’t it?”
Carnelian looked to her husband, confused she said, “Whatever do you mean, my love?” she reached forward to grab his hoof but stopped. The old stallion had recoiled. A hurt look flashed across Her face and when she spoke the shadow of fear was present, “Octavius?”
A hoof appeared from behind the chair, seemingly waving away his wife he said, “Leave me, sweet phantom.”
The image of Carnelian leaned back into her chair, slowly. And, not before dawning a wan smile, faded into the background.
Octavius stared at the empty chair, for a time. He was a loyal creature, and Carnelian had been his world. It had been half a century, now, since she had died. And five years since he had gone, begging, to Luna to be set free from his immortality. He only wanted to see her again. Without her, the world had grown uninteresting. Food was tasteless, water burned his throat like sand. Even the sight of Luna’s glorious stars, something that he had always been able to find comfort in, were lost on his teary eyes.
“May I sit down?”
There was a shifting of fabric and, ever so quietly, he replied, “Leave me... please.”
“Octavius....” She was met with silence.
Luna eyed the back of his armchair with sorrow. She knew what he felt like, she knew the exact feeling. When a mortal pony loses a loved one, it’s a hard experience. But even in their sadness, there is hope. Hope in the afterlife and hope of seeing their loved ones again. It’s the thing that many cling to in the wake of death. But for an immortal creature such as Octavius, that hope doesn't exist. He would never know the restful sleep of death, as would Luna. His beloved Carnelian was forever out of his reach, now.
“I’m going to sit down, Octavius.” It was more of a question, really. She loved her friend, more than he knew. Octavius and Carnelian had been a constant, these past five hundred years. She had attended their wedding. She was there to watch them grow old together. And she was the one who had, upon their deathbeds, gifted them immortal life. Octavius was the oldest living batpony in existence. And to Luna’s torment, he was wasting away in his castle like a corpse. She walked around the plush armchair and was met with a tired gaze.
“What do you want, Luna?” he queried.
She sat down. Giving him a smile she said, “Is it so wrong to want to see a friend that I need a reason to drop in?”
He returned his gaze to the flickering fire. It reflected off his scarlet eyes, a sight that could entrance a pony as easily as the flames themselves. Lithe and muscular, he looked like a soldier. His light grey coat and long blue mane framed his snout perfectly. He really didn't look too different from his original self, aside from being larger than most ponies, a side effect of immortality. The only real changes were the retractable fangs and leathery wings. All these features, once gleaming with immortal youth, were dulled and unkempt.
It had been a long time since Luna had seen him happy, but she could wait. Time has a funny way of healing things, something she had learned from experience. These feeling would not go away, but his heart would grow, just like hers had. And she would be there to fight off the bite of insanity, standing by his side.
“It was not my intention to interrupt your dream. I was about to leave when she spotted me.”
For a moment the ends of his lips twitched, almost as if to smile. “Yes. She was always very attentive.” Swirling the glass of wine in his hoof he looked away from the fire and back towards Luna, “It’s probably good you’re here. It’s good to see you.” He took a sip from his glass, delicately, like he wasn't interested in it. “Been too long, three years now? And where is Asteria? You two are usually inseparable.”
“I think she slept in. And it’s four. Though I’ll admit to keeping tabs on you. ”
“Oh?”
She gave him a sad smile, “You wanted to die, Octavius, I was worried.”
The stallion looked hurt, he pulled himself back into his chair and, now sitting at his full height, was almost eye level with Luna. “I wanted to be mortal, I’m not the suicide type.”
She rolled her eyes in response, “Give it a few thousand years, the idea grows on you.”
Surprisingly, and much to her delight, he chuckled at that, “Yes, I imagine it does.” He stared at her for a while. Luna truly was a sight to behold. He had loved that mare, almost as much as had loved Carnelian. Having joined the Nightguard at the age of sixteen, the poor stallion had suffered much bloodshed in her name. But he never complained.
The months had turned into years and the years into decades. Before he knew it Octavius was sitting at the head of the guard he loved. He had accomplished much under her banner and, at the time, only wished to stay with the mare he called friend for as long as possible. But the days had rolled ever on, all to soon the dark stallions steps had grown weak and his mane grey. The allure of immortality was tempting back then.
“Does it ever stop?” His voice was deep and rich as it rang, uncontested, in the silent room.
“What?” she queried.
“The heartache.” The fire popped.
Luna looked away from him. This question. She thought he would have asked it sooner. “Not really, no. More like your heart grows to make space for more.”
“I don’t know if I can suffer any more of this.”
“I didn’t either.” She bit her lip for a moment, before she said, “I feel I should apologize.” Octavius was always able to bring out the filly in her, he was a true friend, and too see him suffer hurt her heart.
“Whatever for?”
She looked almost shocked at this, “I’ve given you eternal life… What else?”
“Oh that, I should have known…” There was a pause, as the stallion pondered her words. He didn’t flinch when he said, “Consider yourself forgiven.”
“What?” She was the immortal steward of the night. A governing force of the universe of whose beauty poems had been written. And now she was speechless.
“I know I've never said it ought right before, but I hold nothing against you. Really, there isn’t anything to forgive.” A small smile ghosted his face.
“How?” She had been expecting anger, maybe even tears.
“Luna I've known you for five hundred and seventy years. In all that time have I ever held a grudge?”
“I think this is a bit more impactful than a misdeed! I’ve cursed you. You will never die, not until the last star burns out and this reality fades away... How can you just forgive so easily?”
He took a moment to respond, swirling his drink around as he thought. After a while, though, he did speak. “When you created that spell, you meant no harm. I won't blame you for the decisions I made, Luna, they are my own.” He downed the last of his wine and threw the cup into the fire. The flames jumped and hissed at the intrusion, “Look at the night guard, for example. They aren't true immortals, are they? I was a trial run, I understand that. It was untested and unsafe. And in the wake of your mistakes you’ve since corrected things. Luna, you have done no wrong.” His chair creaked as her turned towards her, “So stop apologizing for it.”
She was dumbstruck. “I… thank you,” she leaned back into her chair, “We hadn’t spoken in so long… and after your last trip south, I thought…”
“I’ve got to spend an eternity with you. Might as well be on good terms...” The next words to come out of his mouth were tempered, as if they stung his lips, “And I’ve been busy.”
Luna shook her head and sighed, “Octavius…”
“No.” He fumed. “She shouldn’t have been able to die in the first place.” He leaned forward, staring into fire, “I’ll find the urchin, if it’s the last thing I do.” The hearth seemed to burn a little brighter with his anger. “It had to be discord.”
Luna frowned at his name, “No, I’ve made very sure it wasn’t discord.”
“Ask again.”
“Well… why not ask him yourself.” Her face grew hopeful, “Come to the capitol.”
He sighed, “Luna that's a five-day journey.”
“Oh, am I that unpleasant?”
He scoffed and rolled his eyes, and the fire died back down, “Please, spare me the puzzles. You’re my only friend. Can’t be that bad if I’m keeping you around.”
“Well I’m not the only pony you seem to care about,” She said, raising her eyebrows.
“What?”
“I think her name was Noctis. How is it you manage to attract mares like that?”
“Luna! That was a dream! Sweet Sun, when did you become a stalker.” It was difficult to see, in the dancing firelight, but Luna could swear he was blushing. Chuckling she replied, “It’s my job, what can I say.”
“It’s invasion of privacy is what it is,” He mused.
She tsked, “You sound like my sister.”
“Yes,” he mumbled, “That’s a first.” He slouched back into his chair, sighing he said, “One more reason not to visit the castle. Celestia.”
“She misses you too, you know.”
“Really?” He was skeptical. “I thought she disapproved of me.”
Diverting her gaze Luna said, “Well, I wouldn’t say she agreed with my decision, but that was half an eon ago. I think she's finally warmed up to you. It’s not often you find something constant when you live like us. She’s gotten better.”
“Last time I saw her she set me on fire.”
Luna huffed, “That was only because you asked her too.”
“I’m not coming, Luna. I’m perfectly fine where I am.”
“Oh Don’t be foalish.”
“No.”
“You have done nothing but sit in your fortress and rot for the better part of fifteen years! I understand more than most what that feels like, so trust me when I say that you aren't doing yourself any good. If you’re not careful you might make things worse, so please,” she nudged his leg with her forehoof, drawing his attention towards her eyes and in a softer tone, she said, “please, do me this favor. For me if not yourself.”
He looked towards the far wall and let loose a long breath. “Why now?”
She looked away for a moment, contemplating. “I’ve run into some problems, recently. I want ponies I can trust in the capitol.”
“I knew you came here for a reason.” His eyes hardened.
Luna rolled her eyes, “Alright, yes. But you needed this.”
He seemed to think for a moment, as he stroked his chin. The fire crackled away while she patiently waited for his response. “You say that you’ve been watching my dreams?”
“Yes, I have. That's one more reason to travel south, I can help.” Her tone was almost pleading.
“One in particular has been bothering me.”
“Which one? They’re all terrible if you ask me.”
“This one was… troublesome.”
“How so?” She cocked her head to the side. Octavius’ dreams were horrific. Some were violent, a repercussion of his days as a footsoldier no doubt. Filled with screams and the stink of warfare. But they didn't compare to the dreams he had about Carnelian. Luna shivered a bit, His pain ran deep.
The grey stallion raised himself from the chair. It was silent as he moved, not a creak of spring or groan of wood. Luna had guessed the dream would be ending soon. He walked towards the far wall, of which was a bookshelf. The tomes were wildly different, some colorful, others old and bound in nothing but wooden slabs. He scoured them for a moment before he found his mark. It was a scroll. The parchment was white and fresh, unlike its brothers, and it was bound with the deep blue ribbon and crest of the nightguard.
He examined it for a moment, before giving it to Luna. “See for yourself.”
All traces of mirth had gone from her face, as the starry mare stared at the scroll. More riddles.
He returned to his chair, as he leaned back into the old beast it groaned. “I’m not going to the castle, Luna.”
“No.”
“No?”
“I want you nearby so I can keep you safe. Come home, and let me help you.”
He seemed a bit insulted, “I’ll remind you I am no longer under your command. I’m perfectly capable of handling myself.”
“But you are injured.”
He fumed at that, “Not physically. I don’t need yo-.”
“Look at the fire, Octavius.”
He paused for a moment, “What?”
“Look at the fire and tell me what you see.”
He gave her a skeptical expression, before slowly turning his head towards the flames. “I see a fireplace, what else?”
“What would happen if you touched it?”
“Excuse me?” He turned towards his friend.
Luna merely looked at him, a knowing smile on her lips. “You would get burned, right?”
“Of course. Where is this going?”
Luna’s smile grew and she replied, “You aren’t unlike these flames. They look and feel strong, and if you aren’t careful something might get hurt.” Shifting her gaze towards the fireplace, she lit her horn, forming a dome around the hearth. Ever so slowly the streaks of light began to shrink, losing their intensity as they were deprived of precious oxygen. “But in reality they are fragile.” Right before the flames passed into smoke, she let her magic fade. “Come home, Octavius.”
He shook his head, and after a long moment of silence he replied. “You get one month.”
Luna giggled a bit, “Thank you, old friend. I’ll see you soon.”
She turned, the dream was already beginning to fade. Walls that were once sharp and clear, now blurred away into the background. And the heat coming off the fire began to feel strange, as if it were more of a thought than a sensation. If she wasn’t careful Luna might be woken up here and now. She walked to the door and opened it, revealing vast darkness. Before exiting, however, she looked behind her. Octavius was gone, as was expected, and the whole room was had gotten much brighter.
It was daylight, pouring in from behind the stallions presumably sleeping eyes. Based off of its intensity, Luna guessed it was mid-afternoon, at least. Tucking the scroll close to her chest, she walked out the door and into the darkness beyond. There was still much to be done in the way of reading tonight, and she didn’t want to waste time. Octavius would be joining her soon. That was the first step, secure your weak points. Something was happening and she wasn’t about to lose another friend
He was a fine captain, perhaps the best she had seen, and certainly the best living. But he was broken. The poor creature didn’t even realize what had happened to him.
The door closed behind her, and with it went the light. All around her was the darkness, an empty dreamscape. Her breathing echoed around the cavernous place as she floated aimlessly. She could read the dream here, but it would be an uncomfortable affair. The door, she thought, where is the exit?. But she couldn’t see it. It wasn’t above her, below her, the damn thing was nowhere to be found. She was just beginning to get confused, something that rarely happens to Luna, when out echoed a horrible sound. It was malicious, evil in every form. The voice echoed off invisible walls, seemingly amplified. So much so that Luna could feel the vibrations on her fur. A deep baritone sound that shook her down to the core. It said only one word, more than enough to terrify the would be warden. It simply said,
“BOO!”
Author's Note
I know things are a bit slow, the next chapter should ramp it up a bit 
. Hope you have a wonderful Valentines day, and thanks for the read!
-Loonymoony
