Train Bound for Nightmare, Part 1
My head snapped up again, my eyes forcing themselves to open. But, unfortunately, my vision was still horribly blurry. The gentle rocking of the car had lulled me to sleep. Too many long hours, too much time spent at work. Sure, the pay was nice, but falling asleep on the drive home was a horrible idea. A part of my brain began to panic, as my ears perked up to the sound of a gentle, repetitive 'clickity-clack'. I needed to wake up, I needed to see. I was driving, damn it!
I reached up to gently rub my eyes with a brown hoof... And then my brain just stopped.
'Hoof? Where are my fingers?!'
I quickly rubbed my eyes to look around. I didn't find myself driving down the road, as I could have sworn I had been doing just a second ago. Thankfully, I also didn't find myself in excruciating pain and wrapped around a telephone pole or something like that. No, I was seated in some sort of empty, overly colorful rail car. The only other being was a deep blue haired, umber furred bat pony colt, seated across from me and smiling a muzzle-splitting grin that would have made Pinkie Pie herself proud.
"Who are you?" I nervously ask the smiling colt.
"Shrouded Lunes."
"But, that's the name of my OC... I never thought it was an actual pony."
"I am not, for I am you."
"But I'm-"
"Shrouded Lunes." The colt cuts me off, before I get my own name out. "And, I presume, you know why you are here."
The darkness of the tunnel we were currently travelling through turned the window by my side into a mirror and so, for the first time since I noticed my hoof, I took a moment to look at my reflection. It wasn't the brown-eyed salt-and-pepper reflection I was use to. It was the gold and green cat-like eyes, grey-streaked blue hair, and brown furred face of my beloved OC... with a single tear rolling down my face. There was only one reason for me to be here, in light of current events. "Death comes for everypony," I mumbled softly to myself.
"Indeed it does, my little pony. Indeed it does. You are taking this better than the last boy."
I smiled at the statement, looking back to the colt before me. "Because I am not running away, simply accepting this new chance."
The colt nodded, before standing up and walking to the end of the train car. "Then, our time here is done. Take care of yourself, Shrouded Lunes."
"I shall. Thank you, Leliel."
The colt stopped in his tracks, turning to look over his shoulder. Somehow, his smile seemed even bigger. "You'll find I am known by a different name in this plane."
My eyes widened. "Then... I hope I will be meeting you soon."
I yawned rather loudly as I stepped off the train and into the cool night air, pulling my cloak a bit tighter against my head and body to hide the tuffs of my ears and my distinctly non-pegasi wings. For being so late, there were a surprising number of ponies getting off the train at this particular station. I'd arrived in Ponyville on the late-night run, with naught by my cloak and my body to my name. Living like this would be troublesome, but not impossible. I was certain there would be more than a few ponies that would be willing to help me out. Heck, Pinkie might be just around the next corner, I thought to myself with a small chuckle. My initial thought of asking Princess Twilight for help were dashed when I couldn't find the Friendship Castle anywhere. You'd think something that big and obnoxious would be, well, obvious.
"Sweet Luna, give me a break." I grumbled to myself as I started to wander the town. I was just starting to consider knocking on Rarity's door and hope she'd be 'generous' enough to help some poor, homeless stallion find a place to stay for the night when my eyes settled on the moon.
"Oh..."
The moon wasn't the pure white sphere it was for most of the show. There was a glaring imperfection marring it's surface... the distinct silhouette of an apparent unicorn mare. Slowly, but noticeable to any who knew what to look for, four bright stars were inching closer to the moon. I start to chuckle, speaking ever so softly to myself as I do.
"On the longest day of the thousandth year, the Stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about nighttime eternal... And what rough beast, her hour come round at last, slouches towards Ponyville to return."
"What was that?"
My soft laughter stops dead, as I turn to face a certain purple unicorn. But, if this was the night of the Summer Sun Celebration... which is the only reason for her to be here now, then shouldn't she be hiding away from Pinkie's party in her room at the Golden Oaks Library?
"N-Nothing, miss. N-Never mind, I... I was just muttering to myself."
"But not just anything. That was the Prophecy of the Mare in the Moon. At least the first part. The second... I've been researching the return of Nightmare Moon for the past few years, and I have never come across a translation of the prophecy that includes those words." Her eyes light up, as the chance to find some previously undiscovered proof of the legend was literally standing in front of her. But then, she gasped in shock. "I must go get Spike! Your prophecy specifically mentioned Ponyville! Princess Celestia must be warned!"
As she ran back towards her library, I chanced another glance at the moon... just in time to watch the stars appear to touch against the moon's circumference and, with a flash, the Mare in the Moon vanished.
"Yeah, something tells me she won't be able to respond to you, Twilight."
I followed after the unicorn, at least hoping it would get me a better idea of the layout of the town.
By the time I caught up the Twilight at the front door of the Golden Oaks Library, Spike and the girls were standing outside as well.
"It's about time you showed up!" I heard Spike call out. "It's time to head for the ceremony. I know you said you wanted a few moments to think, but I didn't think you'd go out for a moonlight stroll in a new town. What if you'd gotten lost?"
"I'm sorry, Spike. But this is something much more important! I heard a pony reciting the Mare in the Moon prophecy and..."
"Not this again, sugarcube. Didn't ya tell us Celestia herself told ya not ta worry 'bout that old mare's tale? It's just somethin' to give them lil fillies an' colts a scare fer Nightmare Night."
I made it a point to stick to the shadows, letting the little spat carry on. It was a little odd to see the seven of them acting like friends already. Wasn't Twilight suppose to be a reclusive introvert that knew nothing of friendship at this point? I couldn't really see her admitted something like that to them.
"Actually, it was Spike that told you that," Oh, ok, yeah, that makes more sense. "But that doesn't matter! This pony knew more of the prophecy. And it specific-"
"And where is this mysterious stranger, darling?"
I made sure to slink a bit deeper into the shadows as she started to turn around. "Right over there... Wait... I thought he was right behind me just a few moments ago..."
"Oooo... Maybe he's some dimension-hopping time traveller that knows your whole life story and came back just to mess up the Thousandth Summer Sun Celebration that you worked so hard to put together."
I raised an eyebrow and mumbled under my breath. "Some points there, Pinkie. But not all of them. Guess your Pinkie Fact Speaking Sense requires line of sight to get perfect... Good to know... Ish."
"Yeah, no. Cool as that sounds, I doubt it would be anything like that."
"Look, Sis, we should just get to the celebration and worry about this whole thing later. I known I was proven wrong yesterday when I said the Princess was likely too busy getting ready to respond to your letters, but I really think that's the case now! She'll be raising the sun in less than half an hour as well as giving her big speech. Anything you have to share can at least wait until after that, right?"
I heard Twilight let out a defeated sigh. "You're probably right, Spike. Let's just go to the Town Hall..."
I followed behind the group, almost bouncing from shadow to shadow. As long as they didn't see me until just the right moment, this was going to be perfect! Yeah, sure, it was a bit unfair I had advance knowledge. But, so does Pinkie! At least to an extent... I think... Maybe? No matter! I follow the crowds into Town Hall, making sure I made my way close to Twilight as the group starts to split up a bit. Pinkie and Rainbow went over towards to punch bowl, Applejack and Rarity went to check on the food and decorations, and Fluttershy got into position to start conducting the birds choir.
"So... you've been researching the Mare in the Moon for years, you said?"
I couldn't help but smile as Twilight turned to me. Jeez, again with the smiles? Don't get me wrong, I know I'm happy, but at this rate I might as well just get a sharp blade and give myself a permanent grin!
"You know the prophecy?"
"The prophecy... and the origin, to be exact."
"Tell me! Now! Princess Celestia might be in danger."
If you only knew, Twilight... "The origin? I'll be honest, it's actually a bit easier to explain with song... if you'll indulge me."
Twilight gave me the worst stink eye possible for a pony. Between that, and her drooping shoulders, I could almost hear her let out a deadpan 'Really?', but she finally settled on: "If you must..."
As Fluttershy's birds started to sing, I used a hoof to pull back my hood. Twilight took a step back, eyes wide in fear, as she took in my cat eyes and the tuffs of my ears. "You- You're a..."
"That does not matter right now, my dear. I believe I promised you a song." I cleared my throat and started to sing, only just loud enough to be heard by Twilight and maybe one or two other ponies close by...
Now the hour has come at last, the soft and fading light
Has crossed the west horizon, and has bidden us goodnight.
And what a lovely night it is, to walk a moonlight field
To see the softer shades that are by starlight now revealed.
So why is it that now when all is quiet and at rest
When candles glow and all the world is at its very best
The ponies of Equestria should lock themselves away
To shun the moon and wait instead for Sister's sunny day.
At that exact moment, Mayor Mare stepped out onto the stage to give her speech. I made sure to extend the break just long enough for her to finish. But as soon as Rarity pulled back the curtains, I found myself compelled to sing just a little bit louder. Was it my own showmanship or some spell Nightmare Moon placed on me? Frankly, I'll never know. But, I don't really care, because just as my fellow ponies started to gasp in horror, I twisted the songs lyrics into slightly more accusatory questioning.
Was she so wrong to wish that we would see things as she does?
And was she so wrong to think that we might love her to?
Why shouldn't we adore her? Is it not within her right?
She should not be overshadowed, hers is not the lesser light!
She's waited long enough now, for us all to come around!
Though the Sun may plead and threaten, the Moon will stand her ground!
Having allowed myself to be drawn too deeply into the moment, I snap my wings out from under my cloak and take flight without a second thought. Had I not been operating on the purest of instinct and subconscious thought at this point, I probably would have made a complete fool of myself and fallen face-first the second I took off the ground.
It comes to this at last, she will no longer yield the sky,
if we cannot love but one Princess alone!
See, the Moon is rising, she has come to claim the heavens as her own!
And all will know the wonder of her dark and jeweled night,
When all the world is wrapped in an eternal lullaby.
So say goodnight to this, the final setting of the sun!
For today dawns in darkness, the nighttime has begun!
I landed as soon as I finished the song, the only thought in my mind being that it was a shame I couldn't to the maniacal laughter justice. However, a quick gasp from Pinkie Pie was enough to tell me my own laughter wasn't even necessary. Magical shadows began to form on the balcony from which Princess Celestia was meant to stand and the laughter began to ring forth.
"Oh no..."
Out of the corner of my eye, I just barely caught Twilight starting to cower in fear. I, however, dropped forward into a half-crouch, my wings spread wide, and growled.
"Oh my beloved subjects, it has been so long since We have seen your precious little sun-loving faces..."
"What did you do with our Princess?!" Rainbow called out, before finding herself being held back by her tail in Applejack's mouth.
"Were you not listening what that wonderful Thestral was singing just now?"
I'm sure all eyes in the room turned to me as she said that.
"Does Our crown no longer count after having been imprisoned for a thousand years? Did only he remember the legends? Or see the signs?"
"No, I did! And I know who you are..." Twilight stepped forward valiantly. "You're the Mare in the Moon.... Nightmare Moon."
Several ponies gasped as Nightmare Moon chuckled. "Well well, it seems at least one sun-loving pony remembers Us!"
"How cold of you to forget all about me, Princess Lu-"
"SILENCE! You will not speak that name again, Thestral!"
I opened my mouth to speak once more... and promptly found I could not. My voice was gone. Well, if I ever needed more proof that bat ponies were an engineered race created by Luna... The fact that Nightmare Moon's Royal Canterlot Voice could act as a geis would certainly count.
"Of all Our subjects... to think that one of his kind would so blatantly disrespect Us... No matter, he will be dealt with. Now, tell Us, dear Unicorn. If you know the legends, and know who We are, then surely you know why We are here..."
"To..." Twilight looked around at the other ponies, all of them clearly looking towards the two of us for answers. "To..."
Nightmare Moon just started to laugh. "As that foalish Thestral sang... remember this day, everypony... for it was your last. The Eternal Night has begun!"
I didn't wait around for the inevitable, and horribly one-sided I might add, confrontation between Nightmare Moon and the Royal Guard that were in attendance. Didn't it take a council of, what, ten to twelve talented unicorns to lift the sun prior to Celestia taking over? Did Mayor Mare really think that three pegasi would be enough to stop an alicorn? Especially one that had no interest in playing fair or being 'nice'. As before, I bounced from shadow to shadow, quickly making my way back to the Golden Oaks Library to slip up into the rafters before Twilight returned. I made it up there just as Twilight rushed inside to put Spike to bed.
As she did so, I took a quizzical look at my tail, before curling it around the rafter and letting myself slip over the edge. I was ready to open my wings in a hurry and hope to soften my fall with a rushed glide it I was wrong, but I quickly found myself hanging upside down from my tail.
'Good, that wasn't just some fabrication that the other bronies made up. I would have felt like a real foal if I crashed to the floor after sneaking in as I did.'
I watched from my inverted perch as Twilight came rushing down the stairs and started tearing up the Library.
"Elements of Harmony. Elements of Harmony. There must be something in here about them!"
"And just what are the Elements of Harmony? And where did that Thestral go? Are you working with him?!" Rainbow pressed Twilight for answers, until she was pulled back by Applejack.
I chuckled softly to myself, before taking a second to wave to the rafter above me and whisper, ever so softly, "You might want to check under 'E' for 'Elements'... Not sure why Twilight hasn't thought of that herself."
"Simmer down now, Sally. Ah'm sure Twilight has a perfectly logical explanation fer all this. She'd been talkin' about Nightmare Moon all day, after all. Ya do know what's goin' on, don'cha Twi?"
She just sighed, before looking up at her future friends. "As you all are likely aware from my comments earlier today, I've spent the past few months studying up on the Mare in the Moon Prophecy. In its simplest terms, it merely read that 'On the longest day of the thousandth year, the Stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about nighttime eternal.' But, various other second-hand sources written from that time seem to suggest that there are a powerful set of artifacts known as the 'Elements of Harmony' that are suppose to be able to help fight her, but nopony actually seems to know what they were or where they could be found. For that matter, I don't even know what they even do beyond 'help'!"
"The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide."
I couldn't help but chuckle again. The only thing that would have been better is if it had been called A Complete Idiots Guide to the Elements of Harmony.
Twilight rushed over to the book, pushing Pinkie Pie out of the way. "What? But... How did you find it?!"
Pinkie bounced around for just a moment, before plopping down on her flank and pointing up to me. "The nice bat told me to check under E. He also said he had no idea why you hadn't thought to look there."
Five heads turned to look up into the rafters, Twlight's face starting to show a slight blush at having been called out on something fairly obvious, to where I was waving down at them. "Evening ladies."
Rainbow was the first to react, her face flashing with the same anger she'd shown both Nightmare Moon and Twilight this evening. "You! You know something, don't you!" And, just like those other two times, she was stopped in her tracks by Applejack biting down on her tail.
"Consarnit, Rainbow Dash! That's the third time tonight Ah've had ta keep ya from runnin' off inta a fight ya don't need to be in."
"But... But he..."
"While I must agree with Applejack that Twilight has a perfectly reasonable explanation for everything, darling, I'm not so sure I can be as... trusting of somepony that would instigate others like this... Thestral did with his song."
With a slight shrug, I let go of the rafter and gently glided down to the mares below, making sure to land directly in front of Twilight and 'allowing' my landing to dip into what could amount to a quick kneel. "I prefer Bat Pony, actually. But, Thestral will do if you must. Could we just settle on the idea that 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' for now? I assure you, I am no threat to any of you, and my interests align quite well with your own."
"And just what are those goals?" Twilight eyed me suspiciously. Apparently, my little show had put her on edge, who would have thought? OK, yeah, probably anyone with half a brain. No sense stressing about that now.
"To set xxxxxxxx xxxx free," I say matter-of-factly... only to blink when I realize two key words were never actually spoken. I tilt my head slightly to the side in thought, trying to form the words again. "xxxxxxxx xxxx... xxxxxxxx xxxx! Are you serious?! xxxx damn it! Wait. Really?! REALLY?! YOU WON'T EVEN GIVE ME THAT!?! MAY FAUST SEE YOU ROT IN BUCKING TARTARUS, NIGHTMARE!"
All the mares stepped back from my outburst, especially Fluttershy who was looking like she was trying to become a potted plant behind Rainbow Dash.
I took a deep breath, holding my hoof to my chest and counting to ten. "My apologies, ladies. Perhaps it would be best if we simply put it as 'To see Nightmare Moon defeated', then?"
"Ya know more than you're tellin', don'cha...?"
"It's Shrouded Lunes, Applejack. Feel free to shorten it however you like. And yes, I do. Won't tell you what, and apparently can't tell you what it is, either."
Rarity's eyes went wide. "You know Nightmare Moon's true name, don't you, Mr. Lunes? That's what you've been trying to say."
I nod, momentarily shocked by her word choice, before just brushing it off as something she picked up from a Vampony novel or something of the sort. "Go figure, it seems her Royal Canterlot Voice managed to activate a geis on me."
The mares looked at me in confusion, before Twilight ventured to say what was apparently on their minds. "Royal Canterlot Voice?"
"You mean to tell me that the personal protege of Princess Celestia has never heard the Princess use that Voice?"
"S-She can command p-ponies to do her bidding?" Fluttershy poked her head out from behind Rainbow, looking extremely nervous at the prospect of what I just said.
"Can? Yes. Would? Likely not. And... now I've got Flutters in a panic, great..." The last part was meant to be mumbled, but I clearly either improperly judged how well ponies can hear or just didn't lower my voice enough, because the next thing I know, Rainbow Dash is in my face.
"How in Tartarus do you know that name?!"
It's easy to laugh when Rainbow is staring down Twilight, but if she's right in your muzzle... that's a whole different story entirely. "Uh... Umm... I... I could answer that, b-but, you'd never believe the honest answer. S-So... Umm... P-Pinkie, how do you think I know that?"
The room remains silent enough you could hear a pin drop. So, I slowly turn my head to look for Pinkie to see why she's not answering. When I do see her though, the color drains from my face. Her mane and tail had both gone completely flat... and one hoof was reaching into said mane.
"Mary Sue..."
I start fumbling over my hooves like a newborn foal, finally having the balance problems one would normally imagine a newly minted pony should have went they first arrive in Equestria. I'd take a raging Rainbow Dash defending her best friend over the sight before me right now...
"P-Pinkamena... Oh buck me..."
Train Bound for Nightmare, Part 2
"I'llneverusemyknowledgeorpowerstohurtanyponyorspoilanything!Crossmyhearandhopetofly,stickacupcakeinmy-OW!!"
The words spilled off my tongue faster than I even thought possible as I frantically made the required hoof-motions... and promptly poked my eye with said hoof. My own breathing was on the verge of hyperventilating when I heard everyone's favorite pink party pony start to giggle, as she pulled her hoof out of her mane... revealing a cupcake.
"I know that, silly!" She offered me the cupcake, which I hesitantly accepted. "Besides, Rainbow already shot down the idea that you were some dimension-hopping time traveler that knows Twilight's whole life story and came back just to mess up the Thousandth Summer Sun Celebration last chapter, so do you really think they'd accept the idea that you're actually some fan of a children's show that was reincarnated into the body of a ponysona you created in the hopes that you could join us on our future adventures, even if it came from me?"
I let out a happy sigh as I chewed on the cupcake. "Red Velvet with buttercream frosting... It's so odd... I know better than to ask how... I mean, I KNOW... How many ponies in all of Equestria can actually say that? But I still want to say it so badly..."
Twilight's left eye twitched. "HOW?!"
"That's for another time, princess." I clear my throat as a shiver runs down my spine, trying to overlook the part of my brain that was saying Pinkie had just whispered 'You're lucky that was a little p' right into my ear, even as she stood across the room. "I believe, before I completely derailed this conversation with matters with Pinkie Pie, you were about to give everyone a lecture about everything you'd learned of the Elements of Harmony?"
"Oh! That's right!"
"I've got my eye on you..."
I just nodded in acceptance of Rainbow's threat as Twilight opened the book and began to speak. "There are six elements of harmony, of which only five are known; Kindess, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, and Loyalty. The sixth is a complete mystery. It is said that the last known location of the five elements was in the ancient Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters. It is located in what is now the Everfree Forest."
"Oh thank xxxx... Ugh... FINE! You want it to be that way?!" I made it a point to look out the window where the black mist of Nightmare Moon blended in almost perfectly with the dark of the night. "Thank Celestia... There! You happy, you thrice-cursed Tartarus-spawn! Got me 'worshiping' the Solar Princess cause of your insistence I don't use that name."
"Y'all okay there, sugarcube? Y'ar actin' a might strange."
"That's an understatement..."
"Honestly, Applejack? I was worried the powers-that-be would have made it so that there were two missing elements. That... and we're being watched."
"WHAT?!" Six voices called out in unison.
I pointed towards the window from which Nightmare's mist form was quickly retreating for the Everfree Forest. "Not entirely sure how long she was there, or exactly how much she heard, but I can say Nightmare Moon herself took great interest in your lesson and is probably making for the castle as we speak..."
The six mares progressed through the challenges of the Everfree without much trouble, allowing Twilight to slowly but steadily learn the magic of friendship through their actions and see how each of the girls represented one of the elements. I couldn't help but smile as I was teleported, alongside Twilight and the Elements, to the observation room where Nightmare Moon stood in the glow of her celestial globe.
"We must admit, Thestral, that it surprises Us to see you amongst the pawns of the Solar Tyrant..." I let out a snort of a laugh at that. "Your kind was quite loyal to Us before Our forced exile. Step away from the path you are on, and We shall welcome you as a noble."
"Oh sweet xxxx, you really... you honestly think I would be swayed by being offered a spot in your gentry? Despite my minimal role tonight, the script has been written, Nightmare. This whole ordeal will end with your defeat, you first dungeon mini-boss! Just accept it with grace."
"Our defeat? Dear Thestral, We think you are overestimating their chances. Do you not see the shattered remains of the Elements arrayed at Our feet?! They have no means to stand against us."
"Twi!"
"Twilight!"
"Sugarcube!"
"Twilight!"
"Egghead!"
"You're wrong."
"What?!" I smiled at Nightmare Moon's confusion as Twilight began to speak up.
"The Elements were never just the stones. The spirits of the elements of harmony are right here!" The girls quickly fell in behind Twilight as she continued her speech. "Applejack, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of Honesty. Fluttershy, who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the spirit of Kindness. Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the spirit of Laughter. Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift, represents the spirit of Generosity. And Rainbow Dash, who could not abandon her friends for her own heart's desire, represents the spirit of Loyalty. The spirits of these five ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us."
"You still don't have the sixth element!" Nightmare Moon looked around nervously, wondering what she could have been missing.
"The spark revealed itself the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear you, to see you, how much I cared about you... The spark ignited inside of me when I realized that you all are my friends!"
I slowly walked towards Nightmare Moon as a bright flash filled the room and the final element revealed itself.
"You see, Nightmare Moon, when those five elements are ignited by the spark inside us all, they create the sixth element. The element of Magic." The magic started to pool around Twilight and her friends as the elements reformed into the crown and necklaces from the show and bathed them in prismatic light.
"For what it's worth..." I softly whispered as I took a place standing beside the villain. "I'm sorry for what you're about to go through. But, you needn't face it alone."
The rainbow beam shot forth from Twilight's crown and wrapped around both Nightmare Moon and myself. Whereas the Nightmare screamed and resisted, I simply let the warmth embrace me as we were both blown back into the corner.
"You really are nothing like the last boy, Shrouded Lunes."
I rubbed my eyes, forcing them open and finding myself once more on what appeared to be a multi-colored candy train car. "Didn't I make it clear that I wasn't planning to run away, Leliel?"
The being copying my OC nodded. "That you did."
"It truly is a shame that your attempts to understand us must end in your destruction, though."
"Such is the way of things, I'm afraid. I merely wished to take a moment to warn you, before the magic fully purges my connection to this host... I am unsure of how many, if any, of my brothers and sisters came to this plane with me. So please do be on guard for them."
I nodded. "Of course. Though, I really hope none did. No offense, but I doubt these ponies could properly defend against most of your kind."
As before, the being got up and walked out of the railcar. "Take care, Shrouded Lunes. And make sure you treasure this new life you have been given."
"Hello Sunbutt." I couldn't help but chuckle at the sudden gasps coming from the collected Equestrians in the room. Rarity's was the sharpest and, even without looking at her, I was certain that she had fainted in shock.
"Shrouded! How could you be so crass towards your Princess!?!" Twilight practically shrieked in surprise.
I shrugged. "Not my princess?"
Celestia chuckled ever so softly, though her eyes looked positively dead when she looked up me. "It quite already, Twilight. The Thestrals have always chosen to follow a different princess. Isn't that right, Princess Luna?"
The frail form of the younger alicorn cowered in the corner, hiding behind the shattered remnants of Nightmare Moon's armor. Even as she did so, however, I turned away from Celestia and bowed to the Princess of the Night.
"It has been one thousand years since I last saw you like this. Let us put our differences aside and rule together as we were meant to, little sister."
"Sister?!" Twilight asked in confusion.
"You really didn't listen to the lyrics of Shrouded's song, did you, Twilight?" Pinkie giggled, mostly to herself.
"Will you accept my friendship?"
All the ponies leaned forward, anxiously awaiting what Luna would say next.
"I'm so sorry! I've missed you so much, big sister!"
"I've missed you too. But, it appears you have something you must handle..."
Princess Luna looked around for a moment in confusion, finding nothing overly out of the ordinary until she happened upon my bowing form. "Oh... R-RISE, NOBLE STALLION! WE THANK YOU FOR STANDING BY US, AND THE FRIENDSHIP YOU SHOWED THINE ENEMY!
The mane six flinched back at the sound of Luna's Royal Canterlot Voice, though both myself and Princess Celestia barely even flinched our ears. "Your words honor this humble Bat Pony, my Princess. I shall strive to ensure that such words are not wasted on my undeserving self." I stood with a glint in my eye, just in time to hear Pinkie Pie scream out about this calling for a party.
"I understand you are aware of the future, Mr. Lunes."
I looked up from the mug of cider I was sleepily nursing during Pinkie Pie's "Welcome back to Equestria, Princess Luna!" party. Most of the ponies were giving my a wide berth, fearful of the odd creature in a hooded cape. I would love to say I was hurt but... well, I at least had an idea of how the ponies of Ponyville reacted to things they didn't know. A certain zebra would likely be shaking up the quiet and quaint town in a month or two, after all. Plus, when your cutie mark implies you work best behind the scenes, it's hard to get worked up over being ignored. Expecting to see one of the overly curious CMC or some other brave pony, I was rather surprised to see the Solar Diarch herself.
"Princess Celestia, it's quite the honor to be granted a private audience though I suspect..." I looked past her to see the royal guards that had followed her towards my table before spreading out enough to prevent any curious ponies from eavesdropping on our little chat. I had to force down a laugh when I noticed a certain blue-haired yellow pegasus among said guards. "This is not a social call, is it?"
"There hasn't been a pure-blood Thestral upon Equestrian soil since Nightmare Moon's banishment one thousand years ago. I would rather not explain why."
I nodded, somewhat morosely. "War is terrible business, Celestia. Especially for the loser. I suspected the answer back when you saw me in the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters. However, I must confess... I'm surprised that such turmoil wouldn't cause him to break free." Celestia's primary feathers bristled a bit at the implication, but before she could speak, I continued. "He will, you know. I can't tell you when, because I am honestly not certain. But your sister's return has turned on the burners, as it were. Her trials are coming, Princess. Of course, that's why you accepted her request to remain in Ponyville, under the cover of 'learning about the Magic of Friendship'.
"I already made a Pinkie Promise that I would not use my powers and knowledge to spoil anything. As such, I am unable to tell your student what you're intentions are for her being here to study friendship... of where you hope that particular course will lead her. Even if I wasn't bound by such eldritch vows, I still wouldn't do so. The path before her is too beautiful to mar with advanced knowledge. So, I will tell you what you want to hear..."
"And what do you think that is, Mr. Lunes?"
"I am not a threat to your little ponies, Princess Celestia. I suspect, given your opening comment, that I am the only one of my kind. I would hate to see the Thestral Race return to extinction because I ran afoul of you. So, I will remain as loyal to your Sister as my predecessors were... a statement I believe you will understand properly to mean I will remain loyal to Equestria as well. But, if I am to be skirting around the letter of the rules of my Eldritch Vow..." I scanned the area around me, looking for a certain pink pony, "then I have three wishes. Wishes which should be fairly easy for you make happen."
Her eyes looked ready to burn my very soul, so I dropped my voice to a barely audible whisper. "Easy there, Daybreaker."
Celestia took a small, shocked step back as though she had been stung by a bee. "What are your terms then, Mr. Lunes?"
"There are those I wish to befriend... Those that your average pony might frown upon anyone getting to know. I only ask your assistance in making that happen."
"And they are..."
"Your sister, for now. The other two aren't exactly... available. Although, I'm certain a trip to the royal gardens might find another all ears and else."
"And you expect me to believe you desire friendship when you demand to speak with..." Celestia bristled, unwilling to say his name before settling on copying my own choice of words. "With him?!"
I simply shrugged again. "I'm merely stating my wishes, not placing demands. I will do what I can to support your current student on her adventures. The truer to the course you set in motion we remain, the easier of a time I will have being one trot ahead of what comes. As such it's in my best interests to ensure time follows The Script, wouldn't you agree?"
Celestia seemed to reluctantly nod. "Who is the third?"
"Your student."
That, once again, seemed to catch the Day Princess off guard. "I was under the impression you already had made at least some headway in befriending Twilight Sparkle."
I laughed "I never said the student I was referring to was Twilight, Your Highness..."
