The Shadow of the Moon

The Shadow of the Moon

Act 1: Drifting

Chapter 11: Life is Cruel

I woke up slowly, my head pounding. Something soft was tickling my face.

“Uuggg, too much wine. Owww, thoughts too loud.”

I peep out from under one of my eyelids. Before me was a dark bedroom with small beams of autumn daylight peeping through the dark black curtains, shedding a soft light of the room. A crown sat unceremoniously on its side on her dresser and regal armor was strewn all over her floor. Suddenly, I realized I wasn’t alone as to the right of me I felt the bed stir and some of the left blankets left me.

Last night came rushing back to me, albeit a tad too quickly for my hung-over brain. The tip of her flowing mane touched my nose again, tickling it with its light touch. I turned my head to see the regal princess still fast asleep. I watched the calm rise and fall of her sides as she snored softly. The feathers of her visible wing were ruffled from last night and no doubt mine were too. I looked back at her peaceful face. She looked much more beautiful, more natural, without her regal armor plates and crown. I laid there and watched her sleeping form, and couldn’t help but smile and feel happy. This moment was perfect. It was wonderful. I hoped that it wouldn’t be the last one of its kind. In my euphoria, I slowly drifted back to sleep smiling.

Something warm and soft touched my lips. “Wake up Midnight,” a soft voice sang sweetly.

 I cracked an eye open to see Luna looking at me, innocently smiling. After last night, I knew she was far from it, but I didn’t care.

“No drill sergeant,” I grumbled and rolled over, trying to hide my grin, “Five more minutes.”

She pounced on me and turned me back over, “Uh-uh. I have to raise the moon and translate dead languages.” She gave me a passionate kiss. “You have to read reports, find out why our spies didn’t show, and find a mole.”

“Damn. I was hoping for maybe a round two,” I laughing.

“Mmmm. Maybe later,” she got off of me and walked out to her balcony to raise the moon. I rolled off the bed and stretched out my wings and legs. I looked out on the balcony and watched her will the moon into its place in the sky. “I have to say I enjoy watching the moon rise from this angle,” I comment after she finishes.

She arches her neck around to see me staring. She shakes her flanks a little before breaking out laughing as I nod my head appreciatively. She stops and walks into the bathroom. I hear the shower turn on. It was then that I truly realized how badly I had to go. I waited until I heard her in there for a few minutes before I walked in and Luna turned to see me through the frosted glass.

“Are you going to join me Midnight?” Luna asked suggestively.

“Only if you want me to,” I say while still heading to the toilet.

“I might be able to make some room for you,” she adds in a sultry voice.

I find the toilet and sigh with relief.

“I have to admit Midnight, despite it being a natural function and all; it is a bit of a turn off,” she says bluntly from the shower.

“Sorry,” I reply. “Hey Luna?”

“Yes?”

“Does that shower feel good?”

“Yes. Why?”

“It would be a shame if something were to change that, now wouldn’t it?”

Her voice picked up a slight sense of panic, “DON’T YOU DARE!”

I push the lever and the toilet flushes. I run in front of the shower door. She comes busted out of there all soaking wet. I grab her into a hug laughing, to keep her from hitting me.

“I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU DID THAT,” she cries out.

I kiss her gently from the base of her neck to just behind her ear.

“Fine, I forgive you,” she says, “Now can I please get back in the shower? It’s a little cold out here.”

I chuckle, “Only if I’m allowed to come with.”

Taking me by the hoof, she leads me into the shower, “It’s probably best I keep an eye on you if I want to take a shower.”

I just laugh.

About halfway through our ‘shower,’ we hear a knock on the door. We stop and go quiet.

“Princess Luna,” a castle staffpony calls out.

“Yes,” Luna replies from the shower.

“A delivery has arrived for you.”

“Oh, okay, leave it on my dresser,” she responds.

“Princess, your armor is all over the place, what happened last night?” Sounds of the plates being picked up were heard.

Luna facehoofed and whispered to me, “Sometimes, they are too helpful.” Speaking louder she calls out to the servant, “I was really tired last night from a meeting and just decided not to worry about it when I went to bed.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” The voice approached closer to the door and Luna and I looked at each other a little worried. The door began opening, “Do you need any help Prin-”

I saw the servants eyes visibly widen through the frosted glass.

“It’s good, I got covered,” I call out. Luna hits me in the ribs not too gently.

“Oh my, uhh, I’ll leave you be,” the startled pony backs out of the room, “I’m so sorry.”

We listen to the pony rush out of the room and her chamber doors slam shut.

Luna looks at me, “I guess I get less privacy than I thought I did.”

“Yeah, well, everypony is eager to please,” I comment and step out of the steamy shower.

Luna turns off the water and joins me. I help towel her off and she does the same for me.

“I’ll be out in a second,” Luna tells me.

I nod and leave the bathroom. I look at the package that cause all this and walk over to it, lifting the freezing package. “Luna, this package is suspicious,” I call out.

“Really, how so?” she asks.

“No return address is a good indicator and it has been frozen. It isn’t winter and it doesn’t appear to be a standard food package,” I explain, “I want you to stay in there where you should be safe just in case.”

“O-o-okay,” she replies and little shakily.

I paused, “Are you okay in there Luna?”

“Uh, yeah, just I little worried,” she says, “That’s all.”

I wasn’t totally convinced but I had a mysterious package that posed a larger problem. I look around and see a letter opener on her desk. I grab it and head back to the package. I cut through the tape and open the flaps very carefully. I wasn’t prepared for what I saw inside.

“Oh shit,” I exclaim.

“What is it,” Luna calls from the bathroom.

There’s knock on the chamber door.

“If the two of you are decent, I would like to enter,” I heard Celestia say.

I walk over and open the door, “We have a problem Princess.”

She stopped, “What larger problem?”

“You still haven’t told me what it is Midnight,” I hear Luna call.

“First come inside,” I tell Celestia and close the down behind her.

“What is it?” Celestia asks gravely.

“I think it best you see for yourself,” I point at the opened package.

Celestia walks over and peers inside, “Don’t tell me that’s what I think it is.”

“I wish I could,” I say solemnly.

“What is going on,” Luna calls from the bathroom, now sounding like she’s near hysterics.

“Princess, why don’t you go take of Luna, I don’t know what she’s up to. I will head down to LSTD headquarters and start preparations for the funerals and notifying the families,” I tell her.

“Sounds reasonable,” she agrees, “We will all talk later.”

“Yes Princess,” I said.

She walks into the bathroom and I grab the box containing two sets of eyes and a pair of mismatching cutie marks along with a note saying ‘I believe these are yours. You get the rest shortly’ written in blood.

As soon as I had finished being teleported into the LSTD headquarters I was pulled to Captain Dusker’s desk.

“Sir?” I ask when I get there.

“Ah, Lieutenant, we received two emergency packets from two of your field agents last night,” he said as he handed me two red envelopes.

“Has anypony opened them?” I ask while taking them.

“No, I felt that since they were your informants, it should be your responsibility,” he said solemnly.

“Thank you sir,” I said respectfully.

I walked back to my desk, heart heavy. It was good that the agents had managed to get the emergency packets sent, but receiving them was never a good sign. Agents would only send them once their cover had been blown and they wanted submit whatever evidence or information they had before they were caught. These magical envelopes would combust and deliver themselves, similar to mail by dragon’s fire, just minus the dragon.

I set the packets on my desk and walked to the room where my analysts were. Some looked up from their work when I walked in and saw that I wasn’t getting ready to say something good.

I clear my throat loudly and they all look up this time, “I have an announcement that I regret I have to make. Last night, we lost two of our own. Their packets came in last night and I received a package containing confirmation of their demise. I will get all of you the information they sent in, but I want all of you to know that this is no longer just a job. It is now a matter of ensuring that two of our own didn’t die in vain. I would also like to take this to remember them and to remind you all of the high stakes here.”

It faded away and the steady beep returned. Except this time, my chest felt wet and heard somepony sniffling. I open my eyes briefly and saw Luna sitting over me. I raise my head a little.

“Hey beautiful, why are you crying,” I manage to say before slumping and falling back into the abyss.