Author's Note

Okay, so a little bit more about Chaos is introduced in this installment, plus a bit about another villain named Crimson Moon. Also, I 100% plan on bringing back Lightning Dust, Crimson Moon, and Chaos in the main series (you might already sense the direction I want to go, even though I have yet to start writing the actual story.).

Prince Lightning Dust and Princess Lunar Sky

Prince Lightning Dust:

Prince Lightning Dust knew his reign as ruler of Illandra was about to end. He didn't want it to end. He desperately didn't want it to end. However, he knew that it would.

He'd been prince for barely over two years, so it was understandable why he thought he wasn't ready. All of the previous rulers had ruled for hundreds of years. Of course, none of the other rulers had faced Crimson Moon. He was powerful. And destructive. Very destructive. He'd nearly destroyed the whole world the last time he was free. The only reason he wasn't able to before was because Chaos alone knew the spell to stop him. Lightning Dust couldn't bring Chaos back, and even if he could, there was no way he would dare to try and bring Chaos back. Even Illandra, a natural born alicorn, even with the crown Lightning Dust now wore, even she had a tough time defeating him. Lightning Dust knew that there was no way he could stand a chance against him. Not that it mattered, since Chaos was no longer.

However, it seemed Crimson Moon had finally figured out that Chaos was no longer, and took the opportunity to wreak havoc. And there was no way to stop him. Well, there was one way. The only way Lightning Dust knew. Which is why he knew his time as prince was coming to an end.

Whenever a pony died, they would go to the Other Place. It was said to be a tranquil place, a place where a pony could be at peace for the rest of eternity. It was said to be like a pleasant dream. The thing was, between here and the Other Place, there was a place called Stasis. Many ponies described it as nothing, but that wasn't exactly a good description. It wasn't nothing, it was almost nothing. It was like being alone in a dark room. There was nothing to see, hear, taste, touch, or smell. But you were aware. You were aware that you were there, but there was nothing you could do about it.

That's the place he was going to send Crimson Moon. He would be trapped there forever, at least in theory. The only problem was that, when Lightning Dust cast the spell to trap Crimson Moon in the Stasis, he would be trapped there as well. He didn't look forward to being locked there forever, and especially didn't look forward to his only companion being Crimson Moon. But he knew it would be for the good of Illandra, so he would do it, in spite of the price.

He told his best friend, Lunar Sky, of his plan, and, as he expected, she didn't like it. She tried to tell him that there had to be another way, however, she knew he wouldn't be swayed from his decision. So after a quick ceremony in front of his most important staff, he crowned Lunar Sky the new ruler of Illandra, and went out to battle Crimson Moon. Lightning Dust stepped out of the castle to face him, knowing that that would likely be the last he saw his best friend.

It was a sad thought, but it was okay. He was protecting the land he loved. And just knowing that made him happy. But still, he knew he would be leaving Lunar Sky. The thought of leaving his best friend alone made him upset. Thinking that she might be sad made him upset. But she would get on. He knew she would. But he wouldn’t. He would be in Stasis alone. Well, not completely alone. He’d be stuck there with the one pony who caused it to happen, Crimson Moon.

Princess Lunar Sky:
Princess Lunar Sky thought about the moment every day. The moment when she just missed grabbing on to Lightning Dust's hoof as he and Crimson Moon disappeared into the abyss. The Stasis. It made her upset to think about how, if she just reached out a tiny bit farther, he might not be dead.

Well, dead was the wrong word. She knew he was certainly still alive. He might have even been thinking about her at that very moment. But he might as well have been dead. He was completely unreachable. Even if there was a way to reach him, she didn't know how. He didn't share the spell he used with anypony. He might actually have known a way for her to bring him back to Illandra, but didn't tell her for fear of bringing back Crimson Moon.

She constantly thought about how things could have gone different. Maybe if she protested harder to find a different way to stop Crimson Moon, or tried just a bit harder to help him, or just reached her hoof out a little bit farther to grab his, just one inch farther, he might have still been here. But, of course, that was all history now. What was done was done.

It did give her consolation that he left protecting Illandra. There were no victims during Crimson Moon’s brief return. Lightning Dust would have been ecstatic to hear that. He was probably happy to know he was leaving protecting Illandra. And if he was happy, she would have been happy.

Still, though, she knew that he was sad to leave. And she knew that because she was sad. Whenever she was upset, he would get upset. He was her best friend, and she loved him. She felt awful that he was gone, and knowing that he knew how his departure made her feel would make him feel bad, the thought of which only made her feel worse.

However, she knew she couldn’t stay preoccupied with Lightning Dust’s absence. He had crowned her the princess of Illandra. She had a continent to rule over, and a mess to clean up that Crimson Moon left behind. She had work to do. So after a day of grieving, she got to work doing the job he was counting on her to do. It made her feel better, taking care of her subjects. She knew it was what Lightning Dust would want her to do, and she knew he’d be happy to see what a job she was doing. But still, she missed her friend, and wished she could see him again.