The Alicorn Disabilityby TypewriterErrorChaptersHornsFreedPony?A Pony LeavesOutRuinsVictimInformationSleepHornsThis particular wing of the Canterlot Institution was housing at maximum capacity. "Maximum capacity" being a rather loose phrase that changed with ever new wave of patients needing a bed. All patients were sardined together with just enough space for a nurse to enter and check on each occupant. Occasionally help was needed to clear a few beds but such matters always went smoothly. Sacrifices were expected for the greater good of Equestria. Besides, ponies in this wing never belonged to anypony else. Luna’s body seized, waking her up. How long had the spell knocked her out? She looked up at the U-shaped rod holding a hospital curtain around her. How badly was she injured? The soft shuffling of others came from all directions. Where was she? She took a deep breath and looked down at herself. Why was she chained to her bed? “Nurse?” she called. After what seemed like a minute to her, the sound of hooves approached her bed. A white face under a strictly styled pink mane and crisp paper nurse’s hat pulled the curtain back far enough to address the alicorn. “Are you experiencing pain?” “No, I’m not. How long have I been in here?” “A few hours. You’re lucky we found you. Which hospital did you come from?” “I... didn’t come from a hospital...” the nurse frowned rudely. “I see! But what institution did you come from? You’re not from this area...” “ I didn’t come from an institution...” “Now my dear, it will not help anypony else or you to hide information from us. Now where...” “Is someone there?” a weak voice behind the nurse asked. The nurse turned around and pulled the other curtain back. She blocked the other patient from view and Luna concentrated on trying to summon magic to unlock the chains. She felt a sharp pain in her head but couldn’t reach her hoof to rub the base of her horn where the pain was worst. No magic came. Surely they hadn’t... “Mi Amore Cadenza, you shouldn’t be awake.” “I dreamed I was flying...” “A foolish dream. You know better than to dream that.” “I dreamed of a special somepony too... the same one again...” “You know that those dreams are impossible. Dream only of things which can be achieved.” “I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to...” “Go back to sleep now. I have other patients.” the earth pony quipped before stepping aside to redraw the curtain. Luna’s eyes snatched only a glimpse of her niece but even that glimpse was enough to stop her heart for a few moments. Cadence lay on her back, her skin taunt over her skeleton, and took deliberate, slow breaths. Her eyes were half closed and her beautiful mane was cut close to her head. Chains were attached to her hooves like Luna only her hooves were shaking. Her whole body was shaking. What caught Luna most though was that Cadence’s horn... had been filed down to about an inch. “Cadence!” Luna exclaimed before the curtain was drawn between them. “Shh!” the nurse said with a stern look and pulled the curtain back to shut Luna in. Luna stared at it as if she could see through it to the other alicorn. Her niece was on that hospital bed next to her... but why was she so different from the niece who had married Shining Armor only weeks ago? The nurse’s hoofsteps faded briskly and soon the only sound she could hear was Cadence’s labored breathing. A door closed in the distance. “Cadence!” Luna hissed. She heard a gasp. “We’re not supposed to talk...” the voice said so softly Luna barely caught it. “Why not?” “We need to sleep to stay alive.” “Yes, but, not all the time! Why are we chained to our beds?” “For our protection.” “Why is your horn filed off?” “For my protection.” “What!” “Yours is gone too... alicorn magic is unstable...” The door opened again, silencing Luna and her niece. Rapid hoofbeats approached but then passed Cadence and Luna, finally stopping a little ways away. “Now hold still, I’m measuring your horn.” the same nurse from before spoke. Luna couldn’t hear the response except for a faint murmuring. “Right, well we’ll have to take care of this. It’s grown too long again. We wouldn’t want you to hurt somepony now would we?” The response still wasn’t clear but it sounded a bit like panicked babbling. “No... trust me this is for your own good. You wouldn’t want to disobey now would you?” A single sob reached Luna’s ear. “Don’t worry, it will be over soon...” she soothed. The screaming penetrated her blood and halted its movement. She heard cries of pain as metal filed into enamel, snapping, breaking, grinding down. Tears flowed as she imagined herself in so much pain... he was screaming so earnestly... begging almost. Luna knew the scream would never leave her again no matter how much longer she lived. It echoed and built on itself but still seemed like a knife cutting into a thick slab of silence. It was so loud and easily conveyed the anguish of it’s creator. “STOP IT!” Luna shrieked suddenly. The door was opened a second later and the sound of hooves advanced towards her. “Stop it! What are you doing to him? Why are you doing this?” Luna cried out. Her curtain was magically yanked back by a rather sturdy looking male unicorn nurse and a female pegasus nurse who instantly jumped on top of Luna. “Quick! Before she starts biting!” she commanded. Luna saw a needle magically rise and then dive out of sight before a sharp pain entered her right hock. She cried out again. “Celestia! Sister! Sister! Where are you? Help me!” she managed to scream before intense exhaustion overtook her. She felt and saw the pegasus slide off of her and stand next to the bed. She and the unicorn looked at each other but Luna couldn’t read their faces... they were too fuzzy now. It was so hard not to blink... it was so easy to keep her eyes closed... Freed“LUNA! DON’T MOVE!” Celestia screamed at her, her pink eyes wide as the door Luna had entered in was blown off its hinges. Luna stood as still as possible and stared at the purple mare in the center of the room. Twilight Sparkle was immobile. Her eyes were white and glowing but she seemed frightened of herself. Celestia was barricaded behind a bookshelf as a miniature tornado picked up small objects and spun them around and around. Luna couldn’t help but panic. Why had her sister insisted on training Twilight to use more powerful spells? She was too young! The objects being picked up and thrown were becoming heavier in mass. The oak bookshelf Celestia hid behind was beginning to inch her up against the wall. “TWILIGHT!” Luna called over the sound of the vortex, “YOU HAVE TO STOP!” Celestia was against the wall, trying to get herself out from behind the bookshelf. Her struggling did nothing. Her eyes bugged out of her head then snapped closed as a loud crack came from a bone somewhere in her body. Luna turned back to Twilight. If magic could have stopped this Celestia would have done something already. She was gasping now as the bookshelf creaked. Luna charged. At first she wasn’t sure what woke her up. Then she felt the jolt of electricity jangle every nerve and muscle in her body. She panted as she felt her blood tingle and sting in her veins. The male nurse from before was back with a tray. He lifted his head and surveyed the pony below him contemptuously. “Good. You’re finally up.” he said and turned to the tray behind him. A few bottle of different sizes and shapes stood around a bowl with steam rising from it. Each bottle was quickly unstopped and mixed into to whatever was in the bowl. After all the stuff was added, a spoon went in to stir the contents before lifting a mouthful to the more than hesitant alicorn. “I am not eating th...” the spoon was shoved roughly into her mouth. It was oatmeal, yes, and she usually loved oatmeal, but whatever had been added to it tasted completely vile. Luna gagged. “No spitting it out!” “What is that?” she asked, her whole face contorted in disgust. “It doesn’t matter. You have to eat.” “I can feed myself if you unchain me...” she growled. “You know I can’t do that. You’re a danger to anypony around you when you’re free, including yourself.” he stated as he shoved another spoonful down her throat. “Why is my magic not working?” she asked rhetorically. “Alicorn magic never works. It’s too unstable. Now eat!” he commanded and forced her to take spoonful after spoonful until the bowl was empty. She choked and sputtered after every mouthful. It was bitter and too sweet at the same time. How was that even possible? “What’s going on here...” she groaned, her eyes beginning to spin in her head. “You’re unwell... go to sleep.” he commanded the moment before her head hit the pillow. Luna wanted more than anything to protest but she felt as if speaking would reacquaint herself with what had just been shoved into her muzzle. Her stomach was clenching and bubbling, not making her violently ill but steadily queasy. The worst kind of sick was a sick that dragged on. The unicorn left her, closing the curtain behind him. Luna wished for a distraction as the curtain slowly swished less and less until coming to a standstill. Her eyes followed the creases and folds of the curtain to the unevenly spaced rings that held the curtain to the dusty pole. She was able to reach the curtain and bumped it to space the rings more evenly. The curtain swung but the rings were still uneven. She batted at the curtain again and again. The curtain was yanked back by the familiar pink maned nurse who wore her usual glare. “What do you think you are doing?” “ Are you going to explain to me...” “You should know better why you’re here even if you’re retarded.” the matter-of-fact comment shocked her because it was so bluntly stated. Even if you’re retarded? “I’m not... If you explain it to me...” “Go back to bed. You’ll strain yourself and besides, I am very busy. Do not touch the curtains again. They are not your playthings.” And with a swish she pulled the curtain back in place. The rings were still uneven. Luna’s stomach gave another, much larger, twinge and she could help but groan. She vaguely wondered if it was the oatmeal itself or the chemicals added that were playing havoc with her system. Almost every part of her wanted to throw up while the other part of her wanted to faint. Her stomach cramped in waves which left her only small spaces of of time to try to fix the rings on the curtain before doubling up as much as the chains would allow her and whimpering like a puppy. Why was she caring so much about rings anyway? They could wait until she didn’t have to wonder if she was being ripped apart from the inside out. But they were uneven and it wouldn’t be hard to fix... if only she wasn’t chained. If only her stomach would stop cramping and groaning. If only the nurse had taken some time to make the rings even. Why was it so dusty? Was she going to be fed again? Was Cadence asleep right now? Where was Celestia? Who was doing this? What this her world? The ring holding up the curtain had some rust on it. She didn’t realize she was panting until the sound of hooves walking past her snapped her out of the rapid barrage of thoughts to realize another pony was gasping in a way that sounded like panic. A few sets of hooves passed by and stopped a little ways off from her, just within her earshot. “She’ll have to be put down.” a female voice said “Put down...” a younger, male voice asked. “It for her own good and the good of everypony else.” the first pony replied “But... why can’t we help her?” the second voice asked. “You’ve been through medical school. You know why.” a third voice, older and also male, stated rather brusquely. “I know... but... put her down?” “Yes...” the female said, “and I want you to do it.” “Are you sure that...” “You’ve taken care of her. It would be best if you did it.” the female said. The gasping grew to a gurgled, indecipherable noise that sounded like pleading. Luna’s stomach cramped again with sickness and anticipation. She groaned involuntarily. “Here you go... nice and easy.” the older male said. Luna could feel the whole ward listening as the gasping grew more pained. A choking breath. A strained release. Another choking breath. A sharp gasp and strangled scream. Silence. Every alicorn in the ward, Luna included, felt a powerful wrenching in their chest, pulling them upward in unison as the soul of the unfortunate alicorn left its body. A keen rose from all of them. One of their numbers was gone. An immortal had just been made to face mortality. Luna dropped back onto her pillow, exhausted from the outburst. She hadn’t experienced that sort of mourning since her own parents gave their lives before the founding of Equestria. Her head was beginning to throb along with her stomach and the urge to throw up. “The first is your hardest.” the female nurse comforted. “So that’s... that’s what making those noises?” “Yes. It’s them. Their disability connect them. They don’t like it when somepony is freed.” said the older male. “The more of them you free, the easier it gets.” the female stated as the three sets of hooves walked back towards the exit. The wailing began after the door snapped shut. Pony?There came the nurse to mess up the rings again. Luna lay still as she watched him pour the same liquids into her bowl of oatmeal. She didn’t even bother to physically struggle as he rhythmically spooned mouthfuls into her complaining stomach. She was used to this state of being semi-nauseated now. Thankfully the stomach pains and rings were enough to keep her from being bored out of her sanity. Only a few days had passed since the alicorn had been put down. If only the nurse would dust off the bar... “Your behaviour has improved greatly.” the unicorn remarked. Luna offered no response but her insides groaned due to something outside of the glop she was being fed. “You know... you have a pretty good life if you consider it...” he paused but avoided Luna’s glare, “You don’t have to do anything except lie around in bed all day and relax. You know you’ll always be provided for...” “Until they decide to put me down.” “Well, we can’t spend all our taxes on keeping you comfortable.” “You call this comfortable?" she wheezed, her eyelids at permenant half-mast, "I would gladly take your place any day.” “Well you can’t... you’re disabled.” "What do you mean disabled? You call me that but I wonder if you even know what it means." "Of course I do! Everypony grows up knowing that alicornism results in extreme weakness, a depressed immune system, and paralysis." “Why am I chained if I'm supposed to be so immobile?” “So you don’t hurt yourself.” “My fetlocks are bruised and bleeding... how am I not hurting myself?” “You’d do much worse if you were free...” he said and pushed the spoon into her mouth, “You know? You were doing so well today too.” “Stop...” Luna said and turned her face away before another spoonful of gloop could enter her muzzle. “Well, what is it, then? I don’t have all day.” Luna puzzled within herself and thought of which question to ask now that she had his attention. She turned to where she could see him out of the corner of her eye. Why had he allowed himself to stop this one time? “What if you’re wrong and I am not disabled?” she asked. He replied with a laugh. “But, I know you’re disabled. You’re alicorn, useless to society, unstable.” “Then why don’t you just put me down now?” “Well, the queen doesn’t allow it.” he said and forced the spoon into her muzzle again. she took the food and the chance while he was scooping another spoonful. “Why does she have you keep us alive then?” “Because... it’s merciful.” “How is it mercy...” The spoon interrupted her. “You’ve been thinking too much.” “What else do I have to occupy my time?” “Luna, stop it...” Cadence’s voice whispered from behind the nurse and the curtain. “You should listen to her...” “How is it mercy to keep us alive when only a few days ago one of you claimed it was better for us to be dead?” “You’re confusing yourself.” “You’re not answering...” a white aura appeared around her muzzle, forced it open and the nurse tipped the whole bowl of oatmeal into her throat gradually. When it was finally finished he forced her mouth closed. “Let me give you the only answer you need: the queen demands obedience. While we obey her we are provided for and taken care of... not abandoned as we were under Celestia. We obey her without question and everypony is taken care of. One alicorn trying to ask questions cannot change that. From now on I won’t answer any more of your questions.” he said and let go. “It doesn’t mean you won’t hear me though...” Luna said to his retreating tail. She glanced up at the rusting bar and nudged the curtain to straighten the rings. It always seemed that when they were finally straightened somepony would mistake her bed from another pony’s and mess them up or it would be time for her to be fed. Hopefully they would still feed her. “Why do you keep doing that?” Cadence asked from the next bed. “So now you’re talking to me?” “Do you really think you’re the first one to try to change them?” “Well it depends... what exactly is going on here?” “We’re disabled. We’re being kept here and away from everypony else.” “Don’t give me what they’ve been saying for who knows how long... what is really going on here? What dd he mean by being abandoned under Celestia?” Luna waited but no reply ever came despite repeated inquiries. After a few minutes of silence, following her last petition to her niece, she went back to putting the curtain right again. It would look much nicer if the rings were evenly spaced. It was only this one section that really needed it. The nurses had stopped scolding her for making noise. She never woke anypony up anyway. There was no harm in fixing a curtain. She gave it one last bat and smiled as the rings were evenly spaced. She leaned back into her pillow and tried to ignore the sound of gagging coming from farther down the room. If the nurses messed up her curtain again... Hooves calmly walked towards the sound and passed her bed. Luna breathed a sigh of relief when the curtain was untouched. The gagging grew more irritating by the moment. Why didn’t the nurse stop it? It sounded simple enough. It sounded as if the alicorn was merely choking on something. Another set of hooves entered and stopped as the first set approached. “I think we should put him down.” a female voice said, casually. “Is he sick?” another female voice asked, somewhat concerned. “Well he keeps choking and it’s disturbing the other patients.” “Since when did you start caring about the other patients?” “With the queen visiting next week we can’t have half of the ward cranky. We could lose our jobs.” “You also can't kill an alicorn just because he’s noisy.” “We’ll see about that...” the female nurse said before a set of hooves walked towards the exit. A voice sighed. “I’m telling you, it’s not necessary to kill a pony just because he irritates you...” the second female voice said, her voice unmoved from the previous spot. “The sooner you get rid of your archaic ideals the better. These are not ponies we’re taking care of. They’re alicorns. Yes, they were once called ponies but we have proved the facts to be otherwise. We only keep them here out of the queen’s mercy. That mercy is not something to betray... It would help you to remember that if you want to keep this job, Ms. Heartstrings.” A Pony LeavesLuna was certain she had never been this sick before in her life. The rings no longer mattered. Her stomach had taken over and demanded a cure to whatever was wrong with it. Her insides gnawed at themselves and groaned like the creaking of an old ship. She would be freezing one moment and then kicking her sheets off the next from the heat. Her sweat would become a welcome chill before it became a freezing nuisance. Feeding time was now welcomed though the nurse seemed somewhat put off by Luna’s stumbling inquiries. The male earth pony had been replaced by a female unicorn with a seafoam green coat. Luna had asked once where he went but the nurse never answered. She never spoke to Luna, just fed her the medicine in her oatmeal. Perhaps it was the oatmeal but her stomach seemed to calm whenever she was done. Cadence hadn’t spoken anything intelligible for weeks. Sometimes whimpers came from her direction with a few sobs mixed in, other times she would mumble... rapidly. No matter what Luna would say, Cadence no longer acknowledged her. About once a week another alicorn was “put down” and the room felt more spacious with another bed removed and the beds spaced evenly to make up the difference. Most of the time she just slept. Her horn was growing back again and she knew her filing was coming. She didn’t want to be awake for that. Everything was so loud. Why couldn’t they oil the doors? Their screech shot through Luna’s ears and sickened her even more. A cart rolled in as three sets of hooves entered the ward. The curtain moved again and the unicorn stood next to her bed. “Can’t they... oil that?” the nurse silently poured the medicine over her oatmeal, “Can they... my fever...” a cool hoof went to her forehead for a few moments, “Am I dying?” The nurse’s looked at her but turned back to the oatmeal. The other sets of hooves walked to a bed farther into the room. A mare spoke. “Thank you so much, Nurse Redheart. You have no idea what this will mean for my son.” “Not at all...” the head nurse said, “What color did you need again?” “Light green. He’ll be so happy to have his wings back.” “Of course. These alicorns have no need of them and they can serve a purpose by helping ponies who can still be healed.” Wings... “Oh, I agree! You’ve given my son’s life back. He won’t have to be different.” There was a sound of curtains. “Almost a perfect match?” “Oh yes! Now how do you take them off?” Take them off... “I’d rather not go into detail here. It’s painless. As you know, alicorns also lose their sense of pain when their magic interacts with their pegasus bloodline.” “It’s a shame... do you suppose unircorns...” she trailed off. Luna could see her nurse’s brow contract over honey-gold eyes. The spoon held in her aura crumpled as she looked in the direction of the voices. They were going to cut an alicorn's wings off... “I doubt it. Your son will have his wings by tonight.” “Thank you again.” the cheery pegasus quipped as she trotted towards the exit. The nurse’s eyes followed her with cold intensity. The pink mane of the head nurse soon entered Luna’s line of sight. “How is her fever?” she asked. “Still present.” the nurse said, magically fixing the spoon. “Yes, but has it progressed?” “Difficult to say unless we had a nurse on here at all times to measure her temperature.” “Staff is limited.” “I would be willing...” “No, Nurse Heartstrings. I would rather assign someone else.” “To do my job?” “Did I say that?” the pink-maned pony asked rhetorically. “I would prefer to stay with my current charge. I’m sick of watching ponies...” “What have I told you..?” “I’m sorry... alicorns... I’m sick of seeing them be put down.” “This is your job. You should be grateful.” “Grateful? Because I’m paid obscene amounts of money to keep quiet?” “Shush! You knew what was involved when you started.” “Do you ever listen listen to them howl when one of them dies? It’s enough to make you...” “I know..." she interrupted, "and sometimes... I just ask when...” the head nurse said, her eyes rooted to the bowl of oatmeal. “...Ma’am?” The head nurse paused before picking up the spoon in her small mouth and holding the handle out to the unicorn. The unicorn eventually took it with her aura and scooped some oatmeal up. Was Luna’s fever getting to her? Why would the head nurse... The spoon entered the mouth of the white earth pony and she convulsed, almost gagging on what she had just tasted. “Yes... Miss Heartstrings. Do what... you’re told.” she gasped out before shuddering again. Luna looked at the other nurse for... some sort of explanation... why would she...? Nurse Heartstrings sniffed. Her eyes seemed shinier. "You... didn't..." The head nurse turned around and walked away, slowly. She never appeared in the hospital again. Out“Princess Luna, wake up.” Luna rolled over on her side, her head was pounding and she had just fallen asleep. “Hurry up! We don’t have much time.” the voice was more urgent. “What is it?” Luna groaned, turning her face towards a vague sea foam shape, which was dressed in black instead of hospital whites. “We don’t have much time. Redheart is almost dead.” “What are you talking about?” “Not. Here.” Luna was suddenly aware that her leg was being unlocked and it was the last one. What was happening? “But, Cadence.” “We’ll come back later. I can only get you out now.” “She’ll be in trouble if I leave.” “Trust me. She has a very good reason for not leaving. Come on.” the nurse urged. Luna carefully stood on her four hooves. She hadn’t walked in months and her legs were sore just from standing. “Can you fly?” the unicorn asked. “I...I don’t know.” “Well, follow me...We just need to walk a couple of meters and then you can rest. Can you do that?” “I’ll try...” Luna said and forced her hooves to follow the unicorn. Luna tried to not make any noise as she walked towards the exit but her hooves were clumsy and felt like they were waking up after the circulation had been cut off. She was also growing more and more lightheaded with each step. Just a couple of meters... The doors whooshed open noiselessly. Somepony must have oiled them. There were so many questions longing to burst from Luna’s muzzle but she held them in as she followed the Nurse Heartstrings. She would ask them when she knew she was safe. Hopefully Luna would be all right. The unicorn stopped by a door marked “Custodial” and forced it open with her magic before beckoning Luna to go inside. Why was she being taken here? Luna soon found herself crowded with the unicorn, who locked the door behind them. “Now why...” “Shh... I need to find the gem.” “Gem?” a teal glow lit the closet as it’s owner ran her horn up and down Luna’s front leg. It stopped when a small kite shape lit beneath her skin on her fetlock. The nurse had a few choice words. Luna felt something tear the flesh in her leg and bit her lip to keep herself from screaming. Her hoof was bleeding profusely as a small crystal dropped out of her leg. “They track you that way.” “Nurse Heartstrings...” “Call my Lyra. I’m losing my title after this. Good riddance.” “Lyra...” “We can’t talk now. I need to get you out of here. Can you stand on your hoof?” Luna tested it and while her leg was in considerable pain she nodded. “All right then, follow me and let me know if it hurts too much.” “They’ll know what happened if we leave evidence...” “Good. They need to know. In fact, we need to leave a trail too, so I’m not wrapping your leg until we get to the forest.” “What?” “Ponies everywhere have immortality on demand and they still are scared of a bunch of trees and monsters...” Lyra mused to herself, “Come on. Follow me.” Luna followed her somewhat unsettling rescuer out of the custodial closet. Hopefully she could have some answers soon. Her fetlock stung every time she stepped but the pain kept her head from spinning nauseously. She almost missed the safety of her hospital bed and warm blanket. Being out in the open hospital sterility like this felt so cold. However, it was notable, if not odd, that guards were not patrolling heavily in the space between them and the exit. Lyra pushed open a heavy door and Luna stepped into the hospital lobby. The entire wall of the lobby facing the outside was glass. Thousands of glorious, beautiful stars welcomed Luna, calling her to be among them and take the moon on it’s nightly journey. How long had it been since the moon had risen? She eagerly followed Lyra to the door and the first burst of fresh air seemed to heal her. Her headache was still there but it lessened considerably as she closed her eyes for a moment and took a long breath of the outside air. Her legs were still clumsy and sore but being outside again seemed to help somehow. After her initial rapture, Luna observed her surroundings. There was a small market that was closed a few meters from the hospital. The whole atmosphere felt...eerie now that Luna was paying attention. How late was it anyway? Why weren’t more ponies out? Why had her escape been so easy? “Princess Luna, Can you conjure any magic at all?” Luna felt her horn on top of her head with her hoof and stumbled to her knees. “Nevermind then, in another week or two it should be back.” “Where is everypony?" Luna asked. “Hiding.” Lyra explained, helping Luna stand. “Why? What are they hiding from?” “They call her the pony with one wing. They’re terrified of her. Children are warned to look out for her and be good or else she’ll take them and eat them. Teenagers try to find her and are arrested for...some charge or another. Adults avoid her and pass on stories about how dangerous and evil she is.” “Really? They’re hiding in their houses because of a legend?” “Legend, myth, superstition...propaganda, all are powerful forms of control. However, tonight it finally works to our advantage. We have to keep moving.” “Why don’t you believe the stories?” Luna asked “I do believe the stories.” Lyra said after a pause, ”I know for a fact the pony with one wing exists. I’ve met her.” “Wait...so, who is she?” Lyra turned her head around with her mouth opened but closed it and grew pensive. “All I can say now is that she is Somepony who is still loyal to the time when you and your sister ruled Equestria, but is powerless to do anything. Princess Luna, I cannot urge enough how important it is for us to keep moving.” Ruins“We’re almost there. Keep close. You’re in no condition to defend yourself.” “You still haven’t answered my question." "Too risky here." "I’m pretty sure nopony is listening.” “You don’t need to know who she is yet. You’ll meet her in awhile. I just need to get you to the ruins.” “Why are we going to the ruins?” “Because that is where we are.” “Who is “we”?” “Those still loyal to you and your sister.” “Where is my sister?” “Starswirl’s beard, Princess Luna! I haven’t answered that question for the past few miles and I don’t intend to answer it now. How’s your hoof?” “Sore. But how long have I been gone?” Lyra groaned dramatically “I can’t just explain it to you. We’re almost there.” “This is not the way to the ruins, you know. Are you sure we’re not lost?” “This is a different set of ruins. It will make sense when we get there...oh finally.” Luna looked and saw white stars up ahead. They were approaching a clearing. The luminescent grey of the path widened outside the scattered line of trees. Luna could hear a waterfall to her right and left. Lyra stopped when they approached a stream that had no bridge. “Can you fly across?” “I don’t mind getting my hooves wet...” “It’s a lot deeper than you think. I don’t want you drowning or going over the waterfall.” “Lyra...the ruins didn’t have a waterfall. What ruins are these and why did I not know about them before?” A crack and a resounding thud silenced her as Lyra let a thick tree fall across the stream. Well, they now had a bridge. “Just cross with me. I’ll make sure you don’t fall.” Lyra grunted as she climbed into the wide log. She held a hoof out to Luna who gave her the injured one. The wound which had begun to heal opened and sent a new river of blood over her fetlock. Lyra had some choice words as soon as she pulled Luna onto the shaky log and noticed the blood covering their hooves. Once Luna was upright on the log the unicorn walked backwards and watched the alicorn’s shaky legs advance slowly. “If you need to stop, let me know.” she said more than once right before Luna usually paused to catch her breath and focus on other things outside of the pain in her hooves. After what seemed like an hour at least, Luna stumbled to the ground safely. Lyra stepped past her towards the log. “What are you...” A ray came from Lyra’s horn and within seconds the log was charcoal. Luna watched it sink into the stream and break up to float down the river. “Come on.” Lyra said as Luna looked out towards the cliff's edge a few yards away. “Lyra...I think...” Luna trailed off. “...There’s more ruins up ahead...” Lyra said, but Luna could tell her heart was not in it. Luna limped towards the pond at the base of a large waterfall which led to the stream they had just crossed. The foundation of the building which had once stood there was still present. Luna could almost picture the structure which rose from the crumbled, decaying stones. The once trim bushes and shrubs had grown wild to overtake what had been the entrance to a grand city. A turret roof sat on the ground, devoid of its color and pattern but still intact otherwise. Mountains rose in front of her as she gingerly stepped over the circle of wall that was still left. Lyra followed her quietly as she walked through the mountains by the tunnel cut for a railroad. The wood boards had rotted away who knows how long ago, leaving the iron rails. At the other end of the tunnel, Luna stopped as she saw a familiar sky where red was crawling over the horizon to announce the coming of the sun. She had never seen a sunset this way before. Her eyes watered as she looked around her at the ruins. It was Canterlot. The ruins were all of Canterlot, or what was left of it. The mountain looked as if the whole city had been chipped off to fall into the ravine below. Her home was gone. Could Twilight's spell have done all this? Could this really be... Was her home really gone? The streets where earth ponies and unicorns once walked, the houses ponies had lived in... Gone? Destroyed? “Lyra?” Luna saw the unicorn’s eyes clench shut. “Lyra, who did this? What happened here?” “What happened here?” Lyra breathed back, looking incredibly old, “I happened here. I, my friends, all the unicorns and earth ponies and pegasi who bothered to come. I was one of the first.” “You did this?” “We all did.” “But why? Why would you destroy Canterlot?” Lyra sat on a pile of rubble. “I was angry. We all were. Mob mentality. It’s a terrible thing to use, but, it’s also very effective. It only took us an hour to knock the alicorn oppression into the ravine.” “Alicorn Oppression...?” “Things changed, Princess Luna, after you and your sister left; especially after Princess Celestia left.” Every sentence seemed like a labor to the unicorn, but once it was said, it seemed to bring some relief. “Do you know how frightening it was for us to not see the moon rise? Can you imagine the panic we had when you and your sister were nowhere to be found? We begged for Cadence to take the throne but she didn’t want it. That’s when...that’s when somepony set out an alarm that Discord’s statue was gone. And everypony panicked. “Rumors were created and spread like adrenaline. It was Celestia’s fault. She must have killed you and run away with Discord, Nightmare Moon has returned, it’s the alicorns fault... Rumors were created that nopony would have started had they just thought things through and been patient. I was younger then, wanting to make a mark and a difference in the world... Mob mentality, I tell ya... “I was one of the first unicorns to help in destroying Canterlot. Most everypony saw what they had done and felt the thrill of the taboo, the challenge of authority, the thrill of self-rule...I felt disgusted. I never realize just how far I would go to prove myself... I helped create these ruins...” Lyra said, looking over the stones, which seemed to silence her for a long while. Luna lay on the grass with a headache. So many question still to answer. Now she had some new ones to worry about. Victim300 years. Luna had been gone for 300 years. For 300 years the ponies of Equestria had lived without the moon. Cadence has been a widow for over two centuries. The Elements of Laughter, Honesty, Kindness, Loyalty...they were gone. 300 years of alicorns being imprisoned for a nonexistent disability. Lyra left after telling her how she also had survived for 300 years. Who would have thought that alicorn horn could extend a lifetime? Their horns were filed off as a sort of medicine so more “worthy” ponies could live longer and younger. Yes, she was angry, furious. Taking wings from alicorns? That was normal and for their own good. Drugging alicorns? That was normal and for their own good. Isolating them? That was normal and for their own good. Imprisoning them? Harvesting organs from them? Experimenting on them? Using them as breeders when the alicorn horn made other ponies sterile? Removing their horns completely in an attempt to make an earth pony a unicorn? That was normal and for their own good. Lyra knew this wasn’t true but she kept doing it. She claimed she had to. According to Lyra, she suffered too and was a victim, just like Luna. She had to approve the torture of alicorns to live. So that she wouldn't be inconvenienced. Of course, the unicorn had claimed she did it so that she could rescue princess Luna later. Luna knew that she could never have supposed the Lunar princess would come back. So, while Luna appreciated being rescued, she would only be too glad to kill the sniveling martyrdom complex who called herself Lyra because “Nurse Heartstrings” wasn’t a title she could stand anymore. Luna stretched her wings as far as they would go. She still wasn’t stable enough to fly. The drugs were almost entirely out of her system. The headaches from the hospital had been from withdrawals. Every day she woke up feeling stronger. But not yet strong enough. “What are you doing?” A peach earth pony with hair in stripes of varied orange asked. She was probably the one who knew more about sneaking around than anypony else. “Stretching, Sugar ’n Cream. My wings hurt and stretching helps. What’s wrong?” “Oh...nothing. Lyra was just wondering.” Luna silently gritted her teeth. Lyra seemed to have an insatiable curiosity for Luna’s location whenever she couldn’t see her. “So, when is this supposed ‘one-winged pony’ supposed to show up?” “Lyra says soon.” “Have you ever seen her?” “No, not myself...well...” “Well, what?” “I...I mean I thought I saw her once...but I was six and six-year-olds always want to see things. You know how it is.” Luna nodded in response and walked along the edge of the pond. Sugar ‘n Cream followed her, uninvited. “Was that before or after you tried to be a unicorn?” Luna asked, turning to stare directly at the scar on the mare’s forehead. The earth pony backed up half a step. “Um...How does your horn feel?” she asked in return. “It’s better.” “It’s about the length of a normal unicorn’s horn. Can you do magic yet?” “I have not tested it much.” Luna lied. “Why don’t you test it now?” “No.” “Why not?” “Is magic some sort of morbid fascination with you?” Luna exploded, staring her down. Sugar ‘n Cream averted her eyes but Luna could see defiance. “What I did in the past...I didn’t know.” “Well forgive me then for not being willing to discuss my horn with you when you were so eager to steal the horn of another alicorn who most likely was put down afterwards...” “HEY! That is not fair! I didn’t know and when I found out...” “You didn’t want to know; did you?” Luna asked, condemningly. Sugar ‘n Cream clenched her jaw and glared openly at the alicorn. “Perhaps I had a reason.” “You can tell Lyra I’m not running away and she can stop worrying about me.” Luna said, turning back to the lake, "That's all." The earth pony trotted off, grumbling. Finally. Luna had heard enough from her over the past weeks. Her and the whole pack of rebels seemed to be nothing more than a bunch of squabbling fillies seeking to gain control of Equestria. Each one of them saw themselves as victims, cruelly coerced victims who were forced to treat alicorns as less than ponies. Who were forced to hack an alicorn's wings off if they lost their own or simply wanted an advantage... Despite this, Luna hung her head. Sugar ‘n Cream couldn’t be blamed too much. She wasn’t old enough to take alicorn horn yet. She had been fed lies her entire life and didn’t think she needed to question anything. Lyra, on the other hand, had no excuse. Lyra had seen Celestia... Where was her sister? Was it possible the sun rose without her? COuld she still be alive and did she know Luna was back? Or had she been a victim of a hospital too? The pony with one wing had to be dead if it was Rainbow Dash. She was only a story circulated now to keep ponies scared. Rainbow Dash was loyalty and she would have died centuries ago. Luna smiled to think that she wouldn't have gotten an alicorn's wings even though she loved to fly. Luna hoped...that even if she was gone she had died loyal. As for the other Elements of Harmony...they were useless unless Luna found her sister. But...could they really wield them again? Luna knelt next to the lake’s edge and dipped her front hooves into the rippling water. Her contact with the dark undulations sent out some smaller ripples which were soon evened out by the stronger current of the body of water rushing into the river to flow off a cliff. Things were so different now. Why were these rebels even taking her? They could have taken Cadence long ago. Was Luna perhaps a fresher catch to them? What was their approach anyway to this rebellion? Why had Nurse Redheart died? None of it made any sense. She had so little information and the information she did have just bothered her. Luna jumped when a burst of green appeared between her forelegs for a second. A scroll dropped there. Luna magically unsealed the dark wax and read the letter under the light of her aura. Dear Princess Luna, I’m coming to get you. Destroy this note after you get it. I’ll be there soon. The signature was an arch of four slits above one slit. Luna tried to examine the seal but the wax had crumbled too much to restore it. Wonderful...a vague note that wasn’t supposed to be seen. Luna took the note to the top of the waterfall and dropped it into the rush of water. This had better be worth it. Luna turned to find Sugar ‘n Cream standing directly behind her, doing nothing to conceal the panic in her eyes. “TRAITOR!” she hollered, running back towards the woods and the tunnel. She was sounding an alarm. An alarm for everypony in the rebellion to come and get her. She had to have enough magic to get across... She concentrated, closed her eyes and backed up to take a running leap. The river had grown by at least a yard since she had last seen it. Could she jump it and transport the rest of the way? She had to try. The rebels would kill her if they thought she would give away their position. She leapt into the air and focused on a spot of ground on the other side. Her magic held...then gave out like a snapped limb. The edge of the bank hit directly above her barrell. The current was so much stronger here than she thought. She should have moved downstream before jumping. The slippery grass revealed mud as she clawed with her hooves to pull herself up. The current was dragging her away and she couldn’t reach the bottom to push herself out. Her wings were wet and starting to push her, hoof by hoof, towards the waterfall’s edge. She dug her back hooves into the side of the riverbed and pushed herself up a little, but was now a couple of hooves from going over. The drumming of rebel hooves approached. The waterfall on her right, the rebels behind. Her hooves were slipping... A claw grabbed her mane when she turned to look towards where the waterfall disappeared while another claw grabbed her upper foreleg and pulled her out of the water onto the opposite side. She couldn’t clearly see the form that was her height but saw a flash of a fanged face as a teal aura shot between them. Lyra had just fired at her or the other figure but Luna didn’t want to stay to find out which of them was the intended target. She leapt away from the river’s bank and the cliff edge. Her lungs burned and her leg muscles protested as she followed the shape into the darkening night. The rebels who were unicorns could be heard transporting across the river and thundering after them. Luna’s hooves beat the grass beneath her. The figure spun around so suddenly Luna almost ran it over. “Keep running!” a male voice urged, “I’ll stop them. Keep going straight and I’ll catch up!” Luna nodded and took off, the wind of her retreat catching her short mane and tossing it behind her. A forest ahead was illuminated by a humongous green flash behind her. She stopped inside the edge of the woods, her head pounding due to its lack of oxygen. She took heaving breaths and looked to see ponies running around, trying to get the green fire out of their clothes, manes and tails. The fire illuminated a dragon leaping towards where Luna was on all fours. Could she really trust him? Well, he had attacked the rebels... When the dragon passed, calling for her to follow, she did. Hopefully she could still get out if things got worse. InformationThe grass tickled Luna’s muzzle as she took a few delicate mouthfuls. The muscles in her foreleg groaned as she stepped forward to take another nibble at a new section of tender blades. Spike had grabbed her a little too hard when he saved her from the river, but she would rather deal with bruises on her wings and foreleg than a crack in her skull and a snap in her neck. In the forest, Spike sat on the clearing’s edge and watched the dark blue of the sky dissolves into oranges and reds above him. The scent of leaves seasoned the morning’s breeze as the trees filtered it. The half-matured dragon had run almost all night, carrying her, but she saw no signs of fatigue as she studied him while chewing. The sound of the forest increased with the sun’s illumination. The wind ran through the grass and Spike stood up, turning to Luna with a good-natured smile. “Ready to go?” he asked her. She nodded and they both headed northeast at a leisurely pace. “Where are we going?” “I can’t talk about it until we get there. Just because we were safe last night doesn’t mean that spies aren’t surrounding us now.” he said with a glace at the branches above them. Luna looked up as well; the sky was calming down to light blue. “Do you have any idea why Lyra wanted me?” “I don’t know. I guess she was hoping you would help her overthrow the pegasi.” “Overthrow the pegasi? What are you talking about?” “What? Oh, that's right, you were gone. Well, after you and Twilight disappeared and Celestia . . . abandoned us,” he said with a cautious glance to the trees, “The pony tribes split apart again, each fighting to gain the rule over all three. For the past 75 years, the Pegasi have been in control. Lyra, of course, has been working to change that.” “Twilight disappeared?” “What?” “Twilight disappeared? When?” “She disappeared when you did. No pony has ever found her.” “Any idea what might have happened?” Spike raised his left arm in a shrug. “Honestly, everyone assumed she was dead. Although if your survived . . . who knows?” “Spike . . . she took care of you.” The dragon watched his claws as he continued to move forward at a slightly slower pace. “Yeah.” “Who took care of you after you found out she was gone?” The dragon gave the trees another cautious glance. “Not here. When we get in the open or when we get there I can explain it.” “I understand. So you said Lyra is trying to overthrow the pegasi?” “Yes.” “I see. I assume she wants unicorn rule, then?” “I would guess so. Although there are rumors that she’s gone a little kooky under the effects of alicorn horn.” “Does that happen?” “Not the horn itself, just growing older does it.” “You mean time perception?” “Exactly. You and I are able to handle it because our biology works that way so our perception of time stays the same for however long we live. With any other kind of pony though . . .” “Immortality comes at the price of sanity.” “Exactly. They perceve time going at a rate they can't keep up with mentally. They usually go insane after the first couple hundred years." “Now, what is this about Discord’s statue? Wasn’t he released?” “One of the last acts Celestia did was to imprison him again.” “By herself? And why?” “She must have used a different spell. Nopony can figure out how she did it, or why. Anyway, a couple of years ago it disappeared again.” “Do you have any—“ she stopped when he shook his head, almost as if to say again ‘not here.’ “How are you feeling by the way?” he asked. “Really sore. I shouldn’t have attempted to fly.” she said, stretching her shaking wings out before pulling them back in quickly before they cramped. “You’ll get there again someday.” he assured her. Luna gave him a quick smile that lingered after she turned to look towards the approaching edge of the forest. “Another question: the moon hasn’t risen in 300 years, right?” “Yes?” “Why don’t the unicorns just raise it?” Spike kept silent as they passed under the last few branches. He was scanning the trees again so Luna assumed he was intending on answering her once they had left the woods. After walking a little ways beyond the edge of trees, he turned to look behind them then brought his mouth close to Luna’s eager ear. “Something is blocking them.” “Spike, only one thing could block them—“ “Yes,” he said, a small smile curling behind his fangs, “That’s exactly it.” Luna walked silently next to him. Without any warning, Luna touched her right temple to Spike’s shoulder in a gesture of gratitude. “What was that for?” he asked. “Thank you.” “For what?” “It’s been a long time since someone has at least tried to answer my questions. I appreciate knowing what I’ve missed.” “No problem.” he said, the small smile returning to the corners of his mouth. He stopped suddenly and looked behind them again. “You hear something?” “No, just checking. This is a good spot.” he said, standing on his hind legs. Luna had to tilt her head back a little. He was as tall as her wingspan at least, she estimated. “A good spot for what?” “I’m going to transport us.” he said, examining the dried patch of grass. “How?” “You’re going to have to climb onto my arms first.” he said, holding them out like a shelf. She hesitated then climbed onto his arms. He stood upright with ease, as if she weighed nothing significant. “What are you going to do now?” “This is going to be fun . . .” he said before a small laugh. Before Luna could repeat her question, Spike leaned over her and blew fire at the small patch of grass they stood on. Instantly green flames sprang up. “Spike! What are you—?” she tried to ask before he leapt into the center of the flames. Luna closed her eyes and braced herself, but as soon as she felt the heat, she felt its absence. One eye opened slowly. They were in a cozy living room. Luna shakily crawled from Spike’s arms and glanced around. A pot sat on the cast iron wood stove between a velvet couch and matching armchair. A cherry table sat with an unfilled tea service resting on top, set for three. Almost every available wall space was lined in bookshelves holding books of all kinds: thin, thick, tall, short, some with visible titles and others where the title as almost faded off or had never been there. Any other blank space on the shelves was filled with framed photographs: a family portrait, a white stallion, the same fillies and colts in various stages of life, a rainbow of friends called the Elements of Harmony. Luna would have examined one of the group pictures a little more closely if she had not caught sight of another scene in the photograph behind it. A white stallion with hair different shades of blue stood in front of his new wife: a pink alicorn with yellow, purple, and pink hair. Another alicorn stood behind them. Celestia. Luna couldn’t help but take the photograph off the shelf and cradle it in her foreleg. Seeing Cadence like this again . . . She had missed the wedding due to some preparations she had been making for their honeymoon. A last-minute misunderstanding. It was hard for Luna to swallow now. “Princess Luna?” “I’m sorry, Spike. She’s . . . Cadence was at the hospital with me. She was in the bed next to mine.” Luna said before a quivering intake of air, “Her horn was filed off, her face was all sunken in, her mane was cut.” Luna paused to look over the happy scene, “Shining Armor is dead now, isn’t he?” “Yes, he was executed.” “Executed? Why?” Luna asked, looking up into the dragon’s face. “All members of the royal family were hunted down and murdered privately or executed publically. They caught him trying to sneak Cadence out of Equestria with their children.” Spike stopped as Luna gave another shaky gasp for air. She turned her face back to the photograph and Spike continued, “It was quick at least. I think his execution was part of what started the first war. The unicorns wanted to offer him amnesty. At the end of the day, the pegasi decided his execution and got the earth ponies on the Council to agree.” “How was it done?” “They beheaded him.” Luna nodded. Her cheeks were wet but she didn’t move to wipe them away. At least he died a dignified death. Luna looked up again at the picture that had stood before it. “They’re all dead now, aren’t they?” she asked, looking over the bright faces, “The Elements of Harmony?” “Not all of us.” a new voice assured softly. Luna jumped, dropping the picture as she turned to look at the new voice. A soft smile creased the white edges of blue eyes beneath a snow-white mane tied back in an elegant braid. On the pony’s throat lay a blue diamond in its gold necklace. Generosity. “Rarity?” The mare nodded. Spike exited through the doorway into what looked like the kitchen. The whisper of chopping soon came from within. “I was certain the reports had to be you, Princess Luna.” the mare said, giving a slow but graceful bow before rising with some difficulty, “It is so good to see you.” she said, advancing. “Rarity? How are you even—?” the elegant, subdued laughter cut her off. “That will require some explanation.” her eyes glanced at the dropped picture and a hint of sadness crept into her expression, “You more than welcome to keep that, if you wish. I will not be needing it much longer. As a matter of fact, you are welcome to any of the pictures you desire. My home is yours. Spike,” she turned to the kitchen. Spike poked his head out and she continued, “Could you please make us some cucumber sandwiches and bring the special tea tin out? You know which one, darling.” “Already on it, Rarity.” “Thank you.” she said with an affectionate smile. He nodded and disappeared again. Rarity turned to Luna, “Please come and sit with me, I’ll explain everything I can.” With a nod of her head her eyes sparkled warmly, “You are more than safe here.” Rarity took the armchair and Luna lay on the couch, leaving room for Spike, who entered with an elegant silver tray full of miniature sandwiches and a tin bearing the emblem of the royal family. As Rarity magically added tea leaves to the teapot, spike picked the kettle up from the stove and poured the steaming water into the pot. He chose to sit on a low bench that he pulled from behind the couch as Rarity poured the delicious-smelling tea out. “Now, Princess Luna,” Rarity said, setting the teapot down and passing a cup to her addressee magically, “Give me a question, and I will answer.” SleepLuna lifted her head and cleared her throat of tears. Where to start? “I . . . well, first of all: How are you still alive?” Rarity’s lips withdrew from her teacup. She shared a look with Spike and nodded. He rose and exited into the kitchen again. “Alicorn horn is barbaric. There are numerous ways to prolong a life unnaturally. Only one is not thoroughly disgusting.” “What way is that?” “To be immortal without taking something from another living creature requires a pony to be made an alicorn. Obviously, that was not an option for me.” Spike re-entered with a silver case, “It looks so clean, doesn’t it?” Spike opened the case to reveal a needle filled with red liquid. Rarity shook her head in disgust, “I would not have chosen to do it if I wasn’t the only pony available to remain until you returned. Thank you Spike.” “Do you need it yet?” “No.” Spike closed the box and placed it on the bench next to him. Rarity turned her gaze back to Luna, “I searched for every available option to keep me alive after my husband was murdered. Months of research led to month of experimentations. I would not have tried it,” she glanced at Spike who returned her look then stared at the floor again, “But I knew it was the best option.” “You didn’t even know if I was coming back.” “I had to keep hoping. I had to see if I could prolong my life enough to find out where you had gone to, or if you were alive. I had to hope that some day you would come back, or Twilight.” “What’s in the needle?” Rarity shifted and Luna heard a series of cracks to accompany her groans and movements. “Spike’s blood, mingled with my own.” “What?” “I understand your surprise. It’s barbaric, but less so than alicorn horn because alicorn horn doesn’t come from a willing donator!” Luna felt a surge of affection for the elderly unicorn. She wasn’t willing to be blinded by immortality to not consider the cost. Luna glanced at the photograph again. “What’s happened to the other Elements of Harmony? Besides you and Twilight, I mean.” Rarity finished her tea and, with an elegant clink, set the empty cup, spoon, and saucer on the table. A grandfather clock gave its deep chime from the kitchen and Spike reached for the case. “Not yet, Spike. I will tell you when the time is right.” Spike sighed and withdrew his claw. “After this question . . . then I’ll take it.” she said to Spike before turning her head towards Luna again, “As for the Elements of Harmony: It was Rainbow Dash who died first. You recall how she was,” Rarity said with a warm smile that wrinkled her eyes even more, “Always loyal, and always faithful. She defied the Queen’s annunciation. They tried to assassinate her. She ran. The Queen herself managed to hit her with some weapon called a rifle while she tried to fly away. Her right wing was blown off completely and she fell. For a while there was rumor that she was still alive, which was true. Applejack hid her at Sweet Apple Acres.” she gave a heavy sigh, “Or tried to, until Rainbow Dash disappeared. We would have attempted a search to find her, but we were under such scrutiny that it was best to let her go. Looking back, I believe she ran away to protect us. She moved from village to village. The warning for the pony with one wing became the frightened whisper between ponies, young and old. Then, they caught her.” “So they executed her?” “They didn’t have the patience to wait for a public execution. No, as soon as they found her, the Queen herself raised her rifle and . . .” Luna didn’t know what to say as Rarity stopped, her teeth chattered with her trembling. “Is she having a seizure?” Luna asked Spike. Spike removed the needle from the case and approached her. “I’m sorry, Rarity, you can’t finish this story when you’re this old.” he said and Luna watched the needle disappear into the white coat. The red liquid entered her arm and she went still. From where the needle entered, a wave of luster and youthful sheen went out, erasing wrinkles and restoring the shine of her coat. Her hair turned gray and then purple like an artist drawing a brush over canvas. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. “Thank you, Spike, Darling.” she said, gracefully touching her hoof to his arm. He patted it and then moved towards the kitchen. “Please, Princess Luna, forgive me. I wanted to show you what the injection looks like when it takes over.” “Of course. How long does an injection last?” “When I first started, an injection of that size could kill me. Now, I need it to get through a single day.” “Rarity . . . I’m so sorry.” “I had to stay. When Fluttershy . . . died I was needed to carry on in her stead.” “But, why?” Rarity stood up—the restoration of her youth was astounding—and walked to a thick volume on one of her shelves. Blue magic withdrew the book then floated it before the unicorn as she walked to deposit the tome in front of the princess, resting on its spine. The blue magic disappeared and the book fell open. The Elements. “You held on to them . . .” “I knew that, one day, they would mean something again.” Rarity said. Luna slid the photograph from where the cover of the book concealed it and rearranged it so she could see both. Twilight’s crown was missing, but the rest of theElements of Harmony remained here, preserved. “Rarity, this is perfect.” “It’s all I could do: guard the Elements. I had to keep them safe and away from that Queen.” Rarity shuddered. Her last word had been spat out. Tears brimmed her closed eyes as she turned her face away towards the chair. “Rarity, Tell me about the Queen, please. Who is she?” Rarity walked away from Luna. Every step shook. A few times the unicorn looked about ready to be sick. “She shot Rainbow Dash!" Rarity spat forcefully, "I was there. I watched her kill my friend. She’s a monster!” Luna’s legs uncurled and she crawled from the couch to stand next to Rarity. “I’m sorry that I’m crying, Princess.” Luna holding her close silenced her. For a while, subdued sniffing and sobs were muffled in Luna’s mane. Luna wanted to say something grand that would comfort her. Nothing seemed appropriate. After a few moments, Rarity withdrew and wiped her eyes. “Thank you, Princess Luna.” “Call me Luna, please. I’m your friend.” Rarity nodded with another small sniff before returning to her chair. “More tea?” She asked. “No, thank you. Could you tell me what happened to the others though?” “Certainly,” she sat in her chair, refilling her teacup, “After I told the rest of us of Rainbow Dash’s death, we went into hiding. I had gained favor with the Queen so I acted as a spy in the high court.” “How did you gain her favor?” “She was a new Queen in need of a wardrobe. I was the only one ‘willing’ to do the task. I despised every moment. Then again . . .without that I would never have married.” Her eyes fell for a moment, “Then again, perhaps he would still be alive.” she sniffed the thought back and continued, “We the Elements remained in hiding with Zecora. She later returned to her homeland and left us the hut. We should have moved. We should have found another place deeper inside the forest. They eventually found us. Fluttershy, Spike and I managed to escape with the Elements. Pinkie Pie and Applejack were declared. The newspaper announcing their executions also announced my husband’s. They never got our children though.” “What happened to your children?” Rarity’s mouth stayed closed but still twitched for a few moments until she controlled it enough to speak again. Luna waited. “I had to leave them. I left them with their godmother. They could still be alive, but I don’t know and I can’t. They’re better off . . . they’re better off not being my . . . not knowing me. They probably don't even know that they have another mother.” She closed her eyes tightly and a sharp, shuddering gasp came from her. Luna could see Rarity was attempting to hold it in. 300 years wasn’t enough to help her forget, “After . . .” Rarity began, forcing each word out, “Fluttershy and I escaped, she took over the care of the Elements. We moved further into the Everfree forest. After about 5 years we began to trust our safety and . . .” she couldn’t continue but Luna could see that she had to. Luna knelt in front of her and placed her forelegs over the arm of the chair. “Go ahead and tell me. I’m here. Don’t hold it in.” Rarity hugged the Princess’s head to her shoulder and continued with her voice in a strained staccato, “I didn’t even wait to see if she was dead when I heard them shooting. She was just going to get wood. It should have been me. I should have been out there. I should have gotten the wood for the stove. It should have been me! I just ran. I just ran away and transported away. I didn’t even try to help her.” Luna looked up when she felt Spike approach. Spike picked Rarity up and held her tightly, his eyes closed, his mouth a grim, determined line. Luna rubbed the space between her shoulder blades. “How could they shoot Fluttershy? She wouldn’t have hurt them! They never gave her chance!” Luna gently shushed her. “Rarity, you did the right thing.” “I abandoned them! All of them! They all died without me lifting a single hoof to help them! I should have turned the rifle on the queen and shot her impudent face off! Rainbow Dash watched me say nothing! Pinkie Pie and Applejack knew I ran away! They wanted us to move but I argued against it. I’m the reason they’re not here now.” “Rarity, they gave themselves up so we could escape—“ “They shouldn’t have needed to make that sacrifice! It was my fault!” “Rarity, they would understand if you could talk with them now.” Luna offered. “And my fillies? Would they understand?” “Would that change anything? You did what you did because you loved them.” “But I abandoned them too.” “Rarity,” Luna said urgently, “You couldn’t have kept both your children and the rest of the Elements alive. You shouldn’t have needed to make that choice, but you can’t go back now, no matter how much you wish, to change the past.” Luna withdrew her hoof and Spike braced Rarity against his body as her eyes rolled back and her entire form quivered violently. “This happens sometimes after the injection." Spike explained, "She gets into an emotional frenzy and then has a seizure. They’ve gotten more frequent lately.” “Perhaps it’s not just the injection.” Luna said gravely as Rarity’s body gave one last jerk then went limp. The unicorn groaned as all of her muscles relaxed. Her forelegs draped over Spike’s arms and he gently returned her to the chair. A few grey hairs had sneaked back into her mane and tail. “Thank you, Spike. I apologize, Luna. I don’t know what came over me.” “Don’t feel ashamed.” “I still know that I should have done more.” “Rarity, you did all you could. Don’t devalue what you’ve done.” “What else do you need to know?” she asked with a voice craving sleep. Luna thought about all the questions that needed answers still. One needed answering more than anything else. “How can I kill the Queen?” “Luna, don’t try to do it by yourself—“ “I won’t. Please tell me how to kill her.” “I would assume she could die like any pony might.” “What kind of pony is she?” “An Earth Pony I was told. I never saw her face. All I know is that she was very thin, almost like you, with long legs and long forelegs. I almost wonder if she was a Changeling.” “I see. Thank you, Rarity. You’ve given me a lot.” “Can I do anything else for you?” Luna leaned forward, over the arm of the chair and placed a kiss on the unicorn’s forehead. “Let yourself die. Don’t keep torturing yourself.” Rarity's eyes shone. “I’ve wanted to die so many times.” “Then let yourself die now. It’s like falling asleep. I’ve been in the dreams of so many who have died.” “What’s it like?” she asked, wistfully. Luna heard a gulp and glanced up at Spike. His eyes were filling with tears. “Death appears differently for certain ponies. For some, it is a dark hold that appears under you and you fall in. For others, it’s a doorway you open. It can also be a hill you have to walk over. Sometimes, it’s a particular spot somewhere that you can’t see but can feel. For others, it’s a pony they loved who has already died. As soon as they touch that pony, they walk away with them and never wake up out of the dream." Rarity blinked and tears crept out, unceremoniously. “Luna, can I die, please? Can you help me die tonight?” Luna nodded. Spike sniffed again and Rarity turned to him. “Spike, I’m sorry. I can’t keep—” He placed a digit of his claw over her lips. “Go ahead . . . I’m happy for you. I’ll be ok.” Rarity smiled and placed a small kiss on the hand that silenced her. “Well then,” she said, a great deal more cheerful, “How shall we spend our last few hours?”
HornsThis particular wing of the Canterlot Institution was housing at maximum capacity. "Maximum capacity" being a rather loose phrase that changed with ever new wave of patients needing a bed. All patients were sardined together with just enough space for a nurse to enter and check on each occupant. Occasionally help was needed to clear a few beds but such matters always went smoothly. Sacrifices were expected for the greater good of Equestria. Besides, ponies in this wing never belonged to anypony else. Luna’s body seized, waking her up. How long had the spell knocked her out? She looked up at the U-shaped rod holding a hospital curtain around her. How badly was she injured? The soft shuffling of others came from all directions. Where was she? She took a deep breath and looked down at herself. Why was she chained to her bed? “Nurse?” she called. After what seemed like a minute to her, the sound of hooves approached her bed. A white face under a strictly styled pink mane and crisp paper nurse’s hat pulled the curtain back far enough to address the alicorn. “Are you experiencing pain?” “No, I’m not. How long have I been in here?” “A few hours. You’re lucky we found you. Which hospital did you come from?” “I... didn’t come from a hospital...” the nurse frowned rudely. “I see! But what institution did you come from? You’re not from this area...” “ I didn’t come from an institution...” “Now my dear, it will not help anypony else or you to hide information from us. Now where...” “Is someone there?” a weak voice behind the nurse asked. The nurse turned around and pulled the other curtain back. She blocked the other patient from view and Luna concentrated on trying to summon magic to unlock the chains. She felt a sharp pain in her head but couldn’t reach her hoof to rub the base of her horn where the pain was worst. No magic came. Surely they hadn’t... “Mi Amore Cadenza, you shouldn’t be awake.” “I dreamed I was flying...” “A foolish dream. You know better than to dream that.” “I dreamed of a special somepony too... the same one again...” “You know that those dreams are impossible. Dream only of things which can be achieved.” “I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to...” “Go back to sleep now. I have other patients.” the earth pony quipped before stepping aside to redraw the curtain. Luna’s eyes snatched only a glimpse of her niece but even that glimpse was enough to stop her heart for a few moments. Cadence lay on her back, her skin taunt over her skeleton, and took deliberate, slow breaths. Her eyes were half closed and her beautiful mane was cut close to her head. Chains were attached to her hooves like Luna only her hooves were shaking. Her whole body was shaking. What caught Luna most though was that Cadence’s horn... had been filed down to about an inch. “Cadence!” Luna exclaimed before the curtain was drawn between them. “Shh!” the nurse said with a stern look and pulled the curtain back to shut Luna in. Luna stared at it as if she could see through it to the other alicorn. Her niece was on that hospital bed next to her... but why was she so different from the niece who had married Shining Armor only weeks ago? The nurse’s hoofsteps faded briskly and soon the only sound she could hear was Cadence’s labored breathing. A door closed in the distance. “Cadence!” Luna hissed. She heard a gasp. “We’re not supposed to talk...” the voice said so softly Luna barely caught it. “Why not?” “We need to sleep to stay alive.” “Yes, but, not all the time! Why are we chained to our beds?” “For our protection.” “Why is your horn filed off?” “For my protection.” “What!” “Yours is gone too... alicorn magic is unstable...” The door opened again, silencing Luna and her niece. Rapid hoofbeats approached but then passed Cadence and Luna, finally stopping a little ways away. “Now hold still, I’m measuring your horn.” the same nurse from before spoke. Luna couldn’t hear the response except for a faint murmuring. “Right, well we’ll have to take care of this. It’s grown too long again. We wouldn’t want you to hurt somepony now would we?” The response still wasn’t clear but it sounded a bit like panicked babbling. “No... trust me this is for your own good. You wouldn’t want to disobey now would you?” A single sob reached Luna’s ear. “Don’t worry, it will be over soon...” she soothed. The screaming penetrated her blood and halted its movement. She heard cries of pain as metal filed into enamel, snapping, breaking, grinding down. Tears flowed as she imagined herself in so much pain... he was screaming so earnestly... begging almost. Luna knew the scream would never leave her again no matter how much longer she lived. It echoed and built on itself but still seemed like a knife cutting into a thick slab of silence. It was so loud and easily conveyed the anguish of it’s creator. “STOP IT!” Luna shrieked suddenly. The door was opened a second later and the sound of hooves advanced towards her. “Stop it! What are you doing to him? Why are you doing this?” Luna cried out. Her curtain was magically yanked back by a rather sturdy looking male unicorn nurse and a female pegasus nurse who instantly jumped on top of Luna. “Quick! Before she starts biting!” she commanded. Luna saw a needle magically rise and then dive out of sight before a sharp pain entered her right hock. She cried out again. “Celestia! Sister! Sister! Where are you? Help me!” she managed to scream before intense exhaustion overtook her. She felt and saw the pegasus slide off of her and stand next to the bed. She and the unicorn looked at each other but Luna couldn’t read their faces... they were too fuzzy now. It was so hard not to blink... it was so easy to keep her eyes closed...
Freed“LUNA! DON’T MOVE!” Celestia screamed at her, her pink eyes wide as the door Luna had entered in was blown off its hinges. Luna stood as still as possible and stared at the purple mare in the center of the room. Twilight Sparkle was immobile. Her eyes were white and glowing but she seemed frightened of herself. Celestia was barricaded behind a bookshelf as a miniature tornado picked up small objects and spun them around and around. Luna couldn’t help but panic. Why had her sister insisted on training Twilight to use more powerful spells? She was too young! The objects being picked up and thrown were becoming heavier in mass. The oak bookshelf Celestia hid behind was beginning to inch her up against the wall. “TWILIGHT!” Luna called over the sound of the vortex, “YOU HAVE TO STOP!” Celestia was against the wall, trying to get herself out from behind the bookshelf. Her struggling did nothing. Her eyes bugged out of her head then snapped closed as a loud crack came from a bone somewhere in her body. Luna turned back to Twilight. If magic could have stopped this Celestia would have done something already. She was gasping now as the bookshelf creaked. Luna charged. At first she wasn’t sure what woke her up. Then she felt the jolt of electricity jangle every nerve and muscle in her body. She panted as she felt her blood tingle and sting in her veins. The male nurse from before was back with a tray. He lifted his head and surveyed the pony below him contemptuously. “Good. You’re finally up.” he said and turned to the tray behind him. A few bottle of different sizes and shapes stood around a bowl with steam rising from it. Each bottle was quickly unstopped and mixed into to whatever was in the bowl. After all the stuff was added, a spoon went in to stir the contents before lifting a mouthful to the more than hesitant alicorn. “I am not eating th...” the spoon was shoved roughly into her mouth. It was oatmeal, yes, and she usually loved oatmeal, but whatever had been added to it tasted completely vile. Luna gagged. “No spitting it out!” “What is that?” she asked, her whole face contorted in disgust. “It doesn’t matter. You have to eat.” “I can feed myself if you unchain me...” she growled. “You know I can’t do that. You’re a danger to anypony around you when you’re free, including yourself.” he stated as he shoved another spoonful down her throat. “Why is my magic not working?” she asked rhetorically. “Alicorn magic never works. It’s too unstable. Now eat!” he commanded and forced her to take spoonful after spoonful until the bowl was empty. She choked and sputtered after every mouthful. It was bitter and too sweet at the same time. How was that even possible? “What’s going on here...” she groaned, her eyes beginning to spin in her head. “You’re unwell... go to sleep.” he commanded the moment before her head hit the pillow. Luna wanted more than anything to protest but she felt as if speaking would reacquaint herself with what had just been shoved into her muzzle. Her stomach was clenching and bubbling, not making her violently ill but steadily queasy. The worst kind of sick was a sick that dragged on. The unicorn left her, closing the curtain behind him. Luna wished for a distraction as the curtain slowly swished less and less until coming to a standstill. Her eyes followed the creases and folds of the curtain to the unevenly spaced rings that held the curtain to the dusty pole. She was able to reach the curtain and bumped it to space the rings more evenly. The curtain swung but the rings were still uneven. She batted at the curtain again and again. The curtain was yanked back by the familiar pink maned nurse who wore her usual glare. “What do you think you are doing?” “ Are you going to explain to me...” “You should know better why you’re here even if you’re retarded.” the matter-of-fact comment shocked her because it was so bluntly stated. Even if you’re retarded? “I’m not... If you explain it to me...” “Go back to bed. You’ll strain yourself and besides, I am very busy. Do not touch the curtains again. They are not your playthings.” And with a swish she pulled the curtain back in place. The rings were still uneven. Luna’s stomach gave another, much larger, twinge and she could help but groan. She vaguely wondered if it was the oatmeal itself or the chemicals added that were playing havoc with her system. Almost every part of her wanted to throw up while the other part of her wanted to faint. Her stomach cramped in waves which left her only small spaces of of time to try to fix the rings on the curtain before doubling up as much as the chains would allow her and whimpering like a puppy. Why was she caring so much about rings anyway? They could wait until she didn’t have to wonder if she was being ripped apart from the inside out. But they were uneven and it wouldn’t be hard to fix... if only she wasn’t chained. If only her stomach would stop cramping and groaning. If only the nurse had taken some time to make the rings even. Why was it so dusty? Was she going to be fed again? Was Cadence asleep right now? Where was Celestia? Who was doing this? What this her world? The ring holding up the curtain had some rust on it. She didn’t realize she was panting until the sound of hooves walking past her snapped her out of the rapid barrage of thoughts to realize another pony was gasping in a way that sounded like panic. A few sets of hooves passed by and stopped a little ways off from her, just within her earshot. “She’ll have to be put down.” a female voice said “Put down...” a younger, male voice asked. “It for her own good and the good of everypony else.” the first pony replied “But... why can’t we help her?” the second voice asked. “You’ve been through medical school. You know why.” a third voice, older and also male, stated rather brusquely. “I know... but... put her down?” “Yes...” the female said, “and I want you to do it.” “Are you sure that...” “You’ve taken care of her. It would be best if you did it.” the female said. The gasping grew to a gurgled, indecipherable noise that sounded like pleading. Luna’s stomach cramped again with sickness and anticipation. She groaned involuntarily. “Here you go... nice and easy.” the older male said. Luna could feel the whole ward listening as the gasping grew more pained. A choking breath. A strained release. Another choking breath. A sharp gasp and strangled scream. Silence. Every alicorn in the ward, Luna included, felt a powerful wrenching in their chest, pulling them upward in unison as the soul of the unfortunate alicorn left its body. A keen rose from all of them. One of their numbers was gone. An immortal had just been made to face mortality. Luna dropped back onto her pillow, exhausted from the outburst. She hadn’t experienced that sort of mourning since her own parents gave their lives before the founding of Equestria. Her head was beginning to throb along with her stomach and the urge to throw up. “The first is your hardest.” the female nurse comforted. “So that’s... that’s what making those noises?” “Yes. It’s them. Their disability connect them. They don’t like it when somepony is freed.” said the older male. “The more of them you free, the easier it gets.” the female stated as the three sets of hooves walked back towards the exit. The wailing began after the door snapped shut.
Pony?There came the nurse to mess up the rings again. Luna lay still as she watched him pour the same liquids into her bowl of oatmeal. She didn’t even bother to physically struggle as he rhythmically spooned mouthfuls into her complaining stomach. She was used to this state of being semi-nauseated now. Thankfully the stomach pains and rings were enough to keep her from being bored out of her sanity. Only a few days had passed since the alicorn had been put down. If only the nurse would dust off the bar... “Your behaviour has improved greatly.” the unicorn remarked. Luna offered no response but her insides groaned due to something outside of the glop she was being fed. “You know... you have a pretty good life if you consider it...” he paused but avoided Luna’s glare, “You don’t have to do anything except lie around in bed all day and relax. You know you’ll always be provided for...” “Until they decide to put me down.” “Well, we can’t spend all our taxes on keeping you comfortable.” “You call this comfortable?" she wheezed, her eyelids at permenant half-mast, "I would gladly take your place any day.” “Well you can’t... you’re disabled.” "What do you mean disabled? You call me that but I wonder if you even know what it means." "Of course I do! Everypony grows up knowing that alicornism results in extreme weakness, a depressed immune system, and paralysis." “Why am I chained if I'm supposed to be so immobile?” “So you don’t hurt yourself.” “My fetlocks are bruised and bleeding... how am I not hurting myself?” “You’d do much worse if you were free...” he said and pushed the spoon into her mouth, “You know? You were doing so well today too.” “Stop...” Luna said and turned her face away before another spoonful of gloop could enter her muzzle. “Well, what is it, then? I don’t have all day.” Luna puzzled within herself and thought of which question to ask now that she had his attention. She turned to where she could see him out of the corner of her eye. Why had he allowed himself to stop this one time? “What if you’re wrong and I am not disabled?” she asked. He replied with a laugh. “But, I know you’re disabled. You’re alicorn, useless to society, unstable.” “Then why don’t you just put me down now?” “Well, the queen doesn’t allow it.” he said and forced the spoon into her muzzle again. she took the food and the chance while he was scooping another spoonful. “Why does she have you keep us alive then?” “Because... it’s merciful.” “How is it mercy...” The spoon interrupted her. “You’ve been thinking too much.” “What else do I have to occupy my time?” “Luna, stop it...” Cadence’s voice whispered from behind the nurse and the curtain. “You should listen to her...” “How is it mercy to keep us alive when only a few days ago one of you claimed it was better for us to be dead?” “You’re confusing yourself.” “You’re not answering...” a white aura appeared around her muzzle, forced it open and the nurse tipped the whole bowl of oatmeal into her throat gradually. When it was finally finished he forced her mouth closed. “Let me give you the only answer you need: the queen demands obedience. While we obey her we are provided for and taken care of... not abandoned as we were under Celestia. We obey her without question and everypony is taken care of. One alicorn trying to ask questions cannot change that. From now on I won’t answer any more of your questions.” he said and let go. “It doesn’t mean you won’t hear me though...” Luna said to his retreating tail. She glanced up at the rusting bar and nudged the curtain to straighten the rings. It always seemed that when they were finally straightened somepony would mistake her bed from another pony’s and mess them up or it would be time for her to be fed. Hopefully they would still feed her. “Why do you keep doing that?” Cadence asked from the next bed. “So now you’re talking to me?” “Do you really think you’re the first one to try to change them?” “Well it depends... what exactly is going on here?” “We’re disabled. We’re being kept here and away from everypony else.” “Don’t give me what they’ve been saying for who knows how long... what is really going on here? What dd he mean by being abandoned under Celestia?” Luna waited but no reply ever came despite repeated inquiries. After a few minutes of silence, following her last petition to her niece, she went back to putting the curtain right again. It would look much nicer if the rings were evenly spaced. It was only this one section that really needed it. The nurses had stopped scolding her for making noise. She never woke anypony up anyway. There was no harm in fixing a curtain. She gave it one last bat and smiled as the rings were evenly spaced. She leaned back into her pillow and tried to ignore the sound of gagging coming from farther down the room. If the nurses messed up her curtain again... Hooves calmly walked towards the sound and passed her bed. Luna breathed a sigh of relief when the curtain was untouched. The gagging grew more irritating by the moment. Why didn’t the nurse stop it? It sounded simple enough. It sounded as if the alicorn was merely choking on something. Another set of hooves entered and stopped as the first set approached. “I think we should put him down.” a female voice said, casually. “Is he sick?” another female voice asked, somewhat concerned. “Well he keeps choking and it’s disturbing the other patients.” “Since when did you start caring about the other patients?” “With the queen visiting next week we can’t have half of the ward cranky. We could lose our jobs.” “You also can't kill an alicorn just because he’s noisy.” “We’ll see about that...” the female nurse said before a set of hooves walked towards the exit. A voice sighed. “I’m telling you, it’s not necessary to kill a pony just because he irritates you...” the second female voice said, her voice unmoved from the previous spot. “The sooner you get rid of your archaic ideals the better. These are not ponies we’re taking care of. They’re alicorns. Yes, they were once called ponies but we have proved the facts to be otherwise. We only keep them here out of the queen’s mercy. That mercy is not something to betray... It would help you to remember that if you want to keep this job, Ms. Heartstrings.”
A Pony LeavesLuna was certain she had never been this sick before in her life. The rings no longer mattered. Her stomach had taken over and demanded a cure to whatever was wrong with it. Her insides gnawed at themselves and groaned like the creaking of an old ship. She would be freezing one moment and then kicking her sheets off the next from the heat. Her sweat would become a welcome chill before it became a freezing nuisance. Feeding time was now welcomed though the nurse seemed somewhat put off by Luna’s stumbling inquiries. The male earth pony had been replaced by a female unicorn with a seafoam green coat. Luna had asked once where he went but the nurse never answered. She never spoke to Luna, just fed her the medicine in her oatmeal. Perhaps it was the oatmeal but her stomach seemed to calm whenever she was done. Cadence hadn’t spoken anything intelligible for weeks. Sometimes whimpers came from her direction with a few sobs mixed in, other times she would mumble... rapidly. No matter what Luna would say, Cadence no longer acknowledged her. About once a week another alicorn was “put down” and the room felt more spacious with another bed removed and the beds spaced evenly to make up the difference. Most of the time she just slept. Her horn was growing back again and she knew her filing was coming. She didn’t want to be awake for that. Everything was so loud. Why couldn’t they oil the doors? Their screech shot through Luna’s ears and sickened her even more. A cart rolled in as three sets of hooves entered the ward. The curtain moved again and the unicorn stood next to her bed. “Can’t they... oil that?” the nurse silently poured the medicine over her oatmeal, “Can they... my fever...” a cool hoof went to her forehead for a few moments, “Am I dying?” The nurse’s looked at her but turned back to the oatmeal. The other sets of hooves walked to a bed farther into the room. A mare spoke. “Thank you so much, Nurse Redheart. You have no idea what this will mean for my son.” “Not at all...” the head nurse said, “What color did you need again?” “Light green. He’ll be so happy to have his wings back.” “Of course. These alicorns have no need of them and they can serve a purpose by helping ponies who can still be healed.” Wings... “Oh, I agree! You’ve given my son’s life back. He won’t have to be different.” There was a sound of curtains. “Almost a perfect match?” “Oh yes! Now how do you take them off?” Take them off... “I’d rather not go into detail here. It’s painless. As you know, alicorns also lose their sense of pain when their magic interacts with their pegasus bloodline.” “It’s a shame... do you suppose unircorns...” she trailed off. Luna could see her nurse’s brow contract over honey-gold eyes. The spoon held in her aura crumpled as she looked in the direction of the voices. They were going to cut an alicorn's wings off... “I doubt it. Your son will have his wings by tonight.” “Thank you again.” the cheery pegasus quipped as she trotted towards the exit. The nurse’s eyes followed her with cold intensity. The pink mane of the head nurse soon entered Luna’s line of sight. “How is her fever?” she asked. “Still present.” the nurse said, magically fixing the spoon. “Yes, but has it progressed?” “Difficult to say unless we had a nurse on here at all times to measure her temperature.” “Staff is limited.” “I would be willing...” “No, Nurse Heartstrings. I would rather assign someone else.” “To do my job?” “Did I say that?” the pink-maned pony asked rhetorically. “I would prefer to stay with my current charge. I’m sick of watching ponies...” “What have I told you..?” “I’m sorry... alicorns... I’m sick of seeing them be put down.” “This is your job. You should be grateful.” “Grateful? Because I’m paid obscene amounts of money to keep quiet?” “Shush! You knew what was involved when you started.” “Do you ever listen listen to them howl when one of them dies? It’s enough to make you...” “I know..." she interrupted, "and sometimes... I just ask when...” the head nurse said, her eyes rooted to the bowl of oatmeal. “...Ma’am?” The head nurse paused before picking up the spoon in her small mouth and holding the handle out to the unicorn. The unicorn eventually took it with her aura and scooped some oatmeal up. Was Luna’s fever getting to her? Why would the head nurse... The spoon entered the mouth of the white earth pony and she convulsed, almost gagging on what she had just tasted. “Yes... Miss Heartstrings. Do what... you’re told.” she gasped out before shuddering again. Luna looked at the other nurse for... some sort of explanation... why would she...? Nurse Heartstrings sniffed. Her eyes seemed shinier. "You... didn't..." The head nurse turned around and walked away, slowly. She never appeared in the hospital again.
Out“Princess Luna, wake up.” Luna rolled over on her side, her head was pounding and she had just fallen asleep. “Hurry up! We don’t have much time.” the voice was more urgent. “What is it?” Luna groaned, turning her face towards a vague sea foam shape, which was dressed in black instead of hospital whites. “We don’t have much time. Redheart is almost dead.” “What are you talking about?” “Not. Here.” Luna was suddenly aware that her leg was being unlocked and it was the last one. What was happening? “But, Cadence.” “We’ll come back later. I can only get you out now.” “She’ll be in trouble if I leave.” “Trust me. She has a very good reason for not leaving. Come on.” the nurse urged. Luna carefully stood on her four hooves. She hadn’t walked in months and her legs were sore just from standing. “Can you fly?” the unicorn asked. “I...I don’t know.” “Well, follow me...We just need to walk a couple of meters and then you can rest. Can you do that?” “I’ll try...” Luna said and forced her hooves to follow the unicorn. Luna tried to not make any noise as she walked towards the exit but her hooves were clumsy and felt like they were waking up after the circulation had been cut off. She was also growing more and more lightheaded with each step. Just a couple of meters... The doors whooshed open noiselessly. Somepony must have oiled them. There were so many questions longing to burst from Luna’s muzzle but she held them in as she followed the Nurse Heartstrings. She would ask them when she knew she was safe. Hopefully Luna would be all right. The unicorn stopped by a door marked “Custodial” and forced it open with her magic before beckoning Luna to go inside. Why was she being taken here? Luna soon found herself crowded with the unicorn, who locked the door behind them. “Now why...” “Shh... I need to find the gem.” “Gem?” a teal glow lit the closet as it’s owner ran her horn up and down Luna’s front leg. It stopped when a small kite shape lit beneath her skin on her fetlock. The nurse had a few choice words. Luna felt something tear the flesh in her leg and bit her lip to keep herself from screaming. Her hoof was bleeding profusely as a small crystal dropped out of her leg. “They track you that way.” “Nurse Heartstrings...” “Call my Lyra. I’m losing my title after this. Good riddance.” “Lyra...” “We can’t talk now. I need to get you out of here. Can you stand on your hoof?” Luna tested it and while her leg was in considerable pain she nodded. “All right then, follow me and let me know if it hurts too much.” “They’ll know what happened if we leave evidence...” “Good. They need to know. In fact, we need to leave a trail too, so I’m not wrapping your leg until we get to the forest.” “What?” “Ponies everywhere have immortality on demand and they still are scared of a bunch of trees and monsters...” Lyra mused to herself, “Come on. Follow me.” Luna followed her somewhat unsettling rescuer out of the custodial closet. Hopefully she could have some answers soon. Her fetlock stung every time she stepped but the pain kept her head from spinning nauseously. She almost missed the safety of her hospital bed and warm blanket. Being out in the open hospital sterility like this felt so cold. However, it was notable, if not odd, that guards were not patrolling heavily in the space between them and the exit. Lyra pushed open a heavy door and Luna stepped into the hospital lobby. The entire wall of the lobby facing the outside was glass. Thousands of glorious, beautiful stars welcomed Luna, calling her to be among them and take the moon on it’s nightly journey. How long had it been since the moon had risen? She eagerly followed Lyra to the door and the first burst of fresh air seemed to heal her. Her headache was still there but it lessened considerably as she closed her eyes for a moment and took a long breath of the outside air. Her legs were still clumsy and sore but being outside again seemed to help somehow. After her initial rapture, Luna observed her surroundings. There was a small market that was closed a few meters from the hospital. The whole atmosphere felt...eerie now that Luna was paying attention. How late was it anyway? Why weren’t more ponies out? Why had her escape been so easy? “Princess Luna, Can you conjure any magic at all?” Luna felt her horn on top of her head with her hoof and stumbled to her knees. “Nevermind then, in another week or two it should be back.” “Where is everypony?" Luna asked. “Hiding.” Lyra explained, helping Luna stand. “Why? What are they hiding from?” “They call her the pony with one wing. They’re terrified of her. Children are warned to look out for her and be good or else she’ll take them and eat them. Teenagers try to find her and are arrested for...some charge or another. Adults avoid her and pass on stories about how dangerous and evil she is.” “Really? They’re hiding in their houses because of a legend?” “Legend, myth, superstition...propaganda, all are powerful forms of control. However, tonight it finally works to our advantage. We have to keep moving.” “Why don’t you believe the stories?” Luna asked “I do believe the stories.” Lyra said after a pause, ”I know for a fact the pony with one wing exists. I’ve met her.” “Wait...so, who is she?” Lyra turned her head around with her mouth opened but closed it and grew pensive. “All I can say now is that she is Somepony who is still loyal to the time when you and your sister ruled Equestria, but is powerless to do anything. Princess Luna, I cannot urge enough how important it is for us to keep moving.”
Ruins“We’re almost there. Keep close. You’re in no condition to defend yourself.” “You still haven’t answered my question." "Too risky here." "I’m pretty sure nopony is listening.” “You don’t need to know who she is yet. You’ll meet her in awhile. I just need to get you to the ruins.” “Why are we going to the ruins?” “Because that is where we are.” “Who is “we”?” “Those still loyal to you and your sister.” “Where is my sister?” “Starswirl’s beard, Princess Luna! I haven’t answered that question for the past few miles and I don’t intend to answer it now. How’s your hoof?” “Sore. But how long have I been gone?” Lyra groaned dramatically “I can’t just explain it to you. We’re almost there.” “This is not the way to the ruins, you know. Are you sure we’re not lost?” “This is a different set of ruins. It will make sense when we get there...oh finally.” Luna looked and saw white stars up ahead. They were approaching a clearing. The luminescent grey of the path widened outside the scattered line of trees. Luna could hear a waterfall to her right and left. Lyra stopped when they approached a stream that had no bridge. “Can you fly across?” “I don’t mind getting my hooves wet...” “It’s a lot deeper than you think. I don’t want you drowning or going over the waterfall.” “Lyra...the ruins didn’t have a waterfall. What ruins are these and why did I not know about them before?” A crack and a resounding thud silenced her as Lyra let a thick tree fall across the stream. Well, they now had a bridge. “Just cross with me. I’ll make sure you don’t fall.” Lyra grunted as she climbed into the wide log. She held a hoof out to Luna who gave her the injured one. The wound which had begun to heal opened and sent a new river of blood over her fetlock. Lyra had some choice words as soon as she pulled Luna onto the shaky log and noticed the blood covering their hooves. Once Luna was upright on the log the unicorn walked backwards and watched the alicorn’s shaky legs advance slowly. “If you need to stop, let me know.” she said more than once right before Luna usually paused to catch her breath and focus on other things outside of the pain in her hooves. After what seemed like an hour at least, Luna stumbled to the ground safely. Lyra stepped past her towards the log. “What are you...” A ray came from Lyra’s horn and within seconds the log was charcoal. Luna watched it sink into the stream and break up to float down the river. “Come on.” Lyra said as Luna looked out towards the cliff's edge a few yards away. “Lyra...I think...” Luna trailed off. “...There’s more ruins up ahead...” Lyra said, but Luna could tell her heart was not in it. Luna limped towards the pond at the base of a large waterfall which led to the stream they had just crossed. The foundation of the building which had once stood there was still present. Luna could almost picture the structure which rose from the crumbled, decaying stones. The once trim bushes and shrubs had grown wild to overtake what had been the entrance to a grand city. A turret roof sat on the ground, devoid of its color and pattern but still intact otherwise. Mountains rose in front of her as she gingerly stepped over the circle of wall that was still left. Lyra followed her quietly as she walked through the mountains by the tunnel cut for a railroad. The wood boards had rotted away who knows how long ago, leaving the iron rails. At the other end of the tunnel, Luna stopped as she saw a familiar sky where red was crawling over the horizon to announce the coming of the sun. She had never seen a sunset this way before. Her eyes watered as she looked around her at the ruins. It was Canterlot. The ruins were all of Canterlot, or what was left of it. The mountain looked as if the whole city had been chipped off to fall into the ravine below. Her home was gone. Could Twilight's spell have done all this? Could this really be... Was her home really gone? The streets where earth ponies and unicorns once walked, the houses ponies had lived in... Gone? Destroyed? “Lyra?” Luna saw the unicorn’s eyes clench shut. “Lyra, who did this? What happened here?” “What happened here?” Lyra breathed back, looking incredibly old, “I happened here. I, my friends, all the unicorns and earth ponies and pegasi who bothered to come. I was one of the first.” “You did this?” “We all did.” “But why? Why would you destroy Canterlot?” Lyra sat on a pile of rubble. “I was angry. We all were. Mob mentality. It’s a terrible thing to use, but, it’s also very effective. It only took us an hour to knock the alicorn oppression into the ravine.” “Alicorn Oppression...?” “Things changed, Princess Luna, after you and your sister left; especially after Princess Celestia left.” Every sentence seemed like a labor to the unicorn, but once it was said, it seemed to bring some relief. “Do you know how frightening it was for us to not see the moon rise? Can you imagine the panic we had when you and your sister were nowhere to be found? We begged for Cadence to take the throne but she didn’t want it. That’s when...that’s when somepony set out an alarm that Discord’s statue was gone. And everypony panicked. “Rumors were created and spread like adrenaline. It was Celestia’s fault. She must have killed you and run away with Discord, Nightmare Moon has returned, it’s the alicorns fault... Rumors were created that nopony would have started had they just thought things through and been patient. I was younger then, wanting to make a mark and a difference in the world... Mob mentality, I tell ya... “I was one of the first unicorns to help in destroying Canterlot. Most everypony saw what they had done and felt the thrill of the taboo, the challenge of authority, the thrill of self-rule...I felt disgusted. I never realize just how far I would go to prove myself... I helped create these ruins...” Lyra said, looking over the stones, which seemed to silence her for a long while. Luna lay on the grass with a headache. So many question still to answer. Now she had some new ones to worry about.
Victim300 years. Luna had been gone for 300 years. For 300 years the ponies of Equestria had lived without the moon. Cadence has been a widow for over two centuries. The Elements of Laughter, Honesty, Kindness, Loyalty...they were gone. 300 years of alicorns being imprisoned for a nonexistent disability. Lyra left after telling her how she also had survived for 300 years. Who would have thought that alicorn horn could extend a lifetime? Their horns were filed off as a sort of medicine so more “worthy” ponies could live longer and younger. Yes, she was angry, furious. Taking wings from alicorns? That was normal and for their own good. Drugging alicorns? That was normal and for their own good. Isolating them? That was normal and for their own good. Imprisoning them? Harvesting organs from them? Experimenting on them? Using them as breeders when the alicorn horn made other ponies sterile? Removing their horns completely in an attempt to make an earth pony a unicorn? That was normal and for their own good. Lyra knew this wasn’t true but she kept doing it. She claimed she had to. According to Lyra, she suffered too and was a victim, just like Luna. She had to approve the torture of alicorns to live. So that she wouldn't be inconvenienced. Of course, the unicorn had claimed she did it so that she could rescue princess Luna later. Luna knew that she could never have supposed the Lunar princess would come back. So, while Luna appreciated being rescued, she would only be too glad to kill the sniveling martyrdom complex who called herself Lyra because “Nurse Heartstrings” wasn’t a title she could stand anymore. Luna stretched her wings as far as they would go. She still wasn’t stable enough to fly. The drugs were almost entirely out of her system. The headaches from the hospital had been from withdrawals. Every day she woke up feeling stronger. But not yet strong enough. “What are you doing?” A peach earth pony with hair in stripes of varied orange asked. She was probably the one who knew more about sneaking around than anypony else. “Stretching, Sugar ’n Cream. My wings hurt and stretching helps. What’s wrong?” “Oh...nothing. Lyra was just wondering.” Luna silently gritted her teeth. Lyra seemed to have an insatiable curiosity for Luna’s location whenever she couldn’t see her. “So, when is this supposed ‘one-winged pony’ supposed to show up?” “Lyra says soon.” “Have you ever seen her?” “No, not myself...well...” “Well, what?” “I...I mean I thought I saw her once...but I was six and six-year-olds always want to see things. You know how it is.” Luna nodded in response and walked along the edge of the pond. Sugar ‘n Cream followed her, uninvited. “Was that before or after you tried to be a unicorn?” Luna asked, turning to stare directly at the scar on the mare’s forehead. The earth pony backed up half a step. “Um...How does your horn feel?” she asked in return. “It’s better.” “It’s about the length of a normal unicorn’s horn. Can you do magic yet?” “I have not tested it much.” Luna lied. “Why don’t you test it now?” “No.” “Why not?” “Is magic some sort of morbid fascination with you?” Luna exploded, staring her down. Sugar ‘n Cream averted her eyes but Luna could see defiance. “What I did in the past...I didn’t know.” “Well forgive me then for not being willing to discuss my horn with you when you were so eager to steal the horn of another alicorn who most likely was put down afterwards...” “HEY! That is not fair! I didn’t know and when I found out...” “You didn’t want to know; did you?” Luna asked, condemningly. Sugar ‘n Cream clenched her jaw and glared openly at the alicorn. “Perhaps I had a reason.” “You can tell Lyra I’m not running away and she can stop worrying about me.” Luna said, turning back to the lake, "That's all." The earth pony trotted off, grumbling. Finally. Luna had heard enough from her over the past weeks. Her and the whole pack of rebels seemed to be nothing more than a bunch of squabbling fillies seeking to gain control of Equestria. Each one of them saw themselves as victims, cruelly coerced victims who were forced to treat alicorns as less than ponies. Who were forced to hack an alicorn's wings off if they lost their own or simply wanted an advantage... Despite this, Luna hung her head. Sugar ‘n Cream couldn’t be blamed too much. She wasn’t old enough to take alicorn horn yet. She had been fed lies her entire life and didn’t think she needed to question anything. Lyra, on the other hand, had no excuse. Lyra had seen Celestia... Where was her sister? Was it possible the sun rose without her? COuld she still be alive and did she know Luna was back? Or had she been a victim of a hospital too? The pony with one wing had to be dead if it was Rainbow Dash. She was only a story circulated now to keep ponies scared. Rainbow Dash was loyalty and she would have died centuries ago. Luna smiled to think that she wouldn't have gotten an alicorn's wings even though she loved to fly. Luna hoped...that even if she was gone she had died loyal. As for the other Elements of Harmony...they were useless unless Luna found her sister. But...could they really wield them again? Luna knelt next to the lake’s edge and dipped her front hooves into the rippling water. Her contact with the dark undulations sent out some smaller ripples which were soon evened out by the stronger current of the body of water rushing into the river to flow off a cliff. Things were so different now. Why were these rebels even taking her? They could have taken Cadence long ago. Was Luna perhaps a fresher catch to them? What was their approach anyway to this rebellion? Why had Nurse Redheart died? None of it made any sense. She had so little information and the information she did have just bothered her. Luna jumped when a burst of green appeared between her forelegs for a second. A scroll dropped there. Luna magically unsealed the dark wax and read the letter under the light of her aura. Dear Princess Luna, I’m coming to get you. Destroy this note after you get it. I’ll be there soon. The signature was an arch of four slits above one slit. Luna tried to examine the seal but the wax had crumbled too much to restore it. Wonderful...a vague note that wasn’t supposed to be seen. Luna took the note to the top of the waterfall and dropped it into the rush of water. This had better be worth it. Luna turned to find Sugar ‘n Cream standing directly behind her, doing nothing to conceal the panic in her eyes. “TRAITOR!” she hollered, running back towards the woods and the tunnel. She was sounding an alarm. An alarm for everypony in the rebellion to come and get her. She had to have enough magic to get across... She concentrated, closed her eyes and backed up to take a running leap. The river had grown by at least a yard since she had last seen it. Could she jump it and transport the rest of the way? She had to try. The rebels would kill her if they thought she would give away their position. She leapt into the air and focused on a spot of ground on the other side. Her magic held...then gave out like a snapped limb. The edge of the bank hit directly above her barrell. The current was so much stronger here than she thought. She should have moved downstream before jumping. The slippery grass revealed mud as she clawed with her hooves to pull herself up. The current was dragging her away and she couldn’t reach the bottom to push herself out. Her wings were wet and starting to push her, hoof by hoof, towards the waterfall’s edge. She dug her back hooves into the side of the riverbed and pushed herself up a little, but was now a couple of hooves from going over. The drumming of rebel hooves approached. The waterfall on her right, the rebels behind. Her hooves were slipping... A claw grabbed her mane when she turned to look towards where the waterfall disappeared while another claw grabbed her upper foreleg and pulled her out of the water onto the opposite side. She couldn’t clearly see the form that was her height but saw a flash of a fanged face as a teal aura shot between them. Lyra had just fired at her or the other figure but Luna didn’t want to stay to find out which of them was the intended target. She leapt away from the river’s bank and the cliff edge. Her lungs burned and her leg muscles protested as she followed the shape into the darkening night. The rebels who were unicorns could be heard transporting across the river and thundering after them. Luna’s hooves beat the grass beneath her. The figure spun around so suddenly Luna almost ran it over. “Keep running!” a male voice urged, “I’ll stop them. Keep going straight and I’ll catch up!” Luna nodded and took off, the wind of her retreat catching her short mane and tossing it behind her. A forest ahead was illuminated by a humongous green flash behind her. She stopped inside the edge of the woods, her head pounding due to its lack of oxygen. She took heaving breaths and looked to see ponies running around, trying to get the green fire out of their clothes, manes and tails. The fire illuminated a dragon leaping towards where Luna was on all fours. Could she really trust him? Well, he had attacked the rebels... When the dragon passed, calling for her to follow, she did. Hopefully she could still get out if things got worse.
InformationThe grass tickled Luna’s muzzle as she took a few delicate mouthfuls. The muscles in her foreleg groaned as she stepped forward to take another nibble at a new section of tender blades. Spike had grabbed her a little too hard when he saved her from the river, but she would rather deal with bruises on her wings and foreleg than a crack in her skull and a snap in her neck. In the forest, Spike sat on the clearing’s edge and watched the dark blue of the sky dissolves into oranges and reds above him. The scent of leaves seasoned the morning’s breeze as the trees filtered it. The half-matured dragon had run almost all night, carrying her, but she saw no signs of fatigue as she studied him while chewing. The sound of the forest increased with the sun’s illumination. The wind ran through the grass and Spike stood up, turning to Luna with a good-natured smile. “Ready to go?” he asked her. She nodded and they both headed northeast at a leisurely pace. “Where are we going?” “I can’t talk about it until we get there. Just because we were safe last night doesn’t mean that spies aren’t surrounding us now.” he said with a glace at the branches above them. Luna looked up as well; the sky was calming down to light blue. “Do you have any idea why Lyra wanted me?” “I don’t know. I guess she was hoping you would help her overthrow the pegasi.” “Overthrow the pegasi? What are you talking about?” “What? Oh, that's right, you were gone. Well, after you and Twilight disappeared and Celestia . . . abandoned us,” he said with a cautious glance to the trees, “The pony tribes split apart again, each fighting to gain the rule over all three. For the past 75 years, the Pegasi have been in control. Lyra, of course, has been working to change that.” “Twilight disappeared?” “What?” “Twilight disappeared? When?” “She disappeared when you did. No pony has ever found her.” “Any idea what might have happened?” Spike raised his left arm in a shrug. “Honestly, everyone assumed she was dead. Although if your survived . . . who knows?” “Spike . . . she took care of you.” The dragon watched his claws as he continued to move forward at a slightly slower pace. “Yeah.” “Who took care of you after you found out she was gone?” The dragon gave the trees another cautious glance. “Not here. When we get in the open or when we get there I can explain it.” “I understand. So you said Lyra is trying to overthrow the pegasi?” “Yes.” “I see. I assume she wants unicorn rule, then?” “I would guess so. Although there are rumors that she’s gone a little kooky under the effects of alicorn horn.” “Does that happen?” “Not the horn itself, just growing older does it.” “You mean time perception?” “Exactly. You and I are able to handle it because our biology works that way so our perception of time stays the same for however long we live. With any other kind of pony though . . .” “Immortality comes at the price of sanity.” “Exactly. They perceve time going at a rate they can't keep up with mentally. They usually go insane after the first couple hundred years." “Now, what is this about Discord’s statue? Wasn’t he released?” “One of the last acts Celestia did was to imprison him again.” “By herself? And why?” “She must have used a different spell. Nopony can figure out how she did it, or why. Anyway, a couple of years ago it disappeared again.” “Do you have any—“ she stopped when he shook his head, almost as if to say again ‘not here.’ “How are you feeling by the way?” he asked. “Really sore. I shouldn’t have attempted to fly.” she said, stretching her shaking wings out before pulling them back in quickly before they cramped. “You’ll get there again someday.” he assured her. Luna gave him a quick smile that lingered after she turned to look towards the approaching edge of the forest. “Another question: the moon hasn’t risen in 300 years, right?” “Yes?” “Why don’t the unicorns just raise it?” Spike kept silent as they passed under the last few branches. He was scanning the trees again so Luna assumed he was intending on answering her once they had left the woods. After walking a little ways beyond the edge of trees, he turned to look behind them then brought his mouth close to Luna’s eager ear. “Something is blocking them.” “Spike, only one thing could block them—“ “Yes,” he said, a small smile curling behind his fangs, “That’s exactly it.” Luna walked silently next to him. Without any warning, Luna touched her right temple to Spike’s shoulder in a gesture of gratitude. “What was that for?” he asked. “Thank you.” “For what?” “It’s been a long time since someone has at least tried to answer my questions. I appreciate knowing what I’ve missed.” “No problem.” he said, the small smile returning to the corners of his mouth. He stopped suddenly and looked behind them again. “You hear something?” “No, just checking. This is a good spot.” he said, standing on his hind legs. Luna had to tilt her head back a little. He was as tall as her wingspan at least, she estimated. “A good spot for what?” “I’m going to transport us.” he said, examining the dried patch of grass. “How?” “You’re going to have to climb onto my arms first.” he said, holding them out like a shelf. She hesitated then climbed onto his arms. He stood upright with ease, as if she weighed nothing significant. “What are you going to do now?” “This is going to be fun . . .” he said before a small laugh. Before Luna could repeat her question, Spike leaned over her and blew fire at the small patch of grass they stood on. Instantly green flames sprang up. “Spike! What are you—?” she tried to ask before he leapt into the center of the flames. Luna closed her eyes and braced herself, but as soon as she felt the heat, she felt its absence. One eye opened slowly. They were in a cozy living room. Luna shakily crawled from Spike’s arms and glanced around. A pot sat on the cast iron wood stove between a velvet couch and matching armchair. A cherry table sat with an unfilled tea service resting on top, set for three. Almost every available wall space was lined in bookshelves holding books of all kinds: thin, thick, tall, short, some with visible titles and others where the title as almost faded off or had never been there. Any other blank space on the shelves was filled with framed photographs: a family portrait, a white stallion, the same fillies and colts in various stages of life, a rainbow of friends called the Elements of Harmony. Luna would have examined one of the group pictures a little more closely if she had not caught sight of another scene in the photograph behind it. A white stallion with hair different shades of blue stood in front of his new wife: a pink alicorn with yellow, purple, and pink hair. Another alicorn stood behind them. Celestia. Luna couldn’t help but take the photograph off the shelf and cradle it in her foreleg. Seeing Cadence like this again . . . She had missed the wedding due to some preparations she had been making for their honeymoon. A last-minute misunderstanding. It was hard for Luna to swallow now. “Princess Luna?” “I’m sorry, Spike. She’s . . . Cadence was at the hospital with me. She was in the bed next to mine.” Luna said before a quivering intake of air, “Her horn was filed off, her face was all sunken in, her mane was cut.” Luna paused to look over the happy scene, “Shining Armor is dead now, isn’t he?” “Yes, he was executed.” “Executed? Why?” Luna asked, looking up into the dragon’s face. “All members of the royal family were hunted down and murdered privately or executed publically. They caught him trying to sneak Cadence out of Equestria with their children.” Spike stopped as Luna gave another shaky gasp for air. She turned her face back to the photograph and Spike continued, “It was quick at least. I think his execution was part of what started the first war. The unicorns wanted to offer him amnesty. At the end of the day, the pegasi decided his execution and got the earth ponies on the Council to agree.” “How was it done?” “They beheaded him.” Luna nodded. Her cheeks were wet but she didn’t move to wipe them away. At least he died a dignified death. Luna looked up again at the picture that had stood before it. “They’re all dead now, aren’t they?” she asked, looking over the bright faces, “The Elements of Harmony?” “Not all of us.” a new voice assured softly. Luna jumped, dropping the picture as she turned to look at the new voice. A soft smile creased the white edges of blue eyes beneath a snow-white mane tied back in an elegant braid. On the pony’s throat lay a blue diamond in its gold necklace. Generosity. “Rarity?” The mare nodded. Spike exited through the doorway into what looked like the kitchen. The whisper of chopping soon came from within. “I was certain the reports had to be you, Princess Luna.” the mare said, giving a slow but graceful bow before rising with some difficulty, “It is so good to see you.” she said, advancing. “Rarity? How are you even—?” the elegant, subdued laughter cut her off. “That will require some explanation.” her eyes glanced at the dropped picture and a hint of sadness crept into her expression, “You more than welcome to keep that, if you wish. I will not be needing it much longer. As a matter of fact, you are welcome to any of the pictures you desire. My home is yours. Spike,” she turned to the kitchen. Spike poked his head out and she continued, “Could you please make us some cucumber sandwiches and bring the special tea tin out? You know which one, darling.” “Already on it, Rarity.” “Thank you.” she said with an affectionate smile. He nodded and disappeared again. Rarity turned to Luna, “Please come and sit with me, I’ll explain everything I can.” With a nod of her head her eyes sparkled warmly, “You are more than safe here.” Rarity took the armchair and Luna lay on the couch, leaving room for Spike, who entered with an elegant silver tray full of miniature sandwiches and a tin bearing the emblem of the royal family. As Rarity magically added tea leaves to the teapot, spike picked the kettle up from the stove and poured the steaming water into the pot. He chose to sit on a low bench that he pulled from behind the couch as Rarity poured the delicious-smelling tea out. “Now, Princess Luna,” Rarity said, setting the teapot down and passing a cup to her addressee magically, “Give me a question, and I will answer.”
SleepLuna lifted her head and cleared her throat of tears. Where to start? “I . . . well, first of all: How are you still alive?” Rarity’s lips withdrew from her teacup. She shared a look with Spike and nodded. He rose and exited into the kitchen again. “Alicorn horn is barbaric. There are numerous ways to prolong a life unnaturally. Only one is not thoroughly disgusting.” “What way is that?” “To be immortal without taking something from another living creature requires a pony to be made an alicorn. Obviously, that was not an option for me.” Spike re-entered with a silver case, “It looks so clean, doesn’t it?” Spike opened the case to reveal a needle filled with red liquid. Rarity shook her head in disgust, “I would not have chosen to do it if I wasn’t the only pony available to remain until you returned. Thank you Spike.” “Do you need it yet?” “No.” Spike closed the box and placed it on the bench next to him. Rarity turned her gaze back to Luna, “I searched for every available option to keep me alive after my husband was murdered. Months of research led to month of experimentations. I would not have tried it,” she glanced at Spike who returned her look then stared at the floor again, “But I knew it was the best option.” “You didn’t even know if I was coming back.” “I had to keep hoping. I had to see if I could prolong my life enough to find out where you had gone to, or if you were alive. I had to hope that some day you would come back, or Twilight.” “What’s in the needle?” Rarity shifted and Luna heard a series of cracks to accompany her groans and movements. “Spike’s blood, mingled with my own.” “What?” “I understand your surprise. It’s barbaric, but less so than alicorn horn because alicorn horn doesn’t come from a willing donator!” Luna felt a surge of affection for the elderly unicorn. She wasn’t willing to be blinded by immortality to not consider the cost. Luna glanced at the photograph again. “What’s happened to the other Elements of Harmony? Besides you and Twilight, I mean.” Rarity finished her tea and, with an elegant clink, set the empty cup, spoon, and saucer on the table. A grandfather clock gave its deep chime from the kitchen and Spike reached for the case. “Not yet, Spike. I will tell you when the time is right.” Spike sighed and withdrew his claw. “After this question . . . then I’ll take it.” she said to Spike before turning her head towards Luna again, “As for the Elements of Harmony: It was Rainbow Dash who died first. You recall how she was,” Rarity said with a warm smile that wrinkled her eyes even more, “Always loyal, and always faithful. She defied the Queen’s annunciation. They tried to assassinate her. She ran. The Queen herself managed to hit her with some weapon called a rifle while she tried to fly away. Her right wing was blown off completely and she fell. For a while there was rumor that she was still alive, which was true. Applejack hid her at Sweet Apple Acres.” she gave a heavy sigh, “Or tried to, until Rainbow Dash disappeared. We would have attempted a search to find her, but we were under such scrutiny that it was best to let her go. Looking back, I believe she ran away to protect us. She moved from village to village. The warning for the pony with one wing became the frightened whisper between ponies, young and old. Then, they caught her.” “So they executed her?” “They didn’t have the patience to wait for a public execution. No, as soon as they found her, the Queen herself raised her rifle and . . .” Luna didn’t know what to say as Rarity stopped, her teeth chattered with her trembling. “Is she having a seizure?” Luna asked Spike. Spike removed the needle from the case and approached her. “I’m sorry, Rarity, you can’t finish this story when you’re this old.” he said and Luna watched the needle disappear into the white coat. The red liquid entered her arm and she went still. From where the needle entered, a wave of luster and youthful sheen went out, erasing wrinkles and restoring the shine of her coat. Her hair turned gray and then purple like an artist drawing a brush over canvas. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. “Thank you, Spike, Darling.” she said, gracefully touching her hoof to his arm. He patted it and then moved towards the kitchen. “Please, Princess Luna, forgive me. I wanted to show you what the injection looks like when it takes over.” “Of course. How long does an injection last?” “When I first started, an injection of that size could kill me. Now, I need it to get through a single day.” “Rarity . . . I’m so sorry.” “I had to stay. When Fluttershy . . . died I was needed to carry on in her stead.” “But, why?” Rarity stood up—the restoration of her youth was astounding—and walked to a thick volume on one of her shelves. Blue magic withdrew the book then floated it before the unicorn as she walked to deposit the tome in front of the princess, resting on its spine. The blue magic disappeared and the book fell open. The Elements. “You held on to them . . .” “I knew that, one day, they would mean something again.” Rarity said. Luna slid the photograph from where the cover of the book concealed it and rearranged it so she could see both. Twilight’s crown was missing, but the rest of theElements of Harmony remained here, preserved. “Rarity, this is perfect.” “It’s all I could do: guard the Elements. I had to keep them safe and away from that Queen.” Rarity shuddered. Her last word had been spat out. Tears brimmed her closed eyes as she turned her face away towards the chair. “Rarity, Tell me about the Queen, please. Who is she?” Rarity walked away from Luna. Every step shook. A few times the unicorn looked about ready to be sick. “She shot Rainbow Dash!" Rarity spat forcefully, "I was there. I watched her kill my friend. She’s a monster!” Luna’s legs uncurled and she crawled from the couch to stand next to Rarity. “I’m sorry that I’m crying, Princess.” Luna holding her close silenced her. For a while, subdued sniffing and sobs were muffled in Luna’s mane. Luna wanted to say something grand that would comfort her. Nothing seemed appropriate. After a few moments, Rarity withdrew and wiped her eyes. “Thank you, Princess Luna.” “Call me Luna, please. I’m your friend.” Rarity nodded with another small sniff before returning to her chair. “More tea?” She asked. “No, thank you. Could you tell me what happened to the others though?” “Certainly,” she sat in her chair, refilling her teacup, “After I told the rest of us of Rainbow Dash’s death, we went into hiding. I had gained favor with the Queen so I acted as a spy in the high court.” “How did you gain her favor?” “She was a new Queen in need of a wardrobe. I was the only one ‘willing’ to do the task. I despised every moment. Then again . . .without that I would never have married.” Her eyes fell for a moment, “Then again, perhaps he would still be alive.” she sniffed the thought back and continued, “We the Elements remained in hiding with Zecora. She later returned to her homeland and left us the hut. We should have moved. We should have found another place deeper inside the forest. They eventually found us. Fluttershy, Spike and I managed to escape with the Elements. Pinkie Pie and Applejack were declared. The newspaper announcing their executions also announced my husband’s. They never got our children though.” “What happened to your children?” Rarity’s mouth stayed closed but still twitched for a few moments until she controlled it enough to speak again. Luna waited. “I had to leave them. I left them with their godmother. They could still be alive, but I don’t know and I can’t. They’re better off . . . they’re better off not being my . . . not knowing me. They probably don't even know that they have another mother.” She closed her eyes tightly and a sharp, shuddering gasp came from her. Luna could see Rarity was attempting to hold it in. 300 years wasn’t enough to help her forget, “After . . .” Rarity began, forcing each word out, “Fluttershy and I escaped, she took over the care of the Elements. We moved further into the Everfree forest. After about 5 years we began to trust our safety and . . .” she couldn’t continue but Luna could see that she had to. Luna knelt in front of her and placed her forelegs over the arm of the chair. “Go ahead and tell me. I’m here. Don’t hold it in.” Rarity hugged the Princess’s head to her shoulder and continued with her voice in a strained staccato, “I didn’t even wait to see if she was dead when I heard them shooting. She was just going to get wood. It should have been me. I should have been out there. I should have gotten the wood for the stove. It should have been me! I just ran. I just ran away and transported away. I didn’t even try to help her.” Luna looked up when she felt Spike approach. Spike picked Rarity up and held her tightly, his eyes closed, his mouth a grim, determined line. Luna rubbed the space between her shoulder blades. “How could they shoot Fluttershy? She wouldn’t have hurt them! They never gave her chance!” Luna gently shushed her. “Rarity, you did the right thing.” “I abandoned them! All of them! They all died without me lifting a single hoof to help them! I should have turned the rifle on the queen and shot her impudent face off! Rainbow Dash watched me say nothing! Pinkie Pie and Applejack knew I ran away! They wanted us to move but I argued against it. I’m the reason they’re not here now.” “Rarity, they gave themselves up so we could escape—“ “They shouldn’t have needed to make that sacrifice! It was my fault!” “Rarity, they would understand if you could talk with them now.” Luna offered. “And my fillies? Would they understand?” “Would that change anything? You did what you did because you loved them.” “But I abandoned them too.” “Rarity,” Luna said urgently, “You couldn’t have kept both your children and the rest of the Elements alive. You shouldn’t have needed to make that choice, but you can’t go back now, no matter how much you wish, to change the past.” Luna withdrew her hoof and Spike braced Rarity against his body as her eyes rolled back and her entire form quivered violently. “This happens sometimes after the injection." Spike explained, "She gets into an emotional frenzy and then has a seizure. They’ve gotten more frequent lately.” “Perhaps it’s not just the injection.” Luna said gravely as Rarity’s body gave one last jerk then went limp. The unicorn groaned as all of her muscles relaxed. Her forelegs draped over Spike’s arms and he gently returned her to the chair. A few grey hairs had sneaked back into her mane and tail. “Thank you, Spike. I apologize, Luna. I don’t know what came over me.” “Don’t feel ashamed.” “I still know that I should have done more.” “Rarity, you did all you could. Don’t devalue what you’ve done.” “What else do you need to know?” she asked with a voice craving sleep. Luna thought about all the questions that needed answers still. One needed answering more than anything else. “How can I kill the Queen?” “Luna, don’t try to do it by yourself—“ “I won’t. Please tell me how to kill her.” “I would assume she could die like any pony might.” “What kind of pony is she?” “An Earth Pony I was told. I never saw her face. All I know is that she was very thin, almost like you, with long legs and long forelegs. I almost wonder if she was a Changeling.” “I see. Thank you, Rarity. You’ve given me a lot.” “Can I do anything else for you?” Luna leaned forward, over the arm of the chair and placed a kiss on the unicorn’s forehead. “Let yourself die. Don’t keep torturing yourself.” Rarity's eyes shone. “I’ve wanted to die so many times.” “Then let yourself die now. It’s like falling asleep. I’ve been in the dreams of so many who have died.” “What’s it like?” she asked, wistfully. Luna heard a gulp and glanced up at Spike. His eyes were filling with tears. “Death appears differently for certain ponies. For some, it is a dark hold that appears under you and you fall in. For others, it’s a doorway you open. It can also be a hill you have to walk over. Sometimes, it’s a particular spot somewhere that you can’t see but can feel. For others, it’s a pony they loved who has already died. As soon as they touch that pony, they walk away with them and never wake up out of the dream." Rarity blinked and tears crept out, unceremoniously. “Luna, can I die, please? Can you help me die tonight?” Luna nodded. Spike sniffed again and Rarity turned to him. “Spike, I’m sorry. I can’t keep—” He placed a digit of his claw over her lips. “Go ahead . . . I’m happy for you. I’ll be ok.” Rarity smiled and placed a small kiss on the hand that silenced her. “Well then,” she said, a great deal more cheerful, “How shall we spend our last few hours?”
