Arboreal Grieving

The dim light of early morning filtered through blinds, supplemented by an electric lamp resting on a table. The room was spacious, but filled with all manner of assorted items. Sculptures and antique furniture were lined up against the walls, and paintings filled up every square inch of available wallspace.

“Guards?” A wavering voice echoed from inside a mahogany canopy bed. Nearby, a pair of thestral Night Guards watched the bed warily.

“What is the matter?” Luna’s face, unusually cross, popped out from the curtains. “Whatever is so important that it requires my attention?”

One of the guards, a black coated stallion uneasily stepped in. “Your Majesty, you have duties to attend to that need addressing. ” He glanced at his fellow guard for support, finding no courage whatsoever in his teammate. "Solar Court will start soon, and we as the Night Guard have duties to fulfill."

"I had a rather harsh fight with my Sister," said Luna, "I'd rather not deal with petty nobles and their squabbles."

“But why don’t you go try to solve it with her? You’ve been in this room for an hour.” The guard winced prematurely at his own question.

“I know exactly why she’s distressed,” Luna muttered, “But she did something she promised to never do, and that’s a broken Sister promise.”

“Well, it’s the duty of the Royal Sisters to help one another, isn’t it?” The other guard, a dark brown female, offered. “If this issue is troubling Celestia so much, then you need to help her.”

The figure behind the curtain shifted. "We don't break promises. Celestia would never stoop so low normally... "

"Maybe she's not "normal" right now, then?" The female guard craned her neck to try and catch a glimpse of Luna through the curtains.

To the guards’ surprise, Luna pulled herself out of the canopied bed in response. She stood up to her full height, looking no worse for wear other than an unkempt mane and a worried expression.

“Come, guards.” Luna trotted to the door, opening it without fanfare. “If Celestia has truly been so discomforted by her lover's passing, I fear she is no longer herself."

"Woah, isn't that overreacting a tad?" The stallion asked. "I don't think the Princess will turn into, like, Nightma—"

Luna fixed him with a withering glare. "I take these matters very seriously. I hope the best, but it is better to prevent the worst." Turning away, she muttered, "I didn't even realize it, but as I think about it, it feels so similar to my own distress a thousand years ago."

She led the shocked guards into the hall, moving to exit the Lunar wing. Shining with bright electric lighting, Luna’s small portion of the Castle was never to be shrouded in darkness again. Perhaps not a change the thestrals liked, however, as they snapped on protective eyewear built into their headpieces.

Suddenly, a cry was heard from down the hall, accompanied by scuffling and shouting. Luna held up a hoof as she advanced towards the disturbance, holding her two guards in place.

Trotting at a brisk pace and rounding the corner, she found what appeared to be a small fight between a few of her own Night Guard and a courier. Luna wasted no time here, brusquely asking, “What is the problem here? Hurry.”

One of the night guard, obscured under his full armor, pointed to the courier. “He is not to be allowed to enter, per your command.”

The courier protested, “I have a very important message for Her Majesty!” He waved a small piece of sealed parchment. “From Celestia herself!”

One of the guards retorted, saying, “Orders are orders, no non-authorized personnel allowed—”

Luna stopped him with a hoof to the mouth. “Couriers are to be allowed wherever they are sent, especially if it’s a message delivered from a Princess.” She grabbed the scroll in her magic, nodding to the courier. “Your diligence will be noted. Thank you..”

The courier saluted and ran off, leaving Luna alone to reprimand her guards. Luna opened her mouth to scold, only to sight a particular symbol on their shoulders. Luna quickly realized her error.

“Oh, you’re rookies.” She said, glancing at each guard with disdain. “You should not have ever been chosen to guard here. However, as your failure is still apparent, you are to report to your commanding officer for appropriate punishment.”

Trotting back to her own guards from a chorus of rookie moans, Luna opened the delayed message. Standing there silently, her eyes flicked across the page, widening with every line. With a snap, the scroll was snapped shut in dark blue magic.

“Guards, ensure Blueblood is notified of his responsibilities in the Solar Court.” Luna at once seemed to be bathed in shadow, her form obscured by darkness even the electric lights above could not pierce. “I must assist my sister in Ponyville immediately.”

The guards glanced at each other in concern as Luna disappeared further into the shadow. “Ensure that those privates are punished. I will be foregoing the chariot in lieu of teleportation.”

Seeing salutes and subsequent dispersal, Luna submerged fully in the darkness. Closing the entrance behind her, she began swiftly moving towards Ponyville.

Focused on the journey, Luna tried to avoid thinking about her worries.