Angel of Justice: Blood Moon

In a room in the palace infirmary, Spike sat at the edge of his bed waiting. He kept his hands clasped in his lap, running one thumb over the other and staring at the floor.

No matter what he tried, he couldn’t stop thinking about Cadence and the three fillies. He knew firsthand what it was like being held by the pale alicorn. Cadence was stronger than she looked, and the Crusaders had been through this once before, but he never would have wanted anyone to go through it twice, let alone Scootaloo and the others.

Suddenly, the door clicked open, causing him to look up. His expression immediately brightened as he saw a familiar purple mare entering.

"Twilight!" Spike exclaimed. He hopped off the bed and immediately rushed up to her and into her embrace.

Twilight smiled as she held her young assistant close. She opened her eyes and looked down, only to frown softly as she saw a fresh bandage placed on a spot on the back of his head. "Spike… I'm so glad you're ok."

Feeling him grasp onto her fur and bury his face into her chest, Twilight softened her features as he started to cry.

"Twilight, I'm sorry… They… t-they took Cadence and the girls. I couldn’t stop them."

"Ssshh… it’s ok." Twilight said, gently patting him on the back. "We're going to get them back."

Suddenly, Spike pulled back. He looked up at the unicorn with an expression of mounting shock. "Wait… you’re not going, are you?"

Twilight exhaled softly and straightened her expression. "Yes. I am. We all are."

"No…" Spike muttered, his eyes starting to waver. "Twilight, please… you can't!"

"I have to, Spike. I've already made up my mind." Twilight explained as gently as she could.

Spike’s gaze furrowed with determination even amid his building emotions. “Then take me with you!”

A frown formed on Twilight’s face as she heard the desperation in his voice. “I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. You and I both know it’s too dangerous for you.”

"No… no…" He shook his head, tears welling up and his expression contorting. "Please don't go. I… I-I can't lose you too!"

Seeing the dragon so vulnerable, Twilight’s expression wavered. She lit her horn and pulled him up so she could properly hug him.

After a few moments, she pulled away and set him down. Spike inched back as he noticed she was crying too.

Twilight took a shaky breath and wiped her eyes before looking to him earnestly. "Spike…" She paused briefly, struggling to get the words out. "I love you… and no matter what happens tonight, I will always love you. Never forget that… ok?"

Spike was at a loss for words. He stared at her for the longest time before sniffling and nodding. "I love you too..."
.
..
…
After spending some precious time with her number one assistant, Twilight made her way through the castle toward the Princess’s study.

Reaching the door, she knocked a few times and entered as soon as she heard Celestia’s voice beckoning her inside.

She found the alicorn sitting at the large desk in the center of the room. Celestia no longer had any bandages wrapped around her, as both she and Luna had been healed by Blue Bolt.

Celestia smiled softly as she looked up to her student, but Twilight noticed a thoroughly troubled look on her face before.

"You wanted to see me, Princess?" Twilight asked.

"Yes… I did." Celestia said before gesturing a hoof to a cushion beside her. "Come sit with me, my student."

Twilight hesitated for a moment. She didn't like the somber air the alicorn had. Soon, however, she walked over and made herself comfortable.

Celestia propped herself up on the desk with both hooves and stared intently at a grouping of letters and a familiar set of jeweled necklaces and tiara. It was the Elements of Harmony.

She looked at each, tracing her eyes along the shining jewels in the shape of the bearers' cutie marks, paying particular respect to the element of magic.

"Twilight…" She spoke, not lifting her gaze. Her voice was far more grave than the unicorn was used to. "I'm certain you realize just how dangerous this trip is going to be."

"I do," Twilight answered.

"There is a good chance that… not everyone who goes with us will return. You understand, yes?"

Twilight paused for a moment at this, but she nodded anyway. "I do…"

However, she paused again as she noticed something. The alicorn was tensing her hooves. Her shoulders were stiff, and her eyes were hidden from her posture.

"Then, I want you to listen to me very carefully…"

Twilight waited for her to continue. She trailed her eyes down, realizing at least somewhat what the alicorn was going to say.

However, she looked back up abruptly as a hoof landed on both her shoulders. She inched back, not prepared to see the vibrant eyes of her wise mentor shimmering and full of sadness.

"Please… please don't go. I beg of you." Celestia said.

"Princess…" Twilight muttered, unsure of what to say. She had never seen the alicorn so vulnerable before.

"I hate how much blood has been spilled over my past already… but I don’t think I could survive if your blood was added. So please… stay behind. If you stay, perhaps you could convince your friends to stay as w-"

"Princess."

Celestia trailed off as the unicorn looked at her with soft eyes. However soft they were, there was also a fiery glint in them.

"I can’t just sit idly by while Cadence and the girls are in danger, and I won't just let you fight this battle alone," Twilight said.

“Twilight, this is my battle to fight. I will not have you die for me.” Celestia insisted.

Twilight exhaled softly. “Isn’t that my choice to make?”

This made the alicorn give pause. Eventually, Twilight continued.

“This isn’t about what you did or didn’t do to Dusk. I don’t care what happened between you. You aren’t obligated to die to make up for something that happened a thousand years ago. Besides that, you did nothing wrong.” She said earnestly. “And if I am going to die tonight… It’s not going to be because of you. I’m going to die trying to protect my friends the only way I can.”

Celestia’s mouth pulled into a fragile smile as she looked to her student, a sense of pride showing through the sadness in her eyes. “I was afraid you might say something like that… What am I going to do with you, my faithful student?”

Twilight smiled as well, and as the alicorn opened her forelegs, she closed the distance between them and wrapped her own forelegs around the Princess’s form.

“You should know better… making your princess cry like this.” Celestia jested.

Twilight gave a half-hearted giggle as she found a few tears rolling down her face, only to be absorbed by the alicorn’s chest fluff. “I’m sorry… Do you think you can forgive me?”

“If you promise me you will survive to see the sun… I think I could find it in my heart.” Celestia said.

“I promise.”
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..
…
A few minutes later, Twilight stepped out of the study, leaving Celestia to her own, hopefully more assured, thoughts.

As she turned to head back toward her room, she paused as she saw Shining Armor leaning up against the wall a few feet away, seemingly waiting on her.

Shining looked up and inspected her for a moment before wrinkling his expression. “Everything ok?”

Twilight blinked as she noted the concern in his voice. However, she then noticed that her eyes were still a little wet. “Oh… Yeah, I’m fine. The Princess and I were just… having a moment.” She explained, wiping a foreleg across her face. “Did you need something?”

Shining remained quiet for a bit. He just looked at her, his eyes soft with thought. “I don’t suppose anything I say could convince you not to go?”

Twilight smiled a bit and shook her head. “I’m afraid not.”

Shining smiled as well, though his didn’t reach his whole face. As he watched the purple mare, her innocent determination to protect her loved ones showing through her eyes, a thought popped into his head. For some reason or another, he thought back to his human friend, and the last thing Tom said to him.

Take care of them for me…

Without a word, the stallion got back to all fours and walked over to his sister. Twilight’s expression fell slightly as she saw how somber he was.

Shining placed a hoof on her head and tousled her mane a bit, just enough to cause some annoyance. “You don’t leave my sight… understand?”

“What… like, right now?” Twilight asked.

“You know what I mean.” Shining smiled, and soon she returned the gesture with a slight laugh before adopting her own serious expression.

“Yeah… same goes for you.”

“So…” Shining cleared his throat awkwardly, unsure of how to continue the conversation after such a solemn moment. “You want to grab a quick bite to eat before we go fight some vampires?”

“I like that idea,” Twilight said, taking a moment to notice her appetite. Surprisingly enough, fighting monsters was exhausting work. “You know… I wonder if garlic would actually work to repel a vampire?” She mused.

Shining chuckled at the thought. “Well, you are a scientist. Why don’t you test it out?”

“Sounds like a delicious hypothesis.” Twilight giggled.

With that, the two siblings walked down the hall, with Shining holding a foreleg around his sister as they went.

Meanwhile, in a different part of the palace,

Blue Bolt was sitting in a room by himself. He was busy using his newfound ray of light to transform average candles into blessed candles.

He was still a little fuzzy on the details of what a blessed candle actually was, but they seemed simple enough to make. Just as well, because Princess Luna could only give him a vague description of how Tom used to make them.

After letting some of the radiant light shine out of his hoof and watching the formerly white wax turn a soft shade of blue, the stallion examined the candle briefly, turning it over and giving it a shake before adding it to the bag beside him.

Soon, however, he looked up as he heard the door creak open. He almost expected it to be Princess Luna or one of the members of Spirit checking in on him. Instead, it was a very uncharacteristically somber-looking cyan mare.

“Rainbow Dash?” Blue skewed a brow in surprise.

“Hey, Blue.” Rainbow gave an awkward wave and a half-hearted smile. She looked down to the candles he was making and inched back. “You busy?”

Blue shook his head and set the candles aside. “No, no, by all means, come in.”

He watched as she sidled over and sat down across from him. She had her body turned away from his slightly as she was fidgeting a hoof.

"Something bothering you?" Blue asked, though he already had an idea what was on her mind.

Rainbow chuckled nervously, "Am I being that obvious?" She asked before sighing.

Blue softened his features. He wasn't used to seeing her like this. Normally, she was too concerned with keeping up her cool appearance to let her hair down, but now she seemed so quiet and reserved. It was almost off-putting.

"You know… it’s funny," Blue said, looking down to his own hooves, "I usually get tired before everyone else-"

Rainbow Dash smiled a bit at this. She could relate to being called lazy by those around her.

"-but I haven't slept at all since I passed out that one time… and I don't even feel it. I haven't felt hungry or thirsty either… It’s like I could keep going forever."

"Heh… being a slayer must be pretty cool," Rainbow said, flashing a hollow smile before flattening her expression. "But you do know you can't go on forever, right? You have to be careful how much stamina you use, or… or you'll die."

"With how long you've known me, have you ever known me not to be careful?" He smirked, only to notice that she wasn't reciprocating his lighthearted attitude.

"I'm serious, Blue." Rainbow frowned. "I already watched you die once… I don’t want it to happen again."

Blue exhaled softly and scooted a little closer to her. "Hey… I'm not going anywhere anytime soon if I can help it. Just because I'm not afraid to die again doesn't mean I'm going to welcome it with open forelegs."

Rainbow Dash looked him over for a moment, scrutinizing his expression, before managing a smile. "Good… 'cuz you and me still need to go out to dinner when this is all over."

Blue inched back, feeling a bit of red reach his face. He rubbed his neck awkwardly and chuckled. "That eager to go on a date with me, huh?"

Immediately, Rainbow widened her eyes and scrunched up her face. "What? N-no! I-I just… don’t want you ruining my reputation as an honest mare is all." She said, trying and failing to hide her blushing cheeks.

"I thought Applejack was the honest one?"

Suddenly, Blue Bolt grunted as a candle was shoved into his gut. He looked at it briefly before looking up and seeing the cyan mare scowling at him.

"Just shut up and get back to zapping candles." She said flatly.

Blue felt a tug at his lips as he shook his head and sighed before looking down to the candle and using his light. At least now he had some company to stave off the boredom.

"Man… being a slayer isn't all it's cracked up to be."

While most of the castle was bustling with tense movement and preparations, the atmosphere in Raincloud’s room was anything but.

The gray pegasus was hanging off her bed halfway, having cycled through several positions in her anxious boredom. After what happened with Cadence and the three fillies, she was sure she was in deep trouble, she just didn’t know when or by whom that trouble would be dispensed.

Hearing some muffled hooves approaching outside, and some muted conversation from the two guards posted at her door, she lifted her head and stared forward. Much to her chagrin, the door clicked open, allowing Princess Luna to step inside.

The alicorn had a difficult-to-read expression on her face, though her eyes didn’t hold any irritation or veiled anger as Raincloud expected.

“So… you here to chew me out?” Raincloud asked flatly as she worked her way around to sitting on the edge of the bed.

Luna snorted softly. “As much as Sparkplug would like me to for the mess you made in her room… no, that is not why I am here.”

Raincloud skewed a brow. “Ok, I’ll bite. Why are you here?”

The alicorn softened her features a bit and looked to the pegasus with an almost grateful quality about her, much to the surprise of the gray mare. “Young Spike has told me that you fought and very nearly died trying to protect Cadence and the others. In fact… he tells me that he would have been taken too if you had not intervened.”

Raincloud measured Luna’s expression for a moment. Judging from her lack of hostility, Spike must not have told her everything about what happened in that equipment room, and the pegasus wasn't about to correct her. “Yeah, well… I’m not a total jerk.” She sighed.

“However,” Luna added, letting her expression furrow, “the only reason you were there in the first place was because you tried to escape and Cadence caught you. That is not something that I can easily overlook.”

Hearing this, Raincloud folded her forelegs and prepared for the inevitable. At this rate, she would be lucky if all that happened was her getting sent back to prison.

Then, however, Luna relaxed her features ever so slightly. “Luckily for you, we are in an unusual situation, so I am willing to make a compromise.”

“What kind of compromise?” Raincloud asked hesitantly.

Luna said, “I’m certain you realize that we are about to go after Cadence and the girls.”

“Uh-huh… I also realize that you guys are totally going to die.” Raincloud chimed in.

“Perhaps.” Luna wrinkled her lips briefly. “But to that note, we are going ‘all in’ as it were, to hopefully prevent anyone from dying. If we lose now… it won’t matter who stays behind anyway.”

“And… what does this have to do with me?” Raincloud blinked.

“Raincloud,” Luna hesitated, her mouth agape as she tried to find the right words, “I’m certain that we need not beat around the bush. You are a very powerful individual. Your skill with magics of all varieties makes you a formidable adversary… but also a strong ally. Given the risk of this mission, I cannot force you to go with us, but I can make you a deal.”

Raincloud leaned forward and rested her hooves on her lap. “I’m listening.”

Luna’s mouth curled upwards a bit before she returned her somber expression. “If you assist us in this rescue mission and the fight with Dusk… I will give you what you want.”

“The journal?” Raincloud perked up slightly.

“Yes.” Luna nodded. She then flattened her eyes. “But only if you give us your full cooperation. No more escape attempts. Understand?”

Raincloud trailed her eyes to the side in thought. Was a keepsake from her past really worth dying over? However, as she thought back to the utter looks of betrayal on the three fillies’ faces as they were taken away, her expression wavered.

“Well,” She sighed, “it’s like you said. If you guys lose, it won’t matter who stays behind.” She paused for a moment before straightening her mouth and nodding. “I’m in.”

Luna couldn’t help but smile as she looked at her former foe. There was a time not too long ago when she wanted nothing more to do with the gray pegasus, and now she was about to go on a suicide mission with her. How times had changed.

“Thank you,” Luna said earnestly.

Raincloud scrunched her face up. “Yeah, yeah, don’t let it go to your head. You better get it in writing that I get that journal. I don’t want to argue the point with one of your brown-nosed advisors if you and ol’ sunbutt kick the bucket.”

Hearing the return to form, Luna sighed. “Were it only so easy to escape your charming personality.” She muttered to herself while turning and walking away. She paused before the door and turned. “Get yourself ready. I’ll have Sparkplug come inspect your collar and sync up a new remote.” She said before exiting the room.

Raincloud’s expression fell abruptly and she reached out for the alicorn. “Wait! I-I changed my mind! Don’t make me go through that again!”

Luna smirked as she closed the door behind her.

Time seemed to simultaneously be going too fast and not fast enough for the various members of the group. Some spent their time pacing around their rooms worrying, while others tried and mostly failed to distract themselves. Some were spending what little time they had left with their friends.

Most of them decided to write letters to their loved ones back home to be sent in the unfortunate event that they were among the casualties this daring mission could very likely produce.

Eventually, however, the time came for them to reconvene and prepare themselves for the journey ahead.

Twilight sat in the equipment room with her friends, hovering a black tactical vest in her corona and eyeing it up and down. Princess Luna had provided them with the team’s spare equipment. They were using everything they had, even if it wasn't much. They only had four spare vests, with one going to Pinkie and Applejack as well as the purple mare. The only vest with room for wings was given to Rainbow Dash.

“Y’know… I’ve always wanted to wear one of these, but I didn’t think it would happen like this,” Rainbow said as she slipped on the sleek vest.

“For what it’s worth, it looks just as stupid on you as it does on them,” Raincloud added, causing a few unimpressed looks to be sent her way.

Rarity sighed. “Are we certain she has to come with us?”

“Eh, I’m sure we can find some use for her.” Applejack noted.

“Yeah… as vampire bait,” Sunspot added, earning a few chuckles.

Raincloud narrowed her eyes a bit at the pair. “You know, we are about to put our lives in each other’s hooves. Maybe you shouldn’t be irritating someone that could potentially need to save you?”

Twilight snorted a bit and hid a smirk as she buckled into her own vest. “View must be nice from that glass house.”

“What was that?”

“N-nothing!”

“Play nice, Raincloud,” Luna spoke up, casting an impatient look to the gray pegasus before shifting her attention to Glitterball, who was sitting in front of Pinkie Pie with horn alight. “How goes the progress, Glitterball?”

“Almost done.” Glitter said, face a bit scrunched from concentration as she touched her horn to the pink mare’s forehead.

Pinkie giggled and struggled to sit still from the tingling sensation surging through her. After a few moments, the light from Glitter’s horn flashed brighter before she let it dim and backed up with a satisfied smile.

“There you go. You’re all set, Pinkie.” Glitter said.

Pinkie rubbed her hooves together eagerly. “Oooh, can I try it out?”

Glitter shared a hesitant look with her teammates before smiling awkwardly. “Uh… sure.”

With a bright grin, Pinkie placed a hoof to her ear, which subsequently started glowing a vibrant blue. “Hellooo? Is this thing on?”

Glitter’s teammates, along with Twilight, Blue Bolt, Shining Armor, and the alicorn sisters all felt their ears twitch as another copy of the pink mare’s voice emanated from within their heads.

“We’re going to regret picking her, aren’t we?” Shining sighed.

“Thankfully, it’s only temporary,” Twilight added.

Pinkie deflated a bit at this. “Aww…”

Meanwhile, Sparkplug adopted a confused expression as she looked to either Glitterball or the two princesses. “Sorry… I got here late. Why aren’t we doing this for everyone again?” She asked.

Celestia was the first to speak. “The communication spell that you all use has a maximum number of people that can be synced up to it at once.”

“I believe it is ten on the nose,” Luna added.

“Precisely. Which is why we’ve had to select who among us would be most advantageous to be linked up.” Celestia explained, looking over to the four mares that were left out with a bit of a frown. “I’m sorry that we couldn’t include you, girls.”

“Think nothing of it, Princess.” Rarity said.

“Yeah. We’ll just stick with somepony that does have the spell.” Fluttershy added. Truth be told, she was almost glad that the group hadn’t wasted such a useful tool on her. She could hardly think straight in stressful situations, let alone communicate critical information to others.

“What about me? Aren’t I important?” Raincloud asked.

Glimmer Shine exhaled softly, “Raincloud… I think it’s in your best interest that we listen to you as little as possible.”

Sensing the annoyance in the room around her, Raincloud folded her forelegs and muttered to herself. “I hope I die last so I can laugh at all of you.”

Once Applejack finished getting her vest on, Celestia stood up and turned to face the group.

“Now then… I know all of you are unfamiliar with the majority of the equipment you are now wearing. Truth be told, I’m not certain how much of it will end up being useful to us. But, time is short, so Glimmer Shine and the others will have to give you a crash course on the way up.” The alicorn said.

She walked over to the door and paused, turning to look at the group. They all looked uncertain and uneasy, but there was also a hint of bravery shining through.

“I have a suspicion that I already know the answer… but I would be remiss if I did not offer everyone one last chance to back out of this. Are you all certain you wish to do this?” Celestia asked. “Nopony here would think less of you if you want to stay behind.”

One look around at the group told her what she pretty much already knew.

Celestia’s lips curled into a bittersweet smile. “Thank you… I’m proud of you all.” She exhaled softly before stiffening her expression and gesturing toward the door. “Let’s get going, everyone.”

With that, the group did their best to swallow their apprehensions and stood up. Everyone gathered what few bags they were taking and marched through the castle, following Celestia and Luna toward the front entrance.

A few guards and servants watched them as they passed. The guards offered a stoic salute, while the maids and butlers looked at them with uneasy frowns. It was slightly disheartening for them to see ponies looking at them like it was the last time they would be seen alive.

As they passed through the entry hall and out the grand doors into the cold night air, they were met by a small gathering of guards. All of the stallions were arranged to their sides, leading down the steps toward four fully prepared pegasi teams pulling one carriage each.

Once the doors opened and the group stepped outside, all the guards that weren’t drawing the carriages stiffened their postures and saluted.

Twilight and the others looked around at the veritable crowd around them. Even further down the way, some small handful of townsponies had gathered on the property line and were watching to see what was the cause for the sudden assembling of guards.

They all seemed surprised to see the princesses, Elements of Harmony, and the members of Spirit all at once, and their expressions gradually fell as they pieced together how severe the threat must have been to warrant such a force.

While it was a somber thought that they could have been heading straight toward their deaths, the six mares decided not to let their feelings of dread rule them. Rainbow Dash was the first to flash a confident smile and wave at the crowd, and eventually, everyone brightened their expressions with hope and courage as the royal sisters led them down the steps.

As they walked, a few of the ponies watching on the street started to cheer and clop. Gradually, every one of the bystanders joined their small crowd in flinging encouraging statements and applause at the princesses and their national heroes and heroines.

The applause wasn't quite thunderous, given how few ponies were present, but it was enough to stave off the feeling of dread Twilight and the others felt. They all acknowledged the crowd in their own ways, ranging from polite smiles to enthusiastic waves, before they all filed into their respective carriages and settled in for the long trip ahead.

It was bizarre for most of them as the pegasi guards started their takeoff. The last time they went on this ride, they were chasing after Twilight and Celestia along with the kids, and they knew a lot less about their current foe. They almost missed that ignorance.

Of course, their last rescue had been accomplished with a price paid in the blood of a friend. The memory still stung as fresh in their minds as when it was happening in front of them.

And for some, they couldn’t shake the dread in their hearts. The nagging thought at the back of their mind, that even if they were victorious tonight, that it would come at a heavier cost.