Fire and Shadows

“Oh, Moonlight,” an unfamiliar voice calls my name.

“Who’s there?!” I ask.

“Hmm. Usually, I’d try to hide my identity from strangers, but you could use dark magic to find out the truth either way. You can call me Aurora.” A unicorn with a very light blue coat and a baby pink mane emerges from the shadows, her green eyes glinting in the dim light.

“Why are you here?”

“To help you, of course. You and I are very similar, you know, and I’ve recognised that you have been used by King Sombra. I’m here to help you see the truth.”

That’s it. She’s shattered my trust. I snap at her, “That’s a lie. Sombra loves me and cares for me. We’ve saved each other’s lives and we’d do it again.”

“Oh, I understand that you have your doubts. But give me just a few minutes and I will explain. I’ll need to use magic to show you some of your memories, but once I’ve done that I can explain how he’s used you over the last few months. Just give me a moment, Moonlight, and you’ll understand everything, I promise-”

“Gee, Mum! Wake up!”

I open my eyes and find myself staring at the ceiling in the lounge. I’m on the sofa that’s closest to the doors. Cozy is looking down at me with an anxious expression, nudging my face with her muzzle to try to wake me up.

“Hey, I’m awake.” I open my wings and wrap them around her.

“Golly, don’t do that, Mum! You scared me! Again!”

“I’m sorry.” I plant a small kiss on her forehead and she smiles. “How long was I out for?”

“Ten seconds. Not long enough for me to call somepony for help. What happened? Was it another one of those freaky psychic moments?”

“You can say that again. Some random unicorn trying to convince me that Sombra’s using me.” I pause. Not everything in the visions is real, but what if…

“So basically, Solar Guard horse crap.”

“Language!”

“Buck that. You know I’m right.”

She could be, but she was also friends with Sombra from a young age and wanted to help him take over the Crystal Empire a thousand years ago.

“Mum? Did you faint again, or are you just zoning out?”

“Sorry, Cozy, I-” I bury my head in my hooves. “It’s complicated.” I stretch out on the sofa and lie down on my back, still with my wings around Cozy. She looks slightly disgruntled, but doesn’t try to move away from me. I brush my mane out of my eyes and yawn.

“Is your headache gone, Mum?”

I nod. “Yes, but I’m tired.”

“You should stay here with me.”

“But I have to help Starlight and the others, and you don’t really think I’d let Sombra have all the fun annoying the Solar Guards, do you?”

“Gee, do what’s best for your health, Mum.”

I start getting annoyed. “I’m going to Equestria, Cozy. You can’t stop me.”

“Yes, I can.” She reaches under the sofa and brings out a pocket knife, holding the blade up to my neck. “I can stop you, and I can keep you quiet so you don’t go blabbing to Sombra. And nopony will have a clue because I’ll be able to charm my way out of any awkward conversations with the help of a little dark magic.” She grins menacingly.

“You sociopath.” I take the knife from her grasp with dark magic and place it on the coffee table. “Where did you find this?”

“Not telling you.”

I read her mind and find myself grinning. “I’m having words with Skywalker to make sure he keeps an eye on his stuff when you’re around.”

“Gee, ruin all of my fun, you do.” She wriggles away from me. “I’m off to tell Sombra that you had a vision.”

I sit up and my eyes grow wide. “Don’t tell Sombra, he’ll-”

“Tell me what, exactly?”

There’s a moment of silence. “Uh, nothing,” I say quickly.

Sombra strides into the room and looks at me. “I already know everything, and I am not letting you leave. You have been feeling ill all day, and now you have lost consciousness.” He points out. “We still don’t know the cause of these events, so it would be better if you stayed here and allowed Wishbone to keep an eye on you.”

“Is Hope going with you?”

“Yes, but why are you-”

I glare at him, hurt by this revelation. “Wherever you’re going, I’m going, and if you really want me to stay you can stay here with me.”

“Moonlight-”

“And I want Radiant Hope and Wishbone to move out. Especially Hope. They can come here for lunch and to talk about running the Crystal Empire, but they’ve lived in the castle for long enough. Those rooms they’re staying in are for guests, like Rutherford or Blueblood.”

“Why are you so desperate to see them go?”

“Because.”

“Why are you upset all of a sudden?”

“I just am, alright? I need to get away from the castle and spend some time with different ponies.”

“I see. Well, it is nearly one o’clock. Wishbone and Hope have finished packing the last few bags of food. I would like you to wear your armour and have your saddlebags packed in half an hour’s time.”

“Fine.” I leave the lounge and walk straight to our bedroom. I’m frustrated. Even though I’ve spoken to them about this before and asked them to remember how I feel, Sombra and Hope are still spending a lot of time together and it gets on my nerves. I know I shouldn’t be paranoid, but I can’t help it. They’ve known each other for a long time, and Hope isn’t the most trustworthy mare.

I reach our bedroom and walk into the dressing room. I take a long time putting on the suit of armour that Sombra had made specifically for me after we got engaged. It looks almost exactly like his, except the helmet covers my entire head and has had magic used on it so that I can communicate with him over long distances. I haven’t worn any of the armour in quite a while - I haven’t needed to until now - and I hesitate before putting on the helmet. Do I really want him to be able to read my mind from several miles away? Do I want him to know… that I’m losing some of my trust in him? I decide it’s probably for the best, and put the thing on.

As I leave the dressing room, I notice my tiara sitting on my bedside drawer. I stop again just to look at it for a few moments. I’m the Queen of the Crystal Empire. I’m an important pony with a lot of responsibility. I’ve got to stay strong for everypony else, and have faith in Sombra. I need to look after everypony, and stay focused on my task.

What is my task? Giving Celestia a piece of Tartarus.

When I reach the castle throne room, all eyes turn to me. I walk up the steps to the platform with the twin crystal thrones. Standing next to my throne are Wishbone,
Skywalker and Cozy. Sombra is sitting down, and he smiles at me as I walk past him. I’d smile back, but he wouldn’t be able to see either way. Next to him are Radiant Hope, Hanzal and Swift Lightning. There are about thirty ponies, all in the Crystal Guard, looking at me and waiting expectantly.

Your moment has arrived, my love. Think of what the Solar Guards did to those ponies and what Celestia has done, and tell them all what is in your heart.

I take off that stupid helment and place it on my throne. Then I take a deep breath and say, “I’m going to be frank with all of you here. I’m asking you to go into a war zone and risk your lives for a small village called the Town of Starlight with a population of less than a hundred ponies, and I don’t feel proud of myself. But I’m asking you to go out into this situation, and I’m going with all of you, because Celestia’s finally revealed her true colours, and she’s a bully. I’m sick and tired of her and her guards bullying others, especially those who can’t fight back.

“But we’re not just going to this village to fight Solar Guards. Causing trouble for Celestia won’t help the ponies who lost their homes, their belongings and their loved ones to fire last night. We’re going to be helping to rebuild the village, and the healers and doctors here will treat any ponies who were injured in last night’s attack.” I pause, a plan forming in my head. “I’ve only just thought of this, but I’m going to delegate some of the responsibility of leading this mission to Colonel Skywalker, if that’s ok.” I glance at him.

“It would be my pleasure, ma’am… I’d just like to know why.”

“You’re the one with better tactical knowledge here.” I turn to the others. “I need a few of the ponies here to help me gather some evidence; anything may be useful for us against Celestia. Everypony has a right to know about this.” My eyes fall on Cozy and Wishbone. “I’ll need somepony to find some cameras and a good supply of paper before we leave.”

“I can do it, Mum,” Cozy says immediately.

“Thank you,” I reply, smiling at her. I look back to the Crystal Guards. “The leader of the village we are going to visit is a pony who believes in equality and justice. When we travel there, I want all of us to bring justice for her and her ponies, and treat all of them the way we treat each other. As for the Solar Guards… If they surrender or if they’re injured, you can help them, but don’t trust them. If they try to hurt you, though, don’t show them any mercy. Are there any questions?”

Hesitating slightly, Swift takes a few steps forwards. “Ah, uh, Ah don’t know as Ah should be goin’ with yeh.”

“Why not?” I ask.

He looks at his fellow Crystal Guards for a moment. “Ah used ter be a Solar Guard, an’ Ah used ter hate the Crystal Empire an’ dark magic an’… all of this, really. Even called every bat pony Ah saw a vampire. Ah was taught that yeh weren’t normal ponies. But Ah’ve had a long time in jail to change mah mind, an’ you, Queen Moonlight,” he turns back to me and smiles, “yeh showed me yeh could be kind.”

His smile falters again. “Thing is, if Ah’m caught by mah old friends… Ah ain’t sure what they might think, whether the guards are bein’ controlled by magic or summat, or what they might do ter me ter ‘cure’ me.”

“Bucking selfish coward trying to save his own flank again,” Hanzal mutters.

A whisper in a silent room is very loud. A wave of shock travels through the room. Even Skywalker looks somewhat disappointed by his friend’s outburst and shakes his head a few times.

I simply tell Hanzal, “You’re not coming with us. You’re staying here.”

“But-”

“Can’t allow that, Your Majesty.” Skywalker intervenes.

“He’s causing trouble.” I look at him, surprised by his actions. “We can’t be fighting each other if we’re going into a war zone.”

“I understand that, but it still doesn’t give you the right to make drastic decisions, Ma’am.” The bat pony remarks. “Much less talking to my family like that.”

A sudden silence fills the room and everypony, including Hanzal, turns at him, shocked. My own eyes grow wide as soon as the word “family” comes into mind.

He called Hanzal his… family? I think.

Impressive, I must say. Sombra admits. Though it makes sense for how close they are… perhaps they consider themselves brothers?

We’ll have to find out later. I glance at him before looking back at the Colonel.

“Well, if he wants to help out here and not look like an idiot in front of his colleagues, you can tell him to swallow his pride and apologise to the Lieutenant.”

“He can apologise, and then both of them can stay behind.” The stallion glances at them, then at me. “I hate to point this out, but a major flaw in this plan of yours is that the Crystal Empire is being left without any means of defending itself.”

I remain silent for a few seconds, processing his observation of the plan and… it makes sense. How could I have been a fool and not think about that?

“Our army,” he continues, “has only just been founded and the soldiers aren’t prepared for any significant fight.”

Sombra interrupts, “The Crystal Empire will have the protection of the Changeling Kingdom whilst we are absent. However, you raise an interesting point, Colonel. Both of them should stay behind and keep training the troops for any possible attack, though they will have to learn to co-exist. Perhaps the reminder of an entire empire relying solely on them will empower the capacity to move past any issues they have with each other.”

Skywalker nods. “I would rather have none of our allies risk their safety for protecting our sovereignty, yet I agree with the last statement.” He turns at his partners. “Respect and tolerance are key for a united army. I would like you two to give an example.”

Hanzal and Swift glare at each other, then turn away, both stallions holding their heads high in the air. I can understand why they’re upset; it would be like me and Celestia spending an entire week together - something I am not about to try any time soon if I can help it. But Hanzal and Swift have a job to do.

“Ah’m not particularly happy with this, but Ah’ve gotta prove mahself here, an’ Ah know this ain’t like the Solar Guard. If he can hold his tongue, Ah can help out an’ keep this place shipshape.” Swift says, then glares at Skywalker. “Same with ye.”

“Fine,” Hanzal grunts.

The bat pony looks at the ground for a moment and bites his lip, then sighs. “We have a deal.”

I say to the three of them, “One more thing. You know more about the modern Royal Guards than almost anypony else here. All of you could save a lot of lives in battle if you can work together.”

Swift smiles, slightly embarrassed. “Yeh’ve got a point. Thanks, Yer Majesty.” Hanzal remains silent, but Skywalker gives a nod of understanding.

“No problem.” I reply, also smiling. “Are there any more questions?”

Silence.

“In that case, I think we’re all ready.”

Sombra stands up to address everypony. “All of the supplies that we are likely to need are already on the dais. Now all we need to do is transport them and ourselves to the village without being spotted. I have been in contact with the ponies whom we are visiting and we have agreed on a meeting place which is currently not occupied by the Solar Guards.”

“Good. I think there’s one more thing I should say, though.”

Sombra raises an eyebrow.

“Princess Amoré used to say that crystal ponies were like diamonds, that pressure wouldn’t break them but instead make them stronger, but I think that saying needs to be changed a little. It needs to include not just crystal ponies, but everyone who lives in the Crystal Empire.”

“Moonlight?” Sombra interrupts.

“Yes, my love?”

“If my memory of what Equestria and the Crystal Empire used to look like is correct, then what you just said could also be applied to the village we are about to visit.”

“Oh?”

He smirks, “The area where Starlight Glimmer’s town is located belongs to a large piece of land that corresponds to the Crystal Empire’s original sovereignty. Before, well, I needn’t say anything. We should all be aware of those events by this point.”

I find myself grinning. “Well, when we get there, we can ask the villagers if they’d like to rejoin the Crystal Empire, which would allow us to do a lot more to help them. Oh, and I can imagine there would be a few red faces in Canterlot too.”

That gets a round of laughter.

Once everypony is quiet, Sombra tells them, “We should be leaving. Starlight will be waiting. I will be taking groups of no more than ten at a time to a place I know of in the mountains near the village. If everypony could start to make their way to the dais outside, that is where we will start our journey.”

Everypony stands up, and I put back on that helmet, just in case we end up teleporting into the middle of a group of Solar Guards. We walk as a group down the stairs and out of the castle. A few Crystal Guards stand in the centre of the dais with Sombra, who asks Cozy and I to join him. The moment the two of us reach the centre, we are all surrounded by Sombra’s purple and green magic and the scenery around us changes.

We glance around at our new environment: mountains and cliffs wherever we look, but incredibly few plants. The sky is clear and the sun is considerably warmer than it is in the Crystal Empire.

I hear hoofsteps, and Starlight approaches us. Her purple and cyan mane is a complete mess and her eyes are tired, but she’s smiling nonetheless. Immediately, I run over to her and hug her. She hesitates slightly before returning the gesture.

“I’m so glad you came,” she says.

“I’m glad we can help you, Starlight.”

“Wow, you brought a lot of stuff with you.”

“There’s more.”

“Oh, thank you!” she cries. “The only problem is, the Solar Guards are still looking for us, and it’s not going to be easy moving all of this to the caverns.” She sighs, “They found out where we were staying and we had to make a run for it. Not ideal when everypony’s either tired, in pain or dealing with an empty stomach. But I couldn’t leave anypony behind.”

“Don’t worry. We can do this.” I look at Sombra. “You should go back and get the others. We’ll be able to carry all of this with magic.”

Starlight winces, “Not the best idea. That’s how they found out where we were last time. Too much magic in one area. They probably know that we’re here already.”

“Blyat.” Skywalker curses. “Looks like we’ll have to do this like the ol’ good times.”

“It’s fine.” She says. “There’s a shortcut through this cave here, and I’ve got somepony in there making sure it’s clear.”

“Good.” I look at Sombra and the others. “Everypony, this is Starlight Glimmer, founder of this town. She’s taking us to where the rest of her village is staying.” I turn back to her. “Lead the way, Starlight.”

She turns around and begins walking towards the mouth of a cave. Slowly, we all follow her, and I mentally prepare myself for the challenges we may have to face over the next few days.