Beauty in the Dark

Entry #1

I don't know what to write here, but here goes. If that damned lizard is going to give me paper and quills, I'll make use of it. Not that I expect anypony will ever read it but maybe it will help me sort out my thoughts. I suppose I should start somewhere.

My name is Moon Petal, diplomatic courier to the court of Princess Celestia of Equestria, and I am a prisoner.

I'm still not really sure what my captor wants from me. If it was just the diplomatic pouch we had, I wouldn't still be here. They've already proven they will kill...

They might still kill me. I'm just not sure, but ever since he learned I'm pregnant, they started treating me almost half-decently. After how he was treating me at first, I'm honestly a little frightened at what this change could mean, for me and for my foal.

No, I can't think that way. We've undoubtedly been declared overdue at this point, so ponies will be searching for us. With a little luck they will find where we were ambushed and maybe track our attackers back here. Star showed they aren't unbeatable.

Alright. I need to record what happened while it's still fresh in my mind, just in case. Starshine deserves to be remembered... By Celestia! It hurts so much to think about it. I have to get this written, though.

It all started with what should have been a routine mission to the court of Queen Novo on Mount Aris. Starshine and I brought a diplomatic pouch along the coastal route with no incident, as we have many times before.

The trip back is where it all went wrong.

“On your left,” Starshine called out with a laugh, swooping past Moon Petal as she glided over the vast taiga forest north of Mount Aris. He tilted his wings and looped over in front of her, flashing her a wink.

Moon Petal rolled her eyes, her own smile growing at the performance. “Enjoy it while you can, Star. If it weren't for this fatigue, I would be the one flying circles around you.”

With a streak of midnight-blue, the stallion flew another circle around her, falling into formation at her wingtip. “I could get used to this,” he mused, still grinning. “How many foals did you say you wanted?”

“Let's get through this pregnancy first,” Moon Petal said patiently, casting him a sidelong look. “Besides, you'd really get bored carrying diplomatic pouches without me if I'm always bare-hoofed and pregnant.” She chuckled, but almost immediately groaned and pressed a hoof to her belly.

Starshine's grin vanished, replaced with wide-eyed concern. “Are you OK, Moon?” He zipped in closer, reaching a foreleg over her shoulders. “What's happening?”

She nodded her head without speaking, gently pushing him back with one hoof. Still rubbing her belly she took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “I'm fine,” she said at last. “Just a little nauseous.”

“Do you need to rest? Some water? I think there's some crackers and mint tea in my pack.”

“Star, stop acting like I'm going to break.” She hovered in front of him, reaching up and touching his chin with her hoof. “The doctor said I might get some fatigue and nausea in the early months, and that's all that's happening. I'm fine.”

Starshine didn't look convinced. “Yeah, but are you sure she knows what she's talking about? I mean, I'm sure she's a good doctor and all, but she's a hippogriff. What does she know about pony pregnancies? Can she really be sure this is normal?”

“Star,” Moon Petal started slowly, summoning all her patience to deal with her husband's low-key panic. “She's a doctor, so she knows a lot more about all kinds of pregnancies than you do. And I can tell you from seeing my mom when she was carrying my little brother, this is completely normal.” She drew herself up closer looking him in the eyes, muzzle to muzzle. “If you don't stop freaking out about every little ache I have, you're going to be in for some very cold nights on the way home. Understand me?”

Starshine swallowed hard and nodded, reigning in his nerves with a long, slow breath. “Understood.”

“Good.” She kissed him lightly on the lips, then flapped back beside him. “Now, we should look for a good resting spot before too long.” She scanned the skies all around them, finding them clear to the horizon. “We don't know the safe spots along this route, and there are no clouds to be seen.”

“I'm sure something will turn up soon. The forest is thinning out.” He flew ahead a bit, peering at the distant shapes emerging on the horizon.

Spreading her arctic-blue wings wide, she started gliding again, conserving her strength as well as she could. She rolled her shoulders, trying to ease the muscles around the base of her wings. “Tell me again why we had to take an untested route home instead of flying up the coast like every other mission to Mount Aris?”

Starshine sighed, running a hoof over his pale-pink mane. “Because this route saves us up to three days over the usual route. We just have to cross the Badlands at the narrow point near the middle, then we're practically back in Canterlot. Given your condi-” He stopped himself, feeling the glare from his wife before the word was fully formed. “-your perfectly-normal fatigue, I thought getting through the trip as fast as possible would be preferable to taking the long way around. Besides, what does the coastal route have that this route doesn't?”

“Established waypoints with shelter and caches of food and water,” Moon answered in a deadpan voice. “And centuries of use by both ponies and hippogriffs, with patrols to help us if we get in trouble.“

“Well, sure, if that's what's important to you, it's got all those things, but my way is definitely faster, by a lot.”

She found herself smiling again, shaking her head. “Alright, you've convinced me. I'll follow my guiding Star, as usual.”

He pointed ahead, the shapes on the horizon starting to resolve themselves into tall, mismatched buildings. “Also if you're worried about supplies, we can always make a stop in Klugetown there before we make the cross-”

“Absolutely not!” Moon shouted, cutting him off. “Klugetown is most of the reason there isn't an established route here already. It's way too dangerous there for a pony carrying a diplomatic pouch. It's likely to get stolen right off your flank, or worse.” Seeing Star's expression at her outburst, Moon Petal softened her approach. “Look, Star, I'm glad you're thinking about my comfort for the trip. The pregnancy was a surprise to both of us, or I wouldn't have taken the assignment to Mount Aris in the first place. I'm telling you I can make the flight, even if it takes a little longer, but we're not going anywhere near Klugetown. We have enough supplies for the crossing. Let's just find a spot to rest up then we can make a night flight over the desert.”

Starshine nodded, chastened a bit by her words. “Alright. I think I saw a spot just over there.” He flew up beside her, giving her a hug as they started their descent, running a hoof over her crimson mane. “I'm just so eager to take care of you, Moon. I love you.”

She closed her eyes, savoring his embrace. “I love you, too, Star.” With another groan she pulled away, holding her belly. “Let's find that resting spot you saw. I think I'm ready to stop for a while.”

“As you wish, my beautiful Moon,” he answered with a gentle smile. “It's right over there, near the start of the dunes. See that little stand of trees?” He started flying slowly toward the landmark, making sure not to let Moon Petal fall too far behind.

From the edge of the forest light glinted off the lenses of the binoculars tracking after the pair of pegasi, following their descent to their landing spot. The watching creature lowered them from over its snout, lips curling into a crooked smile around its thick tusks. “Listen up, boys,” it called, leading to five similar creatures poking up their heads from concealment. “I think I see a big payday over there.” It pointed at the smallest of the others. “Run quickly to Konigi's place and tell him if he can send some of his crew, we can fill his biggest order. We'll make sure they don't get away.”

The smaller creature nodded and ran toward Klugetown. The other five gathered their nets and other gear, packing fast. “OK, boys,” the first creature said, raising the binoculars again to pinpoint where the pegasi landed. “Let's go catch some birds.”