Dawn of Midnightby ZalaShadowkinChaptersDawnMidnightThe Harvest MoonEufrimiaOne Good NightThe VisitorsDawn ‘Never has the Sun seen the shadows.’ -Dimmet Verge, Imperial Griffon philosopher. A buzz. A slight hiss. The shy chime of bells. The sound of falling chains followed by a rusted door opening coursed through the stone walls across the underground. Plain, red eyes moved in sudden agitation, all heading in unison to the pale light now illuminating the dark home of its underground inhabitants. The sound of shuffling and chains wrapping the door once more The light went off and another came forth, more soothing and pleasing to their eyes. A tall figure paced slowly, making sure not to startle them. They knew her; she knew they would not harm her, but she did not want to disturb their non-diurnal lives. She put down the crates, opening them for the bestial things to feast upon their content. As usual, they did not immediately head toward them. Instead, they congregated closer around her, distancing themselves from the source of the light, or else they feared lest it would burn them. ‘I’ve brought you… medication,’ she addressed them as a mother would her children. The beasts grunted. Some snarled, letting their drool dribble to the floor in thick gobbets. They were happy to hear Luna’s voice. It was comforting, delightful even. She smiled back at them, some did the same to her, but it did not last. As suddenly as it brightened her old yet extraordinarily youthful visage, it vanished. It felt wrong to smile like that. It was almost unnatural. She was like… mocking their fate. A silent melancholy settled in as she rehearsed the spell in her mind. Her mouth emitted a quick succession of words in a loud whisper, echoing in the chamber’s walls. They could feel that more was plaguing her mind. The creatures knew their protector was ill, but from what, their forgone minds could not tell. Crimson disks fixated on her without any obvious intellect behind them. They were no longer sapient, barely sentient even. They once had been Thestrals but after being cursed by a cabal of mad mages were transformed into hideous and monstrous things. Beneath their thick, black fur, their skin was alabaster white – almost ghostly and reptilian in appearance and touch. Their wings lost their leathery membranes, leaving the bone frames ever hanging on their own. Their teeth were slightly curved on the top, half-resembling canines, and their fangs had been elongated to unnatural proportions. Some had a second pair growing out of their lower jaw, jutting out and piercing their flesh; they could barely close their mouth afterward. It hurt them. She would regularly find blood splattered or fangs turned red from the blood running down them. Luna ceased her rehearsal and approached one of those miserable creatures, its condition unbearable to leave unattended to. Its real name she knew not, but she had given it the appellation of “Silv” for the patches of gray on its fur and skin – maybe the last remnant of its past self. Luna never uttered their names aloud in case it might confuse their fragile minds. Perhaps break them further. She took Silv from the muzzle with an abrupt grip. The miserable creature snarled. She made Silv look her in the eyes with a light push and caressed the back of its neck, calming the beast. Luna reassured the thing further, to finally start cleaning their bodily liquids. If outsiders saw her they would wonder why a being such as her not simply use magic to get it done in an instant. She would have answered them that it felt disingenuous; like she was cheating out the creature from a precious intimate moment. The only time she would use her powers was to cut the tusks-like things and heal the self-inflicted injuries. It always earned her a bunt when she concluded her work, and for them, a pat on the head. As much as they were comforted by her presence, their sight broke her. It was not her fault they had been cursed and transformed into hideous beasts, but she was the one that found them when everyone else had rebuffed them – they had even begun killing them. Luna saved the Thestrals, promising to return the villagers to their past selves. Someone had to, and she was not her sister; she had nothing to lose from people that shunned her – that forgot her – to care what they had to say. They blare about understanding and friendship, yet they are the ones that ignore and prejudice the most. If they genuinely harbored those ideals, they should have aided the poor things instead of imprisoning them into a miserable fate. She finalized their cleaning and stopped to wonder if she should proceed with a bath. For their cruel lack of intelligence, the shimmer of an instinct remained buried beneath – they could still clean themselves. Hygiene seemed to be too much of a rooted instinct in the minds of creatures for it to be extinguished. Luna crouched, preparing herself for yet another attempt to rescue them. Arcs of pale blue lightning issued out of her horn, enveloping the beasts and lifting them from the ground. They did not debate her – they knew whatever she was doing, it was not going to harm them. Her head began to hurt; she did not relent. She had to save them. Luna pushed forth, but the strain she was putting on herself finally overwhelmed her. It failed. For the thousand times, it failed. She let gravity depose her on the unclean floor as she let the seeping sense of capitulation deflate her. To make amends, to ever so slightly improve their lives, she elected to clean their habitat. At least, they would continue having a pleasant life – if they still recall what one must be. Luna reflected on her failure. A young girl approached her. She was still a child when they had been cursed but retained the wonder only children possess. An innocence Luna forgot she had ever experienced before. Experience had dissipated any sense of wonder in her. The girl caressed her head along Luna’s left arm like a dog demanding attention and play. Luna did not let her demand liggered long and picked the child up, holding the girl close to her body. The girl, sensing Luna’s troubled mind more keenly, hugged her. Luna returned the gesture, recognizing the adoration and trust radiating out of the deformed Thestral. Luna sighed. ‘What’s your name?’ she asked, disappointedly knowing deep down it was pointless to expect an answer from them. The girl looked at Luna directly in the eyes like few dared do. The child’s mouth moved in an attempt to answer. Luna hid the mounting sense of failure. For all her attempts, her face still betrayed an inkling of disgust. ‘Eu… fri… mia,’ the girl struggled, forcing the letters halfway between a growl and the vestiges of her real voice. Luna’s smile almost illuminated the room. Her features rejuvenated and the artifacts of her frown vanished. ‘Eufremia,’ she clarified the name in a voice soft as silk. ‘I’ve never heard the name before,’ her curiosity spoke. ‘It’s a beautiful name nonetheless.’ The others spoke, each telling Luna what could have been their names once. They had never done that before. It was wonderful and exciting to finally have brought anything close to normalcy and anything that related to their old lives back to them. Luna was proud of herself. ‘And you?’ She pointed toward Silv. It looked at her like a lost child or one wary to disappoint their parents with an answer that would not please them. ‘Au…n… reez…’ he finally forced out. ‘Aunreez,’ she repeated with an even voice. ‘I was calling you Silv because of your gray colors. Silv.’ He croaked his head and moved his jaws to adjust his teeth. ‘Silv,’ she said again. Nothing. ‘I guess it doesn’t matter anymore… Onr- I mean, Aunreez.’ She awkwardly laughed. He mewled a little, and that was enough for her to know that he appreciated her sentiment. Luna nodded to him and he joined the pack once more. She looked at Eufremia’s teeth, trying to spot any telltale signs of Aunreez inflection. The girl did not like it and made Luna’s task more arduous than it ought to have been. For ten seconds the girl struggled like her life was on the line. At the end of those ten seconds, Luna was done and thought Eufremia might have wanted to leave her. She let loose of the embrace but the girl remained firmly attached to Luna. She could have used the Elements of Harmony to finally and truly save them, but they had not worked. They had used to before. Her sister and she had used them individually on numerous occasions in the past. She attempted many times to harness their powers for them. She had poured in everything to make them work, but they were too unstable. Perhaps it had been her expending too much of her powers during the night, so she limited her visits to the Realm of Dreams – but to no avail. They were useless to save them. She could not bring other mages, nor could she bring her sister. They could harm them. Those corrupted beasts were her people; they lived in her night when others were frightened by its darkness and lack of light. More than any other living creature under the Sun, she had to provide for the Thestrals. It was her self-appointed responsibility. In the modern age, it is almost forgotten to us how tenebrous the night could be without the figurative protection of artificial light. In fact, so much its aegis overwhelms us that it blocks the sight of the very stars from the nightly sky. We were always scared of it; we always tried to scatter the dark, to make it dissipate. At night, one innocuous sound chiming during the day turns into a flurry of imaginings as our minds spark in the sense of immediate danger. As a collective, we have always been terrified of the unknown, even more so when it is sheaved in what cannot be observed or interpreted. That is why we prefer to assemble ourselves around the light; that is why the night, for generations, has terrified us. We cannot see what is in front of us; we know not what lies ahead; and it terrifies us. The Moon and stars may shine brightly in the darkness but seldom do they illuminate enough to cast the worst our imagination could conjure. And during those brief periods when the Moon would illuminate the land in its pale moonlight, we can appreciate its odd calmness. Suddenly, the danger appears far and distant. You peer at the sky and see constellations. For a reason that escapes us, we start to like it – even love it. It is only then that creatures dream. Luna thought again about the Elements. They had used them to defeat Discord and had brought back creatures of lesser rationality and far greater malevolence from the brim. Were they smiting her? Has it come down to this? The very things that had defined their reign were shunning her? She who cared for the Moon and dreams? It would not have surprised her. In fact, it felt almost exalting. She was not beholden to them anymore… but only answered to her sister. Luna smiled, but it was an odd smile – the Thestrals sensed it. A thing between exaltation and the fake smile of melancholy. The Elements… ‘… of Harmony,’ she hissed between her teeth. ‘Harmony,’ she repeated aloud to the tone of a curse. Her voice then shifted. The echo of something within emerged. ‘Harmony,’ she clearly cursed in a dusty tone. ‘What does it even mean?’ She made it echo in an impossible boom, making the dungeon walls tremble and the beasts shrink at her voice. They dropped as their knees were unable to withhold the reverberations. Instinctively, they wailed, crying out for help, but for whom, they knew not. The beasts still standing stepped slightly backward. They felt something was wrong with Luna. They sensed something different about her, something they never observed nor perceived. Luna was sitting in front of them, but simultaneously, it was not her. For the first time, they were terrified of the Mistress of the Night. Luna tightened her grip around the young creature. The girl named Eufremia sensed Luna’s trembles as she railed more determinedly in her anger. Eufremia hugged Luna, only knowing this method could calm her. And it did. Luna did not thank the girl, keeping to herself to make sense of what had happened. She healed those in need. Nothing more. Luna closed her eyes; they returned to stand around her, returning to the melancholic silence. Minutes passed, and Luna felt Eufremia’s weight. She thought the worst. Had she killed her? Was her spell slowly killing them? All sorts of scenarios raced in her head, some vying for her attention. No positive thoughts were emerging from the mind-fug of her melancholy. She had promised to save them. Even if this method had briefly paced her mind, it was wrong to believe such things – to go the easy way. A slither of the hope she had once in her youth still shyly ember underneath her melancholy. It was denied replenishment; it had shortly rekindled by hearing the beasts’ brief glimpse of an intellect. To then be smothered once more. Maybe she should stop caring about plights. To stop focusing on them. But who would then if she did not? She had powers and experiences beyond any living creature; it was her responsibility. But who would care to remember her efforts? Her sister was too enamored in her own world to give back any attention. Everything she would ever undertake will remain unsung – even her nightly toil. Creatures of all kinds, of any age, of any time, will always be scared of the dark – of the night. No matter how bright it may turn, there will always be apprehension toward her realm. There was a reason they had begun to say: “Let them rest in their final good night.” They forget but did not forget that phrase, surprisingly. Luna brought the girl in front of her in a flurry of panic. Eufremia opened her eyes and yawned as a kitten would. She had been sleeping. Luna excused herself. One of Thestrals stepped forward a single step away from the rest. A male, the father of the little girl. ‘Want your daughter, Arsal?’ asked Luna in her normal voice. Arsal did not understand what Luna said but locked his eyes on Eufremia. ‘You want, then…’ Luna returned the child to her father. She got up. ‘I’ll prepare the bath.’ Luna gestured forward with her head. ‘Follow me. I’ll have to shorten my stay, unfortunately… I have other errands… other ordeals…’ She sighed. ‘I still have to get my crown.’ Luna pointed forward again. ‘Follow me. Excuse me for my temper… I’m sorry.’ She recalled another point. ‘And there will be no walk tonight. The bad season is arriving… Damn it,’ she whispered the curse. At the very corner of her field of vision, where the root of a tree shyly peered, Luna noticed red lines descending the walls. Tentatively she approached them, the creatures in tow. She smelled the red veins – no irony scent, not the typical smell of blood; it was humid. Had their blood mutated to such an extent that it transformed to occlude all its former self? She took another sniff. Her eyes widened, her expression wanting to showcase a smile but locked in a stupor. The veins tended to turn white as they descended the wall. Then it hit her – a fungus. The red was simply the fungus expanding to a root on the floor below. She quietly chuckled in mockery of herself; Luna turned to address her flock. ‘See? We are not so different, you and I.’ Luna detested the expression, but the comic tone behind it made her smirk widening. She gestured for them to follow her toward the grand pool she had carved within the rocky underground, decorating it with all matter of intricately ornate designs and representations. She had let herself loose on that one; depictions of forests, rivers, and animals striding under a sky illuminated by a full Moon. Then again, it was one of the few places she could let herself free without any sort of barrier. The liberation of rocks had not been what she spent most of her time on. The carving and the designing of the irrigation system, however, had been where she poured in everything. Maybe no one will pay it heed; maybe people and later centuries will find it ravaged by the elements and the carvings barely perceivable, but it was her creation, and she was proud of it. Luna sat on the edge, observing them enjoy the cool water she had let pour in. She thought of soaking herself in it, but a quick observation and sniff of the water made her elect otherwise. She loved them and was ready to share in their hardship, but even her love had limits. And constantly cleaning the water while dipping in would be nigh impossible if the likes of Eufremia wanted to play their, at times, quite brutish games. The times she sealed scars caused by their tusks and bony wings were too many to count. Their games had even earned her a small scar underneath her right wing. Luna quivered at the thought of potentially ingesting their water, not deigning to hide her disgust. She and her sisters were immortal – that is true – but it did not immune them from sicknesses. Luna was more resilient in that department, whereas Celestia always seemed to unwantedly catch herself something. ‘You’re sweltering, Celestia. Where have you been? The swamps?’ ‘Worse! The city!’ she had intentionally exaggerated… half-exaggerated; cities in that time were a haven of clustered packs for disease to spring up from. Sanitary reforms and improvements were not yet to be promulgated, though it wouldn’t have been long until they were forcibly applied. Luna smirked. ‘Well… At least, your pyromancy is being used for once.’ ‘I do use it… often. When you’re not here… and when no one is looking,’ she jokingly diverted her regard. ‘Oh, sure. I trust you though – partially,’ she laughed. Celestia joined Luna, only stopping when it became too painful to continue. ‘By the Aurelian Path of the Carrion Road of damned Tartarus… my head…’ Luna got up from her side and gently pocked Celestia on the head. ‘You better rest, idiot. It will be boring on my own.’ ‘I promise to rest!’ Celestia declared. ‘Can’t you heal me?’ ‘Something has really melted in there,’ poking her more on the head. ‘Remind me. I tend to forget when-’ ‘-convenient,’ chuckled Luna. Celestia agreed with a nod coupled with a smile. ‘At any rate. Say I take the marmalade out of the cupboard, then the marmalade will be out of the cupboard, but the cupboard remains, right? If I take the disease out of you, it will remain out, and I will be tempted to eat it.’ ‘Willingly catch my illness? You must be mad or utterly deranged. And you eating marmalade is even more unlikely.’ ‘My point exactly! And why not both?’ she grinned in amusement. ‘Additionally, you are the mad one here.’ The conversation had occurred… Luna could not remember, but it was in the early days – she was sure of it. She rummaged for the memory, searching all the recesses of her mind for more details – more anything related to a fragment of memory. The memory was gone, however. “Oh, sure. I trust you though – partially.” It sounded partially foreign to her, like a thing she had not said. Could it have been that she was imagining this entire conversation? It felt real in some parts, of which she could not ascertain where the lies began or ended. Perhaps her sister would have her doubts – but, at the same time, she could be lying. From the side, Luna noticed the different truths Celestia shared. Luna noticed the half-lies and half-truths she indulged in. Which of her words could be her earnest ones, Luna gave up deciphering. Luna could not cut down on the number of past promises Celestia had reneged upon. In their long existence, changing residence had come surprisingly little; when it would happen, Luna would begin by drawing the plans for the general layout in addition to the more hidden chambers strews around for delicate trinkets. At first, Celestia was indulgent with the time and cares her sister gave for each, letting her an almost infinite timeline and budget to act upon her creative mind. But as the years went by, as society evolved and its miens shifted, Celestia became less patient with Luna’s creativity. The castle had to be finished. The castle had to be made for modernity – for the preferences of the age. Luna still held the reigns as Chief Architect and the preeminent builder of the dungeons, though the second in command had taken a more arrogant and decisive position. Luna berated Celestia openly for letting such behavior be tolerated by “her puppets”. Celestia readily obliged; then the behavior returned. Luna complained. It receded. Came back again. Luna eventually gave up on either of them to grant her freedom. In Shire, however, there she had let her imagination run freely. Courtiers called it the “Hidden Jewel of the West” or simply and more commonly, the “Hidden Jewel”. Luna cared not to promote its existence. If it had to be known it would be by popular consent rather than pushed opinion. Of course, her sister had praised and even vaunted her talents – one of the few instances she could recall that had not been drowned by Celestia taking the light from her or people simply forgetting. It was not as if the west of Equestria had anything to offer. Compared to the east, it was almost economically barren and irrelevant. Other than the scant trade routes with the north, there was nothing for her to warrant great attention. The nobles ruled themselves without her intervention, more scared by Celestia’s disapproval than her own – not that Luna cared much for their irrelevant complaints to work with their intrigues and complex lineages. In fact, more than the basic family structure, any deviation or name related to any odd relation beyond cousin, confused her. Even still, Luna found it hard to not trust Celestia’s words. It was her sister, the last remnant of what once was; the only other Alicorn and immortal in that world – who else could she trust? It was naive of her. She knew it. Luna hated her naivety. Yet she was constantly pushed by her mind to trust Celestia’s praises. Luna believed her when she would spur excuses. She was convinced, every time, that promises would be upheld. She had concluded its construction centuries back. She had not added anything to it since then. There was simply nothing new to experience in that world. She had little to nothing to enjoy about that world. Luna had given her residence all, and only received forgotten and lost approval. Many had even forgotten she was the architect of all the many Equestrian monuments. Not that they cared to know. There was still the Dream Realm for Luna to obtain any semblance of her sister’s satisfaction in life. But even her role of protector was lost to most. Sometimes her interventions would be direct, though for most, the vast majority of the time, she preferred the indirect method. They did not hate her for that but creatures are always fearful of the mysterious – Luna knew that – but any other method would have the adverse effect of what she would expect. She knew how they tended to think, how they were inclined to perceive the world and those around them. Ignorance is bliss, she cursed with her mind’s voice. She would not bow to the whims of the masses. She will not let them force their will upon her. We all had once been jealous or bitter in our lives. Sometimes those very sentiments take you to places where your normal self would only fathom. They poison us, and as the poison takes in – we lose ourselves to it. We become something new as the old self dies, and a new being arises from the ashes of what once was. No matter our background, we are vulnerable to them in some form. And for Luna, a creature that lived far beyond what mortal minds can conceive and comprehend, we can only hardly imagine what centuries of pent-up resentments does to someone. Luna doubted Celestia would know the memory to be real. It had never happened. She had excised completely. Asking would be pointless. To have such a conversation again would be impossible for how much Celestia had changed. Always presenting the same visage but dissimulating a creature Luna did not recognize. An hour passed. Luna beckoned for the corrupted Thestrals still lagging behind to exit the bath and join their brethren standing behind her. Like dogs drying themselves, the creatures agitated the water off. And following her initial mistake, she knew to keep some distance away from them. After checking everyone was on her side of the pool, Luna siphoned the filthy water out and cleaned the bottom from the clumps of fur that had fallen. There were more this time, but it could be just happenstance. She thought having seen this much before even if her inner voice was telling her otherwise. As she cleaned the bath, the Thestrals went to eat. She also wished to be able to teach them how to properly masticate. If there was something she could not handle was the sound of chewing. When she would be at dinners or any occasions of this sort, Luna was like a hawk preying for any sound that could disturb the peaceful proceedings. Her sister called her behavior inappropriate, but she was not the one lacking the proper table manners for food consumption. A thing they should have learned when they were children. It was time to leave now. She would return late. Maybe in a week or less – depending on what she could garner and conjure for them. They were not very demanding and their bizarre biology had made them impervious to the same kind of satiation normal creature would. Beginning her turn, she was interrupted by a loud mewling. Eufrima came rushing towards her with a portion of her meal, Arsal had also stopped to eat but only to keep a distant eye on his daughter. There were no other children between them, his concern was understandable, though Luna wondered where the mother was. ‘No, thank you, Eufremia; I am not hungry. Maybe another time.’ She had gestured her refusal to take the girl’s gift. Eufremia was clearly saddened about it; Luna pet her on the head to assure her that she was not mad at her. Luna then called for Arsal to take the girl. ‘Keep her safe, Arsal. You have a wonderful daughter.’ She was sure all her words had meant nothing, but he had nodded slightly. Putting Eufremia on his back, they returned to where the rest had gathered, but at the last second, Luna took the food Eufremia had proposed and ate a noticeable portion out of it. The little girl rejoiced and that alone meant the world for them. ‘I promise to save you,’ she said, doubting if she could uphold this promise, but she hoped it would reach them. ‘If I am not able to, I promise to remember your names. You will not be forgotten.’ She was confident about this last part. Their lives had been cut so brutally short. Every one of them had ambitions, desires, interests, and dreams once. They could have been something great. They could. The least she could offer them as compensation was her last promise. They will be remembered. For eternity, they will be remembered. ‘I promise.’ Midnight ‘Those who promise us paradise in the world have produced anything but a hell.’ -Mekeskaf, heiress to Queen Beremaka of Hive Crucis. ‘What would it be for, then? To continue building the cloud habitations you are still promising to finish after fifteen years? Not a difficult one; hm? Five years you had assured – remember? You do not require our assistance,’ asserted the Duchess of Manehattan, playing with her red mane to entertain herself with something more worthwhile than the demands of the Baron of Tall Tale. ‘Tall Tale requires those resources more than you ever will!’ The baron’s voice surged in the open hallway. He struck differently from his counterpart; he possessed a light gray skin with a silvered mane, while she proudly wore her deep beige. The guards remained impassive but stood ready to intervene in case it soured – and it had been done many times before. In fact, those very same talks had occurred with those two more times than they ever cared to remember. Their dispute was important – they were sure – but as long as the guards were not ordered to act upon their training, they had to trudge through their disputes. A thing they reciprocated with their ruler with an equal tranquil stance, though theirs was less subtle. She remained proud. ‘We also have projects to finish; funds are also required.’ ‘Ah, you lot in Manehattan are in need of funds, hein?’ he mocked. ‘Another palace for one of your scions? A bribe for certain foreign traders that will only benefit y-’ ‘I let you know that it does trickle down. Already the past year we have modernized the sewer system and expanded the baths. We have renovated popular habitations and ensured easier access to clean water! You criticize just to hide your shortcomings.’ They looked toward Celestia. Her eyes were closed, letting out a serenity that in spite of how much they had been witness to it, still baffled them. A perfect statue made of the perfect white, representing all their different colorations in one. She was hearing them – that they knew. It was simply her favored method of comprehension; no emotion was apparent, no obvious slide to one’s side of the problem. She wore an expression that irradiated with the patience and wisdom only a creature as she could conjure; yet it wasn’t all-encompassing. She was approachable and was known to crack jokes and accept some of those at her expense, but the feeling of having to restrain their words and carefully weave them with delicate attention lest it offends their divine leader. And on the aspect of the divine, she categorically denied and admonished all those that would refer to her as such. ‘Alright,’ calmly interjected Celestia, widening her smile to ease down the building tensions between the two. One of them wanted to raise her voice but Celestia spoke more, preventing the Duchess from expressing her thoughts. ‘I can attest to the improvements you have achieved. I would like to congratulate you once more on it.’ ‘Thank you, Princess. It-’ ‘However,’ she cut through the words like a newly smithed sword, ‘you indeed possess enough resources in your domain to assist your fellow Equestrians no matter the circumstances. I have not received anything pertaining to any significant projects you were entertaining. In fact, looking at the past year’s report and taking into consideration your economic activities, you will have a treasury in excess. Like previous year and the one preceding it.’ ‘In turn, funds that can be sent,’ he pointed out. Celestia nodded and then addressed one of them. ‘But for it to be done, you will need to purge your bureaucracy of the undesirables,’ added Celestia, letting out a certain assertiveness. ‘We will do, Princess,’ the duchess and baron conceded. ‘Wonderful! But to make sure, an arrest warrant has been sent to the head of the port and the head of customs, duchess. Also consider similar already under way, baron.’ ‘But-’ she wanted to object. She had made her cousin as harbormaster and her brother as an in-charge of levying taxes on merchandise, their arrest would be disastrous and the investigation subsequent would spill out the end of her dynasty. She had been raised to be a duchess, not some lowly countess or, while it might sound odd, petty princess. Though, she knew it had already been lost. ‘But nothing,’ interrupted Celestia. ‘Duchess, you will offer a loan and-’ ‘We cannot afford loans, Princess,’ he admitted. ‘I would gladly offer you those funds – but with high collaterals.’ ‘I know the interests you like to present for lenders!’ ‘You can comb out the details during the night,’ said Celestia. She wanted to expand on that thought, but the duchess spoke first. ‘It will get stolen!’ She noticed her raised tone and then lowered it. ‘As they always do. Funds siphoned who-knows-where without any meaningful… anything! The west can barely differentiate between an apple and a pear.’ She paused. ‘Nor I would be able to distinguish between a child and one of their aristocrats, or their scholars even.’ ‘Enough,’ asserted Celestia. ‘You accuse and accuse but lack any substantial evidence!’ the duchess held on to her shout. ‘The Princess has spoken!’ he buried the knife deeper. ‘Let your absent one decide-’ ‘You both speak as if you are innocent,’ eyed Celestia both of them; she clenched her teeth tight to not raise her voice. ‘Neither of you are. But one is more than the other, and that back and for during the past hour – Nay, the past two months! – has showcased how utterly biased you two are. That is baffling and childish.’ Seeing that neither of them wanted to add to the conversation, Celestia continued. ‘Now, kindly, go rest for the night, decide the method upon which we will conclude those talks, and we will continue in the morning. For better or worse, the matter will end tomorrow. It is summer, nights are always cooler here, it will lend will to thinking. And if no agreement is reached, I would have to partake in a more direct approach. Or the thing you are fearing could happen, duchess. The same applies to you too, baron. That is my final decision. Leave and good night.’ ‘Good night, Princess Celestia,’ they said, bitterness and resentment apparent. Those two had only been the perfect topping for what had been another grueling day. A repeat of the same labors and toils she experienced countless times over in her long life. She had to teleport herself into many locations to keep up with her engagements, leaving her drained utterly. Yet, it was not all done; some of the issues required more attention than she could offer in a single day. Her smile, once radiant and true, had turned into a fake one – a thing she had to wear to keep a semblance of what she had made the world believe to be real. “I would have to partake in a more direct approach”; it possesses two meanings and she detested either option. Yet she had to use one of them from time to time when she had to capitulate to the requirements of certain dealings. Those two were the easy options, but she had not the gall to use them outside the final requirements. They terrified her of how easy the slide could be once she let herself go loose. She had to keep herself tethered, to not take the easy path. Many would suffer if she came to freely rely upon it, but the equal opposite would occur if she did not arrest her current ways. Celestia still recalled vividly the early days and had no wish to see them go past once more. Peaceful negotiations are the way of things, nothing else. The past was done; only the future mattered. Celestia ponderously pushed her tired frame toward her room, telling a guard in his polished golden armor to inform Luna, if she came to pass, of her location. Blood had gathered down to her limbs, and they felt numb. You would think you get used to such things after decades of repeating tiresome work. From personal experience, she could attest it was not the case. Finally releasing oneself after long hours was both elating and painful; she could never decide which was which. Eventually, she stopped caring as the redundancies of her role set in fully, and her days turned all similar. The routine became embedded as just a part of life. Nothing was changing it. At least she had Luna to harken her to a semblance of a good life. To a time when such responsibilities were foreign to her. But her sister had turned more absent in the past years, leaving for even longer stretches. On the chance she would come, Celestia wished Luna’s advice. To reassure her in moments of doubt that she was acting in the correct course. She trusted her sister’s words, and would never dare doubt their veracity. In private, it was the reality of things. In public, however, Celestia had to walk a careful balance; she needed to trust her, but not naively follow her. Celestia finally arrived at her bed. She let herself fall upon it, taking whatever pillow she could use without caring for the way her somewhat ornate quarters would look to outsiders. She can be awakened by some intruder in the early morning; she knew they would not dare levy anything toward her, preferring to forget before they were told to. **** … … … … … … What are you? I am Celestia. I am Luna’s sister. What are you? I am Celestia. I am Luna’s sister. I am the one that raises the Sun, the- No. What are you truly to them? To whom? To them. What are you? An Alicorn. My sister and I are Al- What are you to them? A-a Godd- What are you to them? Luna is the Maiden of Dreams. Who is Celestia? What is Celestia to those that live common lives? Their Prin- What are you to them? I am Celestia… And? I am Celestia. And? I… I am Celestia and I am Luna’s sister. No- ‘Celestia?’ asked a faint and familiar voice. ‘Luna…’ Excitement was perceptible beneath her tired tone. Celestia wanted to raise her head to greet her properly, but she was too tired to even make do on that simple action. Luna stared down at her with distant eyes; her staleness was not betraying any want to aid her. Ponderously, Celestia put a pillow beneath her head so she could more easily talk with Luna. ‘I missed you.’ ‘Me too.’ She showed no outward sign of emotion. A thought passed Celestia’s mind; terrified and weary, she moved past it. ‘I require some-’ ‘Later,’ Luna instantly interrupted, knowing well what she desired from her. ‘Not… Alright,’ Celestia accepted. ‘How was your day- your months, then…?’ Luna thought she heard the hint of a patronizing tone. She hid her disgust. ‘Nothing you should concern yourself with. I was here for an errand now finished. And what had needed to be done, was done; until they soar later in the ages. In the end, it is not like it matters. Equestria is stable, and the borders are safe; there is nothing major to be concerned about, sister. Everything, and I repeat,’ she held on to a hiss, ‘everything is fine in the realm.’ ‘True… Why don’t you sit?’ ‘You need sleep. Look at yourself!’ She purposefully exaggerated her movements. But then remembered the baffled decorum, and ceased instantly. ‘And I have my work now,’ added Luna. ‘Yes… That you do…’ ‘Do not want me to perform what is mine to do?’ Luna scorned. Celestia did not answer for a second. ‘Of course not.’ ‘Then I have my work to perform. The Moon was raised; I am already late for it. I am busy.’ ‘Excuse me, Luna. I just hoped we could’ – she yawned – ‘… that we could talk a little.’ ‘About your problems,’ Luna denounced. Celestia closed her eyes. ‘Anything. At least before you leave again.’ There was a certain sadness underneath, but so sheaved it was that it could easily go unnoticed. ‘I have my own duties, Celestia,’ stated Luna. ‘You can choose the ones close to here…’ ‘I do not like it here. Everyone acts fake and too full of themselves for me to ever even consider their issues anything worthwhile. Their opulence has changed them.’ She approached Celestia, her whisper cold like a winter storm. ‘You want me to desert the border regions and any other more fringe locations? To leave aside the forgotten and the weak in profit of those you deal with daily? No. No, I will not choose the ones close to here.’ She lifted her head up, leveling her voice. ‘Other regions require my attention, you know it.’ Luna expected a rebuttal, but nothing came as Celestia slipped into sleep. ‘Good night,’ grunted Luna. She noticed Celestia lacking proper cover. It was cold tonight; better she did not catch anything with her eating habits; Celestia had a more sensitive stomach. Luna carefully adjusted Celestia’s position and tugged her. She opened her eyes in a slight squint. ‘Just helping you,’ reassured Luna, the stain of the old sister showing itself. ‘…Thank you…’ whispered Celestia. ‘Don’t mention it.’ ‘Lu-luna…’ she pushed out. ‘Yes?’ ‘What am I to them? What… do I represent?’ Luna held on to a grin. ‘Are you doubting yourself?’ she asked in a soft voice. Celestia closed her eyes again. Luna, knowing deep down Celestia would not answer her, would then utter the words that had trapped them for eternity. ‘Like me – we are Alicorns. We are their rulers. We were fated to that role and that is what was, is, and will ever be. Fate is what has taken us to the road that leads to rulership. We are beholden to fate. Nothing more.’ ‘And we are sisters,’ she faintly added, too quiet to be made out but loud enough for Luna’s ears to perceive. What could have been Luna’s earnest answer turned into a mocking truth as the brief ripples of smile made themselves manifest. ‘And we are sisters.’ Celestia seemed to had not heard beyond the words as she returned to sleep with no concern behind Luna’s tone. ‘Good night, Celestia.’ A retinue of ten guards that had followed her to Celestia’s chamber greeted Luna as she finally exited the room. She thanked them with a simple nod and strode on her own along the corridor illuminated by the full Moon shining its silver light through the ceilings’ windows. As per their training and remit, the guards followed – unicorns in the middle next to the Princess, pegasi standing in a concentric circle, and a single earthbound selected according to peculiar talents was their officer. An ancient layout she had put in place herself and one still followed unaltered through the centuries. All wore the white and gold of Celestia’s close retinue. Well, their close retinue – Luna had mostly ignored hers. They were still present, wearing their midnight-black armor proudly, but she did not care for their display. She could not trust them; they were kept on the rims of her personal domain in a semblance of important positions. In secret, however, Luna had built for herself a loyal entourage of Thestrals, vested with similar armor but with helms designed to hide their features completely. The Thestrals were more disciplined than the others and obeyed orders with a passion those same others lacked. They were her personal project; so, she cajoled them and adorned their protective plates with all the intricate designs her mind could etch. She divided them into six groups, each with unique decorations to indicate their belonging. Of course, not all were stationed in her palace. Regularly, one would be rotated amongst those that were patrolling the regions she had previously assigned to them. And contrary to their official versions, no limit was set on their numbers. ‘You can return to your positions,’ she addressed them all with the assertiveness of her role. ‘We are-’ began the officer. ‘I will not be remaining here. Take the night off – I insist.’ They bowed. ‘Thank you, Princess,’ said the officer. ‘Good night.’ ‘Good night, Princess Luna. May you stay safe on your voyage.’ ‘I will. I know how to defend myself.’ ‘We’ve read the histories.’ Luna nodded, smiling wearily. The guards turned in unison and she moved forward to the balcony. Arriving there, she stopped and took her time to look at the Moon. Her eyes betrayed nothing. Her gaze then turned toward the constellations. Every culture had given them their unique set of names – born from local legends or ones birthed from whatever stories taken or adopted from foreign cultures. For Equestria, it was all of them but, in truth, laid mostly from the very, very scant information the once Crystal Empire indulged the world with. Luna never, even in the early days, was able to remember their names and never tried to. Instead, she amused herself by giving each name of her making. They were repetitive but great entertainment for her. One that was typically given the shape of a bright shooting star with a tail tucked underneath, she gave it the name Araris – the name had no particular meaning but sounded right to her. ‘Princess Luna!’ cried two voices she did not recognize interrupted her alone time. The guard had stopped them from moving closer; she ordered for them to release the two. ‘What is the matter,’ Luna addressed the two nobles before they could have reached her as they bowed all the way to her. ‘We are in a conundrum, the duchess and I,’ he began. ‘Rise, both of you.’ She paused for them to do so, hoping to not ask the following question. They reached her and waited for Luna to speak first. Protocol. Right. ‘And who are you?’ she smirked but it quickly deflated as Luna continued. ‘And of which duchy and other domains are you the head of?’ ‘I am Baron Aurelian Silver of Tall Tales.’ ‘I am Duchess Star Dusk of Manehattan.’ ‘Greetings, then. What is the matter of your dispute?’ ‘Majesty,’ Aurelian said, ‘our dispute has been solved. As far as we are concerned, though. However, we’ve found another solution to it, and we are not sure if your Sister would appreciate hearing it brought up.’ Luna sat down on the cold flour. ‘Let me be candid: so you have found a way to protect your interests? Family is on the line, right? Or yourselves, presumably? Or precisely, yourselves. At any rate, you want me to make sure you remain in your roles and keep doing what you do, going against her decision. I have no queries doing so, though know I am not too lenient. I am sure bureaucrats have been ordered to be disposed of – close ones or valuable one, it matters not. You want me to keep those you care about out of harm – and yourselves similarly.’ Eerie – that was the first word that came into Star Dusk’s mind. But there was a charm in the flow of her words that kept Dusk focused and wanting to hear all that she had to say. ‘Precisely,’ answered Aurelian, equally – if more so – fascinated by her directness. ‘Could you assist us, Highness?’ ‘I will write a missive letting her know my standing. I let you know I have heard some interesting news from your harbor, duchess.’ Star Dusk swallowed her spittle. Silver kept looking in captivation. ‘I will not be too lenient, Baron Aurelian Silver – I know what you do, but rarely cared to force you into a change since otherwise, everything’s still fine.’ ‘Thank you, my Princess!’ He knelt in front of her. ‘I will strive to improve my domain for you!’ He kept his head low. She did not force him up but hated his sudden show of zeal; Luna looked back at Star. ‘Duchess… about the port… let us talk in private. Do not worry, it will be short. Your sleep, I mean,’ Luna laughed quietly. Star joined her after a second, understanding the joke Luna said. Luna then told Aurelian to step aside, taking Star aside on the balcony from potential prying ears. Barely half an hour later, Star Dusk exited from the balcony as Luna disappeared into the night, her shape vanishing under the light of the full Moon. Star joined Aurelian; he had kept his gaze fixated on Luna’s flight even after she became invisible to the eye. ‘You’d never seen her before now?’ asked Star. ‘No. It is a rare occurrence. That is why it is fascinating.’ ‘I know that,’ she whispered. ‘But you’ve changed demeanor so fast – even just knowing she was here made you ecstatic. And after two months of seeing your fetid face, I am surprised.’ ‘Before she died, my mother saw Her once. I was still a kid when she died. And since then, almost twenty cycles later, I’ve always wished to meet with Her personally.’ ‘You act like the Griffons,’ accused Star Dusk. ‘Like they do to their Gods,’ she accused. ‘Really?’ he softly replied. ‘What is a being like Her Majesty otherwise?’ She shuffled her teeth, not knowing what to add to it. The thought had never occurred to her. All those dealings with Celestia striped every morsel of the more divine respect she had for the Princess. She still respected her, but more the respect and loyalty of a vassal towards its feudal liege. Star Dusk looked up to the Moon and like the baron gazed passively towards it. ‘We can’t do that with the Sun,’ he added. ‘It is comforting.’ ‘I guess so,’ she thoughtfully said, not diverting her attention. ‘I guess so.’ The Harvest Moon ‘Though possessing two eyes, most creatures can see but a single thing at a time.’ -Rjoth Greze Hjert, a very perceptive canine. The family exited their house, with them all the tools and supplies needed for the labor ahead. The few following days would be long and tiresome. Already the summer season had proven exceptionally dry, and with the threat of an upcoming early winter like latter years, they had no time to spend idling. Though the harvest in and upon itself would not occupy them much relatively. The subsequent organization of reserves and verify the house’s ability to retain heat would be occupy them during the autumn and the late summer season. Then, the wood had to be gathered for heat; shopped, dragged, dried on the still predominant Sun offered by Celestia, put in the back, and stored in a way as to preserve the wood pieces from the elements. If by mistake water would to reach them, the entire household would later emerge in spring smelling like cinder and bad cases of respiratory issues for the elderly, or simply forced to endure the winter on minimal reserves. Those that would not harvest the crops, with the aid of the children and free family members, would begin preparing the harvest under the rooftop or the oak tree in the middle of the field common in that region of north-west Equestria. The chicken coop also required some repairs and needed to be repopulated with a new batch; the last had proven unfruitful to provide chicks; had killed three chickens and one young rooster for whatever instinctive reason, and others had been isolated by the group and left to roam outside the cage, ripe for the plucking by some wandering predators. Golden Field, the patriarch, hoped to sell those still alive. And in addition to the profits of the crops, they could close the expenses they were sure to incur on house repairs and other necessities. Doremy could have solicited the aid of her brother carpenter and wannabe-mage mother to repair the few faults, but their own problems with the beginning signs of termite infestation and the unset of rot had made them have no time for others’ concerns. The village’s mage was called, but he lacked the proper spells and training to remove the insects, and only had managed to stymie the infestation. For better or for worse, the family was also preparing to welcome others into their walls. One thing that kept them going was the faint possibility that this winter would possibly be less harsh than previous year. Not all things were done still; clothes needed to be sawn or bought from the local market; tools need to be taken to the local smith; and the additional preparation for a new child to see life were under way too. Again, all at a cost. For those reasons, the family had to take full advantage of the Harvest Moon to finish their work on time or fear on losing out on the remaining good season. In all cultures and across centuries, the Harvest Moon was an awaited moment for the farmers. Not for the leisure its brighter nights offered, but for the tremendous workload they were to undertake was of great portance for them. While they were not be the sole days work was undertaken in, the Harvest Moon permitted them to quicken it. In turn, more easily prepare for the upcoming brutal months to come. Already, the summer months in and of themselves were tiresome; the work of August and September constantly kept a ball in the stomach of many farmers for their challenges. They had done their job all their lives, but even known and expected events were hard to constantly prepare for or adapt to the, at times, scorching conditions they were forced to contend with. The elderly were the most excited about the Harvest Moon; sitting around and yelling for longer periods at the young ones about how to properly collect the yield sure is different than actually working in the field. For the family’s luck, their lord was not of a demanding type and would get volunteers from the towns to assist the farmers, if they so requested. Taxes were high, however, the highest in the west of Equestria but few would openly complain much about it. Princess Celestia had forced a cap that displeased the nobility, and for others in less lucky places, life wasn’t, as much as it could be said, idyllic. Knowing that, the family and others of their ilk, were grateful for the efforts put in reducing their plight and strides to improve their living. During the Harvest Moon, it was said that a figure, its shape and voice unknown but for its soothing blue eyes, would come to visit and provide assistance to pleading and needy farmers and villagers. Abruptly, in one night, all domestic problems would be resolved; left behind crops would be trimmed and arranged neatly for picking and selling, blunted tools would be repaired and sharpened, and for the next week those very tools’ cut would feel cleaner and their handling easier. They said it was the fabled Princess Luna, Celestia’s sister, who would arrive and bestow a portion of her magic onto them. Others would claim it was Celestia herself and not that elusive Luna; she would come during the night when all sleep to provide them with her talents while fending off the terrors and monsters that lay in the darkness. Very few are those that had ever witnessed or observed the Alicorn Sisters, least among are those that have even peered an eye upon Luna. In drawings, they were both depicted of similar height and eye coloration, though their main color was different enough to distinguish them. For centuries, it had been the only manner they were allowed to be depicted in, and for centuries the artists followed the rules diligently. The Princesses had not asked for a change, then no change would be brought, While worship of the Alicorns was frowned upon and admonished by authorities, there was a clearer more noticeable fervor toward the younger, mysterious sister. Where Celestia would appear more regularly in front of the masses, she would be followed by a great display of princely glory and the regalia few to none would ever witness again in their mortal lives. She would speak; her words, all would listen to. Enamoring and retaining them all as if the words of the divine. Yet, it was reported that no particular awe was sensed by the observers; that her presence lacked the expectations laid upon it. There was still that sense that she could be trusted, respected, and even befriended; she chatted and shared short talks with her subjects from all strata of life; but not the awe-inspiring presence people vested in her. It was, for the lack of a better word, almost disappointing. And for Luna? They could not tell; she had less than seldom appeared in public or at festivals. Some had begun to question if she had ever existed to begin with. That Moon Princess had been nothing but a myth passed down through the centuries. Stories retold again and again by passing generations until the realities laden behind those myth would be rendered to the realm of suppositions Some said that she and Celestia had a falling out at some point, and in retaliation, Luna was the one sending nightmares and beasts to attack them in the night. That she was the one bringing about random attacks on trade routes and delayed provisions. That she was nothing but a monster herself. But for most, like those families most worried about what directly lay ahead, to those families that life does not permit them to entertain such thoughts, those suppositions were nothing. All the families that relied on the Moon’s pattern for harvest or menial work cared not what others had to say; their own worries passed first. For those that life had not bless to live under the sunlight, obliged by biology, geography, or circumstance to bath in the moonlight, the night was a boon like none other. They knew of its hidden dangers, but for those forced to track the deserts upon kilometers and kilometers, the night was their true companion. Though those groups were rare and seldom united. **** Golden Field wished for it all to finally end. A couple of hours had passed, and now the Sun had begun to set place for the Moon. His wife was pregnant, and while work at this time was paramount, he did not want her to ruin her health. Their daughter, the only unicorn of his family, hastened their work considerably, but even she had to recharge from time to time and could not repair their blunt tool, nor could they afford the services of a mage-metallurgist. Their son had overworked himself to compensate in the past few days to compensate, and in the early afternoon, he had to stop working or else. Sometimes, he wondered why he had settled on only two children for a while. All had three or four by the least, but he had let Doremy decide when she was ready for a new one. Golden Field did not mind at first, but when he had decided to invest in that patch of land with a stream skirting its edges, loaned to him by their lord and use it for his own profit in return for an annual rent that would be due at month’s end, having children was more of a necessity to adequately repay that substantial debt. And, perhaps, not make his son inherit it. They were blessed by not losing their first two children, though a third was never chanced upon. In the next few days, the announcement of this year’s taxes would come. For their great luck, taxes could be paid in installments – unlike his predecessor, their lord embodied what Celestia espoused and made their lives as comfortable as it might be. Though, for Golden Field and his folk, the full advantages and rewards of his rule was less felt than the town folks. Or even those living in the center and east – or so they had heard. Now, when their oldest was in the age of founding his own family, Doremy and Golden Field luck in the field thrusted upon them one last child. In addition to worrying about his wife’s health, he had to supervise his son’s escapades. Their daughter could wait; he was not ready to let go of her and her fledgling unicorn powers. ‘Are you Golden Field?’ asked a voice Golden Field did not recognize in the distance. The light grew stallion turned toward the voice’s holder. The figure stood directly behind the setting Sun, hiding its features completely underneath its golden light. He could not fixate on the figure for long, nor did he have the time to spend idling at some stranger. ‘Yes?’ he answered. ‘Who are you? I don’t recognize the voice.’ The figure moved forth, showing a mare, but keeping a fair distance from the farmers. She wasn’t exactly stunning, nor did she have a memorable physique. Though her grey-black fur and a small pouch on her side stood up the most for him. ‘By your voice, I thought you were a boy,’ he chuckled, resting his hooves on the snath of his scythe. ‘I swear, it is eerily close.’ ‘How long have you been at work with that thing? Quite impractical,’ hinting at a joking tone underneath. ‘A couple of hours. My son was the one working in the morning. The poor boy was almost ruined by it.’ ‘I understand his pleas.’ She bowed her head. Lifting it again, she said, ‘Anyways – excuse me for interrupting your work during these times, but I want to know if you know what road I should take to go for No-Where-There?’ He laughed. ‘Nowirther, not whatever nonsense you just said!’ The mare grimaced, he noticed. But whether it was from being corrected or his tone, he could not tell. Not that he had the time to dwell too much about it. ‘Before I tell you – who even told you my name was Golden Field?’ ‘In the village.’ He waited for her to tell more; she stayed quiet. ‘Who exactly?’ ‘Does it matter?’ ‘I would like to know. Yes,’ he jokingly mused. ‘Was she wearing some old fabric with a book she keeps dangling on her flank as if it will grant her great things?’ interjected Golden Field’s wife, gesturing for her husband to give her the scythe while she gave him her sickle. ‘You are clearly tired. Take this, I will get the other one. We are done with that Tartarus damn thing.’ ‘But the other can barely cut,’ he objected. ‘Will do. Plus, I need to get the clothes for the night.’ She pointed her head sideways in an unspoken order. He did not object further and went on to help his daughter. ‘I hope everything is fine?’ asked the distant visitor. ‘The pregnancy is not too impeding?’ ‘No. Not for now yet,’ she wearily laughed. Golden Field frowned; she knew it without looking. ‘But work needs to be done.’ ‘I sympathize.’ The yellow colored mare smirked and snorted in odd amusement. ‘About that person: it is my mother. And my name is Doremy, by the way.’ The mare nodded. ‘To go to… there,’ Doremy waved vaguely in the cold wind, ‘just continue straight until you meet the Hill of the Old Fool and then go down to the dried-up Winter River. No…’ She stopped, hesitating. ‘That’s Notwirthar… Nowirther, is the one with the emporium,’ she murmured. ‘Okay, so you’ll continue to the Yellow Hills, across the Old Fool, arrive at the-’ The stranger shook her head. ‘Excuse me.’ She walked closer, revealing an unimpressive visage but glimmering green eyes that Doremy loved. ‘The what? And to where?’ Doremy exhaled in a mixture of exasperation and tiredness after noticing how difficult it would be for her to guide the stranger. She should have kept Golden Field talking instead of her. ‘If you find it difficult,’ began the stranger, ‘you can wait for tomorrow. I am willing to pay you the night.’ ‘Stay here with us?’ she snapped, liking the sound of the proposal. ‘How much will you pay?’ ‘Two nights at the village’s inn. I can pay more-’ ‘No, no, no. It’s a deal. We don’t want to overcharge you.’ ‘Then let me bring the tool and clothes you need-’ ‘No, no, no.’ Doremy moved to close the distance between them. Closer, she saw a blue hue emitted in a quick flash out of the stranger’s eyes before they returned to their emerald hue. Her color shifted rapidly from deep blue to gray black. The stranger’s mane had remained hidden beneath a hood, but she swore that something had flared from underneath in a bright blue. Doremy froze for a second, wanting to ask if the personage was the one she was told about in childhood and the same story she had, in turn, retold to her children. She wondered if the stranger was the Alicorn named Luna. ‘Something wrong, Doremy?’ smoothly asked the stranger. ‘A-are you…’ She shook her head. ‘Nevermind. Just let me tell my husband that you would be staying, and I will join you later.’ ‘Very well.’ She turned around and then curved back. ‘E-excuse my manners – what is your name?’ ‘Selena.’ It satisfied Doremy, and she turned away toward the field. ‘So?’ asked Golden Field. ‘She will be staying for the night in exchange for what two nights at an inn are,’ her voice slightly shaking. ‘Her name is Selena, also.’ ‘Selena…hmm.’ He noticed his wife’s unease. ‘Something wrong?’ ‘No. Maybe it is the pregnancy… Nothing to worry about.’ ‘Tomorrow, I’ll see what has happened to our demand. And I will take you to the doctor. But, Doremy, what were the colors of her eyes?’ She hesitated for a second, unsure of the proper answer. ‘B- Green. Green eyes.’ ‘Could she be one of the wretches of the north?’ he whispered. ‘Who?’ she murmured. ‘The Changelings. I remember my parents telling me of when they had attacked around here. How did they manage to get to Mariposa? I don’t know. But they had attacked at this time and during the night. Maybe she is a vanguard. Why else would she pay this much?’ ‘Or maybe it is Princess Luna in disguise,’ tentatively proposed Doremy. Golden Field dismissed her with a wave. ‘No, no, no. Why would she be between us? She and her sister can only look from above at how we live this stupid life. They don’t care. Plus, what a greedy bastard she must be to only give- what? Four silvers? Then again, it is not like she has cared for those beyond Shire or the other one cared for those beyond her own fief.’ ‘I remember the story about the Changeling assault,’ said Doremy calmly, returning to the original topic. ‘It was repulsed during the same night it had occurred. We were saved from it by a ghostly force of… uhh…’ ‘“Clad in midnight”,’ he continued in her stead. ‘Or black for us. And the region burned because of our “saviors” retribution. More people died from them than the Changelings.’ ‘More would have died. They are Changelings – maybe that sickle was one all along?’ He snorted in amusement, and then looked at it. Doremy forced him to look back up by pulling his mane. ‘But whatever; I am sure it is her. It is Princess Luna standing there. I feel it very keenly now.’ He rolled his eyes and put a hoof on her left shoulder. ‘The pregnancy is playing with your mind. Work is done for you today. In fact, until you give birth, you will stay in the house with Plenitude.’ ‘She defended us form the manticore,’ proposed Doremy. He shook his head. ‘Old stories, my dear.’ Not wanting to make Selena wait longer, Doremy relented on trying to convince him. The mother had to admit, she indeed needed rest. ‘What should I do with our visitor, then?’ Golden Field smiled at her acceptance. ‘Tell her it is six silver for the night – check the coins well before accepting them. Money is money, but I don’t want to own Canterlotian coins,’ he jokingly accused, referencing to Doremy’s plunder in their first trade as husband and wife. They had exchanged them eventually, but kept two in memory of the moment. Doremy grimaced but did not expand upon the subject any further for its sheer embarrassment. ‘Now go and see if that lard has returned from the village. Let us finish as much as we can today.’ ‘Golden…’ she warned. ‘I joke. I joke,’ he chuckled. ‘Believe me he doesn’t mind bein’ called that neither.’ She smiled. ‘Good night, then.’ ‘Good night, Doremy.’ He kissed her on the left cheek; she returned the gesture in kind and gave the same to their daughter Doremy then nodded for the stranger and gestured to follow her. They entered the house late at night, guided to it with the light of the daughter’s horn and the smell burned wood. Her brother had been cooking their dinner and heated water since his return from the market and was assisted by the orange hue of a candle and the shy moonlight. As his mother had demanded, he had prepared Selena’s bed in the common room. ‘You were not forced to help us – you know?’ said Doremy, dropping her tool and crops aside to continue trimming them in the morning. ‘The least I can do to repay you for your generosity,’ answered Selena, apparently untroubled by her few hours of work in the field. ‘You seem to have done so for years,’ almost accused Golden Field. ‘I was not weakened by your prior labor. Nothing more ostensible than that.’ He growled. Golden Field gestured for his wife to follow him; a quick bath and a change of clothes were paramount before they could fall asleep. The daughter was left with her brother in the common room. Selena did not sit on the makeshift couch and stood silent in front of the two. ‘Still sore?’ asked Green Herb to her brother. ‘Getting better. Sorry for the inconvenience…’ ‘Don’t worry. Selena filled in for you. How was the sale, at least?’ ‘Forty silver. Good for the beginning of the harvest. I’ve heard that in Marechester things were not better. In fact perhaps even worse. No trained mage can quite… What grandma says?’ ‘Uhh… Exercise magic,’ answered Green Herb. ‘Hmm… Yes – exercise their powers to resolve the issues they are facing.’ ‘Let us hope it would rain more this year than snow.’ She walked toward her brother and sat next to him. He nodded and addressed Selena next. ‘How are you still standing like that? You appear to be a city dweller, yet you handle the scythe better than some with twenty years in the field!’ ‘Luck.’ ‘An unearthed talent, may I add,’ added Green Herb, smirking in amusement. ‘Why do you want to go to Nowirther anyways?’ ‘Trade. Apples to be bought for my employer in Shire and grab medicine.’ ‘From Nowirther?’ questioned Plenitude. ‘I guess I’ve heard of a herb only growing their… No?’ he asked Green Herb. She shrugged. ‘I’ve not been to the market for a while, and I haven’t noticed people talking about. For what illness is it used?’ Plenitude shrugged and shook his head. Selena did not answer. ‘They have a good apple and luffa production, though,’ said Plentitude. ‘Their luffas are amazing – we use them when bathing, in case you use more fancier things. But their apples are not the quality intended for the palate of creatures that respect themselves.’ Plenitude got up, struggling to find his balance before his sister helped him find his footing. ‘We have some planted. Usually, we rarely sell those, but we can make exceptions. You like apples yourself, do you?’ ‘I do.’ ‘Bring her a good lot of them,’ beckoned Green Herb to her brother. He nodded and got up. ‘Knowing your wondrous cooking, she will eat water either way,’ shouted Green Herb as her brother entered the backroom. She turned again toward Selena. ‘At least, sugary water and not something with the ghost of a taste,’ she whispered to her. ‘By the way, have you seen Princess Luna or Celestia? Since you are from Shire and whatnot.’ ‘No.’ She was definitive about it. ‘That’s disappointing. I heard of Princess Celestia visiting Mariposa for the post’s opening. But I wonder if Princess Luna is even real? Since it is her domain-’ ‘Someone is protecting your dreams and your selves in that world. She is real. She just has other labors than what her sister does.’ Green Herb felt the hint of an accusing tone, but for someone coming from the direct domain of Luna, she could not blame Selena. ‘I’ve never met her in my dreams. No one I know claim to have witnessed her.’ ‘She is subtle with us.’ ‘She is always hidden from us,’ corrected Selena. ‘But why? I can’t understand. Why can’t she just show herself?’ ‘Because if she does, you would hate her. Detest her for infiltrating your privacy and to make you confront our faults. We do not like it when it happens, but this is the reality of her work.’ ‘Would it not be better if she would show herself to us, though?’ ‘Either way, you would hate her. You would see her as a parasite and want her to be excised forever more. And then, what would she still possess?’ ‘Point taken. Although, she raises the Moon for us. I think it merits its own respect – as we do for benevolent Celestia.’ ‘I guess,’ she grumbled. ‘Yet you are scared of the night.’ ‘There is no light. Of course, it is scary. We hear the howls more clearly in the night. And…’ Green Herb noticed Selena’s posture tensing. There was something uncanny about it – as if it was built around a natural movement around a clear and determined purpose rather than fear. The young mare rose her hoof in a gentle sign to calm Selena. She continued as if nothing had happened. ‘Occasionally… something else close to it. Similar, but different. As if it had come from people like us but deformed and changed. And I mean, we are little attacked. Sometimes we will see wolves or other predators but they rarely attack. ‘Maybe there is no need for her actions,’ added Selena, deflated. ‘Maybe.’ ‘She protects us from the worst of those predators,’ stated Selena, rising the argument to prove a point. Green Herb heard the deflated tone, but did not want to expand upon it. ‘And we are grateful for it. Truly. But she never shows herself. We have stories of her passing-’ ‘We do not like inflicting pain, let alone death, upon others. We are no predators. Yet someone has to take upon those responsibilities. To do what most frown upon.’ ‘I respect the army’s and militia’s work, but I don’t think she has to be constantly chaperoning them.’ ‘Sometimes they are too slow to react,’ said Selena. ‘Sometimes, they are simply not enough to deal with threats on their own. Equestria is vast; we are beset by myriad of draped foes.’ Green Herb smiled, no malice behind it. ‘She could try to convince them to cease their doings. Like Princess Celestia I heard does to some. The sword should not be the end all; we should try to befriend them.’ Selena did not reply back. ‘Do you agree?’ ‘My opinion does not matter. That argument was meaningless.’ ‘You don’t like speaking much. Do you?’ ‘Life has taught me to shut up.’ ‘Oh, my!’ she jested, attempting to brighten the jaded mare’s expression. ‘What life did you have? From your looks, I say we are not that much apart. Is city life so horrendous that it ages a creature this much?’ smirked Green Herb. ‘Have your parents-’ ‘Do not mention them,’ warned Selena, the threat terrifyingly prominent. ‘They are dead. That much I will reveal about myself and no further.’ ‘T-then a friend…’ attempted Green Herb, the word feeling heavier and more cumbersome than usual. Silence fell in the room. For a reason Green Herb could not comprehend, an overwhelming sense of guilt wreathed her. Had she asked the wrong question? They were innocent enough; nothing to be concerned about. Nothing offensive, she thought. Yes, they had been discussing about the Sisters, but nothing that warrants such a sudden explosion of emotion. She thought. Plenitude then entered, apples in a basket with a blunted knife on the side. He sat down next to his sister and offered Selena an apple he had cut for her. She took it, thanking him with a nod. Green Herb left to take her shower, worried she had offended their guest in some manner. Selena started eating the apples offered to her unbothered by Plenitude and then the others attempt at a conversation. The Sun began shining its rays in the still cold morning air. Doremy and Golden Field woke up first, muttering to themselves about the coming workday. Golden Field was the first to exit the room, still barely able to open his dried up eyes and lips from the night. Selena was gone. She had been a quiet guest, talking little if not prompted to. She had eaten the little things they had presented her, not complaining about the taste or the presentation. In fact, she did not care for anything. The hosts did not question the reason for her aloofness; something seemed to be preventing them from digging further. For all Golden Field cared, as long as the money was left and nothing was stolen, the stranger’s stay would be an amazing investment. Looking around the common room where Selena had slept, he found nothing. She had scammed them. Cursing her a thousand times, he took the dirt-ridden sack, thinking she had left the apple skin within it – Selena had eaten plenty of those. He had left her enjoying their products as he went to sleep. For some reason, she appeared more like a child than a twenty-year-old something mare. It was heavy. He hastened to open it. Inside, he counted fifty silver coins and six golden ones; all still in circulation. Running toward his wife, he showed her all that Selena had left them with. Wanting to make sure her hunch was right, Doremy went to check upon the tools and collected harvest. It was: their tools were repaired and felt sharper, cutting the wild herbs with ease and the crops left behind were taken care of. ‘It was her!’ exclaimed Doremy to her bewildered husband. ‘We… We had an Alicorn between us…’ ‘I’ve told you!’ ‘Why was she hiding? Do you think we are going to be attacked?’ ‘Why did you drift to that?’ ‘Why the secrecy, Doremy?’ he almost shouted. ‘We should prepare for an attack. I don’t know form whom, but we should!’ ‘Why are you shouting?’ asked Plenitude, exiting his and Green Herb’s room, she followed behind; the great soreness that had ridden their son after yesterday’s work was gone. ‘Where is Selena?’ his sister asked. ‘It was Princess Luna!’ said Doremy. ‘W-what?’ Uncertainty gripped Green Herb. Had she vexed her? Would she be the recipient of Luna’s wrath? Additionally – why choose them? Why come here? Was there a heralded event on the border? Wolves? Changelings? Something fouler? Why did she deceive them? To help them or to spy upon them? ‘It doesn’t matter,’ interjected Golden Field. ‘If she was here in hiding, something foul is brewing. Prepare your bags in precaution!’ ‘She would have told us. She would have not left us waiting to meet our fates. Princess has helped us, after all.’ But her words were drowned by the panic movement within the house. And she had to oblige by their actions. Doremy exited the house, following her daughter. Then, in the glistening horizon, her head shot forward and observed the shadowed silhouette of Selena. Doremy closed her eyes and it disappeared in an impossibly cold wind that send shudders down the mother’s spine. She rested, bewildered by the situation. Perhaps her pregnancy and harsh labor were truly playing with her mind. Maybe the latter part was what made them on edge. It could be Princess Luna. But Doremy did not care – she wanted to believe it. It was her, and her own beliefs mattered above anything. She did not stop. It had been done before. They get scared. Nothing new. She continued forth to Nowither or whatever the meaningless name was, walking the entire way. Her eyes shifted to crystalline blue and narrowed, and in a gasp, her neck elongated to its actual size. She took an apple from her bag, levitating it with the magic of an invisible horn. She took a bit and tasted sweet and bitter. Finishing it, she knew with a mixture of promise, apprehension, excitement, love, hatred, and loathing to her task ahead. Alone, she proceeded to cross the forest. Eufrimia ‘It all begins with one act that cannot be easily deciphered. To truly find the catalyst, is simply impossible.’ -Kurtish Yob, Saddle-Arabian writer. Weeks later; ‘Scared, now?’ she amusingly asked, wearing a smile; putting down the foal on her bed. The girl did not answer. In truth, she wasn’t sure what to say as her mind raced to comprehend her surrounding and the being eying her. She wasn’t sure if she remembered how to talk either. Her mind’s voice felt foreign like it had never been her own yet was not for a reason that escaped her. She sounded the words in her head, repeating them, again and again, to make sure when they would be spoken out in the open, she would commit no mistake. That her first words would be perfect for the being standing in front of her. Her mind told her that this… impatiently waiting creature had to be respected. That it had to be shown trust for some reason. It felt… bizarre to her; to show blind devotion toward that horned and winged being would not land well with her. She did not know why, but a part of her being was telling her to trust that creature. She would follow that distant call. She had questions for her. Many questions. Her belly ached and her mouth watered, interrupting her inner recital. ‘You want to eat?’ the tall creature asked, taking a piece of fabric to clean the drool. The girl did not debate – it was normal to her for some reason. What to eat? She wasn’t sure if she had eaten anything besides the vague memory of an amalgam of nutriment. The girl could not recall the names of any particular dish nor could she remember the exact products they were made of. There were… vegetables? Was that the correct word? She wasn’t sure her father said anything about it, but she remembered that word. It must hold some meaning as her stomach began to hurt even more at the very thought. ‘Don’t be shy, Eufi. I will not hurt you. Your father would want you to eat and be a strong little Pony.’ Eufi… That was her name in some fashion, she recalled. Her father had given her that name… For as much as she can remember, he had always been there with her. She did not recall having siblings. In truth, she wasn’t sure she knew anyone besides him. She did not remember her mother; she remembered her father not wanting to mention her much. The creature’s name was… Luna? It sounded familiar and welcoming. The foal was only half-sure of it. Part of her told it was true and the other blared that it was a lie. But the girl did not care; she only cared to know who this… Luna was as a creeping suspicion took hold. ‘A-are…’ the girl wearily whispered. Luna got closer, gently approaching her ears toward the child. The young Thestral stepped back, terrified to speak openly with that familiar figure she was failing to recall the name of. ‘I won’t hurt you. I promise.’ Eufrimia continued to retreat. At one point, her legs became twisted in the bedsheet, forcing her in a sitting position. The figure approached her and only now had she noticed the mane. She could not help but to fixate it, admiring the endlessly waving night sky with the wonder only a child could. She ignored the figure checking for any injury or discomfort, moving her small legs to a position that comforted the foal even more. Luna caressed Eufrimia, calming the young Thestral completely and instantly. Eufrimia looked at Luna directly, not waving her regard after laying eyes upon the Alicorn. She saw the surprise on Luna’s face ‘A-are you my mom?’ dared Eufrimia. Luna raised her head. Her eyes widened as Eufrimia retreated once more, fearing she had angered her for whatever reason. ‘I am not your mother,’ Luna plainly stated. ‘You don’t remember her?’ her tone had switched to a worried one. The foal shook her head. ‘You remember your father?’ doubt and angst tainting her voice. The foal nodded, sparking an intense desire within her; sitting aside some of Luna’s worry. ‘Do you remember who I am?’ Eufrimia turned her face and hid her head from Luna. ‘That’s alright. You do not need to remember every creature you come across with. I am Luna. I am the one that saved you from your prior self. You are the first one to return to normal. At least,’ she smirked, faking amusement, ‘your mind has.’ ‘I-I am… u-ugly?’ Luna kissed Eufrimia on her still fur-full forehead and put down the bony frame that was her wings. ‘No. No, you’re not.’ ‘W-where is my dad?’ ‘He’s not here. You will-’ ‘I want to see him!’ she nearly yelled but stayed firm in position. ‘I want to see him now!’ The child’s fervor left Luna startled for a couple of seconds. ‘I promise you will. You just have to wait a little.’ ‘Why?!’ Eufrimia insisted. ‘He is still ill but he will soon get better. I promise. In the meanwhile, you can stay with me. I will feed you and give you all you want.’ ‘I want my dad…’ Her voice trembled, nearing ever closer to crying. Luna peered down at the girl, perhaps too harsh and aggressive than what she intended. But Eufrimia was unphased by that slip; she, as all children, wanted a parent’s presence. Even when not there, even when it was impossible, a child wants to see their parents. Luna wanted to deny her that wish. She was too young to meet with the rest of her tribe. But who was she to deny a child’s wish? An innocent and natural one at that. Something within told Luna that she could deny it, she was the one with the power and strength to do so. Eufrimia was only a child, not someone that could challenge her. But that was just it: Eufrimia was a child. She could not challenge her decision. Luna laughed internally at herself. Again, Eufrimia demanded to see her father. She shuffled closer to Luna and pulled on whatever she could grab to make Luna pay her attention. Luna was sure the foal started crying and insults were thrown. Small arms started hitting her with frail yet relentless force. ‘Come with me,’ finally said Luna, pulling herself away from the sobbing child. ‘Get up.’ Eufrimia snorted and started to clean her mouth, Luna finishing her task. ‘Where are we going?’ ‘I’ve promised to give you all you want, no? I will let you meet your father.’ The foal cheered with great joy. ‘Thank you, Luna!’ She winced. ‘Pr-’ She perceived the futility of her act. ‘Whatever. Stay close to me.’ Eufrimia ran toward Luna and obeyed her without protest. It was sunset when they teleported to that hidden emplacement. There, before revealing the entrance, Luna told Eufrimia that she had to wait once more. The girl raised her voice once more. Luna genuinely smiled at her protests, but this time, she could not go against her duties. ‘Wow,’ exclaimed Eufrimia in wonder as she stopped, mesmerized by the tremendous display of magic. She could not comprehend the power behind such a feat, but she understood, almost instinctually, that Luna was strong indeed. ‘Can you do it with the Sun?’ she asked, excited to receive the answer. Luna ignored the spirit of the question. ‘Only my sister can.’ She stood back on her hooves and walked closer to the bushes occluding the entrance to the underground. ‘Shall we enter?’ ‘Yes!’ Eufrimia again exclaimed. They entered the underground that had once been Eufrimia’s home. Between the time Luna closed and secured the door and lit up her light, Eufrimia heard odd noises echoing from beneath; snarls, mewling, shuffling, breaking, and moaning. All mashed up together into one bizarre sound that seemed to rush toward them. ‘Stay with me,’ reassured Luna. ‘Nothing will injure you here. Your village won’t hurt you.’ She nodded and began to walk; Luna stopped her with an arm that barred her route. ‘Are you sure you want to continue?’ ‘Yes,’ answered Eufrimia, sure of her reply. ‘Sure?’ ‘Yes…’ her assuredness was less prominent that time around. Luna sighed. ‘Good. You are courageous, girl. That is good.’ She wasn’t sure what “courageous” meant, but it sounded like a compliment. ‘Thank you.’ Luna nodded, then both of them descended the stone stairs. ‘Arsal!’ Luna called for Eufrimia’s father. A Thestral-like thing moved forward, terrifying the foal greatly. ‘This is your father, Eufi.’ Arsal grumbled at the name’s mention. Luna snorted in amusement. ‘And those beside him, are your village folk.’ He approached his daughter. Eufrimia rushed to hide between Luna’s legs. Arsal stopped, confused about how to apprehend the situation – even more so than before. ‘Dad? Why is he like this?’ ‘Because of sorcerers. Because they… did not like you.’ ‘Me?’ ‘No.’ Luna lowered her head and petted Eufrimia’s. ‘Because what you, your father, and the rest are. I stopped them and made them pay for their crime, do not worry.’ ‘Why did they hate us?’ ‘Because you were friendly with the other kinds. Do you remember those?’ She nodded; she had only heard of them from her father’s stories but never met one before. ‘Good. The sorcerers… other Thestrals… cursed your village by capturing mages and forcing them to recite a foul spell. You would think that it would be like other instances,’ she raised her voice, but turned it down. ‘Nevermind. I’ve reverted its effects and-’ ‘But this is not my dad,’ she wanted to cry – she could not hide her fear any longer. ‘It takes some time, Eufi. He will be back soon, don’t worry.’ An idea came to her as she guided the child out. ‘Come with me. We are going outside.’ Eufrimia nodded. She tentatively looked back to her father, maybe naturally wanting his approval. He looked at her confused that she had not come to him. He glanced up to Luna, waiting on the stairsteps for Eufrimia to make her decision. The girl mimicked her father, but Luna had decided to not intervene and let Eufrimia decide to stay with him or follow her outside. Eufrimia waved goodbye. And taking tentative steps, she joined Luna; both ascended to the free air together. It was cold outside. The girl, even with her still thick fur, was freezing. Luna gestured for Eufrimia to stick beside her. She enveloped both of them with a heat-preserving bubble and added her wing on top of the foal. Like Eufrimia used to do, she bunted Luna’s leg in gratitude. Luna played with her furry ears until Eufrimia forced her to stop with a light push. In the air, a frame made of an intense, soothing blue formed. Eufrimia stared in bewilderment, impressed by a display something within her was telling her was nothing to the being wielding it. Amazed only started to describe the range of emotion that came to her when the light illuminated their surroundings. She looked up at Luna, wanting to see if it was straining her in any way. From what she could read, she was happy to showcase her talents. Yet something seemed to be bothering her. Eufrimia preferred not to ask what perturbing Luna’s mind was. She contented on resting her head on Luna’s leg, feeling it would reward Luna with some solace. ‘See this drawing?’ calmly asked Luna. ‘This is what a typical Thestral looks like. They speak like you and act like you. Now, look at yourself.’ A small, hovering light appeared next to Eufrimia. Close to the foal, another frame appeared, opening a mirror that revealed a figure she did not know and terrified her. She started retreating behind Luna. Luna stopped her but did not force the girl to look back at herself. For a minute or more, none of them were sure of the time they spent together, but Eufrimia finally elected to stare back at herself. ‘You are returning to your normal self, gradually,’ continued Luna, still consoling the child with a hoof on her back, omitting the mention of the oddness of her wings. ‘Your eyes were all red once; now they are more like mine. Your fur was more compact; now it is far less. Your skin is no longer white either. All of your skin are no longer white. But you are the only one that had its mind returned fully. I saw your dream more clearly, that is how I knew you were sentient once more, in case you would ask.’ Eufrimia swallowed her phlegm. ‘You saw my dream?’ she asked, wonder peering out of her voice. Luna seemed to consider her words. ‘You don’t know?’ ‘What?’ She smiled and tapped the foal’s back with her wing. ‘I can visit your dreams, yes. I can visit the dreams of every creature living in this world.’ The fires of distant memories were rekindled. ‘How?’ she asked with wonder, forgetting her fear. Luna smiled more. ‘Well, it is simple: I just close my eyes – I basically sleep – and then I wake up in the Realm of Dreams. There I can visit the dreams of all. But more on it later.’ She heard the sound of a growling stomach. ‘Are you hungry?’ She shook her head. ‘Yes!’ ‘Then,’ she got up, ‘let us go back. I will make sure the wait won’t be felt.’ ‘Can I see my father before going, Luna?’ ‘Of course.’ She opened the door for her. Eufrimia stared blankly into the sapphire darkness. The sounds returned; her unease with it. Luna noticed a hesitant push from Eufrimia to move forward. ‘Want me to go down with you?’ Eufrimia nodded and extended an arm forward. Luna took it, her horn lit up, and they went down together into the dark underground. One Good Night ‘Cold baths are best during winter!’ -Some odd, sober bloke from northern Equestria. Couple of weeks later; The repeating hum of a serene melody sounded inside one of Luna’s castle bathrooms, one usually reserved for the few permanent servants she kept around. True to their vows, they kept the castle and all the publicly known rooms clean. It was the paramount order of their mistress. She might not dwell long within the castle’s wall, but she was nonetheless stringent about its cleanliness. While the melody had begun unimpeded, a cry would overshadow it nearly completely. ‘Here! The water’s better now?’ ‘No, it is still too cold!’ vigorously replied Eufrimia. ‘Just dip one hoof in it, damn it!’ Luna forced Eufrimia to do so, shutting her instantly as she let her battle in the hot water. ‘So?’ asked Luna. ‘Better,’ she begrudgingly agreed. ‘It is… acceptable.’ ‘Your behavior was unacceptable, however.’ ‘Shut up,’ she grumbled. ‘It is your fault it is too cold outside.’ ‘I am your ruler, Eufi.’ ‘I don’t care. I don’t like you.’ ‘Likewise. Now, take that bath!’ ‘But can you stop the music first? It’s too loud and it’s bothering me.’ Loud? Yeah, perhaps. But for Luna, it wasn’t too horrendous, though she sometimes forgot how loud sounds can be to Thestral ears. At least, she did not complain about the music itself; it was something she had kept from early years – though, she had to admit, wasn’t sure where her additions and the original ending were. For some reason, it did not bother her as it would have for other things. ‘It is never hot enough.’ ‘It is bloody boiling! I can barely see from the mist.’ ‘You can leave me to bath on my own, you know?’ ‘I can, myes, but I have nothing particularly important to do today, so…’ ‘Hm…’ For no reason she slapped the water and then in a quick flash, Eufrimia threw some at Luna. ‘Revenge,’ she exaggeratedly hissed. Opening her eyes, Luna saw Eufrimia gathering the falling fur into one grab. She took them from her and threw a heap into a bag. Then, she forcibly grabbed Eufrimia by the head and forced the foal to clean the empty patches that had formed. ‘Your fur is receding on a faster pass – that is good. But you need to keep yourself clean regardless.’ ‘I hope it won’t,’ she snatched her head out, ‘be too cold after I lose it all.’ ‘It will regrow. It already has in some places – I will show you them when we finish.’ Euftrimia took a small bucket, filled it with water, and dropped it on herself. Between all of this, Luna thought she had heard her agreeing. The girl wanted to say something, but a small amount of water filled her nostrils, making her cough. Luna had told her the sensation of a burn was normal; she could not help to worry it was actually the case. ‘If you are still cold, I will get you warmer clothes. Or you can just huddle next to me as usual.’ The foal coughed out the last bit of lingering water. ‘Sometimes you are not here. Under your wings is very warm.’ Luna laughed quickly. ‘No. I will have my own duties outside those walls at this time.’ ‘Can I come with you?’ ‘You will have to ask your father when he comes here. I will not provide an immediate answer. In the meanwhile, Eufi, you will stay in your room with the toys I bought you. Or, alternatively, you can practice reading and writing while I’m gone. Angle Right will be there too, lest you forget about her.’ In all honesty, Luna had almost forgotten about her. The mare was trusted to keep the secret of Eufrimia but had a personality that made her utterly forgettable. She was married to one of the captains of her Thestral guards and she liked… drinking water. Luna did not know, but she knew Right Angle and the captain were very close to each other and she was the first one that had volunteered to be a teacher for the young Eufrimia. ‘Yeah… I prefer when you are here.’ She cleaned her eyes by throwing water on her face, making sure to only speak when the water dripped down completely. ‘But you would agree for me to come, no?’ ‘I don’t care.’ ‘Will I see your sister one day?’ asked Eufrimia, letting Luna drying her up. She could do it on her own and made a show of her abilities to do so, but Luna was nothing but insistent on her decision. ‘What is her name?’ Eufrimia grunted, amusing Luna. ‘Celestia – happy?’ ‘Good. At any rate, if you want to, I will let you meet her. But she is always tired or tied to something at day’s end. Not to mention that she is far from here and teleporting… You know how tired I get from it.’ ‘But you are strong! You raise the Moon!’ ‘You can say that,’ she mused. ‘But I am not immune to exertion. It will be difficult. In time though…’ Another set of words she did not understand. ‘What?’ ‘What, what?’ ‘What “immune to exertion” mean?’ ‘It means that I, too, can get tired. Teleportation is a fi- Uhh… difficult thing. Few master it to use it as easily as we do, but it is a deceptively simple spell to learn. It will burn out the user almost instantly of all magical essence. Yet for some reason, they still try to learn it knowing the risk it entails.’ ‘Teleporting soun…uhh… sounds fun, though.’ Luna moved to clean Eufrimia’s ears, knowing it would make her listen. ‘It is, yes. But it is not envied on my part. Trust me, it is really not worth it most of the time.’ ‘I trust you-’ Luna pressed harder inside Eufrimia’s left ear – the one that typically hurt her the most but also the one that tends to get the dirtiest. ‘Stop it!’ She turned and snatched the towel out of Luna’s grip. ‘I will do it myself. You always hurt me here!’ Luna laughed. ‘Sorry, not sorry.’ She got up. ‘I will leave you to dry and wear your clothes. Don’t expect me to help you this time around, okay?’ ‘’Kay,’ she mumbled. ‘I will be next to the fireplace, waiting for you. Hm?’ ‘Yes… Luna?’ She turned; answering without a word uttered. ‘Why don’t you stay with Celestia during the winter?’ Her expression curled into something approximating anger. ‘It is better this way.’ She turned back toward the door. ‘Finish your errands.’ It was almost noon – at least, Eufrimia thought it to be so. It was hard to tell during winter. It was snowing outside, but Luna had forbidden her from going out to observe the snow fall on her own. When Luna was deep asleep and the temperature high enough, Eufrimia would venture toward the high-up window to watch the cascading white powder. She was short but tall enough for a head to peer out from the window. She would get a cramp after a while, earn sore hooves, and light sunburns she managed to hide with her fur and the light of dancing flames. But all things considered, the experience was worth it. Besides, when it would eventually calm down, Luna had promised to play with her outside. That day, she had elected exactly that. Luna was sleeping like a rock and the snow had ceased its never-ending descent. The Sun was hidden behind thick clouds and the room temperature seemed just about right for her to make that escape without Luna noticing. Getting up from under Luna’s wing, gently resting it to not provoke her, and leaving the warmth of the blanket, Eufrimia began to make her way to the window. Eufrimia slid down the bed, dropping on the carpeted floor with a resonating boom. Wary she had awakened Luna, the foal kept staring her until she had deemed it safe to continue. The silence following the storm was almost deafening. After hours of never-ending strong winds, it was weird to finally return to the prior silence. Decorations had been thrown by the wind, trees were wrenched with tremendous force, and the sound of random doors slamming in the distance had prevented Eufrimia from founding quick sleep. Luna had seemed unphased by the terrible cacophony around them. When Eufrimia thought the entire construction might fall down upon them, nestling closer to Luna, she had told the girl a story of an ugly little fish that quested to find beauty. Of course the fish did complete his quest, but Luna had lured her into the false impression of an end where it had all being futile. Eufrimia did not like it and had made her know. In return, it earned the foal some harsh words. Yet, she could still hear the small hiss of the wind whistling from whatever imperfections in the castle’s frame. She was sure the guards had heard her getting up from bed, but Hekatomb promised to let her do her escapades. Each steps sounded louder and more profound, no matter how much she waltzed, a smothered echo was still distastefully resonating in the frankly too immense room – or she was simply too short for it. Eufrimia always thought this castle was too big for what it was used for. She like the decorations, but for almost none activity within, it was empty. Though other rooms were more spacious, the need to make this particular one that big did not register into the foal’s mind. To hold court? With the cold outside? Those Equestrians must be stupid, or Luna more so for guiding them here when they demand so. The latter seemed less plausible. Angle Right once told her that Luna – or “Princess Luna” – rarely, if ever, had held court or summoned of her own accord any Pony with power. In fact, since Angle Right had been married, only once had it been done. Maybe even on accident after a dispute had erupted between the Sisters over some problem Angle could not recall the details of. Eufrimia wasn’t sure what holding court actually entails, but it sounded important. As all words Luna would say. Audiences occurred sparingly when she permitted the scant notables to enter her presence. From what Eufrimia noticed from her hiding place behind heavy curtains, few would emerge back from their meeting without some sort of frustration coupled with something else she is nor know what it could be. At one point, a scurry of multiple elements came down crashing all their fury upon the castle. Yet, Luna did not care for what was befalling them. The shelves of some old library was close to them, its books able of entertaining them for the whole season. To make Luna proud of her, Eufrimia had taken to read even more. She had improved considerably, and she came to understand that her silent approval coupled with a nod of her head, was enough to express appraisal. Reaching the window, she could only stare at the frost that had gathered on its edges. She wanted to curse it with all the words Angle Right had unintentionally taught her; it was then that she recalled having wings. At least, the remnants of ones. But above anything else, she wanted to see the garden and rampart covered in snow. ‘It is my dream, after all,’ she whispered to herself, only turning to make sure if Luna had woken up. Except for the more present sound of burning wood, nothing else seemed to have changed. She tried to fly once. Then a second a time. Then a third. A fourth and fifth time. Nothing that took her higher than a simple jump. Then she heard the door open. Not thinking twice, she rushed back to Luna’s side. At her speed, she twisted on the thick carpet’s edge. Hekatomb dropped his load of wood and ran to help the foal. ‘Are you alright?’ he asked in usually low and serene voice. Eufrimia nodded in a curse, scared of Luna’s reaction. ‘You can leave those here, Hekatomb. I will take care of those,’ whispered Luna, barely startled by the noise. He nodded, replying his acceptance with a somewhat trembling voice. He left immediately, his head bowed, unable to stare at Luna directly but he had enough will to reassure the young Thestral. Luna raised her head and yawned profoundly, then turned toward Eufrimia. She had approached but kept a distance from her. Not feeling the need to use her strength to keep her head up, Luna rested it on her cushion and drew the blanket closer. ‘I used to force my sister to stay next to the fire, the same I do with you. I don’t want you to get sick, that is all. You are still a child… I do not want to comfort you in that age. I don’t to explain your ordeal to your father.’ She wasn’t sure what she meant by that last part – no matter to her. ‘You can get sick?’ ‘Yes, of course. We are still…’ She hesitated. ‘… like you.’ ‘I’m sorry, mom.’ ‘Excuse me?’ She stayed quiet for a second, trying to put together with what she had said wrong. ‘I’m sorry, Luna.’ ‘Come here.’ She offered Eufrimia her side. ‘Don’t stay out in the cold.’ Eufrimia sat next to Luna, right under her wing. Luna then draped her with the thick blanket. Luna closed her eyes once more and whispered to, for her liking, a too quiet Eufrimia. ‘I know I’ve promised. Later, later. Just don’t underestimate the cold. If you get sick, you won’t be able to play later. Understand?’ ‘What if it snows again?’ ‘It will not. Trust me. And even it does, I will make sure it doesn’t.’ She turned to face her and kissed Luna on the cheek. ‘Sorry for waking you up.’ Luna’s lips twitched. ‘Don’t think I am displeased. My night was not pleasant.’ ‘Again?’ Luna nodded; she did not want to expand more on the subject. The foal smuggled closer to Luna. ‘You have another story?’ ‘I have a lot of stories,’ she smiled. ‘A whole lot…’ **** Luna would make do with her promise at nightfall. Shielding them from the scorching cold with magic, Luna taught the foal how to build the sturdiest of snow castles. Then, getting bored, Eufrimia threw a snowball at Luna. She reiterated. The foal threw another one. The skirmish quickly morphed into a tense battle that lasted for one whole hour of constant back and for. Luna used her wings for maximum efficiency, running between quickly built fortifications that shielded her little from Eufrimia’s more than accurate throws. Knowing she might lose, Eufrimia gradually constructed a circular fort between lulls. Luna played with her scheme and made to weaken the structure with precise hits on points that would not harm the girl. After a few minutes, Eufrimia began to lack ammunition. Digging deeper in the snow, the foal formed her ultimate weapon and hurled her final snowball with ultimate precision. It hit Luna on the head mid-run, throwing her out of balance in a loud grunt, and knocking her head first into the snow. A small rock had hit Luna on the head, bruising her a little. It was nothing, but the foal knew it not. Fearing of having injured her, Eufrimia abandoned her fort and ran to Luna’s side. She did not bow and beg for forgiveness, as Luna had expected. Instead, Eufrimia leaned on her and franticly searched for the bruise. Not finding a thing, the girl lowered her head to Luna’s level; then in a low, shy voice, she asked if Luna could forgive her. Luna’s expression beamed. Her smile widened. Then she started laughing a loud, genuine laugh. Eufrimia’s worry dissipated, only to be brought back when distant howls were heard, an instinctive reaction she could not control. Putting a hoof behind Eufrimia’s neck and guiding her head in front of her, Luna attempted to reassure her. ‘Wolves – those are wolves, Eufi.’ She pressed herself closer for an embrace that readily came. ‘Th-… that is their sound?’ Luna nodded. ‘They are mighty creatures. In winter, there must be some trespassers of some rival pack. Or they are hunting for sus- food.’ ‘They are not coming here? Right?’ She snorted. ‘No. We are next to a big forest; that is why it is so audible. Usually, however, they don’t venture close to population centers.’ Her tone turned dour. Eufrimia recoiled her head. ‘But people tend to believe they will attack them. We are not food for them. You, Thestrals, have… No matter. For later. Regardless, you prove that no one learns – no matter how much you might insist. I told you, and you read of it. Wolves are dangerous only when purposefully provoked!’ Eufrimia shuffled closer. ‘I’m sorry.’ Luna took a deep breath and gestured for the girl to get up. Dusting the snow from of her cloth, she gestured forward. ‘Time for you to rehearse what you were taught, girl.’ And they say I am the kid here… she thought. ‘Coming. Coming.’ Luna did not hear her as she quickly moved inside the castle. The Visitors‘And they are gone into the halls of time!’ -Declaration by an extravagant wizard after casting his excretion spell. In modern times, Griffonstone, and the eponymous kingdom it is the capital of, are synonymous with degradation and precarity. The once great and proud kingdom fell to, vulgarizing, a lack of faith in the ruling house in the aftermath of the loss of the ancient chalice that had been utilized by the first of the imperial line to found the Griffonian Empire – the first of its kind, having united nearly all Griffon nations under the rule of one. An Empire that, if no turn of faith would occur, was itself on the verge of total collapse. Though blaming the reason on simply the loss of the Icon of Boreas was childishly putting the myriad of problems that had come to plague both Kingdom and Empire. The loss of such an icon served only to represent what is rarely associated with the Griffon: dedication of belief. While associated with the gathering of wealth above any means and asserting their position in whatever theater they find themselves in, faith guided and still guides the entire race. Be it of political or religious belief, they, more than any other, are willing to defend their belief. Beliefs differ from region to region, but most of the Griffons were united by the belief in their three main deities: Boreas, Eyr, and Arcturus. The first gave the Griffons the concept of the value of a nation, wealth, and having a friend. The second gave them the concept of family and camaraderie. The third taught them and gave them the means to defend themselves. Each branch ruled by an archon since times immemorial. With the gradual decline of Griffonstone and the rise of the Empire, the archons were dispersed, their unity questioned by worried voices. Even still, Griffonstone was not the first capital of the Triarchy. Nestled on an elevated plateau on the western mountain range to Griffonstone, abandoned with time following its sacking by a weird alliance of Griffon and the non-Equestria aligned Pony tribes, declared holy ground by the three Archons with any reconstruction prohibited, Anih was “the City that Was”. Two figures strode the strewed ruins of the City of a Thousand and One Temples – an impressive name for a village of fewer than one thousand inhabitants. Little was left of those one thousand temples except lone standing arches and walls without a house or temple to call its own. Few relatively intact buildings remained still, with only one, standing on the edge of what was once a central plaza, appearing to have lost nothing of its majesty. The two figures continued toward the nature-conquered gardens of the Royal Palace. No roof existed and only a few columns protruded out of the long grass growing between the pavements. The rulers were never truly the Archons, though they held near unparalleled temporal power, it was the King of Anih that ruled the city, acting as a mediator between the Archons. With time, the position had morphed into a symbol of the unity of the Three and an integral part of the Triarchy. And with this, Luna concluded her brief retelling of Anih. And the winds raged stronger, penetrating the confines of the ancient palace with a freezing breeze, heralding the upcoming night. Eufrimia and Luna tucked their heads instantly. Eufrimia took her orange mane and wrapped it around her neck. The foal that she once was had shed all the vestiges of her early life. Her fur was of a light-dark color, with a strip of white descending from her ears, passing by her a sharp jawline, towards her wingless back – some of the Thestrals had lost their wings in the return to sanity. She possessed small, almost unnoticeable fangs and clear, intensely orange eyes that Luna liked but always seemed to divert her gaze from. ‘Why wear all of this?’ bitterly asked Eufrimia, pointing out the thick clothes Luna had insisted they both wore for their trip – Eufrimia’s first outside Equestria. Her father would have joined them, sticking closely to his only child and the only one the tribe had remaining. For all had found themselves infertile with no cure for it. ‘Because it’s more fun this way,’ Luna answered pleasantly, raising her head back. ‘Being cold is not fun, though…’ ‘It is, for me.’ Luna kept her smile. Eufrimia winced, reducing the glow of her orange eyes, feeling almost infuriated by her blissful smile. This whole concept of fun Luna had always felt awkward and out of place for her. Her almost constant denial of utilizing her powers for simple amusement when it could have been far simpler and more convenient to use them. She could see the reasoning behind it, but Luna’s not-so-hidden constant sarcastic tone put doubt on how much she could reason about Luna’s attitude. Eufrimia almost gave up trying to decipher all that swirled in her self-made mother’s mind; her natural mother had died before the curse. Perhaps simple instincts, but the level of care Luna presented to the girl was more than she did for any of the tribe. Eufrimia’s decision went against her father’s wishes, so both he and Luna rarely spoke in turn. But for Eufrimia it was never about designating Luna as a mother figure to her, rather it was abandoning her real name to the one she had introduced Luna to first. While in front of her, Luna would keep calling by the name the corrupted child had given, with the father alone Luna referred to Eufremia by her first name. Eufraty Miaalmas suspected it was the only reason he had not seethed completely against Luna. Eufrimia had been reunited with her father after New Year. But like most of her tribe, he was more aloof, more apprehensive, and fearful of venturing out of their hold within the castle’s empty dungeons. Other than her and Luna, everyone else had been prevented from entering. The Thestrals could venture out at their hearts' content, but few ever did beyond the confines of the castle. Of them, only Eufrimia’s father had traveled truly but never out of pleasure, though he cherished every moment spent with his daughter. Luna continued to add on the history of Anih and the region to distract Eufrimia from the cold. ‘It was once part of the great Arantigan Empire.’ ‘What happened to it?’ ‘It fell,’ Luna said, like stating the obvious to a petulant student. She could not blame Eufrimia to think so; after all, Equestria stood still. ‘Nothing that should surprise you. Anih, however, is relatively more recent. As I said, the Archons used to call it home before taking Griffonstone for a home. It was during our time, not prior – just to reiterate.’ ‘Yeah, yeah… It’s old. I get it.’ ‘Hm,’ Luna agreed. She pointed to the horizon. ‘The “trade” “city” of Sisia still exists, perhaps we will visit it after finishing here. Usually, pilgrims stay there instead of resting in one of the “hotels” and inns of current Anih.’ ‘A little odd.’ ‘Yes, it is,’ she laughed. ‘But, hey, it is expensive here and the people are not very polite either. Plus Sisia has some amazing gardens… And a quick road to the Fortress of Oblivion!’ Luna cried the name out. ‘Damn!’ laughed back Eufrimia. ‘What happens there? Dark magic? Those things from your early reign imprisoned there? Deranged writers?’ ‘Nope! Just a prison… for bandits and the occasional usurper – which is basically the same but with a more fashionable name.’ ‘Not wrong. So torture is implied?’ ‘Wrong! Well, the wind currents are so horrendous that flying is practically wanting to die there, but otherwise, for having been a prisoner there once, it was alright.’ ‘They imprisoned one of the Princesses of Equestria and did not notice!?’ Luna proudly nodded. ‘And why were you imprisoned?’ ‘I am very good at disguising myself.’ She nudged Eufrimia. ‘As for the reason why: I stole water and was pestering a local herder by playing around with local wolf packs. They were very cute. And her dog was very cute too.’ ‘You seem happier here.’ ‘Without doubt due to the pure air and lingering smell!’ It had rained the day prior to their arrival and the air still retained that distinct smell. Turning her head toward the partially demolished wall, opening to a cloud glimmering in the distant light of the setting Sun. It extended in length from the bottom of a distant valley to its flat upper edge. From its side, a rainbow appeared shyly on the cloud’s right. Its colors dissipated behind a nearby peak covered by eternal snow. She had never witnessed such a site. Then again, it had been a long while since she had taken this much notice of the landscape around her. Maybe the work of Cloudsdale, she laughed to herself. ‘By the way, mom,’ Eufrimia tapped Luna’s shoulder, ‘what was before you two came?’ Luna got up without a word said. Getting to a pile of fallen blocks, she began adjusting the fallen red-colored rocks, playing to rearrange them for visitors that would never care for their emplacements. She shuffled them around for a minute or so, maintaining a smile that yelled fake ever louder. ‘So?’ asked Eufrimia, calmly. ‘I don’t know,’ her tone dropped to a dour one. ‘I – we – never cared to know. Not that it matters, we have time to uncover the past more thoroughly anyways. You and I perhaps…’ she trailed off. ‘You will have time. Not me.’ Eufrimia made it sound as much a jest as she could. Luna clenched her teeth. ‘You have to remind me. I don’t want to know,’ she almost ordered. ‘Oh! It’s a joke! Just stop being so dour.’ ‘Let’s go to an amphitheater or something. I don’t care.’ She enveloped the bag Eufrimia was carrying with blue energy, levitating it as she walked away from the young mare. Shit, cursed Eufrimia. She’s angry. Getting past the still-in-use aqueduct, Luna sat down and made upon her talent. It had become a mundane thing for Eufrimia, it had lost its impressiveness to her. She would have vastly preferred staying around to talk with Cherry Aurora, a servant’s child with no particular future entailed to her except inheriting her father’s position, rather than staying with Luna. Once she did and Luna worried sick about her absence. Luna had found both mares simply discussing whatever book Cherry had chosen to study as part of Eufrimia’s attempt at teaching her literature. She turned out better than her, and the Thestral felt inferior by it. Though her father had taught her to not let jealousy be the defining feature of her life, the gnawing feeling did not subside completely. However, in discussing the deeper meanings of writings, Eufrimia prided herself on being unsurpassed. And it was during one of her tirades that Luna came to liberate Aurora from what had started about flowers to the existentialism of investable decay – somehow. Luna had been worried, yes, but that factor had not been the one taking Eufrimia to see the Alicorn rise to the Moon. When the Princess had come barreling in, Cherry’s demeanor… shifted. Not in the way expected for a servant meeting with its master, but rather something more…existential. Looking at Luna directly was an effort. Presenting excuses for an error that wasn’t hers was an even greater effort. At that time, Eufrimia thought only Thestrals like her were immune to whatever aura Luna emitted. But a brief trip to the south of Equestria proved her wrong. The unease was universal. Luna could attune it, and she had done so many times effortlessly. But Luna wasn’t exactly the most diplomatic of individuals and without that… thing, she had to pour more effort. The slight effort, for she still was an Alicorn, but enough to tire her. ‘So it is here everything Griffon was born?’ Eufrimia tried to soften the tense atmosphere. ‘Uhm,’ Luna nodded. ‘It is one of their oldest settlements. If not the oldest. Though more on Griffon's history can wait. Understand I don’t feel like reciting it at the moment.’ ‘Not that I would complain hearing you ramble.’ Luna loudly grunted, clearly signaling a certain agreement in the wind, trying to concentrate on her task. Suddenly, the wind took up speed, racking its harsh coolness upon the open plateau. Luna continued her walk unbothered, but Eufrimia was halted nearly instantly. Instinctively, she closed her eyes; little did the Thestral know that the sky started clearing, revealing a shy Sun. Eufrimia felt something gently grabbing her; still with enough force to push her wholly to who-knows-where as she felt her body lightening and flying above the ground. ‘Are you okay?’ worried Luna, frantically inspecting Eufrimia. ‘Does it burn somewhere?’ Eufrimia did not answer at first, still shaken by the experience. ‘Answer me, Eufi!’ her voice edged on an order. ‘Yeah…’ She opened her eyes to a night sky and Luna’s eyes searching for any sunburn. ‘You’re dizzy.’ ‘Something you did. You tell me.’ ‘I had to rush you behind this wall.’ She did not elaborate further. ‘Are you okay besides that? And sorry about it.’ ‘Nothing hurts. The Sun was weak, no worries. Everything’s fine.’ The wind returned again with a vengeance, taking in its thralls Eufrimia’s mane; Luna’s remaining in its ever-waving state, unbothered by the elements. ‘The wind is strong,’ smirked Eufrimia. ‘Hm. You will get used to it,’ said Luna, still somewhat vexed. ‘We can make this visit a yearly habit if you want?’ ‘I don’t mind. But I would prefer dad to come with us next time… Maybe we can plan it for my birthday or something.’ ‘Whatever you like. If it makes you happy – that is most important to me.’ ‘By the way, I’ve never asked, nor noticed-’ ‘Surprising,’ she laughed a little, helping Eufrimia to get up. ‘Yeah,’ she giggled. ‘But never have I heard you mention you celebrating your birthday – not even your sister’s if she celebrates hers that is.’ ‘…’ ‘You do know when you were born, right?’ Something in Eufrimia told her that the lack should be accepted as such and the question never had to be uttered in the first place. ‘I don’t remember.’ Eufrimia let the solemn silence sit. She knew and stayed with Luna ever since she could remember, but never had the atmosphere felt so… opaque. ‘My sister and I used to celebrate it when we were little – if you can fathom how long it was.’ Her lips twitched. ‘Eventually, we… just mutually agreed to no longer bring it up. And the rest vanished; we no longer brought anything out like this. There is no point in it.’ Now, Eufrimia felt truly bad. ‘Not the only thing you’ve stopped bringing up,’ she muttered. Luna did not hear her as she blankly stared at the stone floor. ‘We used to have fun together,’ continued Luna, ignoring what Eufrimia had to say. ‘You still do. With me, though.’ ‘Yes. And that’s the problem.’ She wanted to yell at her. After all of those years, she singled her as the problem. Grabbing a hold of herself, she remembered to keep herself calm and collected. Her father always said she tends to ask too many questions at the most inappropriate time. At least, she wasn’t embarrassing a friend by doing so. Cherry Aurora had forgiven her, thankfully. Then again, what is so weird asking about the reason why Cherry’s parents had not been speaking with each other when she had made it clear that mentioning them was not particularly welcome. ‘And you,’ she coughed, ‘are too melodramatic for my taste,’ she buried the truth under an amused smile. Luna returned back with a smile, ‘I am not fun – am I?’ ‘Nope!’ It had exited too true for her liking. ‘But it does not mean I want to be separated from you. I like to not have fun. I adore it.’ ‘Sometimes I prefer when you were still a throbbing, drooling thing.’ ‘I can still become one, but I don’t like the feel of saliva dripping down, you know?’ Luna laughed profusely as she prepared to rise to the Moon. Heading close to a cliff in the early hours of dawn, offering a view to a great plain where streams ran directly from the mountains above, the profound sound of bells toned in long intervals a weak wind transporting it through the tall grass. A dog barked and the orderly yells of a family of Griffons joined to fill the silence and add their chores to the serene surroundings. For a long while, no words were shared between the two mares. Sleep was rapidly conquering them but had insisted for Eufrimia to witness Anih at dawn. The temporary spell cast by Luna was fading but just enough to keep enough energy. Perhaps the herder had noticed them. Luna did not really mind. She knew how disinterested those folks could be in things not directly threatening their animals. ‘Want to eat?’ ‘Not particularly. No,’ answered Eufrimia. ‘I’m hungry. Want us to eat now?’ ‘If you can’t wait-’ ‘I can. But you also have to understand that hunger is a very grievous thing. Particularly for those in my standing,’ she jested. Eufrimia grinned and jokingly bowed. ‘Excuse me, Princess.’ ‘That’s more like it!’ Luna exaggerated. She presented a piece of plain cake; no frivolity, no weird mixture of fruit, but a barely perceivable lemony flavor. ‘I don’t want one.’ Luna insisted, the bag dangling more aggressively. ‘I said no.’ Luna pushed further. ‘No!’ Not bothering to lower her head, Luna dropped the bag on the floor. ‘I know you like those.’ ‘That is why I don’t want one. After a while, they stop tasting good.’ ‘I-’ she muffled something. ‘Don’t come to me later for them.’ ‘I won’t, fatty.’ ‘I’m not fat!’ ‘Of course, you aren’t. Those with problems are usually the first to deny them,’ she cackled on the side of her mouth. ‘Don’t do your philosophy on me. I hate it!’ Begrudgingly, Eufrimia took out a cake, splitting it for Luna before offering it back to her. All the while, she had kept a malign expression that made Luna puff. The Alicorn was hungry indeed but felt like dividing her meal with Eufrimia. ‘I wonder if they eat well here,’ said Eufrimia while mashing her sandwich. Luna closed her eyes and waited with a grimace for the ordeal to end. ‘They eat enough,’ she answered, exasperated. ‘Something’s telling me they don’t.’ ‘Then go feed them yourself. I cannot provide anything to them.’ ‘Why though?’ ‘It is not my place to do so. ‘ ‘But you have the powers, and it would not be unusual for you to do so.’ ‘I know. It is still not my place to do so, here.’ ‘Even if you walk around as a Griffon-’ She taped Luna on the arm. ‘Can you mimic one perfectly?’ ‘Of course, I can!’ she boasted in a sudden mood shift. ‘Take a gander!’ She shoved down her cake, grabbed Eufrimia, and forced her down to a ruined building, away from any prying eyes. In less than two seconds, the amalgamation of Pegasus and Unicorn disappeared as it was replaced by the half-feline, half-avian form of a tall Griffon. ‘Ta-da!’ ‘Damn. Could’ve confused me if it wasn’t for the obvious colors.' ‘What can I say? I am quite fond of those. I… claw too much to them.’ Luna closed and opened her claw. ‘I claw upon them instead of clawing to-’ ‘Stop it.’ ‘No – I will claw onto my joke.’ Eufrimia paused to think, contorting her visage to see how the Griffon in front of her would react. To put it briefly: she was disappointed by the lack of originality. But she was too tired to bother extracting more out of her. ‘What are- Those Chan-gelin-gs?’ ‘Yes. The Changelings.’ ‘Will we go to the Changeling Lands? It would be fun, no?’ ‘No,’ she asserted. ‘We leave them alone.’ ‘Maybe they can join Equestria, and then the fun would begin. They must have some amazing games with their abilities.’ Luna snorted and smiled patronizingly. ‘We will not force them. I don’t attack for the pleasure it procures. We have united Equestria; those that were not part of the realm or Ponies are not obliged to join. We will never force anyone to join. We will defend Equestria, but never will we force our will beyond those borders. You hear me? Never.’ She turned. ‘Already we have the mantle of Sun and Moon, it should not extend beyond it.’ ‘Hm… And dreams,’ added Eufrimia. ‘And you have dreams.’ You just have to add more to the fire, Eufrimia, huh? Fuck you. I hate myself… ‘And I have the Realm of Dreams… And I have the Realm of Dreams…’ ‘Okay, okay.’ She tapped Luna with two hooves, making Luna smile for a reason that escaped the Princess. ‘Make me a Griffon. But keep the orange.’ ‘You don’t have to tell me twice!’ Luna’s horn peered out from the Griffon form, lighting up with great expectation behind it. As blue light came to cloak Eufrimia’s body wholly, Luna sensed what was a relatively trivial spell – one she had gotten used to casting over the years – taking much effort out of her. Eufrimia saw Luna’s unease behind the slowly thickening veil. Her eyes shifted endlessly in position, her wings were raised, and her mouth opened and closed endlessly, repeating the spell she had become unsure of its veracity. The more she recited it, the more her she doubted herself. Were those the right words? The right sequences? Why was she questioning a practice done over and over? Rarely had Eufrimia observed Luna reacting in that manner. But knowing her, the reason for unsureness was simple. She yelled once. Her mouth refused to move, the words lost in the echo of her inner voice. Gathering all the energy simultaneously dissipating and souring within her, and feeling it would be her last try, Eufrimia bellowed. ‘Do it!’ she managed to get out, getting Luna’s ears to twitch. ‘I’ll be fine!’ For a couple of seconds, nothing changed. Then, like a bright, blue Sun, it ended. Eufrimia woke up laying on the floor alone. Luna, still a Griffon, was standing, her back turned and their bag hanging on her back. She turned in place, placing herself belly down. Then she put two… pitch-white claws on the pavement. Startled by the sight, she caressed the black fur. It was as if it could be taken off easily; it was there and wasn’t at the same time. Eufrimia turned her head to see her wings. They were there and she could control them fully. An addition of Luna or simply a part of the spell, the Thestral did not care. Eufrimia forsook her first attempt; she had wings now, so why not profit from them? Awkwardly, she tentatively rose above the ground through the only force of her wings. But not far enough from the ground for her to not still be able to feel the ground. Like a child learning how to walk, Eufrimia went toward the familiar things. Like so, she bumped abruptly into Luna, dropping on her claws. She stumbled and fell gently on Luna’s side. The Alicorn barely reacted but turned to face Eufrimia, meeting her red, bright eyes directly. She smirked, edging on a smile, and caressed Eufrimia on the head. ‘See?’ her voice had not changed, but uttering it from something other than her mouth was as exhilarating as it was unfamiliar. ‘You did it!’ Eufrimia hugged Luna. Caressing Eufrimia’s winged back, Luna told the young mare in a tone similar to the one waiting to be berated for her action, ‘Let’s go to the nearest inn. I am very tired.’ Eufrimia nodded and closely followed Luna. In a short time, they exited the ruins twenty minutes before dawn. Wanting to see the Sun basking in the ruins, Eufrimia paused, Luna, continuing without her. Casting a full view of the City that Was, Eufrimia noticed Luna had been avoiding the central monument from the start of their visit. She wanted to raise that fact, but her instincts told her to hold on to her words. She might no longer visit the ruins in her lifespan, but keeping Luna tethered to any sort of positive attitude, better let her want to be buried. In the end, it won’t matter; maintaining their relationship was paramount. If broken, nothing would mend it back together.
Dawn ‘Never has the Sun seen the shadows.’ -Dimmet Verge, Imperial Griffon philosopher. A buzz. A slight hiss. The shy chime of bells. The sound of falling chains followed by a rusted door opening coursed through the stone walls across the underground. Plain, red eyes moved in sudden agitation, all heading in unison to the pale light now illuminating the dark home of its underground inhabitants. The sound of shuffling and chains wrapping the door once more The light went off and another came forth, more soothing and pleasing to their eyes. A tall figure paced slowly, making sure not to startle them. They knew her; she knew they would not harm her, but she did not want to disturb their non-diurnal lives. She put down the crates, opening them for the bestial things to feast upon their content. As usual, they did not immediately head toward them. Instead, they congregated closer around her, distancing themselves from the source of the light, or else they feared lest it would burn them. ‘I’ve brought you… medication,’ she addressed them as a mother would her children. The beasts grunted. Some snarled, letting their drool dribble to the floor in thick gobbets. They were happy to hear Luna’s voice. It was comforting, delightful even. She smiled back at them, some did the same to her, but it did not last. As suddenly as it brightened her old yet extraordinarily youthful visage, it vanished. It felt wrong to smile like that. It was almost unnatural. She was like… mocking their fate. A silent melancholy settled in as she rehearsed the spell in her mind. Her mouth emitted a quick succession of words in a loud whisper, echoing in the chamber’s walls. They could feel that more was plaguing her mind. The creatures knew their protector was ill, but from what, their forgone minds could not tell. Crimson disks fixated on her without any obvious intellect behind them. They were no longer sapient, barely sentient even. They once had been Thestrals but after being cursed by a cabal of mad mages were transformed into hideous and monstrous things. Beneath their thick, black fur, their skin was alabaster white – almost ghostly and reptilian in appearance and touch. Their wings lost their leathery membranes, leaving the bone frames ever hanging on their own. Their teeth were slightly curved on the top, half-resembling canines, and their fangs had been elongated to unnatural proportions. Some had a second pair growing out of their lower jaw, jutting out and piercing their flesh; they could barely close their mouth afterward. It hurt them. She would regularly find blood splattered or fangs turned red from the blood running down them. Luna ceased her rehearsal and approached one of those miserable creatures, its condition unbearable to leave unattended to. Its real name she knew not, but she had given it the appellation of “Silv” for the patches of gray on its fur and skin – maybe the last remnant of its past self. Luna never uttered their names aloud in case it might confuse their fragile minds. Perhaps break them further. She took Silv from the muzzle with an abrupt grip. The miserable creature snarled. She made Silv look her in the eyes with a light push and caressed the back of its neck, calming the beast. Luna reassured the thing further, to finally start cleaning their bodily liquids. If outsiders saw her they would wonder why a being such as her not simply use magic to get it done in an instant. She would have answered them that it felt disingenuous; like she was cheating out the creature from a precious intimate moment. The only time she would use her powers was to cut the tusks-like things and heal the self-inflicted injuries. It always earned her a bunt when she concluded her work, and for them, a pat on the head. As much as they were comforted by her presence, their sight broke her. It was not her fault they had been cursed and transformed into hideous beasts, but she was the one that found them when everyone else had rebuffed them – they had even begun killing them. Luna saved the Thestrals, promising to return the villagers to their past selves. Someone had to, and she was not her sister; she had nothing to lose from people that shunned her – that forgot her – to care what they had to say. They blare about understanding and friendship, yet they are the ones that ignore and prejudice the most. If they genuinely harbored those ideals, they should have aided the poor things instead of imprisoning them into a miserable fate. She finalized their cleaning and stopped to wonder if she should proceed with a bath. For their cruel lack of intelligence, the shimmer of an instinct remained buried beneath – they could still clean themselves. Hygiene seemed to be too much of a rooted instinct in the minds of creatures for it to be extinguished. Luna crouched, preparing herself for yet another attempt to rescue them. Arcs of pale blue lightning issued out of her horn, enveloping the beasts and lifting them from the ground. They did not debate her – they knew whatever she was doing, it was not going to harm them. Her head began to hurt; she did not relent. She had to save them. Luna pushed forth, but the strain she was putting on herself finally overwhelmed her. It failed. For the thousand times, it failed. She let gravity depose her on the unclean floor as she let the seeping sense of capitulation deflate her. To make amends, to ever so slightly improve their lives, she elected to clean their habitat. At least, they would continue having a pleasant life – if they still recall what one must be. Luna reflected on her failure. A young girl approached her. She was still a child when they had been cursed but retained the wonder only children possess. An innocence Luna forgot she had ever experienced before. Experience had dissipated any sense of wonder in her. The girl caressed her head along Luna’s left arm like a dog demanding attention and play. Luna did not let her demand liggered long and picked the child up, holding the girl close to her body. The girl, sensing Luna’s troubled mind more keenly, hugged her. Luna returned the gesture, recognizing the adoration and trust radiating out of the deformed Thestral. Luna sighed. ‘What’s your name?’ she asked, disappointedly knowing deep down it was pointless to expect an answer from them. The girl looked at Luna directly in the eyes like few dared do. The child’s mouth moved in an attempt to answer. Luna hid the mounting sense of failure. For all her attempts, her face still betrayed an inkling of disgust. ‘Eu… fri… mia,’ the girl struggled, forcing the letters halfway between a growl and the vestiges of her real voice. Luna’s smile almost illuminated the room. Her features rejuvenated and the artifacts of her frown vanished. ‘Eufremia,’ she clarified the name in a voice soft as silk. ‘I’ve never heard the name before,’ her curiosity spoke. ‘It’s a beautiful name nonetheless.’ The others spoke, each telling Luna what could have been their names once. They had never done that before. It was wonderful and exciting to finally have brought anything close to normalcy and anything that related to their old lives back to them. Luna was proud of herself. ‘And you?’ She pointed toward Silv. It looked at her like a lost child or one wary to disappoint their parents with an answer that would not please them. ‘Au…n… reez…’ he finally forced out. ‘Aunreez,’ she repeated with an even voice. ‘I was calling you Silv because of your gray colors. Silv.’ He croaked his head and moved his jaws to adjust his teeth. ‘Silv,’ she said again. Nothing. ‘I guess it doesn’t matter anymore… Onr- I mean, Aunreez.’ She awkwardly laughed. He mewled a little, and that was enough for her to know that he appreciated her sentiment. Luna nodded to him and he joined the pack once more. She looked at Eufremia’s teeth, trying to spot any telltale signs of Aunreez inflection. The girl did not like it and made Luna’s task more arduous than it ought to have been. For ten seconds the girl struggled like her life was on the line. At the end of those ten seconds, Luna was done and thought Eufremia might have wanted to leave her. She let loose of the embrace but the girl remained firmly attached to Luna. She could have used the Elements of Harmony to finally and truly save them, but they had not worked. They had used to before. Her sister and she had used them individually on numerous occasions in the past. She attempted many times to harness their powers for them. She had poured in everything to make them work, but they were too unstable. Perhaps it had been her expending too much of her powers during the night, so she limited her visits to the Realm of Dreams – but to no avail. They were useless to save them. She could not bring other mages, nor could she bring her sister. They could harm them. Those corrupted beasts were her people; they lived in her night when others were frightened by its darkness and lack of light. More than any other living creature under the Sun, she had to provide for the Thestrals. It was her self-appointed responsibility. In the modern age, it is almost forgotten to us how tenebrous the night could be without the figurative protection of artificial light. In fact, so much its aegis overwhelms us that it blocks the sight of the very stars from the nightly sky. We were always scared of it; we always tried to scatter the dark, to make it dissipate. At night, one innocuous sound chiming during the day turns into a flurry of imaginings as our minds spark in the sense of immediate danger. As a collective, we have always been terrified of the unknown, even more so when it is sheaved in what cannot be observed or interpreted. That is why we prefer to assemble ourselves around the light; that is why the night, for generations, has terrified us. We cannot see what is in front of us; we know not what lies ahead; and it terrifies us. The Moon and stars may shine brightly in the darkness but seldom do they illuminate enough to cast the worst our imagination could conjure. And during those brief periods when the Moon would illuminate the land in its pale moonlight, we can appreciate its odd calmness. Suddenly, the danger appears far and distant. You peer at the sky and see constellations. For a reason that escapes us, we start to like it – even love it. It is only then that creatures dream. Luna thought again about the Elements. They had used them to defeat Discord and had brought back creatures of lesser rationality and far greater malevolence from the brim. Were they smiting her? Has it come down to this? The very things that had defined their reign were shunning her? She who cared for the Moon and dreams? It would not have surprised her. In fact, it felt almost exalting. She was not beholden to them anymore… but only answered to her sister. Luna smiled, but it was an odd smile – the Thestrals sensed it. A thing between exaltation and the fake smile of melancholy. The Elements… ‘… of Harmony,’ she hissed between her teeth. ‘Harmony,’ she repeated aloud to the tone of a curse. Her voice then shifted. The echo of something within emerged. ‘Harmony,’ she clearly cursed in a dusty tone. ‘What does it even mean?’ She made it echo in an impossible boom, making the dungeon walls tremble and the beasts shrink at her voice. They dropped as their knees were unable to withhold the reverberations. Instinctively, they wailed, crying out for help, but for whom, they knew not. The beasts still standing stepped slightly backward. They felt something was wrong with Luna. They sensed something different about her, something they never observed nor perceived. Luna was sitting in front of them, but simultaneously, it was not her. For the first time, they were terrified of the Mistress of the Night. Luna tightened her grip around the young creature. The girl named Eufremia sensed Luna’s trembles as she railed more determinedly in her anger. Eufremia hugged Luna, only knowing this method could calm her. And it did. Luna did not thank the girl, keeping to herself to make sense of what had happened. She healed those in need. Nothing more. Luna closed her eyes; they returned to stand around her, returning to the melancholic silence. Minutes passed, and Luna felt Eufremia’s weight. She thought the worst. Had she killed her? Was her spell slowly killing them? All sorts of scenarios raced in her head, some vying for her attention. No positive thoughts were emerging from the mind-fug of her melancholy. She had promised to save them. Even if this method had briefly paced her mind, it was wrong to believe such things – to go the easy way. A slither of the hope she had once in her youth still shyly ember underneath her melancholy. It was denied replenishment; it had shortly rekindled by hearing the beasts’ brief glimpse of an intellect. To then be smothered once more. Maybe she should stop caring about plights. To stop focusing on them. But who would then if she did not? She had powers and experiences beyond any living creature; it was her responsibility. But who would care to remember her efforts? Her sister was too enamored in her own world to give back any attention. Everything she would ever undertake will remain unsung – even her nightly toil. Creatures of all kinds, of any age, of any time, will always be scared of the dark – of the night. No matter how bright it may turn, there will always be apprehension toward her realm. There was a reason they had begun to say: “Let them rest in their final good night.” They forget but did not forget that phrase, surprisingly. Luna brought the girl in front of her in a flurry of panic. Eufremia opened her eyes and yawned as a kitten would. She had been sleeping. Luna excused herself. One of Thestrals stepped forward a single step away from the rest. A male, the father of the little girl. ‘Want your daughter, Arsal?’ asked Luna in her normal voice. Arsal did not understand what Luna said but locked his eyes on Eufremia. ‘You want, then…’ Luna returned the child to her father. She got up. ‘I’ll prepare the bath.’ Luna gestured forward with her head. ‘Follow me. I’ll have to shorten my stay, unfortunately… I have other errands… other ordeals…’ She sighed. ‘I still have to get my crown.’ Luna pointed forward again. ‘Follow me. Excuse me for my temper… I’m sorry.’ She recalled another point. ‘And there will be no walk tonight. The bad season is arriving… Damn it,’ she whispered the curse. At the very corner of her field of vision, where the root of a tree shyly peered, Luna noticed red lines descending the walls. Tentatively she approached them, the creatures in tow. She smelled the red veins – no irony scent, not the typical smell of blood; it was humid. Had their blood mutated to such an extent that it transformed to occlude all its former self? She took another sniff. Her eyes widened, her expression wanting to showcase a smile but locked in a stupor. The veins tended to turn white as they descended the wall. Then it hit her – a fungus. The red was simply the fungus expanding to a root on the floor below. She quietly chuckled in mockery of herself; Luna turned to address her flock. ‘See? We are not so different, you and I.’ Luna detested the expression, but the comic tone behind it made her smirk widening. She gestured for them to follow her toward the grand pool she had carved within the rocky underground, decorating it with all matter of intricately ornate designs and representations. She had let herself loose on that one; depictions of forests, rivers, and animals striding under a sky illuminated by a full Moon. Then again, it was one of the few places she could let herself free without any sort of barrier. The liberation of rocks had not been what she spent most of her time on. The carving and the designing of the irrigation system, however, had been where she poured in everything. Maybe no one will pay it heed; maybe people and later centuries will find it ravaged by the elements and the carvings barely perceivable, but it was her creation, and she was proud of it. Luna sat on the edge, observing them enjoy the cool water she had let pour in. She thought of soaking herself in it, but a quick observation and sniff of the water made her elect otherwise. She loved them and was ready to share in their hardship, but even her love had limits. And constantly cleaning the water while dipping in would be nigh impossible if the likes of Eufremia wanted to play their, at times, quite brutish games. The times she sealed scars caused by their tusks and bony wings were too many to count. Their games had even earned her a small scar underneath her right wing. Luna quivered at the thought of potentially ingesting their water, not deigning to hide her disgust. She and her sisters were immortal – that is true – but it did not immune them from sicknesses. Luna was more resilient in that department, whereas Celestia always seemed to unwantedly catch herself something. ‘You’re sweltering, Celestia. Where have you been? The swamps?’ ‘Worse! The city!’ she had intentionally exaggerated… half-exaggerated; cities in that time were a haven of clustered packs for disease to spring up from. Sanitary reforms and improvements were not yet to be promulgated, though it wouldn’t have been long until they were forcibly applied. Luna smirked. ‘Well… At least, your pyromancy is being used for once.’ ‘I do use it… often. When you’re not here… and when no one is looking,’ she jokingly diverted her regard. ‘Oh, sure. I trust you though – partially,’ she laughed. Celestia joined Luna, only stopping when it became too painful to continue. ‘By the Aurelian Path of the Carrion Road of damned Tartarus… my head…’ Luna got up from her side and gently pocked Celestia on the head. ‘You better rest, idiot. It will be boring on my own.’ ‘I promise to rest!’ Celestia declared. ‘Can’t you heal me?’ ‘Something has really melted in there,’ poking her more on the head. ‘Remind me. I tend to forget when-’ ‘-convenient,’ chuckled Luna. Celestia agreed with a nod coupled with a smile. ‘At any rate. Say I take the marmalade out of the cupboard, then the marmalade will be out of the cupboard, but the cupboard remains, right? If I take the disease out of you, it will remain out, and I will be tempted to eat it.’ ‘Willingly catch my illness? You must be mad or utterly deranged. And you eating marmalade is even more unlikely.’ ‘My point exactly! And why not both?’ she grinned in amusement. ‘Additionally, you are the mad one here.’ The conversation had occurred… Luna could not remember, but it was in the early days – she was sure of it. She rummaged for the memory, searching all the recesses of her mind for more details – more anything related to a fragment of memory. The memory was gone, however. “Oh, sure. I trust you though – partially.” It sounded partially foreign to her, like a thing she had not said. Could it have been that she was imagining this entire conversation? It felt real in some parts, of which she could not ascertain where the lies began or ended. Perhaps her sister would have her doubts – but, at the same time, she could be lying. From the side, Luna noticed the different truths Celestia shared. Luna noticed the half-lies and half-truths she indulged in. Which of her words could be her earnest ones, Luna gave up deciphering. Luna could not cut down on the number of past promises Celestia had reneged upon. In their long existence, changing residence had come surprisingly little; when it would happen, Luna would begin by drawing the plans for the general layout in addition to the more hidden chambers strews around for delicate trinkets. At first, Celestia was indulgent with the time and cares her sister gave for each, letting her an almost infinite timeline and budget to act upon her creative mind. But as the years went by, as society evolved and its miens shifted, Celestia became less patient with Luna’s creativity. The castle had to be finished. The castle had to be made for modernity – for the preferences of the age. Luna still held the reigns as Chief Architect and the preeminent builder of the dungeons, though the second in command had taken a more arrogant and decisive position. Luna berated Celestia openly for letting such behavior be tolerated by “her puppets”. Celestia readily obliged; then the behavior returned. Luna complained. It receded. Came back again. Luna eventually gave up on either of them to grant her freedom. In Shire, however, there she had let her imagination run freely. Courtiers called it the “Hidden Jewel of the West” or simply and more commonly, the “Hidden Jewel”. Luna cared not to promote its existence. If it had to be known it would be by popular consent rather than pushed opinion. Of course, her sister had praised and even vaunted her talents – one of the few instances she could recall that had not been drowned by Celestia taking the light from her or people simply forgetting. It was not as if the west of Equestria had anything to offer. Compared to the east, it was almost economically barren and irrelevant. Other than the scant trade routes with the north, there was nothing for her to warrant great attention. The nobles ruled themselves without her intervention, more scared by Celestia’s disapproval than her own – not that Luna cared much for their irrelevant complaints to work with their intrigues and complex lineages. In fact, more than the basic family structure, any deviation or name related to any odd relation beyond cousin, confused her. Even still, Luna found it hard to not trust Celestia’s words. It was her sister, the last remnant of what once was; the only other Alicorn and immortal in that world – who else could she trust? It was naive of her. She knew it. Luna hated her naivety. Yet she was constantly pushed by her mind to trust Celestia’s praises. Luna believed her when she would spur excuses. She was convinced, every time, that promises would be upheld. She had concluded its construction centuries back. She had not added anything to it since then. There was simply nothing new to experience in that world. She had little to nothing to enjoy about that world. Luna had given her residence all, and only received forgotten and lost approval. Many had even forgotten she was the architect of all the many Equestrian monuments. Not that they cared to know. There was still the Dream Realm for Luna to obtain any semblance of her sister’s satisfaction in life. But even her role of protector was lost to most. Sometimes her interventions would be direct, though for most, the vast majority of the time, she preferred the indirect method. They did not hate her for that but creatures are always fearful of the mysterious – Luna knew that – but any other method would have the adverse effect of what she would expect. She knew how they tended to think, how they were inclined to perceive the world and those around them. Ignorance is bliss, she cursed with her mind’s voice. She would not bow to the whims of the masses. She will not let them force their will upon her. We all had once been jealous or bitter in our lives. Sometimes those very sentiments take you to places where your normal self would only fathom. They poison us, and as the poison takes in – we lose ourselves to it. We become something new as the old self dies, and a new being arises from the ashes of what once was. No matter our background, we are vulnerable to them in some form. And for Luna, a creature that lived far beyond what mortal minds can conceive and comprehend, we can only hardly imagine what centuries of pent-up resentments does to someone. Luna doubted Celestia would know the memory to be real. It had never happened. She had excised completely. Asking would be pointless. To have such a conversation again would be impossible for how much Celestia had changed. Always presenting the same visage but dissimulating a creature Luna did not recognize. An hour passed. Luna beckoned for the corrupted Thestrals still lagging behind to exit the bath and join their brethren standing behind her. Like dogs drying themselves, the creatures agitated the water off. And following her initial mistake, she knew to keep some distance away from them. After checking everyone was on her side of the pool, Luna siphoned the filthy water out and cleaned the bottom from the clumps of fur that had fallen. There were more this time, but it could be just happenstance. She thought having seen this much before even if her inner voice was telling her otherwise. As she cleaned the bath, the Thestrals went to eat. She also wished to be able to teach them how to properly masticate. If there was something she could not handle was the sound of chewing. When she would be at dinners or any occasions of this sort, Luna was like a hawk preying for any sound that could disturb the peaceful proceedings. Her sister called her behavior inappropriate, but she was not the one lacking the proper table manners for food consumption. A thing they should have learned when they were children. It was time to leave now. She would return late. Maybe in a week or less – depending on what she could garner and conjure for them. They were not very demanding and their bizarre biology had made them impervious to the same kind of satiation normal creature would. Beginning her turn, she was interrupted by a loud mewling. Eufrima came rushing towards her with a portion of her meal, Arsal had also stopped to eat but only to keep a distant eye on his daughter. There were no other children between them, his concern was understandable, though Luna wondered where the mother was. ‘No, thank you, Eufremia; I am not hungry. Maybe another time.’ She had gestured her refusal to take the girl’s gift. Eufremia was clearly saddened about it; Luna pet her on the head to assure her that she was not mad at her. Luna then called for Arsal to take the girl. ‘Keep her safe, Arsal. You have a wonderful daughter.’ She was sure all her words had meant nothing, but he had nodded slightly. Putting Eufremia on his back, they returned to where the rest had gathered, but at the last second, Luna took the food Eufremia had proposed and ate a noticeable portion out of it. The little girl rejoiced and that alone meant the world for them. ‘I promise to save you,’ she said, doubting if she could uphold this promise, but she hoped it would reach them. ‘If I am not able to, I promise to remember your names. You will not be forgotten.’ She was confident about this last part. Their lives had been cut so brutally short. Every one of them had ambitions, desires, interests, and dreams once. They could have been something great. They could. The least she could offer them as compensation was her last promise. They will be remembered. For eternity, they will be remembered. ‘I promise.’
Midnight ‘Those who promise us paradise in the world have produced anything but a hell.’ -Mekeskaf, heiress to Queen Beremaka of Hive Crucis. ‘What would it be for, then? To continue building the cloud habitations you are still promising to finish after fifteen years? Not a difficult one; hm? Five years you had assured – remember? You do not require our assistance,’ asserted the Duchess of Manehattan, playing with her red mane to entertain herself with something more worthwhile than the demands of the Baron of Tall Tale. ‘Tall Tale requires those resources more than you ever will!’ The baron’s voice surged in the open hallway. He struck differently from his counterpart; he possessed a light gray skin with a silvered mane, while she proudly wore her deep beige. The guards remained impassive but stood ready to intervene in case it soured – and it had been done many times before. In fact, those very same talks had occurred with those two more times than they ever cared to remember. Their dispute was important – they were sure – but as long as the guards were not ordered to act upon their training, they had to trudge through their disputes. A thing they reciprocated with their ruler with an equal tranquil stance, though theirs was less subtle. She remained proud. ‘We also have projects to finish; funds are also required.’ ‘Ah, you lot in Manehattan are in need of funds, hein?’ he mocked. ‘Another palace for one of your scions? A bribe for certain foreign traders that will only benefit y-’ ‘I let you know that it does trickle down. Already the past year we have modernized the sewer system and expanded the baths. We have renovated popular habitations and ensured easier access to clean water! You criticize just to hide your shortcomings.’ They looked toward Celestia. Her eyes were closed, letting out a serenity that in spite of how much they had been witness to it, still baffled them. A perfect statue made of the perfect white, representing all their different colorations in one. She was hearing them – that they knew. It was simply her favored method of comprehension; no emotion was apparent, no obvious slide to one’s side of the problem. She wore an expression that irradiated with the patience and wisdom only a creature as she could conjure; yet it wasn’t all-encompassing. She was approachable and was known to crack jokes and accept some of those at her expense, but the feeling of having to restrain their words and carefully weave them with delicate attention lest it offends their divine leader. And on the aspect of the divine, she categorically denied and admonished all those that would refer to her as such. ‘Alright,’ calmly interjected Celestia, widening her smile to ease down the building tensions between the two. One of them wanted to raise her voice but Celestia spoke more, preventing the Duchess from expressing her thoughts. ‘I can attest to the improvements you have achieved. I would like to congratulate you once more on it.’ ‘Thank you, Princess. It-’ ‘However,’ she cut through the words like a newly smithed sword, ‘you indeed possess enough resources in your domain to assist your fellow Equestrians no matter the circumstances. I have not received anything pertaining to any significant projects you were entertaining. In fact, looking at the past year’s report and taking into consideration your economic activities, you will have a treasury in excess. Like previous year and the one preceding it.’ ‘In turn, funds that can be sent,’ he pointed out. Celestia nodded and then addressed one of them. ‘But for it to be done, you will need to purge your bureaucracy of the undesirables,’ added Celestia, letting out a certain assertiveness. ‘We will do, Princess,’ the duchess and baron conceded. ‘Wonderful! But to make sure, an arrest warrant has been sent to the head of the port and the head of customs, duchess. Also consider similar already under way, baron.’ ‘But-’ she wanted to object. She had made her cousin as harbormaster and her brother as an in-charge of levying taxes on merchandise, their arrest would be disastrous and the investigation subsequent would spill out the end of her dynasty. She had been raised to be a duchess, not some lowly countess or, while it might sound odd, petty princess. Though, she knew it had already been lost. ‘But nothing,’ interrupted Celestia. ‘Duchess, you will offer a loan and-’ ‘We cannot afford loans, Princess,’ he admitted. ‘I would gladly offer you those funds – but with high collaterals.’ ‘I know the interests you like to present for lenders!’ ‘You can comb out the details during the night,’ said Celestia. She wanted to expand on that thought, but the duchess spoke first. ‘It will get stolen!’ She noticed her raised tone and then lowered it. ‘As they always do. Funds siphoned who-knows-where without any meaningful… anything! The west can barely differentiate between an apple and a pear.’ She paused. ‘Nor I would be able to distinguish between a child and one of their aristocrats, or their scholars even.’ ‘Enough,’ asserted Celestia. ‘You accuse and accuse but lack any substantial evidence!’ the duchess held on to her shout. ‘The Princess has spoken!’ he buried the knife deeper. ‘Let your absent one decide-’ ‘You both speak as if you are innocent,’ eyed Celestia both of them; she clenched her teeth tight to not raise her voice. ‘Neither of you are. But one is more than the other, and that back and for during the past hour – Nay, the past two months! – has showcased how utterly biased you two are. That is baffling and childish.’ Seeing that neither of them wanted to add to the conversation, Celestia continued. ‘Now, kindly, go rest for the night, decide the method upon which we will conclude those talks, and we will continue in the morning. For better or worse, the matter will end tomorrow. It is summer, nights are always cooler here, it will lend will to thinking. And if no agreement is reached, I would have to partake in a more direct approach. Or the thing you are fearing could happen, duchess. The same applies to you too, baron. That is my final decision. Leave and good night.’ ‘Good night, Princess Celestia,’ they said, bitterness and resentment apparent. Those two had only been the perfect topping for what had been another grueling day. A repeat of the same labors and toils she experienced countless times over in her long life. She had to teleport herself into many locations to keep up with her engagements, leaving her drained utterly. Yet, it was not all done; some of the issues required more attention than she could offer in a single day. Her smile, once radiant and true, had turned into a fake one – a thing she had to wear to keep a semblance of what she had made the world believe to be real. “I would have to partake in a more direct approach”; it possesses two meanings and she detested either option. Yet she had to use one of them from time to time when she had to capitulate to the requirements of certain dealings. Those two were the easy options, but she had not the gall to use them outside the final requirements. They terrified her of how easy the slide could be once she let herself go loose. She had to keep herself tethered, to not take the easy path. Many would suffer if she came to freely rely upon it, but the equal opposite would occur if she did not arrest her current ways. Celestia still recalled vividly the early days and had no wish to see them go past once more. Peaceful negotiations are the way of things, nothing else. The past was done; only the future mattered. Celestia ponderously pushed her tired frame toward her room, telling a guard in his polished golden armor to inform Luna, if she came to pass, of her location. Blood had gathered down to her limbs, and they felt numb. You would think you get used to such things after decades of repeating tiresome work. From personal experience, she could attest it was not the case. Finally releasing oneself after long hours was both elating and painful; she could never decide which was which. Eventually, she stopped caring as the redundancies of her role set in fully, and her days turned all similar. The routine became embedded as just a part of life. Nothing was changing it. At least she had Luna to harken her to a semblance of a good life. To a time when such responsibilities were foreign to her. But her sister had turned more absent in the past years, leaving for even longer stretches. On the chance she would come, Celestia wished Luna’s advice. To reassure her in moments of doubt that she was acting in the correct course. She trusted her sister’s words, and would never dare doubt their veracity. In private, it was the reality of things. In public, however, Celestia had to walk a careful balance; she needed to trust her, but not naively follow her. Celestia finally arrived at her bed. She let herself fall upon it, taking whatever pillow she could use without caring for the way her somewhat ornate quarters would look to outsiders. She can be awakened by some intruder in the early morning; she knew they would not dare levy anything toward her, preferring to forget before they were told to. **** … … … … … … What are you? I am Celestia. I am Luna’s sister. What are you? I am Celestia. I am Luna’s sister. I am the one that raises the Sun, the- No. What are you truly to them? To whom? To them. What are you? An Alicorn. My sister and I are Al- What are you to them? A-a Godd- What are you to them? Luna is the Maiden of Dreams. Who is Celestia? What is Celestia to those that live common lives? Their Prin- What are you to them? I am Celestia… And? I am Celestia. And? I… I am Celestia and I am Luna’s sister. No- ‘Celestia?’ asked a faint and familiar voice. ‘Luna…’ Excitement was perceptible beneath her tired tone. Celestia wanted to raise her head to greet her properly, but she was too tired to even make do on that simple action. Luna stared down at her with distant eyes; her staleness was not betraying any want to aid her. Ponderously, Celestia put a pillow beneath her head so she could more easily talk with Luna. ‘I missed you.’ ‘Me too.’ She showed no outward sign of emotion. A thought passed Celestia’s mind; terrified and weary, she moved past it. ‘I require some-’ ‘Later,’ Luna instantly interrupted, knowing well what she desired from her. ‘Not… Alright,’ Celestia accepted. ‘How was your day- your months, then…?’ Luna thought she heard the hint of a patronizing tone. She hid her disgust. ‘Nothing you should concern yourself with. I was here for an errand now finished. And what had needed to be done, was done; until they soar later in the ages. In the end, it is not like it matters. Equestria is stable, and the borders are safe; there is nothing major to be concerned about, sister. Everything, and I repeat,’ she held on to a hiss, ‘everything is fine in the realm.’ ‘True… Why don’t you sit?’ ‘You need sleep. Look at yourself!’ She purposefully exaggerated her movements. But then remembered the baffled decorum, and ceased instantly. ‘And I have my work now,’ added Luna. ‘Yes… That you do…’ ‘Do not want me to perform what is mine to do?’ Luna scorned. Celestia did not answer for a second. ‘Of course not.’ ‘Then I have my work to perform. The Moon was raised; I am already late for it. I am busy.’ ‘Excuse me, Luna. I just hoped we could’ – she yawned – ‘… that we could talk a little.’ ‘About your problems,’ Luna denounced. Celestia closed her eyes. ‘Anything. At least before you leave again.’ There was a certain sadness underneath, but so sheaved it was that it could easily go unnoticed. ‘I have my own duties, Celestia,’ stated Luna. ‘You can choose the ones close to here…’ ‘I do not like it here. Everyone acts fake and too full of themselves for me to ever even consider their issues anything worthwhile. Their opulence has changed them.’ She approached Celestia, her whisper cold like a winter storm. ‘You want me to desert the border regions and any other more fringe locations? To leave aside the forgotten and the weak in profit of those you deal with daily? No. No, I will not choose the ones close to here.’ She lifted her head up, leveling her voice. ‘Other regions require my attention, you know it.’ Luna expected a rebuttal, but nothing came as Celestia slipped into sleep. ‘Good night,’ grunted Luna. She noticed Celestia lacking proper cover. It was cold tonight; better she did not catch anything with her eating habits; Celestia had a more sensitive stomach. Luna carefully adjusted Celestia’s position and tugged her. She opened her eyes in a slight squint. ‘Just helping you,’ reassured Luna, the stain of the old sister showing itself. ‘…Thank you…’ whispered Celestia. ‘Don’t mention it.’ ‘Lu-luna…’ she pushed out. ‘Yes?’ ‘What am I to them? What… do I represent?’ Luna held on to a grin. ‘Are you doubting yourself?’ she asked in a soft voice. Celestia closed her eyes again. Luna, knowing deep down Celestia would not answer her, would then utter the words that had trapped them for eternity. ‘Like me – we are Alicorns. We are their rulers. We were fated to that role and that is what was, is, and will ever be. Fate is what has taken us to the road that leads to rulership. We are beholden to fate. Nothing more.’ ‘And we are sisters,’ she faintly added, too quiet to be made out but loud enough for Luna’s ears to perceive. What could have been Luna’s earnest answer turned into a mocking truth as the brief ripples of smile made themselves manifest. ‘And we are sisters.’ Celestia seemed to had not heard beyond the words as she returned to sleep with no concern behind Luna’s tone. ‘Good night, Celestia.’ A retinue of ten guards that had followed her to Celestia’s chamber greeted Luna as she finally exited the room. She thanked them with a simple nod and strode on her own along the corridor illuminated by the full Moon shining its silver light through the ceilings’ windows. As per their training and remit, the guards followed – unicorns in the middle next to the Princess, pegasi standing in a concentric circle, and a single earthbound selected according to peculiar talents was their officer. An ancient layout she had put in place herself and one still followed unaltered through the centuries. All wore the white and gold of Celestia’s close retinue. Well, their close retinue – Luna had mostly ignored hers. They were still present, wearing their midnight-black armor proudly, but she did not care for their display. She could not trust them; they were kept on the rims of her personal domain in a semblance of important positions. In secret, however, Luna had built for herself a loyal entourage of Thestrals, vested with similar armor but with helms designed to hide their features completely. The Thestrals were more disciplined than the others and obeyed orders with a passion those same others lacked. They were her personal project; so, she cajoled them and adorned their protective plates with all the intricate designs her mind could etch. She divided them into six groups, each with unique decorations to indicate their belonging. Of course, not all were stationed in her palace. Regularly, one would be rotated amongst those that were patrolling the regions she had previously assigned to them. And contrary to their official versions, no limit was set on their numbers. ‘You can return to your positions,’ she addressed them all with the assertiveness of her role. ‘We are-’ began the officer. ‘I will not be remaining here. Take the night off – I insist.’ They bowed. ‘Thank you, Princess,’ said the officer. ‘Good night.’ ‘Good night, Princess Luna. May you stay safe on your voyage.’ ‘I will. I know how to defend myself.’ ‘We’ve read the histories.’ Luna nodded, smiling wearily. The guards turned in unison and she moved forward to the balcony. Arriving there, she stopped and took her time to look at the Moon. Her eyes betrayed nothing. Her gaze then turned toward the constellations. Every culture had given them their unique set of names – born from local legends or ones birthed from whatever stories taken or adopted from foreign cultures. For Equestria, it was all of them but, in truth, laid mostly from the very, very scant information the once Crystal Empire indulged the world with. Luna never, even in the early days, was able to remember their names and never tried to. Instead, she amused herself by giving each name of her making. They were repetitive but great entertainment for her. One that was typically given the shape of a bright shooting star with a tail tucked underneath, she gave it the name Araris – the name had no particular meaning but sounded right to her. ‘Princess Luna!’ cried two voices she did not recognize interrupted her alone time. The guard had stopped them from moving closer; she ordered for them to release the two. ‘What is the matter,’ Luna addressed the two nobles before they could have reached her as they bowed all the way to her. ‘We are in a conundrum, the duchess and I,’ he began. ‘Rise, both of you.’ She paused for them to do so, hoping to not ask the following question. They reached her and waited for Luna to speak first. Protocol. Right. ‘And who are you?’ she smirked but it quickly deflated as Luna continued. ‘And of which duchy and other domains are you the head of?’ ‘I am Baron Aurelian Silver of Tall Tales.’ ‘I am Duchess Star Dusk of Manehattan.’ ‘Greetings, then. What is the matter of your dispute?’ ‘Majesty,’ Aurelian said, ‘our dispute has been solved. As far as we are concerned, though. However, we’ve found another solution to it, and we are not sure if your Sister would appreciate hearing it brought up.’ Luna sat down on the cold flour. ‘Let me be candid: so you have found a way to protect your interests? Family is on the line, right? Or yourselves, presumably? Or precisely, yourselves. At any rate, you want me to make sure you remain in your roles and keep doing what you do, going against her decision. I have no queries doing so, though know I am not too lenient. I am sure bureaucrats have been ordered to be disposed of – close ones or valuable one, it matters not. You want me to keep those you care about out of harm – and yourselves similarly.’ Eerie – that was the first word that came into Star Dusk’s mind. But there was a charm in the flow of her words that kept Dusk focused and wanting to hear all that she had to say. ‘Precisely,’ answered Aurelian, equally – if more so – fascinated by her directness. ‘Could you assist us, Highness?’ ‘I will write a missive letting her know my standing. I let you know I have heard some interesting news from your harbor, duchess.’ Star Dusk swallowed her spittle. Silver kept looking in captivation. ‘I will not be too lenient, Baron Aurelian Silver – I know what you do, but rarely cared to force you into a change since otherwise, everything’s still fine.’ ‘Thank you, my Princess!’ He knelt in front of her. ‘I will strive to improve my domain for you!’ He kept his head low. She did not force him up but hated his sudden show of zeal; Luna looked back at Star. ‘Duchess… about the port… let us talk in private. Do not worry, it will be short. Your sleep, I mean,’ Luna laughed quietly. Star joined her after a second, understanding the joke Luna said. Luna then told Aurelian to step aside, taking Star aside on the balcony from potential prying ears. Barely half an hour later, Star Dusk exited from the balcony as Luna disappeared into the night, her shape vanishing under the light of the full Moon. Star joined Aurelian; he had kept his gaze fixated on Luna’s flight even after she became invisible to the eye. ‘You’d never seen her before now?’ asked Star. ‘No. It is a rare occurrence. That is why it is fascinating.’ ‘I know that,’ she whispered. ‘But you’ve changed demeanor so fast – even just knowing she was here made you ecstatic. And after two months of seeing your fetid face, I am surprised.’ ‘Before she died, my mother saw Her once. I was still a kid when she died. And since then, almost twenty cycles later, I’ve always wished to meet with Her personally.’ ‘You act like the Griffons,’ accused Star Dusk. ‘Like they do to their Gods,’ she accused. ‘Really?’ he softly replied. ‘What is a being like Her Majesty otherwise?’ She shuffled her teeth, not knowing what to add to it. The thought had never occurred to her. All those dealings with Celestia striped every morsel of the more divine respect she had for the Princess. She still respected her, but more the respect and loyalty of a vassal towards its feudal liege. Star Dusk looked up to the Moon and like the baron gazed passively towards it. ‘We can’t do that with the Sun,’ he added. ‘It is comforting.’ ‘I guess so,’ she thoughtfully said, not diverting her attention. ‘I guess so.’
The Harvest Moon ‘Though possessing two eyes, most creatures can see but a single thing at a time.’ -Rjoth Greze Hjert, a very perceptive canine. The family exited their house, with them all the tools and supplies needed for the labor ahead. The few following days would be long and tiresome. Already the summer season had proven exceptionally dry, and with the threat of an upcoming early winter like latter years, they had no time to spend idling. Though the harvest in and upon itself would not occupy them much relatively. The subsequent organization of reserves and verify the house’s ability to retain heat would be occupy them during the autumn and the late summer season. Then, the wood had to be gathered for heat; shopped, dragged, dried on the still predominant Sun offered by Celestia, put in the back, and stored in a way as to preserve the wood pieces from the elements. If by mistake water would to reach them, the entire household would later emerge in spring smelling like cinder and bad cases of respiratory issues for the elderly, or simply forced to endure the winter on minimal reserves. Those that would not harvest the crops, with the aid of the children and free family members, would begin preparing the harvest under the rooftop or the oak tree in the middle of the field common in that region of north-west Equestria. The chicken coop also required some repairs and needed to be repopulated with a new batch; the last had proven unfruitful to provide chicks; had killed three chickens and one young rooster for whatever instinctive reason, and others had been isolated by the group and left to roam outside the cage, ripe for the plucking by some wandering predators. Golden Field, the patriarch, hoped to sell those still alive. And in addition to the profits of the crops, they could close the expenses they were sure to incur on house repairs and other necessities. Doremy could have solicited the aid of her brother carpenter and wannabe-mage mother to repair the few faults, but their own problems with the beginning signs of termite infestation and the unset of rot had made them have no time for others’ concerns. The village’s mage was called, but he lacked the proper spells and training to remove the insects, and only had managed to stymie the infestation. For better or for worse, the family was also preparing to welcome others into their walls. One thing that kept them going was the faint possibility that this winter would possibly be less harsh than previous year. Not all things were done still; clothes needed to be sawn or bought from the local market; tools need to be taken to the local smith; and the additional preparation for a new child to see life were under way too. Again, all at a cost. For those reasons, the family had to take full advantage of the Harvest Moon to finish their work on time or fear on losing out on the remaining good season. In all cultures and across centuries, the Harvest Moon was an awaited moment for the farmers. Not for the leisure its brighter nights offered, but for the tremendous workload they were to undertake was of great portance for them. While they were not be the sole days work was undertaken in, the Harvest Moon permitted them to quicken it. In turn, more easily prepare for the upcoming brutal months to come. Already, the summer months in and of themselves were tiresome; the work of August and September constantly kept a ball in the stomach of many farmers for their challenges. They had done their job all their lives, but even known and expected events were hard to constantly prepare for or adapt to the, at times, scorching conditions they were forced to contend with. The elderly were the most excited about the Harvest Moon; sitting around and yelling for longer periods at the young ones about how to properly collect the yield sure is different than actually working in the field. For the family’s luck, their lord was not of a demanding type and would get volunteers from the towns to assist the farmers, if they so requested. Taxes were high, however, the highest in the west of Equestria but few would openly complain much about it. Princess Celestia had forced a cap that displeased the nobility, and for others in less lucky places, life wasn’t, as much as it could be said, idyllic. Knowing that, the family and others of their ilk, were grateful for the efforts put in reducing their plight and strides to improve their living. During the Harvest Moon, it was said that a figure, its shape and voice unknown but for its soothing blue eyes, would come to visit and provide assistance to pleading and needy farmers and villagers. Abruptly, in one night, all domestic problems would be resolved; left behind crops would be trimmed and arranged neatly for picking and selling, blunted tools would be repaired and sharpened, and for the next week those very tools’ cut would feel cleaner and their handling easier. They said it was the fabled Princess Luna, Celestia’s sister, who would arrive and bestow a portion of her magic onto them. Others would claim it was Celestia herself and not that elusive Luna; she would come during the night when all sleep to provide them with her talents while fending off the terrors and monsters that lay in the darkness. Very few are those that had ever witnessed or observed the Alicorn Sisters, least among are those that have even peered an eye upon Luna. In drawings, they were both depicted of similar height and eye coloration, though their main color was different enough to distinguish them. For centuries, it had been the only manner they were allowed to be depicted in, and for centuries the artists followed the rules diligently. The Princesses had not asked for a change, then no change would be brought, While worship of the Alicorns was frowned upon and admonished by authorities, there was a clearer more noticeable fervor toward the younger, mysterious sister. Where Celestia would appear more regularly in front of the masses, she would be followed by a great display of princely glory and the regalia few to none would ever witness again in their mortal lives. She would speak; her words, all would listen to. Enamoring and retaining them all as if the words of the divine. Yet, it was reported that no particular awe was sensed by the observers; that her presence lacked the expectations laid upon it. There was still that sense that she could be trusted, respected, and even befriended; she chatted and shared short talks with her subjects from all strata of life; but not the awe-inspiring presence people vested in her. It was, for the lack of a better word, almost disappointing. And for Luna? They could not tell; she had less than seldom appeared in public or at festivals. Some had begun to question if she had ever existed to begin with. That Moon Princess had been nothing but a myth passed down through the centuries. Stories retold again and again by passing generations until the realities laden behind those myth would be rendered to the realm of suppositions Some said that she and Celestia had a falling out at some point, and in retaliation, Luna was the one sending nightmares and beasts to attack them in the night. That she was the one bringing about random attacks on trade routes and delayed provisions. That she was nothing but a monster herself. But for most, like those families most worried about what directly lay ahead, to those families that life does not permit them to entertain such thoughts, those suppositions were nothing. All the families that relied on the Moon’s pattern for harvest or menial work cared not what others had to say; their own worries passed first. For those that life had not bless to live under the sunlight, obliged by biology, geography, or circumstance to bath in the moonlight, the night was a boon like none other. They knew of its hidden dangers, but for those forced to track the deserts upon kilometers and kilometers, the night was their true companion. Though those groups were rare and seldom united. **** Golden Field wished for it all to finally end. A couple of hours had passed, and now the Sun had begun to set place for the Moon. His wife was pregnant, and while work at this time was paramount, he did not want her to ruin her health. Their daughter, the only unicorn of his family, hastened their work considerably, but even she had to recharge from time to time and could not repair their blunt tool, nor could they afford the services of a mage-metallurgist. Their son had overworked himself to compensate in the past few days to compensate, and in the early afternoon, he had to stop working or else. Sometimes, he wondered why he had settled on only two children for a while. All had three or four by the least, but he had let Doremy decide when she was ready for a new one. Golden Field did not mind at first, but when he had decided to invest in that patch of land with a stream skirting its edges, loaned to him by their lord and use it for his own profit in return for an annual rent that would be due at month’s end, having children was more of a necessity to adequately repay that substantial debt. And, perhaps, not make his son inherit it. They were blessed by not losing their first two children, though a third was never chanced upon. In the next few days, the announcement of this year’s taxes would come. For their great luck, taxes could be paid in installments – unlike his predecessor, their lord embodied what Celestia espoused and made their lives as comfortable as it might be. Though, for Golden Field and his folk, the full advantages and rewards of his rule was less felt than the town folks. Or even those living in the center and east – or so they had heard. Now, when their oldest was in the age of founding his own family, Doremy and Golden Field luck in the field thrusted upon them one last child. In addition to worrying about his wife’s health, he had to supervise his son’s escapades. Their daughter could wait; he was not ready to let go of her and her fledgling unicorn powers. ‘Are you Golden Field?’ asked a voice Golden Field did not recognize in the distance. The light grew stallion turned toward the voice’s holder. The figure stood directly behind the setting Sun, hiding its features completely underneath its golden light. He could not fixate on the figure for long, nor did he have the time to spend idling at some stranger. ‘Yes?’ he answered. ‘Who are you? I don’t recognize the voice.’ The figure moved forth, showing a mare, but keeping a fair distance from the farmers. She wasn’t exactly stunning, nor did she have a memorable physique. Though her grey-black fur and a small pouch on her side stood up the most for him. ‘By your voice, I thought you were a boy,’ he chuckled, resting his hooves on the snath of his scythe. ‘I swear, it is eerily close.’ ‘How long have you been at work with that thing? Quite impractical,’ hinting at a joking tone underneath. ‘A couple of hours. My son was the one working in the morning. The poor boy was almost ruined by it.’ ‘I understand his pleas.’ She bowed her head. Lifting it again, she said, ‘Anyways – excuse me for interrupting your work during these times, but I want to know if you know what road I should take to go for No-Where-There?’ He laughed. ‘Nowirther, not whatever nonsense you just said!’ The mare grimaced, he noticed. But whether it was from being corrected or his tone, he could not tell. Not that he had the time to dwell too much about it. ‘Before I tell you – who even told you my name was Golden Field?’ ‘In the village.’ He waited for her to tell more; she stayed quiet. ‘Who exactly?’ ‘Does it matter?’ ‘I would like to know. Yes,’ he jokingly mused. ‘Was she wearing some old fabric with a book she keeps dangling on her flank as if it will grant her great things?’ interjected Golden Field’s wife, gesturing for her husband to give her the scythe while she gave him her sickle. ‘You are clearly tired. Take this, I will get the other one. We are done with that Tartarus damn thing.’ ‘But the other can barely cut,’ he objected. ‘Will do. Plus, I need to get the clothes for the night.’ She pointed her head sideways in an unspoken order. He did not object further and went on to help his daughter. ‘I hope everything is fine?’ asked the distant visitor. ‘The pregnancy is not too impeding?’ ‘No. Not for now yet,’ she wearily laughed. Golden Field frowned; she knew it without looking. ‘But work needs to be done.’ ‘I sympathize.’ The yellow colored mare smirked and snorted in odd amusement. ‘About that person: it is my mother. And my name is Doremy, by the way.’ The mare nodded. ‘To go to… there,’ Doremy waved vaguely in the cold wind, ‘just continue straight until you meet the Hill of the Old Fool and then go down to the dried-up Winter River. No…’ She stopped, hesitating. ‘That’s Notwirthar… Nowirther, is the one with the emporium,’ she murmured. ‘Okay, so you’ll continue to the Yellow Hills, across the Old Fool, arrive at the-’ The stranger shook her head. ‘Excuse me.’ She walked closer, revealing an unimpressive visage but glimmering green eyes that Doremy loved. ‘The what? And to where?’ Doremy exhaled in a mixture of exasperation and tiredness after noticing how difficult it would be for her to guide the stranger. She should have kept Golden Field talking instead of her. ‘If you find it difficult,’ began the stranger, ‘you can wait for tomorrow. I am willing to pay you the night.’ ‘Stay here with us?’ she snapped, liking the sound of the proposal. ‘How much will you pay?’ ‘Two nights at the village’s inn. I can pay more-’ ‘No, no, no. It’s a deal. We don’t want to overcharge you.’ ‘Then let me bring the tool and clothes you need-’ ‘No, no, no.’ Doremy moved to close the distance between them. Closer, she saw a blue hue emitted in a quick flash out of the stranger’s eyes before they returned to their emerald hue. Her color shifted rapidly from deep blue to gray black. The stranger’s mane had remained hidden beneath a hood, but she swore that something had flared from underneath in a bright blue. Doremy froze for a second, wanting to ask if the personage was the one she was told about in childhood and the same story she had, in turn, retold to her children. She wondered if the stranger was the Alicorn named Luna. ‘Something wrong, Doremy?’ smoothly asked the stranger. ‘A-are you…’ She shook her head. ‘Nevermind. Just let me tell my husband that you would be staying, and I will join you later.’ ‘Very well.’ She turned around and then curved back. ‘E-excuse my manners – what is your name?’ ‘Selena.’ It satisfied Doremy, and she turned away toward the field. ‘So?’ asked Golden Field. ‘She will be staying for the night in exchange for what two nights at an inn are,’ her voice slightly shaking. ‘Her name is Selena, also.’ ‘Selena…hmm.’ He noticed his wife’s unease. ‘Something wrong?’ ‘No. Maybe it is the pregnancy… Nothing to worry about.’ ‘Tomorrow, I’ll see what has happened to our demand. And I will take you to the doctor. But, Doremy, what were the colors of her eyes?’ She hesitated for a second, unsure of the proper answer. ‘B- Green. Green eyes.’ ‘Could she be one of the wretches of the north?’ he whispered. ‘Who?’ she murmured. ‘The Changelings. I remember my parents telling me of when they had attacked around here. How did they manage to get to Mariposa? I don’t know. But they had attacked at this time and during the night. Maybe she is a vanguard. Why else would she pay this much?’ ‘Or maybe it is Princess Luna in disguise,’ tentatively proposed Doremy. Golden Field dismissed her with a wave. ‘No, no, no. Why would she be between us? She and her sister can only look from above at how we live this stupid life. They don’t care. Plus, what a greedy bastard she must be to only give- what? Four silvers? Then again, it is not like she has cared for those beyond Shire or the other one cared for those beyond her own fief.’ ‘I remember the story about the Changeling assault,’ said Doremy calmly, returning to the original topic. ‘It was repulsed during the same night it had occurred. We were saved from it by a ghostly force of… uhh…’ ‘“Clad in midnight”,’ he continued in her stead. ‘Or black for us. And the region burned because of our “saviors” retribution. More people died from them than the Changelings.’ ‘More would have died. They are Changelings – maybe that sickle was one all along?’ He snorted in amusement, and then looked at it. Doremy forced him to look back up by pulling his mane. ‘But whatever; I am sure it is her. It is Princess Luna standing there. I feel it very keenly now.’ He rolled his eyes and put a hoof on her left shoulder. ‘The pregnancy is playing with your mind. Work is done for you today. In fact, until you give birth, you will stay in the house with Plenitude.’ ‘She defended us form the manticore,’ proposed Doremy. He shook his head. ‘Old stories, my dear.’ Not wanting to make Selena wait longer, Doremy relented on trying to convince him. The mother had to admit, she indeed needed rest. ‘What should I do with our visitor, then?’ Golden Field smiled at her acceptance. ‘Tell her it is six silver for the night – check the coins well before accepting them. Money is money, but I don’t want to own Canterlotian coins,’ he jokingly accused, referencing to Doremy’s plunder in their first trade as husband and wife. They had exchanged them eventually, but kept two in memory of the moment. Doremy grimaced but did not expand upon the subject any further for its sheer embarrassment. ‘Now go and see if that lard has returned from the village. Let us finish as much as we can today.’ ‘Golden…’ she warned. ‘I joke. I joke,’ he chuckled. ‘Believe me he doesn’t mind bein’ called that neither.’ She smiled. ‘Good night, then.’ ‘Good night, Doremy.’ He kissed her on the left cheek; she returned the gesture in kind and gave the same to their daughter Doremy then nodded for the stranger and gestured to follow her. They entered the house late at night, guided to it with the light of the daughter’s horn and the smell burned wood. Her brother had been cooking their dinner and heated water since his return from the market and was assisted by the orange hue of a candle and the shy moonlight. As his mother had demanded, he had prepared Selena’s bed in the common room. ‘You were not forced to help us – you know?’ said Doremy, dropping her tool and crops aside to continue trimming them in the morning. ‘The least I can do to repay you for your generosity,’ answered Selena, apparently untroubled by her few hours of work in the field. ‘You seem to have done so for years,’ almost accused Golden Field. ‘I was not weakened by your prior labor. Nothing more ostensible than that.’ He growled. Golden Field gestured for his wife to follow him; a quick bath and a change of clothes were paramount before they could fall asleep. The daughter was left with her brother in the common room. Selena did not sit on the makeshift couch and stood silent in front of the two. ‘Still sore?’ asked Green Herb to her brother. ‘Getting better. Sorry for the inconvenience…’ ‘Don’t worry. Selena filled in for you. How was the sale, at least?’ ‘Forty silver. Good for the beginning of the harvest. I’ve heard that in Marechester things were not better. In fact perhaps even worse. No trained mage can quite… What grandma says?’ ‘Uhh… Exercise magic,’ answered Green Herb. ‘Hmm… Yes – exercise their powers to resolve the issues they are facing.’ ‘Let us hope it would rain more this year than snow.’ She walked toward her brother and sat next to him. He nodded and addressed Selena next. ‘How are you still standing like that? You appear to be a city dweller, yet you handle the scythe better than some with twenty years in the field!’ ‘Luck.’ ‘An unearthed talent, may I add,’ added Green Herb, smirking in amusement. ‘Why do you want to go to Nowirther anyways?’ ‘Trade. Apples to be bought for my employer in Shire and grab medicine.’ ‘From Nowirther?’ questioned Plenitude. ‘I guess I’ve heard of a herb only growing their… No?’ he asked Green Herb. She shrugged. ‘I’ve not been to the market for a while, and I haven’t noticed people talking about. For what illness is it used?’ Plenitude shrugged and shook his head. Selena did not answer. ‘They have a good apple and luffa production, though,’ said Plentitude. ‘Their luffas are amazing – we use them when bathing, in case you use more fancier things. But their apples are not the quality intended for the palate of creatures that respect themselves.’ Plenitude got up, struggling to find his balance before his sister helped him find his footing. ‘We have some planted. Usually, we rarely sell those, but we can make exceptions. You like apples yourself, do you?’ ‘I do.’ ‘Bring her a good lot of them,’ beckoned Green Herb to her brother. He nodded and got up. ‘Knowing your wondrous cooking, she will eat water either way,’ shouted Green Herb as her brother entered the backroom. She turned again toward Selena. ‘At least, sugary water and not something with the ghost of a taste,’ she whispered to her. ‘By the way, have you seen Princess Luna or Celestia? Since you are from Shire and whatnot.’ ‘No.’ She was definitive about it. ‘That’s disappointing. I heard of Princess Celestia visiting Mariposa for the post’s opening. But I wonder if Princess Luna is even real? Since it is her domain-’ ‘Someone is protecting your dreams and your selves in that world. She is real. She just has other labors than what her sister does.’ Green Herb felt the hint of an accusing tone, but for someone coming from the direct domain of Luna, she could not blame Selena. ‘I’ve never met her in my dreams. No one I know claim to have witnessed her.’ ‘She is subtle with us.’ ‘She is always hidden from us,’ corrected Selena. ‘But why? I can’t understand. Why can’t she just show herself?’ ‘Because if she does, you would hate her. Detest her for infiltrating your privacy and to make you confront our faults. We do not like it when it happens, but this is the reality of her work.’ ‘Would it not be better if she would show herself to us, though?’ ‘Either way, you would hate her. You would see her as a parasite and want her to be excised forever more. And then, what would she still possess?’ ‘Point taken. Although, she raises the Moon for us. I think it merits its own respect – as we do for benevolent Celestia.’ ‘I guess,’ she grumbled. ‘Yet you are scared of the night.’ ‘There is no light. Of course, it is scary. We hear the howls more clearly in the night. And…’ Green Herb noticed Selena’s posture tensing. There was something uncanny about it – as if it was built around a natural movement around a clear and determined purpose rather than fear. The young mare rose her hoof in a gentle sign to calm Selena. She continued as if nothing had happened. ‘Occasionally… something else close to it. Similar, but different. As if it had come from people like us but deformed and changed. And I mean, we are little attacked. Sometimes we will see wolves or other predators but they rarely attack. ‘Maybe there is no need for her actions,’ added Selena, deflated. ‘Maybe.’ ‘She protects us from the worst of those predators,’ stated Selena, rising the argument to prove a point. Green Herb heard the deflated tone, but did not want to expand upon it. ‘And we are grateful for it. Truly. But she never shows herself. We have stories of her passing-’ ‘We do not like inflicting pain, let alone death, upon others. We are no predators. Yet someone has to take upon those responsibilities. To do what most frown upon.’ ‘I respect the army’s and militia’s work, but I don’t think she has to be constantly chaperoning them.’ ‘Sometimes they are too slow to react,’ said Selena. ‘Sometimes, they are simply not enough to deal with threats on their own. Equestria is vast; we are beset by myriad of draped foes.’ Green Herb smiled, no malice behind it. ‘She could try to convince them to cease their doings. Like Princess Celestia I heard does to some. The sword should not be the end all; we should try to befriend them.’ Selena did not reply back. ‘Do you agree?’ ‘My opinion does not matter. That argument was meaningless.’ ‘You don’t like speaking much. Do you?’ ‘Life has taught me to shut up.’ ‘Oh, my!’ she jested, attempting to brighten the jaded mare’s expression. ‘What life did you have? From your looks, I say we are not that much apart. Is city life so horrendous that it ages a creature this much?’ smirked Green Herb. ‘Have your parents-’ ‘Do not mention them,’ warned Selena, the threat terrifyingly prominent. ‘They are dead. That much I will reveal about myself and no further.’ ‘T-then a friend…’ attempted Green Herb, the word feeling heavier and more cumbersome than usual. Silence fell in the room. For a reason Green Herb could not comprehend, an overwhelming sense of guilt wreathed her. Had she asked the wrong question? They were innocent enough; nothing to be concerned about. Nothing offensive, she thought. Yes, they had been discussing about the Sisters, but nothing that warrants such a sudden explosion of emotion. She thought. Plenitude then entered, apples in a basket with a blunted knife on the side. He sat down next to his sister and offered Selena an apple he had cut for her. She took it, thanking him with a nod. Green Herb left to take her shower, worried she had offended their guest in some manner. Selena started eating the apples offered to her unbothered by Plenitude and then the others attempt at a conversation. The Sun began shining its rays in the still cold morning air. Doremy and Golden Field woke up first, muttering to themselves about the coming workday. Golden Field was the first to exit the room, still barely able to open his dried up eyes and lips from the night. Selena was gone. She had been a quiet guest, talking little if not prompted to. She had eaten the little things they had presented her, not complaining about the taste or the presentation. In fact, she did not care for anything. The hosts did not question the reason for her aloofness; something seemed to be preventing them from digging further. For all Golden Field cared, as long as the money was left and nothing was stolen, the stranger’s stay would be an amazing investment. Looking around the common room where Selena had slept, he found nothing. She had scammed them. Cursing her a thousand times, he took the dirt-ridden sack, thinking she had left the apple skin within it – Selena had eaten plenty of those. He had left her enjoying their products as he went to sleep. For some reason, she appeared more like a child than a twenty-year-old something mare. It was heavy. He hastened to open it. Inside, he counted fifty silver coins and six golden ones; all still in circulation. Running toward his wife, he showed her all that Selena had left them with. Wanting to make sure her hunch was right, Doremy went to check upon the tools and collected harvest. It was: their tools were repaired and felt sharper, cutting the wild herbs with ease and the crops left behind were taken care of. ‘It was her!’ exclaimed Doremy to her bewildered husband. ‘We… We had an Alicorn between us…’ ‘I’ve told you!’ ‘Why was she hiding? Do you think we are going to be attacked?’ ‘Why did you drift to that?’ ‘Why the secrecy, Doremy?’ he almost shouted. ‘We should prepare for an attack. I don’t know form whom, but we should!’ ‘Why are you shouting?’ asked Plenitude, exiting his and Green Herb’s room, she followed behind; the great soreness that had ridden their son after yesterday’s work was gone. ‘Where is Selena?’ his sister asked. ‘It was Princess Luna!’ said Doremy. ‘W-what?’ Uncertainty gripped Green Herb. Had she vexed her? Would she be the recipient of Luna’s wrath? Additionally – why choose them? Why come here? Was there a heralded event on the border? Wolves? Changelings? Something fouler? Why did she deceive them? To help them or to spy upon them? ‘It doesn’t matter,’ interjected Golden Field. ‘If she was here in hiding, something foul is brewing. Prepare your bags in precaution!’ ‘She would have told us. She would have not left us waiting to meet our fates. Princess has helped us, after all.’ But her words were drowned by the panic movement within the house. And she had to oblige by their actions. Doremy exited the house, following her daughter. Then, in the glistening horizon, her head shot forward and observed the shadowed silhouette of Selena. Doremy closed her eyes and it disappeared in an impossibly cold wind that send shudders down the mother’s spine. She rested, bewildered by the situation. Perhaps her pregnancy and harsh labor were truly playing with her mind. Maybe the latter part was what made them on edge. It could be Princess Luna. But Doremy did not care – she wanted to believe it. It was her, and her own beliefs mattered above anything. She did not stop. It had been done before. They get scared. Nothing new. She continued forth to Nowither or whatever the meaningless name was, walking the entire way. Her eyes shifted to crystalline blue and narrowed, and in a gasp, her neck elongated to its actual size. She took an apple from her bag, levitating it with the magic of an invisible horn. She took a bit and tasted sweet and bitter. Finishing it, she knew with a mixture of promise, apprehension, excitement, love, hatred, and loathing to her task ahead. Alone, she proceeded to cross the forest.
Eufrimia ‘It all begins with one act that cannot be easily deciphered. To truly find the catalyst, is simply impossible.’ -Kurtish Yob, Saddle-Arabian writer. Weeks later; ‘Scared, now?’ she amusingly asked, wearing a smile; putting down the foal on her bed. The girl did not answer. In truth, she wasn’t sure what to say as her mind raced to comprehend her surrounding and the being eying her. She wasn’t sure if she remembered how to talk either. Her mind’s voice felt foreign like it had never been her own yet was not for a reason that escaped her. She sounded the words in her head, repeating them, again and again, to make sure when they would be spoken out in the open, she would commit no mistake. That her first words would be perfect for the being standing in front of her. Her mind told her that this… impatiently waiting creature had to be respected. That it had to be shown trust for some reason. It felt… bizarre to her; to show blind devotion toward that horned and winged being would not land well with her. She did not know why, but a part of her being was telling her to trust that creature. She would follow that distant call. She had questions for her. Many questions. Her belly ached and her mouth watered, interrupting her inner recital. ‘You want to eat?’ the tall creature asked, taking a piece of fabric to clean the drool. The girl did not debate – it was normal to her for some reason. What to eat? She wasn’t sure if she had eaten anything besides the vague memory of an amalgam of nutriment. The girl could not recall the names of any particular dish nor could she remember the exact products they were made of. There were… vegetables? Was that the correct word? She wasn’t sure her father said anything about it, but she remembered that word. It must hold some meaning as her stomach began to hurt even more at the very thought. ‘Don’t be shy, Eufi. I will not hurt you. Your father would want you to eat and be a strong little Pony.’ Eufi… That was her name in some fashion, she recalled. Her father had given her that name… For as much as she can remember, he had always been there with her. She did not recall having siblings. In truth, she wasn’t sure she knew anyone besides him. She did not remember her mother; she remembered her father not wanting to mention her much. The creature’s name was… Luna? It sounded familiar and welcoming. The foal was only half-sure of it. Part of her told it was true and the other blared that it was a lie. But the girl did not care; she only cared to know who this… Luna was as a creeping suspicion took hold. ‘A-are…’ the girl wearily whispered. Luna got closer, gently approaching her ears toward the child. The young Thestral stepped back, terrified to speak openly with that familiar figure she was failing to recall the name of. ‘I won’t hurt you. I promise.’ Eufrimia continued to retreat. At one point, her legs became twisted in the bedsheet, forcing her in a sitting position. The figure approached her and only now had she noticed the mane. She could not help but to fixate it, admiring the endlessly waving night sky with the wonder only a child could. She ignored the figure checking for any injury or discomfort, moving her small legs to a position that comforted the foal even more. Luna caressed Eufrimia, calming the young Thestral completely and instantly. Eufrimia looked at Luna directly, not waving her regard after laying eyes upon the Alicorn. She saw the surprise on Luna’s face ‘A-are you my mom?’ dared Eufrimia. Luna raised her head. Her eyes widened as Eufrimia retreated once more, fearing she had angered her for whatever reason. ‘I am not your mother,’ Luna plainly stated. ‘You don’t remember her?’ her tone had switched to a worried one. The foal shook her head. ‘You remember your father?’ doubt and angst tainting her voice. The foal nodded, sparking an intense desire within her; sitting aside some of Luna’s worry. ‘Do you remember who I am?’ Eufrimia turned her face and hid her head from Luna. ‘That’s alright. You do not need to remember every creature you come across with. I am Luna. I am the one that saved you from your prior self. You are the first one to return to normal. At least,’ she smirked, faking amusement, ‘your mind has.’ ‘I-I am… u-ugly?’ Luna kissed Eufrimia on her still fur-full forehead and put down the bony frame that was her wings. ‘No. No, you’re not.’ ‘W-where is my dad?’ ‘He’s not here. You will-’ ‘I want to see him!’ she nearly yelled but stayed firm in position. ‘I want to see him now!’ The child’s fervor left Luna startled for a couple of seconds. ‘I promise you will. You just have to wait a little.’ ‘Why?!’ Eufrimia insisted. ‘He is still ill but he will soon get better. I promise. In the meanwhile, you can stay with me. I will feed you and give you all you want.’ ‘I want my dad…’ Her voice trembled, nearing ever closer to crying. Luna peered down at the girl, perhaps too harsh and aggressive than what she intended. But Eufrimia was unphased by that slip; she, as all children, wanted a parent’s presence. Even when not there, even when it was impossible, a child wants to see their parents. Luna wanted to deny her that wish. She was too young to meet with the rest of her tribe. But who was she to deny a child’s wish? An innocent and natural one at that. Something within told Luna that she could deny it, she was the one with the power and strength to do so. Eufrimia was only a child, not someone that could challenge her. But that was just it: Eufrimia was a child. She could not challenge her decision. Luna laughed internally at herself. Again, Eufrimia demanded to see her father. She shuffled closer to Luna and pulled on whatever she could grab to make Luna pay her attention. Luna was sure the foal started crying and insults were thrown. Small arms started hitting her with frail yet relentless force. ‘Come with me,’ finally said Luna, pulling herself away from the sobbing child. ‘Get up.’ Eufrimia snorted and started to clean her mouth, Luna finishing her task. ‘Where are we going?’ ‘I’ve promised to give you all you want, no? I will let you meet your father.’ The foal cheered with great joy. ‘Thank you, Luna!’ She winced. ‘Pr-’ She perceived the futility of her act. ‘Whatever. Stay close to me.’ Eufrimia ran toward Luna and obeyed her without protest. It was sunset when they teleported to that hidden emplacement. There, before revealing the entrance, Luna told Eufrimia that she had to wait once more. The girl raised her voice once more. Luna genuinely smiled at her protests, but this time, she could not go against her duties. ‘Wow,’ exclaimed Eufrimia in wonder as she stopped, mesmerized by the tremendous display of magic. She could not comprehend the power behind such a feat, but she understood, almost instinctually, that Luna was strong indeed. ‘Can you do it with the Sun?’ she asked, excited to receive the answer. Luna ignored the spirit of the question. ‘Only my sister can.’ She stood back on her hooves and walked closer to the bushes occluding the entrance to the underground. ‘Shall we enter?’ ‘Yes!’ Eufrimia again exclaimed. They entered the underground that had once been Eufrimia’s home. Between the time Luna closed and secured the door and lit up her light, Eufrimia heard odd noises echoing from beneath; snarls, mewling, shuffling, breaking, and moaning. All mashed up together into one bizarre sound that seemed to rush toward them. ‘Stay with me,’ reassured Luna. ‘Nothing will injure you here. Your village won’t hurt you.’ She nodded and began to walk; Luna stopped her with an arm that barred her route. ‘Are you sure you want to continue?’ ‘Yes,’ answered Eufrimia, sure of her reply. ‘Sure?’ ‘Yes…’ her assuredness was less prominent that time around. Luna sighed. ‘Good. You are courageous, girl. That is good.’ She wasn’t sure what “courageous” meant, but it sounded like a compliment. ‘Thank you.’ Luna nodded, then both of them descended the stone stairs. ‘Arsal!’ Luna called for Eufrimia’s father. A Thestral-like thing moved forward, terrifying the foal greatly. ‘This is your father, Eufi.’ Arsal grumbled at the name’s mention. Luna snorted in amusement. ‘And those beside him, are your village folk.’ He approached his daughter. Eufrimia rushed to hide between Luna’s legs. Arsal stopped, confused about how to apprehend the situation – even more so than before. ‘Dad? Why is he like this?’ ‘Because of sorcerers. Because they… did not like you.’ ‘Me?’ ‘No.’ Luna lowered her head and petted Eufrimia’s. ‘Because what you, your father, and the rest are. I stopped them and made them pay for their crime, do not worry.’ ‘Why did they hate us?’ ‘Because you were friendly with the other kinds. Do you remember those?’ She nodded; she had only heard of them from her father’s stories but never met one before. ‘Good. The sorcerers… other Thestrals… cursed your village by capturing mages and forcing them to recite a foul spell. You would think that it would be like other instances,’ she raised her voice, but turned it down. ‘Nevermind. I’ve reverted its effects and-’ ‘But this is not my dad,’ she wanted to cry – she could not hide her fear any longer. ‘It takes some time, Eufi. He will be back soon, don’t worry.’ An idea came to her as she guided the child out. ‘Come with me. We are going outside.’ Eufrimia nodded. She tentatively looked back to her father, maybe naturally wanting his approval. He looked at her confused that she had not come to him. He glanced up to Luna, waiting on the stairsteps for Eufrimia to make her decision. The girl mimicked her father, but Luna had decided to not intervene and let Eufrimia decide to stay with him or follow her outside. Eufrimia waved goodbye. And taking tentative steps, she joined Luna; both ascended to the free air together. It was cold outside. The girl, even with her still thick fur, was freezing. Luna gestured for Eufrimia to stick beside her. She enveloped both of them with a heat-preserving bubble and added her wing on top of the foal. Like Eufrimia used to do, she bunted Luna’s leg in gratitude. Luna played with her furry ears until Eufrimia forced her to stop with a light push. In the air, a frame made of an intense, soothing blue formed. Eufrimia stared in bewilderment, impressed by a display something within her was telling her was nothing to the being wielding it. Amazed only started to describe the range of emotion that came to her when the light illuminated their surroundings. She looked up at Luna, wanting to see if it was straining her in any way. From what she could read, she was happy to showcase her talents. Yet something seemed to be bothering her. Eufrimia preferred not to ask what perturbing Luna’s mind was. She contented on resting her head on Luna’s leg, feeling it would reward Luna with some solace. ‘See this drawing?’ calmly asked Luna. ‘This is what a typical Thestral looks like. They speak like you and act like you. Now, look at yourself.’ A small, hovering light appeared next to Eufrimia. Close to the foal, another frame appeared, opening a mirror that revealed a figure she did not know and terrified her. She started retreating behind Luna. Luna stopped her but did not force the girl to look back at herself. For a minute or more, none of them were sure of the time they spent together, but Eufrimia finally elected to stare back at herself. ‘You are returning to your normal self, gradually,’ continued Luna, still consoling the child with a hoof on her back, omitting the mention of the oddness of her wings. ‘Your eyes were all red once; now they are more like mine. Your fur was more compact; now it is far less. Your skin is no longer white either. All of your skin are no longer white. But you are the only one that had its mind returned fully. I saw your dream more clearly, that is how I knew you were sentient once more, in case you would ask.’ Eufrimia swallowed her phlegm. ‘You saw my dream?’ she asked, wonder peering out of her voice. Luna seemed to consider her words. ‘You don’t know?’ ‘What?’ She smiled and tapped the foal’s back with her wing. ‘I can visit your dreams, yes. I can visit the dreams of every creature living in this world.’ The fires of distant memories were rekindled. ‘How?’ she asked with wonder, forgetting her fear. Luna smiled more. ‘Well, it is simple: I just close my eyes – I basically sleep – and then I wake up in the Realm of Dreams. There I can visit the dreams of all. But more on it later.’ She heard the sound of a growling stomach. ‘Are you hungry?’ She shook her head. ‘Yes!’ ‘Then,’ she got up, ‘let us go back. I will make sure the wait won’t be felt.’ ‘Can I see my father before going, Luna?’ ‘Of course.’ She opened the door for her. Eufrimia stared blankly into the sapphire darkness. The sounds returned; her unease with it. Luna noticed a hesitant push from Eufrimia to move forward. ‘Want me to go down with you?’ Eufrimia nodded and extended an arm forward. Luna took it, her horn lit up, and they went down together into the dark underground.
One Good Night ‘Cold baths are best during winter!’ -Some odd, sober bloke from northern Equestria. Couple of weeks later; The repeating hum of a serene melody sounded inside one of Luna’s castle bathrooms, one usually reserved for the few permanent servants she kept around. True to their vows, they kept the castle and all the publicly known rooms clean. It was the paramount order of their mistress. She might not dwell long within the castle’s wall, but she was nonetheless stringent about its cleanliness. While the melody had begun unimpeded, a cry would overshadow it nearly completely. ‘Here! The water’s better now?’ ‘No, it is still too cold!’ vigorously replied Eufrimia. ‘Just dip one hoof in it, damn it!’ Luna forced Eufrimia to do so, shutting her instantly as she let her battle in the hot water. ‘So?’ asked Luna. ‘Better,’ she begrudgingly agreed. ‘It is… acceptable.’ ‘Your behavior was unacceptable, however.’ ‘Shut up,’ she grumbled. ‘It is your fault it is too cold outside.’ ‘I am your ruler, Eufi.’ ‘I don’t care. I don’t like you.’ ‘Likewise. Now, take that bath!’ ‘But can you stop the music first? It’s too loud and it’s bothering me.’ Loud? Yeah, perhaps. But for Luna, it wasn’t too horrendous, though she sometimes forgot how loud sounds can be to Thestral ears. At least, she did not complain about the music itself; it was something she had kept from early years – though, she had to admit, wasn’t sure where her additions and the original ending were. For some reason, it did not bother her as it would have for other things. ‘It is never hot enough.’ ‘It is bloody boiling! I can barely see from the mist.’ ‘You can leave me to bath on my own, you know?’ ‘I can, myes, but I have nothing particularly important to do today, so…’ ‘Hm…’ For no reason she slapped the water and then in a quick flash, Eufrimia threw some at Luna. ‘Revenge,’ she exaggeratedly hissed. Opening her eyes, Luna saw Eufrimia gathering the falling fur into one grab. She took them from her and threw a heap into a bag. Then, she forcibly grabbed Eufrimia by the head and forced the foal to clean the empty patches that had formed. ‘Your fur is receding on a faster pass – that is good. But you need to keep yourself clean regardless.’ ‘I hope it won’t,’ she snatched her head out, ‘be too cold after I lose it all.’ ‘It will regrow. It already has in some places – I will show you them when we finish.’ Euftrimia took a small bucket, filled it with water, and dropped it on herself. Between all of this, Luna thought she had heard her agreeing. The girl wanted to say something, but a small amount of water filled her nostrils, making her cough. Luna had told her the sensation of a burn was normal; she could not help to worry it was actually the case. ‘If you are still cold, I will get you warmer clothes. Or you can just huddle next to me as usual.’ The foal coughed out the last bit of lingering water. ‘Sometimes you are not here. Under your wings is very warm.’ Luna laughed quickly. ‘No. I will have my own duties outside those walls at this time.’ ‘Can I come with you?’ ‘You will have to ask your father when he comes here. I will not provide an immediate answer. In the meanwhile, Eufi, you will stay in your room with the toys I bought you. Or, alternatively, you can practice reading and writing while I’m gone. Angle Right will be there too, lest you forget about her.’ In all honesty, Luna had almost forgotten about her. The mare was trusted to keep the secret of Eufrimia but had a personality that made her utterly forgettable. She was married to one of the captains of her Thestral guards and she liked… drinking water. Luna did not know, but she knew Right Angle and the captain were very close to each other and she was the first one that had volunteered to be a teacher for the young Eufrimia. ‘Yeah… I prefer when you are here.’ She cleaned her eyes by throwing water on her face, making sure to only speak when the water dripped down completely. ‘But you would agree for me to come, no?’ ‘I don’t care.’ ‘Will I see your sister one day?’ asked Eufrimia, letting Luna drying her up. She could do it on her own and made a show of her abilities to do so, but Luna was nothing but insistent on her decision. ‘What is her name?’ Eufrimia grunted, amusing Luna. ‘Celestia – happy?’ ‘Good. At any rate, if you want to, I will let you meet her. But she is always tired or tied to something at day’s end. Not to mention that she is far from here and teleporting… You know how tired I get from it.’ ‘But you are strong! You raise the Moon!’ ‘You can say that,’ she mused. ‘But I am not immune to exertion. It will be difficult. In time though…’ Another set of words she did not understand. ‘What?’ ‘What, what?’ ‘What “immune to exertion” mean?’ ‘It means that I, too, can get tired. Teleportation is a fi- Uhh… difficult thing. Few master it to use it as easily as we do, but it is a deceptively simple spell to learn. It will burn out the user almost instantly of all magical essence. Yet for some reason, they still try to learn it knowing the risk it entails.’ ‘Teleporting soun…uhh… sounds fun, though.’ Luna moved to clean Eufrimia’s ears, knowing it would make her listen. ‘It is, yes. But it is not envied on my part. Trust me, it is really not worth it most of the time.’ ‘I trust you-’ Luna pressed harder inside Eufrimia’s left ear – the one that typically hurt her the most but also the one that tends to get the dirtiest. ‘Stop it!’ She turned and snatched the towel out of Luna’s grip. ‘I will do it myself. You always hurt me here!’ Luna laughed. ‘Sorry, not sorry.’ She got up. ‘I will leave you to dry and wear your clothes. Don’t expect me to help you this time around, okay?’ ‘’Kay,’ she mumbled. ‘I will be next to the fireplace, waiting for you. Hm?’ ‘Yes… Luna?’ She turned; answering without a word uttered. ‘Why don’t you stay with Celestia during the winter?’ Her expression curled into something approximating anger. ‘It is better this way.’ She turned back toward the door. ‘Finish your errands.’ It was almost noon – at least, Eufrimia thought it to be so. It was hard to tell during winter. It was snowing outside, but Luna had forbidden her from going out to observe the snow fall on her own. When Luna was deep asleep and the temperature high enough, Eufrimia would venture toward the high-up window to watch the cascading white powder. She was short but tall enough for a head to peer out from the window. She would get a cramp after a while, earn sore hooves, and light sunburns she managed to hide with her fur and the light of dancing flames. But all things considered, the experience was worth it. Besides, when it would eventually calm down, Luna had promised to play with her outside. That day, she had elected exactly that. Luna was sleeping like a rock and the snow had ceased its never-ending descent. The Sun was hidden behind thick clouds and the room temperature seemed just about right for her to make that escape without Luna noticing. Getting up from under Luna’s wing, gently resting it to not provoke her, and leaving the warmth of the blanket, Eufrimia began to make her way to the window. Eufrimia slid down the bed, dropping on the carpeted floor with a resonating boom. Wary she had awakened Luna, the foal kept staring her until she had deemed it safe to continue. The silence following the storm was almost deafening. After hours of never-ending strong winds, it was weird to finally return to the prior silence. Decorations had been thrown by the wind, trees were wrenched with tremendous force, and the sound of random doors slamming in the distance had prevented Eufrimia from founding quick sleep. Luna had seemed unphased by the terrible cacophony around them. When Eufrimia thought the entire construction might fall down upon them, nestling closer to Luna, she had told the girl a story of an ugly little fish that quested to find beauty. Of course the fish did complete his quest, but Luna had lured her into the false impression of an end where it had all being futile. Eufrimia did not like it and had made her know. In return, it earned the foal some harsh words. Yet, she could still hear the small hiss of the wind whistling from whatever imperfections in the castle’s frame. She was sure the guards had heard her getting up from bed, but Hekatomb promised to let her do her escapades. Each steps sounded louder and more profound, no matter how much she waltzed, a smothered echo was still distastefully resonating in the frankly too immense room – or she was simply too short for it. Eufrimia always thought this castle was too big for what it was used for. She like the decorations, but for almost none activity within, it was empty. Though other rooms were more spacious, the need to make this particular one that big did not register into the foal’s mind. To hold court? With the cold outside? Those Equestrians must be stupid, or Luna more so for guiding them here when they demand so. The latter seemed less plausible. Angle Right once told her that Luna – or “Princess Luna” – rarely, if ever, had held court or summoned of her own accord any Pony with power. In fact, since Angle Right had been married, only once had it been done. Maybe even on accident after a dispute had erupted between the Sisters over some problem Angle could not recall the details of. Eufrimia wasn’t sure what holding court actually entails, but it sounded important. As all words Luna would say. Audiences occurred sparingly when she permitted the scant notables to enter her presence. From what Eufrimia noticed from her hiding place behind heavy curtains, few would emerge back from their meeting without some sort of frustration coupled with something else she is nor know what it could be. At one point, a scurry of multiple elements came down crashing all their fury upon the castle. Yet, Luna did not care for what was befalling them. The shelves of some old library was close to them, its books able of entertaining them for the whole season. To make Luna proud of her, Eufrimia had taken to read even more. She had improved considerably, and she came to understand that her silent approval coupled with a nod of her head, was enough to express appraisal. Reaching the window, she could only stare at the frost that had gathered on its edges. She wanted to curse it with all the words Angle Right had unintentionally taught her; it was then that she recalled having wings. At least, the remnants of ones. But above anything else, she wanted to see the garden and rampart covered in snow. ‘It is my dream, after all,’ she whispered to herself, only turning to make sure if Luna had woken up. Except for the more present sound of burning wood, nothing else seemed to have changed. She tried to fly once. Then a second a time. Then a third. A fourth and fifth time. Nothing that took her higher than a simple jump. Then she heard the door open. Not thinking twice, she rushed back to Luna’s side. At her speed, she twisted on the thick carpet’s edge. Hekatomb dropped his load of wood and ran to help the foal. ‘Are you alright?’ he asked in usually low and serene voice. Eufrimia nodded in a curse, scared of Luna’s reaction. ‘You can leave those here, Hekatomb. I will take care of those,’ whispered Luna, barely startled by the noise. He nodded, replying his acceptance with a somewhat trembling voice. He left immediately, his head bowed, unable to stare at Luna directly but he had enough will to reassure the young Thestral. Luna raised her head and yawned profoundly, then turned toward Eufrimia. She had approached but kept a distance from her. Not feeling the need to use her strength to keep her head up, Luna rested it on her cushion and drew the blanket closer. ‘I used to force my sister to stay next to the fire, the same I do with you. I don’t want you to get sick, that is all. You are still a child… I do not want to comfort you in that age. I don’t to explain your ordeal to your father.’ She wasn’t sure what she meant by that last part – no matter to her. ‘You can get sick?’ ‘Yes, of course. We are still…’ She hesitated. ‘… like you.’ ‘I’m sorry, mom.’ ‘Excuse me?’ She stayed quiet for a second, trying to put together with what she had said wrong. ‘I’m sorry, Luna.’ ‘Come here.’ She offered Eufrimia her side. ‘Don’t stay out in the cold.’ Eufrimia sat next to Luna, right under her wing. Luna then draped her with the thick blanket. Luna closed her eyes once more and whispered to, for her liking, a too quiet Eufrimia. ‘I know I’ve promised. Later, later. Just don’t underestimate the cold. If you get sick, you won’t be able to play later. Understand?’ ‘What if it snows again?’ ‘It will not. Trust me. And even it does, I will make sure it doesn’t.’ She turned to face her and kissed Luna on the cheek. ‘Sorry for waking you up.’ Luna’s lips twitched. ‘Don’t think I am displeased. My night was not pleasant.’ ‘Again?’ Luna nodded; she did not want to expand more on the subject. The foal smuggled closer to Luna. ‘You have another story?’ ‘I have a lot of stories,’ she smiled. ‘A whole lot…’ **** Luna would make do with her promise at nightfall. Shielding them from the scorching cold with magic, Luna taught the foal how to build the sturdiest of snow castles. Then, getting bored, Eufrimia threw a snowball at Luna. She reiterated. The foal threw another one. The skirmish quickly morphed into a tense battle that lasted for one whole hour of constant back and for. Luna used her wings for maximum efficiency, running between quickly built fortifications that shielded her little from Eufrimia’s more than accurate throws. Knowing she might lose, Eufrimia gradually constructed a circular fort between lulls. Luna played with her scheme and made to weaken the structure with precise hits on points that would not harm the girl. After a few minutes, Eufrimia began to lack ammunition. Digging deeper in the snow, the foal formed her ultimate weapon and hurled her final snowball with ultimate precision. It hit Luna on the head mid-run, throwing her out of balance in a loud grunt, and knocking her head first into the snow. A small rock had hit Luna on the head, bruising her a little. It was nothing, but the foal knew it not. Fearing of having injured her, Eufrimia abandoned her fort and ran to Luna’s side. She did not bow and beg for forgiveness, as Luna had expected. Instead, Eufrimia leaned on her and franticly searched for the bruise. Not finding a thing, the girl lowered her head to Luna’s level; then in a low, shy voice, she asked if Luna could forgive her. Luna’s expression beamed. Her smile widened. Then she started laughing a loud, genuine laugh. Eufrimia’s worry dissipated, only to be brought back when distant howls were heard, an instinctive reaction she could not control. Putting a hoof behind Eufrimia’s neck and guiding her head in front of her, Luna attempted to reassure her. ‘Wolves – those are wolves, Eufi.’ She pressed herself closer for an embrace that readily came. ‘Th-… that is their sound?’ Luna nodded. ‘They are mighty creatures. In winter, there must be some trespassers of some rival pack. Or they are hunting for sus- food.’ ‘They are not coming here? Right?’ She snorted. ‘No. We are next to a big forest; that is why it is so audible. Usually, however, they don’t venture close to population centers.’ Her tone turned dour. Eufrimia recoiled her head. ‘But people tend to believe they will attack them. We are not food for them. You, Thestrals, have… No matter. For later. Regardless, you prove that no one learns – no matter how much you might insist. I told you, and you read of it. Wolves are dangerous only when purposefully provoked!’ Eufrimia shuffled closer. ‘I’m sorry.’ Luna took a deep breath and gestured for the girl to get up. Dusting the snow from of her cloth, she gestured forward. ‘Time for you to rehearse what you were taught, girl.’ And they say I am the kid here… she thought. ‘Coming. Coming.’ Luna did not hear her as she quickly moved inside the castle.
The Visitors‘And they are gone into the halls of time!’ -Declaration by an extravagant wizard after casting his excretion spell. In modern times, Griffonstone, and the eponymous kingdom it is the capital of, are synonymous with degradation and precarity. The once great and proud kingdom fell to, vulgarizing, a lack of faith in the ruling house in the aftermath of the loss of the ancient chalice that had been utilized by the first of the imperial line to found the Griffonian Empire – the first of its kind, having united nearly all Griffon nations under the rule of one. An Empire that, if no turn of faith would occur, was itself on the verge of total collapse. Though blaming the reason on simply the loss of the Icon of Boreas was childishly putting the myriad of problems that had come to plague both Kingdom and Empire. The loss of such an icon served only to represent what is rarely associated with the Griffon: dedication of belief. While associated with the gathering of wealth above any means and asserting their position in whatever theater they find themselves in, faith guided and still guides the entire race. Be it of political or religious belief, they, more than any other, are willing to defend their belief. Beliefs differ from region to region, but most of the Griffons were united by the belief in their three main deities: Boreas, Eyr, and Arcturus. The first gave the Griffons the concept of the value of a nation, wealth, and having a friend. The second gave them the concept of family and camaraderie. The third taught them and gave them the means to defend themselves. Each branch ruled by an archon since times immemorial. With the gradual decline of Griffonstone and the rise of the Empire, the archons were dispersed, their unity questioned by worried voices. Even still, Griffonstone was not the first capital of the Triarchy. Nestled on an elevated plateau on the western mountain range to Griffonstone, abandoned with time following its sacking by a weird alliance of Griffon and the non-Equestria aligned Pony tribes, declared holy ground by the three Archons with any reconstruction prohibited, Anih was “the City that Was”. Two figures strode the strewed ruins of the City of a Thousand and One Temples – an impressive name for a village of fewer than one thousand inhabitants. Little was left of those one thousand temples except lone standing arches and walls without a house or temple to call its own. Few relatively intact buildings remained still, with only one, standing on the edge of what was once a central plaza, appearing to have lost nothing of its majesty. The two figures continued toward the nature-conquered gardens of the Royal Palace. No roof existed and only a few columns protruded out of the long grass growing between the pavements. The rulers were never truly the Archons, though they held near unparalleled temporal power, it was the King of Anih that ruled the city, acting as a mediator between the Archons. With time, the position had morphed into a symbol of the unity of the Three and an integral part of the Triarchy. And with this, Luna concluded her brief retelling of Anih. And the winds raged stronger, penetrating the confines of the ancient palace with a freezing breeze, heralding the upcoming night. Eufrimia and Luna tucked their heads instantly. Eufrimia took her orange mane and wrapped it around her neck. The foal that she once was had shed all the vestiges of her early life. Her fur was of a light-dark color, with a strip of white descending from her ears, passing by her a sharp jawline, towards her wingless back – some of the Thestrals had lost their wings in the return to sanity. She possessed small, almost unnoticeable fangs and clear, intensely orange eyes that Luna liked but always seemed to divert her gaze from. ‘Why wear all of this?’ bitterly asked Eufrimia, pointing out the thick clothes Luna had insisted they both wore for their trip – Eufrimia’s first outside Equestria. Her father would have joined them, sticking closely to his only child and the only one the tribe had remaining. For all had found themselves infertile with no cure for it. ‘Because it’s more fun this way,’ Luna answered pleasantly, raising her head back. ‘Being cold is not fun, though…’ ‘It is, for me.’ Luna kept her smile. Eufrimia winced, reducing the glow of her orange eyes, feeling almost infuriated by her blissful smile. This whole concept of fun Luna had always felt awkward and out of place for her. Her almost constant denial of utilizing her powers for simple amusement when it could have been far simpler and more convenient to use them. She could see the reasoning behind it, but Luna’s not-so-hidden constant sarcastic tone put doubt on how much she could reason about Luna’s attitude. Eufrimia almost gave up trying to decipher all that swirled in her self-made mother’s mind; her natural mother had died before the curse. Perhaps simple instincts, but the level of care Luna presented to the girl was more than she did for any of the tribe. Eufrimia’s decision went against her father’s wishes, so both he and Luna rarely spoke in turn. But for Eufrimia it was never about designating Luna as a mother figure to her, rather it was abandoning her real name to the one she had introduced Luna to first. While in front of her, Luna would keep calling by the name the corrupted child had given, with the father alone Luna referred to Eufremia by her first name. Eufraty Miaalmas suspected it was the only reason he had not seethed completely against Luna. Eufrimia had been reunited with her father after New Year. But like most of her tribe, he was more aloof, more apprehensive, and fearful of venturing out of their hold within the castle’s empty dungeons. Other than her and Luna, everyone else had been prevented from entering. The Thestrals could venture out at their hearts' content, but few ever did beyond the confines of the castle. Of them, only Eufrimia’s father had traveled truly but never out of pleasure, though he cherished every moment spent with his daughter. Luna continued to add on the history of Anih and the region to distract Eufrimia from the cold. ‘It was once part of the great Arantigan Empire.’ ‘What happened to it?’ ‘It fell,’ Luna said, like stating the obvious to a petulant student. She could not blame Eufrimia to think so; after all, Equestria stood still. ‘Nothing that should surprise you. Anih, however, is relatively more recent. As I said, the Archons used to call it home before taking Griffonstone for a home. It was during our time, not prior – just to reiterate.’ ‘Yeah, yeah… It’s old. I get it.’ ‘Hm,’ Luna agreed. She pointed to the horizon. ‘The “trade” “city” of Sisia still exists, perhaps we will visit it after finishing here. Usually, pilgrims stay there instead of resting in one of the “hotels” and inns of current Anih.’ ‘A little odd.’ ‘Yes, it is,’ she laughed. ‘But, hey, it is expensive here and the people are not very polite either. Plus Sisia has some amazing gardens… And a quick road to the Fortress of Oblivion!’ Luna cried the name out. ‘Damn!’ laughed back Eufrimia. ‘What happens there? Dark magic? Those things from your early reign imprisoned there? Deranged writers?’ ‘Nope! Just a prison… for bandits and the occasional usurper – which is basically the same but with a more fashionable name.’ ‘Not wrong. So torture is implied?’ ‘Wrong! Well, the wind currents are so horrendous that flying is practically wanting to die there, but otherwise, for having been a prisoner there once, it was alright.’ ‘They imprisoned one of the Princesses of Equestria and did not notice!?’ Luna proudly nodded. ‘And why were you imprisoned?’ ‘I am very good at disguising myself.’ She nudged Eufrimia. ‘As for the reason why: I stole water and was pestering a local herder by playing around with local wolf packs. They were very cute. And her dog was very cute too.’ ‘You seem happier here.’ ‘Without doubt due to the pure air and lingering smell!’ It had rained the day prior to their arrival and the air still retained that distinct smell. Turning her head toward the partially demolished wall, opening to a cloud glimmering in the distant light of the setting Sun. It extended in length from the bottom of a distant valley to its flat upper edge. From its side, a rainbow appeared shyly on the cloud’s right. Its colors dissipated behind a nearby peak covered by eternal snow. She had never witnessed such a site. Then again, it had been a long while since she had taken this much notice of the landscape around her. Maybe the work of Cloudsdale, she laughed to herself. ‘By the way, mom,’ Eufrimia tapped Luna’s shoulder, ‘what was before you two came?’ Luna got up without a word said. Getting to a pile of fallen blocks, she began adjusting the fallen red-colored rocks, playing to rearrange them for visitors that would never care for their emplacements. She shuffled them around for a minute or so, maintaining a smile that yelled fake ever louder. ‘So?’ asked Eufrimia, calmly. ‘I don’t know,’ her tone dropped to a dour one. ‘I – we – never cared to know. Not that it matters, we have time to uncover the past more thoroughly anyways. You and I perhaps…’ she trailed off. ‘You will have time. Not me.’ Eufrimia made it sound as much a jest as she could. Luna clenched her teeth. ‘You have to remind me. I don’t want to know,’ she almost ordered. ‘Oh! It’s a joke! Just stop being so dour.’ ‘Let’s go to an amphitheater or something. I don’t care.’ She enveloped the bag Eufrimia was carrying with blue energy, levitating it as she walked away from the young mare. Shit, cursed Eufrimia. She’s angry. Getting past the still-in-use aqueduct, Luna sat down and made upon her talent. It had become a mundane thing for Eufrimia, it had lost its impressiveness to her. She would have vastly preferred staying around to talk with Cherry Aurora, a servant’s child with no particular future entailed to her except inheriting her father’s position, rather than staying with Luna. Once she did and Luna worried sick about her absence. Luna had found both mares simply discussing whatever book Cherry had chosen to study as part of Eufrimia’s attempt at teaching her literature. She turned out better than her, and the Thestral felt inferior by it. Though her father had taught her to not let jealousy be the defining feature of her life, the gnawing feeling did not subside completely. However, in discussing the deeper meanings of writings, Eufrimia prided herself on being unsurpassed. And it was during one of her tirades that Luna came to liberate Aurora from what had started about flowers to the existentialism of investable decay – somehow. Luna had been worried, yes, but that factor had not been the one taking Eufrimia to see the Alicorn rise to the Moon. When the Princess had come barreling in, Cherry’s demeanor… shifted. Not in the way expected for a servant meeting with its master, but rather something more…existential. Looking at Luna directly was an effort. Presenting excuses for an error that wasn’t hers was an even greater effort. At that time, Eufrimia thought only Thestrals like her were immune to whatever aura Luna emitted. But a brief trip to the south of Equestria proved her wrong. The unease was universal. Luna could attune it, and she had done so many times effortlessly. But Luna wasn’t exactly the most diplomatic of individuals and without that… thing, she had to pour more effort. The slight effort, for she still was an Alicorn, but enough to tire her. ‘So it is here everything Griffon was born?’ Eufrimia tried to soften the tense atmosphere. ‘Uhm,’ Luna nodded. ‘It is one of their oldest settlements. If not the oldest. Though more on Griffon's history can wait. Understand I don’t feel like reciting it at the moment.’ ‘Not that I would complain hearing you ramble.’ Luna loudly grunted, clearly signaling a certain agreement in the wind, trying to concentrate on her task. Suddenly, the wind took up speed, racking its harsh coolness upon the open plateau. Luna continued her walk unbothered, but Eufrimia was halted nearly instantly. Instinctively, she closed her eyes; little did the Thestral know that the sky started clearing, revealing a shy Sun. Eufrimia felt something gently grabbing her; still with enough force to push her wholly to who-knows-where as she felt her body lightening and flying above the ground. ‘Are you okay?’ worried Luna, frantically inspecting Eufrimia. ‘Does it burn somewhere?’ Eufrimia did not answer at first, still shaken by the experience. ‘Answer me, Eufi!’ her voice edged on an order. ‘Yeah…’ She opened her eyes to a night sky and Luna’s eyes searching for any sunburn. ‘You’re dizzy.’ ‘Something you did. You tell me.’ ‘I had to rush you behind this wall.’ She did not elaborate further. ‘Are you okay besides that? And sorry about it.’ ‘Nothing hurts. The Sun was weak, no worries. Everything’s fine.’ The wind returned again with a vengeance, taking in its thralls Eufrimia’s mane; Luna’s remaining in its ever-waving state, unbothered by the elements. ‘The wind is strong,’ smirked Eufrimia. ‘Hm. You will get used to it,’ said Luna, still somewhat vexed. ‘We can make this visit a yearly habit if you want?’ ‘I don’t mind. But I would prefer dad to come with us next time… Maybe we can plan it for my birthday or something.’ ‘Whatever you like. If it makes you happy – that is most important to me.’ ‘By the way, I’ve never asked, nor noticed-’ ‘Surprising,’ she laughed a little, helping Eufrimia to get up. ‘Yeah,’ she giggled. ‘But never have I heard you mention you celebrating your birthday – not even your sister’s if she celebrates hers that is.’ ‘…’ ‘You do know when you were born, right?’ Something in Eufrimia told her that the lack should be accepted as such and the question never had to be uttered in the first place. ‘I don’t remember.’ Eufrimia let the solemn silence sit. She knew and stayed with Luna ever since she could remember, but never had the atmosphere felt so… opaque. ‘My sister and I used to celebrate it when we were little – if you can fathom how long it was.’ Her lips twitched. ‘Eventually, we… just mutually agreed to no longer bring it up. And the rest vanished; we no longer brought anything out like this. There is no point in it.’ Now, Eufrimia felt truly bad. ‘Not the only thing you’ve stopped bringing up,’ she muttered. Luna did not hear her as she blankly stared at the stone floor. ‘We used to have fun together,’ continued Luna, ignoring what Eufrimia had to say. ‘You still do. With me, though.’ ‘Yes. And that’s the problem.’ She wanted to yell at her. After all of those years, she singled her as the problem. Grabbing a hold of herself, she remembered to keep herself calm and collected. Her father always said she tends to ask too many questions at the most inappropriate time. At least, she wasn’t embarrassing a friend by doing so. Cherry Aurora had forgiven her, thankfully. Then again, what is so weird asking about the reason why Cherry’s parents had not been speaking with each other when she had made it clear that mentioning them was not particularly welcome. ‘And you,’ she coughed, ‘are too melodramatic for my taste,’ she buried the truth under an amused smile. Luna returned back with a smile, ‘I am not fun – am I?’ ‘Nope!’ It had exited too true for her liking. ‘But it does not mean I want to be separated from you. I like to not have fun. I adore it.’ ‘Sometimes I prefer when you were still a throbbing, drooling thing.’ ‘I can still become one, but I don’t like the feel of saliva dripping down, you know?’ Luna laughed profusely as she prepared to rise to the Moon. Heading close to a cliff in the early hours of dawn, offering a view to a great plain where streams ran directly from the mountains above, the profound sound of bells toned in long intervals a weak wind transporting it through the tall grass. A dog barked and the orderly yells of a family of Griffons joined to fill the silence and add their chores to the serene surroundings. For a long while, no words were shared between the two mares. Sleep was rapidly conquering them but had insisted for Eufrimia to witness Anih at dawn. The temporary spell cast by Luna was fading but just enough to keep enough energy. Perhaps the herder had noticed them. Luna did not really mind. She knew how disinterested those folks could be in things not directly threatening their animals. ‘Want to eat?’ ‘Not particularly. No,’ answered Eufrimia. ‘I’m hungry. Want us to eat now?’ ‘If you can’t wait-’ ‘I can. But you also have to understand that hunger is a very grievous thing. Particularly for those in my standing,’ she jested. Eufrimia grinned and jokingly bowed. ‘Excuse me, Princess.’ ‘That’s more like it!’ Luna exaggerated. She presented a piece of plain cake; no frivolity, no weird mixture of fruit, but a barely perceivable lemony flavor. ‘I don’t want one.’ Luna insisted, the bag dangling more aggressively. ‘I said no.’ Luna pushed further. ‘No!’ Not bothering to lower her head, Luna dropped the bag on the floor. ‘I know you like those.’ ‘That is why I don’t want one. After a while, they stop tasting good.’ ‘I-’ she muffled something. ‘Don’t come to me later for them.’ ‘I won’t, fatty.’ ‘I’m not fat!’ ‘Of course, you aren’t. Those with problems are usually the first to deny them,’ she cackled on the side of her mouth. ‘Don’t do your philosophy on me. I hate it!’ Begrudgingly, Eufrimia took out a cake, splitting it for Luna before offering it back to her. All the while, she had kept a malign expression that made Luna puff. The Alicorn was hungry indeed but felt like dividing her meal with Eufrimia. ‘I wonder if they eat well here,’ said Eufrimia while mashing her sandwich. Luna closed her eyes and waited with a grimace for the ordeal to end. ‘They eat enough,’ she answered, exasperated. ‘Something’s telling me they don’t.’ ‘Then go feed them yourself. I cannot provide anything to them.’ ‘Why though?’ ‘It is not my place to do so. ‘ ‘But you have the powers, and it would not be unusual for you to do so.’ ‘I know. It is still not my place to do so, here.’ ‘Even if you walk around as a Griffon-’ She taped Luna on the arm. ‘Can you mimic one perfectly?’ ‘Of course, I can!’ she boasted in a sudden mood shift. ‘Take a gander!’ She shoved down her cake, grabbed Eufrimia, and forced her down to a ruined building, away from any prying eyes. In less than two seconds, the amalgamation of Pegasus and Unicorn disappeared as it was replaced by the half-feline, half-avian form of a tall Griffon. ‘Ta-da!’ ‘Damn. Could’ve confused me if it wasn’t for the obvious colors.' ‘What can I say? I am quite fond of those. I… claw too much to them.’ Luna closed and opened her claw. ‘I claw upon them instead of clawing to-’ ‘Stop it.’ ‘No – I will claw onto my joke.’ Eufrimia paused to think, contorting her visage to see how the Griffon in front of her would react. To put it briefly: she was disappointed by the lack of originality. But she was too tired to bother extracting more out of her. ‘What are- Those Chan-gelin-gs?’ ‘Yes. The Changelings.’ ‘Will we go to the Changeling Lands? It would be fun, no?’ ‘No,’ she asserted. ‘We leave them alone.’ ‘Maybe they can join Equestria, and then the fun would begin. They must have some amazing games with their abilities.’ Luna snorted and smiled patronizingly. ‘We will not force them. I don’t attack for the pleasure it procures. We have united Equestria; those that were not part of the realm or Ponies are not obliged to join. We will never force anyone to join. We will defend Equestria, but never will we force our will beyond those borders. You hear me? Never.’ She turned. ‘Already we have the mantle of Sun and Moon, it should not extend beyond it.’ ‘Hm… And dreams,’ added Eufrimia. ‘And you have dreams.’ You just have to add more to the fire, Eufrimia, huh? Fuck you. I hate myself… ‘And I have the Realm of Dreams… And I have the Realm of Dreams…’ ‘Okay, okay.’ She tapped Luna with two hooves, making Luna smile for a reason that escaped the Princess. ‘Make me a Griffon. But keep the orange.’ ‘You don’t have to tell me twice!’ Luna’s horn peered out from the Griffon form, lighting up with great expectation behind it. As blue light came to cloak Eufrimia’s body wholly, Luna sensed what was a relatively trivial spell – one she had gotten used to casting over the years – taking much effort out of her. Eufrimia saw Luna’s unease behind the slowly thickening veil. Her eyes shifted endlessly in position, her wings were raised, and her mouth opened and closed endlessly, repeating the spell she had become unsure of its veracity. The more she recited it, the more her she doubted herself. Were those the right words? The right sequences? Why was she questioning a practice done over and over? Rarely had Eufrimia observed Luna reacting in that manner. But knowing her, the reason for unsureness was simple. She yelled once. Her mouth refused to move, the words lost in the echo of her inner voice. Gathering all the energy simultaneously dissipating and souring within her, and feeling it would be her last try, Eufrimia bellowed. ‘Do it!’ she managed to get out, getting Luna’s ears to twitch. ‘I’ll be fine!’ For a couple of seconds, nothing changed. Then, like a bright, blue Sun, it ended. Eufrimia woke up laying on the floor alone. Luna, still a Griffon, was standing, her back turned and their bag hanging on her back. She turned in place, placing herself belly down. Then she put two… pitch-white claws on the pavement. Startled by the sight, she caressed the black fur. It was as if it could be taken off easily; it was there and wasn’t at the same time. Eufrimia turned her head to see her wings. They were there and she could control them fully. An addition of Luna or simply a part of the spell, the Thestral did not care. Eufrimia forsook her first attempt; she had wings now, so why not profit from them? Awkwardly, she tentatively rose above the ground through the only force of her wings. But not far enough from the ground for her to not still be able to feel the ground. Like a child learning how to walk, Eufrimia went toward the familiar things. Like so, she bumped abruptly into Luna, dropping on her claws. She stumbled and fell gently on Luna’s side. The Alicorn barely reacted but turned to face Eufrimia, meeting her red, bright eyes directly. She smirked, edging on a smile, and caressed Eufrimia on the head. ‘See?’ her voice had not changed, but uttering it from something other than her mouth was as exhilarating as it was unfamiliar. ‘You did it!’ Eufrimia hugged Luna. Caressing Eufrimia’s winged back, Luna told the young mare in a tone similar to the one waiting to be berated for her action, ‘Let’s go to the nearest inn. I am very tired.’ Eufrimia nodded and closely followed Luna. In a short time, they exited the ruins twenty minutes before dawn. Wanting to see the Sun basking in the ruins, Eufrimia paused, Luna, continuing without her. Casting a full view of the City that Was, Eufrimia noticed Luna had been avoiding the central monument from the start of their visit. She wanted to raise that fact, but her instincts told her to hold on to her words. She might no longer visit the ruins in her lifespan, but keeping Luna tethered to any sort of positive attitude, better let her want to be buried. In the end, it won’t matter; maintaining their relationship was paramount. If broken, nothing would mend it back together.
