9th August 2017

Dear Diary,

Hello old friend. If I'm honest, I never thought I'd be writing to you again since the cake massacre in the castle but here I am with another unsolvable problem.

It was just a normal day in my duties, scheduling tomorrow's court summons and tax returns for the Princess once she returned from the Summer Sun Set Festival. However, as the clock hit the witching hour, the sun never arose. This was already an immediate red flag given that the Princess was never late for her duties, but a worse problem came from the lack of something, the mare in the moon.

I couldn't believe it, myself. It was literally the product of a ponytale! So I did what I could and kept the castle in order under the hours of panic. It was almost unnerving how quick the guards cracked under pressure as the motherly wings of their Princess were snatched away from them, their response to orders have become a lot more clumsy. But it's not like I could blame them.

Celestia was the wisest and strongest of all ponies, so for her to be missing could allude to an even stronger foe. But although the nobles don't want to admit it, I find it very obvious on who the enemy is. Nightmare Moon.

But I must assume the Princess had a plan for it. She wouldn't have forgotten her sister whom could be seen every night. I wish she at least informed me though... I just feel so useless right now.

I'm just a royal advisor, I'm not powerful enough to go search for her like the guards nor do I have the wings to survey the air like the wonderbolts. I'm just... me.

Still, Il try to keep everypony informed and hopefully see some results.

From, Raven Inkwell

10th August 2017

Dear Diary,

Oh Celestia... this has become a disaster! The good news would be that I know for sure that it's Nightmare Moon, since the search party had linked their information with the Ponyville residents. The bad news is that I had met her face to face.

I was just sitting by the throne while comparing reports. (I like to imagine the Princess is still next to me, just for a hint of normalcy in the situation.) And nothing felt too out of the ordinary until a fog of galactic smoke flooded the doors and pushed them open, revealing Nightmare Moon in her horrific form. It was like all the hope I had left just fled my body.

And so, she just sat on the throne and began declaring new orders. I think the first ever words she said to me went something like: "Do the dungeons still have the tools with them?" I mean, she didn't even ask for my name before she started calling the shots. And the dungeons? She didn't need to say anything to tell me what she needed it for.

Anyway, the following hours was pure chaos as everypony attempted to adjust to the new authority. Most of the nobles came in to kiss her hooves, which I can assume was to maintain their standing in the high class, some attempted to change their lifestyle now that the sun had vanished. It's rather that or the other side of the world, aka the undiscovered territory which is facing the worst drought possible. Meanwhile, a few ponies have gone into hiding so they can slowly emass a rebellion.

I know this cause of the propaganda posters that were confiscated off the streets. One of them had the face of Prince Blueblood on the center... I just hope he isn't the actual leader.

As the day... or night continued, I slowly started to wonder how I'd tell the time. With the moon constantly fixed in the starry sky, observation would be impossible. My solution was a pocket watch I have in my suit pocket. Luckily, Nightmare Moon permitted its use so working won't be a bother. Still, working for Nightmare Moon... I don't know how long I'll last.

Compared to her sister, she is stricter than a drill instructor, calling on me for matters consecutively while expecting my attention 24/7. I think she enjoys toying with me or something, but I can't say no. My life is now directly linked to my job and if I ever cut those strings, Il fall into my demise.

I can only hope that the resistance will find a way. 'Cause I can't tell how many lives will die to such a drastic change.

From, Raven Inkwell

11th August 2017

Dear Diary,

A strange occurance has happened today. Well, not on the scale that was the last couple days but no matter. Nightmare Moon had set up a speech for all ponies working in the castle which was the kind of stuff I expected from the tyrant. "I'am your Queen." "No tolerance for disobedience." "Loyal ponies rewarded, bad ponies punished." And even "Mentioning Princess Celestia will result in punishment." The whole shebang.

But at the end of it, she introduced us to our newly appointed Prince. It was definately a shock since Nightmare Moon seemed too prideful to share her royal spot. My surprise just continued when I saw them. He was just a unicorn colt: dark fur, yellow mane and eyes. But his demeanour felt nothing like a normal colt.

He looked down at us with a straight face and yet, he kept glancing at Nightmare Moon and back at us. It was as if he was analysing the situation carefully, like one wrong move could result in dire consequences. If so, he was right on the bit as an old stallion had the gall to talk back, resorting in the queen snatching him from the audience and locking him in place while she walked over to the colt -I think his name was Lucid Storm if I could hear her whispers correctly- and coached him into electrifying the poor stallion with magic.

The display left almost everypony horrified, including myself. It was spine wretching enough to watch a young foal, who should be out playing around, perform adult level magic for the intended purpose of torture. But I could still see it, the pain in his eyes as he watched the defiant stallion spasm from the voltage. The sparkles of wonder that normally shone brightly in a foals eyes had been destroyed, leaving a husk of their original form.

Finally, he was told to stop and he did so gladly as the stallion dropped to the floor, supposedly dead. Now I can see the ploys the Queen was using. She wanted total emotional control over all of us and to do that, she had to make an example and by putting the axe of the executioner into the hooves of a foal, we would be left to imagine the grim fate if we defied her personally.

Unfortunately, it worked. Everypony was performing their duties twice as hard as they used to. It was especially sad when I passed Private Stoneheart and Sargent Luster Purge though the throneroom gates. They used be so lively, with the Private always picking moving about in annoyed boredom while the Sargent attempted numerous jokes to keep him steady. Now, they just stand there like statues. It's disturbing, why can't we find a way out of this mess? I don't want to continue serving a maniac, just why am I alive at a time like this?...

Oh, the Queen is calling me again. I wish she'd just send me letter instead of sending magic induced headaches. But I'll write soon.

From, Raven Inkwell.

9th December 2017

Dear Diary,

Celestia must be gifting me luck from above because I believe I've been granted a break. Remember when Nightmare Moon called me before? Well, she called for me to switch my duties from herself to the Prince. Apparently, she wants me to keep an eye on him and report to her about any deviances or exponential progress on his part.

Perhaps she doesn't trust him as much as I thought. Then again, I'd rather take my chances with the lesser evil than a Queen who massacres her messengers over the slightest inconvenience. (Seriously, those are getting tougher to watch.)

Anyway, for the few weeks I've endured under Prince Storms care, I've had the chance to learn more about him. Firstly, the foal is a far cry from the menace that the Queen made him out to be. His daily routine comprises of me waking him up at 7 which isn't a hassle, but then the colt would immediately go downstairs and read up on the archives until 10 on the dot. I love reading as much as the next pony but when your only job is to watch, the sanctuary of words suddenly grows more boring. I think he knows too, since he usually asks me to check up on the stability of the castle employees at that time.

Then, he'd venture to the training grounds to practice in front of the cadets for 2 hours and if I'm honest, I think he's more himself while he's with the guards. That rough exterior and cold gaze that mirrored the Queen seems to soften every time he spars with the ponies in blue. Hell, he would even ask the chef to make pastries for him to give them out on Sundays! I really need to keep it in my skull that Lucid is just a colt. Whatever got him into Nightmare Moon's hooves, it must have changed him greatly but foal-like wonder cannot be erased so easily. I think Il keep these out of my reports, he should have the chance to be himself.

Unfortunately, that's where his routine ends. Everything else will rather involve patrolling the streets for rebellious activity and doing missions ordered by Nightmare Moon. But... there is one thing I'm worried about. It usually happens every Friday at exactly 18:25 where he would go down to the cellar where the dungeons reside and asks me not to follow him. I had first assumed that he was ordered to conduct torture on the unfortunate resistance fighters that were caught, choosing to leave me outside for my sanity. I mean, it feels like the logical choice.

But if that were the case, then why would he bring a tray of food and water with him? I don't imagine that the colt is so sick in the head that he'd have his tea while burning a poor pony's back. So I could only think of one thing. Somepony he knows is down there and is being kept alive for an unknown reason. Maybe it's a family member, a friend or somepony he feels remorse towards but the fact still remains that despite a month with that horrible mare, Lucid Storm still has a heart.

Hell, I'm not even sure that's his actual name. Everytime I've called for him, he always looks dispondant like I said some nonsense. I hope he can just try talking to me. Sure, I'm glad he talks to me nicely and it's certainly a change of pace to be called Raven instead of the typical formalities, but all of our conversations have rather been questions about the responsibilities of a Prince and my own life before the disaster.

As much as I appreciate his willingness to listen to my grievances, he needs somepony who he can confide in that isn't the Queen. I'll try asking for a chat tomorrow and hope for the best. If by some miracle, the Queen falls, I don't want the King to fall for the same mistakes.

From, Raven Inkwell

Raven Inkwell finished the last stroke in her diary and sighed longingly as she closed the book and walked out of her room. As the mare strolled through the hallways under the watch of the eternal moonlight, she passed by a group of guards encased in the new blue armor that got shipped in from the East. She had to admit that they looked ascetically sleek but would she ever say that to anyponys face? Nope.

The guards were cheerfully laughing while chowing down on honeybuns whilst covered in sweat.

"Well then... phew, Prince Storm never lets up on our spars does he?"

"Well no shit, if a pesky resistance member comes knocking on our front door, we gotta be in tip top shape."

"Still, huff- does he have to make it so strenuous? I feel like my horn is about to crack from how many shields I had to conjure."

"Uhm, hello? Just dodge, sure the Prince has a ridiculous amount of magic tricks but nothing can beat the fastest flier in Equestria!"

"Oh can it Corporal Dash! You still got your ass kicked too."

"Mhmmmm mh mm mhm."

"Uh, Pinkie you still got honeybuns in your mouth."

The stoic assistant cracked a smile at the sight. It was a not so secret fact among the castle that the Prince took their health very seriously which is why a few have tried asking the Queen to be stationed with the colt. Only the highest ranked were permitted and the rest... their fate was classified.

Eventually, she arrived at the gates and opened the large doors to see nopony at the throneroom. "Huh? D-did I get the dates wrong? Oh no... my career is over- scratch that, my LIFE is over! I gotta get out of-"

Suddenly a loud boom echoed throughout the castle which made everypony pause as they flicked their ears to listen closely. Meanwhile, Raven looked out the windows to see flashes of light sparks in the sky. "What the, is Prince Storm still sparing with somepony? But it's way past his- OH SWEET CELESTIA!"

In a flash, Raven rolled to the side when a blur of darkness crashed through a window, careening into a wall whilst struggling to get up. And once the initial fright of it all had finished, she noticed that the fallen figure was Lucid Storm who was battered and bruised with the exception of his golden crown latched on his head.

"Prince Storm, are you okay?" She called in concern which made the colt lock eyes with her, the panic in him very evident.

"Raven, leave immediately! This doesnt concern you- shit!" The colt's symbols that plastered his regalia flared to life as his horn shot out a great surge of electricity which connected with a galactic stream of energy through the broken window. And at last, she could understand as Nightmare Moon gently landed inside the throne room, her magical blast still struggling against Lucids.

"I will admit colt, you've grown to be a fine unicorn under my tutilage, but to think you would be so foolish as to defy my orders." The mare continued her assault, her blast slowly overtaking the poor colts. "I would've thought that your soldier training would give you the strength to do what is done and attain your destiny, but it seems that the pony ways have softened you."

"St-Stop, you said we could help them... so why not her? Why must I prove my loyalty in such a way. Haven't all my missions done enough?" Lucid was flinching, wide eyed at his superior as she approached him through the sparks.

"The brat is too loyal to my sister. No amount of magic can break fix her mind so therefore, she must be eliminated. I don't understand why you keep pushing me on this, I gave you this final task weeks ago and yet the fool still lives. The longer you wait, the more I believe you're trying to conspire against me." By that point, their horns were practically touching each other while she stared daggers into him. "Don't you want to ascend to a higher power? Become untouchable to all that oppose you? Nopony gains power with mercy at their hips!"

"Just stop already..."

"You're my sword, Prince Storm. And a sword must be ruthless and unforgiving! Il give you one more week to face your duty or else Il throw you aside! The castle may think say you're welcome, but I know the ponies outside would jump at the chance to rip you limb from limb. You would be a public enemy by my eyes and the whole of Equestria, a forgotten tool. A dissapointment. A villain."

"ENOUGH!" Lucid screamed in agony as a shockwave of light blasted the alicorn backwards while Raven was forced to close her eyes. Once the light faded, it showed the colt staring back at her with determination along with a new mark on his flanks. A pure white thundercloud baring a wicked golden grin. "I'm NOT a villain. I've done literally everything you've asked except for this one thing so can you give me a break? Finding a way to transfuse sunlight with moonlight has been enough work for me. And if I may be honest, I'm not the one standing about, barking orders while killing any pony with an opinion. I'm at least trying!"

"You... you dare talk back to me?"

"Yes, yes I do." The colt breathed in for another rapid fire of words. "I understand that you want revenge for what happened to you, but have you seen what's going on out there? Crops can't grow anymore so thousands of unicorns have to do the work themselves, putting other ponies out of business and civillians out of food. The global temperatures have decreased so much that anypony without clothing is susceptible to hypothermia, resulting in the higher class hording the materials. Can't you see that this eternal night isn't sustainable? By killing me, you're killing off the only pony in power who probably gives a damn! You're a Queen for Moons sake, think of your subjects for once and understand how much they are suffering, how miserable they look. If this was how you ruled a thousand years ago then I don't know how this place managed to survive for so long... well?!"

The sudden outburst had even took the Queen off guard, mouth agape and eyes flickering in annoyance. But eventually, the blood had boiled and her wings flared.

"You...you hypocrite! After all that I learnt from your memories, now you want to take the moral highground?"

"That was 3 years ago, and I changed. What's your excuse?"

"..." Raven didn't need to look at Nighmare Moon to see the steam raging out of her ears. "Fine then. Stay weak! For as long as that mare is still in that cellar, your placement on this very throne shall always be in question. I hope for your sake that you grow out of this phase and understand my methods when your older. You are dismissed."

Lucid Storm nodded firmly and walked over to Raven before teleporting them to his room. As the colt sat on his king sized bed and allowed the pain of the battle to hammer him, Raven Inkwell averted her gaze whilst grabbing some medical gear from the bottom drawer. "I'm... uhm, sorry you had to see all that Raven."

"Believe me, I think the whole castle heard."

"..." Silently, the devoted assistant wrapped a bandage around his sore hoof while the colt sucked his teeth to relieve the pain.

"Would you like to talk about it?"

"Oh, no. I'd rather not bother y-OWCH!" Lucid Storm bit his lip as Raven pulled on his bandage a little too hard.

"With all due respect Prince Storm, I don't see how your problems aren't MY problem. Lady Moon made me your assistant after all and with Celestia still out of the picture, it would be in mine and Equestrias interest that you are in your right mind."

Lucid paused for a moment, only moving his eyes as he carefully watched Raven patch him up. "C-Can I ask you a stupid question?"

"No question is stupid Lucid. Continue."

"What was Princess Celestia like?"

"Excuse me?"

"Like, what kind of pony was she? I think I need a different view of things after what happened today. A-And don't worry about the ban, I aint a snitch."

Now it was Ravens turn to pause as she finally allowed herself to recall the nostalgia with a smile of her face. "If you insist. If there was any pony that could represent kindness, it would've been her. Despite the number of annoying nobles and conflicts, she always faced it with a smile and did everything she could to attain peace. Even though her cake addiction caused a few messes in the kitchen, I put her in high regards. 8 years in service and it was like I wasn't even working."

Lucid Storm had his eyes shut, listening solemly as he rubbed his temples. "Yeah... I kinda figured." Once the colt was wrapped in secured bandages, he tipped backwards and laid on his bed, staring at the ceiling. "You know. I always think back to that day, the day when Nightmare Moon won. I... was too naive. If it weren't for me and my stupidity, she wouldn't have succeeded as she did. But it just makes me wonder. If I did decide to deny her, would she still have won?"

With that question a slight tear soaked into his sheets as he clutched onto his pillow while Raven sat beside him. "It's just... stressful. I've made my choice and I gotta deal with the consequences and it should be only me who is hurt by them. But everytime I look outside, all I can see is the consequences of my own actions on everypony. I-I can't even look at the stars anymore without being reminded of everything!"

Observing the streams of tears settling, Raven placed a hoof on his mane gently. "So you want to make up for it by trying to help them adapt?"

"It's... hic It's my mistake. Nopony deserves to suffer for my mistake... not Celestia, not you, not the whole damn world! I've gotta keep this title and relieve their pain if I ever hope to forgive myself, but I don't want to kill some innocent pony who was only trying to help... I just can't kill somepony on purpose. At least with enemy soldiers, I can at least say that they signed up with the knowledge that they could die. But with her? With Twilight? It's not... fair."

As she waited and waited for the poor colt to cry himself to sleep while she stroked his mane, she couldn't help but tear up. Enemy soldiers? Has the Queen been sending him out on conquests or something? No foal should be forced to end a life... and yet he's blaming himself for everything. To think this little pile of fluff was that stoic colt a minute ago.

Eventually, she checked her pocket watch, which struck 11 so she retracted her hoof and slowly walked out the room before whispering to herself.

"It wasn't your fault, you're just a foal in an inescapable position... Celestia, please save that colt."

She wandered back into her room and mellowed over it all. And that was when she saw it, an owl. It was peched on her windowsill and had a scroll in its beak. Quickly, she took it from the creature and opened the contents, reading it carefully.

"They want me? I mean. If I were to be caught, I didn't know how the Prince would react, let alone the Queen... no. I can't think like that. This could be the only chance I've got to save her, to free him. I-I can do this."

And so, she set the paper in her fireplace and sat by her desk to write up something, meanwhile, the paper continued to burn until the insignia of a crystal heart turned into ash.

Author's Note

Man, idk about this one. I haven't really planned this out like my first season so maybe that's why I'm iffy on this one. That or I'm realising I suck at making sad stuff. Either way have a good day ladies and gentlecolts.