Moondog

Chapters

Prologue: Moonrise
Postscript: The Endless Wheel
A Moon, Dreaming
A New Moon Rises
Anger of Artemis
Given Quarter
Selene's Heart
Skeleton's Moon
Nightmares And Mercy
Bounties of Joy
Solar Transit
Epilogue: A New Path to the Future

Prologue: Moonrise

Prologue: Moonrise
~BlackRoseRaven

It was beautiful.

The eerie figure of an equine floated through the dancing shadows of a great dark void, in which shone a single speck of light. A perfect, beautiful circle that shimmered up from the ground, although it was only the ground insofar as it was below what the entity chose to be a featureless floor, a visible wound of white amongst all the black, neither solid nor liquid. Only light; a defiance of darkness.

The shadows roiled around this spot as the equine form circled it, and more importantly, the object sequestered within: a stone pillar, upon which sat a broken, colorless stone orb. The living shadow seemed to smile, dark eyes gazing upon this, beautiful mane of black fire roiling behind her as she whispered: “Finally.”

There was so much magic here. So much incredible power and focus in the featureless pillar and its broken cargo. But there was no need for decoration in this non-euclidean abyss, where no one else could ever travel, where this secret had been hidden away.

But finally, it was ready.

The void stretched into the light, and the shadowmare followed the path of darkness to the pillar. She rose her insubstantial hooves to either side of it, as her wings spread, and her horn glowed with the brilliance of ten thousand suns, galaxies of stars springing to life through the eternal void all around her.

The orb trembled, then slowly rose, those broken pieces mending back together, color gleaming across the face of its surface like fire whisking across a field, like a wave crashing over a dam, like a great gasp of air bringing life back to a momentary corpse. A singular cosmic breath that gave new life to what had once been broken, so many long years ago.

Darkness wrapped up around the pillar as it shattered, and shadows swallowed all light, but all that channeled strength and beauty remained in the beautiful bauble, which fascinated the mare, outlining her inky black form in the sharpest edges of purest white. She offered it gently to the celestial void, and she watched.

She watched the planet ascend, and with it, the moon rise once more.

Postscript: The Endless Wheel

Postscript: The Endless Wheel
~BlackRoseRaven

The experiment had gone better than expected.

She had forged this planet, ever-so-carefully, using the materials of a planet lost and broken many centuries ago, and techniques taken from both Odin and Valthrudnir. The beautiful little glass bauble floating above her hoof was nothing but a focal point, a visualization to assist her with reconstructing the planet that was now no longer necessary, but she thought she would keep it as a souvenir. It was a pretty thing, and a reminder of what she was capable of. Why she had taken the role she had. And everything that was at stake.

Not here, though. This planet was hidden away, a safe little secret, a guilty gift for the people she loved, so they could indulge watching the reflections that had never existed, even if part of her was so afraid: what if they didn't love her like they did in this reality? What if in that reflected world, they failed?

Ah, but they had accidentally woken up one of the few little things she'd taken the liberty of modifying and sealing away, and survived it... and as that Luna had said, she was not Brynhild.

She was not Brynhild, Twilight was not Morgan, Scrivener was not Nihete.

The mare cradled the toy gently between her forehooves, dwarfed so many times by the massive soulstone core embedded in her own body. Her soft eyes studied it intently. It was addictive: she wanted to watch more of their adventures. See more of what they were doing. And it was so hard to resist becoming the deus ex machina she knew she could be.

But she didn't want to rob this planet of any meaning. She would watch them. She would let them struggle on their own terms. She would keep them safe from outside influences, even if only for her own selfish ends.

And ultimately, she would let them survive or fail, on their own terms.

Sometimes, however, it was the actions you took that mattered the most, and not the intent behind them. A pony didn't care if you saved their life just because it felt good for you to do so; they only cared that you saved their life.

So she would protect this world she had recreated with all her power, and not worry too much about sharing the reasons why she had done so.

And she smiled softly as she lifted the tiny bauble once more to her eyes, admiring and envious of all the experiences they would have, all the stories they would make together, and the love they would get to share all over again.

For love, the world may shatter,

With love, the world may heal.

May 31st to June 12th, 2024

A Moon, Dreaming

Chapter One: A Moon, Dreaming
~BlackRoseRaven

“I'm so proud of you, Luna.”

Luna huffed loudly at this, but she blushed all the same at her sister's words. As little as she wanted to admit it, it meant a lot to hear some praise from her older sibling.

Of course, Celestia was good at making sure she was never too happy. “Are you sure you want to do this, though? That's a lot of stress to put yourself under so soon after your return, and-”

“Sister!” Luna stomped a hoof, trying to make herself sound much more courageous than she felt. “I am ready! And... tonight, tonight of all nights, 'tis the night I must work hardest to show the ponies that I am no Nightmare Moon.”

She looked up into the amethyst of her ivory sibling's eyes. Celestia smiled at her, soft and kind and understanding, nodding to her as she looked back into the green-blue of her sibling's irises. She saw her fear, her worry, her concern, and after a moment she stepped forwards and hugged her impulsively with one foreleg, hugging her close to her chest.

Luna grumbled, but submitted after a bit of fidgeting with a blush. Celestia's mane, an ever-flowing pastel rainbow, almost embraced her as well like a soothing blanket, as her own starry, ephemeral locks sparked with her frustration, her worries, and yes, her sadness.

Oh, to be gone for one thousand years, and to come back to the moon to a world you didn't understand, where all they knew was that in the long distant past you had become some kind of monster, and the only day left to you was the day when all the ponies dressed up as spooks and ghosts and ghoulies to frighten each other...

Well, the last thing wasn't so bad, really. At least there was candy involved.

Finally, she grudgingly hugged her sister back, mumbling a little under her breath before they parted. She pouted, and Celestia's lips quirked as she noted: “You look as sad as Sleipnir when I told him he couldn't keep that baby dragon.”

Luna laughed, a little surprised as she glanced up at her sister, and Celestia gave a small shrug as she said softly: “Well, you're working hard to face your demons, Luna. The very least I can do is try and face up to some of my own regrets.”

The smaller mare nodded a few times, and after a moment Celestia continued: “I worry about you, but... you're right. This will be good for you. Ponyville is a good place to start.”

“My thanks to thee, sister.” Luna blushed and nodded: she had to admit that... crowds were very difficult for her. One year was nothing compared to a thousand years in exile, alone with nothing but your own thoughts and pain for company... “I... I do not desire to simply hide away forever. To return from exile, only to remain a thing creeping 'twixt the shadows...”

“And I don't expect you to be that, Luna.” Celestia gently tilted her sibling's head up, then she leaned down, kissing her forehead tenderly. “But I know you were gone for a very long time, and I think you expect too much of yourself. I just... I worry about you, Luna.”

She stopped, then added gently: “And today is a hard day for you. I know that. I've done a lot of thinking, and over the years, I've had a lot of time to reflect on the things I did to you. The things I unfairly expected of you.” She smiled briefly as Luna glanced up with a little bit of surprise, and more than a little gratitude at this small acknowledgment. “I'm sorry for everything that happened.”

“Thou did what thou must. Thou wert more merciful than thou could have been, at that, why, 'twas not long before then that thou wert cutting off heads and setting those who disagreed with thee aflame.” Luna made a chopping motion with one foreleg, and then she cleared her throat as Celestia favored her with a more sour look. “With... all the love in the world, of course. I merely mean to say thanks to thee.”

“Yes, sister. I know.” Celestia sighed after a moment, nodding grudgingly before they stopped and looked at one another for a moment, seeing both the present and the past.

Winged unicorns: the only two of their kind in the whole of Equestria. A nation that they had founded together by uniting the many different baronies under one flag, and through the strength of that unity, they had driven out the Tyrant Wyrms that had once plagued this nation, destroyed and sealed countless evils, and brought prosperity and wealth to its populace. Through blood, sweat, and tears, they had established a country that had grown from a small coalition into one of the most powerful on the face of this world.

Celestia was responsible for much of that, with her political maneuvering, her diplomacy and tact, and when it was necessary, her incredible strength. Luna had never desired a throne, but of course had taken it up to support her sister, although in the end that hadn't worked out, with...

No, no. Now was not the time for such thoughts.

“I wish Sleipnir was here.” Luna said before she could stop herself.

“I do too.” Celestia's response surprised her. Not because she didn't know how much Celestia missed their brother, the... dumb idiot who had always been there to balance them out, who had made them both smile and laugh, who had supported them both, but because usually Celestia was more reserved, almost as if part of her still hadn't accepted his loss.

Maybe that was a sign that Celestia really was trying to mend her own heart as well. A heart that Luna knew bore many fiery wounds, no matter how much she smiled, how composed she was, how in control she always seemed.

“You know, why don't you invite Scrivener Blooms to go with you?” Celestia suggested after a moment, but Luna shook her head with a snort at this.

“Nay, I must do this on my own. I must learn anew to face ponykind by myself...” Luna scowled and bit her lip, then muttered: “'Tis vexing that it is so difficult, Celestia. In the old days, give me a dragon and I would pummel it without fear. Now I tremble and quake like a kitten before a manticore at the mere thought of conversation with strange ponies!”

“Well, as long as you think you're not trying to do too much too quickly-”

“I do not.” Luna said staunchly. “Besides, I am well-versed in etiquette!”

Celestia's face slowly puckered. “Luna...”

“I am! I speak as the birds sing and 'twas thou who made me memorialize the many cursed mannerisms and frivolities favored by the Canterlot barons!”

“Luna, times have changed-”

Luna tried to wave a hoof airily, as if she wasn't concerned, but of course her fidgeting gave away how nervous she actually was. “Nay, nay, speak no more of it! I shan't... poop within the bed, as the ponies say.”

“More or less.” Celestia's lack of enthusiasm went unnoticed as Luna nodded firmly. “Alright. Alright, alright, alright. I will leave Ponyville to you, and remember, you can always rely on my student, Twilight Sparkle, if there does happen to be any problem.”

“There shan't be.” Stubborn as ever.

“Well, in case there is.” Celestia said pointedly.

Luna huffed, then sulked: “Thou art telling me to watch my temper, is that so?”

The larger mare reached up and touched her sibling's shoulder gently. “I would say you are... passionate.”

“Passionate. Passionate, bah.” Luna grumbled, but she nodded despite herself. “Well, 'tis not my fault the ponies of this day and age are so stuffy. They are stuffy, Celestia.”

Her sister only smiled at her, and after a moment Luna bit her lip and then mumbled, as she lowered her head slightly: “But I accept thy counsel and recognize I am fortunate to have thee willing to aid and love me, all the same.”

“And I will always love you, too, Luna.” Celestia hugged her sister again, and Luna grumpily mashed her face against her chest before the ivory mare slipped back and said: “Just remember, you aren't in this alone, Luna. Go with my blessing... but make sure you say goodbye to Scrivener before you head out.”

“Aye. He is an idiot, he will panic if I do not, much like an abandoned foal.” But her words were affectionate. “And do not even start on thy silly 'magic of friendship' nonsense, 'tis lathered hogs.”

“Hogwash.” Celestia paused, then noted: “Part of me regrets assigning him to you in the first place. He's supposed to be giving you elocution lessons and all you've really learned is how to swear like a modern pony.”

Luna smiled, blushing a bit before she cleared her throat loudly, then said: “You only have to ask, sister, and I will work harder to speak like this. In the ugly dialect of the modern pony.”

Celestia rolled her eyes with a wry smile, before Luna added: “And the swearing is for fun.”

With that, she turned and hurried out of the den and out into the labyrinthine corridors of the castle. As brave a face as she put on, though, she could already feel her resolve waning.

Oh, who was she kidding? Tonight was a terrible night for this! What idiocy had possessed her to decide to go out and present herself to the ponies – so many of whom still hated and feared her – on the very night celebrating the monster she had become?

The usual idiocy, she supposed. Bravado, ego, and her big dumb mouth speaking before her brain realized what it was saying.

She was still uncomfortable in the castle halls, let alone some new place, where she would be alone and without the protection of her big sister. A place she might as well have never been, since her only memories of Ponyville were fuzzy and indistinct ones, while she had still been dazed after...

No. No, she didn't want to remember that.

But what was she supposed to think about, then? The fact that ponies still skirted fearfully around her? Or how about the fact her section of the castle was still a dusty, dark mess, with only guttering torches to light it and a few scattered relics of the past to give it any life, apart from the rooms she and her aide kept?

A thousand years of being gone. Part of her wished she had stayed gone.

“Cease, Luna. Idiot.” Luna muttered to herself, but it was hard not to descend into dark thoughts. Her anxiety brought out her pessimism, her pessimism brought out her despair: it was hard not to get lost in a vicious cycle of bad thoughts, especially as she entered the more archaic, empty wings of the castle that 'belonged' to her.

But Canterlot, Equestria as a whole, really, were Celestia's. A year in, and she was still the spooky-scary pony no one wanted to deal with, who either clung to Celestia or hid in her room like a filly. She wasn't deaf to them: Equestria didn't need two princesses, especially when one didn't even seem to do anything!

She dropped her head forwards grouchily as she stormed through the dark, empty corridors, but she was distracted by an echoing swear from down the hall. That, at least, brought her a little comfort, and maybe the smallest of smiles as she headed towards the noise.

She heard the clunk of things being moved around, another grumbled curse, and a few moments later, she reached an ajar door. She poked her head through, and her eyes locked on some of the few new things – and more importantly, the new someone – in these otherwise hollow halls.

A stallion was mumbling to himself: he was an absolute mess of an earth pony, with an unevenly-cut white mane that fell around his shoulders and a charcoal black coat. His hoof was mashed attractively into his cheek and driving one side of his glasses into the bridge of his muzzle as he chewed on the end of a worn quill, two inkpots – and more tellingly, the half-cleaned puddle of black on the concrete floor – making it clear he'd clumsily dropped one while trying to bring it back from storage to keep working.

Her aide. Her confidante. Her friend, Scrivener Blooms.

He complimented her, probably even better than Celestia thought he would: he could be obnoxious and rude, and he liked to lord his position of court poet and aide to Luna over the rest of the court and nobles, but he was what she needed.

Someone who stayed up all night with her and slept during the day. Someone who stood up to her, and was willing to explain things to her the way she sometimes needed them to be. Someone who never ran away, no matter how much she yelled or tantrumed or stomped her hooves or squeezed him like a stress ball with her magic.

She was difficult to be around, she knew that. And she was still having a lot of trouble with the way ponies of today gave each other so much space and were so much less physical with one another.

Luna slipped into the room, then crept up behind him. It wasn't hard. The court thought Scrivener was a do-nothing idiot, but the truth was he just hated his job and only did the bare minimum for the court. When you gave him a task he actually enjoyed, he was diligent and focused.

Slowly, she leaned forward until her mane was tickling his back and her muzzle pushing over his shoulder, and Scrivener's face puckered and soured as his brown eyes slid towards her as she asked: “What are thou composing, bard?”

“I'm a poet, not a bard.” Scrivener retorted, shouldering her backwards as she laughed, and then he sighed as he adjusted his glasses and scooted around on his stool, asking: “I thought you were going out tonight. You know, for another royal address fiasco.”

“'Twas not a fiasco! I was not aware of the mike-ah-row-phone and what it did!” argued Luna with a slight blush, and then she bopped him with her horn, making the stallion wince. “But yes. I am going to Ponyville. I shall greet the townsponies and make merry with them.”

“Say hi to Twilight Sparkle for me when you get the chance.” Scrivener said, pausing for a moment before adding: “Make sure you make it really clear I'm your second in command. Your right hoof. Your uh...”

“What thou art is a beetle.” She bopped him again with a snort of amusement, making him wince and rub at his head. “She is Celestia's student, is she not? How fitting, we both have foals under our watch!”

“You're under my watch more than I'm under yours.” Scrivener pointed out, and Luna huffed at him even as she blushed a bit: it was true, though. She couldn't deny that. “Anyway, you go and... try to relax, okay? Just be yourself. You're an amazing mare, Luna, when you're just yourself.”

“I am always mine own self.” Luna retorted stoically. She knew precisely what the stallion meant, and it meant a lot to her, but... it was hard to weigh that against the anxieties, the doubts, and the fears she had. “'Tis easy for thou, but I am... I am a Princess, Scrivy. I am...”

Scrivener smiled at her, then he reached up and gently touched her shoulder. She liked that. Not a lot of ponies would make contact of any kind with her, like she was some kind of... scary blue cactus. “And even Celestia lets down her mane now and then. You can do the same.”

Luna mumbled, but then nodded after a moment before she glanced back at her cutie mark: the moon, in a splotch of black that covered her whole rump. “'Tis hard. I bear an emblem like any other pony, but to them, 'tis the mark of wickedness, not just a 'special talent.'”

“I like your words for stuff.” Scrivener said, almost abruptly. That was another thing she liked about Scrivy. His inability to stop himself from commenting on things, and with her passionate and mercurial moods, it often helped defuse or distract the situation. She liked that a lot. “And hey, you're the one who said poets are the worst of all monsters, and look at me.”

She did. At his smile, his dark chestnut eyes, and then down to his cutie mark: a raven feather quill above a rose blossom.

He said his poetry was awful, but she really liked it. It was sad and sweet and real; there was tragedy in it, and because of that, it made the moments of joy he created in his prose feel much more alive and worthwhile.

Ponies didn't like him or his love-language of poetry very much. He'd half-joked with her that he thought he'd be one of those ponies with a cutie mark who never do anything with it. She wished she knew more about him, the pony she'd spent six months with, teaching her the ways of the world and helping her with her daily – nightly, rather – tasks, but...

“You're gonna do great, Luna.” he encouraged.

“Oh shut up, Scrivener Blooms, I am not a foal.” She did appreciate it, though, and she knew he knew she appreciated it in spite of the cross look on her face.

She wanted to say something, but didn't quite know what. So instead, she just nodded to him lamely, then turned and zipped out the door, and Scrivener smiled wryly as he shook his head before returning to his work.

But now he'd lost his focus, and instead his eyes drifted up to take in the rest of the room. This... cold, stone room. No decorations, really. A massive mattress and all sorts of pillows and blankets. A shelf of dusty knickknacks: Scrivener thought some of them were a thousand years old, maybe more.

He didn't think it was only Luna who was having trouble moving on, looking at those preserved artifacts that Celestia had set out here. In this concrete, almost monk-like cell with the big barred window: for their protection, of course, another artifact from when Canterlot had seen invasions and battle, but these days it felt like they were meant to keep them in, rather than out.

Made it really hard to fix the cracks in the drafty window, too, and no one had bothered to do that yet. Celestia knew about it, but hadn't sent anyone.

Probably because the windows were a thousand years old, too. Like the stone and floor and everything else, except his writing desk, his scribing tools, and of course, him.

Nothing else, changed.

A thousand years, but it hadn't been in stasis, everything here had been rotting, until there was nothing left but dust, and implacable stone.

Everything had to change, he supposed.

He liked Luna a lot, though. It had taken a while, and their relationship had been difficult at first. Luna had a lot of anxiety and nervousness. Yes, she was a winged unicorn who could probably kill him with a look if she actually wanted to. But that was exactly it: that was what she was afraid of being perceived as, a monster, and it made her nervy and fidgety.

But the more he had relaxed with her – and the ruder he'd been, ironically – the more she'd opened up and revealed who she was.

She never seemed like a royal or a noble to him, not like Celestia, untouchable and immaculate. She was... she was earthy, loud, had zero concept of personal space. She was very bad at being a princess, which he thought was actually a wonderful thing for a pony to be.

She put on a character, a mask, though, and that was what worried him. That, and her mood swings, even more than her temper. She could be a blaze of fury one moment and then calm as could be the next: he didn't think that was from being out of touch for so long with other ponies, he thought that was just the way she was.

It kept things interesting, though, he reflected, as he shoved his poem aside for now to instead focus on setting up an agenda for the week ahead. After that he'd neaten and clean up the room here some more: it was really supposed to be the work of the castle maids and cleaners, but the cleaning staff always made the excuse it was difficult with the hours Scrivener and Luna kept for them to come and fix up the rooms.

Yeah. That was definitely it.

But honestly, he'd prefer scrubbing up the messes he and Princess Luna made over writing poems for the Royal Court any day.

Things had not gone totally according to Luna's half-cocked plan.

However.

With the help of Twilight Sparkle, she had ultimately made a good impression on Ponyville. A better one than if she had just continued to rampage around not listening to anyone's advice and giving in to her own bad ideas, which was something she would never ever confess to either Scrivener Blooms or even worse, her big sister Celestia.

She barged into her room, only to stumble to a halt and peer at the surprise waiting there for her: not Scrivener Blooms, as she basically regarded him as a furnishing at this point, but rather her big sister, who asked a little too eagerly: “How did it go?”

Luna pursed her lips, then noted: “My return was not announced, sister...”

Celestia cleared her throat and glanced awkwardly away, and Luna huffed loudly: “Thou spy!”

“I just wanted to check in on you, that's all.” Celestia answered quickly, although her blush deepened a little as Luna's face soured. “I had faith in you, sister, I just-”

“Wretched!” Luna stomped a hoof childishly, then snorted and blew back her mane before she proudly rose her head and said: “But then thou hast seen for thyself I am fine!”

“I only checked in every so often, so I could have some idea when you were coming home and... to make sure you were okay, yes.” Celestia admitted, and Luna huffed at her before she said: “You seem like you had some small troubles at first but... I see that you also did a good job overcoming your... shall we say, foibles.”

“Foibles. Fie on thee.” But Luna grudgingly nodded. Drat. Of course she couldn't keep a single thing from her damnable all-seeing sibling. “Aye, Celestia. I suppose 'twas all planned by thee from the start, wasn't it? But... 'twas good for me. I learned much.”

She stopped, then admitted: “Perhaps I should consider... more ventures out in the future. Although I would prefer to do so with company at my side.”

She smiled a little at Scrivener, and Scrivener nodded to her before Princess Celestia suggested: “You could visit Twilight Sparkle-”

Scrivener snorted, then blushed when both princesses looked at him, saying lamely: “Oh, uh. Allergies?”

Celestia sighed as Luna grinned widely, before the Princess of the Sun noted: “Your rivalry with Twilight Sparkle is endearing, Scrivener, but I do wish you two would get along a bit better. You're very similar to one-another.”

“In the way a raven is similar to a writing desk, perhaps.” Scrivener said wryly.

Luna felt the strangest sense of deja vu. Had she heard that somewhere before?

But there was no time to think about it any further as Scrivener continued: “She's smart, and even worse, clever, and too nice for her own good. I'm more like-”

“A beetle.” Luna interjected with a grin. “A wretched nasty little thorny beetle.”

Scrivener rolled his eyes, and Celestia smiled slightly before she noted: “You could do with getting to know her better. You might find you have more in common than you think.”

“I know her far too well as it is, Princess, thank you.” Scrivener paused, then he glanced at Luna and asked: “So uh, did you tell her about me?”

Luna snorted in amusement, and Princess Celestia shook her head. “Well, Luna, as much as I want to hear more about your night in Ponyville, I have to get ready to raise the sun and begin my day, and you need your rest.”

She stepped forwards, and Luna acted grumpy, but was secretly glad to share an embrace with her, hugging her tightly back before she huffed like a child when Celestia kissed her forehead before pulling away.

Scrivener and Celestia shared a nod before she left, and there was a moment of pause before Luna complained: “Methinks Celestia forgets she is not my mother.”

“'I don't think' Celestia 'remembers she's' not my mother.” Scrivener corrected, then he squawked when Luna punched him in the shoulder. “Hey!”

“Oh shut up, poet, I am speaking very goodly.” Luna retorted, and Scrivener sighed before the mare continued, as she absently flicked her horn to slam the heavy, blackout curtains shut across the old windows: “Aye, perhaps I am still much like a foal and require sleep like thou... silly mortal ponies and all thy frimpering mortality-”

“Frimpering isn't even a real word.”

“But!” Luna glared at him. “Thou can spend a few more moments with me whilst I regale thee with mine adventures! Even if thou probably also spied upon me from Celestia's scrying glass. Wretches.”

“My favorite part was when you screamed 'how many points do I receive?' after you turned all the toys into actual spiders.” Scrivener informed, and Luna's eyes narrowed to slits, although the stallion couldn't help but further poke: “Thou wert seized in a bout of moon-madness, 'tweren't thou?”

Luna snorted at him, and Scrivener grinned even as he swayed away to avoid a swing of her horn, noting: “What can I say, you're more fun to tease than the nobles or even Celestia. The nobles just bribe guards to beat me up and I'm afraid of what Celestia would do to me if she actually got angry.”

“Cut off thy head or set thee on fire, but both may be improvements, sordid Scrivener Blooms.” Luna snapped back, before she suddenly bared her teeth in a grin, and Scrivener winced as her horn glowed: “Ah, but thou likes spiders, does thou?”

A jolt from her horn blasted her mattress, which shook violently before sprouting eight enormous legs and a series of staring pillow eyes, all of which locked on a horrified Scrivener Blooms before it skittered over to him and jumped on him before he had a chance to react. It chomped on him, but thankfully its pillow teeth were ineffective as it crushed him into the floor.

Luna laughed loudly, then exclaimed: “Ah, I do so love these 'pranks!' They are quite splendid, Scrivy, 'tis a delight to know that from now on I should attempt to frighten and mock the ponies to make them love me rather than meet them with regal splendor!”

“That's not how it works!” Scrivener squawked as he shoved wildly back at the mattress-spider squishing down on him, but he could at least feel it already losing some of its animation even as it pinned him down. “O-Okay! Fine, you win, you win!”

“Always.” Luna said loftily, and she dismissed the life that remained in the spell, even as she felt a pang. Her magic was still so much weaker than it had once been. Once upon a time, she could have polymorphed this entire bed with ease, among other feats of magic... now...

But then she was distracted by the sight of Scrivener Blooms slowly crawling out from under the bed and glowering at her from beneath his crooked glasses and disheveled mane, and she couldn't help but smile and laugh before she swept him up with magic and sat him firmly down on the edge of the bed, not caring in the slightest that it was just askew in the middle of the floor of her empty chamber.

“Does thou think I should prank Celestia next?” Luna asked curiously, as she absently adjusted Scrivy's glasses and smoothed out his mane with magic, even as he fidgeted and grumbled. “Oh, stop being a foal.”

“But mom.” Scrivener grumbled, and Luna huffed and bopped him with her horn, making him wince. “Ouch, okay okay. And no. That's a bad idea.”

“Shush.” Luna hopped around the room in a circle, and Scrivener hated how... infectious her joy was, sighing and smiling despite himself before he scowled when she continued: “Whilst I think on this, thou must take a letter. I have had another grand idea, we shall invite Twilight Sparkle to visit!”

“Ugh.” Scrivener made a disgusted noise. “Gross.”

“Thou art gross.” Luna paused, then cleared her throat, but she didn't get a chance to even start before Scrivener cleared his own as he pointedly got up and walked over to the table, and the sapphire mare huffed at him even as she blushed. “Well, thou... thou should have been ready!”

“We don't all have magic, Princess Luna, I can't polymorph my desk to follow me around. And please don't do that, either.” Scrivener added quickly, and Luna sulked. “But you know that Twilight's gone from little miss nerd to little miss popular. I hear she and her friends go everywhere together.”

Luna hesitated for a moment, then said: “Then invite them as well, Scrivy. It should be fine.”

Scrivener grumbled as he nodded and picked up his quill, shuffling out a blank parchment, and Luna paused as she studied him and his reaction before softening as she felt... absurdly touched at what she realized he was feeling. Maybe not the best reaction, but... “Scrivy.”

Scrivener glanced over his shoulder at her as she approached, then blushed when she reached up and touched his shoulder gently, saying in a softer voice: “Thou art my friend. There is no need to be jealous now, thou art... irreplaceable. My right hoof, correct?”

Scrivener blushed, but smiled at her warmly before he cleared his throat and asked lamely: “So uh, yeah, uh... do you want me to write this or-”

“I shall dictate!” Luna declared cheerfully, almost slapping him in the side of the head, and then she cleared her throat loudly before announcing: “To Twilight Sparkle, Servant of the Sun, Student of Princess Celestia, I hereby beseech-”

“'Dear Twilight Sparkle, acting on behalf of Princess Luna and with Her full authority, I, Scrivener Blooms, request your presence in Canterlot at the earliest convenience, whether alone or in company of your friends. Sincerely, Regent to Princess Luna, Scrivener Blooms.'” Scrivener read off as he finished signing the letter with a flourish, and Luna favored him with a look that was both exasperated and amused.

“Idiot.” she announced, before she added in a grumble: “But 'tis fine, and I know 'tis useless to beseech thee not to vex Twilight. However, Scrivy, if thou ruins the visit, know that I shall come down upon thee with the full weight of the moon.”

“So you'll sit on me?” Scrivener couldn't stop himself from saying, and the two stared at each other for a few moments before Luna thwacked him with her horn, making him squawk. “Okay, okay, okay! I promise!”

“Good.” Luna huffed grumpily, and then she glanced around before calling: “Samael? Sammy, lazy little beast, I require thy competence!”

“Gee, thanks, Luna.” Scrivener grumbled, before he hesitated a moment and then said awkwardly: “Thank you.”

“Shush. Thou does not need to thank me, idiot. I... I am sorry I could not do more.” Luna answered after a moment, shaking her head quickly.

Then the attention of both ponies was drawn by a loud chirp, and they both looked at the tiny little creature that skittered out from beneath the boxspring. It was a pseudodragon, a lizard-sized draconic familiar, although this one was nothing but a skeleton, with blue flames for eyes.

Scrivener reached out and pet him, stroking along his polished skull, and Luna gazed silently at her friend, and his little companion. A rare magical creature, he had apparently imprinted on Scrivener Blooms during a night visit to the Magic Academy's zoological wing after hatching, and Scrivy had more or less stolen him.

Luna admired it, though, and even if she couldn't say so in front of Celestia, she agreed that it was better a pseudodragon went to someone who was actually going to give a damn about it instead of some noble who was only going to make it an unhappy trophy until he got bored of it.

He had taken him everywhere. But on one very bad day when Scrivener had been going to present a new anthem for the Magic Academy, a misfired spell had struck poor Sammy and killed him.

That had been going through Luna's mind while she had been trying to remember her powers, and she had just kept getting distracted. Distracted by Celestia's bad attempts at encouragement that came off as patronizing, distracted by Scrivener's brooding mood that evening, distracted by the way magic was so hard to focus and work, in a way it hadn't been even when she had first started on her journey with Celestia and Sleipnir.

Magic was power, and power had a will of its own and a way of slipping its leash when you didn't have the focus to control it. That was what had happened when she had finally lost her temper and snapped her horn out, only meaning to try and shove her excess energy out the same way you would unclog a blocked pipe.

But that raw force had taken on a desire of its own, striking something out in the middle of the field where they had been practicing. Celestia had started to scold her before the earth had humped up and something had crawled out, something that had rushed towards them, and thank the Horses of Heaven both she and Celestia had been too surprised and confused to react before that tiny little skeleton had smacked into Scrivener's face.

Scrivener had been so confused. Happy, sad, upset.

Celestia had been so angry. No, more than that; furious.

They were opposites in a lot more than just how Celestia was a creature of the sun and the day, and she was a phantom of the night. Their personalities, their magic, their belief systems. To Luna, this was a shock but a welcome surprise considering how many different effects her dark magic could have had, and the fact that Scrivener had ended up appreciating what she'd done so much made it a happy accident.

To Celestia, it was blasphemy, abuse of her powers, even if unintentional. It went against the all-important balance of things and it defied the cycle of life and death. But Celestia forgot sometimes that for such a soul to rise so full and intact, it meant that this sad little pseudodragon's spirit had never moved on, and his death couldn't have been called anything but a cruel accident anyway.

Ghosts weren't evil. Just as ponies weren't inherently good.

Scrivener glanced over at Luna, asking: “You want him to send the letter now?”

“Please do.” she answered, and then she smiled when Scrivener rolled up the parchment and applied her royal seal neatly before he flicked it into the air, and Sammy chirped before a breath of blue flames washed across the paper and transformed it into a mist of magic that popped out of existence a moment later.

She wondered wryly sometimes if Celestia had only agreed to allow Samael to live just because Luna had pointed out it would be an easy way for her to send and receive letters, while her magic was still... recovering.

“Does thou recall when I asked Celestia if I could resume my old post?” Luna asked, and Scrivener snorted in entertainment.

“All of Canterlot remembers that. You and Celestia aren't very subtle about your arguments.”

The pseudodragon chirped in agreement as he crawled quickly up to Scrivener's shoulder, then perched on his head, and the stallion chuckled as he glanced up at him before he started to open his mouth, then winced when Luna shoved her hoof into his face. “Say it not, poet. Thou art an idiot. 'Twas a happy accident, that is all, and I am only happy that... it did not sour things betwixt us.”

“It was.” Scrivener paused. “Between.”

“Thou art stupid and thy lessons terrible and this modern tongue is chaos.” Luna groused, and Sammy chirped in agreement before the mare suddenly brightened and clapped her hooves together. “Ah! Chaos! Genius!”

Scrivener started to open his mouth, and then he stared as Luna flicked her horn as she stepped back, her body glowing with magic as it morphed and transformed before she spread mismatched arms with a one-fanged grin, Luna's voice crowing from the spirit of chaos' jaws: “Discord! 'Tis perfect, 'twill be precisely what she shan't expect, and yet possible enough to startle even her!”

“Uh, Luna-” Before Scrivener Blooms could point out that levels of 'success' could include a second Discord statue being set out in the Gardens, Luna simply popped out of existence in a blue flash, and the stallion sighed tiredly as he glanced up at Sammy, who kneaded his poll anxiously. “Hey, don't worry, Sammy. Even if we get exiled from Canterlot, you uh. Don't have to worry about eating or anything.”

Sammy grumbled at him and clawed at his head, and Scrivener huffed before reaching up and carefully extracting the skeletal pseudodragon He looked for a moment at this tiny undead terror, and then he smiled wryly before saying finally: “You're lucky you're so cute. Get out of here, go get some sleep. Don't worry about waking us up if Twilight Sparkle sends a reply, she can wait.”

The tiny creature chirped at him, then fidgeted his way out of Scrivy's hooves before he skittered over to the doorway. The earth pony turned his attention towards his writing desk, finishing the neatening he had started while Luna had been gone and checking her agenda for the week ahead: apart from their lessons on language and the modern world, however, there wasn't a whole lot they would have to plan around, unless Celestia gave them something else to do, and that wasn't very likely.

He was just finishing forcing the mattress back onto the boxspring when Luna came in, sulking and dragging her hooves as she slammed the door behind her. She bulled past Scrivener Blooms and flopped onto the bed, Scrivy wincing as blankets and pillows flew everywhere as she thumped face-first down into the mattress.

She mumbled for a few moments, and then she rose her head and complained: “Scrivy, 'tis ridiculous. How did Celestia know 'twas I?”

“I think Celestia knows everything, Luna.” Scrivener answered, before he shook his head and said gently: “Just try and get some sleep. At least she didn't set you on fire, right?”

“Bah! Would have been less disappointing!” Luna huffed, before she paused and peered over her shoulder at him as the stallion headed towards the door. The stallion winced as he felt something catch his tail, holding him in place as she said pointedly: “And where does thou think thou art going? I have yet to dismiss thee, bard!”

“I'm not a bard.” Scrivener said grumpily, then he winced when he was floated into the air, flailing uselessly for a moment in the grip of her magic before he sighed tiredly as he was hauled over to the bed, then winced as he thunked down onto the mattress before Luna leapt onto his back and almost painfully pinned him on his belly as he squawked. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Thou should be grateful! Look at me, a gracious princess, being so kind as to attend to a lowly scribe like thou art!” Luna declared as she firmly dragged her hooves up and down his spine, Scrivy wheezing as his eyes bulged with pain. “I had a few moments to discuss what the squishy ponies of today's day and age enjoy with several ponies, and this 'massage' came up. I am very good at it.”

“Oh yeah, just... the best.” Scrivener wheezed in pain as her hoof shoved into his spine and made him feel like he was going to break in half. “Did they discuss the part where you leave a pony's skin intact?”

“Oh shush!” Luna smacked him, then she shoved her hooves down on his shoulders, and they both winced at the sound of his bones groaning. “Although. Perhaps I forget how soft and squishy the ponies of the modern age are.”

Scrivener mumbled disconsolately, but as her hooves became gentler, he couldn't help but actually find himself starting to relax. After only a few minutes, he was half-dozing, mumbling something about how he should really go to bed...

But Luna found herself relaxing as well, softening and smiling down at her loyal aide and friend as she worked her hooves tenderly along his shoulders and back. She had spent the whole night out, learning and enjoying herself, and he had gone above and beyond with his cleaning and care and scheduling all week.

And she liked contact. She was a physical horse in a world where physical ponies were rarer. She was loud and obnoxious but when she really spoke she often liked to do it through her actions and contact and that was very hard, when ponies were so different now than they were a thousand years ago, and she was supposed to be some aloof Princess of the Night.

It was getting late, though. Or early, maybe, that was a better way of putting it, as she yawned and shifted. Without really thinking, she let herself start to settle down. Maybe she'd close her eyes for just a moment: it had been such a full night, and she could see the sunlight starting to press against the curtains, lighting up the patterns of stars and constellations across their face, creating a haze of patterns and shapes across the room...

She was asleep before she realized it, her aide snoozing beneath her, like a pair of foals who had stayed up too late at a slumber party. Standing silent in the doorway, Celestia studied the pair with a faint smile for a few moments before she closed her eyes and slipped backwards, closing the door as quietly and stealthily as she'd appeared.

“Good for you, little sister. You have a long way to go, and a lot to learn still about the new world... but I love you, and I'm so proud of you.” Celestia smiled faintly as she shifted back, staring at the door, wishing she could just... say all these things to Luna's face, that she could tell her how sorry she was for everything that she'd done, both in the distant past, and the here and now.

One day, though, she promised she would, as she turned and headed back to her bright and beautiful kingdom and out of these empty halls still stained with so much sadness, as she murmured a quiet promise to herself: “But I will. I'll tell you everything, and trust in you to find your way to where you want to be, and that you'll find the friends and ponies who will help take you there. Sleep, little sister...

“One day soon, we'll find the answers to all these questions, together.”

A New Moon Rises

Chapter Two: A New Moon Rises
~BlackRoseRaven

Her bed felt very cozy, and she didn't want to get up in the evening. She smacked her lips, still half-dozing, forehooves idly kneading something squishy and pliant under them as she shifted her weight on top of something warm and solid...

“You're a lot heavier than you look.” muttered a voice, and Luna winced and leapt up to her hooves, staring down at Scrivener Blooms, who was a rumpled, crushed mess on the bed, a clear red hoofprint on his face.

She cleared her throat loudly, then said finally: “Scrivener Blooms, thou art in my bed, 'tis improper. Either relocate thyself immediately, or prepare to become tribute.”

“Yuck.” Scrivener said, and Luna huffed at him before he awkwardly wiggled to the side of the bed and half-fell off with a thump, adding: “You were the one who fell asleep, by the way. You were too cute to wake up. And too dangerous, like a bear.”

“I shall show thee a bear.” Luna grumbled, glowering at him as her horn glowed threateningly, and Scrivener held up his hooves awkwardly in surrender.

“You win, you win. Do you want to go get breakfast, or do you want me to bring it to you here?” Scrivener asked, and Luna smiled in amusement at the stallion, shaking her head as she strode past him to flick her horn and open the curtains. “Uh, princess?”

“Thou art so casual.” She said it with clear affection, as her eyes gazed out into the sky, and Scrivener smiled despite himself as he studied her, so radiant in the sunset, the fading evening light painting her beautifully.

Her eyes turned towards him curiously, and he cleared his throat before shrugging and saying lamely: “Well, you've seen how I am with authority. Bad.”

“Terrible, even. 'Tis lucky thou art Court Poet, 'tis close enough to the role of jester thou can speak truths and mockeries to the barons and not have thine head chopped off.” Luna noted, and Scrivener huffed at her before she asked curiously: “What about before thou wert court poet?”

“Well, then I was getting my head cut off all the time.” Scrivener said blandly, and Luna snorted in entertainment, but her eyes remained sharp and curious as she watched his reaction.

He never talked much about his past. She wasn't blind to that, or how he sidestepped things. One of Scrivener's favorite sayings was that all writers were just liars and manipulators, and while some of that was clearly self-abasement, she thought she understood a little more every day what he really meant by that.

He was saved her probing him for any further answers by the sound of scrabbling at the door, and Luna smiled as she flicked her horn, allowing Sammy to enter the room. The little pseudodragon bounced inside, then hopped around in an excited circle, the letter shuffling around in his ribcage making the winged unicorn brighten. “Ah! That must be a response from Twilight Sparkle!”

“Wow. How nice.” Scrivener said drolly, and then he huffed when Sammy nipped at his ankle, flicking at him with a hoof. “Go away.”

“Oh, stop that, Scrivy!” Luna absently picked him up with her magic, making him wheeze as he flailed uselessly at the air, then simply dropped limp, sulking before wincing when Samael projectile-vomited the letter into his face. Luna caught this easily with telekinesis as well, grinning despite herself as she opened the scroll and smacked it into the stallion's features, and Scrivy sighed from behind the parchment before it peeled off him and floated back to a respectable distance, as the mare asked impatiently: “Well?”

“You are a big bully.” Scrivener said, and Luna huffed before the stallion sighed dramatically, then read in a monotone: “'Dear Princess Luna, I would love to come visit Canterlot and get to know you better, and my friends are just as excited for the trip! How does the day after tomorrow sound? Yours faithfully, Twilight Sparkle.' She just ignored me completely, what the heck.”

Luna snorted in amusement as she dropped Scrivener on his hooves and swept the letter close, peering over it. Written language was very difficult for her to read still: letters and conventions were so different from her day and age, as everything had shifted with more focus to prescriptive linguistics as Scrivener had once tried to explain to her, to absolutely no avail.

She liked to look at the words, though. Words could be pretty things.

“So you got permission from Celestia, right?” Scrivener asked pointedly, and Luna huffed loudly as she peeked past the paper at him, glowering.

“'Tis my castle as well, poet. I shall do as I please!” she declared with a wrinkle of her snout, and Scrivener only cocked an eyebrow at her before she mumbled: “Aye, yes, fine, Mother Celestia approves and lodgings have likely already been readied for them. She suggested it herself, as matter of fact, and now makes me feel like this is some foal's play date!”

“Perfect for you, then.” Scrivener noted, and he barely reacted when Luna rolled up the letter and whacked him with it between the ears.

“Shut up, Scrivener Blooms. Wretched poet. Wretched Celestia, insulting me by not being afraid of my Discord imitation, and then instead making suggestions at making friends to play with!” Luna stomped her front hooves with a grumble, and then she flung the letter away. “Scrivener, to thy post. Before this young night bleeds too late, we shall draft a response. We shall call our beloved Twilight Sparkle into the cradle of our darkness and... and...”

Luna swayed, almost dizzily, as her hooves shifted against the ground and she heard encouraging whispers from the shadows all around her, before she shivered and shook the sensation off, biting her hard enough to taste blood.

She looked up and saw Scrivener Blooms looking at her with concern, and she gave an awkward smile to him as she murmured: “Nay, 'tis nothing, just... a temporary loss of balance, that is all.”

Scrivener softened, then he nodded before he teased her gently: “Don't worry, thinking too much about Twilight Sparkle makes me feel sick, too.”

Luna laughed, and smiled, and looked up at him with gratitude. These moments were few and far-between now, at least, like the symptoms of a disease that had mostly been suppressed...

No, thinking about it would make it worse. And Scrivener was already at his desk, waiting attentively for her dictation.

“Stupid hooves.” he muttered, as he fumbled his way through the process. She liked watching the way he worked, though, how he used that minor magic all ponies had to grasp and touch and mold around their otherwise-hard hooves to pick up the quill, dip it, and then create such beauty on paper...

“And yet what would thou do if thou had been born a unicorn, with how much thou hates them?” Luna questioned with a smile.

She was surprised at the twitch that went through Scrivener. The momentary flash of tight pain that went through his body, which he covered up with a grin over his shoulder at her as he replied: “Well, then I would have been racist in the other direction and turned into Blueblood. And no pony wants that.”

Luna started to open her mouth, but the stallion averted his eyes, turned back to his parchment as he noted: “Almost out of ink, too. I'm going to have to refresh the inkwells.”

There was that dodge, that nudging to move on. Fie on thee, Scrivener Blooms. “Fixed with but a gesture, Scrivy, give me-”

Scrivener slowly slid between her and his depleted inkwells with a wince, and Luna huffed at him and complained: “Traitor, my sister will not even allow me to raise the moon by myself! How dare thou join her in limiting my magic!”

“And someone here promised not to mess with my stuff after she blew up my last inkwell.” Scrivener said pointedly, and she looked lamely away as her horn lost its budding glow. “Your magic is just way too powerful, Luna. Which I know better than you because I'm the one always being smacked with it.”

“Ridiculous.” Luna complained.

“You're ridiculous. Do you want me to write this, or are you going to dictate?”

“I shall, I shall. I would not like thy obvious affection for Twilight Sparkle to get in the way of such a task.” Luna answered with a sniff, and Scrivener rolled his eyes before she gestured easily with a hoof. “Take note!”

Scrivener sighed and thunked his head against the desk, and then he straightened as he dipped his quill into the ink pot, Luna raising her head before she recited imperiously: “Dear Twilight Sparkle, thy swift and gracious response is wholeheartedly appreciated, and I shall look forwards to meeting with thee and thy friends soon. Both I and my sister Celestia look greatly forwards to seeing thee, as does thy dearest love Scrivener Blooms. Thy dearest friend, Princess Luna.”

Scrivener muttered under his breath as he scratched at the parchment with the quill, grumbling: “Protector of dreams. More like giver of nightmares.”

“There are many nightmares I would be happy to indulge thee in, Scrivy.” Luna flicked her horn as it gleamed, and the stallion huffed as he neatly prepared the letter and affixed a royal seal to it before scowling when Luna yanked it out of his hooves. “Samael, 'tis long!”

She flung the letter, and Sammy chased after it cheerfully, leaping up to breathe a blast of blue flame over it and disintegrate it into whirling motes of magic in midair, and Scrivener sighed before saying wryly, even as he absently pet his pet when he marched up proudly: “It's 'go long,' Luna.”

“Oh shut up, Scrivy. Thou art fortunate there is no pony whom could replace thee.” Luna flicked her starry mane with a sniff, and Scrivener smiled despite himself, trying to hide his faint blush.

“Believe me, I know I am. After all, not only do I get to be your right hoof, I get to lord it over all the nobles of the Court in ways that even you would never approve of.”

“Do not tell me what I would and would not approve of. Perhaps I enjoy what a thorn thou art in Canterlot's sides.” Luna answered primly, before she headed to the door, asking: “Shall we go to breakfast, then?”

“I can't tell if you're making fun of my cutie mark or not.” Scrivener strode up to join her as Sammy scrambled up on top of his head, the stallion adding: “Sure. I should replenish my supply of ink first, then I can meet you there?”

“Oh, uh. Of course.” Luna blustered, not really knowing what else to say as she felt a pang of nervousness. It was still early evening, and breakfast for them was often around the same time as dinner was finishing for the normal, diurnal ponies of Canterlot: that meant crowds, in brightly-lit places where there was no place to hide...

Scrivener looked at her as Sammy chirped on his head, and then the stallion gave a brief smile before he turned his eyes ahead as they left the room. He fell into pace beside her as Luna frowned a little, knowing him well enough by now this meant there was something going on in his mind, before he sighed and said finally: “I uh... I didn't mean to be short with you, this evening.”

“All thou art is short.” Luna couldn't help but say, and Scrivener gave her an amused look, before the mare said in a gentler voice: “Nay, if there is any fault, it lies with me, Scrivy, I did not mean to say anything untoward. We both may laugh, but thou hast always been so considerate not to be cruel to me. I would extend the same courtesy to thee.”

“Mentally, not physically. You're very cruel to me physically.” Scrivener winked at her, and Luna laughed, before the stallion shook his head and said softly: “Just... old wounds. I... have I ever told you how I got my cutie mark? Or... emblem, rather, as you call it. I like that word for it a lot more.”

“Aye, many things have changed over the last thousand years. 'Cutie mark;' my sister did not like how I laughed at that term when I first heard it. Ponies have always been creatures of harmony, but I suppose many have forgotten that we used to cure disorder through force, rather than song and kindness.” Luna bit her lip, confessing: “'Tis still strange to me. It is not that I do not recognize the value of love and mercy. But I fear that Celestia did not just suffocate the desire for violence in ponykind, she also suppressed many lessons we had learned only through force and bloodshed...”

“Thanks, Miss Philosophy, way to ruin the moment. Here I was ready to tell you all about my past like you're always prodding at and instead you gotta make it all about you.” Scrivener sighed dramatically, and Luna laughed and shook her head before the stallion asked curiously: “Isn't it better to leave war in the past?”

“War, yes.” Luna bit her lip, before she looked up at the high ceilings of Canterlot as she continued softly: “But one does not stop war by taking away the sword. Then the pony merely sharpens the stick instead. We are not controlled by our tools, we control them; to forget this is to forget that... we are responsible for what we do.”

Luna almost fell into brooding for a moment, and then she shook her head quickly as she looked around at the empty cement halls, remarking wryly: “'Tis a lesson Celestia knew well in the past, and why I still find it difficult to believe she chose to leave our old home behind and instead moved the seat of power here, to Canterlot.”

“But you still seem to know this place pretty well.” Scrivener said, and Luna nodded with a slight smile.

“Aye, Canterlot has always been grand: 'twas originally the seat of a unicorn baron of particularly pugnacious nature.” she answered, as they passed from the dark side of the castle and into the well-lit halls of public-facing Canterlot. A Canterlot with lots of ponies smiling happily out of portraits and tapestries, commemorations of countless centuries... and yet all of them still 'new' to Luna.

Scrivener knew it had to hurt, no matter what Luna told herself. She had been a creature of myth, a pony who had not just been forgotten, but never existed except in the deepest annals and lore, and even then, it had been half-truths buried beneath the damnatio memoriae of Nightmare Moon. He knew that he should say something, but what did you say to that?

Luna was getting that look on her face, though, and he smiled a bit before he said abruptly: “I'm from North Neigh. Did you ever travel that far north?”

“North Neigh?” Luna cocked her head towards him curiously, her ears lifting, attention immediately on him. “Is that past the snow belt?”

“Near Silver Hoof? Uh... the Gray Mountains?” he tried, and Luna brightened immediately.

Neither of them paid any attention to the world around them as they walked through the brightly-lit halls: ponies looked at them nervously, and stayed out of their way, but no longer were either of them thinking about the looks they were getting, or where they did or did not belong. As a matter of fact, Scrivener would have strongly welcomed the distraction as his eyes shifted forward, not knowing what to say as he nodded a little before finally just... trying to talk. Trying to... trust, because this mare had trusted him.

“My um... my uh, my family, they were merchants. My... my father, he had a small gardening shop and he was responsible for a section of the underground, where they grew flowers and food. My mother... she worked for the local council and managed the formal balls and meetings, things like that. Unicorn aristocracy.”

“Unicorn...” Luna looked at Scrivener, and it clicked, and she felt like an idiot.

She stopped dead, and Scrivener didn't look back to face her, as if he was ashamed, his eyes shifting away, but Luna firmly grasped him. Not with her magic, but her own hoof, turning him towards her before she planted a hoof firmly on his forehead as Sammy chirped curiously from above.

She felt it.

She'd always just assumed Scrivener was just a little more clumsy than most, and a little less capable of molding that gentle earth pony magic that allowed them to grip and shift and move things with their hooves so easily. Everypony was different, and some ponies just weren't as good at it as others.

But of course that wasn't it, and that soft spot on his head confirmed her suspicions.

Scrivener Blooms was a unicorn. He was a unicorn who had been born without a horn.

Scrivener looked at her awkwardly, and Luna remembered how he'd flinched before at what she'd said and- “Scrivy, had I known, I never ever would have jested-”

“Oh, please, I get called worse things by the nobles every day and laugh about it. And... it's my fault for not telling you. I'm...” He smiled a little, bringing his eyes up to meet hers as his voice softened: “I'm sorry I didn't trust you enough to tell you.”

Luna laughed a little, and then she and Scrivener both winced as they realized there were multiple eyes all stopped to stare at them like they were putting on some kind of play, and Luna blushed as Scrivener winced and the two quickly skittered down the corridor, Scrivener mumbling: “Great, now they're going to gossip about us.”

“As if there is nothing they have not said already.” Luna grumbled, before she glanced over at him and asked impulsively: “Art thou ashamed?”

Scrivener huffed, but didn't meet her eyes, and Luna smiled a little after a moment before she leaned over and slapped him with one of her wings, murmuring: “Idiot.”

“Oh shut up.” Scrivener smiled despite himself in return, though, shouldering her gently as they entered the dining hall.

Dinner, at least, was mostly finished: the hall was largely empty, as was their preferred table, secluded off to the side, half in the shadows from the curve of the ceiling. There were only some off-duty guards, a few lazy nobles, some students from the Magic Academy who were debating over food.

They took their seats, and Luna signaled one of the staff, who winced at the sight of them before forcing a big fake smile and hurrying off to get their food. Scrivener snorted in amusement at this, then remarked: “I'll never get tired of that.”

“Shut up and tell thy story.” Luna almost demanded.

Scrivener gave her a pointed look as Sammy hopped down onto the tabletop, and Luna huffed at him before slapping her forehooves on the table, making Sammy squeak at the vibrations. “Fine, then, stupid... stupidhead! Open thy mouth and let the words fall out.”

“That's what you do, Luna.” But Scrivener closed his eyes for a moment, then nodded once before he started to talk:

“We all come from the same origin. The strength of ponykind is in unity, and we bring out one-another's best qualities and protect each other's weaknesses when we work together. That's what most of Equestria had been gently led to believe by Princess Celestia.

“The truth, as I'm sure you know, is that there's always been a lot of racial discrimination and segregation of roles. Earth ponies are strong and durable, but what does that matter compared to a pegasus who can fly and manipulate weather, or a unicorn who can use magic to... do whatever they want, really?”

A hint of bitterness crept into his tone. “But the further you get from Canterlot, the more you see the old 'traditions.' Pegasi form not just weather crews, but the backbone of militia forces; unicorns are rulers, nobles, divinely-chosen to be in charge with their natural magic.

“Unicorns on top, earth ponies on the bottom. So for two pureblood unicorns to have an earth pony child, well... Bramblethorn didn't exactly hide the contempt he had for me.” There was that smile on his face, that wry tone of voice that he used to hide the pain. “I uh... I mostly taught myself to read. I was only taught the basics by Tia Belle so I could identify what a customer wanted, but from that I was able to learn to read books that I found or stole. I liked reading. And I liked daydreaming. I realized at some point I could write these daydreams down.”

He cleared his throat. “Yeah, but... so anyway, one day, a unicorn visits from somewhere to pick up some flowers for his wife. Their anniversary. I dropped my journal while I'd been loading things into his carriage and he picked it up. I'd been experimenting with poetry, and uh...” He smiled a little. “He asked me to write a poem for him, or you know, his wife, rather. Said he'd pay for it and everything.

“So uh, I did.” He shrugged. “The stallion, and more importantly, his wife, really liked the stupid little poem I wrote a lot. So much that he ended up offering to pay for me to go down south. Said his brother ran a publishing house and newspaper and was looking for some help. I didn't even realize that I'd gotten my cutie mark before he left. It was a wild time.”

Scrivener laughed, and it was a little more honest. “I traveled to Trotronto, where I interned and eventually started publishing poems and short stories, found some work editing for a small magazine. But that's all a story for another day.”

Luna grumbled, but then glanced up as two servants approached, placing down covered platters in front of them both. They removed the lids as they bowed away before hurrying off as quickly as they could, leaving the two looking at their large, full plates of ratty hay fries and wrinkled salads. “You know, you ever think about the fact that when we eat in your room, we get gourmet meals, but when we eat out here they always serve us the kitchen leftovers?”

“I would scoff at thee but I have eaten bugs that were better prepared than this.” Luna sighed, poking at her salad with her horn before she complained: “Scrivener Blooms, it moved!”

“Well, kill it. Or turn it into a cake with your magic or something.” Scrivener said as he bit into a hay fry, and grimaced at the loud crunch it made.

“I am no show-pony, here for thy fun and entertainment!” Luna retorted imperiously, and when Scrivener cocked an eye at her as he offered the rest of the hay fry to Sammy, she mumbled: “And 'tis also very hard. I can change the shape but can do nothing about the taste or value.”

Scrivener sighed as he sat back, tossing another hayfry into his mouth as he watched Samael struggle mightily to chew up the chunk he had been given. “Well, at least they feed us outcasts better than the prisoners... uh, no offense.”

Luna snorted in amusement, answering: “Oh nay, believe me Scrivy, I was far too blinded by the adoring fans and subjects to notice how I am less than loved by the citizenry of Equestria. 'Tis shocking.”

“Do me a favor, and if Celestia ever asks, please tell her you picked up sarcasm from Twilight Sparkle. She'll go easier on her than me, even if that needy little filly-”

“I still think thou art fond of her.” Luna remarked through a mouthful of salad, and Scrivener scowled at the mare before she swallowed and added: “We must ensure there is a proper meal prepared for when they visit. I wish to make a good impression upon all of them, I had little chance to do so during Nightmare Night.”

She stopped, then shook her head as she looked out through the dining hall, mumbling: “Precious few ponies are willing to take in the beauty of the night. I know that I am accountable and responsible for things that have echoed up through ages past, but it still hurts. The way they look at me; it reminds me that some sins cannot be forgiven, and that I have always been... secondary. I have never been a princess. I never wanted to be a princess. I am the black dark shadow of my sister's glory...”

Scrivener looked at her, with compassion, with kindness, and she looked back at him, biting her lip before asking: “Why is it thou does not fear me? But even more, thou hast given up so much for me, do not think I am blind to it. So many others recoil from me, and even in Ponyville I cannot help but think how I was much like a manticore doing tricks, a carnival freak, a-”

“Okay okay okay, enough brooding, Princess. We both had our moments of self-pity.” Scrivener interrupted gently, and Luna glowered at him before wincing as a hayfry bounced off her nose. “Look, that's like... asking a rock why it's not afraid of the sky. Why would I be? Sure, you're loud and you don't know your own strength and you have a bad habit of flinging me around with your magic. But... I like you all the same. And I like spending my time with you.”

“Maybe thou just likes arguments, wretched poet.” But Luna was smiling back at him. “'Tis truly touching, though.”

“I'll touch you.” Scrivener mumbled before he could stop himself, and the two ponies looked at each other for a few moments before Luna threw her head back and laughed. A beautiful, loud, ringing laugh that echoed through the hall, as if she didn't care who heard, and Scrivener smiled and maybe blushed the slightest bit as he thought of how beautiful that was to hear, more than music to his ears.

Luna's laughter faded as they smiled at each other, before they both glanced up in surprise as a gentle voice said: “I'm happy to see you so happy, little sister.”

“Celestia!” Luna blurted, blushing as she looked up at her sibling lamely, automatically shoving herself up from the table. Scrivener cleared his throat and awkwardly shuffled up to his own hooves after a moment, but Celestia only gently gestured at them to relax.

“I'm sorry to interrupt, but I need to speak with you alone, Luna. Princess things.” she said with a smile, and Luna grumbled before the ivory mare turned his eyes to the stallion. “Scrivener Blooms, I need you to do some research for me. The Chief Librarian will be able to tell you more.”

“Uh, will she?” Scrivener asked awkwardly.

“Yes, Scrivener, although I'll ask you to try and be a little professional with the library staff. This is important research.”

Scrivener nodded, hesitating a moment before he noted: “I'm happy to help, but I'm a fiction writer first and foremost, you know. Historical research I find difficult.”

“I know. You have all the time you need, and I think you'll find this subject particularly interesting.” Celestia answered, before she added: “And I require ponies I trust for this work. You'll be granted access to the restricted sections of both the Royal and Academy libraries for this task.”

Scrivener frowned and perked up slightly at this, but Celestia only shook her head, saying: “Something else that should be discussed in private. For now, please go about your task. Luna, if you don't mind?”

Scrivener nodded, standing up and bowing to them both before he headed out of the dining hall, Sammy chirping and following quickly after him. But as he watched Celestia lead Luna to the far end of the dining room and the terrace beyond, he couldn't help but feel a funny sort of misgiving in his gut.

Meanwhile, Luna was scowling at Celestia; scowling in that way that said she was nervous as the double doors leading into the enclosed terrace swung closed behind them. “What is it, Celestia? Usually when thou art being mysterious, it always meant trouble.”

“Just give me a moment to gather my thoughts, Luna, please.” Celestia strode past the shrubs and the dining tables with overturned chairs on them and the ornamental flower boxes, heading to the railing and sighing quietly as she gazed up at the moon. She studied this for a few long moments as Luna hesitantly joined her, softening even as she felt a worm of worry through her heart.

“I... I love you, Luna. And the strangest thing is that... since you've been back, I've only felt more guilty and more ashamed and more...” Celestia laughed quietly, shaking her head as she glanced at her and murmured: “It was like by exiling you, it put the pain of losing you out of sight and out of mind. And bringing you home brought with it the realization of how badly I hurt you, and how much I betrayed you.”

She lowered her head as Luna continued to look up at her, before Celestia surprised her by asking: “Are you happy here? Do... do you want to be here, Luna?”

Luna licked her lips slowly, then answered honestly: “I do not know, Celestia.”

Princess Celestia nodded and closed her eyes, and Luna blushed as she lowered her head and mumbled: “But I... I do not blame thee, and I love thee dearly. There was no other prison that could hold me... and thou had every right to kill me. I am... I am haunted by what I did.”

Not by the lives she had taken, no. Not by the injuries she had caused. But by her own weakness, her shame, her dishonor. And the fact that she really did love her sister, and the whole time she had been in the monster's shape, her heart had been full of pain even as she laughed and grinned her malice to the world...

“I can't imagine what this is like for you, Luna. And... I know that I've been restrictive. Hard on you, and difficult to work with.” Celestia smiled briefly. “I can tell you I do it out of love for you, but what does that matter? A cage is still a cage.”

Luna smiled faintly back, and Celestia shook her head as she murmured: “I need you to do something for me. I have a task for you. And your... Scrivener Blooms.”

An awkward pause, and Luna frowned up at her sibling before Celestia asked: “You and Scrivener...”

“Eh?” Luna stopped, realized what Celestia was implying as her eyes went wide, and she blushed beet-red before shaking her head furiously, blurting out: “He is just a friend! Idiot! What rumor is this? Am I not allowed to have a friend?”

“Okay, okay, Luna!” Celestia laughed, and she relaxed a little as the slightest of quirks graced her muzzle. “Well, I know you and Sleipnir often used to sleep with your friends, but since I haven't heard any screaming in the middle of the night-”

“I will kill thee.” Luna threatened, and the two sisters looked at each other before they both smiled, and laughed, and relaxed a little, and it made everything easier.

“Just don't kill him, Luna, whether he's a friend or lover or just your aide and confidante. I'm glad you're both doing so good together, and I mean that; I've only had half the complaints I usually get from the Royal Court about Scrivener Blooms since he was assigned to you.”

“That is disappointing, we shall have to remedy that.” Luna meditated.

Celestia sighed, but she was still smiling, and she remained surprisingly relaxed as she looked out at the night sky. Luna put her forelegs across the stone railing in front of her and rested her head on them, gazing quietly outwards as they just stood together for a little while.

Finally, the Princess of the Sun admitted: “I've made mistakes, and not just with you. In pursuit of harmony and peace, I've outlawed much of which used to be used just as much to protect ponies as hurt them in the past, out of fear of what it would mean. Part of me has always been... scheming, cunning, even cruel, valuing the ends over the means, but lies and false faces are no foundation for the kind of nation I desire Equestria to be.”

Celestia shook her head slowly, then murmured: “I think something happened, though. That part of me has, after all these years, started to quiet. I think it had something to do with you coming back...” She laughed a little. “Imagine what the ponies would say if they knew that their living goddess Princess Celestia took a thousand years to realize that bad things aren't good!”

Luna gazed up at her, reaching up and touching her sister's shoulder gently, and Celestia looked back down at her, wiping overbright eyes with her foreleg as she murmured: “I miss it too. I wish I didn't have to be a princess. And maybe one day, I won't have to be. But... but I've digressed.”

She cleared her throat, then looked out into the night sky again, gazing up at the moon. “Neither of us have any connection to the Elements of Harmony, and they have been passed on to new bearers after a thousand years in stasis. They were able to use them to purify you because they were able to attune to the artifacts better than either of us ever were, and not force them to bend to their will.

“The Elements are powerful. The ponies are strong... not just... 'slovenly,' as I believe you said they seemed.” She smiled, though, and Luna grumbled and looked embarrassedly away. “But there are things they cannot handle. Real monsters out there, not just wild beasts or emissaries of chaos. The things in the past we saw in the Gray Mountains would not be stopped by the Elements. Fenrir would not be stopped by the Elements.”

Luna grimaced at the name of the Black Wolf that their brother had sacrificed himself to stop, in that terrible place, where both air and reality were thin. “Is there a threat that must be met with force?”

“No, Luna. Nothing like that. Maybe not even anything that would be strong enough to raise hoof against you.” Celestia shrugged. “But there is a vast gulf of experience and strength between you and even Twilight Sparkle, in spite of all the faith I have in her. Even if I sent her with a contingent of Royal Guard, sometimes numbers only make us weaker. I worry about her, especially with what happened with Discord.”

“Thou should have just let me pummel him rather than imprisoning him again in stone. It would have been kinder.” Luna muttered before she could stop himself, and then she winced, expecting to be scolded-

“Yes. You're right.”

Luna blinked, then stared up at Celestia, who looked away and bit her lip before she sighed quietly and murmured: “You're right. I want to remedy that mistake too. But I'm not sure how to do it.”

“A chisel, perhaps.” Luna joked, and Celestia gave her a flat look before the smaller mare said finally: “That is better. I was concerned for a moment this was all some bizarre dream. 'Tis strange not to have thee angry at me.”

Celestia sighed tiredly, then she shook her head before continuing: “That's a problem for another day, however. What I need from you now, Luna, is to prepare for a short and secret journey back to our first home. There is a vault there that only you or I can access, and things I need you to retrieve.”

“Is that what thou art having Scrivy look up?” Luna asked curiously.

“In part. I am also having him research myths, legends... the kind of thing he's very good at, because he has a great talent for deciphering truth from lies.”

“Aye, Scrivener has always said that to be a writer, one must be a good liar.” Luna mused, before she frowned and asked: “Why hast thou not simply teleported there and back? 'Twould be easy for thee.”

And when Celestia only gave a small smile, Luna understood, nodding slowly as she murmured: “Something is preventing thee.”

“That's right. Either the wards have been engaged, or there is a... miasma present. I can't teleport directly to the castle, and the Everfree Forest is too alive to teleport safely into without a clear destination in mind.” Celestia affirmed, before she sighed and added in a voice that told Luna how... how tired she was, how hard all of these years had been on her: “I am no longer a champion and warrior. I've gotten rusty, and my strength has faded. I'm not Celestia the Dragon Slayer any longer, only... Princess Celestia.”

Bitterness. What a strange thing to hear in Celestia's voice!

Luna smiled faintly, then she shook her head and murmured: “Once upon a time thou wert both, Oh, stupid, wretched Celestia.”

“Stupid, wretched Celestia.” Celestia agreed, before she turned to hug her sister firmly, and Luna returned the embrace just as fiercely.

“At least thou art not Nightmare Moon. Even now I fear it lingers inside of me, and...”

“That wasn't your fault, Luna. Not entirely, at least: part of it is shared with Ignominious, and part of it is mine. The demon never would have had the means to infect you if only I had listened to you more.”

Luna wasn't sure about that: there had always been a darkness in her heart, after all, something for the dark force to manipulate. Something her lost and damned love, Ignominious, had known well and taken advantage of after his own fall from grace.

“They still fear me, Celestia, and it is hard, and... I have these moments when it would be so easy to seize control, and these...” She didn't know what the word was. Desire? Greed? Lust?

“And you don't know where you belong, either. Maybe this will help you find that place.” Celestia said quietly, and Luna glanced up at her with surprise and interest. “I... I know I've been smothering you. I haven't done as well by you as I should have. So I want you to use this short journey to find yourself and think about what you truly want. You can take anything and everything you need. And when you come back with your task complete, you can tell me, Luna, where you want to be. What you need from me, and... and I won't stop you.”

There was silence as they looked at one-another for a few moments, and then a smile quirked at Luna's lips before she said: “Well, Celestia, first and foremost, of course, I will need a bard.”

Anger of Artemis

Chapter Three: Anger Of Artemis

~BlackRoseRaven

“I hate you. I hate you so much.”

Luna grinned: Scrivener's glaring at her helped settle her nerves, which were still on edge. She felt like Celestia wasn't telling her everything, but the offer had been too enticing to pass up... and well, maybe part of her wanted to help, too, and this would be the best way she could. “Oh, Scrivy, but I am but a weak mare, I need thy big strong stallion self to protect helpless little docile me!”

“Docile. Docile as a wet manticore doused in catnip.” Scrivener muttered, and Luna laughed loudly, forgetting her worries for the moment. “Can't you take Twilight Sparkle instead of me?”

“What is that, Scrivener Blooms? Thou wants to take Twilight Sparkle along too!” Luna feigned a gasp and shocked look. “Such impertinence, the Princess of the Night is not enough for thee, thou must demand another mare for thy harem too?”

Scrivener dropped his head on the desk with a thunk, and Luna laughed again, loud and clear and happy, and...

Horses of Heaven he hated how part of him wanted to smile.

Even if another part of him wanted to strangle her for getting him involved in this.

He didn't think he could ever be like her. A passionate whirlwind, a mare who wore her heart on her sleeve and bared her emotions to the world, who screamed and shouted and could be a moody grump, sure, but who also had more joy and strength of character and willingness to plod on through even the harshest of times than any other pony he'd ever met.

“Besides, Scrivy. A bard is necessary for any epic quest! Thou must record my incredible feats of strength and prowess, 'lest otherwise they are lost from remembrance and none are blessed with the knowledge of my grace, beauty, and wit.” Luna added comfortably with a flick of her mane and a wink.

“Okay, warrior princess, I hope you live up to your own hype, then.” Scrivener gestured at himself pointedly. “Because this minstrel can't even sing country, let alone hold his own in a fight.”

“Oh, thou great baby!” Luna snorted in amusement. “Thou acts as if we are marching to a den of evil or banditry. 'Twill be a night's hike through the Everfree Forest to the ruins of the castle, where we shall like-as-not simply find that some adventurous soul or silly beast stumbled upon a security rune and activated the wards.”

Scrivener grunted, clearly unconvinced, as Luna paced slowly across the floor of her room. “Still, though, I will not pretend I do not have mine own concerns, and that we must prepare for the worst. No, I do not believe 'tis some sordid assassination or serious danger... were it the Royal Court, perhaps they would attempt such, but not Celestia...”

“I don't think the Royal Court is smart enough to set up an assassination attempt, anyway. They can't even get the guards to beat me up half the time.” Scrivener noted, and Luna grunted.

“'Tis pathetic, really.” she agreed, before asking: “What is it that she had thou researching? Artifact and legend, but was there anything in particular?”

“I guess you wouldn't know what were in the vaults, huh? I'm just surprised Celestia doesn't, either.” Scrivener paused, then nodded. “Mostly old legends. Archive records and cargo lists, but a lot of them have decayed into unrecognizability.”

Luna grunted. “I dislike giving my sister the benefit of the doubt, but in this case I shall. A thousand years is a long time, Scrivener Blooms, and I would not expect her to remember the contents of every single vault... but that likely means we are searching for things that would be forgotten, not that which was most important to us.”

She tapped a hoof slowly, then murmured: “I do have my reservations though, Scrivy, if thou must know. The thought of enemies or bandits or battle does little to frighten me, but it will be hard to step back into that place. It is where I became Nightmare Moon, and where I was defeated, twice, as Nightmare Moon; I fear there is an encroaching, terrible darkness, slithering in the realm of faded shadow, 'twixt the day and night, seeking to whisper its poison into innocent ears and corrupt them with foul promises and fouler-still desires...”

“You know, Luna, I'm the Court Poet here, you're the Princess. Not the other way around.” Scrivener noted, and Luna blinked a few times, then glared at him even as a blush tinged her cheeks.

“Well, thou art the one always acting like a prim and proper princess!” she complained, then she shook her head grumpily. “'Tis funny, thou art supposed to be the one teaching me, and yet I seem to be the one teaching thee.”

“Just because of how stubborn you are. I mean, if you want, of course, I can start complaining more about thy thee's and thou's.” Scrivener answered, and Luna gave him a sour look. “It might be a good idea to use tonight to practice that, by the way. It'll make you come across as less formal to Twilight and her friends.”

“Damn thee, thou art right, 'tis about time we should get going. Do not be so lazy, Scrivener Blooms!” Luna chided, and Scrivener gave her a flat look before she added: “Put on thy royal vestments, and then we shall...”

Her face wrinkled up before she mumbled: “Damnation, Scrivener Blooms. What if they have only come to... to watch me do more frightening tricks? What if I am only... like a scary play to them, or they are simply hoping to get in my good graces because I am close to Celestia, or-”

“Okay, okay, look.” Scrivener shifted away from his desk, walking over to hip-check her gently, Luna blinking before the stallion promised: “I'm gonna make a worse impression on them than you, as long as you keep your temper and don't set anyone on fire.”

“The only pony I shall set on fire is thee, if thou does not dress thyself properly. Thou shalt be representing me, the Princess of the Night, and I shan't have thee besmirch the reputation of Canterlot without thy jester's cap on.” Luna ordered, shoving at him lightly with a hoof.

Scrivener snorted in amusement, then he gave a few exaggerated bows before answering: “As you wish, oh magnificent queen of fools! I learned all the best ways to talk funny from you, after all!”

Luna looked at him sourly for a moment before her horn lit up: a moment later, the door flew open and Scrivener was ejected from the room with a yelp, rolling painfully to a stop on his back.

He wheezed loudly, then glowered up at her from his inverted position. “Temper temper, like we just discussed.”

“That was me keeping my temper, dearest little beetle.” Luna smiled sweetly as she leaned slowly, menacingly down. “But if thou insists, I can give thee a demonstration of what would happen were I to lose patience with thee.”

“Point made. I'm going to go put on my silly clothes now.” Scrivener mumbled, flopping over onto his side before he picked himself awkwardly up and scuttled off down the hall to his room. Luna grinned in amusement, then she waited a few moments as he slipped through the door before she tiptoed down the corridor, her expression softening as she silently slipped to the ajar doorway to poke her head through and gaze in.

His room had a messy sort of order to it: things were flung here and there, but done so with some kind of purpose to keep them as separate and organized as lazily as possible. Scrolls, books, and sheets of parchment were shoved into crude categories in both shelves and wheeled carts, and a dresser and small bed were almost abandoned at the back of the room, and the former was covered in quills, the latter a mess of unmade sheets and blankets that Sammy had made into a comfortable little nest for himself.

Scrivener was wriggling his way into a gray half-coat that had Luna's crest on the front, back, and shoulders. Luna smiled a little at the sight of this despite herself, before her horn glowed gently, and Scrivy winced as the vestment was firmly yanked down and then brushed neat against his body before she delicately adjusted his dislodged glasses.

The stallion fidgeted awkwardly, then nodded lamely even as he cleared his throat and turned to her, noting: “You know, it's rude to spy on a pony while they're getting dressed.”

“Well, the rules are different for us. Me.” Luna said after a moment, and then she nodded firmly. “Aye, the rules are different for me.”

Scrivener sighed tiredly, before the mare instead asked curiously: “Little Samael, will thou be joining us too?”

“Sammy might scare the other ponies right now. Let's let him rest for tonight, he can come join us later.” Scrivener answered, and Sammy chirped in agreement and nestled himself comfortably deeper into his mess of blankets. “Does that mean you're ready to go?”

“Bah, as if I am some foal!” Luna grumbled. “Do not rush me.”

She did a few exaggerated stretches as Scrivener watched her, not thrown off by the thunderous look on her face before he said gently: “You aren't going to get less anxious until you go and see them.”

“Shut up, Scrivener Blooms!” Luna almost whined, before she walked over and bopped him with her horn, making him wince before she dropped her head and mumbled: “I am sure Twilight Sparkle is having a grand and wondrous time with Celestia right now. Sometimes I feel as if I am merely the following act, have I ever confessed this?”

“All the time.” Scrivener gently patted her on the shoulder, but when he turned to head to the door, Luna sulkily followed, dragging her hooves even as the stallion encouraged: “Come on, though, you can show them the main course is better than the opening act, and I'll make everyone angry and you can save them from me. Even Twilight Sparkle.”

Luna grumbled as they fell into step, scowling horribly, but all that anxiety still clearly showing through even before she blurted out: “And what if they do not like me, Scrivener? What if once more it all comes down to 'oh Luna, scare us,' 'oh Luna, do tricks for us,' 'ooh, Luna, tell us all about thy murdering as Nightmare Moon!'”

“Look, Luna, we all have our worries, and yours are more valid than most. You might even be more of an anxious mess than me.” Scrivener admitted, and Luna didn't know whether to be insulted or pleased. “At the end of the day, though, all we can do is put one hoof in front of the other and make the most of what we've got. But hey, Twilight responded to you, she didn't go through Celestia or anything, and she and all her friends were eager to come to Canterlot. That's a good start, isn't it?”

“Perhaps, but perhaps the lure was Canterlot itself, and not great and terrible Nightmare Moon.” Luna grumbled, and Scrivener snorted in amusement at her pessimism even as he bumped against her, and she grouchily bumped back against him as they made their way into the brighter halls of Canterlot.

The castle was alive with life this early in the evening, and neither pony felt exactly thrilled about it as others looked at them and gave them a wide berth, Luna's eyes flicking around as she mumbled: “I do not know if I prefer this, or the bowing and scraping out of terror. Is it better to be feared than ignored, or vice versa?”

Scrivener only shrugged. A small sizzle passed through Luna's mane and tail as they headed onward in silence, but they took comfort in each other as they made their way towards the dining hall: either they would find Twilight and her friends there having dinner, or they would enjoy whatever excuse for breakfast they were served before Twilight joined them.

As they entered, Luna's sharp eyes noted a familiar purple mare heading out onto the terrace in company of a group of others, and even as she rose her head her ears flattened anxiously. “There, 'twas Twilight Sparkle, was it not? Perhaps she and her friends only now sat down to dine, 'twould be rude to interrupt their dinner, and-”

“And you invited them here, you have to actually meet them at some point.” Scrivener pointed out, and Luna pouted even as she nodded grudgingly. Then she scowled when Scrivener started across the dining hall, saying mildly: “But hey, don't worry about it. I'll just go say hello to Twilight Sparkle and her friends myself.”

“Oh, how I loathe thee at times.” Luna muttered, before she caught Scrivener by the tail with telekinesis, holding him in place so she could join him. “Beetle. Wicked as Celestia beetle-bard.”

“Low blow, Luna. Low blow.” Scrivener said wryly, before he cleared his throat as they left the hall and entered the terrace, the stallion raising his head and saying clearly to the six mares seated at a large table that had been set out for them: “Allow me to formally extend all of our friends from Ponyville a warm welcome to Canterlot! And oh, hi, Sparkles, I guess you're here too. How's tricks? Still dyeing your mane, I see.”

The purple unicorn at the head of the table scowled at him, absently reaching up to touch the two lines of color that went through her otherwise dark mane as she said grumpily: “Girls, this is Scrivener Blooms, the only Court Poet in the last two hundred years to be a college dropout, although he did manage to break the record for most reprimands ever received by a member of the Royal Court for the last five hundred years.”

“Why thanks, Sparkles, you read my biography! I'm really proud of you, continuing to study even after Princess Celestia unceremoniously kicked you out of the Magic Academy and all.” Scrivener said positively, before he added at the mare's curdling glare: “Also you can't be a dropout when you never went to college, and it's the last four hundred and ninety three years. Still not ahead of that darn Frumpious Scrumblesnacks.”

Twilight started to lean forwards, her electric violet eyes burning holes in Scrivener before both she and the stallion winced in surprise when a bright pink pony popped up between them with a burst of confetti.

“Look everypony! Twilight actually did have a friend before she came to Ponyville!” she declared, and Twilight and Scrivener both blinked, then threw their heads back and laughed loudly. “What? What's so funny?”

Twilight only shook her head as she slid out of her seat and stepped up with a smile, turning her eyes from Scrivener to Luna and saying: “Princess Luna, it's really an honor to be here, though, Scrivy notwithstanding-”

“Ouch.”

“-and I've been telling my friends a lot about you! Come and sit down with us, maybe you can even join us for dinner if you haven't eaten yet?”

“Yes, Twilight Sparkle. We would be honored to.” Luna held herself up, tall and imperious as she strode almost stiffly to the table. Scrivener smiled despite himself, recognizing that it meant Luna was nervous and anxious, no matter how intimidating the airs she might be putting on.

Scrivener followed, and the two took their own places at the table, with Twilight settling in beside Luna and the pink party pony popping up with a bright smile next to Scrivener, making him wince. “Hi new friend!”

“Pinkie, dear, give the stallion a little space.” a pure white unicorn said gently, and Pinkie nodded with a blush as she sat back. Then the unicorn turned her smile to Scrivener and Luna, brushing back her coiffed purple mane as she almost posed in her seat. “It's lovely to meet you both. My name is Rarity, perhaps you've heard of-?”

“I'm Rainbow Dash!” interrupted a lanky blue pegasus, who shot into the air with a grin, her tousled and rough – and fittingly-rainbow – mane and tail fluttering in the wind the strong flaps of her wings caused. “I know you have to have heard of me, I'm the bestest, strongest, fastest-”

“Dumbest.” noted a goldenrod earth pony, and Rainbow huffed loudly as she was tugged by the tail back to her seat, landing on her chair and glowering down at the mare beside her. “Settle down, sugarcube, and mind yer manners.

“Nice to see you again, Princess Luna, and thanks for inviting us here. Mr. Blooms, my name is Applejack, it's nice to meet you.” She tipped her cowboy hat to him, and Scrivener nodded politely back before he blinked as the pink party pony bounced up on the other side of the table, like she had been there all along.

“And this is Fluttershy!” she exclaimed, and the slender, beautiful pegasus who was doing her best to hide behind her pink mane squeaked, straightening a bit before ducking back down again with a nervous smile.

“Yes, we remember all of thee to some extent, but 'tis nice to be able to have this time to meet at length. I never got to truly thank thee for all thy help controlling my voice and temper, fair Fluttershy.” Luna said. She was trying, Scrivener could see: she was still hard-faced and serious, and her accent came out so much stronger when she was nervous, but she was also present, and speaking, and trying. “I am... it means much to me that all of thee... you, rather, that all of you came here to visit me from Ponyville. I hope that Canterlot has been accommodating.”

The crazy pink pony giggled – how the hell had she popped back into her seat so fast? – and Rarity smiled as she answered: “It's been divine, your majesty, absolutely worth taking a few days off for, and I've even been able to use some of the time to make new contacts. And of course Twilight's been such a dear helping show us all around...”

“Well, you know. I did used to live here.” Twilight shrugged with a laugh.

“Yeah, you used to.” Scrivener said, and Luna couldn't help but smile despite herself at that tone. When he wanted to annoy someone, he always knew just the right tone to take.

And of course it didn't fail with Twilight, who scowled at him as she said: “Yes. Used to. Because now I'm on a special assignment studying the magic of friendship for Princess Celestia herself.”

“That's right Twilight, that's a great way to look at it. 'Special assignment,' not 'exile.'” Scrivener encouraged, and Rainbow Dash snorted laughter as Applejack slowly cocked an eyebrow.

Before Scrivener could say anything further, Luna kicked him hard under the table, making him flinch with a wheeze as she interrupted: “Do tell us more about thy studies, Twilight Sparkle, if th- you don't find the subject too boring. I am very curious. Celestia speaks very highly of it, and of you.”

Twilight puffed up at this, then scowled horribly when Scrivener muttered: “Yes, although some of her letters are more oopsy-doopsies than anything else.”

“And how do you know that?” Twilight asked crankily.

“Court Poet. I get to hear all the juicy gossip.” Scrivener replied with a sniff, and then he winced when Pinkie Pie leaned in towards him, beaming.

“I like juice!” she declared, before she cocked her head and asked curiously: “So how long have you been friends with Twilight anyway? A long time? A long-long time?”

Scrivener cleared his throat awkwardly as Twilight slapped her face with a hoof, and Rainbow Dash took the moment to blurt out: “So hey is it like true that there's some kind of super secret adventure you're going on, Princess?”

Applejack groaned as Twilight glared daggers at Rainbow, and Luna blinked in surprise. The earth pony hammered a hoof against Rainbow's head, making her squawk, before the orange earth pony said pointedly: “What Rainbow here means is that uh, we heard some stories about how you and Princess Celestia used to be adventurers or something once upon a time, before the founding of Equestria.”

Luna brightened at this, even as Rarity scoffed and waved a hoof dismissively: “Everypony knows that those are just exaggerations. I mean no offense of course, princess, but some of those old stories are so... violent.” She shivered. “And you and your sister are so elegant and refined!”

“Yeah, you gotta be athletic and super-cool and strong to go on adventures like that, right?” Rainbow Dash asked as she slammed her front hooves down on the table, making it wobble, and then she blushed when Twilight steadied it with magic, looking lamely across at her. “Uh, whoops.”

“Well, yes, but 'twas more than a thousand years ago...” But Scrivener could see, almost feel, that yearning in the Princess of the Night, as she gave a small smile and continued: “Even my sister and I were young once and we... we craved adventure, to change the world, to make it a better place, and... well, times were different then. We were different, back then.”

Scrivener chuckled, then he looked at Luna with a smile as he said: “Many of the old myths of the before-time you hear about this land are actually about Luna, her sister, and her brother. The stories of Sol, Titan, and Morgan, for example, are all actually based on their adventures.”

“You had a brother?” Twilight asked with surprise.

But of course, before she could answer, Rainbow leaned forwards in excitement, blurting out: “Wait a minute, seriously? Even the one where Sol takes on a dragon single-hoofed?”

“Aye, Celestia was known as the Dragon Slayer in a past life.” Luna remarked, shaking her head with a brief smile. “And my brother, Sleipnir, he was strong enough to lift mountains. The fastest and strongest earth pony to ever live.”

“I bet I could beat him in a race!” Rainbow said as she flitted into the air and posed, and Luna grinned despite herself as Fluttershy peeked up with an awkward wince.

Applejack, meanwhile, put her hooves behind her head and said wryly: “You couldn't even outrace me in the last run we did. Heck, you got disqualified from the Ponyville triathlon!”

“Why would I swim when I could fly?” Rainbow complained. “It doesn't make any sense!”

“Triathlon?” Luna questioned curiously.

“Competition. Three different races, usually, tied together into one competition.” Scrivener explained, and Luna brightened at this.

“Oh, that does sound like fun!” she said with a smile. “'Tis not quite as exciting as the jousts and duels of the past, but I did always enjoy a good run. Horn foiling was always my favorite, though.”

Again, all eyes turned to her with surprise, and Luna huffed a little before she suddenly climbed to her hooves, saying quickly: “Scrivy, up on thy hooves, aid me in this demonstration.”

“Horn foiling requires a horn, Luna. Hey, I know, Twilight Sparkle, you're the most talented unicorn in all of Equestria, right?” Scrivener teased, and Twilight scowled horribly, then winced when Luna grasped her with magic and yanked her out of her seat, a crooked grin spreading over Scrivener's muzzle as he dropped his head against his hoof and relished: “Horses of Heaven it's nice to watch Luna do this to someone else for once.”

“Uh, I'm sorry, wait, I don't know-”

But Luna only smiled as she stepped back, facing the now-standing unicorn mare and saying kindly: “Nonsense, Twilight, Scrivy is actually right for once. Thou art the perfect student. Not just because thou art a unicorn, but my sister brags often how clever and adept thou art at learning.”

Twilight blushed, but then she laughed lamely and rubbed the back of her head as she looked away: “Oh, I... thank you, Princess Luna, but I'm really the book-learning type, you know? Maybe um... Rarity, hey, or Rainbow Dash, or Applejack?”

“Oh no, dear! You'll do wonderfully!” Rarity gushed brightly, before she added: “I can't really risk ruining my precious mane here in Canterlot of all places, either.”

“Hey, I'll fight you Princess, if that's what you want, I bet I can do it a whole lot better than a bookworm like Twilight!” Rainbow bragged as she zipped back and forth, throwing a few quick punches at the air, and then she halted and cleared her throat when several ponies scowled at her. “Um. No offense, Twi.”

“It sounds like y'need a horn for this demonstration anyway, so why don't we just sit back and watch for now?” Applejack suggested, and Rainbow grumbled and crossed her legs as she dropped her rump back in her seat.

Then they both flinched in surprise as Pinkie appeared between them, throwing a foreleg around either mare, a party hat on her forehead as she declared: “Now I have a horn too, so I'm gonna play after Twilight!”

Rainbow whined, and Twilight grumbled before her attention was drawn back to Luna as the Princess of the Night encouraged: “Focus on me, Twilight. I shan't harm thee, fear not. We shall start with the basics, fear not. First, sheathe thy horn in magic, like this.”

She rose her head, her horn taking on a brilliant glow, and Twilight bit her lower lip even as she automatically mimicked what Luna did, her own purple magic forming a glove over her horn. “Like this?”

“Excellent. And now, Twilight Sparkle, prepare thyself!” Luna leapt forward, and Twilight yelped and scrambled backwards as Luna swung her horn down in playful but elegant arcs.

“Waitwhatdoido!” Twilight blurted out in fear: not fear of being hurt, Scrivener immediately noted, but fear of not doing the right thing. That was Twilight Sparkle, he reflected: a princess twice her size bearing down on her and she was more frightened of checking the wrong box than she was getting stabbed in the face.

“Listen to thy instincts, strike back against my horn! Do not fear, Twilight Sparkle, thou shan't and can't harm me!” Luna replied with a grin as Twilight skittered in a circle, but the sapphire mare kept chase, jumping after her and swinging her horn down as she moved with the grace of a dancer. “Do not give in to fear! Attack me!”

Twilight yelped as she was backed up almost into a plant, and then she swung her head back and forth before attempting an awkward poke forward: Luna gently parried this attack with her own, then caught Twilight's horn against the side of her hoof to avoid knocking her staggering as she said kindly: “There, good! I shall not harm thee, Twilight, fear not!”

Twilight winced, then she swung her head again, and Luna smiled in amusement as she easily parried the strike before suddenly bulling forwards: her friends gasped, but Scrivener only smiled when Luna knocked Twilight rearing back. She didn't hurt her though, as promised, Twilight turning beet red as she realized instead Luna had almost picked her up and thrown her over her shoulder, horn and head alongside her as she teased: “Although I certainly could.”

Twilight popped out of existence in a burst of magic, teleporting behind Luna and stumbling once before she flopped woozily down on her face, eyes rolling on her head and fire-engine red. Luna threw her head back and laughed as she turned around, and Twilight picked herself up and said with embarrassment: “I... I'm sorry, Luna, I don't know if this is for me, it's um... it's so...”

“Nonsense, Twilight Sparkle. 'Tis an ancient unicorn art and thou art a studious and stupendous unicorn.” Luna smiled warmly, before adding as she poked her horn in Twilight's direction threateningly: “And does thou dare reject my gift of teaching thee this history, forgotten in part even by my sister?”

“N-No, no!” Twilight shook her head wildly, and when her friends cheered for her – and Scrivener blew a raspberry – she sighed loudly before grimacing, setting herself, and saying with only some resignation. “Okay, okay. What do I need to do?”

“First of all, remember this: horn and hoof were the weapons of the first unicorns, not spell or magic. A weapon is a tool, and it is up to us how it will be used.” Luna straightened, smiling, but still serious and calm, and Twilight looked up at her, listening intently and attentively. “We are responsible for our choices. In the wrong hooves, an art once used to defend can become the tool of a tyrant, and the weight of these choices can make coward of even the largest and strongest of ponies. I teach you these things so you will defend, and use them to protect others. I trust in thee, Twilight Sparkle, not just because my sister trusts thee, but because of the light and love I see in thine eyes, and the compassion thou hast for all things.”

Twilight blushed deeply, and then she nodded once before Luna set herself and grinned. “Now, Twilight Sparkle! Ready thyself, and this time, I shall attack and thou shall defend thyself by any means necessary!”

Luna's eyes flashed before she leapt forwards, propelling herself higher into the air with a single flap of her wings: for a moment, she was everything the legends had said about the mighty Morgan, ferocious and beautiful, her starlight mane and tail like the streak of a comet behind her as she dropped towards Twilight Sparkle-

A stallion leapt between them, a shield of magical energy forming and blocking the strike, and Scrivener sat up quickly as Luna was repelled, landing hard on her hooves and skidding backwards as she bared her fangs, snapping: “What is the meaning of this?”

“P-Princess Luna, I, uh...” The large, white unicorn was dressed in the ornate dress breastplate of a Captain of the Royal Guard. He looked nervous, concerned, and not a little angry even as he dropped his barrier of magic, but he did a good job of trying to hide it as he straightened and stepped back, asking: “Are you okay, little sister?”

“BBBFF?” Twilight asked dumbly.

Luna frowned and looked quickly over at Scrivener, but Scrivener only shrugged dumbly before Twilight shook her head quickly and blurted out, turning a different shade of red in a different kind of embarrassment: “S-Sorry, this is... Shining Armor, this is my big brother. My uh.... Big Brother Best Friend Forever. BBBFF.”

She gave an awkward donkey laugh as Scrivener slid out of his seat and walked up beside Luna, sizing the unicorn up. Shining Armor was tall, handsome, strong, a two-tone blue mane so perfectly messy it had to be copious amounts of mane gel and styling, and he was just about standing over Twilight Sparkle as he said quickly and politely: “Princess Luna. I don't know what's going on here but my little sister doesn't deserve-”

“She doesn't, but Luna's generous.” Scrivener drawled. Twilight looked like she was about to cry, Luna looked nearly ready to explode, so he took the attention off them the only way he knew how. “Shining Armor, hey there! We've met once or twice before. You threatened to shove my head up my... well, it's not important.”

“Scrivener Blooms.” Shining Armor's voice turned to ice and his eyes burned into the stallion. “I should have known you'd be involved somehow. What did you say to make Luna so angry?”

“I say a lot of things to make Luna angry.” Scrivener said as he took a step forwards, and Shining stepped forward as well, the two glaring at each other. “But you're the intruder here, you know.”

“Canterlot is my home, not yours. I was just coming here to say hello to my sister, when I saw Lu... Princess Luna attacking her!”

“I wasn't being attacked! Please, Shining, step back for a minute okay? We can talk about this.” Twilight Sparkle pleaded, tugging at her big brother, but Shining didn't even look back at her, stoically keeping his eyes ahead.

Stubborn. Refusing to admit he was a wrong. Where had Scrivener seen that before?

Charcoal grinned at white stallion, saying wryly: “If Luna was attacking anyone, believe me, they'd just be a smear on the ground and there's nothing any of us could do about it.”

“The Royal Court might be afraid of you, Scrivener Blooms, because of your... connections...” Shining Armor's eyes looked uneasily at Luna: the eyes of a loyal soldier of the daylight queendom of Celestia, the eyes of an overprotective brother who thought of himself as the only thing standing between her and the evils of the world, Nightmare Moon included. “But I am not. If you continue to harass my sister I'll show you that not even you are above the law and you can spend some time cooling your hooves in jail.”

Scrivener started to open his mouth, but Luna stepped forwards, her eyes glowing faintly, baring her teeth as she snarled: “If thou hast something to say, then say it to my face, Shining Armor, and not through thy cowardly threats at my assistant!”

Shining Armor glared back at her, and then he shouted: “Princess or not, you are out of line if you threaten my sister, and I have no doubt Princess Celestia would see it the same way!”

It was a terribly low blow. Luna looked stung, before she snorted steam, then hissed: “And does thou think thou could truly stop me if I actually desired to hurt thy precious sibling?”

Shining Armor stepped forwards and created a shield as his horn glowed. Scrivener tried to grab Luna, but of course it was too late, and she grinned, her eyes and horn alive with malicious light as she launched herself forwards and hit the shield hard.

Shining Armor probably expected this to be simple and clean. No matter how many ponies thought of her still as a relic of the past, as Nightmare Moon, no one thought that she was on the same level as her sibling, and of course if you pumped enough electricity into any pony they would go down in an embarrassing mess.

The high-voltage that raced across his shield did nothing to the Luna pressing against it, however, and it took Shining Armor far too long to realize it was nothing but an illusion before the real Luna leapt forwards, slicing her horn down the center of the barrier he'd created and not only rending his magical shield in twain, but absorbing that supercharge into her own horn.

She slammed into him from below and smashed him into the air, the unicorn gasping in horror at the raw power he was hit with before Luna drove him violently higher into the air, hooves a vicious, battering whirl that punched into every weak point of his armor and crushed the ceremonial breastplate into a ruthless cage before she was suddenly above him. She slammed her horn down, unleashing that stolen charge of electricity at the same time, and Shining Armor was launched straight down to slam face-first into the floor of the terrace with enough force to shake the concrete, laying in a drooling heap, his muscles twitching and spasming uselessly.

Luna landed on her hooves with a snort in front of him, and then she winced as Twilight Sparkle cried out and jumped forwards, wincing at the spark of electricity that sizzled across her hoof when she touched her brother before she looked up at Luna with... fear.

Luna winced, reaching a hoof forward, and Twilight flinched back from her. It was small, but Luna's expression and body physically sagged, her lower lip trembling as her eyes darted back and forth. Twilight winced and started to speak as Scrivener stepped forward, but all of them were caught in mid movement as a voice asked sharply: “What is going on here?”

They all looked up to see Celestia stride quickly out onto the terrace. Her eyes darted back and forth, and even Shining Armor seemed to sluggishly wince on the ground. She grimaced at the sight of him before leaning down, suffusing Shining Armor in a bright golden glow for a moment and lifting him up to his hooves.

He wobbled briefly, then stood on his own after a moment, bowing his head respectfully to Princess Celestia before he straightened and looked up at her nervously, as she asked: “What happened here?”

“Princess Luna-”

“Princess Luna was having Twilight Sparkle help her with a demonstration. Shining Armor interrupted it. There was an argument and Shining... fell down some invisible stairs.” Scrivener Blooms said.

Celestia turned her eyes on him, and he grimaced at the cold and serious gaze she locked him with, repeating quietly: “Fell down some invisible stairs?”

“Fell down some invisible stairs.” Scrivener said, keeping his head up, even in spite of the nervousness that ran through him.

There was silence for a few moments, before Celestia closed her eyes and seemed to think. Then, without opening her eyes, she said: “Shining Armor, please go to the infirmary to get checked out.”

“Wait, Princess Celestia, I-”

“Falling down stairs like that is very clumsy of you. But I'm glad that's all it was. You have a spotless record and I would hate to see a reprimand on it for a rash and impulsive decision made out of love. Just as an example.” Celestia said quietly but firmly, and Shining Armor quailed before the ivory mare slowly leaned forward and enunciated: “Because I am an older sibling as well, you see.”

Shining Armor dropped his eyes in shame, then he nodded once before looking up and saying: “Twilight, come on.”

“No.” Twilight said very quietly.

“Twilight-”

“No!” she yelled hoarsely at him, tears in her eyes, and the silence that followed hung in the courtyard for a moment before the violet mare turned and hurried away to the side of the terrace, dropping her head and doing her best to swallow her sobs.

Shining Armor looked down for a few moments, and then he simply nodded before straightening, saluting Princess Celestia, and walking away. Princess Celestia waited some thirty seconds as she looked at Luna, and then she said gently: “Come with me, sister. Let's go have a talk.”

“Yes, sister. Yes...” Luna murmured. She looked at Twilight Sparkle's back, then dropped her eyes and followed, trying to make herself small, looking miserable and ashamed.

Fluttershy hurried over to Twilight Sparkle as there was an uncomfortable quiet for a few moments, and then Rarity cleared her throat before she smiled hesitantly. “Well, it's... apart from a minor bump, I think it's been a wonderful day and... tomorrow, maybe tomorrow we could get together again? For now it's... it's late for us, anyway. We should retire to bed.”

“Yeah. I agree with Rarity, let's head off. Thank you for everything, Mr. Blooms. And hey, thank Princess Luna for inviting us again and tell her... we'd all really like to see her again.” Applejack added as the ponies all got up, heading to leave the terrace.

“I'll pass it on. Thank you for all being willing to give Luna a chance.” Scrivener answered politely.

“I uh... I think she was really amazing.” Rainbow offered almost bashfully, before flitting on.

“Yeah! She just needs more friends!” Pinkie agreed, even though there was almost a visible tinge of gray to her mane and tail now. She still tried to smile, though, as she followed her friends out.

Fluttershy came last, hesitating for a moment before she meekly dropped her head, then murmured: “I um. I know that she comes across as scary, but I know she's trying really hard and going through so much, too.”

Scrivener smiled a little, but before he could even thank her, she hurried off.

That left him... and on the other side of the terrace, Twilight Sparkle, who had her head low, tears rolling down her cheeks, snuffling quietly as she swallowed back her crying. Scrivener sighed a little, and then he strode over to her, reaching up to touch her shoulder gently.

She gave a short, bitter cry, but then her breathing gradually slowed as he just stood with her on this empty terrace. Finally, she looked up at him and asked weakly: “Did I make things worse?”

“Yeah, because it's all about you, Sparkles.” Scrivener gently squeezed her shoulder, and Twilight smiled faintly as she shook her head before he sighed a little and said quietly: “It's not your fault. I know you've seen the duality in her; part of her wants to be kind and generous, what everyone's come to expect from a princess like Celestia is; but part of her is wild and wants to be free and... and is still so hurt and angry from what made her into Nightmare Moon.

“She doesn't know if she wants to return to being the Luna she was in the past, or she wants a new future, as Princess Luna. It's hard on her. And... ponies won't let her escape the fact she was Nightmare Moon.”

“Like Shining.” she said bitterly.

“I didn't name any names.”

“I... it's true, though.” Twilight looked down, murmuring: “Shining's always been overprotective and... hey, did he really-”

Scrivener Blooms grinned, and Twilight Sparkle scowled and looked away, muttering: “I don't need him fighting my battles for me. But he wants ponies to rely on him. He's a good stallion. He's my big brother and I love him, and...”

She trembled, and looked down. “And it really scared me when Luna beat him up so badly. And so easily.”

“Oh, she could have done a lot worse. Easily.” Scrivener remarked, and Twilight glared at him, but she was surprised when Scrivener said calmly: “She could have broken his legs, or maimed him, or even killed him if she wanted to. Instead, she just bruised and banged him up and used his own magic against him.”

“I... I know. But it was still so violent. So scary. It wasn't like-”

“Nightmare Moon didn't want to harm you or kill you, Twilight. She wanted to be loved. That's why she tried to bribe you with the things you desired most, rather than just outright crush you unless it was absolutely necessary. Even now, Luna just wants ponies to care for her, but ponies... won't let go of her past. Of who she was, rather than who she is now.” Scrivener stopped, then said quietly: “And she has a lot of trouble letting go of that, too.”

Twilight Sparkle looked at him, rubbing at her face slowly, before she nodded and lowered her head. She thought for a little while, and he let her think, puzzle things out, until she finally said: “It's hard. I know Shining was wrong and I'm angry at him but I love him and I was scared for him. Luna scared me and I'm upset with how she handled things but also... amazed by her, and I feel... I feel awful that I hurt her feelings so much. I... I hate you, but I'm glad you were the one who stayed behind to talk with me.”

Scrivener only smiled and shrugged, and then the two shifted to turn and sit with their backs against the railing for a few minutes in quiet.

Finally, Scrivener said: “It would mean a lot to Luna if you came to see her before you went to bed tonight, or maybe tomorrow in the early morning, if you think you can manage not to scream in terror or anything like a big baby.”

“Yeah. I think I can.” Twilight Sparkle sighed, before she softened and said: “You really like her, huh? How does... doesn't she ever scare you?”

“She polymorphed her bed into a giant spider and made it attempt to eat me the other night.” Scrivener said wryly, and Twilight Sparkle stared at him before he shook his head and murmured: “But she doesn't. I know she'd never... okay, she's used me a stressball a lot and flung me into things and she's a huge pain in the flank. But she'd never do anything to really hurt me, you know? And I guess I'm used to temperamental pain in the butt unicorns by now.”

Twilight smiled despite herself, and then she bit her lip before asking hesitantly: “I heard that... she brought your pet Samael back to life. I'm sorry if it's a sore subject, I just wanted to ask if-”

“If it was true, or if he's an undead terror now?” A smile quirked at Scrivy's muzzle, but then he nodded and said softly: “Yeah. It's true, and it... it took some getting used to. I didn't know what to feel at first. But... Sammy is still Sammy, no matter what he looks like now, and I couldn't be more grateful to her. I'm a huge jerk, but even I know when to accept a gift with grace.”

“Now there's a lie if I ever heard one.” Twilight smiled though, looking thoughtful at this before she nodded slowly, then she bit her lip and said: “I have to go talk to my brother, and then get some sleep and I'll come by when I wake up. I... I'm glad you're there for Luna, and I'm... I'm grateful you're here.”

She looked awkwardly away, and Scrivener grinned at her before Twilight shoved a hoof against his nose, grumbling: “Oh, don't let it go to your big head. I just... thanks, Scrivener.”

She hugged him, and he blinked in surprise, but then lamely patted her on the back before nodding to her as she stepped back. They looked at each other for a few moments before she blushed and lamely excused herself, turning to hurry off, and Scrivener sighed tiredly as he looked up at the starry night sky.

He just hoped that Luna was okay, and that this wasn't going to end up being too much of a setback for her.

Given Quarter

Chapter Four: Given Quarter

~BlackRoseRaven

Luna paced back and forth in front of the fireplace like an anxious animal, shaking her head back and forth, the flames dancing violently as if further fueled by her anxieties. What had she done? Why had she been so violent, so rough?

What was she thinking, trying to make friends with normal ponies in the first place?

Princess Celestia only watched her, soft and gentle, giving her sister time to sort out her thoughts and feelings, until finally Luna stomped her front hooves angrily and glared at her through teary eyes, shouting: “What does thou want from me? Damn thee, Celestia, what does thou want?”

Celestia stepped forwards and hugged her, and Luna's eyes went wide before she trembled, then closed her eyes and tightly embraced her in return, burying her face against her as she shook with humiliation and shame and... and pain.

But her despair had always masqueraded as anger, because anger was easier to feel, easier to express, easier to hide away in.

Eventually, they parted, and Luna scowled as Celestia gently brushed her starry bangs from her face, asking gently: “Can you tell me what happened?”

“Stupid stuffy Shining Armor happened.” Luna mumbled childishly, and then she winced when Celestia bopped her gently with a hoof. “I... I lost my temper. And I...”

She became more serious, chewing at her lip as she whispered: “Twilight Sparkle looked upon me as if I were a monster, and I fear she was right to. The injury that I inflicted upon her brother, for the crime of desiring to protect her from perceived attack, was nothing compared to the pain I desired to inflict. How I wished to humiliate him and teach him his place and-”

“Enough, Luna. Enough.” Celestia reached up and soothingly squeezed her shoulder, looking down at her with compassion. “What matters is that you held back and didn't take things... well, you did take things too far.”

Luna huffed and grumbled, but she looked down, ashamed, as Celestia smiled a little and said quietly: “Shining Armor is a good pony. He means well. But... I... I know there are a lot of rumors and distrust still floating through Canterlot, and even my own Solar Guard aren't immune to gossip, or the old myths of Nightmare Moon.”

“Aye. Everything in the world that is bad is the fault of Nightmare Moon.” Luna grumbled, and Celestia sighed even as she looked with compassion down at her sibling.

“So you were...”

“Horn foiling.” Luna shrank a little, as if expecting to be reprimanded, and Celestia frowned at her; her little sister was taken by surprise by the question that followed.

“Why? Twilight Sparkle excels at magic, but horn foiling is more physical.”

Luna stared up at her sister, then she slowly narrowed her eyes until she was squinting. Celestia looked back at her mildly, only slowly raising an eyebrow in return, until Luna finally questioned suspiciously: “Who art thou, and what hast thou done with Celestia?”

Celestia gave her an amused look, and then she shook her head slowly before saying finally: “I know I probably deserve that, with how I used to behave, Luna. Even when you returned, I was... harsh to you, especially in private.”

She closed her eyes, almost frowning for a moment as she murmured: “But I've reflected a lot on how I treated you and what you mean to me. The debates we've had in private, and... I've come to see your side more. I... I have always had such trouble with things beyond my control, Luna. You know that.”

Celestia smiled a little as she opened her eyes and looked at her sister, who had softened from suspicion into concern. “I'm fine, Luna. Really, I am.”

“I think thou art possessed. Some terrible demon has infiltrated thee, 'tis the only thing that could have softened thy personality so.” Luna noted, and Celestia gave her a sour look. “Nay demon, thou cannot fool me! Thou hast already given the game away!”

“Luna.”

Luna grumbled, but then she nodded hesitantly, and Celestia said after a moment: “It feels less like I'm pretending these days, or always fighting some worse version of myself for control. I finally feel like myself, Celestia. And it's helped me find some peace, and... I hope it will help me make better decisions, too.”

The sapphire mare huffed a little, but then she gave a small smile, saying quietly: “Well, do not lose all of thy prickly bits, Celestia. I love thee for who thou art. That includes even the part that scolds me and tells me I'm an idiot.”

“You are an idiot, Luna. Don't worry, no matter how much things may change and settle, I think that will always remain the same.” she answered with an amused smile, and Luna grunted. “I don't entirely approve, don't worry. But I want to hear your reasoning before I scold you, at least.”

“Generous.” Luna deadpanned, and then she nodded once before saying finally: “Honestly, 'twas mostly impulse. And thou hast spoken so much of her that... I felt it safe to do, and that she would pick up the art quickly. I...”

She licked her lips, and Celestia smiled faintly as she said softly: “It's okay, Luna. I know you're... you're trying to find ways to share yourself with the world. And I know it must make you feel even more out of place when you reach out like this and find-”

“The ponies are different now.” Luna finished, looking down and stomping a hoof against the rug of the den quietly. “I shan't call them weak, but the prolonged peace and thy constant guidance have encouraged them to be more passive. To the pursuit of-”

“Peace?” Celestia questioned, and Luna grumbled. “You act like that's a bad thing.”

“I fear for them.” Luna said quietly. “I would arm them with knowledge. Teach them.”

“Knowledge is dangerous.” Celestia countered. “As arts like horn foiling and combat magic have faded from time and been replaced by gentler methods of dealing with our adversaries, the ponies have been encouraged to find happiness and express themselves in constructive ways. Bloodshed isn't a necessary part of a strong nation.”

Luna scowled, then argued: “Perhaps in an ideal world, but 'tis not the world we live in, Celestia! Thou knows many dangers and enemies surround us, and not every pony is so kind and warm and proper-”

“We're getting off track.” Celestia interrupted. Luna was both frustrated and almost glad for it: at least even now, she could grate on her sibling's nerves. “The point is that you should try reaching out to them through other means. Tell them about your art! They would love to see your sketching, Luna. Or you could tell them some of the old stories about Sleipnir, or sing the old songs with them.”

“Only if there was enough ale involved to get us all heartily drunk, 'twas a very important part of the process.” Luna answered dryly, and Celestia sighed. “Celestia, I only think that... I fear that they rely on thee and now the Elements of Harmony too much, and for all the evil the old ways could be used for, there were the teachings of honor and discipline, too.”

The two looked at each other, the fire crackling quietly before Celestia finally nodded once, closing her eyes and saying: “I'll consider your words, as long as you promise to consider mine as well. For now, please try and watch your temper, and consider reaching out to ponies through... gentler means.”

Luna grumbled under her breath, and Celestia studied her for a few moments before adding pointedly: “And it would be good if you could apologize to Shining Armor at some point, too.”

“What?” Luna burst out, glaring up at Celestia. “The prat is lucky I was kind enough not to break his legs!”

“Luna.”

Luna growled under her breath, then she spat into the fireplace, making the flames turn blue for a moment before she dropped her head sulkily. “Yes, Mother Celestia. I shall apologize to the prat.”

“Luna.” Celestia's voice was a bit firmer this time, and Luna looked moodily up at her. “He just wanted to protect his sister.”

“Because some part of him, some part of all of them, believe I am Nightmare Moon.”

Celestia nodded, then asked: “How is what you did going to dissuade them of that?”

Luna scowled, then stomped a hoof as she retorted: “Perhaps if I beat them enough, eventually it will get through their skulls.”

Celestia sighed and shook her head, then asked her plaintively: “Will you do me a favor, Luna?”

“Do not beat them?”

“Yes. But could you also return to your quarters for tonight? Give yourself a chance to cool down.”

Luna snorted at this, glaring up at her as she asked: “Oh, so thou art sending me to my room, Mother Celestia?”

Celestia's lips pursed, meeting her little sister's gaze with her own irritated irises. “I'm asking you, Luna, to at least try and keep your head down until things cool down, and until you at least pretend to make peace with Shining Armor.”

“Politics.” Luna grumbled bitterly.

“The worst part of being a princess.” Celestia agreed, before she said quietly but firmly: “And you have to do it, if not for my sake, then for your own.”

“Ugh.” Luna threw her head back with a groan, then she scowled and said grumpily: “I am not a foal.”

“Then be an adult.” Celestia sighed tiredly. “Enough, Luna. We both have plenty to think about and you... you should go and get some rest.”

Luna knew what that meant. She also recognized when Celestia had shifted to her implacable mother mode and would refuse to talk or take any baiting she might throw out, so instead she only snorted, then turned and stormed out of the room.

She made her way through the castle, past the few servants who were still awake, and a handful of patrolling Royal Guard. The servants gave her a wide, nervous berth, and the guards scowled at her, although they stayed at a distance. She could imagine that they were already gossiping like little fillies about what she'd done, and how maybe all the stories about her being evil and wicked Nightmare Moon were true after all, with how she'd so cruelly mashed in their brave and handsome captain's face.

She ground her teeth almost all the way to her room, her jaw aching by the time she smashed through the door, Scrivener Blooms wincing and almost knocking over the stack of books on his desk as he turned in his seat towards her. Before he could speak, the mare flicked her horn as it glowed brightly, slamming the door behind her with telekinesis before a circle of runes rapidly inscribed itself in blue flame over the surface.

Luna took a slow breath as her whole body loosened up, and then she screamed in frustration, jumping and leaping around, her voice shaking the room as her hooves slammed and stomped across the stone floor. She snapped her head back and forth as her mane and tail sparked, bucking like a bronco in a whirl of fury.

She swore and cursed and tantrumed, her eyes blazing, sparks of magic sizzling off her horn until she finally tired herself out, almost stumbling to a halt as she dropped her head, her lower lip trembling as she tried to bite back her tears.

Scrivener pushed himself out of his seat and walked over to her to hug her tightly, and Luna buried her face against his neck as she hugged him tightly back, her larger body almost curling around and overtop his own as she murmured: “Damnation, Scrivener Blooms. I hate this stuffy, stupid place and these stuffy, stupid ponies. 'Tis all... stuffy.”

“Stuffy.” Scrivener agreed, rubbing her back gently as he squeezed her tightly, before he asked: “Are you okay?”

Luna smiled a bit as she pulled back, looking down into his concerned eyes. “Yes, Scrivy. I am now. I am just...”

“Passionate.” Scrivener filled in helpfully, and Luna laughed.

“Yes. I am passionate. Passionate and... of another world, I feel.” Luna bit her lip, shaking her head as she murmured: “Celestia has had a thousand years to change and grow and evolve, and I spent all that time locked away in madness. Equestria has moved on without me and I fear I shan't ever belong here.”

“Well, hey, us freaks have to stick together, right? And... Twilight Sparkle wasn't just scared of you, you know that, right?” Scrivener said gently, and Luna mumbled disconsolately. “I really mean it. Sure, you scared her, but that's just because Twilight's a big baby and a smart cookie, and any smart pony is afraid of you. But I think she felt just as bad about what happened as you did.”

“Do not tell me what I do and do not feel.” Luna grumbled, but Scrivener only gave her an amused look. “Stupid poet. Thou art stuffy too.”

Scrivener sighed, before he asked gently: “Did it really go that badly?”

Luna opened her mouth, then she closed it slowly, chewing at the inside of her cheek before she mumbled: “I... I suppose not. 'Tis just vexing, Scrivy, I... I hate it here. I hate playing the role of princess. I hate being reasonable. I hate that I am forced to exist in a future that judges me for my past.”

Scrivener gave her a moment, and she started to talk again as she looked up towards the ceiling, her eyes drawing across its shadowy concrete emptiness: “I am not permitted to raise or lower the moon. The practice of my magic is monitored. I am always watched, and never rewarded, only judged.”

“Twilight and her friends came out here to see you. That's nice, isn't it?” Scrivener pointed out, and Luna glowered at him. “Look, Luna, if you want a treat or a gold star, I'm happy to give you them. I'll go draw one up for you right now as a matter of fact.”

Luna huffed at him loudly, and Scrivener shrugged before he winced when she shoved him backwards. They jostled for a moment, but it wasn't long before they were sitting side-by-side, both of them looking out the barred window.

“This does seem like a cell sometimes. A gilded cage is still a cage.” Scrivener said.

“'Tis not very gilded, either.” Luna grumbled. “But 'tis probably for the best. Celestia is gilded and she has become...”

She quieted, then she laughed a little and glanced over at Scrivener, murmuring: “She is not the Celestia I remember, battle-hard and even more a creature of passion and the moment than I, yet also possessed by a scheming mind.

“She still is motherly and I fear her manipulations, but she has grown and changed. I love her and admire her and envy her, and... Equestria is hers to rule.” Luna laughed faintly. “What use is another princess, especially one of the night, which so few ponies appreciate?”

“And yet some still do all the same.” Scrivener said, before he hesitated and added: “Maybe you have a point.”

Luna frowned over at him, and the stallion shrugged as he looked up at the ceiling, saying quietly: “We're supposed to go on some weird dumb quest thing, right? But Celestia also said that afterward...”

Luna nodded slowly, and then she smiled a little as she murmured: “Yes, Scrivy. That is true. There is no returning to old times, but perhaps indeed not all hope is yet lost. Ah, perhaps Celestia will let me join the Royal Guard!”

“Then you can beat up Shining Armor every day.” Scrivener remarked, and Luna huffed and punched him in the shoulder, making him wince a little. “Ouch.”

“Thou art lucky I will need a bard on my journey ahead, elsewise I would mash thee into mush.” Luna grumbled, and Scrivener rolled his eyes before the sapphire mare glanced away as she admitted: “And I suppose... I like thee a little as well, my friend.”

“I like you too, Luna. Pretentious accent included.” He answered, then winced a little when she firmly bopped him with her horn. “And in spite of all the hitting me you do, too.”

“I swear thou likes it, masochist. But it will at least make thee more useful on the journey, both as my shield and stress-ball.” Luna said, and Scrivener laughed.

“Great, cool, glad I'll be 'useful,' then.” he said wryly, and then he shook his head before asking finally: “What... do you expect me to do on your epic quest though, seriously?”

Luna looked at him curiously, cocking her head, and Scrivener shrugged lamely and awkwardly tapped his front hooves together before he said awkwardly: “I just... you know, don't want to slow you down too much, Miss Professional Adventurer. Maybe you could, you know, tell me a bit about what a bard should expect to do on an adventure.”

“Oh, thou art not a true bard, poet, though, thou art more... junior bard, or novice adventurer.” Luna answered with a slight smile, winking at the stallion. “But if thou art willing to listen, I am more than willing to speak for a time about all the things adventuring entails that perhaps the legends and stories may not have spoken of.

“And in all honesty, Scrivy, thou shall be more useful than thou knows. Thy accompaniment is more necessary than thou can know; I neither dare nor desire to walk that old path alone.”

Luna blushed a bit, looking back at the window, and Scrivener softened and smiled before he nodded a little and said: “I would love to listen, Luna.”

Luna talked for a long time, telling him all kinds of stories: she told him about traveling all across Equestria, about living for weeks, months at a time at campfire, living off the fruit of what had then been all wild land.

They were only interrupted just before daybreak, when there was a quiet knock at the door. Luna's eyes widened at the sight of Twilight Sparkle, standing up awkwardly and giving her a lame smile as she started to fumble out some apology, but she was left speechless when Twilight hurried up to her, hugged her fiercely, and whispered: “I'm sorry.”

Twilight Sparkle was a lot of things, Scrivener Blooms thought. But she wasn't half-bad at the whole friendship thing, as he softened at the sight of Luna closing her midnight-green eyes, a single tear rolling down her cheek as she hugged that little unicorn mare fiercely, fiercely back.

Twilight stayed for a while. She wanted to hear more about horn foiling, and about Luna's old adventures, and their plans for the future. She stayed until daybreak, when there was a polite knock at the door, and Scrivener opened it to find Shining Armor.

The stallion held himself stiffly upright, glaring at Scrivener Blooms, and Scrivener Blooms glowered back fearlessly as Twilight Sparkle winced and staggered up to her hooves.

“Shining Armor.” Luna swept up to her own hooves and strode imperiously forward, and Shining looked up at her: to his slim credit, he almost managed to hide how uncomfortable she made him. “I wish to apologize for my temper. 'Twas not only cruel to thee, 'twas rude and unnecessary. I am sorry, as if there is one thing I understand, 'tis to love thy sibling with all thy heart.”

“I... thank you, Princess Luna. I wish to apologize as well for being rude and failing to respect you, as Princess of the Night.” Shining Armor answered, and while it was little more than professional courtesy, it was something, at least. “Twilight, your friends are looking for you, I said I'd come get you for them.”

“I bet they are.” Twilight muttered, and then she traded a quick hug with Luna. “We'll see you tonight, okay? We're in Canterlot for one more night and... my friends would definitely love to spend that time with you.”

“Of course, Twilight. Go, though, there are many wonderful sights to be seen around Canterlot.” Luna encouraged, and Twilight Sparkle smiled at her before she left, stepping past her brother.

Shining Armor leaned in to close the door, then glared at them both as Luna and Scrivener both made faces like him. He pointed at his own eyes, then at them as he leaned back and slammed the door, then he huffed and turned around to catch up to Twilight, who was frowning at him.

“I wish you wouldn't antagonize them.” she muttered.

“Look, Twili, she might be the Princess of the Night, but I'm still going to call a griffin a griffin. She's a bad influence on you, and that... Scrivener Blooms is even worse.” Shining Armor scowled, ignoring Twilight's sour look. “Some ponies are just trouble, end of story.”

“Luna's a good pony. And you could stand to learn a thing or two from Scrivener, actually, and you have no idea how much it annoys me to defend that jerk of all ponies to you.” Twilight grumbled.

Shining Armor laughed shortly at this. “Like how to get in trouble with the Royal Court? Little sister, before you met him, you had a spotless record. Do you know how shocked Mom and Dad were when we all found out you actually got kicked out of the library?”

“Oh, yeah, just furious. That's why it's one of their favorite stories still. Heck, Mom said it was such a relief I was learning to loosen up a little bit.” Twilight said dryly. “Scrivy's fine. He's an idiot, but he's really good to the ponies he cares about.”

Shining Armor scowled even more thunderously at this. “Cares about? He better not 'care about' you. And you better not 'care about' him, either! You deserve a better stallion. Maybe someone like Flash Sentry, I think he'd be good for you.”

“Oh Horses of Heaven, Shining, stop trying to set me up with your friends!” Twilight Sparkle groaned, rolling her eyes. “Maybe you should date him instead if you like him so much.”

“Romance and love can wait, Twilight, I'm focused on my job right now.” Shining answered with a shake of his head. “I'm looking at a promotion this year as long as I can keep things together. And as long as nopony screws it up for me.”

“Heaven forbid.” Twilight muttered.

“Look. Just stay away from them. They're trouble.” Shining said in that authoritative big brother voice he liked way too much, and Twilight Sparkle couldn't help but reflect that maybe he could use with a few friendship lessons himself.

Luna fell asleep in bed while complaining to Scrivener Blooms about something or other, and Scrivener fell asleep not long after at his writing desk after putting his head down to rest his eyes for a moment. At some point during the day, Luna had woken up long enough to heft Scrivener out of his seat and drop him onto the bed with telekinesis, and then she had simply flopped down beside him.

Not very princess-like, but she wasn't very good at this whole princess thing anyway.

Scrivener woke up because something was tickling his nose. He opened his eyes, on the one hand embarrassed to find himself in Luna's bed, and on the other, annoyed because Luna was tickling his snout with a straw.

He slapped at it grumpily, as Luna remarked: “Thou fell asleep in my bed, Scrivener Blooms. 'Tis very improper and rude. Thou art stinky. Stinky Scrivener Blooms.”

“Yeah.” Scrivener grasped at his uniform frock, saying mildly: “I'm still wearing this gross thing, after all. I probably need to wash it. And wash myself at that.”

Luna grunted as she took a bite of salad before almost flinging a second bowl at him with telekinesis, Scrivener catching this with a grunt of surprise as Luna noted: “The servants brought us breakfast a few moments ago. With it came a note from Celestia, saying that she was having the Garden of the Moon cleaned and prepared for us to visit with Twilight Sparkle and her friends.”

“Your friends too.” Scrivener noted.

“Not quite, I am not sure they like me very much.” Luna said glumly.

Scrivener snorted as he sat up and shoved the bowl into his face, taking a deep munch of salad. Luna looked at him for a moment, then at the fork she was using, and she shrugged before flicking the fork at Scrivener and instead shoving the bowl into her own face to devour it in a few quick bites.

“You know, ponies are quick to be friendly with each other these days. Maybe, okay, 'friend' even gets a little overused. But if you don't give them a chance-”

“I know, I know.” Luna grumbled through the last of her mouthful of salad, and then she floated her cup of tea into the air and sipped at it, murmuring: “I will say though, Scrivy, perhaps once I was greedy and stupid enough to think I needed to be adored by all, but now... now I am happy with a few willing to admire what the night has to offer, and of course, my loyal aide to keep me entertained.”

“Thanks Luna. You know just how to make me feel special.” Scrivener remarked.

But he was smiling, because she did make him feel special, whether he'd ever really admit that or not. She was strong, incredible, and her stories about the life she'd lived a thousand years ago were incredible and beyond everything he'd ever dreamed of.

He could respect Princess Celestia for the things she'd done and how hard she worked to keep Equestria safe. But it was Luna who he thought of as a true heroine, the champion who was willing to go as far as it took to protect the world that she clearly loved so deeply, even when it didn't love her back. That was what made her so special, he thought: not her strength, but her desire to do the right thing, no matter how hard that was.

Luna was peering at him suspiciously, and he blushed a bit, then asked impulsively: “How are you feeling tonight?”

The mare blinked, then she shrugged as she looked at the window, flicking her horn to throw the curtains open and reveal the beautiful sunset-sky. She gazed up at the cloudless, deepening expanse, then said finally: “Nervous, I suppose, Scrivener Blooms. And frustrated still, aye. I do not... I am not good at politics. Is that all friendship is, politics?”

“Wow, that's pessimistic even by my standards.” Scrivener put his bowl aside with a slight smile as he stood up and walked over to her, and then he offered her a hoof. She took it with a smile, allowing him to help her to stand. “Don't wimp out on me now, huh?”

“I am no wimp!” Luna said crossly, huffing loudly at him, before she grumbled: “I... I am also no foal to be sent on playdates either, though, and Celestia-”

“Screw Celestia.” Scrivener said, and Luna grinned in spite of herself. Even for the abrasive poet, that was bold to say. She liked that. “This is about you. Even if Celestia has set out party balloons and cake and a ball pit, this is your chance to meet with them and show them who you are.”

Luna nodded after a moment, and then she said finally: “Thou art right, Scrivener Blooms. I mean... you are right.”

“You know, maybe tonight...” Scrivener smiled despite himself. “Just talk like yourself. I... I really like the way you talk.”

Luna blushed ever-so-slightly, and then she scoffed: “Some teacher thou art, poet! Pathetic! And look at thee, such a mess!”

She flicked her horn, Scrivener wincing at the powerful cleansing spell that seared his body and made his cloak smell like smoldering cloth, and then she began to yank and poke at him with telekinesis, 'neatening' his frock. “I swear, look at thee. Without me, thou must have been naught but a sordid ugly mess. We can at least fix the sordid part.”

“Can't fix what a whiny little filly you are, though.” Scrivener muttered before he could stop himself, and then he wheezed when Luna's telekinesis became a vise around him and hefted him into the air. “H-Hey, you can't squish me or you'll have to go meet Twilight and her friends alone!”

“Thou art a rude, nasty little ingrate, beetle.” Luna enunciated as she leaned in, her eyes narrowed to slits, before she softened even as Scrivener rolled slowly, weightlessly in the air in the grip of her magic. “And yet what makes thee so terrible is that thou speaks the truth. 'Tis frustrating.”

Scrivener made a face as he slowly revolved upside-down. “Then in the name of the truth, can you put me down?”

“Nay.” Luna paused. “I must admit I enjoy these games, Scrivy, and in all the wide world there are precious few like thee, whom are too stupid to fear my power.”

She absently flung him over her head, Scrivener flailing wildly before he was caught in another telekinetic hold before he could hit the ground, instead rolling helplessly through the air again before she juggled him back, musing: “I have always enjoyed this power over others, Scrivener Blooms. I understand why these days especially, ponies fear me, with magic turned to peaceful uses rather than offensive.”

“Could you put me down, please? I'm definitely gonna puke if you keep this up.” Scrivener wheezed loudly, and Luna smiled despite herself as she set him on his hooves. His legs quaked for a moment before he straightened, shaking his head and glowering at her. “How about I work on my tact if you agree to work on your whole 'picking up ponies' thing. Me, in particular.”

Luna laughed, and smiled at him. He wasn't afraid of her. He trusted her, even with how fickle she was, her brashness, her bad habit of abusing her power rather than her authority over others.

“Perhaps. And yet, Scrivy, I think thou enjoys that power I hold over thee.” she teased as she leaned forwards, her midnight eyes gleaming as she licked her lips slowly, and Scrivener's eyes widened as he leaned back with a flush that crept up from his collar. “Certainly I find much pleasure in it myself.”

Then she laughed and turned to head to the door, and Scrivener awkwardly fidgeted on the spot before he cleared his throat and hurried after her, mumbling under his breath.

They were both distracted from their games when Luna opened the door, however, finding blue-armored guards outside. Luna frowned at this: these were her Centurions, the elite of the Night Guard, which were comprised chiefly of bat ponies.

Bat ponies were very rare these days. They had once been pegasi, but had been touched by the powers of Nightmare Moon in the brief time she had rampaged freely across Equestria before her failed attack on Celestia, and she had been sent to the moon. Only a few descendants still existed these days, almost all of them employed here at Canterlot as protectors of the castle during the cover of darkness.

“What art thou doing here?” Luna asked.

One of the bat ponies smiled at her: Long Dark, she was fairly certain was his name. “Night Mistress Luna! Day Lady Celestia has told us we are all to be transferred fully to your care.”

“What?” Luna blinked in surprise. While the Centurions and Night Guard were 'hers,' they had always been so in name only. Whether Solar or Night, Centurion or Dervish, they all fell under the umbrella of the Royal Guard of Canterlot, which reported to Celestia's chosen commanders and generals, who of course reported to Celestia, not her.

It was a strange and surprising gesture as she traded looks with Scrivener Blooms, before asking: “What does this mean?”

“Day Lady Celestia said to serve you as our ancestors did long ago. We are honored.” Long Dark answered her, as he and his fellow bowed deeply. “Where you wish us to go, now we shall go. Day Lady Celestia says the pact is fulfilled.”

“The pact...” Luna looked at Scrivener with confusion.

The stallion only thought for a moment before he nodded and answered: “The legend goes that the bat ponies were given amnesty by Celestia after you were sent to the moon. But in return they had to promise that they and all their ancestors would obey her until... I think it was put in the old scrolls, 'the sins of the betrayer were washed clean from their wings.'”

“And now we are free.” said the other bat pony. A beautiful gray mare, Luna realized. She was blushing a little, young and clearly newly-promoted. “It is an honor, Mistress Luna.”

“I am... honored by thee.” Luna smiled after a moment, then she said finally: “Then tell all to take tonight to celebrate this freedom. And that I do not bind them: thou may continue to serve as my soldiers and Night Guard as thou desires, but should any of thee wish, thou art free to go.”

Both of the Night Guard looked surprised by this, trading looks before they bowed deeply to her, whispering gratitude, but Luna only smiled faintly as she murmured: “I have spent long in a cage myself, my friends. I shall never deny freedom to those who deserve it.”

With that, Luna strode quickly past them, and Scrivener followed. They made their way through the dark shadows of the castle, heading for one of the lesser-used exits so they didn't have to pass into the busy brightness of Canterlot proper, and Scrivener allowed Luna time to think.

As they exited a long, curling almost-secret passage and stepped out into the brisk night air, Luna finally rose her eyes to the beautiful night sky. Sun had set, moon had risen, and the stars gleamed and thrummed across the blanket of darkness, the two ponies looking up at this before Luna took a deep breath, then recited: “Star light, star bright, spirits of kings and queens of the night sky...”

“Grant me fortune and joy tonight, as thee shine thy splendorous light down from on high.” Scrivener finished, and Luna blinked in surprise, but the stallion only grinned wryly and shrugged. “Hey, I'm the Court Poet, I need to at least know a few of the old poems. I don't think you need the luck of the gods on your side tonight, but... I'm sure they'll send a little extra encouragement your way all the same.”

They were both surprised by a cheerful chirp, and then the two laughed as they looked down at Sammy, who scurried between them and around them happily before he leapt up, scrambling up Luna's ethereal mane as she huffed a little, but didn't resist as the skeletal pseudodragon proudly made his way up onto her head.

Scrivener smiled in amusement, and then the two started forwards across the castle grounds towards the natural stage a short distance away, as Luna asked: “Does thou think it was a test?”

“Nah.” Scrivener answered, shaking his head briefly. “I mean, Princess Celestia always seems to know what's going to happen. She's had a thousand years to play politics and learn things and... I think, honestly, this is maybe her way of trying to show you that she... she means what she says.”

Luna nodded slowly, then smiled as a bat pony swooped through the night air above their heads. She thought she could see more than one, reveling in their newfound freedom as they danced together across the firmament and sang silent songs that made her horn reverberate.

“I could not deny them freedom, Scrivy.” she said, as they entered the Garden of the Moon: a massive stone table covered in hexagrams and lunar symbols dominated the center of the zone, which was surrounded by enormous stone pillars etched with stories in ancient runes, overgrown with moss and ivy.

“You're a good pony, Luna.” Scrivener said softly, and she heard in his voice that he really meant it.

They approached the table. Seats and cushions had been set out, and the altar-table itself was freshly polished, to the point where even the symbols across it seemed to glow with newfound life. Luna tested it with her magic, and smiled warmly as the hexagrams briefly lit up with a soft blue glow. “This has been recently restored. Damn thee, Celestia. And here I thought thou would have let all this fade into antiquity...”

“What is it?” Scrivener asked, before he smiled in amusement as Sammy leapt off Luna's head to attack a stray bun that had fallen out of one of the baskets of food on the table. “Should we be eating off the sacrificial altar?”

“Oh, shut up, Scrivy, 'tis not a sacrificial altar.” Luna huffed, then answered in a softer voice: “'Tis a calendar and astrolabe, useful for calculating and plotting out when and where magic ritual will be most effective, among other things.”

She paused, then added positively: “'Tis also very useful for the weather, which is silly, with how 'tis controlled now across Equestria.”

“Huh.” Scrivener looked across the table as he watched Samael roll around with the bun, clearly losing to the baked good, and then he smiled slightly as he noted: “You know, this is so nice maybe I should just excuse myself-”

“If thou abandons me here, Scrivener Blooms, I shall pummel thee.” Luna threatened, and Scrivener winced and leaned back as Sammy chirped and looked up from beneath the bun he was half-curled around. “I... well, 'tis easier to be confident with thou around. Thou art like my second in the days of the duel; should I err, I know thou art there to step in for my sake.”

Scrivener smiled at this metaphor, nodding as he agreed: “Fine, if you put it like that, I can't back out on you. I'll deal with Twilight Sparkle and her friends. Just remember, be yourself, Luna. Or at least pretend to be cool.”

“I am cool. I am very cool!” Luna complained.

“Uh huh.” Scrivener paused, glancing up the path they hadn't taken that led down from a brighter part of the castle, and noted: “I swear I just saw something pink zip by.”

“You've got good eyes!” declared a new voice, and Scrivener and Luna both jumped before staring in disbelief at the pink pony who had joined them. She smiled brightly as she waved rapidly, before her eyes slid to the table, and then slowly widened at the sight of Sammy.

The little skeletal pseudodragon popped up to his claws, finally letting the mauled bun roll away, and then he chirped loudly as he hopped towards her, and Pinkie Pie squealed before she dashed off, almost vanishing back towards the castle.

Sammy whimpered, and Scrivener smiled wryly as he turned his eyes towards him, saying gently: “I know you want to meet new ponies, little guy, but let them come to-”

Except a moment later, Pinkie Pie was back, and this time she was bulling a stupefied Fluttershy in front of her, almost throwing the yellow pegasus at the table as she blurted out: “Look look look! Ooh, Spike, Spike should see this too!”

“Um” was about all that Scrivener could manage before Pinkie Pie dashed off again, leaving poor meek Fluttershy there alone. On the bright side, her attention was quickly drawn away from the strange ponies she was with: on the not-so-bright side, it went immediately to Sammy.

They stared at each other, and then Sammy chirped at her, and Fluttershy flinched: the pseudodragon dropped his head with a whimper, and Fluttershy trembled-

Scrivener and Luna stared as the pegasus mare leapt forwards and scooped Sammy up off the table, making him squeak in surprise as she blurted out: “Oh, no no no! I'm sorry, I was just startled, that was all! You're a very lovely little pseudodragon, aren't you? Why look at you and how handsome you are!”

Sammy chirped after a moment, and she smiled brightly as she snuggled the skeletal little beast warmly against her before blushing as she looked up at Scrivener and Luna, not seeming to notice their stares as she worried: “I'm... I'm not hurting him, am I?”

“Uh, no, he seems very happy.” Scrivener said after a moment, clearing his throat awkwardly as Sammy chirped in agreement, nuzzling deeper into the pegasus' body and kneading her mane tenderly. “He's um, a clever little dude, he'll let you know.”

“Okay, that's good.” Fluttershy looked relieved, smiling as she relaxed a little, tenderly, carefully stroking along his spine as she murmured: “I'll try not to be so rough, don't worry.”

Luna and Scrivener traded amused looks, and then they looked up again as Pinkie Pie came back with a tiny purple dragon on her back, whom she unceremoniously flipped off to land on his butt with a yelp. Fluttershy blinked as Pinkie said brightly: “Look, it's like a little dragon, an even smaller dragon than you!”

“Pinkie Pie, I know what a pseudodragon is, I've seen-” And then Spike stared at the skeleton Fluttershy was cradling, almost going white as a sheet before he pointed and cried: “It's a zombie!”

He bolted off to hide behind one of the pillars, and Sammy gave an offended huff as Fluttershy chastened: “That's not very nice, Spike!”

Scrivener, Luna, and Pinkie all shared a laugh, though, and it was a good way to loosen up before they were joined by the others. Twilight Sparkle was more in awe over the massive stone table than she was over the undead pseudodragon, although Rainbow seemed to share Spike's sentiments and had placed herself on the far side of the table from Fluttershy.

Applejack and Rarity were good conversationalists, steering things away from yesterday's events, and Fluttershy seemed content with Sammy, who also seemed very happy. Spike nervously hid beside Twilight Sparkle, who was watching Luna and occasionally added a little about this or that, and Rainbow said a few dumb things, but in ways that endeared her to Luna. And somehow Pinkie Pie was always there, taking a silent lead in making sure everyone was happy at this little party and adding now and then to the conversation.

After about an hour, the wind picked up a little: the breeze was nice, but it blew out the candles at the table. Neither Scrivener nor Luna really noticed, used to the dark as they were, but Pinkie Pie almost collided with Applejack, who yelped before grumbling: “Watch yerself, it's darker in here than a barrel in a barn.”

“I can cast a light spell!” Twilight Sparkle suggested.

“Oh, nay, I apologize friends. I forget others aren't as used to the night as myself and Scrivy. Allow me.” Luna apologized, and without thinking, she looked up at the moon as her horn began to glow.

The full moon's radiance seemed to brighten, before that great pearl in the sky grew; its pall became a brightness that filled the field with a soft white light, and the ponies gasped and marveled amongst themselves before Twilight murmured, as she looked with awe at Luna: “That's incredible.”

“What? Oh, nay, nay, 'tis nothing!” Luna blushed deeply, laughing awkwardly as she waved a hoof. “The moon and I have always spoken, that is all.”

“I wish I could speak to the moon!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “She must be a great friend!”

“He.” Luna corrected automatically, and Scrivener coughed before wincing when Luna punched him in the shoulder. “Oh shut up, poet. Fie on thee.”

“Pie sounds great!” Whether Pinkie misheard Luna or not, pie was still a good idea, and they all welcomed the slices that Pinkie doled out to them.

She also gave Luna and Scrivener coffee, as if somehow she knew the two preferred that over tea. She seemed to have a supernatural sense for what to do that went beyond her special talent being for parties, and more importantly, she seemed to be enjoying herself acting as impromptu hostess.

Luna listened a lot. She was good at listening – at least, when she wanted to be – and she was fascinated by the modern world and the way ponies lived these days. It was one thing to hear about it second-hoof from Celestia, but quite another to hear the perspectives from the ponies themselves, who actually lived these experiences and what it meant for the average pony.

Rarity was the first to leave after another good ninety minutes or so, claiming she needed her beauty sleep: one after another, the ponies filtered off. Fluttershy stole Sammy when she left, but since Sammy didn't struggle, Scrivener thought it was probably fine: he was just glad there was another pony who liked his weird little companion.

Pinkie Pie left last after doing some tidying up, and she surprised Luna with a hug, the sapphire mare blushing in surprise, then laughing when Pinkie nearly strangled Scrivener with another firm embrace, making him wheeze and then scowl as she hopped happily off.

That left Twilight Sparkle.

Spike was snoozing quietly on a pile of cushions, all tuckered out from the night, and Twilight gazed at him before she looked at Luna. The sapphire mare smiled slightly, then gestured with her head, and the trio walked out of the Garden of the Moon and up to the top of a nearby hill.

“Once upon a time, Twilight Sparkle, this world was not so... controlled, so calm, so restricted. The pegasi did not act to control the weather, except for rare occasion to protect cropland or weaken the most ferocious storms. Magic was both more and less omnipresent, less for luxury and more a tool for survival.” Luna gazed up at the moon, her horn glowing as she leaned forward, gently pushing that radiant orb back to its natural position in the sky, the air deepening around them.

Twilight Sparkle smiled faintly: she didn't speak as her own horn glowed, creating a small ball of light that gently lit the area around them, as Luna continued: “'Twas a wild world, yet I think 'twas even better for it. But mayhap that is only my fondness for the old, dead ways talking, and my desire to return to a world that, as harsh as it was... at least I understood it. At least 'twas somewhere where I belonged.”

“You belong in this world, too.” Scrivener Blooms said softly. “Maybe not as a princess, I don't know. Maybe not here in Canterlot, even. But you're ironically having the same problem every pony does: figuring out where it is you belong.”

“Scrivener's right. As much as that pains me to say.” Twilight smiled a little at the stallion, then she returned her eyes to Luna. “You know... I think you'll find that place. You're strong enough to. You deserve to be happy, Luna.”

“Do I?” Luna smiled again, but it was more sad this time as her eyes drifted skywards. “They say a traitor is forever stained, Twilight Sparkle. Nightmare Moon shall never leave me... neither my heart, nor my name. And I have done terrible things in the name of good, and even more terrible things following my own desires.”

Twilight looked at her silently, but Scrivener reached up and squeezed her shoulder gently. “Evil and good are relative terms. You've helped many ponies. You're responsible for this nation becoming what it is today. You're not Celestia, Luna, you don't have to be perfect.”

Luna laughed at this, giving him an amused look, and Twilight Sparkle bit her lip before she said softly: “It's funny. Celestia was just talking to me today about something similar, too. Things she was worried about, that she said were worse than Discord. I've never had her open up to me like that, and it's hard to imagine something more frightening than Discord...”

Luna snorted in amusement, and Twilight cocked her head curiously before the mare remarked: “Nay, 'tis only... a reminder. Twilight Sparkle, what evils did Discord do?”

“He... well, he hurt all my friends. He scared a lot of ponies. He turned the world topsy-turvy and made-”

“He made the skies rain chocolate milk and ill sport of the ponies around him.” She paused, then added gently: “And I heard, of course, how he attacked thee and thine, but think about it, Twilight Sparkle: across all of Equestria, perhaps all the world, what threatened him most?”

“Us.” Twilight answered after a moment, as if the thought had never occurred to her.

Her mouth went dry. She couldn't even say that Discord had no reason to have been afraid of them, because...

Twilight looked towards the gardens in the distance. And as if reading her mind, Luna strode forward, taking the lead, as Scrivener fell in beside her, offering silent support to her as they made their way to the somehow-frightening statue garden.

Here, amongst the hedges and ferns, stood countless ancient monsters, statues of heroes, beasts and villains; how many of them, Twilight wondered uneasily, had once been real, and were now only the petrified remains of creatures who had once threatened Equestria? Was that why they all looked so real, so alive, why their angry eyes seemed to follow her?

And in the center of it all, frozen forever in marble, was the statue of a Draconequus, a chimerical creature whose entire chaotic body was united in a singular expression of terror: Discord.

Here, naked in the moonlight, with no sounds of joy or celebration to form the distracting backdrop, Twilight Sparkle felt guilt and shame and abject terror roil inside of her at the sight of him, not only imprisoned, but the crowning decoration of this awful, frightening stone necropolis...

“That could have been me.” Luna said softly, matter-of-factly. “In some ways, perhaps, I shared the experience he did; only my imprisonment was within the moon, the stain of my crime upon its face.

“Aye, Discord is disharmony, and he has done wicked things and deserves punishment. But he does not kill, Twilight Sparkle. 'Tis a foolish notion, that chaos must kill; killing is stillness and silence, and chaos desires to see things move and react, not cease to be.

“That was why he did not simply kill thee when he easily could have. 'Twould have certainly solved any problem of threat for him.” Luna noted: Twilight had never thought about that. “And do not think my pity blinds me to the problems he would cause. Thou should be proud of what thou hast accomplished, defeating Discord and putting a stop to his chaos: it is a testament to the strength of the bonds thou shares with thy friends.

“What I am not proud of is that my sister has placed him here, on display for all to see, like a war trophy. Frozen, powerless... is he aware? Does he scream, Twilight Sparkle?” And although Twilight was trembling, Luna, too, had a haunted look in her eyes as she gazed up at the frightened face of the statue, whispering: “Had the Elements of Harmony nullified me rather than blasting the infection from my body, would I be here as well, amongst so many other petrified relics of the past, forevermore on display as examples of what Celestia would do to the ponies who cross her?”

Twilight Sparkle looked down, shaking her head mutely, and then she gasped quietly when Luna hugged her fiercely, and wiped a hoof across her cheek, brushing away tears she didn't even realize had fallen. “Do not blame thyself. And know that my sister has... has changed, and is working on her own redemption, just as I am. I... I am sorry, Twilight Sparkle. I do not mean to ruin such a beautiful night.”

She laughed faintly, before blushing when Scrivener stepped forwards and hugged her tightly, and Twilight embraced her fiercely from the other side, whispering: “No. Thank you for not treating like me a child. I want to know these things and...”

She smiled faintly, then slipped back, rubbing at her eyes and gazing silently over at Discord's statue as she murmured: “And I want to know what I've done right, but also what I've done wrong. That's how you learn and grow. I don't want to hate people. I especially don't want to hate them... for all the wrong reasons.”

Luna nodded slowly, and then she returned her eyes to Discord. She gazed upon him from between the safety of her two first real friends since her return from the moon, and she promised herself that no matter what happened, she would make the most of this second chance she had been given, and protect the ponies she cared about no matter what the cost.

Selene's Heart

Chapter Five: Selene's Heart

~BlackRoseRaven

Celestia mused as she tilted her head back and forth, while Luna pawed a hoof impatiently at the ground, waiting for an answer.

Finally, she couldn't help herself, blurting out: “Well, damn it all, Celestia, 'tis not a difficult question! 'Tis no riddle or contest, just tell me what it is thou fears so damned much, that thou art here, happily allowing me to blow things up!”

“I am not 'happily allowing you to blow things up,' and I actually would prefer you try and practice a little more control, Luna.” Celestia responded pointedly, and her sibling grumbled in response. “It's good for you practice magic, even if that magic is more destructive than I might like. And it's also better for you to be prepared, for whatever it is that you might encounter.”

Luna grunted, looking suspiciously up at her sibling. Celestia looked back down at her, then she sighed tiredly before saying almost grouchily: “Demons. Zombies. Tyrant Wyrms. Ten Tyrant Wyrms.”

“There, see, was that so hard, Celestia?” Luna asked mildly, and Celestia closed her eyes as if pained before the sapphire mare said in a gentler voice: “'Tis only strange, my sibling. In the past thou hast always known, one way or the other.”

“Not always. Sometimes I just pretended to, and you and Sleipnir always believed me.” Celestia shrugged and Luna snorted in amusement. “And it is true, you know. You're doing much better with your magic. I was … I'm not going to lie, I was worried this might lead to an outburst, or more confusion, but you seem in control.”

Luna huffed, but smiled all the same, even if part of her was still almost suspicious of this new Celestia. They had been talking a lot these last few weeks: rather than the expected arguments and fighting, they had been sharing a lot, as siblings, friends, and to her surprise, equals.

It had done a lot for her. Celestia, of course, still wouldn't let her raise or lower the moon, which annoyed her, but she understood a little: Celestia, ever the clever and efficient princess, had devised a spell she used that rotated the sun and moon at the same time. She said she used the help of a small amplifier to do it, but it was still a testament to both her strength and genius.

The talks were nice, though. So were the hugs and the time they spent together, just being sisters. She didn't think that even in the past, had they talked so often, or had such a good relationship.

Something that made her even more suspicious, in some ways. But what reassured her was that Celestia was a manipulator, but she had never been much of an actress or a pony for long-term deceit.

She was also glad that Celestia was still encouraging her little quest, and hadn't had any sudden second thoughts or attached any other strings to it. She knew that even with Celestia's concerns, this would still likely be little more than just a peaceful walk, and one where she would be confronting her own demons more than actual monsters.

That just made her all the more glad she had Scrivener Blooms for this journey, and his help was already proving invaluable. He was researching the flora and fauna of the Everfree Forest and had compiled a list of artifacts from the vault for Celestia, and she had outlined what she wanted from the treasure trove.

The thought of the castle made Luna nervous: she wondered if maybe Celestia had some alterior motive for sending her there, rather than going herself. But she was trying to extend a little bit of faith and trust to her big sister, and recognized all too well by now how... duty chained you down.

Besides, she was very curious about the things Celestia had outlined that she wanted: the armor they had all used to wear – Sleipnir included – was high up on that list. Luna had been rather surprised it was still there, but Celestia had only shrugged: with the Tyrant Wyrms annihilated, and Equestria's problems becoming less conflict and more domestic, she had thought the vaults were probably the safest place to leave her old battle gear.

Then time had passed, and before she knew it, a thousand years had gone by: a thousand years where the Everfree Forest had spread and grown over the ruins of the abandoned castle that was now nothing more than a testament to failure, on both their parts.

Perhaps removing the Elements of Harmony had expedited the rot of the castle's wards and protections, allowing darkness to slip inside, or maybe it was just the ebb and flow of light and dark as time passed, and now, after a thousand years, the shadows were taking hold in the strange and wild places of the world again.

Either way, Celestia thought it was a good idea to retrieve these artifacts and equipment. Luna had to agree, even if she wondered still what it was her big sister sensed, and if there was some other design hidden in the artifacts she was asking for; not just their and Sleipnir's old equipment, but the bark of the World Tree, Yggdrasil, an old set of alchemical tools, and Sleipnir's old smithing hammer.

Finally, she looked up at Celestia and nodded, saying quietly: “I shan't lie, sister. The thoughts are still there. Not just the impure, of course...” She waggled her eyebrows, and Celestia sighed and rolled her eyes. “But the wicked urges, the cruel desires. But I am in control of them and I feel more confident that I will be able to resist the urge to... how did Scrivener put it? Blow up?”

Celestia nodded, and she gave a little smile before she said softly: “I'm a little jealous, you know. You have something special with Scrivener Blooms. You've made friends with Twilight Sparkle, and unlike me, your friendship with her will always be pure. Not tinged by selfish motivations or maternal lies.”

Luna frowned, and Celestia shook her head, saying softly: “I have to pass the torch at some point, Luna. I'm tired after a thousand years of rule, and I realize that I've made many mistakes, because just like any other pony, I have my biases, my prejudices... and a nasty little voice in my head that for so many years was there, compelling me to extremes.”

She halted, then frowned musingly, looking down as she murmured: “That voice isn't here anymore, though. And it's hard, because even though I feel more at peace than I ever have before, I am also hyperaware of all the mistakes I made listening to that voice, all the problems I've caused, and the fact that... maybe I'm not fit to be Equestria's ruler after all.”

“Celestia...” Luna stopped, then she shook her head and smiled. “Nay. Thou hast always been a good ruler, a leader of ponies. And methinks this newfound awareness will only help make thee a better, stronger princess. Thou fits the role better than I, and there... there is no reason thou cannot have both Celestia the Dragon Slayer and Celestia the Sun Princess inside of thee.”

The tall ivory mare looked thoughtful at this, and then she nodded slowly, her amethyst eyes meeting her sibling's oceanic emeralds as she murmured: “You know, sometimes you can be very wise, Luna. Well, rarely.” She smiled, and Luna grumbled but smiled back all the same. “But you have your moments.”

“Thanks, Celestia.” Luna said drolly, and then she blushed when her sister walked forward and kissed her forehead, dislodging her tiara slightly and making her flail and whine: “I am not a foal!”

“I wonder about that sometimes.” Celestia noted, before she gestured ahead to the open, smoldering field. “Alright. Let's get back to work. And try and show me some control this time, Luna, and maybe I'll believe you're at least a teenager.”

Luna huffed, but was glad for Celestia's correction as much as her encouragement, even if she'd never admit it. She didn't want power to control her, after all: she wanted to make sure that no matter what happened, she was the one in control of her own strength.

Sometimes it was just too tempting to let loose and flex her magic a little, though.

They trained, and Luna was honestly delighted and surprised when they didn't just stop at target practice, but Celestia sparred a little with her. She said modestly that she was rusty, but by the end of it, she was smiling and Luna was sweating and panting a little, left a little in awe of the strength Celestia still had even after all these years.

After training, they always found a place to sit, and talk about old times. Luna could feel Celestia opening up more and more, blossoming as they shared memories and stories together.

Luna made sure to always find a little bit of time before bed to spend with Scrivener Blooms as well, though. It always felt important to talk to him, whether it was about the events of the day, or some anecdote she'd been reminded of while chatting with Celestia, or just to see his face. And of course she also enjoyed his grumbling and frustration about the armor she had prepared for him.

He was wearing the gear of a Centurion, modified with silver plating that were inset with the symbol of the moon. She was honestly surprised how well Scrivener was doing wearing what was almost full plate: he complained about it all the time, but rarely took even the silver helm off, and she knew that a lot of his grumbling and complaining wasn't irritability over the armor, but because he was nervous about the upcoming journey.

Every now and then, Celestia would drop some comment or other about how close she and Scrivy were. It made her grumble and blush. She wasn't sure why it was embarrassing: he was just a friend, after all. Her best friend, and sometimes she felt like her only friend in Canterlot, which was still by and large hostile to her.

Scrivener had also gotten a secondary assignment under Celestia, working with her personally to help categorize her archives. It wasn't very taxing work, and even if he wasn't known for being the most respectful pony in the world, he still felt honored that Celestia was actually spending some of her own personal time with him and trusted him with documents that clearly held a lot of sentimental value to her.

He did admit, though, she did have this unexpectedly mischievous way of poking and prodding him about his relationships and in particular, Luna.

Luna hoped this wasn't Celestia trying to play matchmaker or something ridiculous like that.

Even if she was, though, well, it was fine. She and Scrivy were friends, that was all, no matter what sisterly meddling Celestia might have in mind. Good friends. Best friends.

Honestly, though, even with that in mind, Celestia was going above and beyond: more than keeping her word that the bat ponies would all be freed of duty, she had awarded those who had left a small sum to start a new life wherever they chose to go.

Many had remained, though, and added a bit more life to the dim halls on Luna's wings of the castle. Without being asked, they had cleaned and furnished some of the rooms, so they could always be on call to the Princess of the Night, and a few had put down their armor but decided to instead try out other roles. She was embarrassed to suddenly have devoted servants but... it helped her feel a little less lonely. Like maybe there was a role for her in this world after all.

Still, she was glad when the time came for her journey to begin: it had been far too long since she'd experienced the freedom of an open road. She was looking forwards to tasting that old life again: no servants, no soldiers, no Celestia: only her and Scrivener Blooms, her friend, on a short hike into the wilds.

Of course, as she had learned on her travels more than a thousand years ago, things rarely went as planned. She was confident this wouldn't be that difficult, especially with how peaceful Equestria was. It was no longer the land of chaos it had once been: demons and monsters were only the stuff of legend now, and the greatest threats to Equestria had long been destroyed.

But all the same, even if it was just a little walk, she all the same felt like she was on the threshold of adventure.

There would be no grand sendoff, and that was just the way Luna preferred it herself. The rest of the reason why was because this was a secret mission, that only Celestia and Twilight Sparkle really knew the extent of. If there was an emergency, they would contact Twilight in Ponyville to ask for help, but Luna didn't think that would be necessary; what she did foresee, however, was a surprise visit to Twilight after she finished her given task, although she hadn't felt that was important to mention to Celestia.

Luna's eyes gleamed beneath the starry blanket of the night sky: it was past midnight, so almost all the ponies of Canterlot were comfortable in their beds, asleep. Celestia had accompanied them a little ways down the road towards Ponyville, and here they had stopped to say their goodbyes.

Luna was dressed in a sapphire cloak, and a simple lightweight breastplate, with leather bracers over her lower legs to offer some extra support. Her mane and tail were largely concealed by the cloak, dimmed down to help hide her identity, but hopefully traveling by night and through the darkness would be enough to conceal who she was and would avoid drawing any unwanted attention.

Beside her, Scrivener sat back on his haunches, doing his best to scowl, but not able to hide his nervousness. Sammy was perched happily on his head, and saddlebags hung at his side: at a glance they looked perfectly normal, but each bag had been altered to be able to hold more than twenty times its size and yet weight only a fraction of the total they were carrying. Very useful, but there would be hell to pay if either bag ripped and all that altered space exploded, along with everything packed inside.

“Luna, my sister. Scrivener, my friend.” Scrivy stared up dumbly at this, and Luna smiled warmly. “I wish you both well on this journey, and I give you the full blessing of Equestria and the Throne of the Sun. May the Horses of Heaven guide your path to success. And remember you do not do this as my servants; you do this as my equals, as ponies I trust to triumph against any odds you face.”

The two before her nodded firmly, and then Celestia stepped forwards and kissed first Luna's forehead, and then Scrivener's, the stallion almost falling over before the ivory mare smiled at them and said kindly: “Say hello to Twilight Sparkle for me when you stop in.”

With that, she turned and flew off, and Luna threw her forelegs wide in consternation, complaining: “Damnation, Scrivy, can I not have a single mischief wretched Celestia does not know about?”

Scrivener looked at her dumbly, touching his forehead lamely, and Luna looked back at him before she said: “If it burns, 'tis likely because Celestia had been spending more time with stallions than I thought.”

Scrivener groaned and rolled his eyes, asking in spite of already knowing the answer: “Are we really leaving Canterlot on that note? On a joke about herpes?”

“Oh, shut up, Scrivener Blooms, great prude. I shall thee know that in my day-”

“Stallions were stallions and mares were mares.” Scrivener said tiredly, and Luna gave him a wry grin. “Okay, okay. You win.”

“As always.” Luna said comfortably, before she turned with a flick of her hips and began down the road, and the stallion sighed before he followed, ignoring the cheerful chirping of Sammy that sounded far too much like giggling at his expense.

They walked for a little while, Luna breathing in the fresh air and simply enjoying the sights and sounds, Scrivener plodding along with a slight rattle from some belt or another he hadn't tightened properly, until he finally remarked: “Still. It's kind of funny to be traveling at night.” A pause at Sammy's chirp. “Oh, you're gonna protect us from the terrors of the night, huh?”

“Do not be silly, both of thee.” Luna grinned over her shoulder, a flash of fangs. “I am the terror that lurks in the night.”

Scrivener didn't know why that made him smile, but it did. And after a moment, Luna continued easily: “Still, though, Sammy is most welcome, and not just because he can ensure we always have a line of communication, but because he will be able to guard us when we stop to rest. Although I am less concerned about Nibelung or bandits, and more some dumb pony stumbling upon us and interrupting our sleep.”

Scrivener grunted, before he said: “Nibelung. Those were the dwarves, right? I know nasty things come out at night, but I don't think there are any of those left in Equestria.”

“Bah, who knows?” Luna shrugged, then she winked at the stallion as she dropped back to walk beside him, teasing: “Do not tell me the great wretched poet is afraid of the dark now, all of a sudden? We leave our gilded cage and now thou wants to return to it, is that so?”

“More that I'm not looking forward to all this walking. I'm a poet, Luna, not a superhero like you.” He glanced over at her, then winked as he bodychecked her playfully, making her yelp and stumble sideways in surprise, almost tripping on her long cloak. “Good thing that's all I have to worry about with you to protect little old defenseless me, huh?”

Luna huffed as she hopped quickly back up to his side, then she firmly hip-checked him in return, knocking him sprawling as Sammy flew off his head with a squeak to vanish into the tall grass. The stallion cleared his throat as he looked up from his prone position as she looked down at him, remarking: “Assuming I don't decide to gobble thee up, of course.”

She offered a hoof, and Scrivener took it and grunted as she yanked him up to his hooves, answering dryly: “I'm just going to keep my mouth shut in response to that. I wouldn't want to offend the dignity of the poor princess' ears.”

Luna laughed at this as Sammy came skittering back to climb back on top of Scrivener, the mare answering: “Whilst we are upon this trek, I am no Princess of the Night. I am only Luna.” She blushed a little as she turned her eyes ahead, saying in a softer voice. “I am only Luna, thy friend, as thou art mine, Scrivener. My friend, my equal, and partner.”

Scrivener blushed as well as he looked back at her, deeply touched by this sentiment, and then Luna huffed at him and strode quickly ahead, complaining: “Oh, hurry up, Scrivy! I do not have the time to comfort a crying pony!”

“Ever the ray of sunshine.” he retorted, and Luna grumbled and kicked a rear hoof at him absently before they jostled together, then settled into a comfortable pace side-by-side.

They found a good, comfortable stride together, safe in the embrace of the beautiful night, the stars and moon lighting their path. Sometimes they walked in silence, and Scrivener couldn't often help but watch Luna during these times, relishing all the sights, the smells, the sounds after so long quarantined away in Canterlot.

Sometimes Luna would just start talking: she would ramble away about old journeys, how much had changed since she had last walked these roads and yet how much had also stayed the same. She knew all sorts of legends that were older than Equestria itself, and the hidden stories of trees and grasses and flowers as had been taught to her by Sleipnir, and yet she always confessed modestly she didn't know nearly as much as Celestia did: Celestia had been the mind of the trio, as genius as she was cunning and ruthless, all her natural talents amplified by her peerless magic.

And sometimes, Scrivener would fill the quiet with his own stories: he wouldn't even know what he was going to say until he started saying it, but Luna listened to him as intently as he did her, even if he felt like his stories were boring and trite compared to her grand adventures. He told her about life in North Neigh and then Trotronto, and how he'd come to Canterlot with no savings and a single saddlebag. He told her about meeting Twilight Sparkle for the first time, and she laughed at his story, about how he'd swapped her books with erotic literature and stolen them.

Not quite the start of a grand friendship: they had a lot of static between them, aggravated further by Twilight's complete lack of social skills and Scrivener's caustic sarcasm. More than once, they'd been thrown out of the library for their arguments.

“I guess when you think about it, though... we would go out of our way to get into each other's, you know?” Scrivener meditated, tilting his head back and forth. “Maybe I phrased that badly, but you get what I mean. I don't know... maybe we were trying to be friends, in some way or another. But back then Twilight Sparkle certainly didn't have any time for friends, and maybe I was a little too prejudiced against magically-gifted unicorns who also happened to be Princess Celestia's apprentice.”

Luna chuckled, saying easily: “No, no, Scrivy, never! Thou art obviously made of the most generous of moral fiber, after all. Funny to think that Twilight Sparkle wouldn't get along with the Court Poet of Canterlot.”

“Well, the Court Poet was a huge jerk, from what I've heard. Always abusing his position and his power.” Scrivener said blandly, and Luna snorted.

“I am curious, though, Scrivy... just when wert thou named Court Poet, and why?”

“Beats me.” Scrivener answered, and Luna laughed loudly, grinning in amusement. “Okay, I think it was... Rose Thorns? I didn't expect to get the position, but I had only recently arrived in Canterlot and I was looking for a job. I was getting pretty desperate at that point, so I was just throwing out applications everywhere I could.

“I think I was just as shocked as anyone else when I actually was selected for the job.” Scrivener shook his head, then he looked up at the night sky, admitting: “It's a really cushy job. I have to write and present one poem a month minimum to the Royal Court, take commissions from the nobles – that was easy to get out of by making them all hate me – and do any research and presentations Celestia asks.

“It was something to be proud of but... I guess for me, it was more just something to flaunt. It wasn't important to me, like being your aide is important to me.” Luna smiled warmly at this, but Scrivener was still gazing at the moon in the distance thoughtfully, like he wasn't even aware of what he had said. “It was something that should have given me some kind of sense of self-worth, but I just used it to be a nuisance. Maybe I really am as worthless as Bramblethorn always said.”

Luna softened before hiding this with a scowl, but then Scrivener looked at her and said: “The important thing though, is that I'm here now, and I'm not gonna go anywhere. We'll see this through together, Luna, because I'm your friend.”

The sapphire mare blushed, not knowing what to say; she was almost relieved when she heard a loud, brazen yell in their direction, cocking her head as she turned her eyes towards the noise.

The two halted as Sammy arched his back and hissed as he leaned overtop Scrivener's helm, but Luna only shook her head, saying wryly: “Hooligans. I do not think they are even worth being called ruffians, let alone bandits. Well, let us see what they shall demand, Scrivy. Hopefully it is not sexual favors, 'lest I be forced to offer up thy supple buttocks.”

“Hey guys, can you just take her off my hooves? Thanks!” Scrivener called to the three approaching stallions, who laughed like donkeys rather than horses.

Beady eyes and nasty grins focused on them as they came closer: they were young, dumb, and overconfident, brash idiots rather than hardened criminals who were probably used to harassing ponies coming back from Canterlot's late-running parties. “Yo, you hear him, boys? Giving up his girl already!”

Scrivener Blooms only shrugged: the stallion in the lead had a heavy chain around his neck, mane all done up in a mohawk and some big cheap hoops in his ears. Really going for that punk look, but not quite managing to pull it off.

His cronies were even less impressive, just following him around like loyal little dogs. Luna snorted in contempt at the sight of them, remarking: “Thou offends me, Scrivener Blooms! As if this little colt and his puppies would be enough to handle me!”

Scrivener snorted as Punk snarled, while his cronies traded dumb looks. “You better watch what you say, lady!”

“Or what? What will thou do, pray tell?” Luna mocked.

“Oh, well, let me put it in a way a proper lady like you will understand.” he sneered as he leaned in closer, while Scrivener only watched with almost-apologetic amusement. Almost. “Milady, I seekethest thine monies, so hoofeth over thine bits, because we're a long way from civilization and you wouldn't want anything to happen to you and your friend, now would you?”

Luna gave a soft, ominous laugh, and Punk frowned as his cronies uneasily stepped back before her eyes glowed out from beneath her hood. The world around them darkened as the world groaned and moaned around them, and Luna slowly leaned forwards, her hood falling back as her starry mane crawled in serpentine tentacles out from beneath her hood as she asked almost teasingly: “Oh stupid child, does thou not know that to threaten a stranger is to tempt Fate?”

“Oh my God you're-” He was cut off as Luna's horn flashed and she stomped hard into the earth, the ground erupting beneath him in a flare of blue flame that sent him flying high into the air with a squeal of terror. Immediately, his thugs turned to bolt, and Luna snapped her horn out, blue-fire phantasms erupting from thin air and leaping after them, screaming and shrieking as the skull-faced ghosts whipped and danced behind them.

They screamed in terror as they galloped off, the horrifying ghosts they didn't realize were just illusions dancing and leaping behind them, leaving static zaps where they made contact. It was rather impressive how they managed to vanish into the distance by the time Punk fell out of the air and thumped back down on the dirt road on his face.

He groaned in pain, then looked up in terror as Luna stepped forwards, raising her head imperiously, her voice thunder as lighting crackled through the air around them: “So, thou thinks thou art strong enough to duel Nightmare Moon, to steal from the incarnate of darkness, and night?”

“Oh no, n-no no no no no!” squealed the Punk, crawling rapidly backwards, his eyes wide with terror. Luna continued to advance on him slowly, her steps seeming to shake the earth as blue flame wafted up from every stomp of her hooves, baring teeth that were too large, too sharp, as her eyes glowed with malevolent light as pitiless and alien as the cold stars above. “I-I-I-I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!”

“Then instead, let us play a game, tender morsel; I shall give thee ten seconds to run, and then I shall hunt!” Luna roared as pillars of blue flame erupted around her and lightning struck from the sky, and Punk screamed like a filly before he spun and sprinted away at full speed even faster than his friends had, as if the hounds of Hell were nipping at his heels.

Luna laughed loudly, and then she relaxed with a wide grin, her illusions fading as Scrivener and Sammy traded mild looks. “Ah, that was even more fun than during Nightmare Night! It always makes it so much sweeter somehow when they are such idiots!”

She sat back and clapped her front hooves together like a happy foal, and then Scrivener half-questioned: “The fun has been doubled?”

Luna immediately dropped into a sulk, scowling horribly over her shoulder at him, and he cleared his throat and looked away as Luna complained: “Damn thee, beetle, I had never even imagined such delightful diversions could exist as wert in Ponyville! 'Twas an altogether gentler sort of fun. There was no maiming, murdering, or mating, and 'twas still very enjoyable!”

“Thanks for that disturbing mental image, Luna.” Scrivener said finally, and Luna looked pleased with herself. “Okay, okay. Thank you for dealing with them, Luna. It saves me the embarrassment of pretending to be a big strong stallion and getting beaten up by some kids. Even if I have to admit, I'm cowed by how strong you are.”

“Thou art not a cow, thou art a pony.” Luna said pompously, and Scrivener sighed tiredly as Sammy chirped cheerfully in agreement on his head. “Now come, Scrivy, stop wasting time. We return to the march!”

Scrivener grunted, then he followed Luna as she almost bounced cheerfully down the path; her mane fanned out behind her as she didn't bother putting her hood back up, instead enjoying the gentle breeze on her face, which felt all the better, elated as she was from the minor bump in the road. They fell into easy pace with one another, quiet but comfortable, Scrivener able to feel that joy traveling through Luna at the fact she was not only back on the road, but able to put her reputation and powers of terror to a positive use.

It might be funny, considering how ferocious and mercurial she could be, but he felt safe in her presence, and there was nowhere else he'd rather be. She was powerful and alluring but also well, a lunatic – no pun intended – but her passion and eccentricity were two of his favorite things about her. She was unpredictable and brave, and even if she thought of herself as the relic of a lost age, the stallion only wished he could have been there with her, to see her in her true element.

He could only imagine what it must have been like, considering that he thought the very best thing in the whole wide world... was her.

Luna quieted a little as they continued on the path, tossing him a few nervous little looks before she finally asked almost hesitantly: “Did I frighten thee, Scrivener?”

“Oh yeah, absolutely. Shaking in my little metal booties over here.” Scrivener paused to hold up a hoof, and Luna huffed at him, but visibly relaxed, and her eyes glowed with gratitude as they fell into step together again.

Scrivener hesitated for a moment before he heard Sammy chirping at him, as if encouraging him, and he sighed before saying grudgingly: “I guess I... I'm really amazed by you, you know? It seems like there's nothing you can't do and you're... well... you're amazing. Especially compared to a little old earth pony like me. You're... everything I wish I could be.”

He cleared his throat and blushed: that had just sort of slipped out. Luna was looking at him warmly, a blush at her own collar before she laughed and shook her head, declaring: “Oh, do not be so hard on thyself, Scrivy, with a bit of cleaning up thou would be a fine mare too!”

Scrivener laughed and shook his head, and Luna softened before murmuring: “But we shall see which of us is amazing by the end of the journey, Scrivy. Thou does me far more honor than I deserve with thy loyalty and compassion.”

They continued down the road as they fell into comfortable quiet with one-another, simply enjoying the hike and the good company. Every so often, Luna or Scrivy would look back at Canterlot, its massive marble towers almost glowing in the moonlight in the distance, its position on the mountain making it a beacon even miles and miles away. At least it would be easy to find their way home.

After an hour or so, as late became early and the stars began to fade from the sky, Luna led Scrivener off the main road, finding a side path leading through a field of wildflowers as easily as if she'd walked this route a thousand times before. “Come, Scrivy. This should lead us to the edge of the Everfree Forest, and is away enough from Ponyville that we shan't have to worry about any ponies stumbling upon us while we rest during the day. We can make camp at the edge of the forest: it might add another night to the journey, but I would rather be safe than rush our journey, and...”

“It's nice to be outside. Away from Canterlot for a bit.” Scrivener finished, and Luna nodded with a smile. “Hey, you know all this adventuring stuff better than me. Wherever you want to go, I'll follow.”

Luna smiled warmly at him, then led the way through the field, down into a shallow valley and through a narrow strand of trees as the path vanished beneath their hooves. Some instinct seemed to tell the sapphire mare where she should go, however, and soon enough, they were walking along the edge of a thick wall of wild, untamed land.

The sapphire mare stopped at a thin veil of scraggy trees, testing the ground with a hoof: the ground was pebbly and hard here, and a broken tree lay dead nearby to one side of the field, which looked as if it had been scarred by flames. They would be hidden from sight here from the road, and the thin but numerous trees would make it difficult for any predators to sneak up on them from the forest.

The mare nodded, more to herself than anything else, and she decided: “We camp here. 'Tis a good enough spot, and we have supplies enough to make ourselves comfortable on this terrain.”

Scrivener nodded back, and then he started to shift and reach back to the saddelbags, but Luna winked at him and tilted her head towards him, lifting the bags loose with telekinesis and dropping them at the edge of the field. He gave her a look, but she only shrugged and winked. “Well, 'tis a stallion's duty to help the helpless mare, is it not?”

“I hate you.”

“Hate, love, 'tis all the same.” Luna said comfortably. “Dig out the rations and our bedding, and I shall take a short look around and ward the area.”

Scrivener nodded, pulling one of the bags open and peering inside into strange, stretched space, and then he made a face before closing it. Wrong bag: that empty space was never going to not freak him out, though.

With a little bit of digging and swallowing his fear of being gobbled up by the tiny void, he was able to pull out a pair of bedrolls, and a barrel-like container filled with hay and apples. Scrivener pried the lid off this before starting to turn away, but then Luna came back and shoved her head down into the container, munching loudly as Scrivener scowled at her. “What? 'Tis food.”

“'Tis food.” Scrivener sighed and rolled his eyes, and then he leaned over, reaching in to dig an apple out of the barrel. “Don't talk with your mouth full, Luna, it's rude.”

Luna huffed and flicked a pebble at him, and he grumbled and kicked absently in her direction. But as they ate, they both steadily relaxed, and while the meal was far from extravagant, something in its simplicity, and the fact it had actually been earned, made it one of the best Scrivener could ever remember enjoying. His body ached from the hike and the fact he had been wearing this armor all night, and yet it was a good kind of ache; he felt alive, invigorated, and ready to follow Luna to the ends of Equestria, if that was what she wanted.

Then he blinked in surprise as the helm was lifted off his head with telekinesis, glancing over at her as Luna set it down beside him and she said: “Come, Scrivener Blooms. Thou can take off thine armor now, and we shall rest here and sleep until evening. I fear neither bandit nor beast, and Samael shall be more than enough to warn us should anything happen.”

Sammy chirped in agreement from where he was perched now on the dead tree, and Scrivener smiled. He started to remove the plates, and Luna moved to help him; somehow, the fact she used her hooves, rather than just her magic, made that act feel so much more intimate, and he blushed at the sensation even as he pawed awkwardly at the clasps and mumbled: “Feels weird to be wearing this still when my pen does all the stabbing for me, not my sword.”

“As if thou could ever swing about a sword. Besides, thou hast more honor with thy quill than the blade.” Luna answered, and Scrivener chuckled quietly as they finished removing the last of his armor from his frame before Luna easily tossed off her own breastplate.

Once it was all set down and aside, they rested together for a few moments before the stallion glanced over at her. She wasn't wearing her cloak anymore, but...

He hesitated only a moment before he reached up and poked her dark metal peytral, asking: “Don't you ever take that or your tiara off?”

Luna smiled lamely, as if embarrassed, and Scrivener looked at her before he smiled back and reached up to gently grasp that small, black crown. He gently pulled it loose from her mane, even as the starry locks almost seemed to nervously tangle against it for a moment, before they released their grip and allowed it to be placed aside with his armor.

She lowered her head, a faint redness tinging her cheeks, and Scrivener gazed at her for a few long moments. It didn't make that much difference, and yet it made all the difference in the world, he thought: he had never seen a mare who seemed less like a princess in his entire life.

After a moment, she bit her lip, then her horn glowed, finishing the job by removing her peytral, and tossing it aside. She reached up, resting a hoof against the faint indentation in her own breast where the peytral had sat for so long, and then she mumbled: “'Tis strange, Scrivy. I feel naked. And thou knows what I mean, we do not normally wear much in the way of clothes but... I feel naked.”

“I do.” Scrivener sat back, gazing at her tenderly, and then he said finally: “If it helps, warrior princess, I think you look better without them.”

Luna huffed loudly, but she gazed at him with warmth before shaking her head rapidly and instead she glanced towards their sleeping mats. With a flick of her horn, she unrolled them both, laying a few feet apart... but after a moment, the sapphire mare flicked her horn again and the mats were pushed close together, Luna saying: “Let us rest now, so we may start early this evening. Fear not, Scrivy, I shall not embarrass thee by forcing thee to be the big ladle.”

“Spoon.” Scrivener sighed tiredly, giving her a mild look, and Luna shrugged cheerfully before the two headed over to the sleeping mats. Scrivener slid the sheets over his body, but Luna only laid on her own, the two looking at each other for a few moments before the stallion asked impulsively: “Are you sure you're warm enough?”

“Nay, 'twill be day soon enough. Besides...” Luna halted, then feigned a yawn and rolled over to hide her blush and smile as her eyes flicked up towards the stars, seeing in the fading constellations two ponies that strode side-by-side together, bound by fellowship, friendship, and even more...

“I have all I need to stay warm. Sleep well, Scrivener Blooms.”

Skeleton's Moon

Chapter Six: Skeleton's Moon

~BlackRoseRaven

Scrivener Blooms awoke with a yawn, stretching a foreleg out, feeling his back pressing into something warm, and comforting. He shifted a little, before his eyes roved up to the red sky above, catching the last rays of sunlight as the sun set in the unseen distance.

So it hadn't just been a dream after all. He was really out here, on this weird little quest...

He glanced back over his shoulder, and he smiled at the sight of Luna, her back pressed to his. Her starry mane danced gently across her body like a living blanket, and he could almost feel the tingle of her emotions in it as it brushed gently against him every now and then.

Then one of her eyes peeked open, and he blinked in surprise before she tilted her head back to grin up at him invertedly. “Well, glad to see thee finally awake, Scrivy! I was growing worried thou wert going to sleep the whole night away and I would have to complete the journey myself.”

“Well, good night to you too.” Scrivener grumbled, and then he shook his head before he clambered up to his hooves, wheezing a little as he stretched and cracked his back, complaining as Luna popped cheerfully up to her own hooves: “Horses of Heaven, am I supposed to be this sore? How are you not aching all over?”

“Because I am made of sterner stuff than thou, beetle. But fear not: the soreness will wear itself out quickly, especially once we get on the move.” Luna answered, before she glanced up at the darkening sky, as stars began to glint through the beautiful dark firmament above. “Come, put on thy armor, whilst thou wert lazing I was plotting our course. Get thyself ready, and I shall dig out our rations and pack up our campsite, and I will explain as we work.”

Scrivener grunted, picking up his helm first and shaking it out to make sure there was nothing hiding in it, and then he slipped it on. Luna, meanwhile, rolled the bedrolls tightly up, sheets and all, as she explained: “First we shall draft a short note to Celestia, informing her of our progress. Second, while I foresee no troubles reaching the castle, we shall have to pay attention on the journey, as the Everfree Forest has likely changed much since last I have visited.

“The ruins we shall take more cautiously.” Luna tucked the food away in the saddlebags, then hefted the food barrel free, dropping it down with a thump. Then she lifted her peytral and tiara, studying them for a moment before placing them back on their body with the faintest grimace.

Strange, how alien it felt to her already, how unwelcome that textured metal was.

“I... wish I could say honestly I do not fear what lays ahead. I am not afraid of external dangers, however, rather...” Luna made a face. “Bah. 'Tis irksome to think about.”

“Irksome.” Scrivener agreed, in the middle of struggling his way into his armor, and Luna gave him a look before she smiled slightly, flicking her horn, and he wheezed as plates snapped onto his body and belts and clasps tightened rapidly, securing his armor over his form.

“Shut up, Scrivy. No dallying!” Luna flicked her horn, pulling the lid off the food barrel before she pulled out an apple, then shoved it into the stallion's mouth as he opened it, making him choke and splutter. “Close thy mouth when thou chews, 'tis only polite.”

Luna slipped into her own breastplate and cloak as Scrivener slowly ate the apple, glowering at the mare before he spat the seeds and core in her direction, and Luna huffed from around the mouthful of hay she had and flailed a hoof vaguely back at him.

They ate a decent breakfast together before Luna put the lid of the barrel back on, then tossed it into one of the sidepacks, complaining: “Thou art making me do everything, Scrivy, what use is an apprentice if thou aren't going to deal with the annoying menial tasks?”

“That's easy for you to say, you think something and it just happens. Literally magically. I've got to use these stupid hooves for everything, do you know how much of a pain that is?” Scrivener asked as he waved a foreleg, and then he winced when Luna approached with half-lidded eyes, leaning in close.

“True, but there are some things only hooves alone can do for a mare.” she teased, and then she brushed past and checked him lightly with her hip, making him blush and grumble as he grabbed at his own face in consternation before wheezing, eyes bulging in pain as the saddlebags dropped suddenly on his back and then rapidly tightened around his body. “Scrivy, take a letter!”

“Horses of Heaven I hate you.” Scrivener mumbled, and then he reached awkwardly back to one of the sidepacks, pawing at it as he said pointedly: “This might be a little bit easier if I had a parchment, ink, and quill, Luna.”

Luna groaned, spinning on her heel and returning to flip the satchel open. She pulled out an inkwell, a blank letter scroll, but then frowned as she reached a hoof in, pawing around the subspace as Scrivener blushed and rapidly went over his supplies in his head before he mumbled: “Oh no, did I really forget quills?”

Luna opened her mouth as she glanced up, and then softened at how horribly embarrassed Scrivener Blooms looked and the way he was almost scrunched down in shame. She smiled a little after a moment, then said easily: “Thou great idiot. But fear not, Scrivy, 'tis easy enough for me to save the day once more.”

The sapphire mare spread one of her broad wings out from beneath the cloak, and Scrivener's eyes widened in surprise at the sight of one of her larger feathers glowing brightly before pulling itself loose, Luna only giving the smallest twitch at the pinch of pain it sent through her. A moment later, it glowed bright blue with her magic, visibly stiffening as she passed him this along with his supplies.

“Luna...”

“Shut up, Scrivener Blooms.” Luna sounded very pleased with herself, and Scrivener sighed before the sapphire mare asked: “Art thou ready?”

Scrivener studied the quill in his hoof for a few moments, turning it back and forth, and then he cleared his throat before he nodded firmly as he dipped the quill in the inkwell and swirled it once, then rolled the scroll out over the hard ground, answering: “Ready when you are.”

Luna smiled, and then she cleared her throat before dictating: “To my sister Celestia, I am pleased to inform thee that Scrivener Blooms and I have reached the Everfree Forest with only minor inconveniences along our path. I foresee that we shall reach the castle tonight to complete our task, after which we shall head to Ponyville. All my love, Luna.”

Scrivener finished signing with a swirl of the quill, gazing at it with a small smile before he nodded and glanced up, asking: “Do you want me to put a seal on it?”

“Nay, there is no reason to. 'Tis not official business, after all, more... a letter from one sister to another, about a simple task she has asked me to do.” Luna answered, before she glanced around and called: “Samael? Where art thou?”

The charcoal earth pony looked around as well, feeling a faint tingle of nervousness run through his system before he sighed in relief at the sound of a chirp, looking up and then scowling at the sight of Sammy crawling out of a hole in the dead tree with a yawn and stretch. “Some guard dog you are.”

Sammy huffed, and Luna snorted in amusement as she chided: “Scrivener Blooms, thou ingrate! Do not be mean to thy poor little pet, he surely would have still sensed and awoken should anything have happened to us. Is that not right, brave and handsome Samael?”

Sammy chirped proudly at this as he bounced down and scrabbled over to them, and Scrivener sighed before he rolled up the letter and then lightly bopped Sammy in the head with it, the pseudodragon squawking. “Luna's just covering up for you because she's lazy and likes to sleep too much too. Here, catch.”

Scrivener tossed the letter into the air, and Sammy stood up on his hind legs and blasted it with blue flame, the scroll vanishing before the little pseudodragon leapt forwards and chomped on his hoof, Scrivener wincing, then huffing and shaking him loose.

Luna smiled in amusement at the two, shaking her head before she turned to head towards the forest, and Scrivener winced as Samael scrambled up his foreleg before he followed. The pseudodragon took up his usual lookout on his head, chirping happily, as the earth pony fell in step behind Luna, happy to let her lead the way as they passed out of safe Equestria and into the wild and free forest.

An hour later, Scrivener couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched as they made their way through the shadowy, living forest. The weight of darkness here was almost palpable, and it seemed to shift and dance with a will of its own, as untamed creatures moved around them, eyes watched them from every nook and cranny, and the forest itself seemed to possess a sentience that grew more hostile the further they traveled.

Luna, however, seemed unfettered: her hood was pushed back, her eyes gazing back and forth, her hooves treading confidently over the rocky earth as they pushed towards the ruins of the castle at the heart of the forest. She was unencumbered by the darkness even when the boughs and branches blotted out the sky, and didn't flinch even when something scurried worryingly-close through the bushes past them, or howled or yowled in the distance.

Scrivener, meanwhile, was used to civilization, his eyes darting around at every noise, his hooves unsure against the unspoiled ground, stumbling now and then over roots and grimacing as his metal hoof-boots slid against jagged rocks and loose soil. He flinched when something darted through the trees to his right, but all he saw was settling leaves and a few loose twigs pattering to the ground.

His little pseudodragon shivered where he had retreated to, in the middle of Scrivener's back: although by pony standards he was an undead terror, he was barely the size of an iguana and not exactly the most fearsome of creatures. He was a messenger and a lookout, not a fighter: those tiny teeth and claws likely couldn't do anything better than frustrate any of the large, predatory beasts Scrivy knew lurked in the depths of the Everfree, and they could likely swallow his little friend whole in a single bite.

Scrivener glanced back at Sammy, giving him a somewhat-forced smile, and then he frowned as Luna paused, the stallion halting beside her as she murmured: “Strange. I sense a malevolence ahead, Scrivener Blooms. More than that, things seem as if they have been changed since I was here last. The paths fall differently, the trees have shifted. My recollections are vague, but...”

She stopped, then shook her head, giving a faint laugh. “Yes, 'tis strange, Scrivy. When I was Nightmare Moon, I remember passing through this forest, and how it shivered at my presence! I captured Celestia so easily, but the exertion of both that and my return from the moon exhausted me. I... I think now, lucid and not consumed by her, Celestia desired to be captured, and knew that I only ever desired to be loved by the little ponies, so I would do no serious harm to them unless our hoof was forced, and we...”

Luna's mane sparked, and her eyes glowed faintly for a moment before she clenched them shut as Scrivener reached up and squeezed her shoulder gently. She breathed slowly, calming herself, before she murmured: “'Tis... 'tis fine, Scrivener. Nay, fear not. Nightmare Moon is locked away. She is not me, and yet... she is, too. For we acted in concert, and whilst the dark thing that infected me took upon a life all its own, 'twas my jealousy and rage and despair that formed it.

“We are still together... we will always be together. But... but I am in control.” Luna took a breath, nodding firmly to herself before she turned her eyes to Scrivener Blooms, almost desperate as she blurted out: “I swear, Scrivy, I shall never endanger thee! And even should she break free, nor would Nightmare Moon, for I feel how special thou art to her, for thou art special to me. In thy presence, our hearts are warm, and jealousies tamed.”

She looked at him, lower lip trembling, trying to smile even as his hoof slid from her shoulder. She froze for a moment, almost in terror, before her head reared back as Scrivener slid forwards and embraced her fiercely, saying quietly: “I don't care if you're Nightmare Moon or not; if she's part of you, I... I care about her just like I care about you, Luna. I'm not afraid of you. I admire you.”

“Bah, 'tis not so difficult anymore. Not now that I have friends such as thee and Twilight Sparkle.” Luna blushed deeply, hugging him tightly back before she smiled a little as she added quietly: “Thou shall be pleased, wicked poet, to know that despite my 'crush' on Twilight, as thou teases, thou carries an even greater weight in my heart.”

Scrivener laughed as they parted, his hoof silently sliding down her foreleg, gently gripping her hoof for a moment and squeezing it before it slipped free. They looked into one another's eyes for a few long moments, and then Luna cleared her throat before she turned and hurried onward, cresting the hill and hopping down the gravel slope on the other side as she called: “Come, Scrivener Blooms, stop being so lazy, let us hurry on!”

“Let's hurry on.” Scrivener agreed with a sigh and a wry smile, and Sammy chirped cheerfully in agreement as he scuttled up to his withers and leaning over his shoulder.

They continued through the forest, the trees thinning around them, the sense of unnatural pressure and presence loosening around them. It wasn't long before they came to a wide gorge, and while it was nice to stand underneath naked and clear night sky, the bridge that had once crossed this broad canyon had collapsed, rotten ropes fluttering in the wind and broken planks clattering gently against the jagged walls of the gorge.

Scrivener looked uneasily down: he could vaguely see a trickle of a stream among jagged rocks that almost seemed to be eagerly stretching up towards him. He looked moodily towards the other side of the canyon, wondering if this meant Luna was going to have to carry him or something, before the sapphire mare caught his attention. “This shan't be too difficult.”

She took a breath, then rose her head, her horn glowing as the rocky wall of the canyon stretched out before roots and brambles ripped out of the reaching earth, stretching and twisting across the other side of the gorge. They grasped one of the bridge posts on the other side and anchored into the canyon wall.

Luna wheezed a little, shaking her head briefly as her magic sizzled over her horn, the makeshift bridge widening and settling. Scrivener stared in amazement at this show of power, before Luna jumped into the air, her strong wings keeping her hovering easily as she remarked: “Now thou may cross, Scrivy.”

“Oh Horses of Heaven, wait.” Scrivener stared at the hammock-like bridge, then he made a face: the worst part was that he could see the ruins of the castle in the distance, one of the few remaining towers almost glowing in the pale moonlight. “Couldn't you just throw me or something?”

“All thy complaining about picking thee up and now thou desires me to throw thee?” Luna huffed at him as she hovered, before she gestured at herself. “This is not comfortable for me, either! And I went through all this trouble for thee and this is how thou thanks me?”

Scrivener looked grumpily up at her, opening his mouth, before he paused and studied her, realizing that this was the first time he had really seen her flying. He cocked his head, but Luna only grumbled at him before flying out to the middle of the canyon, gesturing pointedly at the bridge.

He carefully stepped out onto the vines and roots: they sank slightly beneath his step, forming a sort of low curb on either side that would help him stay centered.

He did his best not to look down, mumbling under his breath as he edged his way out onto the bridge, then carefully began to almost crawl his way across. Sammy, perched on his back, just peeked back and forth, while Luna zigzagged impatiently above his head.

“You are so distracting.” he mumbled.

“Aye, I know, my strength and beauty awe thee, but keep thy eyes forward, Scrivy.” Luna chastened, and Scrivener groaned, opening his mouth-

Sammy suddenly shrieked, and Scrivener and Luna both blinked before Luna's eyes widened as her instincts screamed in alarm a moment later, and she shot higher into the air as she spun around, eyes widening in horror at the sight of a cloud in the distance.

No. Not a cloud, Scrivener realized. It was moving too fast, sweeping down on them as Sammy clung to the neck of his armor, shrieking again in terror. His fear mixed with another sound now, though, one coming from that white mist rushing towards them, and Scrivener's mind went blank and his gaze locked in terror on the shapes and forms in the fog-

“Scrivener Blooms!” Luna shouted, and he was shaken out of his hysteria even as the horrifying mess swept towards them, faster and faster, a mass of screaming, shrieking white ghosts, skeletal and emaciated ponies of all shape and size trampling over each other, bouncing, jouncing in and out of the cloud. “Scrivy, hold on!”

He didn't really have a choice. He was in the middle of the bridge. The herd was crashing down on them was too fast, and there was no way he was getting to the other side of the canyon without either falling off or before the ghosts hit-

Luna roared. She shot down in front of the bridge, her eyes glowing and horn crackling with power as her cloak burst back like a cape, Scrivener's eyes wide in shock at the rage and might she exuded. “Begone, spirits! Thou shan't claim another victim tonight!”

Her horn snapped out as the host of haunts shot towards her, and a massive barrier of force appeared between her and the phantasms. The screaming, shrieking herd of mist crashed against this, barreling into it with such force that Luna was forced backwards through the air, hissing in effort even as ghosts of all shape and size bounced off the shield and went tumbling from the air, laughing, hissing, squealing even as they dissolved into dust and vanished from sight.

Luna struggled, then snarled as she leaned forward, shouting again in fury, her horn flashing as she unleashed a massive sledgehammer of raw telekinetic force, blasting through the cloud of phantasms and shredding the rest of the grisly fog of ghosts with such strength that it even deflected the icy-cold wind they carried with them.

The sapphire mare groaned, shuddering as she slumped, magic sizzling around her as the wall of energy she'd called up faded from existence. She shook her head, then smiled a little over her shoulder at Scrivener Blooms as he looked up at her dumbly from where he was crouched on the bridge.

He blinked a few times as she turned with a grin-

Screaming, shrieking phantasms erupted up out of the gorge, laughing and cackling as they ripped through the bridge around Scrivener Blooms and battered the earth pony violently into the air, Luna crying out in shock and horror as the herd of hell-horses sought to claim one more victim even as they fled towards the sky. She caught herself before her eyes widened at the sight of the earth pony falling loose from the ratty horde of ghosts as they bolted past, his armor glinting with snow and ice crystals from the unforgiving chill they carried with them, and Luna dashed through the air towards him and tackled him headlong out of his free-fall.

They crashed down on the other side of the gorge, rolling and banging painfully to a halt, both ponies left panting for breath. Scrivener blinked dumbly, barely able to believe he was still alive as his body shuddered, both from the cold, and the horror of what he had seen in that noxious cloud of spirits, their laughing skulls, the tormented and screaming ponies, the grinning ghasts with their empty eyes...

He shook his head weakly, then looked at Luna, who was sprawled next to him, breathless, staring down at him, and after a moment he wheezed: “See, I was right. Might be easier just to throw me next time.”

“Oh shut up, Scrivener Blooms.” Luna sighed in relief, and then she straightened up and offered him a hoof, and Scrivener grimaced as he took it and stood shakily. His legs trembled before he quickly looked back and forth, then relaxed with a soft breath at the sight of Sammy wiggling his way out of a bush. “Oh, thank the gods that thou art alive too, Sammy!”

Sammy chirped as if offended, and Scrivener rolled his eyes before he muttered: “Hey, you're a lot more alive than those things were. That... those ghosts...”

“That was the Stampede.” Luna answered quietly, looking up into the night sky, and Scrivener Blooms shivered. Part of him couldn't believe it, but he had recognized the herd of phantasms the moment they had come screaming down from the skies, and his unfortunate up-close-and-personal meeting with them had confirmed it.

“The Stampede. The great chorus of lost souls, always looking to grow their herd by knocking pegasi from the skies, and sending earth ponies and unicorns off narrow bridges and high cliffs.” Scrivener looked out across the gorge, shivering again, and Luna smiled faintly.

“Aye. A wretched miasma, and less a sentient thing and more a writhing mass of pain and anguish, trying to inflict its misery upon others.” She shook her head slowly, murmuring: “I was shocked by its strength. The Stampede is more... phenomenon than anything else. One can exorcise it, but the world will never be truly rid of it.”

Scrivener grimaced at this thought, looking uneasily at Luna, before he bit his lip and asked finally: “Are you okay? And... um... thank you for saving my life.”

“Bah, barely.” Luna smiled at him, trying to hide her gratitude beneath bravado. “With thy fat head I could have let thee bounce to the bottom of the gorge, and as long as thou landed on thy thick skull thou would have been perfectly fine!”

Scrivener snorted, and then the sapphire mare nodded after a moment, murmuring: “And aye, I am merely winded. I see now what Celestia spoke of, though. The Stampede's presence, and so powerful at that, speaks to a time of darkness coming to Equestria. Not sweet night, like mine, but... something wicked. And yet 'tis also nothing that can trouble us when we are here, firmly on the ground.”

“Speak for yourself.” Scrivener muttered, rubbing a hoof over his armor and wiping thawing wetness from it. “I'm all soaked.”

“Moist.” Luna enunciated the word slowly and clearly, and Scrivener closed his eyes, as if pained. “Thou art... moistened.”

Sammy chirped, and then Luna became serious as she looked ahead, saying softly: “But come. Our business is almost concluded. Let us make haste to the castle ruins and hope that no further troubles await us there.”

Scrivener nodded slowly, and then he fell into step behind Luna. Once more, he was amazed by her: her strength, her passion, even how her moods could swing from silly to serious and yet always in a way that reassured him, that reminded him even now, the best thing they could do was forge ahead.

It was a short ten minute walk to the castle, and the atmosphere felt oppressive. Malicious, but not outright: more that something was concealed here, sneaking around, hiding in the shadows and observing them.

Scrivener didn't like it, and Luna's own mood darkened considerably as they faced the rotted entrance to the Castle of the Pony Sisters. Much of the outer wall had collapsed and it looked like an entire section of the castle had slid into the moat; in other places, vines and ivy crawled and wormed their way over brick and into any available weakness they could find, and the forest had begun to reclaim its territory, a few stunted trees growing out of walls and piles of crumbled brick.

Luna faced the entrance: the wooden doors that now lay in moldering ruin had once hosted marvelous designs crafted by the finest of artists, and now time had reduced them to rotten, faceless boards. The tall archway was shattered, half of it fallen, leaving nothing but a pile of gravel and moss-covered stone.

“Come, Scrivener Blooms. We... we have much to do.” Luna murmured finally, and she took a breath before crossing the cracked stone bridge to the entrance, Scrivener following as the wind whistled across them, making the ruins seem to moan and whimper.

They crossed the courtyard inside, following a rough path that still existed between weeds and thornbushes, and made their way into the entrance hall: once this had been opulent, and now it was marred by decay, the walls covered in invasive plant, windows shattered and glass faded and stained, the tapestries nothing but dusty, moth-eaten messes of string and cloth.

Scrivener looked slowly back and forth as Luna paused to breathe, to try and force her memories away. She realized too late that the weight of this place had distracted her even more effectively than the pall of darkness over it, grimacing uneasily as she heard a hiss of movement even before quiet giggles pierced the air around them.

Scrivener and Luna both shifted, moving closer together as they scanned the area, before a voice whispered eagerly: “You've come back, sister...”

“Sister, how are you?” asked another voice, almost taunting her, as a shadow wafted past along the wall, the darkness itself seeming to fold and shift on itself. Scrivener set himself as Sammy whimpered, and Luna rose her head, her mane and tail thrumming with magic and her horn lighting up as that voice teased: “Oh, no need to be so hostile...”

Something invisible rippled through the air near Scrivener, making him flinch and then quickly try to follow it, but a breath of wind passed down through the hall, rattling the windows and causing everything to stir.

Luna bared her fangs, before she growled: “Cease these games and show thyselves!”

“My, my, sister... so impatient...” almost purred a voice, and both Scrivener and Luna looked up to watch as shadow gathered on the old stairs leading down from the second floor: these shadows humped up, took on the form of a mare, whose coat rippled like liquid and flame, her smile nothing but a sharp white line of teeth, her eyes a red abyss. “You'll forgive us our natures, won't you?”

“Ah, sister... your consort is so handsome...” said another voice, as a second dark horse formed from the shadows, strutting slowly past Scrivener and smiling at him, the stallion shuddering at the look on its feminine features. “I could just eat him up.”

“Sisters, sisters!” chided another voice: a third mare appeared, walking out of thin air as if descending an invisible staircase to join its siblings, while the fourth, who had apparently been the one to speak, strode into existence right in front of Luna and Scrivener. It smoldered as it studied them for a few moments before saying derisively: “Our sibling pretends that she has swallowed away her darkness. But it's all right there, isn't it? Oh, there's no need for these petty games and conflicts, my sister...”

“I am not thy sibling.” Luna said stiffly.

“But you are.” said the Nightmare in front of her: that was what it was, what it had to be, Scrivener Blooms realized. Entities of shadow, psychic vampires that fed on the pain and suffering of others, evil spirits thought to have been banished from Equestria long ago, and who preyed on the weak of heart and mind.

But here they were. Just like the Stampede, here they were, right before Scrivener's eyes, myth made reality.

“You can pretend all you want you aren't,” cajoled another. “But your soul is stained black, as dark as our own. You cannot escape it.”

“Be silent!” Luna snarled, and the Nightmares all quailed back in surprise as dust hailed down from the ceiling, the entire castle rumbling uneasily with the force of the mare's voice. “I know what thou art! Nightmares, fickle monsters of darkness and manipulation, who rely on terror and fear to get their way! But I am not afraid of thee and I refuse thy sisterhood, for I am Luna, not Nightmare Moon!”

The Nightmares traded looks, and then their apparent leader snorted in contempt before she leaned forwards, retorting: “We are the only true companionship you may ever have! Your name does not matter; you are a creature of the night, like us! You are immortal, and even if you truly have deceived yourself that this one loves you, he will weaken, rot, and die, and-”

“Oh spare me thy manipulations and prattling, 'tis boring, pedantic, and cliché.” Luna rolled her eyes in disgust as the Nightmare twitched back, and then she turned her eyes to Scrivener Blooms, saying softly: “This pony, mortal or otherwise, has done more for me in a short year than many have done across countless lifetimes. I do not know what the future holds, but the future also holds no power over me, for I am and always have lived in the moment.”

She turned her eyes forward, then said calmly: “Get thee hence from my sight, Nightmares. We do not fear thee.”

And Scrivener realized it was true. Luna's confidence bolstered his own, made him feel strong and bold, and not just in that falsely-courageous way he'd always had when abusing his authority. He was able to stand straight and look across at these living entities of shadow, and when he did, he saw the way they shifted nervously, the uncertainty in them, the-

“Foolish!” suddenly burst out their lead-mare, and Luna snarled before her breath caught in her throat as her whole body froze up, as not a force outside, but something inside her roiled. “Pretend all that you want, but you cannot escape who and what you are!”

Luna reared back, screaming as black flames erupted across her body. Her eyes glowed with uncontrollable power and emotion as her mind was scrambled and she felt something inside her struggling, struggling like it was drowning in a great deep dark sea-

She collapsed backwards as Scrivener shouted and leapt towards her, but a Nightmare stepped forwards, disdainfully flicking its head and knocking him sprawling with a telekinetic hammer. Sammy was knocked loose and away from him, sent skittering with a shriek of panic, but Scrivener quickly clawed his way up to his hooves, snarling in fury and desperation as he leapt forward-

A Nightmare appeared in front of him, and its gaze captured him. His mind fell into a crimson abyss of laughter as his body collapsed stupidly to the ground in a heap.

“Do not resist, Scrivener Blooms. Down we go now, down, deep into the darkness in your heart. You cannot refuse us. You will open the door and let us in. You will do it for love, and you will do it for power.” The voice echoed all around him as he fell, fell into oblivion, fell into the shadow, until he was no longer aware of anything, or anyone else.

Only darkness.

Celestia's brow knit together in frustration as she gazed into her looking glass. Normally, the mirror was able to show her anything and everything she desired, but her view of Luna and Scrivener had become frustratingly blocked once they had entered the castle by a grinning darkness.

A strange metaphor, perhaps, but it was an apt one: when she touched it, she saw nothing but mocking black shapes, and heard echoing laughter, taunting her weakness.

Yes. She had grown weaker.

She thought that it had something to do with whatever it was that had helped pacify her. Like along with the raging emotions and the desire for control and the fury that had always driven her to such extremes, some of the strength had also been drained out of her.

She wished she could use the excuse that she was just getting old.

She studied the writhing shadows in the mirror for a moment, and then she closed her eyes and allowed the flow of magic to cease, the mirror returning to normal. Now it only reflected her worried gaze as she studied herself silently, touching her own face and wondering... why it was she felt like the pony she was seeing wasn't the pony she had always been.

Still. What she had seen worried her. She might have to schedule a short 'vacation' to exorcise that incarnation of the Stampede herself, for one thing. It would be hungry and hunting, especially weakened by Luna as it had been. She would have to warn the weather pegasi in particular to be careful for the next few weeks.

Luna... she hoped she was okay.

Celestia sighed quietly as she turned away from the mirror and headed over to her large, circular bed, slipping into it and laying on her side. She hugged a pillow impulsively, kneading it slowly with her front hooves as she tried not to look over her shoulder at the mirror on the wall, knowing there was nothing she could do but watch and wait.

She had a lot of faith in her little sister. But she was still her little sister, and she still had a lot of recovering to do. A thousand years had been stolen from her, and returning only to be blasted by the Elements of Harmony again had considerably weakened her further.

But she had always been strong and stubborn, and she had her friend and confidante with her. Scrivener Blooms might not think much of himself, but he was the only pony who had really been able to get through to Luna. And she included herself in that number, too.

Yes, Celestia thought. As long as they stuck together, she was confident that one way or another, they would both be okay.

Nightmares And Mercy

Chapter Seven: Nightmares And Mercy

~BlackRoseRaven

Luna flailed furiously at the air, then gasped as she snapped awake, blinking dumbly as she looked back and forth before wincing when a large hoof dropped on her shoulder, and an impossible voice said warmly: “Calm down, sister, it was just a nightmare!”

“What?” Luna looked dumbly over her shoulder, feeling something fall askew on her head, realizing she was sitting back in a cushioned carriage. But it was the sight of him that took her breath away for a moment: a massive chestnut earth pony with a mane and tail of vines, and the warmest, kindest smile she had ever known- “Sleipnir?”

“Yes, it's me! And how are you, Luna?”

Damn.

Luna sighed, turning her eyes away and gazing out across this field. This... dream. Ah, look over there, there was Celestia, dressed up in her armor, wearing some stupid helmet with wings on it. The Valkyries had never worn winged helmets, that was some stupid artistic flair from some stupid play about some stupid mare who set herself on fire; she would say she'd never be dumb or reckless enough to do that, but that would be a lie. It was much more accurate to say she'd already done that once before and it hadn't gone very well.

What a strange thing to think.

“Are you-”

“Spare me.” Luna said tiredly.

Not-Sleipnir stared at her, and Luna shook her head as she absently reached up and removed the crown from her head. She studied it moodily as she explained: “Sleipnir and I speak the same dialect. 'Tis messy, Nightmare. Thou art messy. And this is a very stuffy dream. I do not like it at all. 'Tis stuffy and stupid. Stuffy and stupid.”

Not-Sleipnir continued to stare dumbly at her, and then Luna grumbled as she put her forehooves behind her head and kicked her rear hooves up on the top of the rail, grumbling: “Now either release me from this mental prison or go away whilst I ponder for a little while.”

“D-Do not insult me!” But the Nightmare sounded tinny and humiliated even as the world around them transformed, becoming a hellish landscape of brutal war; the Not-Sleipnir became a towering monstrosity, emaciated, rotting, as an equal decrepit and hideous mockery of Celestia appeared on the other side, and grinning, zombie-like versions of Scrivener and Twilight crawled their way up over the front of the carriage as the Nightmare hissed: “They never loved you. They will never love, and-”

Luna yawned loudly, then rose her forehooves above her head and clapped them sharply twice, and immediately all four monstrosities burst apart into ashes. Flames whickered up invisible strings and into the sky, and the Nightmare yelped and flung a pair of wooden puppet crosses away, looking shocked as its macabre nightmare became nothing but a painted set, Luna glowering up at it through one eye for a moment before she closed it and shifted back to relax in the still-present, cushy carriage. “Thou art no match for me on this battlefield, Nightmare. Doubly-so when thou art so unpracticed. I can walk a hundred dreams in a single night if the urge so takes me, although as of late there has been little need to.”

The Nightmare stared down at her, then looked at its own singed hooves before it hissed and leapt down from its perch above the set, landing beside Luna. It began to step forward, and then squealed when a silver birdcage appeared around it, floating into the air as Luna scowled over the creature-

“Devour it.” encouraged a soft voice, and Luna shivered as she looked to the other side of the carriage. There, she saw a door standing in emptiness, open just a crack, and terrible blackness, not light, spilling in from it across the earth. Where it touched, the ground turned to bubbling black tar, veins of this eerie mire pulsing outwards from the poison.

The Nightmare trembled, and shoved itself fearfully back against the cage as a single green eye peeked out from behind the door, which creaked open just a little wider, as the voice whispered: “Oh, little Luna, at least feed it to me...”

“Get thee hence.” Luna whispered.

The thing behind the door laughed quietly, and then it murmured: “But I am not your enemy. I am your friend. I only want what is best for you.”

“Get thee hence!”

The evil sighed, then closed the door with a snick, and Luna shivered as she swept a hoof hard to the side and instead, she and the Nightmare were left standing in a white and empty void.

She looked at the Nightmare, and it fell to its knees, babbling: “Please! P-Please spare me, I am so sorry mistress... let me go, and I will never trouble you again!”

Luna scowled down at the Nightmare. It never would have afforded her the same-

No.

That was not the way to think about this. She closed her eyes, taking a slow breath, and then she grimaced before nodding once, looking down at the shadow creature and saying quietly: “Awaken me, then begone.”

The Nightmare whimpered, but a moment later, Luna felt a sharp shock run through her system; in a blink, she was no longer standing in a dreamworld, but instead she was awake and aware, gasping as a darkness lunged away from her and bolted for the open doors.

“Sister! Wait!” cried a voice, and Luna growled as she rolled to her hooves before she quickly threw herself sideways when a blast of black fire snapped through the air at her. “What did you do to her?”

“Only showed her the error of her ways.” Luna said ironically, before she snorted when the Nightmare tried to rush down on her, and she sidestepped before slamming a hoof into its face, knocking it crashing to the side with a gasp before it went invisible and insubstantial.

It flitted to the safety of the shadows, then sent a bolt of black flames at her; Luna deflected these with an easy flick of her horn, then retaliated with a blast of blue fire that blew out one of the remaining windows.

The Nightmare squealed as it flashed into her vision for a moment before vanishing again and this time retreating to an even further distance to hide, and Luna took the moment to assess her surroundings.

Scrivener Blooms was on the ground, not moving: that was to be expected. One of the Nightmares had probably entered his mind and spirit and was trying to corrupt him, so she would have to make this quick

Fortunately, there was only one Nightmare keeping watch over them, but that meant- “Where is thy sister? Or did she abandon thee just as thy other sibling has?”

The Nightmare hissed at her, and launched a blast of dark fire down at her from the second floor, but Luna sliced through this with her horn and dispelled it before flicking her horn sharply, exploding the railing above with telekinesis to pelt the Nightmare with shards of stone.

“Damn you!” the Nightmare screamed, before it hissed, the voice seeming to come from all around her as the shadows squeezed in around the sapphire mare: “Why resist? We only wanted to help you! We would have loved and served you forever in your eternal night!”

Luna laughed shortly, half-turning towards where she thought the voice had come from: her eyes registered movement too late, and a moment later, a small, sharp rock bounced off her face, Luna's head twitching to the side as blood burst from her split lip.

She breathed hard as her mane sparked and wafted around her, then grinned and slowly licked the blood from her muzzle. Another rock hammered against her breastplate, but she ignored it as she said contemptibly: “Foolish creature. I know thy kind: thy servitude can be bought or coerced, that much is true. Thou art always seeking a stronger evil to hide behind-”

“Evil.” sneered the Nightmare. It flung another rock at her: at least now it clever enough to try and be stealthy, as Luna knocked the stone out of the air with her horn before she slapped another down with a hoof. “We are no more evil than your average pony. Your kind does the same: attaches itself to the bigger, stronger brute in order to survive and thrive. Why do you think the mortals follow Celestia so readily?”

“But that is where thou hast made thy mistake!” Luna shouted, and she felt the Nightmare twitch. “Nightmare Moon would just as readily consume thee and thy kind as she would use and abuse thee! Nightmare Moon would not be thy savior, idiot... she would be thy tyrant!”

“You lie!” But the Nightmare's voice quavered, and Luna smiled grimly. It could pretend otherwise, but these dark specters fed off emotion, which meant that they always knew when a pony was telling the truth.

What a terrible existence, to never know the comfort of a lie.

This was taking too long.

The Nightmare flitted to another shadow, and Luna ground her teeth in frustration before she looked up and her eyes locked on the moon above. She ignored the Nightmare when it launched another stone at her along with some half-creative invective, defending herself with a foreleg as her horn glowed, grasping the moon with her powers, willing it closer.

The moon crept closer; it became a larger pearl, filling the night with its glow, its radiance seeming to shine directly on the castle, and the Nightmare gasped as it shimmered when it was caught in the moonlight. Immediately, Luna snapped her horn out, sending a blue fireball crashing into the creature.

The Nightmare screamed in agony and terror, the blue flames rapidly spreading across its body before it simply whiffed out of existence completely, and Luna grimaced before she shook her head and released her grip on the moon. She didn't spare the time to watch it fade back up into the sky, however, instead quickly approaching Scrivener and reaching down to touch him gently.

He was breathing regularly: she sensed the Nightmare's presence in his mind, but it hadn't been able to manipulate or possess him, and Luna smiled wryly before she sighed and muttered: “Forgive me for this intrusion, Scrivy, but sometimes one must do one wickedness to undo another.”

Her horn thrummed, her magic building for a few moments before she breathed slowly out, only needing to concentrate for a moment...

There.

She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she was standing in the middle of a frost-speckled dirt road. As she looked back and forth, the rest of the world filtered in around her, but it was all sepia-tones and grays, as unwelcoming as the cold she felt crushing in around her.

She shivered a little, then took a breath and insulated herself against the icy weather. She had to be careful, though: memories and dreams were a funny thing, and if she blocked out too much of one sensation, she might inadvertently blind herself to some of the associations his memories held.

To either side of her, huge snowbanks and drifts stood unwelcome sentinel in front of ramshackle houses and squat, ugly shops. Nothing here looked cared for, and this town felt like it had never seen a single day of real warmth, much less a Winter Wrap Up or even a Hearth's Warming Eve.

What a terrible place: cold, and lonely, and not a pony in sight. Just blurs behind the gray windows of ugly buildings and monotone snow.

The snow crunched under her hooves as she made her way forward, before she frowned as she finally heard something ahead. And only thirty seconds later, she realized that there were two figures in the road ahead, and she couldn't help but smile wryly at the almost ridiculous sight.

Scrivener Blooms was sitting in the middle of the dirt road and visibly sulking, like a foal. A phantom Twilight Sparkle was flitting back and forth around him, looking frustrated.

“You can't hide your secrets from me.” it cooed in his ear, then zipped to his other side: her coat was almost a bruised purple, her eyes red and eerie as she floated above the road. “I taste bitterness. Anger. Love. Regret. We can cure your weakness. We can-”

Scrivener yawned loudly and obnoxiously. In this bizarre winter world, he was dressed only in his half-coat, his glasses askew on his face, and Luna smiled despite herself, lingering for a moment to watch. On the one hoof, she wanted to give Scrivener the chance to handle this. On the other, she knew the real problem was that this was an invasion of her friend's privacy: she was spying on him, in a place where no one else was supposed to be able to see, while he argued with a creature that would be able to expose some of his deepest secrets.

Nightmare Twilight scowled horribly, then she zipped around him in a circle before she pushed almost face-to-face with him, asking mockingly: “Oh, are you happy being a worthless little slave hoof?”

Luna's features tensed, and Scrivener snorted as he sat back, remarking: “Is racism the best you've got? Because this filthy mudwalker heard a lot worse than that up north from the proud horns.”

Twilight snorted in contempt, then asked: “Don't you want a horn?”

“Not yours.” Scrivener grimaced, reaching up and poking his hoof against Nightmare Twilight's spire as she leaned her face in, slowly pushing her away. “What am I going to do with a horn, anyway? Poke ponies with it?”

“We can give you magic.” Nightmare Twilight almost purred.

“What am I going to shoot it out of? My eyes? Do I wave a hoof and say 'abracadabra, now you're a chicken?'”

Nightmare Twilight scowled at him, then she suddenly smiled, her body slithering through the air and twining around him as she teased: “Well, what if we offered you their love? We can give you anything... everything...”

Scrivener grimaced, before he looked just as stunned as Luna felt as the Nightmare Twilight slowly ground up against him and shoved her rump back against the side of his head. She wiggled it back and forth as she squished her butt back into Scrivener's face, and the stallion slowly blinked before he mumbled: “You know, if anything had the power to make me believe you were Twilight Sparkle, it's this.”

Luna's cheeks puffed out as she tried to suppress her giggling, staring with disbelief at the sight. The Nightmare, trying to look coy and seductive as it rubbed its butt back and forth against Scrivy's face, Scrivener's eye visibly twitching before he suddenly yelled and flailed angrily at her, shoving her rump away.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” he shouted, as the Nightmare Twilight whisked around in a circle and winced at his frustration. “Are you being serious right now? This is your idea of sexy?”

The Nightmare Twilight blushed, eyes darting awkwardly back and forth before it snapped: “I am drawing from your desires! You're the one who wants-”

“I don't want someone grinding their fat butt all over my head!” Scrivener flailed his forelegs at her, then he scooped up a bit of snow and flung it in her direction, and she flinched and scowled at him. “Go get some seduction lessons or something! Better yet, go have Twilight Sparkle sit on your head so you know how it feels!”

The Nightmare hissed at him as the illusion of Twilight burst off her form like smoke, revealing her true form before she leaned forwards and growled: “You can't lie to me, you're a disgusting mess of primal urges.”

“I'm a writer. I'm a liar, a cheat, and a jerk. Hey, didn't you know? All the great poems are just metaphors for genitals.” he said sourly with a flick of his hoof. “Also, you have access to all my memories and mind and apparently you're looking at the times I touched myself? Look, I'm not here to kinkshame, but you need to learn a thing or two about consent.”

The Nightmare hissed at him again, and then it grew to double its size suddenly, glaring down at him angrily as the whole world darkened. Luna tensed and leaned forwards, ready to leap to action, but Scrivener looked unimpressed as the dark spirit warned: “Instead of gifts, I can inflict terror and pain until you surrender yourself to me.”

“Didn't we just have a talk about consent?” Scrivener asked wryly, before he was hefted into the air by the Nightmare, whose eyes glowed with rage as it crushed him in a telekinetic grip. But the stallion was unflinching and unyielding as he said quietly: “You can't get what you want by just hurting me. If you could, you would have gone to that first instead of the seduction attempts.”

The Nightmare snorted smoke across him, glowering at him, and Scrivener smiled up at her fearlessly as he said quietly: “Here's a little warning for you. Luna wakes up real cranky, and you and your 'sisters' are going to be on her bad side. As someone who regularly gets treated way worse than this by her – and she likes me! – I would recommend you run away before she beats you out of me.”

“We could make her love you. Her and Twilight Sparkle both.” the Nightmare tried to vie, and Scrivener crossed his forelegs, looking sour even as he continued to float in her grip.

“You know, polygamy was made illegal roughly two hundred years ago.” He stopped, then mused: “Although sociological findings have noted that if the mare-to-stallion ratio remains in the roughly seventy-to-thirty percent range, we could be seeing a resurgence of open polygamy. I'm not entirely sure I could survive a relationship with more than one mare, though.”

The Nightmare snorted, then she said: “We could make you king-”

“I claimed so bold that Heaven mandated my rule, and ignored the warning of its angels, telling me I would suffer; how wretched, to be King of all that I may gaze upon, yet never know Enough!” Scrivener recited, gesturing sharply upwards. “To starve with every banquet, to thirst with every drink, to long with every beholden queen and maiden I claim! Ah, how God toys with me, and what glee the Devil must have as I suffocate in my sea of want!”

The Nightmare flinched as Scrivener gestured violently outwards, and the stallion fell with a thump into a snowbank. He didn't bother getting up, his eyes drifting towards Luna, who was smiling softly at him; but as she had not announced herself, she knew that he wasn't aware of her. He could see her, but didn't know that she was really there rather than an echo of memory.

“I couldn't be a king. I would want, and want, and want.” Scrivener shook his head briefly. “I'm a petty jerk. I'd abuse my power. I already do abuse my power too much. Luna...”

He smiled as he looked towards her again, and she felt his warmth. His affection. His admiration. “I could never be her king. I'm not even her equal. She's incredible and stronger than anyone I've ever met. She takes the night and the darkness and makes it beautiful in a way I never could.” Scrivener gazed upward, as the deep blackness turned to dimness, and stars twinkled above, and a faint aurora stretched through the sky. “You can't bribe me. You can't torture me. You might as well just go away, because the last thing I'm going to do is surrender to a shadow puppet when even Twilight was able to stand up to Discord.”

“Ah, but Discord would have loved thee, Scrivy!” Luna called, and Scrivener and the Nightmare both looked equally surprised, staring over at her before the Nightmare shrieked: instead of attacking, however, the shadow mare leapt backwards, vanishing in a burst of smoke.

Scrivener smiled awkwardly as he picked himself up out of the snowbank, rubbing the back of his head as the night rapidly turned to day, before he scowled as the Nightmare's voice mocked: “Well, let's see if you really meant all those things you said! Come and find me if you dare!”

Scrivener squinted into the distance, and then he glanced awkwardly over at Luna as she approached. They looked at each other for a few long moments, and then he asked finally: “So uh... how long were you here?”

“Oh, well, Scrivy, I arrived just in time to watch it scrubbing thee with her buttocks.” Luna noted cheerfully, and Scrivener sighed before the mare glanced towards where the creature had fled: while most of the buildings were gray and monotone, there was one that clearly stood out in memory, with not just a little more color, but more of a sense of life to it. “Now come, Scrivener Blooms. Let us corner the coward and drive it from thy mind.”

“Wait!” Scrivener blurted as Luna took a step forward, and Luna frowned before looking back over her shoulder at him, and the stallion bit his lip before his eyes drifted down and he cleared his throat.

He looked up, but before he could even open his mouth, she was in front of him, and he blinked before she touched his shoulder gently, meeting his eyes as she murmured: “Scrivy. Tell me.”

Scrivener looked down, and then he smiled faintly and nodded, taking a breath as he visibly fought off the urge to try and sidestep or brush it off. Instead, he looked up, meeting her gaze as he said quietly: “I... I'm just afraid of what you're going to think of me. And of... the past.”

“Thou needs not fear it with me, Scrivener Blooms... for I am here to support thee through it all. And I shall not judge thee.”

“I'm... I'm not afraid of your judgment.” Scrivener swallowed a bit as he glanced away, and Luna smiled faintly. “I'm afraid of your pity.”

“Well... lucky for thee, I am a pitiless mare.” she answered, and then she hesitated only a moment before leaning forwards and kissing his forehead, making him blush deep red. “Thou knows me, and does not judge me for who I am, and who I have been. Let us face this side-by-side, together.”

Scrivener finally sighed and nodded, and then he visibly steadied himself, squaring his shoulders and turning his eyes ahead as he murmured: “Okay. Let's go.”

He led her forward, down the road, and he cleared his throat as they stopped in front of the building. The snowbanks were cleared to either side here, and Scrivener and Luna stood on a cold sidewalk, gazing silently together up at the sign on the ugly, squat structure: 'Flowers.'

“Bramblethorn never was very creative.” Scrivener said with a chuckle and shake of his head, and then he trembled once, and Luna followed him, up a short, rickety set of stairs and into the maw of the threatening balcony to the throat of the waiting door.

It opened on the sight of a small shop. Flowers, seeds, assorted pots and bouquets. Uninspired and typical arrangements in a gray store.

A pegasus strode briskly through the shop, looking over shelves of merchandise. A unicorn with a greasy black mane and a sallow, gray-white coat was tapping his hoof impatiently at the counter. A small earth pony foal nervously flitted through the shelves, cleaning the omnipresent muck and slush from the floor, so dirty that his mane looked brown and black instead of white, wearing an apron with some kind of crest sewn into it.

The pegasus didn't even look at the foal as he walked by, nearly trampling him and knocking him over. The foal didn't speak or even look up, and the pegasus snorted as he flapped his wings once disdainfully: the wash of air knocked a mason jar loose from a shelf, and it fell and shattered.

“Rude little colt.” the pegasus remarked as he approached the counter.

“Sorry, sir. We do our best with him, but he never learns.” said the unicorn as he rang up the order.

The pegasus left, and the moment he was gone, the unicorn slid out from behind the counter. He stormed over to the foal and used telekinesis to slap the dustpan and broom out of his hooves before he flung them bad-temperedly down the aisle, shouting: “Out of sight! What does that mean, boy? And look at the mess you made!”

“I-I'm sorry, Dad-”

“I am not your 'Dad,' I am your 'Father,' you little ingrate.” seethed the unicorn. “Mudwalkers use proper titles and show proper respect. And they do not get in the way of their betters!”

The unicorn stomped angrily, then he gestured at the broken glass that now littered the aisle, the dirty little foal cowering. “Clean up this mess. Then go to bed.”

The memories froze. Luna noticed the stallion was pointing at the door, not the inside of the house, and she turned a silent question to Scrivener Blooms.

Scrivener only shrugged and smiled faintly, glancing down and murmuring: “Earth ponies do not enter the unicorn master's domain. They use the servant door.”

He turned, and Luna shivered before she followed him, through the cleared lot in front of the store and down a side path that had appeared through the snow. They started down a narrow alleyway, and then they both stopped as a door at the side of the house was slammed open.

Scrivener was ejected by unicorn magic, crying out as he hit the wall opposite before he landed on his side, tears rolling down his cheeks. Father followed him out, the unicorn snarling in rage as he flung several torn pages and pencils after the foal. “No! Literature is the realm of the nobles, not the savages like you! You were born a slave and you will remain a slave, forever!”

“P-Please, I just want to learn-”

The unicorn made a gesture that Luna hadn't seen since the old days: he tilted his head to the side and clicked his tongue sharply. And both foal and adult Scrivener automatically flinched before the child fell quickly to a low bow.

“Bastard.” Luna whispered.

“That was Bramblethorn.” Scrivener's tone was almost lofty, but tears shone in his eyes, and his body trembled and shook. “That... that was my dad.”

The ponies faded from sight, and Scrivener walked down the alleyway, Luna following, feeling the gentle pull of another memory: when they reached the other side, somehow they ended up back at the start.

Except this time, this space squeezed between buildings had more than just trash and debris. Near the back of the alley, there was an old cargo crate, held together mostly by twine and prayer, with an ugly door made of crisscrossed metal bars haphazardly hanging off its hinges, a bolt and padlock hanging from the front.

Bramblethorn emerged from the side door of the shop, carrying Scrivener Blooms in telekinesis. He yanked open the door, then flung the foal inside before slamming it shut even as the foal cried out.

Both ponies disintegrated into dust, and then Bramblethorn emerged again, this time with foal Scrivener following at his heels. Bramblethorn clicked at him, and the foal entered the cage, and Bramblethorn locked him inside.

Locked him in the kennel.

They turned to dust again, and a final memory played: Scrivener leaving, walking to the kennel, and pulling the door closed behind him.

“He had me nice and trained after a few weeks.” Scrivener said quietly, as he walked over to the modified crate. He silently stroked a hoof along the top of this prison, gazing down at it as he murmured: “I grew up a slave hoof in the realm of unicorns. You know, I heard 'earth pony' only when we had the rare visitor, or people trying to be dignified and polite in noble company. We weren't earth ponies to them. We were slave hoofs. And I was... I still am, Bramblethorn's ultimate shame.”

He bent down, and Luna silently approached before she ducked down to look inside as well.

The crate barely had enough room for foal Scrivener to sleep. He was curled up on his side on top of a blanket, some loose clothes clearly dug out of the trash pulled over him for warmth. Part of a candle, doodles on the walls, some pages, peeking out from underneath the makeshift bedding.

“I taught myself to read and write. Books were my only escape.” The memory changed: now Scrivener was awake, silently reading by a flickering, dim candle, mouthing out the words. “There was no school up north. Not for slave hoofs, anyway. Schooling and tutoring was for pegasi and unicorns.”

Scrivener reached in, and gently plucked a paper loose from a sheaf against one wall. He smiled faintly, studying this quietly, then turned and handed it to Luna, who took it with a trembling hoof before she looked down and read it.

She recognized it. That was the worst thing of all.

It was the Celestial Edict. A decree from ancient times that stated unicorns were at the top of the hierarchy, and the earth ponies at the lowest. Among other things, it described the rights that unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies all held, and how the tribes should treat each other. It was nothing like the harmony and kindness that Celestia had fostered over the last thousand years, but rather the old, ancient ways that believed that peace could only be achieved via force.

She slowly clenched her hoof into this, until it burst into flames and dissolved into ashes, asking with disbelief: “How is it possible that places like this could still exist?”

Scrivener shrugged, and then he shifted away from the kennel and walked down the alley, and Luna followed quickly after him.

They were back in the store, and a unicorn mare with a darker, almost metallic coat and a silvery mane with streaks of brighter white was on the other side of the counter. She was pretty, and... sad, Luna thought.

Foal Scrivener sat, looking up at her attentively as she went over a list in front of her. “These are your chores. I know you can read them.”

“Yes, Mother.” Scrivener said politely.

The unicorn mare studied him intently, and then she looked up as Bramblethorn stormed in, snapping: “Why are you wasting time with that mudwalker, Tia Belle? We're going to be late for Councilor Caprice's function!”

“I was the one who planned it, Bramblethorn, we have plenty of time.” Tia Belle answered, before she returned her eyes to Scrivener, who had his head lowered and was remaining still and silent. “Ensure you don't leave a speck of mud anywhere.”

Scrivener bowed his head deeply, answering: “Yes, Mother.”

Bramblethorn snorted and roughly shoved the foal over as he passed, looking back at him with disgust. Tia Belle followed him after a moment to the door, and the last thing he heard in the whisper of memory was Bramblethorn muttering: “-don't understand why you're so gentle with that useless lout...”

Scrivener wiped slowly at his face, and then he looked away and whispered: “Do you ever...”

He swallowed, then bit his lip before looking up. Luna stood beside him, looking as well: they saw Scrivener as a child, in different rooms, cleaning, working, as he said quietly: “Room, to room, to room. Doing all their work. Tia Belle treated me like a servant but... but sometimes... sometimes I wonder, Luna...”

Luna saw. More, Luna felt it in his emotions, and the flashes of memory.

Bramblethorn, abusing him in the shop as his serving colt, or putting him to work having him carry supplies and seeds back and forth from the store to the underground caverns, where pegasus soldiers signed him in and out like a prisoner.

Always in the cold.

Tia Belle, not encouraging him, but not as demanding, not as quick to punish him. Giving him lists to read and teaching him the basics of math. Treating him like a servant at least rather than a slave, employing him inside, or the rare time, putting him on duty cleaning and working at a function alongside other earth ponies.

“I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to think about it. I want to get through this, and maybe... maybe later we can...” Scrivener swallowed and shook his head slowly. “But right now I just have to...”

“Lead on.” Luna encouraged, touching his back gently, and Scrivener smiled at her with gratitude, even as a tear rolled down his cheek.

They walked on. Through the empty store, and stepped once more into naked air, standing somehow on the other side of the street facing the shop once again. Scrivener was dragging himself to the front of the patio, whimpering, his foreleg limp. He was beaten and bruised, satchels that had contained an order he was supposed to deliver torn. Flower petals were scattered in a trail behind him, like blood.

Some kids had attacked him, chanting 'slave hoof, slave hoof!' the whole time. Beaten him, forced the flowers he'd been supposed to deliver down his throat. When he'd vomited they'd laughed and hit him some more.

No one had stopped to help.

He dragged himself home, and Bramblethorn burst out, roaring in fury. He picked up Scrivener in telekinesis and slammed him down on his back, ignoring the foal's scream as he shouted: “You were supposed to have delivered these expensive flowers thirty minutes ago! You worthless, pathetic lout of a mudwalker!”

Bramblethorn rose a hoof, and Tia Belle called sharply from the shop: “Bramblethorn, think of your reputation! If you kill him, what will the neighbors say?”

Bramblethorn stood over the foal, who trembled and cried on the ground, looking up at the towering shape of his father. He had been so large, so terrifying...

“Go to your kennel. You are no longer permitted to enter the servant quarters. You will live there like the worthless dog you are.” Bramblethorn finally growled, and then he stepped off the foal and stormed into the house, shoving Tia Belle rudely as he walked past her.

“I already lived there, really. He put me in there every chance he had. He made me sleep in there every night.” Scrivener said quietly, looking up towards the gray skies. “But it still... hurt so badly to hear.

“You never really... get over it.” Scrivener stopped. “It's hardwired in me, I think. Like the click, and the other old commands they used to use. They make you believe these things. You tell yourself it's not true, that you've grown up, that you've left it behind. But you never really have.”

Scrivener sighed quietly, then frowned as he looked up. A gangly, emaciated earth pony teen hurried down the steps in daylight, carrying a heavy order out to a truck, and a unicorn in a suit stood at the foot of the patio.

“Whose child is that?” he asked politely.

Bramblethorn scowled, then spat: “No one's. An urchin, that's all. Scrivener, hurry up!”

Scrivener stumbled over his own legs as he scrambled back to the store, and the unicorn noble watched before his eyes drifted down. He picked up a notebook that had fallen from the colt's apron, and he opened it, flicking through it.

Scrivener hurried past the unicorn to load the last of the flowers into the carriage, then he turned around and froze dead. He stared, wide-eyed, terrified, at the unicorn, as he glanced up, asking curiously: “Did you write this?”

“He is illiterate.” Bramblethorn snarled as he emerged almost in a rush from the store. “Scrivener Blooms, inside, now.”

“Pardon me, sir, I was asking... Scrivener, is it?” The unicorn noble turned a practiced, icy smile on Bramblethorn, remarking: “I'll only be a moment, I have a delegate all the way from Canterlot visiting to discuss some business prospects in Silver Hoof. And you know how they love to gossip.”

Bramblethorn visibly shrank, and then he turned around with a grumble and headed back inside. Scrivener stared at the unicorn, not understanding, and the stallion smiled at him and held the book out before he asked gently: “My wife loves poetry like this. You have quite a talent, young stallion. Do you think you could write me something?”

“I'm sorry, sir, I...” Scrivener's eyes darted back and forth fearfully, not understanding. “Wouldn't you prefer a unicorn do it?”

“I would prefer you.” he said, and he shook the book he was still holding out lightly.

Scrivener took it, opened it, and stroked across a blank page as the unicorn watched. And after a moment, the stallion pulled out a dirty, stub of pencil and wrote something simple and gentle and tender, and he didn't even realize it when his cutie mark appeared on his haunch in a quiet flash of light.

The memories washed away, and Scrivener smiled faintly as he murmured: “Frightened me so badly... and Bramblethorn was so furious with me he broke my kennel and I slept in the snow for a week.” He laughed faintly before a carriage arrived, and the stately unicorn who had visited before stepped down and walked up the steps. And a few moments later, he led a stupefied Scrivener Blooms out.

Bramblethorn appeared in the doorway, cradling a small bag of money, and Scrivener murmured: “I wonder how much I was worth.”

Color burst into the world as the scenery changed, became a vibrant city that a gaping, awestruck stallion stood in. Laughter and noise assaulted them from all sides, and the stallion shook his head as he murmured: “Trotronto. I was tutored here. My benefactor, Tops Turner, paid for it, for the first few months of living in an apartment, and helped me get a job at a local newspaper. I was lucky.”

He scowled as the streets darkened, and a giddy Scrivener went stumbling down the road, cackling and drunk. “And then I nearly drank myself to death here, like a rat hitting the pleasure button until it dies.”

He shook his head in embarrassment. “It was hard. Took a long time to adjust, to being... out on my own, able to control my own destiny, treated as equal and... well, it was a steep learning curve.”

He stopped, then smiled faintly as the world around them went black before it filled back in, and they were inside a bookstore, watching as an almost-adult Scrivener silently stroked the face of a book on display, and the present Scrivener closed his eyes and murmured: “'Rose Thorns.' My first published book. Not just articles or magazine work or ghost-writing, but my first book.”

Scrivener Blooms bit his lip, and then he looked down and murmured: “I screwed up my life pretty good after that, though. My drinking got out of control and I ended up getting fired from the newspaper and blacklisted by the local magazines I wrote for after I... may have gone on a slightly racist rant against unicorns.”

Luna stared at him, then slowly turned to see a drunken, manically-grinning younger Scrivener standing in front of a horrified unicorn in an expensive suit that was now completely soaked by the wine that had been poured all over him. The sounds were muffled, and the stink of alcohol that assaulted her senses told her why Scrivener couldn't remember these moments very well, and Scrivener grimaced, half-leaning away from his own past but resolutely glowering at himself as he mumbled: “I've always been such an idiot. In control, I thought. But the alcohol controlled me and... I was as bad as any unicorn.

“I got in a fight when someone tried to pull me away. Got beaten up, and woke up in the drunk tank. We worked out a deal, and the editor dropped the case against me, as long as I quit my job and paid for the damage I caused. It had a domino effect and long story short, I had no choice but to move out and head south on hoof.”

He quieted, then blushed deeply as light filtered in around them. And Luna was surprised, because what she saw next was the two of them, sitting in her room together. She was holding a book in telekinesis and he was reading, his hoof sliding gently across the page, pausing now and then when she had a question or asked about a word...

Her memories mixed with his, and he blushed as he felt her joy. Her happiness.

They looked at each other, and then a breath whispered through the room before a voice whispered: “And what about revenge?”

They turned around, and looked at the Nightmare. It was looking at them, leaning almost pleadingly forward. “Look at what they did to you! Don't you want to punish them for that?”

“Sometimes the best revenge is living well.” Scrivener said quietly, shaking his head slowly before he rubbed the back of his head and almost shyly looked at Luna. “And maybe one day visiting them with the most powerful unicorn in existence at your side.”

Luna smiled widely at this, and then she winked and answered as she gently touched her horn to her forehead. “Nay. I think it would be even better, Scrivener Blooms, if we instead forced them to visit us, in our own home.”

Scrivener snorted in amusement, before both of them looked up as the Nightmare hissed: “Idiocy! Do you really think it would be that easy?”

She gestured angrily backwards, and a snarl of freezing wind blasted through the air, snow and frost hissing across the ground beneath and around their hooves. Scrivener grimaced as Luna stepped forwards as the Nightmare growled: “You can put on all the masks and false faces you want, but I know the truth.”

She gestured again, and Scrivener grimaced as a massive Bramblethorn appeared behind her, towering, casting his shadow over them all as she hissed: “Until you destroy him, you will never feel like anything but a bug in his shadow, a-”

The enormous Bramblethorn stepped forwards, and the Nightmare squealed as it was crushed out in an almost anticlimactic puff of dark smoke. That horrible amalgamation of fear and emotion and attachment and memory loomed down towards Scrivener, studying him with soulless eyes, and Scrivener trembled, but then took a slow breath as he leaned forwards and said quietly: “You can't hurt me anymore. I... I won't let you hurt me anymore.”

Silence, and then the giant slowly dissolved into a breath of dead leaves and rotten flowers that turned to dust as they blew away in a gentle, warm wind that left them standing once more in empty space. Scrivener frowned, looking around for the Nightmare, but Luna smiled wryly as she muttered: “These creatures attach themselves to us, and feed off us. They are most powerful here, in the space inside thy mind, true... but also most vulnerable, too, Scrivener Blooms.”

“So it's gone?” Scrivener asked, and Luna nodded with a faint smile. Crushed like a bug under the weight of that amalgamation of bad memories.

Scrivener felt a wave of vertigo, and he shivered before he felt Luna's hoof on his shoulder, Luna's horn gently press against his head, and he blinked before opening his eyes and looking up into the beautiful midnight green of the sapphire mare's. His mouth went dry as they looked at each other, face-to-face, her standing over him, her barrel pressed gently down against his, her hooves steadying him on his back.

He leaned up, and she leaned down as her mane stroked across his face, inviting him upwards, their lips touching as eyes began to close-

A squeal echoed through the hall, and both Luna and Scrivener looked dumbly to the side before Sammy full-on tackled Scrivener in the face with a splat of bone against his features, and Scrivener sighed tiredly as Luna threw her head back and laughed loudly.

“Hi Sammy. Thanks.” Scrivener said, exasperated, and then he sighed as Luna stepped back off him with a blush. He clambered to his own hooves, the pseudodragon still clinging to his face, before Luna leaned over and quickly kissed his cheek.

Scrivener's eyes went wide and his head snapped up so hard that Sammy went hurtling into the air with a squeal, doing a flip before he came down with a clang on top of Scrivener's helm, and Luna grinned wryly as she remarked: “There will be time for that later, Scrivy. But for now, we need to find the last Nightmare, which I expect has likely fled down to the vaults.”

“Uh huh.” Scrivener cleared his throat, and then he shook his head quickly as Sammy grumbled on top of his head.

Luna looked at him with amusement, then she turned and headed across the hall to an ajar door, becoming more serious even as she wedged it open with telekinesis, dust hailing down as she asked: “Tell me, Court Poet, does thou know the Song of Melinda?”

“'Sixteen black horses pulled her carriage through the skies, four teams of four that cut the air like a scythe.'” recited Scrivener immediately, and Luna nodded as they headed down a decrepit hallway. “The story of Melinda the Sky Witch, Mother of Magic; she was the one who brought the Nightmares into our world, right?”

“Yes and no; 'twas not by horsehair herb and ash that she bound her Nightmares, and the things she called into this world were not these shadowy specters.” Luna answered with a shake of her head. “But there is truth in its verse too: they are creatures of yearning and longing, always seeking to spread their misery, half in this world, and half outside it. Now tell me, poet, what else does the Song say about these creatures from beyond the veil?”

Scrivener mused to himself as Sammy chirped on his head, and then he murmured: “Okay, yeah, I think I get what you're saying, but how does that help us?”

Luna winked over her shoulder at him as she led him on, and the stallion smiled wryly, deciding just to trust in her before he bit his lip and mumbled: “And um, hey. Thanks for... you know, saving our lives and all.”

“Oh shush, Scrivy.” Luna laughed, eyes warm. “Thou saved thyself, really. And more... consider me merely returning the favor thou hast done for me.”

“That's me, a hero of the ages, fighting off all the monsters.” Scrivener said wryly, and Luna laughed again, making the darkness around them feel less oppressive and fortifying their spirits.

It only took them a few minutes to wend their way down through the ruins and into the basement, where they found a massive iron door. Luna forced this open with telekinesis, and they descended from the castle into natural caverns that were darker than dark, an inky blackness that seemed to swallow up all light. Even using magic to light their way, the shadows seemed to fight back against her, like a restless sleeper fighting against dawn's first intrusion.

They made their way through limestone caves, past sets of stalactites and stalagmites that hungered for them like jaws, across ancient ward-lines that had long cracked and fizzled out. And in the depths of this belly of the beast, they found a wall of ancient, greening bronze with a golden door that almost burned in their eyes, as pristine as if it had been first set into the wall yesterday.

They approached this, and Luna studied the unassuming home in the center of the door, muttering: “Let us hope that I remember how to do this...”

She closed her eyes, and the aura around her horn grew for a moment before tightening around the spire: it nearly took on a golden hue as she lowered her head, then slid her horn into the orifice, and that same radiance spread in a rapid spiderweb across the face of the golden barrier.

And after a moment, it clanked, pulling backwards before sliding slowly open in a hail of dust and debris: it had risen less than halfway before a blast of shadow tore past them both, a voice mocking: “Fools! You've delivered your prize right into my hooves!”

“Nay, shadow, thou art the fool.” Luna snorted, then she flicked her horn down, and the massive vault door slammed back down with such force it sent a hail of dust and debris raining down from the ceiling, Scrivener wincing and half-covering his head – and Sammy on top of it – as the Nightmare squealed on the other side. “This vault is blessed and secured against all evil. And that means it shan't just keep thy kind out... it will keep thee in.”

“W-Wait! No, no, no!” wailed the Nightmare on the other side, panic suffusing its voice. “I... I'm sorry, please let me out! I don't-”

“Don't what, Nightmare? Wish to be sealed in a tomb, imprisoned away from thy freedom, the power of the night? Are the walls closing in?” Luna jeered, even as she grimaced, and the shadow, this spirit of emotion as much as dark power, screamed out in terror-

“Wait!” cried a voice, and Luna and Scrivener both looked up in surprise as a Nightmare appeared behind them. Before Luna could even ready herself, however, it dropped into a bow, begging: “Please! Two of my sisters are dead, I do not desire to see a third die! I plead for her mercy! Mercy, please!”

There was silence for a moment except for whimpering, almost choking panting from the other side of the door, and Luna spat to the side before she looked over her shoulder at the vault door, asking sharply: “Does thou give me thy word, thy sacred vow, that thou shall no longer seek to harm us nor defy our mission?”

“Yes!” shouted the Nightmare from behind the vault door, as the one in front of them looked up meekly. A beast of shadow, Scrivener thought as he studied it silently, yet pleading, so alive, so pony-like in its submission and fear... and pain...

“Promise.”

“I promise! No, even more, I swear fealty to you! I shall serve you, if only you free me, I... I am dying, I am-”

Luna flicked her horn, and vault door rumbled as the magical energies still pulsing through it allowed it to rise. The moment it lifted free from the floor, a shadowy blackness slid out from beneath it before solidifying into the second Nightmare with a gasp and a tremble.

Its red eyes were bright and pulsing, its shadows writhing tightly around an almost visible skeleton. It quivered in front of them, before Luna gestured at it.

It hurried past to join its sister: the other leapt up and hugged her, and Scrivener cocked his head at this, watching intently, while Luna studied the two for a moment before they both turned back towards the ponies. They both bowed, and Luna said quietly: “Thou art lucky I am in a merciful mood tonight. And moreover... that I know what it is like, to live in terror, trapped in a place you do not belong.”

“Thank you, Mistress Moon-”

“Luna. I am... only Luna. I am not thy Mistress.” Luna answered, and when she made a gesture, the Nightmares both relaxed. Scrivener watched with fascination as the Nightmare's form filled back out, as its very essence seemed to calm. “Scrivener, it is rude to leer.”

Scrivener sighed and scowled at her, and one of the Nightmares lowered her head before promising: “We will do whatever you desire, Mistress Luna.”

Luna smiled faintly: oh, what a temptation that was! But instead, she only shook her head and murmured: “Get thee hence from my sight before I change my mind. Return to the night sky and reflect upon what you have learned here.”

One Nightmare immediately fled and vanished, while the other lingered for a moment before it followed.

There was silence, and then Luna said quietly: “I suppose one cannot hide the truth, can thou? I am Nightmare Moon, Scrivener Blooms. That is why they obey me, that is why they swore fealty so quickly. In the end, it is as they said: the Nightmares serve Nightmare Moon.”

“No.” Scrivener smiled over at her, and she cocked her head towards him with a frown. “Nightmare Moon may rule them, but it was Luna who gave them mercy.”

Luna bit her lip thoughtfully, and then she smiled after a moment, nodding to him thoughtfully. The poet really did have a way with words sometimes.

Maybe that was why she loved him.

Bounties of Joy

Chapter Eight: Bounties Of Joy

~BlackRoseRaven

The vault was a treasure trove, both literally and figuratively: massive piles of gemstones and jewelry, treasure chests stacked to the ceiling and overflowing with all manner of coin and bauble from around the world.

There were racks stacked with scrolls and books and ancient texts, covered in enchanted cloth that kept them safe from time and dust, maps and paintings and blueprints, incredible works of art as well as rare magical components.

And dominating the center of the room were three statues of ponies, so realistic they were almost alive even in marble, dressed in beautiful, polished armor that shone even through the dust that covered it.

The first was a hulking set of golden armor, oversized full plate mail, complete with crown; the second was a gleaming silver breastplate with a chain underlay and solid boots to cover the hooves; the last, gorgeous smooth black plating and sapphire dragonscale leather.

Celestia, Sleipnir, and Luna: it was all designed to best suit them, and it kind of scared Scrivener to think about what a juggernaut Celestia had to be in her own armor, designed to be augmented by her magic and turn her into an invulnerable colossus on the battlefield. He was surprised that Sleipnir's wasn't the heaviest, but was rather just a breastplate, but Luna had explained to him that mobility had always been very important to Sleipnir as well.

While Scrivener pulled out the list of artifacts to gather and started putting things into the storage satchel, Luna lingered in front of her armor, rubbing a hoof silently along her breastplate until Scrivener approached and asked: “Why don't you put it on?”

She hesitated, then answered honestly: “I do not know if I deserve to.”

Scrivener smiled a bit, and then he answered with a wink: “If there's any pony in all of Equestria who deserves to wear some fancy metal and dead animal skin, it's you.”

Luna huffed at him and smacked him, complaining: “'Tis much more than that, Scrivy, 'tis a symbol! But... I appreciate thy crass council all the same. Even if 'tis stupid. Thou art stupid, beetle.”

She hesitated only a moment longer, then took a breath before she reached out and pulled the helm loose from the statue's head, and then she studied it in her hooves before she smiled a little and glanced up at Scrivener, saying in a softer voice: “I appreciate it.”

Scrivener shrugged and smiled at her, then went back to cataloging and collecting the necessary items. This actually included both Celestia and Sleipnir's armor, and Scrivener found himself marveling over how surprisingly light the full plate mail was in spite of how heavy it looked.

By the time the stallion had taken Celestia's armor off, Luna had shed her cloak and breastplate and put on her own old gear, and when he looked up at her, it was like he was seeing her for the first time.

The armor fit her body like a glove, snug and clearly comfortable as she shifted back and forth before she smiled as she spun her helm easily in one hoof before tossing it in the air, before catching it and shoving it firmly back onto her head. The hole in the forehead of the helm cradled her horn, adding support for it, and the curved edge not only protected her eyes but gave her a fierce glare.

Her mane sizzled gently against her armor as it flowed backwards out from beneath the protective metal lip of the helmet, and she bit her lip before she nodded slowly to Scrivener, saying softly: “Thou hast my thanks, Scrivy. I... I was afraid of the memories that this armor would bring, and the shame and pain that may come with it. There has been some, I shan't pretend otherwise, but also it feels much like... like a coming home.”

“Like a snail.” Scrivener said before he could stop himself, and Luna huffed.

“Ruin the moment, poet, grand.” But she was smiling, and she paused as Scrivener smiled lamely back at her, his eyes drawing slowly back and forth across her before she reached up and straightened his glasses for him, making him blush. “I do not mind that thou art staring at me, but methinks it says something about thee thou likes me more in armor than naked. 'Tis a... feet-ish?”

“'Fetish,' and no.” Scrivener grumbled and glanced lamely away. “I just think you look... you know, you look really good. You... you look like a champion. A valkyrie.”

That triggered something in her, felt... right. Luna smiled wider at this, raising her head proudly, and then she paused before suddenly grasping the helm off Sleipnir's statue. She almost flung Scrivener's current helmet off, then slammed this down on his head, making him wince and then scowl at her.

But Luna only laughed, grinning widely at him: the helmet was etched with protective runes, gleaming silver and reinforced with an ivory coronet and visor to help protect the eyes. It was a little too big for him, but only a little: “By the Gods, Scrivener Blooms! Thou hast almost as fat a head as my brother did!”

The stallion gave her a dour look, and then Sammy scurried over from where he had been chewing on a gemstone to leap up and scramble happily onto his new, larger perch to pose proudly.

Scrivener sighed a little, but Luna smiled warmly, gazing up at this sight before she said softly: “Aye, 'tis a wonderful sight, though. This is what Sleipnir fought for, Scrivener Blooms. For peace, for joy, for safety for all ponies.”

She stopped, then shook her head quickly and said finally: “Come. I shall pack the rest of my brother's armor. I am... I am glad to see it being taken from this vault. It deserves a better place to be remembered, if not passed down to someone deserving.”

Scrivener smiled despite himself at this, saying wryly as he looked at the size of the statue of Sleipnir: “They'd have to be pretty big to inherit that armor.”

“Well, true.” Luna agreed, and then she softened as she stepped backwards, gazing across the statues before she bowed her head to them, murmuring: “My love to thee, my brother. I know thou needs no fine speeches, no prayers and promises, but all the same I promise thee that I shall do my best to follow the example thou hast set for me.”

She murmured a soft prayer in a beautiful and strange language Scrivener didn't know, and yet he understood. He smiled a little at Luna, then he looked at the statue of smiling, warm Sleipnir, reaching up to knock once on the helmet as he said awkwardly: “I don't know if I can promise I'll do my best to take care of Luna, because she can't even take care of herself, but I'll try and take care of this, at least.”

Luna snorted in amusement, then she replied easily: “Fear not, poet, I shall protect thee, for as long as thou continues to serve loyally as my maid.”

Scrivener rolled his eyes before the sapphire mare straightened, moving as easily in her armor as if it was a part of her as she headed to exit the vault, saying easily: “Come, Scrivener Blooms. Let us make haste; we may still be able to reach Ponyville before dawn breaks should we hurry!”

“Cool, great. Walking all night so we can spend all day with Twilight Sparkle.” Scrivener said wryly.

“Oh shut up, Scrivy, thou art soft on her and I see through thy foolish lies. And fear not for thy beauty sleep, thou can survive the day and I shall fortify us both with a spell, although we may experience quite the collapse at the end of our journey.” Luna said with a wink, and Scrivener sighed tiredly before Luna spun her cloak over her shoulders and locked it on, letting it fall across her back like a cape.

“You know, the mysterious chick is all played out.” Scrivener remarked, and Luna only gave him an amused look over her shoulder before she turned her attention ahead.

As they made their way back up through the castle, Luna thought it felt much less oppressive now. Like they had passed some kind of test, or the darkness here no longer considered them a threat. Funny, how changing the way you thought about something could change your perspective completely on it.

When they emerged from the castle, Luna noted two sets of eyes watching them curiously before two insubstantial figures flitted into the air, vanishing into the night sky. Luna wasn't entirely surprised to know the Nightmares were watching them, but they seemed like they were staying true to their word and remaining peaceful, even if they were clearly wary as well.

“Weird.” Scrivener said after a moment, as he and Luna paused on the bridge, before he asked hesitantly: “They... they weren't so bad, huh?”

Luna smiled softly, glancing over at the stallion before she nodded hesitantly. Any other pony she might not be as forthcoming, but any other pony she expected would have said she should have destroyed them out of hoof.

Scrivener wasn't like that, though. He was bitter and judgmental, but he had learned not to blindly hate. He had a deep empathy, hidden under all the layers of sarcasm and jackassery, and he had learned that sometimes the light was blinding, and the darkness was what soothed.

“It is not entirely their fault.” Luna admitted, almost grudgingly, as she started forward again. “All things must survive. That means all things must feed. It is a hard question, Scrivener Blooms: if Nightmares feed on emotion, which best comes from sentient pony and makes us prey to them, are they only doing what is natural to them? If evil is only 'things that prey upon us,' then what does that make pony, who bends nature itself to his will?”

Scrivener mused on this, but any deep philosophical discussion or thinking was halted when they reached the canyon edge and Luna said cheerfully: “Thou had the right of it the first time and I shall simply throw thee across.”

Scrivener blanched as he looked up, but before he could argue otherwise, Luna hefted him up before she lunged off the ground, yanking him along with her in telekinesis as her wings gave several mighty flaps before she roared as she snapped her horn hard, and Scrivener and Sammy both squealed as they flew through the air across the gorge and crashed down with a loud thump in a pile of brush on the other side.

Luna landed, grinning widely as she watched Scrivener crawl out of a bush, scowling horribly at her as Samael growled and grumbled on his back, a few loose twigs and sticks stuck in the skeletal body of the pseudodragon “And look, Sleipnir's helm didn't even shake loose! My brother must approve of thee, Scrivy.”

Scrivener grumbled at her, but blushed slightly as he looked away, any retort he might have had ruined by that. Luna studied him for a moment, then gestured at his satchels, asking: “They are not too heavy, are they?”

“Huh? Oh, no. I'm amazed how much is packed away in them and they feel fine.” Scrivener said after a moment, glancing back and forth at the pair of sidepacks. They were bulging a little with the contents that extended space was now filled with, but otherwise, it only felt like he was carrying a few extra pounds, not two suits of armor and a slew of alchemical materials and magical objects.

Luna nodded to him, then she turned and began to lead the way forwards, saying over her shoulder: “Let me know if thou needs to rest at all. I think we shall make good time from here.”

Scrivener smiled despite himself and nodded, naturally falling into step behind the mare. For a little while, they just enjoyed the night, the forest seeming more welcoming... or maybe it was just glad they were leaving, Scrivener reflected.

Then Luna asked impulsively: “So thou knows the stories of Sol, Titan, and Morgan, correct?”

“Well, a lot of them.” Scrivener shrugged a bit. “Lots of folk legends, and lots of writers and authors cut their teeth on writing or rewriting some legend based on them. I don't think anyone knows all the stories, because, well, some jerk out there is always writing a new one.”

“Did Celestia ever ask thou to write any for the Royal Court?” Luna suddenly stopped, then frowned before she brightened, and Scrivener scowled as he sensed- “Scrivener Blooms, I am a princess!”

“Y-Yes, you are?” Scrivener frowned at her uncertainly, not liking where this was going. “A... warrior princess?”

“Warrior princess. I do like that.” Luna relished, before she spun around and looked down at him, and Scrivener scowled horribly as she declared: “As Princess of the Night, I assign thee the duty of recording the entire legends of Sol, Titan, and Morgan in thine own words!”

“No!” Scrivener burst out, looking up at her with horror. “Luna! You of all ponies know that's going to take me decades of work and research! Are you insane?”

“Yes!” Luna shouted, her eyes flashing as she leapt forwards, Scrivener wincing back as she shoved nose-to-nose with him, and then she suddenly smiled and straightened, reaching up to boop him with a hoof as she said gently: “Fear not, poet. As always I shall be there to rescue thee. I shall tell thee the old stories, and thou shall write them.”

Scrivener Blooms blinked, and then he hesitantly smiled at this before he nodded slowly, then grumbled: “Just... let's make it an anthology format. It'll be easier to write and easier for people to digest. Ponies like lots of little stories, not massive million word ones. That's just the writer being egotistical and refusing to control himself.”

“Ever compassionate Scrivener Blooms.” Luna said wryly, before she laughed and turned her eyes ahead, and they fell into step with each other on the long walk back through the woods.

It was comfortable. And Luna talked now and then, and Scrivener mostly listened: sometimes he would make a quip or ask a question, but mostly he just liked to listen to Luna's stories, thoughts, philosophies. She had this way of flowing from one thing to the next, her words like music, her use of language beautiful in his ears, defying modern structure for the sake of a more beautiful sound.

They were both a little surprised when they emerged from the Everfree Forest near Ponyville in the early morning, just as the sun was beginning to rise. Luna smiled warmly as she fell into a trot, Scrivener huffing as he valiantly struggled to follow along behind her.

“Stop dawdling, Scrivy! Come, we have a chance to see Twilight Sparkle and her friends as 'normal ponies,' whatever that means. I suppose I have never been a very normal pony with my strength and beauty, though!”

“Oh yeah, that's the reason everyone stares at your fat butt.” Scrivener muttered, and then he skidded to a halt when Luna immediately stopped and glowered over her shoulder at him.

Then she suddenly grinned and waggled her hips back and forth, teasing: “Oh, thou likes the butt, Scrivy? Then perhaps the Nightmare was not lying when she was trying to seduce thee after all! And I am sure Twilight-”

“Don't you dare!” Scrivener blushed deep red as he jumped towards her, then squeaked when Luna spun around with a wide grin, catching his throat against the flat topside of her horn.

The stallion winced as she forced his head back a little, only a little afraid as his lips curled down in an almost-exaggerated moue of displeasure, and Luna winked up at him as she teased: “Careful now, Scrivener Blooms. Thou seems to enjoy all too much picking fights thou cannot win.”

She paused, then stroked her horn backwards along his neck, making him wheeze before she poked him childishly in the cheek with the tip, his eyes narrowing as she teased: “Yet perhaps 'tis unfair on my part to always take such advantage over thee, when I am so much stronger, faster, and, oh, simply much better as I am...”

“And so much more modest, too.” Scrivener said grumpily as he shoved at her head, and she laughed as she was pushed back, grinning widely in entertainment.

Then she turned to lead the way into Ponyville, and Scrivener Blooms sighed tiredly as he followed her into the village proper, Luna looking cheerfully around as her cloak fluttered from her shoulders, revealing most of her armor. Early-risen ponies gaped at them... well, mostly at her, Scrivener reflected. He probably just looked like an unnecessary bodyguard to them.

He had never been here before: it seemed like a quaint little town, he thought. Well, maybe 'village' actually was more accurate, with a lot of thatch-roof cottages mixed in with somewhat more modern buildings that were still nothing compared to the stone and tile of Canterlot.

Twilight Sparkle was easy enough to find: her home was a large tree in the center of the square, which also housed the local library. He guessed that made Twilight Sparkle a librarian, which somehow didn't surprise him.

Luna hesitated, biting the inside of her lip as she looked up at the sky. “Well, perhaps we have made too good a time, and we should-”

Scrivener strode past her, and she glared at his back as he approached the library door, answering: “Hey, Twilight was the one who said stop in any time, right? Celestia would have told her to be ready for us, so I'm sure if anything she's been up all night waiting.”

He paused, then added: “And she'll blame me, too.”

“Well, I suppose 'tis fine then. Although I swear, Scrivener Blooms, thou art trying to make me jealous by how thou acts as if thou cares more for Twilight than thou does for me.”

A smile quirked at Scrivener's mouth at this, and Luna blushed and glared at him, trying to splutter some excuse before the stallion turned to knock on the door. Before he could, however, Luna quickly leapt forwards and shoved him face-first into it, the whole tree rattling from the force of the bang as he collapsed with a groan.

He blinked a few times, then glared up at her from the ground as she feigned an innocent gasp. “Oh my! Thou appears to have tripped, Scrivy. Thou should be more careful.”

“Silly me.” Scrivener muttered as he climbed slowly to his hooves, and then he rose a hoof and knocked twice more on the door, adding pointedly: “If you want to start a war here, I'm not going to play fair, you know.”

“And thou underestimates me severely if thou thinks I would ever stoop so high as to 'playing fair' with the likes of thee!” Luna retorted, and then they both quickly tried to look innocent as the door swung open to reveal Twilight Sparkle, who stuttered to a stop in mid-scolding as she saw two ponies she clearly had not been expecting at all.

Was that at their armor, or had she forgotten to let Twilight know? Surely Celestia would have told her, wouldn't she?

“I... did something happen?” Twilight looked back and forth, hurriedly attempting to smooth down her frazzled mane. “I didn't think you'd contact me unless there was an emergency!”

“Oh, nothing to worry about, Twilight. We just wanted to stop in and invite you to a get-together we're having in Canterlot to celebrate our recent marriage.” Scrivener told the bald-faced lie with a smile, and Twilight's jaw worked madly, spluttering wildly, thankfully missing how Luna's own jaw dropped. “Well, if you insist, we can stop in, sure. Coming, dear?”

Luna forced a bright smile, almost singing, her eyes glaring daggers of challenge at Scrivener Blooms: “Of course, my handsome husband!”

She swept past Twilight – stabbing Scrivener in the rump with her horn while the mare's back was still turned – and then both she and Scrivy turned around and dropped on their butts together inside the main room of the library. Luna seized one of his front hooves and twisted it almost viciously as she held it, and Scrivener winced, then leaned over and bit the side of her neck, making her squawk.

She quickly turned that to a giggle as a flustered Twilight finally closed the door and almost mechanically approached them, staring at them. Scrivener turned his bite to a nuzzle and Luna cooed as she tilted her head up in exaggerated enjoyment, and Twilight Sparkle, smoke nearly pouring out of her ears, asked disbelievingly: “What how what... what happened? When? When happened?”

“Well, it was part of our terms for doing this together. We spend all our time together anyway.” Scrivener said, like this was the most reasonable thing in the world as he gestured with his free hoof and looked squarely into Twilight's eyes. “It made sense anyway because she's pregnant.”

“Very pregnant. Extremely.” Luna agreed, feeling a giddiness run through her and a warmth thudding in her heart that was from more than just the joy of this silly stupid prank on Twilight.

Twilight stared at them, and Scrivener's mouth and Luna's nose both twitched, before the two started to giggle quietly. Twilight was hyperventilating, mouth working and ears spinning like radar dishes, still lost and confused and dazed, and finally neither of the troublemakers could restrain themselves, Luna and Scrivener both bursting into childish cackling.

Twilight's face froze, and then she slowly closed her mouth and narrowed her eyes to slits, snorting steam at them before she grumbled: “Horses of Heaven. I'm going to clean up and wake up Spike. But I want you both to know you're both sick.”

“Nay, we're very healthy!” Luna blurted out, and then she fell against Scrivener, laughing like a donkey as he nearly choked on his own cackles, and Twilight groaned and rolled her eyes before she stormed grumpily off.

Once she returned a few minutes later, the two had calmed down, and partly disrobed: Luna's cloak and helmet lay with Scrivener's helm and bags and some of his armor. Luna was helping him out of the rest by hoof, and Twilight watched them for a few moments, before she asked finally: “You were kidding before, right?”

Scrivener tilted his head back with amusement, answering easily: “Sometimes I think she's out to marry you.”

“Oh shut up, Scrivy.” Luna bopped him on the back of the head as she finished undoing the clasps for his breastplate, and then she helped him out of it as Twilight sighed and shook her head, coming all the way down the stairs before smiling as Sammy scurried past, watching the little skeletal pseudodragon happily zipping around the open floor of the library.

Spike followed her down awkwardly, giving a nervous wave to Luna and Scrivener before he winced and half-hid behind Twilight when Sammy zipped over to quickly crawl up the railing and then glare at him almost challengingly.

Twilight sighed at this, rolling her eyes before she said pointedly to Spike: “For the last time, it's not a zombie, and he doesn't want to eat your brains.”

Spike nodded with a lame laugh as Twilight walked away, and then his eyes widened as Sammy twitched back and forth, making jerky motions as he rose his front legs slowly before he opened his mouth as the blue flames in his sockets intensified, and Spike yelped before he bolted back up the stairs, quickly followed by a cheerfully-chirping pseudodragon.

Twilight frowned over her shoulder at the clatter, then shrugged as she said: “Well, that was quick. I'm glad they're playing, though. Spike's still very young, especially for a dragon, and it's good for him to relax now and then.”

Then she winced at a crashing and banging from upstairs, Luna and Scrivener trading an amused look before all three ponies watched as Spike came rolling back down the steps to land with a whump near Twilight, the purple mare wincing before her small companion rose a claw and mumbled: “I'm okay.”

A moment later, Sammy came jumping down, landing on Spike's back with a cheerful chirp, and Luna snorted in amusement before saying easily: “Twilight Sparkle, if thou could be so kind as to fetch us ink and quill, we must inform my sister-”

“Oh, oh, I can do that!” Spike leapt to his feet, any injury and fear forgotten as Sammy was flung loose with a squawk. The baby dragon bounced over to a writing desk, grabbing a quill and roll of parchment off it before he hurried back, Sammy giving offended little cheeps as he followed after him at being forgotten so quickly. “I'm Twilight's Number One Assistant, you know... and uh, you know, I could probably take some time off to be yours, too, if you ever need one...”

“I don't know about that, Spike, I'd be pretty helpless without you around.” Twilight answered, before she smiled at Luna and Scrivener, adding: “I'm pretty interested myself hearing about your adventure myself... you went back out to the ruins of the castle, right?”

“Well, Scrivener Blooms is a much better storyteller than myself, and I am sure he will be happy to relate our adventure to thee after this. For now, the letter shall be quick and easy, when thou art ready to take it, Assistant Spike.” Luna said with a smile, and the little dragon puffed up and nodded firmly to her. “Excellent, thou art truly worthy of thy title.

“Now.” She cleared her throat, then said, calm and clear: “Dearest sister Celestia, I wish to inform thee that our mission has been a success, and we are now relaxing in comfort in Twilight Sparkle's lovely home. We shall rest here until tonight, then return to the castle before tomorrow morning. All my love, Luna.”

Spike mumbled the last few words, and then he finished signing with a quick flick of the quill before he bounced back to the desk, Sammy hurrying after him with a chirp before the dragon rolled up the letter and then grabbed a seal to snap it on. “Okay, ready to send!”

“Send away.” Luna answered agreeably, and the dragon nodded as he began to raise the letter before yelling when Sammy immediately leapt up and tackled it, trying to yank it away, the two tussling briefly over it as Scrivener Blooms and Twilight Sparkle both sighed and Luna grinned in amusement.

Spike managed to tear the letter free, then he ran with the parchment over his head to leap up on a stool and shove a window open, quickly blowing a breath of green fire over it. The parchment dissolved into a whirl of particles that swirled up into the sky, and Spike smiled as he turned smugly around and put his hands on his hips, looking down at the pseudodragon from his proud perch. “And that's why I'm the Number One Assistant!”

Twilight shook her head, and then she turned her eyes back to Luna and Scrivener, asking: “Are you tired? I'm sorry, I didn't even think of how long the journey must have been, let alone the fact you both sleep during the day. I can give you my room-”

“Nonsense!” Luna declared, and Scrivener grumbled but clearly deferred to her decision. “Scrivy and I desire to experience the normal pony's day for a change of pace, and if thou shall have me, I would accompany thee on whatever excursions thou hast for today with thy friends.”

She paused as Scrivener yawned, and then her horn sizzled before she leaned over and poked his temple with the tip.

Immediately, Scrivy yelped and leapt to his hooves as if electrified, eyes bulging as Luna grinned at him widely. “Well, I warned thee that I had a spell to wash away our tiredness, did I not?”

“Thanks, Luna. That wasn't rude at all.” Scrivener said dryly, before he added mildly: “I don't know how you're going to experience a normal day, though.”

“What does thou mean?” Luna asked as she stood up, absently flicking her horn with a wince to zap herself with the spell she had used on Scrivener, whistling through her teeth. Her wings fluttered, her body flexed against her armor, and energy thrummed brightly through her flowing ephemeral mane and tail... and after a moment, she paused and looked down at herself, then raised her head with a flat expression. “Ah. Yes.”

Scrivy smiled in amusement at her, and then she grumbled as she started to childishly stomp her hooves before pausing as Twilight said: “I don't think that the ponies here in Ponyville are going to treat you a whole lot differently than other ponies.”

“I... well... perhaps I can polymorph myself...” Luna mused, slowly setting her hoof down, before she cocked her head when Scrivener gently tapped her on the shoulder.

“You know, I hate agreeing with Twilight, but she has a point.” Scrivener Blooms shrugged a little, and the purple mare smiled at him brightly. “We could try her way.”

Luna huffed, but then she nodded awkwardly before glancing down at herself, and Twilight encouraged: “You did really well on Nightmare Night! Everypony really liked you, Luna.”

“Yeah, you can do it!” Spike added, and Sammy chirped loudly in agreement before he nipped at Spike's heel, and the little dragon winced and kicked back at him, asking lamely: “Uh, also, can you um, tell the zombie to leave me alone?”

“It's not a zombie, Spike. There's no such thing as zombies or ghosts or monsters.” Twilight said, before frowning when Luna and Scrivener traded snorts and amused looks. “What? They're not... are they?”

Luna grinned, nudging Scrivener before she began to quickly take her armor off, and the stallion sighed before he started: “Well, why don't you both sit down, and I'll tell you everything that happened to us, and afterward you and Spike can decide what's real, and what's not.”

The morning passed quickly: after filling Twilight Sparkle in on the experiences they'd had, and once Luna was out of her armor – and she removed both her tiara and peytral, tossing them somewhere across the library to Twilight's shock – the sun had fully risen, and Ponyville had become a bustle of activity. Luna spent a lot of her time staring out the library window, watching ponies go by, while Twilight Sparkle scheduled her schedule and then modified her schedule to accommodate the time it took to make her schedule, with the help of a Spike who seemed too used to this to find out as anything out of the ordinary, and in spite of Scrivener Blooms being as unhelpful as possible, distracting both her and Spike.

Eventually they got out of the library and headed into the town. Luna was nervous, but the presence of both Scrivener and Twilight helped make her brave, and she had finally been able to relax as they had started to interact with other ponies, and they treated with her a kindness and respect.

Even Twilight seemed to treat Luna a little differently, as the sapphire mare wandered around with them without even barest royal vestments. Scrivener couldn't help but smile a little, although he admittedly found it funny that he wasn't jealous at all, even if part of him felt like... well, Twilight and Luna would be a good fit.

Twilight caught him looking, and he waggled his eyebrows at her, and she glared back at him with a blush while Luna was gazing around with fascination at the happy little town that was actually respecting her space without cowering or hiding from her.

But Scrivener didn't tease her any further than that. He wanted Luna to have a good time today, and he didn't want to distract her from taking in and enjoying the town.

They stopped in at Mrs. Cake's shop, where Luna greedily sampled a little bit of everything she was offered from the generous Cakes; Scrivy and Twilight were eventually forced to drag her out so they could continue their little tour, as Pinkie Pie-

When did Pinkie Pie join them?

Well, she'd been here long enough they'd all just kind of accepted her as part of the group, and Twilight Sparkle had only shrugged and remarked when Scrivener had looked at her: “You get used to it.”

They stopped in next at Rarity's boutique, and the mare had squealed in delight and immediately abandoned the project she was working on to seize Luna and drag the winged unicorn off. Scrivener Blooms had greatly enjoyed watching Luna being measured, primped, and forced into all manner of clothes and dresses, but then karma had struck and Rarity had grabbed him with the same gusto, and he had been extremely surprised by just how strong her grip was as he'd been yanked up to go through the same process.

He felt very unnaturally pretty by the time they left, and Luna still had several ribbons in her hair, looking both embarrassed but also strangely happy. It really had to be something special for her, to be treated like a normal pony. Even, maybe especially, when she didn't entirely understand or like what they were doing.

When they passed near the market, Twilight Sparkle remembered she had to pick up a few things, so they went into the square of stalls, the others following, Pinkie Pie talking their heads off the whole time and yet somehow not entirely annoying, like a background hum of noise. They found Applejack and Apple Bloom both on duty, and Apple Bloom had been fascinated, first by Princess Luna, then by little Samael, who happily played with her around the stall while Applejack was surprised and pleased by how Luna was interested in her farm life and how she followed so many old traditions that were similar even to what the earth pony farmers had done in the far flung past.

Applejack gave them some apples and promised she'd give them one of Granny's fine apple pies sometime, and then Pinkie, Apple Bloom, and Samael had crashed through one of her carts, so the ponies had helped the orange mare clean up before they'd gone on their way. But they had been caught by Rainbow Dash on the way back to the library, and she had insisted they come and watch her do some stunts.

She was a showoff, but Luna liked how loud and confident and brash she was. As they sat in a field outside Ponyville together, a comfortable little band, Fluttershy had eventually joined them, and Twilight Sparkle smiled at her friend as Scrivener had nodded and Luna tossed her a wink, the shy pegasus blushing, but then happily accepting Sammy when he jumped into her forelegs.

“We should have a party before our friends leave!” Pinkie Pie declared happily, clapping her forehooves together before she bolted off, and Twilight Sparkle sighed before giving a wry smile as above, Rainbow Dash did a wild spin, leaving a streak of color behind her.

“Well, guess that's happening whether I like it or not.”

“We'll help you clean up afterward.” Scrivener said, before he paused and added: “Or I will, at least. Luna's not very good at cleaning.”

“Shut up, beetle.” Luna absently bopped him with a forehoof as she watched Rainbow Dash shoot high, then drop and zoom straight down until she cracked the sound barrier and unleashed a Sonic Rainboom, Luna grinning as her mane whipped back from the force, whistling a little as she murmured: “Truly, the ponies of this day and age are incredible.”

They all ended up going back to the library together after Rainbow got the praise and more that she deserved, and they found that Pinkie Pie had somehow set up an entire party, with food, music, decorations, and everything else necessary. Twilight had helplessly gone into a fit, shouting about her organization over the music as Luna had laughed and mingled with the gathered ponies, her eyes sparkling as she really felt for the first time since her return that she was part of something.

Scrivener sat back and studied her; in a way, he thought that the fact they were just having a party, rather than a party specifically for Luna, helped the situation a lot. It meant she got to just enjoy being here, rather than the center of attention.

He sat back, watching with a soft smile as he sipped at a cup of punch, watching as Luna danced awkwardly with the other ponies, Pinkie Pie encouraging her and Rainbow leaping around her, laughing. It was a wonderful sight to see.

Twilight Sparkle approached and dropped on her rump beside him, sighing tiredly as she rubbed slowly at her face before mumbling: “None of this was on the schedule for today. I was supposed to study tonight, too.”

“Can't schedule Luna. Believe me, that's one of the first things I learned.” Scrivener answered mildly before he added: “You know, you study too much. You're not the library, you're the librarian.”

Twilight grumbled, then tilted her head as the stallion murmured: “I don't think she's ever experienced this. Not even in her past.”

The purple unicorn smiled a bit, then she scooted a little closer, saying quietly: “You really care about her, don't you?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I do. As a friend. As more.” Scrivener paused thoughtfully, then he winked over at the mare as he noted: “I can tell you, of course, because no one will ever believe you if you tell them. And I definitely cannot tell Luna, she would just hold it over my head and never let me live it down.”

Twilight sighed and rolled her eyes, before she said plaintively: “You're kind of a coward.”

“Yeah.” Scrivener stopped, then he said in a softer voice: “Honestly, though, I don't think that I deserve-”

“Oh, don't even start with that. It's not about what you deserve.” Twilight shoved him gently, and the stallion swayed briefly with a snort. “I think... I think it would make her really happy too. So... get out there. You can even say that I pushed you, if anyone asks.”

“You're a good friend, Twilight Sparkle. And I hate that.” Scrivener smiled despite himself, nodding to her before he sighed as he strode towards the dance floor. It was hard to take that first step, to swallow that embarrassment and fear...

And then Luna's eyes met his, and it was only the two of them in the whole room as Scrivener winked at her before he stepped forwards, surprising the mare when he did a short bow to her before he stepped forwards, and she automatically fell into the classic estampie.

Scrivener wasn't a very good dancer, but neither was Luna, but they only had eyes for each other as they danced the old dance together, ponies cheering and laughing as Pinkie Pie bounced excitedly around them until they finished with a sharp bow to each other, then Luna leapt forwards and embraced him, and the earth pony laughed as he hugged her fiercely back.

They both felt free.

And as the music started up again, Scrivener started to step away, but Luna grabbed him with a grin before she half-dragged him over and grabbed Twilight as well, making her squawk as she was jerked backwards and pulled onto the dance floor. She blushed and laughed even as she tried to slip away, but Luna spun her between them, and Twilight Sparkle found herself dancing with them both.

It felt like that was where she belonged, and Scrivener and Luna flowed with her naturally, dancing with and around and together with her.

It was a wonderful night. They partied deep into the evening before ponies started to leave, and it was the witching hour by the time Twilight Sparkle came downstairs with a yawn to the empty library after tucking Spike in, only to scowl at the sight of Scrivener Blooms neatening up the main room. “Oh, don't worry about that, I'll get it later, Scrivy.”

“Uh huh. It won't be Spike or anything.” Scrivener answered, and the mare blushed a bit before she frowned at a loud slurping, and she turned just in time to watch Luna drinking the last of the bowl of punch before she belched loudly.

Twilight stared, but Scrivener looked undisturbed, saying mildly: “I'm only paid to teach her modern language, not manners. Some tasks are just impossible.”

“Shut up, Scrivy.” Luna licked her lips, then smiled over at Twilight Sparkle as she gestured at the mostly-empty food table, saying cheerfully: “I have helped by cleaning the food.”

“Uh. Thanks.” Twilight said awkwardly, before she bit her cheek and said: “You know, you don't have to leave, you could have a nap or...”

“Or what, Twilight Sparkle? Slumber party?” Scrivener asked mildly, and Twilight scowled at him as Luna grinned, but then shook her head as her expression softened to a smile.

“Nay, I must return to Canterlot, but... I will return here to Ponyville when I am able. We both shall, Twilight Sparkle. I am sure Scrivener Blooms wishes to see more of thee, after all.” Luna winked over at him, and Scrivener snorted in entertainment as he walked over to the pile of bags and equipment.

They chatted easily, but Twilight Sparkle mostly just watched them. She had strange, funny feelings as she watched the two of them, that she didn't entirely understand, that felt a little wrong, or greedy, or silly.

She also admired them. Both of them, even if she would never, ever admit that to Scrivener Blooms.

The stallion sighed as he finished getting his armor on with Luna's help, and then he wheezed when she dropped the saddlebags across his back, groaning as he loudly cracked his spine. “Oh Horses of Heaven, I'm going to feel that in the morning.”

“Nay, hopefully by morning we will be home in bed and comfortable, Scrivener Blooms, and then we shall sleep like logs!” Luna declared, and then she flicked her horn to flip her cloak off the ground and fall over her back, winking over at Twilight. “Thou art free to join us any time for sleeping, too, Twilight.”

Twilight turned beet-red, and Scrivener snorted laughter before he followed Luna to her. The sapphire mare embraced the purple mare fiercely, and she smiled after a moment as she hugged her tightly back before Luna kissed her cheek gently. “Thou art a wonderful mare. I like thee much better than thy brother.”

“He's just protective of me, Luna, that's all. Be nice to him.” Twilight almost chastised, before she and Scrivener looked at each other, then they shared a short hug as well-

“Now kiss!” Luna leaned in towards them, and both ponies scowled at her, which made her huff. “Damnation. Silly fools, I am the dream-maker, 'tis not my fault I am trying to make thy dreams come true.”

The ponies parted before Scrivener glanced down as Sammy scurried out from under the table, the stallion smiling slightly as his pseudodragon climbed up to perch on his head. “Was worried about you, idiot. Thought Fluttershy stole you.”

“She would have. She's come a long way. I think we all have.” Twilight bit her lip, and then she looked at Luna and said softly: “You too, you know, you and Scrivener both. It's amazing how ponies change and you just... never know where you end up, or what depths ponies have.”

“I thank thee, Twilight Sparkle. Thou art kinder to us both than we deserve.” Luna said, before she smiled a little. “I am no good at goodbyes, so come, Scrivy. Let us hurry back to Celestia now. Perhaps we will get back before dawn, and avoid a scolding.”

Scrivener grunted, then he reached up and flicked Twilight's horn gently, making her huff. “Take care of yourself, Twilight Sparkle.”

She nodded, suppressing her slight flush before she watched as the two headed to the door, and she bit her lip as they left, not knowing why it felt like part of her heart went with them as the door swung gently closed and left her alone in the library, and for the first time, wanting something more than just the friendships and relationships she had found here in Ponyville.

Twilight sighed, shaking her head almost angrily at herself as she turned away, and then her eyes locked with surprise on Luna's peytral and tiara, which had been left behind on the food table. She approached, then carefully picked up the tiara before she smiled faintly at the little note pasted inside:

For you, Twilight Sparkle, for helping me find something more important than being a princess.

Luna and Scrivener had returned safe and sound, then promptly gone to their quarters for some well-earned rest. Something seemed different between them, but if anything, Celestia was happy for them. Happy her sister had found something so special.

Now, in the secret depths of Canterlot, beyond hidden passages and security wards, Celestia sat in a room with her scrying mirror, and all manner of alchemical ingredients, murmuring quiet ritual incantation over Sleipnir's imbued forge hammer taken from an ancient book of lore floating before her.

The walls were covered by a library of shelves, and the forge itself burned with intense flame, like a miniature sun in the maw of the oven. As her hammer began to glow, she guided tongs with telekinesis to remove a superheated bowl from the forge, within which the bark of Yggdrasil had become a golden dust.

She dipped the head of her hammer into this, swirling it once, before she rose it high, then slammed it down into her mirror. Bizarrely, the mirror didn't shatter, but instead rippled like liquid before she slammed her hammer down again, and it was like she was hammering a new, different reality into the mirror.

There were truths that she had to know, and this was the only way she could find out how.

Solar Transit

Chapter Nine: Solar Transit

~BlackRoseRaven

Luna and Scrivener were sprawled in an ungainly mess on the same bed, both snoring loudly, a tangle of limbs and sparkling mane and sheets and drool.

Shining Armor studied them both moodily from the open doorway, Centurions poking their heads in curiously on either side of him and giggling, and the Captain of the Guard rubbed slowly at his temple as one of them said: “Night Mistress has found a fine suitor.”

“Yeah, they suit each other alright.” Shining Armor said tiredly, before he tilted his head up slightly, his horn glowing before he shouted in a magnified voice: “On your hooves, maggots!”

The Solar Anthem blared through the bedroom, and Luna and Scrivener both squirmed in bed before Luna shoved the stallion, who slowly rolled off and flopped on his side to the ground with a moan, wheezing: “Oh Horses of Heaven, I haven't been this hungover in years.”

“Scrivener Blooms... I am... dying...” Luna moaned helplessly as she slowly crawled to the edge of the bed, then fell off and thumped down on her head, laying half-on, half-off the bed. “Oh Valhalla... take me!”

Scrivener Blooms mumbled, and Shining Armor tapped a hoof slowly as he allowed the music to fade from the air before he cleared his throat and said loudly: “Princess Celestia requests your presence at the Chamber of the Sun. Both of you.”

Luna mumbled as she slowly crawled her way down onto her belly on the floor, laying there for a few moments as Shining only impatiently continued to watch them both. Then his eyes shifted to the stallion, adding moodily: “Oh, by the way. Heard you visited my sister last night.”

Scrivener scowled as he slowly clambered to his hooves, as the ivory stallion leaned forwards and said pointedly: “I heard you were both flirting with her. Now, I don't care if you're swingers-”

“What, hey!” Scrivener blurted, and Luna blinked in confusion as she slowly hauled herself up.

“I do not understand. What do swings have to do with Twilight Sparkle?”

“It means he thinks we date other people.”

“Preposterous! We are not dating Twilight Sparkle yet!” Luna stopped, blushed, then both she and Scrivener rambled about how they weren't dating or in a relationship or anything, and Shining Armor rubbed a hoof slowly at his forehead as one of the Centurions clapped and gave a little cheer in the background.

“Neither of you are dating Twilight at all!” he burst out, and both ponies immediately scowled at him. “I'm sorry, but Scrivener, you're a bad influence on Twilight. You always have been. You even made her skip class once!”

“Damn I'm such a bad boy.” Scrivener said wryly, and Luna gave a donkey laugh before she cleared her throat hurriedly.

Shining Armor glared at them both, before he cleared his throat and said more respectfully: “Princess Luna. Twilight Sparkle is already Princess Celestia's student. It would appear as nepotism, or worse, if she were to enter any kind of relationship with you. I think it would be best for you both if you considered leaving Twilight alone.”

Luna slowly pursed her lips, and then she snorted steam before she asked: “And were I not a Princess, Shining Armor?”

The white stallion ground his teeth together for a moment, and then he answered as tactfully as possible: “If you were not a princess, my advice would be the same for you as it is for Scrivener.”

The sapphire mare huffed loudly, then she shook her head before swaying woozily, her eyes rolling in her head before she grumbled as her horn started to glow: “Bah, I shall just-”

Scrivener flung a pillow at her, making her wince as her magic was canceled, and she huffed at him as he said tiredly: “No. Even I know that's a bad idea. Let's just go see Celestia and then we can go back to bed.”

“Princess Celestia.” Shining Armor corrected shortly, glaring at Scrivener Blooms.

“Boss Lady Celestia.” Scrivener mumbled, before he winced and leaned back slightly when Shining Armor stomped angrily at him. “Horses of Heaven, you're even worse than Twilight Sparkle ever was, just how far is that stick jammed up your-”

“Mmm.” Luna looked almost dreamily between Shining Armor and Scrivener Blooms. “If thou does not desire us to swing around Twilight Sparkle, perhaps thou should offer up thyself as sacrifice instead, Captain Armor.”

Shining Armor looked at them both for a few long moments, and then he sighed tiredly before he turned around, calling with only a little disgust: “Please join us at the Chamber of the Sun when you're ready.”

Luna scowled and stuck out her tongue, while Scrivener grumbled under his breath before both ponies strode forwards, then blinked as a batpony let himself in, carrying a tray with a carafe of coffee and some muffins on it.

“Oh thank thou and the gods of Valhalla.” Luna hurried forwards, and Scrivener dragged himself over as well as Luna sloppily poured mugs of coffee for them both. They both guzzled these down, then took their second mugs slower, pairing them with muffins as the batponies waited on them with smiles.

“I'll agree with Luna for once. You guys are lifesavers.” the black stallion added, smiling over at the... well, he was a Night Chef, he guessed, more than a Night Guard now, and a lot less intimidating now dressed in his little suit and looking so thrilled at having prepared coffee without burning it.

They gave their thanks to the batponies before leaving, Luna and Scrivener both glancing back as they started to gossip almost immediately once they were on the way out. Luna squinted thoughtfully at Scrivener Blooms as the stallion glanced over at her with a cocked eyebrow, before she asked: “Does all of Canterlot know- er, uh, think, that thou and I-”

“No. No, no no no. How could they?” Scrivener asked lamely, and both ponies blushed a bit before they both quickly turned their attention ahead, striding quickly through the castle, and Scrivener glanced at her again before he smiled a little, saying quietly: “You know, you really do look better without that stupid tiara.”

“Thou art stupid.” But Luna smiled and nodded despite herself as they headed through Canterlot, which was a bustle of activity this morning.

Neither Luna nor Scrivener usually saw Canterlot in the morning, with the sun risen and the castle in full activity. Ponies looked at them curiously as they passed, but for the most part they went ignored by the busy populace as they walked quickly through the halls and then left the castle via the main entrance facing the city.

The Chamber of the Sun was actually in Canterlot proper: it was an old building, squat and square, a temple formerly dedicated to ancient and long-forgotten gods. Luna was surprised to see the doors were guarded today by a cadre of Royal Guard, who saluted sharply as Luna and Scrivener approached, although she was all-too-aware of the wariness in their eyes as they made their way up to the doors, where Shining Armor was waiting for them.

He nodded to them, then turned and opened the heavy stone doors for them: Luna frowned uneasily as she strode inside with Scrivener at her side. Shining Armor joined them after a moment, but he respectfully took up position at the entrance as Luna walked slowly across the carpeted temple hall, looking uneasily up at her sibling. “Celestia, has something happened?”

Princess Celestia opened her eyes from where she had been meditating on the stage at the front of the converted temple, gazing down at them with soft compassion from her seat on a cushion. She nodded slowly as Luna and Scrivener stopped in front of her, before she said gently: “But please wait a moment for me to explain, Luna. I want to go over this once, and not everyone is here yet.”

Luna only had a moment of confusion before a stumble of hoofs came rushing in, along with a familiar voice blurting: “I came as fast as I could, Princess! What happened?”

Twilight Sparkle hurried up to join Scrivener and Luna, who both looked at her with surprise before Celestia ordered: “Shining Armor, seal the doors.”

“Yes, ma'am!” Shining Armor saluted sharply, then he shouted an order to the soldiers outside before pulling the heavy stone doors shut. They could hear locks being closed on the other side even as Shining Armor strode quickly up to join them, smiling reassuringly to Twilight Sparkle as he took position by his sibling.

The four ponies looked up at Celestia, who took a slow breath before she said quietly: “I've changed, Luna. It feels like something inside me has transformed. And I have memories that are impossible; I'm sure by now, you've experienced them too. The moments of deja vu, and a sense that... we are not who we once were.”

Luna frowned uneasily as Scrivener Blooms chewed at his lip, before Twilight Sparkle asked: “Why are we here, though? Why did you seal us inside this temple?”

Celestia became more serious as she stood, brushing her cushion away, and then pulling something forward. Luna's eyes narrowed, catching a glimpse of a reflection beneath the curtain that covered it, as the ivory mare said quietly: “We need to know what we're dealing with. I need you all at the ready. I need to know if something has truly happened... what I am missing, and if Equestria is in danger.

“I feel...” Celestia bit her lip. “'Manipulated' is too strong a word. But something has changed me, Luna. I know you've seen the difference in me.”

“It is not a bad difference!” Luna blurted out, and then she blushed before adding softly: “Thou art still my sister. I love thee with all my heart, Celestia, and trust in thee... more than I ever have before. Thou hast been kind, merciful, and good. Better than thou hast ever been...”

She stopped. She hated it, as she shifted uncomfortably, but then she nodded grudgingly and murmured as her eyes looked down: “But aye. Thou art different, too. There... thou wert always such a creature of passion. A schemer, and I know thou schemes still, wretched Celestia, with whatever thou hast created...” She smiled despite herself, and Celestia smiled softly back at her, chuckling quietly. “But there are many times thou would have punished me. Thou art strong still, but...”

“My edge is missing. Part of my personality is... missing.” Celestia bit her lip, then she looked at Luna and said quietly: “I'm not afraid for myself. I'm afraid for you, Luna. What if this force touched you, too? What if it took away...”

Scrivener smiled wryly at this, unable to stop himself from replying: “I don't think anything could make Luna less of a pain in the flank. That would just require erasing her.”

Luna snorted as Twilight gave them a sour look, then scowled at her brother when he muttered an agreement, but Celestia remained serious even as she smiled faintly. “That is precisely what I am afraid of.”

There was silence for a moment, and then Celestia closed her eyes before she took a breath, then turned and swept away the curtain from her scrying mirror. But Luna saw it had been modified: the glass was somehow both dark and glowing, and gold frosted the edges of the looking glass, which was edged in metal covered in runes. Celestia gazed at this silently, saying quietly: “I have asked you all here to help me, and to stop me if something goes wrong.”

“What?” Luna stepped forwards, her voice rising. “Celestia, tell us-”

“Shh, it's okay, Luna, I promise everything is under control. That's why I asked you here, as an emergency measure.” Celestia answered soothingly, before she smiled faintly as she gestured at the mirror. “Let me explain.

“This mirror has been altered with powdered bark of Yggdrasil and mythril focal bars. All of it enhanced by runic amplifiers.” Twilight Sparkle looked fascinated, but Scrivener only felt a shiver run down his spine for some reason as he looked at the mirror, and he swore he saw something move inside it. “This should allow my scrying mirror to look through not just this world, but further and deeper. My goal is not to look into other worlds, however, but rather to make contact with the lost part of me and see where it has been taken.”

“Thou art convinced of this? That some entity has... stolen part of thee?” Luna asked uneasily, and then she bit her lip. “Celestia, if such an entity exists, then-”

“That's why you're here. To break the connection if something tries to possess me, or help me force it back if something attempts to come through the mirror.” Celestia looked at the four, and she smiled faintly at the earth pony as he shifted uncomfortably. “Yes, even you, Scrivener Blooms. You're not just the Court Poet of Canterlot anymore. From the rumors I've heard-”

“Um this isn't really the time or place for that I don't know what you're talking about.” Scrivener hurriedly waved his hooves with a wince as Luna blushed and glared horribly at her sister.

Celestia only laughed, and then she nodded slowly as she murmured: “You're right, it's not. But...” She closed her eyes, then took a slow breath. “Well, no time like the present. All of you, get ready.”

“Wait!” Twilight burst out, looking almost frantically back and forth. “What... but we... but wait, we-”

“It's okay, Twilight Sparkle. I trust you. You'll do the right thing...” Celestia smiled softly down at her student, before she turned to face the mirror as her horn glowed, murmuring: “And this may not even work. Part of me hopes that it doesn't, and not just because I'm afraid of what it means... because... it means I was always too weak to control myself, and it took something from beyond our space and time to fix me.

“I have always been more broken than you, Luna. You became Nightmare Moon, but so what? Outside influences helped with that, too... a broken heart, and a sister who was too wrapped up in her own plots and schemes...” Celestia gazed silently into the mirror, breathing a little harder as the ponies behind her gazed up at her with silence from the bottom of the stone steps leading up to the solid stage. “So please... show me the truth...”

“The truth...” echoed a voice. It sounded like Celestia, but it wasn't Celestia. And they all saw it, as something gold and white formed in the mirror, before it slowly leaned forwards, the reflection of Celestia glaring back at her as it whispered: “The truth...”

Celestia stumbled back even as she stared, enraptured, at her reflection. The others could all see it even from their angle below: not a princess, but a mighty and terrible queen in heavy golden armor, her mane not a pastel, flowing rainbow, but a series of long white braids. Her features were older, harsher, worn by time and battles that had taken their toll on her; she had an eyepatch, and her remaining iris was harsh and cruel as she snarled: “The truth is aye, you are a weak dog, Celestia, yet... and yet!”

The reflection leaned forwards, and Celestia stumbled another step back in horror as it passed through the rippling mirror into reality. It was Celestia, and yet it was not Celestia, almost the same as her and yet radically alien as it looked across them and asked: “Why? Why was I not good enough for them? Why did they rip me out of you and toss me away like a rat, a cancer...”

“Who are you?” Celestia whispered, as the long, braided tail of her reflection slipped loose of the mirror, which gave a single weak pulse before the glass went black and dead.

“I am the Celestial Unicorn, I am the Dragon Slayer, I am the Princess of the Sun, the Radiant, the Queen!” snarled the doppelganger bitterly. “I am Aya, I am Goddess Sol, I am Celestia, I am Freya, Queen of the Valkyries!”

She roared the last, the Chamber of the Sun shaking with the force of her voice before her eye flashed as she dropped her head forward and hissed: “Get out of my way, Celestia. There is work to be done and you are too weak to do it.”

Celestia trembled violently, and then she grit her teeth and steadied herself as Luna ran up to her sister's side with Scrivener Blooms, and Twilight and Shining leapt to her other side, all of them standing at the ready. “N-No. I... I have made a terrible mistake. I cannot allow you-”

The not-Celestia, Freya, threw her head back and laughed raucously, and then she bared her teeth in a cruel grin as she mocked: “Think you all can stop me, do you? Well, let's see what you and this mock Brynhild can do!”

Freya bulled forwards, smashing Celestia down the stairs before she threw her head back with a roar, and all four ponies were sent crashing across the temple from the shockwave of golden flames that erupted from her.

Luna flipped, landing unsteadily on her hooves as she skidded backwards, a barrage of alien memories sparking through her mind before she lunged forwards, her horn glowing, but Freya laughed at her as she leapt down, meeting her with a mocking grin as she shouted in her face: “We're nothing but shadows, you know! Foul copies of the real thing! Mockeries, but even for a joke you're a poor one!”

Her horn smashed and clashed with Luna's, forcing the sapphire mare back with gasps of pain from the strength of impact as the hulking juggernaut of a mare strode fearlessly forward in her armor. Luna tried to twist to her blind side, but Freya slashed her horn up, and as she did so, golden light slashed through the air and shredded Luna's chest and side open, sending her crashing and rolling back with a scream of pain.

The light that had slashed across her formed into short golden swords, these whirling rapidly to ready positions: simple double-edged broadswords that were sharper than dragon fangs, Freya spitting to the side as she growled: “Pathetic. A shadow of a shadow. Get on your hooves, false Brynhild. Die like a man, if you can't die like a woman!”

“I am no man.” Luna muttered, looking up at her defiantly, breathing hard before she grit her teeth as Freya lunged at her-

Celestia leapt in front of her, and golden swords collided sharply with perfect copies of golden blade. Freya laughed loudly at this, but her attention was taken away from Luna as she immediately began to storm towards her hated twin, six golden swords whirling and clashing through the air as she snapped: “Your hjorleikr is only a poor imitation of mine!”

Celestia was forced to the center of the room: Shining Armor tried to flank in, his horn glowing brightly, but Freya suddenly sidestepped and slammed a hoof out without looking at him, sending him bonelessly backwards in a fine spray of blood as Twilight Sparkle screamed and ran to her brother's side.

Six swords collided, clashing violently, grinding firmly before Freya laughed as she suddenly twisted and sharply repelled Celestia's attempt to pin her down. The pommel of a sword slammed into Celestia's face and knocked her staggering before a leg was almost mockingly cut out from beneath her, sending her crashing down on her side as she desperately defended herself with her swords as Freya's own rained a hail of blows down on her. “Miserable! Pathetic! You're nothing without me! I am your battle rage, your anger, your passion, and you are-”

Celestia flapped her wings hard, launching herself backwards in a flash of light, and Freya hissed before she snarled as something sliced across her face. She set herself, her other eye twitching as her eyepatch fell loose to reveal a glaring glass eye.

She reached up, touching the bloody cut on her face as she trembled with fury, and Celestia said quietly as she set herself and readied her swords around her: “I don't want to kill you. But I will. Please don't force us to.”

Freya snorted in contempt, and then she looked up and answered coldly: “There can only be one of us, Celestia. Unlike you, I don't hesitate.”

She paused, then smiled thinly as she tilted her head back slightly, adding easily: “And don't think I won't spank you, Brynhild. But fortunately for you, I don't mind if you decide to just stay back and admire me from afar.”

“Stop calling me that. I am...” Luna shivered. Why couldn't say she she wasn't Brynhild? Why did that name sound familiar to her? “I am not going to allow thee to harm my sister.”

“Oh?” Freya smiled.

Luna's eyes widened, and she leapt forward, but too late: Freya was faster, so much faster, and so much stronger as she used her swords to smash wide Celestia's before simply plowing into her, hefting her with a roar before slamming her down and pouncing on top of her. She slammed her hoof down into her face, again and again and again as Luna screamed like a wounded animal and Twilight shrieked, firing a blast of magic at Freya-

All of it, useless. With a flick of her horn, Freya launched a sword at Twilight Sparkle, while using another to slice across Scrivener's chest and interrupt his charge. Twilight gasped in pain and horror as her shoulder was cut open and she stumbled to the side, and Scrivener staggered to the side, forced to back off.

Shining Armor created a shield and charged forward, but Freya's last sword was launched like a missile into this, the force of impact making him wince before the blade exploded in a tremendous bang of golden fire, knocking him sprawling with a gasp. Luna leapt at Freya's back, only for a rear hoof to neatly slam into her face: she hit the ground hard, but anger and desperation drowned out her pain as she forced herself to leap forward again-

Freya spun around, slapping her out of the air like a child with one hoof as her other yanked Celestia up by the mane, making her scream before she was punched viciously down to the ground with the sound of shattering bone, Freya looking down at her with contempt and disgust. Luna staggered, trembling in pain as she spat blood, breathing hard as she looked at this... this tyrant, this monster, with fury and terror in her eyes, only able to watch as Freya's forehoof burst into golden flames and she said callously, to broken, bloody, beaten Celestia: “Prune back the weak so the strong can grow in their place.”

Something crashed into her armored side on her blind side, and Freya swore as she was knocked off balance, immediately dropping Celestia to round on what had hit her with a snarl of fury, her rage growing as she saw Scrivener Blooms. “Gelding filthy mud-pony!”

Her flaming forehoof crashed down on him, and Scrivener howled in misery as he was crushed beneath it, pinned to the ground with a fiery hoof charring into his face, squirming and kicking uselessly as Luna's blood ran cold, her eyes going wide, her heart stopping in her chest-

“Die.”

Luna screamed and launched forwards in a blast of blue fire and darkness, crashing into Freya with such violence that even the armored mare was helplessly knocked into the air before raw hate made into purging fire roared upwards in a torrent, a living dragon of magic that ripped over Freya and dragged her upwards to smash her into, then through, the ceiling of the temple.

Shining Armor gasped as Twilight shrieked in fear, the Captain of the Guard sharply snapping his horn out to blast rocks out of the air as he shouted: “Twilight, help me!”

Twilight was panicked, but all the same managed to unleash her own powerful, mostly-unfocused blasts that knocked falling debris away from where Celestia and Scrivener were laying. But Luna was twisting, her eyes glowing white, her body flexing and rippling unnaturally as pulses of magic emanated off her in all directions.

Luna.

Luna blinked, and found herself standing in a circle of white light. She mouthed wordlessly, before trembling as a shape appeared in the darkness, emerald eyes opening, looking down at her as she whispered: “Oh no. What... what I unleashed, what have I done...”

“Luna.” the voice said again, and... was it desperate? Was it scared?

She saw a flash of reality. Of Scrivener Blooms, not... not moving. Celestia, bleeding, a broken and bruised mess she had failed to protect-

“You haven't failed anyone yet.” promised the thing in the darkness, and Luna trembled as she stepped towards it, looking up almost desperately at this creature.

It leaned down towards her. It was Nightmare Moon... and it was not. There was no helm upon her head, no crown, her beautiful black features naked as a mane of starlight and blue flame seared the darkness around her. She was the darkness, and she was what stood against darkness, as she said quietly: “We have to save them.”

Luna bit her lip, as she slid towards the edge of the shadows, as the great black mare loomed over her, before she asked weakly: “Must I give in? Must I become thee again?”

“No. I am only asking you to accept me. And to trust me.” Nightmare Moon said quietly, as she slid back a step, and hesitantly, carefully, Luna moved a little more forwards. A little more towards the edge of the light and darkness.

But there was honesty in her voice. Fear, pain, and deeper than that... “We love them both. Finally, Luna! Finally, Celestia is willing to accept us! And we have... Scrivener Blooms. We love him.”

“I love him.” Luna confessed. “I would... do anything for him.”

“So would we. We don't need a nation to rule. We don't want that. We only ever wanted to be loved, and now we finally have it.” Nightmare Moon said, leaning down almost desperately. “Take my power, Luna. We must save him. We must save him.”

Luna trembled, swallowing thickly. “I will. I must. I want to... but... b-but what if... they hate me, when they realize who I have been all along? That thou and I...”

Nightmare Moon slipped forwards, reaching out and settling her dark hooves gently on Luna's shoulder as she leaned down and kissed her forehead, and Luna trembled as the creature murmured: “Better that they live and hate us, then that they die, isn't it? That... that is love, is it not?”

Luna looked up at Nightmare Moon, who looked back down into her eyes, and she asked: “Would you ever forgive yourself, my Luna, if you let them die?”

Luna leapt forwards in answer, the light vanishing as she embraced Nightmare Moon fiercely, and the great dark shape smiled faintly as she hugged her other-self fiercely back, silently stroking through her mane as she murmured: “Good girl.”

Luna's eyes clenched shut, then snapped open as she snarled, her whole body flexing as blackness bled through her form and she almost doubled in height, snapping her head up as her eyes shone with emerald power. Powerful black wings flapped as her mane burst into blue flames, and she looked sharply up, into naked sky, and at the armored mare hovering calmly above.

“We shall not allow thee to harm them. We will become darkness itself to stop thee if we must!” Luna roared at Freya, and the cruel queen replied with a grim smile.

“A shadow's merely a shadow. But it's the light that decides its fate.” Freya said contemptibly, idly brushing a loose piece of armor free. “Don't get cocky.”

As the broken plate of armor fell, Freya's horn suddenly gave a sharp flash, launching the jagged piece of metal at Luna, but Luna deflected it easily with her horn, and Freya laughed loudly. “On your guard now, big girl, are you? Well, good! Try not to bore me!'

Freya lunged down through the air at her, sending a golden fireball at her, and Luna cursed as she leapt backwards, spreading her wings and letting the explosion of the spell carry her backwards. But the golden fire became golden swords that sliced in towards her, forcing her to furl her wings tightly as she met the attacks with sharp parries of her horn.

Freya flew in above her, then dropped like a stone, and Luna's eyes widened before she grinned at the last moment, Freya cursing as the black mare became a burst of blue mist that ripped across her, leaving sharp, stinging frostbite. Luna reformed above, snapping her horn down to blast the ivory mare with a telekinetic hammer and keep her off-balance before she stomped both rear hooves down into the middle of her back.

The tyrant roared as she tried to retaliate, but her swords stuttered and went the wrong way as Twilight Sparkle caught them with telekinesis, and Freya's eye glowed with rage. The swords exploded in flares of golden flame, magical recoil knocking Twilight sprawling with a squeak before Luna slammed a hoof into the back of Freya's head.

Freya cursed as she fell forward, but then she lunged sharply and flapped her wings hard, taking to the air. She flew rapidly upward, and Luna spread her wings and pursued her into the sky, where pegasi were circling and shouting, watching with shock as what appeared to be Celestia flew away from what could only be Nightmare Moon.

“If sacrifices must be made, then so be it!” snapped Freya, as her horn glowed brightly, and she spread her forelegs wide as she glared up at the sun, which grew larger, brighter in the sky, becoming a divine, scorching radiance that seared Luna's skin, ponies shrieking, shouting, panicking.

Luna's eyes widened in horror as Freya spun around with a cruel smile, glowing with golden radiance. She didn't care, Luna realized: she didn't care about the ponies panicking below, about the way they were being burned, or blinded. She didn't care about pegasi, whose feathers were smoldering in the sky from the withering force of the growing sun, or the calamity she was causing as steam and smoke began to rise across Canterlot.

No, not just Canterlot. All of Equestria...

“Witch! Thou will-”

“Let the weak be purged. Let them all burn.” Freya said bitterly, before she snorted in contempt. “I never liked Odin's little hobby horses anyway.”

Luna snarled, and then her own horn glowed as she roared: “I will not allow this!”

Freya began to dash towards her, before she halted, looking back over her shoulder with a snarl at the sight of a great disc rising from the horizon; it grew larger and larger, before it slowly moved across the face of the sun until it covered it completely, leaving only a burning halo.

Ponies cried out below at the eclipse, at the darkness that engulfed their nation, and Freya cursed as she faced Luna, her horn lighting up to pierce the darkness around her, and Luna realized she had a chance.

She dashed forward, and Freya lunged sharply above her, kicking at her as a golden sword appeared out of thin air in mid slash, but Luna twisted out of the way of both before retaliating with a blue fireball.

As expected, Freya tried to slap this out of the air, and the fireball exploded not into flames, but a great thick puff of cold smog that clung to her body, the mare roaring furiously as she launched herself backwards, then grinned and spun around, two more swords appearing and whickering outwards to cut across Luna's body and drive her back.

They shot towards her chest, but Luna launched straight up, and Freya, furious and passionate and smelling blood, pursued her prey. Her body streaked upwards, a golden comet, before Luna suddenly twisted around in midair and snapped her horn out.

Another blue fireball shot towards her, then exploded before it could make contact, but Freya only laughed as she plowed straight through the clingy, slimy wetness of the smog before using the flats of her swords to deflect Luna's attempts to kick her down, stabbing her horn upwards and burying it through Luna's breast with such violence that she was lifted higher into the air, gasping, choking, impaled on the tyrant's spire.

“Fitting.” she growled, as blood ran down her face and they hovered together, high above the city, Luna not daring to move as Freya almost held her aloft. “You know, Brynhild stopped Celestia before by striking her... right about here. Ah, but I only nicked your lung. Too bad.”

Freya paused, before three gleaming swords rose around her, and she asked contemptibly: “Do you have any last words before I cut off your head?”

“Yes.” Luna rasped. “Goodbye.”

Her horn sparked as she gave a mighty flap, a powerful gust of freezing wind ripping upwards and launching her loose, and Freya snorted and gave a wide grin before her eyes widened as the blood running over her face and down her armor froze. More importantly, and worse, her wet wings froze, refusing to move or budge, and Freya's eyes widened before she began to fall.

She dropped her guard for a singular moment as she turned her full attention to her wings: she began to act, to burn away the cold and ice with her magic, but then Luna dropped like a stone and slashed through her wing with her horn as she fell, and Freya screamed in rage and denial. Never fear, and perhaps never even pain, as she twisted awkwardly in midair as she became a burning, golden comet that fell through the eclipsed sky.

She smashed through the roof of the Chamber of the Sun and down onto the stairs leading up to the stone stage, sending chunks of rock and cement flying in all directions, along with broken plates of golden metal and a burst of flaming feathers, all of Canterlot seeming to rattle with the fall of mighty Freya.

Luna allowed herself to drop, breathing hard, feeling both sides of herself struggling together to maintain consciousness. The pain had become only an unpleasant pressure thanks to Nightmare Moon's powers numbing her body... and probably the shock of everything that had happened, as she slowly glided down through the broken roof and landed unsteadily between the broken heap of Freya, and her beaten and bruised sibling.

Celestia was back on her hooves, as was Scrivener Blooms. Luna looked over her shoulder at them, both afraid and relieved, but Celestia only smiled faintly at her as Scrivener whispered: “You look like crap.”

Luna laughed faintly, then shivered once before her form slowly shrank, her mane settled, and she slumped as she returned to her normal form. Twilight Sparkle ran forwards and embraced her as Shining Armor nervously approached, asking uneasily: “Is she...”

“I taught... Brynhild better than that...” Freya murmured. Slowly, she looked up, her glass eye cracked, blood running from her mouth and nose as she shuddered in a heap on the ground. “Well, get on with it... just know that... you are all weak, and you... you are no Brynhild.”

“I would rather be weak then whatever thou art.” Luna said quietly, as she gently slipped away from Twilight Sparkle and stepped up to the base of the broken stairs, glaring into the hollow eye of the tyrant. “I am not thy 'Brynhild,' nay. I am... I am my own pony!”

Yes. Yes, she was.

“Good.” Freya's eye glinted. “Then I don't need to feel any guilt about this.”

She launched forwards from her broken heap: her foreleg was broken, but it still hit Luna with enough force to knock her flying backwards, sending Twilight Sparkle sprawling as well before she pounced towards Luna, meaning to crush her beneath her forehooves and weight.

But Scrivener Blooms managed to sloppily tackle her, knocking her down on her side. She rolled away from him, cursing in frustration before she dragged herself up and lunged, her ire turned fully to the earth pony as she moved to finish the job she had started earlier.

Shining Armor leapt in front of Scrivener, gasping as she caught the mare against a barrier, and Freya bounced off this before she rammed her shoulder into it with a roar. Her broken, heavy body seemed to only be moving because she willed it to, but even as ungainly as she was, she was still strong and heavy enough to smash through Shining's barrier and then shove him aside before she launched herself at the prone charcoal stallion-

Celestia slipped between them, and Freya gurgled as a golden sword buried through her chest. She snarled slowly, her knees giving out, almost falling on top of Celestia, and tears rolled down the ivory mare's cheeks as she embraced her wicked self, asking weakly: “Why? By all the Horses of Heaven and Gods of Valhalla... what happened to you to make you this way?”

“Weakness... petty... pathetic weakness...” Freya whispered, and then she gave a cracked laugh. Her hindquarters fell, thumping to the ground and shattering away like golden glass that quickly turned to ashes, and the rest of her began to follow, dissolving like cloth being eaten away by flame. “You're nothing without each other...”

“And together we put a stop to you.” Scrivener said quietly, as Luna picked herself slowly up, and Twilight Sparkle hurried back over to them.

For a moment, Freya only looked at him, and then she whispered: “Aye. I suppose you did.”

There was silence, as the tyrant slowly dissolved, before she gave a final sigh as her head tilted back and turned to ash, her glass eye dropping to the ground and shattering like the bauble it was. The five ponies were left, all looking at this, before Twilight Sparkle shook her head quickly and whispered: “I... I know some basic healing magic, here, let me try and treat the worst of your wounds, Princesses...”

“I am no princess.” Luna said quietly, and she wasn't just being funny, or difficult. She said it with intent, as she looked at Celestia, and Celestia smiled faintly as she looked back at her sibling. “Sister... I...”

“I can hear the panic outside. They saw Nightmare Moon, fighting what looked like me.” Tears rolled down Celestia's cheeks, staring at her sibling as she whispered: “I can't let you sacrifice yourself like this, Luna. I can't, I can't, I can't...”

“Well, sister, 'tis not a sacrifice! I... I want to go.” Luna smiled faintly, raising her head as she said quietly: “There is... there is so much to learn in this world. I did not even get to tell thee about the Nightmares we befriended in the...”

Luna licked her lips slowly, and then she nodded as Twilight Sparkle trembled, uncomprehending, and Shining Armor silently, shamefully turned his eyes down to the ground. “Yes. That is what I shall do. I shall... I shall reclaim our old home, sister. Then I shall be but a stone's throw away should thou need me, yet safe from those who would seek stupid justice in the name of the light. I think there is a place for darkness in this world, is there not?”

“As the sun burns, the darkness may soothe.” Celestia hesitated, then asked: “Are you sure? Are you absolutely sure about this, Luna, are you-”

“Yes.” Luna said quietly.

“Well, you're not leaving me here alone.” Scrivener said, and Luna looked at him. This stupid, brave little earth pony who smiled at her even though half his face was so terribly burned, his eye swollen and fused shut. “Think you've got room enough in that castle for me?”

“Ah, Scrivy, what would I do without my loyal bard?” Luna laughed, gazing softly at him.

“Wait!” Twilight shouted desperately. “What's going on?”

“Luna...” Celestia swallowed thickly, then she leaned forwards and hugged her sister fiercely, and Luna hugged her tightly back. “Once more, Luna is taking the fall for a mistake I made. For a terrible sin that I have committed. Because... she is...”

“Selfish!” Luna smiled. It was an honest smile, too, as she winked at Twilight Sparkle, whose eyes filled with tears as she shook her head weakly. “'Tis perfect. I am no princess, Twilight. I shall be known as the mare who struck down Celestia! And I shall be free.”

“No! No, no no no! They'll hate you, you... y-you're a hero, you-”

“We could show them all the evidence in the world, Twili.” Shining Armor said quietly. “And all they'd remember is this eclipse, and that the saw who they think is Celestia fall from the sky. And... even if they both walked out right now and said it wasn't what they thought they saw...”

“My wounds.” Celestia smiled faintly. “Well, at... at least they'll be enough to help convince them... not to chase you. I'll... I'll put on a good act for you, Luna. I'll fix the eclipse... once I know you're safe.”

“Thou hast my thanks.” Luna said softly, before she winced when Twilight flung herself into her, hugging her fiercely as she buried her face against her neck.

She didn't have words though. Didn't have words that made sense, or could take away the injustice of the world, so Luna only hugged her, rocked her for a moment, and then pushed her gently back as she said softly: “Well, thou knows the way. Thou may visit us any time, Twilight Sparkle.”

“Yeah. We'll look forwards to it.” Scrivener added, then he winced when Twilight hugged him tightly, wheezing a little in pain before patting her gently on the back. “Take care of yourself.”

“I...” But there was nothing she could say.

Luna and Scrivener stepped together, and Celestia only looked at them silently as Shining Armor bit his lip before saluting them, and Twilight Sparkle trembled. She watched as a blue fog swirled gently up around them as the two pressed close, resting their heads together, until they vanished completely in a soft, cold breath of wind that was all the same... somehow comforting.

“I swear you to secrecy, Shining Armor.” Celestia said, without looking at him.

“Yes, Princess Celestia. As you command.” Shining Armor bowed his head politely, before he looked over at Twilight, reached up to touch her shoulder-

She shrugged him off, stumbling away from the two of them, and Celestia smiled faintly as she shook her head and murmured: “It's one of the sad truths, Twilight Sparkle. We cannot change what the world thinks, or wants to think. We can't make it love the people we love, or see them differently. All we can do is make sure those special ponies know how much they are loved by honoring what they have done. Their sacrifice for us.”

Twilight shook her head weakly, but she didn't have words. Couldn't say anything else, didn't know how to feel, before she swallowed thickly.

She knew what she had to do, as she turned and strode towards the doors. She pressed against them, tears running down her cheeks before she hammered on them, crying out to the confused soldiers outside: “Open the doors! Send a warning through Equestria!

“Nightmare Moon has returned!”

Epilogue: A New Path to the Future

Epilogue: A New Path To The Future

~BlackRoseRaven

Nightmare Night came, and across Equestria, there was much debate on just whether or not ponies should celebrate this holiday, considering that Nightmare Moon had returned and was even said to be building a fortress in the Everfree Forest.

Canterlot was subdued, in spite of the festive decorations that festooned the castle. Princess Celestia herself had retired early for the evening to a room she kept clean and neat and orderly, gazing silently out a cracked window at the night sky as she thought about the nature of the world, the mistakes she had made, and most of all, the sister she hoped was safe and happy.

Ponyville, however, was loud and brazen, parties in full swing, ponies shouting into the darkness as they collected candy and danced in costumes. The Everfree Forest loomed closer than ever to them and was filled with more ghosts and bogeys than it had ever been, and yet somehow this had only become an even greater cause to celebrate and stand against the darkness.

Twilight Sparkle hummed as she finished putting the last touches on her own costume, Spike looking at her apprehensively over the banister of the stairs as she carefully stenciled the moon cutie mark onto her rump. “Y'know Twilight, you've had some dumb ideas before, but this is uh... this is really dumb.”

“It is not, Spike. Stop it.” Twilight said crossly as she tossed the stencil vaguely in his direction. “Now hold up the mirror, please.”

Spike sighed, then he held up the hand mirror Twilight had given him, and Twilight smiled as she studied herself, doing a quick little turnaround. “Perfect!”

“A lot of ponies are gonna be mad at you.”

“Then I'll tell them I'm honoring my lost friend Princess Luna and they can... stuff their heads in their bums.” Twilight retorted, and then she paused and touched her mouth, muttering even as she slipped Luna's old tiara and peytral on: “Huh. Maybe Shining was right and Scrivener is a bad influence on me.”

Spike smiled in amusement at this, and then he shrugged before he cleared his throat and added: “Speaking of Shining Armor and uh... Princess Celestia...”

Twilight sighed, then she nodded grudgingly as she looked at the little dragon, muttering: “I... tomorrow. I know I... I probably should have gone to Canterlot tonight. But... I...”

“I don't know. I think Celestia will be happy to know you decided to spend time with uh...”

Twilight smiled briefly, and then she asked: “Are you going to be okay here by yourself?”

“Hey, I'm happy to hang out here. None of the zombies are real.” Spike mock-shuddered, and Twilight laughed. “Nah, you enjoy the night. I'll pass out candy until I run out, then go to bed.”

“Don't stay up too late.” Twilight walked over and kissed Spike's forehead, and he huffed even as he smiled up at her. “Hey, you'll always be a baby dragon to me.”

Then she left. She wandered around Ponyville for a while, and contrary to Spike's prediction, a lot of ponies really liked her costume, or at least said they did. She spent time with her friends, popped in to a Pinkie Pie Nightmare Night party, and then she slipped quietly out and away before it got too overwhelming and wandered into the Everfree Forest.

She made her way down a path that was now familiar to her. It was a long walk, but a good way to clear her mind, and she had stopped feeling afraid of the forest and its inhabitants a long time ago. They all knew her now, and were kind to her. Even if it had taken some getting used to.

There was a big, solid bridge now, leading to what had formerly been the Castle of the Pony Sisters, and was now Nightmare Moon's fortress. Or was going to be Nightmare Moon's fortress. It was still under construction, although the interior had been cleaned and fixed up enough to make the occupants comfortable, and they could even have little get-togethers now and then.

Shadows slid by, and strange, green-eyes pony-shapes looked at her curiously from the forest, while red-eyed Nightmares smiled down at her. Phantasms flitted through the walls and bat-ponies filled the halls, and there were several skeletons that wandered by, their bones etched with runes.

But there were, in fact, no zombies.

Twilight laughed a little to herself, then smiled wider, stress and thoughts falling away as she entered a den room. Immediately, she was tackled by a sapphire mare, who stepped back after a moment and then laughed in delight at the sight of her.

Luna. No longer Princess Luna, but only Luna, the only thing she wore a simple necklace made out of green ivy with a single black pearl dangling from it, a rose blossom carved into its face. She looked strong and happy, and the fact she was so alive and joyful was part of why Twilight was willing to understand how Celestia could let ponies say all the nasty things they did about Luna, without ever knowing how much she was doing to protect them.

Her eyes shifted to the stallion who approached, and she shared just as fierce a hug with him. He had gotten stronger and more athletic, although he bore an awful burn across half his face: at least his eye had mostly healed.

“Twilight Sparkle, shall I fetch thee candy? Coffee? Some fine ale?” Luna asked cheerfully, waving her forelegs before she winked and slapped Scrivener on the rump, making him huff. “How about a stud for tonight? My handsome husband lives to serve a mare!”

Twilight Sparkle sighed as Scrivener rolled his eyes, before she said mildly: “I'll start with some water if you have any, it was a long walk here.”

“Aye, of course. Water is merely distilled coffee.” Luna clapped her front hooves together, then she turned and scurried out of the room.

Scrivener smiled as he gestured at Twilight to go sit down on one of the couches, and she was glad to do so. He sat down on her other side, and she didn't hesitate to drop her head on his shoulder, unable to stop herself from blurting out: “I wish you and Shining Armor would get along better.”

“He's never going to like us. We're corrupting you, after all.” Scrivener answered, before he asked: “How are you really doing, though?”

“I'm... okay.” Twilight said after a moment. “Some days I'm really mad still. At you guys, at Celestia and Shining, but... I understand more and more, too. I just wish... everyone could get along.”

“Sometimes you need a bad guy in order for everyone else to get along.” Scrivener said after a moment, giving a small smile and shrug, and Twilight grumbled at this. “We're pretty good at playing that role, too.”

“Aye, 'tis fun. 'Tis like a prank on all of Equestria.” Luna said as she returned with a carafe of coffee, a jug of water, and several cups. She set this down on the table, then sat on Twilight's other side, and the purple mare took her hoof and squeezed it as she sat between them. Comfortable. Like this was where she belonged, somehow, even though they... no, she wasn't ready for that kind of relationship.

At least not yet.

“Twilight Sparkle.” Luna said gently, and Twilight glanced at her with a small smile. “Scrivener Blooms and I made the choice ourselves. We are happy here. Celestia has paid the price of what was merely a mistake a hundred times over. If not for her, then for thyself, and the love thou had once shared with her... forgive her.”

“Or, you know, don't, and maybe one day you'll be as bitter as me.” Scrivener added, and Luna leaned over and bopped him with her horn, making him wince.

Twilight sighed, but then nodded after a moment before she said finally: “Right now, I just... I just want to be here for a little bit with you two.”

“Then be here, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna said gently. “And know that thou shall always have a place here with us. Exile is a state of mind; what we have is not exile. It is freedom.”

Freedom, Twilight thought, as she rested her head on Luna's shoulder, and took Scrivener's hoof as well as her closest friends pressed comfortingly in on either side of her.

Freedom.

That didn't sound so bad.