The Pony that Fell from the Stars

Chapters

Prologue
Your Best Nightmare (Cosmo the Unicorn)
Deranged Night Princesses and Other Sticky Situations
Annoying Traditions and Hemlock Leaves

Prologue

Vesper was flying faster than he had in his entire life, the acrid sting of smoke biting at his lungs and scratching at his eyes. Below him, his city – once a beacon of peace and freedom – lay in waste. Flames licked the sky, the smoke painting it black, and the cries of his people rose above the roaring blaze.

As he zipped towards the keep, images of the invaders’ brutality flashed before his eyes. A filly clinging to her mother, an elder too slow to escape a blade.

Clenching his teeth, he forced his head up, despite their pleading cries. Although he hated the invaders for attacking the peaceful city, he hated not being able to help even more. A few minutes ago, his sword had completely shattered, leaving him completely defenseless. The best he could do was return to the keep and help defend it.

The keep was in sight now, but smoke obscured the area around Vesper. He despairingly looked around. Every single building was aflame, hurling smoke that hurt his lungs and stung his eyes. The only part of the city not on fire was the stone brick roads that spiderwebbed out from the keep. However, the roads were even more unsafe than the burning buildings, as they swarmed the streets.

The splintering of wood and the crackling of breaking stone broke him free of his thoughts, and he shot forward, just as a tower fell right where he would have been. The tough stone brick collapsed in on itself before hitting the ground, the sound ripping through the roaring flames.

Due to his high-speed maneuver, Vesper was moving too fast to stop before crashing into the keep. He aimed himself at a stained-glass window, then braced with his wings guarding his face.

CRASH

The thick glass window hurt, but it slowed Vesper enough to avoid any more injuries on the keep’s stone floor. He fell to the ground and rolled to a stop. He lay there for a second, before rising with a pained grunt. He raised his left wing and discovered that it had been snapped in the wrong direction.

“Great,” Vesper cursed, “This is just what I needed right now.”

“Prince Vesper!” A royal guard shouted, galloping towards the Alicorn. “The King and Queen urgently request your presence in the throne room!”

“I’ll go right away.” Vesper winced in pain as he trotted down the hall.

A mare with a red cross cutie mark ran beside him, and with the use of telekinesis, correctly aligned the bones in his wing.

“Gah!” Vesper grunted.

“Don’t be a crybaby.” The nurse said, “You’re lucky to have escaped with only a broken wing.” Vesper nodded as the nurse wrapped his wing tightly in bandages. “Get a doctor to look at that, and don’t even think about using it until then.” The Nurse then ran back to wherever she was before.

‘That was a damn good nurse,’ Vesper thought, running through the keep at a gallop. Using telekinesis, he violently blasted the heavy throne room doors open, blowing out several torches and knocking over a few armor stands.

“Father!” Vesper yelled, “What can we do?” Vesper’s parents stood alone in the throne room.

“There is nothing we can do, son.” His father said. His voice was steady, but his eyes betrayed him.

Vesper shook his head and stepped forward. “No. There must be a way. We-” Vesper choked on his words, unable to finish. He already knew how bad it was, he just didn’t want to hear it. Maybe, just maybe, he would wake up, and all of it would have just been a bad dream, a nightmare. Silver moonlight pierced through the damaged roof of the room.

“Your father and I have accepted our defeat, but they do not take prisoners. There is no escape for us.” Said the queen, with a strange fire in her eyes, one that the king’s matched.

“But there is an escape for you, my son.”

“What?” Vesper whispered.

“Yes, your mother and I have created a spell that will send you to a better place, one that needs you.” The King said.

“No!” Vesper shouted, “I won’t leave you!” His father shook his head.

“You cannot stay. It is my duty as a father to provide safety for my child, safety above mine own.” The King walked up and hugged Vesper, who clutched the king in his embrace.

“Just remember, we will always love you, no matter where we are, and no matter where you are,” His mother joined in on the hug, “Follow your heart, and do not be afraid to make the right choices.”

Vesper felt energy accumulating around him, and clutched his parents tighter, tears streaming down his face. “I love you, mom and dad.” His voice was broken up by his own sobbing.

“Go forth, my son, and change the world.” His father said, his own tears falling down his face. The king slipped a piece of paper into Vesper’s wing bandages.

The energy around him crackled, growing stronger by the second. “Goodbye, son” His parents said in unison. Vesper looked upon the faces of his parents one last time. Their smiles were calm, and their eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Vesper smiled back, failing to stifle his tears. A flash of light, and Vesper was gone.

When Vesper opened his eyes again, the air was still and untainted. Soothing lavender had replaced the harsh smoke. He blinked, the harsh sunlight blurring his vision. It was sunset here. At home it was midnight. Slowly, he realized the magnitude of the distance between him and his home. The truth felt like a punch to the gut.

He looked around. The swiveling chairs and fancy mirrors around him revealed that he was likely within some kind of boutique or salon. Most importantly though, he was alone. Action could wait a few hours.

Reaching around his body with a hoof, He retrieved the slip of paper from his bandages. Shakily, he unfolded it, and in his father’s handwriting, read ‘We love you son, always. – Mom and Dad.’ Vesper flipped the paper over, breath catching in his throat. There they were – his parents, cradling a baby Vesper. The throne room in the background was unmarred by flames, a happier day, frozen in time forever.

It was too much for him to handle, and he fell to the floor crying, photo clutched to his chest.

Author's Note

New story time! I accidentally made Aevum's character flat, boring, and kind of a Mary Sue in the last one. I will not make this mistake again. But yeah, it's safe to say that 'Aevum's guide to Magic and it's Uses' is discontinued for the foreseeable future. I'll write a new chapter soon!

Your Best Nightmare (Cosmo the Unicorn)

Vesper wiped away a tear, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves. Survival was his new priority, and to do that, he needed to get over himself, even if only temporarily. A flicker of light from the window was just enough to capture his attention.

Looking through the window, he could see part of a small, yet lively town. Despite the late hour, the town was buzzing with commotion. Perhaps today was some kind of celebration? This was the perfect opportunity to figure out what was going on. Vesper tucked his picture back under his bandages, then made for the door.

Just as his hoof was on the doorknob, Vesper stopped himself. Seeing an unknown Alicorn on the streets of some tiny village could potentially cause issues, and Vesper wanted as little attention as possible before he knew what was going on.

He returned to the mirrors, and his reflection made him recoil. His mane and tail, which usually mirrored the cascading galactic disc surrounding them, was now frayed and dull. His coat was another issue. His dark-gray coat was marred with soot, making it look jet-black. This was not just messy – it was unacceptable. Even though he literally just came out of a war zone, a prince had to always look his best.

“Much better,” Vesper muttered, gazing at his reflection with approval. “I still should not go out in public like this though.”

There was a spell he could use to accomplish this quite easily. Dubbed ‘the alias spell,’ it created an entirely new version of whomever cast it. It was different from illusions in the way that you would physically change into that form. This spell did not come without side effects though, Vesper would lose power based on what his alias was, and he could only make one, and would never be able to change it again.

Casting the spell, he changed his look over and over, trying to find something that fit. His coat was fine, but his mane was too bizarre to keep the same. Vesper cycled through his options. A Golden Mane? He was trying NOT to attract attention. Black? He didn’t want to turn people off. Hot Pink? Seriously? Eventually, he settled on white. It was simple, clean, and perfect. As a finishing touch, he hid his wings and shrunk to the size of a normal pony.

“Now, I need a new name.” He mused, ‘Prince Vesper’ just is not going to cut it. He wracked through his head for any ideas. He came up with many, but none of them clicked. He thought of simply removing ‘Prince’ from his name, but ‘Vesper’ was strange in of itself. No, he would need an original name.

While he tried to find himself a new name, an early memory washed over Vesper without warning, dulling his senses and seemingly taking him to a different place entirely.

Vesper – now just a colt – was kicking a ball with his father. It was just as he remembered it being. The stone floor and walls were spotless, grand stained-glass windows casting prismatic light sporadically on the floor. The tapestries hung on the walls were unburnt, and the roof was fully intact.

“Daddy?” Baby Vesper kicked the ball to his father with a grunt. “Why did you name me Vesper?”

His father chuckled, stopping the ball with one foot. “Well, son, where other ponies have very few guidelines for naming a child, you, as both an alicorn and a prince, have many.” He kicked the ball back to Vesper, who stopped it with both forelegs. “Every alicorn to ever exist has represented a certain facet of nature. Mine is the sky, and your mother’s is the sea. When you were born, it was pretty easy to tell what you represented.”

“Why?” Little Vesper tilted his head, looking at his father with wide eyes. He laughed, then ruffled the child’s starry mane.

“That’s why!” He said, “Vesper means ‘morning star’, and it’s a real thing! Ponies used to worship it like a god, and they believed all kinds of crazy things about it!”

Baby Vesper blinked slowly. “Then what would you have named me if I had no wings?” Vesper’s father had a thoughtful look in his eyes.

“Well, a drunk guard recommended the name ‘Agamemnon’, but your mother wanted to name you ‘Cosmo’, and frankly I liked it too.”

Vesper tried to pronounce ‘Agamemnon’, but failed several times, to his father’s amusement. He gave up after the fourth try. “Good thing you didn’t name me that!”

"I fear your mother would have attacked me if I did."

The memory faded away with the two alicorns laughing together. Vesper smiled, the happy memory was definitely needed. He thought back to the memory again, Cosmo? I mean, I’m a unicorn for now, and dad would have named me Cosmo if I actually was one. Even without the sentimental value attached to the name, Vesper still loved it.

He sighed, the hard part was over. Now he just had to choose a façade profession. He looked below the mirror, and there sat a heavy-duty pair of scissors. On the handle was written ‘Scissor Seven.’

“Yes, these will do nicely,” Vesper said, “I’ll take the guise of a wandering stylist, and these will be my scissors.” He looked towards his flank and noticed his cutie mark: a golden spiral galaxy. It stuck out like a sore thumb. With a wave of his horn, his cutie mark was now the same pair of scissors, garnished with a few stars. “Good thing I took stylist lessons.”

Cosmo grinned, ending the spell. His alias was finally complete. “Prince Vesper can go on the backburner for a while. For now, I am Cosmo, Cosmo the hair stylist.”

The outside air was chilly, and the town smelled of apples and freshly prepared hay, which was much more preferable than smoke. Cosmo followed the flow of foot traffic, where he overheard talk of a ‘Princess Celestia’ and a ‘Summer Sun Celebration.’ Now, he just had to figure out who and what those were. He was sure that he would find somepony who could explain.

Cosmo stopped abruptly at a giant tree, no, not just a tree. He looked again, it was a house built into a tree. Standing in front of the door was a younger mare, with a much more vivid color scheme than the other ponies around him. Fortunately, this was probably the pony he was looking for. He cut across the road and made his way over to the mare.

“Hello, I’m kind of new here,” Cosmo said, tone friendly but firm, “could you help me figure out what’s happening around here?”

“Hi, um, I’m Twilight Sparkle,” she stammered, her words tumbling out in a rush. “Your accent is weird, are you not from around here? Sorry, sorry, I’m rambling again, what do you need to know?”

Cosmo blinked, surprised at her quick observation. “I’m Cosmo,” He responded after an uncomfortable pause, “I am a traveler, so no, I’m not from here. But I’ve heard about a ‘Princess Celestia’ and a ‘Summer Sun Celebration’. What’s that about?”

Twilight’s nervous demeanor broke instantly. “You don’t know the Princess?”

“I’m not from here, remember?” The words came out a bit harsher than Cosmo had intended. She speaks as though she knows the Princess herself! He thought.

“Right.” Twilight said, a nervous smile returning to her face. “Walk with me, I have to be somewhere, but I’ll answer your questions on the way!” The unicorn strode away from the house at a brisk pace. Cosmo followed close by.

Cosmo shot Twilight a pointed look, in response to which she began explaining. “Princess Celestia is the ruler of Equestria, she governs from Canterlot. In fact, I was her personal student! She sent me here to prepare for the Summer Sun Celebration, which is where she raises the sun on the anniversary of the banishment of Nightmare Moon.”

Cosmo tilted his head. “Nightmare Moon?”

Twilight looked like Cosmo had just given her a cookie. “She’s an evil mare of the moon,” Twilight explained enthusiastically, “It’s prophesied that she will return after a thousand years of banishment, and, well… this is the thousandth year.” She took a deep breath, her enthusiasm replaced by anxious fidgeting.

Cosmo thought for a moment, trying to make sense of all the things Twilight had told him. Most of these things would take time, but she could answer one thing for certain. "This 'Nightmare Moon' you speak of seems quite dangerous. Do you have any idea about how capable she may be?"

Twilight sighed in relief. "You believe me?"

"Yes, of course," Aevum reassured her, "I've seen my fair share of generational curses, enough so yours seems plausible. Now tell me what you know."

Twilight tilted her head, silent for a short moment, then began. "The books say she is incredibly dangerous, and that she is an alicorn, just like Princess Celestia." This was probably the best news he had received since his arrival. Alicorns were all immortal, extremely powerful, and even more rare. Cosmo had not heard of any other living alicorns besides his parents, and was supposedly the first alicorn born in well over 500 years. Cosmo struggled to contain his excitement at this and barely succeeded.

"Do you have a plan?" Cosmo asked.

Twilight grinned, "in fact, I do!"

"Excellent, if you need me for this plan, then come find me, I will be attending the Summer Sun Celebration." Cosmo went to take a step, but stopped himself halfway through it. “Um, where will this celebration take place, exactly?”

“Town square!” Twilight exclaimed, “It’s just over there.” She pointed a hoof to an open-air amphitheater that was already sparsely occupied by several ponies.

“Thank you, Twilight Sparkle.” Cosmo inclined his head. “Perhaps I will see you at the ceremony.”

Twilight, visibly flustered by Cosmo’s formality, mimicked his nod. “Uh, sure, see you there!” she mumbled before hurrying off.

After Twilight left, Cosmo chuckled to himself. She was certainly odd, but if he was right about her, a direct connection to Princess Celestia would be invaluable. With seldom else to accomplish, he decided that he might as well just get a decent seat for the ceremony.

The amphitheater was abuzz with quiet chatter as more ponies filed in to get a seat. Seven adjusted himself to the red velvet cushions, noting how unusually soft they were. His injured wing cried out in pain – no, Cosmo didn’t have wings. Vesper’s wing injury probably transferred to Cosmo as a back issue. He would have to break the habit of calling it his wing. Regardless, his injury was not aching as much as it was, so Cosmo couldn’t complain.

The relative quiet did not last long, though. A familiar purple unicorn approached from his left, her anxious energy spiking when she saw him.

“Oh, there you are, Cosmo!” She said, obviously worried. “I’ve been looking around for you. This time, I have some friends for you to meet! This is Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash!”

Cosmo got a good look at each of them, his tired eyes catching a star-like glint in each. “Nice to meet you,” he said, tone tired but polite, “quite the colorful crew you’ve got.”

“Well of course!” Rarity explained, “colors are simply divine!”

Rainbow dash puffed out her chest, “And some of us bring more colors than others.” Applejack playfully punched her in the leg.

“Ooh, I don’t know you,” Pinkie Pie gasped, vibrating as she bounced towards him. Seven thought she would explode, “We have to throw you a welcome party! We’ll have balloons and cak-”

Cosmo cut her off with a stare, then turned to Twilight. “I suppose you didn’t go through the trouble of finding me in this crowd just to introduce your friends?”

Twilight’s nervous glance to center stage confirmed his suspicions. “We need to be ready, If Nightmare Moon is real, and she shows up here–”

“You have a plan, right?” Cosmo asked, stifling a yawn.

“Yes.”

Cosmo rolled his eyes. “Then do not worry! I will buy you as much time as I can, and you can make a run for it with your friends.” Twilight looked troubled, but Applejack nodded instantly with a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder, assuring that they would move together, whatever their plan was.

Before Twilight could say anything else, the lights in the amphitheater flickered ominously, and a chill swept through the crowd like the North Wind.

The chatter in the amphitheater died down as the room got darker. A frigid wind swept throughout the amphitheater, extinguishing all but the largest candles and torches. The silence was loud, broken only by the occasional surge of raw magical power.

“Hey Twilight,” Cosmo whispered, “you should get ready to go.” Twilight nodded.

The display of power sent shivers down Cosmo’s spine. Maybe this is not such a great idea, he thought to himself.

Gradually, from the balcony above, an echoing laugh faded into existence. It was not just malicious, it was dangerous. Cosmo felt more on edge here than he had at the siege of his home.

The laugh faded, replaced by a voice smooth as silk, yet infused with venom. “Oh, my little ponies, did you truly believe your beloved sun would rise today?” her words reverberated around the theater, each syllable hitting like a brick.

A figure emerged from the shadows, first as a vague silhouette, then stepping into the dim light. A tall, imposing mare strode forward, her coat blacker than the void, her armor glinting faintly like polished obsidian. Her mane and tail rippled unnaturally, a starry veil that mirrored the endless expanse of space, though not as accurate to the night sky as Vesper’s. Her eyes glowed an icy teal, sharp and unforgiving. She was beautiful, hauntingly, disturbingly, and terribly beautiful.

Cosmo didn’t have to act impressed; her presence was overwhelming. He would be cowering if he did not have the mental strength of an alicorn. Speaking of that, why were Twilight and her friends less paralyzed than he thought?

“It has been a thousand years,” she said, her voice carrying an unnatural echo. “A thousand years of waiting. A thousand years of watching you ponies become complacent and sloth. And now, not a single one of you stands ready for my return.” She sounded almost giddy.

The dark alicorn stepped further into view, her expression shifting from triumph to disdain. “Hast thou forgotten my name, little foals?” Her voice rose, anger flaring. “Does my name amount to naught in thine ears?”

Cosmo broke the silence. “Twilight, is this that Nightmare Moon character you told me about?”

Twilight looked completely out of it but managed to send Cosmo a quick nod.

“Right. Thought so.” Cosmo sighed, shrugging Nightmare Moon off. “Guess we should’ve sent a memo to Celestia about this one.” He turned to Twilight, “You should go now.”

Twilight looked horrified but nodded and turned to her friends. They all responded back affirmatively, except for Rainbow Dash, who was trying to speed-blitz Nightmare Moon. However, Applejack had the pegasus’ tail in her teeth. After struggling for a moment, the pegasus finally relented, and they followed the rest of the group towards the everfree, hidden by Cosmo’s illusion.

Nightmare Moon’s piercing gaze locked onto him, her lips curling into a faint snarl. “And who are you to speak so boldly in my presence?”

“A concerned citizen,” Cosmo replied, rising slowly from his seat. “You have made quite the impression, but maybe you should tone it down a notch. Ponies are fainting out here.”

Nightmare Moon’s expression twisted into a dark grin. “Fainting? Good. They should fear me. Their fear is my power.”

“Fear isn’t a great look on your subjects,” Cosmo said, meeting her gaze evenly. “Just a thought.”

She laughed again, the sound sharp and grating. “Oh, you are bold. Bold and foolish. Tell me, little unicorn, what arms doth thou believe he may raise against me?”

Cosmo’s scissors floated into view, spinning rapidly within his golden aura. “Not much,” he admitted, his tone calm but laced with defiance. “But I’ll take my chances.”

Nightmare Moon chuckled lowly, the sound vibrating through Cosmo’s chest. “How quaint. A unicorn with no horn worth mentioning, armed with a child’s tool, hoping to stand against me.” Her wings flared, their span vast and shadowy. She was starting to give up on her royal dialect. “You must have a death wish.”

She’s right, I absolutely cannot beat her. If I had my wings, I would have had a chance to stalemate, but they have not healed yet. Hopefully I can buy Twilight some time though.

“Yeah, probably” Cosmo quipped, “but I have a second wish, and that’s for you to leave, or at least skip the monologue.”

Her smile faltered for a moment before twisting into a snarl. “You dare mock me?! I am Nightmare Moon, ruler of the eternal night! Your pathetic defiance is—”

Cosmo’s scissors struck, a blur of steel slicing through the very air itself. Nightmare Moon dodged a split-second too late, the scissors grazed her cheek, drawing a thin line of scintillating ichor. “These aren’t your ordinary safety scissors!” he taunted.

Her roar of fury echoed through the amphitheater. “YOU INSOLENT WORM!” Magic concentrated at the tip of her horn, coalescing into a swirling mass of violet energy. She unleashed the blast with a thunderous boom, the bolt blasting a hole in the space Cosmo had been standing in half a second before.

Cosmo darted to the side, propelled by a powerful kick from his hind legs. His movements were deliberate and swift, his golden aura flickering as he reclaimed his spinning scissors. “You have a short temper for someone who’s been waiting a thousand years. Relax a little.”

Nightmare Moon fired again, her magic raining down in a cascade of destructive beams. Cosmo weaved between them, his hooves skidding across the polished marble floor as the blasts carved craters in his wake. He quickly closed the gap between them, each step a calculated risk.

This mare was not just strong—she was overwhelmingly powerful. Cosmo snarled as he narrowly dodged another blast. But raw strength alone would not win her a fight. Not against him.

Nightmare Moon sneered as Cosmo drew closer. “You think you can outrun me forever?” Her horn ignited again, and with a pulse of magic, she summoned a dark blade of shadow, its edges gleaming without light. She swung it in an arc, forcing Cosmo to backpedal.

“Nope,” Cosmo admitted, ducking low as the blade whooshed overhead. “But forever isn’t my goal.”

His scissors lunged forward, feinting toward her face before suddenly veering downward, aiming for her armored chest. Nightmare Moon angled her breast plate, deflecting them. Cosmo pressed the attack, his telekinesis keeping the scissors in a relentless flurry of strikes.

She retaliated with a sweep of her wings, the gust throwing Cosmo off balance. He tumbled but recovered quickly, his mind racing. I can’t keep this up for much longer. Her stamina is leagues ahead of mine.

Nightmare Moon smirked as if she was reading his thoughts. “You are slowing down, little unicorn. Your resistance ends here.”

She unleashed a wave of dark magic, the sheer force knocking Cosmo off his hooves and slamming him into a nearby pillar. He gasped as pain shot through his side, his vision swimming. His scissors clattered to the ground, spinning weakly before coming to a halt.

Nightmare Moon approached, her steps deliberate and echoing in the now-silent amphitheater. “A valiant effort,” she mused, her voice dripping with mockery. “But futile, as expected.”

Cosmo struggled to stand, his legs shaking under the strain. His golden eyes locked onto hers, defiant even in the face of certain death. “You’re awfully chatty for someone who’s ‘already won.’”

Her smirk widened. “Last words, little unicorn?”

Summoning the last reserves of his strength, Cosmo grinned through the pain. “Yeah. You’ve got a piece of broccoli in your teeth.”

For a quick second, Nightmare Moon’s composure faltered, her expression twisting into confusion. Cosmo seized the moment, his magic reigniting and flinging his scissors upward. They spun wildly, and their trajectory chaotic and imprecise, but he succeeded in forcing her to retreat a few steps.

That brief opening was all he needed. Cosmo collapsed to the ground, his breathing ragged, but his smirk unbroken. “Twilight, you better have this thing figured out.”

Cosmo lifted his head groggily. It seemed as if he had been carelessly tossed on the floor. The air was damp, and smelled of mildew and rotting wood. Moonlight shone through the broken windows, but there was little else to illuminate the ancient stone monolith.

The building, rather a ruin, reminded him of his own home, but eerie and empty. It felt more like an echo of the past that would be better left buried. Even he had better taste than this.

“Am I dead?” Cosmo asked, his words slurred despite a tone dripping with sarcasm. He turned his head, and froze.

Nightmare Moon sat upon a rotting throne. Despite the run-down castle, she still looked regal as ever. The castle wall was completely split behind her. She regarded him with a calculative gaze, curling her lips into a faint smirk.

“Ah,” Cosmo confirmed, staring blankly at the dark mare. “I was wondering why the décor was so morbid. You seriously need to lighten up a bit.”

Nightmare Moon narrowed her eyes slightly but remained still.

“Hey, why am I still alive?” Cosmo said, a bit louder this time. He even got some echo. “I’m not complaining, but this doesn’t seem like your style.”

Nightmare Moon frowned, “you are useful to me still.” Her voice was as smooth and vile as it was before, “the very second your Twilight fails, I will dispose of you. Maybe I shall allow you to live long enough to witness my total, overwhelming victory.”

Cosmo gave a weak smile, despite himself. Nightmare Moon would regret not killing him, he would make sure of it. “Are you sure that you don’t just like me?”

Nightmare Moon’s laugh was low and dangerous, reverberating through the chamber. “Such insolence,” she purred, stepping closer until her towering frame loomed over him. “Perhaps I should teach you to hold your tongue, little unicorn. Or perhaps I will let you entertain me a while longer. It would be a shame to waste such… wit.” Cosmo did not dare move a muscle. She stood over him, reptilian eyes piercing his very soul. She was probably waiting for him to respond with some witty quip, but she was standing too close, and Cosmo did not wish to become a skewer.

Cosmo’s smirk disappeared, his heart pounding in his chest. Here goes nothing! "Are you happy to be back?"

Nightmare Moon blinked, the question visibly catching her off guard. For a fleeting moment, her cold demeanor faltered, and something unspoken flickered in her eyes—pain, anger, and a hint of longing.

Her expression re-hardened almost immediately, her mane crackling like a storm. “Happy?” she repeated, her tone laced with bitterness. “Happiness is a luxury for those who have not been abandoned and forgotten. A thousand years of solitude breeds no joy, only purpose.”

Cosmo held her gaze, his golden irises reflecting the faint glimmer of her ethereal mane. “And this is your purpose? To punish the world for what it did to you?”

The dark alicorn narrowed her eyes, her towering presence casting a shadow over him. “Your courage is admirable,” she said coldly, “but your ignorance is insufferable. You cannot begin to fathom what it means to be forsaken even by the ones you had loved most.”

Cosmo’s jaw clenched, his anger boiling over. “Maybe I can’t,” he growled, “but I can see exactly what your so-called ‘purpose’ has done to you. And I pity you for it.”

For a moment, the air between them was thick with tension, and the stars blazed brighter than they had in years. Then Nightmare Moon’s lips twisted into a cruel smile. “Pity will not save you,” she said. “Soon, you will understand that defiance is futile.”

She suddenly paused, studying him intently. Her piercing teal gaze seemed to peer past the mask of his defiance, straight into his very essence. Then her expression shifted—not softer, but calculating.

“You have potential, little unicorn,” Nightmare Moon said, her voice low and deliberate. “Even now, I can feel the latent magic within you, raw and untamed. With proper guidance, you could achieve greatness. I could teach you.”

Cosmo’s eyes narrowed, this was a trap, he was certain of it. A good one too – he could not deny the value of being taught by an alicorn this powerful. Although she would absolutely be a horrible teacher, he would still learn plenty. He was incredibly careful to keep his voice monotone.

“And what’s the catch?”

“Only your loyalty,” she replied, her usual menacing smirk absent. “Swear allegiance to me, and I will show you power beyond anything you have ever imagined. Refuse...” She let the word hang, her gaze cold and unyielding.

“I’ll sleep on it.” Cosmo replied in a genuine manner. “In the meantime, do you have any pain medicine? My wing is killing me.”

Oh heavens, that’s not good.

“Pain medicine?” she repeated, her voice low and edged with suspicion. “For a wing?”

Cosmo froze, his mind racing. Damn it. He had not meant to let that slip. It wasn’t even his wing; Cosmo didn’t have any. He had a severe back injury instead. Old habits die hard, I guess.

Nightmare Moon stepped closer, her presence suffocating. “No, I do not,” she said coldly. “But rest assured, I will deal with you… later.”

With that, she turned sharply and strode from the room, leaving Cosmo alone. He exhaled slowly, the tension in his body giving way to exhaustion. He glanced at where his broken wing would be, wincing as another bolt of phantom pain shot through it.

“Great,” he muttered under his breath. “Smooth, Cosmo. Real smooth.”

Author's Note

What's up gamers! Just for clarification, When a character switches to their alias, I will refer to them as the name of their alias. For those who got confused, Cosmo is indeed the alias of Prince Vesper. They are the same person. I definitely explained the mechanic well enough, but everyone has their moments where they just completely miss the most random piece of context. Happens to me all the time. Thanks for reading my little story!
-SplitSquid
-(ill update soon i promise)

Deranged Night Princesses and Other Sticky Situations

The moon had not moved – not even an inch. Cosmo, on the other hand, had just managed to stand once again, although a bit less stable than he would have liked. He clenched his teeth and tried to shrug off the pain, but he still had a slight limp. He longingly thought back to the nurse that had wrapped his wing back at home, wishing for any kind of relief.

With a groan, Cosmo turned and made his way over to Nightmare Moon’s twisted throne. The silence and lack of an evil aura confirmed the evil mare’s absence, which helped Cosmo feel a little bit better.

His golden eyes landed on a peculiar mechanism. He walked over to the mechanism and realized that it was the same thing that the dark mare had been mulling over earlier. An inscription on the ancient mechanism read ‘Elements of Harmony’. Cosmo’s eyes narrowed.

Naturally, he knew of the elements, they were documented well within the records of his own country. I wonder if this is Twilights plan? He thought. Too bad it won’t work. These elements are fake. Cosmo frowned. Masterfully crafted, but they have zero magical energy.

His thoughts were put to rest as he put too much weight on his foreleg. With a grunt and a grimace, he nearly collapsed again. He had spent enough bonding time with the ancient stone floors already. He stood up straight again, this time using constant telepathy to support the bad leg.

This technique would drain the energy of the average magic user very quickly, but Cosmo had mastered it so well that it barely cost him anything at all. Most of the unicorns and alicorns that he knew had neglected training their psychokinesis to the max, so much so that the only other pony that could match Cosmo was his own late teacher. He thought back to one of his first lessons with the brilliant unicorn.

“Ah, very good!” Professor Callum remarked, “For a beginner, your psychokinesis is very good!”

A teenage Vesper grinned, “Thanks, professor!” He put down the crystal that he had been levitating. “It takes a lot out of me, though.” He wiped some sweat from his brow.

“Well of course it does!” Professor Callum grinned. “You’re only beginning to learn, young prince!”

Vesper tilted his head. “So, it’ll get easier?”

Professor Callum nodded and stood still for a moment, before his eyes widened. “Why don’t I show you an example?”

Vesper nodded enthusiastically, “Yes please!”

The professor then raised two crystals in the air. One of them was as big as Vesper’s head, and the other was the size of his hoof. The small crystal had the doctor’s familiar white magical aura surrounding it, while the large one did not.

Professor Callum grinned, turning back to Vesper. “Now, Vesper, which crystal is costing me more energy to lift?”

Vesper frowned. “The big one? Is this a trick question?”

“You are such a bright pupil!” The professor confirmed, “it is indeed a trick. Do you see my magical aura surrounding the small crystal?”

Vesper nodded.

“That aura is my own excess magical energy escaping my reserves because it is not focused enough. The small crystal is taking me more energy to lift because I’m wasting it on nothing. The big crystal, however, costs me a fraction of the energy. Instead of surrounding the rock with my magic to lift it, I have focused my magic onto a single, infinitely small point that we know as the center of mass. Thus, every little bit of my magic is being used for telekinesis, and none of it is wasting away into the air.”

Vesper nodded thoughtfully. “That makes sense.”

“I’m glad, many of my students fail to grasp the concept at first.” Professor Callum set down the crystals. “Though, in order to perform to that level, you require mental fortitude, and training. Rest assured; you will master this difficult magic in no time!”

Cosmo let the memory fade, a pang of loss settling within his chest. I miss you, old friend. The curse of immortality caused him to avoid creating too many serious relationships. He wouldn’t have much more time to recollect though.

Cosmo froze, a loud noise broke the silence. The main doors had slammed open, and Nightmare Moon’s dark, suffocating aura coated the room. But it wasn’t as oppressive as it was before. Something about the dark mare was… off.

“Hey.” Cosmo said dryly, masking his unease.

The alicorn’s eyes narrowed. She marched past him, muttering to herself.

“Your elements are fake,” he called after her. “Just thought you should know.”

Nightmare Moon snapped around, eyes blazing. “Of course they’re fake!” She hissed, “Why do you think I’m trying to split up your little friends?” Her voice dripped with malice, but Cosmo detected something else – anxiety.

“Just trying to be helpful,” he replied with a shrug, his sarcasm earning him a snarl.

“You are naught but an annoyance!” she spat, “you would be dead if not for certain… complications.” She let the word hang.

A chill crept down his spine. Before he could respond, Nightmare Moon’s magic wrapped around him like a vice. She tossed him toward a side door near her throne. “Stay out of my way,” she growled, locking him inside.

Cosmo smirked in the darkness, despite the pain of being thrown to the floor again. So that’s it, huh? Maybe Twilight’s plan will work after all.

It had been about fifteen minutes of sitting in the dark, silent room when he heard commotion from the throne room. Twilight’s here!

He smiled and unlocked the door with telekinesis. Nightmare Moon must be really arrogant if she expected a single locked door to hold him back. He made himself invisible, then snuck out to observe the commotion. If he was right about Twilight, he shouldn’t show himself.

From the shadows, he watched as Twilight approached the fake Elements, her horn glowing faintly. She muttered to herself, “Just a spark… just a spark.”

Nightmare Moon was on the other side of the hall, facing away from Twilight. She turned around, only to see a spark fly from the tip of the unicorn’s horn. Just as this happened, Cosmo felt the warm presence of an ancient and powerful magic, one he had never felt before. The Elements… the real ones.

Nightmare Moon must have felt it too. She turned, her expression swapping from confusion to panic. “NO!” she screamed, her voice echoing like a thousand storms. In a desperate attempt to stop the unicorn, she charged, each step sounding quicker than the last. She wasn’t far from Twilight now. Just a few more strides, and Nightmare Moon would essentially be on top of her.

But then, the magic stopped.

And so did Nightmare Moon. Relief washed over her face as she cackled triumphantly. “Did you truly think you could best me alone? I am NIGHTMARE MOON, and you are but a bug which lies below my boot!” With a vicious sneer, she shattered the fake Elements into shards.

Twilight, undeterred, met her gaze. “Maybe not,” she said, her voice steady, “but I’m not alone.”

“Yeah! She has us!” announced a grinning Rainbow Dash, Flying in through the deprecated ceiling.

The main doors burst open with a resounding boom. Through the dust and debris, four more ponies galloped into the room.

Applejack spoke first, voice brimming with confidence. “We’ve got your back, Twilight. No matter what.”

“Why did you rush in without us, darling?” Rarity asked with a huff, then shook her head. “Never mind, there are more important matters to attend to.”

“After we win, I’ll throw the BIGGEST celebration party EVER!” Pinkie Pie chimed in with a bounce, “and guess what? You’re not invited!”

Fluttershy’s voice was barely above a whisper, but her determination shone through. “I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

Nightmare Moon’s laugh was harsh, dripping with disdain. “So? What can five more inexperienced ponies do to me?” Her voice echoed ominously in the chamber.

Twilight stood tall, the spark of magic growing in her horn. “You don’t get it, Nightmare Moon,” she said, her voice growing more confident with each word. “The Elements of Harmony aren’t just gemstones. They’re real ponies!”

Cosmo watched as the color drained from Nightmare Moon’s face, and he couldn’t help but wish he had a camera.

The magic in the room surged, rising to an unbearable intensity. The air crackled with power, multicolored sparks materializing out of nowhere and swirling around each of Twilight’s friends. The sparks coalesced into glowing gemstones, each resembling the cutie mark of its bearer.

With an echoing crackle, the gems floated upward, and one by one, the ponies began to rise off the ground. Their eyes glowed with radiant light as the magic of the Elements coursed through them.

“Applejack, throughout our friendship, and your refusal to lie, you have proven yourself as the element of Honesty!”

Applejack’s gem blazed with golden light.

“Rainbow Dash, through temptations and peril, you have proven yourself as the element of Loyalty!”

A bright red glow surrounded Rainbow Dash’s gem as she smirked confidently.

“Rarity, shown by your many displays of charity, you possess the element of Generosity!”

Rarity’s gem burned like a brilliant white flame, her head held high.

“Pinkie Pie, by your actions and tireless mission to brighten up everyone’s day, there is no pony better suited to be the element of Laughter!”

Pinkie’s gemstone erupted in a bright blue hue, almost outshining her radiant grin.

“And Fluttershy, the gentlest pony I have ever met, you hold within you, the element of Kindness!”

Fluttershy’s gem glowed softly, like the first rays of dawn.

Twilight herself began to float now, and to Nightmare Moon’s horror, a large star-shaped gem appeared before her. “And to combine and strengthen these elements, I have been chosen to wield the element of Magic!”

The Elements’ glow intensified, quickly becoming blinding. Cosmo gasped as the sheer force of magic shattered the illusion hiding him, leaving him fully visible. He scrambled back, realizing too late how close he was to Nightmare Moon. With a desperate leap, he dove out of the way, just as a colossal beam of light burst forth.

The rainbow-colored energy engulfed Nightmare Moon, swirling around her in a vortex of pure magic. She cried out, her voice twisting into something fragile and desperate before being swallowed entirely by the light.

The sheer intensity of the blast forced Cosmo to cover his eyes and ears. The sound was deafening, like a storm tearing through the sky, and the light was brighter than the sun. For what felt like hours, he could only lay there, trembling under the weight of the magic. Even while his kingdom was being attacked, he felt capable of doing something. But here and now, Cosmo felt truly and utterly helpless for the first time.

And then, it stopped.

The silence was deafening. Slowly, he raised his head, then got to his feet. He looked around. Residual magic filled the air, giving him the feeling of a foggy morning. To Cosmo’s surprise, the building was completely untouched – no shattered stone, and no scorched walls.

Twilight and her friends stood in the center of the room, their gems fading back into motes of light. They seemed calm, almost serene, as if the magic had left them untouched.

But Nightmare Moon did not share that fate. Where she had stood was now a small, lilac alicorn, curled up on the cold stone floor. Her mane shimmered faintly, but she looked fragile and exhausted.

Cosmo exhaled deeply, relief washing over him. A lot had happened in such a short amount of time, and now it was finally over.

Before he could say anything, a new presence entered the room. Through the open doors strode a tall, regal alicorn, her coat as white as snow. Her flowing mane shimmered in shades of green, blue, and pink, and an image of the sun adorned her flank. This had to be Princess Celestia.

Twilight and her friends were all visibly excited to see Celestia, and she looked happy to see them. They would be talking for a while.

Still unnoticed by the others, he approached the lilac alicorn cautiously. “Hey,” he said softly. “Are you still evil, or are you done?”

The alicorn lifted her head groggily. “I- I think I’m done.”

Cosmo smiled softly, keeping his tone light. “Your actual name isn’t Nightmare Moon, is it?”

The alicorn flinched ever so slightly but quickly steadied herself. “No. Nightmare Moon is a shadow I allowed to consume me. My true name is Princess Luna of Equestria.” Her voice faltered as she continued, “and I will spend the rest of my days ensuring I am never that thing again.”

Cosmo’s expression softened. “Good answer. That name never suited you anyway.” Not to mention weird and edgy. He kept that part to himself.

Luna stumbled slightly as she tried to stand, her legs shaky. Cosmo caught her with his magic before she could fall. “Easy there. You’ve had a rough day… or, well, millennium.”

Luna managed a small, weary chuckle. “I suppose I am a little out of practice. My body feels… foreign.”

“I can imagine,” Cosmo replied, thinking of when he first transformed into a unicorn. “Though if you’re anything like me, you might want to take it slow before you accidentally fall over again.” He could tell how utterly drained she was.

Luna relaxed slightly, but there was a guarded look in her eyes. She studied him, as if trying to piece him together. “You… you were the one Nightmare Moon dealt with earlier, weren’t you?”

Cosmo nodded, his grin turning sheepish. “Guilty. You were a bit, uh, dramatic back there, if I’m being honest.”

Luna frowned, guilt shadowing her expression. “Dramatic is an understatement. I saw and heard everything she did. She threatened you, toyed with you, and still, you mocked her?” Her voice dropped to a whisper-yell, her teal eyes piercing Cosmo’s soul. “Are you mad?”

Cosmo responded instantly. “Yeah, probably.” Luna raised her eyebrow.

Cosmo mentally slapped himself. “Sorry, I don’t really plan these things, they just kind of happen. And to be fair, I didn’t think she’d let me walk away with my life, but here we are.”

Luna’s incredulous stare lingered for a moment before she sighed, her expression softening. “You’re either brave or utterly foolish. Either way, you have my respect.” She paused with a puzzled expression, “Did she never ask your name?”

Cosmo thought for a moment. “No, I think she was too preoccupied with her evil plans or whatever.” Luna gave him a flat look. “Oh, my name is Cosmo. I’m a traveler from across the sea.”

Luna nodded, “It’s a pleasure.”

Before either could speak again, Celestia approached, her presence radiant yet wary. Her gaze lingered on Cosmo for just a moment, then shifted to Luna.

“Luna?” Celestia’s voice trembled, unsure of how to feel.

Luna turned toward her, exhaustion clear in her movements. “Sister?” she whispered, her voice fragile yet full of longing.

Celestia didn’t wait. She rushed forward, tears falling down her face as she rushed to wrap her sister in a tight embrace.

Cosmo backed away, giving the sisters space, and walked over to Twilight.

“I’m tired,” Cosmo said, “I think that I’m going to find a place to sleep for the night.”

Twilight gasped, “Cosmo, what are you doing here!” Before he could answer, she threw her hooves around him in a hug. “I’m so glad you’re ok!”

Cosmo froze, awkwardly patting her on the back. “Yeah, um, you too. Great teamwork out there.” He quickly wriggled free, shooting a nervous glance toward the alicorn sisters. The last thing he wanted was to give them the wrong impression. “Anyway, I’d better be going now.”

Celestia’s voice cut through the air, calm but firm. “Why don’t you wait a moment, Cosmo? Luna wishes to speak with you.”

At this point, Cosmo didn’t care about first impressions. “Can’t we do this tomorrow? I’m about to crash.” I should have left while I had the chance.

Celestia gave a small smile. “That’s the plan,” she said, her tone polite yet cool. “I will arrange for a room at Canterlot Castle. It will be easier to ensure you are well-rested and available.”

She placed the now-asleep Luna into an ornate carriage that seemingly appeared out of nowhere. “We’ll discuss everything tomorrow.” She added.

Cosmo sighed and relented, walking to the carriage. “Alright, but I want a window seat.

Celestia didn’t respond, but a faint smirk decorated her lips.

Twilight and her friends waved goodbye as Cosmo clambered into the carriage. Celestia followed, and their adventure to Canterlot began.

Epilogue (NMM Arc)

Celestia’s voice echoed across the grand room of the day court. Several members of the nobility had come to her this morning, and all of them said the exact same thing.

“Your majesty, this unicorn fended off Nightmare Moon! Alone! With a pair of scissors! It’s not safe for him to live in the population center of Equestria! Not to mention that Nightmare Moon herself is now among us! As ruler of Equestria, it is your job to keep the citizens safe, and those two are bound to upset that.”

“You can rest easy, Noble Emerald, the unicorn is under my personal supervision, and Luna is no longer a threat to this country. In fact, I plan to revert to a diarchy once she is ready.”

Noble Emerald grunted – unhappy with Celestia's answer – and stormed off.

Author's Note

Chat I'm alive. I live in the south, but we got snow, so I was out and about frolicking and such, instead of writing. Also, a lot of people are reading this, so massive W. I love to see it.
I hope you enjoyed, and I'll see you at the next chapter! (No, the epilogue does not mean the story is over lol.)
-Squid
(The next chapter will be closer to 4000 words I promise)

Annoying Traditions and Hemlock Leaves

Cosmo had not left the room all morning. Question after question had been thrown at him, and even though most of them seemed harmless, others were just straight-up an invasion of privacy. It helped that Celestia was merely observing, but Cosmo was convinced that her secretary, who was asking the questions, had no soul.

“Who destroyed your home?” The secretary asked flatly, magic quill hovering over her clipboard.

Cosmo flinched. It was still far too soon. He scoffed, leaning back in his chair and glaring at the mare. “None of your business.”

The secretary did not react at all.

Cosmo groaned, dragging a hoof down his face. “What do you want from me? I’ve only been here four days! You know, after helping to save your country?” His eyes darted to Celestia, hoping for some kind of intervention.

For the briefest of moments, her expression softened, though there was an uncomfortable smile that barely masked her unease. Cosmo could tell this was not entirely her doing. It made him feel better knowing this was the Council of Nobles pulling the strings. Still, it did not make the interrogation any easier to endure.

Just as Cosmo was preparing himself for yet another question, the double doors to the chamber slammed open with enough force to make the guards stationed nearby flinch.

“But we’re not done with him!” A male voice complained. Cosmo smiled.

Luna’s voice sounded much closer than it was. “Thou hast already wasted more of mine time than I shall permit."

Soon-to-be princess Luna entered the room in a flurry of purple, her expression regal yet tinged with mild annoyance. Several guards moved to intercept her, but a sharp glare from the Princess of the Night halted them in their tracks.

“Sister,” Luna announced, “thine guards are proving most bothersome.”

Celestia sighed in exasperation, pressing a hoof to her temple. “I know Luna, but the council has you on lockdown right now!”

“They dost a pitiful job of ensuring thus.” Luna quipped dryly, her tone carrying an edge.

“Finally, something interesting is happening!” Cosmo said.

Luna’s sharp gaze flicked to him, her lips curling into a faint smile. “Indeed.” She turned back to Celestia with renewed purpose. “Now, sister, if thou dost not object, I shall be taking Cosmo for further questioning. The Council’s methods are inefficient, and I have neither the time nor the patience to indulge their whims.”

Celestia opened her mouth to protest but quickly closed it, letting out a resigned sigh instead. “Fine, Luna. But do try to keep it civilized.”

Luna smirked. “Thou hast mine word,” she said with a slight bow, though the mischievous gleam in her eyes suggested otherwise. She turned to Cosmo, her expression now serious. “Come, Cosmo. Thou shalt answer to me henceforth.”

Cosmo blinked, irritation melting into curiosity. “We shall see about that.”

As he followed Luna out of the chamber, he could not help but glance over his shoulder. Celestia was watching them leave, her face unreadable once more. But this time, he caught a glimpse of something beneath the surface—concern or perhaps worry. He was not sure which.

Cosmo silently followed Luna through the halls of the castle. Every wall looked the same. He wondered how Luna hadn’t gotten lost but dismissed the thought. He would figure it out soon enough. Eventually, they reached a gorgeous flower garden, leaves and petals alike dancing in the wind and basking in the sunlight.

Luna stopped for a moment, muttering as her horn glowed. He saw the first spell for what it was – an invisibility illusion, but the second one was unknown to him. Cosmo added a second illusory layer as well, just in case.

“Excellent.” Luna said, “Neither question nor answer shall escape this garden. Dost thou understand?”

Cosmo looked thoughtful for a moment. “So, you’re saying that no pony outside can hear or see us?”

“Indeed,” Luna replied, her tone brisk. Her magic produced a long, ornate box, which she opened to reveal a sheathed broadsword. The steel glinted in the sunlight.

Cosmo leaned away from the future Night Princess. “And what’s that for?” He pointed at the sword resting in front of her.

Luna stood, immovable. “Persuasion.”

Cosmo laughed nervously, “oh, good. Nothing ominous about that.”

Luna’s teal gaze fixed on him, unblinking. “Who art thou, Cosmo?” her voice low and deliberate.

Cosmo’s heart skipped a beat, yet his face did not betray him. “What do you mean?”

“When I was Nightmare Moon,” Luna said, circling him slowly, “thou didst ask for pain medicine for a wing. Ponies do not simply say such things without cause.”

Cosmo raised a hoof in defense. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Luna’s eyes narrowed. Her magic gripped the sword, drawing it slightly from its sheath. “I am not a fool, Cosmo. Do not test me. If thou art no pegasus, then prove it.”

But the unicorn alias of a pegasus cannot do unicorn magic. Cosmo was about to correct Luna’s mistake but stopped himself before opening his mouth. Wait, she said nothing about an alias yet! I must be more careful.

“Fine,” Cosmo sighed, mind racing. “Touch my back, Luna. There are no wings there.”

Luna did not move. Instead, she swung the flat of the blade toward his flank—not hard enough to harm, but enough to elicit a reaction. Cosmo flinched, jumping to the side.

Luna smiled. “Any Unicorn or Earth Pony would know my blade to be harmless. Thy reaction betrays thee.” She paused, studying him intently. “I know of the alias spell. Reveal yourself.”

Cosmo hesitated, then sighed in resignation. “Very well.” He muttered, “you got me.”

Luna stood unwavering, but lowered her sword. “I suppose this is to be a secret of the highest order?”

Cosmo looked up. “If you would.”

Luna nodded. “You have my word.”

Cosmo dropped his alias in a burst of light, surplus magical energy streaking away from him in a destructive shockwave—one that would have done severe damage if not for Luna’s shield. She should have noticed, should have reacted, but the to-be Princess of the Night was stunned, completely locked in place, her wide eyes fixed on him.

He thought that such an explosion would occur, but was unsure before this moment. As an alicorn by nature, he generated lots of magical energy, but a unicorn body could not store that much power, so it stayed with the main body. This meant, that while transforming into Vesper, he would look like a Discord Ball Z character powering up.

Vesper now stood at his full height, and flexed his uninjured wing, the surplus magic still blowing his mane upward.

“Alicorn,” she whispered.

She did not move for a long moment, as if processing the sight before her. Her expression hardened, and her horn ignited, but she did not attack.

“Explain thyself,” she demanded, voice laced with steel. “Alicorns do not simply appear. Especially one of the Great Ones.”

Ditto, Vesper silently agreed, nervous about the blade that remained an inch from his snout. “I was born as one, I just chose to hide.”

Luna studied him for a long moment. The tension in the air could be cut by a knife. “So, thou art a coward? Lying to progress thine own objective? ‘Tis dishonorable.”

Vesper sat back. “I do not lie, but I understand why you would come to those conclusions.” He gestured to himself. “You and Celestia believed you were alone. And now, here I stand, coming from nothing. I would also be suspicious.”

Luna’s eyes narrowed. “If thou art truly one of the Great Ones, then prove it. Prove that you are no curse set on me by my Nightmare.”

That doesn’t add up, she saw the whole thing, Vesper thought solemnly. Nightmare Moon never cursed me.

There was something guarded in her stance now, an instinctual wariness. Vesper had to tread carefully if he wished to save whatever little trust remained between the two. He had a plan. It was a simple one, but Vesper was near certain that it would work. Good thing sunset was an hour ago.

He called on his domain – the stars – to aid him. Luna cast a protective shield. His horn became enveloped in a soft golden light, and the stars in the sky shone brighter and brighter. They became so bright that, for a moment, it seemed like morning had come eleven hours early.

“The stars obey thee?” she whispered.

Vesper nodded. “I am Vesper, Alicorn of the Stars.”

Luna’s shield dissipated. They were both silent. “An alicorn hiding among mortals,” she said slowly, “Why?”

Vesper did not skip a beat. “I did what I had to.”

“You have much to explain,” she said, her voice quieter now. “And I will listen. But know this – shouldst thou deceive me, even just once…” She left the threat unfinished, but Vesper did not need to be a detective to understand.

Vesper responded carefully. “It’s a long story.”

Luna took a breath, steadying herself. “Tell it. We have the time.”

Vesper then recounted his story from the beginning, trying hard to maintain a straight face when mentioning his parents. It was harder than he thought it would be. Although he kept a straight face, he trailed off multiple times, and Luna was noting every little slip-up he made. Eventually though, he made it to the end.

Vesper wrapped up his story. “After my parents teleported me, I ended up in a salon of some kind. That is where I created Cosmo and found those scissors.” Luna flinched ever so slightly. She likely remembered how those scissors felt. “When I met Twilight for the first time, I quickly realized how unprepared I was for this. I don’t even know where I am, nor where I was. Even now I am hopelessly lost, and I thought Celestia could help. Soon after though, you entered the picture. And you know the rest.”

Luna was silent for a long moment. Her teal eyes lingered on him, as if weighing everything he had said. When she finally spoke, her voice was quieter, almost hesitant.

“Thou hast endured much,” she murmured, her earlier sharpness dulled. “More than most will see in a lifetime.”

Her gaze flickered to the ground, her thoughts unreadable. “I dislike thy secrecy,” she admitted, “but now I understand why it is necessary.”

Vesper met her eyes, searching for any sign of resentment. Instead, he found something else—conflicted emotions warring just beneath the surface.

Luna exhaled slowly, her wings shifting at her sides. “It is strange,” she continued, “for so long, I believed Celestia and I to be the last of the great ones. That no others remained.” A sad smile ghosted across her lips. “And yet, here thou art.”

She did not say the words I am sorry, but there was something in her tone that carried the weight of an apology nonetheless.

After this, Vesper quickly switched back to Cosmo. Turning back to Luna, he asked, “Now what?”

Luna raised her head, composing herself. “I haven’t a clue.” She announced, “However, much is changing, and as a prince, thou must know a thing or two about governance, no?”

“I know enough,” Cosmo said, cautiously. “Why do you ask?”

Luna tapped a hoof against the ground, considering her words. “Celestia has a small army of advisors, and I am expected to find some also. Yet, I find myself with few whom I trust.” She glanced at him with narrowed eyes. “Thou art well-versed in statecraft, and thou hast already shown thy capability in battle. Perhaps thou wouldst serve as mine aide?”

She wants to keep an eye on me. I’m an uncontrollable variable, and that makes me dangerous. Cosmo thought. “You want me to serve as an advisor?”

Luna shrugged, the weight on her tone dissipating slowly. “If not, then an accomplice to keep the nobles from mine throat.”

Cosmo smirked. “Now that sounds more my speed.”

Luna allowed herself a small, knowing smile. “Then it is settled. Thou shalt be my assistant. Thou mayst still cut hair if it pleases thee, but I expect thy wit to be sharper than thy scissors.”

Cosmo chuckled anxiously. “I actually lost my scissors, so none of that will be happening.”

Luna sheathed her sword and tossed it to him. “Use this then. It was forged for me centuries ago by the greatest smiths and warlocks to ever live. Do not lose it.”

Cosmo caught the blade with magic and pulled the sword out halfway. “It’s a gorgeous blade.” Cosmo froze; cheeks reddened. “Are you sure this is appropriate?”

Luna nodded. “I do not use physical weapons anymore. You will put it to better use than I.” She also froze. “You speak of the ancient customs? I hoped yours were different. Belay them, this is only because you have need of a capable weapon.”

Cosmo shook the embarrassment away. “Yes, of course, but what about Princess Celestia?”

Luna groaned. “I will deal with her if she assumes anything. Just… be subtle.”

“I’ll do my best, Princess.” Cosmo said.

Luna’s tone became icy once more. “Very well. Go about thy business as thou wilt, but be present upon sunrise tomorrow.”

Cosmo nodded, then promptly left.

Cosmo was pleased with his new accommodation. Suddenly gaining the employment of a soon-to-be princess had landed him a nicer room, and much more freedom. Technically, even more so than Luna at the moment. While she was still under lockdown by Celestia and the council, he had escaped such containment.

It was in light of this that Cosmo roamed the outskirts of Canterlot. He figured that now was the time to get his wing checked out. He had been eyeing an empty clinic for some time, considering his other options. While this one may seem below him, the practitioner seemed genuine. He walked behind the clinic, ensuring no pony was around. He flicked his horn, and transformed into Vesper, creating a shockwave of magical power.

Vesper froze. He had forgotten that transforming was the equivalent of deadly radiation to earth ponies. Luckily, none were nearby. You see, magic is not much different than radiation. While all alicorns were immune to this effect, the pegasi and unicorns had some immunity as well. This is why Celestia and Luna did not surround themselves with Earth Ponies. They would die being near them for more than a day. The element bearers were immune as well, judging as they survived being near Nightmare Moon for so long.

When Cosmo met with Luna at sunrise, she was on edge, though she refused to reveal what plagued her. However, she did mention his injured wing. After teaching him a memory wipe spell and giving him some money – the amount of which was suggested by Celestia – she commanded Cosmo to get his wing checked. She then commanded him back to her immediately after his appointment. He cut to the chase and finally entered the clinic.

Despite the messy, run-down exterior, the inside was clean and orderly. The waiting room needed renovation, but his hopes were far higher than they were before.

The room was empty, and there was nobody at the desk. Vesper walked up to the vacant desk and awkwardly rang the little bell. The second he rang it; he heard rustling from deep inside the building.

A mature female voice carried from another room. “I’ll be with you in a minute.” The rustling continued for a moment, then the mare walked into the main room. She had a petite build, with a flowing forest mane, and a dusty tan coat. She wore a torn lab coat with a pair of leather saddlebags that had seen better days. “What can I help you with today?”

She finally made eye contact with the disguised alicorn. Her eyes were a piercing silver, and he debated if she could see his very soul.

Unfortunately, Vesper may have been right. Before he could answer, the unicorn audibly shrugged. “You’d think an alicorn would go somewhere a bit nicer.”

Vesper was baffled. “How? My illusions?” He took a small step back.

The unicorn gave him a look of understanding. “So you’re trying to hide?” Vesper was concerned. “Illusions mean little to me, I’m afraid. Do you want me to take a look at your wing? Those bandages look too old to be safe.”

Vesper took a deep breath. Well, that explains that, He thought, relaxing his muscles. “Why do you seem so undisturbed? It just doesn’t make any sense.”

The unicorn snorted, “True, most ponies would freak out at the mere sight of you. Fortunately, I am not most ponies. Do you want me to look at your wing or not? We are wasting daylight.”

Vesper swallowed his questions and nodded in affirmation.

The unicorn turned, “Follow me, then.”

Vesper followed the doctor back to a clean and orderly operating room. He eyed all the sharp equipment on the wall and gulped.

“I’m Dr. Hemlock, I’ll be your doctor for today, Medical law requires I do not reveal any and all personal information of the patient, blah blah blah, you get it.” Hemlock moved him to the center of the room without breaking a sweat. A great achievement in of itself, if you asked Vesper. “Stay still,” She commanded.

She moved the operating table to Vesper’s right wing, and cut the bandages telekinetically, revealing his wing. Without moving, Vesper moved his family photo to an empty table with magic.

Gently and carefully, Dr. Hemlock extended Vesper’s wing fully onto the operating table. “Damn, you really did a number on this.” She looked at Vesper’s face, which was locked in a painful grimace. “How long ago did this happen?”

“A week.” He grunted. Despite her careful movements, extending Vesper’s wing brought him a great deal of pain.

Dr. Hemlock smiled. “It’s fixable, then.” Without warning, she plunged a syringe into Vesper’s wing. Wisely, he refrained from moving.

“What is that!” Vesper asked with a grimace.

Dr. Hemlock pulled the needle out and put it in the disposal box. “Morphine. It’ll numb your wing and get rid of the pain.”

Vesper frowned. “That seems like a lot of morphine in one dose.”

“You’re an Alicorn, in case you didn’t notice.” Dr. Hemlock was pulling a new pair of medical gloves over her hooves. “Any less, and it just would not work on you at all. You should be thankful that I saw through your disguise.”

Vesper let out a relaxed sigh as the pain killer began its work. “Thanks.”

Dr. Hemlock nodded, and taking it as some kind of signal, approached his wing once more. “I’m going to fix your wing now. If it hurts at all, you need to tell me without freaking out.”

Vesper, still half-conscious, gulped but then nodded in acceptance. This process was inevitable if he wanted to fly again.

Dr. Hemlock silently labored over his wing for the longest fifteen minutes of Vesper’s life. Surprisingly though, it did not hurt him at all. Dr. Hemlock knew what she was doing. This clinic was the right choice.

The doctor in question finally broke the silence. “Did you fly into a wall? That took ages!” She went to put away more equipment. “But it’s set now, which means I can finally use magic to repair it.” Her horn glowed green, and magic surrounded his broken wing. After five more minutes, she stopped.

“Is it healed?” Vesper asked.

“Let’s see!” Dr. Hemlock said, a small mallet in hoof. She poked at the bones, satisfied to see that they were not moving out of place. After this, she tapped each joint with a hammer. She muttered some letters and words, and a magic quill wrote them down on a piece of paper.

She set the hammer down. “Your wing is looking really good. Alicorns must heal quick.” Vesper nodded. “You can retract your wing now, but no flying! You are not used to flying on that wing anymore and you will crash again. I want you to stretch your wing all day, and you should be clear to fly tomorrow.”

She was right, my Morphine high only lasted fifteen minutes, and the effects are all completely gone. Vesper sighed in relief, retracting his wing. “Thanks, doc. How much do I owe you?”

Dr. Hemlock tilted her head, “The morphine, plus labor… comes out to 120 bits.” Vesper pulled out the pouch Luna had given him. Five hundred bits filled the pouch. He handed the desired amount to the mare, who put it in her saddle bag.

“Why did she give me so much?” Vesper asked. Dr. Hemlock shrugged. “She probably expected you to visit a doctor in upper Canterlot, which are ridiculously more expensive. This treatment likely would have cost five hundred bits at those doctors.”

“I appreciate you, but I do think it’s time for me to leave.” Vesper said, getting a good look at the time. He retrieved his picture, then made for the door.

“Naturally.” Dr. Hemlock said. “If you need me, you know where to find me.”

The words for the memory wiping spell rested on Vesper’s tongue. He just had to say the words and it would be done. He stood outside the clinic for five whole minutes, ready to cast the spell, when he suddenly decided not to.

“Oh, whatever.” He said, scratching his mane. Telling the truth, Vesper liked this doctor, and he felt that wiping her memory would simply be a disservice.

Due to her lockdown, Luna was confined to her bedroom. This meant that Cosmo had to go there to speak with her. He knocked on the door. “It’s me, Cosmo. May I enter?” After a moment of silence, the door opened. Vesper walked in.

Luna sat on the floor, an open book hanging within her telepathy. “I trust your operation went smoothly?”

It was at that moment that Cosmo noticed that Luna was darker than when Twilight defeated Nightmare Moon. Bigger too. Her coat had darkened from a lilac to midnight, and her mane and tail showed the early signs of floating like Vesper’s and Celestia’s.

After standing there awkwardly for a moment, he slapped himself. “Yes, Dr. Hemlock said that I’ll be sky worthy by tomorrow.”

“Excellent.” Luna closed the book she had been reading and set it on the shelf. “This modern work disturbs me. In my time, writers spoke more highly of individuals in general, but these books that my sister recommended glorify unrealistic romance, adultery, and… conception of the most unholy sort.” Cosmo eyed the book. ‘Fifty Shades of Grey.’ Luna seemed to have only read the first chapter.

“Do you like that sort of thing?” Cosmo asked timidly.

“Thou art out of line.” Luna said sternly. “But no, these themes abhor me.”

“I thought as much. Reading that book might be a bad idea.” Luna asked why. “Well, I haven’t read it myself but several of my friends from home have, and they said that the things written in that book could scare God himself. It shocks me to think Princess Celestia is into this kind of thing.”

Luna nodded, then incinerated the book without question. “Such things are beneath me.”

Cosmo instinctively jumped at the sight of the flames. Still too soon, he thought. Composing himself, he changed the subject. “I suppose you didn’t call me here to talk about books?”

“No,” Luna agreed, then paused before continuing. “I’d like to ask a favor of you.”

Cosmo grinned, this could either be fun or terrible. There would be no in-between. “Let’s hear it.”

Luna cleared her throat. “My sister hath informed me about a ‘Grand Galloping Gala,’ a tradition stretching back about five hundred years. I believe that it will be a grand opportunity to introduce myself to the people of the nation. This event is happening tomorrow, just before sunset.”

Cosmo fiddled with his hooves. “Yes, I believe I have heard about this event in passing. What about this favor connects to the gala?”

Luna frowned. “Mine sister insists that I must ‘mingle’ with the nobility. Frankly, I would rather face another Nightmare Moon than endure an evening of self-important fools alone.”

Cosmo chuckled at this. “Luna, are you asking me to the Gala?”

Luna scoffed, glancing away, “If thou must frame it so.”

Cosmo was still getting a kick out of this. “If Celestia finds out about this, the teasing will never end!” He actually got a reaction out of her on that line, which resulted in Luna forcing Cosmo to promise to keep his mouth shut.

Luna waited for Cosmo’s fit of laughter to end before continuing. “Will you accompany me or not?” She rolled her eyes.

“Gladly.” Cosmo agreed. “Is there anything I must do beforehand?”

Luna grinned. “Very good! She seemed much more relaxed now. “As for your preparations, you must gather the appropriate attire. Firstly, as is tradition, you must wear the Waning Crescent. Secondly, I suggest going to Rarity to request a suit, Celestia tells me that they are the best of the best. Her boutique is in Ponyville. Quality comes with expense, however.” She pulled out a thousand-bit coin, and gave it to him, before pulling out two more, also giving them to Cosmo.

Cosmo was about to leave when he realized he forgot something. “What kind of dress will you be wearing? If we are going together, then it is customary that we match colors. Also, what is the Waning Crescent?”

Luna put a hoof on her forehead. “Ah, of course, how could I forget?” She went to her closet and came back with a dress on a stand, as well as some assorted accessories. “I will be wearing this. Also, the Waning Crescent is my sword, the one I gave you. The scabbard magically rests on your back, no need for any straps.”

Cosmo nodded. It was a simple silver dress. Modest, yet practical, Cosmo was willing to bet that Luna could probably fight with that dress. The accessories, however, were all meaningful in some way. There was a pair of matching corsages, which was relieving to Cosmo. He did not know his way around flowers. Also, there was Luna’s crown, designating her as Princess of the Night. All of this had a primary color of silver, with amethyst accents. Even his own horrendous taste in fashion recognized it matched Luna well.

Luna magically etched an image of the outfit and gave it to Cosmo. “Give this to Rarity. She will know exactly what to do.”

Cosmo nodded, departing from Luna’s chambers. “I’ll be on my way now.”

The flight to Ponyville was interesting. As soon as Cosmo was out of sight, he transformed into Vesper. After about a minute of unsteady flying, he got the hang of his once broken wing, and about halfway to his destination, he was back up at a reasonable pace. He would be in Ponyville before noon.

As he approached the cozy hamlet, he used an illusion to render himself invisible until he landed, transforming into Cosmo before lifting the veil.

To his surprise, the directions given to him by Luna led him to the very same place at which he arrived. A wealthy-looking stallion exited the building, giving Cosmo an eye as he passed. This was one of many reasons why he disliked nobles. They viewed themselves as higher than the commoners, when it was those commoners that kept the country afloat.

Pushing open the door, he saw the bearer of generosity giving a beautiful red dress to a pompous mare. No doubt another noble. Cosmo sighed.

Rarity took notice as soon as the noble walked away. “Cosmo!” She said joyfully, “I never thought you would find your way here! How have you been?”

“Oh, I’m feeling much better now!” Cosmo said back, matching her energy, “Canterlot’s been tough, but I have ponies that I can count on. And after Nightmare Moon, you’re definitely one of them.”

The praise obviously lifted Rarity’s mood. “So, are you here for something custom or an accessory?”

“Oh, I got invited to the Grand Galloping Gala,” Cosmo said. “I’m not the best at choosing a design though, and I thought you could help.”

“Oh, you don’t say!” Rarity gushed, “It so happens that I’m going too! Maybe I’ll see you there!”

“I’ll be sure to keep an eye out.” Cosmo fished Luna’s picture from his saddlebag.

Cosmo handed the picture to Rarity, who gasped. “Oh, it’s lovely! You will absolutely need something brilliant to match that! Fortunately, you came just early enough, it will be done by tonight, and you can pick it up in the morning. Now for the fun part!”

Rarity levitated her measuring tape like a swordsman brandishing a rapier, eyes gleaming with… passion, probably. “Now darling, hold still. We must capture every detail – no friend of mine shall be caught wearing anything less than perfection at the Gala!”

Cosmo grinned as the measuring tape whipped around him. “You know, facing Nightmare Moon was intense, but I think you might be scarier.”

Rarity gasped, raising her hoof to her chest in mock offense. She could not wipe that mischievous grin off her face. “Me? Scary? Darling, I am simply passionate!” She huffed. “You should be thanking me! I am saving you from the greatest nightmare of all: looking dreadfully plain at the most important event in Canterlot!”

“Oh, the horror,” Cosmo deadpanned, earning a playful swat from Rarity’s tape measure. She must have very few clients that let her be, well… her. And I’m happy to allow her to let loose a bit.

“By the way,” Rarity said, her glasses glinting as she eyed him suspiciously, “which lucky mare will be on your hoof for the Gala?”

Cosmo blinked. “Uh—”

“It simply must be Twilight!” Rarity interrupted, gasping. “No, the dress simply does not match!”

Rarity took another look at the picture. “Fluttershy? -No. Oh, what about Miss Cheerilee? A fine mare if I do say so.”

“Rarity—”

“Wait!” She gasped, her eyes widening. “Is it Princess Celestia?! No—scandalous!”

Cosmo laughed at her antics. “Rarity.”

“Luna?!”

Silence.

Cosmo stiffened. Uh-oh.

Rarity gasped, stars forming in her eyes. “It is! The dress fits her perfectly!”

Heat rising in his cheeks, Cosmo quickly slapped a hoof over her mouth. “You didn’t see me. I was never here. I don’t even know who I am. Got it?”

Rarity wriggled out of his grasp with an exaggerated eye roll. “Darling please. As if I would ever gossip about a princess attending the Gala with a mysterious stallion.”

“You absolutely would.”

“…Fine, you got me.”

Cosmo rolled his eyes. “Rarity, If I wanted to stay in Ponyville for the night, where would I stay? The trip to Canterlot is no small one, and I would rather stay put.” Of course, Cosmo could just transform and fly, but nobody was supposed to know that.

“Oh, just stay here, darling. I have a guest room that’s been out of use for ages.” Rarity said, now focused on a few different pieces of cloth. “Plus, I could use the company, and the help.”

“Thanks Rarity! You’re a life saver.” Cosmo said.

“Oh, and you would best steer clear of Twilight, she wanted to ask you to the Gala, but as you’re going with Princess Luna, that’s going to be rather impossible.”

Cosmo nodded. “Noted. Anything I can do to help?”

Rarity took off her glasses for a moment. “Darling, I lost my best pair of scissors a few days ago. If you could find them, I would be eternally grateful.”

“Uhm, so funny story, actually.”

Author's Note

next chapter is gala time YIPPEEE!
I used to dislike Rarity, but I like her a lot more after writing her. You'll see her quite a bit in the future.
Y'all chill for reading this far, thanks!
-Squid