Rats In The Belfry

by Beegirl Scribbler

Rating: everyone
Tags: Comedy, Princess Celestia, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Princess Cadance, Other, Princess Luna, Fluttershy
Length: 42691

The ruler of Tartarus shows up in Canterlot and begins following Luna everywhere, dubious of the alicorn's integrity.

Every hundred years, Luna departs from Canterlot to launch an inspection of the mighty prison complex known as Tartarus. This time, though, the new Chief Warden has something different in mind: he thinks it's high time somebody inspects the way Luna runs things.

She's got a feeling it's going to be a long week.

Thanks a ton to Silverguard for the awesome cover!

Published 2013-01-21 21:10:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-06-22 04:33:21 UTC

Chapter Two

Luna shook herself free of her shock and looked around. The streets were still fairly full, though ponies were warily edging around Grogar's pink bubble. She couldn't make out what they were saying—the bubble was blocking off all sound.

The Princess of the Night waved a hoof and smiled widely, trying to convey that everything was fine and the ponies did not need to inform her sister. She couldn't tell if they were convinced.

“Not especially dignified, is that?”

Luna turned, and saw Grogar's eyebrow remained raised. She shrugged, lowering her hoof. “I see no reason I should not be friendly with my subjects.”

Grogar glanced at Fluttershy, who stood at Luna's side. “So I see.”

Luna felt a bit of satisfaction—Fluttershy was not showing an ounce of fear, which doubtless irritated the ram of Tambelon. Her satisfaction vanished upon remembering what had happened to the last mare who'd shown courage to Grogar.

Grogar looked back at Luna. “She bears the Element of Kindness? Why have you lost it?”

Luna lightly kicked Fluttershy in the side as the latter opened her mouth to explain. “What is your business here, Third Warden?”

The ram smirked. “Third Warden no longer.” He grinned wider, showing many long, sharp teeth. “You gaze upon Tartarus's ruler.”

Luna started to speak, then stopped. She stared blankly at Grogar. Had she missed so much? “I was...under the impression that Tirek ruled.”

“Ha.” Grogar shook his head. “He turned traitor shortly after your...disappearance. He is now imprisoned.”

“Arabus the Shadow Eater? Echechak, He Who Walked In Blood? They all ranked above you.”

“They shared Tirek's fate. Echechak most recently.” Grogar and the hooded figure exchanged a look, and Grogar laughed. “He evaded us for a long time, but not even the Mantis can evade our clutches.”

“I see.” Luna didn't say anything for a moment, digesting the information. She eyed Grogar, trying to think of what emotion to show and failing. She probably just looked confused. “What of...Auros Osmosis?”

“That worm?” Grogar tilted his head. “He remains sealed away, under constant guard, as he will be until the end of time. Why would you ask?”

“I simply...” Luna averted her eyes. “...I wondered how much had changed. At least some things remain solid.”

“We are not in the business of releasing his breed of psychopath.” Something in Grogar's voice made Luna look up. A small speck of amusement in his tone, as if he knew a great secret.

She eyed him suspiciously. He couldn't possibly suspect. She'd been extremely careful. Surely he was just bluffing.

Grogar met her gaze, smirking. Neither of them moved.

To Luna's surprise, she heard Fluttershy speak up again. “So, um, what are you doing here?”

Grogar chuckled. His bell rang, and a small white sphere appeared before him. He snatched it out of the air, swallowing it whole, and leaned over Fluttershy. “You speak for your Princess, do you?”

“She does not.” Luna stepped between the two, glaring. “Grogar, you are a guest, and an uninvited one. Show respect, and do not seek to intimidate my friends.”

“Um, it's okay, I wasn't—”

Grogar leaned back. “Friend to commoners? This will not look good on your review, Princess.”

“Excuse us?” Luna reared back, eyes narrowing. This was the last straw. “We are Princess of the Night! We will decide what we write on the review, and thou shall—”

Grogar sighed. “I did not refer to your—”

“Ah. Ahem.”

Luna and Grogar both turned, blinking, to the robed figure who had spoken.

The figure appeared bipedal and had a shape roughly like Spike's—though much larger. Even hunched as they were, the figure stood significantly taller than Grogar. The figure reached into one of their pockets, procuring a scroll. They unfurled it and started to read.

“We, the creatures, shadows, abominations, godlings, demigods, gods, demons, monsters, minotaurs, lords, queens, and princes of the depths of Tartarus...” the figure read in a raspy voice, “have determined that, in light of the yet unexplained absence of the esteemed Princess Luna, rather than her once-centennial review of our establishment, an inspection will be conducted of her estate, now that it has come to our attentions that her return to our land is nigh. This inspection will be carried out by the Lord of Tartarus, Ruler of Tambelon, Ringer of the Mourning Bell, Architect of Misery, Master of the Realms Between Shadows, the ram Grogar, and will last for one week or until we are convinced that the Princess's integrity is either assured or condemned, at which point the review will be made public to all beings across all worlds, finally establishing, once-and-for-all, the so-called indisputable credibility of the Princess of Darkness—or lack thereof. Luna is to give Grogar all that he requests, within reason, and allow him to accompany her throughout all her activities. Failure to abide by the terms of this writ will result in a poor review, and may lead to further consequences, as determined by the Lord of Tartarus.”

The figure rolled the scroll back up as they finished. “We are the denizens of the most terrifying land in the world. If we are not satisfied, rest assured, there are going to be consequences.”

They offered the scroll to Luna. Luna took it with her telekinesis, noting that the figure didn't appear to have claws or hooves. There were just wispy black shadows encircling the areas—some sort of illusion.

Luna looked the scroll over, hoping there was something the figure had left out. To her disappointment, it was legitimate: the beings of Tartarus had issued a bona fide challenge to her integrity. Luna's horn flashed pale blue, teleporting the scroll back up to her bedroom.

“I don't understand.” Luna looked at Fluttershy. Fluttershy was frowning at the robed figure, her head cocked to one side.

“Then allow me to enlighten you,” Grogar said. “What is it that confuses you, little pony?” The way he enunciated the last two words made it sound as if he was referring to a rotting corpse hooked on his horns.

Fluttershy winced. “Well, um...so you're reviewing her. Because she's been gone for a long time.”

“The ability of ponies to repeat what I have just stated will ever impress me.”

“But...” Fluttershy gave a tiny cough. “How did you know she's back now?”

Luna blinked. Grogar's smirk faded. Only the robed figure showed no reaction.

It was a valid question, Luna realized. She should have been the one to bring it up. Tartarus residents never left their home unless strictly necessary. Even Cerberus had only left twice, and both incidents were infamous—and he wasn't even a resident of the actual land, just the door guard. That Grogar would show up at almost precisely the right time to cause maximum inconvenience...

Grogar harrumphed. “Tartarus is a popular residence, and we are constantly acquiring new inmates. It happens that one of them mentioned the Princess's return.” He turned back to Luna. “Now, see us to our rooms. My homunculus requires very little space, and I am certain you can accommodate us with ease.”

He started to walk toward the door, but Luna stepped in his path. Her eyes narrowed. “Stop. Explain.”

Grogar sighed. “What more is there to explain, Princess?”

Luna tried to think of something. She just wanted to stall, in truth. She wanted time to think. To absorb all this. “The...you plan on reviewing my affairs for one week?”

“At least.”

“Failure to pass the inspection could result in a horrible war. Tartarus falling to corruption. The end of Equestria as we know it.”

Grogar's lip twitched in a small smile. “You should dedicate less thought to the results of failing and more to the methods of passing.”

“And how do I pass?”

“Ha. First...” Grogar jabbed his hoof at the open palace door as the pink bubble dissolved. “...see us to our rooms before—”

“Grogar!”

Luna jumped. She looked up, eyes widening.

Celestia hovered above them. She was dressed in the royal battle regalia of old. The brass mail glinted in the afternoon light, and her violet eyes shone bright from behind the helmet's visor. She looked very, very angry.

“Luna!” she shouted. “Explain this at once! Explain what that thing is doing in my city!”

“As I was saying...” Grogar muttered, taking a step back, “...see us to our rooms before she shows up.”

Chapter Three

The snow was falling fast on Smokey Mountain, and to the shivering young alicorn who stood at the mountain's peak, the millions of flakes felt like an unending barrage of minuscule needles. It was painful weather, and hazardous, but she had to ignore it. The pale flakes did not conceal her foe, and nothing mattered right now but herself and he.

Celestia crouched in the white expanse, taking in deep breaths despite the pain they brought. She was losing, she knew, and her inborn camouflage would only buy her a second or so more of respite. She couldn't hide forever.

She had to move. She hesitated, then leaped into the air and fired off a bolt of golden magic. At least a simple missile remained within her capabilities, despite her weakening energies, and she smiled as she heard a curse from her target. But before she could cast again, a pale violet aura surrounded her and lifted her up into the air.

She flailed in the spell's grasp. Incantations came to mind that could free her, but she wasn't sure she could spare the energy to use them. The magic slowly carried her over the mountain's edge.

"Pathetic little foal.”

The spell released her. For an instant, Celestia plummeted, struggling to ignore the piercing peal of that awful bell. The cold air whistled around her, screaming danger.

The next instant, though, she managed to regain focus. Her horn flashed gold as the mystic commands came into her head and activated the spell. She teleported back at the peak with a triumphant shout, and she stood tall.

A moment later, she fell to her knees. The teleportation had been too much, she realized. A shadow slowly fell across her shivering form.

She looked up. The great blue ram stood over her, wearing a cruel smile. “Foolish little brat.” He raised a white eyebrow. “You thought to best me? Grogar, the Ringer of the Mourning Bell?”

“Came...close...”

His eyes narrowed. “Look at you now, you wretched pony. I'll never understand how I ever lost to your kind before.”

“When Luna gets here,” Celestia growled, “she's going to—”

Grogar let out a hoarse, booming laugh. “She is not coming.” The bell around his neck started to stir. “Enjoy your stay in the shadow realm.” He raised his head high. “You pathetic—“

“Stop.”

A red hand grabbed the bell, forcing its silence.

For a few seconds, the only sound was the constant roar of the blizzard. Grogar looked stunned. He turned, and Celestia looked up.

Behind Grogar stood a great black-furred centaur, with a bushy black beard and vicious bull-like horns. In the centaur's other hand was a plain wooden staff. Grogar blinked, looking for just a moment afraid.

But he laughed. “Ah, yes. Tirek. Luna's pet...” He ran a cloven hoof through his beard, chuckling darkly. “...come to save the day.”

“You will come with me to Tartarus, foul necromancer.”

Grogar took a small step back, hissing. Tirek seemed to take it as a sign of fear, but Celestia recognized the maneuver. “Look out!” she cried. “He's about to—”

Grogar rammed Tirek in the chest, sending the centaur flying. The ram let out another great laugh. “You never should have left your hole, centaur! You will join this one in the world beyond!”

The bell started to ring once more.

RIIIIIING

RIIIIIING

RIIIIIING

Celestia's hoof swung around, smashing the alarm clock. She felt the device crunch beneath her hoof, and heard the little hiss of the clock's magics fading away. The Princess of the Day opened her eyes and gave a weary smile.

She sat in her well-lit throne room. The sun shone bright through the room's many stained glass windows. She was safe. Grogar had been trapped in Tartarus, and she'd not heard of him in well over a thousand years. It had been a bad dream. A bad, recurring dream.

She looked around, remembering what the clock had been for. As much as she always liked to goad Luna about sleeping the entire day away, she herself had gotten into the habit of taking small 'naps' during the slower work hours. It was tough to be a god, after all. She relied on magical gadgets to ensure nopony found out about the small indulgence.

She levitated the metal-and-glass fragments of this particular device. She knew that there were two. One woke her up when anypony was approaching the throne room. The other meant...

She tried to recall. It had been a while since this one had activated properly.

Her eyes widened as it came to her, and she leaped off the throne. The throne room doors slammed open as she zoomed out. Her horn flashed golden and the familiar Royal Canterlot Battle Regalia settled around her.

A major threat to Equestria was at the castle entrance. What it was, she couldn't be sure. But with Twilight gone, Shining Armor off managing the Crystal Kingdom, and Luna ready to embark on her journey, it was up to Celestia to save the day.

She opened a window and flew outside. This time, she wouldn't hide. This time, she wouldn't get stuck in a cocoon. This time—

She stopped, mid-flight, hovering over the castle entrance and looking straight down.

“This time,” she muttered, “I really am going to kill you, Lulu.”

“Celestia!” Luna grinned nervously up at her sister. “We...we did not expect you! Are you not usually asleep at this time?”

Celestia glared. She shook her head. “I never sleep on duty!”

“Of...course you do not!” Luna nodded, looking around. “We all have great faith in the Princess of the Sun, do we not? Tia?”

“Explain. Now.” Celestia tried to keep her voice level. The Royal Canterlot Voice had not been wielded in a populated area since...well, since the Nightmare Night incident last year. Nearby pedestrians were already hurrying away, looking terrified. No need to escalate things.

Grogar cleared his throat. “I will see myself inside, while you resolve this...dispute.” He and the robed figure started to move toward the door.

They stopped as a bolt of lightning struck the ground directly in front of them. They turned back to see Celestia slowly descending to the ground. The tip of her horn was smoking. Her eyes were glowing gold. “Explain. Now.”

The three guilty figures were silent.

After a moment, Fluttershy spoke up. “Um...Princess Celestia?”

Celestia turned to the pegasus, the glow in her eyes fading. “Yes, Fluttershy?”

“Um...” The bearer of Kindness cleared her throat. “Grogar was sent here by the creatures of Tartarus.” Celestia noticed Luna was frantically gesturing for Fluttershy to be quiet. Fluttershy seemed to be paying Luna no heed. “He's here to check up on Princess Luna to make sure they can still trust her inspections.”

Luna tapped her hooves. “It's unexpected, sister, I assure you.”

Celestia blinked. “Grogar. Sent by...” She struggled to make sense of this. “...he's free?”

Fluttershy looked confused, turning back to Luna. Luna looked extremely guilty.

Celestia glared at her. “Explain, Luna.” Unconsciously, her voice quieted a bit. “Please. He almost killed me. I think I deserve to know what he's doing in my city.”

“I'm sorry, sister,” Luna said. She gave a little shrug. “I truly am. He spent nearly two hundred years down in Tartarus for what he did. But he took steps towards reform, and was eventually let free, then granted a low-level leadership role.” She scratched the back of her head, giving a sheepish grin. “I never, ah, saw a need to inform you. The ways of Tartarus are not ours.”

Celestia looked at Luna, then at Grogar. The latter gave a smug smile. “Good afternoon, Princess Celestia. Rest assured, my position as ruler of Tartarus will not be abused. I respect the ways of order.”

Celestia clenched her teeth. “You rule Tartarus?”

“That's new,” Luna said, quickly raising a hoof. “Apparently, the chain of command is now short a few links.”

Celestia cocked her head. “What happened to—”

“May we please discuss this later?”

Celestia stepped forward, eyes narrowed at her sister. “No, I want an explanation. He's in my city, Luna!”

Luna scoffed. “Do me the favor of ceasing to refer to it as your city, first!” She waved her hoof at the sky. “That would not be there today without me, you know!”

“Oh, you had to go there.” Celestia felt her anger rising to dangerous levels. Most of her wanted to stop, but she kept noticing Grogar's little smirks, and rage kept triumphing over reason. “Should I remind you that we managed a thousand years without—”

“Hey!”

Celestia stopped at Fluttershy's shout. She blinked. Luna also looked a bit stunned. The two sisters were staring eye-to-eye, inches from each other.

Celestia closed her eyes and stepped back as Fluttershy stepped between them. Her heart sank. She'd been about to bring up the banishment. The one thing she'd sworn never to bring up again.

Fluttershy was talking, sounding surprisingly angry. By her standards, anyway. “Please stop arguing now! Princess Celestia, Luna told you everything she knows, and she's not happy about this either! Princess Luna—”

“I am aware,” Celestia heard Luna say. “I should not have responded as I did. I am sorry, sister. It has been an unpleasant morning.”

“Afternoon,” somepony hissed.

“Now, pet, do not interrupt their squabble.” Grogar chuckled. “But make a note in the book. They require mortals to keep Canterlot from being destroyed in a family feud. That is significant.

Celestia opened her eyes, frowning. The red-robed figure was scribbling something in a notepad. Grogar was smiling, standing beside Fluttershy. “Well, then.” He gestured to each of them with a cloven hoof. “Are you finished with your tantrums? I would like to examine the castle's interior, and I am concerned that it will be nightfall before this is through.”

Celestia's eye twitched.

“Yes,” Luna said, walking past Grogar. “We are finished. Fluttershy, come with me. We will lead them to their dwelling-place.”

Fluttershy took to the air, looking meek once more as she flew beside Luna. They entered the castle, the ram and cloaked figure following.

Celestia raised an eyebrow. “And what am I supposed to do?” she called. “Just go back to the throne room, as if everything's normal?”

Luna glanced back, looking a bit disinterested. “I suppose. What else would you do?”

“I—I thought...well...”Celestia fell silent. She scowled. “I suppose that's what I'll do, then.”

Her horn flashed, and golden light enveloped her. As it carried her back to where this unpleasantness had begun, she had an unpleasant feeling in her gut.

This was just the week's start. If she knew Grogar, things would only go downhill from here.

Author's Note

The little "prologue" at the start of the chapter is a device I intend to keep using. Let me know what you think, if you've got an opinion on it!

Oh, and thanks a massive ton to Silverguard. She's been critiquing these chapters, and it's been a big help. :pinkiehappy:

Chapter Four

Luna approached the strange bell. Twice the young mare's size, it hung seemingly abandoned in the old tower. The room was dark, carved of the same dull stone as the rest of the shadow city Tambelon.

She heard the voice of an ancient crone echo in her head. “Yes, Luna. The Mourning Bell brings his power, but it will just as soon pull him back to his home. Awaken it, and end his campaign.”

She frowned. “How do I know I can trust you, Somnambula?”

“Beware of the cobwebs.”

“You remain a menace to Equestria!” Luna eyed the bell, noticing tiny, shimmering strands of webbing encircling it in a protective cocoon. “Why do you help us when we still seek to capture you?”

“It's beyond you, foal. Now, ring the bell.”

Luna hesitated. “Wherever you're contacting us from, Somnambula, you'll never be far enough that Tirek won't find you!”

“I don't care about Tirek. Ring the bell, and banish Grogar back to the third veil.”

“I..." Luna swallowed. "...alright.”

She still wasn't sure. Thinking fast, she cast a spell. A little rock propelled itself at the great bell.

She averted her eyes as there was a brilliant flash. When she looked back, there was a small pile of gray sand on the floor beneath where the rock had been. The web was shining in the moonlight, untouched.

“Drat. I truly had hoped you would fall for that.” Luna stared at the bell, heart sinking. “Oh, well. I win either way.”

“Princess, get up.”

“Um, maybe you shouldn't be so rough. It looks like she's having a bad dream.”

“Very well. You get her out of that miserable excuse for a bed.”

Luna felt something poke her side. She reflexively kicked out, and heard a startled “Eep!” as her hoof collided with something. There was a crash. She lay still.

Wait. I am not in the bell tower.

Luna's eyes opened. She was in her bed. Judging by the lights outside—somepony had opened the shades—it was evening. She looked over, and her eyes widened as she saw Fluttershy picking herself up from the floor by the wall. “Oh, stars above. Forgive me, Ms. Fluttershy.” She rubbed her eyes. “I was dreaming of the witch Somnam...” She froze.

Slowly, her hoof lowered from her face. Grogar stood beside the prone Fluttershy, smiling. “Then she is awake. Excellent work, pony.” He beckoned. “Come. You have a moon to raise.”

Luna sat up, groaning. “I need not raise the moon for a half-hour yet.” She grabbed her pillow and hugged it close.

Luna heard the ringing of a bell. “Wrong.”

She felt the bed shift to one side. She looked around and saw that one side of the bed was enveloped in a bright violet aura. Then, it jerked, and she fell to the floor with a yelp.

“Oh, my,” she heard Fluttershy murmur. She accepted the pegasus's help in disentangling from her blanket and stood up. Grogar was grinning widely.

Luna scowled, jabbing a hoof at the window. “The sun has barely set. The ponies can stand a short period devoid of light.”

Grogar's eyebrows flew up. “Do they do so often?” Behind him, through the open doorway, Luna spotted the robed figure readying the quill and notepad. Her anger faded as she remembered why it was so important to stay on this creature's good side.

She coughed, looking from side to side. “Well...of course not. It is only that, ah, with guests over...”

“Oh, do not mind us.” Grogar stepped to the side. “Go on. I wish to see you raise the moon—assuming you have not forgotten how, of course.”

Luna shook her head. “Of course not. What nonsense.” She hurried past Grogar, and made her way down the hall.

“Where are you going?” Grogar asked, trotting alongside her.

“To the observatory.” Luna pointed to the spiral staircase at the end of the hall. “It is where I generally perform the ritual.”

“Ah, I see. Ha.”

“What?” Luna glanced over. Grogar's eyebrows were still raised, and he looked dubious. “What is it, Chief Warden?”

“Pet!” Grogar barked. Luna saw the robed figure rush to catch up. “Add the following items to the list.”

“What are you doing?” Luna asked.

“First: Delaying the ritual which she insists on being a half-hour late to to ensure a fine view.”

As the figure scribbled, Luna's brow furrowed. “Wait, Grogar. That is not what—”

“Second: Climbing an obviously decrepit staircase, thus creating the danger of a fall.”

“What?” Luna rolled her eyes as she began to ascend said 'decrepit' staircase. “This is a fine construction, Grogar!”

“Ha.” Grogar smirked. “I am sure it was, once. I suppose Celestia wished to ensure your living arrangements were, ahem, just as you remembered. A thousand years ago.”

Luna stopped, shocked. “What are you—that is hardly—”

“Ah.” Grogar leaped up the stairs, taking them two at a time (a difficult feat, considering his cloven hooves). “And add a third item: wasting further valuable time arguing with the inspector.”

Luna could only stare, trying to contain her fury, as Grogar hopped past her, circling up to the top. Normally, the image of the leaping ram would have appeared amusing. Right now, it just seemed mocking. As he didn't care enough to maintain his dignity—as if Luna had none.

Grogar glanced back down, a disturbing expression of cheerfulness on his sinister face. “Pet, add 'cannot handle criticism' and 'freezes up under pressure' to the list. Princess, are you coming? Or are you intent on letting the world go dark?”

Luna wanted to give the second answer, just out of spite. She really did.

She felt somepony pat her on the shoulder. “What?” she asked, eyes narrowed, as she turned to Fluttershy. Fluttershy gestured down at the robed figure.

Luna spat to the side. “Very well.”

She hurried after Grogar, muttering a thousand ancient curses under her breath.

The ritual went by very quickly, as always, but it felt like the thousand years all over again. Grogar watched her the entire time, quietly having his follower make notes at every little pause.

Finally, the moon had begun its nightly ascension, and Luna could relax. Putting the stars in the sky was a much more leisurely activity. She allowed herself a small smile as she glanced at Fluttershy. “Tell me, Ms. Fluttershy, how often do you gaze upon the night sky?”

“Oh, um...” Fluttershy shrugged. “I mean, the stars are very nice, but...I'm usually too focused on looking after all my little critter friends at night. Or sleeping.” Luna must have hid her disappointment poorly, because Fluttershy quickly went on. “But I love it when I have time to look at it!”

Luna grinned, pointing up as her horn sparked. “Well, that is fortunate. The first constellation I generally place is—” She looked up at the sky.

Her heart stopped.

All the stars were there. No, not all 'the' stars. Stars. Stars she didn't know. They were scattered about, as if somepony had spilled glitter all over her beautiful night.

She heard Fluttershy murmur something, but she didn't hear what. She was too busy staring up at the travesty in the sky.“Wh...aa....baba?”

“Ah, Princess.” Luna spun to see Grogar smirking knowingly. “It seemed to me I should do you a favor. Tomorrow night, I will expect you to do this yourself.”

Luna blinked. She couldn't say anything.

Grogar chuckled, eyes glinting. “Stars are there to shed light, not to make something pretty. I see no reason in such a waste of time when you could be seeing to the affairs of the kingdom.”

“You...you placed the stars...”

“Well, the moon is the real task.” Grogar grinned, pointing back to the stairs. “Stars are a trifle to one such as me. Now, did you not say that this was not merely Celestia's city, but yours as well?”

Luna's mouth opened and shut.

“I think,” Grogar said, trotting away and heading downstairs, “you would do well to prove that. I heard that a 'Prince Blueblood' has a complaint with the pegasus pony's presence, so I thought I would now allow you to address his concerns. And...”

He descended out of view. “...my pet has assembled some paperwork for you.”

Chapter Five

The pink alicorn filly crouched in the grass, staring wide-eyed at a red mantis the size of a cat.

“Are you real?” she whispered. The praying mantis glared at her and did not answer.

They were in the middle of a dark field, near the entrance to Tambelon. Cadance had been told by her aunt to wait here and touch nothing. Not that there was much to touch, of course—just the black wall of the shadow-city. And grass, she supposed.

The praying mantis crouched and leaped onto her snout, shrinking to the size of a normal insect. Cadance giggled, falling onto her back.

The mantis stared at her.

“Stupid filly,” she heard somepony say. The mantis seemed to hear it, too—it tensed. Its eyes flashed gold.

Cadance and the mantis both looked around. The world was dark. There was nothing to be seen, save the shape of the nearby Smokey Mountain. Cadance looked off toward the top of the great dead volcano.

She blinked. “Um, little bug? There's something up there.” She squinted. “Looks like...um...”

The mantis looked up. Like a bolt of lightning, it turned and sprang off her nose, vanishing into the dark.

Cadance watched it go, bemused, then looked back off at the mountain. Whatever was up there, her heart told her it wasn't good. There were two creatures up there, and one of them was in pain.

Cadance stared vacantly at the pair of empty thrones, contemplating an old memory. Easier days, perhaps. But not better ones.

She turned back, eyes pausing over the stained window of her and Shining Armor's defeat of Chrysalis before settling on the real form of her aunt, Princess Celestia.

“What do you want me to do?” she asked.

Celestia sighed. She looked tired, though it was only early evening. “Cadance, you're supposed to be on vacation. I can't ask you to do anything.”

Cadance rolled her eyes, smiling. “Aunt Celestia, I'm on a diplomatic mission. If this was a vacation, Shining Armor would be here.”

“All the same, I don't want to bother you.” Celestia scowled, looking back toward the doors. “I just wanted to talk to somepony about this. I worry Grogar plans to manipulate my little ponies.”

Cadance winked. “Isn't that your job?”

“Yes!” Celestia snapped. She blinked, and coughed. “I mean, yes, but it's different when I do it.” She jabbed a hoof at the doors. “Grogar is a being of utter evil. He has never wanted anything more than to reclaim Tambelon and expand it until it covers our world like an overgrown fungus.”

“That won't happen, Auntie.” Cadance grinned, trotting over to the Sun Princess's side. “The key is all the way in Ponyville. What's Grogar going to do to us here?”

“Grogar is very good at toying with ponies when he must,” Celestia muttered. “He's worse than Sombra, really, because at least Sombra or Auros would enjoy the manipulation.” She started toward the doors, and Cadance walked alongside her.

“And Grogar doesn't?”

“Grogar likes to see ponies suffering.” Celestia shrugged, levitating the doors open. “But he despises talking to them.”

Cadance giggled, remembering. “Alright, Auntie. I'm going to keep an eye on him, okay?”

Celestia entered the hallway and looked around. She turned back to her adopted niece. “No, Cadance, I can't ask that of you.”

“It's nothing! Really!” Cadance turned and trotted away. “By the way, any idea why the sun's...” She stopped walking. “...setting...”

She trailed off. The sun never set this early. Luna had become an utter procrastinator after a thousand years of quiet scheming, and the ponies of Canterlot usually had to spend at least an hour or so in the dark.

She turned around. Celestia had gone off to bed, leaving her alone in the darkening hall.

She turned back and let out a yelp. Grogar stood before her. Luna and Fluttershy were following behind. Grogar smiled, showing his sharp teeth. “Crystal Princess. Step aside.”

Cadance quickly shuffled to the side to allow the three to pass. Looking beyond, she noticed a strange figure in red robes walking down the corridor. She stared at it. What in Equestria is that?

At that moment, the figure glanced at Cadance and waved. Cadance frowned. Whatever the strange creature was, she didn't like it. She started to walk towards it.

“Ah, Princess!" A monocled white unicorn poked his head through a nearby doorway. “A word, if you please.”

Cadance looked at the unicorn, then looked back. The figure had left. Sighing, she turned and trotted over.

The unicorn made way for her as she entered the darkened room. When the door was shut, he raised an eyebrow. “You don't seem excited to see me.”

“Well, I am, a little.” Cadance frowned. “Shouldn't you be helping Twilight and the others, Fancypants?”

Fancypants coughed, adjusting his black bowler. “Well, that appears to be a problem, Princess.” His eyes shifted from side to side. “The honorable Princess and her friends arrived at the dragons' mountain and spoke with the leaders, as planned. There was some initial tension between them and some of the younger wyrms, but I was able to defuse it.”

“Well, that was expected.” Cadance waved a hoof. “Go on, please.”

Fancypants shrugged. “There were no other incidents with the dragons. Everything went rather well on the diplomatic front.”

“So what's wrong?” Cadance glanced toward the door, then back at Fancypants. “And why aren't you telling Luna about this? This is her time, after all.”

“Hm.”

Cadance waited, but Fancypants remained mute. After a moment, she cleared her throat. “Well?”

Fancypants scratched his back. “It...well, it went well. The dragons were willing to transfer their prisoner to our allies. It appeared that the mission would be successful.”

He trotted over to a window, eyes cast on the floor. “Unfortunately, they did not have the prisoner.”

Cadance froze. “What?”

“They led us to the cell, and found that the image within was...not an honest one.” Fancypants turned back to Cadance, and magically straightened his monocle. “The 'witch of all ages' has escaped. We don't know how, or how long she's been loose, but she is out.”

“That...” Cadance swallowed. “...really isn't good.”

“It certainly is not. I was teleported back to inform you all. Twilight and her friends will return once their search of the dragon lands is complete.” Fancypants sighed. “That will take a week. That place has few hiding places, and is not hospitable to outsiders, but it is rather large.”

“So what do we do?” Cadance walked over to Fancypants and nudged the shades open. The stars shone bright in the sky, though something seemed off about them. “That witch has been evading us for centuries! If only dragons can catch her—“

“Well, that's not quite so.” Cadance looked to Fancypants, who had a small smirk. “Being able to see through illusions helps, but dragons are hardly the only chaps who can pull that off.”

Cadance cocked her head. Fancypants's fondness for vague assurances was seen by her aunts as amusing, but it had always driven her insane. “And what do you mean by that?”

Fancypants's horn glowed. His hat lifted, revealing a delicate silver circlet resting upon his head. “The dragons were nice enough to gift me with this little device.” The hat lowered. “None of the witch's illusions will have any effect on myself as long as I wear it. If she attempts any of her mischief here, we will know it.”

Cadance opened her mouth to respond, but stopped as she heard a thud. Fancypants appeared to have heard it too. He froze, then his horn flashed and the door slammed open.

There was nothing. Fancypants trotted out and looked around. “Hm. I don't see anything.” He glanced back at Cadance, giving a curt nod. “I wouldn't worry overmuch. Somnambula has been too cowardly to show her face for a thousand years, and I highly doubt she'll show it now.”

Cadance bit her lip and nodded back. “I guess so. Keep an eye open, though.”

“Oh, I shall.” Fancypants walked out. “I'll see you later, Princess Cadance. I suggest you go and see to your Aunt.”

“What?”

“From what I heard, she'll be engaged in a discourse with my esteemed cousin Prince Blueblood about now. This should be their first real discussion, too, as Celestia usually sees to his needs.” Fancypants chuckled as he trotted out of view. “I would give him one minute before Luna seeks to murder him, but that pegasus with Luna may extend his lifespan a bit. All the same, you might want to hurry.”

Author's Note

Okay, so this chapter was hard.

The thing is, Cadance has really grown on me, and I wanted to write about her. But she just doesn't have much to do. Luna is with Grogar and Fluttershy, so Cadance just had to chat with Celestia a bit. Then what? Well, I decided to bring in one of my favorite minor characters, Fancypants.

This whole story has been all about me learning how to work with paragraphs and sentence flow, and this is one of the first chapters I really started to struggle. Not that my earlier chapters were perfect, of course--I just didn't notice the flaws then. Editing now, I'm glad I started to notice when I did. I used to think there was nothing more unpleasant than editing in pacing and description. I was wrong.

Chapter Six

“...which brings me to my seventeenth complaint." Blueblood sniffed. "Where is my proper aunt?” He cast a dismissive glance on the alicorn sitting before him. “After all, I am a highly sensitive prince, and I require to be seen to by the correct ponies. I mean no offense to the alicorn who sees to the night, of course, but I expected to speak to Princess Celestia rather than somepony who sought to darken my sky permanently.”

Luna glared. She sat on her throne, and Fluttershy sat on the floor beside her.

“I acknowledge that the alicorn who sees to the night is a princess, of course, and that she is my aunt as well, but I do not acknowledge her authority over my living conditions, as I do not know her.”

Luna kept glaring. She remembered a day it had been seen as permissible for a princess to smite down unruly nobles with the magical energies of pure hatred. Unfortunately, Canterlot had outgrown such pleasant standards in favor of much stricter ones.

“Which, at last, brings me to today's grievance.” Prince Blueblood took a deep breath. “Why is the commoner pegasus allowed to walk with royalty? I have gone over the files, and I am not aware that she possesses any sort of rank. The princesses generally abjure contact with myself, claiming to have no time, so why should this peasant be given such an honor?” The unicorn royal raised an eyebrow. “It makes little sense to myself, of course.”

Luna maintained her glare.

“That is not a bad question, princess.”

Luna turned her glare on Grogar. The ram sat on what was generally Celestia's throne, wearing a great, wide smile. “Why should you 'abjure contact' with your own blood? Please, explain. We are very curious.”

“Yes.” Blueblood tapped the floor, scowling. “As the sheep said.”

Grogar's eyes flashed. “What did you just refer to me as?”

“Hm?” Blueblood glanced up, blinking. “Oh, I referred to you as a—”

“Blueblood!” Luna snapped. Blueblood and Grogar both turned to her. “We have heard your complaints. I will now give you a list of points to address them.”

“Well, I was not finished.” Blueblood waved his hoof dismissively. “Wait a short time longer. Aunt Celestia would have patience with my royal protestations, and you may as well.”

“Uh-oh,” Luna heard Fluttershy say.

Luna clenched her teeth. “Pro...ceed.” Pleasing images flashed into her head of fire and mayhem. She tried to let them comfort her, and tried to resist the urge to make them reality.

“I shall.” Blueblood's horn flashed, and a can of phenol throat spray materialized. He sprayed a bit into his mouth, then cleared his throat.

A colorful clown wig appeared on his head.

He blinked. A moment later, a large red nose appeared at the end of his snout. He stared blankly. He was suddenly wearing four massive, ridiculous shoes.

“What?”

He looked up at Luna, eyes narrowing. Luna looked back at him, confused. Blueblood looked at Grogar, who smirked and shrugged.

“I require a mirror,” Blueblood said shakily. Grogar's bell rang, and a mirror promptly appeared in front of the prince.

Blueblood let out a shrill scream and ran away. His horn glowed brightly as he appeared to be struggling (unsuccessfully) to detach the clown paraphernalia. He bolted out of the throne room, still screaming.

Luna stared after him. She looked at Grogar, frowning, but Grogar shook his head. He gestured to the corner of the room.

Luna cocked her head, seeing nothing but plain gray stone. After a moment, though, something shifted. An alicorn the same color as the walls emerged, trotting up to the thrones. Her horn glowed, and her coat and mane returned to their ordinary colors.

Luna blinked. “Cadance?”

Cadance grinned, giving a guilty shrug. “Hi, Auntie.”

“You dressed Prince Blueblood in clownish devices.”

Cadance rolled her eyes. “What's he going to do, declare war? The Crystal 'Empire' is a mostly independent territory. That silly fop can't touch us.”

“Quite right!” Grogar said, stepping forward. He cocked his head, eying Cadance with a look Luna didn't like. “But Princess Luna can.”

“What are you saying, Grogar?” Luna asked.

Grogar turned, chuckling. “Princess Cadance's state is in the control of the Equestrian government. Discipline her for that disrespect shown towards one of your nobility.”

Luna's eyes widened. “What? But—Blueblood angered you, as well!”

“You have your duty.” Grogar cocked his head the other way. “Unless you are not prepared to see to it?”

Cadance looked nervous. Luna looked at her, then back at Grogar.

This inspection was crucial. She couldn't afford to bungle it, and Cadance had misbehaved.

But...her eyes narrowed to slits. “This is my kingdom, Grogar. Do not presume to tell me how to govern it.”

Grogar didn't hesitate. “Very well!” he said with unsettling cheer. His bell rang, and the red-robed figure appeared out of nowhere—already making a note. “Luna, you have defied me in a most unseemly manner, but I will acknowledge that that is how you wish to govern.”

He raised an eyebrow. “For now.”

Luna stared at him. “What are you saying, Lord Grogar?”

Grogar beamed. “I am saying...why don't we find a place to eat?” His eyes glittered. “I am famished.”

Luna, Fluttershy and Grogar approached the small establishment known as Donut Joe's. The night was a bit brighter than usual, thanks to Grogar's practical placing of the stars, but it was still the only shop open at this hour.

Which was unfortunate. It was Luna's favorite café, being the only one she could easily frequent, and Luna had a feeling Grogar was not Joe's ideal patron.

She eyed the shop warily. Perhaps it will not be so bad, she thought. Grogar would not dare truly harass an ordinary Canterlot citizen.

The shop's front door burst into flames.

Luna watched the fire rise around the entrance, though it never spread to the walls around it. It burned unnaturally bright for several seconds, and Luna could feel the heat even from the other side of the street.

After a few moments, the fire began to simmer down. The door was disintegrating to ash. The smoke was forming into a slowly growing sphere, completely containing any effects of the blaze.

Soon, the door was gone. The sphere moved, flying high into the air and out of sight.

Grogar's bell stopped ringing. The ram smiled at Luna, then trotted through the ash-covered archway.

After a moment, there was a horrified squawk from within the shop. Donut Joe's reactions appeared to have finally caught up to the present.

“Um...” Fluttershy trotted ahead of Luna, eyes cast to the ground, “...maybe he just...really doesn't like doors.”

Author's Note

Sorry about the short chapter, chaps. See, I've been trying to keep each chapter centering around a single character. But Luna's next flashback should probably be put off a little. Since I didn't really want to get into the incidents at the café this chapter, that meant a small update.

Since it's making things hard to write now, though, I think I'm going to drop the one-character-one-chapter rule soon. We'll see how things work out.

Oh, and here's a little spoiler: Fluttershy is right. :derpytongue2:

Chapter Seven

The intruder's eyes narrowed as he peered down into the void.

The spell had worked perfectly, of course. Sombra had always been a predictable whelp, not that the intruder had ever had occasion to test himself against the shadow-unicorn directly.

Stairs, he thought. Always stairs with that one.

He worked a spell—as quiet as possible, to avoid alerting the Crystal Princess and her mortal husband—and slowly drifted down into the darkness. After a minute or so, his cloven hooves touched stone.

This wasn't the pleasant gray stone of his home, of course. Still, he wasn't much for flight and was glad to be back on the ground.

He eyed the door before him with contempt. The technique toward its opening was obvious. Sombra was so very, very predictable.

He raised his hooves.

Grogar pounded the bar repeatedly, creating two solid indentations in the cool steel. “Come, now!” he barked. “Where are my donuts? So slow! Wretched establishment!”

The yellow pony sitting on the stool beside Grogar eyed him nervously. “Um, maybe you should be more patient. You made a very large order.”

Grogar glared at her. He couldn't recall her name, but he was getting very tired of her constant presence at Luna's side.

He tilted his head. Perhaps something must be done to amend this.

It occurred to him that he was staring at the pegasus pony—Cuddlefish? No, that isn't it—and he quickly looked back to the counter. The donuts were still absent, so he pounded the steel again, denting it further. “Serve your patron!” he shouted. There was no response from the kitchen door.

He turned to the alicorn sitting to his left. “Princess Luna, your standards are contemptible. It has been eight minutes. Donuts do not take so long in a proper restaurant. That unicorn—”

“His name is Joe,” Luna said, sighing. She rested her head on the counter. “Surely not even you can forget a name so easily.”

“It is not my concern to look after the names of fools. If they cannot remember their own identities, why should I offer assistance?”

“It is not a matter of memory on their part, it is a matter of politeness.” Luna straightened, scowling at Grogar. “You never did understand the value in treating those who served you well. I expect that accounts for Bray's current absence.”

Grogar tried not to show any reaction. Luna went on. “Now, please cease making a mess of this place. You are damaging the establishment, and my little ponies do not tolerate that.”

Grogar raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Ah, I forgot. The princesses of Equestria cannot control their own subjects. So easy for the mind to wander.” He jabbed the pony to his right—Gutterfly? Fetters Tied?—with a cloven hoof, eliciting a startled squeak. “You are too close to your subjects. This is exactly what led to that disaster before.”

Luna jerked, knocking over her hot chocolate. Eyes darting about, the alicorn quickly righted the mug. She got off her stool to clean up the mess.

Grogar's smirk widened, knowing that his little innuendo had once again given Luna cause to wonder. How much did he know?

Of course she wanted to avoid his learning of the existence of Nightmare Moon. And had Grogar not had eyes up above, perhaps the secret could have been kept. But he had, and so the secret had been uncovered very quickly. He'd chosen to keep her guessing, though.

“That is to say...” he continued, “...the dual betrayals of Sombra and Auros. Had I not been imprisoned at the time, and your enemy, I could have warned you. You were a foal to trust the likes of them. They were foul, and they would not stop being thus.”

“Sombra was not pure,” Luna murmured, as she wiped up the spill with a rag she'd just materialized. “He could have been salvaged.”

“Foolishness.” Grogar got off his stool and advanced on Luna.

Behind him, the yellow pegasus—frankly, Grogar didn't care in the least what her name was—spoke up. “Um, I don't think it's—”

“Naivety,” Grogar snapped. He poked Luna in the chest. Luna recoiled, looking alarmed. “You would once more have the wretched mortal fight your battles? You ponies are all alike.”

“Hey!” he heard the pegasus whisper. He paid her no heed—who would give attention to such a pathetic cry?

“You overstep your bounds, Grogar,” Luna said, eyes narrowing.

“I am the ruler of Tartarus.” Grogar's eyes glowed bright. “I have no bounds, execrable brat. No boundaries, no bonds, no barriers.” He loomed over Luna as she flinched away. “Sombra had few of those as well,” he hissed. “You trusted him with too many secrets. He tried to redeem himself, but one can never step away from their own shadow. Eventually, jealousy will lead them back to the old road.”

Luna stared at him, and Grogar spotted a tiny bit of moisture at the corner of her eye. Grogar knew she'd gotten the secondary meaning.

“Hey!” he heard the pegasus repeat, her voice getting louder. “Hey! Listen up!”

To his shock, he felt somepony jab him. He turned.

The pale yellow pony was glaring at him. Her eyes were wide, and filled with a strange sort of fury.

Righteous fury.

Grogar's jaw dropped. The pony's eyes tore into him, utterly merciless twin spheres of wrath. He heard her speaking, but didn't understand a word.

Because he wasn't paying listening. The eyes had sparked an old memory.

Your anger's mighty, I am sure
But it's inconsequential
In order for those gates to stir
It will be essential
What you need cannot be stepped
In hate, or want, or tears
The anger must be pure, and kept
Free of selfish fears.

After the moment of recollection had passed, Grogar realized the yellow one had stopped talking. She was still staring at him.

Something about the stare was a bit unnerving.

Actually, now that he was paying attention, it was extremely unnerving. He stared back, eyes widening.

Fluttershy, that was her name.

Grogar realized he was leaning away, and tried to stop. But he couldn't bring himself to move any nearer to the eyes. Panicking, he cast a spell.

The ceiling cracked, causing a cloud of plaster dust to fall down onto Fluttershy and into her eyes. She let out a cry and started reflexively trying to rub the dust out with her hooves.

Luna's horn started to glow as she hurried past Grogar. Another rag materialized and became drenched with water, and Luna gave it to Fluttershy. Fluttershy began dabbing at her eyes, rinsing the plaster out.

Luna looked up at Grogar, glaring. “A low move, Lord Grogar.”

He only smiled. “See to her injuries if you must.” His bell rang, and the door to the kitchen flew open. A number of donut holes flew through, heedless of their startled chef, coming to hover before Grogar. “I am going to take a walk. I suggest you join me.”

He trotted through the ash-covered exit, munching a few of the still-warm balls of fried dough. There weren't as many as he'd hoped for, but they would be enough to sustain him for now.

His smile grew wide as he looked around.

At last, he thought, the slime's stupid little riddle makes some sense.

Luna ran up beside him as he set hoof upon the street. “That was poor conduct, Grogar,” she snapped. “I will remember it when it comes time for my review.”

“Oh, Luna...” Grogar chuckled. “Do you really believe you're going to pass this review? Given the way things proceed thus far?”

Luna stared at him, mouth hanging open. After a moment, Grogar winked. “A jest. No need to be so serious.”

Luna eyed him suspiciously. “You are in an oddly good mood.”

“Hm.” Grogar shrugged. “Your pony impressed me. She is worthy of the Element of Kindness.” Luna blinked, looking shocked. “What is it, Princess? Did you not expect me to acknowledge her merit?” He leaned closer. “I would watch yourself around her, all the same. Royalty should not associate so closely with their champions. And why does she not wear her Element now?”

Luna seemed a bit off-balance, though Grogar's following criticism appeared to sober her a bit. “Well...well, she does not presently need it. It is at her home, being guarded by...an ally.”

“Hm.” Grogar raised an eyebrow. His bell started to ring. “I suppose that...may be enough. Nonetheless, it should be better protected. I shall have my pet make a note.”

Luna frowned at him. Grogar gave her a benign smile.

“What are you casting now?” she asked.

Grogar looked at her, then up at the sky. He laughed. “Much has been learned. You have not done poorly for once, Princess.”

Luna again seemed confused. Grogar trotted ahead, humming quietly to himself.

For now, he would keep her guessing. That was the way to go about this. This was still a means of entertainment, for now.

Author's Note

I like donuts. I also like writing from Grogar's perspective.

Chapter Eight

“Fluttershy,” Twilight said—in the dark old Canterlot castle, the indicated pegasus flinched—“who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the spirit of...Kindness!”

The shards of the shattered stone glowed brightly as they came to orbit Fluttershy. She looked at them, eyes wide. She was the bearer of Kindness? She, just a little

Cadance's horn flashed, sending the fat old witch flying into the cavern wall. “I can't keep Hydia back much longer!” she shouted.

Behind her, Celestia eyed a purple-and-green egg. “How could such a fascinating thing come from this dreary volcano?”

“Um, Auntie!” Cadance spotted the witch's two daughters approaching. “You need to find the flume and destroy it! Quick!”

“Wait, Cadance.” Celestia's eyes narrowed. “I think this is a dragon egg. Perhaps we should

“Oh, isn't this sickening.”

Luna stared, eyes wide, at the unicorn before her. In the pale moonlight, and injured as he was, Auros Osmosis looked less like a pony and more like a walking corpse. He took a shuddering step towards her, bearing the same simper as always.

Luna felt her rage wash away as she beheld her enemy. Despite the treachery, despite the awful lies, everything he'd done...even as she noticed Celestia lying behind Auros, even more grievously battered...

Her angry expression gave way to one of weariness. How could she bear such hate toward somepony so pathetic?

Auros eyed her, raising an eyebrow. His smile faded. “Ah. I see how it is. This heroine is not letting her anger get the better of her, is she?” He rolled his eyes. “Oh, no, she's far too mature for that! It will be a noble battle, fought coolly and with wisdom. Maybe even mercy!”

His eyes flashed white as he grinned. “But it won't bring Sombra back, my little pony. He's lost forever.” His horn shone bright silver. “And whose fault is that?”

Luna blinked. She hadn't expected Auros to taunt her with that. Silly, really. He was too cruel for his own good.

A tear trickled down her cheek, as her eyes narrowed to slits. Her horn began to

“Oh, dear. It appears I've damaged the slide-moving-wheel thing.”

Discord peered at the projector, scowling. It was a mess. Half the slides didn't even seem quite real—accidentally-produced illusions. Honestly, these contraptions are like perfectly-contained pockets of chaos masquerading as order. He jabbed at the device with an eagle's claw.

He considered it. This was the fifth possession of Fluttershy's he'd broken during his short stay here.

He glanced up at the locked iron cage hanging from the ceiling. Angel glared down at him. “I should probably release you soon, shouldn't I?”

Angel stomped his foot.

“Oh, patience. Just let me try and fix this.” Discord snapped his fingers. The slide projector turned into a small steel box, with a glass cover on one side and buttons and cords all over.

Discord peered at the strange device. “No, that's not right.” He snapped his fingers and the box changed again. “Oh, bother. This isn't

--. --- --- -.. / ... - --- .--. / -.. .. ... -.-. --- .-. -.. ... / . -.-- . ... / .-- .. -.. . -. . -.. / .- ... / .... . / .-. . .- .-.. .. --.. . -.. / .-- .... .- - / .... . -.. / -.. --- -. . / ... - --- .--. / .-- . .-.. .-.. / - .... .. ... / -.-. .- -. - / -... . / --. --- --- -.. / .... . / ... .- .. -.. / ... - --- .--. / .... . / .-.. --- --- -.- . -.. / ..- .--. / .- - / .- -. --. . .-.. / .-- .... --- / .-.. --- --- -.- . -.. / -.-. --- -- .--. .-.. . - . .-.. -.-- / -... . .-- .. .-.. -.. . .-. . -.. / ... - --- .--. / .- -. -.. / .- / .-.. .. - - .-.. . / ..-. .-. .. --. .... - . -. . -.. / ... - --- .--. / --- .... / -.. --- -. - / .-- --- .-. .-. -.-- / -.. .. ... -.-. --- .-. -.. / ... .- .. -.. / .-. --- .-.. .-.. .. -. --. / .... .. ... / . -.-- . ... / ... - --- .--. / .. / -- .. --. .... - / .--- ..- ... - / .... .- ...- . / --- ...- . .-. -.. --- -. . / - .... . / ... .--. . .-.. .-.. / .- / - .. -. -.-- / -... .. - / ... - --- .--. / .-.. . - / -- . / - .-. -.-- / .- --. .- .. -. / ... - --- .--. / .... . / ... -. .- .--. .--. . -.. / .... .. ... / ..-. .. -. --. . .-. ... / --- -. -.-. . / -- --- .-. . / ... - --- .--. /

Discord looked around. The telegraph had changed back into a projector, though all the slides were gone. Frankly, he didn't care.

He looked up at Angel and grinned. “See? I told you I could fix it.”

Angel made a rude gesture.

Discord shrugged, raising an eyebrow. “I suppose using magic safely is harder than I thought.” He snapped his fingers, and the steel cage vanished. The rabbit within let out a yelp as it fell to the floor.

“Oops again, then.” Discord eyed Angel warily. “You won't tell Fluttershy, right?”

Angel's eyes narrowed.

“Hmph.” Discord crossed his arms, sighing. “Fine, fine. What will it take to keep you quiet?”

In a flash, Angel was up and gone. A moment later, he returned, dragging a massive cookbook opened to a particular page. He set the book down and poked the page, scowling up at Discord.

“That doesn't look terribly healthy.” Discord grinned. “It's a deal.” He waved his lion paw, and a fancy salad topped with whipped cream and a cherry materialized before Angel. Without hesitation, the rabbit began digging into his 'gift'.

Discord chuckled, watching the display. He had been tempted to put some sort of trick in the salad, of course, but Angel's silence was worth a moment of boredom. It was Discord's job to watch the dull old house in Fluttershy's absence, and he knew losing Fluttershy's favor wouldn't end well for him.

Besides, he reflected, it would be dreadfully boring without that silly pegasus humoring me, I suppose.

So nopony could be the wiser about...whatever it was he'd done. Honestly, not even he was sure—Discord never really understood his magic. Understanding made things less exciting. Hopefully, his little accident wouldn't have long-term consequences of any real

“And the Princess?”

“Oh, um...” Fluttershy gave a little shrug. “I'm not sure, Lord Fancypants.”

“Fancypants is fine.” The well-dressed unicorn looked around the empty throne room, raising an eyebrow. “I am a little concerned. Grogar may not realize the consequences of driving Princess Luna over the edge.”

“Oh, that would be simply awful.” Fluttershy cringed. “Do you...do you think that will happen?”

Fancypants looked at her sharply. “Where is she now? Oh, and I doubt it, but—”

“She's sleeping.” Fluttershy frowned. “Well, she's not really sleeping, she's—”

“Meditating. Watching over the dreams of her subjects.” Fancypants nodded. “I know, she's explained it to me.”

“So, um, how are Twilight and the others?”

“They're well.” Fancypants looked a bit cheerier at the question. “The Princess is guilty over her 'failure', your fellow pegasus is very agitated, Miss Rarity wishes she were here helping with the inspection rather than stuck searching though dark caverns.” He adjusted his monocle, sounding troubled as he continued. “They're very concerned, particularly Princess Twilight. She's read enough to understand what's at stake here. To say the least, the witch's escape could have been timed better for us.”

“Oh, definitely.” Fluttershy nodded. “But we can handle it.” She pointed at the stained window depicting Nightmare Moon's defeat. “See? The sun's coming out. Luna can get some rest, and Celestia can handle Grogar for a while.”

Fancypants looked, and frowned. “That's odd. It still seems rather early.” He started toward the doors.

“Where are you going?” Fluttershy asked.

“I'm just off to investigate,” Fancypants called back. “Stay here. Celestia should be arriving shortly, if the morning has come.”

He exited, and the doors shut behind him. Still a bit disoriented, Fluttershy looked around. It did seem a bit early.

She froze. Something had just occurred to her. All of the windows on one side of the hall showed a bright sunrise. The ones on the other side showed a still fairly dark city. It was ordinary enough for a winter morning, but there was one big problem.

The light was coming from the west side.

Something was wrong.

Author's Note

In case it's not clear, we are now going to be transitioning into a new format! Discord messed up my one-perspective-per-chapter rule, so we can bounce around as needed. Huzzah for chaos making my job easier! :raritywink:

Oh, and FYI, expect to see Discord later on. His appearance does actually have a purpose. :twilightsmile:

Chapter Nine

“You betrayed me!”

Aside from her words echoing off the bell tower walls, Luna received no reply. The bell hung untouched, still surrounded by the faint webbing.

Luna looked around. She was alone in the darkness of Tambelon.

After a moment's thought, the young mare began to inspect the web. It wasn't any spell she recognized—doubtless some mysterious magic of Grogar's or Somnambula's. Whatever it was, it appeared to be flawless. She couldn't find any hole in the webbing large enough to allow the bell to be rung.

A minute passed thusly, without success. Luna hung her head. It was hopeless.

“Do you plan on letting that get to you?”

She turned. Her eyes widened.

A dark gray unicorn had entered the chamber. He had a long black mane, and his eyes were a vibrant green. He wore a simple red cape—Luna noticed it was free of the fur trim he usually preferred.

“Sombra?” she whispered.

Sombra looked at her, then lowered his head.

He coughed. “You're the great winged unicorn who drove Discord back, are you? The one who's been making the visits to Tartarus?” His bright eyes focused on her horn, then on her wings. “The one who seeks to bring order back to Equestria?”

“Y-yes.” Luna blinked. “With my sister. Are...are you here to kill me, Lord Sombra?”

Sombra frowned. He eyed the bell, tilted his head, and shrugged. “I was called Lord when Discord ruled. The ponies under my control feared me, but they needed me to protect them. They called me Lord, and did as I willed, and I kept my little pocket of order in my own way.”

He looked outside. “My land was dark, and so were the hearts of my people. There was order. Order is enough. That's what I tell myself.” He hung his head again. “But I protected those ponies, and still they hated me. And now that Discord is gone, they seek to serve you. My authority means nothing, my control has dissolved, and it's all because of you.”

Luna looked at Sombra. Despite her fear, she found herself feeling...

Pity. She'd heard many stories of Sombra's utter evil, and she'd seen many paintings depicting him in his deranged glory, but she only now noticed he appeared to be just a year or so older than her.

Sombra met her gaze. After an oddly long moment, he sighed. “Discord is gone. I place my holdings, slight though they are, under your banner.” He took a step forward, gesturing to the bell. “I...do not want to be a Lord anymore.”

Luna made her way back to her bedroom, groaning. The day had finally come.

And what a long night it had been.

She'd been able to relax a little by dealing with the nightmares of her subjects, of course. She loved that duty. She loved to help. But it was still work. And highly unnerving work when she knew that Grogar was watching her corporeal self the entire time. She needed some actual rest now.

She opened the door and leaped onto her bed. The door locked. The curtains closed. Her eyes shut.

A minute went by.

Her eyes opened wide.

“Grogar.”

“Yes?”

“What are you doing in my bedroom?”

Grogar was seated at the foot of Luna's bed, staring at her without expression. “As you were informed, the plan is for me to follow you about to witness your actions as monarch.”

“Yes.” Luna scowled, levitating a blanket over herself. “And now my actions as monarch are complete. I have seen to Prince Blueblood's concerns, seen to your hunger, and seen to my subjects. I am going to sleep now, Grogar.”

“Ah. Very well.”

Luna waited. Grogar didn't move.

“Are you not going to leave my bedroom?” she snapped.

“No.” Grogar shrugged. “Your quarters are not secure.”

“Not—Grogar, get out of my room!”

“Shouldn't you have guards?” Grogar looked around. “Why is your dresser so small?”

“I do not need many clothes. Get out.”

“Why is your bed so small?”

“I do not often entertain guests.”

“Where is the—”

Growling, Luna levitated a pillow at him. If only there were a nearby supply of boulders.

The pillow hit Grogar in the face. It slowly slipped off to fall back on the bed. The ram's expression did not shift.

Luna's eyes narrowed. She stared back.

Time seemed to slow.

Luna's eyes began to water. Does he not ever blink?

“Ahem.”

They both started. Fancypants stood in the doorway.

Luna rolled her eyes. “Oh, in the Moon's name, when did my room become the hub for your—”

She stopped. Fancypants looked very serious.

“I need to speak with the Princess.” He gestured to the door.

Grogar glared, awkwardly getting to his hooves on Luna's bed. “That may be well, but I—”

“Grogar.” Fancypants raised an eyebrow. “Do not seek to meddle in my dealings.”

Grogar blinked. To Luna's amazement, he nodded. “So be it.”

Luna stared, head unconsciously tilting. Had Fancypants just told Lord Grogar off?

She got out of bed and followed Fancypants outside. As she walked, she noticed another oddity: Fancypants's gait was awkward and stiff, as if he was having to think over each motion.

When the door was shut, he slowly turned to face her. “Princess, I—we may have a problem. Celestia wishes to speak with you.”

Luna frowned. “What is it? Does she understand that it is morning?”

Fancypants bowed his head. “She was very insistent. I suggest you do as she says.”

Luna hesitated, then shrugged. “Very well, Fancypants.” She turned to go. As she raised a hoof, though, something occurred to her.

Silly of me, she thought. I'd almost forgotten to ask how his mission went. If Grogar knew of such carelessness... She turned back.

Fancypants was gone.

“I must say, Angel, I really have outdone myself this time.”

Floating upside down, a white rabbit crossed his little arms and glared.

The pond outside Fluttershy's cottage drifted in the air like a huge liquid cloud. On the top lay a mismatched being of entropy on a pink air mattress, with several very discombobulated-looking ducks floating nearby.

The strange being shifted, eying the mattress with distaste. “Though I can't exactly attest to Fluttershy's taste in beach accessories.” He snapped his fingers, and the tube began flashing random colors. He beamed. “Much better.”

The mattress was flashing very quickly, and random numbers (from one to fifteen) were appearing to match the color changes. The speed of those changes was enough to make a certain observer hiding in a fake bush on the ground a little nauseous.

Said observer lowered his binoculars, wincing. Alright, the...the thing up there's occupied! He looked at the nearby cottage, trying to suppress a cackle—the prize was as good as his!

His head lowered back into the bush, and he started towards the cottage. He was almost at the door when a call sounded from above.

“Ah, strange bush thing.” The creature above cleared his throat. “You'd better not go any nearer Fluttershy's cottage—unless you want me to prune you into a life-size cricket topiary.”

The observer hesitated.

“Oh, it does so make sense, Angel,” the being snapped. “Crickets are very small, you see, so to prune him to a topiary cricket would require me to prune him down quite a bit. Do you understand it now? Oh, shut up. You haven't the faintest idea of what's funny.”

The observer tilted his head. Whatever the thing up there was, it was clearly very stupid if it didn't understand that carving a cricket topiary would be next to impossible with a standard evergreen. The hind legs would almost certainly snap off. Perhaps with vines or the like, but then it would be less like topiary and more like bonsai. Or...maybe not bonsai. Maybe—

The observer reminded himself that nobody, least of all him, cared about decorative plant techniques. Regardless, the being above was probably not a threat.

He raised his hoof to the doorknob.

“Alright, I'll show you how it works,” he heard the creature say. “Honestly, this joke is excellent. Here, he's going for it. No, I'm not going to kill him. I don't care; Fluttershy would be far too irritated to justify it. You're a rather bloodthirsty rabbit, do you realize that? I'm just going to—just let me do this!”

The observer heard a snap, and suddenly found the door was very, very large.

Or he was very, very small.

He felt his fifth and sixth legs break off.

“Hm. Well, see, I never even thought of that.” The creature sounded miffed. “I suppose a standard evergreen isn't the best material. Let's try it with vines this time. Here goes nothing!

Bray hated his job.

Luna entered the throne room, finding it to be empty.

She blinked. Taped to the larger throne was a note.

GONE TROLLIN'

“I do not appreciate your interference, witch.”

“Oh, really.” The hooded figure chuckled, sitting down on Luna's bed. “And why is that? We have what we sought, do we not?”

“Hmph. Yes, we have the location.” Grogar scowled. “But you are taking risks when all we need do is wait. Soon, the key will be ours.”

“If you're correct about what the key is. And if we can trust...” Somnambula pulled out of one of her pockets a tiny silver crystal. “...this one.”

“Why would he lie?” Grogar turned away, shaking his head in disgust. “We are going to release him.”

“I still think we should have gotten Sombra instead. Setting this one loose is a prospect that makes me nauseous.”

“And I as well.” Grogar glanced back, eyes narrowed. “But the...I was unable to find Sombra.” He suppressed a shudder. “It matters little. The worm will walk.”

“I suppose it can't be helped.”

“Hm.” Grogar tilted his head, smirking. “If I know him, he will get himself promptly exterminated. We need only give him the chance. Now.” His expression turned serious again. “Is it done?”

“The sun alicorn left before I could reach her.” Somnambula sounded bitter. “But I will deal with her. And with this one, I have all the power I need to do what must be done.” She procured another crystal, this one larger and bright blue. It gave a flash as it entered the light. “Oh, shut up. It's your own fault for seeking to give me trouble.”

The witch of all ages pocketed both crystals. “Anyway. You'd best seek out your alicorn. I will seek out mine.” She started to walk toward the door.

“Wait!” Grogar said. Somnambula stopped, and waited. “I require assistance. The...yellow one is becoming a nuisance.”

His eye twitched. “And if we do intend to bring the key here, I think it would be wise to deal with her. Can that device you obtained from the dragons not be used to entrap her as well?”

Somnambula turned, hesitated, then lowered her hood. Beneath, her features were hideous—those of an ancient apelike creature, with bright golden eyes and a long gray mane. Her hand glowed, and a silver wand appeared in it. She raised an eyebrow. “I risked my freedom—and existance—to obtain this device. Is a single pantophobic pegasus really so deadly that I must deploy it?”

Grogar frowned. He opened his mouth, thought better, and shut it. He shrugged. “Do as you will, witch.”

“Hm.” Somnambula brought her hood back up and turned away. “Then good luck to you, Architect. I will inform you when the deed is done.”

She opened the door and strode out.

After a moment, Grogar gave a grim smile. “I am sure you will.”

He felt the bell around his neck, then followed the witch. As expected, when he entered the hallway, she was nowhere to be seen.

It mattered little. It was time to make Luna's life miserable some more.

Chapter Ten

“Hey! Who goes there?”

Grogar jolted and looked around, eyes wide. His surroundings had changed, and the crumbling city of Tambelon was gone. He was back in the chamber, standing before a plain black door.

Of course, he thought, taking a deep breath. Not every puzzle will have the same answer. Reckless of me. Sombra was foolish, but not as foolish as I thought.

“Who goes there?” the voice repeated.

Grogar turned, scowling, to behold a white unicorn with an electric blue mane. “Ah.” He chuckled, running a hoof through his beard. “The mortal prince.”

The prince frowned. “My name is Shining Armor. So who are you?”

“Hm?” Grogar looked up at the endless expanse of stairs leading up, pretending he was thinking. “Oh, my name may be known to you, prince. It's just that...” He kicked the door shut. “...I am somewhat offended you do not recognize me.”

He started pacing in a circle around the unicorn. “Even a mortal such as yourself should be somewhat schooled.”

“Hm.” The prince blinked, having to turn to keep his eyes on Grogar. “You're that sheep, Grogar.”

Grogar froze. “What did you just call me?”

“Uh...” The unicorn pony coughed. “The ram, right? The owner of Tambelon?”

“Correct.” Grogar grimaced. “To a point.” He began circling again. He was close to where he'd started walking now. “Tambelon is not mine. But there are several who would know how I can get it back, Rhyming Farmer.”

“Huh.” The mortal prince cocked his head. “Is that right?”

“Yes.” Grogar passed the door and kept walking. “There is your wife, of course.”

“Hm.” Grimy Armoire's eyes narrowed—though he seemed to be getting a bit dizzy. “Is that so.”

“It is. There are also your two aunts-in-law, the Princesses. They would know, I expect.”

“Right. But you can't ask them, can you?”

“Ha. They would never tell me how to find the gate key.” Grogar tried to conceal his bitterness. “They will not yield to me my city.”

“Real big surprise.” The unicorn shook his head, continuing to turn. Grogar was approaching the door again. “So what, then? Why're you here?”

“There are two others who still...” Grogar tilted his head from side to side. “...'live'. They were around at the time, and were involved in my first defeat. They would know. One is not an option, for to free him would be to invite unending irritation upon my horned head. But the other...”

“Sombra.”

“It seems he, too, will evade me.” Grogar's bell swung, creating a single shrill note.

Behind Grogar, the door swung open, as his surroundings shimmered. He found himself standing behind the unicorn.

The unicorn blinked. He was now staring at the dark stone behind the door.“Wha—like I'm gonna fall for this. I know...perfectly well...” He didn't stop staring. “It's not real. It's not...” His eyes started to glow green. “Canterlot! What? No!”

At that moment, Grogar felt just a tiny twinge of pity. This unicorn would watch his city fall, just as Grogar had.

But he had little sympathy for ponies. His bell softly rang, as the world began to shimmer again. “I will have to find an alternate route. I wish you luck in the world of your invention.”

As he teleported away, a single thought struck him.

I do not like doors, he thought.

Luna staggered over to Fluttershy's bedroom door, now wearing a purple bathrobe. Since it was clear no sleep was to be had, she'd decided to get some breakfast. Or, from her perspective, a midnight snack. She knew Fluttershy had asked to eat in her own room for the duration of her stay, wishing to avoid the crowded banquet hall. It seemed the best course of action for Luna was to join her friend.

In particular, Luna reflected, coffee would be enjoyable. She raised her hoof and knocked twice.

There was no response. Frowning, Luna opened the door. Fluttershy's room was dark, but Luna had never had any trouble seeing in such conditions. She immediately made out a shape on the bed. Her eyes widened.

“Ms. Fluttershy, are you...sleeping?”

The little pegasus let out a yelp, her eyes opening wide. “What? I wasn't—oh. Hi, Luna.” She sat up, rubbing her eyes. “Um, what is it?”

Luna blinked. “Well. I thought to...breakfast.” She realized she was blushing slightly, and looked away. “I was not aware that you would be in bed. I will leave you be.” She turned to go.

“No, it's okay.” She heard Fluttershy getting out of bed. “I, um, just...well, I'm okay.” Fluttershy trotted over to stand beside Luna. “You need all the help you can get. Let's go get some food from the chefs.”

Luna frowned down at Fluttershy. “Are you certain? You look somewhat tired.”

Fluttershy gave a little shrug. “Oh, I'm okay. I was just, um, resting my eyelids. This is only my first night without sleep. I've seen Twilight do this all the time, and she does...” Her eyes darted from side to side. “...um, just fine.”

“Ah, of course she must.” Luna nodded, trotting back into the hallway with Fluttershy at her side. “Just for those missions and assignments of massive import, I presume?”

“Uh...right.”

Celestia liked trolling.

It was childish, borderline illegal, and it wasn't as if she ever gained anything from it, anyways. But she liked it. It was a simple and pleasant pastime to take her mind off things. Besides, she was the Princess of the Day. The ponies could tolerate the occasional royal indulgence.

Her horn shone golden, and the fishing line pulled out of the water. There was no fish, but the lure was gone.

She sighed. Not again.

Admittedly, the fish of the Silent Lake weren't exactly in a position to take the bait trailing her boat. The lake was perpetually frozen solid, along with its denizens—most of which prehistoric. Celestia had melted a ring around the lake for her purposes (temporarily, of course) but most of the fish were still too groggy from their three-thousand-year nap to have any interest in food. And those few that were hungry weren't ideal trolling fish.

Honestly, the Silent Lake was a rather terrible place to go fishing. Celestia was just bored.

She set the line down on the floor of her magically-propelled dinghy and climbed onto the frozen part of the lake. The ice she walked on felt like frigid stone, utterly unaffected by her heavy hoof-falls.

Nopony had ever been certain why the Silent Lake was so cold. While some suspected the answer lay at the very bottom of the lake, none had succeeded in making it down there—enchanted drills would malfunction, mundane picks would break, and the center would refreeze instantly should anypony seek to melt it. It was just one of the great secrets of the mountain Canterlot was balanced on, along with the diamond mines and the roc egg frozen to the peak far above.

Celestia made her way to the center and sat down. The ice wasn't very comfortable. But it would do.

She closed her eyes and let out a deep, shuddering breath. She wasn't sure how long she'd been holding it—not needing to inhale too often was just one of the many perks of being an alicorn. Perhaps it had been to avoid taking in too much of the lake's cold, dry air.

Perhaps she'd started after waking from the previous night's dream. She winced at the thought.

She sank onto her belly and stared down into the silvery-blue ice. A hagfish-like creature with eighteen eyestalks stared back up at her.

“Don't look at me like that,” she growled. “If I let you out of that ice, you wouldn't be any better off. At least you're safe from all this lunacy.”

Hearing the word luna made her wince again. How awful she'd been to her sister, who was only trying to keep peace. “Well,” she said to the fish, “you don't have to make mistakes, either. Just free to sleep down there while we stumble around making fools of ourselves.” She reached up and took her crown off her head, setting down it beside her. “I just wish we'd never had to deal with Tartarus. They're all completely insane.”

“Are you really talking to a fish?”

Celestia spun to face the speaker. Or, more accurately, flipped over on her back.

Queen Chrysalis was rolling her eyes. “You've gone utterly insane, haven't you?”

Celestia stared blankly.

“Oh, please.” Chrysalis shook her head. “This is all the welcome I get? I should have targeted the other one first.”

Celestia blinked. Her head tilted.

Chrysalis waved a holey hoof dismissively. “No, not the blue one. No, not the pink one—feh, as if. The purple one. Twilight Sparkle.” Her bright green eyes glinted in the crisp light. “Now, I'm certain she would have a fitting welcome for me. Such a...delectable little alicorn.”

For the second time that week, Celestia felt enraged. This time, though, she had something she could take her anger out on, and she did not hesitate. Her eyes and horn began to burn with power as she lay the groundwork for her spell.

The world turned golden. She rose into the air, channeling the power of the sun into the ice around her. She couldn't see, nor could she think. She was no longer Celestia. She was the Sun.

For a split-second, all of Equestria went dark. In the far-off dragon and griffon lands, the Sun saw that the same had taken place. In that instant, all light the sun gave had been taken and reformed to aim for a single point on the planet.

In the darkness, two glowing green eyes blinked at Celestia.

A line of pure brightness containing all the light the sun had shed for a single second shot down from the sky, reflected off of the surface of the lake, and fired straight at the changeling queen. The green eyes widened.

There was a moment of silence. Light returned to the world. Celestia stopped being the Sun and became herself again.

And she was tired. She rested her head on the ice for a moment, trying to catch her breath. She let out a feeble giggle. Nopony messes with the Princess of the Sun. And they said I was getting old.

She rolled over again and got—slowly—to her feet. She turned, groaning. There was nothing left of Chrysalis but a...

...actually, there wasn't anything.

Celestia frowned. The light should have entrapped its target in the sun, leaving only a scorch mark (or melted mark, in this case) shaped like Celestia's cutie mark. It was her most powerful spell. Nothing could escape it.

Well, except a few things. The sun had been an unfit prison for Nightmare Moon, and Discord had too much control over the sun and moon for the imprisonment to stick.

But Chrysalis can't be a god, she thought. And she didn't dodge or deflect it. I saw it hit her.

She cocked her head. After a moment's thought, she leaned down and inspected the clean ice Chrysalis had stood upon.

It was then that something in her head clicked. Her jaw dropped. Horn already glowing, she spun to face—

She looked around. The lake was gone.

Everything was gone.

She was surrounded by roiling pink mists, and the only thing she could see now was... “Fancypants?” she whispered.

“I'm afraid so.” The noble looked a bit battered, and his monocle had a crack in it, but it was definitely him.

“What are you...what am I...”

“The witch of all ages is an expert at illusion, and not just of the magical variety. I most unfortunately forgot that, to my detriment. It would appear you were tricked as well.”

Celestia groaned, rubbing her forehead. “What?”

“She's attained a device.” Fancypants's horn glowed, and a little scroll depicting a strange wand appeared. “It allows her to make her living batteries transportable, if you understand me. All she needs is a foe fool enough to exhaust his magic on what isn't there so they'll not be able to resist the entrapment.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow. “And she found two.”

“Hm.” Fancypants looked off into the mists, eyes narrowed. “Three, actually. But he doesn't often make himself known.” He sat down and sighed. “Well, that's my plan down the drain. I don't suppose you brought a spare monocle?”

Chapter Eleven

“But—please, if I could only speak to the Princess—”

“The Princess is busy.” Grogar loomed over the desperate petitioner, eyes flashing. “Leave.”

The pony hesitated, then turned and scurried away.

Grogar cleared his throat, looking over the premises. He had held the gates thus far, but there were always more. Indeed, another was already approaching—a white unicorn mare with a pink mane who stood nearly as tall as Celestia.

Grogar glared. “And you? I suppose you wish to inform the Princess of the recent darkening.”

The unicorn frowned. “Actually, I had hoped to ask for help finding my husband, Fancypa—”

“The brief darkness is insignificant,” Grogar growled. “And the Princess is busy. Perhaps she meant to bring about the brief moment of darkness everypony is so bothered with. Did this occur to you?

She tilted her head. “I don't really care about that. My husband is a close personal friend of—”

“Darkness, darkness, darkness!” Grogar looked up at the sky, snarling. “That is all you ponies ever wish to talk about. Eternal nights are notable. Two-second blackouts are nothing. What is with your obsession with—” The unicorn tried to step past him, but he moved to block her. “See yourself elsewhere, pony!”

The unicorn's eyes narrowed. “If you'd just listen—”

Grogar gritted his teeth. “If I hear one more word about your precious sun, I am going to kill something. Something young, and with a life full of promise.”

“Where did the normal guards go, anyway?”

“I ate them. I don't care! Go away!”

“Fine.” The unicorn turned and stomped off. She glanced over her shoulder at Grogar. “But if I have to go all the way to Ponyville to find somepony who'll herd a sheep as twisted as you—”

She leaped to the side and ran off, and a bolt of lightning blasted through where she'd been standing to hit a mailbox post. The post snapped.

The mailbox fell over the head of an unwary gray pegasus. “Hey!” the pegasus cried. She began flying about, struggling to regain orientation—and crashing into essentially everything within range in the process.

Grogar watched the pegasus finally fly through a house's open window. He listened to the shouts and explosions that followed.

The ram tilted his head.

He turned and headed back into the castle. Perhaps an alternative technique is required.

“This is a very nice breakfast,” Fluttershy said, trying and failing to pick up a glass of orange juice with both hooves.

Luna watched, struggling to ignore how adorable her dining companion looked. “I should think so,” she said, levitating her own glass up and taking a sip. “The palace cooks are a most talented lot.” She gave a little smile, imagining how the meeting between the head chef and Grogar might go. For some reason, Grogar hated the very existence of sheep (his own species, technically), and...

She quickly dispelled the notion. The last thing she needed was for Grogar's ire to be aroused. Not that it was easy to keep him calm, of course.

“Um, are you okay?” Fluttershy asked.

Luna realized she'd zoned out. She coughed. “Um, yes. Pardon me, Ms. Fluttershy.” She took a careful bite out of her buttered toast.

“Oh, you don't have to call me Ms., by the way.” Fluttershy smiled, running a hoof through her mane. “It's my first name.”

“Hm.” Luna frowned. “It is a term of respect.”

“Oh.” Fluttershy cleared her throat. “Um, well, it just seems like it takes longer to say, and, um, you don't need to respect me. I mean, I don't care what you call me.”

“Oh.” Luna blinked.

Fluttershy took a bite out of her toast, sinking lower in her chair and avoiding eye contact.

Luna scratched her head. “Well, in that case, I insist you simply refer to me as Luna henceforth.”

“Oh, no, I couldn't.” Fluttershy somehow managed to sink even lower. “That would be, um, disrespectful, and—”

Luna fidgeted with her plate. “Well, I would rather not be placed on such a pedestal. Regardless of what Grogar says—”

“My, my. How hurtful. I am hurt.”

Luna and Fluttershy both turned. Grogar stood at the entrance to Fluttershy's bedroom, wearing a grim smile. “Come, ponies. We have a play to catch.”

Luna got out of her chair, eyes narrowed. “What do you mean, Lord Grogar?”

“Hm.” Grogar looked up at the ceiling, scratching his beard. “There is a theater. I propose we go and watch it. The play at the theater, that is. Princess Lear. I am told it is, by your pony standards, a classic.”

Behind her, Luna heard a clang. Turning, she saw that Fluttershy had spilled the orange juice on the table. “Um, I don't like that play,” Fluttershy said, trying and failing to mop up the mess with her napkins. “It's a little—”

“Princess Lear it is.” Grogar raised an eyebrow. “Though you need not attend.”

“Um, no, that's okay.” Fluttershy cleared her throat. “Let's go.”

“Really.” Grogar let out a chuckle. “You appear to be uncomfortable, pony.”

“No, I'm okay.”

Luna looked between the two. “You need not go if you do not wish, Fluttershy. I have never seen the play, myself.”

“No, I'm coming.” Fluttershy got off her chair and made her way over to Luna. “Let's go. It's a very nice play. Just a little—”

“Excellent!” Grogar turned and pranced out of the room. “Let us make haste. We do not want the place to get too crowded.”

Luna and Fluttershy exchanged confused looks, then hurried after the chuckling ram.

“Make way!” Grogar roared. “The Goddess of the Night approaches!”

The ponies in the street looked up at him, appearing confused. Grogar was currently traveling alone—Luna and Fluttershy had fallen behind helping to right a carriage that had been mysteriously flung down an alleyway.

A very young filly trotted over and looked up at him. “Luna's coming?” she asked, eyes wide.

“That is correct,” Grogar said, leaning over the filly. “And lallygaggers will suffer her wrath.”

She stared at him, then giggled. “You're a funny-looking sheep!”

His eyes flashed. “What did you just—”

The apparent mother of the filly hurried over and levitated her charge up. She glared at Grogar. “Just who do you think you are? And what do you mean, 'wrath'? It's not as if Luna's bad-tempered. She's—”

“Bad-tempered?” Grogar made his eyes as wide as possible. “The mare is a raging volcano! Get out while you can! See yourself elsewhere at once!”

The mare rolled her eyes and trotted away.

Grogar considered the busy street. A different tactic was in order, clearly.

His bell began to ring.

“Thank you, Princess!” the blue-maned shopkeeper said, as the last of the carriage's curios was put back. He gave a nervous chuckle, strapped himself into the carriage harness, and hurried off.

“Um, that was very nice of you,” Fluttershy said.

Luna smirked. “Well, it was not so nice. Uncle Curio is a known dealer in illegal devices. He was given orders last week to see himself out of Canterlot, so I was just helping him to do so.”

“Oh.” Fluttershy blinked. So he's the one who sold Trixie that amulet? He seemed so normal. I expected him to be really old, or to speak in a raspier voice or something.

Luna pointed down the road to the theater. “Come, now. Let us see what is so spectacular about Grogar's little play.”

Fluttershy nodded, though her heart was filled with dread. The last time she'd seen this play had been at Twilight's insistence, and it had not been fun. Twilight had been forced to agree to watch five romantic comedies with Fluttershy just to get her to come out from under her bed afterward.

They continued walking. After a moment, though, Fluttershy realized something. “Aren't these streets a little...um...empty?” she whispered.

Luna looked around, frowning. Indeed, the roads of Canterlot were completely barren of travelers—an exceptionally rare occurrence this close to the upcoming pageant.

From far off, Fluttershy heard a shout.

“It's got the Hearth's Warming Eve lights! Get that sheep!” A moment later, she heard an explosion.

Suddenly, Fluttershy wasn't on the ground. She was in the air, and the world had turned faintly blue. “Um—” She saw Luna running alongside her, and realized she was being levitated. So this is what it feels like, she thought. “What's going on?”

“Grogar,” Luna muttered.

Chapter Thirteen

Grogar trotted out of the theater, telekinetically emptying the rest of his popcorn into his mouth. “That was fun. We should do it again sometime.”

He glanced back, chuckling. Luna and Fluttershy exited the building after him, walking more slowly. “Assuming Her Highness wishes it, of course.”

Luna and Fluttershy exchanged looks. Behind them, the glowing Canterlot Theater sign fell off its supports and went crashing to the ground.

Grogar skipped away, humming an unfamiliar tune. He paused, blinking. “Ah, I had almost forgot.” He turned, jabbing in Luna's direction. “Several complaints have been filed over the sun's recent vanishing and placed upon your throne. I suggest you go see to them.”

Luna started. She eyed Grogar suspiciously, but the ram showed no signs of amusement. “The sun vanished? We were—I was not informed of this.”

“Hm.” Grogar raised an eyebrow. “Weren't you? I could have sworn I ordered my...” He stomped his hoof into the cobble, eyes widening. “...my, that does seem strange. Did my pet not contact you?”

Luna frowned. “Why did you not inform us?”

Grogar shrugged. “I had assumed I would not need to—though I will admit I was beginning to wonder as to your priorities.” He gave a small bow. “You have my...humblest apologies, Princess. I worry my homonculus may not be as reliable as I assumed.”

The apology sounded extremely forced, but it caught Luna off-guard. Grogar had never stooped to admitting failure, especially to a pony. Perhaps he means it, she thought.

“Um, what happened?” Fluttershy asked.

“Hm?” Grogar looked up and scowled at Fluttershy. “Oh, that. Well, the sun went dark for a second or two. Nothing to worry about, but there are some complaints.”

Luna's eyes narrowed. “Went dark? That can only mean—”

“It is all in the paperwork, Princess.” Grogar turned away and continued along. “I suggest you examine it closely.”

“But—” Luna hurried after. “Tia—Celestia may well need my help!”

And the last time I saw her, she thought, heart sinking, I dismissed her.

“Oh, probably.”

“Then surely—”

“Ahem.” Grogar cleared his throat. “I was unclear.” He looked up at the sky, giving a little laugh. “My apologies again. She probably did need your help. Three hours ago.”

Luna blinked.

Grogar winked. “That is when it took place, that is.” He quickened his pace. “By now she is either dead or otherwise neutralized, so there is no point in risking your hide. We must determine the threat. Hm.” He stopped walking for a moment to rub his chin. “I suppose Tartarus and Equestria may be forced to act as allies once again. Interesting.”

“I hardly think paperwork will—”

“You are not here to think.” Grogar shot her a glare as he started walking again. “When we fought, you were stupid. I will handle the strategy.”

Luna stood still, stunned, as he passed her by.

“Um...maybe I can go?” She turned to see Fluttershy hovering alongside her. The pegasus blushed, eying the street cobble. “I mean, um, the danger's probably gone by now. I can look.”

“Hmph!” Grogar stopped walking once again, turning to face his companions. “As I said, there is no need to risk...”

The ram trailed off.

For a moment, Grogar didn't say a word. Luna stared as he just cocked his head from side to side, looking between her and Fluttershy.

Finally, he shrugged. “As you will, then. But the Princess must remain here. She is an infinitely finite resource, while cowardly mortals are a bit a barrel.”

Fluttershy turned and took flight.

Luna's eyes widened. Watching her friend fly away, she felt a horrid sense of dread. “Fluttershy—”

“Now, now.” Grogar approached, smirking. “If you would award your ponies the freedom to live as you think is healthiest, allow them the freedom to live as you think is not.” He poked her in the side. “Otherwise, it is hypocritical; wouldn't you agree?”

Luna stared after Fluttershy's diminishing form, heart sinking.

As much as she hated to admit it, Grogar was right. Fluttershy knew the dangers. It was not Luna's choice.

She rushed to catch up with Grogar. Her head was hung all the way back to the castle, and even within, until she reached the throne room.

It was only upon her arrival that she happened to look up and realize Grogar was gone.

Fluttershy took a deep breath as she ascended above the clouds. The lake, about a minute's flight away, was visible off in the distance. She squinted, but couldn't make out much more than a silver sheen.

She took a deep breath of the cold air and sighed. She knew she hadn't been much help to Luna this morning. Whenever she'd tried to say something to combat Grogar, a part of her had always made her hold back and observe.

Probably the same part of her that really wanted to be in bed right now.

The thought brought Fluttershy shame, but she couldn't deny that Twilight certainly made insomnia look easier than it really was. She winced. I hope Luna's not too disappointed.

She spotted a little dinghy floating alone in the water and descended towards it. She noticed that the boat did not stir when she landed. Looking over the edge, she saw a couple meters of ordinary water—then a solid bed of ice that the keel of the dinghy now rested upon. The lake was refreezing from the bottom-up.

That didn't matter, though, as it did not involve her purpose. She turned and hopped down onto the solid ice.

She started walking towards the center. She started running when she noticed what was there.

The lake was quite large, so she was gasping for breath by the time she arrived at its middle. Her hooves were numb. Actually, all of her was. Most pegasi developed a healthy resistance to frostbite thanks to being able to reach such high altitudes, but she'd never even flown above Cloudsdale until today.

Fluttershy's teeth started to chatter—both from the chill and from her mounting dread—as she reached down and took in her mouth a weighty tiara.

She hesitated, then made her way back to the boat. It wasn't much warmer there, but at least there wasn't any ice on the floor. She set the crown down and curled up, trying to stop shivering.

She felt something hit the side of the boat.

She looked up, frowning, and glanced about. The lake was as silent as ever.

I'll just recover my strength, she thought to herself. Then I'm off. Luna has to know what's going on. She lay her head back down.

Something hit the boat again.

Fluttershy got up with a sigh. She peeked over the boat's edge.

Two beady black eyes stared back at her.

Luna levitated the completed form from one very large pile of scrolls to another, much smaller stack. “Sixty-eight.”

“You are making excellent progress, Princess.” Grogar grinned, entering the office and sitting in the corner. He started chewing on one of Celestia's pens. “There are only about two hundred left.”

“There you are. I was beginning to wonder where you'd got to.” Luna sighed, craning her neck to read the next form. “I had forgotten how unpleasant this task can be. I don't know how Celestia managed.”

“Hm? How she managed...when?”

Luna started, falling back into her chair. She looked at Grogar, heart pounding. “Nothing! The, ah, just meant. When I was sick. Recently. Last week.”

“Ah.” Grogar nodded.

Luna sat up again and continued going over the form. That had been a close one. But how much longer could she hide that she, Princess of the Night, had gone insane and made a deal with a Nightmare? If Grogar ever found out—

“My, my. You are in a state. Is that any way to approach a Princess?” Grogar sounded irritated. And a little disappointed.

Luna looked around the scroll pile. Her jaw dropped.

The shivering yellow pegasus who had entered was bruised, scratched up and sopping wet. There were several small white teeth stuck in her hind leg. Her eyes were red-rimmed as if she'd been crying.

But when Fluttershy spoke, she spoke very clearly. “Dire shark in the Silent Lake.” She looked at Luna, then at Grogar. “Thought you...might wanna know.”

She collapsed.

“It was...” Fluttershy sneezed, shifting under her three blankets. “...it was a dire shark. I'm sure of it.”

Grogar scoffed. He eyed a roll of parchment on Fluttershy's bedside table. I want more donuts. I am beginning to eat things that are not meant to be eaten. “A dire shark? Dire sharks are native to the land to the north of this mountain. You doubtless just ran into a creature of the lake.”

“N-no.” Fluttershy scowled at Grogar, then looked back at Luna. “It was a dire shark. Rarity and Rainbow Dash took me to Neighagra Falls last summer. I saw them there.”

“Hmph. If it had been a dire shark, you would be dead.”

Grogar's eyes darted to the left, then the right. He leaned down and snatched the parchment up, swallowing it whole. To his disappointment, it was parchment in name only. I've had no meat in two days. This is madness.

Luna looked at Grogar, rolling her eyes. “Ms. Fluttershy—”

“Um, I thought w-we agreed on just Fluttershy, Prin—Luna.”

Grogar shook his head.

Luna nodded. “My apologies. Fluttershy has a way with animals, Grogar. She doubtless convinced it to abandon its pursuit.”

“Um, yes. Sort of.” Fluttershy reached onto the table, placing a hoof on her cup of hot cocoa. “He was very angry, though. He even bit me before I was able to convince him not to.”

Grogar chuckled. Luna's gaze shot back to him and he made his face serious. Luna looked at him, eyes narrowed, then turned back to Fluttershy. “You really should go to the infirmary, Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy's hoof fumbled with the mug. Luna cast a spell, gently levitating it over to rest on Fluttershy's pillow. Fluttershy looked at it, then grasped it with both hooves. “Thanks.”

Grogar looked at Luna, then at Fluttershy. He raised an eyebrow. “Hm. Well, little winged pony, how do you believe a two-thousand pound shark native to the north managed to make its way up a mountain to a frozen lake—which, incidentally, the 'honorable' Princess Celestia should not have been fishing at; I shall have my pet make a note—to harass a creature barely meaty enough to justify chewing?”

“I, um, think somepony teleported him there.” Fluttershy took another sip of her cocoa and set it aside. “He seemed really confused. It was hard to understand, but it sounded like he didn't have any idea why he w-was there.”

Grogar growled. “Preposterous.”

Fluttershy looked up at Luna, eyes wide as saucers. “If you could please just go up there and teleport him back...it wouldn't take long. He's very scared. The lake will freeze back over soon, and then he'll be trapped with the other fish.”

“Good.” Grogar leaned away, snatching up and swallowing a towel. “The lake will preserve him until the matter of Celestia's disappearance is resolved.”

Fluttershy kept looking at Luna. Luna seemed to be hesitating.

Grogar stomped a hoof, glaring. “Princess. You have your duties.”

Luna looked at Grogar, wincing. “Yes, but...”

“Your 'duty' to this peasa—ah, champion of yours is nonexistent. Your duty to your sister—and therefore, your kingdom—is much more corporeal. The forms must be completed, that we may begin making sense of that which took her.”

Luna rolled her eyes. “Lord Grogar, new forms are arriving every minute. They all say the same thing.”

“You should not take that chance.”

“It shall take days to complete the task you've assigned me!”

Hopefully that will be long enough, Grogar thought. He cleared his throat. “So be it.” Luna opened her mouth to protest, but he held up a hoof. “There will be no protestations.” He turned to Fluttershy. “Get out of bed.”

Luna's eyes bulged. “Lord Grogar—”

Grogar stomped his hoof again. This time, a crack appeared in the floor. “Princess, you have your duty. She has hers. We are both fully aware that the only injury of any note she sustained was from her own clumsiness, and she is dry now. She is not going to freeze to death.”

Luna glared.

Grogar trotted over to the door, not looking back to see if she followed. “If you defy me again for such a trivial matter, I will see to it your reign ends tomorrow. The yellow one will live. We have much more serious duties to attend to.”

Grogar exited the room. He was beginning to get sick of dealing with ponies.

Chapter Fourteen

Little had changed three days after Fluttershy's afternoon mishap with the shark. Celestia was still missing. Grogar was still following Luna everywhere.

Indeed, the only thing that had changed was that Fluttershy was more exhausted than ever. She'd been spending all her time with Luna in Celestia's office going over forms, and she had a feeling even Twilight would have struggled with the dryness of the task.

Fluttershy noticed her hoofsteps sounded a bit muffled as she made her way down the hall. As she became aware of it, the sounds became clear again. She blinked. It was getting very hard to stay awake, especially with the hallways so empty nowadays. Sometimes, Fluttershy would wonder whether she was awake or just dreaming. Then she'd remember that to be dreaming she would have had to find time to fall asleep.

She'd promised to go to Celestia's office after supper to help Luna with the moon-raising—mostly giving moral support—but she dimly realized she was approaching the throne room. Frowning, she started to turn away when she heard a voice.

“For the last time, you brain-dead bungler, you are taking far too long!”

“That's Grogar,” Fluttershy said to herself. She slowly approached the doors and peeked through.

The great blue ram stood alone in the bright halls. He looked absolutely livid. “Bray, you try my patience! Do you know how long I've waited? The other Elementbearers will return soon! These ponies are almost as insufferable as you, and even they will have to suspect sooner or later! That moron of a moon princess is almost through with paperwork, and we're almost out of time!”

Fluttershy's eyes widened. “Oh, my,” she whispered.

Grogar was silent a moment. “Oh, I can speak aloud as I please, Bray, and if that's what it takes to get through to you—the entire castle is empty! I sacked everything that could be sacked, and I would have sacked those I couldn't if I'd been able to! I can yell as loud as I please!”

Fluttershy winced. Grogar could yell quite loud indeed.

Grogar scoffed. “Oh, are you? I would ordinarily question why you couldn't arrive early today, but I suppose it at least spares me from another night spent in the company of these two. Good, then.”

“Luna,” Fluttershy said to herself. She was barely even aware she was speaking aloud. “Need to find Luna.”

Grogar looked over sharply. “What's tha—”

He locked eyes with Fluttershy. They both froze.

Fluttershy took a step back, then turned and ran.

She'd only made it halfway down the hall when the air in front of her started to shimmer. She came to a halt as Grogar appeared in front of her, giving what he probably thought was a smile. “Ah. Ms., ah, Fluttershy, yes?”

She gave a fearful nod, cringing away.

“I believe you may have...” He cleared his throat. “...misunderstood what you saw.”

“Okay. Yes. I did.” Fluttershy nodded, trying to hide her terror. She knew how dangerous Grogar could be. She'd say anything. As long as he would let her get to Luna and warn her.

“I was simply, ah, speaking to a servant of Tartarus.” Grogar shrugged. “They are easiest to keep in line if I mock those they dislike. It is no matter.” He raised an eyebrow. “How much did you hear, anyways?”

“Just the last bit,” Fluttershy said, taking a step away. “J-just th-th-the, um, the...”

She trailed off. Grogar eyed her with narrowed eyes, his smile fading.

Then, it suddenly returned. Brighter. More real. More cruel. “Well, I suppose...as the end is swift approaching anyways...heh. I suppose it will matter not if I simply remove this complication early. I expect—”

“Fluttershy? Grogar?” Fluttershy looked over Grogar's shoulder and saw Luna rounding the corner of a side corridor. Luna's eyes widened as she beheld Fluttershy's state. “Fluttershy! What is—” She looked to Grogar, her features becoming twisted with fury. “Grogar, have you been—”

“It's nothing,” Fluttershy whispered. She heard the words exit her like they came from another.

She wanted desperately to tell Luna, to see Grogar banished and the pony who had over the last few days become so dear to her protected. But she knew how dangerous Grogar was. Luna had told her. Even Celestia had not been able to defeat him—not without Luna by her side. If Luna found out now, Grogar would act swiftly and Luna would be hurt. Even...killed.

She would have to tell Luna later. Outsmart Grogar somehow. She would find a way. Fluttershy had never felt she was especially smart—not compared to Twilight or Applejack—but she would find a way.

If she didn't, Luna would die.

They were up in the observatory now. Luna was still using it to raise the sun and moon, despite Grogar's derision, and it was once again that time.

Fluttershy looked at Grogar. The ram smirked at her, saying nothing.

She looked at Luna. The alicorn was clearly struggling. Alicorns could handle lack of sleep better than normal ponies—Fluttershy hoped, anyways—but Luna had gone far too long. Her eyes were shut tight in concentration. Beads of sweat trickled from her mane and ran down her cheeks.

The stars were already in the sky—they were the easy part. Holding her breath, Fluttershy watched the dark horizon. Slowly, a silver light trickled over, spilling its soft rays into the world.

Fluttershy gave a small sigh of relief as the moon began climbing into the sky. Then, having barely cleared the horizon, it stopped. Fluttershy frowned, looking over at Luna.

Luna stared up at the sky with glazed eyes. A soft sob escaped her.

Fluttershy looked at her friend, jaw dropping.

Luna was crying.

Fluttershy looked at Grogar, who gave her a grim smile. “Go on, then.” His red eyes glinted. He jabbed a hoof toward Luna. “Awaken the sleeping princess.”

Turning back, Fluttershy realized that the glazed look in Luna's eyes was not just weariness—Luna had fallen asleep standing. For a moment, Fluttershy found herself feeling a touch of envy. Then she saw the tears trickling down Luna's cheeks.

At once, all envy left her and she rushed over to her friend. She laid her front hooves on Luna's mane, stroking her like a scared animal. “No, no. Luna. Luna, it's alright.”

“Please,” Luna murmured, “don't let him harm her.”

“No,” Fluttershy whispered. “It's not real. Luna. Wake up.”

“Oh, in the name of Tambelon.” Grogar stomped over and leaned close to Luna.

“Wake up!” he roared.

“What!” Luna started, her eyes clearing. She looked around. “Where is he? Where is he?”

Grogar scowled. “Where is who, Your Highness?”

“Auros. Auros Osmosis.” Luna raised a shaking hoof, pointing towards the dark horizon. “He was s-standing there a minute ago!”

Fluttershy blinked. She realized she was still holding Luna, and quickly pulled back.

Grogar was emitting a low growl. “The...oh, for heaven's sake. Auros Osmosis has been dead for years. You were dreaming.”

Luna stared at him, eyes still wet with tears. “...dreaming?”

“Of course. Fool.”

“What was it like?” Fluttershy asked. “Tell us what you dreamed, and maybe we can work out what it meant.”

“Meant?” Grogar stamped his hoof. “All it meant is that—”

“Oh, it was terrible,” Luna muttered. “I...I will tell you both.” She looked up at Grogar, eyes blazing. “Only do not be frightened!”

The last word was barked, and Grogar recoiled. He looked at Luna with disgust. “Very well. Recount your dream, then raise the moon.”

“It was...a long dream.” Luna looked between Fluttershy and Grogar. “Everypony I ever knew was there. Clover the Clever...Ironhoof the Gentle...old King Batty the Mad...Farmer Redblood...”

Grogar's eyes closed. “Do you plan on reciting every despicable pony name you can recall?”

“It is the only way the dream will make sense.”

“Fine.” Grogar turned and trotted for the stairs. “I will wait below.” He glanced back sharply at Fluttershy. “Bear in mind that I will not be far.”

He made his way out of sight.

“Well,” Fluttershy said, “go on, Luna.” In truth, she wasn't really interested, but at least it gave her a chance to talk to Luna in private. Perhaps she could find a way to—

“Oh, Fluttershy.” Luna walked over and looked downstairs, then turned back. She smirked. “Grogar is a cunning old ram, but his disgust for us is his greatest weakness. There was no dream.”

Fluttershy cocked her head. “There wasn't? Then why—”

“Grogar did something.” Luna leaned in, expression turning serious. “What did he say to you, Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy wanted to cringe away, but Luna was her friend. She owed it to her to stand firm. “Um...I'll only tell you if you promise not to immediately a-attack him.” She hesitated, then quickly added, “Princess.”

Luna blinked. “I promise.”

Fluttershy took a step back, looking around. Nopony was in sight. She took a deep breath. “He was—”

“Princess!” Fluttershy and Luna both spun. Grogar was rushing back up the stairs, eyes wide with fury. “You must go at once! Somnambula has crossed the final line, and it shall mean war!”

“What?” Luna approached. “What is it?”

“We must hurry to the throne room! Princess, she's done the unthinkable!”

Luna raised an eyebrow. After a moment, she hurried over to Grogar. “Very well.”

“Princess, wait!” Fluttershy whispered, tugging on Luna's ethereal mane.

Luna glanced back. Her eyes narrowed. “The final line is an end to our worlds, Fluttershy. I know not of a force that could drive even Grogar to lie of it.”

She ran downstairs. Fluttershy watched her go, then turned to Grogar. The ram had, oddly enough, stayed behind. He grinned at her.

Fluttershy took a step back toward the stairs. She looked down, but couldn't see Luna.

Something hit her in the chest, causing her hooves to slip off the first step. She stumbled away, trying to stay upright. Her hooves flailed and she landed on her back on the staircase.

The stairs gave an ominous creak. She managed to give a scream as the structure began to collapse.

Fluttershy's eyes fluttered open. She was lying in a pile of rubble.

How had she gotten here? She tried to remember.

She had fallen. The staircase had cracked, and broken, and gone down with her. It was as Grogar had warned: the stairs were not safe for—

Grogar.

Her eyes widened. She tried to move, but felt a sharp pain in her back right leg. She craned her neck to look and quickly wished she hadn't.

A jagged piece of metal had been pointed up during her fall. She didn't know much about such injuries, but it didn't look good. She sank back to the floor.

After a moment, she heard something walking through the rubble. Something with hooves. She looked around, but couldn't see anypony. “Luna?” she called.

A face entered her field of vision. The face of a bearded ram.

Grogar growled.

“You stupid, wretched little idiot.”

“Wh...why?”

“Ha. Why not?”

“The...the line...”

“You do not even know the line's nature and still you hide behind it?” His eyes bulged. “Typical pony. Sombra was the only enemy of Luna's who wasted time with honesty. Talk of the line got her out of the way.”

“So...there's nothing in the throne room.” Fluttershy tried to look brave despite how fast her heart was beating. “Luna will come back. She'll—she'll get help.”

Grogar looked down at her. “Tell me, little pony, whose help will she acquire?”

Fluttershy stared back at him.

“Correct. Heh!” He leaned down. “Everypony in this castle is gone. It is just me, Luna and you.”

“Um...”

“What?” Grogar raised one bushy white eyebrow. “Do you disagree?”

Fluttershy tried to imitate the deadpan look she'd seen her friends use. “It...it should be 'you', Luna and I.”

He blinked.

“Just...” Her voice got firmer. “Good grammar, is all. Aren't you supposed to be a tactical g-genius?”

Grogar stared at her. He started visibly shaking with rage. Several times, his mouth opened, but no sound emerged. Fluttershy's deadpan look faded.

It hadn't occurred to her that Grogar could get angrier.

Finally, though, the ram's features softened. He gave another dark chuckle. “I see. You think you can delay me? Stall for Luna?”

He leaned down. “I may have deceived that stupid whelp, but I was not lying about the line. It is being crossed even as she rushes to meet it.”

He trotted away. “I will leave you to bleed to death, I think. There need be no hurry. Your precious Luna is never coming back.”

Chapter Fifteen

“Fluttershy! Fluttershy!” Cadance had to resist the urge to shake the small pegasus. “Fluttershy, please be okay!”

Fluttershy's eyes opened. “I...Cadance? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be back in the...the Crystal Kingdom?”

Cadance sighed with relief. “Thank goodness. No, I never left.” Her eyes narrowed. “I just let Grogar think so. I've been looking for Aunt Celestia and Fancypants.”

Fluttershy tried to rise. Cadance gently held her down. “Fancypants is missing? When did he get back? Are Twilight and—”

“No, it's just him. Don't move, you'll make your leg worse. A doctor's on the way.” Cadance tried not to look directly at the injury—just the sight of blood generally made her sick. “I couldn't tell you he arrived because I had to keep Grogar from seeing me, and he never left your side.”

She frowned. “Speaking of Grogar, where is he? How on Equestria did this happen?”

“Grogar. He...he pushed me.” Fluttershy's eyes widened. “Ca—Princess Cadance, you've got to get to Luna!”

“He pushed you?” Cadance reared up, voice raising. “I'll club that jerk into mutton! He can't just—”

“Please, there's no time! Grogar's leading her into a trap! She's in the throne room, and—”

Cadance heard nothing more, for she had turned on trap and started running at throne room.

Cadance was a very good runner, of course—one had to be in order to foalsit a unicorn. The throne room was all the way beyond the courtyard, though, so she had quite a bit of running to do.

Far, far away from Canterlot, right at the edge of the Equestrian Southern Borders, a hooded red figure made its way into a cavern.

It was a small cavern, Somnambula noted; just a few meters in was the cave's back. She'd never been here before, and had she not been given an excellent set of directions, she would surely have passed this cave by without another thought.

But her directions had been sound.

She held up three crystals—the blue crystal, the little silver one, and a large yellow one. Her golden eyes began to glow. The blue and amber crystals began flashing frantically, but she only smiled.

Quiet yourselves, my little ponies. It's far too late for that now.

The stone forming the back wall began to turn black.

“Auntie!” Cadance called. She paused running to turn and buck open the doors to the courtyard, then rushed out.

Without gardeners, the courtyard had become a weeded wasteland. Only the presence of alicorns—who were, after all, part earth pony—had kept the original plants alive. The weeds, excited at the absence of their supernatural oppressors, had taken advantage and accelerated their growth tenfold. Already they were scraping Cadance's underbelly, running over the stone path like a parasite seeking a new host.

Cadance bolted over them. She could see Luna now through a window—her aunt was walking down the hallway through the door on the other side of the courtyard. Grogar was at her side.

“Auntie!” Cadance shouted again. It was no use. Luna, engaged in conversation with Grogar, could not hear.

They were nearing the throne room now. Cadance's eyes narrowed. Fine. If she couldn't do this subtly...

Her horn acquired a soft azure glow. If she could just make the window shatter, Luna would notice, and something could be done. It was a somewhat tricky spell, since she wasn't very good at kinetics, but she had always prided herself on being able to perform adequately when stakes were dire.

Before she could start the spell, though, something hit her in the face. Hard.

She fell, landing in the tall grass. She looked up to see a mangy old donkey standing on the path. In his teeth he clutched an old baseball bat. She recognized him instantly. “Bray!”

Bray approached, saying something that probably would have been threatening had he not had a bat garbling his words. Then he raised the bat and brought it down on her head.

Cadance would know no more for a while.

Luna and Grogar hurried down the hallway. Grogar was deathly silent. Though Luna didn't speak, her mind was racing. How could Somnambula have accomplished this? The action the Witch of All Ages sought to take should have been impossible. Especially since the dragons still kept her prisoner.

“Grogar, how did—”

“Silence! No time!”

Luna scowled, glancing over at him. “But the dragons—”

“We must make it to the throne room!”

She rolled her eyes. “Then why walk?”

“You may run, if you please.”

Luna did so, quickly passing Grogar by.

A few seconds later, she arrived at the entrance to the throne room by the end of the hall. She skidded to a halt, horn glowing, and the door swung open.

She rushed inside, hearing Grogar follow. “So,” she said, looking around, “why did we come here?”

“I suggest you look closer if you don't already know.”

Luna stared. The windows seemed ordinary enough. Celestia's throne as well. “I do not—”

Then she saw it.

“Where in the million stars is my throne?”

“It appears to be missing.” Grogar walked up behind her. “Now, why would that be?”

“I—”

“The Witch of All Ages has never understood the concept of teamwork.” She heard Grogar chuckle. “I expect it did not occur to her to include a second throne.”

“Include a—”

Luna had been walking towards Celestia's throne, but now she stopped. She took a step back. “An illusion.”

“It would seem so.”

“Why would she—”

She heard the ringing of a bell.

The illusion winked out. There was a great clanging as glowing silver bars appeared in front of her, blocking the thrones. She spun just as an identical set landed between her and Grogar.

She looked up. The bars went all the way to the ceiling.

She turned back to Grogar. “What is the meaning of this?”

Grogar's eyes narrowed. “Stupid, stupid little foal. What is the meaning of it, you ask?”

He stomped his hoof and his bell rang. Out of the floor rose a hemisphere the same color as the bars. “What is the meaning of everything? Forcing me outside my city to deal with ponies? Turning on your own world so your shadow can reign, while mine must be smothered?”

Luna froze. She looked at Grogar. The ram returned her gaze.

“You knew.”

“How could I not?” Grogar looked up at the ceiling, growling. “I knew ever since you first left. You left your post, and you think to trouble me over what is the meaning of this?”

He leaned in, giving a fierce grin. “I intend to rule Tambelon once again. And I will not tolerate Equestria this time. Nor will I bear the intervention of Tartarus. I have the world now.”

Luna blinked. “Do you?”

Grogar turned away, laughing without mirth. “I have brought down the alicorn sisters. I have conquered Tartarus. And...” He glanced back. “I have the key.”

“Ridiculous. You don't even know what the key is!” Despite her words, Luna felt her heart beating rapidly. He couldn't know. And even if he did, he could never—

“Master!”

Grogar and Luna both looked. Standing at the entrance was a hideous donkey. Strapped to its back was something small and golden.

“Bray.” Luna's mouth was dry. “You...you live?”

Grogar smirked. “As long as he serves me, I keep him alive.”

“Of course. How happy for him.”

Bray rushed over to Grogar. “I have it, Lord Grogar!”

Grogar's bell swung sharply, causing the gold item on Bray's back to levitate into the air. Grogar eyed it, raising an eyebrow. “Why this, Princess?”

Luna didn't say anything.

“Of all the Elements, why Kindness to bind Tambelon?” His voice turned bitter. “Kindness for cruelty.”

Luna took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. “It had to be bound away with something utterly unknown to you.”

“Anger on behalf of another. Bah.” The Element of Kindness floated over and clasped around Grogar's neck. He started toward the door. “Laughter would have served just as well.”

“You laugh quite often.” Luna's voice was just a murmur—she had to think of a way out of this.

Grogar stopped. He turned back, looking...a bit surprised. And quite angry. “So does a crow. Do you take the crow for a comedian?”

Luna's head cocked. She didn't respond.

Grogar waited. When it became clear she was not going to answer, he let out a growl. “Very well. Perhaps one with a healthier sense of humor will suit you better.”

“What?”

Grogar walked outside the throne room. “You never were very quick on the uptake,” he called back. “The Gate is open, the hound put to slumber.” He paused. When he continued, his voice was almost a hiss. “The Worm has left his hole.”

“Foolishness,” Luna snapped. “He is the last creature of Tartarus you would ever release.”

“Exactly. You are a quicker study than I'd assumed, Princess.”

Luna stared at the departing ram. Wait, what?

The door slammed shut.

Chapter Sixteen

The fight was over. Tirek and Celestia lay side-by-side, near-buried in the deep snow.

Celestia tried and failed to rise. Her strength had left her.

She was not powerful enough. It was that simple—she just didn't know enough magic. Grogar was seasoned and she was young.

She heard Grogar laughing and tried to tune him out. Her eyes closed tight, but several tears trickled out.

Celestia had always seen herself as very brave. When Discord had stolen her and Luna's friendship, she had still had the determination to keep trying to stop him—and, later, to overcome his magic. She had stood up to countless monsters before now, never wavering.

But she didn't want to die.

She felt a shift in the cold snow and felt Grogar's foul breath on the top of her head. She knew he was about to kill her, but all she could think to say was... “There never was very much hope.”

Grogar didn't say anything. She twisted to look up at the ram, seeing he looked somewhat surprised.

Slowly, she got to her feet. “I'm not stupid, Grogar. Of course I couldn't beat you.”

She wasn't sure what she was trying to do. Stall, perhaps? Or perhaps she just wanted to die with dignity.

Grogar cocked his head. “You still tried. Because you're stupid.”

“No, because you're stupid.”

Grogar blinked. He hesitated.

“No, you are.”

“No, you are.” Celestia really had no idea what she was trying to do, but judging by Grogar's twisting expression, it was having an effect.

“No, you are, you stupid pony!”

“No.” Celestia took a deep breath of the cold air. “You are, Grogar.”

“No, you—gah!” Grogar stomped his hoof into the snow. “Stop that, you fool!”

“You fought me.” Celestia glanced over, noticing that Tirek was not trying to rise. Considering his injuries, that was understandable. “You wasted time fighting a filly when you could have been protecting Tambelon.”

Grogar scoffed, shaking his head at the clouds above. “Luna cannot ring the bell. Was that your great plan?”

“That doesn't change how stupid it was.”

“Stop saying—it was a tactical decision to annihilate a threat early on!”

“No, you just got mad.”

Grogar took a step back. To Celestia's confusion, he looked spooked. “How can I not, when confronted with morons like—”

“Everypony gets mad.” She saw Grogar about to object, so she quickly went on. “Everything, too. I do.”

“Princess...” She looked over at Tirek. The centaur appeared annoyed. “...exactly what are you doing?”

“I'm just saying.” Celestia looked back at Grogar, frowning. “Luna almost never gets mad, so I sent her to Tambelon. Because when you're mad, you're stupid. And right now...” She took a step forward. “...I'm so mad that I'm not even scared of you.”

Grogar blinked.

Celestia started to cast a spell. She was pretty sure she could. Just one more try.

But something sliced through her concentration. A vaguely familiar voice.

“Wow. It takes far too long to climb up here!”

She and Grogar both turned

Luna took a deep breath. Well, I suppose it's now or never.

Her horn took on a soft azure sheen as she began to concentrate. As the magic grew in intensity, her eyes turned white with power.

With a cry, she tried to shove her head between the bars.

A moment later she pulled her head back, groaning.

She rubbed her eyes. It was no good; the bars were spaced too fine. This marked the last of several attempts to overcome the power of the cell. She'd hoped that if she could just get clear, her magic would start working. Unfortunately, that was a big 'if'.

“Oh, this is too much!”

Luna's eyes shot open. She had a visitor.

Grogar had left the throne room doors shut, and the windows had gone black so she couldn't see what was going on outside. As such, the room was dark. Fortunately, her keen night vision allowed her to easily pick out the newcomer.

A scrawny white unicorn with a messy white mane and white eyes without pupils or irises had silently entered the room. Heavy bags hung under the unicorn's eyes, which was a bit odd, as Luna knew he was dead.

Luna met his blank eyes. “Hello, Auros.”

“Not who you were expecting, I should hope!” The colorless unicorn giggled, trotting over to the cell.

“I was hoping it would be somepony interesting.”

Auros Osmosis looked up at the ceiling and gave a manic, sarcastic laugh. “Witty as always, Lulu. So-o-o incredibly witty.”

Luna just scowled. “They released you.”

“Well, yes!” Auros looked at her, grinning. “Grogar needed somepony who knew where the key was. I gave him a, uh, nudge!” He cast a spell, illuminating the room with a dull gray glow. “I am a free pony, Princess! No more ghosts!”

“You are a ghost. Surely even you can realize you are supposed to be dead.”

“Yes.” Auros's grin faded and he scowled. “I've been meaning to thank you for that.” He tapped the silvery hemisphere Grogar had created. It gave a little ding like it was made of glass. “Grogar did me the substantial kindness of telling me where to find you.”

“What...” Luna hesitated. “What is it like out there?”

“Out there?” Auros blinked. Then his eyes narrowed to pale slits. He leaned in, voice lowering to a growl. “It's your chaos, Princess. They're all going to die and it's your fault for trusting the old sheep.”

“My little ponies will not fall so easily.” Luna wished she felt the confidence she was showing. “You underestimate them as soundly as you underestimate everything.”

Auros blinked again. “Excuse me? Hey!” He stomped a hoof, giving what was almost a pout. “Underestimation? As I recall, you only cheated!”

“And betraying Tia right after her battle with Arabus was the height of fair play.”

The dead unicorn sniffed. “If you're going to hand over blame just because you're all stupid, there's no point in us chatting, is there?”

“That sits well with me. You've not gotten any less irritating with age.”

Auros flinched away, looking furious. “Irritating, am I?” His horn began to glow with white energy. “Well, I'll just go ahead and cut this indulgence of mine short. Those bars only block your magic, not mine. Looks like I win Round Three!”

Luna looked at Auros. Over the centuries, she had become accustomed to the threat of her death. It seemed fitting that it would finally be brought about by the first and only pony she'd ever had to kill.

Auros gave a giggle as the light grew in intensity. “This is it, Luna. This is the start of the beginning of my story. This is—”

A blue vase came down and shattered to a hundred pieces over over Auros's head.

Auros blinked. He swayed. Water dripped through his now-soaked mane as he struggled to say something.

Instead, he collapsed.

Fluttershy hovered behind the prone unicorn, clutching the vase's now-homeless spider plant. She looked at Luna, then at Auros, eyes wider than Luna had ever seen. “Omigoodness.”

Luna had only twice before in her entire life been so happy to see somepony. “Fluttershy, are you alright?”

Fluttershy's back right leg had a piece of metal sticking out of it. The wound did not look good, but Fluttershy seemed unaware of it. She nodded, still looking at Auros. “Yes. Omigoodness.”

“Fluttershy.” Luna tried to keep her voice even. “You must destroy the hemisphere. Now, before something else shows up. I believe it is more fragile than it appears.”

“Y-yes. Of course.” Fluttershy slowly landed on the floor, setting the plant down, and crouched so that she was facing away from the hemisphere.

She hesitated; then, clearly putting all her strength into it, she kicked with her left hind leg.

There was a musical ting as her hoof softly bumped the hemisphere.

Her hoof fell back to the floor. Fluttershy looked behind her, wincing. “Oh. Sorry.”

“Hit it harder!” Luna could tell her tone was starting to get desperate. “You must, Fluttershy!”

Fluttershy closed her eyes. “I—I'll try!”

She 'kicked' it again with about the same amount of force.

Luna groaned.

She heard laughter. Auros was slowly getting up, spitting out a bit of blood as he did so. “That's really pathetic, you know that?” He was not very tall—Fluttershy actually normally stood about an inch higher—but Fluttershy's crouch allowed him to loom over her. “You can't even break a glass ball.”

Luna glared. “Auros, leave her out of this.”

“She hit me with a ming!” Auros beamed at the flinching Fluttershy, leaning uncomfortably close. “I think that was rude.”

Luna pressed against the bars. “Auros, you deranged—”

“And she's a friend of yours!” Auros gave another giggle. “I think I have some sound reason to act, don't you? Turnabout is fair play.”

Fluttershy cringed. “I'm sorry!”

“You really are.” Auros's horn began to glow again. “That's just so adorable.”

“Auros!” Luna cried. “Please. This is wrong. Even you know that.”

“You can't do a thing about it.”

“It's not—”

“I'll kill this little one.” The horn's glow got brighter as Auros's pitch got higher. Fluttershy gave a tiny whimper, taking another step back. “And then I'll kill you. And Celestia. And everypony in my way.” Auros's eyes narrowed. “I will never have to—eh?”

Fluttershy had stiffened. She took an uneven breath. “Wh-what did you say?”

“Oh!” Auros waved a hoof in the air dismissively. “I said I'd kill everypony I had to.” He leaned closer. “And you can't do a thing about it. Does that upset you?”

Fluttershy blinked. “Yes.”

She brought both hooves back.

Auros's head tilted. “Wh—”

She smashed her hooves into the hemisphere. There was a harsh hum and her eyes widened as several little arcs of electricity passed over her.

Then the hemisphere went dead.

Auros stared at Fluttershy. Then he looked over at Luna. Luna looked back at him, raising an eyebrow. The bars had vanished.

His blank eye twitched.

He gave a nervous chuckle. “Uh. Well, that's, uh, well!” He took a step away from the other two. “Listen, I think—”

Luna cast a spell, and Auros slammed back into the wall. He yelped as she ran up to him. “Wait! I can—I can help!”

Luna felt her eyes begin to burn as her mind went over a code she hadn't had to use in over a thousand years.

“No! Don't—don't do that!” Auros squirmed against the grip of her spell. “You need my help!”

Her eyes began to burn hotter. She knew they would be giving off a white glow now as Auros's eyes began to glow blue.

“Don't you dare!” His voice became a shriek. “I won't go back! Don't wanna—”

There was a blue flash and Auros was gone. In his place was no more than a silver wisp of fog.

Luna jerked her head to the south. The wisp sped off with a hiss, streaking through a window and out of sight.

Luna's eyes began to slowly return to normal. She gave a sigh. “Tirek,” she muttered, “does that spell really have to be so itchy?”

“Um...Princess Luna?”

Luna looked back. Fluttershy was eying her with an expression close to fear.

Luna frowned. “I did think we had agreed on just Luna, Fluttershy.”

“Oh. Right.” Fluttershy nodded. She looked down at the floor. “Sorry. About...”

Luna hurried over, placing a hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder. “There is nothing to be sorry about, Fluttershy.” She smiled. “I owe you my life.”

Fluttershy sighed. “Yes.” She looked up at Luna, looking confused. “Um, did you really have to...to k-k-k-kill him, Luna?”

“Hold still one moment.” Luna began using her magic to extract the piece of metal from Fluttershy's leg. “I did not. He was already dead.”

“Ouch! Um, okay. But—”

“Tell me, Fluttershy.” Luna began casting a more complicated spell, healing Fluttershy's injury. “Do you have worms at your cottage?”

“Oh, yes!” Fluttershy's face lit up. “All kinds, Luna. Nightcrawlers and leeches and—”

“I refer to nightcrawlers. Being the Princess of the Night means I am blessed with some understanding of their...conversations.” Luna scowled. “It might surprise you to learn that they have much to say. They are useful creatures, most definitely.”

“Oh, yes.” Fluttershy nodded. “Applejack's told me how good they are for the soil.”

“Indeed. But they are all of one thought, one goal. To feed. And it is certain folly to try to control them.” She looked down at Fluttershy. “Do you understand?”

Fluttershy looked between Luna and the area of the wall where Auros had been. “I think so.”

“Good.” Luna gave a sad smile. “Because, regardless, the dead should not be wandering among the living. Which reminds me—” She approached the doors. “Now that your leg is healed, it is time to see what shenanigans Grogar has been up to in my absence.”

Chapter Seventeen

“Excuse me, Princess, but I believe you've strayed to my side of the room again.”

Celestia looked at her inmate, trying to contain her frustration. “What room? There is infinite space, Fancypants.”

“And you appear to be on my side of the infinite space.”

She gritted her teeth. This had been going on ever since she'd arrived. “Excuse me, Fancypants. Again, I apologize for not thinking to bring a spare monocle with me. But there are no sides of infinite space, so stop going on about it!”

Fancypants sniffed, adjusting his cracked eyepiece. “I'm just not accustomed to these conditions.”

“Neither am I, but I at least manage to handle them with dignity. You've done nothing but complain since I arrived!”

“Well, there was nopony to complain to before that, Princess.” Fancypants started pacing. He looked up, frowning. “Besides, I am of nobility. It is a Princess's duty to languish in mystical dungeons, not a mere count's. It's really most unseemly.”

“You were quite alright going to the dragon lands.”

“Well, the dragons didn't lock me into a mystical dungeon, did they?” Fancypants's eyes flashed. “Frankly, Princess, I'm not exactly certain how you all manage it. Just stay on your side.”

“There is no side!”

Fancypants started drawing an invisible line in the mist.

There were not, as Luna had feared, dozens of escapees swarming the countryside.

There were hundreds.

The hills were alive with the horde of Tartarus. Luna wasn't certain her illusions would be able to carry her and Fluttershy to the Gate—even abusing the No-Fly and No-Teleport Zones placed around the Southern Equestrian borders—and she was very reluctant to try.

There were a lot of monsters between them and the Gate, after all.

A black pony galloped towards them, ridden by a dragon-shaped shadow. The pony's head was detached and carried under the arm of its rider. Luna held her breath as it approached.

“Does it see us?” Fluttershy asked. Her voice was low, despite the fact that Luna's magics would disguise it as no more than the wind.

Luna shook her head, trying to feign confidence. In reality, Dullahan was known for her skill in seeing through illusions. Luna really wasn't certain hers would hold up.

Dullahan drew near and stopped. Around them surged the former prisoners of the great prison beneath the earth, but the head of Dullahan paid them no heed. Her beady black eyes darted around with lightning speed, as if reading a massive scroll only she could see, and came to settle on Luna.

The creature's unnatural grin became even wider as she stared.

Luna began to sweat. Creatures capable of seeing through illusions were rarely found in Tartarus—dragons insisted on handling their criminals within their own brutal system—and she had so dearly hoped she wouldn't run into any here.

She hasn't seen me yet. Luna was sure of that much. If Dullahan had seen her, the alarm would have already been sounded. Luna had hurt Dullahan too fiercely in their last encounter for the creature to be forgiving now.

The shadow atop Dullahan shifted to swat at something Luna couldn't see. Dullahan's eyes darted up as she gave a snarl.

The shadow swatted again. Dullahan began growling at the shadow, berating it in a tongue Luna didn't know. The shadow looked irritated, gesticulating wildly in the air.

“Come on,” Fluttershy said, tugging on Luna's mane with her teeth. “While she's distracted.”

She and Fluttershy hurried away—only to nearly run into something else. Namely, an angry little honeybee.

Luna was about to just go around, but Fluttershy stretched our her hoof and allowed the bee to land. It buzzed at her. “What's that?” She appeared to listen. “Oh, I'm so sorry. We didn't mean to.”

Luna rolled her eyes. “Fluttershy—”

Fluttershy glanced at Luna with a slightly guilty expression, then back at the buzzing bee, giving a little giggle. “Oh, um, yes, maybe just a little.”

The bee buzzed. Fluttershy gave another giggle, again glancing at Luna. “Okay, maybe a lot.”

Luna blinked. The bee gave another short buzz.

“Oh, that's fine, I understand completely. Thank you very much for your time.”

The bee took off into the air. Luna scowled after it. “Did he say something about me?”

“No time.” Fluttershy started running. “We have to follow that bee.”

“What? Fluttershy, you're going right into the midst of the—”

But Fluttershy was already out of range of the shared sight spell that allowed them to communicate. If Luna stood around much longer, Fluttershy would exit the illusion's range as well.

Cursing, Luna hurried after.

The little bee led Fluttershy into a strange little building. Although the size of her cottage, the thing was shaped like a hornet nest and constructed of what appeared to be beeswax.

Inside were a number of odd creatures. They superficially resembled wasps, but bore somewhat ponylike visages, and most had stringy brown hair atop their carapaced scalps. They were also about twice Fluttershy's size.

One of them—a corpulent monster twice Fluttershy's size—lay back on a bright yellow throne at the nest's center. Upon the creature's mat of greasy hair sat a garnet-studded silver crown. She sucked hungrily at a bouquet of flowers, causing them to turn black in her meaty grasp.

The bee-like creature didn't appear to have noticed Fluttershy. Hesitantly, Fluttershy took a step forward. “Um...excuse me?”

The bee's head shot up, locking beady black eyes with Fluttershy's wide blue ones. They stared at each other for a moment. Then the bee tossed the bouquet of flowers aside. “There you are. I must say, it's high time.”

Fluttershy blinked. “Um...me?”

The bee glanced at her. “Hm? What?” She rolled her eyes, pointing up over Fluttershy's shoulder. “Don't be stupid. I was addressing our recently departed Princess.”

Fluttershy turned. Luna stood there, scowling. The alicorn dipped her head slightly. “Queen Bumble.”

“Hmph.” Queen Bumble sniffed, holding out a claw expectantly. One of the other giant bees quickly handed her a bouquet, which she began sucking at as she spoke. “Queen Bumble the Twenty-Eighth. You've been gone a while, you know.”

Cadance opened her eyes. She slowly sat up, clutching her head with her front hooves. Sun and moon, but it hurt.

Bray was nowhere to be seen, and the baseball bat lay abandoned next to her. Noticing a bit of blood on it, she felt the top of her head and let out a groan.

A voice suddenly rang out from above. The voice was almost a hiss, as if the speaker was exhaling as he spoke. “The head has gone 'batty', the brain of this one thinks.”

Another voice came, harsh and brittle like snapping twigs. “Give it up, ye old windbag. Thy 'joke' still makes the sense possessed by dragon poetry.”

Cadance looked up. The first speaker was a translucent blue horse with silver eyes shining with malice. The second was a holey-legged pony-like creature with solid blue eyes, chitinous plates for skin, and insect-like wings. Both were rather emaciated.

She sighed. “A changeling and a windigo. Wonderful.”

“Oh, yes,” the changeling snapped, “feel free to dismiss myself by the name of mine species. Varlet.”

“This one thinks the mouth's grasp of verbalized communication has degenerated thanks to its host's long stay in—”

“Silence thyself, cur!” The changeling glared at the windigo, then looked back to Cadance. “Thou shalt not refer to thy slayer as a mere changeling. Mineself has a name, and a fine story. Once, I was thy aunt's most fearsome of scallywags to face...”

“The brain (of the alicorn) cares not for the mouth's (of the changeling) tales. The brain doubtless wishes to hear the story of this one, whose presence in Tartarus (prior to the intervention of the key [born by the hand {of the Witch}]) is the tragic saga which most would desire to—”

“I don't care about either of those stories,” Cadance said. “What was that about being my 'slayer'?”

“I was imprisoned in yon cell for eight score generations.” The changeling drifted down to land in front of Cadance, giving a toothy smile. “I believe the slaying of mine old enemy would avenge mineself sufficiently to return to yon hive of King Cocoon with pride.”

“The heart (of the King) was pierced by the horn fifteen changeling generations ago. This one believes that the head (of the Queen) took the crown shortly after and has born it since. Regardless.” The windigo landed much more slowly than the changeling, as if very weak. “The head will be battier than before, this one expects.”

The changeling rolled her eyes. “I had thought death by the vines would be a more fitting death—strangulation for our starvation—but it matters little.” Her horn glowed and the bat rose jerkily into the air.

“W-wait!” Cadance tried to get to her hooves when her head gave a painful throb. No. Sitting was good.

Instead, she took a deep breath and locked eyes with the changeling. “Are you really going to let one of his kind push you around?”

The changeling's eye twitched. “Dost thou think I care overmuch as to the method of thy execution?”

“Well...” Cadance rubbed her temples, lowering her head to the ground. “It's just, you've waited so long. You're going to let that scrawny monster decide how your revenge is carried out?”

Though her head did hurt, the rubbing of her temples was a cover—behind her hooves, she was working a spell to isolate sounds. If this was to work, she couldn't allow the windigo to catch wind of it.

The changeling blinked. “Huh.” She shuddered a bit. Cadance heard the former inmate's stomach rumble.

“And you're so hungry, too,” Cadance muttered. “It doesn't seem fair to me, anyways.”

The changeling shuddered again, then turned to the windigo, glaring. “We're killing her my way. We'll hang her from the willow tree!”

The windigo cocked its head. “It matters little to this one.”

As the changeling made her way over to get some vines, Cadance quickly switched the sound isolation to target the windigo. “You're really going to let her tell you what to do? Your kind used to practically rule hers!”

“It...matters little.” The windigo's left foreleg started trembling.

Both of these creatures were so exhausted from their imprisonment that this was nowhere near a fair 'fight', Cadance realized. Their wills were gone. It was a miracle they'd even reached the castle, really.

She hated using her talents to spread hate and distrust, and using them on those who were no longer stable enough to resist felt even worse. But what choice did she have?

“You're starving,” Cadance hissed. “You've been locked up for centuries. Now you want to give me a painless death? Just because a piece of meat says so?”

The windigo's leg started spasming worse. It cocked its head, then turned to the changeling. “This one...thinks not.”

Cadance gave a grim smile.

Chapter Eighteen

“What do you want, Queen Bumble?”

Queen Bumble munched on one of the clover flowers, looking thoughtful. “That is an intriguing question.”

“Spare us the monologue, please.” Luna rolled her eyes. “I have heard enough self-indulgent villainous rambling today to last me a lifetime.”

“Hmph.” Queen Bumble leaned forward in her beeswax throne. As she did so, Luna felt the wax abode lift into the air and start moving. “You always were the ruder of the two.”

“In case you've not heard, I have been gone of late. I don't believe we've ever met. And if my sister imprisoned you, that is hardly—”

“Certainly not.” The bee-like creature's piggish eyes narrowed. “We have respected the terms of the Sunstone Treaties for twenty-three generations. And regardless, I would not be pursuing revenge if I had been imprisoned.”

Luna's eyebrows rose. “Really?”

“Hmph!” The Queen sucked the last of the nectar from her bouquet and threw the blackened flowers aside. Immediately another bouquet was thrust into her arms. “Too many villai—er, non-morally-motivated entrepreneurs—concern themselves with the past.”

She waved the flowers in the air. “We Bumbles focus on the here and now. That's how we've kept the kingdoms in order and it's why I'm here amongst this...rabble.” She gestured to the exit. Luna noticed a yellow curtain had been placed over the entranceway to block prying eyes. “I had a feeling I'd be able to catch you in the act. Invading neutral territory with a champion—”

“Must everypony insist on using that term—”

“—and in direct opposition to the wishes of the Ruler of Tartarus, I've no doubt.” Queen Bumble smirked, crossing four of her six arms (or were they legs? Luna had never really understood the anatomy of the dire bees).

Luna sighed, taking a step forward. Immediately Bumble's eyes flashed. One of her antennas gave a twitch and Luna stopped short as the two bees closest to Bumble swung spears to intercept.

Luna eyed the spears, heart sinking. “Your many-greats grandmother would never have approved of this distrust. I remember a time when Equestria and the Bee Nations were allies.”

Queen Bumble sucked at her bouquet in silence.

“What changed?” Fluttershy asked.

Queen Bumble shrugged.

“Queen Bumble.” Luna looked up at the ceiling, shaking her head. “You might as well answer Fluttershy. She is friend to all living things and I know not what justification there is for being rude to her.”

Queen Bumble raised an eyebrow. After appearing to consider this, she lowered the bouquet. “Oh, fine. For the sake of my dearly beloved 'many-greats' grandmother.”

She fell silent. The Queen began to tremble.

Luna's eyes widened as she realized the obese bee...was standing up. Not even Queen Bumble the Fifth—a good friend of Clover the Clever's—had been this rotund, and she had only left her throne once to escape Discord.

Queen Bumble loomed over Luna and Fluttershy, pursing her lips. “What changed, you ask? The moon shone two hours too long.”

Luna groaned.

“Besides which, things change simply as years go by.” Queen Bumble gave a little half-chuckle. “You understand this is all Luna's fault, I should hope?”

Luna gritted her teeth. “If the purpose of this is just to—”

“I am speaking.” Queen Bumble shot a glare at Luna, then looked back at Fluttershy. She sat back in her chair. “That's what changed. Everything except her. And that's why we should escort her back to Equestria before she has the chance to start a war.”

“You don't get it, though,” Fluttershy said. “The war's here. Grogar is going to take over everything!”

Bumble sniffed. “Well, as long as I am unaffected, why should we trouble ourselves over it?”

Fluttershy hesitated. She looked at Luna. “B-because it would be wrong?”

“That depends on your definition. Things are not always so simple as they appear, pony.”

Fluttershy frowned. “But sometimes they are, aren't they?”

“So childish.”

“But they are.”

Queen Bumble arched an eyebrow. “What do you think to accomplish by all this?”

Fluttershy pointed to the exit. “They were all locked up for reasons. What Grogar is doing is mean. You just want an excuse to do the wrong thing, but if you're going to do the wrong thing at least have the integrity to admit it.”

Queen Bumble grimaced. She looked between Fluttershy and Luna. “You wound me with your truths, pony.”

Everyone was silent for a moment.

“Wait, is that it?” Luna's head cocked. “You admit to being wrong?”

Queen Bumble shrugged. “How am I supposed to argue with logic? Much as I'd like to dispute it, Equestria must stand.” She waved a leg. “I give you leave to go.”

“That's not enough!” Luna snapped. All eyes turned to her. She took a deep breath. “I apologize. But we need to be taken behind the hordes and you may well be our best chance.”

“Why should we take such a risk?”

Luna stomped her hoof. My patience is gone. “If we are to fail, Grogar's quest for vengeance will eventually lead him to the Crystal Empire. The Empire is nearly as difficult to capture as Canterlot. Do you truly believe he will not attempt to overcome all possible threats around the kingdom beforehand?”

“We do not—”

“And if we win...” Luna leaned closer. “I will see to it that your nation pays for putting ours at risk. Dearly.”

Queen Bumble dropped her bouquet, staring in shock. “You have been gone a long time. Your ponies are no longer prepared for war. Idle threats will not impress us.”

“War comes whether or not one is prepared.”

“Hey!” Fluttershy waved a hoof in front of Luna's face, as if to snap her out of a trance. “What are you doing?”

“What must be done. When diplomacy fails, action must follow. If the bees will not help us—”

“Then they've done nothing wrong!” Luna looked at Fluttershy. To her surprise, Fluttershy was glaring. “If we can't convince them to help, we have to find another way. You can't force them to help, Princess. That's just as wrong as what Grogar is doing!”

Though she was hurt, Luna scoffed. “It is difficult to make an omelet—”

“Without murdering some baby birds, I know. It doesn't matter. It's wrong.”

“You could never understand, Fluttershy. But do not intervene.” Luna hesitated. “It is...treason to contradict a Princess during diplomatic talks.”

“So this is how the Princess of the Night handles her subjects.” Queen Bumble sounded amused. “Like a medieval warlord. Like an elementary school bully.”

Luna's eye twitched as she spun to face the Queen. “I have not had any sleep for a week and I do not plan on standing for this. However,” she shot a vicious look at Fluttershy, “as it seems I am the only being here with priorities, I will be forced to make my own way.”

She started towards the exit, then glanced back. “But if I leave this honeycomb, there will be consequences, Bumble. Are you prepared to face them?”

Queen Bumble looked at Luna, then gave a long, weary sigh. “This comb has been in motion since you entered. Where do you think we have been going?”

Luna stared back at Queen Bumble. Heart filled with dread, she poked her head past the curtain.

They had stopped right next to a hill. In the hill was a dark cave. At the cave's back was a great iron door.

“This has been an illuminating conversation,” Queen Bumble called as Luna got out. “A pleasure, as always.”

Chapter Nineteen

Somnambula eyed the shattered hemisphere with disgust.

“Stupid, stupid worm...”

The Princess was out. Well, wasn't this just perfect.

She drew out the two crystals she had left. The alicorn's power—siphoned into Somnambula—was great enough that Somnambula was confident she could beat Luna in a fight, but she wasn't eager to test it.

It was all Grogar's fault.

“How fortunate...” she muttered, “...that Grogar will soon cease to be a factor.”

“How come?”

Her head shot up. She looked around the dark throne room, but there was no-one to be seen.

“Who is that?” she demanded.

“'That' is me!” Somnambula turned to see a pair of bright eyes: one green, one purple.

It was an earth pony—one staring at her through a stained glass window so her coloration could not be determined. Not that Somnambula would have been able to recognize her anyways. Somnambula chuckled. “And who are you supposed to be?”

“Oh, just somepony.” The pony waved a hoof dismissively. She beamed. “So! Whatcha doing here? It looks like all of Canterlot's overrun!”

We're on the fourth floor! Somnambula thought. How is this pony flying without wings?

Unfortunately, all she could see of the many-hued creature was her head. “Yes. So it is. I am...here to avoid the chaos.” Somnambula had use for another battery, come to think of it. But the window would reflect the device's power. “Why don't you come on in so we can discuss it?”

“Huh.” The pony frowned. “Uh...sure!” She brightened. She lifted two hooves and pressed them against the window.

She then pulled them pack, pulling the window out as if it had merely been resting in its frame. The pony—bright pink, Somnambula saw—seemed to have her hooves stuck to the window, and started trying to shake it loose. “Darnit! This dumb old—”

The window detached from her hooves—taking some fur with it—and flew up into the air.

The pink pony watched it go up. “Huh. Maybe I better talk to Kooky Krastos about her new brand of—hey!”

Somnambula had taken advantage of the distraction to whip out a silver rod and lunge with it. Its end—a mess of wires, stars and eyes, vaguely resembling a foal's mobile—flashed and started wrapping around the pony's neck.

The pony stared at it, then looked up at Somnambula, pouting. “That is really rude.”

Somnambula was dumbstruck. Normally the process caused tremendous pain—she generally preferred to deploy its subtler ranged attack, but that took time she didn't have. “How can you tolerate it?”

The pony gave a little shrug, hopping into the throne room. She looked at the rod, grinning. “So that's how you did it. Too bad I'm—”

Somnambula's other arm shot out, grasping the pony by the throat. To her shock, the neck gave, crushing inwards in a grotesque fashion.

She quickly released it, eying her hand with a mixture of horror and excitement. Perhaps I underestimated the power Celestia has—”

“—not quite that easy a target!” the pony continued, as if Somnambula had done nothing. Somnambula looked back at the pony, whose neck had returned to normal without effect. Somnambula blinked.

As she tried to decide what to do, something shot right past her and plunged into the eye of the pink pony. The scissors tore into her like she was made of paper, and then...

...she popped.

Pieces of pink skin—no, rubber—flew everywhere as a pink hoof latched onto the window's edge. Somnambula watched, expression neutral, as an identical pony rose up and gave a manic giggle. “Surprise! It was all an Inflatable Pinkie! They're great at parties, by the way, so if you wanna—”

Somnambula turned, kicking the pony out the window as she did so, to see who had thrown the scissors.

Standing in the throne room was a smirking cyan pegasus who looked utterly unfazed about her friend's plight. The pegasus ran a hoof through her rainbow-colored mane, looking a bit out of breath. “So you're that Insomnia weirdo, right?”

Somnambula scowled.

“Right.” The pegasus gave a sigh. “Name's Rainbow Dash. The pony—er, ponies there—are Pinkie Pie, I guess.”

Somnambula glanced back. 'Pinkie Pie' had returned, now carried by three other balloon her's. Somnambula wasn't sure how she'd thought the balloons were real—they now looked completely artificial. Perhaps her mind was going.

She turned back to Rainbow Dash, crossing her arms and subtly concealing the device. “Let me guess: you're the resistance movement?”

“Resistance movement?” Raising an eyebrow, Rainbow Dash rubbed her chin. “Y'know, I kinda like the sound of that. Rainbow Dash the Rebel! Pretty cool, huh, Pinkie Pie?”

“Super-duper cool, Dashie! But, uh, maaaybe now's not the time.”

Somnambula rolled her eyes. “This is all Equestria could muster.” Sensing her device was ready to deploy, she adopted a fighting stance. “This will not take long.”

She had her sights set on the pegasus. Everything about Rainbow Dash's aggressive attitude screamed danger to Somnambula, while the milder Pinkie Pie was clearly no sort of threat. In a crystal Rainbow Dash would be quite useful indeed.

Rainbow Dash poised to leap at Somnambula, who in turn prepared to fire the device. Against a pony who had no defenses against the device's illusions, Somnambula had no doubt the device would work with ease. She estimated five seconds after impact before Rainbow Dash would be no more than just another crystal at Somnambula's belt.

But then something unexpected happened. A rubber chicken hit her in the head.

Somnambula was aware that she wasn't the bravest villain in Equestria, and she wasn't proud of what she did next. But she panicked. Spinning, she fired the device at her attacker.

Hundreds of tiny silver motes shot out of the rod towards Pinkie Pie and quickly surrounded her. They began weaving together, forming a web of helices until the pony beneath could not even be seen. Then the motes were gone altogether, along with the pony. All this happened in less than a second.

Somnambula scowled at the pink crystal she now held. “What a waste,” she muttered.

From behind her she heard a crash. Turning, she saw a window had been broken. The cyan pegasus was gone.

Although she had won the fight and beaten the 'resistance', Somnambula couldn't shake the feeling she had made some fatal tactical blunder. Unable to place the feeling, she pocketed the device, dropped the crystal into her belt pouch, and continued on her way.

She had greater matters to attend to. Self-involved blue sheep did not betray themselves, after all.

“Well, um, this is good, right?”

Luna ignored Fluttershy as she made her way into the cave.

Fluttershy hurried after her. “They were taking us here all along! So that's, um, good.”

Luna ground her teeth as she made her way to the back of the cave. As they walked, the cave seemed to get larger until they were at the Gate—a monstrosity twice the size of Canterlot's castle gates. She looked around. Cerberus was nowhere to be seen.

“Um, Luna?”

Luna looked back at Fluttershy. “What?” she snapped.

Fluttershy cringed. “Are...are you okay?”

Luna's eye twitched. She turned around. “Ms. Fluttershy, go home.”

Fluttershy took a step back. “What?”

“Go home. Go back to Ponyville.” Luna pointed to the cave exit. “Perhaps see how it was Discord allowed the Element to be stolen. It matters little. Go.”

“But—I c-couldn't! You need my help here!”

Luna shook her head derisively. “'Help'? Is it your idea of 'help' to intervene in negotiations?”

“N-negotiations? You were—you were threatening them!”

“Only because they were toying with us. The safety of Equestria must come first.”

Fluttershy visibly swallowed, giving an glare rendered unconvincing when she took another step back. “She might have been mean, but that's no excuse for being a bully!”

Luna gave a short laugh, her voice rising. “A bully! Grogar means to take away our world and you complain that I am the bully! We needed Bumble's help!”

“Just because somepony doesn't want to get involved—”

“And I don't want you involved.”

Fluttershy opened her mouth to respond, but faltered.

Luna closed her eyes. “Forgive me, Fluttershy. Regardless of the previous events, there is little you can do now and I do not wish to put you in danger. Your place is the cottage, looking after your small animals.” She opened her eyes and looked around, expression growing weary. “You do not belong on dangerous quest. I refuse to force you onto it.”

"But I'm an Element Bearer, too."

“What?”

“N-nothing.” Fluttershy turned, eyes shut. The pegasus took to the air and quickly flew out of the cave.

Luna watched the pegasus leave, then gave a sigh. She turned back to the Gate of Tartarus.

It was time to see how much had changed in her absence.

“This one believes the heart to be filled with selfishness. The mouth would do well to apologize and the holey hooves would do well to step away.”

“Cease speaking like that, thou intolerably imbecilic knave! Canst thou not realize how stupid thy manner of speech sounds to mine carapaced ears?”

“This one dislikes the tone of the mouth.”

“And I dislike thy tone, thou wisp of chilled smoke!”

“This one shall not stand for much more of the insults!”

Cadance crept away through the tall grass, praying the weeds would do enough to hide her bright pink coat. The windigo's and changeling's tones were rising sharply. Cadance could only hope the argument would last long enough for her to reach the pond before coming to blows.

Ordinarily, of course, a windigo would crush any ordinary changeling—probably even one as 'important' as this one. But though hunger had not been kind to either inmate, it was clear that the windigo had suffered far worse. The fight would be short.

It sounded like the changeling had come to this conclusion as well. “Why should I trouble mineself with thy foalishness? Leaveth this place, wisp, or be crushed into water vapor!”

The windigo's raspy voice trembled with anger. “This one is not so weak to be ordered by a piece of meat.”

“Ha! I could topple thou by merely breathing upon thee!”

Cadance neared the pool. I'll just stay here until they're gone, I think. Her head was starting to pound anew from this stress, but she was almost there.

The changeling sounded like she was enjoying herself now. In contrast, the windigo sounded so furious Cadance wondered for a moment if windigoes could have heart attacks. “This one...will not be mocked...by food! This one...has survived for...twenty-eight hundred solar cycles...and it retains the strength to BREAK YOU!”

Cadance's front hooves touched the water. She was almost there.

“It sounds as if 'this one' can barely stand, period!” The changeling gave a long dolphin-like laugh. “I shall—”

CRASH

For just a moment there was silence, as the crash echoed throughout the courtyard. Cadance turned her head, with difficulty, to look back.

The changeling lay on the ground. Her blue eyes had gone white and her body was beginning to dissipate into blue vapor. Around her lay what looked like the shattered remains of a stained glass window.

The windigo looked at the changeling in shock. Then it glanced up, locking eyes with Cadance.

Cadance desperately tried to pull herself into the water, but it was too late now. The windigo let out a shrill whinny and began to gallop in the air towards her. Its hooves were beginning to dissipate like the changeling from the effort and its eyes were beginning to turn white, but it seemed to no longer care. It barreled straight at its target, only one goal in mind.

Suddenly, a red tentacle swiped out and slapped the windigo away as easily as an octopus the size of a house would swat an ancient, starving winter spirit. The windigo flew into the wall on the opposite side of the courtyard and instantly evaporated. The pale blue mist rose up and soared up into the air, on the way back to its cell.

Heart sinking, Cadance turned back to behold her 'savior'.

Squirk. Not quite an octopus, but something like one—a great tentacled monster with a mouth full of sharp teeth and bright yellow eyes gleaming with malice. On Squirk's head perched a minuscule lavender crayfish-like creature bearing a massive white mustache. The creatures had risen from the pond without warning.

Squirk gave a savage grin. “Going somewhere, Princess?”

Cadance lay on the ground defenseless, but she managed to glare up at him. “Hi, Squirk. I see you've gotten even fatter with age.”

He cackled. “It's all muscle, Princess!”

One of his tentacles shot out and wrapped around an old maple tree. He ripped it from the earth like an annoying weed and, still cackling, cast it through the castle wall. Though all this was done with scarcely any effort on his part, the tree crashed through the stone bricks with the power of a cannonball.

“Right. So I see.”

“His powers have grown tenfold!” squeaked the creature on Squirk's head in a Trottingham accent.

“And you've shrunk tenfold.”

The creature glared.

“As I grow, Crang shrinks.” Squirk gave a little shrug with his tentacles. “Immortality can be inconvenient in that way.”

Cadance tried to grin, but she had a feeling it came out as more of a grimace. “Since when would you care?”

“I have to be careful hitting him now.” Squirk scowled, as if this was on a level of unfairness comparable to being hit by an anvil. He brightened. “So. Who gave you that concussion, Princess?”

Cadance didn't answer.

“You should answer me!” One of the creature's tentacles wrapped around her torso, lifting her up to eye level. “I am Third Warden of Tartarus, after all!”

“Third?” Cadance frowned. “If First is Grogar, uh, who is Second?”*

“Bah!” Squirk waved her in the air above his head. Cadance tried not to pass out—or throw up. “A robed interloper. Why should I care?”

“It—it looks like you care a lot!” Cadance gagged.

Squirk stopped spinning her and jerked her back down to lock eyes. He glared. “I don't care! Shut up!”

“Right! Shut up!” Crang bounced up and down on Squirk's head. Squirk glared up, clearly not quite able to see the lobster but crossing his eyes in the attempt. Cadance felt his grip on her tighten, as if he was about to use her as a club.

But he just growled. “Anyways, Princess, I am Third Warden, and I have strict orders from Grogar to kill any Princess I see except Celestia. And to sometimes put sharks in lakes, because that is a perfect use of my time.”

Cadance blinked. “Why not—I mean, doesn't that sound a bit dangerous?”

“Hah! He's trying to kill me!” Squirk rolled his eyes. “But I have a hostage now! He won't dare break his word now!”

“Let me guess. You help him, he has to give you the Flashstone Amulet.”

“That's correct.”

Squirk started sinking into the pond. Cadance's pulse sped up as she realized he was dragging her underwater. “Wait! I can't—”

“Then take a deep breath, Princess.” Squirk sank beneath, but the monster had an uncanny talent for speaking even when water filled his mouth. “There's an underground river down here leading off the mountain, but it's quite a ride!”

Author's Note

* No, no, no, Ahui' is fifteenth.
“Fifteenth?”
He got demoted for being a fictional character.
“Uh, who did?”
Yes.

Chapter Twenty

Celestia and Grogar both turned to see who had spoken. In turn, they both groaned.

Auros looked around, beaming. “My goodness, but that is a long walk. I don't know how you all manage it. I—hey!”

Grogar had rammed the unicorn, knocking him off the cliff. Celestia hobbled towards the edge of the peak in time to see a silver flash from below.

Unbelievably rude.

Grogar and Celestia looked down. Clinging to the mountain's edge was a cat-sized red praying mantis. It looked up at them with its large compound eyes. That creature is akin to a mosquito, Grogar, it said in their minds. Swat it and it just flits out of reach.

Grogar leaned down, voice reduced to a low growl. “Echechak. I suppose you are here as well to—”

Celestia cast her spell and there was a flash of golden light. The explosion send both Grogar and Echechak flying over the edge.

Celestia watched them fall a moment, then turned away, having no desire to see them hit the ground.

Turning, she bumped right into Grogar. The ram eyed her with a mixture of anger and...something else. “You pushed me.”

“Blasted you, technically,” Celestia muttered. She was getting a bit dizzy—the final attempt had cost her the last of her magic, including that which protected her from the cold.

“Not so honorable attacking an enemy from the rear.”

“Well, I got angry.” Celestia looked up at Grogar, heart filling with new determination. “And my duty to Equestria comes first.”

“Even in death, then.” Grogar's bell started to move.

“I guess so.” Celestia braced for impact.

What would it be like to die, she wondered?

Would it hurt?

“Okay...” The voice sounded a bit winded, but it remained as irritating as always. “...now I'm mad. I guess I'll have to dispense with the politeness.”

Grogar and Celestia exchanged looks and turned again. Auros stood by the mountain's edge once more. Seated on his shoulder was Echechak. This time, a silvery forcefield surrounded him.

“Alright, everypony.” He looked around, giving a dangerous grin. “Hooves up everypony who didn't lose the key to their front door!”

“I tire of these games.” Grogar's bell began to ring.

As snow rose into the air, condensed into razor-sharp icicles, and soared straight at Auros, the unicorn coughed. The icicles began shattering against the shield even as more formed.

Auros rubbed his neck. “Um, maybe you should stop doing that.”

The icicles kept smashing against the shield. Celestia saw cracks starting to form in its metallic surface.

“Really. Stop it.”

The shield began to emit a low whine.

Lord Grogar, Echechak snapped, I took the liberty of enlisting this troublemaker in the crafting of a seal. Tambelon will no longer acknowledge you as its ruler, so I suggest you cooperate.

Grogar snarled. “Do you expect me to believe a word of that?”

Auros eyed the crumbling shield. “If we die, you'll never know where the key went.”

Grogar appeared to consider this. The icicles began aiming only for Auros.

“Echechak doesn't know!” Auros said, tone getting a bit comically high-pitched. “We worked together on the seal, but I'm the one who infused the key.” He gave a desperate smirk. “My personal condition for such a dangerous mission. Kill me and lose everything.”

“You're a liar.”

“The bug isn't, though. You don't get chosen as the Gods' Assassin by being untrustworthy.”

Grogar looked between Auros and Echechak. Celestia could tell he desperately wanted an excuse to doubt them, but there was none to be found. For all his cowardice, Auros was capable of sabotaging Grogar's control if given proper direction, and Echechak knew better than anyone the workings of immortals.

Grogar finally gave a sigh. The icicles in the air fell to the ground, and no more rose. “So be it.”

Immediately Auros's look was triumphant. He trotted over, giggling. “Well, isn't that lovely.”

“Osmosis,” Echechak hissed warningly.

Auros patted Grogar on the shoulder. “I don't see why you're so bothered about losing that old dump, though. I bet you'll make a wonderful vagrant!”

“We've already won, Auros,” Celestia said. “There's no need to bait him!”

“Right, right, my apologies, Princess.” Auros gave a little bow. “Far be it from me to question the wisdom of a goddess! I'm just very glad that Grogar had the brains to acknowledge his betters.”

“You try my patience, worm,” Grogar said, trembling with rage.

“What doesn't? You've lost your temper at grass growing!” Auros laughed at his own joke.

Grogar lifted a bushy white eyebrow, then glanced at Celestia. “Well, Princess, as the resident expert on anger...”

A bell began to ring as Grogar's tone lowered to a hiss. “What happens when we lose our tempers, again?”

“Ahem. Princess, with all due respect, you appear to have strayed past my line. Again.”

Celestia ignored Fancypants and continued pacing.

“You've done it again. Are you absolutely determined to disregard my requests?”

“You are the worst inmate I could ever ask for, Count.

“Yes, well.” Fancypants scowled. “Really, Princess, you're not exactly a basket of roses yourself. Perhaps a collection of thorns sprayed with artificial rose-scented perfume, at best.”

Celestia looked over at him, struggling to contain her fury. “And exactly what have I done to bother you?”

“Ignored me since your arrival. Drank the last of my fine whiskey.”

There was a pink flash from behind Celestia, but she didn't look to see what it was. “And I told you, the last thing we need is a drunken noble running around making a mess!”

Fancypants turned up his nose. “Oh, yes, and a drunken alicorn was so much better. You damaged the carpeting.”

“Hi, guys! I'm here to save the day!”

“The carpeting. Is fog.” Celestia approached Fancypants and tapped the ground twice to emphasize her words. “There is no carpet.”

“You dissipated the fog with your spells.”

Celestia's eyes glowed gold. “I was trying to get us out of here!”

“Uh, guys?”

“Besides,” Celestia went on, “the fog came back!”

“A different shade.”

“How can you tell, you deranged fop?”

“Now, really. There's no need for name-calling, Mulestia.”

“Can you guys even hear me? Helloooo! Right behind you, Celly!”

Celestia's eyes widened. “You did not say that!”

“Really?” Fancypants cocked his head. “How odd, I seem to recall that I did.”

Celestia's horn started glowing. “That's it. That's the last straw!”

“Oh, what are you going to do now?” Fancypants sniffed, adjusting his cracked monocle. “Recolor the ceiling?”

“Guys, c'mo—oh, nevermind. I'll just do it myself.”

Celestia's horn started to glow brighter, though she wasn't exactly sure what she planned to do. Fancypants isn't even a tenth my age, she thought, groaning inwardly. I can't hit him.

She heard what sounded like sawing from behind her but kept her focus on Fancypants. Maybe I can just destroy his monocle. That would show him.

Fancypants's eyes never left Celestia's. He looked a bit annoyed. “What's taking so long? Are you frightened?”

Oh, what did he just say? That's it. I'm shattering it so it hits his eye!

As the sounds of several explosions came from behind, along with a duck's frantic quacking and a “Whoops!”, Celestia began to summon the magics to conjure up a poltergeist.

Immediately, though, she felt guilty. What am I doing? I've been here too long. I can't maim an innocent nobleman just because of a bit of cabin fev—

“Honestly, I'm rather disappointed...” Fancypants's eyes gleamed evilly. “...Clucklestia.”

Celestia froze. A great crash came from behind, but she barely noticed it. “How...how did you know my Summer Camp nickname?” He couldn't possibly know it. Luna swore she'd never tell a soul!

Fancypants blinked. “Beg pardon?”

Celestia's eye twitched. “Oops.”

He knows too much. Kill him. Kill him now.

“Wait, your nickname used to be—aha! Now we're cookin'!”

As Celestia prepared to commit murder—or at least aggravated assault, she hadn't decided yet—a great BOOM echoed throughout both sides of the infinite space.

Celestia and Fancypants turned in shock. Pinkie Pie stood there in a white lab coat, her ordinarily frizzy hair now utterly wild, wearing a fake white mustache. She stood before a chalkboard, throwing her chalk in the air with deranged glee. “Eureka! I haff made zee breakthrough, mein Prinzessin!”

Staring blankly, Celestia and Fancypants both leaned to the right to see what Pinkie had written.

~~S = MJ²~~

~~I = S² (W/T)~~

(B · P) ÷ I

B = Buck

P = Physics

I = Pinkie Pie

The world began to shake.

Luna had entered a cavern chamber at least ten times the size of Canterlot Castle. Stalactites from high above leaked constant flows of salty water and emitted shrill sobs that hurt to focus on. There were countless shadows, even where it made no sense for them to exist—such as right beside one of the glowing stalagmites that served as light sources. Aside from the glowing stalagmites, there were quite a few ordinary ones. Assuming 'ordinary' meant 'tentacled cone-shaped creatures that let out great screams whenever anything came near and tried to grab and choke to death whatever could be reached'.

And it didn't. There were no ordinary stalagmites.

There were more doors than Luna could count; in the floor, in the walls and in the ceiling. Every single one of them had some sort of lock, though some could only be seen by magic. Far ahead was the largest trapdoor of them all, protruding out of the floor and back wall like the entrance to a root cellar. In front of it was a desk built out of beings begging to be released—to be pardoned for crimes too horrific to describe.

At the desk sat a hooded equine whose face changed every time Luna looked away. The only things that remained at least somewhat reliable were the eyes: blinking between colors fast enough that anypony with epilepsy would collapse after just a second of exposure.

All in all, Luna reflected, Tartarus was about the same as ever.

She walked up toward the far-off desk. Reality seemed to bend as she moved, so a journey that should have taken at least an hour took instead just a few seconds. Before she knew it she was at the desk, and the pony-like creature was staring at her in puzzlement.

“Your arrival is not scheduled,” it murmured. Its voice was that of an old pony of uncertain gender, weak enough to make one want to stop talking to it just to spare it the pain of having to answer. Luna knew that this was just how the Scribe talked, though.

“I...must make some visits.”

“Hm. Yes, yes, yes.” The Scribe rubbed its forehead. “I...I can't seem to remember. The Mantis, yes? Former assassin of the gods?”

“That is correct.”

“You passed him by.” The Scribe raised a trembling hoof, pointing back towards the Gate. Luna turned. Indeed, she now noticed a small golden shape at about the midway point.

She turned back. “Thank you. And where is Tirek?”

“Tirek?” The Scribe frowned. It kept rubbing its forehead. “I...I do not know. The caves and masters change, but the tears remain the same.” It pointed up towards the stalactites. “The tears never hit the ground. 'Why is that?', I ask. But no-one listens to me...”

Luna put a hoof on The Scribe's shoulder. “I always listened, Scribe.”

“Not for...a long time.” The Scribe's eyes turned solid black for a moment. Then it bowed its head, seeming to sink back into the robe until only darkness could be seen. It spoke again, voice deeper. “We forget because we are forgotten. That has always been our way...”

Luna had already started walking back. The journey took longer this time, though the distance was shorter. In a few minutes she stood over a ball of amber the size of her hoof.

She looked inside and her heart sank. “Oh, Echechak,” she muttered. “What have they done to you?”

Inside the ball of amber, Echechak eyed her inscrutably. Luna heard a voice in her mind. They have done nothing. This 'prison' is of my own making. As long as I remain within, my enemies cannot lay a finger on me.

“Then you can leave?”

I can. I choose not to.

She levitated the ball of amber into the air and rested it on her back. “I am going to find Tirek.”

And what makes you think he will want to be found?

Luna hesitated.

Then she started walking.

Chapter Twenty-Two

“Let go of the throne, Princess, so I can bludgeon you to death with it!”

“I am not being killed by my own throne!”

With a grunt, Celestia managed to wrest her throne out of Somnambula's control. She levitated it back into place and started to summon a fireball.

Sonnambula rolled her eyes. “Terms accepted.” She snapped her fingers and Luna's smaller throne rose up to sail straight at Celestia. This time Celestia wasn't quite fast enough. The blow nearly knocked her down before she was able to knock the throne away. “Just give this up. You're at your weakest and I'm at my strongest.”

Celestia scowled. “I still have the strength to defend my own castle.”

Her horn gave a bright flash. Instantly, all shattered glass rose up back into the windows, piecing itself together. Nopony would ever be able to tell they'd been broken.

Somnambula tapped her chin, looking bored. “Is that all y—”

Celestia's horn flashed again, and every one of the windows flew out of their frames to crash together in the center of the room. A whirlwind of multicolored shards began to form.

Somnambula raised her eyebrows. “Oh.”

With a snarl, Celestia launched the blast at Somnambula. The Witch of All Ages crouched, folding her fingers together—

BOING

Celestia stared in disbelief. Boing?

The cloud of glass had stopped right before hitting Somnambula and melted together into a massive rainbow-colored sphere. It was now bouncing up and down in front of the bewildered-looking witch like a giant rubber bouncy ball.

Somnambula looked at the ball. “Is that supposed to be some sort of joke.” She looked too confused to even lilt her tone enough to make it a question.

“If it is, it's a poor one.” Celestia scowled. “This duel had barely started and already you had to defile it with humor on par with Discord's idea of comedy.”

Somnambula looked offended. “I did this? I was about to turn it into an earth elemental, for your information.”

“Really?” Celestia was impressed despite herself.

“Yes. It would have been magnificent.”

“It would have been quite interesting, I admit.” Celestia pointed at the ball with disgust. “So why did the spell produce that?”

“It didn't.” Somnambula snorted. “As if my magic would do something so asinine.”

“You know, all this is remarkably hurtful.”

Celestia jumped. So did Somnambula. The painfully familiar voice had come from thin air, it seemed.

Slowly, the ball stopped bouncing and rolled over to reveal two yellow red-pupiled eyes—each complimented with a fluffy white eyebrow.

Discord the Superball glared at them both. “Ihave feelings, too, you know. I thought it was quite hilarious.”

Somnambula took a step back, looking alarmed. “Discord!”

Discord gave Celestia a knowing wink, then spun around to face Somnambula. “The one and only! Say, didn't I turn you into a singing rabbi—gyagh!”

Somnambula had materialized a huge rubber mallet and swung it, launching Discord straight at Celestia.

Discord seemed to fly at Celestia in slow motion. “Noooooooo—”

Celestia realized he was flying in slow motion. She frowned up at him as he continued. “—oooooo—”

Just as he was about to hit her, a giant racket appeared and hit him, launching him right back at Somnambula. He gave a manic grin. “This is fun!”

Somnambula leaped out of the way just in time as he crashed through the double doors. “I could do this all nigh—oh, hello, Fluttershy.” The last part of the sentence sounded guilty, as if he'd been caught in the act.

“Discord,” Celestia heard Fluttershy say, “are you toying with Celestia and Somnambula?”

“Ho ho! Well punned, Fluttershy! I'll make a villain of you yet!” The doors swung open and Discord and Fluttershy entered.

Celestia frowned. “What is the meaning of this, Discord?”

Discord looked at Fluttershy. “Do I have to?”

Fluttershy nodded, beaming mutely.

Discord pretended to gag. “Fine.” He turned, crossing his mismatched arms. He snapped his talons and an ill-fitting Mare-Do-Well costume appeared on him. “I'm here to save the day.”

“Louder! Make sure she knows you mean it!”

“This is demeaning. It's abuse!”

“Discord—”

Celestia raised a hoof. “It's alright, Discord.” She rolled her eyes. “The effort is appreciated, Fluttershy, but I can understand his intents with or without the melodrama. I'd much rather his energy be spent preventing Somnambula's escape.”

“Thank goodness!” Discord's costume vanished with a flash.

A cardboard box with a stick propping it up appeared right over the window Somnambula sought to exit through. Not noticing it, Somnambula accidentally knocked the stick away, causing the box to fall and 'trap' her.

Instantly the cardboard box turned into a padlocked iron chest. A muted curse could be heard from within.

“Discord,” Fluttershy said warningly. “Air holes!”

“You're already making me save my so-called nemesis's flank.” Discord stomped his foot like a petulant child.

“'So-called'?” Celestia was affronted. “And I did not need my 'flank' saved, for your information!”

“Can't I at least play Schrödinger? She might survive in there, there's a fifty-fifty chance!” Discord grinned hopefully.

“How can there be a 'fifty-fifty chance' with no air holes, Discord?”

“Oh, fine.” Discord waved his lion's paw and two air holes appeared at the top. “There. Happy?”

“Very!” Fluttershy smiled. She turned to Celestia. “Are you okay, Princess Celestia?”

“Hmph.” Celestia shrugged, giving a half-smile. “Only my pride is hurt, Fluttershy. All we need do now is—”

“Ahem. Princess.” The three of them turned, Celestia groaning inwardly. Fancypants stood in the doorway again. “Flying monkeys have locked the guards in our own jail and Darkheart is sending portions of the Royal Canterlot Menagerie to alternate dimensions.”

“Ooh!” Discord raised his claw. “Mine!”

“Nothing too dangerous,” Fluttershy said. “Just lock them up.”

Discord pouted. “Oh, fine.” He leaped into the air and vanished.

Fluttershy turned to Celestia as Fancypants ran off. “Okay, so we just need to intercept Grogar at Tambelon so we can—”

“What?” Celestia's jaw dropped. “The—Grogar got the key?”

“Where have you been, lady?” she heard Pinkie snap as she climbed into the throne room.

“Wait, when did Pinkie get here?” Fluttershy asked.

“When did Grogar get the key?”

“Hey!” Pinkie looked around, frowning. “Where'd Hidden Ball Number Fifty-Eight get to?”

“Sun and moon,” said a voice inside the chest, “but you're idiots...”

In her hut in the Everfree Forest sat a zebra whose heart became more filled with dread by the minute. The source of her fear was a puddle of water.

When Zecora had built her hut, she'd been very careful to tilt the floor very slightly to the west. This was due to an old rhyme in her books which her people had always followed by heart.

The water not following laws of gravity

Advises you not to sleep without your eyes ajar

Moreover, if it goes against the sun's tedious plummet

Bar your doors, it is an omen that the shadow comes.

Well, it rhymed in her native tongue, anyways. The Equestrian translation tended to mangle it. The point was that the tilt of her house was a very common custom among her people.

And now the water was going the wrong way; pooling in the eastern corner.

Zecora got up and made her way to the window. Swallowing, she looked out.

What she saw made even the wise herbalist fall back in shock.

“The shadow is near,” she whispered, “and I feel fear. Bar my doors indeed, quite fast, for my luck in being ignored won't last.”

Outside she had glimpsed not the familiar forest she'd come to call home. She had seen black bricks. A great gate far off in the distance. Buildings everywhere made of what seemed to be shadow itself. And a towering wall encircling it all.

Though her books had never given this place a distinct name, Zecora knew what the ponies called it.

Tambelon.

“Grogar, stop!”

Ignoring Luna, Grogar held the Element of Kindness on his hoof and slowly raised it towards the great city's iron portcullis.

“Stop!” Luna knew she wasn't going to reach him in time.

The Element began to glow pink. Then shadow began to encircle it as the magics placed upon it took effect.

Luna came to a halt as the portcullis began to rise. There was a great screech, and the necklace leaped into the air of its own accord. It began spinning around Grogar's head, remolding itself like fresh clay.

It lowered onto his head. Grogar now wore what resembled a black tiara with a pink gem at its center.

He turned, looking back at Luna with an irritated expression. He gestured at the tiara. “This was your idea, I expect. You always were the less mature one.”

“That's because I was younger, Grogar. And no, it wasn't.”

Grogar laughed. “Well, it matters not!” For the first time since his arrival, Grogar seemed genuinely happy. “My city is mine. And for your idiocy Equestria will be first to fall! This tiresome forest is only the beginning!” His red eyes shone with gleeful malevolence. “First, the forest. Tomorrow, all of Equestria!”

Luna crouched, preparing to charge. She knew she couldn't beat Grogar, but perhaps she could trick him into meeting her charge. If he fell for it, she could perhaps teleport behind him and... “You shall never get away with this!” she snarled.

Oh, good gods. Did she really use that line?

“Embarrassing.”

Luna and Grogar both looked around, but there was no-one to be seen. Grogar snarled. “Reveal!”

His bell gave a chime. Two forms slowly became visible—a large red mantis and a black-furred centaur brandishing a cudgel. Luna looked at them, heart soaring. “Echechak! Tirek!”

Tirek gave a grim smile. “We could hardly allow you to inflict your agonizing cliches upon our good friend Grogar, now, could we?”

Grogar growled. “Fools.”

“Surrender now, Grogar!” Luna shouted, unable to keep from grinning. “We have you surrounded!”

“No...” Grogar's bell began ringing shrilly. His voice went to a roar. “I've got you surrounded!”

There was a moment of silence.

No, you don't. You're foolish and that comeback is foolish.

“Indeed,” Luna said. “It didn't make sense the first time, why—”

The stars winked out.

Luna looked up, mind racing. What trick is this?

As she looked she became aware of something else: the shadows around them were moving. Including her own.

Dark mist began to circle around the four of them. Indecipherable whispers could be heard. The mist sped up, spinning faster and faster until it was a blur of pitch black.

Then it stopped. Several dozen three-dimensional equine shadows hovered in the air around them, eyes a dull, malicious red.

Grogar gave a smirk. “Tambelon has been locked in the Shadow World for a long, long time. As First Warden, did it not occur to you I might have a bit more control over that dimension?”

He turned and galloped off, the shadows parting to let him pass before closing the circle again. Luna, Echechak and Tirek were surrounded.

“Princess,” Tirek said, grasping his cudgel tightly, “pursue Grogar. We will hold them here.”

“I shall not leave you.”

Princess, dealing with gods means I understand a lot of their irritating habits. Echechak sprang up onto Tirek's back, adopting a fighting pose. Refusing to let their defenders stand and fight is one of the habits I loathe.

“But—”

“Go, Luna!” Tirek shouted as he fired a blast of crimson energy from his hands. Echechak leaped off his back into the mist of the creatures, slicing through shadowstuff like old parchment.

Luna hesitated a moment more. Then she jumped into the air and, with three wingbeats, soared over the mighty walls of Tambelon.

She landed right behind the parapet and jumped off again, landing on the nearest building. She paused just a moment to look around, but Grogar was nowhere to be seen. She leaped onto the next building, kept running, leaped again, and kept this up until—

Her hooves touched something that was not stone. With a cry, she tumbled down through what felt like thatched straw, crashing into a small room.

Immediately she was on her hooves again. What was this? Some insidious trap of Grogar's?

No. It was the home of a cross-looking zebra.

“Though I am honored at this visit,” the zebra said, “I think I would have rather missed it.”

Luna looked around. She had essentially destroyed the zebra's roof. “Why are you not in the shadow realm?” she asked, still wary. Perhaps Grogar had finally puzzled out illusions.

“In the forest, I feared harm.” The zebra—who Luna determined was probably Twilight's friend Zecora—pointed to several odd knick-knacks hanging on the wall. “So I assembled many charms.”

“So you did,” someone called.

Luna looked up in time to get hit by a vertically charging ram.

Grogar rammed her through Zecora's dirt floor, then soared back up and landed right beside an alarmed Zecora. “I had suspected you would follow. So willing is the Princess of the Night to abandon her allies.”

“And where...” Luna struggled to pull herself out of the hole Grogar had trapped her in. “...is Bray?”

“Bray?” Grogar waved a hoof dismissively. “A manticore carried him off an hour or so ago, I believe. Why?”

Luna rolled her eyes, getting up again. “It is time for the second round, Grogar.”

“Hah!” Grogar shook his head. “You can barely stay awake, let alone fight. I do not need to sleep, but you do. Like I said—too close to mortals for your own good.”

Luna knew he was right. And in his own city, he had every advantage.

She glared fiercely. “Then ram me again, but I promise your horns will break before I do.” She stomped her hooves on the earthen floor. “Mine is not a last stand—the time I buy is time for others to use. You will not win easily, sheep.”

The air suddenly felt a bit chillier. The room suddenly looked a bit darker. And Grogar...Grogar suddenly sounded very, very angry. “What did you just call me?”

Luna recalled the many times she had hurriedly backpedaled on this over the last few days, feeling a twinge of savage glee. She held her head high. “A sheep.”

For ten long seconds, nobody spoke.

Then Grogar cocked his head. “I'm not a sheep.”

Luna had expected to be burned to a cinder. She had expected her own shadow to show up to choke her to death. She had perhaps expected her eardrums to be shattered by the force of Grogar's shouting. She had not expected that.

“Um, yes, you are,” she said.

“No.” He scowled. “I am not. I do not know why everything keeps calling me that!”

“Because you are one!”

“I am not!” Grogar straightened, sticking out his chest proudly. “I am a goat.”

Luna stared at him.

“Actually...” Zecora raised a hoof. “...if I am not very much mistaken, I do not think this ram is...fakin'.” She pursed her lips as if frustrated, then quickly went on. “Goats are known for their long beards. A bearded sheep would be quite weird.”

“Wait.” Luna cocked her head as Grogar had just done. “Do you mean to tell me he actually isn't a sheep?”

“I should think not,” Grogar muttered.

“Oh.” Luna made a mental note to inform the Canterlot Royal Librarians. Then she remembered she was possibly about to die and decided it was just as well that the revisions would be Grogar's problem.

Grogar took a deep breath. “Well, then, Princess.” He cleared his throat. “It seems the time has come, and not a moment too soon.” His red eyes blazed. “It is high time for the end.”

“I couldn't agree more, Grogar.”

With a great explosion of fire and light as bright as the sun, a pink-maned alicorn landed in the middle of the hut. The walls shuddered, then flew outwards, along with a door that had been living on borrowed time, anyways.

Celestia looked a bit the worse for wear—her mane was messy, anyway, and Luna knew her sister well enough to know that this was to Celestia an affront just below high treason in severity. But despite that, she was still able to hold herself as the mighty demigod she was. That talent was half the reason Luna had always somewhat resented her.

Ignoring Zecora's stream of extremely offensive zebra profanity, Celestia eyed Grogar with pure, righteous fury. “Grogar,” she snapped. “You've got your shadow city in my shadow forest.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

You know, Echechak hissed in the minds of the three other immortals, knocking him off the cliff, teleporting him back up, and knocking him off again would be regarded by most as a bit vindictive.

“Justified,” Grogar growled. “And since I doubt even that snake could still have the energy to teleport all the way up here again...” He turned back to Celestia and raised an eyebrow. “I believe you were speaking, little alicorn.”

Celestia blinked. “I...”

He snorted. “Or was that all you could think of to say?”

“No.” She glared. “I have something more to say.”

Grogar nodded, stepping back.“This should be entertaining.”

“You can kill me. You can cover the whole land with your city.”

“Are you giving me permission? How kind of—”

“You can even enslave the ponies, but nothing will be as bad as what happens to you when you die.” Celestia stomped her numb hoof in the snow. “We all die. And maybe—” She tried to hold back a sob. “—maybe you think building a city will make ponies remember you. Maybe you think it will make up for what you did. But I'll die knowing I tried to stop you, and you'll just die alone, in your dark little bedroom, on your hard, stone bed.”

For a moment, nobody spoke.

For a moment, Celestia allowed herself to think she had somehow convinced Grogar of the error of his ways.

But he only snarled. “Then I shall die. And you shall die. And we shall both die knowing we did what we had to do. Duty, Princess, to whoever is around to receive it.” His bell started ringing. “We will always have a dut—”

And then, from the distance, came the most beautiful sound Celestia had ever heard. Grogar heard it, too, but to him she could tell it was the most loathsome, painful sound in existence.

It was the ringing of an old church bell.

“So.” Grogar chuckled. “The Witch of All Ages could not hold you.”

“I've got friends in...odd places.” Celestia tried to maintain her proud stance despite how drained she felt.

“And you've come to fight me.” Grogar grimaced. “Always fighting your sister's battles. Will you ever learn?”

“You mean to destroy my nation. That is my battle.”

“Believe me, what I have planned would be an improvement. But...” Grogar smirked. “You have your duty. So I suppose it is time for the final little strug—”

“ATTENTION, GROGAR!” boomed a voice from above. “CEASE ALL HOSTILE ACTIVITIES AND LAY DOWN ARMS AT ONCE!”

Celestia and Grogar eyed each other.

“I'm not looking up this time,” Grogar said.

Zecora looked up. “It seems the heroes are done laggin'...”

Grogar's eyes shut. “Unless the demon prince Dagon has arrived to add insult to injury, do not finish that sentence.”

Zecora paused. “...well, then I'd never speak a-gain.”

“You see? There are plenty of rhymes that don't involve—”

“THE ROYAL AMBASSADOR FROM THE DRAGON LANDS HAS ARRIVED, AND I AM NOT AMUSED BY WHAT I SEE!”

Now Celestia did look up. High above were three dragons. Four, if one were to count the small purple-and-green dragon clinging to the leg of a familiar purple alicorn. Besides her, each of the dragons bore a pony on its back, and two pegasi—one yellow, one cyan—flew next to the alicorn.

She looked back at Grogar, whose lip had curled in a ferocious snarl. “It seems my friends have once again trumped your city, Grogar.” She raised an eyebrow. “Surrender.”

Grogar looked at her long. Celestia held her breath—would they be forced to slay the Chief Warden of Tartarus?

“You know,” he muttered, “you could have stood aside.”

“Excuse me?”

“When the Night Princess first betrayed you.” He frowned at Celestia. “You could have asked for our help. We could have spared you the difficulty of...dispatching her.”

Of all the reactions Celestia had anticipated, this most certainly had not been among them. “What are you saying?”

“Hmph!” Grogar looked up at the sky, tone getting a bit wilder. “You ruled your city—or nation, regardless—alone for a thousand years. You should have asked for our help.”

“What, from you?” Celestia rolled her eyes. “Even if I'd known you were free, why would I ever trust you?”

“I was a Warden!” Grogar kicked a nearby shelf away, destroying the last of Zecora's possessions. “Tartarus was once close to allies with Equestria, and we were the only ones who lived long enough to remember how unpleasant things were before Discord's defeat!”

“Again...” Celestia tried to parse what Grogar was saying. “Where are you going with this, Grogar?”

“Hmph.” Grogar eyed the ground. “Only that perhaps we could have helped. Could have built something together. If not Tambelon, perhaps we could have allowed our respective nations to grow.”

“Grogar...” Luna took a step forward. “Are you saying you wanted to help us?”

“Certainly not you!” Grogar said, voice suddenly rising with fury. “What do duty and loyalty mean to a self-absorbed traitor?” He let out a hateful laugh. “I...I simply thought I could...”

His eyes narrowed to slits as he pawed the ground. “I only wished to build. When imprisoned in Tartarus, most are given much time alone with their thoughts. It occurred to me that if I got out...I might be able to build something new. Something that would not be sealed away.” He looked up. “Something that could be respected.”

Luna stared blankly. Celestia was about as confused. She felt something small land on her back. The only things Grogar knows are rage and duty, Echechak rasped. Think, Princesses, if you can.

Celestia blinked. “Grogar...did you want my approval?”

“Do not flatter yourself.” Grogar gave a derisive snort. “You were the first foe I met who was not afraid to die. I respected you for it. Perhaps I simply wanted you to return the favor and treat me—the whole of Tartarus—as an equal power for a change, rather than a beast to be appeased.”

Coughing, the ram crouched down. “But it is far too late for that. Revenge is my path, it seems. My duty here is to die. I will accept it knowing that, for all my pains, I at least made some ponies miserable for a few days first.”

Celestia noticed Luna's eye twitch.

She considered it a moment, then found herself walking forward. “If you die, Tambelon goes without an owner. Tartarus dissolves into anarchy. And our Equestria is left without...the only others who remember how it once was.”

Haltingly, wondering if she was making a horrible mistake, she placed a hoof on Grogar's shoulder.

Grogar looked up at her. For a moment, it seemed like he was about to shout at her.

“I don't believe either of our duties involve dying today, Grogar,” she said quietly. “Wouldn't you rather at least try for a more...productive solution?”

Grogar took a deep breath, staring at her intently.

Celestia held her breath. On her back, she felt Echechak tense. Beside her, she saw Luna's eyes were wide.

Behind her, she heard Zecora cursing under her breath.

Grogar cleared his throat. “As long as I may build...well, perhaps I can stand to build for Tartarus a short while longer.”

Celestia risked a smile. Grogar responded with a polite grimace.

“ATTENTION, GROGAR! THIS IS THE ROYAL DIPLOMAT OF THE DRAGON LANDS! CEASE STANDING AROUND AMBIGUOUSLY AT ONCE OR FEEL OUR WRA—ACK!”

They looked up. The smallest dragon, a gold-and-silver-scaled snakelike creature, had been grabbed by what appeared to be a giant pair of snake tongs. Clutching the handle of the tongs was Discord in a khaki shirt. “Oh, 'crikey'!” he called. “This is a truly, er, 'stroppy' one!”

“Discord!” Celestia heard Fluttershy shout. “Don't strangle the dragon!”

“Not even a little?”

“No!”

“Fi-i-ine.” The snake tongs vanished. Discord turned and reappeared in what had once been Zecora's hut, wearing camouflage clothes and brandishing what looked like some sort of oddly-shaped wand. “Arright, Sarge,” he muttered to Celestia, “who must I, um, 'fill with lead'?”

Celestia looked up at Fluttershy, who shrugged. Perhaps Discord is trying to be endearing. Or perhaps he's found a new way to drive us all insane.

“Um...” She lowered her hoof from Grogar's shoulder and gave her head an apologetic tilt. “We actually wrapped this up without you, Discord.”

His jaw dropped. “You're not serious.”

“Sorry to disappoint you,” Luna said.

“But—but I sent all the monsters back to Tartarus!” Discord's voice became a whine. “It took forever!”

“About ten minutes, actually,” Fluttershy said, landing beside Luna.

“What am I supposed to do now? Are you sure there's nobody left to eviscerate?”

Zecora raised a hoof. “I believe I have a task for you. Rebuilding is something you can do.”

Discord groaned. “Construction work?”

“Replace the walls, shelves, vials and roof. Oh, and...” The zebra shot a glare at Celestia. “Make sure to make it alicorn-proof.”

“Not a step closer!” The octopus screeched, its tentacles clutching the tip of Canterlot's tallest tower as it eyed the approaching dragons and their riders. “Or I rip her in two!”

Cadance sighed, grasped firmly between two of Squirk's tentacles. At least Grogar appeared to have been stopped—at least, she assumed so, since her aunts had returned. She, Crang and Squirk had been waiting on this tower for about an hour now.

“Squirk!” Grogar called. “Enough of that idiocy! The war is lost!”

“Hah! It's not over until the fat lady sings, Grogar!”

“Well, you're the closest thing we've got,” Cadance muttered. “You know any chords?”

“Shaddup!”

“What did you just say to me, you miserable mollusk?”

“Not you, Grogar! The alicorn!”

“Squirk!” Celestia shouted. “Put that pink alicorn down!”

“Not until the Amulet is mine!”

Cadance had to admit that this was quite a pickle. The journey underwater had soaked her wings so thoroughly she wouldn't be able to fly if Squirk just dropped her. And it would be especially hard to fly if she'd been ripped in half, of course. It would take a miracle to resolve this quickly.

BOOM

Cadance cocked her head. What was that noise?

BOOM

Whatever it was, it was coming from higher up on the mountain.

BOOM

Cadance tried to twist around to see, but Squirk would have none of it. He gave a cruel laugh. “You'd better remember where you put my amulet, Grogar, or the alicorn...will di-i-ie!”

“Why should I care for her fate? This effort is pointless. The actualalicorns will make calamari of you if you do kill her.”

Actual alicorns? Cadance's eyes narrowed. She made a note to make Grogar fall in love with a patch of nettles if she ever got her baseball head thing fixed.

“Uh, Squirk,” Crang said, voice getting nervous.

“Shaddup, Crang! An' Grogar, they'll make mutton out of you—”

“Again, I am not a sheep.”

“—if you let their little niece die! The amulet!

THE STARS ARE WRONG.

“Uh, Squirk, didja hear—”

“Shaddup, Crang!”

“But that—”

“I said—”

THE STARS ARE WRONG.

A shadow passed over them, blocking the moon's dull glow.

After a moment, Squirk spoke again. “Oh, uh, right. My mistake, ponies.” Cadance found herself clumsily placed on the nearest balcony. “My mistake. Didn't know it was you. Heat of the sun. Not used to being out of water this long.”

She heard the octopus slither away, leaping over the castle walls and plummeting down off the mountainside—doubtless aiming for some little duck pond. Cadance hoped he'd miss the target.

“My heartfelt thanks, Lord Cthulhu,” she heard Luna say.

THE STARS ARE WRONG.

“Yes. I...” Luna was interrupted by what sounded like a yawn. “...I must sleep. Once that is done, the stars will be immediately repaired. My apologies.”

UNDERSTOOD. SLEEP WELL, PRINCESS.

Cadance heard Cthulhu stomp back up the mountain.

The Princess of Heart lay on the balcony and let out a groan.

This had been a very long week.

Epilogue: I Pity the Cruel

“It is a difficult job,” Luna said, looking over her stone desk with skepticism. “We are talking about beings who have for years—often centuries—rejected any kindness shown to them.”

“And it's very important,” Fluttershy said, standing by Luna's side. “You never know who might need help, so you have to help everyone. And, um...we're not sure you have what it takes.” She looked at Luna, giving a weak smile. “These creatures need compassion.”

Luna smiled back at her. “Fluttershy is right, of course.” She turned back to the applicant. “Your record is...spotty, to say the least.”

They considered him for a moment.

Tirek leaned in. “'Spotty' may be precisely what they require.”

Luna looked up and gave a grin. “Tirek! You're early!”

“So I am.”

Tirek lingered in the doorway, but Luna beckoned eagerly. “Come in, then!”

He entered, Echechak resting on his back. They both eyed the applicant. “You are certain that this is the best choice?” Tirek asked.

“His record has...improved of late.” Luna shrugged. “And from what he's told us, I believe he truly is dedicated to his new goal.”

Grogar has a many-greats grand-nephew that vouches for him. Echechak hopped onto the desk. He appears to take the recommendation at least somewhat seriously.

Tirek stroked his chin. “Redeeming and counseling the prisoners of Tartarus—myself and Echechak included—is a complex task.”

“Well, I'm going to be helping where I can with the, um, counseling part,” Fluttershy said. She shrugged. “I...think I can help.”

“I am certain you can.” Luna patted Fluttershy on the back. “You have proven your capabilities, Fluttershy, to be more than satisfactory.”

“I still resent having to attend this,” grumbled someone from the corner.

“Discord, you shall be an example.” Luna tried not to grimace. “A...a...” She forced the word out. “...role model, even.”

“It's still demeaning. I'm not redeemed. I just humor the pegasus and she bakes me cookies.”

The applicant started to say something, but Luna quickly held up a hoof. “I believe we accept your application, sir. Sign here.”

The applicant did so.

“Excellent!” Luna gave him a warm smile. “Welcome to Tartarus's newest initiative—the Rehabilitation of Inmates to Tartarus Baselines program. You will also serve as Temporary Chief Warden, as all the other authorities, er, turned evil.”

“Except for the Smooze,” Fluttershy said, giving a bright smile.

“Yes.” Luna rolled her eyes. “Of course. Thank the sun and moon for small favors.”

“Not to worry!” The applicant grinned. “Iron Will has never turned evil before and does not plan to! If you try to turn, in Tartarus you'll burn!”

He collected his papers, tucked them into a small purse, and paused. “However, if Iron Will may ask one question...”

Luna nodded.

“Why is this program only starting now?” Iron Will stuck out his chest. “As Iron Will often says, why delay when you can attack the day?”

Luna looked at Tirek and Echechak, who just shrugged. She looked at Fluttershy, who smiled encouragingly. She even looked at Discord, receiving only a cross stare in return. She wasn't exactly sure how to answer. “It is a long st—”

“Because...”

They all turned. Grogar had entered the room, wearing his typical grim smile. “We are often quite angry at our enemies. And...” He shrugged. “Anger makes us stupid.”

“Too stupid to make them our friends instead?” Fluttershy supplied hopefully.

Grogar opened his mouth, then shut it. He scoffed, turning and walking away. Luna heard him mutter something.

“Ponies...”

Author's Note

And there y'have it. That's that. I'm done with RitB, and not a moment too soon.

Not that I didn't enjoy the process! Far from it. But to say that Rats in the Belfry was a bit stressful would be...well, not an overstatement, but it'd be true. I don't like serialized stories and I really should stop trying to write them. And the process of trying to get RitB on Equestria Daily was, as some might recall, a bit nervewracking for me. I'm proud of some aspects of the story, and others...

Well, if I could redo it all, I'd have indicated Grogar's development from the get-go. I'd have set up the arrival of characters like Bumble and Auros. In essence, I'd have mapped things out before jumping in. Oh, and I'd try to have more of a clue about commas. Still not quite done with that.

But I'm fairly happy with a lot of this, and at some point it finally stopped being miserable to write. All-in-all, it coulda been a lot worse. Thank you all so much for reading!

Chapter One

There was a rule in Canterlot: Winter days were never sunny. Never. Few knew where the rule came from, but it was enforced religiously. Once autumn passed, each day would become dull and dreary, and each night would become brighter than ever. The reason was a mystery, but it was a rule placed by Princess Celestia herself. That was reason enough for most. The rule dated all the way back to the defeat of Nightmare Moon. It was simply how things were.

There were some exceptions. Days were often bright around the Hearth's Warming Eve pageant to please tourists, for instance, and clouds sometimes just weren't available. The day after Luna's return had been quite sunny to make up for the night that had nearly not ended.

The rule was otherwise adhered to quite strictly, though. The fact that the sun went clear of clouds today was a nice surprise, and one that the Canterlot ponies all sought to take advantage of. Almost everypony was spending this day outside, enjoying the crisp, clear air.

However, at the top of Canterlot's second-tallest tower, one room maintained two occupants. Its shades were firmly drawn, and the only light came from several small firefly jars scattered about the place. As far as those within were concerned, the sun had not even yet risen.

Inside, Luna's eye was developing a mighty twitch. She whispered an old poem under her breath as a somewhat uncertain Fluttershy looked on.

“The sun rose for the fifth o'er a field pale,

“And the beasts of the gloom felt their resolve start to fail

“The witch of all ages and the traitors from light

“Brought their rages to bear 'gainst the all-equines' might

“Though the kind Heart would plead and the great Sun would shout

“The hordes of the gloom didn't see t'was for naught

“And they—”

“Um...” Fluttershy raised a hoof. “...excuse me.”

Luna stopped. She turned, rolling her eyes. “What is it, Ms. Fluttershy?”

“Oh, um...” Fluttershy bit her lip. “Sorry to bother you. It's just, um.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “'Naught' doesn't really rhyme with—”

“It is an ancient poem.” Luna scowled. “It need not rhyme!”

“Well, it's been rhyming up until now, so, um...” Fluttershy trailed off. Was she really going to lecture a princess on rhyming protocols?

Luna shook her head. “In an ancient poem, consistency matters not. Flow, however, does. You should not interrupt!”

“Well, it's also that, um...” Fluttershy looked around, seeking to avoid Luna's gaze. The bedroom of the Princess of the Night was a dim place, and the only decorations were the dark blue carpet and pale blue walls. There were two suitcases by the door. The door itself had a map of Equestria pinned to it. “...I've already heard it. Do you really have to recite it again? It has five more stanzas, and I'm not sure we have time.”

Luna's scowl deepened. “We have all the time in the world.” She trotted over to the other side of the room, levitating up a pair of dresses from her bed. “I can do with a delay.”

“That doesn't seem like a good idea.”

“And what will they care?” Luna rolled her eyes, turning back to Fluttershy. “I have been absent for a thousand years! They will stand an hour's addition.”

Fluttershy frowned. “But...isn't the second stanza all about how they didn't like waiting around?”

“Hmph!” Luna levitated the two dresses over to Fluttershy. “Which of these would suit better the Princess of the Night?”

Fluttershy poked one of them. She knew a great deal about their designs, of course, but hated to show off that knowledge, so she tried to keep her critique concise. “They aren't very good for traveling, are they?”

Luna smirked, turning away again. Unseen to her, the two dresses fell, covering a startled Fluttershy. “They are not. They shall delay me further. Celestia will never know!” She ran over to her small dresser. “Now, how to synchronize that delay with the rations shortage?”

Fluttershy delicately took the two dresses off and placed them back on the bed. She flew over to Luna's side. “Um, I don't think you should try to sabotage the journey.”

“Ha!” Luna grabbed a clipboard off the dresser, checking something off. “Yes, this will do well. We will 'accidentally' wander off course!”

“Um...”

“Yes, and we shall lose our map in the lake here!” Luna levitated a safety pin into a spot in the map on the door. “Excellent!”

“Princess, I don't really think...”

“And look!” Luna grinned, running to the door and jabbing at the map with a hoof. “A swamp! This should cut our arrival time by—”

Fluttershy took a deep breath, trying not to lose her temper. She was being ignored. She tried not to remember the words of Iron Will and promptly failed.

“Treat me like a pushover," she whispered, "I give you the once-over!” Scowling, she walked over to Luna and poked the Princess in the side. “Excuse me.”

Luna went stiff. She turned, eyes wide.

Fluttershy's irritation instantly evaporated. She shrank away. “Sorry! Sorry! I didn't mean to! It was an accident! It was the minotaur!”

Luna cocked her head. “Ms. Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy barely heard her. She put her hooves over her eyes, sinking to the floor. “My friends keep telling me I need to be more assertive, and you didn't hear me! I thought I'd just give you the, um, once-over. Oh my goodness, I just hit an alicorn. I'm sorry! Please don't banish me, or—”

“Ms. Fluttershy.”

“—or offer me—no, um, bananas...wait, what did Pinkie say?” Fluttershy closed her eyes, frowning. The advice she'd been given had been confusing even by Pinkie's standards. “Um, just please don't yell, Princess! I hope I didn't hurt you. It wasn't—” Fluttershy felt somepony poke her in the shoulder.

She lowered her hooves from her eyes. Luna looked annoyed. “Ms. Fluttershy, your earth pony friend is endearing. This cannot be denied. She is also insane.” She raised an eyebrow. "I have not the vaguest notion as to what you are referring to.”

“Oh. Um...well, yes.” Fluttershy blushed. Pinkie's a very dear friend, she thought, but I need to stop letting her get to me. That banishment thing didn't even make any sense. “Sorry.”

“Anyway...” Luna sat down before Fluttershy, sighing. “What is it?”

“Well...” Fluttershy sat up. She felt a bit better now that Luna was no longer looming over her—she'd never admit it to Twilight, but alicorns could be a little intimidating at times. “I don't think you should try to delay this. I-if it's alright for me to say so. From what you've told me about them...I mean, you're the only pony they let inspect the prisons.” She tapped her front hooves together nervously, trying to ignore Luna's sad look. “I think you should arrive as quickly as possible.”

Luna scratched her head. “I truly do not want to go,” she muttered.

“Why not?” Fluttershy stood up and trotted over to Luna's dresser, where she began putting an outfit together. “Didn't you say you have friends there?”

“Heh.” Luna's tone was rueful. “Nopony truly possesses friends in Tartarus. I am the one who managed to bring order and give them legitimacy in the world above. They respect me. They do not love me.”

“What about, um, Arabus?” Fluttershy opened the bottom drawer and quickly slammed it back shut. “And that, um, praying mantis? And Tirek? Twilight told me a lot about what you've done there. Aren't they your friends?”

“Hm. I doubt they even remember me. It has been a long time.”

“Well, never give up hope.” Fluttershy gave a small smile, thinking of Ponyville. “You never really lose friends.”

“Unless they die.”

“They just forget sometimes.” Fluttershy ignored Luna. She grabbed a blue fedora from the hat rack and set it on a neatly-folded ensemble. “You have to go remind them. You mustn't hide.”

“If hiding is unwise, why are you helping me rather than adventuring with your friends?”

Fluttershy turned to Luna, her smile getting nervous. “Well, um, it's...well, Tartarus doesn't have dragons. And, um, big missions to dragon lands do." She shuddered. "They have lots of dragons.”

Luna chuckled. “Indeed. Tartarus only has a vicious three-headed hound that devours souls.”

Fluttershy skipped back to the door. “But he's so cute!”

“I am pleased you think so.” Luna looked to one of the shaded windows. “He, at least, will not recognize me.” Her voice was heavy. “It is your responsibility to ensure his docility while I enter and take my leave of Tartarus. If he frightens you, believe me, it will not go well for me.”

“So you'll go?” Fluttershy looked up at Luna, giving a hesitant smile. “You promise not to try to delay us?”

“Hm.” Luna shrugged. “I suppose.”

“Yay!” Fluttershy pointed to the dresser. “There's your outfit. I packed extra food when I saw you weren't packing enough, so we're ready to go. Also, I brought an extra map, since I noticed the one on the door is over one thousand years out of date. And I fixed the straps on your saddlebags.”

Luna looked crestfallen.

“Oh, don't look at me like that.” Fluttershy beamed. “It's a beautiful day to start an adventure. A nice, dragon-free adventure.”

“It's too early.”

“It's noon.”

“Can't we wait another year or so?”

Fluttershy opened her mouth to reply and instead let out a yelp as there came a loud pounding on the door. The map fell off, pins scattering over the carpet.

The door opened, and a silver-coated mare poked her head through. Her brown mane was done up in a bun, and she wore large black-rimmed glasses. “Excuse me.” Her tone was disinterested. “Princess.”

Luna nodded. “Money Penny. What is it?”

Money Penny raised an eyebrow. “Somepony approaches the gate. It seemed wise to inform you.”

Luna frowned, levitating the map and pins up onto the dresser. “Why not my sister? I am about to undertake a journey, you see, and—”

“That is exactly why I told you.” Money Penny adjusted her cravat. “Rather than your sister.”

Luna blinked. Fluttershy took a step forward. “Um, what do you mean?”

Money Penny looked at Fluttershy. Fluttershy was startled by the coldness in the secretary's expression. “I mean that a very strange blue ram was seen approaching the city gates, and if he's who I think he is, Princess Luna would find it beneficial if Princess Celestia were never to lay eyes upon him.”

“A ram,” Luna repeated.

“Accompanied by a robed figure, but the latter's role appears to be that of a familiar.” Money Penny leaned back out of the room. “Good day, Your Highness.”

The door slammed shut.

A moment later, the door swung open, and the Princess of the Night bolted out. Fluttershy stood still for a moment, then hurried after.

“What's going on?” she asked, but Luna didn't appear to hear her. “Who's the ram?” she asked, louder. “Maybe I can talk to it!”

“Money Penny is abrasive,” Luna called back, not slowing, “but correct in referring to the ram as a 'him'! You cannot calm this creature as you would a three-headed soul-eating mastiff of Tartarus!”

“Who—who is he?” Fluttershy gasped, trying to keep up. Luna was swerving around corners and flying down flights of stairs with ease. Fluttershy, on the other hoof, was beginning to fall behind.

“He is Grogar!” Luna shouted, levitating the front door open and tearing out. “Warden of Tartarus's Third Level! Architect of Misery! Lord of—”

Fluttershy didn't hear the rest as she barreled straight into Luna—who had come to a sudden, dead stop. The alicorn didn't react. Muttering an apology and trying to hide behind her mane, Fluttershy stepped back and looked around. “Luna? Why did you—oh!”

They were outside the castle. The streets of Canterlot were bustling, but a pale pink bubble had formed, sealing off the area by the castle entrance.

Within the bubble were four creatures. Fluttershy and Luna, of course, and a strangely-shaped figure in deep crimson robes.

And a great blue ram twice Luna's size. From his neck hug a large bronze bell. His eyes glowed bright red as he stomped a hoof, cracking the cobblestone beneath. “Grogar,” he snarled. “Architect of Misery. Lord of Tambelon.”

There was silence. Fluttershy looked at the ram, then at Luna, who looked stunned. For a moment, nopony—and nothing—spoke.

Fluttershy looked back at Grogar. “Um...hello, sir.” She tried to raise her voice, realizing a whisper was unlikely to impress this beast. “What are you doing here?”

Grogar's gaze came to rest on Fluttershy. She cringed inwardly, but forced herself not to look away.

After another moment, Grogar smiled. It was a cruel smile. The smile a cat would show to a canary. There was no warmth in it, only the heat of the hottest flames of Tartarus. “I am here to welcome Princess Luna back, of course.” He raised one bushy white eyebrow. “Why else?”

Author's Note

And it begins! I hope you all enjoy, but critiques are, if not welcome, desired. :raritywink:

Chapter Twelve

Uh, Lord Grogar, there's a, uh, problem. Heh-HEEHAW-heh...

Oh, what in Tambelon is it now? Grogar thought, eyes narrowed. His bell rang, causing a pony to go flying through the window of a nearby tavern. Between those who'd fled and those who'd been expelled, the streets were now clear.

There's a guard. He's really, really big, and he's got these mismatched claws, and—

Stop. Grogar cocked his head. Mismatched claws?

Oh, mismatched everything, Lord Grogar. He's hideous! Heh-HEEHAW-heh...

Grogar blinked. His bell rang, and a nearby door fell over, grew legs and scurried off. If that is who I think it is...tell me, Bray, does he have an insufferably blithe manner?

No, he keeps laughing at me! It's awful, Master!

Hm. Perhaps I underestimated Luna. Or overestimated her good sense. Let me see... Grogar considered it, just for a moment. There is a solution.

Oh! Are you coming to help?

Don't be inane. You will not need my help.

There was a pause. Uh...if you say so, Master!

Grogar heard another one of Bray's obnoxious laughs on the way. Stop. Shut up.

Yes, Lord Grogar! Bray's 'voice' had turned frightened again. Sorry, Master.

If this is Discord, he will doubtless be kept on a short leash. Grogar smirked, stroking his beard. Simply put your animal ingenuity to use, Bray, and see to it that leash becomes tighter.

Uh...

Grogar scowled. His bell rang. The animated door imploded, vanishing into nothing. Discord is you. The pony townsfolk are me.

Oh. Oh, I understand! Well explained, Master!

Then get to it. My patience grows thin.

Grogar heard loud hoof-falls coming up behind him. “Grogar!” Luna shouted.

I must go, he thought. See to it your mission is a success, or I will make you regret your extended lifespan even more than you do now.

Y-yes, Master!

No doors had survived the carnage. Absolutely none. Splinters and piles of ash littered the road, along with the rubber strips from shredded pet doors and puddles of molten brass from the doorknobs. There were even a few scatterings of sand here and there from windows that had apparently been too door-like for Grogar's taste. Every single building's entranceway was bare and unprotected.

Luna looked over the wretched display, then turned to Grogar. The ram grinned. “Problem, Princess?”

Luna's brow furrowed. She glanced at Fluttershy—the pegasus had her hooves over her eyes and was curled up in a ball. It occurred to Luna she'd forgotten to put her friend down, so she quickly did so.

Fluttershy spent a moment hugging the cobble street. After a moment, she opened her eyes. “Oh, my.”

Luna echoed Fluttershy's sentiment. The entire block was a wreck. No ponies appeared to have been injured, but their dwellings were all seriously damaged. It would take weeks to replace all the eliminated entryways.

Luna looked back at Grogar, whose grin only appeared to have widened. Her eyes narrowed. “Let us make our way into the theater.”

Their entrance was somewhat speedier thanks to the fact that both massive brass doors had been ripped off their hinges and turned into giant lamps, Luna had to admit.

The mare collecting tickets looked up as they approached. Her jaw dropped as Luna raised a hoof. “We would like to purchase three—”

“Princess!” The mare leaped forward and grabbed Luna by the neck. Luna was about to reflexively lash out when the mare buried her head in Luna's chest and started sobbing.

Luna blinked. “Um, what is—”

“It was awful!” the ticket collector wailed. “Absolutely awful! That ram—and the sun—”

Luna frowned. “What about the s—”

“Enough of this.” Grogar grabbed the mare by the collar with his teeth and pulled her away. “We have a play to view,” he growled through the cloth. “You can resolve your psychological issues later.”

“But—”

“It can wait.” Grogar made his way to the exit and swung his head, flinging the ticket collector out. “Go get yourself some coffee or something.”

“Coffee.” Outside, the wide-eyed mare picked herself up off the ground. “Yes. It will make things good. Must go. Coffee.”

Still shaking, she ran off. Luna and Fluttershy stared after her. Grogar turned, beaming. “Now, then. Princess Lear, yes? Ah!” He pointed up at a nearby sign. “How splendid, a play begins shortly!”

“Um, that sign says they're doing Moolan,” Fluttershy said.

“Hm.” Grogar's bell rang. “Well, perhaps I can persuade the ponies to alter their schedule.” He vanished.

“Um...” Fluttershy coughed. “I'm sure he didn't mean that. Um. Well, he probably did, but...Princess Luna? I mean, Luna, are you okay?”

Luna stood rigid.

Her eye twitched.

“Um, I'm sure it'll be fine.” Fluttershy put a hoof on Luna's shoulder. “He won't really force them to do a different play.”

“Do you really believe that?”

Fluttershy didn't say anything for a moment. She looked at the sign, then back at Luna. “I think we'd better hurry after him.”

“Hm.” Discord examined the pond skeptically.

After a moment, he grinned. “Perfect! Exactly as I remember it!”

He started to turn away when something kicked him in the foot. He looked down to see Angel scowling up at him.

As always. He rolled his eyes. Can't this rabbit ever lighten up?

Angel was covered in ash, his left ear missing most of its fur. “Oh, fine.” Discord shrugged. “I suppose there might have been a slight mix-up with the periodic table. Oxygen atoms are small and I thought I should include one extra. So sue me.”

Angel raised an eyebrow. Discord waved a claw. “Oh, the fish are fine. I teleported them out during my lava bath. They...um...” He paused, frowning. “Where did I put them, anyways?”

“There he is!” Discord turned. Running up the hill toward the cottage was a beady-eyed donkey. It shook a hoof at Discord, letting out a cackle. “Now we've got you, you menace!”

Discord folded his arms. He vanished, reappearing right in front of the donkey. “Well, well, well. Bray.” He glared down at the hideous creature. “I've heard of you. Shouldn't you be in Tartarus with the other two-bit troublemakers?”

“Ha! Ha! Hee-haw!” Bray took a step back, and Discord noticed one of his hind legs appeared to be injured. “What's that, there?” He frowned. “Did you trip and fall off a cliff? How stupid can you get?”

“Hm!” Bray looked back at something Discord couldn't make out. “He's right here! I don't see the baseball bat anywhere, though!”

“Baseball bat?” Discord cocked his head. “What in my glorious (and remarkably apt) name are you babbling about?”

He leaned over Bray, his neck stretching longer and longer until he could peer around Fluttershy's small grove of fruit trees.

His eyes widened. “Oh my.”

The entire population of Ponyville stood before him. Many of the ponies wielded pitchforks, rakes, gardening hoses and other such deadly weapons. One gray pegasus even had a torch, despite it being noon. At their head was the Mayor, who shouted something indistinct through the broken chair leg clenched in her teeth.

“Um, what?” Discord tilted his head a hundred and eighty degrees, his neck stretching even longer to allow the curve. Staring at her upside down, he tried to look innocent. “What's this about?”

Mayor Mare hesitated, then spat the chair leg out. She stomped her hoof. “Discord, how dare you assault that donkey! Just because Fluttershy and her friends aren't here does not mean you can run amok! Not even on donkeys and mules!” She paused, glancing at a mule beside her. “No offense meant, of course.”

“N'n t'k'n,” the mule said through the wooden handle of his broom.

“Well, that's just absolutely preposterous,” Discord said, waving a paw dismissively. “As if I'd—hey! Get away!” He took a step back (from all the way by Bray) as several ponies advanced on him with croquet mallets. “Help! Angel!”

He felt something climb up his back and bounce up his neck. A moment passed, and it came to rest on his goat horn. There was a series of squeaks, and Discord winced as whatever it was started jumping up and down on his head.

“Hold up, Mayor,” a mint-green unicorn said. She was brandishing what looked like some sort of fake arm. “I think that rabbit there is saying he didn't do it.”

“Donkey!” Mayor Mare shouted, still glaring at Discord. “This rabbit is—”

“That rabbit, uh, ah, pummeled the pegasus who lives here!” Discord heard Bray shout. “With a, ah, fish! Yes, yes! A huge fish! A herring! He pummeled her and threw her out of the cottage! He's evil, too!”

The townsfolk were silent a moment. Discord fought to contain a giggle. He'd have to remember to give Angel another unhealthy salad later.

“Y'know,” one of the ponies murmured, “that does sound like something he would do.”

“No kidding!” another said. “I saw him actually throw a cat out a window once! True story!”

Two familiar ponies made their way to the front.

“Yep,” Granny Smith said, “I been wantin' t'teach this rabbit a lesson for years!” Her eyes narrowed as she slowly advanced on Discord. “Poor Fluttershy! Hope she's alright—I was wond'rin' where she'd-a gotten to!”

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh growled.

Discord winced. He gave a nervous chuckle. “Um—well, the thing is—”

A voice sounded in his head. It isn't easy, is it? This is why redemption is futile.

Discord took another step back, as the mob advanced. Oh. Um, hello, Grogar. Listen, I'm a bit busy right now... He couldn't risk blasting them, of course—too many ponies would get hurt, and Fluttershy would never forgive him. He wasn't sure he'd be able to risk an ordinary shield spell, either—most of his shields tended to cut up whatever was caught in between.

Rationality is always stronger, Discord. I just demolished a street full of ponies. No ponies were hurt, but that does not matter. The risk was there, and I ignored it. Could you do the same now?

Oh, shut up. Discord snapped his fingers. In a flash, his neck was back to normal size and he was running. Angel clung to Discord's horn for dear life as the draconequus bolted through the garden, over the pond, and towards an inviting-looking forest.

Now, to say that Discord was stupid would be uncharitable—and, indeed, wrong. Discord was not stupid. In fact, he could sometimes be remarkably cunning. However, things sometimes did fail to occur to him. Such was the downside of a mind of 'pure' chaos.

As such, just as it had failed to occur to him that the forest did not look inviting, that he could simply teleport away, and that running would make him look even more guilty, it had failed to occur to him that, while he had been busy addressing the mob, Bray had slipped into Fluttershy's cottage and begun tearing the place apart.

Chapter Twenty-One

“Stop that! Stop it now!”

The pink gem refused to comply, and Somnambula scowled. About ten seconds ago the gem had started blinking uncontrollably. Her crystals did sometimes flash when near something that would upset their captives, but never this...deliberately.

Perhaps she had underestimated Pinkie Pie.

Now the other two crystals were flashing as well, though not quite as bright, and the pink crystal was starting to show cracks. This was going to get ugly if Somnambula didn't do something fast.

With a snarl, she ripped the crystal out and threw it out the nearest stained window. At the exact same time, the crystal shattered.

In the crystal's place was Pinkie Pie. She stood in midair, grinning. “Yeah! It worked! Who da mare? I da—what?”

Somnambula was pointing down. Pinkie looked. “Ohhh!”

The pony plummeted.

Giving a smug smile, Somnambula glanced back at the crystals. She realized they hadn't stopped blinking. Indeed, cracks had formed, and—

There was a blinding flash of blue and gold. Somnambula was sent flying into the throne room doors.

“Did it work?”

“We're out, aren't we, Count?”

“Er, yes.”

Hissing, Somnambula looked up. Fancypants and Celestia stood there in the flesh—though she did notice that Celestia's mane was a solid pink rather than its more ethereal hues.

“Somnambula.” Celestia approached, eyes narrowed. “You should be in Tartarus right now.”

“Tartarus is under new management.” Somnambula got to her feet.

Fancypants raised a hoof. “Er, Princess, this really isn't my area of—”

“Go. Organize the Guard.”

“Yes, Princess.” Fancypants's horn flashed and he teleported away.

“You made a mistake coming here,” Celestia said.

“Heh. I am pleased you think so, Celestia. Believe me, I am the least of your worries. Already the forces of Tartarus have overrun the city.”

Celestia rolled her eyes. “A pitiful attempt at stalling for the device's recharging.”

“You think I am stalling?”

“I think you—”

“Ahem. Princess.” Somnambula heard one of the doors creak open. “It, ah, seems the denizens of Tartarus have overrun Canterlot.”

Celestia groaned. “Organize the guard, Fancypants.”

“I'll do my best.” The door shut.

“You made a second miscalculation, you know.” Somnambula raised her hands.

“Oh, really?” Celestia's horn started to glow.

Somnambula snapped her fingers.

A fireball appeared and launched itself at the Princess of the Sun. Celestia was just barely able to lift a shield in time, but the blast knocked her clear to the other side of the hall.

Celestia struggled to rise as Somnambula gave a dark laugh. “You assume I need to stall after draining your power for three days.” She clapped her hands and both of the thrones rose into the air. “I am quite confident I have enough of your power left over to simply beat you to death.”

Celestia straightened, eyes narrowing to slits. “We'll just have to see about that.”

And so the battle began.

Luna levitated the largest trapdoor open. The Scribe had willingly handed her the key—or showed her where it had been discarded, anyways.

Why that door? Echechak asked.

“Tirek was the First Warden. Grogar respects custom too much to just hide him in any old jail cell.”

Behind the trapdoor was only darkness, and Luna didn't bother trying to create a light source. This was the Chamber of Darkness, The Room With No Walls. Any light brought within would be immediately quenched, along with its bearer.

She entered the darkness and was lost.

That was to say, the entrance could no longer be located. The key would lead her out, though, when the time came. She remembered that from her first—and only—visit to this room.

“Tirek?” she called. There was no answer. Her voice sounded curiously muffled, as if the darkness itself choked it.

“Tirek?” she repeated.

Perhaps he does not wish to answer you, Princess. This room is for those who must never be found.

Ignoring Echechak, Luna began walking through the gloom.

“wHo iS THerE?” a warped voice called.

Luna stopped in her tracks. “Echechak,” she muttered, “Do not listen.”

I will try.

“Smooze!” Luna called. “Is that you?”

Since when is the Smooze kept in the Room of Darkness? she wondered.

“iT Is aND IsN'T.” She felt something slimy touch her leg. “AnD It iS yOu. i HaD wonDeREd wHeN yoU woUld RetUrn tO Us.”

Luna gritted her teeth. She alone had learned how to speak with the Smooze without it damaging her sanity, but it had taken much study. And it had been a long time ago. “Why are you down here?”

“pRIsoNs cHAngE. YoU...dO nOT coMe To VisIt mE, thEn.”

“I did not know you were here, old fr—”

“I told you,” something snapped. “She comes now only because she wants our help.”

“nO. LuNA is A fRiENd.”

“Ha!” The something let out a hacking cough. When it resumed talking, its voice was a bit quieter. “A fair-weather friend, then.”

Luna hesitated, then raised the key and activated it. From nowhere came a very faint gray light, illuminating a vast purple ooze and a black-furred, red-skinned centaur. The latter grimaced, as if unaccustomed to the light.

“Tirek.” Her mouth was dry.

Tirek's mouth tightened. “Good day, Luna. Assuming it is day.”

“Night, actually.”

“Hm.” He raised an eyebrow. “Did your revolt succeed after all?”

“No.” Luna tried not to sound hurt. “It...is simply nighttime.”

“That is good. You may leave now.”

Tirek started to withdraw deeper into the darkness. Startled, Luna walked after him. “Wait! What are you doing?”

“Serving my sentence. Perhaps you should try it.”

“Excuse me?”

“You are excused.”

“You...your sentence is just a construction of Grogar's!” Luna scowled. “Grogar sought power. Why acknowledge his self-bestowed authority?”

My goodness. Is that what the Princess thinks happened?

“It would appear so, old friend.” Tirek rubbed his forehead. “It is a quaint invention I hate to disrupt. After all, we all know what comes of disrupting the Princess's happy world view.”

Luna blinked. “Wh—what are you saying, Tirek?”

It really is rather simple. Grogar did not launch any grand coup.

“Indeed.” Tirek gave a shrug. “We did 'revert'.”

Luna stared at him. She couldn't think of what to say. What was she to say to that?

“Does this take you by surprise, Princess?”

“You...” Luna had been told they had turned, of course. But she hadn't really acknowledged it. And when Grogar had betrayed her, she had eagerly seized the lifeline that, perhaps, they had simply been framed. Instead...

“How could you?” she managed.

“How could I?” Tirek scowled. “What did you expect me to do?”

It appears her age has made her stupid.

“Please, my friends, just—”

“Friends?” For a moment, Tireks' face went dark. His eyes turned black. He reared up and leaped, landing right in front of Luna and looming over her. “You call us friends after what you did to us?”

Luna started back. “What I did to you?”

Tirek looked like he wanted to punch her. “You left! You turned! You told us to be greater than what we were while you were little above a self-involved, spoiled brat!”

“I made a mistake!” Luna shouted.

“And what were we supposed to do? Patiently wait for your return?”

Luna took another step back. Her voice lowered. “What did you do?”

He sought to bring you and your nightmare back.

Luna glanced back at Echechak, eyes widening.

And when he was gone, I sought to kill you. Echechak's compound eyes glinted in the dull light. I sought to destroy the moon and you with it, that none would ever meddle with the cosmos again. I sought to break my own code and assassinate a god.

“Grogar stopped us,” Tirek muttered, backing away from Luna. “He never warmed to you when you were active, so he alone was qualified to rule after your treachery.”

Luna looked between her two former friends, then at the nearby Smooze. Three of the ooze's many eyes looked at her with a mixture of pity and disappointment.

“I am sorry,” she said, voice lowering further until it was nearly a whisper. “I...you do not know what it was like. To feel unloved. Obsolete.”

I do, Echechak hissed in her mind. Luna glanced back in surprise. Have you forgotten the original reason for my imprisonment? The assassin for gods in a world where assassination has gone out of style. They locked me up because I didn't know how to do anything else. You are the one who showed me I could be more than the sum of my parts.

Luna hesitated. She picked up Echechak with her magic and set him down on the floor beside Tirek.

She took a step back.

Then, feeling tears begin to run down her cheeks, she spoke.

“I made a mistake.”

“Yes,” Tirek said. “You did.”

“But just as I taught you—” Luna swallowed. “—taught you that you could be more, you taught me I could be much less.”

“Is that meant to be touching?”

“You taught me even the best can fall,” she went on. “And I did. But you also taught me that anything can rise back up. And you taught me not to push them back down when that happened.”

She rubbed the back of her neck. “I know I have been...a poor friend. Sometimes you have friends you are not even aware of, I suppose, and in your ignorance you might neglect them. I should have visited more. Perhaps you could have kept me from making my mistakes.” Her eyes closed. “But I need your help now, because Grogar will enslave all. You are right; he was never touched by my compassion. He has never had a friend, and that makes me fear for our world if he is not stopped.”

Echechak and Tirek looked at her, showing no reaction.

“Please,” she whispered. “For...old times' sake?”

A moment passed in silence.

“Too old...” Tirek murmured. He backed further away from the light.

Too old by far.

Luna watched as Tirek left the range of the key.

Sighing, she turned away.

As she exited the Room of Darkness, she paused. She turned and tossed the glowing key in.

“Did you...find what you sought?” the Scribe asked as she walked past.

Luna didn't answer.