Luna sighed softly as Twilight entered her private study, but regretted it when the younger alicorn stiffened in response. If I so much as whispered ‘boo’ she’d probably run so fast she’d leave a sonic rainboom. This thought helped her force a smile she didn’t really feel. “Try to relax, Twilight Sparkle. I know this will be difficult for us both, but there is no need for such anxiety.”

Twilight’s efforts to relax as ordered were visibly herculean, and Twilight’s awareness of this fact was making her even more ill at ease than when she’d first entered. Luna repressed another sigh, and instead raised an eyebrow. “Would it help if I told you to be nervous instead?”

Twilight looked puzzled, then embarrassed as realization set in. “I’m sorry...”

Luna held up a hoof, and Twilight fell silent. “Twilight Sparkle, it is my understanding that you and my sister spend half your time apologizing to each other nowadays. I wish to keep such to a minimum.”

“Yes, your Highness.”

Luna deliberately chose a less formal tone for a better rapport. “I know that you and I have not spoken at any length about the search my sister has set you upon, but I can assure you that you have my full support.” She paused for emphasis. “And, if you should succeed, my profound gratitude.”

Twilight’s expression turned wry. “I don’t think I’ll ever know how to react to that. From you or her.”

Luna’s smile was genuine this time, if small. “I understand. It is not a wish to die, you understand, though in the past that has crossed my mind.” At Twilight’s look of alarm, Luna reassured her, “That is not the case now, Twilight Sparkle, but 40,000 years is a long time, and at a price I doubt even you can really imagine.” Her small smile faded. “Guilt and despair at times could become overwhelming.

“In any case, I hope that the grave is not the end. I know not what fate will befall us should we ever escape this too-costly immortality, but there are some ponies I would brave anything to meet, if only one more time. Ponies who were as close to me as you are to Celestia.”

Twilight opened her mouth, then closed it quickly, but not quickly enough for Luna to miss. “Yes, and closer,” Luna said sadly. “Do not worry. Celestia broke no trust when she told you that, and, thanks to what you and your friends did for me that summer night, I can now bear my loss. Together, you did what a thousand years could not.”

“You were aware the whole time?” Twilight’s chided herself silently as soon as it was asked, but Luna simply nodded.

“It was... difficult,” Luna admitted softly. “Even after tens of thousands of years of living, one thousand more, all alone, do not pass quickly.” She turned her gaze from Twilight out the window to where her namesake hung in the sky. “And my escape was not entirely complete. A little of my essence is still there, though less with each passing year. You must have seen how I’ve changed since you freed me. That remainder will let me get us there.”

“A thousand years alone. How did you stay sane?” Especially knowing that some of the years you passed there came at the expense of your lover.

Luna neither looked at Twilight nor responded.

After a time, Twilight answered her own question. “Oh,” she said, in a very small voice. “I’m sorry, Princess. Your sister once told me that there were no stupid questions, but it looks like I found one. And I didn’t mean to pry quite that much.”

“Your curiosity is perhaps your greatest gift, Twilight,” Luna responded without heat, albeit a little grudgingly. “I must admit that I discuss that time with very few, and with no one easily. However, I know you’ve taken on a very heavy burden in our service, one that must be as costly to you in a way as anything I’ve had to do. Knowing that, I simply cannot bring myself to deny you your answers.”

Twilight nevertheless changed the subject to something hopefully a little less painful for them both. “You said you saw something there?”

Luna was visibly grateful for the shift. “Yes and no, Twilight. Understand, I was not on the moon, but bound within it. Not like a seed in a pod, but like sugar mixed with sand. Or perhaps a better simile would be sand stirred into cold, or light blended with sound. My perspective was very different.

“I sensed a power. It’s hard to explain the sensation. It felt -- if felt is the right word -- like a speck of buzzing upon my skin,” Luna explained haltingly, not from pain but as if searching for words to convey meanings that language was never meant to. “Not painful. In fact neither pleasant nor unpleasant, but unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced. Not magic; I would have recognized that. I ‘saw’ something there, but not really with my eyes. I do know it was an artifact, a made thing.

“I can get us there, and by leaving a trail... Sorry, words again fail me. But I can get us back if I do so within a day. I am confident that I can transport five others, as well as you and I.” She paused again, and said, “I would recommend unicorns where possible, to spread the burden of the spells necessary to keep us alive. Would that give you any ideas about whom you’ll be taking?”

“Lyra, for one.”

“I thought she had already told you all she knew of humans.”

Twilight carefully chose her words as she corrected her diarch. “She told me all she thought that she knew, Princess. She’s undoubtedly forgotten much, but something may jog her memory there.”

Luna nodded. “Sensible. Might I also suggest Rarity and Trixie?”

“Rarity’s next on my list, Princess, on the chance her gem-finding spell finds anything unusual. She’s a natural at it, where it’s still difficult for me. Trixie, though?”

“She is intelligent and accomplished at spellcraft, Twilight. I will not insist, but I do strongly recommend her inclusion.”

“OK, Princess,” Twilight capitulated, not having a real reason to exclude her. “Applejack also, simply because she’s as cool a head in a crisis as you’d ever find. And Pinkie Pie.”

Luna’s eyes widened in real surprise at that last. “You’re kidding. You’re kidding, right?”

Twilight carefully hid her smile at Luna’s reaction. “Your Highness, she has senses I’ve never been able to explain. I know she seems, well, flighty, but she’s responsible when she needs to be. I think Fluttershy would rather stay home and care for the girls’ pets than go somewhere so barren of life, and Rainbow Dash wouldn’t like being grounded. She won’t like being left behind, either, but I’ll make it up to her later, somehow.”

“Very well,” Luna said. “If they agree to an oath of secrecy, we will reveal the destination of our little excursion, as well as our immediate goal of looking for ‘man-made’ artifacts, but nothing of your true goal. Would you consider that to be enough for informed consent?”

Twilight hesitated. “I’d also need to tell them that there’s more that I can’t tell them. I’m sorry, Princess, but it just wouldn’t be right, otherwise. And initial test runs with just you and me, please. After that, well, I’m not really comfortable with my friends taking this risk, but if I didn’t let them decide for themselves, I’d feel even worse.”

“Of course, Twilight. I had always planned on test runs, and I should have thought of the other, myself. I did tell my sister that it would be best if you and I went alone, but she values your friendship with them very highly. And I have to agree that you are always at your best with your friends at your side.”

Luna levitated a pair of bound scrolls to Twilight. “Our astronomers’ best map of the area I will be taking us to. I can only hope our goal is within walking distance, but we can make other trips if needed. The other one is Deep Diver’s life support spell. Our mages are already working to adapt it.” She raised a brow again. “I thought you just might be interested in aiding them.”

The newest princess had not missed her promotion from “Twilight Sparkle” to just “Twilight” as Luna spoke, and now got the impression that she was, just maybe, being teased. Her face kept carefully neutral, she nodded. “Right away, Princess!”

Luna shook her head. “In the morning, Twilight. And please don’t spend all night studying. A few of our most learned thaumophysicists were shown parts of your catalyzation spells for fusing iron, and I had to personally convince one to not leave his career and take up topiary instead. If you show up tomorrow with our mages’ work already done for them they’re bound to take it equally hard, and the castle grounds already has enough gardeners.”

Twilight smiled and politely took her leave, her mind no doubt working on the spell before she even opened the scroll.

Which left Luna silently gazing at the moon.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

“So there really is nothing you can do?” Celestia asked from behind her teacup, her expression guarded. She and one other were in a meadow drenched in the scent of wildflowers and birdsong, and few things could have spoiled it. One did.

“My dearest Princess! You wound me!” The draconequus clutched one claw to his breast to illustrate just how incredibly astounded he was at her completely unfounded suspicions. “For one thing, I would now help, if I could. That would make Fluttershy happy, and when she’s happy, I’m happy. And I doubt even you know what it’s like to find a new motivation after a million years. It’s, oh, how would you say it...” He tapped thoughtfully on his chin. “I know! ‘Shiny!’” A frown crossed his face, “No, no, that’s not it...

“For another, if I could have severed the bonds between the Elements and their bearers, I would have done so back when I was doing my old twirl-the-mustache bit. I was able to make the Elements unusable, but they still firmly belonged to their bearers.”

His eyes got a hooded look. “And yes, in this you can trust me. If mischief were my real motivation here, I would simply say ‘yes.’ Imagine if you had to ask your bearers to have their personalities, shall we say, ‘adjusted,’ again, for a time, for you to achieve whatever goal you are obviously that desperate for.”

Celestia looked into Discord’s eyes and saw two things. First, he hadn’t quite completely forgiven her, no matter how genuine his friendship with Fluttershy was. Second, and worse, he was telling the truth. If they did try Starswirl the Bearded’s spell, even if they could get an Element to bond to Celestia, destinies would be scrambled again among all the bearers. That many lives spent in misery was too high a price to pay every time a new solar alicorn was needed.

Discord brought a plate out of nowhere, and cheerfully offered “Cupcake?”

“Thank you, no.”

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Rarity poked at a rock. “Are you sure there’s no air?” Words that would echo throughout history, and in coming years frequently cause her to wish she’d chosen something more grand. “One small step for a unicorn” would have done nicely.

Twilight, her horn glowing softly, nodded. “No air, and way too little heat for us here right now.”

Pinkie Pie was poking at another rock. “But I thought we needed all that stuff.”

Twilight closed her eyes briefly, as if in pain. “And I thought we explained all that at the briefing. Luna, Trixie, and I are using a life-support spell, adapted from deep sea diving. Well, mostly Luna. Rarity and Lyra will help if needed.”

Pinkie gave Twilight an apologetic glance. “I listened carefully, even after you said ‘inversion of force vectors’, and it isn’t easy for me to listen to ‘inversion of force vectors.’ But by the time you got to ‘dissociation of see oh two,’ well, maybe my listening wasn’t so great anymore?”

Twilight rolled her eyes heavenward. If that direction meant the same here. “That’s OK. I can give you a copy of my notes after this. The spell itself isn’t classified.”

“Oh. That. Would. Be. Great.” I can at least make them into a few paper hats. Wait, these are Twilight’s notes. I can make them into a lot of paper hats!

“Even we cannot maintain these spells indefinitely, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna interjected. “We should make haste.”

Twilight, though, was now looking at the same thing every other pony but one was staring at. Hanging above them was the Earth, wrapped in clouds, pale blue and beautiful.

Luna grimaced and actually nudgedTwilight. “Twilight Sparkle?”

“I’m sorry, Princess,” the lavender alicorn said, shaking her head. “It’s just so...” She shrugged and laughed. “I don’t even have words for it.” The near side of the Earth had been shrouded in night during the test runs with just Luna and herself.

“The sight is a familiar one to me,” Luna responded darkly. “And it means something entirely different.” Even Pinkie looked sorry as they heard the pain in her voice.

“My apologies, Princess. Girls, we should get going. This area is really flat, like some kind of dead sea, if that were possible. We’ll have to make that really tall crater rim peak the center of our search. Remember to stay close for the communication spell.”

Seven ponies moved across the lunar landscape in silence.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

The silence was temporary, of course, as Pinkie’s spirits were as hard to keep down as Pinkie herself. “You really should try this!” Bounce. “With the lower graverty...”

“Gravity,” Twilight corrected. Again. I know she’s not an idiot. I don’t understand why she just can’t get that one word right.

“...here, this is a lot easier than walking.” Bounce.

“I prefer to walk,” Luna said neutrally.

“I hate to admit it,” Lyra spoke up nervously. “But I think she’s right.” She bounced again, experimentally. Twilight was proud of her.

Over the years, Twilight had grown to expect the other bearers of the Elements to brave dangers, even Fluttershy; but this was Lyra’s first adventure, and the danger was there no matter how careful they’d been. The search for human artifacts on the most likely place for them to be preserved must be a strong lure. Then again, maybe this just isn’t as scary as the Grand Galloping Gala turned out to be.

“Trixie finds she must agree!” Bounce.

“Yee-HAW! I feel lighter ‘n’ a filly on a cloud!” Bounce.

Twilight caught Luna’s exasperated look, and whispered “I’m sorry. I’ve gotten used to them, and I forgot how distracting they could be.”

Luna’s expression softened a fraction and she whispered back, “Let your friends have their fun, within reason. They are, technically, risking their very lives for my sister and I, even if they do not know it.”

This was Twilight’s turn to be unsettled as, once again, one of the diarchs expressed hope for their own eventual demise. “I’m just glad we made it ahead of the Cutie Mark Crusaders,” she joked. At Luna’s blank expression, and catching pained expressions from at least two members of the expedition, Twilight sighed and asked, “Any idea where it was?”

Luna shook her head. “As I said, it was a different viewpoint, Twilight. I’m afraid I’ve narrowed it down as far as I can.”

Twilight nodded. She turned to one of the few ponies not bouncing along like a grinning beach ball. It looked like she secretly wanted to, but no doubt ‘a lady in a truly smashing flight suit simply doesn’t do such things.’ “Rarity, any hits?”

“Hits? Oh. No, Twilight. There are some few gemstones, and what you described as ‘shocked quartz,’ but nothing truly intriguing.” She looked about. “The setting excepted, of course.”

“Everything OK, Rarity?” At the sound of Twilight’s concern, Applejack and Trixie bounced over to them.

“My apologies, Twilight. I was remembering something Sweetie Bell told me.”

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Two days ago...

“You can’t!” Sweetie Bell looked both shocked and dismayed with her older sister.

“Sweetie, it’s very important. Twilight would never have asked, otherwise,” Rarity said. “I can’t tell you where we’re going, but Luna assured me that it’s as safe as everypony can make it. I’ll be back home a day or two after we leave.” And if this ever goes public, a shot of Princess Luna in a Rarity-designed flight suit could make my career!

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Present day...

“There were a few tears, but she understood, Twilight,” Rarity reassured her friend at the latter’s look of dejection. “You know how fast they bounce back at that age.”

“If we’re sharin’ tales, Ah’ve got one too,” Applejack inserted quickly enough to head off an alicorn-strength guilt storm on Twilight’s part.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Two days ago (again)...

“Dangerous?” Apple Bloom asked, sounding mildly curious as she worked on her homework.

“A mite, but nothing we can’t handle,” Applejack answered. “Ah know you may not like it, but Twilight can fly off the handle a little now and then, and ‘twixt Rarity and Trixie I reckon I can’t say which one’s the Element o’ drama.”

“OK,“ Apple Bloom responded.

Applejack paused, then, knowing she shouldn’t, asked, “And you ain’t even a little worried?”

“Naw. Ah’m sure you’ll handle it. Better than Ah’ll handle this math problem. Say, Applejack, if train A leaves Canterlot an hour before train B leaves Fillydelphia...”

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Present day...

Twilight chuckled. “What can I say, A.J.? Save Equestria a few times and it’s bound to raise expectations.”

“Trixie wishes she had that excuse,” the magician said a little sourly.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Two days ago (last time, I promise)...

“So Trixie will be going on a dangerous mission,” she explained to the latest Ponyville librarian, Swift Shush. “One vital for national security, though I cannot tell you what it is.”

“That’s nice, dearie,” the elderly librarian answered as she worked on the index cards. “Is it going to be cold?”

“Trixie actually isn’t sure. But if Trixie doesn’t come back, please ensure my father is notified.”

“Of course, dear,” Swift Sush replied absently. “And if it is cold, be sure to wear a scarf.”

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Present day...

Twilight chuckled, and when Trixie joined her, so did Applejack and Rarity. “I wouldn’t worry about it too much, Trixie,” Twilight said. “Swift Shush helped train me, and she’s always been more into books than ponies.”

“Nevertheless,” Trixie said, “Trixie appreciates the faith you’re showing by including her in this, Twilight. Trixie will not let you down.”

“That’s, well, great, Trixie.” And that little ‘sproing’ you just heard was my guilt-o-meter pegging. “I have every faith in you.” And a small confession to make, when there’s time.

“By the way, Applejack. ‘Element of drama?’” Rarity asked, not quite hiding a smile. If it had distracted Twilight, Applejack’s story had been worth it, after all.

“Ah’m gonna pay for that, ain’t I?”

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

“Twilight!”

“Not now, Pinkie.”

“But I saw thought I saw something.”

“Once again, there are no aliens here, Pinkie.” Then Twilight’s nagging need for exactitude struck. “Except us, technically.”

“But...”

“Or little green ponies of any kind. Except Lyra. Technically.”

“But... Twilight...”

Twilight could somehow sense the earth pony’s disappointment, and turned to the downcast baker/astronaut. “I’m sorry, Pinkie. Keeping this spell up for over two hours is giving me a little bit of a headache.” ’Little’ in the same way that Prince Blueblood can be a ‘little’ rude. “What did you see?”

“Oh, it was probably nothing, I guess. Just a flash of light.”

Twilight stared hard at her, and Pinkie unexpectedly flinched. Have I really been that grumpy? I’ll need to make it up to her later, too. “Show me.”

“Well, it’s not that simple.”

“Why am I not surp... Wait. Pinkie, it’s OK, really. Just tell me in your own way.”

Pinkie smiled broadly at her, and Twilight could swear she saw just a hint of payback in that grin. “You have to bounce.”

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Indeed, it could only be seen from the top of a good, hard bounce, and it took many tries before Twilight herself glimpsed it. Without the bit of added altitude it was hidden by a scattering of boulders the size of carriages. “Good work, Pinkie!”

“And I would never have seen it if it weren’t for the grabbity!”

“Grav... Never mind. Everypony follow Pinkie! Carefully!”

And Pinky was right -- bouncing was easier.

In another half hour they were close enough to make out a general shape, but the appearance of progress deceived them. Without air to obscure their target, and with a horizon that didn’t match instinct, it took a great deal more time before they actually got to it than they expected, and Rarity had to take over spell-sustaining duties from Trixie. Twilight, and even Luna, looked near exhaustion.

There was a very rare flash of light here and there from around their target, and when they reached a large, red circle set in the ground, a virtual corruscation of light swept across the lower outline of a dome. What was within the dome was gold in color, most of it, with other metallic colors here and there. Nearby was a multi-colored pennant Twilight didn’t recognize. There was a set of plaques just inside the circle, one matching another Twilight saw on a leg of the odd structure.

“Is that one of their houses?” Applejack asked incredulously.

“I don’t think so, A.J. This looks like some kind of laboratory. Or maybe a monument. Nobody touch anything,” Twilight said as she studied the plaque that had caught her eye. “And stay away from -- Lyra!”

Lyra had ventured too near the circle already. She was frozen in place, shuddering violently as the spell keeping her alive ran into whatever mysterious forces comprised the dome. Luna’s horn suddenly flared too bright to look at as she fought for the agonized pony, casting stark shadows everywhere. Lyra gasped, an ugly, choking scream tearing itself from her throat before a brilliant flash of light dazzled their eyes.

When Twilight could see again, Lyra was lying on the surface, thrashing about as she gasped for air. The dark glow of the life support spell had been shattered completely, and the mysterious dome was gone.

“Lyra!” Twilight braced herself and concentrated.

“Twilight,” Luna asked frantically, “How long to set up the spell again?”

“Three hours by my checklist!”

“She doesn’t have that much time!”

Twilight nodded as she wove arcane forces. “I’m trying to shave that down.... Hang in there, Lyra!” Air first! No, that would tear a hole in her lungs without external pressure! “Everypony else away from her, give me room!”

“No,” Luna said. “Everypony gather around her. Now.”

Seven ponies left with a silent flash, leaving the surface barren again.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

“It was all my fault,” Twilight insisted as she paced in front of the window. On the other side, in positive pressure suits, medical staff worked methodically on a now-awake Lyra.

“Twilight,” Celestia tried to interrupt gently.

“I should have told them to be more careful! I let the excitement carry me away...”

“Twilight,” Luna started.

“...and it was all for nothing! I didn’t think fast enough, either. Those sparkles were caused by whatever was protecting the thing. When we walked up to it we must have kicked dust onto the dome. Lyra got close enough for her spell to brush it, and...”

“Twilight,” even Trixie began. She, Twilight, and Luna had been released from their examinations first in case they could offer aid, though it had proven unnecessary.

“...but nooooo! I wanted to go to the Mooooon....”

“The doctors say she’ll be alright, Twilight,” Luna reassured her. Again.

“Sure, if she comes out of isolation OK. She was exposed to whatever moon germs were up there, just ready to leap onto an innocent mare whose only crime was following an incompetent...”

Luna looked at Celestia. “Was she always like this?”

“....blew up the only working artifacts, priceless knowledge lost...”

“Indeed. Even in magic kindergarten, it was as if she bore the weight of the entire world upon her shoulders.”

“...maybe they can name the site ‘Twilight’s Folly,’ and everybody can come see...”

“Perhaps we can find some other was to pass the time until she calms down? I spy, with my little eye, something white.”

“...stellar example of how not to perform the first ever extraplanetary exploratory expedition...”

“Something white, Luna? In a hospital? That’s practically cheating.”

“I play to win, sister.”

“...what to tell Bon-Bon if something bursts out of Lyra’s chest and starts eating people...”

The use of the royal Canterlot voice was clearly inadvisable in a hospital, so Celestia waited until Twilight was passing and whispered into her ear, “Pop quiz!”

“YES!” Twilight shouted reflexively, earning a glare from the medical staff. She grinned weakly at them. “Um... sorry.”

“You did get a good look at that plaque?” Celestia asked.

“Yes. Here...” She telekinetically grabbed a piece of paper and a quill from a nearby desk and drew the odd shapes and characters as best as she remembered them, and handed it to Luna. Unseen, Trixie gently took the paper from Luna.

Twilight closed her eyes and leaned her head against the wall. “I’m sorry, your Highness. I risked all those lives and found nothing. The entire trip was a total failure. And the only thing we have to show for it is...”

“Trixie has translated the plaque!” the newest Element of magic announced proudly. “All that time spent searching for the amulet did not go completely to waste after all. Mastering translation spells was an early step.” She handed the paper to Twilight.

“Great,” Twilight said after a glance. “This was from their very first journey to the moon. So whatever I found was the least advanced bit of technology I could have, in fact, ever found! I was afraid of that when I saw that even the continents on their map were different.”

Celestia sighed and, with a flair of her horn, bodily picked Twilight up and turned her toward the window before setting her back down. On the other side of it, with all sorts of tubes and wires hooked up to her, sat Lyra. The unicorn had bloodshot eyes and was suffering from an occasional coughing fit, but those did nothing to dampen her gleeful expression. She saw Twilight looking and waved happily. Twilight’s wave in return was much more hesitant.

“Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia told her, “You are a magnificent student and, more importantly, a good friend, but you can be entirely too focused at times. Remember that you courageously risked life and limb in our service. Also, men must have once had much more on the moon that just this, I think. That they removed all of it except this one, carefully preserved site? I think they meant for us to find this. Perhaps to show that they were here. Perhaps simply to remind us of how far we can grow.”

Her voice lowered again so Trixie could not hear. “And even if it turns out that you did not, this time, help my sister and me, that certainly doesn’t mean that what you found wasn’t important. There are more ponies than just Luna and I. And right now I think you have a friend who would be very happy to see this particular piece of paper.”

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Lyra’s hooves shook as she read. “‘Men from the planet Earth’... ‘For all mankind...’ Twilight, this is the happiest day of my entire life!” Lyra paused a bit in her excitement. “Don’t tell Bon Bon I said that, all right?”

Within her isolation suit, Twilight grinned. She felt the weight of the world lift off her shoulders, if only for a little while. “I promise. And I will personally see to all her needs until you’re released from isolation.”

“All her needs?” Lyra asked.

“Yes,” Twilight reassured her eagerly.

Lyra raised a brow. “All her needs?”

“Yes, Lyra, every single need and....” Twilight was thankful the suit hid her blush. “What I mean to say is, you’ll be out of here in no time.”

Lyra grinned at her. Teasing an alicorn was her second adventure today, but after her brush with death she felt oddly invincible. She shook the paper. “And this?”

“Celestia says she has to consult with her ministers, but that she’s ninety percent confident that it can be declassified.” That they’d found other nations had already been searching for powerful human artifacts and universally coming up empty had more to do with it, but that was a detail Lyra didn’t need to know. “You are going to be one famous mare!”

“Oh, it’s more than that. This validates me, my grandsire, his great-granddam, and more! Princess, thank you.”

“I have to get going now, Lyra,” Twilight said apologetically.

“Sure, Twilight. Oh, wait!” Lyra paused with uncharacteristic uncertainly.

“Yes?”

“Twilight, do you know anything about ‘seaponies’?”

Author's Note

Yeah, this was a bit of a diversion. Andrew Talon's Progress story here -- one of my all-time favorites -- never got Luna to the moon, because it had a hard time fitting the story. Not cursed by such integrity, I always wanted to put ponies there, and I especially wanted to put Pinkie in low gravity.

The next chapter will have the climax -- this story was never meant to be open-ended.

Also, to head off the objections of some, I could find nothing in the scientific literature saying that unicorns explode in a hard vacuum