Dream Shadows of Revolution

"Well," Luna says as you finish telling her everything that's been happening to you, "that certainly is strange." She looks down in thought for a moment before continuing. "And you cannot remember anything of the two weeks I was away in Saddle Arabia?"

"I remember you leaving and the events of that day. When I try to recall anything after that I am left only with a severe headache."

A subtle look of worry spread across her face. "That sounds like memory magic," she said as she shifted from one hoof to the other. "However, before we jump to any conclusions we need to discover what keeps waking you. Come morning when we retire, I will delve into your dream. Perhaps then we will learn something."

You rub your cheek against her neck. "Thank you, my dear," you say, smiling. You retract your face from her neck and she smiles back at you. Her lips meet yours for a brief moment before you hear a knock upon the door.

"Enter," Luna commands as she turns to face the door, quickly composing herself.

The door opens and in walks one of Luna's personal guards. His helmet shines light purple with a ribbed fin where his mane would be. The breastplate is a deep purple and looks like a pair of wings held together on his chest with a radiant blue 'eye'. His eyes are a pure silver unlike the almost dingy gray of his coat. A pair of wings cling to his side that have always struck you as... odd. They appear to be bat wings, the same color as his breastplate. And lets not forget his ears. Longer than most ponies, they seem frayed at the tops. It's almost as if at one point there had been more to them, but had since been bitten off.

There was no mistaking it. This was Nightblade, Luna's most loyal guard. The pegasus bowed as he entered, removing his helmet. His long jet black mane flow down his neck and back as he lifted his head and began to speak.

"My sincerest apologies for disturbing you, Princess. Your sister requests your presence. She is convening the council to determine what should be done about the Dragon Kings' offer."

"I see. Thank you, Nightblade. Please inform my sister that I shall be there momentarily."

He bows his head again before speaking. "Yes milady." He retreats from the room, closing the door as he leaves.

Luna returns her gaze to you, meeting you eyes. "Duty calls. Are you certain you will be alright?" she asks, that look of worry returning to her face.

Smiling at her, you nod. "I'll be fine. Besides - " you glance up at the clock " - in a few short hours night will fall, and you know how I love using your beautiful night" - you run your hoof gently across her cheek - " as inspiration for my work."

She smiles, blushing slightly at your words and touch. The two of you embrace for a moment before she turns, walking across the room to her walk in closet. Several seconds later she returns to the room. She adjusts her crown and neck piece, then turns towards you. You embrace once more, sharing a kiss, before she turns to leave.

"This should not take long," she states as she exits the room.

You stand around for a moment debating how to kill time till night falls. You could always visit the library and study more on historical pony painters. You could also go down to the garden for a nice stroll. May help clear your head. Deciding on the later, you slip into a casual t-shirt you won't mind getting dirty later. Using your magic to open the door you are quickly on your way.

Having memorized the majority of the castle's layout, it takes you barely fifteen minutes to reach the castle grounds. As you make your way down the path to the garden you begin to take in the feeling all around you. The air is warm and smells of life. All around you can hear chirping birds and all assortments of animals running and frolicking. Spring is here. Only a few days prior had Canterlot still been in winter's grip. But, with the help of unicorns such as yourself, winter had been wrapped up with ease.

As you enter the main garden you begin to take notice of the diverse plant life growing here. There are so many different types of plants. From elms to perennials and from climbing vines to simple ferns. The royal garden seems to have everything. Even still you can't keep your waking thoughts from resurfacing, putting you in a semi foul mood. It is then that you hear an upbeat voice you would, at the moment, just as soon ignore.

"Ah Spring. Such beauty. Such color. Such joy." As it speaks the voice slowly dulls down to a downright sarcastic tone. "Why it's almost enough to make one gag."

Discord, Spirit of chaos and disharmony. Honestly, in your current state, those are the last things you need. Frustrated, you let loose a long sigh.

"Hello, Discord," you say in a dull, almost monotone voice. "Don't you have anypony better to 'entertain'? I thought your friend from Ponyville was visiting today. What was her name?"

His slight smirk is wiped from his face, quickly replaced by disappointment. "Fluttershy. Alas, she had to push her visit back till tomorrow. Something about an emergency involving bears," he says as he proceeds to hover upside-down above you. "But, look at the bright side. Now we get to spend more quality time together," his face turning up in a giant grin.

"Lucky me." You can almost feel the sarcasm of your words as they roll off your tongue. "Honestly, Discord, I'm not really in the mood right now." Discord vanishes and you stop in your tracks at the sight before you. Discord suddenly reappears in front of you, now laying atop what appears to be a four post Victorian style bed.

"Yes I'm not really 'in the mood' either," he states as he stands and kicks the bed clear into the sky. Your hoof firmly meets your face as you shake your head.

"What I mean is that I've just got a lot on my mind. I actually came to the garden to clear my head," you state, giving Discord a stern look.

"Well why didn't you say so?" he asks with a mischievous grin plastered on his already smug face. "If you need to clear your head - " He shoves his right arm into his own head and pulls out what appears to be his brain " - I could always lend a claw."

Something inside you snaps. This is too much. "Knock it off!" you shout. At your sudden outburst Discord is taken aback. You had never shouted at Discord before. Any other day you would have found his humor quite funny, or at the very least amusing. But today, with all the questions and stress running through your mind, you don't think you could find anything humorous. Though it is still no reason to be rude. Ashamed at your own behavior, you take a breath and exhale slow and deep. You let your head drop slightly.

"My apologies, Discord. I am under much stress as of late. However, that is still no excuse. I should not have snapped at you and for that I am sorry," you say with a sullen look on your face.

"Oh it's quite alright, my friend. It will take more than a sharp tongue to sting me," he says. "Just know" - placing his claw on your shoulder - "that if you ever need an ear to listen, you know where to find me." With that he smiles, waves as he walks away, and vanishes into thin air.

It was then that you realize just how long your shadow had become. Night is almost upon you. It is nearly time to work, to paint. You set off towards your destination, the tallest tower of the castle.

By the time you reach the tower, night had completely descended upon Canterlot. As you enter the highest room you search through your various paints and choose to bring an assortment of blues, purples, blacks, and whites. Levitating them onto the balcony first you then grab a bucket of paint thinner, an assortment of brushes, a wipe cloth, and your easel. You post your station near the railing so you can sit at the center of the balcony, giving you a better view of the night sky.

You sit and begin to watch your second favorite muse, waiting for inspiration to strike. Studying the night sky you take note of the different constellations you had learned about from both star charts and Luna herself. Seconds pass and then minutes. Soon almost an hour has passed.

Then you see it. A shooting star quickly flashes through the sky. And so, with an image in mind, you set to work. Having already applied a layer of black gesso the day before, the canvas was a dry and ready for painting. Using your two inch scenery brush, you layer the entire canvas in a thin clear medium so the oil paints will flow onto it better. You begin to put a few colors on the palette. Ultramarine blue, ivory black, titanium white, and dioxazine purple. You'll add more colors later. Taking some of the blue and white, you begin a mixing spot on your palette. You add a dash of purple to the mix and begin to paint a skyline, fading it as you continue towards the top.

Once satisfied you wipe your brush on the cloth and begin blending the sky to soften the transition. You decide to start adding the stars. Finishing, you choose a #3 fan brush and take some fast flow white medium and begin mixing it with a little of the paint thinner. Noticing your optimal consistency, you stand close to the easel and levitate the brush in front of you. Taking the edge of your hoof you drag it across the brush to spray some of the color onto the sky of your painting.

Taking the cloth you clean off the white splatter that fell below your skyline. You then take the same cloth and clean a small circle in the sky. Your filbert brush comes next. The brush meets the titanium white on your palette as you make sure it keeps its edge. Holding the brush steady with your magic you begin painting your moon. Always making sure you keep the edge on the outside, you move from the outside in. Immersed in your work you don't even hear the hoofsteps behind you. Your concentration breaks when you hear a voice you have come to love listening to.

"Such a beautiful painting," Luna whispers as she kisses your cheek. She stands beside you coming to rest her head upon the base of your neck.

"You know as well as I that it is not yet finished, Luna," you voice carrying with it a playful tone. Standing there as you continue painting, with her head upon you, you can think of no place else you would rather be.

"Darling," you whisper.

"Yes, my love?"

"Will you sing that lullaby? That one I love," you softly implore.

"Of course."

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