//------------------------------// // Chapter Fifteen: Consideration // Story: Shadows and Watchers // by -SBRS //------------------------------// Luna’s night was… peaceful. Serene. A calm wind, upon a roiling sea of stars, that one might lose themselves within the depths. It was now that I wondered, for the first time in my life perhaps, why humanity feared the night and the dark so. Was it the absence of light, the cold fingers of solitude touching upon their hearts? Or, perhaps, was it the sensation that, when one looked upon the night, they looked upon themselves? Humanity was the dark, after all, and what happiness was there to be had in gazing upon one’s true nature? I shook my head, wishing not to ponder such ideals further. Turning from the open balcony, my eyes settled upon Princess Luna’s seated form. She was seated beside her study’s fireplace, the crackling orange fire a disparate shade against her indigo fur. Luna’s eyes betrayed her confusion, and perhaps a bit of apprehension. To soothe her fears, I gave my friend a quick smile, returning to her side with simple, eased steps. “Roland?” she spoke my name, watching as I sat opposite her. My legs were crossed, my hands folded together. “What did you wish to speak of?” I did not answer for a few moments, gathering my thoughts. I watched as Luna’s ears perked from side to side, emanating confusion. It was quite adorable, really. “In truth?” I began, looking down upon the cushion we sat on. “Luna, I feel as if we have delved into our… friendship, a bit too quickly.” I tested the word in my mouth, feeling how it felt in body and mind. Luna’s head tilted, her ears pricking towards me. “How do you mean?” she asked. “Are we not friends, Roland? Have we not confided in each other?” I shook my head, sighing. “Perhaps we have, Luna, but I feel that it has been a façade.” “Explain.” Closing my eyes, I spoke slowly and deliberately. “Stories and tales – that is all that our ‘friendship’ has constituted, Luna,” I turned to face the fire. “We have latched onto each other, dear, in a way that, perhaps, two lost souls may have. “I feel that, in a sense, we may see the other to be a kindred spirit,” I explained further, looking back upon the princess. “Think on it, for a moment – do you not feel the same way?” Luna made to speak, her mouth hanging open, but a moment passed and it closed once more. She simply nodded. “You are a strong mare, Luna. But it does not seem that way when it is merely the two of us. I simply wish to make sure that our friendship is genuine, Luna,” I said, matching Luna’s eyes with my own. “Not simply a weak link between two lost souls. So that we can truly know each other, that we might not act in a manner that is not ourselves.” “Where did these thoughts come from?” Luna asked me, twirling a hoof. “I am beginning to understand what you are saying, but honestly, this is all… out of the blue.” “Nowhere,” I lied, giving a sideways grin. “Just some… introspection. A dearth of activities bequeaths upon myself plenty of time for such.” Luna nodded slowly, looking away. “I see. Then… how do you suggest we begin?” I took a moment to think, placing a finger upon my chin. “Well, for one, I don’t truly know about you, besides what I’ve gathered from your stories,” I said. “Though, you might know more than a small deal about myself. Perhaps we should speak of ourselves – our tastes, our lively experiences.” Motioning towards Luna, I smiled. “Why don’t you begin?” She took a moment to think, clearly pondering my suggestion. Shaking her head, Luna smiled. “Then begin I shall. Have you… any question? Somewhere that I can start?” “One or two,” Luna raised a brow, clearly wanting me to voice my queries. “Are you and your sister the only… alicorns?” Luna shook her head. “No – you haven’t met her, but Princess Cadence is a third. She’s in the Crystal Empire right now, tending to her city, but I hear that she and the Prince Consort, Shining Armor, wish to visit sometime soon.” Her expression was one of deep thought, her mouth crinkling at the corners. “I only know so much of my sister’s plans, but alicorns are rare enough – it should only be the three of us for some time.” “I see,” I mumbled, though not quite understanding. “Then, where do alicorns come from? Surely, you and your sister can’t have been the only ones for… the millennia you have lived?” The princess made to speak, but stopped, her eyes betraying sorrow. Luna sighed, gazing at the ground. “You are correct,” she muttered, her ears drooping. “There used to be many of us, Roland. Several millennia ago. I… I don’t remember much, it has been so long, but…” Luna trailed off, her faint voice hesitant. “You shan’t worry about telling me if you do not wish to,” I assured my friend, slowly moving a hand towards her. Luna shook her head, however, clearing her throat. “No, it’s alright Roland,” the princess said, her voice clearer – more confident. “Tia has told me, several times since I have returned, to not worry about the past.” Gazing into my eyes, Luna smiled. “I intend to live in the present now. But, it won’t hurt to remember the past. “I remember my mother – faintly,” Luna explained, raising her head to gaze at the ceiling. “She was an alicorn, like my sister and I, and was loving – she cared greatly for us.” I nodded my head, a whisper of a smile upon my cracked lips. “Do go on.” Luna gave a light giggle, looking back at me. “I don’t remember much of her, to be quite honest, but there is one memory I will always hold dear,” she closed her eyes, humming a light tune. “She would sing me a song as I practiced my dancing, light and elegant. My mother was the one who taught me how to dance, after all.” My eyes widened in surprise – I did not expect that. “You dance?” I asked Luna. “Used to,” she explained. “I haven’t, not since… well, you know.” I nodded in understanding. “You should show me one day, Luna.” Her cheeks flushed a light red, an awkward grin upon her lips. “Perhaps one day, dear Roland,” Luna said looking away. “I do remember many moonlit dances under the stars, but… like I said, I haven’t indulged myself in so long.” Smiling, I placed a light pair of fingers upon Luna’s hoof. “Well, there is no time like the present, Luna. Take care to have your own fun as well.” Retracting my hand, I cleared my throat. “So, if dancing is one of your hobbies… have you any others?” “Well,” Luna began, placing a hoof under her chin. “There is one thing – you know of it already.” I titled my head in confusion, raising a brow. “And what would that be?” The princess of the moon smiled, quiet for a moment, before speaking. “Stories, Roland. You and I both love them, but I do have a rather intimate relationship with tales.” “How so?” Luna’s eyes twinkled, and she winked. “What are dreams but stories, in and of themselves?” I made to reply, but found myself with no words. “Oh. Well, you are right, I suppose,” I chuckled, smirking. “I still don’t quite understand that, really. How you are able to… tend to your subjects’ dreams.” The princess waved a hoof in dismissal. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about it, if I were you,” she said. “I’ve only told you so much about Equestrian magic as it is.” Luna smiled, her ears perking to the side. “Now, I’ve told you a bit about myself. Roland, have you any interests yourself?” I took a few moments to think, pondering her question. “Perhaps I’ve a few. Stories, of course, are something I have always loved, but…” I closed my eyes, deep in thought. “Gardening, maybe?” Luna’s eyes widened, and she leaned back in surprise. “Gardening?” she asked, her mouth shaped in a small ‘o.’ “I would have never thought. Why so?” “Well,” I began, smiling. “Contrary to what I have told your aide, Miss Pad, I don’t simply pick herbs and roots out of mere necessity.” Luna tilted her head, eager to hear more. “I find gardening to be peaceful, relaxing – something to pass the time.” “Yes, Lily did tell me that she had found you in the gardens, a couple of weeks ago,” Luna mentioned, the corners of her mouth crinkling. “How, exactly, did you find yourself with this particular hobby?” I took a moment to stretch, leaning back on the palms of my hands. “Luna, you’ve noticed how large my sword is, yes?” Luna frowned, a perturbed look about her, but she shook her head. “Yes, I have. I’ve always wondered how you lug that thing around.” “It takes a fair bit of energy to swing that blade around,” I explained. “And, if you’ve seen the way we fight… we don’t pull our punches.” The princess continued to look at me oddly, her cheeks the tiniest tinge of pink, but I ignored that oddity. “Indeed, I… Lily Pad showed me the damage you had done to one of the courtyards. But, Roland, what does this have to do with gardening?” I chuckled, tracing an irregular shape in the air with a finger. “The Undead Legion liked to keep a store of herbs, flowers, roots – all sorts of plants and greens.” Luna nodded in understanding. “If prepared in the correct manner, plants and blossoms could provide a great boon to one’s stamina and ability.” “I see,” Luna said, a thoughtful look about her. “Were you the one tasked with preparing such concoctions?” I shrugged, giving a sideways grin. “Well, not exactly. The Acolytes were the ones who gathered and prepared our medicine,” I explained. “But I found a liking to it, myself. A certain affinity for gardening, and so I helped them when I could, as was my desire.” Luna giggled, holding a hoof to her mouth. “To be quite frank, Roland, I cannot imagine somepony like you stooping in the dirt, pulling weeds from the earth.” She placed a hoof upon my hand, patting it lightly. “Though, I’m sure it wasn’t the cleanest of efforts.” Oh, you wouldn’t believe,” I laughed, smirking. “Have I told you of the bug pellets?” A brow raised, Luna looked confused. “Bug pellets?” she asked. “What… what would those be?” “Balls of crushed insects,” I explained, holding up two fingers pinched together. Luna’s eyes widened, and she took an expression of disgust. “They provide great protection from the elements, and from unwanted magic.” “And you would… eat these bugs?” Luna questioned, her face scrunching up. I simply nodded, a wry grin upon my lips. “I must say, that is… vile. Is it something humans normally do?" I shook my head, chuckling. “No, not really – though, you’d be surprised how useful they are.” “I’ll take your word for it.” We laughed together, Luna’s melodic voice harmonizing with my own baritone. For several moments, we sat there quietly, simply enjoying each other’s presence by the warm fire. Perhaps, in all honesty, it was nowhere near as warm, nor comforting, as a bonfire, but the princess made up for it – I was simply glad that we were making progress, and creating inroads in tending to our friendship. Thoughts swirled in my mind, ideas and questions that I still bore for Luna. The nature of magic, perhaps, or how I could help her with her royal duties. Yet, perhaps such questions could be held for further – Luna still owed me a certain promise, for one, yet I did not wish to ruin our night. I do not remember our last discussion, after I had eavesdropped on Luna’s Night Court, having gone nicely. “Luna?” I prodded her lightly, catching the princess’s attention. She turned to me, an inquisitive look about her. “Yes, Roland?” I sighed, before speaking. “You told me, the other day, that you wished to expand your circle of friends and confidants, yes?” I asked, gesturing with a hand. “Which was why you had invited Lady Rarity to the palace?” Luna nodded, a brow raised. “Yes, that is true. Why?” I crossed my legs, leaning an arm upon a knee. “I… I find Miss Pad, your aide, to be a friend. Possibly.” Pursing my lips, I shrugged. “She may it see it the same way, or she may not. But I think that, perhaps, she could be your friend as well. Shall we invite her to our next meeting?” Luna did not respond for several moments, clearly pondering my suggestion. “We could. As my personal aide, I have spoken to her many times, but…” The princess shifted her posture. “Do you think she could be a friend?” Nodding, I smiled. “I do. She is a nice woman – well, mare, rather. And, I hear that she is under a lot of pressure as of lately. Miss Pad could do with a break.” “Then so it will be,” Luna agreed. “I shall invite her for next time, and we will have another friend!” Smiling with glee, Luna clapped her hooves together. It was quite adorable. “Now,” I began, relaxing myself. “Shall we end the night with a story?” Luna’s eyes widened, and she nodded. “Of course. How else would we?” The Tale of the Dragonslayers would do nicely, this night. A legacy of valor, adventure, and of sporting hunts.