Spike and I trotted down the halls of Twilight's school. I found him with Twilight in her office and he dismissed himself. I didn't try to say much to her. I knew Celestia and her were talking about me leaving so suddenly to help Capper with the Fallen. Knowing Twilight, she would have most likely sided with my sister and I didn't want to start any problems with anypony else.
"You said you found something out?"
Spike nodded. "Yeah, you can say that. I think it could help you."
"I will take any help at this point," I admitted. We went around another corner. A few students stopping briefly as they spotted me.
"Then you might want to hear this then."
Before any more could be said we what sounded like a door slamming. Spike and I looked down the hall. My eyes widened as I saw no other than Trixie trotting down the hall. Her mane was a mess and she looked really pale. She appeared to have lost a lot of weight since I lost saw her as she was nearly skin and bones.
"Trixie Lulumoon?" I said out loud; more surprise on how she looked. But she must have heard me for she stopped and stared over at me.
"Princess Luna?!" She grinned, surprised to see me. She trotted over to me and Spike. "What are you doing here? Are you once again in need of the Great and Powerful Roxy?" She sounded hopeful.
I chuckled knowingly. "Not today but when I need her, I'll let you know."
"Pity. Of course, you always know where to find me. I love your mane by the way. Not enough mares really appreciate this color." She began playing with her own mane in pride.
"Thank you."
"I didn't realize you two knew each other," Spike jumped in.
Trixie and I smirk at each other. I knew she was thinking the same as me. "We met before."
"I still have the costumes," she cheered.
I mouth "So do I" to her. She chuckled lightly in response.
Spike noticed this. "Do I even want to know?"
"For your sake," I started.
"No," Trixie and I said in unison.
"O-okay then," Spike said weirdly.
"So how are you doing?" I then asked Trixie.
Her smile quickly dropped and faded as if it was never there, to begin with. She quickly cleared her throat and said, "I'm great! Better than great. Beyond it."
"Sure you are," Spike said sarcastically. I shoved him lightly with my wing. Spike pushed my wing away and let out a "hmph."
"Enough about The Great and Powerful Trixie’s emotional life! I, unfortunately, must attend to other matters but am looking forward to speaking with you princess hopefully sometime in the near future.” Trixie managed to pull a cheerful, cocky smile on her face. “See ya later, my faithful friends!”
She threw a smoke bomb on the ground and ran away. I quickly lit up my horn and put a shield around Spike and Ito to prevent us from breathing in the smoke.
"Thanks," Spike said. "I don't get why she always needs to do that.
"It's fine, really," I replied with a shrug. I had a sick feeling in my stomach. Something wasn't right with her. I made a note to myself to check on her later to see what was up. "So anyway, with that out of the way, what was it that you wish to tell me?"
Spike pulled out the pocket watch Timber Hall gave to me. "I didn't find out much about him but Discord pointed out something that stuck with me."
"Which was?"
"The watch. It's old," Spike said. "I did some research on the watch and I found quite a bit about it."
I used my magic to take hold of the pocket watch and held it in front of me. I examined it, trying to see what Spike meant. It didn't look special to me. It looked like a normal old watch.
"What's so significant about it?"
"It's the company who made it." Spike turned the watch around and pointed to a name that was imprinted on it. It was mostly covered in rust but you could make out what it said. "It's called a Flex Watch."
"I never heard of it." I kept my eyes on the watch. It still was ticking. I didn't realize that the watch still worked.
"I'm not surprised. It was around after you were sent to the moon and though the company is still around, they stopped making them over 200 years ago. Well anyway, back then they didn't have digital watches or clocks so it was common for everypony to have a pocket watch. You could get a cheap one or a really expensive one made of gold or ruby. Now because of this, it was a way to tell one wealth and how much they made and their job and stuff."
I smirk brightly at that. "Flex Watch."
"Thus the name." He nodded with a grin. "As I said, they stop making them. So having one is rare but they are also worth a lot as well. Even getting ahold of one of the cheaply made Flex Watches are worth something."
"So this is worth something?" I pointed to the pocket watch.
Spike scoffed. "Worth something?! More like a lot." He leaned in closer to me and whispered: "The gold is real. That pocket watch is made entirely out of pure gold."
I lifted my head up in surprise. "What?"
"It's old, a little rusted but it's real."
Spike and I both had our eyes on the watch as the big question came.
"How much is it worth?"
"If you found the right seller, you could get at least 100,000 bits."
My mouth dropped. "What?! That much for a watch?"
"They are very very rare," Spike repeated.
"Unbelievable," I whispered.
"So your spirit friend was literally holding onto a goldmine," Spike let out a small laugh. "His kids could have kids before needing to worry about getting a job."
"I wonder if he knew," I then pointed out.
"That's the problem," Spike added. "If he did, why didn't he sell it. He worked as a cashier for minimum wage. If I was him, I'll be selling that thing so fast."
"You mean you wouldn't have eaten it," I teased him.
Spike crossed his arms. "No. I think."
I chuckled a little when a thought came to mind. "Unless it wasn't his."
Spike sighed as he nodded. "That would mean someone killed him."
I thought back to the vision I saw of them by the Everfree Forest. "I don't recall seeing anypony else but them. It looked like they were attacked by something."
"You just don't know by what or possibly who," Spike interjected.
"Unfortunately."
"That's all I got to tell you. I know it brings out more questions but it also gives you a lead," Spike said cautiously.
"Spike, you're fine. This actually gives me something to go on," I reassured him.
"Well, I'm glad," Spike gleamed.
"Thanks again. I'll let you know if I find anything else."
"Same here," Spike said. "I should get back to Twilight. Don't want her to get worried about me again."
"We wouldn't want that now," I laughed.
Spike groaned yet gave a small smile. "See you around?"
"Yeah."
Spike gave me a quick hug before walking off. I watched him disappeared as he went around the corner. I then started to make my way out of the school. The world outside teased me with its calmness; everypony trotting by chatting and laughing with one another as they went through their day.
I looked up at the sky. It was past noon. I would need to sleep soon to be ready for that night. I could only hope that in the meantime I was not aware of every second of every minute. My mind constantly regurgitating the worries of the day, the worries of tomorrow, the worries of yesterday. Always wanting answers yet could never come up with a new or brilliant solution to offer. The only thing I could do what I had always done; take each day as it comes.
Though, it seemed that doing so was not working as well as when I first came back from the moon.
"Luna?"
My ears perked up and looked around for the one who called me. "Yes?"
“Well isn’t it the princess of my favorite time of day?"
I immediately smiled as I figured out who is well. I soon saw Capper coming up to me.
"Capper! It's so good to see you." I said as I gave him a hug. "It's been a while."
"Sure has," He laughed. "I see you cut your hair."
"Yeah, I did. You like it," my face glowed.
He examined me for a few seconds. "Not the color I would have chosen but it really works for you," he approved.
"Good. I was hoping it looked okay." I started messing with my hair. "But what are you doing here? I thought you went back to Los Pegasus with Shira."
"I did but something came up and she had to leave with my uncle," he explained.
I raised a brow. "What?"
"Apparently a Guardian went missing and they needed to start a search. They think he got into some trouble deep within the Nethers so nothing that should affect us," he added in relief.
"That's good." I smiled.
"Yeah. Anyways, after she left, I realized that I liked being around friends and decided to stick around here for a while."
"Glad to hear it," I said. "How have you been?
"Alright I guess," he answered. "You?"
"Other than the strain between my sister and I, good."
"Okay. That's good." I couldn't tell if he actually believed me or not. Luckily, he accepted my answer.
"When did you move here?"
"About a few days ago."
"Have you spoke to Twilight or any of her friends?" I then asked.
"Not really," He shook his head. "I did however ran into Trixie yesterday."
"Really?! Huh. Oddly enough I just spoke with her. She was at Twilight's school."
His eyes widened in surprise. "Oh. So you noticed that she-"
"Looks awful," I interpreted Capper. "Yes, I did. Do you have any idea what that was about?"
Capper puts his paws in his coat pocket and kicked the tiny pibbles on the ground. "No. I didn't ask her and I won't. I knew she wouldn't tell me but she probably figured out that I was concerned for her."
"I wonder what's going on with her."
"I'm sure whatever it is, she'll be fine." I could by his tone of voice that even he didn't believe that himself. I didn't say anything though. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"Spike wanted to talk to me about something. It's not really a big deal." I didn't want to get into Timber Halls and his friend's with Capper. "I was on my way back to the castle. I actually should be going."
"Really, now?" Capper asked sadly.
I signed. "Yeah, if I'm not asleep in a few hours then I won't be ready to go to the dream realm tonight."
He leaned in closer to me. "Is there a way I could convince you to stay for an hour?"
"Sorry but not today. But maybe some other time." I faced the direction of Canterlot and spread out my wings.
"I'll hold you to that," Capper said.
I smirked. "I was hoping you would say that."
Then I took off.
You are mine...come to me, Luna. I know you can hear me. You can't run from me.
The world turned dark and gray as smoke covered the sky. Everything was on fire, destroying everything in its path. Black shadows ponies and creatures of the Fallen roamed the streets and buildings of what was once known as Canterlot. Luna only smiled darkly as she hears the screams of the ponies being ripped apart by the monsters. They cried and screamed for their lives. Some even tried fighting back and run away.
Shader came from behind and placed a claw on Luna's shoulder. "Well, done my child. You know what you need to do now. Kill them, my Angel Of Darkness."
"Let me help you," Discord pleaded with her. Spike hid behind Discord's back as he too was crying.
"We can all still walk away from this," Spike cried out to his lost friend.
"Don't make us hurt you." Tears fell from Trixie's eyes.
"Sister, it doesn't have to be this way..." Celestia shouted.
But the one who was hurt the most came from the eyes of an unexpected friend. Capper was never much of a cryer. He has been upset but never to the point where he cried. He never even cried about his parent's death. But seeing all that the two have been through and where they are at now, it killed him too much from inside. Seeing Luna in so much pain and too far gone from them and it was all his fault. He could have done something to stop her. He could have saved her but it was too late now.
"Luna, please! Don't do this!" He began to tear up.
Luna smiled venomously at her sister and her friends as they gave her pleading eyes. Her eyes turned into a red with green auras.
"I've already made up my mind."
"LUNA, NO!!!"
"Funny how they say this is what you will become but I know the truth. I know everything, Selena."
"Luna! Luna, wake up!"
I felt myself being shaken. I opened my eyes and saw Celestia looming over me clearly concerned.
"I heard you screaming and I got scared."
"S-sister?" I sat up and covered my face. Tears were already forming.
Celestia hugged me in a warm embrace and nuzzled me to calm my shivering down. "It's okay. You're okay."
The picture of Shader behind me and me willing doing as he told me was fresh in my mind. The things I did to those innocent ponies were all too much for me. It's okay. It wasn't real. Your friends are safe. You didn't hurt anypony. Equestria is okay. The Angel Of Darkness...he called me it again.
"I'm sorry. I had a nightmare," my voice crack as I tried my best not to cry. I turned away from her. I couldn't bear to look at her.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked with her sweet caring soft voice. "You know that you can tell me anything, Lulu. I won’t judge, no matter what it is. I'm here to listen."
I wanted to believe that so much. Just tell her the truth. Spike is right. We don't need to say everything but just at least how I feel. Maybe she'll understand.
"Not really." I sighed disappointedly at myself. Or maybe not...
"Oh, okay. That's fine." I could hear the sadness in her voice. There was so much I wanted to say. So much I needed to say. Yes, I was still mad at her but her holding me like this felt nice. It was a peaceful feeling to know she cared.
"Could you stay with me? Just until I go back to sleep?"
Celestia's face lit up brightly. "Of course."
She sat down next to my bed. She tucked me back into the bed with her magic. "I know things been rough between us but I want you to know that I'm always here for you."
"I know," I whispered.
"I love you."
"Love you too."
It was the first time we spoke without fighting in a while.
I closed my eyes and a few minutes later I fell back to sleep. I woke up a few hours later, raised the moon, and went to the dream realm. It helped to get my mind off of things at least for a little while.
What’s going on? I was jolted awake by someone shouting. "Celestia, is that you?" I lifted myself up, and I looked around my room.
"Luna!"
I screamed loudly as jumped off my bed. I quickly stood up with my horn already lit only to see Discord standing on the other side of my bed. He was covering his ear. Most likely because of how loud I screamed.
"Discord?! Could you stop doing that?!" I shouted.
"Sorry, Lulu." He held his arms up as if he was surrounding himself. "It's not like I mean to do it. I forgot you would be sleeping still this late in the day."
I took a moment to take a few deep breaths to calm myself down. "What are you doing here?"
Discord took a seat on my bed and signed heavily. This wasn't going to be good. I could tell already by his demeanor.
"You ever found out if Timber Halls and his friends were killed by the Fallens?"
I blinked, confused at the random question. I answered anyway. "No. Why?"
"Two people were attacked last night in Ponyvillie." His voice dropped.
I put a hoof to my mouth. It couldn't be. We stopped the Fallen. They were no way they could have gotten away. Unless we missed one. No, we couldn't have.
"This doesn't make any sense. I thought we stopped them."
"I thought so too," Discord threw his arms in the air.
"Oh my stars." I was now pacing both and forth. "Are they alright? Tell me that nopony was..." I didn't even want to say it.
"That's the problem. We don't know. Spike told me this morning and said I should inform you." Discord watched me as I continued to pace. "That's not all that Spike wanted me to tell you."
I stopped pacing and looked cautiously at Discord. "What?"
"The ones that got attack last night. One was a student of Twilight from her school."
My eyes widened at the thought that a child was attacked by one of those monsters.
"And the other," He paused and stared at me with the same look I had.
"...was Trixie."