//------------------------------// // The Labyrinth of Night // Story: The Last Dragon Lord // by TheApostate //------------------------------// ‘The better jokes are those that last the longest and are still able to conjure a smile.’ -Discord. ‘Princess,’ entered Captain Azure Shadow into Luna’s tent, delivering the scouts’ findings. ‘Speak, Azure Shadow,’ said Luna, relieved to finally have some development. ‘But first – are the scouts okay?’ ‘All returned safe and unharmed. As were the locals they interacted with,’ he added. ‘That’s a relief,’ she jadedly smiled. ‘What do they have to tell us?’ ‘The Dragon Lord has been spotted only a four-hour flight south-west from here, almost near the Badlands – but they doubt spotting her again would be too much of a hassle.’ Luna snorted. Azure smirked but forced himself to remain professional. ‘She is peaceful and simply retracted on herself. The scouts even described the Dragon as being… sorrowful and lamenting to herself. M-’ ‘Lamenting? What was she saying? Excuse me for the interruption.’ ‘Unintelligible mumblings, my Lady. Nothing more in Beorkaty’s reports.’ ‘Thank you, captain. You can thank the Thestrals and our own scouts on my behalf.’ ‘Will do, my Diarch. But… what will you do now?’ Her mouth moved between a smile and a blank expression, to finally settle on neither in exasperation. ‘I don’t know. Try to converse with Cornelia? What do you think?’ ‘Will prove more beneficial than our first assumption-’ Luna grabbed her head in a sudden motion, holding on to the rooting headache. ‘Princess! You two-’ ‘Leave me,’ she snapped. ‘All of you, leave!’ ‘But-’ he insisted. ‘Leave!’ she shouted the order. ‘You are going alone?’ asked Azure Shadow, letting those words slip out unintentionally in the tone of an order. ‘Excuse me,-’ ‘Don’t mention it,’ she rasped, lifting her head and eying him aggressively. ‘Yes, I will be going alone. And if I do not return in two days or you feel threatened by the Dragon Lord in the meanwhile, retreat to Equestrian territory. Tell my sister to ready herself, and I want a portion of you to make sure she made due on my request. If not, do it yourselves under the privy of my name and my personal seal.’ Her headache turned into a hammering, she closed her eyes and slowed her breathing. Luna murmured curses that held between a low and loud whisper. Azure raised an arm to tranquil her, but relented halfway through. It felt wrong, almost disrespectful. ‘Understood, your Highness.’ He and the soldiers standing guard behind Luna left the tent. Raising her head, Luna put her hooves in front of her eyes, cleaning them as far as she could from their weariness. Luna briefly thought of casting a spell to make the pain dissipate, but she knew it would be for naught. She took off her crown, almost throwing it to the right side of the table. The crown nearly fell from it, but she had managed to hold it before gravity worked its tricks on it. She hadn’t slept well the last few nights, worried about what might have befallen Cornelia and perturbed by the constant bashings of their scared subjects. It had not been the first time she had let their fears affect her, nor would it be the last – but she could damnably wish so for the nth time. They worry so fast, she thought. Just shut it with the whole worrying and let me rest! If you were endangered then you would not have been able to deluge me with your unwarranted scares. But of course, you run with a random rumor from who knows where and you won’t shut up about it. You. Never. Learn. Luna knew it was only the start of her problems if she could not resolve the situation in a timely fashion. Eventually, she would have to unleash nightmares or let them wallow in their own doubts and fears. Her task was taxing; to choose who would be more worthy of her time than somebody else – to determine who would require administration above another – would eventually tire anybody, in particular when it would recur every night. And most of the time, the worst would be prioritized. And if she was too exhausted, it would be those of lesser exigencies. Regardless, there will always be people left behind, and a choice had to be made, and she would only have herself to elect which was which. Luna could not simply take care of them all. She did not have the army of administrators and representatives her sister does. Speaking of which, she lacked the patience to calculate the demands of those in the material plane for things she knew won’t matter in the long term. Land acquisition, land separation, trade disputes, farmers’ issues, diplomacy…etc. She dealt with all of these at some point, but Luna dreaded having to countenance with the potentiality of six meetings, hear the bickering and lies of the parties involved again and again, and make a decision that would inadvertently be the total displeasure of anyone involved. But Celestia had found it simple – childish, at times. Luna had tried to emulate her sister’s ease and keep a charade up, but it disgusted her. She will have the time to adapt, and she wondered how long when this adaptation would finally nestle. Then again, everything comes to repeat itself after a while. At least Celestia could sleep knowing a particular mission was concluded, but Luna had to confront what are arguably more colorful and abstract aspects than her sister does. She worked with the most earnest truth; her sister worked with half-truths and earnest lies. Ultimately, there was the clear sense it was destined to the greater good. Yet it was easy for Celestia. Everything is easy when the world is nothing but your perfect little sphere and so neatly arranged ceremonies and perfectly followed protocols. Pleasures in life are in abandon up there, after all. They do not have to perform her work. They stay in their castles away from the mess that reigns outside. To survive that realm, she had to adapt and learn to be discreet. She always possessed a preference for such methods, made more prominent and apparent during the early years. She had reached her pinnacle of involvement in general affairs back then. She was popular, well-regarded, and a true equal to her sister. She hated those days; it had taken one battle, the final one, to make her regret having ever fought those furlong campaigns. It had taken the loss of one, a friend she had held dear above everyone, to tip the scale. It was better that way, she thought. He was entering his late years, better that he had died with the semblance of what he once had been than who he could have become. Luna found herself smiling ecstatically as if the anxiety of the whole situation seeped out of her. She knew it would be temporary, that it was only her mind reacting to stress. The feeling remained, but the gnawing pressure on her skull was gone. And for some reason, the thought of potentially battling the Dragon Lord made her tranquil – happy, even. To boast about it afterward. To revel in the… She ceased her imaginings. Even if she acted on that thought, everyone will eventually forget about it. This victory will become just a footnote in later retellings, like everything she had once undertaken in that world. It would not be worth betraying a friend. **** Celestia was running circles in the throne room, waiting impatiently to hear the news Luna would impart her with. Her legs were tiring, and her mind raced to a plethora of scenarios of what could have happened to Luna. She should have gone with her… but it wasn’t her realm of expertise. Luna always was more comfortable when it would come to take the more exacting and direct decisions. A more brutal pragmatism Celestia found hard to properly muster. Though no ill message had been sent in the past two weeks since Luna’s departure. In theory, she had nothing to worry about. But something kept scratching her mind, telling her to stay on the ready. Then the door of the throne room opened, but only Captain Azure Shadow showed himself – without Luna. ‘Princess Celestia, Princess Luna excuse herself for-’ ‘Where is my sister?’ she immediately asked, not caring the slightest for protocol. ‘I come to report on her behalf, Highness,’ holding on to a pinch of contempt. ‘Where is my sister?’ demanded Celestia, repeating her words in something more akin to an order than a simple request. ‘Highness,’ he took a deep breath, ‘let me express myself in a clearer fashion: she has requested to be left on her own to deal with the Dragon Lord herself.’ ‘Where is my sister?’ she insisted. ‘She has assured us no harm will come toward her person. Princess Celestia, Princess Luna will be fine; she is not harmed.’ He was not completely sure himself if Luna had been truthful. She had left him lingering behind with the vast remnants of her troops. When she had returned, she had come back alone and unharmed. He had asked what had happened to the Pegasi he had insisted to let accompany her. Luna told him they lived still but were sent to other errands she wished to name. She gave him orders, and that was the end of the ordeal. Azure Shadow had not questioned her decision but could not help but feel disgruntled by it. He was not known to be exceptionally skilled at concealing his feelings from others. And while he and Celestia had rarely interacted, she noticed his unease while retelling the last interactions with her sister. ‘To be clear – no one of your numbers had been with her the moment she finalized her decision?’ asked Celestia in her more collected tone. ‘No.’ Why did it taste so sour to say? He sensed something had dropped for a moment; Azure felt the air weighting upon him like it had coalesced into one solid mass. Celestia turned to her throne in all the calm and regal attitude she could convey. Silence sat in, only disturbed by Celestia’s steps toward the two thrones. She sat in hers, and still, nothing was said. She was looking at him, but her eyes conveyed no emotion. She was just staring aimlessly at the floor, hoping to calm her. If Luna deemed the situation peaceful enough, then Celestia had nothing to worry about. But, again, it is of a Dragon Lord they were speaking of… Maybe Cornelia had inadvertently – or intentionally – injured her? Or maybe the cantankerous Lord was pursuing her, and she had only returned to warn them? But why hasn’t she called for her help then? But the Moon still rose… The silence was uncomfortable and Azure wondered half-jokingly if an attack would occur at this very instance. ‘…Uhm…’ There was the sense of a question, but Celestia elected to not move forward with it. ‘Yes, Princess?’ ‘I guess she always likes being alone. Even more so in the past years…’ She jadedly smiled, snorting as a random thought crossed her mind. Azure found himself emulating her but quickly hid it, fearing how she might interpret it. ‘When she returned to you the last time, have you felt or noticed magic being used to hide any deformity?’ She only noticed the futility of the question after uttering it; she cursed herself for it. ‘No, Majesty. Even the mages sensed no…’ he was lost at the proper word to use. ‘I understand. My sister is like that at times. It is simply her nature,’ she answered thoughtfully. He thought it was signaling the end of their conversation; she asked one last question. ‘How long will she be gone?’ ‘I… don’t know. Princess Luna was not sure herself.’ Another unbarring silence settled in. Celestia closed her eyes, letting herself think but sleep was enthralling her. It was more peaceful that way. Azure Shadow lifted his head – he was not countenanced on festering the tranquil aura the Diarch was forcing him to live through. ‘What should my purpose be at present, Highness?’ Celestia stared down at him in a gaze he had never envisaged coming from her – why was he experiencing stress in front of her? ‘Thank you for your work,’ she said nonchalantly. ‘Dismiss yourself. Return to your station.’ She does not care. ‘I obey, your Majesty.’ **** ‘Has the Drakes been ordered as per Princess Luna’s demands?’ asked Azure Shadow to the Mistress of Voices, Starry Light – his cousin from his mother’s side. ‘The message has been sent not later than a couple hours now.’ She showed him a copy of the message. ‘And hello! How was the heat? Pleasant, I hope.’ ‘Yes. Hello.’ He looked down at the text, rapidly scanning it. ‘A few hours ago?’ hurrying his speech. Starry Light scolded him. ‘A couple of hours,’ she corrected. ‘Have you been lazy this time?’ he almost threatened. ‘I was lazy two or three times only! Stop focusing on those!’ ‘Then why would you be sending it today?’ his frustration bubbled as he pointed at the written date. ‘How Princess Luna ever chose you to be her favorite captain I wonder, cousin,’ she smirked. ‘Blame Princess Celestia, not me.’ ‘I will.’ ‘And the Duchess of Baltimare,’ she added. ‘You can’t imagine how many times I saw the Princess here for any sign of her sweet ass arriving. Maybe every hour or so. Blame her also. Blame her more.’ ‘I will too.’ ‘Brave little Pony,’ she mocked. ‘But knowing you, it will be something long cooking.’ ‘No. I don’t know how to cook.’ She held on to her laugh, expecting to see a proud smile etching itself on his expression, but he kept his serious. ‘I don’t like what little Azure has become,’ she began. ‘He used to smile and speak more,’ said Starry Light, reminiscing of a time when he used to be the more expressive of the two. ‘And I was mocked more. It was years ago.’ ‘And? I mostly remained the same. And it was just banter between cousins and friends. If you want my opinion, you transformed more into Luna by being accepted into the Guard.’ ‘I’ve found that shutting up wields fewer annoyances in life.’ ‘But we’re cousins. We can be open to each other.’ ‘And? Family does not excuse or grant access to everything. You complain about me, yet I rarely was part of the clique. Only when it is impossible for you folk to ignore me that you do recall my existence. Excuse me then if I do not exactly hold you in the best regard. Family is nothing but a tool you brandish without shame. At least, I was recognized by Princess Luna herself, and not relegated to some forgotten toil with a fancy title plastered to it like you.’ She squinted, examining him. His armor was different from one expected of a captain of the Princely Guard; it was marked with silver trims and the insignia of the Moon on the frontal golden plate. It had not been a change requested by either Luna or Celestia but an alteration those under the direct attention of Luna wore as to differentiate themselves from Celestia’s own – which wore nothing to designate them as exclusively being hers other than the traditional homogenous gold-plated metal. The differentiation slowly took place over time, and Luna had not cared enough to ask about it. Of course, the traditionalist elements had complained to Celestia, but she had responded with equal disinterest. A rivalry of sorts emerged between the two parties. But with the traditional members holding a majority and, in turn, having a hold on the position of First Captain, Luna’s own developed separately and adopted sets of traditions unique to themselves – even as far as ignoring the First Captain’s authority. And for the guards standing further away from the capital, the slight changes to the armor became more apparent and showed more as forces solely loyal to her with their midnight black armor. ‘I’m sorry…’ sounding genuine. ‘But next week, we-’ ‘See? I was not informed until I backed you into a corner.’ ‘I was saying!’ she shouted. ‘It has been a decade since the rest of us did anything together. And I was getting sick of them and their behavior. I was going to ask if you wanted only you and me to do something. Not a fancy thing just… hangout.’ ‘I have work. I will be in the south.’ He turned and left the room. Starry Light quietly cursed him a hundred times. ‘When I’ll return, though!’ he shouted from the corridor’s end. She laughed aloud. ‘Okay! I’ll be waiting!’ ‘Okay!’ he shouted back the reply with restrained amusement. **** A year passed. Yet, Luna was still nowhere to be seen. More troops were diverted to the south. Those sent into the immensity and confusing warren of the jungles had been harried by Thestral and Pony tribes, attacking them for seemingly unfounded reasons, breaking the unstated truce between them and Equestria. Of course, retaliation came, but Azure Shadow’s and his troops’ unwillingness to commit to a campaign that could potentially lead to an inexcusable loss of life and leave defensive positions devoid of a diminishing supply of proficient mages. They were already lucky to survive the sporadic skirmishes between rival tribes that even local scouts were having issues predicting where they would hit with any accuracy. Diplomatic rapprochement and truce negotiations had been engaged in but amounted to no direct effect. Even Celestia’s intervention could do nothing to quell the often generational grudges in the short term. Celestia even came to plead in front of many a tribe’s heads to cease their bickering. Some would be swayed by it, though a significant number of majorly Thestral-formed tribes ignored her pleas or reneged weeks-short truces. Azure Shadow understood Celestia’s worry. Someone was still rising the Moon. Someone surely was still acting with the tremendous power required to raise it. And who else than Luna would it be? Certainly not herself. Where was she? During that year, the older Sister went herself in the search of Luna, but those personal searches would be short ones. However, someone still needs to be in charge of the realm and keep it whole. If she also would disappear, she could not fathom what would happen to those they ruled over. She let Azure Shadow do what he had done diligently. She had to. Noble houses demanded endlessly why their scions were still being sent to the south when the Dragon Lord clearly was a none-threat. And with Celestia failing to deliver any worthwhile excuse, some decided to abuse the opportunity to enhance their standings. And, of course, she had been forced to choose the latter. It would, however, simply greatly divert their ire toward Luna instead. A couple of months before year’s end, the Princess invited a congregation of tribal leaders to attend a meeting to put a final, if temporary, end to their bickering. The meeting, though, would quickly devolve from a semblance of civility to a slew of childish arguments about the most unbearably inconsequential issues, generationally inherited grudges and disputes related to things that became dull to Celestia’s hearing. One could bring out a small correction or even a phrase misheard could begin a fight between themselves. When it would be simple insults, she calmed them with ease – even enjoying their creativity, at times. But when it turned violent, Celestia would let the soldiers in. Yet, she continued in her endeavor but had to expedite the process through promises of wealth and Equestrian land, elevating them to the social rank of minor nobility rather than to more permanently resolve their issues. Many would take it up and never bother the Sister again. However, the latter offers became more demanding on the part of the tribal leaders, which led to the peacefully subjugated asking more from the Princess – even threatening to rekindle their attacks on Equestrian forces. Additionally, the Equestrian nobles that caught wind of Celestia’s scheme ventured to protest her decisions. Loans were contracted, and their rates would require future renegotiations. After a month of constant back and for, exacerbated by reneged promises and constant hampering, the Princess had demanded of all attendees to gather a final time and settle scores. Naturally, they all came. The great, peace-loving Celestia of Equestria surely had to be kneeling to their demands. The great monarchy – or diarchy as some declared – of Equestria was offering them with its impossible wealth all that they would ever desire. Stoically, she had begun by hearing each leader’s, what they now began calling, requests. Then, as usual, someone hurtled a word. Then the word bounced back louder. The shout then hit an unsuspecting mare; which led to a dispute; that led to a fight between two rival chiefs; which resulted in more disputes around the outcome. And there, a few minutes into tasting the entire cacophony around her for the nth time, the Princess’ eyes snapped open. No armed individual had entered the vicinity of their meeting place, but a crushing, all-encompassing quiet fell on the attendance in an instance as they collectively turned to stare at the deep purple ember of her eyes. One raised his voice in an attempt for a joke before being immediately shushed by a silent shout. An overwhelming weight fell on their souls, and some found respiration nigh impossible. The air felt heavier, boiling even. A tickling coursed across their skin, spreading underneath the epidermis. Some began to scratch, but there was nothing to focus upon. Red marks carved themselves on their skins, some superficial, but Thestrals had used their fangs to pacify the urge. The rare mages present and able to begin the arduous process of healing expended all their energy on wounds that Thestrals reopened in a desperate bid for relief. Then, to their complete and utter fear, she spoke. Her voice was deafening. Her guards, sitting on the outskirts, recoiled, and some ran. Thestrals lost fangs like others lost teeth. Chiefs lost their hearing or heavily impaired. Others lost consciousness at the powerful reverberations of unrelenting persistence. Some managed to escape but were apprehended before reaching the forest and imprisoned like the rest in hastily built cells. Those that managed to flee were not pursued. In an ironic taste for some, the Princess healed them all personally before releasing the more pliable back in the wild. She had uttered only a single, short phrase. The Equestrians’ toil would turn easier in the aftermath but be still impaired by the ruthless climate and geography. But Celestia had succeeded in preventing more unnecessary losses. Afterward, she had only the aristocracy to answer to, and altogether different means would be demanded of her. The search for Luna would continue on a quicker base, but Luna’s faction in the Guard and the officer corps was too stubborn to answer Celestia’s whims. They might have been greatly diminished compared to their once height; Luna’s influence still held true to their behavior. And for once, there was something to make their talents worthwhile again. The Night Talons would not be countenance in being goaded with childishly decided orders. **** As the year since of Luna’s disappearance came to a close, the Princess would be awakened at midnight by her guards: someone had suddenly appeared into the garden. Taken by sudden wakefulness, and as a child going for a gift, Celestia rushed to, what she was sure, was her sister. Reaching the garden’s gate, Celestia looked around with a beatific face in search of her sister. A guard pointed her toward the creature’s position, but none followed her. They were frightened by something, terrified even. A foul, almost benighted aura made them petrified of the prospect of even approaching the thing or peering at it. Only one had mastered enough will to glance, even if briefly, at the thing, and returned with anything close to a description. The Thestral began her lackluster and stuttering explanation to her ruler, but Celestia paid her no heed and moved forward, one goal racing clearly in her mind. It was Luna. Celestia could recognize that silhouette from anywhere. But Celestia was not met by the sight of the Luna she had known. A gaunt figure stood trembling under the pale moonlight. Her legs, barely holding her diminished weight. Her cheeks were sunken, and her rib bones made themselves clearly apparent – carving themselves in and out on her pale skin with every breath. Her breathing seemed heavy, almost pain-ridden. Her wings lacked feathers, and her horn sparked in pale blue, its tip almost charcoal. Her mouth was shaking as if repeating the same words over and over again. Luna looked at her sister with weary eyes withholding tears. Her gaze was hollow, vacant, staring at Celestia in a silent cry. Celestia immediately halted and teleported Luna between her arms, weary of embracing her. Luna let herself fall in the hug, resting her crown-less head on Celestia’s left shoulder, and closing her eyes for sleep. It calmed her breathing and receded her trembles. Celestia could not take her eyes from her sister’s ruined looks. She began to panic, forgetting all the spells she had learned in their long lives. She nonetheless tried to tranquil herself. But Luna needed her – she had to concentrate. Her breathing turned sporadic. Luna felt it but was too weak to convey more than a tired nudge of the head to her eldest. Celestia looked up to the sky, peering at the Moon and the constellations bestrewing the immensity of the dark. She thought it beautiful, enjoying the calmness it brought her. Everything was quiet. There was no one bothering them – they were alone. She lowered her head until it rested on top of Luna’s own and caressed her sister’s back. Both breathing rested. Gathering enough concentration, Celestia began healing Luna – to, at least, make her forget any immediate pain she was reeling from. But Celestia forgot to keep the embracing light; she tightened her hold around Luna, bringing her closer. She swayed both of them, reciting a song from a long-gone childhood. And the two sisters beamed. The Labyrinth of Night was sealed. The Sempiternal Oath was sworn. The Last Dragon Lord slept eternally; slept her true good night. We are less than one and a half century before Midnight.