Luna approached the strange bell. Twice the young mare's size, it hung seemingly abandoned in the old tower. The room was dark, carved of the same dull stone as the rest of the shadow city Tambelon.
She heard the voice of an ancient crone echo in her head. “Yes, Luna. The Mourning Bell brings his power, but it will just as soon pull him back to his home. Awaken it, and end his campaign.”
She frowned. “How do I know I can trust you, Somnambula?”
“Beware of the cobwebs.”
“You remain a menace to Equestria!” Luna eyed the bell, noticing tiny, shimmering strands of webbing encircling it in a protective cocoon. “Why do you help us when we still seek to capture you?”
“It's beyond you, foal. Now, ring the bell.”
Luna hesitated. “Wherever you're contacting us from, Somnambula, you'll never be far enough that Tirek won't find you!”
“I don't care about Tirek. Ring the bell, and banish Grogar back to the third veil.”
“I..." Luna swallowed. "...alright.”
She still wasn't sure. Thinking fast, she cast a spell. A little rock propelled itself at the great bell.
She averted her eyes as there was a brilliant flash. When she looked back, there was a small pile of gray sand on the floor beneath where the rock had been. The web was shining in the moonlight, untouched.
“Drat. I truly had hoped you would fall for that.” Luna stared at the bell, heart sinking. “Oh, well. I win either way.”
“Princess, get up.”
“Um, maybe you shouldn't be so rough. It looks like she's having a bad dream.”
“Very well. You get her out of that miserable excuse for a bed.”
Luna felt something poke her side. She reflexively kicked out, and heard a startled “Eep!” as her hoof collided with something. There was a crash. She lay still.
Wait. I am not in the bell tower.
Luna's eyes opened. She was in her bed. Judging by the lights outside—somepony had opened the shades—it was evening. She looked over, and her eyes widened as she saw Fluttershy picking herself up from the floor by the wall. “Oh, stars above. Forgive me, Ms. Fluttershy.” She rubbed her eyes. “I was dreaming of the witch Somnam...” She froze.
Slowly, her hoof lowered from her face. Grogar stood beside the prone Fluttershy, smiling. “Then she is awake. Excellent work, pony.” He beckoned. “Come. You have a moon to raise.”
Luna sat up, groaning. “I need not raise the moon for a half-hour yet.” She grabbed her pillow and hugged it close.
Luna heard the ringing of a bell. “Wrong.”
She felt the bed shift to one side. She looked around and saw that one side of the bed was enveloped in a bright violet aura. Then, it jerked, and she fell to the floor with a yelp.
“Oh, my,” she heard Fluttershy murmur. She accepted the pegasus's help in disentangling from her blanket and stood up. Grogar was grinning widely.
Luna scowled, jabbing a hoof at the window. “The sun has barely set. The ponies can stand a short period devoid of light.”
Grogar's eyebrows flew up. “Do they do so often?” Behind him, through the open doorway, Luna spotted the robed figure readying the quill and notepad. Her anger faded as she remembered why it was so important to stay on this creature's good side.
She coughed, looking from side to side. “Well...of course not. It is only that, ah, with guests over...”
“Oh, do not mind us.” Grogar stepped to the side. “Go on. I wish to see you raise the moon—assuming you have not forgotten how, of course.”
Luna shook her head. “Of course not. What nonsense.” She hurried past Grogar, and made her way down the hall.
“Where are you going?” Grogar asked, trotting alongside her.
“To the observatory.” Luna pointed to the spiral staircase at the end of the hall. “It is where I generally perform the ritual.”
“Ah, I see. Ha.”
“What?” Luna glanced over. Grogar's eyebrows were still raised, and he looked dubious. “What is it, Chief Warden?”
“Pet!” Grogar barked. Luna saw the robed figure rush to catch up. “Add the following items to the list.”
“What are you doing?” Luna asked.
“First: Delaying the ritual which she insists on being a half-hour late to to ensure a fine view.”
As the figure scribbled, Luna's brow furrowed. “Wait, Grogar. That is not what—”
“Second: Climbing an obviously decrepit staircase, thus creating the danger of a fall.”
“What?” Luna rolled her eyes as she began to ascend said 'decrepit' staircase. “This is a fine construction, Grogar!”
“Ha.” Grogar smirked. “I am sure it was, once. I suppose Celestia wished to ensure your living arrangements were, ahem, just as you remembered. A thousand years ago.”
Luna stopped, shocked. “What are you—that is hardly—”
“Ah.” Grogar leaped up the stairs, taking them two at a time (a difficult feat, considering his cloven hooves). “And add a third item: wasting further valuable time arguing with the inspector.”
Luna could only stare, trying to contain her fury, as Grogar hopped past her, circling up to the top. Normally, the image of the leaping ram would have appeared amusing. Right now, it just seemed mocking. As he didn't care enough to maintain his dignity—as if Luna had none.
Grogar glanced back down, a disturbing expression of cheerfulness on his sinister face. “Pet, add 'cannot handle criticism' and 'freezes up under pressure' to the list. Princess, are you coming? Or are you intent on letting the world go dark?”
Luna wanted to give the second answer, just out of spite. She really did.
She felt somepony pat her on the shoulder. “What?” she asked, eyes narrowed, as she turned to Fluttershy. Fluttershy gestured down at the robed figure.
Luna spat to the side. “Very well.”
She hurried after Grogar, muttering a thousand ancient curses under her breath.
The ritual went by very quickly, as always, but it felt like the thousand years all over again. Grogar watched her the entire time, quietly having his follower make notes at every little pause.
Finally, the moon had begun its nightly ascension, and Luna could relax. Putting the stars in the sky was a much more leisurely activity. She allowed herself a small smile as she glanced at Fluttershy. “Tell me, Ms. Fluttershy, how often do you gaze upon the night sky?”
“Oh, um...” Fluttershy shrugged. “I mean, the stars are very nice, but...I'm usually too focused on looking after all my little critter friends at night. Or sleeping.” Luna must have hid her disappointment poorly, because Fluttershy quickly went on. “But I love it when I have time to look at it!”
Luna grinned, pointing up as her horn sparked. “Well, that is fortunate. The first constellation I generally place is—” She looked up at the sky.
Her heart stopped.
All the stars were there. No, not all 'the' stars. Stars. Stars she didn't know. They were scattered about, as if somepony had spilled glitter all over her beautiful night.
She heard Fluttershy murmur something, but she didn't hear what. She was too busy staring up at the travesty in the sky. “Wh...aa....baba?”
“Ah, Princess.” Luna spun to see Grogar smirking knowingly. “It seemed to me I should do you a favor. Tomorrow night, I will expect you to do this yourself.”
Luna blinked. She couldn't say anything.
Grogar chuckled, eyes glinting. “Stars are there to shed light, not to make something pretty. I see no reason in such a waste of time when you could be seeing to the affairs of the kingdom.”
“You...you placed the stars...”
“Well, the moon is the real task.” Grogar grinned, pointing back to the stairs. “Stars are a trifle to one such as me. Now, did you not say that this was not merely Celestia's city, but yours as well?”
Luna's mouth opened and shut.
“I think,” Grogar said, trotting away and heading downstairs, “you would do well to prove that. I heard that a 'Prince Blueblood' has a complaint with the pegasus pony's presence, so I thought I would now allow you to address his concerns. And...”
He descended out of view. “...my pet has assembled some paperwork for you.”