As it turns out, the “urgent matters” the pony spoke of were not so urgent. Canterlot ponies could be so melodramatic at times. Canis sat quietly in the corner of the royal briefing room and listened to Luna sort out the issue of the cider shortage in Canterlot. He could read Luna’s expressions quite well from his spot. She looked like a child forced to behave at an opera her parents brought her to. The noble-ponies in the room talked at her for endless hours about “the dire shortage of cider”.
“Finegild,” Luna said abruptly to the pony currently addressing her, “Do you not think it wise to simply switch your supplier of cider?”
The beige pony named Fineguild gasped.
“But your highness”, he protested, “Canterlot has only imported the highest grade cider from the Summit Cider Company for decades. Are you suggesting we use common low-grade cider? We would be the laughing stock of Equestria!”
Luna’s eyes narrowed at this. Canis smiled as he imagined her throwing this pompous equine out of the nearest stained glass window. He felt the darkness inside him stir, seemingly with glee, at the thought of violence. His smile disappeared and he re-focused on being tranquil.
“Mr. Fineguild, I sincerely doubt, with all of Canterlot’s prestige, that a little thing such as a change in you cider reserves is going to effect anypony’s opinion of us,” Luna said reassuringly.
“But…” Finegild began to protest again but Luna silenced him by raising a hoof.
“Either pick another source, or live with the shortage of cider. You have asked for my council, and I have given it. If you have any objections, you can take it up with Canis here,” Luna finished by gesturing towards the corner where Canis was. He stepped out of the shadows so that the ponies could easily see him. Fineguild and his cohorts gasped as they saw him come into full view. Canis simply stood there as they gawked at him. He smiled at them, revealing the ivory white points of his large canine teeth.
“Umm… yes, very well, thank you…your highness,” Finegold said before taking a quick bow and fast trotting out of the room. Luna let out a quick laugh before turning to her servant.
“Many thanks Canis,” she said.
“Of course Luna,” Canis replied.
“Well,” Luna sighed, “I guess it’s time we headed back to the watchtower.” She hesitated and put a hoof up to her chin in thought. “Actually I know of one detour we can make before heading up.”
She turned and headed out of the double doors behind them. Canis followed her through a few winding hallways that seemed oddly familiar. As they walked, he wondered where they were going. His curiosity was soon satiated as they came to an iron-reinforced door with a faded black paw print painted onto the center.
“This… is the old den,” Canis said with a hint of surprise in his voice.
“Indeed it is. I have found the caves to be a good place for my secret projects,” Luna said as she opened the door.
“More secret projects?” Canis asked skeptically.
“Nothing like that. I’m not that kind of mare anymore,” Luna calmly replied.
Canis smiled to himself. That’s exactly what Princess Celestia had said to him earlier. Maybe he was the only one who hadn’t changed in a thousand years. They walked into a dimly lit main cavern. From it branched dozens of small tunnels. It was built this way to confuse enemies, and give the wolves easy access to Canterlot’s many wards. Luna led Canis down one of the close by tunnels. On the other side, it emptied into another large cavern with it’s own set of tunnels. In the center of the dark expansive room was a chariot. It was black with gothic accents. It had leathery bat wings and a single green eye in front. The chariot looked more like some sort of monster from the depths of the everfree forest.
“This is a little project I put together for nightmare night. You just missed it. It’s a shame really, you would have liked it.”
Canis did a quick circle around the chariot, inspecting every feature.
“Why Luna, it’s simply… wicked,” Canis said finally.
“I know right?!” Luna exclaimed with girlish glee. It took a few seconds for her to realize she had lost her usual royal façade. Canis was inwardly honored that she could be herself around him. “Anyway, we really need to be heading back to the tower now.”
They exited the caves and left the chariot to rest in the quiet caverns. Once in the tower, they didn’t talk much. All through the night, Luna alternated between looking through the telescope, and signing royal requisitions. Luna occasionally asked Canis for his insight into the royal matters that came to her, but other than that, he didn’t talk much. It reminded him of the time before she was banished, as if the thousand-year interim was simply a bad dream. Their time in the tower was ended by the sound of hoofsteps coming from the stairs.
“That’s probably Celestia coming to raise the sun. Disappear,” Luna whispered to Canis. He looked hesitantly at Luna for a second before stepping into the shadows and fading into the darkness. He watched in his ethereal state as Celestia walked into the room and greeted Luna.
“Hello sister. How was your night?”
“It has gone well. Thanks for asking.”
Celestia looked around before asking, “Where’s Canis?’
“He doesn’t quite have the stamina he used to. I sent him to bed early,” Luna responded nonchalantly. If Canis were in his physical form at that moment, he would have scoffed at Luna’s statement.
“So he’s in your chambers?”
Luna nodded in reply.
“Maybe… maybe you can bring him by this evening at sunset. If he’s going to stay here, we’re going to have to make amends.”
“It still bothers me that you will not tell me what happened.”
“It seems that I may have to tell you this evening won’t I?”
Luna sighed and walked out onto the balcony.
“Very well sister. I am off to bed. Have a pleasant day.”
“Good day,” Celestia replied before Luna took off.
Canis sped out onto the balcony and followed Luna. Celestia did not seem to notice the shadow crawling across the ground. His ethereal form wisped its way down the outside of the tower and onto the castle’s elaborate array of rooftops. He followed Luna to the opposite side of the castle and watched her fly into a window. When he entered the window himself, he found her waiting for him.
“I knew you would take the hint,” Luna said to him.
“I may be ‘old’ but I am still as sharp as ever,” Canis retorted jokingly.
“Right,” Luna replied and turned to a stretch of empty floor next to her bed, “I have something for you.”
She charged her horn with magic and shot a lightning bolt at the floor. An oversized black and red striped pillow appeared there with a puff of blue smoke.
“You are most kind,” Canis said.
Just then, the first few beams of sunlight began to shine through the window.
“We’d better get to bed,” Luna mused while levitating her royal slippers into a closet, “we’ll need to get up nice and early at sunset.”
Canis walked over and poked his bed to test it. It was perfect. He settled into it just as Luna climbed into her bed.
“Good day Luna,” Canis said and yawned.
“Good day Canis,” Luna replied and laid down with her back to him. Canis did not particularly want to go to sleep, but his body had other plans. He drifted into unconsciousness almost immediately after closing his eyes. Maybe he WAS getting too old for this.
* * *
Luna waited a few minutes to make sure Canis was asleep before casting her mind into the dream world. One way or another she was going to find out what Canis and Celestia were hiding from her. She quickly found Canis’s dream. She entered it and was immediately taken aback. She was in ancient Canterlot. From the looks of it, she was in one of the inner wards. The first thing that she noticed was that most of the buildings were on fire. Flames poured out of their windows, and smoke rose into the night sky. The second thing she noticed was that despite this chaotic scene, there were no ponies in sight. There were no unicorns running in panic, no pegasi desperately trying to put out the flames with clouds, nothing. She watched as a young Canis dashed around a corner, sprinting down the streets at full pace. Behind him were numerous large, menacing, and over exaggerated royal guards. Their armor gleamed with an unnatural luster, and their eyes all glowed yellow. Canis, despite his rapid pace, was losing ground. The guards seemed to get closer and closer with every passing second. He was about to make it to the end of the street, when four more Pegasus guards dropped down in front of him. Canis looked around and made a break for the shadows on the side of the street. Before he could fully turn into his shadow form and disappear, the unicorn guards cast unusually bright illumination spells. He was forced back into his physical form as they closed in around him. Canis growled fiercely in defiance as the spear wielding guards formed a circle around him.
“I know of a great place you can stay AHAHAHAHA,” came a loud booming voice.
Luna looked back at the castle to see a giant version of Celestia’s face hovering above it. The giant face was cackling maniacally. Luna decided to take action. She used her magic and began modifying the dream. Immediately the giant face disappeared, the guards turned into wolf pups, and the burning streets of Canterlot gave way to a well-lit cave. The Pups all started to gather around Canis, bouncing with youthful enthusiasm.
“Master Canis, Master Canis, tell us another story!” the wolf pups cried in unison.
Canis looked around in confusion at first, but then turned his attention back to the pups. His mind seemed to accept the new dream rather easily. He looked at the eager pups with the greatest adoration Luna had ever seen him express. He laid down so he could be closer to them.
“Of course children. Would you like to hear the adventures of Marrus the wolf on the moon, or maybe one about Vaelis the mighty huntress?” Canis said softly.
The pups formed a tight semi circle around him, wagging their tails eagerly. Luna smiled at the scene before leaving Canis’s dream. She had what she came for.
Luna opened her eyes as her mind came back to her body, and she stood up. She walked out of her chambers as quietly as possible so she would not wake Canis. It took her a few minutes to reach her destination, which she used contemplating what she was going to say. Soon she was in the royal reception hall, where Celestia sat on her throne writing on a scroll.
“Luna. Staying up late are we?” Celestia asked while continuing to write on the scroll.
“Not quite dear sister. I have something to discuss with you, and it can not wait,” Luna replied.
Celestia set down her scroll and quill and stood up from her throne.
“Very well then, “she said, “what is it?”
“It’s about Canis, I think I have realized why he is so angry with you,”
“Oh…” Was Celestia’s only response.
“Something happened between you two, something that plagues his mind even now, and I will not leave until I know what it is,” asserted Luna.
“Well, you see Luna… when you were banished…”
“The Night Stalkers remained loyal to me, yes I know,” Luna interjected.
“Yes, and they waged an all out terror campaign to force me to bring you back. They did so much damage to Canterlot that everypony was afraid to come out of their houses. Then one day Canis came to the castle to negotiate a truce.”
Luna waited quietly for Celestia to continue.
“…And while we were in talks,” Celestia said slowly, “Canis refused to budge on the stipulation that you be brought back to Canterlot. I tried to explain to him that bringing you back would be just as bad as continuing to fight the wolves… no offense,”
“None taken,” Luna said calmly. She was inwardly fighting the urge to tell Celestia to get to the point.
“When Canis threatened to leave without a deal, I panicked. I deduced that he would know where the Night Stalkers’ hide out was… so I… imprisoned him.”
“That can’t possibly be all,” Luna persisted.
Celestia closed her eyes and took a deep breath before finishing her story. “Well… while he was imprisoned, he refused to tell me where they were and… you must understand sister, I was frightened for my people.”
Luna’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t like where this was going.
“And I… I…” Celstia looked for a second as if she was going to burst with anxiety. “I TORTURED HIM FOR INFORMATION!” She blurted out finally.
Luna’s mouth opened in shock. She took a few steps back from her sister as if she were some dangerous animal. She couldn’t imagine that her sister was capable of something so monstrous.
“I am deeply sorry for what happened,” Celestia said, her serene demeanor marred by sadness and regret.
“As well you should be,” Luna said, her face turning angry. “You banished me to the moon for A THOUSAND YEARS FOR THE EVIL I COMMITTED. What was your recourse for YOUR crimes?”
“Luna, I know what I did was wrong, and I’m trying to make amends.”
“Oh I’m sure Canis feels real comforted by that. What did you do to the other Night Stalkers, torture them as well?”
“No I didn’t,” Celestia retorted angrily, “I’m sorry for what happened, and-“
“-and I forgive you,” said a voice behind Luna.
Luna turned around to see Canis standing just a few paces away. He stepped forward to take his place beside her.
“Canis, I thought you were asleep,” Luna said.
“Other obligations supersede my need for a respite,” Canis replied before addressing Celestia. “I understand now your highness. I understand that events that have transpired a thousand years a go can not continue to effect our relationship today.”
Both Celestia and Luna were silent. “Therefor,” Canis continued, “in the spirit of friendship and harmony, I forgive you for your past transgressions against me.”
“I… thank you Canis. It means a lot to hear you say that,” Celestia slowly said. Luna remained silent, she looked unsure of how to react.
“It is ok Luna,” Canis reassured her.
A short silence ensued as all three of them thought of what to say.
“Canis,” Celestia began, “this may seem a bit sudden, but I was hoping you could help me with something.”
“As long as it does not involve hot brands you highness,” Canis replied.
Luna looked at him and raised a questioning eyebrow. Celestia was at a loss for words until Canis smiled, silently reassuring her that it was just a morbid joke.
“Ah yes, well… it’s just a little something I have planned for my nephew,” Celestia explained. Canis listened quietly as Celestia explained her plans to him.