//------------------------------// // Consequences. // Story: Ponies of two Worlds // by Golden Paw //------------------------------//         Luna yawned widely as she touched down on the palace balcony, made for just such an entrance. Shaking the sleepiness from her wearied eyes she trotted through the rooms of the castle, past the tapestries and beautiful furniture headed for her personal chambers. She nodded to the guards on watch who saluted her as she passed and she mulled over all that had happened that night.         Reaching the royal apartments Luna heard that Celestia was stirring in her room and with a careful nudge Luna poked her muzzle in through the slight crack in the doorway. The room beyond was shadowed, the curtains still drawn and Luna had to stifle a little giggle. Celestia was still sound asleep her mane, normally flowing and glittering, was sprawled out around her. The large bed was almost lost under the sea of multi-coloured strands.         Lying on her side, muzzle just tucked under the blankets she looked so peaceful that it made Luna smile. Edging forward Luna made to whisper a tender morning but stopped as she caught sight of the assembled items on Celestia’s bedside table.         In a room bedecked with masterful paintings, rich decorations depicting the sun and clouds Luna spied what Celestia kept closest to her when she slept. A simple picture of a far younger Celestia and Luna before things had gone wrong between them all those years ago. Just beside it was the little star and moon pendant Luna had gifted Celestia as a two thousand years birthday present. She still loves me so much, even after all that I’ve done.         Luna made to investigated further but just at that moment Celestia stirred and let out a gentle, "Mumphmpm." Luna paused, just watching Celestia as she turned over with a ruffle of covers. Her mane became even more interwoven with the bedding and Luna couldn’t help but smile, it seemed some things never changed.         Luna whispered a very tired, "Good morning sister," before backing out quietly. Another "Mumphmpm," came  in reply and Celestia waved a hoof vaguely in the air in acknowledgement. Upon reaching her own door Luna noted the crescent moon symbol upon the dark wooden surface which resembled her own cutie mark and let out a deep sigh. Celestia had kept Luna's room the same for all the years she was gone.         Luna's own room was the night time mirror of Celestia's. Examples of the day's end covered the walls. The moon and stars mixed with the wispy grey clouds that seemed to flow over a deep blue sky even as Luna watched. Easing the tension in her shoulders and wings Luna trotted about the apartment and made sure all the heavy curtains and richly decorated shutters were closed. The last thing she wanted as she drifted off was for a stray sunbeam from the rising sun to disturb her.         Her checks completed Luna finally turned her attention to the bed itself and her breath caught in her throat. There, with a tiny pink bow adorning it, Luna saw a small cloud cake with a hoof written note attached. “Welcome back and sleep well, ‘Tia’”. It had been something Celestia had used to do before….Luna forced herself to think of better times and with little embarrassment wolfed down the treat in a few bites, letting the sweet flavour and tingling sensation warm her. Without even taking the time to kick off her shoes, but making sure her crown was safely out of the way Luna let herself flop bodily into her bed. The soft covers and spongy mattress seemed to welcome her like an old friend and she snuggled down before resting her head on the richly sequined pillows.         Yes it had been a good night, she’d managed all her duties and even made it just that little bit extra special for Applejack. The satisfaction of a job well done should have soothed Luna; she was back, creating her nights again and yet…. Tossing and turning for several minutes Luna finally gave up and stared at the ceiling. She traced the constellations worked in golden paint as she’d done thousands of times before. It had only been a few of days since her welcome back party along with the ensuring humiliation and pain that had followed it. The way her subjects had cowered away from Luna’s anger had been too similar to the way they looked at her when… Rolling over and thumping the pillows for good measure Luna tried to dismiss the ranting of that drunken pony, but found that the hurt and recrimination just wouldn’t fade.         Letting her face bury itself in the now thoroughly subdued pillow Luna let out the little scream she’d been burying. It was the tiredness making her think like this, things were always worse just before she tried to sleep. Her mind was free to wander and inevitably slunk back to past hurts as the distractions of duty and responsibility faded. Even as she tried to block out the press of her thoughts Luna heard Celestia humming to herself outside in the corridor and felt her frustrations rise. The sound would normally be pleasant but right now it annoyed Luna and that made her angry. She became angry at herself for being angry at such a small thing and so by the time Celestia knocked gently on her door Luna had hidden her head under a pillow.         "Morning Luna, have a good night?" Celestia asked quietly and all Luna could manage in reply was "Comphpmhm." A tangled moment later Luna rolled over, bringing the pillow with her so that it still covered her face.         Luna listened as Celestia’s soft hoofsteps approached and chided herself for being foolish. The cycle of their lives meant they didn't get all that much time together as it was and here she was hiding from Celestia.         "Still upset about the party huh? I would be too." Celestia’s voice was full of concern and Luna felt her sit down slowly besides her.         Luna felt silly, obsessing over what one inebriated stallion had said. All Luna wanted to do was scream at the top of her lungs, she wanted to bellow to the world that it was her fault not theirs but instead had to settle for a frustrated snort that earned a chuckle from Celestia.         "Luna you have made some wonderful friends since your return. That was just one silly drunken colt that's all and not even close to how most right thinking ponies see you. Remember little Pipsqueak huh?” Luna smiled as she recalled the little foal with fondness as Celestia continued, “Don’t forget the element bearers and now pretty much all of Ponyville has seen the true you." Luna felt Celestia’s wing spread out and gently lift the pillow covering Luna’s face, “I had some very definite words with Blueblood,” Celestia continued,  “I told him in no small measure to be more careful about whom he brings to social events.” Luna thought back to their troublesome ‘nephew’. He wasn’t actually their nephew of course, but an obligation, a promise made to his ancestors that now seemed oh so long ago had led to Celestia being responsible for Blueblood and now Luna was back he was her problem too. What had become of the royal line if fop like him was considered a prince? She’d long since given up trying to help her nephew behave himself and so stuck to damage limitation instead. Free will was a blessing and a curse sometimes. But Prince Blueblood did push the limits of what was tolerated on a daily basis. Sometimes Luna just wanted to force him to behave, use her considerable powers to….No that sort of thinking had lead Luna down the wrong path before.         Luna finally allowed Celestia’s wing to lift the pillow enough to see her eyes, "I’m sorry Tia, sometimes it just feels like all my efforts are for nothing.” Luna was dancing around the issue and was even more angry at herself for it. It’s not about me.         "Luna, Luna it’s okay, I understand. Don't beat yourself up abo......" Celestia began but Luna decided she couldn’t listen to another ‘it’s all okay’ sermon from Tia right now. She shrugged off the wing and finally pushed herself upright. Luna tried to keep her face composed, but the tears welled up, unbidden in her eyes before she finally summoned the courage to talk about what was really eating her up inside.         "No Celestia, it’s not alright. I know what I did but that's not what's troubling me now. I served my time on the moon for what I did, I paid my debts," Luna was doing her best, but the guilt was like a jagged ball of hurt lurking in the back of her throat.         "Then tell me Luna, what’s is wrong? I promise I will do all I can to help," Celestia assured.         "They are my fault and they are still suffering for what I did. That stupid colt at the party is just the surface of it. Equestria can be angry, scared of or even hate me for what I did to you and the celestial cycle. But that's my fault and I am making up for it. I deserve far worse.”         Luna closed her eyes, she couldn't bare to look at Celestia as she finally said what the matter was. Thoughts of being banished back to the moon crossed her mind or at very least losing the approval of her big sister she had worked so hard to regain. But she knew how bad things could get if she let feelings like this stew and fester. I will not make that mistake again.         "They are entirely my fault, I... when I....." The tears were back in Luna's eyes but she drove on anyway. Celestia needed to know her side of things and Luna needed to trust her older sister. Celestia had trusted Luna and given her a second chance it was only right that the Princess of the Night now reciprocated. Summoning up her courage Luna even managed to look Celestia in the eye as she explained what was tearing at her soul.         Pushing past the sobs that threatened to block her attempt Luna finally blurted it out in a rush, "When I fell into darkness I took some ponies with me Celestia, I took good ponies that were loyal to me, and in my twisted state I twisted them too. I turned them into tools for my anger and hate. The changes I made to them have never been undone."         ”Ah...them,” Celestia said quietly, the light of comprehension dawning in her eyes and Luna braced herself for the worst. It was bad enough she’d become a tyrant, a mad evil that needed to be stopped, but what she’d done to those poor ponies….         "Oh Luna, I know all of it already,” Celestia replied and Luna felt the shock of that revelation. “You think it was all your fault? I should have been less of a proud, inconsiderate mare. I couldn’t see beyond my delusions of grandeur and that has cost us both.” Luna just couldn’t believe it, “You know about the dark magic I used to make them? How I poured a tiny drop of the anger I felt into them and drove them mad?” “Not all of them Luna, not all of them,” Celestia tried to lessen the blow but Luna brushed it aside. “I don’t even remember how many died!” Luna wailed, “How can I make up such a thing? A thousand years in the moon hasn’t fixed them!” “Enough Luna. Yes I know about all of them, I even know about the few that fled to warn me about what had occurred after they had been changed,” Celestia’s face had become stern. “Yes I know….” Luna just stared at Celestia not believing what she was hearing. A shadow passed over Celestia’s kind features before her smile returned, “Their descendants still live in Equestria and beyond. They have inherited that same cursing: The negasi are just one of the family lines that have resulted. I know they were to be your spies, your hunters in the night and all that you did to them.” Luna felt as if her heart would break as Celestia looked at her with pity, “I know about the lithi who were once earth ponies and the dark unicorns, I know it all Luna and I still forgive you.” “How can you?” Luna asked dumbfounded.         “I picked up the pieces Luna, I know it all and you don’t have to beat yourself up about it any more.” Luna cried openly into her sister's shoulder now and Celestia used her fore legs along with her wings to embrace Luna. She let her cry running tears onto her shoulder until her coat was soaked and her feathers began to wilt.         "Luna, when a loved piece of china is smashed it will never quite be the same again, even after all you do to fix it and the pony responsible has paid for a new one. Do you know what I did with those broken pieces?” Luna shook her head, her face still buried in Celestia’s shoulder, “I used them to make a fresh piece. Filling the gaps with new purpose, stronger than before.” Luna’s eyes weren’t streaming now but a few more sobs escaped as Celestia concluded her council, “lt stings you every time one of the night ponies are mistreated these days. They are in no way to blame for their state. Even when all is forgiven there are still consequences, I did all I could to make them positive ones. The night ponies now stand as a warning to all of how important love and friendship are and this is a testament of their redeeming qualities."         Luna looked up to her sister's loving eyes and saw she was smiling again, she saw an expression of hope once more. "You really think so?"         "I do Luna, we can still show Equestria that good can come of almost any tragic event. Now you should sleep, you always get more easily upset when you’re overtired. You have been working so hard and I know I certainly get cranky when I'm worn out." Celestia gave Luna a kiss on the forehead. "Love you Tia," Luna said as she began to drift off to the land of dreams.         "Love you too ‘Lulu’, sleep well." Celestia replied. "Let me help carry this one as I should have done all those years ago,” Luna peeked out and saw Celestia looking at herself in the mirror just outside, “But first I need to fight this battle,”         With a wink to Luna, Celestia conjured several brushes and began to attack her wild mane. She grinned back at Luna through the mirror and finally Luna felt the ache lessen. “If I can tame these unruly strands then we….” Celestia added as she tugged at her mane, “Then we can fix anything.”         A weary Clear Frost stumbled into the inn called the ‘Tipsy Mare’. It was his usual watering hole and he needed a drink after what he had been through that day. Having to make a formal apology to all those ponies he’d originally been trying to impress had been a humiliating experience.. His days as a social climber were over. Looking about the dingy cellar Frost thought it was a very appropriate setting for his return to anonymity, back to the bottom of the pile where even the gutters were higher up than he was. It may not be pretty but you certainly avoided all the big sharks down here.         "Frosty? Welcome back, long time no see," The barkeeper said in an even tone, as Clear waved sheepishly. "Want the normal?" The dark brown unicorn asked Clear Frost in his usual deadpan way. ‘Sweet Nectar’ had been running the ‘Tipsy Mare’ since before Frost had discovered it. Level headed and always ready to lend a sympathetic ear ‘Sweets’ may just have been the closest thing Frost had left to a friend.         "Yeah Sweets," Clear Frost added as he sat on one of the bar stools and let out a huge sigh, “All those angry faces, the look in Luna’s eyes, it was horrible Sweets.”         “That rough huh?” Sweet added, placing a generously sized drink before Frost. "I don't even know why I said it, that's the worst part. I have nothing against Luna or her Night Guard," Frost bemoaned and Sweet dutifully nodded in comradeship. “No, that’s not it. I do know why I said those things. I spent too much time listening to fake friends, those who were just along for the ride, ‘yes-ponies’ all of us, ” Frost’s face fell, “Just like I was being…”         “Well sometimes the ‘upper-crust’ aren’t so ‘upper’ and are far more ‘crusty’,” Sweet added in support.         “Amen to that Sweet’s,” Frost tilted the flagon before pausing, "I'm well out of it Sweets, I'll stick to the life I know and love from now on." He thought back to Swift’s ‘advice’ and saw just how prophetic it had turned out to be, “You know that Blueblood and his cronies just let me take all the rap, they were the first ponies to point hooves at me and blame me for the whole sorry thing…”         "Well isn’t that odd,” Sweet said as he polished a glass. “Some of those new friends came by looking for you the other night. They said they wanted to talk with you.”         Frost’s ears drooped but to his surprise Sweet brightened his day, “I didn’t like the look of em so they didn’t get anything from me, I told em I’d never heard of you.”         "Thanks Sweets, you’re a true prince among stallions," Feeling better about things Frost raised his tankard to Sweet Nectar, “To real friends!”         Frost paused again, looking at the second cause of his woes and after a few seconds indecision lowered the tankard, “Thanks Sweets, but I think I’ll give it a break tonight.” Frost quickly tossed a few bits onto the counter, “That should more than cover it and next time I’m in you can treat me to some of the other less potent options.”           Turning to go Frost was already at the foot of the stairs when Sweet called out, "Well you always know where to find us Frost, have a safe journey home." He even had a companionable smile and Sweet didn't often smile. Frost took it as good sign.         Frost left the warm inn and began trotting home. Night had fallen proper by the time he left the Tipsy Mare and he was looking forward to his warm bed. As he made his weaving way, Clear Frost failed to see the three shadowy figures detach themselves from an alleyway as he passed and begin to follow him. Humming to himself, Frost felt more hopeful than he had for weeks, maybe he could even make a new sculpture? One of Princess Luna to really show he was sorry?         Seeing how the high and mighty lived had been so tempting, but it came with a sting attached it seemed. No, he would stick with what he was good at. Frosty was almost back home when the uneasy feeling began.         Looking over his shoulder Frost saw pony-shaped shadows following him. They were doing a reasonable job of keeping out of the light, not an astounding feat with so many of the street lamps out in this part of the city. They were far enough away to not be threatening but just close enough to unsettle him. When Clear Frost turned right around to face his stalkers a voice he knew called out.         "Evening Frosty, where' you been the last few days?" That was Buster's voice and upon hearing it Clear Frost's heart sank into his hooves. The three ponies advanced into the lone light in a suddenly very dark, deserted street and Frost swallowed nervously as they all grinned at him. Buster was a cream earth stallion, with a green mane and eyes. His cutie mark was a hammer breaking a nut and there was a small scar on his right cheek.         Buster had a friendly smile on his lips, but his eyes told a very different story. The other two stallions were big and both dark shades of brown. The pair had a lot of muscle on them and were heavy work ponies by the looks of them. The cutie marks of a large weight on one and a sack full of bricks on the flank of the other supported Frost’s initial assessment.         "Oh yeh, er hi Buster, yeah I served a little time making up for the party incident, but I’m out and about now," Clear Frost replied in a strained voice that failed to hide his nerves.         "Yeah we heard all about that 'Little Whitey'," This came from 'Weighty' in a tone that showed he was clearly enjoying Frost’s unease.         "That's right, shame on you for upsetting the guard's after all that effort we made to get you in the party too. Terrible you got thrown out," agreed 'Sack Flank'.         The two looked very much alike now that Clear Frost could see them in the light. They were probably brothers. They kept coming closer walking around and behind him so that one was always out of his view. Buster just stood a little way off, a nasty smile on his muzzle.         "Yeah it wasn't nice how they treated you after all our hard work. We wanted to tell you how sorry we were about needing you to take the fall and how we wanted to make it up to you," Buster informed Frosty with an unpleasant glint in his eye.         "Oh you didn't have to do that you guys, I kinda brought it on myself. I'd had a bit too much to drink and all that," Frost was relieved. He didn't know why he had been so worried they had just come to make peace.         Buster went on, "We insist Little Whitey. We gonna make it up to you. Plus there are some other ponies yer need to meet."         Little warning bells were going off in Frost's head now, but he couldn't put his hoof on why. There was something about the way they were acting that practically shouted they meant him no good. To Clear Frost's dismay his hopes of just stepping out of this group of 'friends' was looking slimmer by the moment.         "Ah well if you insist, I’m always up for meeting new ponies," Don't seem to have a choice, Frost thought to himself as they lead him in the opposite direction of his home and warm bed that he dearly missed now. Buster's grin grew wider as they trotted along.         "That's the spirit, after what you said at Luna's welcome back shindig there are some ponies who would very much like to talk to you about it," 'Weighty' said from behind Clear Frost.         “Um really? I don’t have to apologise to them as well do I?” Frost asked and felt his hopes of a carefree night of sculpting vanish behind him along with the street’s remaining light.         Completely unnoticed by any the four stallions below, Night Blade watched the group trot away. He easily kept track of them from his vantage point on a nearby rooftop. His gut had told him to keep an eye on Clear Frost and now he was glad that he had. Something was definitely ahoof. Spreading his wings he silently hopped from the rooftop and glided like a phantom easily kept pace with the ponies below as they headed into the night.