A New Equestria book the second

by ZeirMakavar

1: This is the fire

Great ponies are born in fire. It is the privilege of the lesser pony to light the fire. But who is to say what defines those of us are the great ponies? The lesser ones? AK Yearing, also known as Daring Do can be considered one of these great ponies. Or is she a lesser pony to one Rainbow Dash? The facts are, there is no cut-and-dry way of telling weather or not A pony has lit the fire for another, or if their fire was lit by a pony. But no matter, that is not what this story is about.
It's about what happens in the aftermath of the fire. When, sometimes, a literal fire is released.

"Oh, what a pleasant surprise." Green Hunter mocked, as a guard pony lead Rourke to his cell. "Such an honor seeing the great Rourke at my, most humble cell. To what, do I disgustingly owe the honor to?"
"You of all people should know why I'm here Hunter."
"What? Did Celestia get her favorite pet to help clean up my mess?" Hunter continued to mock. "Wouldn't that be why she sent something created by his magic to get rid of me?"
"No." Rourke sighed shaking his head. "In fact, I'm here on Lunamaria's orders."
"Lunamaria?" Hunter blinked, unaccustomed to hearing the second princess called by her full name. "You mean... Princess Luna?"
"I'm more surprised you still consider her a princess. Considering the fact that you're a member of that Sun Cult." Rourke chuckled, sitting on a stool outside Hunter's cell. "Though, you weren't always as I hear. What made you turn?"
"That's not important."
"Oh?" Rourke chuckled, a smirk appearing on his face. "I do believe it is."
"No, it really isn't."
"And why not?"
"Because... Because I don't remember why."

Twilight Sparkle yawned, looking around her room. It had been only a year after the event's that lead Green Hunter, one of her most trusted allies on the Council to be arrested. It had almost seemed like a dream when Hunter's involvement in the events that plagued the Colony nearly the entire time it'd been around. Applejack, assured Twilight that it was finished. Rainbow Dash, who had changed during her time as an outcast, believed that it wasn't. Twilight, wasn't sure what to think.
And Twilight would have continued thinking, had a nock not sounded at her door. "Twilight, may I come in?" Luna asked, from the other side of the door.
"Of course Luna." Twilight said, shaking her head to cast away the thoughts of Green Hunter. "What do you need?" She asked, after Luna walked in.
"Well, I had been thinking on what you said Twilight." Luna sighed, sitting next to her. "On what you said after Green Hunter's arrest."
"And?"
"I sent Rourke to look into it."
"Rourke?" Twilight blinked, recognizing the name. "As in the pony Rainbow said refused to help her find Hunter?"
"The same."
"He listened to you?"
"He works for me."
"I see..."
"Hunter," Luna began, with another sigh. "He used to work for Deacon... Father. As in a member of the same order Rainbow Dash now leads."
"The Guardians."
"Indeed." Luna nodded, a somber atmosphere covering the room. "Though I do not know how long, or high he was. I, we, do know however that for some reason he left the Guardians, to join a group that is bent on toppling and destroying them."
"Why though?" Twilight asked, interrupting Luna. "Why would he join a group bent on destroying what he protected?"
"I told Rourke to find out."
"And?"
"Green Hunter does not remember."
"Does not..." Twilight repeated, a dumbfounded look on her face. "How? Is that possible? Is it possible he's lying? Or, maybe he was manipulated as well? Like how he manipulated Heaven and her brother?"
"I can assure you Twilight," Luna said, putting a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "That Green Hunter is not lying."
"Which means he either truly does not remember, or his memories were manipulated." Twilight nodded. "Either way, it is possible he was being manipulated by the rest of the group and..."
"There is another possibility Twilight."
"then he could. Wait, another possibility?"
"I've been having the feeling that Rourke hasn't been as truthful with me as he says as of late."
"What do you want me to do about it?"
"Anything." Luna sighed, standing up. "Maybe do an investigation of your own." Luna said, chuckling as she turned to leave.
"Right I'll do that." Twilight sighed, before remembering a letter Celestia sent a couple of day prior. "Oh Luna!"
"Yes Twilight?"
"Celestia wants you to write... More often then you do."
"Come again?"
"She told me... in her last letter that you don't write to her. And... that she thought you would, seeing as you're sisters and on two continents."
"What would I write about? You already tell her what goes on in your... books."
"They aren't books, they are letters."
"Not from what I've heard Spike say about them..." Luna chuckled, a soft smile on her face. "I wake each evening to see him rubbing his claws due to their length."
"Right... maybe I'll go easy on the letters... But you really should write, even if it's just to ease Celestia's worries."
"Again, what about?"
"Anything?" Twilight sighed, bowing her head. "Personally, I agree with her Luna. I mean, I haven't really been interacting with you lately either but... She already lost you once because you two didn't talk. Imagine how she feels with you not talking to her? I'm betting it's how you felt before becoming Nightmare Moon."
"Indeed... it was loneliness that brought me to jealousy." Luna chuckled, shaking her head. "Very well Twilight, I will write to sister."
"Thank you Luna. Personally, I wouldn't want to see a Celestia version of Nightmare Moon." Twilight joked.
"Indeed, that would be a sight."

"What did Luna want?" Spike asked, as he walked into the room, caring a large amount of gemstones. "Was she here long?"
"No, not long." Twilight sighed, looking around. "She just wanted to talk Spike."
"Oh, I see. I can go and make dinner." Spike then sighed, setting the gems down near the table. "Maybe we should invite Luna?"
"No, I think she's busy right now." Twilight said, looking at the notes she had in front of her. "Though, I want you to get Rainbow."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"Something up?"
"I just need her to check something."

"ARGH!" Rainbow Dash screamed, as she found her clothes, once again switched out by Shinze. "Shinze!" She yelled, leaving her room to look for Shinze. "What the hell Shinze!"
"What he do this time?" Trixie asked, poking her head out of her room.
"The same thing he usually does."
"Oh, well sorry?"
"No, it's fine Trixie." Rainbow sighed, shaking her head. "But if you see him, tell him I'll kill him."
"I will."
"Thank you Trix." Rainbow said as she continued looking for Shinze.
However, her search was interrupted by Spike's arrival. "Hey Rainbow. Hey Cloudchaser." He said, as they both blinked.
"What you doing here?" Cloudchaser asked, blinking. "We haven't seen you sense Green Hunter was arrested."
"Yes, that's why I'm here." Spike sighed, sitting on one of the stools. "See, Luna informed Twilight that she had conducted her own investigation into Green Hunter, about why he was doing what he did. And if the pony she sent to do this is to be trusted, then the results are inconclusive."
"Inconclusive? How?"
"Well,there are several things that could answer that. One, Hunter was lying. Two, he was telling the truth and actually doesn't remember. Or three..."
"Wait, Hunter said he doesn't remember?" Rainbow asked, her ears perking up.
"Yes... that's what he told Luna's investigator. Can I continue?"
"Yeah, sorry."
"Thank you." Spike sighed, shaking his head. "Or three, the investigator was holding something back."
"And let me guess, Luna thinks that it's the third one." Cloudchaser asked, looking from Spike to Rainbow Dash, then back to Spike. "I'm right, right?"
"You are." Spike nodded sighing. "So, Twilight wants, well Twilight and Luna, want you to check the data. And, to investigate yourselves if necessary."
"Sweet!" Cloudchaser chuckled, a smile on her face. "Finally something to do!"
"Sad that it has to do with the same pony as the last thing."
"True..."
"Well, I'd love to stay and chat some more, but I have a diner to make." Spike sighed, chuckling. "It seems I've grown into a Butler instead of an assistant..."
"Isn't it the cook that makes the food?"
"Well... yes but I do... Ah, whatever."

A few hours later, they had all the data from Rourke, much to Rainbow's annoyance, and were each going through it. "By Luna he's thorough." Trixie moaned, for the fifth time that hour.
"Yes, we know Trix." Cloudchaser sighed, moving on to the next pile of paper. "And it makes sense, he works for Luna."
"I know, but why does there have to be so much?" Trixie whined. "We've been at this for hours, and still not even half way done!"
"Quit the whining Trixie," Rainbow said sternly as she put one of the boxes they'd gone through to the side, opening another. "If you don't we won't get through this fast enough. Twilight, and Luna, trust us to find out if Rourke was hiding anything. Or anything else that could be useful to Luna."
"I still don't see why she'd be interested in Green Hunter." Cloudchaser sighed, shaking her head. "Yeah, I know that went bad. But we got him, isn't that enough?"
"We're making sure it is." Rainbow sighed as well. "Luna fears that it wasn't finished when we arrested Hunter. And quite frankly, I agree."
"You do?"
"Yes," Rainbow said before sighing again. "Before we caught him, he told me something interesting."
"What?"
"He was working for somepony. Somepony, or a group of ponies, that Shinze was spying on for Deacon."
"I see..." Trixie sighed, looking around. "So you worry that their plan was just beginning?"
"I already know what the gist of it is."
"How?"
"Again, Green Hunter told me. Same as how it was Shinze who, acting as an agent of Deacon, told me that it was him who inducted Green Hunter into that same group who he served."
"Then, should Hunter be on our side? Why would he do what he did?"
"That, is what I want to know." Rainbow sighed, shaking her head. "Now get back to work."
"Yes ma'am."

"Shinze." Deacon sighed, as Shinze walked into his room. "How are things, doing fine?"
"Yes sir."
"Good."
"May I ask why you called for me?"
"I've been told it was you that introduced Green Hunter to the Knights Templar." Deacon sighed, standing up, his mane flowing in an imaginary breeze. "Is there a reason why?"
"It was part of my disguise sir." Shinze responded. "I was asked, to convert a member of the Guardian to the Templar order. And so, I chose Hunter as the best candidate."
"And?"
"I'm afraid that my actual plan backfired." Shinze sighed, shaking his head. "After he was initiated, I planned on telling him of my true purpose being there. But..."
"But?"
"They did something sir." Shinze said, a frown on his face. "I do not know what, but he believed full-heartedly, that you had lied to us. About the moon."
"Which I did not."
"I know very well." Shinze chuckled, shaking his head. "But no, what worried me is that he had a blank stare. As if they completely changed him. Memories and all. He seemed to remember you, and the Guardians, but not that he was one."
"They... how could the Templar's have such magic?"
"I know not. But what I do know is that what ever they plan on doing, is big. And it maybe different then what we thought initially."
"They do not plan on destroying the Guardians? But was that not their purpose."
"Originally yes, but it seems there is a new head."
"Thank you." Deacon sighed, taking a book of the shelf. "You may go."

"Hey Twi?" Applejack said, looking around the town center. "How do you think it'll go?"
"This is going to be the first Nightmare Night celebrated in the colony Applejack, it's going to be wonderful." Twilight responded, with a nod from Spike and Applebloom, who was helping with the preparations, along with the rest of the Crusaders. "We even have Luna telling the story about Nightmare Night. Though she might not be as good as Zecora, she was still there during the event that led to Nightmare Night's creation."
"I suppose." Applejack sighed, shaking her head. "But still, why is this year the first year we celebrate Nightmare Night?" Applejack asked, looking around again. "Have we not been here almost a decade?"
"Well, yes." Twilight sighed, checking a few things off a list and nodding at a pony who was asking about which color streamers to use. "The black ones, though you should ask Pinkie Pie about those. She'll know more then me." She said, before turning back to Applejack. "But do remember Applejack, we've been to busy year round to really do anything for any of the holidays. This is the first year we can."
"I know. I know." Applejack sighed, shaking her head. "I still think we shoulda done it sooner. We've even neglected the Summer Sun Celebration."
"Yes, I know. And as I said..."
"This i the first year that we can do anything. I heard ya the first thousand times Twi."
"Good." Twilight nodded, a smile on her face. "Now, can you please check to see how the food is doing? Wouldn't want the ponies to be hungry."
"I'm on it." Applejack chuckled, waving a hoof as she turned to leave Twilight to her list checking. "Oh, I got the recipe for the apple cider from Granny Smith. So expect some of those."
"Wonderful. It's been to long since I've had Apple family Cider." Twilight chuckled, as she checked of a box next to 'drinks' "Though Pinkie'll be sad she can't make her punch."
"Why would I?" Pinkie said, surprising Twilight. "Apple Cider is amazing! Is it really Cider season?"
"Well, Cider season, from what I can gather falls roughly around Nightmare Night so I'm guessing?" Twilight shrugged, looking around. "Say, have you seen..."
"Luna?" Pinkie asked, in her characteristic mind reading way. "Oh, she's by Midnight's place talking with Discord. I think she's sad about something. Maybe she misses Celestia? Oh, oh maybe she's hungry. I know I get sad when I'm hungry."
"Thank you Pinkie..." Twilight sighed, ignoring the rest of Pinkie's crazy rant.

"I still think it's a wonderful opportunity dear Lunamaria." Discord chuckled, taking a fifth piece of Chocolate off the tray his tail was holding up. "Why don't you take it up? Tell your side of the story?"
"That is what I worry of Discord." Luna sighed, shaking her head. "And don't call me Lunamaria..."
"Why? It's your name isn't it?"
"Well, yes but..."
"You prefer Luna."
"Yes." Luna nodded, as Twilight walked into the store. "And I would rather be called that then..."
"Called what?" Twilight asked, interrupting Luna, looking at each of them in turn. "What did Discord call you?"
"I called her..."
"By my full name, which I do not like. Only Tia may call me that."
"Isn't your full name Luna?" Twilight asked, a confused look on her face. "Why would you be upset about him calling you that?"
"That's because her full name is Lunamaria."
"Lunamaria?"
"Indeed, Luna's name is actually Lunamaria." Discord chuckled patting Luna's head as his tail offered Twilight the tray of chocolate. "Want one? They are delicious." He asked, chuckling. "And before you rattle on, I paid for them Twilight."
"Did you really?"
"Yes."
"It is shocking is it not?" Luna chuckled, shaking her head. "Discord, a proper pony."
"I'm a Draconequus. Thank you very much."
"Then a proper Draconequus."
"This is a sarcastic remark."
"Witty comeback."
"Oh touche Luna... Touche." Discord chuckled, shaking his head. "Didn't expect you to respond that way... then again, I didn't expect you to respond."
"I try Discord," Luna said, chuckling as well. "It keeps you paying attention at least. Now, I think I'll have one of those chocolates."
"Perhaps we should send some to Celestia?" Discord asked, winking at Luna.
"No need." She responded. "I instructed the chef to bring a cloud cake to her room each night."
"Oh, that's even more diabolical Woona."
"Well it's what she gets for making me... DON'T CALL ME WOONA!" Luna bellowed. "IT IS A CHILDS NAME! I AM NO LONGER A CHILD DISCORD AND YOU..."
"Calm down Princess, you're scaring the whole neighborhood." Midnight said, coming out of the kitchen with three drinks. "Here you go, I brought you three drinks."
"How did you know I'd be coming Midnight?" Twilight asked, taking one of the drinks off the tray.
"Pinkie told me." Midnight sighed, shaking her head. "Said you asked her about Luna, so I figured I'd make drinks."
"Pinkie... how did she get here before me?" Twilight blinked, looking around. "she bounced off in the opposite direction."
"I find it best to not question her." Midnight sighed, as Luna and Discord took their glasses. "It helps me keep my sanity."
"Well I suppose that makes sense."
"It makes more sense then Pinkie Pie."
"I think the only one here that understands her here Luna, is Discord."
"No, sometimes I don't get her either." Discord chuckled, as both Luna and Twilight stared at him. "What? She's the element of Laughter. How am I supposed to understand how she can throw a block party with only three hours to prepare?"
"Because you are the embodiment of chaos?" Twilight put forth.
"Oh, well... there is that."
"No matter, I heard Midnight say you were looking for me Twilight?"
"Yes I was."
"May I ask why?"
"Well, I know they asked you to be the narrator and to tell the story of Nightmare Night, but are you sure?" Twilight asked Luna, a worried look on her face. "I'm aware from how you've been behaving that Nightmare Moon is something you don't like talking about."
"Yes, it's something I don't like talking about. But, something I chose to do Twilight." Luna sighed, nodding her head. "Something I... feel I need to do."