Luna:
What a horrible day.
First I wake up to a loud explosion right inside the castle, then I found out that Tia burned herself trying to stop the flaming apparition of Magnus the King of flames, and then we had to declare martial law just to quell the panic that was cause by that damnable Magnus because no~, he'd rather steal our sun away than negotiate like a civilized p... ahem, better not use any foul language while I can avoid it.
But if I had to pick, the worst thing that happened this entire day happened in Ponyville. Tia was right in not sending Spike back home to collect his things, the moment Twilight returned back, Ponyville was turned upside down.
I swear, I have never seen so much anger in all my eternal life, and I fear they had the right to it, for we have just sent away one of the pillars of Friendship that our latest kingdom have been based upon, all because of pettiness that started a thousand years ago over who will raise the moon in my place.
However I might be the only princess that can help. Tia's wounds are taking time to heal, stupid fire addict cursed his flames so that they won't heal properly, she is in no shape to take decisions. My niece Cadence is echoing the voices of her people to call for arms against the strongest empire in existence, I'm not sure if she is crazy or just angry, either way a princess should not allow her emotions to take over her. As for Twilight, I cannot help but to sympathize for her loss, she is now mourning the loss of her assistant so shortly after the loss of her home, such loss I would not wish upon my greatest enemies.
My captain of the royal guard enters the nightly court. Speaking of loss, my once children of the night are no longer recognizable as ponies, with fangs sharper than predators, wings like bats, and slit eyes like the dragons they so used to live with. Serve me right to abandon them for a thousand years. Yet, their exile to Darkrise helped them thrive like never before, so much so that only small portion of them decided to return, the majority are still living in Darkrise.
“Captain Night Crawler,” I voiced in a normal tone, too tired for my Canterlot one, “Hath the riots ended in Ponyville?” guess fatigue does make a mare degenerate to her previous self.
“Yes your highness, just after midnight we were able to break the rioters and convince the elements to return home, though I doubt they'll be quiet for long.”
I grunted in frustration, I knew it would be only a matter of time before something bad will happen again, and I’m finding myself dreading this situation already.
My captain coughed, “Your highness, may I speak freely?"
"What is it?"
"I think you gave up the negotiations too early."
Somehow, I am not going to like where this is going, "Why do thou thinkest so?"
"I read the reports, I know the conversation that occurred, princess Celestia should have asked that the fifth kingdom be the one responsible for sir Spike."
"And pray tell captain, what difference dost that have made?" I feared that that came out more sarcastic than what I have intended.
"Tons," he sounded too cheerful for a moment there, "considering that the fifth kingdom is Darkrise, and that it's king is none other than your fanboy Starlight."
"What?" Oh dear, he shrieked, that must have came out in my Canterlot voice. I faked a cough, "Why did you not tell us sooner, do you know how much trouble that could have saved us?"
"We did, actually," What? since when? "After the festivities of princess Twilight's ascension have died down, as a representative of the thestral community in Equestria, I personally asked princess Celestia to send a delegation to Darkrise as a congratulation, but she scoffed the idea saying that Darkrise didn't send anyone so she is not about to give them a freebie, guess she was still as bitter over what happened a thousand years ago."
"You think?" I interjected, it's not an unknown secret that Tia and Magnus hate each other to the bone, I was actually surprised she kept Spike's egg for so long, "Why didn't you come to me instead?"
"I tried, but the day I was going to give you the request, you got foalnapped by the Everfree."
"So it got swept under."
"Yes, it got swept under with the new reforms you keep implementing under the protection of Equestria."
Oops.
However, this new revelation changes everything, Starlight is surely bound to do something about it.
The Elder Council once offered me the throne of Darkrise since I was the one who bring the night, they thought it would be a better choice for Nightmare Moon to be in a city where eternal night actually means life and the sun is the killer of all. Of course I was too stubborn and I just had to return to Equestria, not that I regret it now, but as Nightmare moon? I shudder to think what would have happened had I accepted back then.
"Then we need to contact Starlight immediately, he might be the key to solve everything."
My captain nodded, as we immediately set toward the observatory. Once I reached there, I turn toward my captain and said guards, “Not under any circumstances must you allow any pony to enter this door, especially my sister.”
He nodded and saluted before assuming his post. I closed the door behind me, then placed a barrier to keep others from ear dropping.
Then I proceeded to draw a rune on the ground, it was something my friends from Darkrise had taught me, a communication rune that allow for direct interaction over long distances.
As the rune activates, unlike that of morning, or yesterday’s morning, stars fell from the skies, then landed on top of the rune forming a dragon shape constellation.
“Leave me alone dammit, I have nothing to say to you about that matter.” The star dragon suddenly screamed.
“Starlight? What’s wrong?”
The constellation turned toward me, “Just a second Luna, I have a reporter I am about to murder.”
“Take your time.” Oh how much I love seeing reporters getting smacked.
“I said no, no, and for the thousand's times NO.” I see him gesture slamming a door, he then turns toward me, “Sorry about that, journalist keep giving me troubles.”
I chuckle in response, “Starlight, so good to see you again, how is my favorite Kirin.”
“Tired, if they told me that running a Kingdom means I have to attend boring speeches and smile and wave to dignitaries like an idiot I wouldn't have ascended in the first place.”
“Well you’ll get used to it, beside it’s not every day a dragon builds another kingdom within the empire, you really can’t blame the people for being curious as to whom is capable of such a feat.”
He shook his head, “I know this is not a social call Luna, I can read it plain on your face.” He paused, “Can I guess?”
“Shoot.”
“You are taking up my father's offer to rule in the land of eternal night if I can return that dragon that Magnus forcibly took from Celestia.”
"You are seemed well versed and up to speed, what's your take on the matter?"
"My take? Why do you think I have a take on the subject?"
"Because you are my innocent little savior who can do anything he wants to."
"Forget it Luna, I am not exchanging you for that whelp.”
“How did... why?”
“Because you have been mistreating him for a long time now, although you might think you have been doing the right thing, it’s unintentionally hurting him, a lot might I add.”
“And how do you know that?”
"Magnus have been spying on him, after telling me about how you were treating him, I asked around, and soon enough got my answer."
"Which is?"
"Spike is alive only by some form of miracle Luna, I count no less than four instances he could have died in them."
I gulped, personally I only knew of three, his flight to the Everfree, his attempt to join the migration, and facing Sombra, other than that there was the time he had his greed growth....
"Don't tell me," I blurted, and he simply nodded.
"Dragons affected by greed growth usually die within a day of it's manifestation, so I fear his thirteen birthday may just have been his last, it is by a miracle that he was able to shrink back, yet alone survive. He must have had quite the lucky star watching over him if he were able to do that."
"You should thank his friends for doing that, it was the one that he fancies the most that brought him back." I tried to defend him, I knew it was pointless, but some part of me wanted to change his opinion, for once I want to win an argument against him.
"But that does not eliminate the main problem," He continued, "It's rare for a dragon to not have a hoard past his tenth year, so here is my question, where is his hoard?"
Oh come on, how should I know where Twilight's dragon hide his stash. He is expecting too much information out of me.
"Not all hoards are made of gold you know," again with the mind reading, "from what I found out, Spike isn't actively searching for something that is essential for his growth, dragons grow the stronger their hoard is, you do know that right?"
Unfortunately I did know that, and I know I don't need to tell him anything so I satisfied myself with a grunt for a reply
"Then here is the part you don't know, the longer a dragon waits to find his hoard the more greed growth becomes frequent, to his life and to those around him, tell me, will his friends be able to force him to shrink a second time? how about a third?"
I honestly was taken aback by what he said, it is true that the last time it was a miracle that no pony got hurt, but the thought that it could happen again is frightening.
“The last greed growth that happened in Darkrise killed some friends of mine, I made that new law in order to follow on the growth of orphan dragons and make sure that tragedy does not happen again," He sighed, whatever it is he's about to say is most definitely weighing on his mind, "Lord Magnus however had other plans, you see, when the law came to pass, it should have been implemented on all of the dragons at once, but I had trouble contacting Equestria, you in particular were unavailable, something about Tirek?” I shrugged, he'll understand, "When I voiced my predicament, Magnus had the bright idea of doing it himself, he said he may need to, how should I put this, 'force your hoof into action,' as he put it."
“So you know what happened in Equestria?”
“Yes Magnus used the Black Sun for a full minute.” He pondered a moment. “It is hard not to notice since I am the one who was given custody of that superweapon.”
“So you authorized Black Sun?”
“It was better than the alternative,” his voice had an unusual high pitch to it, “He was planning on using Continental Break if I didn't convince him of Black Sun.”
What's with the dragons and weapons of mass destruction?
“Don’t get angry at me, I didn't think Magnus was dumb enough to use it. Now I know better.” His tone was remorseful, so is his gaze.
I honestly cannot believe those dragons, at least we had the decency to wait until Cadence was of age until we gave her some authority, but he is still a child, a dragon child of twenty, not even a teenager yet in their standards, and still they placed so much burden upon his wings that I fear they might crack.
“What is done, is done, Starlight. No need to dwell in the past. Now let’s focus on the present and how to fix this.”
“I still don’t know how I can help you Luna, my authority is constantly mocked because of my age, and most of the times I feel too helpless to carry out the responsibilities I have toward my own kingdom, yet alone to help an entire different race.”
I thought about it for a moment, he may not be able to bring him back, but he might help in something else.
“Personally, my most immediate priority is not bringing him back, but his own safety and well being.”
He chuckles, “Oh come on Luna; do you honestly think they’ll torture another dragon just to spite Celestia.”
I gave him a look.
“You’re right, they are that idiotic, damn gold hoarders.”
“You are swearing far too often, it is unfitting for a dragon of your status.”
He just looked at me, "heh, I guess you’re right,” he paused for a moment, “Still, I can’t take action if nothing bad has happened yet.”
I gave him another look,
“Yeah, they may be beating the life out of him as we speak.”
“For some dragon who can read others like an open book, you sure have a lot of trouble reading your own surrounding.”
He chuckles, “I guess I am."
“I am not asking for much Starlight, all I want is for you to keep watch over him, will you do that for me?”
“I’ll think of something, don’t worry. I am not about to let you down.”
“Then I’ll talk with you soon?”
“If they didn't assassinate me by then, definitely.”
“Don’t think about it too much Starlight, you are a great king.”
He bowed his head, “good bye Luna.”
“Take care.” And with that the constellation vanished, “And please, hurry.”
I turned toward the moon, and for the first time in what I felt was an eternity, I felt relieved. There is still hope after all.