Deep cobalt energy readily flickered from Princess Luna's horn as she looked to the East, the sun at her back. From the balcony atop her personal tower of Canterlot Castle she called forth her energies from the ether to guide the trajectory of the moon yet to rise. On this evening in particular she was full of many emotions. For one, she was joyous to be able to do her ordained task of caring for the moon and the surrounding cosmos, but especially now that there were those who truly appreciated her nightly tapestry. Since her return to Equestria she had come to find that as more and more ponies rediscovered her there were more and more artists, musicians, writers, and painters who found inspiration and delight in her work. It seemed that at long last ponies were making a distinction between the cold and unlit darkness and her full, peaceful night.
Though this knowledge pleased her to no end she couldn’t help but feel anxiety. It was not so long ago that she had been Nightmare Moon, and while Ponyville had been the only town to physically see her in a thousand years in that form, there were still the legends of the Mare in the Moon, and the dread that brought to those who knew of it. With her return after so many years ponies had forgotten whether what her darkest ego had done was fact or fiction, but they turned to the the old legend and gleaned from them a sense of trepidation. There were no doubt a few who distrusted her, or perhaps even feared and hated her. She was quick to let these thoughts pass: surely such was the plight of any ruler, and the majority of Equestria had accepted her with open hooves. Such was the pony way it seemed: long to remember, but quick to forgive. The previous Nightmare Night had taught her as much. Still, there were moments where the memories of what she had done overtook her; these, and the guilt and shame she still held over herself, were her constant companions.
These however were not her only company: there was one other. For a brief instant as she looked over the now darkening valley and towns below she felt a looming unknown threat. As if in response to that feeling she could almost swear she heard the sound of jangling chains.
Something out there threatens our domain, a harsher, cold version of her own voice announced to her, but nothing so simple as an enemy to be crushed beneath our hooves. It must be found and purged. Cast from this world.
"Silence demon," the Princess murmured to herself as she turned away from the panoramic view to step back into the growing shadows of her chamber, "I've had enough of your prattle for one day."
You couldn't stop me even if you tried, the voice replied, an audible smirk in its tone, You can't stop me any more than a pony who would wish to stop automatically breathing, or for their heart to stop beating: I'm at your core.
Luna looked to her mirror on the far side of the room, tall but narrow. For a second she almost thought she saw her darker half's presence just beside her, but it vanished. Shakily she took in a breath, and then turned to exit her room, "Thou weren't before, and thou needn't be now."
Before she walked straight into her unopened suite door a portal appeared before her, ripped open from thin air. Wordlessly and without hesitation she passed into it, the last of her tail slipping through as it quickly snapped shut behind her. Instantaneously she appeared several hundred feet away and several stories below, just outside the doorway to the Royal Proclamation chamber. She had been expecting a quiet evening and night with the threat of the Ruined now seemingly addressed earlier in the day, but she was surprised to hear her sister speaking with somepony at length, only to realize it was one of her former students.
"When did this happen," she heard her say in shock.
"No less than an hour ago," was his reply, "The intruders arrived in some sort of blue box when they penetrated our facilities. We had several agents topside who say the box flew straight down through the street, passing through it like some sort of intangibility spell had been used."
Suitably intrigued by the discussion, Princess Luna signaled to the guards near the door to open for her entry, which they dutifully did.
Bunsen Burner glanced her way for a moment as she strode towards her and her sister's thrones before continuing his report, "Their objective was not an all out assault, but instead to retrieve their asset, our prisoner."
Luna was quick to settle herself in her throne before she interrupted, "Were they successful in their endeavor?"
"Sadly yes, your majesty. In addition, while I cannot find an explanation for it, the Elements were there as well."
The Princess' eyes widened, "Why were they not escorted to safety before the intruders were engaged?"
"You misunderstand, your majesty," he said with a sigh as he adjusted his half-moon glasses, "The Elements were among the members of the Ruined raiding party, as was a grey pegasus."
The proclamation chamber was silent as the grave as the two royals processed the news in shock. "How could this be possible," Celestia exclaimed.
"Our first guess was coercion of a sort: we had brief contact with the second Ruined One before their attack and retrieval where he claimed that there was a threat of some sort to the entire world."
Told you so, Nightmare Moon's voiced purred in Luna's ear.
"What sort of threat did he speak of," she asked as she leaned forward in intrigue.
"The grey pegasus, presumably his co-conspirator, said there was some sort of spatial rift present in the Everfree Forest. A team led by Lieutenant Swiftfeet is already headed there to investigate for Ruined activity. The idea of a world ending threat is what we believe to be the cause for the Element's alliance with them."
"If that were the case why would Twilight and her friends even bother to make a defense for Adam," Celestia exclaimed. Luna froze, realization dawning on her as she now understood the true identity of their most alien prisoner, the one whom she'd sworn to defend. "It simply does not make sense for them to have gone to the lengths of a legal appeal only to then break him out of your custody!"
Though she sat in silence on her throne, Luna reached up and out of the room, the castle, and all of Canterlot with the power of her mind's eye, scouring the lands for the abnormal thoughts of the human. Her search was thorough, and yet she could not find him. She mentally froze for a brief moment: he could just be unconscious, his mind so lost in his own little world she couldn't sense him, or perhaps he was-
In an instant she was brought back to the scene that had broken her so many years previous. The form of her greatest friend, soon to be Captain of the Guard, lay battered and crumpled at her naked hooves. The fire in his eyes was dying. His broken bat wings spasmed in pain as he lay on her balcony. The sky above was crying, weeping silver showers with her.
With his last breath he let a gasp of awe at the melancholic but beauteous display above, "I wish..that this..could last..forev—"
His last breath was nothing more than a whisper, and even it failed before he could speak his last.
The nobles. The wretched, damned unicorn dynasty were responsible for this! For the murder of her friend each of them, down to the last of their bloodline, would feel her blade. 'Let me out' she heard the Nightmare say, over and over, 'Let me out. Let me out. LET ME OUT.'
"Luna," she heard her name called. Though she could not see it, her pupils had momentarily grown draconic in shape, before they returned to their normal form. She glanced to her left to see her sister looking at her expectantly, and with some measure of worry.
"Apologies, dear sister," she said after taking a sharp breath, "I was caught up in a thought. What were we just discussing?"
"Is there any possibility that the Ruined had some sort of ability to enthrall the minds of others," Celestia asked, "Your memories that far back are more fresh than mine."
She shook her head and then turned to look at Bunsen Burner, her eyes narrowing in suspicion, "I don't recall them having such power. Even if the possibility exists, perhaps the true answer is more...mundane."
"Indeed," he replied, giving no indication that he thought her expression was related to anything but the Ruined, "With what time we had we did manage to extract some physical data from our captive; weaknesses, strengths."
Torture, Nightmare Moon mused in her head, And I'd have thought ponies would be squeamish about something like that.
"I did not give you permission to do something like that," Celestia declared in agitation as she leaned forward to look down at her student more clearly, "My words were clear, 'Treat him better than they treated us.'"
"It was merely a physical examination by our cryptozoologist, nothing more," Bunsen replied calmly, but as he continued speaking Luna had had enough of his talk. It was time to find out what his true level of involvement in all this truly was. Her mind shot out towards his like a spear, ready to pierce through his mental defenses, but suddenly she was stopped. Alarmed, she made another attempt, and was met with the same result. Experimentally she gazed out into the hallway just beyond the closed doors, silently reading the guards thoughts from afar. Dinner, lovers, bathroom breaks, the latest Canterlot Times Best Seller, it was all there for her see, and yet as soon as her gaze turned to this earth pony everything was silent, as if some invisible, unbreakable barrier were in place just surrounding him.
Now his eyes caught hers, and he stared for an unusually long time, silent as her sister made her newest pronouncement, but very clearly saying with his eyes, 'Back off and stay out of my way.'
"Continue to gather information for us about this supposed anomaly and the Ruined, be certain to report to us all of your findings," Celestia said in finality.
Bunsen Burner bowed low in response, "Of course, your Majesties." He gave a second glance to Princess Luna, same as the first, and then exited the proclamation chamber.
Nightmare Moon chuckled to herself a bit before her voice turned cold and furious, Infuriating as I'm sure it is for you, you have to admit that something like that takes stones.
How could he possibly block out my telepathy, she wondered to herself.
OUR telepathy, her doppelganger said sharply, It does pose an interesting dilemma, but shouldn't you be more concerned with the more pressing matters at hand, like how can I rule a world when it risks being swallowed into the abyss?
"Sister," Luna said aloud, drawing the white alicorn's attention to her, "Could I have a word? Privately? The being Adam: I know him."
Celestia, surprised by this most recent in a whirlwind of revelations, simply asked, "How?"
Luna looked first to the nearest set of guards just through the closed doorway and saw them listening now with rapt attention. Without giving them an additional thought she cast a sound cancelling spell, sealing the room away from unwanted ears. "Several fortnights ago I felt the presence of a new being enter into our realm, one unlike any I've felt before. I spoke at length with him, even gazed into his deepest thoughts. If the Ruined truly are returning, he is not among them."
"How could you possibly have left something so important unspoken," Celestia said in alarm.
"And pray tell how could you have left me in the dark about the prisoner's identity, especially one I had sworn to protect and allow to live in peace," she fired back.
"Don't pretend that this fiasco started with me," Celestia replied, "If he were innocent he would have been protected if you had let me know of his existence!"
"Was not my mandate enough," Luna said in agitation as she got up from her throne and stood before her sister's throne, "Doth our words no longer carry the authority they once held?"
"No, Luna, they do not," the white alicorn replied as she stepped down from her seat, "We share power; not just between the two of us, but with the ponies of our nation, and even with the species beyond. We have no exclusive right to rule. You didn't understand that long ago, and it seems your lessons on today's world have not taught you so now."
"It is my calling to protect the outcast," she at last yelled, "Especially from the likes of the oppressors nearest our thrones! I failed Orpheus, but I will not fail this human!"
"Nearest our thrones-" her sister muttered to herself, before she returned to a normal speaking voice, "What are you even saying?"
"Art thou blind," Luna asked in disbelief, "Has he made you so? This magister, this snake, how has he come to poison your mind?"
Celestia stood face to face with her sister now, but at the mention of her student her angry tone faltered somewhat, "Bunsen Burner simply does his duty, although he can be...abrasive at times."
"It is not his attitude we question, but his loyalty," Luna declared sharply, "If indeed Adam were able to enthrall others, would he not have made his escape on his own? In addition, he has somehow found a way to block me from entering his mind. Only one who had something to hide would bother to find such a mechanism and utilize it in my presence!"
She shook her head a little, "If he could block your thoughts he could have blocked the Ruined One's-"
"He's not a Ruined One, he's a human being, and he's not telepathic, I've checked. This student of yours is feeding you falsehoods!"
“Luna,” Princess Celestia could not believe the words coming from her sister’s mouth, “You have no right to call my former student a liar. He would never lie to me! I don't know how Adam fooled you, but there is no way Bunsen would be disloyal to Equestria.”
"That does not mean he is loyal to us," Luna replied, "Why is it so hard to believe me?"
"I would trust him over this 'human'. You didn't see what he was like! One second he was diplomatic, and then next he was ready to attack Bunsen!"
“There is not a chance in the cosmos he would have performed such an act of his own volition. He is docile, and simply wished to be left in peace. If Bunsen wanted him in his custody, goading him to attack in your presence is what would ensure that!”
"Why should I trust Adam over Bunsen," Celestia finally asked in frustration, "What makes you trust him after one meeting? I've known Bunsen for over twenty-five years." She let out a sigh, "Luna, I love you. I know you have a heart ready to believe anypony, but this-"
Finally there was silence between the two. Luna looked at her sister defiantly before she finally gave a deep sigh, "We...I cannot explain in full why I trust him beyond what I can tell you. I read his mind, and he wanted peace. I don't think Twilight would join with someone like the being you think you know. I can't trust Bunsen, and I don't know what has clouded your judgment about him, but you allowing him to do whatever he wants puts you in service to him, not him to you as it should be! You have allowed him to control your every decision, both large and small. He cannot respect you if you don’t take your rightful duties into your hooves!”
"That's enough, Luna," her sister finally said.
She pressed on, “In the time I've been gone, you’ve changed greatly. You used to be more than a figurehead! When Nightmare Moon was plotting against you to bring night eternal, you ruled your subjects with firm but gentle grace. You cared about ponies then as you do now, but you shirk your authority!”
“Stop it Luna, stop it!” Princess Celestia’s voice was twinged with veiled desperation.
“Why have you forsaken your duties? You may be loved, but can others respect you if all you are is a pony who cuts a ribbon here, smiles there—“
“Princess Luna, hold your tongue!” The edge in Celestia's voice cracked as she spoke, and tears began to well into her eyes. “Be silent,” she whispered softly.
Luna, stunned by this unexpected crack in her sister's porcelain mask, had to oblige, but she was utterly shocked to see her sister like this.
“You don’t know,” The Princess of Sun spoke shakily as tiny tears rolled down her face, “What it was like without you. We were meant to rule together for a reason. One pony is not meant to rule the world unopposed. When I sent you away for a thousand years, I was heartbroken for both your loss and mine. You lost yourself, and I lost a wonderful sister and friend. But with each passing day, I came to see the absolute power I held, and oh,” she closed her eyes and groaned as if in agonizing pain, “I was so greatly tempted. I was tempted to institute my own iron will over others. There were days I tried to justify it for their own good; the world under my rule would become a better place; I would make it so. I could have just as easily become like Nightmare Moon was; I could have made an eternal kingdom, a Solar Empire to last for countless generations. But I was made to realize that if I remained as I was, I would be like the Sun when it has overstayed its welcome; everything would burn. I severed our link to the Elements of Harmony, and I created a Royal Family to govern the world we created, one not stuck in recalcitrance and obsession with purity, but with service towards others at their hearts, both in the large and small.”
Luna blinked, and then blinked again, “So that is what you did? You locked yourself away so you could do no good at all rather than risk doing anything tyrannical?”
“No,” Princess Celestia shook her head, “I was not idle. I did take some time for myself; some time to think, to live, to love. It was through those years I truly learned what the Elements of Harmony are really meant to represent. So I taught others what I’d learned, and I have served Equestria through them for hundreds of years.”
Realization came to Princess Luna’s face, “You mean your students?”
Princess Celestia nodded, “They have been my gift to the world, and they have done so much more than I ever could.”
“All the same, I hold my doubts of Bunsen Burner. Even if you meant for him to be a gift to the world, he has a mind his own and his own motives, and I don't think his and your interests are truly in line with each other."
Princess Celestia looked at her sister with a silent sadness. The melancholy that filled her eyes expressed to Princess Luna that she was hurt by her mistrust of her former student, because it also meant she didn’t fully trust her sister’s judgment.
Princess Luna tried to apologize, tried to make her words softer, “Tia—“
“Good night, Luna,” Princess Celestia said in a pained whisper, and she turned and walked towards the door to head to her own chambers, leaving a guilt filled sister behind her.