For untold eons, I, Princess Luna, have stood watch over the night. I have shepherded the stars, led the moon, and poured every ounce of love and elegance I could into my charge. When my ponies ignored and spurned my work, sleeping through it, or worse fearing it, I grew bitter and resentful, and lashed out at their ignorant stupidity.

Now, however, I wonder if they were right.

I see the stars for what they are now, a vipers nest of empires, wrought from greed, lies, hope, and madness. A turbid sea of fragile alliances and vicious betrayals, where even such foundations as family and love can find no safe purchase. A raging madhouse driven ever onwards by a blithe idealism almost delusionally at odds with reality.

And now, I alone must carve Equestria a home among these swirling points of light, or risk having it devoured whole.

I failed my ponies once. I shall not fail them again.

(A big thanks to ponyKillerX for letting me use his image "Lunatic" for cover-art.)

(Rated Teen for language. Also, the tag "Human" is omitted, as they're side players in an ensemble cast.)

Lyra Heartstings is a pony with an obsession. Humans, mythical creatures from ancient history. Before now, she was just a theorist, a madmare. But with the discovery of the crystal caves beneath Canterlot, all the clues finally make sense. Now it's up to one pony to brave the depths, the fury of Equestria's finest at her hooves, and find the truth.