//------------------------------//
// Chapter 29 - Crimson Moon 
// Story: Night Reigns 
// by tursi 
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Sunset panted as she chased Sterling Honor up the long winding staircase into the royal tower. She found that she had to step higher than normal to manage the extra weight of the chain-mail and it took her a great deal more effort to keep up.

Sterling charged through the empty doorway into the royal chambers at the top of the stairs first and dropped into a low bow. "We are prepared, Your Highness," he stated. "Sunset Shimmer is prepared and my squad will be ready to follow you within half an hour."

Sunset followed after him, a little more slowly and with considerably heavier breathing. "Don't you ever get tired?" she snapped between breaths. She studied the floor and started to lie down as she tried to catch her breath, barely listening as Princess Luna commented on the chain.

"On your hooves, Sunset Shimmer," ordered Luna abruptly. "You may think that you are tired now, but I am the pony who must carry you and your provisions for the next several hours."

Sunset looked up guiltily and with just a hint of annoyance. But her breath caught as she saw that Luna had changed as well - now wearing a perfectly sized version of the armor she had worn as Nightmare Moon. A flash of fear ran down her spine as she gasped aloud. "Nightmare Moon!" she whispered.

Luna nodded in response. "Yes, Nightmare Moon. Now come, we have a long journey ahead of us."

Sunset got back onto her hooves and bit her lip nervously. Luna turned back towards Sterling Honor. "We will leave immediately. Go see to your troops."

Sterling bowed and nodded. "Yes, Ma'am. What are your orders if we should encounter the Solar Princess without you?"

Luna frowned and considered for a moment. "Ideally I will be there long before you. But if I have already fallen…" She stopped speaking, turning her head towards the balcony.

Sterling frowned and tilted his head. "Your Highness?"

Luna blinked back into focus and looked back towards Sterling. "Never mind," she snapped. "Contain any threat if you can. Your priority is the defense of Equestria."

Sterling looked somewhat relieved and bowed again. "Of course, Your Highness."

Luna nodded again. "Go then," she ordered. As Sterling turned back towards the stairs Luna turned towards Ulfrid. "And you, dear Ulfrid? Are you ready?"

Sunset's eyes widened at the term of endearment and she looked towards Ulfrid as the great wolf stood, and then lowered himself into a deep bow. "Ready now and always, my liege. I will follow your progress from the ground."

Luna paused a moment and took half a step towards Ulfrid, her eyes widening slightly, then she seemed to notice Sunset and placed her hoof back on the ground. "Safe travels, my friend," she said quietly.

Ulfrid held his bow, but lifted his head. "Good luck on your mission, Highness."

Luna paused only a moment longer and then turned towards the balcony. She spoke again, this time her voice was sharp and pointed. "Sunset Shimmer! Come now."

Sunset watched as Ulfrid returned to a standing pose, and the wolf nodded her towards Luna with a smile. Sunset turned and trotted to catch up with Luna, reaching her as they both stood outside on the grand balcony.

She took a step towards Luna and then hesitated again. "Is… is this all right? Can you really carry me? You're barely half again as large as I am."

Luna's eyes narrowed. "Do not underestimate me, Sunset Shimmer. I am still Alicorn, and my recovery is quicker than you may think. I can carry you." She spread her wings. "Climb onto my back."

Sunset approached Luna and then hesitated again. Luna's horn lit and her magic lifted Sunset onto her back, and then at once Luna leapt into the air. She spread her wings wide until they caught the currents of the wind, and then she gave a powerful flap to send herself skyward.

Sunset's eyes widened and her heart raced, and she instinctively lit her horn to help herself cling to Luna's armor. Luna's body undulated underneath Sunset as she continued to climb, each powerful stroke of her wings casting Canterlot further behind them. Sunset dared to look down, but they were already over the fields surrounding the White City and she did not recognize the terrain gliding by far beneath them.

After a few more minutes Sunset began to take control of her breathing, willing it to slow. Luna climbed higher still and broke into a layer of cloud, hiding the ground from sight. There was nothing to see through the heavy vapor until suddenly they emerged atop it. Sunset gasped aloud - a beautiful skyscape of lightly tufted cloud tops stretched beneath them, lit silver by the light of the bright moon above. Luna spoke at last.

"Have you regained control of your senses, Sunset Shimmer?"

Sunset started, and then nodded. "Y-yes, Princess."

"Good," replied Luna. "Then we will strategize."

Sunset folded her ears. "I... I don't really know what to do. I haven't got a plan."

"I do not expect you to," replied Luna curtly. "But, you have spent more time with my sister since her return than any other pony. You have insight into her state of mind that I do not. There are no other ears here - you may speak freely."

"What are you going to do?" asked Sunset. "Are you going to hurt Celestia?"

Luna sighed softly. "Sunset Shimmer, you have seen all that has transpired. If it comes down to a fight, it is very unlikely now that I would prevail. But whatever you may believe that you know about me, my duty is clear. My sister is overloaded with magical power, afflicted with an ancient curse, and behaving unpredictably. She must be stopped. But if there is anything we can use to talk sense into her, then we must try."

Sunset frowned a little. "I think all she wanted was for you to stop being Nightmare Moon," she said quietly.

Luna replied with a surprisingly gentle voice. "She has received that wish. Did she say anything to you about traveling to the Frozen North?"

Sunset thought for a moment. "No…" she said slowly as her mind tried to recall all that Celestia had told her. "She only mentioned it once; something about a Crystal Empire."

Luna echoed her words. "The Crystal Empire? But… that was lost centuries ago."

"She didn't say much," confided Sunset. "She only mentioned some kind of 'failed mission'."

Luna made a thoughtful sound. "One might have called it that. But she has never spoken of that day…"

The clouds broke beneath them abruptly, and Luna cast her gaze towards the ground. A few seconds later, just as Sunset was about to ask another question, she spoke again. "Ah, Ulfrid manages to keep pace after all."

Sunset blinked and looked down as well. They were travelling high above flat plains, liberally sprinkled with small groves of forest. Occasionally she caught a glimpse of a large shadow moving rapidly between two of those groves, which she assumed must have been Ulfrid. He moved quickly when she could see him, but there was something about the distance covered when she couldn't see him that bothered her.

"What's the deal with him, anyway?" asked Sunset. "Why a wolf?"

"Hmm?" asked Luna. "Do you mean Ulfrid?"

"Yeah," replied Sunset, still scanning the ground far below. She considered whether to tell Luna about Ulfrid's visit to the caves, but then decided to hold that for the moment. Instead, she wanted more information about whose side he was on. "What's his story?"

Luna chuckled softly. "He is an enigma, even to me."

Sunset snorted. "I don't believe that," she retorted. "Nightmare Moon wouldn't let anypony she didn't know that close to her. You called him 'dear', I heard you!"

Luna shook her head. "There are precious few in this world that I can still call 'friend', Sunset Shimmer. But Ulfrid is truly one of them. He has earned my trust over many years. He would not betray me."

Sunset found herself thinking back to Ulfrid daintily picking up her dropped cupcake and wishing her a happy birthday. "But… if you don't know him very well," she persisted, "how can you be sure?"

"I am certain," replied Luna firmly.

"But what if he betrayed you?"

"He would not," insisted Luna.

"But…"

Luna interrupted Sunset. "The story would be difficult to summarize. For as long as our flight will be, telling you all the little details that added up would take longer. It would also, I suspect, be a rather dull story. But I will give you some background to pass the time."

Sunset nodded as she caught Luna looking back to her, and Luna gave an additional heavy flap to maintain her forward momentum.

"After Equestria was made secure, I began to hold court in Canterlot Castle. I would hear the comments of the ponies, or more often complaints, and decide whether to do anything about them. He first came to my court after a year or so, when much of the staff began to abandon the castle…"

"That's because you were so strict with everypony," replied Sunset quickly.

"Do not try my patience, Sunset Shimmer," warned Luna.

"I… oh… sorry," replied Sunset.

"You are unusually bold," commented Luna. "Particularly for a pony who spent so long in hiding."

"I… I guess the last few days have just been really intense," Sunset offered.

"Ulfrid was bold, too," commented Luna. "He offered his services, and at first I dismissed him."

I questioned why a pony such as myself would need any lower species to serve her. He took my dismissal with a nod, and then gave a rather detailed report of the status of various areas of Equestria. Rather than the usual report from the guards, which would generally tell me who was giving them the most trouble, Ulfrid's report was more about the well-being of the ponies and the land itself. He mentioned, almost casually, which areas were low on resources, which areas needed rain, and which areas needed more light. When I demanded to know how he knew all this, he merely bowed and replied, "I serve." 

That was confusing enough, but then I asked what he would have me do about it. He replied that he only came to inform, not to advise. Then he left.

I demanded that my advisors explain to me why I didn't know any of the things that he told me, and they assured me that he was mistaken. But we sent out pegasi to check, and sure enough, everything he reported was true.

He arrived again the next month and the process was much the same. Then again, and again. Each report began with an offer to join the staff, and each report ended simply with 'I serve'. Every report was proven accurate and eventually I began to look to his reports to help plan my upcoming months. Some ponies did not like this, but I felt that he was more inclined to be honest with me than they were.

Eventually, staffing at the castle was low enough that I told him to go ahead and take whatever job he wanted. I was curious as to what he was actually going to do and honestly, I was tired of the few staff that remained lying to me daily in order to tell me what they thought I wanted to hear.

The very next morning, he was waiting by the entrance to the Great Hall. He opened the door as I approached, and briefed me on the day's tasks. He continued to do so moving forward, every day without fail.

He began to appear when I was walking the grounds… I didn't do it often, but when I did he would be there. He always seemed to know my mood - he would be silent, or he would speak of trivial things like the organization of the weather patrols for the coming week. Sometimes he even dared to tell a joke. They were always very simple jokes, but they were harmless and his grin was contagious.

He also began to organize the monthly audiences. He always knew who was coming and why, and he also took care of fulfilling the needs that I authorized. Even when I was in bad temper, he always did the right thing. We pretended that I didn't know how he resolved my orders, but I think he knew that I knew. He never patronized me, he never questioned my authority, and he never, not even once, he never asked for the sun.

"Hum," muttered Sunset. "I wonder why so many ponies wanted that…"

Luna cast a frown back towards Sunset, who bit her lip and was silenced. Luna paused a moment, then continued her story.

"One day, without any warning, he appeared on my balcony just behind me…"

Just like that. I didn't sense him coming nor did I hear him open the door to my chambers. He was just there behind me and when he spoke, I nearly jumped out of my skin. But something about the tone of his voice prevented me from simply attacking. Perhaps even his words.

"What answers do you seek from the stars, my liege?"

My initial surprise faded quickly, and after a moment, I confided in him.

Sunset interjected with some curiosity, "What did you tell him?"

"That," replied Luna, "you do not need to know. But we spoke for quite some time. Again, he never actually told me what to do, or what I wanted to hear, but he told me what was…"

Luna paused, searching a moment for the right word. "…true," she finished, finally. "He has become the pony I trust most… though he is not actually a pony."

"I think I understand," replied Sunset slowly. "Although it doesn't really explain where he came from."

"I do not know myself," replied Luna. "He cannot be followed, even my best ponies always lost track of him. Any attempt to ask about his origin or what he does when he's not working is met with casual dismissals. But I know that his only motivation is to help me with Equestria's needs."

Sunset bit her lip and again thought about Ulfrid visiting the cave. Before she decided what to say, however, Luna spoke to her again.

"And now, Sunset Shimmer, I have answered your question and you must answer one for me. I will not ask for allegiance but you must answer honestly. Are you prepared to do what I ask of you in order to bring Celestia under control?"

Sunset frowned. "I won't hurt her."

Luna clicked her tongue. "I would be surprised if you could. But I am not foolish enough to expect that of you. My plan is much simpler. When we locate her, I will send you on ahead. You will attempt to determine what she is trying to do and get her to agree to meet. If you cannot, you shall retreat."

"What if I warn her that you're coming?"

Luna chuckled at that. "I am sending you to tell her that I am coming. I am hoping that she will see you as less of a threat than if I were to face her first. Furthermore, it would be advantageous if we could defuse any potential situation before the guard arrives."

Sunset nodded, slowly. "I'll try."

"Good," responded Luna. "Look, the Crystal Mountains are ahead."

Sunset looked ahead and saw the gleaming peaks of the Crystal Mountains ahead on the horizon, catching the moonlight with both crystal and snow. Beyond that, she knew, was the Frozen North - a vast wasteland of ice and snow.

"Princess," she ventured. "Why would Celestia be going to the Frozen North? It sounded like you had an idea."

Luna frowned. "I do not know. But if it is related to our past experiences in the Crystal Empire, then she is not thinking clearly. It was she who determined that the Empire was lost in the first place."

Something in Luna's tone made Sunset hesitate to question that statement. They soared on in silence. Every so often Sunset caught a glimpse of Ulfrid below, darting from one obstruction to the next. Eventually the foothills to the mountains raced beneath them, and then the gleaming peaks of the mountains themselves rose to greet their flight. Less frequently now, Sunset still saw the distant shadow below, darting between trees, rocks, and ice, somehow keeping pace even through the advanced terrain.

Sunset lifted her head and strained to see forward towards the distant horizon once again. She saw the peaks thin in the distance, and then thought that her eyes must be playing tricks on her. There was an orange glow on the horizon, just faintly visible over the curve of the Earth. After a few minutes she was certain, and she spoke up.

"Princess…?"

"Yes, Sunset Shimmer?" replied Luna.

"Do you… do you see that glow on the horizon?"

Luna paused, and then nodded. "Yes… I do see it."

Sunset bit her lip, afraid to ask the question that burned in her mind, afraid to sound too hopeful with Luna still carrying her. At last, however, she did. "Is… that Celestia?"

Luna exhaled slowly. "It must be," she replied slowly.

"Is she… is she raising the sun?"

Luna glanced above herself to confirm, and then shook her head. "Not with the moon still up, no. But I am not sure what she is doing." She angled her wings to slow and then began spiraling downwards. "Let us ask Ulfrid if he senses anything."

"He has magic, too?" asked Sunset with surprise. "I never read about a wolf with magic."

"Ulfrid is more than he seems to be," replied Luna. "I would have thought that my story would have illuminated that for you."

"That's the same thing Celestia said," thought Sunset.

Sunset glanced down and noticed that Luna was heading for a notch in the mountains lined with both ice and crystal, carefully gliding between the sharp peaks. Ulfrid was standing ankle-deep in the snow between two large crystals as Luna alighted on the narrow path, and he bowed his head in recognition. "My liege," he commented, his voice oddly strained.

"Ulfrid," began Luna, "there is a bright glow on the horizon. We wondered if you had any insight?"

As Ulfrid lifted his head, both Luna and Sunset gasped. The wolf looked as though he had aged immensely. His muzzle had gone grey and his eyes were glowing and featureless. His coat had thinned and in places an inner glow was exposed. His expression was one of intense pain.

"She cuts too deep…" he warned, every word an effort. "I cannot hold it back."

Luna dumped Sunset unceremoniously into the snow and ran to Ulfrid, stopping just short of touching him. "Ulfrid! What is it? How can I help?"

"Restore the heart… restore the bonds…!"

Luna's eyes widened and her horn lit as she attempted a healing spell. "Relax, my friend. I will heal you. Sit still!"

Ulfrid looked over to her, and the bright glow in his eyes faded, leaving them looking old and sad. "My… liege…" he strained. "I can serve no longer."

There was a whisper of wind through the narrow pass, and Ulfrid simply dissolved into it, blowing away like ash on the breeze.

Sunset sat up and watched the last of this, and then watched as Luna stormed forward down the pass, shouting. "ULFRID! ULFRID!!" Sunset got to her hooves and ran after her, having a little more trouble with the deep snow. She cast her own magic forward to get any sense of where the wolf might have gone, but sensed nothing.

As she passed the spot where Ulfrid had disappeared, she noticed no indentation in the snow.

Nearly fifteen minutes later Sunset finally caught up to Luna, who was sitting in the snow, hunched over with her back to Sunset. She was crying. Sunset froze, uncertain how to respond to this. At last she took a hesitant step forward. "Princess Luna?" she called, as gently as she cold.

"Go home, Sunset Shimmer." Luna's voice broke as she barked out the order between breaths, without turning to face her.

"Princess…" responded Sunset softly. "I… I can't. And I… I won't."

Luna turned towards her. Her face was contorted with hurt and anger and the tears were still running down her cheeks, with hints of ice crystal starting to form in the bitter wind. "It's OVER," she snarled, stalking towards her. "Don't you SEE that? EVERY pony has abandoned me! EVERY pony has given up on me! I failed! I failed YEARS ago! And the last thing that was holding Equestria together just… he just…"

Sunset planted her hooves and held her ground. "He left you a job to do," she said flatly.

Luna stopped, and just looked at her. Sunset continued.

"And I'm still here. I'm not here because you arrested me and not because I'm worried about Celestia, although I am. But I'm here because I screwed up and I'm finally ready to fix it."

Sunset had started slow, but her words picked up as she continued. "I had the luxury of ten years to wallow in self-pity, and a kick in the tail to get me started. But you don't get that. You don't get that because you're a Princess, and not just any Princess, but the ruler of Equestria. That means you have a job to do, and if you have time afterwards, then you can feel sorry for yourself."

Sunset took a step forward, and raised a hoof. "And you know what else, that whole thing about everypony abandoning you is a load of horse apples! I know for a fact that Sterling Honor would do literally anything just for your approval, because he believes in you. He manages an entire… whatever you call a group of guard ponies who are all serving you because they want to."

"But is that all this is?" demanded Sunset further. "Is it just a big continuation of your tantrum from a thousand years ago? Because I read your diary! I know Celestia was a big mule to you, but that was a thousand years ago! Right now, your sister is just over the horizon doing Celestia-knows-what, and you're just going to stop and give up? We are SO CLOSE TO ENDING THIS!"

Luna just stood there, caught off guard by the outburst. "Sunset Shimmer…" she said, and her expression wavered between guilt and anger.

Sunset lowered her hoof, and leaned forward earnestly. "She loves you," she insisted. "And she needs your help. And Equestria needs your help. And Ulfrid wanted you to do this. And… and I'm really cold. Can we please TRY?"

Luna managed a small smile as a single final tear made its way down her frosted cheek. "You have great passion, Sunset Shimmer. I can see what my sister saw in you." She looked up into the darkened sky and searched for just a moment before speaking again. "You're right," she said finally. "I promised Ulfrid I would try. We shall continue now."

Luna spread her wings and lit her horn to lift Sunset onto her back again. Another flash of magic wiped the frozen tears from her cheeks as she crouched for takeoff. Before she jumped, however, she turned her head back towards Sunset.

"'Celestia-knows'?" she asked with a hint of amusement.

Sunset blushed. "That might not have been the best choice of words."

Luna leapt into the air and flapped her wings as they caught the stiff mountain wind. "We shall see," she replied.