“There’s some kind of secret here,” Luna told herself as she paced in front of the painting. She had spent all night investigating, probing, and examining it in every way she could think of.
Her conclusion: it was a painting.
“I know that you’re hiding something, Twilight Sparkle’s journal said as much, and I know there’s a way to show it. The real question is how do I get you to show it?” She stopped in front of the painting and stared at it. The reds, oranges, and blacks mixed together to make a gruesome scene that no pony painter could have thought of. Even some of the more infamous painters that Luna knew of wouldn’t make something like this.
Luna gathered up some magic and once again probed the painting. It gave off the feeling of being just an ordinary painting, but after probing deeper Luna did find something.
“Of course, how could I have missed that?” Luna asked and focused some more. Buried deep in the canvas was a kind of ‘magical memory’ that showed what the painting used to look like. The amazing thing was that the amount of paint used was the same for both images, so all Luna had to do was focus on the image and force the paint into the shape.
An act well within the Regent of the Night’s power.
One last push with her magic and she was sure she had done it. She opened one eye to see the painting and soon the other one to see if she was imagining it.
“Impossible.”
“So this ‘Carver’ possesses the ability to shape its body. That doesn’t bode well, but where did it get this power?” Celestia pondered this and turned the page to continue just as the sound of a hoof on glass sounded behind her. She sighed closing the book and turning to Luna. “You don’t have to knock to enter my room Luna.”
“Apologies, but I had to make sure you were awake,” Luna spoke excitedly, “I just made a remarkable discovery, come come!” Luna made a hoof motion and moved to the balcony.
“What is it?” Celestia asked, but only got another gesture for an answer as Luna took flight. Celestia followed her younger sister to her room and walked inside to the latest addition. “Luna, is that…?”
“Yes, this is the painting that Twilight Sparkle wrote of. The one that once contained that beast.”
“Carver, its name is Carver.”
“Right right, but as you can see there is nothing outwardly remarkable about it.” Luna planted her hooves and focused as her horn lit up. When she did so, the painting started shifting, the colors moving like liquid.
“A magical negative?”
“Yes! If I focus on the negative long enough,” Luna’s horn lit brighter as the painting finally settled, “we get that.” Celestia blinked and stepped closer to the painting. The shape of ponies running for their lives had changed to that of bipedal creatures. Reading Twilight’s description of the painting was one thing, but now that she saw it Celestia recognized the creatures.
“Luna, are those…?”
“I believe so,” Luna said and released the magic, “unfortunately the negative only stays for a couple of minutes.” Celestia nodded and moved closer to the painting. The basic build, the way they moved, everything that she could pin down rang true to what she remembered.
A race from before her and Luna ruled Equestria, from before Discord or the original three tribes. A race that only now exists in myth, legend, and the occasional foal storybook.
“This… complicates things a bit,” Celestia finally said.
“Indeed, but I’m a little surprised that there exists something from that far back,” Luna said and focused on the painting, “These… precursors I think they were called, they haven’t been in Equestria for thousands of years.”
“Longer actually. Now I’m really concerned if Twilight and Rainbow Dash have gotten involved with this race.”
“I hate to say it, but I’m getting curious about all of this. If Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash are going to need help surviving this then they’ll need all the help they can get. As soon as the dawn comes I plan on investigating this ‘Carver’ for myself.” Celestia turned to her younger sister with a look of seriousness.
“Are you certain about this?” she asked. Luna nodded solemnly and leaned closer to the painting.
“I feel there’s more going on than meets the eye. I will of course keep you informed of my findings.” Luna then pointed at a part of the painting and said, “Why is this one more detailed than the others?”
“Is it? It’s hard to tell,” Celestia said inspecting the area Luna was pointing to. Unfortunately the magic negative gave out and the painting started shifting again. “That’s unfortunate, I will have to give this further attention later. Morning is coming and I must prepare for the coming day. There’s also the matter of the theft to look into.”
Luna nodded and said, “I understand. I will keep you informed as I said and you only need ask for my assistance. Would it be alright if I examined the journal some more?”
“Of course Luna, I marked as far as I have gotten. The more I read, the more I fear for Twilight’s safety.” Celestia opened the window and lit her horn to begin the process of raising the sun. Luna looked to examine the painting while her sister was doing this and found an interesting contradiction. Most of the figures had transmorphed into ponies, save for the center which was blank and that one that had caught her eye which was nowhere to be found. Beams of sunlight streamed into the room and Luna covered the painting with a cloth in case it was sensitive to light. You can never be too careful.
“I must get ready for the day Luna, so I must bid you a good morning,” Celestia said and few out of the window with a flap of her white wings.
“Good morning to you too,” Luna whispered to the window before turning to her messy work station and started cleaning up. Broken quills, used inkwells, countless papers with jotted notes and equations, and an old abacus floated into their rightful spots. After a quick inspection of the rest of her room, Luna walked to the window to watch the sunrise for a moment and to take a breath of early morning air. She stretched her wings and leaped out of the window, pausing for a moment to close the window before flying to Celestia’s bedroom.
Just as her sister promised, there lay Twilight’s journal on a cushion in the middle of the room. Celestia was nowhere in the room so Luna walked in, sat on a cushion, and continued reading. The minutes passed as Luna took in the words, reading to the bookmark before turning to the first page and rereading everything in one sitting. ‘Carver’ was definitely an interesting beast: harmed or at the very least deterred by positive emotions, shape shifting, relentless, brutal.
The more Luna learned of it, the more curious she grew about it. She reached the bookmark again and glanced at the next page out of curiosity.
Carver’s latest show of ability has a frightening precedent. For the time being, I’ll have to cease writing until we can figure out some kind of countermeasure in case Carver figures out how to fly with little strain. I’m running out of writing supplies anyway.
‘I wish we had more to go on,’ Luna thought and quickly flipped through some of the other pages of the book, not bothering to read them. ‘We might miss something if we just skip ahead, and I am not putting anypony’s lives on the line due to impatience.’ Luna closed the book and set it aside on another cushion before laying her head in her forelegs and closing her eyes in thought. Throughout all she knew so far, one thing stuck out among them: from the bits and pieces Twilight provided it seemed as though Carver started out knowing little more than base predatory instincts and a nursery rhyme. After it possessed Pinkie, it became slightly more cunning in its plans and tactics.
“It could also mimic her to a near perfect degree,” Luna thought out loud, “what if it can learn through this crude possession? That would explain the mimicry and possibly the wings as well. If that’s the case…” Luna opened her eyes, stood up and, after a quick stretch, walked outside on the balcony.
“A mystery’s solution starts at the beginning,” Luna said and stared at the distant town of Ponyville. She unfurled her wings and took off to the village.
Celestia entered her throne room and made her way to the throne, the two guards positioned on either side of the throne silently watched her the whole way.
“Good morning,” she said to both of them and sat down on the throne, “did anything come up during the night that requires my attention?”
“No your highness,” the guard on the right said and looked down at a scroll he took out from his armor, “we do have a long list of requests for you however.”
“Alright, please send the first one in.” The guard nodded at Celestia’s request and motioned for the doors to open. Throughout the coming day and all the requests she would have to pass judgment on, Celestia’s thoughts would drift back to Twilight and the journal. But she knew there was a time and a place for such a thing, so for now Celestia would push those thoughts away until the day ended.
Luna arrived in the skies above Ponyville and scanned the scenery for a certain bakery. She found it in no time and landed in front of it. The sudden appearance of the princess of the night definitely drew attention from the townsponies, though Luna paid them no mind and entered Sugarcube Corner.
The inside of the bakery was as busy as a weekend should be but the second Luna walked in everypony screeched to a halt. Luna waved at the ponies and walked up to the counter which was manned by a young pegasus who barely managed to look over the counter.
“Welcome to Sugarcube Corner,” he said excitedly and started pulling himself up to look over the counter, “how can I he- PRINCESS LUNA?!”
“What?!” a male voice called out from the kitchen and an orange earth pony quickly stumbled out to see Luna. Luna remembered the pony as ‘Mr. Cake’, she thought his name was. “Princess Luna! W-what can we do for you?” he managed to stutter out.
Luna coughed into her hoof before speaking, “We wish to speak with the pony known as Pinkie Pie… and place a requisition for a treat of some kind.” Both Mr. Cake and Pound Cake blinked a couple of times at Luna’s request.
“You’re looking for Aunt Pinkie?” Pound Cake asked, “I… can’t help you there, but what kind of treat would you like?”
“Any kind of tart would be fine, but our visit is mostly for Pinkie. Can we see her?” The father son pair shared a look and Mr. Cake walked into the kitchen.
“Your tart will be ready soon, but as for Aunt Pinkie… I’m sorry your highness but that’s not possible,” Pound Cake said apologetically. Luna sighed softly and looked the colt in the eye.
“We are fully aware of Pinkie Pie’s condition. She has been under a lot of stress lately, but we are sure we can help her through it. All we require is to see her.”
“I really am sorry, but-“
“What’s going on out here dear?” a blue mare asked walking out of the kitchen, her eyes widening at the sight of Luna. “My goodness, Princess Luna actually is here?!”
‘This must be Mrs. Cake,’ Luna thought.
“Yes Mom, and she wants to see Aunt Pinkie,” Pound Cake told his mother.
“Oh, I see,” Mrs. Cake said and looked at Luna, “I really am sorry, but it’s impossible to see Pinkie right now.”
“Exactly how? Is she asleep right now?” Luna asked.
“Well, no. She’s…” Mrs. Cake trailed off, so Pound Cake finished for her.
“She’s not here.” Luna stared at the two of them without a trace of emotion on her face, which was starting to make them very nervous.
“…We beg your pardon?” Luna finally asked in a near whisper. That was enough to cause them to nervously flinch.
“Pinkie Pie hasn’t been here for a couple of years now,” Mrs. Cake said getting more quiet as she went.
To Luna’s credit, she took this new information relatively well.
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE HASN’T BEEN HERE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS?!” Luna shouted with the Royal Canterlot Voice. “WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A SERIOUS SITUATION THAT SHE MAY BE THE ONLY MEANS OF HELPING! WHERE HAS SHE GONE?!”
“What?” Mrs. Cake asked rubbing her ears.
“We don’t know where she went,” Pound cake said while also rubbing his ears, “She just left one day. She sends a letter every week, but that’s the only thing we’ve heard from her.” Luna sighed again and rubbed her forehead.
“We apologize for our outburst, this is a very serious situation we have found ourselves in,” she said. Mr. Cake took this moment to enter the room and set a bag on the counter.
“H- here’s your fruit tart, your highness,” he nervously said. Luna levitated the bag under her wing with a nod.
“We thank you and will pay at a later date, if it is suitable.”
“Don’t worry about it! Consider it a gift your highness!”
“While we thank you, we will still send payment. We wish you a pleasant day.” Luna nodded to the three Cakes and walked out of Sugarcube Corner with a solemn look.
“Uh, are you ok honeybun?” Mr. Cake asked his wife.
“What?”
Unfortunately, much to Luna’s frustration, the story was much the same with the other Elements. Rarity’s younger sister had said that Rarity had packed a saddlebag of clothes one day and left with her friends, Fluttershy had left a kindly worded note on her door, and Applejack’s family said much the same thing as Sweetie Belle.
“*sigh* We thank you for the information,” Luna told Applebloom.
“Ah’m sorry ah couldn’t help anymore. If ya do find Sis, can ya tell her we’re all worried about her?” Applebloom asked and subconsciously adjusted the green bandana around her neck.
“We intend to do just that.” Luna took off with a couple beats of her wings and flew back to Ponyville. ‘What is going on? First Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash leave because of Carver, and now the rest of the Elements follow suit? Why would they do this without informing my sister or I? Unless they severely underestimated the situation and thought it not necessary.’ Luna shook her head as she landed just outside of the library Twilight used to call home and knocked on the door.
‘One way or another, I intend to find answers.’
“Is that the last visitor for today?” Celestia asked as a unicorn left the throne room quietly shutting the doors.
“Yes, your highness, unless there’s an unexpected visit,” the guard holding the list said. Celestia risked a glance out the window and saw the sun approaching the horizon and estimated it would be a couple more hours until it was time to lower the sun fully.
“In that case, I will retire to my quarters. If anything comes up don’t hesitate to inform me.” Celestia stood from the throne and watched as a couple guards appeared to escort her to her room. As she walked through the pristine walls of the castle, Celestia let her thoughts drift back to Twilight.
‘I wish I could do more for her than what I have been doing, but rushing blindly into a situation is unwise. I need as much information as I can get,’ she thought with a soft sigh. Just then a familiar feeling of magic filled the air and a wisp of smoke coalesced in front of her into a scroll. Celestia caught the scroll and saw that the seal on it was Luna’s. Celestia decided to wait on opening it until she was in her room.
After some minutes of walking, Celestia reached the golden doors to her room and entered it as her escort took position on either side of the doors. Celestia didn’t waste time in opening the scroll and reading it.
‘Tia,
I apologize that I couldn’t be back before sundown, but my investigation revealed something disturbing. The remaining Elements of Harmony have also left Ponyville some years ago. I have been unable to discern where they went, although I feel they went in search of Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash.
I should be back just after dusk, so proceed with setting the sun as normal. I shall continue my investigation tomorrow.
Luna
Celestia nodded and floated the note alongside her until she reached the desk she used for paperwork and set it aside. There was quite a bit today so Celestia went through it with the kind of practice a thousand years could give. Taxes, building and land permits, reports of monster sightings, and several other documents floated past Celestia’s eyes, stopping only for the short time it took for her to set the sun and watch Luna’s moon rise over the horizon.
About half an hour and one last piece of paperwork and Celestia was done. She set them aside for later and started to magically remove her regalia while keeping an eye on the journal and mulling over the new information Luna had written of. Once all of the jewelry was off walked to the cushions and settled into them. She picked up the journal with her magic and, after a quick recap of events, opened the book to the bookmark and continued reading.