While events unfolded around Fluttershy's cottage, Princess Luna sat alone in her private chambers, resting her head upon one of the windowsills overlooking Equestria. From her perch high above Canterlot; which itself sat high above Equestria, Luna could easily see the residence of Equestria's newest citizen. Thinking upon him, Luna sent forth her magic once again and to her irritation found that it could not complete its task.
For the last day or so, Luna couldn't help but feel uneasy, it only worsened when she looked up towards the stars. Her stars. The stars with which she crafted timeless masterpieces and works that once set the minds and hearts of artists' ablaze, now seemed to recoil at her presence. Leaving her feeling more empty than anytime before.
'Et tu dear friends?' thought Luna as she retreated from the window and crawled into her bed. 'T'was bad enough with but one hamlet to appease, but now...'
When Luna first laid eyes on John she was shocked, she had never seen such a creature in all of her life. He looked vaguely simian but his lack of fur and a tail left her scratching off the similarities as mere coincidence. His clothes and glasses made it clear that he was above mere animal intellect and at least on pare with ponies.
Given the fact that he was clearly intelligent yet unknown made Luna certain that he was connected to the magical event that happened some nights ago. Luna was eager to speak with him, maybe find out why and how he came to Equestria, but when her sister, in a sudden moment of panicked realization, struck him with a concentrated blast of magic she was afraid his knowledge would be lost to them. Upon reflection, she almost wished it had.
When John awoke the next day, beaten but alive, she was ecstatic; especially when he knew her name and spoke to her in such a friendly manner. She was eager to speak with him but it appeared her sister's student, Twilight Sparkle, had made an agreement with him and John had to honour his part of it. Not that she minded too much, while the questions weren't her own they were informative.
John joked and laughed as he explained things of such impossible magnitude as the internet: unfortunately he lacked the knowledge to bring this “internet” to Equestria but once he explained it she was certain they could come up with their own means of creating it.
When the others awoke and spoke to him about his people and his home, Luna was stunned to discover he wasn't from just another part of Equs but another planet entirely. His description of his people wasn't exactly endearing and left her concerned about his own nature. While he admitted to being violent and “competitive” if half of what else he said was true she was willing to give him a chance. His expressed interest in astronomy didn't hurt.
That chance was nearly used when he aggressively refused to speak about his past, which left her suspicious. This was only worsened when John revealed how he came to possess the knowledge he had on Equestria and, more importantly, them.
Not only did he know, but many on his planet were aware as well. While that in and of itself wasn't bad, it was what she immediately saw that caused her such concern and her current irritation. John and his entire world had “knowledge” of her time as Nightmare Moon and thanks to this 'Lauren Faust,' thought it was because she was vain and petty.
Her reaction to this knowledge and her sister believing the same turned Luna's suspicions into full blown rage. Despite her suspicions, Luna felt guilt over the injuries John sustained during her argument with her sister, though he admitted it was her sister doing and not hers.
By the end of that day she felt she could trust John but something still loomed in the back of her mind. 'What does he see me as? What do his people see me as?' As the thoughts crawled back into her mind Luna rose from her bed and tried once again to cast her magic. Only to fail once more.
“Curses,” growled Luna as she slammed the windows shut with her magic.
“A little immature, isn't it dear sister?” came the voice of Celestia from the hallway between their two bedchambers
“Sister?” gasped Luna, “I'm sorry, I thought thou would be resting. Forgive me if I have awoken you, how was your day?”
“It's fine Luna, Blueblood was difficult to deal with but everything else went smoothly.” said Celestia as she walked over towards her sister,. “Tell me what's troubling you?”
“Tis nothing,” replied Luna quickly.
Celestia gave Luna a knowing look and a smirk as she opened the door to the window. “Really? Well if you say so,” hummed Celestia as she looked up to the stars, “It's just the stars seem so dim tonight, maybe you've lost your touch?”
Luna recoiled, “Dost thou question my abilities dear sister!?”
“Well I mean just look at the stars,” motioned Celestia. “They never looked like that when I was the one in charge of the night. Here, let me help.”
Luna watched in horror as Celestia began charging her horn, “No!” screamed Luna as she poured all her might into her horn and cast her magic towards the stars. In response the stars shimmered and shinned with amazing clarity and beauty, painting the night sky, transforming it into a glorious sea of stars and dust unlike Equestria had ever seen.
Celestia stopped her magics and looked towards her younger sister, “Now that's the Luna I know and love.” Luna looked annoyed a moment before laughing. “Now will you tell me what’s bothering you.”
“Tis not...” began Luna before Celestia gave her a stern look. “It's what John showed us.”
“You mean the show about us?” Luna didn't speak, letting her eyes fall to the floor. “You can't let that bother you. I will say I find it unsettling myself, but as John said it was all just “dumb luck”.”
“It's not that!” whined Luna with tears in her eyes, “The show revealed my time as Nightmare Moon! Not just to him, but to his entire world!” Celestia stood still and let her sister vent, “An entire world, a planet who think I'm some terrible monster. It took everything I had to make amends to Canterlot and Ponyville, but now? What am I to do?”
Celestia felt terrible for her sister, “Luna please, you can't do this to yourself again. Think about it, the entire time we were there John didn't treat you like some monster to be afraid of. He treated you just like he did the rest of us. I think you're just over thinking this whole thing.”
“But what if he was merely acting!?” cried Luna as she crumbled onto the floor, sobbing and weeping uncontrollably.
Celestia ran over to Luna and cradled her in her wings, “Luna please, listen to me.” Luna sobs continued for a while more, “Tomorrow, we'll go and see him. We'll ask him directly.”
“What if he lies? What if he's too afraid to speak honestly?” sobbed Luna.
“Luna! Listen. To. Me.” Luna looked up to her sister, “If need be, I will place a spell on him to keep him from lying.”
“You can't do that sister,” said Luna as she rubbed the tears from her eyes.
“Then you'll need to trust in John's answer. Can you do that?”
“I'll try, sister. I'll try.” The two remained there as Luna dried her eyes and calmed her breath. When she could finally stand, Luna broke their embrace and looked her sister in the eyes.
Celestia did her best but failed to keep back her laughter, “Ha ha ha! L...Luna you...r your face!” As Celestia collapsed on the ground laughing, Luna looked to a vanity mirror. To her horror she saw that her tears had marred her face, leaving mascara was running bloodshot eyes.
“For goodness sake!” cried Luna as she raced towards the mirror, magically gathering her beauty products. Celestia watched in glee as Luna began fixing her mane and make-up. As Luna busied herself Celestia watched and quickly slipped into the warm embrace of nostalgia.
'Oh, how my little sister has grown,' mussed Celestia as she watched Luna apply some eye shadow. 'Seems like only yesterday when I had to do that for her...' As Celestia watched and reminisced a haze came over her eyes and she saw herself and Luna as foals, with her brushing Luna's mane.
'What's happening...?' thought Celestia as the image became more and more vivid, light's flickered and danced around the room, while lit incense permeated the air. Celestia breathed deep the smell, 'Hhmm, now that's a smell I have not experienced in ages...' As time passed Celestia noticed that the younger images of herself and Luna were deep in conversation, and from a distance couldn't make out the words.
Drawing closer to the pair, Celestia could hear herself speaking, “...now what shall we do tomorrow?”
The younger Luna let out a foalish giggle, “Can we go see mom and dad?”
Celestia, both past and present, looked hurt by the question, “I'm sorry baby sister, but I don't know where they are. Mother left long ago and father I've never seen...” The truth behind those last four words hurt more than anything. 'Where did father go, I guess I'll never know....'
The younger Luna looked to her sister and adopted a sad smile, “I...I'm sorry big sister...”
Present Celestia wanted desperately to reach out towards her younger sister, but a sudden throbbing pain in the back of her head stopped her. Meanwhile, her younger self took hold of the younger Luna, “There, there it's okay...” cooed the younger Celestia, “would you like to hear about mother again?” The younger Luna smiled wide and nodded her head, “Well alright then, turn around and let me finish your mane.”
The younger Luna did as she was told and looked at the mirror before the two of them. Celestia smiled at the image of her younger sister. She'd have liked to dwell on the image but the pain in her head increased.
“Well alright then,” began the younger Celestia, “Mother was great and beautiful...” as the younger Celestia recounted the image of her mother, the current Celestia found herself giving the same description. “She was as black as the darkest night, but as warm as the midday sun...”
“Like me!?” squealed Luna happily, both Celestia's smiled, but the current Celestia found herself falling to her knees as the throbbing increased.
“That's right,” giggled the younger Celestia as she tickled the younger Luna. “Now where was I? Ah yes, her voice carried on the wind like a freshly fallen leaf, but sounded like the roar of a coming storm. She walked with the graceful of a swan but her steps would shake the earth like a stampede of buffalo. Her mane shimmered and flowed like the night sky, swirling with stars and star dust. Her face was beautiful and regal, but kind and loving...”
“Tell me about her eyes, again!?” squealed the younger Luna as she squirmed in her sisters embrace.
'Her eyes...?' mouthed Celestia.
“Yes, her eyes, teal as the clearest seas and as sparkling as the most exquisite diamonds...” the younger Celestia paused as she looked in the mirror. “The most amazing thing about her eyes, the thing that set them apart, was their shapes.” Celestia began to shake, but not in fear, “Mother's eyes weren't like ours, they were ...”
“SISTER!?” came the voice of Luna, tearing through image from Celestia's past. “Sister, pray thee speak to me!”
Celestia's eye's danced a moment, the image of her younger self and Luna scattered like dust in the wind, leaving only the normal Luna in her vision. “L...luna..wha...what happened?”
Luna didn't answer at first, instead she tackled her sister with a hug, “Don't scare me like again!”
“Princess Luna, the royal physician is here!” cried one of the night guard from outside the room. Celestia looked up in time to see her favorite medical practitioner, Dr. Slick Mane, enter the room.
“Forgive my delay Princess Luna, Princess Celestia,” apologized the doctor as he immediately opened a bag he brought with him. “Princess Celestia, with your pardon.”
“There's no need docTOR!!” yelped Celestia as the doctor pressed a cold stethoscope to her chest.
“Be that as it may your highness,” replied Dr. Mane with a smile, as the guards muffled their snickers. “Princess Luna was greatly distressed and summoned me here. To assuage her concerns and to perform my duty, I shall ask that you accompany me to my office in the infirmary.”
Celestia was about to decline when Luna stepped in, “She'll be there immediately doctor, and thank thee for thou's haste.”
“It is my pleasure to serve, Your Grace,” said Dr. Mane as he gathered together his supplies. While the guards and the princesses were busy, Dr. Mane closed his bag and left the room.
After everypony left, the room sat quiet, until the unassuming vanity mirror slid open and a elderly stallion slipped out into the room, “Thank you doctor.”
The stallion, turned and closed the mirror, and having a moment free took a second to check his appearance. He was “well preserved” by pony standards, despite his age of 50, his white coat looked as young as a stallion a fraction his age. His silver mane and tale were the only signs of his age, but even then they were both full and healthy. His cutie mark was a silhouette of a pony with a pure black circular ring surrounding it. “Still got it.”
Checking around the room to ensure his presence would go unnoticed, the stallion made sure nothing was out of place and the mirror was sealed tight. When he was satisfied , the stallion looked out the open window and began surveying the airspace.
“No patrols...” murmured the stallion as he tapped a broach on the collar of his tuxedo. The broach hummed and crackled with arcane energies. After a moment the stallion could feel a tingling in his head, “This is Agent Ponnery, calling in to request a leave of my post.”
“Sean? What are you doing? I thought I ordered you to watch over my aunts!”
“My Lord Prince,” replied Ponnery, “The Princesses are currently under the watch of Dr. Slick Mane.”
“Agent Mane?” asked Blueblood. “Agent Ponnery, what has happened?”
“Cannot say at this time, m'lord. Princess Celestia collapsed earlier after talking with Princess Luna about concerns that were plaguing her. It appears meeting the alien has made her cast doubts upon herself.”
A dry chuckle slithered into Ponnery's mind, “Splendid, regardless I'm denying your request. With Royal Chronicler away monitoring the alien, my options are limited in terms of reliable and skilled agents to use.”
“Sir,” sighed Ponnery as he looked out the window to see a particular building, a five star restaurant Ponnery took most of his dates to. “While I appreciate your faith, my lord. At the present moment Dr. Mane is more than sufficient and capable of monitoring the princesses for the time being.”
“Agent Mane is useful but his position as royal doctor leaves him rather immobile and restricted to the royal medical wing.” replied Blueblood. “If your report is to be believed than only my true aunt is ill, while Luna is only suffering from a case of self doubt. She would be free to leave at any moment and then Agent Mane would be unable to account for her actions and whereabouts.”
Ponnery sighed once more, “As you say m'lord. If it is your will than I shall remain here. However if I may ask of my lord a boon?”
“You may ask Ponnery, but keep it simple and at your post,” replied Blueblood.
“Please inform me of any reports from Royal Chronicler...” replied Ponnery as he took a locket containing his and Royal Chronicler's picture, “as a father I worry.” There was a pause from Blueblood, 'M'lord? It is a simple request...isn't it?'
“Very well Ponnery, I shall keep you informed of any updates to Royal Chronicler's mission...Prince Blueblood out.”
Ponnery looked at the broach in his hoof, “My lord sounded rather odd for a moment...could it be?” Ponnery changed his view from the restaurant Bon Appetite to Blueblood personal mansion, Ponnery looked intently for a moment before shaking his head. “No... my lord, while...egoistic he has never been false to me.”
With his momentary doubt dealt with, Ponnery returned his gaze to Bon Appetite before taking out a pair of reservation passes with oysters on them and with a sigh said, “Well I guess I won't be needing these.” With a final glance to the restaurant, Ponnery threw the passes out the window and returned to his post behind the mirror.
Blueblood's Mansion
“...Prince Blueblood out,” said Blueblood before cutting the transmission with Ponnery. “That was harder than it should have been,” commented Blueblood as he turned from his desk to the window behind it. From his window Blueblood could see Canterlot Palace, a sight that he both enjoyed and loathed. “Some day...”
As Blueblood looked upon the palace a knock came at his door, “Enter.” Blueblood didn't have to turn around to know who was at the door.
“You summoned me master?” came the voice from the door.
“Yes Noble Shadow, I have a mission for you.” Blueblood turned and faced Noble Shadow, a young pegasus stallion, with a ebony black coat, mane and tail. His eyes, sparkling emerald, and cutie mark, a shadowed gold crown, being the only sources of colour on the stallion. “I assume you've heard rumours of Royal Chronicler's mission near Everfree Forest?”
Noble Shadow bowed his head, “Yes master. Rumors have been flying but the details are sketchy at best and outlandish otherwise. Most of them regard aliens, or a new breed of creature capable of speech, besides Dragons and Griffins.”
“Those rumours are true, well the latter ones are,” replied Blueblood, enjoying the look of shock on Noble Shadow's face. “Two days ago, while performing their other duties, Royal Chronicler saw the Elements of Harmony and my aunts in talks with a being not of this world.” Blueblood paused a moment and, using his magic, produced an image of the creature.
“Seems rather beaten up, don't you think...master?” asked Noble Shadow after noticing the bandages covering the creature.
“Indeed, it would appear that my aunt, Princess Celestia had a role in that. Why, I haven't been able to ascertain, but it appears the creature holds no ill will for whatever happened.”
“Strange,” commented Noble Shadow as he examined the image in greater detail and saw the angered look of Celestia's face and the fearful face on the creatures. “Why is Princess Celestia so angry?”
“It would seem that the creature had knowledge of my aunt's student, Twilight Sparkle. This knowledge pertained to her treatment of a dragon whelp in her charge. Said treatment displeased my aunt greatly and in a fit of rage she offered the creature, John by name, custody over the whelp.”
“Really?!” asked Noble Shadow before fixing John with another clinical eye. “How strange that she would trust this, John, so readily.”
“Yes, well that isn't your concern at the moment,” replied Blueblood as he dispelled the image. “I've told you this information to prepare you for your mission.”
“Sorry my lord,” replied Noble Shadow, “What would you have me do?”
“It would appear that Royal Chronicler has come into a spot of trouble. While observing John, Royal Chronicler was spotted and had to flee.” Blueblood stopped talking and used his magic to replay Royal Chronicler's last message.
'I was spotted by the alien, otherwise known as John. Continual observations of John, has been aborted....Primary objective, retrieval of advance technologies, has been a...'
“That was the final message I received from Royal Chronicler,” said Blueblood as he turned his chair towards the window once more. “As the message says, we can assume that Royal Chronicler has been captured and as such, I need somepony to watch over John now in their place.”
“Master?” asked Noble Shadow, “Shouldn't we inform Agent Ponnery about Royal Chronicler's disappearance?”
“No,” replied Blueblood, “Ponnery is most useful to me in the palace overseeing my aunts. Besides, a failure of this magnitude can't be ignored, whatever has happened to Chronicler is their own fault and if they can make it back on their own, then fine. If not, then no lose.”
“Sir!?” protested Noble Shadow only for Blueblood to swirl around in his chair.
“Noble Shadow...” said Blueblood, “you're family has served mine for nearly a thousand years. You swore on the names of all your ancestors to serve me, have you not?”
“Yes...my master,” grunted Noble Shadow.
“What is your mission?”
“To see you upon the throne of Canterlot,” said Noble Shadow, “To see your line, proclaimed sovereign over this and all lands.”
“Good. Now go.” Blueblood watched as Noble Shadow picked himself up off the floor and after giving a bow, took flight and left through the door her came in. Magically slamming the door shut, Blueblood returned to his set and turned around to see the palace. “Some day, you will be mine.”