//------------------------------//
// The Alibi 
// Story: Order by Destruction 
// by All Art Is Quite Useless 
//------------------------------//

"More grapes?" Celestia asked, levitating a regally engraved ceramic pot before her sister.

Luna was tired; Luna was exhausted. Last night, following her encounter with Rainbow Dash, Luna had retired from her usual role policing dreams in favour of finding her own sleep, something she didn't do lightly. Luna took the dreams of her subjects very seriously, knowing that there had been no one to protect them for such a long time, that her ponies had not been allowed to feel safe in their own minds for as long as she had been absent.

But now, a far more physical and immediate threat dwarfed the possibility of a few nightmares. Knowing this, Luna had tried to rest, recover her strength and be prepared for a new day, one that she knew would not be easy.

Sleep had not come quickly, and when it did, it was plagued with her own nightmares. Luna had expected this, but not of the kind she witnessed. Canterlot burned, a torrent of flames. Misshapen and ghastly horrors roamed the streets with impunity, carving their paths through buildings, through the mountains, through the bodies of those who stood in their way.

At the forefront of the madness, the terror from her visions began to take form, repugnant in its own regal splendor, it killed, maimed and destroyed indiscriminately, although its eyes were focused upon Luna the whole time. The way its eyes bored into her, if she could even convince herself they were in fact eyes, led Luna to wonder just how fabricated her dream might be. 

Was it a dream, or a premonition? Her foresight told her that such a future was possible, but it also highlighted other, happier futures, as well as versions that were so dark and filled with despair, she couldn't bear to acknowledge them more than they forced her to. Which was more likely, she would not dwell on. Odds and statistics had a way of diminishing hope.

Luna could still see the same harrowing scene when she looked into the bowl that Celestia presented, the bowl that she had been levitating for at least fifteen seconds now. Shaking her head and widening her eyes, she went to make an apology for her insolence, but Celestia held up a hoof, silencing her.

"I know that you're tired, Luna, you must have been awake most of the night. Please, take your time, it doesn't bother me in the slightest, I promise." Celestia smiled warmly, she only wished to comfort her sister, that much was clear.

Celestia was so ignorant, it made for a strange and oddly satisfying shift of pace, but Luna was too tired to indulge in her own vanity at this moment. "We do not mean to startle you, dear sister, but the night gave us little sleep."

"I can tell, even your dark coat doesn't hide the bags under your eyes," Celestia winked, "I'll hold senate alone this afternoon, you should catch up on your sleep."

There are bags under our eyes? Luna scowled, immediately charging her horn and releasing a black jet of magic onto the table she sat before, making a dark, chrome, reflective surface. Scrutinising her face for a few moments, and finding no particular abnormalities, her concentration was broken by a wave of giggles, causing her to jolt up in a fresh wave of anger, knocking her seat back. "Do not make us fret over our appearance when there isn't a thing to be found! Bags can cause wrinkles!"

By now, Celestia was wheezing with laughter, a hoof covering her mouth, although she clearly was only attempting (and failing) to hide her amusement in an effort to appear guilty for her prank. Luna waited patiently for her sister to finish, all too familiar with these little games.

When the last giggle sounded and her laughter abated, she eyed Luna with what might have been construed as regret, if it wasn't for the slight glint in her eyes that betrayed her entertainment. "I'm sorry, Luna, it's just that you fall for it every time," a small chuckle, Luna remained silent, "But really, wrinkles? Considering our age, I'd think if you were going to start wrinkling, you would have by now!"

"If that's the case, how have you managed to form such prevalent laughter lines over the last thousand years?" Luna retorted.

Celestia's chuckle was caught in her throat, she eyed her sister with worry. "You're serious?" she asked in a strained whisper.

"Come and see for yourself," Luna motioned towards the arcane mirror before her, and Celestia immediately shot up, just for a small slanting smile to appear on Luna's lips. "Looks like we are not the only one that worries. Now, enough of this folly." 

Celestia took a seat, sighing in relief, before staring heavily at Luna, clearly not amused.

Her glare could slice us in half right now, fix it quickly. "Please, do not be upset, we meant nothing by it."

"No, no, it's fine, I poked at you first, I deserve what I got," Celestia huffed, looking away.

"Sister."

Celestia refused to meet her eyes.

"Celestia," at that she turned, "You are still every bit as beautiful and young as you were when we were small, we assure you. Now, we beseech you, please stop sulking."

The whole time, Celestia looked at her with petulance, until the last sentence, at which she released a snicker. After a few moments of silence, they both burst out laughing simultaneously, Celestia throwing a couple of grapes in Luna's direction, both of which she caught in her mouth with uncanny agility. 

"I'm surprised you've got the energy for darting around like that. Shouldn't you be getting to bed soon?"

This is the moment we've been waiting for, let us hope that she's distracted enough to buy it, Luna smiled softly, unconsciously quelling the growing worry of attempting to deceive her older, more powerful sister, before beginning to speak. "Nay. In fact, we have something scheduled for this afternoon."

Celestia smiled warmly, "The senate? I've already told you, Luna, rest, I've got it covered."

"That's not what we were alluding to."

"No?" Celestia asked, displaying light confusion. "I'm sure I haven't overlooked anything, did somepony call for a snap audience?"

"It is naught so concerning," Luna said with perfect calm, as if there wasn't something incredibly concerning eating at her, "It is a private affair."

If Celestia was interested now, she was doubly, no, triply so now. She leaned in, tilting the table slightly as she rested her forehooves atop it, and gave her sister a scandalous look. Giving the room a conspiratorial glance, although she knew it to be empty, she spoke in a hushed tone, albeit an excited one. "Is it a date?"

Luna's heartbeat skyrocketed, she had not expected that. Of all the questions she had expected of her inquisitive sister, she managed to ask one that threw her completely. Jolting, she stuttered, trying to maintain the integrity of the lie in her mind as she spoke it. "N-No, 'tis nothing so egregious, we have not met such a pony, do not be absurd."

Celestia's eyes narrowed and she began grinning ferociously. "You know, if I remember rightly, that word used to mean something pretty different in our time."

Celestia's eyes put pressure on her, how did she make such a ridiculous assumption with so little to go on? "You know not what you speak of! If there were a pony in my life you would be the first to hear of it, of course," Through her deflection, she couldn't help the visible heat in her cheeks, the conversation was embarrassing.

For a second, Luna thought this might spur on Celestia further, but she seemed to relax somewhat. "Alright, alright, I'll take your word for it, only because you seem so determined that you're not seeing anyone. However, if that isn't the case, then what are you doing?"

Wait, we can use this to our advantage, Luna harrumphed, briefly appearing upset, before speaking with a slightly exaggerated --but nethertheless real-- irritation in her tone. "Not that it is any of your business," Luna grouched, "But we happen to be meeting another pony," Luna noticed Celestia's eyebrow raise and grit her teeth, "Platonically, for some assistance with our flying."

"Your flying?" Celestia echoed.

"We've hardly had any chance to practice since my return, we are interested to know what our current abilities are."

"Interesting..." Celestia mused, "Who are you meeting?"

"Does it matter?" Luna wondered aloud, casting a questioning look at her older sister.

"If it doesn't matter, you'll tell me, won't you?" Celestia countered, grinning.

Rolling her eyes, Luna caved. "Fine. You already know of Rainbow Dash, of course."

"Her?" Celestia pondered, eyeing Luna with a strange look that she couldn't make out. "Hmm... Yes, I can see why you would choose her."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Luna snapped.

"Nothing!" Celestia smiled, Luna wasn't convinced. "Nothing," she repeated, "Just that it would make sense to have such a fast flier train you."

"If we wished for training we would favour experience over ability. We wish to race."

"You're sure about that?" Celestia asked, appearing concerned, "I know how much you hate to lose."

"This is not a foalish game, we aren't expecting to win with no challenge."

"If you were any other pony, I'd tell you to give up, I've seen her fly before. But of course, you and I aren't just any other ponies. Still, I'll wish you luck now, you'll need it if you want to stand a chance," she winked.

Luna grunted in agreement, reaching for some fruit with her uninjured forehoof. Was that a play on words? Stop toying, Celestia, We've too much on our mind right now to deal with your silly whims. Regardless, she had bought it. It hurt, having to lie to her sister like that, but Luna knew that it was for the best. Under no circumstances could Celestia discover the mission they were about to undertake, the results would be far too perilous, that she saw no alternative to, no matter what angle she looked from. Now, the haphazard plan was almost afoot, and she wasn't one iota less nervous than she was the night previous.


***


Rainbow sat alone in a carriage on a train destined for Canterlot, a saddlebag hurriedly half filled with random items sat before her. It built credibility, she had told herself.

Of course, sitting in a train carriage, alone, and staring out the window wasn't the best way to rationalise the still immensely confusing events of the night previous, but Rainbow was doing her best. At times, she was calm, almost relaxed, and almost forgot the reason behind her excursion, considering it as a normal circumstance on a normal day, but these moments were fleeting.

Around fifteen minutes into her journey she began to consider Luna's words, which by then had come back to her in some clarity. Luna had asked her to take the train specifically as Canterlot's guards kept an eye out for things that arrived unconventionally. Did that mean that she might have been watched otherwise? 

This idea disturbed Rainbow, and lent support to other, more paranoid ideas, centred around how recognisable she might be to others. Of course, of all the cities that might recognise her, the one where the two royal sisters lived was pretty high on that list, considering her and her friend's actions to free her from Nightmare Moon, as well as the events of the gala, which were only weeks ago. 

Would ponies wonder why she was there? If she told her story, would anyone believe it? What if she wasn't allowed on palace grounds? Would Luna herself come down to let her in, or would that be too obvious? Did Luna's guards know she was due to arrive, and how would Rainbow even tell them apart from Celestia's?

Rainbow knew that if she were to be arrested, a royal pardon from Luna could possibly be overruled by Celestia, and then her chances of joining the Wonderbolts would be effectively down the drain. Not only that, but Luna said that Celestia can't know, I need to be careful. 

By now, Rainbow's leg was shaking in anticipation. When the train pulled in, would she walk, or fly? Should she move slowly, or quickly? Act as if she's lost and ask for directions, or head straight to the palace? Take a scenic route, maybe? Did the palace have a backdoor? If she broke into the palace and was caught roaming the halls, would the guards attack her, or would they recognise her and take her to Celestia? What if-- 

"Tickets Please--"

"I'm racing with Princess Luna!" Rainbow screamed, chest heaving, causing the conductor to fall back into the carriage door, startled, glasses in disarray.

When he straightened himself out, he smiled compassionately. "I'm sorry filly, did I wake you? That must have been a wonderful dream."

After a few heaving breaths, the kind conductor's words registered in Rainbow's mind. "Huh? Oh, yeah, uhh, good dream!" That was really unconvincing, "Yeah," Rainbow continued with more gusto, "We were flying, and then we raced, and I beat her! It was really beautiful, and there were loads of clouds, and I loved it!" 

The conductor looked at her with an eyebrow raised, slowly nodding.

Maybe a little too convincing, shut it. "Uhh, anyway, tickets..." Rainbow rubbed the back of her neck with one hoof as she fumbled about with the other, producing a return train ticket from her saddlebag, probably the only useful thing in there. 

The conductor peered at them briefly before shooting Rainbow a small smile, letting himself out. Rainbow collapsed back into her seat, barely resisting the urge to bury her face in her hooves.

Hey, maybe this mission thingy won't kill me. Maybe I'll mortify myself to death first.