//------------------------------// // Startling Discoveries // Story: Order by Destruction // by All Art Is Quite Useless //------------------------------// Princess Luna looked down upon the palace grounds, her eyes searching this way and that, her mind so conscious of the passing time. The sight of the glowing sun, majestic in its splendor, warmed her body, but not her heart. Its visage only sought to remind her of the danger she was in. Pacing across her balcony allowed her to order her thoughts. It did not allow the same incorporeality that dream walking might, but it was a worthy substitute. Following her lunch with Celestia, she had retired to her chambers. If anyone were to see her so restless, they might assume she was having difficulty sleeping, or maintaining a constant patrol over the city she protected. If Celestia were to see her, she would likely assume that she was nervous for her meeting with Rainbow Dash. Celestia would be correct in that presumption, but not for the reason she believed. Luna was aware that she had been looking out for Rainbow's arrival since far earlier than she was due to arrive, but this fact didn't diminish her worry, nor did it stop her from constantly looking. Luna had realised something shortly after waking that morning, but had no way to securely communicate it to Rainbow. In fact, she thought further correspondence before their meeting might worry Rainbow even more. Luna understood that Rainbow might appear as nervous when she arrived, as she was likely to have overthought the events of the night previous, despite Luna's attempts to soothe her mind when their conversation had concluded. Her nerves could likely be played down by the pretense that she was about to compete with one of Equestria's rulers, but if she appeared to be hiding her fear, things could seem to be much worse. What worried Luna most was Rainbow's time of arrival. Of course, the meeting had not been formally scheduled, and an official event is exactly what the princess didn't want this to look like, it had to be casual and nonchalant. If Rainbow were to arrive early, or precisely on time, it would be difficult to explain. As such, Luna felt a tight breath of relief unfurl from her chest when the clock hit 2:01 PM, and Rainbow still was not present. Now, even if she were to arrive conspicuously, profusely apologising and making excuses, it would appear more natural to the situation. Rainbow Dash could potentially be a great asset to Luna, but she was no actor. A few minutes later, a new worry passed over the princess. Have we put too much faith in this one? Luna didn't wish it to be true, but still there was no sign of her. Perhaps the value of loyalty has lessened since our time. The swithest of her time yet she moves afeared and without haste? Luna closed her eyes, halting her body in sequence, although her tail wouldn't remain still no matter how she willed it. Restrain these assumptions, they're without merit. Rainbow has not failed you yet, only behooved you. She will arrive, we must believe that. Luna voiced her concurrence before opening her eyes, resolute, hoping that Rainbow would have appeared in the interim. Unfortunately, she had to wait another three minutes, but, as Luna had expected, her faith was rewarded, Rainbow had followed her instructions. Luna was pleasantly surprised at what she bore witness to. While Rainbow's flying was slightly erratic, she landed just outside of the palace grounds, a courtesy, and proceeded to be checked over by the palace guards, neither of whom recognised her. When inside, she walked without duty or purpose, and Luna was not surprised. She had given Rainbow no specific instructions for this part. Luna wasn't about to fly down and greet Rainbow, not yet. There was no telling what she might blurt out. An alternative sprang to mind, and Luna quickly put it into action. Reaching out with her mind, Luna swam through the empty space all living things inhabited, occasionally brushing against an errant thought or a transient feeling. Once she had waded through the pool of life surrounding her, she eventually found her target, delicately brushing against Rainbow's consciousness. However, there was an issue. Completely unprecedented to Luna, there was a wall surrounding Rainbow's consciousness. How is this possible? Only unicorns are capable of mental deflection, this makes no sense. Persistent, Luna poured her thoughts and feelings against the wall, a light trickle of rain against stone, but to no avail. In fact, Rainbow's mind actively rebuffed her efforts, pushing and forcing the alien entity out of her mind. Downstairs, Rainbow had paused where she stood, her appearance vacant, and her body locked up. This is not good. If she is not soothed she will panic, we must fix this. Luna retracted her earlier thoughts, allowing them to spin and coalesce, the soft droplets from earlier forming into an immense wave that would breach the wall that stood before Rainbow's mind, allowing her to speak unimpeached. When Luna fired the fresh, more intense wave, she was still met with resistance, violently clashing with Rainbow's barrier rather than bursting through and engaging her as she had planned. Clearly, she had underestimated the power of Rainbow's fortitude. Upon dismissal of the wave, Rainbow's wall began to move towards Luna, slicing through the spiritual cacophony that separated them and encroaching upon the bastion of her own mind, moving spastically in an effort to crush her own thoughts. It was clear to Luna that despite the raw power of Rainbow's defence, which was almost staggering, she was completely untrained, as she left cracks in what would otherwise be an impenetrable train of thought. Luna knew she had the power to overwhelm Rainbow if the situation necessitated, but didn't wish to damage her brain. Still, she could not withstand this bombardment for much longer. Moving her thoughts with precision, Luna sharpened a lance of arcane brilliance, driving it at one of the cracks in Rainbow's assault, wedging it inside and making the wall split. In her mind, Luna heard a howl of pain, and suddenly, briefly, their thoughts were connected. Nghh, get out! the voice screamed, terrible and blood curdling, but retaining that familiar rough crack. The fact that Rainbow's spirit was so ferocious, so determined, it was almost enough to distract Luna, but she had gained the opportunity she needed. Luna wanted to open her eyes, to check on Rainbow, who she was sure would still be locked in place, attempting to wrestle Luna away from her thoughts, but she knew she had to curb her attack now, lest she reenter her body under the influence of the same defensive rage. Besides, she had her opportunity. Focusing on the newly formed crack, Luna began to pour every ounce of her companionship and goodwill into it, seeking to quell the primal instinct of Rainbow's mind. Eventually, her attack abated, and with it, her resistance. Luna took this opportunity to forcibly seize control of Rainbow's consciousness. She knew it was ill advised, with her still standing in a public area as she was, but she could not risk doing so out in the open. Rainbow's sphere-like consciousness convulsed and twitched as Luna wrestled it into submission,. It felt desperate and longed for its freedom, but Luna could give it none. Eventually, her giant will was restrained, yet it still struggled in earnest. Luna felt Rainbow's emotions wash over her, piercing her walls had caused this effect. She saw memories of days spent in the company of her friends, nights laid in her bed, staring at her walls and ceiling in solitude, a cloud slowly fading in the air. She heard Rainbow's confusion, her fear, and she cast another ray of reassurance upon it, calming her enough that she might finally speak. Ugh, w-what the hell are you?! Rainbow's consciousness yelled. If Luna had anticipated any of this, she would have flown down to greet her in a heartbeat. Rainbow Dash, please, relax. It is Princess Luna. We sought to make contact with you, we did not expect you to resist us. Silence persisted for a few seconds, Luna could feel Rainbow digesting this information. What's going on? H-How are you... Rainbow's growing alarm thrashed against Luna's grip, You're... You're in my head? another moment passed, and Luna felt another spike of resistance, unexpected and painful. How do I know you're really Princess Luna, huh?! Luna poured memories of Rainbow's dream the night before into her mind, all from Luna's perspective, of course. Does this bring you assurance? Luna was sure Rainbow pushed against the memories, a small salient, but eventually they passed through her. N-Not really, but I'm kind of in a position where I need to trust you, huh? Indeed. You asked how we are inside your mind, and we will answer you that. We are using a mental link to communicate with you, one that has been used to steal thoughts and destroy minds by far more sinister magicians, but a simple conversation was my only intention. As a pegasus, you should have had little to no barrier, but your aptitude for mental battle is astonishing. Hold on, so I'm supposed to believe you just forced yourself into my head for a chat? Not to mention you putting me in agony, and scaring the crap out of me. Luna could feel the bitterness pouring from Rainbow, but it didn't stem from this occurrence. What is disturbing you, Rainbow. Tell us so we may resolve it. You messed with my head! Rainbow's consciousness fiercely accused. Your froward stance made it inevitable. Your resistance was like a brazen gyve upon our hooves. Luna stated solemnly. For a moment, Luna thought she had lost Rainbow, and almost began to panic....I have literally no idea what you just said. Luna sighed, half irritation, half relief. We had no choice, Rainbow. Oh, really? I think you chose to put me in some lullaby super happy dream, or maybe I'm wrong? Luna's mind went slack. Come again? My cloud dream! After we finished talking! I even remember you watching me fly! Don't try and pull one over on me, I know you were just trying to placate me, or mollify me, or something! Rainbow was panting between breaths, despite the magical nature of their link. Alarm shot through Luna. How could she know of that? Our power over dreams is unmatched, she should not have remembered! Erm... You do know I can hear you, right? Hush, Rainbow, allow me at least the illusion of reticence, Luna snapped. "If you insist," Rainbow laughed, her voice chillingly external. Luna could feel the patterns of Rainbow's voice emerging from somewhere far beyond her mind. What did you just do? Luna demanded, feeling more perturbed and undermined with each passing second. Uhh, can you open your eyes? This feels weird. Our eyes? It took a moment for Luna to remember that she did indeed possess eyes, and a whole body outside of this construct. She reached out toward them, maintaining her mental contact with Rainbow as she did, and slowly forced them open, looking over the scene before her as a spectator, although the sight was enough to make her physically jump back in fright. There, before her, impossibly and unfathomably, was Rainbow Dash, perched on the edge of her balcony, looking at her with something between a frown and a laugh. It took Luna a moment to realise that she was on her back. Somehow, Rainbow didn't burst into hysterics. Luna quickly leveled herself out, growing acquainted to the physical world once more, although her connection with Rainbow still existed. Even once she was standing again, Luna was at a loss for words. When she found some, they struggled to come out. It was not often that the Princess of the Night had this issue. "H-How? We... We beat you into submission, how could you move? How could you even be aware of where you were going?" Rainbow looked straight at Luna, but her lips didn't move to form a response. Well, it took me a while to work it out, and I was really damn scared, but eventually I realised how easy it was to differ between the two states. It's like multitasking, you know? One part keeps you aloft, the other takes everything in. Although, I guess I flew up here, so that's three parts? I'm confused now. Still pissed at you, though. Luna had expected Rainbow to have latent ability, but not of this level. She should have looked at her with indignation for her choice of words, but her incredulity trumped that with ease. It took her five seconds to realise that her mouth hung open, another five to formulate a response, her royal voice shaky, the cadence rudimentary and lacking. Enough. We are to keep this connection henceforth, understood? We should have a means to speak that cannot subtly be overheard, "Now," Luna continued, switching to vocal communication, which after the shocking marvel she had just witnessed, felt more comfortable, "We are glad that you have arrived. Honestly, we were worried that you might have caused a scene upon arriving, but you seem to have avoided that." Rainbow's eyes narrowed, and she looked behind her at the cramped courtyard, many ponies walking through, conducting their usual business. "Are you sure, princess? Pretty sure I was standing down there for a looong assed time." "Roughly five seconds," Luna corrected, glad to have an advantage over Rainbow again, "Things happen quickly in the mind when you ignore your physical self. Time does not work the same way as it does here." "It doesn't?" Rainbow echoed, bewildered, "I didn't know that." Of course you didn't, Luna thought, earning a scowl from Rainbow. "Damn it, we need to remember that. Nonetheless, now that you have arrived, we can begin." "Begin what?" Rainbow asked this with both her voice and her mind, she seemed to be enjoying her new skill. Luna detected a rise in anticipation from Rainbow, but not from her mind, rather, it was how her wings fluttered. "First, we are to meet an old acquaintance, then you're to receive a lesson of times ere, and we will begin to formulate our plans. All of your questions will be answered, Rainbow, I assure you." Rainbow's wings stopped buzzing, she tilted her head at Luna. "So, what, a history lesson with some old dude?" "Precisely," Luna nodded, glad to have the upper hand again. "That's how we're gonna save Equestria?" Rainbow gawked. "Well," Luna smirked, rising and signaling for Rainbow to follow her inside, "Not exactly, but it's a start." Rainbow didn't appear to be thrilled by this news, but she followed her princess regardless. As they walked, Luna couldn't help but feel Rainbow's thoughts wander, skipping between each decoration and piece of furniture she saw, her interest wavering and increasing in random spikes, before she once again became bored and waited for the next thing to catch her eye. Her behaviour was so refreshingly awe-filled, Luna couldn't help but smile at it.