Twilight trotted out of the Legatuum with Midnight.
Not accompanied, however. Escorted. In a steady, unfeeling pace.
She felt awful. More than that, actually. It wasn’t the first time her obsession with knowledge and logic put her in a bad spot, no, she knew that she had trouble containing her enthusiasm and emotions when dealing with ancient tomes, books, scrolls... but this time, that particular flaw of hers made her heart sting horridly.
Especially since Midnight, her beloved Midnight, was right next to her wearing an expression that was nigh unbearable for her. Both saddened and vexed... and radiating disappointment.
The main shaft of the Midnight’s Library was, in its unfaltering way, teeming with archivists. Rowan Berry, waiting patiently by the wooden railings and observing the working ponies on all the different floors, turned at the sound of hoofsteps. Considering the frown which suddenly formed on her muzzle, she immediately knew something was wrong.
“Hwalba knaze, what is the matter? Have you not found the collection of the Legatuum to your liking?”
Twilight was about to answer, but Midnight Whisper’s voice from behind interrupted her.
“The contents of the Legatuum were to the Honored Princess’ liking, but our arcemandri, studying the scrolls, asked politely to be allowed peaceful work, rendering the visit shorter.”
Twilight was not fond of lying. Particularly when she did really nothing wrong but ask about the obvious. Yet, considering the archivist’s fraudulent certainty of voice and Midnight’s stern expression...
Mentioning anything related to what had transpired was out of the question. She was going to be much more prudent.
“I understand the necessity and importance of a calm workplace. It’s just a little bit... upsetting, I suppose,” Twilight stated, trying to sound sheepish.
Rowan Berry smiled, trotting closer. “Fret not, hwalba knaze, I’m certain you can be given another chance of witnessing the records. Lord Midnight Eye will surely maintain your permission.”
Would he? That was hard to say. Considering how hazardous the situation felt back in the Legatuum and that, without a doubt, sooner or later the news of Twilight’s unbound curiosity would circulate the Mountain...
“Here’s hoping.”
She, indeed, kept her tone hopeful. She also added an apologetic note to her declaration... regardless whether she thought it appropriate.
She needed answers. Hints. Something. She had to know what this obvious denial, this burn mark, this entire situation meant.
And why did she end up in this mess.
Midnight Whisper’s glance suggested that he grasped at least a portion of her perturbation, despite his adamant stand about the matter of said mess. “As long as traditions and rules of the Maednoca Tabulre are maintained, our archives are yours to explore, Honored Princess. We can, easily, show you another portion of them instead right now, like the Chancery, or—”
“Forgive me, archivist,” Twilight interrupted him, shaking her head, “but I think a place like this should be seen in chapters, like a good tale. If that would be fine, I shall take the rest of the night to muse on what I have experienced already.”
She took note of Midnight glancing at her in both surprise and understanding, whilst Midnight Whisper nodded rather slowly.
“If... that is your will, Honored Princess, it shall be so. Naturally, if you would like to continue the sightseeing at a later time, I am certain one of the palace servants can pass the notification here.”
“Thank you, archivist. Midnight Wind?”
The stallion immediately saluted, his expression unfaltering. “Tac, hwalba knaze.”
“Perhaps we could pass through the district of your artisans before we make it back to the Palace? I would not mind comparing if the crafts of Family Midnight are as magnificent as the archives.”
“Of course, Honored Princess, it is not far from here,” Midnight affirmed without delay.
Yes, Twilight was not fond of lying. Although...
She glanced at Rowan Berry, who was listening in carefully. “Rowan Berry, I understand that this destination might not be to your interests. You are free for the rest of the night.”
“Oh...” The healer did not hide consternation at first, though quickly regained composure, her gaze humble. “Thank you, Honored Princess. I... I think I will wander around here, maybe I find something of interest...” She replied, looking Midnight Whisper’s way.
“That shall be fine, Rowan Berry, the public part is open to you...” he assured her, his tone most official.
Twilight, in the meantime, turned to leave down the nearby, wooden staircase. “Thank you again, archivist. Until next time. Lead the way, Midnight Wind.”
“At once, Honored Princess.”
Not hesitating even a little, Midnight brought her out of the stalagnate, through the main doorway. Twilight’s steps were sure and she held her composure flawlessly as they were exiting. She might have suffered a gaffe... or even worse, but that was not a reason to let more ponies on how she felt inside.
Of course, it would not work on Midnight. Perhaps for the best, as she needed a chance to converse with him alone.
“You do not want to see the artisan quarters, Twilight,” he stated the fact as soon as they were in safe distance from the Midnight’s Library, venturing through one of the Mountain’s vast passageways. It could ensure, thankfully, nopony overhearing them for the moment.
Twilight took a deep breath. Caution was most warranted. She had quite enough of blunders and inexplicable obstacles on her way tonight, it was high time to clarify matters.
The question that escaped her lips, however...
“Oh, whatever would give you that idea?”
She blinked. Her tone sounded almost... biting! Irritation fueled it harshly, against her intentions, but before she could rectify yet another error of hers, Midnight’s hiss replied to her.
“I can think of a stupid reason or two,” he muttered, shaking his head.
... a surge of heat traversed Twilight’s veins at such a response. Stupid reason? Oh, that was just enough to make her momentarily forget that she was planning on defusing the situation.
A dangerous scoff formed on her muzzle. “Do enlighten me, then, Midnight Wind.”
Midnight’s steps became slightly firmer. “It is a bit too late for that, don’t you think? Ab Bogine, did you have to keep insisting? Really?”
“Official, genealogical records, pristine and precise and suddenly a giant burn mark – you expected me to just pretend I cannot see it?” she asked, doing her best to at least keep the volume reasonable.
Barely.
“Tac!” Midnight told her strongly, his piercing stare becoming grave as he glanced her way. “My father and I both were giving you clear hints!”
“Oh, so just like that I was supposed to play dumb, right?”
“That’s what any of us would do and it isn’t ‘dumb’!”
“I’m not a batpony, Midnight,” she told him right back, stopping in mid-trot. They were in a closed corridor to another part of the cavern, which gave her a chance to address that impossible urge to stare him down. “I hope you haven’t forgotten that small detail.”
“I was reminded of it, indeed,” he retorted, looking about for witnesses and then right back at her, not relenting under her glower.
And she had more than enough of it! “Oh, I’m so sorry that I wasn’t born in Noctraliya! I imagine it would have saved you a whole lot of trouble, Midnight Wind!”
“It would save both of us a lot of trouble, Twilight Sparkle, if you were to drop a topic when urged to!”
She felt her lips shaking. Precariously. “Since it’s better to act as if there’s no problem even if the problem is clear?! Seems it’s the batpony way, I’ve seen that a couple times already!”
“Then learn from it, you are supposed to be so good at it!” Midnight hissed through his teeth.
The exchange was becoming dangerously loud, but Twilight did not feel like caring at the moment. That...! That...! That fanged, stubborn meathead! She should have walked away, not to deal with him at the moment, if only walking away didn’t mean admitting defeat!
And she still needed her answers!
... yes. Yes! That was it!
“Fine then!” she said, firmly. With conviction. With royal dignity. “You will teach me, Midnight Wind! Everything that you know about Ash...!”
The very echo of her words was just about to bounce off the walls, but Midnight had already rushed forward to try and stop her before she said too much yet again...
However, even in her irritation, Twilight found herself clever enough to foresee and anticipate such reaction.
Her hoof shot forward.
It rested against the cold metal of his breastplate. And though she did not use any strength at all, she somehow managed to halt him in place.
Silence surrounded them both. Midnight was just staring at her, those keen, saffron eyes gently shining in the murky corridor, fierce and agitated. His upper lip was shuddering, his breath was heavy, Twilight could easily spot the blush of anger that reddened his cheeks. And his fangs looked even more bestial at that moment. Ready to strike.
She couldn’t have looked much better, honestly, her heart pounding in her chest and her ears ringing from the exasperation itself. She felt flushed and her throat was dry as she spoke.
“How about we stop it here?”
Her offer sounded somewhat irritated still, but she put just enough reason in her voice for it not to be an invitation for further bickering.
Midnight did not respond at first, just kept looking straight into her eyes. She could feel his breath against her muzzle, leaving behind a warm sensation.
... a tingly sensation...
Twilight knew not when they both lurched forth, their lips smacking together with all the irritation, frustration and need. She couldn’t help but let out a whinny of pure bliss, as an intoxicating current crossed her whole body. Her knees buckled a little and she eagerly leaned into Midnight as he grabbed the back of her head to keep her steady.
The kiss must have lasted but a few seconds, but hours passed in Twilight’s mind, such was the power behind it. Fueled by vexation, yes, but also this pure, intimate feeling. She had to stifle a moan as Midnight tugged on her lower lip with his teeth.
“You... insufferable mare,” he panted, giving her a momentary pause before he went for another, famished kiss.
Twilight found herself at the mercy of this incredible, burning craving that threatened to overtake her and cloud her mind, yet still had enough clarity to break away.
Though very hesitantly... and after a number of attempts.
“You... dumb jerk...” she finally muttered. She took a step back, trying to make her heart slow down and get her breathing back to normal. It wasn’t easy, considering that most of her, including brain, heart and body, was begging her to continue what they had been doing.
... the sudden thought of witnesses stumbling upon the two of them was, thankfully, enough of a bucket of cold water for her yearning.
Midnight seemed to have thought so as well, checking around rapidly. Though he only smirked at their luck and absence of any bystanders.
“Kirwe... Kwo noc...” He exhaled deeply, composing himself slowly. “We need to... fight more often if this is how we reach a truce, ha.”
Twilight put a hoof to her chest, keeping the air in her lungs for just a moment. It was a most proper time to revert to her calming exercise. Especially since she was still slightly trembling from the surge of delight she had just experienced.
“I’d... rather not fight at all, but that was... that was s... something, yes,” she somehow managed to mumble. “Are...” She looked deep into Midnight’s eyes again. “Are we... good?”
Midnight nodded, his tone far softer than but a moment ago. “Tac... yes, we are, I think. Apologies, Twilight... This was not how I thought that visit will go. At all.”
“Trust me, neither did I, Midnight. I... I suppose I lost my nerve there...” Twilight admitted, though without losing any of her intent. “You have to agree though, not every day do you see such blatant scarring on an official document.”
The stallion hissed silently, staring somewhere to the side. “No, Twilight... No, you don’t. You... dread to see it, actually.”
She bit her lip. The last thing she wanted was to rekindle this argument...
“Could you... could you at least tell me... or, I don’t know... vaguely hint at what that was...?”
Midnight’s body tensed immediately and his expression shuddered. Not out of anger, as she judged, but out of genuine apprehension.
“A punishment...” he muttered. He took a moment, but when he looked at her again his gaze was unmistakably menacing. “I suppose you will not relent from this topic?”
Twilight found herself loudly swallowing, faced with such a glare. For a moment, the thought of just backing away completely surfaced in her mind.
“I...I...”
“Come with me,” Midnight declared with conviction, pointing further down the passageway.
Twilight followed out of instinct, her steps somewhat meager. “Where... where are we going?”
“To the herame.”
“Why would—”
“So that Neskaza Lunee... sees me clearly and knows that I have no ill intention, even though I am speaking of matters I shouldn’t be, by the ancient laws of my kind...”
Twilight’s ears drooped. She should have protested. Hearing this declaration, caring for Midnight, she should have said something and stopped him, if delving into this matter was, somehow, endangering her beloved’s conscience.
... and yet she had to know, so she stayed silent. Hoping, in a peculiar way, that the Goddess would forgive her for encouraging such a transgression.
The shrine of the Mountain of Midnight stood proudly in the richer side of the cavern city, not too far from the palatial complex of Midnight Eye. An enormous colonnade of marble marked its vast entrance, with the sign of the full moon ruling over it benevolently. This borderline overbearing design continued inside the temple itself, boastful and proud. In comparison to the previous places Twilight had visited, this herame’s style praised geometrical perfection and monumentality of forms, with the dark vault of the ceiling smoother and the nave broader then what she remembered from the Sanctuary. This temple wasn’t perhaps as grandiose, but with the interior basking in pale light of the Moon, dancing across the stone and silver, it appeared just as awe-inspiring.
As they entered the shrine, Midnight quickly checked for attendance, finding but a couple of batponies, spread around the place. A local arcemandr was providing aid to one of them. At the moment, nopony paid much attention to the newcomers.
“Good, I was hoping there wouldn’t be a celebration still going at this hour...” he whispered, pointing at the side of the shrine that was empty enough. “Join me, please. I shall pray first and then...”
He did not finish, but let a small sigh that was clear enough for Twilight.
She could only nod. She felt... dreadful, actually. She really wanted to uncover this mystery... but seeing the burden on Midnight’s mind made her almost retch on the inside.
The cerulean cushions provided for the faithful were, as was customary, comfortable and elegant. Twilight took her place alongside Midnight without delay. He took a moment, his eyes focused on the silver discus over the distant, marble alter, before he finally spread his forelegs and wings wide and began praying. His lips moved quickly, as he supplicated the Immaculate Moon in reverent adoration.
Twilight just observed him, the place and the gathered for a while. The part she was occupying with Midnight was far enough from everypony. Good. She didn’t feel like having a lot of eyes on her right then.
Especially considering what she had decided to do. She was in a temple to the Goddess, after all.
She took a deep breath. She tried to relax her body and mind, focusing inwards. Still doubtful, she couldn’t lie, but... it also couldn’t hurt to try and fit in more.
Besides, sharing moments like these with Midnight didn’t sound too bad...
With care and diligence she assumed the prayer position, her eyes reaching the distant ceiling. Actually addressing the Goddess was one, convoluted thing... so Twilight, at least, decided to use this moment to think. To consider and ponder.
A lot had happened those past nights, after all.
When she had decided to undertake this task, she knew that it would be monumental. Hazardous, even. She hadn’t the faintest of ideas, however, just how complicated matters had already been. The Covenant, the Testimony... an entire war she had no idea about!
Then there was the meeting with the Tuariani that she still couldn’t recall, stumbling on batponies both kind towards her and pursuing their own agendas...
... and, finally, the matter of her feelings towards Midnight blossoming.
Yes, her life was on a crazy course.
She furrowed her brow and closed her eyes for the moment, keeping her posture. In the midst of this chaos... there was one thing that she had begun to realize was with her constantly nowadays. Sometimes easier to spot, sometimes hidden from her view, but still there.
That notion that... everything would be okay.
Despite the troubles, despite the challenges, trials, tribulations... it was constantly there. This nigh indescribable feeling of certainty. It was illogical, honestly. To have so much... hidden confidence. So much...
... so much hope.
Twilight took a deep breath, focusing on this thought. She was, indeed, hopeful, yes... She knew that she was in the right, preaching the ideas of Friendship and Harmony between the two countries and their inhabitants... and that... that her efforts would not be in vain. That they meant something....
It was...
...yes... maybe it was the Goddess’ work after all? Maybe it was Her presence that was making this all... making it make sense? All of this effort? All of Twilight’s plights? Because, in the end, the Immaculate Moon would smile at her attempts, appreciate her perseverance, even if nopony else would...?
It sounded so bizarre, but... it didn’t sound... bad.
Twilight dared only to whisper. “I... I know I said I did not really believe this to work, but... If... if You can hear this, Immaculate Moon... Please, keep... doing what you are doing, I guess?”
It wasn’t much of a prayer. Especially compared to the batpony passionate chants and devoted supplications that she had already witnessed... but it felt right.
Twilight stayed motionless and silent afterwards, respectfully waiting for Midnight, her eyes simply glued to one part of the ceiling that looked particularly interesting. She just... savored the calmness. Until the stallion finally folded his wings and let out a small sigh.
He glanced at her as she relaxed from the posture, a small, content smile dancing on his lips. “You look wonderful like that...”
Twilight smiled as well. “Just... trying my best.”
“I am certain the benevolent Goddess appreciates it...” he whispered, those words causing sudden, warm happiness to fill Twilight’s heart. But then his expression grew more somber. “I think I have done the best I can, apologizing to the Immaculate Moon. Now...”
Before he could continue, however, Twilight shook her head. “Wait, Midnight. I... I thought this through. If you telling me what this mark and the enigma are about will... will somehow cause you to... to sin, or...”
It was so bizarre to bring it up now it, considering she had already endangered her own standing among the batponies for this information... but it was the right thing to do.
Midnight, however, just... chuckled faintly.
“It’s fine, Twilight. I have prayed to the Bogine and I would like to believe Her to be merciful. What I do, I do not out of disrespect for our ancient principles, but to aid you. I’d rather reveal this, than risk you... continuing to ask around about precarious, terrible matters.”
Twilight just nodded, her interest now mixed with anxiety. “Al... alright.”
“Shift closer.”
She moved the cushion a little to the side, allowing him to whisper without any echo in this spacious temple. Still, Midnight’s voice was almost inaudible.
“The rules of our kind are strict, indeed. You know about corporal punishments, harsh penalties for crimes against our fruittenders, for example... but there is one retribution that is considered so damning, so... ruinous... that it would be better to have never been born than to suffer it... The results... would be similar...”
Twilight drank from his every word, feeling the chill gathering down her spine at such words.
Then Midnight started to suddenly gesticulate, as if pointing at something.
“What... what are you doing?”
“Making it look like I am telling you about the herame...”
“Oh...”
It, indeed, appeared as if Midnight was busy explaining to her why the altar was where it was and what did the disc above signify.
His words, meant only for her, were far more sinister than concerning sightseeing.
“If a batpony commits a crime against another, he can be sentenced to repay the deed in some way, by offering his service, or giving back a similar reimbursement to the damage caused. In worse cases, he can work in the bardolyi kopalni... the lower mines. The conditions there are unforgiving and the food provided is just enough to survive... But, after such amends are made, we welcome them back, for he is of our kin...” Midnight continued rather quickly, still pretending to be a faithful guide. “But, through the most... heinous crimes, a batpony can, by their own choice and will, break this bond of blood with us...”
“... by doing what exactly?” Twilight asked, her hoof trying to follow Midnight’s occasionally, to keep up the pretense a bit longer.
“An atrocious act of sin. A vile assault on the dignity and virtue of another... Degeneracy... Sacrilege,” he paused between the words, containing the disgust so clear in his whisper. “Renouncing the Immaculate Moon...”
Twilight too felt an unpleasant shudder. “A... apostasy is punishable like this...?”
“I think that is your word for it... yes, it can, if it is not doubt that can be remedied, but a most foul betrayal of Our Mother. Such batp... such creatures,” Midnight made the distinction that chilled the blood in Twilight’s veins, “are subjected to a retribution so severe, it is taboo. Not to be even thought about... although always there to consider...”
He took a deep breath, giving himself a pause that Twilight dared not interrupt.
“It is a punishment passed only by the tuariani, after such a pony... such a thing is turned over to them by the Family. The entire, sacred congregation decides if a... a...”
It took Midnight a moment of frantic breaths to finally arrive at the word.
“... a katorge must take place,” he finally whispered, his voice shaking. What followed the name was a string of words, as if he was trying to get through the explanation as fast as possible, never to have to explain it again.
“The creature is stripped of its name and its status. Its eyes are burned out, its ears are cut off, its fangs are knocked out, its wings are mutilated until they cannot be used ever again. It is then thrown into the caverns known only to the tuariani, to fend for itself or perish. It is no longer a night-dweller, but a beast, an abomination of its former self, to be forgotten by all. Its likeness and history is erased from the records and its very existence is never to be mentioned again, even by its Family, even by loved ones. As if it never were.”
Midnight finally stopped. He fearfully directed his eyes towards the silver sign of the Goddess and spread his wings to pray again. With such haste that he nearly hit Twilight with them.
She didn’t care, however. She got her answer... though now she wished she hadn’t.
The very idea of such a punishment... such a cruel practice... made her stomach turn and knot. Her head started to spin. To think that... that anypony could be subjected to something like that...
... and... and the Goddess allowed such a practice? Through the hooves of her—
Twilight could feel herself growing pale. Her entire body went cold in an instant at the realization that struck her almost like divine punishment.
She knew she shouldn’t have, but she interrupted Midnight anyway.
“Midnight... back... back in the Sanctuary...” she whispered, her tongue dreading the words escaping her. “If I... hadn’t passed the... the Test of Faith... could... could the Sanctuarians...?”
He turned his head towards her, his gaze betraying... dread.
That was not the answer she was hoping to receive...
***
Luna locked her chamber behind her as she finally managed to trot out of it.
It was a feat in and of itself. Rising the Moon on time was a trivial matter in comparison to finding the strength to get herself cleaned up and presentable, with the emotional turmoil going on inside of her.
She remembered this feeling well. This weight, sapping all strength and effort. This treacherous numbness that made every thought feel like a chore, offering instead nothingness that seemed fraudulently safe. This overwhelming apathy that threatened to stop her from caring about anything. Anything but sleeping, or staring at the wall. That made her follow her duties out of habit and absolutely nothing else.
A millennium had passed... but the depressive indifference was a constant that survived the passage of time and was the same in every epoch.
And it followed the same pattern.
Luna played right into its hooves, having learned of this... this terrible tragedy that had befallen her children. Having faced the magnitude of it... It simply had to affect her in some way. Confronting this long-forgotten truth she, indeed, gave in and dived into her own Dreamworld reality for a while... To recuperate. To escape.
... but she couldn’t just hide from the real world.
The real world in which her old friend became a monster... because she had turned into one first.
Another of the countless wounds which she had inflicted upon others... another scar that creation borne because of her...
Luna caught herself staring at her own door blankly. Maybe it was better to just go back inside...? Lock herself... in thoughts and doubts and...
No.
No, she wasn’t the same, little, omitted filly that she had been before. She had learned well not to deny what she was responsible for, but to own it. She would still stumble and err, like all the ponies... but she would get up. Again. And again.
Especially with others helping her to do so... for, unlike all these centuries ago, she now had ponies she could turn to, to help her deal with whatever dared come.
... ponies that weren’t her sister. She... didn’t feel like seeing her at the moment.
Luna trotted through the castle with her head held high, even though she was fairly certain anypony would be able to spot her inner trepidation. It was hard to control the shifting mane from jerking occasionally, like an angered nebula. Or to hide the small bags under her eyes. She didn’t care enough, though. She was the Princess of the Night. She had her right to be concerned, as an Equestrian monarch.
And, as she had uncovered, a concerned monarch also had the right to recognize when they needed advice and aid from trusted servants.
As luck or Fate would have it, Luna didn’t have to look for too long to locate a familiar, gray source of aid in the Castle.
“I find your proposals profitable, Chancellor,” the familiar, resonant voice of Moonwarden reached Luna’s ears as she was crossing a small foyer, leading to the Royal Offices and Ministries wing. “Consolidation of the E.E.A.’s structure by granting your office a firmer grip would make future acts and amendments easier to implement...”
“That is exactly why I have decided to put this proposition before the Royal Office,” a stern, and familiarly unpleasant tone replied, merging self-assuredness with most temporary subservience. “I was certain that you would see my point, Advisor. It is all to Equestria’s sole benefit.”
Luna did not change her trot, turning the corner with conviction to encounter who she expected. Not one but two gray unicorns of black manes – her personal aide... and one Neighsay, the Chancellor of the Equestria Education Association.
Moonwarden was the first to bow to her, with the faint rustling of his atramentous jacket. “Your Lunar Majesty.” His tone was polite, though betraying satisfaction at seeing her again.
“Greetings, Advisor,” she replied to him cordially, herself glad. Then she switched to a tone that he would be able to immediately decode. “I see you are occupied.”
And he did. “We were just finishing our discussion with the Chancellor, actually.”
Neighsay, whose bow was no less appropriate than Moonwarden’s, did not protest, though there was still a glint of vexation in his eyes at being dismissed so suddenly.
“That is correct, Your Lunar Majesty,” he participated in the lie. “It has been a fruitful exchange, though, I wish to believe,” he added, which Luna repaid with a polite, fake smile.
Not unlike her Advisor’s. “Rest assured, Chancellor. Your care for Equestria’s well-being shall be duly noted.”
Neighsay said nothing more, respectfully backing away in forced deference, until his form finally disappeared around the corner.
Moonwarden calmly tapped his hoof five times, counting, then rolled his eyes and spoke when he knew the Chancellor was far enough not to overhear him. “A colleague of mine used to claim: ‘it’s so overt it’s covert’, but if Neighsay’s ambitions were any more blatant...”
Luna just looked down the corridor, her frown deepening. “A glaring, shameless power play?”
“Well, his proposition suggests granting more power to his own office, whilst lowering the number of council members to nine from the current amount...” the stallion explained, inspecting his monocle briefly. “I am willing to indulge him, actually.”
“Is that so?”
He put the eyepiece back on, a glint passing through it. “Indeed, my lady. True, Neighsay deserves his lousy reputation and one can trust him to make a proper point in a most improper way... but his intentions have to be deemed noble.”
“I see. And is his... famed prejudice a ‘noble’ quality as well?” Luna inquired, cocking an eyebrow. It might have been a small poke too, but she knew Moonwarden handled them well.
“Of a certain sort of ‘nobles’ that I want nothing to do with, my lady,” he claimed with a smirk. “I have my own preconceptions, as does everypony, but I practice the ancient art that allows me to both safely express them and retain them simultaneously.”
Now that was intriguing. “What would this venerable technique be?”
“The forgotten ‘Way of Tongue-in-cheek’.”
Luna, regardless of her mental plight, had to stifle a giggle at the rascal. His pride needed regular curbing, but it was a source of merriment when he utilized it in such a way.
Moonwarden smiled more genuinely, lowering his head. “I am overjoyed to see you again, my lady. The Eastern Woods are charmingly rustic, but I much prefer to be back in the Royal Castle. Forgive me that my return was not swift enough.”
She graced him with a kind glance, though her expression clouded soon after. “I know you have done your best. Your presence, however, would have been very helpful during my sister’s return.”
The unicorn straightened up, loyally standing at attention. “If not quite so before, I shall be useful now, Your Majesty. How might I assist you?”
Luna did not have to consider anything. The burden on her shoulders and mind was clear enough... “I need a place where we could converse in absolute privacy. I’m in need of confiding in somepony.”
Something akin to a blink of fulfilled anticipation appeared in Moonwarden’s eyes, but it was gone just as quickly as it surfaced. “I shall be of service, naturally. And I suppose the walls of the Royal Office would be too thin?”
“I... don’t want the cell to know too much yet, Moonwarden. Just you for the moment.”
He gave her an understanding expression. “Of course, as you command, my lady. I would suggest the... Royal Gardens, then. It is a good place to unwind, no courtiers shall be present at this late hour and I happen to recall the patrol routes through there, so even the Guardsponies will not pester us...”
Luna just blinked, tilting her head a little. “Of course. Why wouldn’t you know the patrol routes? I suppose you also know all the Guards’ full names and their hidden vices to use as leverage if necessary?”
The stallion smirked. “I am afraid I do not understand, my lady. I am not supposed to know absolutely everything I can for your benefit?” he replied, his gaze satisfied. “This way, if you please.”
She trotted past him, knowing the way well enough, trying to hide another smile.
She was really glad to have a disreputable pony like him.
However... she had to start mentally preparing. She would have to recount all of what she had learned from Celestia. All the details... all the distress. If she were to deal with this situation, she had to be as thorough as possible.
Not to waste time... or maybe to postpone this process, she decided to learn something more from Moonwarden regarding his latest mission in... in Hollow Shades.
“Was your assignment successful, my servant?”
Moonwarden kept his reply quiet, trailing her like her own shadow. “I would say that it provided... interesting results, especially when it comes to gaining the cooperation of the mayor and his assistant. Though the most... captivating details I would prefer to reveal in the cozy interior of the Royal Office, my lady.”
Which meant the underground chamber, of course. “What about the Nightguard, however?”
“The local detachment was, actually, very... happy to meet me,” Moonwarden revealed, somewhat astonished by his own words.
Luna glanced back. “Why would that be such a terrible thing?”
“To be forthright, my lady... I am unused to causing joy by my presence. I am more of a ‘something wicked this way comes’ pony,” he stated.
And Luna was forced to agree. She understood that feeling quite well, being who she was and who she had been. Though she was trying her best lately to improve on that, especially through her duties in the Dreamworld, protecting ponies at their most vulnerable.
Moonwarden continued in the meantime. “However, I believe I have gained a valuable asset in the form of that local, Nightguard captain. Or ‘centure’, as is the term, Sunfall Ordain. She seemed rather trivial to approach and become acquainted with. Of course, I considered it being a ploy at first, but I had to conclude that she is, simply, so friendly by default... and willing to share information.”
“On Princess Twilight as well?”
“Unfortunately, I have not learned much aside from the fact that the two met and parted cordially. Though I am rather certain that if I were only to ask Sunfall Ordain, I could gain much more,” he assured. “Oh, and for the sake of trivia – that is really how her name is translated.”
Not a few minutes later they entered the Royal Gardens, the majestic park that was sprawling in a most exquisite and orderly way at the base of the Castle. A work of gardening art, housing the menagerie and often utilized for official, alfresco parties, it was now bathing in the delicate light of the Moon, aided by but a hoofful of small lanterns, gently illuminating the gravel pathways.
In accordance to Moonwarden’s words the place seemed entirely empty... and Luna had to admit that perhaps visiting it more often would do her good. With her domain of stars above, with the fragrance of roses, begonias, orchids and gardenias around... She already felt somewhat better about what awaited her in a moment.
“Is there a place around here that we could sit in for a longer while?” she asked as they ventured deeper into the Gardens.
But her answer did not came outright, for some reason. Looking back, curious, she was met with Moonwarden’s fixed gaze... that escaped to the side the moment she encountered it.
“Oh, forgive me, my lady, seems I have missed your question,” he apologized rapidly.
“I would like to sit down somewhere around here,” she repeated herself calmly. Seemed she was not the only one with a lot on her mind.
“There is a small gazebo not that far away, to the side. Nopony will dare interrupt us there.”
Moonwarden pointed her the right direction and soon after they were sitting in, definitely, a most elegant space, surrounded by delicate, vanilla woodwork and majestic bushes of white roses.
It was one of Luna’s favorite flowers, bar lavender, she couldn’t deny that. “A most welcoming place, my servant. Are you coming here often?”
“Free time is not a commodity I hoard, my lady,” the stallion admitted, chuckling. “But, as an opportunist, I could not possibly deny picking this spot. We have all the privacy and sophistication that the Royal Gardens can provide, I want to believe.”
Luna took a deep breath, filling her nose with the wondrous aroma. “Then I shall be grateful for that opportunism... Though what I am about to share with you, Moonwarden, might not be as pleasant as this little haven.”
The stallion only sat more comfortably, stretching his back with a small hiss. “Consider me ready for whatever you wish to talk about, Your Majesty.”
Was he truly?
Luna... took a moment to start, gathering her thoughts. Nevertheless, when she did begin, she held nothing back. She told him, with utmost precision and pure truth, everything that she had heard from Celestia.
About the night she was banished. About the grief of Radiant Glory. About the carnage that was the war...
And finally about the fact that it was all sentenced to oblivion by her sister’s command, not revealed in any books, nor any scrolls, nor any chronicles.
The longer she spoke, the more absorbed and engrossed by the story Moonwarden appeared. Other than a few gestures of encouragement for her to continue he never interjected, allowing her to let it all out. As if she had only one chance of saying it before it would become forgotten once more.
“... that is the reason I... confined myself to my chambers until this eve. I had to... I had to somehow grasp it all, process it all,” Luna finally finished, realizing that she had been wistfully looking forward, past the stallion, for the longest time. “I do not think I yet do understand all of this...” she added, then remained silent, her attention back to Moonwarden.
The grey unicorn joined her in the quiet, his hoof covering his mouth. He was deeply ruminating, his brow furrowed, showing the wrinkles that betrayed his encroaching middle age. His silver eyes were still, but their sharpness could cut.
After a minute that refused to end, just as Luna was starting to worry that she had maybe put him in a state of shock or something similar, he opened his mouth.
“This...” His tone was most mindful. “This is... rather ghastly.”
“I think that is still putting it mildly, my servant...” she answered him, averting her gaze for a moment. Now that she had repeated it all... yes, it was still a lot to take.
“Perhaps I did speak cautiously, Your Majesty... though wars are nothing strange in this world. Nor is prejudice an oddity, as we have agreed tonight. Combining the two is... averagely unconventional.”
Luna remained still, giving him time and hoping to hear something that would aid her in the disorder.
Though sharing all of this turmoil with somepony already helped... as much as divvying around terrible knowledge could do so. At least she wasn’t bearing it all by herself now.
Moonwarden stared rubbing his chin finally, a sure sign that he was recuperating from the tale.
“It might be strange to admit now, my lady... but I have misjudged your sister, Her Solar Majesty, somewhat gravely... An attempt to, somehow, reimburse those affected by this genocide – oh, of course, that sounds very much like her, but... censoring history itself?” He paused, when an impressed tone revealed itself in his voice. “Going so far to spare future generations the shame and the disquiet? At the cost of the memory of the perished? An inviting choice. Inviting choice, indeed...”
Luna turned back to him, feeling a sudden wave of heat. “We are talking about my children, Moonwarden! Their deaths are not just a part of a pragmatic equation!”
The stallion continued, unabated. “From a moral standpoint, you are entirely correct, my lady... But you have to agree that this was a strong choice. Maybe not correct, maybe providing but temporary benefits, until circumstances change in a millennium. But strong nonetheless... especially in the face of a tragedy and loss.”
Luna was taking a deep breath already to continue on. She tolerated a lot of things about Moonwarden, but a utilitarian outlook on deaths of her children...!
She didn’t have a chance to chastise him however. She spotted a shudder that traveled through his entire form, making his look turn pensive and concerned.
“... tragedy and loss...” he mouthed, a string of sentences escaping him in an obvious dialogue. “Tragedy is one matter. Yes, and loss is another. They have a claim. And proof, yes. Can we be certain? Can we be not? Should we expect...? We are meant to expect it. But that would mean that... Wait, that does make sense. From the very beginning? Not unlikely...”
“Moonwarden?” Luna asked, leaning forth, but the stallion did not seem to pay her much attention.
“That could have been the reason... and when we focus there, they... That is why there is more of them? Could be. And if they are preparing...”
Suddenly, his eyes focused back on her as he rapidly took off his monocle. “My lady, the batponies possess this ‘Testimony’ document...”
“That... that is what my sister revealed to me,” Luna reaffirmed it immediately, believing that Moonwarden must have hit some kind of a breakthrough. “A precise retelling of this tragedy.”
“Not only the tragedy,” he declared strongly. “Tragedies are fleeting things, destined to be forgotten. At first agonizing, they fade in our minds, as we come to terms with them. Otherwise we would never manage to pull ourselves together and continue. It is a natural, psychological process.”
He paused briefly, but Luna’s nod prompted him to continue whatever thought he arrived at.
His gaze was piercing into her eyes. “But there is also a loss. Behind the tragedy, there is a physical loss that your children have suffered, my lady. And a child can bear with equanimity the loss of his father. But the loss of patrimony...”
Luna leaned back, almost pushed away by his stare. “... what are you suggesting, my servant?”
“The Eastern Woods. Batponies’ former territory. Can we allow ourselves to believe that they will not want it back? They have the Testimony that proves their claim, they are the ones charting the region, I have learned that there is an influx of their soldiers at the Border stronghold. And, on top of that, Princess Twilight Sparkle is conducting talks to restore relations right in the midst of them...
“... the opportunity could not be better. So how much would they be willing to risk to get their hooves on what was once theirs?”
Luna felt herself growing pale.
That was not the question she was hoping to receive...