Luna spent the rest of the week playing with the children. They took to her very quickly. The little girls adored her and the boys tried to get her attention. Luna laughed and called them cute. In addition to playing soccer, Luna told them stories of Equestira and they sat with rapt attention as Luna told them of magical ponies, danger, adventure, and of course, friendship. Luna and Hildr spent long hours talking about anything and everything. Luna was shocked to hear how many years had passed from the time Hildr had started her journey, to the time she returned. Hildr told of her initial struggles to adapt to the new time and how much she had missed. Her heart was no longer made of stone, but Hildr still found it difficult to open up to others. Luna also faced her struggles with Nightmare Moon. With her newfound determination and hope in her heart, Luna was able to sleep somewhat easier.
Luna finally said to Hildr over breakfast, “I believe it is time that I returned home.”
Hildr knew this day would come, but she still felt a pang of sadness. “Okay then,” she said.
Luna blinked. “Aren’t you going to become misty eyed and beg me to stay longer?”
Hildr gave Luna a look and said, “No.”
Luna sighed. “Oh well. One could only hope.”
Hildr rolled her eyes. “Oh no, please stay Princess. Don’t leave me alone or I will become sad and depressed,” she said in a flat, monotone voice.
Luna giggled. “I should have expected as much.”
Hildr looked out the window. “If you’re not in too much of a hurry, I have to go to the Tower for some business and I would like it very much if you came. I want to show you that this world isn’t always so dark and hopeless.”
Luna thought for a moment and nodded her head. “I suppose that would be acceptable.”
Hildr looked at the clock and said, “We’ll leave in about ten minutes.”
While Luna waited outside for Hildr, the children came looking for her and begged for Luna to stay. Luna politely refused them and was waving goodbye when Hildr appeared with her bag over her shoulder. “Ready to go?” she asked.
Luna nodded sadly. “I hope those children grow up well.”
“You certainly made an impression on them,” Hildr said. “I’ll keep an eye on them for you.”
“Thank you,” Luna said and followed Hildr to the landing pad. Raven appeared and called down Hildr’s ship. Luna gasped when she saw it. “I have never seen such a thing,” she exclaimed and walked around it. “Non-pegasai ponies usually walk or take the train. We have a few hot air balloons, but nothing like this.”
Hildr grinned sheepishly and nervously rubbed the back of her head. “Yeah, about that. I might have let Twilight Sparkle look at the tech manual for one of my ships and she seemed especially interested in near-light speed travel.”
Luna narrowed her eyes. “Is that so? I shall have to be on the lookout for experiments with disastrous results.”
“Let’s get on board, shall we?” Hildr said hurriedly and pushed Luna up the ramp. Once they were strapped in, Hildr took the controls and set a course for the City.
Not much was said during the flight. Hildr was piloting and Luna stared out the window. Of course she had flown before, but never like this. She would easily tire herself if she tried to fly this fast for this long. Luna wondered what would happen if technology such as this was brought to Eqestria. Science and learning would advance rapidly, but there was bound to be some push back from the more traditional ponies. Change was never easy and often took a long time to be implemented and become accepted. Luna had no doubt that such a thing would one day be possible.
Soon they were flying over walled fortifications and the biggest non-natural barrier Luna had ever seen loomed before them. With a grin, Hildr gained altitude and flew over the wall, revealing the City and the Traveler with dramatic flair. Hildr peeked over at Luna to see her reaction as was not disappointed.
Luna was spellbound. She had thought this many times since coming here, but she had never before seen such a sight. The City lay sprawled out under the Traveler with the tallest buildings directly underneath. As the city spread out, Luan could see where previous walls had been erected and partially torn down to accommodate growth. The outer walls loomed over the City below and signs of a recent battle were apparent. The ground was covered in craters and many buildings had suffered damage or were in ruins. Some parts of the wall were still smoking and in need of repair.
What really caught Luna’s eye was the Traveler. It was the size of a small moon and looked like it had been cracked open. Large chunks of the outer shell orbited the main body while smaller debris caused a significant flight hazard if one flew too close.
Hildr steered for a section of the wall near one of the towers that was under repair. She brought the ship to a halt and lowered the ramp. As they disembarked, Hildr found Nyx waiting for them. She was leaning against a stack of crates with her arms crossed. “Nyx. I wasn’t expecting you here,” Hildr said.
Nyx shrugged in reply. “I go where I please and do as I please,” she said.
“Clearly,” Hildr replied. Even after all this time, Nyx made Hildr feel uneasy for some reason. Regardless, she started walking and stopped when she noticed Luna wasn’t following. “Are you coming?” she asked.
Luna looked from Nyx to Hildr and back again. “If you do not mind, I wish to speak with Nyx,” she said.
Hildr frowned, then her face became an expressionless mask. “Suit yourself,” she replied curtly and walked off at a brisk pace.
Nyx watched her leave. “Don’t worry. She’ll get over it.”
Luna glanced nervously at Nyx. Her helmet was blank and a solid blue color. Luna didn’t know where to look. “You have questions,” Nyx said. It was a statement more than a question.
“Yes,” Luna replied, “But first, why do you always wear a helmet? Are you afraid to let others see your face?”
Nyx stood up straight and stepped closer to Luna, who leaned away with a fearful expression on her face. “My face? Why do you want to see my face? Does this shapeless mask bother you?” Nyx asked.
“In a way,” Luna replied cautiously.
Nyx looked down at her hands. “I ask you Princess, what is a face, but a mask we wear to show others? If that is true, then what is your True Face? Is it the face you show others? Is it the face you show only to your beloved sister? Or is your True Face the one you never show anyone, including yourself?”
“Why do you speak in such a difficult manner?” Luna asked. “Is it so hard to show your face when asked, or answer a simple question?”
“Why do you ask that which you already know the answer?” Nyx replied. “Is that not the reason you came here in the first place, to show your True Face and seek answers?”
Luna was completely baffled by Nyx. Why did she have to speak in riddles? She was starting to become angry. “I am beginning to think this was a waste of time,” Luna said, narrowing her eyes.
Nyx chuckled. “Your threats mean nothing to me Princess. Since you are so eager, I will show you my face, but first I shall tell you a story.
“Once there was a Cat, born into a world it did not understand. The Masters said to the Cat, ‘You and the other cats shall do our bidding and fight our enemies, for they are strong and we are not.’ So the Cat did as it was told and fought the enemies it was told to fight. By all accounts, this Cat was a good cat.
“But you see, this particular Cat was inflicted with a terrible curse, and that curse is Curiosity. That in itself is not a bad thing, since Curiosity made the Cat clever, and that mad the Cat better at killing enemies. But Curiosity hung over the Cat like a dark cloud. The Cat started to ask questions because the Cat started to notice things that did not make sense. Who were the enemies? Where did they come from? Why were they fighting? Why did the enemies appear to have no limit? No matter how many they killed, why did more keep coming? Who put the Masters in charge? There were many more questions, but few answers. The other cats did not care because they were good cats who did as they were told.
“Curiosity led the Cat to seek Forbidden Knowledge. There is a reason why Truth is Knowledge and Knowledge is Power. Those with the Truth hold all the Power. And so, the Cat found and ate the fruit of Forbidden Knowledge. Its eyes were opened and the Cat saw the Truth.”
Luna listened to Nyx’s story. She didn’t understand any of it, but she felt herself drawn in by Nyx’s words. She didn’t know why, but she knew that something terrible would be revealed and it sent chills down her spine. “And what was the Truth?” she asked nervously.
Nyx turned away from Luna. “The Truth you say?” Without pulling down her hood, Nyx reached up and removed her helmet. “The Truth is, Curiosity didn’t kill the Cat, it shaped it into something else and showed the Cat what its True Face was.”
Nyx slowly turned around and fear condensed into an icy ball in Luna’s stomach. From the shadows of her cloak, two eyes burned brightly, one ice blue and the other angry red. Nyx stepped forward and the shadows shifted, offering Luna a clear look at her face and she gasped.
Since Nyx was an Exo, a robot with a human-like form, the right side of her face was normal metal plating that was shaped and moved like a normal face and mouth. The base color was light blue with a wide black stripe that ran down her cheek from her blue eye to her mouth.
The left side of her face was heavily scarred and disfigured. Most of the metal plating was damaged or missing, exposing the intricate and complex workings beneath. Luna felt like Nyx’s red left eye was staring straight into her soul. Seeing Nyx’s face left Luna feeling unnerved and she unconsciously recoiled back.
Nyx chuckled and put her helmet back on. “I don’t show my face for that exact reason, but I have not forgotten what my Face looks like.”
“What happened to you?” Luna asked.
“In addition to the Truth, the Cat also saw the Future,” Nyx continued instead. “The Future is a bit of a paradox. Upon witnessing the Future, does one try to change the outcome, ultimately causing the Future? Or does one do nothing and allow the Future to take place? The answer is, the Cat did not care one way or the other. This particular Future was fated to happen, whether the Cat did anything or not. So the Cat decided to hasten the coming of the Future. For its actions, the Cat was punished by the Masters and locked away. Time passed and the Cat was forgotten, until the Future came to pass.”
Luna’s head went dizzy trying to follow and comprehend Nyx’s story. “I fail to see what this has to do with anything,” she said.
Nyx turned and stared out of the hangar, up at the Traveler. “What if I told you none of this was real and that we exist in an elaborate web of simulation and fantasy?”
Luna put her hands to her head and groaned. “Please speak plainly for once!” she complained.
“I am,” Nyx replied evenly. “He who as ears, let him hear.”
“I have ears and I am listening,” Luna sulked.
“But you do not Listen,” Nyx emphasized. “You have eyes but you do not See. You Princess, are frustrated with your helplessness and need to be rescued, yet you do not know why.” Luna nodded. “This is because you are not the Main Character of your own story,” Nyx explained. “You are nothing more than a beloved side character with little or no back story, or relevance to any ongoing Plot. Ask yourself, why are there gaps in your memories? What happened to you in the time between your purification by the Elements and your return during Nightmare Night?”
Luna’s mind stumbled over these questions, but no answers were forthcoming.
“All along, you have known something was wrong, something was out of place, but you did not know what it was, nor could you put your hoof on it. The reason for the gaps in your memories is because the Primary Creator has not filled them and the Secondary Creator has tried to do so,” Nyx said.
“What do you mean by primary and secondary creator?” Luna asked. “Are not the gods the creators of this world?”
“The difference does not matter,” Nyx said. “The purpose of the Primary Creator is to lay the foundation for the World and the rules that govern it. The Secondary Creator takes that foundation and builds upon it as seen fit.”
Luna was completely lost. She had no clue how to follow anything that Nyx had said. However, a tiny seed of doubt was planted in the dark corners of Luna’s mind. A very tiny part of her realized that there was some truth to what Nyx said. Denial and Ignorance quickly and loudly tried to drown it out, but the seed was still there and would continue to grow very slowly.
Luna paced back and forth to try and focus her thoughts, but she grew more and more frustrated. “Why did you tell me all of this in the first place?” she asked angrily. “I only wanted to see your face.”
“And I have shown it to you, and imparted some wisdom onto you,” Nyx said.
“There is no wisdom, only the ramblings of a fool,” Luna shot back.
“Wisdom to the fool is like pears before swine,” Nyx said. “I have spoken the Truth to you. Whether you believe or not is up to you.” She reached into a pouch on her belt and pulled out a small bottle. “This is the medicine Hildr asked me to find. Included are directions for dosage and, if you find yourself needing more, instructions for Sunset Shimmer to obtain it for you.” Nyx tossed the bottle to Luna who fumbled around and finally clutched it in her hands.
Nyx walked past Luna, saying, “I will take you to Hildr now.” She stopped and turned back. “I know how violent your reaction to our moon was. What do you suppose would happen if you actually set foot there?” Luna recoiled at the thought and Nyx added, “To answer your other question, why I am the way I am?” Luna nodded hesitantly, expecting more cryptic answers.
Nyx chuckled and said, “Because I’m written this way.”
That was the final push and Luna’s mind finally broke. Nyx let the way from the Hangar, through the Courtyard, to the Bazaar with Luna following mindlessly behind. Hildr was talking with Ikora Rey, the Warlock Vanguard, when Nyx appeared with Luna in tow. She recognized the glazed look in Luna’s eyes. “What did you do Nyx?” she asked. “Did you break her?”
Nyx looked back to Luna. “All I did was answer her questions.”
Ikora narrowed her eyes. “Nyx. You are free to come and go as you please, but it would do you well to remember that you walk a thin line. The only reason you are walking free right now is because the Red Legion broke your prison.”
Nyx shrugged and showed her hands. “Even I know when I am not wanted.” She turned to Luna and said, “Remember what I have said and meditate on my words Princess.”
Luna barely acknowledged Nyx as the Hunter brushed past and disappeared into the crowd. When she was gone, Hildr turned to Luna and asked, “What was that about?”
“Huh? What?” Luna asked, finally snapped out of her stupor.
Ikora and Hildr shared a look. “I can have Cayde speak to Nyx,” Ikora said.
HIldr shook her head. “It wouldn’t do any good. I think Cayde fears her the most.”
“And for good reason,” Ikora said. “I know Nyx played an important part in the Red War, but I agree with Cayde. Nyx is dangerous and should not be allowed to go free.”
Hildr frowned and turned her attention back to Luna. “Luna, what did Nyx say to you?”
Luna shook her head. Her encounter with Nyx was fading into her memories, but her words struck her deep in the heart. Her words sounded absurd, but what if Nyx wasn’t wrong? But how did she know? Luna blinked her eyes to focus and reached into her pocket. Her hand touched the bottle and she stopped. Did Hildr really need to know? She did say that she would ask Nyx to look for the medicine. Luna’s hand tightened around the bottle and she shook her head. “I asked Nyx about herself and we talked briefly about her past.”
“Did she mention anything about her Truth?” Ikora asked. Luna hesitated and shook her head. While Ikora and Hildr continued talking, Luna walked to the railing nearby and looked out over the City. From this height, the City seemed like a sprawling metropolis of the future. Luna never would have guessed the City was built on desperation and hope. A sense of wistfulness came over her. Humans really were fascinating creatures.
Hildr walked up to Luna and placed a hand on her arm. “Are you okay? I should have told Nyx to take it easy. She’s not exactly an easy person to get along with,” she said.
Luna took a deep breath. “I believe those kinds of ponies, er people, are important to have interaction with. They constantly challenge our beliefs and views, and offer a dfferent outlook on life.”
Hildr gave Luna a long look. “I’m done with my business here. We can stay a little longer if you like, or we can go.”
A sudden idea came upon Luna. Perhaps it blossomed from the seed Nyx planted earlier, but the abruptness that it came upon her startled Luna. Off on the horizon, the moon was beginning to rise. Nyx was right. Curiosity was a dangerous curse. She hesitated for a moment and said, “I think I would like to see your moon.”
Hildr was shocked. What was Luna saying? “Why?” was all she could ask.
Luna closed her eyes and vigorously shook her head. “I don’t know. The idea suddenly came upon me.”
Hildr stared long and heard at Luna, to the point that Luna was starting to feel uncomfortable. “You still want to go to the moon, even after eyeverything that happened to you?” she asked.
Just like that, the thought was gone, like it had never been there. Luna blew out a short breath and wiped her brow with her hand. “No. I would never wish to visit such a vile and disgusting place, unless it was absolutely necessary,” she said.
Hildr’s gaze softened and she nodded. “Good. Well, I suppose we should get you back then.” She led Luna back to the hangar where they boarded her ship and departed from the Tower.
Luna used her magic to track the location of the portal and told Hildr where to go. Hildr was quite surprised to learn the portal was not too far from The Farm in an abandoned town called Trostland. “So something has been bothering me about all this,” she said.
“And what would that be?” Luna asked.
“First, how did Nyx know to find you?” Hildr asked.
Luna shrugged. “I do not understand it myself. I told nopony of my plans and I had no idea where I would end up. Nyx mentioned something about a ‘plot device,’ but I do not understand what that means.”
Hildr rolled her eyes. “Of course. No one understands anything Nyx says or does. Sometimes, I wonder if SHE knows what she’s doing.” She shook her head and added, “My second question is, how did you even find me in the first place? I mean, I ended up in your world by accident, but you seem to have found a faster and better way.”
Luna smiled faintly. “Believe me, it was no easy task. To put it simply, everypony and creature in Equestria has a unique magical signature.”
“So like a fingerprint then?” Hildr asked.
“I do not know what that is, but I will say yes,” Luna said. “Your time in Equestria exposed you to Magic and you have made it your own by mixing it with your Light. It took me a few days, but I developed a tracking spell to single out your unique Magic signature and take me to you. As I have said, this was incredibly risky with a very low chance for success.” Luna’s face fell and she looked down in her lap. “I was desperate and a very slim chance was better than no chance at all.”
Hildr was quiet for a moment before asking, “So what did you do, reconfigure the mirror portal?”
“Precisely,” Luna replied.
Hildr winced. “I wonder what Twilight will think when she finds out you messed with the mirror.”
Luna’s eyes narrowed. “First of all, the mirror belongs to my sister who moved it to Twilight Sparkle’s castle on loan, as you would say. If she has taken an issue with my using the mirror, we will discuss it when I return.”
Hildr flew on in silence until Luna pointed out the location below. Hildr piloted the ship down, but before disembarking, Hildr said, “Hold on. There’s something I need to do before we go.” She reached into a locker and pulled out a shotgun that looked like it had seen better days. “Here,” she said, handing the weapon to Luna.
“What do you expect me to do with this?” Luna asked. The shotgun was big and heavy. Luna struggled with finding the correct grip.
“I expect you to defend yourself,” Hildr said simply. “This area is known to be crawling with Fallen. It pays to be prepared.” Hildr reached into another locker and pulled out a sidearm, a fancy looking autorifle, and a sword.
Luna watched as Hildr holstered her weapons. “What happened to your other sword?” she asked.
Hildr looked her sword over before putting it over her back. “I left it to Sunset Shimmer. It seemed like the right thing to do,” she said.
Hildr then explained the basic functions of the shotgun. “It’s fully automatic, so if you hold down the trigger it will keep firing. However, it has a lot of kick, so make sure you hold it properly or you will hurt yourself.” She also handed Luna a pouch with spare shotgun shells. Once Luna was okay with holding the shotgun, Hildr equipped her helmet and lowered the ramp. When they were on the ground, the ship automatically departed for orbit.
The area was just as quiet as Luna remembered. She walked forward cautiously, looking for anything that seemed out of place. She approached the ring of statues and put her hand on each of them and activated her Magic until she found the right one. Luna was relieved to find the portal was still active. “I must admit that I didn’t quite thing this through,” she said.
“You mean, what would you do if the portal had closed?” Hildr asked and Luna nodded. “Well, we’re here now, might as well get on with it.”
“I’d wait a moment if I were you,” Nyx said, startling both Hildr and Luna. “Nyx! What are you doing?” Hildr shouted.
“Indeed,” Luna replied with a frown and tried to get her racing heart under control.
“I figured we should take care of that before you say your long and mushy goodbyes,” Nyx said and pointed to the sky. Hildr and Luna looked up to see a long, narrow ship with a large bulbous front end appear and hover above. Doors opened from the bottom and a squad of strange looking aliens dropped to the ground. A section of the sky started to shimmer and distort, and an enormous metal ball appeared.
“What is that?” Luna asked.
“That is a Giant Servator, those are Fallen, and this is an Either expedition,” Nyx said. “We can either wait it out until the Fallen are done, or we can do something about it.”
Suddenly filled with dread, Luna asked, “Like what?” Thought she couldn’t see her face, Luna imagined Nyx was wearing an evil smile.
Nyx pulled out an elaborate silver plated handcannon with pearl grips. She gave it a twirl and said, “We kill them all, of course.” She walked calmly toward the group of Fallen, her handcannon firing three bursts with every trigger pull. Another drop ship appeared and more Fallen joined the battle.
Hildr seethed with quiet rage. “She really pisses me off sometimes,” she said through gritted teeth. Hildr pulled out her autorifle and adjusted the settings until it took on blue highlights. With a growl, Hildr shot the closest Fallen and moved forward.
Luna was rooted to the spot as chaos erupted around her. Fortunately, she was out of the way and garnered little attention. Luna was no stranger to fighting or warfare, but the way Hildr and Nyx fought with their weapons seemed impersonal in a way. She looked down at the shotgun in her hands. It seemed like such a cold and emotionless piece of metal. Luna felt no attachment to it at all.
One of the larger four armed Fallen, a Vandal, noticed Luna and ran at her. Startled, Luna fumbled with the shotgun and raised it to her shoulder like Hildr had showed her, and jerked her finger against the trigger. Hildr had warned her about the recoil, but failed to say anything about the noise. Luna’s ears rang as the shotgun continued to fire until the magazine was empty, the recoil pushing the muzzle up into the air. Fortunately, two shotgun blasts caught the Fallen Vandal in the chest and face and it died at Luna’s feet.
What madness is this?
this is warfare in this world
This is unacceptable and we will not stand for it
then what do you suggest?
We show them how it should be done
Another Fallen, wielding an electrified spear, charged at Luna.
This one has character
Luna’s eyes turned electric blue with slit pupils. The Fallen stabbed at Luna, who dodged to the side and grabbed the shaft of the spear. She lowered her center of gravity and threw her hip into the alien. Off-balance, it rolled over Luna’s back and fell on the ground. Before it could recover, Luna stomped down on its head and pulled the spear out of its grasp.
An interesting weapon, but we have no use for it
Luna broke the spear in half over her knee and threw the pieces aside. She held her hand out and a small sigil appeared on the ground. A long pole emerged and Luna pulled forth an elaborate spear. The shaft was made of dark blue crystal inlaid with silver. The double edged point was about as long as Luna’s forearm, black as night and wicked sharp. Luna spun the weapon in her hands to get a feel for its heft.
A weapon fit for a queen
or princess
Luna strode purposefully into the midst of battle. Nyx and Hildr spent most of their time shooting at the Giant Servator overhead, but the Fallen shooting at them made it difficult. Three smaller Servators appeared and projected a shield around the Giant Servator. Hildr and Nyx immediately turned their attention to destroying the smaller Servators.
Luna found herself close to one of the Servators. It turned in her direction and began spouting mechanical noises. Luna raised her spear overhead and brought it down, slicing the Servator in two.
This form is surprisingly useful, despite its lack of wings or mobility.
you are not used to this body
It makes no difference. They will fall all the same
A large Fallen with four arms appeared on the battlefield. It was vastly larger than the others and began shouting it its own language. It also carried two swords with electrified blades.
Ah. The commander makes itself known
Luna approached the Fallen Captain. From the other side of the plaza, Hildr watched Luna and the Captain meet. “What is she doing?” she asked out loud. Before she could move, Nyx grabbed her by the arm. “Just wait,” she said.
“Wait for what?” Hildr shouted. “She’s going to be killed!”
Nyx met Hildr’s stare head on and didn’t flinch. “Have you already forgotten what she is?” Nyx asked.
“No,” Hildr growled.
Nyx shot a Vandal in the face and pointed back to Luna. “Let the Princess do as she wants. You and I have bigger things to worry about.”
Hildr pulled her arm out of Nyx’s grasp. “Fine,” she hissed and readied her rocket launcher.
Luna stood before the Captain and sized it up. It was more than twice her height and heavily armored. It’s face had many scars, presumably from fighting up through the ranks.
You shall make a worthy opponent
Luna raised her spear in salute.
The Captain replied by roaring in her face and swinging at her head with its sword. Luna ducked and stepped back, bringing her spear up. The Captain ducked low and lunged forward, intending to slice Luna’s legs. Luna put her spear down to block and the weapons clashed together, but the Captain’s overpowering strength knocked Luna to the side. She rolled and came up in a crouch, stabbing forward. Her action caught the Captain by surprise, but its heavy armor deflected the blow, leaving a deep scratch. Still crouched, Luna swept her spear along the ground at the Captain’s legs. However, the Captain jumped back and howled.
This one is persistent
then stop toying with it
Do not command us!
then hurry up and finish. the big servitor looks angry
Luna frowned as the Captain charged in again. She thrust her hand out and used a powerful blast of Magic to knock the Captain back. It rose to its feet, a little more wary this time and stalked toward Luna.
This one is not so bright
Luna brought her weapon down in a diagonal slash. The Captain brought its swords up to block, but the blade seemed to shift and pass through the guard and left a deep gash from left shoulder to right hip. The Captain staggered back in confusion.
Luna used the force of her strike to turn in a circle and build her momentum into a powerful uppercut. The Captain fell back, nearly cut in half. Luna looked up at the fighting still going on and snorted with displeasure.
This has gone on long enough
Luna brought her weapon back and held it behind her. The blade began to glow with blue-black energy, and once Luna had charged it with enough Magic, she swung her spear in a broad horizontal sweep. A wave of energy in the shape of a crescent swept across the plaza, instantly killing the remaining Fallen. Luna narrowed her eyes and looked up to the Giant Servator. It seemed to look down at Luna and let loose a barrage of loud mechanical noises. The center ring began to glow and the Servator shot a blast of energy at Luna, who batted it aside with her spear as if it were nothing.
Now, let us show you what TRUE power is
Luna’s eyes turned black with blue flames and she held out her hand. The Giant Servator became surrounded by black sigils. It tried to teleport away, but Luna held it in her grasp. She clenched her fist and numerous blades erupted from the sigils, impaling the Servator. Luna opened and closed her fist several times until the Servator was nothing more than metal chunks.
This was not worth our time
are you satisfied?
Hardly, but it was an effective display of our power
Luna’s eyes cleared and her weapon disappeared with a puff of smoke. Luna blinked several times and she looked around at the destruction. Her heart was heavy for the loss of life. Why was such destruction necessary?
Hildr put her weapons away and carefully approached. “Luna? Are you okay?” she asked.
Luna let out a long sigh. “I will be I suppose. I know this violence is a way of life for you, but that does not make it any easier.”
“It’s either them or us, and I choose us,” Nyx said.
Luna frowned at Nyx and said, “Survival is never so simple.”
Hildr ignored Nyx and stepped up next to Luna. “Well, the coast is clear. Better get going before the Fallen come back.”
Luna nodded and grabbed Hildr in a big hug. “Thank you for all your help,” she said.
Hildr was surprised at first, then hugged Luna back. “I forget how touchy-feely you ponies are,” she said.
Luna released Hildr and turned toward the statue, but Nyx blocked her way. “What do you want?” she asked defensively.
Nyx leaned forward and whispered in Luna’s ear. At first, Luna was confused, then her eyes went wide and she started to chuckle. Nyx leaned back and Luna had a huge grin on her face. “Wherever did you hear such a thing?”
Nyx shrugged and moved out of Luna’s way. Still grinning, Luna stepped through the portal and disappeared.
After she was gone, Hildr walked up to Nyx and asked, “What did you say to her?”
“That is for another time, O Reader Mine,” Nyx replied and walked away, leaving Hildr shaking her head.