//------------------------------// // Bright New Midnight // Story: Imperial Revision // by The Sound of Loneliness //------------------------------// Rarity smiled and took the offered hoof. Such a rare event that a lady gets a proper invitation. But Lieutenant Stormbreaker was just that kind of a pony. He danced exquisitely too! The hall exploded in claps as they finished! But then the alarm clock went off. Rarity turned sideways in her bed and reached for the clock. The designer mare, then, decided to have a few more minutes. “Meow.” Opalescence hopped onto the bed. “Rats…” Rarity cursed, fending off the furry alarm clock. No turning this one off. “Opal, have mercy. Can’t you… I don’t know, catch yourself a mouse.” But Opal was completely and utterly merciless. The Empress needed to eat. “Ah… alright,” Rarity surrendered to the hairy tyrant and picked herself up. Duty doesn’t wait a minute. Rarity opened one of the drawers and filled Opal’s bowl. “There, dear. Now let me ju-” “Rarity, you got a minute?” The door got bashed inside, knocking the rest of the sleep off Rarity. Rarity barely managed to restrain herself from saying something not pretty, “Oh, sorry. Thought you would be up by now.” “Cloudy, just… give me ten minutes.” “Right.” The door closed again. Well, if it was Cloudy Dawn, then it was important. Better get started. Wasting no time, Rarity began fixing herself up. As much as she could in ten minutes, anyway. With her mane, somewhat, in shape, the time came for the uniform. Rarity awarded the purple jacket with a dreary look. It may be of her own design, but wearing the same thing each day for several years straight was still far from pleasant. Rarity remembered the dress she was wearing in the dream, when even was the last time she got to wear one of those evening dresses? Ah, to Tartarus with it. Rarity picked up a few fabric rolls and got to her sewing machine, allowing the inspiration from the dream to guide her. Hmm… maybe not as majestic as the original, but a lot more practical instead. Well, maybe a bit too simplistic. Rarity absolutely had to do something with it later, but for now, it will do. Rarity swiftly got into her newly stitched creation and hurried to the door, remembering to give Opal the parting look. “Rarity, finally!” Cloudy Dawn jumped to her as soon as she left her room. “You bide your time! Oh, Rarity, the uniform.” “Cloudy, dear, let’s just not talk about that. What’s on the line?” Rarity hurried the Minister up. “Well, first some good news: things kinda normalised after the speech yesterday. Bats are still haired up a bit, but they won’t go against her will. High Priestess… damn, what was her name?” “Um... Dreamy Tears,” Rarity remembered. “Right, so she gave a speech of her own urging her flock to obey Her Majesty, as they always did. I think it’s safe to assume that since the Hag orders them to accept Princess Celestia being with us again, bats will.” “Cloudy, that’s wonderful news!” Rarity smiled. “Don’t relax just yet. The Hag calls for you and it doesn’t look like she's in a good mood tonight.” Cloudy gestured Rarity to follow and began trotting down the palace’s corridor. “Don’t worry though, I’ll collect your pieces after she sees you like this,” Cloudy pointed at the dress with her eyes. “Is she angry?” “Well, maybe that too. You can never tell with her until she claws on you. "She looks dazed. Like her mind is somewhere else. She forgot she even called for me, imagine that.” “She was like that ever since Her Highness returned, Cloudy,” Rarity said with a sad smirk. “Hmm...” “How is Her Highness?” “She smiles and waves as usual, but she rarely speaks to anyone but Princess Twilight and Her Majesty. Especially to the Guards. They are reaaally tense around her now. Well, can’t blame them. We still didn’t repair the palace after your pegasus friend raided it in her name.” Cloudy had to stop for a moment to show her pass at the guardpost. “She keeps awfully close too,” Cloudy continued. “Never lets Her Majesty out of sight for long. She even sleeps during daylight now. I bet Guards are thinking she somehow bewitched the Empress.” “Actually, what time is it?” Rarity remembered she hadn’t bothered to check. “11:23 PM” Cloudy answered, looking at her watch. “So, they’re having breakfast now,” Rarity confidently guessed. “They should be, if Her Majesty didn’t forget the time too.” “Thanks, sweety, I’ll go now. Catch you later,” Rarity quickened to the dining hall. Dazed or not, the Empress called for her. “Rarity, wait. One more thing. You think you can still make for the Royal Gallery reopening? One good thing changelings brought us is that the event had to be postponed because of the war.” “Oh... yes,” Rarity had completely forgotten her promise, luckily Chrysalis bailed her out of that. “I’ll ask her.” “Right, see ya.” Rarity took off, winding through the halls and saying “hello” to the staff along the way. The new Captain appeared to be even more paranoid than the previous. Guards were supposed to be armed at all times now. Rarity would have to protest, this just begs for an accident. Rarity nodded to the two guards guarding the dining hall doors and slipped in. Immediately she was frozen in place by the two, unblinking eye slits. Her Empress studied her from head to hooves. Her two Princesses quickly found Rarity too and the servants picked up on all of that. All in complete silence. Rarity sweated, this wasn’t the kind of attention she was used to. Nightmare Moon blinked and slowly nodded to her, looking away afterwards. Rarity heard the staff starting to shuffle again: false alarm. Princess Celestia too had nodded to her from her place at the table. Twilight waved to her. Rarity took a deep breath and approached awaiting Twilight. “Hi, Rarity,” the youngest Princess quietly greeted her. “Hoped I could catch you-” “Rarity,” an insistent summon arrived from the far end of the table. Twilight gestured Rarity to obey. Rarity swiftly trotted over. “Yes, Your Majesty?” Rarity cautiously asked. Nightmare Moon blinked several times and looked away again. “Your Majesty?” “I need you to arrange something for me,” she slowly spoke. “Of course, Your Majesty,” Rarity instinctively made a step towards the door, but then remembered she didn’t hear the order yet. “I and Princess Celestia will be visiting Crystal Empire in three days for the Night of Imperial Unity, arrange the travel for us. But first, find Shadow Crest in Moonlight Gardens and tell her to report to me. Go,” Nightmare Moon instructed Rarity. Oddly enough, the Empress didn’t seem interested much in her own orders. “It will be done, Your Majesty. Is there anything else?” Rarity knew the answer, but still asked just in case. “No, Rarity. Proceed.” Rarity dared not to object and made it to the door, being followed by Princess Celestia’s grim look. She didn’t bother to wear the smiling mask for Rarity. Luckily, Rarity knew exactly where in the Gardens Shadow Crest would be. The Gardens were Rarity’s favourite place in the whole palace after all. She made a mental note to bring Fluttershy over some time. She must see the night-blooming flowers gathered from all corners of Equestria and beyond. But that had to wait. Rarity found Shadow and, surprisingly enough, Rainbow Dash together at the memorial dedicated to the Changeling War, installed in the garden. The war itself was quick and almost painless, especially compared to the last one. Rarity shivered. The memorial had no more than a few thousand names inscribed on it. Changelings couldn’t say the same. The occupation administration didn't have even a remote idea on the numbers yet. “Miss Rarity!” the disguised changeling greeted her. “Oh, hi,” Rainbow followed the example. “Hello to you both!” Rarity warmly smiled, “Were you having a little heart to heart?” “Well, you can say that,” Rainbow admitted. “We kinda started on the wrong hoof back there in the hive. Turns out, Shadow is alright. Though, I don’t get her love for the Hag.” “Rainbow!” Rarity exclaimed, outraged. “Will you stop calling her that already?” Rainbow shrugged. “Miss Rarity, I think Mistress and Lieutenant Dash came to terms,” Shadow stepped in. “Hah!” Rainbow smiled. “I kinda like you more with each minute spent together! Now we gotta beat this “Mistress” nonsense out of your head...” “Shadow, Her Majesty wants to see you,” Rarity finally delivered. Shadow nodded. “Been a pleasure Lieutenant.” “Hey, it’s Rainbow for friends.” “Am I?” Shadow curiously asked. “Well, I think yeah. Just don’t hit me next time. Oh, by the way, your shapeshifting thing is cool as hay. I totally bought your Starcall impression back there, it’s was like you knew her for ages.” “I di-” “Shadow, go already!” Rarity hurried. “I need Rainbow for something before she gets back to her unit. Oh, actually, do you still have Applejack with you, Rainbow?” “Eh, no. She already went back to the Acres. Guess soldiering ain’t her thing after all.” Shadow decided not to eavesdrop any further, it wasn’t polite. Especially considering she wasn’t ordered to. Her Mistress always waited for Shadow in her quarters, so the changeling could have no other destination. As usually, the Guards were sent away for their meeting. Shadow checked the stairway, nopony must follow her, and slipped in. Shadow found her Mistress standing in the middle of the room, staring at the old, crackled helmet cast from blue steel. The Mistress was contemplating. Shadow quietly closed the door and stood by it, waiting to be noticed. She didn’t mind the wait, this was one of the rare moments when she got to observe the mare she was devoted to. She was beautiful! Perfectly black, velvet, coat; the waving mane with the woven into it, a posture even Miss Rarity can only dream of... She didn’t even wear her crown and jewels this time. Both were stowed away on the desk… the desk, from which the crackled helmet was now slowly rising. Like in a trance, the Empress turned her helmet around and began slowly pulling it towards her head. “Mistress!” Shadow called. Nightmare Moon froze in place, dropping the helmet on the floor. She, then, slowly turned her head to the side to look at the intruder. “Y-you called,” Shadow hastily bowed. “Ah... yes. My Shadow, I need you to deliver a letter for me,” Nightmare Moon gestured at the sealed envelope on the same desk. “Certainly, Mistress. Where shall I travel?” Shadow readily asked. “To Princess Mi Amore. Deliver the letter, conduct recon and report your findings. Cadance will be busy preparing for my visit, giving you an opening. As always, your identity must remain a secret. Disguise yourself as an imperial courier, you may procure the necessary document yourself.” Nightmare Moon, having finished instructing her agent, turned away. Shadow knew what this meant and took the letter. But she noticed her Mistress was tense. “Mistress, is something bothering you?” Shadow humbly queried. “You know you can always tell me, Mistress. I will take care of everything. I never fail you.” “Shadow...” Nightmare Moon picked up her helmet and placed it back on the desk. “My Shadow, why do you keep following me? Am I really this much better than your Queen?” “Mistress, what question is this?” the changeling was confused on how to answer. “...She is not my Queen anymore, Mistress.” Shadow deeply bowed, “My loyalty is only to you now.” “No, my Shadow. Not that.” Nightmare Moon turned back to the changeling gesturing her to rise, “Why did you choose me over her?” “Eh… Mistress, the Queen was unworthy. Selfish and cowardly, she was unfit to rule. She brought ruin to us.” "I was the one who killed them, Shadow," the reminder arrived. "You did what you had to, Mistress. Our Queen attacked your land and forced your hoof." “Hmm...” Nightmare Moon looked back at her helmet again, “And you think I still make a better sovereign?” “I know you do, Mistress!” Shadow enthusiastically confirmed. “I saw what you do for your subjects! You are nothing like the Queen! You are wise, Mistress. Your subjects rest assured under your rule.” “Is this so? Then why do they quiver at my approach, my Shadow? Didn’t I do enough to show my goodwill? Even those who willingly follow me dare not to look me in the eyes. Why do they not react to Celestia in the same way?” “Mistress, Princess Celestia had a thousand years. Your subjects will see reason, eventually.” Nightmare Moon produced a long, sad, sigh. “I hope you are right, my Shadow. Luna tells me the same thing every night, but I still find this hard to believe in.” “Mistress, I do not understand,” Shadow admitted. “What troubles you? Why won’t your ponies see the wonders you made for them? How can they not? ...How can I help?” Nightmare Moon, with a weary sigh, sat down on the floor, “Come here, my Shadow,” she ordered. Shadow readily obeyed. Nightmare Moon, in a sharp move, grasped her most loyal subject, pulling her in an embrace. “M-mistress?” Shadow felt the sudden panic overtaking her. “Shhh...” Nightmare Moon softly whirred. “Let me just hold you for a moment. Thank you for being here for me, Shadow.” “...Always, Mistress.” Someone knocked on the door. Nightmare Moon sighed. The knock repeated. “Yes?” She let her Shadow go; who immediately disguised herself as Rarity. “Your Majesty, you have an urgent visitor!” “Who? I have none scheduled today.” “Queen Novo, Your Majesty. She just landed at the palace with her suite.” “Aghh… I will be with her in a moment. Inform Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight.” “Your Majesty,” swift steps signalled the messenger's departure. Nightmare Moon turned back to her Shadow. “Get on with your assignment. It seems the Empress can now be dictated when she receives her visitors,” Nightmare Moon, swiftly trotted to the mirror and began vividly brushing her coat and mane. “Yes, Your Majesty!” Shadow left her Mistress’ quarters with a wide smile.