//------------------------------// // Old Wounds - New Pain // Story: Lessons in the Moonlight // by Harmony Split //------------------------------// Chapter Twenty-Five: Old Wounds - New Pain I don’t know how long I waited with Luna in front of the medical wing. As soon as we dropped Twilight and Fire Breeze off, the doctor shooed us out, telling us to wait while they were doing their best for them. While I did try to argue, Luna quickly told me that we would likely just get in the way of things. “I guess that means I won’t get Night Breeze?” I tried to joke half-heartedly, but it was apparently lost on Luna. “We do not know. Fire Breeze attacked a princess of Equestria. This will have consequences, but let us not speak of this. We have to wait and see.” There was no long waiting time. The first thing that told us the wait was over was the heat that started to build up. It was getting warmer and warmer, and we both shared a look before the source rounded the corner. I hadn’t seen Celestia that furious in a long time. “Where is she?” she snapped. “Sister, calm down,” Luna spoke first, trying to lay a calming wing on her sister’s back, just to quickly withdraw it with a sharp inhale of air. “They are both in there, getting treated by the doctors.” There was nothing but fire in her eyes as she focused on her. “No! This was the last straw! I kept a blind eye for too long. All her wild parties, ignored. This is too much!” I felt the heat singe my coat as she spat her next words. “She attacked something most dear to me. I nearly lost her! NOT AGAIN!” “Celestia, shut up for a second!” I screamed, before blushing as both princesses looked at me with wide eyes. “Ehm, sorry. But there is also my Twilight in there, hurt, so I know how you feel. We need to be level headed and find out what went wrong!” I stopped for a second, rubbing my head before continuing. “I never gave Fire Breeze any signals that she would have hope to get me back, but we know she was always a fiery mare. And the most important thing now is also that Twilight was able to defend herself and survive the bombs, while also rescuing most of the library.” “She is right, you know,” Luna threw in, just to be glared at by Celestia. “I want to go in there.” “The doctors even denied me entry,” Luna scoffed before patting her sister on the back with a wing. “They told us to wait so we wait.” Celestia scowled, but quickly sagged to the floor, sighing. “It’s new for you to be the reasonable one, dear sister.” “What is that supposed to mean!?” “That sometimes you forget there is a head on your long neck, Lulu,” I added, snickering. “I just wonder about one thing that came to my mind,” Celestia hummed, likely deep in thought. “I know she got the defensive spells from me, but where did she get all the offensive spellwork from? I never taught her any of that, and from the looks of the library, she unleashed a few powerful attacks herself.” Luna slowly lifted her hoof. “That would be my work. After Tirek, she asked me about the magic she used against him. I decided to lay some groundwork in offensive magic, and likely she built up on it. I just hope she wasn’t the one that I lent my book on shadow spells.” “You hope it wasn’t her?” Celestia gritted her teeth. “Well, we were talking in my quarters, and maybe I was a moment or two unfocused while lowering the moon. A few days later, I noticed the book in another space on the shelves.” I snorted. “I’m sure it wasn’t Twilight, then. I think we all know her: the book would’ve been back in its place perfectly.” “True,” Celestia agreed. “I still remember the time we reorganized the library, just to check in a bit later to find all the books back in their old place. Including a seriously offended Twilight.” “Never mess with her Books,” was all I could answer before the doors opened. “Princesses, Captain,” the doctor bowed before us. “Princess Twilight is awake and stable. Captain Fire Breeze sadly not.” “What do you mean?” Luna asked. “She sustained heavy wounds, likely from being tossed around or crushed with a heavy weight. Additionally, she sustained lots of deep wounds from overpowered magic, of some type we can’t identify. While asleep, her status is highly unstable and we don’t know when she will be awake. “Some groundwork, did you say?” Celestia slowly turned to Luna, who blanched considerably. “I think I can guess the kind of magic Fire Breeze got hit with.” Turning to the doctor, she added. “The captain needs to be treated against an overflow of shadow magic.” The doctor's eyes went wide and stole a look at Luna, before bowing and retreating back into the room, but not without adding. “You can go in and see Princess Twilight. We will separate the other bed and continue working.” It wasn’t something I needed to be told twice, rushing in and to Twilight’s side. She smiled softly and yelped in pain as I hugged her. “I’m so, so sorry for leaving you alone with that idiot!” “Heh, I’m a big pony after all,” Twilight chuckled, before yelping again. “Could you stop murdering me now, please?” “Sorry, sorry,” I stepped back, sheepishly looking down. “I’m just happy you’re okay.” Twilight grimaced at that, wiggling a bit before groaning. “I think the first bomb still burned all my feathers and the fur on my back away,” she said, trying to look at her wings, even though they were heavily bandaged. “Indeed,” a voice behind the curtain on the other side of the room answered. “We accelerated the regrow with magic, and you should be fine in three to five days, but please still avoid aggravating the areas or moving the bandages.” “Sorry, doctor,” Twilight said, before looking at me. “She is crazy. I don’t know exactly what happened to her in all the time after she emerged from the stars, but I think she was only after you the entire time.” Luna hummed. “She never showed any signs. Yes, she sometimes asked about Night Glider, but since I knew nothing about her whereabouts in the beginning, those questions quickly stopped.” “She showed pretty clear signs on our visit that she wanted me without any questions asked, no matter how,” I snorted. “I told her time after time that it wouldn’t happen, that even if she was still my first love, Twilight was my everything and she wouldn’t get me back.” “There is one important question,” Celestia added, so far silent. “Is she really mad, or just lovesick? I would like to find out, but it is a risky idea I have.” “Let us hear that plan of yours, sister,” Luna rolled her eyes. “It would be a surprise if any schemes, plans, or ideas of yours would not pose any risk.” The white alicorn’s cheeks reddened, but she coughed politely. “Now you do me a disservice, dear sister. My proposal would be to make Moonlit Sparks acting captain.” We all perked up at that, but then she dropped the literal iron into the fire. “And let Night Breeze as well as Fire Breeze serve under Night Glider in Twilight’s guard as well as take the proposed additional soldiers from the lunar and solar forces.” Silence reigned in the room, only broken by the words and actions of the medical ponies behind the curtain of the other side of the room. Then Luna spoke up, blanched. “You can not be serious! This will end in a blood bath.” “She is right. While she might listen to my orders, she’ll probably try to kill Twilight again, so she’s my only choice in partner,” I butted in. “Plus, I doubt Twilight is playing this game.” “I’m in.” “Wait, what?!” Luna and I both asked at the same time, me nearly screaming as I continued. “She tried to kill you! Is that getting into your head? If not for some old, stupid feelings, I would’ve ended her life in the library!” “You what?” Luna glared at me, while Celestia nodded. “I can understand that. If it was me and not you arriving at the library, I would’ve likely felt the same.” Twilight looked surprised at that and Celestia smiled. “What? After all those years being my faithful student and now my friend at the same level, how could I not cherish you like my daughter?” Twilight blushed heavily at that, and I let out a sigh. “Be that as it may, it won’t change the fact that she’s still gonna fight over me.” “What makes you think she won’t back off, knowing Twilight is stronger than her?” Celestia asked me. “I’m sure it only went so well the first time because she surprised Twilight, otherwise we wouldn’t be having this conversation. I think this will be a suitable punishment and keep her a bit in check before Luna continues to groom her.” “Do I have to decide this now?” We all looked surprised at Twilight, who had a grim look on her face. “What? It’s my guard, and I’m a princess, so it’s my decision.” Celestia smiled proudly while Luna and I shared a look. This was far from over, but it was yet to be determined how much worse it could get. “This is all fine and dandy, but now you should leave my patient alone,” the doctor spoke up behind us, sweat on his forehead. “She needs rest if she wants to leave this bed in a few days, but you can come back tomorrow.” It looked like Twilight wanted to protest, but I leaned down and gave her a soft kiss on the lips, one she was quick to respond to in kind. Maybe, maybe the kiss went on far longer than it should have and only a cough from Celestia made us separate quickly, but it was needed nonetheless. “Sleep well, relax, and I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said softly, planting a small, last kiss on her muzzle before following the other princesses out of the room. “I need a strong cider…” *** “This, this will be a disaster,” I spat loudly, slamming my cider down on the bar and getting more than a few nasty looks. “Why are we here again, Lulu?” Luna massaged her side with a hoof before sighing. “To clear your mind and talk without my sister.” She looked around the rather fancy establishment she had chosen. “Maybe next time I’ll search for a bar outside the nobles artisan district.” I giggled. “Yes, but you are the princess.” Waving a hoof, I put my snout up. “You have to keep at least a bit of decorum, don’t you? But seriously, I think Celestia is more concerned about Twilight and the library, so I doubt she’d bother us much.” “Honestly?” I looked down. “I am unable to read Celestia. Back in our time, yes. Now?” I shrugged. “I have no idea what’s going on in her mind or what she’s planning, but I have the feeling it’s one of the long games again.” Luna nodded, taking a sip of her own mug. “I fear the same, but there is no way of knowing without her telling or involving you. It’s a bad habit she even puts on in front of me.” “So we just let her play her little game?” It wasn’t a particularly pleasant thought, but it seemed like I had no choice but to watch and wait. Trying to take another sip, I noticed that I had already drunk all of it. Again. “Can I have another one?” “I think you have had enough, Nighty.” “Please, Lulu?” I added my best puppy eyes, blinking charmingly until she groaned in defeat. “I’m not going to carry you home!” “You don’t have to. Besides…” I smacked my lips, looking at her with a grin. “I remember a young princess being smashed more often than not before the war, and her strong, daring captain had to carry her home and tuck her into her bed.” Luna blushed heavily, something she tried to fight with her counter. “And I remember a young captain having no problem getting me drunk and then into my bed.” Now it was my turn to blush, and I hid behind my mug, mumbling, “That was looong ago. Alright, enough with the teasing. We need a plan.” “I hope you have assembled one, my dear captain, because I have nothing that wouldn’t annoy Twilight or anger my sister.” She took another sip before continuing. “One idea of mine would be to subject Fire Breeze to one of the old punishments, but my sister wouldn’t allow it. The other would be to put her into the dungeons for attacking a princess of Equestria.” I nodded, my head nearly hitting the counter. “Yeah, none of that would make the two mares happy…” For no reason, I suddenly had a thought. “Do you think Celestia’s jealous?” Luna looked at me for a long, long time, and I was nearly sure she would never answer, just look at me. After what seemed like an hour, she got up and her magic grabbed me, pulling me up with her. “You’re drunk. We go.” “Hey!” I wiggled around. “I’m serious!” “You might be now, but in any other state you would notice that you spoke senseless stuff.” “Did you never think that Celestia saw more in Twilight than family?” Luna stopped dead in her tracks and looked straight at me, a scowl on her face. “I asked her this question once, and I regret it. Believe me that Celestia sees in Twilight nothing other than her precious student that is like a daughter to her. And you had better refrain from asking her yourself; she is rather touchy on those assertions.” “I don’t want to lose Twilight.” I hung my head as Luna continued to carry me outside and to the castle. “You are speaking dumb things, Night Glider.” It seemed she was really annoyed with me now. Honestly? I had no idea where that question came from. Maybe I had a cider or two too much. “There is no shame in worrying, Nighty,” Luna continued, softer. “But you have to keep watch that negative emotions don’t capture your heart. Be happy for the strong and young love you two have, and foster it. There might come a time when you will be tested, whether you wish it or not.” “That sounded like a bad omen.” “Maybe it was,” she ended the conversation. We didn’t come far before we stepped up to Night Breeze, fully clad in her parade uniform, saluting to Luna. I nearly had to snicker at that, but Luna only raised an eyebrow. “Sergeant, how can I help you?” “I ask for permission to take the role of acting captain of your guard, my princess. I have to clear my name thanks to the actions of my irresponsible and treacherous sister,” Night Breeze answered with stoic and strong voice. Luna sighed. “I’m sorry, Night, but the matter is not done being discussed, and your sister still remains unconscious in the medical wing. If you’d wait-” “Luna, why wait,” she was cut off now by Night Breeze, who was showing her emotions now: pure rage. “She tried to kill a princess of Equestria. She should be banished in the best case.” There was a pause before she spat, “Or better even, executed.” “Luna, let me down,” I growled, and she did, albeit still supporting me a little as I approached Night Breeze. “Why are you so angry? You never really questioned her before. Even as she achieved the rank you both wanted. Why now?” “Because she destroyed my chance to become something else. Without her name pushing mine. Without the support of my so-called family. Now she has destroyed our name, our history, and everything we fought for.” “You are still to be transferred under my command,” I stated bluntly, ignoring the surprised look from Luna. “That is sure, trust me.” That seemed to be news she didn’t expect, and she looked from Luna to me and back more than one time before shuffling on her hooves. “Are you sure, captain?” I smiled and went to pat her, just to trip over my own hooves and land muzzle first on the pavement. “Yes, Night Breeze. I’m sure,” I groaned. It wasn’t rendered any better by the roaring laughter that followed from both Luna and Night Breeze, the latter rolling on the floor laughing, not caring that her uniform got dirty. “Yeah, laugh it up you two,” I sighed. “Can somepony be so nice now and release me from my misery? I prefer the wingblades through my neck please.” “Oh don’t be so dramatic, Nighty,” Luna laughed, picking me back up. “We all need a good laugh once in a while.” “Indeed,” Night Breeze added before bowing. “Captain, Princess, thank you. I’ll take my leave, then.” I tried to smile and nod, but my muzzle still hurt. Luna just called after the mare. “Enjoy your day off, and make sure you can still walk tomorrow!” “Was that necessary?” “Absolutely, Nighty, absolutely.” I groaned, hanging my head. How was this my life? And it was about to get much, much more interesting.