//------------------------------// // A Visit from Luna // Story: Kyra Blade 2: Into the Badlands // by Kuromi Blue //------------------------------// Kyra wasn't sure how long she had been out for. All she knew was that when she woke up, she found herself lying on the couch. Sitting up, she rubbed the back of her head, which was aching somewhat after her fall. She could hear talking. Glancing towards the kitchen area, Kyra froze, her jaw hitting the floor in shock. Both Princess Luna and Starlight Glimmer were sitting at the kitchen table, talking. And... they were smiling. Kyra blinked twice, and then smacked a hoof across her own face. Nope. They were still there. This wasn't a dream. Nor was she dead, apparently. This was real. Everything was just... fine. Kyra sank back onto the couch cushions, sighing with relief and closing her eyes again. A few moments later, she heard hoofsteps, then felt a hoof on her shoulder. Opening her eyes, she grinned sheepishly as she realized that it was Luna. Her mentor smiled back. Without saying anything, the pair walked over to the kitchen table. Still slightly shaky from earlier, Kyra quickly reached for a chair and sat down next to Starlight, smiling somewhat awkwardly. "So, um... I guess everything's fine?" Luna nodded. "Yes. Starlight has explained everything." Kyra blinked. "Wait. So you know about the diamond dogs and... and everything?" "Yes." "And you're not angry that I lied to you?" "Mmm, nope." "Seriously?" Kyra said. "You're not even a little angry?" Luna shook her head. "No. Granted I was surprised when I realized what must have happened, but now that I understand why, I'm not." She smiled. "You saved her life, Kyra." "She's done more than that, actually." Starlight reached over and took Kyra's hoof in hers. Kyra blushed. "She saved me from myself." Those last words pulled at something in Luna's heart. She saved me from myself. Luna knew exactly what Starlight was talking about, for Twilight had done the same for her. Once when she had restored Luna from her nightmare form, and again when she saved her from the Tantabus. Small wonder then, she mused, that these two have fallen in love. Twilight. Luna's eyes bulged slightly as she remembered. She had almost forgotten that Twilight was in dire need of help. She could see that Kyra had picked up on her quiet dress. "What is it you need from me, Luna." "It's Twilight Sparkle," Luna said. "She and her friends have been taken captive. By Queen Chrysalis." Starlight gasped, her eyes widening in horror. Next to her, Kyra was equally shocked. "Chrysalis?" Kyra repeated. "You mean Chrysalis, as in the queen of the Changelings who tried to disrupt Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor's wedding?" Luna nodded silently. Kyra sat still for a moment, recalling the events from that terrible day. At the time, she had been summoned to Canterlot by Luna as an added security measure. When the Changelings swarmed the city, it had taken every bit of Kyra's determination and skill just to survive the relentless hoard. In the end, it had come down to her and a handful of guards defending a dozen or so ponies inside a bakery. Once or twice, Kyra had very nearly lost an ear or hoof to the Changelings' snapping jaws. Her ears still bore marks from the encounter, with deep nicks in the skin where Changeling jaws had attempted to clamp down, only to graze the flesh. Thank Faust that Princess Cadence and Shining Armor were able to banish Chrysalis and her army. If they hadn't - well... Kyra didn't like to think how much longer she and the guards might have lasted. "I realize this may be too much to ask since you are now retired." Luna spoke hesitantly. "But when my sister asked me to find the best mare for the job, I knew that it was you." "Really?" Kyra was stunned. It was reassuring to know Luna held her in such high regard. The words warmed her. "Yes. Rescuing Twilight Sparkle and the others will require skills, skills that only you have." "Where are they holding the Elements of Harmony?" Kyra asked. "In their fortress." Luna's expression was somber. "It lies in the most southern region of Equestria, in the harsh desert landscape known as the Badlands." "Badlands?" Kyra repeated. She shuddered. "Oh. I've been there before." "You have?" It was both Luna and Starlight who asked the question this time. Both of them looked shocked. Kyra nodded. "Yeah. It was part of a job I did a while back. Some bandits kidnapped some rich stallion's wife and were holding her there for ransom." Kyra grimaced as she recalled the incident. It had been without a doubt the most grueling, awful three weeks of her life. But she had done it, tracking the bandits deep into Badland territory, braving dust storms and far worse things. It went without saying that after infiltrating the bandits' hideout, she had been relieved to find the mare alive. The memory seeing her being reunited with her husband in Canterlot days later still brought a tear to her eye. Now it seemed Kyra would have to return to the Badlands again, this time to free the Elements of Harmony from evil's grasp. While she was not looking forward to it, Kyra knew there was far more at stake here than the fate of six ponies. If Twilight Sparkle and the Elements could not protect Equestria, Faust only knew what might happen. Finally, Kyra spoke, her expression set with determination. "I'll do it." "That makes two of us then," Starlight said. Then as Kyra and Luna looked surprised, she added, "What? D'you honestly expect me to just sit at home while you go off on some dangerous mission? Count me in!" "Are you sure?" Kyra asked. "Yes!" Starlight answered, jaw set in a firm line. "You're going to need someone to watch your back. And I haven't forgotten what you once said to me, either." "What's that?" "You once said that you believe I'm a good person. That I just need a chance to let other people see it. Well, maybe this is my chance. Maybe if I save them, they'll see that I've changed." Kyra was silent for a moment. Partly because she was stunned that Starlight remembered what she had said all that time ago and partly because she was amazed at Starlight's conviction to follow her into danger. Luna was silently impressed too. A small smile formed on her face as she laughed on the inside. It sure went without saying, that Kyra had found a keeper in Starlight. She surely had, indeed. "All right," Kyra said finally. "You can come. But when we get to the Badlands, you have to stay close and follow my lead." Starlight rolled her eyes, smiling as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "As if I'd ever let you out of my sight anyway."