//------------------------------// // The Cost of Fame // Story: Imperial Forclousure // by The Sound of Loneliness //------------------------------// The next morning, Rich returned. He was a little worse for wear, suggesting a night of negotiation but, nonetheless, he found a ship. The regrettable part was that they had to stay for a few days. This little detail complicated things. To Nightmare Moon things were already not going according to plan. Having been called back to the living world was all but inevitable, it was only a matter of time. She also had the luck to be summoned into the circle of her own kind, something that became a pleasant surprise. She was glad to see her sister was well, but almost half a century is a long time, noticeable even to her. She knew that Twilight and Luna were likely alright, but what of the rest of the ponies she cared for? Was Rarity still alive? What of her guards and maids? She surprised herself, but she missed Rainbow Dash as well. She grew attached to all of them and now missed all of them. Perhaps they were still alive, evidently, some were even waiting for her to return, but she knew that she could not go back. Her time was over, and that was for the best. For her, and for her former subjects, it would have been better if she never ruled. Now she had another duty. Her tiny sister went on quite a journey to meet her. She had a good heart, despite her origin and previous deeds. Yes, she knew about those ponies she killed and that was precisely why she needed guidance. She saw the wisdom in Celestia's hooves-off approach now, sometimes it was better to allow the world to sort itself out and only give it a little help. Her little sister could go on to do great things with just a few years of instruction. A stone thrown into a puddle produces circles, a leaf barely disturbs the surface at all. All tools have a purpose and sheer might is not always the best choice. She waited until her companions were awake, then she sent Shadow to fetch some pellets for breakfast. The changeling obeyed, as she always did. She was another person she dearly missed during her absence. The changeling that was sent to kill her refused to follow her orders and swore fealty to her instead. She was unwaveringly loyal ever since. Having discovered her Mistress' true nature, the changeling seemingly only became even more devoted, all but worshipping her. Shadow even went as far as to fight for her against her own mother and siblings. It was flattering... and strangely humbling to have someone so utterly devoted to her person. The changeling taught her a lot more than she knew she did. Nightmare Moon may have never had a real daughter, but Shadow was the closest creature she had to that. Shadow had her own daughters too. Nightmare Moon even met them, it was a real joy to see them together again, as short as it lasted. Someday they would have to head back and find them too. After all, a mother should never be separated from her foals. When the changeling came back with a few bowls of pellets and everyone ate, Nightmare Moon made Tiny study the theory again. They were making progress, but even rudimentary spells were still a few days away at this rate. Their morning session was cut short with a rather noisy crowd gathering outside. No one was saying anything, for now, but she knew that everyone already picked up on the sound too. Nightmare Moon gave her sister a look, "Shall I go?" the white-colored mare asked, not eagerly, simply wanting to know the course of action. "And what is it you intend to do outside? Sister, we are not here to intimidate these ponies," Nightmare Moon reminded. "This is a superstitious land. In fact, we are lucky that their emperor's officials are not in town, otherwise, we would have to cleave our way out." "We could easily overpower them," Nightmare Moon shook the sentiment off. "Of course," Nightmare Moon agreed, starting to slowly float to the door. "But harming others for no reason is not acceptable. They won't harm us if we were to simply explain ourselves." "Didn't you just say-" "Yes, I did. And this is precisely why we are lucky. We have no need to do that. Stay here, sister. Look after Tiny and Mister Rich." Upon hearing his name, the stallion raised his hoof and started opening his mouth, "Yes, Mister Rich, your coach was likely already stolen. Have no fear, we will find it. I do not expect them to find a way through my sister's seals quickly. Shadow, let us go." Having finished giving out her instructions, Nightmare Moon turned away. She noticed with a corner of her vision the changeling hiding a happy smile. Nightmare didn't need to open the door physically, she could simply go through the openings, but she did so anyway. She was just material enough to push objects when she wanted to. They went down the corridor in silence until they were at the front door. The queer innkeeper did not run away, as Nightmare Moon expected her to, she was hiding behind her desk. The mare was clearly frightened by the increasingly agitated cries outside, Nightmare Moon paid her no mind. The room was illuminated by the soft morning sun. The ghostly mare moved further on to look into the window. Outside she saw a crowd of ponies, hollering angry-sounding cries. "I will speak," Nightmare Moon said to the changeling. "Move away undetected, then track the thieves down." "Yes, Mistress," Shadow bowed her head. With the last arrangements completed, it was now time to choose a way to address the situation. The angry mob could not possibly harm her even if they would want to... but her family they could, even if her sisters would slay many of them. Better check if they had weapons... goodness, she almost forgot how weapons even looked! Nightmare Moon forced herself to stop dwelling in her memories and re-focus on the task before her. She had to talk down a crowd of superstitious commoners, who, most likely, saw her as some sort of an evil spirit. Quaint little ponies that kind often was... To start, Nightmare Moon decided to have a little drama for the entrance. She stood directly in front of the door and forcefully pushed it, making the door almost fly open. The crowd outside grew instantly silent, as Nightmare Moon deliberately slowly floated onto the street. If she still had her mouth, she would've smiled. She did not lose her majestic presence one bit. "You make an awful lot of noise just to attract the attention of just one mare, my little ponies..." Nightmare Moon said slowly while sweeping the surrounding ponies with one of her better ominous looks. She was glad to see that they brought no weapons of any kind and they did not look like they came here to do them any harm. The news gave her a pause. The crowd did not look angry at all, they were now silent and looking at her with a mix of fear and awe. Some were hesitating whether they should drop to the ground and bow. The wagon, unlike she expected, was still exactly where they left it. Did they somehow... "Why, you have grown so quiet now," Nightmare Moon continued her act. "You wished to see me, had you not?" On those words, one of them finally stood forward, he seemed to be a kind of a soldier, clad in old-style armor made of flexible, interconnected metal plates. It took him another moment to gather enough of his determination to speak, "I d-don't know how to explain... Ma'am," he began with a gross, eastern accent. "Do you even know who I am?" Nightmare Moon asked to confirm her suspicion. "Y-yes," the soldier quickly nodded. "Sister!" someone else called. Soon enough, many more voices were speaking up, saying their names and chanting hers as if it was the name of their favorite buckball player... or a spell. They all then began to bow down lowly to her, showing their reverence in one more way. As relieving as this turnaround was, Nightmare Moon found herself at a loss on what to do. She expected to scare them away or to explain why they shouldn't fear nice and friendly, and dead, ponies like her, but she did not expect to find herself walking right into another family reunion. She had precious few encounters with her other sisters when she was still living, her sisters, usually much more intelligent than even their hosts, preferred to stay clear of her for the fear of being made to serve her. They weren't wrong, as ashamed to admit as the former Empress was. She gave a tired look to her Shadow, who never even bothered to go check the wagon, the changeling offered her a humble supportive look. "Sisters," Nightmare Moon spoke up. "As glad as I am to meet all of you, why would you go through the trouble of finding me? I can't do anything for you anymore." Nightmare Moon had an idea that she knew exactly what the answer was and she dreaded to hear it... "Take us to your land!" someone shouted. "Guide us!" another cried in support. "Lead us!" Soon enough, the whole street was filled with such pleas. But most damningly, it started to attract attention. One by one, other ponies came to look for the source of the disturbance. No, no, no, this was not good at all! "Sisters!" Nightmare Moon cried out to break through the hail of voices. "Quiet down, please! I understand that you've heard many stories about me, but I cannot do anything for you anymore! Sisters, I am a ghost! I have been dead for over forty years! I am no goddess! What that preacher says is wrong!" Nightmare Moon was rather rusty on her crowd control skills, it was many years since she last was addressing a crowd even before her death. If anything, her explanation only seemed to make everything worse... "Are you abandoning us?!" "But we all came here for your word!" Nightmare Moon didn't like where this situation was going, "Shadow," Nightmare Moon whispered. "Get the others, tell my sister to prepare to flee," she dispensed her instructions, the changeling quickly ran back inside without a single word. "Sisters, I am not abandoning you!" Nightmare Moon tried to quell the crowd. "I am only telling you the truth! The preacher lied to all of you! I am not a goddess and I rule no land! You were deceived!" "Then take us with you!" "We will follow you! Just tell us what to do!" The sound of metal clanging declared that their time was up. A troop of city guards was approaching from the side of the square. "We aren't doing anything wrong!" one of her sisters cried in a coarse stallion's voice. "You are under arrest!" the officer yelled in response. "On the authority of the city garrison, come peacefully!" Angry murmurs started to spread amongst the crowd. Some of the more militant of Nightmare's kin were even considering attacking first. Surely they could not lose with her help? "Nightmare!" a loud whisper of Daybreaker's voice mildly startled her. "We are ready to leave, I can cast a teleportation spell right now." Nightmare Moon didn't turn around to look, but she was somehow certain that her sister was already in the process of doing just that. "Daybreaker, we can't simply leave!" Nightmare Moon shot back. "Our sisters will get harmed because of us! We must defuse this before we go!" Nightmare Moon rose up slightly more to look over the heads of the surrounding ponies to see the soldiers. They were heavily armed, no doubt expecting to get attacked, but then she saw someone else. She saw a familiar figure in a cloak, next to the officer with a plume, the figure was pointing straight at her! "We can tear those soldiers apart, sister. No one in this city would be able to stop us. Just give the word and you will have your throne again," another whisper came from behind, this time it sounded eager. This time Nightmare Moon turned around to look, her sister sported oh so familiar wide grin, her eye glittering menacingly in the sun. "Are we going to kill them?" Tiny asked the sun mare, the idea did not scare her at all. "You are slipping, sister," Nightmare Moon warned. The effect was immediate, Daybreaker instantly stopped grinning and blinked her eyes. "I... I am sorry, sister. I haven't meditated for the last several days. I couldn't bring my Incense with me." "Sister, there is no time for this now!" Nightmare Moon would have slapped her too if she still had her hooves. "Sister, we must stop this! Neutralize the soldiers, but do not harm them. And bring the cloaked one to me," she added. "At once, sister," Daybreaker stepped outside. Meanwhile, the soldiers were already getting close, their armor clanging and weapons gleaming. Daybreaker was never the one for flair, the bright mare simply suspended all of the attacking soldiers, including their officer and the cloaked preacher in the air. The soldiers all gave out surprised yelps, but it did nothing to stop Daybreaker's magic. The alabaster mare gave Nightmare a disappointed look, but said no more. Meanwhile, the ponies cheered but quickly stopped upon seeing who exactly their new champion was. Most of them likely even met her already. She decided to take the attention for herself again. "My little ponies, I believe you see why your selected course of action is a folly," Nightmare Moon floated forth, addressing the soldiers. "As for you," Nightmare Moon gave the preacher a glare. "I should have you bound and tied." "Do your worst!" he spat back. "Heretical abomination!" Nightmare Moon deeply sighed, dealing with fanatics was always tiresome, "Who, do you presume, you insult? I am the one who you profess to serve, fool! I am Nightmare Moon, the royal sovereign of the Equestrian Empire! The Night Queen, the Mare in the Moon, the Mistress of the Night!" Nightmare Moon was usually not fond of listing the many names the ponies invented for her during the last thousand years. She decided to make an exception to produce the desired effect. "This is my sister, to you, she is known as Princess Celestia. The mare who raises the sun." "You lie!" the fanatic shouted back. "I've met the real goddess! She doesn't need others to crush her enemies! Her power splinters the earth and melts rock! She will destroy you, heretics!" This was an interesting development. Nightmare Moon exchanged looks with Daybreaker, both of them were concerned. "Where is this... false idol you worship?" "She'll find you herself when she wishe to!" "Ughmm..." Nightmare Moon half-grunted half-sighed. "Sister, put them to sleep. This idiot is of no use to us." The ponies floating in the air had their muzzles wrapped in a golden aura. "Not like that, cast the sleeping spell and be done with it. Your bloodlust has no place here." The order was executed with a slight delay, giving away Daybreaker's disappointment. "What about our kin?" Daybreaker asked, her voice turning back to her usual disinterested tone. "Take their weapons," Nightmare Moon ordered without interest. She now had more important matters to think about.