//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: Under Observation // Story: Get Him 3 // by Lord Blackraven //------------------------------// Under Observation Soaring through the night sky, Luna sailed on the evening breezes that carried her to Ponyville. It lay just outside of the Everfree Forest. She could see the twinkling lights emanating from the humble homes windows. Beyond that lay a vast plain of darkness. The Everfree. Even in the dark, Luna knew the way to her old home. After all, the night was her element and her domain. Banking a little left, she readjusted her course and in no time at all she could see a tiny light flickering in the remaining windows of what was once the throne room of the Castle of the Two Sisters. Circling around the aging structure, she saw the damage she had wrought on the edifice as Nightmare Moon. She shuddered a bit at the memory of her battle with her beloved sister Celestia, or perhaps it was just the chill in the night air. “This place has held up amazingly well since our abandonment.” She thought as she continued to circle. As she did so, she sighted a dark figure seemingly engaged in some activity, as she flew past the great gash she had left in the roof of the throne room during her battle with her sister so very long ago. Luna alighted softly on the roof so as not to alert whoever was down below to her presence. Being the princess of the night, this was second nature to her. Where her sister reflected the power of the sun and the brightness of the day, her skill lay in subtly and stealth. Peering over the edge of the hole in the roof, she took stock of all she could see. And there he was. Huddled over a small fire he had built on the stone floor. He had taken some of the castles rubble from inside had had built a fire pit to contain the flames. Another larger stone he had dragged over to use as a small bench to sit on. On the opposite side of the fire he had made a rather crude bed of whatever he could find. He had lived in this place for the last two years or so and had obviously explored the ruins to find whatever he could to use for his survival. There were some old pots and pans close by that he had gleaned from the kitchen to use for cooking, as well as utensils kept in a cloth to prevent them from getting dirty. He had liberated a few pillows and some sheets from the linens to use for his bed. Although they were a bit tattered and worn, he had placed them close to the fire for warmth and for protection from possible predators or other night time dangers. Alex had also amassed a small cache of weaponry from the castles arsenal. Swords, Spears, Daggers, and a single crossbow with a goodly amount of bolts and a single archery set and also what looked to be a staff or walking stick of some sort. What really dug deep into her heart was Alex. He looked very tired and haggard. His clothing had seen better days. Holes were worn in his pants and shirt here and there with some crudely sewn patches to cover the holes. Continuing her covert observations, Luna watched as he went before their old thrones. Although the rest of the great hall was pretty much dilapidated, she noticed that their thrones had been very well kept. The tapestries were almost completely clean as were their seats. They even had some rather fresh looking cushions on them. On each cushion was a picture in a frame of the two diarchs apparently drawn by his own hoof (or whatever those things were at the end of his forelegs). Wide eyed and astonished, Luna felt confused and yet flattered that he had done this. Upon closer observation she realized that he had, indeed, drawn the portraits of both her and her sister! “But I thought he didn’t want anything to do with any of us?” She thought. “That is what he wrote to us in his letter. He hates us. He hates me. Why has he done this?” Then to her utter shock she witnessed the unthinkable. After Alex had tended to his small fire, he walked before the thrones, stood tall, and gave deep bow to the two portraits. And then walked over to his makeshift bed and knelt down facing towards the East. He knelt there for a minute or two with his head bowed and then crawled into his bed and wrapped his meager covers around himself and shivered with the cold despite the fire. Soon he was fast asleep. Lunas heart broke. “What manner of pony was this Alex?” A single tear fell from her eye and ran down her cheek as she bowed her head in shame. She had done him terrible wrongs and still he honored her and her sister, but why? He had every reason to hate them yet he still honored them and he wasn’t even one of their subjects! She was determined now, more than ever, to make things right. Quietly she lit up her horn. At the same time Alex’s blanket lit up and carefully she began her transformation spell. Slowly, as not to wake him, she turned his blanket into a heavier quilt and then levitated another small log and put it on the fire. Satisfied with her work, Luna turned to return home only stopping briefly to look over her shoulder at the sleeping human. She then spread her midnight wings and took flight setting a course for home. The journey back to the castle and her current home seem to go by in an instant. So lost in thought about Alex and the actions she had witnessed him doing, that she didn’t even notice the time pass. Luna alighted on the balcony of her room. As she walked in she was still lost in thought. She then realized something. Apparently when she was asleep, Alex was awake and visa versa. He had done this to remain hidden from her site in the dream realm. Tonight he had gone to sleep during the night. Another puzzling question reared its head too. How did he even know of her dream walking capabilities? She had never divulged that little bit of information to him. This Alex was becoming more and more of a bigger puzzle. She decided to look in on his dreams again but remain hidden as before. She had to find out what made him tick and if possible help him fight the horrible nightmares he had been having about them. However tonight was getting late and Celestia had already gone to sleep for the evening. Sleeping through her night was something that always bothered Luna when she did it herself, but sometimes it was necessary A few hours rest might be in good order before the changing of the night to day. This whole Alex dilemma had drained her. Come the dawn, she would have to tell her sister all that she had witnessed the night before.