//------------------------------// // Plans and Reassurances // Story: A Dark Shade of the Past // by InfinityBreach //------------------------------// A Dark Shade of the Past by InfinityBreach Chapter 27: Plans and Reassurances "Lulu, you've been overworking yourself. You need a break." Luna stared at Celestia, not knowing what to think. Sure, she had been working a lot to try and find the horse named Victory, albeit to no success. Also, due to Luna's power being at its highest since she had returned, she had been taking on more and more duties to be as active as her sister. "I don't need a break, Tia. Besides, I must prove myself to our ponies, to show that I can in fact take care of the Equestria, if it is ever needed, and I must also right the mistake that I made so long ago, that not even the Elements were able to fix." Luna said, looking off at the setting sun. Celestia sighed, looking down at her sister. "Lulu, I really think you need a break. I was thinking you could go to Ponyville for the Running of the Leaves this year to replace me, and stay until Nightmare Night." Luna was about to interject, when Celestia interrupted her. "Please, sister, just do this, for me? I only want you to be safe. I can continue the search for Victory while you're gone, and I promise I will inform you if anything were to happen." Luna stared at Celestia for a few moments, before finally making her own decision. "Okay, Tia. I'll go on vacation to Ponyville." The sun was now gone from the horizon, the moon appearing on the opposite side of the sky. Celestia gazed over the streets of Canterlot, knowing one thing; Her plan was going perfectly. "At least, that's what you think." I said from behind her. She jumped, and wheeled around, only to see my eyes looking at her from the shadows of the room. "Why are you here, again?!" She snarled, looking at me. "Because, I have a plan of my own, and you're trying to ruin it." I said, blankly. "H-how did you know about that?" Celestia said, taking a few steps back, a frightened expression upon her face. I gave her a snide smirk, and answered her. "I'm omnipresent, remember? Anywhere darkness exists, so do I. Which is funny, because I've been showing up around you quite a lot lately…" "I have no darkness inside of me, you impudent foal." Celestia snarled. "Everyone has darkness inside of them, Celestia. Just like how everyone has chaos and order inside of them. It creates a natural harmony." I said, watching her reaction. "Heh, right. Darkness and Chaos are a part of harmony. That's a lie if I've ever heard one." She muttered, staring blankly at a photograph in her room. I turned to it to see a picture of the new wielders of the Elements of Harmony, all happily enjoying a party of some kind. "Thinking about Twilight?" I asked. "Are you worried about her?" "Of course I am. She's my friend, and my student, and I care for her deeply. Now she's with a monster, thanks to you." Celestia said, narrowing her eyes at me. "Ah. I often wonder what makes a monster; the power, or the person. Actually, in this case, I should say pony. Anyway, I wouldn't be worrying about Eclipsal at the moment. Your student knows, Celestia." I could hear Celestia stop breathing for a few moments, staring blankly into nothing. She then whispered, just loud enough for me to hear. "W-what does she know..?" "She knows who you were. Not who you are." I then let out a small laugh. "Being omnipresent definitely helps with getting information." Celestia shut her eyes tightly, before glaring at me. She then took a few steps towards the shadows of the room that concealed me, before a smirk danced on her face, and her horn began to glow. "You exist where darkness does, correct? Well then, let's get rid of the shadows." I popped up back in my own hub, a slight pain on my side. "Damnit, Celestia…" I looked around the googolplex of screens circling around me, zooming in on a certain one. I saw Twilight was now writing a letter, Rainbow Dash, Eclipsal, and Spike sitting around her. The girls knew about the situation now; and they were determined to find out what exactly the princess could be hiding. "Everything is going as planned." I smiled. Twilight gave the letter to Spike, who then released his magical fire onto it, sending it to the Princess. "I dunno about this, Twilight." Spike said. "I trust you and all, but maybe the princess didn't tell you this because there was a reason to it." "Which is why we are going to Canterlot, after the Running of the Leaves!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, as she floated through the air. "IF there is a reason, she can tell us the reason." "I'm as confused and worried about this as you are, but we do need some answers." Twilight shakily said. Twilight looked extremely tired, like even the slightest nudge would make her pass out. "Maybe you should go to bed now, Twilight. It's been a pretty exhausting day for you." I suggested, and watched as she slightly nodded her head. "Yeah… I should. I'll see everypony tomorrow. Good night." Twilight muttered, before walking up stairs. "I'm gonna go and make sure she gets to her bed okay." Spike said, before following her up the stairs. "I'll see you all later!" "Well then, Eclipsal. It's about time we head home ourselves." Rainbow said, floating beside me. We walked out the door of the library, and started our trek throughout the empty streets of Ponyville. Rainbow decided to walk me to Sweet Apple Acres, before she headed home herself. It was quiet for a while, before Rainbow spoke. "So… what was your memory about?" She asked, leaving an awkward tension through the air. "Uh.. i-it was.. um.." I began stammering, flustered by the question, and remembering the answer. "I… I was going to see an apparently good friend of mine. She was something called a changeling.." "A changeling?!" Rainbow yelled, looking utterly baffled. "But, the changelings tried to take over Canterlot a few years ago!" "Woah, really?" I asked, shocked at this statement. "Yeah, Twilight's brother and a princess who was also her foalsitter, were getting married. The thing is, the changeling queen pretended to be the princess, taking her form and everything!" Rainbow explained. "Oh, so changelings CAN transform… So did you use the Elements to defeat them?" I asked. "Actually… no. Twilight's brother and the princess combined their magic together, using love of all things, and defeated Chrysalis, the changeling queen." Rainbow finished. "So… are all changelings bad…?" I warily asked, concerned about what I had done in my past. "I don't really know. Never met one, in a personal sort of way. But if you're friends with one, and you know they're good, then I won't question it. Anyway, continue with your memory." Rainbow said, giving me a small smile. "Well, my friend was being bullied by a bunch of other changelings, because she was bad at transforming. I pretty much fought off all of the bullies, and then my memory cut to me being in a castle of some sort…" I drifted off, remembering it. "And?" Rainbow asked, expectantly. I began speaking again. "… I think she became my marefriend after that. Because we kissed, and then the memory ended, where I woke up…" "Kissing me." Rainbow finished for me, giving a small laugh. "Seriously though, sorry about the whole hoof to the face thing. It was kind of just reflex." "It's fine. Besides, the swelling is pretty much gone now." I said, pointing at my cheek. "So… do you think she's out looking for you, somewhere?" Rainbow asked, looking up to the night sky. "To be honest, I hope she is. The idea of having someone who actually knows who I was is something that would be helpful right now. But, if what you said is true, I'm most likely not going to see her, since the changelings fought you all, and she's a changeling. I don't think she would be allowed anywhere around ponies…" I remorsefully said. "Hey, don't give up so quickly. Besides, you still have us. We'll be here to help you out!" Rainbow said, pumping a hoof into the air. "Heh. Yeah I know you all will, you've been pretty amazing so far." I said, giving her a big smile. 'I know I'll get my memories back; it's only a matter of time, now.'