//------------------------------//
// A Plot Under Starlight 
// Story: The Darkest Hour 
// by Anemptyshell 
//------------------------------//

It had become a rather gripping feeling on the back of my neck. In a palace of shadows, a group of nobles, servants, a guard, any and all potential eavesdroppers, lookout, or traitors. Solemn hadn't given us too much in terms of what the rebellion was up to. We were in enemy territory, so basically the same domain, except now I had a whole list of phrases and opinions that would get me killed instead of just irritating the wrong pony running about. Sabre seemed none too different. He was already a guard, so looking over his shoulder and leering at everyone who passed was part of his job. That all said, watching Bright strut along with like nothing was happening was unsurprising but still quite a jarring comparison to our others. 

"This is just like one of my novellas, and I can barely stand it. I need to get a quill to ink soon before losing this euphoric high. I feel like a new series inspired by my new life as a rogue. Oooh, this is so exciting."

Bright rambled on, though I'd stopped hearing anything after he'd mentioned writing novellas. It was an odd feeling, like when one was caught in a catch twenty-two. If not, this deserved a deep dive to pull my mind off of my ever-growing paranoia. 

"Wait, wait, wait, Bright, you write?" I asked. 

Bright managed to pull himself from his ever more detailed daydreams. He snorted and bumped my shoulder. "Of course I do," Bright said. He then pointed to his side. "I do have a cutie mark for it, you joker."

I looked to Bright's hoof, and sure as well, I'd typically say sunshine, but seeing as how that's a bit of a myth here, starlight will make an excellent replacement. The glow of a star then surrounded a quill over a scroll. It suited Bright, If I were honest. 

"I more meant that I'm surprised a noble would need to work for a living," I said. 

"Well, I mean, its hardly works. After all, it's my passion. Also, of course, I have to earn my bits, I might be a noble, but I'm not a court presence or anything."

Once again, Bright had a fair point. He could very well do as he pleased. However, I needed to revisit the library to see if I couldn't find one of Bright's works without telling him. If he were going to write, then I would critique. It would be a good distraction until Solemn decided what we could and couldn't know. 

"I enjoyed Last Gallop, if you don't mind my thoughts, sir."

I turned and mouthed off my stupor. Sabre was vainly trying to hide his smirk. It was official no one made sense anymore. It seemed I was left in the dark on more than my new position as junior matriarch slayer. 

"Oh, really, thanks, Sabre. I'm always happy to hear my words reached some pony's heart. It makes it all worthwhile."

"Okay, I get it, let's all make fun of the guy who doesn't even remember what his," I pronounced, the following slowly hooves waving in tandem with the words. "Cutie mark even means. It's all good, and I get it."

The truth was, I'd barely noticed it after my arrival. It had been the second day in Equestria that I saw it for the first time. I'd kept my lips sealed on that fact until I'd learned what it was. Knowing didn't help much. I looked over my shoulder to my flank, seven stars that formed the shape of a star themselves. The center stars a light teal, while the others share a uniform yellow. It fit the name I came up with, at least. I did luck my way through day one. The way ponies treated their cutie marks had me a bit jumpy. The second, someone asked me what mine meant. I was in trouble. It certainly wouldn't win me any trust to answer poorly. 

"So, Star, what's your special talent?"

God dang it, Bright. I planted a hoof a tad too hard to my face. 

"Nothing important."

I attempted a deflection as we turned the cornerback to the main foyer of the castle. Here there was an overhead glass dome that allowed the whole area to be bathed in the calm light of the moon and stars. I smiled up even as my mind raced. 

"Of course, it's important. It's a part of what makes you, you," Bright said, stepping out and in front of me with a withering frown, withering for Bright anyway.

He's right, sir," Sabre said, joining the pick on the doomed amnesiac. Now, I had to give some an answer, great.

Sabre and Bright looked up and out into the sea above. I pointed up to the stars. There that's my talent. Let's hope they filled in the blanks themselves. 

"The stars, what about them?"

I had to bite a hoof lest I yell to the heavens. In a room filled with other ponies. I had never felt the desire to strangle another creature before. I don't think I have much of a fighting spirit or spite in me. However, whatever I did have, it clawed at Bright Pitch with its gnashing might. 

"Astronomy?" Sabre asked dryly.

Something about the way he'd said it made me recoil. "No," I said, turning back to Sabre. I pointed a hoof at him and then back to the stars. "Following the stars."

I don't know why I said that. I don't even know what I meant. It was out there all the same now, following the stars. It was more esoteric than I'd like, but I can't change that directly. Whether it is accurate or not, it was my answer for now.

"Wow, that sounds neat, romantic too. I bet the Lady of Hearts would like it too. She always looks so serious," Bright said with a pout.

"Sir," Sabre had passed me in a flash and planted a hoof over Bright's muzzle. "Mind your tongue. She is not to be trifled with."

Oh, look, I was the last in the loop for this too. Ever since Solemn mentioned the 'Lady of Hearts,' I'd done a bit of digging on the topic and came up with a grand total of not and zilch. I'm super glad everyone else already knew. It made my efforts all the more redundant.

"Okay fine, I'll bite," I said. 

Sabre and Bright turned their attentions to me. "Who is she?" 

"Who?" Bright asked, even through a face full of the hoof.

I planted my hoof to my own face. Sabre, however, seemed to realize what I'd meant as he suddenly became very aware of our surroundings. He scanned the foyer. It wasn't overly filled, but there were enough guards and busybodies to have him on edge.

"Not here, sir."

That was the end, no further discussion on the topic. I understood what he meant but still, hardly a satisfying answer. The three of us quickened outpace as we headed off back towards the eastern wing. 

On any other day, Bright would be off to his chambers when he wasn't inviting himself in for tea. If we were lucky, we'd have a chance to decompress there. These ponies and their tea time, what could you do?"
  
It was during one of these tea-time discussions that, behind lock and key, windows were drawn, and my questions resurfaced. Who was The Lady of Hearts?

"So," I asked. 

"She's one of Queen Nightmare Moon's super-secret confidants. Everyone in the court knows of her and fears her a whole lot."

Bright nodded away like a sage of wisdom. It was a start anyway. Sabre looked less than happy that we were still on about it. He squirmed in place next to the window. He refused to take a seat before the rebel thing. I could at least see the principal of the matter then. Now, he was being pedantic. 

"She's one few see and less return from seeing," Sabre offered. He continued to fidget in place, eyes drawn to the shadows in the room's corners.

"I saw her once."

Bright's smile dipped as he lost himself in thought. 

"And?" I asked. 

"She seemed super sad. She was all cloaked up when she came around a corner. I'd just dropped a manuscript and was in the middle of picking it all up when I looked up to find the Lady looking over what I'd dropped. I apologized, of course. There was no sense bothering any passerbys. Since she was looking down and I was on the floor, I got a look at her face. She looked like she'd been crying."

I hadn't noticed I'd scooted forward, and my fine china was shaking in my hoof. Bright hadn't stopped looking down into his own cup. I don't think I was a fan of somber Bright, and it made everything feel super dim. 

"And, what praytell did she look like?" Sabre asked. 

"She was pretty, the type you hear about in romance novels, that type of effortless pretty that no real mares can do. She even bent down and picked up a few of my pages."

"She helped you?" I asked. 

Bright shrugged. "Only for a second, before something drew her attention and she took off, she handed me my work first, then she was gone like a ghost. "

"Well, that's vague. She was pretty is, nice and all, but what about features?" 

Sabre stepped forward and placed a hoof on my shoulder. He shook his head, and I nodded along. I sat back in my seat and let my eye wander. Bright gave us something better than squat, all I'd known ten minutes ago.

"She said Sorry as she left."

"Well, at least she has good manners," I said.

"That's just it." Bright looked up from his tea and shook his head wildly. When he stopped, I could see traces of tears in the corner of his eyes. He leaned in over the table. "I don't think she was apologizing to me."

"Huh."

Sabre took a deep breath. "It's more than I've heard. No guard I've met has seen the lady, I wouldn't doubt some of the thestrals of seeing or tending to her, but us regular guard, not once."

"Okay, well, that aside, anything else we can do while we wait on Solemn to tell us something worth knowing?" I asked. 

"Oh, how about Canterlot. That's where the rebels are, right. That's what all the other nobles say. They say we should blow the side restraints and let the whole thing tumble down. Not sure how they'd do that without somepony noticing, but they bring it up all the time."

"Gee, your peers, have such joyous conversations, don't they?"

Bright snorted halfway through spinning his tea. He had to choke back the liquid falling back in place and a coughing fit. I choked down my drink in response. Between the two of us, Sabre was left rubbing his face in despair. 

"That's why I spend all my free time with you guys. It's so boring talking with all the other nobles. They're always plotting, and plotting is lame if you don't actually do anything."

"He's not wrong, sir," Sabre acquiesced.   

"Well then, let's put action to our plots and plot some action."

Sabre promptly slapped the back of my head. It was earned and deserved, but I regretted nothing. If fine art meant a slap or two, I could live with that.

"Shame on you, sir."

"So, what's the plan, stealing secret files, poisoning the water supply, the fabled honeypot?" Bright's smile grew with each suggestion.

"Whoa there, bud, a bit overkill for the first day, right Sabre?"

"Maybe, maybe he's on to something?"

Sabre began to pace about a hoof to the chin and eyes ablaze.

One day in, my friends are long gone. I cracked my neck to the side and yawned. I needed to get a clock for my room. It was about the only thing it didn't have. My attention recollected when Sabre turned about-face and stomped a hoof hard enough to rattle our teacups. 

"Sir, I might have an idea. A means to ease our newfound status into tangible results."

Now we're talking. I stood up and waved a hoof to continue. "Yes?"

"Well, Nightmare is still waiting on your tutelage, correct?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Graduation has come early, sir."

My eyes widened as I took a step back and gulped.

"Oh no!" 

"Oh, that sounds super espionagey. I'm in."

"So…"

"We're going to court!" Bright cheered. 

"Shouldn't we talk to Solemn first?"

"Aye, sir." Sabre nodded.

"Oh well then…."

Sabre flung open the door. 

"Where are you going, Sabre?"

Sabre looked over him should a glint in his eye. "To deliver your missive, sir."

My eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't."

"Apologies, sir, I can't hear you from down the hall."

"Oh, for the love of—"

 My chase was cut short when a Bright sized wait grabbed my back leg, and I fell on my face. I could feel one ear twitch as I pulled myself back to my hooves. I turned on Bright, who whistled whimsically, eyes averted. 

"Et Tu, Bright, et tu?"

"I have no idea what you're on about, Star."

So it was thusly that I was betrayed by the two ponies I called my friends. Oh, woe is me, woe is me. They may have just signed my last will and testament.

I sighed and fell back on my haunches. "I'd never catch him at this point."

"Nope," Bright said once again, sipping at his tea. 

"Great, I'm gonna play chicken with a goddess, back to square one."