“Tell Us,” the moon princess said curiously, “why is a member of the Solar Guard in Our study? Has Our dear sister decided we need a minder now?”
“Not at all.” The uniformed pegasus stepped forward, eyes like sunlight implying a smile that wasn’t there. “Princess Luna, my name is Major Sunsear, and while I may still be a member of the Solar Guard for a little longer, I can assure you that I’m done taking orders from Celestia. In fact,” she revealed the hint of a smirk, “I’ve come to offer you my loyalty. Should you accept it, I believe Commander Silverbright has prepared a position for me within your Lunar Guard.”
“This is… most unusual.” Luna sat back in her black-painted oak chair, perplexed but definitely interested. “How does a pony named Sunsear come to abandon the sun entirely?”
“My family has served in the Solar Guard for the last six generations. They named me in expectation of that continued service. I thought it was what I wanted too, until I saw how they put politics, bureaucracy, and self-interest ahead of their service to Equestria.”
“Is that all? Surely, there must be more. What specifically caused this about-face?”
Sunsear grimaced, brought back to a bad memory. “My realization of this truth began when I was ordered to call off an investigation on embezzlement and bribery. It turns out, the young stallion behind it had a politically influential father—one of Celestia’s supporters no less. In the end, his father promised to keep a closer eye on him, and the matter was dropped. The funds stolen weren’t even repaid; the burden was dropped on the taxpayers. And my superiors wouldn’t even allow a report on the incident to reach Celestia.
“You see, Princess, I stand before you now because I believe the Lunar Guard is better than that. They operate in the shadows, never caring to receive credit or personal glory. Whether a pony is wealthy or influential means nothing to them. And where the Solar Guard hold parades and stand about in neat lines with shining armor, your servants act as a scalpel, cutting away the rot that infects our society. Rot like the very same ponies who fund said parades and shiny armor.”
“That is… very insightful of you.” Luna said cautiously. “What makes you so confident my guards are different? None of what you just said is in their official description.”
“Let’s just say I’ve been paying attention.” Sunsear leaned over the desk conspiratorially, continuing in a low voice not quite a whisper. “I notice when a corrupt noble disappears, or when somepony who threatens the crown suddenly becomes suicidal. The Solar Guard are too busy prancing about and fining good citizens for small misdemeanors to even notice such threats, let alone care to act on them.
“My talents are wasted on them, but as one of your servants I’d be more than happy to do what needs doing. I’m not above wetwork if it ensures continued peace, freedom, justice, and security within the Equestrian state. And unlike many ponies these days, I’m not afraid of the dark.”
“Most impressive.“ Luna smiled, leaning back in her seat. “Very well, We shall accept your loyalty and induction into the Lunar Guard… on one condition: you must inform Celestia of your leaving and explain in detail the reasons why—just as you did here with Us, minus the incriminating bits on the Lunar Guard. Oh, and do it in the middle of her day court. We shall shield you from any consequences. Our dear sister should find it most humiliating.”
“Huh. Sounds like fun.” Sunsear smiled back, showing teeth. “I’ve got a feeling I’m going to enjoy working for you.”
Captain Starside laid awake in bed despite the late hour, contemplating all he did that day and all he had yet to do.
The medallion from the now-burnt letter sent by his mysterious benefactor rested in Silverbright’s office, awaiting the grouping of ponies required for activation. Everything else went off without a hitch. Nopony saw him going in or out, and Silverbright had returned from her examination of Lieutenant Stupid Name’s training none the wiser.
Though rumors had it Silverbright was less focused on the training and more preoccupied by some problem with Sunsear. Starside didn't know the specifics, but he was sure Sunsear probably hurt somepony or broke something. Again.
A series of heavy knocks sounded off Starside's door, startling him from his bed and into a ready position. It was far past any sane hours for a visit. Perhaps his new friend decided to meet at last? Or maybe Silverbright was on to him. Either way, there was nothing to be done but to answer.
Starside flung the door open, only to immediately blanch. A smiling Captain Azure Gaze stood before him, flanked by two ponies in unfamiliar black cloaks and beaked masks. Given all the secrecy, there were only two possible conclusions: either she was somehow his fellow conspirator, or more likely he'd just found Silverbright's spymaster.
"Hello, Starside," Azure Gaze said as sweetly as if she were coming to check on his health, "I understand you've been busy lately. You know that's not allowed during your suspension."
"Of course," he breathed, his mouth dry, "my sincerest apologies. I just had some things to finish up."
"Like committing treason?" Her eyebrow rose. "I'm sorry, but that is unacceptable. I'm afraid we'll have to take you now."
"Take me?" He stepped back, his heart pounding. "Take me where?"
"Somewhere you'll never be seen again. You see, your plan has failed. We've taken the item you placed in Silverbright's office and placed it in quarantine. Soon, you will tell us what it does and who you were working with. Is that understood?"
"I... no!" Starside lunged forward, hoping to stun the trio just long enough to scramble past. It was a slim hope, but since his moonlit blade had already been confiscated, it was all he had.
Unfortunately, he wouldn’t even reach them before Azure's horn lit up and her eyes somehow became even more impossibly blue. The sight of those eyes brought him to a halt on the spot. His heart beat off-rhythm; he struggled to breath; his ears rang; his limbs became jelly.
Azure's smile widened as Starside's vision faded to a blur then to nothing at all. The panic filling him was slowly replaced by lightheaded drowsiness and confusion as his mental faculties failed him.
The last thing he heard before he lost all consciousness was a sweetly mare's voice saying, "that's right, go to sleep. Soon these troubles will be far beyond your control."
Commander Silverbright eyed the mare across the desk, pondering her deceptive appearance. A mane like a ray of gentle sunlight illuminated a coat of cloudless sky, a face of soft curves bore an easy smile that gave the impression of placid meekness. It was a look that reminded one of easy summer days, and led so many into underestimating its wielder. It was only in recent years that ponies were learning better.
Captain Sunsear’s cutie mark should have been the first sign this pony was trouble. The angry red solar flare with a brilliant white line across it could represent the sun lashing out at its enemies with a beam of righteous flame, or it could be a lance of silver energy daring to assault the sun itself. The Solar Guard had once accepted the first interpretation, but now the latter weighed heavily on Silverbright’s mind. It was not lost on her that the color of said line was the same as their moonlit blades.
The report laying on Silverbright’s desk detailed a most troubling account of how Sunsear caught and accidentally killed an unknown pony spying on Blackwatch, only to discover they were a member of the Solar Guard. When two more showed up, Sunsear tried her hardest to talk them down but failed, resulting in her having to kill one in self-defense.
Something about this account didn’t seem right to Silverbright. It told a story of a slightly more reasonable, less impulsive Sunsear than the one she knew. Moreover, even if they didn't believe Sunsear, the Solar Guard should have tried to arrest her, not cut her down on the spot.
“Sunsear,” Silverbright began, already worried at the response she'd get, “are you absolutely sure you did nothing to antagonize them?”
“Besides accidentally killing one of them?” Sunsear said with just a hint of snark. “No. I took the first down, found out he was Solar Guard, then two more swooped out of the sky and attacked me. I tried to talk them down, but they wouldn’t see reason. And then one of them charged me. I wanted only to block his blade, but I misjudged the angle and ended up killing him. The other fled after that, and I let him get away. There was no need for more bloodshed.”
“I see.” Silverbright frowned into her cup of tea, now cold. "You know, you don't often make mistakes like that with your swordswork. I should hope you aren't slipping."
"Everypony makes mistakes, Commander. Especially me. You ought to know that by now." Somehow, despite what had just happened, Sunsear had the gall to smile.
“Right," Silverbright said dubiously. She doubted she'd get anything more out of this conversation. "In that case, you may leave. Though I must ask that you remain within the walls of Blackwatch, at least until we get this mess sorted out.”
“Hold on,” Sunsear stood from her simple wooden chair abruptly, placing her hooves a little too forcefully upon Silverbright’s desk, “you’re putting me under house arrest? But I’m in the right! You can’t do this!”
Silverbright sighed heavily, eyeing the still-dirty hooves on her desk with distaste. “Calm yourself, Captain. It’s not like that. You must understand, the Solar Guard will be out for blood, and we are more vulnerable than ever. Your confinement here will prevent further incidents and allow us time to conduct our investigations, plan our next course of action.
“Eventually, the Solars will demand you be put on trial, but we both know any trial headed by them can go in only one direction. That means we need to stall—avoid giving you up, while playing nice with those who would hang you. Or else our options become only death or dishonor: a war we cannot win or the betrayal of our own. And rest assured, I would never turn my back on any true follower of Luna. Not even to prevent war.”
Sunsear's mouth hung open a moment before she blinked and quickly recovered, sitting back down. "Well then, if that is the case, I suppose I can wait around here a while. This won't just blow over though. The Solars will keep chipping at our armor until we're too weak to fight back. Eventually, if you stick to that middle-ground, it'll fall out from under you. Conflict is certain. And when it happens, I hope you remember I'm still the best fighter you've got."
“I remember, but you remember this: you’re just one pony. Even you can’t win a war on your own.”
“You think I don’t—“
“Dismissed, Captain,” Silverbright cut in sharply. “We’ll speak again later.”
Sunsear snapped a salute that bordered on lazy in its form then made her exit, closing the door with a squeak that said it was time to oil the hinges. Too bad half the maintenance staff left after Luna disappeared.
With Sunsear gone, Silverbright finally let out the growl she’d been holding in. Between her own ponies and the blasted Solars, she had no end of problems! Rampant insubordination, enchantments failing, ponies leaving, and now outright murder? If she was any less loyal to Luna’s cause, she’d burn it all down.
Silverbright sighed, standing from her chair and moving over to window. From there, she could clearly see a vague impression of Luna's face stretched across the full moon. Though it was a cloudy night, not a one crossed that disc of silver light. Perhaps even they were afraid of incurring the nightmare's wrath.
"Oh, Luna, forgive me." Silverbright stared at the crater that marked its eye, imagining it as the cyan she remembered. "I have failed you. Moreso than any Lunar Guard in history, I have failed."
Some might blame Celestia for Luna’s fall, but Silverbright didn’t think that entirely reasonable given the heap of duties laid on Celestia’s back. Others blamed Luna herself, but Silverbright could never fault a princess so perfect as her. No, the responsibility was on Silverbright herself, and now it was also on her to somehow salvage whatever was left.
But more crushing than the guilt of failure was the sense of loss. She missed Luna, as a friend and superior both. She didn’t like having to be the one with all the answers, but now if she wasn’t, Luna would one day find no followers left to come back to.
When she felt her eyes growing misty, she knew it was time to pull herself away. Commander Steelheart would have scolded her for the useless sentimentality. She had a job to do and no amount of “woe is me” would make it easier.
First on the agenda: find a way to deal with Sunsear’s mess. It was clear to her that Sunsear lost control of both that encounter and herself. Even she wouldn’t have gone in intending to kill members of the Solar Guard, but a heated exchange could get out of control and Sunsear might have covered it up out of fear of being turned over.
On that note, turning her over was never an option. Even if the Solars were in the right, doing that would break any trust the Lunar Guard had in her. Silverbright would find herself unable to effectively command. Even if she suspended Sunsear as she had Starside, it wouldn’t solve anything. Worse, the Solars would see it as an admission of guilt. Besides, Sunsear was right about one thing: Silverbright needed her skill.
The Solars also wouldn’t forget this. Silverbright’s best bet was engage with it quickly but quietly. She’d pen a letter to Dovekin, see if she couldn’t cut a deal. Something that wouldn’t disgrace the Guard. It wasn’t as if Dovekin wanted war any more than she did after all.
A sudden light flashed through the room, Silverbright nearly jumping out of her coat as Azure Gaze appeared before her. "Moon and stars, Azure! You nearly gave me a heart attack!"
"Sorry, ma'am." The captain dipped her head apologetically. "I would have teleported into the hall, but you requested I keep my knowledge of the spell a secret."
"Right," Silverbright nodded, though she was fairly sure it had been Azure's idea. She herself would have preferred no teleportation at all. She didn't know why, but that spell gave her a bad feeling. "You have something to report then? I imagine you'd have taken the stairs otherwise."
"I do. Starside is in custody and the enchanted medallion placed in quarantine. He'll be all set for interrogation tomorrow. We'll find out who's behind this."
“Good. I trust my involvement isn’t needed then?”
"No, ma'am," Azure Gaze reassured. "We have matters well in hoof. I'll keep you apprised on our progress though, and the decision on what to do with him when we're finished remains with you."
"He's a traitor," Silverbright said. "You already know what I need done."
"For something like this, I need to hear the order." Azure Gaze's eyes locked with Silverbright's for a strong moment, briefly weighing the room down with silence.
"Ashes, Azure. That's all that need remain."
"Understood."