//------------------------------// // Twilights Fade // Story: Luna Nos Custodit // by Tsuguri //------------------------------// Slowly, ever so slowly her eyes opened once more. Praying, pleading that the scene had changed since she passed out. Sadly it seemed her prayers continued to fall on deaf ears. She still hung chained to the wall, instruments of pain and agony still littered the room, and she slowly started to feel her own pain again once more. 'How long was I out this time,' she wondered to herself, 'an hour, a day, a week? Please princess, just make it stop.' Looking down at herself now she was reminded of her last session here. The burning brands, the cutting whips,... her own voice screaming for mercy and the torment of knowing none was forthcoming. Blood matted her sides and stained the wall around her. How much could a pony lose before she had no more to shed? However much it was she had a feeling that she was already past it. She had so much on her flanks that her cutie mark was hardly even visible, the stars had long since lost their shine and were mostly concealed. Again she tried to remember what it was like before, and again she could only remember her last conversation with the one responsible for her current pain. **** "What did you just say?" Twilight Sparkle asked with astonishment written all over. She was surprised when she had received the summons and even more shocked when it specified meeting her at the old castle deep in the Everfree Forest. She was skeptical when it instructed her to come alone but she was confident she could make the journey and even more intrigued by the requirements. But now that she was here and had heard the request, she was still dumbfounded about what was going on. "I do not believe I have misspoken or was unclear with my request Twilight Sparkle, I stated that I am in need of your assistance." One of the most powerful ponies in all of Equestria was asking for her help? She would have been honored and overjoyed at hearing these words if were not for the rest of the her statements. "Right I got that part, but I don't believe I heard what you need my help for right." "The part about wanting you to help me overthrow my sister's rule? Again I do not believe I misspoke or was unclear. It is exactly as I stated. She has grown soft and weak since my imprisonment and as such she is vastly unprepared for what is coming. I had hoped for more time to prepare but things are progressing faster than I had anticipated, if something is not done soon I fear for us all." Princess Luna, the co-ruler of the Kingdom and Mistress of the Night wanted her help in overthrowing Princess Celestia her own sister, the other co-ruler, and Twilight Sparkle's own teacher? Ridiculous! She had to get out of here and find some way to warn Celestia before it was too late; fate it seemed had other plans through. "I can see be the expression on your face that you believe me to be mad. Fear not, for I am quite sane and after this night I promise you shall agree with my logic as well." Confidence radiated from Luna and Twilight Sparkle slowly started to back away as the princess's horn started to slowly glow with the beginnings of an extremely powerful spell. "Guards restrain her!" Luna commanded as she concentrated on summing her powers. The commanded guards dropped from their positions overseeing their monarchs conversation and proceeded to flank Twilight Sparkle and hold her in place. Even though she had once considered the personal guards of the night princess somewhat brooding, she had to admit now that their dull armor and leathery wing shapes were very intimidating. 'O.K. Twilight think and think fast. Can't outflank them, I'm already surrounded. Can't out run them, flying is so much faster than galloping. Can't fight Luna head on, not without my friends at my side. So the only thing left to do is..." And at that moment Twilight Sparkle, one of the most magically gifted ponies of the land, simply disappeared. "Curses, I had forgotten how skilled she is at teleportation." Luna swore instantly dispelling her horn and motioned to her guards, "You two, alert the rest of the Guard. She must not be allowed to reach my sister before I am finished with her or we are all doomed!" The two dark Pegasi were already in the air before she had finished her command, swiftly flying in opposite directions to inform their few remaining brethren. 'I meanwhile, shall have to track her in my own fashion,' Luna intoned to herself as she slowly melted into the darkness, mists quickly enveloping her form and streaming away into the night. The hunt was now on. *** 'Blasted Everfree forest,' Twilight lamented as she reappeared still well within the forest and nowhere near her library home. 'At least I got away. I'll have to save my magic for when I get closer to town. It would run out too quickly if I am limited to just small hops.' She still didn't understand how the forest limited her range, and she hated not understanding, but for now all that mattered was that it did and she would have to run the rest of the way. 'Scratch that idea' she mused as she witnessed some of the Night Guards flying overhead in an obvious search pattern. 'Looks like it's slowly sneaking and quick dashes from here on out. No matter what happens I have to warn Princess Celestia. It didn't sound like Luna's plans were ready to implemented yet so I can't afford to be caught.' "Twilight Sparkle, you will show yourself and submit to my authority." 'Great, she's using her royal voice again.' Twilight mused as Luna bellowed, solidifying not five paces in front of her. 'I didn't know she could still do that, I thought it was lost once she stopped being Nightmare Moon. At least I'll be able to hear her coming.' Luna looked over the bushes and brambles in front of her. She was sure she had tracked the errant pony's trail to the correct exit location, but it seemed she had already moved on. Assuming the form of her dark mists once more, Luna raced off into the night searching desperately for a clue about Twilights location. 'This is going to be a long night' Twilight groaned as she slowly started to pick her way through the trees in front of her. *** She had no idea how right she was. She crawled whenever there was cover and made mad dashes when there was not. She was always mindful of the night sky and the dangers it represented, the Pegasi she could she and the bellowing mists she could only hear. She was covered in minor cuts and a few bruises from hard landings against the ground by the time she reached the mountain range near the forests edge and could finally see the distant lights of Ponyville. She allowed herself a quick moment of rest before she tried her teleportation spell again, and that rest proved her undoing. Before she could comprehend what was happening, numerous shapes appeared around her and enveloped her in a swarm of bodies. During her confusion, one the forms had quickly thrown a sack over her head and secured it while another hit the back of her skull, sending the pony into unconsciousness. "Away, away before the others come." She could hear as the noises slowly fade away from her. Strangely she had heard a bellowing scream followed by even louder thunder before she finished passing out, and when she had awakened she had found herself here. A place she did not even believe had existed until that night. A place without light, without friends, and without hope. 'How long before she comes again, she always seems to know when I wake up.' Twilight dreaded her appearance, she knew she heralded more questions followed by more pain but she would not let her win. 'I will never betray my Princess,' she swore to herself yet again, 'Never." As if her determination was a signal, she heard hoofs approaching the door. Knowing what they represented, she steeled herself for more and held the memory of Celestia's light in her heart, knowing it was the last light she would ever see. *** "Has the creature done anything more since our last visit?" Luna questioned the door guards before proceeding into the chamber. "No Ma'am," was the reply, "It just sits and waits as always. I fear you will never get anything out of these visits." "I know that," she snapped. The chances of anything positive happening had been near zero since that night. "But I have to try. Twilight Sparkle is but one of the many keys we will need in order to win this war and this is the last chance we will have for a good while." The guard wisely decided to keep his mouth shut at that point. The Princess was in a foul mood, fouler then her usual visits to her private dungeon warranted. He knew of her temper and decided quiet obedience would earn himself the least amount of trouble. "Very well," Luna sighed to herself, barely audible to the guard, "Let us get this business over with." As she slowly opened the door and heard it groan, announcing her entry into a world a pain once more. *** Twilight Sparkle lifted her head at the sound of the creaking. It was as if the designers knew just the right amount it took to instill dread into their victims. 'Rarity might be able to give them some personal fashion tips about how to accentuate the effect, but as for the decor? They got that nailed perfectly.' Even the small amount of warmth she felt thinking about her friend was extinguished as the figure came through the door once more. "Well, Miss Sparkle," the figure intoned, "Are we feeling more cooperative this evening?" Attempting to meet her eye's once more, Twilight raised her head even higher, but was once again thwarted by the deep hood the figure wore. 'Why does she even bother,' Twilight questioned herself, 'She knows I know it's her and yet Princess Luna continues to hide behind that cape and hood.' Indeed, the figure wore a concealing cloak which covered her to the floor and a hood so deep only her elongated horn emerged from it. "Ah, I see we are still defiant till the end my dear Miss Sparkle. However, I must inform you that this will be our last session together. For you see, we no longer have time to dally with you. Tonight you shall break, this I guarantee." The voice was cold, colder than even her previous visits and the confidence in it made Twilight shiver in her mind. "Ah, it was fun will it lasted, Miss Sparkle. But now let us begin where we left off last time. What was it again? Oh, I know! The lighting!" Coming closer and closer with each utterance, her horn glowing brighter and brighter, little arches of electricity flying from the tip, until finally touching her with the last words. Pain. The pain once more took hold of Twilights body. She tried to keep it inside. Tried to be strong for her friends, for her Princess. But in the end, faced with a pain with no purpose, with no end,... All one can do is scream. *** The door slowly opened once more in front of the guard. Of all the duties of the Night Guard, this was one of the worst. Even if the beings on the other side deserved it, it was still hard to hear their cries and remain unmoved. Some enjoyed the duty he knew, got a small thrill off of it, but not him. He just tried his best to drown them out and be ready for any duty his princess required of him. Even so, he was still taken aback slightly at her appearance. Gone was the determined and firm visage which had entered the chamber beyond. Now it only carried remorse, a trace of sadness in its eyes and, an astonishing amount of blood. "Twilight Sparkle is now beyond our help." She intoned, the guard wincing at the implication of this statement. "Remove and dispose of this creature, and make sure you are not seen. We cannot risk alarming the citizenry just yet." The guard once again decided silence was his best course, nodded his assent and glanced into the chamber beyond. The amount of blood on his princess's face was nothing compared to the amount that decorated the room. It was as if someone had filled a party balloon to the brim and lobbed it into the center, aimed squarely at the form laying on its side barely recognizable as a pony of any breed. Battle hardened though he was, the sight still made the guard's bile rise into his mouth, but his Princess was not done with her commands just yet. "After your task is completed, send word to the Apple Family. We shall quickly require a meeting between their new Family Head and myself. We have wasted too much time here as it is and must act swiftly if disaster is to be avoided." Given his duties and knowing their significance, the guard knew a reply was required and fell back on the oldest form known. "Luna Nos Custodit." He intoned. "Yes, that I do," was her reply as she slowly walked away. *** She could still hear them. The darkness hadn't claimed her yet. She knew they were talking about her but could not make out the words. All she could do was pray to Celestia that it would finally end. 'Is that what you wish my dear little pony, do you truly wish for my assistance?' She heard the voice not through her ears but through her mind. Something she had never experienced before, but the familiar words brought a warmth back to her soul. So what if it didn't have her teachers normal kindness, what emotions can telepathy relay anyway. All she knew was that her Princess, her Teacher, her Mentor was finally here and offering her help. 'Yes," she managed to whisper back, 'Please, help me.' 'Then my assistance you shall have!' the voice shrieked as it plunged a dagger of ice into her mind. No more breath to scream, no more energy to even move. All she could do was moan as she felt herself slip once more and pray that she never had to wake up again.