//------------------------------// // chapter twelve- discovery // Story: the Equestria dialouges // by Paradise Oasis //------------------------------// chapter twelve- discovery Princess Luna's spirit is trapped here.... I must tell Queen Majesty what I have learned. Landing atop one of the Dream Castle turrets, I enter the window, and trot my way down the Stairs into the passageways of the Castle proper. This castle's magic still amazes me... on the outside, it appears to be only about the size of a small keep. Yet once you step inside, you find a city-sized maze of rooms and corridors, that are home to the twenty thousand ponies of the Dream Valley herd. I need to watch where I'm going, lest I get lost in the very labyrinth of a castle that I grew up in. It is soon that I am able to make my way down towards the throne room, where I hear the sounds of two mare's voice's arguing loudly and angrily. "I tell you my Queen, we need those extra acres for apple tree planting!" One voice yelled. "Apples are a main staple of the Dream Valley diet, and the land we've allotted to our apple crop just isn't enough!" "We already have enough ground dedicated to those rotten apples of yours! Your highness, we need those extra acres dedicated to Cherry trees! We barely have enough for the summer carnival this year!" As I suspected, I come down to find Applejack and Cherries Jubilee arguing about the layout of the castle orchard again. AJ, the orange earth pony with a blonde mane and apple cutie mark, maintains the castle's apple trees, while CJ, the peach-colored mare with a coral mane, watches over the Cherry trees. They are always at odds over which fruit the castle's orchard should favor... as each is their respective pony's cutie mark, and by extension their special talent. There is some kind of feud between the Apple and Cherries clans, going back into the mists of time. I don't know what the origin of the conflict is, but I wish it wouldn't take up so much of our valuable time with Applejack and Cherries Jubilee fighting all the time. "Ladies, ladies... please!" Our Queen urges. "If your having a problem working out Dream Valley's agricultural planning for the coming year, please go talk to Posey first. She is in charge of the Castle gardens and orchard, and if she cannot solve the quarrel, then come to me! Follow the chain of command up, before going directly to the top!" The two trot away, grumbling to themselves about a 'do-nothing queen'. I trot up to the throne, and bow to Majesty. "Your Highness, I have new information to report on the Luna situation. It turns out the Princess is a ghost, and-" "North Star, I've wasted enough time on you and Masquerade with this whole 'Luna' fiasco." The Queen snorts. "Right now, I've got my hooves full with a diplomatic crisis!" "What happened, my Queen?" I ask in surprise. "I have just gotten word from my diplomats, that there is a war brewing between the Margrave of Fort Rainbow Dash, and the Daimyo of Hoofkaido!" Majesty shakes her head. "I've been asked to go and personally mediate the matter." "My queen! How will we get along without you?" I whinny. "Surely you do not intend to put Tux 'n Tails in charge in your absence! The mares of the palace will never bow to the authority of a stallion!" "Neigh, North Star, I'm taking my royal consort with me for the negotiations." She replies. "I will be leaving Twilight Shine in charge in my absence. But if it's a ghost problem you're having, I believe you should talk to Galaxy. Now, if you'll excuse me, North Star." The queen waves me off, dismissing me. "Thank you, your highness." I reply to her, bowing. My loyalty to the queen is absolute, but I wonder if her judgement in this matter is sound. Right now is the worst time to be going on a long journey- Truly, Paradise, and Magic Star were stirring up dissent against the queen with several of the pony Clan matriarchs. If our queen were to go away for too long, she might not find a herd to come back to. Trotting out of the throne room, I make my way up to the southern turret of the castle. I knock on the large wooden door, and a whispering voice from inside says "come in." I step into the room, and look around. The walls are decorated with star charts, astrological projections, and a large telescope pointed out the window, toward the heavens. In the center of the room, a pink unicorn with a multicolored mane and jeweled eyes, is studying floating holographic projections of the constellations, generated by her horn. As she hears me trot up to her, Galaxy smiles. "Ah! Hello, North Star! What brings you here?" The court astronomer and astrologer, Galaxy charts the stars. She informs Majesty of the auspicious days and times for having celebrations and ceremonies. "Blimey Galaxy, I have a problem I need your help with." I tell her "You see, I've encountered the spirit of a deceased pony that is trapped here, and cannot move on. I was kind of wondering if you could help me." "It's Princess Luna, isn't it?" Galaxy asked solemnly. "I heard about the whole situation from Masquerade, though I wasn't aware of the fact she was a ghost." "Do you know of any way we can help her?" I ask the pink unicorn. "Do you know what could be trapping her here?" "This is the kind of supernatural problem, that Gypsy would be better at handling. She's the one who is usually best at all this psychic and ghost stuff." Galaxy shakes her mane. "But I'll see what the stars can tell me about Luna's circumstances, based on the Princess's birthday- a well known historical date." I sit down and wait patiently for over an hour, as the astrologer/astronomer pony looked to the heavens, and consults her charts. "Let's see... there's a comet passing through the seventh house, and the third star on Orion's belt is at the edge of the sky- yes! I think I have it!" "What? What is it?" I ask impatiently, looking over her incomprehensible chart. "It seems that Luna's entire life has been tied to the concept of balance. " Galaxy explained. "From the moment she and her sister Celestia were born, they were two balanced aspects of each other. Luna fell into darkness because her heart fell out of balance- her jealousy towards ponykind's devotion to Celestia's day, and neglect of her night,-transforming her into nightmare moon." "So it is an imbalance that is somehow keeping her here?" I reply. "But what could be out of balance with the Princess?" "Pony scholars believe the two alicorn sisters were born as agents of order, the world's response to all of the Chaos Discord was causing." Galaxy responds. "It may be she cannot move on to join her sister in the afterlife, because some of Discord's essence still lingers in this world." "The Frazits!" I exclaim. "That's it! that's what's holding Luna here! As long as those tiny spirits remain, Luna remains trapped here!" "Then the Frazits must be destroyed, if Luna is to be set free." Galaxy agrees. Thanking the court astrologer, I rush out the door. I need to get to Wind Whistler and form a plan of action! But before I can go any further, two earth ponies and a white Pegasus, step into my path. "Nawth Star, so glad ta see y'all!" Truly, the white earth pony with a pink mane, whinnies. "Ah was hopin we'd get a chance to talk." "Yes, we have something important to discuss with you." Magic star, the yellow earth mare, continues. "A matter of importance to the entire herd." "And you're just the pony to talk to." Paradise, the white Pegasus, finishes. "We have a bargain for you that is sweeter than any storybook fairytale!" Oh great... the queen cobra and her two vipers. It's no secret that Truly and her two mare minions are unhappy with Majesty's rule, and would like nothing more than for our Queen to disappear. These three are always plotting some kind of court intrigue behind the queens back. And here they are, trying to rope me into their schemes, no doubt. "Ladies, I don't have time for this right now." I tell them. "So if you'll excuse me..." "Nawth Star, honey... we don't want ta take up much of yo time." Truly grins like a Timberwolf, sending shivers down my spine. "We just want ta be shure we can count on y'alls supportin a little mattah that's about to occur." "What... what are you..." I whisper. "It's no secret the queen is going away to Hoofkaido for some time." Magic Star continues. "And it's no coincidence that she was chosen to mediate the dispute." Remembering Magic Star's connections in the other royal courts, I begin to suspect what's going on. "You arraigned for that?" I gulp, taking a step back. "When the moment comes, we plan to take the forty nobles and thier foals far away from this castle." Paradise finished. "When the queen returns in a year's time, she'll find the leaderless commoners all that's waiting for her... if they haven't burned the castle down by then, that is." My blood runs cold- It' a coup d'etat! They’re going to break their oaths of loyalty to the queen, and want me to lend my support to the scheme! I should run and tell Majesty about this... and yet, I need to get to Luna soon if I'm going to help her! Besides, Masquerade has this sort of thing covered, why should I step on her hooves? "Sorry, traitors... but I'm afraid I'm not going turn on my queen for the likes of you!" I quickly take off into the air, surprising them. "I am loyal to Majesty unto death! You rebellious mares wouldn't understand that!" "We'll bring y'all to your knees yet, Nawth Stah!" Truly snorts angrily after me, as I escape out the window. "Y'all just wait 'an see!" Flying away from the castle, I head for the Canterlot ruins. Time to end this once... and for all!