//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: Pax Nocturna // Story: Rebel Against The Night // by CrossoverManiac //------------------------------// Rebel Against the Night By CrossoverManiac Code Geass is owned by Sunrise, Inc. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is owned by Hasbro and created by Lauren Faust. This is a fan-based work not intended for commercial purposes. Character thoughts are italics. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chapter 10: Pax Nocturna The pillars, towering monoliths of smoke and dust simmering with power beneath, burned bright pinkish-white within its charred surface. Its tip climbed beyond the clouds impaling the blue sky with a poisonous barb that inflicted the very heavens itself. Noxious gray clouds spread across the sky like gangrene and blotted out the sun itself. Japan became indistinguishable from the bleakest of underworlds dreamt of by tortured poets of old. Then the pillars spouted luminescent roots that radiated outward creeping below the surface. Kallen traversed the winding foot trail heading away from Mt. Fuji as she carried Lelouch on her back. For her, the bleeding, broken stallion was her only hope, however tenuous it was. Strips of cloth torn from her uniform dressed Lelouch’s wounds. Kallen stepped into a hole obscured by the shadows and stumbled. She arched her back just in time to keep Lelouch’s limp body from falling. Kallen took a moment to rest up and take a few deep breaths. “It has to be here,” she cried. As she groped through the darkness, her legs were growing weaker from fatigue. The aches screamed out that her knees would buckle again if she didn’t stop to recover her strength. Kallen disregarded the pain and pressed forward. As they went around a curve in the path, the almost inconspicuous outline of black against the dark purple sky that seemed to slowly grow brighter. Kallen gained her second wind and sped towards the silhouette. It was a visitor center abandoned after the occupation. Kallen tried opening the door, but it was locked shut. She turned around and back kicked the door repeatedly with one leg while using the other three to keep her balance until it was torn off its hinges. Kallen gave her eyes time to adjust. Inside was a front desk and what looked like a bench. Kallen backed into the couch, pressed her hind quarter against it, and, as gently as she could, rolled Lelouch off her back by partially squatting her hind legs. Kallen could feel Lelouch rolling off the bench, so she pressed her hind quarter against him until he was no longer on the edge. Heeding the protests of her sore back and legs, Kallen dropped on her belly and took a breather beside the couch. “Lelouch,” Kallen said between pants, “I’ll only be gone...for a little while...You’ll be okay once I bring Minami to heal you...Everything will be alright I swear...Just hang in there.” The last two sentences were just as much for her as it was for Lelouch. Kallen’s only hope was teetering between life and death and hers was the only reassuring voice within earshot. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ All of Tokyo fixed their gaze upward as the sun was cloaked behind thick smog until the sky grew almost pitch black for a few seconds. Then a purple hue emanated from the black canopy until the skies were brighter than a clear night during the full moon. It was calm for a city that was the site of a large-scale amphibious assault just minutes ago. The ponies along the shoreline were stunned into silence. There was a deafening silence save for waves crashing into the shore. The giant pony hybrid, which had rendered both the USJ and Britannia’s war machines impotent with ease, glided down with a horned-type and a winged-type, both stallions, enveloped in a telekinesis aura, next to an awe-struck Ohgi. The hybrid had a ghostly flowing mane that sparkled like a field of stars on a clear moonless night and an ebony coat that had the luster of polished obsidian. Her two captives were dressed in the regal garbs of the Britannian aristocracy. The horned-type was dressed in a white coat with gold shoulder pads and a purple vest and pants while the winged-type sported the uniform of a Knight of the Round. “You there,” she said to Ohgi. “You look like somepony in charge, though I use that term loosely. Am I correct?” “I’m Ohgi Kaname, the Deputy Commander of the Black Knights. Who are you?” “You may address me as Nightmare Moon.” “And who are they?” Ohgi pointed a hoof at the two Britannian stallions. Nightmare Moon unceremoniously dropped her captives. “This pony here,” she said pointing to the horned-type, “was leading the invasion force that you were fighting. Tell him your name.” The horned stallion picked himself off the ground and dusted himself off. Despite the humiliating entrance, he kept a strong posture; his shoulders straight and level, and his head held up. The regal look was natural for him. “My name is Schneizel el Britannia, second prince of the Holy Britannian Empire, though, given the situation, I’m not sure what my title would be.” “If you behave yourself, I might let you stay a prince,” Nightmare Moon said to Schneizel. “Then until the situation further develops, I shall remain the second prince of the Holy Britannian Empire.” Then Schneizel pointed a hoof at the winged-type that accompanied him. His mane and beard were in an upheaval. His eyes fixed forward, listless and despondently oblivious to the monumental events unfolding before him. “And this is Bismarck Walstein, a member of the Knights of the Round-the Knight of One to be precise.” “Don’t get too attached to the ‘Holy Britannian Empire’ part, Prince Schneizel” said Nightmare Moon. “It won’t be around for long. It’ll become part of *my* empire. And now that I have everypony in one place, we’ll discuss the transfer of power over to me or would you rather be left in total darkness?” The sky became darker than before. The hue died out. There was no light except from the faint glow of pony horns and the smoldering fires from the battle that ended so abruptly. “Okay, you win,” said Ohgi. “We’ll transfer power over to you.” The purple hue appeared once again. “Good,” Nightmare Moon chuckled. “You wild ponies aren’t so unreasonable after all.” “Look, what you’re asking for is above my level of authority. Zero is our leader. Why would you want to talk to me? Why not ask him?” It was then Nightmare Moon tossed Zero’s mask and cape at Ohgi’s hooves. “The foal leaped to his death rather than surrender.” Ohgi examined the mask and cape. They were both covered in blood and the mask had the built-in synthesizer Zero used to disguise his voice. “You...killed him. You killed Zero.” Ohgi stuttered. “I said he leaped to his death. Enough about that mangy outlaw-we have important matters to discuss.” “Zero isn’t a mangy outlaw!” Ohgi said defensively. “You’re right. He isn’t a mangy outlaw. He’s a dead mangy outlaw, which you’ll be as well if you don’t watch your mouth.” Ohgi felt a strangle tingle in his hooves. He looked down, and, to his shock, his legs were turning to stone. “Now do I have your cooperation?” Ohgi nodded. “Yes, you do.” “Much better,” Nightmare Moon chuckled while reversing her spell on Ohgi. “First off, you must agree to surrender to me and then tell your ponies that they are now my new subjects.” “I suppose I don’t have a choice.” Ohgi turned to his fellow Black Knights who was watching the situation unfold. Even in the dark, it was still unbearable to look them in the eyes and tell them all their sacrifice and shed blood was for nothing. Ohgi looked down and sighed. “We have no choice but to surrender to Nightmare Moon.” “Say it like you mean it, foal.” “As acting CEO of the Black Knights, I hereby surrender to Nightmare Moon!” Nightmare Moon then cast a spell on Ohgi. “Speak up. I don’t think they can hear you.” “AS ACTING CEO...” Ohgi couldn’t believe the ringing in his ears. It was like he was talking through a pair of stage speakers and that he had the misfortune of pressing his ears against them at the same time. “It’s a voice amplification spell. Now tell them.” "AS ACTING CEO OF THE BLACK KNIGHTS, I HEREBY SURRENDER TO NIGHTMARE MOON! SHE'S NOW IN CHARGE!” Ohgi’s voice reached across the waters of Tokyo Bay to the Britannian mundane and horned-types still on-board their warships and to the Britannian winged-types hovering over the bay. More importantly, Ohgi’s voice was heard all over Tokyo. His words echoed along its ruined skyscrapers and through levels of the massive Tokyo Settlement. “That should do.” Nightmare Moon deactivated the spell and floated overhead. “WILD, UNCIVILIZED PONIES OF THE NATION YOU CALL JAPAN,” she said in a booming voice as loud as Ohgi’s, “I AM NIGHTMARE MOON, YOUR NEW EMPRESS. YOUR FORMER LEADER, ZERO, HAS FALLEN. HE COWARDLY TOOK HIS LIFE RATHER THAN SURRENDER TO ME. HIS SECOND IN COMMAND, OHGI KAMANE, HAS ACKNOWLEDGED ME AS THE RIGHTFUL RULER OF YOUR LAND. YOU HAVE NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THE BRITANNIAN EMPIRE. THEY TOO ARE UNDER MY CONTROL. IN FACT, YOUR NATION AND THEIRS ARE ONE HERD UNDER MY BENEVOLENT RULE ALONG WITH THE OTHER NATIONS OF WILD PONIES. AND IN RETURN FOR THE NEW GLORIOUS AGE I WILL BRING TO YOUR WORLD, YOU WILL SHOW THE GRATITUDE I AM DUE AND SHOW LOVE FOR YOUR NEW EMPRESS AND APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY OF THE ETERNAL NIGHT SHE HAS GRACED UPON YOUR WORLD! AND THIS CITY YOU CALL TOKYO SHALL BECOME THE CAPITAL OF THE NATION THAT I HAVE CREATED AND, HENCEFORTH, BE KNOWN AS NEW CANTERLOT! THE FORTRESS YOU CALL THE TOKYO SETTLEMENT IS NOW NEW CANTERLOT CASTLE. LET THEIR FORMER TITLES NEVER ESCAPE THE LIPS OF ANYPONY EVER AGAIN!” Nightmare Moon then called out to the Britannian armada. “YOU BRITANNIAN PONIES NO LONGER FIGHT FOR BRITANNIA! AS MY NEW SUBJECTS, YOU WILL LEARN TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH THE PONIES OF JAPAN! IF YOU DO NOT, YOU WILL SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES! YOU HAVE SEEN MY POWER! DO NOT DEFY MY COMMANDS, PONIES OF BRITANNIA!” “Prince Schneizel,” said Nightmare Moon when she landed, “your duty is to maintain order in Britannia and to carry out my commands. I’ll escort you there myself. Your men will be staying behind.” “Did you say an eternal night?” Ohgi asked. “We’re doing as you ask. Why won’t you stop blocking off the sun?” “That gaudy eyesore has no place in my new world!” Nightmare Moon yelled. “My night is more beautiful, more graceful than that obnoxious sun. My night will be eternal, and you’ll learn to appreciate its magnificence.” “But we’ll die without the sun.” “I’m afraid Deputy Commander Ohgi is correct.” Schneizel, who had held his tongue for most part, spoke up. “Our food supply will wither, and that is assuming the masses won’t freeze to death before dying of starvation.” Nightmare Moon rolled her slanted eyes. “Quit your bellyaching foals. I’ll maintain the temperature and keep your crops from dying...provided of course you are loyal subjects. Otherwise, you will freeze to death with nothing but your rumbling bellies to confront you. It is in my power to do so.” Neither Ohgi nor Schneizel looked convinced. “Don’t worry your precious little pony heads.” Nightmare Moon’s mane flowed under their muzzle tilting their heads upward. “I want only the best for my new subjects.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Euphemia had finished indulging herself with the luxury of Matsuyama Castle’s indoor toiletries when somepony, out of the shadows of the dimly-lit hallway, galloped frantically from the corner of her eye. Euphemia jumped back and was about to shut the restroom door when her assailant emerged from the dark. Euphemia panted while holding her heart back in her chest. “Sir Reginald, you startled me.” “I’m sorry...mi lady...,” Reginald panted, “...I wasn’t back by...the time you...finished.” “That’s what I’ve been meaning to ask you. What that you running back and forth while I was in the restroom.” Reginald nodded. “I was checking...outside in case someone tried...breaching the fortifications.” He took a deep breath and exhaled. “Then why were you running back here?” “I had to keep the door guarded just in case they might have gotten in already.” “And who are ‘they’?” “Whoever it is that erected those...columns after everything went dark...mi lady.” “You worry too much, Sir Franklin.” Princess Euphemia placed a reassuring hoof on Sir Reginald’s shoulder. Reginald shied away from Euphemia for a brief moment before regaining his composure and giving her a warm smile. Euphemia then began acting bashful towards her knight. Reginald’s smile faded to a frown. “Well, let’s not waste anymore of General Darlton’s time,” Euphemia said awkwardly. “I’m sure he wouldn’t want us late.” “Of course, mi lady.” Reginald headed into the field of darkness that was the main hallway in the center of Matsuyama Castle. Euphemia’s horn began to glow. “Maybe I should take lead.” “But mi lady, it’s my responsible to insure the path is safe for...” Euphemia winced from the torrent of banging noises. Euphemia galloped down the hall and shined her light on Sir Reginald who was buried under a stone column and a shattered bust of Prince Odysseus ru Britannia in his original form. “Are you alright?” “As I feared, mi lady. The path has...oh who am I kidding...I tripped over my own feet.” “It’s nothing to worry about.” “But it’s a marble bust of the first prince of Britannia. It must be worth a fortunate.” “It’s nothing to be concerned about. Now let me go ahead of you so this doesn’t happen again.” After Euphemia helped her champion back on his hooves, Reginald followed her to General Darlton’s office. There, waiting for them both, was General Darlton and Sir Guilford. “You wish to see me, General?” Euphemia asked. “As a matter of fact, yes. Perhaps you should sit down before I tell you the news.” “What’s wrong? Is it Suzaku? Isn’t today the deadline for his mission?” “It may be related to Sir Kururugi’s mission. We have word over shortwave that the Empire amassed a fleet to take back Area 11 lead by the Emperor himself.” Euphemia placed a hoof over her mouth and gasped. “Was my father...killed? How many casualties? What about Zero?” “It’s hard to explain, but there seems to have been an intervention by a third party.” “A third party?!? The Chinese Federation?” “No, according the reports, a being that appears to be a hybrid of the winged and horned-types single-handedly decimated both the Empire and the rebel forces.” “Just one person...by himself.” “He is actually a ‘she’, and she goes by the name Nightmare Moon. And the reports claim that this Nightmare Moon entity caused the sky to go dark.” This time, it was Euphemia’s turn to be short of breath. “This is too much to take in at once. Did the reports say anything about the Emperor and Zero?” “It said Nightmare Moon has the Emperor in her custody.” “And what about Zero?” “The reports say he committed suicide.” Euphemia deactivated horn causing the room to go dark. “Could you please...step out?” “But mi lady,” Reginald objected, “you should have a knight accompanying you at all time during this time of em...” “I said step out!” The princess said in a sterner voice. When the three stallions left Euphemia alone, the young princess broke down in tears, shed for a lost father and brother. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Since he was free from prison by Schneizel, Bartley devoted his remaining years on this earth serving his prince. It was the least he could to do, which was why it pained him to watch his lord playing second-fiddle to this Nightmare Moon creature. Bartley escorted Britannia’s new empress through the hallways of broken and delirious ponies piled into overcrowded cells. The mental hospitals in Pendragon City were swamped with tens of thousands of ponies unable to mentally cope with their transformation. They descended down a flight of stares to the basement level. “Careful,” Bartley warned, “this is the ward for the more violent inmates.” Nightmare Moon rolled her eyes and huffed. “You’re kidding right?!? There’s no pony in this world let alone this prison that can harm me. However,” Nightmare spoke as Bartley was levitated to eye-level, “I’ll make you an example of why your kind should fear me if anything happened to Screwloose.” Nightmare Moon released her hold over Bartley, and letting him fall with a thud on his bloated flank. The cells at this level, unlike the others, were smaller and only had one occupant. Some of the ponies they walked passed were muzzled. Others were chained to the wall. Bartley stopped at the end of the hall and tapped on a door. “I believe this is Mr. Anderson’s cell.” Bartley backed away when Nightmare Moon stared him down with glowing white eyes. “I meant Screwloose Grove’s cell,” he corrected himself. Nightmare Moon peered inside and saw Screwloose asleep on a pile of hay and under heavy restrained with not only muzzle and chain but also a straight jacket. “Uncivilized wild ponies! How dare you mistreat my servant!” Bartley stepped back trembling in fright. The door flung open with such force the lock was broken off with a chunk of the door with it. Upon being freed from his restraints by his goddess, Screwloose dashed out of his cell and bow down at Nightmare Moon’s hooves. “Your majesty! I am so happy to see you, my princess.” “It’s Empress Nightmare Moon. It’s the only title fit for the new ruler of this world.” She tilted Screwloose’s chin up. “I have a gift for you. Now close your eyes.” Nightmare Moon touched Screwloose on the forehead. When he opened his eyes, a pair of slits set in cyan orbs stared back at Schneizel and Bartley. Nightmare Moon materialized an oval-shaped mirror with a gold frame before Screwloose. “This is the special mark that all my faithful servants will bear. Do you like it?” Screwloose was enraptured at seeing his new eyes, which matched Nightmare Moon’s, in the floating mirror for the first time. “They’re beautiful, your majesty. Oh thank you, my empress.” “Prince Schneizel, Screwloose Grove will be my proxy in this land and will act on my behalf. Whatever commands I have for you will be relayed through him. Also, inform my new subjects that any attack on those whose eyes matches my own is an attack on me and will be dealt with accordingly.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ “I brought the supplies like you asked.” Princess Euphemia was stooped over a partially open grate while levitating a backpack bulging at the seams into the crevice. “Your majesty?!?” The voice frightened Euphemia and caused her to stumble over when she tried to leap back up. “Your majesty, I am so sorry for startling you.” Euphemia looked up and sighed at Sir Reginald Franklin standing over her. It was even more pathetic when Euphemia’s substitute champion offered a hoof to help her up despite not having fingers to grab hold. “Sir Franklin, I gave strict orders for you stay at the castle.” “But your majesty, my duty is to protect...” “Are you questioning the judgment of your princess, Sir Franklin? I will not suffer a knight that refuses to follow orders. Sir Franklin? Are you listening to me?” The tapping of hoofs against a metal surface captured the attention of the young knight. “Your majesty, I think they’re people inside.” Reginald pulled out his specially sword with the bit replacing the sword hilt and then kicked the metal grate out of his way. Rather than a storm drain, it was an entrance to an underground passage. “No wait! Sir Franklin, I am ordering you to stay with me!” Unfortunately, Euphemia’s command went unheeded by the zealous knight. Reginald leaped hooves first onto the gentle sloping floor of an underground passage. There, bathed in a faint glow of a barely lit horn were two unicorn mares and a pegasus stallion. One of the mares cowered behind the one illuminating the passageway quivering. “Haut n te ame of Prince Uemia e Bitannya!” Reginald mumbled with the sword still between his molars. “Put away your sword this instant!” Euphemia commanded. “But oor maesti...” Reginald sheaved his sword and said, “but your majesty, these three were hiding in this...place next to the castle. They must be up to no good.” “Are you accusing me of having sinister motives, Sir Franklin,” Euphemia sneered, “because I was the one who hid them?” Reginald hit the ground bowing. “I beg your forgiveness, your majesty. I didn’t know.” “That’s why you come to me first before you go off half-cocked!” Euphemia cupped her mouth realizing she was yelling. “Now look what you made me do. These individuals came to me seeking sanctuary. I didn’t want Darlton or Guilford involved.” “Who are they, your majesty?” “That’s none of your business.” Euphemia whispered in a harsh tone. Princess Euphemia closed her eyes and took a deep breath to let the heat of the moment die down. “So princess,” said the pegasus stallion, “is this your new knight? You see to have trouble breaking him in.” “Don’t take that mocking tone with her majesty.” “Sir Franklin,” said Euphemia in that half calm/half agitated voice of someone trying to keep their temper from exploding like the ground holding back the Earth from giving birth to a new-born volcano, “settle down. Take no offense from him, please.” “Your majesty, don’t forget what we talked about on your last visit,” said the unicorn mare illuminating the underground passage. “I’ll consider it. Until then, stay here. I’ll try to make it as bearable as possible.” Euphemia levitated a crate above the opening that was just high enough for her and Reginald to climb out of. Euphemia took a step on the crate and paused. “Sir Franklin, you’re not to speak of this to anyone, not even General Darlton and Sir Guilford.” "Yes, your majesty," said Sir Reginald in a hesitant, unsure tone of voice. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lelouch awoke to find himself buried in what felt like straw. He was on his back lying on a hard wooden surface that rattled and shook beneath him. Lelouch tried to roll over but his body felt heavy and depleted of vigor. “Whe...whe...where...where am I,” he barely whispered. “Zero, don’t say another word.” The voice sounded like Sugiyama but it was hard to tell since all outside noise was muffled by the thick pile of hay Lelouch was buried under. “What’s going...” “Please, don’t talk. You’re in hiding. We’re talking you somewhere safe.” Lelouch settled down and drifted back into unconsciousness. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Euphemia braced herself for her first visit with the infamous Nightmare Moon. The rumors about her had cast a shadow over the Shikoku refugee camp deeper than the canopy that cast the world into darkness two weeks ago ranging from her being the devil himself to some ancient alien to her being an outright god. However, what concerned the kind-hearted princess the most was her intentions for the Britannians still stranded in Japan. Euphemia requested an audience with the Empress to make some sort of equitable arrangement for her subjects, but so far, their elusive new ruler has only sent her bizarre cultists to be her proxies. The princess was escorted to the Matsuyama City Hall by Guilford, Darlton, and Suzaku’s stand-in, Sir Reginald Franklin. The young knight gave Euphemia a warm smile before fixing a stern gaze forward. Euphemia looked away bashfully. “Sir Franklin, could you secure the perimeter?” Reginald bowed to his princess. “Yes, mi lady.” Euphemia watched for her substitute champion to wander out of earshot. “Are you sure we can’t find someone else?” “Are you displeased by Sir Franklin’s performance, you majesty?” Guilford asked. “He...,” Euphemia paused to contemplate how to word her complaint, “...takes his job too seriously.” “Beg your pardon, your majesty,” said Darlton, “but that isn’t exactly a terrible trait.” “It is when you...try too hard. He overdoes everything. I feel like I’m the champion having to protect Sir Franklin from himself. Also, he’s sort of...clingy.” “He isn’t being inappropriate around you, is he?” “No...yes...I meant...It’s hard to explain. He’s been a perfect gentleman, but I can tell he has a crush by the way he looks at me.” Sir Guilford let out an irritated sigh. “I’ll have a word with Sir Franklin about proper decorum for a personal knight.” Euphemia shook her head. “Let me do it. I want to let him down gently. I’ve been too hard on him,” Euphemia said with a brief tinge of regret in her voice, “and he doesn’t deserve a scolding for his feelings.” “Yes, mi lady.” “We’ll talk about it later. He’s coming back.” Reginald greeted Euphemia with a bow and a smile despite being out of breath. “The...perimeter is...clear...mi...mi...mi lady,” he said between gasps for air. “I hope...I didn’t keep...you waiting, mi...lady.” Euphemia softened her expression. “Not at all, Sir Franklin. In fact, you made good time.” “Thank you...mi lady.” The four Britannian ponies eventually made it to Matsuyama City Hall or, more specifically, what was left of it. Only the east wing wasn’t reduce to piles of concrete and rebar. Before them, standing in a chariot that had a pair of ponies with batwings hitched to it with iron chains, was Nightmare Moon. Nightmare Moon dismounted from her chariot. “I hope it’s not too much to ask you foals to bow to your empress.” Sir Reginald leaped between Nightmare Moon and Euphemia. “Her majesty is a princess of Britannia! She doesn’t bo...” Euphemia telekinetically forced Reginald to bow and gave a stern glance at Guilford and Darlton before bowing herself. The knight and the general swallowed their pride and followed Euphemia’s example. “Your majesty,” said Princess Euphemia, “I am thankful that you graced us with your presence.” “Funny, it looks to me like you’re the only one that’s happy to see me. These three don’t share you sentiment. Perhaps you would be better served with new advisors...” Nightmare Moon then directed her attention at Reginald, “...and a new champion. I can have them...disposed of.” “Oh no, that won’ be necessary, your majesty. I’ll take full responsibility for their actions.” Nightmare Moon’s mane then wrapped itself around Euphemia’s neck. Its grip was just tight enough to permit her to still breathe. “You three now have motivation to pay me the respect I am due.” Reginald shot up and was about to reach for his blade when Euphemia, once again, held him back with her telekinesis. “So, what is it that you want, Princess Euphemia?” Nightmare Moon asked as she loosened her grip. “It’s about your order to release us from the refugee camp. You see, though I’m glad that we are no longer confined to Shikoku Island, some of the Britannians feel more secure staying with their own kind.” “This world is full of their kind. You no longer belong to those rival ape tribes. You are now my ponies, and you belong to one, single herd. I’m putting a stop to this “Japanese vs. Britannian” manure. That’s why I’m giving you the task of moving a quarter of these ponies to New Canterlot.” “But there may not be enough room in Tok...New Canterlot.” “That’s another thing.” Nightmare Moon pointed to the clouds floating just below the canopy. “In Equestria, pegasi made their homes in the cloud.” She then pointed to Darlton. “You can be in charge of moving pegasi to the sky.” “You can’t be serious!” Darlton objected. Nightmare Moon smirked as she lowered her head to eye-level with Darlton and came within an inch of touching nose-to-nose. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid to fly.” “I can fly quite well, but living in clouds?!? That’s...” “...the natural order. See to it that there are no pegasi in your camp that are still living on the ground. Do I make myself clear?” Euphemia gave Darlton another nasty glare; her silent cue for her advisor to fall in line. “I’ll make arrangements to have the pegasi moved to the clouds,” said Darlton, “though some of the younger ones with wings can’t fly.” “Then you’d better carry them there yourself. If that’s all you have to talk about, I’ll be on my way.” “There’s one more matter that I wish to discuss,” said Euphemia. “Oh, and that is?” “Is it true you turned my father, the Emperor of Britannian, into...stone?” “I did. He tried to cast a spell on me but failed, and I made him paid dearly for it.” “I wish to negotiate the release of my father.” “You can forget it. I’ll restore him when I feel like it. Don’t bother asking again less you tempt me into breaking him to pieces. Now, if you excuse me,” said Nightmare Moon as she was boarding the chariot. “Wait!” Nightmare Moon huffed; her shoulders slumped down. “Oh now what.” “It’s about my previous champion, Sir Kururugi Suzaku. He was sent on a mission by my father to Kamine Island, which is near Tokyo.” “Get to the point.” “I was wondering if you’ve seen him. I received a report over shortwave that he was on the island where you turned my father...to stone. He has...” “Is that what you’re wasted my valuable time for?!?” “Suzaku has gold-colored fur and a brown mane.” “Oh now I remember that foal.” Nightmare Moon made no effort to hide the disdain in her voice. “He was as stubborn as a mule and got in my way. And don’t you already have a knight? Just find another some other pony if his replacement isn’t up to the task. Why bother me?” Nightmare Moon backed away as Euphemia invaded her personal space. “Can you tell me where he is?” Euphemia asked in an excited voice. “Is it safe? Please, tell me. I have to...” “HE’S DEAD! The beasts of the forest are probably feasting on his flesh by now.” Euphemia shook her head emphatically. “No, it can’t be.” “Yes, it can, now shut up and leave! I have better things to do than find your knight’s chewed up bones!.” Euphemia collapsed to the ground and broke down in tears. Reginald, Guilford, and Darlton rushed to her side. “My, you certainly liked your knight,” Nightmare Moon chuckled. “I’ll give you some time to grieve.” The Empress of the Night left the Britannian ponies to tend to their grief-stricken princess. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lelouch awoke once again. This time it was on a matt inside a stationary structure or at least that's what it felt like. Lelouch was in total darkness and could only discern that he wasn't being moved around. He tried to use his telekinesis to feel his surroundings but all he could muster was a sharp pain shooting from the tip of his horn, through his skull, and all the way down his spine. Lelouch would have screamed out in pain but he was so weak all he could manage was a moan. He lifted a foreleg and rubbed his head. His fetlock scraped against his horn, which was now half of its original length and ending with a jagged edge. Two muffled voices that sounded like Minami and Tamaki’s were going back and forth on the other side of the wall. “How many time do I have to tell you-Zero is blind in that eye.” “And I keep telling you that red blotch is the only thing wrong with it.” “I never saw this red blotch you keep talking about. The iris is milky white. That means he’s blind in that eye.” Once again, Lelouch succumbed to the lingering effects of his near-fatal fall and slipped back into unconscious. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ An elderly unicorn stallion hastened to the tapping of a hoof against his apartment door as fast as his swollen joints would permit. Standing at the door was Ohgi Kaname and two unicorns with slanted eyes wearing dark purple armor. Ohgi fixed his gaze just to the left of the old stallion. “I’m sorry to bother you, sir, but we’re performing contraband searches of this area.” The elderly unicorn turned to his side and blocked off the doorway. “But I’m not hiding anything, I swear.” One of the armored cultists focused his telekinesis on the elderly pony and pushed him back. “Out of the way, old mule!” The two unicorns in armor barged in. Cushions flew across the room as the apartment was filled with the banging noise of furniture being haphazardly tossed about. Ohgi rushed to the elderly stallion’s side. “You didn’t have to be so rough.” The unicorns in armor paid Ohgi no mind and began systematically checking the other rooms in the apartment. However, one pony, a pegasus wearing a dark grey and purple tight suit with lightning bolts patterns dividing the two colors and goggles pulled just above his slanted cyan eyes, did take notice. “Well he shouldn’t have stood in our way. We have orders from Nightmare Moon not to leave any stone unturned.” “Show a little compassion, Barnstormer,” Ohgi pleaded. “Do I know you from somewhere?” The elderly stallion scrutinized Ohgi’s features. “Now I remember. You were the one in charge of moving us to the Tokyo Settlement. You’re one of the Black Kni...” Barnstormer backhoofed the elderly stallion. “It’s called New Canterlot by royal decree from our empress, and don’t you dare forget it.” Ohgi jumped between Barnstormer and the old stallion. “That’s going too far.” Ohgi tried to examine the elderly stallion for any sign of injury but was shoved away. The elderly stallion pointed at Ohgi, his foreleg trembled uncontrollably. “Why are you helping them? You’re a Black Knight. Why are you on their side?” “He knows better than to cross our empress, that’s why,” Barnstormer interjected. He then looked down the hallway. “But apparently, you don’t.” Various objected floated ahead of the armored unicorns as their made their way to the living room. The old stallion limped to Barnstormer with streams running down his muzzle. “Please...don’t! It’s all I have left of them!” The items floated into a sack. Barnstormer pointed first to the elderly stallion and then at the door. “Take him outside. The two armored unicorns poked their prisoner with their horns and herded him out of the apartment complex. Barnstormer bit into the sack and tossed it at Ohgi. “Now make yourself useful and come with me.” When they were outside, Barnstormer let out an ear-piercing whistle. A group of armored cultists, a mix of the three pony races, poured out of the other apartments. They gathered beside Barnstormer and stood in a four-by-five formation with one pony standing in front of the others and saluted Barnstormer. “What are your orders, sir?” Barnstormer returned the salute. “Sergeant Evening Shade, round up everypony in the apartment complex and bring them outside.” A few minute later, the last of the occupants were marched to a spot on the street in front of the apartment. They were in the residential district of what was once called the Tokyo Settlement. The silhouette of the Settlement’s solar towers, its once primary power source, bore an eerie resemblance to grasping fingers. This gave the ominous impression that the High Ground Level was the palm of a massive hand threatening to close in on them and crushed them in its tightened fist. Barnstormer stood in front of the crowd. The elder stallion was sandwiched between his two unicorn guards. At the edge of the crowd, still carrying the sack in his mouth, was Ohgi. “Do any of you wild ponies have a clue of what gratitude is?” Barnstormer admonished the crowd. “Well?” He snorted and raked his foot across the asphalt in response to the silence. “Look at the bodies you have. Some of us were blessed with the power of magic, some with great strength and a connection to nature, and some,” Barnstormer said as he flapped his wings, “the freedom of the open skies. And who was it that blessed us? It was our empress Nightmare Moon. She gave us the peace we now enjoy. She ended war, not just for Japanese and Britannians, but for the whole world. A world at peace-it was thought to be only a dream, but it was made reality by our empress.” Barnstormer motioned to the elderly stallion. “You see this selfish pony? Our empress wishes, for our sake, to give future generation of ponies a brand new start. They can live their lives never having to live through the shame of once being human. They should be free from that burden. But ponies like him cling to the ugly past. Ponies like him, if permitted, would deny future generations the chance to start with a clean slate. They deserve what’s coming to them.” Barnstormer leaped in the air and swooped by the elderly unicorn scooping him up. The crowd watched as the two faded into the background of dark purple skies. Then, the elderly stallion plunged head first into the asphalt. The stomach-churning crackle of his shattered cranium reached to the other side of the crowd. The older mare and young children began crying. One pony stooped over and spewed the content of his stomach. Barnstormer glided back down and landed in the exact same spot where he flew. You have one hour to turn over all contraband. Gather the items in a pile to be burned. Starting here. Ohgi?” Ohgi brought the bag to the spot Barnstormer pointed out to him and flipped it. Old photos, some in broken picture frames, and a large black book were sprawled over the cold asphalt. Ohgi could not resist the temptation to look. The largest of the photos were taken on the beach during a radiant summer day with the rays of the sun glistering off the ocean. A man, not much older than Ohgi, knees behind a strikingly angelic young woman sitting on a beach towel while holding a little girl not much older than six. Ohgi watched the girl grow up as his eyes darted back and forth between the scattered photos. He also caught glimpses of the man and woman grower old. Ohgi flipped the large black book that landed on its back cover. His sight was fixated on the words “FAMILY ALBUM” until he felt a tap, really more like a shove, on his shoulder. “Stand back,” a unicorn in armor ordered. A small flame danced on the tip of his horn. When Ohgi stepped aside, the unicorn focused a bright blue and purple beam on the photo album lighting it on fire. “What about the old pony?” Ohgi ask as he looked back and forth between the burning photos and the corpse of the elderly stallion who just wanted to honor the memory of his love ones. “We can’t just leave him here to rot.” Barnstormer said coldly, “we’ll just toss him on the barn fire with the rest of the trash.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lelouch awoke, once again, and was still on the matt inside the closet. He concentrated with his horn. The pain once again shot along his backside, but not with the intensity as before. He rubbed his fetlock along his horn. The rough edges had smoothed out, and it was longer than when he first noticed it being broken. It was now coming back to him. Some creature, a hybrid of the winged and horned-type, attacked him. It was immune to his Geass and the only way he could escape was to leap off the top of Mt. Fuji. He tried using telekinesis to slow his descent but it was only a nominal success. In fact, judging by the broken horn, Lelouch surmised he came close to being killed. He also remembered being hidden under a pile of hay, and since he was being kept hidden by the Black Knights, it must mean that it won. Just then, the door to Lelouch’s hiding place slid open. “Lelouch, are you awake?” It was Kallen speaking in a whispered tone, just enough to be heard if he was conscious but not high enough to wake him. “I am,” said Lelouch. “Can you make your horn light up?” Lelouch concentrated. There was a momentary sting that quickly died down. Lelouch’s powers had returned to him. His horn illuminated the closet space. For the first time, Lelouch was looking at the very crawlspace he was kept hidden inside. It was barely large enough for Lelouch to lie down inside. Apart from Lelouch and his futon, there was nothing inside. “Zero, thank God you’ve recovered,” Kallen breathed a sigh of relief. She was wearing an oversized hooded sweatshirt that covered most of her body. “Where’s Nunnally? Is she with you?” Kallen shook her head. “She’s with Sayoko.” “Where are they?” “Sayoko mentioned something about a ‘Shinozaki School’. I’m not sure what she meant by it.” “They’re probably at one of her family’s dojos. When Britannia was defeated, I restored the lands stolen from them during the occupation. It was my way of thanking Sayoko for being Nunnally’s protector.” “That explains why she was good at throwing knives even without hands or a horn. It was scary watching her skewer the practice dummies in the training room.” “Is anyone else with you?” “Minami, he’s been treating you since you were in that coma.” “I was...in a coma?” Lelouch said slowly to let it sink in. Kallen nodded. “You’re been in and out of consciousness for two months.” “That long? Did we defeat that thing...what did it call itself...Nightmare Moon! Were you able to defeat Nightmare Moon?” Kallen took a deep breath and sighed. “No, we weren’t. She’s taken Japan and the Britannian homeland. Last I heard the EU forces are making a last stand against her at Geneva, Switzerland.” “It took over both the USJ and Britannia in two months?!? How many of those hybrids are there?” “Just her but that’s all she needed to take over.” “That’s can’t be possible. Even if she’s that powerful, she can’t be in more than one place at the same time. How is she keeping her conquered territory under control?” “She has a cult that worships her. It was formed while we were rebuilding.” “How many cult members are there in Japan?” “Ohgi says they’re thousands, and they’re growing in number. We even loss some of our Black Knights to her. They’re convinced she’s an actual goddess, and sometimes,” Kallen said hesitantly, “I even wonder if it’s true myself.” “Have the entire world gone mad?” Lelouch slapped a hoof on his forehead. “I can’t believe you of all people would fall for silly superstition.” Lelouch grunted as he pushed himself up. “It’s gifted at using telekinesis and can fly, and somehow, that’s enough to convince you it might be divine?” “It’s more complicated than that,” Kallen said defensively. “I don’t feel like discussing this matter further. We’ll talk about in the morning.” “There is no morning!” Kallen shouted. “There hasn’t been a morning since Nightmare Moon took over.” “What the hell are you talking about?” “No one’s seen the sun since Nightmare Moon took over.” “That’s impossible.” Lelouch struggled to get back on his hooves. “The sun has to be shining somewhere on this planet.” “What’s all this commotion?” Minami pushed his way through. “Zero, you haven’t made a full recovery yet.” “Kallen said the sun hasn’t risen since Nightmare Moon took over. Is it true, Minami?” Minami nodded. “Why hasn’t the temperature changed?” Lelouch asked. “The world should have frozen over by now.” “I don’t understand it myself, but somehow there’s no sun, and, yet, the world isn’t freezing.” “Get out of my way. I have to see for myself.” “Zero, there’s nothing to look at.” “I said out of my way!” Lelouch’s horn glowed to life, but he was only able to summon enough magic to make Minami and Kallen float just an inch or two off the ground. Using his magic in this weaken state was exhausting. Lelouch released his hold over his two lieutenants letting them down with only a slight thud when their hooves hit the floor. “I’m commanding you to step aside.” “But Zero, you need to...” “I’ll rest later. Now, let me go outside. Am I still leader of the Black Knights or not?” Minami sighed and moved out of the way. “Minami, don’t let him go in his condition.” “Kallen, do as Zero commands,” said Minami. “He’s right. As long as we’re Black Knights, we have to obey his orders.” “Then in that case, I’ll come with you.” “Do as you like.” Lelouch said as him limped by. His atrophied muscles ached with each step forward after two months of disuse. Lelouch focused his magic on the door and barely managed to turn the knob and force it open. It wasn’t exactly the night as he remembered it. Not only were there numerous pillars illuminated by the energy flowing through the cracks in its charcoal surface, but the night sky seem unusually bright. It was as bright as a hazy night over the Tokyo Settlement when the city lights reflect off the clouds making it bright enough to drive without headlights if there were still working cars to drive. The canopy was adorned with points of lights more brilliant than natural stars and were arranged in constellations unknown to man. Lelouch pointed up. “How far does that thing extend? And why is it so warm? If I’ve been in a coma for two months, shouldn’t Japan be a frozen wasteland by now?” Kallen spoke up. “It covers every square kilometer of Japan. I flew all over Honshu looking for the edge. The pillars were holding up the fake sky everywhere I flew. And to answer your second question, Nightmare Moon extended the growing season to make up for the crop shortages.” “But why blot out the sun? What does Nightmare Moon hope to accomplish?” “Ohgi said she hates it.” “Why? Is it her weakness?” Lelouch closed his eyes and shook his head. “No, she attacked us in broad daylight. Did Nightmare Moon say why? And how did Ohgi find this out?” “Ohgi was the one that negotiated the surrender,” said Minami. “Nightmare Moon brought your cloak and mask and claimed you were dead. That was before Kallen told us you survived.” “You haven’t answered why Nightmare Moon is obscuring the sun.” “According to Ohgi, Nightmare Moon hates the sun and loves the night.” “That bitch is disrupting our entire society for her warped sense of esthetics?!?” “It’s also a great way to keep people in line,” said Kallen. “What’s that suppose to mean?” “Some of the earth ponies in the farming districts revolted and Nightmare Moon froze everything.” “Excuse me,” said Lelouch, “did you say ‘earth’ ponies?” “That’s what Nightmare Moon calls the mundane-types.” “So, the pony races have proper names?” “Winged-types are called pegasi or pegasus in the singular, and horn types are called unicorns.” “So, how did Nightmare Moon create this blizzard?” “I don’t know. The place got so cold, the ground froze up. It was like being in the arctic tundra.” “Zero, it’s not safe for you outside,” said Minami. “No! I have to know more. How much area was affected? What was the temperature? How long did it take for the temperature to low...” The world spun around Lelouch, and he collapsed. Kallen and Minami ran to his side. “Zero, please come back inside,” Kallen begged. “But I can’t lie down and accept Nightmare Moon’s control over us.” “You think I like being under the thumb of the bitch that killed my mother? Do you think you’re the only one that doesn’t want to be ruled? I feel the same as you, which is why we can’t risk letting you hurt yourself. Zero, when you’re regained your strength, we’ll take you anywhere you want to go, but please wait until you've made a full recovery.” “You’re right,” Lelouch apologized. “I’ll go back inside.” Kallen slid a wing beneath Lelouch’s chest while Minami used telekinesis and helped Lelouch on his hooves and led him back to his hiding place. “Look, I have to run to the market and pick up some hay,” said Kallen. “Zero hasn’t eaten anything that didn’t run through an IV for a while.” Kallen slipped out of her cloak and letting it hit the ground. Lelouch hastily averted his gaze. “Kallen, why are you...undressing?” “Nightmare Moon doesn’t want her subjects hiding their beautiful new bodies.” Kallen sounded out each syllable with all of the contempt that was inhumanly possible. “Her night guard arrests anypony...UGH...anyone,” she corrected herself, “wearing clothes.” “And what other changes did Nightmare Moon make in my absence?” Lelouch asked. “Well?” He grew impatient waiting for Minami and Kallen. “She renamed Tokyo New Canterlot and made it the capital of the Empire of the Night as she called it.” “I heard enough,” said Lelouch. “I’ll see it for myself, and the first place we’re going is a hair salon.” “A what?!?” Both Kallen and Minami said while staring slack-jawed at Lelouch. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Three months after the last sunrise A unicorn mare finished straightening up her mane and coat salon and was ready to call it a night. Her horn lit up as the lights in her shop dimmed. She was about to lock the door when it flew opened and a wagon covered with hay backed into the doorway. “Hey!” The mare protested. “I’m not staying open just because you blocked the way out.” She turned around and was about to mule-kick the wagon when she was levitated off the ground and was turned back around facing the wagon. A pony, partially obscured by the darkness, rose from the hay pile. “Minase Mutsuki, it’s been a long time.” Lelouch addressed the unicorn mare in the same electronically-distorted voice she knew so well. “Zero! But you can’t be...you’re just somepony pretending to be him!” Minase panicked. “You were assigned to Katsuragi’s platoon just after I demoted the previous platoon commander for insubordination. You were such an exemplary Black Knight,” said Lelouch, “I made you Katsuragi’s second-in-command a week before Nightmare Moon took over.” “That wasn’t the real me,” Mutsuki cried as she pointed to her cutie mark, a pair of scissors and a bottle of hair dye. “This is. This means I belong here. Go bother somepony else!” “So you’d surrender your free will to Nightmare Moon because of some brand? Don’t tell me the Minase Mutsuki I know would be so submissive that...” “Go away! Please, just go away! I just want to get on with my life!” Mutsuki pleaded. “Why did you have to come back?” “It should be obvious. The Japanese people are being oppressed. I stood against Britannia, and this new enemy is no different.” “You’re insane! Of course it’s different. Nightmare Moon is a goddess. This isn’t like fighting Britannia. They never made the sun disappear. And they never turned humans into ponies. Nightmare Moon has. To go against her is suicide. Now leave before they find you.” “You coward!” Kallen climbed over the wagon and into the salon. “Zero nearly died trying to save the Japanese, and you turned against him to save your sorry, good-for-nothing ass.” “Kōzuki! That’s enough!” Lelouch said sternly. “I’ll deal with Mutsuki. Wait outside.” Lelouch then said to the unicorn mane stylist, “she does have a point. The Black Knights and I made sacrifices on the behalf of all Japanese.” Lelouch pointed to his eye patch. “I’m sorry you lost your eye, but that doesn’t mean we should throw our lives away fighting a goddess.” “Mutsuki, look at me. Please, fulfill your leader’s final command.” Lelouch peeled away the eye patch. It only took a slight glance for Mutsuki to be under the sway of Geass. “Teach me how to change my mane and coat color as well as my hind quarter symbol. Then you can forget that we were ever here.” “I’ll teach you as much as you want to know.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lelouch’s once regalia coat was now smoky gray. His cutie mark changed from the black king chess piece to a fluffy white pillow. It was Kallen’s idea since Lelouch had a habit of sleeping in class back in the old days. It wasn’t how Lelouch liked to be remembered, but it was preferable to the alternative. Lelouch, kept his original mane color but styled the bangs over his Geass eye. He and Kallen trotted along the streets of the Tokyo Settlement. They were pulling the hay cart back to their safe house. Lelouch noticed out of the corner of his eye a shopkeeper arguing with some of his customers. Behind him was a sign that read “Sorry, we’re closed” in Japanese. “There seems to be a lot of upset people around lately,” said Lelouch. “There’s no day or night cycle,” Kallen replied. “No one’s on a set schedule anymore. Shops open and close whenever the owner feels like it. Employees come in when they need money. I heard the new thing now is to pay workers by the amount they produce or the customers they serve, though I don’t see why. Wind-up clocks still work.” “But they wind down eventually. Without the sun to give a definite noontime, there is no reference point to set the clock by. It’s as if time has loss all meaning. And you say the winged-types...pegasi...couldn’t penetrate the canopy?” “I tried but it felt like I hit a wall face first.” “At least she’s rebuilding Tokyo,” said Lelouch as they passed by a construction site. The unicorn construction workers were piling rumbling into carts pulled by earth ponies. “If that’s what you want to call it,” Kallen said spitefully. “And what does that mean?” “I have to show you.” Kallen veered to the right with Lelouch following suit unto an adjacent street. They went about five blocks when the scenery changed from modern buildings in disrepair to what looked like something out of a medieval fairy tale. The new buildings were white marble and topped with pointed domes. The doors and windows were all arched. “I think that’s why she picked Tokyo as her capital-the Britannians did most of the work demolishing the old buildings. All she has to do is rebuild everything to her liking, and this is going on all over Tokyo.” “Let’s go,” said Lelouch. “I grow weary at looking these eyesores.” About halfway back to where they started, Lelouch began questioning Kallen again. “So, what happened to the rest of my lieutenants?” “Ohgi’s been reduced to Nightmare Moon’s gopher boy, but he hasn’t done anything to rat us out. Diethard’s a different story altogether. He turned on us at the drop of a hat,” Kallen said with more contempt in her voice. “He took one of those stupid pony names for himself-Newsie News or something like that. Last I heard Diethard was getting his old television station back running for his ‘empress’. That’s why we’re been hiding out in the old safe houses we used back when my brother was leader. Only the founding members of the Black Knights can be trusted these days.” “And what about Tohdoh and the remaining Holy Swords?” “Somewhere in hiding. Where? We don’t know-probably in one of the old Japanese Liberation Front hidden compounds.” Lelouch looked around for anypony that was looking. Young colts and fillies were parading along the intersecting street in a single-file while singing. Whatever it was, Lelouch couldn’t quite make out the lyrics. He quickly dismissed it and continued keeping watch for prying eyes. When the children passed by, Lelouch and Kallen ducked into a dilapidated building. Lelouch telekinetically slid a fake wall opened and deposit the cart behind it. “And Rakshata?” “Living in the Tokyo Settlement near Ashford Academy. She’s more or less neutral.” “There’s been a change in today’s schedule. We’re seeing her before going to the pillars.” Lelouch and Kallen snuck out of the building into a back alley and headed for the Tokyo Settlement. They got about two blocks when they ran into the same group of foals that were traveling in single file early. This time, they were close enough to hear them singing. Napu gebay Napu gebay Mo’ree adara abo Napu gebay Napu gebay Mo’ree adara abo Lelouch then caught sight of an adult pegasus mare leading the parade of children. She glanced in their general direction with slanted, cyan orbs. “Kallen, what’s wrong with her eyes?” Lelouch asked. “Why do they look like those of a cat?” “She’s a full-fledge member of the Nightmare Moon cult,” said Kallen. “I heard they have perfect night vision.” “But what is she doing with those children? “Brainwashing no doubt.” “Wait right here.” Lelouch began heading in the same direction as the children. “What are you doing?” Kallen started to come along, but Lelouch held out his hoof. “I said wait right here,” said Lelouch before he disappeared around the corner. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ “That was a fun little trip wasn’t it, my little ponies.” The pegasus mare with the slanted eyes smiled at her classroom full of young fillies and colts, not a single one with a cutie mark on their blank flanks. “Yes, Ms. Chalkboard.” The students said in unison. Just then, Lelouch stepped inside. “Excuse me for a moment, students.” Ms. Chalkboard then addressed Lelouch. “Young colt, visitors are not permitted in class under orders from the Empress. If you have a sibling...” Lelouch brushed away the hair from his left eye. “You don’t see or hear me.” Fortunately, Lelouch had the uninvited attention of the classroom. “Yes sir,” said the students and Ms. Chalkboard. “So class, what was the name of the song I taught you?” “Ms. Chalkboard...” “You know better than to speak out of term, Fukao Hiroshi. Now raise your hoof.” Hiroshi followed his teacher’s instructions. “Yes, Fukao.” “It’s Napu Gebay, Ms. Chalkboard.” “Now, what does ‘Napu Gebay’ means in Japanese.” Hiroshi took a moment to think. “It means ‘winter wrap-up’, Ms. Chalkboard.” “Very good, Fukao. You see, my little ponies, in Equestria, the land where our Empress Nightmare Moon came from, the ponies were responsible for taking care of nature. They made it snow or rain or made the sky clear or cloudy, and they changed the seasons.” Lelouch wanted to scream out how ridiculous of an idea it was when it occurred to him that, after being transformed into a pony and living in an eternal night, all thanks to Nightmare Moon, Ms. Chalkboard’s claim may have some validity. “And now Empress Moon wants us to do the same here. It’ll be our job to take of our Empress’ planet. Today class, we’re learning what the rest of the words to Napu Gebay means. But before we do that, I want to give one of your classmates a special reward for being a good subject for our Empress. Oinuma Eksuko, come to the front of the class.” A young pegasus filly galloped eagerly to the front of the class. Ms. Chalkboard gave the little filly a blue ribbon with a crescent moon dangling on the end that she slipped over the child’s neck and three stuffed pony dolls each representing the three pony races. “Little Eksuko’s parents were being bad. They were hiding history books. Eksuko did the right thing and told her teacher, and for being a loyal subject, we’re taking her to Empress Moon to give her special eyes like mine and a brand new pony name.” “You turned in your parents for keeping books,” Lelouch said in utter shock. “And you,” Lelouch said to the teacher even though she was oblivious to his presence, “you were the ones who made her. Bastards! You brainwashed children and turned them against their parents?!?” “What’s all that noise? “I thought I heard cursing.” A unicorn stallion, also with slanted eyes, ducked his head in the room. “Hey! Who are...” “Go drown yourself in the ocean.” “I’ll do so right away.” The next day, the body of Assistant Principal Alphabet Soup was found washed up on a beach near the town of Kimitsu. “That’s odd,” Ms. Chalkboard whispered to herself. “Well, as I was saying children, when you see Eksuko will have special eyes and a new pony name *and* she’ll be living in the dormitories next to the Empress’ palace in New Canterlot Castle. It’s very important that we make our world just like Equestria. All of the old things must go. There can’t be books or pictures or statues from the bad old days, and those grown-ups who want things to go back to the bad old ways must be stopped. You remember how bad things were. Back when we were humans, Britannians bullied Japanese, and Japanese got back at Britannians. You don’t want to go back to being human and living the way we used to live, right my little ponies.” “No ma’am.” “If you have little brothers and sisters too young to remember being human, it’ll be your job to make sure they never find out about the bad old days. And when you have children, it’ll be your responsibility to make sure your children don’t find out about the bad old days either.” “Stop trying to turn them against their own identity!” Lelouch cried out in vain. “Don’t speak as if humans are only capable of violence! There’s more to our existence than our misdeeds.” “What the hell are you doing?” Kallen barged into the classroom. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?” “I thought I told you to stay put.” “You don’t use that sort of language in my classroom, young mare,” said Ms. Chalkboard. “And you certainly won’t disrespect me in my own classroom. Now please leave or else I’ll be forced to report you to the royal guard.” “I wasn’t talking to you,” said Kallen pointing to Lelouch. “I was talking to him.” “Aren’t you too old for imaginary friends, young mare?” “What are you talking about?” Kallen was yanked out of the room by Lelouch before she got an answer from Ms. Chalkboard. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A tired, dreary-eyed Rakshata came home to her apartment in the Tokyo Settlement. Her hoofsteps were heavy and forced as though she’d trotted a thousand miles. She aimlessly slung her saddlebag off her back and unto the floor. As she crept to her bedroom, a familiar electronic voice called out to her. “It’s been too long, Rakshata.” “Zero, is that you?” Lelouch and Kallen stepped out of the shadows. “Who else would it be?” “You’ve gotten yourself a new look, Zero.” Rakshata looked over Lelouch’s new mask. All of the exposed areas were sewed up with additional fabric that completely covered his head. Even his horn was hidden from view. His tail was tucked in his trousers, which covered his legs all the way down to his hooves. His coat also kept his front legs covered as well. “I liked the previous outfit better. This one looks more like a hazmat suit.” “Save the fashion tips for later,” said Kallen. “We’re here on business.” “And what would that be?” “The pillars that appeared the day Nightmare Moon took over-have you examined them?” Lelouch asked. “Yes, and it wasn’t easy either. If you only knew how hard it was to jury rig an electric generator to turn on hoof power,” Rakshata grumbled as she sat her haunches on a pillow lying at the head of her coffee table. “I just completed my observations last month.” She then pointed to the other pillowed lining the coffee table. “You can sit down if you like.” “No, that won’t be necessary.” “Suit yourself.” You didn’t, by any chance, use your jury rigged generator to run a spectrometer?” “Are you kidding me? The first measure that I took was a spectral reading.” “Was the spectral line at 32.59 gigahertz?” “As a matter of fact, yes.” “And was the percentages?” “The pillars averaged 24.8% composition by mole fraction, plus or minus 0.3%.” “What are you two talking about?” Kallen said with a confused look on her face. “A quarter of the matter composing the pillars is sakuradite,” Lelouch answered. “You mean to tell me that those things holding up the canopy are made of sakuradite.” “Along with inert material, probably extracted from the local strata,” said Rakshata. “And what of the canopy itself?” “I wasn’t able to perform spectral analysis on it since the cloud cover was too thick for light to penetrate. However, I talked a lab assistant into flying up to the canopy with a metal detector. Its magnetic properties were consistent with sakuradite.” “And did you get any readings from the ground surrounding the pillars.” “Once again, you guess right. There are veins of sakuradite radiating outward from the pillars and intertwined with the other pillars in a web formation.” “As I thought, the canopy funnels solar energy from the sun into the plants via the sakuradite network.” “Rakshata, could we bring down the canopy with a Gefjun Disturber?” Kallen asked. Rakshata shook her head. “A Gefjun Disturber is powered by sakuradite, which is in short supply unless you happen to be Nightmare Moon. And I wouldn’t recommend just grabbing a chunk from the pillars, not if you want to be incinerated by the power flow.” “What about the underground veins? It should be pretty diffused by the time it reaches the plants.” “If you want to sift through cubic meters of dirt for a few milligrams of partially refined sakuradite, be my guest, and in a few years, you might have enough to power a Gefjin Disturber strong enough to bring down one pillar.” “Then find another way to extract sakuradite from Nightmare Moon’s solar power network.” Rakshata closed her eyes and glowered. “Are you serious?” “Does it sound like I’m joking?” “Do you know how many terawatts of raw power is flowing through those monstrosities?” “That’s for you to figure it. It’s why I made you head of R & D.” Rakshata massaged the migraine pulsating just beneath her forehead. “Could you be any more demanding?” She groaned. “Yes I can. There is one task you can do for us.” “And that is?” “Diethard is trying to get Hi-TV back on the air. Help him get his old station running again.” “Oh I see,” Rakshata smirked. “You think they’ll tap the solar network to get things back running again and that I can grab a few handfuls of sakuradite in the process.” “That and...I want Hi-TV back on the airwaves.” “But Zero,” Kallen asked, “but won’t they just run Nightmare Moon propaganda. If anything, Rakshata should be sabotaging it.” “Hold on a second!” Rakshata objected. “I don’t do espionage.” “And you won’t,” said Lelouch. “A mass media outlet is crucial to my plans. Diethard may intent on using Hi-TV to spread Nightmare Moon’s lies, but the Black Knights will use it to our advantage instead.” “And what do you have in mind?” Rakshata asked. “Yeah, what are you planning?” Kallen asked. “You’ll find out when the time comes.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special thanks to Pen Stroke for permitting me to use his idea of giving Nightmare Moon eyes to the members of the Nightmare Moon cult. Next chapter, we'll be checking on Suzaku and what he's been doing.