//------------------------------// // Utopia // Story: Remember the Moon // by Leviathan //------------------------------// I awoke in my room. I yawned once and slowly opened my eyes. I tried to focus on the mirror on my vanity to test whether I would still suffer a headache. Somepony had mercy upon me and I was able to gaze upon it without suffering an intense migraine. My muscles felt stiff and heavy. My throat was dry and sore, as if I had just consumed sandpaper. I coughed once, bracing myself against any possible pain the action would cause my ribs. Extraordinarily enough, no pain struck me. I was not doubled over in agony over the violent tremor that struck my body. No, in fact, I did not even feel the injuries that would be effected. I flipped my duvet and sheet over to reveal the rest of my body. I scanned over my limbs and mid section, checking for any signs of damage. There were none. I looked to my shoulder to see the bandage still wrapped around it, but the painful wound was gone- or at least I could not feel it anymore. I patted my midsection slowly, but could not find any traces of my cracked rib. I reached a tentative hoof upwards to perform a physical inspection of my horn. There was absolutely no evidence of strain. No hairline cracks, no bruising, no visible magic vessels were extruded or expelled. Which was simply impossible considering the amount of power I had exuded earlier. There was no way that my horn would be able to heal so quickly having been injured so much. Not even the regenerative abilities of an alicorn could possibly account for the strange, sudden recovery. At least, not in two days. Not just a recovery, but an improvement. I felt better than I had before I had received the injuries. My entire body felt completely rejuvenated. And there was no explanation so far as to why. This was not the work of medical magic either, as there was no equipment in the room with me, nor was there any detection of a spell placed over me. The only type of magic that I was effected by that moment, actually, was my own. I was positively drenched in residual magic from my own reserves. Quite strange. It wasn’t the normal amount of magic I tended to release either, it was much more. It was far more potent and in much higher concentrations. I was practically oozing an aura of pure power. An aura that I would not take on unless I was feeling the adrenaline of battle, or some other strenuous activity. The only other pony who possessed this level of power besides myself was Celestia. I lifted a hoof out of the bed and placed it onto the ground. I tilted some weight on it to make sure it would hold, and once I was sure it was firm enough I placed my others hooves on the ground as well. I found it quite easy to proceed after that. My gait was the same as it had ever been and there were no physical anomalies otherwise. Which just was not right. I should have been stumbling around, pain nipping at my heels. I trotted to the large double doors that marked the exit and entrance to my room. I reached out a telekinetic spell to the handles and pushed them open gently, not wanting to frighten the guards who were, no doubt, right outside my door. The large black doors opened effortlessly. I walked into the main corridor that separated the two parts of the castle. A loud gasp of shock and the clattering of weapons hitting the floor alerted me to my left. Two Royal Guards stood in front of me, mouths agape. Their eyes were practically bulging out of their heads. One of them turned tail and ran at that very moment. I could hear her confused cries as she ran down the long hallway. The speed at which she dashed would humble a Wonderbolt. I looked to her companion with a raised eyebrow. “Pr-Princess Luna?” Was all that he managed to stutter. “Yes?” I asked quizzically. “Yo-You’re alive!?” He said. “Yes?” I repeated. “Bu-but- wha-just how?” He was spluttering. “Is there, perchance, something that I am missing here? You seem rather...confused.” I looked the guard up and down, hoping to decipher his thoughts. “You don’t know?” There was a tint of surprise to his question. His brow furrowed. “I do not know what, exactly?” I wasn’t in the mood to play guessing games. He bit his lower lip. There was a passing moment of silence. “Soldier.” I deadpanned. “Ye-Yes, your majesty?” He asked, voice hinting slight fear. “I expect an answer to my question, you know.” I gave him a slight smile. He returned the smile, though his was far more nervous as his eyes darted between me and the ground. “I-I don’t really know how to explain it, your majesty. In fact, I don’t really know much myself. About a week ago something weird happened.” He scuffed the ground with his hoof. He seemed to have trouble continuing on. What would Celestia do to get him to talk? “What is your name, soldier?” I asked. “My name is Razor Leaf, your majesty.” He said, eyes glued to the ground. I placed a hoof under his chin and forced his eyes to meet mine. “Please, just call me Luna.” I saw him tense up a bit when I said that. That trick worked for Celestia, why couldn’t it work for me? “Yes, your ma-Luna.” Finished Razor Leaf. I smiled at him. “Good. Now then, I need you to tell me why my presence frightened you and your partner so much.” I could see him visibly gulp. “About a week ago, a few hours after the Princess came and spoke to you, a nurse went in to check on you. She came to find your body hovering a few feet above the bed. There was a powerful magical aura surrounding you. Whenever anypony attempted to come close it would lash out and burn them. Naturally we informed the Princess. She rushed to your room and asked for privacy. A few hours later she came out, looking quite desolate. She told us all to go about our duties and ignore your current state.” He gave a timid cough at the end of his speech. “And that is the reason why your friend fled from me?” I asked, a bit suspicious as to how any of that warranted a fearful reaction. “Well, the Princess may have told us that you could possibly be sick with a rare alicorn flu. She may have also said that it was highly contagious and killed any non-alicorns it came into contact with. So we’ve all been avoiding you and your room.” Seeing my gaping mouth he continued, “Only a little bit, though.” There was a nervous chuckle. He backed away a step. I smiled at Razor Leaf. “Well I can tell you that I have no such flu and that I am quite safe to be around. I appreciate the bravery in staying here despite suspicion of disease. I would also like to thank you for gracing me with this information. It has been quite helpful in increasing my understanding of the predicament I have been placed in. Perhaps there will be a promotion awaiting you in the near future.” With that I leaned down and gave him a small peck on the nose. His cheeks saturated to a very bright hue of red. He turned his head away and coughed again. “Erm-I-uh-thank you, Prin-Luna.” He stuttered to form a sentence. It was rather adorable. I turned and walked away laughing inwardly at my actions. And that was exactly what Celestia would have done. I made my way towards the throne room where the jester was likely to be. Along the way I caught several glances from guards and others. Some of astonishment. Some of fear. Some of disbelief. Others just ran. I suppose the only reason I didn’t teleport to my destination was to see the faces of my subjects. I do enjoy a good laugh every once in a while. If any of what the guard, Razor Leaf, said was true then it was most likely a hibernation function. Alicorn bodies are gifted with an incredible regenerative ability, being able to heal from a wound at a pace five times faster than a normal pony. However, if they are mortally injured or of the like then there bodies go into a sort of induced coma to increase the healing process further. It was a rather unique ability that came from the fact that alicorns shared the blood of pegasi, unicorns, and earth-ponies. During this phase the alicorn’s magical aura wraps them in a shell to protect them. Any beings that are not known by the alicorn as a friend are hit with attacks (not to say alicorns are invincible. The function is purely regenerative). This would account for why Celestia would possibly tell the guards that I had alicorn flu. The only result of their approaching me would be a painful death or injury. Since Celestia and I are the only alicorns around anymore this means we not only have a rather exclusive regenerative ability, but are practically invulnerable to any form of illness or poison. I must have succumbed to some type of infection while asleep and my body had just forced itself into the coma state to care for me. I would have to talk to Celestia to confirm this, however. She had been the only one to examine me, according to Razor Leaf. And she had led others away from me. So it was imperative to find her. While infection was the most likely cause for my cocoon state it was hardly ever that simple with me. I came to the large double doors that led into the throne. I had no doubt that if Celestia was in the throne room she had heard about my sudden recovery. If that were the case she would be waiting for me. Or avoiding me if the guards told her I was in a bad mood. I gripped the handles of the doors in my telekinesis and pushed hard on them. They flew open and I walked into the throne room. Celestia sat upon the throne, calm and serene, graceful as ever. I ignored the gaping mouths of her personal guards. “Tia, I think we need to talk.” “Yes, I think you’re quite right. You’ll have to give me a moment, though. I’m busy right now.” She said. I looked at her. She was sitting on the throne mane flowing in non-existent wind, head pointed sky-ward. “No, I do not believe you are. Now if you would, sister, this is rather urgent.” I said in as calm a tone as I could manage. “Luna, I am clearly quite busy. Another time please.” Replied Celestia. “What is it you are doing then, sister? Perhaps I could be of some assistance.” I said. “Luna, be quiet, you’re breaking my concentration.” “You’re concentration on what exactly?” I asked dryly. “On doing this thing.” She replied without missing a beat. She was smirking. If this was another ill-conceived joke then...well, I would not be very happy. “On. What. Thing?” I was met with silence. “If you don’t come with me now I will be hard-pressed to talk about you.” Celestia merely furrowed her brow. “More specifically, your teenage years. Even more specifically Star-Swirled the Bearded’s graduation party. Even more specifically than that the part about the ‘jingling-bells.’” Celestia nearly fell off her throne when I finished that last bit. After a moment she recomposed herself. “So Luna, where would you like to go for our little chat?” Her teeth scraped against each other roughly, smile being quite forced. I smiled back at her, content with winning an exchange for once. “Perhaps on the balcony with a nice cup of tea?” “That sounds wonderful.” Said Celestia. “Then perhaps you could attend the day court in my stead. I find myself rather exhausted the past few days, what with the extra work load and having to care for you.” Well played, sister, well played. But, if she was in the mood to joke then perhaps that was a good omen. Perhaps that which had happened to me was not so dire. We made our way side by side towards the balcony. Celestia dismissed her bodyguards when we passed her room, telling them to wait within. It was a rather strange place to tell them to wait in, but now was not the time to question her personal choices. As we traversed the long corridor, heavy silence hanging between us, our hoof-steps left heavy echoes. Reaching the balcony, I allowed Celestia to open the large glass doors. After all, I felt it only fair after being sentenced to day court. As soon as the doors had been closed behind us I spoke. “Tia, what in the name of Tartarus happened to me? Was I truly in a cocoon state for an entire week?” I asked. What could have possibly prompted it? Celestia swallowed. “First off, language. Secondly, yes you were. Thirdly, it appears that your body was not able to naturally regenerate from one of your wounds,” Said Celestia calmly. “Exactly what was the mortal wound I suffered?” I was a bit curious. I had sustained numerous injuries during time spent battling Paradise, but none should have been life-threatening with proper treatment. Especially not if I were in care of royal medical staff. “Oh, just the blade wound you had suffered. I wasn’t worried though, because I figured-” Celestia began off-hoofedly. “Tia.” I interrupted. Celestia looked up at me. “Yes, what is it Luna?” I stared at her unblinkingly. The unspoken bond between us must have alerted her to something troubling me. “I did not suffer any stab wounds.” There was a long, drawn out pause. “Don’t be preposterous. Of course you did! It was on the medical records and one of the wounds you came in with.” She said. “Did you see me when I first arrived?” I said calmly. “Well no...but-” “I didn’t suffer any stab wounds when fighting Paradise.” I interjected. There was an extended silence, neither of us willing to put words to my predicament. Celestia knew very well that the only way a wound I didn’t suffer could be mistakenly registered was through the medical staff. And there was only one reason anypony would lie about a wound. “Luna, you do know what you’re implying right now, don’t you?” Celestia said, voice grave. I looked her dead in the eyes before speaking. “Regrettably, I do. Somepony attempted to kill me.” Celestia looked away. I continued, “Not only that but a pony who had access to my medical chart and the ability to change it. As well as access to me personally. That means we’re dealing with somepony in my service. Or yours.” More silence. This news would undoubtedly hurt Celestia more than I. She saw Equestria as a utopia, an incorruptible land. For her to have to hear about this would be pure torture. A long sigh came from Celestia. “I suppose even now we have those who seek to only cause harm. I shall have an investigation launched. And perhaps you should find a few trusted guards Luna. Who knows if the perpetrator will make another attempt on your life.” Her voice was sad and sounded as if it was burdened by an unimaginable sorrow. I suppose it was hard for my sister to come to terms with the idea that her subjects could possibly be cruel. She had lived long enough to see Equestria be a nation of great peace and harmony, an accepting land. Or at least one that could be perceived as such. To find out that anypony was capable of murder, especially one that was, arguably, treason, must have been a lot to accept. But as long as morality has its place so does turpitude. It was simply the way of things. That was a lesson my sister never learned. And moments like these made her pay dearly for it. We have to be willing to see the corruption and depravity in others as we are willing to see fault in ourselves. Of course, in another sense this vision Celestia has of Equestria is also a boon. While I view the world through closed windows as shady and threatening, she boldly walks into the overhanging light, inspiring those she meets. I suppose that is what made her such a great ruler and diplomat: her ability to connect, to love. I found it better to draw away and avoid pain and sorrow. I allowed myself to love and befriend, but only to an extent. Everything was planned with my life, every means was to a justifiable end. If I allowed myself to become to attached to ponies then the sting of betrayal would prove so much worse. “It would have to be after you left my room sister, seeing as how I was actually recovering then.” I said. “Yes, and you were found exactly three hours later in that state, so that leaves a three hour window of opportunity. Guards and nurses on duty at that time will have to be investigated.” There was a pause. “I can’t believe one of my little ponies would do this...” Celestia slumped to the ground as she spoke. I draped my wing over her comfortingly. “Trust is a hard thing to obtain. Even harder to maintain.” I could not help but be somber. And I thought my subjects didn’t appreciate me before... “I didn’t think a citizen of mine could be capable of such a thing. I have worked to filter the vulgar and grotesque aspects of the world out of Equestria. Have I failed, Luna?” Asked Celestia voice cracking slightly. I used my wing to guide Celestia into an embrace. I laid my hooves around her, attempting to comfort her. “You have not failed, Tia. No, you have attempted the impossible. Purifying villainy is not an easy task when undertaken alone. We cannot conquer the basic evils unaided.” I said. Celestia pulled away from the hug. Her features were solemn, yet somber. “But I am not alone. I have the honest ponies.” Celestia was beginning to fall into “debate” mode as I liked to call it. Basically she was trying to get some intellectual conversation and debate out of me. It was how she coped with things. I sighed. I wasn’t in the mood to debate about an attempt on my life. “Honesty is such a lonely word.” With that I turned and walked off. This assassination business, while troublesome, was not my main priority. I had only one place in mind now: the morgue.