The grass tickled Luna’s muzzle as she took a few delicate mouthfuls. The muscles in her foreleg groaned as she stepped forward to take another nibble at a new section of tender blades. Spike had grabbed her a little too hard when he saved her from the river, but she would rather deal with bruises on her wings and foreleg than a crack in her skull and a snap in her neck.
In the forest, Spike sat on the clearing’s edge and watched the dark blue of the sky dissolves into oranges and reds above him. The scent of leaves seasoned the morning’s breeze as the trees filtered it. The half-matured dragon had run almost all night, carrying her, but she saw no signs of fatigue as she studied him while chewing. The sound of the forest increased with the sun’s illumination. The wind ran through the grass and Spike stood up, turning to Luna with a good-natured smile.
“Ready to go?” he asked her. She nodded and they both headed northeast at a leisurely pace.
“Where are we going?”
“I can’t talk about it until we get there. Just because we were safe last night doesn’t mean that spies aren’t surrounding us now.” he said with a glace at the branches above them. Luna looked up as well; the sky was calming down to light blue.
“Do you have any idea why Lyra wanted me?”
“I don’t know. I guess she was hoping you would help her overthrow the pegasi.”
“Overthrow the pegasi? What are you talking about?”
“What? Oh, that's right, you were gone. Well, after you and Twilight disappeared and Celestia . . . abandoned us,” he said with a cautious glance to the trees, “The pony tribes split apart again, each fighting to gain the rule over all three. For the past 75 years, the Pegasi have been in control. Lyra, of course, has been working to change that.”
“Twilight disappeared?”
“What?”
“Twilight disappeared? When?”
“She disappeared when you did. No pony has ever found her.”
“Any idea what might have happened?” Spike raised his left arm in a shrug.
“Honestly, everyone assumed she was dead. Although if your survived . . . who knows?”
“Spike . . . she took care of you.” The dragon watched his claws as he continued to move forward at a slightly slower pace.
“Yeah.”
“Who took care of you after you found out she was gone?”
The dragon gave the trees another cautious glance.
“Not here. When we get in the open or when we get there I can explain it.”
“I understand. So you said Lyra is trying to overthrow the pegasi?”
“Yes.”
“I see. I assume she wants unicorn rule, then?”
“I would guess so. Although there are rumors that she’s gone a little kooky under the effects of alicorn horn.”
“Does that happen?”
“Not the horn itself, just growing older does it.”
“You mean time perception?”
“Exactly. You and I are able to handle it because our biology works that way so our perception of time stays the same for however long we live. With any other kind of pony though . . .”
“Immortality comes at the price of sanity.”
“Exactly. They perceve time going at a rate they can't keep up with mentally. They usually go insane after the first couple hundred years."
“Now, what is this about Discord’s statue? Wasn’t he released?”
“One of the last acts Celestia did was to imprison him again.”
“By herself? And why?”
“She must have used a different spell. Nopony can figure out how she did it, or why. Anyway, a couple of years ago it disappeared again.”
“Do you have any—“ she stopped when he shook his head, almost as if to say again ‘not here.’
“How are you feeling by the way?” he asked.
“Really sore. I shouldn’t have attempted to fly.” she said, stretching her shaking wings out before pulling them back in quickly before they cramped.
“You’ll get there again someday.” he assured her. Luna gave him a quick smile that lingered after she turned to look towards the approaching edge of the forest.
“Another question: the moon hasn’t risen in 300 years, right?”
“Yes?”
“Why don’t the unicorns just raise it?” Spike kept silent as they passed under the last few branches. He was scanning the trees again so Luna assumed he was intending on answering her once they had left the woods. After walking a little ways beyond the edge of trees, he turned to look behind them then brought his mouth close to Luna’s eager ear.
“Something is blocking them.”
“Spike, only one thing could block them—“
“Yes,” he said, a small smile curling behind his fangs, “That’s exactly it.”
Luna walked silently next to him. Without any warning, Luna touched her right temple to Spike’s shoulder in a gesture of gratitude.
“What was that for?” he asked.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“It’s been a long time since someone has at least tried to answer my questions. I appreciate knowing what I’ve missed.”
“No problem.” he said, the small smile returning to the corners of his mouth. He stopped suddenly and looked behind them again.
“You hear something?”
“No, just checking. This is a good spot.” he said, standing on his hind legs. Luna had to tilt her head back a little. He was as tall as her wingspan at least, she estimated.
“A good spot for what?”
“I’m going to transport us.” he said, examining the dried patch of grass.
“How?”
“You’re going to have to climb onto my arms first.” he said, holding them out like a shelf. She hesitated then climbed onto his arms. He stood upright with ease, as if she weighed nothing significant.
“What are you going to do now?”
“This is going to be fun . . .” he said before a small laugh.
Before Luna could repeat her question, Spike leaned over her and blew fire at the small patch of grass they stood on. Instantly green flames sprang up.
“Spike! What are you—?” she tried to ask before he leapt into the center of the flames. Luna closed her eyes and braced herself, but as soon as she felt the heat, she felt its absence. One eye opened slowly.
They were in a cozy living room. Luna shakily crawled from Spike’s arms and glanced around. A pot sat on the cast iron wood stove between a velvet couch and matching armchair. A cherry table sat with an unfilled tea service resting on top, set for three. Almost every available wall space was lined in bookshelves holding books of all kinds: thin, thick, tall, short, some with visible titles and others where the title as almost faded off or had never been there. Any other blank space on the shelves was filled with framed photographs: a family portrait, a white stallion, the same fillies and colts in various stages of life, a rainbow of friends called the Elements of Harmony. Luna would have examined one of the group pictures a little more closely if she had not caught sight of another scene in the photograph behind it.
A white stallion with hair different shades of blue stood in front of his new wife: a pink alicorn with yellow, purple, and pink hair. Another alicorn stood behind them. Celestia. Luna couldn’t help but take the photograph off the shelf and cradle it in her foreleg. Seeing Cadence like this again . . . She had missed the wedding due to some preparations she had been making for their honeymoon. A last-minute misunderstanding. It was hard for Luna to swallow now.
“Princess Luna?”
“I’m sorry, Spike. She’s . . . Cadence was at the hospital with me. She was in the bed next to mine.” Luna said before a quivering intake of air, “Her horn was filed off, her face was all sunken in, her mane was cut.” Luna paused to look over the happy scene, “Shining Armor is dead now, isn’t he?”
“Yes, he was executed.”
“Executed? Why?” Luna asked, looking up into the dragon’s face.
“All members of the royal family were hunted down and murdered privately or executed publically. They caught him trying to sneak Cadence out of Equestria with their children.” Spike stopped as Luna gave another shaky gasp for air. She turned her face back to the photograph and Spike continued, “It was quick at least. I think his execution was part of what started the first war. The unicorns wanted to offer him amnesty. At the end of the day, the pegasi decided his execution and got the earth ponies on the Council to agree.”
“How was it done?”
“They beheaded him.” Luna nodded. Her cheeks were wet but she didn’t move to wipe them away. At least he died a dignified death. Luna looked up again at the picture that had stood before it.
“They’re all dead now, aren’t they?” she asked, looking over the bright faces, “The Elements of Harmony?”
“Not all of us.” a new voice assured softly. Luna jumped, dropping the picture as she turned to look at the new voice. A soft smile creased the white edges of blue eyes beneath a snow-white mane tied back in an elegant braid. On the pony’s throat lay a blue diamond in its gold necklace. Generosity.
“Rarity?”
The mare nodded. Spike exited through the doorway into what looked like the kitchen. The whisper of chopping soon came from within.
“I was certain the reports had to be you, Princess Luna.” the mare said, giving a slow but graceful bow before rising with some difficulty, “It is so good to see you.” she said, advancing.
“Rarity? How are you even—?” the elegant, subdued laughter cut her off.
“That will require some explanation.” her eyes glanced at the dropped picture and a hint of sadness crept into her expression, “You more than welcome to keep that, if you wish. I will not be needing it much longer. As a matter of fact, you are welcome to any of the pictures you desire. My home is yours. Spike,” she turned to the kitchen. Spike poked his head out and she continued, “Could you please make us some cucumber sandwiches and bring the special tea tin out? You know which one, darling.”
“Already on it, Rarity.”
“Thank you.” she said with an affectionate smile. He nodded and disappeared again. Rarity turned to Luna, “Please come and sit with me, I’ll explain everything I can.” With a nod of her head her eyes sparkled warmly, “You are more than safe here.”
Rarity took the armchair and Luna lay on the couch, leaving room for Spike, who entered with an elegant silver tray full of miniature sandwiches and a tin bearing the emblem of the royal family. As Rarity magically added tea leaves to the teapot, spike picked the kettle up from the stove and poured the steaming water into the pot. He chose to sit on a low bench that he pulled from behind the couch as Rarity poured the delicious-smelling tea out.
“Now, Princess Luna,” Rarity said, setting the teapot down and passing a cup to her addressee magically, “Give me a question, and I will answer.”