Chapter 4 – Meeting by Moonlight
Lighting up the last star in the sky, Princess Luna stifled a yawn. For a being of well over a thousand years old, she had never been much of an evening-owl (1). Luna shuddered to think how her sister had coped with performing the task of raising the sun AND moon during her... `unplanned holiday to the lunar planes`, and for a thousand years, no less.
Satisfied with her sky-portrait, Luna padded back into her quarters from the balcony, making her way to the Royal dining room, two of her faithful Night Guards falling into step either side of her. Dinner, or breakfast in her perspective, was one of the few times she and her sister would get the chance to talk on a normal day, making it very important indeed. Mostly, the two would go over any particularly urgent or high-profile matters dealt with during the sisters’ own day and night courts to bring the other up to speed, which usually took most of the mealtime. How fortunate then, Luna giggled to herself, that Celestia had not so much a sweet tooth, but rather, a whole set of them. Dessert time was an occasion where the two could talk more freely together about any more personal affairs.
Breezing into the room, Luna giggled again at the sight before her; her sister, the graceful and strong leader she was... face down on the table, snoring softly.
Rapping gently on the table with one hoof, Luna leaned in close to her sister smiling, and murmured “ ‘Tia... ‘tis not thy bedtime yet...”
“Mrn...”
“Hmm.” Luna thought for a moment, before her eyes lit up. That should get her awake!
“oh ‘Tia...” Luna said in her sweetest voice, “Dessert’s here... your favourite, banana sundaes!”
Celestia jolted upright. “Where!?” her face fell as she took in her sister bursting into laughter, no sign of her tasty treat anywhere.
“Oh ‘Tia, your day must have been quite something. Nothing less than a national emergency would see you passed out before the pudding course.” Luna tittered. Celestia huffed.
“Nothing quite so dramatic, Luna, I assure you,” Celestia sighed, “but there has been a development which is both intriguing and concerning.”
As the servants brought in the princess’ starters (2), Celestia regaled her sister with the details of what her student had discovered. Luna silently took it all in, a thoughtful look on her face.
“-and to cap it off, not a single member of the Canterlot university faculty had heard of such a thing.” Celestia sighed. “All we really know is what our ponies saw of the creature, and now it dwells within the branches of the Everfree. Not many ponies dare venture within nowadays, Luna, not even our guards would want to.”
“Well then, why dost not one of us search for the creature? Or, to be frank, why not I?”
Were there a comedian or jester in the room, they would have wept with joy as their sun Princess did a perfect spit-take.
Coughing, Celestia stammered, “W-what? Are you serious, Luna? You know we have more important affairs to deal with, like the Day and Night Courts-”
“Pshaw!” Luna dismissed the comment with a wave of her hoof. “You know as well as I that nary a soul comes to the Night Court; ‘tis still too ingrained in our pony’s psyche to appeal to you and you only. ‘Twould be no great shame to spend a night or two on the hunt for this pale-skinned stallion. On the contrary, in fact, I would relish the change of scenery. We will not take no for an answer, dear sister.” Luna stated.
For a few moments, Celestia tried to come up with some other excuse. “B-but you would be unprotected out there! Even your Batstallions would not dare venture within the forest!”
The two bat-winged ponies, who had taken posts either side of the door, shifted uncomfortably; though they took great pride in their intimidating nature, they were still just ponies at heart, and all knew of the irregular nature of the forest, and the perils within.
Luna snorted. “You seem to forget who you are talking to, sister. We are our Mother’s daughters, the forest’s creatures will not harm a single hair in my mane. Do you forget her efforts so soon?”
Celestia shifted uncomfortably, her arguments, and facade of infallibility, crumbling before her. “Well, that’s true, but there’s the plants to consider too.”
“Hah, the plants? They pose no threat either to alicorns, such as we are.” Luna tutted impatiently. “I would like to get this venture underway before midnight, Tia, so unless you have quibbles about how the fungi of the forest would treat me, I shall consider the matter finished.”
No sooner than Luna had finished however, a scroll flashed into existence, tumbling out of a coil of emerald-green fire. Celestia deftly caught it in her magic, swiftly uncurling it and running her eyes over the contents. After a few seconds, she let out another huff of exasperation.
“Twilight talked to her zebra friend, but it seems the zebra refused to comment. That means she probably met the creature but doesn’t want to talk about it. Unfortunately, Twilight couldn’t get anything more out of her, but I suppose it does mean that their meeting went well if she was talking as calmly as Twilight says she was...”
Luna tapped her hoof on her chin curiously. “Well, at least that means the beast had no foul intentions, otherwise she would be decidedly more shaken up, or possibly more dead.”
“Luna, please do not joke about such matters.” Celestia’s gaze hardened. “I know this is looking at the worst-case scenario in saying this, but lives could hang in the balance...
“Very well... see what you can find...” Celestia sighed, grateful for the distraction being placed before her; one of her favourite mountainous banana split sundaes.
Just outside the wolves’ cave...
Jack gazed out into the calm night, idly plucking the strings of his violin. He had figured now was as good a time as any to practice, all he needed was a suitable inspiration.
And what an inspiration was before him.
Though the Everfree forest was notorious for being tangled, twisted, and downright dangerous, one could not deny from the right angle it was breathtaking (3). As the moon reflected light down upon the leaves of the trees, one could imagine being at the ocean as the leaves wafted in the wind, making the light dance like the ocean waves. Softly, insects chirped and chirruped in the background, lending an altogether peaceful ambience to the arboreal setting.
Jack’s eyes, though, were drawn once more to the moon, casting its calming light down over the land. Setting his bow to the strings of his violin with a smile on his lips, Jack began to play, the melody echoing into the night.
Next to him, Rowan shifted slightly, baring his teeth in a wolfish smile. <’tis quite an instrument, hatchling, to make such a sound. A quite... magical tone to it.>
Jack nodded, smiling, not missing a note. “Yeah, it’s one of the reasons I decided to learn. You can make fine music with any instrument, but few have what a violin does. It’s a sort of grace and elegance, I think.”
<A fitting description. Yes, fine indeed...> Resting his head in his paws with a slight scrape of bark on bark, Rowan shut his eyes, with but a twitch of his ear giving away he was still awake as Jack continued.
In the darkness and shadows beneath the leaves of the Everfree, a mysterious mist coiled through the trees. Silently, it darted through the inky stillness of the forest hunting for... something...
Reaching the end of his song, Jack paused for a moment, considering what to play next. Around him, the timberwolves lay, slumbering peacefully in the moonlight (4), lulled to sleep by his music. Staring once more into the sky, his eyes drew back to the moon. The corners of his mouth twitched in a smile. Yes, that would be perfect...
Unseen to his eyes, the mist found its way to the tree line, coiling up into the branches. Slowly, it resolved itself into the shape of Princess Luna, carefully balanced on one of the stronger limbs.
Now most Equestrians knew Luna’s past; how she had become jealous of her sister, became Nightmare Moon, got banished, and all that jazz.
What most of them didn’t know was how long it took Luna to get used to modern society. Things had changed fairly dramatically over the years, especially in the music industry. Many an hour had been spent listening to examples of every genre that had been made since those dark days, though Luna was not too keen on this generation’s tastes (5). The only remaining traces of what she enjoyed from before, lingered on in what her ponies called “Classical” music.
Imagine her surprise then to hear such familiar tones lilting towards her from the creature sitting mere meters away.
From her perch, Luna could clearly see the being her sister had described, how it was surrounded by sleeping Timberwolves. She could see its features, its clothes, and the gentle smile on its face.
But all she could think about was the music.
As the last notes faded, Luna couldn’t help but smile. “Beautiful...”
As Jack’s piece finished, he set his violin in his lap with a contented sigh. It had been good to play once more.
“Beautiful...”
Jack’s head whipped around, leaping to his feet, the wolves waking as he did.
For those paying attention, there’s not much grip on a branch when one wears horseshoes. So, when Luna jerked back in surprise at their actions, it was no surprise that she lost her purchase, tumbling into the bushes below before her wings could catch her.
“BLASTED THORNS! FOUL ABOMINA-” Luna exclaimed loudly, but cut off when she noticed the presence of the lupine lumber-piles and their unusual guest. “Erm... Greetings..?”
Before Jack could get out a reply, he found himself getting pushed down to the ground by Rowan. <Down, hatchling! Show some respect.>
“Why?” Jack hissed back. “who is she?”
Before Rowan could reply, Luna said pointedly, “SHE, would be Princess Luna, and She would be rather appreciative of some help out of these thorns?”
Quickly and carefully, the wolves pressed the bushes and thorns out from around Luna, allowing her to step out of the bush, with just a little assistance from Jack in the form of a steadying hand for her.
“We thank thee, my subjects. And thanks to you too, creature.” Luna nodded to Jack. Around her, the wolves bowed. Jack, on the other hand, was still a little confused.
“A princess? Then what are you doing here? In a FOREST?”
Luna gestured to him. “We- I mean, I was to investigate a new creature to our lands. Namely, you.” Luna padded around him slowly. “You are just as mine sister’s student described you. More coherent though.” Luna chuckled softly. “Quite a violinist too.”
Though still wary, Jack grinned at the praise. “You think so?”
Luna nodded emphatically. “Indeed. but, ‘tis not our errand this night to take in the arts; we came to know more of you.”
Jack chuckled. “I’m flattered. Shall we get more comfortable, Princess?”
Over the following few minutes, Jack sat under the stars with Luna, and explained his situation to her. Around them, the wolves returned to their slumber, save Rowan.
“Mm, ‘tis quite the tale. And you know not how you got here? No incantations, amulets, or other such device?” Luna asked.
Jack shook his head. “Nothing of the sort. Just me, running through the forest until I came out here, wherever we are.”
Luna smiled. “ ’Tis the Everfree forest; one of mother’s finest creations...” her voice trailed off as her face fell a little.
Jack frowned slightly. “Mother?”
<The Mother of all, Hatchling.> Rowan piped up. <Gaea, the Lifegiver, she who made us all. We are honoured that one of her children would grace us with her presence.> He bowed his head once again to Luna.
“Indeed. I and our sister are directly related to her. Remind me to tell you more of her some time when there is naught else to hinder our conversation.
“but now,” Luna murmured, “I must know; do you bear any threat to our subjects, the ponies?” As she spoke, her face became darker, more foreboding, and Jack found himself getting more nervous in her presence.
“N-no, nothing of the sort. On the contrary, I’d rather steer clear of them.” Jack replied hastily. At this, Luna’s face returned to normal, but instead of a threatening look, she now held one of curiosity.
“Why-ever dost- I mean, why-ever would you wish to avoid them? They bear you no ill will either, and I daresay some have interest in learning more about you.”
“Oh yeah, your sister’s student, am I right?” Something clicked in Jack’s mind. “This student wouldn’t happen to be that purple unicorn who chased me, would it? Lives in a library, drooled over the prospect of learning all she could about a new species...?”
Luna chuckled, “Yes, that certainly sounds like the Twilight Sparkle I know. Surely ‘twould be no small trouble to talk to her?”
Jack chuckled nervously. “We-ell... I’m probably not in her good books, seeing as I knocked out one of her friends in my escape.”
Luna waved a hoof. “Sparkle will understand if you just explain yourself. ‘Tis not so odd to flee from something out of the ordinary to one’s-self. No offence.” She added quickly.
“I’ll... consider it...” Jack murmured. Luna nodded, rising to her hooves once more.
“That is the least I can ask of you. Now, I must return to Canterlot to... why are you snickering?”
Jack chuckled, “Canterlot? Really?”
“Yes? What’s wrong with it?” Luna asked.
“Never mind.” Jack grinned. “So, you’re off then? Feel free to come back to hear some more music any time.”
Luna smiled. “My thanks, I may do just that. Farewell!”
As Luna leapt up into the air, gracefully ascending into the skies, Jack sat down, a gentle smile on his lips. Perhaps the ponies did deserve a second chance...
Back in Canterlot...
“Truly! Where the Cerberus are you?!”
Blueblood was not a happy pony. For the last half-day, where normally he would be waited on, pastern-and-hoof (6), the Prince had been left alone. Incapable of doing much himself, he had been slowly beginning to fume more and more.
“Coming, Sir!” Truly stumbled into the room, hastily smartening his clothes as Blueblood rounded on him.
“And just where in Tartarus have you been? It’s been dreadful while you’ve been gone!”
Truly snickered a little at his master’s dramatics. “Terribly sorry, sir, but you will remember you wanted me to come up with a plan? To sort out your little revenge?”
All signs of anger were wiped from Blueblood’s face, to be replaced by a gleeful grin. “Well, well? What have you come up with? Tell me all!”
“Well Sir, as much as I’d hate to admit it, your idea about the bear-laser-warrior idea the other day gave me an idea.”
Blueblood, while ticked off slightly at his comment, grinned wider. “Well, I have my moments. Continue.”
Truly nodded. “Right. well, I’d actually been struggling to come up with anything decent until last night, when I heard some pretty incredible gossip in the Broken Horseshoe.”
Blueblood sniffed. “I’m not familiar with this establishment.”
Truly waved a hoof dismissively. “It’s a pub for servants, office workers... the lower classes, as you’d put it, but that’s not important. What IS important is what I heard there...”
Truly leaned in conspiratorially, and Blueblood found himself doing the same. “Rumour has it that there’s a new creature in Equestria, that emerged not far from your targets. It’s like an ape, only it wears clothes, has much less hair, and it supposedly can talk. However, all of this is inconsequential. All we need to consider is that no-one knows what to expect of it yet; it could be peaceful, violent, anything.”
Truly brought his hoof down firmly. “What I propose is, we capture this creature, bend its’ will to our service, and have it act out your revenge. No-one will suspect that anypony had a hoof in its actions!”
Blueblood laughed. “Ah, that sounds excellent!” Soon though, a frown creased his brow. “ But, if it can talk, maybe it would give us away?”
Truly looked surprised; Blueblood didn’t normally show this much attention in his planning.
“Well, yes Sir, it could, if it weren’t for this!” So saying, Truly lifted off his back a musty old tome, bound in leather. Blueblood recoiled slightly at the sight.
“This is one of Starswirl the Bearded’s less well known spellbooks, because of the darker natures of the spells within.” Truly looked around, sweating a little. “This was what took me most of the day to get hold of. I had to slip past the library’s guards and get out with it, without being spotted.”
Blueblood wasn’t impressed. “And just what is there in this... abomination, that’s worth stealing from under the noses of my Auntie’s guards?” He sniffed. “How does this fit into our plans?”
Truly grimaced a little. “Like you said, the creature could rat us out, unless we have full control of it. Towards the end of his life, Starswirl went a little... loopy, apparently, and his magical research took an altogether more unethical turn.” Truly prodded the cover of the book. “In here are some of the worst he came up with, including one that allows a pony to trap an unwilling being into his or her service, to do exactly what is demanded of them, like a puppet on a string, providing it is intelligent enough to understand what it is being commanded to do.
“This is what we shall use, sir. With this, the creature will be ours totally, the mares shall be defeated, and you shall have what you have desired for so long...”
(1) Much like an early bird, you understand, but for night-time instead of daytime.
(2) The renowned chef Great Gusto currently presided over the Canterlot Castle kitchens, who was famous for his flamboyant style, and skilful blending of spices. Even a simple cucumber and rose petal soup such as the ones the Royal sisters were served would be turned into a piece of art. If the stallion could be faulted for anything, it was that a large number of his dishes contained ginger, which left customers to his bistro in the heart of Canterlot hot under the collar and very eager to exercise, in one way or another... *ahem*
(3) Meant in a good way, of course. A Chokeweed could similarly be described as breathtaking but in an altogether more morbid sense.
(4) Despite the logical thinking that a Timberwolf would be a nocturnal beast like a normal wolf, one must not forget their origins, born from the hearts of the trees and plants of the forest. Much like their “parents”, the Timberwolf is much more active during the daytime, when light levels are much higher and another energy source besides magic can be exploited to fuel them, if only at a fractional level; not enough to sustain a wolf forever.
(5) “WHAT INANE DRIVEL IS THIS? `FILLY, FILLY, FILLY, OH!`? ‘TIS A DISGRACE! AND DON’T GET ME STARTED ON THOSE `PRIME DESTINATION` PLOTHEADS!”
(6) Or hand and foot, if you had those appendages.