//------------------------------//
// Shooting Star 
// Story: The Word is Fear 
// by BronyWriter 
//------------------------------//

"Madness. Absolute madness." 

The latest Captain of the Guard, Thunder Cloud, walked through the destroyed house where The New Nightmare had finally been put down. The floor was littered with the bodies of the royal guards who had come to capture or kill her; some dead, some merely injured. Thunder Cloud turned to one of his guards and motioned over to the bodies on the floor. "Get a medic in here. See who is still alive." The guard saluted and left the room. 

Thunder Cloud took a deep breath and continued his examination. On the floor lay a comatose Princess Luna, while Princess Celestia was nowhere to be found. Next to her was the battered and broken body of The New Nightmare herself. Her spine was snapped to the point where her head almost touched her hind hooves, and her neck was jutting out at an odd angle. Her horn was missing, it was likely the bone fragments around her were the remains of her horn, and her head was in a pool of blood. To complete the picture, one of the Ghosts, Alpha he thought, though he had trouble telling them apart sometimes, was sitting in the corner; shaking and unblinking. He was holding a young pegasus filly who was muzzled for some reason. Thunder Cloud walked up to him and took the filly out of his forelegs. He removed the muzzle and hoofed her over to another guard. "Get her to a medic too. I want to know who she is and what she would be doing here."

The guard saluted and put the filly on his back. Thunder Cloud knelt in front of Alpha and waved a hoof in front of his eyes. "Alpha? You in there?" 

Alpha blinked once and looked at Thunder Cloud. He shakily raised a hoof and pointed at the corpse of The New Nightmare. "W-we... uh..." He blinked again. "Princess Celestia... she wanted us..." Alpha groaned and leaned his head back against the wall. 

"Alpha. Where is Princess Celestia? Why is Princess Luna on the floor like that?"

"They fought," Alpha whispered. "Princess Celestia... she killed The Nightmare and they fought." Alpha raised his head again, still pointing at Blossom's body. "Don't know where Princess Celestia is. She..." Alpha's ear twitched. "She just... went away. Princess Luna made her go away."

Alpha tried to curl away from Thunder Cloud, but Thunder Cloud grabbed him by the head and forced him to make eye contact with him. "Alpha, what do you mean by that? Where is Princess Celestia?"

"She just vanished," Alpha muttered. "Princess Luna just made her vanish. I don't know where." 

Thunder Cloud sighed and ran a hoof through his mane. "One more for the medics, I guess," he muttered. Thunder Cloud got on his hooves and turned to his second-in-command, Lightning Blitz. "Lieutenant Blitz, what can you make of all of this?"

Lightning Blitz scoffed and shook his head. "Heck if I know. This kind of thing is above my pay grade, so to speak. Luna down, a Ghost shivering in the corner like a foal, and Celestia who knows where..." He shrugged. "My guess is that this will have political ramifications for decades to come."

"Can't argue with you there," said Thunder Cloud. "We'll get the medics to look over the survivors." Thunder Cloud motioned over to the downed guards. "Do we have a survivor count?"

Lightning Blitz nodded. "Yeah. Forty guards came after The Nightmare. We have twenty-five dead and fifteen wounded. There were no knife wounds, so The Nightmare didn't get any of them. Most of the dead ones have fatal neck and head injuries." 

"No indication of what caused it?"

Lightning Blitz shook his head. "Probably whatever took down Princess Luna and made Princess Celestia disappear."

"And we don't know what that is." Lightning Blitz shook his head. "That's just wonderful."

"Excuse me, sirs?" Lightning Blitz and Thunder Cloud turned around and saw a medic kneeling in front of Princess Luna.

"What is it?" asked Thunder Cloud.

"Well, I've done my examination of Princess Luna and I think I might know why she's out like this." The medic pressed his hoof on her neck to check for a pulse. "She's alive for sure, but she's just shut down. Somehow through all of..." The medic motioned to the chaos. "This, she expended a massive amount of power. She's basically shut down to re-charge." 

"How long will she be out do you think?" Thunder Cloud asked. 

The medic shrugged and began listening to Luna's heartbeat. "Hard to say. It depends on how much magic she used. Frankly if she used so much power that she defeated Celestia, possibly killed her too, then it might be decades." 

Thunder Cloud's eyes widened and he trotted up to Luna. "Decades?! She can't be out for decades?! With Celestia gone, Luna is the only one who can move the sun and the moon." 

"Well, that's not strictly true," Lightning Blitz pointed out. "We'll just do what we did before the princesses and have a group of ponies move the two. Princess Cadence and Twilight Sparkle especially will be invaluable." Thunder Blitz weakly chuckled. "After all, Princess Cadence is next in line for the throne."

Thunder Cloud bit his lip and scratched the back of his neck. "Uh... that isn't strictly true. Yes she technically is, but she's in charge of the Crystal Empire now. She's not experienced enough to run both the Empire and Equestria."

"Well then, who is in charge now?"


*  *  *  *


Thunder Cloud and Lightning Blitz walked down the now gloomy halls of Canterlot Castle. The news of Blossom's death, Luna's condition, and Celestia's banishment had spread through not just Canterlot, but all of the world like wildfire. Despite the brightly lit corridors and ornate decor, there was no trace of happiness in anypony around. Indeed, none of the servants or other guards were making eye contact with each other. 

Once more troops had arrived at the house, the bodies had been moved to a storage facility in the castle to be sorted later. Comet, Alpha, and the rest of the injured guards were in the medical wing, but Thunder Cloud had been told that Comet and Alpha were suffering from shock, but were otherwise perfectly fine. 

The speed of the news of the Princess' incapacitation had caused a power shift as they had to go to the fourth pony in line for the throne. As such, many foreign delegates had flocked to the castle in hopes of gaining an advantage over the new Equestrian ruler. The biggest problem was the griffins, as they had made it clear that they would be the ones to execute Blossom. Now they had to deal with the new king of Equestria, as he had taken to calling himself. 

"I can't believe that I would live to see the day where Prince Blueblood would ever take the throne," Lightning Blitz muttered. "I mean..." He scowled and the two stopped in front of the throne room. "You know how he is."

"Actually, it seems I know how he is a little better than you do." Thunder Cloud put his hoof on the throne room door. "Did you ever wonder why the Princesses kept that mareanizing dolt around? He's not related to them, and I assure you that he doesn't actually come from a royal family."

"Then why is he around exactly?"

"Look, I know this is going to be hard to believe..." Thunder Cloud sighed and rubbed one of his temples. "But Prince Blueblood is one of Equestria's foremost legal minds. He probably would have been a well-respected judge or lawyer if he wasn't such a plotfaced jerk who abuses his power for his own ends." 

"You learn something new every day," Lightning Blitz muttered. 

"Yep. The griffins are pissed off, but if they think that Blueblood is going to lie down and take whatever they give, they've got another thing coming." Thunder Cloud tapped the door. "Speaking of which, we'd better get in there. Prince... er..." Thunder Cloud rolled his eyes. "King Blueblood wants us in there in case the griffins try anything nasty or if he wants to order us around or something." 

Thunder Cloud pushed the door open, and the two guards were greeted with the sight of Prince Blueblood sitting on what was normally Celestia's throne. A smirk played at his lips that likely had more to do with the crown adorning his head than the new griffin ambassador that was ranting in front of him. 

"I had no idea that Princess Celestia was so disrespectful as to ignore our perfectly reasonable demands!" the ambassador screeched. "Emperor Attchune the Third made it quite clear that we were to be the ones who destroyed that monster as retribution for her murder of our ambassador!"

Blueblood's smile widened ever so slightly and he adjusted his crown. "Oh really? And why do you presume that we would allow such a thing? If I recall correctly, we made no such deal. In fact you didn't even have time to put any troops into Equestria." 

"Something that we may do now!" The ambassador flared out his wings. "Admit it, now that Celestia and Luna are gone and Cadence is out of the country, Equestria is severely weakened! We would have no problem wiping you out!" 

Blueblood rolled his eyes. "You seem to forget that our army is not weakened just because our princesses are out of commission. The death of Captain Shining Armor was regrettable, but he was hardly our most important general." Blueblood chuckled and gave the ambassador a look very reminiscent of a spider with a fly in his web. "You also do seem to forget the Crystal Empire, a race that would certainly go to war to prevent any harm coming to their grieving princess. What say you? Can you fight a two-front war?"

"The Crystal Ponies are weak!" the ambassador snapped. "It would not be long before we won in the east!" 

"It would be just long enough for us to cut off your supply lines, on top of the suffering you would go through when all trade with Equestria is cut off." Blueblood clicked his tongue and began idly examining one of his hooves. "I'd love to see how you fight a war without the timber and wheat we export to your nation. I'm sure the Crystal Ponies and Minotaurs would be more than happy to take your share." 

"I... you... we will not..." The ambassador's face turned a bright red, but his wings drooped ever so slightly. "Restitution must be given even if there will not be a war! You seem to forget that my predecessor was murdered in your land!" 

Blueblood sighed and stopped looking over his hoof. "I do not suppose I can argue with that issue seeing as you don't want to let it go. What do you suggest?"

The ambassador snapped his talons, and one of his aides handed him a scroll. "These are Emperor Attchune the Third's demands! If you follow them, we will drop the matter entirely." The griffin cleared his throat and unfurled the scroll. "For all future visits to Equestria, griffin ambassadors will be allowed to bring triple the guards for security."

Blueblood yawned, but spun his hoof. "Done, I suppose. As long as they don't try anything. They will be watched, though."

"Good. Our next demand is that we be given limited access to the warm water port so we could secure trade with Zebrica!"

"I don't suppose there's harm in that." Blueblood's small smirk returned. "Of course, given that the warm water port is Equestrian territory, there will be a tax that comes with all goods moved from Griffonia. On top of that, any imports will be taxed at the expense of Griffonia." 

"That is hardly fair and you know it!"

"Or you can just not have it at all," said Blueblood. "Makes no difference to me or the Equestrian citizens."

The griffin ambassador began quaking with rage, but Blueblood shot a hoof out and waved him away with a yawn. If there's nothing else, I have more important manners to attend to." 

"Emperor Attchune The Third has more demands!" the ambassador snarled. "We are not done here!"

"I have already given all of the concessions I am willing to give." Blueblood's smirk returned full force. "Attchune should have understood the risks of sending an ambassador into our country when a serial killer was on the loose. I refuse to hear more demands if you knew the risks. Even if you didn't I would like you out."

"We are not done!" The griffin flared out his wings. "Emperor Attchune The--"

"But we are done here," sad Blueblood. "If you do not leave my throne room in ten seconds, I will have you escorted out."

The ambassador's face twisted into a snarl and his face turned red once more. "This isn't over!"

"I think it is." Blueblood chuckled. "I believe that we already discussed what war between us would look like." Blueblood waved his hoof again. "Begone with you! You bore me."

The ambassador looked very much like he would like to set Blueblood on fire, but with a huff he turned around and stomped out of the throne room. Blueblood chuckled and leaned back on the throne. "Featherbrains. Amusing, really." He sighed and turned his head to Thunder Cloud and Lighting Blitz. "Report on the state of the filly."

Thunder Cloud saluted. "The Nightmare's sister is currently resting in the infirmary. As far as we know, she's completely healthy, but she hasn't said a word since she got there. She just..." Thunder Cloud hesitated and scratched the back of his neck. "She just kind of stares ahead and does nothing. She hasn't eaten in a while, so we have her on an IV giving her nutrients." 

"Hmm. Have her parents been contacted?"

"They're on their way to the castle last I heard," said Lightning Blitz.

"Well, that's good, I suppose," Blueblood drawled. "Just give the filly over to them once they arrive. Let them figure out what to do with her." 

The two saluted again. "Yes, sir."

"Yes, your majesty," Blueblood retorted. 

The two inwardly sighed, but saluted again. "Yes, your majesty."

Blueblood smirked again. "Now, given that The Nightmare began killing because of how my aunties handled the situation with her sister, I think that it would be best if we kept our distance while still keeping an eye on her. Since she's not talking, it's doubtless that her parents will put her in therapy. I want reports on her status every two weeks." 

The two guards saluted and Blueblood nodded. "Very well. Begone with you both!" Blueblood stuck his snout into the air. "My lunch is coming and I do not wish to be disturbed!"

Thunder Cloud and Lightning Blitz exited the throne room and trotted towards the infirmary. Thunder Cloud had a small smirk on his lips, and he glanced over at Lightning Blitz. "What did I tell you? He's no slouch when it comes to politics."

"That griffin was furious, but good grief, Blueblood played him like a violin!"

"I remember something he said to me once," said Thunder Cloud. "A mediocre diplomat relies on compromises. A truly great diplomat gets his way." 

Lightning Blitz scoffed in amusement as the two reached the infirmary doors. "No kidding." 

Before the two guards could open the door, they heard the thundering of hooves behind them. They turned around to see a grey pegasus stallion and a pink unicorn mare zooming down the hall to the infirmary. The mare was sobbing, and even the stallion looked like he was barely holding it together. When they reached the doors, the mare grabbed Thunder Cloud in her hooves. 

"Where is she?! Where is my daughter?!"

Thunder Cloud jerked his head to the doors. "She's in there. She hasn't been hurt." 

The mare let Thunder Cloud go and burst into the room followed by the stallion and the two guards. On the best closest to the door was the pegasus filly recovered from the scene of The Nightmare's death. A nurse was beside her bed, checking on the IV in her right foreleg. The mare whimpered when she saw her daughter, and she bolted towards the bed and scooped the filly up in her forelegs. 

"It's okay, Comet. Mommy's here; Mommy has you now." 

The filly hardly reacted to her mother's touch. She stared forwards with a completely blank expression on her face. Every few seconds she blinked, but other than that she was still. 

The mare looked up at the nurse. "Is she okay? Sh-she hasn't be hurt, has she?"

The nurse shook her head. "No. she's perfectly healthy. She's just in shock, that's all." 

"What happened to her tail?" the stallion asked quietly. "We hadn't heard any news after she went missing."

The nurse sighed sadly and removed the IV. "I'm afraid that The Nightmare did that when she foalnapped her sister. It's a good thing she was found when she was, otherwise little Comet here wouldn't be in nearly as good condition as she is now."

"Don't call my daughter The Nightmare!" the stallion snapped. "Sure she did bad things, but she didn't deserve that title then or now!"

The nurse held up a hoof. "Okay, okay. Her tail was cut off when Blossom foalnapped her. It's going to grow back and she's going to be fine." 

The stallion's glare faded and was replaced by a tired look. "I just can't believe she would do that," he muttered. "That's not the mare I knew."

"Well she did kill her mother and grandparents," Thunder Cloud pointed out. "By the end I don't think there was much left of the mare you knew."

The stallion's glare returned, but he said nothing on the subject. He just looked down at his comatose daughter. "When is she going to snap out of it?"

The nurse shrugged. "Could be any day now. I'd suggest getting her to a therapist if she doesn't begin talking soon." 

The mare whimpered and gently nuzzled Comet. "Comet, can you talk for Mommy? Mommy's got you now. You're safe." Comet did not respond except to look up at her mother with the same blank stare. "Comet, please say something for Mommy! You're fine now, please say something!" When her daughter did not respond, the mare leaned in and nuzzled her again. "Okay, Comet. I understand. You're scared right now. So am I. We're going to take you home now, okay? Everything is going to be okay. You're safe, Comet. Nopony is going to hurt you anymore."