The bright white of his existence faded, and Nye found himself standing amongst barren grey rocks, the desolate landscape stretching out as far as the eye could see. He instantly dropped to his knees and fought the nausea that threatened to overwhelm him. How did Luna stomach doing this all the time?
He slowly overcame the moment of vertigo, and as he opened his eyes he spotted the two necklaces he’d been given. One was thin and just a little too big for him, with a complicated design of moonstones. That one had come from Luna, and allowed him to travel to the moon and back without her help. The other was a gold chain with a weathered but shining amber maple leaf. Jimmy hadn’t told him what it was for, just that it was to go to the Princess and she would recognize it.
He raised himself up to a sitting position and slowly took in his surroundings. The lunar surface was nothing but pale rock and sand. It wasn't as pretty as he’d originally imagined it, and every time he arrived he had to wonder how Luna’d maintained her sanity living alone in such a dull place for a thousand years. He knew what the moon was really like, and now Celestia’s choice of punishment for her own sister seemed disproportionate to Luna’s crime.
But there was no time to dwell on ancient injustices. He turned at the soft sound of hoofsteps and discovered a Canterlot guard approaching. The stallion saluted him with a stern, official expression. “Sir, welcome back, sir!”
By Luna he hated the manner of the soldiers! He didn’t ever want to be referred to as a ‘sir.’ But he held his tongue; there was no point arguing with these mindless, red-eyed drones. “Where’s the Princess? I need to relay orders.”
“Sir, I don’t know, sir.”
Nye ground his teeth and resisted the urge to snap. “Then I’ll ask around. Carry on.”
The guard saluted and went about his business, which involved checking on all the other enslaved ponies to see if they’d found anything. Nye left him to his task and went in search of Luna. She could be anywhere, but he knew that ponies were spread all over the place searching for the Shades of Night, and one of them had to know where Luna was.
His mind was filled with worry. When Jimmy had told him that Fine was awake and had a plan, he’d been thrilled! But then he learned that he was the initiator of said plan, and that killed his enthusiasm quick. He glanced back at the pouch on his saddlebag, the one that held the wine bottle. How was he ever going to trick Luna into drinking it? He wasn’t a deceptive pony. This required somepony with smarts, like Fine or Octavia or Jimmy! He knew why it had to be him, but… why did it have to be him?
It was easy for Fine to suggest this, he was as sneaky as they come. Nye wasn’t sneaky. He wouldn’t call himself brave or heroic, either. He was just… Nye. And if Luna caught on, what would she do to him? Worse, what would Silma do, not just to him but to Jimmy as well? He knew that if either of them were caught in their deception, both would suffer.
He didn’t want this responsibility.
He paused and sat, trying to clear his head. His thinking was all wrong! He gazed around at the ponies that were scattered in the distance, all of them searching. Slaves, every last one. He gazed up into the stars and thought of Luna, a slave herself. Maybe he didn’t want this responsibility, but it had fallen into his hooves nonetheless.
He cursed himself, trying to regain some of his usual positive manner. It was one thing to encourage others, but encouraging himself was an entirely different thing. Even so, he tried to firm his mind to the task. He was Luna’s friend, and now he was her direct personal assistant. True, that role had been given to him by Silma, but he was doing it for Luna. Even if she was a slave to that monster, he still wanted to help her in whatever way he could. And right now, that meant rescuing her mind.
He started walking once more, still struggling with his doubts. He tried to set the situation in terms he could accept. Engineering? No, too technical. Bartending? Yeah, right. What else was there?
He paused to ask a pony about Luna, and was pointed in a certain direction. As he continued on, he thought on these poor slaves, their minds sealed and shut tight to make room for Silma’s re-programming. They were all so simple, so mindless, so-
Zombies.
He recalled that terrible night in the Everfree Forest with Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. He could still vividly recall the hideous, grinning face of that rotting undead alicorn. Under his fur his leg had a big, nasty scar from the wound she’d given him. How Fine could live so close to that horrible village he would never understand.
That was it. That was the situation he needed to recall. These enslaved ponies were little more than zombies, and Silma was their alicorn matriarch. In truth, Luna was probably more befitting the role in the current situation, but he couldn’t possibly think of her in such a manner.
Yes, he’d been terrified. Yes, he’d been severely wounded. If Rainbow hadn’t rescued him, he probably would have died that night. But he’d survived. Outnumbered, horrified, hurt, he’d survived. If he could get through that, he could get through this. He had no Rainbow to rescue him this time, so he’d have to be extra careful, but he could do this.
He repeated it over and over in his head, praying that when the moment came it would actually be true.
Silma had assigned over a hundred ponies to help with the search, and Luna had spread them all over a vast range. Some merely scoured the barren, rocky ground. Others tried to dig holes, which Luna had called a foolish endeavor. Nye was of the opinion that the entire search was foolish; there were no hiding places on the moon, and Luna was not so simple as to just bury the gemstone like a dog buries a bone! It was insulting to her capabilities and intellect. But he kept his mouth shut and let them search.
It took a long time to find Luna, and by the time he finally spotted her he’d been walking nonstop for well over two hours. He paused at a distance, observing her. She sat all alone, far away from any of the others. Her dark body and beautiful, shimmering mane contrasted starkly from the pale moonscape. She was staring up at the stars, red eyes thoughtful.
This beautiful creature was his princess, and it filled him with heartache to think of how such a noble, powerful alicorn could be reduced to Silma’s slave. The fact that she didn’t understand her own slavery made it hurt even more. The intense emotions slapped the doubt out of him; no matter the risks, he had to try.
He started to approach, but stopped; he was still wearing that gold necklace. If it meant something to her, and it came from Fine, then she might associate it with her old team. Was that a good thing? He couldn’t be certain… but he decided to hide it in one of his packs, just in case.
She noticed his approach. “You are late.”
His mind went frantic for a proper response. He gave himself time by walking close and sitting next to her, joining her in stargazing. “Archon wanted to be part of the interview process this time,” he lied, hoping he was convincing enough for her.
She frowned, her gaze never leaving the stars. “I have to question why Silma puts up with him.”
“Riptide?” he suggested. Luna didn’t answer, and for a while the two of them merely stared up at the stars. His mind kept going over possibilities. How was he going to approach the topic of the potion? Call it wine? But why would he offer it to her? He couldn’t just make it look like a spur of the moment thing. He needed something… something to make it seem appropriate.
Seeking to break the ice, he asked, “So what are you doing out here?”
She was quiet for several seconds, but finally replied, “Observing the motions of the stars.”
He blinked, his worried thoughts fading at her answer. He focused on the stars more intently, but as far as he could see they were perfectly still. “I know the stars are always moving… but can you really see that just by sitting there and staring?”
At last she looked down at him, an amused smile on her lips. “I am the Princess of the Night, Nye.”
He blushed. “Well, you know, I just can’t see them move, that’s all.”
“I understand,” she said kindly, turning back to gaze at the sky. He relaxed, glad to not have those red eyes on him. “Nye, did I ever tell you how the stars were made?”
He glanced at her, not certain of why she was asking. “No, I don’t think so.”
“It’s always been a personal matter, how I learned to make and control them,” she admitted, her voice soft. “It seems like such a simple topic now, but it can be easy to forget over the centuries what brought them about.”
“But you’re going to tell me,” he whispered in quiet surprise.
She looked down at him once more, that same gentle smile on her lips. “Nye… you were my first friend after my return to Equestria. You never really treated me like royalty. It can be said that I have a taste for formality, but even I would like to have somepony to just… be my friend. Over the years your letters have brought me laughter and happiness, and you have truly indulged my need for companionship. I’ve spoken to you of matters I withheld even from my sister.”
Then, to his awed alarm, she lowered her head to nuzzle him, a sign of affection she’d never offered before. He knew she was enslaved to Silma, but this… this couldn’t be from her influence. He recalled the others and how they maintained their emotional attachments, and knew this had to be something real.
And he was touched.
“Nopony has stood by me like you, Nye,” she whispered, raising her head to beam at him. “Not even Celestia. Even now, when I so quickly rejoined Silma’s glorious cause, you stuck by me. I know it had to have been a difficult decision, to abandon your friends. I was so happy when Silma told me you’d be at my side. I wanted you to know that. So yes, Nye, I’m going to tell you about the stars. It might seem like a small thing, but it’s what I can offer.”
If only her eyes weren’t red. Then he’d be the happiest stallion in existence. But for now he’d accept it; how could he not? “It’s been my pleasure,” he told her with utmost sincerity.
A long, pleasant silence passed between them, neither of them wanting to break this happy moment. But at last Luna did, turning to gaze up at the stars once more. “Before my time, there were no stars. There was a moon, but no stars. The ponies of the world didn’t care, for they’d had nothing better to look at for all recorded history.
“It was our father, Gentle Knights, who first conceived of the stars. He claimed to have been inspired by my mane, and thought that he could beautify the night sky by making it appear as I did. Perhaps he just said it to make me happy, but I appreciated it all the same. He devoted hundreds of years studying a vast collection of spells in hopes of finding a way to create an astral body. Some ponies think the endeavor is what killed him. Regardless, after what seemed like an eternity, he finally managed to create the very first star.”
Horn glowing slightly, she raised a hoof to the night sky, and as Nye watched a small group of stars gradually dimmed. After a while a single star, very faint, began to glimmer and brighten. “This is Minchir, of the Hydra formation. It is the first star ever formed. It is normally very faint, as my father used minimal magic in its creation.”
Slowly, the stars returned to their natural state, until Nye could hardly recognize which one was Minchir. “After that he made another, Eltanin, of the Draco system.” She indicated a certain star, which shimmered brightly at her call. “Of course, he didn’t know they would be part of constellations at the time.
“Father’s parting gift was to teach me, and in so doing he made more stars and mastered the art.” She pointed to different stars, each brightening significantly when she beckoned to them. “Sheliak of Lyra, Kitalpha of Equuleus, and Ankaa of Phoenix were all created by him while he was teaching me. I personally only managed to make one star before his death: Vega, of the Lyra system.” She smiled faintly. “My father was so proud of my success, and it remains special in my heart.”
Nye didn’t know as much about constellations and stars as he would have liked at the moment, but even he knew Vega. It was such a bright star, he could have pointed it out easily without her help. “It’s a spectacular first attempt,” he noted.
She smiled at him. “A nice try, my friend, but I know you aren’t too knowledgeable about stars.” He bowed his head, ears flattening at his failure, to which she added, “I appreciate the attempt… and it truly is a magnificent star, if I can be permitted a little self-gratification. But I will spare you the intricate details on the differences of stars; I do not wish to bore you.”
“I wouldn’t be bored,” he quickly offered, but by her wry look he knew he wasn’t fooling her. If he couldn’t deceive her with such a simple thing, how was he going to handle the potion? He sighed and turned to gaze up at sky once more. “…I guess you made the rest of the stars after that?”
“Indeed.” She reared back to spread her hooves wide, face shining with pride. “All of these I created, mastering and developing my father’s gift. To make them required nearly a hundred years of toil, hard work I believe was well worth the effort. Just gaze upon it! Is it not beautiful?”
He smiled, glad that even now she could take pride in her sky. She deserved to feel good about it. “It truly is. Every pony who appreciates the night sky must love you for it.”
“I would like to hope so,” she confessed, her tone growing sad. “It seems it is all I have to share.”
Her tone worried him. “There’s more to you than just stars, Luna. There are ponies out there, ponies like me, who truly appreciate you for all that you do.”
She rewarded him with a small smile. “You are too kind, my friend.”
“I’m not the only one,” he pressed. “What about Fine Crime? Have you forgotten him?”
She sighed and turned to glance at the green and blue Earth, a small ball in the sky. “No, I have not forgotten. I wish he could be here now; that stallion has a gift for analysis and planning. If anypony could find the Shades of Night, it’s him. And like you, I know he’d stand at my side no matter what.”
If only she knew how right she was.
Was this it? Would this be the right time to offer… offer what? A toast? That didn’t sound at all convincing in his head. No, not now. But when? How would he know if the time was right?
“Curious.”
He blinked, pulled from his thoughts by her tone. He looked to find Luna staring intently into the starscape, as if she’d noticed something unusual. “What’s wrong?”
She glanced his way, seeming to have just recalled his presence, then looked back out into the sky once more. “Did you know that I do not move the stars anymore?”
He tilted his head. “Anymore? But the stars still move, don’t they?”
She nodded. “But moving the stars every night requires great amounts of magical focus, and distracts from my royal duties. So I decided, about fifty years prior to my exile, to pre-arrange the motions of the astral plane. The stars now move entirely on their own.”
He scratched the back of his head, thinking on this. “Well that’s interesting, but why bring it up now?”
Her head turned back and forth, red eyes scanning the stars as she spoke. “My father’s stars follow their own movement and dictate the motions of all the others. They were the focus of all motion. Except… my father created five stars.”
He glanced around at the sky, but had no idea what she was searching for. “So?”
“You cannot see it with your untrained eye,” she explained, “but even now I can see how the stars behave in relation to one another. My father’s stars are supposed to dictate the motions, and only my father’s stars… but there are six stars doing that job.”
“You mean Vega’s doing it too,” he offered, thinking he understood.
But she shook her head. “It’s not Vega. It’s that one.” She pointed with a hoof to a single star, which shimmered brightly. “I do not recall creating that star, and it is not one of my father’s. In all these years, how could I have forgotten?”
Nye considered this, trying to think of some plausible explanation. “Well… you were disconnected from the stars for a thousand years, weren’t you? Maybe you just lost track.”
“But I could still see them,” she countered, a sharpness in her tone betraying her frustration. “The stars were my only companions for a millennia! So why did this one slip my…”
She looked down at him abruptly, her eyes wide. “I… I forgot.”
And then he realized what she was thinking. He stood up, excitement and worry mixing in his mind. “Do you think?”
“Of course...” she whispered, gazing up at the star once more. “Polaris. Solid, steady Polaris.”
Her horn began to glow. She closed her eyes to concentrate, and the glow intensified into a bright, sparkling torch of cobalt blue magic. Nye watched in silent awe as the star shivered, dimmed… then grew so bright as to make the other stars seem pathetic. It erupted in a tiny splash of light and sparks… leaving behind an empty void.
He stared in the darkness where the star had been, expecting something to happen. Nothing did. “I guess we were wro-“ His words cut short as he turned to Luna and saw that her horn was still sparking like a fire, her eyes closed tight and her lips set in a determined frown. He turned again to gaze up at the sky, waiting to see if perhaps he’d missed something.
Then he saw it; a small object, so dark it was almost invisible in the night sky. It floated down to them, a thick gem similar to the two he’d seen Silma use before. There was no question; they’d found the Shades of Night.
Luna’s face softened. Her magic faded to a dim glow as she let out a long, relieved sigh. Then she opened her eyes and saw the jewel, suspended before her face like a black diamond. At the sight of it she let out a shudder of joy. “We found it.” Her voice was weak with pleasure. “I… I can’t believe we already found it! Oh Nye, thank you!”
He blinked, blushing at her gushing tone. “Me? What did I do?”
“Everything!” She shot him a beaming smile. “You did everything, Nye. From the moment we met, everything you ever did and said. I wanted to thank you, so I told you the story, and the story made me remember! It’s as if our entire relationship has been leading up to this moment! Oh, Silma’s going to be so happy!”
His moment of ecstasy from her praise died in a heartbeat. Right, there was still her…
Luna set her hooves to her cheeks. “This is so amazing! I just can’t… we must go immediately! Silma has to have the stone, and I will be the one to deliver it into her hooves! Come on, Nye, let’s-”
“Wait!”
She paused, wings outstretched. She turned to give him a questioning look, confusion and alarm in her face at his interruption. “Y-yes?”
It was now or never. For a few seconds he stood there, hoof stretched towards her and mouth hanging open. His mind ran rampant with possibilities and worries, but he stamped them down and forced himself to speak. “I… I had something for you, too.”
She smiled nervously, eyes going to the Earth above them. “Nye, I appreciate whatever you’re offering, but it can wait. We must…”
“No.” His voice was so firm it surprised even him. Ignoring her alarmed expression, he quickly realized what he wanted to say. Curiously, it was the truth. “Do you really think Silma’s going to appreciate this?”
Luna blinked at him. At first she seemed lost… but then her head bowed and her eyes grew sad. “No… no I don’t. Silma appreciates nothing.”
“I thought not.”
“But I still have to deliver the gem to her,” she insisted. “She needs it, Nye.”
“Maybe she does,” he agreed, “but you know that she’s just gonna take it and send you off on some other menial task she considers below her. She won’t appreciate your work, and we both know Celestia’s not going to care.”
She raised her head in alarm, and at first he thought she’d argue with him. But her eyes were hurt, and her ears drooped. “You… I mean…” Her head lowered once more. “She won’t, you are right.”
He stepped forward to set a hoof to her side – about as high as he could reach – and smiled. “So stay here for a while. Silma will get her stone. You’ve got a pony who appreciates you right here.”
She gave him a weak smile. “I don’t know…”
“Please.” He stepped back and reached into his saddlebag, pulling out the bottle. “I was holding on to this for just this occasion.”
She tilted her head, studying the bottle as he set it to the ground. “Is that wine?”
He chuckled to hid his anxiousness and tried to ignore the butterflies in his stomach. “It’s a special brew I made. I’ve never mixed wines before, so I dunno how it’ll come out.” He nudged the bottle with his nose, offering it to her. “I… I just thought you deserved something special.”
She sighed in a manner of quiet exasperation. “Did you name this one after me, too?”
He smiled, but couldn’t meet her gaze. “Yes. Silma and Celestia never saw how great you are. They want to paint you as a mere shadow. But you’re the Moon Princess. Look at this sky!” He reared back to spread his legs, copying her earlier motion. “You give us this beauty every night. You visit our dreams to save us from our worst fears. You created a team of ponies, and saved all our lives in the process! You deserve better, and I want to give that to you. I’m going to give it to you. Even if I’m the only pony in Equestria who does it, at least you’ll have me. That’s a promise, Luna.”
She stared at him, lips parted in a soft expression of disbelief. He took delight in how her eyes shined just then, for the sentiment had been wholly honest. After a few seconds she blushed, that pleasant smile coming to her lips as she glanced away timidly. “Nye, you finally succeeded in embarrassing me. Alright, I’ll stay for a while. You’re right; Silma will get her stone eventually, and the timing is not so important.” She beamed down at him. “Thank you, my friend. Your kindness means more to me than you can know.”
“Not just kindness,” he replied with a grin. “It’s loyalty. I have every confidence in you, Luna.”
She blushed once more. “Enough! You’ve embarrassed me enough.” The glow of her horn intensified for a moment, and a pair of wine glasses appeared between them. “Let us enjoy this new drink of yours. What did you say it was called?”
“I didn’t,” he replied, his heart skipping a beat as the wine bottle rose, its cork popping out at her magical tug. “To be honest, I was still thinking about the name.”
“Oh?” She poured some of the potion in each glass. “Have you any ideas?”
“Please, more for you,” he offered with a wave of his hoof. “I made this for you, after all.”
“Are you sure?” He nodded, hoping she couldn’t see the fear in his eyes. “So be it.” One glass arose and poured into the other, until it had nearly twice as much potion as the other.
The glass with less liquid floated down to his hooves, which were trembling. Part of it was his terror that something might interrupt this moment, right when he was about to succeed. The other was him wondering if drinking the potion when he didn’t need it would have any negative side effects. But to keep it realistic…
She lifted the glass to float beside her head and raised an eyebrow with an expectant smile. “The name?”
He blinked, having forgotten all about that bit of info. He considered for a moment, then gave her a nervous smile. “Moon Savior.”
Her smile broadened just a touch. “You never stop with the flattery.”
He raised his glass to her, struggling to keep his shaking under control. “You know me; Nye the tail chaser.”
She let out a light giggle and raised her glass in return. “To Nye, the most dependable and loyal friend a pony could ask for.”
His shaking stopped, his fear replaced with a moment of clarity and pleasure. “To the glory of the Moon Princess.”
And they both drank.
It tasted sweet, for which Nye was relieved. There was a number of strange and unrecognizable tastes along with it, and a rather jarring aftertaste that reminded him of eggplant. That was unfortunate; he hated eggplant. But even without it, he could tell this wasn’t something he’d ever have mixed on his own; the flavors and textures and sensations of the drink just didn’t meld right at all.
He lowered his glass to observe Luna, who finished off her own and lowered it with a clear attempt to hide her distaste. “Well…” she said with an forced smile, “that was… interesting.”
“Yeah,” he agreed, “not my best mix.” He tried to keep his tone congenial, but he was watching her like a hawk. Had it worked? Was it supposed to be immediate, or did the effects take time?
“Don’t feel too bad,” she offered kindly, studying the bottle up close. “By your own confession, you’ve never mixed wine before. But I did not taste any alcohol in…”
She blinked, shook her head. “Nye… do you feel… different?” She began to tilt sideways, her face going green. “Oh my… what was in that?”
He stepped back nervously. “Umm…”
She lowered her head, clutching it in both hooves as she let out a long groan. “I don’t feel so… oh… oh no…” Her red eyes slowly widened in understanding. She raised her head, eyes locking with his. “Nye… how could you?”
He took another worried step back. “I… uh… are you okay…?”
Then, abruptly, she let out a piercing scream and reared back, vast wings flapping wildly. “Traitor! How dare you! Of all the ponies, you!” And then, to his alarm, she fired a blue beam of energy from her horn. He jumped in terror, the beam slicing into his leg. It was only a small cut, but damn did it hurt!
“Luna, wait!” He dodged a second shot, terror running through him. “What are you doing?!”
She cried out in fury, her voice a horrible shriek. “I serve Silma!” The Shades of Night dropped to the pale ground, forgotten in the Princess’ rage. “Ponies, to me! Kill the traitor!”
Oh hell. He turned about to see the ponies in the distance come running. “Shit! Luna, I’m sorry!”
He turned back just in time for her to fly into him. He fell to the ground on his back. Pinned by her magic, he could only struggle in futility as she lowered her horn dangerously close to his throat. “Luna, please!”
“You’ve betrayed Silma,” she hissed, her eyes bright and terrifying. “Worse, you betrayed me! Me, your beloved Princess! I will kill you, Nye Stone, and when I get back to Canterlot with the stone I will find your brother and tear him to YAAAH!” She reared back, clutching her head. Flailing and screaming in agony, she fell onto her back, and Nye was free to move once more.
He jumped to his hooves, but didn’t dare approach. Had the potion been brewed incorrectly? Had he accidentally poisoned her?! He wanted to help, to do something for her, but all he could do was stand there and feel like crap. “L-Luna…”
“Stay away!” She tossed and turned, eyes going to him in alarm. “Nye, run… get awNO! I’ll kill you, you insubordinRUN!”
She was fighting for control! Maybe the potion was working… but was it a guaranteed cure? What if she reverted back? What if-
He jerked about at the sound of hoofsteps, cursing as he remembered the other ponies she’d called upon. He was already surrounded by half a dozen enslaved ponies, two of them guards, and they didn’t look friendly. Mind working quick, he ran to the Shades of Night lying innocuously nearby and snatched it up. He nearly dropped it; he could feel the energy of it! It was almost like a jolt of electricity.
“Easy there, Mr. Stone,” one of the guards called. “That’s property of Silma. Just hand it over and-“
“Go to hell!” He thrust the gem into a pack and backed away, looking for an escape. Zombies, that’s what he kept telling himself. These red-eyes slaves were no more than zombies. He’d handled zombies once before. He turned a circle and saw that the ponies had surrounded him and the still-struggling Luna.
“He’s hurt the Princess.”
“Kill him!”
“No, bring him to Silma!”
“It’s the Princess he hurt, let her have him.”
Nye gave Luna fearful look, but she was too busy with her internal battle to even notice him. She was on her stomach now, hooves pressed and tense against the ground and baring her teeth in a frightening display. Whatever was happening in her mind, it was clearly painful.
There was nothing else to do; he bolted. He ran between two mares, the weakest looking of his aggressors, and they were too surprised by his sudden decision to stop him. He broke through and ran as fast as his legs could carry him, ponies screaming in fury at his retreat.
A fight wasn’t an option. He didn’t have Jimmy’s or Octavia’s strength, or Lightning’s speed and guts. Fine Crime had his wits, and even Upper Crust had a certain determination and resourcefulness. He was Nye, and he was no fighter. His only chance was to keep them occupied long enough for Luna to recover.
So he fled, distinctly aware of the massive gem bouncing against his side in the pouch. He glanced back and saw that they were gaining. He’d expected that; he was by no means an athletic pony. But it was all up to him, and though he lacked his fellows' gifts he refused to give up!
He looked ahead again and saw a pony just ahead, looking up at him with confused, red eyes. “Mr. Stone, what’s going on?!”
For an instant Nye considered pitting the ponies he met, those not yet in the know, against the ones following him. It would be easy enough, just say he was being followed by traitors.
“Somepony hurt the Princess,” he shouted just as he flew by the stallion. “Everypony needs to go to Luna, now!”
He couldn’t use them like that. They’d tear one another apart, and he would not be responsible for that!
He kept running, glancing back every now and again to check on how close his pursuers were. He was getting winded, but he forced himself on. One of the guards was the first, easily getting ahead of the others. He’d be on Nye in seconds… but for once Nye knew exactly what he was doing.
The guard was so close that he opened his mouth and tried to catch Nye by the tail. That was his cue; he lifted his legs and let himself fall, adding a last kick to turn himself sideways. He hit the ground and rolled. The guard, caught by surprise, tripped over him and landed face first against the hard ground.
Nye scrambled to his feet and broke into a run once again, making sure to stomp on the guard’s leg as he did. The stallion beneath him let out a pained scream as a terrible cracking sound filled the air. Nye felt a little guilty, but didn’t look back or let it slow him down; better a broken leg than death.
His breath coming in gasps, Nye glanced back to see the others closing in. Whoever caught up first wouldn’t fall for the same trick. Now what? He couldn’t keep this up forever!
Something big and dark landed before him. He slid to a stop, nearly falling in his momentum. He looked up in terror at Luna, who stood tall and imposing. He closed his eyes, ready for the pain… and was suddenly flying.
“It’s okay, Nye, I’ve got you!”
“Luna!” When she looked down at him with clear, cyan eyes he actually broke into tears. He wrapped his hooves around her and laughed like a fool. “Those are the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen!”
“Ponies!” She shouted to the crowd below, “I will handle this traitor! Return to your duties!” He looked up at her, momentarily alarmed, but she winked to reassure him.
They flew for a few minutes, neither of them saying anything. Nye was so happy right then that he couldn’t get any words out, so he just held on to her and wept tears of joy. She was back, his Princess was back!
She brought them down in an area far removed from the other ponies, such that they were completely alone. He released her, took a step back… and his mind went blank as she planted a kiss right on his lips. For several seconds he just sat there, eyes wide and unable to think of anything but the fact that he was getting kissed by a princess.
She released the kiss and engulfed him in a tight hug. “Oh Nye, thank you thank you thank you! I knew I could count on you, you wonderful, lovable stallion!”
“It’s nice to see you, too,” he replied, still dazed from the kiss.
She laughed like he’d never heard her laugh before; loud, joyful and energetic. “I can’t believe it, I’m free! And we have the stone! Oh thank you, Nye, you’re amazing!” She sat back, giggling uncontrollably.
Nye grinned, all his fears and doubts washed away at last. “I am so glad to see you back. I was afraid I’d never have my Luna again.”
Her giggling finally under control, she beamed at him and took a moment to compose herself. “Nye… now I owe you my very soul. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you for what you’ve done, but I promise-“
He raised hoof, and she went silent. “I don’t need you to repay me. Just having you back is reward enough.” He considered this answer, then added, “On second thought, if you could promise not to ever tell Rainbow about that kiss, that’d be nice. Pretty sure she’d get jealous quick.”
She laughed and raised a hoof in a sincere gesture. “It’s a promise. You just… I’m so happy! How did you ever find a cure for Silma’s spell?”
“Oh, I can’t take credit for that,” he admitted. “The potion was somepony else’s idea.” He pulled out the amber leaf necklace and offered it to her. “I was told to give you this, and you’d understand.”
She lifted it up with her magic to get a closer look, and once she recognized it both hooves covered her mouth in a gesture of surprise. “Oh… Fine Crime…” He was surprised to see her eyes moisten. “He’s awake. Then… does that mean he’s okay?”
Okay? “I don’t know,” he admitted, scratching the back of his head. “I didn’t see him. The necklace and potion were given to me by Jimmy, and he says they were given to him by Lightning.”
She gazed upon him with a smile that suggested mild disbelief. “You mean the team’s still together?”
“I think so. We’re supposed to find Fine in Canterlot. If you send him a message, he’ll show you were he is. Or so Jimmy told me.”
She shook her head, a soft and pleasant expression on her face. “Dear Verity Fine. Such a crafty stallion. And to think I had such serious reservations about him when he first started working for me.”
Nye grinned and waved a hoof at the planet high above them. “So what are we waiting for? Let’s go save Equestria!”
But Luna made no attempt to leave. “Not so hasty, my friend. You and I need to talk a little, first.”
“Talk?” he asked, “About what?”
She was silent for several seconds, staring at him proudly. “Nye… I remember everything.”
He blinked, not sure where she was going with this. “Umm… okay?”
“The others left,” she pressed. “It was the right thing to do. But you and Jimmy… you stayed behind. You refused to leave me to Silma and Archon, even though you risked your lives.” She bowed her head, emotion filling her voice. “I was so scared for you… and proud, too.”
“Luna…” He moved a little closer, trying to look her in the eyes. “I had to stay.”
She sniffed, but her eyes shined with joy. “I wanted to thank you. I… I never thought anypony would ever do something like that for me. And,” she added before he could speak, “I remember what you told me just a few minutes ago. ‘Going to give me better?’”
He blushed, eyes moving away from hers. “Oh… that. You remember that too, huh?”
She lowered her head to nuzzle him affectionately. “Even under Silma’s control, I was so thrilled to hear it, and I know you meant every word.”
He pressed back, feeling light with pleasure. “I did mean it. You deserve so much more credit than you have.”
She straightened and grinned. “When this is over, if we defeat Silma Ril, I am going to knight you and give you a title. I don’t know what yet, but you’ve more than earned it.”
He gaped. “Me? A knight? Seriously?”
She nodded, setting a hoof to her chin as she studied him. “Hmm… maybe a count. Count Stone of Ponyville.”
“I dunno if I’m royalty material, Luna,” he admitted with a blush.
She laughed and wrapped him in another hug. “You’d be nobility, not royalty. But it doesn’t matter; the point is that you’re a hero. Ah-ah, no, don’t argue. You’re my personal hero, and I will make sure the whole of Equestria knows it!”
His face grew even more red as she backed away. “Luna, keep this up and you’re gonna embarrass me.”
She giggled and flashed a grin. “I believe that’s called ‘payback.’ Now, have you any idea what this plan of Fine’s is?”
Glad to finally be off to a new topic, he sobered quickly. “No, can’t say I do.”
“Then let us return to Equestria,” she declared, “and see what our friends have in mind.”
Upper Crust kept her husband close. They were sitting together by a bar, staring at the catwalk in the middle of the room. Well, trying to; she kept eyeing her husband, who in turn was trying not to eye the posters that lined the walls, each showcasing a different supermodel. One of those supermodels was sitting right across the bar, mixing herself a drink: Fleur Dis Lee.
There were so many crazy thoughts going through Upper Crust’s head at the moment. First, she learned that Fine Crime was awake and on his way to Canterlot. Then she discovered that the Dark Archons were real. And most shocking of all? Fleur, one of Canterlot’s top models, whom she always took for an airhead even before developing her new outlook on life, was one of its major agents! Fleur! She kept waiting for somepony to deliver a punch line.
But Upper Crust’s doubts faded quickly after watching the supermodel cast that invisibility spell on Lightning. That was no small magical feat! Fine had referred to her as an illusions master, and Upper Crust had to wonder how much of that magical aptitude was put to use in her modeling career. She had to acknowledge that it was the perfect front. A front for what, she didn’t know; neither Fine or Fleur would talk about just what the supermodel really did for the Archons here in Canterlot.
She eyed her husband, who seemed to be working a bit too hard at keeping his eyes well away from Fleur. Did he think she’d be mad? That she’d accuse him of cheating as he once had accused her? She knew better than to ever expect that of him… but at the same time she had to admit a guilty pleasure in keeping him on the tips of his hooves.
He’d insisted on coming along with her. She’d tried to convince him to evacuate with the others, but apparently he wanted to understand her life, and meet her teammates. He’d struggled to be helpful in the past few days, and in that time she finally had the chance to observe him. He’d changed in the past year, and she could see the direction his life was taking. He was starting to care about others, to worry about things other than parties and image. He was… well, it seemed he was walking the same rocky path she’d taken. It made her so happy, and she couldn’t help thinking that she’d had a hoof in this new direction of his.
But she was still terrified for him. At any time they could get the call from Luna, or have to flee to another hiding spot from Silma’s slaves. She didn’t want him here, it was too dangerous. Seeking to take her mind of that particular worry, she cast her gaze around the auditorium.
Lightning was resting in a dark corner by the stage. It looked as if she was sleeping, but Upper Crust could tell she was awake. She’d heard that Lightning had spent the past three days leading the evacuation of Ponyville, so she had to have been a little worn out. She deserved some rest, but sleep wouldn’t come. She was probably fretting over Keen, who she’d left behind with Zecora and Spike.
Octavia was lying on a sofa atop the stage, sipping tea and studying sheet music. Upper Crust could tell from her anxious glances and fretting eyes that she was trying to distract herself with a little study, but it wasn’t helping much. Fleur had tried to help out early on with Octavia; the model had insisted that the cellist had all the physical qualities necessary to be a model herself. Upper Crust was tempted to believe it – the mare was certainly a beauty – but Octavia would have none of it. Fleur had even tried to convince her to take a spin on the catwalk, an idea the cellist stamped out swiftly and with no small amount of blushing. So now she was just lying there, trying to keep her mind off the dangers they could face at any time.
And that left Fine Crime, who at that moment was on the roof getting some fresh air and keeping an eye open for threats. Upper Crust had been so happy to see him; somehow, knowing that Fine was back made her feel a lot more secure about everything. She’d wanted to talk to him, and he’d indulged her a bit, but Fine was in a working mood. For whatever reason he was more focused and determined than ever, and the only thing on his mind was the task at hand.
“Here.” Upper Crust turned in her stool to find a shot glass at her elbow. She gave Fleur a questioning glance. “For the nerves.”
She accepted the shot, if only to avoid seeming rude. “Thanks.”
Fleur took the glass and poured another, offering it to Jet. He hesitated, rubbing the scruff of his unshaved chin, but finally accepted it.
Upper Crust studied the supermodel pony for a few seconds, curiosity urging her on.“Can I ask you a question?”
“You can.”
“How did you get to be an Archon?”
Fleur gave her an apologetic, pretty smile. “I’m not at liberty to say.”
She nodded, knowing better than to press the issue. “And Fine, he’s really your leader?”
Fleur nodded, eyes flitting up to the ceiling. “In the hierarchy of the Archons, yes, he makes all the final decisions. Yet he also reports directly to Princess Luna – well, he did.” Her confident voice weakened a bit. “So unofficially the Princess leads the Archons.”
“I’m still trying to grasp the idea that the Archons are real,” Jet Set pointed out nervously.
Upper Crust nodded, feeling much the same way. “It is a bit hard to grasp, even now.”
Fleur smiled once again. “That’s our intention, of course; be unbelievable.”
“But what now?” Upper Crust asked. “Fine spilled the beans to the team. And my husband,” she added as an afterthought. That wasn’t entirely true; Fleur had been the one to approach Upper Crust with news of Fine’s imminent arrival and plans, so technically she was the one who’d revealed the secret. Yet she was acting under Fine’s orders, so it counted as his fault in Upper Crust’s mind. “Now that the Archons are known, what will happen?”
Fleur’s smile turned wry. “No, Miss Crust, it’s not that simple. Even if the seven of you are aware of us, it doesn’t change anything. Some of you will keep quiet about us, like you and Octavia. Others like Lightning may talk about the Archons at some point. But remember: we’ve spent centuries keeping our existence under wraps. Do you really think anypony would believe it if, for example, Nye Stone started telling everypony that the Archons were real?”
“When you put it that way…” Upper Crust answered.
“Well I don’t intend to share,” Jet admitted. “The last thing I want is the Archons coming after me.”
Upper Crust laughed and nudged him playfully. “Really, Jet, the Archons aren’t going to come after you!”
“Most certainly not,” Fleur agreed. “For one, you aren’t a threat to the public good, or Equestria in general. For another, you are the husband of Miss Crust, who in turn is a close associate of my boss. I do not think he’d condone any of us touching you, Mr. Set, which would be a requirement as assassinations cannot be carried out without his authorization.”
Jet’s eyes went wide. “Y-you mean you really do assassinations?”
Fleur grinned, resting her chin atop her hoof and eyeing him playfully. “Oh dear, I’ve said too much.”
Upper Crust was less bothered by this news; after having seen threats like Sombra, Tazel and Silma, she had little doubt that such methods were necessary. Undesirable, but necessary. Even so, she had difficulty believing that somepony like Fleur was going around murdering ponies. Then again, as she eyed the glamorous model, she realized that Fleur was perhaps the perfect pony to do that kind of job.
“What about Fine?” Upper Crust asked. “How long has he been the Mane Archon?”
“Not long,” Fleur answered, pouring herself a shot. “I can’t give you exact numbers, you understand, but I can tell you he is one of the youngest ponies to ever lead our order. I suppose the closest approximation I could offer is that he was the Mane Archon prior to Princess Luna’s return from exile.”
“At least four years,” Jet declared.
“He’d have been 26 then,” Upper Crust noted thoughtfully. “He truly did climb the ranks quickly, didn’t he?”
Fleur waved her hooves in a manner signifying she could tell no more, then drank her shot. “By the way, we Archons owe you a debt of gratitude.”
Upper Crust blinked and glanced around, as if expecting the words to be meant for somepony else. “Me? What for?”
“Not just you,” Fleur corrected, “but your entire team. And the Element Bearers, as well. You cured Fine of his Bloodmane illness, and that has made him much easier to work with. As somepony who has worked closely at Fine’s side on more than one occasion, I must admit it is a weight off my shoulders.”
Upper Crust studied her for several seconds, her mind working this information and her special talent trying to come up with theories. At last she came to a conclusion. “You feared him.”
Fleur gained an anxious frown as she nodded. “We all did, every pony who ever worked closely with him. We never felt safe; he always claimed his Bloodmane problem was under control, but there were… incidents. It’s not easy working for a pony who might kill you the instant your back is turned for no reason other than an opportunity presented.”
Jet gave Upper Crust a worried look. “And this is your leader, Uppity?”
Upper Crust rolled her eyes. “He’s cured, Jet. He’s not the same stallion he used to be.”
“That may be,” Jet replied anxiously, “but he sounds like a scary character.”
At that Fleur gave them a dark smile. “You are correct, Mr. Set; Fine is still a very scary pony.”
A familiar voice rang out through the auditorium. “Ladies and gentlecolts, the star of the show has arrived!”
All eyes turned to the auditorium’s side entrance. There, a smug grin on his face, was Nye Stone.
“Nye, you’re okay!” Octavia jumped off her sofa and literally leapt into him, knocking him to the floor in a hug. “I could kiss you, you stupid colt!”
“That’s some hello,” Lightning noted, slowly climbing to her hooves with a grin.
“Hey, don’t I get a hug?” Jimmy appeared in the doorway, eyeing Octavia as she held his brother tightly.
“Jim!” Octavia let Nye go and repeated the tackle on the elder Stone. “Do you have any idea how scared I was?!”
“Happy?” Lightning asked with a grin as she and Upper Crust approached the scene.
“It’s a start,” Jimmy admitted with a blush, on his back as Octavia affectionately rubbed cheeks with him.
“Hold on,” Upper Crust said, glancing from brother to brother. “How is it you’re both here?”
“We took a detour,” Nye answered, accepting Lightning’s helping hoof to stand.
“We?” Octavia asked, finally letting Jimmy up. “Does that mean-“
“Yes.” Luna appeared in the doorway, smiling happily down upon them all. “Nye has rescued your Princess.”
“Luna!” Everypony shouted at once, gathering excitedly around her.
They were all asking questions, jostling for her attention. The Princess laughed and waved at them in a calming fashion. “Yes yes, my little ponies, I’m thrilled to see all of you, too!”
Lightning caught Nye by the neck and rubbed her hoof against his head playfully. “Damn, Nye, I didn’t know ya had it in ya!”
“Hey, stop that,” he cried, struggling to escape. “I’m gonna be a Count now, ya don’t do that to a Count!”
“Yeah, sure, whatever.”
Fine appeared at the doorway behind Luna, a confident smirk on his face. “See guys? Told ya he could do it.”
“Now we just have to free the others,” Upper Crust declared happily. “Princess, we’ve got enough potion for all the Element Bearers and your sister!”
“And we don’t have any time to waste,” Jimmy pointed out. “A letter came to Silma less than an hour ago: Celestia’s on her way back, with Princess Cadance in tow.”
“So what are we waiting for?” Lightning asked, jumping into the air in her excitement. “Let’s do this!”
But Luna raised her hooves once more. “Not yet. Everypony, quiet down. I have something to say.” They did as she asked, all listening eagerly. She turned her head slowly, studying them one at a time. There was pride in her eyes and a beaming smile on her lips.
“All of you, each and every one of you, have made me proud. I learned everything from Fine, how you all handled yourselves after our defeat. You could have fled. You could have given up hope and hid away from this threat.
“But instead you faced it. Each of you overcame your fears and doubts in your own ways and chose to work against this, even after my sister and I were defeated, even when he Elements of Harmony failed. And here you are, united again, ready to work together. None of you are the ponies you were when you joined this team. No matter what happens in the coming hours, I wanted you to know: you are all heroes.”
Lightning pumped her hoof with a grin. “And after this, all of Equestria will know it!”
They all shared eager, proud looks. They were a team. Not like before, when they’d merely worked together; this time, they were a real team.
Fine stepped forward, giving them all a confident, smug smile. “Silma’s biggest mistake was to dismiss us as insignificant. It’s time everypony learned that those considered noponies can be dangerous when ignored. This fight is the culmination of everything this team stands for.”
“No more doubts,” Upper Crust agreed.
“No more waiting,” Octavia added.
“We don’t have to be the best,” Lightning declared.
“We just have to be there when it counts,” Jimmy announced.
“To believe in ourselves,” Nye concluded, “and each other.”
There was a moment of silence as they all shared a moment of pride. In themselves, in their abilities. In the team.
“And now,” Luna said at last, “it is time Fine told me about his plan.”
“Told everypony,” Upper Crust corrected. “He’s been keeping us in the dark, too.”
“Wait.” They all turned, and were surprised to find Jet Set standing before them. He shrank under the sudden attention, but shook his nervousness off and turned to Luna imploringly. “I want to help.”
Upper Crust’s jaw dropped, and the others shared skeptical looks. “I don’t know about that idea,” Octavia offered.
“You mean it’s a terrible idea,” Lightning suggested.
Upper Crust stepped up to her husband. “Jet… no. You’re not ready, you haven’t…”
“I want to,” he told her, voice firm. “You can’t ask me to just stand back and let you go off to fight.”
Luna set a hoof to her chin thoughtfully, then turned to Fine. “It’s your plan. You decide.”
Fine had been silent, his brooding eyes locked on Jet. The upper-class stallion shifted anxiously under that harsh gaze. At last, Fine said, “I understand every pony on this team, and I think I know exactly where to put them. I don’t know you, so I have no idea what role you could take. But… Upper Crust, he’s your husband. Impress upon him the situation. If he still wants to go, I won’t object. After all,” he concluded, “we were all green once.”
Upper Crust groaned and pulled Jet aside, anger filling her. “What are you doing?” she hissed once they were on the opposite side of the auditorium.
“Trying to make a difference,” he answered haughtily. “I can’t let you do this alone, Uppity.”
“I’m not alone, Jet. I have my friends with me. I’ll be fine!”
“You don’t know that. I won’t spend the rest of my life alone and regretting that I didn’t at least try to help!”
Her response died on her lips, his words hitting her hard. It was so strange, hearing them from him, because it was similar to her own sentiments back when she’d been undergoing her long, arduous change. “Jet… you mean that?”
He nodded, sitting down and bowing his head. “Uppity, ever since you left, nothing seemed right anymore. I tried to get on with things, but it just wouldn’t work. I became a wreck. Not just because you left, but why you left. It got me to thinking about… things. I’ve been feeling like… like my whole life’s a pageant play, and I’m the comedy relief.”
She couldn’t believe what she was hearing! She knew what he was going through, she could remember the distress, the frustration and self-directed anger. This change in her husband was just like her own… and she didn’t know whether to feel proud or guilty about it.
He continued. “But then this disaster happened, and you came back for me. I didn’t understand that that’s what you were doing, not at first. I get it now. More than that, I’ve been watching you these past three days. You’re magnificent, Uppity. Truly. I couldn’t believe that brave, confident, independent mare was my wife. You were inspiring.”
He looked up at her, and his eyes were moist. “And now I see you with these ponies, standing tall alongside Princess Luna. She’s right, Uppity: you’re a hero. My wife, a hero. When I saw you there, with all of them, I finally understood your reasons for leaving. I get it, all of it, and I want to be part of it.” He set his hooves to her shoulders and gazed into her eyes imploringly. “Let me be part of it, Uppity. Let me be a husband to make you proud.”
The sincerity in his eyes, the hope and desperation, it all affected her. He’d taken the same journey she had, in a roundabout way, and had finally come to the same conclusions. She loved him for it.
But she was still scared. “Jet… do you really understand what’s at stake here? You might die, any of us could. If we fail, death’s almost a certainty. Are you sure? Really, really sure?”
His face became firm. “Uppity, short of marrying you, I have never been more sure about anything in my life.”
She loved that answer. She leaned forward to give him a peck on the cheek. “Alright, Jet. Let’s do this together.”