//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Daughter of the Night // by Word Wizard //------------------------------// Daughter of the Night Chapter One Scandal of the Moon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sixteen years after those strange events, Twilight Velvet and Shining Crescent’s daughter, Twilight Sparkle, lived in the Ponyville library. It was a quiet morning, as Saturdays most often were, so the young librarian was taking the time to sleep in. The slanted rays of the morning sun were blocked from the bedroom because of a large shade in front of the window. It was quiet and dark, the perfect kind of cave Twilight intended it to be. From the kitchen, the smell of indulgence wafted up the stairs. Fried grits, baked apples; all the lovely smells you could imagine. Twilight rolled in her sleep, her dreams pervaded by the odors. She smiled. Even flunking out of magic kindergarten wasn’t that bad when you inexplicably smell a lovely breakfast. The rug on the floor twitched slightly in the draft, one corner curling over entirely. Small footsteps echoed through the hall outside, padding their way to their bedroom. Spike had decided that a good breakfast in bed was just what he needed, although nopony was around to cook it for him. For that aspect, he resorted to getting up, making his own breakfast, and then carting it back to bed and pretending he never left. A loud crash reverberated through the library, following with several hurried cries of “Twilight!”. Twilight rolled over, groaned, and put a pillow on her ears. “Where the hay is she?” Applejack’s voice said grumpily, muffled from underneath the pillow. “She really ought to know about things like this.” “Can you imagine it?” Rarity’s voice persisted through the pillow, “Princess Luna doing that?” Twilight stuck her head out from her blankets, her face was blanched with frustration. “Why do they have to show up now?” she muttered, casting a quick sound barrier between herself and the visitors. “It’s only ten.” She plunged back under the covers, relieved from the noise of her friends. A few moments later, right as she was drifting off to sleep, a vibration shook her bed. Groaning, Twilight got up, grumpily throwing the pillows back on the mattress. “What’s going on here?!” she asked loudly after exiting her bedroom. Her friends were standing in the main room, all looking at a fallen bookcase. Pinkie walked around it, her normally cheerful face filled with remorse. “Oh, sorry Twilight,” Pinkie said sadly, “I’ll clean it up. You still like me though?” Twilight rolled her eyes. Pinkie was Pinkie. “Of course, but what the hay are you all doing here this early?!” “Thanks Twilight!” Pinkie happily bounced back to the bookcase, replacing everything back to the way it was with superpony speed. “We saw the most astounding news in the local press this morning!” Rarity exclaimed. Twilight narrowed her eyes skeptically. “They don’t publish on weekends,” she said suspiciously. “Well, dear, that’s just it,” Rarity continued, “The news was so shocking, they just HAD to report it!” “What exactly is it then?” Twilight asked, rubbing her bleary as she walked down the steps. Rarity drew a newspaper out of her saddlebag and tossed it at Twilight’s hooves. Twilight gasped. “This isn’t another Gabby Gums thing, is it?” she asked suspiciously. “No dear,” Rarity shook her head, “It’s completely real.” “We TOLD you it was shocking,” Rainbow said, alighting next to Twilight. “Now why don’t you read it?” Twilight glanced around nervously, coughing. She brought the paper up to her face, holding it it there with a purple aura of magic. “Scandal in the Monarchs,” she began, “This morning,the press was made aware of a particularly disturbing event in Canterlot. Princess Luna is…. wait,” Twilight paused, giving a severe expression to her friends, “With foal?” “Sure as hay is, unless the Ponyville press is turnin’ down its reputation,” Applejack stated firmly. “Really?” Twilight said slowly, furrowing her eyebrows. “Does this REALLY mean this has REALLY happened?” “Yupsy daisy!” Pinkie said loudly, “That meanie mean meanie inconsiderate meanie pants Luna went and slept with somepony!” “Are you kidding me?” Twilight said, suspiciously. “Nope,” Pinkie stated, putting her face close to the librarian’s. Twilight recoiled, continuing to read the newspaper. “Honestly,” Rarity fluffed her hair, “I always thought that Luna was trouble ever since we destroyed Nightmare Moon!” “Yeah,” Rainbow said, apparently hanging in the air on her wings, “We should’ve finished her off completely!” Twilight flattened her ears at the deriding comments. “Look,” she said, putting a hoof on the ground with an air of superiority, “just because this happened doesn’t mean that Luna is inherently bad. Personally, in all the time I’ve known her, she’d never even consider doing something like this.” “Aha!” Pinkie shouted, erupting from her seat. “She’s not just a mean mean meanie pants, but she’s a deceiving mean mean meanie pants too!” She fell back on the ground. “This calls for Professor Pinkie.” “Uh,” Fluttershy stuttered, looking nervously at the transforming Pinkie Pie, “I don’t think Luna would do anything like this either… I agree with Twilight, if you don’t mind…” She pawed at the ground with her hoof, but despite her shy air, she was very determined that Luna was innocent. “Ok….” Applejack said, her face scrunched in indecision, “I’m not sure if the princess did this or not, but frankly, I’m willin’ to believe the press on this one.” Twilight sighed. “Fine,” she said, her voice laden with defeat, “see if I care.” She turned to go back to her room, bringing the paper with her. The others left, after throwing dirty looks in the librarian’s direction, all of them except Fluttershy. “If it’s any comfort,” Fluttershy said, climbing the stairs after a distraught Twilight, “I agree with you.” The door slammed as the quartet of angered friends left, joining the crowds forming in the streets. Twilight entered her bedroom and pulled the curtain across, looking out on the streets of Ponyville. Angry mobs of ponies were emerging, signs sprouted out of nowhere above the crowd. It was chaos, an angered chaos at a particular princess. Twilight examined every inch of the crowd, her brows furrowed in concentration. “Uh, Twilight?” Fluttershy asked, walking up behind the fixated Twilight, “What are you looking for?” “Him,” Twilight said sullenly, “He’s in here somewhere.” “Who do you-” “Why me of course!” a mischievous voice filled the room. Twilight whirled around, scanning every possible hiding place. “Discord!” she cried. “I knew you’d have something to do with this!” “What?” Discord said, prancing across the ceiling, “Oh no! I didn’t do any of this, but I certainly can’t miss a good show, can I?” “Don’t lie,” Twilight said, seething with anger, “This is right your alley. You must have at least done something!” “Well,” the flat Discord scratched his chin in thought, “I did do something.” “Yes?” “I spilled a glass of milk on a filly,” he stated, laughing a little. “All in good fun of course; you should have seen her mother!” “Yes, I should have,” Twilight said, flattening her ears. Fluttershy looked up at the god of chaos with fire in her eyes. “You spilled a glass of milk on a filly?!” she shouted, “How DARE YOU!” “Oh Fluttershy,” Discord laughed, “I know you’re my friend, but can’t you take a bit of a joke once and awhile?” “But she must have gotten all wet!” Fluttershy said, “And that’s not funny.” “Depends on who ask, really,” Discord said simply. “Ask the fun people and it’s funny, ask the boring people and it’s bad. Well, I never thought you were fun.” He sighed and popped out of the ceiling, obtaining a 3-dimensional shape once more. “But as I was saying, I didn’t organize this. Just showing up as a spectator. And it’s a wonderful show, if you ask me.” “Discord…” Twilight breathed, “Nevermind.” “Come now Twilight,” Discord said, wrapping a tail around the librarian, “You’ve got to admit it’s just a little funny!” “No, I don’t,” Twilight said, “It’s all wrong.” “But that’s the fun of it!” Discord said cheerfully, snapping his fingers and obtaining popcorn. “Come on, loosen up a bit!” He snapped his fingers again, turning the whole wall of the bedroom into a bay window looking over the mobs below. “Hey!” Twilight cried, looking at her new window, “I liked that wall!” “Relax.” Discord rolled his eyes. “I’ll put it back.” “Discord!” Fluttershy cried, causing the draconequus to jump a little in the air. “Yes dear?” “You put Twilight’s wall back just the way it was this instant!” “Oh poo poo,” Discord sighed, “I think I’ll find some more fun ponies to watch this with. Maybe Pinkie’s available…” With a snap of his fingers, Discord left, returning the wall back to being, well, a wall. Twilight sighed. “It’s just not right,” she turned to Fluttershy, “I don’t know what’s wrong, but I know Luna wouldn’t do anything like that.” “Don’t worry Twilight.” Fluttershy patted her friend on the back. “It’ll turn out alright.” About three hours earlier… It was early in the morning; the sun peeked above the horizon, unsure whether to continue. Birds chirped, bursting with joy of the new day. And somewhere in The Green between Canterlot and Ponyville, a groundhog stuck her head out of her hole for the first time that day, sniffing the morning air. From behind Luna’s door, an argument was brewing. “LUNA!” Celestia shouted in full Canterlot Royal Voice, storming into the room. Luna looked up from her books, quickly standing upright at the sight of her furious sister. “Yes my sister?” she asked, her face clouded with concern. “DON’T YOU ACT INNOCENT!” Celestia bellowed, slamming her hoof on the ground. “YOU KNOW PERFECTLY WELL WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!” “No,” Luna responded nervously, “I have no idea.” “You can’t fool me,” Celestia said venomously, “I’ve seen the signs.” “What signs?” Luna asked, scared at her sister’s behaviour. She backed out onto the Moon Raising balcony, her face filled with fear. “You didn’t eat your supper last night,” Celestia said quietly, “And the chef says you ordered an awful lot of toast to your room too.” “I was hungry!” Luna defended herself sharply. “But hungry enough to not eat your supper?” Celestia stopped approaching, spreading her wings menacingly, “Oh, and you were awfully eager to get back to your room yesterday morning.” “I don’t know what you mean!” Luna cried, “I really don’t!” “When is it expected?” Celestia rose into the air, bearing down on her sister. “What is expected?!” Luna screamed, looking up at her angered sister. “The foal.” The words had a profound affect on the scene, silencing the formally discordant sisters. Luna’s eyes were wide with shock, looking at Celestia in disbelief. Celestia’s wings pushed against the air silently, holding their bearer aloft. “What?” Luna eventually managed to say after a long pause. “The foal. When is it expected?” Celestia glowered at her sister. A magical arm reached out from her, winding towards Luna. It smashed her necklace. The enchanted necklace fell to the ground, and as it did, Luna transformed. She became rounder, larger, taking on the form of an expectant mother. “I- I-” Luna stuttered, “What?’ “Honestly, Luna,” Celestia said, lowering herself back to the balcony, “I can’t believe you’d do this.” “Do what?” Luna asked suspiciously, regarding her sister with a certain caution. “Have friends,” Celestia sighed, seething with anger. “But- But I thought friends were magical?” Luna asked confusedly. “I never said anything about friends WITH BENEFITS!” Celestia erupted, the sheer volume of her voice plastering Luna against the railing. Silence fell on the balcony. From inside, a cricket chirped. “What?” Luna finally managed to say, “I didn’t- Do- Anything-” “Luna Luna Luna,” Celestia muttered, turning her back to her sister. “I don’t know what to do with you.” Luna was speechless. She gawked as her sister silently left the room. She slowly walked inside, still dumbfounded. The princess stood in front of the mirror, staring at her black form. Her flowing mane drifted to one side, weighed low with sadness. Her eyes were wide and sad, fixated on her pathetic form in the mirror. “What have I done?” she asked herself slowly, noticing her rounded stomach. She hadn’t noticed it before, was it the necklace? She never remembered putting an illusion spell on a necklace. She never remembered doing anything. But memories can deceive, can they not? “I’m a fraud,” Luna hung her head, retreating to her bed. One could only imagine how the populace would react such shocking news. A princess bearing a bastard child? It’d be the best Luna could do to stay alive, much less in office. The gentle pitter patter of tears punctuated the silence, accompanied by a small sniffle. From outside, a venomous voice was bellowing, filled with anger. “CITIZENS OF EQUESTRIA!” it screamed, “I HAVE NEWS.” Luna shuttered at what was to come next. “Please, please,” she muttered under her breath, hoping that this would be some other news. “Princess Luna,” the voice continued, softer but just as clear, “is pregnant.” A shocked mumble went around the crowd that had formed, reverberating like electricity. The few reporters hurriedly wrote, their ink covered faces furrowed in concentration. Luna, up in her room, sat up in her bed. “I know what’s next,” she thought. “They’ll hate me.” “Any idea who the partner was?” one of the reporters called out. Celestia shook her head. “Further investigation will be performed when the foal is born,” Celestia said sullenly. “What are the plans for the child?” another ink reporter called out among the click of cameras. Luna held her breath. “It will be treated as any other foal would be,” Celestia said, “I may be angry with my sister, but taking anger on an innocent foal helps nothing.” “Will it be considered an heir to the throne?” another chimed in. “No.” “Why not?” “It is not purebred, like all other heirs before us were,” Celestia said shortly. “The throne, not even princesship, will not be given to a child whose parents are not properly married into the royal family.” “What sorts of punishment will be in store for your sister?” one reporter cried above the din of approval. Luna felt her mouth go dry. This was it. This was the acid test of her future. There was silence, the entire crowd stopped to focus on the contemplating ruler. “Well,” Celestia said slowly, “I think. Maybe. Aside from my freshly garnered hatred, a year in the moon may be in order.” Luna’s eyes opened wide. She dashed to the balcony, looking down on the crowd below. In the center of the crescent, Celestia stood on the palace steps, a sad but angry expression fixed to her face. “My sister!” Luna screamed, “You cannot send me back there! Certainly not with the foal!” The crowd turned as one, looking at the desprate princess. They’re faces became scowls, glaring at Luna with enough force to shatter a brick wall. “STOP LYING!” Celestia screamed suddenly, whirling to face her sister. She closed her eyes, dipping her head to the ground. “Do you not realize the magnitude of your actions?” she asked, glaring at her sister once more. “HIDING SOMETHING LIKE THIS?!” “I- I-” Luna stuttered. She dipped her head in resignation, sighing heavily. “You and your… ‘child’ will suffer any punishment I deem necessary,” Celestia glowered at her sister, “Is. That. Clear?” “Yes,” Luna said softly. A tear dropped to the balcony, the small sound audible in the eerie silence. “Meet me in my room at nine,” Celestia said, turning to the crowd, “It will be ‘dealt with’ then.” Luna turned back, trudging into her room. Behind her, shouts of distaste, boos, slandering comments, radiated from the crowd. Her horn glowed, slamming the balcony doors behind her. A tomato slammed against it. “But I didn’t do anything,” she said softly, standing at the foot of her bed, “and you didn’t either.” She looked at her stomach, rubbing it gently with a hoof. As if in response, she felt a soft kicking, pushing against her hoof. Luna smiled, laying down on her bed. She talked to herself, pouring her worries, her concerns, out to the air. A vague smile found its way onto her tear-stricken face. “I doth know thee, Celestia, will banish me, but pray thee, wait for the foal,” she said softly. Outside, the sun rose, higher and higher it climbed in the sky, until it was nine o’clock. “Well,” Luna sighed, “It is time.” She walked to her door, pushing it open with a burst of magic. The hallways were quiet, but did nothing to comfort her evergrowing stress. What will she do? Luna thought, I cannot go to the moon, not again! This is not right, another part of her put in, Something is… Not right. You’re right! a sarcastic thought chirped, WE’RE GOING TO THE MOON. No no the calm and logical side said. I’d say there’s something more sinister at work here. Ahem, the other voice broke in, Celestia is SINISTER! Luna sighed as her sister’s room drew nearer, I will find out what is going on... somehow. She stood in front of the door silently, boring into the wood with her conflicted gaze. Both parts of her were right, in their own ways, but what would happen to her after she opened this door? Was it the door to her nightmares? The door to her dreams? Dream, that is, of being reprimanded by her sister with nothing more than a scold. Luna’s mane flowed like water,trickling down the air in an ever-present waterfall. Her face was sad as she stared at the brass plate. Princess of the Sun, Supreme Ruler Celestia With a final gulp, she pushed open the door. Celestia was reading, quietly, on her bed. Her formally upset face was calm, but red with tears. Her horn glowed softly as the book was held upright. She looked serenely at the ink, but under that mask of serenity, she was boiling. “Ah, Luna,” she said calmly. Too calmly, Luna thought. Luna thought. Celestia shifted her gaze, glaring down on her sister. Luna walked in slowly, uncertain to run or sit. “Do have a seat.” The voice wasn’t commanding, nor was it pleasant. It had a sort of cool expectancy that instills the feeling of ‘Do what I want, or I’ll snap your neck.' A chill shivered through Luna’s spine. She hurriedly took the closest seat available. “Now,” Celestia closed the book, throwing it to the other side of the room. It landed with a thud, toppling a small pile of books to the floor. “What will I do with you?” “Sister,” Luna said slowly, looking at her slightly deranged sibling, “why are you doing this?” “Hmm?” Celestia mused, looking at Luna with a certain impunity. “I am acting perfectly normal. It merely comes as a shock when I find my sister would dip so low as to…” She bit her lip, looking at the ceiling. “As to be careless with her actions in this severe a way.” “I didn’t do anything,” Luna pleaded, “Please, forgive me!” “Forgive you?” Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Oh no.” “What?” “The punishment for sexual harassment is five years in prison,” Celestia said calmly. “We haven’t had a case of it for years. But for a pony of your stature, I think a more… Suitable containment can be arranged.” “Please,” Luna begged, bowing before her sister, “Think before you act!” “Oh, I have thought,” Celestia said, smiling. “I have thought long and hard… And I think, oh I don’t know; a few more years in the moon?” “Not with foal!” Luna looked up with pleading eyes, “At least without foal.” Celestia grinned. “Of course my sister,” she said in mock sympathy. “Would you rather we executed an abortion first?” Luna’s eyes were wide with shock. In the past hour that she knew she was with foal, the little thing had grown on her. “No,” she said, “Could you please stop these antics!” Luna looked at her sister with newfound anger. “What is wrong with you?!” “Nothing,” Celestia said simply, “You must worry first about yourself.” Her horn glowed. “No,” Luna stated flatly, standing up. Celestia’s horn grew brighter, wind began to circle. Bright rays of magic sliced the air, a crackling sound was heard. Luna stood in front of this, boring into her sister with an iron glare. “No.” Celestia began to rise into the air, her body lost in the morass of white light. “I, Celestia, ruler of Equestria, punish you for unlawful acts. Including impregnation without a proper marriage. Punishment, I hereby decree is-” The wind grew, flecks of rainbow began travelling in it. Luna looked straight at her sister, a steady, even glare. “No.” Then she charged straight into the mass of light, running through the whirlwind with a steely determination. For a moment, all she saw was white. A blinding white light. And then, the Sun Raising Balcony leaped out at her. “LUNA,” Celestia commanded, “RETURN.” A whip made of white energy shot out of the whirlwind, heading straight for Luna. She gritted her teeth. *FZZZZZZT!* The whip locked with Luna’s horn, grappling with the purple magic. Luna threw it to the ground… And leapt off the balcony. “COME BACK!” Celestia demanded. Luna spread her wings, gliding easily through the field of magic missiles filling the sky. They exploded, once passing her, creating a firework effect all over Canterlot. “No,” Luna breathed, her horn gaining a glow, “I will never come back.” And with a blast of purple, she was gone. The shockwave broke windows, shook houses, but Luna didn’t care. Her foal would live. ~~~~~ Celestia’s soul burned. It burned with frustration, with conflict, and with anxiety. The shockwave washed over her as she looked at the plume of purple smoke. It rose, shaping a faint mushroom in the air, small trails formed rings. Celestia knew that spell well, a long distance teleportation spell. The air in the bedroom crackled with magic, the white light still shining over Canterlot. Celestia sighed as she sucked the light back in, landing on the floor with a definite thump. She closed her eyes, raising her head to the sky. It was the warm light of mid-morning that struck her chin. Warmth flew threw her like an unrelenting tidal wave. She spread her wings and raised a hoof, making the scene as dramatic as possible. As she stood there, warmed by the sun, her mane flowing freely by her side, there was a soft knocking and the creak of an opening door. Hoofsteps made their way across the room, stopping just behind the sun princess. “Yes?” Celestia said, remaining immobile. “Celestia,” the firm voice slashed Celestia’s mood like a curtain, “Celestia Faust.” She turned, looking straight into two eyes; two burning eyes. And their owner was not happy either. “Cadence?” Celestia’s eyes opened wide as she recoiled. “What are you doing here?” “Business,” Cadence said coolly. “And punishment.” She gave Celestia a stare known to pony kind for decades, its powers unmatched in the arts of stare combat: the Foalsitter Stare. “Cadence I-” Celestia started, retreating as Cadence drew forward. Her mane was a mess, her eyes were angry, and her mouth was set. She was a sight. “What did you do?” she asked coldly, “What. Did. You. Do?!” “Honestly, nothing,” Celestia said promptly, “And what happened to your mane-” “Nevermind that,” Cadence said, boring into Celestia’s being with a firm stare. “What did you try to do?” For once Celestia was at a loss for words. In all her life, her eons of political debates, had anypony caught her so off guard. “I tried to banish Luna to the moon,” she finally managed to stutter. Cadence glared harder. “Without going through the proper summit?” she asked, “Without consulting me, without consulting the ?!?!” “Cadence, honestly,” Celestia leaned off the edge of the balcony, frozen in place. “Inside. Now,” Cadence commanded. Like clockwork Celestia obeyed. After both were settled, Cadence presented her case. “You didn’t give Luna a fair trial. You disobeyed the laws of your own kingdom on your own ” Cadence said angrily. Celestia nodded her head solemnly. “You know anypony is entitled to a fair trial. And at the very least, the VERY LEAST,” Cadence boomed, “Consult with the summit before doing anything. And when I say anything, I mean an-y-thing. Am I clear?” “Yes,” Celestia said, regaining her composure, “You certainly are. I may have acted a little impulsively. But……” Celestia paused, looking at the floor. “It was correct.” Cadence raised an eyebrow. “What?” “Luna was,” Celestia pressed on, “disappointing to me. I merely acted as I judged best. She broke some of the highest laws in our culture.” “She murdered somepony?” Cadence asked, rolling her eyes. “No,” Celestia said worriedly, “She was with foal.” “You never invited me,” Cadence raised another eyebrow. And, to Celestia’s quizzical look, “To the wedding.” “There wasn’t one.” It was silent enough you could hear a pin drop. *Ping!* And they did. “Where’d that come from anyway?” Celestia asked, levitating the sharp metal needle over to her. “Give it here,” Cadence nabbed it in her magic, grabbing her mane at the same time. For a second there was a great deal of hair, a little bit of dust, and mild swearing. Celestia watched, bemused. From the mess, however, Cadence emerged, her hair neatly pinned back. “As I was saying,” she said, putting a hoof on the table, “even if ponies go around having, *ahem*, children, we must adhere to our protocol! Did it ever occur to you that Luna might be innocent?” “She isn’t,” Celestia declared, “There is no other explanation.” Cadence sighed, throwing her newly pinned mane back. In the corner, a lamp flickered. “Even so,” Cadence said flatly, “You simply must consult with the summit before you do like this! Am I clear?” “Yes.” Instead of drooping her head, Celestia returned Cadence’s glare. “I will act as I will, NIECE! Who adopted you? Hmm? Who raises the sun?! ME. I’m entitled to do anything! I could reverse gravity for all I care!” She slammed a hoof on the table, spilling a coffee cup. “If anypony declares that they’re above my rein, that they’re more important, I’ll just ask them: who the hell raises the sun?” Cadence blinked. “Did you get any sleep last night?” she asked coolly, completely unphased by the royal outburst. “No,” Celestia said, “I was…. worried.” “I see,” Cadence nodded, “Now I suggest you get some rest before we do any more. You know, nopony, even the goddess that created the world, can think straight without proper sleep.” Cadence rubbed Celestia’s ethereal mane, smiling slightly. Now it was Celestia’s turn to blink. Her face was frozen in shock. “Alright.” She plodded towards her bed. “You win.” “Thank you!” Cadence said in relief. “I’ll see you this evening. We’ll get this sorted out.” The door closed quietly behind her as Celestia slammed the curtain shut. The darkness rolled over everything, an unrelenting force as it traveled across the room. Celestia settled down in bed, rubbing her head a little. “You heard Cadence,” she said quietly, “It’ll all be fine.” ~~~~~~~ In the pervading sunlight, the ever present cheerful glow of Canterlot, one stallion had a lot on his mind. The room was wooden, ornate with decorations and small gold trophies. Books lined the wall, bordering the slim oaken desk behind which Restless Vigil was waiting. He twitched a pen in nervous hooves, flicking a glance between his desk and the clock once and awhile. A long hoofwritten page lay in front of him, which he looked over carefully. It looked like a list, the scribbles denoting different materials, steps, and precautions. Restless looked over it, a cool expectancy of a pony who is boiling mad. He knew they had done it right. No corners were cut, not to his knowledge at any rate. He looked at the clock once more. Half past three. He's late, Restless thought, twitching the pen faster now. I hate tardy ponies. The clock glared back at him. The second hand moved slowly, jerking in movement. There was a knock on the door. “Yes?” Restless said, relieved. The door creaked open, revealing a stallion. Restless’s face fell. “Yes Virgil?” “Your tea, sir,” Virgil entered the room. His tan form was exquisite, only tarnished by a cutie mark of a cup and saucer. His black mane was combed and brushed, resulting in uniformly straight hairs. He set the tray on the table, nodding to Restless before beginning to leave the room. “Virgil!” Restless called, chewing the end of his pen. Virgil stopped and turned slowly. “Yes, sir?” he asked, raising an eyebrow on his cool face. “Any guests arrive?” Restless asked, pouring the sugar tin into his drink. “Not that I know of, sir,” Virgil said, “I will keep you informed, as always, sir.” “Thank you,” Restless sipped the sickeningly sweet tea. It cooled his nerves. “Will that be all, sir?” Virgil asked, standing expectantly in the doorway. “For the moment, yes.” Restless coughed a little on the tea. As much as it soothed his nerves, it sure didn’t taste good. “What did you put in that sugar?” “Sugar, I believe, sir,” Virgil said, “ground from only the finest of cane.” “Yes,” Restless coughed, “That may be the problem.” “Sir?” “Nevermind, you may go,” Restless waved a hoof. Virgil left the room, softly closing the door with all the manners he could muster. Restless gulped down the tea, repressing the sudden urge to expel it. *WHAM!* The noise shook Restless, who ran to his bookshelves to catch a falling trophy. The shelves rattled, and Restless Vigil was buried in a mound of golden trophies. One bounced down the pile, a soft metallic tink reverberating every time it hit, and rolled to a halt. The small etched plaque on it carefully read: {Best Skills With Magic; Rolling Art’s competition, Canterlot} Which was rather strange, considering Restless was an earth pony. The door opened with a cough, and Virgil entered. “Your guest has arrived, sir, most-” he paused, as though looking for appropriate words, “-enthusiastically, if I do say so myself.” “Good,” the pile of trophies stated with relief. “Send him in.” The pile shifted, moving as an unseen force moved it. It rose into a mound and erupted. Restless was just shaking the last trophy out of his ear and placing it carefully on the shelf when a cloaked unicorn stepped in. Aurora Burst threw back his hood, revealing his glistening eyes. “It is done,” he said flatly. “Both jobs.” “Excellent,” Restless said, a devious gleam in his eye. “And the paper?” “Right here.” Aurora slammed a piece of newsprint on Restless’s table. He looked over it, smiling as he read down the page. “Very good,” Restless pushed the paper towards Aurora, “Now why exactly were you late?” “Got caught up, traffic, you know,” Aurora said somewhat sheepishly. “You are a time traveller! How could you be late with that kind of a skill?!” “I overshot by an hour,” Aurora said, “Sorry about that.” “Excused,” Restless brushed the apology aside without a second thought. “Now, what’s the recent news on our princess?” “I did a little research into that as well,” Aurora said, a beady gleam appearing in his eye. “She’s fled. Just as predicted.” “Excellent,” Restless grinned. “Commence phase two.” Aurora nodded solemnly. “I will inform the others,” he said grimly. “Do that,” Restless said, looking out the window with dreamy eye. “There is still much to be done.”