The lantern dimly lights the street corner, casting twisted shadows in all directions to reveal a band of cloaked ponies surrounding us. Close to eight ponies are there including one I recognize as the owner of a pastry shop down the road from the castle.
"We are your humble supporters. We vie for your leadership to take this land and set it right again."
Swiftwing says, gesturing to the gathered ponies as he speaks.
"And what exactly is wrong with the land now?"
I ask. I stand stock still, in shock.
"A better question is what's right with it, Princess."
Swiftwing says.
"Monsters attack us daily, our people die in the fields because they're working too hard, while some simply can't afford places to live, and what does our illustrious Princess Celestia do about it? Nothing. She does nothing. We were alone when you were banished to the moon but now you're here, and we will get you on the throne. We'll make sure of it."
The cloaked ponies slip into the shadows, leaving, without another word.
I stand there, who knows how long, waiting for it all to sink in but one thing is certain: I have to tell Celestia. With a flex of my muscles I rocket towards the castle.
Dissidents in Canterlot itself? I thought Tia had made a perfect society. Perhaps, it was a perfect society in a ‘give or take’ sort of way. How could this happen? Celestia’s rule has been challenged many times, but never by her own subjects. I should know: I just spent eight hours reading about her reign. I have to warn her, and quickly, so I can get there before they act. I won’t sit idly by while my sister is threatened, not again.
I shoot into the castle, through a balcony on the third floor. My muscles burn with an unexercised pain. I ignore it. I feel a steady pain on my right wing, now almost completely white, as the feather on the tip of it turns falls off. I cry out, in pain, falling to the floor in a heap.
I guess this means no flying for a bit. Stupid Luna.
Any pony walking through the halls hid behind a column or curtains at my approach. Finally, I make it to Celestia’s study, my wing almost completely returned to its proper shade of blue. Inside, there is a note that reads.
My dear sister.
I have just received a letter from Twilight that said
nopony has seen Applejack for the last
three days. Twilight is very concerned so I have
gone to Ponyville to see if I can comfort her,
as well as investigate.
The disappearance of
one of the bearers to the Elements of Harmony
is something very concerning indeed.
I hope you can handle court while I’m gone
If you have any questions all you need to
do is send a letter to Spike and I’ll get it.
I love you Luna. I’ll be back in a few days so
Don’t miss me too much.
Your loving sister, Celestia.
PS: I have brought several guards with me.
If you’re concerned for my safety, don’t be, I’ll be fine.
I tremble as tears roll down my face.
“Please be okay Tia. I’m coming for you.”
I say and gallop through the halls once more.
Waxing Gibbous
I see Celestia, standing on the throne with what seems to be a feeling of dread encompassing her thoughts. I had refused to lower the moon three days ago and still refuse. It looks like, now, she awaits an attack by the self-proclaimed ‘Nightmare Moon’.
“I have a communication from the guard posts your majesty. They await orders.”
The welcome interruption comes from a guard, not too tall or short, not too handsome or ugly, not too sharp or dimwitted, but altogether average. Lanternmane was his name. Celestia speaks, despite her obvious worries, her voice radiates a feeling of warmth and happiness.
“Tell them to hold their posts until something changes.”
“Understood, your majesty.”
Celestia returns to looking at the night sky, in something akin to mourning. I stand perfectly still behind her, drawing my dagger from underneath my breastplate. Celestia turns around with a look of concern.
“Is there something else you wanted Lanternmane?”
It is no illusion; Celestia would sense an illusion right away. Lanternmane stands in front of her and I am Lanternmane. Funny how those things work.
“Well there is one thing, Princess.”
“What is that, my little pony?”
My mouth twists into a smirk.
“Die.”
I leap forward, plunging the dagger into her shoulder-the rest of her body is covered in armor-she cries out in pain. Celestia fires a sunbeam at me which I jump to the right of, to dodge easily. I leap off of the pillar, felled by her missed attack, and lunge at her with the dagger again. She contracts, then snaps, the air around me, throwing me backward with concussive force. I cough out some blood, my nose bleeding, while I pick myself up, off the floor. Celestia fires another sunbeam at me and I feel the magic fuse together when the beam arcs towards me.
Original.
I use my own magic to bend a slice through the middle of the beam, cutting it in two, both parts missing me. Guards burst in to the now burning throne room and I am hit by, no less than, two dozen stun spells. While the spells begin to take hold of me, I laugh and say one thing:
“The game begins.”
I reach my hooves up to my head, twisting, and snap my own neck.
Waning Gibbous
I land on, the now, Princess Twilight’s doorstep, and am about to knock, when the door opens to reveal Princess Twilight herself, a concerned look on her face. She bows quickly and speaks.
“Princess Luna, I was just about to go to Canterlot. I think something awful has happened.”
She speaks quickly and worriedly. I see she has her saddlebags on, in preparation to going to Canterlot. But, how could she have packed her bags so quickly? Celestia only left the castle earlier today; that is hardly enough time to be concerned yet, much less pack your bags. What is going on here?
“Is this about Applejack?”
I ask, my brow furrowed in concentration.
“Yes. She and Spike have been gone for a few days now, and I’m getting very worried. They could be lost, or in danger, or… wait a minute, how did you know?”
Her face abruptly shifts from anxious to suspicious. She looks at me expectantly.
“Spike sent my sister a letter, we thought from you, that said Applejack was missing and for her to come and investigate. It seems y-"
I hear maniacal laughter right behind me. I turn around but see nopony.
What the hay?
I turn back to Twilight and see a quizzical look on her face.
“Didst thou hear that?”
I say to her. What could that have been? I think back to my transformation into Nightmare Moon and shiver.
“Hear what?”
Twilight says, still with a quizzical look and concern in her voice.
“Princess Luna, are you all right?”
“I am fine. I am sorry Twilight. I believe Applejack, Spike, and Celestia are in grave danger by dissidents to her rule.”
Another laugh occurs behind me. I turn around, trying to see the perpetrator but I have no such luck.
“Dissidents? That’s terrible.”
I turn back around to face Twilight and nod gravely.
“I am going to try to get them back but I will need your help, Twilight.”
She nods.
“Of course, Princess Luna, I’ll help you with anything I can.”
I nod uneasily. Those laughs, they sound familiar.
“I want you to go to Canterlot and preside over court affairs, while I see what I can find out here.”
Twilight looks at me up and down with an eyebrow raised.
“Are you sure you should investigate? Most of the ponies in this town are a bit scared of you.”
She says poignantly. I smile.
“You underestimate me, Twilight.”
I bend the magic around me into new forms; after a few seconds, they become visible and settle around me. Now, I look like a unicorn. A light pink coat and creamy white mane adorn me. Twilight blinks.
“Princess Luna?”
“Not anymore, now I’m Happytune!”
I smile an obnoxious grin. Inside, however, I grow more restless and uneasy by the second. I want to find Celestia and stop the dissidents. Twilight shuts her open mouth with a ‘clink’ sound and nods.
“Can I ask you questions if I’m not sure what to do?”
She asks.
“You will be fine. I am sure of it.”
Twilight smiles. I hear that same insufferable laugh behind me again but resist the burning urge to turn around. I smile at Twilight as she gallops to the train station bound for Canterlot. I turn and trot to Fluttershy’s cottage.
* * *
Wind blows in the trees outside of Fluttershy’s cottage, a sweet melody of sound, right outside but I hardly hear it through my contemplations. I met the other element bearers on my way, but the most useful piece of information I got was that Applejack had recently begun to date a new pony to Ponyville. Next I’m going to Sweet Apple Acres.
One thing concerns me, however: if their target was Celestia why would the dissidents actually kidnap Applejack? The supposed mission would have been accomplished by just sending a letter to Celestia telling her to come quick. So, why remove a celebrity? It would only risk the operation being found out more quickly. Unless, Applejack found out about the plan, but then, how would she find out? She supposedly started dating a new pony, so, did she find out from him? I groan. Nothing makes sense.
Sweet Apple Acres looms before me, a grim testament to the missing member of the Apple clan. I step in, to find Big Macintosh and Granny Smith at the table staring down bowls of porridge and apples as if daring the food to give up before they do. I drop the disguise, I wore while walking around, and approach the table. The forlorn Apples look up at me and gape.
“P-Princess Luna?”
Granny Smith manages to sputter. Big Macintosh remains silent.
“I have come to see how you are doing, and to ask you some questions. That is, if you are feeling up to it.”
“Eeyup.”
I cannot say I have heard Big Macintosh speak often for, in truth, nopony has, but I feel the sadness he has. Neither his words, nor his eyes show any signs of sadness but I know how he feels. He feels…
Crying… Somepony is crying right behind me… Just like the laughter.
I push the thought back. Once again, I suppress the urge to turn around and attempt to look at the disembodied sounds. I have more pressing business.
“When was the last time you saw Applejack?”
The voice behind me sobs harder. I ignore it.
“On Wednesday, she said she had to run an errand. I watched her walk past the tree cover near the fence, and that was the last I saw.”
I look out of the window. I see the tree cover he describes and mark its location in my memory. I turn back to Big Macintosh.
“This errand Applejack ran, did it have anything to do with her date?”
Big Macintosh chews on a piece of hay in thought, for a moment, then replies.
“Nope.”
I stand in thought, for a few moments.
“What was the name of Applejack’s date? Do you know?”
Big Macintosh turns to Granny.
“Nope.”
What an excellent conversationalist.
“Granny?”
Granny Smith replies:
“I think the name was eh… Swiftwing. That was it, Swiftwing Silver.”