Chapter 6
Posters, disguises and hidden identities
Soarin and Spitfire grabbed Trixie, helping the unconscious mare over to a dry patch of grass.
“Poor thing, she’s exhausted” Spitfire said, as Trixie lay asleep in the grass.
“Just look after her” Luna said, looking around. “Right now, this is scary enough the safest place we can be, Starvoid would never think to look for me in here. You guys keep concentrating on your ele…”
Luna stopped talking as Vinyl started glowing once again, the power in her element making her eyes shine through her glasses. As she landed again she took a few deep breaths.
“Wow… that was so… awesome, can I do that again?”
“Would you concentrate” Gilda asked annoyed.
“Hey I was concentrating… I saw this place… it looked cold, but more like winter cold than trapped in space cold… and I saw mountains of ice… loads of ice… or maybe they were crystals.”
“The frozen north” Luna said, recognizing the description. “Near the crystal mountains. Did you remember anything else?”
“Well it’s hard to say” Vinyl said shrugging. “But I think I saw this small village or something… and a sign that said Windigo central. Is that a bad thing?”
“I know the place” Luna said. “Back before I got power mad a few explorers wanted to see what was in the frozen north. Windigo central was one of the first towns built by ponies so far north… however it’s cold up there, we need correct clothes and a way to travel. Even if Zecora and Big Mac was up to it, the winds and snow conditions in the frozen North make traveling by carriage dangerous. Luckily the train goes all the way north, all we need are the funds for all of us on the train.”
Everypony turned as Trixie groaned and sat up. “What’s going on?” she grunted disoriented.
“We’re going north” Vinyl Scratch said grinning. “And getting my artifact next.”
Trixie yawned. “All right, so can we leave this place now? I’m starting to get the creeps from this place.”
“Soon” Luna said looking up. “I just need to raise the moon first.”
“Why not wait with that until we are out of here?”
“Because I think Starvoid will try and latch onto my magic the moment I try to raise the moon… if she finds out where we are all we need to do is to get out of the forest before she arrives to look for me. Now please, I need to concentrate.”
Everypony backed off as Luna concentrated and locked her magic with the moon. No faster had she done so than she felt someone tug at the back of her head. “Get out of my head Starvoid, you’re not welcome.”
Starvoid smiled from where she stood on the Canterlot castle balcony, her magic halfway latching onto the sun, the other part looking through Luna’s head.
“Now now my dear Nightmare Moon what did I tell you yesterday? You are my servant, I don’t need per… Starvoid stopped as her mind fell onto 6 new characters, not managing more than a quick look before Luna showed her magic away. Well well what have we here, new friends? Oh we can’t have that, you trying to do something stupid again? I can’t have that… not at all.”
Luna grunted, trying to lift the moon before Starvoid figured out exactly what those friends of hers could do and where she was headed.
Starvoid looked around in Luna’s head, recognizing the place she and the others stayed at as the Everfree Forest. She frowned. What in the world was Luna doing there?
“So I wonder Luna, what do you think you and some measly ponies can do to stop me?”
“I guess we will find out” Luna grunted letting the moon go as it stood in the heavens.
Starvoid laughed as she opened her eyes. “Yes Luna… we shall see.”
She turned to look out at the moon, before she turned towards where a bunch of creatures grunted and made noises of discomfort.
“Good evening my friends… how would you like a small trip out to take in the sights?”
In the Everfree forest Luna turned to the others panting slightly. “We need to go… now.”
Zecora nodded. “This way” she said, everyone following the Zebra as fast as they could, arriving at the edge of the forest.
“All right” Luna said turning to the others. “We are near Ponyville, does anypony have a place we can hide out until Starvoid gets bored looking for us and we can take the train away from here?”
“Eeyup” Big Mac said pointing his hoof east. “My family farm is over that there hill, we have room enough.”
“Thank you… now let’s hurry.”
Rushing into a gallop big Mac led everypony to the main house of Sweet Apple Acres. Luna looked over her shoulder and swore that she saw something in the sky coming from Canterlot.
“Quickly, inside and don’t make a sound” she called, Big Mac opening the door, rushing inside. Once inside everypony turned to an old mare and a young filly.
“Big Macintosh what in tarnation?”
“SHHHH” everypony said, hurrying away from the windows, except Luna who looked out carefully, seeing a bunch of creatures fly overhead.
“Oh great” she grumbled.
“What?” Trixie asked, looking at Luna worried.
“She’s woken the gargoyles. They are stupid and don’t have much magic power, but they are fast and strong. Don’t worry though they’ll turn to stone at daylight.”
“You just lifted the moon, that’s ages away” Gilda said incredulous.
“I know” Luna said. “But I’d rather we wait than have to face these creatures… unless you want to be a part of the night sky like the rest of the ponies that Starvoid looked at as a threat.”
“What’s going on” came the voice of the small filly.
Derpy looked at Applebloom. “Not to worry Applebloom, this is grown up things.”
“Is this about AJ and those posters?”
“What posters?” Big Mac asked.
Applebloom was about to open her mouth when the old mare stepped up.
“Applebloom why don’t you go and clean your room.”
“But Granny Smith I…”
“Now young filly.”
Applebloom scowled but walked up the stairs to her room. Granny Smith turned to her guest. “Most of the day today has been chaos, pegasi from Canterlot flew in to the market today and announced that the great Starvoid had taken over as supreme ruler of Equestria, and as proof of her greatness she had locked away Princess Celestia and the holders of the elements of Harmony in her old prison in the sky. Anypony still loyal to them could come and talk to her and she’d make sure she’d let them all meet for the next couple millennia. Further by new royal decree Princess Luna is an outlaw and is to be brought to justice. Anypony who tries to hide her away from the almighty ruler will pay with their lives.”
Granny Smith turned to Luna. “You should be careful. Whoever brings you in has been promised quite the amount of bits… the kind of amount that could pay for this farm the next 5 years. Not that you have anything to fear from us, I have lost enough children, I’ll not lose my grandchildren on top of that.”
“Thank you” Luna said bowing. “We’ll only stay until sunrise and then we’ll be off.”
“Off how exactly?” Gilda asked. “We’re wanted.”
“No” Luna said. “I’m wanted. You get some warm clothes, hide your elements and get on the train, I’m the one who have too hide who I am.”
“Well we’re not about to leave you here alone” Trixie said firmly.
“You won’t have to” Luna said winking. Her horn lit up and soon the midnight blue flare of her magic covered her body. Suddenly she shrunk to normal pony size, and her wings disappeared, her body turning a dull blue, while her mane and tail turned into a dark golden almost bronze color. Her flank hid her usual cutie mark, replacing it with one that bore a pickaxe on it.
“There we go” Luna said smiling.
“Disguise spell” Trixie said breathless. “That is an amazing illusion.”
“Illusion?” Vinyl asked.
“She hasn’t changed, not really, she simply transformed the area around her to make it look like she looks different, it’s nearly impossible to do, and harder to do right.”
Luna smiled. “I did this a lot in the old days when I was young, trying to sneak out of the castle pretending to be one of the servants foals. This way I can simply buy a ticket, telling the clerk that I want to go mountain hiking.”
“Brilliant” Vinyl said, yawning widely.
“Enough of that” Granny Smith said. “We have many rooms, pick one and go to sleep, I’ll wake you all at sunrise, that goes for you to your majesty, understood?”
“Yes ma’am, thank you for your hospitality.”
“Just get my grandchild down from there… I hate the idea of her being cold and scared, she deserves better than that.”
Luna nodded and walked up the stairs. Choosing a room that lay with it’s view towards the moon, Luna lay down and closed her eyes, ignoring the familiar laugh in the back of her head that was Nightmare Moon… the last one who used gargoyles to hunt for her foes.
The next day Luna woke by Granny smith shaking her form lightly.
“Get up ma’am you need to lower the moon so the day can start.”
Luna grunted. She had had problems sleeping. She was used to being up at night, and the thought of Nightmare Moon was not helping either, the visions and memories glaring up as she tried to close her eyes.
“Yeah I’m up” Luna grunted, rising from bed, shaking her mane. She had dropped her illusion before going to bed, not bothering to be in it all the time. Walking out of the room and downstairs she saw that the rest of the crew was eating a healthy breakfast.
“I’ll join you soon” Luna said opening the door. “I simply need to do my job.”
She walked outside and flew up into the sky, leaving the farm to hide her tracks. Landing on a cloud she concentrated on the moon, lowering it and grabbing hold of the sun.
“Good morning Luna, how did you sleep?”
Luna growled. “Back off.”
Starvoid giggled at Luna’s angry voice, turning to look at the gargoyles who now sat on various places around the castle, having returned a few hours ago without anything to report.
“And who do you think you are telling me what to do?”
“Somepony that will kick your flank.”
Starvoid laughed. “Oh by all means Luna feel free to try, I won’t even put up guards. You are welcome at my castle anytime you like.”
“Where did you get the gargoyles Starvoid?”
Starvoid’s grin turned almost vicious, as she used Luna’s anger to prod into her head once more.
“Oh you saw them did you? Good to know, I thought I had sent them to the wrong magical forest.”
“WHERE DID YOU FIND THEM?”
“Why should I tell you something you already know Luna… I found them where you last left them, trapped in the dungeons. They were very happy to be free again. They are also very upset with you. Leaving them all behind for a millennia like that, how very cold of you. Speaking of cold, how do you think Celestia likes space? Must be nice knowing that your sister is going through what you did. She gets to face the consequences after all these years, isn’t it wonderful?”
Starvoid felt Luna let go of the sun, resting it in its place on the sky. As she let Luna go, a knock on her door made her turn.
“Yes?”
A Pegasus came walking inside, looking halfway defiant, but thought better off it. “You wanted the fastest flyer in the army?”
“That’s you?”
“Of those who are left, yes.”
Starvoid nodded, and levitated a scroll up from the table near the throne.
“You are to take this to the outskirts, where the changelings are… tell them it’s for their queen from the new leader of Equestria, and tell them that I request an answer as soon as possible… understood?”
The Pegasus took the scroll. “Yes ma’am.”
“And if you try anything… just know that I will find you.”
“Yes ma’am” the Pegasus said again, taking the scroll and leaving the room. Starvoid smiled. Ahh it is wonderful to be on top.
…
Luna growled, finally getting the sun up in it’s place and let her magic go. As she did laughter ran through her head. A familiar cackle.
“Stop it” she demanded. Nightmare Moon answered condescendingly.
“Oh you may object Luna but you know the unicorn is right… Celestia deserves some time out.”
Luna was shocked. She had many times heard the voice of Nightmare moon cakling in her head, as a memory that would never go away… but to talk to her and get an actual answer, that was a new twist.
“Get out of my head.”
“How can I Luna, we are one in the same.”
“I am nothing like you.”
“Of course not… though that’s not what you said yesterday to your friends.” Nightmare moon laughed. “Face it Luna, sooner or later you will come to me for help.”
“Never again” Luna said with a growl. “You will never gain power again.”
“We shall see.”
Luna huffed but turned and flew back to the farm. Entering she sat down at the table, staring to eat as the others looked at her worried.
“So… how are you feeling your majesty?”
Luna looked at Derpy. “I’m fine, really… Starvoid is simply trying to get to me.”
“Looks like she’s winning” Gilda said with a frown.
“I’m fine” Luna insisted. “Now please can we talk about something else?”
Luna’s answer came in the shape of Granny Smith and big Mac who came inside the room carrying a couple of baskets filled with clothes.
“If you are going north you need to be warm” Granny Smith said. “Take what you can.”
“Thank you Granny Smith” Luna said smiling. “We owe you a lot.”
“You owe me nothing; just get Jackie back to us.”
Luna nodded and started casting her illusion spell as the others went through the basket for scarves, hats and other warm clothes.
Soarin and Spitfire dragged off their shadowbolt uniform and laid it in a pair of saddlebags they lay over their backs.
“All right everypony,” Spitfire said speaking up. “If we are to avoid capture before we go anywhere I say you all lay your elements in a pair of saddlebags, or find some other way to conceal it.”
Trixie nodded and hid her tiara under her hat once more while the others hid their necklaces in either the saddlebags Spitfire and Soarin offered or under thick woolen scarves.
“All right” Luna said with a look around as she donned a dark blue scarf around her neck. “Now we need tickets to the frozen north, anyone got any suggestions?”
Her answer came with a tug of her scarf. Looking down she saw three fillies. Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.
“We know it’s not much but you can have some of the cutie mark crusaders money” Applebloom said, handing over a piggy bank which rattled with bits as Luna lifted it.
Sweetie belle sniffed. “Just get my sister and her friends back.”
Luna looked at everypony beside her, looking sad at the young fillies. She sighed and turned the pig upside down, unscrewing the cork. The bits fell onto the table, just enough for all nine of them.
“We’ve been saving up all year” Scootaloo said smiling. “I were going to use my share to buy tickets to the wonderbolts show for Rainbow Dash, but this is more important.”
“I was going to give Rarity more fabrics she could make outfits with” Sweetie Belle said smiling.
“I was going to pay some ponies to help Applejack out with the harvest” Applebloom said. “But it’s not much point buying the things if they aren’t here.”
Luna looked down at the three fillies and stooped low to hug them.
“Don’t worry… we’ll get them back… and thank you.”
As the nine ponies walked out Luna turned towards Soarin and Spitfire.
“When this is over, remind me to reward those three tenfold.”
“I was thinking the same thing” Spitfire said smiling.
“Eeyup” Big Mac said smiling. The group walked to Ponyville’s train station, ending up on a train no more than half an hour later. As they got seated in their compartment Trixie turned to Luna.
“So… I met with Starlight.”
Luna looked at her. “How?”
“He placed an enchantment on the cave… the moment somepony would come to get the artifact he’d be there to see if one was worthy… he told me the story about how his family got the name of Lulamoon.”
Luna smiled. “Ah dear Frostlight… he had it bad.”
“But you helped him get the love of his life right?”
“I did… I always do my best to help ponies in love. The night is the lovers’ time, and so I feel closer to ponies in love than others. Though truth be told it’s the first time somepony has come and asked me to lower the moon to the earth for them. My way was simply easier and more charming.”
Luna smiled down at Trixie. “As for Starlight he was an amazing pony. Everypony in Everfree came to his funeral, including myself and Celestia. He was a very popular pony.”
“Can you tell me more?” Luna turned to Trixie who looked ashamed of the question, and Luna understood.
Trixie had never had any relatives, she had always been lonely. Now that she knew that she had a family she wanted to know all about them.
“Of course” Luna said, opening her mouth and starting to talk. As she talked the road outside changed. Forests turned into plains and the plains turned into deserts. Soon it snowed and finally…
“Hey guys, is that where we’re going?”
Luna looked at Vinyl who had been looking out of the window. Turning around to look outside Luna saw the huge crystal mountains, shining the way for them.
“Not yet. We need to get over the mountains before we get to Windigo central.”
Vinyl pouted. “Aww man.”
“Are you getting impatient Vinyl?”
“I never get impatient, only excited. Besides… the faster we get this done the faster our friends get down from there.”
Nopony said anything at this statement. Vinyl even looked more serious than usual.
“Don’t worry” Luna said. “We’ll get them down from there.”
Vinyl nodded. “So… anything you can tell me to prepare me for whatever I have to do, or do I simply have to sing an Ursa Minor to sleep too?”
Luna blinked and turned to Trixie who shuddered. “We talked at breakfast, Vinyl wanted to know everything to prepare herself properly.”
Luna nodded in understanding. “Well the original wielder of laughter was fond of music” Luna said. “He believed that whatever you did you could do it better if you did it while singing or dancing… apparently this caused a lot of grief when he still lived with his kind; he apparently caused a lot of tunnels collapsing.”
Vinyl grinned. “Sounds like my kind of guy.”
“Just be careful” Luna advised. “Songs playing in these mountains might cause avalanches.”
“Right… no playing loud music. Got it.”
Zecora looked out, the Zebra puzzled at the weather.
“Used to the snow I can be, but not so much that I cannot see.”
Everypony looked out. It had started to snow so hard outside that much of the landscape was hidden. Vinyl turned her head sideways, taking off her glasses.
“Hey… guys do you hear that?”
“Hear what” Derpy asked.
“I hear some sort of whistling but that’s just the wind” Soarin said.
Luna looked at Vinyl. Her eyes glazed over and her ears twitched slightly.
“I hear something… it’s like… a flute I think, but it sounds strange.”
“The artifact is calling out to you” Luna said. “Only you can hear it. I say that the moment we get off at the station we follow Vinyl. If the artifact is calling out to her we should follow her.”
No sooner had Luna said this than the door to their compartment opened. A brown stallion stood there.
“All right everypony, Windigo Central is our final stop for today; we’ll be there in 5 minutes.”
“Thank you sir” Luna said smiling standing up.
“All right everypony let’s get suited up. And Vinyl, keep listening to the song ok?”
“Yes ma’am” Vinyl said with a smile, levitating her goggles back over her eyes and donned a fluffy hat. The moment everypony stepped off the train they all immediately shuddered as a huge blast of wind stormed through the station. “Let’s get going” Gilda said, having to lift her voice over the wind. “I’m freezing my feathers off in this cold.”
Vinyl didn’t hear her, simply started to walk heading out of the small town towards the nearby mountains.