//------------------------------// // Political Issues // Story: Kingdom of the Moon // by PheonixCircle //------------------------------// The Princess was already in the town hall when the mayor arrived. It had been a long time since the mayor was agitated while doing business with somepony but whatever she had done at the funeral was far more impressive than anything else the mayor had seen before. Never had she felt, physically felt, the anguish of another pony. "Princess, if you would follow me," she said, and walked ahead. As she ascended the stair she was already planning on how to prevent the princess from getting rid of her. Only a few ideas came to her mind and most of them ended in her being not just gotten rid of politically. The showcase in the tomb made that clear. The mayor opened the door to her office, a rather big, circular room at the top of the town hall with a dome made of wood and glass, and walked towards her desk. The window, as big as half the dome and located behind the desk, gave an almost magical view over the vilage. The sun has already sank past it's third quarter, but the beauty was still hardly describable. The desk itself stood in the middle of the room, on a round, blue carpet with a moon on it. It was the same symbol used before the princess left, but it was just a replication of the old carpet. The original was hanging in a special archive of the town hall, which acted as a collection of historical things from Westbrucke's past as well as a secured storage room. To the left of the window stood a single book case, half filled with books of Westbruckes history and contracts with Icewind, Flankrium and Osttor. The mayor was proud of this collection of books and tomes, it contained a far more detailed history than the archive she has seen in Icewind. But even in this room the princess seemed massive in size. She seemed too big for the door but the mayor knew that it was her perception failing her, looking up or down could distort anyone's view. As she still looked at the princess in both admiration and fear, the princess began to talk. "How fast do you think you could receive an answer if you sent a message to Icewind?", she asked. Her tone seemed calm,almost as if she had all time she could ever need, yet conveyed urgency at the same time. "Within two weeks. The route is harsh and the roads haven't been used regularly for a very long time.", the mayor replied. In contrary to the princess her voice was clearly telling of her feelings. "Would it be possible to take something with you?", the princess asked. "If it is small in size certainly. Carts or carriages would only delay the arrival, if they would ever reach their destination, so it has to fit into a saddlebag." "Since it is just a letter that should be no problem at all. Could you write it for me? I will dictate you what you have to write.", the princess answered. Her relief was barely noticeable. The mayor took her typewriter from the bottom drawer of her desk and put it on top of it. The princess began to dictate and as they went on, the mayor became more and more curious to what the princess had planned. She had already forgotten that she wanted to do something about Moonprayer. The princess's trust in her had engulfed her for the moment. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ruler of Icewind, hear my words I am Princess Luna of Equestria, founder of the kingdom of Winterwald. I have heard words of your denial of my rule and independence from the realm. I forgive and understand what your ancestors did. The realm was without rule and your family had only so much power to rule over one of the four settlements. As you see, I have returned to claim what is mine by right, and you are a part of it. I don't want to take your place as ruler of Icewind as I haven't taken the mayor's place of Westbrucke. But I need your help. The situation is, as you know, dire, and I haven't returned to leave it as it is. If you do not believe the words of this letter, send an ambassador to the village of Westbrucke whom you trust, and let him be my evidence that I am truthfully the one I tell you. I hope that, after I have convinced you of my honesty, we could meet to refresh old contracts and ally again. There are more threats in this realm than you can imagine. Osttor was only the beginning. If we don't act soon, we all will be in grave danger. I am honest, I could just let you all die in vain, letting you curse me while you burn as I sit on the throne, awaiting an impending invasion of whatever lurks outside. But I won't, because I have brought your ancestors here in belief of this place's safety and their loyalty in me, and I will take responsibility for my actions. I hope you are willing to re-build the once unified kingdom we were, and ally with Westbrucke. If you do not I must take other measures to convince you and believe me if I say that I have certain assets that would be sufficient to eradicate Icewind in an unbelievably short amount of time. Honest and Kind Regards Princess Luna Guardian of Dreams Ruler over the Moon, Stars and Night Co-Ruler of Equestria ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Moonprayer was in the church. The day was reaching it's end and her princess had to come here to return back home. There was an important thing she wanted to ask her, but at the funeral the princess was gone before she could have said anything. She immediately returned to the church. At first she had a few things to do, but now, she was bored and growing impatient and insecure. She was wandering from left to right in front of the altar, the blue light shining on her. Every time she turned around, she looked at it. Some times she thought that the flame had changed, that its light was darker or brighter, and one time she thought the light had changed to purple. It was in the exact moment she had turned around again and looked at the flame that the door got opened and the flame flickered in the small gust of wind that had entered. Moonprayer turned her head towards the door, seeing the alicorn standing in front of it as she closed it with her magic and then proceeded down the aisle between the pillars. "I see you have awaited me. You may ask me what lies on your soul, but be quick. If I am late, we all might get in serious trouble", the princess said. Her face was stern, and to underline the seriousness of her words, she looked down a bit. Yet understanding and warmth lay in the spoken words. "Is it truly important to keep Winterwald a secret from your sister?" the priestess asked, fear clearly shown on her face. "I don't think she could be angry about something you did a thousand years ago. And we could really need her help, especially now that we are on the brink of another conflict." The princess walked up to the priestess. Moonprayer, afraid to have angered her, shivered as the princess put her wings over her to embrace her. The priestess felt a drop on her cheek and as she looked up she noticed that the princess was crying. It was such an emotional moment that the priestess also started to cry. The princess answered her with a much steadier voice than one could imagine with the tears flowing down. "Yes, it is of utmost importance to keep it secret from her. Her anger as she heard the idea of it was unimaginably frightful. Even now, over a thousand years later, thinking of it sends a shiver through my whole body." The priestess looked up, her look told the princess that she didn't believe her. The princess, ignoring what she just noticed, continued: "Also, the Equestrian Forces are not a great help. They are brought down to the palace guards and some minor troops and they are not very well trained, as I have to admit. Your militia would probably suffice to defend anything against the Equestrian Army as it is now." The priestess didn't say anything. She was to embarrassed to have doubted the princesses judgement, even if she couldn't believe that the princess was afraid of her sister. They sat there for another few minutes before the princess stood up and went to the altar. "I won't return for a few weeks. There is no need to. If anything bad or good happens, send me a letter." The princess smiled as she spoke to Moonprayer and then turned around and vanished into the flames. Moonprayer stood there for another moment, staring in awe into the flames, before she turned towards the door. She hadn't really expected to receive an answer and now she was happier than ever. For Moonprayer, it was the most magical moment of her life that the princess trusted her with her feelings. If she had known that there would be more to come, good as well as bad ones. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Celestia stood in front of her sisters room. She wanted to knock as she heard a small bump. She waited, listening what could had happened in there. As she noticed that no more sound was coming out, she knocked. "What is it, I am studying," her sister said brusquely. "It's me, Luna. May I enter?" she asked. She heard something close, than hoofsteps, before the door was opened. "Sister, sure, come in. Sorry for the rather rude answer. Is there anything you need?" her sister asked. She seemed normal, nothing was out of the ordinary, and there was no trace of dark magic. "I just wanted to tell you to prepare yourself for the transition." Celestia said. She was a bit confused, but also relieved, that nothing was wrong. But still, something stuck in the back of her head, and she wanted to get rid of it. "Okay, just give me a minute and I will come down.", her sister said. "You don't need to hurry, but don't be to late again", Celestia said, smiling. She was walking towards the door as she stopped. There was a familiar feeling in the air, something that shouldn't be in this castle any more. "Is something wrong Tia? Maybe I can help you", her sister asked, sounding concerned. "No, everything is all right", Celestia answered before she left and closed the door behind her. Celestia was certain she had felt the same feeling once already, before her sister turned into Nightmare Moon.'Is she turning evil again or is this feeling different in origin?', Celestia thought as she walked down to the throne room. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Luna was sitting on the throne, feeling guilty for having lied to her sister again. She wanted to tell her the truth but she was too afraid. It was similar as before she was taken over, when Luna had lied that she was all right with her sister being the centre of attention. But this time she wasn't going to turn evil again. This time her lies had a righteous cause. 'And someone I care about', Luna thought as she looked into the dream web searching for Moonprayer. She would have no nightmares tonight.