//------------------------------// // Desperate Measures // Story: In Her Majesty's Absence // by PegasusMesa //------------------------------// Only at the last second of his fall through the princess’s door did Greenwing manage to throw out a hoof and catch himself before he landed on his nose. Captain or no captain, I’m not going to put up with this. “What’s the—” he started, but the doors shut in his face before he could speak his mind. Growling, Greenwing turned to survey his new surroundings. The room he stood in had little of note, save for a few well dusted portraits and another door that ostensibly led into Princess Celestia’s living area. He reached out to grab the doorknob when a low hum, barely within the range of his perception, caught his attention. It resonated through the wooden floor just as much as it did through the air, running up through his hooves and causing a slight shiver to run down his spine. I recognize this noise. An image of the night sky burst through his mind before he refocused on his mission. The door opened easily and, squaring his shoulders, he proceeded through. The first thing Greenwing noticed about this new room was that the vibrating noise had nearly doubled in volume. The second thing he realized was that the temperature had risen to a nigh-unbearable state. A massive, circular window in the ceiling let the sunlight, in all of its hot, stifling glory, fill the room and heat the air to its currently miserable levels. With his mane already drenched in sweat, Greenwing pulled his helmet off and dropped it onto one of the two couches that took up space in the middle of the room. His ears pricked when a muttered curse floated past him. A pair of glass doors opened out onto a balcony, but despite having access to the outdoors, the lack of a breeze did little to cool the room. Greenwing caught another string of oaths that came through the entryway and slowly made his way over to investigate, failing to pay any attention to his footing. Thus, he didn’t notice the myriad bottles that littered the floor until he tripped over one of them and went crashing onto his face. “Ow,” Greenwing mumbled as he pushed himself upright. The glass bottle he had stumbled over rolled into another of its brethren, clinking loudly when they collided. Despite the ruckus he had raised, nopony appeared to investigate. Now taking care to avoid the bottles, he gingerly stepped his way to the balcony doors. The hum had risen to the point where he could feel it in his teeth. He poked his head outside. The sight that met his eyes was not one wholly unfamiliar to him. By the balcony’s railing, Princess Celestia sat on her haunches and pointed her horn towards the heavens. A light pink aura surrounded it, and it emitted the noise that was now vibrating his bones. I’ve seen this before, he thought, eyes squinted in concentration. Princess Luna looks exactly like this, every time she raises the moon. Suddenly, the horn’s glow cut off and the humming abruptly ceased. Celestia’s eyes shot open. She said something to herself, but the growl in her voice kept it from being audible. Greenwing gulped and dropped into the bow that his station demanded. “Princess Celestia, I’m sorry to—” The moment she realized that she was no longer alone, the princess’s wings flared and she spun to face the intruder. “Is it common practice to enter my chambers without knocking first?” she asked. The stench of wine wafted from her direction. She’s your princess, Greenwing thought, forcing back a grimace. Don’t talk back. “My apologies, Your Majesty,” he said with his nose still nearly pressed to the ground. A stormy expression rippled on Celestia’s face, and she appeared ready to snap until she took a deep breath and sighed. “Stand up. May I assume that my advisors sent you here to—how shall I put this—‘bring me to my senses’?” “Well, I wouldn’t have said it like that…” Greenwing glanced away and lifted himself up. “I am afraid that now is not a good time… for…” Her eyes widened as they fell upon his breastplate, which had only come into sight when he straightened to his full height. “Princess?” Greenwing said, head cocked. “Is something wrong?” “That armor,” she said slowly. “Why do you wear it?” “I was a member of the Lunar Guard.” He fought the urge to flare his wings; something about Celestia’s demeanor and tone suggested that she was putting forth a challenge. “That organization disbanded, by my order,” Celestia said with a frown. “There should be nopony wearing its armor anymore.” “And yet here I stand,” he said before he could stop himself. “I’m technically off duty, so I can wear what I please.” For a short moment, Celestia stood speechless. “If you wish to get information out of me, then this is not a good way to start.” “Fine.” Greenwing spun and marched towards the glass doors. “You’re leaving?” she asked, taken aback. “Just like that?” “I’ve been on my hooves all day and I’m too tired to play word games, so yes, I’m leaving.” He passed back into the suffocatingly hot living quarters, remembering to watch his step. Just as he reached out to pull open the next door, Celestia’s voice halted him in his tracks. “Wait,” she said. Her magic lifted all of the bottles from the floor and dropped them into a nearby bin. “Please, sit down and talk with me. You’re right, of course. Your personal wardrobe is your choice.” She laid herself down on one of the couches. “However…” For a long moment, Greenwing stared at her, until he slowly walked to the other couch and picked up his helmet. He placed it back onto his head, despite the heat. “However...?” He chose to stand rather than sit. “I am curious as to why you decided to wear it here.” Celestia crossed her front legs as she stared at him, as if trying to figure out a puzzle. “It seems an odd fashion choice.” “My orders were to dress like this,” he said. Understanding dawned in Celestia’s eyes. “I see,” she said, putting a hoof to her chin. “They think reminding me of my sister will shake me up.” Just worry about the sun, Captain Vigil had said. We’ll worry about the other princess. Greenwing shrugged his shoulders and forged forward. “Princess, where is your sister?” Celestia flinched, nearly falling off of the couch. When no answer seemed forthcoming, he said, “Do you know where she could have—” “Would you care for a drink?” Her magical aura lifted a full bottle and two glasses out of a nearby cabinet. “I’ll pass,” he said, unable to help noticing that the levitation spell wobbled unsteadily. “Princess, are you alright?” “I think it would be fine to call me ‘Celestia’,” she told him as the bottle came to rest on the table in front of her. “I’m not in a princely state, after all.” “I… don’t think I can do that, Princess.” Despite Greenwing's words, his posture relaxed considerably and he once more pulled off his helmet. “But you didn’t answer me. Are you feeling alright?” “I feel fine,” Celestia answered. “Just a little sleepy.” The bottle poured its contents into a glass and set itself down before her magic dissipated. “I didn’t know that this much wine existed,” Greenwing said as he eyed the bin where she had deposited all of the empty containers. “Where did you get it?” She gave him a flat stare. “I make it in my chamber pot.” Her eyes rolled when he nearly fell over. His horrified gaze remained fixed on the glass, and intensified when the princess took a dainty sip. “Relax, I was joking. We keep a cache of alcohol on hoof for occasions such as this.” “How did you manage to drink that much?” Despite the princess’s assurances, Greenwing kept a wary eye on the wine. “I have a very high tolerance for alcohol. In fact, so does my sis—” As she bit the sentence off, a bright red shade colored her cheeks. She gulped down the glass’s contents in an attempt to save face, then refilled it. “Needless to say, I can drink quite a bit before I feel anything.” So the fact that you’re drinking so much means there’s something you want to forget, Greenwing thought, feeling a spark of pity form in his gut. “What’s got you worried?” She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, then downed the second glass. “Does it have anything to do with the sun not setting?” Celestia nodded and poured more wine. “You could say that.” After a moment’s pause, she set down the glass and fluffed her wings. “You were… very fond of my sister, weren’t you?” The words were said tentatively, as if she was afraid that saying them might break something fragile. “What makes you say that?” Greenwing’s expression showed confusion at the odd change of topic. “All of the other ponies that were sent in here have focused on getting me to set the sun,” Celestia said. “You, however, seem more interested where—in where Luna is.” She took another gulp of her drink, then locked her gaze onto the pegasus’s eyes. “Now, please tell me—were you fond of my sister?” “Yes,” Greenwing said, taken aback. “I trained all my life, just so that I could serve under her.” The princess stared at him for a moment, then lifted up her glass and took a long draw. “Do you know where Princess Luna is—” “Why all your life?” Celestia said quickly. “Why did you care for her so?” His brow furrowed. “I met her, when I was really little. She seemed so… noble. So worthy of loyalty. Princess, are you alright?” Celestia’s eyes had teared up and threatened to unleash their torrents. “Would you tell me about that time?” she said, waving his concern away. “Yes.” With one last glance at the emotionally unstable mare, Greenwing cast his thoughts back to his colthood. In the castle training yards, a colt and his father practiced with wooden swords that were tied onto their wings. The younger pony lashed out at the older, who, with a deft twist of his weapon, sent his opponent sliding across the grass on his nose. “You’re cheating!” the colt said, trying to rub the dirt off of his face. “You’re using moves you haven’t taught me yet!” “Don’t overreact.” The stallion waited for his son to ready himself before taking a proper stance. “Just focus on learning what I have taught you.” As if announcing its arrival, the sun peeked over a row of pine trees and cast its rays into the older pony’s eyes. The colt saw his opportunity and leaped forward once more, doing his best to get a hit—just one hit—in on his opponent. However, within no time he once more found himself laid out on the ground. “Stand up!” the father said. “We’re not done yet.” The younger pony struggled back to his hooves and stood, wobbling in place. Just as the two were about to resume their combat, a firm voice interrupted. “Thou usest entirely too much energy in thy movements.” “Huh?” The colt relaxed and glanced in the sun’s direction, from which a winged pony flew in to land next to him. He squinted in order to make out the newcomer’s identity. His father, who didn’t have the sun in his eyes, leaped over and pushed the smaller pony to the ground. “Princess Luna!” he said, dropping to his own knees. The colt’s eyes adjusted, and he could finally see that the dark-blue pony in front of him indeed bore both wings and a horn, as well as the tiara that indicated her station. “None of that bowing, Commander,” she said with an impatient wave. “We wish to view thy practice.” “I-I am afraid this basic training will bore thee,” the commander said, slowly standing. “My son hath only begun to learn, so 'tis very simple.” Confused by his father's change in dialect, the young pony frowned and opened his mouth to comment, but never had the chance. “We still have some energy left before We go to sleep. Let Us decide what We find interesting.” Luna sat on her haunches expectantly. “Please proceed.” “Very well.” He helped his son up, and both prepared themselves. However, the father’s movements were even sharper than before, and the fight had barely begun before the colt had been thrown down. “I’m never going to get this!” he said in frustration, kicking a divot in the grass. “We already told thee, thy movements are exaggerated.” Luna stood and trotted over to him. “As a result, thou movest more slowly, and thy swings require more energy and time to redirect. Observe.” As the colt looked on with wonder in his eyes, she went into a series of slow-motion swings and kicks. “Canst thou see how We keep Our attacks close to Our body?” “Mmhmm!” the colt said with a grin. She gestured for him to step forth. “Then show Us. Slowly!” The young pony dropped into a crouch and engaged an invisible opponent, trying to do what Luna had told him. “No!” she shouted. “Closer!” He struggled to alter his style to accommodate her demands. “Yes, that is better!” After a few minutes of Luna barking instructions at him, the colt paused and wiped the sweat from his face. She walked over and gazed down upon him. “Thou hast improved,” she said with a slight smile. “What is thy name?” “We named him Greenwing, Your Majesty,” the commander said, joining the two. “‘Tis a bit odd of a name,” Luna said. “Dost thou wish to indicate that he is a novice, despite his level of expertise?” “It’s only to remind him to remain humble,” the father said. “No matter where he is in life.” “Yeah!” Greenwing said as his father ruffled his mane. “And I’m humbler than anypony else in my grade!” Luna arched an eyebrow. “We can tell, ‘tis a successful strategy,” she said to Greenwing's father, who chuckled and put an affectionate wing around his son. “Thank ye for humoring Us. We shall adjourn.” “What do you say, Greenwing?” the commander whispered. “Thank you, Luna!” Greenwing said, grinning widely. His father scowled and lightly smacked him on the back of the head. “Um, I mean, ‘Princess Luna’.” She couldn’t help but laugh as she waved farewell and took wing. “You’re a very fortunate pony,” the commander said as soon as Luna had left earshot. “There aren’t many who can say they’ve received private instruction from a princess!” “I liked her!” Greenwing said. The two ponies packed their gear and headed back into the castle. “She’s my favorite princess! That night, Luna sat on the throne, fighting back the urge to yawn. The Night Court barely had any attendance, and more often than not ended with her growing bored and ending it early. Right as she prepared to do just that, the doors opened and two of the Lunar Guards showed a colt through. Luna’s eyes widened when she realized that it was Greenwing, the colt from the previous morning. “Greetings, young Greenwing,” she said, sitting up straight. “To what do We owe the pleasure of thy presence?” “Um…” His gaze dropped to the ground. “I wanted to say ‘thank you’ again.” He began to scuff his hoof against the marble floor. “For this morning.” Luna adopted a bemused grin. “Yes, We recall. And We appreciate thy gratitude, but shouldst thou not be in bed at this hour?” “Well, yes, but I—” The doors opened once more, this time to admit Greenwing's frantic father. “I knew it!” he said, stalking forward. “Greenwing, I told you not to bother Her Majesty during the Night Court!” He stopped beside his son and sank into a low bow. “Princess Luna, please forgive my son for his impertinence.” “‘Tis fine,” Luna said with a dismissive wave. “We appreciate the colt’s intentions.” “But I—” Greenwing began, only to be cut off by his father. “We shall now take our leave,” he said as he pulled his son close. “Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty.” “But, father,” Greenwing said on the way out, “what if she’s lonely? I wanted to keep her company!” “Princesses don’t get lonely!” the commander snapped, making Luna’s eyes widen. The doors shut behind them with a soft "thud", but right before they did, the princess saw the little pony gazing back at her. “Princess Luna, are you alright?” one of her guards asked. It took a moment for her to acknowledge his words. “Yes, We are fine,” she said slowly, descending from the dais. Her hooves dragged along the ground as she went. “Guard, We believe that We shall end Night Court.” As she left the room, the commander’s words replayed in her mind. “Princesses don’t get lonely!” “I saw how unhappy she was at the last second,” Greenwing said to Celestia, who slowly sipped at her wine. “If she could put up with those feelings and still do her duty, then she’s the strongest pony that I know.” “You saw as a colt what I couldn’t, despite being her sister,” the princess murmured into her drink. “Your Majesty, something happened to Princess Luna, didn’t it?” Greenwing leaned forward. “Is she alright—” “A long time ago, I saw something that should have clued me in,” Celestia said. “It's a memory that I hadn't thought of in years, until you told me your story.” Celestia nudged open the doors to Luna’s chambers, walking softly in order to surprise her sister. Normally she would already be asleep, but this night she felt more awake than usual. Luna had already ended her court, so the most likely place to find her was in her rooms. As she moved further into the suite, the soft notes to a song floated through the air. Celestia glanced around for the source before her eyes settled on the balcony. “Ooooh, Luuuunaaaa,” she said playfully. The song crescendoed as she made her way outside, but what she saw gave her reason to pause. The Princess of the Night indeed sat on the balcony with her eyes turned skywards. Her horn’s glow faded and reappeared multiple times as she manipulated her starscape. Ribbons of blue, red, and gold wove between the stars, cascading into a breathtaking display of art. All the while, Luna continued to sing her wordless melody. Celestia sat and watched her sister at work for a while before her nose began to twitch. She tried to get back inside, but it was too late—she sneezed loudly, and Luna nearly fell over the railing in surprise. “S-Sister!” Luna stammered as she tried to calm her racing heart. “H-how long hast thou b-been back there?” “A while.” Celestia walked forward to stand next to her sister. “That was Mother’s song.” Luna sighed and reseated herself. “Yes.” A blush crept across her cheeks. “Wherefore art thou here so late?” “I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I would come and visit my favorite sister.” “I am thine only sister,” Luna mare said, returning her attention to the sky. Her horn relit and she resumed her work. “Do you do this every night?” Celestia asked when no further conversation seemed forthcoming. “Sometimes my duties keep me too busy,” Luna said, “but when time permitteth, yes, I attend to the sky.” Silence once more fell over the balcony. “Usually you have more to say.” Celestia's brow furrowed as she turned on inquisitive eye onto her sister. “Are you well?” “Yes.” Celestia breathed a sigh of relief, but the sensation was immediately washed away when Luna added, “No. I do not know.” “What happened?” Celestia draped a wing over Luna's back. “Nothing significant,” Luna immediately said, which only further raised her sister’s suspicions. “Tell me anyway.” Luna released a heavy breath before she spoke. “Earlier tonight, a colt approached me in court,” she said, snuggling into Celestia’s side. “He wished to keep me company. He said I was lonely.” “And?” Celestia's wing pulled Luna closer. “Are you?” “Maybe a little bit…” Luna said, shutting her eyes. They immediately reopened when the notes to her mother’s song drifted into her ears. Celestia had begun to hum. “I may not have Mother’s voice,” she said, “but I can do this much, at least.” A faint smile appeared on Luna’s face as she returned her attention to the heavens. The dark purple aura reappeared over her horn, and she resumed the manipulation of her starry domain. Everypony who watched the sky that night would have unanimously agreed that it had never been so beautiful. As she ended her story, Celestia pulled out a new bottle and refilled her glass. “That time, I should have seen the problem. I should have done more to help her.” “That colt was me,” Greenwing said, staring at a bare spot on the wall. “I—I didn’t know that I made her feel lonely, though! I didn’t mean—” “No!” The percussive word shocked him into silence. “No,” she said again, more quietly. “You did not cause my sister unhappiness, of that I am certain. She was very sentimental, and intentions such as yours meant much to her.” Something about Celestia’s words sparked a sense of unease in the pit of Greenwing’s stomach. “‘Was’? ‘Meant’? Why did you speak as if she’s gone?” Celestia's eyes widened and she choked on her drink. “I simply meant—” “And why do you want to swap stories about her like this?” he said, hopping to his hooves as he gained momentum. The sense of unease blossomed into dread. “That isn’t—” she started again, but stopped herself as if unsure as to what she should say. Instead, she cast her gaze downward. “This is how you would act when—” The sudden thought brought his pacing to an end “—losing a loved one,” he whispered, turning frightened eyes towards Celestia. The look on her face only proved it. “You’re mourning her, aren’t you?” Celestia’s mouth gaped open, but no words came forth. “That’s the reason for the drinking, the stories,” he continued slowly. “It’s why you won’t leave your chambers. Princess, what happened to your sister?” “Please, don’t ask me that,” she said, finally finding her voice. “I can’t answer you.” “But I’m right, aren’t I?” Greenwing said. “You have to tell me what happened! Is she in danger? Was she kidnapped? Is she hurt? If there’s anything I can do to help her, I will!” His eyes quivered feverishly as his tempo increased. “There’s nothing wrong,” Celestia said, but her words lacked conviction. “Tell me!” He lowered his head to make eye contact with her. “I need to know!” Celestia twisted her head away and gulped down the rest of her drink. As she continued to avoid answering the question, Greenwing’s ears and face grew red and heated. “Where is Luna?” “She’s gone!” Celestia snapped. “She is gone, and there is nothing you, nor I, nor anypony else can do to bring her back!” Silence descended upon the spacious room. A heavily breathing Celestia could only watch Greenwing’s mouth repeatedly open and close. “What…” he said at last, pausing to lick his lips. “What hap...happened to her?” For a long moment, Celestia didn’t speak, but instead stared at him as if measuring his worth. “I shall speak with you about this, but only if you first help me.” “Tell me now.” “I understand your feelings,” she said, eyes watering, “but I must first see to—” “No, you don’t.” The words, said with such a matter-of-fact tone, threw Celestia off balance. “What?” “You don’t understand,” Greenwing said. His legs began to shake, but he refused to take a seat. “Did you know that Princess Luna’s court is barren? Most nights, she won't get a single petitioner.” “Yes, I am aware,” Celestia said in an uncertain voice. “On those nights, I would speak with her,” he said. “Being so familiar with the princess made me unpopular with my superiors, but when she had somepony to talk with, she seemed happier. So, I made certain to be that pony.” Celestia didn’t seem to have any comment, so he forged forward with a deep breath. “I learned a lot about the princess in the three months that I spent in her guard. She has a lot to say, and not a lot of ponies to say it to. I learned that she’s glad that you handle the more diplomatic matters. I learned that her eyes are sensitive to the sun. I learned that she likes strawberries, but hates cherries.” Greenwing paused to muster his courage before continuing. “And I learned that, in Princess Luna’s opinion, her sister does not care for her.” The moment the words left his mouth, Celestia’s wings flared. “That’s not true! I love my sister dearly!” She tried to fill her empty cup, but the magic flickered and lost its hold, sending both the half-full bottle and the glass crashing to the floor. “For what it’s worth,” Greenwing said as he eyed the mess, “I think she’s wrong. From what I’ve seen, I can tell that you love her very much, but I also think that you didn’t have much consideration for her.” She took a moment to let his thoughts sink in. “And you did,” she said softly. “You understood her feelings, when I never even took the time to find out.” Her eyes lost their focus. A wave of guilt washed over Greenwing as he considered the implications of what he had just told her. “I shouldn't have said any of that,” he mumbled. “Hm?” Celestia’s attention slowly returned to the present. “Did you say something?” “What do you need me to do?" Her eyes remained blank. “You wanted my help.” “You know, in all of the years that I’ve been her sister,” she said, averting her gaze, “I never once asked Luna how she raises the moon.” She must not have heard me. “Princess? I don’t know if I can help, but I’ll do my best. Just tell me what you need.” “I’m trying to.” Celestia put her hooves on his shoulders and looked squarely into his face. “If my sister gave you a hint, even the smallest clue, I need to know.” “About raising the moon? Why…” Suddenly, realization dawned. “You have to do it, with your sister gone. The sun hasn’t stayed up because you won’t set it, but because you don’t know how to take care of the other part of the cycle!” A light blush graced Celestia's cheeks at his words. “It’s actually very embarrassing. I’ve tried time and again to bring it up, but everytime I get a hold on it, the thing slides out of my hooves.” The memory of Celestia standing out on the balcony flashed through Greenwing’s head. “I won’t give you a hint.” Her face fell, but brightened when he added, “Because I did ask Princess Luna how she raises the moon. I can tell you how to do it.” She immediately leaped up and trotted to the balcony doors, waving for him to follow. “Let’s take this outside.” Once they stood by the railing, Celestia sat on her haunches and looked at her ad hoc tutor expectantly. “Princess Luna told me that, to her, the moon isn’t just something in the sky,” Greenwing said. “She sees it almost as a friend of hers who’s always there, waiting.” A stormy look passed over the princess’s face. “Princess, is something wrong?” “What?” She blinked and shook her head to focus her attention. “No, nothing. Please continue.” “She said that raising the moon was like waking that friend,” Greenwing said. “It’s like coaxing that friend out of bed. You wouldn’t just grab them and pull them up, would you?” “Just wake it up…” Celestia muttered. “Is that all she told you?” Greenwing nodded. “Yes. Princess Luna said that mindset is the most important part.” “Small wonder I couldn’t do it before.” Celestia squared herself and looked up at the sky. “Very well, let’s give it a try.” “It’s been an hour,” Chestnut said, glancing at his hourglass. “Do you think he’s still alive?” “I hope you don’t actually believe that Princess Celestia would murder one of her subjects,” Dusty said. She had procured an abacus, and the beads clicked together rapidly as she went through a number of complex calculations. “Some ponies can’t take a joke,” he mumbled. “In all seriousness, I think this is a good sign.” “As do I.” Dusty glanced up from her work to regard her fellow advisor. “Perhaps Her Majesty will—” “Hold on,” Chestnut said, interrupting her and earning a frown for his troubles. He ignored it and trotted over to examine the light that pooled through a nearby window. “Five minutes ago, this light fell in a slightly different place.” Dusty’s eyes widened, and she hopped to her hooves to join him. “Are you certain?” “I’ve been camping here for the past two days with little to do besides memorize the scenery,” he said drily. “I’m certain. It moved! Only about two or three inches, but it moved!” “Then that means the sun has moved,” she said as she scratched at her horn. A broad grin slowly spread across her face. “Let’s wait and see how this progresses, shall we?” Panting heavily, Princess Celestia collapsed to her knees. “Are you alright?!” Greenwing asked. He crouched down to help her back to a standing position. “Yes,” she said with a wheeze. “It didn’t—work, but—I felt it. I can do—it, now, I—know.” “I saw the sun move a little,” he said, glancing skywards. “That wasn’t deliberate.” Celestia took one final deep lungful of air before her breathing stabilized. “Until I get used to handling the moon, this will be a tiring affair.” Greenwing stepped back and waited a moment before making his request. “Now that I’ve helped you, would you tell me about—” “I must complete this, first,” she answered. “I apologize, but now that I know what I must do, I have to continue until the task is finished.” His eyes flashed, but for once he managed to keep from talking back. “I do promise to tell you everything,” Celestia said, placing a hoof on his shoulder. “You deserve that much, at least.” “I understand,” he said stiffly. “Is there anything else…?” Horn alight, the princess turned her gaze back to the sky. “I believe I can take it from here. When the moon is up, come by at your earliest convenience. However, for now, I suggest you get some sleep. You look dead on your hooves.” As if on cue, Greenwing’s vision momentarily grew dark and he nearly swooned. When he came back to full consciousness, he found that Celestia had used her wing to prop him up. Blushing, he bowed and turned to leave, but her voice halted him. “And do tell Dusty Scroll and Chestnut to enter, please. I believe that I owe them both apologies.” On his way out, Greenwing did as Celestia had asked and sent her gleeful advisors in to attend to their princess, then shambled off towards his quarters. His thoughts drifted sluggishly between memories of Princess Luna and his encounter with her sister. The lack of sleep caught up with him and threatened to envelop his consciousness even as he stood in the hallway, fumbling for the key to get through his door. Once inside, the helmet slipped from his grip and bounced on the floor, but Greenwing didn’t have the energy or motivation to pull off the rest of his armor. He collapsed onto his bed and used the sheets to wipe the sweat that soaked his mane and ran down his forehead. He turned his gaze to the room's single window. The sky slowly grew orange, and Greenwing took pride in the fact that he had played such a significant role in the crisis’s resolution. With a groan, he hoisted himself back to his hooves. Maybe I should stay up just a bit longer. I can go get the truth from the princess as soon as the sun sets… The red glow faded and darkness fell over Equestria. Light from the hallway seeped under the guard’s door, making a meagre effort to push back the murky blackness, but Greenwing’s gaze remained fixed on the horizon. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, a sliver of white crested the trees and cast its glow onto the castle. The stars began to appear in the sky, slowly at first, but more and more quickly as the moments passed. “Time to go learn the truth,” Greenwing muttered, turning to the door and reaching to open it. Why? The sudden thought froze him in place. “Because she promised,” he answered with a growl. His hoof inched towards the doorknob. Why? the dissenting voice asked again. “I can help her!” Greenwing dropped to his haunches heavily. “Whatever she needs, I’ll do it!” What can I do that Celestia hasn’t done already? This time, his eyes widened as he felt himself considering that statement. “Well, I…” He swallowed, despite the dryness in his mouth. “I don’t know.” I basically told her that she hadn’t done everything she could, Greenwing’s face burned as shame washed over him. “But I still want to know!” he said, frantically casting about for a reason to confront the princess. Bear the burden of ignorance. Greenwing’s ears fell along with his waning determination. Your duty is to protect Princess Celestia, not make her feel worse than she already does. In the end, his fatigue made the decision for him. The dejected guard slid back onto his bed and gazed out the window, where a full half of the moon now hung suspended in the heavens. His eyes squinted as he beheld what appeared to be a pony's visage, burned onto the moon's surface. When did that get there? A thrill of fear fought his crushing weariness. No, it can't be... As his eyes slid shut, the last thought that ran through Greenwing’s mind was of how, with but a single meager lesson's worth of instruction, Celestia had managed to raise the moon. And how his beloved Princess Luna never would again.