The moon light caressed the walls of the hospital halls through every open and available window. The halls were devoid of life except the few who had night shift and the small platoon of 25 Lunar Guards. Dark Heart was standing stiffly, letting her eyes scan the room for any signs of trouble. She stiffened further when a small scraping came from within the room.
Her wings shifted slightly and her ears twitched. A scowl permeated her stoic features as the scraping continued. She raised the sword from its scabbard and held it forward. The scraping continued and Dark Heart went to Luna’s bedside where the noise was the loudest. She looked down over Luna’s unconscious body and saw her shining metal appendage moving. Her eyes saw each and every gear moving and scraping along its intended path and purpose. Dark Heart relaxed and placed the sword back in its scabbard and stood still in the room again.
Her ears twitched as a slight noise came from the Lunar Princess’ lips. It sounded like a moan and then a grunt. Her legs began to shake and move along the bed. The heart rate monitor accelerated its beeping and the little light sped across the screen more rapidly than before. The moon outside glowed brighter until the light was bringing near daylight to the land. Luna’s eyes shot open, revealing an intense silver glow. Silver light surrounded Luna’s body and lifted her into the air. Dark Heart threw the door open and began barking orders to those outside.
As she gave her orders the silver light around Luna’s body had intensified and became as bright as a smaller version of the moon. Dark Heart looked back and shielded her eyes before the light exploded from Luna’s body, shaking the building. Dark Heart shot backwards and slammed against the wall behind her. Her vision was filled with white and loud ringing in her ears. Her hurt ears managed to pick up a loud popping sound and her vision cleared itself enough to see Princess Celestia standing in front of her.
“What happened?!” she barked. Dark Heart stood up slowly allowing the slight throbbing in her heard to slow and her eyes to clear. Her ears throbbed and made her yelp slightly. Celestia shot around and glared at her, “what happened? Answer me Captain!”
“I don’t know, the moon grew bright and then all of this.” She motioned with a hoof.
Celestia grunted and stormed inside Luna’s room. Her body loomed over the unconscious princess and she lowered her horn to Luna’s body. Celestia’s horn glowed gold and she moved it across the body before her. Celestia stood to her full height and gave a nod of approval.
“Her magic is restored,” she said, coming from the room. “She will awaken anytime now,” she said with little relief. “I will check on her again tomorrow once the sun is raised.” Celestia disappeared in a flash of light. Dark Heart went back into the room and righted the chair that lay on the floor. She sat with a hard sigh.
2
The sun beat into the room from outside through the closed and torn curtains. The rays accumulated in the sleeping princess’ eyes, making her eyelids quiver. Her eyelids shook open and her pupils shrunk from the sudden on pouring of light. She opened her mouth but no words came and she could only feel a dry and scratching throat. She breathed slow and methodical breaths to minimize the pain in her throat and allowed her eyes to roam. The left side of her vision cut off everything on that side, while the right came in clear and crisp. She tried to lift her head to no avail and instead opted for a loud groan.
Once she had adjusted to the light in the room and her vision being only on the one side, she allowed herself a better look at the room from her bed. Bleach white walls, grey ceiling, red bed cover and monitors and wires running from her body to these machines. She sighed as she realized where she lied. Her eyes shifted to a figure sitting in the corner of the room. She looked at it as closely as she could before opening her mouth to speak. She formulated words but they came out quiet and guttural. She tried again only for it to happen again.
A knock came from the door and Luna’s good eye focused onto it instantly. She watched as Dark Heart opened it and saw a doctor and Celestia come inside. Dark Heart bowed and stepped to the side. The doctor held a clip board in his magic and flipped through some pages while Celestia simply watched. The doctor nodded and left the room. Celestia’s horn lit and the chair that Dark Heart had been sitting on previously floated over to Luna’s bedside. Celestia dismissed Dark Heart and sat in the chair beside her sister.
“How are you feeling?” Celestia asked. Luna tried to answer but her voice had still not recovered. Celestia nodded knowingly and ignited her horn. A golden aura surrounded Luna’s throat and remained after her horn had stopped glowing. “Try answering now.” Luna’s throat tingled soothingly and she tried to speak again.
“I feel like a train ran me over,” Luna answered, the magic channeling her voice directly from her voice box. She chuckled slightly and Celestia also let out a light giggle. “What did the doctors say?” Celestia mood visibly changed and Luna began to get nervous. Celestia told her everything that they knew about her condition.
Luna was dejected. She could feel the tears beginning to fall and she looked up at her sister sniffling. “Now the ponies will only hate me more,” she cried. Celestia looked at her sister with pity. “They were afraid of me before, and now, they will be terrified of me.” She continued to cry. Celestia remained silent while Luna balled.
“They will be frightened at first but they will come to love you again,” Celestia said. Luna continued to cry. Celestia sighed and stood up. “Look at it this way Luna, with your magic restored you will be able to leave sooner than the doctors had initially believed.” Luna nodded, still allowing herself to cry at the news of her condition.
“Wait.” Luna said, before Celestia could leave the room. “What of Volos? Did you find him yet?” Celestia tensed and growled quietly to herself. She put on a small smile and faced her sister.
“I have ponies looking for him. He will be found, don’t worry.” Celestia said, almost too cheerfully. Luna nodded, and closed her eyes, smiling. Celestia scowled and felt her anger rise in her chest. She turned and left the room, a fire raging in her breast. She saw Dark Heart standing outside the door standing at attention. “Get back to your duties,” Celestia commanded. Dark Heart saluted and reentered the room.
3
Luna heard the door open close once and then again. The spell on Luna’s throat was beginning to fade and she called out to Dark Heart. Dark Heart jumped in surprise and went to the bedside of the Princess of the Night. She stood at attention and saluted, even though Luna’s eyes were still closed. Luna smiled lightly in her feigned sleep.
“At ease, Captain.” Dark Heart relaxed and looked at the Princess. “I have a job for you and you alone Dark Heart,” Luna said through the fading spell. “This does not leave this room, understood?”
“Yes princess,” she replied quietly.
“Go to the ruins that the Solar guard found me in and go down the metal shaft. Go inside the room and say that I sent you.” Dark Heart’s face shifted into questioning. “A creature called ‘Volos’ should reveal himself to you. When he does, tell him…” Luna nodded Dark Heart closer and whispered into her ear. “Go at night, and if the Solar Guard tries to stop you for any reason, I authorize you to use lethal force if necessary, but only as a last resort. Understand?”
“Y-yes princess.” She saluted. Luna ignited her horn and summoned a quill and parchment and began writing on it slowly. Her head throbbed and her eyesight flittered between clear and blurry. She grimaced as she finished and rolled up the scroll giving it to Dark Heart with her magic.
“Tell Volos to stand in the center of the parchment, it will do the rest. Get going, captain.” Her breathing had become quick and slightly labored. Dark Heart saluted again and left the room, the scroll tucked under her wing.
4
The moon was high and bright. The wind ripped around Dark Heart as she approached the ruins of the ancient castle. She could see faint glowing in the distance as she flew over the Everfree forest. She descended on the outer rim of the destroyed castle. She crept along, hiding behind fallen walls and any piles of rubble she could find on her way to the infamous metal lift shaft. She rounded a corner and found a large campsite around the perimeter of the hole. Small camp fires flickered, casting light and shadows around the makeshift camp. Domed military tents were by each fire and one in particular had the Equestrian Flag flying on two posts on either side of the tent. She assumed that that one was the commanding officer’s tent. Her ears twitched and her attention shifted to the hole leading down into the earth. She heard the hoofsteps of ponies running around and a stallion shouting orders. She crept closer to the hole, attempting to avoid the light cast by the many fires that burned throughout the camp. She leaned over the edge of it and found a system off pulley systems running into the hole. She extended her wings and was about to jump down when she heard a stallion scream and then was silenced just as quickly as his voice had appeared.
She looked behind her and she heard rustling coming from inside the tents and she saw some of the occupants step outside rubbing the tiredness out of their eyes. She flew into the bushes and remained, observing the scene unfold before her. She saw a large earth pony stallion come out of the commander’s tent and began yelling. The others went back inside their respective tents and reemerged in fill armor. Most of the guards there were of the unicorn variety and began to latch themselves the pulleys and repel into the hole.
Dark Heart remained in the bush as the stallions that went down remained there for a time. The commanding officer stood at the entrance of his tent with a serious look on his face. His gaze never left the pulley anchors as the unicorns stood next to them with the cranks held firmly in their magical grasps. The unicorns at the cranks began to wind them back and a few minutes later the repel team came up with sick looks on their faces. The commanding officer walked up to them and one of them levitated a blood stained helmet to him. The large earth pony looked angry and began yelling orders again. All of the guards saluted and they all began to descend into the hole, four at a time.
When they had all left, a total of twenty or so, Dark Heart emerged from her hiding place and remained at the top of the hole, listening for anything. She strained her ears and could make out noises but nothing specific. Then she heard the ponies begin to yell and scream. She saw light pulsate from within the space, signaling spells being cast. She remained as the frequency of the light pulses became greater until she heard a deafening roar and the screams of twenty ponies. She remained there, too afraid to move. She heard metal scratching metal and loud thuds. She summoned up her courage and jumped into the whole, allowing her wings to carry safely to the bottom. She turned and stopped stock still, her pupils shrinking.
“Please! Mercy! Mercy!” a stallion screamed as a large beast stomped on its head, making explode into a mess of brain matter and metal. The commander was huddled against a wall balling his eyes out.
“No, stay back!” he screamed, trying to back farther away. The beast grabbed him by the head and lifted it to its own.
Dark Heart’s eyes watched as the scene unfolded before her. She could not see the stallion’s face but she knew he was scared. She watched as thick metal claws clamped down on the guard’s helmet and began to bend it out of shape. She heard his muffled screams die when his head was crushed inside his helmet. She let out a scream and shoved her hooves into her mouths as she hyperventilated, trying to keep her position hidden and recover from her lapse in stealth. She watched the beast throw the dead guard aside and turn in her direction.
Her eyes followed the beast as it walked over to her position and look right at her. She whimpered and closed her eyes as she felt something grab her neck and lift her into the air. She struggled for breath and looked into the eyes of her soon to be killer. Their red glow unnerved her and she began to cry.
“Who are you!?” it roared. Dark Heart was stunned for a moment and began to scratch at her throat, trying to get a small grip on her captor’s claw. She felt it release a little, allowing her windpipe to expand ever so much.
“Dark Heart!” she gasped. “L-l-Luna,” she gasped, “sent me!” She felt the claw release her and she fell onto the metal floor gasping and rasping for air. She recovered as the air filled her lungs again and she managed to stand on shaky legs. She looked at the giant monster and remained quiet. She cleared her throat and took a deep breath. “I’m going to assume that you are the creature called Volos.” It nodded. “I have orders for you from the Princess. She wishes for you to return to the Castle. Her room has been arranged for you to stay in while she remains in the hospital.” Volos nodded again. “She says that you may venture out in the night but not in the daylight if it can be helped. And under no circumstances is Celestia to see you.”
“How am I going to return?” he asked.
Dark Heart pulled out a parchment and set it near Volos and unrolled it. Written on it was a circle with different lines running through it and other shapes scouring the page. “Stand in the center and it will teleport you to the Princess’ bedchambers.” Volos nodded again and turned away from her. “What are you doing?” she asked.
“Leave.” Volos went into a room behind a false wall and returned with several small square boxes. He placed them by the entrance and around the room, stepping the pony corpses that littered the floor. Dark Heart cringed as the crunching of bones and metal echoed in the room. He pressed something by one of the boxes and went back to the scroll as a red light blinked in the corner. “Found them in the armory there, you have ten seconds as of now to leave before you end up like the rest.”
Dark Heart gasped and bolted up and out of the room, flying back to Canterlot as fast as her bat wings would carry her. Volos stepped onto the scroll. Blue smoke and sparks crackled around him for a moment and a moment later found himself in a familiar room within the castle. He shook his head as the smoke and sparks dissipated. He stepped into the corner on the far side of the bed away from the door and sat down, allowing himself to shut down for the night.
Dark Heart heard an explosion.