Hazel soared zig-zagging through the wooden labyrinth the trees of the Everfree Forest were forming. Successfully dodging the thick trunks that appeared in front of his face, he flew on ground level, leaving a small trail of whirling dirt and dust behind him. He tilted his body perpendicularly to the ground to avoid the danger of getting stuck between two especially close standing trees.
Diving into a narrow corkscrew, he broke the surface of branches and leaves and took a look back into the direction he just came from. The fact that he could neither spot the multi-spectral dot, nor the remarkable amount of energy that followed it, assured him that he was secure for the time being.
Despite the consequent darkness, he could see just as well as if it was the brightest of days.
This was already the third time they had come too close to him. It was notable how well they were keeping up with him, though it was obvious that he could outrun them with ease. The eternal night was to his advantage at this point because of the color of his body and because he never left any evidence of his existence.
That fact put him even more into a state of admiration for their persistence, as they had already managed to catch up to him twice. Up to this point, the interval between them coming too close and him calling it far enough was constantly decreasing.
Suddenly he felt how his left wing was falling a little limp and the force of gravity was tugging on him with double the power. He knew the signs now all too well. His body ached for relief.
But he wasn't at the end of his self-declared mission. Not yet had he found what he was searching. And before that, he wouldn't be able to show his face to Applejack.
Slowly gliding down in a spiral, his hooves set on the ground. Hazel stretched out the antennas of his mind and scanned his environment for the closest pony. Not that far away he sensed the only life-form that was suited for his kind of needs.
With a creak, the door to the small shed swung open and the tall figure of a white pegasus entered the only room in the tree. Hazel dove into the all-surrounding shadows and hid himself with perfection that came from decades of practice.
There he sat and waited for his victim to follow in as well.
Not long and the silhouette of a mid-sized mare took her steps into the dark shed. She walked over to the huge pot in the middle of the room and pulled out several glasses and other tubes out of the saddlebags that hung from her sides.
The pot had already been filled with water and from Hazel's point of view, he could see how the pony emptied three of the glasses into the brew. What came out seemed to be all but leaves and little straws, but as soon as she dipped a jellylike substance into the brew, the fluid began to effuse a soft, comfy green light that illuminated the whole room.
Masks, carved from a foreign kind of wood, with colorful paintings and strange expressions hung from the walls. A set of ingredients, from simple chamomile to leaves and grasses Hazel hadn't seen in any book ever, stapled finely in labeled glasses among other tools in high shelves that varied both in size and color.
The light from beneath set the face of the mare in a spooky sight, the shadows under her eyes large and the coloring of her fur gave the whole thing a surreal touch. What surprised Hazel the most were the black stripes on her otherwise white coat, which he had although caught a light glimpse off in the darkness before, but had turned it down as a mere trick of light.
From his place in the ever vanishing shadows he eyed the owner of the house carefully, and rummaged in his brain where he had seen such a strange pattern before. Then it hit him: This mare in front of him, with the Iroquois haircut and the rings around her neck and foreleg, was a zebra, inhabited in the great plains of Zebrahana, as he had read in one of the books in the Canterlot archives.
The zebra set the bags into one corner of her home and strolled back to the stew, her earrings and other attire jingling in the silence of the room. Suddenly she turned around and looked right into Hazel's direction. She squinted. It was impossible for her to see him, of that he was sure, but somehow this mare seemed to have a seventh sense, because she slowly started to walk into his direction.
''What is it that we have here, a late night guest, I have to fear?''. The uncommon stressing she put into her speech was the last indicator for Hazel that she was not from this realm. A grin appeared on his face and he revealed himself before her.
''A late night guest indeed, but not one you have to fear''. A quick moment of surprise let Zecora stumble back a few steps, then she tilted her head and slowly brought her face close to Hazel's. ''A handsome face that you have there, quite enticing for any mare.''
Her muzzle drew ever closer to his, already feeling his hot wet breath on her lips, as she took a last peek from under her nearly closed eyelids. Suddenly, the looks of pure terror were emblazoned on her face, as she saw the shining aureate glaze, that burned into her head.
''Why is it that you are here, in these woods, so dark and drear?'' With every word she spoke, Zecora took another step away from the golden-eyed menace in her home. Hazel followed slowly, taking one step for every two that she made. Zecora quickly came back to the wall, her gaze wildly flickering through the air in search for an escape.
''You are not normal, I see. Fewest ponies can manage to withstand my charm, but even in your case it is to no avail.'' Before she could react, Hazel had gripped Zecora's chin and raised her eyes to his, letting his Incubus-charm roll over her with merciless force.
The legs of the zebra gave in and surrendered herself to the hurricane of pleasure that unfurled throughout her whole body, starting in her head and downwards from there. ''Don't worry, you are going to enjoy this, I promise.'' Carried by this silken voice, she slipped into the gloomy realm of blissful unconsciousness and just let it go.
When he felt how the mare fell limp in his arms, Hazel's last thought dragged him to another mare and the sting of remorse made him grit his teeth. With a last look at the heavy breathing zebra, he sent one last word into the void of the night.
''Forgive me, beloved.''
The clopping of silver shod hooves on stony ground sent an echo through the now even darker halls of the beautiful Castle of Canterlot. The moon let the tainted glass shine in an unnatural light, and the shades that the flowed from the windows set the walls on the opposite site in a bizarre mixture of colors.
Luna had flipped a hood over her dark blue and violet maned head as she once again cursed the royal formalities of hoof-wear. The blue alicorn hurried through the hind parts of the castle, where most of the staff and several chambers that held all sorts of tools, which were used by said staff, to keep the castle perfectly clean, were located.
The princess rustled her wings and pulled the cloak she had swung over herself tighter to her body. Because of recent declares from the new ruler, all guards were to report her every move. The cloak she was now wearing was of almost pure shadows, a remnant of her youth, when she would not give anything about any instructions her sister gave her, and instead stroll through the city whenever she wanted to. The cloak hid her presence from any viewers, as long as they didn't look too closely.
Eventually, she arrived at the door she had sought for: the entrance to the Canterlot Dungeons. With a crime rate close to zero, and Hazel's excellent job, the prison was a mere decoration for visitors, as they had only held three prisoners in the time when Luna wasn't banished to the moon and none was ever imprisoned during that time, as her sister had told her. Now, however, they held a pony captivated.
Luna breathed deeply before she opened the door without a sound and slipped through it. Despite her abilities when it came to seeing through darkness, Luna lit her horn and illuminated the corridor ahead. The stairs winded down in clockwise route, and Luna began her descent into the far below cells.
She advanced further, only accompanied by the dull humming of her spell and the clapping of her horseshoes on the ground. Finally, she made it to the prisoner's wing, another long dark corridor, which, contrary to the castle, was built like a trefoil, with one room in the center, from which three sells stood in the rock of Mount Unicornia, and between the space of every room, there were four more rooms with eight cells each.
Luna stood in the central chamber and looked around. Her gaze wandered over the doors and the portals that led to the other chambers. She had been down here two times last week, but every time she would just walk back up to her room and rest. It was like something inside her was rebelling and forcing her to retreat whenever she came near Celestia's door.
But not this time. She would go to her sister's cell, break the door open and free her from her stasis, then unite with her and pulverize this rotten pile of scum that now sat on the throne.
The chambers with the cells were labeled with numbers and letters and Luna knew exactly where her sister was being held captive. She took of to the door on her right, which was called 'C'.
How fitting, C for Celestia. I have to keep in mind that I kick Amaimon's butt for that when all of this is over.
She grinned grimly and proceeded her walk into the dark.
When she had brought Celestia down here, she was under Amaimon's influence, as he had clouded her mind and made her a will-less slave of his, and it was only for her extreme skill of mind manipulation, that she could retrieve the tiny little splinter of memory, that led to her sister's prison.
The last door on the right, that was her goal. There, Celestia would lie on the ground, her hooves loosely on her side, her beautiful mane a mess of pink, cyan and feint yellow around her head and her wings covering her, as her eyes would be closed and she breathed in a steady rhythm.
At least Luna thought it would look like that. She had never seen the interior of the prison cell herself, as that was what fled her memory. She closed the door behind her and took the first step into the corridor.
The first two massive oak-wood doors, reinforced with thick metal bars, passed to both of her sides. Luna was determined to rescue her sister this time, she mustn't fail, she knew it. Setting her steps firmly onto the icy floor, she passed on.
The second pair of doors were to her flanks.
Poor sister. Hold on, I will soon be by your side and awaken you from your sleep.
She was halfway between the second and third doors when a sudden thought struck her.
I wonder, after all this time where she had brought both day and night, wouldn't it be better for her to rest for a while? So she can fully recover?
Luna's steps brought her past the third cells.
Now that I think about it, for a thousand years, she must have barely slept, her duties as the only ruler of Equestria in addition! Wouldn't it be heartless of me to disrupt her well earned sleep? It's not like I couldn't handle keeping the moon up for a little while.
The dark blue alicorn had arrived before the last cell on the right. It didn't differ from the others in points of looks, but Luna was so sure to find her sister behind it. She raised a hoof.
I've come this far, I have to free her now! Then, she will return, send the vampire into Tartarus, and bring the sun back, so there will be light again for all her subjects.
Luna faltered.
Her subjects. As long as she is there, I can never make them see how beautiful my night truly is. The fewest will acknowledge the wonders that lie behind the thousands of stars, or the soothing moon. You can't look directly into the sun without getting blinded, but the moon heals sorrow.
She withdrew her foreleg.
Now I can show them what beauty lies in my nights! They will see just how great it is to be nocturnal! And furthermore, I finally get to spend some time with them! I always envied her for how our subjects loved and respected her! Now I can get to enjoy their company, too!
With a last look at the door, Luna grinned and turned around, wishing her sister a wholesome sleep, and getting back up the way she came down here.
The door clunked shut as Luna arrived at back in the hind wing and closed the entrance to the prisoners' tract. She pulled the cloak back and sighed. Her gaze wandered over the ostentatious windows to her right and followed the lines where two shrapnel of tainted glass had been melted together.
''You tried it again, didn't you?''
Luna's heart nearly skipped a beat. She turned around, but couldn't see anything aside the wall and the empty corridor. Her gaze flickered and she tried to make sense of the voice she had just heard. Suddenly, she felt a light touch on her back, in between her wings, and immediately, said wings shot up.
Her left wing, however, was held down softly by a leather-gloved hand. Luna's sapphire eyes met blood red ones, as well as a dispraising shaking of a head as she looked into Amaimon's face. What was he doing here? How did he even know she was- Wait, if he had the same powers as his brother, then of course he would know.
Luna stuck her wings back to her back and straightened up. Even if she had been caught red handed, she could at least keep some dignity to herself. ''So what if I had?'' She raised her chin in a manner only royalty could do. He should know just how much she despised his presence. By the stars, she wanted to punch him for every hair that grew on his head! Every word he spoke raised the urge to kill in her. Oh, if only she wasn't so weak!
''Well, it wouldn't matter anyway, you can't reach her, might as hard as you tried.'' He turned around and waved a hand over his back, a clear gesture that he didn't care whatever she was doing. Luna clenched her teeth; this was a humiliation she had never had to experience before. ''Oh yeah? What makes you so sure about yourself?'' Luna shouted angrily at Amaimon's back.
Suddenly, he was right there in front of her face and stroked her cheek tenderly with one finger, tracing down the outlines of her cheekbone and ending up with a small snap at her chin. ''Because-'', he said, the whiff of a snicker in his voice, ''-you simply lack the willpower to do so.'' He turned around another time, tousling her hair with a slight breeze he produced, lightly spreading his own wings.
That was the last straw. Luna's horn flashed in a bright blue and her figure vanished. She reappeared from Amaimon's side and let her hoof fly into his face. Amaimon on his part simply grabbed it midway and pushed the blue alicorn back.
Gaining her balance again, Luna started for another punch. This time, she began swinging her hoof back and let it shoot forward, seemingly striking the air. When she was in the middle of the punch, her horn flashed again and she appeared in front of Amaimon, her hoof striking true this time.
He stumbled back and held his nose with one hand, pressing his thumb firmly against one hole, which oozed small drops of blood. Luna grinned. ''What about my willpower now?''
Before she could even form a straight thought, like a lance of pure ice, a mental spear pierced her mental wall, digging itself deep into her brain. Luna pushed as hard as she could, focusing her mind on one single thing, a song, or better, a lullaby her sister had often sung for her, ignoring Amaimon's fearsome presence.
The sweet tones of Celestia's voice floated through Luna's whole being, but the sting of the vampire's attack wouldn't fade. She clenched her teeth and shut her eyes, blinding out any environmental influence that may distract her.
Suddenly, the intensity of Amaimon's slamming against her mental walls ebbed down to a bearable degree. Luna wouldn't fall for it. Hazel had used this technique often to give her a false sense of security, but as soon as she had lowered her barrier, he had struck quickly and taken her out. Of course, that was only a light sparring; against Amaimon, she had to not make any mistakes.
With a sharp hiss, all the air in Luna's lungs fled her as she fell to the ground, her forehooves flailing in a weak attempt to achieve any lucky hits. Of course, luck wasn't on her side, as always. She felt a huge weight pressing on her chest, and for a moment, it was impossible for her to take breathe again. Panic built up in her and her focus was nonexistent.
In the beat of a heart, Luna was completely disarmed, lying on the ground, frozen to the floor, only able to move her eyes. Eventually her breath settled. Then, she felt him. Like a cool stream of water, Amaimon's being spread through Luna's mind. He was cold, smooth, but not unpleasant. More like a relaxing and revitalizing bath after a hot day.
With the might of his mind, Amaimon forced Luna to lie still, not able to use any magic. He strolled through Luna's memories, like a foal would go on an exploration-tour through the homely kitchen, scratching at points of her foalhood that seemed to waken his interest. The time when she had risen the moon for the first time without her sister's help, her nightly escapes into the forest and at last, the time with Hazel and her banishment to the moon afterwards.
When Amaimon saw the more delicate memories, his thoughts seemed become a bit tainted, like something had stung him, and immediately, he retreated. With an expression that showed not a single emotion, he looked down on her, his foot on her chest, as he towered over her, standing by her side.
''I admit, I underestimated your skills quite a bit. But what I meant was, that you can't free your sister, because I don't want you to, and because of that, you don't want to, either.'' Luna could only cough.
''See, I put a little trigger into your head when I sent you to lock her up, and whenever you come near that cell, you will lose any desire to see your sister. It's foolproof.''
With that, Amaimon set his heavy foot off her chest and started his way back wherever he was going to go. Luna lay there for a while, unable to stand up. It was hopeless, no matter how she looked at it, the vampire had won. Sobbing quietly, she let the feint light of her moon bath her in silver.