Sky Dancer lay on her bed. Now that the moon rush was gone, she’d had time to reflect on things. And, truth be told, she wasn’t sure she liked where her mind was going.
Her ears flicked up at the sound of somepony approaching. “I hear big stomping hooves, so Red Hoof, if that's you, go away; I'm really not in the mood to chat.”
“'Tis somepony much larger, Sky Dancer.”
Hearing Luna's voice, Sky Dancer jumped to attention. Sure enough, the lunar princess herself stood in the doorway, closely followed by two Lunar Guards that she had seen around but whose names escaped her. They bore a large cask of some unknown liquid, and judging by the sound it made (and the strained expressions on their faces), it was quite full.
“Your highness!” Sky Dancer sputtered, flushing bright red with embarrassment. “I didn't mean to insinuate... nothing against... I didn't mean...”
Luna laughed lightly. “Peace, Sky Dancer. I know you meant no insult. It was your first fight, was it not?”
Sky Dancer nodded.
“And tell me truthfully. How do you feel?”
Sky Dancer averted her eyes. “I don't know. I'll never be able to forget what I've done, will I?”
“No. Never.” Luna's voice grew quieter. “And it is far worse for us who have all eternity to reflect on the lives we've taken.”
Sky Dancer looked up, meeting her princess's gaze. “Does it ever get easier?”
“A little bit. It is like sexual intercourse—the first time is a mixed experience and mostly displeasurable, but it gets easier over time.”
To say that Sky Dancer was shocked that such a thing had come out of Luna's mouth would have been the understatement of the month. Her expression reflected that—until Luna laughed. “Oh, that never ceases to amuse me... three thousand years and that joke has not gotten old.” She settled down on Sky Dancer’s tiny bed. “No. That is what this is for.” She jerked a hoof at the large barrel suspended between the two ponies.
“For?”
Luna turned to pour a drink and levitated it over to Sky Dancer. “To remember... or to forget. I have yet to decide which is better.”
Sky Dancer drank. “It has no alcohol,” she mentioned.
Luna stifled a chuckle. “Do you think I would have my Lunar Guard parade around drunk? Just drink slowly. It helps, I promise.”
Sky Dancer did, and somehow, she felt better. It was crisp, cool, and tasted of apples, but with much more flavor and intensity.
“So how did you two get stuck carrying that?” she asked.
Too late, she realized that they did not want to be asked that question. The stallion shook his head quickly, and the mare turned and bitterly muttered something under her breath.
“What was that?” Luna asked playfully. “I don't believe she heard you.”
Both answered in a slow monotone. “A violation of rule thirty two, subsection fifty five, article b; which clearly states that post-conflict celebratory coitus is not to be commenced until both participants have been completely cleared from duty.”
Sky Dancer cocked her head.
“We were banging on the clock,” Stone translated.
“Oh. Ew.”
“Why is that always everypony's first reaction?” the mare grumbled.
Sky Dancer answered instantly. “Because the clock is in the commons, and you shouldn't be doing that out there.”
Stone grinned in spite of himself. “I like her. We should keep her.”
“Keep her we shall,” Luna said pleasantly. “But now we must leave you. There are others who faced war for the first time, and I must visit them before the griffon ambassadors arrive.”
Sky Dancer frowned. “You’re expecting griffon ambassadors?”
Luna could not keep a devious smile off her face, and her body shook with suppressed laughter. “In a manner of speaking.”
* * *
Griffon ambassadors entered the throne room, standing proudly and tall. Their angry expressions meant this was not to be a pleasant meeting.
Celestia set down her scroll. “Ah, yes. I've been expecting you.”
They did not bow, an expression of derision not missed by Celestia. Nor by her guards. They scowled and shifted, readying themselves for anything.
“We have come to demand compensation! Your sister slaughtered an entire village and over three-fourths of our army!”
Celestia's eyes twinkled playfully. “Ah... I was under the impression that she had flipped a coin for every death. Statistically, that is but half of a village.” Her eyes narrowed again, the playfulness in her voice vanishing instantly. “As opposed to the village of Riverton, whose inhabitants were slaughtered completely by the griffon invasion.”
The lead griffon ignored that barb. “Irrelevant! Our griffons are without defense! Unguarded! Exposed!”
Celestia nodded. “True. Griffons are, however, much tougher than ponies, and are quite able to handle themselves. Nevertheless, if the griffons indeed need such help from the ponies, I would be more than willing to provide a detachment of Solar guards to your lands.”
A young Solar Guard tried his best to not make a noise, but he did let out a tiny snort of laughter at the offer.
The griffons fumed and struggled to maintain their composure at the backhanded offer of help. Celestia didn't show her smile, but that little “snrk” was the very reason she had requested such a young guard in her throne room today.
“I do appreciate your efforts,” Celestia continued, “but under Royal Edict number 334b, the Separation of the Powers of the Sisters, which was enacted almost two thousand years ago, I am powerless to fulfill your requests, as I am not the one with whom you need to speak. Perhaps you would like to meet the one responsible for such atrocities?”
* * *
They headed down towards the dungeon, the path marked by Solar Guards every hundred paces. As they descended, the griffons grew more nervous. Griffons don't like being underground.
Celestia hid a smile as they arrived. “Right this way,” she invited, opening the door.
Beyond the door, there was a circular room, large and made of stone. It was surrounded and guarded by what could only be called a legion of Solar Guards, and an even larger army of torches that made it bright as day. Celestia led the griffons towards the middle, where a black alicorn lay stretched out on a table, held down by rows and rows of golden, pulsing chains. They snaked around her body, and each hoof was wrapped tightly and chained to the wall, held there by thick reels with earth ponies at the wheels and at various places on the chain to keep it steady. Pegasi stood next to chains that looped around a gear system, providing extra leverage to be used for restraint. Nightmare Moon's mane was a solid steel-blue, and it hung limply, without magic. A glowing magic suppressor was attached to her horn by thick bolts, and it was almost as thick around as her hoof. Her regalia and armor were missing, and without the scowl on her face she looked… tired, and young, like a lost foal. She almost looked innocent.
“This is the one you must seek retribution from.”
“She's insane,” one griffon said, unsure if he referred to the sleeping Nightmare Moon or Celestia.
“Oh, Luna,” Celestia called. “You have visitors.”
The black alicorn's eyes snapped open, revealing slitted eyes. Her mane poofed out, recharging with magic. It flowed, a starry midnight black, a stark contrast to the well-lit dungeon. Her eyes narrowed. “I told you never to CALL ME THAT!” she roared, straining against the belts that held her down. Unicorns flared magic and the golden chains pulsed quicker. Pegasi picked up the chains with their mouths, ready to fly.
“Oh, calm yourself,” Celestia said. “These noble ambassadors have come to speak with you.” She took a respectful step back.
Nightmare Moon's eyes flicked wildly around until settling on the griffons. “Ah... I warned you about setting hoof in our lands again, didn't I? Now, only one question remains: How would you like to die?”
The griffon leaned in. “You really don't have much of a choice, now, do you?”
Nightmare Moon smiled... and then swung her hoof into his head with such force that she ripped the reel off the wall and jerked the earth pony guards to the ground. She swung at the other, but by then the solar guards had descended. Rows of earth ponies grabbed the chains and pulled with all their mighty strength, pegasi pulled up, unicorns flared magic and the golden chains began to glow steadily, sapping her magic energy. Her hoof and body slammed back into the restraining table.
“Lucky little birdie,” Nightmare Moon hissed, writhing against the chains. Her body twitched and squirmed in fits of rage, and some of the earth ponies began to slide on the ground under the stress. She began to stretch towards them.
Celestia stepped protectively in front of the griffons and cast a protective wall. “Perhaps we should continue this discussion some other time?” she suggested.
The griffons began to back away slowly.
With a sudden snap, one of the chains holding a front hoof down broke. Nightmare Moon quickly shrugged off the remainder of those restraints and used that free hoof to relieve herself of the chains on the other. Unicorns swarmed the area, but she lashed out with the strength of a madpony, hooves flying wildly and—more often than not—connecting solidly with armor.
The griffons decided to flee. Celestia had never seen griffons move so fast.
Wrenching herself free from the body chains, she flew up into the air... only to be tackled by Celestia. The two alicorns crashed into the ground, with Celestia landing on top. The two locked horns, spewing fiery threats and insults.
“The destiny of the Night is in my power!” roared Nightmare Moon. “A new era approaches!”
“You will never rule Equestria!” Celestia hissed. “You couldn't then, you can't now!”
“You are a weakling and a figurehead, nothing more!” her sister snarled, gnashing her fang-like teeth ferociously.
“You are a mockery of all I hold dear!” Celestia retorted.
A Lunar Guard entered the room and coughed politely. “They're clear of the line, your majesties.”
Neither alicorn moved or reacted to this news; they just continued yelling.
“You always take the last slice of cake!” Nightmare Moon accused.
“You always eat the most of it, anyway!” retorted Celestia.
“You leave your toothpaste uncapped!”
“At least I use toothpaste, oh empress of bad breath!”
“I know you do! I find it splattered all over the mirror and you never clean up after yourself!”
Both princesses paused, and then Nightmare Moon burst out laughing before slowly shrinking back into the much friendlier Luna. Celestia lifted herself up and held out a hoof. Luna accepted it, still laughing uncontrollably.
Celestia said, “I do believe that went better than expected.” Well, that's what she meant to say. But what came out was, “I do believe... th.. snrk!” as she couldn't help but join in. Some of the guard kept stoic expressions, but others couldn't help it, either.
Suddenly, Celestia gasped and leaned over, grabbing at a spot on her ribs. She winced in pain and hoped her sister hadn't noticed.
“Celestia? Are you ok?”
Celestia blinked, and for a second, Luna thought her pupils looked slitted; but when she opened her eyes again, they appeared normal. “Don't worry, Luna, I'm just f̶ine.”