//------------------------------// // Sleeping with the Enemy // Story: The Abduction of Luna // by 97xxfastbike //------------------------------// “Did you hear her scream in there?” “Are you sure she isn't sick?” “Well, she isn't feverish, sweating, or vomiting, and those are telltales for most illnesses.” “Why did she scream her name?” “So do you think Luna had something to do with it?” “I’m not sure. She was extremely disoriented, and she looked exhausted - like she hadn't slept in days.” “I mean, you normally would scream for help, or for another person, but nopony ever needs to scream their own name.” “But she has had sleep. One sleepless night wouldn't affect her like this. Would it?” “We don’t know how well she has been sleeping. Her sleep quality may have been poor for a long time, and this morning may have been her tipping point.” “She screamed ‘Silver Chalice’ and passed-out. You did hear her scream, right?” “Yes, Thunder! We all heard her scream!” It was the volume of that duo of flustered voices that finally brought Tiara back to full-consciousness. “Will you all stop yelling? We don’t need to call any attention here.” “Silver!” All three voices breathed her name like a sigh of relief. Tiara lifted her head off the grass and blinked slowly against the painful brightness of being outside in the light of the morning from the black of the cave. Somepony was smart enough to move her outside and away from Luna. “How are you feeling?” Millstone cradled her head in his hooves. “Like I haven’t slept in days.” Tiara relaxed in Millstones fore legs. “How long was I out?” “Not too long. We took longer trying to get you out of the cave than you spent lying out here.” Brass cast a nervous glance over his back and dropped his voice to conspiratorial levels. “Do you think she had something to do with it?” Tiara nodded once, "I'm sure she's the reason why I'm so tired.” “What do you want us to do?” Brass motioned with his eyes to Thunder, who was hovering between her and the sun, casting his shadow over her head. “This doesn't change our plan.” Tiara sat up on her haunch and tried to blink away the bleariness. “She’s made her move. I should have seen it coming and stayed awake all night to watch her and only slept when she slept. That will be what happens now until we get the ransom. So you two should get going.” Brass nodded once and turned to leave. Thunder dropped to the ground next to her. “So…why did you scream your name in there?” “What do you mean?” Tiara looked puzzled. “Didn't you hear Luna shout at me?” Brass whipped back around with his eyes widened in surprise. “No.” “You were the only one we heard.” affirmed Thunder. “Is Luna telepathic?” Brass asked as he moved shoulder-to-shoulder with Thunder. Tiara slogged through her mental files on Luna. “I don’t think so. In fact, there is no documented occurrence of true telepathy. If she is, it isn't a magic skill the Princesses advertise." Tiara’s eyes and ears perked up with a realization. “Besides, if she was, she would have called for help by now. So, I’m thinking that telepathy remains the stuff of fantasy novels, along with goblins, trolls, and humans.” “Then what did you hear?” Thunder pressed forward. “Do you think it was an auditory hallucination?” Brass hooked a restraining foreleg on Thunder’s chest. Tiara shrugged. “That’s the only thing that fits.” A mental picture of Luna in the cave with glowing eyes and sealed lips flashed in her mind. “I think you’re right, I was hallucinating.” “Okay," Brass nodded at Tiara and turned to Thunder. "Let’s go.” Tiara dried the last bowl from their breakfast and stacked it with the other dishes. She was never a morning pony, but her mental fog was greater than what a bad night’s sleep should produce. In contrast, Millstone had been a flurry of activity all morning. He had started the fire, cooked their meal, and was primarily responsible for cleaning up afterwards. Tiara felt that he had her dry the dishes only because she had asked to help. “Do you think Princess Luna is asleep by now?” Millstone asked her as he picked up the stack of bowls she had dried and placed them in their backpack. His question made her blink and shake her head back into alertness. She shaded her eyes and looked at the sun’s position. “Uhh, her pattern is to go to bed right after breakfast. I think it’s a good bet that by now, she is sleeping or is trying to sleep.” “Okay.” He said, although his eyes and ears darted about, chasing every movement and noise. “Then, what do we do now?” Tiara clearly saw the signs of escalating anxiety in her teammate. “Now, we wait.” She stood and kissed him on his forehead. “I’m going inside to check on Luna, and to sleep, if she is sleeping. I’ll see you in a few hours.” “Wait.” Millstone stood and trotted toward the cave. “Let me check on her first.” Tiara, puzzled, stood still with a knotted brow before she trotted after him. “Why?” He stopped with his body sideways in front of the cave’s narrow mouth, blocking any chance of her entering before him. “What if she really did attack you? What if she’s just waiting for another chance to get you alone?” He stood there breathing fast and heavy. Far too labored to be explained by the short jog. And although his eyes focused solely on her, his ears twitched nervously. Some of his anxiety she could attribute to his claustrophobia battling his intentions of entering the cave. But there was something else bothering him. “She didn't attack me, M. I simply passed-out from fatigue that was brought about by stress. I’m certain of that now.” She walked up to him, but he didn't budge. “I’m really tired, M, and I want to go to bed.” “Why don’t you sleep out here?” Millstone offered hopefully. “For the same reason some pegasii nap in trees during the day; the sun is too bright. Besides, we dyed your coat to match this rock so you could blend in, but I’m still a peach unicorn with a yellow and white mane!” Tiara chuckled. “There is no chance of me blending in out here.” He was almost convinced. She saw his tension leave his shoulders and his head start to drop, but it was reined in. “No, if you want to sleep inside this cave, I’m going to go in first to see if she’s asleep.” Tiara rolled her eyes. “Fine.” She sighed, and plopped onto her haunch. “I’ll just wait for you here then, but make it quick.” Princess Luna was not asleep when he entered the cave, nor was she lying down. She was seated on her haunch with her head held straight and upright and her fore legs spread to the limit of her chains like she was enthroned where she sat, and not chained to that spot as a prisoner. Millstone focused and went to square himself up before her. As he stood there in front of her, for the first time he noticed how much taller than him she was. If he looked directly forward on the level, he would be staring at the base of her neck. He took a moment to clear that distraction from his mind. “Princess Luna,” He said softly, but not in a whisper, “This is M.” Luna was as still and silent as sculptured marble. Even her mane seemed to have stopped its ever-present flowing in her magic current. He didn't expect to be ignored, and the anger he felt simmering deep within forced him to take a deep breath to calm down. “I want you to stop whatever it is that you are doing to Silver.” He waited for her reaction. There was none. “If you continue to attack her you can be sure that I will find a way to make your situation here become much more uncomfortable. And you can be sure that it will be much, much worse than just taking away your bedroll and replacing that studded bit in your mouth!” He stamped his hoof and its sharp report echoed all around them. Again, Luna was made of stone. The crack of his hoof-stamp bothered her less than it did the cave. The simmering anger increased to a boil. “I have time. I can tie you into a position that will be quite painful. I’ll make it so you’re forced into a crouch and can’t stand or sit. I’ll have your muscles cramping and sweat pouring off your coat. I’ll fill this cave with the sounds and smells of your torment. You will be begging me for relief before noon!” Luna remained as silent as her moon. Millstone’s vision blurred for an instant and his face grew hot at her refusal to acknowledge him. His imagination started running wild with possibilities and his rage demanded action. “I guess I’ll go start braiding twine.” He snarled, “Maybe after a few hours sweating in my ropes you will be willing to listen to a reasonable request.” He turned and stomped toward the exit. “You love her, don’t you?” It was the subject of Luna’s question more than her response that made him stop and turn back around. “I – I’m protecting my teammate. I don’t like to see her the way she is now.” Luna turned her head, and shifted her body toward him, giving him her full attention. The abrupt transition to fluid motion from her absolute stillness unnerved him. It was like seeing a lifeless statue suddenly animated. “Yes, because you love her. Am I correct?” Millstone dropped his head and bit his lip. His mind worked furiously to churn out a response. Finding none suitable, he hurriedly tried for a deflection. “Why were you ignoring me earlier?” He snapped, “I didn't think princesses were supposed to be rude!” Luna smiled. “I wasn't the one who was rude. You interrupted my meditation. And now you are avoiding my simple question.” “Well…you haven’t answered my question!” Millstone spat quickly, fearing he was rapidly losing control of this conversation. “What question did you ask that I have not answered?” Luna asked calmly, “Indeed, you didn't ask me a question when you first entered. You came in and started accusing me of attacking Silver Chalice. Even though you do not have any proof of my involvement. How would you react if I did the same to you?” Her control over her emotions was as absolute as his was tenuous. Millstone scowled. He was far out of his rodeo class with her. “Alright, I spoke too soon.” He conceded at last. “So are you saying that you have nothing to do with Silver’s passing-out and her sleepiness?” Luna took a deep breath. “There are factors other than myself that could cause the effects your Silver Chalice is experiencing. And I am in a particularly difficult situation. I have motive, and it could be argued that I have the ability, as you are not certain of your ward’s effectiveness, and with our daily interactions, I have opportunity. Therefore, if I deny any involvement, you would be a fool for believing me.” Luna explained and sighed with resignation. “It is nigh impossible for me to prove that I didn't perform some action against Silver Chalice. So what use is my denial?” “Millstone?” Tiara’s yelled inquiry from outside sounded small and distant inside the cave. “What’s taking so long?” “Urgh!” Millstone growled in frustration, “Are you going to go to sleep now, Princess?” “I am.” She answered simply, and laid down on her belly. Millstone nodded and turned to leave. “You are worthy of love.” Luna’s comment stopped him cold, right as he reached the beginning of the cave’s narrow exit. He craned his head around to see her clearly. Her head and body were not facing him, but her voice seemed to target his heart. “And you are worthy of her.” She finished after a pause, and laid her head down. Millstone head was spinning. This simple visit turned into something far, far more complicated than he could have imagined! He took a deep breath to still his nerves, and left. “There you are!” Tiara sighed with relief that was short-lived. For Millstone exited the cave in his typical hurried manner, but he brushed past her without even a turned ear to acknowledge her. If he had had his eyes pinched shut, or his ears pinned back, she would have thought nothing of it. That would have just been a fearful retreat. But his eyes were open, and his ears were forward. His slight to her was intentional. Tiara recoiled from him at that realization. Millstone would never… The spot where he had brushed her was an open wound. A wound so terrible that she could not yet feel the pain. She stared at him like she was seeing an intruder. “M!” Tiara said in shock, “What did she do to you?” He stopped and abruptly turned toward her. “Nothing,” he said quickly. Too quickly to be a completely honest answer. “She is still awake, and we talked a bit. But, she said she intends to sleep now.” His head and eyes were in constant motion, but focused on her and immediately around her. Insect-like, his eyes landed on her and flew away just as quickly, only to dart back again. “You should be able to re-enter whenever you are ready.” “Okay,” Tiara squinted her eyes, examining him. “Is it safe?” Millstone seemed to calm at once. Suddenly he was focused again and he took stock of their surroundings. “It is as safe as it can be, I believe.” He looked steadily at her for the first time that morning. “Are you sure that sleeping with the enemy is safe?” Tiara relaxed a little at seeing him return to a behavior she recognized. Still, she didn't answer his question, but instead, she rubbed her shoulder. “You bumped into me when you passed by.” She stated, letting her voice trail away. Millstone dropped his head to stare at her hooves. “I’m sorry, I hope I didn't hurt you.” “It’s nothing,” Tiara said, allowing her lips to turn up at their ends. “I was just surprised that you didn't see me.” A yawn made her move her hoof from her shoulder to politely cover her mouth. “I better get some sleep.” She used her yawn’s exit to carry her words. “Are you sure it’s safe to sleep in there with her?” Millstone said, still clearly nervous about her choice of sleeping arrangements. “Even princesses need to sleep.” Tiara said dismissively, “And I’m sure that they are just as unconscious to their surroundings as we all are when we sleep.” She yawned again, long and loudly. “I’m going inside. Thank you for clearing the cave for me, I’m sure I’ll be fine in a few hours.” “No.” Millstone shot forward to block the cave’s entrance again. “I’m not letting you sleep in there.” Tiara was annoyed, and would have been angry, but he wasn't looking at her again. His actions were just strange enough to keep her more flustered than angry. “I have to get some sleep, M!” She fumed. “Let. Me. By.” His eyes met hers. “You’re not sleeping in there alone with her.” His stare broke after he said that and his gaze flittered about her face, never quite landing on her eyes. “I won’t let you.” This was a different kind of anxiety. She had never seen him in this state. Until now, she would have sworn she had seen every color and shade of fear he could produce. However, whatever it was that he was feeling now, it was clear to her that she was unable to wipe away this new hue of his fear. “Alright,” She sighed. She was ready to do or say anything to get access to her bed. “If you want to join me, you are welcome. But, I am going to sleep. Right now. In. My. Bed.” She hoped that her demanding tone would end this discussion. She didn't think she had the energy to fight him any longer. To her great relief, he nodded submissively, but he led her inside. Tiara laid on her bed and listened to Luna’s snoring reverberate around the cave. She had stretched out on her side, laid flat on her bed with her head rolled over till it was chin-up on her pillow. Her horn acting as a prop to keep her head from flopping over. This princess, it seemed, didn't have any problems finding a comfortable position. Yet for all the vulnerability of Luna’s current pose, and despite the manacles and magical wards binding her, Tiara felt like she was making her bed in a manticore’s den. Millstone had taken his usual position next to her, and leaned his body against her. She took comfort in that. As much as it had annoyed her earlier, she had to admit that she was grateful that he had been so insistent on accompanying her. Her greatest challenge now was to somehow find the doorway to dreamland while ignoring the sounds and sensations of being in dragon’s lair! Just as she was about to give up all hope of falling asleep, Millstone lifted his head and shifted his body slightly away from her. However, before she could move or make a sound, she felt his head and neck drape over her shoulders and he sighed contentedly. This was a position of affection and protection, and he had just done it like it was the most natural thing he could do for her. Her eyes opened in surprise as she tried to make sense of this new development. She had always been the one to do the touching, hugging, and kissing to assuage his fears. He had never reciprocated, until now. Now, when she was weak and – dare she admit it - scared. Had he picked up on her fear, she wondered. Questions swirled through her mind about the implications and the complications of this act, but she was too sleepy to chase down conclusions. Tiara closed her eyes and yawned. This moment was all she could think about, and even that was becoming too much. She would think about this in the morning. No, it was morning. Later, she would think about this later, when she woke. All she needed to know now, was that he was here to comfort and protect her. And that felt wonderful. Without a conscious thought, she melted against him in his embrace, and with her next breath, she slept.