//------------------------------//
// War of Shadows - Chapter 153 
// Story: Diary of the Night 
// by CalebH 
//------------------------------//

I watched your parade. From the city gates to the castle entrance your victorious army stretched. Side by side our guards marched under your victorious banner and in the center of it all you were there. To your right was our nation’s new prince and to your left the grisly trophy that was once Queen Chrysalis. You cleaned her up no doubt, wiped away the blood and put the corpse in a time bubble so that it wouldn’t decay. After all trophies are best seen and not smelled. Those that look close can still see the splintered spear coming out of her chest.

Despite what you may think of me I am not ashamed of how our subjects cheered at the proof of her death, I am not ashamed of you. Yet I must wonder if it were any other city but Canterlot, so eager for vengeance for the sake of their bruised pride, would you have been greeted by anything but a stunned silence. 

As distasteful as I find it, war is necessary. You have done well.

When your chariot finally reaches the castle you leap off to me. I cannot honestly recall the last time I have been on the receiving end of an embrace. From the shocked expressions around the courtyard I glean that our subjects cannot either. 

“Our subjects are safe, may peace see them to prosperity,” you whisper in my ear.

The soldiers, as they are now, wait patiently at the banquet hall for you to lead them in. I did not skimp. The finest feast Equestria has seen in centuries is laid out for the victors to enjoy.

I hope you will excuse me for not joining you, I know how much you want to see my moderation overcome by drink, but the parade is not finished. The supply train rolls carefully in and the soft moans of the wounded fill the courtyard.

A former guard of mine, Morning Star I believe, stands wide-eyed and helpless to the side as the infirmary staff bears the wounded inside. I follow. Again and again he braves the wrath of the nurses to hover fretfully over a stretcher. An hour passes and still they do not see to the small still form that fills it. 

I do not know why I hid when you entered. The nurses find somewhere else to be and Morning Star falls into a fitful sleep where he sits beside the cot. You walk amongst the wounded and the tragic dead. Believing yourself unseen you pause to bless each with a kiss on the forehead. 

Morning Star stirs when you when you approach the cot he watches over. You pull back the sheet revealing one of the few night ponies. She stretches and tries to rise. Before you stop her I see a bandaged leg come out from under the sheets. She will be lucky to walk again.

Outside we hear the bumps and rumble of furniture being carried through the castle. A green Unicorn I do not recognize looks in. I can see the realization on his face, perhaps this was not the best place to ask directions. Before he can return to the hallway he catches your eye.

It is a sister’s place to laugh as you try to summon one you so obviously know without advertising that you do not know his name. Do not whip your head around so quickly, you may injure yourself.

“Come, subject,” I call to him. “What is your name?”

“Cross Circuit, Princess Celestia,” he says bowing low.

“Cross Circuit this is my sister, Luna.” Ah, I see he does not know your name either. “Luna this is Cross Circuit.”

The night pony cannot help but laugh either it seems. “Moon Shadow,” she says as she leans up to bump hooves with the unicorn. A grimace of pain halts the gesture and Morning Star comes awake with a start.

Unasked and unmindful of anypony else in the room he helps her settle back into the cot. 

“This is Morning Star,” She says, the pain still driving an edge in her voice. He looks up in a daze, seeing everypony else for the first time. “Morning Star, that’s Cross Circuit.”

“Heh, so that’s your name.”

For a few moments silence falls over the room.

“I guess I should give my resignation now,” Moon Shadow says breaking it, “I won’t be much use in a fight anymore.”

“I’m afraid that won’t be acceptable. Your training is far too precious to be wasted upon a mere injury.” For the briefest of moments I think you cruel. “To a pony your comrades simply let me win and my new arcade will not be a place of unearned victories.”

Your laughter is the first to break the tension. I take my leave as the rest join in. For a moment I feel a taste of the jealousy that brought you so low. I am a stranger among my subjects who know me only by my crown. The same subjects who laugh and share the warmth of friendship with you.

You will go with them and enjoy your new toy. You will laugh and play far past the time you should have been abed. Tomorrow you will be overtired and grumpy like the child you have earned the right to pretend you are.

I love you sister, and seeing you among friends I come to realize that I have never been more proud of you.

Please, please know that.

The Crystal Empire has returned. I have already sent Shining and Cadence to defeat the slaver king. You are not to follow, I will not lose you to his darkness again.

C