//------------------------------// // Nothing Ever Goes As Planned // Story: The Abduction of Luna // by 97xxfastbike //------------------------------// “Silver. Wake up.” A hoof settled on her withers and gently rocked her. “Siiilverrrr. Wake uuup.” The voice singsonged, bringing Tiara drifting ever closer from the tranquil ocean of slumber to the solid shores of consciousness. “Silver Chalice!” Luna bellowed her name, shocking her awake as effectively as a bucket of ice water. “One more outburst like that and you’ll regret it!” Millstone angrily shouted back. Tiara groaned and blinked her eyes to clear her vision. A hoof worked under her forelimb and helped her to stand. “Thanks, M.” Tiara said groggily to her helper, who she still needed to brace her as she staggered to her hooves. “Uh, Silver, it’s me, T.” Thunder said, noticeably concerned. “Wha…?” Tiara peered at Thunder, “Why are you here so early? “It’s evening, Silver. I let you sleep all day.” Millstone sighed like he had done something wrong. “I thought that if I let you sleep, you would be awake and alert by now.” Tiara glared at Luna, who squirmed in her place, looking painfully uncomfortable to the same degree as she was tottering in a lethargic stupor. “Princess, I suppose that you will claim that you didn't interfere with my sleep last night?” Luna turned her scowl toward her, “Thou did pay us no mind yesterday, but did assault us when we did protest against thy groundless accusations. Truly, thou hast shown thy true self, and cast away all pretense of civility. We shall not answer thee. For we perceive that thou only seeks occasion for battery.” Tiara glowered at Luna, then turned to Thunder. “Get me out of here, I need some fresh air.” Tired and hungry. That was all she felt. Although she had little problem finding the energy to eat. Tiara couldn't devour her oatmeal and pecans quickly enough. In the short span that it took Thunder to report that – in essence – there was nothing to report, she had finished her first bowl and was handing it to Millstone for another helping. “I have to admit, I’m surprised.” Tiara spoke with her mouth full and shook her head before swallowing. “It doesn't make much sense. I expected to be negotiating, or preparing for our pick-up by now. Are you sure the second ransom note was delivered?” Thunder nodded. “There is no doubt. It went to through the proper channels. The first one could have been missed, or thrown away as trash, but this one has to have been seen by a Palace official or high level aide at the very least.” “Okay.” Tiara opened her eyes wide and squeezed her eyelids shut. “We’ll wait for morning, there should be no harm. Tomorrow, I bet, you’ll see the palace alarmed. We’ll stay here and hold down the fort, while you return to Brass to observe and report. Also, I need more ointment and gauze, leaving Luna untreated won’t help our cause.” Thunder drew his head back and studied her with a pinched-together smirk. “Are you okay?” Tiara thought back to what she had said, chuckled, and then rolled her eyes. “I’ll stop the rhyming right now, I mean it.” “Anypony want a peanut?” Thunder and Tiara both glared at Millstone, who was holding out a bag. “What? I roasted them this morning. Do you want one or not?” After Thunder left, Tiara stared blankly into the smoldering remains of their cooking fire, scarcely aware of Millstone’s activity as he washed dishes and cleaned their campsite. She tried to concentrate on their situation with Luna and the ransom, but her thoughts were faint wisps of smoke that dissipated to nothing in the gentlest breeze. As the leader and decision-maker of her team, they counted on her to think about their present circumstances, consider future problems and develop contingencies for them. However, she was failing all of them in that regard. If she were able to think clearly, she supposed she would be very disappointed with her performance so far. “Silver?” Tiara shook her head and blinked, feeling like she had been sleeping and had just been awoken again. “Yes?” Millstone knelt in front of her, his face drawn with worry. “I’m fine.” Tiara asserted firmly. The left side of his mouth pulled back and his eyelids narrowed. “Okay, you’re right, I’m not fine,” She dropped her eyes and shook her head slowly. “But I’m not in any real trouble either. This is the worst she can do. Just make me a little sleepy.” Tiara sucked in a breath through her nose and exhaled. “Besides, we won’t have to put up with this much longer.” “Are you sure?” he asked, still looking skeptical. “Yes,” Tiara nodded, “but, I’m going to have to ask you to do something very difficult.” He nodded – it was that same solemn nod from last night – then he swallowed. “What is it you want me to do?” Tiara took a deep breath and held it. Millstone was looking at her patiently and expectantly for her to summon the courage she needed to ask her question. Finally, she blurted it out. “What methods do you have in mind for torturing Luna?” “Princess Luna?” Tiara called out as she entered the cave, “I’m not able to change your dressings, but T will bring more ointment and bandages for you tomorrow.” Luna didn't answer, but low marched in place, lifting each leg as far as the chains would allow, scowling. “Why are you doing that?” Tiara walked up to her. “Are your muscles cramping? “Thou needn't worry. We are alive. That is all that thee cares.” “No, Princess. You’re wrong. I don’t wish any permanent harm on you. I never expected that you would be burned by your shackles and I don’t want you to be in pain.” “Thou lies!” Luna scoffed. “If thou did truly desire what thou claims, then why hast thou done this to us?” “I told you!” Tiara replied, incensed that she had to repeat herself. “I abducted you because you treated me so badly at the Palace. You were overbearing, obnoxious, and overly critical of everything I did. Nothing I did pleased you! Whatever did I do to you to be singled-out for the abuse you gave me?” “Doth thou still believe that thou art a victim? The treatment thou received from us was well deserved! For thou treated us most cruelly!” Luna’s incredulous tone turned to bitter resentment as she shot back her accusation. Tiara stood in open mouthed shock. “I treated you cruelly?” Luna set her jaw and nodded. “And just how, may I ask, did I treat you cruelly?” “Through thy falsehoods.” “What? What lie did I tell you that is so cruel that you have justified tormenting me for over two years now?” “Do not feign ignorance! Thou knows very well what thou has done.” Tiara sat back on her haunch and folded her forelegs. “Humor me.” Luna drew a breath through her nose to keep her lips angrily pressed together. “Who. Art. Thou?” She spoke the words like they were individual, declarative sentences. “Silver. Chalice.” Tiara answered her in the same manner. “Indeed!” Luna exclaimed cynically. “If that be truth, then thou art most cruel indeed.” “How?” Tiara shook her head. “I did nothing remotely hostile to you for the first year I served at the Palace. I was a loyal servant who did nothing but try to please you, while putting up with your unreasonable actions, for a whole year. It was only after that did I give up and start plotting against you.” “If thou art ignorant of thy original insult, then thou art not Silver Chalice, but an imposter! There is no other explanation.” Luna raised up and squared her body to look her most imposing. “Give answer. Who art thou?” “Silver Chalice.” Tiara sighed and rolled her eyes. “The truth! Who art thou?” Luna barked out immediately. “Silver Chalice.” She stubbornly maintained. “Tis a lie! Who art thou?” Luna roared out her accusation fiercely. “Silver Chalice!” Tiara screamed the name as loud and as long as she could. “Hey! What’s going on in here?” Millstone yelled from the cave entrance. “Nothing!” Tiara and Luna shouted back in unison. Millstone drew back like he had been physically struck. “Okay, I was…just…checking.” He said meekly, and backed out. Moments after he was out of sight, Tiara faced Luna again. Both of them were breathing heavily and trying not to show it. Their flaring nostrils and heaving chests were physical testaments to the intense passions and powerful emotions that – to Tiara’s surprise – both of them had been trying to keep buried down deep within themselves. Of course, the most shocking revelation to her was that Luna had, from the beginning, felt personally affronted by her. That it was her perceived slight to Luna that brought on the ill treatment she received was making her head spin. “I have nothing more to say on this matter,” Tiara said calmly, “and for tonight, I will treat your pain as best as I can.” She paused, unsure of how she wanted to proceed. “Thou hast more to say.” Luna said. It was not a question. Tiara “There has been no response from the Palace to a second ransom note.” “Did we not say from the beginning that this would happen?” Luna stated the question as a matter-of-fact she was bored of repeating. Tiara swallowed as her stomach flip-flopped within her. Then she inhaled sharply through her nose, sniffling, and would have been startled at the sound, if she were not so intently focused on her captive. “You will write three letters stating that you are in our possession, and that we are holding you for ransom. I want to give the Palace proof-of-life.” “We refuse.” Luna said. “If you refuse–” Tiara stopped, unable to continue, and unwilling to form the words. Her heart jumped around in her chest, making breathing difficult. In front of her stood Luna. Princess Luna of Equestria. The Princess of the moon. The younger sister of Princess Celestia. Blinded, bridled, and bound, yet unbroken and still unyielding. The future now seemed as certain as the past. And it looked as dark as night. “Then we will begin to test your resolve.” She said at last. It wasn't what she had planned to say, but those were the only words she could bring herself to speak. Luna’s head moved up, then down. It was the nod of the condemned, who already knew their sentence, but was just waiting for the words to be spoken. Tiara stepped outside of the cave and inhaled a lung full of cold, damp, evening air scented with wildflowers, sage, and the vanilla scent of pine bark. As much as she loved it, she couldn’t enjoy it. The terrible prospect of what lay ahead cast ashes on everything and robbed her of joy. “Are you finished?” Millstone trotted up to her. Reminded of why she came out, she wiped her brow of the sweat. “Yes, Princess Luna is resting comfortably now, thanks in part to my massage and in part to the fact that she did take some more laudanum.” She sighed. “And I gave her our ultimatum. I don’t think that she is going to comply. I’m sorry.” He visibly swallowed. “It was always a possibility, I guess. Nothing ever goes as planned, right?” Her lips curled into a wry grin. “I suppose not, although, I really wish that this enterprise had been the exception.” Even as she spoke, her thoughts jumped to the final stage of their original plan, where everypony took their share of the ransom and went their separate ways to foil pursuit and easy capture. With that finale freshly in mind, she looked at Millstone. In the fading twilight, it was like she was seeing him for the first time, and everything she saw was wonderful! The first thing she noticed was his eyes, large and clear pools reflecting the moon with irises as green as well-watered meadows, and they lay at the base of his slight roman nose. His muzzle she knew was soft and velvety as it appeared, and it was one of the few places his true pale sandstone colored coat shone through his mottled gray dye. A short gray mop of his mane - that was starting to show its true rust-colored roots - topped his head between those perfectly sculpted ears. With some reluctance, her eyes left his face to explore the rest of his body, dropping to his chest, bulging with muscles from all the hard chiseling, hammering, lifting and carrying he had to do to set up their base camp. Then down to his tree-trunk like legs, that flared to hooves that had to widen to support the powerful stallion he was. It took her breath away that this beautiful pony had fallen for her. And if all went according to plan, after they equally divided the ransom she would board a boat to go to the far away land of Zebria. There, she would use those riches to start her life anew, alone, and never see him again. If all went according to plan. Tiara heaved a sigh from the depths of her soul. If all went according to plan, her new life would be just as joyless and empty as her current life. But, she wouldn't dare ask him to come with her. For she was by far the most well-known to Luna and the Equestrian Guard. The chances for her escape were the slimmest by far. Anypony caught with her would immediately be suspect and detained. No, she had to leave him. And she really didn't deserve him anyway. Tiara snapped back into the present to see that he was examining her again. A quick peek at her memory made her realize he had asked her a question. Her eyelids fluttered and she shook her head. “I’m sorry I got a little lost there, you asked me what our next step is. Our next step is for you to make whatever preparations you need to” - She paused while she thought of a soft way to say, ‘torture Luna until she cracks’. - “pressure Luna into compliance. What do you need to do?” “Nothing much. I just need to drill a hole in the ceiling, two more in the floor, and then set pins and rings in them. It should take me about two hours, but I need to get the pins and rings.” He had a practical tone that reminded her of a contractor giving an estimate for a room remodel. “Okay, it’s too late to run to a hardware store tonight,” she said, thinking out loud, “so, why don’t we just turn in now, and get started early tomorrow?” Tiara had her head draped over Millstone’s shoulders the same way he did to her. His body was so warm, and firm, and it was with great reluctance that she rose when she heard him breathing deeply, sound asleep. Looking him over appreciatively, she drew the blanket over his back and just past his withers, where she hovered, breathing on his neck and savoring his scent. A yawn reminded her why she couldn't remain in bed with him. It was her watch, and Luna was not to be underestimated at this critical time. She stood up straight and walked over to where Luna stood. “Princess, I would like to talk with you, if you will agree to whisper.” She whispered. Luna nodded. “We shall keep quiet.” “Thank you.” Tiara said, wondering if her apparent submission was a ploy, “Will you tell me why you will not write those letters?” “We have already told you,” Luna sighed, exasperated, “there will be no answer. So why bother?” “But, why do you continue to refuse?” Tiara asked, shaking her head. “We aren't asking you to lie, reveal any secrets, or betray anypony. We just want you to write three letters that tell the truth.” Luna’s jaw worked around in thought a few times. “We refuse to cooperate,” She said at last, “Despite whatever consequences thou hast planned.” “But, why?” Tiara said, pleading. “Surely your pride isn't so precious that you can’t set it aside to spare yourself unnecessary pain?” “It is not pride!” Luna said quickly, loudly, as though she had been offended. Then she took a breath and whispered. “We refuse to cooperate with thee on this matter. We shall say nothing more.” Tiara sighed, disbelieving that she could be so stubborn on such a small, trivial, matter. “Well then, would you like to play a game of chess? We never found out who won our last game.” “I won.” Luna declared. “How can you be so sure? You only had me in check, I might have forced a draw.” She said as she retrieved the game. “No,” she chuckled, “I would have had you in checkmate after your next move.” Tiara washed and dried the dishes after they had all finished breakfast, hoping that Millstone would be back soon. He had left in time to get to the store when it opened. So it was possible he was already on his way back. She was so drowsy that if she closed her eyes longer than it took her to blink, she knew she would fall asleep. Another yawn ambushed her and stretched her mouth open to its limit. Yawning was the only activity she had the energy or brain power to perform. If a squad of the Elite Lunar Guard could land at their campsite right then, the only thing she felt she would be able to do in response, would be to yawn wide, long, and impolitely in their direction. After packing up all the dishes and cookware, she turned and squinted at the sun to check its position. He should be arriving any moment now, she surmised, and got to her hooves to walk back to the cave. She wanted him back. She didn't feel safe with him gone. Her head bobbed up and down with her heavy eyelids as she walked. She was so sleepy. So very, very sleepy. “Silver? Where are you going?” The voice brought her out of her stupor. “Huh?” Tiara looked up and around, she had been walking down the forest path and not to the cave. Millstone cantered up to her. “Are you alright?” “I’m fine.” Tiara lied. “I wanted to get out of the sun.” He looked her over with a skeptical eye. “You are dead on your hooves,” he pronounced, “Let’s get you to bed.” “Wait!” Tiara exclaimed, a sudden fear gripping her as he slid his head under her to put her on his back, “Will you tell me what you dreamed, the other night, when you ran out of the cave.” He pulled back and regarded her. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,” Tiara added under his examination, “but I would like to know if that dream you had was a horrific product of your imagination, or if it was a bad memory dredged up from your past.” He said nothing, but he looked lost as he backed up to a tree and sat back on his haunch. His ears folded back and his breaths became erratic as he sat there with his empty eyes fixated on something far, far, away. “It wasn't a bad memory, it was a terrible memory.” He said quietly. Tiara immediately regretted her question. “I’m sorry, I shouldn't have-” “It was a perfect day, that day.” He spoke suddenly. “Cool with a slight breeze and a warm sun. It was the type of day that makes you glad that you’re alive.” Tiara approached him cautiously as he recalled his dream, his memory, for her. “I was graduated, and enjoying being a full-time farmer. I woke-up early that morning, and I checked on my parents, who were sick, but they were still sleeping. So I let them rest. I made myself breakfast and went to work.” He took deep, shuddering, breath. “I think I knew the truth even then, because I didn't go home for lunch, but worked until late afternoon.” Tiara bit her lip, afraid to even breathe lest she disturb him. “When I got back home, I checked on my parents, and they were still sleeping, so I went outside and…” Tears sprang forth and raced down his cheeks. “I started playing in the dirt like I was a yearling.” His voice cracked and he had to force out his words. Tiara felt tears roll down her own cheeks now, and she hurriedly wiped them away. “Spring Breeze, our neighbor, showed up then. She knew my parents were ill and had brought dinner for us. I told her my parents were resting and would she please just set it on the kitchen table. But she must have checked on my parents anyway, because she came right back out and started telling me that everything was going to be alright.” He stopped, and wiped away his tears and looked up to the sky as though he was searching for strength to continue. “She left and returned with what seemed like half the town. All of them were either crying or wearing the most somber expressions. And there I am, still playing in the dirt!” He sounded disgusted and punched the ground. Tiara sat down next to him and threw her foreleg around him. “You were in denial, and regressing to a stage where you felt safe as a response to the traumatic stress. You can’t blame yourself for that.” She said to interrupt his self-directed anger. He bowed his head. “I know,” he said without conviction, “They all seemed to know as well. Because they didn't chide me for my behavior. Some of them even sat around me.” He took a deep breath. “Then they brought out the coffins.” A dreadful moan escaped him and his powerful body spasmed. Quickly she wrapped him up in an embrace and rocked him as he sobbed. “I freaked out. I started trying to smash open the boxes so that they could breathe. Even though I knew that they were dead. All I could think about was how scary it must be for them to be in there and that they couldn't breathe.” Tears flowed freely from them both as Tiara buried her face in his mane, wishing that she could stop what she had started. However, she remembered what he had yelled that night, and knew his nightmare wasn't over yet. “Of course the stallions there had to stop me, because I wasn't acting reasonably. But all those bodies, and the restraint, and the darkness…” His voice trailed off and she squeezed him tighter, anticipating what happened next. “I panicked.” He squeaked out. “There must have been six other stallions on me, and they couldn't hold me. At that moment, I was so sure that they were planning to put me in a box like my parents. I still remember peeing myself and running away, calling for my dead parents to help me as I ran. Nopony pursued me.” She sat there, holding and rocking him until their tears dried. Then she released him. “What happened then?” She asked, knowing that his dream was over, but that the story wasn't. “They of course sent for Furrow, my brother who lived in the next town. He and his wife found me in the fields, curled up like a foal. He sat me up, looked me in the eyes, and told me it was time.” Tiara felt her eyes get wet again. “What did you do?” “I stood up and followed him to the church.” Wanting to be delicate, she pondered how to ask her next question. “Were you okay?” “Furrow had them cut out the casket’s tops to show their heads. Then he asked some of the mares to weave star jasmine into wreaths to cover the smell. He even thought to put straw pillows under them to make them look more comfortable. So, yeah, I was okay. I even went with the procession to the cemetery and watched as they were lowered into their graves.” He cleared his throat. “Furrow took me away after that. I was so numb at that time, it probably wouldn't have bothered me to watch them reseal the caskets and cover them. He told me he couldn't stand to watch anymore, but I know that it was to keep me from raising another scene.” “It sounds like your brother really come through for you.” His head looked sharply from side to side. “Yeah, well, he owed it to me.” He spat out, with his ears flattened back against his head. Tiara’s eyes went wide at his sudden display of anger and she bit her lip to keep herself from pursuing the matter. At seeing her recoil, he lifted his head and looked up toward the sun. “The Princess should be asleep by now, which means you need to sleep right now.” He stood up and held out a hoof. “Let’s get you to bed.” “I don’t want to go in there.” Tiara backed away from the cave’s entrance with her tail tucked and ice running down her back. Millstone looked back at her, perplexed. “Do you want me to check to see if she’s asleep?” She shook her head. “She gave you a nightmare from your past. I don’t want a nightmare from my past!” “But Silver, you haven’t had any dreams.” He reasoned. There was that horrible name again. “Don’t say that!” Tiara exclaimed without thinking. “I – I mean yes, that’s true. But what if she does? What if I do? I don’t want to have a nightmare!” “Silver, Silver. Calm down!” Millstone wrapped his forelegs around her and held her tight. She was on the verge of becoming hysterical. “I’m here. I’ll be right there with you. I won’t leave you alone. Ever.” He said soothingly. “I’ll protect you. You’re safe with me.” He held her until she was still. Then he led her inside and to her bed in the same way she had led him, and speaking the same soothing words that she had to him. Finally, she laid down, and he laid down next to her. “I've never been afraid to go to sleep before.” She sniffed. “There’s no need to be afraid. I’m here.” He put his head over her shoulders and pulled her even closer to him. “Now close your eyes.” Obediently, Tiara closed her eyes, knowing that she would be asleep in no time. “I never planned on being this scared.” She whispered. “Nothing ever goes as planned.” He answered. Although she had wished otherwise, she now found that thought comforting.