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// Devotion 
// Story: Excerpts from the Luna War 
// by Sapare 
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Slow and cautious knocking drew my attention away from the map I had spend the last hours looking over, or at least pretend to myself to be doing so.  Finding my surrounding to have changed not at all over the last hours my heart sunk only more, there were still splatters of blood and dead ponies laying across the tavern floor. Even the owner had not been willing to face the actions that had happened here, and everywhere else in this city. Without a word I shake of the feeling of despair and rose from my seat, dragging myself to the door and heartlessly open it, coming to face with an orange Pegasus who looked not much better off then myself. His feathers and mane were in tethers, his expression one of complete uncertainty mingled with fear, his voice was shaken as he addressed me.

"My Sir, the Queen has requested your presence at her throne room. She asked me to escorted you there --"

Taking a deep breath I stepped forward, pushing past the Pegasus and looked up at the sky, taking in the surreal nature of it, not a pony in Equestria would be able to feel save under it's alien nature. It was neither day nor night, it was a soulless gray that seemed to glow with a slight hint of blood red.

"I won't have any problem making my way there on my own." I said, looking back, over the Pegasus and into the tavern. "I want you to find some help and..." I fell quiet, the uncertain eyes of the expectant pony looking at me, and me looking in shame at my own work. After a silent moment I pointed a hoof at the door, and the chaos inside.

To my pleasant surprise the other pony seemed to have understood and nodded quickly, hurrying off to find himself some help with the newly assigned task. Leaving me free to turn away from the horrific sight, and instead to face the ruined city instead.

Its buildings were intact, its citizens alive, and yet... our souls, our morals... dead.

As I made my way across the streets, passing fellow soldiers and Luna supporters I did my best to break my mind from the thoughts that had been haunting me for the past day.  My thoughts however would not leave me be, and time and time again I came to the same realization. What I had done would forever be remembered, by me, and everypony in Equestria.

Finally, I shook my head and raised my head, focusing my eyes on the sky, the never ending twilight reassuring me. What I did was for the good of Luna, and Equestria, what had to be done.

Holding to my new found faith I made my way up the steps of Luna's palace. The guards looked at me for only a moment before wordlessly opening the doors, allowing me to step inside.

In a stark contrast to everything else, this palace was perfectly clean and tidy, the red carpet between my hoofs warm and soft. Slowly I followed it, each step bringing me closer to the pony I had devoted my life to.

At the end of this silent walk I found two open doors, and past them the Queen of the Moon. Sitting on her throne, her gaze focused on me.

When my eyes met hers something stirred inside me I had never before felt in her presence, fear. She said nothing, and yet her silence told me all I had to know, she wanted me to step closer. My body struggled against my orders to move closer, as if suddenly the goddess I had been willing to die for had become a wild beast to be kept at distance. But soon I overcame myself and my hoofs carried me forward, I lowered my head and hoofs, bowing to her.


With less distance between us now, I could see more clearly what had made me react to strangely to her. Her form had subtly changed, her face elongated, her body grown to be more then twice the size of a pony. Her coat now a pitch black and her mane and tail strangely translucent, shifting and swirling around her as if with a mind of their own. And the eyes, gleaming with such determination and dominance that it petrified my body.

As I stood there, frozen in place and holding my breath, I tried to understand why her appearance would change as it had.. It is true that there are only two known alicorns, and both hold powers and secrets non of us can fathom, it is why they are gods and not ponies. But never had we seen our queen change shape, never had we known she could. Her voice too had changed, so when she spoke  a chill ran down my spine, no warms and compassion, but instead cold steel like strength, and a hint of sorrow.

"We owe to you not only our freedom, but also this throne. However, with our victories comes a great price, for us and everyone who follows. You can already see the change that has befallen us, but the same hideous darkness has taken its toll on all ponies in this city, they just do not understand it yet."

There was a heavy silence as those she let me dwell on those words, wondering what she meant, and yet full knowing the answer. Doing my best to break through the weight her gaze brought on me, I raised my head tall and looked back into her eyes.

"We did what had to be done, what would in the end be best for all Equestria. You know this to be true my queen! Our actions might have destroyed the innocents of ponies, but if we had not acted so much more would be lost."

Luna's gaze did not waver, but I could see that she was truly surprised by my determination. A small smile spread across her night black face, acting like a light in the dark. Her voice too had subtly changed, some of its warms returning.

"Your faith in our cause, and your queen, is heartwarming even to a goddess who feels cold as the night. However, you must understand that I did not chose to change in this way. This conflict has brought to light a side even I fear." and as she said that, for one moment I could see in those eyes terror, uncertainty. "Part of my mind is no longer my own, it thinks alien thoughts and have alien desires... that day.."

The tall and twisted representation of my queen stood up from her chair, and trotted toward me, bringing her head to the height of mine, and speaking in a serious tone.

"By the time we win, I might not be the pony you or any of them first set out to protect and support. I might be worse then any Gryphon or Dragon that has ever terrorized this land. You would have to live with having brought my a tyrant to the ponies of Equestria. Do you really wish to take that chance?"

At first her words seemed almost silly to me. Yes, her physical appearance scared me, but she was still Luna, the loving goddess who protected her ponies every night, she would never harm us. And yet, as the time passed and the seriousness of her expression stayed, I knew she was truly scared of this outcome.

But she was my Queen, and I had gone so far for her already, to turn back now would betray everypony who had risen to protect her. No, if we backed down now, the other races would take advantage of Equestria's weakness. Without Luna to protect us, Equestria would fall. She is our goddes, and if we can't trust her, then there is nothing we could trust. Even though I spoke with honesty and faith behind me, my voice was notably shaken as I bowed to Luna once more.

"If that is what we have to do to protect the ponies of Equestria, to keep you in power, then I am fully willing and able to take that risk. Everything you have done has been for our good. You might think yourself a monster, but I know that in the end you could never bring harm to those you love, us, your loyal subjects."

For a moment I was unsure how Luna had taken to my words, for she did not reply at first. But then, to my surprise and disbelieve, she places her muzzle to the top of my head. A sign of care and affection, normally withhold to those that we hold dear in our heart. She then just as wordlessly withdrew her muzzle and turned to walk back up the stairs to her throne. Still bewildered by her action I quietly watched as she sat down and nodded at me. Her terrifying form suddenly looking so much more familiar to me. Her words boomed with determination and purpose, a desire to see this through.

"It is time for us to bring an end to this, to meet and confront my Celestia."