Fallen Star

by Archangel2401

The Dream

A flash of lightning lit up the dark sky and moments later the sound of thunder filled the air. Clouds were accumulating and the wind howled like a choir of malevolent banshees, the makings of a harsh storm growing at an exponential rate. The silhouettes of two figures shown boldly against the light of a full moon and together they spun, locked in a not-so-elegant waltz of battle. Wings beat heavily, blades clashed, sparks seared off armor plates. There was another clap of thunder and the ground shuddered violently under an impact. A haze of dust rose up from the newly formed crater and the dark sky grew darker as clouds concealed the stars and rain finally began to fall freely. One pony had the other pinned in the rubble.

"You should see yourself. Do you have any idea what you look like right at this moment?" called out one voice. Male. It was so casual and yet it was seething with a dark euphoria. There was a cruel edge to his voice that was cold as ice. Cold enough to quench dragonfire but leave any who heard it burnt just as badly. The voice that replied was unusually calm, like ripples moving across the surface of water while the eye of a storm passed overhead.

"What?" This voice was also male.

"A ravenous beast. The same blood runs through the both of us. The blood of a beast who wanders, hunting for the blood of others."

There was a roar of rage that pierced the stormy night sky, drowning out even the sounds of mighty thunder and howling winds. This cry of agony was so intense that it practically tore the world asunder around it, the very fabric of reality unraveling. The sky above shattered like glass and the ground below crumbled beneath these two stallions. Darkness consumed them, thick tree branches encircling the crater. Then there was a sudden brilliant, bedazzling flash that could only be described as rapidly forming crystal. Encased in gemstone. Like a cocoon of diamond and hidden within was something... somepony? Trapped. There wasn't any way to get a better look and the harder one tried the more obscured this gemstone prison became. Abruptly a pair of eyes lit up from within the jewel capsule and a spider-web of cracks split into the gem's surface, a blinding light escaping through these deformities until the entire object exploded with energy. It was then that the Princess of the Night awoke with a start, Luna's eyes wide and her chest panting heavily while she caught her breath and fought to make sense of the dream she'd just witnessed.

She rarely had dreams of anything remotely worth dwelling on. It was generally when one of the denizens of Equestria became particularly troubled did she bother to dwell on dreams at all. To have experienced one during her own rest was highly unusual, especially since she wasn't entirely sure if what she'd seen was a dream, or something else entirely. Luna sought the counsel of her sister, Princess Celestia just before the cycle of night was to begin, though as expected there wasn't much the older sibling could say to alleviate the worry she now felt.

"I cannot fully explain what I saw big sister. You know I can enter the dreams of others while they sleep, but I've never experienced the dream of another while -I- slept..." Luna hesitated, her voice trailed off as she lowered her head and averted her gaze. She put her arms around herself though Celestia simply smiled and leaned in to embrace her younger sister, giving her an affectionate nuzzle.

"Go ahead Luna. Speak your mind." said Celestia. The dark blue alicorn took a deep breath and brought her head up.

"There's something very troubling about this... it felt as though the dream was brought to me... I was still the observer... yet it felt cold and barren, like I wasn't supposed to be there." She had briefly embraced her older sister before she'd pulled away. "You and I share the responsibility of watching over the Day and the Night... and that after you lower the sun and I raise the moon, I sometimes enter the dreams of our subjects when they become troubled. But.. for as long as I can remember there's been... an empty place here in Equestria." There was a twinge of guilt to Luna's voice as she spoke.

"What do you mean?" Celestia's eyebrow rose curiously as she gazed at her younger sister, moving to brush some of her radiant mane out of her eyes.

"A void. A place I could not go. With this dream... I believe it came from this place. This place is actually a mind. A pony whom our light can't touch. I'm sorry I never said anything, but with you and I watching over so much and so many, I never gave it much thought. I let it slip my mind..." Celestia took this information and pondered as she began to pace back and forth in her private study, flames flickering within the hearth against the wall at the back of the room.

"It's all right Luna. Anything is possible, even if it's unlikely. Though what makes you think that this 'void' is actually another pony?" Luna gave her older sister a faint, but sincere smile.

"Because of what happened... when I forced you to banish me to the moon." The two royal sisters shared an equally pained, yet heartfelt gaze as they looked into each other's eyes. Celestia was the one to look away this time, attempting to hide the dew that had formed beneath her eyes. Of course she didn't like being reminded how she'd had to banish her own sister. Luna continued to help ease the tension and show she wasn't at all bitter over what had happened.

"I would be able to recognize a lost soul, wouldn't I? I believe that it's a pony who's trapped, or imprisoned, and it feels as though it's coming from somewhere deep within the Everfree Forest."

"With the barest glimpse of a clearing amongst a tree line, you draw the conclusion it's that particular forest?" queried Celestia. Luna gave a shrug.

"It's the largest and wildest forest in Equestria. A perfect place to hide something you don't want found."

"The Everfree Forest... if this void has really been there for as long as you can remember, then it might have been there well before we built our castle there. It could be very old. Perhaps older than we are? Hmm..." The elder princess continued to pace back and forth, her voice trailing off. There was a chilling silence between the two sisters until Luna finally spoke once again.

"Sister? I know it will soon be time for the moon to rise, but don't you think we should investigate this? Prisoner or not, it pains me to think that there could be a pony who's dreams are a source of constant torment..." Celestia smiled at Luna once again.

"I agree, we most certainly need to know more. If you wish to go tonight, then I will remain on watch after you raise the moon." Celestia looked at Luna and the two sisters shared a loving smile. "As Ponyville is so close to the edge of the Everfree Forest, I am going to notify Twilight Sparkle, just in case. She just returned from a rather interesting adventure." The Princess of the Sun chuckled and glanced at a scroll that lay open behind her.

The slightest of pouts broke through Luna's royal demeanor. Did Celestia think she couldn't handle this on her own? It was because of her negligence that this void, this pony remained lost to them for so long. It was her responsibility, no, her obligation to make this right. As these thoughts ran through Luna's head it was as if Celestia could see them flurry in her sister's eyes. The white alicorn gave her blue sibling a warm smile.

"I have every confidence in you Luna, I only feel Twilight should be informed in case this turns into something that may threaten Ponyville, or any other part of Equestria. Her ability to take in and disseminate information may prove invaluable in an instance such as this. I'll let her know you're coming." Just like that it was decided and Luna nodded her head in reluctant agreement.

"I... I know. I just... I can't help but feel this is a failure of mine, having dismissed it for so long... that it's -my- fault, my responsibility to set this right, that's all. How will you notify Twilight Sparkle? Will you send one of the Guard, or send a message through her assistant?" Luna turned to the door and stretched her wings widely, giving them a flutter before folding them neatly again.

"Please don't berate yourself Luna, if anything you should be cross with me for not noticing at all." Luna peered at Celestia curiously who gave a comforting smile and it seemed to have the desired effect of lightening the mood. "I don't think we should alert anyone unless absolutely necessary, not until we know more. Twilight and Spike will show the utmost discretion."

The two sisters nodded at one another. Celestia began working on a message for her faithful former pupil and newest Princess of Equestria. Her horn radiated magic and a quill appeared, pressed to a scroll of parchment for her to scribble away on. It only took a few moments for her to finish the message and Celestia rolled up the parchment. With a flash of magic the note sealed itself and vanished, off to be delivered. The younger sibling had moved towards the door but lingered, just in case there was anything else. It would be a few moments until the silence was broken.

"Sister? is there something else? Something troubling -you-?" inquired Luna, noting the look of deep thought spread across her sibling's face.

"Hm? Oh, it's likely nothing. Though this does coincide with an occurrence that has just been brought to my attention. A shop broken into here in Canterlot. The rare and expensive merchandise was left untouched, along with the shopkeeper's bits, though apparently an heirloom of some sort was taken. Something seems familiar about it, but I can't put my hoof on it... I'll have time to think on it later though, we should get to work. Be careful little sister." Celestia strode over to Luna and smiled, leaning forward to give her a hug and a kiss to the forehead.

"I will big sister. I'll get to the bottom of this and be back before you know it, promise." Luna smiled right back and returned the hug. The two siblings exited the private study together. It was time for the sun to set. Time for the moon to rise. Time for night to fall over Equestria.

Twilight Sparkle paced anxiously in circles around the map that had appeared in her throne room. The idea of having her own castle was still so strange. She and Spike had just returned from their trip to Starlight Glimmer's village when he'd let out a hefty belch of green flames, a scroll appearing from within them. Spike caught it in his claws and looked it over a moment before he'd turn to face his lavender alicorn friend.

"Hey Twilight, Princess Celestia already sent us a message. Do you think she could've found Starlight Glimmer? I wonder how she stays on top of these things..." The dragon tapped his chin thoughtfully with one clawed finger. Twilight sparkle felt her lips curl into an amused smile and she gave Spike a roll of her eyes as her horn went aglow with magic, taking the scroll from her number one assistant.

"Well, let me read it already and we'll find out won't we?" She let out a chuckle as her magic pulled the scroll open. Her eyes went left to right, top to bottom all the while Spike continued to ramble.

Dearest Twilight,

A troubling matter has come to light that may reside in the heart of the Everfree Forest. My sister Luna will be coming to meet you in Ponyville before going on to investigate. We have very few details at the present time. I trust that you and Spike will be able to help her should she require it. Also, please keep this confidential. I know this will be difficult, but I advise you to refrain from mentioning this to your friends until we know more. It could very well be nothing and I wish to avoid causing a panic that would surely ensue if world got loose, especially if it turns out to be nothing. Luna will fill you in on what details we have when she arrives.

Please take care and give your friends my warmest regards.
-Celestia-

"Spike, Princess Luna is coming to meet us..." The dragon immediately ceased his crazy ramblings.

"Now? What for? I mean the moon's just come up. Doesn't she have to do that whole 'Princess of the Night' thing?" Twilight gave Spike a flat look.

"Come on Spike. You know she takes her responsibilities just as seriously as Princess Celestia and Princes Cadence. I'm sure she wouldn't be coming here... in the middle of the night... unless it were... of dire importance..." Her voice trailed off as all the possibilities this royal visit would be bringing ran through her head.

Princess Luna watched over the night and whatever she was coming for it has to be very important indeed if she was taking time from her duty. Twilight paused long enough to peer around the empty throne room. Looking at each of the seats the castle had wrought for her, emblazoned with the cutie marks of her friends. She approached the round table where the Cutie Map of Equestria had materialized and gazed across its features. Her bright eyes wandered over each special place and she wondered how many times the Map might send her across the realm. As her eyes fell over the Everfree Forest, Twilight began to wonder again what it was Princess Luna could be looking for. As she looked away, there was a moment of hesitation that caused her to turn back and lean in closer. Maybe it was her imagination or maybe it was the dim light of the room, but Twilight thought she just saw a blank spot that had flickered towards the center of the wild woods.