//------------------------------//
// Chapter one: The Moons shadow 
// Story: The Lockseed's curse 
// by Equestriasservant 
//------------------------------//

Princess Luna sighed as she strode down the darkened corridor of Canterlot castle. The guards stood slightly straighter, their golden armor clanking slightly with their movement. She nodded grimly at them, attempting to preserve her rapidly falling mood. Why couldn't Equestria's problems be more trivial like courtroom matters? No, they had to be much, much worse than that. First, her Nightmare Moon problem then the return of that irritating mix-and-match creature Discord. Yeah, those were the problems Equestria had to face. It was never ending. Now this...Luna sighed exasperatedly as she rounded the corner towards the main throne room. Pausing for a second Luna changed her course and pushed open the huge double doors. They swung open with a loud creaking noise that echoed throughout the long empty halls. Luna smiled slightly as she made her way through the hall down towards her and her sisters' thrones. The stain glass windows cast flickering spots of light along the floor and walls. She grinned slightly as she looked at several of the images, such as the bearers of the elements of harmony taking down Discord, followed by them defeating Nightmare Moon.

"I was wandering when you'd get here my lady." Luna flinched slightly as the deep voice sounded right behind her. The princess turned her head lightly to see the Unicorn half hidden in the corner, standing behind her. His sleek, black fur had rendered him almost invisible, due to the long shadows filling the hall. The only thing that actually gave away his position was the blackish crimson mane that ran down to his back. A long grey cloak covered the unicorns body pooling on the ground around him. Piercing ice blue eyes shone out of the shadows. Luna turned towards the unicorn and smiled albeit a slightly forced smile. "What's wrong?" The unicorn asked coldly, tilting his head to the side with a small smirk, showing his pearly teeth. "I didn't scare you did I my Lady?"  Luna gave a soft huff of annoyance.

"You know as well as I do that it is not polite to sneak up on an unsuspecting pony, Shadow." she said coolly. The unicorn snorted indignantly, stepping out into the light. Up close, Luna could now see the dark bags under the Unicorns eyes. She shook her head in annoyance. "It really doesn't do you any good to stay up night after night for me, Shadow. You need rest." Shadow rolled his eyes and gave another snort of indignation. 

"I'm sorry you have so little faith in me My lady Luna." He said grinning. His voice was soft, but warm, with a fruity tone to it. He stared straight into Luna's eyes, her shining blue eyes meeting his cold blue ones. One full of quiet amusement, the other, full to the brim with sobering ice. Shadow shook his head, giving a short bark of laughter. "Yeah, Luna, see, you seem to get on alright with no sleep every night so I don't see what your excuse is." Luna chuckled softly, turning away from Shadow and making her way over the two thrones at the end of the giant room.  Sitting down upon the smaller of the two, she fixed the stallion with a look.

"Anything to report Apprentice?" She asked. Shadow shook his head looking slightly annoyed before replying, in what was clearly a tone of anger:

"No My lady, there's no trace of them anywhere. The riders are nowhere to be found." Shadow paused for a few seconds before continuing, "There again, there's nothing to suggest that the riders are to blame for the...agitation." Luna frowned, gazing at Shadow with such intensity that the dark furred unicorn shifted slightly from hoof to hoof. She sighed slightly, standing and pacing about in front of Shadow. "Luna...."Shadow said tentatively. The night princess turned to look at him again. Shadow grimaced for a second as though chewing something particularly unpleasant. "Don't you think it's time that we told Rainbow and the others about..." Luna sat back down in front of her apprentice and mirrored his grimace.

"My sister does not think the time is right to tell the Element bearers about it. She does disagree with us whether it is time for the truth to come out." Luna nodded at the questioning look that Shadow directed at her. "Yes I do agree that we should tell them about it but our hooves are tied." Shadow nodded in understanding before rocking backwards on his hooves. Luna smiled at him. "I know you miss Twilight and Rainbow Dash but you must be patient Shadow. The time will come for you to reveal yourself to them again." Shadow grunted angrily.

"I...miss those girls." He said standing up. Luna smiled and stood too.

"I know you do Shadow. Get some rest. We'll have a long day at the gathering tomorrow." Shadow nodded with a wry smile before moving away from Luna and beginning the long march back towards the double doors. Just before he reached the halfway point of the room, the unicorn turned back to Luna, who had still not moved from her throne.

"Luna...Is the driver still safe?" He asked. Luna nodded with a grin.

"Yes. Safe under Lock and Key Shadow. Good night."

Good Night Princess