The door closed behind her. Luna's hooves softly touched the carpet as she made her way through her room. Her head was hung and her brow was furrowed. Her wings were open and hang down. Tail and mane softly followed her movement like a thick waterfall, rushing down, slamming against her neck and hindlegs.
“Your Highness!” Cloudeye, who had been standing at the table, placing a small bowl with fruit cocktail for Tiberius on it, whirled around. Her blind eyes widened. Of course she could not see her master's facial expression, but her ears had become her eyes over the years. She could hear how another body moved and therefor tell, what position the pony was in.
The Pegasus rushed forwards. “I have heard what happened”, she explained, half panicking, half worried, “This is dreadful! Those fillies, they could die. What have you decided? Are you alright?” Luna looked up. My faithful kleinsmaid. Cloudeye sometimes was like a granny to Luna. Sure, their age difference was huge and the Princess was the older, but that did not stopped the former factory worker from worrying about her well-being.
Luna lifted a hoof to silence her servant. “Cloudeye”, she said calmly, “Relax. We have made our decision. Thy Princess of the Night must search for the cure of the Nightterror.” The Princess walked towards the window and looked out. The sun was setting. Red lines spilled the blue horizon like blood. Luna's horn flared as she rose the moon. Her eyes directed themselves towards Cloudeye.
“Cloudeye”, the Princess commanded, “Take a note please.” Her kleinsmaid rushed towards the table. Luna heard her pulling drawers open, the rustling of paper, the shattering of quills. Finally Cloudeye placed paper and quill on the table. The blind mare could take notes with an enchanted quill, that was able to transform the heard words into written ones while it was dragged over paper.
The Pegasus grabbed the quill in her maw and mumbled: “Ready, Princess.”
Luna rose her voice and dictated: “By royal degree, we, Princess Luna, Co-Ruler of Equestria, Princess of the Night, Guardian of Dreams, order General Dead River, Lieutenant Cobaltwave and Standard bearer Brightwhisker to an emergency meeting in order to discuss a certain mission, where the three shall accompany us.”
“...accompany us”, repeated Cloudeye as she scratched the last words on the letter. Luna slowly turned around. “Thou may bring the letter to the Squad Houses.” The Princess made her way back to the large sofa, where she rested, when she had nothing to do. “Then thou must return to us and await further orders.” Cloudeye bowed and walked off.
Sighting, Luna nestled herself on the large pillows. They were violet and blue. The fabric felt comfortable and invented one to fall asleep, but Luna was too worried in doing so. A quiet squeak could be heard and something grey and furry climbed on the pillow as well. Tiberius ran to the Princess and tapped against her chest.
“Ah, my faithful friend.” Luna sighted and lifted her head. The opossum sat on his bum and looked up at the Alicorn, his ears perked up. He squeaked again, sounding questioning. “It has been a long day.” Luna closed her eyes and turned her face away. Her lids opened partly and a sapphire glow peeked down on Tiberius.
“I am scared, Tibbles”, Luna whispered, “My sister may have voiced her confidence in me, but still it is so much pressure. I have to find the Elements of Disharmony. Six gem stones, which are gone without almost any trace. And I do not have a long time in doing so. The longer I am gone, the stronger the disease becomes.” Tears floated down her cheek and she sniffed. “I cannot bear the thought of losing Applebloom and the other children. I do not want to fail. I always wanted to protect my nation from disaster after my time as Nightmare Moon, but now the thought of me being responsible for the Nightterror is more then I can bear.”
Luna looked up. At the opposite side of her wall hang a carpet. It showed Princess Celestia, banishing Nightmare Moon. Luna had ordered this carpet to be placed into her bedroom. To make sure, she would always be reminded about what she had done. To make sure, she would never even think about becoming a monster again.
Luna stared at Nightmare Moon's widened eyes and her twisted body as the Elements hit her. She knew Tiberius was still listening. “Nightmare Moon could only enter the dreams of ponies, because my abilities allowed her to do so. I am the one, who had created the Nightterror. Maybe not as myself, but I am still responsible for its existance.” Her head dropped and Luna pressed her ears back. “Nightmare Moon has not really been defeated. I am certain of it. The Elements of Harmony may have purified me and ripped her off my body, but that does not mean her spiritis gone. She still roams free. And she seems to still have her abilities. I let a monster escape. I let it spread Nightterror. How can I be the one, who searches for the cure? Why cann't it be Twilight and her friends? Usually they save the day! How can I, the one who makes my ponies suffer, be the lucky one to find the cure?”
Tiberius hopped on the spot between her shoulders and wrapped his tiny arms around her neck. Luna turned around. Tiberius jumped on the table. He dropped his tail in the ink and started to sketch something. Luna stood up and looked at the paper. It showed three fillies, who smiled at her. An unicorn, an earth pony and a pegasus.
Luna smiled weary and touched her snout with her hoof. You are right, Tibbles. It does not matter, that this is partly my faulth. I have to find the cure. Not only for Applebloom, but for everyone. That was the hard thing about being a ruler. You were responsible for so many lives. A hard pressure to rest on your shoulder. “We are not rulers, Luna. We are to serve, not to be served.”
“Your Majesty, Princess Luna?”, a calm, deep voice said. The Alicorn turned her head. Three Bat-Ponies stood in the doorway. They all wore darkviolet armor, the helmets decorated with spikes. A cresent moon could be seen at their collar. There were two males and one female.
Princess Luna slowly stood up. “River, Cobaltwave, Brightwhisker, please come inside”, she adressed the trio.
“You have asked for our services?”, asked River. He had been the one, who had spoken to the Alicorn mare. His coat was as grey as stones and the long, black mane hang in strands around his forehead. His Cutiemark depicted a shield which was partly surrounded and trapped by thorne whines.
“Yes.” Luna shook off her weakness and sadness. A Princess must knew, when she could be herself and when she had to act as a ruler. Now was time to be the ruler. Luna closed her sapphirre eyes. “My sister and I have come to the conclusion, that we have to find the so-called Elements of Disharmony to defeat the Nightterror”, she explained, “Celestia had chosen me for this task. She believes, that I am the only one, who is able to find them.”
Her lids shot open and Luna lifted her head. “We have ordered thou three here to help us with this task. Thou will follow us during the journey”, she ordered them.
“Your wish is our command, Princess”, River said and bowed.
“Hang on!”, Cobaltwave said and took a step forwards. He was younger then Dead River and smaller. His mane was more bushy and finer. The coat had a darkblue tone over the grey. Cobaltwave's green eyes glittered and he looked at the Princess and his companions. “You are saying that there are more then just the Elements of Harmony. Did I miss something in the history lesson?”
River snapped: “Cobaltwave! It is impolite to interrupt the Princess.”
Luna laughed softly. “Calm down, River”, she spoke softly, “He has every right to ask this question and be confused. We ourself did not know about those Elements for a long time. Our sister had not told us about until now and you all know, that she likes to keep her cards close to her chest.”
The three Bat-Ponies looked at one another and nodded in agreement. Yes, they knew of this habit. They may not served under Celestia and had sworn allegiance to Princess Luna, but they had regular contact with the Day Patrouls and therefore had heard some rumors about Princess Celestia. Not to mention that Celestia sometimes visited Luna's Lunar Guard herself. During the time, when this squad had been formed, especially.
Brightwhisker whispered: “It will be an honour to help you, your Highness.” Unlike her two male superiors the Standardbearer had a rather fair coat. It was unnatural white and her crimson eyes spoke about the fact, that Brightwhisker was an Albino. “But I would have a question.” She took a step forwards. “If we are gone, who will organize the Night Patrouls?”
The Night Patrouls were held during the nighttime to ensure the safety of Equestria's citizens. Each town with an important member had his own squad, who came out as soon as the moon shone over the land to check a certain area for dangers. Luna and her general organized this task. Sometimes the Princess of the Night even lead a patroul on her own. Both Patrouls – Day and Night – were important to ensure the safety of the citizens of Equestria. They were well organized and happened almost automatically.
River and Cobaltwave looked at Brightwhisker. The white mare seemed to have picked up a rather important topic. Three pairs of eyes rested themselves on Luna, waiting for her answer. The Princess said: “Thou hast adressed the right topic, Brightwhisker. We art sure, Captain Shining Armor will be able to organize our patrouls as well.”
Brightwhisker sighted and folded her wings. “Then I am relieved”, she mumbled.
Luna looked into her guard's eyes as she spoke her next orders: “We want the three of you to be ready at dawn. Pack your things, everything you might need. One of you also pack our objects. We shall meet at the East Gate. Thou art dismissed.”
The Bat-Ponies saluted one last time and walked out of the room. Luna watched them, until she felt something pushing at her mane. The mare looked down. Tiberius walked in front of her and stopped. He saluted stiffly and nodded. Luna smiled sadly. You are cute, my friend. The Alicorn bent down and softly patted the opposum on its head. “I am sorry, Tibbles, but not this time.”
Tiberius made a sad face and snatched her snout. He looked in her eyes and squeaked alarmed. His eyes were wide and he put his ears back. Luna sighted and her warm breath made the opposum tumble backwards. “Tibbles, this journey is dangerous”, she responded, “I do not think, you can accompany me.” The small animal turned his back on her and hissed sharply, before he staggered around and fell on the floor as if he was dead.
Luna levitated Tiberius at his tail and sat him on the table. “I am aware of the danger, Tibbles”, she responded, “And you fear, that I might not come back.” She looked the opposum in the eye. “I will be back. I promise.” He let out a whining sound and dried his eyes with a napkin.
Luna marched through her room and stuffed several objects into her saddlebags. With a fast movement she threw them on her back. “Cloudeye!”, the Princess commanded.
The green pegasus looked up and turned her white eyes towards her. “Yes, your Highness?”
Luna placed her hooves into her silver horseshoes. “While we are gone”, she explained, “we want thou to take care of Tiberius.” She looked at the opposum, which had climbed into the golden cage, in which it sometimes slept and smiled. “Make sure he has everything he needs and feels as much comfort as if it was us, thou serve. Fullfill any of his orders.”
Cloudeye lifted a brow. “Tiberius can give orders?”, she asked in surprise.
Luna walked towards the gate. “With his tail”, she explained her kleinsmaid, “He can write. Maybe not as good as me, but he can.”
The green pegasus nodded. She bowed again and pressed an hoof against her chest, an act of obedience and loyality. “Good luck, your Majesty.”
Luna nodded and mumbled: “Thanks. I will need it.”
***
The Everfree Forest covered an ernormous part of Equestria. If one looked at the map, one could see that 25% of the country was only this forest. No pony with a safe mind went in there. Yet Luna heard that some brave fools could make good money out of it. 15 bits for a Mushroomer (2 bits more, if it was capable of spitting fly agaric venom), 20 for a Wood Barker (a rather huge amount of money, if one faced the fact, that many hunters did not survived catching them) and 25 bits for a Golden Crow (who at least only went after the eyes). Still Luna could imagine thousands of places, where she would prefer being at the certain moment.
The dieing sun was painted dark red on the muddy ground. Old, mighty tree giants, which were covering the sky with their green, thick leaves, draining out the young offsprings of the sun light. Bushes and thorny Plunderwhines, which wrapped themselves around the roots, trunks and stones. There was only one small path, which had been cleaned needy and with many kinks and windings made its way through the forest.
“I have a very bad feeling about this”, mumbled Cobaltwave. The lieutenant eyed the shadows with worried eyes and twisted his ears.
“I agree with you”, whispered Brightwhisker. She was breathing in a fast and nervous wheeze. The Albino had ducked herself and peeked behind the legs of her fellow soldiers into the entanglement of branches and leaves, “I have never been that deep inside the forest. Not even for the Night Patroul.”
River rolled his shoulders. “Well, it seems like you hardly have any other choice”, he hissed. With a respectfull nodd he adressed the Princess of the Night: “Lead the way, your Highness.”
Luna looked back at Ponyville, which laid in the valley, away from the forest, in a safe distance. Lights burned in the windows of the houses. Mostly in the hospital. Her ears twitched and the corners of her mouth went down. I will be back. I promise, Applebloom. Then in a fast movement she turned around and stepped on the path. “Come. We should find some shelter before it is midnight.”
The path was so small they had to walk in a line. Luna was at the top, then River, then Cobaltwave and at the very end Brightwhisker, who flinched at every breaking branch. The trees surrounded them and dulled down every sound. Brown light fell through the leaves. The wind howled above them, making the branches hit one another. Eyes stared through the bushes.
Luna whispered: “Watch, where you place your hooves.” The ground was so unsteady. Holes would pop up every now and then and if one stepped inside them, one could stumble and even break a leg. The Alicorn's sapphirre eyes were wide. They shimmered silver. Unlike her sister Luna's body was perfect for moving in a dark area. Blue, violet and silver flared in her vision and her ears could hear the sounds of the approaching night. The howling of a Timberwolf, an owl, flying by, deers, moving behind bushes.
Thornes clawed themselves into their coates and sometimes Luna had to use a fast blast of magic to burn the scrub down. She had given orders to her guards not to touch the trees. But the diamond-like berries a Wood Barker had placed on the bark of a tree let Cobaltwave forget the warning. Luna could catch the nasty sleazeball just in time, before it could climb up his neck.
“That is one of the reasons why you should not touch the trees!”, shouted Luna. She levitated the Wood Barker in her magic and hold it so close to Cobaltwave's face that he could see the sharp teeth over the wooden lips. “Its first bite makes you feel dizzy, the second one paralyzes you and you have your full consicousness, when its whole pack satisfy its hunger with drinking your blood.” Luna dropped the nasty fellow and stomped on him, breaking his spine. “Not a very comfortable way to die.”
Cobaltwave lowered his head and twitched his ears. “I am sorry, Princess”, he appologiced, “It is just I have never been that deep in the forest. I hardly saw anything like it.”
River snorted and grumbled: “That is a reason, why we should be completley obedient to any order Princess Luna gives us. It might just save our life in the process.” The general looked at his lieutenant, who dropped his head and hang his wings.
Brightwhisker softly stepped between the three. “We should not forget”, she said, “that Cobaltwave is rather young for a lieutenant and this is his first really important mission. I think, he is just nervous. And River, do not pretend you are not. I have seen you looking over your shoulder like three times already. There! You are doing it again. That is the fourth time.”
Luna rustled her wings and her guards looked at her. “I am not angry with Cobaltwave”, she explained, “He just has to be careful. You all have to be. Now come.” She peeked up between the branches in the hope to see the moon. But the felty, thick, darkgreen leaves smothered all silver light. Luna only had her inner clock. She slowly started moving after saying “The night won't stay young forever.” and the Bat-Ponies followed.
But from that moment on, Cobaltwave was more careful. When River almost entangled himself in Plunderwhines, it was Cobaltwave, who pulled the general back. Brightwhisker chased a few Golden Crows away, which circled above them. Scary faces appeared in the wood. Open maws, full of sharp teeth. Fog fumed on the ground and it was rather warm.
River once again looked over his shoulder, before he trotted to Luna and asked: “Your Highness, do you have any plan?”
The Alicorn opened and folded her wing, destroying a spider web, which tried to catch her. “Twilight Sparkle told me, that the enchantress Zecora is now the owner of the Alicorn Amulet”, she told him, “I want to ask her, if we can have it. After all it is the Element of Sorcery.”
“Where does Zecora live?”, asked Cobaltwave.
Brightwhisker nodded towards a creepy, weird looking hut. It was chiselled in a large oak tree. A blue and red mask with long fur hang over the door. On the long branches hang several small bottles. “There”, said Brightwhisker.
River put his ears back and growled in mistrust. “How can we trust that enchantress?”, he asked, “This looks like a gingerbread house trap to me.”
Luna shot her general an enerved look. River was completley loyal to her, that was true, but he hardly trusted anyone. Except for his squad members. The blue mare responded: “Twilight Sparkle is her friend and therefor I trust her.” Luna slowly stepped towards the house.
Cobaltwave rubbed his neck. “We are being watched”, he stated.
Brightwhisker turned around. Her small face shimmered with worry and symphatie. “Cobaltwave, are you sure?”, she asked, “Maybe you just sense Zecora or another animal.”
The blue stallion shook his head and twisted his neck as if it could help him. “I still feel something.”
Her amber eyes rolled ennerved and she sighted, looking up. “Cobaltwave, don't be ridiculous!” Brightwhisker stepped by his side and she softly pushed him towards the house. “Now, come. The others are waiting.”
***
Cobaltwave had been right. They were being watched. But not by someone in the forest. No, the watcher was far away and looked through clouds, through sky and through space. This long distance was covered by the pond, which laid at the side of the moon, which constantly laid in shadows. The Dark Side of the Moon. The gap between reality and imagination. A simple place, where dream creatures could hop into the real world and vica versa.
The pond shimmered silver and showed Princess Luna, Cobaltwave, Dead River and Brightwhisker in front of Zecora's hut. It could even transport the words into this strange place, but they were a faint whisper, one could only understand, if one bent down and looked close at the surface.
At the shore of the pond stood a black mare. Her mane and tail, black and purple shimmering mist, danced around her. Fog fumed around her legs. The only clear thing in her long, small face were her eyes. Two ovals, cyan and turquoise with a slit-like pupil. The glance was cold and mean. It told how much this mare loved to controll other ponies and understood their minds and soul. But most of all it showed her mercyless behaivour through all the suffer.
“Finally!”, hissed Nightmare Moon. Her eyes rested on the surface and her nostrils flared as she snorted. “I was getting impatient.” So impatient, that she had even played with the thought to kill one of the foals over night so Celestia had even more pressure and send Luna on her journey. But at least the Sunflower had throw Luna out of Canterlot Castle and begged her to search for the Elements of Disharmony. The first step was done. Everything was going like she had foreseen it.
Nightmare Moon had seen Discord during the meeting out of the corner of her eye, hiding in a tree, disguising himself as one of the branches. But she had pretended that they were alone and made an even greater dramatic entrance and behaivour to the Nocturnal Children then she usually did. All in front of Discord's eyes. Nightmare had been sure, he would tell Celestia and Luna. Maybe in his own way, but the Sunflower would have figured it out anyway. She was smart after all.
They were nothing more like puppets to her and Nightmare Moon held all the strings. They were the pawn in the chess and she was the player. They all moved like she wanted them to. But now it was time to add a few more figures to her game, figures of her own.
“You have called for me?” Out of the shadows a grey pegasus with a cobaltblue mane stepped. The mare in the silky, violet uniform immediately fell on her belly and pressed her ears against her head, when Nightmare Moon rested her glance on her. She shifted her wings. The feathers rustled at the movement.
“Yes, Amentia”, the mare explained and with a nod of her head gave the Shadowbolt the premission to rise. Nightmare stepped towards the pond. “Our sleuth dog is on its way”, she explained, “I guess, we should bring him some hounds to keep him moving.”
Amentia trotted by her side. “So?”, she asked.
In a calm movement of her head Nightmare Moon looked at her and explained: “You and your brothers will follow her. Get someone to keep track of her. Also try to find the Elements on your own.”
Amentia's eyes widened in surprise. She tipped against her own chest with her hoof. “Find the Elements?”, she asked, “How is that possible? I thought, only Luna can find them.”
Nightmare Moon snorted. “Nonsense!”, she declared and made a smacking sound with the tip of her wing, hitting Amentia's flank, “Anypony, who is truly evil in his heart, can find them. And since you were born from evil, this should be no exception to you.”
Amentia bowed. “Of course, mother”, she whispered, “We will do our best.”
Nightmare Moon stared coldly at the pegasus. “If you fail”, the dark mare growled, “I know the soul, that will travel down my throath. I guess, you know it as well.” She turned her back on Amentia and trotted around the shore. “There will be no mistakes! We have waited for this chance way too long! You are dismissed.”
After the Shadowbolt took off and disappeared, Nightmare Moon looked back into the pond. On the clear surface Luna's laughing and cheerfull face could be seen. The dark force smiled. “Yes, little Princess”, she whispered, “be a good sleuth dog and lead me to my prey.” Nightmare Moon lifted her hoof and eyed the shadowy fabric and the fog, which danced over it. This waiting would be repaied. Finally.