*Warning* To truly grasp the entirety of the next chapter, I suggest you read the story "Celestial Bodies: Followers of the New Moon", written by me and posted here: Followers of the New Moon
It is 1100 words long and establishes a few things, but is not required.
Self indulgent? YES! I admit it!
Also: You may want to skip the intermission, if you do not like Sparity.
You have been warned!
The moon had a rainbow. Luna had put a lot of effort into this particular night. The two visitors could see that and appreciated her lavishness.
They had arrived at the gates of the royal palace and were immediately welcomed by two members of the night guard. Now, the figures were led through the halls of the royal palace. Both had expected to be greeted in the throne room, but for some unknown reason, they ended up in front of Luna’s private quarters.
“Here?” the taller unicorn stallion asked his protectors. He earned a nod from one guards and a snicker from the other. Quietly, the night guard left the two alone.
Now they were standing there alone.
One of them was a robust looking, green earth pony with a scarlet mane and tail, both kept short and practical. His cutie mark depicted a red apple with little horns. Additional to two heavy saddlebags, he had a suitcase on his back, but didn’t seem to feel the weight.
The other was a tall, slightly lanky unicorn with a dark grey coat and a jet black mane. Beneath his eye was a big spot of white flesh, probably an acid-burn scar. His tail was cut short and his mane combed back, making him look a bit like a vampire-pony from an old movie. He was wearing a surprisingly thick scarf for the season and two smaller saddlebags. His cutie mark showed a huge mushroom inside a distilling flask. Sometimes his scarf seemed to shift on its own.
“She summons only the two of us, asks us to bring all we need for a week long stay and she even makes a romantic rainbow around the moon... And now we are supposed to meet her in her... bedroom?” the unicorn stated nervously.
“Maybe this is the reward for our loyalty?” The green earth pony stallion next to him said sheepishly.
“She would never...! Or would she? These blood moon stories seemed a bit lurid? And I have never heard about a rainbow-moon.”
“You are a stallion under the hoof, boss.” The earth pony grinned.
“I was not thinking any of that! And I prefer the phrase -to be spoken for-!”
“Yes, she does tell you most things you do...” his friend teased.
“In any case... let’s knock and then... tally ho?”
“You WOULD die for the princess, boss!” the earth pony added and rolled his eyes.
“If anything happens in there, I WILL die for her... Diamond Shadow is a secret agent” the unicorn swallowed “They will never find my body.”
The door opened as the taller stallion raised his hoof. Quietly, the two entered the absolutely dark room.
“Oh, loyal followers! My dear cultists! We were expecting your arrival!” Luna spoke from... somewhere. The room was filled with ornate furniture, high windows and tapestry. All of them filled with lots of surface to make for a great echo. And the princess hardly ever used the royal Canterlot voice with her cultists, so you couldn’t just talk in the direction the cyclone came from.
The cult leader took a few steps in the direction, he thought the voice came from and hit his shin hard on the coffee table. Dignified, he bit his lip until the pain dissipated and kneeled before the starry mane of his princess.
“My princess, we are here to...”- “You are talking to the window.” Luna interrupted his greeting.
“Oh, excuse me, I can see three starry surfaces and I just took the one to the left.” The cult leader apologised.
At the same time, the other cultist hit his head on a statue.
“Say, my princess, do we have to keep the light off? We common ponies can’t see as well in the dark as you.”
Another groan indicated that his friend had hurt himself again.
Luna rubbed her forehead.
*This is why Nightmare Moon worked alone!* went through her head and with a glow of her horn, several torches flared up.
The cult leader was currently facing a tapestry, depicting the night sky and his friend was trapped between Luna’s coffee table, a lector and a statue. His knees were bruised and he was shivering, half expecting the furniture to leap and attack.
Luna herself was standing in front of her bed.
*No! She worked alone because she had nobody to follow her!*
“What is thy bidding, my princess?” both stallions asked in unison and kneeled down.
“There is a very important task ahead, my beloved followers!” Luna announced proudly “A task only you two can fulfil! You have earned yourself this honour through effort and loyalty and we are delighted that you followed our call! We have made preparations, so you can be absent from your daily work. You shall have the honour to work for me and me alone over the next week! But enough of this verbiage! We have a busy week ahead of-“
“I’M SORRY PRINCESS! I CAN’T DO THIS! I LOVE HER!” the unicorn suddenly wailed and started cowering, both forelegs over his head.
Luna raised an eyebrow. “We assure you that you will have ample time to spend with agent Shadow. But your princess needs your assistance! In the name of redemption and maybe even love!”
The grey stallion sobbed loudly, while his friend couldn’t wipe the grin off his face.
“For you see, we have set a plan in motion to remove my sister from royal duty!”
“OH THANK GOODNESS!” the cult leader exclaimed and drowned out his comrade’s silent curse.
“We are not taking over!” Luna stated firmly, giving the grey unicorn a stern gaze “We are happily ruling with our sister now!”
“I told you, princess, I am over it!” the cult leader assured as he got back on his hoofs and sleeked back his mane “Sheesh... You form a Nightmare Moon cult and attempt a hostile takeover ONE TIME...”
“I overheard agent Shadow saying that you still mumble about endless nights and ponies appreciating fungus-cider in your sleep. While I have ordered all surveillance spells off, I can’t help but think that you are still a bit bitter.” Luna added.
“Surveillance spells?” the earth pony asked, while the cult leader’s cheeks flamed red.
“Of course! How else would she know what he mumbles in his sleep?”
The earth pony was about to answer, as his mouth was shut by a white magical shine.
“SURE! Surveillance spells! Not because we live in the same house and especially not because we sleep in the same bed and do things that would be considered immoral for ponies out of wedlock 1000 years ago!” the cult leader stated loudly, his horn glowing almost as white as his toothy, fake grin.
“Anyhow: The goal of this endeavour is to allow Celestia to have a simple vacation! To ensure this, I have rerouted all emergency routes. All except one!” Luna explained and pointed at the green earth pony “This is where you play your part: Red Devil Apple!”
“Just Red, Princess, please." The stallion intervened.
“Red, you will travel to Ponyville and visit your relatives there! You will keep your eyes open and inform us of any dilemma in the town before it reaches Celestia! Her contact is the dragon Spike, who lives in the library! We will equip you with a magical mirror, so you can stay in permanent contact with us!”
“I will follow your order, princess, but do you really think that this is necessary? I mean, it is just one week.” Red asked, while scratching the back of his head.
“Have you seen the statistics? Dam breaches, vehicles out of control, the town hall falling apart! And that is only the not-magical part! The place is a disaster, even without Discord around!”
“Cousin Big Mac mentioned something like that in one letter...” he admitted.
“Here is the mirror.” Luna said with a smile and levitated the object over to her new agent. He caught it and gave her a wry look.
“I will have to answer to some strange questions if they find this...”
“I assure you that no pony who doesn’t know what to look for will understand it.”
“No, it’s because it’s a powder and rouge box...”
“Yes, we had to improvise, sorry.” Luna admitted with an apologetic grin “There is a manual inside.”
“Anyways, I will gladly do your bidding!” Red stressed as he put the box into his saddlebag. He quietly added: “Especially if it involves eating Granny Smith’s pie!”
Luna gave him a proud nod.
“Let me get this straight, princess!” The cult leader intervened “You are placing a sleeper agent!”
“Basically, yes!”
*THUD*
“Did he just... swoon?” Luna asked perplex.
“You have to excuse the boss, princess. He gets a bit overeager when you do something intimidating, sinister or something is cute...” Red sighed “But that’s why we love him!”
The princess’ eyebrows rose as the stallion got back to his hoofs. “You may depart, Red.” She announced “Tickets for the train will be provided by the guards.”
Red nodded, gave a deep bow before leaving.
As he was gone, the princess turned towards the cult leader.
“I will be honest: Red’s part of the mission will be much easier than yours. I can trust no other pony with this. Nopony but you is loyal to me and me alone.” Luna sighed and gave him a slightly sad look “Even my night guard is recruited from the palace guards. You are the only one who would go against Celestia, but not me.”
The unicorn nodded grimly “I will do my best, princess! Just tell me your plan.”
The moon princess nodded and began: “I have used the belladonna spiked shampoo, you supplied me with, to fabricate a little accident.” She stopped, trying to swallow the shame. “I pushed a statue into Celestia’s way, bruising her eye and defacing her for the time being. Then I talked her into taking a break. She is currently being visited by her personal student.”
“You used the stuff to poison Celestia... and poke her in the eye?”
“Basically, yes.” Luna sighed, feeling another crack of the imaginary whip.
“Please, carry on...” the unicorn suggested, having a hard time to suppress a grin.
“Let me make this clear, Autumn Galerina! You will aid me in giving Celestia a chance to relax and enjoy herself! I take that you will not abuse this for any kind of childish revenge! I read your files. I know of your past! I know of your grudge against her!” Luna stressed, taking a step towards the unicorn “And what happened to your ancestor was as much my choice as hers!”
“My spite has ebbed, princess.” The stallion answered calmly “I am happy with my marefriend, I am the leader of my favourite princess’s followers and you consider me loyal enough to plot against your sister.” His eyes hardened “As for my ancestor: That is my burden to carry!”
The princess’s eyes softened and she took a step back. “You are not a bad pony. The cult’s goals were to appease me, plant food that could grow during the night and make the best out of something terrible.”
Autumn remained silent.
“First things first!” Luna said, returning to a serious tone “You will get a written permission to move freely through the castle. Many guards are used to seeing you, since you regularly bring agent Shadow’s lunch, so nopony will mind you walking around. I have also set up a laboratory for you. Go there and prepare these potions.”
A list levitated in front of the stallion.
“Erm... you are aware of how many laws I break by doing that?” he asked after a quick glance.
“You will brew them under royal enactment. And I think it is pretty harmless, compared to why you were kicked out of the school.” Luna added with a wink.
“You horribly mutate yourself one time!” The stallion sighed “Anything else?”
“Yes: What would happen to a regular pony that used your shampoo?” Luna asked.
“The pupil dilation would last slightly longer... and maybe a dry mouth for a little while. It should go away after an hour maximum.” Autumn answered professionally.
“Good...” Luna sighed. So she didn’t have to rush and exchange the bottles “Now go and finish the potions. Once you are done, you should go to sleep. I will have a room prepared as well. Tomorrow will be a busy day.”
The stallion nodded and gave a deep bow, before turning to leave.
“Erm...”
“Yes my princess?” Autumn asked, halfway to the door.
“Can I see it?” Luna asked awkwardly.
The unicorn sighed and turned around. “Fine...”
All four hoofs were on the ground and his horn remained without magic as the scarf suddenly moved.
Luna’s eyes widened slightly.
- INTERMISSION-
“I did not expect this from my Spikey-Wikey!” Rarity stated with a hint of shock.
Spike showed a mischievous and fanged grin. “We Dragons are a mysterious lot.” He added.
“If those are your surprises, you can count me in!” Rarity giggled.
The libraries living room was lit with many candles, giving it a dark, yet cosy lighting. The alabaster unicorn was lying on the sofa, a glass of wine levitating next to her. Spike was sitting next to her, with his own glass.
A plate of gemstones and expensive chocolates were just in reach for both of them, right next to five full bottles of wine.
“Kudos to the former librarian.” Spike said, his grin expanding “And to Twilight for unearthing them! Her pacing be blessed! Who knew that I would find this treasure while replacing the floorboard?”
“It’s still hard to believe that you have an eye for wine, sweetie.” Rarity stated, carefully sniffing on her glass.
“Alcohol doesn’t affect me. Burns up before it reaches the stomach.” Spike explained, carefully swirling his own glass. “And I may enjoy eating a tub full of ice cream at once.”
“Who doesn’t?” Rarity commented mentally.
“But I do have refined tastes too. And wine ripens much faster than gemstones.” He finished.
The unicorn rubbed her temple against Spike and took a sip. “Oh! Wonderful!” she giggled.
“Yes, that is the good stuff!” Spike replied after a sip “The princess has a few bottles of this one in her cellar too.”
“Oh, I bet, she ha... You know the princess wine cellar?” Rarity asked after setting down her glass and levitating a chocolate over to her.
“Oh, sure, Celestia and I would sometimes get together and have a drink. She got me into appreciating patently ripened things. It’s a thing we dragons and immortals bond over.” Spike explained.
“You spent time drinking with the princess?” Rarity asked, levitating her glass back to her, now that the chocolate was taken care of.
“Yeah, she was pining for a drinking buddy. And if you raise a dragon, you might as well use his alcohol resistance.” Spike added with a laugh.
And barely managed to catch Rarities falling wine glass, saving a 60 bit glass and a mouth full of priceless red.
He turned to look at Rarity, who was barely breathing and looking at him through widely opened eyes.
“Rarity?” Spike asked with worry, but the words did not reach the pony.
*He has a crush on me, he is polite, generous and all around adorable, he saved me from himself, ergo a dragon AND HE WAS RAISED BY CELESTIA, MAKING HIM A PRINCE!*
“Is something wrong?”
“Yes, but don’t mind it. Let’s finish this bottle tonight and open the second one tomorrow... at my place, over dinner?”
Rarity barely managed to catch the two falling glasses now...