Chapter LXXXVII – More In Sorrow Than In Anger
Having woken up from a pretty calm day of sleep, Twilight still found her thoughts being restless and unruly, bouncing around her head from the moment her consciousness had returned. They had a good reason to be so fidgety, she would deem, as the final conversation of last night had touched upon such otherworldly subjects, that it was quite possible that it had actually been a dream.
Then again, things in the Mountain of Crescent had been progressing in such a strange way so far that there was a chance that Twilight really had enjoyed a conversation with Ivory Crescent regarding divinity, Ebony Crescent’s health... and that Twilight really had witnessed the Countess doing a quick scouting around her chamber.
What was it that she had said? That Twilight hadn’t been missing anything she would have needed? What had that been aimed at?
And why had the mare been so dismissive of her brother’s affliction?
Those were all new questions to consider, new conundrums to try and decipher. Twilight wasn’t expecting her mind to give her true rest, actually. If anything, her instinct was telling her that she was going to have more on her mind soon enough.
As it happened, the hunch wasn’t wrong, not in the slightest. The knock on her door, which happened as soon as she finished dressing up and preparing for the day, marked the beginning of the night’s challenges. Of course, thinking like that wasn’t going to help Twilight in dealing with whatever was to come, but there was little to gain from naïve optimism.
Rowan Berry’s presence on the other side of the door wasn’t surprising, though the mare’s expression was definitely a little confusing for Twilight. The healer was fighting a strange smile as she offered her greetings, even if her eyes remained keen and even concerned.
“Benu noc, hwalba knaze.”
“Good night to you as well, Rowan Berry. I take it that you bring news with yourself?”
“I do, tac, as it happens,” the mare admitted, with a lopsided smirk. “Do you remember the antas who spoke with us at the herame, Honored Princess?”
“Yes, of course, that light-maned one. Carnelian, if I recall correctly,” Twilight replied, finding herself immediately curious. “Why are you asking?”
“I knew that he was close to the haspadr and the Crescent Family leadership, but…” She shook her head. “Forgive me, hwalba knaze, but I have just witnessed some of the finest rebukes I have ever heard from an aksiosan. And he really is rhyming.”
“Oh?” Twilight expressed her surprise, feeling laughter gathering somewhere in her chest. “Who was he chastising so creatively?”
“The Count Brother,” the healer disclosed, rolling her eyes a little, though her voice hardened a bit at the mention of the stallion. “He brought your breakfast with him, quite a rich one. He must have bumped into the antas right at the spire base. We heard knocking from below, Midnight Wind and I, and went to investigate. They looked to have entered a small… feud, I would call it, before we made it.”
Twilight blinked. “An argument? Over what? Over who should come in first?”
“Yes, actually,” Rowan Berry admitted.
Well, that wasn’t necessarily something to lift Twilight’s mood, even if such a situation bordered on being comically ridiculous. Carnelian’s presence, most likely, was linked with what had happened in the shrine, which was no laughing matter. Whatever the priest wanted with her, it would certainly add more ‘unknowns’ to her mind, the exact ones she was constantly worried about.
“Should I interfere, Rowan Berry? Are things escalating?” Twilight asked of the healer, who managed to get her good humor under control, especially since she must have heard the seriousness in these questions.
“That would, perhaps, be a bit too much, hwalba knaze… but your presence might put an end to the disagreement before the Count Brother sweats through another set of clothing, or the antas decides to leave in indignation. After all, it did look like he came with an urgent matter, considering his insistence and going against even Ebony Crescent’s wishes,” the mare shared her observation. “Besides, if the Kwadriu tradition stands, it is you who can make the final decision considering access to this spire.”
That was a fair point, and despite feeling a little overwhelmed right at the start of the night, Twilight realized that she could have at least some modicum of control over the upcoming challenges, already mounting in front of her. However, before descending down the stairs to play an arbitrator, there was one more matter to ask about.
“Rowan Berry, if I might inquire about something. Regarding last morning?”
“... yes, hwalba knaze?” the mare responded, suddenly appearing… deeply reluctant to reply?
Twilight still presented her query. “Have you heard anything? Anything strange, or out of place?”
Said reluctance persisted, even grew, as the healer looked at her intently for a second. It was clear that she was trying to discern something. Something, for the lack of a better word, undesirable. Maybe it was her operative’s training kicking in, or maybe something else entirely. Enough said that a discernible amount of worry was now present clearly and overtly in those coral eyes, and Twilight found it most confusing.
Especially after the mare’s question, loaded with subterfuge and concern both. “Was I supposed to hear something?”
Twilight blinked, completely astonished at the tone. What had just crossed Rowan Berry’s mind? And why was she hoping to receive a straightforward answer? That much was blatantly obvious from that piercing and intense gaze.
“I… I’m sorry, what do you mean…?” Twilight wanted to clarify the matter and address that confusion simultaneously, but the healer was ready to cause yet greater bewilderment.
“If you want to keep these things a secret, you can, Honored Princess. I think I might prefer that you do, myself, I don’t feel like discussing anything of the sort.”
In those words, out of all things, hid disappointment and even antipathy, and they hid not so well. It was all too easy for Twilight to spot them, they were visible to the degree which made her feel the emotions which she had been battling for a few nights now. She did her best to contain them, of course, because exploding in resentment would not help her find out why Rowan Berry suddenly turned from remorseful and timid to antagonistic.
“What I wanted to ask, Rowan Berry, and I feel I should make it very clear out of a sudden, is – have you spotted Ivory Crescent last morning, making her way to or out of the spire?”
Twilight enunciated the inquiry to the best of her abilities, whilst battling the irritation. She definitely achieved something, since the healer opposite instantaneously froze in place. It was as if a sudden realization locked all of her muscles up, and then released her from its grasp, causing the mare’s whole expression to brighten, let alone banishing those shadows from her eyes.
“Hrabi—ha!” came the exclamation, followed by what seemed like the shortest sigh of relief in history, right before Rowan Berry continued, with a genuine and pure smile this time. “No, hwalba knaze, I haven’t seen her. I was in bed but not asleep yet, however, and I did hear muffled voices from upstairs. Even a mare’s shout… but I take it you had some sort of a conversation with the Countess, then?”
“Yes, I did, actually,” Twilight admitted, making a mental note about the healers shift of mood and whatever it could have meant. “Apparently, she decided to gain access through the window, instead of the normal way. Or, to be fair, at a more usual hour.”
“That… doesn’t necessarily surprise me,” the other mare admitted. “She’s the witty and slightly intrusive type, that’s sometimes quite useful. I hope you weren’t displeased with her sudden visit?”
“No, it was just that – sudden. And, as I said, there was an unlikely point of entry.” Twilight paused, considering whether asking about that abrupt bout of ire from Rowan Berry was prudent. She decided against it for the moment, preferring to think on it first. “She’s also a little… excitable, no?”
The healer blinked. “No, not really…? At least she doesn’t give that sort of an impression, that is.”
“She definitely did to me, she was the one raising her voice and everything as we were talking. Then again, she had picked a rather unusual topic,” Twilight explained, without revealing too much.
She was also hoping that Rowan Berry’s previous sentence hadn’t been something that could have meant that Twilight had merely endured a strange dream, rather than the Countess’ actual visit. It could explain how the window was closed and there were no signs of the noblemare outside. Then again, there was a witness, at least when it came to hearing the exchange they had. But said witness had been, at first, very moved about the fact that a conversation was taking place... Still, if one were to consider—
No. Twilight had to put a stop to this thought process, lest she would risk sliding into obsessions, paranoia and everything similar.
“Let us focus on what’s before us tonight,” she told the healer, instead, focusing on the present to center herself a little.
Rowan Berry lead her down the steps, following Twilight’s gesture, towards what had been described as a ‘feud’. The word ‘breakfast’ had also happened in the initial report, and it did serve as a, perhaps a less noble, but motivation nonetheless.
Even before seeing the spire’s main doorway, Twilight could hear voices from outside, both clearly and transparently betraying displeasure over the situation they were in, even when the conversation was in Noctraliyar. She couldn’t quite make out the words, but realized something at that point. She thought she had heard it at the Mountain of Dusk already, actually, but both the Count Brother and the priest were also speaking their native tongue a little differently than what Twilight was used to. Some consonants were sharper, the ‘h’ became a more guttural, grating sound, and even vowels had a tendency of being accentuated separately when they were following each other. For all she knew, it looked like these parts of Noctraliya used a different dialect, or at least had their own, distinct pronunciation.
Regardless, these findings weren’t to be expanded upon, because the moment that Rowan Berry unlocked the door of the spire, the conversation was cut short. Twilight entered the courtyard, trying to look proper and stoic, though her curiosity was eating at her quite strongly already.
Midnight Wind was standing right by the door, clearly protecting the entrance with his own, adamant presence, one that he definitely hadn’t ever lost, despite there being a couple of bandages still on him, alongside the immobilized wing. He gave Twilight a proper salute, as was expected during a public appearance, and she found it in herself to actually gaze at him and nod gently, recognizing the gesture.
The other two ponies didn’t hesitate to greet her themselves.
Ebony Crescent, wearing another one of the local, looser gowns, was already showing signs of his affliction, especially considering the sad state of his last hoofkerchief victim, limply and wetly hanging from his hoof. Nevertheless, he immediately offered Twilight a polite bow which spread some of the sweaty locks of his mane. The entourage he brought with himself, carrying silver plates and cloches, were patiently waiting behind, giving her, but also the antas opposite, occasional glances. It was all but impossible to guess what their opinions on the scuffle and the whole situation were, something that definitely showcased their professionalism as courtiers.
Standing a little away for the group, Carnelian presented himself with all the might and stoicism of his office, despite being a single opponent to the larger gathering. His eyes were a little fierce, but it was the sort of focus that was most often found from somepony yet holding back their favorite quips during a grand performance. His daffodil mane, rimed over with graying strands, strangely added to his dignity, though that and the crow’s feet could also very well aid in him looking like a snappy court jester, when necessary. There was something about the priest, now that Twilight had a better chance at examining him, that made her think that he was well aware of the fact, and using both aspects of his looks in his daily duties. A stately statement or a witty comeback could both serve the cause of the Goddess, apparently.
The antas also greeted Twilight with a smiling nod, but both him and the Count Brother patiently waited for her to have the first word.
“Neskaza Lunee... welae tuyiu noc illum,” was the best that could have been said, from Twilight’s perspective.
“I welae Neskaza Lunee... illum tueu noc tez,” was the group reply, a decidedly unifying factor, despite any disagreements.
She took that for a positive sign, continuing. “I greet you, Honored Count Brother, antas Carnelian. What brings you here at the brink of night?”
“Duty,” they both said, simultaneously, which caused Ebony Crescent to scowl and the priest to send him a little, amused smirk.
Not that the Count Brother was jolly about that. “I have arrived to bring you your first meal, Honored Princess, and to present to you my plan for the night, so that you can enjoy your stay, as is your right. It is also my solemn duty to assure that you have a pleasant time, but antas Karneol here wishes to impose his own idea upon you, Honored Princess,” the stallion explained, nervously wiping his brow once again when the priest began his retort.
“Ha! If only this was my idea, I wouldn’t bother. I know you don’t wish to be impeded by any other.”
Twilight felt her brows rising, as she was pretty certain that the rhyme was done very much on purpose.
Whatever goal it served, other than making Ebony Crescent sigh in further exasperation, Carnelian continued, turning to her that time. “Though I have promised a visit in the ‘not-immediate’ future, I had to change that pledge. I wouldn’t want to impose on an official visit, but serving Bogine comes before even that, hwalba knaze.”
Twilight was genuinely interested in what that could mean. “And how might She be served?”
“With eagerness!” Carnelian remarked with a smile, though his tone returned to seriousness a second after. “While I shouldn’t say anything right here and now, there is a matter to discuss, one certainly inspired by Neskaza Lunee...” the priest explained, keeping his head low for a bit longer than it was customary, clearly in deference to whatever was happening. Twilight, of course, had an inclination about what he had in mind. “And since one does not contest the divine, I’d like to borrow some of your time.”
“Are you even trying?” came Ebony Crescent’s critique over a weak rhyme, apparently. “Karneol, I’m far from making your work harder, but surely, whatever this necessity is, it could wait at least a little while? I have managed to organize a special performance for the Honored Princess and I would hate to have to postpone—”
“Dziet, I don’t have to explain to you that the greatest performances happening in our lands can only come courtesy of the incitement coming from Bogine directly. And those aren’t plays and matters that can just ‘wait’,” Carnelian replied, in a tone suggesting he had already needed to explain that at least once before. “Around the Iug there’s always something going on, just let me gather what knowledge I can and I will promptly be gone.”
“Which might take far longer than one thinks, knowing you...” Ebony Crescent quipped, rolling his eyes. “You could at least allow the Honored Princess to have a meal, first!”
“I never said ‘no’ to that, though,” the priest point out. “To safe some time, I could also dine.”
Twilight lifted her hoof. Hoping to have a word in this exchange, yes, but also to hide a smile at Carnelian’s distinctive style of conducting his ministry.
“Allow me to ask, please – is your reason for being here something that I could call an official and pressing matter, antas?”
“Yes, Honored Princess. I do act as the representative of the herame,” the priest confirmed, as they both understood each other’s tones and confirmed that this visit had to be connected with last night’s signs.
As such, this definitely wasn’t something that could be postponed, Twilight felt. If there was something that could be done, it was making sure that Ebony Crescent understood it, without saying it outright due to the other courtiers’ presence.
“Count Brother, I am most grateful that you have bothered to order a proper meal for me this evening, and to plan ahead for the night. I am truly excited to see what does the Mountain of Crescent still offer me. However, considering this official request coming from the representatives of the Goddess, would you be ever so kind as to allow me this chat with antas Carnelian first? I would very much like to learn what he wishes to discuss.”
“... ah.”
Twilight tried to make her request as polite as possible, but even her best efforts weren’t enough to stop Ebony Crescent’s expression from souring. Even that short exclamation had been laced with disappointment, one that definitely would soon cause yet more sweat to invade the stallion’s forehead. She well remembered the scene between him and Lord Dusk Harvest, when he had had to endure Twilight’s choice of heading to the Valleys before his home Mountain.
Now it was all the clearer that Count Brother wasn’t taking being denied lightly, and his reaction was strong, even to the point of a little twitch manifesting about his left eye.
“I... understand. Yes, I do understand, or course. Well, I shall... inform the performers then, that we shall have a slight delay,” the stallion uttered, trying to sound calm and collected. “Would you, at least, have a meal before Karneol shall sell you a lengthy sermon, or whatever else he shall be bothering you with?”
The priest responded to that, and with a gentle bow. “I wouldn’t want to impose on your dining, Honored Princess. I can wait that much.”
“Thank you, but... we could all share it, perhaps? It looks like enough was brought to allow for everypony to enjoy the evening?”
Twilight tried to be conciliatory, she really did, and she wouldn’t mind this being a communal meal, even to the point of including Midnight and Rowan Berry. She found it the right thing to suggest, in her heart.
However, Ebony Crescent looked very displeased with the notion. “No, no need, don’t worry, Honored Princess. I’ll wait a little bit, so that you can conclude any business with Karneol first. Really, I don’t mind,” he promised, though it was a blatant lie, reinforced by repetition. “I really don’t mind.”
If anything, Twilight could feel bad for disappointing him, but she had to both make a choice and her priorities clean. “Thank you, Honored Count Bother. I shall inform you when I am free, as soon as the meeting is concluded.”
“Thank you,” the stallion replied and nodded with a forced smile.
He then wiped his forehead, and gestured almost angrily at the courtiers, for them to make haste and prepare the meal, before turning back with a huff and trotting away. And, unless Twilight’s eyes were deceiving her, he was crushing the poor hoofkerchief in his hoof, to the point of drawing back some moisture out of it.
Nothing could be done about it, she realized, though she made sure to remember this reaction. For some reason, it made her feel both more concerned and more reluctant about the stallion.
It was at that moment that she realized that the servants had proceeded forward, but were standing right before her, loyally waiting to be allowed to enter the spire. After all, according to tradition, this was her turf, and Twilight had to give an explicit permission of her own for them to act.
“Do prepare the meal, please.” She gave her two companions a look. “Would you wish to join me?”
Midnight and Rowan Berry glanced at each other. They, perhaps, weren’t astonished by this suggestion, but there were reasons for them to be a little reluctant, considering these past few nights.
However, another pony did voice his protest. “A thousand pardons, as I think it is said in your tongue, hwalba knaze, but a meal with more ponies means a longer meal. I really wouldn’t want to make my brethren in the herame wait any longer than necessary, even if I have the greatest of respects for our lupuli and the members of the esteemed Nocferrat.”
“Oh,” Twilight expressed her own disappointment. At least she could work with it better than Ebony Crescent. “Very well. Please, take some of the dishes and prepare a meal in my entourage’s quarters, too,” she instructed the servants, who followed the instruction post haste.
The most Twilight gained were more direct gazes from both Rowan Berry and Midnight, which would have to suffice for now. Perhaps it was for the better, to have those little trots establishing new understanding between them. Though nopony could say whether that would ever mean full reconciliation.
While waiting for the servants to set everything up, Twilight decided to began chatting with Carnelian, and to do so casually at first. She didn’t expect him to be entirely transparent about his reasons for visiting her while standing in the stairwell of the spire.
“Antas, would you mind telling me...”
“I don’t think I shall. Yes, hwalba knaze?”
“You seem to be quite... casual about interacting with the Count Brother. It begs a question about your closeness to the rulers of the Mountain.”
The priest smiled widely. “I’m not very close to them by blood, naturally, as I am a plebes, but I happen to have known the Honored Lord and the Honored Countess and her brother for many years now,” he explained, and wanted to do so thoroughly. “Mind you, I wouldn’t necessarily dare to call myself their confidant, as I am not privy to their personal matters, but I have... endured this friendship for quite a long time.”
“Quite the word to choose,” Twilight pointed out, much to the priest’s amusement.
“Trust me on this, Honored Princess, I know exactly what I want to express,” he pointed out, sotto voce. “We, the Crescent Family, have our quirks. Some of us more than others, though I will truthfully and explicitly inform you, Honored Princess, that I greatly respect our ruling bloodline, even with their eccentricities.”
“I wouldn’t even for a moment question that,” Twilight addressed his point. “But I have seen a… greater distance between the priesthood of other Mountains and their rulers.”
Of course she did, as she well remembered the little chastisement that Midnight Litany had bestowed upon Lord Midnight Eye, but that was clearly an exception from the rule. Not to even mention that Twilight had a distinct feeling that the haspadr hadn’t really forgiven that slight.
“It’s just a matter of temperament, I believe,” Carnelian told her while she was ruminating, nodding to himself. “Our Rodine is known for fiery, passionate characters, which sometimes means the relations between the bloodlines, castes and ponies can appear... ‘distorted’, as I think many of our kin would point out. But not ‘everything goes’, it has to be said, let us not get in over our head.”
Twilight simply had to ask about that rhyming thing at some point, but the meal was prepared at that point, and so she invited Carnelian to enjoy it without delay. She wouldn’t call his appetite ravenous, but they didn’t really chat while eating, with the priest helping himself to some of the finer dishes, following her lead. If anything, she could see a rather pure, almost innocent joy from him at sampling the various fruit.
His exhale after cleaning his muzzle and fangs was singularly rapturous. “Ha, Neskaza Lunee...! Kazda kwapoke bide ald,” he declared in a pious prayer, before turning to Twilight finally. “We must be grateful for even the smallest things in life. And those definitely weren’t the ‘smallest’, this is a truly lordly selection, so I am more than thankful to the Goddess! And to you, of course, these wouldn’t be placed on the table if it weren’t for you, Honored Princess.”
“Honored Count Brother is treating me with great regard,” Twilight told the priest, trying not to think of other ways that Ebony Crescent had already expressed his admiration for her. “I just hope I can show my gratitude well enough. I’m a little sorry that his plans for the night had to be changed.”
“I understand, and it is a great sign of your empathy, Honored Princess. However, when Bogine and her grand inspirations are regarded, there is no choice but to abide by Her will,” Carnelian declared piously. “Also, the colt needs a bit of patience and discipline. We wouldn’t want him falling into very bad habits.”
Twilight would not mind touching upon that remark, but the antas had other priorities, clearly. Especially when he had produced a little scroll from underneath his robes, as well as some ink and a quill.
“Please, do finish whatever other dishes you would like, Honored Princess. I will prepare in the meantime.”
“I’m actually done, myself, so… as long as you could tell me, good antas, what might you need from me, I’ll do my best to help you.”
“Ha, very good. Well, I need to give you further context first, Honored Princess,” Carnelian began explaining, sliding slightly away from their finished courses, so that he could see her clearly, without any obstruction of pitchers and bowls. “After we had met and I rushed in to help our seeing bratr, things began progressing even faster. Another one of our dear effiti received similar… well, not visions, but signs, definitely. What they were experiencing were strange bouts of bleakness and despair, followed then by wondrous calm, tranquility of the sort which almost left them catatonic. They couldn’t speak, they were not able to put it into words, but they were clearly receiving singular omens from Neskaza Lunee...” the priest explained.
“I… see,” Twilight replied in the only way she could think of, though her choice of verb caused Carnelian’s focus to immediately latch on her. “No, what I meant was – I understand. I take it that these happenings caused the priesthood to be most interested and… perturbed, perhaps?”
“You’re more than right to use the second word, hwalba knaze,” the antas told her. “Prophecies are fickle things, they usually take a form of certain visions, sounds, signs or feelings… But what happened this time was profoundly emotional for our seeing brothers, and we are trying to grasp the reason for that. Not to mention that, even though they were in their rapturous, divinely calm state at first, when they finally woke from it, they experienced agitation, a boost of energy, even ire. To the point where we had to restrain them by force. There was a great deal of… confusion in them, as much as I could describe it. One noble effit claimed that something was coming, something fervent. That, as the Moon would rise, something or somepony would be ‘pronounced’ and ‘anointed’. Frighteningly, he began to back away from his words soon enough. As if actually torn between two, overpowering revelations…”
Twilight listened in genuine curiosity and concern, trying to piece together a reply, or anything that would be useful to Carnelian in this situation. However, as much as she would wish otherwise, she felt herself way out of her depth. Even going through prophetic visions herself, and feeling the pull of a strange force, which might or might not have used founts of magic for its goals, was not enough to reach understanding.
“I… don’t think I can grant you much insight with all of that, good antas,” she admitted, but the priest shook his head.
“Don’t fret, Honored Princess. I don’t ask for insight, merely for truth which I could scribble down,” he pointed out, dipping the quill in the ink and getting ready for taking notes. “First of all, would you explain to me what did you feel back at the herame, before the first time we met? I would like to compare it to our current findings and observations.”
Twilight racked her brain trying to find the right words to express what she had experienced. It wasn’t easy, actually. When she was returning to those moments, a pressure was manifesting in her mind, a heavy and overbearing reminder of what she had had to endure.
Words did come to the forefront of her brain, however, and she felt almost compelled to let them out. “Compulsion. Yes, there was a pull and… a presence. Then weight, pulling down, and strongly. Crushing. But then there was… a second, a moment of utter bliss, and then… Everything. Everything on my shoulders, like the burden of the whole world…!”
“Calm, Honored Princess, calm,” she heard Carnelian’s voice, which brought her back from the galloping thoughts. She must have worn a singular expression, for the priest was staring at her with fatherly concern, and even rose from his seat, ready to offer assistance. Thankfully, she didn’t need it, so he continued with calm sympathy. “I take it that the experience was demanding. We can proceed point by point, take it in smaller doses. And I’d like to be thorough, for the sake of my task,” he instructed, sitting back down slowly and smiling. “It sounds to me like you could give me insight aplenty, actually.”
Twilight shook her head, centering herself, having realized that returning to those moments in the shrine was, indeed, much tougher than she thought. That unthinkable weight she had withstood felt like it should have left long-term repercussions, even physical ones, so it wasn’t weird that but thinking about it made her mind protest a little.
“I do apologize, antas Carnelian, it turns out that what transpired is more complicated to me than I considered.”
“Ha, when the Goddess is involved, matters become intricate, indeed,” he told her, bringing forth an expression full of pious fear and admiration. “She would expect us, however, to maintain our composure and balance even when we are weaved right in the middle of Her grand tapestry. All the strands should play their role, shining bright, but remaining in place for the sake of the grand design.”
Twilight would agree, but one word from the priest’s minuscule oration did resonate with her out of a sudden, brought back by the most recent memories. Balance. For some reason, it fit with the current situation, like a strange piece in the puzzle of her mind. But, before she could formulate a proper thought out of it, Carnelian’s further deliberations broke her concentration.
“Life’s full of its calls and callings, but we need to also remain steady and focused, lest we risk falling prey to the impulses of our nature. That never ends well, even among our Family, known for indulging in the pleasures of life, and—”
“Antas…” Twilight found herself mouthing, though she didn’t initially know if she wanted to simply get his attention, stop him from saying more for the sake of silence and focus, or whether she actually had a question to ask. But, as she spared it a second though, it turned out to be the lattermost option. “Could you… explain something to me first, before I give you the details you seek?”
“Oh? Well, if... that helps clear your mind, hwalba knaze,” the priest replied, putting the quill gingerly back, so that the ink wouldn’t stain the parchment nor the table. “We can afford a short moment, I suppose, tac. What might I help you with?”
“I visited the shrine of your Mountain due to more reasons than just witnessing its architecture and style, even if it is unique and breathtaking,” Twilight began, realizing what sort of a topic she had to get off her chest, before she could touch upon anything else that happened in the said herame. “It was the Honored Count Brother’s suggestion, yes, but I think I was also searching for something else. Something a bit more personal than just exploring your rich culture.”
“I see. What was it, then, Honored Princess? Guidance, perhaps? A moment of focus and concentration among the manifold fine arts of our Iug, each vying for your attention?”
“It was a matter of... a bit of spiritual encouragement,” Twilight admitted, wishing to sound natural and tactful. “I have found your holy places exuding a very specific aura, and I mean that in the kindest of ways. I do feel something incredible about them, never mind what happened recently. And I say that despite the fact that, well, my approach to the matter is…”
She didn’t finish, as Carnelian lifted his hoof in a calming gesture. “You don’t have to explain yourself, or anypony else from Ekwestriya to me, Honored Princess,” the priest assured her with a smile that only made the crow’s feet about his eyes more prominent. “The ways of the solerani are clear to me, and I refuse to use the term in any pejorative sense. Nor shall I cast blame on anypony for the presence or lack of faith. There are good ponies all over our world, ponies of principles and morality. It makes us stronger when we band together against what is sinful and depraved, despite our differences.”
That was a strong and admirable stance, Twilight thought, though she wondered what did it spell about the topic she wanted to touch upon. “Yes, well, I... As I was going through the Mountain, being shown the wonderful expressions of art, I witnessed something that touched me, deeply. A sight I was not expecting in these refined caverns, also named art in its... grim, merciless way.”
She did reveal all of that, while simultaneously realizing that the fate of that middle-aged, orange-maned stallion, was, of all things, foreseeable for her. She had already learnt of one, terrifying punishment already, after all, and the other, particular discipline seemed almost mild in comparison.
A hiss was the first thing that came from the antas’ lips after her declaration. Carnelian’s eyes immediately betrayed what he thought of the topic, turning saddened in a way that a father’s would, witnessing a son turning away from family and tradition.
“Tac, I do understand. You have witnessed the punishment of those that know no moderation – the spatitu farw, didn’t you, hwalba knaze? Somepony mentioned you being in the area…” Carnelian said, nodding to himself in thought and unease.
“S-spatitu farw?” Twilight repeated the term.
“A ‘twisted tree’. That is the... poetic name for the frame, though, truth be told, it is a ‘tree meant for the twisted’, rather,” he explained, in a sad tone. “I take it you have found it less than encouraging?”
“ ‘Encouraging’ would be putting it very generously, good antas. I’m not favorable to any means of public humiliation.”
Carnelian nodded. He wasn’t criticizing her stance, at least his expression didn’t betray that, but he clearly wanted to make a point still. “Maybe I could ask you in return, then, if you would be so kind as to give me an answer – what do you do to ponies that threaten your society?”
“Do… you mean criminals?” she inquired of the stallion, thinking that maybe he was missing the right word, but the antas only shook his head.
“No. Criminals pay fines, they go into the mines to repay the hurt they did and the shame they brought on themselves, through honest work. Through help, even if forced, for the whole society,” the priest adamantly stated. “Nye. I mean those that, with their actions and maddened insistence, want to destroy the established order of a nation.”
That was a sentence that only magnified to Twilight’s doubts and worries, as Carnelian’s regular and quite kind disposition made way for something terrifyingly serious. Especially since it turned out that what Ebony Crescent had explained about that displayed pony, seemed to have been a little watered down, if the priest was making it a problem of… sedition?
“I... It isn’t an easy topic, no,” Twilight admitted, not afraid to do so. “I think I would need to think of individual cases, antas. We don’t have a structure as firm and ordered as Noctraliya, so it is a bit harder to talk of actions that target Equestria’s principles or ideas. Not to mention that, aside from an occasional crisis that me and my friends have to tackle, our lands are generally peaceful.”
Carnelian listened in utter focus, considering her words carefully. “Very well, I see what you mean. But I will explain some matters to you, then, Honored Princess, in hopes that you grasp that what you have witnessed was not something done out of some… wicked pleasure over seeing another one of our kin suffer.” He sighed, thinking for a moment. “So, I take it that you have received at least a basic explanation about the punishment? Or, rather, the crime which warrants it?”
“Yes, from the Honored Count Brother. He mentioned that these are ponies that often develop a sort of irrational mania, a lack of moderation that turns their artistic pursuits into dangerous obsessions...”
“Not an inaccurate explanation,” the priest told her, taking in a deep breath which he held in for a heartbeat longer than necessary. “This malady that the kin of our Family can suffer, however, is a bit more than just insanity striking at random ponies. The reason these are put into the spatityi farwi is to deny them their addictions, and to make sure that they are marked as... well, marked. They serve as a deterrent to others that might see their sinful actions as, in any way, desirable.”
The shudder at the word made Twilight remember something else that Ebony Crescent had mentioned, about the local priesthood being concerned about these sick ponies banding together in the pursuit of indulgence. It must have been that very concern which had just rocked Carnelian’s form.
“Oh. So, they are left displayed like that not only to... cure them of their mania,” she spoke, though found it hard to stand by the choice of the word. “They are made a spectacle of so that others know who they are, keep an eye out for others associating with them? Is ostracism following their time of punishment?”
“Not if their regret and repentance are honest,” Carnelian accentuated. “But one must trust and one must be cautious, both. Nopony threatening to endanger others, to unbind, nye, to rip apart the design, the tapestry of our nation, blessed by Bogine, can be allowed to continue, lest they bring downfall to themselves and their blood.”
“How often is that the case?” Twilight couldn’t help but ask, wanting to know just how serious such a situation could be, or whether it was just the antas showing an unyielding amount of conviction in the matter.
“Thank Neskaza Lunee... things like that don’t rob us of sleep at day, and the few unfortunate souls that fall into this obsession can be helped,” Carnelian stated, though there was something fearful in his gaze, or perhaps respectful. “I want to make it clear to you, however, hwalba knaze, that none of us is pleased when the farw has to be planted. It is our failure, as the guides of others, anointed by Uaia Mate, when our brethren suffer the madness of their sins.”
“You view it very personally, good antas,” Twilight more stated the fact than asked, and Carnelian did nod. “We are not responsible for the mistakes of everypony around us. We can only hope to give them a good example, sometimes to show them the right path. But even our best efforts won’t give us perfect results, nor can we force anypony to make only the righteous of choices.”
The priest smiled and chuckled sourly. “Wise words, indeed. And your encouragement, while not really necessary, is much, much appreciated. It speaks of your character, Honored Princess,” he praised her, and genuinely. “I hope that I was able to, at least, explain what you have seen, without forcing you to exonerate it in your mind and heart, if you are not convinced.”
“You were very helpful, good antas,” Twilight told him back, sending him a wide smile. “Now, I believe I have some questions to answer?”
“Yes, hwalba knaze, indeed,” Carnelian replied, reaching for the quill once again. “Let us hope that our work here shall please Neskaza Lunee…”
Twilight lowered her head in a gesture of respect and solidarity. If not out of faith, she would help the priest out because it was the right thing to do, in the name of Friendship.
But curiosity was also driving her forward. Her mind would be more than happy about getting to the bottom of local spirituality, to uncover all its secrets and rejoice, like when one finds a spring in the wilderness. And to drink understanding of it… especially as she had a strange feeling that she was closer to that than she thought.
Actually… it felt like she had done so once already?
She shook away that strange thought, then focused on granting Carnelian whatever information he needed.
Luna slowly opened her eyes, though it was quite a challenge to do even that much at first.
For they ached, and ached terribly. The eyeballs, the eyelids, everything about the muscles around them, it was all in agony. It was like awakening after a night of untold indulgence, where pleasures of life took precedent over not only moderation and common sense, but survival instinct. Luna, however, had never in her life endured such a lifestyle choice, even in her youth, however long ago that was. Even trying to remember that information precisely felt like a monumental task, as the throbbing pressure in her head was causing her thoughts to be sluggish and slow.
Even considering everything about it, at least Moonwarden’s magic had caused that particular effect while making her pleasantly wistful, rather than causing this sort of torment…
She felt her eyes shoot open right after that realization, as she grasped the extent of her yesternight’s journey in one, enlightening moment.
Not that it made the pain disperse, nay, it caused it to magnify and terribly for a brief moment, making the chamber around spin. The room, despite being suddenly so animated, turned out to be her own bedroom, a place she definitely hadn’t reached on her own last morning. Still, Luna could at least figure out how she managed to return to her bed, especially since something very bright and colorful was gently shifting in the corner of her vision.
Celestia was sitting by the bed, her own eyes stirring open, as she too had likely fallen asleep while watching over Luna’s rest all that time. When their gazes met, both of them shared that one and unique, sibling smile, reserved only for one another.
“Lulu,” Tia spoke first, quickly rubbing her eyes and getting up from her spot, dispelling her slumber in record time. “I’m here. How are you feeling? Are you hurt?” she pretty much repeated the same questions that she had presented when Luna had made her way back from her taxing excursion.
“I’m… I’m alright, Tia. A little sore all over, you know,” Luna admitted, actually causing her older sister to… smirk.
“Like after a night of untold indulgence?”
“On the nose,” came the confirmation after that remarkable guess, though even Celestia wasn’t one to actually partake in such frivolities. Well, maybe other than her soft-spot for cake.
The fact that Luna found it in herself to focus on such light-hearted thoughts meant that her fatigue was clearly temporary. She sat up a little firmer, feeling her spine protesting in multiple places. She rubbed her eyes, hoping to somehow crush the headache behind them, though to no avail at first.
“How… How long was I asleep?” she asked the first, logical question.
“Just throughout the day, Lulu, it’s not long after sunset,” Tia explained, with a calm, understanding smile, clearly allowing Luna to take her time. “I did make sure to have the Moon up on time, then I returned and… I think my tiredness got the better of me,” she admitted.
“I see. Thank you for bringing forth my night,” Luna expressed the genuine gratitude, as she had already asked quite a lot of her sister. “The… the last thing I remember is my meditation chamber, when my mind had returned… so I take that you brought me here, yourself?”
Celestia’s smile widened. “Am I too old to carry my little sister to her bed?” she asked in a joke, then shook her head. “Don’t worry, I did so without spawning attention. You… weren’t really in any shape to trot here on your own.”
“I can imagine… Actually, I don’t have to – I can feel it well enough in my bones, still. A passed-out Princess, how graceful,” Luna pointed out, with a sour laugh. She would shake her own head in disappointment over such a state, though it felt like that could actually cause her brain to bounce around in her skull in a rather unpleasant manner. “Thank you for your discretion, Tia. I imagine that one loose tongue would be enough for the press to have a field day, and before anypony would even bother to ask why I was in the state I was in.”
Celestia nodded, and rather solemnly. Jesting aside, even she was mindful of the terrifying, near-cosmic power of the modern media. Luna, however, immediately afterwards latched onto the very same ‘why’ she had just used, wishing desperately to ask about the one, crucial topic in her mind and heart.
“How is he, Tia? Is he alright?”
“Fine, Lulu, he’s fine,” her sister immediately calmed her down. “The evening report I got from Elegy suggested that his condition hasn’t drastically improved for the last day, but also hasn’t deteriorated. Which, in itself is good news. However…”
That word made Luna’s attention snap firmly to Tia, too firmly for her head’s sake. Still, among the pain, she felt herself waking up entirely and more, almost to the point of sitting straight up in the bed like she wasn’t actually aching all over.
Tia’s gesture was, again, soothing. “Fret not, Lulu. It was just that Doctor Silver Scalpel did remark that they had observed some rather peculiar signs from Moonwarden throughout the previous night. His heart rate was irregular, there was an occasional twitch. His horn sparked a few times. Normally, any form of stirring from a patient in that state could be taken for a good sign, one of returning alertness, but… I know why all of that was happening. Unless he shows those reactions again, they might not have marked an actual improvement,” Celestia explained, trying to sound supportive while delivering the news. “You said that you… actually reached him, after all?”
“Yes, Tia,” Luna immediately confirmed it once again, trying to summon all of the memories of her journey, even as they tried to lose their coherence, like a fleeting dream. “I… I somehow managed to find his slumbering mind, floating in the Dreamworld. I gained access, but… this wasn’t a nightly fantasy which I have reached. It was more like I actually gained access to Moonwarden’s very nature, his core. Like I was exploring the expanse of his being, it… It is quite breathtaking to realize that.”
Celestia listened in fascination that was quite rare from her. Luna knew that her sister was well-versed in many matters of arcane arts and mysteries of the world, even if this wasn’t her main focus, but it looked like this was a wholly uncharted territory for her as well.
“And… you actually spoke with him? He gained a modicum of consciousness to converse with you? I don’t want to sound doubting, Lulu, but you are absolutely certain that it was him and not your imagination projecting him so vividly?”
“No, definitely not. I do understand what you mean, I suppose that it wouldn’t be a surprising outcome,” Luna admitted, taking a moment. “There were remarks in the tomes I scoured about such developments but… no, I have no doubts. That was Moonwarden, that was his mind, we both arrived at that conclusion. Actually, that might not be accurate enough…” she confessed before herself and Tia.
“What do you mean?”
“It would be a lot to explain. For now, I’m glad that I have made the choice, and that I made it back, too. It was far more straining than I had anticipated,” Luna had to acknowledge the fact. Yes, she was feeling progressively better, with her muscles finishing their protests and her head actually wanting to function, heartbeat after heartbeat, but she had not expected to deal with such challenges on her quest. “I am… actually quite happy that I had decided to give that a try. Though, all things considered, I… Actually, it… It was…”
Terrifying.
That was the word that wanted to desperately leave Luna’s lips. She forbade it from doing so and didn’t give it breath, but it was there, gnawing at her awakened mind. She wasn’t foolish, naïve or ignorant, she immediately knew why it was the first expression which had manifested when the images of her escapade began manifesting, one after another.
The webs, the building, the strings and the puppets. The shadow, the pride, the attack and the bleakness. It all gathered, surged, welled inside of Luna, and tried to drown her heart in fear. There was no denying it, her journey had been one of the most nerve-wracking experiences she had endured in her life. Not only through the sheer anxiety it invoked, the horror of the corners of the grey unicorn’s mind, but also due to those terrible, sweet and sickly sensations that lingered in between the intimidating memories. To recall being a mere guest, an intruder, in a realm of another, to feel weak and helpless for a brief moment, and then to think about the intoxicating, subjugating hold of Moonwarden’s magic, it was a dangerous process indeed, one that Luna had to discard from her mind as soon as possible. She had bargained with her own free will only to break through to him, and that had left her branded in some way, she could feel it.
Something about this situation was bringing back very unpleasant memories, those from other times, the dark and nightmarish times. Luna might have managed to stop herself from speaking, but simply couldn’t contain the shudders, crawling all over her body.
Tia didn’t say a word. Maybe it was for the better, there and then. She merely scooted closer, so that she could embrace Luna and help her through all the troubles without judgment, chastisement or anything else. Simply do so by the pure, supportive presence.
Luna was glad to be given this moment of stillness, as there was a lot going on in her head. Not to mention that she suddenly found herself unsure of what to share right away. So many thoughts and so many doubts were invading her mind at a rapid pace, one would almost wish for somepony to do the thinking for them. And that, definitely, felt like an idea out of place, a clingy residue of what she had to endure while navigating the maze that was her grey beloved’s mind.
… she still called him that.
She could still call him that in her thoughts. And her heart was still beating firmly at the word, which spoke volumes. There was just one, tiny, little, simply problem to deal with. That of what she had witnessed about Moonwarden’s dark side…
She had to clear her head, one step at a time. Organize things in it, so that she could then tackle organizing them out of it. So why not use the help being provided by the other closest pony she had?
“Tia…?”
“Yes, Lulu?”
“I… I did tell you that… that he confirmed that he reciprocates my feelings?” Luna asked, suddenly feeling like an abashed schoolfilly confiding in her older, much more mature sibling, despite the choice of vocabulary.
“You did,” she heard Celestia’s whisper, and even a slight giggle. “You were quite eager to let me know, right before your consciousness slipped.”
“Yes, but…” Luna paused, wondering if that was something that could be shared after all. It was an intensely private matter, and it almost felt like a breach of trust, or, at the very least, loquacity, to reveal it at all. “He… He thinks that I don’t love him, that… That I do not return this feeling, because I shouldn’t do so.”
It turned out that saying it was a weight off Luna’s shoulders, after all. It did make her feel a little better, anchored her to the world around. Yes, this would lead to making sense out of it, as opposed to having it fester and bounce around in her brain. She had already suffered from holding everything in, from not seeking aid, counsel and help. This felt like a chance to make the right choice.
After all, who else was she going to share this with, otherwise? Celestia was her only confidant of such volume.
And one showing genuine interest, too. “Oh? Is that so? Why would he take such a stance, out of a sudden?”
“I found out that, well, it is not really a spur-of-the-moment thought from him. As I understand, Moonwarden, he… He has loved me ever since I returned from my exile, ever since he saw me upon my arrival to Canterlot. However, with his affection comes a sense of hopelessness. He adores me, he puts me on a pedestal, to cherish and praise, and venerate almost like…”
The thought of her children, unfortunately, caused another feeling to try and resurface, but Luna could hold it in for a brief moment longer, if only to make her point.
“He… sees himself as unworthy to even harbor those feelings. It is eating him from the inside, even if I know that he does want it to happen, in his deepest, most idyllic fantasy. He simply… refuses to acknowledge that I, an alicorn, would return the affection of a mere, prideful unicorn,” Luna explained.
And out of all things, Celestia found it proper to actually let out a rather undignified sound of astonishment.
“Uhm… Ah… I… see?” she finally found a word, though her stupefaction was blatant. “Are you… quite certain that you have found and accessed the right mind, Lulu? Or that it was him talking? That truly does not sound like the Moonwarden we know.”
“Trust me, Tia, I have witnessed a plethora of things that we would not expect of my Royal Advisor, for better and for worse,” Luna admitted, hoping that it was the right way of expressing her experiences.
Obviously, there were matters there that would have to be revealed, discussed and addressed, but all in due time. Besides, she really wanted to share a moment with Moonwarden, on her own, when the unicorn would make it out of the hospital.
‘When’ being the utterly crucial word. After all, he had promised her that he would do his best, and while she didn’t think the stallion had enough strength and ability to speed up his recuperation, knit his own wounds, and conquer the trauma, Luna herself could say a thing or two about the healing and restorative power of emotions. Let alone strong ones, like Friendship, having been on the receiving end of the Elements of Harmony.
Although love? She had a feeling that it could be an even more powerful force.
These thoughts were connected to Twilight Sparkle, however, and did cause Luna to shudder once again, as she realized that she couldn’t simply sit on that one, dramatic piece of information that she had to share with her sister. One that was causing this ire, this frustration and anger to bubble up inside her, once again making her whole self shake and shudder.
“Luna,” Celestia’s voice came quickly, “are you sure you are alright? You’re trembling all over.”
“It’s… There’s a lot on my mind, Tia. I’m not feeling any worse after this trip, physically or mentally. I’m just… trying to gather myself,” Luna explained, though she wasn’t sure if she was honest, or at least honest enough.
What had to be made clear is that this journey was not for naught. There were certain steps to take and that mounting fury in her core to use, to the betterment of all. Luna had to, she simply had to now tackle that one scenario that she had previously wanted to desperately avoid. The possibility that she would have found herself praying to steer clear from, but… things didn’t work like that. Not for her.
And there would be no more evading, no more hoping, desperately, for things to be different. There would be only her, and her actions, and her desire to justly repay what had happened to Moonwarden.
“Celestia…”
Her older sister, hearing her name in that form, recognized that things were about to become very serious. It didn’t matter that the two of them were sitting on Luna’s bed, in her private chambers, one having just woken up and the other in desperate need of sleep. They both could feel the gravity of the situation and were ready to discuss it with due diligence.
“Moonwarden remembered the attack. It took a lot from him, but he actually could give me more details about it.”
“Did he share anything that might help us decipher the case entirely?” Celestia immediately asked, in a tone that quite naturally turned from familial care to regal commitment.
“Yes. That he did,” Luna admitted, though found it prudent to take one additional step with matters being… as they were. “One, crucial detail he managed to recall, one that does give us a precise and concrete perspective. A piece of information that I will waste no time, and will try to verify. Alone.”
A moment of silence followed that declaration, and Luna could tell that Celestia was very quickly trying to interpret that course of action. She most likely arrived at a conclusion, considering that one, peculiar shade which crossed her muzzle, but decided to ask anyway. It was, perhaps, a way of communicating that she saw the difficulty of Luna’s upcoming task.
“Could you tell me, Luna, what exactly are you planning, in regards to the knowledge that you managed to gain?” the solar alicorn asked, her tone embellished with the necessary concern. Luna would be foolish to expect any distrust from her sister, but caution and wariness were both sensible things to reach for. “You do know, and know well, that we all want to figure out this case. This is something that could be dealt with together, with the combined effort and resources at our disposal.”
“I know, Celestia,” Luna told her sister, moving away just a little, so that she could look her in the eye and show that she meant her words, with full, grim confidence. “I also know that you are an intelligent and insightful pony. You were always bright like that, which is why I believe that we understand each other. When I say that I need to verify something on my own, because I feel that it is my solemn duty and obligation to take that upon myself, that I need to tackle this task and that I won’t shun from it…” Luna paused, even if only to take a breath, as Celestia was more than aware of what she tried to indirectly convey. “Then you do understand what I mean.”
“Sadly, yes.” There was a dangerous tone in that otherwise collected voice. “And still it begs a question – why? Why him, and why such a choice?”
“That is, indeed, something that I will want to explore, yes. I believe that I know who could give me some necessary insight, though…” Luna paused, fighting another surge of anger. “This is not simply a matter of an ‘unreasonable’ choice by a wayward pony. No, it doesn’t feel like it, and I shall trust my instinct on that. Whomever stood behind this, wherever they are, embedded in whatever power structure based on whatever, misbegotten foundations, they shall be justly repaid for this!”
Luna didn’t mind that she shouted that last part, as the emotions roiling inside of her needed an outlet. And that one wasn’t necessarily the worst one. Still, letting it all out in an outburst wasn’t an optimal choice, and Celestia quite promptly reminded her of that.
“Lulu…” the warm note of Tia’s voice reached out and proficiently calmed Luna’s gathering ire. “Are you sure you want to do this? I wouldn’t want you doing something you might regret later, especially now that… that you know that Moonwarden cares for you. This might make things a little bit more complicated.”
Luna actually smiled, even if happiness was far from her mind. “You fear that I will be emotionally compromised? Is that how it is called nowadays?” Before her sister had a chance to reply, she continued, keeping her voice down and her fury under control. “Don’t worry, Tia. This isn’t me losing myself to anything.”
“I trust you, Lulu, that simply does not stop me from worrying,” came the supportive explanation, and Luna felt that she owed Tia a repayment for this manner of succor, and everything else.
“Tia, listen… I know that I am not, I don’t know, ‘innovative’. I didn’t hit a historical breakthrough, for this is me doing something that should have been done quite a long time ago already,” Luna pointed out, and didn’t mind being self-criticizing. Actually, she was happy to be able to make such an observation, as it made her feel more mature. “Perhaps this is, however, my little, personal headway. I have wallowed in my own shortcomings, I have feared myself and my past, and my charge, for far too long. Long enough for the pony that loves me, for the pony whom I love in return, to be almost taken from me. No longer will I let myself be paralyzed. No, now… Now I will act.”
It was a strong declaration, one that Luna wanted to get behind, thoroughly. She could feel the gravity of the moment well enough, in her trembling voice, and in her shaking body. These sentences meant something, despite them being spoken right in her bed, in a slightly disheveled state. And yet that didn’t matter. The weight of her words was obvious to her, clear, transparent, and crushing. Yet, instead of breaking her underneath its weight, it mangled her doubt and reluctance. This load and burden was heavy enough, Luna deemed, to serve as punishment to anypony responsible for causing Moonwarden’s pain and suffering.
She felt her gaze venturing somewhere, someplace else, at that very moment.
Her focus abandoned the room around her. For a breath, a stronger heartbeat, she was sure that she would venture, in her mind’s eye, straight to the hospital. That she would witness the grey unicorn, in his bed, pierced through and saved only through a small and silvered physical manifestation of his affection. She was expecting herself to dwell on the question which had been plaguing her to this very moment. Had it been possible to stop this outcome? Had her reluctance, her weakness, inadvertently endangered her beloved?
But that was not what happened. For a split second, vivid and yet dream-like, Luna felt that she was looking someplace else. Someplace far, someplace otherworldly, almost. A flicker of silver light, pulsating, calling her and not her, belonging to her but not. The tired, attentive eyes, the steady, raspy breaths, the unbreakable, ailing vigil. Expectation met with understanding, a response that had to have happened…
Luna blinked. Whatever that had been… she wasn’t certain if she had even seen it, as the sights were so peculiar and mystifying, one could hardly believe their eyes.
Especially since there was nothing there, only her chamber, and her sister. And Luna knew that this was no time to daydream, nor for self-blame. If anything, these thoughts about Moonwarden’s fate and her part in it added further fuel to the fire of her anger.
Celestia grasped the situation, likely in its entirety, and wanted nothing more but to help and gently guide, as was her want. “I take it that you have a plan, Luna. And that you will follow it with forethought and determination, both. Would you require anything from me, however?” she asked, ready to perform anything necessary on her end.
Luna wouldn’t want to leave her sister in the dark, no, nor would she accept this ire blinding her judgment and stopping her from being responsible. She had a duty, after all, not only to her children, but to her Equestrian subjects as well.
“First things first – please, make sure that the Second Chance are on high alert. I know that the hospital is monitored, but I wouldn’t mind them, and other operatives we have at the ready, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious going on. Especially around the Bastion of the Nightguard. And in Hollow Shades, so that would be a task for Nettle Leaf and Toolbox. My thinking is that if even Moonwarden could be a potential target…” She paused briefly. “I will bring more about that in the morning, I am sure of it. We could discuss more safety measures right after, especially with Shining Armor, his expertise will serve us well.” She gave herself a second to breathe and consider, then decided to voice one more thought. “At this point, however, I’m not sure if we have to act with absolute secrecy. Whatever forces are at play, they must take into consideration that we are becoming more and more aware of their movements, especially since the assassination didn’t work. If anything, they shall be cautious for some time, and won’t be prompted to act by us making our moves. That would only confirm our suspicions and aid us…” Luna deemed, feeling that old and familiar flair for cunning light up inside of her. “But if there are any strange happenings about the Nightguard outposts, not only here but in other towns, we need to be informed. And informed immediately.”
Celestia agreed without objection, standing up to give the matter proper attention. “Very astute. I feel that I want to say something about hoping that the batponies won’t do something stupid, but…”
She didn’t have to end the sentence, as Luna was perfectly aware of the circumstances. “Yes. Where we are right now dashes that hope, Celestia,” she admitted. She sighed, rubbed her muzzle furiously, then shifted around to get ready to leave her bed, finally. “But, I would also ask you not to worry about me. I won’t take long, but I need to address this matter, directly and personally.”
“Of course. Just… remember that you have my support, Luna. You’re not alone in this,” her sister told her, and it wasn’t hard to grasp where such a warm declaration was coming from.
“No, I am not alone. It does make all the difference. And that is also why I know that I can control myself, even with this… wrath inside me,” Luna explained, standing from the bed and stretching her wings. It wasn’t meant to be a threatening gesture, no, but she didn’t mind when she looked in her mirror and saw herself extending them almost in a challenge. “Would you allow me a remark, regarding how I feel…?”
“A remark?”
“Yes,” Luna confirmed, craning her neck a little. “I think I can be quite sure of myself exactly because of Moonwarden, and the feeling we share.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, strangely enough. For I don’t believe that my beloved would appreciate if I were to lose myself in a plan for revenge,” she spoke up, feeling a strange warmth at considering his opinion and his insight, even though he was nowhere near. It felt like he was. “He did warn me not to be reckless, that was one of the last sentences that his mind uttered… other than the promise to return. So, no, he would prefer for me to be calculating, precise and efficient, and I feel the need not to disappoint him.” Luna felt her lips smiling, as she could almost hear the silken approval, whispered right into her ear. She then looked directly at Tia once more. “Your presence was always a blessing to me, Celestia, even if there were moments when our differences were glaring. But now, with this?” she said, putting one hoof over her heart. “Oh, I don’t feel alone anymore. Not like I was back then, when the Nightmare wormed its way into my heart. This… This is safeguarding me, and so I won’t lose myself to my anger, and I won’t repeat old mistakes.”
The first thing she heard afterwards was Celestia’s muffled giggle, though she didn’t find ridicule in her sister’s voice after all. “I can certainly say that Cadance would be ecstatic to hear that, Lulu.”
“That wouldn’t surprise me. She had already been of great help…” Luna paused, then took a deep breath. “I will need to go, Tia. I need but a moment to make myself look more like an alicorn, and not a sleeping-in mess, and then I will be off. Find your rest. I will speak with you in the morn.”
“Of course,” Celestia replied, and it looked like she was about to leave, but her legs didn’t really listen to her, apparently. Instead, her gaze remained on Luna for a moment longer, turning softer and softer yet. “Lulu?”
“Yes, Tia?”
“I’m… I’m glad you’re back.”
“I’m relieved, too. That was quite a journey. I wasn’t expecting this idea to be so—”
“No, Lulu…”
Luna felt confused, since Celestia’s words carried with themselves not solely correction. There was something in the tone of her voice that was at least a little shaky, which didn’t fit the majesty of a solar alicorn, just like a dark blot would not be appropriate upon the radiant discus of the Sun above. However, the reason for this momentary frailty became clear when Luna spotted tears gathering in her sister’s bright, magenta eyes.
“I… I’m sorry, Lulu, I didn’t mean to…”
“… Tia?”
“I… I remember you like this, Lulu,” Celestia tried to explain, attempting to simultaneously contain her emotions. “You… You have that glint in your eyes, the one that I… I haven’t seen for so long…” She sniffed, and loudly, not that either of them minded. “I know this is, perhaps, not the right moment to get so—”
“No, Tia, I-I understand,” Luna immediately spoke up, trotting closer once more and enveloping her sister in a warm embrace. “I have been… unwell for quite a long time, haven’t I? I still do not think that I am fully healed, but if you can spot that I am taking a step in the right direction, then… I will stay on this course. It’s not an easy one, but worthwhile,” she admitted, trying to fight her own surge of feelings as they held each other for a good while.
Neither of them would consider such a moment a waste, but time was of the essence after all. After Celestia had gone away to find her rest, Luna made sure to make herself look presentable. Even if that wasn’t her main focus, she had a role to play. It was a vital one, far greater than some theatrical performance, and appearances were quite a crucial part of it. So, after freshening herself up and making sure to dispense some instructions for her absence, Luna found herself on the balcony of her chamber, having the majestic night above her, a canvas of stars and cosmic wonders.
She would fly beneath it, going east. She would make haste, until the peaks of Noctraliya would be within her sight, and until she would find the dark tips of the Eastern Woods beneath her.
Luna took a deep breath, gathered her strength and remembered her conviction.
And she leapt from the terrace, spreading her wings. She immediately felt the gust of air against her form, giving her both pause and allowing her to gain momentum. It was as if a physical manifestation of her chance at planning, anticipating and preparing, as well as progressing at a good pace.
Luna knew what she had to do.
There was a pony, one that knew of her and Moonwarden’s involvement in the Noctraliyan situation, and knew it the best. A pony that had promised that she would keep her lips sealed until her last breath and salvation. That pony would give Luna her answers.
Had she forgotten her oath, given to her praised Goddess?
That was to be seen, but the very thought caused the anger to emerge within Luna, once again. This would not be a fury brought to bear with no limits, however. No, Luna would use it like one uses a tool at their disposal. She would refine her ire, her hurt over the suffering of her beloved, and she would bring them forth like a shepherd’s rod and staff, to act her part as a Mother to the batponies. A Mother that could protect and save, but a Mother that also expected and had to be exacting when it was necessary.
Again, with the coming of those thoughts, Luna felt that she was someplace else. She could swear that she was gazing somewhere, somewhere distant. A pool of silver blinked before her sight, and she felt a connection that she had never felt before, small, brief, frail... but familiar.
But the sight and the feeling were both gone with the next blink of her eyes, while her mission remained. And so she flew, with the speed of her alicorn wings and her moonlit magic, embedding herself with swiftness and determination.
She passed over towns, villages, hamlets. She soared above hills, rivers and dales. Keen and majestic and frightening in her quest and drive.
For years to come, ponies of this part of Equestria would share stories of a brilliant comet which appeared out of nowhere in the night’s sky – a bright and unnerving omen of what was to come.
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Alright, new chapter. I am a bit surprised that it took only three weeks, though I am happy for it all the same.
Nice, to see things are improving between them.
Concerning...
Interesting to see the kinds of chaos that Luna might be causing for the Clergy.
It can be quite terrifying, that's for sure.
Uh oh, looks like the Bat Ponies are gonna get it now.
And this is leaving me excited for the next installment.
11754423
A couple of weeks is my usual target, actually, it's just that I had a lot on my plate lately.
I'm glad that ending statement worked for you. I wanted it to have an impact.
Notice to the Noctraliya Family Heads - the Bogine has found an action wanting and is now hunting ...
11754572
There's a reason to fear.
11754600
Not quite 'Nights in White Satin', but almost nightmarishly close?
11754776
I'd say... "Bad Moon Rising"?
11754781
That may depend on how high she's hunting (hireling, middlepone, or head) ...
11754798
I think it could be discerned who she is going after first.
11754808
True, a few bats are going to find the night not so friendly ... also how the news of this (hunt) goes upward, may also affect other (interested) parties ... [thinking about one Bat Mare in particular, but who knows where that herring is]
This was a very interesting chapter. The priest revealed something quite important about Ebony Crescent since he doesn't want the count to pick up very bad habits he already must have normal bad habits.
Luna's journey into Moonwarden's mind has caused quite a disturbance for the batpony priests apparently. Also Luna is going to search for answers from the batponies themselves, which will certainly throw a wrench into any plans the Lords might have since their assesment of Luna's reaction was not remotely correct.
11754829
I think it won't be too much to reveal that things can get really interesting.
think ment "note" and noit "not" ?
Wow! Things are getting more and more interesting! Even had that strange feeling that finale is nearby. But it's the false one. I hope that it's not even a culmination - so much mysteries to unravel. Twilight still needs to solve fix her relationships and beat the final boss in the person of
Lord Tywin Lannister... Some other lords, I mean. In any case, does count Mistlock know how to shoot a crossbow?Twilight stopped wincing at Midnight Wind. Well, she'd began to tame her anger some time ago, but I'll still call it a breakthrough. More in sorrow... that's for sure.
Not bad, bat. Eight zebra shamans out of ten.
Press F to pay respect for Sunfall Ordain . We know she is uninvolved in assassination attempt, but Luna doesn't.. Let us hope captain is able to speak fast.
And Luna began to see visions? Silver pools? There was a theory that Luna is not an Immaculate Moon. But if she just was unable to perform that role temporary? And now, when she began to restore her pre-corruption self, she also gaining back her Immaculate abilities?
Even a goddess known for her forgiveness isn’t without her limits when it comes to anger. Luna has had enough of these shenanigans, and so she is on her way to discover the truth. Whoever sent the assassin better pray all the harder.
Excellent as always
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You're note--I mean "not" wrong.
11755037
That's a theory, and I think it has some foundations.
And, yes, somepony can be in big trouble really soon.
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Thank you very much. I'm looking forward to writing what is to come.
Yeeees I knew that Luna would decide to go and see Sunfall Ordain again!
I wonder if she can already guess that Deep Mist is the culprit?
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We shall see how the conversation proceeds.
Some exciting hints this chapter. Looking forward for more!
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"MENE, God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it;
TEKEL, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting;
PERES, your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and the Persians."
-Daniel 5:26-28
Come, children of the night, kneel before your goddess. All who fail shall know only the burning light for eternity.
In other words... this shit just got real.
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And more shall be granted.
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We shall definitely see if this matter turns "biblical" like that.
11755299
Those are two, equally viable, ways to put it.
I have FINALLY caught up to the present for this story and oh boy is it getting better and better. Luna stole the show for this chapter in my opinion. The sweet moments she shared with Celestia was truly heartwarming. She is also now a princess on a mission, seeing how confident she is, it's absolutely fantastic. I honestly can't wait for the next chapter.
11767897
It's being constructed as we speak! Things are gaining tempo, indeed. It might get a little... intense in the upcoming installments.
Holy crap this thing is over 80 chapters AND it's ten years in the making! How long is this story supposed to go on for???
I mean, congrats for sticking with the story, this takes dedication, but holy crap this is quite the passion project-
11771109
My friend – I have no idea, I have lost control.
In seriousness, though, I am planning on making it last until things are said and done, and a satisfying conclusion is reached. It might take a while still, and I hope I'll have the strength and health to finish it one day.
11771460
Ah, ok, so at this rate my grandchildren will get a book series I understand
(No hard feelings. I understand what it feels like to constantly have new ideas. This is just a new level. I would've abandoned the story longgg ago but again, major respect!)
11771480
Hah, if only I will find in myself the drive to create a whole series that will last that long.
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Well you could always leave it in your will if it never got done in your lifetime. Sort of a family heirloom
Slightly surprised that Luna choice to visit the bat Captain. Sure, she is no doubt a trustworthy and reliable ally, but high-end political assassination schemes would reasonably be way above her pay grade. Still, it’s great to see Luna show some decisiveness, and the cliffhanger was spot on.
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That is what she is capable of doing right now, I feel, and she feels.
But she's rapidly gaining momentum.
Mares and Gentle colts, Luna is back!
I am enjoying your approach to character development, on all fronts.
On that note, Count Brother needs a Xanax or something... and a shrink.
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Thank you for all the words of praise!
And those of wisdom, regarding the Count Brother!
11784992
Some kind words are the least I can offer for this world you've taken the time to craft.
And I was debating weather or not I wanted this answered, but: where did you get the inspiration for the Brothers character from?
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For Ebony Crescent? Nowhere in particular, I don't think. I try to forge characters in the confines of my own head, and his sort of "trope" I wanted to include at some point in this Journey. The one thing that gave the idea a bit more flesh was the malady that he is suffering from, which is a real illness.
Other than that, it's just imagination.
Carnelian: the first Noctraliyan to set out to prove you can rhyme with "orange".
I completely forgot that Luna had met Sunfall Ordain previously. Makes sense that she's seek her out to gain information about who the assailant may be, though whether she reveals this as her intent remains to be seen. And that mention of silver once more, but this time seen by
The Immaculate MoonPrincess Luna. Continues to make me think there's some separate entity at play. Now that I think about it, though, Harmony was always present and even gained some sort of sentience in the series, so the presence of another like that shouldn't be surprising.Twilight would be wise to remember this. I have a feeling it will save her at some point, either emotionally, physically, or both.
11790516
Definitely something worth remembering for the future, yes.