Journey with a Batpony

by Gulheru

Chapter XCIV – Here There Be Monsters

Luna kept her head down. Silent and still, she waited. She wasn’t sure for what. But the feeling, the weight upon her, it felt almost enough to try and crush her spine if she made the smallest of moves.

The window to Moonwarden’s room was covered with a curtain, granting ultimate and terrifying privacy to anypony still inside. It horrified her, as if she was looking upon a veil that hid behind something final, something deciding, something that one couldn’t step away from, once it had happened.

And yet, here she was. She needed to hear it. She needed it to be told directly to her, she had to experience the words through her own ears. There was no other way.

They had reached her right in the evening. The missive’s delivery had been delayed until she woke up, though she had chastised those responsible for it, and had done so with regal ire. She would have felt bad about it in any other circumstances, but not those. Not those. She had rushed to the hospital with great haste, barely allowing herself the time to look at least presentable. Some things were demanded of her, as Equestria’s diarch, but some situations also exculpated rushing the preparations. And yet, these exact scenarios also demanded tackling them in proper attire, with full regalia… and a steeled heart.

And so, Luna was there, in her royal bearing, right in the hospital corridor. She imagined herself as if a somber statue of dark marble, though those sometimes could be found at local places of mourning, and…

She exhaled, trying to gather herself. She was waiting for doctor Silver Scalpel to give her the truth, however… complicated. She had to be strong. There would be no onlookers here, and yet Luna felt like the world was watching, judging her reaction. Seeing whether she was worthy to accept reality for what it had become. She had to remain stoic, firm and collected, at least… at least until hearing the official statement.

Elegy and Brass Plaque were there, of course, as the representatives of the Second Chance. However, they were keeping their distance from Luna, as if not wanting to sully her royal aura and her great focus with their proximity. She could feel their gazes on her, careful but estimating, a reminder that she was not on her own with this new reality.

They exchanged hushed whispers, as well. She imagined that they were also quite moved by the news, and if their tones were of any indication, as they murmured in her ears even from this distance, the ponies were most intrigued about what would happen now.

There was something… grating about it to Luna. Yes, they had been of great help so far, they had guarded her… her beloved, and they had offered her support and encouragement, but… they looked like they were scheming.

She was reminded at that moment that, despite all the amicability that the group shared, with each other and with her, those were all ponies guilty of reprehensible actions, and ones for whom intrigue was like a second skin, for better or worse. At a moment like this, that truth was shining for her like a beam of her sister’s sunlight that inadvertently made its way to her humble, darkened abode and hit her square in the eyes.

Or… or perhaps she was just being harsh for the sake of harshness. Maybe the whiplash from her shock was making itself known, despite her efforts to remain calm and collected. Besides, Luna could also still feel the outcome of her journey to the Eastern Woods, weighing upon her even after all of those deliberations and ruminations. Perhaps that could explain the stiffness in her neck. Not to mention that all the knowledge and insight she had brought to Canterlot were causing a great deal of furrowed brows and gritting teeth, to more ponies than just her.

Some wisdom carried with itself almost literal maladies of the mind.

However, she would deal with those after this evening. After this… moment. It would definitely bring with itself a conclusion, whether one liked it or not.

When the door to the room before her opened, revealing the good doctor, Luna’s eyes were already on him, piercing through his look, his gaze, his attitude, his stance, anything that could give her a sliver of truth. She was asking the most obvious question without uttering a word, without even inhaling to present it aloud, holding her breath with utter desperation.

Silver Scalpel was kind enough to address her after but a moment, though his stoic tone betrayed absolutely nothing at first, prolonging her anguish for that one, almost impossible to endure second, right before plunging her head first into the truth that awaited her from now on.

“I have, myself, conducted the necessary examination in these circumstances, Your Majesty, as I was expecting you coming around post haste,” he began, his emotionless voice of a specialist causing her almost physical pain. “I have to declare mister Moonwarden officially entering the period of recovery.”

That was, perhaps, the most wondrous thing that Luna could have heard, expressed in the most terrible way. Not that she cared for the stallion’s most unfortunate choice of some words.

And yet something about this declaration was still very much missing. Something crucial, critical and anticipated had been omitted, and it was that revelation which had made her dive straight from her room’s terrace to arrive at the hospital in a blink.

She was wondering if the lack of this one sentence was not something that the doctor had actively planned. Would he decide to have some fun at her expense, knowing her dedication to Moonwarden?!

Luna had to chastise herself for such thinking, going from elation and relief straight into suspicion and accusation. She reminded herself that he simply, well, wasn’t a sort of pony to be focused on the feelings of others. Especially since Luna’s bond with her Advisor remained an almost strict secret.

Nevertheless, she had to ask, firmly and precisely. “Doctor, did he really wake up out of a sudden?”

“ ‘Out of a sudden’ would be an exaggeration, since we have been monitoring him constantly and tirelessly,” Silver Scalpel responded in that blank tone of his, cocking his eyebrow. “But, yes, Your Majesty, mister Moonwarden has regained consciousness. We decided to very carefully lower the medicine’s dosage to allow the body to naturally awaken, since one shouldn’t be kept for too long in such an artificial state. However, it should be stated that he must have been in quite the hurry to awaken on his own,” he explained in his seemingly unfeeling tone. “I wonder what caused it, precisely, since the anesthesia was picked with utmost precision. Truth be told, we actually had to rush some specialists in when he regained consciousness. He seemed a little confused about his surroundings, and of the necessity of all the tubes around him. He almost managed to weave some sort of a spell, quite the feat for a mind only waking. It was, nevertheless, only caused by disorientation and not any sort of shock or something more pronounced and dangerous. It was more like his training ‘kicking in’, shall I say.”

Luna pondered. It could very well be considered a testimony to Moonwarden’s skills and experience, if his first reaction after having failed to initially realize his situation had been activating his fight instinct.

Still, the most important was the here and the now. “So, doctor Silver Scalpel, is he still lucid? Or were you forced to…?”

“No, fortunately. He remains awake at the moment, yes, although he’s still very tired. We are monitoring his vital signs, we made sure to make him a bit more comfortable, especially with the scarring on his back, we are providing him with oxygen for easier breathing,” Silver Scalpel explained, nodding to himself in thought, and with some dosage of pride. “I took it upon myself to let him know of his situation. Thankfully, mister Moonwarden has always been and remains a reasonable stallion, so he grasped his situation and connected the dots before hurting himself in any way, also by spellcasting. More so, he can be convinced to remain calm and still, it’s a very important trait in a patient. He needs to recuperate for some time still, and we need to slowly, slowly get him up onto his legs,” Silver Scalpel explained, looking Luna dead in the eye. “However…” he added in a quieter tone.

She felt put on high alert with that one word, and that change of volume. It wouldn’t be there without a good, terrible reason. “What is it, doctor? Speak plainly, please.”

“Well, there is the matter of mister Moonwarden returning to full strength, to explain it most broadly at first,” the doctor pointed out, considering his words carefully and doing some form of medical calculations and predictions in but a few seconds. “He isn’t the youngest of ponies about, and while we are using whatever we can to assure his continued recuperation, Your Majesty, there are some things that worry us.”

“Namely?” Luna pushed just a little, unable to contain herself.

“The gash on the throat is healing properly, thankfully, might leave some scarring that can be covered by the coat, unlike what’s on his back. But that was extensive and, let us be honest, ‘planned damage’. The perforated lung is slowly returning to its functionality, although mister Moonwarden will not be running any races for a long time, if he has ever been inclined to partake in such an activity,” Silver Scalpel remarked.

“He was still an operative, doctor, and remains in proper shape, despite what one might call a ‘desk job’,” Luna told him in return, and while the surgeon accepted her point, it also fueled his own.

“That… is actually a way of describing his tasks in a way that might fit mister Moonwarden for quite a while, if not forever,” the stallion explained in a most serious, and traditionally frigid, tone. “For there’s the matter of the broken leg. Obviously, it wasn’t our main concern up to this point, as saving the Advisor’s life was a priority, but now is the time to consider the repercussions of this, particular injury. The strike that mister Moonwarden had received was quite potent, possibly delivered through the medium of a tool, maybe a hoof reinforced by something.”

Luna listened to that explanation with great focus, knowing more about the assailant than the doctor did, and adding this deed to the list of things he would, inevitably, answer for, if she could only help it.

Silver Scalpel continued in the meantime. “And while we restored the leg as much as we could, there’s no way of telling whether mister Moonwarden will not be left with a permanent limp, Your Majesty. Of course, there are certain spells, restorative treatments and rehabilitation, but I’d rather present the worst possible scenario, rather than grant any sort of false hope. It seems redundant for me to do so.”

“I understand your stance, doctor,” Luna told the stallion, her eyes already escaping towards Moonwarden’s room. “It shall, obviously, be my Advisor’s sole choice and opinion whether to consider this the actually worst possible scenario. Still, I think that escaping with one’s life after being the target of an assassination of this sort and ending up with but a limp some would consider rather fortuitous.”

“True, Your Majesty, but that depends on the pony,” Silver Scalpel reminded her and his professional tone did actually make her feel a little silly about her remark. “Obviously, living to tell the tale is preferable, but there are fewer ponies to share the story with if you cannot reach them on your own legs… Or, at least, it takes much longer. And that’s a cost in efficiency that, I do know, mister Moonwarden would not be keen on.”

Luna had to acknowledge the doctor’s point, entirely. Knowing her Advisor, her beloved, he would see this as an unnecessary complication in his duties. It was just that… That she was so happy that he had woken up, that he had made it after this terrifying twist of fate, that she had disregarded common sense for a little while. She couldn’t keep doing that, but she forgave herself quickly, spurned by one, single desire.

“Could I… visit Advisor Moonwarden now, then?”

Silver Scalpel thought for a second, looking back in the room’s direction himself. “I… believe it wouldn’t be utterly unthinkable. You have already been inside, Your Majesty, and we had assured ourselves even prior that no infections persisted in mister Moonwarden’s system, and that no new ones could develop. His state has improved…” he added, considering her request for a moment longer. “I see no harm in it. As long as you understand, Your Majesty, that he is still weak and needs to conserve his strength. Stressing, exciting or tiring him out with a prolonged conversation is not advised.”

Luna was well aware of that, and the advice was most reasonable. She was also mindful of the fact that she had already shared quite a long talk with the stallion, in the silvery confines of his mind and core. That was not something that the doctors were aware of, obviously, but by doing that she had perhaps managed to motivate Moonwarden enough for him to actually make this speedy recovery.

He… He had promised her that he would do his part. And had said many other, important things that couldn’t quite wait for much longer.

Luna recalled the room she entered very well from her previous venture into it, the one which had included finding a specific locket and realizing alongside it a specific, wondrous truth. This time, there was one, glaring difference. Yes, the machinery was still here, beeping, moving, acting out an artificial will to keep Moonwarden alive, and the tubes were still giving the very unpleasant impression of him being a puppet of the contraptions around.

But his eyes were open and aware. They locked onto her the moment she crossed the threshold, and were soon accompanied by the monitors awakening even more, alongside the stallion. The rhythm of the sounds sped up in a way that even Luna noticed, and she could tell exactly what it indicated. Especially when the unicorn stirred, almost as if attempting to sit up, and desperately tried to take in a deep breath and say something right away, straining himself against common sense.

Luna wasn’t going to let that happen, however jubilant she was to see him meeting her gaze and recognizing her, so she trotted over rapidly. She was now right by his bed and his side, to make sure that he wouldn’t have to try something drastic, or speak loudly. Or at all, if he didn’t have the strength for it.

He might not have, indeed, but there was still his will. That he had in spades, despite the current weakness of his flesh.

“My… My l-lady…” his whisper made its way past his tired lips, past the tubes, and right into Luna’s ears, almost causing her to cry on the spot.

How she had longed to hear that expression from him at least one more time, especially now, knowing the full weight hiding behind it.

“Shhh…” she hushed the stallion, trying her best to keep her composure and not to fall into tears of happiness. She even had to battle herself not to reach out and pet the stallion’s temple, in a calming, direct gesture of affection. “You don’t have to speak, Moonwarden, please. You must be exhausted… You’ve come back after quite an ordeal. And, I… I welcome you back, so gladly. It’s wonderful to see you awake.”

Luna would chastise herself for beginning this conversation like so, but she couldn’t quite think straight, mulling inside all of the emotions, all of the surges of joy and hope at seeing the grey unicorn looking at her with that deep, silver stare of his.

It was… soft. Softer than she could remember it ever having been, and she couldn’t quite force herself to look away from his eyes, which were drawing her in with all of the feelings in them.

A quiet, raspy breath entered Moonwarden’s lungs, as he tried to say something again. He was taking his time, measuring the strain, his rich voice reduced to but a whisper, but not losing its distinguished quality.

“I… I am… sorry that I cannot… cannot greet you… properly.”

Luna almost sighed in exasperation at the very premise. Was that at the forefront of his mind? Or… maybe he too was finding it difficult to reach for the right words. And for far better reasons than but the aftermath of his coma.

“Peace, Moonwarden. That really should not bother you right now,” she told him. She decided to close the distance as well, to stop him from seeing her as just a monarch, visiting him in time of trial. So she sat down on her haunches right next to the bed, bringing her head closer to his level. “Besides, I’m here for you as a fellow pony, decorum be damned.”

“How… How worryingly… reformist of you…” he whispered with surprising coherence, and that caused Luna to fight an actual giggle.

Seemingly, the fact that he just made her laugh instilled in Moonwarden some measure of strength, for he tried to move his head more in her direction. Although that quickly made him squint his eyes in discomfort, considering the bandage and wound still on his neck. Luna shifted accordingly, so that he could see her better, to spare him the painful movements.

“Lie still, Moonwarden… You need to heal, you have a long road before you return to full strength,” she reminded him, and his silver eyes clearly fought the urge to roll, to her further amusement. It seemed that he remained the same character he had always been. “Oh, am I being too much of a ‘yet another doctor’?”

“A little…” he whispered, his lips twitching in a smirk. “How… How are matters, my… my lady…? What happened… while I…?”

“No, Moonwarden,” Luna told him off, ever so gently. “Don’t you worry about Equestria right now. It’s still standing and safe, even without you keeping your keen eye on everything, my dearest Advisor. It’s just… slightly less suave for the moment.”

“Un… Unforgivable…” he quipped with a tired grin, closing his eyes for a brief moment.

She pondered whether he didn’t want to get some more, due rest, and she would be fine with just staying there for him, even as but a silent guardian. And she would be one now possessing even more strength and will to protect him. For he had come back from the brink of death, and the least she could do is make sure that this return wasn’t a lone one.

However, it looked like the stallion was simply preparing to speak for a moment longer, focusing and gathering endurance. She imagined that, after what he had went through, the very action of talking was draining.

“My lady… I…”

“Yes, Moonwarden?”

“I had… I need to… to ask. I… I know it has been… some time. But from the void, I… I remember a… a strange dream,” the unicorn whispered, letting out a raspy exhale afterwards, almost as if reaching for that particular memory was physically painful. “I… It is so… so vivid. So real… You were there and… And…”

Luna felt herself focusing entirely on Moonwarden, even more than before. This was nothing short of a clear indication that he actually recalled her visit, one that had happened in the very focal point of his nature and character. That the whole meeting hadn’t been just some strange, wistful and wishful vision she had endured only by herself, guided by her own fantasies and naïve hopes. Not that she had had to fight doubts about it, but a confirmation, an actual corroboration coming from his side, would be an amazing thing.

“And I…” Moonwarden continued, his gaze turning confused briefly, and very distant. “I’m… no,” he briefly stopped himself, displeased about something. “I am,” he accentuated ever so slightly, clearly unwilling to let his usual mannerisms go, even when being so exhausted, “uncertain as to… as to…?”

“Yes? Speak what’s on your mind, please,” Luna encouraged him, though mindful of what she had been told. “Slowly, however… Take your time, all that you need.”

The unicorn would have nodded, but that would cause him unnecessary discomfort, surely. “I feel like… I could have… have imagined some of… of it,” he revealed, blinking ever so slowly. “But it does not… seem likely. What I… What I recall for certain is… the darkness… The gloom,” he pointed out, to himself also, as his lips shuddered. “But what I also saw, and… and experienced, it… It felt just as real... And if such…”

There was a pause, and a long one. A very long one. Moonwarden’s breaths were steady, but grew progressively shallower and shallower. Luna could tell that, while his heartbeat had become slower during this initial conversation, it was getting faster again, experiencing spikes of activity, if she could read those beeping monitors properly. It was as if certain thoughts coming to the forefront of the unicorn’s mind were making him much more agitated than necessary.

She had an idea what those might have been, considering what they had both endured during their strange, supernatural meeting right in his core.

And so Luna gave the stallion time, carefully observing his state. Especially when a wayward droplet of sweat began to make its way down his temple, right from underneath his hair, which looked like it had greyed even further over those last days.

“Oh…”

She heard his slight exhale, one that caused his eyes to close and his lips to shudder ever so slightly, before he lifted his eyelids once more and his argent stare found hers.

It was piercing and keen despite Moonwarden’s tiredness. “That… that was you,” he finally deemed. “I can see… see it in your gaze, my lady…”

“Yes, Moonwarden, that was me,” Luna admitted, leaning slightly forward with a small smile. “You seem moved. Dare I say – surprised, even. But you didn’t think I would leave my most loyal companion alone in his misfortune, did you?” she asked, feeling a mixture of pride for her accomplishment and warmth at the thought of actually helping the stallion in his hour of need.

Love was—

“F… Foolish.”

Luna’s thought process wilted right away, and the expression on her lips withered just the same when she heard Moonwarden’s reply. It was spoken with surprising power, considering his state, which only added to the shock factor. This wasn’t a friendly nudge for the sake of faux protest about her actions, especially one hiding behind itself great relief and happiness at the effort.

No, this was more. Much more. And she knew that tone. She knew the lips that had uttered that word, for she had met that shadowy presence right in the unicorn’s mind. But this wasn’t only him, or ‘himself’, talking. It was both.

And seeing that there would be more to come, considering Moonwarden’s expression and those agitated breaths trying to gather air to speak again, Luna bit her lip and withstood the coming chastisement.

“Remembering… what we had clearly shared – what… simply what prompted you to… to be that reckless…?” he muttered, and she could have sworn that she was actually hearing two tones at the same time. It was, most likely, just her imagination, though she found the thought particularly hard to shake off. “You… I could have… I actually tried to…!”

Moonwarden hissed through his clenched teeth, a sound that was most unpleasant to Luna’s ears. She got worried that he was hurting himself in his exasperation, but the discomfort was coming from the state of his mind, not body. She tried to withstand it, tried to manage despite the stallion’s biting words. She understood, or at least tried to grasp, where this anger was coming from.

“You… I know why,” the stallion suddenly said, venom dripping from his words. “I had… I had something to… consider, no? A thought to… to entertain…”

“Moonwarden,” Luna decided to speak after all, with a calming, stoic voice, making sure not to take her eyes off him. “I know what you want to tell me. I have taken certain risks, yes, risks that you deem too great still. I can understand that, I fathom exactly why you care for me so much, and why would you call me foolish for going through with this idea. But you do recall what we have talked about, all we’ve discussed. And so – are you astonished that I acted upon it, then?”

The moment of silence which followed was indicative of a lot of things. The unicorn’s eyes, though still looking only at her, were changing, shifting, fluctuating among the many emotions. They became filled with a whole torrent of feelings, one that could only mean Moonwarden vividly remembering the whole conversation, in all of its details. The vile manipulation, the unbearable shame, the sweet admittance, it was all there, in his memories and in his stare.

He just didn’t know what to do with it.

The stallion’s eyes filled with tears, adding even more complexity to the whole situation. His whisper, as it was escaping his lips, was shaky and uncertain.

“W-why…? Could you not… just leave it be? Could I not… b-be left in peace? With myself…?” Moonwarden protested quietly. He turned his head further still in Luna’s direction, despite the pain that twisted his muzzle for a brief moment, as he wanted to take in her entire bearing. “I… Your gesture, I… It was beautiful, b-but…”

“… yes?” she inquired when he took longer to speak up, clearly fighting himself over something.

“You… You took such a risk… F-for me,” he stated, letting out a couple of clearly annoyed exhales. “This feeling… It already made you… made you reckless. You… You must not be… that. You cannot…!”

Luna shook her head, looking at Moonwarden with pity, almost. “Will I stop being the ideal in your head and heart?” When he didn’t reply outright, she continued, her voice turning soft and understanding. “My dearest Advisor, we have talked about it. In very unusual circumstances, but no less real. I’m still a pony. And a pony in love is sometimes a little… inefficient.”

The unicorn closed his eyes, as if the premise, realized anew, was hurtful to him. As if, despite it all, he still couldn’t bear to accept this scenario in entirety. The monitors by the bed were beeping, loudly and piercingly, but not so much to distract Luna from the stallion before her, especially as he looked at her again.

“Of… of all the ponies, of all the ages… of our history?” he asked, almost as if in accusation. “This is… silly, beyond… beyond belief. I am not to have… have this reciprocated.”

“Moonwarden… but why not?” Luna asked, having the distinct feeling like she was talking with a stubborn foal that couldn’t understand a basic concept. Or simply, didn’t want to, fearing the idea of it.

“Please, my… my lady,” he responded, and his lips shifted. Quickly and abruptly enough to almost scare Luna, as they suddenly formed an almost hysterical grin that didn’t fit at all on his tired muzzle. “There are so many more… worthwhile creatures. Gallant and principled, and… and morally unambiguous. And you are looking with… with fondness at me? Your personal… twisted… grey monster?”

That was a loaded question, and Luna felt it with every fiber of her being, suddenly understanding the premise that he had put before her. As much as some of his protest was genuine, he had clearly decided that it was also a teachable moment, turning the tables on Luna.

For this wasn’t just a little over exaggeration for the sake of humor, especially at own expense. The stallion was making it perfectly clear that he meant much more. That this wasn’t him wallowing in pity, being defiant just for the sake of it. Perhaps he still had his doubts, perhaps he never had imagined this scenario actually happening. But if it could happen, well, then it was crystal clear that he wanted to first make sure that she remembered what she had witnessed.

And what she had promised to him.

“We will have this conversation, Moonwarden,” she said aloud, staying close but also keeping her tone leveled and regal. “I have forgotten not a feeling nor a sight. I always knew you to be a reprobate and a manipulator, but the range of your ambition and intrigues? That we shall discuss, and discuss as long as it will be necessary. Until there is no string left that isn’t scrutinized, no sweet promise that I don’t know about, and no clandestine scheme that is blossoming behind my back. Am I making myself clear?”

She was, that much was blatant from Moonwarden’s stare which suddenly erupted with renewed energy. It was as if some part of the pony before her was just… so proud of her and that stance which she was taking. There was still a tinge of sadness, that strange, indiscernible sadness, in that silver gaze, one that was far removed from the possibility of losing influence.

The unicorn’s words didn’t speak of it, at least not right away. “It was real…” he instead whispered, his expression having returned to normal, but his lips still twitching. “Thank… thank you, my lady,” he added, a tone of genuine gratitude in his voice, as if he was truly happy that somepony had managed to see him at his absolute worst. “You were still… borderline v-vacuous for… for trying to reach me... Do you know that?”

“Considering what I found myself being subjected to, I can accept such an opinion, with some annotations,” she told him, being both serious and jocular. “Quite the lines of defense, my dear Advisor.”

“Sometimes things need to… be kept out and kept in. At the same time…” he admitted with something of a smirk, closing his eyes again and taking a deeper breath, one which caused his brow to furrow. “You know, I… I remember you after your… your return, my lady. Your very presence, before… before your powers began… returning. It was… muted. You looked so lost… at first.” He paused, taking a moment to gather more perseverance to keep talking. “I want to… believe it was me seeing things… at least to some degree. But still…”

“I did feel lost,” Luna admitted, carefully hanging on his every word to discern where his thinking was going. “Returning after so long, into a new world that advanced beyond what I had imagined a millennium prior. Not to mention returning with quite the baggage of guilt, and a broken spirit.”

“Yes, though I… I could not have known… the full extent of your troubles…” he admitted, looking to the side a little, as if consulting the matter with another pony. Which, truth be told, could have been the very case. “But I felt the… the need to protect you. You, of all ponies… Silly, is it not?”

“I wouldn’t say so,” Luna told him back with a smile. “An alicorn can do much, but is not omnipotent nor impervious to all threats in the world. As my very story proves.”

“Yes, but… A moth trying to… to protect the flame? Sound like… like a failed premise… by its very nature. Why would… the Moon need a warden?” Moonwarden claimed, trying to chuckle, but letting out only a pained sigh as he must have irritated his wounds briefly. “I am wondering now… whether in some… some twisted way I thought… thought that I could… be beneficial to you…”

“You always were.”

“Thank you, my… my lady, but what I mean is,” the grey unicorn clarified, looking at her intently again, “that if you had a loyal… and devoted monster… right next to you, then… then maybe one night you would… would learn to defend yourself… from other monsters, abound and… around. And… and maybe me, as well.”

For some reason, Luna felt heat behind her cheeks. Something about those words was honest and diligent, and loving enough, to invoke a bashful reaction from her. Especially considering all that the two of them had shared throughout the years, even without taking into consideration Moonwarden’s feelings.

But the stallion’s point made her pause, ruminate briefly, and then ask aloud. “Do you really see yourself as that, Moonwarden? Are you a great, grey monster of malefic ambition and poisonous sophistication, perhaps?”

“Well…” he replied, with a little, exhausted smirk, “for the sake of… this argument, I might. I am no exemplar, I would not… not call myself a… a decent pony, even, by… especially by Equestria’s moral standards of good and… and evil. But that is, surely… ‘dualistic’ thinking, is it not?” he asked with a little bit of healthy bite in his tone. “You… you have grown strong. You have restored… restored your spirit, having worked… to achieve that, night by night. Now, you spoke with… with the batponies, the… the children you feared. You stood… before your own faults and… and looked into the abyss. Just like me, and myself… had done,” he remarked, and Luna wouldn’t have been surprised to hear two voices, once again. “Now… Now you are ready to… to hold me accountable,” he added, pride filling his voice. The vainglorious one, but also the one felt about Luna’s journey. “I will mark it all… as my victory.”

She laughed. She actually laughed, shaking her head in disbelief at his audacity. “Will you really attempt to present everything in life as but one more successful plan of yours, Moonwarden?”

“Do you… blame me for trying, my lady?” he replied, smiling a tired smile, one that definitely betrayed just how exhausted he was getting at this point. Still, he continued, keeping up that expression on his muzzle for a bit longer. “When I… got the scars on my back… I won a great victory for… for Equestria. Now, that I… I almost perished again… I have allowed you the chance at… at becoming stronger and… and more willful. Regal and stern. You… you grow into a… a more astute and wiser ruler yet…”

Despite the very difference in age and nature, Luna felt like a young claimant to Equestria’s throne, being judged and praised by an old mentor before finally ascending and taking the tiara for herself.

She cocked an eyebrow, smiling at the grey unicorn. “But I do all of that at your expense, Moonwarden. I’m talking about scrutinizing your intrigues, after all, judging you for them. Any mastermind would be regretful and would protest such a turn of events.”

“That is true, and… and a part of me is very… vocal about it. But…”

He stopped, and a sudden stillness came upon him, one that terrified Luna for a heartbeat. However, it was brief, brief enough to be considered but a moment of very deep thought.

“What you… you said to me, spawned something. Or, rather… reawakened. Something, deep in me. It might be… just the tiredness talking, but… but that sliver of me… constantly reminds me that… that…” he didn’t finish at first, closing his eyes and trying to take a very deep breath, one that almost agitated his injuries. “Do you recall when… when you asked me, my… my lady to… to betray Equestria?”

Luna did, very much so. And she used his own words to respond. “For me?”

“Yes, exactly…” he said back, before his gaze found hers. “For you.”

Luna’s expression beamed at the short sentence, which conveyed almost everything she could have hoped for. Her heart skipped a beat, right in between the beeps signifying Moonwarden’s own.

The stallion then grinned, screening this moment of utter honesty with his usual irony. “So… you see, if I… I can accept such frivolous… and farfetched ideas like losing it all for your sake, as… as serving me in the grand scheme of things… then what in life does not work… in my favor?”

“You’re a scoundrel, Moonwarden,” Luna deemed, in the most loving way she could.

“At… at your service, my lady…” the unicorn told her in response, taking in her sight before closing his eyes once more. “Forgive me… I think I need to… to rest a bit more.”

“Of course,” she agreed, realizing she had already asked a lot of him by maintaining this discussion for so long, and touching upon some very serious topics. “Make sure you follow the doctors’ orders, Moonwarden. I want you returning to your strength at a healthy pace. No forcing yourself into anything, alright? You’ve already been quite zealous, waking up so quickly.”

He opened his eyes briefly again, giving her an almost ridiculing look, but nodded his head, accepting her will as his own. “It shall… be done, my lady…”

“Good… I will visit soon, Moonwarden,” she made the promise, gladly, seeing his lips smirking as she did so.

“I am starting to… count the hours, then,” he uttered, turning his head slightly to make himself more comfortable before finding his rest. And yet his eyes opened one more time, and something of a sly smirk bloomed on his lips. “Oh… My lady?”

“Yes?”

“Whose… whose move is it now? Yours… or actually mine?”

Luna smiled at Moonwarden referencing their little chess game, as well as clearly so much more. She stood up from the side of the bed when he closed his eyes again. Yet she took a second longer to look upon him, upon her beloved pony, one that had, even in the midst of his great misfortune, her well-being and benefit in mind.

And one that, perhaps, could ultimately accept that he could be loved by her.

Luna had one regret. One, which she realized only after having left the room and then the hospital, having shared a moment of discussion with Elegy and Brass Plaque regarding the moves to come.

That she hadn’t kissed Moonwarden.

Well, perhaps it would have been slightly intrusive regarding his state. Maybe even unwise, medically speaking. But… even if only on his forehead. To give him an additional sign that he was truly back, and that she was by his side, just like he had been there for her through all of those years.

The road to their happiness was long, and Luna would make sure that it would be compelled to become straight and narrow for him, but it was worth travelling.

Even for a grey ‘monster’.

---

Twilight checked the last piece of luggage she had. Packing should not have taken her that long in the first place, but even if it had, well, it was prudent to make sure that everything was in place. She would dare say – especially when the process itself had taken so frustratingly long.

It had occupied much more of her time than she had thought. Yes, she had begun last morning, after having received the confirmation that Lord Bright Crescent had accepted her choice of leaving the Mountain. She had hoped to be done before bedtime, but… truth be told, the last few days had caused her to grow tired very quickly.

Whether it was the mental stress, or some aftereffect of the brew she had been fed, the result was the same. When Twilight secured everything, she had less than an hour remaining before her departure.

Which, by itself, would be happening quite early on in the evening. Otherwise, she would need to wait for at least four more nights before attempting the travel. A weather front was moving through the area, and flights in the direction of the Mountain of Dusk would be… inadvisable, to say the least.

A knock on the door summoned her attention and made the quick pace of the night that much more evident. “Yes?”

“It’s Rowan Berry, hwalba knaze,” came the feminine voice from the corridor. “The Honored Lord’s servants are asking whether they would be allowed to take care of your things soon?”

“Yes, yes, one moment,” Twilight replied, checking one last time if she had everything she wanted by her.

Which, of course, meant mostly her dress for the night, and she picked one that definitely allowed her comfort and wasn’t imposing. She wasn’t expecting much of a welcoming committee back at the Mountain of Dusk, of course, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t look both comfortable and appropriate, in blues and whites.

After opening the door, Twilight was greeted by the healer’s calm curtsy and the sight of her garb, outfitted with a few, trusted satchels, all ready for travel. “Hwalba knaze, benu noc.”

“Benu noc, Yazembe Acine,” Twilight replied to the mare with a kind smile. “I take it I’m the slacking pony this time around?”

“Not slacking, Honored Princess. Still, if the luggage is to be secured on time, then it should be passed to the servants right now,” the batpony told her. “Midnight Wind in downstairs, waiting to let everypony in, but… we also wanted to be certain you are fine with the servants passing through. We don’t want to leave anything to chance after the last few nights, not least of all your comfort.”

“Thank you, that’s very kind of you. And it would be alright to allow them entrance,” Twilight replied, deciding to then reveal a bit more about her current state. “Speaking of my comfort, I slept pretty well today, though… I feel like I am getting tired quicker. I have been fumbling with my belongings for much longer than I wanted to, it cost me valuable time.”

That response did trigger something within Rowan Berry, right before she shouted down for Midnight to let the servants in. The healer took Twilight to the room’s side, not to have the clamour and the presence of the courtiers bother them too directly.

“Could you describe how you are feeling a little more? Is it a mental fatigue, or solely physical one?”

“A bit of both, perhaps? The former I can understand even by myself, but the latter is a bit concerning,” Twilight explained, stretching one of her legs. “I know I’ve never been much of an athlete, but my Divine Aspect did give me more strength, accordingly. But I felt short of breath quickly, even though I was just moving some books and clothes around. And I had magic to help.”

Rowan Berry nodded, listening carefully, and even avoiding a grimace at the mention of arcane arts. “It might be some residual effect, actually,” she deemed, quickly enough to believe her professional knowledge in the matter. “You managed to regain clarity of mind on the spot, but some remnants of a brew like that can persist in the system for a while, before the body purges all of it. That, or it is just mental exhaustion manifesting as a physical one, that’s not unthinkable. Have you eaten enough for your evening meal just now? The flight isn’t too long, but it’s better to have something in one’s stomach.”

“I’d say so, yes.”

“Good. I do have some medicine that wouldn’t cause nausea,” the mare informed Twilight in a diligent and kind tone. “Tell me if this weakness will start manifesting again so I could help you out, hwalba knaze.”

“Thank you, Rowan Berry, I appreciate that,” Twilight replied, seeing that the lupule was not only willing but also glad to help.

And… something about it was so genuinely encouraging that Twilight found herself unable to stop herself from asking about one, particular matter. They were both in relative privacy, even when the servants began to carry the luggage out of the room. A hushed conversation wouldn’t be something completely out of place.

“If you could… tell me one more thing, Rowan Berry…”

“Yes? What is it, hwalba knaze?”

“I spotted something last night, especially, and I would like to have it confirmed by you if possible. Have you and Midnight Wind... talked? I hope you know what I mean by that. I had this strange feeling that you have managed to reach some sort of a new agreement between yourselves?” Twilight presented the question in an accordingly delicate tone, although something about Rowan Berry’s gaze made her wish to clarify. “Of course, I don’t mean to pry in any way, especially considering your shared history, but—”

“No, no, no, hwalba knaze, it’s not prying, no…” the mare interrupted ever so gently, shaking her head. “I’m glad you took notice, actually. I mean… I wouldn’t want to say too much, as it is a matter shared between me and Maednoc Wentr. But, with you not wishing to see us… which was utterly understandable,” the mare pointed out, lowering her coral gaze for a moment, “well, we… had a chance to talk. Openly and honestly. Something we, truth be told, hadn’t previously had an opportunity to do.”

Twilight listened attentively, nodding at the mare’s explanation. “I imagine… I mean, I don’t have to imagine, I saw the bad blood between you two.”

“You scarcely have an idea, hwalba knaze,” Rowan Berry retorted, looking embarrassed, even ashamed for a moment. “But… it’s better now. I think… I think it’s your influence as well, truth be told.”

“I won’t be taking any undue credit, Rowan Berry,” Twilight replied with a smile. “Sometimes life works in unexpected ways at unexpected moments. We should enjoy when it brings benefits.”

“That’s reasonable,” the healer told her with a serene grimace of her own. “I shall still seek in it a sign of providence. I feel that, among all of the challenges that we face, Bogine is with us, making sure that Her grand design persists… And you are playing a great part in that, hwalba knaze.”

Twilight didn’t feel that she was inclined to fully agree, having endured many things sent her way. Answering the question of exactly who had been sending them seemed to throw one into a dangerous, philosophical territory, but… Well, she hoped for a slower pace of trials and tribulations to come, even if her actions and choices were ultimately helping the ponies of this mountainous land.

Or, perhaps, that was just wishful thinking on her end and new problems were awaiting her with bated breath, just around the corner.

One more question remained to be asked, especially since the servants had gathered everything from the chamber and it was clearly time to go.

“And, tell me, did Midnight Wind mention that he needed to talk with me? Like, intently? He asked me for a conversation and, honestly, I’m curious as to what his state is, and what he might wish to share with me now…”

Rowan Berry’s expression didn’t necessarily falter, but definitely turned much more serious. “Now that is something I cannot help with, I don’t believe. There are matters that involve… your bond, hwalba knaze, and only you two can touch upon that. And decide what is there to happen with it…”

So did the mare claim, though Twilight couldn’t shake away the feeling that there was more to this upcoming conversation than just their affection. Not that it would necessarily be a bad thing, as many matters had to be addressed, reconsidered and reestablished, if there were to be a future for their mutual feelings.

Twilight bit her lip, just a little. She knew that, for this to work in any way, she had to be ready for anything. Many thoughts had been bouncing around her head those last nights, after all.

Still, as she was leaving the spire, she gave Midnight Wind a smile and a nod, one that he responded to with a proper, but friendly salute. A sliver of hope.

Soon after, Twilight found herself in the Mountain of Crescent’s landing cavern. A troupe of ponies was ready to see her off, of course. However, a very glaring change was obvious, for there was the absence of one, particular pony from the Lord’s closest retinue.

Good riddance, Twilight’s inner voice declared.

“Honored Princess,” Lord Bright Crescent summoned her with his melodious voice as she was approaching, though his flamboyant attitude was a little more muted than usual. “It is a shame that you need to travel on, a crying shame. But we wish to thank you so very much for visiting the great Mountain of Crescent. We hope that, one night, we might host you again. There’s always more to see around here.”

It was a very ‘overall’ set of sentences that she heard, Twilight thought, but she didn’t need to wonder at all to discern why. After all, she was leaving out of her own volition, and not because something terrible had happened and almost happened. And all of the servants around, all of the ponies about the cavern, anypony in hearing distance needed to be aware of that.

She could give that little performance. She knew that it was necessary. “Thank you, Honored Lord. I, too, am saddened that I need to leave. But, alas, the weather here knows no masters, and duties are calling. But the memory of the many marvels I experienced around will accompany me from now on.”

She hoped she sounded convincing enough, and that her sentence did not have a hidden meaning she wasn’t planning on. Nevertheless, Bright Crescent was not going to be forcing her to maintain this charade for long.

“I do hope that we shall see each other soon, however,” he remarked with a fraudulently innocent smile. “The Covenant will surely call for another meeting as soon as your embassy around is concluded. That will be fun, will it not?”

“If that’s how you want to call it, Honored Lord,” Twilight retorted in a way that would fit the occasion of dealing with the stallion’s usual shenanigans.

The haspadr then stepped slightly away, allowing general Crescent Light to be the center of attention briefly.

‘Briefly’ being the key word, for the athletic and stoic stallion barely spoke, instead nodding in a sign of respect. “Honored Princess. Thank you for the visit.”

“Thank you, General,” Twilight replied, being likewise laconic.

Also because her attention was caught almost immediately after by Ivory Crescent. The Countess was wearing one of her less-conservative dresses and maintaining a wide smile, but her eyes spoke volumes about the whole situation. She still bore both the shame of her brother’s deeds and the strange ferocity of her secret affiliation to the Unbound. However, she definitely tried to maintain her honesty and openness even when torn in between the two, bidding farewell to both a slighted mare and a potential deity.

“Honored Princess, it was such a pleasure. As my Lord and uncle said, I do hope that we can have you among us once again. We would be grateful for the opportunity!”

“I’m not saying ‘never’, Honored Countess, I’m far from it,” Twilight responded, trying to summon a most genuine smile to her muzzle.

It quickly became even more difficult to maintain. “I’m so sorry that my brother cannot see you off, hwalba knaze. A sudden bout of malady keeps him within his spire.”

“That’s a… shame,” Twilight lied through her teeth, but nopony of those present was surprised by that. “I do hope he gets better,” she remarked briefly, before nodding kindly in the Countess’ direction.

That was enough of a closing gesture for anypony around. And so the play was over and the actors could go back to their true roles, ironically. Twilight glanced over the gathered Crescents once more, before regally entering the carriage provided to her. She took her place on the comfortable seating, with Midnight Wind and Rowan Berry opposite her. And soon enough, without unnecessary delays, the transport began moving, marking yet another step of the long journey among Noctraliya’s peaks.

Twilight’s work wasn’t done. And, well, she couldn’t stop herself from expressing that and more. As soon as the darkness of the tunnel leading out of the Mountain gave way to the vibrant colors of the early night, she sighed, then rested her head back against the soft material. Thankfully, this time she wasn’t feeling as fatigued as during packing, but a different sort of enfeeblement had caught her in its grasp.

“I’m… Yes, leaving is a huge relief,” she admitted to her momentary frailty, though her companions needed no explanation.

“Without a doubt, Honored Princess,” Midnight acknowledged her state, and a note in his voice also betrayed that he felt reassured about leaving the Iug behind. “I never understood the Kwadri. Now I understand them even less, I feel.”

Rowan Berry didn’t even have to make her opinion known, as her gaze spoke volumes. However, she had another topic on her mind, witnessing Twilight’s state. “Aside from that, hwalba knaze… how are you feeling? How’s that tiredness, has it now returned?”

“No, thankfully…” Twilight responded after taking a moment to assess her state. “Perhaps I really felt so strongly about remaining in the Mountain, actually?”

Midnight’s gaze was fixed on her with clear intent. “The better that you’ve made your choice, Honored Princess. There was no point of lingering with that delinquent nearby… I hope he will start biting the silver off his furniture, if he has any furniture still left. He deserves that and more, the soleespalu futan.”

Twilight would usually be rather opposed to such language and stance, but that one time she would allow an exception proving the rule. If anything, the Count Brother deserved nothing short of a harsh and just repayment for his actions, before any redemption could take place. Sometimes that meant nothing else than enduring quite the set of personal restrictions. Some would still say he had managed to escape a much bleaker fate, despite his own, strange attempts at reaching for it.

Nevertheless, instead of chastising Midnight, Twilight simply sighed again, closing her eyes for a brief moment. She wasn’t going to be falling asleep anytime soon, no, but she wouldn’t mind a breath of peace and quiet.

Unless, of course, her entourage would be inclined to occupy her with a conversation, especially if it would be Midnight’s choice. They had a couple of hours to themselves, without curious ears, side glances or anything of the sort, as she definitely wouldn’t count Rowan Berry as an eavesdropper at this point. On the other hoof, Twilight still shuddered in her mind at the possibility of a deep discussion. The one they had had on the way to the Mountain of Crescent was singularly dreadful.

It felt like ages since it had happened, though time didn’t actually work that way.

The flight was, however, calm, in both senses of the word. There was no small talk so far, and Twilight had to commend the proficiency of the batponies providing the wing power to the carriage, as the steady course that they were taking was actually giving her a chance at relaxation and respite. She ultimately chose to achieve that by observing the vistas outside. She hadn’t had too many chances to indulge herself the last time, for obvious reasons, and she could now take her time to spot the subtle differences of the peaks and mountains about this side of the country. As she had, mercifully, still managed to note when she had passed through those dales previously, this part of Noctraliya was definitely distinct from what she was used to. The ranges were less untamed and sharp, bearing instead a certain exquisite and regal quality, if that could be used to describe them.

She realized, of course, that it was a false assumption. The beauty of the landscape didn’t mean that it didn’t hold any dangers. Even those majestic columns of stone, so sophisticated, so noble, recognized under the name of the Quartz Panorama, surely hid their real threat behind their looks.

Just like the inhabitants of this land, actually. Elegant and suave on the outside, but carrying Harmony knew what sort of agendas within, ready to leave one stranded, starving and lost, if only that suited them…

Twilight shook her head, as she definitely couldn’t allow herself such thinking. Yes, it was understandable after what she had faced, but she couldn’t let these experiences poison her mind longer than unavoidable, even if she had been fed actual poisons.

Besides, what had the mountains done wrong? Or what would prompt anypony to judge an entire Family based on the inadequacies of one, audacious and troubled stallion?

Her contemplative mood was finally enough to entice a question from her entourage.

“Appreciating the Pogledye, Honored Princess?” Midnight’s voice reached her ears.

“I am… I think. It makes me more philosophical than I would want, however,” she revealed, glancing at the towering peaks. “I’m afraid those pensive moods are something that will haunt me for some time.”

“I hope they pass quickly enough,” the stallion told her, allowing genuine care to manifest in his voice. “You don’t deserve to suffer like so after all of your efforts…”

Twilight didn’t turn her head, not outright. Her gaze followed a flock of birds that seemed to trail the carriage, their aerial dance being both carefree and intentional. It almost caused her to smile widely.

Still, she took her eyes off the animals and turned them to Midnight, meeting his keen, saffron stare, recognizing the depth of the sentence he had just uttered.

“Thank you, Midnight Wind,” she told him, trying to sound kind, but maintaining just that little bit of distance. She wasn’t comfortable simply putting everything behind her still. “I appreciate the voice of support, always.”

“I want to offer much more than just that,” the stallion replied, rather straightforward. “And I know that you have endured your share of plights from us… from me,” he pointed out, giving a glance to Rowan Berry.

The mare returned it, but in a way to signify that she wanted to allow him to carry on the conversation comfortably, and on his own. And that she would just be present there, but not minding what was going to be said.

Midnight continued, taking a deep breath, putting his hooves before his muzzle before spreading them a little in a gesture of remorse. “First and foremost, as I think it is said… I want to say that I’m so sorry… I need to start from that, and so I shall…”

Twilight sat up straight, properly focusing her attention on Midnight. If he wanted to have this chance at making amends, at discussing certain things, she would indulge him. She wasn’t too keen on the healer being present, but perhaps at least some things could be openly talked through, and the rest would come soon after, at an even more opportune moment.

The warrior kept looking at Twilight, and she recognized the effort that he was putting into not escaping with his gaze, which shone with shame and conviction both. “And I’m not starting with saying that I ‘apologize’. No – I’m sorry. I know the difference, in our tongue and in yours, Twilight Sparkle. I know what… what I should have done. Perhaps from the start. I know that I should have been open and honest with you, regarding many things. Not… Not least of all my terrible choice to betray my wife’s trust.”

Twilight was listening carefully, but actually sparing Rowan Berry a short glance. That particular topic concerned the mare as well, but she looked ready to endure it being touched upon, watching out of the window and pretending not to be present. Apparently caring only about the sight outside, as the expanse of the Valleys was soon to be witnessed, just around the dale’s bend.

Midnight continued, recognizing that Twilight was concerned about the lupule, but either accepting it or paying it no mind, actually. “I am the one to blame here and now, regardless of circumstances. I was to blame then for being foolish and giving to my instincts. I am to blame now for not giving to my instincts, which have been telling me for all this time that you deserve much better than my… my half-truths and clandestine utterings. And I think you were absolutely right to chastise me being like I was,” he admitted, in a show of humility that was quite unique, especially for a member of the Midnight Family. “But I would lie if I were to deny that I still have feelings for you. That I would want nothing, absolutely nothing more than to be granted that one more chance from you.”

Twilight wanted to say something to that, but the stallion stopped her with a gesture, just when a cry of some sort of a bird of prey resounded in the distance. “I believe I know what you want to say, Twilight Sparkle. And I agree. I have a lot of explaining to do, a lot of questions to answer, and I shouldn’t for a moment take for granted what we might still be sharing. It is solely and only your choice, whether you wish me back…” he admitted, and it was blatant from his voice that he both respected and feared that he had little to say in the matter. “Allow me this brief sliver of daring, however… for I would want nothing more in this world than to be at your side once more, Bogine as my witness. And I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make it so…”

There wasn’t anything to deny here, not for Twilight. There was a part of her that wished that, exactly that. Flashes of wonderful memories flooded her brain. Moments when she felt that she had found her destined place, right by the stallion opposite. Belief that she had forged a connection that brought so much light and color to her life, beyond what she had already possessed.

However… Yes, the dreaded ‘however’ – all of what she had endured nothing but forced her to be cautious, mindful and… and fair. Also before herself. She had to weigh things, consider them, with cold logic and reason, as much as simply feelings. She needed to receive solid answers from the stallion, honest and full, before allowing herself to entertain the possibility that they could rekindle what they had before. And even then… the flame would burn differently, she felt. More maturely, perhaps? With more clear intent, besides just youthful infatuation?

But… that didn’t mean that it had to be a worse fire than the previous one.

She opened her mouth to tell him all of that.

And everything happened, almost at once.

A cry of warning from the outside, the sharp shift of the carriage’s course… and an impact of a collision, one which sent all three of them falling either onto or from their seats.

Twilight was lucky enough to have the whole side of the coach for herself, which meant landing sideways on the softer material, although the shock still made her vision spin for a moment. Rowan Berry barely managed to brace against the carriage’s side, hitting it with a part of her muzzle. Although that didn’t hurt her as much as when Midnight slid across the seat and rammed into her. He managed to soften the crash only a little by extending one leg past the mare, but both of them let out hisses of pain. The stallion’s was an even louder one, as Twilight recognized in a second that his wounded wing must have been severely impacted by the turbulence.

Before she could realize what had just happened, there was another strike. From the same side, and it was delivered with intent and fury. That much was outright blatant, as the force was much greater than just something colliding with the carriage out of an accident. No, something appeared to viciously strike the transport with a clear desire, despite the effort of the shouting crew for some form of evasive maneuvers.

A shrill cry pierced through the agitated shouts, with enough force to rattle the windows. Twilight’s gaze was instinctually drawn towards the direction of the sound, and she could have sworn that she spotted an outline of a huge wing as it flapped past the glass. Feathers the hue of rock flashed beyond the surface, and the motion was followed by an even more frightening sound, that of massive talons scraping against the carriage’s wood, carving into it with sharpness and might.

Midnight Wind, who managed to roll off of Rowan Berry, landing on the floor of the carriage, hissed through his clenched teeth. He was holding his side with one hoof, but his eyes were darting for any and all possible dangers. And it didn’t take him long to confirm what Twilight had spotted already.

“Kirwe! Krogleet!” he swore, assessing the threat even while pained.

Rowan Berry was ready to kneel by him and help him out in whatever way possible, but another strike pushed her more into the transport’s side, though she did her best to cushion the impact and protect the many satchels on her. When her gaze met Twilight’s, it was keen and at the ready, as it could be expected from an operative. Although it was hard to tell what could be done even by an elite agent against a beast like that.

With Twilight’s attention being torn between Midnight, the healer and the creature attacking the carriage from the outside, she reacted in the one, instinctual way she knew. Her horn flared, as she gathered the energy from the ley lines around, ready and attentive to cast whatever spell would be needed. Would the pallidflight actually continue to try getting inside? Or did it simply wish to push the carriage off course? Was it protecting its territory? Lord Dusk Harvest hadn’t mentioned them being aggressive towards noctraliyi transports!

A shift was felt by all of the ponies inside, and the sound of creaking and bending wood followed. The animal must have rapidly grasped onto the carriage, and then a glint appeared right in the window to Twilight’s right. She turned her head and immediately realized that she was now glaring straight into the bright eye of the bird.

The pallidflight stared intently inside, as if searching for prey to grasp and devour. And yet Twilight realized within but a second that its gaze focused first on the glowing horn above her head, then on her wings and only afterwards on her actual muzzle, as if…

… as if the creature was assuring itself of her presence…?

Just when Twilight grasped that very detail, the eye shifted in a strange way… and a surge erupted across her entire being.

A potent mixture of emotions, a tidal wave of anxiety and recognition flooded her. The assault was potent and debilitating, making her teeth chatter, her eyes bulge and her coat stand on end. The sight before her was one thing, for meeting such a great, aerial predator was nerve-racking, but something else caused that particular and dreadful impulse.

For, right when their stares crossed properly, a light manifested in the creature’s eye. As if a gaze within a gaze, a consciousness beyond simple animal instincts. A flicker, as recognizable as distant, yet ever clear. Just like the memory of a chasm-like smile, now spreading through Twilight’s very mind, pushing away thought and ability.

She wanted to scream, she wanted to warn, but her voice hitched in her throat when she spotted three more flickers, manifesting out of nowhere around the creature’s head. Then the pallidflight, as if directly commanded to, lifted its body while still latched onto the carriage. What followed was a mighty slam, empowered by both of the animal’s wings. The impact and the sudden downward movement of the carriage managed to lift all three of the passengers from their seats. The transport entered a free fall almost, stopped short of it only due to the constant efforts of the ponies outside, shouting and still fighting against the most dangerous outcome.

Twilight combated her own shock, withstanding the terrible, grinning vision before her brain. With a quick refocusing of her magic, she grabbed herself and her two companions with her arcane force. Through the raspberry aura, lined with silver, she kept them all suspended in a way not to strike the roof or the floor of the transport. The carriage was still descending, tilting slightly to the side due to the weight of the beast. As long as it was falling down, without the direction being changed by the warriors outside, the krogleet was strangely content to simply stay latched onto it, without any thrashing.

Which additionally made Twilight fearful regarding the force behind the animal’s ambush.

Meeting both of the batponies’ gazes as she tried to maintain concentration, Twilight barely had enough time to realize that they would have to brace themselves, once again. The perspective of the world seen through the window was growing more and more askew, but it was clear that the ground was promptly approaching, and still at a hazardous pace. Somepony shouted, just before one more strike of wings made the carriage twist entirely sideways.

Then the impact came.

Twilight felt the strain in her horn, especially as she tried to reach out around her, grabbing onto the transport itself to soften its landing. And she believed that she made sure that the initial hit wasn’t utterly devastating, though that was hard to ascertain.

The clamor, the sound of breaking wood, the shaking. The carriage protested, the ground complained, and Twilight realized that they made contact with uneven terrain, which sent them sliding down across grass, through bushes, then right into what looked to be a grape plantation. The leaves parted, the fruit were scattered, and the splash of juice against the window conjured truly awful images before Twilight’s mind. The transport was one thing, but there were ponies trying to save it, there was Midnight and Rowan Berry alongside her.

And the grin in Twilight’s mind, which was reminding her of itself time and time again, persisted, even gained in malice and carefree cruelty.

A few seconds later the carriage ground to a stop. And only when she felt it halting, and when the weight of the pallidflight lifted from it, and when the eerie silence ringed for a second, did Twilight decide to slowly release the spell. She let herself and the two batponies stand on their hooves, although they were now occupying the side wall of the coach.

She let out a long, almost pained sigh and was about to speak up, but Midnight was even faster than her. He took a step towards her, reaching out, ready to support her.

“Twilight! Twilight, are you alright?!”

“Y-yes… Yes, I think so,” she quickly assessed, as aside from some small discomfort of being tossed around the interior due to the creature’s strikes, she didn’t feel hurt in any way. Which was extremely lucky, considering the situation they were in. “You two?”

Midnight grimaced a little, still holding his side, which served as an answer. Rowan Berry finally released her satchels from her protective grasp and rubbed the side of her muzzle.

“I think my teeth are still there,” she replied, with uncharacteristic cheek, then looked frantically about. One of the windows was cracked, showing the quite limited sight of pressed dirt, grass and broken branches, while the other pointed straight up towards the moonlit sky. “Was that…? Was that actually…?” she tried to ask, and though Twilight believed the healer possessed the answer, she didn’t manage to get it through her lips.

Midnight checked if any of the mares needed support, his eyes piercing and filled with worry, as well as a warrior’s protective instinct. Grimacing and hissing, he firmly hit his own side, as if wishing to force something back into place through intent and adrenaline, ready for whatever was to come.

Then a voice resounded from the outside.

“Hwalba knaze! Hwalba knaze Crepuscle Iskre!” came the shouts of one of the other warriors.

“Uai bidi recityi!” Twilight shouted back, surprised at how quickly she reached for her budding knowledge of Noctraliyar. “Krogleet odkire?”

“To lyet nad!”

“It’s flying above,” Midnight immediately translated, standing on his hind legs to try and reach for the carriage’s door. “Stay here, I’ll help the rest.”

“No,” Twilight stopped him with a gesture. She could also see that Rowan Berry was ready to follow, to check whether anypony needed her professional help. Things had to be made clear and obvious. “This isn’t just the animal we’re dealing with.”

The stallion looked at her with surprise, while the healer froze in place, clearly realizing that she wasn’t the only one who had connected the dots.

“… you saw that too, hwalba knaze. You saw the lights! That was… that was one of the Lesyi!”

“I’m sure of it,” Twilight confirmed, nodding and steadying her breath. “So I’m coming with you. We might all be needed to deal with this situation.”

“No, that’s much too dangerous!” Midnight spoke up, looking at her with concern. “If it is a spirit like that—”

“Then I’m likely the one with abilities to actually help fend it off, if necessary,” she interrupted, ready to flare her horn once more. She felt the magic radiating around her, ready to be utilized… though something about it felt different for her. Argent. She couldn’t pay it mind there and then. “And I think… I think that it was actually looking for me?”

That didn’t help the stallion to stop worrying, Twilight could see it in his gaze and posture. However, he begrudgingly recognized her point, knowing the extent of her power, and realizing that this wasn’t a mere natural threat they were dealing with, the pallidflight notwithstanding.

His eyes were still asking the obvious question, of course – was the creature really looking for her?

Midnight swiftly unlocked the door, making the image of a splatter of juice disappear from view and letting the cold mountain air in. Even without flight, he still had enough strength in his back legs to hop up and grasp onto the edge, lifting himself outside with a groan. Twilight saw his eyes scanning the sky above before he reached down, to help both of the mares out, though a flap of wings from both of them helped in the task immensely.

Twilight took in the surroundings. They had landed, or rather crashed, at a further edge of the Valleys, and right into a plantation, indeed. The carriage had cut a clear path through several rows of grapevines and was resting sideways, having sustained some serious damage from the impact and the talons of the pallidflight. Twilight took note of the luggage marking the transport’s trail. Also, which was decidedly more dreadful, she could spot a few of batpony warriors who remained alongside the carved track, trying to get up on their own or reaching out for help. Of the group taking care of Twilight’s flight back to the Mountain of Dusk, only three wampiri seemed unharmed, though she had to look past the dirt, leaves and grape juice all over them to realize they bore minimal wounds, mostly scratches. They formed a perimeter around the transport, looking upwards at the persisting danger.

Twilight took note of Rowan Berry being keen on jumping down and rushing to the aid of the wounded, but her coral eyes were also locked upwards. The sight of the great, fierce predator circling above was frightening, but as Twilight intently kept her own gaze up, she could bear witness to something incredible and mortifying.

The creature, taking note of its quarry below, flapped its mighty wings as if ready to dive down like the feared hunter it was, preparing to grab onto anypony and carry them away in its talons, just like an unfortunate sheep. But that was simply the initial impression when the krogleet lifted up both of its wings, suspending itself in mid-air… and then screamed with force and excruciating pain. The sound made Twilight and the batponies cover their ears, as it seemed to rip right through the vocal cords of the beast, which reeled, shook, convulsed, and then…

… then the feathers and the skin, the sinews and the muscles, the very shape of the creature sloughed off, like blood seeping from an open wound, falling down freely in a disgusting downpour. Twilight felt her stomach twisting and turning at the sight, though she could do nothing more than to stare, bewitched, as between the falling viscera she could easily spot four flickers. They were making their way towards the ground at a rapid pace.

She steeled herself, as much as one could when witnessing such horror. She spotted that Midnight had taken his place before her, ready to screen her from the coming danger. Rowan Berry remained to the side, prepared, though her gaze was escaping to the wounded warriors. The remaining entourage also took defensive positions, though it was all too easy to see that only their training was keeping them in place, as courage left anypony and everypony taking in the sight.

With a nauseating crunch and splatter, the creature’s parts landed onto the ground, seemingly lifeless… though didn’t remain motionless on it. Twilight’s gaze followed the frantic, convulsive movements only briefly, as the main presence of the terrifying creature was still manifesting through these four, flickering lights. They were suspended above ground, suddenly appearing as if… as if floating gems of truly magnificent splendor. They shone, they danced and they stared at her, and Twilight… Twilight could feel herself suddenly swaying in place, her vision swimming and her knees buckling.

The gentle murmur of distant forests, the creaking of branches in the wind, the far away moan of a wounded animal… The sounds manifested out of nowhere, drowning out anything else, even the adrenaline coursing through her veins…

Twilight shook her head, awakening herself, realizing that a wave of force had just been sent her way, overt and yet subtle. She looked about and witnessed that the nearby batponies were trying to withstand this strange power as well. They all took a step back, looking confused. Their gazes were betraying that the very notion of trying to contest the creature had almost been stripped from their minds, though they did their best to remain in position.

There was one, visible exception, however. For Twilight could almost hear Midnight’s teeth clenching, as his gaze burned when he jerked his head about. The hiss of protest and readiness, coming from the back of his throat, definitely reached her ears.

And the creature felt it, too. The sound of cracking branches and shifting earth followed, giving a blood-curdling impression of an amused, but sad laugh. Then the Lesy manifested itself properly, invoking a memory of a terrible nightmare Twilight had once endured, but could now fully experience.

The horror of Noctraliya’s woodlands made flesh.

Flesh and bone, and leaf, and twig, just like Lord Blessed Fang had told her, just like the bad dream had revealed to her before. The being resembled a large, towering pony with its posture, but its back was twisted and bent in several places, and the emaciated legs looked like they were barely holding it up. And yet in every twitch and jerk of the branches and sinews it was apparent that the creature’s thin shape was hiding behind monstrous strength. Its very form could be shifted and changed at its whim, apparently, for it suddenly sprouted claws from where the hooves should have been. Its coat was, wherever it bothered to actually appear on this repulsive frame, composed of grass and grapevine leaves, as it used the very destruction it had caused to cloak itself. The makeshift mane fell haphazardly around its head, constructed out of the plants’ shoots, bones and the previously ruined fruit, as if the monster chose to embellish itself with a fancy and frightful coiffure.

The flickers persisted, having formed a shape around themselves as well. The silhouette of a pony skull became blatant, but it was constructed and grown from various materials, from pieces of bone to bark and root. Four holes, as if empty eye sockets, housed the two pairs of lights acting as eyes, positioned diagonally upwards. They were charming and seducing one’s gaze, glinting, flickering, shimmering, shining, leading one right into the abyss hidden just behind the whimsical light. The spirit’s head brandished a branching set of horns, resembling those of a great deer or a moose. Those were, likewise, composed of manifold materials, veins of vines coursing through them, and held together by the sheer force of will of the being bearing them.

Nothing about the Lesy was constant, however, even if it held to this chosen, equine form. Twigs moved and traversed, leaves grew, fell, then appeared again. Claws and teeth retracted themselves at an unsteady pulse, and the head protrusions changed their intricacies according to some persistent yet chaotic idea of growth and decay.

That was what the creature was about, Twilight somehow managed to realize – an amalgamation of facets of nature’s shifting and untamed side. The monster’s countenance entertained the blossoming of plants, their constant struggle for water, sunlight, sustenance, all the way until withering and rot and blight would ultimately take them. The being combined the desperate strength of starving predators, the constant awareness of manifold prey, the thrill of the hunt, the exhilaration of survival… and the strangely alluring sovereignty of primordial, natural existence.

It was with the full recognition of that presence and majesty, expressed through the horror of its form, that the creature moved its mouth. The smile manifested on its twisted muzzle, revealing that chasm, that suffocating darkness hidden within the bowels of its incarnation, one from which nothing could ever manage to emerge… and yet a voice did.

It surged through Twilight’s core with the grating sound of falling trees, with basic, primal intent, and with an echo of the nightmare she had endured. The Lesy spoke, bringing forth the dark, nightly vision which had engraved itself in her subconscious, alongside the primal fear of that startling, joyous expression.

“Over here…”

Comments

[Solver]

This story is still going?
Dear stars I'm going to need an entire month of free time at the minimum.
Jokes aside, I'm honestly glad this incredible story is still standing strong.
Once I have have some more free time on hands, I'm definitely binging this.
Please keep doing this, it is truly enjoyable to read.

[bkam]

Hot dang, I don't know if it's just me, but I feel like Gulheru has been spoiling us as of late with this rather timely upload schedule, thank you though.

Spoilers ahead btw to the one or two people who end up reading this.

---

And yet, here she was. She needed to hear it. She needed it to be told directly to her, she had to experience the words through her own ears. There was no other way.

They had reached her right in the evening. The missive’s delivery had been delayed until she woke up, though she had chastised those responsible for it, and had done so with regal ire. She would have felt bad about it in any other circumstances, but not those. Not those. She had rushed to the hospital with great haste, barely allowing herself the time to look at least presentable. Some things were demanded of her, as Equestria’s diarch, but some situations also exculpated rushing the preparations. And yet, these exact scenarios also demanded tackling them in proper attire, with full regalia… and a steeled heart.

Uh oh... This may not be good.

“I have, myself, conducted the necessary examination in these circumstances, Your Majesty, as I was expecting you coming around post haste,” he began, his emotionless voice of a specialist causing her almost physical pain. “I have to declare mister Moonwarden officially entering the period of recovery.”

But his eyes were open and aware. They locked onto her the moment she crossed the threshold, and were soon accompanied by the monitors awakening even more, alongside the stallion. The rhythm of the sounds sped up in a way that even Luna noticed, and she could tell exactly what it indicated. Especially when the unicorn stirred, almost as if attempting to sit up, and desperately tried to take in a deep breath and say something right away, straining himself against common sense.

This whole scene description is just beautiful, nice job Gulheru

“Moonwarden… but why not?” Luna asked, having the distinct feeling like she was talking with a stubborn foal that couldn’t understand a basic concept. Or simply, didn’t want to, fearing the idea of it.

I think it is more so the latter of those two.

The first half of this chapter had me almost constantly smiling throughout, again nice job Gulheru.

“Not slacking, Honored Princess. Still, if the luggage is to be secured on time, then it should be passed to the servants right now,” the batpony told her. “Midnight Wind in downstairs, waiting to let everypony in, but… we also wanted to be certain you are fine with the servants passing through. We don’t want to leave anything to chance after the last few nights, not least of all your comfort.”

That was rather sweet of them. ^^

Still, as she was leaving the spire, she gave Midnight Wind a smile and a nod, one that he responded to with a proper, but friendly salute. A sliver of hope.

Besides, what had the mountains done wrong? Or what would prompt anypony to judge an entire Family based on the inadequacies of one, audacious and troubled stallion?

A rather valid point.

Midnight continued, taking a deep breath, putting his hooves before his muzzle before spreading them a little in a gesture of remorse. “First and foremost, as I think it is said… I want to say that I’m so sorry… I need to start from that, and so I shall…”

Oop, I think we may finally be getting that conversation.

A cry of warning from the outside, the sharp shift of the carriage’s course… and an impact of a collision, one which sent all three of them falling either onto or from their seats.

I knew it, the second Midnight started this talk and I noticed that I had less then 25% of the chapter remaining, I knew something was up. Looks like we're going to have to postpone that conversation again. Gulheru, you can be an absolute tease sometimes, y'know.

He managed to soften the crash only a little by extending one leg past the mare, but both of them let out hisses of pain. The stallion’s was an even louder one, as Twilight recognized in a second that his wounded wing must have been severely impacted by the turbulence.

Ooo, yeah that's definitely gonna hurt like Hell.

The pallidflight stared intently inside, as if searching for prey to grasp and devour. And yet Twilight realized within but a second that its gaze focused first on the glowing horn above her head, then on her wings and only afterwards on her actual muzzle, as if…

… as if the creature was assuring itself of her presence…?

That can't be good.

For, right when their stares crossed properly, a light manifested in the creature’s eye. As if a gaze within a gaze, a consciousness beyond simple animal instincts. A flicker, as recognizable as distant, yet ever clear. Just like the memory of a chasm-like smile, now spreading through Twilight’s very mind, pushing away thought and ability.

“Over here…”

Well then... Great job on making the Lesyi rather terrifying, Gulheru, they definitely are giving a bit of an almost Wendigo kinda vibe.

[Backlash91]

Oh my...the beast emerges.

[Gulheru]

11863928

Yes, I'm too quite worried that I'm still going on with this. I invite you to binge reasonably.

11863931

So I made things sweet, teasing and monstrous. Fantastic. I will allow myself to pat myself on the back.

11863940

Which one?

[redmar]

Such aggression by the Lesy towards Twilight is very worrying. Te fact that Midnight Wind showed the most resistance to a psychic attack shows his dedication to Twilight I think.
It is good that Moonwarden has woken up and is recovering.

[Gulheru]

11863972

We will have to wait and see what happens next, no?

[Bregon]

How nice to see Moonwarden conscious again! I held my breath at first because for a moment I feared that Silver Scalpel was announcing to Luna that he was dead.
Well, now the Second Chance will have its leader back. I'm also sorry that damn Lesyi swooped in at the least opportune time, just when Midnight was about to confess! Now since that Lesyi is made mostly of leaves, twigs, and grass, I guess there is only one thing left for Twilight to do
images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/368e17dd-9f82-4676-8ae9-6b95e0d7ac59/d53b4te-c292277a-4e52-4ee8-9316-17290144a1aa.jpg/v1/fill/w_1209,h_661,q_75,strp/twilight_sparkle___fire_pony_by_caboosinator-d53b4te.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpc3MiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwic3ViIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTppbWFnZS5vcGVyYXRpb25zIl0sIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiIvZi8zNjhlMTdkZC05ZjgyLTQ2NzYtOGFlOS02Yjk1ZTBkN2FjNTkvZDUzYjR0ZS1jMjkyMjc3YS00ZTUyLTRlZTgtOTMxNi0xNzI5MDE0NGExYWEuanBnIiwid2lkdGgiOiI8PTEyMDkiLCJoZWlnaHQiOiI8PTY2MSJ9XV19.lkIo65rzmNPT6EoQEUlTJw1ra70EMx4bv9U8HidFJCQ

[Gulheru]

11864121

It might not be as easy as setting fire to some dry twigs, you know.

[RBDoucette]

Are the batponies going to see how much arcane power Twilight is capable of?
Another well done chapter! Looking forward to the next one.

[Gulheru]

11864159

They just might, if things take a bad turn.

Or, should I say, a worse turn than currently.

[RangerOfRhudaur]

“Remembering… what we had clearly shared – what… simply what prompted you to… to be that reckless…?” he muttered, and she could have sworn that she was actually hearing two tones at the same time. It was, most likely, just her imagination, though she found the thought particularly hard to shake off. “You… I could have… I actually tried to…!”

It's actually quite fitting that you released this chapter when you did, for what drove Luna to be so reckless is the same thing that drove Jesus to undergo the Crucifixion: love, the desire to will the good of the other. Love confounded Moonwarden just as it confounded Pontius Pilate, just as it confounds all of us; however much we might wish to think otherwise, we all struggle with the idea of loving our enemies as much as our friends, and for arguably justifiable reasons: they haven't really changed, they're trying to abuse our kindness, what they've done is too evil. Love doesn't require us to ignore prudence, but it does require us to be generous and trusting, to try to help others "not seven times but seventy-seven times" (Matthew 18:22), never giving anyone entirely up for lost. And it is actually prudent for us to do so, for, as Estee points out, one of the greatest abilities of love is its ability to change those who receive it. Love transformed Peter from the people-pleaser who broke his promise and denied his Lord into the rock who refused to deny Christ again even in the shadow of the same death He had suffered, helped Midnight Eye turn away from his opposition to Twilight, brought Twilight herself out of her isolated world of academia into the fullness of life, friendship, and even alicornhood. Yes, Moonwarden does still need to talk with Luna, but her love for him will make that talk more fruitful, make it more likely that he will put off the schemer he used to be and become somepony we can watch Luna kiss without feeling kind of squeamish about their relationship. "'Behold, I make all things new.'" (Revelations 21:5).

The creature, taking note of its quarry below, flapped its mighty wings as if ready to dive down like the feared hunter it was, preparing to grab onto anypony and carry them away in its talons, just like an unfortunate sheep. But that was simply the initial impression when the krogleet lifted up both of its wings, suspending itself in mid-air… and then screamed with force and excruciating pain. The sound made Twilight and the batponies cover their ears, as it seemed to rip right through the vocal cords of the beast, which reeled, shook, convulsed, and then…

… then the feathers and the skin, the sinews and the muscles, the very shape of the creature sloughed off, like blood seeping from an open wound, falling down freely in a disgusting downpour. Twilight felt her stomach twisting and turning at the sight, though she could do nothing more than to stare, bewitched, as between the falling viscera she could easily spot four flickers. They were making their way towards the ground at a rapid pace.

And now from love to Lovecraft.

Once again, the Lesyi allow you to show off your horror chops, and they are fantastic. I can see it, see the rending and reconstruction of flora and flesh, see the spirits become embodied in ways spirit and body were never meant to interact. The Lesyi aren't just different or strange, they're wrong, utterly unnatural. If you were to see one, you would try to wrench your gaze away from its alien, eldritch, impossible wrongness as quick as you could, but you wouldn't be able to stop staring at its uncanny form, trying to understand it, describe it, make some, any, sense out of it. The Lesyi are horror incarnate, the forbidden knowledge you want to run away from but also want to study, the wonder that excites fear and adoration, the awesome that uses both senses of the word. It makes sense that most of the guards struggle to resist it; how do you fight the stars? (As Midnight's resilience shows, with love.)

Then we get to the most curious part of the encounter:

And the creature felt it, too. The sound of cracking branches and shifting earth followed, giving a blood-curdling impression of an amused, but sad laugh. Then the Lesy manifested itself properly, invoking a memory of a terrible nightmare Twilight had once endured, but could now fully experience.

The Lesyi feel. More than that, they can feel what appears to be pity, pity for Don Quixote tilting at the very earth he stands on. Is it a hunter paying respect to the doomed courage of their prey, or perhaps something more? I do not know, and I fear I know where we will find out:

“Over here…”

[UnknownError]

Hmm, would've liked to see the fallout from Luna's fact-finding adventure to Sunfall Ordain, but it's nice to see Moonwarden back in the fray. And as incorrigible as ever.

[Astorius]

Nature has to be tamed and a dangerous weed has to be culled.

Go forth paragon of friendship and show all thestrals what ponykind united can achieve.

[Gulheru]

11864188

Thank you dearly for those words. I wasn't especially aiming at posting the chapter during this wonderful time in the year, but I'm glad about it, indeed. Still, I had to add a little bit of something... else. I'm giddy to show more.

11864221

He wouldn't give up that easily. Even if only to spite those that would write him off.

11864234

Hah, let us see about it.

[MathBrony173]

It's interesting that Luna reminding Moonwarden that she means to scrutinize what she witnessed within his being was what brought him joy but also makes sense. She has seen his worst and still maintains feelings for him.

I see a bit of a parallel in what has yet to fully happen between Midnight and Twilight. Only time will tell if Twilight responds in a similar way: still maintaining her feelings while making it known that certain secrets will be further dissected.

“I will mark it all… as my victory.”

Never change, Moonwarden

That she hadn’t kissed Moonwarden.

That might've been for the best for now, Luna. Don't wanna have to explain unusual spikes in heart rate to the doctor.

---

Rowan Berry’s expression didn’t necessarily falter, but definitely turned much more serious. “Now that is something I cannot help with, I don’t believe. There are matters that involve… your bond, hwalba knaze , and only you two can touch upon that. And decide what is there to happen with it…”

Oh? Is this foreshadowing the discussion between Midnight and Twilight actually happening uninterrupted in this chapter? funnily enough, this time I'm hoping an interruption DOES occur or what I prepared would've been for naught.

A cry of warning from the outside, the sharp shift of the carriage’s course… and an impact of a collision, one which sent all three of them falling either onto or from their seats.

i.imgflip.com/8l28cm.jpg

---

Can't help but wonder if the Leysi is on some way the Immaculate Moon given form. The Leysi saught Twilight out for some reason, possibly with some sort of message to deliver.

[Changeling Legionaire]

11864138
Well not with that attitude...

[Gulheru]

11864365

Hah, looks like I inspired another meme with me writer's antics.

11864483

True, no one is stopping her from trying. She can certainly try.

[bkam]

11864365
Here's a link for that image of yours' that shouldn't be as likely to break as the current one.
i.imgflip.com/8l28cm.jpg

[MathBrony173]

11864620
Thanks! I did notice the discord ones could break if they're deleted from the discord channel they were posted in, which is why I made a channel in my personal server for reactions. This is the better option, though. Actually forgot it was a thing.

[bkam]

11864638
You're welcome, and I'm glad to have helped.

[Piemaster128]

Well dang, this will not end well…

[Gulheru]

11864663

Ah, who knows?

[Garvanthopy]

There is someone that comes to mind from the Napoleonic age. In this age, there was a lame diplomat who committed a lot of impressive political plays, and was the one whose courtliness was much more valuable than Napoleon's heartlessness. But the important connection was his lameness, because Moon Warden's character is lame now. Anyways... Talleyrand, Talleyrand, Talleyrand. Oh, my God... it worked. Could you get me..., yeah, I got like fifty bucks on me... That's not enough? What about my credit card... You don't accept credit in the spiritual world, you little...
The monster has arrived spontaneously in a cruel hubris. I wonder what is fated for the monster and those it wishes to interact with. But... to play devil's advocate, I really gave it quite the thought on the stance the lesyi take, and well.. I think this is an approximate conclusion.

The Lesyi's agenda is hard to take, but at least they're outside getting some fresh air, and touching some grass.
I think you can see that my response to horror is light humor. All I can think about is a Brit officer going," Well, I ought to figure you just violated Batpony Airspace, and well, sir, that's very bad that. No good to have a weapon either, several weapons in actuality, on your person. I'm afraid you're gonna have to be copped."
Or Columbo shuffling out from the farmland, covered in dirt, saying," A just one more thing... I know you had to just fly off and do your thing... whatever it is... But I'm interested in the regards that you've said those two bags of candy... they were purchased from you in the alleyways of Manehattan; well, you dropped one on the ground, and I do apologize but I did run it through... you understand I'm a cop, and I have to cover up loose ends, and, um, unfortunately these candies were not purchased from Manehattan goonies, but respected candy sellers in Ponyville markets... I know I keep pushing it, but as a cop, doesn't it sound strange that two bags of delicate chocolates happen to be in your hands instead of robbed children at the addresses 24156-24186 Pony St., Ponyville, and the specific chocolates described by these children are very similar to those in your possession... Well, no. I guess your right, that's where the goonies got them from.. I don't doubt it... You, know, I got to respect a costume change like that, reminds me of something out of... I lost the comparison sorry; but the important thing is that it was spectacular, and shows your seriousness in the costume arts... There is a little detail. The children noted this robber was significantly detailed, and frightening... Well I guess it was NightMare Night... it was just a thought; your right, not remotely decisive. I'll be going, be seeing you........ A moment, a finale small detail, I happened to observe... Do you happen to know of a Ms. Dinkies...No? That quite odd considering... Let me finish..., does that happen to be Ms. Dinkies pink Unicorn-doll caught up in your costume there; yes, that one initialed by her mother, made by her mother, and happens to be a complete, bonified original with no purchasable equivalents... Am I to believe that it is just happenstance that from an assaulted child, in your possession, is this doll?... What am I going to do about, no it ain't me who's doing anything. I've got the whole nation of Equestia on you... It seems you misunderstood the severity of your actions... This ain't no assassination, but it sure is the most criminal: NightMare Night Candy Theft. You have the right to remain silent..."
I probably couldn't write horror; the most bizarre thoughts come out to repel it.

[Gulheru]

11865961

Quite a defense mechanism you have there, friend.

[Cavenerd20]

The mind screwer lives!

You know, I saw the Lesyi attack coming when I read the chapter title? I halfway didn't believe it, because I don't think they were passing near the Berbera Kniye, but either that's closer to the Dalli than I remember, or they can go farther from the woods than I thought.

Honestly though, I suspected several chapters ago there might be one hanging around the area. That malicious giggle Twilight heard? I don't think she imagined it. Or that poor Dusk Harvest slipped on his own. It's just the sort of nasty prank a troublesome fey would pull.

[Gulheru]

11865997

It might be explained. You never know.

[Garvanthopy]

11865978
Well, despite my Reaction Formation...? That seemed close since I'm rusty with Freud. Not my favorite interpretation of the mind considering it's very helpful to justify snuggling up with your cousin, your Von Habsburg cousin. People see it another way, but I'm not completely wrong am I? Those Von Habsburgs have that 'pure' blood in them, right? What am I talking about; your Polish, they love spreading you on their toenails.
Kingdom of Galicia, West Galicia, their Little Poland colors. That's their favorite colors on them toes.

[Gulheru]

11866031

I'm... not exactly sure what you're on about this time around, my friend, and I'm even less sure whether I like it in any way.

[bkam]

11866049
Yeah, it almost feels kinda racist in a way.

[Cavenerd20]

11866023
Blatant theorycrafting follows.

The Lesyi dream was no normal nightmare; either Twilight was receiving a vision in her sleep or one of them entered her dream. Given the pull she felt while looking at the Feral Weald, I'd say the latter. They want to talk to her, and have for a while. And I might have an idea why.

Notice how she had the dream after she helped Discord get through that barrier/veil that made magic harder? Notice how she encountered the thing below that silvery veil? They can't get through it either. The veil is containing them. And Twilight can lift it.

The devils want out, and Twilight can do it for them.

Of tourse, I tould be wong.

[Gulheru]

11866829

It's not a groundless theory, not at all.

[Garvanthopy]

11866049
I'm sorry, I have failed to communicate myself correctly, and because of this mistake I have offended you. It did not process effectively through my mind. I appreciate your efforts and time put in this story, and would never intentionally attack you. I told you I was a novice in cults once, but I'm a novice in everything including my language. I have to spend tremendous time endlessly recalculating my writings or activities, but this time I did not and broke my mental structure. I don't really desire this annoying mentality because it makes me take ages to create, and its faulty professionalism causes me to either discontinue hobbies or lose interest due to fear of exposing severe flaws. I try to break this, and go a little wild. In this wildness, is foolishness. Foolishness can be innocent, or as it happens the ignorant and unintelligible. You know so much more than I do; I am but a peasant trying to break my imprisoning mentality. This paragraph is not enough for me as an apology. For most of the day, since I read your message before having to take time for daily activities, my mind put me in a depressive state. During this days family activities, I have figured the flaws of my rushed message, and there was mistaken personalization of the word 'your' and an absentminded aggressive language. The truth of it was I found it entertaining to write for mind and fingers separated, but I'm not sure where the gap in thought was. I never wrote anything harmful to anyone ever. Maybe disagreed, that's the worst from me. These might be excuses, but I'm trying to find the mental reason I did it. There are no excuses, but if I can find the reason it happened I can be better off. Because I know I don't hate you, or any people. Or in relevance don't even hate Freud or The Habsburgs. Their actions are far in the past now. It is a word salad of phrases, or thoughts harmfully 'funny' construed into some form of something. And ignorant to the multitudes of meanings instead of some crazy farfetched 'humor' thought of in a moment that I hardly understand due to the neuronic hate of it now; it suppressed previous embarrassments, and it wants to do it again. I wrote the message in my journal so I can't forget and can analysis faults in my basic thought-to-hand process before professionalism review. In the end its think after you write; similar to teachers telling me in elementary school 'think before you speak'. I'm no good at this and it seems to always leak out against best efforts, but I have an example to learn from in my journal. I apologize for the foolishness, and if it caused anything like how it effected my day then I will have to remember that forever. Sincerely from a foolish person though never have to be seen sincerely ever.

[Gulheru]

11867343

Right.

[Thyrrnatf]

man does two are just never gonna be able to hold a normal conversation or just finish one

that cliffhanger.

once again a great chapter

[Gulheru]

11867522

A regular conversation in this story? Not if I can help it.

[Thyrrnatf]

11867554
i can see that

what is this 4th? 5th? maybe 7th time they are trying to talk

[Gulheru]

11867590

Hey, they'll get it eventually... right?

[Thyrrnatf]

11867628
j.gifs.com/yw9Bpz.gif

[Revel Montaro]

Well... shit.

Guess it's time to see how fierce warriors are in a supernatural fight.

[Gulheru]

11867651

Do you feel like placing some bets?

[GCU Poke It With A Stick]

Oh hey Moonwarden's up.....yay

But… that didn’t mean that it had to be a worse fire than the previous one.

She opened her mouth to tell him all of that.

And everything happened, almost at once.

Dangit, knew it was going to-

A flicker, as recognizable as distant, yet ever clear. Just like the memory of a chasm-like smile, now spreading through Twilight’s very mind, pushing away thought and ability.

....no...

The Lesy spoke, bringing forth the dark, nightly vision which had engraved itself in her subconscious, alongside the primal fear of that startling, joyous expression.

“Over here…”

noNONO!
Where the FUCK is the Equestrian equivalent of Napalm when you need it!?

[Gulheru]

11868304

Yay, indeed.

And, well, Twilight might have some in her horn, but we shall see...

[RangerOfRhudaur]

11864365

Can't help but wonder if the Leysi is on some way the Immaculate Moon given form. The Leysi sought Twilight out for some reason, possibly with some sort of message to deliver.

There is another potential explanation. We're told to be wary for "Satan masquerades as an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14), potentially leading us to mistake what is diabolical for something angelic. Doesn't that mean it's possible to make that mistake in reverse, calling what is an angel a diabl? Could the Lesyi be Biblically-accurate angels, their unearthly appearance not a sign of being unnatural but rather supernatural? I doubt it given their lack of "do not be afraid" messaging, but it is an interesting idea.

[MathBrony173]

11868545
I had actually had a random thought about the possibility of the Leysi being similar to Biblically-accurate angels, myself. It wouldn't surprise me given their description, though it sure didn't try to quell any fears.

Just a menacing "over here", which I find myself imagining being said in a deep, foreboding tone.

[IceHawk]

The forest spirits just saying hello.

Be not afraid and such.

I wouldn't be shocked if this is somehow created by the thestrials praying constantly to *something*

[Gulheru]

11870034

Again, one can wonder. I'm so glad that one can wonder.

[Chaos_Silver]

she hadn’t kissed Moonwarden
We were so close! When you to will finaly.. *muffled amused noises*

A flicker, as recognizable as distant, yet ever clear

Flickers, snaps, strange sound and lights. As if cryes of pain from reality itself, which suffers from hooves, paws, claws or any other appendage of reality benders.

[Gulheru]

11872689

I cannot help but grin, sorry.

[Scholarly Jackalope]

Welp Moonwarden awakens and Twilight and company are now dealing with a horrifying eldritch being.....and just as they were leaving one traumatizing mountain. She cannot catch a break can she?

[Gulheru]

11875759

I don't think there's time for that anymore. She had a lot of chapters to get ready. Let's see if she really is.