A content smile graced the muzzle of the mare that nestled under Luna's wing. Twilight, sheathed in Candice's flesh, had embraced slumber and, for the first time since her capture, did not retreat to her bastion. No, instead, she willingly cast off her defences and entered Luna's domain. Twilight dreamed at last. If she returned to her bastion, there would be a magenta orb. With Twilight's history, it was an affirmation of the deepest level of trust.
It should have been a perfect moment, and if you looked from the outside, Luna knew that's what any observer would see. What they would see would be true if it was not for one thing.
One thing haunted her mind despite the tender joys of the past hours. A screaming skull wreathed in crystal, and fire prowled Luna's thoughts. With each heartbeat, that phantom of her Dream Augury stalked closer.
May it be nought but mine fear. Yet even as she thought it, a part of her knew it to be untrue. She knew not how, why, nor when, only that the moment moved ever closer. Twilight would burn, and like all visions of portent, nothing could change it.
Silken shadows flowed together as cushions formed under the sleeping mare. Luna cast her senses over Candice's form. Still, not a single sign of soul rot or mana burn. It was a good thing. It provided a refuge if Twilight's flesh was lost. A sigh wanted to escape her, but there was not the air to do so. What will be, will be. What is, is.
Candice provided a soft pillow as Luna lay her head down, even as she cast her eyes above. Equus hung in this distance, the land far below wrapped in her night, even though it was many hours past the time she would generally declare morning.
Closed eyes were no hindrance to her senses, and she focused all of them on this moment. The seconds turned into hours, and the hours into seconds. A moment as immortal as Luna herself, treasured until the day her duty was finally over. The moment lasted forever, even as it shifted to be nothing but a memory.
Even as duty called her to action, she knew it would only be a matter of time before canvas bore a poor imitation of the memory told in pigment and brush strokes. She even knew just where she would display the painting.
Alas, everything ends... Luna thought as she retreated to her bastion and then from there to the dreams of her ponies, beginning with her most loyal, her chosen.
2nd of today's chapters.
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11620714
Waaaay better, thanks !! I‘ll read the new chapters later today , really exited to read them!
This has been a wild ride of a story and I am LIVING for every moment! I can’t wait to see what happens next!
This story has been lovely to re-read; even if some things stuck out or 'popped' out at my sensibilities, like Candice; and hilariously, BlueBlood and Noble Guide's replacement. It feels like, despite the Tree Of Harmony and Discord being disallowed to interfere - that they have done so in very subtle ways regardless.
Once is one-off.
Twice is a coincidence.
Thrice is a deliberate action.
You had Candice; literally created by Harmony.
Then the Shadow Parasite spell cast on Blueblood 'malfunctioned' (due to Blueblood being so self-centered and obnoxious that any 'rebellion' had to start with his personality else he'd be useless according to the spell) and making him outright a good individual; who is selfless and cares for others.
Now we're back to the Blood Mage, ironically; dying faster because of his own mistakes - and also ironically, doing a lot of good and not actually managing to impact the overall state of things negatively.
Yes, the Blight was catastrophic. Yes; it was 'horrible' and still is for those involved in it. However - the new bonds, the new military training; the way Alicorns are now being 'let down' and allowed to use their powers? Equestria is very quickly sharpening up - reducing its vulnerabilities, shoring up its military might. It follows the most basic rule. Harmony and Chaos are linked. The longer you prolong one; the stronger the other gets. Little actions a thousand years ago build up from a 'slight' to something worth killing over.
11624893
Just curious, how do you get the idea that Discord or Harmony had anything to do with the things you listed? Candice, sure, 50% right on that one, however, that was done well before even Twilight's ascension. I would give you half marks on that one. At least there, Harmany had done something, but that was years before any restrictions were in play. The others, I'm curious where you derive that Discord or Harmony interfered in those in any way.
11625511
It's... difficult to describe? It's more of a gut feeling. Things have lined up way too perfect for someone to have not been pulling the strings. NMM imprisoned instead of just deleted like Luna's other fragments? Stored/Imprisoned but not strong enough to prevent them from taking control when Twilight is near death? Strange how the EOH did that instead of rebanishing or just destroying them; despite their rather clear capability to do so.
Except it isn't, if you review the plotline from both canon and this story. The EOH pre-picked their bearers and quite literally manipulated their destiny; with Celestia assisting it. Drawing the bearers together to defeat great threat after great threat. Until finally; Twilight is kidnapped. And about to die. The EOH apparently having given NMM enough tactile sensation while imprisoned to let them slightly reform, and then they help Twilight and grow attached to Little Star.
Remember. Harmony isn't always good - There's a reason they aren't called the 'Elements of Goodness'. It really wouldn't surprise me if the EOH deliberately left NMM conscious on the moon for a thousand years just to make this process faster - it has, afterall - proven the ability to quite literally twist fate pre-emptively as shown by Candice and the adjustment in imprisonment.
As for how the two interfered - the 'no interference' policy only seemed to come into effect just before the Manehattan attack. Discord (and Harmony) don't seem like the type to let things be without stacking the deck as much as possible. From Little Star potentially being a rogue fragment of Twilight with insane levels of magic and quite literally connected to magic on a Fundamental level (which is how she knows things which she logically shouldn't); to the hilariously 'poor' or good timing of the blight being far more than just a distraction.
It simply feels like someone is toying with the strings, especially with the Blueblood/Noble Guide end of the story; which I believe I explained rather well in my other comment - and it isn't Celestia or any main Player we know of.
11625679
All the things you mention, stacking the deck before, yeah, I give you full marks on that. But It seemed like you were implying they had something to do with the Blight going wrong and the spell on BB being manipulated by harmony or something like that.
11625687
Fair enough! I still think though that the shadow parasite wasn't lying about Celestia's mental seal on Blueblood. It makes a lot of sense when you also realise that throughout the seasons (and this story), that Blueblood was used as a generic scapegoat to cause tension/etc; and as for the Blight-
It worked perfectly. It's directly said by NMM themselves - the caster had perfectly cast the spell; they were just misinformed on how large the Blight was meant to be - which I do find odd; considering Noble Guide is a NMM cultist who found artefacts and texts made by Night.
Either way, shall be interesting to watch how this story further develops.
Hmm... So now Luna needs to tell Twilight what's coming so she can begin building a fire proof skull. Don't ask how, you know she would once she understands there is a fixed point in the future where her head catches fire ; )