> Reba
>  by ErraticOverlord
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue - Shadows on the moon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I slam my fore-hooves on the table, shattering it into fragments no larger than eyelashes. Celestia purses her lips at my foalish actions.

“Luna, I do not think this is appropriate.”

Celestia says, displeasure heavily apparent in her tone.

“We do not have time for whatever chance plan thou wouldst come up with. Sombra is turning more of Equestria into darkness with each passing day.”

I slam my right fore-hoof on the floor for emphasis; I hear a crunching sound as my hoof grinds some splinters of the table into powder.

“Yet we have time to let Starswirl’s Army find it? I think not, Luna.”

Celestia responds. I growl and turn away from her, looking out a window.

“It is obvious we shan’t find a consensus this way, Celestia. I will use Starswirl, you can use whatever pleases thee. When one of us finds Sombra, then that pony will stop him.”

Celestia’s frown deepens. She nods solemnly . I spread my wings and fly out the window without another word, anger burning in my heart at what I feel to be Celestia’s betrayal.

Why doesn’t she trust me?



*   *   *



Equestria is a land completely filled with magic; no rock, lake, or tree stump, is devoid of it completely.

I am Princess Luna, one of the two rulers of Equestria with my sister Celestia. Together, we raise the celestial bodies: Celestia raises the sun and I raise the moon. This is the natural order of things, and will continue until Celestia and my eventual replacement; at least, that’s what I thought.

I make my way through the streets of the Crystal Empire, a kingdom technically separate from Equestria but annexed by Celestia and me after the fall of Discord. In days past I would walk freely through the Crystal Empire, but now I go disguised with a powerful illusion hiding my Alicorn height and horn.

Celestia and I are meant to keep balance in Equestria, as is our duty, and today in the streets of a conquered and overcast town I seek to overthrow the former unicorn, Sombra: an evil pony twisted into a rotten shell of the prince he once was by his studies of dark magic.

At the start of this endeavor, Celestia and I were together so we could use the magic of the Elements of Harmony to defeat Sombra. Unfortunately, the Crystal Empire’s transient nature makes it exceptionally hard to track so we had an argument about how to track it and decided that each of us would use our own way to find it and the pony who finds the Crystal Empire would defeat Sombra. Celestia and I always had our little disagreements but this was the first time one had interfered with keeping the balance of Equestria and I feel a coldness in my stomach; this deeply concerns me.

My guide, whom I located not long after I set hoof in the Crystal Empire, is an earth pony colt of perhaps eight or nine in age named Geo. Geo discovered me in an alleyway before I had a chance to bend my illusion spell to make me look like a simple chalk-grey Pegasus mare named Graphite, and offered to guide me to where I want to go in exchange for the freedom of the crystal ponies. It sounds like a simple deal, however, I believe it will prove to be much harder in execution.

After close to twenty minutes of walking we finally reach the Crystal palace.

“So, how are you gonna defeat Sombra?”

Geo asks, excitement reaching his voice, most likely at the prospect of being freed from the tyrant king.

“We will probably attempt a magic duel: we will cast spells at each other in the hopes of bringing the other down before they do the same to us.”

I reply, idly. This business with Celestia muddles my thoughts quite a bit.

“You don’t seem too happy about that plan.”

Geo remarks, somewhat glumly. It is far from the first time I have heard his strangely accurate perception get exactly on target.

“I will admit, I had hoped to use the Elements of harmony to defeat Sombra but that proved to be… impossible.”

I say. My voice quavers as I fight down my sadness.

“Why’s that?”

Geo asks, oblivious to my discomfort.

“Because…”

I sigh, and turn to face him.

“Because Celestia and I got into a fight and I cannot wield the Elements without her.”

Geo looks at me, something indiscernible flashes across his face for a moment and then is gone. He looks at the floor again.

“Oh.”

We walk in silence for a while after that. We travel down a corridor with dark blue walls, then up a staircase of black crystal, then down another corridor with dark blue walls, up another staircase comprised of black crystal, down a… corridor… with dark blue, crystal, walls… up a staircase… made of black crystal…

We’re going in circles.

The thought is only there for a moment but remains even as I stare at the objects around me and their continual recursion. I begin to say something when, as if on cue, the corridor opens up into a circular chamber with four doors. Doors, doors are Sombra’s favorite thing to enchant; he just can’t resist catching an unsuspecting pony opening a door with a sinister spell. I feel the doors with my mind, searching for magic bent taut. 

Something’s wrong.

The magic in the room seems to be faintly bent, as if somepony was making an area spell. I shrug it off as some kind of spell to control the temperature in the castle and push my paranoid thoughts into the back of my mind. Yet, something lingers. I have a feeling something is very wrong. I can’t ignore it forever.

The doors are safe.

I laugh inwardly; ‘Safe’? Nothing is safe in the Crystal castle, at least, not now.

“Prin-Uh. Graphite. The door is this one.”

Geo says, breaking my flow of thought. He gestures to the door on the far right of me. I mark that the door color is a lighter grey than other parts of the castle, however, nothing else distinguishes it. I walk through the door behind Geo. We travel up a staircase for what seems like hours in silence. I follow Geo through another corridor this one with a window outside. I peer into it and look up at the night… sky…

That is not my night.

“This is an illusion.”

I speak the words quietly, but as soon as I do, the illusion breaks down over us. Crystal towers shatter into fragments. Floors melt, flowing freely around my hooves. The sky falls, causing meteors to crash into the Crystal city. 

A grim, dimly lit, jail cell of black crystal reveals itself. Geo is missing and in his place is my corrupted quarry:  Sombra. A very dark purple mist flows around his head ceaselessly and I am unable to tell if it comes from his eyes, or into them.

He laughs a low rumble of a laugh, something of a cross between a laugh and a growl. When he is done, he turns to face me while the mist above him shifts towards me, slightly.

“Poor Princess Luna, so alone.”

His voice has a soft almost musical feel to it, but a sharp, grating, undertone which made the hairs on the back of my neck stand straight in apprehension.

“I’m far from alone Sombra.”

I spit the last word, like venom from a wound. Sombra chuckles; the mist around him shakes like a murky pool of water, the faintest sign of predators within. I continue.

“Celestia comes, and when she is here it is over for thee.”

I say the words with confidence, but it only causes him to laugh once more.

“That’s interesting, however, I wasn't talking about your current… situation.”

He gestures to the jail cell to punctuate his words.

“Geo was an illusion. Was he not?”

I say, trying to shift the subject away from me. The mist releases me from it’s un-gaze.

“Yes. He’s one of my best ones yet I think. I create them, then spread them throughout the area surrounding my palace. It makes gathering information and quelling rebellions much easier.”

Sombra replies. I curse myself inwardly. I had fallen for his tricks and for that I was paying for it. I wish Celestia was here.

“But enough talk of that. I want to discuss your problems at home.”

I wince at the false pity he injects into the last few words.

“I heard about your decision to no longer attend court.”

Sombra says the words almost idly, as the green mist seems to look everywhere but at me. I narrow my eyes.

“The official reason was that you were starting to get bored of it and simply needed the sleep during that time of day so you could watch the night effectively. Well, that’s the official version anyway…”

Sombra continues. He pauses and looks at me expectantly. I glare at him, as he is obviously trying to draw out his point. I have to keep him talking though, until Celestia gets here.

Very well Sombra, I’ll bite.

“And what is the unofficial version?”

I inquire lazily, my patience leaking out of my voice in gushes. The green mist jiggles mirthfully.

“You are afraid.”

Sombra says, voice dripping with malice. Sombra’s words strike me with the force of a falling tower, crushing me into dust.

“What?”

Is all I manage to say, my mind reeling at these three simple words. The mist locks its gaze on me while Sombra turns towards my cell, causing me to shiver.

“You’re afraid that you’ll mess something up and the ponies of Equestria will respect you even less.”

He speaks the words quietly and with a sort of nonchalance, but their meaning hits me like a thunderbolt, causing me to flinch.

“You’re afraid because Celestia is better than you.”

My eyes narrow.

“Thou wouldst do well to watch thy tongue Sombra, lest it run off without thee.”

I spit, as I turn away from him.

“It’s not too late to stop this, Gaia.”

Sombra’s wicked smile changes to a frown.

“I don’t know what happened to you but you can stop it.”

I continue. Sombra presses his head against the bars. His horn glows a dark red color.

“Gaia is dead. I am Sombra. I am the ruler of the Crystal Empire. I have sent the Crystal Princess away. I rule without equal. I am greatness. I am better than you… because, you cannot stop me.”

Sombra turns and walks to the door without saying anything else. I suddenly feel sad as if a loved one has just passed away.

Time passes. It could be minutes, hours, or days I cannot tell. Celestia blasts through the wall next to my cell; Moments before the blast reaches the wall I feel the magic in the air tense and finally release with the power of the sun, a power not seen in the Crystal Empire for far too long. Celestia lands outside of my cage with the grace of an angel.With a flex of her magic, arcane energy flows to Celestia’s horn as she grips the crystals making up my cell and tears them away with a protesting screech

“Luna! Are you alright?”

Concern is plastered over Celestia’s face. I smile weakly.

“I… I think I’ll be okay.”

I try to stand, but quickly fall to my knees. Celestia rushes over and drapes a wing around my shoulders. Warmth spreads throughout my body when I feel like I have been cold for centuries.

“Ho-“

I shiver, my body numb. Celestia holds me close until I am able to speak again.

“H-how d-did you f-find me?”

My words come out incomplete, the cold I feel all but barring intelligible speech.

“I followed the migrating phoenixes. They always stop at the Crystal Empire to get Elto fruit.”

Celestia responds, with a small smile.

“I s-see.”

I look down to the ground with burning shame. I had been so eager to get to Gaia that I did not take the obvious route and for that I was captured. Celestia’s completely pure white wing pulls my chin up to look into her eyes. I see forgiveness; I stand with new found courage. We are going to stop Sombra.

“L-let’s g-go.”

I say, fierce determination burning in my eyes. Sombra stands oblivious to the two Alicorns come to overthrow him. The crystal doors are gripped with a blue and yellow force. Twin magics bend against the door to throw it off of its hinges.

Sombra smiles, the green mist above him mimicking his haughty arrogance.

“Come to overthrow me have you?”

He sounds amused, like we were simply fillies who ran away from home and challenged him to a fight. I try to control the anger rising in me but it feels like trying to put a hoof in front of a river and expecting it to stop.

“Why so confident, Sombra? Today is the day you lose everything.”

I move forward, but I am stopped by a white hoof. I look up questioningly, and see Celestia nod her head no. I stop moving.

You’re going to let Celestia tell you what to do?

I mutter under my breath, and banish the evil thought to the back of my mind. Celestia and I turn back to Sombra, our crowns glowing, softly at first, then brighter and brighter so soon the light fills the room. Every minuscule speck of magic in the room is devoted to the rainbow beam that springs from our crowns: the beam of harmony. Sombra’s eyes widen, as the beam quickly flows towards him. He screams, as the beam hits him, tearing off flesh, eyes, and all other matter turning him to shadow. He’s in pain…

And I Enjoy it.
> Dark Sky
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Waxing Crescent


The rain beats heavily on the stained glass as I peer out it. It has been three days since I stopped making some of the lesser stars, nopony noticed, a month since I stopped attending court, nopony cared, a week since I last touched the elements of harmony and no problems have arisen in that time.

"I'm getting desperate for attention... aren't I?"

I ask the empty room. Mere echos respond. I try to laugh, but all that comes out is a half choked sob.

"If I just fly out of the castle, away from the courts, the disrespectful ponies, and the ever-busy Celestia, would I be missed?"

Faint echoes of "missed" over and over reach me in reply.

"I see."

Tears well in my eyes.

"See what Luna?"

The question comes from a tall pony with a pristine white coat and rainbow mane. Her regal bearing was perfectly complimented by her eyes filled with concern.

"Well if it isn't Celestia, our beloved ruler."

I speak, voice dripping with sarcasm. If Celestia heard the sarcasm she is doing very well pretending not to.

"Yes I am. Well, court's over and I'm off to bed. So, are you ready to raise the moon?"

I pretend to ponder this for a moment.

"I would, but I simply see no point. if the sun stayed in the sky, how many ponies do you think would notice? Well, there's you, me, and the night guards. THAT'S IT TIA." 

I scream. My anger feeds my anger in a vicious cycle.

"I WORK HOURS ON END CRAFTING THE NIGHT SKY, AND NOPONY IS AWAKE TO SEE IT. I GO UNMARKED AND UNAPPRECIATED."

Dark tendrils slither across the floor and cling to my legs.

"I will raise the moon. But by tomorrow morning, I will be gone and the moon will stay in the sky."

I say, an unknown dark coldness creeps into my voice at the words and I feel as though something is speaking through my mouth. I leave, trailing pitch black hoofprints behind me. Celestia chuckles.

"Oh Luna, you are always kidding around. Give yourself some sweet dreams and I'll see you in the morning."

Celestia says to the now, once again, empty room. Echoes of "Morning" reach my ears as I blindly run from my life, relations, and responsibilities, raise the moon, and collapse on my bed.

Maybe you shouldn't ever lower the moon.

A thought appears, whispering in my ear. The darkness reaches my neck now and still grows, covering me. The wicked thought continues:

The ponies hardly realize you're there. Celestia doesn't take you seriously. Why not show them what you are capable of doing?

I turn around, but see nopony. The more I think the more my thoughts make sense. I should show them what I am capable of. I should refuse to lower the moon.

"And, what would I do after the moon stays in the sky?" 

I say, aloud. While I do see merit in the idea, I am still uncertain. Something tugs at the back of my mind, almost ordering me to pay attention to it but my mind sees only one thought. 

Why that's the best part of course. After announcing that you refuse to lower the moon, you kill Celestia.

The darkness around me replies, with a degree of menace.

"And what of my appearance?"

I ask. The darkness has reached my muzzle, now.

"I believe I should look a little more intimidating than this."

I feel the power coursing through me like adrenaline. I feel as though I could do anything and the ponies of Equestria would finally respect me. I feel unstoppable.

Of course not. I was thinking of the name 'Nightmare Moon'.

The darkness goes over my eyes and then I feel nothing.


New Moon


"Luna?"

I raise my head, revealing thin lines of moisture coming from my eyes.

"Yes, Celestia?"

"You've been thinking about the past haven't you, Luna."

Celestia says, with a look that is a cross between sternness and concern.

"Well you know how busy I've been. I've hardly had time to think about anything like that have I?"

I say, sarcasm leaking into my voice.

"Luna."

Celestia says, a touch of warning in her voice.

"The answer is yes. I was thinking about the past. What of it?"

Celestia sighs, deeply.

Oh Luna, I've waited a thousand years for you to return to me. The thought that I could get you back was what kept me sane through all of the wars that came with trying to build this perfect society for you. But now that you're here, everything's so different than I thought it would be. I know that I need to give you time to adjust and spend far more of my own time with you than I am now. I only wish you weren't so worried all of the time.

I blink.

Did I just hear Celestia’s thoughts?

I shake the thought from my mind.

"Luna, you can't keep regretting what already happened. you can't undo it. You're with me now, and I'm arranging for you to have more royal duties."

An interesting thought, Tia, and I might be inclined to believe you, if that wasn't what you said when I was freed from the nightmare and brought into Canterlot again. I'm afraid that particular promise has grown stale.

"Forget it. I need no duties to keep me busy. I have the sky to make wonderful stars and nebuli.I have Nightmare Night to allow me to give to these ponies, my subjects. I have my tower to look on the same ponies I would see if I was doing royal 	duties. I need none of your duties Celestia."

I say the words calmly, but a slight quaver makes its way into my voice.

"But thank you, for trying."

"If you say so, Luna."

Celestia whispers. She walks towards the door, but then stops and turns.

"But we're not done talking about this yet."

Celestia strides out of the room without another word. I sigh, as I feel a stabbing pain in my chest.

"What am I doing?"

I ask the night sky, as the stars twinkle on despite its master's distress.

"I'm avoiding Celestia, I'm brooding, and I don't have anything to do."

I sigh again, trying to push back thoughts of days long past.

"No. I refuse to fall into despair again. I will begin anew. I will find something I like to do and I will do it. Who knows? I might even have to actually listen to Celestia.”

I laugh, a laugh I have suppressed for far too long.

Boy I needed that. Now to do some research.

I fly to the first floor, and enter the Canterlot archives. The archives show a great deal of care put into them, as the walls sparkle with a polished brilliance.

"Hello may I help yo-oh princess!"

"Yes we-I believe you can help u-me."

I say, internally scolding myself.

"Where are the books on equestrian history?"

"Oh. They're right over there, on the bookshelf near the stairs."

"Thank you."

I head towards the aforementioned bookcase. The bookcase is well tended, but not as well tended as the rest of the bookshelves in the area. As I run my hoof along the spines of the books, one book catches my eye; it reads Famous cases: a compendium of the trickiest cases ever solved

"Hmm."

I muse, opening the book and read.


First Quarter


I stand in the palace gardens, watching the night sky's bright twinkling.

"The time approaches dawn your majesty."

The grey coated night guard speaks evenly and without inflection. Even so, I hear fear and doubt creep into his voice.

"What do you think of the night, Sergeant Lanternmane?"

I ask. The dark cloud surrounding me shifts in the direction of Lanternmane, a predator eyeing him hungrily.

"The night sky is beautiful tonight, as it is every night."

Lanternmane swiftly replies.

"I'm glad you think so Lanternmane. However, what would you think if the night sky was the only thing there was?"

I ask, a hint of menace in my voice. Lanternmane freezes.

"I thought so. I have to say I'm disappointed, Lanternmane; I would have thought out of all of the royal guards you would have the least love for Celestia. But, you are weak and scared like all the rest so, like all the rest, I'm going to kill you. But first, I have a different plan for you: I'm going to make you go to work tomorrow. I am going to make you lie, cheat, steal, or seduce anypony you need to in order to get a spot close to Celestia. And after that, I am going to make you kill Celestia. When the deed is done, you are going to put up no fight when the guards arrest you and lock you in the deepest dungeon. And, you are going to be completely alone. But, do you know what the worst part is? You won't... remember... why."

I punctuate this with three swift strikes to the back of Lanternmane's head, after wrapping him in my magic, knocking him unconcious.

"It looks like I'm going to have to enact my plan earlier than I intended."

I say, to the dark mist floating above me. In response, the cloud wraps itself around my body, clinging so tightly I can barely breathe.


Waning Crescent


"Whoo. Whooo."

I wake up, quickly, drenched in a cold sweat.

"Who whooooo."

An owl looks at me, its head sideways, as it continues.

"Whooooo."

I realize that I am still in the library, with books in front of me, in the middle of the night.

"Perhaps I should head back."

I muse. As I trot home, I look at the night sky. I must have raised the moon sometime earlier, without realizing it.

"It is beautiful."

I say, to the empty street.

"Isn't it?"

I turn to the stranger, who made the remark; he is a Pegasus stallion, a bit tall for most ponies, with a dark grey coat and deep blue mane, wings almost flowing in the breeze of the night.

"And who might you be?"

I inquire, genuinely curious.

"You can call me Swiftwing Silver, Princess Luna."

Swiftwing replies.

"Well Swiftwing, I am glad you enjoy my night."

I say, moving away; something about this stallion bothers me, but I can't quite place my hoof on it.

"Many do, Princess Luna."

Swiftwing says, moving with me.

What does he want?

"Many like it even more than the sun."

Swiftwing continues. I stop walking. I cannot believe my ears; to suggest that one princess was better than the other was never done without consequence, most felt that mortal ponies had no frame of reference to judge gods with. I do not think times have changed that much. This pony must either be mad or a fool.

"What didst thou say?"

I say, reverting to the traditional Canterlot voice.

"I said many like it even more than the sun and may even want it to be alone in the sky, while the princess who owns it sits alone in the throne."

Swiftwing says. I take a step back.

"Thou art proposing treason."

I say, aghast at the thought. 

"Not me..."

Swiftwing says, taking a step back to light a lantern.

"...us." 

> Unwanted Company
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The lantern dimly lights the street corner, casting twisted shadows in all directions to reveal a band of cloaked ponies surrounding us. Close to eight ponies are there including one I recognize as the owner of a pastry shop down the road from the castle.

"We are your humble supporters. We vie for your leadership to take this land and set it right again."

Swiftwing says, gesturing to the gathered ponies as he speaks.

"And what exactly is wrong with the land now?"

I ask. I stand stock still, in shock.

"A better question is what's right with it, Princess."

Swiftwing says.

"Monsters attack us daily, our people die in the fields because they're working too hard, while some simply can't afford places to live, and what does our illustrious Princess Celestia do about it? Nothing. She does nothing. We were alone when you were banished to the moon but now you're here, and we will get you on the throne. We'll make sure of it."

The cloaked ponies slip into the shadows, leaving, without another word.

I stand there, who knows how long, waiting for it all to sink in but one thing is certain: I have to tell Celestia. With a flex of my muscles I rocket towards the castle.

Dissidents in Canterlot itself? I thought Tia had made a perfect society. Perhaps, it was a perfect society in a ‘give or take’ sort of way. How could this happen?  Celestia’s rule has been challenged many times, but never by her own subjects. I should know: I just spent eight hours reading about her reign. I have to warn her, and quickly, so I can get there before they act. I won’t sit idly by while my sister is threatened, not again.

I shoot into the castle, through a balcony on the third floor. My muscles burn with an unexercised pain. I ignore it.  I feel a steady pain on my right wing, now almost completely white, as the feather on the tip of it turns falls off. I cry out, in pain, falling to the floor in a heap.

I guess this means no flying for a bit. Stupid Luna.

Any pony walking through the halls hid behind a column or curtains at my approach. Finally, I make it to Celestia’s study, my wing almost completely returned to its proper shade of blue. Inside, there is a note that reads.


My dear sister.
I have just received a letter from Twilight that said
nopony has seen Applejack for the last
three days. Twilight is very concerned so I have
gone to Ponyville to see if I can comfort her,
as well as investigate.

The disappearance of
one of the bearers to the Elements of Harmony
is something very concerning indeed.

I hope you can handle court while I’m gone
If you have any questions all you need to
do is send a letter to Spike and I’ll get it.
I love you Luna. I’ll be back in a few days so 
Don’t miss me too much.

Your loving sister, Celestia.

PS: I have brought several guards with me.
If you’re concerned for my safety, don’t be, I’ll be fine.



I tremble as tears roll down my face.
“Please be okay Tia. I’m coming for you.”
I say and gallop through the halls once more.


Waxing Gibbous


I see Celestia, standing on the throne with what seems to be a feeling of dread encompassing her thoughts. I had refused to lower the moon three days ago and still refuse. It looks like, now, she awaits an attack by the self-proclaimed ‘Nightmare Moon’.

“I have a communication from the guard posts your majesty. They await orders.”

The welcome interruption comes from a guard, not too tall or short, not too handsome or ugly, not too sharp or dimwitted, but altogether average. Lanternmane was his name. Celestia speaks, despite her obvious worries, her voice radiates a feeling of warmth and happiness.

“Tell them to hold their posts until something changes.”

“Understood, your majesty.”

Celestia returns to looking at the night sky, in something akin to mourning. I stand perfectly still behind her, drawing my dagger from underneath my breastplate. Celestia turns around with a look of concern.

“Is there something else you wanted Lanternmane?”

It is no illusion; Celestia would sense an illusion right away. Lanternmane stands in front of her and I am Lanternmane. Funny how those things work.

“Well there is one thing, Princess.”

“What is that, my little pony?”

My mouth twists into a smirk.

“Die.”

I leap forward, plunging the dagger into her shoulder-the rest of her body is covered in armor-she cries out in pain. Celestia fires a sunbeam at me which I jump to the right of, to dodge easily. I leap off of the pillar, felled by her missed attack, and lunge at her with the dagger again. She contracts, then snaps, the air around me, throwing me backward with concussive force. I cough out some blood, my nose bleeding, while I pick myself up, off the floor. Celestia fires another sunbeam at me and I feel the magic fuse together when the beam arcs towards me.

Original.

I use my own magic to bend a slice through the middle of the beam, cutting it in two, both parts missing me. Guards burst in to the now burning throne room and I am hit by, no less than, two dozen stun spells. While the spells begin to take hold of me, I laugh and say one thing:

“The game begins.”

I reach my hooves up to my head, twisting, and snap my own neck.


Waning Gibbous


I land on, the now, Princess Twilight’s doorstep, and am about to knock, when the door opens to reveal Princess Twilight herself,  a concerned look on her face. She bows quickly and speaks.

“Princess Luna, I was just about to go to Canterlot. I think something awful has happened.”

She speaks quickly and worriedly. I see she has her saddlebags on, in preparation to going to Canterlot. But, how could she have packed her bags so quickly? Celestia only left the castle earlier today; that is hardly enough time to be concerned yet, much less pack your bags. What is going on here?

“Is this about Applejack?”

I ask, my brow furrowed in concentration.

“Yes. She and Spike have been gone for a few days now, and I’m getting very worried. They could be lost, or in danger, or… wait a minute, how did you know?”

Her face abruptly shifts from anxious to suspicious. She looks at me expectantly.

“Spike sent my sister a letter, we thought from you, that said Applejack was missing and for her to come and investigate. It seems y-"

I hear maniacal laughter right behind me. I turn around but see nopony.

What the hay?

I turn back to Twilight and see a quizzical look on her face.

“Didst thou hear that?”

I say to her. What could that have been? I think back to my transformation into Nightmare Moon and shiver.

“Hear what?”

Twilight says, still with a quizzical look and concern in her voice.

“Princess Luna, are you all right?”

“I am fine. I am sorry Twilight. I believe Applejack, Spike, and Celestia are in grave danger by dissidents to her rule.”

Another laugh occurs behind me. I turn around, trying to see the perpetrator but I have no such luck.

“Dissidents? That’s terrible.”

I turn back around to face Twilight and nod gravely.

“I am going to try to get them back but I will need your help, Twilight.”

She nods.

“Of course, Princess Luna, I’ll help you with anything I can.”

I nod uneasily. Those laughs, they sound familiar.

“I want you to go to Canterlot and preside over court affairs, while I see what I can find out here.”

Twilight looks at me up and down with an eyebrow raised.

“Are you sure you should investigate? Most of the ponies in this town are a bit scared of you.”

She says poignantly. I smile.

“You underestimate me, Twilight.”

I bend the magic around me into new forms; after a few seconds, they become visible and settle around me. Now, I look like a unicorn. A light pink coat and creamy white mane adorn me. Twilight blinks.

“Princess Luna?”

“Not anymore, now I’m Happytune!”

I smile an obnoxious grin. Inside, however, I grow more restless and uneasy by the second. I want to find Celestia and stop the dissidents. Twilight shuts her open mouth with a ‘clink’ sound and nods.

“Can I ask you questions if I’m not sure what to do?”

She asks.

“You will be fine. I am sure of it.”

Twilight smiles. I hear that same insufferable laugh behind me again but resist the burning urge to turn around. I smile at Twilight as she gallops to the train station bound for Canterlot. I turn and trot to  Fluttershy’s cottage.


*   *   *


Wind blows in the trees outside of Fluttershy’s cottage, a sweet melody of sound, right outside but I hardly hear it through my contemplations. I met the other element bearers on my way, but the most useful piece of information I got was that Applejack had recently begun to date a new pony to Ponyville. Next I’m going to Sweet Apple Acres.

One thing concerns me, however: if their target was Celestia why would the dissidents actually kidnap Applejack? The supposed mission would have been accomplished by just sending a letter to Celestia telling her to come quick. So, why remove a celebrity? It would only risk the operation being found out more quickly. Unless, Applejack found out about the plan, but then, how would she find out? She supposedly started dating a new pony, so, did she find out from him? I groan. Nothing makes sense.

Sweet Apple Acres looms before me, a grim testament to the missing member of the Apple clan. I step in, to find Big Macintosh and Granny Smith at the table staring down bowls of porridge and apples as if daring the food to give up before they do. I drop the disguise, I wore while walking around, and approach the table. The forlorn Apples look up at me and gape.

“P-Princess Luna?”

Granny Smith manages to sputter. Big Macintosh remains silent.

“I have come to see how you are doing, and to ask you some questions. That is, if you are feeling up to it.”

“Eeyup.”

I cannot say I have heard Big Macintosh speak often for, in truth, nopony has, but I feel the sadness he has. Neither his 	words, nor his eyes show any signs of sadness but I know how he feels. He feels…

Crying… Somepony is crying right behind me… Just like the laughter.

I push the thought back. Once again, I suppress the urge to turn around and attempt to look at the disembodied sounds. I have more pressing business.

“When was the last time you saw Applejack?”

The voice behind me sobs harder. I ignore it.

“On Wednesday, she said she had to run an errand. I watched her walk past the tree cover near the fence, and that was the last I saw.”

I look out of the window. I see the tree cover he describes and mark its location in my memory. I turn back to Big Macintosh.

“This errand Applejack ran, did it have anything to do with her date?”

Big Macintosh chews on a piece of hay in thought, for a moment, then replies.

“Nope.”

I stand in thought, for a few moments.

“What was the name of Applejack’s date? Do you know?”

Big Macintosh turns to Granny.

“Nope.”

What an excellent conversationalist.

“Granny?”

Granny Smith replies:

“I think the name was eh… Swiftwing. That was it, Swiftwing Silver.”
> Of Swift Wings and Silver
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	My mouth hangs open. My mind goes blank. I stand, still as a statue, in the main building of Sweet Apple Acres. Swiftwing Silver, the apparent head of the dissident movement, was dating Applejack right before she disappeared. If I had doubt it is quite gone now. The dissident movement is responsible for taking Spike, Applejack, and Celestia, not to mention the guards Celestia brought with her. Swiftwing Silver must be stopped. After regaining my voice, I thank the Apples and dart out the door.

I need to find Swiftwing Silver, but how? Who would know where he lived? Hang on, the Apple family might know at least a temporary residence. I reach an overgrown hedge before turning around and galloping back. reaching the Apple family’s house once again, I trot in. Granny Smith and Big Macintosh look up from their-long since cold-bowls of porridge.

“Do you know where this 'Swiftwing Silver' lives?”

I ask, somewhat in earnest. Granny Smith replies.

“It’s one of the apartments down by the river. The address might be in Applejack’s room.”

Her accent is not the thickest I have ever heard but it takes me a few moments to process what she says. When I do, I nod my head and trot up the stairs, to Applejacks room. I open the door, to reveal a musky smell, that of hay and fresh earth. Although it had been several days since Applejack had been in here, the smell remained, yet another grim reminder of Ponyville’s missing friend. I turn to the table next to her bed and see a calendar hung above it. I move closer to see what is written on the calendar. I scan my eyes along the sheet of numbers, until I see the last date marked. It reads “August third, day of remembrance.” 

Strange… Very strange.

I look down and see her address book open to a very particular pony:

“Swiftwing Silver, twenty one twenty one, Shetland Street.”

I thank the Apples again, for their help, and canter out the door, donning my Happytune disguise on the way. When I reach the edge of Sweet Apple Acres’ property, I run into three fillies; one was a Unicorn with a white coat, green eyes, and a striped mane of pink and purple. Another, was a Pegasus with an orange coat, purple eyes, and dark purple mane. Finally, there is an Earth pony with a yellow coat, orange eyes, and a light red mane. None of them had cutie marks. I thank Olympus that my disguise is in place. The Earth pony speaks:

“Hey a haven’t seen ya 'round Ponyville before. What’s yer name?”

She spoke with a slow, southern drawl with a fast undercurrent, a river under rock. I reply with a friendly smile.

“My name is Happytune. What is yours?”

The three fillies reply, almost before I finish asking the question. The Earth pony speaks first:

“A’hm Applebloom!”

Then the Pegasus speaks:

“I’m Scootaloo!”

The Pegasus speaks with a slightly lower voice, although still high pitched and excited. She seems to be attempting to sound like Rainbow Dash, the element of loyalty. I could swear I had heard her voice somewhere before, but, I cannot remember where. 

The Unicorn speaks next:

“I’m Sweetie bell!”

Her voice is strong and soft, a singer’s voice by the sound of it.

Applebloom, she is a member of the Apple family. Maybe I can find out more information about Applejack from her.

“Applebloom, you would not happen to be related to Applejack would you?”

The three fillies’ faces fall. They look at the ground, downcast. My heart aches for my subjects, but I must press on. I am sorry Applebloom.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

I say. Applebloom nods.

“I’m trying to find out what happened to her. Can you tell me what you know?”

Applebloom nods slowly and looks up at me, teary eyed.

“A-ah guess so.”

She says, uncertainly. I ask my first question:

“What do you know about Swiftwing Silver?”

I ask. A more serious tone creeps into my voice. Applebloom smiles, some of her earlier mirth returning to her. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo snicker. Applebloom speaks again:

“Yah mean Applejack’s date?”

She asks, not sad, but serious.

“Yes. That’s the one.”

Applebloom thinks, then turns to me and says:

“Well what do ya wanna know?”

She asks.

“Were they very close?”

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo snicker again, but are silenced by a glare from Applebloom.

“Applejack said she loved Swiftwing and Swiftwing said the same, so yeah; they loved each other.”

Well this doesn't complicate things at all.

I hush my sarcastic thoughts, and nod. I ask my next question:

“Tell me about Swiftwing.”

I say. Applebloom nods.

“Well I didn't see Swiftwing around much. Applejack said Swiftwing’s work was very demanding so that was why. When Swiftwing was there, Applejack and Swiftwing were very luvy duvy with each other and Swiftwing was nice. Swiftwing loved apple tarts… I don’t know too much, sorry.”

Work…Riiiiiight.

Hush.

“Thank you for your help. If you have anything else to say and can’t find me, you can just talk to Twilight and she will let me know.”
Applebloom nods again. I move on my way, cantering towards Shetland Street. It is about time I paid Swiftwing Silver a visit. That is, if he actually lives there. Either way, it is well worth trying, should I find him there. I make my way through the center of town where I hear somepony I did not expect to:

Celestia?

Yes. That is Celestia. I recognize her voice. What happened? What is she saying? I move in closer to the throng of ponies gathered around the town square and, I assume, Celestia. Finally, I hear what Celestia is saying.

“…If you choose to dispute my rule then I will be forced to destroy you, through Celestia. Soon you will respect me as a ruler…”

Celestia has a young filly in her magic. The filly has a recently broken leg and is crying in mortal terror. I try desperately to wrap my mind around the scene, while my Happytune disguise wavers. Celestia… Broke a filly’s leg? Why? Celestia continues.

“This filly, by the name of Archer, will be an example of how disrespect is rewarded. Observe.”

Celestia bends her magic and another of the filly’s legs break with a sickening crunch. Archer cries out in pain and the crowd winces. My Happytune guise flickers again. Celestia releases her grip on the foal and Archer drops like a stone, hitting the ground with a dull thud. Nopony tries to help Archer, instead, looking on Celestia with horror. She continues.

“I think I’ve shown what will happen, should anypony disrespect me, enough. I bid you adieu.”

Celestia spreads her wings in preparation for flight.

No.

“Celestia.”

I drop my illusion, to reveal my true form. My Alicorn height allows me to stand taller than my subjects, making it so Celestia can easily identify me. She looks upon me, an evil smirk upon her face. On her forehead there is a red mark; the mark looks almost like a nine but it is turned slightly on its side and the usually circular top part is squarer.

A rune.

‘Celestia’ speaks again:

“Well, if the moon doesn’t look up at the sun. How have you been dear sister?”

Her words curl upward, like her lips. A sadistic undertone present in her normally kind voice. A wild thought hits me and the current situation makes only a little more sense.

That is not Celestia. Either she is a Changeling or she has some sort of spell on her.

The rune would suggest the latter.

Agreed.

I frown.

“You are not Celestia.”

The not-Celestia’s smile grows wider.

“Right you are, Princess.”

This does not make sense; if the dissidents were behind capturing Celestia, why would they do a public demonstration like this? If they wanted me to be alone on the throne, it would be better to just have her quietly disappear, so, why this? It simply does not make sense.

“Too slow, Luna.”

I look up, just in time to see a golden clad hoof connect with my muzzle. The force of the impact shatters the bones located there and throws me backwards into the ground. The crowd scatters at the battle between immortals. I stand on wobbly legs, while the bones in my nose regrow. Celestia launches herself at me again.

“Yaaaaaah!”

I sidestep, to avoid her sloppy charge. Whoever is controlling her does not have combat experience. No combat experience means she took control of Celestia’s body through trickery. That would suggest…

“Gahg!”

Damnit!

I use my left wing to bat Celestia to the side of me, but even so she lands a powerful buck to my left fore-hoof, breaking it on contact.

I have to focus.

The pain from my nose and fore-hoof makes me see red in my peripheral vision, but I cannot let that bother me now. Celestia charges me again, her broad, sick, grin contrasting sharply with her normally calm demeanor. Crimson blood mats her coat. I turn my attention towards Celestia.

I…Am sorry.

Celestia charges at me again, in exactly the same manner as before.

You have to give her controller points for consistency.

I grimace, pushing away thoughts not pertaining to the battle at hand. Celestia is three meters from me now…two…one… I raise my left fore-hoof and slam it down, hard, against Celestia’s head. I hear something crunch and she is thrown backward into the dirt. I slam my wings against the air behind me, to rocket me forward. I land on top of Celestia, raise my hoof again, and…


Third Quarter


I slam it down on Celestia. The force of the impact makes her fly through the air, eventually to land on one of the pillars surrounding the Palace Garden. The Palace Garden seems to be only the worse for wear during our fight, but I care not. I see the Everfree Forest loom very close to us and briefly consider taking the battle there. I shrug the idea off; no amount of combat advantage would compete with the statistical likelihood of a monster appearing and eating the victor. Celestia groans and stands up.

“What is the matter Celestia?”

I spit her name out, on the utterance of it. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth whenever I use it now. Celestia collapses on the floor again. Her blood mats her coat, while my silver armor remains pristine.

It seems Celestia’s sentiment will lose her this battle, her life as well. I see Celestia use her magic to pick something up from the wreckage. A yellow hue surrounds it as Celestia bends the magic within to lift it, and place it on her head. Her helmet has been destroyed in our battle; this was her crown.

No.

Magic, greater than anypony’s including mine or Celestia’s, whirl into being around Celestia’s crown. Before she fires the Elements of Harmony contained in her crown at me she says one thing:

“I… Am sorry, Luna. The Elements will cure you of whatever spell you are under.”

Magic arcs towards me as the Elements’ power is released. A spell she says; well, unless it can cure me of my own dark thoughts I don’t think the Elements will do much of anything.

Why not? It would be worth it, if only to see the look on Celestia’s face when she realizes they do not work on me.
I stand with a triumphant smile on my face, tall, my posture straight, hair back, and coat clean, as the rainbow of energy surrounds me; only then, do I realize it is not trying to cure me. It is trying to stop me. I feel my energy bonding with those of the moon, sealing me inside of it. The last thing I feel is an unimaginable pain as my soul is ripped from my body like fruit from a tree.

I guess this is game over... I lose.


First Quarter


“Agh!”

I clutch my throbbing temples and fall over, stumbling away from Celestia. Celestia stands, after catching a few mouthfuls of air. One of her eyes is brownish and rather puffy and her nose is badly swollen. As I watch, the swelling goes down and the colors not germane to her coat disappear, over the course of a few minutes of us gasping and watching each other. Celestia grimaces.

“Do not think this is over, Luna. It isn’t.”

Celestia spreads her wings with an audible ‘wooshing’ sound, and with three swift flaps, she is gone. I collapse on the ground, darkness overcoming my vision.


*   *   *


After a while, I wake up in my room in the southernmost tower of Canterlot. I read the note beside my bed and find that, Twilight brought me here after my fight with Celestia or, as whomever Celestia’s controller is said: the Runemaster. I lie back in my bed for a few more minutes, before getting up and out the door. Every part of me aches, after my fight with Celestia so I opt to lift my Happytune illusion onto me and take the train to Ponyville. After a while of walking, I find that the town, though not fully recovered, is doing very well after the sudden attack by the Runemaster. Also, it seems they don’t remember Happytune becoming Luna in front of their eyes.

It was lucky. I have to be more careful.

I walk in relative peace to the doorstep of twenty-one twenty-one, Shetland street; which, as far as I know, is Swiftwing’s address. Hesitantly, I knock on the door four times, one after the other. The door is solid, made of wood, and has an engraving on it which has been faded away through time. I hear a muffled voice say something akin to ‘who is it?’ to which I reply.

“Is this the residence of Swiftwing Silver? I wanted to ask some questions about Applejack.”

There is a pause, then I hear the word ‘coming’ and with a click of the lock, the door opens. I blink in unadulterated surprise. The creature attacking the logical parts of my brain looks at me and says:

“Yes, I am Swiftwing Silver. Who are you?”
> Runes
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“Hello?”

I stand on the doorstep of twenty-one twenty-one, Shetland Street, with a strange Pegasus in front of me. The Pegasus has a dark grey coat and deep blue mane. The same Pegasus is also…

“A mare?”

I quickly cover my mouth with my hooves, once I realize I said that aloud. The mare who called herself Swiftwing is taken aback by the question: her ears flatten while her eyes widen, her mouth hangs open in surprise. After a minute of me staring uncomprehendingly at her, she speaks.

“Yes... And you are?”

My mouth snaps shut, as I remember my reason for being here. I clear my throat.

“Y-yes, my name is Happytune. I was put in charge of investigating Applejack’s disappearance. I understand you were dating her, is this true?”

On closer inspection, it looks like she was crying; though she had wiped away her tears, her muzzle and eyes were rather moist and I can make out about thirteen tissues in the wastebasket. ‘Swiftwing’ responds:

“Yes, this is true.”

She gestures with a hoof for me to come inside and I accept, stepping in to her, rather messy, house. I sit down on the sofa provided, while she goes into the next room and procures a glass of water. She sits down with the glass and I speak again.

“Tell me about her.”

She takes a slow sip from her glass and responds.

“W-well she is a very nice, hardworking, pretty, mare. S-she is loving, kind, she was always b-by my s-siiiddee.”

She breaks down in tears. She puts particular emphasis on the is’s in that sentence, as if thinking that through willpower she can ensure Applejack’s safety.

Truly an impressive display. Almost believable.

I speak again, trying not to let the coldness of my thoughts seep into my voice. I have not forgotten what Swiftwing and the dissidents did to Celestia. Whoever this mare is, she calls herself Swiftwing. It is likely she is involved.

“When was the last time you saw her?”

I ask. After a few minutes of her sobbing into her hooves, she looks up and swallows.

“It was the fourth of August.”

She says.

Applejack disappeared on the seventh. A three day gap is quite the convenient number, both not enough time apart for anyone to get suspicious and not too close to the day she went missing. She is quite good.

I nod and speak again.

“What did you do?”

I ask. Her eyebrows knit together, furrowed in concentration. She smiles gently and responds.

“I told her off. That’s what I did.”

She speaks rather slowly. My eyebrows go up in surprise. She smiles some more and brushes away some tears.

“Why?”

I ask.

“Because she missed our date.”

My left eyebrow moves up.

“Date?”

I ask.

“Yeah, we had made reservations to le café de blanc but when she was supposed to pick me up she wasn’t there. When I went to her house, she was eating with her family. Needless to say, I was furious; so, I told her off right in front of Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, and Applebloom.”

She explains.

Interesting…

“Do you know the significance of August third, to Applejack?”

I ask, expectantly.

“I’m afraid not. When I asked what it was on her calendar, she just said she was busy that day with personal matters. Sorry.”

I nod, slowly.

Personal matters… I wonder what that means…

“Is that all?”

She asks. I stand up and walk over to the door.

“Just one more thing.”

I say. She nods. I drop my illusion to reveal my divine stature. She steps back with her mouth agape. I open mine.

“I hereby place you under arrest, in the name of Princess Celestia, Princess of the sun, for conspiracy… and treason.”

She nods. Her head droops to the floor and she follows me out the door, in perfect, unnerving, silence. I escort her to Canterlot castle by guard carriage, trying to draw as little attention to her arrest as possible. Despite her obvious connection to the dissidents, I feel sorry for this mare and I actually believe that she loves Applejack. I must arrest her, but I don’t need to disgrace her in front of the whole town.


*   *   *


After the guards take her to a cell, I attend court to see how Twilight is doing. I talk to some of the guards that were present during her court sessions and find that, while shaky at first, Princess Twilight is doing well in her temporary duties.

Well, that is something at least.

I trot towards the Canterlot Archives; it has been many years since I have seen an inactive rune, much less an active one. Perhaps there are books on it in the Archive, at least, I hope there is. I take in the familiar and the unfamiliar, the sights, sounds, ponies; visiting the Archives at dusk is a much different experience than my excursion previously. I lower the sun and raise the moon, making the transition officially to night. I sigh. Why can’t Celestia be here? I don’t know how to run a kingdom. I look down at my hooves. 

I don’t know how to do much of anything.

I hear a noise: a shuffling noise, there is something shuffling around in the darkness of the Archives. I extend my wings and a flap brings me to the window, I hear the shuffling from. I peer into the darkness, cutting through it with my keen night vision. Applejack, Applejack is the one in the darkness. I see her stealing books from off the shelves. By looking closer I see both that she has the same rune on her forehead that Celestia had, glowing with an evil power, and that the books she is trying to steal are various texts on magical combat.

That’s right: the Runemaster did not know any combat spells when he had Celestia fight me so now he has to remedy that.

Applejack begins her exit, bags laden with knowledge. I bend the magic around and within me, to form a net of energy which I then launch at the Runemaster, in Applejack’s skin. The Runemaster turns around and grins, easily sidestepping my spell by jumping behind a bookcase. I hear trotting, but see nopony; the Runemaster hides behind these shelves of ancient text. I hear Applejack’s voice, echoing through the nearly empty archives.

“Do you know who I am, Princess?”

I cannot tell where the voice originates from. Some kind of echo spell was cast.

It seems we are not alone.

I have to keep him talking, so I can find Applejack.

“You are a dissident to the crown. I think you should know I have one of your members locked up somewhere. She goes by Swiftwing Silver… do you know her?”

My lips curl up, into a small smile. I have forced his hand; now the dissidents can either leave her in prison, try and break her out, or surrender. It is your move Runemaster, make it wisely. Fierce, harsh, laughter echoes all around me with a wicked sincerity.

“My, you are way off, now aren't you?”

My blood runs cold in my body. I look around for any sign of Applejack’s location, but see none. Then, I feel something; something doesn't belong, and it is right behind that bookcase over there. I trot over to it, as if I am asleep and, with a pull of magic, the bookcase abandons Applejack, who was moving silently behind it. I grasp Applejack, with my magic, as she struggles with me; then, a blast of kinetic force knocks me over, weakening my grip, so Applejack can break free. I look over to see who fired the blast and see my sweet sister Celestia, looking at me, eyes and rune ablaze.

Before I can give chase, Applejack topples a bookcase onto me, just as Celestia increases the gravity in the room. The force of the books knocks me through the second story floor, into the first story floor, crushing my bones into slippery dust. I scream in pure agony, my voice carrying, through my broken mouth, into the town. I hear Celestia take off, from the window of the second story floor, presumably, with Applejack on her back. I sigh, and lie down on the cold, ceramic, tiles.

I lost again. What am I supposed to do?


*   *   *


I walk through the marble halls of the Canterlot Castle, with my head hung low. I see various night workers cleaning, making repairs, and even supervising those cleaning or doing repairs. I also see Princess Twilight trotting towards me, an anxious look on her face.

“Princess, look at you. What happened?”

I look down at myself, and see that I am covered in scratches and bruises, my mane is disheveled, and partly missing in the place it was hit by Celestia’s spell; though quickly healing, I have some time before the wounds from this battle go away, and my previous battle wounds haven’t left, completely. I look up at Princess Twilight’s concerned face, and wince when I move my jaw to reply.

“Y-you heard about my fight with the Runemaster, did you not?”

Twilight nods.

“Yes. Did… oh Celestia, did that happen again?”

Now it was my turn to nod. I try to speak again, but only manage to cough up some blood onto the floor. Twilight rubs my back with a hoof until I am finished. Twilight calls some guards over, and I hear something akin to ‘take her to her room and make sure she gets some sleep’. I find it harder and harder to hear her, however, and before long the guards pick me up and carry me to my bed, while I fall into a deep sleep.


Waning Crescent


I smile and nod at this, his latest in a string of rather unfunny jokes. I take a drink, from a passing waiter, in my magic and excuse myself. The presence of the illustrious Benedict Blueblood does not make me quite as flustered, as I suppose it should. No matter. I know Celestia will make an appearance; this is the first Grand Galloping Gala after all, and I am wearing the perfect outfit: that of noblemare Patrician, of the palace elite.

My, this will be fun.

I exchange pleasantries with some more guests and, eventually, make my way to the front. At the door, a special guest just arrived, namely, my beloved sister Celestia. I bow very low, to mask the wide smile on my face. Celestia smiles, but I know her too well; she is quite afraid of Nightmare Moon. She is afraid of me.

I call up the memories of Patrician, to see when the last time she saw Celestia was.

Well, it looks like she was at the palace during my attack with Lanternmane, sleeping with a stablehoof. Looks like Lady Patrician does not have quite so high standards, after all.

I exchange some pleasantries with Celestia, and I tell her that there was a very strange thing I saw, today, that I think she might be interested in, for it involves Nightmare Moon. Celestia’s eyes widen, as she, so predictably, takes the bait. She gives her speech on how happy she is that everypony could attend, and afterwards I lead her to a different room in the Palace.

My palace.

I shut the door behind me, as I walk in with Celestia. She turns to me and speaks plainly and to the point.

“What is it you saw?”

Celestia truly is a master of subtlety.  I take a slow sip from my glass of champagne and swirl the contents around for a minute, looking at them intently. Then, I speak in a voice slightly high pitched, yet not quite annoying to listen to.

“Well, you see, I was in the washroom, getting ready for tonight, when I heard some ponies outside the door talking about Nightmare Moon.”

I pause here, and take another sip of the elegant drink, I carry in my magic. When Celestia sees that I will not continue, she asks for more:

“What did they say?”

She asks. I scrunch my forehead together, as if in deep thought.

This is my favorite part.

“They said they agreed with what she was doing. And, they said something about her attacking you tonight.”

I raise my voice, in faux alarm, adding in a slight gasp, to complete the ensemble. Celestia stands, stock still, in complete shock at what she just heard. I am not going to attack her tonight; I am having much too much fun, toying with her, for that. I bow to her motionless body again, and take my leave.

“I just thought you should know, goodnight Princess.”

When I make it to the gates I laugh, clutching at the gate posts.

I simply must do that again sometime.

I think to myself. I bring the body of Lady Patrician back to her home and into bed. If she questions why she doesn’t remember most of today, her servants will say that she came home exceptionally drunk last night and that will be that.

I will not dispose of her body, not yet anyway; if she were to die now, Celestia would be disinclined to believe what she said to her, and we cannot have that can we? With a flick of my magic I disinhabit the Lady Patricians body, and leave her to a deep, dreamless, sleep.


Waxing Crescent


I awake, with a start. Cold sweat comes off of my body, in tiny streams, while my tears join them. I feel a foreign presence in the room and know that I am not alone. I look around the room and see him, kneeling at the hoof of my bed: Swiftwing Silver, the stallion Swiftwing, of course. He raises his head, and looks at me with a cold stare.

“I hear you have Swiftwing Silver locked up somewhere.”

He steps onto my bed, and presses his forehead against mine, looking directly into my eyes.

“I want her back.”
> Maniacal Aid
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I look into Swiftwing’s eyes, as he presses his forehead against mine.

“Perhaps you want to take her, then.”

I say, coldly. Swiftwing turns away and sits on my bed.

“How did you hear that Swiftwing was locked up? I swore all of the guards involved to secrecy.”

Swiftwing laughs, softly.

“It would be pretty hard not to notice one of my best agents suddenly disappearing; if it was a mugger, or something of that sort, she could have taken them on easily, or radioed for assistance. She did neither, so, it was a pretty safe bet that she was with you.”

He responds. I nod, thoughtfully.

Not too bad in his deductive reasoning, is he?

No, indeed.

“I want answers, Swiftwing, what is going on?”

Swiftwing sighs, his shoulders slump forward, then back again. He stands and looks at me; he seems tired, like he has been doing this for far too long. He speaks to me.

“We are not your enemies, Princess Luna, we are your supporters. If you think one of our members would attack you, then 
you’re dead wrong.”

He paces back and forth, always maintaining a steady stare on me.

“When you took Swiftwing in, I bet she didn't put up a fight, did she?”

I think back to her sudden passive nature, when I confronted her.

“No.”

I say, through clenched teeth. Swiftwing stops pacing.

“Do you think she couldn't have? She definitely could have done some serious damage to you. Maybe enough to get away; but she didn't. Why?”

I stare at him, coldly. I say nothing, choosing instead to analyze the facts, despite the chance that I might be wrong. If I am going to save Celestia, I am going to have to start thinking things through.

“It’s because she, and by proxy all of us, will not harm you.”

I let his words sink in, my face unmoving. After a time, I nod.

“Swiftwing silver, I charge you and Swiftwing Silver with suspicion of conspiracy and treason. Until such a time as I can discover who the real culprit is, you will be under surveillance and will do all you can to help me find the truth; so decreed by Luna, second sister and regent of the moon.”

I look back at him, as he listens.

“I am entirely at your service, your Majesty.”

He bows, as he says this, and I allow a small smile.

Perhaps he might be of use to us; only time will tell.

He stands up and looks at me expectantly with an obnoxious smile on his face. It looks like twenty years have melted off of his figure.

“So, where do we start?”


*   *   *


I trot with Swiftwing through Ponyville, wearing my disguise. With the information I have acquired so far, I should be able to get more information out of the element bearers.

We near the cloud home of Rainbow dash, when suddenly a tremendous cold overtakes me; I shudder, uncontrollably, as the cold burrows through my flesh and muscle, to my bones. I hear two cries of anguish, one behind me and one, I realize, I created. Swiftwing stands next to me, with something of a vicious concern on his face. I drop to the grassy ground, while I try and recover my breath.

I know that sound.

I am vaguely aware of the Element of Loyalty’s bearer, Rainbow Dash, landing on the ground next to me, on the side opposite to Swiftwing.

I clutch my temples, to ease the intruding throbs echoing through my mind, and hyperventilate. I begin to mutter very slowly.

“Felt them… I felt them… felt them… felt them…”

Several more renditions of this occur, while Rainbow Dash is sent to find Princess Twilight. Swiftwing wraps one of his wings around me, in an attempt to stop my shivering, but to no avail.

After some time, Rainbow Dash returns with Princess Twilight, and a few guards, in tow. My illusion spell has shattered and I kneel still clutching my head. My vision blurs and I hear Princess Twilight speak.

“What happened to you, Princess Luna? Guards, take the Princess…”

My vision fades to black.


New Moon


I shoot my hoof forward, at Celestia, with Alicorn strength and speed. Celestia dodges the blow, easily, and my hoof connects with the marble wall that was behind her moments ago. Celestia brings a wing up, in an arc motion towards my head.

She’s going to have to do a lot better than that.

I use one wing to block the incoming attack, while the other pushes me out of harm’s way, with a jet of force. Celestia comes at me again, with an arc of her wing.

I see the attack, Celestia, why would you try this again?

I duck under the wing, and ready myself for another hoof strike against her. I land on my back, looking up at the sky. I blink twice and look at the laughing Celestia.

“What happened? I had you on the ropes.”

I whine. Celestia stands up. Her stubby legs are beginning to lengthen and I thought her new clumsiness, with them, would give me the advantage; turns out, I was wrong. Celestia walks over to me, slowly, trying not to stumble. She extends a hoof, to help me up, which I take. When I’m on my feet, she giggles some more, her cheeks growing red, from laughing. I muster a fierce scowl at her, which only seems to extend her mirth. When she is done, she speaks again:

“Luna, you have to think about more than one attack at a time. Every move you make has to be about getting closer to winning.”

I kick a pebble, on the dirt path, away from me, as she says this.

“But, you are only a few hundred years older than I am, how can you think of so many things at once?”

She ponders this for a few minutes, while I stew impatiently.

“Well… you just have to keep everything separate, I guess.”

My left eyebrow goes up and my lips form a thin line.

“Oh, do not give me that look. Here, I will show you.”

She takes the pebble, I kicked moments ago, and sits down on the path, gesturing for me to join her. I oblige, sitting down across from her. I see her bend the magic around and within the stone, to lift it, her brow slightly creased in concentration.

“Right now, this is one pebble.”

She says. She breaks the stone along minute fault lines, sensing them out with her magic. Even at the only few hundred years I have lived, I am very good at sensing out the methods with which magic is used. Celestia speaks again.

“Now, it is five pebbles.”

She slowly rotates the pebbles, in her magical grip. All of the pebbles are still together, in one analogous hand of her magic. She separates them into different magical grips, her eyes now firmly shut in concentration.

“In order to keep the pebbles in separate grips, you need to think of each of them as individual objects instead of as a whole, or group.”

I stare intently at my elder sister and the pebbles she holds.

“The same thing applies to combat thinking, or really, any kind of thinking.”

She stops rotating them, and instead positions them into a circle facing me.

“If you keep ideas separated, then you will be able to control multiple things at the same time, while, if you accidentally get your thoughts muddled or confused…”

One of the pebbles flies through the air, very narrowly missing my right ear. My hoof flies up to cover it.

“Hey, what gives?”

Celestia drops the pebbles back onto the path and opens her eyes to look at me.

“Sorry. You get the idea though, right?”

I answer slowly, with my hoof stroking my chin.

“Sort of…”

Celestia sighs and helps me up again.

“Alright, I will help you work on it okay?”

I beam at her, my wings fluttering.

“Okay.”

With that, Celestia and I make our way back inside the palace, two filly sisters without a care in the world.


Waning Crescent


“Gah!”

I fling the blankets covering me onto the floor, with the force of my awakening. The door opens and a guard looks in.

“Is there something the matter, Princess?”

I look around, to see that I have once again been taken to my room and put to bed. The deathly cold has all but forsaken my body.

“Yes, I believe so.  Send for Swiftwing Silver, if you please.”

The guard hesitates, and then speaks.

“Swiftwing Silver is eh… already present.”

He nods towards my bedside; I turn to see Swiftwing there, laying on the floor and sleeping. I allow a small smile. The guard continues.

“He was told not to disturb you, and said he was going for a walk; he then doubled back around, and flew to your window. We tried to escort him out, but he managed to break one guard’s nose, as well as put numerous scratches and bruises on others; after a few minutes of this, Princess Twilight said to leave him alone and so we have.”

I nod to the guard; he steps out and closes the door. I step off of my bed and stand up. I look over at the sleeping Pegasus.

“Swiftwing Silver, I am afraid we have much work to do.”

His eyes open, without moving the rest of his body; slowly, he stands up and turns to face me.

“Swiftwing Silver, your loyal subject and worshipper of the moon and stars, is reporting for duty, your Majesty.”

I turn and trot through the door, nodding to the guards posted there, while Swiftwing follows. Swiftwing moves to my side, when we turn the corner, and speaks to me.

“How are you feeling, Princess?”

I think back to my encounter in front of Rainbow Dash’s house.

“Troubled, I am deeply troubled.”

Swiftwing nods, deep in thought.

While we trot towards the Canterlot Archives, I muse about my battle last night with the Runemaster.
I had Applejack in my grasp, then Celestia fired at me.

‘If you keep these ideas separate, then you can control multiple things at once.’

Celestia‘s words come back to me, causing me to shiver. Swiftwing looks at me, but says nothing.
Control, whoever the Runemaster is he has to have a remarkable amount of control, to be able to manipulate multiple ponies at the same time, perhaps while carrying on with his own life as well. Somepony had to teach him that control but who could? There is me, perhaps somepony Celestia trained taught the Runemaster this control. Perhaps it was somepony Celestia, herself, trained.

“Princess?”

I come out of my ruminations, to see that we have arrived at the Archives. I nod, to Swiftwing, and we trot inside the building. Looking up, we see that most of the ceiling is almost entirely missing, and there is a cleaning crew there, to take care of the broken ceiling tiles and bookcases on the floor. We trot towards the head librarian, slowly, and with dignity.

We approach the librarian’s desk, where we see her busying herself with papers. Once we get closer, she raises her head and looks at us with surprise.

“Oh, Princess Luna, how may I help you?”

I take a look at the damage around me.

“Tell us about the stolen books, to start.”

I say. She nods and sets her falling spectacles further up her nose.

“Well whoever stole the books knew exactly what they were doing.”

My eyebrows move up. I exchange a look with Swiftwing that seemed to say ‘did they indeed?’

“How do you mean?”

I ask. The librarian reaches a hoof underneath her desk and pulls out a map of the Archives.

“The Archives are formatted very specifically, with the Starswirl decimal system; every book has its place with other books like it. It is a very good system, however, since the Archives are so immense, there are thousands of categories and subcategories in it and, while I know where everything is, hardly anypony else does. I checked, and the other sections did not have a single speck of dust on them disturbed.”

My mind races, with the implications of this.

“So, our Runemaster knew exactly where to go, to get the books he needed.”

The librarian nods, sagely.

“Precisely.”

I nod. Swiftwing speaks up:

“What Unicorn librarians are currently employed here?”

The librarian’s eyebrows go up and her mouth opens.

“Why sir, are you suggesting that one of my librarians did this to the Archives?”

She gestures at the rubble surrounding us and the missing roof or floor of the second story.

“Unfortunately, madam, everypony is a suspect, especially ponies who would know where to go, to get the books they needed.”

I look up from my musings, suddenly.

“No.”

Swiftwing looks at me, one eyebrow raised. I turn to Swiftwing.

“It would not be somepony who works here, for then they have no reason to steal the books.”

Swiftwing tilts his head to one side.

“Go on.”

I nod.

“It would be quite simple for a pony working here to get whatever books he needed, and he wouldn't have to steal them. If he wanted privacy to read them, then he could have just taken one of the books on his break, and read it either in the Archives or outside it. As it stands now, the Runemaster is a pony who cannot normally access these books without drawing attention to himself, but, somepony who knows the Archives and their layout.”

Swiftwing and the librarian nod.

“So we’re looking for a frequent customer.”

The librarian shuffles some papers in her desk around.
“You know it may not be a frequent customer you are looking for; I know somepony who could have done it.”

Swiftwing and I turn our heads towards her. I arc an eyebrow.

“Who do you mean?”

I ask. She pulls out a file from the folder she has in front of her and lays it in front of us; on it, is a picture of a Unicorn mare in her forties with a cream colored coat and a lime-green mane.

“Her name is Gemmie Reference; Miss Reference was discharged from the Archive staff, a few weeks ago, for trying to steal books out of the Archives.”

I turn my head, to the side, and furrow my brows.

“What sort of books was she stealing?”

I ask. The librarian runs her hoof down the page, in the file, until it reaches a certain line. The line reads: Discharged for attempting to steal one copy of ‘Starswirl’s theoretical hypnosis’ , one copy of ‘Magical analysis, how a pony’s mind works’, and one copy of ‘Wrack and rune, the history of the theoretical rune spells’.

> Stars
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“Thank you.”

I take the file in my magic, bending the fibers making up the page to my will. The file lifts in my magical grasp. Swiftwing and I trot out the door, making our way through Canterlot to thirty-five forty-one, Abtenauer Road-Gemmie’s residence.

While we trot, I meditate on my deeper thoughts:

I find it curious that Celestia believes this to be my home. Until I was freed from the nightmare-and able to let go of my hatred and grudge- I had not even seen Canterlot. The mountain was there but-in my time-it was a less than ideal place for a palace; unicorns would constantly be  burrowing underneath the mountain for Radirock crystals, it was near impossible to get supplies up to the mountain top, and it was out in the open for whatever dragon decided it would be a nice spot for some pony flesh. Yet, Celestia considers it her home and expects me to do the same. I have not visited my old palace since that night. The night I finally d-

I am suddenly broken out of my reverie by a sound. Turning to my right, I see that the sound came from Swiftwing.

“What was that?”

I ask a slightly annoyed looking Swiftwing.

“I asked if you knew where we were going.”

“We are headed toward thirty-five forty-one, Abtenauer Road. It is above the sewer system.”

I say, gesturing a hoof in the direction of it. Swiftwing scrunches some of the muscles in his face together.

“Well, that must smell wonderful.”

I roll my eyes at him.

“We will have to go there to make the Runemaster pay for what he has done. It is necessary.”

Swiftwing’s face turns serious.

“You said 'he'.”

He says, quietly. I frown.

“You don’t believe that it’s Gemmie, do you?”

He continues. I shake my head, no.

“It simply does not make sense.”

I say, still shaking my head.

“What doesn’t?”

He asks. I try, futilely, to arrange my thoughts.

“The Runemaster is smart…”

I begin.

“…He is very smart… so, why would he leave the file?”

Swiftwing turns his head to the side.

“I don’t follow.”

He says. I stop trotting.

“If the Runemaster was Gemmie Reference-a pony who had extensive knowledge of the Archives and its inner workings-why would she leave her own file there, when she knew exactly where it was?”

Swiftwing rights his head’s position, and stares at me intently.

“I see. There would be no reason to leave the heavily incriminating file unless it she wasn’t the Runemaster. But, if she isn’t the Runemaster, then the file is a plant.”

I stare at the file held in my magic.

“I don’t believe we will find any answers at thirty-five forty-one, Abtenauer Road.”

I say, shutting the papers contained in the file together. Swiftwing moves closer to me.

“What will we do? This is our only lead.”


Waxing Crescent


“Wrong.”

Before I can blink, my teacher hurls the chalk eraser at my forehead. It strikes near the base of my horn with a resounding ‘plunk’ before landing on the floor next to me.

“Ow.”

I whine. My teacher stares at me with half lidded eyes.

“The rune spells were not created on a whim. Historically, they were created because…?”

I take my hoof away from rubbing the point of the eraser’s impact and look at my brown-coated teacher. He grasps a piece of chalk in his hoof for writing on the board, stating that ‘just because he is an Earth pony, does not mean he enjoys the nuanced taste of chalk’. I rack my head for knowledge on rune spells but it seems like a void has replaced any studying I did. A tune from one of the minstrels I heard earlier plays one part of the song in my mind over and over, again. I look at my teacher, poised in an expectant position, one hoof raised to write on the board, the other planted firmly on the ground.

“Because of a war?”

The chalk that my teacher was holding a moment ago makes a mark squarely on my muzzle. I groan, slumping forward in my seat until my head practically touches my spellbooks. My teacher takes another piece of chalk in his hoof.

“Of course, obviously, the best spell for warfare would be a completely stationary one with many hours of prep time and rare materials. I cannot imagine why nopony else has thought of that.”

I stick my tongue out at him and cross my forelegs.

“Alright, I do not remember. Canst thou just tell me?”

I plead, somewhat reluctantly. My teacher smiles the smile he always has when he wins.

“Very good, I am finally making progress. The reason is…


Third Quarter


“Princess!”

I look up with a start. Swiftwing stares at me with a face making the transition from annoyance to concern.

“What happened, Princess Luna?”

He asks, completing the transition.

“What do you mean?”

I ask, with some hesitation. An expression writes itself, than erases itself- too fast for me to tell what it said-on Swiftwing’s face.

“You froze up. I asked what was wrong, several times. But, you didn’t respond. I’ll ask again: what happened?”

All humor is gone from Swiftwing’s face, now. I rub a hoof on a spot near the base of my horn.

“It… hurts…”

Swiftwing’s eyebrows rise.

“Princess, I don’t believe it’s safe for you, here.”

I shake my head, again.

“N-no, I am fine. We are not going.”

I say with certainty. With hesitation, Swiftwing trots forward with me.

“Princess, what is going on?”

Swiftwing asks, almost accusing. I shake my head.

“We will speak later, not now.”

Swiftwing stomps a hoof on the ground, in anger, but remains silent.

“Well, that was our last lead. What next?”

Swiftwing asks, anger springs into his voice and he seems to care about it very little. We reach the apex of a hill and I stare out into the beautiful streets of Canterlot. I am vaguely aware of a mother walking her foal to school, a few blocks away. Friends and family gather at restaurants to enjoy a meal together, while some ponies are content to simply walk aimlessly about with no goal or direction.

“It is not our only lead.”

I say, with confidence. Swiftwing turns his head, to look at me. Comprehension dawns on his face.

“The Runemaster’s weapon: a rune.”

I nod my head.

“It is unlikely that the Archives have any books left on rune theory. I know there are not any on rune practice; Celestia and I destroyed them all.”

Swiftwing’s brow furrows, at the last comment. He looks at me, one eyebrow raised.

“Why?”

He asks, curious. I recall the memory of Celestia and me, burning the texts on rune spells with our magic. Except…

“I… I do not remember.”

I say, incredulous.

What is going on?

Swiftwing looks at me, expressionless. The manifest anger he had moments ago is completely gone, not the faintest trace of it remains.

“We need to go.”

Swiftwing says, a coldness entering his voice. I allow Swiftwing to carry me to cover, underneath an archway. My breathing comes shallowly, in short gasps.

Get a grip.

I am trying.

No, you are not.

My breathing becomes more regular. I set my thoughts in better order, laying all four hooves firmly on the paved tiles. I look back to Swiftwing and nod my head. After which, he releases his grip on me.

“Okay, we’ll start there: who would have access to books on runic theory, or knowledge of runic application?”

Swiftwing deliberately trots around my most recent breakdown.

I grow tired, of this.

You are not the only one.

“Runic theory is only in the Archives and perhaps the black market or antique shops. Runic application is an even smaller net; that kind of information could have been kept alive by some kind of cult groups, but it is pretty unlikely that such a thing would occur. Besides that, there is me, Celestia, possibly some of our immortal enemies-such as Discord-and the Crystal ponies.”

Swiftwing pauses, in thought.

“What about Princess Sparkle?”

He asks. My left eyebrow rises, skeptically.

“For one thing, Celestia would have no reason to teach Twilight anything about Runes. For another, Twilight Sparkle has almost the entire town of Ponyville as witnesses because she was there for Caramel and Sassaflash’s wedding at the time of Applejack’s disappearance. Rarity was there too, before you accuse her.”

Swiftwing throws an annoyed look at me, before collapsing into thought again. He looks up, eyeing me carefully.

“What about… Nightmare Moon?”

He asks. I blink at him, dumbfounded.

“You accuse me of enchanting my sister?”

I ask, accusatorily.

“Nightmare Moon, not you.”

I shake my head.

“Let me know if you have a plausible idea.”

I say, sarcastically. Swiftwing looks away, studying a stone for a moment.

“Understood.”

He says, without inflection.


First Quarter


“What?”

I say, awaking suddenly from my blissful sleep. My teacher looms over me, an imposing figure in the dim light of the study room.

“I said, any time you want to wake up, we can continue our lessons.”

I rub my right ear, with a hoof.

Then you whacked me with an eraser.

My teacher taps my desk with an eraser, repeatedly.

“What? I am awake.”

Reluctantly, my teacher turns back to the chalkboard. Picking up a piece of chalk in his hoof, he writes on the board: ‘Mind spells.’

“Now, what is the number one-non moral-limitation of mind spells?”

I groan, hitting my head on the desk in front of me.

I wonder what Tia is doing?

The chalk grazes my horn, leaving a white stripe as it goes by.

“Do you have to keep throwing things at me?”

My teacher already holds another piece of chalk in his hooves.

“Will you pay attention?”

He asks, annoyed. I sigh.

“I do not remember.”

My teacher frowns and turns to the board.

“The greatest limitation of mind spells is free will: no mind spell allows the user to completely shut out the pony he or she is controlling. As a result, Unicorns and Alicorns generally have to pick a creature whose mind they can force their will onto; a Unicorn cannot control an Alicorn, but an Alicorn can control a Unicorn. Mind spells are the primary means for sabotage, like a Unicorn taking the mind of a Griffin, or an Alicorn controlling a Dragon. Over time, the use of these mind spells dwindled, because the use of mind spells has a very big drawback: every time you cast a mind spell…”


Waning Gibbous


I awake, suddenly. A flap of my wings brings me immediately to the ceiling of my bedroom. My horn punctures one of the beams and, with difficulty, I pull it out. Setting my wings slightly above one hundred and eighty degrees, I glide carefully to the ground.

I really need ponies to stop carrying my unconscious body to bed.

I think, wryly. Looking around, I see that Swiftwing has again taken watch at the hoof of my bed. He is awake and he watches me, carefully. I trot towards him.

“Princess, I wanted to ask you something.”

I stop trotting. I nod, warily.

“What is that, Swiftwing?”

I ask. Swiftwing looks uneasy, as if he is not sure whether or not to ask his question.

“What… happens… when you lose consciousness? Anything?”

I ponder his words for a moment. I suppose I can tell him.

“I… see things.”

Swiftwing raises an eyebrow but says nothing.

“I see memories, my memories. But… I feel like I am there and… I do not remember them.”

Swiftwing nods.

“From what I’ve heard you were blasted by the Elements of harmony twice. I’m not too surprised that something like this would happen.”

I shake my head and turn to look at Swiftwing.

“No. It does not make sense. Why would it suddenly happen now? If it was caused by the Elements, what was the catalyst to these suddenly appearing memories? There just is not enough information.”

I sigh, trying as mightily as possible to ignore the Runemaster’s possible link to my sudden ordeal.

“Was there anything important in the memories?”

‘Unicorns and Alicorns generally have to pick a creature whose mind they can force their will onto; a Unicorn cannot control an Alicorn, but an Alicorn can control a Unicorn.’

‘Not you, Nightmare Moon.’

I am Nightmare Moon. There is not a way she could come back without my knowledge… Right?
> Sleight of Bend
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I sit on my bed after my most recent of collapses.

“What… happens… when you lose consciousness? Anything?”

I ponder his words for a moment. I suppose I can tell him.

“I see memories, my memories. But… I feel like I am there and… I do not remember them.”

I say, slowly. Swiftwing nods.

“Was there anything important in the memories?”

Swiftwing asks.

‘Unicorns and Alicorns generally have to pick a creature whose mind they can force their will onto; a Unicorn cannot control an Alicorn, but an Alicorn can control a Unicorn.’

‘Not you, Nightmare Moon.’

I am Nightmare Moon. There is not a way she could come back without my knowledge… Right?

“Princess?”

I look up. Swiftwing stands in my bedchambers, a quizzical expression on his face. After a moment, memory of what just occurred returns to me.

“I do not know. We shall see.”

I respond.  Swiftwing nods. A knock on the door signals Swiftwing to hide behind a very old and expensive vase.

“Who is there?”

I ask whoever is beyond the door.

“Princess Twilight.”

Twilight says. I trot over and open the door to reveal a very cross looking Princess. Twilight trots in, eyeing me suspiciously.

“I received a report stating that your unconscious body was carried to your bedchambers... again. Tell me what is going on.”

Twilight demands, stomping a hoof on the marble floor. I motion to Swiftwing, at which, he steps out of the shadows. Twilight gives a startled ‘ah!’ when she sees him, but makes no move otherwise.

“What do you wish to know?”

I ask, simply. Twilight thinks for a moment.

“What have you learned so far in the Runemaster investigation? And, who is he?”

‘Not you, Nightmare Moon.’

I shake the thought out of my head. It drifts into the back of my mind, biding its time before it assaults me again.

“To answer the second question first, his name is Swiftwing Silver. He is a member of a dissident group against Celestia which, I believe, he runs.”

Twilight gasps.

“Why would you be trotting around with him? He’s a criminal.”

Swiftwing stays silent, but I feel a twinge of pain from him and I wince.

“He works with me on the investigation, Twilight.”

Twilight scrutinizes Swiftwing, skeptically.

“What have you found out in the Runemaster investigation?”

I close my eyes, thinking back.

Miss Sparkle has not heard anything about the investigation.

Then I will start at the beginning.

I take a deep breath and begin to relate our investigations thus far.


Waxing Gibbous


I watch the clock while Teacher writes something about Radirock spiders on the slate board. The clock strikes nine and gives a shrill whistle. I look at Teacher, expectantly.

“You are free to go.”

He says, tonelessly. I gather my spellbooks and dart out the door. The night has almost completely fallen and I want to see Celestia before she goes to bed. Turning a corner, I slam into another pony, knocking us both to the hard floor. I start to apologize, as most of the nobility are rather short with me, but, looking up, I see that I hit a foal. He looks close to my age and I simply stare at him in rapt fascination. There are never any other foals in the palace, much less any my age. Shaking my head, I rationalize that he couldn’t be my age, because I am an Alicorn and I am several thousand years old at this point which is beyond the lifespan of most ponies. But, he looks my age.

“Excuse me?”

The foal asks. I return from my ruminations and, upon further examination, I find that it is a Unicorn colt, with a bright white coat and light grey mane. He had many spellbooks with him, as illustrated by them scattered around our point of impact. The most odd of his features, by a good degree, are his eyes; his eyes are a very powerful black, in color, with no iris, cornea, or really anything but its position relative to his other facial features to indicate that they are his eyes, rather than a large ink stain.

Is he… blind?

The colt stands up and starts feeling around for his scrolls and books, finding each one and setting them in orderly piles while setting my books in a different pile.

“H-hello.”

I say, barely a whisper. The colt’s ears lock forward and he gives a startled exclamation, falling back on the floor.

“Ow.”

He states. I rush over to him and help him up, streaming apologies in the process. After a moment, he sits up and my apologies come to an end.

“What is your name?”

I ask. The colt’s ears swivel towards the sound and he faces, more or less, in my direction.

“My name is Starswirl. No last name, it is just Starswirl.”

He says the words a little sadly. I nod.

“My name is Luna.”

Starswirl laughs.

“I had assumed that I would run into a Princess eventually. I just did not think it would be on my first day here and I did not think I would literally run into her.”

I giggle and eventually, Starswirl and I are laughing together like old friends.

“So, what are you doing in the palace?”

I ask Starswirl. We had relocated to the gardens outside, after putting away our books.

“I am studying under Psimon Magus; I believe he is your magic teacher.”

I think about the name for a moment.

“My name is Psimon Magus; I am going to educate you on magical practices and history.”

“But, how does that work? You are an Earth pony; how could you teach me magic?”

Psimon smiles.

“Judging somepony strictly on how they look, is the swiftest way to die. Remember that.”

I gasp.

“You are studying with Teacher?”

I ask, incredulously. Starswirl tilts his head to the side.

“Is there something wrong with that?”

He asks. I nod, and then realize that he cannot see me and reply in the affirmative.

“What is he like? I just arrived so I have not seen him, yet.”

Starswirl asks. I pause.

“He is… instructive?”

I say, hesitantly.

“I believe that if you want to learn magic, he is the right pony to train under.”

I say, with more confidence. Starswirl smiles.

“What about you? Are you averse to the study of magic?”

I think for a moment.

“No, it is simply very difficult. Sometimes, I do not see the purpose of it.”

I say, a little slowly. Starswirl stares ahead, displaying small and various facial expressions, and deep in his private thoughts.

“Immortal life presents a lot of time to do the things you want to, I suppose.”

Starswirl says, faintly. We walk in silence for the rest of the night.


Full Moon


I explain to Twilight our experiences during the investigation, being careful to only touch on the subject of my memories and completely avoiding anything I learned or have done with the dissidents. While I speak of our exploits, this memory floats into my being. As usual I experience the memory as though it was happening at that moment and I do not remember it before I experience it. This memory was strange, however; primarily the odd thing about it was that, when the memory was over, only a moment had passed. I finish my story and Princess Twilight nods.

“Very well, I’m coming with you.”

Twilight says. Both Swiftwing’s and my eyebrows reach heights previously unknown to them. After only a moment, I regain my composure.

“Princess, you cannot come with us. If you were to abandon your post as regent who will rule Equestria while we track down the Runemaster?”

I ask. Twilight smiles.

“I have already sent a message to Princess Cadence, asking her to rule in my place.”

Cadence... I believe there was some kind of altercation that occurred at the time of the wedding.

If there was, I am not privy to it. Celestia simply said not to concern myself with it.

Indeed.

I sigh and rub my right temple with a hoof.

“I will allow you to work with us if Cadence agrees to act as regent.”

Twilight claps her hooves together, excitedly.

“Yay!”

She exclaims. Embarrassed, she regains her composure and excuses herself from the room. Swiftwing steps towards me.

“I don’t think this is a good idea. If something happens to you and Princess Twilight, Equestria will be in trouble. Cadence cannot rule the Crystal Empire and Equestria at the same time. That means it could be ages before another Alicorn is born or ascends.”

I nod in acknowledgement.

“Very true. However, we have also begun to hit a dead end in our investigation. If we want to stop the Runemaster, it might be necessary to add another to our number.”

Swiftwing sighs in defeat.

“For now, I would like your assistance in some research in the Archives.”

I say to Swiftwing, trotting forward. Swiftwing raises an eyebrow, in much the same way as Starswirl.

“What kind of research?”

Swiftwing asks, suspicious.

“I want to find and gather any text on Nightmare Moon.”

Swiftwing smiles and opens his mouth to speak.

“Do not push your luck, Swiftwing.”

Swiftwing closes his mouth with a snap. I pause.

“You know, your name is Swiftwing, yet, I have never seen you fly.”

A smirk graces Swiftwing’s face.

“Someday, perhaps.”

He says, smugly. I roll my eyes. We walk outside, towards the Archive building, when a shadow passes overhead. Without a break in step, I wordlessly turn to Swiftwing and he confirms that he too saw the shadow. We continue on our way to the Archives, when the shadow passes over us again, closer this time. I feel out the magic in the area, in an effort to determine what is currently flying overhead, but something blocks me; somepony is shielding the object overhead, we need to find out whom. The shadow passes over us again and still we do not break movement, making steady progress towards the Archives. Blocking spells such as these have a limited range so the Runemaster must be nearby. I hear a whistling noise shooting towards me.

“On my mark.”

Swiftwing murmurs, under his breath. The whistling noise increases until it is a high pitched scream, all taking place within a few moments.

“Now.”

Swiftwing says. With two flicks of our respective wings, we are flung to the sides of the screaming missile. Our aggressor hits the ground with an explosive force, showering dirt and stone around us. I roll to my hooves and face our would-be attacker. I am met by a Pegasus with a cyan coat and rainbow mane. Red eyes stare at me with Draconic ferocity. A rune glows brightly on her forehead. I bend forward into a combat stance.

“Rainbow Dash.”