When Luna remains blocked in a strange manor, in the middle of winter, she swears to discover both the castle and its occupants secret.
Luna is asked by her father to bring important medicines to her aunt, who appears to live in a little village in the Crystal Mountains. Unfortunately, she lost her way in a snowstorm as she try to join the village and is supernaturally saved by a mare, who bring her to "Reef Castle", a surreal manor hidden in the shadow of a mountain. For the two months to come, she has to stay with the only three occupants of the castle, the gardener, the servant and the master, as her life become more and more strange.
(In this universe, Alicorns aren't know by the general population, who believe that the sun and moon move by themselves; but of course all will be explained later in the story. There will possibly be a bit of clop too.)
Pimprenelle swept uselessly the front of her door, before turning towards her neighbor and friend, Mink.
“Have you seen this poor Mr. Latenight?” whispered the latter, glancing toward the house facing the street, “He’s an oddity since his young daughter left, his lawn is so poorly maintained we could think his house haunted!”
“Why are you whispering, my dear? It’s not him who is going to hear you.” If Mink was something, it would be a chatterbox, and this even with her greyish fifty years of experience. It bothered Pimprenelle a bit, who was more interested in the art of pumpkin crop than by the comings and goings of the neighbor’s dog, or in this case, the mood of a father without his daughter. But there again, you do not choose your friends. “ It’s absolutely normal, although a bit worrying on behalf of Mr. Latenight, to react like this…” she added, following her friend’s glances. The house wore a pleasant appearance thanks to the red brick veneer, but it was spoiled by the white upright, which painting was flaking. The garden was decorated by granite statues and the stoop cluttered with various objects in such a manner one could think the house as a sculptor studio, but the view from the street was obscured by impressive flowery bushes. The ensemble could be seen as a curiosity, something ugly but possessing interesting features.
“Worrying?! It’s been 3 months he mope alone in his house!” She exclaimed, agitating her hooves to highlight her indignation.
“...”
“ It’s hardly if we saw a shadow from time to time at the windows!”
“Oh dear, since when are you spying on our neighbor’s house?” asked Pimprenelle humorlessly.
“I’m not spying! I just like to...spend time in my garden!”
“Hum...be it as it may, the district is always as calm as possible, it’s wonderful to not have a group of kid shouting, running everywhere and ruining my vegetables!” Pimprenelle said, trying to change the subject of the conversation.
“ Yes indeed, but what is the name of her daughter again? Luni, Lun...something…”
“Luna. She’s seventeen now.” Undoubtedly, nothing could stop her friend. She swept some leaves away, waiting for Mint to continue. Autumn is a tiring season, for sure.
“A very strange child, always alone with a sketch-book...it’s sad, but anypony can recognize the behavior of those who do not have a mother.”
For once there is some sadness in Mint’s voice…For it was true. Luna was one of those ponies the world was pleased to ignore. Strange and asocial, she’d never sought the company of the other children and addressed the adult with a cold smile and a polite language, as if she considered a simple hello a sterile attempt to divert her from her daily objectif; a waste of time neither enjoyable, neither annoying. Her behaviour acted purposely as a barrier which discouraged the few who attempted to know her better, but a more unnatural cause had made her a black ship in a white flock: she had both an horn and a pair of wings. An inexplicable phenomenon for some, a malediction for others, her case had attracted all the hippologistes of the region and after maint debates and arguments, they had diagnosed a brutal autosomal mutation, as a last resort. Since those days, Luna had applied herself to hide her wings and had persevered years after years, so that her appendages were now weak and incapable of flying. This self punishment had, of course, alerted her father but he hadn’t be able to solve the situation because of his job, which had used a lot of his time. He hadn’t been present enough for his daughter and had left her alone in the cold house he worked for, too many nights...those were probably the reason why Luna separated herself from the world, giving the impression she was hiding something and didn’t wanted friends to discover it.
“She left since three months, and in view of her father’s behavior, she’ll not come back.”
Three months earlier…
It was by mild morning in Ponyville, where the eternal show of the equine’s business took place, that I departed for what will be the big adventure of my life. Okay, maybe not. I was charged by my father to travel until a little village near the Crystal Mountains where my aunt resided. She was seriously sick and the medicines were available only in Canterlot, which postal service refused to deliver fragile packets for a grouping of houses lost in the middle of the frozen north. Too much risk apparently, for a system which used only pegasis. When my father received the letter, he wanted to send somepony else, but I insisted, emphasizing that I was mature and bored enough to complete the delivery, for it would be my first time outside the region of Canterlot. And now I was waiting in my compartment for the train to move off, incapable of suppressing a stupid smile from my face, and excited like a foal. Through the window, I could see the steam of the locomotives melting with the equine noises of the crowd, squeezing up against the colorful wagons that will take them to their destinations. It was the middle of Autumn and, despite the efforts of the sun the air was still chilling, forcing the ponies to wear scarfs and hats, but offering a magnificent spectacle for who have the time to enjoy it. However, this did not discourage them and the train station was filled with smiles and laughter. The mood was contagious, I had the assumption my travel would be easy and smooth as the locomotive started, steaming and snoring like a giant iron monster.
The journey passed rapidly, thanks to the romance novels I brought with me. As I finished a chapter I lifted my eyes to the window, surprised to see the night so advanced. The landscape slipped away from my eyes, passing like a ghostly blur in the cold canvas that was the sky, the stars partially obscured by clouds. The moon is as beautiful as always, I thought, flabbergasted by the simple perfection of the lunar circle, its sight filling my heart with a strange desire, a longing I knew since the apparition of my cutie mark. My special talent, me. My face appeared on the window, reflected by the sudden light of the hallway. I observed it carefully. I wasn’t bad, physically speaking. I had been complimented a lot of time for my naturally soft blue fur and lovely lighter mane, which cascaded elegantly on my face, and now that I had the opportunity to, I started to enjoy my appearance. Then, something very strange occurred. I had the sudden impression that it wasn’t Luna’s face the window was reflecting; those teal, crystal blue eyes were now paralyzing me with a savage and aggressive stare. Foreign, bizarre, dangerous...a shiver ran down my neck, I wanted to turn away but my own curiosity held me in place; behind the factice masque of my twisted reflection, I could only see the growing malaise of somepony who did not find her life’s purpose.
I looked away and panicked when I realized I was holding my breath. Placing a hoof on my chest, I forced myself to breathe in and out. What was I doing? Still shivering, I picked up my novel and put it in my saddle bag, and sighed, resting my face against the cold frame of the skylight. This relieved me somehow as I listened to my heartbeats, the cold chasing the throbbing pain that had installed itself in my head. Was I that desperate? My chest seemed profoundly empty. My life seemed devoid of meaning and my cutie mark as vague as possible. All those years I had simply let myself exist, clinging on my identity like a tick to a dog...No! I am Luna, I like to read romance novels, to paint landscapes, to make delicious flower necklaces, to study history, to eat fritters...and then, what? Were those activities the only representation of my happiness? I furrowed my brows. I needed a line in my life. A purpose, something worth it, who would take me somewhere, so I could start to understand who I-
“Your ticket, please.” I jumped and make a bunch of noises vaguely looking like squeaks. I was so lost in my thoughts I didn’t noticed the controller standing next to me. Ashamed, I dug into my bag.
“I’m sorry, I hope you weren’t waiting for me for too long!” I sighed and retrieved the characteristic green ticket, but stopped abruptly. Something was wrong. “Sir?”
The controller was trembling uncontrollably and sweating, breathing loudly. His cap was screwed on his head in such a manner I couldn’t see his eyes, his posture straightened as if his spine was an iron bar. I suddenly noticed the calmness of my environment, my heart panicking when the thought of being alone in the wagon crossed my head.
“Are you feeling well?”
I didn’t saw his lips move but guttural moans and mumbling were coming from his mouth. His arm extended abruptly and he presented me a shivering, gloved, hoof.
“Your ticket, please.”
I obeyed, by fear or out of habit; I will never bother to know. He brutally took my ticket and disappeared in the hallway, walking with exaggerated long steps; a sight that would certainly make me laughs if it wasn’t for the strangeness of my situation. It took me some time to regain control of my brain and I bolted out of my compartment, inspecting the place, my heart thumping against my rib cage as the distant noise of the machinery invaded my ears. I eyed the clock hanging above the wagon’s door. 01:43. What a controller was doing at this hour of the night?
---------
The rest of my travel passed without mishaps, except that because of an early snowstorm the track after Lurching Hooves was frozen and impassable, shortening considerably my journey in train. Lurch was the last town before the Crystal Mountains, just at the feet of the frozen giants, and the inhabitants have taken advantage of the thermal source they offered. Because of this, the majority of the town was shaped to welcome the mass of tourist that came here every years, which meant that I didn’t had to search too far for a place to sleep. I had found a cheap hotel for the night and were currently admiring the natural landscape, a hot mug of chocolate in my hooves. I have to admit, I was quite fond in the little town. Its slate roofs and twisted chimneys were a good change from the thatched houses of Ponyville, and the colors blended perfectly with the wild background of the town. I already had a general idea of the Crystal Mountains, thanks to my father’s travel stories, but to see them now, it wasn’t the same feeling. I wondered how it was possible for those masses of earth to simply exist, and the sight of them stretching to the sky, dressed in white, created in me a mixture of awe and profound respect.
“But enough of admiration! I have a journey to prepare!” I said out loud, as I unfolded the map I had bought at the hotel’s reception desk. If I was correct, my aunt’s village was situated in a comb, which meant that it could only be reached thanks to a pass just at the southwest of the village. It will allow me to walk around the mountain and follow a group of lakes, which source run just next to my final destination. After some time studying the map, I was confident in myself that my travel will be a success: the ground appeared to be affordable without specific equipment and the difference in height didn’t seem to be too high. There was just a little problem, the weather. I resolved myself to ask at the reception for some information. Weather was a very important parameter for one who wanted to undertake a trip in the wild region of the Crystal Mountains, as it could transform a simple walk in a deadly survival journey, and I didn’t have the intention to die in the middle of nowhere. I came down and presented myself to the reception, waiting patiently for the secretary to notice me. After a minute of polite silence, I coughed.
“Oh, it’s you again. What can I do to help you?” He did bother to raise his head from the newspaper he was reading, and shot me an annoyed glance. So much for politeness.
“I would like to know if it’s possible to take the pass, I’d like to go to Mataloup.” I asked. Stay calm Luna, it’s not wasted time!
“If you’re crazy enough and possess an hot-air balloon, yes.”
“I don’t have one. Why?”
“The region is blocked with snowstorms and there is an increasing risk of avalanche. If you’re not well-equipped, and I suppose you’re not, you’ll just walk to a painful and cold death.”
“For how long?” I still cherished the hope to complete my task.
“Until spring.”
“Spring?! But my aunt needs her medicines!” He didn’t answer and adjusted his newspaper. I sighed. What I am going to do? I thought for some time to hire somepony qualified and return to Ponyville, but it will leave me with no money for the train or for three months of hotel. Plus, the idea to go back to my previous life wasn’t very appealing. I paced on the red carpet of the hotel’s hall, conflicted in risking my life or finding a way to go back. And my aunt, I couldn’t wait too long… Who cares? You don’t even know her...a mean voice whispered at my ear. No. I never knew if this peculiar thought was the help I needed to undertake my foolishness of project, or the fact that this travel was the only purpose of my life, but I soon raised my head defiantly in the direction of the Crystal Mountains, my heart full of my newly found resolution. I was going to climb to Mataloup, avalanches or not!
It was already fourteen o’clock when I arrived at the beginning of the path, the sun clearly visible in the cloudless sky. From my position I could saw it disappear in the wood that covered the flank of the mountain, speckling it with green and brown islands of forest. The chilling breeze persuaded me to adjust my saddle bag over the orange oilskin I had the intelligence to buy in town, completing my equipment with a pair of shoes. The path I projected to take crossed the forest in a series of zigzags before filling straight to the high pastures. Above them stood a natural plateau that I thought would not poses a problem, and housed the group of lakes I was so eager to visit. From them, it will be easy to follow their source until I could perceive the village, which is situated in a comb. I smiled as I took out the drawing I had done at the hotel, so I’ll not have to use the rather imposing map of the entire region, admiring my handiwork. “ I can actually do things when I want!” I said to nopony in particular before heading to the forest.
True to be told, I was happy to finally undertake something in my life! Not that I never had some project before, but they never had enough importance to...thrown me out of my district and force me to climb a mountain in the middle of nowhere. Ponyville was certainly a beautiful place, providing a comfortable and absolutely riskless life to its inhabitants and transforming every day in the same choreography of socials conventions. They were the guardians of the town’s well-being; they limited considerably my liberties. At first, when I was a little filly, I hadn’t been able to grasp all those subtleties and I had benefited from the naivety of foalhood in my neighbor’s eyes, nonetheless I had quickly grew up and by this had acquired a better view of my environment. I had noticed of those conventions affected and modified the minds of my fellow comrades and how they had seemed to pay more and more attention to my “uniqueness”. Fortunately, I had already sensed what would come next and had dissociated myself from the other children, because I had feared that one day they would hurt me and mock me for something I couldn’t change...not that I hadn’t tried to. But this social exile came with a long period of loneliness. It took me time to understand that I was the source of my own misfortune and when I had discovered how far my lack of self-confidence had buried me, I did nothing. I was, and I am still afraid of not being accepted and I knew that the pain that would come from my destitution would be the last blow to my already fragmented life.
Now that I was far from Ponyville and my past, wandering in a cold septentrional forest, it was much easier to analyze my mistakes and to stand back. I believed that this trip to my aunt’s home will provide me more than a change of scenery, because when I had decided to harass my father until he gave up, I had knew with all my heart how much I desired this. Or maybe I was influenced by travel literatures and stories where the hero leave for an adventurous quest, looking for an answer to his existential trouble and discover the true meani- my face suddenly collided with the ground. “Hmmp” I swore, my mouth full of dirt, moss and something floundering I would not take the risk to identify. I got up and glared at the root responsible of my disgrace, dusting my oilskin. Yet this forced break allowed my mind to alert me on a peculiar detail, as I would have already continued to walk if it was for the disturbing lack of noise from the forest. “It wasn’t that calm before…” I unconsciously muttered, as if I was afraid somepony could hear me, observing the thousands of trunks that composed my surrounding. Nothing moved. A feeble wind was disturbing the brown leaves of the trees, playing the well-known melody of serenity. Come on, you’re not frightened of a simple wood! It’s certainly because of the cold, it kill all the noises of the nature. But my legs were already trembling and my breath accelerating, so I stopped to listen to my reason and passed from a simple walk to a nervous trot, trying to not lose the path in the sea of bush. I couldn’t help myself as I suspiciously eyed the forest over my shoulder. This riddle began to really irritate me. Why am I so anxious? I chewed on my lower lips. Something was wrong, and this feeling familiar. But where did I felt it? Huh...yesterday something happened in the train... My memories were strangely blurred, but I had the assumption it was too important for me to forget it. Come on, think Luna! Think! What did I do in the train?!...oh... my face fell, the controller! At this precise moment, I heard somepony laugh just above my right shoulder.
“Enough of all of this!!” I shouted.
---------
The voice giggled.
“Twilight, Twilight~...my little Twilight, we have a very special guest today…”
Something shifted in the poorly enlightened room, disturbing some speck of dust lazily dancing between the shelves.
“You would be an angel to bring her alive, would you?” The voice hummed, echoing distinctly in the old library.
“As you wish.”
---------
Cold. Urg. Too bad it make sense, now that I had ran like a chicken toward the edge of the forest and continued for six minutes until I decided that no, I would not freak out all the way to the village. The good point is that I advanced more quickly toward it, by the position of the sun I was more or less sure it was fifteen past, and that mean I will profit longer of its glory and so useful warm. However, I was now at the beginning of the pastures, sweating under my oilskin and completely exposed to the freezing wind that came down the slope, with a horrible headache. Higher, I could see long portions of the mountain covered in snow, called “nevet” in the old dialect of the region, which made me grimace for I know how slippery and dangerous they had the reputation to be. I glanced at the forest below me. This feeling, I was now persuaded it was from magic origins: something decided for an unknown reason to stalk me, Luna. And no matter whoever it was, it will soon learn to not meddle with my life. I wordlessly resumed my walk.
This continued for some hours, the sky stretching to a beautiful pale violet as I reduced the distance between me and the top of the pastures, which was adorned by a rocky crest. Despite the ever growing cold, the mountains were still full of surprises, colorful flowers nested in the most improbable places, mysterious flavors lingering in the air and...slugs. As long as I don’t step on them, they’re okay. As lovely and instructive at they were, the wonders of the wild life took a much darker tone as I realized they had kept me from noticing the threatening black clouds that accumulated themselves at the top of the mountains.
“Well, it’s not my lucky day!” was all I could say as I watched them circling the tree-less peaks like some deadly plague. I wasn’t sure what type of cloud they were but at this altitude the only thing I could receive is snow. I gulped. If it was a snowstorm, my fate was sealed, if it was a simple snowfall I will just freeze at bit more in my cloth shoes. Yet I have to face it since I was closer from the village than the town, and if I turned back now I would be stuck in the wood, in the middle of the night with nothing to protect me. My mind was certainly conditioned with all the tales I read in my foalhood, but this seemed the most illogic way to stay alive. Furthermore, the night, as much I disliked to point it, was a danger to me too: far from the magic lights of the town the word dark took a new definition for me, as I couldn’t use my magic to enlighten the path without blinding my eyes and reducing my visibility to zero. Light was, at the last resort, a luxury I would use when I was sure I couldn’t progress without it. It hardened my task a lot as I tried to climb to the top of the pastures, its white crest floating in the night like a ghost, so close and so inaccessible; but never would I surrender to my own foolishness. Or so I thought.
----------
The unicorn passed the gate of the castle, walking casually toward the magical shield that surrounded it, protecting it against the difficulties of the mountain’s weather. She lighted the oil lantern she was holding. Master is so generous to use all of her power to provide us an agreeable winter! But her smile turned into a grimace as she noticed the snow that slid down the bubble, evident proof of the tempest that raged outside. “Oh no! She’s going to froze to death out there! No time to lose!” Twilight panicked, departing in a full gallop.
--------- The first flakes almost demoralized me. The storm that followed annihilated my hopes. A furious wind hurtled and howled down the slope, freezing my body, pushing me toward the forest, and a deadly fall. The temperature lowered to 2 C°, the wind aggravating my feel. My muscles hatched by my constant efforts to stay up, big snowflakes pierced my skin and obstructed my sight; I gritted my teeth and fought against the pain and numbness of frostbites that assailed my hooves. I was lost, and cold. So cold I was sure my skin disintegrated itself, exposing my bones to the elements...and so lost I couldn’t see the crest that was visible ahead of me some hours ago. I dragged along my frozen limbs, repeating the same acts over and over. Test the snow, drive a hoof into it, then another, then a step and another and a step...another...my eyes watered. I was going to die like a dog buried under three meter of snow! Ponies will discover my body eons after my death! It was the end of everything, I would never feel the sun on my skin, or eat a donut, or laugh at the comics in the newspapers...I would not be conscious of my existence, of my body, of my mind...all the little things, judgments, thoughts, acts that formed my person, lost in the black hole of the after-life. I should have been terrified, but a genuine sadness and a lot of regrets were the last feelings I produced as I stumbled in the snow, my body subsiding a last time and forever, like a broken machine. And to think that I wanted a fresh start...I managed poorly with the time I had. I closed my eyes, time seemed to stretch to hours in minutes, and century in seconds...I lighted my horn...even after swallowing the realization of my imminent death, I conserved a little glimmer of hope. Maybe somepony of the village will see me in the blizzard. If I had raised my head at this precise moment, I would have seen the dancing lantern far off above me.
---------
Twilight tumbled down the hill and lighted her horn with a heating spell, blinking rapidly to chase away the intruding snowflakes. Never stopping once, she charged toward the feeble and flinching light on the horizon. If she still have the strength to produce a light spell then it’s not too late yet!
“Stand firm! I’m coming!” She shouted against the wind.
---------
I’m coming!
What was that? Luna opened her eyes. Her vision was blurry, a mass of white, black...She was so cold. Her teethes wouldn’t stop to chattering and she couldn’t sense her body anymore. It burned. Nothing happened. It’s certainly my imagination. How disappointing.
Oh horseapple!
Luna raised her head. Somepony is here! I’m saved! She opened her mouth, uttering a strangled squeal. She was so tired; her attempt to draw the attention of her presumed savior had drained her last strength. Maybe I can sleep a bit, just a few minutes... She started to nod off…
“Don’t sleep! Or you’ll never wake up again!”
A blinding light appeared in her field of vision. The voice seemed to come from it, but it’s words were lost in the wind before reaching Luna’s ears.
“Are you okay? Can you talk?!” Something collided with her, squeezing her between the cold snow and a warm, soft, chest. Luna perceived the faint sound of a panicked heart. Purple arms hugged her, massaging her cold body with so much haste it hurt.
“I’m going to teleport us to the castle.” The warm breath of her savior tickled her ear, piercing the numbness and maze of her consciousness. Luna raised her head toward its source. The light shifted to a strange purple hue, enlightening the unicorn’s face, revealing her young appearance and soft muzzle, dark blue bangs obscuring her serious look. Her eyes locked themselves with its vibrant mauve.
She’s beautiful.
---------
Twilight grasped a stick and shook the dying embers of the fireplace. She had installed her guest in the warmest room of the castle, taking excessive care to assure the life of the young mare, and was now watching over her for the night. Muffled groans came from the bed and pulled Twilight toward its source. She had diagnosed a benign hypothermia, nothing a good night of sleep curled in three different blankets could defeat. However, as the night progressed, her condition morphed to an ardent fever which grandly worried Twilight. She levitated a wet towel and wiped the sweating face of her patient, Luna, as it was written in the saddle bag, then fastened the light blue mane with an elastic band. She knew Luna wasn’t going to die from a simple fever, for she had discovered, when undressing the mare, the poorly maintained wings clamped against her flanks. It had pitied her to see such a symbol of immortality abused by its owner and she had taken the time to preen and aerate them. She’s certainly not aware of her own nature. Twilight sighed. Her “special guest” will surely be a constant source of noise, work and problems for the next three months.
“At least until Master decide what she wants to do with her.” She glanced at the books she had found in the bag. Maybe I could read one; at last I already did all I could for her. She now have to fight the fever if she wants to see the light sooner...I’ll put it back in the bag if she woke up! Let’s see what kind of literature our alicorn like! The book, slightly damped by the snow, displayed a brown cover which title was embroidered with gold.
“The musicality of sentiments.” She read out loud. What a strange title! It couldn’t be an historical novel or a report on one country’s politic. Oh, could it be a treaty of some sort on the forming of a pony’s emotions? She eagerly began to read the first pages and noticed that it was definitely a novel, and a good one since it succeeded in capturing her attention. She wasn’t used to this type of literature since the castle library was composed with serious subjects of reflection and books to study but she recognized herself in the main character, a brave pegasus who just wanted to make friends and survive in the town she just had moved on, last week. Not that she didn’t like the castle! It was her one and only home since she woke up with master and the gardener in the middle of the mountains...and master had created it. Furthermore, Twilight appreciated the description of the social interactions between the inhabitants and the hero, it was very instructive and entertaining...And so the hours went on, the silence of the piece only troubled by the occasional mumbling of Luna and the sound of the turning pages. However, as she progressed through the book, Twilight’s pleasure decreased as the story’s strangeness puzzled her. The pegasus developed a crush on one of the town’s guard, but acted as if she was unaffected by his advances! And then, after a long month of trepidations and misadventures together, the mare declared her love for the stallion, and then...Twilight gulped, they made love, a lot of time, and after, they fell in a disagreement because the mare do not want a baby, unlike her companion! But why would they have a sexual relation if it’s not for the babies? It doesn’t make sense! Her cheeks as red as tomatoes, Twilight put the annoying book away. She didn’t want to think about what she read or the implications behind it, and she had lost her curiosity for the story’s development...She glanced at the window, surprised to already see the departure of the night, after only a couple of hours of reading. Okay, maybe a bit more than two hours. She approached the bed. Luna had calmed herself during the night and was now soundly sleeping, curled in the blankets, her face peaceful.
“Well, at least somepony get a full night of sleep!” Twilight chuckled. She couldn’t help herself but found Luna cute. She knew nothing of the mare, and the way she saw her now, slowly breathing and chewing on the cushion, was the only image she had of her. She could act a way differently when she would wake up, being aggressive or annoying...but in this states of unconsciousness, everypony was the same. And even if Luna’s behavior cause problem, Master had been clear on the order. I’ll take care of her.
