"That doesn't matter," Celestia said firmly to her weeping sibling. Pressing her muzzle against the darker filly, she spoke gently. "Becasue no matter what, we are sisters; forever."
Back when Equestria was young, two little fillies were growing up into the part of princesses.
Celestia and Luna weren't always old, wise princesses. They once were fillies themselves, troublemakers, misunderstood, and most of all, struggling to find themselves as they grow. Through the battle of adolescence, romance, heartbreak and horror, one thing remains with the two fledgling princesses; the bond of sistership will never break.
Or, will it?
ROYAL LISTINGS
THE ROYAL FAMILY;
King Black Knight -His mate; Queen Sun Burn - The daughters Princess Celestia Princess Luna
THE COUNCIL
Lord Night Light -His mate; Lady Twilight Velvet -Their children Shining Armor Twilight Sparkle
A secret shall not happen on the winter solstice at the coming of warding.
An illness must take place in a tower for the sake of wisdom.
In the deep recesses of the castle, the golden white mare whinnied in distress, her neck straining as her legs flailed in a seizure. It was late, dark, and nothing kept the cold, harsh nip of the air out but the small fire on the far side of the room, casting an eerie orange glow around the room. Nothing seemed to be able to keep the cold leaking in, and the mare shivered as she strained, a uncomfortable mix of heat through her veins and cold biting her pelt making her feel feverish.
She had to focus on the birthing, she knew that. But visions plagued her, dark visions, and she couldn’t help but scream as the moon collided with the sun right before her eyes, sending the world spiraling into…
The charismatic judge will finally approve with the thirsty hare for the sake of pessimism.
The White must evolve or a promise shall occur .
The Black will finally last with the doomed gambler for the sake of romance.
It will never delve after sunset.
Fluids surrounded Sun Burn’s pelvis as she strained her pelt damp with sweat. The smell of blood stung her nostrils, and with a scream of pain, hooves flailing, the birthing mare strained one last time, before with a violent shudder, a small black filly slivered out into the world.
Panting, Sun Burn wanted nothing more than to slip into a deep slumber, but it wasn’t over. Arching her neck, she shook out her mane before reaching forward and using her teeth, bit through the sack around the wet, limp bundle. A dark filly spilled out with umbilical fluids, her filly fur plastered against her small body, looking like an ungainly, deformed creature.
Hovering over her new filly, panic filled Sun Burn as she inhaled the scent. Her filly wasn’t breathing.
A great madness will devastate the land. Objects will fall from the skies. Only a sister’s love will save the world.
“Black Knight!” She cried out, and then started lapping at the wet fur furiously, trying to get the cold blood flowing.
The doors burst open, and the black stallion came galloping in. Excitement and pride radiated off him, chin arched, until he saw his mate’s expression. “What? What is it?” He asked.
Before she could answer, another vision plagued her, and with a whinny, she fell back, her spine arched in a dangerous angle.
The Black must not rise or a relationship beginning shall not take place .
A change of direction must not happen with the clever fighter.
The clever Princess shall not gasp.
“She’s not breathing!” Sun Burn whinnied, trying to shake the vision away. It was harder than anything she had ever done, like swimming though molasses infested waters.
Immediately her mate was at her side. Together, the parents rubbed the fur of the filly the wrong way to warm her up. After what seemed forever, the small black filly took in a weak, shaky breath, and promptly started whining and squirming blindly for her mother’s milk.
But before she could complete the actions, another plagued her, and with a scream of despair, the mother arched again, eyes dialating.
The charismatic reaver will finally disobey.
She will never embark at camp.
She shall jibe.
A thwarted plan will never happen with the paranoid bard near a farm on a cloudy day.
An agreement must take place .
It will never mutter near a stable.
“Sun Burn?” Her mate’s voice was distant, foggy, and the mare gasped as she forced herself in the present, blinking furiously. “Sun Burn!”
“The filly,” she gasped for breath, and her mate, with a frown of concern, bent over the bundle again, gently smelling and prodding the filly over.
“She is fine,” Black Knight spoke softly to his mate, touching his muzzle to her briefly before turning to look at their newest daughter.
The coat was mostly black, though dark swirling patterns could be seen in the spikey mane of the daughter. Darker hooves glowed eerily against the firelight, and the small bundle cast a intriguing shadow upon the wall. The position of the filly caused the shadow to perform a small, half-moon shape, just as the wind gave a violent gust, shoving the curtains aside. Stars twinkled brightly, reflecting in the filly’s pelt.
The parents let out a collective sigh of relief and admiration, the same moment the great oaken doors were shoved open again, and a small white filly came bursting in.
“Is it here? Is my brother here?” the small filly demanded, cantering over. Straining her neck, she barely saw over the bed line, to where her suckling sibling was.
Nickering in amusement, Sun Burn nuzzled her newest daughter closer to her side. “Yes, Celestia, she is here.”
The small filly tilted her head, studying her new sibling, and then wrinkled her muzzle in distaste. “She?”
“Yes, she,” Black Knight smiled, nudging his eldest daughter betwixt the ears. “Celestia, meet your sister, Luna.”
Small hooves leaving an indent on the bed, the young filly strained her neck to view her sister. Her ears twitched at the black bundle, squeaking and suckling, spilling milk down her mouth. Her eyes narrowed, ears laid flat, and with dignity, she returned to all fours on the ground, drew her shoulders up, and spoke to her parents.
“I wanted a brother.”
Then, without further comment, the white sun-filly turned and trotted out, leaving her parents and sister behind.
*************** “Aren’t her eyes supposed to be open by now?”
“Hush. She is sleeping.”
Weird scents and sounds were surrounding her, making her squeak. She wanted to go back to the warmth, but she couldn’t find it, couldn’t smell it. Where was that milky scent, the one that if she found it, filled her stomach so nicely, made her sleep?
“My eyes were open when I was born,” Came the squeaky voice again. Luna recoiled, squeaking. The voice was mean, she didn’t like it. It wasn’t that soft, warm comforting sound that surrounded her.
“Hush, Celestia, you don’t know that,” came another voice. She heard this voice often, it wasn’t that warm milky voice, but it was better than the other.
“Well, her eyes aren’t supposed to be closed.”
Luna squeaked in protest as a velvety muzzle was shoved by hers, and she whinnied in pain as something sharp landed on her ears. She focused hard on moving her legs, trying to squirm away from the pain.
“Celestia! Celestia, get your hooves out of here, stop bothering your sister.”
“Hmph,” the harsh voice snorted, and by her ear, she felt another nip, causing her to wither in pain again. Then, the presence was gone, and Luna allowed herself to relax once again.
Luna edged closer to the edge of the balcony, eyes focused on her target; the balcony directly across from her. Celestia’s dare sung in her head, I bet your wings are still too small to make it, and she hunkered down, spreading her star filled black wings. Shaking them out, she let the feathers fall into alignment, and narrowed all her focus on the wind. It was running in her favor, so long as she could find a good thermal breeze.
“Be careful!” Celstia called from the other side, and Luna snapped her gaze up, irritation prickling her pelt.
“Be quiet!” she hissed, and tried to narrow her focus in again.
Across the other side, her white pelted sister raised to her back legs, hooking her forelegs on the balcony railing to get a better view of Luna. Sunlight glittered off her mane, and her front bangs parted by her developing horn, still dull, only a inch or so grown. “You have to arch your wings exactly at the right angle, or else it’s not gonna work, and you will plummet all the way down.”
Luna shot her elder sister a glare, her dark night colored eyes flashing irritation. “I said be quiet!”
With an elegant shrug, Celestia dropped back down to all four hooves, again, unfurling her white wings to bask in the sun. Luna rolled her eyes, deciding to dismiss her sister’s effort to show off the wings, and glared at the other side again.
The gap yawned between them, imitating and seemingly growing every time she glanced. Swallowing hard, she looked down, and immediately regretted it, the sheer drop enough to make her want to wuss out. But if Celestia could do it, so could she. She had to.
Taking a deep breath, she shook out her wings one last time, and shifted her weight on her back hooves, feeling her muscles bunch up. She could do this.
Deep breath in.
One.
“Don’t forget to push off with your legs too!” Celestia piped in helpfully. Luna shot her a withering glare, sending her to silence again.
Lets try this again, she told herself, and narrowed in again.
One. Breath in.
Two. Breath out.
…Three!
“Look out!” Celestia cried, the same moment Luna lunged, reaching her hooves into the air. There was a flash of grey and blue, and with a yelp of surprise, Luna felt something hard ram into her, sending her flying backwards, without the aid of her wings.
She landed hard, her wings twisting under her painfully, as the bulk quickly scrambled off her. She furiously rose to her hooves, ready to yell at whoever it was that interrupted her flight.
It was septa Nanny Hoof.
“Luna!” the grey mare scolded, towering over the young filly. “Dare I accuse you of what I suspect you were trying to do?!”
“No,” the moon filly lifted her chin definitely, the same time Celestia flew over, landing next to her.
“Septa Nanny Hoof! I tried to stop her, really, but she wouldn’t listen!”
Luna whirled on her sister, ears laid back in fury, baring her teeth. “Liar! You dared me to!”
Celestia widened her sapphire blue eyes, perfecting the look of innocence and indignity of being accused. “What?!”
Luna opened her mouth to further yell at her sister, but sensing an argument, Septa Nanny Hoof stepped between the two fledgling princesses, using her bulk to separate them. She wasn’t a stranger to Celestia’s ways, so she choose to ignore her act of innocence, and turned instead to the younger filly.
“Luna, dare or not, you know we have gone over this. Your wings are not fully developed yet, the muscles aren’t strong enough.”
Luna rolled her dark eyes, grinding her front hoof into the ground in irritation. “Yes, I know, and ‘the wings would give out and I would severely injure myself since I wouldn’t be able to maintain flight. I know.” She sighed and arched her neck, glancing back at her useless wings, folded neatly at her side. They seemed more like decorations than anything, and she yearned to spread them and join the other flight privileged ponies, to follow her sister in the sky, feel the wind run through her mane, feel the freedom that Celestia so often ranted about…
Luna felt her shoulders fall, and she lowered her head, ears laid back in sadness. “I just really want to fly.”
Feeling the filly’s change in mood, the septa softened her gaze, lowering her muzzle to Luna’s and touching the young fledgling betwixt the ears. “I know, young one, and with patience will come reward. Your wings will grow, don’t you fret, and soon you will be able to fly.”
“Not soon enough,” Luna muttered to herself. She cast a resentful glance to Celestia, who was on the side, preening a wing with her teeth. How wonderful those wings looked, all white and pristine, strong and large. Polished, large feathers glimmered brilliantly in the sun, making her own dark black wings look dull in comparison.
Sympathizing the small alicorn, Septa Nanny Hoof raised her head, nudging Luna’s flank. “Come, little ones, let us see if the cook has any of those pastries for dinner ready. I am sure they won’t miss a few if they go missing, do you?”
Celestia whinnied in excitement, leaving her preening to canter up to Luna, hooves clacking as she tossed her mane in excitement. “Pastries! Oh, come on Luna, I’ll race you to the kitchen!”
Sighing, Luna glanced at her septa. Kind green eyes met hers, and with a small inclination, Nanny Hooves gave Luna a knowing look. Resigned, Luna turned back to her sister, and forced an excited tone.
“First one there gets first pick!”
Celestia whinnied, rearing, scraping the air with her golden hooves. “Then you better hope your racing skills are better than your flight!”
Grinning, Luna nipped her sister’s flank playfully, distracting her enough to leap ahead, hooves clattering on the castle ground. “No fair!” Celestia squeaked, quickly racing after her sister. Whinnying in amusement, Luna tossed her mane and raced through the halls, feeling happier than she had all day. Her sister could be a meanpony, but at least she could match her pace for pace on the ground!
I may not be able to fly, but at least I can be the best racing pony there ever was!
The dead pony lay on his side, blood pooling onto the rug. Her name had been Sir Clydesdale, but of course, that was back when she had a heartbeat, and lungs that conjured breaths. He had been the head of the Guard, a noble, strong stallion with good morals, loyal to the royal family. His signature maroon pelt was a shade darker, crimson blood flowing from his nostrils and corner of his mouth; though around the edges it was flaked and crusted over. Glassy brown eyes stared blankly into the distance, though to Luna, it seemed like he was staring directly at her.
Luna felt no compulsion to stay longer by the victim than she had to, but something kept her hooves riveted, staring, her eyes wide in horror. Her eyes drifted to the bloody flank, where there was evidence of horn stabs, then travelled around the room, where there had been obvious evidence of a fierce struggle. Curtains were ripped to shreds, picture frames were shattered with glass littering the ground. There were scorch marks in the white walls, along with dents from magic that Celestia couldn’t even conjure to imagine.
All I wanted was a place to hide from Septa Nanny Hoof, Luna thought to herself faintly, feeling her heart in her throat.
“Luna!” came the call of her septa, sounding furious. Luna flinched in panic, as if she herself were the perpetrator, though her dark hooves remained bloodless and perfect.
The moon filly had slipped from her sewing lessons, which for some odd reason, Septa Nanny Hooves seemed stubborn that the two filly princesses should learn. Celestia had jumped in eagerly, demonstrating her superiority over Luna with pride, using her magic manipulation to elevate the fabric and needles. Luna however, had a hard time focusing, hating being cooped up in the stuffy room, when her wings longed to be stretched. They were growing, she knew it, and soon she would be able to fly, as soon as she finished molting. So as soon as the two had their backs turned, Luna gave them the slip, leaving her sister and septa to their petty sewing.
It didn’t seem long before her absence was noticed, and at the wrong time and place, nonetheless.
Why did bad things always seem to happen around her?
First it was the waking nightmares. She didn’t mean to cause Celestia any harm, but the only thing she remembered was hearing her sister’s screams, and being snapped out of a fuzzy dream-like state, seeing gashes all over her sister from where she had apparently been attacking her, rearing and tossing her mane like a maniac, wings sweeping, hooves flashing dangerously. Her sister hardly spoke to her for the remaining week, making Luna feel lost and sad.
What hurt the most was her parent’s disappointed looks. Behind the concern, Luna could clearly read the disappointment and anger in their expressions as they pushed past her, Sun Burn calling frantically for aid from a nurse, while Black Knight stood to the side, hanging his head over his bleeding daughter, refusing to look at Luna.
Luna was known to be the rebel between the two sisters, refusing proper manners, skipping out on behavior lessons, and participating in events that her parents along with Celestia, insisted was most improper. But why sit and practice how to bow correctly, especially when it was to her own parents? And patching up rips in garments were the seamstress’ jobs, not hers.
Her job was to learn how to fly.
“Luna?!”
The quiet voice interrupted Luna, and she jolted, tearing her gaze from the dead guard. Bristling, ready to defend herself, she turned, only to see Celestia in the door way, eyes wide and shockingly blue against the dark light in the room. The sun princess let out a small gasp as she approached Luna, who braced herself and prepared to volley back defenses on how it wasn’t her fault, she had just found him that way. But surprisingly, no accusations came. All she did was press herself into Luna’s side for support, looking as weak as Luna felt.
“Are you ok?” Celestia spoke quietly, her own voice sounding hollow. “You weren’t attacked too, were you?”
Luna shook her mane, surprised by her sisters concern. “No, I just…found him like this.”
The two fillies were silent, both keeping to their private thoughts. If it was they didn’t know what to do, or to say to each other, neither knew, but at that moment, Luna was more grateful for Celestia’s presence than she ever had been.
Luna had leaned over to whisper to her sister, earning a dirty look from Celestia. “Shhh. We are almost up.”
Luna scowled, shifting her weight back to center. She hated these court visits, where citizens were allowed to come to the castle and plead audience with her parents, piling their woes onto them, as if it was their fault that the grain refused to grow in the fields they razed, or that it was for some reason, their castles fault that the funneling system for water was slow. Maybe these issues interested her parents, or, for some reason, her sister, but why burden her with it?
“Trade is slow with Newsaddle region,” the simple folk pony before them was speaking, head low in respect as he addressed Luna’s parents. “Because of this, it is harder to sell crops, and the taxes make it difficult yet to keep enough in our own storage. I come forth to ask that you mercy the taxes per crop, at least until trade starts up again, and we can sell easier.”
From where they stood by the throne, her mother gazed down at the earth pony with a calm look, while her father exploited less patience, his ears flicking back and forth. Nearly a week had passed since Sir Clydesdale’s mysterious murder, and the case seemed the worst on her father. It was up to Dark Night to appoint a new captain of the guard, which he had neglected to do yet. It was an enormous task, and the opportunity to hold a proper council about Sir Clydesdale’s death was yet to be held, let alone to appoint his heir. And with mysterious disappearances every night of simple castle folk, such as the cooks or maids, their hooves were full.
Sun Burn paused before answering, careful with her wordings. Luna knew it would be folly to admit their internal struggles, but truth was owed to their subjects, especially when it came to their welfare and ability to survive off their livings. But to admit that all extra coin has been turned to hire more guards to search the nearby villages for possible threats would be just as folly.
“We will look into it, and see how we can accommodate you,” Dark Night finally spoke, as he had been doing for most of the duration of the session. Though Sun Burn hid it, Luna could sense the irritation within her mother, though she kept her gaze gently hidden from all inner emotions.
“Your Grace –“
“All hooves are turned to internal affairs, and if you wish to receive any benefits, you would be wise not only to keep this information to yourself, but scour your own hired hooves and land for possible enemies, or anyone that would wish the royal house harm. This court is dismissed.”
The earth pony looked taken aback as with a sweep of his tail and a toss of his mane, Dark Night beckoned the second in command guard to his flank as he hooved out. From the shadows, Sir Black Cloak peeled himself from his post by the wall, following the king out to separate chambers, leaving Dark Night’s mate and fillies to face the remaining court.
Recovering from her mate’s outburst, Sun Burn lifted her chin a bit higher, addressing the court. “Everyone is dismissed.”
Luna was relieved when the remaining earth ponies started to dwindle out, though she could tell her sister was less than thrilled. Celestia’s shoulders drooped, nose twitching as her blue eyes watched the folk canter out.
“This was supposed to be my morning to address the court,” she complained, and Luna resisted rolling her eyes. “You really thought they would let you address an open court, with everything going on? After what happened?”
Celestia glared at her sister stubbornly. Unlike her darker sister, she had bothered to garb up in her best cloak, the crimson red pendant holding the ends together at her chest glimmering against the light that shone into the room. “Nobody would dare attack me, not with the guards.”
Luna glanced to the back part of the throne stage, where the remaining guard, Sir Sea Sand and Cobble stood, faces impassive, hardly moving. They kept their swords sheathed at their sides, though the spears attached to the straps on their legs were looser than usual, so they were not as erect for show, but accessible to easy draw. “Most of the attacks have been at night, but soon they will be brave enough to make a move during the day.”
Celestia snorted, shaking her mane. “And when that happens, we will be well protected by the guard.”
“More like you fancy Sir Cobble,” Luna muttered. If her sister heard, she chose not to comment.
Things were wrapping up, and if Luna wanted to avoid another droll day with Septa Nanny Hoof and her droll teachings on numbers, languages and ancient arts, now was her time to disappear.
And disappearing was her specialty.
“If anyone asks, I am deeply absorbed in my studies in my quarters,” Luna informed Celestia. She wasn’t sure if her white sister heard her, for she was busy twisting her neck to straighten out her mane, her teeth working the tangles a bit. But Celestia gave her a small flick of the tail, which Luna figured was the only response she would get.
Slipping out the side door that led to the private halls meant for the servants running between the grand court rooms and dining halls, she turned down the familiar narrow ways, preferring the servants ways than the regular halls; it was faster, quieter, and with a lot less staff blundering over themselves to bend a knee or tilt a head in hasty attempt to greet the moon princess. Besides, she was familiar with the staff, and often preferred their companionship.
She could smell the upcoming meal for lunch being prepared already as she passed the oaken doors leading to the kitchen. She hesitated, peering through the round hole in the door to inhale the scent, taking a gammer at the meal; minced apple soup, along with long lemon grass pie, bean cake and the roots of arugula; that much she could tell.
Lost in the scent, she hardly heard the sound of hooves against the wood, and a flash of a dark, earthy green pelt was the only thing that warned her of the stallion coming through door at the other side.
She whinnied in surprise as the door flung open, her hooves clattering as she scrambled aside. There was a symphony of the sound of flat plates and glasses clinking as the stallion snorted in surprise, the collision making the flat saddle upon his back holding the table ware laden with food titter precariously. But with practiced ease the stallion stilled the saddle, breathing once it was still.
Golden brown eyes flashed as the dark green server pony opened his mouth to un-doubtfully scold whoever had dared get in his way, the same time apologies came stuttering out from Luna, her pelt flushing heat from embarrassment. But then the stallion caught sight of who it was, and gasped.
“Princess Luna!” in a flurry he scrambled to bend a knee and lower his head in a bow, only causing the saddle to sway dangerously again. Snorting in irritation, Luna stretched her muzzle forward against the saddle, staying it.
“Please, none of that,” she scowled, stepping back once all was stable again. “Luna is just fine.”
“Of course, m’lady-“
“Nope, not that either.” She interrupted.
Hesitation. Then; “…Mistress?”
“Negative.”
The stallion opened his mouth, about to address her again, and fell silent, ears flicking. She could see the confusion in his gaze, and she let out a small nicker of merriment. Her amusement caught onto the server pony, who allowed himself a smile in return, shaking his mane slightly. “Luna, then.”
“That’ll have to do, I suppose,” Luna sighed, feigning exasperation, earning another nicker of amusement from the server pony. “And by what name do I call you?”
“I am often am addressed with “get out of the way’ or ‘you burned it again,’ but you may call me Forest Canter. Sorry for startling you.”
Legs stiff as a newborn filly, Luna extending her neck to exchange breathes. Forest Canter’s velvety muzzle touched hers briefly, and she inhaled deeply. His scent was earthy and reminded her of a mix between pine trees and grass. She released her breath, allowing him to take in her scent, and then arched her neck, addressing him again. “Pleased to meet you, Forest Canter.”
“The pleasure is mine,” Forest Canter insisted, and Luna swished her tail, hurrying the banalities away.
“I don’t believe I have seen you around before,” she informed him.
Forest Canter flicked an ear. “What one believes verses one what sees are two different things, and you are correct in saying so. I am a new hire here for the kitchens.”
“And doing such a fabulous job, if you have earned so many nicknames already,” Luna observed.
The mossy stallion sighed. “Aye, you could say that.”
“At least you have the balancing act underway,” she gestured her muzzle to the saddle. “Those look positively awful.”
The stallion gave a graceful shrug, “They serve the trick for show and getting the job done. Much how I imagine how uncomfortable the crowns on your head must be.”
Luna couldn’t recall any of the lower staff being so open about their opinion to her, and she found it rather enjoyable. She was about to speak again, when a clamor in the kitchen made her ears flick forward, and the young ponies were joined by another presence.
The flinging door narrowly missed hitting Forest Canter, who just managed to sidestep the head cook who came trotting out, looking absolutely furious. “Forest Canter! You aren’t paid t’stand ‘round lollygaggin’ all day, ge’ those plates ou’! We can’t properly sen’ any food ou’ withou’ a table set, can we? Eh? Ge’ on with i’ ye’ blunderin’ colt!””
“Sorry Mistress Pumpkin!” Forest Canter squealed. Luna had to withhold her snicker of merriment; pumpkin indeed, for it looked like the apron hardly contained the bulging flanks of the tan mare.
“O’, Princess Luna, pardon me and me appren’ice ‘ere, he’ll be ou’er yer mane in a blink... Why are yer still ‘ere? Move move! Ge’ them ‘ooves t’ work ye useless colt!” Without waiting to see if he carried it out, the plump cook turned on her hooves again and stormed back through the doors into the kichen.
“Yes Mistress Pumpkin!” the stallion scrambled past Luna to carry out his service, only hesitating to glance over his flank back at Luna.
“A pleasure speaking with you, Luna!” He was gone then, carrying the remaining scent of pine and grass with him.
“And you,” Luna found herself murmuring, her nostrils flaring as she memorized his scent. “A pleasure indeed.”
It had been raining by the time the two fledglings reached the bar, a few miles away outside the walls surrounding the castle territory. It had been by mere chance that Luna had heard about the secret location, hearing the whispers by the servants in their hall. A race, the whispers went, to declare the fastest flyer in all of Canterlot.
It took her best manipulation skills and some mane pulling to get Celestia to agree to accompany her, and even more for her to abandon thought of bringing any guards with them. Luna wanted nothing with the guards, not only because they were annoying, but because un-doubtfully, they would report her activity back to her parents, who would be less than thrilled about her nighttime adventures out of the castle.
It wasn’t her first adventure; often she liked to fly out, race her shadows along the light beams the moon casted, feeling an eerie glow of strength every time she basked in the pure, white light. Each time she went out flying, and she felt as if she could circle all of Equestria and the unknown lands beyond. There was nothing stronger than her during her night races, and she wanted her chance to prove that for once, she was better than her sister at something.
Celestia had turned up the collar of her cloak by the time they reached the door that was guarded by a burley stallion, though Luna let her mane stick to her neck as the rain licked her betwixt her ears, her hooves disturbing the puddles as she approached the guard. The door pony looked like he belonged more in a field pulling a field plow than standing there with the longsword strapped to his flank. Then again, Luna wasn’t one to judge; she wasn’t supposed to be in places like this, at least as far as royalty went. Not that it ever stopped her from going places as she pleased before.
“Coin entrance fee,” the postpony grunted before they could enter. Celestia paused, blinking past her cloak hood at him.
“Entrance fee? To a pub? Since when?”
“Since for one, it is after pub hours, and for two, it’s a special occasion. Three coins.”
Glaring at her sister as if she blamed Luna for the waste of coin, Celestia started to summon forth the coins with her horn, but with a low snort, Luna interrupted her with a significant look. Celestia paused, and then remembering that their identity as princesses were supposed to remain incognito, she grudgingly lowered her head to nudge underneath her cloak to the secret pocket, fishing out three coins.
“That’s three coins, each. Sorry,” the guard said as Celestia dropped the coins into his sidesaddle pouch, not sounding sorry at all. Scowling, Celestia looked like she was about to argue, but with another snort from Luna, snorted in anger and dipped her head into her cloak again.
Luna stared at the guard as he stood there with a bored expression, waiting for his payment. He gazed straight ahead, hardly flinching as she leaned in, studying him.
“Can you sing?”
The guard blinked, finally glancing down at her. “I open the door.”
“But can you sing?”
The guard considered it, look her as if he expected it to be a trick question. “No…I have never attempted.”
“Luna.” From behind her, Celestia dropped the coins into the guard’s saddle again, giving her sister a small glare. Raising her shoulders in a shrug, Luna flicked her ear at the stallion before moving her hooves forward to the pub, her older sibling following at her flank silently.
There was a din to the pub, and immediately her senses were attacked with overload; the smell of tart apple liquor and fried or roasted snacks swirled her scent glands, accompanied with the smell of sweat on damp pelts, sour breath and the faint smell of stable hay. Tables and bar counter tops were flooded with ponies lingering around, all nursing their drinks or cracking a peanut, eyes flashing as the eerie glow of the lanterns bounced off their pupils. Cloaks kept faces shadowy and indistinct, and Luna couldn’t help but notice with a practiced eye how many of the garbed ponies were concealing weapons under their cloaks. She wondered if regular earth pony civilians were suffering with mysterious disappearances or deaths like they were inside her castle.
There was an undertone of excitement and maybe some anxiety among the pub-goers, and Luna’s ears couldn’t seem to decide where to settle as they flicked and pivoted on her head, catching snatches of conversations.
“…Fastest sky-flyer in all of Canterlot-“
“-Of Equestria-“
“…Injured, might not show up-“
“-Rises the chances of ours winning then…”
“…16 coins on the rookie…”
“Hard to wrap your hooves around the concept of under the table races, Princess?”
It took Luna a moment to not only hear, but realize that the figure nearest her, sidled up into the booth. Withholding her flinch, she blinked at the speaker, opening her mouth.
“Don’t bother denying it, your dark aura spells out who you are well enough. And don’t look so panicked, I won’t blow your cover.”
The speaker was female, garbed in a dark woolen cloak, the hood falling over the crisp cut purple mane, falling further over the violet eyes, shadowing her darker indigo pelt. Oddly shaped hooves peeked out from under the booth, and Luna realized that they had been sharpened, so the tip curved inward to a dangerous looking point, similar to a claw. Around the ankles a leather strap were buckled securely, and Luna had seen stuff similar to the guards in the castle; they were meant to support the ankles during a fight, and keep them strong for fore hoof strikes.
“Are you of the guard? Have you been told to follow us?” Luna found herself questioning, shifting forward to speak in a low voice. Something about the pony’s presence drew her forward with the urge to keep a low voice.
The mare snorted in amusement, the eyes sparkling in mirth. “Nay, I left that service years ago. But I am of a guard,” she added, and then went no further into explanation.
“City’s Watch?”
“As if. But I see all, am all, do all.”
“A spy?”
Instead of answering, the mare rolled around back to her original question that had caught the princess’ attention. “Been to one of these events before?”
Despite the coy cryptic-ness and shady character, something drew Luna to this mare and found that she wanted to trust her. Celestia would have disapproved entirely, but as it were, her sun-sister was across the bar, flagging down a bar tender with a hoof. “No,” she finally admitted. “This is my first time even hearing about it.”
“Well, it is a sure event not to miss. Full of danger and excitement, a little blood here and there, thrills, danger….peril…”
Luna studied the figure, not sure if she was pulling her leg or sincerely meant it. “The race has its dangers?”
“Of course,” the mare nudged her drink closer, “As all events do, really. Don’t tell me you don’t have your royal spars or jousts within the walls of your castle.”
Luna tried to recall the last one she had been to, when she was a young filly. She hadn’t been allowed to witness the whole thing, especially with Celestia making a big fuss about it being boring, so septa Nanny Hoof had brought them to the town instead for sweet treats.
“Names Sorcha, by the way,” the mare –Sorcha – filled in the silence. Luna dipped her head in greeting instead of exchanging breaths. Something about Sorcha made it apparent that she wasn’t one to close proximities like that for the sake of proper exchanges, which she could respect.
“Luna,” she introduced herself in return, the same time from somewhere to her left, another called out her name.
“Luna!”
Her ears pricked at the familiar voice, and she turned to see the familiar stallion weaving his way between tables over to her, jerking his muzzle up in greeting. Luna couldn’t help but grin when she saw Forest Canter, raising her own muzzle in welcome. “Forest Canter!”
The young stallion was breathless by the time he reached her, golden brown eyes appraising Luna as they touched muzzles briefly. She hesitated, lingering longer than what was probably necessary as his scent wreathed around her once again, feeling as if she was in a woods again, pine needles crunching under her hooves. Drawing back, she grinned at the stallion.
“What are you doing here?!”
“Same thing you are doing here! The Vheryian races are something you don’t want to miss,” Forest Canter exclaimed. The emerald pelted pony had lost the hard wooden saddle platform for a simple leather pouch, and a small cloak that covered his shoulders and most of his flank. His brown mane fell across his nose easily, giving him a more carefree look than the straight pinned look had given him when they first met.
“How did you escape Mistress Pumpkin?” Luna found herself asking.
“Ah ‘scaped ‘er presence when she won’t be lookin’, takin’ ‘teh side door quick as a squirrel,” Forest Canter responded with a wink, mocking his mentor’s accent, making Luna nicker in laughter.
“You won’t get into trouble if she finds out?”
“No more than you will if you are discovered missing, I recon.”
It was then from where she observed, Sorcha spoke up again, reminding Luna of her presence. “Speaking of trouble, you might want to catch your sister while she’s ahead,” she murmured, eyes across the room.
Luna turned, just in time to see Celestia blow up at the barpony. “I ordered water, or is that not allowed for underage ponies either? Fine, you keep your drinks, alebreath, and when you get a notice of building and business evacuation anytime soon, it wasn’t from me!”
“Oh dear,” Luna muttered in dismay. Could she not take her older sister out anywhere? She had warned her older sister that flaunting her identity for what it was unwise dangerous, especially in this sort of night activity, but she knew it was too much to hope for her Celestia to remember anything that she said that didn’t have to do with handsome guards or the latest cloak or dress fashion.
Forest Canter chuckled though, shaking his mane. “I suppose we should distract her before she puts the whole town out of business,” Luna sighed, rippling her pelt in irritation.
“Can she even do that?”
“She’s a princess, I’m sure she can try to at least attempt to do anything she wants,” Luna responded grudgingly.
This made a pause for Forest Canter. Glancing at Luna, he tilted his head, making his mane fall with him. “You speak as if you aren’t a princess yourself.”
Luna met the stallions glowing gaze, his eyes reminding her of the bark of a tree and a mix of warm caramel. “I’m not, at least not in the sense that Celestia likes to carry herself around in.” She didn’t feel need to say any more, and if Forest Canter couldn’t keep up, she really didn’t see it as her job to explain. But to her relief the stallion seemed to understand perfectly. He eyed her over with a new expression, one that she couldn’t put her hoof on, but once again it made her pelt crawl with pleasant shivers, her blood heating under her fur.
From the booth, Sorcha stirred, moving to her hooves. Her movement was silent with grace, and quick, faster than Luna had seen in other ponies. “Well, you two seem to know each other. If I have your permission, I will be tracking one of the sketchy racers who, if I had money to put a hoof on, don’t belong here. By your leave,” she directed to Luna. Luna could hear the mocking tone in the violet mare, and instantly took to an even deeper liking to her.
“Be gone with you,” Luna dismissed formally with a sweep of her tail, and then cracked a smile. Though Sorcha didn’t seem the smiling type, a touch of an amused chuckle met her eyes, through it remained silent. With a shift of cloak and hooves, the only thing that proved that she was ever there was the left over mug of ale left at the booth, leaving the two young ponies together alone.
There was a moment of silence, though not uncomfortable as Luna was left with Forest Canter. They stood side by side, observing the activity around them, though for her own sanity, she just so happened to ignore the area that Celestia was. She could take care of herself, Luna decided, and once the race started, all focus would be on the event, and whatever blunders her sister made would be forgotten.
If only she could have predicted that the complete opposite would occur.
Celestia couldn’t claim to understand why everyone had met in a bar, when there was no obvious race track in sight, but the fledgling princess’s wonderments would be answered soon enough, for not shortly after some large burly officials dressed in odd multicolored cloaks and some form of a leather mask over their face pushed in through the back room to announce the race was about to commence.
Celestia was still as the excitement picked up in the closed, dark quarters, mares and stallions alike abandoning their drinks to head back to the doors in whence the odd official had shown up, all crowding and congesting the room in a flurry that made Celestia want to do nothing more than get back to her private room and spend an hour with her hoofmaid brush the smell and gunk out of her mane. But stupidly, she had let her stubborn little sister talk her into it, and now she was stuck here.
Speaking of which, where was that irksome little runt?
“Move it,” a growl came from behind her, and she squeaked indignantly as a large stallion shoved past her, stinking of sour ale and something raw and bitter. She was shouldered into another pony making his way through impatiently, and before she could help it, she was swallowed with the crowd, forced to move her hooves forward in an awkward stumbled to keep up, or else be threatened to be trampled underhoof.
This is no way for a princess to be treated! Celestia fumed inwardly, shrugging her cloak on her shoulders tighter. She was herded in through the doorway, and gasped as with a sudden tilt, the narrow hallway led her downwards, the plastered wall disappearing into a damp stone wall, rickety old wood beams the only things keeping the cavern in place. Celestia felt her ears draw back as she glanced up, not liking how at a moment’s notice, it could collapse. She couldn’t help but wince as the hooves of the race-goers clattered loudly, expecting the vibrations to set a stone loose and let the whole thing ruin down upon her.
They seemed to travel downward for hours, getting darker and dampers, until the cloak upon her shoulders hugged her sides in an uncomfortable manor, like a second, slimy pelt. Celestia found herself cursing Luna once again as she was rushed forward with the wave of bodies, knowing it would take forever to get the grime out of her hoof flecks. And to think she had just polished them. At least her perfect wings would remain untouched under her cloak.
Just as Celestia started to have a hard time breathing, and she didn’t know if the cavern walls could get any narrower, all at once she and the herd were spat out into an opening, and despite the pushing and shoving, Celestia found herself halting with a gasp.
A stream of fresh air tickled her muzzle as she peered over the mass of bodies. Branching outward was a large bridge that led to a large underground stadium. It looked like the coliseum that resided back at home, though much larger and not as in the open. The first thing she noticed was the stalagmites and stalactites that jutted dangerously out from the roof and bottom of the cave, dripping in moisture, ending in a sharp fang. Netting on the celling of the cavern seemed to be the only thing keeping the loose stones and boulders from falling onto the track, and a sense of foreboding made Celestia’s skin crawl.
This place looks centuries, maybe even eons old, under our hooves all this time, and we didn’t know about it? A shiver traveled up Celestia’s spine as she thought about what it could mean.
“Move it, ye’ buckled kneed filly,” a grunt snarled at her behind, and Celestia gasped as the chest of a large pony pressed into her flank, forcing her forward. Ears laid back, Celestia resisted the urge for retaliation, demanding his proper respect to his princess, and instead swallowed hard and carefully placed her hooves in front of her again, crossing the narrow stone bridge that led to the seating for the spectators.
“Princess,” came a hiss from somewhere to her right, and she paused before entering a row – E24, the front seat said, and perked her ears, searching for the speaker. She found the speaker quickly, a small pony who was standing at the beginning of the next row. Their eyes met, and Celestia thought she saw a flash of red, but it was hard to see past the heavy woolen, black cloak the stallion held over his face, concealing his features almost as carefully as Celestia was. “This way, Princess,” he hissed again, jerking his muzzle upward.
Letting her gaze travel up, she saw that further up the ramp was a roped off area, the rope a royal, red velvet material, oddly out of place compared to the rest of the place. At first Celestia was leery of the stranger beckoning her – how did he know she was the princess? But then pride got ahead of her – the roped off seating would only be fitting for her - and she moved her hooves forward to meet the stranger, who stared at her from under the hood, expression fierce with scrutiny that made her pelt heat up.
“After you,” the stallion murmured as Celestia passed, his mouth unnervingly close to her ear. His scent waved over her, an odd murky smell that reminded her of a pond, but then it was gone as she traveled up the smooth ramp, all scents being replaced with the cave’s ever present damp, stony smell instead.
The stallion quickly roped off the entrance again after she went though, following her to the large seating of more velvet covered chairs. A bit less than a throne, but Celestia supposed it would do. Bending her forelegs gracefully, she lowered herself down, using her training of dress etiquette to position the cape of her cloak just right. The stallion – a light red pelted pony, she could now see – plopped down less gracefully next to her, eyes on the track before them.
“The name is Bastard Squinat, but you may call me Bass,” the stallion spoke before she could open her mouth, as if he could guess what she was about to say.
Celestia blinked, ear twitching. “Bass…tard? That is…” She hesitated, trying to recover from her shock and blunder. “…quite the name, sir.”
Bass spared her a side glance, “My sire was not fond of me, needless to be said. Even you would understand the meaning behind that, despite your sheltered royal life, I reckon.”
“Yes, despite my claimed ‘sheltered life,’ we in fact we have many bastards amongst our staff,” Celestia barely bit back her sharp retort, realizing how much she sounded like Luna. She shook her mane, and started over. “Where are you from, Sir Bass? I can’t claim to have heard of any Squinat’s around Canterlot.”
“Where I am from hardly matters, and you haven’t heard of any of my namesakes around because I am happy to report, I am the only remaining Squinat around.” He glanced at Celestia, and as if predicting her next comment, gave a rather disturbing lopsided grin. “I killed the last known Squinat, who happened to be my father.”
To this, Celestia didn’t seem to know what to say, which seemed to be the small stallion’s objective. Giving a low amused snort at her silence, he turned his muzzle back to the arena, gesturing to it. “First time out of the castle, and you come to a place like this? I must say, I am impressed, though based off our newest competitor, it wasn’t your idea to attend.”
Overwhelmed by her surroundings, the ponies, and her new companion, Celestia could barely keep up. She let her gaze travel to where he pointed with his muzzle, and noticed that on the track, several ponies, all donned in their mysterious flank tight material and leather masks. There had to be at least a dozen competitors, all stretching at the start, wings flashing in the odd light of the cave, ranging from various sizes, though they all were large in stature, extremely muscular, broad in chest with wide, angular wings.
She caught a flash of a smaller pony, donned in similar clothes that traveled down her flank and halfway down her forelegs, along with a simple leather mask covering up her muzzle and forehead. Suspicion arousing in her chest, she squinted, watching carefully as the figure stretched, rearing and scraping the air with hooves before landing upon all fours again, unfurling her wings to stretch them, and as the cavern light caught the wing feathers, she recognized the glimmer of dark azure, and gasped.
She hesitated, and then decided; “Fillydelphia.” If she said Canterlot, feared her identity would be discovered all too easily.
“Step into the sling, please.”
Luna could feel the excitement ebbing from the crowd above her, adding to the pace of her hammering heart. Nerves made her pelt tingle, and under her borrowed leather racing mask, her pelt was damp from sweat.
The sling wrapped around her middle, lifting her into the air. As the pony at the other end held her up, a status recorder wrote down her weight. While another measured her wing span, she was able to see above and over the race course.
She knew it would be no ordinary race course – what races had she known that were underground?! – and her first view confirmed it.
The course itself was a trail between the jagged rocks sticking from the ceiling; stalagmites, if she could remember, or where they stalactites? Either or, the deadly cave teeth were sticking out from the bottom and the top, making a tight and dangerous narrow course to dodge through. She figured she was smaller than the rest, so her dodging skills would come to handy.
Then the course disappeared into dark worm tunnels, separate caves, and how deep they went in and what was inside, she could only guess. Letting her gaze travel further to her left, she saw another opening to the other end of the track near the finish line, where racing officials were busy copying down the information the officials taking the racer’s stat got, a runner in-between buzzing between the two ends.
Her sling was lowered, and once on her own four hooves again, she hoofed her way over to the starting gate, letting an official pin a large number onto the side of her racing attire; a large 15. Once the official was sure it was pinned on securely, he jerked his muzzle to the corresponding gate with the bold numbers on it, the white paint old and chipping. The gates themselves were rusty, bits of corrupted metal falling off as the gate swung open for her.
Luna stepped in hesitantly, her gaze narrowing in on the slim opening, just enough for her to stand in there. As soon as she was in, the doors behind her clanged shut with a resounding sound, and she couldn’t help but shudder lightly as a shiver traveled up her spine. The gate reminded her too much of a cage, and her hooves clattered anxiously on the cave floor.
Bars separated her from the other racers. To her right, number 16 was a large burly pony sporting a checkered white and blue racing mask and shuffled in, looking like his bulge could hardly fit into the gate. His wings had to be twice the size of hers, and she noticed the orange wing feathers looked unusually groomed and polished, something that her sister would do. Luna briefly wondered where her sister was, and how furious Celestia would be once she discovered that Luna had pulled the wool over her eyes. She felt a small stab of guilt, but quickly shook her mane with a snort. She could worry about her sister later, she had a race to focus on.
To her left a smaller red mare entered the gate, her leather mask a solid deep blue. She was number 14, with her deeper maroon wings furled gently at her side. She looked more fit for the race, a long slender body that would have an easier time slipping through the cave obstacles than number 16.
“A scrawny little filly, aren’t you?”
Luna’s ears swiveled to her right again, and her gaze followed, realizing that the large stallion, number 16 had spoken. He leered at her through the bars, nostrils flaring as he tried to pick up her scent past the overwhelming smell of cavern mold.
“Beg your pardon?” she spoke politely.
The stallion snorted, tossing his mane proudly. “I didn’t know they let fillies in the race.”
“I’m no filly; I reached my ten-and-eighth name day just a few months ago, sir.” She corrected him.
“Right, so just a filly,” the stallion smirked.
Luna flicked her ear, turning away, refusing to be roused up into an argument. But the mare to her right had caught wind of the conversation, and was eyeing Luna up curiously.
“You do look rather young,” she offered innocently. “Does your mother know you are here?”
Luna gritted her teeth, trying to keep her pelt from prickling in anger. She knew that all she had to do was reveal that she was the princess, and they would take back their words instantly, and the whole stadium would be lowering a knee at her. Celestia would love it, but it would take away the essence of the race for Luna. She reveled in the competition, and didn’t want any other pony feeling obligated to give her any advantages in the rivalry for the race. She planned to win fair and square.
But as her gaze traveled to peek at the figures in the next few gates, she couldn’t help but wonder if she even had a chance of winning. Her opponents looked like seasoned racers.
But before any doubts could coil around in her mind too much, there was a squeal overhead as a megaphone was turned on, making all the ponies groan, but it ensued silence, which Luna supposed worked better than barking for attention.
“Testing…testing…ah ha! Welcome everypony, to the 13th annual Valerian race!”
A cheer bloomed through the crowd, and the competitors in the gates whinnied, adding their voices to the crowd. But Luna stayed frozen in her gate. 13th annual race?! That meant that this was a developed event, and the fact that she hadn’t known about it until now didn’t settle right in her stomach. Was it a secret for a reason? What would her parents think of it?
“..Put your hooves together for new racers and seasoned alike!” the announcer was going on, oblivious to Luna’s anxiety. “Today we have our three year champion, and Solar Dancer!”
To her dismay, the large pony, 16, tossed his head and whinnied loudly for the crowd, rearing the best he could in the gate for show. Luna felt dread gather in her gut as she realized her judgment had been wrong.
The announcer was talking about the course now, and she forced herself to pay attention. “…meander through sharp turns, jagged rocks, and other rumored dangers in the cave! Twists underground, passages too narrow for some wings! This isn’t just a race; this is survival of the fittest!”
When the crowd erupted into another excited cheer, Luna suddenly wondered if she had made a bad decision.
“And now the racers! In gate one, mare Slender Tender! Gate two, stallion Table Dancer! Gate three, last year’s runner up, Mud Skipper! In gate four...” Luna let her gaze travel among the crowd, wondering if she could catch a glimpse of Forest Canter before the race started. She wondered what he was thinking, and if he would feel the same nerves about the race as she did. She couldn’t help but wonder if he had known about the race all along, and how many more of the residents in her castle knew. The thought disturbed her.
“…Number fifteen, Midnight Stroll!” Luna jerked her gaze back when she realized they had said her undercover name, and she forced herself to rear her head and give a little whinny. But her cry sounded small and lost, and Solar Dancer snickered, glaring at her.
“Dead meat,” he decided with a sneer. “You will be dead meat the second the bell rings.”
Luna shifted in the gate, a sudden burn of fierceness in her gut burning low, then traveled through her body with fiery intenseness. “Not today,” she growled, centering herself.
The names were all called, and now the countdown had started.
10….
Was it her imagination, or did she hear Celestia’s whinny?
9….8…7…
No, no, that was definitely her whinny. But from where??
6…5…4…
Luna chanced giving the crowd one last recon.
3…2….
There! She caught sight of her in the highest riser, in the gloom, and saw her sister rearing, barely able to make out her expression past the cloak over Celestia’s face. She was desperately trying to communicate something to Luna, but the fledgling moon princess was at a loss. …1!
There was a loud clang, and a flurry of hooves as the ponies raced out, gaining speed before they hit the white line where they were required to take off.
Luna cursed violently, lunging after them, her hooves a flurry as she loosened her wings at her side, letting them catch air before she reached the white line. Leaping into the air, she snapped her wings open, stroking them down hard to gain altitude, her tail streaming after her. With a few more wing strokes, she reached the herd of racers again, and the race officially began.
Celestia felt like her heart was leaping to her throat as she watched her sister take to the air, already behind the herd. She watched the dark blue wings beat furiously to gain altitude and speed, and she let out a suppressed worried sound.
“She’s so small out there!”
From where he stood, neck craning to get a better view, the shorter stallion twitched his ears forward. Bastard Squinat’s pelt looked just as prickled as hers felt, and a concerned frown covered his expressions. “Not the best start,” he agreed. “Though I promise, her smallness will come in handy.”
“Oh,” Celestia breathed as Squinat’s words came true at that instant; the racing herd was winging around a tight curve between two very narrow jagged stalactites, and the screech of pain could be heard as one of the racers made the cut too short, clipping the wing against the unforgiving corner, ripping at the ring. Celestia gasped in horror as she watched the unfortunate pony plummet down, wing too damaged for flight. The rest of the racers winged their way past the fallen pony, hardly giving any attention to the fall.
“Luna, be careful!” She found herself crying out again, spotting her sister again. Luna had made her way up a couple places, and was approaching the curve with caution, having seen the accident. Celestia found herself holding her breath as her sister flew to the obstacle; the mare had never been the strongest of fliers between the two of them.
Right as she reached the curve, a large stallion donned in black racing leather reached it at the same time, and with a violent thrust, managed to get neck to neck with Luna. Celestia gasped; there wouldn’t be enough room for the both of them! Sensing the approach, Luna beat her wings thrice more to leap ahead, though her competition seemed like he would have nothing to do with it. With another thrust, the stallion made his way back neck to neck with Luna, and right as they reached the curve, thrust his body forward, right into Luna, towards the deadly, jagged protrusion.
“No!”
~*~
Bam!
Luna let out a squeal of surprise as a large body slammed into hers; the attack had come out of nowhere. She had been so focused on making the curve and staying ahead, that she hadn’t noticed the advancement of the competitor.
The blow hit her directly in the side, missing her wing as she had been in the middle of a upbeat. She quickly cut her left wing as her body was shoved towards the jagged barrier, to protect her precious appendage. Further reacting, she shoved her forehooves out, and used the blow to her advantage. As her hooves scraped the stone, she shoved off, letting herself leap away off the solid surface, right wing flaring to guide her into a sharp left turn. Her body cut through the air and around the curve in quick procession, and she heard a cheer as she cleared the obstacle.
She recognized the cheer as Forest Canters, and something sparked within her. Gritting her teeth, she beat her wings a few times to re-stabilize her flight. Once steady, she focused on her wingstrokes, slowly but surely advancing in positions between ponies. Wings brushed hers in the tight quarters, and she felt herself slide into hyper awareness from the first attack, realizing the rules of the race, or lack thereof. By the time they reached the mouth of the dark tunnel leading deeper into the dark cave, she was in the 13th position out of 23, and beginning to feel a spark of anticipation. Racing in the dark; something she did every night, and knew that she would finally have some advantage over the others.
This newest victim looked like she could hardly hold up her feather duster properly, let alone fight off whatever had attacked her. Her blood ran thick on the stone wraparound to the fireplace, where she had been making the early morning fires for the royal family in their individual quarters.
I didn’t even know her name, and yet I saw her every morning, Luna thought bitterly as the guards swept in and out of her room in a flurry of activity, a dull distraction in the back of mind.
The race had been quite the adventure. Making it in 9th place, Luna considered herself a success. Number 5 had won, much to the crowd’s surprise, and Solar Dancer had riveted his death glares to the young mare, as if Luna were to blame. But the rest of the evening had gone without incident, meeting Celestia and Forest Canter at the bar again, for the journey home.
Celestia had flown ahead back to the castle; Luna chose to stay behind and walk with Forest Canter. The mossy green stallion had been uber congratulatory, much to her secret thrill, and she enjoyed the walk back with the earth pony. Her wings burned from the race, and even now they hung from her side a bit looser than normal, as her muscles settled from the sudden workout.
As her mother burst into the scene, Luna’s mind tumbled back to the present. Sun Burn shoved past her, hardly noticing the dark mare. She was flanked by three guards, who Luna assumed had woken the marestess to alert her of the situation.
“Black Night!” She hurried over to her mate’s side, who was near the body, in a discussion with the older guard, Pebble Hoof. She pressed her muzzle to Black Night’s, who turned away from the guard and nickerd soothingly to his mate, ears flicking. “I was so worried, when the guard wouldn’t tell who it was, and when the mares were missing….I feared the worst.”
“Be at ease, all is fine, we are all safe.” Black Night responded, nuzzling her muzzle once more before turning to the victim. “At least, most of us.”
Luna witnessed her mother turn those flame colored eyes to the scene, her ears flicking in distress. The pelt along her hackles raises, and the older mare’s neck went stiff. “Dusty Road,” her mother breathed, providing Luna with the name she didn’t know. Another stab of guilt; how had her mother known, but not herself? She prided herself in being familiar with most of the staffhooves, and so the fact that the name of this dead mare eluded her made her feel disappointed, for some reason.
“It would have been early, very early,” the first guard was speaking, inspecting the scene.
“Of course,” Black Night nodded, mane rustling as he did so. “Dusty got up before the first light, usually. Before Sun Burn even raised the sun. So all of us would have been asleep while this happened.”
There was a pause, and then Sun Burn’s gaze turned to Luna. Celestia had entered without Luna noticing, so when she felt her sister’s pelt brush hers, she flinched. “Then again, we weren’t all asleep, were we?”
Luna sensed Celestia stiffen simultaneously with her, and the two mares glanced at each other. How had she known? For a moment, Luna’s mind turned to accuse the strange mare she had met, Sorcha. Maybe the mare had lied, and was spying on the two young mares for their parents. Her second silent thought was that Celestia had tattled on her, and it was clear her sister was thinking the same thing, as both their eyes met with light hostility.
“A night station caught you three plodding in a couple hours ago,” Black Night spoke up, his voice low and even as he gazed at both his daughters. “The third being the new hired hoof of the kitchens, Marestress Pumpkins’ apprentice…Wood Trot?”
“Forest Canter,” Luna corrected automatically, her voice as quiet and low as Black Night’s. The stallion’s eyes fell on her sharply, his expression inscrutable, ear tilted thoughtfully. Beside him, his mate was not so coy, openly glaring between the two sisters. But finally her gaze skipped over Celestia and settled on Luna, seeming to decide that it was the younger’s fault.
“What were you doing out?” Sun Burn demanded. Glancing at her sister again, Luna caught Celestia’s gaze, who quirked and eyebrow and flicked and ear, clearly dismissing the responsibility as hers, which Luna supposed was only fair; it had been her idea, after all.
And so she began to explain, starting from how she had heard the rumors, informing her royal parents about what seemed to be an established, annual event. She explained the underground cavern, and how it seemed to be eons old, but sturdy enough all this time to hold a hundred ponies. Celestia every so often piped in to help describe details that Luna missed, details that she didn’t find important, such as how awful the place smelled, and how the service had been absolutely deplorable.
Their parents stayed mostly silent for the most part, though their father commented here and there, promoting more detailed answers. Once the sisters were done, Black Night turned to Pebble Hoof, speaking in a authoritative tone.
“Find this Forest Canter. I want him detained, and then ask him to lead you back to where this bar and cavern was. Take the best scribes and draw up the best maps they can of this place, I want them to know the area inside out. I want the barkeeper detained as well, and brought into questioning. Find out if any more members of our staff were there, and take whoever were. I want answers as to why they knew about this but we didn’t.”
Luna felt her stomach plummet, and she stepped a hoof forward. “Black Night-“
“Furthermore,” her father interrupted, “I want a set of guards stationed outside the mare’s rooms.”
Both sisters protested at once, but were silenced by their furious father. “Your nightly adventures are over, do you understand? I won’t hear any more of it! To think you two would defy and betray us the moments our flanks are turned. You disgrace our House, and disgrace yourselves! Well, no fillies of mine will be doing that behind my flank, see that I don’t let it happen again! Are we clear?!”
Luna swallowed hard, knowing protest would be futile. She had never seen her father so angry, nor had he ever spoken or scolded the both of them so heavily before. Black Night was rather easy going, and sharp at the worst times, but fair all around, and to see him like this….the stress of the second murder was really getting to him. She wished that there was a way to extract Forest Canter from the equation, and thinking quickly, dared to speak up again, stepping forward again.
“What… if I were to go back with the guards, and find the information out?”
“No,” Black Night said simply, and then as quickly as he had striked out, abandoned he attentions from his daughters back to the guards.
Luna flicked her ear in irritation, and tried again. “But if I were to-“
“No, Luna,” Sun Burn suddenly turned on her daughter, ears laid back, teeth bared, snapping at her neck once before drawing back with a fierce snort, neck muscles bulging, eyes blazing. “This wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t run off! You and your foolish ideas of adventure – what was it this time, racing? – caused this! The guards wouldn’t have been distracted if you were where you were supposed to be, and they might have had time to notice the killer slipping in. They might have saved this poor mare. But no, no, they were looking for your sorry little ass, and because of you, we have another death on our hooves!”
Shock and hurt emanated through Luna, her breath caught in her throat at her mother’s accusation. Her mother had never spoken to her like this before, she was normally always so patient and calm. Even her father looked stunned as he looked up from where he had been consulting with Pebble Hoof, pausing mid-sentence. Even the guards collecting evidence had paused, watching the scene. The silence was almost physical to Luna, pressing on her sides with a painful pressure, making it hard to breathe. The pressure increased, pressing to her flank, and she hardly noticed that it was actually Celestia who had pressed against her, facing their mother.
“This. Was. NOT. Luna’s. Fault.”
Luna wasn’t sure if she could take any more shock as her sister’s voice rung with fierceness, a snarl almost curling at the edge of it. Sun Burn snorted, nostrils flaring angrily as she glared at her eldest daughter, livid demons dancing at the edge of her eyes. Luna wanted to glance beside her, meet Celestia’s gaze, feeling as if she was in a dream, but couldn’t tear her eyes away from the fallen room maid, the blood drying and flaking over the stone.
“If your sister hadn’t been out flying-“
Celestia unfurled a wing, lifting and draping it on Luna’s back protectively, matching her mother’s challenge with her own arched neck and loud snort. “Then you blame the both of us! She is just at as much fault as I am! Or did you forget we were both out, last night?”
Her mother seemed as taken aback as Luna was, her eyes dancing between her two daughters. Luna stared at nothing dully, her ears low. Her mother snorted again, baring her teeth in an angry snarl. “Then the both of you will be blamed. Here I was thinking you were the more mature of the two,” she growled at Celestia. “I had high hopes for you, Celestia. I always thought you were the one destined to be the better, always attending the courts and taking your responsibilities seriously, and was going to begin your sun raising training today but mayhaps I was wrong!”
Now the hurt was creeping into Celestia’s voice. “Sun Burn…”
Sun Burn jerked her muzzle to the door, cutting her eldest off. “Silence. I won’t hear a word from either of you for the remainder of the day. Be gone from my sight, and don’t show mane or tail until I am ready to deal with you.”
With that, the lucid mare turned her back to her daughters, and stormed out of the room.
Celestia’s wing was stiff on Luna’s back, and any warmth she was trying to provide seemed to fall. The two young mares stood there in shock, and then all at once, Celestia’s posture dropped, her wing sliding limp off Luna, to fold dejectedly back at her side. Her head low, Celestia started to the door, glancing back at Luna only once.
“I’d say this is all your fault,” she said quietly, “But I think we know whose fault it is truly.”
Leaving no hint of who she truly blamed, the elder sister slipped out, leaving Luna to herself and troubled heart.
