> A Big Hug
>  by David Silver
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> 1 - An Offering
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A soft growl emerged from the massive box. It was larger than even Princess Celestia, which few creatures were, but she had bagged it.

Not that she had meant to. Daring Do tipped her head. "Who woulda thought you'd fall for the old candy bait..." She gave the box a push and it wheeled along on small rollers installed underneath it.

The guards at the castle nodded to her as she passed. She wasn't a true 'regular' of the palace, but she'd been seen enough times to be allowed forward. She also knew the way and wheeled her bounty into the throne room, where the two diarchs of the land sat in their regal splendor.

Luna tilted her head down at the adventurer and the box she brought forward with little squeaks of its wheels. "What is this? Is this a danger to the kingdom you've brought for proper disposal?"

A little squeak came from the box even as Daring Do moved around it. "I don't think this thing is much a threat to anypony. I found this creature far into the unknown lands to the west. It seems... mostly harmless, but I thought you two would know best how to handle it."

Celestia raised a brow. "Surely it would have been better left in its native environment?"

Luna shook her head. "Our menagerie is of some repute. If you think it would please us, let us see it. I can scarcely see a hint of it in that crate. It can breathe, we hope?"

Daring hopped up onto the box in a leap of some dexterity and a powerful flap of her wings. "As you command, Princess of the Night." She grabbed a knot of metal in her teeth and pulled with a tremendous heave, sliding up the side of the box and revealing the darkness within.

The guards snapped to attention, weapons at the ready.

Emerging from the dark came the immense quivering nose of what seemed to be a mammal. It was pinkish red and soon followed by a brown snout and immense ears. To say nothing of its jutting two red horns. The creature was about a quarter larger than even Celestia, but gazed at them both without malice in its eyes.

It looked left and right at the either of them before it reared up on its hind legs, making the guards practically panic.

Luna was not so easily intimidated. She rose from her throne and returned the gesture, rising to her full height, even if it didn't match the creatures. "Greetings, strange one. Aren't you an impressive specimen... of whatever you are."

It charged. Its great rabbit-like feet propelled it forward before the stunned guards could even move. It struck!

Luna found herself in the embrace of the creature that was cuddling her like she was its lost toy. "Release me this instant!" she commanded, and it didn't respond besides to squeeze her tightly with happy noises as it did so.

Daring Do tilted her head. "I told you, it seems harmless."

Celestia snickered into a hoof. "I do believe it's damaging my sister's dignity."

Luna glared at her sister. "You wouldn't have that smirk on your face if it was holding you."

Celestia shook her head. "Don't begrudge it. It clearly favors you."

Even as Luna squirmed, Daring tipped her hat and moved to depart. Her gift had been accepted, and she didn't need to be there for whatever came after. She had other business to tend to.

The creature looked up as a spear poked it. One of the guards had dared approach. "Release the Princess!"

It reached out with one paw-like hand, the other holding Luna firmly. The guard tried to jump out of the way, and did, the first time. The second wasn't as fortunate and he was plucked from the ground to be held against the creature a moment before it turned its two captives to face each other.

It pressed Luna's snout against the guard's as if pantomiming them kissing.

Celestia howled with laughter, unable to contain herself even as the guard went a deep shade of red. Luna had a deep scowl on her face, thoroughly unamused.

The laughter caught its attention. It gently placed the guard aside and pat it on the head like a favored pet, then stepped towards the cackling sun princess. The laughing came to an abrupt halt as she was plucked up and hugged close. He had both princesses, snuggling each in an arm as he made the most delighted noises, clearly finding their bodies quite pleasant to hug.

The pressure grew intense and Celestia squawked as she squirmed, trying to fight her way to freedom. Luna looked to her sister with a deadpan face. "You deserve this and you know it. Now you know how it feels."

She reached up and nudged the creature. "Now, you've had your fun. Put me down. Please."

As if that was indeed the magic word, the creature set Luna down gently and nodded at her.

Luna smiled. "So you can be reasoned with." She ruffled her wings as she tried to compose herself. "Can you speak?"

Celestia thrashed and kicked in the air, getting nowhere. "Get it off! It's, mmf, very strong!" She was laboring for breath from the merciless hug of love she was receiving.

Luna waved a hoof lightly. "Now now, it clearly favors you." Her smirk of vindication was wicked indeed, watching her sister suffer as she had done moments before. "Besides, it's not that tight. You aren't weaker than I am, sister dear?"

The creature lifted Celestia up suddenly, her rear high in the air, and her nose an inch from the rabbit-like creatures own. It brought her down just that precious inch to bump noses in a friendly nuzzle.

Celestia ventured a little smile. "You are a... friendly whatever you are."

Luna nodded in agreement. "I'm afraid it cannot be simply added to the garden. Imagine the shrieks from guests when it came to greet them."

Celestia gave a soft noise of thought even as she was brought in for a fresh round of hugs. "It certainly doesn't seem to mean any harm, but, yes, it would cause quite some dismay if we allowed it to greet guests. Relatedly, what does it eat?" Her magic reached up, brushing of its powerful jaws and sharp teeth. It felt more like that of a carnivore than a normal hare or rabbit. Celestia shivered faintly, realizing she was in the loving grasp of a hunter.

Luna approached and set a hoof on its belly. "Enough, please set her down."

It gently set Celestia beside her sister.

Luna smiled. "You like being spoken to politely." It nodded. "And you do understand me." It nodded. "Very well, then I will claim you as my own." It made a querying little noise. "Not as a slave, I assure. I accept responsibility for you. I will feed and house you. Your well-being will be my responsibility. Is this acceptable?"

Celestia put a hoof between them. "Hold your horses, sister." She looked at the large creature that had become under their care. "Do you wish to go home?"

The creature blinked at them with those large eyes before it leaned in, going to all fours and sniffing at Celestia, then Luna before it gave Luna a big lick across the cheek.

Luna quirked a smile. "We think it has declared its wishes clearly." Her eyes darted down. "And we should call it a 'he'."

Celestia blinked, a little snort escaping her. "Are you certain you're ready for this, Luna?"

Luna waved a hoof dismissively. "Spoken to frankly and with respect, he responds admirably. Like ourselves, he simply wishes to be treated properly." She turned away from both, to the guards. "Prepare a room adjacent to the gardens for our new guest and see that it is stocked with both vegetables and meat. Watch carefully f--"

Her words were cut off as the beast stepped over her and hugged her from above. Was he? She went a scarlet, but nothing more untoward than a full-body hug followed, pressing her back securely to his front in an affectionate display.

Luna let out a sigh of relief. "Watch what he eats and tailor what is offered."

Celestia snickered softly at the display. "You've said you were jealous of Philomena before, Luna. It appears you have a mythic creature of your own, and I should imagine he will try your patience at least as well as Philomena does for my own at times."

As if summoned with the utterance, a phoenix soared into the room and landed squarely on Celestia's head before leaning over the front of her and looking at her upside down. "Yes, you," spoke Celestia with a smile. "Such companions require a great deal of care and patience, but I think the effort is more than worth it."
> 2 - Training
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The dark purple helmet on his head slowly slid off to the left, only prevented from going further as the slit on the top bumped against one of his horns.

Luna shook her head. "We'll get a helmet tailored for you, but this will do for now." She gestured over her... whatever he was, garbed as a lunar guard. "We didn't even have suits this large in stock. It was with great fortune that we had a few decorative statues that could serve the purpose."

He reached up and adjusted the helmet a little before he snorted and shook his head vigorously. The helmet bounced off his head and clanged to the ground, rejected.

Free of the bothering head piece, a bright smile spread over the face of the rabbit-like creature before he leaned in and began sniffing at Luna.

Luna sighed even as she pet along the cheek of her massive beast.  "It's not that bad, is it?"

He crossed his arms defiantly.

Luna gave a faint smile. "At least you're wearing the rest of it. We'll come back to the helmet after a proper one is forged for you." She rose up, standing on her hind legs as her new pet often did, though it required far more balance for her than for him. "Now, let us go over some etiquette."

Her standing was apparently some kind of signal, because he stepped in and wrapped her in a warm hug even as she squeaked. He leaned in and began nibbling at her neck with his deadly teeth. Thankfully he was careful and affectionate and brought no harm to Luna as he began preening her fur and eagerly cuddling her.

Luna wasn't as surprised that day as she had been the day before. Her horn glowed as she gently pushed her pet back. "No hugging without permission." He looked confused. "No hugging," she repeated, but she had the distinct impression she had only succeeded in saying 'no hugging right now.'

Even as he settled to his large haunches, she tapped at her chin. "You need a name." He twitched one of those flopping ears towards her before it fell back down. "Do you already have one?" He shook his head. "Very well... I shall call you Tsuki Usagi. That's Neighponese for Moon Rabbit, we believe. For simplicity, Tsuki will do. Do you like it?"

Tsuki bobbed his head eagerly and advanced, looking ready to deliver another hug.

Luna's magic gently held him at bay. "We are pleased you like your name, Tsuki, but now--"

He pushed through the magic, but ultimately obeyed her spoken desire to not be hugged. Instead he stroked over her cheeks and through her sparkling mane.

Luna darkened a bit at the boldness of it. "You have no sense of propriety." Despite that, it was... nice. Few were the pony ready to stride up to Luna and demonstrate just how wonderful they thought she was. Luna decided to relax a little, letting Tsuki stroke over her as she savored the attention. Besides, was it so bad so long as the one doing it wasn't another pony?

Tsuki circled around her as he worked and came up behind her, sitting with his belly to her back as his paw-like hands stroked along her sides and down her legs, grooming her fur meticulously.

Luna shivered softly as those sharp claws tickled sensitive places along the way. "You could prove your worth as a masseuse, if such were your desire." Tsuki made a little noise, but he had no words. Luna perked an ear back at him. "Surely there's a spell that would allow your tongue to form proper pony phrasing. Would you like that, to be able to speak clearly?"

Tsuki tilted his head thoughtfully before he nibbled at Luna's left shoulder.

Luna decided that was an affirmative and rose up and away from his grasp. "We will consult the archives. You remain here." Her magic wrapped around the discarded helmet and brought it over to Tsuki. "Try to get used to this, if you would?"

He made a sour sound but did reach to accept it. The willingness to at least try at her command made Luna smile. "We promise, a better one is being forged. Be good. I will be back shortly." She took off at an easy trot. She'd find the spell, come back, and zap some words into her pet.
> 3 - Exchanging Thoughts
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Luna picked through the books before finding the right one. "Mistress Zoika's Guide to Beast Speech." She nodded to herself after saying it out loud. Surely she'd be able to grant the equine tongue to her pet. Considering how intelligent he seemed to be, it really shouldn't be that difficult.

Eagerly, she trotted back towards the garden as the book hovered beside her. She flipped through it as she went.



Warning. All creatures have thoughts, they just tend to not be thoughts that are often relevant to ponies. As fascinating as it may seem to endow a cricket with speech, you aren't likely to get very stimulating conversation out of it, and hearing it say 'grass', 'seed', and 'leaf' ten times a minute forever may grow tiring.



Luna shook her head at the warning. Her pet was more than a cricket, and seemed to be endowed with advanced thought already. If they could exchange words, she was sure there would be some interesting things to say.

She arrived at the actual spell and began reading voraciously. So consumed was she in getting it down that she didn't notice she had arrived until she ran straight into the armored chest of her pet. "Oof!"

Tsuki smiled at her brightly. He wasn't wearing that helmet again. He began to reach for her but stopped, noticing the book. Leaning in, he sniffed at it before sneezing off to the side and wriggling his adorable, if large, nose.

Luna gave a more reserved smile. "This will let you speak to me, Tsuki, and any other pony you would like. Does that sound exciting?"

Tsuki twitched a floppy ear as he sank down to his haunches, looking... pensive.

Luna tilted her head in kind. "I thought you wanted this?"

Tsuki gave a little nod and closed his eyes.

Luna smiled a little more deeply. "It's alright to be nervous. I won't allow harm to befall you, Tsuki. You're my ward, and I will protect you." Assuring words spoken, she brought the book in and quickly reviewed the spell, mouthing parts of it silently. She was sure she was ready.

She spread her wings out wide and her horn glowed brightly as she worked through the internal gestured required along her long horn to make the spell work. Tsuki began to glow with her magic before it focused down into his fuzzy neck, then sank into the flesh.

Tsuki squeaked, but seemed unharmed.

They stared at one another in a moment of quiet. Luna raised a hoof as her wings folded. "Well? Did it work?"

Tsuki's mouth opened and closed several times slowly before he frowned.

Luna scowled. "Did I get it wrong?"

"No." Tsuki had a deep voice, as befitted one so large.

Luna started with surprise. "Tsuki?"

He smiled in his guileless way. "Luna."

Luna's expression warmed to triumph. "It worked! Wait, can you say more than a name?"

Tsuki seemed to consider it. "My name is Tsuki. I... had a name before. It is gone."

Luna blinked with surprise. "Another name?"

Tsuki nodded gently. "When there were more... me." He tilted his head. "Where there were less... you."

Luna cast a glance to the west. "Do you mean where Daring Do found you? The pegasus with the hat?"

Tsuki shook his head. "Tsuki already alone by then. Where Tsuki from... not sure." He leaned in and began sniffing at Luna gently. "Think it very far away. Farther away then sun or moon." Suddenly he hugged Luna tight, getting a squawk from her. "Moon is close now."

Luna gave a wry smirk. "We suppose that's true. The moon is very close." She gently extracted herself from her pet's loving embrace. "But, truly? Farther than the sun? Where are you from?"

Tsuki shrugged, frowned, then clapped his paws together. "Remember."

"Yes?"

"Different..." He patted the ground. "Different. Many many tsukis. Big city for big tsukis." He leaned in and sniffed at Luna gently. "Something happened. Something bad."

Luna frowned as her pet began sniffing at and around her. "The fates would endow me with a pet with a tragic back story," she sighed out.

Tsuki blinked at the words, then sat up. "Tsuki sorry. Hug?" He held out his hands in offering of a big apologetic hug.

Luna sat on her own haunches and shook her head. "We are not displeased with you, Tsuki. Your story raises many more questions than answers, but, perhaps, they are questions that can be left alone. Whatever happened to your home has already occurred. You are here now, with us. Are you happy with that?"

Tsuki raised a paw to scratch at his fluffy head thoughtfully. Luna could see thoughts swirling behind those large eyes. She had stirred something. She had... despoiled the pure innocence she once had. "Tsuki... should help." He reached down and patted the armor that clad him. "Luna help?"

Luna raised a brow at the thought. "Is it not too late?"

Tsuki lifted massive shoulders. "Not know until look. Luna help?"

Luna considered a moment before rising to her hooves. "I think I know how to begin. But first, your armor." She reached out and poked the ill-fitting suit. "Before we go on any adventures, let's get you into the proper suit."

Tsuki grabbed Luna right off the ground into a monstrous hug. "Thank you! Luna is best pony!"

Luna could only smirk as she dangled in her pet's arms.
> 4 - To Adventure
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Clad in polished plates of metal, Tsuki seemed just a touch less adorable than normal. They were a dark purple, as Luna preferred, and covered his head with perfect slots for his horns. His back, sides, and most of his undercarriage were also guarded from attack. He was truly a warrior, at least in appearance. He had no weapon and made no request for one.

Instead, he nuzzled Luna's cheek. "Are we ready now?"

Luna gave a little smile, the barest hint. "Does it fit well?"

Tsuki did a slow turn as he looked himself over. "Heavy, loud."

"Is that the totality of your review?"

Tsuki faced Luna and kissed her between the eyes suddenly. "Gift from Best Pony. Tsuki loves it."

Luna rolled those eyes. That was going to be the best she'd get. "Then we shall be off. I've informed Celestia to our departing, so there is nothing else to hold us back. Just one matter." She pointed at Tsuki's head. "Only you have any clue where we would be heading."

Tsuki hopped up in a powerful bound and came down facing away from Luna. "Get on."

Luna raised a brow a moment before she stepped around Tsuki and reared up onto her hindlegs. "Are you certain?" He nodded quickly. She carefully threw a leg over Tsuki and sat on him as a Minotaur might. She hugged firmly with her legs, not wanting to fall. "I would have commissioned a sad--"

She had no chance to finish. Tsuki made a leap that dwarfed the first as he sailed over the wall that encircled them and came down atop it, then bounced without delay down to the Canterlot streets. Luna yelped in surprise and fell forward, hugging with all four legs as her loyal beast bound with a terrifying speed and jostling bounces.

Her heart jumped and she shrieked with dismay as they reached the edge of Canterlot all too quickly and Tsuki threw himself right over the edge. They were plummeting, possibly to their doom. A small part of Luna's mind screamed at her and she regained awareness just enough to squeeze all the harder and spread her wings wide.

Wind caught in them and they lifted just before they struck the ground, curving their trajectory to even with the ground. Tsuki slammed his great paws on the dirt, changing that motion back upwards and resuming their bounding journey. Luna heaved for breath and slowly folded her wings back in. They would not die that instant. "Tsuki!"

"Yes?" he asked with a tone as if nothing remarkable had happened at all.

Luna gawked at the back of his head a moment. "You almost killed us!"

"Together, nothing can stop us."

Luna raised one of her hooves, the others clinging to her precarious perch. She pressed it to her face. "Next time you expect me to work with you, tell me before you hurl yourself off a mountain."

Since they had reached the bottom of the mountain, faster than Luna had expected save teleportation, the ride became less terrifying. Tsuki would occasionally bound up into a tree  and leap gracefully from one to the next, but it all seemed almost safe in comparison to the start of their journey.

Luna recovered enough to take stock of where they were headed. North? They were sailing across the wide open plains of Equestria. Directly north of the castle had no major settlements, though she did spy a few little villages come and go along the way. What seemed more pressing were the Crystal Mountains that loomed ahead of them. They were huge, separating the frozen north from the rest of Equestria. Their sheer size stopped the wild weather of the Crystal Empire from harassing the rest of the pony lands. Were they heading to the mountains, or beyond?

She ventured asking, "Do we stop before, at, or after those mountains?" She pointed ahead as she did so, hoping for any but the latter.

"I don't know." It wasn't the latter, and yet, somehow worse.

Luna slowly pulled herself upright instead of clinging belly to back with her mount. Raised, she could see further, but there wasn't too much to see in their immediate area. Tsuki was starting to scale the first mountain they reached, bouncing upwards higher and higher. "Tsuki, we've been going for some time. Surely you feel some fatigue?"

Tsuki landed gently and settled before he looked back at Luna. "We rest."

With a sigh of relief, she slid off of his back to the ground. With a glowing horn, she began to set up camp for them, conjuring a few creature comforts and getting a fire pit set up in short order. "We will rest here. Do you think we're close?"

Tsuki squinted a little. "Not sure. Closer." He leaned in and kissed Luna's cheek before grabbing her right up into a firm hug. "Thank you for coming with Tsuki. Together, we will win."

Luna colored faintly and squirmed free of her affectionate pet's grasp. "It is my pleasure, but, still... if you plan to go making such... bold... maneuvers in the future, please, a little warning. We would not wish to see you harmed where it could be avoided." To say nothing of getting herself killed along the way.

Tsuki was barely paying attention. They had gone far enough up that frost lined the ground and he seemed fascinated with the frosted rocks that littered the area. He batted them around as a cat might a captive mouse, clearly entertained.

Luna sighed gently and got to preparing a minimal meal of roasted oats for them both of them, hovering a pan over the same fire she had created and stirring the basic breaking of their fast.

Their adventure had begun.
> 5 - Into Snowy Depths
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Luna held firmly to Tsuki's back as they bounded to the top of the mountain. Reaching the peak, they could see both Equestria behind, and the frozen reaches that made up the Crystal Empire ahead of them.

The difference was quite stark, with neat and ordered weather in one direction and wild bunches of clouds that had a will of their own, snowing down across a land that seemed to have enough snow already.

Squinting, Luna could just barely pick out the hint of a glow in the distance. Was that, perhaps, the Crystal Empire itself? It offered no comfort as Tsuki began leaping down from ledge to ledge and seemed to not be aimed at the faint bit of hope.

They were descending into coldness and driving snow. They couldn't see much of anything. Luna wasn't sure what sense drove Tsuki onward, but he seemed quite determined and kept jumping out of the snow just to come down in it again. His large feet seemed to help, but his immense bulk, combined with her own, drove him into the snow at the end of each descent.

Despite all that, they pressed forward.

At least until the snow gave out beneath them as they landed, plunging them into darkness.





Luna woke first. Her horn glowed at her will, casting soft light across what seemed to be snow-touched, but not buried, stone. She could see Tsuki sprawled out a short distance away and rose to her own hooves. "Tsuki? Are you alright?" She felt a little banged up, but overall intact.

Tsuki stirred at her call and slowly rose up to sit on his haunches. "Okay." He nodded at her. "We are here."

"Where is here?" She waved a hoof around before she spotted something curious. The stone wall near them wasn't nearly as natural as it had first appeared. "What in Equestria...?" She approached it to see pictures etched into the rough surface.

Tsuki came up behind her and thrust a paw past her at the drawings. "We are here!"

The drawings were clearly of Tsuki's kind. They were playing, praying, and showing all signs of a civilization. The wall told a tale of a people, not a herd of animals. They even showed a scene of them arrayed in military line against some large splotchy object Luna couldn't identify. "This is remarkable... Daring Do would be beside herself, were she here."

"Who?"

"The one who brought you to us."

Tsuki bobbed his head. "Nice mare. Not as nice as you." He grabbed for Luna and hugged her firmly to confirm her niceness. "We are here!"

"Yes... yes we are. Now, what is 'here'?" Luna pulled herself free of the hug carefully and began to wander a little, casting the light of her horn around slowly. "If your kind is here, they are hiding quite well."

Tsuki bound from where he had been standing, closing the distance with Luna's wandering at the end of that powerful leap to land beside her. He thrust a paw off into the dark.

From that darkness, a grey nose emerged into the light of her horn, followed by a reddish one, then a last in a pink shade.

Three of Tsuki's kind stepped forward, peering at them with wonder and caution both.

Tsuki seemed devoid of caution and stepped towards them immediately. "Hello!"

The three rabbit-like creatures shied away at Tsuki's approach. One squeaked as another gave a firm growl and stepped in to protect the other two.

Tsuki shrank back at the aggressive posturing. "Friend?"

Luna shook her head and did not approach, lest she frighten them further. "Your potential friends do not speak as ponies do. They are as restricted as you were when first we met."

Tsuki looked back at her. "Help them. Make them talk like Tsuki talks." He pointed with a paw at one of them just before being tackled.

The most aggressive of them had jumped forward and tackled Tsuki to the ground, growling at him and baring sharp teeth.

Luna did take a step forward then, wings flaring with worry for her Tsuki.

A new voice spoke, driving all three of the feral rabbits to suddenly scatter. "They are not yours to interfere with." The voice was deep and menacing. Accompanying it was the sudden opening of two immense eyes of green, purple magic wafting from either. "Princess Luna, it has been some time."

Tsuki drew back to Luna, clearly frightened by the immense presence and using her as a comically small shield against it.

"Sombra!" Luna hissed out the word, taking a defensive stance. "What are you doing here?"
> 6 - Somber Thoughts
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Luna stood her ground before the baleful presence. "Sombra, King no longer. You have committed grave cri--"

"Spare me your sanctimonious drivel." Those eyes came closer, dripping shadows in unnerving patterns. "As if you have the power to enforce any laws here."

Luna's horn flared brightly, shedding silvery light across the cave and forcing Sombra back a foot from the harsh glow. "Do not think me defenseless!"

With an angry hiss, his influence was felt. More of Tsuki's people emerged into the light, eyes hardened and ready to battle with teeth exposed and claws scraping at the stone.

Luna cringed. The idea of fighting even one of Tsuki's bulk was quite sufficient for sparring, dozens of them? Her fearless stance faltered.

Tsuki wrapped his forelegs around Luna, squeezing her in a gentle hug before he rose to his full height like an angry bear. "Not want to fight, but will."

The others hesitated before the armored form of their lost kin, but Sombra would have none of it. "Attack!"

They came like a great bouncing wave, thundering as they bound in unison to crash against Tsuki's form. Teeth met the metal of his armor in loud clinks as others found tender flesh and drew a pained yelp from him. With a great heave he threw several aside and crashed down, landing on and pinning two more.

Luna recovered from her shock and blasted one just before they could pounce on Tsuki. For her effort, one of them dropped on her, throwing her to the ground. She summoned a brilliant shield, sending the rabbit-like creature flying as two others crashed into the shield violently, making it crack and wobble at once. "This doesn't look good."

The shadow of Sombra gathered together, stepping free into a pony in the shape of his old self. He looked confident, smirking at the two as they struggled to win against the tide of powerful flesh. "You may bow your heads now."

"Never!" spat out Luna, trying to stand, only to be roughly shoved to her belly by an obedient rabbit-like beast.

Tsuki said something, but it was muffled under all his kin who had formed a great pile to keep him still. They were both pinned and helpless.

Sombra laughed as he stepped closer. "One lost pet, and a little lost Princess. What a fine catch we have today..." He reached for Luna's growling snout and brushed his hoof across it. "Don't look so sour. This doesn't have to end poorly for you. Accept me as your king."

"As if we wo--"

"That was not an option." A flare of dark magic created a thick chain around Luna's muzzle, silencing her beyond soft growls. "Let the other rise."

The pile began to disperse, allowing Tsuki to gasp for air and rise on shaking legs. "You fought well," complimented Sombra. "Just... on the wrong side. Do you enjoy fighting your own people?"

Tsuki blinked at Sombra with obvious confusion even as Luna wriggled and tried to shout at him through her chained mouth. "Are you a friend?"

Sombra arched a brow. "I am more than a fr--"

His words were cut off as Tsuki stepped forward and grabbed Sombra, hugging him tightly. "Hello friend! Friend, let Best Pony go." He pointed at Luna. "Friends should not fight."

Sombra blinked slowly. Had he just been embraced? The impudence! "Have you any idea who I am?"

"No. Wait! You are a friend." Tsuki bobbed his head eagerly. "Friend, introduce me to others." He waved at all the other rabbit creatures like himself.

Sombra raised a hoof to between his eyes and counted silently a moment. "Creature!"

"Tsuki."

"What?"

Tsuki bobbed his head and pointed at himself. "Tsuki." He pointed at Sombra. "Friend?"

"I am King Sombra." His voice had a low growl to it, irritated.

"Hello, King." Tsuki grabbed Sombra up in a fresh hug, eagerly embracing his new friend and nipping at a twitchy pony ear. Pony had such delightfully twitchy ears. "Now know each other. Introduce to others?"

A new noise came from Luna. She was laughing, muffled as it may be, through her chained snout. Watching the two interact was reason enough for it.

Sombra's eyes flared with dark power. "Do not address me as if we were equals!"

Tsuki tilted his head a little. "We are friends."

"You are a vassal. I am your lord."

"Friend?" Tsuki did not seem to grasp the concept being put forward.

Sombra took a slow breath. "Go stand with the others."

Tsuki looked to the others, who seemed to be eyeing him warily. There was no love there. "Introduce us please. They not know Tsuki."
> 7 - Return Home
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

With a flare of dark magic, Sombra sent Tsuki half-tumbling over to the other rabbit creatures. "You will take him to your den. He is mine, just like the rest of you." They gave timid nods, which was not satisfying. "Go." They fled, grabbing Tsuki off the ground and carrying him away in a sea of fur.

He turned to look down at Luna. "Now then, where were we?"





Tsuki was bounced from back to back a moment before he managed to twist around to the right-side up and get his own springing paws under himself. Bouncing with the others instead of being carried my them, he asked, "Where we going?"

They had no answers, save to march on until they came to a dimly lit and cozy-feeling cavern. There were many holes in the wall, like a hive of bees, but instead of bees, other rabbit creatures were in them, peeking down at those who were returning. The crowd dispersed without warning or even apparent cue, leaving Tsuki standing there before the eyes of all his would-be peers.

The others were curious, afraid, staring from a distance.

Only one approached. One the others backed away from with lowered heads. He looked old. His whiskers and ears had gone grey and he was a bit wrinkly, but he had a power all his own. He had wisdom, and the others seemed to know it.

That elder rabbit walked, his shaking hindlegs perhaps no good for hopping anymore. Tsuki felt like he was watching someone important, really important. Sombra had made important noises, but he was more impressed by the quiet power exuded by the old rabbit.

He fell down, lowering his head low and spreading his ears out.

The elder stopped just before Tsuki and gave a thin little smile. "Lost kin..." So someone besides him could talk? Tsuki looked up sharply at hearing the words.

"Have I surprised you? Just one more thing taken from us by that dark one..." The elder sighed gently. "Can you speak, lost child?"

"Yes!" Tsuki sat up, smiling. "Yes! My name Tsuki."

The elder returned the gesture, his own smile showing many years, but genuine, glowing with many fond memories. "Welcome, my child. My name has not been uttered for many years, but now... I am Setting Snow, last of my generation."

Tsuki didn't understand all that, but he could hear the sorrow in the elder's words. "Tsuki help?"

"I pray that is so..." He rose slowly to his hind legs. "Children, my time fast approaches its end. This child will lead you. He is not... exactly as I would have preferred, but he still... He will try." He nodded at Tsuki. "Are you ready to learn?"

Learn? Tsuki had been doing nothing but learning since he fell into Luna's grasp. "Yes. Tsuki will learn. Don't be sad, Snow. You great grandfather. Look." He waved at all the other rabbits that were coming closer. "They know it."

Setting Snow gazed slowly at the cautiously approaching crowd before his eyes settled back on Tsuki and his smile returned. "You will be good to them. Now listen, we have much to go over before... before he returns."

He turned away from Tsuki and approached a wall with more pictures on it. "Most of our history is lost, like ourselves, but we are... were... a proud people. We could be again. Maybe you'll do it." He gestured broadly at the picture that showed the rabbits fleeing. "This was our last, chased free of our ancient homes by the coming darkness. We weren't fast enough, and it caught us. It didn't kill us, that would have been too kind. It pulled us down, generation by generation."

Tsuki frowned with thought, trying to figure it through. "Why Tsuki not talk good? Why they no talk?"

"Precisely so." Snow stepped along the wall, using it as a support. "The darkness has a ruler. You've met him. I can smell him on you. King Sombra. You have to fight him."

"No."

Snow stopped and turned slowly to gaze at Tsuki. "Whyever not? He has hurt your brothers and sisters, and keeps us here in the dark."

Tsuki frowned a little, but repeated, "no." He crossed his arms. "Tsuki will not be bad. Ponies are friends."

"Even when a pony has done so much evil?"

Tsuki nodded, full of conviction. "Tsuki will help him. Help him, and help everyone." He spread his paws wide. "No more fighting."

Snow was silent a moment. The other rabbits stared, uncertain. The room grew quiet until the smallest laugh escaped the elder. "You may... You may win yet. My age is far past. Take your people, lead them to the light." He smiled gently. "That name, do you know what it means?"

"Tsuki is Tsuki."

"More than that." Snow fell to all fours, letting go of the wall. "We are Tsuki. Rabbits of the moon. Once, we danced beneath its silver rays. We lived, celebrated, loved, and... Please, bring us back to the light."
> 8 - Confrontation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tsuki nodded at the elder before he turned back whence he came, only to find all the others of his kind staring at him with wide, uncertain eyes. "Hello?"

One of them, a doe, approached and sniffed at him a little before backing away.

Tsuki smiled a little. Near as he could tell, that was a step up from being bitten, clawed, or hissed at. "I will help." He spread his arms wide, rearing up on his powerful hind legs.

One  of them came forward and matched his stance. Tsuki took a step forward and embraced his kin. The other seemed surprised at first, but slowly he returned that grip on Tsuki. With a silent thud, another joined, then another. Tsuki was soon buried in hugging kin, and he knew he was doing the right thing. His people needed help.

He gave a powerful leap, jumping free of the pile. "I'll be back!" He waved at them before hitting the ground and bounding off, eyes straight forward as he navigated the tunnels as quickly as he could, which was easy since he had no idea where he was going, so he just went as fast, forward, as he could.

The tunnels suddenly stopped and he came down from a bound just on the edge of a sharp cliff. Below him, he could see a little light in the form of a glowing horn. Luna. She was all shackled to the ground. Her wings were bound to her body with thick bands of metal.

Sombra was saying something to other tsukis before they bounded off to do whatever he had said.

It was time for Tsuki to act!

He wriggled his bottom a little as he eyed the deadly night king far below, then he jumped powerfully. Then the falling began. He was perhaps a bit higher up than he thought.

Sombra gave a little smile at his captive. "Why aren't you more happy? Don't you like the dark?"

Luna snorted at his words. "The dark is for sleeping, or painting with stars. These creatures, they don't seem fit for such living."

Sombra rolled his eyes at that. "As if you know. They serve qui--"

He was flattened before he could speak, Tsuki landing on top of him like a furry rocket. "Sorry!"

Sombra flared with purple energy, throwing Tsuki away about ten feet, but the rabbit twisted in midair and came down on his feet safely. "Sorry," he repeated. "Tsuki's fault."

Sombra squinted at Tsuki. "Are you? Ah, you are. Back? Have you come to challenge me then?"

Tsuki bobbed his head. "Tsuki bets you never win this challenge."

Sombra started. "I spoke in jest. Do you truly?" A low laugh escaped him. "What manner of challenge would you dare to issue?"

Tsuki rose up and spread his forelegs wide. "Tsuki bets you no stand Tsuki squeeze."

Sombra's eyes narrowed all the more. "Are you serious?"

Luna snorted. She remembered Tsuki's hugs. "Don't treat him lightly. He's good at what he does."

Sombra glanced to Luna and back to Tsuki. "You have earned Luna's respect? Hmm... Very well, I will show my superiority to you and her both." He stepped towards Tsuki. "Go on then, show me your grappling skills until I grow tired and dash you against the walls."

Tsuki wasn't sure what grappling was, but that was alright. Sombra had said yes and stepped closer, so he moved in the rest of the way and wrapped his arms around the dour pony. He did not crush Sombra. He squeezed gently, and began to nuzzle his neck.

"W-what are you doing?" demanded Sombra, growing rapidly flustered. If this was a means of combat, it seemed very peculiar indeed. "You won't best me that way!"

Tsuki stroked over Sombra's neck and tickled his ear like a fond pet. "Dark pony is sad pony. Tsuki knows dark pony can be good pony."

Sombra blinked dumbly before magic began to crackle around him. "I am not in need of your pity, creature!"

"No. Friend." Tsuki squeezed him tighter. "Tsuki will help. What Sombra want?"

"I want you to release me this instant if you wish to draw further breath."

"No. What Sombra want? What make Sombra happy. Happy happy."

"To rule Equestria and beyond!" stated the dark overlord with a triumphant tone.

"Then?"

He blinked. "What?"

"Dark pony master of all ponies. Then?"

Sombra scowled, a natural expression for him. "Is this a test? I would rule with an iron hoof."

"Then?"

Sombra slammed a hoof on the ground, dark magic swirling angrily. "Then I will be respected!"

"Tsuki respects you." He squeezed the irate tyrant gently. "Tsuki think Luna respect too if you are nice to her."

Luna raised a brow silently.

With a dark flare of power, Sombra sent Tsuki skidding away with a potent display of magic. "You are trying to confuse me! Or, perhaps, you are too simple to understand the complexities of the world."

Tsuki rolled back up onto his feet. "Try. Prove Tsuki wrong." He pointed at Luna. "Try."

Sombra raised a brow high, then turned to Luna. "Princess." He cleared his throat softly. "Your mane is flowing very nicely."

Luna blinked softly. "Thank... you?"

Sombra turned back to Tsuki. "There. Does she respect me now? I think not."

Luna caught where things were headed and gave a little smile. "I would respect you..."

"Except?" Sombra turned back to her, staring.

"As a pony of significant station, I feel you have not greeted me as a peer. We should be exchanging ideas and tea, not threats and insults."

Sombra froze. "W-what... I..." His magic dimmed with confusion. "A peer?"

Luna nodded. "You have a people, the rabbits. They clearly look up to you. You are their lord. As a princess, it is my duty to meet with fellow rulers, but this is hardly a fitting way to do so."

Sombra squirmed, thrown entirely off track. "But... I... Don't you want to destroy me?"

"Not if you are a good ruler and bring joy to your people, then we are equals, and you are deserving of respect and cooperation."

Tsuki clapped his large paws together. "Tsuki respect Sombra. Tsuki knows what kin need. Tsuki will share with Sombra."

Sombra took a defiant step forward. "Now you claim to take my domain from me?!"

Tsuki quickly shook his head. "Tsuki respect Sombra. Tsuki help..."

Luna provided the word, "King."

"Yes, help King Sombra be best king!" Tsuki hopped forward. "Make people happy. Make Sombra happy. Sombra good king, happy people."

Luna tapped the ground lightly. "It would fall on me to begin diplomatic relations, provided we can put... this unfortunate start behind us?"

Was it that easy? Was he being welcomed as a true peer? "Do you not wish revenge for past slights?"

Luna lifted her shoulders. "Relations between your country and the Crystal Empire will require serious efforts to mend, but if you are committed to your people, these political difficulties will be worked past, in time."

"Tsuki was wrong."

Sombra blinked, what? "How?"

Tsuki pointed at Sombra. "You won challenge. We can rematch later, alright?"

Sombra snorted, which turned into a soft little chuckle. Yes, he had... won. "You, Tsuki was it? You will pay for your failure!" Tsuki flinched at the words. "You will serve me, and we will see this nation be built so tall and powerful that the Crystal Empire will weep to know it has lost the chance to have me as their leader."

Luna doubted that, but had the sense to keep that to herself and just watch Tsuki grab Sombra in a fresh hug. She did give a little cough.

Sombra grunted. "Yes, yes." With a wave, the metal fell from her to the ground. "Welcome, Princess Luna. I, King Sombra, do welcome you, as a peer, to my kingdom."