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Luna Nos Custodit	By : Tsuguri Category: +M through R > My Little Pony Views: 5192 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own MLP:FiM, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. If I did, I'd be set for life.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Hey everyone! My muse got really insistent with this chapter so I got it out a lot sooner then I thought I would. Unfortunately I'm tired, it's late, and I don't feel like trying to come up with some snarky comments, so I'll just leave it with my standard begging.
PLEASE REVIEW! Love it? Hate it? Let me know about it but most importantly WHY!
Later.
5/28/12 Updated with Grammar fixes.
******************
Canterlot was bustling and lively under the afternoon sun. Ponies were either running to and fro in a great hurry or were calmly walking by with their noses in the air, scoffing at the unrefined nature of their fellows. One of the few places that seemed immune to the activities was the palace, where the Royal Guards strode with great purpose or stood in imposing silence. Most of the talking was being done by the Sergeants and Officers drilling their recruits and formations for their official duties. Inside the scene was contrasted by the hushed conversations and shadowed whispers of the Councilors and Dignitaries, each planting ideas and maneuvering their allies in order to gain a momentary advantage over their companions in the eyes of their princess.
One of the few ponies who wasn't interested in the posturing of any of these groups was a Wonderbolts Captain who just leaving the chambers of the Royal Nephew and mentally planning out her mission for the next day. From the chambers itself, Blueblood watched her leave and resumed lounging in his cushions. As he levitated a drink from his personal reserves to his lips he was interrupted by a sweet voice from nowhere, "Are you sure this deception is necessary young lord?"
Blueblood covered his irritation at this interruption with a slow pull from his glass, "And just how long have you been listening?"
"Long enough. Why these false claims about dragons? What purpose does it serve?"
"The point is that I should not be the one to discover my aunt's treachery. Any claims that flow though my lips will be instantly challenged and suspect in many ponies eyes. There has been enough... altercations between us that it could be construed as just more mudslinging. If the discovery and charges are leveled by another then all of the focus will be on her. Speaking of which, none of this would be necessary if you would just deploy your piece and get it over with."
"As I have continued to report the preparations move slowly. It will be ready in time, just not soon."
"Hence my deception to our dear Spitfire. We need to curtail my aunt's maneuverings soon or we will face more opposition then we have anticipated. The possible threat of a dragon nesting near Ponyville is enough of a threat to warrant an investigation by somepony more than just a normal scout, and the Wonderbolt's loyalty is beyond question."
"It is as you say. Now as for other pressing matters..."
*****
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the palace...
"No, please. Not again. I don't want to go back. Not again, please! TIA!!!" Luna bolted upright in her bed. Gasping for air and covered in sweat, she focused on her darkened chambers and slowly steadied herself. 'Air, there is air here. Not the moon. It is not the moon.' She continued her small mantra to herself until her breathing came under control and she felt her calm returning. After a final 'not the moon' she felt the desire to attempt rest once more before another voice interrupted her thoughts, "Oh, is the little child of the moon having trouble sleeping?"
Jerking her head back up, Luna scanned her chambers for any presence other than herself. "Where are you hiding? You know I will find you."
"Who says I am hiding child. I am in the same place I have always been." With hesitant eyes, Luna slowly looked towards her mirror, "Right here!", and beheld the face of her own personal demon.
"Why have you returned to trouble me Nightmare Moon. You should still be banished into the furthest reaches of my heart."
"I am a part of you my dear child. You can evade me no more than your own shadow."
Standing to fully confront the image, Luna steeled her resolve and reminded herself of the day she had been rid of her darkest part. "Yes, this I know. But a shadow cannot survive in the light and should just fade away."
"Have you forgotten all that we are? The brighter the light, the deeper the shadow. As long as the Elements exists, as long as your Sister exists, so shall we exist my dear child."
"Stop calling me a child!" Luna fumed, "I am no longer the weak creature who drew on your power."
This elicited a small chuckle from the apparition, "Oh but you are! You have been calling on me more then you realize and that is why I have now returned! Soon I shall manifest fully and reclaim my place in the world!"
"NO YOU SHALL NOT!" Luna screamed as she shattered the mirror with a blow from her hoof. As the shards showered down, she witnessed a horrifying display. Some of the shards still showed the face of Nightmare Moon, others her own face contorted in fear and rage, and some... a strange melding of the two that still looked somewhat whole.
"HA HA HA, try all you like to deny me but I will consume this world in darkness once again! All shall bow and submit to me or they shall fall!" As the laughter died away, Luna looked at the glass shards littering her floor. Once the laugh was completely silent, she cast a simple spell and started to repair the mirror. Only after the spell was complete did she risk a glance at the mirror and but was only confronted by her only own reflection.
'It would not do to let my followers discover this,' she thought as she levitated her chest piece over and slid it on, armoring her body as she armored her heart. 'A leader must always be in charge of herself. In battle, she must never show any emotion which will dishearten the troops. And my greatest battles are yet to come.'
As she composed herself once more, a subtle knock sounded at her door. Feeling calmed and centered once more she called "Enter," and a member of her Night Guard passed through the portal.
"Highness, Blueblood has made a move."
*******
Later that night...
"Oh darling, you look just ravishing. Why, you'll be turning all the heads at your ball."
"Are you sure about the emeralds though? I have always been partial to rubies myself." Rarity lead her customer over towards one of her viewing mirrors in Carousel Boutique, levitating both rubies and emeralds as she spoke.
"Trust me my dear. Rubies, while fabulous , do nothing for your color. Now emeralds on the other hoof set off your eyes and will daze the crowd on your entrance."
"Well, I suppose you're right."
"Of course I'm right darling. When it comes to fashion, sometimes you need a second opinion. Now you said you needed this by a week from Saturday? Good, good. I shall have the dress ready by then and will deliverer it personally. Good night now." Rarity carried on as she guided the young pony out of the shop with a friendly grin on her face.
”Good night Rarity. I'm looking forward to it."
Once the door had closed behind her last customer of the night, Rarity's smile faded and her shoulders slumped. As she magically turned her sign from open to closed and dimmed the lights, she surveyed the clutter left by the busy day's work. 'Tomorrow,' she thought to herself, 'tomorrow will be soon enough to deal with the mess. Right now there is somewhere else I need to be.'
As she climbed the stairs leading to her apartment over the Boutique, she thought about the event which crushed her enthusiasm for her work.
She had been outside the Boutique tidying up when she saw the cart rolling up with Big Mac pulling and Applejack riding in the back with Rainbow Dash along side. The expression on all of their faces was something that made her slowly start to panic. "Big Mac? Applejack? Rainbow Dash? What's wrong?"
It was Applejack, head bowed, who quietly answered her. "Rarity... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," was all she said as she looked at the cart's floor.
Coming around the back of the cart, Rarity couldn't stop her stomach from going into free fall. "What do mean you're sorry? What happened? SWEETIE BELLE!!!" she screamed when she finally saw her sister laying on the cart's floor, her eyes open but flat and unseeing. "WHAT HAPPENED TO HER!" She screamed as she looked over her sister. "It was just a simple sleepover! What happened to her!?"
Applejack's only reply was another "I'm sorry".
Rarity grabbed and shook Applejack in frustration, "SORRY!? Sorry doesn't cut it! What happened!?"
It was Rainbow Dash who pulled her off while Applejack just continued saying she was sorry. "Rarity!" Rainbow Dash screamed, "Cut it out! Can't you see she can't answer you! She's still in shock herself!" Looking down once again, Rarity now realized that her sister wasn't alone. Laid out with Sweetie Belle were her two dearest friends, Scootalo and... Apple Bloom, both with the same expression on their faces. The sight was enough to break through Rarity's panic and let her regain a part of her composure.
"Well, yes. Alright. Let's, let's get them inside for now. We're drawing a crowd out here," she commented as she scanned the faces turning in their direction from the market place. "Big Mac, Rainbow Dash, please be dears and help me," She said as she scooped up her sister.
Even after they had gotten the fillies settled in a bed Rarity again demanded an explanation, but never quite got one. All they could tell her was that they were still alive, that they thought it would be better for them to rest here in town, that they should eventually wake up, and... that they had no way to help them. Rarity's desperation threatened to return and she felt compelled once more to shake the truth out of her friends, but one look at how torn up Applejack was made her change her mind. Applejack had hardly moved at all; she just continued to sit alongside the bed and gaze at her sister. In fact, it had taken Big Mac, Rainbow Dash, and nightfall to peel her away and slowly start to move her in the direction of the orchard.
Coming alongside the door to the three filly's bedroom brought Rarity back into the present. She pushed it open, listening, hoping to hear a change in the room beyond, but knew it was in vain.
"Hello there, any change?"
"Hey Rarity," Spike answered from his place alongside the bed. "No, no change. I thought Apple Bloom might have started to come around earlier but nothing happened."
"Oh Spike, don't worry," she answered as she ignored her own advice, "they'll come to eventually."
"Yeah, they're tough fighters," Spike answered. He had been such a dear coming over to help every day. Even though she would like nothing better than to watch over her sister herself all day, she could not just close shop; she needed the money now more than ever if she was to support her sister and find a treatment. Spike had volunteered once he had heard the situation and diligently sat with them every day. It was a nice change for him since he had been just sitting at home all day. At least here he could be doing something.
"Are you sure you don't wish to stay the night? I know it must be so lonely in the Library right now."
"Yeah, I'm sure. It's not so bad, Owloysius still comes by on occasion. And who knows,... Twilight might still show up herself," He answered with a small hiccup as he choked back a tear.
Rarity came along side and drew him into a hug. "There, there. It's ok. Let it out."
"I miss her so much," he said as the sobs started in earnest. "First Twilight and now them. What's going on? What did they do to deserve all of this?"
Rarity held him close until the tears started to dry up. Some nights were worse than others; this was one of the better ones. But in a weird way this helped to deal with her own torment: by having to be strong for Spike, she was forced to be strong for herself. "Better?" She asked.
"Better," was his reply. "Thanks again Rarity. See you tomorrow," he said as he made his way towards the door and dimmed the lights on his way.
"Tomorrow," she called after him as he left and she assumed his place at the bed side. Looking at her sister laying between her two friends, she could almost believe they were just napping in the soft moonlight from the window. But the fact that they still had their eyes open and were staring gave lie to the illusion. As she felt the wariness of the day steal over her she laid her head down beside them on the bed. "Just for a moment," she whispered to herself. "Just give me a moment," she repeated as she drifted off into slumber.
**********
"What? Where?" Rarity called out as she jerked awake. "Oh dear, did I do it again?" she asked herself as she fully woke up. "I really need to stop doing this. Sleeping on my face really doesn't help my complexion."
As she got up to go to her own bed to sleep, the light from the window began to dim. She looked out to see some clouds moving across the sky. "Well, at least I'm not the only one up so late. I wonder why they felt the need to move those this late?"
Even as she contemplated the mystery of the late working Pegasi, she started to realize that, even with the moon now fully obscured, there was a faint glow lighting the room. Looking over towards the source she gasped as she saw a faint glow of magic coming from her sister. "What in Equestria?" she exclaimed as she closely examined the magical stream.
No doubt about it now. The glow was flowing from Sweetie Belle's horn and branching off towards her friends on either side. The glow was faint, so faint that only the now pure dark of the room allowed her to see it, but it was there. "Oh Sweetie Belle what happened to you?" Rarity lamented. "But... If your magic is somehow connected to this, then perhaps my magic can get you out."
Not knowing what spell she would need, Rarity summoned a subtle glow of her own. Nothing specific, just a small mass that would allow her to meld her magic with her sister's. As she approached her sister's form and lowered her head she felt a pang of hesitation. Melding formless spells with an unknown flow could have disastrous results, but, as this was for her sister, the feeling was quickly banished and the melding began.
At first nothing happened, and Rarity felt a pang of disappointment. But then she felt something- not much at first, just a small tug. Then it got stronger - something reached for her, and then it grabbed her! A gasp escaped her as she felt a rush of overwhelming power enter her! And then...
**********
"Oh my stars, what was that?" Rarity asked herself as she looked over towards the bed. "Wait, how did I get over here?" Looking down, Rarity realized she had been flung across the room and was now laying in a pile of broken shelving and fabrics, and that she ached all over. "Ow, now that was most certainly uncalled for Sweetie Belle. What did you do though?" Thinking back on the melding she experienced, Rarity closed her eyes and concentrated. 'There was that tug, then the powering of power, and then...'
For the second time that night Rarity let a gasp escape her lips. The images, they were so intense! Flames rising into a blackened sky, an army that strode over everything in its path, and rising above it all... an imposing figure of the blackest night. Panting, she opened her eyes once again and realized she had broken out in a cold sweat. "Who was that?!" she pondered and she started to cross the room once more. "Oh Sweetie Belle, is she the one keeping you from me? Then I will just have to take you back!" She said these words as she lowered her horn to her sister's magic once more. This time, however she summoned a greater concentration of her own powers. "I will drive them from you little sister and nothing they can do will stop me!"
- 5
- 6
- 7
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Luna Nos Custodit