The visits to Goldleaf and Hemlock in the dreamworld were enjoyable, but they were the only enjoyable things going on in Luna's life as of late. There was an unease in Lithton as word got around that their so-called advanced force had been routed by a human fleet. In actuality, they had been routed by two ships... “Folly, folly and madness.” Luna whispered to herself.

“What was that?” Celestia asked, putting down her morning toast.

“Nothing.” She'd tried to get her sister to see reason many times, but to no avail.

“I'll need you to stay awake a little longer than usual today. Queen Clearspring of Highcrest has news from her daughter's activities in the south.”

“Oh?” It seemed like forever ago that Clearspring had sent Princess Firebrand to deal with the obstinate earth pony tribes. Luna hadn't even wondered what had become of that.

“Yes indeed.” said Celestia. “So put on your crown and collar.”

They sat in the same great hall of Amethyst's Citadel that Kairôs Gadis, Imperial Financier, had come before them in in the spring. Now it was late fall, going on winter. Queen Ember Platinum of Unicornia was there with all her courtiers, warm-coated and regal, as was Queen Whiteglen and King Hardhammer of Eastmarch, the famed pegasus warrior-couple. Whiteglen was as pale as her namesake, Hardhammer as fiery as the smithy he earned his name in. Then there was Clearspring Swiftrain of Highcrest, the mare who had dared to fight against Maelstrom Blackwind's rebellion, dark as iron and just as hard. She came alone, as her husband was no leader of armies. Rye of the earth ponies was here too, as were petty lords and ladies of her kin who swore fealty directly to Everfree. And the bat-ponies had come, so far from their woodland realm... They were lurking far in the high gallery, away from the court.

Celestia spoke to them in a proud and clear voice. “Equestria has not seen such an assembly of her magnates since the days of Discord. Those were evil times, and now evil is upon us again. The race of men, who invaded and defiled Old Alicornia, rise up in might once more. They sent their pestilence upon Our kindred, and have mockingly defied Our calls for justice. Make no mistake, Equestrians: war will soon be upon you, borne out of the west on the wings of the winds. We have this winter to make ready. Queen Clearspring...” Celestia gestured to her.

“Thank you for your wise words, Princess.” said Clearspring. “This spring, I sent my daughter, Firebrand, to deal with the earth pony tribes who refused to hold up their end of the contract of fealty. I see a few of their kind have redeemed their race's honor,” Clearspring nodded to Rye and her folk, “but a great many more dwell in the south. And they have dwelt in safety, by the sacrifice of my people! The pegasi of the north have kept Equestria safe for centuries, against changeling and griffon, against wind-dragons and demons of ice and hate. What realm bled to destroy the flesh-eating vermin? What realm suffered to drive them wholly from these fair shores? Highcrest! Never did we ask any others to aid us. Now we have been called to defend the common good of Equestria, and we have answered! But where are those earth ponies now, who give us only contempt and disdain as we die so that they may live, free of fear and war? They cower and hide! That is why I say to you now with pride that my daughter has subjugated that ungrateful lot. If they will not fight with us, they will serve us nonetheless.”

“Subjugation?” one of the earth ponies with Rye spoke up, some minor fief-holder from the east.

“Do you mean to tell us our cousins are being held in bondage?” another asked. Rye just looked at the floor with fallen ears, as if she wished she were anywhere else.

“I do.” said Clearspring, turning to face the earth ponies. “They refused to fulfill their oaths, as the rest of us have. Why should we let them off free? They will serve us until the war is over.”

“And who exactly is us?” the same fief-holder that first spoke asked, her eyes narrowed. “The pegasi?”

“Is that a problem?” Clearspring asked. “I don't see what it matters to you. You're here, they're not.” The earth pony made to speak again, but Rye put a hoof on her, and shook her head.

“You have done well to bring Equestria to order, Queen Clearspring.” Celestia said. “Queen Ember, what do you have to report?”

Ember stepped forward before the alicorns, and told of Unicornia's preparations for war. But Luna did not listen, as that the things of war did not concern her. Instead, Luna reminded herself to see the bat-ponies as soon as she could. She had called them not long after returning to Equestria, at her sister's request, but didn't actually think they'd show up in person.

After Ember came Queen Whiteglen of Eastmarch, reporting of unrest in the griffon kingdoms of Greenland and Northbrim, but nothing serious at the moment. Minor pegasi lords from the north had little to speak of from their homes, and the earth ponies had little to say as well. Most did not want to be a part of this, and for good reason.

The meeting was adjourned, and all parties returned to their quarters. Luna dismissed herself from her sister's presence, and went off to find the bat-ponies. They'd already left the gallery, and were no doubt trying to find some place dark to hide from the sun. She herself felt like doing the same, having been on a nocturnal schedule since coming home, but this was important.

As it turned out, the bat-ponies had let themselves into one of the high towers of Amethyst's Citadel, hiding out in the eaves of its conical turret roof. “We thought We would find you up here.” said Luna. The bat-ponies turned about, staring down at her through the gloom.

“Princess Luna!” one of them acknowledged. They dropped down to the floor, and knelt. “We have come, as you asked.”

“We see. Your presence is unexpected, though not unwelcome.” she said. “Who among you speaks for the bat-ponies?”

“I do. I am Roscidus, your highness.” The bat-pony stallion raised his head. He was a silvery-blue color, and darker in mane; like all his kind, he had the slit-pupils, leathery wings, and tufted ears. “I come as an envoy of King Vesper.”

“Vesper is still alive?” Luna asked. She had met Vesper the sixth many decades ago, when she had been but a child...

“Vesper the sixth remains our king; he is very old now, but still hale.” said Roscidus.

These bat-ponies live a long time, Luna thought. She'd last seen him almost sixty years prior. “Did the other ponies give you any trouble on your way here?” she asked.

“From time to time.” Roscidus frowned. “Some thought we were legends, others ran in fear, thinking us monsters. It is a strange world outside our borders, Princess, that forgets so quickly.”

“To think that just twenty years ago there were ponies still alive whose grandmothers had living memory of Discord's day...” Luna muttered. “We alicorns do not forget either, but most of our subjects do. We would much like to know why you do not.”

“All things in time, Princess.” said Roscidus, giving her a sidelong look. “Our King has sent spies out for some few months now. We have heard many things; word of griffons and men on the move...”

“Men at least are moving, that is true.” Luna said. “Celestia has gone and started a war with them!” The bat-ponies whispered among each other in their own tongue. It was derived from the Alicornic all other Equestrians spoke, but with many strange words Luna did not know. She only understood fragments of what they said, though it was enough to let her know they did not approve.

“It is not our thought that the humans should be held responsible for this disease. If they had intended to spread it, then they would not have tried to negotiate a settlement.” said Roscidus.

“You know of that?”

“We have heard many things.” the bat-pony said again. “It would be unwise to challenge them in war. Our King believes that to do so would be to give them a single purpose again, which leads down a path we oughtn't to tread. But it is too late, I see.”

“What path would this be?” asked Luna, raising a hoof as concern settled over her.

“They have a vast, rich land; their numbers are beyond count; their weapons without equals. If Great Griffonia still endured, perhaps it could have matched them in power, but that realm has perished. If the Shadow-King of the Akrav still reigned, perhaps they could stand against mankind, but he was long ago cast down. No, Princess Luna, there are few powers left in the world that could stand against this race of men. And some of those are better left alone...”

“What does your King foresee in this conflict?”

Roscidus frowned deeply, and paused before he spoke. “Only wrath and ruin, though for whom, he cannot be sure. Something has awoken, he said. ”

No hope from the bat-ponies, Luna thought. It was obvious the Equestrians were bringing down the wrath of humanity on themselves, which would lead only to ruin. Man's position was unassailable. “It seems We alone still hold hope that this disaster can be reduced, if not averted. But enough of dark words. Tell Us, Roscidus, how fares your kind?”

Luna and the bat-ponies talked for a while, and probably longer than they should have. Both of them slept by day, though, and Luna departed for her own chambers to return another time.

Normally, she did not dream while sleeping, that came in the night when her mind was rested. But that day as she slept, she did. It was night in this dream, no moon could be seen, though the stars shined brighter than Luna had ever known them to. Something tugged at her memory, she'd seen this before... There was a desk in front of her, with paper and pen. The word LUNA was written on it, in immaculate lettering. Below that was written: ARE YOU THERE.

Luna blinked. “Yes, I'm here.” she said. But there was no response. She took hold of the pen with her magic, and wrote “Yes.” But nothing more happened, and she was left to wonder about it all night as she went about her royal duties. Luna had the same dream the next day, and there was written: ARE YOU BEING WATCHED?

“No,” Luna wrote.

Again, she had to wait until the next dream for a response.

ARE YOU SURE?

“Yes, absolutely. Who is writing this, anyhow?” Luna wondered why this other presence only left one sentence a night for her. It took some number of days to unravel the full message.

A FRIEND OF THE LORD OF NIGHT.

“My father? If you're a friend, why can't you talk to me directly?”

THE GOLDEN ONE AND I HAVE NO GREAT LOVE FOR EACH OTHER.

“Oh?”

HIS WARDS SURROUND HIM IN THE DREAM, AND YOU ARE CAUGHT WITHIN.

“Perhaps they're there for a reason.”

THE GOLDEN ONE HAS MANY REASONS FOR WHAT HE DOES, SOME OF WHICH HE HAS KEPT SECRET FROM YOU.

“Is that so?”

IF YOU WISH TO FIND OUT MORE, SEEK ME WHERE YOUR LAND'S EASTERN RIVER MEETS THE SEA.

What? Luna asked herself. Which eastern river? There were many rivers that flowed east in Equestria... Your land, the writer had said. Did that mean Everfree? The Everfree river flowed into the Crystal river, which emptied east into the cleverly-named Shoe Bay... Whoever it was, that was the place it must have meant. That night, in the dream-world, Luna made the journey. She was too curious not to. It was a silent flight from Lithton to the other side of Equestria, but it did not take the weeks it would have in the waking world.

Shoe Bay was cold at night, though not as cold as Lithton. Luna barely felt it thanks to her mastery of this other-world. There were some meager settlements of earth ponies scattered around the many miles of shore, but nothing of note. Then, she heard a bird call. There were no birds in the dreamworld, any more than there were animals of any sort at all...

“Are you there?” asked Luna to the unseen bird.

“I am.” The voice that answered was a whisper, falling on Luna's ears like a soft blanket. She could not tell if the speaker was male or female.

“Show yourself.” she ordered.

A nightjar flew out of a bush, and perched on one of the shrubs in the river delta. It was dark of feather, but spotted, with big, shining eyes and little whiskers around its beak. It was absolutely adorable! “I have looked forward to meeting you.” said the nightjar. “You look very much like your father.”

“Yes, some have said that before.” Luna replied, her skepticism fading. “You aren't really a bird, are you?”

“No,” the nightjar agreed, “but I do not wish to draw attention to myself.”

“Then what are you?”

“A well-wisher, if you would.” The little bird almost seemed to smile. “I taught your father many secrets of the dreamworld, and word has come to me that he has passed before his time.”

“Yes... he did.” said Luna, frowning. “He taught me very little before the human's plague took him. Aegis has had to teach me since.”

“The Golden One!” the nightjar shook its head. “Deep does his envy run.”

“What do you mean?” Luna's frown grew, and her eyes narrowed. “Aegis is a good pony, he always has been.”

“It was the Golden One's doom that he watch all he sired perish, while his sister's bloodline persisted. That is you, Luna, and your sister, and your mother and father too.” The nightjar adjusted his wings; his wings because Luna was starting to get the sense he was male, whatever he really was. The more she listened, the more convinced she was. “I do not doubt he is good at heart, but it would be foolish to deny that there is not envy there.”

“And what makes you say this?” asked Luna.

“If you had been born earlier, you may have seen it for yourself. Your father would always tell me of how restrictive and controlling the Golden One was. He refused to teach him many things of the dreamworld and of the night, so he came to me for help.” The nightjar's whispering grew quieter, and Luna had to lean in to hear him. “The Golden One was wrathful, but there was nothing he could do, for your father's mastery of this world was greater than any other being's. That is perhaps why the Golden One has put such powerful wards are you now, Luna.”

“Wait- he put wards around me?” she asked, disbelieving Aegis would be so untrusting of her.

“Yes. They encompass whatever dwelling you now are in, but they are focused solely on the dreamworld. Whose domain is that but yours?”

The nightjar had a point, but Luna still didn't believe it was true. “That's very interesting to hear.” she said. “But how can I be sure you actually did know my father?”

“Mortals called him the Nightlord, but his true name was Tenebrerus.” Luna blinked in surprise. Only she, her sister, and Aegis knew that- “If you are not yet convinced, your father always called your mother Aprica.”

“H-how do you know that?” Luna stammered, looking at the nightjar in shock. Aprica had been an affectionate name she and Celestia always called their mother. It meant sunny, and it brought back a pained anguish she had spent months trying to ignore.

“Did I not say I was a friend?” the little bird said. “Your father trusted me with many things, Luna. I am here to help you, if I might.”

“I see.” said Luna, in a small voice. All the sorrow she had felt this spring after the plague had reaped its due was coming back. Hearing the names of her mother and father again brought it all right back to her, as if it had happened yesterday.

“Do not despair, brave child of Caelum.” whispered the little bird, coming closer to her. “Hope is not yet lost.”

“Hope for what?” asked Luna.

“The night shall come again.”

And then, a strange but welcome comfort came upon Luna, and she let herself fall out of the dreamworld. When she returned to the waking life, all her sadness had gone, and it was as a great burden had been lifted.

Luna made no mention of this encounter with her sister, nor with Aegis, nor with Goldleaf and Hemlock when she came to talk to them in dreams. She did not see the nightjar again for several weeks; a note came to her that he did not want to risk the sight of the Golden One and bring wrath on her. So she would have to wait until she had grown stronger in that realm. Whatever he really was, he was trusted enough by her father, so perhaps she should trust him too. And as Luna thought that, a seed of suspicion grew at the intentions of her granduncle...

Author's Notes:

Reintroducing some characters we've met or heard mention of before. Pic of a nightjar, since it's not a bird in common knowledge, being nocturnal and all:

Oh, and Merry Christmas.