Brother-General Corvalix held little love for his whitetail cousins, and less so for their inept leader. Upon his arrival to Evinwiir he'd been immediately set upon by Chancellor Vinawyll's lackey, who had said only that the good Chancellor had chosen to accept Corvalix's offer. He'd wanted to laugh himself sick at how easy it all was, at how right his sister had been. Vinawyll truly was a coward, just as he'd predicted, and with the nation of Whitetail itself dangling on the precipice of destruction -- both from the inside as well as the outside -- all it would take was a slight shove in either direction to bring the whole country crashing down. Corvalix intended that direction to be in Cervidae's favor.

Now, as he approached Vinawyll's private chambers, he allowed himself a satisfied grin. He could imagine the Chancellor frantically pacing around his opulent quarters, empty jugs of amasec and red wine scattered about like discarded toys of a spoiled child. He would not have to wait long.

"You requested my presence, Chancellor?" Corvalix called through the door with a rap of his hoof. There was a sound like a shuffling of papers, and the door swung open in a cloud of crackling energy. Stepping inside, he found Vinawyll hunched over a stack of missives and scrolls. The Chancellor looked bedraggled and exhausted, and great bags appeared under his eyes as he looked up at Corvalix with whatever confidence he could muster.

"Sit down, Brother-General," Vinawyll said. He stared in silence for some time, tapping his hoof on the table. "You already know why I've called upon you. Please allow me a modicum of respect, and do not feign ignorance."

You deserve no more respect than the disgusting politicos in the Senate, Corvalix thought. At least the soldiers of Whitetail made themselves useful in combat. "You've accepted my proposal, then? This is good news."

Vinawyll laughed bitterly. "Good news? You'll excuse me if I fail to see anything good about this mess. Our military is defeated, our nation is in a barely-controlled panic, and now -- ancestors help me -- I have to rely on Cervidae to drag us from the fire. So no, this is not 'good news.' I will be mocked endlessly once the Senate finds out..." He motioned to a stack of off-white scrolls bound with red ribbon and stamped with the seal of Equestria. "Do you know what these are? They are pleas from Princess Celestia to meet with her to discuss terms of surrender. Our surrender. I have received at least two a day, every day, for the last month."

"Persistent, isn't she?" Corvalix quipped.

"To say the least. I show these to you, Brother-General, because I wanted you to know that my decision is not one that I make lightly. Our lands may remain mostly intact if we gave in, but I would be labeled a coward and a traitor."

"So you will be shamed if you ask for my help...but you will also be shamed if you surrender to Equestria?" Corvalix prodded, slightly confused at the situation. "Excuse me for failing to see the difference, Chancellor."

Vinawyll smirked. "In one of these scenarios I retain a chance to remain in power, and possibly -- hopefully -- see my actions justified by the history texts. In time, I may even be seen as a hero. 'The reuniter of Deerkind', or some-such grandiose title. Such are my hopes, anyway."

"And in the other scenario?"

"Whitetail surrenders for the first time in its history, and my rule comes to an end as I drown in my own blood with an assassin's quinn-blade drawn across my throat."

"I see," Corvalix said simply. Self-preservation -- that's what this was all about. Vinawyll didn't truly care about his ancestry or public opinion. No, he cared only for his own, meager life. Were he in charge of Cervidae, Corvalix would have slit his throat himself. As far as he was concerned, cowards had no place being in positions of power. It was fortunate, then, that Vinawyll meant nothing in the long run. Let him dance about like a puppet on a string, so sure of his own power. He would be a figurehead, and a useful one at that. At least, so long as Elinwynn saw fit to keep him alive.

"I will have to discuss this with Empress Elinwynn. My beloved sister is a kind, generous soul, but she does not make such decisions without meticulous planning."

"As is to be expected of the great Empress," Vinawyll said. "But you're sure Cervidae can be of assistance? You must understand: once these things have been set in motion, there can be no stopping them. I need to be sure of victory, without fail."

"Then rest easy, Chancellor, for the Cervidaen Hegemony does not back down from a fight." Already the gears were turning in Corvalix's mind, drawing forth battle plans for the defeat of Equestria. Such a thing would not be easy. "And what of the Senate? Though I may not know them as closely as you do, I do not believe they will react kindly to such news. Cervidae and Whitetail, fighting alongside one another like in the days of old? Unheard of."

"Let me worry about the Senate," Vinawyll snapped back. "You have your task, such as it is, and I trust you to carry it out to the fullest of your abilities. How much time will you need?"

"No more than a few weeks. Our forces have been on high alert since the start of this war; after all, one can never truly know the extent of Equestrian treachery. "

"If only we had known that before haphazardly invading without the proper build-up..."

"Then learn from your mistakes, Chancellor. And if you value Whitetail, do not repeat them." Corvalix stood from his seat and bowed. "I must return to Cervidae as soon as possible. I will return in one week's time, and together we will persuade the Senate to see the light. And they will see it."

"And if they don't?" Vinawyll asked.

"Then they will find themselves the unfortunate victims of progress."

As the doors closed behind him Brother-General Corvalix felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. The simpleton had played right into his hooves. Elinwynn had been right all along: the Chancellor was a fool and a coward, more than willing to sacrifice countless whitetail lives to save himself. For a moment Corvalix felt something resembling pity for his whitetail cousins -- but only for a moment. They would serve their purpose in due time. For now, he was content with returning to Cervidae to bring the good news to his sister. He could already see the look on her face.

Summervale was not living up to its sunny namesake, but it was of little concern to Tercio -- the snow, the biting cold, the wind, none of it mattered. As soon as the familiar silhouette of his childhood home came into view, he thought only of seeing his family. It had been too long.

He trudged through the ankle-deep snow, passing by wilted trees and barren fields that had been picked clean by the harvest. Thin wisps of smoke drifted from the chimneys around him. He could almost feel the warmth and comfort of the fireplace in the kitchen, and he remembered times when he and his family would gather around and listen to their father tell one of his many tall tales. It pushed him to carry on, through the snow-swept drifts and the haze of blowing snow.

It took only a few more minutes to reach the porch of the two-story home, the covered awning providing a welcome shelter from the wind. Nervous and thrilled to be home, he knocked thrice and waited.

"Grace, would you get the door? I'm kinda busy here!"

Tercio laughed at his father's muffled voice, still the same after all these years.

"Alright, if you insist. Who could possibly be out in this weather?" he heard his mother ask as she approached the door. It swung open a moment later, and she gasped in shock.

"Hello, Mother," Tercio said with a warm smile. Glimmering Grace looked up at him in disbelief, her mouth working up and down but finding no words, and she finally stood on her hind legs and threw her forelegs and wings around him, squeezing him tight.

"Tercio! Oh goodness, it's really you!" Tercio hugged her in return, choking back tears of relief. He'd nearly forgotten how much he missed her kind, caring demeanor. "Roughshod! It's your boy! He's come back to us!" she called back into the house, wiping tears from her eyes. "Oh, but you must be freezing! Come in, come in!"

Tercio shut the door behind him and felt the glow of the crackling fireplace, smelled the familiar scent of his mother's cooking, and once more he was home. "I've missed you," he said, setting his gear bag on the floor.

"And we've missed you too, deary. It's been such a long time."

"Far too long," Roughshod said as he approached, limping on every other step. He was all smiles as he knocked his hoof against Tercio's fist and embraced him, patting him on the back. "It's good to have you back, son. How the hell are you?"

"I've been worse," Tercio laughed. "I'm far better now that I'm home again. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to return before Hearth's Warming."

"Well thank the gods that you did, eh? Come, let's get you warmed up. It's colder than a windigo's tit out there."

Tercio sat down by the fire, removing his thick winter coat and untying his marching boots that had become soaked with melted snow. Grace ladled a steaming bowl of barley soup and passed it to him, and he eagerly tucked into the meal. It tasted exactly the same as it had when he was a child, and when he closed his eyes he could see his younger self sitting in the same place, enthusiastically downing the bowl so he would be allowed to return to his toys.

"We had no idea you were coming, or we would have been better prepared," Grace said. A warm blanket was soon draped around Tercio's shoulders while his father moved his gear bag to his old room. "I'm surprised you didn't mention it in any of your letters."

"I wasn't entirely sure when I was going to be granted leave -- I only found out about a week ago. I thought I'd make it a surprise."

"A pleasant one at that, deary. Hearth's Warming just wouldn't be the same without you here. Just a few weeks away, you know."

Only now did Tercio notice the laurels of pine branches and bright red berries that had been set up around the house, with white candles glinting in small clusters on table tops or night stands. "I'm very much aware; there's been a frantic rush as of late around the palace. Lately we've been guarding doors more than guarding the Princess. The life of a Praetorian can be rather boring." He hoped his brown tunic hid the bandages still covering his wounds, or else he'd have to tell his mother about some very unfortunate things. The last thing he wanted was to give her more reason to worry.

"Your father used to complain about the same thing, always standing around at gates or walking the roads between Canterlot and Marestopholous. I'll tell you the same thing I told him: at least it's safe. But I'm sure you didn't come all the way here just to talk about your job, now did you?"

"Not if I can help it, though I do enjoy what I do. Usually."

"In that case: how was your trip? The weather is just terrible out there. I can only imagine what it was like to have to travel through it."

Tercio finished his bowl and set it aside with a satisfied sigh. He pulled the blanket around himself and moved a little closer to the fire, enjoying the warmth it provided. "It could have been worse. I managed to get a few rides here and there, and I found this inn just outside of town run by a whitetail. He was exceptionally kind. Even fed me at no cost to myself, said it was his way of repaying me for my service to Equestria. I ended up staying the night there and set out a few hours ago. Honestly the worst part of it all was that last stretch of road, when I could see the house but had to push through the snow to get here. It was a long, cold couple of miles."

"Oh you poor thing," Grace said sympathetically, pulling him in for a hug once more. "At least you're home now. How long can you stay?"

"Only eight days, I'm afraid," Tercio answered, frowning. "Seven if the roads are just as bad when I leave."

"Well, we'll just have to make the best of it then, now won't we?"

Roughshod trotted over to Tercio's side and sat down next to him, a tall jug tucked into his side. Two cups soon joined it, and he filled each of them with a generous portion of pale brown liquid. "Your things are in your old bedroom, I didn't think you'd mind."

"Not at all, thank you, Father."

"That's what I thought. Care to join your old man in a drink? Managed to procure a bottle of apple ale from Vigilant and his wife down the road. Fresh stuff, or so they say."

Grace rolled her eyes. She'd always thought Roughshod enjoyed his alcohol too frequently, but Tercio had never seen it impact his attitude or work ethic in any way. As far as he was concerned, his father had earned the right to a drink every now and then. "He's been home for five minutes, husband. At least give the boy a chance to settle in first."

"Nonsense!" Roughshod exclaimed as he raised his cup. "Tercio's not a boy anymore, he's a man! Isn't that right?"

"So they tell me," Tercio chuckled.

"Good! I'll drink to that." They clicked their drinks together and downed a healthy gulp of sweet, apple-flavored alcohol. It lacked the kick of amasec, but it still warmed the throat pleasantly as it went down. "Welcome home, son. Your mother and I, we worry about you, what with this nasty war still going on. She worries enough for the both of us sometimes."

"Especially with all of these rumors we hear," Grace added. "Was Canterlot really attacked again? Just imagining the things you've been through..."

"Canterlot wasn't, but the road leading to it was. Some of the Praetorians lost their lives to a Whitetail incursion. How they got that far, I can't say, but at least the threat thus far has been fairly minimal. As I said, Praetorian duty tends to be dull, except when it's not. I was in no danger, however."

He caught his father giving him a look -- the same look he'd grown up seeing, the one that said "I know there's more to it, but I won't tell your mother." Tercio had never been able to lie to his father, especially about military life. The old stallion had been around the life long enough to know that there were some things you had to hide for the sake of others. Tercio gave him an almost imperceptible nod, and nothing further of it was said.

"Sometimes I wish you'd have become a baker," Grace said with an exasperated laugh. "But it's good that you're taking care of yourself."

"I try to," he said earnestly. "Have either of you heard from Victus lately? I haven't seen him since the last time I was here."

"Heard from? Yes. Seen? I'm afraid not." His mother briefly left the room, returning with a small stack of scrolls clutched in her mouth. She set them down at Tercio's feet. "He writes more frequently than he used to, but it's still sporadic at best. He says he doesn't get the chance very often."

"Last I heard he was on the front lines," Roughshod said, shifting uncomfortably on his haunches. "That boy knows his stuff, but I know what the Legion is about. He's in danger far more often than he admits. Your mother is all too aware, I'm afraid."

"Missus Sunflower, from down the road, has a son in the Legion as well," Grace said as she took a seat beside them. "Squawks like an old hen, she does. Always telling me about this battle or that, some horrible conflict or other her son has been in and thankfully survived. Thank the gods you're mostly away from that sort of thing in the Praetorians, deary."

Tercio unrolled one of the scrolls, dated from a few months back. It was a short letter, hastily written.

Dearest Mother and Father, I do not have a lot of time to write this, but I wanted to let you know I am in good health. Imperator Lighthoof has seen fit to keep us moving forward with the rest of the Guard forces, so much of my day is spent marching or setting up and tearing down our newest encampment. I received word that Tercio fares well, so you needn't worry about your sons. I will write when next I have the opportunity, I promise. Take care of yourselves, and may the gods and the Princess watch over you. With love, Victus.

"Good to know the messenger actually did his job," Tercio said to himself. "When was the last time you heard from him?"

"A few weeks ago, I think."

"Sounds about right," Roughshod added. "I hope he's well."

"Victus is a fine soldier, finer even than myself. If anyone can come through a war unscathed, it's him."

Grace put a hoof in his shoulder. "In any case, at least we have you here with us, Tercio. I'm sure you've plenty to talk about, but you must be exhausted from your trip. Why don't you head on upstairs and put your things away, and I'll draw you a bath."

Tercio put his arms around both of them and smiled. "I've missed you greatly. It's good to be home again."

Finding a secluded place in Canterlot Castle was not easy, even for someone like Celestia. She needed somewhere quiet, where no one else would hear her or witness what she was about to do. For hours she wandered the castle grounds before finding an old storage room, unused and forgotten for decades, at the top of a spire. A thick layer of dust coated everything, and she coughed and sneezed as she cleared out a space on top of a small oaken table that would serve her purposes.

Reaching into a saddlebag, she pulled out two identical pendants -- circular, just about the size of her golden shoe, and carved from ivory to show a deer and a pony chasing each other in a circle. A faintly glowing gem sat in the middle of each, giving off a soft orange light. One of them had been given to her by Empress Elinwynn; the other, found among the possessions of a Nightmare Moon cult. Against all reason she hoped that she was mistaken about Elinwynn. Surely it must be a coincidence, or a trick by her fallen sister to turn her against the Cervidaen Empress? The simpler explanation was the hardest to swallow: Elinwynn was working with Luna-turned-Nightmare-Moon. Either way, she intended to find out soon.

The pendants were placed next to each other on the old, dirty table, and she gave a look to the small, circular window that was the room's only source of light. Night had fallen and brought with it a full moon, its soft, white glow casting eerie shapes through the room. Celestia shivered at the thought of Nightmare Moon watching her, even now, from every dark corner and distorted shadow.

"I have to know," she said to herself. Cautiously she set a hoof on one of the pendants and hesitated. What was she supposed to say? What did she expect would happen? "Luna. Luna, can you hear me?" Silence. "Please, speak to me." No, she thought, Luna is gone. She would have to try a different approach. She gathered her courage and raised her voice. "Nightmare Moon, I demand you come forth! Face me! Or are you frightened by my power?"

Both pendants began to shake, clattering around on the table, and all at once streamers of ethereal darkness, like shimmering smoke flecked with stars, burst from the ivory surface. Celestia stepped back in momentary panic as it swirled and flowed over itself, thick and viscous. A gust of wind filled the air with dust as the cloud formed the vague shape of an alicorn, barely visible as a patch of darkness against the background of twinkling lights. A pair of dragon-like eyes stared at her, a sickly teal in color, unblinking, and for a moment she found herself terrified beyond words.

"Luna? It's your sister, Celestia," she finally managed to say. "You remember me, don't you?" The dark thing said nothing, showed no sign it even acknowledged her presence. "I will not refer to you as Nightmare Moon, Luna. I refuse. That is not who you were. I will never choose to think of you as this...thing you've become."

It slowly tilted its head at her, as if studying her across the the vast distance, and a sudden grin of sharp, predatory teeth appeared beneath the terrible eyes, glinting like knives of white steel. "You may lie to yourself, sister, but never to me." The voice echoed through the room; feminine, yet heavy and powerful. "What pathetic gesture has brought you here? Are you ready to surrender to my followers at last?"

Celestia hung her head. "I had heard tale you communed with the vile cultists who commit such terrible crimes in your name, but to see it with my own eyes...what happened to you? The Luna I knew would have never brought so much pain and suffering to the ponies she cared for."

"The Luna you knew is dead!" Nightmare Moon shouted, her voice shaking Celestia's vision. "She was a weak, disgusting wretch who stood in your shadow and never once sought to question her place as the helpless, subservient sibling of a ruler who continues to think she has done nothing wrong!"

Celestia felt tears welling in the corners of her eyes, and she blinked them away before the thing that called itself her sister could see her weep. "Is that what you really think of me? What have I ever done, in all of our years together, that would drive you to darkness like this? Please, tell me..."

"I will not waste my time with such trivial sympathies. You know what you've done."

"You are not trivial to me, Luna!" Celestia shot back, raising her voice. "I had to banish you! You were killing innocent ponies! Would you have preferred I ended your life instead?"

"You could have certainly tried," it smirked.

"We grew up together! We spent hundreds of years at each others' side! We...we were there when Mother passed away, and Father soon after. Doesn't that mean anything to you?" She could still remember it like it had just happened: their mother, surrounded by apothecaries as she lay dying on her bed. Celestia and Luna had held her hoof for what felt like endless hours as the light slowly faded from her mane, and the very breath left her body. They'd wept for days after it happened. Even their father could hardly look at them for weeks to come, so great was his shame.

"Enough! I did not grace you with my presence so that we may discuss being mere fillies. Aurora was weak. Argo should have joined her sooner, the foolish old stallion that he was." Nightmare Moon's eyes narrowed. "I regret only that I cannot find their souls, that I may remind them of their failures for all eternity."

Celestia felt a terrible rage growing within her, already tired of playing games with her sister. She lifted the other pendant from the table with her magic, floating it before Nightmare Moon's shadowy visage. "If you will not speak to me as my sister, then I demand you tell me the truth: are you allied with Empress Elinwynn? What does she want from you?" The thing of shadow and stars seemed to hesitate, if only for a moment, almost imperceptibly lifting a foreleg in surprise. "Answer me!"

"The deer monarch is of no concern."

"This pendant was personally given to me by her before this war even started! Am I to believe it's a mere coincidence that she has the exact same emblem that's being used by the cults to summon you?" Celestia stepped forward until she was nearly face to face with Nightmare Moon's swirling clouds of smoke. "What is its purpose? Is she supporting your misguided efforts against me? What kind of foul magic has she tainted it with?" The figure said nothing. "Luna!"

Without another word it dispersed into glittering smoke, and in seconds all traces of it were gone. Celestia trembled with anger and sadness, and with a shout she pulled the pendants from the table and crushed them under hoof.

She saw her sister smiling at her side as they raced through the halls of their parents' castle in the forest.

Stomp.

She felt the reassuring embrace as Luna consoled her over the loss of her pet, a bird that had been a gift from their father.

Stomp.

She heard laughter as they attended their first play in decades at the newly-created Canterlot amphitheater, surrounded by close friends.

Stomp.

The ivory pendants chipped and crunched until they were naught but jagged flakes and shattered gemstone, and Celestia threw open the window and scattered their remains with the wind. For the first time in months she felt helpless, alone and lost. She collapsed to the floor, and sobbed until she couldn't anymore.

Centurion Sea Spout trotted alongside his Princess with a set of keys dangling from his mouth. He had been awakened at a terribly late hour, and he blinked away his lingering weariness as their hoof-falls echoed through the narrow stone corridor.

"Please inform Imperator Infernus at your earliest convenience that I will need him to shore up the defenses along the border with Whitetail. Secondary Guard units may be pulled from locally stationed auxilia troops. I want them watching every inch of that border like a hawk," Celestia ordered.

"Yes, Princess, as you wish." Sea Spout thought she looked exhausted, try as she might to hide it. It was evident in the way she carried herself and in the redness of her eyes. Had she been crying?

"I apologize for waking you, Sea Spout, but this is a matter of the utmost urgency."

"There is no need for apologies, Your Highness," he said respectfully. "I am here to serve, no matter the hour. I must warn you, however, that our captive may not be so cooperative."

"I take it she has told you nothing of value yet?"

He shook his head. "I am afraid not. This whitetail doe is not one to divulge information so easily."

"Everyone talks. It's only what it takes to get them there that differs," Celestia said, her voice cold and even, and Sea Spout was glad he was not a prisoner right then.

They descended a flight of stairs and came to a gated metal door, where an engraved stone on the wall warned of dangerous magics ahead. He searched briefly for the proper key and the lock clacked open.

"Please stay here, Centurion. I will return shortly."

"Of course, Princess." Had it been anyone else, he would have worried for their safety -- but if the ruler of Equestria wasn't strong enough to withstand the doe's magic, no one was.

Celestia continued down a short hallway, through a magically sealed door, and soon she was standing before the iron bars of Alinalyys' cell. She was surprised to find the deer awake, sitting on her cot with her head bowed and speaking quietly to herself in litanies of devotion to the spirits of Whitetail's state religion. Celestia stood silently, her mind filled with questions.

"Hello, Princess," Alinalyys said calmly in lightly-accented Equestrian, not looking up from the small, carved figurines she'd been allowed to keep for cooperating upon her capture. Bruised skin showed itself along her neck, shades of purple and red under her coat of burnt oak and white spots, a lasting reminder of her near-death at the hands of an enraged Tercio not long before. "You are up very late."

"I could say the same of you."

"I have always enjoyed the night. I feel at home in its embrace. That must sound quite strange to one who raises the sun, yes? So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

"Something has come up, Alinalyys. I was hoping you could provide me with some information." Celestia remained calm and friendly in response, but she knew it was just a game. The whitetail doe was outwardly polite, but it was only a facade to hide the ruthless killer inside.

"I cannot promise I will be of help, but you may ask."

The small prayer idols clicked together as they were gathered into a small bundle and placed gently on a cloth, then set to the side on a pillow that was one of the few comforts permitted in the otherwise barren cell.

"What do you know of Empress Elinwynn?"

Alinalyys tilted her head and shrugged. "As much as any other whitetail. She's the leader of the Cervidaen Hegemony, and one of those disgusting redtails. Nowhere near as striking and confident as we are. And those antlers -- they make her look like a stag." She laughed. "Can you imagine? Antlers on a whitetail doe? How ridiculous that would be."

"I was hoping for something a little more substantial," Celestia added.

"Like what, exactly? I have never met her, much less conversed with her at any length. Her and that insufferable brother of hers are around far too often for my tastes. Sometimes I'd see them conversing with the Chancellor, but that was back before your people drove a blade into his heart."

"We did not kill Chancellor Artellus," Celestia insisted. "And if you keep insisting otherwise then you will never see the truth behind it. You, and the rest of Whitetail, were played."

"As you say," Alinalyys said dismissively. Celestia could feel herself growing impatient.

"Does Empress Elinwynn have connections to the Nightmare Moon cults? Has she shown any signs of cooperating with them?"

The deer captive laughed at the thought. "Elinwynn, working with those murderous, misguided fools who think of your sister as some sort of deity? Surely you jest, unless insanity runs in your bloodline."

"And what makes you so sure?" Nightmare Moon certainly seemed to be surprised by Celestia's connection. It wasn't a lot to go on, but it was better than nothing.

"My dear Princess, no one, ourselves included, view these fanatics as anything more than annoyances. Their attack on Canterlot may have been...fortuitous, as far as the Whitetail war effort was concerned, but we hold no love for their ilk. Any encampments spotted within Whitetail territory are swiftly and mercilessly exterminated. Elinwynn herself has overseen the destruction of a few within her own borders, or so they say."

"They?" Celestia prodded.

"The higher-ups, the officers."

"We have reason to believe your vaunted officers have been working with the followers of Nightmare Moon, even selling fellow whitetail into slavery, or worse. More recently, I have come to believe that Elinwynn is working with my fallen sister as well, in some sort of unholy alliance against myself and my people."

Alinalyys clicked her tongue. "My, my, but that is quite the accusation you're throwing around."

"Tell me what you know."

"You presume I know anything about it in the first place."

"I know you belonged to the 3rd Magi, based in northern Evinwiir, personally overseen by some of the most powerful whitetail in the military, and you had access to meetings with very important deer. So I ask you again: tell me what you know, Alinalyys."

She shrugged. "You know what unit I was a part of. So what? It's not exactly a secret."

"By not sharing information you are complacent in the selling of fawns to these sick followers. Do you really want that burden on your shoulders? How many more will lose their lives, their identities, before you see past your pride?"

Alinalyys glared back. "I do not know them, nor do I have reason to believe what you're telling me is anything more than a lie. And besides, using fawns as some sort of guilt play against me? For shame, Princess. I had expected better from Equestrians." Alinalyys took a sip from the pitcher beside her bed and added, "you know, you can't keep me here forever. While your hospitality is unexpected, this place is far from enjoyable."

"You underestimate us," Celestia said firmly.

"And you underestimate me, Princess. Brother-Captain Corvalix was right: you are too kind for your own good. He may be an appalling offshoot of the superior whitetail heritage, but he's right." Alinalyys stepped down from her bed and approached the bars until she was nearly face to face with Celestia. "Do you know what they call you in my country, Celestia? Anafiir doeth fon'defaliin."

"'One without conviction.'" Celestia said as she drew upon her long years of knowledge.

"You know more deertongue than you let on," the doe said with a smirk.

"They are wrong. Many have said the same of Equestria -- of me -- and they have always paid for it in the end."

"So you say, Princess. But let's not kid ourselves: you and I both know you have no stomach for war."

"Perhaps you are not aware, but our forces are a mere stone's throw from your capital," Celestia retorted. The dismissive laughter from her captive was infuriating.

"And? You've yet to assault the city itself. Nothing is over until the rubble has been cleared. Chancellor Vinawyll is a coward and everyone knows it, so he leaves the actual commanding of our forces to his generals, useless though they seem to be. Evinwiir has never fallen in its many centuries, and it will not start now. We will find a way."

"He could always surrender. It would make thing so much simpler. It would stop the bloodshed."

"Surrender? And let the wrath of his citizens fall upon his neck? I don't think you know what kind of buck Vinawyll truly is. You're sooner to wrest a term of surrender from a cragodile."

Judging by the dozens of unreturned letters pleading for the Chancellor to give up the fight and save lives, Alinalyys wasn't far from right. Did Vinawyll really value his nation so little?

"You are far more talkative about this than I'd expected, Alinalyys."

"That's because I do not picture a scenario in which doing so will result in punishment. You see, Princess, there are only two ways this little war of ours can possibly play out: you lay siege to the capital and win, or you refuse to commit to the attack and lose as your forces are slowly depleted by swift strikes and silent blades. Either way, I will be free soon after, and no one will have been any the wiser. And it's not as if I have told you anything you didn't already know." She smiled and said, "Besides, you're so much more polite in conversation than that dreadful guard -- cen-turnion, I think is his rank? -- you insist on keeping here. He could really use a little work when it comes to his manners."

"He is also one of our most powerful unicorns. I would think twice before attempting anything ill-advised, if I were you."

Alinalyys motioned to the cell door. "It's not as if I can will myself to pass through iron bars. Really, you should relax a little. You look quite distressed -- is something bothering you?"

"I want to talk about the Nightmare Moon cult again," Celestia said, ignoring the prodding question. A sour look crossed the deer's face.

"Why in the world would you want to do that? Nasty sorts, all of them."

"What do you know about how they communicate with each other, or with Nightmare Moon herself?"

Alinalyys thought for a moment. "A medallion of some sort, I think. Or pendant. Soon after the war started I was tasked with taking down a camp of traitorous whitetail who had decided that your sister was the one, true path, or something. I never asked them what they really thought, though I imagine they would have found it difficult to answer with their throats sliced open." For a time she appeared to be lost in a memory, smiling to herself. "It's truly amazing how many victims fall for a simple misdirection. A feigned image here, a trick of the mind there, and before you know it you're practically swimming in their blood. Ten of them fell before me that day. Do you know what it's like to plunge a quinn-blade through someone, to feel their very essence fading away? I have yet to meet a buck who can recreate such a thrill."

"The pendant, Alinalyys," Celestia reminded her with a stomp of her golden shoe.

"Hmm? Oh, yes. You'll forgive me for reminiscing about the better times. We destroyed quite a few of those encampments, but the only thing that seemed to connect them was a broken trinket made of ivory and gemstones. We learned after a short time that they would destroy them at the first sign of trouble, presumably to keep them out of our hooves."

"Did you find any intact?"

"Two, I think."

"And what did you do with them?"

"I passed them on to the Brother-Captain...or is it Brother-General now? I always forget. Regardless, Corvalix was most pleased to have them in his possession. No doubt you've seen a few of your own by now. Tell me: did you manage to use them as the traitors used them?" Celestia hesitated to answer, and try though she might, something betrayed her thoughts to her captive. Alinalyys gasped in delight. "You did, didn't you? Myself and some of my sisters attempted to do the same, but it never worked. You simply must share what you saw! Was it Nightmare Moon? What did she say?"

"I will not discuss such things. Not with you."

Alinalyys sighed dramatically. "Really now, Princess, I may be a prisoner but I am not a monster. We share a common ground, you and I, in our hatred of the cults. If the good Corvalix were here now we could have a most wonderful discussion as he played with himself, or maimed a small animal, or whatever it is the redtail do in the company of one another."

Celestia was clearly growing tired of the conversation. "What did Corvalix do with the pendants once he had them?"

"How should I know? Such things were no concern of mine. I merely do as I'm asked and receive my pay." Alinalyys yawned and motioned to her bed. "Enlightening though this conversation is, I would very much like to get some rest. Are we done here, or...?"

"Very well, I suppose that's enough for now," Celestia answered. "I thank you for the conversation, and for being cooperative once more, but I must take my leave."

"How could I say no to such fine company? I assume I'll be receiving more agreeable quarters now."

"If you tell me what you know about the connection between the cultists and the nation of Cervidae, I would consider it."

Alinalyys frowned and said, "I think you are grasping at straws for such a connection. And you assume I know more than I really do. Do you tell all of your state secrets to your enlisted soldiers? No? Then I fail to see why you think I would know. Being in a prestigious unit does not exactly make me a warsmith."

Exhausted and growing increasingly weary of the self-assured deer, Celestia bowed and turned to leave. "We'll discuss it some other time. Sleep well, Alinalyys."

"I shall. And if you happen to take a strong buck captive, do be sure to send him my way. I could use a good rutting before bed!"

Celestia scoffed and shut the door behind her, rubbing her eyes as Sea Spout secured the lock. Alinalyys wasn't the most unpleasant doe she'd ever spoken with, but her bravado seemed to be in line with many of the high-class whitetail -- and redtail, for that matter. For two peoples who seemed to despise each other so much, they sure acted similar.

"She says you need to work on your manners," Celestia said, leaning against the wall with a slow exhale. Tomorrow would be a long day. They both gave a short laugh, and Sea Spout tucked the keys back into his saddlebag.

"I will work on my manners when she stops referring to me as 'boy' and complaining about the food. I'm relatively sure I'm older than she is. In any case, it could be worse. Did you manage to learn anything from her, Princess?"

In fact, she had. Without being aware of it, the talkative deer had given her a strong lead to go on; the fact that the cults were apparently under orders to destroy the communication pendants if they were threatened told her that whoever was giving them out clearly did not want to be found.

"I am afraid not," she said anyway. Better to keep things to herself for now.

"A shame. Perhaps next time."

"Perhaps. You may return to your quarters, Sea Spout. Goodness knows I will be returning to mine. Thank you for helping at such a late hour."

Sea Spout saluted with a hoof over his chest. "I am always here for you, Princess. Have a good night."

Celestia bowed out of respect and parted ways with the jailer, passing by a pair of ponies at the entrance to the building and wishing them well. Once outside in the cold, clear air she felt her frustrations lifting, giving way to so many more questions than she'd had before. Luna's followers were receiving their pendants from somewhere -- could it have been Elinwynn? All evidence seemed to point in that direction, but she knew it wouldn't be enough to confront the Cervidaen Empress with. Not yet.

That left her with one thread to follow, in the form of Elinwynn's determined brother, Corvalix. Alinalyys had said he looked 'overjoyed' to receive the pendants. If he was working with both his sister and Nightmare Moon, then keeping such a thing hidden would have been in his best interests, and what better way to hide your involvement than to control the only thing that could possibly link you to it?

Still...if Elinwynn really was behind the distribution of the Nightmare Moon pendants, what did she possibly stand to gain by giving one to the leader of Equestria? She knew Celestia far too well to think she'd never make the connection. Or did she want Celestia to figure it out? Was it some deeper ploy? And for what reason?

She finally fell onto her bed, sure that she would find no sleep this night. But she was exhausted, so very tired, both mentally and physically, and before long she could no longer fight against it. She dreamed of Luna, so young and vibrant, and for a few hours, at least, she was free of her worries.