Luna lay in the dark cell nestled in the top of Canterlot Tower. The magic blocking harness tightly chained around her neck seemed to be suffocating her. It had barely been a year since the Elements of Harmony had destroyed Nightmare Moon and changed her back into her former self. Now here she was, locked up again. She had sat in the dark for what seemed like ages. She couldn't keep track of the days anymore - the sun had lay on the horizon since the first attack on Canterlot. Luna had tried time and time again to set the sun, but she just couldn't reach out to it - not like this.

The alicorn jerked up as the large metal door that remained closed since she was thrown into her prison had opened. Eastern Spark walked in alone, his horn glowed as a small ball of light shot out it, lighting the room. Spark looked down at Luna. He almost felt sorry for her - lying there, just a shadow of her former glory. Broken. Shattered. Useless.. It was pathetic. Someone who used to hold so much power, strike so much fear into the hearts of everyone.

“What is it Spark?” Luna began before Spark was able to speak. “You've already had your victory, what else could you want from me?”

“It's actually quite interesting Luna,” Spark began, avoiding her question, “you and your sister were more powerful than my triumvirate is, or ever will be.” Spark paused for a short time, and looked at Luna, into her anger filled eyes.

“So, why is it that we so easily took over? Why is it that we had almost no trouble taking the kingdom you ruled for thousands of years in a matter of days?”

Spark continued: “You and your sister ruled for so long. I don't think somepony else must have tried this before we did. You were more powerful than anypony, but you failed to use that power. You failed to to make your subjects fear you, and along with them, your enemies.” Luna's eyes narrowed as she waited patiently for Spark's speech to go on.

“You see, Luna” Spark continued, “fear, is such a powerful emotion - the most powerful, in my opinion. Fear fuels everything we do. And you let the power slip right tout of your grasp. You spoiled your people, you gave them a false sense of security. You told them there was nothing to fear, but most importantly, you gave your enemies nothing to fear.”

“What are you trying to say Spark?” Luna asked, frustrated. “That we-”

“You see, Luna,” Spark cut her off, “we won't make the same mistake. The power of fear will fuel the fire of our rule.” He paused for a few seconds, exhaled, and looked down at Luna. “And what better way to strike fear into the hearts of thousands than to destroy the very thing that they all feared for so long.”

Luna shot up as Spark killed the light, and walked out the door. “Your execution is in two weeks,” he said slowly as he slammed the door behind him, leaving Luna wrapped in darkness.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

“We just need to find a way to talk to him,” Firefly said, “just once.” She paced around her cell, bouncing ideas off the wall and the energetic pink pony across the hall. “Even a letter... just something,” she continued, getting frustrated, there had to be someway they could talk to them.

“Well,” Pinkie Pie interjected, “ don't think we can just talk to them, but a letter sounds possible.” She sat back and put her hoof on her chin, thinking of anything that they could do, anything to help their friends.

Pinkie's eyes widened as she shot back up. ”Ooh!” she chirped, “I know! I know!” The pink pony bounced around her cell, squealing with excitement.

“What?” Firefly asked impatiently, “what is it?”

“Oh, it's perfect!” Pinkie continued, “I can't believe I didn't think of it before!” Pinkie Pie hopped around her cell in excitement.

“PINKIE!” Firefly yelled.

“Oh, right! Sorry, Fiery!” Pinkie said, happily. “We just might be able to send a letter to them. Twilight was talking about how Spike got swallowed up by one of those big dark portals, and that's what happened to me and you, and we're here.”

“So that means that this Spike could be here too,” Firefly commented, piecing Pinkie's idea together, “but why is he important?”

“Well since Spike is a dragon,” Pinkie said, excited about her idea, “so maybe he can send Twilight a letter!”

“It's perfect,” Firefly said,” the only problem is, we don't have ink or paper. And we don't know where this Spike is.”

“Hmm,” Pinkie Pie went back to her thoughts,” we don't have a quill either.”

Firefly looked at her chained wings,” I think we've got that one covered, actually.” She signaled for Pinkie to stop talking as two guards passed. How would they be able to get everything they need AND get the letter to this Spike with all these guards crawling around was still a mystery.

“Look,” Firefly whispered once the guards left, “they herd us out of these cells once a day for twenty minutes to give us food and water. I figure I can get my hooves on some ink and paper in that time. I need you to find out where Spike is, then I can write the letter in my cell and we'll send it off the next day.”

“Okey dokey lokey!” Pinkie said happily, “I'll go find Spike!”

Firefly stared at Pinkie, speechless. Somehow, Pinkie had managed to get out of her cell without making a sound, and without anypony noticing. She now stood in the center of the hallway.

“How the flank did you do that?” Firefly finally asked.

“Well you don't need to talk like that silly filly!” Pinkie said slightly surprised at Firefly's foul language. “Do what?”

Firefly gaped at Pinkie,” Do what?” Firefly asked reluctantly,” get out of your cell!”

“Oh, that?” Pinkie said, ”I just did.” Firefly just stared at Pinkie, not satisfied with her answer.

“You just did...” Firefly was cut off by Pinkie patting her on the head through the bars.

“Don't worry,” Pinkie assured, I'll go find Spike lickety-split!” Pinkie pose her back into the air and got on her tip-hooves as she sneaked out of the hall way and past the guards posted outside the doors at each end.

“Well,” Firefly mumbled, still confused, “that was...interesting.”

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Gates sat up with his back against the rock. He looked out at the lake, vast, calm, reflecting upon the thick layer of mist that covered the lake and the area around him. He closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. He missed this. He missed feeling like he was at home. At peace.

“It was your choice to leave,” Rampart said, walking up to Gates. He sat down next to his friend and looked out at the lake with a distant stare.

“I had to go,” Gates said calmly, “If I stayed here...” He looked at the lake, shining even though the sun didn't break through the fog. He eased his head back, resting it on the stone behind him.

“You could have stayed with us,” Rampart replied evenly. “You let your friends down.” Rampart stood and walked up to the edge of the lake, and looked into it, staring at his reflection.

“I couldn't have stayed with you,” Gates said. “When I left for training, I had to leave everything behind. That's what I needed, I needed-”

“What you needed,” Rampart interrupted coldly. “You were always good at that Gates - taking care of yourself.”

“I tried, okay?” gates pleaded. “I tried to help everypony, but I just couldn't. You're right, I did let them down. Not a day goes by that I'm not haunted by everything that's happened. If I could go back-”

“You can't go back Gates, you should have stayed. Maybe if you had, you could have helped your friends. But you left, and that's when you lost them.” Rampart turned and looked back at the spot Gates was sitting with a look that cut straight through Gates.

“When you left...” Gates said lowly, “I had to go, I just couldn't be around here anymore.” He closed his eyes and sighed, slouching down on the cold stone towering behind him.

“I never left Gates,” Rampart said as began to walk away, “and I never will.”

Gates opened his eyes and whispered, “I know.”

Next Chapter: Chapter Fifteen - Back to Reality Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 55 Minutes