"You're cruel...!" The words cut into Midnight's soul as his mother regarded him with tearful horror, "Have you really become so cold that you can stand there as your own flesh and blood is brutalized and his mind played with by these- These... monsters?!"

Twilight and Spike didn't know what to do or say as they watched the mother and son share a gaze of emotional turmoil, Faerie Tail horrified and heartbroken, Midnight physically as composed as a statue and yet the tears running down his face from his wavering eyes betrayed his true feelings.

"He's done it." The Eldress's words cut through the heavy tension, all eyes turning to her, and Moondance turned to them, a proud smile on her face, "Twinken has taken the first and most important step in order to master his power and his self."

"What are you talking about?!" Faerie Tail sobbed as she pointed to the mirror, showing Twinken, bruised, battered, and bloody on the floor, alone in a dismal hall, "He could be dying right now!!"

"No, he's never been more alive," Moondance's horn lit up and the looking glass rippled with a resonant tone, the image changing to reveal Twinken starting to wake up on a comfortable bed while surrounded by several Lunobi warriors. It was like looking through a window.

"What is this...?!" Faerie Tail demanded, confused, relieved to see Twinken didn't look hurt or tired or tortured at all. In fact, the colt seemed to be waking up, fresh as a daisy, and becoming confused himself by how he was in a nice bed, with several lunobi watching over him.

In fact, one of them approached with an actual plate of milk and cookies, bewildering the young unicorn, who suddenly looked frustrated for a moment before he accepted the snack with hungry gratitude before enjoying himself.

"He's... okay? This isn't a trick?" Faerie Tail didn't know what to think.

"Twinken was never in any danger, Mom." The pregnant mare turned to her older son, who returned her look with one of hurt and shame. "His entire experience was a dream! Specially designed by the lunobi dreamwalkers to carry out the Rite. All his injuries, the fighting, everything in it, was only a dream."

"Wha- Wait a minute! Then what was that whole 'knowledge or death' crock?!" demanded Spike indignantly.

"Not crock, truth," Pale Ryder answered, "Just not what it sounded like to those who don't understand our traditions. The Rite of the Lunobi can end only one of two ways, Knowledge or Death. The knowledge that would give those who take the Rite enlightenment to help them grow and become wiser and open to what they were unknowingly missing or resisting, the death of the flaws, doubts, and burdens that were holding them back and weighing upon their hearts.

"The Rite is performed in a dream in order to remove the risks of actual physical harm and is overseen by our best dreamwalkers to ensure the initiate's mind is safe and in no danger of harm to their psyche."

"Well then why didn't you tell us that from the start?!" Twilight was annoyed, especially with her husband, who was doing his best to avoid her irate glare.

"Twinken is a telepath, and even asleep there was a risk, however small, he might hear or perceive your thoughts on the true nature of the Rite," explained Moondance in a patient manner. "If he'd known from the start, or even partway into it, that the Rite is only a dream it would spoil the results and hamper his efforts in overcoming it. As you are not lunar ponies, your minds are more open to his telepathic scrutiny, and despite our dreamwalkers keeping his awareness under the dream we could not allow even the slightest chance he would have heard you and learned the truth until after the fact.

"If still you doubt us, go and see for yourself."

The doors behind them unlocked, and Faerie tail almost rushed out, but froze. She looked back at Midnight, whose hurt was written all over his face, and turned away. The sight of it filled Faerie Tail with her own confused shame, but her concern for Twinken spurred her to go see him. Spike followed, but Twilight stayed.

She regarded her husband with mixed feelings, yet saw he was not in a good place. Taking a deep breath, she approached him and placed a hoof to his cheek to make him look her in the eye. Despite opening her mouth, Twilight was at a loss for words, uncertain of what to say.

"...how could you possibly think I would ever endanger my little brother?" Midnight's words struck deeply, making Twilight tear up as well, her eyes faltering.

At a loss for words, Twilight pressed her forehead to Midnight's (being mindful of their horns), the two of them just standing there, in that emotional moment-

"...what?!" Midnight suddenly said tersely, and Twilight flinched back, until she saw him looking past her and she followed his gaze to see a lunobi bowing before them.

"My apologies, Your Majesties," the lunobi said formally before standing and pulling out a scroll from a pouch she wore on her belt, "but I have an urgent message for the two of you. From the Griffon King."

Twinken gasped as his eyes opened and he bolted upright, finding himself in a bed. He noticed the absence of the aching bruises and injuries he'd suffered and patted himself down, stunned to see he wasn't hurt at all! Looking around, he saw several lunobi surrounding him, apparently coming out of some kind of meditation, as one of them stood up, holding a plate of cookies and a glass of milk, and approached him, speaking kindly, "Stay calm, young one, you are safe. You have passed the Rite."

"The Rite? I... what's going...!!" Then Twinken realized and groaned in annoyance, "It was a dream?! Seriously?!?"

"All will be made clear soon enough. Until then, perhaps you would like to refresh yourself," the lunobi held out the milk and cookies.

Although Twinken was still irritated, his tummy gave a famished grumble, so he accepted the snack and found the cookies to be quite yummy, having a subtle sweetness that made him think of some kind of berry only he couldn't identify which one, and the milk felt good and cool as it settled in his stomach, helping his razzed nerves.

"...these are good cookies," Twinken said after swallowing and washing it down. "Thank you."

"You are welcome, and yes, the cookies are a recipe we have here on the Shetland Isles," noted the lunobi who'd spoken to the colt and given him the snack. "They're made with moonberries, a berry that can only be grown in moonlight and with the magic of lunar earth ponies. We use moonberries for all kinds of recipes, including cookies, tea, desserts, creams, jellies, gelatin, and more."

"I'd like to try some more recipes, if that's okay," Twinken said as he took another bite.

"I'm sure that can be arranged, but I think somepony wants to see you," the lunobi said, and hardly a moment later a door in the room, directly across from Twinken, opened, and in walked Faerie Tail, looking on the verge of concerned panic, followed by Moondance and Hazel Twig, as the three mares entered the room, Faerie Tail rushing over to her son.

"Twinken! Oh, sweetheart, are- Are you alright? How do you feel?" Faerie Tail was all over him, hugs, kisses, looking him over, making Twinken flush at how embarrassing this was in front of these lunobi warriors.
"You seem alright, but are you feeling okay? Do you want to go home? We'll go home, I'll bake you a cake, we can have a mother-son outing-"

"MO-OM!! Relax! I'm okay, besides, you're embarrassing me..." Twinken griped, but he smiled as well, magicking his mother over to give her a reassuring hug, which helped calm the pregnant mare's nerves, as she felt her colt hold her, the warmth, the comfort, and even the feeling that he didn't seem at all distressed.

When they finally stopped the hug, Faerie Tail looked Twinken in the eyes and couldn't help noticing a change in her son. She reached up to brush a strand of his mane out of his face, and he reached up to hold her hoof to his cheek, smiling with a warm appreciation and love, and finally Faerie Tail felt like she'd just released a breath she'd been holding in.

"You're okay..." she murmured in relieved understanding.

"I'm okay," Twinken nodded, "I know now, as real and as scary as it seemed, it was all a dream. And like my mistress always tells me, bad dreams can't hurt you but they can also help you, if you keep an open mind."

Sighing in deepest relief, Faerie Tail's subdued joy was soon replaced with feelings of shame as she recalled what she'd said to her other son.

"How are you feeling, little brother?" His voice made her flinch, but Faerie Tail kept her composure as she heard them come in.

"Different... but the same," Twinken responded with a considering smile.

"Heha, that's exactly how I felt after I took the Rite," Midnight nodded in confirmation. "Like a great burden had suddenly become lighter."

"Uh-huh. It's still there, but I feel better," Twinken understood, "This whole time, ever since the test, I've been so scared. I thought it was of my power, but I was actually scared of myself. That I wasn't ready. That I wasn't strong enough. I thought I had to keep everypony away from me, for their own safety... that was just an excuse though, because I was too afraid to face the real problem, that I have to work towards mastering my power, and mastering my self. Or else I never will.

"I'm ready to train," Twinken said to Moondance, "and I'll take my time, with my mind open and clear."

Moondance smiled with a nod, "And I'm ready to teach you."

"So then, Eldress." All eyes turned to Midnight, "I can leave my brother and mother with you?"

"Leave?! Wha- Midnight, where are you going?" Faerie Tail was alarmed, "We... I think that we need to..."

"I'm afraid this is unavoidable," Midnight responded with a formal tone, "Just minutes ago, a lunobi delivered to Twilight and myself a message from Godric, the Griffon King. He's requesting our help in light of a disturbing development."

"According to King Godric's message, two weeks ago his brother, Lord Gar, was broken out of prison... by a unicorn pony," Twilight added with a serious demeanor, "The identity of this pony is unknown but they not only helped Gar escape, but it seems they are helping him. Despite the Sky Knights' efforts to track them down, Gar remains at large and rumors are circulating he's gathering support."

"For what is uncertain, but King Godric is concerned that his brother may be conspiring against him, and since a unicorn pony is aiding and abetting Gar," clarified Midnight, "King Godric wishes for us to aid him in any damage-control and prevent what could potentially become an international incident. If it comes to that, relationships between the Griffon Kingdom and Equestria could be damaged, tensions could rise, and things could even turn hostile between our nations."

"The Shetland Isles are directly between Equestria and the Griffon Kingdom," Pale Ryder brought up, "should the worst come to pass, the lunar ponies will have to get involved."

"Let's hope it does not," Midnight responded before looking to his brother and mother, "You three will remain here while Twilight and I embark for Griffonstone. We will leave you with four of the Harmony Guard as additional security. I can't say when we'll be back, but hopefully it will be soon. Until then, Twinken, train hard, focus on yourself for the time being, and look after Mom."

"...I will, I promise you," Twinken nodded determinedly, making Midnight give him a proud smile before the alicorn turned to his mom.

Faerie Tail looked at her son with her emotions tangled up. Now knowing what had really been going on, shame overwhelmed her for her harsh words against Midnight, shame for not trusting him, ever doubting him. She didn't have the heart to return the hug he gave her, only to tear up and struggle to in a futile effort to keep control, only for her Midngiht to kindly whisper, "You don't have to say anything. You're our mom, you were only worried for your colt."

"...I'm worried for both of you, and for Twilight...!" Faerie Tail sobbed softly, "Does it really have to be you?"

"King Godric is a good friend and he was one of my mentors," Midnight asserted, "He reached out to us, he needs our help. I would dishonor him and myself if I were to deny him aid."

"Ha, you have your father's honor," Faerie Tail said proudly though she did not miss the brief seething in Midnight's eyes, but he accepted her compliment all the same. Neither of them however noticed a slight gasp from Twinken as he recalled something. "Er- Wait, you said... the three of us?"

"Spike will remain here with you," nodded Twilight.

"WHAT!?" the little drake exclaimed, "What- I- Twilight! You can't go and leave me here! I'm your Number One Assistant! You need me-"

"To be safe, Spike," Twilight placed her hooves on Spike's shoulders, "and to help look after Faerie Tail and Twinken. The situation at Griffonstone is too dangerous to have you along. I can't, in good conscience, bring you to a place where danger is all but a given. Please understand that."

Spike looked into the eyes of his Twilight, his caregiver, the pony who was his big sister, not by blood but in heart. She meant every word, for it came from a place that cares, not to demean him. Sighing, Spike smiled halfheartedly, "I... understand, Twilight."

Twilight regarded her Number One Assistant warmly before giving him a hug, and then gently turning him towards Faerie Tail, saying to them, "Look after each other, Auntie Faerie Tail."

"We will, dear," Faerie Tail promised before giving them a look of motherly concern, "and you both do the same. Come home safely."

"We will," Midnight promised as he went to stand beside his wife, giving her a regarding look, "You don't have to come. I could-"

"Not this time, buster," Twilight gave him a raised brow and smirk, "King Godric asked for both of us. No sneaking off on your own this time."

Midnight gave her a sheepish smile, and flushed at the chuckles and amused looks everyone present gave him before clearing his throat, "In that case, we'd best be off.

"We'll take The Dawn, since you're gonna be here for a while," Midnight stated, "but if you need to get home sooner rather than later I'm sure the Nocturnal Council can help with that."

"We will. Allow me to escort you to your ship," Pale Ryder offered.

After a few final words of farewells, good lucks, and take cares, the two alicorns, accompanied by Pale Ryder and another lunobi, ventured outside, revealing they had been inside one of the temples of Lunaria, one not far from the lunobi training grounds. The walk to The Break of Dawn was only ten minutes, but before long Midnight and Twilight, after expressing their own gratitude and best wishes, embarked in their ship, headed east while Pale Ryder watched them go.

"Shadow... I know it's not my place," said the lunobi with Pale Ryder, "but I must express my concerns."

"And what concerns are those, Cosmic Eclipse?" Pale Ryder turned to face his subordinate, who lowered his hood and mask, revealing a stallion at least a decade his senior.

A lunar unicorn of nocturnal blue, his face flecked with silvery white spots, giving him a semblance to the night sky, his mane inky black, his eyes a cold stony gray, one of which bore an ugly scar starting from above his brow and reaching down over his eye to the bottom of his cheek.

"Need I remind you the perils of consorting with outsiders? It was only a few years ago those two mercenaries washed up on our shores, took advantage of our hospitality, and 'thanked' me with this..." Cosmic Eclipse pointed to the scar, his eyes glimmering with animosity.

"They are not outsiders, they are our distant kin, one of which is a prince while his brother is apprentice to our Mother of the Night," Pale Ryder reminded, "not to mention the prince's wife is a princess while his mother, too, is of our nocturnal blood."

"Which has been polluted with generations of breeding outside of our bloodlines and our society," Cosmic Eclipse debated, "Relation or not, favored by our princess or not, they are not truly-"

"Enough..." Pale Ryder said with an edge, "Princess Luna herself requested us to give them aid, and aid we have given them. We owe our love and loyalty to our Mother of the Night, without whom our forebears would never have found their true home and true family. The fact Prince Midnight Blaze, Twinken Starglow and Faerie Tail are of mixed heritage is irrelevant! They are our kin and we owe them our aid as we do any lunar pony, regardless of their background. Is that understood, Cosmic Eclipse...?"

The lunar unicorn narrowed his eyes, but sighed while giving a respectful nod to the Shadow, who then took flight, leaving him alone with his thoughts... along with a small hoofheld mirror, which he levitated in front of his face and whispered spidery words. The looking glass rippled like a surface of water before a pair of green feline eyes were looking back at Cosmic Eclipse instead of his reflection.

"Cosmic Eclipse..." purred a smarmy tone that made the stallion want to grind his teeth, "I almost didn't expect to hear from you again. Am I correct to assume that you've... reconsidered?"

Luna forgive me... Cosmic Eclipse thought before he made a fateful decision.

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