Canterlot castle, throne room…

Celestia was in the throne room alone with her head low as she waited for her guards to give good news about Luna's and the human whereabouts. The events of the pass few days haunted every time they could worsening the dread and the guilt was waxing inside her.

Watching her sister leave her for the human hurt her very deep, however it wasn’t compared to the pain that she felt the moment she banished her to the moon. And that was the thing she feared the most at the current moment; she feared that Luna would fall to the dark influence that the human posses and she would become the nightmare once again.

''Why sister?'' She asked to herself.

“I’m such a failure as a family that my sister trusts a complete stranger rather than her own sister?'' Celestia asked herself aloud; her sadness weights so heavy on her heart.

A knock to the door broke her from the stupor so she could be ready to receive them, hopefully it would help to cease her sorrow.

''They must have found her'' Celestia's hope didn’t vanish, she was sure that she would hear about her sister.

''Enter'' She approved the request.

The great doors slowly creaked open allowing Twilight and her friends followed by a few guards to enter, the group of friends with their solemn faces quietly trotted up to right at front of the princess of the sun.

‘This is not a good sign’ Thought Celestia her face showing concern.

Twilight went to open her mouth but quickly closed it out of nervousness since she didn’t have any idea of how to address her once mentor meanwhile Spike looks at both of them concerned.

Hiding her emotions Celestia sighed knowingly ''You didn't find them, did you?'' The group in front of her lowered their head accepting it, they have failed their task.

The only one who gave a step forward was Spike.

''Yes and No Celestia'' Spike said standing with bravery, ''We know where they went but not where they are headed.''

''Oh, well at least is somewhat comforting to hear that so tell me Spike, where are they?'' A small smile adorned her face erasing any trace of dread that was in her.

''They were seen entering the northern edge of...The Everfree'' Spike let the answer out of his mouth as his head lowered, the news were hard to hear.

‘THE EVERFREE???!!!!!.................HE MUSTS BE SEEKING GRIMMNJOR!!!!!!’ Celestia was a bomb on the inside while the outside showed a somewhat calm demeanor, however the situation has changed and for the worse.

“I see…” There were so many things she wanted to say and do but she couldn’t, not in front of her subjects.

Celestia eyes grew cold, and every pony who dared to see her eyes felt the coldness reach their spines ''Leave, I wish to speak with Sir Spike alone.'' her command was direct, without a second thought one by one the ponies left however a purple alicorn stubbornly stayed.

''Twilight this is only between me and Spike.'' Celestia repeated feeling a bit irritated for her old student action since there was no time to lose.

''Anything you have to him can be said in front of me as well. '' Twilight was filled with determination no matter who is the one speaking.

Celestia cleared her throat “Did I stutter?''

Twilight kept her place. ''No, I am stayi-

''Please, you know that I don’t like to raise my voice much less to you.” Celestia was being nice but everything has a limit and Twilight was on the borderline.

Twilight wanted to argue back however Spike stopped her from doing so and looked at her. “Twilight please, just leave for now.”

The young alicorn sighed and made her way out of the room leaving behind the dragon and the princess. Only after Twilight left the room did Celestia closes the doors and cast a sound proof spell to avoid the curious ones.

''First I would like to start about your relationship and how you didn’t tell me about it yourself.” Spike heart’s just skipped a beat at hearing that coming from his mother. “However that can wait for another time since we have other matter to attend first.”

“Is about Aunt Luna, isn’t it.”

Celestia gave a solemnly nod. “I failed her once again.”

''No you didn't mother, Luna seemed happy before the appearance of that human.'' Spike tried his best comfort the grieving princess. ''He is solely responsible for Luna running away.'' If he only knew.

''No my dear Spike, Alkeyore may have a part in this but he wasn't entirely the cause, I thought Luna was happy with us, yet she was always wearing a mask of false happiness all these years; one that I should have noticed sooner as her sister and now that she left with him I am scared of what will happen to her.”

''Don’t say that, he probably casted a spell on her.” Spike sounded so confident on his words.

''That is always a possibility, or even worse he forced her.” To relief the constant stress Celestia rubbed her temples with her primary feathers. “As much as it pains me, the best thing we can do right now is wait.”

“Are you sure, surely there is a way to trap him in the Everfree.”

“Yes I am, the Everfree forest is a hostile terrain for us and I fear that the forest will help him in case that we take action. However they have to leave that cursed place one day.” She couldn’t imagine what could happen, Alkeyore finding Grimmjor would create a new conflict that would put Equestria in ruin, not because what they would do; if not what the other nations who are still devoted to the humans.

“But Celestia, that's too risky. Avalon can’t know that a human walks among us freely, you know what will happen if the devoted nations hear about him.” His heart beat faster and faster, he didn’t want to Equestria to fall into a war not because of the lives that would be lost; because Equestria is his home despite the problems it has.

''I am perfectly aware of the consequence Spike, however sooner or later the word of his existence will arrive to the ears of every living being of Avalon but before that happens I want just my sister back.''

One day later…

Luna's pov

''Please Alkeyore accept my apologies.” I plead once again, I was tired very tired. I felt like any time I would collapse from exhaustion because I had been walking an entire day asking for forgiveness, however every step I gave I felt how my will to keep going vanished and the silence that I was getting in return only worsened my state.

I lost the flow of time until he finally stopped, that moment was enough for my body to finally give up. I lay on the ground, feeling the dirt stain my mane and fur; but it mattered little to me, after all I just wanted him to accept my apology.

He turned back and stood in front of me watching me but saying nothing, his eyes said too many things to me and probably most of them weren’t nice or maybe they weren’t intended to leave a message at all.

“I’m surprised you managed to come this far without rest or food, however I believe you made your choose clear.” What I have been awaiting for so long finally happened it was a relief but the tone he used didn’t feel right at all. “But there is still time for regret; if you want to continue then stand up if not, then stay where you are.” My mind was clear and had a single objective in mind, it was time to rise.

“I see…”

It was difficult to maintain that position but somehow I was managing perfectly well, but it didn’t last. Not because I couldn’t keep going; because I was lifted of the ground only to be placed somewhere that much to my surprise was comfortable to rest for a while. I didn’t pay attention on what I was on; I just wanted a well deserved rest.

“There might not be another chance to rest, so make this one count.” Alkeyore said with the same hostile-neutrality than before; then he walked away.

“WAIT!” I got his attention thing that I had been trying to do the last day. “Can we talk, please?” However, I received the same cold answer; nothing.

''Then I will start.'' I told him with assertiveness however my ears folded back when he stared at me with the sound of his no existent words.

“It was necessary for us to venture so deep in the forest?'' My question needed to be answered however I only met silence.

‘‘Alkeyore, please talk to me.”

He turned back so he could do what he was supposed to do moments ago.

“I am terrible sorry of misjudging you.”

And only the dread symphony of the forest followed.

‘He hates you’ a voice whispered in the back of my mind.

‘He's going leave you alone like the others’

‘You are useless.’

‘You are only a burden to him’

Those words were a lie but the more I heard the more I started to believe them because the facts point them to be true, and it couldn’t hurt more. I felt how those negative feelings started to drown me and there was no way out, but it didn’t matter to me anymore.

''It was highly necessary Luna …'' His voice snapped me out of myself destructive state which I was in. The neutrality that he had was replaced for the same eyes I seen back in the castle another thing that gave me relief. “However, I need to know something.''

''I will do my best, you only need to ask.'' I immediately replied so the silence wouldn’t last.

"I...'' He looked away for a moment pondering, I felt anxiety for his silence and I wanted it to end as soon as possible. “Yesterday, it was the first time you saw death wasn’t it?”

With a crestfallen look upon my face I answered with the truth ''Yes, he was....despite I have lived so much time; he was the first I watched die in front of my eyes.''

My words seemed to weigh heavily upon him; it was everything that has happened didn’t matter anymore. The guilt he was feeling despite perfectly knowing I was the guilty one.

I shook my head ''No Alkeyore, don’t feel guilt because I’m the one who wronged you, despite the situation could have been handled better you did…that to protect me.”

We maintained the eye contact and everything felt like was returning to how it was before ''Any of us is not free of sin it seems.”

I gave a light giggle ''I believe we can exchange these sins so we would be free of them, wouldn’t you agree’”

''I can tell that is a fair deal.” He grasped one of my cheeks with the same care than before, and the smile was the same. “I accept; the past is in the past and present is what only matters.”

It was a chance to learn more about him but I couldn’t push my luck, many questions were going to remain unanswered but some will be answered at least. '' Alkeyore, your eyes changed many times when you were angry or when you were kind.”

''Ah, you speak of the Stigma.''

''Stigma?'' It was totally unknown to me that name, what does it mean or what it is?

He merrily chuckled “Judging by the look on your face, you don't have a clue about the Stigma, but there is no surprise in that after all there are very few who know about it.''

I raised an eyebrow ''Then I’m intrigued to know more.”

''Very well, the tale of stigma it's ancient as the magic itself. The stigma has many names Gods eyes, Devil eyes, the forbidden stare, the true eyes, the ones blessed or cursed with those eyes surpass the limits of magic even the greatest of masters are outmatched by the stigma bearers and if those bearers train that ability will become nearly unstoppable however nothing is perfect, because it is unstable in nature.''- He signaled his eyes which suddenly changed again but this time they flared a purple color, then flare disappeared. - ''Its unstable nature creates these flares, and surprisingly is not painful at all. There are many types and each one reward the owner differently the moment they master it; also these types of stigmas have a unique skill. My stigma is the Hades boosting my power in the dark arts as giving me protection from others who try to corrupt me with it.”

''What was your gift Alkeyore?'' I asked taking mental notes of the stigma “I can deduce that you mastered your stigma and were rewarded.''

''That's a story for another time.'' he raised from the ground and began to stretch his limbs only after he finished he turned back with a smug smile.''I believe that is your turn to tell me a story.''

I felt a bit lost since I never expect to tell a story, besides it was a long time since I told a story to another pony; there are so many to tell but so little time. ''Oh, well how about the time when......”

Some time later….

If it wasn’t for me then we could have stayed right there talking and talking about anything that could have come in mind, aftermath the night princess realized how exhausted she was; I was the one to blame for that by keeping her walking for an entire day however I didn’t feel any guilt for that because the guilt I felt was from forcing her to experience the death of other. That event can be a traumatic experience for anybody whose species aren’t warriors of birth. Luna fell asleep, and I was finally alone to truly think and understand the weight of the situation. I understood that I was practically a fugitive from the law of Equestria, probably wanted dead or alive; Luna’s sister and the other alicorn including the chimera are gods. I was outnumbered, so escaping and hiding was the best course of action for the moment, however I had the advantage of the terrain despite knowing little about the Everfree because they fear the forest worse than a terminal disease which lead me to conclude that they will wait for us to leave the forest. So I decided that when Luna awaken we will be heading north until I discover a place where is safe. There wasn’t much to do and it angered me, I felt how my eyes prepared themselves for another energy release of my Stigma so I meditated; it helped me to remain calm and think more and also possibilities.

However my meditation didn’t last long.

A scream of true fear fills my ears.

My eyes snapped open, I stood up hoping that I could hear it again so I could track it back to the owner.

And as expected the same scream echoed from the east, but this time I recognized. That kind of scream is the only one that somebody gives when their life is at stake.

I shouldn’t get involved but it was an opportunity to learn more about this place.

I wanted to do it alone but for my bad luck Luna woke up from her short slumber, leaving me no other option to let her accompany me on this.

Hopefully, by saving a life will help me to gain a bit more of her damaged trust with me.

‘Aid is on its way, just hold on.’