~THIRD PERSON POV~

Skye noticed Luna’s cheeks darken a little before following after Draigo and Celestia. “These dungeons have multiple levels, don’t they?” Skye asked, remembering her trip back up into the castle.

“They do. We only needed to use them once before, when we captured some of Sombra’s forces. Our dungeons were overflowing so we built some more rather quickly to contain them.” Celestia explained.

“Ah, the Crystal Empire. It’s sad that the entire thing disappeared when Sombra was defeated.” Draigo said in a somber tone.

“Very sad. Equestria lost a good amount of ponies with Sombra’s defeat.” Celestia said morosely and opened up the entrance to the dungeons with her magic. She then lead the both of them down the stairs towards the bottom of the staircase.

“I’m lost. What’s this ‘Crystal Empire’?” Skye asked.

“The Crystal Empire is a land to the north of Equestria. It’s citizens were the Crystal Ponies. They were called this due to how their coats were partially translucent and shined like crystal. Sombra was a ruler there. He ruled with an iron hoof and wielded dark magic to keep his ponies in line. He enslaved them and made them mine crystals all day long. When he was defeated he somehow took the entire Empire with him into oblivion.” Draigo explained.

“Oooh … Spooky.” Skye said sarcastically. “How does one pony take an entire empire with them into oblivion? From what I’ve seen so far, I don’t think that’s possible here.”

“Oh, it’s possible. With enough dark magic one unicorn can obliterate an entire city. That’s why it’s now forbidden magic. That and the users tend to become corrupted by the magic they are wielding.” Draigo told the skeptic. “The empire was also just one city, somehow. I never did understand why a single city was called an ‘empire.’ It’d be like only this castle being an entire kingdom.”

“That’s a bit extreme, isn’t it? Making an entire city disappear just because he was defeated?” Skye asked, following them as they walked around the corner once they reached the bottom of the stairs.

“It is. Apparently Sombra never learned to share and thus wanted the city to be his or no one's. I have heard from other Displaced that there's a possibility of it showing back up, but who knows for sure.” Draigo said.

“If it does, that’s going to be a sight to see.” Skye commented. “Princess, are we close to the monster cages yet?”

“The monster cages are nearby. We just have to walk a bit longer.” Celestia answered, frowning a bit at the conversation that was taking place.

“This may not be the most pleasant conversation, but it'll help Skye get used to her new home world.” Draigo said as he noticed Celestia’s frown.

“Sounds like I’ll be learning a lot in the next few weeks.” Skye replied.

“You have no idea.” Draigo told her.

Skye went to say something but was interrupted by a howl. “He really needs to stop that.” Skye sighed, recognising the Jersey Devil’s call. “I thought the sound would have carried further than this.”

“Square corners help to keep sound waves from traveling as far. I did expect it earlier than this, though.” Draigo explained.

“Clover and Starswirl placed sleeping enchantments on the beast. They most likely wore off.” Celestia said, flattening her ears against her head at the screech. When the group rounded the final corner, they saw two specially designed cages holding the monsters. Clover and Starswirl were taking down notes on the way the creatures acted and hadn’t noticed anypony near them yet.

“Find anything interesting or useful? Clover? Starswirl?” Draigo asked as he stuck his head between the two. Both ponies gave a start and stepped back a bit from the sudden head intrusion.

“Dear dragon, we hast more findings than we know what to do with.” Starswirl answered, recovering quickly.

“These creatures are particularly noisy. We have taken the proper precautions and used magic to dull our hearing against the screams.” Clover added.

“Why not just use a sound proofing spell on the cages? Surely you don't need to hear them the entire time you're observing them.” Draigo suggested.

“We doeth a soundproofing spell but deactivated it because we needed to see how high their screeches can go. We were in the middle of taking notes about the screeches when thou arrived.” Starswirl replied, tapping his quill against a piece of parchment.

“Hmm, how didst thou get past mine sound manipulation on the Harpy?” Draigo wondered.

“We hath not touched the Harpy yet. Thy sound manipulation is still intact.” Starswirl responded.

“We wanted to test this Devil first.” Clover added, taking down a few notes as the Jersey Devil howled again.

“I see. That is very wise considering the Harpy can actually attack with its voice.” Draigo said.

“It can?” Clover asked, blinking in surprise.

“Yes, it can. That's the main reason I made it so no sound could escape. If you want to study it then I suggest that you leave its vocals for last.” Draigo told her.

“We shall take that under consideration.” Starswirl smiled, lighting up his horn to surround the Jersey Devil’s cage with a soundproofing spell before looking at the Harpy cautiously. “Doth they need food?” he asked, pointing to the monsters in the cages.

“Probably. I'm only familiar with dragons, though. You know whether they need food or not, Skye?” Draigo told the group.

“I’m completely unfamiliar with the Harpy but with the Jersey Devil, I would say that it most likely eats meat.” Skye answered him.

“Where would thou find meat?” Clover asked, tilting her head to the side.

“Well...right about here or here.” Draigo said as he poked Clover in two different spots. “Meat is muscle. Any living creature, besides bugs and insects, contains meat.” Clover poked her tongue out in disgust.

“That is horrible.” Clover said, immediately backing away from the Jersey Devil.

“I used to eat meat too but I can understand how you would think it being horrible.” Skye told Clover as she sat on the floor.

“That's just the circle of life, Clover. There are beings that eat plants and there's beings that eat those beings. Do my teeth look like they're made to eat vegetation?” Draigo asked and opened his jaws wide. Clover shied away from the dragon at seeing his sharp fangs.

“N-no, thou doth not.” Clover started to sound a tiny bit scared and lowered her tweed hood a bit more.

“Do not worry, Clover. I may eat meat, but I only eat meat that would kill others. My teeth may be designed to eat meat, but I eat everything, literally.” Draigo said as he produced a gem, tossed it into his mouth and chewed it up.

“That is most interesting, dragon.” Starswirl said and jotted down a few notes about the gem eating. “Doth most dragons eat gems?” he asked curiously.

“I know not about thy world, but mine dragons love to eat gems.” Draigo told the curious unicorn. “I just transferred that I have forgotten to introduce myself beyond Skye. My name is Draigo.” Draigo’s scales darkened a bit from his embarrassment.

“Greetings, Draigo. I suppose Princess Celestia and Skye told thou about us?” Starswirl assumed and wondered if he should take the soundproof barrier off of the Harpy cage.

“Yes and no. Skye told me she had met Clover the Clever. From that I guessed that Starswirl the Bearded was around. I met both of thee in my world. I am much older than you may think.” Draigo told them.

“Ah.” Starswirl responded. He looked over to Skye and raised an eyebrow at her.

“What?” Skye asked.

“Thou told Draigo about Clover, but not about me?” he asked.

“I know Clover a bit more than I know you, besides, it was the first name that popped into my head.” Skye protested and crossed her arms over her chest. She looked to the Harpy and watched it try to scream at them. “That Harpy is not going to be happy if it manages to get out.”

“Then make it scared enough that it doesn't want to leave.” Draigo suggested.

“What? Through fear inducement?” Skye asked, continuing to watch the Harpy.

“Yep, it's more useful than most would think.” Draigo said.

“Okay, fine. How did you get me to be scared of you back in the guard’s training room?” Skye asked.

“This might take you a little while at first. Fear inducement is a mind altering ability. I put my magic into your mind and felt the fear in your mind grow. If I had increased it enough I could have disappeared from your sight while standing before you.” Draigo explained.

“So it’s a mind thing. Okay then.” Skye said, clapping her hands and cracking her knuckles. “I doubt I’ll get this on the first try,” she added. “How should I go about doing this then?”

“Pool your magic in a hand. Point a finger, or whatever feels best to you, and imagine your finger extending to touch the Harpy.” Draigo said as he demonstrated. His claw became pitch black before he raised it toward Starswirl. After a moment, the energy could be seen extending to almost touch Starswirl’s nose. “It didn't matter where it touches so long as it touches them. After it's hit the target feel around for their fear and make it expand. The amount of fear you want your target to experience will depend on how much you expand their already existing fear. ” The stream of magic formed a ball at the end that steadily grew in size.

“I'm not sure I can do that.” Skye said uncertainly as she flexed her right hand. Starswirl backed away from the ball of darkness but kept listening to take notes down later.

“You never know until you try. If you can’t then I’ll make it so the Harpy will never want to leave its cell.” Draigo said as he let his magic dissipate.

“True.” Skye shrugged and felt her magic pool in her right hand. Black wisps spilled over the sides as she raised it up and slowly extended a finger towards the Harpy. She imagined it reaching out and touching the Harpy. As she did, her black magic extended from her finger but didn’t quite make it all the way, stopping just before the bars of the cage. “I managed to do something at least,” she muttered.

“It’s a good start.” Draigo said encouragingly. “Now I’ll give it a shot.” Draigo looked at the caged Harpy and his body grew dark. The Harpy suddenly seemed to scream and backed into a corner of the cage. Even though no sound could be heard, everyone who looked inside could tell that the Harpy was terrified of being this close to the door as it tried to get as far away as possible. “Did I tell you that making my magic visible isn’t necessary?”

“No.” Skye replied, shutting off her flow of magic and looking between the Harpy and the door of its cage.

“What didst thou doeth?” Clover asked, eyes widening at the sight.

“I amplified her fear to about the level of a phobia. Just looking outside the door will be enough to send her into a panic attack. It would be even worse if there’s someone outside of the door.” Draigo explained for the nerdy unicorns.

“So she has agoraphobia now?” Skye asked for clarification and looked back to Draigo.

“When you put it that way, yes. She’s afraid of going outside the cage and even more afraid of anyone standing outside of it. So, agoraphobia for a very specific situation.” Draigo told her.

“Cool.” Skye commented and stepped away from the door. “What time is it?” she asked the group.

“Seven-thirty at night.” Celestia answered and watched Clover and Starswirl with amusement.

“We have been collecting findings for this long?” Clover asked.

“I’m guessing you also forgot to eat dinner. Which I suggest you get.” Draigo suggested. A memory of Twilight doing the same came to his mind.

Clover and Starswirl looked sheepishly at the dragon. “We only meant to be down here an hour or so. Studying these creatures got so interesting.” Starswirl explained, with Clover nodding along.

“Oh, I know someone who’s exactly the same. It’s no big deal, but you should probably get something to eat while you’re remembering.” Draigo said with a knowing smile. An audible growl sounded out from both ponies, causing them to look down in embarrassment.

“Me thinks we should start heading back up.” Skye said helpfully, turning and walking back the way they came.

“This way, Death.” Celestia pointed and watched Skye turn around and walk in the other direction.

“Don’t worry. Castle’s are made to be confusing for those that don’t live in them. It’s part of the defenses.” Draigo told Skye as she walked past him.

“Of course they are. Why wouldn’t they be?” Skye asked rhetorically and turned her head a hundred and eighty degrees to look behind her. “You coming or what?” she asked before turning her head back to the front.

“Of course I’m coming.” Draigo said as he followed Celestia and Skye. Starswirl and Clover looked at each other before catching up to the others.

After a bit of walking and turning corners, Skye dropped back to whisper to Draigo, “How does the Nightmare Moon incident even happen? Far as I know, she’s seems kind and caring.”

“Well, she becomes jealous of her sister, the citizens don’t appreciate her night, they don’t come to her night court, etc. She basically feels unwanted and unneeded. Eventually she becomes either insane or corrupt and transforms into Nightmare Moon. She fights Celestia and then Celestia uses all six elements of harmony to banish her to the moon.” Draigo explained in a whisper.

“Seriously? It’s a jealousy thing?” Skye asked in disbelief.

“Imagine having a sister who shined so brightly that you were forgotten about and ignored. Wouldn’t you try to do something to change that? Well, Luna tried to make eternal night so that she wouldn’t be forgotten and her nights would be appreciated again.” Draigo said.

“That’s why you said those things about me trying to get some ponies to attend her night court and appreciate her night?” Skye asked, nodding her head from side to side as she imagined what Draigo said.

“Exactly. It may be inevitable, but you never know what may help.” Draigo told her. Skye sighed and began to climb the stairs after Celestia.

“I’m not sure what will work, but I will try my best to not let this happen.” Skye said determinedly. She thought about what he had said and figured that it may not be a bad thing to compliment the Princess of the Night. She hasn’t really seen any of it but maybe the night ahead wouldn’t be so bad.

“That’s all I can ask for.” Draigo said as his gaze returned to Celestia.

“What is this other ‘me’ like?” Celestia asked once she reached the top of the staircase.

“Well, she’s kind and understanding. You look the same. She can be both motherly and frightening at the same time and she packs a wallop behind each of her strikes in combat. She mostly stays in Canterlot Castle to keep the kingdom running, but when she’s really concerned with something, and doesn’t believe that just her student and her friends can handle things, she’ll go out herself.” Draigo said with a dopey smile plastered on his face.

“From what I’ve seen of this Celestia, she’s all fright.” Skye commented dryly.

“That is certainly something.” Celestia replied, ignoring Skye’s comment. She turned back around and led the group towards the dining hall. They past by the throne room on the way and Skye took a peek inside to see if there were any ponies around. The only occupants seemed to be Luna, the guards and a few ponies wishing for help but other than that, it was empty.

“Does Luna get many visitors during night court?” Draigo asked as they past the throne room.

“No, she barely gets any. This is the most I have seen in a long while.” Celestia said sadly. “I canst do anything about it because my subjects believe me to be sleeping,” she added.

“Hmm, what would happen if they knew you weren’t sleeping, Celestia?” Draigo wondered.

“I doth not know. My subjects know not to disturb me when night falls though.” Celestia answered, stopping just to the side of the door and peeking in stealthily.

“Well then, excuse me.” Draigo said as he walked through the throne room’s doors. He made sure that no pony could see Celestia as he walked past her.

“What are you doing?” Skye asked, watching him curiously.

“I’m giving Luna some company.” Draigo said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“I will come with you then.” Skye said with a sigh, not really getting why he was doing it.

“The three of us will dine and join you three later.” Celestia smiled and lead Clover and Starswirl further in the castle.

“If you’re wondering why I’m doing this it’s because I like her and seeing her like this makes me want to do all I can for her. Besides, every now and then I get to mess with the mere mortals that come in with really stupid issues that a Princess isn’t needed to handle.” Draigo said after hearing Skye’s sigh.

“That’ll be fun if she gets any more ponies in.” Skye replied and took a quick look around. The ponies that were in attendance hadn’t noticed them yet except for Luna, who gave them both a smile before returning to her duties. Draigo smiled back and stealthily made his way toward her throne. Skye stayed back. put her hood up and hid in the shadows, watching the colourful ponies carefully.

“Your Majesty, another monster attack has happened and me and my village were wondering what thou art doing about it.” A dark beige stallion with a blonde mane told Luna.

“We hast captured two of these beasts. Plans are in place to try and capture more of them.” Luna answered wearily, giving a soft sigh when she saw that the pony wasn’t satisfied.

“Then why is the sun not out longer for our safety? We can at least better protect ourselves when we can see the monsters,” the stallion argued. Luna’s eyes flashed for a brief second but managed to stop herself from lashing out at him. She took a few calming breaths and continued.

“I shall ask mine sister and see if she can do anything about it.” Luna said finally.

“Are you kidding me? The sun out even longer? Do you want the guard to become so tired that they fall asleep at their posts?” Draigo shouted from right behind the stallion. “Besides, ponies need the night to sleep properly. You all can sleep soundly at night because Princess Luna and her guard are here. So, you better appreciate all that she does for you.”

The stallion jumped in fright and immediately turned around, feeling terrified at the sight of the sudden appearance of the dragon.

“Oh, look. The widdle stawion is scared.” Skye piped up from the shadows, only showing her skull to him.

“I ...I wouldst have thou know that these monster attacks are serious!” the stallion said bravely, despite feeling terrified.

“Are they? Then it’s a good thing I captured a monster earlier today, now isn’t it? You see, Princess Luna knew that capturing monsters would require extra help. So, she asked me and my friend to help.” Draigo said as he hooked a claw towards Skye’s skull. “Now, is there anything else you wish to bring up to your Princess of the Night?”

“N-n-n-no, Your Majesty!” the stallion all but shouted as he ran from the throne room, making the other couple of ponies waiting their turn extremely nervous.

“Who’s got the next issue?” Skye asked the two ponies that were left. Draigo walked up and laid down next to Luna as Skye inquired about the next issue. He then laid his head at her hooves.

One of the ponies, a mare this time, stepped forward with shaking legs. “I have an issue with nightmares. Why art the monsters causing these getting worse?” she asked carefully.

“Because I have been dealing with my own nightmares and hath not had the chance to settle mine subjects’ nightmares.” Luna answered calmly. “I shall deal with them when I am confident in my ability to do so.”

“Do not fret, little one. Princess Luna is very good at getting rid of nightmares. So, keep your chin up and remember that she is doing her best for her subjects.” Draigo said in a comforting tone without moving his head from its position.

“Th-thank you, Your Majesty.” the mare said, bowing her head before walking out the throne room. The pony that was left was simply too scared to speak so he left without a word.

“Thank thou for thy help.” Luna said, letting out a breath she had been holding in. “‘Tis been increasingly difficult to deal with these issues.”

“Thou art most welcome, Luna. We must admit that helping with ponies like the first is quite fun. Hast thou any other duties to perform this night?” Draigo inquired. Luna shook her head.

“No, We hath done mine duties for the night.” Luna replied.

Skye looked out the window and heard her lower jaw clang on the floor as she looked at the sky. She tried to form words but resigned to pointing energetically at the night sky.

“I think Skye has seen the beauty that thou weaves during the night, Luna.” Draigo said as he noticed Skye’s energetic motions. Much to Luna’s delight and amusement, Skye nodded her head quickly.

“We art glad thou hast taken a shine to mine night.” Luna said with a smile. She then lit up her horn and wrapped Skye’s missing jaw in her magic and waved it in front of Skye’s face. Skye tried to reach for it but Luna moved it out of the way.

“What’s the matter Skye? Luna got your jaw?” Draigo asked with a chuckle as he watched Skye try to grab her lower jaw.

Luna laughed as she kept Skye’s jaw out of reach until eventually, she grabbed it and jammed it back on her face.

“That was not funny.” Skye said at last. She couldn’t help but giggle a bit though when Luna continued laughing at what she had done.

“We beg to differ.” Draigo said as he tried not to laugh too much.

“Sure you do.” Skye said sarcastically and walked up to Luna, sitting down on Luna’s other side.

“We art not sorry we didst that.” Luna said after calming down. “Why didst thou come to mine Nightcourt? I thought thou went down to the dungeons,” she asked.

“We did, but it turned out that Starswirl and Clover forgot to eat dinner. They art dining with thine sister right now.” Draigo told her. “I could not help but come and give thee some company after seeing the attendance of thine court.”

“Those three art the most I hath seen in awhile. Usually ‘tis one or two.” Luna said sadly. “‘Tis humorous that Clover and Starswirl forgot their dinner, though ‘tis not unusual.”

“I bet not. It’ll be worse for a little while now that they have two monsters to study.” Draigo said. “What dost thou do with thine time after court is over?”

“I retire to mine chambers and gaze at mine night. With thou two being here, I may change my mind about that for tonight.” Luna answered.

“Didst thou have an idea of what we can do now that thou hast company?” Draigo wondered.

“I never really had company at Nightcourt. Mine sister usually sleeps by the time court is over.” Luna answered simply. “What ideas didst thou have?”

“Dost thou fancy a night flight? Tis one of mine favourite times to fly.” Draigo admitted with a bit of blush showing.

“That wouldst be lovely.” Luna agreed, her cheeks darkening slightly.

“You two have fun, I’ll just take a walk around the castle and try to figure out the layout.” Skye said with a knowing tone.

“Try floating about as well. You still have to figure that one out.” Draigo suggested as he stood up.

“Right, that would be nice to figure out too.” Skye agreed and gave them a wave before heading off to explore the castle. Luna stood up as well and looked to Draigo.

“What didst she mean by her tone?” Luna asked, tilting her head to the side.

“Um, well...I’m not quite sure.” Draigo said evasively. He then began to walk towards one of the broken windows. Luna thought for a bit, then followed, flaring her wings in preparation for the flight.

“Thou knows what Skye meant but I shalt not push thee about it.” Luna replied.

“I’ll tell thee if thou canst make me drop below the treeline.” Draigo said as he flew out the broken window.

“That a challenge?” Luna asked, taking off after him. She gave a few flaps and was soon flying side by side with him.

“Tis a challenge indeed.” Draigo told her as he began to gain some altitude.

“I accept thy challenge!” Luna smiled and immediately flew to one of the nearby clouds. She used her wings to shape it into a crude battering ram. She then flew away from it, turned and picked up speed until she bucked a side of the battering ram, shooting it off to Draigo.

Draigo’s eyes widened as the battering ram cloud careened towards him. He dove toward the trees to gain speed and leveled off right before the tops of the trees. The battering ram hit his tail, but he just barely stayed above the treeline.

Luna narrowed her eyes and tried to think of something else that could get him below the treeline. She still flew quite aways above him and then smiled cheekily as an idea struck her. She flew to a group of storm clouds and gathered them up and used her wings to direct them towards Draigo. Once they were on top of him, she raced towards the cloud group and bucked them, forcing a few lightning bolts to go off.

“What art thou...Oh, crap!” Draigo said as he tried to dodge the lightning directed at him. He successfully dodged a few, but then was hit by a rather large one. He thought he was going to be okay until a tree came out of nowhere and he flew right into it.

Luna watched the results triumphantly until a rather large tree sticking out of the forest shook with a large impact. Growing increasingly concerned, she flew down below the tree line until the tree that shook came into view.

“Draigo?” she called out, noticing the way he looked.

“HAHAHA! Well played, Luna. Well played. I did not expect thou to use lightning.” Draigo said as he got his legs and wings in order.

“Thou … thou art fine?” Luna asked as she hovered in place and looked over to the tree where a mark in the shape of Draigo’s face was implanted into it.

“Well, yes and no. I can still fly, but I think I hurt something in my face. Wouldst thou come and see if there’s anything wrong about it?” Draigo asked as he stood up and examined his wings. Luna quirked a brow and flew over to him. She lighted down and tried to get a good look at his face.

“Thou wants me to look at thine face?” she asked slowly for confirmation.

“Yes, I canst tell that there is something hurt, but I’m not quite sure what since mine face is just varying levels of ache from hitting yonder tree.” Draigo said as he lowered his head to Luna’s level.

“Thou did leave the tree with a good first impression.” Luna said with a slight laugh and gently touched Draigo’s face to see if it hurt anywhere.

“Ah, I did tell thou that I would reveal what Skye meant by her tone if thou got me below the tree line.” Draigo said as Luna began her inspection. He winced a bit when she touched his eye ridge and again when she got near the spines on his head.

“Thou wilt sport bruises.” Luna commented at his winces. “What didst Skye mean by her tone?”

Draigo gave Luna a peck on her cheek. “That is what she meant, dear Luna. Or more specifically she meant this to be a date between us.”

Luna’s cheeks darkened considerably at the revelation. “She meant for this to be a date?” Luna asked in faint surprise, although she kept feeling around Draigo’s face for anymore sore spots.

“That’s why she didn’t come with us. She wanted to give us some space.” Draigo said and gave a cry of pain when Luna got near one of his concealed fangs. “I think I broke at least one tooth.”

Luna jumped back a bit at the cry and considered what he said. “I feel sorrow for breaking thine teeth. Skye … ‘tis wouldst do her well to get her priorities reorganised.”

“Don’t feel sorry, Luna. I challenged you to get me below the tree line.” Draigo told her as he reached out a claw and made her look into his eyes. “Besides, I heal very quickly and it was truly worth it to see the true beauty of the night. You.”

Luna stumbled over her words as her cheeks darkened a lot further than before. As she thought through his words further, joyful tears welled up.

“I speak nothing but the truth, Luna.” Draigo said as he enveloped her in his arms and wings. Luna didn’t speak as she let Draigo hug her, crying happily. “Th-thank thou, Draigo.”

“Thou art most welcome. Wouldst thou like to know something about thine sister?” Draigo asked in a quiet tone. Luna gave a few hiccups as she quietened down.

“Know what?” Luna asked while wiping her eyes with her hooves.

“Thine sister stays up to enjoy thine night. T’would not surprise me if she were awake at this very moment gazing at thy night sky.” Draigo told her.

“I never noticed mine sister gazing at the night I created.” Luna said softly, shaking her head to figure out if it was true or not.

“She told me herself that she didn’t know what would happen if your citizens knew that she didn’t sleep until late at night. Apparently they think she goes to sleep when the sun goes down.” Draigo told her. “If thou wants we could see if we can spot her enjoying thy night.”

Luna laughed at what her subjects thought her sister did after taking down the sun. “Mine subjects obviously hath no clue on what mine sister doeth after the sun sets. I hast no clue if she even gazes at mine night.” Luna said with a hint of anger in the last part she said. She quashed it though to nod at Draigo. “Can We see if mine sister enjoys the night?”

“As thou wishes so thou shalt get.” Draigo said as he slowly released Luna from his embrace. He spread his wings as a white energy shone throughout his face. Luna squinted at the bright light and walked backwards a bit as she was released and spread her wings to take flight.

“I know not which room is thine sister’s. Lead the way mine Princess.” Draigo said as the white energy dissipated.

“Mine sister’s chambers art on the east side of the castle while mine art on the west.” Luna explained as she gave a few flaps to get ready.

“Ah, for the sun rises in the east and the night begins when it sets in the west.” Draigo said as he joined Luna in preflight warm ups.

“Convenient, ‘tis not?” Luna smirked and took flight and hovered in place while waiting for Draigo to finish.

“Yes, very convenient.” Draigo said with a smile as he took to the skies. Luna flew in front and slightly to the side as she lead Draigo back to the castle.

“How didst thou become a dragon of thine ilk?” she asked suddenly, looking back to make sure he was following.

“I bought a necklace from a gypsy at a fair. Once I put it on it transported and transformed me. I still don’t understand how or why, but I no longer want to go back to how I was.” Draigo told her as he continued to follow her.

“Doth thou not care for thy home?” Luna asked, nodding as he told his story.

“If I were to somehow get home there’d be no one that I’d know. I’ve spent almost fourteen billion years as you see me.” Draigo admitted.

“That is horrible.” Luna commented sadly.

“Yes, but I have been able to create a pseudo family in the form of the dragons back in my world and have found two wonderful mares that can keep me company through the ages.” Draigo said with a toothy smile.

“Still, thou hath not been able to see thine family in ages. Doth thou not miss them?” Luna asked, and saw that the castle was in sight.

“I missed them for about ten billion years. During that time I was continuously alone. After that I filled my time to the brim with creating my dragons and exploring the planet I settled on so that I wouldn’t have time to miss them.” Draigo told her. Luna blinked at that and lead Draigo around the side of the castle towards her sister’s room.

“I know not what that must have felt like but that doth not mean I canst imagine it.” Luna told him. “I doth not know what I wouldst doeth without mine sister.”

“I believe she feels the same way, even if she doesn’t show it.” Draigo said. “Now, how shouldst we see if thine sister is enjoying the night? We wouldn’t want to be caught until we knew for sure that she is enjoying it…”

“I wonder what she thinks about it when she looks up.” Luna mused as she lead Draigo to a higher altitude once she noticed that her sister was looking down. A few tears shone in her eyes but fought them back in case her sister hadn’t looked up yet.

“I’m unsure of what she is looking at, but she is up much later than either thou or thine subjects believed.” Draigo said as he tried to figure out what Celestia was looking at.

“This much is true.” Luna agreed and tried to look at what her sister is looking at. “Doth thou have a clue as to what she is gazing at?”

“I think that she is thinking on something and not really looking at or seeing anything.” Draigo replied.

Luna thought on this for a bit. “Though, I wonder what she is thinking about. I hath never spied on mine sister before, this is new to me.” Luna said and moved further into the castle’s shadow when she noticed her sister move her head up a bit.

Draigo got a mischievous smile on his face as an idea occurred to him. “I think I can find out what she is thinking about. Wouldst thou like me to try?”

“Yes, please.” Luna answered.

“Okay, I’ll be back.” Draigo said as he pecked her on the cheek and flew around to visit Celestia. Luna blushed and kept watch on the two of them.

“‘Tis you, Draigo.” Celestia smiled when she noticed him fly near her. She stepped back from the balcony in case he needed room to land.

“Greetings, Celestia. I couldn’t help but notice your pensive look as I flew overhead.” Draigo said as he landed in front of Celestia. “What art thou thinking so hard upon?”

“Twas thinking about this monster problem. I doth not think that it would keep me up so late.” Celestia admitted.

“Hmm, hast thou talked to Luna about the subject? She is thine sister and fellow ruler of Equestria.” Draigo said.

“I hast not.” Celestia shook her head. “She is mine sister and I doth not want her to worry about this.”

“Thy concern is touching, but me thinks that thine sister already worries about that and many other things.” Draigo told her.

“Like what?” asked a shocked Celestia. “I was unaware she hath other problems.”

“She worries that thine citizenry doth not appreciate her or her night. She worries that thou art like unto them. She worries that she is no longer wanted or needed.” Draigo said in a concerned tone.

“She doth worries about such things?” Celestia asked concernedly.

“She hath not told me this, but I know she is worried nonetheless.” Draigo said. “She cried tears of joy when I told her that her night was beautiful. Wouldst she do that if she was not worried about her night and it being appreciated?”

“She wouldst not.” Celestia sighed in agreement. “Why hath she not told me this?”

“Thou art busy during the day and she believed that thou were asleep not long after her night began. She must think you have not the time for her concerns.” Draigo told her. “Whether this is actually true or not I cannot say.”

“I-what?” Celestia asked, not really believing what he said. “She believes I doth not have time for her?”

“As I said: I’m unsure if she truly thinks that. Hast thou tried talking to her about anything beyond thine royal duties?” Draigo wondered. Celestia shook her head.

“No. These monster attacks have taken up all our time in recent years so ‘tis difficult to find the time for a one on one get together.” Celestia admitted.

“Wouldst thou like the time for one right now?” Draigo asked.

“I would but ‘tis she not attending Nightcourt?” Celestia asked confusedly.

“She had all of three ponies come to Nightcourt. I helped her hasten one that needed it and another left without saying a word. The third was a simple issue and didst not take long. She is therefore done with Nightcourt.” Draigo explained.

“I thought there were more than that when We looked in on her earlier.” Celestia said softly.

“Tis true what I have said. For you see, I have gone flying with her this night. The bruising on mine face is proof.” Draigo said and proudly bore the bruising as though it were a medal.

“How doth a dragon get bruising?” Celestia asked, an astonished look on her face.

“By flying face first into a very sturdy tree.” Draigo said with a chuckle. Celestia’s eyes widened at that and she opened and closed her mouth a couple of times before finally settling on some quiet laughter.

“How and why did thou fly face first into a tree?” Celestia asked.

“I got hit by a lightning bolt that somehow made me think I was higher than I actually was.” Draigo told her.

“Did mine sister hit you with a lightning bolt or was it a stray thundercloud?” Celestia asked as she whipped her tail from side to side.

“Thine sister did hit me with a well aimed lightning bolt. I had challenged her to make me fly below the tree line, she succeeded.” Draigo said with a shrug at the end.

“I doth not think mine sister was capable of such a feat.” Celestia said with a mildly impressed tone in her voice.

“In truth, I wanted her to succeed so I allowed the lightning to hit me. Had I wanted, it would have been redirected.” Draigo admitted and shot a bit of lightning off of the balcony to demonstrate.

“Still though, I didst not expect Luna to actually partake in combat.” Celestia said, eyeing the lightning bolt as it sailed into the distance.

“Combat? If it was combat then it was very one sided. I only flew around and dodged.” Draigo clarified.

“Far as I know, mine sister doth not partake in combat. This is surprising for me.” Celestia admitted and finally looked up towards the night sky. “The sky, it’s beautiful,” she breathed.

“Thou needst to talk to thine sister more if thou dost not know that she would accept a challenge when she wants the reward for winning. And of course the sky is beautiful. Luna puts a lot of effort into it.” Draigo said.

“This is the first I hath seen of it in a while.” Celestia admitted, and sighed, looking to back down to to Draigo. “Where is mine sister. I really need to talk with her.”

“If she is where I left her then she is right...about...there.” Draigo said as he pointed to Luna’s hiding spot.

Celestia looked to where Draigo was pointing and found a dark blue, flowing mane studded with stars. “She hath been hiding there this entire time?” Celestia asked and watched Luna fly down towards them.

“Varily. Thou underestimates her sneakiness.” Draigo said as Luna touched down next to them.

“I couldst not help myself. I eavesdropped by using a sound-enhancing spell.” Luna admitted when she landed and looked at Celestia with red eyes. “How couldst thou not know enough about me?”

“The same way thou thought she wast asleep not long after thine night began, Luna. Jumping to conclusions and not communicating with each other enough.” Draigo told her.

“Ever since these monster attacks started decades ago, thou hath become recluse and barely spoke to me.” Luna told Celestia. “Why?”

“Because I doth not want thou to worry about these attacks. “ Celestia said simply.

“Yet Luna had a petitioner tonight that came about the monster attacks. If the attacks stopped, would you two talk to each other more?” Draigo said as he looked out at the forest.

“Yes, but I doth not see that happening any time soon. There are more monsters than the two locked up in the dungeons.” Celestia said readily.

“I want Us to talk to each other more on a daily basis, not when these attacks are over!” Luna stamped her hoof to try and show how angry she was.

“We art talking now, art we not?” Celestia asked rhetorically.

“Thou art talking, yes, but neither of thee know the other like a sister who lives in the same castle should. That much is evident.” Draigo said as he made gestures in the air as if he were calculating something.

“This shows how far apart we hath grown and how much talking we hath not done.” Luna said sadly, sitting down and looking at the balcony floor forlornly.

“Draigo, doth thou know how we patch Our relationship?” Celestia asked, observing Luna’s saddened state.

“Set aside time everyday to chat with each other about anything besides thine royal duties. Set aside more time everyday to do activities together. Oh, the most obvious thing would be to remember the Elements of Harmony: Loyalty, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, Kindness. When those come together they create the sixth element: Magic or Friendship. Surely you who have wielded them would remember all of this.” Draigo expounded as he continued his air calculations.

“Yes, We remember how the Elements work.” Celestia said curiously. Luna looked up at the mention of friendship and wondered if that would actually work to patch up her relationship with Celestia.

“Why would that work for Us?” Luna asked sadly.

“Art thou not friends with thine sister? Doth friends not forgive one another and make up? Friendship is the key for without it both the elements and relationships don’t work.” Draigo said as he finished his calculations and turned on the both of them.

“Friends doth make up?” Luna asked curiously and looked a tiny bit hopeful.

“Friends get into arguments. Yet they forgive each other and make up. Tis the same with thy sister. Both of thee have forgotten what the elements actually represent. For harmony is not one of the things between thee. Now, forgive thy sister, make up, and strive to be better.” Draigo told them both.

“Forgiving mine sister wilt not be easy.” Luna said at length. “Especially since she hath practically ignored me after Discord’s chaotic invasion.”

“If that were actually true then the elements would never have worked and Discord would still rule. Thou may feel that way and it may take a very long time for true forgiveness, but each of thee have said thou want to talk more. Start there and take small steps in getting to know each other again. Both of thee will have more time after I take care of the monster attacks so start rescheduling.” Draigo said with a confident smirk.

Both Luna and Celestia looked at each other warily before slowly nodding at each other. Luna smiled sadly at Celestia while Celestia smiled cautiously at Luna.

“Art thou willing to forgive me, dear sister?” Celestia asked softly.

“If We take this in small steps, like the dragon suggested, then there may be room for forgiveness, Sister.” Luna replied to her.

“Well, it’s either that or one of you gets banished to the moon/sun.” Draigo admitted offhandedly.

“Hey, look! I- what’s going on here?” Skye asked from a bit beyond the balcony, tilting her head in confusion.

“Oh, I just told them that they either forgive each other or one of them gets banished to the moon/sun.” Draigo told Skye, not even realising that she was actually floating around.

“That’s a bit on the nose but I’m glad the two of you are actually making up.” Skye said casually to the both of them.

“We wilt take things slow but we shouldst be better off for it.” Luna said softly with a small smile on her muzzle.

“I think a phrase Joseph uses would fit here. Good on ya, Sheila.” Draigo said in his best Aussie accent. “Looks like no one is going to get blasted with the elements for a good long while and that’s a good thing.”

“That accent was terrible.” Skye said bluntly.

“I’ve only been around the accent for a few days so of course it’s terrible. I just couldn’t not try using it.” Draigo said with a shrug of his wings.

“Princesses, it’s good to hear that the both of you are trying to repair your relationship with each other.” Skye said and bowed respectfully. She then looked at Draigo’s back and tapped it with her scythe. “Were you a therapist back on Earth?”

“Nope, I’ve just had a really, really long time to think about things. That and I live with Celestia and Luna. So I know what they’ve done to start repairing their relationship after Luna got back from her thousand year stint in the moon.” Draigo told her.

Skye floated around to Draigo’s front and sighed. “You live with the two mares you like?” she asked in disbelief.

“I’ve got a separate room in Canterlot Castle, but yes. They basically made it so I couldn’t say no when they asked me to stay with them. What with the almost tears, sad expressions, and desperation in their voices.” Draigo admitted.

“That’s what I call being desperate.” Skye commented.

“They’re immortal and they wanted someone near them that they didn’t have to say goodbye to after a hundred or so years. That’s one of the reasons that I didn’t really develop friendships until I met them for the first time. I got tired of goodbyes.” Draigo explained.

“I take it back then. It’s more sad than anything else.” Skye amended and floated down to the balcony floor.

“I can’t say otherwise about that.” Draigo admitted after a moment of thought.

“Do you notice anything different?” Skye asked suddenly, concentrating a bit and slowly floated up and down. “I finally figured it out!”

“Wait, you’re floating?” Draigo said and observed her movement. “You are! Great job. Can you do that while doing other things or does it take a lot of concentration so far?”

Skye, Celestia and Luna smacked their foreheads in unison. “How dense are you? I’ve been floating this whole time! Besides, I don’t know if I can do other things while floating, for now, I just want to get this down pat until it’s second nature to me.” Skye answered.

“Um...it depends on the moment.” Draigo said as he rubbed the back of his head. “Any idea how wind affects you?”

“Not yet.” Skye replied. “I’ve only just figured out how to move up and down.”

“Well, there’s no time like the present.”Draigo said as he flapped his wings towards Skye.

“What?” Skye asked and immediately blew away with the wind, only managing to stop herself from hitting the castle wall just in time. “What’s the big idea?” she called out.

“Well the big idea was for you to get used to your abilities.” Draigo said with a smirk. “Wind seems to affect you to a great degree. It’s like you’re a freakin’ sail.” Draigo observed.

“Of course it does! I’m a skeleton, I can’t be any less aerodynamic! The wind just goes right through me!” Skye argued, slowly floating towards the three of them.

“Well, hopefully that will change once you’ve gotten used to it. So, who wants a safe zone from the monsters?” Draigo said to change the subject. Celestia and Luna both shot their hooves up like they were little foals again before having no idea on what the safe zone could be.

“A safe zone?” Luna asked, slowly bringing her hoof back down.

“An area that the monsters can’t enter into.” Draigo told them.

“That sounds simple enough.” Celestia said, bringing her hoof back down as well. Skye floated down and tapped a finger against her skull.

“How big will the safe zone be?” she asked him.

“The castle and some surrounding area. Will that suffice?” Draigo said. “I can make it bigger if needed.”

“That area is a fairly large one. Art thou sure thee hast sufficient magic?” Luna asked, standing up and walking towards the balcony railing.

“Well, I’ve been like this for fourteen billion years and have been using my magic and building up its reserves since day one. Think that will be enough?” Draigo said.

“That shalt be more than enough.” Celestia said and looked at Luna for a moment before returning her attention to Draigo.

“Now, there is one condition that you may not like.” Draigo told the group.

“What condition?” Skye, Celestia and Luna asked at the same time.

“I have to claim the entire area as part of my hoard.” Draigo said both quietly and sheepishly.

“What’s a hoard?” Skye asked, utterly confused by the concept.

“Well, for normal dragons it’s a pile of treasure they claim as theirs. For me and my dragons it’s whatever they believe is valuable that they collect. If I claim the entire area as my hoard that basically means I own anything and everything associated with it. Which is why you may not like it.” Draigo explained.

“So would that also mean any living thing inside it as well?” Skye asked.

“Yes, it would. It wouldn’t really change anything for anyone besides me. If something tried to steal, destroy, or claim for their own any part of my hoard I would instinctively defend my hoard to the death. This shouldn’t apply to ponies, though.” Draigo clarified. “I’m just not sure if anyone wants to be ‘owned’ by another being.”

“If you claim this castle, you ‘own’ everything in it as well, including the Princesses, Clover, Starswirl and me?” Skye asked, backing away a bit and trying to think this whole claim thing through.

“Anything and everything, yes. I won’t take anything and it’ll only change how I react to anything that attacks this place while I’m here. Once I’m gone the effect will remain and nothing more.” Draigo told them.

“Oh. I get it now. I’m up for it then.” Skye said, raising her hand and looking at the princesses. “Ultimately, it’ll be up to you two to decide.” Skye said sheepishly after noticing their looks.

“To tell the truth, this is my last ditch idea to defend my Equestria. With this I’ll be able to apply a magic powerful enough to keep everything out, should we want it like that, and I do mean everything.” Draigo told the hesitant princesses.

“Thou wants to claim this castle and the occupants, to protect Us from the various mythical beasts?” Celestia asked in trepidation.

“Yes, it’s only for protection. Nothing else, I swear upon my love for my Princesses.” Draigo said as he knelt down and spread his wings across the floor.

“How doth thou show thine claimage on this castle?” Luna asked with slightly less hesitation than her sister.

“I spread my magic and smell around the entire area. For the smell, all I’d have to do is fly or walk around enough, nothing obscene.” Draigo told her. “Oh, there’s also a ritualistic phrase I must say.”

“An incantation?” Luna asked curiously.

“Basically, yeah. I’ll be saying it while I spread my magic.” Draigo said to Luna.

Luna beckoned for Celestia to follow her away from Skye and Draigo so they could talk about the hoard idea in private.

“I don’t think they’ll take to it.” Skye said as soon as they were out of earshot.

“Well, no being wants to be owned by another whether it’s just for protection or not.” Draigo replied.

“Sad but true.” Skye replied. “Do you have enemies of your own that caused you to come up with this idea back in your Equestria?”

“Yes, I do. They are fellow primordial beings, according to the info I got on my trip to visit the Asian dragons.” Draigo told her.

“That can’t be a good sign.” Skye commented and thought of something Draigo said earlier. “With Joseph, do you remember him mentioning any family when you hung out with him?”

“Hmm, he had a talking potato named Crikey who was apparently his friend. Other than that he didn’t mention any family.” Draigo said with a thoughtful look.

“I don’t think- wait. A talking potato?” Skye asked in surprise. “HA! He’s finally cracked it!!” Skye announced before bursting out in laughter.

“That’s what I thought as well. Then I isolated the potato from any other sources of magic and it talked to me. It was kinda rude.” Draigo told her.

“It actually does talk?” Skye asked through fits of laughter.

“Yeah and it’s name is Crikey. I don’t know how to explain it, but I put it inside a time bubble and made sure there weren’t any people inside it who could make it talk. I had to grant two wishes because of that as well.” Draigo said in a slightly miffed tone.

“So you made a bet with Joseph?” Skye asked, not really noticing that Celestia and Luna had finished their conversation and were now listening in.

“I told him that I’d grant Twilight and Fluttershy one wish each if it turned out he wasn’t crazy and the potato could actually talk.” Draigo clarified.

“What art thou speaking of?” Celestia asked them.

“Oh, just another Displaced that happens to be my cousin. Have you two come to a decision?” Skye asked, smoothly switching topics.

“He’s your cousin!? Talk about a small multiverse. You wouldn’t happen to know anyone named, Jason, Derrick, or Sora would you? They’re some of the few other Displaced I’ve met.” Draigo asked after hearing that Skye and Joseph were related.

“I heard of Derrick back on Earth. I hung out with the same group of friends he did, apparently. I joined after a bonfire incident happened and you just solved the mystery. He’s been Displaced. No idea who the others are though.” Skye announced and looked back to the princesses.

“Well, hang onto your cloak because Derrick is now Crystal and she’s preggo.” Draigo told her, ignoring the two Alicorns nearby for now.

“Derrick … is now Crystal. Derrick turned into a girl and managed to get pregnant. How does that even work?” Skye asked in disbelief and walked over to the balcony and leaned against it. “I don’t even know who Derrick is, I only know the group of friends he hung around with and on the day of my death, they told me a bit about him. I apparently joined their group two months after Derrick disappeared so there’s that.”

“Well, I’m unsure who changed Derrick, but it was probably some really powerful being who was bored.” Draigo told her.

“I’d blink if I could. Wait, isn’t Crystal the girl you mentioned that was nearly killed by the dragon you had killed?” Skye asked, remembering him saying something about a Crystal.

“The one and the same. She was pregnant and still decided to fight a four billion year old dragon. She definitely has guts.” Draigo responded.

“How far along was she if she decided to fight a four billion year old dragon!?” Skye asked in shock, now ignoring the princesses for the moment.

“I believe she said four or five days.” Draigo said as he thought back to that date.

“We hath come to a decision.” Celestia said a lot more loudly than necessary, nearly going into the Royal Canterlot voice and wanting to put a stop to this conversation and tried to steer it back on track.

“Ah, right. What is your decision?” Draigo asked after letting the ringing in his ears subside a bit.

“Give me a sec …” Skye called out, her skull visibly vibrating from the frequency.

“The both of Us have agreed to thee claiming this castle for thine hoard. On the condition that ‘tis only for protection and nothing else.” Celestia said forcefully while Luna watched Skye’s skull vibrate in amusement.

“I accept your conditions and swear to do my best to protect this area while I’m here.” Draigo said in a very official sounding voice.

“Thank thee.” Celestia responded with a slight bowing of her head. Luna walked over to Skye and cautiously tapped her skull with a hoof to see if she responded.

“Art thou okay?” Luna asked concernedly.

“Fine! Don’t tap!” Skye shouted, the ringing in her skull going up and down in frequency.

“I’ll take care of claiming this area in the morning. That way anything watching can see me and will know what they’re going up against should they be stupid enough to try to attack after getting past the magic I’ll set up.” Draigo told Celestia as he laid a opened claw on top of Skye’s skull to help absorb the vibrations.

“‘Tis a sound plan.” Celestia agreed with a slight yawn. “I need to rise in a few hours to raise the sun,” she added.

Skye felt the vibrations leave through the top of her skull and slowly felt her head go back to being a normal skull. “That loud voice knocked me around for a bit. Did they agree or not? I couldn’t really hear them.” Skye commented.

“This castle and everything else shall be mine come morning so long as it’s only for protection.” Draigo said as he wondered where they were sleeping tonight.

“Oh, great. Glad they agreed to it as well. Any idea where we’ll be sleeping tonight?” Skye said, clapping her hands in delight.

“I shalt show thee to thine chambers. We discussed this at length after agreeing to Draigo’s claimage.” Luna said and looked to the both of them.

“Oh, thank you, Luna.” Draigo said with a slight incline of his head.

“Yeah, thanks.” Skye said. Luna inclined her head to Draigo and then beckoned for the both of them to follow her.

“We shalt see thou later in the day for a talk.” Luna told Celestia as they went past, who nodded with a smile.

“We shall. See thou later on, dear sister.” Celestia replied and watched them leave through her chamber doors.

“Are we in guest chambers or something else? Cause I’ve slept in my princess’ treasury before.” Draigo asked as he followed Luna.

The guards stationed outside Princess Celestia’s chambers did a double take when they saw three different beings walk out instead of the usual one being Princess Celestia.

“Thou shalt reside in guest chambers for the time being.” Luna answered. “Unless thou hath other preferences.”

“Well, I do, but they involve my princesses and I found that the treasury doesn’t offer much privacy.” Draigo replied.

“Thou wouldst prefer to rest in royal chambers rather than a treasury?” Luna asked confusedly as they turned a corner into one of the many guest chambers in the castle.

“Yes, but it’s more about who is there than the actual room. It’s very nice to fall asleep with a body or two pressed against you.” Draigo clarified.

“Ah. So ‘tis more for warmth than area size?” Luna asked again.

“I wouldn’t qualify then.” Skye commented.

“I’m plenty warm by myself, but it’s reassuring to know someone or some people are comfortable enough around me to fall asleep. There have been plenty of ponies in the past who ran away screaming before I could say a word when they first met me.” Draigo answered.

“I believe I understand now.” Luna replied and looked over at Skye in concern when she heard sobbing sounds coming from the skeleton.

“Something wrong, Skye?” Draigo asked after noticing the sobbing sounds.

“It’s … nothing. I’ll be fine … once I get to my room.” Skye replied through a few hiccuping sounds.

“Uh huh, not buying it, Miss Waterworks. What’s up?” Draigo asked again.

“Noth *hic* ing. I’m fine!” Skye replied with the same answer, just hoping that her room was close by.

“Maybe you’re a little homesick now that you’re going to sleep? Or maybe you’re sad because you don’t need sleep now that you’re the Grim Reaper?” Draigo said as he started to guess what was wrong.

“If I was *hic homesick, it would have *hic* hit me when I was imprisoned.” Skye tried to evade the guesses by lowering her hood over her face.

“Hmm, true. Was it something I said that triggered this?” Draigo wondered. Skye remained silent but it was broken by her hiccuping.

“Ah, so it was. I’m sorry for bringing up a sad memory for you.” Draigo apologized. Skye shook her head in response to that. Luna opened a door near the next corner with her magic and lead the both of them inside. Once they were all in, she closed the door behind them and turned around to try and help sort out this problem.

“Okay, you’re sad and/or upset about something. What can we do to help?” Draigo said to the hiccupping skeleton.

“N-Nothing. If I say I’m fine, then I’m fine!” Skye answered.

Draigo walked over and wrapped a wing around her. “I’m sorry, but that’s the wrong answer.” He gave her a squeeze and hoped she’d say something besides ‘nothing’ and ‘I’m fine.’

“Of course it’s not the wrong answer. It’s the right answer for me. I’m fine and the two of you don’t need to be concerned about me!” Skye repeated, trying to to dodge the issue at hand.

“Once again, that’s not the answer we were looking for. Do you care to buy a vowel?” Draigo asked in game show announcer voice.

“A towel?” Skye asked, thinking he pronounced a ‘t’ instead of a ‘v’.

“A vowel, dear. If you are actually homesick and lied about it before, know that I’ve been there. For ten billions years at that.” Draigo told her.

“I don’t want to buy a vowel, I want to go home!” Skye shouted in a moment of confused and angered weakness.

“Ah, so it is homesickness. Luna and I are here for you. What can we do to help?” Draigo said in a calm, understanding voice.

“Nothing, I’m fine, I don’t want to go home.” Skye answered as she reverted back to bottling up her feelings.

“Do you know how a bullet is fired? There’s pressure that builds up behind it and forces it out the barrel. If you keep bottling up your feelings you’re just going to blow up later on and regret it, most likely. I know I have.” Draigo told her.

“Of course I know how a bullet is fired. Once it is, it hits home in a target, just like how I want to go home.” Skye said and immediately covered her mouth after the fact.

“Go on, let out your rage, your sadness, and everything else. You’ll feel better afterwards, trust me.” Draigo said.

“But I don’t want to! If I do, knowing what I know about myself, then I could probably kill Princess Luna!” Skye shouted in anger, not even realising she had gotten into a fighting stance with her scythe held out in front of her.

“You think I’d let something happen to her while I’m around? You’re dead wrong.” Draigo said firmly. “Do you know what happened when I blew up after bottling up my rage and sadness?”

“Dead? That’s what I am! I died and I won’t be able to go back home because of it!” Skye raged at him, ignoring his questions.

“You’ll be dead in more ways than one if you don’t let out your feelings. Heck, I almost destroyed my entire planet because I did exactly what you are doing.” Draigo said.

“‘I’ll be dead in more ways than one’?” Skye repeated. “How the hell does that happen?”

“Emotionally dead. Right now you’re fine, but once you blow up due to bottled up emotions you’ll slowly die emotionally if you keep bottling them up afterwards. Do you never want to feel happiness again? Cause that’s possible.” Draigo said as he grabbed her scythe’s staff.

“No, I don’t! If I can’t go back home, then I don’t want to feel anything anymore! It’ll be perfect for when I finally head off to Tartarus!” Skye cried, tightening her grip on her scythe and pulling it back towards her.

“Let me tell you that you could be way worse off than you are right now. You could be a pony that has to run away from her ruler because that ruler is trying to hurt you or do very bad and explicit things to you. How do I know this? Cause I met three mares who have to do that on an almost daily basis while they deal with quirks they have absolutely no control over. So, think they don’t want to feel anything anymore? Well, they don’t, but they let their emotions out so that if they somehow find a way home they aren’t going home as a zombie.” Draigo told her as he remembered Brutalight Sparcake’s and her friends’ situation. He pulled the scythe towards him in hopes of wearing Skye down physically so she would let go emotionally.

“Who art these mares thou speaketh of?” Luna asked Draigo suddenly.

“Good for them. I can’t go home so I think I can let myself not feel anything!” Skye replied, taking back her scythe before suddenly letting go of it.

“Those mares are hopefully no one you ever meet that in the same kind of situation as Skye and myself.” Draigo said to Luna. “Now, who said you can’t go home? If you think you can’t go home due to you ‘dying’ then think again! Anything is possible in the void and in the multiverse. Anything!” Draigo stepped back a bit and held onto Skye’s scythe, surprised she had let go so early.

“I don’t think I told you what kind of death I got dealt. Decapitation. If I go back, I will be inhabiting a headless body that is most likely in the ground by now. So no, I can’t go back home because my old body won’t be there, happy with that answer?” Skye asked coldly, snapping her fingers and summoning her scythe back to her side before suddenly swinging it at Draigo’s head in a cold rage.

Draigo watched the scythe coming towards him and caught it with his teeth at the last moment. He bit down and shattered the scythe’s blade. “What do you call that underneath your cloak? All it needs is some flesh and you’re all set. Like I said anything is possible!”

Skye flung the staff across the room, barely noticing it being caught in azure magic. “I call this a skeleton. I can’t get flesh, considering this ‘void’ you mentioned stripped me of it in the first place!”

“Then was what you said earlier a lie when you said my magic was trying to give you flesh? If it tried then it can succeed. You’ve only seen the tip of both my abilities and magical might. You want to fight then bring it. You want to kill something then kill me. Whatever it takes to make you feel better.” Draigo said in an equally cold voice as Skye’s from earlier.

Skye let her magic pool in her hand, slowly darkening the bone as some of it spilled over the sides of her open palm. She tried to induce fear in him by letting her rage pour into her magic as well when she extended multiple tendrils out to him.

“Good try, but my draconic form is nowhere near as weak as my human form. Like this, I’m immune to magic. It sucks when I get injured, but otherwise it’s handy.” Draigo said as he confronted the tendrils of magic. “So, hit me with your best shot.”

“That’s what I’m trying to do, but it doesn’t appear to be working!” the worked up skeleton said, cutting off the flow of magic. “Just leave me alone for the night, I’m sure I’ll be fine in the morning.” Skye said softly, a stark contrast to how she was acting moments before.

“Sure, you’ll be fine in the morning. You’ll have something else to keep your mind off of this. That doesn't mean it’s gone or over. You’re going to need to let someone in who you trust enough to listen and be there for you when you get like this.” Draigo said with a sigh. “That obviously isn’t Luna or I.”

“Yeah, obviously.” Skye muttered and finally took a look around the room. There was a neatly made bed in a corner, along with a few odds and ends that could have passed for tables. “I suppose this is my room?” Skye asked, Luna.

“If that is what thou wishes.” Luna responded, finding it exceptionally hard to imagine this skeleton being sad. She looked a bit downcast as she left the room, waiting for Draigo to reappear outside as she closed the door behind her.

“Know that I'm here if you decide you want to talk about things.” Draigo said and walked out of the room to join Luna.

“Don’t count on it.” Skye said bitterly and watched the door close behind him.

“Skye is not forthcoming with her inner turmoil?” Luna asked when Draigo walked out the room.

“Nope. She's going to eventually blow up over something that isn't really a big deal at this rate.” Draigo said as he shook his head.

“Skye is making a ‘big deal’ out of it, though.” Luna responded as she began to lead him over to the west side of the castle.

“This is something that is a big deal until she gets over her homesickness. Down the line she could blow up because of a stubbed toe or something insignificant like that. If she doesn't learn to open up to someone or let her feelings out, that is.” Draigo told her as he followed her lead.

“That doth not sound like a good plan with the way she is handling her feelings for the moment.” Luna replied morosely. “A change of subject. How wouldst thou like to sleep in mine chambers? I thought about it while thou were trying to get Skye to open up.”

Draigo stutter stepped when he heard Luna’s proposal. “That sounds wonderful. Thou dost not mind sharing thy chambers with me?” Draigo asked, a bit surprised that he had gained her trust in such a short amount of time.

“I wanted to thank thou for starting reparations on Our relationship. I am more trusting than mine sister is.” Luna explained as she giggled a bit at Draigo’s stumble.

“Thou art most welcome. I'm glad I could help the both of thee.” Draigo told her with a smile. “Unfortunately, I was unable to help the princesses in my world in the same way.”

“That is most unfortunate.” Luna replied. She lead him down the now familiar halls, knowing that they were almost to her chambers. “I am glad that thou agrees with mine decision on thy sleeping arrangements,” she added with a smile.

“I'm glad that thou thought to offer this arrangement.” Draigo replied with a smile of his own. “Tis been awhile since I've had such arrangements and I truly do miss this arrangement. Tis a very thoughtful gift, Luna.”

“After what thou said about thine own sleeping arrangements back home, I thought it would be better for thee.” Luna said slowly as she tried to explain her reasoning further while her cheeks darkened a bit.

“Well, thank thee. This will be a wonderful night’s sleep.” Dragio said cheerfully as he avoided looking directly at Luna and his scales darkened as well.

“I canst agree more.” Luna replied happily. Soon enough, they rounded the corner into the final hallway. “Mine chambers art just up here.” Luna indicated where they were by slowly opening the door with her magic before they walked up to it.

“Didst thou send thy guard away or didst thou not have a guard posted outside thine chambers?” Draigo wondered as he didn’t notice any night guard in the area.

“I doth not hath a guard posted outside mine chambers. Most of them are too sleepy to guard me at night.” Luna replied with a small sigh.

“Hmm, art there no Thestrals thou couldst recruit? They make up a majority of the Night Guard in my world.” Draigo inquired as they entered Luna’s chambers.

“If there art any Thestrals, We hath not discovered any to recruit.” Luna said and stepped to the side so Draigo could walk in fully.

“Tis sad to hear that. They make wonderful Night Guard since they are nocturnal.” Draigo said as he fully entered her chambers.

“They are?” Luna asked, her ears perking up slightly at this.

“Varily. They are also known as ‘Bat Ponies’ in my world. They are also more competent than their Day Guard counterparts, for some reason.” Draigo explained.

“Mine sister’s guards art competent for now but they quail in fear whenever a monster attacks.” Luna responded and sat next to the door for the time being.

“Tis almost as bad as incompetency since the monster attacks have been going on for decades now.” Draigo said a bit grumpily. “I can not stand incompetent guards.”

“Maybe I should talk with mine sister about disciplining the guards.” Luna suggested, more to herself than anything.

“Perhaps, but for now we should retire lest we not get enough sleep before thine sister raises the sun.” Draigo suggested. Luna nodded in agreement and gave a small yawn before walking up to her bed. She stopped before it though and turned back to Draigo.

“Where and how wouldst thou sleep?” Luna asked with a quizzical look.

Draigo cleared his throat a bit. “The last time I had this arrangement I slept while side by side with mine partner. My wing draped over her to act as a blanket.” He told her as his face felt like it would catch fire.

“This an intimate thing?” Luna asked, blinking a bit.

“Twas mainly because I was feeling protective, but it can be called intimate.” Draigo explained. “Mine body radiates heat and she still wanted a blanket so I extended a wing over her since adding a blanket would have been sweltering for her.”

“It was more for protection then?” Luna asked as she hopped up onto her bed.

“Twas, but only by a hair. This was after I had accidentally brushed her chin with mine tail.” Draigo told her. “She decided that she would have me join her for the night as a way to ‘punish’ me for it. Of course, the smile on her face gave her away.”

“Hmm.” Luna hummed and thought on it for a bit. “I suppose thou sleeping with me on mine bed wilt be fine,” she said slowly.

“Just let me know if thou gets uncomfortable. Thine comfort and sleep is more important than where I sleep.” Draigo said as he slowly joined Luna on her bed.

“I shalt. For the most part, I shouldst be fine.” Luna said wryly as she laid down comfortably. Draigo laid down next to her and curled his tail and neck around her leaving her enough room to move around.

“Tis good to hear. I wouldst hate to disturb thine sleep for more comfort for myself.” Draigo told her as he settled down and draped a wing over her.

“This is most certainly warm.” Luna commented as she snuggled into his embrace a bit.

“Tis good to hear.” Draigo said as his eyes started to droop before closing. A soft snore could be heard from him as small smoke plumes escaped his nostrils. Luna giggled a bit before following suit.