I flew through the countryside. Despite a lack of wings, I was no more than a blur, and yet each second felt precious to me, lifeblood dripping away at a measured count. The world was in motion, a thousand years coalescing into the greatest struggle ever, and I was missing it! I needed to locate the Mare in the Moon...out of the Moon, now. Celestia's castle in Canterlot was the obvious destination. If the sun had not risen yet, then Nightmare Moon must have taken the fight to her already.

The jungle gave way to swamps, then forests and tan grasslands. I passed a place called Dodge City on the rolling plains. I found a set of railroad tracks, figuring all roads and trains led to Canterlot. This one weaved its way over the land, past a gorge and through another village, this one within sight of the castle at Canterlot. I read the sign 'Ponyville' briefly and was almost out the other side when the name of Nightmare Moon caught my attention. It took me valuable seconds to locate who had said it, but I was able to narrow it down to a group of young ponies hiding in a clothing boutique.

Using the night to my advantage I eavesdropped on their conversation from the shadows of the doorway. It was still hard to follow what they said, a few of them insisting on talking quickly and all at once. I did make out 'elements,' 'sister's castle ruins,' and 'everfree.' The rest was mostly juvenile ramblings. I held my patience, crept as close as I could and in my sweetest high-pitched voice sped up by the potion I asked, "Yeahbut whereisthe castle howdoyougettoit???"

One filly pointed off to the southeast, "I saw my sister and her friends heading for the Everfree Forest that way, I already told you Sweety Belle!" Damn, I had just come from that direction. But these were scared little fillies. I needed more information.

Another filly shook her mane, "I didn't ask that...did you?" The others started staring at each other with wide eyes.

I was gone before I could see how that conversation ended. I so wanted to stay and zip around them like a ghost, whispering dire warnings and omens while this potion was active. Maybe next time. For confirmation, as if I would trust a daytime pony, I headed for Canterlot and the castle nestled so conceitedly above it. On the way there I took time to listen in on other hushed conversations. Whispers from frightened ponies that spoke of Nightmare Moon's debut, and that Celestia had disappeared were all I got, but no real tidbits on their location. I sped through Canterlot where the residents looked up in the dark sky in bewilderment. The castle was no better. I had nearly given up hope when I overheard the head of the guard, Shining Armor speaking to his troops. As steady as he was, he was shaken. Celestia was to visit Ponyville and usher in the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration, but has gone missing. They feared a permanent darkness. Good, there might not have to be a war. Now if I could just find Nightmare Moon...I was nearly at my wit's end. Then I caught a lucky break. An old guard was regaling the younger ponies with a story about a ruined castle located in the Everfree forest where Celestia used to rule. The fillies were telling the truth! I had already passed that patch of forest to get here, damn! I left so quickly the wind stirred, and some of the ponies looked at the older stallion, wrinkling their noses. I pushed as hard as I could go, ignoring all else now. Trees, large creatures, and a river went by in a blink. I blurred past a gorge, paralleling a bridge as I crossed...wait, did I just leap a chasm at this speed?.....then I saw the ruins!

That was when I could feel the effects of the potion wearing off. No! The old castle was in sight now. There was movement in the ruins, was I in time to help Her? As I got closer I spotted glowing light coming from what looked to be the main throne room. Rays of all colors were pouring out of the windows, the light scintillating from broken window shards still in their frames. The potion must not have protected my stamina because my legs felt sluggish all of a sudden, not to mention the earlier ordeal with the dragons had taxed me greatly. Gritting my teeth I pushed with every ounce of energy I had left. I refused to give up now. My limbs nearly dead of feeling, I jumped through the nearest window, just clearing the sharp edges.

An explosion of white light and sound knocked me out. When I came to, there was daylight outside and the great white alicorn Celestia stood before what could only be Luna, a lesser version of what Nightmare Moon had been. I just started to hear what Celestia was saying, "...you accept my friendship?"

Luna looked down for a few seconds. Then she ran to Celestia, exclaiming, "I'm so sorry, I missed you so much big sister!" A pink pony cried and blew her nose. I gasped loudly, then I realized my mistake and moved quickly.

Luna glanced in my direction and only saw empty shadows. I hid behind a broken column several feet away from where I first gasped. It was all I could do to keep from breaking down completely, thus giving away my position. I had been so close to reuniting with my divine guardian angel. Now she was reduced to an earthly form, soft, humble, and deferential to her older sister. It was a betrayal to everything I had built up to, the sacrifices I had been forced to endure. My dreams of a universe made fair dissolved in a single moment.

After the pink pony declared cause for celebration to herald Luna's return into Celestia's grace, they all began to file out, chattering about preparations and their newly acquired jewelry. Luna lingered a few steps, searching in the shadows. I had moved off far enough to avoid detection. I could not face her now, or anybody for that matter. It wasn't that Nightmare Moon was my absolute goddess to hold me enraptured. I was well aware of the darkness her hatred had encapsulated herself with.

It was the avalanche of rejection I would receive from her new form, for who I was, why I was there and what I was meant to do. With Nightmare Moon I had been a fine artisan's instrument brought forth to help perform an intricate task, noble in the crusade to unify, to sculpt the future for all our nocturnal and daytime races. With Luna, I already knew I was to be left out in the rain, to rust.

As all these thoughts threatened to engulf me, Luna's hesitation caught Celestia's attention. Her colored mane waving in its own wind, she turned to Luna and asked, "Remembering better times here, Luna?"

The younger alicorn sighed and shook her head in reply, "We may have wrought something horrible, dear sister. A deed nurtured under the auspices of Our darker self, yet its ramifications art mine most to bear post my parole."

Celestia draped her elegantly pure white wing over Luna's neck and spoke softly, "We BOTH shall bear them together, as we were meant to all along." Luna gave her sister an appreciative smile and reluctantly followed after her down the dusty hallway, occasionally looking back. I waited until the echoes of their hoofsteps faded before I finally gave in to the crush of emotions I had been holding at bay. I cried for hours until the slowly shifting sunbeams coming in through the window found my hiding place. Their warmth heated the tears on my face, burned my eyes. It almost felt as if I would burst into flame, so used to the cold stone floor where I lied. When I thought I could no longer take the cruel joke of the sun any longer, it slipped behind the hills in the distance, vanquishing its light and finally giving me solace.

Along with the return of cool darkness, a new purpose formed in my mind. The vanquishing of the light meant peace, to all creatures of the night and to my soul. More than likely Luna would destroy me if I were successful, but she would have her evernight, her victory. I would do this to finish my story, not curry favor from my former mentor. I looked at my cutie-mark, the deadly knife borne on wings of justice. I would do this one last thing to fulfill my purpose in life, my reason for death. What am I now but death on swift wings? I was Celestia's assassin.

---------oooooooo--------

The room was dark, the fireplace the only light source as it made the shadows dance. Good, if my shadow was unlucky enough to be seen, it would be dismissed even as it danced to its own music. It always had. I had returned to the castle overlooking Canterlot, my earlier foray having given me a good knowledge of its floor plan and thus I had easily found Celestia's chambers again. I had to be cautious and thoughtful now, for no potion was in me to help rush past the guards. They were still easy to slip by, for it was night, lamps drawn low. I was the night. Strangely enough, no guards were posted outside her door, so I had moved in quietly. As I slowly moved along the wall inside the sitting room with its fireplace ablaze, I got a glimpse into the sleeping chamber. Celestia was sitting on her bed, facing me with her eyes closed. Any moment she would open her eyes and see me. Placing my blade in my mouth I knew I had to act. With her out of the way, Luna would be unstoppable and all would be made as it was promised. Filled with the need to fulfill my quest I rushed forward, not noticing an odd slant to the princess. I entered the sleeping chamber at a silent gallop and pushed one last time off the floor, spearing towards the princess with my knife blade out the side of my mouth. As time slowed down and I approached the still princess, I imagined the knife cutting along the side of the throat as I went by, cutting the ties that held the paltry trappings of the day cycle and forever making it night, our night. I imagined looking in her eyes as I cut her, those eyes that saw me flying toward another princess Celestia projected in a mirror...what? I was actually looking into her eyes in that instant, and they were reflecting the image of me flying headlong into a mirror!

The dagger ripped out of my mouth as i plowed through a magical mirror, shattering it. I could feel the shards cut me as i rolled and skidded to a stop. Spherical shields leapt up all around me in the trap I should have seen but was too blind to suspect. There was no way she could have known I was coming unless somepony knew specifically it was me. Somepony did know.

I ran desperately, continuing to dodge beams of light from unicorn guards. They were stationed up in the rafters in a circle all along the walls, firing down. Desperately dodging, I made it back into the sitting room when the door to the hallway burst open, Shining Armor standing there bellowing for me to stop in the name of the princess. I ran full tilt toward him and slammed my belly to the floor with my legs spread eagled out. As I slid under knocking out his legs, he dropped to the floor behind me, momentarily stunned with surprise. I scrambled to get back up and misstepped several times, slipping on my own blood before I got my footing and continued down the hallway. Guards were everywhere as I rounded corners or sprinted past surprised servants. They were making the halls brighter on purpose, dimming others. I was being corralled, and I was to have none of it. One window happened to be open and unguarded. I jumped through it and sprinted along the outer ledge, the whole of Canterlot's nightlit scene spread out below me. I calmed myself and began inspecting the windows on my level. One area was heavily guarded, more so than it should have been normally. If I remembered correctly, that was a barely used library, at least barely used when I zipped through earlier in the evening. I moved back to a window farther down the other end of the hallway and yelled through it, "She is nearing the princess, we need more guards to block this end of the hall. You down there, reinforce this area now, Shining's orders!"

It was so sudden the guards barely thought before they ran down the hall, leaving one nervous guard behind. Either he was really smart or really stupid. No matter, he was really alone. I swooped in through the window closest to him, double punched him in the gut and waited for his head to dip down before spinning away, connecting both of my rear hooves under his lower jawbone. He reeled back and crumpled. I stepped to the side and caught his spear as I watched him hit the ground. My blood was smeared on him, looking like I had assassinated him. When they found him they would think he was killed but it would all be over by then. Let them make one last error in judging me. I flipped the spear over and kicked it, snapping it close to the spearhead and making a clumsy knife. I picked up the makeshift weapon, gathering my courage as I turned the blade over in my hooves. This won't be a drawn out fight. Putting the short haft in my mouth I kicked the door in and entered the room.

It was a large circular study, one of the smaller libraries. It was dimly lit with candles, and several mirrors lined the outer circumference where the bookshelves stood. A podium holding an open book stood in the center directly ahead of me several paces. On one side of the room stood Princess Celestia. She was not surprised to see me. I found that odd since she should have been worried for her life. On the other side stood Princess Luna. She was not surprised either. In fact, they both wore the same expression. Sadness. For me? I continued to walk forward, processing the revelation that Luna had warned her sister, had betrayed everything I was led to believe in. To me she was the Mare in the Moon, Nightmare Moon, savior of all creatures of the night, and now Princess Luna. They were all the same, no matter the trappings or show of power. I twitched my gaze from Luna to Celestia, and back to Luna as both watched me. I was so focused on who I was to hate more I bumped into the podium. The spearhead clattered onto the stone floor tiles in my surprise, yet the tension in the air kept me from reaching for it. They were ready for me. And still neither princess moved or cast a spell. Celestia spoke first.

"You have traveled far and have made a valiant effort to make our first meeting a striking one." I heard Luna groan in disapproval. It was always customary for Celestia to see the lighter side of things, Luna the darker side. Though in this case Luna had a point, this was not the time for levity.

I thought so as well. "You joke when this is your last night? I was given a purpose, our people were promised to be brought out of the shadows to know the world we were born in rather than cower under your sun. I do not know you personally, and you probably are a decent ruler. But I do know your absence will bring about a great beginning, for those of us that are different!"

Celestia bore all this with the regalness of a true ruler. I knew at first glance she was. And yet all the things in my past bubbled up. All the things I experienced in the dream world and the real. The sacrifice Lance made and all the promises broken and yet to be fulfilled. Celestia stepped along the wall until she was straight ahead of me. Luna had done the same. Then Celestia stepped forward, Luna hesitating in surprise before following and whispering, "Sister, tis not what was planned. We know what she is capable of, We trained her! Thou art dark and exposing thyself thusly-" Celestia patted Luna with her wing and continued forward until she was directly on the other side of the podium. Luna hung back, unsure of Celestia's intent.

"If I am to sleep one final time, I would like a bed time story before you tuck me in. The book in front of you is very old. I should know, because I began its first passages a thousand years ago."

Luna spoke up, "And a day." Celestia wrinkled her nose. Someone was obviously counting age. Celestia continued.

"It is like a diary of sorts. Very compelling entries, mind you. Of noble deeds, tragic mistakes. Things that should have been said but got lost behind slammed doors, and perhaps closed minds." Celestia and Luna shared a knowing look. Celestia turned back to me, "This acount is rarely spoken of in its entirety, yet ironically parts of it survive in a multitude of legends. Now legends come true, even those that were doubted." I narrowed my eyes, looking between the two princesses, refusing to be distracted. Celestia nodded in understanding and her horn glowed gold.

A golden bubble encapsulated me, Celestia, the podium, and the spear blade that was floating next to me. For an instant I was ready to fight, and yet Celestia was doing nothing else. Luna, on the other hand, panicked and rammed the shield, but to no effect. Even her glowing horn did nothing to her bigger sister's shield. "No, Tia! What art thou doing?!? DROP YON SHIELD!!!" I was buffeted by Luna's booming voice, yet I held fast.

Celestia shook her head and kept her eyes on me as she spoke aside, "This is the better way. As you shall have responsibility for the past and the future, I shall shoulder this moment in its infinite existence. While we are different and are burdened differently, as I said before, we BOTH shall bear this together." Different. Similar. Together. Tones in the universe of my soul whose notes were muted, but the echoes rang loud and clear. To me she spoke, "You may read the pages before you, without deception. Should you choose to continue your course, I will not stay your hoof." Luna protested, saying a few things even I had not heard before. Celestia tweaked the shield and there was silence in the bubble, aside from our breathing, and a flat tap occasionally sounded, droplets of blood hitting the stone. I looked down and began to read out loud. I would be defiant to the last, even in this attempt to sway me.

Dear Diary,
Today I banished my sister to a cold, desolate place. A place of dust and echoes. In my heart I knew it was the right thing to do. Now my heart is a cold, desolate place. The food I eat is dust. The duties I perform, echoes of my life and my sister's life. I meant what I told Luna, that there must be balance. She had to have assumed I only meant the celestial bodies. I never had the strength to tell her she balanced my soul, my existence.

I looked up and saw Luna had stopped throwing herself at the shield. She was leaning against it, turned away so I could not see her face, she barely moved at all, aside from the occasional shudder. I thought Celestia might attend to her sister yet she stared at me with an intensity, an eagerness. "Continue, it gets better." A gold glow skipped several pages ahead.

Dear Diary,
It has been one year since the banishment. The new castle is well under way to being completed. Opposite the sun, I have raised and lowered the moon, the prison where my sister resides. Each night I raise it. Each morning I lower it. Each time I look at it, my heart is ripped out anew. She was already consumed by her jealousy and pain when I imprisoned her. Since then I have slowly been consumed by pain. Every day for one thousand years, minus one year, I will continue to subject myself to remembering her twice an evening. I have conscripted the very stars as keepers, for they will release her at the appointed time of her parole. My anguish will not be enough to defeat the evil she has allowed inside her, so I will have to entrust that duty to future generations. For now, I must prepare the world for one eventuality or the other. I shall spread stories to all corners of the land, describing what happened, as fairy tales. They shall endure longer than any factual recount ever will. And I shall seed them with warnings.

I skipped ahead 100 years of entries and came across a short one:

I sent envoys to the night races to strengthen their worship for her legend. I might have started a fad celebrating a foal's night out to beg for candy. Subterfuge was never my strong suit, it was hers. Subtlety was not her strong suit, but mine. Reminders of the balance that we lost.

The writing on the next several pages was sloppy, misspellings everywhere to the point of illegibility, red smears as if wine were spilled on the page. On the back of one of the pages was scrawled this in a better hoof:

drank a lot of wine last night, i was very tipsy. accidental solar eclipse for at least a day and a half. this #### is getting difficult

Celestia whispered with embarrassment for me to hurry up and skip those pages. Another entry read:

We used to eat cake together, a morning tradition for me, a dinner tradition for her. Now I eat it by myself. Will she remember the cake when she returns? Will she remember anything good we used to do together? I smile to the masses and try so hard to show everyone that I am the embodiment of the sun that warms their faces, that brings life to their crops. Inside I am hollow. Inside I am a lie.

the cake is a lie

I skipped ahead a few hundred years worth of entries and one caught my eye, mentioning dragons.

I used to handle issues inside the borders while Luna handled outside influences and situations. She was always deft with the night races or foreign nations, navigating the pitfalls of cultures not widely understood. Case in point, dragons.

To prevent another deadly swarming of dragons, I had to broker a treaty of settlement when a group of dragons visited my court requesting land. They had discovered a cavern that was rich in a rare liquid. This seems to have quelled their desire for expansion. We completed a lengthy Treaty of Friendship. It was so arduous that when we finished, I rushed the celebratory events without properly doing my research. During the celebration I offered them cake with chocolate frosting. They nearly burned the castle down in their outrage. Only the youngest would confide in me of their allergy to the cocoa bean. The oldest one stormed out in anger, vowing to only make good on the treaty in 300 years, vowing to slaughter the next pony that offered him chocolate. Luna would have handled this better.

Luna sobbed. The shield must have been letting in sound again. Celestia did not turn her head, but she said quietly, "i cannot fight her again, and i will not. we are in a delicate balance now. look at her. killing me will destroy her and all in the land will suffer. these pages already speak of it."

The image of Luna brought down so low haunted me, and I steeled myself by continuing to read. The writing became more erratic. Hundreds of pages were smeared with ink, some even torn through with the pressure that was used to write on them. One page had a hastily sketched comet in the sky, the colors of red and green ink with jagged lines as though drawn by a crazed hoof. On the back of the page was a brief entry.

In my anger and grief, I raged at the skies and swore off my duties. Later that night a comet got through and struck a village far to the south. Only a few of the noble ridge cats survived, some just kittens. I cannot let myself be so consumed again, there is enough damning mistakes on my soul as it is.

I reread the entry and stared at Celestia. There was an infinite well of pain behind her eyes. She murmured, "I knew then I never had a choice in my duty. I was the prisoner, as much as Luna ever was. A single mistake can have far reaching consequences." Her horn's glow intensified and the diary pages flipped forward several years to the following entry:

I did not think much of the report that some thestrals far to the south were injured by dragons. I knew with the treaty coming into effect after so many generations, there were bound to be friction between new communities that had formed since the initial signing. There weren't any settlers there at the time the treaty was signed, but with the dragons finally moving into the cave, that put them dangerously close to the community of thestrals that prospered there now, north of the cave in the mountains. I sent a group of unicorn healers to the thestral community to help. They returned with news that the community was devastated, with one casualty. Thank the heavens there were not more. After researching the details of the strife in that area of the land, I can't help but think I set all this into motion. I did not go personally because I was afraid I would enrage the dragons again if they saw me, such touchy beings. They are difficult creatures to deal with, their memories so vast and precise and twisting with purpose even beyond my understanding. Again I miss my sister's presence. She has seen into countless sleeping minds, she would have known how to handle them. The treaty, the delayed arrival of the dragons to their cavern due to my ignorance of dragon culture, the village destroyed by that damnable comet. That same village used to draw fire water from a well, fire water which supported the entire Badlands economy. A tunnel that was connected to an underground stream had collapsed when the comet struck, a stream that ran all the way to the cavern the dragons moved into. Hence the inevitable clash between the ridge cats and the dragons that followed over the limited resource. And then the poor threstrals...what more disaster could my failures have caused? I have so much power, and so little.

My head hurt. Just thinking through all the events spanning the centuries, one innocuous thing leading to many events, all of them coming together or rippling off in directions beyond my ability to think straight. I looked at Celestia in dismay. Where I saw the pain in her eyes from earlier, there lurked behind that pain an inner core of strength that had been tested for over a millennia, and refused to buckle. Hers was a strength that could stop comets if properly applied. I realized if I was successful at killing her, it would only be because she had allowed it. This book was a testament to the trials she had faced. Mine paled in comparison. Velvet's losses, my fate, so many influenced by a single lapse of her protection, a protection I was not even aware was in place until tonight. My road was literally paved with her good intentions, a road that found me here on the verge of killing her. I looked down and skipped to the last few pages.

Twilight Sparkle sent a scroll to me today. Remarkably she has come across one of my planted stories detailing the time lock I placed on my sister's prison, set to open today of all days. I sent her to gather the next generation of this realm's protectors, unbeknownst to her. Had I told her the full truth, she would have approached it with the same laboratory method she uses in her studies. That is no way to engender friendship, the very essence of love that holds the elements together. I broke that mortar when I sealed away Luna, the elements no longer respond to me. No less than I deserve, thus today I go forth and accept what will come. It has been a millennia, minus a few hours. I am ready for whatever happens. I have been ready for far too long. This may be my last entry, so I leave destiny to determine my salvation.

Day 1

Luna has returned to me! My dear sister was purged of her long held hate by my very special student Twilight Sparkle and her newfound friends. Luna has agreed to rule alongside me as my equal! She mentioned having done something bad, a measure of her hatred she passed onto a vulnerable student she dreamwalked with near the end of her purgatory. It does not matter, we will help this one any way we can. We owe it to her, and it is time for all to begin the healing process.

The spear blade hovered closer to me wrapped in a golden glow, waiting. Celestia said, "It is time to let go of the pain."

A random thought crossed my mind when I glanced up and noticed Luna had not moved for a while. She looked exactly like I must have when the changeling was watching me in my grief, leaning against a similar shield only a few years ago, a similar rendezvous with mortality. Lance, the red dragon, so many mistakes when a single right decision could have done so much. I felt sick. All my life I tried to avoid being a bully, had stood up to bullies, fought for the weak. Yet here I was, driven to murder so I could...what? Be treated differently? Make her pay because of pain that caused her to err? This was not justice of any kind. It was suffering I was causing others, and I had become the ultimate bully.

Fine, I would fight one last bully.

I let myself slump to the ground and stared straight ahead. "This hate I feel, it is misplaced. I thought my quest to forward Nightmare Moon's cause for equality meant removing you, I thought it was righteous. I see now it can only harm those that need the help most. All that I fought for, it has come to nothing. I am nothing."

Celestia dropped the shield and the spearhead clattered to the floor next to me. Luna, who was leaning against the shield, barely caught herself from hitting the tiles. I could see tears running down her cheeks as she looked to me, possibly wondering what I would do next. Not much, I thought to myself, and I looked down at the spearhead. Not much left to do....

Shining Armor burst in and several guards followed, forming a half-circle around us armed with spears. "There she is! Take her into custody and protect the princesses!" They started to move in.

Princess Celestia stepped around me and blocked them, "My loyal guards, that will not be necessary. We have the situation well in hoof. Many things have changed today, and while change can be terrifying-" She glanced back to Luna who was picking herself up, "-I can promise you your rulers will see you all safely through. Shining Armor, please wait outside with your retinue. We will require an escort to the guest living quarters. I am sure we can all use some sleep, regardless what sky we walk under."

As the guards reluctantly filed out and the attention was off me, I reached for the spearhead. A golden-shod hoof slammed down on it before I could touch it, shattering the metal into smoking bits. Celestia looked down at me, not with the fire of anger, but with the warmth of love, "That will not be necessary. Many great deeds have been done these last few days, some misguided. Let us keep those later ones to a minimum for now." She held out her hoof to me. Luna stood on the other side of me and did the same.

I slowly reached out to both and they helped me stand. The cuts on me had stopped bleeding, merely stinging when I moved. I avoided their eyes, the keepers of my bleak future. I said quietly, "Misguided means I only lacked proper direction...at this chapter, only the closing of the book remains. There is nothing left." I sighed and let go of their hooves.

Luna snorted and stepped closer, "We shalt be thy judge of that. Forsooth, tis My mess, so fixing thee tis my responsibility. Indeed, thou hast shown stalwart courage fighting thine own beliefs and seeing to the grander good thy lack of action wouldst result in." Celestia attempted to settle Luna down, not wanting to relive the tense moments just past, however the smaller alicorn was on a roll and could not be stopped, "No matter how nor why thou hast attained thy skills, thou readily smited an entire castle guard-"

Celestia leaned in, "And floored Shining Armor."

"AND floored Shining Armor. Ah, yes. Tia...?"

Celestia nodded and turned to the doorway, "I shall check on him and anypony else our deft thestral came near. The door guard, I believe? We shall discuss what comes next at breakfast, wayward thestral. Luna will get you settled in...." She cantered out momentarily, then stuck her head back in, "....and dear Slicer, could you refrain from picking up any sharp objects tonight?" Resolved to my fate, I nodded. Celestia beamed a bright sunny smile and left us.

Luna placed a wing over me. "Fret not, for thou commeth against incredible odds, including thyself. Tis not the end of thy story, butan it beginneth anew. Tis much to discuss...for she is right, sleep weighs heavily on Us, though this will ruin Our sleep schedule for a time." We started to walk out into the hallway. As ordered, Shining Armor and several guards escorted us a ways before we stopped at a spiraling staircase that continued up one of the castle towers. Shining Armor looked askance at me, then at Luna. I couldn't help but glance down at the bottom part of his armor and noted the scuffs and dirt that were still there from his earlier 'spill.' I was pretty sure he was well aware of them and wore it like a badge of honor. If he only knew he was alive because I had lost my dagger...damn, they must have still had it. That was a gift I was unwilling to part with.

"Princess Luna, all the guest quarters have been taken by dignitaries for the upcoming formal celebration of your return. Only the auxiliary observatory is available. A bed should already be there for late night stargazers." The princess nodded and proceeded up the stairs, along with me and our escort in tow.

Upon reaching the top of the flight of stairs, Luna and I entered the room while the guards stayed outside, Shining Armor standing in the doorway ready for action. The room was not that small, circular and had a balcony you could walk out onto. A telescope was just inside with a protective cover, waiting to be used. Luna stepped out onto the balcony and looked up. The sky was clear with the moon high in the sky. She looked radiant in the moonlight. I knew her proper place was to rule the night and I had to fight down urges to continue my quest to make it the only celestial phase the realm would see. She must have noticed my difficulty and stepped over to me, "Jen, a long journey lies before thee, butan after tonight's ordeal, We also know thou hast the strength and tenacity to see it through. Thou hast always, and thou shalt never fail."

I looked at Shining Armor before I mentioned, "I have failed at a lot of things. Failed to realize where I fit in, failed to keep the ones I love safe. I even failed at putting you into power."

The princess snorted and stepped over to a tall mirror near the wall. She rubbed some smudges out of it with her hoof. "Thou succeeded at things that were possible, and some that were naught. All lose loved ones over the course of their lives not because of failure, that is entwined with life. Thou must understand, My sister and We have lived a very long time, as alicorns do. We have thus seen Our share of loss over the years. If We fail to show the ones We love Our appreciation for the time We spend with them, then We have truly failed them. As We have known thee We have never seen that failing. As for putting Us into power..." She looked up at me in the mirror, "Twas not to be. Either as an assassin or losing Celestia. My sister can have a faith in destiny that We find bewildering, yet it is a very real thing We can attest to, after living so long. Tonight happened for a reason, twere no failures." I pointedly glanced over at Shining Armor and he stiffened, clenching his jaw. My fun list was going to grow before long.

Luna walked over to the doorway and looked back at me, "In the morning we are to break bread with My sister. Normally thou and We would be awake until sunup. We recommend taking a nap for slight hours. We art most tired. If thou needest anything, hail thy guard, butan nay try and leave til better accomodations hast been procured, more for thy guard's safety than thine. They are a tad skittish tonight." I muttered something regarding the obviousness of that. Luna half-smiled and stepped out, with Shining Armor following her and closing the door. I waited a few seconds, but they did not lock the door. Hm, that was very trusting of them.

I made my way to the bed and flopped down on it, sinking in slightly more than I liked. I stayed there just long enough to realize I was not comfortable. Then I got up and walked over to the balcony and looked up behind me. The eave of the roof was not that far above me. With a hop and a twist I jumped at the balcony railing and pushed off, grabbing the edge of the roof and hoisted myself up, made sure of my footing on the tiles and slowly stepped along the roof toward the apex. It wasn't that I was trying to escape, just that I wanted to roam a little. Afterall, it was the middle of the night, when I was most active. I searched the surrounding structures and saw a possible covered crosswalk that was within jumping distance, very tricky if I slipped just prior to the jump or just after the landing. I didn't get any more time to contemplate where I could go when I heard groaning and snapping under me. The tiles shifted and the roof gave way, plunging me through to the room below. I landed back on the bed, pieces of the roof dropping on me, the bed, and most everywhere else.

The door burst open and the guard stood there, spear at the ready. In front of him was the image of me lying on the bed in the middle of being asleep, with debris on me or strewn about, a brand new large hole in the roof. He took all this in before galvanizing the courage to ask, "Wh..what just happened in here?!"

I opened my eyes and said, "I was feeling a bit restless and decided to gaze at the sky. You seem fairly capable...is that a spear in your hooves or are you just happy to-" The door slammed shut and I could hear the butt of the spear hit the floor outside as he resumed his post as quickly as he could. I sighed and looked up through the new skylight, watching the moon and stars. That more than anything did relax me. I brushed off the debris and found I was a fair bit tired so I lied there, the sky above me slowly danced until I found the oblivion of sleep.